Review: Everyglades by PetIe McCarty

I think this was Petie McCarty's first book....and it was a great story. It is rare that you enjoy a book and learn too. There is a lot to be said for the Everglades. I knew some of the environmental issues but this book gave it a forum. There was also a lot of politics and then of course romance. 

Kayli gets an assignment that she is hoping will catapult her career as a photo journalist. What she did not expect was to have her not so boyfriend Clay to be a dirty player but she never knew she would fall in love for the first time. The guide has issues with work and calls his cousin Skye to be the guide. When they start on the journey they go head to head a few times and seem to make a love/hate relationship at the start.

The cousins and their relationships were explored as well as Kayli's. They all seem to have a "Seminole psychic ability". Skye is half Hispanic and half Seminole and his Mother wanted him to grow up with their beliefs and ideals. His character was hard on the outside and like cousin Jimmy said like a marshmallow inside. The twists and turns kept me very interested and the adventure was well written too.

One of my favorite quotes was between Clay and a political rival Slade "No, I am just trying to establish a career path" Slade waved him off. "First, let's establish what you are. You're a political slut ready to sell your wares to the highest bidder. 

Another was Kayli thinking to herself  "I can only think of this man whom I trust. Even with my life. Why is that? I just met him. What is wrong with me? I only know I don't want this moment to end." Oh Skye, just don't let go. OK panting level very high! The entire plot was held pretty close together even though there were a few point of views expressed. 

This was a real adventure/romance with no over the top sex. 

Giveaway and Review: A Night of Southern Comfort by Robin Covington

WOW what a great book! I love when I get immersed into the book and feel the characters in the first chapter.

 

When the book started, I have to say the main reason I liked it was becasue of Michaela- she was the aggressor and pursued Jack. I loved Detective Jackson Cantrell (Jack) and Dr. Michaela Roarke (everyone calls her Dr. Mike) together! After one night of hot and steamy romance, Jack wakes up and Michaela is gone. A few weeks later the story gets woven into a political intrigue and a scandal. Someone takes pictures of Michaela with Jackson, but nobody knows it's him, all they show is her face. He soon realizes she was his one nighter and now knows who her father is- The Governor. 

A stalker after Michaela so Jackson moves into Michaela's house to protect her. The Governor is trying to blackmail Jack telling him he can have his old FBI job back if he watched Michaela, so he accepts without Michaela knowing.

Now how is Jack suppose to get through trying to protect her and not tell her? There are a few ups and downs in this story. I was pretty emotional over their passion alone. When they realize they are in a town where he has deep roots and she just started her practice, I thought meant to be! There were several of his friends that I like, Lucky being my fave. They grew up together and have known each other for more than 30 years. Jackson's Mom owns Comfort the local diner, where Michaela eats her sweet chocolate peanut butter pie and drinks sweet tea.  

There are so many suspense filled pages. Just loved the last two reveals. I can see a series here ....hint hint Ms Covington! So impressed and must say it's a fab read with steam!!  I am doing a happy dance over this one and I can say it is a "feel good" sort of book!

 Robin has offered to give an ebook copy of A NIGHT OF SOUTHERN COMFORT away to one lucky reader. YAY! All you need to do is LIKE MY FACEBOOK PAGE or subscribe to my emails and please leave a comment for Robin. This contest will run one week, Thanks and good luck! 

Don't forget to leave your email with your comment!

ARC Review: Bad Moon Rising by Vivi Anna

This is a wonderful, hot, sexy, short story full of Alpha Males, hot ménage sex and a controlling witch. Do we need anything else? Nope!

Bad Moon Rising is the third story in the Blackthorn Wolves series. I did not realize this was the third book in the series when I started reading it. I have not read the first two but it no way prohibited me from enjoying this one!

It was obvious in the book that Anisa and Tommy have a history. Enough of that history was revealed in the story to fill in the necessary gaps. In many short stories, history of the characters and character development are compromised. I did not find that to be the case in this story. From the actions of the characters and the way they were presented, gave me such insight into them.

