Monday, June 30, 2014

Review: Avenge Me (Fifth Avenue Trilogy #1) by Maisey Yates

                                                                                Avenge Me
                                                                     (Fifth Avenue Trilogy #1)
                                                                              Maisey  Yates
                                                                              May 27, 2014
                                                                         Harlequin Presents
Synopsis:

TEN YEARS AGO ONE DEVASTATING NIGHT CHANGED EVERYTHING FOR AUSTIN, HUNTER AND ALEX. NOW THEY MUST EACH PLAY THEIR PART IN THE REVENGE AGAINST THE ONE MAN WHO RUINED IT ALL.

Austin Treffen was born into a world of privilege, but behind its gilded doors lies a corruption so sordid New York's elite would never believe it—especially as his infamous philanthropic father is at its core! With everything he believed in shattered, how can Austin take down his father—risking his family name and those he loves—without any proof?

Until one earth-shattering night with Katy Michaels unlocks not only their deepest, most passionate desires but also the key to bringing Jason Treffen's reign to an end. But with an intense sexual attraction that combines a heady mix of exquisite pleasure and sublime pain, will they satiate their thirst for revenge and each other…or lose themselves forever in the darkness?


Tanya's Review:
     This is my first Maisey Yates book and I must say, give me more of her stuff please. I really enjoyed her story telling and the banter between the two main characters, Austin and Katy. Each character feels guilty about their part in a horrible event that happened 10 years ago, they all want revenge and you can feel their pain and hatred for Jason Treffen, the man they all blame for the horrific event. I felt the story moved along quickly, especially at the beginning when Austin and Katy meet. Katy is in her 20's and is a virgin, where as Austin is quite experienced. I like build up, angst and banter to lead up to that pivotal moment when the two characters can't help themselves and they fall into bed. In this story I totally got my banter and angst but it was after they fell into bed together, that really was the only thing I was ehh about in this book. I realize Austin is supposed to be the hottest man Katy has ever seen and wanted to escape and have a fantasy come true but if I had stayed a virgin well into my 20s I think it would take a little more than an hour for me to give it up to someone I just met. 
       This book is the first in the Fifth Avenue Trilogy, the series being written collaboratively by Maisey Yates, Caitlin Crews and Kate Hewitt. I am totally invested in this series now  as with this first book there are many questions that are posed and decisions made that will have a tremendous fallout and I totally want to see what happens next. I am also curious to see how this series will go with a different author writing each portion of the story, that is a first for me and I am excited about it. 
  This book is fast paced, great characters and lots of mystery suspense would totally recommend it to anyone that enjoys mysteries and romance. 

Avenge Me:  4/5  stars

 

Friday, June 27, 2014

Review and Giveaway (Win a coach bag!): The Longest Night by Kara Braden



Book Information

THE LONGEST NIGHT
Author: Kara Braden
Pub Date: July 1, 2014
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Summary

Years ago, former Marine Captain Cecily Knight fled her dark past and the nightmares forever haunting her nights. Alone in the remote Canadian wilderness, she survives day to day…until Ian Fairchild comes storming into her life and shatters her protective seclusion.

Aloof but intriguing, defensive but undeniable, Ian is everything Cecily shouldn’t want but can’t ignore. He watches her with shrewd blue eyes, as if determined to decipher her secrets…and for the first time in years, she finds herself coming alive beneath the hands of a man with too many scars to count.
As the hushed and harsh winter closes in around them, two lost souls find themselves on the precipice of a love that could save their lives…or destroy them forever.

Excerpt

Cecily shifted her weight, and Ian caught her sleeve, silently cursing the bulky jackets and gloves that separated them both. At the touch, she went still, saying, “Ian—“

“Cecily,” he interrupted quietly. He wanted to pull away her sunglasses, but he sensed that she needed that little artificial shield. If Ian pushed too hard, she would shut down completely, and he might never get another chance at her. Even this might be too much, but Ian had to try.

