{Book Review} Better When He's Bad by Jay Crownover

Author: Jay Crownover
Title: Better When He's Bad
Series: Welcome to the Point #1
Publisher: William Morrow
Publication Date: June 17, 2014

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Blurb:

Welcome to the Point

There’s a difference between a bad boy and a boy who’s bad . . . meet Shane Baxter.

Sexy, dark, and dangerous, Bax isn’t just from the wrong side of the tracks, he is the wrong side of the tracks. A criminal, a thug, and a brawler, he’s the master of bad choices, until one such choice landed him in prison for five years. Now Bax is out and looking for answers, and he doesn’t care what he has to do or who he has to hurt to get them. But there’s a new player in the game, and she’s much too innocent, much too soft…and standing directly in his way.

Dovie Pryce knows all about living a hard life and the tough choices that come with it. She’s always tried to be good, tried to help others, and tried not to let the darkness pull her down. But the streets are fighting back, things have gone from bad to worse, and the only person who can help her is the scariest, sexiest, most complicated ex-con The Point has ever produced.

Bax terrifies her, but it doesn’t take Dovie long to realize that some boys are just better when they’re bad.

***Mature readers only! Violence and sexual material.

There is something inherently sexy about a bad boy, be it the songs he rocks, the bike he straddles, or the horse he rides. Yet, what if the "bad" in the boy could not be tamed? What if it were more than his womanizing, egomaniac ways? What if he was criminally bad and had no remorse for his crimes, in fact, he never planned on going straight? Would he still be as insanely hot?

I can only testify to my opinion, and that would be... yes, because in the pages of a book, the worst of the worst can bring women to their knees. Also, loyalty is a trait to be admired in a world where selfishness seems to be put above selflessness. But that's not a rant for this blog... a reminder, maybe, but not a rant.

If you've read Rule, Jet, Rome, and/or Nash, also by Jay Crownover, you know these guys to be a bunch a misfits banded tighter than blood through tough lives and the love of ink. They're all out for a good time, including booze, women, and old fashioned boys games. They are fun. Fun to look at, fun to be around, and certainly they must be fun to sleep with... well, the women who tame them certainly think so, at least. Best I can say, they are fun to read about.

Better When He's Bad is not a fun book, nor is it about a man sowing his wild oats. It's gritty and raw, even cringe-worthy at times—but in the best of ways. I would say Jay Crownover stepped her writing up to phenomenal heights with Bax and his story. (I'm twitching to read Race's story next.) When I read the first paragraph, I had to wonder if the same woman who is still writing the Marked Men series could possibly be the same woman writing the Welcome to the Point series. And no, I don't mean that literally... of course she's the one writing both series, I just believe this shows the range she has as an author, as well as the growth of her writing along the way.

What I loved: Bax and the people who surrounded him are mysteries in of themselves. The twists and turns, and the completely unexpected. I loved the way I sat on the edge of my seat wondering how Bax was going to get himself and Dovie out of an unfathomable mess. I loved Bax for having at least one person he would protect besides himself. Jay's ability to draw out the suspense where Bax is concerned speaks to my earlier argument about her ability as a writer.

My thoughts about the notorious Bax, in particular, are: While criminals are not my ideal choice in a companion, Bax made it appear possible. Or should I say, Jay made it appear possible. The trouble Bax jumped into wasn't nickle and dime crap. He walks out of 5 years in prison to find himself involved in something bigger and much scarier than before, primarily because he's found a female worth taking care of.

My thoughts about Dovie: She is Race's sister, and Race is Bax's best friend, but the three of them couldn't be more different. Honestly, I'm not completely sure how I feel about Dovie. To be so good, she certainly stepped up and handled Bax like a natural. The one thing I couldn't piece together in my head, was when exactly they fell in love with each other. One second he's her protector, the next he's unwilling to let her go. I'm not certain I ever completely bought their relationship, but at some point I forgot about how they became what they were and just went with the story.

What I could have lived without: There is one scene I could have lived without ever reading, and no, I'm not going to discuss it, I'm not going to tell you which scene it is, I'm just going to leave it on the wayside and pretend like it never crossed my eyes. So why bring it up at all? Because it is particularly violent and put an image in my head I can't erase. I'm a grown woman, and if it bothered me, I want people to be warned that there is graphic material associated with the book. Was it enough for me to not reread the book? No, I'll probably just skip over it. Would this book have gotten 5 stars without it? No. The lack of me buying the entire romance played into that. Was the scene pivotal? I honestly have to say yes. Perhaps there could have been a better way, though I can't think of a more shocking and captivating one.

Bravo, Jay Crownover! I'm going to admit to being more of a Marked Men girl myself, and I'm looking forward  to Rowdy in October, I believe. But don't you worry, with just the small snippet of Race's story, I'm excited for Better When He's Bold.

