Knight by Kristen Ashley

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Knight
Series: Unfinished Hero #1
(E-Book Edition)
Author: Kristen Ashley
Genre: Adult Erotica
Source: Personal Purchase
ISBN: B007SFBPFY

SUMMARY
(From Goodreads)

Anya Gage has learned that to get anything good in life, you have to work for it. She has no expectations, no dreams.

Then she finds herself at a party where she doesn’t want to be and she meets Knight.

Knight Sebring knows who he is, what he wants and what he likes. And he gets it. But he never expected something as sweet as Anya Gage to wander into his bedroom during a party he did not expect to be having to borrow his phone.

Knight tries to leave Anya to the life she deserves of white picket fences and a man who watches football on Sundays – good, normal and clean. But when Anya comes to his nightclub and finds herself in a situation, he knows someone has to look after her, he can’t fight it anymore and he decides that man will be him.

Knight teaches Anya that, just as with the bad, in life you should also expect the good. And he teaches her this by giving it to her.

But Knight has a dark past and just as he desires Anya for exactly who she is, he fears when she finds out exactly the man he has become and always intends to be, she’ll leave him for good, normal and clean.

MY THOUGHTS

After hearing how much everyone states that the books by Kristen Ashley are like crack for book addicts,  I decided to venture into this new addiction.  Most people have told me that if I want to get addicted to this particular author I shouldn’t start with Knight.  After finishing up this book, I find myself agreeing with this.  Knight to me was ‘meh’ and one that gave me the heebie-jeevies several times while reading it.

If I had to hear Knight refer to himself as “Daddy” one more time while they were exploring their sexual relationship, I think I would have broken out in hives from the scared stranger-danger associated with sexual predators.  Seriously, “Daddy” is not a pet word that I enjoyed reading in the bedroom.

Ewwww.

Another thing that was a big turn off for me was the way Knight spoke.  I had to constantly reread what he was saying several times to even understand a part of what he was trying to say.  It was like a foreign language to me at times. Plus he had the bad habit of saying “F*ck” so many times in a sentence that I think it was his first word as a child.  Every other word out of his mouth — or every other sentence at least — had this word in it and I just couldn’t understand the reasoning in this.  Yes, he is a bad guy.  Yes, he is a tough guy.  Yes, we should be scared of him because he is truly a dangerous man.  Even with all of this taken into account, it still didn’t need to be applied to make the story enjoyable.  If anything, it brought the story down for me.

Anya was one I don’t think I could see myself being friends with either.  There was no depth to her character and I couldn’t bring myself to really care what happened to her.  She was plain and borderline boring for most of the story.

I will definitely try reading more from the author based solely on the recommendations to read her other stories for a better reading experience from other readers.  If you are a first time reader of this author, I recommend you starting with another series by her like I should have done.  Save Knight for last if you do plan on joining in on the addiction train.

MY RATING
If the library doesn’t have it, don’t worry about reading it!

Welcome Author Jillian Stone

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1. Hi Jillian!
Can you tell everyone a little about yourself?
In 2010, my manuscript for An Affair with Mr. Kennedy won the RWA Golden Heart and I went from no agent or publisher to signing with Richard Curtis and being offered a three book contract by Pocket Books. That summer, The Seduction of Phaeton Black also won the erotica category of the 2010 Romance Through the Ages contest for and was offered a three book contract by Kensington Brava. Needless to say I have been busy writing books this past year and a half! I live in Southern California and I am currently working on a special Pocket Star e-novella for The Gentlemen of Scotland Yard series.
2. Can you share with us a little background on your upcoming book?
I’m excited to share my latest release from The Gentlemen of Scotland Yard series. A Dangerous Liaison with Detective Lewis is a fast paced road trip adventure, with the hero and heroine on the run from Edinburgh to London by train, velocipede, landship and submersible!
As a film student, I studied all of Alfred Hitchcock’s work and I particularly admire the romantic suspense films: Rear Window, North by Northwest, and To Catch a Thief. Thrills, chills, adventure––perhaps there’s a mystery to uncover, or a villain to capture, but at the story’s core, there is a love story.
I had an idea that was based on a villain and his small private army of minions who are essentially anti-progressives. In 1887 England, that meant that they were anti-industry, anti-machinery, anti-invention. Today they would be anti-technology. I then came up with a string of grisly murders and a beautiful industrial heiress whose father has just been killed by one of his one machines––accident or murder? Scotland Yard suspects the darker of the two and sends a detective up to guard the young heiress. Then I added a complication for the romance––Rafe and Fanny have a past. 
Here’s the blurb:
When Fanny Greyville-Nugent’s father suffers a gruesome death in the clutches of his own machine, mourning his loss is not the beautiful heiress’s only heartbreak. Scotland Yard is convinced he was targeted in a plot to halt the rise of industry, and Fanny’s former fiancé, dashing and dubious detective Raphael “Rafe” Lewis, has been assigned to the case.
For the estranged ex-lovers, bringing the notorious assassins to justice proves as tumultuous as quelling pent-up desires. Fighting peril and passion at every turn of a dangerous journey from Edinburgh to London, they are pursued by an anarchist group hell-bent on destroying her father’s mysterious entry into the London Industrial Exposition.
When an astonishing discovery about the couple’s failed engagement surfaces, the sleuthing duo realize they can trust no one. Rafe confesses new details about his infidelity and Fanny risks all to avenge her father’s murder. But will Rafe and Fanny triumph over the pain of their past?
3. What is one thing you have learned along the way that you wished you had known from the beginning about writing and publishing?
Writing to contract deadlines can be gruelling, so get your chops up now! I’m a slow writer so if I have a 2,500 to 3,000 word day, that is smokin’ hot for me, but other writers, particularly multiple contract writers can go 6,000 words a day.
Cultivate the biggest name authors you can. (It’s all about who you know.) You will need their blurb endorsement for your covers. I was shocked to discover that publishers/editors don’t necessarily get involved in acquiring endorsement blurbs for debut authors.
4. If you could pick the cast for your current book, who would play the main characters?