Lightly holding her sleeve, he raised his free hand and used his teeth to tug off the glove. Her head turned sharply to watch the path of the glove as Ian tossed it aside. Cold air bit at his fingers, but he didn’t care. He set his fingertips to her face, for an instant feeling the icy skin of her jaw before she flinched away.

“Cecily,” Ian repeated quietly, soothingly, and touched again. This time, she didn’t pull back. She parted her lips and inhaled quietly. The motion drew his gaze down, and he saw no reason at all not to chase that breath.

Tight with tension, her lips tasted of cold and snow. Subtle, burning point of contact connected them skin-to-skin—Ian’s fingertips on her face, his thumb on the thinner flesh over her cheekbone, their lips touching lightly The kiss was barely more than the air they shared for one breath, two. Her exhale shuddered against his mouth.




Laura's Review: 


This was a perfectly nice romance. I liked all the characters, the plot, the setting. It was all very interesting, but it felt more like a great friendship and story of healing than a great love story. 
It was missing the intense passion or tension to push the characters - even though the author seemed to set up such great possibilities for them. It was almost like they got along too well, and were too agreeable, and everything went just a bit too smoothly, which maybe was fitting given the horrors they each had to face leading up this.  But still, I yearned for some big climactic scene that seemed to be just about to happen, and it kept falling flat. Overall, the writing flowed well, and I was drawn into the story for its uniqueness, but ultimately wanted more edge. Readers who enjoy sweet, safe romances such as those by Debbie Macomber or Susan Wiggs will enjoy this one.

The Longest Night: 3/5 stars

Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.

Buy Links

Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/1p9O8eg 


Author Biography

Kara Braden makes her debut in modern romance with The Longest Night, a story of love in isolation. She believes that engaging, romantic fantasy can be found everywhere in the world, even in the most unlikely places. With the support of her wonderful husband, cats, and dogs, she writes from her home office outside Phoenix, Arizona, where she spends her time hiding from the sunlight and heat.

Social Networking Links


"One of the best debuting romance writers in memory... Braden has a genuine gift for this genre, and readers will hope to see many more books carrying her name." - Booklist Starred Review

"In this touching and stupendously fresh debut, Braden proves that one doesn't have to turn an entire genre on its head to get something new and exciting. Contemporary romance fans will savor every page." - Publishers Weekly Starred Review

Giveaway!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Release day launch and giveaway: Kristen Proby's Breathe With Me!

We are so excited to bring you the Release Day Launch for Kristen Proby's BREATHE WITH ME!! BREATHE WITH ME is a Contemporary Erotic Romance novel and is the 7th book in the With Me In Seattle Series.

Breathe With Me Cover

*** iTunes *** Barnes & Noble *** Amazon ***

  ABOUT BREATHE WITH ME: Sometimes you meet the right person at the wrong time… Mark Williams has loved Meredith since he was seventeen. A successful man with a strong family, he’s worked hard to move on from Meredith breaking his heart all those years ago. When his path crosses with the only woman he’s ever loved again years later, Mark knows there is nothing he won’t do to keep her in his life. But when the going gets tough, will Meredith stick around or will he lose her again? …But true love has a way of finding its way back. Meredith Summers is a dancer. One of the first things she learned in following her dreams is that timing is everything. She has spent the past ten years following her dream touring with mega-stars while trying to forget the high school sweetheart she left behind. Now she’s back in Seattle, running a successful dance studio with her best friend Jax and determined to move on from her gypsy past. Until the day she sees Mark Williams and time stands still. It’s as if no time has passed at all when Meredith finds herself in Mark’s arms again. The chemistry, the bonds and the love are as strong as ever and hearing Mark whisper breathe with me in her ear is a balm to her wounded soul. But will she grab onto this second chance at love, or is the timing all wrong for them again? Don't miss catching up with the Montgomery and Williams clans in this latest installment of the With Me In Seattle Series from New York Times bestselling author, Kristen Proby. “There were days that I would have exchanged a year of my life just to touch you one more time.” –Mark Williams

