ARC Review: Montana Bride by Joan Johnston

*Received from NetGalley*

Montana Bride
(Book #3 in the Mail-Order Brides series)
Amazon | Goodreads | BN
Author: Joan Johnston

Publisher: Dell (January 7, 2014)
Genre: Adult, Historic Western Romance, 416 pages
ISBN-10:  0345527488
ISBN-13: 978-0345527486
ASIN: B00DXKHGIS
My Copy: ARC eBook

SUMMARY:

When Karl Norwood’s mail-order bride meets an untimely demise on the way to the Montana Territory, Hetty Wentworth steps in to take her place. Hetty has no idea how she’s going to pretend to be all the things she isn’t—including the mother of two kids. She only knows her deception is necessary if she’s going to save two orphans from the awful fate she suffered as a child.

Karl smells a rat when a much younger woman than he was expecting arrives with two children who look nothing like her. But his mail-order bride is so beautiful, he doesn’t object—until he realizes that his charming new wife has been lying . . . about everything. Can a woman forced to keep secrets and a man hindered by distrust ever hope to find happily ever after in each other’s arms?

MY REVIEW:

ERMERGERD. Joan Johnston does it again. *le sigh* I absolutely loved books 1 & 2 of the Mail-Order Brides series and book #3 is no different. We first met Hetty in book #1, a brief introduction as one of Miranda's little sisters. And then again in book #2 when she was traveling with her little sister, her twin sister Hannah and Hanna's sick husband Mr. McMurty.

Keeping secrets and lies is something Karl Norwood does not approve of, but that's exactly what Hetty Wentworth does to help two children on their mission to a better life. And Hetty just can't bring it to herself to leave these children behind. So she takes on the lie that she is a woman who she is not and has these children whom she just met and hardly knows. Not only is Karl expecting a woman with children, but a woman with experience as a wife: in the bed. And Hetty is far from an experienced woman.

When Karl first meets Hetty he already notices she's a lot younger than she pretends to be and that these children can't possibly be hers. As they look much different from her. They must have different fathers! Despite the fact that Hetty didn't want to do this in the first place, she goes on about it, to give herself and these children a better life. All the while carrying guilt with her about her previous "loves" death. And I put love in quotations because when you first get a real glance at Hetty's personality, she's flirty and beautiful and loves the vying attention of men. Even if that meant she had to put them at each other so that the one she wants will pop the question and that eventually that led to the death of a man she loved. I liked Hetty's character. She's not a push over, a bit stubborn and she's caring to a boot, definitely a Wentworth breed. 

Throughout the book Hetty is having a hard time keeping these secrets and she's having a harder time falling in love with Karl. She knows she doesn't deserve him but as time passes she slowly starts seeing things with a clearer eyes and falls for Karl. Does she tell him? Of course not, not like he would believe her, especially since their marriage started out with a pack of lies. Karl, Karl, Karl. *swoon* bookish nerdy and slowly learning to become a leader and an alpha, yes, I said it, ALPHA male. He knows what he wants but he's too scared to give his heart what it wants, and what it wants is Hetty. And not just her beautiful body, but her heart as well. Will Hetty and Karl free themselves of the lies that surrounds them and become a family or will the lies tear them apart? Well, you're just gonna have to read and find out!

LOVED this book, like all of JJohnstons' books. If you love yourself a good historical western romance, then you definitely need to pick up this book! BUT, before you do that pick up books 1 & 2 :)

Click HERE for my review of TEXAS BRIDE (Book #1 in the Mail-Order Brides series)
Click HERE for my review of WYOMING BRIDE (Book #2 in the Mail-Order Brides series)

MY RATING:

 

Review: Full Blooded by Amanda Carlson

Full Blooded
(Book #1 in the Jessica McClain series)
Amazon | Goodreads | BN
Author: Amanda Carlson
Publisher: Orbit (September 11, 2012)
Genre: Adult, Urban Fantasy 352 pages
ISBN-10: 0316205206
ISBN-13: 978-0316205207
My Copy: Paperback

SUMMARY:

Born the only female in an all male race, Jessica McClain isn’t just different—she’s feared.

After living under the radar for the last twenty-six years, Jessica is thrust unexpectedly into her first change, a full ten years late. She wakes up and finds she’s in the middle of a storm. Now that she’s become the only female full-blooded werewolf in town, the supernatural world is already clamoring to take a bite out of her and her new Pack must rise up and protect her.

