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Kyle has an unwelcome crush on his nemesis Brent. Brent has a welcome crush on his friend Kyle. As it turns out, the line between a friend and an enemy doesn’t have to be a line at all.
Born on the wrong side of the tracks to the wrong family, Kyle Potter. When he gets the perfect job at the perfect firm in perfect Los Angeles, Kyle is sure there are only blue skies ahead. Born with a silver spoon to a well-established family, Brent has never been interested in leveraging his connections. Friends, success, and dates come easily to Brent and rejection isn’t something he has to deal with in life. And then he meets perfect Kyle Potter. |
 Erotica - Novella TBR Reviewer: Luta Wolf BlurbKat has been The Tattoo Lady for five years and she has been propositioned for nearly everything by paying customers outside her cage. Devon’s proposition is something new, to be a prop in a photo shoot. She accepts and is delighted to find the model she will act as prop for is a beautiful woman. Tiffany is entranced by the exotically erotic woman and would do anything to run her fingers over those lines of ink. Their photo shoot leads to drinking and a threesome that none of them can forget. Can Kat risk her place among the freaks of the circus for the chance of meeting them again? Is there any hope of another night in their arms? Review  Put a freak, a model, and a photographer with some wine together and watch the fireworks happen. Afterwards is more uncertain. Can a freak ever leave the freak show and can three ever be more than a one night stand. This is a short no holds bar erotica. The characters and plot aren’t bad either. Kat and Tiffany are very different women as far as looks. One is tall and exotic with cheetah tattoos all over her body and the other average height, with creamy, white, unblemished skin. Inside however they are very much alike, sexually uninhibited, confident, and in their own way cautious. Devon looks at the world with an artistic gaze, very professional, and laid back. The plot is one that I’ve never come across before but pulled together rather beautifully. Surprisingly it isn’t the length that lacked but instead there were some missing details. One character went from having green eyes to brown and you never get a good character description on Devon. While the sex was really hot, I wished there had been more emotion between all three characters instead of just lust. It’s good and I don’t regret reading it but with a little more attention to details it could have easily gone further. Excerpt and purchase here+Giveaway  Novella TBR reviewer: Cathy BlurbA young veteran of the Iraq war drives across America while struggling to find his place in the country he just defended. Confronted with complacent attitudes and narrow minds, he realizes his fellow citizens don’t even understand America is at war, let alone respect his sacrifice. At least he has his fellow Marines from his second tour of duty, along with a mysterious girl who is waiting for him on the East Coast. Or so he thinks. Travel with this veteran through the barren desert of California all the way to New York City as he learns about modern America, as well as himself. Review This was an unusual novella. I had rather mixed feelings about it until the ending – which was a bit of a jaw-dropper. I thought it was rather clever and very definitely worth reading. I was attracted by the book's hook; a war veteran, Frank, travels across the Californian desert to New York to meet up with a girlfriend and drop in on his close ex-comrades along the way. I was keen to read how a war veteran copes with 'normal' life after being part of indescribable horrors—ones no young man today really imagines he will witness—and how Frank would readjust, mentally. Having only been to America a couple of times, I thought too, I might learn about a different part of this vast country. The novella is written in the first person and in the present tense (although it did once wander off course). Frank describes how he ended up fighting for his country; I'm not so sure that in the beginning it was for all the right reasons, but certainly, by the time his second tour of duty was over, the patriotism of this young man is very evident. As he travels across the desert and stops to catch up with his friends or to rest, he encounters various people who realise from his