Jilly

Review….The Education of Sebastian by Jane Harvey-Berrick

Buy from Amazon

Dude Cover

Synopsis:

A friendship between the lost and lonely Caroline, and the unhappy Sebastian, leads to an illicit love that threatens them both.

Caroline Wilson is trapped in a cold and loveless marriage with an older man. When her husband finally wins a long sought-after promotion, Caroline feels she has little choice but to follow him to a new home in San Diego. There she meets Sebastian, a young man of 17.

For an all too brief summer, their happiness blooms.

But external pressures begin to bear down, not least from the overbearing David, and Sebastian’s parents begin to suspect that their son has a secret. Even Caroline’s new friend, Donna, realizes that dark passions exist below the serene surface.

My Review:

The Education of Sebastian is the first in the “Education of…” duo by Jane Harvey-Berrick and at this moment in time I am thanking all things holy that there is, in fact, another book because the ending of Sebastian’s book is a gut-wrenching, sob-inducing shocker….but, I loved every freaking page leading up to it!

Caroline has been stuck for eleven years in a marriage she thought she wanted when she met her husband at the age of 19. Now, after the eleven long years have gone by, she is starting to realize she isn’t in the kind of marriage she dreamed it would be. Her husband, a Navy doctor, is stuck in the my-wife-is-my-caretaker era and expects her to have dinner on the table promptly at 6, his uniform pressed and laid out for the next day and be ready to “service” him when he chooses. Now, back in San Diego after another transfer, she runs into the boy next door from when they had lived there almost 10 years before. Only now, the boy next door is a handsome 17-year-old and he hasn’t forgotten her.

Sebastian can hardly believe his eyes. Could it really be Caroline he sees on the beach? The same Caroline he has been missing since she moved away from the neighborhood when he was a young boy? The Caroline who has haunted his dreams, and fantasies, for as long as he can remember? Now, at 17, he’s decided he has to have her….and show her the impact she has had on him for all of these years.

The affair that Caroline and Sebastian carry on is intense…and illegal. They both know the consequences if they were to get caught, but when you’re in love, you feel like you can conquer the world and consequences be damned. They only have to wait 3 months before Sebastian turns 18 and the legal issues disappear. Then they can be together. Forever. Only fate isn’t on their side this time….

Holy hell. This book is INTENSE! I had mixed emotions while reading it and the fact that Sebastian was 17. Then I would stop and think…I knew how I was at 17. I had graduated high school, finished a semester of college and had met my future husband and knew we would be married. So, I couldn’t find fault with Caroline falling for a teenager…because Sebastian wasn’t a typical teenager. His parents are WRETCHED a**holes who have treated Sebastian like an inconvenience since he was a kid, so he’s really had to grow up a whole lot faster than most. In many occurrences, being their caretaker after they come stumbling home drunk. I felt badly for Caroline, being stuck in an impossible marriage, and could understand falling for Sebastian. He is so different from her husband. He is kind, affectionate and open…in other words, everything a woman loves. I was so nervous while reading this book. Each interlude Caroline and Sebastian shared, I was sure they were going to be caught. As the end of the book got closer and closer I was hoping it would end well for them….well, since there is a second book, I’m sure you can get an idea of how it did end. I won’t ruin it for you, but I will say that I was a sobbing mess. I will be diving into the Education of Caroline, the next book, as soon as I finish typing this review!

If you’re looking for an intense, passionate, emotional story then put this book on your list! Thank you Ms. Harvey-Berrick, for an incredible read!

Four Loves

COVER REVEAL…In Too Deep by Michelle Kemper Brownlow

Read-Love-Blog is proud to be a part of the cover reveal for IN TOO DEEP, the debut romance novel from Michelle Kemper Brownlow, COMING June 6, 2013!

“The day he said “I love you,” should have been the day she said, “Goodbye!”

Synopsis:

Gracie has just finished her freshman year of college in Memphis when she takes a job at a local pizza joint in her home town of McKenzie, Tennessee. She is the epitome of innocence when she meets Noah. Noah is unabashedly handsome, intriguingly reckless and just cocky enough to be sexy. Gracie’s instincts tell her to stay far away from him and based on the stories she hears from her co-workers he leaves broken hearts in his wake. But still, she can’t explain her fascination with him.

Noah puts aside his bad boy ways when what he thought was a summer crush has him unexpectedly falling in love. But soon after Gracie transfers to UT Knoxville to be with Noah, their unexpected love becomes riddled with anger, deceit and humiliation.

Jake, Noah’s former roommate and Gracie’s best friend, can no longer be a bystander. Gracie’s world falls out from beneath her and when she breaks she turns to Jake for strength. As Jake talks her through a decision she’s not yet strong enough to make, together they uncover a truth so ugly neither of them is prepared for its fallout. Will Jake pull her to the surface or is Gracie Jordan finally In Too Deep?

