|
Sometimes to find love, you must first learn forgiveness.
A dozen years, two thousand miles, and a law degree after high school, Rafi continues to harbor resentment toward Isaac , his childhood bully turned NBA star. When Isaac appears at Rafi's favorite restaurant acting like a long-lost friend, Rafi bluntly dismisses him. Isaac is tenacious and he has his heart set on the grown-up version of the boy he always wanted. The way Isaac sees it, he and Rafi are perfect for each other, if only he could sink the most important shot of his life: his one shot at forgiveness. |
Mia is done. Done with the day. Done with her bad luck and done with life. Its nothing but one bad luck moment after the next. Or is it? A serious of terrible events (funny because they’re totally relatable) leads Mia to her own business. It’s a brand-new start. A second chance. But that also leads her to Liam and Karl. They’re Millionaires, sexual partners and they want her to join them. When did her luck get so good?
This sounded like such a fun story from the blurb. Light and romantic. Something to read before bed or a break at work. There is a lot more depth than I expected. I really like Mia. I understand her. She’s having those days that we all have. The kind that makes me want to sit in front of the tv with a pint of Haagen-Dazs and the phones turned off. Then she meets not one but two sexy men who want her. Unfortunately, they’re a pair because she only likes one. That is a great twist! I am not crazy about the plot of a millionaire falling in love and making it a menage. There is just a bit too many of those out there. It’s not believable for a contemporary. That said, I like the authors writing style. It’s down to earth and her characters are relatable. There’s some humor in here that had me smiling. There’s some sex in here that had me grinning. Sweet Things is a highly recommended read!
Julia is a broken girl. She lost her mother and boyfriend in a house fire. Luke is her childhood friend, or so he says. She doesn’t remember him. When she loses a seemingly simple necklace, Julia’s world is turned upside down. Suddenly there are overwhelming emotions and magic. Oh yeah, she can’t over the fact that there’s magic and she’s a witch. She soon finds out that her boyfriend is alive and trapped in a painting…
That is such a cool story plot! I love most YA because the stories have such unique plots. Typical romance books are becoming very stale lately. I think that’s why I’ve been gravitating toward YA romance. This is a great example of how a talented writer can get you hooked on a genre. I really liked Julia. She’s just trying to get through her life turned chaotic. Her hearts broken over the loses and she’s not really trusting of Luke. I love the idea of being stuck in the painting, that such a unique storyline. Once the magic arrives in her life, it’s like a whirlwind of adventure and danger! This is the first book I’ve read by this author and certainly not the last. Captured in Paint is a fantastic read that should be on your TBR pile!
among them. I make it to the surface and find myself in the middle of a war. Treston is a shy guy that’s always staring at me and Rafe is my handsome friend from the prison. Together we fight back against a group called The Blood Brotherhood. What do they want? To take over the world, of course. You’d think the bad guys would get a new plan. Starting a resistance is hard enough then I discover what makes me the way I am. It all ties into this cult and the end of the freaking world. Humanity needs a hero, now more than ever, but all they get is me, a monster from the darkness. - SNEAK PEEK -It was just another day in the Colony. When the commotion below faded off, I peeked. The pile of food was gone. The room had a few people milling about under the lights and one person on the ground. I wasn’t sure if he was dead or not and I wasn’t going to wait around to find out. I eased myself from the ledge and hopped down to the floor. My muscles were a bit sore from that small space. What would happen if I grew taller? I’d need a new plan. Eh, it was something to think on tonight when I tried to sleep. I slung the bag over my shoulder and jumped from the tube. “Now how did you get up there?” It was Rafe’s hypnotic voice. I froze, searched the darkness and found nothing. “A girl has to have her secrets.” I saw him the moment he stepped out of the shadows. He was a lot taller than I thought. Rafe walked closer to me. I could see the glint in his green eyes as he passed under the bright light. The corner of his lips turned up in a half grin. “Secrets are dangerous.” “So am I.” I held my ground. My heart beat so fast it made the vein in my neck throb with each pulse. “You’re too pretty to be dangerous.” He spoke softer, almost a whisper. He thought I was pretty? Okay, so I may have lost my cool for a minute there but I quickly straightened my backbone and narrowed my eyes at him. I squeezed the bag in my hands tighter to keep my focus. “Ah, she blushes.” Rafe let out a soft chuckle. The sound made my frown crack and fade. “I wasn’t blushing because of you.” “Of course not.” He reached out almost as if to touch a strand of my hair that had gone awry and separated from my braid. He paused before his fingertips made contact. His smile fell. He stared behind me. “Get out of here.” I snapped out of my weird, butterfly in my stomachs, moment very fast. Listening closely, I heard the faint sound of footsteps behind me. Slowly, I turned and kept my back toward Rafe. I didn’t trust him but