SEXY SUMMER SATURDAYS! {#3}

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.


This week's Sexy Summer read is another hot one. If you're under eighteen, you need to back away again this week. ;-)

Five stunning guys, one hot woman, and a feverish romance... For him, life is all music and no play... When Brian Sinclair, lead songwriter and guitarist of the hottest metal band on the scene, loses his creative spark, it will take nights of downright sinful passion to release his pent-up genius... She's the one to call the tune... When sexy psychologist Myrna Evans goes on tour with the Sinners, every boy in the band tries to seduce her. But Brian is the only one she wants to get her hands on... Then the two lovers' wildly shocking behavior sparks the whole band to new heights of glory...and sin...~From GoodReads

WHOA. BABY.  Those two words sum up my thoughts after reading BACKSTAGE PASS. I was told this was a hot, hot book by my friend Autumn, an expert in smexy books. So like the dutiful, trusting chick I am, I immediately ordered this book and book two in the series, ROCK HARD (wonder what that implies :-) ). As soon as I started reading this one, I was hit by many tweets from fans of the series. They hinted about cherry suckers, voyeuristic drummers...amongst other things. So I had a feeling that reading BACKSTAGE PASS would be quite the experience. Boy, was it ever!

So once again, I've hit a book that is almost too much for my poor brain to wrap around. I am on sensory overload. So I am going to break this baby down into two segments: the story and the sex. Sound good? Let's do this!

The story. Myrna is a sexual behavior professor at a conference. She happens to see members of her favorite band, Sinners, having a great time drinking in the hotel. She introduces herself to the band, and quickly becomes acquainted with them. They would all love to get down with her, but she has her eyes on Master Sinclair, lead guitarist. Brian "Master" Sinclair is actually the master at getting his heart broken. He repeatedly falls for his girlfriends, only to have his heart stomped on when they cheat, usually with his bandmates. When he meets Myrna, Brian is immediately smitten. He falls hard for the beautiful professor with an exciting sexual appetite. The problem is, Myrna doesn't want love. She only wants right now. So Brian sets out to win Myrna's heart. To give her a reason to stay with him. Forever.

BACKSTAGE PASS was a terrific story. I love a great romance with a strong, secure female lead. Myrna is a force. She knows what she wants, in life and in the bedroom. Her lack of naivete was a welcome change from what I typically see in romance novels. Brian was beyond wonderful. I'm a firm believer that there are fewer things in life sexier than rock stars. When you add the fact that Brian is a hopeless romantic, a one woman man..well, that just seals the deal for me. I absolutely loved him. The road these two take, in getting to really know one another, the give-and-take that transpires as they slowly build a relationship, was gorgeous. I loved that author Olivia Cunning really took her time with Brian and Myrna. Stories like that make the payoff so much sweeter.


Now for the smexy times. *rubs hands together* This is one. hot. book. HOT! Listen, you know how I just said that rock stars are the sexiest things ever? Scratch that. Rock stars who hear music when they're making love and use their lover's body to write the notes on are the hottest things ever. Ever. I just...my brain wants to 'splode when I imagine it. Hot. As for the adventures of Myrna and Brian. Talk about wild. I totally felt like I should take notes while I was reading. Myrna is determined to explore every naughty fantasy she's ever had. Brian is more than willing to share them with her. I have to admire her, the woman knows what she wants and has the cajones to say it. I won't go into all the naughty bits, and there are a lot. Let's just say I will never look at cherry suckers the same way ever again. *falls over dead*

It would be an epic understatement to say I really liked this book. BACKSTAGE PASS is a book I shall re-read many times, probably when I need a good pick-me-up. I am ridiculously excited to read book two, ROCK HARD. I already have book three, DOUBLE TIME, on pre-order. Olivia Cunning is now an "auto buy" author for me. So if you like hot guys, strong women and sexy times, this series is for you!

Link to site

This is Synyster Gates, from the group Avenged Sevenfold. I thought he looked like the perfect Brian. And, funny enough, his real name is Brian. I heard that Avenged Sevenfold was an inspiration for the Sinnners for author Olivia Cunning. That makes perfect sense when you see them and their performances.




