He kissed her harder, wet and hurting, bruising her lips. His hands gripped her waist, his fingers biting into her, all she wanted was more. God, she could almost come if he only kissed her long enough, just kissed her like this.
He pulled back, brushed her hair with his lips, with his cheek. He was breathing as hard as she was. He still had her up against the car, his body pressing her against the cold steel. His hands slid down over her hips, dug in again. She couldn't have moved even if he hadn't been holding her so tightly. She could barely breath.
"Jagger..."
"Fuck. I'm so sorry, Mia Rose."
"No. That's not it."
"What, then?" He looked down at her his eyes glittering in the silvery light of the streetlamp a few feet away.
Possessed by the demon of Promiscuity, immortal warrior Paris is
irresistibly seductive—but his potent allure comes at a terrible price.
Every night he must bed someone new, or weaken and die. And the woman
he craves above all others is the one woman he’d thought was forever
beyond his reach…until now.
Newly possessed by the demon of Wrath, Sienna Blackstone is racked by a
ruthless need to punish those around her. Yet, in Paris’s arms the
vulnerable beauty finds soul-searing passion and incredible peace. Until
a blood feud between ancient enemies heats up.
Will the battle against gods, angels and creatures of the night bind
them eternally– or tear them apart?
Are
you excited as I am for this book? I'm pretty sure I can speak for
many, many of us readers when I say that we all have been nearly dying
for this book! Today is the day! YAY!
It's one of the most anticipated stories of the series. I think I may
need to call out of work just so I can read (and savor) every bit of
this book....
Admit it ladies. The first time you met Paris, you liked
him. As the series progressed, you started to fall more and more each
time you read him. You got to the point where you were begging for any
appearance of him you could get. Well, the time has finally come for us
to read Paris's long awaited story. I seriously can not wait to get my
hands on this book!
Ms. Showalter has created this family of demons that have stolen
out hearts. Some more so than others. She is an awesome storyteller with
a great sense of humor. She can write some super hot steamy romance
scenes that will leave pleading for more. At the same time, she will put
you on the edge of your seat in suspense. And just when you think you
know what will happen, well, think again.
I had the privilege of meeting her at a signing in New York City last summer. Ms. Showalter
is one of the most sincere authors I have ever met. She was humble,
warm, friendly and happy to be there for her fans who have followed her
over the years. She is one of my favorite authors. Happy Release Day, Gena!
Me (notice the big dumb grin on my face) with Gena Showalter and Larissa Ione
In honor of the release of The Darkest Seduction, my friend over at The Secret Corner blog is giving away the first book in this series, The Darkest Night. Go and enter on her blog and become a follower. Leave a comment here too telling me which book was your favorite of the series and you will be entered twice! Good luck!
What a quick and sexy read this was! It only took me about two hours to
read this little number, but I wished it took me longer.
Jessie and her bisexual friend Paul have been friends for over 10
years. Jessie has had feelings for Paul since they met but has never
acted on them. She felt their friendship was too important so she didn't
want to chance it. After being convinced into going on a relaxing
camping trip with Paul and his boyfriend, Noah, she accepts. Little do
the friends know, that this trip is going to be anything but relaxing.
This soothing, restful trip turns into a hot and erotic workout that
ends with something more than they ever expected.
Overall, I enjoyed this story very much but I would have liked to
see what would have happened once they returned home. The end is kind of
happens faster than I expected, but it still leaves me satisfied, as do
many of Ms. Bradley's books. This is a short story with some hot and
steamy outdoor loving and enough character development that will leave
you wanting more.
A very reliable source told me this story was loosely based on a
true story....so my mind was running wild with what could have happened
and couldn't have! ;)
To
sum it up: His name is Hardy Cates. He's a self-made millionaire who
comes from the wrong side of the tracks. He's made enemies in the
rough-and-tumble ride to the top of Houston's oil industry. He's got hot
blood in his veins, and vengeance on his mind.
She's Haven Travis. Despite her family's money, she refuses to set
out on the path they've chosen for her. But when Haven marries a man her
family disapproves of, her life is set on a new and dangerous course.
Two years later, Haven comes home, determined to guard her heart. And
Hardy Cates, a family enemy, is the last person she needs darkening her
door or setting her soul on fire...
There are just simply no words for this book- it was that
perfect. For all of you who have read my review for the first book in
the series, Sugar Daddy, you’re all aware that I felt the story was
lacking big time in the romance department. It wasn’t enough to
completely make me want to stop reading, but it was enough to make me a little
skeptical about reading the second book in the series, Blue Eyed Devil.
But I’m very happy to say, there was definitely enough romance in this
book to satisfy me, and not affect the rating! I’ll be the first to
admit, as a rule, I tend to avoid anything revolving around the whole
“instant attraction” thing between a hero and heroine, while reading my
romance novels- but… Blue Eyed Devil is most definitely an
exception. Let’s just say, that Haven’s first encounter with Hardy was
enough to have me fanning the sweat off my brow! …and I’ll never look at
wine cellars the same…
I really truly loved and cared for Haven’s character- She stayed in
an abusive relationship, and even once she got out of it, she was still
buried in feelings of worthlessness. Her ex-husband, Nick, had always
blamed her for the abuse, (what a scum-bag!) and his conviction had
spread through her. Never once did I get annoyed with her character, or
any of the decisions that she made- she truly was a smart woman, who's
worst weakness was to be desperately needed- someone who mattered to
someone.
