Gilded Lily by Vivian Winslow. A review by Sky.

Gilded Lily by Vivian Winslow
First installment in the, Gilded Flower series. 
71 pages | Erotica 
Blurb: After catching her fiancé Jack in bed with her sister the day before her wedding, New York socialite Lily Baron escapes to Rio, her honeymoon destination—alone. There, Marcelo, the dark and sexy hotel masseur, releases a heated passion Lily had never experienced with Jack. When Lily meets handsome and powerful Brazillionaire Gustavo de Lima, she can hardly resist him. There’s just one problem. He’s married. In this uber-sensual city, will Lily’s reluctance to be with a married man, in light of her own fiancé’s betrayal, give way to her burning desire for Gustavo?

Sky's thoughts: 

A bitter-sweet but oh-so-naughty trip to Rio! 
Lily and her fiancé Jack are both considered New York City royalty, both coming from wealthy family's who own large corporations. Their every move is watched and scrutinized under the eyes of the locals. Lily knows this, and knows that girls, especially, in the city have eyes on her, waiting for her to screw up so they can swoop in and take Jack for themselves. Every girl including her own sister, apparently.

A day before their big wedding, Lily catches her own flesh and blood under the covers with her soon to be EX fiancé. Lily's mother begins to talk her out of canceling the wedding, preaching that all men are the same and that in their family, marriage is a business. With the amount of influence both families have in the city, her parents had foreseen this marriage as a great alliance. Dollar signs. 

While heart-broken and discouraged, Lily sustained her dignity. However, she had to get out of the city, and fast, it was time to cope and move on. Two tickets to Rio meant for the honeymoon taunted her, but seeing it as an opportunity to begin the healing process, she jumps on a plane and lands in Rio. 

Only, quiet time on the beach and spas was not the only therapeutic treatment she found herself in. Here walks in; tall, dark, young, and damn sexy Marcelo, the hotel masseur. Just with the roll of his hands on her bare skin was enough to sate a passion she never experienced with Jack. (I love the small pecker quips between her and best friend, Vi.!! LOL)

More flustered and frustrated by the day due to the lousy prior events, Lily finds herself going to visit Marcelo quite often, and things take a heated turn when she throws her inhibitions out the spa and refuses to hide her intimate parts with a towel. Sensing her tension and frustration, his hands begin to stray. I absolutely loved this scene. Can't we all admit that at one point or another we have fantasied going to a spa for me-time, and what would make it all the more worth it is some tall, hot, man who REALLY knew how to use his hands? Marcelo brought out that long-lost, Big O from Lily by the single touch of his hands in just the right places.  
Oh, Marcelo, Brazilian Magical Hand King! Squee!

I was really hoping for Marcelo to win over her heart ultimately, but big-time Brazillionaire, Gus, stepped in the way! Actually, he was on her flight and pestering her as she was walking off into the airport. I loved her for standing her ground despite his attempts to womanize her at first by acting like the perfect gentleman LOL. But later, they meet again, and he's more domineering than Lily had believed. And married! 

After tricking her into a dinner-party which turned out to be just the two of them alone, Lily made a smart decision and left his ass immediately. But Gus was not willing to stop. He really is a gentleman --- and HOT as hell!-- and very smooth in how he carries himself and treats his women, but trouble arises when things are taken too far. The book only gets hotter and hotter but I would be a spoil-sport if I say anything more! By the end of the book, though not a cliffhanger, we stand wondering what will become of Lily after some devastating news and heads back to NY. 

You know that quote, "reading gives us a place to go when we have to stay where we are" ? THIS is exactly that! Vivian put together the perfect vacation we all fantasize of, with solid characters and steamy situations. Brilliant! 

THIS trilogy made my Summer! It was a perfect, erotic and exotic escape from my crazy, busy summer at work and definitely gave me some AWESOME daydreaming material LOL! Whether you're stuck at home working this summer or out on vacation AT a beach, this is a perfect, steamy, page-turning read! 5 stars!

I have reviews coming up for the next two books in the series! Thank you SO much, Vivian, for the opportunity to read this! 

Buy links: 99 cents on all sites!!!

Amazon- 

http://www.amazon.com/Gilded-Lily-Flower-Book-ebook/dp/B00KEXP80K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1403448492&sr=8-1&keywords=Vivian+Winslow

Barnes and Noble-

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/calla-lily-vivian-winslow/1119849957?ean=2940149807390

Kobo-
http://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/books/gilded-lily-1/yU8SIBgNhUGU_k5elMFm8g?MixID=yU8SIBgNhUGU_k5elMFm8g&PageNumber=1

Oo, look! An excerpt! 

Gilded Lily

The Gilded Flower Series

By Vivian Winslow

Chapter 1

            “I walked in on them, mom. You think I don’t know what my own fiancé looks like?” The thought of her fiancé and sister’s naked bodies intertwined was seared on Lily’s mind. It was almost like looking in a mirror— watching her twin sister, Dahlia, betray her with the man she loved. The man she was ready to pledge her life to.

            “Well, you know how your sister is, it could’ve been anyone,” her mom replies.

