Review ~ WHILE IT LASTS (SEA BREEZE #3) by Abbi Glines

Maybe driving home after a few (or more) shots of tequila had been a bad idea, but hell, he did it all the time. The cops had to have been freaking bored to have pulled him over. He wasn’t even swerving! That’s Cage York’s story and he’s sticking to it.

Unfortunately, his baseball coach isn’t buying it. Cage has a free ride to the local junior college for baseball -- or he did, until he’d gotten a DUI. Now, Cage has to decide: does he drop out and give up his dream of getting noticed by a college in the SEC, and possibly making it into the Major Leagues -- or does he give in to his coach’s demands and spend his summer bailing hay?

Eva Brooks planned out her life step by step when she was eight years old. Not once over the years had she lost sight of her goals. Josh Beasley, her next door neighbor, had been the center of those goals. He’d been her first boyfriend at seven, her first kiss at ten, her first date at fifteen, and her first tragedy at eighteen. The moment she’d received the phone call from Josh’s mother saying he’d been killed along with four other soldiers just north of Baghdad, Eva’s carefully planned life imploded in the worst way possible.

Cage isn’t real happy with his closet-sized bedroom in the back of a foul smelling barn, or his daily interactions with cows, but he knows that if he doesn’t make his coach happy then he can kiss his scholarship goodbye. Only a sick and twisted man would decide his punishment was to be working on a farm all summer. No hot babes in bikinis waiting to meet a Southern boy to make her vacation complete. Just him and the damned cows.

Oh -- and an uptight, snarky brunette with the biggest blue eyes he’s every seen. But she doesn’t count, because as hard as he’s tried to charm her out of her panties - he’s pretty sure she’d rather see him hung from the rafters than let him get a taste of her pretty little lips.

While It Lasts...I don't even know what to say! I've been dying patiently waiting for this book since the moment I met Cage York in Because of Low. Even though the story didn't center around Cage, I couldn't help but want more. I mean, he was gorgeous, loved Low so much, but he was also a man-whore. [Sorry Cage, you know it's true.]  In his moments with Low, though, a vulnerable side to Cage emerged, and I knew that given a chance, he would shine. Give us a reason to love him, other than the "to-die-for" sexiness. And he did. Cage is a boy who never got the love a child deserves, was never told that he was worthy of love. The only healthy relationship he's ever had was with Low. My heart broke for this beautiful boy who never knew that yes, he deserves love.

Eva Brooks is a girl undone. After the death of her life-long love Josh, Eva has closed herself off from the world. She refuses to move on, believing a life without Josh is impossible, and a betrayal. So when Cage York comes to work on her father's ranch, she is prepared to spend the summer ignoring him. But a man like Cage is impossible to ignore, especially when he spends his days half naked, working in the heat, sweaty... Still, Eva is determined not to let Cage get to her. And I really adored her. Eva can come across as prickly, but she's guarded. With the sort of loss she endured, you can hardly blame her. But she also has a latent passionate side, a side Cage can bring forward with a sexy line and smile.

I know that I've portrayed While It Last as a story full of emotion and depth, and it surely is. But it is also a FUN and SEXY story. Nobody can throw out a sexy innuendo like Cage York. That boy makes me melt. He's so sexy, so self-assured and so darn sweet when he wants to be that it's a good things he's fictional or I would be all over that, which would most likely displease my husband. And this BY FAR is THE STEAMIEST book Abbi Glines has delivered yet. Cage York may be in tamed, but he's still Cage. Cage is soooo not PG. And it was a brave decision for Glines to remain true to Cage. If she'd held back with the steam, it wouldn't have been the Cage we fell in love with. Just prepare yourself, ladies. Ice packs at the ready.