appearance that he is or was a Marine. It is on these occasions he discovers an indifferent attitude to war and those that serve in it—an attitude that riles him somewhat, believing he deserves more for putting his young life on the line for his country and it engenders a level of cynicism in him. He is keen to get to his destination and the lovely girlfriend he is eager to spend maybe a little time with, maybe a lifetime with, who knows, and to reacquaint himself with civilian life, albeit with a different perspective. His last port of call, however, gives him some answers to where his destiny lies…….. This story isn't great literature – the language is harsh,regional and rough-edged. The sentiments, however, are clear and thought-provoking. Just as you begin to think that this is a hard-hitting, but sometimes poignant collection of reflections from a hardened war veteran which looks as if it will end rather sweetly……you get a metaphoric slap in the face. As it happens, I didn't learn anymore about America's geography. However, despite Frank's perception of his own compatriots' lackadaisical attitude to war, personally, I have never undervalued the sacrifice made by men and women who put their lives at such tremendous risk and the respect, awe and admiration I have for them is beyond measure. ExcerptThe freeway descends from the Rockies into the Denver skyline and the Great Plains beyond. I’m stuck in rush hour and something is off. If Colorado is in the Wild West, it sure doesn’t feel like it. I’ve passed several ski resorts and seen too many damn rich people on vacation with their Salomon skis on Thule roof racks, Botox injections, Dior sunglasses, and L.L.Bean jackets. This is not my scene. Billboard after billboard advertises car insurance, iCrap, and cell phone plans. We’re engaged in a brutal fight in Iraq and Afghanistan, but everything here’s a grand diversion set up to keep people boxed in as dedicated consumers. I’m on my way to visit Mark Thomas, who’s going to school up in Boulder. He was one of my guys, and a damn smart dude. He knew politics inside and out. He was in the Marines because he came from a messed up family and needed the money for college. It’s good to see he’s using the GI Bill to do what he really wants. He has served his time, and I’m glad he’s getting something back for it. During chow he’d talk about why we shouldn’t be in Iraq. He went on and on about how there are no WMDs, that we have no business being involved in the Middle East, and that the war effort is one big joke. I usually ignored that hippie shit, but Mark made some interesting points from time to time. To avoid getting the shit beaten out of him, he never mentioned his opinions to anyone else. During Mark’s diatribes, I’d usually give acknowledging grunts and nods, but whenever he veered into the ridiculous, I’d look to the side as a subtle way of showing my disagreement. Even though he didn’t believe in what the White House and Pentagon were doing, he was still a good Marine. Mark told me to meet him in the middle of his “guerilla activism”at this park on campus. I had no idea what the hell he was talking about, nor what to expect. Pulling off the freeway into Boulder, I see lots of people walking dogs outside fancy houses and coffee shops. It reminds me of when we used to go up to Ann Arbor to party in high school. But this town has broader lawns, smaller dogs, and nicer cars. I’m used to seeing college kids with couches on their porches and beer bottles tossed onto the sidewalks, but this place, shit, it’s too nice. I pull into an overpriced parking structure and set out to find Mark. I hear drums banging away in the distance, so I figure that must be the source of this “guerilla activism.” On the walk over, I pass all sorts of multicolored flyers stapled to telephone poles that announce the protest tonight against the war. The flyers proclaim nonsense like“1,000,000Dead in Iraq and Counting” (that’s ridiculous), “No Blood for Oil!”(we never put Iraqi oil into our vehicles), and “Fuck the War” (whatever). I walk by kids who wear University of Colorado sweatshirts, carry massive backpacks with “Obama for Change in ‘08” buttons dangling from the zippers, and shuffle around in blown-out flip-flops. Purchase at AmazonPurchase at Barnes and NoblesContestMr. Salvette is giving away an ecopy to one lucky winner! To enter comment below. Contest ends October 1st.
