Naturally,Charlie Blog Tour

 

Welcome To The Naturally Charlie Blog Tour with S.L Scott!

We gals at S,E,R's Awesomness are pleased to have Author S.L Scott our blog today,and here she is with a little snippet about her self and a recipe she would like to share. Enjoy!

 S.L Scott:

 I’m a shy person, but I don’t think anyone else would agree with me. I think it’s time to face the fact that I’m not. 

   With that said, here’s more than you ever wanted to know about me: I’m a mom to two awesome kiddos, a wife to my personal Forever and a Day, a writer held hostage by her characters until their story is told, a would be surfer if I wasn’t landlocked, a daydreamer, guacamole lover, and a ‘wish I had more time to bake’ baker. I love rom-com’s, fixate on phrases then run them into the ground, enjoy an iced flavored coffee almost every day, love Austen, Kinsella, Fielding. I have twenty-four Fitz & Floyd teapots on display in my dining room, fifteen Dept 56 Snow Village Christmas pieces, and an affinity for first edition books of any sort.

Too much information? Sorry about that. I got carried away.

Instead of itemizing my life, I’d love to share an amazing experience I had in September 2011. I went to Vegas with my sister to celebrate my birthday. We have always been lovers of roller coasters, never had a problem with heights, and had sky-diving on both of our bucket lists. Vegas. Birthday. Girls trip. Yep, this all added up to an adventure tailor made for us.

My sister asked if I wanted to skydive on my birthday or before or after. I said the day before. I didn’t want the anticipation and anxiety to ruin the trip and she agreed. BUT, I also had an ulterior motive. I always think it’s more tragic when people die on the same day as their birthday, soooooo….. well, you know where I’m going with this. I settled on the day before, just in case something tragic happened, I would still be a year (even though only by a day) younger. I’m seriously cracking myself up right now about how narcissistic that is to admit. Haha.

I have to get back on track here. I actually learned something about myself. We were in the plane taking off and my sister had to sit on the floor because she was the first one out the door on our skydiving adventure. I was going to be second. To this day, we haven’t decided if it was better to go first or second, both have their pros and their cons.

The plane is climbing in altitude and I can see my sister is nervous, but you can’t hear anything because of the loud engine. We mouth our— I love you’s—as you do before flinging yourself

willingly out of a plane. The guy I’m skydiving tandem with straps me to him. *coughs* If you’ve never done this… ummm… hope for someone strong, safety-minded, and cute because you are about to get really close to this person as well as relying on them to land you safely back on earth.

I’m buckled to him, sitting on his lap, and he says, “I think you’re calmer than me.”

That’s when I realized it. It’s something I feel I’ve always been good at—I work well under pressure. This was happening. There was no use fighting against it. I was going to be going out that plane door. I wanted to do this and even though I was scared for my life, I was resolved that

I could do this. So my mindset was focused. Let’s do this. Let’s survive and let’s have fun while flying through the air. I felt powerful and even though I wasn’t, I felt like I was in control of my destiny. I would land safely and as you can see by me writing this post today, I did.

It was a real boost in confidence, I must say, and exhilarating, but I don’t ever, and I mean never, need to do that again. LOL.

Oh, to cap off this most random information about me and what I like, I thought I’d share a cupcake recipe. In Naturally, Charlie—Charlie girl loves to bake cupcakes. I love cupcakes. Who doesn’t love cupcakes?! One of my favorite cocktails is a Margarita, so I had Charlie bake Margarita cupcakes in the book. Here is a great recipe for that cocktail-inspired baked goody created by my author and professional baker friend J. Parker—she’s sharing her secret recipe with us.

 

Margarita Cupcakes

1.5 cups all purpose flour

1.5 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 cup butter, room temperature, unsalted

1 cup sugar

2 large eggs, room temp

2 limes, zested and juiced

1/4 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 cup buttermilk, room temp

1-2 TBSP tequila 

Preheat oven to 325. Line tins with wrappers.

Whisk the flour, baking powder and salt together. In bowl of your mixer, with a paddle attachment, cream butter and sugar on med speed until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition, stopping to scrape down as necessary. Mix in the lime zest, juices, and vanilla (may look curdled). With mixer on low, add dry ingredients in three additions, alternating with buttermilk, starting and ending with dry ingredients. Beat until just incorporated.

Divide into liners, filling each about 3/4 full. Bake 20ish minutes, but check around the 15-18 minute mark. Cupcakes should spring back when pressed and toothpick comes out clean with just a few moist crumbs attached. Transfer pan to wire rack to cool. Poke holes in tops of cupcakes and drizzle with tequila. Let rest for about 5 minutes, then remove from pans and let cool completely.

Tequila Lime Frosting

1 cup butter unsalted, cool but not cold

2 3/4 - 3 cups powdered sugar

1.5 TBSP freshly squeezed lime juice

1-2 TBSP tequila 

pinch of salt

Beat butter until light and fluffy. Add powdered sugar until incorporated and smooth.  Scrape down sides and add lime juice, tequila, and salt. Mix until fluffy. Taste and see if it needs more tequila, add little by little... no more than a tsp at a time. 