Once again, Abbi Glines has proven why she is one of my favorite authors. Her stories deliver such an emotional impact. I'm always laughing, melting, crying and I always end her books laughing while crying. Her characters never have easy road to their happily ever after, but she gets them there all the same. I'm always happy to be able to go along for the ride.
Favorite Quote:

"His acceptance of my stupidity made something in me melt. Had I ever known anyone like him before? He made mistakes and 'fessed up to them. He didn't make excuses for the things he did wrong. He just dealt with it and moved on. I wanted to be that strong. I wanted that kind of determination to just live." (eARC, 39%)

" 'You have no idea how special you are. You see the bad. You've always just seen the bad. But I see the good. There is so much that is good and wonderful about you. You let Eva see that. You've never let anyone else see it before, except me. But you let her. I know, that she can't help but love what she saw.' " (eARC, 92%)

Abbi Glines can be found hanging out with rockstars, taking out her yacht on weekends for a party cruise, sky diving, or surfing in Maui. Okay maybe she needs to keep her imagination focused on her writing only. In the real world, Abbi can be found hauling kids (several who seem to show up that don’t belong to her) to all their social events, hiding under the covers with her MacBook in hopes her husband won’t catch her watching Buffy on Netflix again, and sneaking off to Barnes and Noble to spend hours lost in the yummy goodness of books. If you want to find her then check Twitter first because she has a severe addiction to tweeting @abbiglines. Facebook is also somewhere she visits a little too often. She blogs regularly but rarely about anything life changing. She also really enjoys talking about herself in third person.

Connect with Abbi at:
her website | Twitter | GoodReads | Facebook

Source: Received from author in exchange for an honest review.

Giveaway

I will gift one lucky ready an ebook of While It Lasts.

The details:

• Must be 18+ years of age to enter.
• Must be able to accept an ebook via Amazon or Barnes & Noble.
• Giveaway ends Sunday, August 5, at 11:59 pm.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

WAITING ON WEDNESDAY

Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's WoW selection is...

Why I'm Waiting ~ PERRY!!! There's no blurb yet, but LOOK! IT'S PERRY!! That shirt. Those pants. Duuuuude...This book can't get here soon enough.

Expected publication: January 8th 2013 by HarperCollins

Summer Giveaway Hop

Welcome to my stop on the Summer Giveaway Hop. The hop is being hosted by I Am a Reader Not a Writer and BookHounds. There are nearly two hundred blogs participating in book-related giveaways. You can find the entire list of participating blogs here.

My Giveaway

One winner will win two books.




Just fill out the Rafflecopter form to enter. Good Luck!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour ~ The Dex Files (Experiment in Terror #5.7) by Karina Halle

Welcome to The Bookish Babe's stop on The Dex Files Blog Tour. The tour is being hosted by Emmy at Sinfully Delicious Book Reviews. You can find the complete tour schedule here.  I had no business signing up for more tours right now, but with this being Dex, I couldn't resist. There's just something about that man...

The truth is out there...

The Dex-Files is a compilation novel that accompanies the Experiment in Terror Series and is not to be-read as a stand-alone. In the Dex-Files we find a variety of scenes and chapters from the enigmatic Dex Foray's POV from books #1-6 in the series. Some of these scenes have been previously published, albeit from Perry's POV, while other scenes are completely new.

In addition to it not being a stand-alone, the novel also contains some major spoilers and should be read only by those who have read all the published books in the series.

Book #1 - Darkhouse
*Lighthouse Meeting *Pie Scene *Jenn and Dex

Book #2 - Red Fox *Bar Scene *Playing Nurse *Up a Tree

Book #3 - Dead Sky Morning *Strippers *Truth or Dare *Tent Scene

Book #4 - Lying Season *Lunch With Friends *The Big Question *The Xmas Party

Book #5 - On Demon Wings *A Phone Call *Off the Road

Book #6 - Into the Hollow *Bailout

"And With Madness Comes The Light" 

Oh, wow, am I ever so happy that I signed on for The Dex Files Tour. When I learned that an actual book from Dex's point of view was coming, my heart did a snazzy high-kick. There are few, if any, characters as maddeningly frustrating, evasive, startling, and yeah, sexy as Declan "Dex" Foray. And with this book, author Karina Halle proved once again why he's one of my favorite characters.