            “But it wasn’t just anyone. It was Jack, and on the night before we’re supposed to get married!”

            “Darling,” her mother says, patting her head like a two-year old child who just dropped her lollipop. “You can still get married. It’s not too late. Men are all the same— it’s time you learn that.”

            Lily looks up from her pillow at her mother and around her room, still the same since she went away to boarding school eleven years ago. Pink and purple with a large, canopy bed, a bed “fit for a princess,” her mother had always said. And for all intents and purposes she was a princess, living a privileged life in New York City— the best schools, the right friends, and the (former) perfect fiancé.

            “What are you saying, mother? That it’s ok for Jack to screw anyone he wants?”

            “Oh, honey. Men have needs. It’s pure biology. Doesn’t mean he wouldn’t make a good husband and father.”

            “Are you saying Dad cheated on you?” Lily sits up, wiping away her tears.

            Her mother turns away for a moment and picks up a family photo on the nightstand. “It’s the unspoken rule here on the Upper East Side, Lily. With the house in the Hamptons and the chalet in Aspen comes infidelity. I thought you’d had some clue. But it’s my fault. I’ve kept you sheltered because I hoped for a different life for you than mine.”

            “But why didn’t you tell me sooner? I never imagined Jack would cheat on me.” Lily falls back onto the bed.

            Her mother faces her and raises an eyebrow. “Jack is no different from his father. His family has a lot of money and influence in this city. Even more than we do. Our two families would make an incredible alliance.”

            “So that’s all this was to you, some sick power game?”

            “Marriage is business, Lily, not love. And in New York, power isn’t just about how much money you have, but the friends you can count in your corner. You want love, go have your own affairs. After what he’s done, Jack can’t expect fidelity. Just try to be more discreet than he was.”

            “But it was love. I’ve loved him since the first day I laid eyes on him,” Lily says, remembering how he offered to share his umbrella with her when they walked out of Intermediate French one afternoon.

            Her mother caresses her hair. “I know honey. That was your first mistake.”

Krystle's Review for "Quintal's Quandary" by Nadine Christian.

 

 

 

Quintal's Quandary

Nadine Christian

Expected release - August 2014

 

Blurb -

A disaster looming on the horizon? Unflappable, Jen Quintal will divert it. She’s a fixer. Confident and fearless, nothing fazes her and no issue is unsolvable. Until now.
When her best friend Felix drops a bombshell and issues her a shocking ultimatum, Jen is rocked to the core. With secrets unveiled and heartbreak on the cards, Jen must strive to put into perspective what is precious and real in her life, before someone else makes the decision for her.
When all you do is solve everybody else’s problems, what happens when you find your own life turned upside down and inside out? And, what if making the wrong decision means losing your best friend forever?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Author Nadine Christian took me back to the beautiful island of Pitcairn with Jen and Felix's story. We learn a little about Jen from book one in the series “Quintal's Return”, and I'm so glad that Jen got her own book. This book has a lot of laugh-out-loud moments, I love Jen's character and how she thinks. She's definitely someone I would be friends with if she were a real person. The romance in this book is steamy hot and sensual, and I really adore this series with all of it's other Island characters that we've met from other books. With the way the author describes everything, from the flowers, to the birds, to the sounds of the ocean booming against the shore, it's as if you're on the island with them. And if you were, the residents would all welcome you as if you belong there.

“Quintal's Quandary” proves that some people are completely blind to see the love that is obviously right in front of their faces. Poor Jen is victim of that here, both she and the main hero, Felix work for the hotel; Jen in management, and Felix the head Chef. They're the best of friends, and he also lives with her as a room-mate at her home. She had a “thing” for him when he first came on the island, but shortly after his arrival, he disclosed to her that he wasn't interested in the island girls. What she failed to understand, was that with him basically being “fresh meat” to an island full of vulchers, he didn't want to take advantage of that and just date anyone. Especially since he was new and had a kitchen in a very prestigious new hotel to run.

Sooooo, poor girl immediately thought that he wasn't into girls...but was batting for the other team. Lol, I cracked up because that would totally have been something I would have assumed.

They live together for almost a year as flat-mates, Jen thinking that Felix is just her best friend, meanwhile Felix's feelings for her have gotten so intense he's having a hard time containing himself while being around her. Even though, everyone on the island can see that he's way into her, she's still blinded by the fact that she thinks he's Gay. Until...he sheds some light on how he's felt about her!

But, now there's a new guy, Tyler, who comes to replace her sister Kate's position while she's out of the country to have her baby. He's moved in and captured Jen's attention. I love how Jen describes him the first time she see's him. “The walking, talking pile of M.A.N. Who strutted like a peacock through the foyer with Kate this morning during mid-rush. That's who him.” …...Sounds dreamy!!

Now with two men suddenly thrown into Jen's life, what's a woman to do? She's gone almost a year of thinking a man was off the market to her, he's her best friend, and now he wants them to be exclusive. Her own fear of her past relationships has her doubting herself, and she believes that there will be only one possible outcome – she'll fail at this relationship too, and lose her best friend in the process.

