May 30, 2012

A Decision . . .

All right! Trying to get caught up in my two weeks absence has been quite . . . well interesting.  So after much thought I’m putting BW on break. I’ll still be over at Goodreads and managing the groups I moderate for, but BW needs some serious organizing.

I hate to do it, but I love BW to much to do interviews, giveaways, reviews, and other posts without my full effort.

June 4th is the official day BW will be up and running again. Sorry to anyone I had scheduled reviews, interviews, or giveaways with. And big thanks for everyone's cooperation and help.

May 26, 2012

I’m back . . . kind of . . .

All right at this point you guys have noticed my lack of response. No posts on BW, no reply back for email, and—gasp!—no updates or activity on Goodreads. My sister got married and between decorating, taking care of family, and the after clean-up I just did not have time to even think of being online.

So I’m back, but however I’m currently lugging through all of the email at the moment. I also help moderate a big Group on Goodreads so it’s taking me a while to go through everything.

If you’re on author requesting a review and I haven’t replied yet don’t feel discouraged. I have over 1,000 emails I’m currently going through and it’s going to be a few days—I’m hoping before I respond!!

May 9, 2012

Wednesday Wishes

Not sure if any of you guys do this, but I like to keep my books updated on goodreads. For some reason I never put my ebooks in the system. Now I’m going through and doing that.

At this point I’m not sure what is more shocking, how much time and effort it’s taking to do so or the sheer number of ebooks that I have . . .

There’s no going back now, I’m a full blown book addict.


If I Can’t Have You by Lauren Hammond  

If I Can't Have YouGet it: Amazon | Goodreads
Genre: Young Adult Romance
Series: N/A

One is lonely. Three is a crowd.

Robin Mason has never been the same since Drake Robertson, a hot lifeguard at her family's yearly vacation spot saves her from drowning. Ever since that day she's never let another guy hold a candle to him. She's idolized him and has been waiting for the day where they can go from Facebook friends to more. Much, much more.

Flash-forward three years and Robin isn't the same tween Drake rescued from the deep blue sea. She's college bound, curvy, and finally ready to take what she wants most--Drake.

But not if Drake's brother Elliot has anything to say about it.
Robin is torn between what's right and what's wrong, her head and her heart, and two brothers that are simply irresistible. But who will she choose? Safe, sweet, Elliot? Or the hot, smoldering, Drake?

Two brothers. One Girl. One choice. So which will it be?

Honestly I thought this was an Erotica. The cover just screams it and the description sounds like there could be lots of steamy . . . well you get the picture. It’s kind of cool that it’s a YA novel. Kind of makes it more fun and adds an innocent twist to the concept. (Though does it look like this book cover is distorted to anyone else? There’s just something off about it . . . )

Beautiful Demons by Sarra Cannon 

Beautiful Demons (Peachville High Demons, #1)Get it: Amazon | Goodreads
Genre: Paranormal YA
Series: Peachville HIgh Demons, Book 1

Harper Madison isn't like other girls. She has extraordinary powers, but her inability to control them has gotten her kicked from so many foster homes she's lost count. Shadowford Home is her last chance, and she hopes Peachville High will be the fresh start she needs. But when evidence ties her to the gruesome murder of a Demons cheerleader, Harper discovers this small town has a big secret.

This one is currently FREE on Amazon, so click on the Amazon link above to nab it!! So excited for this one, I keep glancing at it every time it pops up in friends TBR piles.

Tricked by Kevin Hearnes 

Tricked (Iron Druid Chronicles, #4)Get it: Amazon | Goodreads
Genre: Urban Fantasy 
Series: Iron Druid Chronicles, book 4

Druid Atticus O’Sullivan hasn’t stayed alive for more than two millennia without a fair bit of Celtic cunning. So when vengeful thunder gods come Norse by Southwest looking for payback, Atticus, with a little help from the Navajo trickster god Coyote, lets them think that they’ve chopped up his body in the Arizona desert.

But the mischievous Coyote is not above a little sleight of paw, and Atticus soon finds that he’s been duped into battling bloodthirsty desert shapeshifters called skinwalkers. Just when the Druid thinks he’s got a handle on all the duplicity, betrayal comes from an unlikely source. If Atticus survives this time, he vows he won’t be fooled again. Famous last words.

Gosh I know I’m behind on author news when I miss the release of this awesome book!!!! I really thought book 3 was the last one, but thankfully it’s not. The sheer awesmeness continues!

Adaptation by Malinda Lo 

AdaptationGet it: Amazon | Goodreads
Genre: Sci/fi YA
Series: N/A

Reese and David don’t remember what happened to them after a bird flew into their headlights on the Extraterrestrial Highway--not the resulting car accident and certainly not a bit of the 21 days of care at the military hospital in Nevada. It’s a good thing, the doctors and colonels tell them, that they crashed on a military base, but they won’t tell Reese and David what the extent of their injuries were, or how they were healed. They do tell them they’re not going home, though, until they sign a confidentiality agreement.