I distrusted him less than others. To my surprise, he took a step in front of me. Rafe shielded me from the two men that approached. They were both young, maybe late twenties. Their clothes were filthy with soot so it looked like they’d been down here a while. That made them all the more perilous. I saw a glint on Rafe’s back. It looked like a blade tucked into the rim of his pants. At least he had a weapon. When they began the fight, I could run for it. However, I wasn’t a coward and I had a weak spot for Rafe. If he died who would I stare at while I was up in that tube waiting? “Hand over the food.” The taller of the two spoke. “And the pretty girl.” I could have come up with some quirky comeback or given him some of my loot, but I kept silent. The last thing I needed was enemies down here. “Larkspur is under my protection.” Rafe spoke quietly, but his tone was firm. It surprised me to hear him say that. How did he even know my name? I waited, tense but ready. My feet were shoulder width apart, my knees bent and my grip loose in case I had to bring out the claws. They would attack us. I knew it by the desperation in their eyes. This food was mine. I wasn’t giving it up without a fight. It happened quickly. The taller guy came at Rafe pulling his makeshift blade. The shorter one approached me. I tossed my bag to the wall then faced him. He had a crooked nose, a scar over his eyebrow and blond hair turned brown with soot. He lunged at me. I rushed to the right, spun behind him and shoved my elbow into his back. He grunted and came at me swiftly. I think he tried to hit me in the midsection. He didn’t get that far. Each punch he threw I stepped back until I was under the tube. I had a trick for him. I leaped into the air. My claws were nearly undetectable with the light here. They burrowed into the edges of the tube. I swung wide, over his giant frame and landed behind him. I twirled. My claws raked over his back. He went down with a yell. A moment later Rafe was over him and delivered a kick that sent him a few feet away. His intense stare found mine. “Go. Get out.” I caught sight of his knife. The shiny tip marred with blood. I nodded, grabbed my bag of food and took off down the tunnel. I didn’t go far, just enough to slip away into the darkness. I waited there, listened to a few grunts and footsteps as the men fled. Then there was nothing but silence again. Stale air filled my lungs as my gaze followed Rafe. He found his own shadow to camouflage. I smiled, even knowing it was foolish. Giveaway:
TO ENTER YOU MUST COMMENT BELOW: 1. What did you like best about the sneak peek of My Dark Fairytale? 2. Have you read Christine Anna Kirchoff before? For extra entries share this post using the Facebook and Twitter buttons below. Good luck! Winners:
|
 | Title: Perfect Duet Author: Aliyah Burke Length: 100 pages Genres: Romantic suspense, erotic romance, contemporary romance TBR Reviewer: Fiona Rating: 5 Stars - A Must Read! Heat: 4/5 - Smoking Hot! |
Xahara Asher is a SWAT team member--the only woman on the team. So she's used to dealing with over-bearing alpha males. She's very good at what she does. But she needs a vacation, along with some "girl-time," so she heads across the country for a visit with her two cousins, Xaya and Xandra--they call themselves "Triple X" when they get together. And like the besties they are, they talk about everything, but especially, the men in their lives. She promised to leave her gun at home, even though it makes her uncomfortable to be without it. She stops to use the rest room in a bank, and that's when the trouble starts. She hears gunshots and suddenly a man bursts into the rest room. She subdues him, then also the armed woman who followed him in. But one of them got off a lucky shot into her hip.
Jager Cline is deep undercover, working as part of a gang heavily into armed robbery. When he finds two of the henchmen subdued and only one woman, although an extremely attractive woman, holding her side because she's been shot, he's impressed by her abilities, but has to think quickly about how to explain the damage she did--as well as her presence--to the boss. He quickly realizes she must be "law" somehow. He "claims" her, telling the boss that she's "his," knowing that since he's never openly dated anyone, no one will know he's never seen her before. He keeps her at his side, conveniently keeping the bullet in her hip out of anyone's view.
When Xahara first sees Jager, her first reaction is an instinctual one--she's attracted on a level so deep she can't control it. "Sex had grown legs and turned into this man holding her immobile with his devilish blue eyes, brown hair, and extended goatee and lips she was desperate to try on hers." The plot is interesting, but the some of the best parts are when Xahara is together with her cousins--I'd love for there to be a couple of sequels, to give the other two their HEA also. Also, despite the fact that there are only a few actual sex scenes, the entire book is like foreplay, with off-the-chart steaminess between these two. And the dialogue, liberally peppered with swear words and slang, is spot-on for how men talk when they're together--so it's not surprising that's how Xahara talks to Jager, since they're in the same business. My only complaint is that Jager nicknames her "Dove." That didn't seem very accurate to me--but then, in the SWAT teams, everyone gets a nickname--and often they make no sense. Typical alpha-male stuff. Good thing Xahara knows how to handle that--and boy, does she handle that!
