{WICKED WINTER SATURDAYS} REVIEW & GIVEAWAY - UNRAVEL ME SERIES by KENDALL RYAN

Baby, it's cold outside! Time to snuggle up with a mug of hot chocolate (or a glass of wine!) and fall into a steamy, sexy book.

Wicked Winter Saturdays is a weekly post created by The Autumn Review, The Bookish Babe, Hackaroo's Reviews, and Sim-Sational-Books. Feel free to join in. (let us know so we can add a link to your post).

The Autumn Review
Sim-Sational Books
Hackaroo's Reviews
Paranormal and Urban Fantasy Reviews

**The books featured on FRISKY FALL SATURDAYS are for adults. If you are under 18 years of age, or do not like smexy books, please stop here. **

Today I am reviewing the Unravel Me Series by Kendall Ryan. Be sure to check out the giveaway at the bottom of the post.


Series: Unravel Me #1
Genre: Erotic Romance
Publisher: Kendall Ryan
Publication Date: 9/22/12
Format: ebook (Kindle)
Pages: 214
Source: Received from author for review.

Psychology student Ashlyn Drake’s neat, orderly life takes a turn for the crazy when she finds the perfect subject for her amnesia thesis – a young man without any memory of his previous life, including the murder he’s accused of committing.

Against all common sense, Ashlyn’s drawn to him like a moth to a flame. Perhaps it’s that he’s so incredibly male, and even handcuffed to his hospital bed he could pass for a cologne ad – Scent de Insanity. Or perhaps it’s because she’s spent too many lonely nights studying. Either way, she’s determined to help him solve the mystery of his past. She begins to unravel who he was before, using his cryptic tattoos, and his paintings that scream of a dark past as her only clues. When she finally learns his secret there’s no telling which one is the real him, the gentle lover she’s fallen for or the troubled man with a dark past.

UNRAVEL ME is a contemporary erotic romance.

Dangerous and Seductive, Unravel Me will steal your heart, your time and your breath.

Holy Wow. I loved Unravel Me. This book read like a movie, a romantic, erotic thriller, and demanded my attention from the get-go. Ashlyn Drake is a PhD student who is asked to work with a John Doe, suspected of murder. The man, whom Ashlyn quickly realizes is not the dangerous predator he is accused of being, has amnesia. He can't remember his life before the murder he is suspected of committing.  He has no identifying markers other than a tattoo with the name "Logan", and another with a script identical to Ashlyn's. Ashlyn is drawn to the man with the mysterious tattoos, and they soon cross the border of professional distance. With her help, "Logan" attempts to unravel his past, and build a new future. But will his past destroy their chances of a future together?

So...who here thinks an amnesiac, potentially dangerous, suspected murderer can be hot? Anyone? I wasn't so sure about that situation myself, but I went into the story with an open mind, and fell in love with "Logan" as quickly as Ashlyn did.Their chemistry was dangerously hot, and though they both attempt to keep a bit of distance for obvious reasons, it's only a matter of time before Ashlyn and her mystery man give in. And ohhhhh, how they give it! Unravel Me was so steamy, the steam is so sensual that I had to stop and remind myself to breathe. Ashlyn and Logan alternated between raw passion, and sensual healing. In Ashlyn's arms, Logan can escape the inner pain that chases him. Ryan does an awesome job of writing scenes so descriptive (without going overboard) that it's almost as if you're there. <---wishful thinking.

Unravel Me is the full package (so to speak). And I feel lame, because I want to gush about the big reveal, but I'm trying not to spoil the story. The "unraveling" of "Logan's" past was slow, sad, and beautiful. Ashlyn and Logan are characters that made me love them. I hurt with them, was happy when they were, and cheered in hopes of a happy ending. The plot was mysterious, surprising, and kept me guessing until the very end. Author Kendall Ryan wrote one heck of a fun, sexy book that left me wanting so much more!


Favorite Quotes:
  "He released my wrists, dropped to his knees, and delicately ran a fingertip along the lettering that matched his own. He dipped his fingertips just inside the waistband of my white cotton panties, moving them aside to read the phrase uninterrupted. My stomach jumped at his touch.
  'What does it mean?' His voice was husky and thick.
  I realized I'd been holding my breath and pulled in a lungful of air before answering. 'I will either find a way or make one.' "  (12%)


  " 'Please.' The one word plea was all I could verbalize. It meant so many things, please stay, please don't just leave me, please don't be the man they say you are...
  He seemed to understand on an unspoken level and began walking toward me. I met him halfway, as if drawn forward by some greater force.
  'Those things in my file,' He sighed and rubbed his hands across his face. 'I'm not safe. You don't even know me.'
  'I know you better than anyone. I trust you.'"  (25%)


 "I exploded into a million pieces, calling out his name over and over again. I collapsed back onto the pillow as Logan kissed his way up my body. When he reached my mouth, he was smiling. 'Beautiful girl, let me f*ck you now.' "  (54%)


Series: Unravel Me #2
Genre: Erotic Romance
Publisher: Kendall Ryan
Publication Date: 11/10/12
Format: ebook (Kindle)
Pages: 238
Source: Received from author for review.

Emotionally crippled Liz isn’t looking for a relationship when she meets delish boy-next-door, Cohen. He’s a few years younger, a volunteer firefighter, oh…and a virgin, making him totally off limits. But never one to back away from a challenge, she’s drawn to him even while she continues to satisfy her physical needs elsewhere.