But not everyone is on board. The werewolf Rights of Laws is missing text and the superstitious werewolves think that Jessica means an end to their race. It doesn’t help when Jessica begins to realize she’s more. She can change partway and hold her form, and speak directly to her wolf. But the biggest complication by far is that her alpha father can't control her like he can the rest of his wolves.

When a mercenary who’s been hired by the vampires shows up to extract information about the newly turned werewolf only days after her change, they find themselves smack in the middle of a war and there's no choice but to run together. When it’s up to Jessica to negotiate her release against her father’s direct orders, she chooses to take an offer for help instead. In exchange, Jessica must now swear an oath she may end up repaying with her life.

MY REVIEW:

Jessica McClain is the only born female in an all out male pack. Being the only female, she's looked down at, but because her father is the alpha of the pack, she's been hiding from the supe community, hiding her true identity to try and live a normal life. Well, as normal as any female werewolf can.

Jessica McClain never thought she'd make her first transition into her wolf form. After the age came and gone when she should have turned with her twin brother, she was chased out of the pack and she never looked back. And the night Jessica turned, her life was turned upside down. So upside down that even her enemy (longtime grudge holding enemy) happens upon the site of her transition, he is determined to bring her down and he wont stop at nothing. And not to mention a possible mate that just might be out to kill her.

I absolutely loved Full Blooded! Amanda Carlson brings you into the world of this all male pack and this world is just boiling with testosterone. Very sexy wolfy testosterone at that. And there's more then just wolfy goodness in this book, you get a few side characters with a bit of paranormal spunk to them as well. And I thought that those characters added more to the story. Though, it probably would have been just as awesome without them. But still, gotta love the suped up characters!

Jessica's character is badass and fierce and even if she's the only girl in an all male pack, she hold her own and she doesn't show any fear. To be surrounded by that many males. wheew. *wipes brow* one lucky girl. Aside from Jessica's fan-frkn-tastic character, the supporting characters were totes awesome as well. All big and manly. Oh, yeah. ;)

Protective: CHECK.
Alpha: CHECK.
EXTRA ALPHA: CHECK, CHECK.
EXTRA ALPHA WITH WHIPPED CREAM ON TOP: nom nom nom. Go away, I'm eating ;)

I would definitely recommend this book. If you're a lover of paranormal awesomeness and love yourself mighty alpha werewolves and strong heroines than Full Blooded is right up your alley. And all your lovers out there for romance, Amanda Carlson does not leave you hangin'. With all the kickassness going on, Carlson tosses in a mate with hungry eyes that leaves you panting and wanting more. I know I do ;)

MY RATING:

Blog Tour: Diggin' Deeper + Review: Vegas Knights by Marina Maddix

Diggin' Deeper + Review

Thanks for stopping by!

*This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review*

Vegas Knights(Book #1 in the Red Veil series)
Amazon | BN
Author: Marina Maddix
Publisher: Self Published (March 8, 2013)
Genre: Erotica, Adult, 179 pages
ASIN: B00BN1XN4K
My Copy: eBook

SUMMARY:

Vegas Knights is the much-anticipated novel-length sequel to Marina’s popular erotic/romantic short story Knight Fall. The books can be read on their own or in sequence.

After a passionate public encounter with a mysterious and very sexy biker, big girl Kelly Saunders finds herself on the ride of her life. Her 'Knight on shining armor' — Rick Knight, heir to a motorcycle legacy — whisks her away from her soul-sucking corporate job to Las Vegas, where she finds the road to love is treacherous.

As urgent business matters demand more and more of Rick’s attention, Kelly is left to wonder about the future of their relationship. A ruthless betrayal throws her life into turmoil, and a devastating discovery threatens to pull them apart. Is their love just so much Vegas glitter or is it strong enough to survive beyond the dazzling lights of Sin City?

MY REVIEW:

AHH! This is my first Marina Maddix novel and she can now count me as one of her fans. *fan girling* I absolutely loved Vegas Knights. Before I jump into this review, let me just say that I devoured Vegas Knights in one sitting. That's how good it was *wipes brow*  — Alrighty, moving on...

Kelly Saunders is a voluptuous artist (struggling, might I add) who finds herself leaving her life behind after a hot encounter with the oh-so-sexy-biker Rick Knight. Rick asks Kelly to go away with him to Vegas for 2 weeks after their little tryst in the back of a gas station (gag... I KNOW! but still hot in its own way...if it's a sexy biker of course), and of course she says yes! Duh, because what's she got to lose...right? YOLO? hahaha.