Then there's her very own “Adonis” as she also calls Tyler, swooping in all God-like, doing some major flirting with her.

Hmmm...I was actually quite pleased though, with the direction that the author took us with this situation. I was rooting for Jen and Felix the whole book, and cheered when she learned that it was okay to just let go, feel with your heart, not to over think things, or have to try to fix everything. I finished the book with a smile on my face, and can't wait to read whatever else Ms. Christian has in store for her readers!

“It's more like your heart chooses for you. It's like having a while jigsaw but one piece is missing, and he comes along and passes you the last section.” – Kate describing true love to her sister Jen.

I was given this ARC in exchange for an honest review from the author. Thank you !!!

Krystle's Review - Reaver by Larissa Ione

Reaver
Larissa Ione

Blurb-

WARRIOR OF HEAVEN

Reaver is an angel with a past, a record, and a less-than-heavenly attitude. Powerful enough to fight alongside the fiercest battle angels-and crazy enough to risk his wings on a one-way mission to hell-he's agreed to go where no angel has ever gone before...to steal the most seductive and dangerous prize of Satan himself.

ANGEL OF HELL

Harvester is one of the Fallen, a once-heroic angel who sacrificed her wings to work as an undercover agent in hell. But now her cover has been blown, and she's been doomed to an eternity of agonizing torture. Even if Reaver can snatch her away from Satan's lair, even if they can fight their way out of the underworld's darkest depths, there is one thing Harvester can never escape-her newfound thirst for an angel's blood...

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Oooooo-kay. All I want to do is go outside and scream, “ I LOVE THIS BOOK!!”



This book, is exactly how it should be. I have been waiting forever for Reaver and Harvester to get together! Soon as I found out that it was in the works I was ecstatic, but then I had to wait for it to be published...and that was like...torture! BUT, once I was able to get my hands on it, it was so worth the wait, haha!

“Verrine,” he whispered. “I want you. Damn . . . I remember you.” – Reaver to Harvester.

I should have had a refresher course before I read this one, since it's been a year that I read Rogue Rider. Took me a minute to remember all of the secondary characters – Archangels/Fallen Angels – but then it all came together. I'm excited about getting to know Revenant a little bit more in the next book. Hopefully he and Reaver will be able to, kinda-sorta work things out.

I loved the flashbacks that Reaver and Harvester would have for back when they were Verrine and Yenrieth. But what Yenrieth said to Verrine, on what she thought was the best day of her life, ughhh, my heart broke for her! Although, I can understand why he would say it to her, seeing that she did keep a huge secret from him, but he didn't need to go as far as he did.

Even after all she endured from him, she still went thru with her oath and watched over his children as if they were her own. That. Is. Love.

As always, I was so glad to see returning characters. That's what makes this series so great, you're connected with ALL of the characters, whether they're evil, or good! Even though the book focuses on two main characters, it always breaks off so you can see what everyone else is up to as well. That's what makes this my favorite series. I'm quite certain, after reading this book, that Harvester/Verrine is my favorite female out of the whole Demonica/LoD Series. I love her attitude and spunk, she's so bad-ass! I was especially glad to see that she didn't change at all after a certain...life-changing-event she underwent.

I could go on and on and have a huge love-fest for the book, but I'd reveal too much, so I'm not going to do that. All I can say is READ IT!!



Anytime Sheoul is mentioned, and how it's described, I always picture it as a certain Zone from an Online Game I play. Shard of Fear – from Everquest 2 .. It just seems sort of perfect with the red atmosphere, demons, structures, and even a Harrowgate. (Pictures Below)

 

 

 

Maybe a Harrowgate? :)

Krystle's Thoughts - Home again, Home again by Nadine Christian

Home again, Home again
Nadine Christian

Blurb

One choice to make between two loves…but, who’s fooling who?

Home for Tina means family, Pitcairn Island and a job as an aircraft engineer. She’s not looking for love, so when pilot Blane Solis sweeps her off her feet, she is soon flying into the heady slipstream of romance…but, is he the one for her?

Tina’s childhood sweetheart, Connor Brown doesn't think so. What dark secret is Blane hiding, and why is he hell bent on ensuring Tina doesn't find out? Can Tina ever forgive Connor for what he did so many years ago?

One heart. Two men. A shattered past and an unsure future…with love on the line.

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The author asked me for an honest review in exchange for a copy of her book, and when I finished reading it, I had a huge smile on my face. Thank you Ms. Christian for letting me read this!!!

Book 2 of “The Bounty's Retreat Series” is great, it had the same charming effect on me that the first book had. I love everything about Ms. Christian's writing, she pulls you in and really makes you feel like you're in the story, her attention to detail is flawless. I feel as though I may never have to travel to Pitcairn Island because I've already been there thru the description of her words!