Even as she spends her evenings in another man’s arms, she somehow finds herself curled up in Cohen’s bed each night. It’s been a long time since she had a true honest-to-goodness make out session, but Cohen’s showing her just how much fun not having sex can be.
When Cohen’s injured, her real feelings for him rise to the surface, and she has to decide if she’s willing to take a risk on love after enduring so much heartbreak in her past.

MAKE ME YOURS is the sexy conclusion to UNRAVEL ME.

Ashlyn and “Logan” from UNRAVEL ME also make a few, um *appearances* …ahem.

 

With two main characters worthy of love, each other and a happy ending, Make Me Yours is a story that will steam you up and fill you with joy.

A couple of things happened after I finished Unravel Me. I did a happy dance, emailed author Kendall Ryan and thanked her for a great story, then I jumped headfirst into Make Me Yours.

Make Me Yours is the story of Liz (Ashlyn's of Unravel Me's best friend) and her sexy upstairs neighbor, Cohen. I knew I was in for a treat. The Liz of Unravel Me was bold, free, and wicked. What I got was that Liz, but also the story of Eliza, the true Liz. She is a girl whose fun and sexy exterior hides a painful past. A past that caused her to change everything about herself, even her name, all in order to protect her heart.

When Liz meets Cohen, a sexy undergrad/volunteer fireman/bouncer/all-around great guy, she is sure she can win his body. But Cohen is an extraordinary guy. Due to his own history, he is determined to save himself, not for marriage, but for his forever. Cohen may be pure, in a way, but he's no innocent. All the work other dudes have put into the actual deed, Cohen has put into the foreplay. Ladies, we love the foreplay, yes? OMG. This glorious man knows how to work it out. Cohen is the kind of guy you want to cuddle and take care of, then defile. *wink*

Now, I'm just going to stop right here and say this....I am so freaking happy to finally read a story about a male virgin and a sexually experienced woman. I'm not going to get into the whole "society and gender roles" issues, because, really, that's no fun. I just love love love that Make Me Yours is such a great reversal of the typical sexual roles in romance. Liz and Cohen haven't made their choices because of, or in spite of, moral ideals. They simply are who they are.

Just as with Unravel Me, Make Me Yours is one helluva good book. I seriously could not put it down, neglecting all real-life responsibility. Food? Who needs it. Laundry? Who cares. This book was so great that I had to talk to my BFF, whom I told that the story had me so amped up that I was stalking my house like a caged tiger. I even sent her a super juicy quote from the story. Her response was unsuitable for this review. ;-) This series has put Kendall Ryan on my must-read-now list.

Favorite Quotes:


  "Despite my body's urgings I didn't want to be the aggressor with Cohen. I may have had no problem in the past taking what I wanted, but I wanted him to choose me."

  "His kiss was intoxicating. The warmth of his mouth, the skilled way his tongue flirted with mine. Knowing we probably weren't going to have sex heightened all my senses and my brain commanded that I pay attention to every touch, each sensation, it was a completely different experience than I was used to. It was all about the buildup rather than a single moment of bliss."  (42%)


  "I haven't had sex, but I've definitely done all the other stuff, Eliza. I am a guy."  (47%)



You can purchase Unravel Me at:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords

You can purchase Make Me Yours at:
Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Smashwords

Connect with Kendall at:
Facebook  |  GoodReads  |  Amazon

 

GIVEAWAY

 

I have a great giveaway to share with you, courtesy of author Kendall Ryan. There will be one winner.

If the winner is a US Resident, they will have their choice of a print copy of Unravel Me, or an ebook of either book in the series.

If the winner is International, they will have their choice of ebook copy of Unravel Me or Make Me Yours.

 

 



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{BLOG TOUR} DOUBLE TIME (SINNERS ON TOUR #3) by OLIVIA CUNNING

You guys. I am DYING here! I am so, so thrilled to be taking part in the Double Time Blog Tour, brought to you by Sourcebooks Casablanca. I kid you not, I sort of squealed when I got the invite to join the tour! I am a huge fan of the series and of author Olivia Cunning. In fact, Sinners on Tour is one of my very favorite series ever and Olivia is on my "Auto-Buy" author list. My stop on the tour includes an interview with the lovely, talented Olivia Cunning, and a GIVEAWAY.

Series: Sinners on Tour #3
Genre: Erotic Romance
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Publication Date: 11/6/12

Olivia Cunning delivers the perfect blend of steamy sex, heartwarming romance, and a wicked sense of humor in this menage story featuring the hottest guy in the Sinners band.

Trey Mills, the notoriously sexy Sinners rhythm guitarist, gives up his bisexual lifestyle and is swept into a hot, heady romance with Reagan Elliot, a female rock star sensation. But when Trey encounters Reagan's sexy bisexual roommate, Ethan Conner, he can no longer deny who he is or what he wants. Reagan heartily agrees to a solution that opens up a hot new world of sexual experience--and love--with the two men she wants the most.

My review of Double Time  

 

You can purchase Double Time at:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository

 

Interview with Olivia Cunning

 

Did you go into writing Double Time knowing what you wanted for Trey, or did the story come to you as you were writing?

 

Olivia: A little of both. I knew I was writing a ménage way before I started writing the book. I had no idea how I was going to get from point A to point B to point C. I always knew that Trey needed an alpha male. I wasn’t sure what he needed in a woman, but I think I found the right mix of sassy and sensitive in Reagan. The hardest part of fashioning Trey’s story was creating a woman who could love him enough to allow him to be true to himself. Because let’s face it. Trey is a high maintenance piece of work, but well-worth the effort.

