Fading by E K Blair - Blog Tour

Rating:  4 out of 5 stars

How were the storylines?  

dark, well written but lengthy at times

How is the love story?

amazing - once they fell in love 

Would you read it again? 

Possibly

Can a guilty conscience keep wounds from healing?

Fine arts major, Candace Parker, grew up with a mother who thinks image is everything, and her daughter’s perfection will never be good enough. About to graduate college and pursue her dreams of becoming a professional ballerina, Candace decides it’s time to let go and have a little fun. But fun is short-lived when a brutal attack leaves her completely shattered.

The memories that consume and torment Candace are starting to destroy her when she meets Ryan Campbell, a successful bar owner. He feels instantly connected and tries to show her that hope is worth fighting for. But is Ryan harboring his own demons? As walls slowly begin to chip away, the secrets that are held within start to become painful burdens.

At what point do secrets become lies?

(17+) This book contains mature subject matter that is not suitable for those under the age of 17.  

Review:  

Fading was the most emotional roller-coaster I have ever been on.  It was very dark and the subject matter took me to places that felt so real.  I thought that the author really captured the feeling of what it's like when something goes wrong and you are vulnerable to attack.  I could feel all the emotions that Candace was going through and how she felt like she was "fading away" from life.  

Candace turns to her good friends Jase and Mark for support throughout this difficult time instead of reaching out to the girl that is supposed to be her best friend.  This part confused me.  I wasn't really sure why she felt like she couldn't tell her best friend.  Or report the attack to the authorities.  There were many things that I thought could have been done a little better but all in all it's a very good book with great story lines.  

Tour Giveaway: 

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/OTk0ODgwNzgxNzIwMmEyMmExNDM0YjMzMjY3MDA5OjI0/

Playlist:  

Enchanting Ella has a Birthday!!

Today is my Birthday!!  

Sorry I haven't been posting much lately but real life has been taking a front seat to blogging.  So in an effort to do better I plan on posting all next week.  YAY!  Just what you wanted to hear right?  Ha Ha!  

I will get back to blogging starting on Monday.  

Until then, enjoy your weekend and you should be reading!!  Mwah!!  

Playing the Part by Robin Covington - Happy Release Day!!

Amazon Buy Link

B&N Buy Link

From Robin Covington:  

I love movies. I love movie stars. I love romance novels.

In my latest release, PLAYING THE PART, I got to combine all three and set the book in L.A., a private estates  in Hawaii, and in NYC.  My story took place on movie sets, glamorous premieres, and the Oscars.

And I got to write about the action-movie star voted the Sexiest Man Alive for the past two years: Mick Blackwell. He’s a sexy, intriguing playboy who loves to break the rules.  But he’s met his match in Piper James — a sassy romance novelist who decides that Mick is just what she needs to spice up her short visit to L.A.

I loved writing this book.

Early reviews for PtP have been amazing.  NYT and USAToday Bestselling author Gina L. Maxwell said, "PLAYING THE PART blew me away with it's great characters, fast pace, and enough heat to warrant more than a few cold showers. Mick and Piper complement each other perfectly and make the reader root for them from Page 1. Robin's writing is tight and engaging and she nailed her characters. Definitely one of my favorite reads of 2013."

To celebrate the release, I’m giving away 11 packs full of awesome! The prize pack includes: A movie (either a Mick Blackwell action movie or a Piper James romance-my choice), popcorn, movie candy, and Robin Covington SWAG.

And . . . one lucky winner will get a prize pack and a $50 Amazon gift card!

I will pick the winners on Friday, June 20, 2013 at midnight EST.

So what do you have to do to win here? Just – use the rafflecopter widget below and you will be entered to win! You can enter at each stop to increase your chances.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/6gx8kzgq2/

Burn it up,

Robin

Sizzling Romance. Burning Up the Sheets . . .  one page at a time.

The following is an excerpt from the book:  

“I have a dilemma,” he said. His voice was deep andmeasured but edged with the rough finish that made him a dream to listen to in surround sound. Piper swore she saw a jolt of fire in the mossy green depths of his eyes as he moved even closer.

Whoa. Mick Blackwell was hitting on her. And her body was responding like an addict who’d suddenly stumbled upon a pile of their favorite dope. He might be off-limits, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t indulge a little.

“What is your dilemma?” She mirrored his movement, deliberately stepping closer to the high voltage area of his body. Damn, he was like a sexual magnet, the black hole of hotness dragging her down.

He nodded. “I don’t know whether to call security or to get your phone number.” His expression shifted slightly, the twist in his smile even sexier—if that were even possible.

Oh, sweet sugar.

Mick moved in a half step closer, and heat swept over her skin, settling in her most intimate places. He was man every woman wanted in spite of his playboy reputation. Or maybe because of it. She loved men who came with a warning label. And Mick Blackwell didn’t just have a label—he had a neon “Flammable. Do not touch” sign flashing over his head.

