Four For Christmas Giveaway!

Want to spice up your holiday season with a hot new read? Well, I have just the book for you. Four For Christmas by R.G. Alexander is officially out and just in time for Christmas! R.G. is fabulous author and part of the Smutketeers group. It's so much fun over there in that amazing group of authors! I thought I would do a giveaway because the Smutketeers just wrapped up their 12 days of giveaways and gave lots of goodies out. So since many of you commented on my other giveaway I decided to add another. All you have to do is leave a comment below and follow this blog. The winner will be chosen on Thursday. Merry Christmas!

*There is still time left to enter the other contest below.
*This is a kindle book that will be given away.

Smutketeers website

Have you been Naughty or Nice this year? Win a $10 Gift Certificate to Samhain Publishing!

I wish this was my tree! But I don't think my hubby or little nuggets would go for it.

Have I been Naughty or Nice this year?  I guess that's a question I'll have to ask the hubby, but I don't kiss and tell so I guess you'll never know. ;) I was going to wait until January to do a giveaway in hopes of getting more followers, but I've decided not to wait until then. I do tend to get very excited about upcoming *possible* events and want to shout them out, but, unfortunately I have to wait to finalize them before I can say anything. So in an effort to get more followers on my blog and of course the holiday season, I've decided to do a giveaway for a chance to win a $10.00 gift card to Samhain Publishing! All you have to do is leave a comment telling me what your favorite book is and follow my blog. You must do both to be entered in the drawing. The contest ends Tuesday night and the winner will be chosen on Wednesday. 

I think a hot and steamy read (or two or maybe three?) from Samhain will warm you in all the right places this cold wintery season.

Happy Holidays! Oh, and my favorite book is Lover Awakened by J.R. Ward...in case you wanted to know.


$10 Gift Certificate - Samhain Publishing

Pleasure's Edge by Eve Berlin

5 Stars!
Amazon link- Pleasure's Edge by Eve Berlin

 For me, there's nothing more sensual than a man softly caressing a woman's body. And boy oh boy does Alec know what he's doing!

If you've never read a BDSM book before and you want to, then this is the book for you. It's almost a tutorial of the BDSM scene but also a romance story as well. You won't be cringing and holding your breath in pain while reading this, like I have in the past. This book is a very enjoyable read and you won't be able to put it down.

I was exceptionally surprised by this book. I'm not one to read BDSM novels, in fact, I very rarely do. The cover of this book caught my attention though and I was curious to find out more....and I'm so glad I did! Isn't the cover of this book very rousing to look at? It may sound crazy when I say this, but you can feel the chemistry and sensuality flowing from the cover. I'm so glad I bought it in paperback!

I actually found out a friend had read and enjoyed this book very much. She highly recommended it to me saying that it's not like all the other BDSM novels and to give it a try. And she was 100% right. This is definitely in a league of it's own and nothing like the others in this genre. I'm very hesitant when it comes to BDSM reads simply because I don't really understand it all. The whole idea of being beaten into orgasm isn't all that enticing to me, or the whole roughness that is associated with it, but honestly, this author makes you almost want to try it out....almost. What's so great about this book is that explains the lifestyle of BDSM yet there is a beautiful love story at the same time. It's not really a lifestyle though, it's more of a sexuality choice and there is nothing wrong with this kind of love making. Although it's not for me, I did find it to be very intriguing and could not stop reading it.

***SPOILER***
Dylan, an erotic romance author, is looking for help with her next book. She is not very familiar with the BDSM scene and is told about a known Dom in the area that can help her named Alec. As she's questioning him for her book, Alec makes her an offer. He tells her the only way to truly understand it all is to experience it; Alec wants her to submit to him. Dylan, being open about her sexuality, accepts but only if she can dominate Alec, insisting that she is a dom and not a submissive. After challenging each other, Dylan and Alec come to an agreement. If Dylan can not prove to be submissive, then she can dominate Alec. Little does Dylan know, after being with Alec once, her life will change irrevocably. She will find herself freed in more ways than one.
***SPOILER ENDS***

I'm not sure why, but I think this book is probably very sentimental to the author. There were a few times while reading this that I thought Dylan was actually Eve/Eden, but obviously written and changed into a fictional story. I could be wrong, but it's just a feeling I had. There were some striking similarities throughout the entire story with Dylan and Eve/Eden. I enjoyed this book very much and the authors writing style. I will be getting the next book, Desire's Edge very soon and more books by her as well.

