Monday, February 23, 2015

ARC REVIEW: "Soulbound" by Kristen Callihan



Once two souls are joined...

When Adam's soul mate rejected him, there was more at stake than his heart. After seven hundred years of searching, his true match would have ended the curse that keeps his spirit in chains. But beautiful, stubborn Eliza May fled—and now Adam is doomed to an eternity of anguish, his only hope for salvation gone...

Their hearts will beat together forever...

No matter how devilishly irresistible Adam was, Eliza couldn't stand the thought of relinquishing her freedom forever. So she escaped. But she soon discovers she is being hunted—by someone far more dangerous. The only man who can help is the one man she vowed never to see again. Now Adam's kindness is an unexpected refuge, and Eliza finds that some vows are made to be broken...

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Utterly compelling and soulful. These were my first thoughts after I finished Kristen Callihan’s Soulbound, Book 6 in the Darkest London series.

This series is one of my favorites because of the Ms. Callihan’s creativity.  Her characters standout in a crowded field of paranormal and mythical characters. She brings a special twist to each of her stories and this one is a prime example of that.   

Adam is a reoccurring character from previous books. What we know is that he is the creator of the GIMs – the Ghosts in the Machine. But who is he?  Where does he come from? What is his connection to the fae? How does Eliza fit into his world?

In an imaginatively written narrative, we discover Adam’s identity and how he becomes the entity that he is.  We discover so much more about him than in the previous books – and that alone is worth the wait. He is mercurial, bossy, demanding, controlling, caring, fatherly, innocent, and oh, so sexy. Eliza is a reluctant heroine.  She escapes from Adam in the last book.  Now she finds herself having to partner with him against a common enemy.  And although she has many reasons to despise Adam, she begrudging starts to admire and then care for him.

One of the highlights of this story is how the characters of previous stories are expertly woven into this one without overtaking the main narrative. We gain insights into Archer’s story, background into Lucien’s past, check-ins with Jack, Mary, Daisy and Ian among others. It’s like puzzle pieces coming together.  We are just beginning to see the larger picture.

Did I mention this was a satisfying read? It is especially for those who have been following the series.  I don’t recall if I recommended the previous books as a standalones, but this one needs and deserves the support of books 1 through 5.

In A Nutshell:
If you are a fan of the Darkest London series, run, don’t walk, to get your copy (or simply press your 1-Click button).  If you’ve been thinking about starting this series, today is a good day to begin.  One day you’ll be getting to book six, and then you can thank me for the recommendation.


Kristen Callihan is an author because there is nothing else she'd rather be. She is a three-time RITA nominee and winner of two RT Reviewer's Choice awards. Her novels have garnered starred reviews from Publisher's Weekly and the Library Journal, as well as being awarded top picks by many reviewers. Her debut book FIRELIGHT received RT Magazine's Seal of Excellence, was named a best book of the year by Library Journal, best book of Spring 2012 by Publisher's Weekly, and was named the best romance book of 2012 by ALA RUSA. When she is not writing, she is reading. 




Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review. 

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Sunday, February 22, 2015

BOOK RELEASE, REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY: "Confessions of a Reformed Tom Cat" by Daisy Prescott

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Thanks for joining us for the release day launch for Daisy Prescott's Confessions of a Reformed Tom Cat!! Daisy is sharing an excerpt with us, and a fantastic giveaway, so be sure to read all the way down to check out all the release day excitement!! 

Synopsis:
CoaTTC Amazon (1)I, Thomas Clifford Donnely, am a manwhore. I’ve been told I’m irresistible to women. Like catnip for a different type of pussy-cat. I guess you could call me a Tom Cat. This is the story about how I lost my wingman, broke all my own rules, and found myself falling in love. Tom Donnelly isn't the marrying kind, or the dating kind. Even after losing his #1 wingman to love, he doesn't see the point in relationships. When his sister's best friend returns to Whidbey Island and propositions Donnelly for a one-night stand, he breaks one of his biggest rules—no fooling around with his sisters' friends. It's just sex, nothing more. That's what Tom does and does well. What happens when "just sex" isn't enough? Hailey King is more than a match for Tom's flirtations. She's known him most of her life and has heard the rumors about his "skills" for years. When her perfectly planned future falls apart, will the last man she should ever fall for turn out to be more than a one-night stand? 
Buy this book at:

REVIEW:
I requested this ARC because it sounded intriguing.  I wanted to know what this Tom Cat had to say about being a play-yah.  This is my first book by this author and I had no expectations. When I started reading, two things struck me: 1. This is really well written.  2. This story is told solely from the male perspective.

