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2013 Reading Challenge
Jen (That's What I'm Talking About) has
read 0 books toward her goal of 75 books.
New-To-Me Authors
2013 reading goal:
15 new-to-me authors.
1) Stacy Gail
2) Heather Massey
3) Sidney Bristol
4) Ann Mayburn
5) Thea Harrison
6) Virna DePaul
7) Mary Quast
8) Molly Harper
9) Eleri Stone
10) PJ Schnyder
11) Kait Ballenger
12) Denise L. Wyant
13) Lucy Monroe
Sunday Snippets
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Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Review: Thoroughly Kissed by Kristine Grayson
Thoroughly Kissed
Author: Kristine Grayson
Release Date: June 1, 2012
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Charming Series #3
ISBN: #978-1402248542
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Format(s): Paperback (384 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Publisher/NetGalley
About the book:
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Sleeping Beauty has sworn off kissing…
Emma awakens to an entirely different world than the one she lived in a thousand years ago, and although she's the real Sleeping Beauty, her life is no fairy tale. After parting ways with her supposed Prince Charming, she's determined to be a normal girl—she hides her magic and swears off kissing strange men.
But her gorgeous boss Michael knows there's something unusual about Emma, and he thinks she's as infuriating as she is beautiful. Now Emma needs to teach Michael a lesson, which means mastering her magic. She knows she's flirting with danger, but after one look at Michael's perfect lips, all she can think is, "What's another thousand years...?"
Welcome to the fractious fairy tale world of Kristine Grayson, where the bumpy road to happily ever after is paved with surprises…
What B is talking about:
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Embodying the ideal of a “self-made woman,” Emma Lost has a lot to be proud of. In the last ten years she’s published a best-selling book, earned a prestigious professorship at a university, and conquered her fear of modern indoor plumbing. So what if she was in a magical coma for a thousand years, and past experience mandates she avoid kissing any man? She has everything she needs and, most importantly, she’s earned it all on her own.
Michael Found has unhappily cut his sabbatical short and returned to Madison, Wisconsin to assume the position of chairman of the history department. A stickler for details and accuracy, he’s undertaken to remove the newest professor, pop history bestseller and all, from his department’s ranks. The last thing he expects is a fairy tale beauty in need of a guardian knight, who could steal his heart while (literally) turning the world upside down.
Once again, Ms. Grayson has run amok through another fairy tale, or rather, continued her reimagining of the previous one, “Sleeping Beauty.” While she continues to poke fun at mythology and destiny, she also takes a swipe at the arrogance of modified history and those who are guilty of it.
Although Thoroughly Kissed is a bit more serious in overall tone than the previous novel in the series, Utterly Charming, there are still plenty of laughs to be had. The surprise appearance of Emma’s magic causes some highly entertaining chaos, and the dialog surrounding these mishaps had me cackling out loud. The Fates are back, as well, and are again some of my favorite characters in the novel. Emma finds herself in some pretty rotten situations, but her begrudging acceptance of them, and the resulting snarky dialog, makes for some really funny moments.
While I missed the cover-to-cover lightheartedness of the earlier novel, Thoroughly Kissed is a fun and sweet addition to the Charming Series. Michael and Emma are a fun couple, and I enjoyed watching them both antagonize and comfort one another as they journey through their story. Ms. Grayson has again written likable, witty characters, and seems to take a fair amount of pleasure in torturing them on occasion. This is a good, lighter series to have in any romance collection, and even though there’s no way to predict what she may have planned next, I know I’ll be adding it to mine.
B’s Rating:
|
Liked it - recommend (B+)
Purchase Info:
Reviews in the series:
Monday, June 11, 2012
Review: Beauty and the Best by Judi Fennell
Beauty and the Best
Author: Judi Fennell
Release Date: April 6, 2012
Publisher: self-published
ISBN: #978-0985453411
Genre: Contemporary Romance, angels
Format(s): paperback (296 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Author
About the book:
|
Jolie Gardener, personal chef by day, aspiring romance writer by night, likes to talk and does it a lot. She has to because if she stops, all the pain, disillusionment, and abandonment of her AWOL mother, question-mark father, and foster-care childhood will rise up like a chocolate soufflé on steroids, sweeping away the fragile infrastructure of her life. But she's fine. Really. She is.
Or so she thinks.
Todd Best isn't fine. He knows it. And doesn't care.
After his wife died—the woman who believed in him when he was a struggling artist—he put painting aside, moved from their home, and lost himself in the minutiae of daily life. Alone. Private. The way he likes it. The last thing he needs is some chatty cook seeping into the perfectly bland canvas of his life.
Or so he thinks.
So when Jonathan, a guardian-angel-in-training, turns himself into a kitten to help these two lonely souls find a happily ever after together, it ought to be a piece of cake.
Or so he thinks…
What I’m talking about:
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What a wonderful, refreshing, happy story! Right from the start I was in love with the hero, Todd Best. A lonely, depressed man who lost his wife two years ago, he has all but given up on life and the will to continue his work (a famous artist) and even to feed himself. His concerned family has hired different personal chefs to help him over the past two years, and now Jolie is starting the task. On her first morning, Todd stumbles into the kitchen, hungover and naked. Instead of being arrogant and cocky as we would expect a famous man to be, we learn from Todd’s inner monologue that he is embarrassed by his actions.
Jolie has had a tough life - alcoholic mom, never knew her dad, in and out of foster homes. She’s seen it all, but she has managed to make the most of her life and to rise above the circumstances. Yet there is a price to her success - she has shut out almost everyone, scare to be hurt and let down again. She won’t let her emotions get hold and allow herself to hope.
Early on we learn of Jolie’s plans to author a romance novel. She hopes to use Todd as inspiration for her hero, Tom. I was on edge and cringing knowing that a fictional exposé of Todd's life--a man who loves and protects his privacy--will not end well. I just hated knowing that Jolie is going to get hurt for her innocent book aspirations. From the first mention of the book in this story, I could see the misunderstandings, hurt feelings, etc. that were to come. And while I knew a confrontation would come, I understood the couple would have to go through it to move beyond their pasts.
Todd and Jolie have some help when it comes to the romance department. Family friend, Jasmine Gray has sought out the help of Guardian Angel-in-training, Jonathan Griff, to help Todd have a happily-ever-after. Mr. Griff enters into their lives in different forms - one as a book store owner, another as a cat. Jonathan tends to be a bit nervous as he tries to earn his wings, and sometimes can be a bit goofy. In my opinion, he seemed to know too much about Jolie and Todd, but they never questioned it. I kept waiting for the lightbulb to go on in Jolie’s head, but things continued to move forward, and Jonathan did his job.
Jolie is full of cliche comebacks and cracks about life "I always say do or die" kind of things. While it can (and did) get tiresome at times, it is a great reflection of her desire to hide away the pain of her childhood and pretend it doesn't bother her. Ms. Fennell developed this annoying, but honest character flaw to Jolie which works well.
As Todd and Jolie grow closer and quickly fall for one another, I fell in love too. Their romance is honest, simple and refreshing. Their first kiss put flutters in my belly. Even though we know from almost the beginning Jolie’s desires for Todd, it took time for the reader to learn more from Todd’s point-of-view. But once he realized it was okay to love again, the emotions flowed forth.
The pair have a few bumps and minor misunderstandings. And the big conflict did happen just as I knew it would. But Ms. Fennell is able to write a solid path away from the conflict and into a satisfying resolution. There was a point when Todd confronted Jolie and asked if she felt anything. Jolie’s response was poignant and moving, bringing tears to my eyes. I thought to myself, “Haven’t we all felt that way at some point?”
In the end I had a smile on my face and a sigh of contentment. Beauty and the Best is a happy-go-lucky, sweet, simple romance. The tale is light-hearted but full of emotion. The story stirred in me feelings of falling in love all over again. It was just downright enjoyable to read!
My Rating:
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Enjoyed - strongly recommend (A-)
Purchase Info:
Labels:
4 stars,
angels,
contemporary romance,
Judi Fennell,
self-published,
Twimom Review
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3
comments
AAD Author Spotlight & Giveaway: Melanie Card
Hello Readers! Today I bring you author Melanie Card. Melanie has always been drawn to story telling. In fact, she says she can’t remember a time when she wasn’t telling a story in her head or on paper. In grade school, she had journal writing time which she turned into story telling time, weaving tales of magic and adventure that mimicked the fairy tales and myths that she loved to read. It was there, with the help of two very special teachers, that she nurtured this love and started her journey as a writer.
Melanie writes fantasy, paranormal romance, and everything in between, seasoned with a good dash of adventure and mystery. Join her on her tales of magic, adventure, and romance.
Melanie is a featured author attending Author’s After Dark in New Orleans. For more information about AAD2012, click HERE.
Also, keep reading to learn more about Melanie’s release, Ward Against Death, and enter to win an e-copy! GIVEAWAY details are below.
Please help me welcome Melanie to That’s What I’m Talking About.
Twimom: Melanie, welcome and thank you for stopping by.
Melanie: Thank you so much for inviting me here today.
Twimom: You’ve recently started a new YA/Adult paranormal series, Chronicles of a Reluctant Necromancer, with the first book, Ward Against Death. Can you tell us a bit more about this intriguing world you’ve created?
Melanie: The story takes place in a world reminiscent of 16th century Europe in Brawenal city. Brawenal is a major hub for culture, politics, industry, commerce, religion, and crime. The port city sits on the side of a dormant volcano, in tiered rings down to the sea and has an ancient history that’s left a maze-like sewer system beneath it and a strange cemetery on it’s outskirts. In this world there’s magic and mystery, assassins and necromancers.
Twimom: And what is up next for the Reluctant Necromancer?
Melanie: Book two, Ward Against Darkness, where Ward and Celia get into even more trouble with more undead creatures and evil necromancers and there relationship gets even more complicated.
Twimom: Do you enjoy writing genres outside of the fantasy and paranormal genre? If so, what other genres do you enjoy writing?
Melanie: I haven’t written outside of the fantasy or paranormal genre. I’ve tried, but something magical always seems to slip in. The thing I love about fantasy and paranormal is that there are elements of other genres within it. Certainly there’s action and adventure, in Ward Against Death there’s mystery and romance. Depending on what I’m writing will determine how much of the other genres flavor my story.
Twimom: I understand - I always look for and enjoy a little fantasy/paranormal in my reading. You are a featured author at the Authors After Dark Con in 2012. Why AAD? What are your favorite aspects of AAD?
Melanie: I’m relativity new to conferences so I picked AAD because I’d heard some great things about it and that it was relatively small. I want to make sure I have the opportunity to spend time with people, have conversations, and make friends. I can be quite shy so I think a more intimate con will be less overwhelming for my first time out.
Twimom: I always like to ask authors about their reading habits... What types of books do you enjoy reading? What was your favorite read in 2011 and/or so far in 2012?
Melanie: I enjoy reading all types of books, although I read mostly fantasy or paranormal romance (adult and YA). My favorite read last year was Grave Witch by Kalayna Price. For 2012 so far, I’d have to say Graceling by Kristin Cashore was fabulous.
Twimom: What upcoming 2012 releases are you most excited to read?
Melanie: I look forward to Kalayna Price’s and Kristin Cashore’s new releases, as well as Maria V. Snyder and Deborah Cooke.
Twimom: Melanie, once again thank you so much for taking the time to tell my readers a little bit about yourself and your writing. It was wonderful chatting with you. I look forward to seeing you in New Orleans!
Melanie: Thank you so much for having me. I look forward to meeting you, too!
You can find Melanie on line at
Ward Against Death (Entangled Publishing, August 2011)
Twenty-year-old Ward de’Ath expected this to be a simple job—bring a nobleman’s daughter back from the dead for fifteen minutes, let her family say good-bye, and launch his fledgling career as a necromancer. Goddess knows he can’t be a surgeon—the Quayestri already branded him a criminal for trying—so bringing people back from the dead it is.
But when Ward wakes the beautiful Celia Carlyle, he gets more than he bargained for. Insistent that she’s been murdered, Celia begs Ward to keep her alive and help her find justice. By the time she drags him out her bedroom window and into the sewers, Ward can’t bring himself to break his damned physician’s Oath and desert her.
However, nothing is as it seems—including Celia. One second, she’s treating Ward like sewage, the next she’s kissing him. And for a nobleman’s daughter, she sure has a lot of enemies. If he could just convince his heart to give up on the infuriating beauty, he might get out of this alive…
GIVEAWAY Thank you, Melanie, for stopping by That’s What I’m Talking About. Entangled Publishing is graciously giving away one (1) e-copy of Ward Against Death. Please leave your comments for Melanie by Wednesday June 13, 2012, at 9:00 PM EDT to be eligible for the contest. One entry per person, the winner will be selected from eligible entries using random.org. Contest is open internationally; please leave your email address so I can contact you. Thank you to Melanie and Entangled Publishing for this great giveaway!
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Sunday Snippets #107
Savage Awakening
Author: J.D. TylerAlpha Pack Novel #2
Publisher: Signet
Released: April 3, 2012
REVIEW HERE
..."Look, I don't have the answers you want. I wish I did - then maybe I could help him."
For the first time, her posture slumped. "That's all I want, too. I'd just hoped . . . well, never mind. You've obviously been through the wringer and I've kept you awake. Thanks for talking with me."
"Anytime."
She turned to go and he realized he meant that - he'd like to be there if she needed him. In fact, he didn't want her to go at all, but there wasn't a good way to encourage her to stay without sounding like a creeper, what with being a stranger and Micah so sick.
Before she reached the door, she looked at him over her shoulder. "I hope you're feeling better and out of here fast."
"I feel better already," he replied softly. He held her gaze to make sure she got the message.
A quick smile, and she was gone.
Aric sagged into the pillows with a heavy sigh. "Jesus, what's wrong with me?"
Already he hated her being away from him. Where he couldn't get to know her. Touch her.
Fuck her against the wall.
Hadn't something similar happened to Jax when he'd met Kira?
"Oh, shit."
No. That was not what was wrong with him! His neglected libido was reacting to an unattached female, nothing more. Wait - was she single? He hadn't seen a ring, but that didn't mean there wasn't a boyfriend.
His wolf snarled, totally pissed off at the notion that there might be another male in her life. Someone waiting for her, wherever she was from. His lungs constricted, it became hard to breathe, and he knew one thing for sure.
He. Was. Fucked.
Friday, June 8, 2012
Review: Must Be Magic by Patricia Rice
Must Be Magic
Author: Patricia Rice
Release Date: June 1, 2012 (reprint)
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Magic Series #2
ISBN: #978-1402251948
Genre: Historical Romance, magic
Format(s): Paperback (304 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Publisher
About the book:
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Lady Leila Staines is the dark-haired Malcolm, the one who has yet to discover her magical gift. But she's convinced that Dunstan Ives, the brooding master cultivator, can arrange a flower garden that will help her distill fragrances. Ives, accused of killing his wife, shuns decadent society and has no use for another beautiful woman—except that Leila seems to have bewitched him.
What I’m talking about:
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Lady Leila Staines is widow and a Malcolm. She is cousin of Ninian, who was heroine in the first book, Merely Magic. Dunstan Ives is the brother of Drogo Earl of Ives, hero from first book. Although this is the second book in the series, it most definitely can be read as a stand alone.
Leila has questioned her "Malcolmness" her entire life... She has dark hair, while all other Malcolm females are blonde. She doesn't seem to have any talents (magics), but she has an acute sense of smell. Her life dream is to create her own perfumes, but her late husband refused to support her. Now that he is gone, she has hired Dunstan, the best agronomist in England, to get her flowers to grow.
Dunstan has a black cloud above his head. His high-society (adulteress) wife, Celia, was murdered and most think Dunstan is responsible. He has some interest in clearing his name for the sake of his son, but he is a little worried he may be guilty. He takes the job with Leila so he can make enough money to hire an investigator.
Must Be Magic opens strong and jumps right into the plot. I enjoyed the determination in Leila from the get go - she wants so badly to have her own talents, and she knows in her heart that she needs the roses to make it happen. She is accustomed to the upper class lifestyle, but prefers to hide among her flowers without the make up, powdered wigs and fancy clothing.
In order for Dunstan and Leila to get to know one another, Ms. Rice hides Lady Leila in plain sight - know one recognizes her without the dressings of formality. This allows Dunstan and Leila (aka Lily) to open up and be themselves because he isn’t aware the woman whose company he enjoys is the Lady. And the author allows the charade to continue for just the right amount of time, stopping it before it would have been difficult or painful for the truth to come out. Although there were times I was a bit annoyed with Dunstan because he would wonder how Lily and Leila have the same eyes without even considering they are the same person!
The story is filled with wonderful dialogue and scenes. One of my favorites is when Lily/Leila and Dunstan come together for the first time. It was in a heated spring and the steam coming off the pages was extremely sensual. Soon after, Dunstan learns the truth of who Lily is and confronts her. Although he gives her a hard time about misleading him, he cannot stop himself from wanting her. He tries his best to put up a wall, but their mutual desire is palpable. The words left me aching for Dunstan!
The pair work over the course of the book at moving beyond their individual pasts and backgrounds. Together they make one another a better person. The pace set for their unorthodox “courtship” and how they move through the “getting to know you” phase is a joy to read. The book embodies romance on many levels.
Once Dunstan accepts that maybe he a Leila can have some sort of future (and that he does care for her deeply), he understands why he must find out the truth and clear his name. (I will note, the repetition of “I must clear my name” from Dunstan at this point became tiresome after a while - I was thinking to myself “I know already... so get on with it!”) There are a handful of suspects introduced along the way, and I for one wasn’t really certain who did what! The scenes become more intense as the end drew near and the intensity ratcheted up the suspense a few notches.
Over all, Must Be Magic is a lovely romantic tale wrapped around a murder mystery. I adore that Dunstan acknowledges Leila's gifts rather than makes excuses for them. They each embrace the uniqueness of the other, and together they are a formidable pair. They are equals from the beginning, and although they don't always listen to each other during the book, there is always respect for differences and of talents. I think this is what made this one so enjoyable.
The story's flow was seamless. Never a stall. The mystery of who murdered Dunstan’s wife, Celia, held my interest and provided a focal point, but wasn't overbearing. Simply delightful!
My Rating:
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Enjoyed - strongly recommend (A-)
Reviews in the Series:
Labels:
4 stars,
historical romance,
Magic Series,
Patricia Rice,
Sourcebooks,
Twimom Review
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0
comments
RAGT Wrap Up and Shameless Summer Giveaway Hop
Well, I’ve had a few days to process the whirl-wind trip that was my weekend in Ohio, and I’m here to give you the highlights AND to giveaway some GREAT prizes! Keep reading for the giveaway details!
Second reason I made the trip: my amazing book friends and blogging tweeps. After meeting so many of you in Philadelphia last year, I had to take this opportunity to see you again (and hang with some of the Sisterhood of the Werefly!).
I landed in the Dayton, OH airport about 10:30 AM on Friday June 1st and was back there by noon on Sunday June 3rd. It was a quick but wonderful visit! I got to spend time with Nima and Ang (who could not attend the event because Nima’s daughter was graduating high school), and I got to get in lots of author and friend time at the event.
So, here are some of the highlights of my trip...
Friday June 1:
First of all, if you’ve never been hugged by Bells from Hanging with Bells, you are missing out! She alone was worth the trip and I miss her already! I got to meet up with many of the friends I’d met in Philly: Bells, Mandi (from Smexi), Danielle (Lush), Penny, Dren, Marq, and Jaime Saare. I also got to meet several of my tweeps for the first time... Like Colette (aka A Buckeye Girl Reads), Liza (MsLizalou), NikiBrandyberry, Penny’s sister: QueenCityE, Bridget Locke, Jackie (Literary Escapism) and Nicole (aka Adam S. Walker - or as you would know her, Admin for Shiloh Walker). And bonus... I got to hang with Trelaina again (after meeting her in August when I was in Chicago). LOTS OF FUN!
That night there was a book signing and I took advantage... I got to meet Sherrilyn Kenyon... Yes THE SHERRILYN KENYON!! She is so sweet and I would have loved to talk with her longer, but there was a line and well, I was a bit tongue-tied & fangirl. I also finally got to meet Shiloh Walker after tweeting with her for the past couple of years. Then I spent time catching up with some of the authors I meet last year in Philly... PJ Schnyder, Judi Fennell and Stephanie Julian. All such wonderful women. I really enjoyed talking books with Judi (I kind of monopolized her for a while!)
After the signing, we played some very interesting Pictionary sponsored by Carina Press. Let me tell you, even if it looks like it, the answer is not “penis!” We laughed a lot! I also took the opportunity to meet Angela James, editor at Carina and another twitter buddy.
After hanging in the bar for a bit, I took off back to Nima’s house, where I made it up until 1:00 AM (I woke at 3:30 AM Friday morning).
Saturday June 2:
I was up bright and early! I headed back over the hotel for breakfast and conversation. After the buffet, we broke into small groups, and I selected the one with Virna DePaul. Although I’d never read any of her books, I’ve heard some amazing things about her characters and world-building. I am so glad I went! Meeting Virna is one of the highlights of my trip. She is such a nice person and I enjoyed discussing how bloggers/reviewers fit into the mix. She will be at AADNOLA this August and I cannot wait to chat with her some more.
Next I went to a discussion sponsored by Berkley Publishing. Although much of the discussion centered around the submission process (and I am not a writer), I learned many new things about the world of being a published author. I also won an ARC of Lora Leigh’s Stygian’s Honor. WOOT! You all know how I love me some BREEDS!
At lunch I tracked down another person I wanted to meet: Sue Grimshaw from Romance at Random (Random House). I’ve chatted with her often on Twitter and enjoyed meeting her live and in person. Another wonderful woman!
The rest of the time was spent chatting more with the people I’d come to see and meet. I finally headed back to Nima’s about 10:00 PM, and when I got there, Nima, Ang and I stayed up until nearly 3:00 AM catching up!
NOW FOR THE FUN... a GIVEAWAY!
I’m participating in the SHAMELESS SUMMER GIVEAWAY BLOG HOP!
While I was away, I thought of all of you - my readers! Really, I did. And I was able to pick up a few fun things to share.
First Prize: the first three books from Sherrilyn Kenyon’s League Series: Born of Night, Born of Fire and Born of Ice - all SIGNED by Sherri herself!
Second Prize: A SIGNED copy of The Sweetest Thing by Jill Shalvis AND a hand-crafted bookmark made by Shannon K. Butcher.
Third Prize: A copy of Guilty Pleasure by Lora Leigh AND a book cover flat and bookmark signed by Lila DiPasqua.
How to Enter and Giveaway Rules: To enter, please leave me a comment telling me what author you’ve never met, but would love to meet some day. To be eligible for the contest, comments must be made by 11:59pm EDT on Friday, June 15, 2012. One entry per person, the winners will be selected from eligible entries using random.org. Contest is open to US and Canadian mailing addresses ONLY; please leave your email address so I can contact you. I am not responsible for items lost in the mail. You do not need to be a Google Friend Connect follower of my blog, but it is appreciated.
Special thanks to Jen at Red Hot Books, Brie at Romance Around the Corner & Michelle at Michelle's Book Blog for sponsoring the Shameless Summer Giveaway Hop. Please visit these other great blogs for more chances to win other great prizes!
PS... If you don't want to enter the contest, but still would like to leave a comment, please do so and just note "no contest entry."
PS... If you don't want to enter the contest, but still would like to leave a comment, please do so and just note "no contest entry."
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Review of Bar Mate, Mate by the Music & Out of Place Mate by Rebecca Royce
Bar Mate
Mate by the Music
Out of Place Mate
Author: Rebecca Royce
Release Dates: March - April, 2012
Publisher: Decadent Pub.
Decadent’s Edge Series
Shifters & Bikers Series
Genre: Paranormal Romance, short story, Erotica
Format(s): e-book
Book Source: Publisher
About the books:
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Bar Mate: Wolf-shifter Yvette Nelson is incredibly bored with her job as a waitress at Gunther’s Bar. Until one night, when a man she’s never met enters the place. He makes her wolf want to come out and play—she has to have him.
Stark just wanted a beer. But Yvette brings out yearnings in him he didn’t even know he had. Together, they’ll find that letting go of inhibitions can open up all kinds of fun times, like a chance at forever.
