Monthly Archives: November 2014

Tempting the Player/ Unwrapping Her Perfect Match (London Legends 3 & 3.5) by Kat Latham-Review and Blog Tour

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Tempting The Player/Unwrapping Her Perfect Match (London Legends 3 & 3.5) by Kat Latham-Review and Blog Tour

 

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TEMPTING THE PLAYER
(London Legends #3)
by Kat Latham
Release Date: November 10, 2014
Genre: adult, contemporary, erotic, romance

Tempting the Player

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ABOUT THE BOOK: November 10, 2014

Libby Hart and Matt Ogden are perfect for each other—as friends. They’ve known each other for ages. They act as each other’s plus-ones. They even share custody of a dog. And if there’s always been a little spark between them, so what? It’s never been worth jeopardizing their friendship.

Professional rugby player Matt is fighting for a starter position with the London Legends—and that’s not the only thing he’s fighting. A crippling fear of flying means he’s struggling to get his career off the ground. He has no time for a relationship, even if Libby does make him ache. As an airline pilot, Libby’s looking for a stay-at-home husband so she can have a family without sacrificing her high-flying career. Matt’s certainly not that man.

But just because they don’t have a future together doesn’t mean they can’t have a right now. When Matt asks Libby for help overcoming his fear, they agree to take a vacation from their platonic relationship—whenever they fly together, they can have sex. It’s the perfect way to resolve all that built-up tension. As long as they can avoid getting a little too comfortable.

••••••••••••••

REVIEW: TEMPTING THE PLAYER is the third installment in Kat Latham’s contemporary, adult London Legends romance series focusing on the players of the professional rugby team the London Legends. This is struggling rugby player Matt Ogden and airline pilot Libby Hart’s storyline-a friends to lovers trope with some heartbreaking moments and eye opening revelations. The author’s notes explain many of the British/European definitions, slang and euphemisms that many North American readers may not understand-bonus for us !!

The premise follows Matt’s struggle to make first string full-back with the London Legends professional rugby team but something or someone is holding him back. When a tragedy befalls one of the team member’s Matt must pick up and take control for the first time in his life. But memories of past failures and a deep fear of flying dog Matt at every turn. Enter Matt’s best friend, neighbor, co-owner of Princess the Chihuahua and airline pilot-Libby Hart- the woman who will make Matt face his worst fears and open his heart to a possible future.

The relationship between Libby and Matt is a friends to lovers storyline. Five years earlier, Libby introduced herself to her new neighbor, Matt Ogden and she fell in love at first sight. Fast forward to present day and Matt feels something for Libby but their future desires and needs follow opposite paths. Matt is a man determined to succeed on the playing field and Libby is an independent pilot who one day wants to make Captain. It is there busy schedules and future dreams that will put a stop to any permanent relationship – both friendship and love.

The world building continues as we follow the London Legends on the playing field and in their homes, as well as get a detailed look at operating a flying machine at 2,000 feet. The language and background information about piloting an airplane, and the little nuances about the game of rugby are an added bonus. The secondary players include the previous storyline couples, many of the London Legends players and Libby’s co-workers and family. There is a heartbreaking and painful loss for one of the players, one that cannot be fixed with a bandage or a slap on the back, and in this, Matt’s future with the team will begin to unfold. The storyline and epilogue fast forwards the series by eighteen months as we learn a little more about our couple and what the future has in store.

Kat Latham writes a provocative and captivating storyline. TEMPTING THE PLAYER is a passionate look at professional sports, the emotional highs and lows, and the amazing thrill of succeeding at something you love. The anguish of sorrow; the heartbreak of loss; and the lively and spirited support of the team players is sure to be a touchdown with fans of romantic sports storylines.

Reading Order
Playing It Close
Knowing the Score
Tempting The Player
Unwrapping Her Perfect Match

Copy supplied by the publisher.

Reviewed by Sandy

_______________________

UNWRAPPING HER PERFECT MATCH
(London Legends Christmas Novella 3.5)
by Kat Latham
Release Date: November 11, 2014
Genre: adult, contemporary, erotic, romance

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date November 11, 2014

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk/ Barnes and Noble / KOBO /

Unwrapping her perfect match’Twas a week before Christmas, and at the auction house…

At six foot one, Gwen Chambers has felt like a giant her whole life. She’s a calm, capable nurse saving lives in a busy London hospital, but healthy men give her heart palpitations. When larger-than-life rugby player “Little” John Sheldon convinces her to bid on him in his team’s fundraising auction, she discovers how pleasurable heart palpitations can be.

A rugby player was stirring, with desire no one could douse…

John has wanted Gwen since he first saw her, but when he’s injured in a match just before Christmas he suddenly needs her too. Not only can the sexy nurse help him recover, but she might be able to help him look after his daughter—a shy ten-year-old who speaks only French.

But will it be a Happy Christmas for all, and for all a good night?
From decorating the Christmas tree to ice skating at the Tower of London, Gwen helps father and daughter open up and bond with each other—and she bonds right along with them. But when John’s agent calls with a life-changing offer, Gwen has to decide how far she’s willing to go for her perfect match. Will their first Noël also be their last?