But she couldn’t let a guy like him think he had the upper hand. Where was the fun in that?

“Maybe I should call security on you.” Piper licked her lips, delighting in the way his pupils dilated as he watched the movement of her tongue.

He let out a laugh, flashing a bit of his perfect, white teeth. Apparently, Mr. Blackwell liked a challenge.

“My mama taught me not to talk to strangers or dangerous men,” she said. “I think I’m supposed to go to the nearest public area and find a member of law enforcement.”

“So I’m a stranger?” He raised a hand and traced a finger along his lower lip in what was clearly an open invitation.

God help her, she wanted to follow that path with her mouth. “Actually, I think you fall into the dangerouscategory.”

“You have no idea.”

Oh, yes she did.

Literati Literature Lovers Blog Tour: First I Love You by Genevieve Dewey

Rating:  4 out of 5 stars 

One part Godfather, two parts Emma and a dash of Casablanca mixed together, "First, I Love You" isn't a detective novel, a gangster novel, a mystery, a romance or a family saga. It's a little of all of the above.

Imagine being a detective with a mobster for a father, or a mobster with a straight arrow, good cop for a son. This is a relationship that is tricky on its best day. Add in some well-meaning meddling from a mob princess sister, an arrogant DEA agent, and gangsters running a human trafficking ring and you have a recipe for a book that refuses to follow the rules. Told from the perspective and point of view of each the six main characters this is the first novel in a trilogy about love, loyalty, revenge and redemption.

Omaha Detective Tommy Gates has kept his gangster father at arm's length his whole life. Mickey Downey has spent the better part of the last two decades trying to find ways to get back the son he lost through Witness Protection. Now Tommy has taken an opportunity to work on a Federal Human Trafficking Joint Task Force in Chicago where his father lives. Tommy's sister Kiki and his mother Mary see this as an opportunity to build a relationship between the two. Tommy's new DEA partner James Hoffman sees it as an opportunity to gain leverage over Mickey Downey. Tommy's other partner, FBI Agent Ginny Sommers wants to keep Tommy's family as far from the case as possible. When Kiki and James join forces, sparks fly and it sets fire to a maelstrom of unexpected consequences for everyone involved.

Review:  

This book is very unique.  I have never read a book where there are so many characters point of views throughout the entire book.  Because of the many (6) points of view, it was hard to follow at times but I eventually got used to it.  This story had gangsters, special agents, a princess to the Mob king, a human trafficking ring, a son searching for a way to connect with the father that he never had in his life but never stopped loving him, there was plenty of storyline.  I did enjoy the fact that you don't get to see one love interest story develop here, but three - that felt like a bonus.  I've never seen anything done like this book before and I thoroughly enjoyed it.  Because you get more than one storyline, it feels like you are seeing the whole family and all of their trials and tribulations.  The series is set up to continue so I can't wait to finish the other books.  

Author Bio:

Genevieve Dewey is the author of The Downey Trilogy (First, I Love You & Second of All) and the short stories Bird Day Battalion & V-Day Aversion. She is a wife, mother, sister, friend and Anthropologist. She was raised mostly in Nebraska, partly in Arizona. She has a Master’s in Anthropology and worked as an Applied Anthropologist for years (even ran her own research company for a while) before deciding to be a stay at home mom. She loves passionate (rational) debates, reading, and libraries… oh, and Chicago and high-heels and chocolate and target practice and gangster flicks and anything with the FBI in it and run-on sentences. She lives in Nebraska with her three brilliantly diabolical children and one incredibly funny husband.

You can find Gen online at:

www.GenevieveDewey.com

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/GenevieveDewey

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/GenevieveDewey

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6441991.Genevieve_Dewey

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Genevieve-Dewey/e/B00936QL2S/

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/genevievedewey/

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.  No compensation was received for this review.  

Confessions of a Book Heaux Blog Tour: Accidentally on Purpose by L.D. Davies

Rating:  4.5 stars out of 5

How are the Sex Scenes?

the sex is hot enough 

How are the story lines? 

this is the "WOW" factor - the story lines are amazing

Would you read it again? 

Maybe, it's a keeper for sure 

I'd recommend this to everyone for a good solid read

Emmy thinks her boss Kyle Sterling of Sterling Corporations is a jerk.

So, she sleeps with him.

Emmy tries to put the mistake behind her, but then finds herself snowed in with Kyle. As the snow builds, so does the heat in the house between the two. The problem is that Kyle has a steady girlfriend that he is unwilling to break up with. Emmy cuts Kyle off and starts dating Luke. Even as their relationship takes off, Emmy is finding Kyle hard to shake. He is blatant in his feelings and desires for Emmy, putting her in an awkward situation. She tries hard to resist Kyle, but deep down inside Emmy's motives are shady. When Emmy succumbs to her hidden feelings for Kyle without setting Luke free, devastating consequences ensue.

