Free Books

Mini Review: First Ink by Laura Wright

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Title:First Ink (Wicked Ink Chronicles #1)
Author: Laura Wright
Date of publication: 17 Dec 2013
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Novella

Author links:

My rating: 3 stars
This book is currently free on Amazon.


Synopsis

Rush 
Women in his bed, celebs and rockers in his chair and a killer bank account at his disposal, life is pretty freaking swell. Then she walks back into it again. With her mismatched eyes, perfect pink mouth and a laugh that still haunts him, she gave him nothing but marvelous misery. Now she wants his hands on her again. Not for pleasure, but for pain. For Ink. A bleeding heart to match the one she left him with five years ago. 

Addison 
She can’t forget him. No matter how hard she’s tried. The pain she caused him in the past eats at her daily, and she can’t move on with her life. But she has a plan, a hope for redemption – a way for him to take his revenge out on her flesh. But it’ll only work if he lets her inside his exclusive world, under his famous artist’s needle and into his bed—and heart-once again.

Mini Review

The story is told form dual POV and it's all about getting back together after a break-up. I liked a lot of things about it - the heroine, Addison, who has made a mistake but has come to realize it and is doing her best to remedy it. You have to respect her for strength and determination to fight for her love. The hero, Rush, is deeply wounded, unwilling to forgive but unable to resist the physical attraction. I liked them both, him especially - his struggle with himself, his resistance to risk his heart again with the girl who had hurt him so much. 

It's a light steamy read but I'd have liked there to be more substance to the story. There is a lot of potential but not enough depth. I wanted to know more about the characters, the things from their past were just hinted upon and it would have been nice if they were further developed. We see Rush's life in the present - he is a successful tattoo artist in Las Vegas but don't learn much about Addison besides the fact that she is a college student somewhere. Despite the happy end, I feel that there are too many things about them as a couple which are left unresolved. 

Overall, I enjoyed it and would recommend me it anyone who is looking for a quick, light and very, very sexy read.

The second book, Shattered Ink, which continues Rush and Addison's story, is just a novella and it is currently available for 0.99$.

Feature

Teaser Tuesday 48

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Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Here are the rules:

• Grab your current read 
• Open to a random page 
• Share two (2) or a few more “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page 
• Be careful not the include spoilers!

My teaser comes from Dash of Peril by Lori Foster. This hot romantic suspense is book 4 in Love Undercover series and my first book by Ms Foster. I finished it last week and really enjoyed it. I'll be reviewing it on the blog later this week. The book releases on March 25.

I'll be posting two teasers again - the first is from her POV and the second from his.

She would solve this case - or maybe irrevocably lose her heart to Dashiel Riske. 
Either way it went, it would be on her terms. 

Pacing didn't help much, but he did it anyway. He needed this current situation resolved, so that he could concentrate solely on loving her - and getting her to love him in return.

Dash of Peril - Lori Foster

Synopsis

A no-nonsense female cop reluctantly teams up with the one man who makes her lose control in a deliciously sensual new novel from New York Times bestselling author Lori Foster... 

To bring down a sleazy abduction ring, Lieutenant Margaret "Margo" Peterson has set herself up as bait. But recruiting Dashiel Riske as her unofficial partner is a whole other kind of danger. Dash is 6'4" of laid-back masculine charm, a man who loves life—and women—to the limit. Until Margo is threatened, and he reveals a dark side that may just match her own.

Beneath Margo's tough facade is a slow-burning sexiness that drives Dash crazy. The only way to finish this case is to work together side by side…skin to skin. And as their mission takes a lethal turn, he'll have to prove he's all the man she needs—in all the ways that matter.



Feature

Top Ten Tuesday

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Top Ten Tuesday is weekly meme hosted The Broke and the Bookish. There is a new topic for each week and the participating bloggers are invited to post their Top Ten lists on it.


Top Ten Tuesday REWIND! 

Top Ten Books I Wish I Could Read Again For The First Time 
(originally done in October 2011)

There are many book that I'd like to read again for the first time - most are books that really surprised me, impressed me, or right out shattered me. I've picked my top ten books and since they are so different, I decided to divide them in three groups - children's, classics, contemporaries (newer releases).

I'm using the covers of the Bulgarian editions of the books I read in Bulgarian.

