(ARC Review) My Give A Damn’s Busted by Carolyn Brown

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MY GIVE A DAMN’S BUSTED
Author: Carolyn Brown
Source: Sourcebooks
*I received this book free of 
charge in exchange for an 
honest review*

  • Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
  • Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca; 
  • Original edition (October 1, 2010)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1402239289
  • ISBN-13: 978-1402239281

SUMMARY:

He’s just doing his job…

If Hank Wells thinks he can dig up dirt on the new owner of the Honky Tonk beer joint for his employer, he’s got no idea what kind of trouble he’s courting…

She’s not going down without a fight…

If any dime store cowboy think’s he’s going to get the best of Larissa Morley-or her Honky Tonk-then he’s got another think coming…

As secrets emerge, and passion vies with ulterior motives, it’s winner takes all at the Honky Tonk…

MY THOUGHTS:

In this third installment of the series, we get the pleasure of meeting Hank and Larissa. I loved the bickering, the sparks and the western bar theme.  The author knows how to bring the pages to life and make you feel as though you just stopped by for a drink in a great place!  Larissa is strong willed and ready to fight for what she has and believes in.  She doesn’t take any grief from anyone.  Hank is hiding secrets, yet he has the sex appeal to make you forget the real reason he is in town.  He also doesn’t go down without a fight and enjoys every minute of it.

Even though you will get frustrated at Hank through the story, you will also find him endearing and a romantic as well.  When Hank and Larissa are together, the sparks jump off the page and leave your heart beating faster than a line dance!  The author has a great talent for creating cowboy love stories with a modern day love story weaved together perfectly!

You better get your tush pushed to the book store and pick up this latest installment for your cowboy fix and a rocking ride of a story!

MY RATING:


Outstanding Book That Will Stay On My Bookshelf
For Rereading! 5 STARS

(ARC Review) Backstage Pass by Olivia Cunning

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BACKSTAGE PASS
Author: Olivia Cunning
Source: Sourcebooks
* I received this book free 
of charge in exchange for
an honest review*

  • Paperback: 384 pages
  • Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca (October 1, 2010)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1402244428
  • ISBN-13: 978-1402244421

SUMMARY:

Five stunning guys, one hot woman, and a feverish romance…

For him, life is all music and no play…
When Brian Sinclair, lead songwriter and guitarist of the hottest metal band on the scene, loses his creative spark, it will take nights of downright sinful passion to release his pent-up genius…

She’s the one to call the tune…
When sexy psychologist Myrna Evans goes on tour with the Sinners, every boy in the band tries to seduce her. But Brian is the only one she wants to get her hands on…
Then the two lovers’ wildly shocking behavior sparks the whole band to new heights of glory…and sin…

MY THOUGHTS:

What I want to say about this book can’t be summed up that easily.  The words I want to use, I will refrain from using so you will get this–SMOKING HOT JALAPENOS!

I was wary of reading a book focused on a band.  Every book I have read about rock and roll stars have been a little corny.  I thought that this was going to be another one of those with just a little hubba-hubba mixed in.  Boy was I wrong!

The Sinners rock guitarist, Brian Sinclair, meets psychologist Myrna Evans in a hotel bar.  After a weekend fling together, Myrna decides to join the band on tour to find out more about the behavior of groupies.  They both have many obstacles to overcome if they want a relationship to work.  Now that we have the main part of the plot mapped out, lets get to the main attraction of the book!

Can I just say that the images of the hot foreplay and sex are permanently seared into my brain. It was so hot and sensual that my brain nearly fried with each sexy scene.  The author did an amazing job of making the attraction hot and sexy, without going overboard that you find in most erotica books.  Thank goodness I read this book in the comforts of my own home to where people could not see the always obvious flush on my cheeks.

What is even more exciting is the fact that each band member is going to get their own book! I can’t wait to read about the rest of them in future installments of the series.  If I had to describe this book in one line, it would be this– A plot that rocks with sexy romps that keep on rolling! 