The is comprised of snippets of Dex's life, beginning with his childhood, which was touched on in Old Blood (Experiment in Terror #5.5). I always wondered what made Dex, well...Dex. But after reading the Prologue and "After School Special", things become shockingly clear and I can't help but wonder how he isn't even more messed up. I was speechless.

As the stories progress through Dex's life, you learn more about Abby and Maximus. Then Dex meets Perry and once again, I was shocked. The phrase "everything is not what it seems" applies to everything I thought I knew about Dex. I was saddened, thrilled, and amazed by Mr. Dex. And I can honestly say, that I love him now more than ever.

Now, the writing. I shouldn't be surprised that Halle did such an amazing job with Dex. She did create him after all. But I can honestly say that I am in awe of her. For those who've read the series, you know Dex is one weird/quirky dude. She didn't bring him down a notch in an attempt to make him go down easier (Minds out of the gutter, people! Ohh..who am I kidding.) This is full-throttle Dex and his mind is a filthy dirty place. And I liked it. I actually read a lot of the book to my husband to see what a man would think (because this was too good not to share!), and his response was "Yep, pretty much."

Also, serious questions were raised in The Dex Files. Serious, life-altering questions. Questions that make me look at Halle in a whole new light because, you guys, this changes everything and it's pretty effing EPIC.

The Experiment in Terror series continues to get better with each installment. I can safely say I have no freaking clue what will happen next, but as long as I have Perry, Dex, and Little Fifteen, it's all good.
Favorite Quote:

" 'I just want you to enjoy all the pies in life, Perry,' I said, gazing at her, trying to get her shy eyes to meet mine. 'That's all.' " (eARC, 31%)


"I didn't want to be Red Fox's savior, but I wanted to be hers." (eARC, 46%)
Expected Publication: August 13th, 2012

GIVEAWAYS

There are two tour giveaways.

Sinfully Delicious Book Reviews (US/Canada)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Escapism from Reality (International Giveaway)

a Rafflecopter giveaway Source: Received eARC from author in exchange for an honest review.

Cover Reveal ~ OPTIONS by Abbi Glines

It's that time again. Time for a Cover Reveal. Super author Abbi Glines is book one in her upcoming YA Urban Fantasy trilogy, OPTIONS.

Two paths.
Two completely different roads.
Each one standing before me.
Each one holding a different destiny.

In life you're just supposed to choose one path.
In life you're not given the chance at choosing one specific future.

Until now.
Until me.

Why am I different? I don't know. But I'm going to see those roads and walk down each one. When it's over I'll know which one to choose because I'll know my - options.

The expected release date is February 5, 2013. (Too far away!!) Be sure to add OPTIONS to your TBR-list.

The cover was designed by Stephanie Mooney of Mooney Designs.

TEASER TUESDAY

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along, just do as following:

·Grab your current read
·Open to a random page
·Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
·Be careful not to include any spoilers so as not to ruin the book for others.

Make sure to share the title and the author so other TT participants can add the book to their TBR piles.

Passion as hot as midnight in the South and love as wild as the horses they tame.

Camille “Cami” Hines is the darling daughter of the South’s champion thoroughbred breeder, Jack Hines. She has a pedigree that rivals some of her father’s best horses. Other than feeling a little suffocated at times, Cami thought she was pretty happy with her boyfriend, her life and her future.

But that was before she met Patrick Henley.

“Trick” blurs the lines between what Cami wants and what is expected of her. He’s considered the “help,” which is forbidden fruit as far as her father is concerned, not to mention that Trick would be fired if he ever laid a hand on her. And Trick needs his job. Desperately. His family depends on him.

The heart wants what the heart wants, though, and Trick and Cami are drawn to each other despite the obstacles. At least the ones they know of.

When Trick stumbles upon a note from his father, it triggers a series of revelations that could ruin what he and Cami have worked so hard to overcome.It turns out there’s more to Trick’s presence at the ranch than either of them knew, secrets that could tear them apart.