(Trey is soooo worth it.)

 

 

Have you gotten any negativity for having written Trey as bisexual?

Olivia: Not for having written Trey as bisexual, but I have heard negativity about Trey not being sexually fulfilled by Reagan, as if I intended that to be a condition of his bisexuality as opposed to it being part of his personality. His lack of fulfillment is not a sweeping philosophical statement about bisexuality. It is not meant to imply that a bisexual person cannot commit to one person. That never even crossed my mind. I was floored when someone mentioned it. So here’s the down low. The lack of fulfillment thing is Trey’s personal hang-up. This fictional person, Trey, happens to find another fictional person named Ethan with the exact same hang-up (so they connect quickly) and here is this wonderful, yet fictional, woman who is willing to accept them both despite their I-need-both-male-and-female-loving hang-up. She embraces their hang-up at great personal sacrifice (yeah, right). That’s all it is. As unconventional as their relationship is, it’s what Trey needed to be happy. It’s no reflection upon anyone in the real world. I now wonder if there are people out there who think I was attempting to make a sweeping philosophical statement about butt plugs and anal retentive behaviors. I’ll put your mind at ease if this has been keeping you up at night. No, I was not. Certain characters like butt plugs because they like butt plugs. That’s all there is too it. Trey wants a man and a woman because he is a horny pleasure-seeker and likes the way it makes him feel on a physical and emotional level. Ethan and Reagan are in complete agreement. That’s all there is too it. No hidden agendas or intended offense.

(How much do I love this answer? So much!)

 

At any point, did you ever consider pushing Trey and Brian into a romantic relationship?

Olivia: No. That would have made the tour bus really awkward. Jace would have been totally freaked out by them making out all the time. And I don’t think Trey would have made a good mother for Brian’s children, even if they were adopted. Heck, I didn’t know Trey had a thing for Brian until the exact moment that Myrna knew. So by then, I was already way too invested in Brian and Myrna working out and Brian getting that perfect family he’s always wanted to even consider letting Trey’s misguided affection interfere. Besides, Trey always gets his way. This was a good lesson for him. They’re all happier the way it turned out, even if they do reflect upon what could have been.

(Now I'm picturing Jace all red-faced and embarrassed!)

 

Did you ever worry about adding Ethan to Trey and Regan's relationship as an equal partner?

Olivia: I tried writing the ménage with Ethan just being a spare penis at first. Two pages of discarded text later, it was apparent that he had to be an equal partner or someone was going to end up with another concussion (Trey). Mostly because Ethan was still so in love with Reagan and him pretending he didn’t care about her lasted all of two seconds in the bedroom. So I decided not to bother making Ethan feel used and instead went back and amped up the emotions in his scene alone with Trey. Trey and Ethan are both used to getting their way. Trey lays on the charm and Ethan lays on the macho bullcrap, which, if they were vying for top dog, would have led to a hundred pages of very unsexy drama before they figured out how to make it work for all three of them. I was ready for the smexy by that point and not feeling the drama.

 (I love an author who can just get to the "meat" of the story.)

 

If you could use one song to describe Trey, what would it be? Reagan and Ethan, too.

Olivia: Trey’s theme song fits him perfectly. It’s “Wanna Be Loved…” by Papa Roach

Reagan’s theme song is more of a feeling. When I hear it, it “feels” like Reagan—high energy. “Tonight” by Seether.

Ethan’s theme song is all about the smexy. “Sex Type Thing” by Stone Temple Pilots. He’s a caveman; what can I say?

 

I know you love all the Sinners, but is there one who has a special place in your heart? 

 

Olivia: The one who breaks my heart is Jace, so I guess that means he has a special place in the “shattered and lying on the floor bleeding” place of my heart. But you’re right. I love all of my rock star characters. I’m most in love with them when I’m almost finished writing their book, because that’s when the heroine is most in love with them. I feel you, girl.

 

Have you ever written a scene so "hot" that you either rewrote it or pulled it from your book?

Olivia: The first m/m scene in Double Time was originally an m/m/m threesome scene. There were a couple problems with that. A) Trey rushed into sex with an ex way too fast B) I had a hard time keeping track of male members (and I don’t mean band members)  C) I had to take the third male character out of the book entirely because I’d been told that Double Time was being released out of order and it would have been a huge, huge, HUGE spoiler for Eric’s book (now being released last) and D) it was way too explicit for mainstream. The explicitness was the least of the problems though. I honestly don’t have a problem with how explicit the scenes in my books are. Obviously. I don’t think readers would have liked the scene for reasons A and C.

(*daydreams...considers all the male members*)

 

I love that the books in this series have a happy ending. Is that something that is important to you?

Olivia: Though highly erotic, they are romance books and a happy ending is guaranteed in a romance book. As a reader (and a writer), I don’t necessarily need a happy ending at the end of each book to be satisfied, but I do require a happy ending by the end of a series. I do want my Sinners to be happy, so no way was I messing that up for them. It’s important to me that my characters find happiness. Especially after all the crap I put them through. Poor guys.

 

Fun Question: What is Trey's sucker of choice, Dum Dums or Blow Pops?

Olivia: Trey’s a rebel, I guess. His favorites are Jolly Rancher cherry-flavored lollipops. Dum Dums are too small to satisfy him, and with blow pops (and tootsie pops), the stuff in the center hinders his enjoyment of the pure cherry goodness.