MY RATING:


Outstanding Book That Will Stay On My Bookshelf For Rereading! 5 STARS

Her Best Friend by Sarah Mayberry

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HER BEST FRIEND
Author: Sarah Mayberry
Source: Harlequin Ambassadors
* I received this book free of 
charge in exchange for an 
honest review*

  • Mass Market Paperback: 256 pages
  • Publisher: Harlequin (April 13, 2010)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0373716265
  • ISBN-13: 978-0373716265

SUMMARY:

What’s a girl to do when she’s secretly in love with a friend and he’s married to someone else? She gets over it. That’s what Amy Parker has done. Rather than lose her best bud Quinn Whitfield with an ill-timed, crazy confession of affection, she’s taken the smart route. She’s eased away from him. Just enough to get past the unrequited bits. And you know, it’s working.

Until the day Quinn announces he’s now single. That’s right. He’s single. And he wants to hang out. With her.

Oh, this is so not good for Amy’s equilibrium. Daily doses of Quinn remind her of everything she loves about him. But if he’s free…and she’s free…well, maybe the time has come for one of those crazy confessions.  Get reconnected the way they used to be.

MY THOUGHTS:

As a lover of sweet and romantic reads, Harlequin is one of my favorite escapes when I am in the mood for a category read mood.  They always have the best short reads that fill in the time between review books. 

Amy Parker lived next door to her childhood best friend, Quinn Whitfield.  They were two peas in a pod and rarely apart.  They shared secrets, adventures and even a teething ring when they were babies.  Then at age 14, things change for Amy.  She harbors a secret crush on her best friend.  Unfortunately, Lisa who is their newest addition to the friendship, has decided to set her sights on Quinn.  Amy keeps her secret attraction to Quinn to herself and lets her two best buds have a chance at a relationship.  Lisa and Quinn eventually marry, with Amy standing in as Best Person, and tries to never show how she really feels toward Quinn.  She feels that her friendship with Quinn and Lisa is far more important than the secret crush she has kept to herself for more than 16 years. 

When Amy finally buys the Grand Theater, she is finally moving on and fulfilling her dreams.  When she has a few legal troubles during the purchase though, she knows she must make contact with Lisa and Quinn once again and seek their legal advice.  Quinn and Lisa are both successful lawyers, but have failed on the marriage front.  Lisa has an affair and Quinn files for divorce.  To Amy’s surprise Quinn comes to her rescue in court and also agrees to stay a few weeks to help with the remodel of the Grand Theater.  During this time, their love for each other blossoms into more than friendship. Neither one wants to make the first move in fear of losing the friendship the both have together.  Amy also doesn’t want to hurt Lisa, who is still her friend as well, since the divorce is still pending.

Through it all, the author had witty and laugh out loud moments that had me smiling the entire time.  I liked the whole friends before lovers theme and the love that Amy and Quinn had for each other.  Harlequin was even on the money for a cover that represents the story for a change! The couple on the cover is actually how they are described by the author and it features a scene from the book as well! Yes, it is a predictable theme and story, but you can’t help but read about first crushes, long time friendships and happily ever afters.

Author Sarah Mayberry delivers a sweet contemporary romance guaranteed to make you swoon!

MY RATING:


Outstanding Book That Will Stay On My Bookshelf
For Rereading! 5 STARS

(ARC Review) Desires of the Dead by Kimberly Derting

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DESIRES OF THE DEAD
(A Body Finder Novel #2)
Author: Kimberly Derting
Source: Publisher
* I received this book free 
of charge in exchange for 
an honest review*

  • Reading level: Young Adult
  • Hardcover: 368 pages
  • Publisher: HarperCollins (March 15, 2011)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0061779849
  • ISBN-13: 978-0061779848

SUMMARY:

Violet can sense the echoes of those who’ve been murdered—and the matching imprint that clings to their killers. Only those closest to her know what she is capable of, but when she discovers the body of a young boy she also draws the attention of the FBI, threatening her entire way of life. 

As Violet works to keep her morbid ability a secret, she unwittingly becomes the object of a dangerous obsession. Normally she’d turn to her best friend, Jay, except now that they are officially a couple, the rules of their relationship seem to have changed. And with Jay spending more and more time with his new friend Mike, Violet is left with too much time on her hands as she wonders where things went wrong. But when she fills the void by digging into Mike’s tragic family history, she stumbles upon a dark truth that could put everyone in danger. 

MY THOUGHTS:

If you have read my previous review for the first book, The Body Finder, you are well aware that my family suffered during my reading of that novel.  Well, needless to say, my family suffered twice as much while reading the latest in the series, Desires of the Dead!  I did not want to put this book down at all!  My children starved at lunch time and was forced to fend for themselves.  My husband felt neglected as I ignored him while reading this book,  only glancing up to kiss him goodbye before work and before bed.

In the latest installment, we are again reading from Violet’s point of view.  Violet and Jay are still a couple with just as much sweet and tender moments that we experienced in the first book.  Her family is still involved with her life including her Uncle Stephen who was a major person in The Body Finder.  Her friends are just as fun and goofy–if not more–along with new friends that move to town and play an important role in the story.

When Violet starts to receive threatening gifts and phone calls, Violet starts to pull away from Jay though.  She feels like her secret of what she can do is her secret alone and tries to deal with it without involving Jay and her family.  When she also comes across an echo of a kidnapped boy, she is pulled into a bigger group involving the FBI.  She finds herself being interrogated by Sara, an FBI specialist, and another boy around her age named Rafe who works with Sara.  Along the way, we learn that Sara and Rafe have secrets of their own and are just as reluctant to tell Violet their stories as Violet was to tell hers. Violet must learn who to trust and who to turn to when her stalker starts to take more drastic measures against her.

I literally could not put this book down.  I gripped the pages in suspense so hard that I bent the pages!  Just like in The Body Finder, you will think you have it figured out and then the author will send you in another direction.  Ms. Derting knows how to keep the reader on the edge of their seat and their heart racing with anticipation!  Just like the echo’s call to Violet, you will find yourself drawn into this book and not letting go!

MY RATING:


Outstanding Book That Will Stay On My Bookshelf
For Rereading! 5 STARS!

Demon Princess: Reign Check by Michelle Rowen

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DEMON PRINCESS: REIGN CHECK
Author: Michelle Rowen

  • Reading level: Young Adult
  • Paperback: 304 pages
  • Publisher: Walker Books for Young Readers (May 25, 2010)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0802795498
  • ISBN-13: 978-0802795496

SUMMARY:

Nikki Donovan has had a lot to deal with since learning she was half human, half demon. But things take a darker turn when Rhys, a gorgeous — but potentially dangerous — faery king enrolls at her high school to investigate Nikki’s potential for fulfilling an apocalyptic prophesy. Nikki knows she’d never turn violent, and she certainly couldn’t destroy the world…could she?

Of course, all Nikki really wants is to be reunited with Michael, a Shadow creature whose status as her personal servant is further complicated by their undeniable attraction to each other. Even though the rules of the Shadowlands strictly forbid their romance, Nikki is determined not to let Michael go. But when she is summoned to the Underworld to appear before a demon council, it will take all her courage — and perhaps a bit of demon-level strength — to get herself out again.

MY THOUGHTS:

After enjoying the first book in the Demon Princess series, I knew I needed to purchase the second book.  After my Amazon order arrived, I quickly dived into the story of Nikki Donovan again!  

Rhys, King of the faery realm, has decided to join the human world for a short time and decides to enroll at Nikki’s high school.  To say that Nikki is surprised, is an understatement.  She can’t believe that he would enroll at her school just to keep an eye on her.  This book starts off a week after the last on finished, so Nikki is still trying to accept that she is half demon and half human.  Having Rhys around makes it even harder for her to focus on her human life. Rhys informs her that there is a prophesy regarding a Darkling, which he assumes is about Nikki.  The Underworld leaders are anxious to meet with her and decide just how much of a threat Nikki really is.  

This book was just as exciting as the first book.  The author keeps you enthralled with the supernatural, yet she can also leave you laughing out loud with her witty writing and characters.  I was glad to see familiar characters such as her fater, Desmond, along with Michael and her Aunt.  Even though the story can be a bit predictable, you will still enjoy the story so much, it won’t matter.  

I feel that the second book in the series outshines the first book in so many ways.  I hope the publishers agree with the readers and decide to add more books to the delightful and captivating series.  I look forward to reading more about Demon Princess Nikki and her reign as a Darkling!!

MY RATING:

Outstanding Book That Will Stay On My Bookshelf
For Rereading!