My Teaser ~

"She tenses in my arms and I know without opening my eyes that it's her boyfriend. I ease my head back, breaking the contact with her lips, missing it immediately, and I smile down into her eyes.

'That was worth what's about to happen next.'

I turn slowly around to face my aggressor. His face is red with fury.

I preempt him. 'All right, you get one freebie. Make it count.' " (eARC, 9%)



I loved The Wild Ones. Check out my full review and GIVEAWAY!!

Releases August 1, 2012.

I was born and raised in the United States, and I’ve lived in several of the fabulous fifty. Though I currently live in the deep South, I spent much of my childhood up North and hope to return there one day. A few other things about me: I believe that sometimes you have to look really, REALLY hard to find the good in people, but it's there. I believe that I'm shrinking (I swear five years ago I was two inches taller). I believe my husband is quite possibly one of the most amazing men in the entire world (I can't be sure because I haven't met all of them). I believe coffee and chocolate, when combined, could be the basis for world peace. I believe that Jesus rocks and communism doesn’t. I believe that white makes me look fat and black collects lint. I believe summer's too hot, winter's too cold and fall was made for football. I like dogs better than cats and the first movie in a trilogy is invariably the best. But most of all, I believe that love conquers all.

Connect with author M. Leighton at:
her website | Twitter | GoodReads page | Facebook

Review and Giveaway ~ THE WILD ONES by M. Leighton

Passion as hot as midnight in the South and love as wild as the horses they tame.

Camille “Cami” Hines is the darling daughter of the South’s champion thoroughbred breeder, Jack Hines. She has a pedigree that rivals some of her father’s best horses. Other than feeling a little suffocated at times, Cami thought she was pretty happy with her boyfriend, her life and her future.

But that was before she met Patrick Henley.

“Trick” blurs the lines between what Cami wants and what is expected of her. He’s considered the “help,” which is forbidden fruit as far as her father is concerned, not to mention that Trick would be fired if he ever laid a hand on her. And Trick needs his job. Desperately. His family depends on him.

The heart wants what the heart wants, though, and Trick and Cami are drawn to each other despite the obstacles. At least the ones they know of.

When Trick stumbles upon a note from his father, it triggers a series of revelations that could ruin what he and Cami have worked so hard to overcome. It turns out there’s more to Trick’s presence at the ranch than either of them knew, secrets that could tear them apart.

"Some even say the wild ones are the best."

(eARC,46%)

I would like to say that I can be calm and rational about The Wild Ones. But I know better. You know better. That's just not going to happen with this review. Because...

I FREAKING LOVED THE WILD ONES SO MUCH THAT I CAN'T EVEN STAND IT!!!

Seems like I'm being a bit dramatical, yeah? I know, I know. But I'm not. That cap-smashed-filled, exclamation-riddled sentence is the honest truth. When I sat down to read The Wild Ones, I had reasonably high expectations. I had been reading the teasers, and yes, I love M. Leighton's writing. But what happened became one of my most favorite reading experiences ever.

I would love to tell you that I loved The Wild Ones for some deep, thoughtful reason. And believe me, the author did deal the characters some very heavy, hard-hitting emotional turmoil. Truly. But what put this book over the top for me was the characters.

Trick. Good lord, this man was one delicious character. And I don't mean just the looks, although, yeah, he is one beautiful man. Trick has swagger to back it up. But he's never cocky, just self-assured. Trick tries to always do the right thing, even if it causes him pain. He's given up a lot for his family, and is resigned to his duty. Until he meets Cami.Cami brings out something reckless in Trick. Something wild and untamed. Denying himself of her may be the toughest job he's faced.

"Pick 'treat'. Please, for the love of God, pick 'treat'."

Sexiest. Line. Ever.