Frost cupcakes and then garnish with course sea salt and a lime wedge. You can do some without salt for those who don't like their margaritas salted.  Find her on Twitter at @JParkerWrites.

Thank you so much for hosting me here on your blog. I had a blast writing this post and hope you enjoy my book Naturally, Charlie.

XO,

S.L. 

 Grace's Review Of Naturally,Charlie:  http://samsawesomness.blogspot.com/2012/10/naturallycharlie-by-sl-scott.html?zx=e1c8944fb00d34ec

 

Loving On Borrowed Time By Olivia Cunning

Lovers’ Leap #1
Lara Kensington is living a perfectly mundane life as a museum curator, when bad boy treasure hunter, Reece Jerhico, leaps into her life. Literally. Obviously distressed, Reece tells Lara that one year in the future she will be murdered. The evidence he uses to back up his incredible story doesn’t convince Lara. She thinks he’s crazy. Especially after he claims to be her future fiancé. Lara would have remembered dating someone as delicious as Reece Jerhico. Hot as Reece is, Lara has a difficult time believing anything the man says until the broken amulet he wears around his neck transports them into different bodies, during a different time, in a different place--an ancient place, a cold place, a place where Lara arrives naked, hysterical, and... Norse.

On the run through time, attempting to escape a man who is hell-bent on Lara’s lack-of a-future becoming a reality, the couple must leap from one time and place to another just to stay alive. In the first volume of this sexy and humorous new series, Lara and Reece share an existence with a ruthless Viking and his captive bride and then with a noble medieval knight and the feisty lady he is determined to win.

Rens' Review:

 Lara Kensington is a museum's curator. One day she meets a treasure hunter, Reece Jericho. He tells her, he comes from the future to save his fiancee that had been killed. Reece's fiance, for her surprised, is Lara herself. Lara thinks he's nut, even though he's hot. But, when Reece makes her traveled through time to avoid Reece's friend that wants his magical amulet, want it or not, she must believe him. They traveled back to Viking time, and 3 days later to English medieval era. When they leap through time, Reece wants to make Lara love him again, and help people that become their vessel to find their happiness when they are leaping.

Olivia Cunning did it again!

Usually I never give a novella 5 stars (just once, and that eas for Heaven Can't Wait by Pamela Clare, another one of  my favorite authors), but this one is not!

Holy moley naked Batman! I never knew Olivia Cunning can write a story like this!! Sooo.. different from her Sinners on Tours series that's  full of sex scenes, and dirty acts *groan*. You will surprised this novella is more clean than Sinners series, just at a steamy level, not too erotic. But still sexy, humorous, with a strong heroine and too-die-for, drop-dead-gorgeous, I-want-to-lick-him-from-head-to-toe hero.

Reece Jericho, *sigh!!* Olivia once wrote on her  blog, Reece is like Brian Sinclair + Trey Mills but minus music (from her Sinners series) and I absolutely agreed!!. He makes me gooey and hope to have a lover like him. Alpha, yet humorous and so loving.Guy with name "Reece" seems perfect, my kind of hero!

Lara herself is strong and determined. Even she doesn't believe Reece at the first when he says she is his fiancee, later on her feelings towards him  grow. The historical setting at this novella are well written. We know about Viking history, about their habit to pillage and raping. And then at English medieval era,with their nobility and culture. My favorite is when they leap to English medieval. Think "A Knight's Tale" movie here ;-).

This novella has a cliffhanger, with Lara and Reece leaping  to Turkey harem, and I can't wait to know what happens next to them and what they do to the couple that become their vessel to find their own happiness!

My favorite part (contain a little bit spoiler here) :

“I wonder how sunburned my ass will be after I make love to you right here in the sand for hours and hours,” Reece murmured.
“I’m not sure that’s possible, sweetheart,” she murmured, snuggling against his shoulder.
“Why not? I thought you said you loved me.”
“I do, Reece. That’s not the problem.”
“Then what? This guy is totally head over heels in love with this chick. Holding her is so thrilling to him, I think he’s about to faint. He and I are both ready for some hot monkey sex in the sand.”
“Are you sure?” She looked up at him, trying hard to stifle a laugh. “Seems an unlikely activity for a eunuch.” 

 

Undeniable by Madeline Sheehan

"

The story of Deuce and Eva...

An undeniable connection that stands the test of time.

Unforgettable moments.

Love and pain and everything in between.

I was five years old when I met Deuce, he was twenty-three, and it was visiting day at Riker's Island. My father, Damon Fox or "Preacher", the President of the infamous "Silver Demon's" motorcycle club -mother chapter- in East Village, New York City, was doing a five-year stint for aggravated assault and battery with a deadly weapon. It was not the first time my father had been in prison and it wouldn't be the last. The Silver Demon's MC was a notorious group of criminals who lived by the code of the road and gave modern society and all it entailed a great big f**k you. 