This is a great solo by Synyster Gate's. It is exactly how I envisioned Master Sinclair's concert solo's in the book.


 Favorite Quote(s):

"He had everything he wanted. He needed. Right here. This woman. He knew she wouldn't appreciate his sentimental thoughts. She didn't want to hear that he loved her, no matter how clearly he felt it. So he just stared into her eyes while their bodies came together, apart, together, and swallowed his words where they settled as a lump in his throat. " (pg. 177)

" 'I don't think I'm cut out to be a rock star's girlfriend.'
....He touched her cheek gently. 'Then don't be a rock star's girlfriend. Be Brian Sinclair's girlfriend.'"
(pg. 233)


You can find loads of SINNERS ON TOUR goodies at Sinner's Excerpts. You can read Chapter One of BACKSTAGE PASS and ROCK HARD, excerpts and deleted scenes from both books and short stories. Yay! I foresee myself spending lots of time there. You can also visit the Sinner's Blog.


Published October 1st 2010 by Sourcebooks Casablanca

You can purchase BACKSTAGE PASS at:
Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Book Depository  |  Books-A-Million

You can find Olivia Cunning at her:
blog  |  website

Source: Personal purchase

Blog Tour ~ BLACK SATIN by Rae Hachton

Hi! Welcome to The Bookish Babe's stop on the BLACK SATIN Blog Tour. The tour is being hosted by Heather at Supagurl Tours.

What if you weren’t who you thought you were? What if your whole life changed in an instant and you were released to a new identity? What if you were forced to kill the one you love? What if everything you knew wasn’t real, and you awaken to a new world? What if love could take you to unknown places? How beautiful is death really? Marcus Marble has disappeared from Ellie’s life, and she needs answers to questions and he’s the only one who can answer them. How is her sister back from the dead, and why is Ellie still alive? When Ellie realizes Marcus isn’t coming back, she is forced to move on with her life the best way she can, in hopes of finding the answers herself, but when people at school begin to be viciously murdered, and Giles reveals to her a life changing secret, she decides to investigate the possible truth of it. What she discovers is more than she thought she would. The only time Ellie feels normal is when she’s around Walter, the new guy at school. And normal is how she wants to feel, now that Marcus is gone from her life. But Walter may not be all that he seems, either, and she just might spiral in to an even more dark world, she never thought possible. And when it occurs to her that Marcus has made the decision to pass on through to the afterlife, during the Risorgimento, she races against time to stop him, while knowing she has feelings for Walter, too. Will she make it in time to stop Marcus from passing through, and if she does, what will she tell Walter? Her heart will have to make the final decision. But will the choice be worth dying for? ~From GoodReads

Author Bio:

Rae Hachton [pronounced H-ton] is the nom de plume of author Desirae Hennington. She is the Indie Author of the Gothic Romance series Pretty in Black. She is twenty-three years old and lives with her Muse and her Ghost. When she is not composing new novels, she is working on her cinematography studies, and devouring YA books. Her favorite band is The Raveonettes, and she is a major fan of Edgar Allan Poe and Ravens and Crows. Although she is writing Gothic Fiction at the moment, her favorite genre of all time is Contemporary YA. Favorite contemporary book: tie between Forever by Judy Blume and the Summer I turned Pretty series by Jenny Han. Favorite author: David Levithan. If Rae Hachton wasn't writing, she'd give it one last shot at being kewl, and probably start a band.

Buy the books:

Amazon -                

Paperback
E-book

Barnes & Noble -
Nook Book

Giveaway

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Cover Re-Reveal ~ BREATHE (Sea Breeze #1) by Abbi Glines

I have another treat for you! Today, Abbi Glines is revealing the new, gorgeous cover for BREATHE. BREATHE was the first book of Abbi's that I ever read and it still holds a special place for me. (my review) I absolutely loved the story and have read every single one of her books since. I am so happy to be able to share this with you...

