Saturday, October 26, 2013

THE WEEKLY REWIND, #72: BOOK HAUL AND GIVEAWAY





THE WEEKLY REWIND is a weekly post in which I recap the bookish awesomeness from the past week, and post a book haul.  
 

Book Haul

For Review

Hard As It Gets (Hard Ink, #1)Trust in Me (Wait for You, #1.5)
 
 
  

Bought:

Cinderella Screwed Me OverI Only Have Eyes For You (The Sullivans, #4)Billionaire Romance Boxed SetHeat Up The Fall: New Adult Boxed Set



Amazon Freebies:

Girl Least Likely to Marry (The Wedding Season, #2)Deer in Headlights (Good Gods, #1)Crushing (The Southern California Wine Country Series)Challenge Accepted
 
Won:
 
Panic (Rook and Ronin, #3)
For Review Consideration: 
 
Copperhead (Ironskin, #2)The Golden City
 
 



 
Thanks to
  • Avon Books
  • William Morrow
 
 
Books I Reviewed Last Week
 
 
Books I'm Reviewing This Week
 
  • Fighting For You by Sydney Landon
  • Mystery Man by Kristen Ashley
  • Wild Man by Kristen Ashley
  • Law Man by Kristen Ashley
  • Motorcycle Man by Kristen Ashley
 

Giveaway

You can find a list of giveaways on the page.

In an effort to reduce the books piling up on the floor in front of my bookcase, I'm giving away more books!
 
Must be 18+ years of age to enter. Open to US only.

 Copperhead (Ironskin, #2)The Golden City
 
 
 
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Friday, October 25, 2013

FRISKY FALL SATURDAYS: DRAWN TOGETHER by LAUREN DANE





Summer is over, but just because the temperature is dropping, doesn't mean we have to stop reading scorching hot books! Frisky Fall Saturdays is a weekly post dedicated to steamy books. . Feel free to join in. (let us know so we can add a link to your post) As those leaves start piling up in the yard, ignore them and pick up a sexy book!

The Autumn Review
Globug and Hootie Need a Book
Insightful Minds 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. **


Drawn Together (Brown Siblings, #6)Series: Brown Siblings #6
Genre: Erotic Romance
Publisher: Berkley
Publication Date: 10/1/13
Format: eARC
Pages: 304
Source: Received from publisher for review
Rating: 4 stars

Beauty is more than skin-deep…

Tattoo artist Raven Smith is blunt and hard, broken and jaded, dark and beautiful. While she doesn’t hide her painful past, she does keep a wall around her heart. She’s free sexually—but no one gets to the real Raven beneath the prickly exterior.

With a voice like smoke, Jonah Warner is a smooth-talking, highly successful attorney, with a body that should never be hidden by a suit. He’s the kind of man who never takes no for an answer and always gets what he wants. And what he wants is Raven. She’s a survivor, and he finds that incredibly alluring.

Jonah gets under her skin in a way Raven has never experienced. He makes her break all her rules—including her no-monogamy rule.

But when a figure from Raven’s past shows up at the tattoo parlor and drops a bomb into her life, their relationship will face the ultimate challenge...
 

Drawn Together is my first Lauren Dane read, and I enjoyed it A LOT. When I accepted the invite to review this book, I didn't realize it was the sixth book in a series, Brown Siblings. I was hoping I could read it as a standalone, and happy when I opened it up and realized I could. That's not to say that I wouldn't recommend reading the other books first, because  a) The entire series looks good and has hot covers, and b) even though I was able to keep up with all the relationships, I did sometimes feel a bit lost as to who everyone was and how they were related. Something I did quickly figure out is there are some interesting relationships in the Brown Siblings series, and I want to explore!

Raven and Jonah were wickedly hot. And just FYI, I'm going to be using that word a ton in this review, because guys, I was not prepared for the level of delicious sexy times I encountered in Drawn Together. Believe me, it's a nice problem to have, just don't make my mistake of trying to read it at soccer practice. Or do. That shit can get boring sometimes, and reading something wicked helps to tune out annoying conversation.

Drawn Together was a fairly straightforward, but really nicely done romance. Raven and Jonah are two sexy, single people who've crossed paths due to family and friends, and finally make a connection. Jonah is determined to have Raven (but he's not a dick about it!) and Raven, despite her protestations, is willing to be had by Jonah. I was surprised by the low amount of angst between these two in regards to their developing relationship. The bulk of the turmoil comes from Raven's troubled past, and meddling family members. Not to mention a witch of an ex-wife.

