Review: Castle Hill by Samantha Young

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Castle Hill
Series: On Dublin Street #2.5
Author: Samantha Young
Release Date: 12/3/2013

SUMMARY
From Goodreads

A Joss and Braden Novella

Braden Carmichael never imagined he’d fall as hard and as fast as he did for Jocelyn Butler. He also could not have anticipated how difficult it would be to convince her to give in to love. But now that he has her, he’s never letting go. He’s got it all planned—the passionate proposal, the dream wedding, the sexy Hawaiian honeymoon—even the perfect family they’ll start.

After trying to flee from her painful past, Joss is finally allowing herself to embrace the future. But when things start moving faster than she anticipated, she finds herself panicking over something Braden can’t understand. After everything they’ve been through, Joss is sure that their love can survive even her worst fears. But, this time, she may push Braden too far—and risk losing everything all over again…

MY THOUGHTS

Castle Hill is classified as a novella coming in at 97 pages according to Amazon.  It is a short story featuring Joss and Braden from the On Dublin Streets Series.

In Castle Hill, we are taken on a quick paced journey from dating to engaged, to engaged to married, and from married to honeymoon with  juicy story all around.  I loved revisiting Joss and Braden. We get to read how Braden proposes to Joss and the planning of the wedding.  Then we flash to the wedding itself that was beautiful but not overdone in details.  Following the wedding we flash forward just a bit to the honeymoon.  After that wonderful and romantic set of scenes, we flash forward to the juicy part of the story that provides a surprise for the happy couple.  What should be exciting news ends up being the conflict of the story based on a communication misunderstanding.  Unlike before though, it is a misunderstanding  from Braden and he ends up shutting Joss out this time.

If you are looking for a sweet and quick Braden and Joss fix, then this novella is perfect for that.  We even get to see side characters as well from the series to round it all out for the reader.

MY RATING
[sc:rate5 ]

AUTHOR WEBSITE / GOODREADS / AMAZON

Review: The Submissive by Tara Sue Me

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The Submissive
Series: The Submissive Trilogy #1
Author: Tara Sue Me
Source: Personal Purchase

SUMMARY
(From Goodreads)

Abby King has a secret fantasy.

New York knows Nathaniel West as the brilliant and handsome CEO of West Industries, but Abby knows he’s more: a sexy and skilled dominant who is looking for a new submissive. Yearning to experience a world of pleasure beyond her simple life as a librarian, Abby offers herself to Nathaniel, to fulfill her most hidden desires.

After only one weekend with the Master, Abby knows she needs more, and fully submits to Nathaniel’s terms. But despite the pleasure he takes in Abby’s willing spirit, the Nathaniel hidden behind the rules remains cold and distant.

As Abby falls deeper into his tantalizing world of power and passion, she fears that Nathaniel’s heart may be beyond her reach—and that her own might be beyond saving…

MY THOUGHTS

The Submissive is the first book in the Submissive Trilogy by Tara Sue Me.

Another Fan Fiction in the world of Twilight.  While, I don’t personally see the similarity, or have a problem with fan fiction, some people might want to be forewarned about this.  The Submissive was a little too over the top for me.  The hero Nathaniel was cold and mysterious.  While the reason for his dominant nature is revealed, I can honestly say that it was a pretty bad cop out.  The heroine Abby was suppose to be new to the submissive role, but at times I felt she was more into the lifestyle than Nathaniel was.  She seemed to know exactly what to do from the very beginning.

There are plot holes all throughout the book with some of the plot making little sense and no need to even be in the book.  While the sexy scenes did have some heat, they shouldn’t have to carry an entire novel.

Overall this was another dominant billionaire who just needed another submissive to add to his whipping post.

MY RATING
[sc:rate1 ]

AUTHOR WEBSITE / GOODREADS / AMAZON

Blog Tour: The Farm by Emily McKay

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Life was different in the Before: before vampires began devouring humans in a swarm across America; before the surviving young people were rounded up and quarantined. These days, we know what those quarantines are—holding pens where human blood is turned into more food for the undead monsters, known as Ticks. Surrounded by electrical fences, most kids try to survive the Farms by turning on each other…

And when trust is a thing of the past, escape is nearly impossible.

Lily and her twin sister Mel have a plan. Though Mel can barely communicate, her autism helps her notice things no one else notices—like the portion of electrical fence that gets turned off every night. Getting across won’t be easy, but as Lily gathers what they need to escape, a familiar face appears out of nowhere, offering to help…

Carter was a schoolmate of Lily’s in the Before. Managing to evade capture until now, he has valuable knowledge of the outside world. But like everyone on the Farm, Carter has his own agenda, and he knows that behind the Ticks is an even more dangerous threat to the human race…

Q & A With Emily McKay

Lightening Round:
1) Favorite literary heroine? Lizzie Bennet
2) Vampires or Werewolves? Vampires
3) True Blood or Vampire Diaries? True Blood
4) The Notebook or Pretty Woman? Pretty Woman
5) Best way to spend Saturday night? Cuddling on the sofa with my family
6) Best way to spend Sunday morning? Eating at Café Brazil
7) How do you take your coffee? Light and Sweet … and caffeinated
8) If you had 3 things to take with you on a desert island, what would they be? My Nook, Chocolate-covered almonds and a satellite phone
9) If you won the lottery, how would you spend your money? I would buy a vintage Tesla, a diamond tiara and solar panels for all my friends.  And after that I’m pulling a J.K. Rowling and giving a ton to charity.

PREVIOUS STOP @ Katie’s Book Blog
NEXT STOP @ Wastepaper Prose on Dec. 3rd
CONTEST
Thanks to the publisher, I have one copy of The Farm and a Vampire Apocalypse Survival Kit to give to one winner.  
1. Contest is open to the USA only.  ( your package will be coming directly from the publisher)
2. No P.O. Boxes (your package will be coming directly from the publisher)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Discussion Tour with Author Tammara Webber

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Welcome to the tour stop for author Tammara Webber for her newly released book Easy.
Below is something that the author wanted to share with readers in hopes to starting a discussion


Tammara Webber on the 
Inspiration for EASY:

Too many stories, all privately shared. No one knows the actual percentage of acquaintance rapes that go unreported, of course, but in the rape cases with which I’m personally familiar (not research-based statistics) – the stranger rapes were reported. The acquaintance rapes – coworkers, friends, dates – were not reported. Not a single one of them. I found that horrifying – and motivating. This was something begging to be faced and discussed, and that was my ultimate goal – to prompt discussion.


ABOUT THE BOOK

A girl who believes trust can be misplaced, promises are made to be broken, and loyalty is an illusion. A boy who believes truth is relative, lies can mask unbearable pain, and guilt is eternal. Will what they find in each other validate their conclusions, or disprove them all?
When Jacqueline follows her longtime boyfriend to the college of his choice, the last thing she expects is a breakup two months into sophomore year. After two weeks in shock, she wakes up to her new reality: she’s single, attending a state university instead of a music conservatory, ignored by her former circle of friends, and failing a class for the first time in her life.
Leaving a party alone, Jacqueline is assaulted by her ex’s frat brother. Rescued by a stranger who seems to be in the right place at the right time, she wants nothing more than to forget the attack and that night–but her savior, Lucas, sits on the back row of her econ class, sketching in a notebook and staring at her. Her friends nominate him to be the perfect rebound.
When her attacker turns stalker, Jacqueline has a choice: crumple in defeat or learn to fight back. Lucas remains protective, but he’s hiding secrets of his own. Suddenly appearances are everything, and knowing who to trust is anything but easy.



Blog Tour Schedule

Reflected In You by Sylvia Day

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Reflected in You
Series: Crossfire #2
Author: Sylvia Day
Genre: Romance
Source: Gift from Smexybooks(Thank you Mandi!)
ISBN: 9780425263914

SUMMARY
(From Goodreads)

Gideon Cross. As beautiful and flawless on the outside as he was damaged and tormented on the inside. He was a bright, scorching flame that singed me with the darkest of pleasures. I couldn’t stay away. I didn’t want to. He was my addiction… my every desire… mine.

My past was as violent as his, and I was just as broken. We’d never work. It was too hard, too painful… except when it was perfect. Those moments when the driving hunger and desperate love were the most exquisite insanity. We were bound by our need. And our passion would take us beyond our limits to the sweetest, sharpest edge of obsession…

MY THOUGHTS

OMG! Oh..my..GOD!  Seriously?! This is how the author is going to leave us?  Okay, I am still floored by the ending of this book — even though we should have seen it coming — and I am having a hard time trying to figure out how to write a review for this.  I know if you are a fan of this series, you have already been stalking other reviews, so I want go into too much detail.  Besides, if I were to go into too many details, it would spoil much of the book.

Gideon. I am now head over heels in love with you.  I was slow going and tried really hard not to let you into my heart, but I failed. I was a bigger fan of Gideon in this book and started to throw imaginary daggers at Eva.  I fell so hard for Gideon that in his words — ” I won’t survive you.”

On with the regular part of the review.  This book in the series focused on Gideon and Eva trying to build their relationship into something solid.  They are going to couple’s counseling and trying to make it work despite the obstacles thrown at them every other page.  There were some small things that happened and then there were huge things that happened.  The one big thing was at the end and literally in the last chapter.  I can’t believe it and my jaw is on the floor with my heart.  I had a what-the-heck moment and had to reread that chapter several times.  I just knew I was reading it wrong.

All I can say is that if you are a fan of this series, read it.  Flat out simple.
If you haven’t started this series yet, then you forfeit your claim in the future of having Gideon as your book boyfriend and I claim him now with no take-backs.

MY RATING
Outstanding book that will stay on my bookshelf for rereading!