Book Blogger Hop: May 17th - 23rd

I'm on the ball this time!!  This weeks question:

What is your guilty pleasure read? 

There are a few :) Vintage Nora Roberts - I love her very early M&B stories.  They're all headstrong girls and overbearing heroes.  I'd have to add Sandra Brown to that list as well, with her 'Classic Love Stories'.  There are also books from my youth I love to revisit - Point Horror and teen romances.

C.

Book Blogger Hop: May 10th - 16th

I haven't participated in the blog hop for a little while, and there's a new owner, hello and welcome :)  Same rules apply, lets get hopping.

(This week's question submitted by Tanya)

What was the last book you re-read? Or name a book you would like to re-read.

There are two: Lead Me On by Victoria Dahl 

Lead me on is a lot of fun, laugh out loud characters, crazy antics and a hero that makes me go squee!

&  

The Year of Living Biblically by A.J. Jacobs

Technically I never finished this, but I wanted to; and since it was a couple of years ago, I started from the beginning again...which I guess is where all good stories about the bible start...Interesting reading to say the least, not quite sure how I'd cope, in fact I don't think I would - I like bacon too much.

Since this week is nearly over, it'll be even less of a wait for next week, looking forward to visiting a few blogs, new and old.

C.

Reading Roundup

Cherished by Maya Banks

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I've found a second book by Maya Banks that I don't particularly like, not that it's a good thing.  She's one of my fave authors, so 'Exiled' was disappointing for me to read.  Personally, I didn't feel that connection with Talia, I thought she was being used / treated like a hooar - a very nicely treated hooar, but a hooar all the same.  I don't care how much the Prince loves her my status update from pg 8 says it all: "Medical Exam?! O.o Ruh Roh."  I think that may've been where Banks lost me.  If you love someone - you don't have a doctor stick they're fingers in your intendeds junk.

What I did love was 'Sway' and if I'm being honest that's where the 3 stars have come from.  I loved Daisy & Levi together, they meshed well, I liked the little bit of kink in the bedroom, yes it's tame compared to lots of other stories out there, but I liked it anyway.  I was eye rolling around page 240: "I know this is a BDSM story, but she said "no thanks" to a man who offered to do the dishes - something wrong with that!!"

And again at page 262: "Now Daisy is mixing his wasabi n soy sauce AND pouring his beer. If that was me he'd be lucky if I passed him a sauce bowl, let alone poured his beer!! Did I mention I'd make a terrible Sub. :)" 

But neither of those points are the fault of Dane, it's just my snark coming out. I've since read the second in this story (loved that too) and I'm looking forward to #3.  I've not read a lot of Dane before, so I'm going to try a few on her back list as well.


Marital Bitch by JC  Emery

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


I like realism in my books, it makes them believable, no matter what everyone says about why ladies read romance novels.  Reality vs Fantasy can work both ways - but that's for another conversation.

I did enjoy this, did I love it - not necessarily.  I got frustrated by Coleen.  She kinda reminds me of overly attached girlfriend, plus she's mean to Brad, who I really liked, even though sometimes he was an idiot - (I could've done without the farting/burping etc) - TMI!  The realism I did like was the smexytimes.  It was real sex, not the flick of the wrist, deep voiced "come for me" so she does, culminating in a whimpering lovesplosion! * Boys - generally if she's coming that quick for you - its because she was already halfway there when you got home :)*

Probably the thing that bugged me the most was the Harvard Law degree storyline - all that debt & working her ass off & nothing came of it. For all the realism in it, that didn't ring true; I don't care if you discover that law isn't the thing you want, surely you'd stick it out for a while, at least to pay the bills.

All up, I'd be interested to see where this series went; and I definitely give this author another read.

Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake by Sarah MacLean

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I had so much fun with this book, I loved Lady Calpurnia and her Rake, Gabriel. This is a new author for me and I adored her writing.  There were laugh out funny parts, great smexytimes and some that were rip your heart out, smash it up and hand it back to you moments.  And lets not forget - 9 things that ladies should never do - even if they are confirmed spinsters!  I've got book 2 & 3 in this series waiting for me at home and I am thoroughly looking forward to getting stuck into them.