Like I mentioned earlier, okay several times now, Drawn Together is sexy. Like reaaaalllly seeeexy.  And I loved it. I love that Jonah and Raven were very self-aware and confident, and there is a nice D/s aspect to their relationship that I found to be refreshing and different from a lot of these relationships I find in romance. It seems that Jonah is into being bossy in the bedroom. Not a bad thing, right? But he wants to take it a little further, and Raven is willing to go along for the ride. This wasn't full-blown BDSM, just two people recognizing what they enjoy, and having fun with it. What I really respect about how Dane portrayed this relationship was, Raven wasn't weak in any aspect of her life/personality. Even when she is submitting to Jonah, she is strong. Something to think about...

Drawn Together was an intense and fun story, with a lot of steamy moments that had me giving My Guy the side eye more than once. If this is any indication of just how good the rest of Dane's books are, I am without a doubt going to get acquainted with Brown Siblings ASAP.



Favorite Quote:

  Jonah Warner was beyond hot. He was on-fire sexy. Like panties on fire. Raven looked him over, imagining him naked. Imagining him over her, under her, whatever. Just naked and doing something sexy with her would do just fine.    ~eARC, 2%


   "Jonah?"
  He pulled back and looked up into her face. "Yes, baby?"
  She smiled. "I love it when you use endearments. If you tell anyone, I'll only deny it. I love you too. I don't know that you're getting as good a deal as I am. But there it is. I'm so weary. You make me less so."   ~eARC, 81%


 
The Brown Siblings Series
 
Laid Bare (Brown Siblings, #1) Coming Undone (Brown Siblings, #2) Inside Out (Brown Siblings, #3) Never Enough (Brown Siblings, #4) Laid Open (Brown Siblings, #5) Drawn Together (Brown Siblings, #6)
(covers lead to GoodReads page)
 
 
Purchase Drawn Together


About the author:
Lauren Dane has been writing stories since she was able to use a pencil, and before that she used to tell them to people. Of course, she still talks nonstop, and through wonderful fate and good fortune, she’s now able to share what she writes with others. It’s a wonderful life!

The basics: Lauren is a mom, a partner, a best friend and a daughter. Living in the rainy but beautiful Pacific Northwest, she spends her late evenings writing like a fiend when she finally wrestles all of her kids to bed.
  

Website  |  Twitter  |  Facebook

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Thursday, October 24, 2013

REVIEW: AUTUMN IN THE VINEYARD by MARINA ADAIR

Autumn in the VineyardSeries: St. Helena Vineyard #3
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Publication Date: 10/29/13
Format: eARC
Pages: 324
Source: Received from publisher for review
Rating: 4 stars

Frankie Baudouin has a hundred reasons not to trust Nate DeLuca. First, he’s a DeLuca. Second, he kissed her—in front of the entire town—and then never called. Oh, and he’s after her land. Sorrento Ranch is Frankie’s last chance to prove to her family—and to herself—that she has what it takes to be an award-winning winemaker. And she will stop at nothing to ensure her success—even if it means playing nice with the starched, sophisticated, and oh-so-sexy Italian.

For Nate, Sorrento Ranch is more than just soil and grape vines; it was his father’s dream—a dream Nate is determined to make a reality. So when he finds himself forced to cohabitate with a hot-headed, irrational, and incredibly gorgeous Baudouin, Nate is surprised to discover that chaos could be so much fun—especially when she sleeps in nothing but lace.


Earlier this year I read Summer in Napa, book two in the St. Helena Vineyard series. In that story, we had Marco and Lexie, fighting each other and fighting love. It was such a good story. We also got Marco's brother Nate, and Frankie, his would-be nemesis. What was so intriguing about Nate and Frankie was that even though they seemed to hate one another, there was definitely an undercurrent of intense attraction. For that reason, I was so happy to read their book, Autumn in the Vineyard.

True to what was promised, Nate and Frankie's love/hate relationship made Autumn in the Vineyard a fun read. I love when an author can pull of an antagonistic relationship without making either character annoying, or pushing the issue so far that I end up not caring. Adair did a great job of portraying the thin line of love/hate between Nate and Frankie. The dual narrative helped me understand exactly where both characters were coming from, and had me anxious for both to finally take a chance on love. I also appreciated that while the story was humorous, it also portrayed a nice amount of character growth for Nate and Frankie.

One of the aspects I enjoy about this series is the setting. I've never been to Napa, but Adair created an atmosphere in the books that made me "see" the setting in all its beauty. Also, she did a very thorough job of portraying the life and work of the art of producing wine. The passion the characters displayed for their way of life, their livelihood, was gorgeous.

Autumn in the Vineyard is another nice addition to the St. Helena Vineyard series. I like that the stories are companions, and can be read as standalones, though I would also recommend reading all the books. I would definitely recommend this series to Contemporary Romance lovers.