••••••••••••••••

REVIEW: UNWRAPPING HER PERFECT MATCH is Kat Latham’s first holiday installment in her contemporary, adult London Legends romance series focusing on the members of the professional rugby players of the London Legends. This is six-nine rugby player John Sheldon and nurse Gwen Chambers’s storyline.

Told from third person point of view, the storyline focuses on the building relationship between John and Gwen, one that began at a charity auction where Gwen ‘bought’ John for 5,000 pounds. Gwen is Tess Chambers’s sister (Playing It Close book 2), a nurse and a woman whose history with personal betrayal will hit too close to home when John makes a side bet with his teammate Matt Ogden about who would raise the most money. When Gwen only catches a part of the exchange, she immediately becomes defensive and retreats back to the years that had all but destroyed her life. It will take a young ten year old girl, a holiday filled with wonder and imagination, and the love of a good man, to show Gwen that not every man is after the same thing.

The relationship between Gwen and John is one of immediate attraction but one rife with misunderstandings and fragile ego. John’s future with Gwen and the team is in question, and when John announces his plans, Gwen once again finds herself on the sidelines, hurt and wondering where it all went wrong. The sex scenes are intimate, emotional and intense.

UNWRAPPING HER PERFECT MATCH is another moving and seductive storyline from Kat Latham. Some of the previous storyline characters play a secondary role for a sense of familiarity and cohesion. The storyline timeline occurs three months after the events in book 3 but prior to the epilogue advancement. Each member of the team will find his happily ever after but getting there will not always be easy.

Copy supplied by the publisher.

Reviewed by Sandy

about the author

Kat Latham

Kat Latham is a California girl who moved to Europe the day after graduating from UCLA, ditching her tank tops for raincoats. She taught English in Prague and worked as an editor in London before she and her British husband moved to the Netherlands. Kat’s other career involves writing and editing for charities, and she’s traveled to Kenya, Ethiopia and India to meet heroic people helping their communities survive disasters. Find out more on her website: katlatham.com.

 

Site: http://katlatham.com/
Blog: http://katlatham.com/blog/
Newsletter: http://katlatham.com/newsletter/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KatLathamRomance
Twitter: https://twitter.com/katrinalatham
http://www.pinterest.com/KatLatham1/

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Dragonslayer by Eleri Stone – Review & Giveaway

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Dragonslayer by Eleri Stone – Review & Giveaway

 

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Dragonslayer
Twilight of the Gods #3
by Eleri Stone
Release Date:November 10, 2014
Genre: contemporary, adult, fantasy, romance

 

DragonslayerAmazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo

Description:
One year after his bride left him at the altar for his best man, Christian Jager is stuck in a rut. Working at the local co-op, dating the same handful of women he’s known since childhood, riding with the wild hunt twice a month to keep the jötnar who destroyed Asgard from invading earth.

He wants something more, but he’s not quite sure what it is until Jacey Morgan blows into his life like a breath of fresh air. A wildlife biologist who’s come to Ragnarok to investigate rumors of a strange predator in the area, she’s also a native Midgardian who can’t ever learn the truth about Christian or his clan. His job is to distract her and get her the Hel out of town as quickly as possible so the Æsir can take care of the problem themselves.

Jacey wants the case wrapped up quickly too, and she’s not about to get distracted by the sinfully sexy man who’s so unexpectedly determined to help. With a new degree and a plan to get out of Iowa, she’s ready to move on to bigger and better things… A dragon isn’t quite what she had in mind.

 

 Review:

Dragonslayer by Eleri Stone was an “Awesome” story. This is a continuing story, which is part of Stone’s Twilight of the Gods series, but it can be read on its own, but as lots of the characters are from the two previous books, it will help to have read the first two books.

A quick recap on the two previous books…..

A small village of descendants of gods live on a fault line, (a magical portal that opens on each new moon and full moon)> They guard the portal from demons known as jotnar (funny squigges over a few letters), if these demons get pass the gods, then earth (or midguard) will be eaten !!!

The gods have descended from the original Norse gods, but through time their powers aren’t as strong, so they are almost human, but with a few powers. There are also wolves who change into men (no females, that story was explained in the last book). And witches who try to keep the portal closed.

Christian the hero in our book, was featured a lot in the previous book, he was engaged to Raquel, she in turn met and fell in love with Fen (werewolf) Christians best friend !! (Second book )

So Christian now lives in the house that was suppose to be his and his wife’s. He is a free spirit, entered into a marital contract whilst he was still a baby, he had always known that he was to be married once his bride turned twenty-five, so he played the field, loving and leaving women, knowing his future would catch up to him.

Only trouble is, he wants a wife, he built the house and all the rooms for her. He is a carer, and wants to settle down.

Enters our heroine if the book. Jacey Morgan, a wildlife biologist.

The sparks don’t fly from the first moment, but Christian is intrigued. And when Jacey witnesses a hunt, (when the gods hunt down the demons) things are set in motion. Christian promises his leader Aiden (hero from first book) that they can trust Jacey, and even get her help.