Jager Cline is deep undercover, working as part of a gang heavily into armed robbery. When he finds two of the henchmen subdued and only one woman, although an extremely attractive woman, holding her side because she's been shot, he's impressed by her abilities, but has to think quickly about how to explain the damage she did--as well as her presence--to the boss. He quickly realizes she must be "law" somehow. He "claims" her, telling the boss that she's "his," knowing that since he's never openly dated anyone, no one will know he's never seen her before. He keeps her at his side, conveniently keeping the bullet in her hip out of anyone's view.
When Xahara first sees Jager, her first reaction is an instinctual one--she's attracted on a level so deep she can't control it. "Sex had grown legs and turned into this man holding her immobile with his devilish blue eyes, brown hair, and extended goatee and lips she was desperate to try on hers." The plot is interesting, but the some of the best parts are when Xahara is together with her cousins--I'd love for there to be a couple of sequels, to give the other two their HEA also. Also, despite the fact that there are only a few actual sex scenes, the entire book is like foreplay, with off-the-chart steaminess between these two. And the dialogue, liberally peppered with swear words and slang, is spot-on for how men talk when they're together--so it's not surprising that's how Xahara talks to Jager, since they're in the same business. My only complaint is that Jager nicknames her "Dove." That didn't seem very accurate to me--but then, in the SWAT teams, everyone gets a nickname--and often they make no sense. Typical alpha-male stuff. Good thing Xahara knows how to handle that--and boy, does she handle that!
 | Title: Love's Curse My Bloody Valentine--a seasonal series name by the publisher Author: Ellen Mint Length: 129 pages Genres: Paranormal romance, Contemporary, Romantic Suspense TBR Reviewer: Fiona Rating: 3 Stars - A Good Read! Heat: 3/5 - Blush Worthy! |
Dr, Emma McKenna is an archeologist who specializes in Ancient Egyptian artifacts. She's fascinated by the sarcophagus of a female who must have been noble, because of her intricate sarcophagus and where she was found in the tomb--but she's unknown. What has caught the eye of the public is that her heart, X-rayed through the canopic jar, holds her heart, but split into two pieces, yet perfectly-preserved--so she's the "heartbroken princess." Emma is doing her best to figure things out--even delaying the return of the mummy to Egypt--because she feels a personal connection, and a driving desire to understand more about the princess mummy.
Dr. Tarek Ibrahim appears in the museum display while Emma is answering school children's questions about the mummy. Emma feels immediately drawn to him, which makes her clumsy and tongue-tied. We learn in other chapters that he feels the instant same connection with her. But her boss stops by to remind her he isn't paying her to chat with anyone, so Tarek leaves. Emma decides that since she has no other plans for Valentine's Day, she's going to stay late and continue her research. But when the power goes out, she heads upstairs to investigate, and that's when the mummy decides to get up and stroll around. Tarek reappears, and the chase is on.
I liked Emma, because she's smart and devoted to her life's work, so that means she's not used to talking to drop-dead gorgeous men. And when she does, she expects them to be bored with her scientific jargon. Tarek isn't, which confuses her. They finally escape from the museum that has the mummy walking around sucking the life force out of the few people who are still there. They realize they are falling in love, but much harder than they should be--could they be possessed? By whom, and why? The story unfolds gradually, as we learn the answers to those questions, and Emma and Tarek share a few steamy moments in-between being menaced by mummies. This is a cute Valentine's Day romance for people who have always loved Ancient Egypt and the odd burial customs. Plus there's nothing like a mutual menace to bring a couple closer.
I'm a huge fan of all of the old Black and White mummy movies with Boris Karloff! I didn't think that Tarek's character was given much weight--we never learned much about him, except for he's a dentist and he was "taken over" by the male mummy while on a tour of the pyramids. And the relationship between Emma and Tarek seemed really forced. I realize they're both acting out the desires of the two mummies, but what happens after that? Do they still have a connection? Or was it all the "others?" This is hinted at in the middle of the book, when they kiss, then both pull apart, embarrassed by the intimacy they've just shared. Doesn't seem to point to a HEA to me. But like I said, others might enjoy this for the mummies and the "insta-love."
Dr. Tarek Ibrahim appears in the museum display while Emma is answering school children's questions about the mummy. Emma feels immediately drawn to him, which makes her clumsy and tongue-tied. We learn in other chapters that he feels the instant same connection with her. But her boss stops by to remind her he isn't paying her to chat with anyone, so Tarek leaves. Emma decides that since she has no other plans for Valentine's Day, she's going to stay late and continue her research. But when the power goes out, she heads upstairs to investigate, and that's when the mummy decides to get up and stroll around. Tarek reappears, and the chase is on.