Children’s books


Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll - one of my favourite children's books. I read it in English when I was in University and loved all the language games the author plays  

Pipi Longstockings by Astrid Lindgren - My favourite children's book and probably the first novel I read as a child, at least I remember it so. 



Classics 

William Shakespeare - I read Romeo and Juliet (it's cover of the BG edition) in high school and really liked. Later in University (I took the equivalent of English major), I read most of Shakespeare's works in English.

East of Eden by John Steinbeck - I read it in high school and I was really impressed. I re-read it a few years ago and it was just as good as I remembered. 

Lord of the Flies by William Golding - I read this book as part of my studies in University. It's a brutal tale about good and evil, society vs savagery.



Contemporary (recent releases) 

The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins  - I was just blow away when I read, I had never read anything like it before, so it was first for me in YA and dystopian fiction. 

If I Stay / Where She Went by Gayle Forman - It's a beautifully written, emotional YA/NA story of love and loss

Game of Thrones series by George Martin - I read it translated in Bulgarian and I quite liked it. Team Stark all the way :)

Fever series by Karen Marie Moning - another mind blowing series. My first in Urban fantasy and I just love it. 

Delirium by Lauren Oliver - It's the first book in the Derilium series - another dystopia which I found fascinating though the ending of the series was a real disappointment.



What topic did you choose to do this Tuesday? Leave me a comment and I'll stop by to check out your TTT post!

Kristen Ashley

Review: At Peace by Kristen Ashley

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Title: At Peace (The 'Burg #2)
Author: Kristen Ashley
Date of publication: 16 March 2012
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Author links:

My rating: 4 stars




Synopsis

Violet Winters once had it all but lost it when her husband was murdered by a criminal madman. During a cold winter night Violet has to leave her warm bed to tell her neighbor to turn the music down. And that’s when she meets sinister, scarred, scarily attractive security specialist, Joe Callahan.

She wants to deny it, but Violet can’t beat back the hunger she feels for Joe so she gives in again and again. Feeling it himself, Joe feeds Vi’s hunger, breaking his own rules to keep her in his bed.

Even though Violet had only one man in her life, she’s sure Joe is giving her the signals and Vi decides she’s ready to take a second chance at life and, maybe, love. But Violet doesn’t know the dark secrets in Joe’s past, secrets so soul-wrenching, they’ve drained him dry. With nothing left to give, Joe’s determined to live his life alone and he breaks Violet’s heart.

Crushed by Joe’s betrayal, Violet comes to terms with the fact that, no matter what signals he gave, Joe was not theirs to win. But Violet’s husband’s murderer is obsessed with her and heartbreak again haunts the door of the Winters home. When it does Joe is forced to face the knowledge that he can’t fight Violet’s pull, she’s under his skin and filled him full to bursting.

Joe needs to win her back and put his life on the line to keep Violet safe. But, having had it all once, can Violet endure losing Joe?

Review

This is my first book in Kristen Ashley's The 'Burg series and after I kept hearing how awesome the hero, Joe Callahan is, I had to finally check it out for myself. And, yes, he is pretty awesome! I loved Vi and Joe's story and it goes in the very elite company of my favourite KA books, along with Motorcycle Man, Sweet Dreams and Lady Luck.

This book told one very emotional, heart-breaking story of second-chance romance. It was intense and engaging, drawing me complete into the lives of the main characters. The focus in this book was very much on the idea of the importance of family, something which I personally value very highly. The author included different family relations in the story - grandparents, parents, children, siblings - in all their complexity. Family is the most precious thing in life, it is the greatest gift and the biggest achievement - both Vi and Joe.

I liked both Joe and Vi, though they had their bad moments and weaknesses. He treated Vi so bad at the beginning, leading her on, abusing her vulnerability and lack of real experience. Joe acted like a jerk almost up to the middle of the book but he more than made up for it in the second half of the book. I understand his position and why he did the things he did, but still they were too hurtful to accept easily. Joe was a typical KA alpha male - possessive and protective, super sexy and lot of jaded.

Vi was a nice character, as well. She came off as rather strong, and independent at the beginning, trying her best to learn to live after the loss of her husband, how to be a single parent, ect. I admired her for dedication to her family. Then, she acted clueless at flirting, completely misread the situation with Joe and went out to date Mike while still being involved with Joe and I didn't understand and appreciate any of this. It wasn't realistic for a 35 year-old woman to act like that.

