To Be Read Tuesday

Hello book buddies!  I haven't had a chance to get much reading done with Thanksgiving and a class that I'm finishing up.  I'm finishing up all my tests today and tomorrow will be the last day so I can get back to my TBR.  Here is what I plan to read this week.  What's on your TBR for the week?

From The Dead by John Herrick

Human Blend by Lori Pescatore

Kiss Of The Rose by Kate Pearce

Review: Born To Bite by Lynsay Sands

Series:  Argeneau Series, Book # 13

Genre:  Paranormal Romance

Published:  August 2010

Publisher:  Avon Books

Author Website: www.lynsaysands.net 

Format I Read:  Paperback Copy

Pages: 358

Souce:  Purchased

Read an excerpt

Book Summary:

Eshe d’Aureus is sent to Armand Argeneau under the auspice that she needs a safe place to hide from a rogue out for revenge, but Eshe is really on the job. She's been saddled with the task of finding out why Armand's wives keep dying, and what it has to do with his son Nicholas and the murder Nicholas is accused of committing 50 years ago. She's Nicholas's only hope of avoiding being executed for a murder he may or may not have committed. Eshe's agreed to take on the task, but that was before she realized she couldn't read Armand and he is the life mate she's been waiting for.

Armand Argeneau’s first sight of Eshe was her roaring up on a motorcycle that appeared to be aflame. That was inconspicuous?! She had the grace of a panther, the attitude of a pit bull and openly enjoyed thwarting Lucian’s orders whenever possible . . . all of which delighted him immensely . . . until he realized he couldn't read the woman and she might be a life mate. Having already lost a life mate and two wives to suspicious circumstances, Armand isn't willing to risk losing another. Unfortunately, sending her away was pretty difficult when he couldn't keep his thoughts, not to mention his hands, off her. It seems it's time to once again try to get to the bottom of the deaths of his first three wives. While Armand's tried before, he's also failed, but this time he could lose his son as well as his life mate.

My Thoughts

First of all I’m glad that Lyndsay Sands has kept this series going for so long.  I haven’t read all the books in the series so some of the characters are foreign to me, but I’ve enjoyed each story that I have read.

I also like that the vamps are referred to as immortals and that their origins are based on the fall of Atlantis.  They don’t bite humans, but they do consume human blood.  I’ve always thought that it was clever and funny each time they feed by “popping” the blood bags to their fangs.  It’s weird and different and I guess that’s why I like the series.

Eshe is an immortal enforcer sent to find out if Armand has become a rogue immortal.  Everyone has always suspected him of being a cold hearted bastard, but Eshe must find out if the women in his life are dying from accidents or if he is murdering them. 

I liked the story and the characters, but Eshe and Armand didn’t do for me as a couple.  Sure they were entertaining, but their story is just not one of my favorites.

I did enjoy Bricker’s presence.  He was always good for blunt observations and witty comments.

The mystery of who the killer was kept me reading.  I am a sucker for a good mystery and while I saw the killer’s identity coming a mile away, the outcome of the revelation totally surprised me.

My  Rating

I give Born To Bite three and a half flowers of love.  It’s not my favorite of the series, but I enjoyed reading it.

 

1/2

Diva Mail (13)

 It's Sunday and time to share what I got in the mail this past week.  This meme was inspired by The Story Siren's In My Mailbox.    It's a weekly post of bookish things that I've received in the mail for review, giveaways, something I've won in a contest or something that I've bought.  

Won

Black Child To Black Woman by Cheryl Bannerman (Paperback Writer)

Beautiful Darkness by  Kami Garcia and  Margaret Stohl, bracelet, keychain and button (The Secret Life Of A Bibliophile)

Ebooks For Review

Cryer's Cross by Lisa McMann (Simon and Schuster)

I didn't get much again this week.  A little sad, but a little glad, but I think my current TBR is happy that I will only be adding one book to it. 