When my editor asked me for input for the cover art of A Dangerous Liaison with Detective Lewis I emailed her two pictures, one of a young Hugh Grant (Four Weddings and a Funeral) and a young Helen Bonham Carter (Room with a View).
5. Can you share with us what you are working on next? 
I am currently working on the synopses for three new Gentlemen of Scotland Yard books for Pocket and another sequel in the Phaeton Black, Paranormal Investigator series for Kensington Brava, The Miss Education of Doctor Exeter.
Thanks for the interview! 
 Jillian

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Passion Untamed by Pamela Palmer

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Passion Untamed
Series: Feral Warriors #3
Author: Pamela Palmer
Publisher: AVON
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Source: Personal Purchase
ISBN: 9780061667534

SUMMARY
(From Goodreads)

Though the Mage witch, Skye, has a gentle heart, demonic forces have enslaved her, forcing her to kidnap Paenther, a powerful and dangerous Feral Warrior. Even chained and naked, Paenther is a cunning prisoner who seduces her, body and soul, turning captive into captor. 

Paenther’s pride demands revenge against the enchantress who emerged from the deep woods like a sensual vision and enthralled him, even as she makes his body burn with passion. Despite his fury over her treachery, Skye’s gentle beauty calls to his soul, calming the wild chaos within him, and stealing his heart. But when evil threatens, Paenther and Skye’s only chance at survival is to trust in one another…and the power of love.

MY THOUGHTS

I have to say, first thing, that this is my favorite of the series so far.  Author Pamela Palmer brought everything to this book.  Sex, romance, suspense, drama, witty dialogue, and a great plot are just a few things you will find within the pages of the third installment in the Feral Warriors series.

We start with Paenther being imprisoned in a cave.  He comes face to face with the Mage witch that tricked him and captured him.  Paenther has a past with Mage witches and can’t stand them.  His hatred for them is worse than any of the other Feral Warriors because of this.  Without going into too much detail in the why of this, I will say that I can understand how he is feeling.  What he doesn’t expect is how Skye is different than other Mage.  She is a gentle soul and one that is pure.  What she is doing is not by choice, but one of force in which she has no understanding of what can come from her actions.  If she doesn’t do what she is told, Skye is forced to endure extreme torture and pain.

I loved seeing the softer side of Paenther in this book.  Yes he is strong and definitely a Warrior to be feared, but he is also gentle when needed.  He starts to realize what has happened and starts to fall for the Mage witch.  While he starts to bring Skye into his world a little bit,  he doesn’t give his full trust to her until you least expect it.

The battle is just beginning to erupt within the Warrior and Mage war to free the evil into the human world.  This is one fight you won’t want to miss!  Allies are aligning with each, troubles are arising within both groups, and romance is found where you least expect it.  One of the best books in the series so far!

MY RATING

Outstanding book that will stay on my bookshelf for rereading!

My Book Haul (15)

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From now on I will be posting My Book Haul on Saturdays.
Feel free to link up in the comments if you would like to share your mailbox post 
with me (and others) to check out.
This is also inspired by Stacking the Shelves hosted by Tynga’s Reviews.
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Imagine my surprise when this arrived on my doorstep.  The absolutely most amazing author Chelsea Fine sent me this package of goodies!!!
Inside were signed bookmarks, a signed poster, a coffee mug, a signed book of Awry, a pen, and two gorgeous photos of Tristan.  Seriously all, these photos do not do the actual posters justice. This man is hot!! My seven year old was even doing cat calls when I opened them up.
Nevermore by James Patterson
— Thank you to Little Brown —
Every Day by David Levithan
–– Thank you to Random House and Knopf —


Untamed by Sara Humphreys
Enslaved by Elisabeth Naughton
Just A Cowboy and His Baby by Carolyn Brown
Deliver Me From Temptation by Tes Hilaire
— Thank you to Sourcebooks —
Chosen by Sable Grace
The Ugly Duchess by Eloisa James
— Thanks to AVON books —
The Lady Is A Vamp by Lynsay Sands
(signed and a signed beach ball)
Contest Win
— Thank you to Lynsay Sands —


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So what did everyone else get this week?

WOW: A Love Untamed by Pamela Palmer

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Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. WOW spotlights forthcoming titles that we absolutely can’t wait to read.

A LOVE UNTAMED by Pamela Palmer
A Feral Warriors Novel #7
Estimated Release Date: December 26th, 2012
Publisher: AVON Books

SUMMARY
(From Goodreads)

The newest member of the elite Feral Warriors brotherhood, Fox is eager to prove himself on the frontlines of battle against the
Daemons. When paired with the legendary Ilina warrior, Melisande , he expects the fierce beauty to quickly fall under the spell of his quite considerable charm. Instead, he finds himself spellbound by a woman who’s his match in every way.

Beneath Melisande’s brittle exterior lies centuries of pain and a violent hatred of all shape-shifters–a hatred that slowly crumbles after they’re caught in a deadly and cunning Mage trap and she glimpses a surprising depth in her far-too-seductive
partner. Their survival demands unconditional trust–and their salvation surrender to a wild, untamed love.

Is it any wonder I am waiting on this book? I am reading the series right now for my monthly Spotlight feature and have quickly become addicted to them.  I seriously need this book now! December will not arrive soon enough!

GOODREADS LINK