SEXY SUMMER SATURDAYS, #4

Sexy Summer Saturdays is a weekly post that Hackaroos Reviews, Sims-Sational Books, The Autumn Review, Attack the Stacks 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 farther. **

An ultimatum can break your heart.... Every night lead singer, Sed Lionheart whips thousands of women into a frenzy with his voice alone. But the stage is the only place Sed feels any passion since he lost Jessica... If you’re not willing to break all the rules... It shattered her heart, but law student Jessica broke off her engagement to Sed, determined to be successful on her own terms. But no other man can ever hold a candle to Sed... Then a chance meeting and tortuously close quarters lead to uncontrollable flares of passion and rediscovery of their unique penchant for public encounters. Now, in addition to the risk of mutual heartbreak every time they get together, they’re in danger of truly scandalous public exposure...

So would you be even the tiniest bit surprised if I said I loved ROCK HARD? I mean, come on, the title gave me high hopes. I loved book one in the series, BACKSTAGE PASS (my review) , and couldn't wait to get my hands on Sinners lead singer Sedric Lionheart's story.

I have to start by admitting, I didn't care much for Sed before this book. In BACKSTAGE PASS, Sed is an arrogant, mostly off-putting, girlfriend-stealing man whore. The dude was known for getting it on with three to four girls at a time for crying out loud. But very rarely a contemplative, regretful side of Sed peeked through. The hint was definitely there that Sed had a story to tell. That hint is what made me excited to read ROCK HARD.

In this story, fate or circumstance pushes Sed and his former fiance, Jessica, back together. When they are forced to share close quarters, their attraction takes over and old (sexual) habits resurface. Sed wants to protect Jessica, be the alpha male and provider. Because of his blunt nature, though, he comes off as a condescending, controlling asshat. Jessica has issues, namely Sed. His controlling nature drives her crazy, enough so to make her leave him two years prior to this story. When he unexpectantly and violently re-enters her life, she wants to make him pay, to break his heart. In an effort to make that happen, she plans to use Sed's body (who can blame her?), toy with his heart, then dump his arrogant ass all over again. But, like any good romance, that plan goes down in flames when Jess realizes that Sed has changed, that he truly loves her and she never stopped loving him.

Besides Jess and Sed, the band, Sinners, is featured more in this book, as a unit. I loved that. I felt like I was behind the scenes, witnessing the magic. There is also a great deal of foreshadowing about Trey, Jace and Eric for the future books in the series. I have to admit, SINNERS ON TOUR has given me a much bigger appreciation for rock stars. I've always dug musicians, but now I really dig them. *wink*

So...I know why you're really here, for the S-E-X. Lemme tell you, there is plenty of the boning in ROCK HARD. And I do mean plenty. The kink isn't as prevalent as in BACKSTAGE PASS. Sed and Jess are a little more sedate in their tastes, but definitely not in their enthusiasm. With the amount of action these two get, I think they're basically sexual machines. They can get it on anytime, anywhere. They have insatiable appetities and they really enjoy sex in public places.  And wow, homegirl's got technique! Besides having fun reading the story, I feel like I'm learning, y'all! Seriously, my mind is cataloging all of the tips I've gathered reading this series.

ROCK HARD was a highly enjoyable read for me. After the wonderful BACKSTAGE PASS, led by the most-adorable couple, Brian and Myrna, I didn't know if ROCK HARD would cut it for me. Sed and Jessica are definitely a change. Sed isn't as openly lovable as Brian. Jessica isn't the level-headed, calm person that Myrna is. I can identify with that. As a highly emotional and sometimes melodramatic chick, I like to be represented every now and then. They both make dumb choices, overreact. They're not perfect, but they are real. I fell hard for them, rooted for their happy ending. And, now that I think about it, I focused more on their relationship than the sex. Weird. Either I found the plotline to be super strong or I am becoming immune to the smexy times. *shudders* I'll go with option A. And now, the wait is on for Trey's book, DOUBLE TIME, which I have on preorder, but doesn't release until November. Somebody hold me.