Rhonda's Review:

  "I was five years old when I met Deuce, he was twenty-three, and it was visiting day at Riker's Island. "

I was hooked at the first line of the book. I've been in a terrible book funk for months, and Madeline Sheehan just pulled me out! Undeniable consumed my thoughts when I wasn't reading it, I was thinking about it and couldn't wait to get back to it. Thank you Madeline Sheehan, your book has landed on my favorite list for 2012. A bit of advice for those who haven't read this yet... leave your personal feelings about everything at the door before you start.

"I am Preacher’s little girl. And I'm gonna be just like him when I grow up. I'm gonna have a Fatboy but I want mine to be sparkly and I want a pink helmet with skulls on it. And instead of being the club President, I’m gonna be the club Queen cuz I'm gonna marry the biggest, scariest biker in the whole world and he's gonna let me do whatever I want because he’s gonna love me like crazy." -5 year old Eva

As the years pass from the time Deuce and Eva first meet, the carnal attraction grows between these two over the years and is off the charts. Deuce and Eva are completely dysfunctional together, but they make sense. Their story was like watching a train wreck and I was powerless to stop it or look away. The years aren't kind to these two, but they love each other and in the end I love that they fight for each other.

The moment I truly fell for Deuce: "You respect women you little fuckin' shit. It was a fuckin' woman who carried you around in her fuckin' body, fuckin' birthed you and fuckin' loved you, and it's gonna be a woman who keeps you warm at night, who lets you inside her body and it's gonna be a woman who carries around your fuckin' children. You fuckin' respect that, you feel me? You fuckin' respect women, all of ‘em, or I will end you."

Swoon, I mean.... just swoon!! Deuce is so far from perfect, and he does some nasty shit to Eva, but it was impossible for me to dislike him when he always shows up at the right time with his redemption, redeeming himself.

I loved Eva too, she accumulates some heavy baggage over the years, and she's a tough young lady who makes some hard decisions. When the chips are down she'll stand up to anyone for the ones she loves. There were times Eva put her Chucks to good use running from Deuce, but I can't blame her on a lot of that. Kudos to Sheehan for writing a good heroine for Deuce.

I need to mention the very colorful cast of secondary characters in this book. Some you will love, some... not so much, but they are all so much fun to read, and made this story even more awesome. Kami, Cox, Frankie, Chase, and Preacher, I loved these characters so much. These are all people behaving badly, but they just wiggle their way into your heart, and under your skin.

This story has some grammar and punctuation issues, but I'm not one to judge on that, to me it was perfect, and I loved every moment of Eva and Deuce's story no matter how fucked up it was at times. They dug in their heels and fought for what they wanted even if it meant fighting each other.

"Never forget the day she came bouncin' into my fucked up life, shakin' pigtails, singin' Janis, wearin’ chucks and sharin' peanuts and straight up stole any decency I had left which wasn't a whole lot but she fuckin' took it and I've been hers ever since."

 

Funny,Funny,Har Har

Hmmmm....


A trumpeter is hired to play two solos in a movie. After the sessions he is paid handsomely and promised by the director that he will be notified when the movie is released to the public.

Three months later, he receives a notice that the movie will make its debut in Times Square at a porno house. The musician enters the theatre wearing a dark raincoat and shades. Unaccustomed to porno flicks, he sits
in the last row next to an elderly couple.

The film has explicit sex scenes: oral intercourse, anal intercourse, golden showers, sado-masochism and near the end a dog has intercourse with the leading female character. 

The musician who is immensely embarrassed turns to the elderly couple and whispers, "I wrote the score and I just came to hear the music", to which the elderly woman whispers in reply, "We just came to see our dog."

Avoiding Responsibility (#2) By K.A Linde

Lexi has finally given up her once destructive relationship and moved onto bigger and better things, namely Ramsey Bridges. But things are amiss with her new beau and she discovers things about him and his past that would make any girl turn the other way. And she's not sure his past can coincide with hers. A year after his entrance into her life, he's trying to make amends and does the one thing she never expects: invites her to a wedding...Jack's wedding. Find out what happens to Lexi as she deals with all the twists and turns that proceed from that question, throw in a few new players to shake up the mix, and don't forget all her old partners in crime.

Thessa's Review:

Five Stars
----------------
The yellow tape surrounds the area; the sirens have all been silenced. The damage has been done. Everyone injured has been patched up and sent for further treatment. The train wreck is over. There’s nothing more to see here.
----------------

Once again, I am a mess. This emotional rollercoaster ride has come to an end; well, at least for now. Wow! This was just like the first book. My emotions were all over the place. Just check out my status updates, you’ll see just how screwed up I was. I literally had to take a break after every chapter and perform deep breathing exercises just to calm my ass down. I’ve never been so worked up before. This story, along with book one, has made a mess out of me. Do not fret…it’s a good type of mess ;-)

Immediately after I read this, a smile crept up my face. I loved the ending, though I wish there was an epilogue. **hint hint**. I’m sad that this ended and I’m hoping for more in the future, but for right now; for this very second, the biggest reason why I have a smile on my face is because I made it through intact and in one piece.