Tom Donnely embraces his reputation as a love ‘em and leave ‘em kind of guy.  He is not mean spirited about it and he lets his reputation speak for itself.  In other words, he knows that any women he sleeps with knows that this is a one-night stand. He’s got a good old boy kind of charm.  Harmless, unless you fall for him because the one thing Tom is most afraid of is commitment.

Hailey King is his sister’s best friend since childhood and has been around his life for years.  She is now back in their small town with a fiancé.  When the engagement falls apart, Hailey just wants to let go and do something wild.  Nothing wilder than hopping in the sack with the local lothario, right?

This is a sweet story that kind of sneaks up on you – kinda like the way love sneaks up on Tom.  The serious part of the relationship doesn’t start until the mid-point and it is a slow build.  That is pretty much my biggest problem with this book.  I liked the writing. Daisy Prescott has a style that is easy to read, and I enjoyed the dialogue between her characters.  What I didn’t like is how the book is structured.  There are 34 chapters and each chapter is a separate vignette.  I found this disruptive.  With that many situations, it takes a long time to set up the story.  In fact, I did not respond well to Tom at first because with each chapter he digs himself further and further into the stereotype of eternal bachelor. Because this is from his point of view, I found myself saying “what a dog” over and over again. The background is overlong and I feared that Tom would not be able to redeem himself.

But wait for it…thank goodness for the second half of the book when Tom and Hailey start really interacting.  Like I said before, his appreciation for Hailey builds slowly, but I liked their times together.  The relationship is not overly dramatic.  And despite some awkward situations, their developing care for one another felt normal. They simply “got” it each other.

IN A NUTSHELL:
If you want a sweet and touching romance with a satisfying happily ever after, it’s worth you time and patience to read this book. 

EXCERPT:

Prologue

When she walked toward me, I was ninety-percent certain she wanted to slap me. I spread my stance and tensed for the impact. Sadly, she wouldn’t be the first woman to smack me or attempt it. Good thing I was pretty fast at dodging and weaving.
I held her gaze as she got closer. Part of me wanted to close my eyes and turn the other cheek … literally. Or back down the hall and hide in the men’s room. Ah, the men’s bathroom. A place no woman dared to go unless absolutely necessary. Urinals freaked them out.
I took a big step backward and then another until the darkness of the hall to the back room enveloped me. I wasn’t running. Far from it. I moved slowly and kept my eyes on my assailant stalking toward me.
I probably should have asked myself why she wanted to slap me. Had I stopped to think, I might have realized unlike most women with the same expression on their face, I hadn’t actually given her a reason to be mad at me. At least none I knew about.
Her eyes narrowed and she cut the distance between us in half with two long strides. To my left was the door to the bathroom and potential salvation. Further behind me stood the backdoor and freedom. While I debated hiding or fleeing, she made the decision for me by grabbing the front of my shirt.
“Hey, what’s up?” Always act innocent. In this case, I didn’t have to act.
“I’ve been looking all over for you tonight.”
I raised an eyebrow. “You have?”
She stared at my mouth and pressed her lips together. “I have. Why is a good man hard to find when you need him?”
Her words rearranged themselves in my head after she’d spoken them. “Don’t you mean a hard man is good to find when you need him?”
She snorted out a laugh. “Exactly. You read my mind.” Her hand not clutching my shirt touched the bared skin above my belt.
“Hey, whoa, where you going with that hand?” I jerked my hips back to escape her wandering fingers.
“I need a good man. And since I don’t know any good men, I decided I needed a hard man tonight.”
“Okay.” I grabbed her hands in mine to protect myself from her assault. “Can I ask you one thing?”
“Sssure.”
The subtle slur answered my question, but I asked it anyway. “Have you been drinking?”
“Tommm, don’t be mean. You sleep with everyone on the island. I need you to sleep with me. Now.” The slight rasp to her voice had strengthened into a sultry purr.
Definitely not sober. “What happened to your own man? Have sex with him.”
She pressed a finger to my lips. “No talking, more sex.”
“More implies there’s some sex to begin with.” I couldn’t figure out why I bothered to argue. Sex without strings was my thing.
But could I have stringless sex with her? I had rules.
While I was lost in some sort of moral debate, she kissed me.
Worse, my body responded, and I liked it. A lot.
She was an amazing kisser—even buzzed and with grabby hands, her lips and tongue teased mine with a balance of aggression and skill.
When she bit my bottom lip, I did the smart thing. I kissed her back.


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Daisy Prescott Bio:  
Daisy Prescott bwBefore writing bestselling contemporary adult romances, I dreamed of being an author while doing a lot of other things. Antiques dealer, baker, blue ribbon pie-maker, fangirl, freelance writer, gardener, pet mom and wife are a few of the other titles I've acquired over the years. Born and raised in San Diego, I currently lives in a real life Stars Hollow in the Boston suburbs with my husband, our dog Hubbell, and an imaginary house goat.