Anyway, I finally got Beautiful Darkness in the mail the other day.  Woohoo! I won it in a contest, and couldn't wait to get my grubby little hands on it.  I've heard a lot about the series, but I can't read it yet because I need to read Beautiful Creatures first, which I don't have yet, but it's on the wishlist.  The book cover is so pretty and totally book shelf worthy.  I also some cool goodies with it.

I also won Black Child to Black Woman.  I was thinking about joining the book tour, but I honestly didn't have time to squeeze it in so I entered the giveaway and won. I haven't heard a lot about this book, but it's suppose to be written like a diary of the author's journey into adulthood.  It sounds interesting so I'm looking forward to reading it.

I only got one book for review this week.  I haven't heard a thing about Cryer's Cross but I see that Goodreads has a lot of mixed reviews on it.  I've never read anything by this author so I don't know what to expect.  It's a YA title so hopefully I'll be able to get into it.

Well, that all my book loot, what did you get in your mailbox?

Sexy Saturday

To Be Read Tuesday

Hello, bookish peeps!  It's been a long week and it's only Tuesday! Besides it being Thanksgiving week, my son has been sick since Saturday so I haven't had much time to do anything bookish.  He's feeling better today, but couldn't go to school so of course I still got woken up early anyway.  Anyhoo, here's what I will be reading on my Nook this week.

Crux by Moira Rogers

Crossroads by Moira Rogers

Her Timeless Obsession by Tina Ordone

Author Spotlight: Guest Post by Amanda Wolfe

Today I welcome Amanda Wolfe to the blog.  Amanda is the author of Secrets Of The Black Box (read my review here).

In the beginning, the whole purpose of this book, well, journal really, was to allow me to come face to face with and rid myself of what I had stored up in my black box. It is what I call the place in the pit of your stomach where you hide all your secrets; good, bad or ugly. My box was filled with ugly: quilt, embarrassment and a lot of shame and confusion. In short, it was just to painful to face head on.

It all started when my husband and I were having one of our ” OK, it’s time to bare your soul” conversations. He is the only one person who could ever make me do that, because I knew he would never use what I say against me in any way. He has always given me the space to get angry, cry, rant and rave like a lunatic when I needed to. Believe me, it has happened more than once!

It took a lot of years of his patience and understanding to get me this far, allowing me to face and rid myself of all these bad feelings I carried around with me always. They made me hard on the outside. He called it my wall and little by little it has crumbled. I’m not saying I don’t feel things from my past anymore, I do, but now they don’t paralyze me. I still have trust issue from time to time! but they no longer rule my life.

During this conversation I laughed and said I should write a book about all of this, but who the heck would believe it? He told me he thought that is exactly what I should do. I should start writing it all down, because writing was a great way to release feelings that you have difficulty talking about. We both agreed it would be a great outlet.

So I began writing it all down and, once started , I had a difficult time stopping. The emotions started pouring out of me. Sometimes I would come out of my office so angry I could spit.The memories that came flooding back were unbelievable. The sky in my world was not as rosy as I had made it out to be. My siblings’ annoyance with me remembering my past through rose- colored glasses was finally realized and understood.

My husband was right there for all of it, lending his understanding and support.I don’t think I could have done this without him. I’m very grateful to him for being there in all the craziness I went through.

After reading some of what I had written, he told me I should make it into a book, because it could really help other girls and women to know that they can go through bad things and still come out on top. I decided that if I was going to make it into a book that I wanted to bring the reader right along with me on the journey that I was going through in my emptying out process. I wanted them to come out the other side with me feeling a little inspired and wanting more. More importantly, I wanted them to know that if they themselves have been or are being abused that they are not alone.

There are options out there for everyone, even though you may think there are none for you. Trust me, I’ve been there. There are many, many forums out there with people who are willing and want to help you get the help you need. Even if it is just an anonymous voice at the other end of the phone.

A friendly voice can go a long way.

Amanda Wolfe was born in Ottawa, Canada in the mid ‘60s. She matured at a very young age out of necessity growing up in unusual circumstances. She has always been a happy-go-lucky, carefree spirit and a very strong-willed person. She has done everything from waitressing to owning her own restaurant and selling things from Mary Kay cosmetics to real estate.