***Please do not read further if you have not read book one, Avoiding Commitment. Possible spoilers ahead***

♥♥ Ramsey ♥♥: I LOVE YOU. I LOVE YOU. I LOVE YOU. I LOVE YOU. You have earned a coveted place as one of my all time favorite book boyfriends. I do not care about your past. I don’t even care that you’re related to the evil spawn bitch Bekah. I LOVE YOU. What you did for Lexi is beyond sweet. You stayed by her side and stuck up for her and it was by far, the sweetest gesture you could’ve done to show her you loved her. My heart just melted. You are amazing!

Lexi: Chica, I’m so proud of you!!! Yes, I questioned some of your decisions, but we all have to learn from our mistakes. You definitely learned your lesson the hard way, and I’m so happy that Jack is now out of the picture. When you kneed him in the cojones, I screamed out, “yes! It’s about time!! Woohoo!!” You definitely earned the right to date my Ramsey. Please treat him good. If you hurt him, I will come after you!

Jack: I’m glad I denounced you after the first book. You haven’t changed one bit since the first book. I can’t believe all the extra drama you caused in this book. Ughh! Why do you have to be so freaking charming and sleazy at the same time Gahhh! I can never figure you out.

Bekah: I still hate you. More so now, than ever before. OMG! You are so f**king delusional! You are so malicious and callous. Jack will never fully love you.

Chyna & Adam: I’m so happy you two are together! I wish you two all the best. ♥

**SIGH** Ok. I’m totally spent. I love this book. I love both stories. They caused me nothing but angst and tons of emotional outbursts, but it was all worth it. When these two are officially available in book form, I will happily run out and add them to my shelf collection. They are a must have in my opinion. I never thought I would enjoy a story with so much torment and anguish, but K.A. Linde proved me wrong. A definite must read!

 

The Moonlight Masqurade Giveaway Hop

 

 Welcome to The Moonlight Masquerade Giveaway Hop,hosted by My Secret Romance and Day Dreaming.

Thanks Ladies,for rounding up other bloggers for another incredible giveaway hop!

Before I start off with what S,E,R's Awesomness will be giving away,we were asked a bunch of questions before signing up for this hop. Here are the questions word for word:

   Do you have a secret crush you're afraid to reveal yourself to? Worried they'll be either too sweet or too sour? Does the thought of hiding behind a mask excite you? Would you like to fall under the spell of a brooding dark vampire and let him sink his fangs into? Or how about a sexy shifter built thick and hard that you're just dying to pounce on? Well then, come join us as we celebrate all those things that are wicked on Halloween!

Interesting questions aren't they? Normally anything naughty and enticing I'm willing to answer,but I'm struck speechless. LOL! Nah,not really,my favorite question was "Would you like to fall under the spell of a brooding dark vampire and let him sink his fangs into?" That would be a "Hell Yes!!!!! and a "Smother me with some Fang Banging!" The only thing I can't figure out is which fictional Hot as an iron dark and seductive vampire I would choose! There's so many,my list is is never-ending!

Soooooo.....here goes! S,E,R's Awesomness will be giving away a $15.00 Amazon Gift Card.

Please Fill Out The Rafflecopter down below for your chance to win.

  

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Divinity-Ebook Giveaway With Patricia Leever

Welcome!

 

Today we ladies at  S,E,R's Awesomness,are pleased to have and introduce to everyone,Patricia Leever,another fantastic  author with a spunky sweet side! She  has a few goodies for us today to share with our devoted followers.

Patty has written a Scary Expert,for fun and giggles:or should I say "For fun and ewwwwwws?" It's kind of gross.....LOL!


Here Goes!

  We rounded the corner, and sitting in the middle of a big round white couch on top of a pile of pillows was the most disgusting…thing I’d ever seen in my life. It was just lounging there out in the open, stretching its nearly human body across the obnoxious furniture. Its fingers were freakishly long and appeared to have an extra knuckle in them.

“What the fu ― ” I started to say before Evelyn cut me off with an elbow to the ribs and nodded to the sleek black couches in the lobby.
The thing slid off the pillows and stood, moving in a strange clipped, awkward, and downright macabre gait. Its skin slid over its bones like a weird milky gray film that looked tissue-paper thin, but I suspected it was anything but. The most disturbing part was that it wasn’t even trying to disguise itself.

 So what did you think? The images are pretty darn gruesome =P

 Next up! Patricia will be giving away an ebook copy of her novel "Divinity" and a bookmark. If you haven't read her novel yet,check out her awesome book trailer,Grace's Review and the links where you can buy more of her novels. If you are already acquainted with Patty,then your just plain awesome,welcome to the darkside! LOLZ!

Grace's 4Star Review: Check It Out!

 Books can be purchased at Barnes and Noble 
also on Amazon

"Divinty's" Prequel Novel "Clarity" is free at the moment to grab up for your pleasure on  Omnific Publishing

 

 

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Fall Guy By Liz Reinhardt

Evan Lennox is going nowhere fast. She's living with her grandparents after her parents bailed on her, she got kicked out of her posh private school, her ex-boyfriend proved to be the biggest sleaze imaginable, her former best friend is a back-stabber, and her current best friend is stuck in backwoods NJ. To top it all off, one teeny, tiny fire she lit to burn some memories of her ex goes a little out of control and winds up igniting a good piece of a very powerful family's pecan orchard.