Once the budding couple makes their way to Vegas, Rick leaves Kelly to her own devices as he settles some stuff that have him stuck in meetings with lawyers til' no end! Kelly soon finds her feet in Vegas, stumbling upon a co-op group for striving artists and soon Kelly loses her self in her art, painting on canvas what her words can't express. Her growing feelings for Rick Knight. Those feelings she can't express to him because: 1- it's too soon and 2- he's never around! oh and 3-it's just supposed to be a little fling, for two little weeks...or so she thinks ;)

Whew. I'll admit, this book was pretty predictable but still damned good. Marina Maddix weaves the story of growing love with haters on the side just bidding their time to tear you down and push you away. I was kind of thrown off with the fast relationship between Kelly and Rick, but you can't help but to just swoon along with Kelly as Rick calls her beautiful and makes her feel loved and safe. There were a few background characters that I loved (even though they had a page or two).

"Hey, Assholes! Some of us have to get up early to go fry up some shit for the tourists tomorrow. Unless you want hash brown nuggets shoved so far up your ass they shoot out your nose, I'd suggest either shutting the fuck up or getting the fuck out."

-Candy

Oh, but Candy needs more page time. Candy is a minor character, but still kick ass and totally stands out in the few pages she was mentioned in.

Message for MMaddix: Beach Bum Reads is demanding more page time for Candy the PINK goth ;) Pretty please, with extra whipped cream on top ^_^

Soooo let's recap, shall we??

The Book: Was pretty good.
The Story: Predictable but still awesome
The Characters: Well developed and believable
The Sex: Vanilla but still hot. I mean...Rick Knight is planning on buying out Victoria Secret just to replace all the damaged panties RAAAWR ;)

I would definitely recommend this book. There is a prequel to this awesome book. I didn't read it and did just fine without having read it, but if you want the story (and the steamy sex) as to how Kelly and Rick met, then go ahead and get Knight Falls and read that one first ^_^

MY RATING:

Ana: Welcome to Beach Bum Reads! Thanks for stopping by!

MMaddix: Thank you so much for having me, Ana! It’s fun to chat with another California girl.

Ana: Woot woot ;) Gotta love us Cali girls!

...Tell us a little bit about yourself (or a lot, we’re not a judging bunch) 

MMaddix: I’m a sports journalist by trade (under a different name), and have been working in the industry for a decade, but fiction has become a bit of an obsession for me. I’m married to a very supportive guy who thinks I walk on water but doesn’t let me get away with shit. Gotta love a man with a firm hand! We live in the San Francisco Bay Area with our 15-year-old cat Fred.

Ana: You’re stuck on an island and have an unlimited supply of three items. What are those three items? 

MMaddix:  Fresh Georgia peaches, Stephen King books and drinking water.

Ana: Who would you kiss? Who would you fuck? And who would you marry?

MMaddix:  I’d kiss Johnny Depp (those lips!). I’d fuck the actor Sam Rockwell because I’ve always crushed on him and he just oozes sex appeal and self-confidence. And I’d marry Ryan Gosling because I would love to wake up to ‘Hey girl…’ every morning for the rest of my life!

Ana: If you had the chance to act out any sex scene from any book, what sex scene would it be?  

MMaddix: How lame is this? The one from Gone with the Wind, when Rhett takes Scarlett. It’s the original dubcon (dubious consent) story, but it’s totally hot. Alpha male tames bratty socialite. Spank me, Rhett!

Ana: Is the glass half empty or half full? 

MMaddix:  It’s half full for three weeks out of the month. Can I get a woot?

Ana: you can get TWO! Woot woot!

...If you could be any rockstars’ groupie, who would it be and why? 

MMaddix: Well, back in the day, my hubby was a D-list rockstar (he prefers the term ‘musician’ but I’ve heard a lot of stories that are decidedly rockstar-ish), so I guess I’m the ultimate groupie: I married him! But if we’re going for A-list rockstars, I’d have to choose a young Steven Tyler. Damn, he was so ugly he was hot back then. Now, he’s just freakish!

Ana: If you could pit two men against each other to fight to the death for you, who would those two men be? 

MMaddix: Trick question, Ana! One of them has to die, so I can’t pick two hotties! Lemme think… One of them would, of course, be Johnny Depp. (Call me gauche, I don’t care; he’s freakin’ hot!) The other would have to be smaller and unable to defend himself so Johnny could be all mine. I think I’ll go with Woody Allen — for so many reasons!