BWM RDL Banner

EXCERPT: I knock on Mer’s apartment door and shift back and forth on my feet. I haven’t been this nervous since the very first time I picked her up for a date early in our Junior year. I’ve come a long way since then. Suddenly the door is wrenched open and Jax is standing there with a wide smile. “Hey,” he says. “Hi. I’m here to pick up Meredith.” “Mr. Delicious is here for your date, tootsie roll!” Jax yells. “I’m right here, dork,” Meredith says as she slips under his arm out into the hallway. “Ignore him. He has horrible manners.” “Have fun,” Jax continues, leaning on the doorjamb with his arms crossed and watching us walk to the elevator. I brace my hand on the small of her back and feel the electricity travel up my arm and down to my groin. After all this time, the chemistry is still here. “You have her home at a decent time, now. I’ll leave the light on.” “Shut up, Jax,” Mer says with a laugh. “Use condoms!” He calls just as the elevator arrives. “Oh my God! Shut the hell up, Jax!” He laughs as the doors close and I can only smile in delight down at her. Her cheeks are pink with embarrassment. Her hair is pulled up in one of her signature messy buns and she’s in jeans and a blue sweater the same color as her eyes. Jesus, she’s fucking gorgeous. “You look amazing,” I say and rub a large circle over her slender back. “So do you,” she murmurs and looks up and down at my plain black T-shirt and jeans. I threw a plaid button down over the T, but her eyes travel to my arms anyway. She always did have a thing for my arms. “Thanks for coming out with me tonight.” “Thanks for inviting me,” she replies with a grin. “Where are we going?” “You’ll see.” WMISS Banner
And don’t forget the rest of the With Me in Seattle Series…
 
  Author photoABOUT KRISTEN PROBY: New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Kristen Probyis the author of the popular With Me in Seattle series. She has a passion for a good love story and strong characters who love humor and have a strong sense of loyalty and family. Her men are the alpha type—fiercely protective and a bit bossy—and her ladies are fun, strong, and not afraid to stand up for themselves. Kristen spends her days with her muse in the Pacific Northwest. She enjoys coffee, chocolate, and sunshine. And naps. Visit her at KristenProby.com.  

Monday, June 23, 2014

Have a say in an Elisabeth Grace book! Poll & Giveaway!



poll-graphic
Elisabeth Grace is always up for a challenge and thought it would be fun for readers to participate in deciding some details to be included in an upcoming book! Have you always wanted to decide the name of a character or what the hero’s profession will be? Now’s your chance! Fill out the poll below and enter for a chance to WIN A SIGNED copy of Rumor Has It and Picture Perfect by Elisabeth Grace! This is an international giveaway. And, as a bonus, Elisabeth is sharing an exclusive first look at volume one of her upcoming erotic serial, Indiscretion, which releases August 4th!

Indiscretion: Volume One

F*ck and chuck. Pump and dump. Hit it and quit it. One night stand. Didn’t matter how I branded it—that’s all she had wanted it to be. That much was clear when she left me with my pants down and my dick still out.

What she hadn’t counted on was fate intervening and our worlds colliding—again.

The day I showed back up in the life of Chloe Griffins, I knew I had to have her again. My body was hungry for another taste. Like an addict, I’d been craving another hit for months, and there she was—flesh and bone, tits and ass.

The fact that she worked for the competition should’ve been reason enough for me to leave her alone. I had a job to do that summer and f*cking Chloe wasn’t part of it. But I was like a man possessed.

I’d do whatever it took to haveher again.

Excerpt:

“Enough talk about the heavy stuff. Let’s get back to finding a guy for me to flirt with tonight.” “I thought we’d already found one.” She nodded mischievously toward the insanely hot guy with the blue eyes. “Yeah, right,” I scoffed. “A little out of my league, I think.” “Oh please,” Jackie frowned. “For all we know, he could be covered in back hair and have a small dick.” I burst out laughing and gave my friend a light smack across the arm. It took me a minute to catch my breath. “You’re horrible,” I grinned at her. “Do you know how long it’s been since I flirted with someone? Maybe I should start with more of an average Joe.” I was in the mood for some innocent fun tonight. Being away from home and all the memories and responsibilities it held seemed to have had that affect. Even so, I had a feeling any conversation with the blue-eyed stranger had the potential to turn into something not entirely innocent. “Alright then.” Jackie leaned in to give me a hug as the rest of the bridal party returned from the bar and placed down a variety of drinks and . In the spirit of the evening, I picked up a shot of God-knows-what neon concoction and held it in the air. The other girls followed suit. Smiling at my friend, I shoved down the lump of nostalgia. “I’d like to propose a toast to Jackie and her upcoming nuptials. May she and Rob have a long and happy life together, full of nothing but love, trust, joy...and because it’s Jackie, a whole lot of mind-blowing sex.” All the girls cheered and clinked the assortment of drinks and shots before tossing them back. Jackie beamed. Whether a result of alcohol, love, or the fact that I was looking to have a little fun, I couldn’t be sure. I hoped it wasn’t the latter or my friend would end up disappointed. Despite what I’d said, I had no intention of pursuing anything beyond a mild flirtation with anyone—blue-eyedstranger included.   Goodreads Add Badge  

Poll:

If you have trouble with the embedded form, please click here to fill it out! Connect with Elisabeth Grace Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Pinterest | Google + | Instagram

GIVEAWAYS! $15 Amazon/B&N Gift Card AND tote bag with 6 books!

We are so excited to be launching 
The Revolving Bookcase for Young Readers,
 a companion blog to The Revolving Bookcase! As its name suggests, The Revolving Bookcase for Young Readers will focus on books meant for those under 18: Children's, Middle Grade, and Young Adult genres. The (original) Revolving Bookcase will continue as it has been, mostly adult titles, with some crossover reviews for YA titles that adults would also enjoy. The new blog will officially launch July 1, but we're getting the party started a bit early to continue and add-on to our month-long blogiversary celebration with some new giveaways including one just for the Young Reader genres! Extra entries will be given for following both blogs in some way!


Giveaway #1
Tote Bag with 6 books (and a teaser pamphlet)
This giveaway is open to US Residents (18 or older) - for legal reasons, if you are under 18, your parents will have to enter for you. 

Included:
Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand (ARC of book adapted for Young Adult readers)
Skink No Surrender by Carl Hiaasen (ARC)
Winterfrost by Michelle Houts (ARC)
The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter
Dresskeeper by Mary Naylus
The Land of Stories by Chris Colfer (ARC)
365 Days of Wonder by P.J Palacio (Pamphlet and Tote bag - just one, two shown in photo to illustrate both sides of bag)

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Giveaway #2
$15 Amazon or Barnes & Noble Gift Card
(open internationally as long as it complies with all laws of your country and you are able to receive gift cards to Amazon or B&N via email)
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday, June 16, 2014

Blogiversary Giveaway #2: Tote Bag with four books from our favorite authors!





Continuing our month-long blogiversary celebration with GIVEAWAY #2: Favorites! 
FOUR books and a tote bag from some of our all-time favorite authors! 
This giveaway is open to US residents only and will run until 7/1/14. GOOD LUCK! 



Contains:
Lisa Renee Jones Tote Bag and Chris Merit paintbrush pen from the Inside Out Series 
LUX Beginnings (contains Obsidian and Onyx, books #1 & 2 from Lux series) 
by Jennifer L. Armentrout (SIGNED!)
The Gamble by Kristen Ashley 
Truly, Madly Manhattan (contains Local Hero & Dual Image) by Nora Roberts
Midnight Crystal by Jayne Ann Krentz (writing as Jayne Castle) 





a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Release Blitz and Giveaway! Breaking Away by Toni Aleo



Title: Breaking Away
Author: Toni Aleo
Series: Assassins #5
Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance
Publication: June 10, 2014

BREAKING AWAY is a story of loss, healing, and love… where unexpected turns and heartache lead to passion.

