Friday, January 31, 2014

Jerk of My Dreams(& a giveaway!!) #33

Jerk. Asshole. Douchenozzle. Admit it- you hate to love the jerks. That alpha male character who is so arrogant and rude but sexy as hell. That foul mouthed douche bag of a man who rocks your traitorous heart. We've all read them and we've all liked them to some extent. In real life you wouldn't touch the man with a ten foot pole. But in the fictional world? Nothing can stand in the way! Everyone would be lying to themselves if they didn't admit that the meaner the man, the further we run... Towards them! *sigh*

That's what this weekly meme is about- those jerky delicious men! Each Friday this meme will go up, and you can share your jerk anyway you want: review, interview, lines and quotes, giveaway of a book. However you want! Any time you comment on someones post, leave your link so that person can comment back.

K.A. Linde has stopped by my favorite day of the week on the blog- Jerk Friday! K.A. is a lover of jerks herself, so it's only fitting she's here today. Not only has she offered a paperback arc, but a teaser to OFF THE RECORD as well!

Liz Dougherty has no idea a single question is about to change her life.

Her first big reporting assignment for her North Carolina college newspaper has her covering a state senator’s impromptu press conference. Brady Maxwell may have everything it takes to be a politician—a winning pedigree, devastating good looks, a body made to wear suits—but his politics rub Liz the wrong way. When Liz’s hard-hitting question catches the upstart senator off-guard, it impresses Hayden Lane, Liz’s editor who feels she’s headed for a promising career as a reporter.

But Liz is also headed into a secret romance with Brady that could destroy both their ambitions. Though he’s a bachelor, potential voters might frown on Brady cozying up to a reporter. And Liz isn’t sure sneaking around is enough for her—especially when things between her and Hayden might be less platonic than she thought.

Sleek, sexy, and smart, Off the Record ventures into a high-stakes campaign and an even higher-stakes affair to answer the question: When politics and love collide, can there ever be a winner?


OFF THE RECORD Teaser! 

“You don’t want to see me?” 
He apparently seemed amused at the thought. He knew she wanted to see him. 
“I do,” she corrected. She couldn’t lie about that. “But I don’t know why you had to bring me here at seven o’clock in the morning to tell me that. Why didn’t you just come to my place yesterday?” “Because I can’t see you when you want to see me,” Brady told her, pushing his diner coffee away and meeting her eyes. Hers were already narrowed. 
“But you can see me when you want to?” 
“Yes.” He didn’t even try to hide behind his charming words. 
“Why? I don’t get it.” 
“I want to see you, but in the position I’m . . . we’re in, it’s not possible,” he told her. 
“What, because you’re running for office?” She knew she sounded incredulous, but it made sense. He wouldn’t want to risk anything . . . especially not on a woman, no matter his big talk. 
“And you’re a reporter . . . a college reporter,” he reminded her. 
“And I wrote that article,” she said filling in the blanks. 
“You did,” Brady confirmed. “While I don’t mind you pointing out my faults, the campaign and my opponents will see it as me giving up the nomination.” 
“Why are you here then?” she asked, her anger mounting once more. 
“Because I still want you. Weeks later, I still want you. And you want me too.” 
Liz’s stomach dropped and all the anger she had been holding dissipated. He wanted her. She knew he did, but hearing it like that was intoxicating. She didn’t want to give him up. She was having a fucking hard time even concentrating on anything else. 
“So, you want me, but you can’t see me?” 
“I can’t see you on your terms,” he corrected. 
“What does that even mean?” Liz asked, raising her voice. 
 "Look, I want us to continue what we’re doing, but in private. I don’t want to jeopardize my career . . . or your career,” he added quickly. 
Liz breathed in and out deeply, realizing finally what he was saying. “You want a fuck buddy,” she stated as bluntly as possible. If he was going to be all out in the open, she wanted plain words. She wanted to know what he was offering . . . what kind of deal she was willing to take. He sighed as if she was misinterpreting, but she was sure she wasn’t. 
“That’s not what I had in mind,” he said. 
“No? That’s what it sounds like. So, what kind of situation is this?” she asked, her anger resurfacing. She didn’t even know where it came from, because it wasn’t as if she didn’t want to sleep with him, and it wasn’t as if she didn’t want to keep it a secret. Some innate trigger in her brain was firing and she was listening. 
“Do you get to sleep with other people? Are you going to be dating someone who fits you better in the spotlight? Should I find someone else to date in the meantime?” 
“Liz,” he snapped, cutting off whatever she was going to say next. “I’m not here to argue the point. I’m not here to discuss terms. I want you, and I want you anytime I can have you. That happens to be a much more limited time frame. If you aren’t interested, then good luck with your paper.” 
He pulled out his wallet, threw two twenties on the table, and stood. 



I'm thinking I should've read my ARC when I appeared on my kindle last year. After this teaser, looks like I'll be starting it very soon!

K.A. Linde is giving away one paperback arc of OFF THE RECORD. In order to be entered in the giveaway, please leave a comment with your email address. The email address is a must in order to contact the winner.You'll get bonus entries if you share this post and tag K.A. Linde. :) A winner will be chosen tomorrow from Random.org. Happy Reading!

Review: Polished by Alyssa Turner

Menage stories are interesting as they add something new to a relationship. This something new can be good or it can be bad. It all depends on the communication and expectations of the those participating.