When it comes to Hardy Cates, where do I even begin? Hardy may be
the devil to the Travis family, but to Haven, he is everything
wonderful, and dangerous, in a man. Let me just say, it’s very hard for
me to find a hero who sticks with me long after reading there story-
they’re few and far between... And I'm certainly happy to say that Hardy
Cates is EVERYTHING you could ever want in a man, and is now considered one of my favorite heroes ever! ...*sigh*... Everything that man said or did had me swooning.
Everything about this story was just simply so well developed. The
story never felt rushed. The detail was never too much. And although the
romantic relationship that develops between Hardy and Haven is kept at a
pretty slow pace, I wouldn't have had it any other way- it was
something that I felt was necessary in order to help Haven with
her much needed healing, and make this story only that much more
believable. Blue-Eyed Devil was a story of healing, reclaiming your
life, strength, and courage. It impressed me from page one to the very
end, and was one of those books that stay with you long after reading
it, and one that I'll never stop raving about.
Some of my favorite swoon-worthy quotes…
- "Hardy spoke against my hair. 'I want you to understand .
. . you’re safe. I’m not going to hurt you in any way. And if I do
something you don’t want, or you start to feel scared, I’ll stop. I’m
not going to lose control.' I flinched as I felt a tug at the front of my jeans and heard the snap being unfastened. 'I’m just going to find out what you like.' My fingers curled into his T-shirt as his hands ventured inside the loosened waist of my jeans. 'I want to find out what you like too.' '...I like it all, darlin’,' he whispered, peeling my clothes off as if he were unwrapping a bandage. 'I told you, I’m easy to please.'”
- "...he felt better than any human being I'd ever met. 'Okay,' I said unsteadily, 'forget about what I said about not exchanging names. Who are you?' ...'for you honey, I'm trouble...'"
To
sum it up: Liberty Jones has dreams and determination that will take
her far away from Welcome, Texas- if she can keep her wild heart from
ruling her mind. Hardy Cates sees Liberty as completely off-limits. His
own ambitions are bigger than Welcome, and Liberty Jones is a
complication he doesn't need. But something magical and potent draws
them to each other, in a dangerous attraction that is stronger than both
of them.
When Hardy leaves town to pursue his plans, Liberty finds herself
alone with a young sister to raise. Soon Liberty finds herself under the
spell of a billionaire tycoon- a Sugar Daddy, one might say. But the
relationship goes deeper than people think, and Liberty begins to
discover secrets about her own family's past.
Two men. One woman. A choice that can make her or break her. A woman
you'll root for every step of the way. A love story you'll never
forget...
This was my first Lisa Kleypas book, and let me just say- it won't
be my last! I was thoroughly impressed with her writing style, and she
truly did write a beautiful story when she wrote Sugar Daddy... note
that I said story... not LOVE story. Sure, the book might have
revolved around her love for a man that she's never been able to have,
but I just didn't feel like I got heavily into the romance aspect until I
was a little more than half-way through the book. The first half of the
book walks us through the heroine's life during adolescence. However,
the romance and conflict that took place during the last half of the
book seemed a little too rushed for my taste. The scenes between Hardy
and Liberty were few and far between, unfortunately. I just couldn't
help but feeling not only disappointed, but a little frustrated that so
little of the book involved the two of them together. As for Gage and
Liberty's relationship, I just felt that there love story should have
been longer and more detailed. When Gage first meets Liberty, he
absolutely can't stand the sight of her- yet after only a few pages or
so later, his feelings have magically changed, and now he's in love with
her. It just seemed as if there feelings for each other were nothing
stronger than lust. Everything about their relationship just seemed to
fall into place too quickly, and too nicely wrapped up, if you know what
I mean.
This book just wasn't so heavy a romance novel, as it was just a
good old-fashioned story. And unfortunately for me, that's enough to
take away some stars. One thing about this book that seemed a bit too
over-the-top, is how descriptive everything was. And I mean EVERYTHING.
From the inside decor of a fancy restaurant, to a cashmere throw- it
just got to be a little too much, and I found myself wanting to
skim through quite a bit, just to get back to the main story-line. To
be fair, maybe that's one thing fans of Lisa Kleypas love about her
writing- for me though, it just became over-bearing.
Hardy was put on such a high pedestal in this story, that I found it
disappointing to see that he turned out to be much more absorbed in his
business endeavors, than he was about Liberty. Let's just say that it
was pretty obvious that Kleypas used this as an easy way out, in order
to achieve that happy ending we all crave. After the amount of time that
was invested into the whole Liberty and Hardy storyline, I couldn't
help but feel a little cheated with how neatly packaged the story
wrapped up. With that being said though... I can't wait to read Blue
Eyed Devil- instead of only glimpses and a few short scenes involving
Hardy, we get to read his entire story! ...*sigh*... I think that more than makes up for his lack of appearance in Sugar Daddy!
All-in-all, I felt that this book was more "chick-lit" than romance,
considering that we really don't see the romance come into full effect
until you're more than half-way through the book. I did still enjoy
reading about Liberty's life journey, but let's face it: when you're an
avid romance fan, it's a big bummer when you come to
find out that it takes a backseat in the book. All of the negative
criticism aside though, I still felt that this was a good read- it felt
deeper than your average romance novel, even though at times, I was left
wishing for a little more of this, and a little less of that.
Regardless though, Lisa Kleypas has a gift for story-telling, whether
it's filled with full-fledged romance or not.