She is married to a wonderful man. They currently reside in the great state of Texas with their horses. When she is not at home writing her latest novel, you will find her and her husband flying in their plane and traveling the world together.

For more information or to contact Amanda Wolfe, visit her website http://beneaththesilverlining.com

Review: Secrets Of The Black Box by Amanda Wolfe

Series:  Beneath The Silver Lining, Book #1

Genre: NonFiction

Published:  August 2010

Publisher: Xlibris

Author Website: http://beneaththesilverlining.com

Format I Read:  Paperback

Pages:  380

Source:  Pump Up Your Book Tours

Read an except

Book Summary

On the outside, her family appeared to be one big, happy family. Their house, with her parents, three sisters, and two brothers, was the epitome of a simple yet fulfilling life lived in a small town. But as the author would soon discover, her childhood was in fact a nightmarish phase of her life she would always be running from. Growing up as a carefree girl, Wolfe struggled to comprehend why she was reared in a family where children are deprived of their right to know the truth, adults are always right, and smoothing out a misunderstanding is never an option.

At the young age of nine, she started experiencing cruelty at the hands of her father, who not only abused her emotionally, but physically and sexually as well. Her mother, whose love she sought, was a stern woman who refused to see her husband's mistakes. As if her deeply troubled relationship with her parents was not enough, Wolfe also had to deal with inner secrets involving creepy characters from the afterlife. Feeling tormented, confused, solitary, and even filthy, this naïve girl had yet to be transformed into a strong-willed woman who would become cynical about love and learn to depend on no one but herself while facing more of life's bitterness.

My Thoughts

Oh my gosh.  What to say about this book?  Secrets Of The Black Box is one of those books that leaves a stain on your brain.  It was no easy book to read.  I originally decided to read it because I thought it was a paranormal story.  While it did have some paranormal happenings, it retold the life of author Amanda Wolfe and ugly parts of her life that most people would not have to courage to talk about.

The book deals with physical, sexual, and emotional abuse that an entire family has to endure.  Little Amanda doesn’t understand what’s going on so she tries her best to make sense at an age where a child should be happy and safe, not fearful of what abuse she will suffer next.

Her parents are the worst parents ever.  Her dad is a total sleeze.  He’s supposed to be taking care of the family but he’s the one destroying it.  Rape and beatings are his preferred methods of dealing with his daughters.

The mother is a shell of a woman.  She’s ignorant and weak.   She continues to stay with her scumbag husband and is very aware of all the abuse he is subjecting their children to.  When she’s not dealing her own cruel form of punishment, she fuels her husband’s sick shenanigans and looks the other way as if nothing is happening.

Secrets Of The Black Box was a train wreck to read, but I couldn’t put it down.  It made me sad and angry to know that this was a real life story and this could also be the story of someone else’s life

There were a few happy spots in the book and I’m glad that Amanda Wolfe had the courage and determination to stay sane and get her story out.

My  Rating

I give Secrets Of The Black Box four stars.  It’s not my normal read and I can’t say that I enjoyed it, but it was a very good book.

Naughty Novella: Heartkeeper by Christine M. Taylor

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Published:  September 2010

Publisher: Wild Rose Press

Format I Read:  ebook

Pages:  84 (Nook pages)

Source:  Ck2s Kwips and Kritiques

Read an excerpt

Book Summary

. . . Beyond time, and death, and hope have I loved you . . .

So writes a soldier of the Nameless Guard, a halfblood who serves the vampire nobility. He is the son of two warring worlds-- half-vampire, half-werewolf-- an immortal outcast. As a vampire, he is a true immortal, but as a werewolf, he loves only once: instantly and forever. But the one who holds his heart is Ravienne Nightborn, heiress to the vampire throne.

Bound to her for all time by a despairing love he can neither deny nor escape, he writes the words he cannot speak.

This is his love letter.