I don't often read regency, I have been more lately, the last ARRC has encouraged me to try more, so in all honesty I don't know how accurate it is in a 'regency' sense, but really when I'm enjoying a book this much, I just don't care :)

Not only did I enjoy the two main characters, I like the supporting cast, I'm hoping St John & Benedict, Gabriel/Callie's brothers, both get their own books.  And even moreso I would absolutely LOVE IT if Anne, Callie's maid/helper lady got her own book.  Callie's mother, although you didn't see her much, reminded me of Mrs. Bennett, with her almost volcanic excitement about upcoming marriages.

All in all this was a fantastic romp through the regency era, and a place that I'd love to return to.

View all my reviews

Have a great weekend guys.

C.

TGIF aka A mini ARRC2013 round up

I'm so glad it's Friday, I have a bevy of new books to read, so many that I don't really know where to start.  I'm so excited about my choices that I want to read everything at once.  I was lucky enough to pick up some great stuff at ARRC2013 and I've put off reading anything new as I wanted to finish up Tart by Lauren Dane and Hot in Handcuffs stories by Shayla Black, Sylvia Day & Shiloh Walker - which I have - and they were great.  I really enjoyed Tart and loved the Sylvia Day story in HIH - it was the standout story for me.

But what should I read??? I'm tossing up between Seven Nights in a Rogues Bed by Anna Campbell or The Best Man by Kristan Higgins.  But I've also had a wee buy up on ebooks.  Willpower - I has none!

As with the last ARRC I went to, I've come away with a list of new authors to try: Anne Gracie, Cathy Maxwell, Amy Andrews, Rachel Johns, Danielle Lisle &
Shona Husk to name a few.  Shona was one author I hadn't heard of before; her Goblin King series sounds quite interesting.  I think it's refreshing after all of the angels, werewolves, vampires and shifter I usually read.  I've read gargoyles before, but no goblins, so I'm looking forward to reading The Goblin King.

Brisbane ARRC2013 was fantastic, I had a blast, I met Rachel Vincent - one of my favorite authors.  Her keynote speech opened the Saturday morning and all through it I was thinking "This is me, we had a similar reading experience growing up!" (In a completely non creeper kind of way Rachel).  I used to read what my mother read - Stephen King, Dean Koontz, John Saul, Virginia Andrews.  She read a lot of true crime also.  There was many a night I used to sit up with a flashlight and a book sneaked off the book case in the hallway.  I was on my very best behavior and tried not to be crazy fan girl, I want her to come back to Australia after all.

Anne Gracie was our second keynote speaker and she ruined me for the second week of my holidays, I had planned to do so much - instead I needed to watch all of my yea olde hotboys.  Anne made us watch a delicious musical 'I need a Hero' montage and I was done for!  She gave a fantastic speech, if you weren't able to attend, hopefully there will be a CD out in the next month or so.  I also had the pleasure of sitting in on the historical panel - get her and Anna Campbell together and look out!  It was all blacksmiths, pelts and tentacle porn (DON'T Google that either - just don't). Cathy Maxwell was also on this panel and she was lovely, another author I'd heard of, but never read, so I've come away with two new titles to try.

Kristan Higgins was our third and final keynote speaker and she was another author who teased us with bare chested beauties, Bondi style.  She had me in stitches as she talked about her personal journey through writing and getting her first book published; and by the end, as she read out some letters from her readers, I don't think there was a dry eye - both from laughing at the 'you're going to Hell heathen' letters and the touching 'you saved my life with this book'.  I'm looking forward to read The Best Man, which was launched on the Saturday morning - because really, how could you go wrong with a sexy police man like Levi.

Hope your weekend is lovely and filled with brilliant things.  Have a happy St. Paddy's Day :)

C.

Tightarse Tuesday

I thought that this time I would find a few sexy books, that are currently free for kindle.  I'm forever trawling to find new stuff, and that way, there won't be the problem of this book is awesome, I got it for free, but now it's $2.99!  Baahumbug I say!  Let the free sexy times start :)

As always, all information is taken from Amazon.com

Broken Hart - 4 Stars

File Size: 453 KB, Print Length: 218 pgs. 

