Saturday, December 29, 2012

2012 End of Year Book Survey

hosted by The Perpetual Page Turner

I saw this on The Perpetual Page Turner blog and thought it looked like so much more fun than a boring Top Ten list. I loved reading everyone else's answers too - if you want to read more blogger posts like this, be sure to head over to The Perpetual Page Turner for a linky list of lots of participating blogs!



Best In Books 2012

1. Best Book You Read In 2012? (You can break it down by genre if you want)
YA/Dystopian: Divergent by Veronica Roth
YA/Paranormal: Onyx by Jennifer L.Armentrout
Romance: If I Were You by Lisa Renee Jones
New Adult: Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire (probably my favorite overall)

2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?
The Kingdom by Amanda Stevens, Days of Blood & Starlight by Laini Taylor

3. Most surprising (in a good way!) book of 2012?
Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout

4. Book you recommended to people most in 2012?
Divergent, If I Were You, and Every Day by David Levithan

5. Best series you discovered in 2012? 
Divergent or the Inside Out Trilogy by Lisa Renee Jones

6. Favorite new authors you discovered in 2012?

So many! Jennifer L. Armentrout, Bella Andre, Lisa Renee Jones 

7. Best book that was out of your comfort zone or was a new genre for you?
Captive in the Dark by C.J. Roberts

8. Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2012?
Divergent

9. Book You Read In 2012 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year:
Beautiful Disaster

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2012?
Dark Kiss by Michelle Rowen and all the covers to the Covenant series by Jennifer L. Armentrout

11. Most memorable character in 2012? 
Daemon from Obsidian/Lux series and Travis from Beautiful Disaster

12. Most beautifully written book read in 2012?
For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund 

13. Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2012? 

Every Day by David Levithan
14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2012 to finally read? 
I think everything I read was fairly recent! 

15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2012? 
“To douchebags!" he said, gesturing to Brad. "And to girls that break your heart," he bowed his head to me. His eyes lost focus. "And to the absolute fucking horror of losing your best friend because you were stupid enough to fall in love with her.”                                          -                                                    - Travis in Beautiful Disaster 
16.Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2012? 

Shortest: Free Four (does that count as a book?) by Veronica Roth (13 pages)
Longest: Divergent by Veronica Roth (487 pages) 
17. Book That Had A Scene In It That Had You Reeling And Dying To Talk To Somebody About It? (a WTF moment, an epic revelation, a steamy kiss, etc. etc.) Be careful of spoilers!

Taking Chances by Molly McAdams
18. Favorite Relationship From A Book You Read In 2012 (be it romantic, friendship, etc).
Katy and Daemon from Obsidian and Abby and Travis from Beautiful Disaster

19. Favorite Book You Read in 2012 From An Author You Read Previously
At Last by Jill Shalvis

20. Best Book You Read That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else:

Thoughtless by S.C. Stephens

Looking Ahead…


1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2012 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2013?
Oh, there are too many! The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater and  Reached by Ally Condie probably top the list. 
2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2013?
Walking Disaster by Jamie McGuire and books 2&3 of the Inside out Series

3. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging In 2013?
Just continue to read, perhaps branching out of my comfort zone, and to have fun with it all! 




Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Wednesday's Words & Quippish Quotes: The Apocalypse




“This is the way the world ends
Not with a bang but a whimper.” 
― T.S. Eliot


“How much does your life have to suck to want the Apocalypse?” 
― Laini Taylor, Daughter of Smoke & Bone


“Sure, everything is ending," Jules said, "but not yet.” 
― Jennifer Egan, A Visit from the Goon Squad


“Even in an apocalypse like this, surely running out of Coke
qualified as a disaster.” 
― Rachel Caine, Ghost Town


“I sat in the dark and thought: There’s no big apocalypse. Just an endless procession of little ones.” 
― Neil Gaiman, Signal to Noise


“When you expect the world to end at any moment, you know there is no need to hurry. You take your time, you do your work well.” 
― Thomas Merton'


“It happened that a fire broke out backstage in a theater. The clown came out to inform the public. They thought it was a jest and applauded. He repeated his warning. They shouted even louder. So I think the world will come to an end amid the general applause from all the wits who believe that it is a joke.” 
― Søren Kierkegaard








Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Cover reveals and HUGE giveaway - Inside Out Series by Lisa Renee Jones