I liked Emma, because she's smart and devoted to her life's work, so that means she's not used to talking to drop-dead gorgeous men. And when she does, she expects them to be bored with her scientific jargon. Tarek isn't, which confuses her. They finally escape from the museum that has the mummy walking around sucking the life force out of the few people who are still there. They realize they are falling in love, but much harder than they should be--could they be possessed? By whom, and why? The story unfolds gradually, as we learn the answers to those questions, and Emma and Tarek share a few steamy moments in-between being menaced by mummies. This is a cute Valentine's Day romance for people who have always loved Ancient Egypt and the odd burial customs. Plus there's nothing like a mutual menace to bring a couple closer.
I'm a huge fan of all of the old Black and White mummy movies with Boris Karloff! I didn't think that Tarek's character was given much weight--we never learned much about him, except for he's a dentist and he was "taken over" by the male mummy while on a tour of the pyramids. And the relationship between Emma and Tarek seemed really forced. I realize they're both acting out the desires of the two mummies, but what happens after that? Do they still have a connection? Or was it all the "others?" This is hinted at in the middle of the book, when they kiss, then both pull apart, embarrassed by the intimacy they've just shared. Doesn't seem to point to a HEA to me. But like I said, others might enjoy this for the mummies and the "insta-love."
 | She’d slept in, got covered in mud, almost set fire to the ladies' room, and then lost her job. So what else could happen? Mia Bruce, 54, couldn't believe how bad her day started out but that chain of events led to something amazing—she started her own business! Karl Miller, 55, multi-millionaire, business owner and bisexual partner to Liam, couldn't believe his eyes when he found the half-naked staff member in the ladies' room. Instead of a fire in the bathroom, he found a fire in his heart. |
Liam Kelly, 53, world-renowned artist, and Karl's life partner, meets Mia on the worst day of her life. He's smitten as much as Karl. Now all the two men have to do is convince Mia she needs two men in her life. Seems easy?
No. Not when she dislikes Karl at first sight.
Be Warned: menage sex (MMF), m/m sex, spanking
No. Not when she dislikes Karl at first sight.
Be Warned: menage sex (MMF), m/m sex, spanking
- SNEAK PEEK -
Mia Bruce’s day simply went from bad to worse.
To start with, somehow, she’d set the wrong button on her alarm and it woke her at four in the morning instead of seven. When Mia fell back to sleep after resetting it, she slept through three snooze buttons and ended up doing a mad dash to shower, dress, and then race for the bus.
Thinking the worst was over, she got off the bus alongside the large construction site opposite the huge office building where she worked for General Finance Corp. Unfortunately, it had rained heavily overnight and, as the bus pulled away, it drove through a large mud-filled puddle of run-off and soil from the dirty building site. One side of her dress from hip to hem, as well as her legs and shoes, were soaked with dirty brown water and soiled with large clumps of sticky brown mud.
Fuck! Can today get any worse?
“Probably,” she muttered while trying to brush off the worst of the mud. She thought about going back home but today was an important one at work so instead, after sighing, she climbed the steps to the front doors. A very dirty and angry Mia stomped into the office building then entered the elevator and jabbed the button for her floor. Two minutes to nine.
“Yay, made it on time,” she sneered, her voice full of sarcasm as she took the elevator to the thirtieth floor.
Today, the new regime began. The company had been sold to Tower Financials and rumors were rife there were going to be a lot of layoffs. Mia was the assistant to the big boss’s PA—a sort of PA’s A. The PA, Liz Chambers, dealt with the higher-ups while Mia dealt with the lower-downs. Liz’s office was in the breathtaking area with the bosses while hers was downstairs with the minions. Still, she liked the work and the company, having worked for them for the past fifteen years, and Liz was a great friend as well as her immediate supervisor.
Quickly throwing her bag into her bottom drawer when she was in her office, Mia surveyed the damage to her clothes. Damn. The mud and slush on one side stood out against the blue of her dress. Her legs hadn’t fared much better and her shoes were caked. She’d have to try to wash out the worst of the mud, especially knowing she’d have to face the new regime leaders. After making sure there was nothing urgent for her to deal with immediately, she raced into the ladies’ room. If she were quick, she should be able to clean up in fifteen minutes. The easiest thing to do would be to take the dress off, wash the muddy parts, and then dry it under the hand-dryer. And that was exactly what Mia did. Too bad if any of the girls came in. She needed the dress reasonably clean and dry.
Drying it was tricky, but apart from the hand-dryer overheating and smelling quite a bit, she managed to get the iris-blue dress dry. Now for her legs and shoes. Draping the now-dry dress over the paper towel dispenser, she washed her shoes and slipped them back on. Using dozens of sheets of wet paper, Mia began washing her legs. Bending over, her back to the door, dressed in just her shoes, red lacy panties, and matching bra, Mia heard the door open and groaned. Probably Tracy from the typing pool. She seemed to always be in the bathroom. There was a soft cough but she ignored her and finished washing her legs until she heard a much louder, deeper, cough. Looking around her legs without bothering to stand up, she got the shock of her life.