_____________________________________

About the author:

Little known facts (until now) about Michelle Kemper Brownlow:

1. I live in my little black Converse sneaks.

2. I LOVE to kiss. LOVE IT!

3. I don’t eat things that breathe.

4. I am a sucker for love.

5. I have a secret sugar stash in my kitchen…muaaaah aaahhh ahhhh!

6. I actually like brussel sprouts.

7. I’m a music addict…have it on ALL the time. Mostly classic alternative.

8. I’ve seen 40 famous rock/country/alternative/christian bands live.

9. I bite my nails.

10. My writing day meals consist of Twizzlers and coffee.

Want to know more? You can find Michelle on Facebook, Twitter, GoodReads and her website!

Review…Beautiful Bastard by Christina Lauren

Buy from Barnes & Noble ~ Buy from Amazon

Synopsis:

An ambitious intern. A perfectionist executive. And a whole lot of name calling. Discover the story that garnered more than two million reads online.

Whip-smart, hardworking, and on her way to an MBA, Chloe Mills has only one problem: her boss, Bennett Ryan. He’s exacting, blunt, inconsiderate—and completely irresistible. A Beautiful Bastard.

Bennett has returned to Chicago from France to take a vital role in his family’s massive media business. He never expected that the assistant who’d been helping him from abroad was the gorgeous, innocently provocative—completely infuriating—creature he now has to see every day. Despite the rumors, he’s never been one for a workplace hookup. But Chloe’s so tempting he’s willing to bend the rules—or outright smash them—if it means he can have her. All over the office.

As their appetites for one another increase to a breaking point, Bennett and Chloe must decide exactly what they’re willing to lose in order to win each other. Originally only available online as The Office by tby789—and garnering over two million reads on fan fiction sites—Beautiful Bastard has been extensively updated for re-release.

My Review:

A few months ago, I had seen this title pop up here and there and was dying to read it but realized it hadn’t released yet. The other day, I get a text from my husband asking if I had heard of Beautiful Bastard and said he had read an article on it and thought I should read it….it just so happens he sent me that text on release day. I ran right out and bought it. Gotta say, I owe this review to him because I LOVED this book!

Chloe Mills is working at Ryan Media for her MBA internship. Her boss, Bennett Ryan, is a total condescending, obnoxious jackass. So much so, that her and her two best friends have dubbed him “beautiful bastard”. Unfortunately, the “beautiful” part had to be added because the man is delicious. He never fails at finding something to criticize Chloe on. Her handwriting, the volume of her voice….anything. Sad part is, even with all of the jackassery, she can’t help but being attracted to him. So when Bennett shocks the hell out of her with a somewhat shocking advance, she will have to decide if she will allow it…

Bennett Ryan prides himself on being successful and in control. Always in control. At the age of thirty, he’s accomplished more in his professional life than most men even dare to dream about. He is not one to act on irrational impulses, which is exactly what this attraction to Miss Mills is. SO many things are wrong with wanting her. She is his intern, in his family’s company. In other words, wrong on so many levels. If only she could stop this push and pull with him and stop giving his attitude back when he deserves it, it would make it so much easier to remind himself of the wrongness of the attraction. It’s a shame that one night in an empty conference room will lead to the ultimate downfall in his decision to keep Chloe at a distance.

As you may already know, this was originally published as a Twilight FanFic story. In my opinion, it went far past FanFic and blew me away. When I first started it, I kept thinking it was going to be like Fifty Shades of Grey, since both stories share the young, attractive CEO, BUT, that’s really where the similarities end. I have to say; I enjoyed this story more than Fifty. The sex was HOT and the characters were amazing.

Chloe is a fantastic heroine. She is smart, educated, sassy and doesn’t take sh@t. Yes, she has to deal with Bennett’s prick moods, but she doesn’t let him walk all over her. She gives his snark right back to him and I freaking love that! She’s not going to let anyone push her around or jeopardize her career. I admire her tenacity, especially when it came to dealing with Bennett.

Bennett is the perfect hero that keeps us guessing. He starts out as the guy-we-love-to-hate and turns into the guy-we-want-to-win-the-girl. Yes, he’s douchey. Yes, he’s used to getting everything he wants without having to ask twice. He’s also genuinely unaware of how he comes off at times, which made him more real as a character. He wasn’t so set in his ways that he wasn’t willing to try and change…especially when it came to Chloe’s opinion of him.

This book starts off hot and heavy…and by saying hot and heavy, I mean sex within the first 20 pages. The emotion between Chloe and Bennett ran high and intense. They loved to hate one another, and couldn’t stay away. What starts out as angry sex, turns into much more than they were anticipating. One of the things I liked most about this book was that it really was entirely about Chloe and Bennett. Sure, there were some business and family things thrown in but it wasn’t overwhelming and didn’t take away from the developing relationship between them. My favorite thing about this book, however, is that the chapters switched back and forth from Chloe and Bennett’s point of views. BRILLIANT! It really made me value both characters and their run of emotions that much more.