{Book Review} Wallbanger by Alice Clayton

Title: Wallbanger
Series: Cocktail #1
Author: Alice Clayton
Publisher: Omnific Publishing
Publication Date: November 27, 2012

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Blurb:

The first night after Caroline moves into her fantastic new San Francisco apartment, she realizes she's gaining an intimate knowledge of her new neighbor's nocturnal adventures. Thanks to paper-thin walls and the guy's athletic prowess, she can hear not just his bed banging against the wall but the ecstatic response of what seems (as loud night after loud night goes by) like an endless parade of women. And since Caroline is currently on a self-imposed dating hiatus, and her neighbor is clearly lethally attractive to women, she finds her fantasies keep her awake even longer than the noise. So when the wallbanging threatens to literally bounce her out of bed, Caroline, clad in sexual frustration and a pink baby-doll nightie, confronts Simon Parker, her heard-but-never-seen neighbor. The tension between them is as thick as the walls are thin, and the results just as mixed. Suddenly, Caroline is finding she may have discovered a whole new definition of neighborly...

In a delicious mix of silly and steamy, Alice Clayton dishes out a hot and hilarious tale of exasperation at first sight...

Oh, the countless times I've read reviews, had book group girls tell me "You must read Wallbangers!" or watched it pop up on Goodreads or Facebook is infinite. Infinite in that I lost count long ago, but when this beauty went on sale, I downloaded it and began a slow, leisurely devouring of this romantic comedy infused with wit, fun cocky arrogance, and eventually some steaming hot sex.

Since I read at night, I spent a lot of it attempting to suppress my laughter so not to wake up the man who sleeps to the left of me. I'm going to say this... I read a lot of really crappy books looking for this one. When I found it, I felt like I might have lost my will to read, but while Caroline set off on a venture to reclaim her "O" again, that O, I took to finding my will to read again also.

Caroline sublet her bosses apartment from her. The rent control made the place perfect for living, but there always has to be one bad thing thrown in, right? The walls, well, they are extra thin and Caroline awakes to a picture falling on her head one night, then to multiple other issues as the week progresses. The following week, Caroline finally confronts him, which leads to nicknames for both, and the wild ride of unconventional run-ins, evil matchmaking friends, and drunken vacations. All leading to some of the best laughter I've had in a very long time.

The awe of this book: Alice Clayton knows how to tell a story and how to steep her characters in humor without losing the story. I smiled my way through this book, front to back. Her characters are not stereotypical. Caroline is as comfortable in the kitchen as she is zip-lining the canopy of a rain forest, or hiking with the guys.

The negative of this book: It's too long to read in one sitting, at least if you want to sleep or are not Dr. Reed, from Criminal Minds, speed reader.

I also might mention that Rusty Nailed (Cocktails #2) is set to release on June 24, 2014. This will be the conclusion of Alice & Simon's story, though there will be more books in the Cocktails series, the next will have a little of Alice in it, from what I'm reading, but not dependent upon her. Also, Wallbanger ends so there's no cliffhanger. Plus... Wallbanger is on sale for $2.99 on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. (As of 6/17/14 at 8:28 pm CDT) This book never goes on sale and usually cost around $7.99. So buy, and enjoy.

{A Kelly Coffee Review} The Return by Brad Boney

Title: The Return
Author: Brad Boney
Publisher: DreamSpinner Press
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Male/Male Romance
Publication Date: July 5, 2013

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Synopsis: 

Music. Topher Manning rarely thinks about anything else, but his day job as a mechanic doesn't exactly mesh with his rock star ambitions. Unless he can find a way to unlock all the songs in his head, his band will soon be on the fast track to obscurity.

Then the South by Southwest music festival and a broken-down car drop New York critic Stanton Porter into his life. Stanton offers Topher a ticket to the Bruce Springsteen concert, where a hesitant kiss and phantom vibrations from Topher's cell phone kick off a love story that promises to transcend ordinary possibility.

 

 

Okay, so the holiday kind of ate my life and I haven't had much time to read/listen to anything since November. However, today I was called for jury duty selection, which involved sitting around for almost the whole day, giving me a chance to get caught up on some reading. 

As you can see from the publication date, this one has been on my to-read list for a while. So, you may remember my review of Brad Boney's The Nothingness of Ben two years ago. In that review, I praised the building of the love story, the pacing and the dialogue. The Return shows us that it wasn't a fluke. 

The Return takes place in the same world as The Nothingness of Ben and even includes cameos and supporting roles from most of Ben's cast, but they are not (that I can find) listed as part of the same series, and it can be read independently just fine. 

I have had this book bought and downloaded pretty much since the day it came out. But it also came out when I was in the middle of the Wheel of Time books and when I started doing most of my reading via audiobooks on my commute. Today, literally locked in a room with strangers that I wasn't encouraged to engage with and no internet access, was the perfect excuse to get some reading caught up on.

I did not expect to read this whole book today, but I could not put it down. The rhythm and pacing of this book is different than Ben. In fact, I was a little worried when I began reading. While dialogue is one of the author's greatest strengths, some of the dialogue in the beginning of the book is a little choppy and could stand some more narrative interruption. I was also confused by a flashback chapter early in the book, and it took a couple of those chapters to figure out why they were there. 