Casually leaning against the wall, arms folded and one leg crossed over the other with the toes balancing him, was a hunk. A fire extinguisher sat at his feet. She stood quickly and faced him.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing in here? Get out!”
To start with, somehow, she’d set the wrong button on her alarm and it woke her at four in the morning instead of seven. When Mia fell back to sleep after resetting it, she slept through three snooze buttons and ended up doing a mad dash to shower, dress, and then race for the bus.
Thinking the worst was over, she got off the bus alongside the large construction site opposite the huge office building where she worked for General Finance Corp. Unfortunately, it had rained heavily overnight and, as the bus pulled away, it drove through a large mud-filled puddle of run-off and soil from the dirty building site. One side of her dress from hip to hem, as well as her legs and shoes, were soaked with dirty brown water and soiled with large clumps of sticky brown mud.
Fuck! Can today get any worse?
“Probably,” she muttered while trying to brush off the worst of the mud. She thought about going back home but today was an important one at work so instead, after sighing, she climbed the steps to the front doors. A very dirty and angry Mia stomped into the office building then entered the elevator and jabbed the button for her floor. Two minutes to nine.
“Yay, made it on time,” she sneered, her voice full of sarcasm as she took the elevator to the thirtieth floor.
Today, the new regime began. The company had been sold to Tower Financials and rumors were rife there were going to be a lot of layoffs. Mia was the assistant to the big boss’s PA—a sort of PA’s A. The PA, Liz Chambers, dealt with the higher-ups while Mia dealt with the lower-downs. Liz’s office was in the breathtaking area with the bosses while hers was downstairs with the minions. Still, she liked the work and the company, having worked for them for the past fifteen years, and Liz was a great friend as well as her immediate supervisor.
Quickly throwing her bag into her bottom drawer when she was in her office, Mia surveyed the damage to her clothes. Damn. The mud and slush on one side stood out against the blue of her dress. Her legs hadn’t fared much better and her shoes were caked. She’d have to try to wash out the worst of the mud, especially knowing she’d have to face the new regime leaders. After making sure there was nothing urgent for her to deal with immediately, she raced into the ladies’ room. If she were quick, she should be able to clean up in fifteen minutes. The easiest thing to do would be to take the dress off, wash the muddy parts, and then dry it under the hand-dryer. And that was exactly what Mia did. Too bad if any of the girls came in. She needed the dress reasonably clean and dry.
Drying it was tricky, but apart from the hand-dryer overheating and smelling quite a bit, she managed to get the iris-blue dress dry. Now for her legs and shoes. Draping the now-dry dress over the paper towel dispenser, she washed her shoes and slipped them back on. Using dozens of sheets of wet paper, Mia began washing her legs. Bending over, her back to the door, dressed in just her shoes, red lacy panties, and matching bra, Mia heard the door open and groaned. Probably Tracy from the typing pool. She seemed to always be in the bathroom. There was a soft cough but she ignored her and finished washing her legs until she heard a much louder, deeper, cough. Looking around her legs without bothering to stand up, she got the shock of her life.
Casually leaning against the wall, arms folded and one leg crossed over the other with the toes balancing him, was a hunk. A fire extinguisher sat at his feet. She stood quickly and faced him.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing in here? Get out!”
 | Ms Shearer is giving away an ecopy of Sweet things or a book from her backlist, reader's choice! |
TO ENTER COMMENT BELOW:
1. What did you like about the sneak peek?
2. Have you read Suzy Shearer before?
For extra entries share this post using the Facebook and Twitter buttons below. Good luck!
1. What did you like about the sneak peek?
2. Have you read Suzy Shearer before?
For extra entries share this post using the Facebook and Twitter buttons below. Good luck!
Winners:
$10 gift card: Sandra
Ecopy of Sweet Things: Linda
Backlist book of Suzy Shearer: Deb
Prize list book: Maria
 | Title: Of Tinkers and Technomancers The Whitfield Files 1 Author: Katherine McIntyre Genre: Romance, Steampunk, Adventure TBR Reviewer: Christine Rating: 5 Stars - A Must Read! Heat: 3/5 - Blush Worthy! |
Theo’s sister has gone missing. She stuck working with Silas and she’s not happy about that but he’s the best person to help her find her sister. Their hunt only leads them into more danger and his desire for her grows along with his respect. Will she feel the same? Will they find her sister before it’s too late? Let the steampunk mystery begin…
I am a little none traditional with this series. I read the second book first and loved it. I am so excited to get a copy of the first book Of Tinkers and Technomancers. I’m a huge fan of steampunk and This series reminds me a lot of the London Steampunk series by Bec McMaster. I loved Theo (not her name though, because Theo is a guy’s name in these parts so it is confusing at first). She has spunk that really grabbed me. Silas is a gentleman, kind of. He’s a sexy man that is determined to help her. Together they face danger and mystery. Magic and machines play a fabulous roll. I love the world building. The way the author describes the steampunk elements and the world is fantastic. I was gripped from the first page to the very last. I HAVE to read the next book.