Evan lands her pampered behind in court and gets sentenced to community service. Which she knows she deserves. But the hard labor and humiliation may be her undoing.

Until she meets Winchester Youngblood on the site.

Everything about him is tricky, confusing, not at all what it seems, and so sexy, Evan can't resist pulling closer. But every step she takes to get to know him gives her more of a reason to back up and put him as far out of life as she possibly can. Because Winch is one hundred percent complicated, and Evan isn't looking for that. At all. She needs to meet a nice, responsible guy, not share searing kisses with the charming hustler she met after they both got sentenced in court.

But Winch is so much more than what he seems, and Evan finds out that she's falling hard for the guy everyone underestimates and writes off. And Winch realizes that Evan is the one person who's ever challenged him to ask for more out of his life, and her courage inspires him to try to be the person she sees when she looks at him. With every single odd stacked against them, Evan and Winch need to find out whether they have what it takes to fall for each other.

Thessa's Review:

  4.25-4.5 Stars

I’ve been so busy picking up the pieces for other people, and being around Evan, I’ve started realizing for the first time in a long time how much I want something for me.

When I first saw this book, even before I noticed that it was written by Liz Reinhardt, I saw the cover. Isn’t it gorgeous? What about the guy on the cover? He’s just classically handsome, at least in my humble opinion. I was really looking forward to reading this. I’m a fan of Liz’s Brenna Blixen series, though I hate to admit it, I still haven’t read the last book, yet. I was eager to read about Brenna’s BFF, Evan and her Hero, Winchester Youngblood.

“You’re the fall guy, Winch. You’re the guy they come to when no one else will stand up and take their medicine. And they come to you because you never make them stand up and take it.”

Winch, Winch, Winch. **SIGH** He was such a complex hero. Period. His loyalties have always been to his family. He’s their fall guy. He specializes in cleaning up messes and taking the heat off his older brother, Remy. Remy is in his own personal h e l l. To say Remy has issues, is a severe understatement. Whenever Remy gets into trouble, Winch is there to take the blame. When “House of the Rising Sun” plays on Winch’s phone, he knows Remy is in some sort of trouble. It doesn’t matter what Winch is doing, when that ringtone plays, Winch drops everything and runs to his brother’s aid.

Fuck this breakfast. Fuck this date, fuck this already long ass day following the shittiest night I’ve ever had. Fuck the truth, fuck believing in some fairytale happy ending. Fuck my responsibilities and fuck, fuck, fuck the fact that I just, no doubt, no questions asked, lost my shot at being with Evan Lennox.

Winch is a sexy and charming bad boy. Exactly the type Evan falls for. She knows better. She knows she should stay away, especially when he keeps leaving her panting and wanting more. God, the sexual frustration Winch leaves Evan time and time again was beyond frustrating. Ugh! But Evan wasn’t going anywhere. She’s stubborn and just when she thinks she has Winch figured out, “House of the Rising Sun” plays and Winch has to go. What the fuck is that all about? She is eager to find answers.

Pushing forward physically equals pulling away emotionally for Winchester.

Winch knows Evan is trouble. He likes to be in control, but with Evan, he’s nothing but. He should walk away and break it off with Evan, but he just can’t. He knows he’s in too deep now. Evan is opening his eyes to what life could be like without having to live under his family’s thumb. That’s dangerous thinking, but he’s determined to find a way to be with Evan and still make his family happy. Does a solution even exist?

As much as I really liked Evan’s character, Winch made the story. He’s extremely selfless and just wants to protect his family. However, his family is constantly pushing his limits and with Winch starting to realize the absurdity of some of their wishes, he’s ready to snap. When is it his turn to be happy?

I think fans of Liz Reinhardt will enjoy this story. Plus, this has a little more steam than the Brenna Blixen stories, which was a HUGE plus in my book. The only drawback with this story was the ending. Though happy, it seemed rushed. With all that tension between Winch and his family growing, the solution just seemed too simple, but that’s just my opinion. Anyway, if you decide to try this, you won’t regret it. Winch is to die for and I know you’ll easily fall for him, just like I did =)

 

Saving Grace (#2) By Christine Zolendz

After spending over 2,000 years being a lost soul looking for the angel I was forbidden to fall in love with, I finally found him. Lucky for me he has taken up residence inside the hot body of NYC’s local bad boy, tattooed rock star, Shane Maxton. Turns out, not only is he absolutely perfect, so is the whole Grace Taylor life that I’m stuck in. The only problem is Gabriel. An archangel who wants me all to himself so he kind of kidnaps me. Now I have to find my way back and hope everything works out…

Graces' Review:

“That, that right there. That's it, that feeling, that moment of breathlessness, that little surge in your chest, that prickle of heat along your skin and the low hot roll of your belly; that's what being alive is all about.”

I LOVED the premise of the Mad World series. Saving Grace continues from where the first book left off. The story is a combination of both paranormal and contemporary, and I loved how the author meshed both genres. It is a story of lost loves finding each other, fighting the evil (well, he's more like an annoyance, really!) that threatens happiness, and learning to trust to give your whole heart to the person who is meant to be your soul mate.