Sweet, sweet Cami. I adored this girl. Cami is loving and fearless. She goes along to please her domineering father. But when Cami meets Trick, she's feels the drawn to him like a puppet on a string. She feels alive. Free. Reckless. But will the pull be enough to make her cut ties to her perfect life? It seems inevitable, but life isn't always simple. Cami and Trick's new found flame will be put to the test, in more ways than they can imagine.


Cami and Trick are backed up by two of the most awesome friends ever. Jenna and Rusty were absolute riots. Every time Cami or Trick would get down, these two were there to pull them back up, usually using humor and pulling no punches. I wish they had their own book! (I'm looking at you M.)


So with a cover like this, you know there's going to be some serious steam. I had read the Madly series by Leighton, so I knew she can write some smokin' love scenes. And she does bring the steam in this book. But, she also delivers some fantastic build-up. The quietly suggestive, flirtatious moments between Trick and Cami was through the roof. The sexual tension between them was so freaking hot, I was left fanning myself and telling my husband to crank up the AC. No lie.
I know that I've spent most of my review gushing about The Wild Ones. How much I loved Trick and Cami, their friends, their romance. But at the heart of it, is the sweetest love of all. The willingness to go out on a limb. To take a chance for the kind of love that might not seem safe, but is the kind of love we all dream about. With Trick and Cami, that kind of love is most certainly worth the risk.


Favorite Quotes:

"He turns his head and looks at me from the corner of his narrowed eyes, as if he's debating whether or not I blush on purpose. I shrug, assuring him it's beyond my control. He shakes his head and a slow grin spreads across his face. Without taking his eyes off mine, he raises his beer to his lips and takes a long drink. I can't help but watch his mouth, where his lips are pursed against the bottle. And then the action of his throat as he swallows.
I'm pretty sure my knees have turn to butter." (ebook, 41%)


"His lips take mine in a kiss I feel like I've been waiting for all my life. They're wild and passionate, everything I remembered, everything I'd imagined, and more." (ebook, 54%)


Releases August 1, 2012

I was born and raised in the United States, and I’ve lived in several of the fabulous fifty. Though I currently live in the deep South, I spent much of my childhood up North and hope to return there one day. A few other things about me: I believe that sometimes you have to look really, REALLY hard to find the good in people, but it's there. I believe that I'm shrinking (I swear five years ago I was two inches taller). I believe my husband is quite possibly one of the most amazing men in the entire world (I can't be sure because I haven't met all of them). I believe coffee and chocolate, when combined, could be the basis for world peace. I believe that Jesus rocks and communism doesn’t. I believe that white makes me look fat and black collects lint. I believe summer's too hot, winter's too cold and fall was made for football. I like dogs better than cats and the first movie in a trilogy is invariably the best. But most of all, I believe that love conquers all.

Connect with author M. Leighton at:
her website | Twitter | GoodReads page | Facebook

Source: Received from author in exchange for an honest review.

Giveaway

I am giving one lucky reader The Wild Ones (ebook).

Update: Author M. Leighton has donated one ecopy of The Wild Ones!

A couple rules:

• You must be 18+ years of age to enter.
• Must be a resident of a country that allows ebook gifts.
• Ebook will be gifted via Amazon or Barnes & Noble.
• Giveaway ends August 6, 2012 at 11:59 pm.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review ~ LOST GIRLS by Ann Kelley

No parents. No rules. No way home.

Fourteen-year-old Bonnie MacDonald couldn't be more excited for a camping trip on an island off the coast of Thailand with her fellow Amelia Earhart Cadets-the daughters of the men and women stationed there during the Vietnam War. But when a strong current deposits the girls on what their boatman calls the "forbidden island," things take a turn for the worse: A powerful storm comes to destroy their campsite, the smallest of the junior cadets is found dead, and their boatman never returns. What once seemed like a vacation in paradise has become a battle against the elements.

Peppered with short, frantic entries from Bonnie's journal, Lost Girls is a page-turning, heart-pounding adventure story about a group of teen girls fighting for their lives. ~From GoodReads

I'll just come out and say it, I didn't like LOST GIRLS. So, to spare you and myself, I'll make this short.

