Blast: Strings by Kendall Grey

Free-spirited musician Letty Dillinger adheres to a strict, “no strings attached” policy when it comes to men. After a wild night of unabashed sex in a fancy hotel room, she never expects to see the adventurous stud she dubs “Shades” again. When her all-girl rock trio books a tour at the last minute as the opening act for their archenemies, Letty’s shocked to discover she knows the competition’s new lead singer. Intimately. Shades is no longer a one-night stand. Now he’s the guy she has to one-up on stage every night for the sake of her career.

Sharing close quarters on a bus with her sexy nemesis and his bad-boy buddies puts Letty’s Golden Rule to the test. On this tour, guitar strings aren’t the only things being played. And when heartstrings are pulled too hard, they’re bound to snap sooner or later.

WARNING:
STRINGS is not suitable for slut shamers, uptight stone throwers, Holier-Than-Thou prudes, humorless virgins, persons with chronic neck or back pain, pearl-clutching bitties, those who disparage crude humor or vulgarity in their many forms, closed-minded people with sticks up their asses, or anyone under the age of 18. The vile, base language and shocking, unholy sexual acts contained herein are not condoned by anyone with a lick of sense and should certainly not be reproduced without proper training and protection. The potty-mouthed and perpetually horny "heroine" (the term is used loosely) of this book does not resemble a normal, well-adjusted, or remotely believable person in any way, shape, or form. The author acknowledges that the characters in this book are shallow and two-dimensional; the plot is both ridiculous and insipid. She makes no apologies for any of it.

* Readers are strongly advised to wear latex gloves whilst reading to minimize contamination risks.

WHERE TO BUY 

  

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 Kendall Grey, word wrangler, whale warrior, wicked wench, and lover of tongue-tripping alliteration, was born without an off-switch between her brain and mouth. She's been called the "Flux Capacitor of Twitter" (@kendallgrey1) and "A little package of love all wrapped up in F-word paper," but she's really just a maniacal writer relaying eyewitness accounts of the rave inside her head. She writes urban fantasy with strong romantic elements and also dabbles in erotica and horror on occasion.

Kendall lives off a dirt road near Atlanta, Georgia, but don't hold that against her.


Website | Just Breathe Site | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

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Review: Desperate Desires by Terri Wolffe

Title: Desperate Desires
Author: Terri Wolffe
Publish Date: February 6, 2011 by Dial
Pages: E-book Novella
Reviewed by: ISALYS
Reason for reading:  Printed copy provided by author for review purposes.

Lucinda Davenport is desperate for an heir.  Her husband, who is much older and sickly has been unable to sire one and with his failing health, they are at risk of losing their estate to his greedy family.  Her husband, who is not unkind, understands the dire situation that they're in and comes up with a plan for Lucinda to kidnap a peer of her choice to impregnate her and hopefully give her the son she so desperately needs. Lucinda chooses Lucien Brandford, fourth Duke of Carlsborough.

With the help of her motley crew, Lucinda manages to abduct Lucien and whisk him to her estate in the English countryside.  There, she shackles him to the bed where she explains that she's chosen him for "stud services".  Unfortunately, one night of pleasure was not enough for either of them.  Until now, Lucinda had only known the touch of her elder husband.  She had never known what real passion could be like.

As a novella, the relationship between Lucien and Lucinda develops rather quickly.  However, Terri did a great job with the pacing so that it felt as natural as possible considering the reason for their connection in the first place.  The dialogue was interesting in that Lucien and Lucinda were always going back and forth with control of the relationship changing hands.  Overall, they really balanced each other nicely.  The writing was well-done except the narrative voice would sometimes change abruptly and I would lose track of who was speaking.  Those instances broke up flow of the story, but did not stop me from being able to enjoy it.

This is a "sweet & spicy" novella.  For those of you who are interested in reading it, be warned that the love scenes are HOT!!  The sexual language is quite intense without being vulgar.  I personally could do with a little less dirty talk but that's just a matter of personal taste.  I'm glad that Terri was able to keep it tasteful.

I liked that the author included a bit of the backstory for both Lucien and Lucinda's characters. Unfortunately, that extra information came at the expense of us knowing what happened to Lucinda's husband.  Although the plan to kidnap Lucien was his in the first place, he became jealous and tried to separate Lucien & Lucinda.  It wasn't until after his death that they finally got their 'happily ever after'.  However, it's unknown what happened in that time in between or how they really came together again.  Understanding that novellas may be under length constraint, I still would have liked some of those questions answered.

Overall, this was a fun story that I would recommend to those who like an extra helping of hottness with their romances.