My Thoughts

When a nameless guard to the vampire princess, Ravienne meets her for the first time, he knows that their lives will forever be entwined. Since he is considered an abomination, half wolf and half vampire, he knows that he will never be able to express his feeling towards her. Desperate for any kind of contact with her, he develops a special bond with her in his wolf form, and is able to share snippets of her life.

Heartkeeper is wonderful love story that reads like an open letter to the love of one man’s life. I was instantly drawn into the story. The no name solider was so in love with the vampire princess and knew that he would never get a real chance to be with her. He still watched and protected her from afar and was eager to take whatever attention he could get from her. He goes through pain and humiliation just to be close to her. When he is granted the opportunity to compete to become her Heartkeeper, he throws caution to the wind and sacrifices everything to win the woman he feels he is destined to be with.

Although the story was short, it was well written and the plot was easy to follow. The soldier’s feelings towards the princess made me root for him and want to see him win the princess’s heart.

The princess comes across as cold and uncaring because of the life she is accustomed to. But once she realizes the soldier’s intent, her heart is forever changed.

My  Rating

I give Heartkeeper four flowers of love.  Yes I am a sucker for a fool in love. I actually cried while reading this as novella. Very good read.

Review: The Secret Of The Scarlet Stone by T L Clarke

Series:   A Gabby Girls Adventures, Book #1

Genre:  YA, Fantasy

Published:  July 2010

Publisher: One Wish Publishing

Author Website: http://tlclarke.blogspot.com

Format I Read:  ebook

Pages:  88 (Nook pages)

Source:  Author

Read an excerpt

Book Summary

Can you help the Gabby Girls solve the clues?

The Gabby Girls are drawn together by the only thing that they have in common, which is the mysterious scarlet pendant they each possess. But things seem even stranger when they find a clue that tempts them with the answer to the question they have longed to know. 

After all, Gabby Girls always stick together, and every day is a...Gabby Girls Adventure!

My Thoughts

The Secret Of The Scarlet Stone is a quick and fun read.  It’s full of mystery, mischief, and girl power.  It took me back to my tween years when I first discovered what fun reading could be.  It also reminded me of The Babysitters Club and Sweet Valley Twins, my favorite tween books.

The book centers around four girls that are relative strangers but end up being roommates at boarding school.  At first they don’t have much in common but discover that they all have the same necklace and are anxious to unlock the mystery that has brought them together.

I thought the story was cute and well written, but it’s best suited for middle grade or junior high readers.  It was a little too innocent for my corrupted reading tastes, but still a good story. 

My  Rating

I give The Secret Of The Scarlet Stone three and ½ flowers of love.

1/2

 

Review: Bloodsworn: Bound By Magic by Kathy Lane

Genre:  Paranormal Romance, Fantasy

Published: September 2010

Publisher: Wild Rose Press

Author Website:  http://www.kyrlane.com

Format I Read:  ebook

Pages:  380 (Nook pages)

Source: Ck2s Kwips and Kritiques

Read an excerpt

Book Summary

Worlds collide when a man of magic is forced to take a woman of science as his bride. Powerful Bloodsworn, Devlin Kel-Tragar, is sent to Earth to claim his prophecy bride, a task he has no heart for until he learns that research chemist, Avera St. John, is also his Starmate, the one woman in the universe born just for him. Now he'll do anything to claim her. But will his slow seduction of his lady mate give his enemy time to take away the one thing Devlin can't afford to lose?

Avera is drawn to her new neighbor, Devlin Kel, despite the mystery she senses surrounding him. A mystery that blows her safe little scientific world wide open when strange men with swords try to kill her and Devlin shows up and blasts them with magic. Real, honest-to-goodness magic! Her world is suddenly changed forever, and Avera must decide if she is able to accept those changes along with the man responsible.

My Thoughts

Devlin is a powerful magic wielder sent to Earth to claim his future bride, Avera.   Since Avera doesn’t know that magic exists and he’s pretty sure that she’s going to think he’s crazy, he plans to woo her before revealing his plans for their future. When his enemies try to keep Devlin from claiming her, time has run out and he has no choice but to reveal himself and hope that Avera can forgive him for deceiving her.