Christian knows she can’t stay, midguardians (humans) aren’t allowed to mate with them, their powers are being diluted, so only other villages that guard the portals are allowed to marry.

The dragon scenes are excellent, I could picture the action with very little problem. The ongoing story is easy to follow, and the sub stories, whet your appetite for more books. 🙂

The story is a little slow, but I like that, they fight their attraction. But in the end ……..

Does Christian get his happy ending?   I’m not telling 🙂

Reviewed by Julie B.

Copy provide by Author

 

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Eleri is graciously offering an e-copy of the winner’s choice of any one book in her Twilight of the Gods series (Dragonslayer, Demon Blood, or Witch Bound) to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.

1. If you have not previously registered at The Reading Cafe, please register by using the log-in at the top of the page (side bar) or by using one of the social log-ins.

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8. Giveaway runs from November 16 – 20, 2014

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The Hoard / The Threshing Circle by Neil Grimmett-reviews

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The Hoard/The Threshing Circle by Neil Grimmett-reviews

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The HoardeThe Hoard
by Neil Grimmett
Genre: mystery, suspense

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 5, 2014

The Hoard is a thriller set in the secretive, dangerous world of a Royal Ordnance Factory; a vast, surreal place full of some of the most volatile elements on the planet.

Thirty years before the main story, the nitration house at the ROF in Bridgwater exploded in a fireball that could be seen for miles around. The entire crew was killed, and the source of the explosion was never found; authorities claimed that the charge in the nitrator had gone critical and that the chargehand was unable to stop a lethal cook-off. But Gunner Wade, the man the nitration crew sent for help that day knows differently: they were murdered; and he was branded a coward.

Now Byron, the son of one of the victims, enters the sprawling Gormenghast-like compound of the top secret factory to discover the truth about his father’s death. But what he finds in the dark heart of this world is a hidden hoard of super-high explosives; illegally produced and drenched in the blood of those killed to conceal its existence

Inspired by a massive explosion that killed six men at the real-world ROF Bridgwater facility in 1951 – no cause was ever found – The Hoard is a gripping, grim novel that offers a glimpse into a self-contained apocalyptic landscape scarred both by the birthing of the materiel that fuels war, and the hearts of evil men who would do anything for greed.

•••••••••••••••

REVIEW: THE HOARD is an intriguing storyline of suspense, mystery, murder and betrayal focusing on the Royal Ordnance Factory-a munitions compound where in 1951 an horrific explosion killed several employees leaving many unanswered questions and grieving families. Fast forward to 1979 when Byron Kerslake, the son of one of the victims, begins an investigation of his own only to realize that what began in 1951 has yet to be completed.

Told from several close third person points of view, Neil Grimmett’s THE HOARD is a colorful mosaic and infinitely detailed look at greed and betrayal where several interlocking plot points will coalesce in a finale of retribution and remorse. There is a slight ‘historical reality’ as the storyline takes some of its premise from the original ROF Bridgwater, UK disaster where an experimental high explosive was developed and the ensuing cause of an explosion that killed six men was never uncovered. THE HOARD is a fictitious account of the what-ifs and whys.

The ensemble cast of characters is rich in back story; intricately woven throughout the storyline wherein the reader is pulled into the technical and minute details of an industry caught between right and wrong. The premise is infinitely slow to develop as Grimmett’s world building brings together the past with the present focusing on survivors, secrets and the primary players in a high stakes game of avarice and greed.

The storyline is rife with graphic violence and torture, graphic language and imagery. THE HOARD focuses on the cataclysmic events and the aftermath of an explosion where whispers of murder push a young man to uncover the thirty year old secrets that refuse to be silenced any longer. The destructive nature of greed fuels the beast and all those who follow in its’ wake.

THE HOARD is a thrilling, startling and suspenseful tale that will capture your imagination. The storyline unfolds revealing a building path of destruction where the ultimate in retribution will find that revenge is a dish…best left unserved. Neil Grimmett’s ability to weave a storyline unravels like a flower-one petal-or one page-at a time.

Copy supplied by the author.

Reviewed by Sandy

_____________________

The Threshing CircleTHE THRESHING CIRCLE
by Neil Grimmett
Genre: mystery, suspense, thriller

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk/

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date February 19, 2014

A young couple arrive on the Greek island of Crete and begin prying into the execution of a beautiful English woman during the German occupation sixty years before. They enter a labyrinth of forbidden love, betrayals, murder, greed and vendettas, old and new.

Then they disappear.

A feisty Scottish woman and an irascible, Zorba-like Greek form a reluctant allegiance in a desperate attempt to find and rescue them. They both have very different motives for their involvement. Their search will take them to hidden rituals, ceremonies, remote gatherings, famous monasteries and villages abandoned after decades of vendettas. To the remote island of Gavdos and finally back to a place that, “Even God does not know exists”.

They will encounter characters good and evil; some modern and pragmatic, others ancient and magical.