I can't even give a definite reason to back that up, either, which makes me feel like a jerk. It's odd, really, since I typically love survival stories. LOST is maybe my favorite show ever, and I even loved Castaway. I think the reason I didn't like LOST GIRLS is the narrative. The entire story is told through the eyes of Bonnie, a teenage girl living in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War. The story read as a "stream of consciousness" which is a hit-or-miss for me.  Bonnie is by turns horrified, hysterical, numb, detached and angry. All of those reactions are understandable, but it made reading the story a chore for me. Oh, and there was a scene that was total "WTF"-ery for me. It was bizarre, surreal, and unexplained.

I will say this for LOST GIRLS, the author didn't sugar coat the story at all. The girls endured horrific circumstances, realistic dangers, and extreme brutality in their living conditions. So while this made for fairly gross scenarios, I appreciate the author made the story as realistic as possible.

LOST GIRLS just wasn't the book for me. If this had been a book that I happened to pick up, rather than received from the publisher, I wouldn't have finished it. I also kept reading because I wanted to know if the girls were rescued, and who survived. This was not due to an investment in the characters, but simple curiosity. I hate that I felt that way, since I'm usually an empathetic reader, but there you have it.

**There are a lot of readers who enjoyed  LOST GIRLS. For an alternate point-of-view, check out this review I found at GoodReads. **


Favorite Quote:

"I'll start at the beginning. I remember when my journal was new and pristine, with clean white pages and a sky-blue hardback cover. Now it looks the way I feel - dirty, battered, torn, ripped, shattered, falling apart." (pg xii)

Published July 10th 2012 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

You can purchase LOST GIRLS at:
Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Book Depository


Source: Received from publisher in exchange for an honest review. 

THE WEEKLY REWIND, #13

THE WEEKLY REWIND is a weekly post in which I recap the bookish awesomeness from the past week, and post a book haul. Warning: I tend to ramble in my vlogs. Sometimes I get excited about things and I flail. Enjoy.

                                                Book Haul

• The Wild Ones by M. Leighton
• The Reaping (The Fahllen #1) by M. Leighton
• The Reckoning (The Fahllen #2) by M. Leighton
• Destined for a Vampire (Blood Like Poison #2) by M. Leighton
• To Kill an Angel (Blood Like Poison #3) by M. Leighton
• Caterpillar (Nine Lives #1) by M. Leighton
• Gravity (The Eclipse #1) by M. Leighton
• Wiccan (Wiccan #1) by M. Leighton
• While It Lasts (Sea Breeze #3) by Abbi Glines
• Prince of Wolves (The Grey Wolves #1) by Quinn Loftis
• Old Blood (Experiement in Terror #5.5) by Karina Halle
• Glass Heart (Cold Kiss #2) by Amy Garvey
• Valkyrie Rising  by Ingrid Paulson
• A Fractured Light (A Beautiful Dark #2)
• The Dead Girls Detective Agency by Suzy Cox
• Defy the Stars by Stephanie Parent

Awesome People

• M. Leighton
• Quinn Loftis
• Abbi Glines
• Karina Halle
• Harper Collins

Search Terms

• "perry palomino" ~ Heck, yeah! I love that girl.
• "because of low blog tour" ~ I love Because of Low. Read it!
• "on the island giveaway" ~ It's still going strong. Good luck!
• "saturtays" ~ I'm assuming you mean Saturday? That's a sexy day here at the blog. Check it out!

This Week's Posts

Cover Reveals

• The Unloved by Jennifer Snyder, The Wild Ones by M. Leighton

Reviews

• Entangled (Spellbound #1) , Easy , Drain You, Dante's Girl, Unleashed (Ross Siblings #1)

Memes

• Teaser Tuesday (Easy), Waiting on Wednesday (Just Breathe)

Giveaways

• Lazy Days of Summer Giveaway Hop (Lost Girls)

Thanks for stopping by. Leave a comment, and I'll come check out your blog. Have a great week!