Bound By Magic is a unique story. The story started out slow, but developed into a fast paced read. At first, the story didn’t draw me in, but as I kept reading, I began to enjoy the tale that Kathy Lane wove.

Avera St John has a lot of things to deal with in her life. She recently survived a vicious attack on her life, her father has gone missing, and now she realizes that she hates her job. What more could life throw at her?

When she first meets Devlin, her sexy new neighbor, her first impression is stranger danger, but later she realizes that she’s drawn to him and can’t figure out why. When she starts receiving strange gifts, she decides that now is not the time to start a new romance.

Kathy Lane did a wonderful job on this book. I enjoyed the world building that took place and loved the characters that were introduced. The plot was also new and fresh. I haven’t read a lot of books that dealt with magical beings without shape shifters, so this was a nice change of pace.

The slow romance between Avera and Devlin was just right and didn’t feel forced. I liked that Devlin gave Avera time and patience to accept him and what her position with him would entail. I also liked that Avera was given her own identity and that she did not have to rely on her ties to Devlin to be a force to be reckoned with.

My  Rating

I give Bound By Magic four flowers of love.  

Diva Mail (12)

It's Sunday and time to share what I got in the mail this past week.  This meme was inspired by The Story Siren's In My Mailbox.    It's a weekly post of bookish things that I've received in the mail for review, giveaways, something I've won in a contest or something that I've bought. 

Alrighty, this week was a very slow week.  Thank goodness because Thanksgiving is coming up and I won't have much time to get a lot of reading done.  Especially with the two day school week this week (sigh).

Anyway, I didn't get a chance to buy anything this week because my book budget is still at 0, and my bookcase has oodles of books that I haven't even read yet.  

I did get two books for review, though.   I don't know much about either book because both are new to me authors, but both book blurbs are promising me some good reading.  

So, that's all I've got.  What did you get in your mailbox this week?

For Review
Justice Rules by Thomas White (Pump Up Your Book Tours)
Shades Of Atlantis by Carol Oates (Omnific Publishing)

Naughty Novella: Best Man by Ceri Hebert

Genre:  Contemporary Romance

Published: August 2010
 

Publisher: Sapphire Blue Publishing

Author Website: http://www.cerihebert.com

Format I Read:  ebook

Pages:  91 (Nook pages)

Source: Ck2s Kwips and Kritiques

Read an excerpt

Book Summary

Lorelei Warren is facing every bride’s nightmare—she’s been left at the altar with a “Dear Jane” letter from the groom, and a church full guests. Will Draper, her best friend and the best man, wants to pick up the pieces. He’s been in love with her for years. 

Now Lori has to decide where her life will head. Leaving Florida on what should have been her honeymoon in New England, questions torment her thoughts.  Can she leave her old life behind and start fresh?

My Thoughts

Lorelei thought that her wedding day would be the best day of her life, too bad her groom had other plans that he didn’t bother to share. 


His plans included running off with someone else and leaving her hurt and confused. It’s a good thing that she has Will, the sexy best man, who is eager to help in any way possible.

Best Man is a story about picking up the pieces when loves goes bad. Lorelei and Will are best friends. To Will, Lorelei is the woman of his dreams and he will do anything to see her happy. That includes standing by watching her marry another man. But once Lorelei is left hurt and confused, Will sees no reason to keep holding his feeling back.

Lorelei is confused at first and can’t believe that Will has feelings for her. She’s still reeling from her fiancé’s betrayal and can’t think straight. Despite her reluctance, she realizes that she has feelings for him too, and decides to explore the possibilities.

I enjoyed reading Best Man. At first I thought the story was going to be a scandalous affair where everyone is sleeping with everyone, but it turned out to be a nice romantic story. The characters were likable and the story was very easy to follow.

My  Rating

Three and a half flowers of love.