When they get home, Reese can’t help but find everything a little weird. Worldwide bird strikes resulting in plane crashes have grounded air travel, David won’t talk to her, and she could swear she’s seen her military doctors around the neighborhood. It’s only when she meets Amber Grey that things in her life begin to really fall apart, and the mysteries of the bird strikes, the military, and her own treatment come together. Reese realizes that she must find out what they did to her in that hospital, but her search for the truth threatens to expose a vast global conspiracy that the government has worked for decades to keep secret.

What if we aren’t alone in the universe? What if the alien is inside us?

I have been meaning to read something by this author for ages. She’s the one who put out the lesbian themed Cinderella retelling—Ash—that’s gotten some buzz. Her writing has really captured my attention and this one looks like tons of fun.

Liberating Lacey by Anne Calhoun 

Liberating LaceyGet it: Amazon | Goodreads
Genre: Contemporary Erotica/Romance
Series: N/A

Newly divorced Lacey Meyers wasted too many years yawning through sex in the missionary position. Now she's looking for a hookup with a man who can make her shatter. What she gets is a hot younger cop with handcuffs...and he's not afraid to use them.Hunter Anderson knows the score-though classy, successful women like Lacey might play with guys like him, at the end of the evening, they walk. But when one night leads to another and then another, he finds himself getting too attached to a woman he can't have.Lacey knows Hunter-gorgeous, hard-edged and eight years younger-won't want anything permanent. No matter how hot and daring he makes her first public sex, quickie, backseat encounter and secret fantasy role-play, she can't mistake adventurous sex for emotional involvement. They both know it's got to end, and soon, or someone's going to get hurt. Reader Advisory: Lacey's highly erotic "forced" sex fantasy comes true in this book. Lucky her!

This is the latest erotic sweeping across the groups on Goodreads. Strangely enough I feel more compelled to read this one then the Fifty Shades books that I finally bought, but just can’t feel enough “oomph” to read.

May 3, 2012

Review: Blood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis Klause

Blood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis Klause

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Genre: Paranormal YA 
Edition Reviewed: Paperback
Amazon: Paperback | Kindle
Goodreads: Blood and Chocolate

Vivian Gandillon relishes the change, the sweet, fierce ache that carries her from girl to wolf. At sixteen, she is beautiful and strong, and all the young wolves are on her tail. But Vivian still grieves for her dead father; her pack remains leaderless and in disarray, and she feels lost in the suburbs of Maryland. She longs for a normal life. But what is normal for a werewolf?

Then Vivian falls in love with a human, a meat-boy. Aiden is kind and gentle, a welcome relief from the squabbling pack. He’s fascinated by magic, and Vivian longs to reveal herself to him. Surely he would understand her and delight in the wonder of her dual nature, not fear her as an ordinary human would.

Vivian’s divided loyalties are strained further when a brutal murder threatens to expose the pack. Moving between two worlds, she does not seem to belong in either. What is she really—human or beast? Which tastes sweeter—blood or chocolate?


Review:

This is an old review written many years before Book Whispers, but is still 100% my own***

When I first reviewed this book, I took a stance as a fan happy reviewer. After reading other reviews I thought someone should clear things up. (Though I'm not sure I'm quite the person for the job.) So I'll try my best.

Yes, for a young adult book this has a lot of sexual content. NOW before you stop I'm not saying porn. Sexual content and porn are two different things. (No matter what or who says otherwise.) The main character is a very sexy girl; it doesn't mean of course she has rights to be thinking whom will I jump next. Contrary to what people are saying this book is not about whom Vivian is going to sleep with, and her choices toward this topic. This is about a teen girl who is in love and wants to share more than words, and a deeper intimate thing. Though by no means no single relationship should be based or have to go to that level, but people are different. I personally don't like books that are romance, or sexually charged. It takes a deep plot and meaning for me to consider reading them. I thought the author executed this nicely.

A friend of mine who is very religious read this book. I thought she was going to go running into the hills screaming blasphemy about the book. But to my surprise she loved it, saying the ideas and views where a fresh take on the views that we face today.

The book doesn't take place in school, so it doesn't deal with being a teen. Wrong, just because only bits of school life are in this novel does not mean it does not protean to what a teen goes through. There is a life outside of school. I thought it was nice that the author took focus outside of school life. For most people this is when they can be themselves, when they truly start living. And this isn't just issues facing teens, this is issues being faced that is close to every human.