Ana: HAHA! I'm gonna have to be more specific next time and make them both hotties ;)

...If you could redo any part of your life, which part would it be and why?

MMaddix: Ooh, we’re getting serious here. Honestly, I regret very little in my life, even though I’ve had some very unpleasant experiences. They’ve made me who I am today, and I kinda like me! But if I were to redo something, it would be not having a good handle on my finances from the beginning of adulthood. Math isn’t my strong suit (what can I say, I’m a writer), so I always used that as an excuse to ignore the obvious: that I was spending more than I earned. Consequently, I never saved much. I now have control of my finances and that’s such an empowering feeling!

Ana: Okay, last question… and I’ve gotta ask… are you a beach bum? 

MMaddix: Oh, hellz yes! I’m a sailor so the ocean is like home to me. That probably makes me half-beach bum, half-boat bum, but it adds up to one big bum!

Ana: Thanks for stopping by! It was a pleasure having you here today :)

MMaddix: Thank you, Ana. Now I’ve got to go work on my tan…

Think Fast:

Ana: Wine or Jack Daniels?  

MMaddix: Wine, unless you switch Jack Daniels to Don Julio tequila.

Ana: Kinky or Vanilla?

MMaddix: I’m a vanilla girl when it comes to erotica AND food. 

Ana: Vampires or Werewolves?

MMaddix: Werewolves. Ooh, that alpha….

Ana: This or That?

MMaddix: This.

Ana: Day or Night?

MMaddix: Day.

Ana: Sleep or Insomnia?

MMaddix: Sleep!

Marina Maddix is a romantic at heart, but hates closing the bedroom door on her readers. Her stories are sweet, with just enough spice to make your mother blush. She lives with her husband and cat near the Pacific Ocean, and loves to hear from her fans. Email her @  marinamaddix@gmail.com

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Chattin' It Up + Giveaway with Tracie Banister

Ana: Welcome to Beach Bum Reads! I’m glad you can join me today :)

TBanister: Thank you so much for having me, Ana! I’m excited to be here.

Ana: We’re going to start off with some basics…Can you tell us a little about yourself?

TBanister:  Like my favorite fictional heroine, Scarlett O'Hara, I am a Southern belle who lives on the outskirts of Atlanta. I'm addicted to television (I watch everything from Disney shows to Top Chef and think the DVR is the best invention since the wheel.), crossword puzzles (I do 3-5 a day and like to time myself.), and salt and vinegar potato chips (My one junk food weakness.) Animal rights (I have three rescue dogs, two with special needs.) and finding a cure for diabetes (I've been a Type 1 diabetic for over 25 years.) are my two passions. I love theater and try to get to New York to see several Broadway shows every year. And, of course, I am a rabid reader who enjoys a wide variety of genres, everything from Historical Romance to Steampunk.

Ana: What was the first book that got you into reading?

TBanister:  I was obsessed with The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling when I was little. It was the book I wanted to be read to me every night, and I had every word memorized so my mother couldn’t skip a page without me calling her out on it!  

Ana: What/who inspired you to become a writer?

TBanister:  I think it was just books in general. I loved reading from a very young age and I was never happier than when I was in a library. I started writing my own stories when I was in elementary school, and my love of putting pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) just grew from there.  

Ana: Is there anything you want to say to aspiring writers?

TBanister:  Focus on being the best writer you can be and don't rush to publish the first thing you write. Read as many different books in as many different genres as you can. Take the time to learn and grow as a writer. You’ll know when you've written the book that's "the one," then you can educate yourself on the different publishing avenues and decide what's best for you.

Ana: I absolutely loved In Need of Therapy, but let’s pretend I have no idea what it’s about, can you tell us a little bit about it?

TBanister:  Thanks, Ana! I’m so glad you enjoyed the book. Okay, in a nutshell . . . In Need of Therapy is a fun, fizzy read about a Latina psychologist who struggles to cope with all the craziness in her life, which comes in the forms of her high-strung family, her demanding patients, and a trio of potential love interests, all of whom are Mr. Wrong.  

Ana: I loved Pilar’s patients and their problems. And some of their problems were pretty out there, are you a therapist in disguise or did you have a hunky doctor at your beck and call?