Sadie White's summer job isn't going to be on the beach life-guarding or working at rental booths like most kids her age. With her single mother's increasing pregnancy and refusal to work, Sadie has to take over her mother's job as a domestic servant for one of the wealthy summer families on a nearby island. When the family arrives at their summer getaway, Sadie is surprised to learn that the owner of the house is Jax Stone, one of the hottest teen rockers in the world. If Sadie hadn't spent her life raising her mother and taking care of the house she might have been normal enough to be excited about working for a rock star. Even though Sadie isn't impressed by Jax's fame, he is drawn to her. Everything about Sadie fascinates Jax but he fights his attraction. Relationship's never work in his world and as badly as he wants Sadie, he believes she deserves more. By the end of the summer, Jax discovers he can't breathe without Sadie. ~From GoodReads

Guess this means I'll have to buy the new version to add to my collection!

Because Abbi rocks, she is sharing her DREAM CAST with us.

Sadie White - Sasha Pieterse

Jax Stone- Max Irons

Marcus Hardy- Chris Hemsworth

The Breathe playlist: link http://pl.st/p/23375341579

1. Can’t Take My Eyes Off You by Muse
2. Don’t Ever Let it End by Nickelback
3. Breathe by Taylor Swift
4. Holding on to Heaven by Nickelback
5. No Air by Jordan Sparks and Chris Brown
6. Here Without You by Three Doors Down
7. Lullaby by The Spill Canvas
8. Take My Breath Away by Jessica Simpson

And...Jax's song for Sadie, DON'T CRY.

Learn more about Abbi and her books at her website.

Review ~ THE DROWNED CITIES (Ship Breaker #2) by Paolo Bacigalupi

Soldier boys emerged from the darkness. Guns gleamed dully. Bullet bandoliers and scars draped their bare chests. Ugly brands scored their faces. She knew why these soldier boys had come. She knew what they sought, and she knew, too, that if they found it, her best friend would surely die. In a dark future America where violence, terror, and grief touch everyone, young refugees Mahlia and Mouse have managed to leave behind the war-torn lands of the Drowned Cities by escaping into the jungle outskirts. But when they discover a wounded half-man--a bioengineered war beast named Tool--who is being hunted by a vengeful band of soldiers, their fragile existence quickly collapses. One is taken prisoner by merciless soldier boys, and the other is faced with an impossible decision: Risk everything to save a friend, or flee to a place where freedom might finally be possible. This thrilling companion to Paolo Bacigalupi's highly acclaimed Ship Breaker is a haunting and powerful story of loyalty, survival, and heart-pounding adventure. ~From GoodReads

Set in the catastrophic ruins of a future America, THE DROWNED CITIES is a book that consumed my thoughts from nearly the first page forth. To be honest, I didn't expect to love this book. I actually took it for review only because I like to keep my reading horizons expanded. I had looked into the first book in the series, THE SHIP BREAKER, and was impressed by the acclaim it had received. Since THE DROWNED CITIES was a companion and not a sequel, I felt that I could safely jump into the world and not flail in the lost details. For the most part, I succeeded. Once I was able to grasp what this future America looked and functioned as, I was good to go.

Brutal. The story is absolutely, utterly brutal. Imagine the horrors of the never ending wars, the horrific genocide that has occured on an endless loop in Africa. The horror that we've only seen in newscasts, or movies watched in the comforts of our homes. But the horror is here, in America, and it's happening to you. Warring factions are deadlocked in a ceaseless battle for control of territories. They each claim to be working for the better good, but they only work to scavenge the land, leaving you alive long enough to fulfill your usefulness. This is your America. Flooded. Broken. Poisoned. Are you scared? That is the feeling that filled me as I read THE DROWNED CITIES. I despaired for the world, for Mahlia and Mouse.

I will probably be flogged for saying this, but in my opinion, Mahlia is a heroine that surpasses the exceedingly popular Katniss Everdeen. I'm not saying that there is anything wrong with Katniss, but I am saying that I connected with Mahlia in a way I never did with Katniss. Mahlia's spirit, her will to survive, is one of the strongest I've ever read. She is faced with near impossible choices, with no sure or easy outcome. She makes dangerous choices, sometimes the wrong choices that cost those around her, but she stands behind the decisions. Although Mahlia isn't technically a soldier, she is at war. She is simply another casualty of the war around her.