Polished by Alyssa Turner explores what happens when a loving couple explores a ménage experience. But this experience is thrown in with a little light BDSM.

Spencer and Rory are loving couple who have everything going for them. They almost lose it all when Spencer gets trapped below ground in an explosion with Jack. It’s during the time they’re trapped below ground that Jack and Spencer form a bond.

Jack ends up inviting Spencer and Rory to his house in the Hamptons. It’s during that time they explore a little BDSM with their ménage. It was interesting how it came about and I really enjoyed the way they jumped into things. It was hot and it was intense.

When things didn’t work out as planned, Spencer and Rory end up cutting Jack out of their lives. What they find after that is their relationship is different. Something is now missing.

I like how Alyssa showed the other side of those fantasies and living them out. While they’re great at the time, they can seriously impact an existing relationship that doesn’t have any problems. That impact can be positive or negative. It has the ability to bring a couple closer or tear them apart. It all depends on the couple and their communication skills and the strength of their bond.


Jack proved to be a powerful character. He realized what was wrong in his life an set about changing it. He took control and did what needed to be done. He also went after what he wanted. He didn’t let anything stand in his way.




Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Blog Review Tour & Giveaway: Loving Cara (Love Under the Big Sky #1) by Kristen Proby






Loving Cara was the perfect blend of romance, heat, angst and emotion. Kristen Proby has swooned me with her new series, Love Under the Big Sky. S-W-O-O-N-E-D me!

Josh King and Cara Donovan have grown up together in a small town in Montana. Two years ahead of her, Josh never really noticed Cara before. Sure he use to pull on her curls in passing, but that was about it. Years later however, they are both all grown up and settled into their adult lives. Josh has taken over for his parents and runs the Lazy K Ranch. Cara works as a teacher in town. An unfortunate circumstance has them crossing paths. Josh definitely takes notice of Cara now. Long gone is the curly haired plain Jane from their school days. Now, standing before him is a breathtaking curvy blonde full of sass and heart. And well, who’s not noticed Josh. He’s 6’3”, tanned, muscular and incredibly hot.

This one truly pulled at my heartstrings. Let me just take a moment first to cover what brings Josh and Cara together. His twelve-year old nephew, Seth, is unexpectedly dropped at the ranch. Seth’s mother abandons him while Seth’s dad, Zack, is deployed in Afghanistan. Of course this is going to play emotional havoc on a young boy. Not caring about much of anything including his grades, prompts Josh to seek tutoring help over the summer for him. Cara is a positive light for Seth. With her help, he gets his grades back on track and curbs his disrespectful attitude towards everyone. However, it’s not until after Seth’s dad returns that some light is shed on the things his mother told him. At that moment my heart broke. It struck a strong personal cord with me. Ugly tears were streaming down my face with the lies his monster of a mother fed him and the animosity that he developed for his dad. Ugh, I’m crying now just thinking of it again. Ms. Proby wrote an amazing heart wrenching scene there. I know Seth and his dad still have things to work on. Seth himself as more to reveal later in the story; as if my heart couldn’t break enough for this kid. I’m truly looking forward to Zack’s story.

Okay, on to Josh and Cara. I smile now, just thinking of what a great love story it was. They’d known each other their whole lives, but it’s not until years later they see each other in a different light. The romance between them just felt so natural.

“No measure of time with you will ever be long enough, Cara.”

Of course what’s a romance book without some torment. Once again, Ms. Proby had my heart in my throat when a bad storm rolls through town and almost puts an end to something before it could fully start. She captured the emotion of the situation perfectly. I felt the spike in my adrenaline as Cara reacts to get out of harms way and then again when Josh was desperately in search of her. What played out from there was sensual and beautiful. Josh is so smooth and attentive; in and out of the bedroom.

“You own me, Carolina. Body and soul.”

While, Cara may have grown into a beauty, sadly she still sees herself as the girl from the past. This opens the door for uncertainty to seep in. You’d think by now Ms. Proby would have thrown enough angst at as, but nope. She took me on some highs and lows with this one. To the very end. I refused to leave my Kindle. I needed to know what happened next. It was well worth the lost hours of sleep.

I have to add. In true Kristen Proby fashion, she brought her characters to life. These people exist! And I fell absolutely in love with them; from Josh and Cara, Zack and Seth, to other characters I haven’t even mentioned cause this review would never end if I did. I’m excited and cannot wait for more in this series.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18115028-loving-cara?from_search=true
http://www.amazon.com/Loving-Cara-Love-Under-Big-ebook/dp/B00DX0F2Y8/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1391013430&sr=1-1&keywords=loving+carahttp://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/loving-cara-kristen-proby/1116055719?ean=9781476759005



KRISTEN PROBY is the USA Today bestselling author of the popular With Me in Seattle series. She has a passion for a good love story and strong characters who love humor and have a strong sense of loyalty and family. Her men are the alpha type—fiercely protective and a bit bossy—and her ladies are fun, strong, and not afraid to stand up for themselves. Kristen spends her days with her muse in the Pacific Northwest. She enjoys coffee, chocolate, and sunshine. And naps. Visit her at KristenProby.com.

Kristen spends her days with her muse in the Pacific Northwest. She enjoys coffee, chocolate and sunshine. And naps.

Links:
Twitter: @handbagjunkie
Pocket Books: http://imprints.simonandschuster.biz/gallery-books

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