If you like steampunk or if you’ve never read steampunk, Of Tinkers and Technomancers is a must read!
Book review of the second book can be found HERE.
I am a little none traditional with this series. I read the second book first and loved it. I am so excited to get a copy of the first book Of Tinkers and Technomancers. I’m a huge fan of steampunk and This series reminds me a lot of the London Steampunk series by Bec McMaster. I loved Theo (not her name though, because Theo is a guy’s name in these parts so it is confusing at first). She has spunk that really grabbed me. Silas is a gentleman, kind of. He’s a sexy man that is determined to help her. Together they face danger and mystery. Magic and machines play a fabulous roll. I love the world building. The way the author describes the steampunk elements and the world is fantastic. I was gripped from the first page to the very last. I HAVE to read the next book.
If you like steampunk or if you’ve never read steampunk, Of Tinkers and Technomancers is a must read!
Book review of the second book can be found HERE.
Giveaway:
| | Ms. McIntyre is giving away a copy Of Tinkers and Technomancers! The TBR Pile is giving away a $20 AMAZON GIFT CARD or a prize list book. |
TO ENTER COMMENT BELOW:
1. Why do you want to read Of Tinkers and Technomancers?
2. Have you read Katerine McIntyre before?
For extra entries share this post using the Facebook and Twitter buttons below. Good luck!
1. Why do you want to read Of Tinkers and Technomancers?
2. Have you read Katerine McIntyre before?
For extra entries share this post using the Facebook and Twitter buttons below. Good luck!
Winners:
$20 gift card: Melissa W.
Ecopy of Tinkers and Technomancers: Misty
Prize list book: Linda
 | ~ An Editor's Pick! ~If you had the ability to travel through time and start again on a grand adventure, would you? As a lonely older woman, Rose escapes into her books. With the power from a forgotten heirloom and repressed magic, she finds herself in 17th century Scotland as a young maiden. Communicating with dragons. And encountering an appealing Highlander with every time jump. Will Rose remain content with her solitary life, not chancing to upset the past, or will she make a leap through time for everlasting love? |
Sneak Peek
Without fear, Rose stood and marched toward the melee. “Wha’ is the meanin’ o’ this?” she yelled, her brogue even thicker than before.
The scene froze—man and beast halting as if stunned. When the biggest of the men looked her way and attempted a step in her direction, Drax snarled, ready to burn the fool to a crisp.
“Drax!” Rose said, holding up her hand. “Will ye give him a chance to explain? If yer no’ satisfied with his answer, then ye can fry his arse. He did invade yer cavern, after all.”
The man stood with his mouth agape and let the tip of his sword fall against the rock floor, the clang echoing off the walls around them. Drax drew in a breath and slowly exhaled, smoke emanating from his orifices.
Rose stood tall, crossing her arms across her chest as the men remained silently stunned.
“Well, wha’s yer explanation for attackin’ these dragons? Be quick about it, as I don’ think they’re long on patience.”
At that moment, Farrah grunted and a tiny flame shot from her nose.
“Well?” Rose said again, looking to the man who appeared to be the leader. As she eyed his tartan, she realized he was the man on horseback she’d seen in the meadow. Her gaze caught his, and the stare from his gray-green eyes teetered between awestruck and disbelief.
“Who are ye?” he asked.
“That’s the question you should be answering. Who are you to come uninvited into Drax’s mountain? Who are you to raise your swords against the dragons? What have they ever done to ye to deserve such action?”
The man’s mouth fell open once again as one of his companions looked on with a shocked expression while the other practically grinned.
“And you two.” Rose pointed to each man. “Yer accomplices and won’t be spared from any punishment deemed appropriate.” At that moment, Eryth grunted and nudged the grinning fool until he nearly toppled over.
“Eryth, give him a chance.” When there seemed to be silence, Eryth was actually talking to Rose, only the men of course couldn’t hear the conversation. “Yes, I know he almost hit ye. And ye nearly fried him to a crisp. But at least give them a chance. Harmony is our goal, is it no’?”
With one more grunt from Eryth, Rose turned to the leader. But before she could say a word, he spoke. Rather rudely. “Are ye speakin’ with these beasts?” His lip curled as the last word sputtered from his mouth.
“These beasts are dragons, with names, and they’re my friends.”
The man scoffed, but he was quickly put in his place when Drax snarled at him, puffing heated smoke in his face. He backed up a step, his grip tightening on his claymore.