This is one hot and steamy paranormal romance! It has vampires and erotic romance rolled into one-my favorite! It's the first book to the Midnight Playground series and a good start at that. I think this book may be a long novella since I was able to read it in a few short hours. I had no idea it had menages in it. Maybe I should have looked at the cover first. Nice little surprise there. :)
Hex and Aleron have been together for ages, until Nissa walks in and captures the attention of both men. They all spend time together enjoying each others company...and boy oh boy was it hot! Ms. Bradley sure knows how to write a sex scene! But in the end, only one man is left standing with Nissa. I did feel sorry for the one male left on his own. It wasn't a sad ending where they parted on bad terms...they clearly want each other to be happy...but I just want him to get his happy ending and hopefully he will. The Seeking Kiss was a quick and fast read that will keep your blood pumping until the very end.
This is my first read by this author. I like her writing style a lot and ordered some books online, waiting impatiently for them to come in the mail.
Professor
Mia Rose teaches an Alternative Sexuality course at a university. She
instructs others about the many different ways of exploring sexual
fetishes. Little do her students know, she has a fetish herself. Food.
Food for Mia Rose is a sensual, erotic, aphrodisiac. She loves
watching it be prepared. The tastes...the textures on her palate...she
loves everything about it.
Jagger James is a 26 year
old student in her class. Even though he is only 26, he is very wise for
his age. Jagger charms Mia Rose from the very first day they meet. When
she finds out he was once a chef, she goes weak in the knees.
I
really loved Jagger. I was so moved by his love and feelings for Mia
Rose. He didn't hide them at all, but instead he accepted his feelings with open arms. He tried
to be around her every moment he could. I
think it's uncommon to see the male in a romance/erotic novel embrace his feelings. Men usually run towards the opposite direction.
But Jagger didn't. He knew of her fetish because he had one as well. I knew from the beginning how he felt and I
really enjoyed reading about his emotions and his thoughts. Mia Rose,
on the other hand, fought the chemistry between them because of the
no-teacher-student-relationship thing. It wasn't easy for her, he made
her blood simmer. And when she saw him cook (in a kitchen that I really
want!) she nearly turned into a puddle of pudding on the floor.
This
is a fascinating eye-opening book. I never knew fetishes were this complex until I read this book. It's much more than you could imagine... more to
the "how" and "why" it happens. Ms. Bradley was able to delve deep into the
psychology of her fetish and really bring her sexual fantasy to the surface. She was able to really get inside my mind and allow me to relate to it, while keeping me entertained with an erotic story. I've
never read a book where the heroine is older than the hero. This was
another first for me. Hmm...I seem to have a lot of firsts with Eden's
books. Ms. Bradley made food sexy...very sexy....and stimulating to read. This is a great book. Truly a book that I loved. I recommend it to all as a "must-read" for anyone seeking an erotic romance with a slight change of pace.
A few of my favorite parts-
"You have a little of the raspberry here..." She
opened her eyes and looked up at him, He was bent over her, his face
only a few inches from hers, his gray eyes gone dark and hazy. He pulled
his hand away, licked the drop of sweet red sauce from his fingertip. She was shaking. Her gaze went from his mouth to his hand, to his eyes and back again. He leaned in, a fraction of an inch/ Her sex a sharp squeeze. She bit her lip. "Jesus, Mia Rose," he muttered before he moved in to hiss her.
"Do
you have any idea how real this is for me? Because I'm taking a hell of
a chance here, with you. It's like I'm slicing myself open, leaving
myself raw. But I have to do it. I've been so damn hurt before. I was
never going to chance this again. But I can't not love you. Even if it
tears me apart all over again." "That makes it even worse!" Her heart was hammering, her whole body hurt. "Worse?
He lifted himself up so he was braced on one elbow, looking down at
her. He ran a hand through his hair. "What's so bad about loving each
other?" -Jagger to Mia Rose
"And I'm not going anywhere. You just need to let it be okay. Be with me. Love me. Let me love you."
I love when it rains. The sound of rain drops splashing on the
tops of roofs and against the thin glass of cheap windows does something for me. I swear I could watch and listen to the rain fall for hours.
Kara Crawford and Dante De Matteo (what a great name he has!) are
both at a mutual friend's house for a dinner party one night. They
haven't seen each other since high school. So when Kara sees Dante
across the room, all grown up, looking more handsome than ever, she grabs her wine and takes off in the other
direction. She abruptly decides that last thing she needs is another romance. After all, Kara is coming
off a bad breakup that seemingly started when she told her now ex-boyfriend about her secret sexual
fantasies. He thought she was nuts, calling her a freak after she finally shared one of her long desired sexual fantasies to him. The last thing she needs is another man telling her she's too much of a freak.
After all those years, Dante now sees Kara from a different perspective. He too has life experiences that have shaped his views. He decides to sit down right
next to her. They strike up an easy flowing conversation ending with a
searing kiss... a kiss that reached all the way down deep inside Kara...possibly
igniting that certain need she was looking for? What happens next is
something I'm normally not a fan of: sex in the beginning of the book.
But because Ms. Berlin established the background that formed the relationship between the two leading up to the scene, I felt comfortable with the eventual intimacy she revealed.
After a fiery ardent weekend, Kara returns to work to meet the new
partner at her firm. Dante. She is shocked to the core to see him there.
Immediately, Kara wants to put an end to their steamy relationship. But how can she
when she's finally getting what she wants in the bedroom...and liking it
so much? It's what she craved, what she needed. Being the dominate
authoritative man that he is, Dante tells Kara it's not happening;
they're not calling off this thing they've started. So their intimacy grows. Kara
is falling for him more and more each time they are together. But long, deep-rooted issues from her childhood, that seem to always loom in the back of Kara's mind, have pushed her to question every move Dante has made.