Did I mention that it's extremely funny too? There were so many laugh-out-loud moments that I lost count of them. I liked Grace more in this one than the first book. The chemistry between Grace and Shane continue to burn; however, they KEEP getting interrupted! There was a moment in the studio...on um...a speaker...that was...oh, yeah!!! It eased some of the tension between them, but there came a point when I was screaming for them to be put of their misery! Full of roller-coaster emotions, hilarious moments, and sexy rock-star fun, Saving Grace is a worthy, must-read sequel.

 

 

Funny,Funny Har Hrr

Oral.................


A woman is in a coma. Nurses are in her room giving her a sponge bath. One of them is washing her "private area" and notices that there is a response on the monitor when he touches her. They go to her husband and explain what happened, telling him, "Crazy as this sounds, maybe a little oral sex will do the trick and bring her out of the coma." The husband is skeptical, but they assure him that they'll close the curtains for privacy. Besides it's worth a try. The hubby finally agrees and goes into his wife's room. After a few minutes the woman's monitor flat-lines... no pulse... no heart rate. The nurses run into the room. The husband is standing there, pulling up his pants and says, "I think she choked."

Crow's Row By Julie Hockley

For college student Emily Sheppard, the thought of spending a summer alone in New York is much more preferable than spending it in France with her parents. Just completing her freshman year at Callister University, Emily faces a quiet summer in the city slums, supporting herself by working at the campus library.

During one of her jogs through the nearby cemetery while visiting her brother Bill's grave, Emily witnesses a brutal killing-and then she blacks out. When Emily regains consciousness, she realizes she's been kidnapped by a young crime boss and his gang. She is hurled into a secret underworld, wondering why she is still alive and for how long.
Held captive in rural Vermont, she tries to make sense of her situation and what it means. While uncovering secrets about her brother and his untimely death, Emily falls in love with her very rich and very dangerous captor, twenty-six year- old Cameron. She understands it's a forbidden love and one that won't allow her to return to her previous life. But love may not be enough to save Emily when no one even knows she is missing

Thessa's Review:
4.5-4.75 Stars

Oh thank God that ended like that! Sorry had to get that out first. I'm still in shock actually, but one thing is for sure. I cannot wait for the sequel.

Though the whole story is mostly from Emily's POV, the story actually begins and ends in Cameron's POV. Emily refuses to live a life that her rich parents wants her to live. She comes from a very privileged family and yet she chooses to go to a not-so well known college, stays in a run down house, with a closet sized bedroom and she scans library books for a living. She finds solace in running. The route she takes everyday isn't really the safest nor the prettiest route. She passes through a cemetery, through a rough a neighborhood and back. Yet she chooses this route everyday because the cemetery is the final resting place of her beloved brother, Bill. On one of her runs, she meets Cameron. Cameron has a mysterious vibe around him and makes the those around him uncomfortable and weary. He warns her that the cemetery and neighborhood is no place for her to run safely. Of course she doesn't listen and runs her route anyway. One night, she witnesses something she shouldn't have and finds herself kidnapped. She finds that her captor is none other than Cameron. However, Cameron claims that he only took her for her own safety. She is thrown into Cameron's world, but it isn't what she thought. She finds herself surrounded by Cameron and his men. She is not treated with cruelty, or with malice. Complete opposite actually. But why is she being treated like a prized possession? There's something in her past that connects her to Cameron and his world and Cameron will do anything to keep her from harms way.

There were a lot of surprises in this story, connections made and secrets uncovered. The relationship between Emily and Cameron was slow and steady. They want a way to be together, but certain things in Cameron's life will prevent them from having their HEA. Like I said, I'm really glad that there will be a sequel, because the ending took a little bit of time to get use to. An excellent story and I highly recommend  it :)

 

The Gift Of Shayla By N.J Walters

One night to indulge their wildest desires…...
Adam Lancaster has been in love with Rob McKeith—and attracted to Rob's wife, Shayla—for years, but he fears their friendship would be over if they knew the truth. So he's thrilled when his secret fantasy becomes reality and the couple offers him a very special gift: a sensual Christmas Eve in their bedroom….

Holly's Review:

  Great story with Holy Crap Smokin' Hot Sex!!! One small complaint, this story needed to be quite a bit longer, I would have loved to get to know the characters better. It was pretty much hot sex, m/m, menage for the entire book. NOT COMPLAINING AT ALL! Just saying, not nearly enough character development and I think all three, Adam, Rob & Shayla all had so much potential!!

3 1/2 Stars for slight underdevelopment of story/plot (5 stars for the amazing sex)


Adam Lancaster has been in love with Rob McKeith—and attracted to Rob's wife, Shayla—for years, but he fears their friendship would be over if they knew the truth. So he's thrilled when his secret fantasy becomes reality and the couple offers him a very special gift: a sensual Christmas Eve in their bedroom…

 

A Mulititude Of Sins By H.E Regis

Father Shane Barrett always thought his path in life was certain; to live a simple life in service to God. Upon receiving a new appointment to St. Matthew's, everything Father Shane thought he knew comes into question as he's faced with an irresistable temptation in the form of Sister Mary Elizabeth. As both struggle with newfound longings, they must each decide if they can withstand temptation, or if they will give in to their most primal desires.