Sabrina Tyler is head over heels in love with her boss and best friend, Dante Hart. She thinks that Dante has no romantic interest in her but she's wrong.  Dante doesn't believe in love or commitment or any kind. Sabrina has gotten under his skin, but Dante has no intention of acting on it.  One wild night changes their relationship forever, but Dante lacks faith in love and doesn't believe in Happily Ever Afters.  Can Sabrina break through and fix what's broken in Dante Hart?

** This is an erotic romance for adults only. Contains TONS of one on one sex between two great characters! If you object to erotic romance, this is NOT the book for you.**

Love, Lies & High Heels - 4 Stars


File Size: 344 KB; Print Length: 243 pages

LUKE GALLOWAY doesn’t lie. Well, not normally. And never about anything as serious as death. But, somehow Luke’s friend and business partner, Sam Paris, convinces Luke that he needs to do just that. Sam believes the only way his daughter will come back to see him is if he were dying. And so the lies begin . . .
RUSTY PARIS has been alone most of her life. Her parents were divorced when she was very young. Rusty was pushed off to boarding schools, while her mother made a hobby of marrying rich men. She doesn’t remember much about her father, only that he never made an attempt to be a part of her life for the past twenty-one years. But all that is about to change. When she gets word he is dying, she runs home to be by his side, which puts in right in the path of that scoundrel Luke Galloway.
Luke has no room in his life for rich heiresses. Been there. Done that. From the first time Luke and Rusty meet, they clash. She considers him nothing more than a lowly ranch hand who enjoys riling her temper. He considers her arrogant and prissy. But that doesn’t mean he can fight his attraction to her, nor hers to him. And when they find out they’ve both been duped by Rusty’s father the sparks really start to fly.

Runaway Heart - 4 Stars

File Size: 390 KB; Print Length: 214 pages 

Spirited Chelsea decided she’d sooner run away to London than return to her vain and selfish guardian, Aunt Augusta.  But in her wildest dreams, she never imagined her dear godmother would arrange a Season—or convince the ton’s most eligible bachelor to take her under his wing.  Lord Wainwright was a handsome rogue who was not interested in coy games and missish airs. He expected a country mouse with no polish, but instead he found a thoroughly engaging minx, and was oddly irritated by all the male attention she received.  Chelsea with her unspoiled eye saw beyond Wainwright’s pursuit of hedonism to the intriguing man underneath.  But to her shock, it appeared his heart belonged to her horrid Aunt Augusta! 

Three different genres, cause who doesn't love a little variety.   That's just a little taste of what's free at the moment.  Feel free to add more freebies in the comments if you've found some.  There are always new free books popping up, definitely quicker than I can find them all!

Enjoy.

C.

Getting sidetracked

I'm never short of things to read, in fact right now I have a nice stack of new releases just waiting for me to pick them up and settle in. But here's the thing, I'm reading a M&B from 2003. I've got a stack of them, a lady returned them at work the other day and I was all 'WHOA! I must has. I must has right now!'. They're not from authors I read and admittedly, I don't read a lot of M&B, but these just caught my eye.

One features Jake, who's late for a house party and dammit, Marin you're going to be his date whether you like it or not! Then there's a Greek tycoon and also a firefighter, who's hair I liked, (really, that's my sole reason for picking it).

Either way, I'm hoping that this weekend I'll be motivated to delve into the other stack, I've got two Maya Banks (KGI series), two Jill Shalvis (Lucky Harbor) and a Lori Foster series to finish. And then there's my growing stack of ARRC2013 authors that I'd like to read, some that I'm familiar with and some that I haven't tried before. I can't wait for next March - what are the odds that I'll have finished all the books that I bought from last years conference. I'm thinking I've got buckleys of finishing everything.

Like I said...I really am behind on all the reading I need to do.

C.

What's for dinner?

It is truly terrible and I'll eat an apple & some carrot sticks on the way home to make up for it, but below is my delicious dinner - is that ice cream? Yep. And cheats ice cream at that. What do you get when you have a can of top 'n fill and a jar of double thick cream, whipped together then frozen??? Tasty, tasty 'homemade' ice cream. It's easy as that. I had originally made this to go with a pudding I made, but it's so damn sweet I'm still eating it. Next time, I won't add the whole can.