The suspense/criminal element in the story was present but it was somewhat subdued, the focus was really on Joe and Vi's relationship.

On the negative side, this book had the typical elements in KA writing which I don't particularly like. It was a bit repetitive, overly descriptive. The  clothes, make up, food, houses/yards, barbecues were presented in too many unnecessary details. There were also far too many secondary characters introduced and some of them didn't really add anything to the overall story. As can be expected Vi's life was full of drama, some was small and funny, other was big and over the top.

Another thing that I find common for Ms Ahsley's heroines and something which I deeply resent is when they act  so smitten/mesmerized/shocked by the hero that they are unable to form coherent sentences. These otherwise strong and often quite smart and competent women lose completely their minds over the Man and he has to take full charge of their lives.  

In general the plot share quite a few similarities with Ms Ashley's other works - second-chance at love, the heroine who is threatened and needs protection, the alpha hero, who is not particularly eloquent but always says and the does the right thing.

My main issue, in fact the only major one that I have, is Vi and Mike's relationship. She was leading him on and the excuse that it was unintentional is not a valid one for me. Having a second contender for the heart of the heroine is a common device MS Ashley uses for introducing characters in her works (they become the main characters in later books) - this was the case with Tack in Mystery Man / Motorcycle Man, but here with Mike I felt that things between him and Vi were taken to a point that made me uncomfortable. He knew what he was getting into, still he got hurt and didn't deserve it

Overall, this is one of the best books of Ms Ashley that I have read, despite some issues I had with it. This series definitely goes in my TBR list. There are three more books available and final one is to be released later this year.

Mini Reviews

Mini Review: Drew and Fable Forever by Monica Murphy

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Title: Drew + Fable Forever (One Week Girlfriend Quartet #3.5)
Author: Monica Murphy
Date of publication: 14 Jan 2014
Genre: New Adult, Romance
Author's links:
Website / Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads

My rating: 2 stars



Synopsis

Fantasy. How I ended up with NFL player Drew Callahan, the guy every woman wants, is beyond my wildest dreams. All I know is that once he chose me as his one and only, I sure wasn’t looking back. I had past wounds and he showed patience and concern—even taking responsibility for my messed-up kid brother. Now, once again, he’s found a way to blow my mind: an exotic wedding and honeymoon miles and miles away from home. What else could a girl ever ask for?

Reality. Now the honeymoon’s over. Drew’s football schedule takes him on the road constantly, while I need to stay put and look after my brother until he finishes high school—because God knows our sorry excuse for a mother won’t. I know Drew loves me with all his heart, and I’ll always be over the moon about him. This just isn’t how I imagined our life as newlyweds . . . dealing with the distance, missing him all the time. But we’ve gone through hard times before. We can get through this, too, right? We’re Drew and Fable, together forever. At least I hope so. . . .

My Mini Review

I enjoyed Drew and Fable's story in the first two books in the series, this follow up absolutely redundant and pointless. There was no real conflict in this follow-up novella and it really didn't add anything new to the characters and their story. 

There were some sweet times and some sexy times, the chemistry between Drew and Fable was as strong as ever but all this is not enough for me to give the book a higher rating. 

Things worked out almost perfectly for Drew and Fable - they are young, rich and successful and they have each other. The issues they faced as a married couple were just skimmed through without going into any depth. All the drama with Fable's pregnancy was unnecessary and I felt it didn't fit with Fable's strong and sassy nature.

Overall, for me Drew and Fable's story was sufficiently developed and completed in a satisfactory way in the first two books about them. All that happened in this one which wasn't not much at all, could have been included as an epilogue in book 2.

My reviews of the other books in the series. I'm currently reading the final book, Four Years later, which tells Owen's story. You can look for my review sometime next week:

One Week Girlfriend (One Week Girlfriend Quartet #1)
Second Chance Boyfriend (One Week Girlfriend Quartet #2)
Three Broken Promises (One Week Girlfriend Quartet #3)

Blog Tour

Blog Tour for Once in a Lifetime by Jill Shalvis

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This post is part of the Blog Tour for Once in a Lifetime by Jill Shalvis. This is book 9 in her Lucky Harbor - small-town contemporary romances. All the books can be read as standalones though go in groups of three focusing on one family or a group of friends. I haven't read all the previous books in the series but the ones I've read I enjoyed a lot. This one was a nice addition to the Lucky Harbor family and friends. 