 Paranormal - Novel TBR reviewer: Shyla BlurbGunnar Eriksson, a two-hundred-year-old werewolf, knows there’s no place in his life for love because everyone close to him is doomed. And then he meets Stella O’Sullivan, the one destined to be his, and battles with his instinctive need to claim her. Stella is instantly attracted to the ruggedly handsome Gunnar Eriksson, but soon discovers he is a man with secrets, a man filled with pain, a man plagued with inner demons. And as her attraction for him mounts, so does her compassion and warmth. She discovers he is grieving for his dead son. As their passion and attraction heightens, a sinister plot unfolds. An evil so malevolent, her life is in danger. And Gunnar must race against time to save Stella. Review  Lycan Mate was a tasty morsel I could really sink my teeth into. It had complex characters, an ever twisting plot, and a heroine and hero with some real depth! The heroine Stella is independent, intelligent, witty and powerful. One of three sisters with psychic powers she has a gift for finding things that are lost, reading the cards, and healing with a touch. I adored that her power was both a curse and a blessing depending on the circumstances. Ms. Maltezos did a bang up job of keeping things very realistic as she showed the good, the bad and the ugly. The unusual gift Stella possess has led her to keep her own company for the most part as she runs the bed and breakfast she inherited from her grandmother. Other than the occasional bout of loneliness, she’s doing just fine until our hero Gunnar books a room at Serenity and turns things upside down. Gunnar is a wounded man. Haunted by the death of his son on the heels of a divorce Gunnar has just begun to pick up the pieces of his life.Once a famous author, he’s been out of the lime light since tragedy struck. He seeks out the bed and breakfast, Serenity, for a quiet place to finish his first foray back into the literary world. Fortunately for us, serenity is the last thing Gunnar finds when he walks in and is struck down by the scent of the long haired beauty that tempts him to forget his past. Determined not to experience the pain of loss ever again. The desire he feels for Stella threatens his resolve to remain a lone wolf, literally. Did I fail to mention tall, broad and handsome happens to be a lycan? You can’t help but feel bad for this poor guy. He’s taken one hit after another, and the worst part is he blames himself. Pulled together by an unexplainable attraction. ( Cough, mates), Gunnar and Stella discover they fit together better than they could’ve imagined. All is not what it seems in the quiet town that houses Serenity. Danger lurks outside Stella’s door, and its bearer could break them as easily as he could bring them together to fight as one. I know it sounds good right? The sex is well written, albeit tame. But I think the story more than makes up for it, and it suits the characters. I just can’t see Stella getting down and dirty in a way that would make you blush. This was a great read I recommend. Excerpt and purchase link here+Giveaway  Romance - Novel TBR Reviewer: R.B BlurbWhen Alexa took a job in Ireland searching for the lost O'Shea treasure, she had no idea what she signing up for. Between vivid dreams, ghosts, and the old Irish legend that surrounds the castle, she is overwhelmed.When she finds out the man she's been working so closely with is actually the heir to the O'Shea fortune, she is upset that once again a man has surrounded her with lies. Their relationship is further tested when a friend from the United States comes for a visit and Liam believes she's been telling her own tales.Will their love prevail? Will Alexa find the missing treasure and discover her heart's desire? Review  Once again, I was delighted to read one of Kelly Yeakle’s novels. In The Legacy Keepers Treasure we are taken to land of lore and fables… Ireland! As I read the story, I became a little disappointed with the way it was going. Alexa Malone is a recently divorced, strong, independent woman on assignment to find the O’Shea treasure. Upon arriving in Ireland, she is plagued with strange dreams of the past. Determined to find out what they mean, she embarks on a journey of finding her true self and true love. Liam O’Shea is determined to keep his true identity a secret from Alexa. Throughout the story we learn why Alexa was chosen to do this find and why Liam chose to keep his identity from Alexa. Their love story is linked to both of their ancestor’s pasts. This story seemed to focus more on Quinn and Katherine instead of the story of Alexa and Liam. It wasn’t until the very end that you find out the reason the story of the past is so important. Legacy’s Keeper’s Treasure could have had a little more intrigue and adventure. The story was typical “our love is linked to the past” story telling. I have come to really enjoy Ms. Yeakle’s books and this one was not as great. I might recommend it. ExcerptThe crowd around the bar area had finally began to thin out as Seamus took his place back on the stage. When she knew she’d no