Story starts out with a woman named Tina, who's come home to the island after being on the mainland for many years, attending school then work, etc...Now, she's to start a new job as an aircraft engineer; servicing the planes that fly between the mainlands and the island, but the one thing she wasn't expecting was her new boss to be her childhood love. Connor. Whom she can't stand, and is the reason she left the island for in the first place! Ahhhhhh, what a mess, I almost feel sorry for this poor girl, but it looks like she makes out alright in the beginning of the book by catching the eye of the pilot who's flown her back home, Blane. Who by the way is a serious charmer, I would have been swept right off my feet just as “Tee” was. I love Tina's nickname btw!

Soooo, two men vying for Tina's attention! Recipe for disaster, but oh so goooood! I really, really loved this book, and if you've read “Quintal's Return” you'll notice a few returning characters! That made me happy, :) The author is very good at having you feel what the characters are feeling, there were a few emotional segments in the book where I wanted to cry right along with Tina. Well done.

I tell you, if I ever did go to the Island of Pitcairn, I would be lost in translation. It took me a minute to get used to the dialect that they use, since the author implements some of it's use in her book, but I find it very neat! I'd love to hear it spoken aloud. I'd probably be lost and end up with a goofy grin on my face, but it'd be worth it! Definitely recommend this series to others, 5 stars!

“Yorley nor need sleep to be bautiful. Yorley es beautiful.” – Connor to Tina.

 

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Connect with Nadine!

 

 

Facebook / Twitter / Website / G+

 

Add this book to your to-read list!

 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18746477-home-again-home-again

 



 

Krystle's Thoughts - On Dublin Street by Samantha Young

 

On Dublin Street

By: Samantha Young

 

 

 

Blurb-

 

Jocelyn Butler has been hiding from her past for years. But all her secrets are about to be laid bare…

Four years ago, Jocelyn left her tragic past behind in the States and started over in Scotland, burying her grief, ignoring her demons, and forging ahead without attachments. Her solitary life is working well—until she moves into a new apartment on Dublin Street where she meets a man who shakes her carefully guarded world to its core.

Braden Carmichael is used to getting what he wants, and he’s determined to get Jocelyn into his bed. Knowing how skittish she is about entering a relationship, Braden proposes an arrangement that will satisfy their intense attraction without any strings attached.

But after an intrigued Jocelyn accepts, she realizes that Braden won’t be satisfied with just mind-blowing passion. The stubborn Scotsman is intent on truly knowing her… down to the very soul.

 

 

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Ahhhhh I am so in love with this book and author!!! I couldn't put this book down, it's that good.

Samantha Young captured my full attention with describing everything that has happened in poor Jocelyn Butler's life; I couldn't wait to see her have the happy ending she deserved. I really like how it was sort of written thru Joss's eyes, but at the same time it would seem to revert back to her therapy sessions, and then pick right up to what she and her therapist were discussing. Very neat.

What I wouldn't give to live on Dublin Street and to meet a man like Braden Carmichael. *Swoon*

I enjoyed all of the characters and loved how Joss and Ellie got along, she is the sister that she's been missing. Seems ever since the “accident” that ruined Joss's life she's just been living for today, too afraid to get close to anyone since she thinks that she's some sort of bad-luck charm of epic proportions. And who could blame her. She's lost her whole family, followed by her best friend, all while in her teens, and now years later when things are finally balancing out for her, her world falls apart again. Before she knows it, all of the progress that she's made is all for naught and she starts regressing back into her iron box, as she calls it.

But, before her world shatters, let's talk about Braden for a bit..... Ohmigod! Can I just say he was...just amazing, ha! I believe I will add him to my Book-Boyfriend Collection! /Evil laugh..

Braden's a beautiful guy who just so happens to be the brother of Joss's new roommate Ellie. He's rich, smart, charismatic, charming.... The list is endless. I like how he could read Joss like an open book and see thru all of her bullshit – then call her on it. When Joss tells him that she's not going to be in a relationship with him because she has come to really like his sister and her apartment, he seduces her into an arrangement instead. Just sex. I kind of thought the whole time that it was a great ploy to get her to realize for herself that at the end of their 3 month friends-with-benefits gag, she'd want more...and it worked. :)

I raced thru the rest of the book, both not being able to wait and see what happened next between them, and also not wanting it to end. But, alas, I stayed up late on a work night to finish it! There were times when I wanted to physically reach thru the pages and slap some sense into Joss for how crappy she was treading Braden, but then again I could also get where she was coming from.

Very well written and sweet! Can't wait to read more from Ms. Young!!!

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Btw, the scene where Braden was tickling the crap out of Joss and she broke wind..... I LOST IT!!!!!! That was too fun! I clapped my hand to my forehead and felt embarrassed for the poor girl, Lol!!

Krystle's Thoughts - Severed Colours by Dawna Raver

 
 
                            

Severed Colours

Dawna Raver

Expected Release - 11/18/2013

 

Authors Website:

 

Dawna Raver

 

Book 2 of The Colour Wielders Series is awesome! I love, love, looooved it. The way Ms. Raver writes, you get immersed and can easily lose yourself in her imagination. I love the world building for Severed Colours; as well as book 1, Colour Wielders.