One of the things the synopsis doesn't warn you about is the fact that this romance is what is usually called a May-December romance, meaning there is a significant age difference between Topher and Stanton. Usually May-December romances aren't my thing, and it was a bit of a surprise, but there's a really good reason for it and I fully embraced it.

Though the first 6-7% of the book was not quite as smooth as I expected, there are ways in which I think that The Return may even surpass Ben. Where Ben crafted a relationship beautifully, showing its evolution and life with a care and development that I think is so often missing from "romance" novels, The Return shows less the development of the relationship and more the emotional journey of two people who are inexplicably drawn together and trying to reconcile those feelings with both past issues and the realities of a relationship between two people with such a significant age difference (Topher is 26 and Stanton is 50). 

Here, it is not just about the relationship, there is the building of a world and a mythology within that world. There are some paranormal elements in this book, but I don't want to say anything else. Seeing it unravel and putting the pieces together myself from the unexpected twist was so much fun, I do not want to spoil, but I will give this teaser:

"Have you ever heard of the I Ching?"

"No. Why?"

"It's a book of Chinese philosophy. It explores the idea that everything happens for a reason, that nothing in the universe is random."

With Ben, there was great sympathy with the couple who seem to make sense but they make real and relatable mistakes with each other. There is something about The Return that evokes less sympathy and more heartbreak. I mourned with these characters, my heart wrenched for them... I cried. There is an innate tragedy in Topher and Stanton's story that takes a while to unravel, but once it does, watching them struggle is really heartbreaking. The resolution is beautiful, leaving you with relief, satisfaction and joy which almost cause happy tears. I blasted through this 350-page book today and all I want is more from Boney. More of this world. More of this mythology. More of these characters. I love them all.

5 stars for both narrative crafting and sheer emotional impact. Next book in this world is due out sometime this year. I'm not waiting six months to read it this time.

{Book Review} Music of the Heart by Katie Ashley

Title: Music of the Heart
Series: Runaway Train
Author: Katie Ashley
Publisher: Self-Published
Publication Date: March 24, 2013

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Blurb:

For Abby Renard, the plan was supposed to be simple—join her brothers’ band on the last leg of their summer tour and decide if she’s finally ready for the limelight by becoming its fourth member. Of course, she never imagined stumbling onto the wrong tour bus at Rock Nation would accidentally land her in the bed of Jake Slater, the notorious womanizing lead singer of Runaway Train. When he mistakes her for one of his groupie’s, Abby quickly lets him know she sure as hell isn't in his bed on purpose.

Jake Slater never imagined the angel who fell into his bed would resist his charms by promptly kneeing him in the balls. Of course, the fact she seems like a prissy choir girl makes her anything but his type. So he is more than surprised when after betting Abby she wouldn’t last a week on their tour bus, she is more than willing to prove him wrong. But as Jake’s personal life begins to implode around him, he finds an unlikely ally in Abby. He’s never met a woman he can talk to, joke with, or most importantly make music with.

As the week starts comes to a close, neither Abby nor Jake is ready to let go. Can a sweetheart Country songstress and a bad boy of Rock N Roll actually have a future together?

How about that cover? YUMMY, right? I definitely thought so; however, the saying "don't judge a book by its cover" can go both ways. I'm always looking for a new series centering around a bad boy Rock God and a woman worthy of his unfettered attention. When I found this one on Amazon along with an average rating of 4 stars, I thought I'd found my next obsession. I never like saying I'm wrong, but on occasion, it's a must. And Music of the Heart just wasn't for me. At all.

Sure Jake Slater started out the book being all sexy with all his flirtations and his alpha male ego. His manipulating of Abby to stay on their bus for a week instead of running to her brothers' band where she was supposed to be provided a ton of potential.

Abby was supposed to spend a week touring with her brothers' band, Jacob's Latter - a Christian rock band, so she could decide whether or not she wanted to live her life in the limelight. Instead, she accidentally finds herself on Runaway Train's bus, in Jake Slater's bed to be exact. Jake is the womanizing lead singer of this hard rock band, and Abby landing in his bed would be the beginning of his metamorphosis into an upstanding one-woman man. And now the problems begin.

My first and, by far, largest complaint was the feeling of being preached to. I get Abby grew up in a conservative Christian household, but she spent the first half of the novel preaching to this group of bad boys about how they should treat a woman. How they should act like gentleman, not make sexual innuendos, etc. Essentially her goal was to change these men, make them into something they weren't. And not just Jake, but Rhys and AJ also. Brayden was married and loved his wife and children very much so, in Abby's eyes, he didn't need to change.

Now, I understand the idea of these books is to take a womanizing rock star and win his loyalty, but it's been my experience that most of these women want the guy for who he is. They have no desire to change his personality, only his promiscuous ways. And any woman in her right mind KNOWS better than to try to change a man.