All the time they are being stalked by the sons of man who seeks to complete the crimes of his father and sate his own greed and insane desire for vengeance. These men are more animal than human and have been raised in the remote mountains for the sole purpose of carrying out the brutal will of their father.

The mystery of the real, hidden Crete runs deep, and THE THRESHING CIRCLE explores some of the myths and romance while not shying away from its often violent nature.

By the end choices will have to be made. If such actions are really possible on an island where many Cretans still believe that: “The Cycle of Blood”, can never stop flowing.

•••••••••••••

REVIEW: THE THRESHING CIRCLE, written by Neil Grimmett, is a storyline of mystery and suspense, where the past meets the present; where the sins of the father follow each successive generation; where revenge is the ultimate act of betrayal.

As the storyline unfolds, the reader is pulled back in time to 1942. Near a mountain village (on the Greek island of Crete), witnessed by the members of the village and an army of sadistic soldiers, a young woman named Marianna will be executed by the Nazis. As her infant lay screaming for the mother she will never know, a villager will take the young child and escape to places unknown. Fast forward sixty two years where a young British couple-Patrick and Eleni- in search of the truth will traverse a minefield of lies, deceit, murderous revenge and betrayal in the hopes of uncovering the truth. Enter Scottish ex-pat Kirsty and respected village elder Barba Yiorgos who take on the mission, when the authorities discount the story, to find and locate the now missing British couple. As the clues begin to unfold, Kirsty’s support and faith in Barba’s ability will shatter when another story from the past goes in a decidedly different direction.

THE THRESHING CIRCLE is a fascinating and intriguing crime story rich in Greek and Crete culture. From the small towns and villages, through the ancient ruins of a time long ago, the social nuances and idiosyncrasies of a people who remain locked away in their protective bubble, are the backdrop to a story rich in Greek and Crete heritage, old fashioned beliefs and deadly family secrets. The world building takes the reader on a tour through small cafes, the food and drink of the locals, as well as a cross-island tour in search of the truth. There are moments of betrayal, pain, vengeance, graphic sexual violence and imagery that run full circle from a time when the world was at war with itself to present day when a family is at war with everyone else.

Neil Grimmett will seduce your mind in this thrilling and suspenseful journey that follows two families, three generations and six decades. Where one family needs closure for the pain and heartbreak for an unimaginable death; still another family demands retribution for the sins of the past. There is a dark malevolence weaving itself through the story but in the end, justice will be delivered in much the same way a young woman met her murderous demise.

Copy supplied by the author.

Reviewed by Sandy

About The Author Black and Red

Follow: Goodreads/ Website/ Facebook/ Twitter

Neil GrimmettNeil Grimmett has had over eighty five short stories published. In the UK by among others: London Magazine, Stand, Panurge, Iron, Ambit, Postscripts Magazine, Pretext etc. Australia, Quadrant, South Africa, New Contrast. Plus stories in the leading journals of Singapore, India, France, Canada, and the USA, where he has appeared in Fiction, The Yale Review, DoubleTake, The southern Humanities Review, Green Mountains Review, Descant, The Southern Review, West Branch and Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine. He has appeared online in Blackbird, Plum Ruby Review, Tatlin’s Tower, Web Del Sol, In Posse Review, m.a.g., Word Riot, Blue Moon Review, 3AM, Gangway, Eclectica, The Cortland Review, Segue, The Dublin Quarterly , Ducts, Sugar Mule, Mysterical E, Thuglit and over thirty others. His stories have also appeared in the anthologies: ENGLAND CALLING, BOOK OF VOICES and Italy’s ISBN’s Top International Stories. He has made the storySouth Million Writers Notable Short Story list for the last three years.

In addition, he has won the Write On poetry award, 7 Oppenheim John Downes Awards, 5 major British Arts Council Awards, a Royal Society of Authors award and was just awarded a major grant from the Royal Literary Fund. He has been signed over the last ten years by twelve of the leading literary agents in both the UK and USA. His current agent is Jon Elek at United Agents who is just going out with his 2nd literary thriller, THE HOARD.

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I See Me (Oracle Book #1) by Meghan Ciana Doidge-Review and Giveaway

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I See Me (Oracle Book #1) by Meghan Ciana Doidge-Review and Giveaway

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I See Me
Oracle #1
by Meghan Ciana Doidge
Genre: paranormal
Release Date: October 29, 2014

 

I See Me

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / KOBO /B&N/ Smashwords/ iBook USA/ iBooks Canada

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date October 29, 2014

Click HERE for the book trailer

The day I turned nineteen, I expected to gain what little freedom I could within the restrictions of my bank account and the hallucinations that had haunted me for the last six years. I expected to drive away from a life that had been dictated by the tragedy of others and shaped by the care of strangers. I expected to be alone. Actually, I relished the idea of being alone. Instead, I found fear I thought I’d overcome. Uncertainty I thought I’d painstakingly planned away. And terror that was more real than anything I’d ever hallucinated before. I’d seen terrible, fantastical, and utterly impossible things … but not love. Not until I saw him.