“You’d better relax and answer my questions, or I can’t be responsible for wha’ may happen next.” Rose felt the corner of her mouth tip in a smirk. Truth be told, she was enjoying this bit of power she seemed to hold over these intruders.
The scene froze—man and beast halting as if stunned. When the biggest of the men looked her way and attempted a step in her direction, Drax snarled, ready to burn the fool to a crisp.
“Drax!” Rose said, holding up her hand. “Will ye give him a chance to explain? If yer no’ satisfied with his answer, then ye can fry his arse. He did invade yer cavern, after all.”
The man stood with his mouth agape and let the tip of his sword fall against the rock floor, the clang echoing off the walls around them. Drax drew in a breath and slowly exhaled, smoke emanating from his orifices.
Rose stood tall, crossing her arms across her chest as the men remained silently stunned.
“Well, wha’s yer explanation for attackin’ these dragons? Be quick about it, as I don’ think they’re long on patience.”
At that moment, Farrah grunted and a tiny flame shot from her nose.
“Well?” Rose said again, looking to the man who appeared to be the leader. As she eyed his tartan, she realized he was the man on horseback she’d seen in the meadow. Her gaze caught his, and the stare from his gray-green eyes teetered between awestruck and disbelief.
“Who are ye?” he asked.
“That’s the question you should be answering. Who are you to come uninvited into Drax’s mountain? Who are you to raise your swords against the dragons? What have they ever done to ye to deserve such action?”
The man’s mouth fell open once again as one of his companions looked on with a shocked expression while the other practically grinned.
“And you two.” Rose pointed to each man. “Yer accomplices and won’t be spared from any punishment deemed appropriate.” At that moment, Eryth grunted and nudged the grinning fool until he nearly toppled over.
“Eryth, give him a chance.” When there seemed to be silence, Eryth was actually talking to Rose, only the men of course couldn’t hear the conversation. “Yes, I know he almost hit ye. And ye nearly fried him to a crisp. But at least give them a chance. Harmony is our goal, is it no’?”
With one more grunt from Eryth, Rose turned to the leader. But before she could say a word, he spoke. Rather rudely. “Are ye speakin’ with these beasts?” His lip curled as the last word sputtered from his mouth.
“These beasts are dragons, with names, and they’re my friends.”
The man scoffed, but he was quickly put in his place when Drax snarled at him, puffing heated smoke in his face. He backed up a step, his grip tightening on his claymore.
“You’d better relax and answer my questions, or I can’t be responsible for wha’ may happen next.” Rose felt the corner of her mouth tip in a smirk. Truth be told, she was enjoying this bit of power she seemed to hold over these intruders.
| | Ms. Baird is giving away an ecopy of A Rose in Time. |
To ENTER COMMENT BELOW:
1. What did you like about the sneak peek?
2. Have you read Laura Baird before?
For extra entries share this post using the Facebook and Twitter buttons below.
1. What did you like about the sneak peek?
2. Have you read Laura Baird before?
For extra entries share this post using the Facebook and Twitter buttons below.
Winners:
$10 gift card: Jessica A.
Ecopy of Rose in Time: Fiona
 | Title: Half a Cowboy Author: Andrew Grey Length: 189 pages Genres: Contemporary romance, western, LGBTQ romance TBR Reviewer: Fiona Rating: 4 Stars - Highly Recommended Read! Heat: 3/5 - Blush Worthy! |
Texan Ben Malton is in a heap of trouble! He's had had a rough life. After his mom passed away when he was 12, he was bounced in and out of foster homes, many of which were abusive. He ran away at 17, and went to school briefly, hoping to be a paramedic, then changing to physical therapy. But when the money ran out, he did anything he could to support himself--including dancing in a bar. That's where he caught the eye of a major drug dealer named Dallas, who offered him a place to live, filled with all of the nice things money can buy. The catch was he became Dallas' plaything, existing only as the toy that Dallas played with--but also abused whenever he felt like it. Ben never realized how afraid he could be, until he made the decision to run away from Dallas. That's how he ended up in Wyoming in an old beater car, driving too quickly on snowy roads, until his car went off the road into a ditch. He walked as far as he could, while slowly freezing to death. He saw a building that turned out to be a barn, and fell into an exhausted sleep under some horse blankets in an unused paddock.
Ashton Covert owns the Wyoming ranch he grew up on, and inherited from his father. Ash spend time in the military, as an MP, then started a security agency in California with one of his buddies from the service. When a female celebrity's stalker objected to them arresting him, he drove into Ash, crushing his leg under the wheels of a car, then backed over him again for good measure. So Ash is in a lot of pain from a barely usable leg that he doesn't have the money to have surgery or physical therapy for. When he finds the terrified young man in his outer barn, he invites him in out of innate kindness, to give the boy food and drink, and a warmer place to sleep in the cold of a Wyoming snowstorm.