Did you ever have that feeling? That feeling where nothing makes
sense at all yet you're comfortably where you are supposed to be? That's exactly what Kare and Dante are feeling. Nothing makes sense to them. Those burning
desires and deep swirling emotions will leave them in a challenging
predicament: one that could bring them closer or tear them apart.
There's something to be said about sex, mixed with rain, that thrusts our desires. The idea of making love in the
rain, while drops of water splash against your skin, seems to illuminate the act itself . And the same goes for being inside when it rains. It
provides a warm closeness that makes you want to curl up on a cozy sofa
or bed and lay there on it all day. Kara and Dante have lots of steamy
scenes in the water. Oh boy, were they hot each time!
Is it possible to fall into subspace while reading one of Ms. Bradley's books?
Because I think I came close to it. I swear, this book made me feel all
the sensations Kara was feeling. Ms. Bradley does not disappoint!
This book was provided by the author in return for an honest review. Thank you!
I never meant to make this such a long review, but here it is. I
liked the book so much that I wanted to bring forth the well-done
descriptive images Eden painted for us so you know it's not just great
sex she writes about. So here goes!
Oh...My...God. Talk about hot smokin' sex! At times I felt like not even a dive in the Arctic Ocean could cool me down!
I was a little skeptical starting this book. To be honest, I
was scared. I've never read a book with two women and a man. Heck, I
hardly likde the ones with two males and a female. But since it's Eden's
writing I gave it a chance. And I'm so glad I did! I loved this book so
much! When I knew I only had about 20% left, I tried to find anything I
could do but read. I didn't want it to end and I wasn't sure how it was
going to end. This book has a different feel all together than her other
books. I can't quite explain it....I just know that I enjoyed it a lot.
I'll be sure to read this baby again very soon!
For a year now, Bettina has been involved in an online group for
writers. It's where a bunch of aspiring writers go to seek help with
their writing. Every year they all get together at a beach front
property in California for eight weeks. This year will be Bettina's
first year. They've all gotten to know each other pretty well online so
she's looking forward to this time away from home. Bettina is hoping
that after a few years of therapy she'll finally be ready to open
up....and possibly find out who she is.
Upon arriving, she is greeted by the owner of the house, Viviane.
Viviane has been hosting these eight week sessions for years now. She
takes Bettina in and gives her the tour of the house. During the tour,
she finally meets most of the members from the online writing group,
except Jack, who hasn't arrived yet. This is also where she meets
Audrey. Audrey is like an ethereal creature that exudes sexuality.
Immediately, Bettina is drawn to Audrey. Nearly everyone is drawn to
Audrey. She is sensual and beautiful who always has a smile on her face.
Since Bettina has never been attracted to another woman before, this
feeling is entirely new for her...she's not quite sure why she has these
feelings for another woman, but she embraces it with open arms. They
become very close in every way imaginable for the next few weeks, until
Jack shows up.
Jack has been coming to this getaway for a few years now, so he
knows everyone but Bettina. There is clearly some heat between them once
they meet, and it's addressed almost instantly. When Jack, Bettina and
Audrey get together, they share some very erotic scenes that are sure to
leave you all flustered...and panting! They were hot but sensual to
read, and truthfully, I got to the point where I couldn't wait for it. I
mean, this book is entitled, 'The Lovers', so it was bound to happen
sometime soon. Audrey is a free spirit so when Charles shows up (a
friend who happens to live next door), she takes off with him, leaving
Bettina and Jack in the sand. Jack and Bettina grow close and she finds
herself becoming more attracted to him than what she wants to...even
though Jack has made it quite clear he is not a relationship sort of
man. The heart wants what the heart wants.
There's so much more than the smoking hot sex scenes shared between
the characters. Don't get me wrong, they were hot and plentiful! But so
was so the well developed characters with their strong emotions and
feelings. They all have their own secrets they're struggling with. It
wasn't just Bettina, Jack and Audrey, it was all the members of the
writing group you get to know. Bettina is a bit of a recluse and hasn't
been with a man in a long time, but the therapy has been helping her.
Jack idolized his father when he was younger but as he grew into a man,
he saw what he didn't want to be. He blames himself for the near death
of an ex-girlfriend. He wants no attachments in a relationship- ever. So
when he finds himself with these unknown feelings for Bettina, he turns
to Audrey, who sweet talks him back to her. Audrey is like a feather in
the wind. She comes and goes when she pleases. She was raped when she
was younger so she has some emotional issues she's dealing with. I felt
like she doesn't ever comes to terms with herself, almost as if she kind
hides who she is. They all are on their own path to self discovery, I
just think they didn't know it at first.
The way Ms. Bradley describes California is exactly how I remember it. I've
been there many times and she manages to capture the essence of it with
a simple paragraph-
The beach is a long sweep of pales sand with a rocky outcropping
some distance to the south and another to the north. A few houses are
scattered on the edge of the dunes, some small cottages, some enormous
places made all of glass, taking advantage of the spectacular view. The
old cypress tree and eucalyptus trees grow in spots almost to the shore,
and the sand is dotted with clumps of ice plant. It's low tide and
seaweed lies in the dark, curling strands at the edge of the water,
waiting to be carried back out to float on the sea. I can smell the
salt, tangy and fresh and energizing. I can feel the power of the waves
as they surge in, then out.
I think I'm becoming addicted to Eden Bradley's work. More so than
her books written as Eve Berlin. Her books give me a glorious sensual
high that I don't want to come down from. They're provocative and
titillating yet passionate and captivating. Eden Bradley sure knows how
to give a good read!