 

Thanks for having me on your blog today! November has been a fantastic month for me. I guess that makes you the cherry on my Trey-licious sundae.

 

 

Thanks to Olivia for taking precious writing time to answer my questions. This is a highlight for me and for The Bookish Babe. Also, Special Congratulations to Olivia on becoming a full-time author!! You know what this means, right? Keep buying her fabulous books so she can keep going full-time.

 

 

Combining her love for romantic fiction and rock ‘n roll, Olivia Cunning writes erotic romance centered around rock musicians. Raised on hard rock music from the cradle, she attended her first Styx concert at age six and fell instantly in love with live music. She's been known to travel over a thousand miles just to see a favorite band in concert. As a teen, she discovered her second love, romantic fiction -- first, voraciously reading steamy romance novels and then penning her own. Growing up as the daughter of a career soldier, she's lived all over the country and overseas. She recently moved to Galveston, Texas.

Connect with Olivia Cunning at:

Website | Blog  |  Facebook | Twitter  |  GoodReads

 

 

Giveaway

 

I have one copy of Double Time to give away, courtesy of Sourcebooks. I can say that Double Time is a fantastic and the winner will be one lucky person. I've been known to stare lovingly at my copy from time to time. ;-)

 

Rules:

• Must be 18+ years of age to enter. No exceptions.
• Must have a US mailing address.
• Fill out the Rafflecopter form to enter.

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Thank you to Sourcebooks for asking me to take part in the Double Time Blog Tour.

 

{COVER REVEAL} THE SUMMER I BECAME A NERD by LEAH RAE MILLER

I'm happy today to be participating in the cover reveal for an upcoming book from Entangled Teen. This cover reveal is for The Summer I Became a Nerd, by Leah Rae Miller. I love it. I'm so excited to share it with all of you.






Genre: Contemporary Young Adult
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Publication Date: 5/7/13

On the outside, seventeen-year-old Madelyne Summers looks like your typical blond cheerleader—perky, popular, and dating the star quarterback. But inside, Maddie spends more time agonizing over what will happen in the next issue of her favorite comic book than planning pep rallies with her squad. That she’s a nerd hiding in a popular girl's body isn’t just unknown, it's anti-known. And she needs to keep it that way.

Summer is the only time Maddie lets her real self out to play, but when she slips up and the adorkable guy behind the local comic shop’s counter uncovers her secret, she’s busted. Before she can shake a pom-pom, Maddie’s whisked into Logan’s world of comic conventions, live-action role-playing, and first-person-shooter video games. And she loves it. But the more she denies who she really is, the deeper her lies become…and the more she risks losing Logan forever.

How cool is this? I totally love the reversal of hottie/popular girl-to-nerdy girl. It's a complete shift of what we typically see in books and movies and I'm thrilled!

Born and raised in northern Louisiana, Leah Rae Miller still lives there on a windy hill with her husband and kids. She loves comic books, lava lamps, fuzzy socks, and Cherry Coke. She spends most of her days reading things she likes and writing things she hopes other people will like.

 

Connect with Leah at:
her website  |  Twitter

You guys! I just saw on GoodReads that Leah lives in the same Louisiana town that I lived in a few years ago! If I still lived there I would totally take her to Lasyone's Meat Pie Kitchen or The Landing to celebrate this reveal. Congratulations to Leah and Entangled Teen.

{SERIES REVIEW} CRUSHED SERAPHIM and BITTERSWEET SERAPHIM (SERAPHIM #1 and 2) by DEBRA ANASTASIA

 

 

Today I am reviewing the Seraphim Series by Debra Anastasia. The series includes Crushed Seraphim and the recently released Bittersweet Seraphim. 

 

 

Series: Seraphim #1
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Omnific Publishing
Publication Date: 5/17/11
Format: ebook (Kindle)
Pages: 194
Source: Bought

How does a foul-mouthed angel end up as the last hope for all of Heaven and Earth?

When Seraph Emma is maimed and tossed from Heaven by a rogue angel who's taken charge, she fears she'll never be allowed to return. Tasked with the impossible job of showing the self-loathing (and not even human!) Jason his worth, Emma is sure she's doomed to fail.

Meanwhile, having wormed his way into Heaven, the corrupt Everett has trapped God in Hell and has designs on unleashing evil everywhere. Fortunately, if there's one thing Emma can't do (in addition to minding her language), it's give up. Determined to save Jason and get back to Heaven-even if it means going to Hell-Emma's plan is simple yet impossible: trick the Devil to save God.

What she doesn't count on is the devotion and, well, humanity she finds in Jason; the spirit, hidden compassion, and raw sex appeal within the Devil; and the vulnerability of her own heart. With the help of two unlikely allies, she'll wage the battle for Heaven. But will Emma be sidetracked by a new sort of heaven along the way?

What's truly more dangerous?

Falling from Heaven, or falling in love?

 

Series: Seraphim #2
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Omnific Publishing
Publication Date: 11/22/12
Format: eARC
Pages: 280
Source: Received from publisher for review.

Suffering is worst when you’re doing it alone. But Emma’s taking Hell like an angel—even though her languishing began with having her seraph wings torn from her back. Now her worst enemy lords his body and his evil desires over her while she tries desperately to remember the words to her favorite prayer.