Her Christmas Pleasure by Karen Erickson

4 Stars
Amazon link- Her Christmas Pleasure

A not so innocent kiss under the mistletoe leads to a kindling romance both are unable to fight. A wonderfully written novella that will warm you in the coldest of winters.

I am such a stupid stupid girl. I found Karen's books long ago and for some reason I held off reading them. I enjoyed this authors writing immensely and can not wait to read more by her now. This book is the second book in the Merry Widows Series. The first book is Lessons in Indiscretion.

Let it be known that I hardly ever read novellas; I don't like them, plain and simple. I think they are too rushed, unrealistic and a connection is hard to make in the short amount of time given for a novella. I have to say, I think that is quite the opposite for this novella. It was fantastic, I only wish it was longer.

This book was provided to me by Netgalley.com on behalf of Carina Press Publishing. Thank you!

Fifty Shades Darker by E. L. James

5 Stars!
Amazon link- Fifty Shades Darker

"Erotic, sparkling and suspenseful, Fifty Shades Darker is the irresistibly addictive second part of the Fifty Shades trilogy."

If those aren't the most perfect words to describe Fifty Shades Darker, I don't know what are. How can this book be even better then the first book when I though the first one was awesome? This woman is amazing, truly. Most people who know me knows I can only read so much erotica; and I very rarely read BDSM. But this author has a way to make it so sensual and beautiful and passionate, that I find myself yearning for more. A lot of times when you think of an erotic romance book, you think of sex, especially when it's a BDSM book. Well, this book is so much more than that. Don't get me wrong, the sex scenes were hot, romantic and plentiful, but there is so much more to the story than sex. I wish more erotic romance authors wrote like E L James. James is definitely a favorite author of mine.

The sensuality of this book trickles over you slowly like molasses, sticking to you, tasting so dark and sweet, and knowing that you can never truly get enough.

I don't even know where to begin with this book. We see so many new sides of Christian and you can't help but love everyone of them. We see him try and change his ways for Ana, which I have to say is a drastic change for him and very emotional at that. My heart ached so much while reading this that at a few times I found tears in my eyes. We see him transform into this man who wants nothing but to love honor and cherish Ana with every waking bone in his body. My goodness how he loves Ana so much! It's such....a very beautiful love story. We see Christian bare is dark tortured soul to Ana many times making him even more appealing.

Not only do we see Christian change, we see Ana trying to be the person she thinks he needs, but truthfully Christian just wants her just the way she is. Ana is the air Christian breathes. She realizes Christian has certain needs that he will want met, but he would never ask her of them. So she steps up and takes them into her own hands, and well, she is there for him every step of the way. Finding a happy compromise for both partners is true love, which is what they have; true love. A relationship could never thrive if both aren't willing partners.

I can see myself reading these books many many times and probably never get sick of them. I LOVED the emails!! I LOVED the auction dinner....boy was that HOT! I LOVED the boat scene at the end! Well, I LOVED the whole book! I do look forward to the emails and I hope they are in the next book as well. They were hysterical! I wish this wasn't a trilogy. I wish there would be more books, but as the saying goes, all good things must come to an end.

Has anyone else noticed how many Audi's are on the road? I feel like they are everywhere I turn. ;)

The only problem I have with this book was that I found a lot of typos. It can be a bit of a nuisance after a while. I noticed them in the first book too, but not as much as this one.


Some of my favorite lines in this book:

"This is me, Ana. All of me...and I'm all yours. What do I have to do to make you realize that? To make you see that I want you any way I can get you. That I love you."

"There's a joy in my helplessness, joy in my surrender to him, and to know that he can lose himself in me the way he wants to. I can do this. He takes me to these dark places, places I didn't know existed, and together we fill them with blinding light. Oh yes...blazing, blinding light." -Anastasia Steele

"I don't know whether to worship at your feet or spank the living shit out of you."

"Anastasia." He answers immediately, his voice warm and caressing. How is it that this man can make me melt over the phone?
"Christian, Jack has asked me to get his lunch."
"Lazy bastard," Christian gripes.