I am SO excited to finally get to reveal the covers for books 2 and 3 in Lisa Renee Jones' Inside Out Trilogy. Aren't they beautiful? And so intriguing too -- just who do you think the partially hidden guy is in Revealing Us? Makes me even more excited for the books to finally come out next year. But, for those of you (like me) who cannot wait for them, Lisa announced last week there will be a series of novellas to accompany the trilogy which will be none other than Rebecca's journals - even the ones the Sara does not get to read! I am beyond excited for those - maybe even more than the books themselves!
And to celebrate all of this, Lisa is having a HUGE giveaway. All you have to do is place Rebecca's Lost Journals on your to-read shelf in Goodreads and then enter using the rafflecopter on her website! All the details and links follow these gorgeous covers:




 Rebecca's Lost Journals, Volume 1: The Seduction - 1/28/13
Rebecca's Lost Journals: Volume 2: The Contract-- 2/18
Rebecca's Lost Journals, Volume 3: My Master -- April
Rebecca's Lost Journals, Volume 4: His Submissive – May
Volume 5: The Master Undone -- August


When Rebecca’s Lost Journals Vol: 1 is placed on 500 shelves at Goodreads she will have a drawing for $100. After that she will draw for $50 for every additional 100 shelves that Rebecca’s Lost Journals Vol: 1 is placed on at Goodreads.

If your name is chosen it will be put back into the Rafflecopter so that you will have the chance to win multiple times.

Below is the link for the contest.

http://www.lisareneejones.com/rebeccas-lost-journals-goodreads-contest/

Also Beneath the Secrets releases December 21st  and to celebrate book 1 in that series, Hot Secrets is on sale for 99 cents!

Excerpt and Giveaway: Mikalo's Grace by Syndra K. Shaw

We here at the Revolving Bookcase as pleased to be part of author Syndra K Shaw's blog tour to celebrate the upcoming release of her debut romance novel, Mikalo's Grace. I just got my hands on a copy and so far love it! Syndra has been generous enough to be giving away an ecopy to one lucky commenter - all you have to do is leave a comment at the end of this post, the winner will be announced Saturday, December 22nd. Good luck and enjoy the excerpt below :)

Mikalo's Grace
Syndra K Shaw
December 21, 2012

Link to book listing on Goodreads
blurb:

Burying her wounded heart in a successful career, Ronan Grace had all but given up on romance.  Then, over coffee, she glances up to discover a Greek god in grey wool.  Mikalo Delis.  Young, handsome, charming, hot.  And rich.  Very rich.

Over passionate kisses and blistering sex, they battle the past.  Struggling to forget, learning to forgive, eager for the future.  Together.

But when Mikalo considers returning to Greece, his soul yearning for the sun and sand and blue skies of home, Ronan wonders if their new love will be strong enough to endure.  And how much will she give up to be with the man who awakened her heart, taught her to trust, and showed her true love?

Excerpt: 

"You're very handsome," I said.
"Yes?"
"Yes!  You could be a model."
"No," he said, "I do not think so."
"I think you could," I answered.
"Me?  You would like to see me model?"
"Why not?"
He stopped, striking a silly pose, his hand cupping his chin, his face suddenly serious and pensive.
"Like this?" he asked.
And then he moved, quickly choosing another position, his face held open in a goofy grin, his eyes wide, as he pointed at something in the air, like those old Sears catalogue poses.
"Or this?"
I laughed.
"Yes, yes, yes," I finally said.  "I love it.  
"You could model underwear," I then said, the words rushing out before I could stop them.  I held my breath, hoping he didn't hear me.
"Ah, no, that would not work."
"Oh, I was just --"
"It does not work, underwear."
"It doesn't work.  What doesn't work?"
He shook his head.
"The underwear.  For me, it's no good."
He continued,
"It does not cover what it should cover."
"I see," I said, clearing my throat.
"Perhaps you need to wear boxers and not briefs," I then suggested.
"The tight ones?  No, no, no, no, no," he said, shaking his head, "that would kill me."
"Oh, so you're talking about boxers -- " I began.
"The loose ones -- " he interrupted.
"Yes --"
"Like old man swim trunks," he said.
"Yes, boxers."
"Yes," he replied, nodding.
"You wear boxers."
"No.  I tried.  But it was a joke.  I, how you say, I was lower than the boxers, than the bottom of the boxers, the material, and it was not a comfort."
Jesus Christ.
"The boxers did not do their job," he was saying, "so I had them fired."
"So, no underwear," I finally said, my voice quavering.
He nodded.
"No.  I am happy.  And below, I am happy.  And it is easier, yes?  To get undressed.  You just open the zip and they fall and there.  It is done  Easy."
We walked a few moments in silence.
"Still, you could model," I managed to say, my mouth watering as my mind wandered, the warmth, the wetness, below growing, the thump-thump-thump quiet, insistent, hungry ...
I needed to focus.
He spoke.
"You have no husband."
Ah, back to reality.
I shook my head.
"And no boyfriend."
Another shake of the head.
"Then you have lonely nights."
I walked, his arm around me, the dark expanse of Central Park across the street.  And then I nodded.  Shrugged.
He was right.
"Why no husband?" he suddenly asked.
It was my turn to raise my hand, stopping the conversation midstream.  The quiet gesture a definite end to a road I had no wish to walk right now.
He grew silent.
And then,
"I have lonely nights, too," he whispered.
Another shrug.
"But not now," I said, my hand reaching up to squeeze his.  "Right now we have this.  Right now, this moment, we have this walk, this night, you and your arm around me."
He glanced at me, a small smile on his lips.
"And it is good?" he asked.
"It's good.  Very good."
He stopped, turning to me, watching me, the light from the nearby streetlight shimmering in his dark eyes, the thick, black brows low.
And then he touched me, his large finger surprisingly gentle and soft as he stroked my cheek, his fingertip rising to my temple and then down past my ear, pausing as it rose, his hand cupping my chin, lifting my face to his.
He held me like this, his eyes on mine, his hand holding my chin, my heart in my throat.
And then he spoke, his voice soft and low.
"You are too beautiful for lonely nights, my Grace."