As I enter my book hangover from having finished Beautiful Bastard today, I will tell you that I highly recommend this book and have to thank my hubs again for the text on release day! Thank you to Christina and Lauren for teaming up to bring us a kick-ass read! (Oh, and for giving me another reason to love my Je Ne Regrette Rien tattoo!)

Four and a Half Loves

ARC Review & Giveaway…Edge of Dawn by Lara Adrian

Only a few more days until the newest in the Midnight Breed Series releases and because I’m a huge fan of Lara Adrian and her writing, I’m giving away an ECOPY PRE-ORDER for Edge of Dawn!

Enter in the RaffleCopter below for a chance to win!

Buy from Barnes & Noble ~ Buy from Amazon

Synopsis:

In this pulse-pounding and thrillingly sensual novel, New York Times bestselling author Lara Adrian returns to the mesmerizing world of the Midnight Breed, following new characters into a dark future where an uneasy peace can unravel into war—and a great betrayal can mask an all-consuming love.

Twenty years after the terror of First Dawn—when mankind learned that vampires lived secretly among them—the threat of violence reigns as the two species struggle to coexist. The only group preserving the fragile harmony is the Order, an elite cadre of Breed warriors dedicated to protecting humans and vampires alike. And in this precarious world of torn loyalties and shattered trust, Mira, a fiery squad captain, finds that every fight bears an intensely personal cost.

Raised among the Order, Mira has always believed in the warrior’s code of swift—and even lethal—justice. But the one thing she desires more than the Order’s hard-won acceptance is Kellan Archer, a sexy but troubled Breed fighter. In love with him since childhood, Mira once broke through his tough exterior during an unexpected night of rapture, but the next day he mysteriously disappeared, never to return.

Kellan didn’t think he would ever see Mira again—or have to confront the truth of why he left. After abandoning the Order years ago, he now leads a band of human rebels intent on carrying out their own vigilante rule of law. Yet a high-profile kidnapping assignment brings him face-to-face with the past he sought to avoid, and the striking woman he has tried desperately to forget. And as tensions mount and the risk of bloodshed grows, Kellan and Mira must take sides—between the competing missions that dominate their lives, and the electrifying passion that claims their hearts.

Review:

Although I have been a fan of Lara Adrian for some years now, I had taken a break a little while back and had sadly lost touch with the Midnight Breed world. I had recently gotten back into the series and was extremely lucky to get my hands on an advance copy of the latest installment, Edge of Dawn. Let me say this…I have been reacquainted with my Midnight Breed obsession and boy, it’s good to be back!

This story takes us into the future of the Order and gives us a glimpse into what is in store for our beloved otherworldly warriors. The shaky truce that the humans and vampire races have been keeping is threatened to be broken beyond repair. It is now in the Order’s hands to keep what little trust there is intact. Dealing with the rebels’ usual antics and the typical human contempt toward the vampire race, the last thing the Order needs is another threat. I’m not one to put spoilers in my reviews, so I can’t go into detail but I will tell you…this is one hell of mess.

On top of having to worry about normal Order patrols, Mira, the female warrior raised in the Order by Renata and Niko, is still nursing the broken heart she received eight years ago when her love, Kellan Archer, was killed. She has vowed to dispatch retribution to the rebel scum responsible for his death. It’s that desire for revenge that puts her on a security mission that will lead her down a path that will change her life forever.

Kellan Archer has been living a lie for the past eight years. He’s currently the leader of a small rag-tag group of human rebels fighting for the side of good. The problem is….a rebel is a rebel no matter what side you’re fighting for. The newest mission is to put a stop to technology that could wipe out the entire breed race. Imagine his surprise when a certain female warrior member of the Order gets mixed up in his plan and ends up a hostage in his camp.

I friggin loved this story. Lara has such a remarkable style about her writing. She switches gears from achingly tender love scenes to kick ass fighting scenes with such smooth transition that it is truly a gift to read. The characters have such depth…I laughed, cried, got utterly pissed and ultimately ended thoroughly satisfied. The twists and turns in the plot were stellar and the direction Lara has the future of the Order headed in is sure to keep longtime Midnight Breed readers on board and certainly will pull new readers in for years to come. Thank you, Lara, for another amazing read!

Five Loves

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Valentine’s Day in Dog Tags Event: Interview and GIVEAWAY

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Today is the big finale of my Valentine’s Day in Dog Tags Event!

Recently, I was lucky enough to have a moment to chat with Skye, Tim, Madison and Jeremy and see what they are planning for their holiday. I was also lucky enough to have some fun with author Jeanette Murray and see what her idea of Valentine’s Day fun is!

I am giving away an eCopy of The Officer Says I do and The Officer Breaks the Rules since I know you guys will love the series as much as I do. You can enter to win in the rafflecopter below!