Favorite Quote:

"Whatever it took to make her love him, he'd do it. To hell with what Brian or anyone else thought. He refused to give up on her this time. She would be his again. And not just in body. That would never be enough for him and he knew it." (pg 130)


"They stared into each other's eyes as Sed found an agonizingly slow rhythm. She couldn't decide if it was the connection between their bodies or the one between their souls that gave her greater pleasure. She couldn't look away from his gaze. And she didn't want sexual release. She just wanted to be with him. Forever, like this. Together." (pg 304)


"He sighed and wiped a hand over his face. If there were a Jessica Chase instruction manual, it would be written backwards in Arabic Pig Latin and twelve thousand pages long with random pages missing." (pg 311)


Once again, I had to include a photo of Sed as I imagine him. I think most of you will approve. This is M. Shadows, the lead singer of Avenged Sevenfold.


And because I like this song, here's a video...




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 April 1st 2011 by Sourcebooks, Incorporated

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

You can find Olivia Cunning at her:
blog | website


Source: Personal Purchase.

Blog Tour ~ SOUND BITES: A ROCK AND ROLL LOVE STORY, by Rachel K. Burke

Welcome to The Bookish Babe's stop on the SOUND BITES Blog Tour! Today I have a review of the book, followed by a giveaway. This tour is hosted by AToMR Blog Tours. You can find all the stops on the tour here.

Renee Evans has a knack for trouble. After walking in on her best friend and boyfriend in bed together, twenty-five year-old Renee flees sunny Los Angeles and her dream job as a music journalist and returns to her hometown of Boston – only to meet Dylan Cavallari, the mysterious, aspiring musician who lives in her apartment building. Dylan’s piercing gaze and womanizing demeanor make him exactly the type of guy that Renee should steer clear of – which is most likely the reason she falls for him. But when Renee’s troublesome ex comes back and threatens to drive her and Dylan apart, Renee is forced to face her past and save her relationship with Dylan before it's too late. Sound Bites dramatizes what happens when Renee finds herself caught between a painful past and an uncertain future. Happiness turns out to be within her grasp, but it all depends on whether she can trust herself enough to make the right decisions. Sound Bites is a novel about love, friendship, betrayal, forgiveness, and the power of music to help you find your way. ~From GoodReads

There's one sure way to draw my eye to a particular book. Include the words "Rock and Roll" in the title. I kid you not, it works every time. So when I saw the title, then the synopsis of this story, I knew we were meant to be.

I have to say, I really enjoyed SOUND BITES. I liked the main character, music journalist Renee. She's definitely had a bit of a rough time. After finding her boyfriend and best friend in bed, she goes home to Boston, ready to start over. When she finds her possible soul mate in her neighbor, Dylan, Renee must navigate the fine line between friendship and love. Her inner fantasies about Dylan had me smiling. She was such a realistic, relatable character. I love how she knows herself. And I am a huge fan of her never-say-die spirit.

And Dylan. Dark hair, beautiful eyes, broody personality, a musician. Do I really need to go on? He's a real match for Renee. Dylan was always challenging Renee, pushing her buttons, making her crazy. The verbal sparring between the two was fun, it gave the story a fun, light-hearted vibe. Renee pushes Dylan to expand his horizons in a way he never would've without her, helping him realize his dreams.

I know I've described this as a light, fun story, and it is, but there is also a lot of depth as well.  Renee must contend with trust issues, face old betrayals, learn to open herself up. Dylan and Renee's relationship goes through some turbulent times, huge changes. And it made me realize that I love New Adult books. Actually, I don't know how SOUND BITES is "technically" categorized, but it works for me. Authors seem to have a good deal of freedom in writing this genre. As early-twenty somethings, the characters are still finding their way. They are allowed experiences that come with their age. As an adult, I find it a nice change.

I will say that although I loved the story, I did find the writing to be sometimes a bit off. Maybe it was a awkwardly structured sentence, or a word that threw me off, but it was never enough to derail. Despite that, I really enjoyed SOUND BITES. When a book makes you smile as much as this one did, you know you've found a good thing.
Favorite Quote:

"There was so much I wanted to say, but when I tried to tactfully sum up the combustion of feelings that had been bottled up inside me for months, my words froze in my throat. I wanted to tell him that he was the person I'd been waiting for my whole life. The person that made me feel like I'd found something I'd never even known I'd lost. The person that I could spend all day, every day with for the rest of my life and it would never be enough." (ebook, 60%)
 Published January 2012

You can purchase SOUND BITES at: Amazon 

Giveaway

Author Rachel K. Burke is FIVE lucky winners an ecopy of SOUND BITES!