longer have to scream to be heard, Alexa focused on Marilyn. She hopped onto an empty bar stool and began her interrogation. “Tell me I’m not crazy.” “You’re not crazy,” Marilyn repeated back. “Seriously, Marilyn. Who was dancing with me? Did you see him?” “Yes, I did.” “And?” “He had the most piercing blue eyes I’ve ever seen, and you already know him.” Marilyn smiled as she handed Sean another empty glass. Alexa scanned the crowd again. Her heart seemed to skip a beat, her breath caught in her throat when she saw him. Standing against the wall, as he had done the very first time at the pub, Liam was like a knight poised for battle. His hair was mussed up, his shirt open, revealing a glimpse of his muscular chest, and his eyes burned a hole straight through her. Heat spread below her stomach. Something about him always drew her in. She’d kept her distance at work, trying to focus on the job and not the handyman. She’d fought the urge to touch him a million times. Alexa knew that one touch would never be enough; she’d be in his bed if she didn’t keep her distance. There was too much in her life riding on this venture. “Shall I drive you home?” Marilyn asked, preparing to leave. She had an early morning lunch shift the next day. “No.” Alexa was a little too quick to answer. “I think I’d like to hear Seamus’ last set. I’ll have Sean phone me a taxi when I’m ready.” “I’ll be sure to leave the door unlocked for you, unless you’d like to take my key.” Marilyn held up her key ring. “I won’t be much longer. If it’s not too much trouble, just leave the door unlocked for me.” “It’s not a problem. I’ll see you tomorrow after work. Phone me if anything comes up tonight.” She made sure Alexa knew she was looking past her to catch the attention of the blue-eyed man across the bar. Liam nodded in acknowledgement and smiled. Marilyn gave Sean a quick kiss, patted Alexa on the shoulder, and left the bar. Alexa stayed seated on the bar stool, eyes locked on Liam. If he wanted to talk to her, he would have to come to her. She wasn’t chasing after him, even though her very female parts were telling her she should. Purchase at Decadent PublishingContestMs Yeakle is giving away an ecopy to one lucky winner! To enter comment below. Contest ends September 30th.
 Paranormal - Novel TBR reviewer: Luta Wolf BlurbIs he the man of her dreams…or her worst nightmare? All Katy Lyndhurst wants is a normal suburban Sleepy Hollow life, despite the strange things that keep happening to her. Blistering hot erotic dreams bleed into her waking hours, making her yearn for her dream lover to materialize. When her sexy dream voyager, Ryck, shows up in the flesh and ignites her steamiest passions, she wonders if he's a sultry fantasy conjured by her fevered brain…or something much more dangerous? Centuries ago, a wicked succubus cursed Ryck Van Winkle to fulfill the desires of sleeping women while unable to take pleasure himself. Only Katy possesses the power to break the spell and awaken him. But Ryck’s defiance sparks the demon’s fury, causing supernatural portals to crumble and allowing demonic minions to threaten Katy and her world. Now Katy and Ryck must battle the forces of darkness together. But will Ryck will be trapped forever in her Sleepy Hollow Dreams? Review  Katy moves back to Sleepy Hollow her hometown in hopes of having a normal life. She has the house, the job, but thanks to all the strange happenings she can’t seem to keep a man around. She’d be upset if it weren’t for her erotic dreams of Ryck. When Ryck becomes apart of her waking life she finds that she might want a normal life but she desires him more. This sexy little romp is perfect for the upcoming scary holiday, Halloween. The plot revolves around Katy who just always seems to attract strange happenings despite wanting a normal life. Ryck has been cursed into the dream world by an evil succubus, never to know one woman more than once. Something about Katy changes all this, changes Ryck from a selfish rouge to a man determined to think of someone other than himself. There could have been more details in the character description and the plot itself. Despite that it was a fast, fun, erotic read that kept my attention. The steamy scenes kept my toes curled as they were never the same. I loved the interesting twist to the Sleepy Hollow legend. All together it is the great, naughty Halloween read. Excerpt and purchase link here (only $3.75)+Giveaway  Romance - Novella TBR reviewer: Cathy BlurbIsolation has become Adelaide Warren's solace. She lives far from civilization, up in the hills of West Virginia, after the end of the Civil War and the death of her husband. When Josiah Hamilton finds his way to her doorstep, nearly frozen to death one stormy winter night, she nurses him back to life. They form a fast friendship, which soon becomes more. When Josiah professes his love for her, she refutes him. But when tragedy strikes, it’s Josiah who comes to her rescue. Now, Adelaide is forced to confront her love for him which she has both denied and hidden. A proposal is made. Will she accept him? If she