Sim-Sational Trailer Reveal ~ The Sea Breeze Series by Abbi Glines

I'm excited to share something really cool with you. One of my best friends April at Sim-Sational Books has created a Sim trailer celebrating the Sea Breeze Series by Abbi Glines. The trailers April creates are gorgeous, very time-consuming, and close to her heart. I'm always amazed by the amount of time and brain power she puts into making them. So, take a look and enjoy!





Awesome, right? One of the perks of being friends with April is she usually sends us screenshots while she's working on her trailers. (We had some awesome conversations while she was creating Fifty Shades of Grey!) So I'm going to share some screenshots with you!

I hope you enjoyed this. Thanks to April for sharing!

SEXY SUMMER SATURDAYS, #9 {UNLEASHED}

Sexy Summer Saturdays is a weekly post that Hackaroos Reviews, Sims-Sational Books, The Autumn Review, and The Bookish Babe created for fun, to challenge one other to add a little spice to our reading and to spread the word about sizzling summer reads.

**The books featured on SEXY SUMMER SATURDAYS are for adults. If you are under 18 years of age, or do not like smexy books, please do not read this post. **

One week in paradise will make or break them…

It’s not enough that Kelsey’s husband left her for another woman. Oh, no. The “other woman” had to be her best friend Evan’s fiancée. Not only has she lost her marriage, she fears losing Evan to the lingering awkwardness and humiliation that hangs between them.

Evan has no intention of letting that happen. He’s got plans…namely, an extra plane ticket to Hawaii now his future wife is out of the picture. There’s only one person he wants on the trip with him, the one who’s always been there for him. The one he should never have let slip away into the arms of a traitorous friend who shattered her heart.

Kelsey is anticipating a week of fun in the sun with the man who’s always treated her like a little sister. No one’s more surprised when she discovers that Evan has seduction on his mind—and that she’s more than ready for it.

Love is the most powerful healing force of all. But past demons have a way of ripping open old wounds, and threatening the survival of even the strongest friendship…

Warning: This title contains explicit sex between best friends, graphic language…and a hero who knows how to put the hot in “hot tub”. ~From GoodReads

It was inevitable that I would read the Ross Siblings series. Almost every time I look up smexy books, this series would "pop up" (hee!) as a recommended read. Then I discovered that my guru in smexy books, Autumn, had read the series and loved it, and I knew I'd found a good thing.

I read Unleashed (and book two, Rock Me) during the Doin' It Dirty read-a-thon, and had a blast. Evan and Kelsey were characters that I liked immediately. I love books, especially romance, in which the characters share a history that gets that "getting to know you" phase out of the way. The two have a nice, sweet relationship, one that became more than a little awkward when Kelsey's husband and Evan's fiancee had an affair. So Evan and Kelsey use Evan's failed honeymoon as a vacation, and their long-standing attraction to one another flares to life.

As for the sexy times, the were pretty great. The chemistry between Evan and Kelsey was apparent in the first scene they shared, but once they hit Hawaii, it's no holds barred. There was a lot of lovemaking going on in that honeymoon suite, and one HOT hot tub scene.

I will say, along with some steamy romance, the plot in Unleashed really held my attention as well. Kelsey and Evan were two people with a lot of baggage, insecurities, and at the heart of it, truly loved one another. There is the inevitable test of their bond late in the story, one that frustrated the heck out of me. But Unleashed does have a nice, romantic, tear-inducing conclusion. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Favorite Quote:

"The words drew out something primeval and possessive in him, the need to cherish her and protect her and above all else, claim her as his own. Erase all memory that she'd ever belonged to anyone else, that she'd ever given anything to a man who didn't appreciate her and didn't treasure her with his entire being. She was the one who deserved everything, everything he had to give." (ebook, 60%)

" 'I mean it, if you want to go to law school, then go, and I will support you all the way. I'll even throw in free tutoring. Wait until you see my Socratic method, baby.' " (ebook, 89%)

Published February 2nd 2010 by Samhain Publishing, LTD             

You can purchase UNLEASHED at:
Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Book Depository


Source: Personal Purchase

Review ~ Dante's Girl (The Paradise Diaries #1) by Courtney Cole

I have spent every summer since I was ten years old with my father in London. Every summer, since I was ten years old, has been uneventful and boring.