Enjoy!

____________________

Ok…since I don’t want to ask the same old questions that I’m sure you guys hear all the time (the dreaded “so, when are you having kids?” for you, Skye and Tim) I figured, since we are celebrating Valentine’s Day soon, I’d see what you all had planned! No groaning and pouting, you know you want to tell me some juicy details….

~ Skye and Tim: So…..any fantastic Valentine’s Day plans?

Skye: “You know, I had this wonderful plan to head out to a little restaurant two streets over from Fletcher’s, because who wants to have their special evening where they work? Quiet dinner, just the two of us. That is, until someone managed to pull overnight duty…”

Tim: “I’m sorry! Look, I don’t choose the hours of who gets stuck with duty. You go when it’s your time. It would be irresponsible and a bad example to pawn it off on someone else. And besides, we’ll get a better table the next night. No competition for the day after Valentine’s Day.”

Skye: “Yeah, fine. So you told me. Let’s just say…you owe me.”

Tim: “I’m sorry, I thought you didn’t even like all that traditional stuff.”

Skye: “Maybe I’m a romantic at heart.”

Madison: “Of course you are. You married my brother thanks to Fate, right? That has to have its root in romance.”

Skye: “Good point.”

Tim: “Thanks, Madison.”

~ Madison and Jeremy: How about you two? Anything special planned?

Madison: “At the risk of Skye killing us, we’re ordering in and watching a double-header. His pick, then my pick of movies.”

Jeremy: “It’ll be an early night, since Madison has work the next morning.”

Madison: “But I’m glad for the chance to spend it together.”

Skye: “Okay, I’m going to just smother you. I have keys to both your apartments.”

Tim: “Not helping, Mad. After all that Fate junk earlier—”

Skye: “Junk?!”

Tim: “I mean…Fate talk…you pull that.”

Madison: “Whoops! My bad.”

____________________

And now, for the awesomesauce author, Jeanette, I have some word association fun! (no groaning and pouting from you either haha!)

First word that comes to mind……

– Conversation hearts: Blah (Not a fan!)

– Roses: Ahhh-choo! (Allergic)

– The color pink: Tot (3 year old daughter’s favorite color EVA!!!!)

– Edible underwear (sorry, I couldn’t resist!): Disaster (…waiting to happen)

hahahahahaha Apparently I am a Valentine’s Day FAILURE! No, but really, out of all the Valentines in the past we have been dating or married, Hubs and I have been physically together for…wait for it…two. Out of ten. Not a great record, right? So I’ve sort of just trained myself to not expect magic on the holiday. But, on the plus side, this gets me out of having to worry about what to do for him. So there’s the bright side. One year, just randomly, he had an Edible Arrangements sent to the house. That was a nice surprise, and perfect for me since I’m allergic to flowers and I love fruit. But otherwise, we just sort of ignore its existence.

But I think if I had to choose to make a big deal out of Valentine’s Day, I’d pick Madison and Jeremy’s date over Tim and Skye’s. Watch a movie or two on the couch, have a meal ordered in, and just veg. I’m all about it. Fancy dinners are nice but I’m lazy and getting dressed up stresses me out. Haha

So there are all my deep, dark Valentine’s secrets. I’m a lazy slob. 🙂

Hope you all enjoyed the fun interview and Valentine’s Day in Dog Tags!

Special thanks to Jeanette for joining in on the fun and for writing some kick ass heros!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Valentine’s Day in Dog Tags Event: Review…The Officer Breaks the Rules by Jeanette Murray

Today continues the Valentine’s Day in Dog Tags Event!

Jeanette Murray’s Semper Fidelis, Always Faithful Series is one of my favorites and in honor of the series, I’m having some Valentine’s fun!

Today’s post is my review of The Officer Breaks the Rules, Madison and Jeremy’s story. For the big finish on Valentine’s Day, tomorrow, I’ll have an EXCLUSIVE interview with Tim, Skye, Madison, Jeremy and the amazing author herself, Jeanette Murray!

I’ll also be giving away an eCopy of both books with the interview!

So, enjoy the reviews and interviews and be sure to enter to win on February 14th!

Buy on Amazon ~ Buy on Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:

Captain Jeremy Phillips believes in doing his duty…both as a son and as a friend. This means that he should obey the “friend code” and stay away from his best friend’s little sister. Too bad Madison O’Shay doesn’t believe in his code and is ready to break all of the rules

As a Navy nurse, Madison is finally stationed next to the man she’s been dreaming about for years. And she’s ready to launch a full-scale attack to show this thoughtful, handsome Marine that they belong together.

My Review:

This is the second book in Jeanette Murray’s Semper Fidelis, Always Faithful Series and I was so excited to read it after LOVING the first in the series, The Officer Says I Do. I was not disappointed! In fact, I loved it even more than the first!