For all of the violence in this story, it was a very sweet romance. Even the sex scenes were awash in love. Ash and Ben are obviously perfect for each other. Even the friends of Ash who are not gay, can see the growing love between them. But both men carry baggage they fear will turn off anything the other might feel. Ben doesn't want to repay the kindness shown to him on the ranch, by making Ash and his friends targets for when Dallas comes to retrieve him--because there is no doubt in his mind that Dallas won't allow him to get away. Ash fears that the much younger Ben should be enjoying life heartily, not stuck on a ranch with a handicapped older cowboy who can't even ride a horse anymore due to his leg pains. But each helps the other out because they quickly grow to care for each other. And their HEA means that both of them are made whole again--together.
Ashton Covert owns the Wyoming ranch he grew up on, and inherited from his father. Ash spend time in the military, as an MP, then started a security agency in California with one of his buddies from the service. When a female celebrity's stalker objected to them arresting him, he drove into Ash, crushing his leg under the wheels of a car, then backed over him again for good measure. So Ash is in a lot of pain from a barely usable leg that he doesn't have the money to have surgery or physical therapy for. When he finds the terrified young man in his outer barn, he invites him in out of innate kindness, to give the boy food and drink, and a warmer place to sleep in the cold of a Wyoming snowstorm.
For all of the violence in this story, it was a very sweet romance. Even the sex scenes were awash in love. Ash and Ben are obviously perfect for each other. Even the friends of Ash who are not gay, can see the growing love between them. But both men carry baggage they fear will turn off anything the other might feel. Ben doesn't want to repay the kindness shown to him on the ranch, by making Ash and his friends targets for when Dallas comes to retrieve him--because there is no doubt in his mind that Dallas won't allow him to get away. Ash fears that the much younger Ben should be enjoying life heartily, not stuck on a ranch with a handicapped older cowboy who can't even ride a horse anymore due to his leg pains. But each helps the other out because they quickly grow to care for each other. And their HEA means that both of them are made whole again--together.
 | Title: The Scent of Memory Author: Shari Elder Length: 33,800 words Genres: Sci-fi romance, 2nd chance at love TBR Reviewer: Fiona Rating: 5 Stars - A Must Read Heat: 3/5 - Blush Worthy |
Marisol Martinez is a widow with an eleven-year-old daughter who never met her father. He died in a mining accident right before Marisol found out she was pregnant. She's spent the past twelve years being a part of an inter-planetary resistance, trying to find proof that these "accidents" are being staged by an evil coalition, for nefarious purposes that no one can discover.
Captain, or "Cap" is a cyborg programmed to be a leader. He's spent the past decade protecting all of the members of his cyborg unit. On his way to a "pleasure planet" that even provides relief for the partly-human cyborgs, there is an explosion aboard their spaceship, and all are forced to eject in pods
WOW! This book hit all of my buttons! Futuristic sci-fi, steamy-hot romance, and strong independent heroine meets strong, sexy hero. When brought to Marisol's planet, it turns out that two of the cyborgs are people who were presumed lost in the mining explosion--and one of them is Marisol's fiancé, Aren. Except that Cap has no memories of having been Aren. He does, however, still react to the scent of Marisol's perfume, and eventually, her body. I love that scents are the trigger to such powerful and repressed memories. Cap's cyborg enhancements are not gross, but not designed to be attractive either. The romance between Marisol and Cap grows slowly, brought on by their intense sexual attraction. Could it be that his cells remember hers? Because he doesn't. These two characters both grow during the story, and learn how to love again. And along the way the story of the resistance is told, and the nefarious plot is revealed. There is a HEA for Marisol and Cap. It won't be easy for them to live in peace but they will live to fight another day.
Captain, or "Cap" is a cyborg programmed to be a leader. He's spent the past decade protecting all of the members of his cyborg unit. On his way to a "pleasure planet" that even provides relief for the partly-human cyborgs, there is an explosion aboard their spaceship, and all are forced to eject in pods
WOW! This book hit all of my buttons! Futuristic sci-fi, steamy-hot romance, and strong independent heroine meets strong, sexy hero. When brought to Marisol's planet, it turns out that two of the cyborgs are people who were presumed lost in the mining explosion--and one of them is Marisol's fiancé, Aren. Except that Cap has no memories of having been Aren. He does, however, still react to the scent of Marisol's perfume, and eventually, her body. I love that scents are the trigger to such powerful and repressed memories. Cap's cyborg enhancements are not gross, but not designed to be attractive either. The romance between Marisol and Cap grows slowly, brought on by their intense sexual attraction. Could it be that his cells remember hers? Because he doesn't. These two characters both grow during the story, and learn how to love again. And along the way the story of the resistance is told, and the nefarious plot is revealed. There is a HEA for Marisol and Cap. It won't be easy for them to live in peace but they will live to fight another day.