Title: Once in a Lifetime (Lucky Harbor #9)
Author: Jill Shalvis 
Date of publication: February 18, 2014 
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing Mass Market
Genre: Contemporary romance

Author links:

Buy links:


Synopsis

SOMETIMES WRONG IS OH-SO-RIGHT
After a wrenching loss, Ben McDaniel tried to escape his grief by working in dangerous, war-torn places like Africa and the Middle East. Now he's back in his hometown and face-to-face with Aubrey Wellington, the hot-as-hell woman who is trouble with a capital T. Family and friends insist she's not the one to ease his pain, but Aubrey sparks an intense desire that gives Ben hope for the future.

Determined to right the wrongs of her past, Aubrey is working hard to make amends. But by far, the toughest challenge to her plan is sexy, brooding Ben - even though he has absolutely no idea what she's done . . .

Can this unlikely couple defy the odds and win over the little town of Lucky Harbor?

*** *** ***
About the author


New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis lives in a small town in the Sierras full of quirky characters. Any resemblance to the quirky characters in her books is, um, mostly coincidental. Look for Jill's bestselling, award-winning books wherever romances are sold and visit her website for a complete book list and daily blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountains adventures.

If you are curious to learn more about Jill, here is a list of 5 Things She Does While Writing

1. Eats cookies

2. Whines

3. Fills out job applications for Taco Bell and Target

4. Neglects the laundry and house keeping

5. Talks to herself. A lot.



*** *** *** 

Excerpt (short but hot!)

“You’re incredible, Ben, you know that? You’re an insensitive, first-class jerk, and–” 

He leaned in. “And what?” he asked, voice dangerously low. 

“And…” Stymied at her ridiculous and constant reaction to him, Aubrey put her hands to his chest to give him another shove, but somehow got her wires crossed and she fisted his shirt instead. 

“Dare me,” he said softly. 

Oh, how she hated how well he knew her. “I dare you to kiss me,” she whispered, and then to make sure he did, she put her mouth on his first…

*** *** ***
Giveaway

To celebrate the release of Once in a Lifetime, there is a giveaway of One Grand Prize pack featuring the entire Lucky Harbor series and 5 copies of Once in a Lifetime. The prizes are all paperback copies and the giveaway is open internationally. Just enter the Rafflecopter for your chance to win.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Jane Harvey-Berrick

Review: Lifers by Jane Harvey-Berrick

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Title: Lifers
Author: Jane Harvey-Berrick
Date of publication: 7 February 2014
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Small town

Author's links:
Website / Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads

My rating: 3.5 stars




Synopsis

After eight years in prison, twenty-four year old Jordan Kane is the man everyone loves to hate.

Forced to return to his hometown while on parole, Jordan soon learns that this small town hasn't changed since he was carted off to juvie all those years ago. He is the local pariah, shunned by everyone, including his own parents. But their hatred of him doesn't even come close to the loathing he feels every time he looks in the mirror.

Working odd jobs for the preacher lady, Jordan bides his time before he can leave this backwards town. But can distance erase the memories that haunt him? Trapped in the prison of his own mind Jordan wonders if the pain of living will ever subside?

Torrey Delaney is new in town and certainly doesn't behave in a way the locals believe a preacher’s daughter should. Her reputation for casual hook-ups and meaningless sex is the talk of the town. Add that to her budding friendship with the hardened ex-con handyman, and the good Reverend is less than thrilled with her estranged daughter’s path.

As friendship forms, is it possible for two damaged people who are afraid to love take their relationship to the next level? Can Torrey live with Jordan’s demons, and can Jordan break through Torrey's walls? With the disapproval of a small town weighing heavily on them, will they find their place in the world? Can they struggle against the odds, or will their world be viciously shattered?

Is love a life sentence?

My Review 

This was an interesting NA story with a unique storyline. It is my first book bu Jane Harvey-Berrick and I enjoyed a lot of things about it but there were also some things which bothered me and made this a 3.5 star read for me.
I was drawn to this book because of the unusual premise - a love story between a young man, ex-con and a wild, sexually liberated preacher's daughter and all this set a small, close-minded town in Texas.