In the end, you can do with THE DROWNED CITIES as you wish. You can read it strictly as an epic adventure. And it most certainly is. The journey that Mahlia takes is entertaining and tension-riddled as they come. You can also read the story as an allegory. A cautionary tale on the consequences of destroying the earth, and of war. Or you can do what I chose and accept it as both. THE DROWNED CITIES is a story that took me on a brutal, beautiful, terrifying, and thought-provoking journey. And although I did not need to read THE SHIP BREAKER to enjoy this, I have already ordered a copy so I won't miss a single moment of the haunting tale.

Favorite Quote:

" 'Lock it away,' the half-man whispered. 'You feel, after. Not now. Now you are a soldier. Now you do your duty for your pack. If you break, your Mouse will die, and you with him. Feel, after. Not now.' "  (pg. 196)

"None of it made any sense. He hadn't done anything one way or the other to end up where he was. The tide of war had rolled in and swallowed him up, and Banyan Town with him, and they'd all tumbled in the surf. And for reasons he couldn't understand, he'd broken the surface and managed to breathe, while everyone else was drowning alive." (pg. 274)

Published May 1st 2012 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

You can purchase THE DROWNED CITIES at:

Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Book Depository

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

WHAT A BOY NEEDS ~ Q&A, Review, & Giveaway

Welcome to The Bookish Babe's stop on the WHAT A BOY NEEDS Blog Tour! Today I have a Q&A with the lovely and fierce, Pris. That is followed by my review of WHAT A BOY NEEDS and a GIVEAWAY!

Let's get started.

Q&A with Pris

(image taken from mockingjay.net)

Andrea: Was there one moment when you knew you loved Jaden?



Pris: Dios. You go straight for the punch! LOL. I’m not sure if there was one specific moment. I think there’s always been a part of me who knew he was special…not in same way Sebastian is special to me. Jay’s always been… different. I remember one time when I was fourteen. I had a bad day. I was upset with my parents and the four of us were hanging out and walking around town. Everyone kept asking me what was wrong and I didn’t want to talk about it. I told them I just wanted to go home. Aspen and Bastian asked Jaden if he wanted to go to a movie and the three of them walked over while I headed for home. We hadn’t been too far from my house. I was sitting on my porch because I didn’t want to go inside. My parents were gone at some function or something and I suddenly didn’t want to be alone anymore… I was lonely. It wasn’t five minutes later he walked up my porch stairs. I asked him what he was doing there and he told me Bastian and Aspen decided to see some stupid movie that he didn’t want to watch. I was so grateful that he was there—that I didn’t have to be alone. Grateful that they picked a movie he didn’t want to see. We just hung out and talked. Of course he’s Jaden so he was being a goof and making me laugh. It was perfect. I wasn’t sad anymore. Before he left he picked a dandelion and held it out to me and told me to make a wish. That I could have anything I wanted. I know that sounds ridiculous, but I think that’s when he went from special to mine. Anyway, the next day I was with Aspen and she mentioned offhandedly that she was surprised Jay bailed on the movie because he’d been wanting to see it forever. That’s Jaden. Silently noble.

Andrea: *melts*

Andrea: What's the one thing you wish you could tell the world about Jaden?

Pris: That’s a hard one because if people don’t take the time to really see who he is, it doesn’t matter what I tell them. I guess kind of what I said in the first question. He gives without wanting acknowledgement for it. He keeps it in and I think that makes what he does even more incredible. He’ll probably be mad if I don’t add something in there about how he’s a really good kisser too ;)

Andrea: I know Jay and Bastian love the Beastie Boys. But do you and Aspen have a favorite band?

Pris:Umm…we’re not as obsessed with anyone as they are with the Beastie Boys. LOL. We love Bobby Long. Red Hot Chili Peppers are incredible too. Oh and the Black Keys.

Andrea:What did you think about Jay and Bastian's graduation stunt?

Pris: *rolls eyes* They even kept it from us! We had no idea they were doing that! They’re so crazy. At first I was shocked and then I couldn’t help butlaugh. They’re nuts, but they’re pretty funny too. Just don’t tell them I said that.

Andrea: *dies laughing b/c it's still funny*

Andrea: If you had to choose one place to take Jaden, where would it be?