••••••••••••••••••••••••

REVIEW: Hurry, Pinch Me! Is this book for real or am I dreaming it? I SEE ME by Meghan Ciana Doidge is the first novel in a companion series that parallel The Dowser Series. Do you need to read the Dowser series first? I highly recommend it! This is the world of the Adepts, magical creatures, shapeshifters, vampires and an evil sorcerer! We get to check in with our friends, Jade Godrey, (Our powerful cupcake making Dowser), Desmond (our hot swoon-worthy Alpha), Kandy (werewolf bodyguard) and some new magical characters.

Rochelle Saintpaul is an orphan and has been raised in the foster care system. She has been haunted by hallucinations for years that have led her to be very private and distrustful of people. No family wants to adopt a girl with mental problems. When she is in the gripes of a hallucination, she has learned to draw what she sees. These drawings usually center around a mysterious man wearing an amulet that have become best sellers on her Etsy site. A curly haired blonde in danger is now making appearances! Rochelle has aged out of the system and buys a 1975 Brave motorhome to have an adventure or maybe just escape her current life. She travels down to Washington State and this is when her world changes……..

After an intense “hallucination”, Rochelle ventures out of her safe motorhome to go to a diner. This is where she meets Beau, a man who will forever change her life. She doesn’t know it at the time, but Beau is a tiger shifter who is drawn to her magic! Wait, she is magical?? Yes, those hallucinations are really visions of the future. Rochelle is an Oracle and a powerful one too! The man she keeps on “seeing” in her visions is none other than our evil Sorcerer, Mot Blackwell. He tracks her down in the flesh, to add her to his “magical collection”. Rochelle seriously doesn’t know what is “real” anymore!

Beau saves her from Blackwell and they head down to “Pack Territory” in Portland Oregon, where you guess it, Desmond is the Alpha! Our gang from the Dowser Series, try to help Rochelle identify her powers and Jade even calls in one of the 9 Guardians! This is a fast paced novel that centers more on Rochelle and her hidden heritage and her growing love for Beau, her shifter! Problems come when Rochelle sees something that she doesn’t want to happen. You know what happens when people try to change fate! Bad things happen! Rochelle will make a deal with the devil to prevent her vision from happening! I can’t wait to read more adventures with Rochelle, our tattooed Oracle! How will she be able to help our Adept community? Those will be some very entertaining adventures! Enjoy!

The Dowser Series
Cupcakes, Trinkets and Other Deadly Magic
Trinkets, Treasures and Other Bloody Magic
Treasures, Demons and Other Black Magic

Copy supplied by the author

Reviewed by Jules C

About The Author

Meghan Doidge

 

 

Follow Meghan: Goodreads / Website / Facebook / Twitter

Meghan Ciana Doidge is an award-winning writer based out of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. She has a penchant for bloody love stories, superheroes, and the supernatural. She also has a thing for chocolate, potatoes, and sock yarn.

 

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Meghan is graciously offering an ecopy of I SEE ME to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.

1. If you have not previously registered at The Reading Cafe, please register by using the log-in at the top of the page (side bar) or by using one of the social log-ins.

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8. Giveaway runs from November 15-19, 2014

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Black Dahlia (Gilded Flower #5) by Vivian Winslow-Review and Blog Tour

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Black Dahlia (Gilded Flower #5) by Vivian Winslow-Review and Blog Tour

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Black Dahlia
Gilded Flower #5
by Vivian Winslow
Genre: adult, contemporary, erotic
Release Date: November 13, 2014

Black Dahlia

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk/

Add to your GOODREADS shelf.

Click HERE for read Rachel’s review of BLUE DAHLIA by Vivian Winslow

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date November 13, 2014

BLACK DAHLIA IS THE SECOND INSTALLMENT OF THE DAHLIA TRILOGY OF THE GILDED FLOWER SERIES.

Grieving from a tragic loss, a deeply depressed Dahlia retreats with her sister Lily and best friend Vi to a sun-soaked Indonesian paradise to heal. There, she meets soulful surfer Kai, who’s seeking to escape from the demons of his own past. Can the spiritual and physical connection between them put back together the pieces of Dahlia’s shattered heart?

••••••••••••

REVIEW: 4 out of 5 for this reader folks!

WOW … Miss Vivian .. where did that come from and how am I suppose to write a review without giving away all the best parts? LOL

Well this is going to be a quick review. Out of respect to Vivian Winslow I am just going to comment on a few things.

Black Dahlia is the fifth book in Vivian Winslow’s Gilded Flower series. This has been a different series in the sense that come the fourth book it branches off with a different heroine but still has the other characters from the first three books. I would recommend you absolutely read the fourth book before this one, but if you are going to do that, then snag the first three too and get a back story.

This book was by far her best one of the series. Right from the beginning you are snagged with the “WOW Factor”. This novel had remnants of her first novel of this series where self discovery, healing and personal reflection really shine through. The sexy scenes certainly are sexy and the bitchy … bitchy! LOL This is another short read (less than 100 pages) and again for so little pages there is so much story. Still a little choppy and rushed, I have to say that though, it didn’t take away from this story all that much.

I’m so sorry … I have literally given you nothing about the storyline … it’s on purpose. 😉

HAPPY READING! 🙂

Copy supplied by the author

Reviewed by Rachel T

Q&A

1. If you were a dessert, what would you be?

Oooh. Definitely something salty and sweet. There’s a dessert at Big Gay Ice Cream down on the Lower East Side called the Salty Pimp. It’s a soft serve vanilla cone with drops of Dulce de Leche and covered in chocolate. I love anything you eat with your tongue.

2. What 3 things are essential in your bedroom for a sexy/romantic night in?

Music is a must. I change it up quite a bit depending on my mood. Also, the right man (I’m married so that’s a given : )). And, depending on our mood, a toy, prop or just us. Sorry, that’s 2-2 ½ things. Oh, I guess sleeping children. There’s nothing romantic going on when they’re awake.

3. What do you like about writing erotic romance?

I like that I can take my characters to the edge of and beyond their limits. I also get to define what those limits are. The beauty of digital publishing is that there are no set parameters for a particular genre. So it’s been a lot of fun incorporating various elements from other genres (women’s fiction, suspense, etc.) and creating really hot sex scenes to go with them. It’s pure freedom, which for a writer is extremely difficult to find and balance.

4. If you could sleep with any of your characters who would it be?

Ahem. No disrespect to the hot man in my life or to those I write about. I’ve had sex with them all (in my head, except for my husband), and the one I think I’d come back to time and again is Alejandro. He’s a true alpha. Not overly dominating in the way that readers have come to expect because of books like 50 Shades. Rather, he’s confident and secure in his masculinity and is completely self-possessed. To me, that’s what makes a true alpha male. They’re not necessarily assholes or dominants. I think those qualities can often confuse what makes a man a sexy alpha versus a crazy, stalker with low self-esteem masked as an alpha. Oh, and it doesn’t hurt that when I picture him, I see William Levy. So hot.
And confession. Gustavo is a close second. Just once though. I’d have to get it out of my system. Lol.

5. Spanking, yes or no.

Abso-fuckin’lutely. Caveat. Can’t be overdone or done every time. Then it’s just abuse, which is so not hot.

6. Do you like to be tied up. If so, why and with what?

Same answer as above. I have an adventurous spirit, and I’m usually game for anything. Whatever is around can work, like a t-shirt. I’m usually a fly-by-the seat-of- her-pants kind of person so sometimes you have to just work with what you have.

7. What do you use for inspiration for your love scenes?

Personal experiences aside, I have quite an imagination. : ) I’ve been writing love scenes since I was a young girl. If I’m feeling a need for a kick-start, I’ll listen to sexy music, which varies depending on the scene, if it’s animalistic or sensual. I might also read a scene from a sexy book. It doesn’t hurt to look at some hot guys on the Internet. But that’s a last resort. It’s important to connect with the character and figure out what kind of lover he is, for example, rough, gentle, confident, or dominating, and then go from there. While the books are centered on the female characters, their sexual experiences are defined just as much by the men they are with as it is by them. It’s a mutual scene, so it does take two to make it work.

8. Which character has surprised you the most and why?

Gustavo, without a doubt. He’s played so many roles in my mind throughout The Gilded Flower series. I never conceived him to be a villain. Originally, I wanted him to be an open and intense lover for Lily, one who would challenge her and force her to grow and face her fears. As the series progressed, he kept appearing, and thus his role had to change. I secretly hoped he would be her HEA until mid-way through Calla Lily when I realized that wasn’t going to happen. So then he needed to assume a new role. As the series continues, his story deepens and becomes more nefarious. I love it, and I appreciate how his character is so malleable like that. Makes him even more appealing. Amoral characters don’t lose their sex appeal (most of the time).
A close second is Dahlia. I expected a lot out of her, but now that I’ve written the end of her Trilogy, I just want to hug her for how far her character has come.

About The Author Black and White

Vivian WinslowVivian Winslow was born and raised in Southern California. Before becoming a writer, she made a career out of moving around the world every couple of years thanks to her husband’s job. She currently lives in New York City with her husband and two elementary school age children, and is grateful to finally have a place to call home for more than two years. New York is the perfect city to indulge her love of shopping, the arts and especially food.

If she’s not at home writing or running around the city with her kids, you’ll most likely find her indulging in pizza on the Lower East Side or having a cocktail at her favorite bar in Alphabet City. That said, she’s still a California girl at heart and would gladly trade in her heels for a pair of flip-flops to catch a sunset on the beach. .

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The Tiger Queens by Stephanie Thornton – a Review

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The Tiger Queens by Stephanie Thornton – a Review

 

The tiger Queens

Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / The Book Depository / BAM

Description:
In the late twelfth century, across the sweeping Mongolian grasslands, brilliant, charismatic Temujin ascends to power, declaring himself the Great, or Genghis, Khan. But it is the women who stand beside him who ensure his triumph….