The plot was intriguing but it was the hero, Jordan, who won my heart in this book. He was a great character, broken by his past, barely surviving his present, not really believing in the future, just counting the days till he can start a new life in a different place. I deduced what was his crime/tragedy early on but this didn't bother me. 

The book portrays Jordan's journey from despair and self-hatred towards optimism and self-confidence. His change was truly remarkable and all it happened because of one person, Torrey - the wild, adventurous foul-mouthed, but ultimately caring and compassionate daughter of the local preacher-woman. Despite being almost 24 years-old, in many respects Jordan was still 16 years-old (the age when he went to prison). He had missed so many things for his 8 years in prison. He was trying to act like a grown man, but failing because everybody had given up on him. Even the preacher was hypocritical in her attempts to help him. It was only Torrey who treated him like a normal 24 year-old man. She saw the real person and not the guy the whole town loved to hate.

Jordan was vulnerable, shy, he acted a like a typical teenager- lost without sense of purpose or direction in life. He was shy and embarrassed in his early interactions with Torrey and I found this endearing. Though, attracted to one another, they started as friends and gradually built a trust and confidence between they which allowed for true feelings to develop between them.

Through his relationship with Torrey Jordan gradually lets go of his guilt and returns to life. She gave him the most important thing - hope, the promise of a future (together, of course).

Unlike Jordan, I had difficulty relating to Torrey. I found her casual attitude toward sex and her crude language really off-putting. I liked everything she did for Jordan and how she acted towards him but still she was not my favourite character. She had a difficult relationship with her parents and their divorce was to blame for her reluctance to long-term commitment, but it was not convincing enough for me. Still, I did like how she was honest about the burden of Jordan's past. She had no illusions that things will be easy and that everything broken in their lives can be magically restored with the power of their love. Yet, she loved him enough to accept all that and to stand by him. 

Another thing that bothered me in this story was the total hatred of Jordan's parents and most of the people in the city towards him. I understand that they blamed him for the accident which took his brother's life but the complete hatred was unjustified and I felt it was too much. Especially on the part of his mother! I can't imagine that there was not even a bit of compassion for his suffering.

I very much liked everything about Torrey and Jordan's relationship. It felt realistic, there was no glossing over of the problems they faced. The author completed the story in the best possible way, fitting perfectly the Torrey and Jordan's story. The ending was just right -  sweet and romantic, full of hope and potential.

Feature

Teaser Tuesday 47

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Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Here are the rules:

• Grab your current read 
• Open to a random page 
• Share two (2) or a few more “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page 
• Be careful not the include spoilers!

Today's teaser comes from a book I just finished, Lifers by Jane Harvey-Berrick. It was an intense read and there were things that I really liked in it and some which somewhat bothered me. 

"Well? How do I look?"
Beautiful. Gorgeous. Sexy. Off limits.

Lifers - Jane Harvey-Berrick

Synopsis

After eight years in prison, twenty-four year old Jordan Kane is the man everyone loves to hate.

Forced to return to his hometown while on parole, Jordan soon learns that this small town hasn't changed since he was carted off to juvie all those years ago. He is the local pariah, shunned by everyone, including his own parents. But their hatred of him doesn't even come close to the loathing he feels every time he looks in the mirror.

Working odd jobs for the preacher lady, Jordan bides his time before he can leave this backwards town. But can distance erase the memories that haunt him? Trapped in the prison of his own mind Jordan wonders if the pain of living will ever subside?

Torrey Delaney is new in town and certainly doesn't behave in a way the locals believe a preacher’s daughter should. Her reputation for casual hook-ups and meaningless sex is the talk of the town. Add that to her budding friendship with the hardened ex-con handyman, and the good Reverend is less than thrilled with her estranged daughter’s path.

As friendship forms, is it possible for two damaged people who are afraid to love take their relationship to the next level? Can Torrey live with Jordan’s demons, and can Jordan break through Torrey's walls? With the disapproval of a small town weighing heavily on them, will they find their place in the world? Can they struggle against the odds, or will their world be viciously shattered?

Is love a life sentence?