HEAT LEVEL: 6-Erotic

Review: Sweet as the Devil by Susan Johnson

Title: Sweet as the Devil
Author: Susan Johnson
Publish Date: March 1, 2011 by Berkley
Pages: 336, paperback
Reviewed by: ISALYS
Reason for reading: Read and reviewed for The Season for Romance.

Miss Sofia Eastleigh had made a name for herself throughout London for not only being a great beauty, but a great artist. She was hired to paint the portrait of a London socialite when she encountered the irresistible James Blackwood. James had been visiting Sofia’s client at the time, who also happened to be his lover. They momentarily took notice of each other and cataloged how tempting the other was. However, it wasn’t until later that their paths would cross again and they would truly be tempted.

James Blackwood, although no stranger to sin or pleasure, took his job seriously and was damn good at it. He was in charge of the guard that protected Prince Ernst of Dalmia. The Prince lost his son and only heir and so in the hopes of protecting his interests, he placed James in charge of locating and protecting his long lost daughter, Sofia.

James knows exactly who murdered the princes’ son and is now after his land. He also knows that Sofia’s life will be in danger as soon as it’s discovered that the prince does in fact have another heir. He has no choice but to get Sofia out of London and across the Scottish border where she will be safest. Sofia on the other hand is not happy about this turn of events. Her father never played an active role in her life and now he wants her to carry the burden of being his endangered heir and despite how incredibly attracted to James she is, he has made it abundantly clear that he is only there to protect her. Sofia then decides that the only way to make this trip tolerable is to make sure that she changes James’ mind about the nature of their relationship.

In all the historical romances that I’ve read, Sofia is the most progressive heroine that I’ve come across. She was raised in a bohemian type of environment where people are much more open about intimate relations and it’s not considered improper for a woman to be too independent or to have more than one lover. Even so, I was a bit taken aback by how forward her character was. The development of the relationship between Sofia and James was instigated by her and was entirely sexual…for the most part. James was a typical rake so his reaction and actions were expected. It was Sofia who surprised me most.

There were things about this book that I enjoyed and things that I had a little trouble with. I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Sofia and James. What started off as a sexual relationship progressed to a relationship with emotional value and meaning. During the course of the book, the act of sex turned into an act of love making. In addition, the plot was interesting and Johnson gave us some very dramatic and suspenseful scenes that punctuated the danger that Sofia and James faced.

Being an erotic romance, I understand that the reason for the explicitness and I had no trouble with that. Where I did have trouble was with some of the sexual situations that the characters found themselves in. Within the context of the setting, some of those situations seemed unlikely. The other area that I felt could have used a little more polishing was the language. At times, I felt that the dialogue was too modern for the 19th century.

This was my first Susan Johnson novel and overall, I found it to be a satisfactory read with a pleasant ending.

Blog Tour / Giveaway: A Princess In His Bed by L. DiPasqua

Title: The Princess in His Bed 

{Fiery Tales # 2}

Author: Lila DiPasqua

Published: November 2, 2010 by Berkley Trade

ISBN-10:  0425237001

Pages: 336 pgs, Mass Market Paperback

Reason for reading: Participating in Blog Tour/Giveaway courtesy of Berkley Trade and Lila DiPasqua.

The Marquis’ New Clothes {Story # 1}
To save her cousin, Aimee must retrieve a jeweled ring from the most sinfully seductive man at court, the Marquis de Nattes. But to search his considerable wardrobe she’ll have to get very close to the notorious rake…and soon she finds herself very close to him indeed, with his clothes—and hers—utterly forgotten…

Adam, the Marquis of Nattes has fantasized and lusted after Aimee for six long years, but she was off-limits because she was the wife of his late friend.  Now her period of mourning is over and Adam is determined to have Aimee once and for all.  

Aimee knows that Adam is as notorious a rake as her late husband and he is not to be trusted.  However, after finding herself in some awkward and very sexy situations (while attempting to retrieve a ring that Adam unknowingly possesses), she learns that he is impossible to resist and she relishes the opportunity to explore a new side of her sexuality.  Before either of them realize it, what started off as bedroom games has turned into a love neither expected to find.

This short story was complete with drama, ultra steamy love scenes, tender moments and even a dash of humor.  I especially love that it was the hero who wanted to pursue and conquer the elusive heroine.  Adam's initial interest in Aimee may have been shallow but it was enjoyable to watch him fall victim to that 4-letter word, "love" while Aimee's previously broken heart is slowly and unexpectedly mended.  {I'm such a sucker for this stuff, lol}. 

This was definitely a great start Lila's latest trilogy!