Pris: I wish he could have seen a Beastie Boys concert before MCA passed away. He would have loved that. Otherwise… I don’t know. Somewhere silly and boy-ish, I guess. LOL.

Andrea: Describe your perfect day?

Pris: Talking and hanging out with Jaden—blowing dandelion seeds but without making a wish because I already have everything I want. Holding one out to him, just so he knows he can have anything he wants too.

Andrea: Sigh...

**Thanks to the lovely Pris for the Q&A.**

Jaden Sinclair knows he'll never amount to anything...so why would he deserve a girl like Priscilla Mendoza? Since last summer, things have been screwed up between Jaden and Pris. He knows it's his fault, but that doesn’t stop him from wanting to go a few rounds with her new boyfriend. He also knows he’s the loser his dad calls him, but it doesn’t stop him from wanting her. After getting a huge bomb dropped on him, Jaden lashes out and lands himself in jail. Everything in his chaotic life is turned upside down and to make it worse, his mom kicks him out in order to side with his dad. Yeah, he’s totally a prize for a girl like Pris. Sebastian, Aspen, and Pris are all going places in their lives...and he knows he can't keep tagging along for the ride. The group has one last chance for The Epic Adventure they've been looking for: a road trip to New York, where Jaden's friends will be going to college. Unfortunately, the more time Jaden hangs around Pris, the harder it is to keep the carefully constructed walls between them so she doesn't find out what a train wreck he really is. When the trip ends, Jaden has to decide if he's ready to say goodbye to his friends, and the girl he loves. He knows what he needs, but will he be man enough to go for it? ~From GoodReads

Recently, I read a great book, WHAT A BOY WANTS (my review). I immediately fell in love with the story, the characters, and author Nyrae Dawn's ability to tell a great story and feel so much for her characters. So you can imagine how happy I was when I learned Nyrae was writing a companion book from Jaden's point of view, WHAT A BOY NEEDS. I received an advanced copy of this book and dove in whole-heartedly. I was thrilled to revisit the gang and to learn more about Jaden.

What I learned....broke my heart. Jaden's home life is so devastating. There were hints that things weren't good in WaBW. But to actually face it was wrenching. This poor, sweet boy who appears to be carefree and always up for a good time, he endures so much. The constant onslaught of verbal abuse, being told he's nothing, a mistake; it starts to play with Jaden's mind and causes him to lose himself. He begins to believe he's not good enough for Bastian, Aspen, and Pris.

Pris. She has loved Jaden for so long. But he didn't see her that way. Then, we he finally did, Jaden didn't think he was worthy of her love. It's easy to see why Jaden is so in love with Priscilla. The girl is straight-up intense. She's funny, fiercely loyal, strong, and does not care that her family has more money than sense. The girl who appears to have it all, is lacking the one thing she wants the most: someone to love her and put her first. She wants Jaden. Wants him to be open and trust her. Jaden loves her, but can't open up. Their struggle towards one another is intense and beautiful. And what I love about Nyrae Dawn's storytelling is that she uses the "quiet" moments to as much effect as the big gestures. The little things, like knowing which eyebrow ring they would like best, or making sure the person you love gets the right drink (Cherry Pepsi, sigh...), those are the pieces of the puzzle that make a great love.

So yeah, WHAT A BOY NEEDS is intense and dramatic. But it is also laugh-out-loud, hysterically funny. Exactly what you expect when Jaden and Bastian get together. Gah. I love those boys.  I'm not going to spoil it, because I honestly busted out laughing while reading it, but GRADUATION!! (I'm looking at you Autumn and Val!) Another big moment was packing the car. (DO IT HARDER!) I've seriously been tweeting that line to Autumn a lot. Classic.

I am so happy with WHAT A BOY NEEDS. I cried for at least thirty minutes after I'd finished. I was sad for Jaden's past, but hopeful for his future. I was sad that the story was over, yet thrilled beyond belief with how it ended. The story comes to a full, beautifully written circle. A true treasure that I will not soon forget. I loved WHAT A BOY WANTS so much. I loved Bastian and Aspen. I still love that story. It was funny and heart-warming. Believe it or not, I think I may love WHAT A BOY NEEDS even more. Just do me a favor and don't tell Bastian, okay?