TBanister: I wish I knew a hunky doctor, but alas I do not. I did toy with the idea of becoming a psychologist when I was in school and even took several courses on the subject so that’s where some of my info on the therapeutic process came from. Also, I picked the brains of friends and family members who’d been to see a shrink and I did plenty of research into different psychological conditions.

Ana: What was the hardest part about writing In Need of Therapy?

TBanister: Honestly, I can’t think of anything that was too difficult about writing Therapy. I had a blast with the characters, the story, and the setting. It was the first book I wrote using a first-person POV, so that might have taken me a little time to get used to, but I love a writing challenge!

Ana: Are you currently working on anything? Care to dish?

TBanister: My current work-in-progress is a Chick Lit novel about two sisters who are polar opposites and live in San Francisco. I can't say anything more without getting spoilery, but I can promise plenty of comedy, romance, cute guys, and even cuter dogs. This one should be released in the fall of 2013.

I am, also, hoping to write a Regency Era series that will have the same comedic and romantic elements that my modern-day novels do. I've already got several chapters of the first book in the series under my belt and I look forward to moving forward with it as soon as I'm done with my San Francisco story!

Ana: Okay, last question… and I’ve gotta ask… are you a beach bum? 

TBanister: Sadly, no, since I live in a landlocked area. That’s probably why I decided to set In Need of Therapy in Miami; I got to transport myself to the beach every day when I was writing the book!  

Ana: Thanks for stopping by! It was a pleasure having you here today :)

TBanister:  It was great to hang out here on the virtual beach with you, Ana! Thanks again for reading and reviewing In Need of Therapy!

Think Fast:

Ana: Water or Soda?  

TBanister: Water, the bubbly kind with lemon

Ana: Coffee or Tea?

TBanister: Tea, love it – must be the English blood from my maternal grandmother

Ana: Zombies or Vampires?

TBanister: I’m a True Blood addict, so vampires all the way. Zombies freak me out!

Ana: Rap or Rock?

TBanister: Rock

Ana: Day or Night?

TBanister:  Day

Ana: Salad or Burger? 

TBanister: I love a good cheeseburger, but not beef – turkey or bison!

Concluding our little chat, Tracie is giving away an eBook copy of In Need of Therapy! 

<a href="http://www.beachbumreads.com/2013/01/JScottInterviewGiveaway.html" target="_blank"> <img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcGH4zcy_r0U8leQWR2Rd6TYtj7ud_A7e4q3jWWwD12rSVeqKpp6Ogxsx_xVY5E1_6ts3cCsL8RWN1MkoY787MVlqIW-PMZjoUvTAftkyuU-rEOFfZ3n7aIua0Q7XGxmQYN2Gytt2BQ0G2/s1600/JScottGiveaway.png" /></a>a Rafflecopter giveaway

An avid reader and writer, Tracie Banister has been scribbling stories since she was a child, most of them featuring feisty heroines with complicated love lives like her favorite fictional protagonist Scarlett O'Hara. Her work was first seen on the stage of her elementary school, where her 4th grade class performed an original holiday play that she penned (Like all good divas-in-the-making, she, also, starred in and tried to direct the production.) Her dreams of authorial success were put on the backburner when she reached adulthood and discovered that she needed a "real" job in order to pay her bills. Her career as personal assistant to a local entrepreneur lasted for 12 years. When it ended, Tracie decided to follow her bliss and dedicate herself to writing full-time. Her debut novel, the Hollywood-themed BLAME IT ON THE FAME, was released in January, 2012. And she's following that up with the Miami-set Romantic Comedy, IN NEED OF THERAPY.

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Review: In Need of Therapy by Tracie Banister

In Need of Therapy
Amazon | Goodreads | BN
Author: Tracie Banister
Publisher: Self Published (July 19, 2012)
Genre: Adult, Contemporary Romance, 478 pages
ASIN: B008N6Z36Y
My Copy: eBook

SUMMARY:

Lending a sympathetic ear and dispensing sage words of advice is all part of the job for psychologist Pilar Alvarez, and she’s everything a good therapist should be: warm, compassionate, supportive. She listens, she cares, and she has all the answers, but how’s the woman everyone turns to in their hour of need supposed to cope when her own life starts to fall apart?