SC picks up right where book one left off, with Arik handing Quinn over to his Bitch of a mother Morgana. Although poor Quinn has no idea what's happening and thinks the love of her life is betraying her, Arik knows his mother is her only chance of survival. Course even though the all-knowing Morgana knows what her son is up to, she still thinks she has the upper-hand...

Boy, was she wrong. (I love what unicorn blood does to her BTW Dawna, LOL, I lost it laughing..)

“After centuries, Morgana Le Fay's beauty was over. She looked like a zombie in search of brains as she held out her arms and grabbed at empty air”

LOL

So any-who, after Quinn goes thru her awakening in the Marbh Chamber constructed by Morgana, she's a changed person. No longer a child with baby-like skin, but now a woman. Her body, hair, and features all go thru a painful change, leaving her a more mature, adult Magykal. What's even better is that she and Arik soul-touch during the process, meaning that they will both be battling each others' emotions in their minds. This was pretty neat to see thru-out the book, I thought. Not sure if I'd want it done to me, but could be handy!

The author throws in a lovely – and crazy – curve ball after Quinn's Awakening, that really shocked the Hell out of me. I just sort of sat there and thought, Omgggggg!!! And I can't tell you!!!!! It leaves Arik desperate and no choice, but to summon the most powerful beings in all the lands. The Triarchia.... Where they have him answer a yes or no question with a no win scenario.

“Can love surrounded by hate, survive, or is the end of an endless knot forever lost? Yes or No?”

After Arik's answered and made his sacrifice, both he and Quinn will have to work extremely hard to get around this obstacle thru-out the rest of the book. Let's just say that I hate The Triarchia, and A lot, and you all will too, ha!

Although Quinn has changed so much from her Awakening, that after The Triarchia are thru with her, she's even more changed than before. She may now seem like a brat, but without her new attitude adjustment the story wouldn't make sense or get to where it needs to be.

“I do care for you. I – You are my everything.” Arik Morgaine

Ms. Raver answers a lot of questions and ties the book up perfectly for the end, all the while, still leaving some things that need to be worked out for book 3. Which I can't wait for!

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Things I loved -

Like I mentioned before, her world building technique and the way she writes her characters. Now I really want to go to the club Ersatz she made up for the book, LOL!

I enjoyed how the author has her characters dress like 'normal human beings', since they are Magykals living in a Magykal Realm, sure it'd be easy to dress them for the time period of beautiful gowns, etc.. But they still wear band t-shirts, jeans, leather jackets, etc... That's great! :)

Since I read an early version of the book, she is making some changes, and one of those changes is hysterical. Where Princess Quinn has her own Royal Guard, she calls them Mutts...In the version I read they were humans, but in the new version, they're going to be actual dogs that walk on 2 legs. Very different, and very cool. !

Currently putting review requests on hold.

Hello to all you Booknatics out there, we wanted to let you all know that for right now, we're going to be holding off on all review requests. Since we're heading into the holiday season it's a busy time for Sky and Krystle.

We're also still working on the current requests we've taken in, as well as some side projects - writing - of our own :) Not to mention trying to work on our current to-read mountain!!! LOL.

We appreciate you looking into us, and hope that you seek us out in the future when things settle down!

 

 

 

The Booknatics

Review by Krystle : Wallbanger by Alice Clayton.

Wallbanger
Alice Clayton

Blurb

Caroline Reynolds has a fantastic new apartment in San Francisco, a KitchenAid mixer, and no O (and we’re not talking Oprah here, folks). She has a flourishing design career, an office overlooking the bay, a killer zucchini bread recipe, and no O. She has Clive (the best cat ever), great friends, a great rack, and no O.

Adding insult to O-less, since her move, she has an oversexed neighbor with the loudest late-night wallbanging she’s ever heard. Each moan, spank, and–was that a meow?–punctuates the fact that not only is she losing sleep, she still has, yep, you guessed it, no O.

Enter Simon Parker. (No, really, Simon, please enter.) When the wallbanging threatens to literally bounce her out of bed, Caroline, clad in sexual frustration and a pink baby-doll nightie, confronts her heard-but-never-seen neighbor. Their late-night hallway encounter has, well, mixed results. Ahem. With walls this thin, the tension’s gonna be thick…

In her third novel, Alice Clayton returns to dish her trademark mix of silly and steamy. Banter, barbs, and strutting pussycats, plus the sexiest apple pie ever made, are dunked in a hot tub and set against the gorgeous San Francisco skyline in this hot and hilarious tale of exasperation at first sight.

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Alright, well I walking by the book section at the store and this books cover stood out to me immediately.. I was like a moth to a flame, I had to grab it. Then the books name had me rolling, so by the time I read the blurb on the back and then the first page, it was hook-line-and sinker.. ! I thought, “Omg, I had to have this book!!”

I couldn't put it down, and was actually really sad when it was over. Wallbanger had a million Laugh-Out-Loud moments. It will surely put you in a good mood, and have you laughing about it days after. I was also starved out of my mind for baked goods, since the heroine loved to bake! Also, genius with adding in texting between characters, and the thoughts between themselves! That whole scene when they were on their way back from Tahoe, awesome. Mimi is such an airhead, lol.