Just feed the 'Copter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

PRETTY AMY PROM STORIES

Recently, PRETTY AMY author Lisa Burstein and her editor Stacy Cantor Abrams attended the Romantic Times Convention. At the convention, they wore prom dresses chosen by voters and they asked others to share their worst prom stories. (Boy, could I tell a few.)

Lisa and Stacy are now sharing the hilarious results of asking for the worst prom stories. Enjoy!

Series Review and Giveaway ~ DEATH by Tamara Rose Blodgett

Today I have a series review of the DEATH SERIES, by Tamara Blodgett. I struggled with a way to review each of these books without spoiling them and without becoming redundant. Tough job. So what I decided to do is, spotlight each book, then review the series as a whole.

Almost fifteen-year-old Caleb Hart is a Cadaver-Manipulator in the year 2025. When teens receive a government-sanctioned pharmaceutical cocktail during school, paranormal abilities begin manifesting... making the teens more powerful than the adults. After Caleb discovers he has the rare, Affinity for the Dead, he must do whatever it takes to hide it from a super-secret government agency whose goal is exploitation. Caleb seeks refuge in his new girlfriend, Jade, until he realizes that she needs as much protection from her family, as he does from the government. Suddenly, Caleb finds that hiding his ability while protecting Jade and his friends is a full time job; can he escape the government, protect Jade and lose the bullies that are making him miserable? ~From GoodReads

Published April 1st 2011
Source: Personal purchase

Caleb's in high school now and thinks the chaos of last year is behind him. Unfortunately, a serial killer is on the loose and children are his victims. Caleb agrees to help the police apprehend the murderer...until the killer takes notice of Caleb and his paranormal friends. Carson and Brett remain the bullies they always were and their posse continues to grow. How long can the two groups stay out of each others' way before there's a firestorm of retribution... The Government Graysheets continue to keep tabs on Caleb's every move while Jade's family threatens their relationship. Can they still be together even when events threaten to tear them apart? ~From GoodReads

Published August 29th 2011
Source: Received from author in exchange for an honest review.

Caleb's second year of high school starts off without a hitch until Jade touches the wrong clairvoyance sample that foretells a murder in her future. Will she remain safe even while assisting police officers Garcia and Gale in a race to prevent a cataclysmic death? Sophie and Jonesy aren't seeing things eye to eye, but when her safety is threatened by an attacker targeting Astral-Projection girls, they put their differences aside. The FDA approved depressant has begun to be administered to the teens for suppression of paranormal abilities during sleep for safety reasons. Or so they've been told. Carson and Brett have escalated the violence that they perpetrate and leave Caleb no choice but to reciprocate. After saving the newest member of their group from certain abuse, Caleb knows the bull's-eye is dead center on him. Again. Does Caleb use the undead as a weapon of defense while his group hangs in the balance of imminent peril? ~From GoodReads

Published January 13th 2012

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

Caleb faces possible jail time for using Clyde as a undeadly weapon. When he's exonerated with probation lasting a year, Caleb has to watch his every action. Tensions run high when after the death of Jade's only relatives, she must live with an undesirable foster family who are anything but what they seem.... Life gets complicated for everyone when the scientists responsible for the paranormal manifestation threaten a parellel world to Caleb's own. In a bid to stop the destruction of their world, while saving his own, Caleb must defend two peoples against the long arm of the Graysheets. Time begins to run against him when he discovers through an unlikely source that his friends have been given a drug that causes progressive insanity. Can he find the antidote in time to save them? To save Jade? ~ From GoodReads

Published May 18th 2012                         
Source: Received from author in exhange for an honest review.

My Review

"The dead spoke, they spoke to me all the time."

 (Death Whispers, 20%)

This series has been on my radar for quite some time now. I actually bought DEATH WHISPERS last summer, I think, and planned to read it at some point. So when the author asked if I might review the series, I knew the time had come.

So what did I think of the DEATH series? I really liked it. The concept was original and smart. Basically, scientist mapped out the human genome and then developed the capability to expand paranormal abilities. Every school-aged child is given a drug cocktail that enhance said abilities. When the children reach puberty, their bodies aren't the only things to develop. Each teen's ability manifests in a different way. Some may become Empaths. Others may become Telepaths, or Telekenesis, or the biggie Affinity for the Dead(AftD). Caleb Hart, series hero, has AftD, and he's the son of the scientist partially responsible for the discovery. Lucky boy. Good thing Caleb has the "J's", his best friends John and Jonesy, and his new girlfriend, Jade. Add in supportive, if quirky, parents and Caleb has support on all fronts.