Drinking and smoking. Yes this novel has it, and the character does participate in these actions, sometimes full heartily. Personally I'm not for any of that. But this isn't you or me. This is a different person, and when you read a book you are participating in that other persons life. After reading this book, in no way am I going to go out and start drinking and smoking. I still think it's stupid no matter what media and others say. Personally after reading some of those drunken moments, it reinforces my thoughts that I will never drink or do other thing like that.

Vivian does go to a bar with her mother. But Vivian knows she can handle herself. Still not a smart idea.

Older man and girl relationship. Yes, but first off Vivian herself is not cool with the idea. And while I say age doesn't matter, sometimes it does. This brings me to the main point of everything. These are not HUMANS these are WEREWOLVES. The issues are different for them. And that is what makes this book so entrancing. While it touches on human issues, it goes deeper into a realm people dream about. A realm people are reading about, and that's why they are reading this book. To have a different feeling. This is a different world so of course the views and actions would be different.

**** Now for my fan gabbing. The men are hot, humors great, and the story deep. I loved this book. The character is sassy, which is always a plus for me. If you really don't think you can deal with this book I'm saddened. The points that it gets across are real. While this may be too mature for some, I'd still tell them to read it. Cause parents, even in this age, don't go over this stuff. This novel also deals with loneliness and the need to feel it, which I found refreshing and sometimes very, very thoughtful.

A great tale for werewolves, and just great ideas. It really gets you wolfish!!! (Oh, yes there is a movie. I wouldn't suggest watching it first though. It is not like the book at all. It should be it's own little thing. I think they just used the book to try and sponge off the fans.)And read here other great book The Silver Kiss

Sexual Content: All of the content has been mentioned above.


5/5- Fabulous, a beautiful obsession!


Book(s) in series:
Reviewed on BW: Amazon: Goodreads:
N/A

N/A

N/A 

May 2, 2012

Wednesday Wishes

Well if anybody noticed my last Author Gossip and Cover Coveting post went up without actually being completed so I have to give an apology for that. I went to hit save and got the publish button instead.  *sigh*  Alas, I can’t blame this one Blogger!


Wing It by Deborah Cooke 

Winging It (The Dragon Diaries, #2)Get it: Amazon | Goodreads
Genre: Paranormal YA 
Series: The Dragon Diaries, book 2

Zoë Sorensson yearns to come into her powers as the only female dragon shifter. But being part of two worlds is more complicated than she expected. It’s bad enough that she’s the target of the Mages’ plan to eliminate all shifters—she also has to hide her true nature from her best friend Megan, a human. For her sixteenth birthday, all Zoë wants is one normal day, including a tattoo and a chance to see hot rocker Jared.

Instead, the Pyr throw her a birthday party but ban Megan from attendance, putting Zoë in a tight spot. Things get even worse when Zoe is invited to the popular kids’ Halloween party and Megan’s left out. Zoë knows the party is a trap laid by the host, an apprentice Mage. When Megan gets a last-minute invite, Zoë must save the day—and her best friend—without revealing her fire-breathing secrets . . .

I actually just purchased the first book and the Dragonfire series that spun this one off. Didn’t realize this one had already been released. I feel like such a greedy reader!!  Haven’t even read a single one and yet I’m lusting after the next!!

Love’s Rhythm by Lexxie Couper 

Love's RhythmGet it: Amazon | Goodreads
Genre: Contemporary Erotica 
Series: N/A

His music moves the world. Can his love move her heart?
Nick Blackthorne knows all about words of love. They’re the reason he’s the world’s biggest rock star. The irony? He turned his back on love a long time ago, lured away by the trappings of fame.

An invitation to a friend’s wedding is a stark reminder of how meaningless his life has become. When he enters that church, there’s only one woman he wants on his arm—the one he walked out on a lifetime ago. But first he has to find her, even if all she accepts from him is an apology.

Kindergarten teacher Lauren Robbins once had what every woman on the planet desires. Nick. Their passion was explosive, their romance the stuff of songs…and it took fifteen years to get over him. Then out of the blue Nick turns up at her door, and all those years denying her ache for him are shattered with a single, smoldering kiss.

But molten passion can’t hide the secret she’s kept for all these years. Because it’s not just her heart on the line anymore…and not just her life that’ll be rocked by the revelation.

Product Warnings
Remember your first crush on a rock star? Now add smoldering sex, a raw and undeniable passion, soul-shattering orgasms. And secrets…

If you follow me on Goodreads you’ve probably noticed that I’ve totally jumped on the Erotica band wagon. For some reason I like contemporary better for it then the other genres. Also . . . I’m really picky about my erotica. The reason this one made it on to my list was that a really good Goodreads friend stated it was on pare to Rock Me, Willing Victim, Hearts in Darkness, and a couple of other brilliant ones.