does, what does that mean for her future? Review  Novellas are difficult to get right, I think; their length means an author has to get the content well-balanced and there is only a short space of time to get the plot/character development to a satisfactory level. Set in the late 1800s, Adelaide's War is a simple story about a widow, Adelaide, whose husband died in the North and South war. The circumstances of his death and his allegiance are brought into question after his demise. To avoid the unpleasant lash back from townsfolk, Adelaide retreats into isolation, living alone and frugally. Her solitude is broken one harsh, snow-stormy night, when she finds a man, Josiah, frozen and half-conscious at her front door. She nurses him to good health. He too has lost loved ones, it transpires; they both feel, by this common link, that there is a bond between them, but she is resistant to anything resembling an advance by Josiah. A subsequent near-death experience for Adelaide ultimately helps her decide what course her life should take. And back to my comment on novellas; in this particular instance, whilst Adelaide is an admirable, independent character (I did quite like her) and Josiah an honorable man, the story was lackluster and the speed with which events unfold stretched my credibility too far –especially when no more than a kiss passes between the couple. The plot outline is reasonable enough, and if the book had been longer, both the plot and the characters (who were worth getting to know more) could have been developed more fully. I felt the book lacked substance, although I did warm to Ms. Kees easy-going style. I was disappointed to find some errors in the book, too many for a short story. In one instance, Adelaide's former husband’s name was used instead of Josiah's and others that should have been avoided. The book is short. Multiple rereads to eliminate these and other typos should not have been a problem. It only took me a short car journey to read this book, but I felt quite flat at the end of this novella. ExcerptAdelaide was outside, chopping kindling when she first spotted Josiah off in the distance. Her heart leapt and that feeling startled her. He was nothing more than a stranger, and no more than a friend at most. Yet, she was overjoyed at his impending presence. How silly, she thought. I’m a grown woman, not some girl set about waiting for a beau to court her. That part of her life had long since passed and was buried and gone along with James. Or was it? “What brings you out this way?” she asked, upon his approach, doing her best to maintain calm and collected. Just the slightest hint of coyness tinged her voice. “I was passing through, and I thought I’d stop in,” he said, with an added grin. “How’s the farm?” “It’s been good. This spring, planting will take a lot of work and of course the fall harvest. This isn’t our busiest time of year. And yourself?” “I’m pretty good,” she replied. “Trapper Marg was around to trade some rabbits for my jam. She’s around quite often when making her runs. Other than that, it’s quiet as expected. Just the way I like it.” Adelaide motioned to the cabin. “There’s coffee and fresh buns, if you’re interested. It beats standing out here in the cold.” “Sound good,” he replied. “Lead on.” She poured coffee and set a plate of buns on the table before taking her seat across from Josiah. “I couldn’t help but notice the rifle next to the door. Are you nervous being here alone? Is that why you keep it close?” “Josiah,” she started. “I don’t kid myself about the realities of this world. And yes, I am a woman alone. This may not be the best place for me, but it’s home. Where else would I go? Town isn’t an option. I can hardly bear going there for supplies when I have to.” “I know about James,” he said. “And the talk. Don’t let them get to you. A house in town might be better for you.” He reached across the table and grabbed her hand. “I’m concerned.” “You’re bold. What they say about James isn’t true. I know it and I shouldn’t have to defend him to anyone.” “You don’t have to. Not to me, Adelaide.” She resisted the urge to pull away from him, to ask him to leave. He forced her into a most uncomfortable situation, and she wasn’t quite sure how to react. “I’m fine here. This cabin suits me fine. I’ve done so now for almost two years with no troubles. Besides, I wouldn’t fit in with…them. No, this is my home. This is where I’m meant to be.” “In time, they would accept you.” “They wouldn’t. They talk, they gossip and they say things…terrible things. I don’t want any part of that, ever.” She snatched her hand from his, her eyes falling to her cup. “Adelaide?” She didn’t dare look at him. Tears clouded her vision. How dare he bring this emotion out in her? “You know about James.” “Yes,” he said, with a nod. “If it had been true, surely I wouldn’t have received the letter I did after his death from the army.” “Would you allow me to see this letter?” Purchase at Evernight PublishingContestMs. Kees is giving away an ecopy to one lucky winner! To enter comment below. Contest ends September 27th.