1/2

Sexy Saturday

Author Spotlight: Guest post and book feature by Inez Kelly

Today I welcome author Inez Kelly to the blog.  Inez is here to introduce Lipstick On His Collar, her latest smoking hot read.

You know the instant you catch that cute guy’s eye from across the room? That electric crackle that races down your spine and tingles all through your blood? That precise minute is when magic happens. The possibilities are endless. Maybe he’ll be nothing more than a quick fantasy to make you smile a year from now while doing dishes. Maybe he’ll be a few hours of flirting and making you feel alive with jitters. Maybe, just maybe, that spark will grow, morph into a fire that will scorch you into a wet puddle. That look… is priceless.

For a few seconds, anything is possible. You’re looking at him; he’s looking at you and… sizzzzzzzzzzzzzzle

That look, even if it never goes beyond that single glance, is the stuff of fantasies. It’s also the premise and opening for LIPSTICK ON HIS COLLAR. One look sparked a wildfire that burnt deep into Bram Winter’s soul.

She opened her eyes and her gaze landed on him like a brushfire. Hot met dry and a spark flashed, exploded and raged through him. Intense and appreciative, unblinking and direct, she did not look away. There was no chance she had accidentally engaged his notice. The look was too conscious, too appraising. With a quick drop of long lashes, her gaze vanished then returned to snag his.

Not unintentional. Deliberate.

Need scorched him, blazing hotter than the temperature and more intoxicating than the beer in his hand. She never stopped her rhythmic motions. But now, her eyes—wide mossy-green and shining with interest—locked with his, and she danced only for him. A pale pink tongue darted out to caress her upper lip, and he mimicked it, longing to taste what she silently offered. Temptation swept over him like a blistering tidal wave, stealing inside before he could think to shove it aside to break the powerful connection. He should. He would. In a minute.

She turned and rolled her hips. She held his gaze over her shoulder, her lips pouting as she finished her slow spin. Long fingers tipped in a frosty pale color slid down her body, and his palms itched. He knew fire sirens but she was a Siren, her call reaching across the ocean of people to entice him, lure him, draw him closer.

Now for Bram and his mystery lady, things got hot fast. He was left with a memory of one wild, blazing night and a longing to feel the burn again. Once he found her five months and hundreds of miles later, things got even hotter. But remember, if you play with fire, you just might get burnt.

LIPSTICK ON HIS COLLAR from Samhain Publishing Nov. 23, 2010

Read an excerpt

Book Summary

He never thought his next wildfire would be wearing a red dress.

“Make me your goddess and I’ll take you to heaven.” This sultry promise sparks a scorching, unforgettable one-night stand. The next morning Bram Winters awakes with a hickey and a head full of wicked memories—alone. His nameless goddess is gone without a trace, along with his shirt. And his heart.

Five months later, he stumbles across his mystery lady in a Laundromat, but she still won’t give up her name. Worse, she begs him to leave, no questions asked. Once he catches the spark of terror in her eyes, though, his firefighter training takes over—and he digs in for the duration.

Lady never wanted Bram to see her life’s ugly underside, but it’s too late—his socks are already in the washer. He was supposed to be her declaration of independence from her unstable ex, a bittersweet memory to carry into her new life.

Except the ex continues to stalks her.  And Bram’s reappearance sends her emotions and desires tumbling over the edge. As the minutes wear on, sexual tension rises faster than the steam from a hot water wash.

And Lady’s ex watches from the shadows, growing more furious by the minute…

Warning: Scorching sex, icy scissor play and an anonymous woman taking a wet slide down one hot ex-fireman’s pole. Beware of hot flashes and spontaneous combustion. Correct change not required.

LIPSTICK ON HIS COLLAR LINK

Inez Kelley is a multi-published author of various romance genres. You can visit her at her website http://inezkelley.com/  Follow Inez on twitter at @Inez_Kelley or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/inez.kelley JOIN Inez on Novemeber 24^th on her site for her special BIRTHDAY BONANZA BLOW OUT and over two dozen chances to win free books including LIPSTICK ON HIS COLLAR!