Madison has been in love with Jeremy for quite some time now….years in fact. She has a sneaking suspicion that he may have feelings for her, too. Now, after a delicious but disastrous first kiss, she has concocted a plan to ensure she wins the man she knows she’s meant to be with. Poor Jeremy doesn’t stand a chance….

Jeremy has it bad…he’s head over heels for Madison. Who wouldn’t be? She’s smart, beautiful, spunky, a real spitfire…and his best friend’s little sister. In other words: off-limits. After kissing her, he knows he’s gotta walk away. Only that proves to be a losing battle when Madison sets her sights on showing him exactly why they are meant to be together. Add trying to please his father in continuing with a career as a Marine, a career he isn’t sure is for him anymore, and Jeremy is just plain tired. Tired of fighting the losing battle with Madison and tired of being someone he’s not to his father. Now the question is….what the hell’s a guy to do?

Good Lord…I loved every minute of this book. The push and pull between Madison and Jeremy was delectable! Madison is an amazing heroine. She’s strong willed and went for the prize, consequences be damned! She is exactly my kind of gal. Jeremy broke my heart and was a hero so worth fighting for. He’s the kind of guy that puts those he loves ahead of himself and always thinks of himself second. He’s loyal and kind-hearted but doesn’t like to show his soft side to many. He is a Marine, after all! Together they complete each other in the most perfect way. I laughed while reading this book, cried while reading this book, got über frustrated with both Jeremy and Madison while reading this book and ultimately finished feeling utterly contented and so very happy.

Plus, we also got to see our fave characters from the first book, Tim and Skye, and found out a teensy bit more about the mysterious Veronica, Skye’s cousin. I’m also guessing that the next on the series will be featuring Veronica and Dwayne *squeeeeee*

Thank you Jeanette for reminding me how amazing it feels to fall in love with a book. I’ve SO missed having that “I need to drop all responsibilities and READ” feeling! I’m eagerly awaiting the next book…can’t wait!

Five Loves

Valentine’s Day in Dog Tags Event: Review…The Officer Says I Do by Jeanette Murray

I’m so excited to announce that this review kicks off the “Valentine’s Day in Dog Tags” event!

Jeanette Murray’s Semper Fidelis, Always Faithful Series is one of my favorites and in honor of the series, I’m having some Valentine’s fun!

Today’s post is my review of The Officer Says I Do, Tim and Skye’s story. Tomorrow’s post is my review of The Officer Breaks the Rules, Madison and Jeremy’s story. For the big finish on Valentine’s Day, I’ll have an EXCLUSIVE interview with Tim, Skye, Madison, Jeremy and the amazing author herself, Jeanette Murray!

I’ll also be giving away an eCopy of both books with the interview!

So, enjoy the reviews and interviews and be sure to enter to win on February 14th!

Buy at Amazon ~ Buy at Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:

He’s a Marine…she grew up on a commune.

He always puts duty first…she’s a free spirit with an unshakable belief in Fate.

He loves routine and order…she brings chaos and creativity wherever she goes

Captain Timothy O’Shay is on pre-deployment leave in Las Vegas when he meets Skye McDermott. For once, Tim lets loose and the two hook up. But in the morning, Tim wakes up to discover he’s married to a woman who’s the polar opposite of what he always envisioned in a wife.

But Skye is sure that this is fate, and that they are destined to be together. Can she convince him to stay with her before he’s deployed?

My Review:

The beginning of this story starts out with three best friends, and Marines, having one last night before deploying on their latest mission. A night filled with gambling, girls and a few drinks…well, for one of the trio, more than just a few drinks….

Tim is always the one in control. Always the one making sure his buddies keep things somewhat level. And damn, sometimes that just sucks. So tonight, he’s gonna give up the babysitting duties and live a little…what’s the worst that can happen?

Skye is out with her two besties for a typical night of Vegas fun. Since they live and work in Vegas, this will just end up being a normal night out with some drinks and girlie fun….how much different than all other nights out can it really be?

Imagine the surprise when Skye and Tim wake up the next day……married.

The thing that I loved most about this story was it’s backwards way to a happy ending. It was so refreshing! Skye believes that everything happens for a reason so when she wakes up to find her new husband gone, she is determined to find him and figure out a way to make it work. Since Tim is a total straight-laced rule follower you can imagine how he takes to something as free spirited as the idea of fate. However, the one thing they can both agree on is that maybe this relationship deserves a go of it. And so the journey begins…

Skye and Tim are so endearing, both as a couple and on their own. The completely opposite personalities end up complimenting each other in the most amazing ways. I was pulling for them from the very first chapter. The internal turmoil each of them experienced was so valid and honest…never once was I in my common eye roll mode over a heroine’s shallow complaint about something trivial. Both Skye and Tim are so eager to please each other and try so hard that their efforts were truly heartwarming. That doesn’t mean they don’t stumble along the way.