Thank you, Amanda, for giving me this for my birthday! Honestly, how can it ever be topped?

5 Stars!
Amazon link- Fifty Shades of Grey

I've been thinking for a few days on how I wanted to write my review for this book. There are (still) so many emotions going through me after reading it so it makes it very difficult for me to put into words how I feel. There are few books that will render me utterly speechless, and this is one of them. Reading BDSM novels are normally not my thing. I tried it a few times and they were very unrealistic, the heroine is too at ease with it all considering it usually is her first time, very rough, and, honestly, they've all made me cringe. I would find myself tightening my body and holding my breathe while reading them. After that happened a few times, I decided the specific writing was not for me.

Clearly, I was wrong about that genre and I realized not all books are written like that. Oh, how I loved this book! Fifty Shades of Grey is the complete opposite of what I mentioned. It was beautiful, erotic, sensual, emotional, dark, compelling, realistic, seductive, and I found myself unable to put the book down.

Christian is a dark secretive man with a tortured soul who is ridiculously rich and a total alpha male. Ana is a young woman who has never had a sexual relationship before meeting Christian. I worried for Ana quite a few times in this book. I knew there was no way she was going to be able to have a no strings attached relationship and not get hurt in the end. If the only kind of loving making that Christian knows how to do is, well, "f*ck...hard," doesn't Ana realize that it will be the only kind of love making she knows how to do. How will she move on once they separate?

You won't find out the whole nature of why Christian is the way he is until you read the second book. Which reminds me. I was beyond ecstatic to find out this series is a continuation of the characters and they are the main focus in each book. Very awesome considering that doesn't happen often!



My heart ached so much when I read this line:

"Why don't you like to be touched?" Ana whispered, staring up into soft grey eyes.
"Because I'm fifty shades of fucked-up, Anastasia."


Bottom line- READ THIS BOOK! It is a great intro into the world of BDSM. I found myself surprisingly intrigued by it all even though it's not my thing. Not only does this author do an excellent job building her characters, she also does a fantastic job with the BSDM and how one comes to enjoy that kind of lifestyle. Well done, EL James!


Thank you Amanda for this wonderful book for my birthday. One of the best gifts ever! xoxo

February 2012 Lisa Kleypas Release!!

Lisa Kleypas will be releasing a new Contemporary Romance book in February of 2012. How exciting! Check out the link for an excerpt.

Read an excerpt of Rainshadow Road 



I am one of "Lisa's Divas" - a group of select fans who share info & content related to Lisa's novels and get sneak peeks & swag in return.

Learning to Trust by Lynne Connolly

4 stars
Amazon link- Learning to Trust

I thought this was going to be another erotic romance with a light storyline. It was anything but that and I was pleasantly surprised. This story was full of steamy hot romance, suspense, and a very moving plot. This story was so very emotional for me and it makes me wonder if the author has family or herself went through what the characters did.

***SPOILER***Bellina Mazzanti Forde or Lina Forde is a socialite living in New York City with her mother, where money can buy you anything you want, including an endless amount of drugs. Party girl to the core, Lina decides at the last minute to take off with Byron Brantley to Italy where no one will know her secrets and she can escape from an unhappy life. They cut up all their credit cards and check books and leave a paperless trail for five years. Both Lina and Byron are heavily addicted to drugs and will do anything for their next fix until Lina was struck by a car. Having no family and friends to help her after the car accident, the nuns in Rome take her in and basically force her to become sober. Byron, on the other hand, isn't ready to get clean and takes off.

Five years later, Jonathon or Jon, finally gets the break he needs to find his brother Byron and friend Lina. Jon flies to Italy to rescue his brother and take him home only to find out Lina hasn't seen Byron in two years. After enlisting Lina to help him find Byron, a few days later, Byron is found in the morgue from a heroin overdose. But it isn't just any cut of heroin, it's pure grade heroin in Byron's system and it wasn't an accidental overdose. While both Lina and Jon are trying to discover who set Byron up, they are forced to flee back to New York City after nearly being attacked. Family secrets are revealed and Lina is deceived by someone she loves.***END SPOILER***