Jill Shalvis

Review: Once in a Lifetime by Jill Shalvis

23:45

Title: Once in a Lifetime (Lucky Harbor #9)
Author: Jill Shalvis
Date of publication: 18 February 2014
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Small town

Author's links:
Website / Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads

My rating: 3 stars





Synopsis

SOMETIMES WRONG IS OH-SO-RIGHT

After a wrenching loss, Ben McDaniel tried to escape his grief by working in dangerous, war-torn places like Africa and the Middle East. Now he's back in his hometown and face-to-face with Aubrey Wellington, the hot-as-hell woman who is trouble with a capital T. Family and friends insist she's not the one to ease his pain, but Aubrey sparks an intense desire that gives Ben hope for the future.

Determined to right the wrongs of her past, Aubrey is working hard to make amends. But by far, the toughest challenge to her plan is sexy, brooding Ben - even though he has absolutely no idea what she's done . . .

Can this unlikely couple defy the odds and win over the little town of Lucky Harbor?

My review

This is book 9 in the Lucky Harbour series and it completes the latest set of three connected stories. So far, I have read only the first three books and enjoyed them. I am a fan of Ms Shalvis' work and I have read some of her other series. as well, so I had some high expectations of this book.

Though I generally liked the story of Ben and Aubrey, it did not end up my favourites list. It's a nice small-town romance, written in the engaging style of Ms Shalvis, but there were too many small things that bothered me and prevented me from rating it higher than 3 stars.

I will start with the good things I liked in this story. I loved the heroine, Aubrey. She was  a strong and kind and determined character. I usually fall for the hero in the romances I read and did like Ben but not as much I as hoped.

Aubrey was a troubled teen, she has a bad reputation but she actually is a good person and tries hard to make amends for her mistakes. She has grown up and sees thing in perspective. I admired her determination to change, to be a better person. What I found particularly remarkable was that she wanted to change for her own sake, she didn't need a guy to help her or show her path to being a better, kinder, happier person. She had figured her mistakes on her own and was working on fixing them just for the her own sake of being and not to impress anyone.

Then, Ben came along. He was on her list of people she had wronged but he was also her high-school crush. Ben was a complex character. I liked a lot of things about him - his concern and care of the 5-year old twin sisters from the foster home, his loyalty to hi friends, Jack and Luke, his affection for his aunt Dee. My problem was his attitude towards Aubrey. He grew to care about her, saw her for who she trully was, yet he kept running away from her and from his feelings for her. He was alpha man in bed but when it came to facing her feelings for him, he acted like a coward. He couldn't forgive her mistake towards him and used this to break things between them.

Aubrey was strong enough to open herself to him and admit her true feelings, admit her mistake and ask for forgiveness and he turned her away. This made me really angry and rather disappointed with him. It was only through the outside intervention that he saw his mistake in letting Aubrey go.

A major drawback of the story for me was the way the issue with Ben's dead wife was presented. Initially, Hannah was presented as completely opposite to Aubrey - kind, pure, almost perfect. As the story progressed, though, her reputation got tarnished and some unpleasant secrets were revealed. I felt it was done only in order to justify Ben's moving on and his acceptance of his feelings for Aubrey. In my opinion, it was not necessary to make Hannah look bad. It is OK for Ben to move on after her death and to fall for someone completely different from her. People grow and change...

My other major complaint was the rushed ending - from "I don't want a relationship" to "Marry me" - it was too abrupt. Ben and Aubrey getting together would have been enough.

Next book will be about Sam, a friend of Ben's and we saw very little of him in this, so he is very much an enigma and I am looking forward to reading his story. It's in His Kiss will be released in August 2014.

Blog hop

Spread Some Indie Love Blog Hop

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Today I am celebrating Valentines'day on the blog by participating in Spread Some Indie Love Blog Hop organized by b00k r3vi3ws. I've chosen to spotlight my favourite indie author, Penny Reid, who also happens to write fabulous quirky contemporary romances. I discovered her first book, last year, shortly after it was published, completely by chance following a recommendation in GR group on Kristen Ashley. The book was suggested as romantic comedy and I love these, so I decided to try it and I ended up loving it. Even though it was recommended in the KA group, Ms Reid's book isn't anything like Kristen Ashley's work (which I also love by the way). 

So, I read Neanderthal Seeks Human, reviewed on GR and my blog (one the first reviews here), then Penny liked and commented on my review and I was over the moon. When she offered me an ARC of her next book, I jumped on board immediately. As can be expected I loved Friends Without Benefits as well. Recently I read an ARC of her third book, Love Hacked, which is due to be released on 11 March and I can honestly say it's the best one for me so far. 

