Musings From An Addicted Reader: 2013

Tuesday, December 31, 2013

The Champagne Diet by Cara Alwill Leyba

The Champagne Diet: Eat, Drink, and Celebrate Your Way to a Healthy Mind and Body! by Cara Alwill Leyba
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I generally do not review self help books, but this one peeked my interest. I periodically read self help, but how can you pass up a book that says you can still imbibe in champagne.

The Champagne Diet basically boils down to listening to your body and mind. This is not a here you have to chuck everything and your exercise it to death type of book. In fact it really is not a diet, it is a blunt guide to taking a look at yourself which I liked.

There were several areas which I completely related to, the blame game, the emotional toll of eating and more. This book is more a tool to changing your thought process when it comes to a healthier lifestyle. A refreshing self help book which I thought was quite different than the other books I have read. Definitely worth checking out if you want to make some changes in the New Year.

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http://www.amazon.com/Champagne-Diet-Drink-Celebrate-Healthy-ebook/dp/B00DRGSSSU/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1388520895&sr=1-1&keywords=the+champagne+diet

Also as a treat, the author has Sparkle
http://www.amazon.com/Champagne-Diet-Drink-Celebrate-Healthy-ebook/dp/B00DRGSSSU/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1388520895&sr=1-1&keywords=the+champagne+diet
Free on amazon

Author Bio:

Cara Alwill Leyba is a best selling author and life coach from New York City who encourages women to live their most effervescent lives and celebrate themselves. She runs an international private coaching practice where she works with women who are ready to make their happiness a priority. Through loving guidance, support and an expert perspective, Cara empowers women to be the change agent in their lives.

Her blog, TheChampagneDiet.com has been featured in Glamour, Shape, Marie Claire UK, Cosmopolitan South Africa, and a host of other publications worldwide. Cara's writing has been featured in The Huffington Post, Marie Claire, xoJane, Mind Body Green, and many other sites.

Cara is the author of two books: Sparkle: The Girl's Guide to Living a Deliciously Dazzling, Wildly Effervescent, Kick-Ass Life, which was a #1 Amazon best seller in the Happiness and Self-Esteem categories, and The Champagne Diet: Eat, Drink, and Celebrate Your Way to a Healthy Mind and Body, which was a #2 Amazon best seller in Self-Esteem.

When she’s not popping bubbly and blogging, Cara spends her days leading a digital advertising team at MTV Networks. She lives in Brooklyn, New York with her husband and dog.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Twitter.com/ChampagneDiet

Facebook.com/TheChampagneDiet

Pinterest.com/ChampagneDiet/

Instagram.com/TheChampagneDiet

BOOK LINKS

Amazon Kindle:

http://www.amazon.com/The-Champagne-Diet-Celebrate-ebook/dp/B00DRGSSSU/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1372899925&sr=8-2&keywords=the+champagne+diet+kindle

Amazon Paperback:

http://www.amazon.com/The-Champagne-Diet-Celebrate-Healthy/dp/061580439X/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1372899925&sr=8-2

This book is for the woman who wants to feel good about herself and her body, and learn how to start incorporating healthy habits into her life. It's for the woman who doesn't want to trade in her champagne for skinny jeans. It's for the woman who is done with dieting, and ready to start paying attention to her health before that number on the scale. It's for the woman who is ready to stop letting her weight define her, and is ready to understand why it always did. This is not a diet book. This is a lifestyle guide. This book will change the way you view your weight and yourself forever. You will walk away feeling empowered, inspired, and downright sexy (and probably craving a glass of bubbly). You will learn how to celebrate yourself and your body. You will learn to make your health a priority, always. And most importantly – you will learn to love yourself, exactly as you are. So get ready to embark on a complete dieting and lifestyle overhaul, sister. You are now on The Champagne Diet!