This is a very emotional book. Unless you've gone through addiction yourself or have close relatives that are addicts, I'm concerned readers may not connect with some of the characters. For instance, there was a point in the book that Jon said he had already come to terms with this brothers death years ago. This was after finding his brother in the morgue and showing no feelings the whole book when it came to his brother. Some people may think him harsh and unemotional. He's not. That is true life. You have to come to terms with it, and prepare yourself for the worst. I thought I was the only person to say something like that and it was a revelation, in a way, that others may think like that too. I've come to the point where I am just waiting for the phone call that my sister is dead, and at one time, my mother. There is only so much you can do to help an addict. Unless they truly want the help, they aren't going to get better and there's nothing else anyone can do. And that's what happened with Byron. He became so addicted to drugs that there was no going back for him. It's an unfortunate everyday occurrence in life.

Lina said a great line in this book and I've said almost the same thing for years. "The only one who could stop the downward spiral was her. She had to want to do it, really want to, and not for anyone else." That line is true on so many levels it's scary.

This was my first read by this author. I really enjoyed her story and writing style. I plan to look up more of her books. She brought real life issues to a fictional romance story and it was very moving.


NOTE: This book was provided for me by Netgalley on behalf of Carina Press.

Whitney, My Love by Judith McNaught

5 stars
Amazon link- Whitney, My Love

Since this book was published in 1985, there is no need for me to go into full detail about this book. There are over 280 reviews-and that's only counting the 5 star ones about this book on Amazon. What could I possibly say that hasn't already been said? That it was the most beautiful book ever written? That it has more romance than I have ever read in my life? That I cried, I laughed, and I had the shakes because my heart was racing so fast? That after reading this book, it renders one speechless as does her other book A Kingdom of Dreams? No, that has all been said by many many other people. And all of it is true. So my review will just be of all highlighted parts from this book, since I have yet to see anyone do it.


"Must you stare at me?" she snapped. "Yes," Cuthbert rasped, grasping her arms and trying to pull her toward him, "I must."
"Cuthbert," Whitney warned ominously, "I'll give you just three seconds to take your hands off of me before I start screaming the house down." Unexpectedly, Cuthbert did as ahe commanded, but his arms dropped and his body followed. Falling to one knee, he placed his hand over his heart, preparatory to proposing matrimony. "Cousin Whitney", he murmured hoarsely, indulging her in a visual folding of her from the tips of her toes to the top of her head and back down. "I must tell you what is in my heart and my mind--"
"I know what is in your mind," Whitney interrupted scathingly. " You have been ogling me for hours. Now get to your feet!"
She snatched her skirt away, half convinced that he intended to lift it and peak beneath it. Deprived of her hem, his hand returned to cover his heart." I admire you with every fiber of my being. I have the deepest regard for--" Gulping, he broke off, his widened eyes riveted on a point behind her.
"I sincerely hope," drawled a lazily amused voice from the doorway, "that I am not interrupting a devoted man at his prayers?"


"I aught to break your neck!" Clayton interrupted. "Allow to me congratulate you on a fine day's work, Madam," he said sternly. "In less than twelve hours, you've brought Whittcomb to your side and Cuthbert to your feet."
-Clayton to Whitney


Clayton's eyes raked contemptuously over her. "We have no agreement," he said scathingly. "It's over. Done with. It should have never begun! The betrothal was an insane idea and I curse the day I thought of it."
Sick with failure and defeat, Whitney dug her nails into the flesh of her palms and shook her head in denial.
"It never had a chance to begin because I wouldn't let it."
"Your two minutes are almost up."
"Clayton, please listen to me!" she cried desperately. "You-you told me a long time ago that you wanted me to come to you willingly, that you didn't want a cold, unwilling wife."
"And?" he demanded furiously.
Whitney's voice shook, "And, I am here. Willingly."
-Whitney to Clayton after realizing that she loves him and wants him to marry her, and not Vanessa.