Favorite Quotes:


  "You could have at least told me that my grandpa was in the room."
  "I didn't see him," Nate defended.
  "He was looking right at you!"
  "Again," Nate said, pointing to his southern region. "Hands down my pants. Any guy getting a hand job would have had a hard time focusing."
  "Half a hand job," she smiled. "I never finished."
  "Believe me, I remember."     ~eARC, 17%


  There was something sexy and so damn feminine about those hands, soft and strong at the same time. But it was this new side of Frankie, the vulnerable side that wrapped her arms around his nexk and just held on as though he were the only thing grounding her to this moment, which made all logic disappear.    ~eARC, 51%

St. Helena Vineyard Series
 
Kissing Under the Mistletoe (St. Helena Vineyard, #1) Summer in Napa (St. Helena Vineyard, #2) Autumn in the Vineyard
(cover leads to GoodReads)
 
 


Purchase Autumn in the Vineyard
 
 
About the author:
Marina Adair is a National bestselling author of romance novels. Along with the St. Helena Vineyard series, she is also the author of Tucker's Crossing, part of the Sweet Plains series. She currently lives in a hundred-year-old log cabin, nestled in the majestic redwoods of the Santa Cruz Mountains, with her husband and daughter.

As a writer, Marina is devoted to giving her readers contemporary romance where the towns are small, the personalities large, and the romance explosive.
 
Connect with Marina at:

 
 
 
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KNIGHTS SINNERS RELEASE DAY EVENT: EXCERPT AND GIVEAWAY

I don't participate in a lot of promotional events anymore, but I love the MC Sinners series, and just had to help spread the word about the newest release, Knights Sinner. This installment in the series releases today, and I am dying to read Jackson's story! This event contains an excerpt, all the info about the series, and a great giveaway. The event is hosted by Love Between the Sheets.
 Check it out...
 
 
 
Knights' Sinners CoverSeries:The MC Sinners #3
Genre: Erotic Romance (Biker)
Release Date: 10/25/13
 

Jackson is always considered the 'softie'. He's the first to help people out when they're in need. He's President of the Hell's Knights and is tired of being treated like a pushover. He wants to show the world how much of a sinner he can be.   Serenity has a dark past. Secrets haunt her and she has no way of escaping them. Hogan is the only family she knows and life with him is brutal. And it's about to get worse.  He sends her on a mission.     On a mission to destroy the Hell's Knights and the Heaven's Sinners.     Can she pretend with a club she doesn't know?     Or will she betray Hogan?
 

 
 
Excerpt


  “Your hair must be worse than mine,” she giggles, pulling her lips from mine and tugging the thick, messy locks hanging over my shoulders.

  I grin. “Yeah.”

  “Any reason you keep it long?” she asks, using her fingers to untangle it.

  I shrug. “Just always been that way, so I figure it’s just easier to leave it there.”

  She continues tugging and pulling, until her fingers are gliding smoothly through it.

  “I like it,” she murmurs. “I’d like it even more if I could brush it.”

  I snort. “Ain’t gonna happen little darlin’.”

  She pouts, and I smirk, flicking her lip. “Don’t pout at me.”

  “It’s not un-manly to let a girl brush your hair.”

  “No,” I grin. “It’s just outright girly.”

  “It’s not!”

  “Is.”

  She gives me a lazy half smile, and then tugs at my hair again, until our lips are touching. Her stomach grumbles against mine.

  “Hungry?” I chuckle.

  She nods, stretching and shifting. “Yeah, but I think I need to shower more.”

  “You shower, I’ll get food.”

  She nods, grinning. “It sounds like a plan.”

  I crawl out of her bed, and sit on the side, ready to pull on my jeans when her hand reaches around, and her fingers curl around my soft c**k. It instantly jerks to life, swelling beneath her grips.




 
  The MC Sinners Series
 
Hell's Knights  Heaven's Sinners (The MC Sinners, #2) 
 
(covers lead to GoodReads page)
 
 
Knights' Sinners Full Jacket


Purchase Knights Sinner
Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble
 
 
 
Giveaway
 (2) $25 Amazon Gift Cards
 
 
 
 
About the author
Bella Jewel is an Aussie girl through and through. She spent her life in Western Australia, growing up in many different areas of the state. She now currently lives in Perth with her husband, children and mass amounts of pets. She's crazy, fun, outgoing and friendly. Writing is her passion, she started at the young age of 18 but finally got the courage up to publish, and her first novel Hell's Knights will be released in August 2013.
 