Don't forget to leave a comment below to enter for a chance to win an ecopy of the book! 


Sunday, December 2, 2012

Review: Avoiding Commitment by K. A. Linde

                                                       Avoiding Commitment
                                                                K. A. Linde
                                                               August 1, 2012
                                                        357 pages  paperback
Synopsis:

Jack and Lexi never had a typical relationship. After 2 years without speaking, she receives a phone call that changes everything. He unexpectedly asks her to convince the new girl, Bekah, that he's ready to commit. Jack is calling now after everything they had been through because there is another woman. She can't believe it. Follow Lexi in this heart wrenching drama as she relives her past relationship, or lack thereof, with Jack, and not just in her own mind, but to his fiance-to-be. Throw in Bekah's hot brother who always seems to be in the right place at the right time, a past with more secrets to unravel than you can even imagine, and you get a recipe for disaster. Find out what happens to Lexi as she travels to Atlanta to get the closure she so desperately desires from Jack, and how the bumps of life seem to keep getting in the way.

Review:
 WOW. This book was full of DRAMA. It had everything anyone could want, love, romance, lies, cheating, tortured souls. It was such a soap opera, I ADORED it. At the start of the book Lexi gets a call from Jack asking her for a favor and immediately I was sucked in. I had so many questions. Why had they not talked in so long? What could he have possible done to make her hate him so much but at the same time love him so?  I kept turning the pages as I needed to know more. The story switches from past to present to reveal to us how their story began and unraveled and the author did a great job at that. I screamed a lot while reading this book. I loved Jack then 2 chapters later I hated him and wished him nothing but heartache.Lexi I wanted her to wise up but hell I loved Jack almost as much and would probably melt around him too.  My heart broke with some of the scenes between these two.

       "We don't have to, but you know my end of the story. You were the only one I saw when I closed my eyes," he said bringing his hand up to cup her chin and titling her head up to look into his crystal blue eyes,
"Then why wasn't I enough when they were open?" she asked another tear welling in her eyes.

                                                      ****************
 “I did those things because of my lack of control. When you touch me Jack, I completely succumb to you. I give into your every whim.”
  
Just when I think the relationship between these two can't get any more complicated, in walks the fiance's sexy brother Ramsey. Ramsey wants Lexi and he does everything right. Treats her nice, takes her out for fun dates but there is just something about him that just does not sit right with me. For now I think I am team Jack even though at the moment I think he is an a-hole. The ending, grrrr. I can not wait to see where this story goes. I immediately bought the next book, Avoiding Responsibility, when it went on sale on Saturday as I need to see what happens. This book is an amazing angsty read and anyone who likes those complicated, angsty love stories will adore this one. 


Avoiding Commitment:              4.5/5         stars
Cover:                                      3/5           Stars
Audience Rating:                      R (language and adult situations)  

                                                   ~~~~~Tanya~~~~~ 

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Wednesday's Words & Quippish Quotes: Sleep

I bet you didn't know that November is National Sleep Comfort Month! Therefore, SLEEP is our theme this week. Enjoy!


"The world is full of givers and takers. The takers may eat better, but the givers sleep better." - Anon.