The Lovely Duckling {Story # 2}
Reputed for his carnal skills, Joseph d’Alumbert prefers amorous encounters without emotional entanglement—until a quick-witted lady stirs tender feelings as well as hot desire. Emilie suffered burns to her body as an infant, and keeps her scars—and her heart—well hidden. But Joseph is determined to peel away her inhibitions, one slow steamy kiss at a time, to reveal the beautiful swan inside…  

This emotionally charged story stars two very strong characters.  As a child, Emilie survived a fire that left her skin badly scarred.  During her coming out party, she was taunted and humiliated with some very hurtful names that left her emotionally scarred as well.

Joseph, the eldest son of one of the most powerful dukes in France, simply stood by while his "friends" made fun of her.  Now years later, he is haunted by the memory of that cruel night.  Posing as his twin brother Vincent, he begins corresponding with her and comes to know and care for Emilie.  

Ashamed of her scars, Emilie has never experienced any form of intimacy.  Determined to indulge in carnal pleasure, Emilie attends her aunt's masquerade party.  Joseph and his brothers also attend and Joseph, still pretending to be Vincent is determined to stop Emilie from losing her virginity to a stranger. Sadly, he cannot bring himself to be honest with her and quickly finds himself tangled in a web of lies that could cause him to lose the only girl he's ever loved.

This was without a doubt my favorite of the stories!  Although the heroine struggled with a lack of self-confidence, her resentment and anger toward being treated so cruelly gave her an inner strength and spunk that were admirable. She turned her lemons into lemonade :) 

Joseph may have been dishonest, but his feelings for her were not.  I feel that DiPasqua did a fantastic job creating a character that broke the mold.  He wasn't interested in adding a notch to his bedpost, but rather to prove that he was a changed man.  His deeply rooted guilt, inner turmoil and fear of losing Emilie was so touching and it made him equally lovable.

The ending felt a bit rushed, but I feel that it still played out well. Emilie and Joseph's story will tug at those heartstrings and is a nice reminder that love doesn't have to be perfect, it just has to be real! 

My only wish is that their story would have been longer :)

The Princess and the Diamonds {Story # 3}
Princess Gabrielle can’t sleep at night. There is something hard in her bed. No, not just the stolen diamonds tucked under her mattress, but the handsome marquis on it….whose carnal talents she can’t resist. But he threatens her secret mission, and worse, she stands to lose far more than the diamonds---her heart is at stake…

Mathias, Marques of Montfort lost a very good friend to suicide caused by a very serious gambling problem.  He is now determined to help bring down one of the most dangerous and illegal gaming rooms in France.  When he pledges to help unveil the leaders and players that are breaking the King's law, he's forced back to the tables of a game that he detests.  One evening, the tables welcome a "youth" that bets not with money but with diamonds.  His interest gets the better of him when he learns that this young man is actually a beautiful woman.

Princess Gabrielle has taken to playing Basset not for money or the thrill of it, but in the hopes of earning enough money to help her half-brother.  However, her plans and concentration are thrown off when she is discovered by the most delectable man she's ever met.  While "off her game" she loses two of the King's diamonds to Mathias.  She must get them back, and quickly, so she offers herself to Mathias in exchange for the diamonds.

Mathias was the sexiest of the heroes and very likable!  However, Gabrielle was the least emotionally invested of the heroines.  She manages to keep Mathias at arm's length even when she realizes that he's fallen in love with her.  

One of the consequences of writing short stories, is that the endings tend to feel a bit rushed.  However, I was happy with the finale of this story and liked the little twist at the end. 

RATING: 4 ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ of 5

HEAT LEVEL: 6 - Erotic {Who like 'em hott?}

I am a genuine fan of Lila's work and am so thankful that she's offered me the opportunities to read her books and help with her tours!  I've been frequently impressed with her consistency in creating likable character, brow-wiping sex scenes, fresh takes on classic tales and complete storylines.  I've read other short stories that really fell short for me (no pun intended).  Lila has managed to always create sincere emotional connections with her character that make her stories feel complete!

I'm so excited to read her full-length novel, "A Midnight Dance" scheduled to release August 2011 {so mark those calendars}.

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♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

HOLIDAY GIVEAWAY
THE PRINCESS IN HIS BED with Cinderella’s Slipper Ornament

5 WINNERS!
{Books courtesy of Penguin/Berkley; Ornament autographed by author, Lila DiPasqua}

Giveaway open to US and Canada *only* (No P.O Boxes)
and will end Dec. 13th, 2010 at midnight

FILL OUT THIS FORM TO ENTER GIVEAWAY

{Important: Please leave a comment on this post stating you filled out the form! Thank you!}

Rules:

• To enter the giveaway you must complete the form (linked above) and leave a comment indicating that you've completed the form.

• Prizes will be delivered directly from the publishers so the giveaways are only available for U.S. and Canada residents. No P.O. boxes please.

Note: It may take several weeks to receive your prize so please be patient!

• Winners will be drawn soon after the contest ends and posted thereafter.

• Winners will be chosen using random.org!

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