+BIG giveaway!  Erotica - Novel TBR reviewer: Luta Wolf BlurbBelle Sterling loves to spy on her very sexy neighbors, Aden and Kevin, but she doesn't dare approach them to introduce herself. Until one night when they not only give her an erotic show, they hold a simple note against the window--"Come Over--#19." She does, and she has the night of her life. It soon becomes apparent to her that she's interested in a lot more than casual sex--but the two men have been in a relationship with each other for over a decade. Can they make room for her in their lives? That question becomes even more pressing when Kevin and Aden are forced to choose between professional advancement and Belle's best interests. They all must decide if what they share is merely searing sexual passion--or something far deeper. Review  Belle has been spying on the sexy men across from her building for awhile. She never dreamed that they have been spying right back. What’s a girl to do when they invite her over. Well join them of course! This novella leaves no doubt that Pepper Espinoza is an exceptional author. The story is so well told and visually stimulating that you feel as though you are there watching as the plot unfolds and feeling the emotions as they do. There were times that I wanted to throw the book across the room but I literally could not put it down. The plot is not only unusual, amusing, but it’s captivating as well. Belle is a young woman that hasn’t yet really reached maturity and because of this, there is this over whelming desire to shake her. Kevin is so prideful that it makes communication a difficulty though his love for Aden is a major redeeming quality. Aden is a charming rouge who would be a rascal if not for being honorable as well. The sex is so freaking hot it left me flushed and yet there is no condom ever used. That pretty much sums up how the threesome is. Dangerous, careless, and dynamic. Through the author visual, you see that these characters are meant to be together even if sometimes what they do to each other makes you feel differently. At the end of the book I was left with a lot of unanswered questions but in such a way that you know there will be a follow up story and I’ll be getting my hands on that follow up story. That’s what decided the rating for me, when you walk away from a book and an hour later your still thinking about then it’s accomplished something and deserves that recognition. Excerpt and Purchase linksContestNow for the Big giveaway. Ms. Espinoza is giving away 2 books from her etitles to one luck winner, and they get to pick which titles! Contest ends September 27th.