Enter Daisy's Giveaway!!
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Blogs Taking Part in the Release Day Launch

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Thursday, February 19, 2015

ARC BOOK REVIEW: "Garrett" by Sawyer Bennett


SUMMARY
Carolina Cold Fury star Garrett Samuelson never wants to miss out on a single minute of fun. Whether he’s playing hockey, hanging out with friends, or walking the red carpet with a new date on his arm, he lives every day to the fullest. When he meets Olivia Case, he sees someone who’s exactly his type—confident, sexy, smart . . . his next fling. But the more he pursues her, the more Garrett shares a side of himself that other women don’t normally get to see.
Olivia has been keeping a secret. While Garrett lives for the next thrill, Olivia’s not sure she’ll live to see the next day. She’s undergoing treatment for some serious medical issues, and she doesn't have time for a relationship with no guarantees—especially one with a hot-as-sin womanizer who won’t take no for an answer. But as she gets to know the real Garrett, Olivia can’t help falling for him . . . hard. To reveal the truth would mean risking everything—but you can’t score without taking the tough shots.
REVIEW:
Sawyer Bennett writes sweet, engaging, and ragingly hot books. And although, I have my favorites, I've never been disappointed in any of her stories.  Such is the case with Garrett, Sawyer Bennett’s latest in the Cold Fury series. 

 Take one part ladies’ man add a bohemian florist with a life threatening disease looking to live life to the fullest, and what you have is a recipe for an emotionally wrenching story.  Garrett is not a bad guy.  He’s just a guy’s guy.  His greatest love is hockey and not much surpasses that, including women.  He doesn't have a super tragic background. He’s just living the good life as an NHL hockey player. Olivia comes from humble background.  She’s a hard worker with a level headed. When diagnosed with an incurable disease, she faces it straight on.  She takes a chance to have a fling with Mr. Playboy thinking it is only going to be a one night stand.  That is all she thinks she can afford.  She cannot engage in long term entanglements.  She doesn't think it’s fair to burden another.  The best part of the conflict between the two is when Garrett (the no string guy) has to convince Olivia, the deep-relationship girl) to give the relationship a chance.  

 There are the dramatic dips and turns that made my heart flutter. Sawyer Bennett has such a grasp on human emotions.  Having said this, however, my greatest critique of the story is that there were moments that I felt verged on sentimentality.  It did not ruin the story for me, but it kept a good read from being a beloved one. 

 IN A NUTSHELL:
If you are looking for an emotional romance with a sports edge, don’t miss this read. 

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Wednesday, February 18, 2015

COVER REVEAL: "Ride Steady" by Kristen Ashley




I'm feeling the Cover Reveal love today.  Can't wait for this one either. 
Ride Steady
Book Three in the Chaos series
by Kristen Ashley
About the Book:

 The ride of her life . . . Once upon a time, Carissa Teodoro believed in happy endings. Money, marriage, motherhood: everything came easy---until she woke up to the ugly truth about her Prince Charming. Now a struggling, single mom and stranded by a flat tire, Carissa's pondering her mistakes when a vaguely familiar knight rides to her rescue on a ton of horsepower.

Climb on and hold tight . . . 
In high school, Carson Steele was a bad boy loner who put Carissa on a pedestal where she stayed far beyond his reach. Today, he's the hard-bodied biker known only as Joker, and from the way Carissa's acting, it's clear she's falling fast. While catching her is irresistible, knowing what to do with her is a different story. A good girl like Carissa is the least likely fit with the Chaos Motorcycle Club. Too bad holding back is so damned hard. Now, as Joker's secrets are revealed and an outside threat endangers the club, Joker must decide whether to ride steady with Carissa---or ride away forever . . . 
Where you can Pre-Order:

Amazon |  BAM! | B&N | Google Play

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COVER REVEAL: "Wicked Ride" Book One Realm Enforcers by Rebecca Zanetti


I liked this so I just had to share....

Wicked Ride
Book One in the Realm Enforcers series
by Rebecca Zanetti


About the Book:

Alexandra Monzelle is a hard-fighting, heat-packing Seattle vice cop, and she’s not much interested in being protected. Her short skirt and sex-kitten heels are tools to lure her suspects into talking about the deadly new drug hitting the streets. She can take care of herself and then some. Unfortunately, she can’t seem to get that through to Kellach Dunne.

Kellach is a fresh import from Dublin, and he’s landed at the heart of a vicious motorcycle club that deals in guns, narcotics, and mayhem. He’s all male, all rough power—and all interference in her damn investigation. Maybe he’s one of the good guys. Maybe not. Lex knows an affair with an immortal like him would risk everything. No matter how delicious he looks… 

Available for Pre-Order at:

Kindle |  Nook |  iBooks



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