I highly recommend this book. I enjoyed it from start to finish. It’s happy-ending-in-reverse made for a fabulously interesting read! Thank you, Ms. Murray, for a fantastic story! I cannot WAIT for the other two books in this trilogy!

Five Loves

Blog Tour, Character Interview & GIVEAWAY…The Shadowguard Series by Michelle Zink

I was lucky enough to catch the characters from Temptation’s Heat and Temptation’s Kiss and had a few minutes to chat with them and answer some things I’ve been DYING to know since I finished reading….

Enjoy!

____________________

~ So, Scarlet, now that you gave up on resisting Rowan’s bad boy charm, how are you guys doing? Do you regret anything that led you to this point?

“Have you seen him? Would YOU regret anything that led him to your bed?”

~ Rowan, have you gone back in to watch Scarlet spar with the other warriors since that day with Kane?

“That’s a negative. I was told in no uncertain terms that hurting my warrior brethren was off-limits, and since the urge to smash faces when someone hurts Scarlet is basically overwhelming, watching her train is off-limits, too.”

~ So….what’s next for you two?

*Scarlet, looking slyly at Rowen* “Well, there is a bottle of wine chilling in the fridge.”

*Rowen, glaring at interviewer* “Time for you to be on your way.”

____________________

~ Lily, girl, first let me say, you have delicious taste in lingerie! I’m sure Kane will agree *wink*….ok, ok, how’s the bakery idea doing? Any concepts you’d like to share with us?

*Lily, blushing* “Not yet. And lingerie isn’t so different from a decadently topped cupcake. Everything’s better with a little icing.” *winks*

~ Kane, did you finally get around to telling Ambrose you were dating Lily? How’d that go? *shrinking back in my seat hoping it didn’t go badly*

“Ambrose was surprisingly accepting of the idea. Ivan is another story.” *grumbles about protective big brothers*

~ Ok, I gotta ask you two also…..what’s next for you guys?

*Kane, glancing at Lily* “I’m hoping for a houseful of kids, cookies in the oven, and Lily in my arms.”

*Lily beams*

____________________

~ Lily and Scarlet, how is your brother these days? Is he still a royal pain in the ass?

*Scarlet rolls eyes* “Is the sky blue? Is water wet? Is Rowen hotter than hot?”

(Lily) “Come on, Scarlet. He HAS been better since he met-”

(Scarlet) “Shhhh! Are you crazy? You’re going to spoil their fun!”

*Lily nodding* “You’re right. They’ll just have to read the next book.”

Way to leave us hanging, ladies! I know I can’t wait for Temptation’s Fire on February 15th!

Hope you enjoyed the interview and be sure to enter the giveaway for an eCopy of Temptation’s Heat below and go to Michelle Zink’s website for more information and more about her and her books!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour, Reviews & GIVEAWAY….The Shadowguard Series by Michelle Zink

I am honored to be a part of The Shadowguard Series by Michelle Zink Blog Tour!

Below are my reviews for the first two books in the series, Temptation’s Heat and Temptation’s Kiss. They can be found exclusively at Amazon. The newest book, Temptation’s Fire, releases February 15….and has a positively lickable cover. Yum. Also, you can enter to win an eCopy of Temptation’s Heat in the RaffleCopter below.

Oh, and I will be having more fun with the Shadowguard today in an EXCLUSIVE interview with our favorite characters from the series!

____________________

Temptation’s Heat by Michelle Zink

Synopsis:

When Rowen Black is assigned to the elite unit of angelic assassins known as the Shadowguard, he thinks his biggest challenge will be overcoming his less-than-stellar reputation. But that’s before he meets his match in Scarlet Montgomery.

Beautiful, strong, and with a temper to match Rowen’s own, Scarlet is focused on the Shadowguard and her possible future as its leader. She’s become an expert at keeping her personal life separate from the Guard, all too aware that as the boss’s daughter, fellow warriors see her not as someone to be respected, but as someone to be protected.

Avoiding entanglements gets a lot harder when Rowen saunters into the room. Rowen puts the bad in “bad boy.” Their connection is hot, visceral, and instantaneous.

When the pair are assigned to a joint investigation, they come face-to-face with their undeniable attraction, forcing Scarlet to consider that the connection is not only physical, but a destiny written in the halls of time.

My Review:

This is the first novella in the Shadowguard Series by Michelle Zink. The thing about novellas, to me, is that sometimes they fall flat. This novella, however, hit the target dead on!

Rowen, a tall and delicious dark-haired warrior, is newly assigned to the Shadowguard….a unit of assigns charged with keeping the treaty between the angelic and demonic worlds intact. He is looking forward to his new assignment and leaving his old life, and troubles, behind. He isn’t planning on meeting Scarlet, a fellow Shadowguard warrior who also happens to be the boss’s daughter. Talk about a really bad combo when your reputation screams bad-boy! He knows he should stay away but she is just too damn alluring and he knows his resistance is shot. Lucky for Rowen, Scarlet is fighting the same attraction to him and she knows this is a battle she won’t be winning.