Beyond the original concept, I love how Blodgett expanded on the story. Caleb and his friends would struggle to survive and solve one complicated scenario, then another would crop up. The first book begins with Caleb, John and Jonesy trying to get the school bullies off their backs. Then they must avoid Caleb, because of his unique abilities, being exploited by the government. Even when Caleb gets out of hot water, the Greysheets are always watching him. And when he's not dealing with the Greysheets, Jade's abusive father is on his case. Oh, and the Affinity for the Dead ability? Not only is Caleb saddled with that, he is also a Cadaver-Manipulator. A necromancer. The dead that Caleb raise obey him, faithfully. He can use them to scare his bullies, or to ward off the bad guys. And sometimes, he loses control of his minions. Not good.

I mentioned the support cast, but they all play a huge role in the books. I really enjoyed Caleb. His voice felt very authentic. He was snarky and sarcastic, but also caring to those he loves. Throughout the series, Caleb is put to the test. He makes some dangerous, unwise choices at times, but mostly for the right reasons. His best friends, the J's, were very funny and always had Caleb's back. I adored Jade. Jade comes from a rough background. She has an alcoholic, abusive father. She was removed from the home and lives in the care of her aunt. A lot of people judge her, but Caleb only sees her for herself, a girl he's crazy about. Their caring, slow-building relationship was probably my favorite aspect of the story. Call me a romantic. Their relationship doesn't exactly go smoothly, though. Jacob's abilities, her family, and circumstances beyond their control put them to the test.  And lastly, Caleb's parents, Kyle and Alicia. I found them to be funny, a great source of comic relief. And most importantly, they're present. They play an actual, big, part in the stories.

So...I do have to say that while I did like Caleb and the snark, it did begin to wear on me after a while. I just felt the internal and external quippiness was a bit much. But, to be fair, teenage boys are a bit much at times, so there's that. ;-) Also, Caleb likes the word "retarded". A lot. Like, he says it so much, it's like he's trying to make a point that he'll say it just because he can. I know words only have the power we give them, but I've never liked that one. So that did bug me. But, I will say that as the series progresses and Caleb matures, he does ease up on the annoying language.
Also, the villains sometimes felt a bit cartoonish to me.

The DEATH SERIES was, overall, a really fun, unique ride. The scientific aspect was clever. The characters were funny and memorable. The action never stops. I think this series would certainly be a hit with teens, specifically teen boys.

You can purchase DEATH WHISPERS at:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords


You can purchase DEATH SPEAKS at:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords

You can purchase DEATH SCREAMS at:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords

You can purchase DEATH WEEPS at:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords


About the author:

Tamara Rose Blodgett is a "thinking-out-of-the box" paranormal enthusiast who lives in Alaska and has worked as a journalist. She is a passionate reader and aside from her writing, considers it her #1 hobby.

In her spare time Tamara's a reluctant serial-re-modeler, project slave and big time, in-her-pants reader (surprise!). She does a great deal of daydreaming about impossible scenarios and events; writing books to capture them in stories for you~ Side note: Gnomes should be exterminated.

BLOG: http://tamararoseblodgett.blogspot.com/

GIVEAWAY

Author Tamara Rose Blodgett is offering one winner all four books in the series.

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...

"She was mine. I owned her soul…until Death stole her heart." ~From GoodReads

Why I'm Waiting ~ Umm...this is Abbi Glines we're talking about. Although he's a bit creepy, I'll admit I have a soft spot for Leif. It can't be easy being the son of a voodoo king. And the cover is To. Die. For.

Publication Date: Summer 2012, exact date not yet determined.

You can find all the Abbi Glines information at her website.

Cover Reveal ~ ALL THE BROKEN PIECES, by Cindi Madsen

This is a very special day. I am SO excited to take part in the cover reveal for ALL THE BROKEN PIECES by Cindi Madsen. I adore Cindi. She is the sweetest person and has a fantastic sense of humor. I have been waiting for this reveal for months now. ALL THE BROKEN PIECES is one of my most-anticipated books of 2012.