Secondly, nothing about Jake and Abby's relationship was believable. She forgave every mistake, small or large, the minute he said "I'm sorry." Sure, some slip-ups can be forgiven that easily, but bringing another girl on the bus to purposefully hurt someone you love, no. Running after having a heated make out session with the love of your life. No. Ranting at said girl, telling her the only reason she loves you is because you are Jake Fucking Slater and kicking her out of your house when she's there to comfort you. Hell no. But Abby just let everything slide.

My final point is the numerous plot holes. Jacob's Latter, the band Abby was supposed to tour with, played such a small part in the book, I almost wondered why they were even there. Then Garrett, a singer from another band in which Abby sang a duet with, played no part in the book. He was a trope to play at Jake's jealousy, but forgotten within a page or two. For womanizing rock stars, we never see AJ or Rhys in action. In fact, other than Abby, Brayden's wife is the only other female the guys from Runaway Train even converse with. AJ was humorous, and out of all the characters, he was definitely the best written.

Also, one of my biggest pet peeves is repetition, and wow!!! The repetition in this book knows no bounds.

I will not be continuing on with this series, but I've heard great things about Katie's other works and will most likely give one of them a try. I sincerely hate having so little positive things to say about a book, but on the bright side I finished it. Mostly to see if there would be some kind of lesson about trying to change a man and how absolutely wrong that plan could go.

{A Kelly Coffee Review} The Actor and the Earl

Title: The Actor and the Earl
Author: Rebecca Cohen
Genre: Historical fiction, adult, slash, Romance
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

Synopsis:

Elizabethan actor Sebastian Hewel takes his bow at the proscenium only to embark on the role of a lifetime. When his twin sister, Bronwyn, reneges on the arrangement to marry Earl Anthony Crofton, Sebastian reluctantly takes her place. At nineteen, Sebastian knows his days as a leading lady are numbered, but with this last performance, he hopes to restore his family’s name and pay off his late father’s debts. Never mind the danger of losing his head should he be discovered.

He didn’t expect Anthony to be so charming and alluring—not to mention shrewd. While he applauds Sebastian’s plan, Anthony offers a mutually beneficial arrangement instead. Sebastian will need every drop of talent he has to survive with both his head and his heart intact, because this is the best part he’s ever had.

This is a gay fiction book and contains homosexual content. Recommended for mature readers.

This was just a good read. When I first read the synopsis, I thought that Sebastian was going to be a traditional cross-dresser and possibly a caricature more than a character. I was completely wrong and very glad to be. Sebastian is a man who loves to act but was the sort of build that usually played women, so while he doesn't take particular issue with having to cross-dress, he doesn't actively enjoy it. It's a relatively minor, but important distinction that grounded him and just made him come alive to me.

The most compelling part of this book was the characters. Although the setting is fun--Shakespearean England--it is the characters who grounded it and allowed you to enjoy the setting. Sebastian was, in my opinion, exquisitely executed, and it is through him that the story is told. The heart of this book are the characters and that falls right into my preferred wheelhouse. They're believable, multifaceted and well-developed. Their interactions are amusing and heart-wrenching appropriately.

There were two minor things that kept this from being a 5-star review. The first was a strange pacing lull in the middle, where I just walked away for a couple of days. The second was that while I thoroughly enjoyed the novel, I wasn't blown away. There are some somewhat-lengthy Shakespearean quotes that didn't quite work for me (but I don't always enjoy Shakespeare). But on the whole, it is a very enjoyable book.

{A Kelly Coffee Review} The Nothingness of Ben by Brad Boney

Title: The Nothingness of Ben
Author: Brad Boney
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Genre: Adult Romance, Contemporary, Male/Male Romance

Synopsis: Ben Walsh is well on his way to becoming one of Manhattan’s top litigators, with a gorgeous boyfriend and friends on the A-list. His life is perfect until he gets a phone call that brings it all crashing down: a car accident takes his parents, and now he must return to Austin to raise three teenage brothers he barely knows.

During the funeral, Ben meets Travis Atwood, the redneck neighbor with a huge heart. Their relationship initially runs hot and cold, from contentious to flirtatious, but when the weight of responsibility starts wearing on Ben, he turns to Travis, and the pressure shapes their friendship into something that feels a lot like love. Ben thinks he’s found a way to have his old life, his new life, and Travis too, but love isn’t always easy. Will he learn to recognize that sometimes the worst thing imaginable can lead him to the place he was meant to be?

 Disclaimer: This is a gay romance novel. That does mean guy on guy action, but certainly no worse than anything I've read in any straight romance novel, and honestly, there's a lot less of it than in most romance novels I've read. Onto the actual review.

Let me start with just wow. This was just an overall good read. The characters came alive for me. From the out of his element Ben, just trying to do the right thing, to Travis's easy going affability and certainty of self and each of Ben's brothers being individuals. In his biography, the author calls his style "dialogue and stage direction." It may be accurate, but it also does his writing an injustice. The detail in the settings, the way you feel like the author knows exactly where things are happening, add layers of reality to the book. 