After her mother foretells an ominous future for her, gifted Borte becomes an outsider within her clan. When she seeks comfort in the arms of aristocratic traveler Jamuka, she discovers he is the blood brother of Temujin, the man who agreed to marry her and then abandoned her long before they could wed.

Temujin will return and make Borte his queen, yet it will take many women to safeguard his fragile new kingdom. Their daughter, the fierce Alaqai, will ride and shoot an arrow as well as any man. Fatima, an elegant Persian captive, will transform her desire for revenge into an unbreakable loyalty. And Sorkhokhtani, a demure widow, will position her sons to inherit the empire when it begins to fracture from within.

In a world lit by fire and ruled by the sword, the tiger queens of Genghis Khan come to depend on one another as they fight and love, scheme and sacrifice, all for the good of their family…and the greatness of the People of the Felt Walls.

Review:

The Tiger Queens by Stephanie Thornton is an exquisitely written historical fiction tale. The descriptive writing allows the reader to see, feel, smell and otherwise emotionally experience life in this uncaptured period of time.

This is the story of the wives and daughters of Genghis Khan. Starting with his “wife of his heart” as a young girl and continuing with those in her life that she considered close friends, her daughters and the wives of her sons. These exceptional and unsung heroines gave more than anyone could have imagined to build and hold together the Mongolian state he created.

This story is so well told it brings love, laughter, horror, heartbreak, and sorrow. Your emotions will be run through the proverbial ringer as the stories of these exceptional women unfold. The details are told in tune with the thinking of the heroines, culture, religion, longing and so much more. It’s an exquisite tale that will fill your heart, although at times it will also break it.

Strong women living life as they see it, some things by choice, other by demand. A truly interesting journey into a time of characters that have always been more myth than men, this story fully takes you there. Are they monsters or just men trying to keep themselves and their families alive?

It’s not like the “history books”; this is seen through a different perspective and hearts.

I thoroughly enjoyed the story and found it hard to put down. Please get you favorite beverage, lots of tissues and enjoy, I most certainly did.

Reviewed by Georgianna

Copy provided by Publisher

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The Rogue River Series (Book 1 & 2) by Kendra Elliot & Melinda Leigh – Reviews

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The Rogue River Series (Book 1 & 2) by Kendra Elliot & Melinda Leigh – Reviews

 

Melinda-and-Kendra-4613-Color-Sm-300x200

Kendra Elliot and Melinda Leigh, amazing individual authors, have generously collaborated to gift us with the Rogue River Romance Suspense Novella Series. There are 4 novellas in which both Elliot and Leigh will do two each.  Below are the first two book in this series.

We discovered that the only thing better than having writer buddies is having one to help you plot murder. On paper, of course.

                                                            Kendra Elliot ~ Melinda Leigh

 


On Her Father’s Grave
Rogue River – Book #1
by Kendra Elliot
Release Date: October 7, 2014

On Her Father's GraveAmazon

Description:
In a small town like Solitude, Oregon, keeping a secret can be murder.

Stevie Taylor had left her sleepy Oregon hometown for a more exciting life. But after her police chief father passes away, the LAPD cop returns to Solitude and signs on as a patrol officer, hoping to heal from her loss…and from the horrific things she’s seen in the city.

In Solitude, everyone knows everyone else’s business—and, to Stevie’s dismay, local gossip soon ties her to the new police chief and a man from her past. Tragedy then shakes up the small town when a teenager dies after taking a strange new drug. Now, the seasoned LA cop must hunt down the dealer while investigating the most important case of her life, one that could divide her tranquil town.

 

Review:
Stevie’s “escaped from L.A.” to her childhood town of Solitude in the Pacific Northwest. Life was teeming with crime in the big city, so she wanted to part ways and surround herself with familiar faces. Perhaps the death of a well-known teenager (the day before her first day as a police officer), following the death of her father the local police chief (just ten days ago), was too overwhelming to be a first case? No time like the present for this as#-kicker.

The mysterious death of a popular teenager has set the small town of Solitude into an uproar. Rumors and teen shoulder shrugs (secrets) call for a swift solution to restore peace, but Zane, the new Chief of Police has yet to settle into the position (aka, gain approval from the sleepy community). When the findings of a second death too closely resembles the unsolved first murder (no visible markings of foul play), a silent killer must be brought to the light.

The investigation was intriguing, Ms. Elliot is recognized for her thrillers, but the romance was subtly intoxicating! You can sense a mutual interest, an attraction at the very least, but it’s enough to keep you hopeful. Throw in Stevie’s ex-HS-BF and things just got competitive.

“Yes, that happens, doesn’t it? Then something new shows up and that’s all you can see.”

I don’t know what their collaborative process was or how Ms. Elliot was chosen to lead, but its taken life and I’m excited to read where it’s headed. What a beginning!