As Devil, Jack used to have Hell and its women humming like well-oiled machines. Too bad he’s nowhere near the place now. Stuck on Earth as a human, he must work with a ragtag team of exiled minions and half-breeds to save the angel who’s become all that matters.

Rescuing a seraph is the plan, but breaking into Hell means letting evil things out. Once they collide, minions and angels converge in the battle of the ages: good versus evil. But which side is which? Will Jack destroy the world as he fights to save Emma, his true and timeless love, from a damnation he designed?

An action-packed sequel to Crushed Seraphim, this tale reveals—time and again—what happens when the heart’s deepest desires break free. With a story both sizzling and sensual, emotional and enigmatic, Debra Anastasia invites readers to join a battle with nothing less than love on the line.

Not Your Average Angel Story

What an understatement. Having read Debra Anastasia's beautiful story, Poughkeepsie, I was dying for more of her work. Anastasia's stories are unique. Her characters can be sweet, sexy, dangerous, or docile, but they all manage to to have a wicked sense of humor and a "ballsy" (for lack of a better word) charm.

So, were Crushed Seraphim and Bittersweet Seraphim what I expected? Well, yes and no. I got the out-of-the box story that I was hoping for. Seriously. Emma is a an angel who is just as likely to swear and flip the bird as she is to bless someone. An angel who lovingly tends to those in need, and can't help but fall for the Devil, Satan Jack. Jack....wow. I thought I was prepared for his special brand of sexy swagger. Not even close. This man was beautiful, seductive, dangerous, and, dare I say, honorable. Unff. This man was so sexy, he made me hurt. Here's the deal: Imagine Johnny Depp. Yeah. Combine that image with that sexy mouth and that's all it takes to make the ladies, and angels, fall hard for Satan Jack.  Jack and Emma's love story is glorious, but not without tragic road blocks.

I was also surprised (pleasantly) by the elaborate, all-encompassing tale of love, pain, desperation, sacrifice and hope. I expected the Seraphim Series to be primarily about Jack and Emma. It really is, but it is also about the divine and demonic beings that set their journey in motion and the ones they meet along the way.The road these characters, particularly Emma and Jack, must travel is frightening, tragic and ultimately, worth it.

Crushed Seraphim is a story that I did enjoy, but I also spent a decent portion of my time gaining my bearings. I understood it, but I think I just needed some time to see how the pieces fit together. The story ended up coming together with  great force and left me flying to open Bittersweet Seraphim to discover what happens next.

Bittersweet Seraphim was a delight from beginning to end. It begins with the tragic love story of a minion of hell and a human. I would think that anything less than Emma and Jack would be unsatisfying, but this opening pulled me headfirst within the story. Jack and Emma quickly gain center stage of the book and while Crushed Seraphim seemed to focus more on Emma, Bittersweet Seraphim gives us SO. MUCH. JACK. Though I love awesome Emma, Jack's larger role in this book made it even more awesome than book one.

The Seraphim Series was great. Honestly, the more I sit here and consider, the more I'm loving it. So yes, I did get the lively, entertaining story I was expecting, but I also got so much more. More heartache. More pain. More love. Bittersweet Seraphim had one of the most beautiful endings that I've ever read. An ending that left me with teary eyes and a happy heart. I can safely say that Debra Anastasia and her remarkable stories are truly one of a kind.



Favorite Quotes:

  "As she spoke, her eyes filled with the same gold-colored sheen that had been in her tears. 'Don't listen to him. You're a miracle. If nothing else, I'm so very glad we've met.' "  ~Crushed Seraphim, 18%


  " 'No one knows you're here with me, Emma. Wanting me isn't a sin. I'll give you pleasure, pure and simple.'
  He snapped the second button of her union suit. It clattered to the floor and rolled on its rim, taking some of her virtue with it.
  'Pure.' Her ears were so sensitive, and the deep vibration of his voice drove her wild. He licked her lobe gently, then whispered again. 'And simple.' "  ~Crushed Seraphim, 33%


  "Jack took the cigarette from her and held it in his fingers. He took a drag and blew the smoke in his well-practiced way. It formed a heart-shaped ring. He grabbed a handful of her hair and kissed her solidly, his hands no longer shaking. He held tightly and moved her head to one side, then the other, as he tasted her mouth. She moaned and gave up caring where she was, who she was pledged to."  ~Crushed Seraphim, 80%


  "Jack unzipped his pants and spoke to Jason.  'You might want to have Kate close her eyes if you ever want her to sleep with you, asshole. Because once I take off my pants, you'll always come in second.' "  ~Bittersweet Seraphim, 33%


  "Jack ran a hand through his hair. At twenty-six, he'd had his share of the ladies. Okay, fine. He'd had ten guys' share of the ladies. There was just something about him -- mostly it was in his pants. He was like the pied piper of p***y and loved every g*dd*mn minute of it."  ~ Bittersweet Seraphim, 88%


  " 'It's you.' She started to cry again.
   The lump in his throat made his voice faulty. 'It's you.' "  ~Bittersweet Seraphim, 92%



You can purchase Crushed Seraphim at:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble


You can purchase Bittersweet Seraphim at:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Debra Anastasia is busy, just like every other mom. There's dinner, the dogs, the kids, and their homework. The laundry pile turns into a big, heaping monster. When the clothes finally make it into the washer, it gets unbalanced and puts on an elaborate show before it cuts out. This crazy job that never ends is her first love and her crowning achievement. Her writing started a decent handful of years ago when along with the dogs, cat, kids, and husband, the voices of characters started whispering stories in Debra's ear. Insomnia was the gateway for the plots that wouldn't give up, wouldn't let go. In the shower, a twist would take hold and--dripping and frenzied--she'd find somewhere, anywhere to write it down. Debra grew up in New York and got a bachelor's degree in political science at SUNY New Paltz. At the start of her marriage, she moved to southern Maryland with her husband. She still doesn't trust crabs and all their legs, though everyone else in her family thinks they're delicious. Her favorite hobbies include knitting, painting furniture and wall murals, and slapping clowns. Earlier this year Omnific Publishing published her debut novel, Crushed Seraphim, and she's currently pounding out the sequel to angel Emma's adventures. You can visit her website at www.DebraAnastasia.com and find her on twitter @Debra_Anastasia. (taken from GoodReads)

{SPECIAL FEATURE & GIVEAWAY} LONELY SOULS (THE WITCH AVENUE #2) by KARICE BOLTON

I'm happy, today, to be featuring Altered Souls by Karice Bolton. Altered Souls is book two in the The Witch Avenue series, and the follow-up to Lonely Souls. Today's feature includes a book spotlight, excerpt, and a fantastic giveaway.

Series: The Witch Avenue #2
Genre: Paranormal Young Adult
Publisher: Bulldog Press
Publication Date: 10/28/12

The realm of Altered Souls brings nothing but unrest, deceit, and pain forcing Triss to come face to face with heartbreak from her past.

Facing a betrayal like never before, Triss questions everything she thought she knew about her family, coven, and abilities.

With the help of Logan, she embarks on a journey enabling her to confront the dark side of magic and the person who controls it. Realizing Triss’s ancestors have been seduced for centuries by the dark side, Triss and Logan must ensure no more in their world fall victim to the realm of Altered Souls, even if that means ending the ones they love.

 

Excerpt

 

I felt the warmth of the flames reach my bones while I let my mind wander to the possibilities that this opportunity could bring. Finding out what Trevor knew about my father and mother was quickly becoming an obsession. Glancing up at Logan, he stood directly in front of me, grinning with his arms crossed.

“Do you know how enticing you look in that shirt?” I blurted.

“Do I?” Logan’s lips spread into a huge smile.

“Yes you do, and we really need to get him out of the cottage tonight,” I muttered, unable to stop myself from looking at how deliciously low his jeans hung.

“And why’s that, Triss?” his lips turned up slightly in amusement.

Looping my finger into his jean pocket, I pulled him closer and looked up into his eyes. He raised his eyebrow with anticipation, and I couldn’t help the smile that was spreading across my lips.

“Just because,” I whispered, quickly releasing my finger from his pocket.

Standing up next to him, I quickly pecked him on the cheek before I headed to the kitchen, hoping I had left him wanting so much more.

I needed to get out of the cottage.

Opening up the oven, I peeked under the tinfoil at the rubbery mess, which seemed all too fitting considering my life at the moment. I took the foil off so the cheese would brown and shut the oven door with a thud. Here I was, once more, trying to internally debate the rights and wrongs of our actions and the consequences that they held.

“Hmm. Not quite there yet. Probably another fifteen minutes or so,” I sighed, looking out the kitchen window.

“It’ll have to be quick with what the weather seems to have in store for us,” Logan said, placing the jar on the end table.

“How’d you know what I was thinking?” I asked.

 

“I can just tell,” Logan said, letting his fingers glide into his front pocket. “Seriously though, it looks like it will be pretty nasty soon, but we can go outside for a few minutes. At least until the lasagna is done.”

Stepping outside onto our stone porch, I took a deep breath in and felt the freshness of the mountain air run through my system. Rain was definitely on the way, but I didn’t mind. There was nothing better than being in the cottage during a rainstorm. Well, that wasn’t quite true. Having Trevor tied up in the attic kind of complicated things, which was why I just wanted to get answers from him and get rid of him. Grabbing a basket and flower clippers, I looked back at Logan as he secured the door.

“Ready?” I asked.

“I’ll follow your lead,” he said grinning coyly. “Looks like you’ve got some collecting you’d like to do… And here I thought this might lead to something else.”

He shoved his hand deeper into his pocket and wore an absolutely adorable smile that stole my heart.

“Maybe I’ll follow your plan,” I said, shrugging and tossing my basket back down on the porch.

“Works for me.” He grinned, quickly moving toward me.

I backed my legs up against the porch banister to brace myself, the cold of the stone alerting my senses even more. My heart screamed with delight as he reached around me and wrapped his arms around my waist, creating a perfect circle. His stare was intense with the same feelings of desire I felt.

“I think I like your plan better,” I whispered.

He reached up and tucked a piece of hair behind my ear sending such a shudder through my body that I was certain he felt it.

I gripped his arm as he lowered it back to my waist. Closing the gap between us, I craved his touch.

“You are so beautiful,” he murmured, as he gently cupped my face, allowing his finger to trace its way back down my neck to my collarbone. “Do you have any idea how hard it is to be so close to you every night?”

“I think I can imagine.” I tried to stifle a nervous giggle.

Leaning down, his lips met mine as all of my muscles tingled from head to heel. I could feel the softness of his lips mold to mine as I slid my arm around his waist. Feeling the firmness of his entire body pressed against mine created an unstoppable force between us. Wrapping his shirt around my knuckles I brought him closer to me, but I felt him pull away slightly. Opening my eyes, I saw where I had pulled on his shirt. My tug of his clothing had revealed something dark on his skin that caught my eye, but he pulled his shirt collar back up quickly.