This was a book that I just wanted to keep reading. The pacing flowed effortlessly and the dialogue was spot on. I smiled helplessly, outright laughed and even cried a bit. And yes, the sex scenes are smoking. If you want a contemporary story that just builds a relationship, step-by-step, watching the characters grow and fall in love, this is a book you have to read. Just when I was itching for a good, solid love story, I found this book. And if slash is not your thing, skip the sex and read the love story. I promise it's worth it.

{A Kelly Coffee Review} Time Untime by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Title: Time Untime
Series: Dark Hunter #17
Author: Sherrilyn Kenyon
Genre: Fantasy/Romance
Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Synopsis: The Mayans aren’t the only ones with a 2012 prophecy…

Long before recorded history, there was a Keetoowah warrior so feared that everyone trembled before his wrath. Only a brutal betrayal by the one closest to him could defeat him. But not even death was the end of a man so strong.

The Time Untime approaches…

Kateri Avani has been plagued her entire life with dreams she doesn’t understand. Images of places she’s never been and of a man she’s never seen. Her quest for answers has driven her to Las Vegas where she hopes to finally silence the demons in her mind.

What she never anticipates is coming face to face with the warrior who has haunted her her entire life. One who belongs to a world the scientist in her refuses to believe is real.

Ren Waya came back from the dead to keep the prophecy he began from coming true and ending the world. For thousands of years, he has fought the same evil that once possessed him. But now that evil has found the one person he can’t fight. The one person who, against his will, holds the most sacred part of him.

His heart.

But if he doesn’t kill Kateri, the deadliest of evils will reemerge and destroy everyone else on the planet. It was a sacrifice he made once.

Will he be able to make it again?

Okay, I am an unabashed Sherrilyn Kenyon fan. Her books usually come out and are done within the next day or so with me, so Time Untime left me a little confused. There were things I liked a great deal about it--mostly Ren--but there were things that I liked rather less. I managed to put this book down for a couple weeks and kind of forget about it. Not sure I've ever done that with an SK book before. There is a lot of old, old history in it, and I'm a history buff, so it's cool, but even for me and my love of things old and crazy names, keeping things straight in this book was occasionally a bit of a challenge. I especially got sort of confused when we go from Cherokee history to Mayan and exactly how that all tied together. The other thing this book did that bugged me was it got a little long-winded. Towards the end you have a number of nearly page-long paragraphs which are not only preachy, they're repetitive. At the end of the day, I'm not quite sure the mix of Maya and Cherokee worked for me, and that was disappointing. I mean, the name of the book is Time Untime, but it's mentioned early, then nearly forgotten--so much so that by the time I picked the book up again, I thought the one mention I saw of it was the first time I'd seen it. Maybe it was implied for a good portion of the novel, but not referred to enough. It was sort of "generic apocalypse, must stop the end of the world" feeling than a specific "this is the Time Untime" deal.

The pacing is good. When I was reading, I was in it, but Time Untime never had me so wrapped up that I could not walk away. Neither did it give me that keyed up feeling that a really good suspense or action scene will. It was a good read, but not the level I'm used to. I'm ready to get back to the Greeks and Atlanteans.

{Series Sunday} The League by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Series: The League
Author: Sherrilyn Kenyon
Genre: Sci-Fi; Romance
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
5 novels and 1 short story, ongoing

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Synopsis (according to official website):

In the Ichidian Universe no one was safe. People were dragged from their homes and killed in the streets- victims of a ruthless tyrant who was bent on being the sole ruler of their entire empire. Those who opposed him and his army formed an alliance called The League which fell under the leadership of the Quorum.

After they put down the tyrant, the Quorum realized that the best way to keep trouble from starting was to cut it off at its head. A separate group of soldiers was needed, The League Assassins. Highly trained and highly valued, they are the backbone of the government.
But not even the League is immune to corruption…

Welcome to a world where corrupt assassination politics dominate everything and everyone- because sometimes the cure really is worse than the illness. It’s kill or be killed. You’re either the hunter or the prey.

But there are those who will protect you. Men and women who come from the streets and from bloodied backgrounds of survival. You just have to decide is they’re better than the ones chasing you…

Or worse.

Sarcastic, loyal, highly trained and lethal, these men and women are the next generation of heroes. They know how to laugh in the face of madness and danger, and to endure the worst The League and their enemies can hurl at them.
Most of all, they know to fight and protect.

The war is on…

I enjoy a well-done sci-fi. And I enjoy Sherrilyn Kenyon. It was a winning combination. What I think I enjoy most about this series is the breadth of the world. Pretty much every book introduces different races, different worlds, different cultures. The Ichidian Universe is a populated and diverse one. I always feel like there's more to learn, more to explore. From the vain but deadly Andarions to the female-dominated Qillaq, I just want *more* of this world.