 

Thessa's Review:

 

  Four Stars

**This is just a warning for all you good, Catholic/Religious folks out there: Do not read this review or this story if you are easily offended. I walk a fine a line sometimes at what I read and completely understand if the material is too risqué for you. I like to read things that might make some people uncomfortable. Thought you’d like to know before I continue… Thanks for your understanding =) **

Bless me father for I have sinned...

Grabbing her hand, he led her to the altar at the front of the church, and in one movement, cleared it of the Missal, candles, and chalice. With an almost impossible quickness, he stripped her of her clothes and lifted her up, sitting her atop the altar and spread her legs open as he moved to stand between them.

Is anyone uncomfortable, yet? I know I was for at least half of the story. Well, not uncomfortable per se, but at least feeling a TON of guilt; guilt for really liking the forbidden romance story that was taking place. I swear I’ve read the smuttiest of smut. I’ve read things that make me squirm and push my comfort level to the brink of madness. But I’m an adult woman and can handle almost anything now. However, this story was different. This story added Religion to the mix of smut. Yup, for at least half of the book, I felt like I was going straight to h e l l (<--- You see, I have to space the letters out just for fearing I’ll end up there if I put them together. Sheesh!). Mind you, the above excerpt was just a dream, but does it really matter? OMG! I shouldn’t be picturing such things, you know? My Catholic school upbringing should have me heading towards confessional by now. I should not like this. I should just walk away. But I couldn’t. I gave into temptation and soldiered on.

Pulling her off the altar, he steadied her until her trembling legs found their footing on the floor before he bent down, pulling her rosary beads from the pile of clothes next to the altar. Tugging her hands in front of her, he used the sacred beads to bind them together. Grabbing her now bound hands; he spun her around and told her to hold on to the altar…
“I’ll have you seeing God before the night is through,” he told her in a gravelly voice as he pushed himself roughly inside her, causing her to moan loudly from the sensation of being filled.

How about now? Does it have you squirming with guilt? Or maybe squirming for different reasons, perhaps? Want to run to church and confess all your sins? God, please forgive me for liking this book. Seriously, all kinds of naughty and forbidden things entered my head. But before I got too bent out of shape, this was still just a dream. The H/h have a lot of those in the beginning. That’s all they could do without breaking their vows. Sooner or later though, avoiding each other isn’t working out for either one of them. They both fight their feelings to the point where they start to question whether or not they actually belong in a life of religious servitude.

“My given name is Claire. Please call me Claire.”
“Okay Claire, but only if you call me Shane,” he replied. “No more of this Father Barrett business. Now tell me, what are you tired of?”
“Pretending that I’m not in love with you.”

If you take the religious aspect out, this is just story of forbidden love. The H/h went through a lot to be together. They experience a multitude of internal battles and just trying to find peace and happiness in their lives. By the time they both make a mutual decision, you already know where the story is heading. This is where my guilt started to wane. They both knew what had to be done and did it very discreetly. Everything that was standing in their way was handled in a way that God, himself, would approve. Sorry if that’s pretty vague, but I don’t want to spoil anything, especially since this is such a short story to begin with.

Despite my own internal battle, I soldiered on and kept reading. Overall, I don’t regret that decision because I really enjoyed it. I liked walking that fine line because it made for a very memorable read, one that I will not forget, ever…and that’s saying something. ;)

 

 

Falke's Captive By Madison Layle and Anna Leigh Keaton

A graduate student working in animal genetics, Beth Coldwell is in town to track and tag big cats in the wild. Her prospects for the summer only improve when she meets Kelan and Reidar Falke and decides the sexy brothers are the right pair to fulfill her other, less than scientific, desires...

But her research is a threat to the Falke family secret. When Kelan, in cougar form, is captured, that secret comes closer than ever to being revealed. He escapes, but not before Beth draws a blood sample, and analysis shows this is no ordinary mountain lion.

Kelan and Reidar cannot deny the powerful attraction they feel toward Beth. She might just be their destined mate. But if they reveal themselves to her, will she embrace who they are or see them as just another science experiment?

Holly's Review:

First of all, can someone please point me in the direction of the town that is home to the incredible Falke brothers?? I have to say what is not to love about a story that has a set of quadruplet brothers and a set of triplets, two more brothers and sister?? Oh, and have I mentioned that all the males can shift into beautiful Pumas, and they take their mates in pairs, que the menage!! See, this book just gets better and better. The set of Quads are Axel, Gunner, Kelan & Reider, in that order. In book one Axel & Gunner found their mate and now, in Falke's Captive it is Kelan & Reider's turn.

Beth Caldwell is a student who studies animal genetics and is in town to track and tag big cats. When she gets into town she unexpectedly meets Kelan and Reider at the local bar and immediately she can see her self as the filling in a Kelan & Reider sandwich.(I love a girl who knows what she wants) She lucks out right away and sees a cat out running and shoots it with a tranquilizer to tag, little does she know she has just caged Kelan in his Puma form. He is able to get away but not before she takes a blood sample from him and realizes the cat does not have normal big cat DNA.