“You have a tattoo?” I asked, not wanting our session to be over.

“Kind of. Listen we should get back inside,” Logan’s words hit me like the thunder out in the distance. I wasn’t sure what I had done or why a tattoo would be a big deal, but it seemed to be.

“I didn’t think we were done?” I smiled, hopeful that whatever might have made him back away would quickly be forgotten, but it wasn’t.

“To your point earlier, let’s get this over with and boot him out,” Logan said, trying to change the subject. “So we can start where we left off.”

“I don’t understand what just happened, but you can bet I’m going to figure it out and who’s to say I don’t think a little ink is sexy?” I joked, only to have Logan looking a little more horrified than before.

Nice. I can't wait to read Altered Souls!

 

 

The Witch Avenue Series

 

(click on cover for my review)

 

 

 

Purchase Lonely Souls at:

Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble

 

Purchase Altered Souls at:

Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble 

 About the Author:
Karice Bolton is a paranormal romance/urban fantasy author living in the Pacific Northwest. All three books in The Watchers Trilogy are available now, Awakening, Legions, and Cataclysm. Lonely Souls, which is the first book in her new series Witch Avenue, was released in June 2012!

Karice married the love of her life who she met in high school, and she still can't get over how cute and funny he is. They have two English Bulldogs that are the cutest bullies in the world, and they use their cuteness to get what they want. Karice loves the snow and gravitates towards the stuff as often as possible! She enjoys skiing and tries really hard to snowboard, but often makes a nice little area to sit while everyone zips by on their board. She enjoys writing, and she also loves to read just about anything with print.

Connect with Karice at:

GoodReads | her website   |  Twitter | Facebook

 

 

GIVEAWAY

 

Karice is offering a lovely prize to one lucky winner!

 

Prize Includes:

• Lonely Souls or Altered Souls paperback (winner's choice)
• $10 Amazon giftcard
• Tote bag
• Set of Witch Avenue bookmarks
• Set of Watchers Trilogy bookmarks

 

 

 

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...

 

Series: Stand alone

Genre: Contemporary Young Adult

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Publication Date: 4/1/13

 

If he had been with me, he wouldn't have died.

Throughout their whole childhood, Finn and Autumn were inseparable—they finished each other's sentences, they knew just what to say when the other person was hurting. But one incident in middle school puts them in separate social worlds come high school, and Autumn has been happily dating James for the last 2 years. But she's always wondered what if...

The night she's about to get the answer is also one of terrible tragedy

 

 

 

Why I'm Waiting ~  If He Had Been With Me sounds so so tragic. I loooove tragic.

 

 

Preorder If He Had Been With Me at:

Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Book Depository

 

 

{REVIEW} EPHEMERAL (COUNTENANCE #1) by ADDISON MOORE

Series: The Countenance #1
Publisher: Addison Moore
Publication Date: 9/12/12
Format: ebook (Kindle)
Pages: 412
Source: Received from author for review

Young Adult/ Mature Situations

The last thing Laken Stewart remembers is the oncoming car, then bursting through the windshield.

Two months dissolve without her knowledge and she finds herself in unfamiliar surroundings with strangers who not only profess to know her but insist she’s someone else entirely.

Laken discovers her long dead boyfriend, Wesley, has been thrown into this alternate world as well. He is quick to inform her she suffered a horrible fall and that her memory hasn’t fully returned. According to Wesley the other life she had—her name, her family, they were simply a side effect of her brain trauma.

In her quest for answers she meets Cooper Flanders, the son of her psychiatrist who readily believes every word she says.

Laken Stewart knows she died on that hot July afternoon, but now she’s alive—or is she?

Whoa. Ephemeral was C-R-A-Z-Y. The good kind of crazy, definitely. You have a spirited, hard-headed main character in Laken, whose passion and temperament rivals that of her Celestra Series counterpart, Skyla. Laken, who also is dropped into the crazy world of angel factions, the Transfer, and viscious high school rivals, also has the dreaded/beloved love triangle to deal with.

Yes, another triangle. For fans of Moore's Celestra Series, you know this is a good thing! This time, we have Wes, Laken's one true love, her perfect match. But, there's also Cooper. A sweetheart of a guy, who seems more willing to believe Laken and to help her uncover her past and the truth about what is happening in this insane alternate world. Laken wants to be with Wes, loves him, but cannot deny her attraction to Cooper. I have a feeling this entanglement may end up rivaling that of Skyla/Gage/Logan.

Ephemeral had so much going on. You have Laken trying to navigate and unravel this alternate world she wakes up in. The people from her other life are not the same in this world. Her family is not the same. Laken is driven to the edge wondering whether she is dead, alive, or insane. Those she trusted in her old life are the same she must be wary of in this new life. There are monsters in the forest, possible evil among her family and friends, and a battle for her heart and mind.

Ephemeral is a great spin-off to the Celestra Series. Those who've read and loved that series will be extremely happy with this new series. I'm excited to find out what happens next in book two, Evanescent.


Favorite Quote:

  "I write silly things on the back of leaves and give them to you." I don't tell him that I wrote "I love you" a thousand times or that he was my everything or that he saved every leaf I'd ever given him in a box beside his bed - that I did the same with the ones he gave me.    (12%)



You can purchase Ephemeral at:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble |  Smashwords





Connect with Addison Moore at:
her blog  |  Twitter  |  Facebook  |  GoodReads

TEASER TUESDAY ~ BITTERSWEET SERAPHIM by DEBRA ANASTASIA

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.