Ms Reids writes contemporary romance of its own kind, with special/a bit awkward heroes and heroines, spiced  up with a quirky sense of humour. I enjoy both her unique writing style and her heart-felt romantic stories. All her books can be read as standalones, though I recommend to read them all starting from the beginning :)


Neanderthal Seeks Human: A Smart Romance
(Knitting in the City #1)
Purchase at Amazon
Add on Goodreads
Read my review

There are three things you need to know about Janie Morris: 1) She is incapable of engaging in a conversation without volunteering TMTI (Too Much Trivial Information), especially when she is unnerved, 2) No one unnerves her more than Quinn Sullivan, and 3) She doesn't know how to knit.

After losing her boyfriend, apartment, and job in the same day, Janie Morris can't help wondering what new torment fate has in store. To her utter mortification, Quinn Sullivan- aka Sir McHotpants- witnesses it all then keeps turning up like a pair of shoes you lust after but can't afford. The last thing she expects is for Quinn- the focus of her slightly, albeit harmless, stalkerish tendencies- to make her an offer she can't refuse.

Friends Without Benefits: An Unrequited Romance 
(Knitting in the City #2)
Purchase at Amazon
Add on Goodreads
Read my review

There are three things you need to know about Elizabeth Finney: 1) She suffers from severe sarcastic syndrome, especially when she's unnerved, 2) No one unnerves her like Nico Manganiello, and 3) She knows how to knit. 

Elizabeth Finney is almost always right about everything: the musical merits of boy bands are undervalued by society, “benefits” with human Ken dolls are better without friendship, and the sun has set on her once-in-a-lifetime chance for true love. But when Elizabeth’s plans for benefits without friendship are disarmed by the irritatingly charismatic and chauvinistic Nico Manganiello- her former nemesis- she finds herself struggling to maintain the electric fence around her heart while avoiding electrocution or, worse, falling in love.


Love Hacked: A Reluctant Romance 
(Knitting in the City #3)
Expected publication: 11 March 2014
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There are three things you need to know about Sandra Fielding: 1) She makes all her first dates cry, 2) She hasn't been kissed in over two years, and 3) She knows how to knit.

Sandra has difficulty removing her psychotherapist hat. Of her last 30 dates, 29 have ended the same way: the man sobbing uncontrollably. After one such disaster, Sandra—near desperation and maybe a little tipsy—gives in to a seemingly harmless encounter with her hot waiter, Alex. Argumentative, secretive, and hostile Alex may be the opposite of everything Sandra knows is right for her. But now, the girl who has spent all her life helping others change for the better, must find a way to cope with falling for someone who refuses to change at all.

Neanderthal Marries Human
(Knitting in the City #1.5)
Expected publication: May/June 2014
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Beauty and the Mustache 
(Knitting in the City #4)
Expected publication: September 2014
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So, who is Penny Reid, you ask. Here is what she says about herself on her blog:

I'm originally from California but now live in the Southeast US with my family after going to college in the area. I work full time at a large University in the field of biomedical research (e.g. clinical research studies conducted under the auspices of the FDA). I work a lot. I also love to knit and crochet; sew bags, blankets, and clothes; carve lino blocks for fabric printing; make homemade soap, jam, marmalade; and- most recently- I'm learning to garden.


I don't like to sit still unless I'm writing, reading, or knitting and I usually only knit in my knitting group... or at red lights while stuck in traffic. I only read on planes (where I'm trapped). Luckily, I travel a lot for work. 



The voices in my head (characters) became so loud over the summer of 2012- specifically, Janie Morris- that I was forced to write Neanderthal Seeks Human, my first attempt at a full length novel. It took me 7 months while working full time, crafting, and raising my people-children (boy-5, girl-3). 



If I could have any job in the world it would be my job because I feel like what I do makes a tangible difference in the lives of every living person. If I could have any life in the world it would be my life. Happiness is the seed of good fortune and success. Do what it takes to be happy and be a source of happiness for others.