MIMI: Ooh! We're stopping! I hope this gas station has bubble gum!

HAHAHAHAHAHA

You have Caroline, a 26 year old young professional working as a Interior Designer who's just moved in to her new apartment with her feline companion, Clive. First night at her new place, she's woken up by some serious sexy times going on next door...then starts the 'wallbangin'.. – Meet Simon, Mr. Wallbanger... I also found it comical that Caroline's “O” has up and disappeared ever since her last sexual encounter, and the pep talks she has with herself about this situation thru-out the book, too funny. So to have an O-less, sex deprived female living next door to Mr. Sex-a-thon... Hahahah, poor girl.

After a few nights of interesting performances by some rather...different types of females (and by interesting/different, I really don't want to spoil the fun for the reader, but I DIED laughing at Simon's ladies of the night and the nicknames Caroline came up with for them!!!) Caroline's had enough and decides to put an end to it all so she can finally get some sleep.

Like it says on the back of the book, with her dressed in a sexy pink baby-doll nightie, (since she's behind on laundry and it's the only thing she has, heh heh) she goes storming out of her apartment, across the hall and nearly bangs his door down.. What appears on the other side of that door is a naked Simon, wrapped in a bed sheet... STILL HARD...

1. lost it, LOL.

After that, it was pretty obvious that they would begin interacting with each other, and I really liked seeing their relationship develop from frenemies, to friends, then playful friends, flirty friends, and finally lovey dovey friends.

I really, really liked Simon's character, but I agreed with Caroline at the beginning and hated him since he was a huge man-whore who seemed to be eaten up with himself. But once you get to know the real him, he's adorable and of course want a man just like him.

“An O has been lost, and I'm a sucker for a challenge.” – Simon

Some parts of the book that I loved were -

When they watched The Exorcist together, lol. What cry-babies!! I fall asleep to this movie, but reading their reactions, that was hysterical. I could picture Caroline hiding under the Afghan blanket, peeping thru the holes haha!

Like I said above, the texting between characters and their thoughts on the way back from their trip to Tahoe.

The whole trip to Span, it sounded like the perfect vacation.. All except the last night for Caroline, but I think Simon made up for that when he came home a day early, hee hee hee...

Caroline's cat Clive was an amazing touch to the book. I have 2 cats myself and just like her, I imagine their little brains functioning exactly like her cat's did. This author actually gave me an idea, when Caroline would hide their treats in various places around the apartment for them to 'hunt', I'm going to have to try that! I also really liked the last segment of this book with it written in Clive's POV. Cute.

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http://aliceclayton.com/

 

Krystle's Thoughts - Adam's Apple by Liv Morris

 

Adam's Apple

-Liv Morris

 

BLURB:

Adam Kingsley reigns as the young prince of Manhattan. Everything he touches turns to gold making him the envy of Wall Street. Women swoon at his feet, money falls out of his pockets, and his killer good looks are as wicked as sin. A dangerous trifecta.

What more could a thirty-two year old man wish for? Maybe that his life never changes and his past stays far away? Sounds reasonable but life seldom is.

Kathryn Delcour is a beautiful and alluring socialite with unique erotic tastes. When she suddenly appears on the New York City social scene, Adam finds her too tempting to resist. He has to have her, but she is warned to stay away from him and his player ways. She tries her hardest to keep him at arm's length however Kathryn's arms may not be strong enough to hold Adam at bay.

Hidden secrets, Kathryn's passion for an ancient sexual practice, and a former business partner wanting to inflict a deadly revenge set the scene for a wild ride as Adam tells the story in his own words.

Intended for mature audiences. 18+ An 87,000 word love story.

 

 

 

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I just want to start out by saying W-O-W! The cover of this book is what initially attracted me to it, very sexy, and then when I read the blurb... I knew I was hooked. It was a very sensual, fun, fast paced read that I didn't want to put down. The fact that it's also told thru the Hero’s perspective is also very neat, different than what I've read lately.

You start off by learning about Adam, the Hero, and how he's this big pompous New York City Playboy. Women flock to him by their knees; they give - he receives. Seems that's the way hes lived his life for years. Recent events have turned his life upside down though, due to one of his college friends Simon, and also business partner deceiving him and the company they both built (along with 2 other friends from College). Suddenly, Simon has all of this hatred and lashes out towards Adam, and he has no idea why.

Then, Adam meets Kathryn. A widowed Tantra teacher with a doctorate in psychology, who has the demeanor of Scarlet O'Hara from Gone with the Wind. I loved her immediately, also loved how the author threw in that she is a Vanderbilt. The Anderson Cooper bit had me rolling. She's a very strong, take no crap from anyone kind of woman who's trying her damnedest to keep her distance from Mr. the surly Mr. Kingsley, but the more he pursues her, he himself begins to change for the better, and she can't help but fall for him.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I loved everything! It had all of the essentials for me, 2 people from different worlds finding middle ground to be with each other. All of the characters were very fun and realistic, Ms. Morris did an amazing job for her debut novel! I will definitely recommend this to friends (as I've done so already) and can't wait to read more from her.

Notes I made -

-I like how in this story the Hero's driver wasn't also his super almighty powerful bodyguard. Like in some other books I've read, that character seems to be able to do it all. When Kinglsey actually DID have to have a bodyguard, he hated it and it was hilarious. “Goliath” - Ha!

-I'm totally going to use the line “Who blew sunshine up your ass” now – I've never heard that, it's great LOL.

“Kathryn huffs as she looks at me with daggers in her eyes, likely plotting my death” - Adam

LOL!

“I think who I am today has everything to do with you, and actually nothing to do with me” - Adam

The author makes it so easy to fall in love with him, it'd be great if we all had an Adam.

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To learn more about the author visit her Facebook or Twitter

 

 

Facebook Page / Twitter Page

 

 

Buy the Book!!!! (Do it!)

 

Amazon / B & N / Smashwords

Review by Krystle : Scratches and Scribbles by Patch Silver

Wow......

The way the author expresses himself in this book is, powerful to say the least. It was very dark, angry, and passionate. It amazes me how someone, a complete stranger can pour their soul out onto paper and have others relate to it completely. I, myself identified with a lot of the poems from a past relationship that went way... wayyyyy south.

This definitely isn't for people who love poems about cute butterflies and unicorns that shit rainbows.. I'm very glad I was asked by the author to read this, and wish I had had it a year ago.

I also LOVED the artwork, it went with the mood of the poetry. Some was very Tim Burton'ish, which is great because I love his art as well.

About the Author

 

Patch Silver

 

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Amazon 

 

 

 

Review by Krystle : Healer by B.N. Toler

I really loooooooooved this book!!!!

I received this copy from the author for an honest review, and found myself not wanting to put it down! The whole story just blew me away.

This story is told by Aldo from 2 different times in her life. The present (or what she thinks is the present), where she's 24, and then from her memories at being 17. She, her brothers Whit and Hudson are triplets raised by their aunt Lucy, and they all have a special kind of ability to them... They're Healers. Healers can hear hear the energy that humans have thru their vibrations and pitches and when someone is in need of healing they pull energy from other sources (people) and push that energy into the person in need. They call themselves 'Healer Robin Hoods'. Though they cannot interfere with a person who is on the verge of death.

Healers that practice healing on others don't generally stay in one area too long, for fear of being caught by Vampires or Blood Healers. A Healer's blood, is much more divine than any other persons blood. Blood Healers are Healers that have been turned by a vampire and are able to walk in the sunlight.

When Aldo was 17, there was an accident at a store she was at where a little girl got hit by a truck. She can sense that her vibrations and pitches are consistent so she knows that she can be saved. Rushing around trying to decide who has the best energy to pull from, she decides on the driver who hit the child.... But he starts pulling HER energy.. So now she's pretty freaked out because not only did she just meet another healer, but SHE is the energy source!! So she cuts off his connection with her. Now with him shocked and amazed she's a healer, Aldo starts to push her own energy into the child. Which is a big no no, since she's just draining herself.

After she comes too from blacking out, the other healer stuck around to introduce himself as Thomas and they talked for a little bit. But later on in her dreams is where she really gets to know him, since she also has the ability absorb any information by a single touch. . . In her dreams, Thomas is there, they talk some more / she asks him questions.. All the while thinking it's her own subconscious she's speaking with, when in actuality he is IN THE DREAM with her; he's a dream walker.. In the dream he invites her to meet him at a restaurant, and that's when he tells her that he's 25 and finds out that she's only 17. That's pretty much just crushed Aldo's world, especially when he calls her a kid.

He decides she's more like the sister he's never had and befriends her and her family. They all become very close with Thomas; Aldo even falls in love with him. Then one day, when her aunt has scheduled a healing at their house, she sends Aldo and her brothers away for the afternoon.... Their lives will never be the same....

I could really go on and on and on and ON about this story, but I don't want to give too much away!!!! Ahhhhh! I just really love how it was all done, and how it came together. Ms. Toler did an amazing job! It kind of had me thinking of the movie “Inception” just from all of the dream sequences.

A few things I will say is that I am in love with Rhett's character, and hope he kicks Thomas's little ass when they find him LOL. . . *Dramatic Music* !! When Rhett and Aldo arrived at the farmhouse, he looked it over and said, “Interesting”.. I kind of had an idea of what was happening, loved it, great idea!

Also, I think it'd be pretty neat if Aldo became a Blood Healer.. With Rhett.....*swoon*!!!

 

Can't wait for the next book!

“I never thought I would be able to feel for someone again, because I shut myself off to it. She saved you and because she did..., I found you.” - Rhett Mason

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Learn more about the author

 

B.N. Toler

 

Get the Book

 

Amazon / Barnes&Noble

Review by Sky: The Call of Agon by Dean F. Wilson

I have not read a great epic fantasy in such a long time, this was honestly very refreshing. Thank you for a copy of this story for a review, Dean!