 M/M - Novel TBR reviewer: Luta Wolf BlurbIt's wedding bells in Waikiki! Honolulu's hottest forensic accountant, Mingo McCloud is set to marry his lover, Francois. Friends and family are coming from all over the world and just as the intrepid pair gets ready to say I do, they don't. A mysterious woman shows up at the service claiming to be the long lost wife of& not formerly single and straight Francois but Mingo! Mingo is stunned. Not the least because he's never dated a woman, much less married one. The whole family's now in an uproar, especially when the shady lady produces wedding pictures and love letters allegedly written by Mingo. He and Francois are determined to unravel the plot. For Mingo, the shocks don't stop coming. Seems he has a trail of busted female hearts behind him, as well as some serious grifting. What the heck is going on? Is he the victim of a conspiracy, or is something else afoot? Are parts of him awake when he is sleeping and doing things he knows nothing about? Note to readers: This title is Number 6 in the Mingo McCloud series, but can easily be read as a stand-alone book. Review  Everything is set for Mingo McCloud to marry his lover, Francois. That is until a surprise from his past catches up with him. Now the wedding is on the back burner until they can solve the mystery of a woman claiming to be Mrs. McCloud. This is the sixth book in the series and labeled as a stand alone. Though it can, I wouldn’t recommend it as such. The book lacked the emotional character connection and was too fast paced for it to be a stand alone. Even though there were parts where I felt slightly confused because I didn’t have an in-depth knowledge of the back story, it’s a fun and witty read. There are a lot of characters in the novel but rather than take away from the plot, they added to it. They made the dialoged really dynamic and interesting. The passion and relationship between Francois and Mingo is a combination of playful, hot, and funny. Mingo's so very smart but not only comes across as goofy but is often described as such. Despite Francois being the more domineering one, he comes off as a big kid who uses his charm to get what he wants. While the mystery isn’t really a mystery all the action made it exciting. My favorite thing though was that I never stopped laughing. I highly recommend this book to those that enjoy humor, romance, and action. Excerpt and purchase here (Only 3.99)+Giveaway  Horror - Novel TBR reviewer: Shyla BlurbThe Z Word follows Seffy Carter and her longtime friends Gareth, Addison and Lani. The four besties share a past dysfunctional and dark enough to keep them bound together under do-over identities. But rends develop in their relationships from the flesh-eating pressures of ending up in 1980, in a Montana desert, surrounded by zombies wearing dated disco duds. Review When an explosion takes our heroine Seffy and her friends back into a past where zombies run rampant, dreams of stardom are put on the back burner. Seffy and her five man crew are relocated into a desolate dessert with no clue what’s going on. Its’ the blind leading the blind until they’re rescued by an unlikely savior named Malone. Malone is a gun totting, smart mouthed S.O.B who I sort of admired. If the zombie apocalypse every happened he’s the man you’d want on your team. He takes them down in to one of his many compounds to keep them alive, and it’s like Alice falling down the rabbit hole. The trip just gets stranger and stranger with each chapter. Zombies who dance to disco, best friends who burst out into spontaneous song, labs and betrayal, my head spins just thinking about it. You only have to take a look at my profile to know I’m a zombie lover. I’m also a horror movie connoisseur (yes those exist). So I was excited about the prospect of reading The Z Word. From the first page I felt like I was in a vintage horror movie. Normally coming from me, that's a compliment. But in this case, I couldn’t connect with this plot. The characters weren’t fully developed, and there was too much back story left out for me to truly be invested. Suffice to say at some points in this story I was rooting for the zombies. There was a strange disjointed feeling about The Z Word that made want to finish. I will say Bella Street is quite inventive. Zombies that respond to disco music and time travel in correlation to the apocalypse aren’t plots I’ve come across before. Her description has a way of sticking with you, and she wields pop culture like a sword. I just wish she had spent more time in developing the characters and defining the story line. ExcerptWhy am I here? Sighing inwardly, Seffy Carter realized the question went both ways.With regards to Verity, it might mean the blond interloper wasgetting her claws into Gareth after all. Which begged the largerquestion: what have I done to turn Gareth away? She tried to