December 30 – Chick Lit Goddess – Review

December 30 – Bookish – Review

December 31 – Musings From an Addicted Reader – Review

January 2 – Brooke Blogs – Review & Guest Post

January 2 – Every Free Chance Book Reviews – Guest Post & Excerpt

January 3 – Whirlwindbooks – Review & Excerpt

January 6 – Regina May Ross – Review

January 6 – Chick Lit Club Connect – Guest Post

January 6 – A Blue Million Books – Q&A & Excerpt

Sunday, December 29, 2013

His Indecent Proposal by Andra Lake

His Indecent Proposal by Andra Lake
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Graduating from college, Amy Clair has one week to leave her dorm and find a place, and a job in order to stay in New York. Already feeling her parents disapproval with her career choice, she doesn't want to go back home to California, she wants to find her own path.

Finding an ad for a model was nothing new, but being petite she knew she would never fit the bill, except this particular ad seems to be of a different she answers the ad hoping it might lead to something. It does, it leads her to Dallon King, a wealthy banker who wants her as his model for a project he is working on. However, Amy although intrigued, is not quite sure she is cut for the type of work Dallon wants. Even after she backs out, Dallon finds he doesn't want to let her go and offers her a new proposal.

Intriguing story. Very quickly paced and you are absorbed into the characters right away. Dallon is seductive and I can't read more about what he is wanting with Amy.

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To Kiss A Werewolf by Molly Snow Book Tour

To Kiss a Werewolf

Molly Snow

Genre: YA Paranormal Romantic Comedy

Book Description:

As president of Paranormal Addicts Anonymous, Stella’s got no time for popular guys. Especially the surfers who hang at Shoreline’s beach—they think flashing a sand-sprinkled, tanned chest is enough to get any girl. But when surfer-hunk Damien Capernalli crashes Stella’s PAA fieldtrip to a haunted bed and breakfast, it may be time to rethink her priorities.

...And what’s with that wolfish gleam in Damien's eye?

Amazon Smashwords

Excerpt:

Her mind played a trick on her. A tall man-slash-beast with perfect white teeth stared back at her. Darn Gordon, she thought she saw Bigfoot of all things. “Hi, I didn’t mean to scare you,” he said.

The thing stepped closer, out of the darkness. His appearance was forming more clearly. No, no beast. Far from it. A tall guy, with dark hair and eyes. His perfectly straight teeth still glistened white. Her heart rapped against her chest. “What are you doing here?” She realized who it was. Damien’s muscles were just as beautiful as before, pronounced under another tight T-shirt. It wasn’t fair. Her traitorous thoughts needed to keep to themselves.

“I wanted to… come check it out…” He leaned over and picked something up. “Is this yours?” He pulled his find closer to his face to study it with quirked eyebrows.

Stella could feel the heat of her embarrassment flushing her pale cheeks. “None of your business.” She grabbed the book from him instantly. Her hands shook as she opened the car door and shoved the thing into the glove compartment.

She turned around to face him again, her hands still quivering. She balled them into fists at her side. “I hate being snuck up on. Why are you here?”

“Like I said. I wanted to check out the meeting.”

“How did you know there was a meeting?”

He scratched the back of his neck. “I may or may not have found it in the heap of what used to be a dressing room last night.”

“You know,” she stood there, still tense as all get-out, “you are definitely making a habit of seeing me in my most embarrassing moments.”

He smiled at her. It was the first time she saw him smile since the night he leaned over the counter at Dough-licious, taking her order. But this smile was different. Mockery maybe? “Is it really my fault?” he asked.

Good question. “Well, tonight is. This is my domain. You aren’t supposed to be here. You weren’t supposed to see that–that book, which is totally not mine.”

“Yeah, whose is it?” He smirked.

“Caleb’s.” She said the first name that came to mind.

His lips parted into another smile, and he let out a laugh. “Am I supposed to believe that?”

“Sure.” She nodded unconvincingly. “No, I guess you weren’t. Just tell me what you’re doing here.”

Damien paused. There was something different about his brown eyes. They were intense, like he was holding back a major secret. Rather than revealing anything remarkable, he said, “I told you. I just wanted to check out the meeting.”

“You are a paranormal addict?” Stella questioned. It was hard spitting out those words, since they screamed contradiction to being a surfer-slash-all-around-jock.

“I have a confession to make.” He said his words slowly and thoughtfully.

“Okay?”

“I read New Moon within three hours of picking it up.”

“New Moon?” Reading? Finished in just three hours? It took Stella five days to finish that book. Three hours? “You’re kidding, right?”

“I wish I were,” he said seriously.

“Damien Cappernalli, paranormal addict,” she said aloud. “Does not make sense whatsoever.”

“Why not? You know my name, but you don’t know me.”

She laughed at that. Oh, she knows popular guys. They’re all basic carbon-copies of each other. His eyebrows went up as if waiting for her to continue with her analysis.

“I don’t need to explain,” she said. With that, she turned back toward the grange and sped up her steps to make it inside before him. Had she entered a parallel universe? Just what was he up to? All she knew was no matter what the true explanation would be, she wouldn’t like it. Damien was supposed to stay in his separate world from hers.

Maggie, on the other hand, was pleased with the new addition to the group, sitting right beside the beefcake. “Please, introduce yourself to everyone else, Damien.”

They were back to their circle formation. He stood up and confidently put his hands in his jeans’ pockets. “Okay. Hello, everyone.”

Kit looked at Stella out of the corner of her eye for the seemingly hundredth time. Stella ignored Kit, just as she had done the ninety-nine times before.

“My name is Damien, and I am a paranormal addict.”

“Hello, Damien,” all said but Stella. Maggie added, “It is important to know we aren’t like other addicts anonymous meetings. We won’t try to cure you of your obsession. We will support you in it.”

“Okay,” he said. “Well, my monster of choice is the werewolf, and I would like to learn as much about them as possible. So this sounds… perfect.”

Stella felt his eyes on her as she looked down to the concrete floor. Of all the books she had to choose from tonight, she just had to grab the werewolf one. Or was he just saying he liked werewolves to tease her? Maybe he came tonight to get revenge for the big dare gone horribly wrong. Stella suddenly looked up, compelled to say, “I like zombies.” And so she did.

Everyone turned to her, some surprised more than others over her interruption.

“Dead things,” she said. “Er, Undead things. With decrepit flesh.” Shut up, she told herself. “I can’t get enough of them.” That just came out sounding like she had a creepy attraction to them.

“Good idea,” Maggie said happily in her accent. “How about everyone goes around the circle and re-announces what their particular addiction is, so that our newest member can get to know us better. I have been a ghost hunter ever since staying as a child with my great grandmother in her haunted cottage in England. So, as the Ghostbusters would say, ‘I ain’t afraid of no ghosts.’”

Stella’s most comfortable place to be in all the world was quickly taken down, down, down to the innermost depths of discomfort.

Review
Stella happens to be the President of Paranormal Addicts Anonymous and she also has a slight crush on popular boy Damien. Damien comes off as unattainable initially but keeps finding himself in Stella's company. But things are changing for Damien and there is a reason he is attending the PAA meetings Stella holds. But Stella has her own issues when her not so normal ex is intent on getting her back whether she wants it or not. Damien plans on rescuing her though, but first he has to catch her.

This was an unexpected surprise. Had several plot twists that I did not see coming. I thought the way Damien figures out what he was was priceless and the way he tries to stop it had me laughing. A great read if your a paranormal fan.

About the Author:

Molly Snow is a Top 10 Idaho Fiction Author, awarded by The Idaho Book Extravaganza. Her works include quirky teen romances BeSwitched and Fallen Angel. Also a speaker on writing, her school assemblies have been featured in The Contra Costa Times and The Brentwood Press. Snow is married to her high school crush, has a set of silly twin boys and a bobtail cat named Meow-Meow. Molly Snow also co-writes mysteries under her pseudonym Claire Kane.

Twitter: molly_snow

Blog: http://mollysnowfiction.blogspot.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Molly-Snow-Author/283533731673696

Friday, December 27, 2013

Asking for Andre by Minx Malone

Asking for Andre by Minx Malone
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Shy Cassandra Michaels has a secret crush on Italian playboy Andre Lavin who seems to bring out the clumsy in her whenever he is near. For three long months Andre has been wanting to get close to Cassandra, slowly bringing her out of her shell, so when an opportunity arises to see her outside of the marketing firm she works for, he grabs it. Cassandra is overwhelmed when she finds out Andre is attracted to her, after all what could he possibly want witha nobody when he could have anyone he wanted, if Andre gets his way she is about to find out.

Full review on Sensual Reads
http://sensualreads.com/?p=7408

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Kissing Kendall by Jennifer Shirk

Kissing Kendall by Jennifer Shirk
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Kendall Grisbaum has loved and lost the man who was her everything, her firefighter husband. Still struggling with his death, she is torn between moving on and staying loyal to his memory. Kendall has decisions to make and as she begins her new venture in opening a bakery business, she finds herself having feelings for her Brad, her husband’s best friend and her shoulder to cry on.

Brad has had feelings for Kendall since before she married his best friend. Knowing it will never happen, he reluctantly agrees to his sisters matchmaking, wanting to settle down and start his own family. However, he can’t keep his mind off Kendall and when he steps in to help as a handyman in her bakery, the chemistry is as sweet as apple pie ala mode when they are together. Fragile and new, they begin a relationship but Kendall isn’t sure she can put her heart out there again, for Brad is a cop and she already lost one man in the line of duty before.

If you read Georgie On His Mind, she is back helping her friend Kendall and her brother Brad. Delightful story, I loved the pacing between Kendall and Brad, it was not sudden it took time to sort out and was a sweet treat once they came together. Big fan of Jennifer Shirk’s work, this is just another example of her creativity and ability to create intriguing characters. High praise.

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The Alpha Takes A Mate by Cara Adams

The Alpha Takes a Mate (Wolf Pack Mates, #1)

The Alpha Takes a Mate by Cara Adams
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Taige York moves into an old schoolhouse with her friends, with the intent to build a craft market. Oblivious to he fact that there is a werewolf pack nearby, she is surprised to find herself in the midst of the seductive attention of two men, Alpha Jasper Lyall and his beta Cornelian Bardolph.

Not everyone is happy about the alpha hooking up with a human though, they are intent to cause mischief and run the humans out of town. Jasper wasn't sure initially if Taige was more of a temporary lust or if it was something more, he quickly realizes that she is meant to be his mate and plans to convince her of that with the help of his friend Cornelian.

I wanted to like this one but it fell a little flat. Taige just agrees to kiss two complete strangers who just show up at the school house. I had a hard time and felt the story was a bit rushed. Wanted more substance.

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Wild For Wolves by Jane Jamison

Wild for Wolves (Werewolves of Forever, Texas #2)

Wild for Wolves by Jane Jamison
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

In an effort to get her friend off her beck, Sandy Hamilton impulsively agrees to a bet where she will have to try and succeed in picking up the first man who walks through the door. Sandy has not always been lucky, and it looks as if her luck has not changed, when three of the most stunning men she has seen walk through the door at the same time.

Luke, Will and Mark knew they scented their mate and what a heavenly sight they have before them. Wanting to spending more time with her, they charm her friends into a fun day only to be met with one jealous and manipulative woman, who seems to be doing intent on making Sandy look bad. After their plan to get her to leave backfires, the mating pull is quickly upon them, but now they have to convince Sandy that she is meant to be theirs.

I liked aspects of this story, I thought the way the men met her was charming. Kind of fluffy, there were some mixes in the way that Sandy asked and all three men are into kink which she just readily accepts, without question but it doesn't add up to how she was in the beginning.

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Red Moon by M. A. Grant

Red Moon by M.A. Grant
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Realizing the relationship she Evie Thompson had been in, has completely overtaken her life in an unhealthy way she packs up and moves to Alaska. Still suffering the after effects of her past relationship two years later, Evie balks when she meets Flynn Sinclair. Everything about Flynn is intense, dominant, but there is a tenderness quality to him that Evie sees and is not sure what to do with.

After a tumultuous past with his Alpha father, Flynn flees to Alaska to live a quiet life. When he is summoned to clean up a mess his older brother has found himself in, Flynn gets the feeling he can't escape his past. Meeting Evie though throws him completely, he knows she is his mate but convincing her is a whole different matter. Finding a delicate balance between watching over his brother and earning Evie's trust, Flynn realizes he has put Evie in danger.

I loved this story, Flynn is a total Alpha hero and I hope this becomes a series. There is a whole back story for Flynn that catapults this story to something special. I thought the author had a talented way of creating the characters in a very visual way, you can easily imagine each scene. Excellent read, highly recommend.

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Thursday, December 26, 2013

Old Enough To Know Better by Joan Reeves

Old Enough To Know Better by Joan Reeves
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

3.75

Former Army interrogator Sean Butler has set his sights on his target, the delectable Stormy Clarkson. Since the day he met her, he has been smitten and the more effort he puts in to seduce her the more he knows she is it for him. Six months later he is no closer to capturing her, but he has a plan that maybe to her liking.

Stormy has had three relationships that resulted in disaster. Stormy has no qualms about never going doing that route again, even if turning down Sean is tough each and every time. Everything about Sean makes Stormy want to break her rule, but as an older woman she knows it will end up with her hurt again, however she couldn't be more wrong about Sean which she will realize if she gives him a chance.

There were aspects I liked, but I couldn't really understand her reasoning with Sean. Stormy is about to turn fifty, Sean is forty, there is an age difference but he has lived his life and made mistakes along the way, I couldn't quite wrap my head around the younger man issue with this one.

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Leather and Lace by Melody Snow Monroe

Leather and Lace by Melody Snow Monroe
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Although Samantha Callen likes all things girly, she has shed the traces of that demeanor trying to prove she is as good as any man rancher. When she interrupts rustlers stealing from her ranch, she inadvertently gets shot and is found by the side of the road by Wade and Heath Watson.

Wade and Heath made a declaration once to Samantha, they planned on making her their wife, and she has been running ever since. Now that she has been hurt, Wade and Heath step in to help and it is not quite what Samantha expected.

Very fun, Samantha is determined that having a man or men in her life will put her need aside and it will be controlling. Wade and Heath, don't see a relationship like that and plan to correct every assumption that Samantha has. I liked that the men were so understanding and didn't overwhelm Samantha, instead they listened and allowed her the space she needed. Excellent first book in the series.

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Loved By A Werewolf by Marisa Chenery

Loved By a Werewolf (Big City Pack Series - Oh, Canada!, #5)

Loved By a Werewolf by Marisa Chenery
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

3.75

Chasing down her brother has become a common theme for Sierra, cleaning up his messes is just another duty she has learned to accept. When she sees him sauntering off with a married woman, she knows she has to act fast before the husband finds out. However she gets lost in the woods and finds herself face to face with a wolf instead.

Cale knows he has just met his mate, he quickly transforms and sets about charming her. Although Cale is trying to properly woo her, but every touch is calling to his wolf and the instinct to mate is riding him hard.

I liked this one, but it is so rushed that I wish there had been a bit more. Fun read.

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Hero of her Heart by Lindsey Brookes

Hero of her Heart by Lindsey Brookes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Even at four years old Tanner Montgomery knew two things, he would never get married and he would be Sheriff one day like his daddy. Over the years though his matchmaking mother never wavered with the hope that one day her best friend's daughter Bethany Warner would be his bride. To Tanner, Bethany was a pest always following his footsteps and having to include her when he was hanging out with is buddies. He got a reprieve though when Bethany moved away, but now she is back for a month and his mom is in full force matchmaking mode.

Bethany couldn't wait to see her childhood crush Tanner, she used the wisdom only Cosmo could provide for women and hoped that she would knock him off his feet. Bethany does and Tanner turns into the village idiot trying to gain some footing around her, but Tanner will not be wavered on his single life status. Although when Bethany comes to him needing help with something he never expected everything changes, now both are avoiding one another and seem to be willing to walk away even though their hearts are breaking.

Delightful read, was pretty funny and had some unexpected moments where you can't help to smile. Tanner is an idiot (but in a sweet way), he rationalizes his stance but can't see what is right in front of him, often making an ass out of himself. I love the type of stories where the hero has been kind of cocky when it comes to the heroine and the heroine has a way of making him eat crow later. Very fun read.

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Amazing Grace by Dixie Lynn Dwyer

Amazing Grace (The American Soldier Collection, #3)

Amazing Grace by Dixie Lynn Dwyer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

When Grace Thompson's sister was murdered, her life stopped. Their looks were practically identical, despite being 14 months apart, and Grace found herself trying to fill the role of her sister. Realizing how unhealthy it was for her family and herself, she left and began her career as a fashion photographer in Europe.

Two years later, Grace is coming home for a surprise visit. With only one day into her visit, everything becomes unhinged. She finds herself in the middle of an investigation that stems back to her sister's murder and a serial killer who has set Grace as his ultimate target.

Sandman Sandstone is the person you call when you have exhausted every lead. Sandman needs to find the connection from the killer to Grace, but in all of his years of doing the job he has never felt the protective drive kick in like it has with meeting Grace. After a few close calls, Sandman calls in his brothers Big Jay and Duke to help with the investigation as well as protecting Grace. Grace though is determined to help and has a spirit of their own that the Sandstone brothers are trying to adapt to and hope they have the time to figure out as long as they keep her out of the path of the killer.

I thought this was an excellent read, a lot grittier than Dixie Lynn Dwyer's other books. I did have a couple issues with Sandman and Big Jay's name, it was just not connecting in the intimate moment, it was so minor though it did not take away from the story though.

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The Alpha Takes A Mate by Sam Crescent

The Alpha Takes a Mate (Disaster of the Otherworld, #1)

The Alpha Takes a Mate by Sam Crescent
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Brandon, the Alpha of the Northern Forest Pack knows his mate is out there, he smelled her once but she was too young for what was coming. It wasn't as if Brandon idly waited, he scratched his itch up until the day he fins her again and then in a quick statement he bites her in front of everyone.

Elle Smith moved to Grace Hill with her parents when she was sixteen. She knows better than to get involved with the wolves and has safely kept her distance, until Brandon bites her. He won't back down about taking her for a mate and sets about earning her trust. But Brandon has a big get together about to happen and Elle is human, she couldn't possibly act as his mate in front of the other creatures so he uses a stand in, his ex. Elle is trying to adapt to her role as mate, but when she finds out that Brandon doesn't think she is worthy enough to stand by his side she is devastated.

3.99, the only problem I really had was that Brandon was kind of a jerk for a little too long. He has this young woman who is completely innocent and he is crass and insistent. I didn't expect him to do a complete personality change but he could have eased her fears a bit. Otherwise good story, would definitely check out more in series.

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Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Pitch Perfect by Sierra Dean

Pitch Perfect by Sierra Dean
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Emmy Kasper has nailed her dream job as head athletic trainer for the San Francisco Felons. Of course her first day doesn’t go as planned when she accidentally crashes her bike into baseball star pitcher Tucker Lloyd. Tucker should have been ticked at the woman who could have done him bodily harm, but he cannot get her out of his mind. Realizing she is now part of his team, Tucker is not sure if he wants the distraction but he can’t seem to stay away from Emmy. Tucker is towards the end of his career and he needs a breakout season to ensure he has a few years left. What he is not expecting is that his trainer is quickly becoming his best asset.

Full review on Single Titles
http://singletitles.com/?p=9143

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Blind Acceptance by Missy Martine

Blind Acceptance (The Wind River Pack, #1)

Blind Acceptance by Missy Martine
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

When Laynee Conners dad takes her from the one home that she knows, she thinks this is finally the chance to bond with her absentee father. Little does Laynee know that her father is taking advantage of her being blind and plans to leave her in the woods to die, in order to collect her inheritance.

When David and Eric Rivers overhear the plot to murder an innocent they quickly find her and bring her into their protection. David and Eric realize they have both found their mate but how do you explain that you are shifters to a woman who has had her whole life turned upside down. When it seems the father is intent on seeing her dead, her men will do whatever they can to protect her.

I was a bit disappointed, there are so many characters introduced my mind was swimming. I liked the parts with Laynee, David and Eric but found Laynee to be a bit of a contradiction as she on one hand is uncertain about trusting and on the other just hands it completely over to men she met in the woods. It was a bit over complicated for me would probably try another in the series though.

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SWAT Team Seven Goddess of the Circle by Dixie Lynn Dwyer

SWAT Team Seven Goddess of the Circle (The Men of Five-0, #5)

SWAT Team Seven Goddess of the Circle by Dixie Lynn Dwyer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Watching her family slaughtered before her eyes and than running to the only protection she has, left a thirst for revenge for Kamea Mahalan. Now ten years later she is closer to finding the man who killed her family, but fate is ready to intervene and Kamea who has been hiding under an alias is about to have her whole world turned upside down.

Mano, Gideon, Chordeo, Chance and Eric Dolberg lost their mate ten years ago, they thought they would live a life of empty existence never finding the one who would own them body and soul. Doing detail at another event, they are ready to go until they cast eyes on Kamea and know instantly she is their mate. However, vampire Julius has an interest in her as well. Kamea doesn't agree to be mated, but feeling the pull and the danger surrounding her she finds she has to lean on all of her men as she is the key to the future of all Weres.

Interesting, it was a bit slow in the beginning. I would have liked more of Julius he was a total bad boy and was left out quite a bit in the story, but the moments he was in were delicious. Overall it was an entertaining addition in the series and setup for more books to follow.

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Review: All of You by Christina Lee

All of You by Christina Lee
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Unattached with no plans to ever fall into the path of a relationship, Avery Michaels lives her life happily single. After watching her mother’s merry-go-round of bad decisions her whole life, Avery has no strings attached hookups when she feels like it. Now though she wants that with Bennett, but Bennett doesn’t seem all that eager to fall into bed.

Bennett has his own hang-ups from watching his mother’s relationship and has decided to stay a virgin until he meets the woman who he can find love and happiness with. He thinks that woman maybe Avery, but Avery is not quite on board with his plan. After a rocky start though, Avery begins to trust Bennett and sees a different side of what maybe if she is willing to give it a chance.

Hauntingly beautiful. There is a rawness to Avery, she is tough but vulnerable and you find yourself softening to her despite the hard edge she tries to keep in place. I thought Bennett was a remarkable character, he is the epitome of don’t judge a book by it’s cover. Excellent story.

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Monday, December 23, 2013

Red by Bianca D'Arc Book Tour

Tales of the Were: Rocky

On the run from her husband's killers, there is only one man who can help her now... her Rock.

Maggie is on the run from those who killed her husband nine months ago. She knows the only one who can help her is Rocco, a grizzly shifter she knew in her youth. She arrives on his doorstep in labor with twins. Magical, shapeshifting, bear cub twins destined to lead the next generation of werecreatures in North America.

Rocky is devastated by the news of his Clan brother's death, but he cannot deny the attraction that has never waned for the small human woman who stole his heart a long time ago. Rocky absented himself from her life when she chose to marry his childhood friend, but the years haven't changed the way he feels for her.

And now there are two young lives to protect. Rocky will do everything in his power to end the threat to the small family and claim them for himself. He knows he is the perfect Alpha to teach the cubs as they grow into their power... if their mother will let him love her as he has always longed to do.

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Amazon - Barnes & Noble - Powell's

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Amazon - Barnes & Noble - Smashwords

Tales of the Were: Slade

The fate of all shifters rests on his broad shoulders, but all he can think of is her.

Slade is a mystery. A warrior and spy who serves two masters - those in the human world and the Lords of the Were. They've sent him to Nevada to track a brutal murderer before the existence of all shifters is revealed to a world not ready to know.

Kate is a priestess serving the Goddess and the large community of shifters that have gathered around the Redstone cougars. When their matriarch is murdered and the scene poluted by dark magics, she knows she must help the enigmatic man sent to track the killer.

Together, Slade and Kate find not one but two evil mages that they alone can neutralize. It's a tricky situation because Slade finds it hard to keep his hands off his sexy new partner, the cougars are out for blood, and the killers have an even more sinister plan in mind.

Can Kate somehow keep her hands to herself when the most attractive man she's ever met makes her want to throw caution to the wind? And can Slade do his job and save the situation when he's finally found a woman who can make him purr?

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Tales of the Were: Grif

Redstone Clan #1

Griffon Redstone is the eldest of five brothers and the leader of one of the most influential shifter Clans in North America. He seeks solace in the mountains, away from the horrific events of the past months, for both himself and his young sister. The deaths of their older sister and mother have hit them both very hard.

Lindsey Tate is human, but very aware of the werewolf Pack that lives near her grandfather's old cabin. She's come to right a wrong her grandfather committed against the Pack and salvage what's left of her family's honor - if the wolves will let her. Mostly, they seem intent on running her out of town on a rail.

But the golden haired stranger, Grif, comes to her rescue more than once. He stands up for her against the wolf Pack and then helps her fix the old generator at the cabin, making it habitable for her while she completes her task. He's friendly and all too attractive, but she has a job to do, regardless of the cost to herself or her budding relationship with the local handyman.

When she performs the ceremony she expects will end in her death, the shifter deity has other ideas and turns the tables on them all. Grif's dual nature is revealed and Lindsey learns there is much more going on than she thought.

Thrown together by fate, neither of them can deny the deep and true attraction between them. They come together, but in the end will an old enemy rip them apart?

Warning: Cats are frisky and they get up to all sorts of naughtiness, including a frenzy-induced multi-partner situation that might be a little intense for some readers. You have been warned.

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Tales of the Were: Red
Redstone Clan #2

A water nymph and a werecougar meet in a bar fight... No joke.

Steve Redstone agrees to keep an eye on his friend's little sister while she's partying in Las Vegas. He's happy to do the favor for an old Army buddy. What he doesn't expect is the wild woman who heats his blood and attracts too much attention from Others in the area.

Steve ends up defending her honor, breaking his cover and seducing the woman all within hours of meeting her, but he's helpless to resist her. She is his mate and that startling fact is going to open up a whole can of worms with her, her brother and the rest of the Redstone Clan.

Trisha's had to hide her special abilities most of her life, but with her brother's Army buddy - the guy they call Red - she's finally free to be herself. He calls to her in a way she's never experienced before and while bad guys keep trying to abduct her, he's her safe port in the storm. But can such dangerous beginnings lead to a life-long love?

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Tales of the Were: Magnus

Redstone Clan #3

COMING EARLY 2014

Magnus Redstone is the middle of five brothers. As a result, he's always had a little bit of a hard time forging his own identity. While he excels at martial arts, he didn't want to be a soldier like Grif and Steve, his two older brothers. He also doesn't have time for practical jokes like the younger two, Bob and Matt. No, Mag is probably the most serious of the brothers and he always has been. The only real moment when he threw caution to the wind was when he met one very special lady. A lady with fangs...

Additional Series Info:

The Tales of the Were includes:
Main series: Lords of the Were, Inferno
The Others: Rocky, Slade
Redstone Clan: Grif, Red, and three more coming soon!

The Brotherhood of Blood series is related, and includes:
Vamps: One & Only (novella), Rare Vintage (novella), Phantom Desires (novella), Sweeter Than Wine (novel), & Forever Valentine (novella).
Wolves: Wolf Hills, Wolf Quest

Review
When Steve Redstone got the call from his old asking for him to keep an eye on his sister while in Vegas, he thought no sweat. Of course he had not expected a stunning beauty or that her tipsy attitude had more to do to the fact she had been drugged, then celebrating a bachelorette party. What Steve had not suspected was that Trisha was his mate, but how do you explain to a human that your a shifter?

This was a delightful read. Trisha is a bit unexpected and you don't see it coming. Loved Steve, once he catches on that Trisha is his mate. Delectable tale.

Author Bio & Links:

Bianca D'Arc has run a laboratory, climbed the corporate ladder in the shark-infested streets of lower Manhattan, studied and taught martial arts, and earned the right to put a whole bunch of letters after her name, but she’s always enjoyed writing more than any of her other pursuits. She grew up and still lives on Long Island, where she keeps busy with an extensive garden, several aquariums full of very demanding fish, and writing her favorite genres of paranormal, fantasy and sci-fi romance.

You can usually find Bianca on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/BiancaDArcAuthor), Twitter (https://twitter.com/biancadarc) or you can find out more about her books on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/38820.Bianca_D_Arc) or her website - WWW.BIANCADARC.COM.

12/09 - 12/28 - Bianca D'Arc's RED Book Blast

12/9 Night Owl Reviews

http://www.nightowlreviews.com/v5/Blog/Articles/Tales-Of-The-Were-Red-by-Bianca-D-Arc

12/9 For the Love of Bookends

http://loveofbookends.blogspot.com/

12/10 Book Monster Reviews

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12/14 Penny For Them…

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12/14 Tome Tender

http://tometender.blogspot.com/