Favorite Quote:

I chose two quotes; one funny, one heartbreaking.

" 'First of all, you're nuts. I'm way hotter than you and second, I'm being serious, man. We're like, Batman and Robin. Scooby and Shaggy. Acutally, none of those duos have sh*t on us. We're Sebastian and Jaden.' " (pg 36, eARC)

"Before he fell for Aspen, Sebastian didn't believe in love. I always wanted to - I just didn't know if I was worthy of it. But when she says it? This girl who can do anything? It's like a law. If she can love me, I must be worth something, right?" (page 124, eARC)


Expected Publication Date: June 12, 2012

Giveaway

I'm giving away an ebook of WHAT A BOY NEEDS. I will gift to either Kindle or Nook. If the winner has not read WHAT A BOY WANTS, I will give them the optioin of that book instead.

The Rules:

• Must be 17+ years of age to enter. I'm not into telling teens what to read. But I don't want anyone's mom mad at me.
• Must be able to receive ebooks from Amazon or Barnes & Noble.
• Giveaway ends June 20, 2012 at 11:59 pm.

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Cover Reveal ~ MORTAL OBLIGATION and MORTAL DEFIANCE, by Nichole Chase

Hey, guys. Today I have a nice treat for you! Author Nichole Chase is unveiling the new covers for her books MORTAL OBLIGATION and MORTAL DEFIANCE. They are gorgeous! Take a look.

Ree will face the darkest form of betrayal before the year is out. Seventeen year old Ree McKenna has three goals: get through high school, convince her crush she is more than his best friend’s little sister, and save money for college. Fate, though, has other plans for her. After the untimely death of her older brother, Ree is haunted by dreadful nightmares and terrifying visions. To make matters worse, Ree has started to suspect that something dangerous is stalking her from the shadows. A night full of frightening surprises leaves Ree with unsettling news. Gifted by the gods with unusual powers, she must devote herself to a battle that could very well lead to not only her death, but the demise of everyone she knows and loves. After all, Ree is the only mortal standing between the Earth and utter darkness.

One short week turned Ree McKenna’s life upside down. Not only does she have the weight of the world on her shoulders, but she still has to juggle homework, a job, and a curfew. While Ree tries to find her footing amidst the chaos, the Dark Ones and their champion are busy hunting down any humans that have a touch of the gods running through their veins. Allies have turned into foes, and enemies have become stronger. The world is growing darker, but the passion between Ree and two irresistible guys blazes hotter. Romantic ties from a past life will threaten to break Ree away from the love of her life and will cloud her judgment. In order to follow her heart, Ree will break rules put in place by the gods, risking her life and the lives of her friends in an act of Mortal Defiance.

Great, right?! Go add these to your GoodReads To-Read list.

You can purchase MORTAL OBLIGATION at:
Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble

You can purchase MORTAL DEFIANCE at:
Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble

You can find Nichole Chase at:
her website  | her blog  |  Facebook  |  Twitter

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...

For sixteen years, Alyssa Gardner has lived with the stigma of being descended from Alice Liddell -- the real life inspiration for Lewis Carroll's famed novel, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. But cruel jokes about dormice and tea parties can’t compare to the fact that Alyssa hears the whispers of bugs and flowers ... the same quirk which sent her mother to a mental institution years before. When her mother takes a turn for the worse and the whispers grow too strong for Alyssa to bear, she seeks the origins of their family curse. A set of heirlooms and a moth tied to an unusual website lead Alyssa and her gorgeous best friend / secret crush, Jeb, down the rabbit hole into the real Wonderland, a place more twisted and eerie than Lewis Carroll ever let on. There, creepy counterparts of the original fairytale crew reveal the purpose for Alyssa’s journey, and unless she fixes the things her great-great-great grandmother Alice put wrong, Wonderland will have her head. ~From GoodReads

Why I'm Waiting ~ For starters, and at the risk of sounding shallow, I love the cover. Also, the story sounds amazing. Super creepy and fun.

Expected publication: January 2013 by Amulet Books