Here are a few of my favorite parts of this book:
The early-afternoon is high overhead, it's golden rays warming my skin, fighting the damp, misty spray from the ocean.
He is silent again, and I focus waves of heat shimmering over
the sand, a water mirage. A gull flies overhead, then another, and I
watch them catch a current of air, spiraling upward together, their
bodies dark silhouettes against the sun.
I grind my hips into him, and his tongue lashes into my mouth,
tasting, pushing deeper. His hands move down and he grabs my butt, his
fingers digging in just beneath the crease where the curve of flesh,
meets my thighs.
I moan softly, and he moans back, pulling me harder into him. Then he pushes back. I am left dazed.
"Jack...?"
"We can't do this, Bettina."
"Wh-why not?"
Hurt is flooding my body. Rejection. I am weak with it.
His kiss is hot, powerful, his tongue delving into my mouth. I
taste him, swallow him up, and he does the same to me. We are on exactly
the same sensual page and this time I know I'm not imagining it.
Overwhelming. Beautiful.
The ocean flows and recedes around us and I no longer feel the cold.
The sun overhead is not nearly as brilliant as the heat blooming
between us. And the entire earth just falls away, leaving nothing but
the two of u. No sand, no sea. Just our bodies pressed together, our
lips, our hands.
"I get that. You've made me get that. And I want to be
different. Because of you. But I'm not going to be any good at this. At
believing I deserve this, maybe. Not at first. But if you just hang in
there with me...."
The sky is dark now, inky all over, except for the nearly full
moon, And where it touches the water, reflecting, it gives just enough
silvery light to see by. I lie back in the sand, which is still warm
from the day, allowing my brain to empty, hoping for peace, and finding a
little of it in that bottomless arc overhead.
The ocean's throaty roar fills my ears, and it's comforting, as
though the sound itself is a blanket, holding me on the earth. It helps
to make the inside of my quiet. I am soothed by the earth and water, and
this is exactly what this place is for me since I've arrived, despite
what I'm feeling now, the confusion I've been through.
Warning- this book is first person narrative and
contains a lot of sex scenes (f/f, f/f/m, f/m) and adult language. So if
you're not comfortable with it, please don't read it. You'll just end
up giving it a poor rating when it doesn't deserve that.
To help promote Lisa Kleypas's new novel, Rainshadow Road, Lisa's Divas got together for a blog hop hosted by Under the Covers. Many thanks to that blog crew for putting this together!! xoxox
I was one of the lucky ducks to receive Rainshadow Road early. What a delight to read! I really enjoyed that book very much. I do hope you all go out and buy the book on release day. It's another wonderfully written installment by Lisa. A true gem to add to your ever growing collection of books by her....Lords knows I have almost her entire back list. :)
My review for Rainshadow Road-
5 Stars!
Lucy's trembling fingers came to his lips, caressing them gently. "Are you sure? How do you know it's not just about sex?"
"It's about sex....sex with your mind, sex with your soul, sex with
the color of your eyes, the smell of your skin. I want to sleep in your
bed. I want you to be the first thing I see every morning and the last
thing I see at night. I love you the way I thought I could never love
someone."
*swoon*
Well, she did it again. Lisa Kleypas has struck gold with the first
book of her new series, Rainshadow Road. How does she do it every time?
Once I started this book I wasn't able to put it down....but that
happens every time I read a Klyepas book. I’m beginning to feel envious
of Lisa and I'm not even a writer, nor do I have aspirations to be one!
Her work is fantastic every single time! Can she even write a bad book?
The imagery she paints sets you right in the story without anything
missing. Amazing! As always, Lisa Kleypas does not disappoint. You'll be
drawn by the magical colors, infectious humor and the love two people
can share. This is surely another wonderful book to add to my Lisa
Kleypas collection. Easily one of my favorites!
SPOILERS!
Lucy and her sister, Alice, grew up in a strict household. The girls
always followed the rules and never spoke out…always behaving as
told…until everything changes when Alice falls ill with Meningitis.
Forced to go to the neighbor’s house while Alice is at a doctor
appointment, Lucy discovers the beauty of art glass. She is mesmerized
by the changing of colors and shapes it can yield....setting in motion
her fate. Once Alice is better and released from a stay at a hospital,
she is granted whatever she wants. It's all about Alice now. Doing what
she wants when she wants, with Lucy's parents constantly telling her,
“not now Lucy”, leaving Lucy vying for her parents’ attention.
Fast forward to Lucy's early twenties. Lucy never gave up on her
love of glass. She knew as a young child what she wanted. Sometimes all
you need is a little magic and belief in yourself. Lucy is now making a
steady career with her passion of art glass. She has been in a
relationship with Kevin for two years now and even though Lucy has some
trust issues, she feels like she has made progress with Kevin, not to
mention she loves him. They bought a house together and he's taught her
so much in life making her wonder how she can be so fascinated with him.
It's the little things he does that bring her joy. Her life is great,
that is, until Kevin drops the bomb that he wants to separate. He has
been seeing and sleeping with her sister, Alice. To Lucy, not only is
this a complete and utter shock, but just another way of Alice getting
her way. Lucy has helped Alice countless times over the years with
whatever she has needed. But this time Alice has crossed the line and
Lucy cannot forgive either of them for what they have done to her. Do
you blame her?