Facebook | Website | Goodreads

 
 
 
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Wednesday, October 23, 2013

BLOG TOUR: OFF CHANCE, by SAWYER BENNETT ~ REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY

Coming 10/24


Welcome to The Bookish Babe's stop on the Off Chance Blog Tour, hosted by AToMR Tours. My stop includes a review and giveaway. You can find the tour schedule here.



Series: Off Series #5
Genre:  Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Big Dog Books
Publication Date: 10/21/13
Format: eARC
Source: Received from author for review
Rating: 4 stars



He is seeking absolution.
Flynn Caldwell has a hero complex and it’s one of the reasons he joined the New York City Fire Department. He has spent his entire professional career trying to atone for that one person he failed to save. Because, if he can do that, then perhaps he can be worthy of love again.
š
She is seeking escape.
Rowan Page’s life is nothing short of a disaster. Always immersed in trouble, she has only herself to depend on. She’s determined to pull herself out of this mess and make something of her life, despite the hard years she has lived on the streets of New York.
š
Together, they have the chance to become complete.
Flynn and Rowan’s worlds exist miles apart, but when a chance meeting brings them together, neither of them can deny the instant pull that connects them to each other. What starts as a tiny spark eventually flares into a fire so hot, it refuses to be extinguished.
š
Both are willing to jump feet first into the flames to see where it takes them, despite the risk of being burned.


I've been waiting for Flynn Caldwell for months. I know that doesn't seem like long, but in Hot Book Guy Years, that's a while. Author Sawyer Bennett has a way with her guys, and Flynn Caldwell was no exception. 

Off Chance begins with a heartbreaking prologue, moves into a shocking first chapter, and transitions into a really sweet and thoughtful story about love and loss. Most importantly, it is a story of having the courage to take a chance on forever. 

Off Chance felt a little different to me than the other books in the series. I think this is because Rowen was so different than the other ladies in the series. She was more closed off, more hesitant, and because of this, the story, specifically the romance, had a slower pace. I do think, though, that the pace did do a character like Rowen justice. That's not to say that she didn't frustrate me, because she totally did. When you have a guy like Flynn Caldwell, and he wants to be your everything, you do it! (Pardon my passion.)

Now, about Flynn, I went into Off Chance positive I would adore him, and I was right. I already knew he was a good brother and cousin. But it was nice to finally get this mysterious hero's story. I was surprised by how tragic his past was. This fictional family, the Caldwell's,  is full of witty, charming, tough, and seriously sexy men and women (cos you can't leave out Renner). Flynn was no exception. But not only is he a hot Caldwell man, but also a hot firefighter. Sexy and heroic isn't a bad combination, in my book.

And since I've mentioned the family, Off Chance has quite a lot of the Caldwells within the pages, particularly Emily and Nix. These moments felt so special, and I feel that since I've experienced so much with all of them, that I am part of the family. My favorite moment...I can't talk about because it might be a spoiler. But just thinking about it gets me all sniffly.

I was initially conflicted to to see Off Chance, because the author had declared it would be the last of the Off Series. Luckily, though, she is now going to be continuing the Off Series. I, among many others, am extremely happy about this.  This is excellent news, folks. The Off Series, with its charismatic characters, engaging stories, and good writing, is a series that I'm not ready to let go of. This is a series and author I can always count on. So as long as Sawyer Bennett keeps the stories coming, I will be here waiting. 


Favorite Quotes:
  She's not broken. Not in the slightest.
  Oh, she's dinged up a bit. And she's clearly had things that have damaged her. But whatever has happened in her past, it has created a person that is strong and independent. She's not broken...she's just a bit hard.
  And now I'm obsessed with softening her up.   ~eARC, 30%
  When I'm in that moment with Flynn, I want nothing more than for him to grab me and kiss me like I was the oxygen his lungs crave.  I want to strip him bare and use just my fingertips to trace every inch of skin on his bod. I want to get lost...deeply lost in Flynn.  ~eARC, 54%



The Off Series 
  

Off Sides (Off Series, #1)    Off Limits (Off Series, #2)   Off the Record (Off Series, #3) 
  Off Course (Off Series, #4)  Off Chance (Off Series, #5)
(Click on cover for GoodReads page)


Purchase Off Chance
Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble 
GIVEAWAY

(1) $50 Amazon gift card
(5) Swag packs – US only

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the Author
USA Today Best-Selling author, Sawyer Bennett, is a snarky southern woman and reformed trial lawyer who decided to finally start putting on paper all of the stories that were floating in her head. She is married to a mobster (well, a market researcher) and they have two big, furry dogs who hog the bed. Sawyer would like to report she doesn't have many weaknesses but can be bribed with a nominal amount of milk chocolate.
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