 

Gone to Her Grave
Rogue River – Book #2
by Melinda Leigh
Release Date: October 21, 2014

Gone to her Grave

 Amazon

 

Description:
When she believes a teen is falsely accused of drug dealing, social worker Carly Taylor takes on a high-risk case and her estranged husband—the detective in charge of the investigation—to prove the boy innocent. A deadly new designer drug has taken hold of her small rural hometown of Solitude, Oregon, and Carly is determined to find the real dealer and clear the teen’s name. But the deeper she digs into the case, the more danger she unearths, until someone decides it’s time for Carly to move on…permanently.

Investigator Seth Harding knows he can’t stop his wife when she has a child to protect. But he risks any chance of reconciliation with Carly if he can’t learn to accept her dangerous job. When a drug dealer decides Carly is getting too close, will Seth lose her altogether?

 

Review:
A spoiler-free sequel review requires Herculean effort to tiptoe around plotlines, but I endeavor to do so. I will have to offer some insight, but intend to keep the suspense intact.

Solitude seemed to sit right in the middle of the current drug infestation

Gone to Her Grave, written by Melinda Leigh, is book #2 in the Rogue River series, in collaboration with author, Kendra Elliot. While Ms. Elliot was a pleasant surprise for me, I’m a huge fan of Ms. Leigh’s (her Midnight novels reviews can be read here) and I expect she will continue to thread the needle of this beautiful tapestry woven in Solitude.

Drugs are the culprit. Their effects: Deadly. Who is supplying the poison remains to be unearthed. Carly is a social worker (and younger sister of Stevie from book #1) who comes to the aid of an abuser’s family, and inadvertently becomes prey. Though currently separated from her husband, Seth, a Rogue County Sheriff’s investigator, both of them will have to put personal issues aside and join forces to defeat the harm permeating Solitude.

Although their divorce is pending, love isn’t the issue — the lack of respect and appreciation has strained the marriage to a breaking point. When Seth and Carly are forced into a corner, will inventory of life’s essentials resuscitate the waning relationship or emphasize their fundamental differences?

These women knew what their vision was, played to their strengths, and wrote an intriguing series. The combination of suspense, romance, fear, and other terrific elements has fans crying out for more. The third installment, Her Grave Secrets, penned by Kendra Elliot, is released Tuesday, November 4th. Not to be outdone is the finale of the series, Walking on Her Grave, slated for November 18th with Ms. Leigh at the helm.

I’m marking the days off my calendar!

Reviews by Carmen

Copies provided by Authors

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Burn For Me by Ilona Andrews – a Review

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Burn For Me by Ilona Andrews – a Review

 

BURN-FOR-ME-Oct 2014jpgAmazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / The Book Depository / BAM

Description:
Nevada Baylor is faced with the most challenging case of her detective career—a suicide mission to bring in a suspect in a volatile case. Nevada isn’t sure she has the chops. Her quarry is a Prime, the highest rank of magic user, who can set anyone and anything on fire.

Then she’s kidnapped by Connor “Mad” Rogan—a darkly tempting billionaire with equally devastating powers. Torn between wanting to run or surrender to their overwhelming attraction, Nevada must join forces with Rogan to stay alive.

Rogan’s after the same target, so he needs Nevada. But she’s getting under his skin, making him care about someone other than himself for a change. And, as Rogan has learned, love can be as perilous as death, especially in the magic world.

Review:

Burn for Me by Ilona Andrews is the 1st book in her Hidden Legacy series.   I wasn’t sure what to expect from this new series. I am a huge fan Andrew’s Kate Daniels series, as well as the Edge series. Burn for Me turned out to be a fantastic start to this enthralling series.

The world-building for this series is pivotal and huge, as it sets the stage of a world run by families and magic. Nevada, our heroine, is a private investigator, who works with her family to keep the agency afloat. She accepts cases from a House with major magic, as they hold the liens on the family business.   Nevada is forced to accept a case that has little hope of surviving, and even her family is against her taking it. But with the threat of losing the business, Nevada accepts. Her target is to the find Adam Pierce, who is a Prime (Ultimate magic power), and his ability is indestructible fire.

Connor (Mad) Rogan, our hero, is another powerful Prime, who runs the House Rogan. Mad, who got his nickname from his time during war, where he was able to destroy anything and everything, to help win the war, and his reputation followed him home. When Adam Pierce destroys a bank and the people in it, his accomplice was a distant cousin. Because he was asked to help find the cousin, Mad becomes involved in finding Adam. In order to do so, he must partner up with Nevada, who wants nothing to do with working with someone like Mad.

Though the chemistry between Nevada and Mad was hot, this is not a romance. At least not yet. Probably in future books, there promises to be more, as Mad will do anything he can to weaken Nevada’s frustrating attempts to steer clear of him. I for one look forward to seeing more of Nevada and Mad becoming a full relationship. I also loved Nevada’s strange family, who were wonderful secondary characters.

Back to the story…This was a fantastic look at magic, power, and what the forces of evil can do with it to destroy those around them. There is so much world-building in this amazing story, but the exciting action is non stop, as we feared for our heroes’ lives in so many unbelievable situations. Great new series by Ilona Andrews, and I will be there waiting impatiently for the next book.

Reviewed by Barb

 

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