Series: Seraphim #2
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Omnific Publishing
Publication Date: 11/22/12

Suffering is worst when you’re doing it alone. But Emma’s taking Hell like an angel—even though her languishing began with having her seraph wings torn from her back. Now her worst enemy lords his body and his evil desires over her while she tries desperately to remember the words to her favorite prayer.

As Devil, Jack used to have Hell and its women humming like well-oiled machines. Too bad he’s nowhere near the place now. Stuck on Earth as a human, he must work with a ragtag team of exiled minions and half-breeds to save the angel who’s become all that matters.

Rescuing a seraph is the plan, but breaking into Hell means letting evil things out. Once they collide, minions and angels converge in the battle of the ages: good versus evil. But which side is which? Will Jack destroy the world as he fights to save Emma, his true and timeless love, from a damnation he designed?

An action-packed sequel to Crushed Seraphim, this tale reveals—time and again—what happens when the heart’s deepest desires break free. With a story both sizzling and sensual, emotional and enigmatic, Debra Anastasia invites readers to join a battle with nothing less than love on the line.

 

My Teaser ~

  "Jenny wished she'd never met Nero -- never touched his lips, never spoken to him. And then with the next breath she wished she'd kissed him properly, felt his ridiculous biceps. She wished she'd handed him a flower so he could have something beautiful to take with him."  (eARC, 2%)


Be sure to stop back by on Thursday for my review of Bittersweet Seraphim.


You can purchase Bittersweet Seraphim at:
Amazon  |  GoodReads  |  Book Depository

{REVIEW} THE CHARMED (THE CHARMED TRILOGY #1) by CHRISTINE WENRICK

Series: The Charmed Trilogy #1
Publisher: Red Tree House Publishing
Publication Date: 8/29/12
Format: ebook
Pages: 306
Source: Received from author for review.

In The Charmed—Book One of The Charmed Trilogy—Olivia Ann Greyson sees only one future for herself—to compose and perform the music she has loved since she was a child. But that future changes in an instant when a commuter train taking her to the city crashes and is attacked by, unbelievably, a coven of vampires! As the rabid creatures feed their thirst on the surviving passengers, Olivia is spared from an unthinkable fate because of the intervention of another vampire—Caleb Wolfe, a figure from her past who, for reasons he doesn’t understand himself, would do anything to protect her.
After one familiar touch, Olivia recognizes the man behind the vampire. Soon love, and a powerful supernatural connection, begins to grow between them. But with that connection Olivia starts to notice starling changes happening within herself, and violent events make it clear that the vampire coven which wanted her the night of the train crash won’t stop until they have her.
Time is running out for Olivia and Caleb to discover why all this is happening. And the answers they find may painfully tear their new love apart.

 

With a fated romance amid a danger-filled world, The Charmed is a story that will resonate with lovers of Adult Paranormal Romance.

The Charmed is a story that I really enjoyed. You have a heroine in Olivia who is a bit innocent, but not completely naive. A bit dramatic in her emotions, but not over-the-top melodramatic. Caleb, her savior and love, was a true romantic hero. He was all man, er, vampire...a manly, protective man who also happens to be a vampire. Their relationship, intense and fast-moving, was very steamy, dramatic, and heart-warming.

The vampire world that author Christine Wenrick built was familiar to other stories in some ways, but managed to have a unique enough spin to make it her own. The bad vampires were scary, the good vampires could be scary when pushed to the limit, but had human-like qualities as well. There are dhampirs, a human/vampire hybrid, who live somewhere in between. There are even vampire hunters, who didn't play a huge part in this book, but I expect a lot more out of in book two. As for Olivia...well, she is something all her own, something unlike I had ever read about before. I'm not going to go into it deeply, because it takes a decent bit of explanation, and it's something better left to the book.

There is one aspect to The Charmed that I think some readers may pick at the love story. Caleb and Olivia's attachment could seem like a case of insta-love to some, but I don't mind it when I can feel the connection strongly. I just felt that I should probably point that out. ;-)

The Charmed was a quite beautiful story. I enjoyed its destined, yet challenged lovers, and the dangerous world they live in. This is a series that I look forward to continuing in book two, The Charmed Souls.


Favorite Quote:

  "My teary gaze turned to face him, and the vampire's presence was never more real to me than at that moment. His lips lingered just inches above my own, and his sweet, cool breath tingled across my cheek while mine drew in sharply. This was the first time I had seen him out of the shadows -- and his human face was stunningly handsome."  (13%)


  "And then I knew--I knew everything I needed to know. 'Do you see what's happening, Caleb? I am a mirror. I can only reflect your true nature.' Happy tears began to fall over my cheeks. 'And your reflection is beautiful.' His features softened and his eyes reverted as I watched them change to the beautiful gray tones of Caleb, the man."   (95%)



You can purchase The Charmed at:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble |  Smashwords



About the author:
Christine is the author of The Charmed Trilogy. She lives in the scenic Pacific Northwest where she enjoys hiking, camping and photographing many of the wonderful places that served as inspiration for her novels. Her biggest reward in life is any given day when one of her books connects with a reader, because she herself is such a lover of reading.
You can connect with Christine at GoodReads.