While working hard to make a success of her recently-opened practice in trendy South Beach, Pilar must also find time to cater to the demands of her boisterous Cuban family, which includes younger sister Izzy, an unemployed, navel-pierced wild child who can't stay out of trouble, and their mother, a beauty queen turned drama queen who’s equally obsessed with her fading looks and getting Pilar married before it’s “too late.” Although she’d like to oblige her mother and make a permanent love connection, Pilar’s romantic prospects look grim. Her cheating ex, who swears that he’s reformed, is stalking her. A hunky, but strictly off-limits, patient with bad-boy appeal and intimacy issues is making passes. And the sexy shrink in the suite across the hall has a gold band on his left ring finger.

When a series of personal and professional disasters lead Pilar into the arms of one of her unsuitable suitors, she's left shaken, confused, and full of self-doubt. With time running out, she must make sense of her feelings and learn to trust herself again so that she can save her business, her family, and most importantly, her heart.

MY REVIEW:

Pilar Alvarez is a therapist who is nearly 30 years old and still isn't married. That "still" being stressed by her ever persistent and overtly dramatic mama. Aside from helping her patients get through all of their problems, Pilar finds herself in a bit of a romance puddle. With three guys no less.

It took me a while to get into this book, but once I got to about 30% in, this book was easy sailing. I wasn't really a big fan of Pilar and a few other characters in this book. They just weren't my cup of tea, but that didn't stop the awesomeness that is this book. Aside from my slight dislike for Pilar, I thought her therapy patients were pretty danged cool. The problems they dealt with I wouldn't have thought of, even though they were pretty common. And I'm sure that a few of us have run into people with said problems:

• Hypochondriac 
• Teenage body issues
• Man Whore
• Marriage issues
• Clingy woman

Familiar with these? Yepp. Aren't we all. Ms. Banister sure does have a way with going about these issues that I wouldn't even have touched. I felt these characters, as little page time as they had, were very believable. 

Pilar doesn't just have to deal with her patients, but also with her starting up business, rent, family issues, clingy-ex-boyfriend-who-doesn't-understand-the-meaning-of-no, a patient with the hots for her, and a hot new doctor who takes up the office right next to hers. All these things kept me turning the page and anticipating what will happen next, even the patients. 

I would definitely recommend this book. It might be oozing with other peoples problems, but it's definitely a light read with a budding romance in the making. 

MY RATING:

Manicure Monday #4

Manicure Monday is a meme hosted by Nite Lite Book Reviews. Take your current read and give yourself one fantastic manicure! 

Welcome back to another week of Manicures! Oh, but I do love doing my nails. I actually just ran out of nail polish remover after I took off last weeks mani, so I told myself I better not mess up. Lmbo. And I didn't ^_^ It got a bit messy too *wipes brow* on to the mani! 

SUMMARY:

My name is Meredith Gentry, but of course it's not my real name. I dare not even whisper my true name after dark for fear that one hushed word will travel over the night winds to the soft ear of my aunt, the Queen of Air and Darkness. She wants me dead. I don't even know why...

I fled the high court of Faerie three years ago and have been in hiding ever since. As Merry Gentry, I am a private investigator for the Grey Detective Agency: Supernatural Problems, Magical Solutions. My magical skills, scorned at the courts of Faerie, are valued in the human world. Even by human standards, my magic isn't flashy, which is fine by me. Flashy attracts attention and I can't afford that.

Rumour has it that I am dead. Not quite. I am Princess Meredith NicEssus. To speak that name after dark is to call down a knock upon your door from a hand that can kill you with a touch. I have been careful, but not careful enough. The shadows have found me, and they are going to take me back home, one way or another.

So the running is over. But the fighting has just begun...

Rich, sensual, brimming with dangerous magic, A Kiss of Shadows is a dazzling tour-de-force where folklore, fantasy and erotically charged adventure collide.

Alright! Last week I couldn't get myself to pick up a book that needs to be reviewed, so I started rereading the Meredith Gentry novels by Laurell K. Hamilton. *le sigh* Oh, but I do love those books. So, of course, this weeks mani is all about the Unseelie court ;) 

A little bit messy *shrugs*

RAWRRR ;)

So, I mentioned the Unseelie court, if you're familiar with the Merry Gentry novels and the world of faerie then you know that the Unseelie Court is the dark court and the Seelie Court is the light court. I absolutely love Merry and all her men *swoon* so I figured I would do a mani that represented the dark throne (and it kinda sorta matched the cover)

Description: I did a 3D look on my nails with a matte finish. The matte black represents the Unseelie court and all its darkness. I wanted a matte black rather then a nice shiny one because the Unseelie sidhe are dark, dark creatures lol. I would have left it at the matte black, but that's just not my style xD So I did a 3D effect to represent the Unseelie sidhe. They aren't perfect, and most of them are the product of mixed blood and being cast away from the Seelie court for not being "perfect".  I didn't add a top coat, as that would have ruined the matte finish.