Here we go...

What if your life wasn’t your own?

Liv comes out of a coma with no memory of her past and two distinct, warring voices inside her head. Nothing, not even her reflection, seems familiar. As she stumbles through her junior year, the voices get louder, insisting she please the popular group while simultaneously despising them. But when Liv starts hanging around with Spencer, whose own mysterious past also has him on the fringe, life feels complete for the first time in, well, as long as she can remember.

Liv knows the details of the car accident that put her in the coma, but as the voices invade her dreams, and her dreams start feeling like memories, she and Spencer seek out answers. Yet the deeper they dig, the less things make sense. Can Liv rebuild the pieces of her broken past, when it means questioning not just who she is, but what she is?

I also have an EXCERPT to share with you!

Olivia reached up, feeling the tender spots on her head. Her fingers brushed across a row of—were those little ridges made of metal?

"Careful. The staples are almost ready to come out, but it’s still going to be sore for a while.”

 Staples?!Her stomach rolled. I have staples in my head? She lowered her now-shaking hand. “Can I get a mirror?”

 Mom looked at Dad, then back at her. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. Not until you’ve healed a little more.”

Mom patted Olivia’s leg. “You just relax. We’ll be back in a few minutes.”

The two of them left the room, but when Mom swung the door closed, it didn’t latch. Olivia could hear their voices in the hall.

 “I still think we should…” She couldn’t make out the rest of Dad’s muffled words. “…know if I can do this.”

  “…late for that,” Mom said. “We’d lose everything, including…” Her voice faded as they got farther away. “…have to move.”
Olivia could tell the conversation was tense, but the words were impossible to decipher now. Holding a hand in front of her face, she turned it back and forth. A plastic tube ran from her arm to a machine next to her bed. She peeked into her nightgown and stared in horror at the long red stripe running down her chest.

Sick.

 You’re alive. You shouldn’t be thinking about looks.

 

  Lowering her hand, she scanned the room. I wonder how my face looks. From the way Dad stared at me, plus the fact Mom won’t let me see a mirror, it must be bad.

 Brains are more important than looks.

That’s what ugly people say.

 

Olivia put her hands on her head and squeezed. “Stop it,” she whispered to her arguing thoughts, hysteria bubbling up and squeezing the air from her lungs. What was happening to her? Why didn’t she recognize her parents or know where she was? Who she was? Tears ran warm trails down her cheeks. “Just make it all stop.”

I can't wait for this book!

All the Broken Pieces, by Cindi Madsen is available for pre-order on: Amazon | Barnes & Noble Be sure to add it to your TBR pile on Goodreads!

Be sure to connect with Cindi at:Facebook  |  Twitter  |  GoodReads  |  Website

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.

Her dreams brought them together, but reality could tear them apart… The man of Zoe Morgan’s dreams isn’t only real, he’s interested. In her. But her boss wants her too, and is leveraging his unsolicited advances with the threat of blocking the huge promotion she's after. When he places a spy on her research team, the intense stranger discovers more than he should, and Zoe fears hiding a relationship with Gavin Cassidy from her boss is the least of her worries. The whale she must protect has been marked for death, and Zoe's old enemy Scarlet is eager to deliver the killing blow. To both of them. Australia’s Sentinels must find and lock the door into the Dreaming before Fyre Elementals launch another attack on innocent dreamers. But corruption and distrust abound, and Gavin believes someone on the Sentinel council is in league with the Fyres. As he reluctantly embraces his new role as council leader, Gavin must not only keep Zoe safe from Scarlet's vengeful clutches, but organize a Sentinel defense strong enough to prevent a full-blown Elemental war—with a traitor fighting by his side. *This book contains graphic language, sex, and some violence. Not suitable for readers under the age of 18. ~From GoodReads

My Teaser~

"Absorbing the rest of her shadow into his, he knuckled the wall on either side of her head, trapping her in the cage of his arms, but not touching. The cool, sweaty bricks ground into his skin. She shivered and flattened her hands as if clinging to the wall for protection. Fire flared low in his gut, spurring him on." (eARC, 19%)


I am continually amazed  by the beauty in Kendall's writing. You can check out my full review and GIVEAWAY of EXHALE here.


Published June 5th 2012 by Howling Mad Press

You can purchase EXHALE at:
Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |