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Showing posts with label Olivia Cunning. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Olivia Cunning. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Review: Hot Ticket by Olivia Cunning
Hot Ticket
Author: Olivia Cunning
Release Date: Feb. 5, 2013
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Sinners on Tour #4
(reading order Book 3)
ISBN: #978-1402245831
Genre: Erotic Romance
Format(s): paperback (400 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Publisher/ NetGalley
About the book:
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He needs her to mask his pain…
When Jace walked through the doors of Aggie's dungeon, the last thing he expected was to find self-forgiveness and the love of a remarkable woman. But when a terrible accident sidelines Jace during the band's tour, the burdensome chains of his past wrap ferociously around his heart.
She needs him to forgive himself…
Determined to crack through Jace's armored shell, Aggie must go beyond her usual methods to mend his heart to love again.
What B is talking about:
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Jace Seymour is carrying quite a few demons from his past, and only one thing is guaranteed to give him any relief. When he finds exactly what he’s looking for during a bachelor’s party at a strip club, he’s all for a little temporary distraction, but as with everything else in the Sinners’ world lately, nothing goes according to plan. Desperate to escape his memories, he seeks out a different kind of pain, but it seems that his angel in leather is more than he bargained for, and just might be the answer to his prayers.
Aggie has worked hard for the life she has: she’s independent, confident, and has a great gig making men literally beg at her feet. She’s happily single and intends to stay that way, thank you very much. But, when she assumes her newest client, a gorgeous, blonde bass player with a taste for what only her skills can deliver, is just like so many others she’s broken, she’s in for a surprise. Jace is unlike any man she’s ever known, and she’s determined to do everything she can to help him, even if it leaves her with a broken heart.
This was a really enjoyable story to read, and is possibly my favorite Sinners story to date. Jace is not only the most introverted member of the band, but one of the most interesting. As an extremely skilled bassist playing in a band he’s always loved, Jace should have confidence in abundance, yet he never allows himself to truly feel a part of everything, choosing instead to keep his bandmates and anyone else he meets at a distance. He’s been made a fighter by his own circumstances, and is viciously loyal to those he counts as his. Consumed by guilt, he perpetually uses his own self-hatred as a shield, while at the same time displaying a profound need for acceptance from the other members of the band, especially his idol, Eric Sticks. Jace is complicated, but very lovable, and I found him completely irresistible almost from the beginning.
Aggie, on the other hand, has found a different means to deal with her past. Like Jace, her family history isn’t pretty, but she discovered early on she had great potential when it came to making men beg, and turned her knack for inflicting physical pain into a fairly lucrative business. Her initial reaction to Jace takes her by surprise, but she’s never been one to walk away from a challenge, and she isn’t about to start with the headstrong, wounded bass player. Aggie is independent and strong, and by turns stubborn and understanding. She is patient and determined, and everything Jace doesn’t want to admit he needs. In short, they’re absolutely perfect for each other.
The Sinners are a rock band, and although they are in the process of outgrowing their past excesses, their appetites for sex are still very much apparent. Jace is an exception to the stereotype, however, since he hides his kink from much of the outside world, while incorporating an amazing generosity towards Aggie as a lover. He is constantly trying to pay off a debt that he doesn’t truly owe, and spends much of his time looking for any means to take the edge off the guilt. It’s a no-win cycle. Fortunately, Aggie is more than capable of meeting Jace head on, and with an equal capacity for giving that just might be the only thing that can free him from his past.
As a counterbalance to the more weighty aspects of the story, Ms. Cunning incorporates plenty of humor, as well. Two of the band members have already settled down, and their sweetly determined fidelity (as well as a few unlikely tattoos) are used to great comedic effect. With a very cramped tour bus, and the addition of Aggie’s skills as a professional Domme thrown in, the rest of the guys face a level of sexual frustration unlike any they’ve known before. It all makes for some thoroughly naughty and entertaining moments.
While all of the guys in the band have proven themselves to be completely endearing in their own way, none have been more lovable, to me, at least, than Jace. Aggie, too, is one of my favorite characters in the series so far, and Ms. Cunning couldn’t have done a better job of letting them show just how perfect for one another they are. Jace goes through a tremendous change in the course of the story, but it never feels forced or conveniently abbreviated just to arrive at a desired ending. Even when Jace begins to find some solid footing towards the end of Hot Ticket, he reaches for his happiness with a tentative, yet grateful, relief. This hopeful acceptance, combined with Aggie’s warm tenaciousness help to make Hot Ticket a sexy, fun addition to the series.
B’s Rating:
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Enjoyed - strongly recommend (A-)
Purchase Info:
Reviews in the Series:
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Review: Double Time by Olivia Cunning
Double Time
Author: Olivia Cunning
Release Date: Nov. 6, 2012
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Sinners On Tour #5 (Book #3)
ISBN: #978-1402271519
Genre: Erotic Romance, M/F/M
Format(s): Paperback (416 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Publisher/ NetGalley
About the book:
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HE CRAVES HER MUSIC AND PASSION
On the rebound from the tumult of his bisexual lifestyle, notorious rock guitarist Trey Mills falls for sizzling new female guitar sensation Reagan Elliot and is swept into the hot, heady romance he never dreamed possible.
SHE CAN’T GET ENOUGH OF HIS BODY
Ecstatic to be on tour learning the ropes with Trey’s band, The Sinners, Reagan finds she craves Trey as much as she craves being in the spotlight.
THEY BOTH NEED MORE…
When Reagan’s ex, Ethan Conner, enters the scene, Trey’s secret desires come back to haunt him, and pleasure and passion are taken to a whole new level of dangerous desire.
What B is talking about:
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A free spirit among other free spirits, Reagan is a good candidate to be metal band Exodus End’s, fill-in rhythm guitarist. Ms. Cunning has given her a fun mix of competent musicianship and the flighty enthusiasm of a die-hard fan given the chance to walk alongside her idols. She is clever, impulsive, and sensual, but once she’s committed her heart to someone, she exhibits a warm fragility that I found very likable.
Ethan, Reagan’s ex-boyfriend and new bodyguard, is another good character, his jealousy and devotion never too imposing or overdone. He’s very different from Trey without their personalities resulting in an implausible match. On the contrary, they are deliciously complimentary characters, and the m/m fan in me was absolutely delighted by their scenes together.
I absolutely loved Trey, though. He’s protective, sweet, and vulnerable, yet has a playful sarcastic streak and tired, but hopeful, eagerness about him as well. He approaches every situation with open sincerity, rather than cold-hearted cynicism, and, despite his rock-star status, is honest and uncertain. While he’s definitely enjoyed all the perks of his celebrity in the past, he’s capable of remarkable devotion. Add to that the fact that he’s sexy as hell, and he’s irresistible.
Double Time unquestionably falls into the HOT category. As an erotic romance, it delivers well and often, the sex scenes between the three main characters certainly being worth an additional read through or two. These three fit very well together, once they allow themselves to explore all the possibilities, and there’s a sweetness to their interactions that makes all the naughty goodness even better.
While Double Time is still mostly about the relationship between Trey, Reagan, and Ethan, it is a more suspenseful tale than I expected. This secondary plot could have easily detracted from the main story, but it didn’t. Given Trey’s former, groupie-filled promiscuity, I assumed the culprit would have been any number of disappointed and possibly psychotic fans of Trey’s, but both the motive and the perpetrator were a surprise.
Although I’ve enjoyed all the Sinners on Tour novels I’ve had the pleasure to read so far, Double Time is my favorite. All the characters, secondary included, were a pleasure to read, and I was hooked from the first page. While it’s a thoroughly enjoyable story on its own, I recommend reading the other stories in the series first, as the relationships between some of the characters is quite complicated at times. I really enjoyed Ms. Cunning’s storytelling in this book, and will definitely be following along with the Sinners’ adventures to the series’ conclusion.
B’s Rating:
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Enjoyed - strongly recommend (A-)
Purchase Info:
Reviews in the Series:
Labels:
4 stars,
Bs-review,
erotic romance,
menage,
Olivia Cunning,
Sinners on Tour,
Sourcebooks
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Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Contest Winner - Olivia Cunning Prize Pack
I would like to thank everyone for stopping by That’s What I’m Talking About for the special Olivia Cunning Prize Pack. Thank you to Sourcebooks Publishing for sponsoring the giveaway in celebration of Olivia’s upcoming release, Double Time.
The winners as selected by Rafflecopter:
CONGRATULATIONS!!
I will send the winners an email to contact me with their full name and mailing address. Please email me at twimom227 (at) gmail (dot) com with your information so the publisher can send you the books. You have until Friday November 2, 2012 (end of day) to contact me. If I don’t hear from you by then, I will draw another winner.
Thank you and Happy Reading!
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Olivia Cunning Prize Pack Giveaway
Hello readers do I have a treat for you! Sourcebooks Publishing is celebrating the upcoming release of Double Time by Olivia Cunning. This is the third book in Ms. Cunning’s sexy Sinners on Tour, rock-and-roll themed series.
About the book...
Trey Mills, the notoriously sexy Sinners rhythm guitarist, gives up his bisexual lifestyle and is swept into a hot, heady romance with Reagan Elliot, a female rock star sensation. But when Trey encounters Reagan's sexy bisexual roommate, Ethan Conner, he can no longer deny who he is or what he wants. Reagan heartily agrees to a solution that opens up a hot new world of sexual experience--and love--with the two men she wants the most.
Since Double Time will be in stores November 1, 2012, it’s time to catch up on this erotic series! Thanks to Sourcebook Publishing, I have two (2) OLIVIA CUNNING PRIZE PACKS to giveaway! Two (2) winners will receive a copy of the first two books in the series: Backstage Pass and Rock Hard.
All you need to do to enter is use the Rafflecopter form below, and leave a comment telling me if you could go on tour with any band or artist (past or present), who would it be? (and why if you feel up to sharing!)
The Rules: Thank you to Sourcebooks Publishing for generously donating two (2) Olivia Cunning Prize packs to give away. To be entered, please use the RAFFLECOPTER form below. As part of your entry, please leave a comment answering the question: if you could go on tour with any band or artist (past or present), who would it be? (and why if you feel up to sharing!) You do not need to be a google friends connect follower of my blog, but it is always appreciated. Contest is open from October 16, 2012 until October 23, 2012 at 12:01 AM EDT. Contest is restricted to US and Canadian mailing addresses only. Two (2) winners will be selected from eligible entries. I am not responsible for items lost in the mail. If you have problems with the RAFFLECOPTER form, please email me at twimom227 (at) gmail (dot) com.
Thanks and Happy Reading!
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Contest Winners - Rock Hard
I would like to thank everyone for stopping by That’s What I’m Talking About for my review of Rock Hard and my interview with author Olivia Cunning. I especially want to thank Olivia for stopping by for the interview and Sourcebook Publishing for generously donating two (2) copies of Olivia’s newest release, Rock Hard, for my giveaway.
Every person that commented on the review or interview was entered into the contest - one entry per person. The winners were selected using random.org.
The Winners:
Tara
Estella
CONGRATULATIONS!!
I’m sending both winners a message; please email me at twimom227 (at) gmail (dot) com with your mailing address so Sourcebook can send you the book! You have until Friday April 22, 2011 (end of day) to contact me. If I don’t hear from you by then, I will draw another winner.
Thank you and Happy Reading
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Author Interview & Giveaway - Olivia Cunning
Today I have the honor of bringing to you author Olivia Cunning. Combining her love for romantic fiction and rock ‘n roll, Olivia writes erotic romance centered around rock musicians.
Raised on hard rock music from the cradle, she attended her first Styx concert at age six and fell instantly in love with live music. She's been known to travel over a thousand miles just to see a favorite band in concert. As a teen, she discovered her second love, romantic fiction -- first, voraciously reading steamy romance novels and then penning her own. Her first Sinners on Tour novel, Backstage Pass was named a Top Read of 2010 by Love Romance Passion, Alpha Reader, The Fiction Vixen, Loves Romance and Smexy Books. She currently lives in Nebraska, where she is working on her next book! Please help me welcome Olivia toThat’s What I’m Talking About.
Twimom: Olivia, welcome and thank you for stopping by.
Olivia: Thanks for having me!
Twimom: Rockers and romance... seems like women have been swooning over musicians since Elvis first appeared. Can you tell my readers a little more about your inspirations and how you began writing?
Olivia: I’ve been a music fan my entire life. I became obsessed with rock stars as a teen. My walls were literally covered with pictures I’d carefully clipped from every imaginable music magazine. I wanted to be a rock star when I grew up. I tried to teach myself to play the guitar, with little success. Music consumed the majority of my days. And then I had a kid, worked on my education and my obsession for music settled a bit. When the kid started to become obsessed with music about five years ago, we started going to tons of concerts and I remembered why I’d been obsessed as a teenager. There’s nothing I love more than music, except maybe writing. I started writing in high school, too. I had big dreams of becoming an author. When that didn’t pan-out immediately, I realized I had to pay the bills and pursued a “normal” job and gave up my aspiration to be a rock star/writer. I never stopped writing. I just continued working on it on the side. So my two greatest passions are rock music (and nummins musicians) and writing. It only took me sixteen years to combine the two. You’d think it would be a no brainer.
Twimom: Do you have any rock star crushes or stories you want to share? What’s the best concert you’ve been to see?
Olivia: Rock star crushes... I’ve had too many to name. My first was Rudy Sarzo when he was the bassist for Whitesnake. The man licked the neck of his guitar and did this hip gyration thing that had my 15-year-old hormones coursing through my arteries like water in a flood-stage river. I went to see Whitesnake and Motley Crue in concert that year and I screamed Rudy so loud and so long that I couldn’t talk for two days afterward. The best concert I’ve been to was the first time I saw Avenged Sevenfold live. I’ve since seen them five times. They’re now my favorite live band and whenever they tour within 300 miles of my house, I’m there. As a matter of fact, I’m driving 4 hours to go see them next month with Bullet for My Valentine and Three Days Grace. CAN. NOT. WAIT!! Another thing that made that concert so good was the opening band, Papa Roach. You must see these guys live. Jacoby Shaddix works a crowd like no other front man on the planet. I once drove 1100 miles to see Tool in concert. Was it worth it? Oh yeah! Thanks for taking me to my happy place by asking that question.
Twimom: Wow! I cannot even being to compare concert stories! LOL! Your first series, Sinners on Tour, follows the romantic exploits of a rock band. Can you tell my readers more about the series and your future plans for the Sinners?
Olivia: Sinners is a rock band with five sexy single men. Each book in the series focuses on one of the band members and how he finds his happily ever after with the right woman. The first book, Backstage Pass, is about lead guitarist Brian Sinclair. He’s the sweet, romantic of the group. The second book, Rock Hard, is about vocalist Sed Lionheart. He’s pretty much Brian’s polar opposite. The thing about Sed is that when he falls in love, he falls hard and he falls forever. The other guys of the band (Jace, Eric and Trey) will each get their chance at love, too. And one thing that’s great about the series is that because these guys all live on a tour bus together most of the time, you’ll see your favorite character reappear in each and every book. You also get to know them quite well and see how their relationships (friendships and love) evolve over time.
Twimom: Sounds fantastic! Do you write any other genres and/or have plans for any future stories outside of the Sinners?
Olivia: I think I’ve written a novel in every imaginable genre. I’ve been thinking of digging some of those out, polishing them up a little and self-publishing them under different pen names. My agent wants me to pursue my medical/scientific thrillers (I had one semifinal in Amazon’s Novel Breakthrough Awards a couple of years ago.) under a different name, after I get my Olivia Cunning pen name well-established. But the YA science fiction? The fantasy? The YA contemporary romance? The horror? The series length romance? Time travel erotic romance? Etc, etc, etc... I don’t want to confuse readers by releasing all those under Olivia Cunning and most of them aren’t ever going to sell to a traditional publisher, so I might publish them myself in my “free” time. As for the Olivia Cunning “brand”, I’ll keep writing erotic romance about rock stars forever, if I can. I hope to write a spinoff series about Exodus End (a band mentioned in the Sinners on Tour series) and just had a great idea in the shower this morning about another, young band that is discovered by Sinners (the Sinners hear them play in a bar and introduce them to their manager, Jerry), but it will never be mentioned the Sinners on Tour series. I’m a prolific writer, if you can’t tell. LOL!
Twimom: Wow! Can’t wait to see where you go. I always like to ask authors about their reading habits... What types of books do you enjoy reading? What was your favorite read during 2010? Olivia: I read a little bit of everything (like I write a little bit of everything – ADD-much, Olivia?). And I’m a slow reader. At a few pages a day, it usually takes me a month to get through a book. I wish I had more time to read. I seriously love YA fantasy. The Harry Potter series. The Percy Jackson series. (I’ve never read Twilight—don’t hit me!) I think I like them because they are so different from what I write. I do read romance of all kinds. I do read thrillers. I do read classics and literary fiction. A little horror. Some fantasy. A bit of erotica. I like variety! I read a Lacey Alexander book this year, What See Needs, that I lost sleep to finish. Very sexy!
Twimom: What upcoming 2011 releases are you most excited to read?
Olivia: I can’t wait to read Virgin by Cheryl Brooks. It’s the 7th book in her Cat Star Chronicles series, and comes out in June. Love those Zetithian men. MEOW!
Twimom: Olivia, once again thank you so much for taking the time to tell my readers a little bit about yourselves and your writing. It was wonderful chatting with you.
Olivia: My pleasure!
You can find Olivia Cunning on line at
GIVEAWAY: I have two (2) copies (two winners) of Rock Hard to giveaway here at That’s What I’m Talking About. Thank you to Sourcebooks (www.sourcebooks.com) for sponsoring the giveaway of Olivia’s newest release. To enter, please leave a comment and your email at the end of today’s interview or yesterday’s review of Rock Hard. One entry per person. Winners are restricted to US and Canada mailing addresses, only. Contest open from April 12, 2011 until Sunday April 17, 2011 at 9:00 PM EDT. Two (2) winners will be selected from the comment entries using random.org.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Review & Giveaway: Rock Hard
Rock Hard
Author: Olivia CunningRelease Date: April 1, 2011
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Sinners on Tour Book 2
ISBN: #978-1402245770
Genre: Erotic Romance
Format(s): Paperback (448 pgs), ebook
I received a copy of this book from the PUBLISHER for the purposes of an honest review.
From the author’s website:
Sinners’ lead singer, Sed, had his heart shredded when Jessica left him to pursue her dreams,so when she dances her way back into his life, he's not sure he's ready for her brand of pain, or pleasure, again. When she convinces Sed to engage in a benefits with benefits relationship, things seem to be going his way, until one of his fans catches their explicit public display of affection on film and posts it all over the internet. Will Jessica ever trust Sed again? And has Sed become the man of Jessica’s dreams or is he just posing to get what he wants?
What B is talking about:
Jessica Chase has the brains to become a first-rate lawyer, but the body of the perfect pinup. Her heart still aches for the ex-fiancé she left behind when she had to choose between him and her career, and a chance meeting is about set her world on fire all over again.
Sed Lionheart has never gotten over Jessica leaving him like she did, and meaningless sex on the road with groupies can never fill the emptiness that remains. Once Jessica reenters his life, though, he is complete again, and he’ll risk everything for the chance to hold on to her forever.
Jumping right to the heart of the matter, break out the ice cubes. Or a high-powered fan. This novel solidly lives up to its genre. There’s sex. Lots and lots of sex. Sex indoors, out of doors, and even far above the city of Las Vegas. Never mind what happens literally under the table, and in the band’s tour bus. Sed and Jessica have a penchant for sex in public, and they indulge it as often as they can. Cunning has a great imagination, though, so each encounter stays erotic and edgy.
I did have a few issues with the story itself, mostly the length of time Jessica is subjected to the distrust and hatred for her breakup with Sed. While it’s true the rest of the band only had Sed’s version of their breakup to base their opinions on in her absence, I was ready for her to set the story straight much sooner. Sed’s firm belief in his own version of events made things much more difficult for Jessica than they needed to be. His continual depiction by others close to the band, as well as the other members, as a lovable teddy bear of a guy is a little irksome. Everything gets sorted out in time though, and Sed is forced to accept his role in the difficulties he experiences in his relationships.
Rock Hard doesn’t make excuses for, nor does it attempt to sanitize, the potential lifestyles of rockers on tour. Sed is a star, and after Jessica leaves him and his band becomes famous, he partakes of what’s offered. He doesn’t particularly enjoy his sexual escapades, of course, comparing each to what he had with Jessica, and being completely unsurprised when they don’t measure up. Jessica, likewise, has no illusions that he’s been waiting for her. She just chooses not to dwell on that part of his life, and sets new rules of faithfulness once they’re back together.
The love story was very sweet in the end, and one I enjoyed a lot. Cunning doesn’t try to turn the novel into an overly thought provoking analysis of modern romance. In fact, the deepest thing about Rock Hard is the penetration. But, it’s an incredibly sexy read with a well-earned happy ending. I’m very tempted to go pick up the first novel in the series, Backstage Pass, to learn more about all the guys in the band, and will be looking forward to what’s in store for the guys next.
B's Rating:
Liked it a lot - recommend (B+)
GIVEAWAY: Sourcebooks has generously donated two (2) copies (two winners) of Rock Hard to giveaway here at That’s What I’m Talking About. Thank you to Sourcebooks (www.sourcebooks.com) for sponsoring the giveaway of Olivia Cunning’s latest book. To enter, please leave a comment and your email at the end of today’s review or tomorrow’s interview with author Olivia Cunning. Only one entry per person. Winners are restricted to US and Canada mailing addresses, only. Contest open from April 12, 2011 until Sunday April 17, 2011 at 9:00 PM EDT. Two (2) winners will be selected from the comment entries using random.org.
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