One of the things I would have liked to have seen was a bit more suspense in the murder of Stan Hart. When I began reading that section of the story I was wanting a bit more intrigue. Of course I love some good intrigue mixed in with smoking hot alpha men!

There was a twist at the end of the story that I really liked. I was not expecting the twist. This twist ended up whetting my appetite for more of Tommy and Anisa!

I have every intention of reading the others in this series. I have also found a new author to follow!

Review: Beautiful Disaster by Jaime McGuire

Beautiful Disaster is a wonderful name for this story as it fits it perfectly! Abby Abernathy is trying to start over where no one knows her. She wants nothing more than to escape her father and her past. When she meets Travis at college,she takes an instant dislike to him as he represents everything she’s trying to get away from.

Overtime they become best friends. They do everything together. Abby can’t imagine her life without Travis in it and he can’t imagine his life without her. They finally decide to take their relationship to the next level, more than friends.And what a beautiful disaster that turns out to be!

This is a wonderful story about two people who are so in love with each other but can’t admit it to themselves. Travis is messed up and has so many emotional problems.Abby wants a chance at normalcy and Travis is anything but normal.

I found myself crying through this book and had to keep wiping the tears out of my eyes. I was touched and moved by their story. They both kept making mistake sand hurting each other. It was killing me to watch them, while at the same time I had to keep reading to see if they would ever work it out.

Abby is a wonderful character that is weak when it comes to having Travis in her life but strong about not taking any crap from him. Travis has a reputation and no one sees the real Travis, except for Abby. She sees Travis for who and what he is. She accepts him for everything he is. While she does see the real Travis and accepts him for what he is, she’s no doormat who just puts up with anything. She pushes back at him and has a take no prisoners attitude.

Their HEA was wonderful. While the ending was not a complete surprise to me, I was extremely pleased with it. I just found out some wonderful news. Ms. McGuire is releasing a second story and it is supposed to be from Travis’s Point of View! I’m so excited about this!

Review: The Goddess Legacy by Aimée Carter

The Goddess Legacy is scandalous, daytime drama in book form. Seriously, someone please give this author an Emmy award. Wow, you’ve got drama, intrigue, deception, adultery, lust, murder and mystery. The list goes on. This is a mature YA read.
 

Aimée Carter takes an interesting twist with the Greek Mythology we have come to know. This book contains five novellas that prequel her current Goddess Test series. We start at the end of the War of the Titans when the Greek gods are taking their place as leaders. The novellas take us through time and show us the evolution of Hera, Aphrodite, Persephone, Hermes and Hades. 

Wow, Hades! I have a new love and respect for him. He is all sensitive, gentleman. Hera is vengeful and conniving and I can’t wait to see what she does next. She’s the one you love to hate. Aphrodite, well we all knew she was a slut being the Goddess of Love and all. Zeus should be in a chastity belt that shocks him with one of his own lightning bolts whenever Mr. Happy stands at attention. Hermes, oh Hermes you naughty boy. My gosh, I’m telling you, it’s like Days of Our Not So Young and Restless Gods. Now, I need to read the Goddess Test Series to pick up where the novellas left off. Must find out what happens with Hades' storyline.

 

BDSM Blog Hop & Giveway!

After Kari breaks up with her date during Beginner’s Night at Club Shadowlands, she’s given the option to continue with an experienced dominant. Despite her steamy fantasies about BDSM, the inexperienced schoolteacher plans to simply observe. Yet under the unyielding hands of Master Dan, she not only participates, but gives him everything he asks for. There is nothing she can hide from him. Not her passion.or her love.

Still mourning the death of his wife, Master Dan avoids getting involved with women and he never takes a sub twice. But this modest little beginner is such a sweetie, one night is far from enough. As he plumbs her responses, taking her ever deeper into the world of BDSM, the gentle submissive begins to show him how barren his life has become and what a dark citadel he’s made of his heart.

During their three nights together, the teacher will learn to submit…can she teach the master to love?