Mate by the Music: A mission to find his brother sends Scott Quaid to Gunther’s Bar, but a storm has emptied the place of everyone except a beautiful shifter hot enough to dry his damp leathers.
Nancy Elwood has faced the worst of humans and shifters alike and has no intention of ever letting her guard down again, until a handsome biker sweeps in with the rain.
As background music throbs around them, a different type of vibration urges two strong souls to mate with animalistic passion.
Out of Place Mate: Sean Quaid’s brothers don’t think he is very shifter-friendly. He certainly does not seem happy that they have both married and haven’t been showing up to work. Victoria Bensen wants nothing more than to cool him down and get him to stop making such a scene at Gunther’s Bar.
When she drags him to the staging room at the back of the bar, she doesn’t know that it will be Sean bringing down her barriers, not the other way around.
What I’m talking about:
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Once again, I am drawn to the fun pleasure of a short story from Decadent Publishing’s EDGE line. As I’ve mentioned previously, these stories are “slices of life” from a bigger story and meant to be enjoyed for the intensity of the moment.
Today I bring to you three such vignettes that all take place in the same world, and are follow-up stories to Unwanted Mate by Rebecca Royce. Together, they tell the tale of how three brothers find their mates at Gunther’s Bar, home of a shifter wolf pack and owned by the pack’s Alpha, Gunther, hero of the first story. Each story can be read as a stand alone, but together they paint a richer picture - to include Unwanted Mate, which I think is the best of all four stories.
In Bar Mate, we are introduced to the first Quaid brother, Stark. He is a human, aware of the shifter world, but lives on the fringe of the shifter society. When he meets Yvette at Gunther’s bar, sparks explode. I felt at times that the dialogue between Stark and Yvette was a bit odd and awkward... He asks if her boobs are real and she replies "shifters don't get plastic surgery," and then Stark compares her lack of focus to his dog. *shakes head* However, the pair has good chemistry and although the sex has quick... no drawn out foreplay, it was hot.
Unlike in Unwanted Mate, there is no history between Stark and Yvette. They meet, have sex, and wham... are mated. I think that's why I enjoyed the first story more than this one -- the history. I would liked to see the pair again to find out more about Stark. There is innuendo of a history, and I bet it would be good.
The next story, Mate by the Music, features Scott Quaid, brother of Stark, and Nancy Elwood. She is a lone wolf. He's searching for his younger brother (Stark) who's been missing for a week. (We find out he's gotten married and apparently can't do much but have sex right now.) She's tending bar for Yvette on a rainy night and there are no customers.
Once again, the short centers around a female shifter and human male. Once again, it's sex at first site and instant mating. Now that I'm on my third story, I wish I knew more about the mating. Clearly it's for life, but ... The more I read, the more I want this to be a longer book! Plus, I want my male shifters again...
The sex in this one was pretty smoldering. But again, without the (advantage) of any back story, I don't feel like the mating is important or even necessary.
In the fourth vignette of Ms. Royce’s Shifters and Biker’s Series, we meet eldest brother, Sean Quaid. Sean is justifiably upset with his younger brothers who have gone off and gotten married without telling the family. Not only have they abandoned their jobs (the trio own a very lucrative business), but he is worried the females may only be out for money. When Sean meets up with his brothers and their mates at Gunther’s he meets Victoria, who was hired to take over for Yvette.
Right away I like chemistry between Tori and Sean. They are thinking and not just doing. *snicker* Maybe it's because he's an engineer and planner like me ... So I related. I was right with him wondering how could his brothers just run off and let the company fall apart?
Yet he soon gives in to his desires for Tori, and they are quickly in the back room doing exactly what he had given his brothers a hard time over. I liked the story line in this one better than the previous two. Once again, there isn’t a lot of foreplay, but still very sexy.
In the end, I’d say that the bundle of stories together is better than reading just one. However, I feel that a short-length story can excel as a romance, and not just an erotic scene, only when there is indication of history, as in Unwanted Mate. While the three stories highlighted in this review are sexy and fun, the one-night-stand into mating/marriage didn't give me the satisfaction of a romance. These are fun slices of life and ideal to fit in between the tough parts of your day.
My Rating:
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Liked it, but I had some issues - recommend (B)
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