Nail polish used: NYX Girls: Collection Noir

To create a matte polish: Nail polish of choice, toothpick & corn starch. On a small palette mix your nail polish and a bit of corn starch. The more corn starch you mix in, the more matte the color. Mix until there are no lumps in your polish (it doesn't lump easily, but just break apart the corn starch) Apply quickly, because the polish will set and get tacky and we don't want that!

Link up below if you're joining in on this meme! 

Blog Tour: Review + Guest Post: The Best Man by Kristan Higgans

Review + Guest Post

Thanks for stopping by! This tour is brought to you by Book Trib.

*This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review*

The Best Man
(Book #1 in the Blue Heron series)
Amazon | Goodreads | BN
Author: Kristan Higgans
Publisher: Harlequin HQN (February 26, 2013)
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Adult, 432 pages
ISBN-10: 0373777922
ISBN-13: 978-0373777921
My Copy: Paperback

SUMMARY:

Sometimes the best man is the one you least expect…

Faith Holland left her hometown after being jilted at the altar. Now a little older and wiser, she's ready to return to the Blue Heron Winery, her family's vineyard, to confront the ghosts of her past, and maybe enjoy a glass of red. After all, there's some great scenery there….

Like Levi Cooper, the local police chief—and best friend of her former fiancé. There's a lot about Levi that Faith never noticed, and it's not just those deep green eyes. The only catch is she's having a hard time forgetting that he helped ruin her wedding all those years ago. If she can find a minute amidst all her family drama to stop and smell the rosé, she just might find a reason to stay at Blue Heron, and finish that walk down the aisle.

MY REVIEW:

Faith Holland is the youngest of the Holland children. After being humiliated at the alter by her high school sweetheart/fiance, she takes off to California to get away for a while. And that "while" turns into years.

Oh. My. Gosh. Kristan Higgans is a pure genius! GENIUS! I absolutely loved The Best Man and all it's characters. After finding out that her fiance is gay, at the alter no less and being outed by the best man, Levi Cooper, Faith flees Blue Heron to put her past behind her. She's still carrying around the love and hurt for her ex fiance Jeremy. She thinks Jeremy has ruined her. No one, and I mean NO ONE, can measure up to Jeremy. Doesn't help that the first two men she meets and has somewhat of an "attraction" to in California are gay and the third man she meets, is a two timing asshole with a wife and child.

After getting a call from her sister, Faith packs her bags is on her way back to Blue Heron. She doesn't plan to stay long, but that short trips turns into an extended vacation with simmering heat between herself and Levi Cooper, the man who "ruined" her wedding. Levi and Faith didn't have much of a friendship growing up, but more of a mutual ground seeing as Jeremy was a big part of both of their lives. Running into each other now, there's a heat that's there and it's coming to a small boil.

I absolutely loved everything about this book. And all the characters. Yes, even the gay ex fiance was awesome. All of the Holland children are a hoot. Faith being the youngest, I didn't think I'd connect with the older siblings, but I did. Ms. Higgans mixed this big bad novel in a big ol' pot of love. Her ingredients:

• Gay Ex Fiance
• Sexting between two grown married folks
• Bathroom mishaps
• Chocolate
• Chocolate
• More Chocolate
• Wine
• Wine
• More Wine
• One hot smokin' chief sheriff (Levi Cooper)
• Cute dogs
• Bickering couples
• Faith Holland

Ahh. Yepp, that's one big ass pot of love. I might have left out of a few ingredients, but the chocolate and the wine will make up for it xD 

I'll admit, this is my first book by Ms. Higgans, but I can assure you it wont be my last. If you love yourself a light contemporary romance read that has you craving that glass of wine (seriously, this book is practically filled to the rim with wine), then this book is for you. This book is the first in the series, and I can't wait for the second story, where we catch up with Faith's older sister.

MY RATING:

GUEST POST:

THE BEST MAN is the first book in the Blue Heron series.  Do you sometimes find yourself beginning to write the next book before you’ve finished the one you’re working on? If you do, what do you do to remember all your ideas?