focus on the newcomer who'd upset the balance of hercarefully proportioned existence. Verity's white blond hair glowedunder the tanning room track lighting. Her dark blue eyes seemed todivine secrets even Seffy wouldn't admit to herself. The woman wasbeautiful—thinner, tanner, blonder—and, well, Seffy's beauty wasa sham at best. “Are you listening to me, Sef? This doesn't have to be awkward.” Seffy nodded reluctantly, wishing Verity had found a differenttanning salon, a different hair stylist...a different guy. And itwasn't just Gareth who'd apparently hopped on the Verity train.Seffy's besties, Lani and Addison, also thought Verity was all thatand a damn bag of chips. What's she got that I haven't? Wait, don't answer that. Verity shifted her feet, knocking over her can of Diet Rockstar.Seffy watched the liquid travel toward the outlet where the tanningbed was plugged in, trying to make sense of the panic burgeoningwithin her. There was something about the new girl that wasn'tright—something almost threatening in her manner. Seffy played withthe J on the zipper pull of her pink Juicy Couture hoodie, annoyed byher melodramatic thoughts. God, it's like I'm still in highschool. I have got to get a handle on this. Besides, I need toget my head straight if I'm going to nail my audition in the morning.The thought of that appointment made her stomach cramp. Verity tilted her head, her blue eyes emphatic. “And we can behonest, right?” Yeah, if I were honest I'd tell her off. “Um, sure.” “The thing is, Gareth prefers a whole woman.” Seffy felt her mouth open. What the hell? The interloper opened her blue eyes wide, as if stating the obvious. Verity is whole? What does that make me? “I'm sure you knew that already, Sef, so c'mon.” She poked herwith a French-manicured finger. “It's not like it's the end of theworld.” Seffy pulled so hard on the J it snapped in her hand. She stared atthe pink crystal encrusted charm, still stunned by the blonde'swords. Not the end of the world? Gareth doesn't think I'm whole? Suddenly a flash of white light eclipsed Verity from sight. BeforeSeffy could react, a tremendous force hurtled her backwards, followedby a terrifying weightlessness which could only end badly. Seffy'shead swam as she sailed through the atmosphere. The velocity of herdescent increased and ground whooshed up to meet her. She threw outher hands to break her fall. Crunching her eyes closed, she let out akeening cuss word. The ground came closer still. WHUMP! Purchase LinksContestMs. Street is generously giving away an ecopy to one luck winner! To enter comment below. Contest ends September 27th.
 Western Romance - novel TBR reviewer: Luta Wolf BlurbCole McKinney is a man down on his luck. Born without the gift of speech, he works tirelessly on a cattle ranch in southern Colorado to support his parents back home. While his days are spent attending to his duties, his nights are devoted to fantasizing and dreaming of the delicious ways he could lose himself inside the gorgeous and forbidden mocha beauty, Noelle Williams. Noelle, the black sheep of her wealthy family, is fascinated and drawn to the rugged, yet silent cowboy who works next door. Torn between keeping her distance and laying bare her heart and body for his exquisite and passionate undertaking, Noelle must decide if she is willing to risk it all for the love of a man deemed unworthy by her father and society. Review  Noelle is full of icy cold attitude. Every bit the snotty princess of a rich family. Soon we find that this is just an exterior to hide a world of pain that she carries on her shoulder due to guilt. Cole may be a lowly ranch hand but he is an honorable man. He is deaf as well as poor and she has a past that haunts her, will the passion the ignite be enough to over come their obstacles. What intrigued me about this story is that it’s not your normal western romance. It had too many different twists from Noelle’s broken past and Cole’s deafness to be considered anything but unique. The plot is steady and passion filled. I really enjoyed that while the characters immediately noticed each other, it wasn’t immediate love. There was a constant build-up to the relationship. Noelle is a Pandora box character with so many dimensions. She is strong, independent, full of spitfire, and yet she is vulnerable. Cole comes off as easy going but as the story unfolds you find a prideful man who's a bit self conscious. I think the book would have benefited had it been longer. There were so many dynamics to the book that 137 pages just wasn’t enough. It ended a bit too easily considering all the angst. It’s defiantly worth the read. Read Excerpt and purchase options here! |
Spencer realizes that if he wants to build a life with Emilio, he'll need to be strong enough to slay his personal demons and learn to trust again.
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