“I love sleep. My life has the tendency to fall apart when I'm awake, you know?” 
― Ernest Hemingway

“You know that place between sleeping and awake, that place where you can still remember dreaming? That's where I'll always think of you.” 
― J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan

“To die, to sleep - 
To sleep, perchance to dream - ay, there's the rub,
For in this sleep of death what dreams may come...” 
― William Shakespeare, Hamlet

“I find out a lot about myself by sleeping. Dreams, they are who I am when I’m too tired to be me.” 
― Jarod Kintz, This Book is Not for Sale

“Sleep is good, he said, And books are better.” 
― George R.R. Martin

"The serpent, the king, the tiger, the stinging wasp, the small child, the dog owned by other people, and the fool: these seven ought not to be awakened from sleep."
Chanakya


"A well-spent day brings happy sleep, so a life well spent brings a happy death." 
Leonardo da Vinci 







Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Review: Anything He Wants by Sara Fawkes

anything he wants: dominated by the billionaire
Sara Fawkes
November 27, 2012 (as compilation)
St. Martin's Press
288 pages


Synopsis:
Lucy Delacourt's temp position isn't quite her dream job but it pays the bills. The highlight of her day is riding the elevator in the mornings with a handsome stranger. Tall, dark, and sexy as hell, Lucy knows he's way out of her league, but a girl can look, right?

Everything changes the day the stranger seduces her. Completely out of character, she yields without a fight, but she has no idea her wanton acts with a man whose name she doesn't know will change her life forever. Because the sexy stranger is none other than Jeremiah Hamilton, billionaire CEO of Hamilton Industries, and one taste isn't nearly enough to satisfy his need.  As the billionaire pulls Lucy deeper into his world of high stakes business deals and ruthless takeovers, he demands nothing less than her complete surrender.  But even as enemies seek deadly revenge against him, she’ll discover that her greatest threat is falling for her fiercely guarded boss…and yielding to her own darkest needs.



Review:
This book was originally published as a set of 5 serial installments. I purchased and read the first two, and although I enjoyed them, I decided that $2.99 was just too much for a few chapters of a book that didn't feel like anything more than just that, a piece of a book. I don't want to pay $15 for any ebook, let alone one that read like a cheap romance novel. However, when I saw that the publisher had compiled all 5 to be sold as a complete work (with a cheaper total price tag, I might add), my interest was piqued. I had enjoyed the first two, so when I saw it up on NetGalley, I thought I'd give it another shot. I was pleasantly surprised.


This book starts off reading as some man's fantasy and less like a romance novel- it was just too unbelievable and "wham-bam-thank-you-maam". I was a bit worried that's all it was going to be. Things started happening way too quickly and we didn't see any reason to relate to these characters- Jeremiah came off as too cold and impersonal and Lucy was a boring doormat of a pushover despite her thinking otherwise. But, then the whole dynamic changed a few chapters in and I started to really enjoy the book. Although it was still first and foremost a super-steamy erotic novel, it also because a suspense with some action thrown in there. There's even a mini-cliffhanger at the end that surely is meant to leave open the possibility of another book/series.
Fans of Fifty Shades or Bared to You-style erotic romances will most likely really enjoy this book.

Anything He Wants: 4/5
Cover: 3/5
Audience Rating: R (explicit sex)

Note: I received an ecopy of this book from the publisher in exchange of an honest review.


Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Wednesdays Words & Quippish Quotes: Thanksgiving

I think I love the idea of Thanksgiving more than any other holiday. I have been blessed with a truly wonderful life and I strive to not take a moment for granted, so I am happy to pause for this moment and reflect on how lucky I am. This year especially, I have learned that life is precious and we should cherish every moment we get. So, with that said, and with these words, I give my thanks.

 "But, Gus, my love, I cannot tell you how thankful I am for our little infinity. I wouldn't trade it for the world. You gave me a forever within the numbered days, and I'm grateful.” 
― John Green, The Fault in Our Stars
“I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought; and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.” 
― Oprah Winfrey
“Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough” 
― G.K. Chesterton
“Be present in all things and thankful for all things.”
― Maya Angelou
“Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude.”
― Ralph Waldo Emerson
“In the end, though, maybe we must all give up trying to pay back the people in this world who sustain our lives. In the end, maybe it's wiser to surrender before the miraculous scope of human generosity and to just keep saying thank you, forever and sincerely, for as long as we have voices.”
― Elizabeth Gilbert, Eat, Pray, Love

Trailer Reveal: Opal by Jennifer L. Armentrout

When I read Jennifer L. Armentrout's Obsidian, it was my favorite book of the year, I didn't think anything could top it - until I read her second book in the Lux series, Onyx. So, I really don't need to say how unbelievably excited I was for book three, Opal, which is coming out December 11th - but that excitement is even greater after watching this trailer for the book. Check it out!



No one is like Daemon Black.

When he set out to prove his feelings for me, he wasn’t fooling around. Doubting him isn’t something I’ll do again, and now that we’ve made it through the rough patches, well... There’s a lot of spontaneous combustion going on.


But even he can’t protect his family from the danger of trying to free those they love. 


After everything, I’m no longer the same Katy. I’m different... And I’m not sure what that will mean in the end. When each step we take in discovering the truth puts us in the path of the secret organization responsible for torturing and testing hybrids, the more I realize there is no end to what I’m capable of. The death of someone close still lingers, help comes from the most unlikely source, and friends will become the deadliest of enemies, but we won’t turn back. Even if the outcome will shatter our worlds forever.


Together we’re stronger... and they know it.


USA TODAY Bestselling author, Jennifer L. Armentrout, lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing, she spends her time reading, working out, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell, Loki. Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She also writes adult romance under the name J. Lynn.
Find Jennifer on: Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Website | Blog



Saturday, November 17, 2012

Review: Her Miracle Man by Nikki Duncan

Her Miracle Man
Nikki Duncan
November 27, 2012
Samhain Publishing
170 pages
Synopsis: 

A last wish brings them together. Only love can keep them there.

Children’s hospital administrator Ryland Davids was attracted to event planner Jennalyn James the moment he saw her. He thought there would be plenty of time to get to know her—until her younger sister, Sabrina, was admitted with complications from traumatic brain injury.

Sabrina’s bright courage broke through Ryland’s wall of professional distance, but once she drew her last breath, Jennalyn left the hospital and never returned. Though he understands her need for distance, there’s a hole in his heart that won’t heal. And a last wish from Sabrina he’s honor-bound to deliver.

When Jennalyn comes face to face with Ryland at a charity event, the pain comes rushing back, threatening to shatter her everything’s-fine façade. It doesn’t help that the lump in her throat is mostly her heart, leaping in response to his touch.

Despite her reluctance to return to the scene of her grief, she fulfills Sabrina’s final request to plan a series of Christmas events for the kids. Over the course of A Month of Miracles, Ryland and Jennalyn discover there’s the light of hope at the end of grief’s dark tunnel. But it may not be enough to heal her broken heart.

Product Warnings
This title contains a magic-loving clown, children receiving miracles, betrayal, some light bondage and a woman healing from grief.

***************************************

Review: I just love holiday romances. This was one of the sweetest and most touching ones I've read. But, it wasn't nearly as light and fluffy as I expected. 
Jennalyn is still deeply grieving over the loss of her younger sister, Sabrina, who died a year ago while at a children's hospital run by Ryland Davids. Before she died, Sabrina bonded with Ryland and asked him to hire her sister and help her move on with her life. Ryland felt a connection to Jennalyn from the start and asks her to work as the hospital's event planner and plan a "Month of Miracles" for a select group of patients at the hospital. Jennalyn agrees and no matter how hard she tries to remain distant from both Ryland and the children she is planning miracles for, she begins to fall for them all.
I had tears in my eyes for what seemed like half of this book. Jennalyn's sadness was palpable and the patients' stories were so moving, I can't imagine anyone reading this and not being touched. It definitely became more than just a wonderful love story, but it was certainly that as well. Ryland couldn't have been more a more perfect hero - warm, caring, smart, patient, and, of course, hot! I wish I had a "miracle man" like him! A great book to remind everyone of the good that can come out of something awful, and that miracles may happen when you least expect them - especially during the holidays.

Her Miracle Man: 4/5 Stars
Cover: 3.5/5 stars


***To celebrate the release of her book, Author Nikki Duncan is having a month-long celebration over at her blog with guest posts daily and tons of great giveaways - check it out: Nikki Duncan's Blog!!*******


Sunday, November 11, 2012

Review: The Theory of Attraction Anthology



The Theory of Attraction: The Theory of Attraction\A Shot in the Dark\Forbidden Fantasies
Delphine Dryden, Christine d'Abo, Jodie Griffin
Carina Press
October 16, 2012
384 pages

The Theory of Attraction by Delphine Dryden
Camilla can set her watch by her sexy rocket-scientist neighbor's schedule…but she soon learns that isn't the only thing Ivan likes to be strict about. He needs to be in charge in the bedroom as well—and Cami discovers there can be more pleasure in submitting than she ever imagined….

A Shot in the Dark by Christine d'Abo
Carter is one of the hottest men ever to walk into Paige Long's coffee shop. Firefighter by day, Dom by night, he's her ultimate fantasy. But can Carter convince Paige to submit to happiness outside the bedroom, too?

Forbidden Fantasies by Jodie Griffin
After fifteen years of marriage, Jessica and Alex's sex life is, well, a little predictable. It just can't compare with the hot new world Jessica discovers in the pages of erotic romances. Until their fantasies are brought to life during a special weekend at a unique B and B: Bondage and Breakfast….

***************************************


Review: 
I had previously read Theory of Attraction and really enjoyed it, so when I saw it was being re-released along with two other similar stories, I just had to check it out. And boy, I was not disappointed. Usually in anthologies, there is at least one weak story, but I loved all three books in this one. They were all quick reads, but felt like complete novels, and although the plotlines were very different, the underlining sexiness was uber-HOT in all of them. Just enough BDSM to make you squirm while reading it, but not what I'd consider hard-core by any means. I really felt like I was reading fully flushed out romance novels that just happened to have that touch of BDSM-style sex in all of them.

Book 1 -Theory of Attraction - deals with neighbors who arrange a mutually beneficial deal to help one neighbor learn to be less socially awkward and the other to learn the ways of being a submissive. The resulting "classes" are both humorous and super sexy. 4.5/5 stars
Book 2 - A Shot in the Dark - is more of a classic BDSM style involving an exclusive BDSM club an a woman who desires that, but is afraid to try again after a previous dom/sub relationship went horribly wrong in the past. I loved how sweet and patient the hero Carter was all the while being a powerful dom and sexy firefighter to boot. 4/5 stars
Book 3 - Forbidden Fantasies - Definitely the most touching of the trio as it deals with a marriage of 15 years between two people who love each other very much but have never trusted the other with their most secret dark fantasies. Let's just say as they admit those desires and explore them things heat up considerably! 4/5 stars

Overall rating for anthology: 4.5/5 stars
Cover: 3.5/5 stars
Audience rating: R (Explicit sex)


Note: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. 



Thursday, November 8, 2012

Review: Backstage Pass by Olivia Cunning (Sinners on Tour #1)

                                                          Backstage Pass
                                                          Olivia Cunning
                                                         October 1, 2010
                                                           Sourcebooks
                                                            378 pages
Synopsis:
 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...


Review: 
     I am now a fangirl of the Sinners. This story was great on every level. I loved all the band members, each one has such a distinct personality and they are each gettign their own book. These guys are a family and when one does something they are all involved, love one love them all. The story starts with Brian Sinclair drunk, trying to get over his recent heartbreak and Myrna at a work convention stumbles across the band in the hotel's bar. Sparks fly from the inital meeting and the story simmers from there. Brian falls in love to easy and Myrna having been through a rough divorce is terrified of love. I was rooting for these two from the begining. This is a great start to a series I must read. Upon finishng this book I promptly went online and ordered book 2. I am very grateful for finding this author and can not wait to read about the rest of this interesting band of characters.

Backstage Pass:               4/5
Cover:                             3.5/5
Audience Rating               R (very explicit sex)

                                                   ~~~~~Tanya~~~~

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Review: Touching the Surface by Kimberly Sabatini

Touching the Surface
Kimberly Sabatini
October 30, 2012
Simon Pulse
Hardcover, 352 pages
Synopsis: When Elliot finds herself dead for the third time, she knows she must have messed up, big-time. She doesn’t remember how she landed in the afterlife again, but she knows this is her last chance to get things right.

     Elliot just wants to move on, but first she will be forced to face her past and delve into the painful memories she’d rather keep buried. Memories of people she’s hurt, people she’s betrayed…and people she’s killed.

     As she pieces together the secrets and mistakes of her past, Elliot must find a way to earn the forgiveness of the person she’s hurt most, and reveal the truth about herself to the two boys she loves…even if it means losing them both forever.

Kimberly Sabatini reading an excerpt from Touching the Surface at it's release party held at
Oblong Books, Rhinebeck, NY  November 4, 2012


Review: This book was beautiful. Not just the writing, although the publisher's description of "lyrical" is accurate, but also the story - and evolution of the characters. It was apparent from the start that Ms. Sabatini could write, but I worried that my initial dislike of the main character Elliot would ruin my enjoyment of the rest of the book. I was relieved to find that as Elliot grew and learned and changed, so did my perception of her. Which I believe is wonderfully fitting, given that the entire book is really all about that - redemption, evolution and eventual forgiveness and acceptance. It's odd that a book set in such an abstract place could feel so real, yet it does, and that's in part due to the fact that the characters feel like people you could know. They are flawed, some majorly so, but that's the whole point - if they were perfect, they wouldn't be there. At times, I did feel a bit disoriented by the twisty fantastical world created by Ms. Sabatini (or rather, by her characters ;)) - but I think that only added to my connection to the characters themselves as I felt some of their confusion.

"Being brave isn't about not being scared. Being brave is what you do despite being scared." - Trevor
(That one's going into my all time favorite book quotes, by the way.)

My favorite character by far was the brooding Trevor, who plays the tortured hero role extremely well. The constantly changing quips on his t-shirt were such a clever way to get a glimpse inside his mind and were some of my favorite lines in the book. There's a bit of a love triangle (or a love trapezoid perhaps) involving Trevor, Elliot, and the nearly perfect good boy Oliver, but it wasn't overly angst-y as so many YA novels can get. Even the romance aspect of the book evolved as the characters discovered more and more about themselves and who they were and I found myself wishing I could see that next chapter in their lives after the book ends.

Touching the Surface is a beautiful story of love and redemption. It's spiritual without being preachy, and I kind of hope Kimberly Sabatini's vision of the afterlife is out there to give a second (or third) chance to all of us who might need one.

******************************************

Touching the Surface: 5/ 5 Stars.
Cover: 5/5 Stars
Audience rating: PG-13 (mild violence, difficult themes - death)

Note: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. 


Saturday, November 3, 2012

Review and Giveaway: Come Away With Me by Kristen Proby

Come Away With Me
(With Me In Seattle, #1)

Kristen Proby
November 9, 2012
I'm happy to be participating in author Kristen Proby's first blog tour for her debut novel, Come Away With Me. As you know, I love supporting new authors, and after reading the description of the book, of course I was interested in reading and reviewing it! After you read my review, be sure to enter the contest where 3 lucky winners with win an ecopy of the book and be sure to stop by the other blogs on the tour too!

Synopsis:
 Being confronted on the beach by a sexy stranger wasn't part of Natalie Conner's plans for a peaceful morning taking photos. And why on earth would he think she's taking pictures of him, anyway? Who is he? One thing’s for sure, he’s hot, and incredibly romantic, feeding Natalie’s wounded soul.

Luke Williams just wants the world to give him a break, so seeing yet another camera aimed at his face has him ready to pounce on the beauty behind the lens. When he finds out she has no idea who he is, he's intrigued and more than a little tempted by her. Natalie has a body made for sex, a sassy mouth and Luke can’t get enough of her, but he’s not ready to tell her who he really his.

Natalie is a no nonsense girl who doesn’t do well with lies and secrets. What will happen to this new relationship when she discovers what Luke’s hiding?

Review: 
Come Away With Me is the debut novel by author Kristen Proby, and based on this, it most certainly won't be her last.This is one of those romance novels that just feels good to read. The writing flows well, and I instantly related to both of the main characters. They connected with each other well too, and boy were those some steamy connections! I absolutely loved the little details that Ms. Proby puts into the descriptions of both the characters (the idea behind the tattoos made me want to get one!) and the locations (I want a guesthouse to convert into a studio!). There wasn't a whole lot of drama or angst, but the fights they did have (including, of course, how they met) were deliciously tense. I also really enjoyed the secondary participants in the story, especially Nat's roommate Jules, who Ms. Proby sets up nicely to have her own story (which I've heard a rumor is filled with yummy angst!).  A great debut- looking forward to reading more from this author.

Come Away With Me: 4/5 Stars
Cover: 4/5 Stars



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Other Blog Tour Stops: 


11/6 – Kelli Maine
11/7 – Emily Snow
11/9 – Release Day,  Giveaway Winners Announced, & BOFF Read at TotallyBooked Blog

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Fall In Love Giveaway Hop


This blog hop is all about falling in love with books. Each blog on the hop is showcasing a new book or author we've fallen in love with this year. Make sure you enter our giveaway at the end of the post and afterward stop by all the other blogs on the hop, including Toni Aleo's Blog where there is a giveaway for a Grand Prize including a brand new kindle! Good luck!

My choice for the author and book to showcase for this hop was obvious: Lisa Renee Jones.
 Not only did I "discover" her books this year and instantly became a huge fan (so much so I joined her street team!), but her romantic suspense book If I Were You is easily one of my favorites of the year (you can read our dual review HERE). What I think makes her such a great author is she has the rare ability to write amazing romances over many romance genres including suspense, contemporary, paranormal and erotica - and she's built a solid fan base for each! I'm not even a huge fan of paranormal, but I loved both the Zodius series and her Werewolf Society series (which, BTW, is on sale for only $1.99 for the 5 book box set right now!). I've probably read at least 15 of her books this year, and there hasn't been one I haven't enjoed. And to top it all off, she's also an extremely generous person - so much so that she has donated some wonderful prizes including a copy of If I Were You (a rare edition with the original, now out of print, cover before it got picked up by Simon & Schuster) and some Bath & Body Works goodies in their wonderful "Paris" scent (US Only for this prize pack - if you are international, you will receive an ecopy of the book instead).  How awesome is that?!? Simply use the rafflecopter below to enter and good luck!


(Example to show brand only - actual prize may differ from above selection)
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Wednesday's Words & Quippish Quotes: Storms

I don't think this week's theme needs any explanations given the past couple of days here on the east coast. So, without futhrer ado, here is this week's Wednesday's Words & Quippish Quotes - all about STORMS.
“Life isn't finding shelter in the storm. It's about learning to dance in the rain.” 
― Sherrilyn Kenyon, Acheron


“There are some things you learn best in calm, and some in storm.” 
― Willa Cather, The Song of the Lark


“I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship.” 
― Louisa May Alcott, Little Women


“So we shall let the reader answer this question for himself: who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed?” 
― Hunter S. Thompson


“There are three things all wise men fear: the sea in storm, a night with no moon, and the anger of a gentle man.” 
― Patrick Rothfuss, The Wise Man's Fear



"There's always another storm. It's the way the world works. Snowstorms, rainstorms, windstorms, sandstorms, and firestorms. Some are fierce and others are small. You have to deal with each one separately, but you need to keep an eye on whats brewing for tomorrow.” 
― Maria V. Snyder, Fire Study


“And once the storm is over, you won’t remember how you made it through, how you managed to survive. You won’t even be sure, whether the storm is really over. But one thing is certain. When you come out of the storm, you won’t be the same person who walked in.” 
― Haruki Murakami



“Our time together feels like a storm, like a wild wind and rain, like something too big to handle but too powerful to escape.” 
― Ally Condie, Matched

















Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Moonlight Masquerade Giveaway Hop

beach-1-3-1

Come join us as we celebrate all those things that are wicked on Halloween in the Moonlight Masquerade Hop hosted by My Secret Romance & Day Dreaming blogs! The many blogs participating are giving away Halloween themed books or other related items. We at The Revolving Bookcase are giving away the fairy figurine pictured below and the winner's choice of either book - The Faeire Path by Allan Frewin Jones or Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr (sorry, US only for this one). Just fill out the rafflecopter below to enter and good luck! Make sure to check out all the other blogs in the hop by using the linky list at the end of the post. 



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Review: Close Enough to Touch by Victoria Dahl

                                                   Close Enough to Touch
                                                            Victoria Dahl
                                                          August 28, 2012
                                                                 HQN
                                                             324 pages
Synopsis:
       For makeup artist Grace Barrett, Hollywood isn't the land of golden opportunity. It's the land of difficult divas, cheating boyfriends and unemployment. So when her great-aunt offers her a free place to stay in Jackson Hole, Grace thinks she'll spend a little time in the sticks to figure out her life, and then move somewhere exciting to live out her dreams. But it turns out that there are a few more thrills in this small town than Grace was expecting….Cole Rawlins is a rugged Wyoming cowboy born and bred. Yet he can't help but be drawn to the fascinating big-city girl who moves in across from him. He wants to get close enough to Grace to see past her tough facade, but if he does, she might see the real Cole. The one with a Hollywood history gone bad. As they discover a sizzling attraction, it becomes harder for him to keep his demons at bay—and those fires from long ago may burn them both.

They'll need more than scorching-hot passion to make this opposites-attract affair work. But if they can learn to trust one another enough to reveal their secrets, they just might have a chance at forever.


Review: 
   Another good/fun story by one of my favorite (and one I recommend a lot) contemporary authors. This story started out a little slow for me, I did not really like our heroine, Grace, she was a bit bitchy to me. I did however like our sexy cowboy hero, Cole. As the story progressed and you learned a little more about Grace's past and the series of events that led her to Jackson Hole flat broke and with everything she owned in her bag, I began to like Grace and admire her spunk. I still think she might have been a little mean to Cole in the beginning but I eventually forgave her. I really enjoyed a lot of the townspeople in this book and I am hoping to see more of them in future books as this was the start of a series set in Jackson Hole Wyoming. The second book in the Jackson series will be Too Hot To Handle, out in April 2013. I look forward to finding out about the rest of the town and Grace's best friend Merry in book 2.  If you like quick wit and banter and some yummy cowboys this is a series for you. 

Close Enough to Touch:            3.5/5
Cover:                                     2.5/5
Audience Rating:                     PG-13 

                                                  ~~~~~Tanya~~~~~

                                              Note: I received a copy of this ebook from the publisher via NetGalley for review purposes.