Since I haven’t written a series before, this has been a learning experience. Knowing that I’ll be picking up another character or two and carrying them into the next book(s) made it important to hint at certain things early on. For example, I knew that Honor, the middle sister, would be the next heroine, so I had to deal with her very carefully in THE BEST MAN.

What’s always interesting is that what one character thinks about another isn’t necessarily true—it’s just that character’s perception. So Faith, the heroine of THE BEST MAN, views her older sister as somewhat terrifying and uber-competent. Honor herself doesn’t see things that way…and she views Faith differently from how Faith sees herself. I love that stuff! It’s so true in families…how many of us have said, “Mom loves you best” to our siblings, only to have them screech, “Are you kidding? Mom loves YOU best!”

As I was writing THE BEST MAN, I knew a few things about Honor’s story, and I kept notes as I went along. When I got to the edits stage of the first book, I was pretty solid on what I needed to know about Honor in this first book.

I’m never terribly far from a computer, so when I get an idea that’s going to have to sit for awhile before it can geminate, I just write it down. If I’m on the road, I call myself and leave messages, so the kids might come home to find a message that says, “Make sure Honor references the grandparents anniversary party.” They know by now not to erase those. 

Hello! I’m flattered that you clicked the button. If you clicked by mistake, well, hello anyway.

I live in a small Connecticut town with a beautiful library, a great agricultural fair, nice people and not much else. I have two lovely, entertaining children and a brave firefighter for a husband, who is, perhaps more importantly, a fantastic cook. Digger from Fools Rush In is inspired my very own Digger, our cheerful Lab mutt. We also have two cats and grieve for an occasional, short-lived beta fish. 

I worked as a copywriter until I had kids and started writing fiction when my children graced my life with simultaneous afternoon naps. Writing, I surmised, was infinitely more satisfying than folding laundry, and so I started my first novel. Before long, I had finished Stalking Joe, whose title was later changed to Fools Rush In. Catch of the Day followed, winning the 2008 Romance Writers of America's RITA© award, which just thrilled me to my toes. Then came Just One of the Guys (August 08), Too Good To Be True (Feb 09), The Next Best Thing (Feb 10), and All I Ever Wanted, summer 2010. More books are in the pipeline.

I love to write books about relationships, since the search for love and security is one of the driving forces of life. And I try to focus on an aspect that’s common, if not universal, hence the “stalking” in Fools Rush In and the crush on the unattainable man in Catch of the Day. People ask if I’ve ever stalked a guy. Of course not! Jeez! Come on! It’s fiction! They also ask if I’ve ever had a crush on a priest. Of course not! Jeez! Come on! It’s fiction! As far as being crazy about one of my brother's friends, which is the plot of Just One of the Guys, well, yes to that one. But I'm not naming names. Dating a fictional man, like Grace does in Too Good To Be True? Um...can I take the fifth on that one? Whether it's my own experience or not, I try to find something we can all relate to.

When I’m not writing, I like to be with my kids, goof around with my husband, read, watch baseball, ride my bike and bake. I suffer from chronic bedhead and an unhealthy (and completely understandable) obsession with Derek Jeter, shortstop for the New York Yankees. Like Millie Barnes, I run, which provides the neighbors with some real entertainment. 

We spend as much time as possible at our family home on Cape Cod, swimming in the Atlantic, shivering on the beach, swatting horseflies and watching fish evade my lure at Higgins Pond. It’s as close to heaven as it gets.

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Review: The Quickie by Kitty Fine

The Quickie
Amazon | Goodreads | BN
Author: Kitty Fine
Publisher: AllEroticaStories.com (April 28, 2012)
Genre: Adult, Erotica, 47 pages
ASIN: B007YNQ8PC
My Copy: eBook

SUMMARY:

This is a very short but sizzling sexy story. Nympho Nikki finds a way to be naughty during a boring class in her last year of high school. She scores with the high school quarterback for a hot, explicit quickie at school.

MY REVIEW:

Ahh. Lets see... The Quckie is a really short erotica. Hence the title of this little itty bitty novella. All I can really say about this one is that I wasn't all that big of a fan of it. The heat factor is there. The story...well, this one doesn't really need a story. It's straight and to the point. A little flirting in the beginning and that automatically leads to the hot smutty scene that takes place in a classroom. I'm all for erotica's, but this one just didn't do it for me. >.<

I wouldn't recommend this one, unless you're just looking for quick erotica read to tide you over.  Other then that, don't get it. 

MY RATING: