Review: A Late Thaw

Title: A LATE THAW
Author: Ana Blaze
Publisher: Entranced Publishing
Imprint: Kissed
Genre: contemporary romance
Length: 102 pages (novella)
Release Date: October 28^th, 2013
 Blurb:
The town’s too small for Kiley St. Claire’s reappearance to be a surprise, still seeing her hits Cole Thomas like a punch to the gut. She ripped his heart apart when she turned to ice and ran away all those years ago. Now that she’s back, Cole’s going to say his piece and move on.
Even if she does look damn good in that uniform.
Kiley St. Claire is back in the small town of Barrett, Vermont, for one reason and one reason only: to earn some cash so she can survive her final semester of grad school. She’s not there for the sexy Christmas tree farmers.
Even the one who once held her heart.

Review:

This was a very very short read and I enjoyed it immensely! It’s told in both POVs, every chapter alternating between the two characters.

Kiley only returned home to make fast money, not to see her long ago ex- best friend whom she’s been in love with since, forever. They grew up together and had never been separated until, well, until she went off to college. And seeing him now just makes it even harder to leave once she gets enough money to pay for her last semester of grad school.

Cole has prepared for the returned of Kiley for the past year. Ever since she abandoned him, he has been practicing how he’ll voice his frustration and anger when she returns. If she ever returned. He has been in love with Kiley for years, since they were kids, and when she left and never even thought to give him a call, he was heartbroken. But now, he’ll reason with her and make her stay, for good.
Cole, I think I love him! He’s that short boy who you never noticed in middle school and then over night grew up to be a man in high school with every girl dropping at his feet. He’s that bestfriend you can do everything with without being judged because he’s right there along side of you tagging along. He’s the bestfriend that was your first love and will always have a place in your heart through all the frustration and turmoil. He will listen to your blabberings and give a shoulder for you to cry on. And he’s over protected of you, not just because you’re a girl but because you’re special to him. And he won’t take No as an answer, he just knows you too well; through your lies, your strong facade, and insecurities. Plus the man can Cook! Well, kind of. LOL

I also like Kiley. She is your typical girl, strong and independent. She knows how to control herself yet she’s insecure about her looks and is afraid to show her feelings in fear of being rejected. She doesn’t like to be fussed over about with worry, but it doesn’t hurt when someone worries about her  with their over protectiveness. She also likes to play it strong and never want to show her weaker side, even to her ex-bestfriend. But she know she can’t fool him.

I really love these two together. Even when they’re not together you can feel the tension and their past relationship mingling in the air as they conversed. But when they’re together, the pull is very strong and I love how these two can make it look easy not to fall pray into it! They are resisting and holding their grip for as long as they can. And since they’ve been friends forever, it’ll be tough if one doesn’t feel the same as the other because that can change their whole relationship, more so then it already is. I also love that they were still friendly with each other even after what kind of transpired between them when Kiley left.

But Cole is just too adorable! And very straight to the point romantic. He knows what he wants and he definitely knows Kiley. Plus he knows what to do in the bedroom for a small town guy with some experience. LOL I was just surprised by it because he didn’t seem the one to know those moves…. teehee~

So this was a very very short story and while I would love to have had it be longer, the story was fantastic and the tension and romance was all there. Some might even say the romance was rushed but knowing their background relationship, it was perfect. The author didn’t go so deep into the characters but as I read, I felt like I knew how they were and their personality through their thoughts and actions, so that’s a thumbs up for me. And it has Humor. Now that was a huge plus because I couldn’t stop smiling and chuckling to myself. That scene with the chickens and eggs for breakfast… LMAO!!!

I highly recommend this novella! A fabulous short and satisfactory read~

This eCopy was provided by the publishers at Entranced Publishing.

4.5 out of 5

My super, Super, Long Review: A Scandalous Past by Ava Stone (audiobook)

A Scandalous Past (Scandalous book #4) By Ava Stone

Narrated by Stevie Zimmerman

Synopsis:

After years of abuse at the hands of her mother, Cordelia Avery knows the only way out is marriage to the perfect man. A man who will allow her all the freedom she has ever craved. And she has the perfect man picked out. The scandalous Marquess of Haversham might not be perfect to anyone else, but taking the man’s black reputation under consideration, Cordie believes she’ll enjoy all the freedom she’s always wished for in his disreputable arms. If only she could get her heart to go along with the plan and to stop leaping whenever Lord Adonis…er…the Earl of Clayworth is nearby. But the very properearl is most assuredly the wrong sort for her purposes.
Brendan Reese, the Earl of Clayworth, has no intention of ever marrying again. He’s still trying to clean up the mess his first wife left him, even years after her death. To all the world, Clayworth is the epitome of the perfect English gentleman, and he so wishes that image was the truth. But the truth, as it often can be, is ugly. After all, a perfect English gentleman would never have a traitor for a mother. And unless Clayworth can find the evidence his late wife hid, he could face the gallows himself. But a chance encounter with the reckless Cordelia Avery gives him the best lead he’s had in years to finally putting his family’s past to rest. Unfortunately, focusing on anything other than Miss Avery seems a nearly impossible task.

Review:

Wow. I was really surprised by this book! I got an audio version and gosh it was fantastic.

This was filled with lots of action, humor, and many many characters, plus suspense~. I was surprise that there were many or some POVs from the secondary characters but they were great and gave us a different perspective and gave us a view into their heads/thoughts.

So our heroine Cordie is miserable without her closes and best-est friend Olivia (Livvie). Ever since Livvie got married scandalously to the Duke of Keltfield, her mother had banned her from seeing Livvie ever again. Besides banning Cordie and imprisoning her to their home and dragging her around town to teas and what not, she would always get reprimand at the hands of her mother. Everything Cordie did was always wrong. Not being pretty enough, not catching a gentleman, dancing with the wrong dude, talking with people beneath them… yady yady yada~ She’s always getting backlashed from her mother’s blundering mouth. The worst possible person ever!!! And there is a secret too!!! Argh~ I was so not seeing that coming and hated her even more! She should be punished by the hands of Cordie’s husband! But anyways….

That’s why Cordie decided to find a mate, and fast! After ditching a certain Captain seeking for her hand, she planned to find a husband just like Livvie’s; a rogue! She will finally then get her freedom and do as she pleases, but most definitely she’ll get to see her friend without being dictated and controlled. But when she met the Earl of Clayworth, everything about him was wrong. He didn’t know who she was when his wife was her older sister’s bestfriend, he was controlling, a scrooge, stuck up, uninteresting, and very very handsome; Lord Adonis! But she know that he’ll never give her the freedom she craves and from what she’s heard about him, not a loving man but cold and heartless! He will never do. But Marcus, the Marquess of Haversham is wild, a rake, full of passion and energy and will do immensely. She will get her fill of adventure and freedom when she marries him. At least that’s what she thinks.

Our hero Brandon, the Earl of Clayworth, is broken and have demons of his own. Plus he has a sister and nephew to look after and is happily widowed but, finding his mother’s traitorous letters are becoming a pain. But where to start is a little fuzzy because who is “the Lion” that holds the letters his dead wife spoke of? And will “they” return it to him once he found it? But the Little minx, Miss Avery is catching his attention and not in a good way. She’s interesting and the first lady to ever diss him, and for that overbearing rake Haversham! But she holds the clues to his lost letters and he’ll use her by any means to get them back. He just wasn’t expecting to fall so hard for her during his time escorting (and stalking) her. But she makes things very difficult indeed to being wild and all.

I love how Brandon is very protective of Cordie even if she hates him. But he’s not going to stop shadowing her if she keeps putting her life in danger of scandalous and compromising situations. He’s focused and determined and well, I love it when he’s jealous because of Haversham. And gosh Cordie can get on my nerves when it comes  to annoying Brandon with her escapades. But then Cordie is a very bold and determined character. She’s not going to fall pray to her true feeling for Brandon because she knows he’ll never give her leeway if they’re married. Although she feels for Marcus/Haversham and wants to be with him for “good” reasons, her feelings towards Brandon are even more dangerous every time he’s around her. I found that very fascinating because she really liked Marcus when they first met and there was an immediate attraction between the two, which gave me pause and confused me at the same because I didn’t know who was going to be the hero. That with the POVs of Cordie, Brandon, and Marcus got my mind swirling. They worked but I thought it was going to be some menage or some threesome or something because both dudes wanted the girl and well, she liked or was confused with both dudes.

I can honesty say that I was hating on Marcus as the story hit half way or a little bit before that. I really loved him in the beginning and then when he admitted his feeling towards Cordie. I was lost and didn’t know whom to love more, Marcus or Brandon?! But as the story went on I just wanted him to leave and do as he promised, wait till Brandon was through with his two weeks with Cordie. He’s truly not a gentleman of his words but he never claimed to follow those rules either. And then that scene when he brought Cordie to his house and his reaction when she bailed!!! I thought I was going to have to beat him up, especially with his own secret out! Sheeesh~ But my love came back around for him because well, he was a gentleman and even to the every end, so it’s all good and repaired.

Maybe my anger should be directed at Cordie for bring my anger towards Marcus. She was leading the poor man on a leash, naive as she is. She was pretty good at making herself look, err act…. experienced in the realm of flirting and…… such….. Which is what caught Marcus in the first place. If only he knew! But I really did like Cordie and her witty and humorous banters and thoughts. Her reasons for choosing Marcus over Brandon was… understandable. I wouldn’t do as she did but it was practical I guess. What I found hilarious was when she didn’t know what the “bulge” was when Brandon kissed her or held her in his arms until her wedding night. It was the out most hilarious thing ever!

Oh the lovable secondary characters. I’ll say there were many of them and if you didn’t read the past 3 books you might not know who they are or how huge of a roll they play in the series. But they were a fabulous bunch of guesses and really did have a huge part in this story and in driving it forward.

There is a suspense element to the story where the letters and Brandon’s ex-wife’s secret comes in, but throughout the whole books it’s just mainly focused on the courting and growing relationship between Brandon and Cordie. Brandon did forget about those two troubles because of his determination to get Cordie but all is well.

So over all, this was a very enjoyable read and listen. And well, Stevie Zimmerman with her accented narration of the book is just fantastic! I wouldn’t mind listening to her read other Regency romances again.

This audiobook was won as a gift by the author.

4.5 out of 5

Review: Hard As It Gets

(Hard Ink #1)

Blurb:

Tall, dark, and lethal…Trouble just walked into Nicholas Rixey’s tattoo parlor. Becca Merritt is warm, sexy, wholesome–pure temptation to a very jaded Nick. He’s left his military life behind to become co-owner of Hard Ink Tattoo, but Becca is his ex-commander’s daughter. Loyalty won’t let him turn her away. Lust has plenty to do with it too.

With her brother presumed kidnapped, Becca needs Nick. She just wasn’t expecting to want him so much. As their investigation turns into all-out war with an organized crime ring, only Nick can protect her. And only Becca can heal the scars no one else sees.

Desire is the easy part. Love is as hard as it gets. Good thing Nick is always up for a challenge…

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Review:

OMG!!! This Book is Amazing!!!! And can I say it’s my first from Laura? LOL Though I have known her in name and as a part of the Avon crew for awhile now. This is the first book in her Hard Ink series and it’s super sexy and Hard! Nick Nick Nick….Swoon~

Nick is brought into hell when he met Becca, the daughter of his murdered and ex-Commander in the military, as she walked into his tattoo parlor. With his anger of betrayal fumming against Becca’s father for putting his life and his men’s life in danger he wants nothing to do with her. Becca on the other hand didn’t know that she was carrying secrets of his discharged from the military or that he would be the answer to her missing brother. Never the least they both didn’t know what would become of them.

He never thought that a woman can penetrate his hard shell and make him feel protective over her safety as much as he felt for Becca. He’s an ultimate alpha hero who’s in control and knows how to handle a bad situation. Though handling a mere girl proved to be a challenge. Oh and he’s broken~ sighs, don’t you just want mend him? Plus, he knows when he’s wrong and knows how to apologize.

Becca didn’t know she would have the strength strong enough to go through a roller coaster ride through lost, pain, secrets, and love. She wasn’t that typical heroine. She was strong but not naive, bold but not overly dramatic, and she didn’t control our hero! Well, she did but not in a way where she was trying to over rule him, if you know what I mean.

Through out the whole book it was filled with steam and more steam between the interactions of Nick and Becca as they raced through secrets, pain, betrayal, danger, and revelations.

The details of the characters were amazing. Laura really have an eye for hot man and their body parts. She even went as far as to give us sneak peeks at Nick’s comrades. They will have their own stories told too in the series and I can’t wait to see what troubles come their way. The next book is Hard As You Can.

This was filled with lots of suspense, action, sexiness, and very hard and hot rage. LOL And I love lots of sexual tension and play!!! But not only that, it also brings you into the life if their family and friends and just bring you closer to knowing who they are around those that care for them and vis versa. I’m a total new fan and can’t wait to see what’s up for these Hard Ink Boys.

This ARC was Provided by the Publishers at Avon!

4.5 out of 5

Review: A Little Too Much

Blurb:

In the follow-up to Lisa Desrochers’ explosive New Adult novel A Little too Far, Alessandro Moretti must face the life he escaped and the girl he loved and left behind.

Twenty-two year old Hilary McIntyre would like nothing more than to forget her past. As a teenager abandoned to the system, she faced some pretty dark times. But now that’s all behind her. Hilary has her life on track, and there’s no way she’ll head back down that road again.

Until Alessandro Moretti—the one person who can make her remember—shows up on her doorstep. He’s even more devastatingly gorgeous than before, and he’s much too close for comfort. Worse, he sees right through the walls she’s built over these last eight years, right into her heart and the secrets she’s guarding.

As Hilary finds herself falling back into love with the man who, as a boy both saved and destroyed her, she must decide. Past or future? Truth or lies?

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Review:

I am very surprised at how much I enjoyed reading this book. Lisa Desrochers did a fabulous job at creating characters that had many many layers and depth that we couldn’t help but love and hope for a happy ever after. I’ll have to admit that if you didn’t tear up from reading this book I don’t know what you are but a punk.

As you may well know, Alessandro was a super important character from Lisa’s first book, A Little Too Far. We met him in Rome days before promising himself to God to become a priest. And as you will know, he didn’t take that oath as this is his story, although told from a girl whom he had sinned and is a ghost in his dark and shadowy past, this was still an amazing read into his life.

Hilary McIntyre also is a character that had a lot of work put into her. Her past was so surprising that I was speechless as I read. I have to admit that I had to stop and pause in my thinking many times just to let everything sink in. She was so real that I wanted to go mad with reading. Not saying that it was a bad thing because it is a really good thing, but I just…. I really felt for her. Everything she did was so normal and understanding that I had to like her. Though I hated some of the things she said to herself and thought about others, like calling a lady she didn’t even know a b…. because she was jealous while the lady was helping her learn to dance. That just really got me huffing and rolling my eyes in aghast. But I supposed that’s how a 23 year old woman think like.

Since this is in the POV of Hilary we don’t get to know what’s going through Alessandro’s mind but only see it through his actions and facial expressions.

I have to say I absolutely love Alessandro. Knowing him from the previous book and then knowing him in this is just a dream come true. Even though we still don’t get to see it through his POV it is still an accomplishment to know his past and how much he wants to change and make things better for his and Hilary’s future.

He’s so understanding and maybe that was due to the fact that he was supposed to be a priest but knowing his childhood, he has always been the protective and sensitive type. Though he had done wrong, it wasn’t through him alone but with his older brother whom he idolized that got him to sin. You know from his actions that he loves Hilary through his self control and friendship with her. And I absolutely Love him for that.

This was an amazingly heart pulling, romantic, and forgiving love story. I highly recommend. And you don’t have to read the first book to know the story!

This eARC was provided by Avon via Edelwiess.

4.5 out of 5

Review: The Sum of All Kisses by Julia Quinn

 

The Sum Of All Kisses (Smythe-Smith #3)

Released Date: October 29th, 2013 (it’s out now!!!)

Synopsis:

Hugh Prentice has never liked Lady Sarah Pleinsworth, and his opinion is confirmed when he overhears her yammering on about how she must get married this season or she will simply die. He’s never had patience for dramatic females, and the words shy and retiring have never been in Sarah’s vocabulary. Besides, even if he did grow to enjoy her company, it wouldn’t matter. A reckless duel has left this brilliant mathematician with a ruined leg, and now, unable to run, ride, or even waltz, he could never court a woman like Sarah, much less dream of marrying her.

Sarah has never forgiven Hugh for the duel he fought three years earlier, the one that forced her cousin into exile, nearly destroying her family. But even if she could find a way to forgive him, it wouldn’t matter. She doesn’t care that his leg is less than perfect, it’s his personality she can’t stand.
But when the pair is forced to spend a week in close company they discover that opinions–even those firmest held–can, in fact, be altered. And when a kiss leads to two, three and four the mathematician may lose count and the miss may, for the first time, find herself speechless.

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Review: 

I’ve been waiting for this story for so long I think I totally forgot about it! I’m super happy it’s finally here and I got to revisit some past characters and even more; other characters from other books! (well, kind of) We got to see, well more like referred to, Eloisa Jame’s Hero and Lady from her latest Once Upon a Tower in a very funny scene. Plus one of the unmarried Bridgerton boys made an appearance!!!

But okay back to business…

Hugh the second son of the Marquess of Ramsgate was one secondary character I’ve been waiting for since we first meet him in book two in A Night Like This and referred to in book one, Just Like Heaven. And we first met Sarah in book one and two.

But man, Hugh. He gave me a huge impression in ANLT even if we only got to know his personality or character for a mere second every so chapter and most definitely towards the end of that book, I was hook.  I can say Julia didn’t disappoint me in his story and gosh, he had so much going for him that I had to do an all nighter just to finish this book! He had so much depth and character I didn’t even know if it was the same man I met in book two. I’m not sure if I was disappointed in this but I loved him either way. I just love how he thinks and come up with retorts and sorts!

The story about his family background just touched me. His love for his elder brother Freddie and the memory of his mother was just so touching to me that I just couldn’t help but want more to know more about his brother and hope for many things to bring light to his problems. I am super glad that it developed throughout the book and solved mysteries behind the way he is and so much more but I really did wanted more. I really do want a story for his brother. That was one of the very first thing that caught me as I opened up this book.

Sarah. I’m not sure how to put it but I really liked her in the two previous books. I really did. She had humor and spunk. But in this one, she wasn’t what I thought her to be. Not that I didn’t like her, I Do. I absolutely do. I saw myself in her as she bantered with Hugh and her sisters. Though her actions were questionable, ever tactic thrown her way, every query Hugh threw at her I saw myself countering it and smiling at every answer she gave and threw back at him. She was just so much fun at those moments. And her sisters. I absolutely adore her sisters!  They were so much fun to read and they were the ones to drive the story forward for me. All the funny little tactics and banters, the cute childish complaints and how Francis and Huge are just so adorable together~ Oh I love her the most!
Cons: The ending seemed rushed. Especially their romance and quick to discover love for one another. It was just…. not what I wanted. I was disappointed in this. I wanted more, more of everything from their romance to them examining onto their feelings. It was just too quick.