"Don't shoot the mechanic. We always leave a surprise for you in the engine only we know about." 

 Alix, Born of Ice

I think perhaps the most interesting thing about the series is it was the first one that Kenyon ever published, with three different publishers. With all of her recent success with Dark Hunters and other series, she was allowed to re-release these books as they were intended to be--part of a cohesive universe. I remember reading the third and praying that she would continue writing  in this world, that I would get to see more of it. I like the characters, don't get me wrong, her characters are always awesome, but what keeps bringing me back to this series is actually the world as a whole.

"Death becomes us all."

Nykyrian, Born of Night

Not only is the universe vast, but so is the timeline. Born of Ice, book 3 actually concerns the grown children of the characters in Born of Fire, the second book. The rest of the series focuses on the first timeline (thus far), but I still enjoy every bit I get of it.

The League is a series I enjoy immensely and from which I eagerly await each installment, especially the next one, Cloak & Silence. So I leave you with a quote regarding the main character of that upcoming book:

"Unlike other cultures, Phrixians aren't born with their surnames. We earn them. ... Jari is 'honor in battle.' "

..."And Sulle?"

[Maris] gave her a twisted grin. "Invincible."

Maris Sulle, Born of Silence

{Review & Author Interview} Wrong Bed, Right Guy by Katee Robert

Title: Wrong Bed, Right Guy
Series: Come Undone #1
Author: Katee Robert
Publisher: Entangled Publishing
Imprint: Brazen
Publishing Date: July 10, 2012

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Synopsis:

Seducing Mr. Wrong has never felt so right...

Prim and proper art gallery coordinator Elle Walser is no good at seducing men. Heck, she’s been throwing hints at her boss for months, but he’s completely clueless. Desperate to escape her mother’s matchmaking efforts, she comes up with a plan—buy some lingerie and climb into her boss’s bed. The plan goes brilliantly…until she accidentally seduces a sexy stranger instead.

Bad boy nightclub mogul Gabe Schultz just had the best almost-sex of his life. Too bad the smoking hot blonde thought he was his brother and bolted before he could finish what they started. Though her holier-than-thou attitude puts a serious damper on his mood, Gabe’s never been one to give up on something he wants. And he wants Elle. But does a man who lives on the dark side really have a chance with a proper lady?

I LOVED this book. I laughed so hard reading the first chapter my stomach hurt the next day. Before I go into why, I should probably tell you a thing or two about the book or you might be lost.

Elle, like most heroines in romances, has been burned by her ex-boyfriend. He cheated and lied and coerced Elle into bed, then he broke up with her in front of all her friends. Talk about a winner! Now Elle is weary but has decided to make her move. Art is her life and her brother helped her land the perfect job working with one of his service buddies in an upscale art gallery. Nathan seems like her type of guy, or the type of guy her mom would approve of. Gorgeous. Clean cut. Smart. Everything a proper girl needs. 

Elle finally gives into her desires and decides to seduce Nathan. Now, this is why I would NEVER try something like this. Elle sneaks in Nathan's studio late one night, intending on creeping into bed with him and, well, you get the point. But the man in Nathan's bed was not Nathan, but his very sexy brother, Gabe, and Gabe is anything but the type Elle, and her mom, have in mind. In fact, he reminds Elle of her ex, and she had no plans on dating anyone like him.

Gabe is my type of man. He knows the really great places to eat are the dives. He likes to dance and hangs out at clubs for a living. He's a darn good tattoo artist and has an eye for art. The ink on his body is unique, depicting mechanical armor and Elle literally has fantasies of licking every inch of him.

I have two minor problems with this book. The first is one you just have to overlook if you like romances. They all follow the same formula. Girl meets boy. Girl finds tons of reasons not to like boy, but falls for him anyway. Guy screws up, or girl misinterprets something she sees. Boy apologizes. Girl accepts. Everyone lives happily-ever-after. The second though, had my internal grown woman screaming. Elle had a crazy obsession with pleasing her mother. Elle's grown, with a college education, and a good job. If she finds a man who treats her right and that she loves, she needs to stand up to her mom. 

That said, I seriously recommend this book when you are looking for a feel-good romance. Something light, without too much angst. It's hot and sexy and funny. Ms. Robert's writing had me captivated, and seriously, the first chapter...so funny you'll have to keep reading.

And now, an interview with Katee Robert!

Kristin:  Tell us a little bit about yourself and where you live?

I’m just your average neurotic author, complete with zombie plan. I live in Eastern Washington, and it’s a beautiful thing because I get the best of both worlds—a little, big town and plenty of outdoors to play in. Plus, I have a serious soft spot for rednecks in big trucks and they’re everywhere out here.

   ***Outside of some major weather differences, sounds a lot like Texas.***

Kristin:  What is the name of the book you are currently promoting and would you like to tell us a little about it?

Wrong Bed, Right Guy is a book about a good girl who literally crawls into the wrong bed. Instead of finding her straight-laced boss, she gets her world rocked by his bad boy older brother. It’s a fun story full of “Oh my God, that just happened” moments.

     ***Seriously, this is a story that would happen to me!***

Kristin:  Where did you come up for the idea for your book?

It came from a conversation with my editor about plot lines she doesn’t like. I told her I’d write her a Wrong Bed book that she’d love. From there, I got the idea of this hardcore bad boy who wanted to woo a good girl and had no idea how to go about it. From there, things kind of fell into place (with a whole lot of work).

     ***I'm just going to say, I love the word woo. I think it's one of the funniest words ever.***

Kristin:  Who is your favorite character from your book and why?

It’s like picking a favorite kid (so wrong!). Though I enjoy Elle, Gabe is…Gabe. He’s got that hard exterior that covers up a vulnerability that sent me head-over-heels in love with him. I want a Gabe of my own. ;) 

     ***Me too. Enough said.***

Kristin:  Do you feel like you put parts of yourself in your characters?

Oh, good question. I don’t think so. I mean, yes, bits and pieces of my experiences work their way into my books, but the characters (in my head at least) are their own creatures. 

Kristin:  Will there be a sequel or do you have another project in the works?

Yes.  There’s actually two more books in the Come Undone series. The next one is Ian’s (Elle’s older brother) and the final one will be Nathan’s (Gabe’s younger brother).

     ***Both of these stories will be on my TBR list.***

Kristin:  How long did the entire process from writing your current work to getting it published take?

Oh Lordy. With Wrong Bed, Right Guy, I think it was two months from start to finish. Which is a freak incident. Normally, it takes longer. But I used Candace Havens’ Fast Draft course to whip this book out (didn’t hurt that it was fully formed in my head), and so I wrote and edited it in a pretty short time.

Kristin:  Do you have any “rituals” when you write?

I have a Katee-shaped dent in one of the cushions on my couch. The rituals (music, movies, whatnot) change from book to book, but I’m always in that spot while writing. I suppose someday I should get a desk.

     ***I have a Kristin-shaped dent in my sofa so I completely see your point.***

Kristin:  If you couldn’t be an author, but anything else…what would you be?

Working in a bookstore? I know, I know. No one is surprised.

     ***I'm a nurse at heart, but I really want to work in a bookstore.***

Kristin:  Do you have any words of wisdom for aspiring writers?

Keep writing. Rejection will happen (a whole lot), but if you keep writing, you’re already doing better than most people out there. A healthy dose of insanity helps too.

Kristin:  When did reading and writing become important you?

My grandparents were instrumental in the process. My grandpa told us countless stories that he made up on the spot and my grandma would sit for hours and read to me. I still have the copy of Heidi we read over and over again. From there, things took their natural course and I devoured everything I could get my hands on.

Fun Stuff

Kristin:  The apocalypse is coming…what do you do?

I have three contingency plans (and we’re going with zombies here, because… zombie apocalypses happen!). Best case, my friend’s parents have 650 acres and a house that’s easily defensible, as well as access to a huge food supply. There’s also a gun safe up north of town waiting for me to get to if I need it.

Basically, all my plans revolve around making people love me enough to take care of me when the zombie attack. Aside from my (totally obvious) entertainment factor, I don’t have a whole lot of applicable skills. LOL

     ***Hmmm...pretty thought out plan! We may have to join Ms. Robert!***

Kristin:  What 5 things are within your reach right now? No cheating?

Blanket, phone, coffee, sunscreen (WTF?!) and lotion. Oh…. That sounds like I’m having dirty fun.

    ***LOL***

Kristin:  Favorite Food?

Thai

Kristin: Favorite Movie?

I can’t pick just one! A Perfect Getaway, Princess Bride and Shaun of the Dead

Kristin:  Favorite TV show?

Game of Thrones and Supernatural (I KNOW! I suck at this game)

     ***Supernatural Rocks, I think most readers would agree. Who doesn't love a little Dean and Sam?***

Kristin: Favorite Song?

Flogging Molly, Devil’s Dance Floor

Kristin:  Favorite singer or band?

Florence + The Machine

Kristin:  One food you would never try?

Oh…huh. I promised myself I’d try anything that was made locally whenever I travel so I’m afraid to answer this…because I’ll totally end up being forced to eat it.

     ***Good call!***

Kristin: Health nut or junk food junkie? 

Junk food. Always junk food.

Kristin: The most exotic food you have ever eaten?

Moose burgers. LOL

Kristin:  Day on the beach or snow skiing down a mountain?

Beach

Kristin: Two books you think everyone should read. (Yes, you can and should include yours.)

Well, if we’re going mine: Wrong Bed, Right Guy. Second book is Tiffany Reisz’s The Siren. That book ruined me for…awhile after I read it. Definite book hangover. <3

My last question on these interview's is always places my readers can stalk you at! I've already included Katee's links up top! Stop by and visit her. Her book is funny and the answers to her questions are great!