The tone of this novel was exceptionally well written.  It’s a poetic, dark, and adventurous tale told in the eyes of a man named Ifferon who is the last of his bloodline of the God, Telm. Telm had banished a beast name Agon to the underworld and on Telm’s death-bed, he requested that Ifferon carries the duty to ensure the imprisonment of Agon. But this task and its journey which leads to the outer world will be far from simple.

Here we see a tremendous transformation of Ifferon, brilliant character development. In the beginning, he was weak, but through his endeavors, he meets great friends, enemies, and becomes the stuff made of heroes.

Like all epic adventures, there are many places, many characters of different races and abilities. We are by far not left short on a true mythical expedition.

Wilson obtains an outstanding talent to keep the reader captivated by painting with the power of words a world entirely unique, dark, dangerous and all so exciting. There were moments I felt as if I were there in on his journey, had to blink a few times and think to myself, “Wow, where did time go?”

I hear this is just the first book in a series? I cannot wait to see what happens next on this exhilarating adventure!

(Did I mention this was his debut novel? Seriously, it’s written as if by a man of decades of experience. Pure genius, and that my friends, is not exaggerated. This guy knows what he loves!)

Buy your copy here!
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BIKXWMY/ref=cm_cr_rev_prod_img

Review by Krystle : Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire

I'm going to start off by saying that I really, really enjoyed this book. The story and characters really took off and sucked me in. It wasn't anything I was expecting it to be, it was better!

Abby Abernathy is starting fresh with her best friend America at Eastern University. Early on in the book you keep getting some clues that Abby's past wasn't so great, and it really gets you guessing as to what it could be. Then you find out what it is, and it pretty much threw me for a loop, I wouldn't have thought it would have had anything to do with having a dead beat poker playing father in Las Vegas, and that she herself is a bit of a card shark thanks to her good for nothing dad. Now with of that all in her past, and wanting to start fresh, she gets dragged to a secret type of “Fight Club” on campus and the person fighting is not only her best friends boyfriends cousin Travis, but everything Abby needs to avoid altogether if she's serious about starting fresh.

Travis 'Mad dog' Maddox..... I fell in love with this broken young man. He's the perfect example of a boy you would want to keep your daughters away from, or your parents told you to stay away from, but couldn't. He's the school slut, shaved head, covered in tats, cigarette smoking, drinking and swearing bad boy that all of us (yes you) would love to be with at some point in our lives. Or have already.....? Raised in a house full of testosterone since his mother passed when he was so young he became a hell of a fighter fighting off his older brothers and now uses these skills in what they call the “Inner Circle” fights that only a handful of college kids know about. He makes a lot of money from the bets placed so this prevents him from having to have an actual job... And this is where he meets Abby, and you can tell he instantly falls in love with her. I love the nickname he gives her.. “Pigeon”..

He pretty much finds Abby as something he wants like a shiny beautiful trophy, but he never thinks he's good enough to have her. His reputation of sleeping with all of the women on campus (by sleeping I mean “bagging” them on the couch since they're not good enough for his bed and then sending them away in the morning telling them he won't even think of calling them) definitely isn't helping him win Abby over either. She see's him for the pompous arrogant ass he is and wants absolutely nothing to do with him at first. Until, she loses a bet and has to stay with him for a month. . . Sleeping with him, in his bed, BUT without any funny business.

“I know we're fucked up, all right? I'm impulsive and hot tempered, and you get under my skin like no one else. You act like you hate me one minute, and then you need me the next. I never get anything right, and I don't deserve you . . . but I fucking love you, Abby. I love you more than I've loved anyone or anything, ever. When you're around, I don't need booze or money or the fighting or the one-night stands. . . all I need is you. You're all I think about. You're all I dream about. You're all I want.” - Travis Maddox

During the duration of the bet a man named Parker who's pre-med, clean cut, rich, everything Abby should be going for if she wants to get away from her past lets her know he's interested in her.. They try to go out on a few dates, but Travis makes it damn near impossible playing the needy best friend, when actually he doesn't want his pigeon having eyes for anyone but himself. So Abby and Parker decide to try and give it a shot after the bet is over and she's back to staying at her dorm room. Well.... too many sweet things happen for Abby to really consider giving Parker a chance, although they did fool around a few times and I even thought what in the world is she doing? Travis is doing a completely 180 for you and you're fooling around with this guy? A Mr. Rogers wannabe??? Get with the program girl LOL!!!..

There's so much more I want to gush about but I just think that I will just tell you to go get this book and read it for yourselves. You won't be disappointed, it will send you on an emotional roller coaster, but it'll be worth it!!

**I will say this tho, the one thing that did really bother me was when Travis would become a complete control freak of Abby. Getting pissed off at her when a guy buys her a beer at a bar, wanting her to change a dress because it was cut too low in the back, punching a guy who tries to dance with her at the club, when they'd have a fight and Abby would leave and he'd lose his mind with crazy antics trying to win her back, etc... That was a bit much, and I think the author wanted that to tie in with the fact that he lost his mother at a young age and never really had “that connection” with another female until now.. I do get that, but still... It would have freaked me out too being with a man that had a temper like that. **

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Get the book!

 

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Visit the authors website

 

Jamie McGuire