Stories of shifters are some of my favorite stories and this one is no exception, as Kelan & Reider discover that Beth is indeed their mate, and they have to trust her enough to let her know their secret. This book has it all, gorgeous shifters, hot sex, menage, and a bit of intense suspense. I would suggest this series to anyone who loves a good hot shifter story!!

 

My Favorite Mistake By Chelsea M. Cameron

Taylor Caldwell can't decide if she wants to kiss her new college roommate or punch him.

On the one hand, Hunter Zaccadelli is a handsome, blue-eyed bundle of charm. On the other, he's a tattooed, guitar-playing bundle of bad boy. Maybe that's why Taylor's afraid of falling in love with him, or anyone else. She doesn't want to get burned, and even though her other roommates adore him, she wants him gone before it's too late.

Hunter himself has been been burned before, but the fact that Taylor calls him out on his crap and has the sexiest laugh ever make him decide maybe love isn't a lost cause. They make a bet: if she can convince him she truly loves or hates him, he'll leave the apartment--and leave her alone. The problem is, the more time they spend together, the less she hates him, and the more she moves toward love.

But when the man who holds the key to Taylor's fear of giving up her heart resurfaces and threatens to wreck everything, she has to decide: trust Hunter with her greatest secret, or do everything in her power to win that bet and drive him away forever.

Thessa's Review:

4.25-4.5 Stars

I hated him. I hated how he got under my skin. I hated how, for a second, I thought about pushing him up against the library and making out with him.

The blurb for this book included the following description for our Hero: “Tattooed, guitar-playing bundle of bad boy.” Oh yea. With those seven words, I was immediately sold. Shocker, I know (lol). So as soon as this book came out, I was all over it.

The first time I met Hunter Zaccadelli, I punched him in the face.

Above is the first line of the book. It’s pretty telling, isn’t it? As soon as Taylor met Hunter, you knew sparks were just going to fly between the two and did they ever. The banter between the two was non-stop for at least the first 42% of the book. God, the tension build up was, at times, excruciating. I was ready to burst if nothing happened between the two. I blamed Taylor, but part of me feels guilty for doing so.

One event in the past has changed Taylor. She was never the same. This one traumatic event has prevented her from forming relationships, especially with men. She was known as an ice queen in high school. This is one tough woman and doesn't take shit from anyone, especially from someone like Hunter Zaccadelli.

“You are the cockiest, douchebaggy asshat I’ve ever met, and I can’t wait to get rid of you.”

When Hunter shows up at her doorstep, claiming he’s her new roommate, Taylor is not happy. It didn’t matter that her other two roommates were women, having the third be a man, especially as appealing as Hunter, was out of the question. To make things worse, there’s only two bedrooms and since her other roommates were already bunking with each other in the one, guess who will be sharing her bedroom with? Ugh! I’m so jealous of Taylor for having such luck. I mean come on!! She’ll be sharing a room with Hunter. **SIGH** It’s every girl’s dream, except for Taylor’s. She wants nothing more than to get rid of him, but he’s not going anywhere.

Before he could move closer, I pulled back and slammed my fist into his jaw and my knee into his groin. He doubled over, clutching his face and his balls.

It’s safe to say, Hunter has never met a girl like Taylor. She pushes his buttons and calls him on all his shit. There was no way in hell he was going to leave, not until he finds out more about her. However, he does strike a deal with her.

  “I am what I am. If you don’t like it, there’s a simple way out of it. You have three options. Hate me, love me, do me. Pick your poison” 

  Since "doing him" was out of the question, Taylor must outright convince him that she either loves him or hates him. Otherwise, he's not going to leave. However, no matter how she verbally declares her hatred, it’s not enough to convince him. Hunter is here to stay.

“Goodnight, Hunter.”
“Love me?”
“Nope.”
“Hate me?”
“More than the DMV.”
“Ohhh, burn.”

I loved the banter between the two. I love their chemistry. Most of all, I love Hunter. Let me count the ways:
1.) I love how Hunter nicknamed her “Missy.”
2.) I love the fact that he sleeps naked.
3.) I love all his five tattoos.
4.) I love how he rubs a certain tattoo three times when he gets nervous.
5.) I love all his neurotic OCD tendencies (Trust me. I know exactly how that feels).
6.) I love that that he plays guitar, sings and even writes silly songs.
7.) I love the fact that he can cook a gourmet meal.
8.) I love the fact that he believes in luck and how superstitious he can get.
9.) I love that he never gives up on her and was there for her when she needed him.

I’m sure if I sit here long enough, I can think of more, but you get the picture. I really liked this story. Like I said before, the only drawback is that it took them FOR-EV-ER to get together and I wish there was a little more background on why Hunter was so superstitious. I never caught that reason. But anyway, it doesn’t really matter. What matters is that Hunter sleeps naked. Wait. What? Whoops, did I just say that again? **Blushes** Huh. I guess I did. My mistake. lol