"Don't you dare disobey me," he hissed, his fingers clamping on her upper arm as he marched her away from the curious grooms and stablekeepers.
"Disobey you?!" she repeated, stamping her foot. "Do you mean to actually remind me of my vows? Why of all the-Would you like me to remind you of yours, my lord?"
"I will give you a warning. Just one," Clayton enunciated viciously. "Call it advice, if you prefer."
"If I wanted advice," Whitney retorted, her eyes sparkling with jade fire, "you would be the last person on earth I would ask!" She opened her mouth to say more, then changed her mind at the boiling wrath her outburst brought to his features.
"Defy me one more time-just once more, and I will lock you in your rooms until that brat is born!"
"I'm sure you would like nothing more!" Whitney said, hating him for calling her baby a brat. "You are the meanest, cruelest....you're a fraud and a liar! How dare you have told me you love me then treat me as so! And another thing, my lord duke," she added in a chocking fury, "which I'm sure will come as a tremendous surprise to you: It so happens making love makes babies!"
Clayton was so stunned by her ridiculous "revelation" that he never saw the blow coming. She caught him full on the side of the face with the flat of her hand, then reared back, looking like a tempestuous goddess in all her fine fury.
-Whitney and Clayton after Whitney disobeyed orders not to ride her horse.


She reached up behind her and began to unfasten her dress on the way to her dressing room. "Keep it on!" his voice slashed out, "until I leave."
Clayton came to his feet, advancing on her with the predatory glace of a stalking panther. Reflectively, Whitney started to back away, then checked herself and held her ground. He loomed over her, his graze a frigid blast. In a silky, menacing voice, her said, "Do you remember what I told you would happen if you dared to disobey me again, Whitney?"
He had threatened to lock her in her rooms until her baby was born. Whitney was angry and frightened-and so much in love with him that even her voiced throbbed with it. "Yes, I remember," she said in an aching whisper. "I remember all sorts of other things, too. I remember the words you have whispered to me when you are so deep inside of me that you have touched my heart. I remember....."
"Shut up!" he snapped furiously. "Or so help me God, I'll......"
"I remember exactly the way your hands feel against my skin when you touch me and...."
He caught her shoulders and shook her. "Damn you! I said stop!"
"I can't." Whitney shuddered in his grasp but persevered." I can't stop, because I love you. I love your eyes, and your smile, and your...."
Clayton yanked her into his arms, his mouth capturing hers in a savage, punishing kiss that was meant to silence and hurt and retaliate. He was bruising her lips, and she was crushed so tightly against him that she couldn't breathe. But Whitney didn't care; she could feel the hardness of his need swelling rigidly against her, and when he mouth began to slant fiercely over hers with wild hunger and desperate urgency, she wrapped her arms around his neck and clung to him.

"Are you trying to see exactly how far I can be provoked?"
"No my lord," Whitney replied demurely, aware of the curious looks from the arriving guests. "How could I possibly provoke you more than I already have by offering you a child."
-Whitney to Clayton after Clayton sees the dress Whitney chose to wear to a party.

"Where the living hell is your betrothal ring?" he snapped angrily as her whirled her in perfect time to the waltz.
"The token of your love?" Whitney asked him, her chin proudly high, her pale face fragile and beautiful. "That betrothal ring?"
"You know damned well which ring."
"Since it was a token of the love I no longer have from you, I felt it was a hypocrisy to wear it." She waited breathlessly to hear from Clayton that his love for her wasn't dead.
"Do as you damn well please," he said with cynical indifference. "You always have."


"Don't!" she cried out softly, reaching her arms around his powerful shoulders and burying her face in his neck. "Please, please don't do this. Just talk to me. Please talk to me."
"I can't," he whispered against her shining hair. He drew a long, tortured breath. "I can't find the words."
The naked anguish in his voice brought tears to her eyes as she leaned back and looked at him. "I can," she whispered brokenly. "You taught them to me-I love you. I love you."
Threading his fingers through her hair, he framed her face with his hands and gazed at her. "I love you," he whispered hoarsely. "God! How I love you!"


" Your grace?"
Everyone in the room looked up at Hugh Whittcomb who was standing in the doorway, looking haggard.
Clayton froze. "Yes?"
"Would you like to go upstairs and greet your son?"


"Whitney-my wife and my love."


This book is over 700 pages long, so I had more than a few that I wanted to share. The best part of the book, for me, was at the very end with the treasure box/memory chest. I love of old vintage keepsakes, letters and pictures so reading that part was so great and emotional. Especially the letter and likeness from the 1st Duchess of Claymore, Jennifer Merrick Westmoreland.