In addition to her two men, Emmy daydreams about doing violent things to her loud mouthed, opinionated mother.

With some humor and sarcasm, and of course, some tequila, Emmy's world will flip upside down as she deals with the results of "accidentally on purpose" falling for two men at once.

Review: 

I didn't know I would cry.  The tears came from pure emotion for the characters.  So it's not like there's a huge tragedy that you all have to be freaked out about.  I cried because the writing made me feel what Emmy was feeling.  Luke tore my heart out.  He gutted me, but then he put my heart right back together again.  

This is a story of life.  It's a story of how one decision can change your life in ways that you never thought possible.  It's not pretty.  It's sometimes very, very ugly.  But the ugly is even beautiful.  We don't always live the life we'd imagined, but it's our choices that mold us into who we are.  We accept the love that we often think we deserve, whether right or wrong.  This is that story.  A broken girl, who became so broken based off of decisions she thought were right for her at the time.  That old saying of "hindsight is 20/20" - yeah that's what Emmy wishes she had.   

The reason for my 4.5 is because I did feel the story starts off slow.  However, once it gained it's momentum, I was in it full force like a freight train.  Nothing could have stopped me from finishing this book.  I think everyone should read this book.  It's worth the emotions and the time (a full length novel).  

There's a Grand Prize Giveaway:  

1 Accidentally on Purpose T-shirt, Mug, Tote and a signed paperback copy of the book.  One will run from 6/1-6/7 and the other will run from 6/7 to the end of the blog tour. Here is the link:  

Raffle Copter Link

Book was purchased by Enchanting Ella through Amazon

Making Him Sweat by Meg Maguire

Amazon ~  B&N

February 19, 2013

Book Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Genre: Contemporary Romantic Comedy

How are the sex scenes?

Very real, intense and sensual.

"A groan answered her as he fumbled his hand between their bodies, cantering his shaft along her lips. She was beyond ready, and with one, two, three strokes he was slick from her, their friction hot, wet and dangerous and hotter than the best sex she'd ever had. "

How are the story lines?

Engrossing and believable.

Would you read it again?

Yes

Back of the Book

She's hitting below the belt…Round 1

In this corner is admittedly romantic Jenna Wilinski, who's inherited a rather seedy boxing gym from her estranged father. With it, she can realize her dream of launching an upscale matchmaking business…provided she can take on the very intimidating—and wickedly hot boxer who stands in her way!

Round 2

In the far corner is former pro boxer Mercer Rowley. He's the only one who can protect his "home"—even if it is a little run-down—from his determined and feisty little opponent. But man, once the gloves come off, his hands just want to touch her everywhere…

Round 3

This matchup is too close to call. But no matter which contender comes out on top, the other is sure to enjoy every minute of it….

Review

Making Him Sweat by talented author Meg Maguire was a fun, fast paced romantic comedy endorsing the theory that ‘you cant judge a book by its cover’!

When forlorn, driven Jenna Wilinski, entered her father's domain, Wilinski's Fight Academy, her plan had been to evict the current tenant, and failing business, and create a new thriving business venture. Her disdainful feelings for Wilinksi's stemmed from her biased impression of who she felt her father was. Her jaded view of its occupants was equally condescending and dismissive.

What she wasn't prepared for was her visceral response to the current GM, impressively virile, yet mischievous Mercer Rowley.  Her emotional journey through all he would unearth, particularly concerning her father, was intense, yet he also challenged her preconceived ideas on her ideal love.

Despite having spent twenty years hearing about the diversely talented Jenna from her regretful father, his beloved mentor, Mercer was not prepared for the woman now in his path. His predictable, controlled world, his home and his future was about to change; both literally, with the looming loss of the gym, but also emotionally from the growing attraction to beautiful Jenna. She left him confused, threatened and surprisingly captivated.

Could their predicament be held together by love, or would the impending desolation of Wilinski's create irrevocably guaranteed distance?

Making Him Sweat was a well paced, truly enjoyable read, with believable, loveable characters, fused together with humor and some deliciously sizzling moments as well. Yum!

Meg Maguire has a beautiful way with words. Her metaphors were elegant and often quietly poignant. She didn’t clutter the story with extraneous words and the honest and witty repartee was credible and refreshingly real. This will not be the last Meg Maguire book I read, and I warmly recommend this book to those who love a delicious romance with just the right touch of tension and angst, and sensual heat as well.

This review provided by: Musing Maddie 

Published by Harlequin

Disclaimer:  No compensation was received for this review. I received this title from Harlequin Blaze through NetGalley in exchange of my honest opinion