{Waiting on Wednesday} Cloak & Silence by Sherrilyn Kenyon

This is a weekly book meme, hosted by

Jill @ Breaking the Spine,

which features future releases that

we book bloggers

are eagerly anticipating!

Here's my pick for this week!

Title: Cloak & Silence
Author: Sherrilyn Kenyon
Series: The League #6
Release date: December 15, 2012
Genre: Sci-Fi/Romance
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing

Synopsis:

One of the fiercest soldiers the Phrixians have ever produced, Maris Sulle has been an outsider the whole of his life. He grew up with a secret that cost him everything- His birthright, his family and his military career. In all his life, he’s only had one love and he has sacrificed his own happiness to see his best friend reunited with the woman he loves. But now that his good deed is done, he feels lost and adrift. Even though they do their best to include him in their new family, he’s once again on the outside looking in.

Ture has spent his life hiding from everyone around him while trying desperately to fit in. His family, the world, you name it. Badly hurt by everyone he’s ever known, he trusts no one except his own best friend. And honestly, he can’t understand why he trusts her. Nor can he believe her when she describes a loyalty between friends the likes of which he’s never seen.

But when he is in his darkest hour, he’s saved by a hero he thought only existed in novels. A man who is every bit as scarred and mistrusting as he is. One who has no interest in being dragged into another relationship with anyone.

Having spent his life as a living study of doomed relationships, Maris is well aware of the courtship and fiasco that invariably follows. Still, there is something about Ture he can’t resist. Something that won’t let him walk away when he knows he should.

But when old enemies return to threaten them both, they either have to stand together or die alone.

 Why I'm Waiting for it:

Probably this Sunday I'll do a Series Sunday for The League and tell you all why it's so wonderful, but ignoring the fantastic series and the amazing author whom I adore, the reason I'm waiting for this book is (because you read the synopsis correctly), it's mainstream slash. Yes, I mean male/male love story. Since I'm still very new and you wonderful readers don't know me very well yet, my ultimate guilty pleasure is slash fiction. I love taking the woman out of the equation and seeing how two guys handle a relationship. Plus, hot guy + hot guy = two hot guys. What's not to love about that?

But what has me most psyched about this book is that I am actually getting my love story in a mainstream novel. Don't get me wrong, I frequent self-published slash and have loads of the material published by Dreamspinner Press (an all-slash online publisher), but to see one of my favorite authors take my favorite world and believe so strongly in her world, in her characters and in her fanbase to publish a full-length slash novel in the mainstream just has me doing cartwheels. Plus, I totally love Maris, who is a prevalent character in the previous book, Born of Silence. To see him get his own book has me unbelievably psyched. I've been waiting for a gay Dark Hunter for ages, but Maris' book is not one I would even contemplate passing up. December, hurry up and get here!

The Secret Of Lies by Barbara Forte Abate

Title: The Secret of Lies
Author: Barbara Forte Abate
Publisher: Dog Ear Publishing
Release Date: April 21, 2011

Synopsis:
Propelled by an insurmountable sense of desperation, Stevie Burke is recklessly abandoning home, husband, and outwardly contented life under cover of night; at last resigned to defeat in her long battle against the tortured memories of her past.

Days later, lost and floundering in a dreary motel room without plan or destination, it is a long ago song playing on the radio that gently tugs Stevie back through the dust of remembrance. 1957 - The last summer spent at the ancient house overlooking the North Atlantic. A season which had unfolded with abundant promise, but then spiraled horribly out of control - torn apart by a shattering tragedy that remains splintered in fragments upon her soul. And it is only now, when Stevie at last lifts her eyes to stare deep into the heart of her long sequestered memories, that the long held secrets of past and future are at last unveiled.

The Secret Of Lies follows the life of Stevie as she encounters deceit, first love, death, and lies. As a young girl, she and her sister spend summers on the beach with her aunt and uncle. Each year their lives become increasingly complicated until things finally culminate in an explosive combination of death and lies. Told in the first person, The Secret of Lies brings you up close and personal with Stevie's heartache caused by the events that surrounded her sister's death. These catastrophes will force Stevie into a type of seclusion that will rule the life she leads well into adulthood. Love never comes easy for Stevie.

The first couple of chapters were filled with fluffy descriptions that held back the flow of story for a bit. I've had this problem with several books lately, but once the action begins, I am hooked. That is exactly what happened with The Secret of Lies. Stevie's pain becomes deeper and more palpable with every flip of the page. It was a regular occurrence for tears to well-up in my eyes, threatening to overflow onto my Nook.

I read a ton of books and love almost everything I read. Seldom, though, do I come across a book that touches my heart like this book did. It was a very cathartic read that refused to escape my conscious. I do have to warn you that it is not a light and fluffy read. It is very dark and weighs heavy on your soul. If you love an intense and thought provoking mystery...this is the book for you.

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*I was provided a free ebook by the author in return for my honest review.