Hmm...why did I chose this book to giveaway? Maybe because it's one of my most favorite BDSM books yet to date! I absolutely adore Cherise Sinclair's Shadowlands series, especially Master Dan's book. There is something sinfully wicked in Master Dan. Well, all Cherise's Dom's are wicked, but Master Dan has a hold on me that I hope never lightens up. There is his fierce gaze and the strength in his hands that get me every time. I loved the way Dan held Kari in DARK CITADEL. It was so tight and secure and very erotic that while I was reading it, it left me breathless and eager for more. One of my favorite lines from this series is from this book but it's by Nolan. Kari is looking for Dan at the club and she can't find him. Nolan turns to Kari and says, 'I'll top you tonight.' I just about died when I read that.

If you haven't read the Shadowland series, well, I feel sad for you because you don't know what you're missing!

In order to entered in the giveaway, you must LIKE MY FACEBOOK PAGE or follow me by email. You can also find me on twitter at @MySecretRomance if you'd like. I'm also insanely addicted to GOODREADS and you can friend me there Please leave a comment and don't forget your email address!  Thanks and good luck!

Review: Avoiding Commitment by K.A. Linde

Five stars? Please. More like ten stars!

I can’t...I just can’t…

The drama...
The romance...
The cheating...
The deceitful lies...
The romance...
The drama....I LOVED ALL OF IT!

I don't normally add photos to my reviews. While I was reading this book the Olympics were on at the same time and I saw Ryan Lochte's face and said, OMG, THAT'S RAMSEY! Then I decided I couldn't just have a photo of Ramsey and not Jack. So a friend found this photo of Jack, and I must say she is spot on. Those piercing blue eyes and devilish smirk is exactly how Jack is described in Avoiding Commitment.

My heart was shattered and ripped to pieces while my stomach was doing back flips. This book played a number on my heart and I relished in every bit of it. I loved how it hurt!

Avoiding Commitment was PHENOMENAL! Of the countless books I’ve read this year, this book stands out the most. I know I've made declarations like this before, but this time there’s no doubt about it. If I never read another book again, I would be satisfied for all eternity. Okay, well maybe not forever. But this one is special.

Jack and Lexi have a complex relationship. The love and desire they have for each other is obvious. However, it’s overshadowed by the fact that they are both involved in other relationships. Why they can’t just be together is beyond me. They continuously destroy the relationships they’re in. Their love is toxic…the kind that feels so good and you know you should stay away from because it’s nearly killing you, but can't. The air between Jack and Lexi is so dense it was to the point where they are suffocating in each others presence. They want each other with a force that makes it difficult to breathe. There is never a right time for Jack and Lexi to be together…and Jack’s to blame.

Jack is a habitual liar. Nearly every word uttered from Jack’s lips was a lie and she believed him. Each lie was like a lashing to Lexi’s heart. It was painful and heartbreaking for her to bear, but her heart would be sewn back together with the soothing comforting words from Jack. She became vulnerable and powerless under his gaze. Lexi gave him everything he wanted and she got nothing in return. Lexi was blinded by Jack’s passion for her. One touch…one look with Jack’s penetrating blue eyes, a few convincing lines, and Lexi was done. Hell, I was done! I got to a point where I started to believe Jack would finally do right. I thought after all these promises he was making would mean something, but then he does the unthinkable. He sliced open Lexi’s scarred heart for the last time. I hated him for what he did, but it felt so damn good to see Lexi finally lay into him.

Jack and Lexi aren’t the only two players in this story. We meet Bekah and her brother Ramsey along with Chyna, Lexi’s best friend. I can’t say much about these characters other than I want Ramsey to fight for Lexi. I think he has what she needs. Lexi needs to be cherished and loved, not lied to repeatedly with broken promises. But after finding out the scheming plan between Jack, Bekah and Ramsey, I’m not sure if Lexi will open herself to Ramsey. I could not believe my eyes when I read how low and dirty they played Lexi. I will say that Chyna is the perfect best friend! Loved watching their friendship.

My feelings on who Lexie should be with are totally conflicted. On one hand I really want Jack...because well...it's Jack! But on the other hand, I see the way Ramsey looks at Lexi and I know how he feels about her. I think Ramsey genuinely cares for her. So for now, I am TEAM RAMSEY!