I also didn’t quite enjoy how much Hugh’s leg was a problem for him. I love him but everything always came down to his injured leg. It’s understandable but, always referring back to it was just too much of a repetition for me. And then there was Sarah’s change of character towards the end of the book. I was pretty sure I didn’t find her to my liking then. I was, annoyed? Sure she was dramatic at the beginning and I was fine with that but she was ever even more dramatic and selfish, irrational towards the end. I was devastate. I was furiously mad at her for not understanding Hugh’s reason in saving her cousin’s life. Furious! Did she not have brains! I thought. I mean you hated him then fell in love and you expected him to just throw your very own first cousin to the dogs for saving him in such a way unimaginable! Agh~ My devastation in her.  And Freddie, I was sad we only got to see little bits of him. Maybe even disappointed towards the end? Trying not to spoil it but he wasn’t there. But yes, the ending was rushed. It was nice but super rushed. And I was hoping for their relationship to have developed more but that didn’t happen.

Over all, I did like this story and enjoyed it very much. It was fun, hilarious, touching, angry mad, and just sweet. Julia Quinn lovers would love it not matter what Just like me, but I did want more. We know for sure Iris is next in line for her story, most likely, with a new hero, but I really want to see Freddie have his story told too. Hopefully we get that if many readers write it into her *wink wink*

I give this 4 out of 5

This ARC was provided by Avon through Edelweiss

Review: Symphony of Light and Winter

Symphony of Light and Winter (Book #1)

Blurb:

Ten years after watching her first love die, he returns. He’s still gorgeous, but far less dead, and pissed. Cyril and Linden’s turbulent re-acquaintance pulls her into a war with a creature hell-bent on his destruction. Despite the hunger, it’s love that leads her to sacrifice everything to save him.

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Review:

Oh my goodness I absolutely love this Book! I was totally hook, not just because of the synopsis but because it’s Renea Mason! And her first book! Yay~

Once I got started I had to stay up reading it even if I were to wake up early the next morning for work. I didn’t care. That was how much I enjoyed it.

I love both these characters! They were very dynamic and had a lot going for them but they just clicked and Bam! Sparks and old flames are fired up and ready to bang~ with heads, bodies and hearts!

Oh I just couldn’t get enough of these two~ All their banter and sexual tensions just get my toes tangling in happiness. They have the best banters Ever! And man can a guy as hot, sexy, dark, complexed, and muscled up like Cyril get any Hotter and a$$ kicked? (Meaning: being a jerk and prick!) He’s so complicating! (Yes we love that about our smexy Heroes, don’t lie) Gosh at times I just wanted to slap him silly if I was in Linden’s shoes!  And yes he got me clenching my teeth like crazy and then swooning over him in the next second~ gosh, I was angry at myself to fall for his tactics. I wanted to smack Linden silly for giving in but I would be a hypocrite. LOL

And man I had some laughs and angered filled teary moments along with this. They just really got under my skin and drew me to their lives and made me feel them. (If I’m making any sense here) They just touched me!

Oh~ I can’t leave out the secondary characters! The brotherhoods and colleagues of Cyril and Linden are just hilarious! I’m telling you, I so love them as much as the two main characters and can not wait to see more of them in the next workings. (You better write them Renea, you better. I’m watching you…..teehee)

So, What do I have to say about this. You should read it! Really, what is holding you back? It’s an erotica, I think, is it? Oh well, it’s fabulous! It’s Mystery with Suspense, and a lot of it. It has lots of Sexual tensions and Lustering over bodies and on repeat and replay. It’s also Dark and very Wicked to house a very sexual and Hard Hero. You can’t leave out the very strong, determined, and feisty Heroine who can keeps up to the challenges and muddle the Hero’s head.

Plus, it has paranormal activities! No, not the Scary Movie but Paranormal (vampires, shifter, gods, werewolves, zombies, etc…..) Just kidding, it doesn’t have any of these things in the book, besides the shifter and god-likeliness but it’s under Paranormal. So yay for you Para lovers!
And thank you for the book Renea!

Rate: 5 out of 5 happy faces!