Author's links:


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Enjoy an exclusive excerpt from Ms Reid's upcoming book, Love Hacked, kindly provided by the author: 


His hands gripped my waist—not my arms, which my pickled brain thought was noteworthy—and duly steadied and unsettled me with his nearness. His proximity and touch caused a zing—yes, a zing—from the back of my neck to my fingertips and heretofore neglected womanly pelvic region. The heat of his hands bled through the thin material of my dress, settled just above my hips, and this sensation paired with the zing sobered me slightly.

I hadn’t experienced a zing with a man—or a boy—or a man-boy—in a very, very long time.

“Well, h-hello.” I stuttered, lifted my eyes and found his, once again, singularly focused on my mouth. A new zing sailed southward, past my female equipment to my tiptoes. 

Ah, how I missed the zing!

We stood silent, inches from each other, sharing the same breath.

“Three years is a long time.” He said, his voice achingly seductive.

I frowned because I was confused, but whispered, “Yes. And fettuccini noodles are too thick.” 

He frowned, but his attention didn’t waver from my lips. “What does that have to do with anything?”

“I don’t know. You said three years is a long time. I thought we were sharing random opinions.”

Alex laughed—it sounded a bit nervous, but I couldn’t be sure, and shook his head. “Sandra, what do you say? I think it’s well past time you had a kiss.” His eyes flickered to mine. I noted they were still guarded, wizened; but they were also heated and every shade of licentious lapis imaginable. 

In a word, delightful.

I licked my lips, gathered a deep breath through my nose, considered the offer. 

He was maybe twenty-three; more likely he was twenty-two. That was six years younger than my twenty-eight. The six years between twenty-two and twenty-eight was a vast minefield of life experience and a thick forest of emotional maturity. 

We were on different emotion planets. 

I was looking for the guy. I was looking for my life partner. I wasn’t looking for a dangerous yet delicious looking youngster waiter with a chip on his shoulder. 

Then again…

Alex was manlicious in a way that I rarely encountered. And he wanted to kiss me. And he wasn’t crying. Triple bonus.

Okay, I thought, psyching myself up, yes, let’s do this. Let’s go wild, just this once. Kiss the boy. Kiss the boy and round the bases. Look for your life partner tomorrow.

Before I lost my nerve, I kissed him.

Zing.

It was brief, sudden; a drive by kiss and I savored his stunned soft mouth. Then I leaned just my head away and glanced at him. He had such a great mouth and he’d parted it slightly in surprise. 

I nodded. “Okay, just one more.” I kissed him again, fast but with more pressure this time, planted my lips to his and breathed in through my nose

Zing! 

Then, reluctantly, I leaned away again and immediately said, “Just one more kiss after this-”

He interrupted my assertion by mouthlesting me; meaning, he affixed his lips to mine and kissed me good and thorough. 

ZING! 

Thick, urgent tongue invasion; biting; sucking and stroking. As he assaulted me in the best way possible, I was vaguely aware that he’d backed me into and against the corner of the small alcove, just under the stairs. His feet braced apart and his body towered over mine, filled every inch of available space; his fingers dug into my side and back in a way that felt aggressive. 

I approved.

Then, abruptly, he pulled just a centimeter away. Breathing hard he said, “One more meaning that kiss?” 

I hazily blinked my eyes and opened my abused lips to respond; however, before I could, he pressed me against the wall with his imposing frame, rocked against me—center to center—and growled, “Or, this kiss?”

ZING ZING ZING!

His every day voice was a thing of beauty; but his growly voice made me want to lick his face. 

The mouthlesting moved from misdemeanor to a felony crime against all women other than me. He employed tongue, teeth, lips in a way that drove all thought beyond this kiss from my mind. We existed, just the two of us, in our kiss cocoon. In that moment, strangers though we were, I allowed him to take in a way I hadn’t known I was capable of giving. 

I’d lit the fuse and, God bless him, he’d provided the fireworks. Life was good.

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Books Up For Grabs!

Knowing Vera
Under Different Stars
Bubba the Bulldog Tries to Smile
Dangled Carat: one girl's attempt to convert the ultimate commitment-phobic man into a doting husband with a lot of help from his family and friends
Venice in the Moonlight
Starlet's Web
Starlet's Run
Starlet's Light
Pierced
Escaped
No Alligators in Sight
The Silken Edge
Illusions Begin: The Mysticseeker Series
The Hideaway
Meeting Destiny
Blood Debt
Destiny's Revenge
Centaur Legacy
Destiny's Wrath
Centaur Redemption
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