Immediately after Kevin ended their relationship, he told Lucy she
must leave so that her sister could move in. With no plans of anywhere
to stay, she learned that her friends had a vacancy in their bed and
breakfast home. While out one night having drinks, her fortune finally
takes a turn for the better when she runs into a man she met a few weeks
earlier along the shoreline. Coincidentally, he happens to be friends
with Lucy's friends who own the home she has been staying in. The sparks
that were left simmering slowly start to ignite, just like they did
that one rainy night.
While Lucy is trying to keep a platonic relationship with Sam, an
unexpected accident leaves Lucy in Sam’s care. Lucy is noticing what an
honest caring man Sam is. He's intelligent, makes her laugh, and he's
hot to boot! But there's one little problem: Sam is not a family man
and he wants to stay a bachelor for the rest of his life! However, he
too finds magic between them that is too hard to fight. Will Sam resist
his feelings for Lucy? Or will he take a chance on what could be the
love of a lifetime?
"Let me have you," he had whispered, resting his forehead on
hers. "Let me make love to you all night. I want to wake up with you
again. Just tell me what you need, Lucy, and I'll do it." -Sam to Lucy
SPOILERS END
Colors are a big part in this book, so you'll need to let your imagination run wild with them.
"The early evening had turned the sky a dark purple, with an overlay of clouds like the silvery wax bloom on a plum."
The colors are absolutely beautiful! That was probably one of my
favorite parts too; reading the description of the colors. Whether it'd
be the sky, the glass Lucy made, the ocean, a glass window, it was
just....wow! So vibrant! But it had to be done just right too because of
Lucy's passion for art, and naturally it was. I would love to see where
Lisa got her ideas for this book. I've always been big on colors so
this was a fantastic read for me.
As ever, Lisa is well versed in writing her books. Whether it be her
historicals or contemporaries, you can tell she did her homework and
checked it repeatedly. This woman doesn't miss a beat! As readers, we
want the book cover to match what the book is about. And I have to say, I
couldn't have chosen a better book cover for this book. It was what the
book was about and of course with stunning colors. Really, Lisa, you
are amazing!
Here are some of my favorite parts of the book:
"Some distraction would be nice."
Lucy looked down at the periodic table that covered the front of her
shirt. "Where is glass?" she asked, trying to read the chemical
elements upside down.
"Not on the periodic table. Glass is a compound. It's mostly silica,
which is....crap, I can't think straight. It's SiO2. Here..." He
touched the Si, which happened to be located high on the right side of
her chest. "And here." The pad of his thumb brushed the O on her left
side, close to the tip of her breast.
"Glass also has sodium carbonate," she said.
"I think that's...." Sam paused, struggling to concentrate.
"...Na2CO3." He studied to front of her shirt and shook his head. I
can't show you the sodium carbonate. Dangerous territory."
"What about calcium oxide?" His gaze scanned the shirt until he
found it. He shook his head. "I'd have you on your back in about five
seconds."
Pushing away from her, Sam went to a tall stool and sat
negligently. "Apparently, Kevin and Alice think the solution is to set
you up with someone. They want some guy to romance you until you're so
full of endorphines, you won't have a problem with them getting married
anymore."
"And you're suppose to be that guy?" she asked incredulously. "Mr. Endorphins?"
"Speaking."
"I look like a geek," Lucy said. "I smell like a brewery. And I need a bra."
"My dream date."
"I don't trust my instincts where men are concerned," Lucy said.
"It's like this article I read the other day about the decline of the
firefly population. One of the reasons they're disappearing is because
of modern artificial lighting. Fireflies can't find the signals of their
mates, because they're so distracted by porch lights, street lamps,
illuminated sign letters..."
"Poor things," Zoe said.
"Exactly," Lucy said. "You think you've found the perfect mate and
you head for him, blinking as fast as you can, and then you find out
he's a BIC lighters. I just can't handle that again."
In defense of geeks," Justine said, "they're great in bed. They
fantasize a lot, so they're really creative. And they love to play with
gadgets." As the two started laughing, Justine handed them a glass of
wine. "Here. Whatever else you may say about Sam, he makes fantastic
wine."
"I don't love you. Tell me you feel the same way."
A big thank you to St. Martin's press for sending me this advanced copy. I loved every minute of it.
~~~~~~
Being a Lisa's Diva myself, St. Martin's Press sent out hardcover copies of, Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor. So
the giveaway today will be just that. A hardcover edition of Christmas
Eve at Friday Harbor. Depending on how many comments and entries I
receive, I may be able to give more than once copy away.
To be entered in the giveaway, just leave a comment telling me which Lisa Kleypas book is your favorite. If you have more than one, then go ahead and list it! I absolutely adore It Happened One Autumn, but I also loved Rainshadow Road.
*If you already have the book I'm giving away, I will be happy to do an ebook copy of another Lisa Kleypas book from either her Wallflower series or the Hathaway series.
*This is a US giveaway only.
*The winner will receive the book in the mail.
*To be entered in the contest, you MUST fill out the form.
One thing I really enjoy about Eden Bradley's writing is that she makes a smooth entrance for you into the lifestyle of BDSM. There's a huge percentage of readers who like to read it, but don't understand the depth of that kind of relationship. Ms. Bradley does an exceptional job with it. She makes it understandable and pleasurable, while at the same time telling a story. It's why I like her books so much. She doesn't have the readers dive head first into a shallow end. She makes it desirable and sensual and leaves you almost begging to experience it. I have to say, subspace sounds like an intensely erotic place to be in. This is another winner to add to my Eden Bradley collection.