Until this year.

And this year, after a freak volcanic eruption strands me far from home, I have learned these things:

1. I can make do with one outfit for three days before I buy new clothes.
2. If I hear the phrase, “You’re not in Kansas anymore, Toto,” even one more time, I might become a homicidal maniac.
3. I am horribly and embarrassingly allergic to jellyfish.
4. I am in love with Dante Giliberti, who just happens to be the beautiful, sophisticated son of the Prime Minister of a Mediterranean paradise.
5. See number four above. Because it brings with it a whole slew of problems and I’ve learned something from every one of them.

Let’s start with the fact that Dante’s world is five light-years away from mine. He goes to black-tie functions and knows the Prime Minister of England on a first name basis. I was born and raised on a farm in Kansas and wear cut-off jeans paired with cowboy boots. See the difference?

But hearts don’t care about differences. Hearts want what they want. And mine just wants to be Dante’s girl.

My heart just might be crazy.

OhMyWord. I loved Dante's Girl!

From the moment I met Reece, I adored her, much like Dante. And really, what's not to love? Reece is as natural and realistic as they come. She was friendly, open, funny, and I honestly had no idea what she would say at any given moment. Her inner freak-outs were hysterical. Her honesty was refreshing. The girl is straight-up no BS. She'll do anything for boy she loves, but she will not play games or settle for less than what she deserves.

"He's either going to be true to me or we're not going to happen. I love him, but I deserve to be loved back." (ebook, 63%)

What a fantastic girl! I wishwe had more characters like Reece. She is truly a force to be reckoned with.


As for Dante, the object of Reece's affection.  Dante isn't a Prince, but he's close enough. He's that dreamy boy we've all dreamed about (mine was Prince William), but sadly, 99.9% of us never find. He's courteous, generous, loyal. Did I mention that he's Adonis-style handsome?

" 'You're the handsomest person in the world,' I announce. 'I don't care if it's a word or not. You are it, one way or another.'" (ebook, 45%)

Dante's only flaw is trying to please those he loves, even when it makes him unhappy. I can think of worse things. Dante is determined to be with Reece. He'll go to whatever lengths it takes to make her happy. <happy sigh...>

How beautifully romantic is it to imagine being taken to a gorgeous island in the Mediterranean, amongst centuries-old architecture, olive groves, and the sea? Courtney Cole did a wonderful job of painting a gorgeous picture. The rolling hills, the winding roads, the sand... I almost felt as if I were there. It was like a mini-vacay for my brain.

Dante's Girl was such a fun, fast-paced read. It's actually the perfect story for a lazy summer afternoon. And the story, like I said, it appealed to the girl in me who always imagined being whisked a way by a Prince (or the son of a Prime Minister). But you know what else? It simply appealed to me as the lover of an awesome story. Dante's Girl was funny, it was romantic, and it was a true delight. I can't wait to read the next installment of The Paradise Diaries.


Favorite Quote:

" 'I'm sorry,' he says. 'Please don't go home. I feel like I have this chance - this chance to do what I'd really like to do with someone who I really like. I don't know how to go about it, but I'd really like for you to show me.' " (ebook, 51%)

"I rest my head against the stone tiles behind me and add more water to the huge, deep tub. And then more bubbles. Because a sad girl deserves bubbles, dang it. And my bubbles keep popping. And isn't that a great analogy for life right now? My bubbles keep getting popped.
Sigh." (ebook, 63%)


Published June 24th 2012 by Lakehouse Press

You can purchase Dante's Girl at:
Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble

You can find the super fabulous Courtney Cole at:
website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Amazon



Source: Received from author in exchange for an honest review.