Meanwhile, the Shadowguard is looking at the possibility of a mole within the organization. They are being framed for a murder that will destroy the treaty, along with the peace it has kept for all of these years.

This was a fantastic story and regardless of the amount of pages, the heat between Rowen and Scarlet leaps off of the pages. Rowen and Scarlet are SCORCHING together! I cannot wait to continue on with this series and learn more about the entire Shadowguard unit and what the future holds for all of them! Thank you, Michelle, for an amazing story!

Four Loves

____________________

Temptation’s Kiss by Michelle Zink

Synopsis:

Lily Montgomery is perfectly happy taking care of everyone else. That is, until her friendship with Shadowguard warrior, Kane Dawson, begins to blossom into something more.

But Lily has a secret. One that will keep her from ever making her feelings known to Kane.

One of the Shadowguard’s fiercest warriors, Kane has a soft spot for Lily. A long-standing member of the Shadowguard, he can’t figure out when his feelings for Ambrose Montgomery’s youngest daughter morphed from brotherly affection into desire and an unfamiliar longing that feels a lot like love.

Kane holds himself in check knowing that Lily deserves better. A man in a suit, dinner at six every night, rosy-cheeked children who won’t have to worry that their father might be killed by one of the Legion’s wraiths.

But when the pair are thrown together by a set of circumstances beyond their control, they are forced to confront their growing passion and decide if love is worth the risk of baring it all.

My Review:

This is the second novella in the Shadowguard Series by Michelle Zink and focuses on the relationship between Kane Dawson, a Shadowguard warrior and Lily Montgomery, the boss’s daughter. As much as I enjoyed the first in the series, Temptation’s Heat, I absolutely LOVED this story! To say it was hot would be an understatement.

Kane and Lily have known each other for quite some time now. They know a lot about one another and are very close friends….but they are each holding a secret. The secret is the mutual attraction that has been simmering over time and is now a full-on rolling boil…the question is, will they let it boil over?

Lily is a fantastically written character. She is pure and proper but isn’t a snob. She enjoys her role within the headquarters of taking care of the Shadowguard warriors and her family. She loves the simple things in life…baking, cooking and tending to the needs of others. One thing she also loves is decadent lingerie…which she has secret hopes of wrapping herself in for Kane to enjoy opening.

Kane is equally well developed. He is a fierce warrior with a soft spot for his Lily. The gentle way he behaves toward her is so at odds with the fierceness that he fights with, but gives his personality such a balance that we truly enjoy each side of him.

Together, they are a perfect yin and yang….not to mention SIZZLING! Good Lord, the sexual tension between these two is tangible and is written perfectly! My only complaint is that I want MORE! I would so love to see where these two end up in a few years time.

This novella was a fantastic addition to the Shadowguard Series and I vote this one my fave so far. Cannot WAIT for more from Ms. Zink! Thanks again, Michelle, for an awesomely written story!

Four Loves

____________________

And……a look at the delicious cover for Temptation’s Fire:

Don’t forget to look for an additional post today for an exclusive character interview with Rowen, Scarlet, Lily and Kane from The Shadowguard Series!

Find out additional information about Michelle Zink here.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review….Captivated by You by Diane Alberts

Buy from Amazon ~ Buy from Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:

When Hollywood heartthrob Mark Delaney heads home to Colorado against his agent’s wishes, a snowstorm touches down (no doubt conjured up as punishment from said agent) that lands his Maserati in a ditch. Stranded, he knocks on the door of the first house he sees—the same house that his former math tutor grew up in. Expecting to find an elderly couple donned in robes and hair curlers, he’s knocked off his feet when an all-grown up Lacey Robertson answers.

Lacey opens the door to find a Prada-clad, most eligible bachelor two years in a row staring back at her. She tries to push twinges of her teen crush from her mind. Mark Delaney is all man. But she couldn’t possibly compare to the gorgeous starlets he must be used to. And Lacey isn’t about to become one of the faceless women begging for his attention.

But when she finds out that he hasn’t stopped thinking about her, despite his A-list life, will she fall into his arms for a single night of pleasure? Or will she dare to hope for more?

My Review:

Being a big fan of Diane Alberts, I was thrilled to come across Captivated by You (Book #1 in the Superstars in Love series). As always with Diane, I loved this story!

Lacey is staying at her childhood home, housesitting for her parents and enjoying a quiet evening alone with a bottle of champagne. Sure, there could be better ways to spend Christmas vacation, but she was happy here…happy in her hometown in Colorado teaching elementary school like she had always dreamed. But a knock on the door during a snowstorm threaten to show Lacey just how unhappy she is when it comes to her love life. Forgotten memories of a now-famous-star childhood best friend and hopeless crush, Mark, come screaming to the surface and are a blaring reminder of what she’s been missing since he left for Haollywood.