To Nashville Assassins’ leading scoring center Phillip Anderson, playing hockey has always been easy… as natural as breathing. His life is no different. That’s until his world is turned upside down by the death of his sister. While mourning his loss, Phillip has to find a way to make his very angry sixteen-year-old niece, Claire, happy. Now, as her guardian, he discovers the only thing that seems to heal her lonely heart is dance class. But what he didn’t count on was the attraction he’d feel towards her drop-dead sexy dance teacher.

For Reese Allen, dancing has always been part of her soul. After having her heart broken in New York, she comes home with the determination to make her dance studio one of the best in Tennessee and succeeds. When she sees Claire dance for the first time, she knows the girl is bound for greatness and takes the troubled teen under her wing. Using dance as therapy, she suddenly finds herself bound to the young woman… and her hot-as-sin uncle.

However, Phillip and Reese are happy in their single lives. It’s simple. They do what they want, who they want, and how they want, but from the moment they meet, the attraction is undeniable. Soon, they are more than willing to spend just one night tangled in the sheets. But, one night turns into two, and two turns into three, until they find themselves in a repeated dance of “One Last Time” that has the potential to be something more… if only Reese and Claire allow it.

Can Phillip find a way to thaw the hearts of both the women in his life, or will he be forever trying to break them away from their pasts?

Monday, June 9, 2014

BLOGIVERSARY CELEBRATION and GIVEAWAY!



We are SO EXCITED to be celebrating our 3-YEAR BLOGIVERSARY
We've had such an amazing time reading and blogging about books, we want to say THANK YOU to all of our followers and everyone who has helped us along the way. And to celebrate, we will be having giveaways running all month, capping off with a very exciting announcement! Here is the first giveaway - a Harlequin tote bag (a really nice one with pockets and a zipper!) filled with SIGNED books! This giveaway is US ONLY, but there will be at least one international giveaway this month, along with others, so be sure to check back!




Books included -
 (all are signed paperbacks except breathe which is a signed hardcover):

breathe by Abbi Glines 
Abyss by Claire Delacroix
Winterblaze by Kristen Callihan
The Danger That is Damion by Lisa Renee Jones

The Keepers by Heather Graham
Racing Hearts by Michelle Monkou
Don't Cry for Me by Sharon Sala
It Had to Be You by Jill Shalvis


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday, June 2, 2014

Review: Cop a Feel by Robyn Peterman


Cop a Feel
(Handcuffs and Happily Ever Afters, #3)
Robyn Peterman
June 19, 2014
eKensington

When you get time off for bad behavior, romance is the last thing on your mind--but good old-fashioned lust is a whole different story. . . 
Life undercover isn't exactly one big party--not when you're a DEA agent--but it sure beats a desk job. Except when you screw up big and someone has to go in and clean up after you. In that case, even paper-pushing sounds better than babysitting an erotic romance writer with as many enemies as there are euphemisms for "throbbing manhood." 
I've been taking down drug dealers for so long, playing bodyguard to a woman named Shoshanna Lehump sounds like nothing more than a giant pain in my ass-- and being partnered with the gorgeous egotistical jerk I never should have slept with in the first place just makes a bad situation even harder--especially when he pursues me as diligently as we're supposed to be chasing the bad guys...What's a girl have to do to get a happy ending anyway?
Laura's Review:

I had a lot of mixed emotions - even confusion - reading this book. It became almost a DNF for me. What would have been a great romance between Candy and Luke was marred by the outrageously ridiculous backdrop and secondary characters. I couldn't believe that Candy, who, being a tough, no-nonsense cop, would allow herself to be called "Candy" - and participate in the scheme created here. The whole thing felt like a big joke, and while I usually enjoy humor in my romance novels, I guess I prefer it to be a bit more subtle than the absurd slapstick found in this book. Nothing felt real - it was more like I was watching an episode of The Three Stooges - and I'm pretty sure no one ever described them as "romantic." The one redeeming factor  that kept me reading was Luke. Ah, Luke - the only character who seemed to take a very serious job and situation seriously. He was so sweet and protective that I finished the book just so I could see him get his happily-ever-after.

Cop a Feel: 2/5 stars

Note: An ecopy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange of an honest review.