A past relationship left Rowan unable to trust anyone. She closed off her heart and took control of her life. With the need to be in charge, Rowan is now a mistress at an exclusive club in California. It's where she has power over herself and the people under her. She will never be at the mercy of another man after what happened....until Christian Thorne walks in and changes her life irrevocably.
Christian Throne is an intense dominate, which make him off limits for Rowan. It's to bad too, she's wanted him since the moment she's laid eyes on him. They're both are aware of the electricity between them so Christian makes Rowan a proposition: She must submit to him for 30 days to see if she is a submissive. Christian believes she's not a dominate, that deep down she is a sub. Naturally, Rowan balks at the idea. She knows what she is....How can Christian think she's not a dominate...What nerve he has to question her like this! Rowan is hesitant to this agreement but she can't stop thinking about him so finally she says yes. But there is one stipulation to this agreement- no sex at all.
Rowan's transition isn't easy. It's going to take a lot of work on Christian's part, which he already knows. In one of the first scene they have together, Christian binds Rowan lightly with flowering vines. It was so beautiful and romantic to read and play out! Rowan was completely caught of guard by it. She nearly has a panic attack and flees, leaving Christian to see there is more than meets the eye with Rowan. He wants to help her, get her to open and let go of this monster from her past. Christian wants to show her she has power too underneath him. Rowan is realizing what a challenge this is for her and she's afraid she will walk away less intact than ever before. But the passion they share and the emotions they bring forth of each other will put them in a position neither of them expected. Is Rowan truly a reluctant submissive?
There is a side story with Rowan's friend, April, that takes place in this book as well. I really enjoyed that story as much as I enjoyed Rowan's...maybe even more.
Here are some of my favorite parts of this book:
He wrapped his fist in her glorious cascade of dark hair, pulled her hair back firmly, and spoke softly into her ear.
"You're doing beautifully, Rowan. But I have more in store for you. Are you ready?"
She gasped.
"Are you?" He tugged a little harder on her hair. "Tell me."
"Yes!" she hissed.
"God damn it, Rowan," he muttered.
She blinked. Was he angry with her? Hadn't she pleased him?
Then, "You'll be the death of me, girl."
She smiled. April was right. She still had some power here.
"It is, even now, at the end of winter. I love the driftwood that's washed up on shore. The shapes and the textures are so sinuous, so beautiful. It's like a still life. Like a garden of dead wood, with the sand the dry earth. Yet it's not really dead, is it? It's strangely alive, just...stilled. Serene." -Rowan
Because you're beautiful to me. Because I love the lines of your body, the shape of your face, even your hands. Your bone structure is perfect. And maybe because I never want to forget you." -Christian to Rowan, after Rowan asked why Christian wants to paint her.
And all around them the dark sky hid the stars and the rain fell, washing the earth clean."
Early dawn. The sky glowed with shades of pink and gold as the sun made its way over the horizon, fighting through a thin layer of mist to light the sky in a spectacular blaze of color.
Love is in the air! Valentines is one of my most favorite holidays. I'm not sure why. Maybe because I love the idea of chocolates, hearts, roses and Victoria's Secret gifts all intended for one day? You know there are plenty of men waiting for this day. They think us woman don't know about their so called devious little plan to wine and dine us and then put us in that naughty lingerie they bought really for themselves us. Admit it, you fall for it every time, don't you? To be honest? All I want for Valentines Day is an Amazon gift card so I can buy books for my kindle. Forget the wining and dining. Give me books, baby! In fact, I think I'll have to drop some subtle hints to the hubby. :)
Here is a video that I love and have been waiting to share. I hope you enjoy it...and understand it. :)
Ok, now on to the good stuff....
The last couple of books I've read were so delicious that
I've decided to give them away for the Valentines Blog Hop. The books I'll be
giving away are by author Kallypso Masters.
Have you heard of her yet? If not, then you don't know what you're missing! You need to get on your computer
and look her up immediately (or just click on the authors name above). I was glued to my kindle reading her
books! They took over my life for a few short days but lasted way longer
than that with me. They're
full of hot dominate men who cross paths at one point
and bond. They all have one juicy thing in common- some hot lovin' with
their woman!
One thing that is great about Kally's series is that it's a continuation of the characters stories. I love that! It's like never having to say goodbye to your favorite men characters. You'll meet most of them in the first book and what a tease that was! Oh my goodness! Talk about hook, line and sink! Kally was able to bring enough of each story into the first book and leave you on the edge of your seat begging for more. Seriously, it was so good. The books that follow will have the characters you met in the first book. They will each have their own story. It was a brilliant idea on her part, if you ask me.
Now, Kally does have one more book out and it's called Nobody's Hero. I have not read it yet but I can not wait to! I have a few things I need to finish before I can dive into it. Believe me when I tell you, this is pure torture for me.I have been wanting this story since the beginning. Once I finish with everything though, I will be rewarding myself with that book.
So the ebooks I've decided to give away are Master at Arms, which is the first book and the second book, Nobody's Angel. All you have to do is fill out the form and leave a comment and you'll be entered in the contest. There will be one lucky winner of both books. This contest will run from February 11th - February 14th. Good luck and Happy Valentines Day!
Warning: These books are part of a sensual BDSM romance series.
Isn’t it frightening to think that in the blink of an eye, your life can
change so drastically? All it takes is for you to walk through door
number two instead of door number one. The decisions you make in that moment can define the rest of your days.