This review is possibly the hardest review for me to write to date. I want it make it the best review I’ve ever written, but how am I supposed to gather my thoughts and form words for a book that sits at the top of my favorites now? To say Avoiding Commitment was amazing is an understatement. This is the kind of book I look high and low for and can hardly find. I want a book where it's going to take me on a wild ride emotionally and mentally making me feel and understand what the characters are going through. And this book did that and so much more.

The story and writing flowed flawlessly. We were transported from past to present with each chapter alternating easily. Don’t think you can read a chapter or two and take a break. Oh no! You’ll be reading five or six at one time and still struggle with having to put this book down. The character development was superb and we were not left trying to figure out who they are.

I don't know how I managed the last quarter of this book. It was so powerful and moving and hot! Oh man! I plan to read it again actually. K.A. Linde is a new independent author that I think will quickly rise to the top. Be prepared for the impact her words will have on you. Avoiding Commitment was intoxicating and sensational! She is also one of my favorite new authors now and will be buying every book she puts out. What is it with all these independent authors lately?

Favorite lines-

"Do we have to talk about Clark?" she whispered.

"We don't have to, but you know my end of the story. You were the only one I saw when I closed my eyes," he said bringing his hand up to cup her chin and titling her head up to look into his crystal blue eyes,

"Then why wasn't I enough when they were open?" she asked another tear welling in her eyes.

"Does he mean all that to you?" Chyna whispered wringing her hands.

"He's always meant everything to me."

"You'll never change," she snarled. She couldn't believe the words had come out of her mouth. She had been thinking them all along, but the words struck too close to home for their relationship.

"Maybe I already have," he growled back walking forward and pushing her forcefully against the cement wall. His hand reached down, hitched her left leg up around his waist, and pushed himself against her.

"No matter what you do, it will never make up for what has happened between us. I will never trust you. I will never again be comfortable around you. I will never look at you or think of you without considering the destruction you have train wrecked through my life." -Lexi

These two songs are so vastly different yet so perfect for this book-

Love the Way You Lie

To Love You More

Bottom line- READ THIS BOOK!

Author Interview & Giveaway with K.A. Linde 7/11/12

ARC Review: Demon Hunting in the Deep South by Lexi George

This was a pretty interesting read for me. I’m from the south and found a certain familiarity with the sayings used in the book, as they are truly southern sayings! Things like bless your heart, son of a biscuit eater, and crappydoodle all remind me of home and they appear all over this book! It was awesome.

I also really liked how Ansgar and Brand (the demon hunters) spoke with a different cadence and structure. It really lent credibility to the fact that they were from another place and were thousands of years old.  It was funny to get the inside thoughts running through their heads as they translated what people were saying to them.

The romance between Ansgar and Evie was fabulous. Evie knew subconsciously that she and Ansgar had known each other for far longer than the few days she remembered. Her body remembered. My heart did break for her when she finally regained her memories and learned Ansgar had taken them from her. He wanted to keep her from being in pain when he left but all he ended up doing was pissing her off.

The neat thing about Evie getting pissed off, was watching her come out of her shell. She grew up being made fun of and people calling her names. Seeing her come out of that shell and stand up for herself was awesome. It was also neat to see her realize what a beautiful and vibrant woman she really was.

Through it all there is the murder to solve. Evie’s been accused of killing Meredith, her boss’s harpie wife.  The interaction of the ghost of Meredith and Evie had me laughing as Evie finally stood up to Meredith told her to back off.  It was also funny to watch Trey (Evie’s boss) be haunted by his dead wife!

The mystery of the murder is wrapped up in quite a few twists and turns. I was not expecting the murderer to be who it was. I was also not expecting the resolution to that. It was quite a surprise for me.  I liked the surprise of the murder resolution as I don’t like predictable outcomes!

When I first started reading this book I did not realize it was the second in a series.  It was obvious I had missed a few things but this story still stood on it’s own. I had no problems following this book. I have every intention of going back to read the first one!

There is obviously going to be a third story in this series. There was a little bit of a cliffhanger at the end and I fully intend to check it out.