Mark should have listened to his agent when he told him not to go home to Colorado…especially having a huge red carpet event the following day. He did not need to be staring at his car in a ditch, wondering what the hell he was supposed to do now. Luckily, right down the road, was the home of his tutor, and childhood crush, Lacey. Hopefully her parents still lived there and would let him stay the night. He’d get back to L.A. tomorrow. Imagine his surprise when it wasn’t Lacey’s parents that answered the door, but Lacey herself.

One chance meeting after eight years of being apart is all it would take to reignite the spark that had been smoldering between Mark and Lacey for most of their lives. Now, the question is, will they let it burn into a flame or will they snuff it out?

What a fantastic wham-bam-thank-you-ma’am read this was! It’s a hot and sweet story packed with a lot of intensity and emotions. From start to finish I think the night Lacey and Mark spend together works out perfectly. It had just the right balance of angst and ease that made this really enjoyable. I also really appreciated that the main characters were the only two we spent time with. So, even though this wasn’t a long story, it was a focused story.

If you’re looking for a quick and satisfying read, then you should most definitely add this to your list! Thank you, Ms. Alberts, for yet another wonderful story, and, of course, you know I’ll be chomping at the bit for more!

Four Loves

Review…Nice Girl by Kate Baum

Buy from Amazon ~ Buy from Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:

Graduate student Grace Locke moves from the Midwest to New York City to complete her Masters degree in Criminology. She longs to one day be a college professor. It is a field that is dominated by men. She is worried about succeeding in such an atmosphere. Past sexual relationships have caused her to feel intimidated. Her experiences with college men have left her jaded and unsatisfied. She gives herself a challenge. Time to toughen up or she won’t make it in a career she yearns for. She decides to surround herself with alpha males so that she can practice becoming what she sees as a strong confident woman. She finds power and defiance in her new attitude……..until Vinnie.

When Grace takes a part time secretarial job at a private investigator office, she assumes it will be interesting to watch how the cases unfold. It is close to her campus apartment and gives her the extra cash she needs as a struggling college student. Even more perfect is that the office is surrounded by street wise hardened males. Now, she can get the needed practice at increasing her confidence among men. She wasn’t prepared for Vinnie Lewis. A former hit man who decides to go straight, he is the ultimate “bad boy”. After growing up with a prostitute mother on the streets of New York City, he has no patience for nice girls like Grace. He is difficult to work with. She finds him just plain scary with his six foot four frame, bulging biceps, and a scar from a former knife fight that goes across his right ear to his chin. She shakes in his presence but then ……. is shocked when she can’t stop thinking of him.

My Review:

Nice Girl is the debut work from Kate Baum and also the first in the Girl Series. I was intrigued from the moment I read the synopsis and really enjoyed this book!

Grace and her friends, a group that has been together since practically forever and friends anyone would love to have, have decided that their love lives have completely sucked. None of them have ever experienced sex like they read about in smutty novels. Nope, none of them have ever felt the quivering in their belly or experienced all consuming desire. More importantly, none of them have had the big “O” with a man. Enter: The “O” Pact. They all decide that they WILL find men capable of giving them each a scene right out of a smexy book. Unfortunately, they are each headed in their own directions in life, Grace to grad school in New York and her friends all in other directions across the country. Thank God for Skype because they are so gonna need those girl chats!

Grace starts her adventure in NYC by quickly acclimating to grad school and landing an officer manager position at an up-and-coming private investigation firm which she loves form her very first day. Well, everything except one of the owners, Vinnie, and his perma-scowl and lack of communication skills. Too bad those turn-offs can’t overrule the turn-ons….his handsome face and killer body can’t be hidden behind that gruff personality. And when that personality turns less and less gruff when he’s around her, she realizes she is in way over her head and can’t help but start to hope that he’s the one to cancel her membership in the No “O” Club.

The last thing Vinnie is looking for is a nice girl. He is way to f*cked in the head to ever be good enough for someone like the new hire at the firm. His whore of a mother and screwed up childhood made damn sure he’d never get anyone like Grace. So why did he continue to find himself hoping beyond hope that he could change and be the kind of man she deserved?

Together, Grace and Vinnie are really well written opposites and attract beautifully. His roughness to her softness mesh really, really well and I was pulling for them from the moment they met. The attraction between them grew at a perfect and believable pace…it was refreshing to read that kind of normal life progression.

This was a great read with a lot of fantastic characters woven in between Grace and Vinnie’s interaction. The staff at the firm is instrumental in helping Grace and Vinnie overcome their misgivings and help them realize that it just may be worth a shot and to step out of their comfort zones. I hope we get to see more of them as the series progresses.

I think this is a great debut for Kate and I am looking forward to reading more from her and the Girl Series! Thanks, Kate, for a great intro and for a fabulous read!