I looked deep into his eyes. “It’s why I need to go,” I said. “I need to find out.” He looked away. My words
had hurt him, and I hated that. His left arm, the band one, hung from his torso, limp, lifeless. He didn’t like wearing a sling when he went out. “Anne,” he said, clearing his throat. His voice faltered a little, and her paused to regain his strength. Gerard
never cried. “If this is what it takes. If there’s a chance I can have your whole heart again, I will wait.”
A
love that never dies. For nearly seventy years, two halves of a whole
were separated by a gruesome murder and a jealous friend.
The year is 1942 and Anne is about to marry Gerard in a marriage that was planned since they were children. Right before the marriage, Maxine,
the family housekeeper, tells Anne in so many words that a life without
love is no life at all…she would know. Anne insists that she loves
Gerard, that she's always wanted to marry him. Yet, deep down she feels
something could possibly be missing….
During her engagement
party, her best friend, Kitty, is a no show until the last few minutes.
Kitty and Anne have been friends since childhood.
She shows up apologizing to Anne saying
that she’s going off to Bora-Bora where they are in need of Army
Nurses for the war. Kitty feels Anne and Gerard are not meant to be and
has told Anne a few
times before; Anne, naturally, disagrees. With the words in the back of
her mind of what Maxine said, she decides to join Kitty to Bora-Bora.
They will only be there for one year. Surely Gerard will understand and
wait for her.
Once on the Island, Kitty immediately takes to a
few of the service men. Naturally, the men flock to Kitty. She is
stunning, a real beauty. Anne manages to catch the eye of one man in
particular, Westry Green. She thinks nothing of it because Gerard has
her heart....so she keeps telling herself. In the mean time, after a
few months on the island, Kitty starts to change and not
confide in Anne anymore. Anne notices that Kitty isn't opening up to
her, yet Anne won't push her. But when Kitty finally does, it's a
shock to Anne.
While out with friends one day, Anne stumbles
along this little hidden run-down bungalow along the beach. She opens
the door to find none other than Westry Green inside. They hit it off
immediately
and a beautiful relationship starts to unfold. They both decide the
little bungalow will be their secret and they'll fix it up. It will be
their hideaway when they are in need of quiet time….a break from the war
around them. Inevitably, they both fall wholly and madly in love with
each other. And how beautiful it was!
Unfortunately,
a horrible tragedy strikes the beautiful lush island and must be kept
secret. At the same time, Westry is being shipped off to another war
with no idea when he'll return and Anne is set to go home. Right when
Anne is about to board the ship, she confronts Westry on flowers she saw
Kitty with the day before. Anne is
heart stricken over the fact that Westry gave Kitty the flowers. How could
Westry give Kitty flowers from their bungalow where so many wonderful
memories were shared?
Seventy years later, a journalist is
trying to uncover the tragic murder that happened on the island. I hoped
and prayed their bungalow would still be around. What happens in this
part of the story is so breathtakingly sweet until....well, until the
very end. There
were tears streaming down my cheeks while I was reading it. This is a
spellbinding story of a love so strong you'll be wishing it was you.
This
has to be one of the best romantic novels I have ever read. If you're
looking for actual romance scenes in this book, you won't find them. And
you know what? They're not needed one bit because the author does a
sensational
job with the story. This book had me glued from the first few pages in
and I
loved every single minute of it! The author did a excellent job with
creating and describing the story. I really felt like I was part of it
all, there, seeing it unfold before me. I liked the secretive ways
behind
Kitty, Anne's best friend. I was so curious to know what she was up to.
I didn't trust her one bit and in the end, I despised Kitty for what
she did. There are secrets
and surprises and just when you think you know what will happen, you are forced to think
again.
I'm finding it hard to express
the love I have for this novel. I've never said this before, but I truly
feel this is a masterpiece. I read it in one day, staying up until 3 in
the morning, because I was so captivated by it. You will fall head over
heals in love with the characters and story that take place on this
pacific island. It was a love that was meant to be, but was
sadly cut short for so many years. My heart ached for the love these two
shared but never could continue to have. Just thinking about it brings
tears to my eyes again. They both still went on with their lives but were
never able to forget what they shared. Yes, they loved again, but never gave their hearts
fully to anyone else but each other. It was a
love so profound that it makes it hard for me to write about. It's scary how your life can change in a matter of minutes and it will never ever be the same.
The only thing that really bothered me about this book was that Westry and Anne were separated for so long. Being apart for
seventy years put them both in their nineties when they were reunited. It
just wasn't fair! They should have had more time together! They shared
one year together on the island. How many more will they have now that
it's seventy years later? I seem to forget that this is a work of
fiction. But the author managed to evoked so many emotions out of me
that I wanted it to be real in a way, that they will live on together for a
very long time. Ahh, this is what a great book does to me!
After
reading this book on my kindle, I've decided that I absolutely have to
have it
on my bookshelf. So I will be buying it in paperback soon. This book
is a keeper! Just thinking about it makes me want to pick it up and read it again. You can bet I will be recommending
it to every person I can. This book took up a place in my heart and
rightfully so. I will be
rereading this book for many years to come. I
noticed that the author is still relatively new and has only one other
book out. I can honestly say that
I don't care what it's about, only that I need to get my hands on it
asap.
A favorite line of mine-
"I watched as the island grew smaller, until it appeared a mere
dot on a map. A dot where so much had happened, and so much had been
left behind."
*This book was provided to me by the publisher in return for an honest review.*
He kissed her harder, wet and hurting, bruising her lips. His hands gripped her waist, his fingers biting into her, all she wanted was more. God, she could almost come if he only kissed her long enough, just kissed her like this.
+L.K.+Blue-eyed+devil.jpg)
