Monday, September 24, 2012

Review: Seven Years to Sin By Sylvia Day

Seven Years to Sin
By Sylvia Day
Paperback, 352 pages
Published August 30th 2011
by Kensington Brava

 The longer the resistance...
Seven years ago, on the eve of her wedding, proper Lady Jessica Sheffield witnessed a licentious scene no innocent young miss could imagine. Shocked, yet strangely titillated, she'd held her silence regarding scandalous Alistair Caulfield, and walked down the aisle as expected. But through years of serene, unremarkable marriage, Caulfield's image remained burned into her imagination, fueling very illicit dreams. .
...the sweeter the reward
Alistair ran far from the temptation of the prim debutante with the fire of passion in her eyes—all the way to the West Indies. As a successful merchant, he has little in common with the rakehell youth she knew. But when newly widowed Jessica steps aboard his ship for a transatlantic passage, seven years' worth of denied pleasures are held in check by nothing more than a few layers of silk—and the certainty that surrender will consume them both. . .


After reading Sylvia Day's Bared To You I had to read more from her. This book was said to be the inspiration for Gideon so how could I not go for it! Now I am not a fan of historicals. I hate stupid whiney women who have no back bone. Who always do what they are told is proper rather than what their hearts or bodies want. Ms Day solved that problem for me by creating Jessica. She is a very strong minded woman who knows what she wants in life and will do whatever it takes to make it happen.

Right from the beginning of the book you are hooked into the attractive Alistair Caulfield. When Jessica stumbles upon him making love to another women outside she cant help but watch the exchange between them. Knowing in the morning she is to marry her betrothed, she should walk away but cant help but find the sex and the man captivating to watch. She was told by the older women in her family that sex was a duty and you had to just lay their until it was over. But the women under Alistair looked as though she was enjoying the play between them. This was so hot to read and I knew the book was going to only get better.

After seven years of a great marriage, Jessica's husband passes and leaves her a piece of land in the West Indies. Determined to never have to rely on a man Jess sets out to travel across the sea to see and sell her land herself. What she never expected is to travel on Alistair's boat.

Both jess and Alistair try to deny what they really feel for each other and once they finally give in they plan it to only be while on their journey, giving Jessica a way to test her inner passions and try something scandalous and give in to what her body wants.. For once they go home Jessica must fit back into society while Alistair Caulfield does not fit into that world. What Jessica dosent know is that once Alistair got his hands on Jessica he was never letting go.The passion and the connection between them sizzles off the pages. They are so captivating and mesmerizing to read. I could not put the book down and often found myself reading so fast to see what was going to happen next, I would have to go back and reread a page or two.

I also loved how not only did we get the story of Alistair and Jessica, but you get the sub story of Jessica's Sister and her husband's complicated marriage. They have such and emotional journey too and it is not so simple to fix.

All around I found this book to be amazing and you can bet that Ms. Day is on my auto buy list from now on! A story so hot you need oven mitts to hold the book!

5 out of 5 stars!

Saturday, September 22, 2012

Review: Heart of a Solider by Tamara Hoffa

Heart of a Solider
By Tamara Hoffa
Boroughs Publishing Group
Sept 22 2012
34 Pages

Charlotte, Charlie, MacKenzie has been raising her son Evan alone for the last five years. When Evan decides he wants to join the Army, into her life walks Jamison Hunter. Career Military, helicopter pilot, currently working as a recruiter. Why does the first man to stir her interest in years have to be the enemy?

Jamison Hunter is stuck in Tennessee, recouping from a torn rotator cuff. The Army has been his life, but seeing his family and friends, makes him long for something more. Is he ready to give up combat and settle down?

Sparks fly when Charlie and Jamie clash over her son, the Army and what it means to lose the one you love. Come see if Charlie can win the Heart of a Soldier.


Heart of a Soldier came to Boroughs as an entry in their @First Sight short story contest and they recognized the work as a perfect fit for their new short story line Lunchbox Romance - delicious short Romances consumable during the lunch hour.

I found it was perfect to read on a lunch break as it is being marketed as such. At just 34 pages I found it to be a great short story. However this was one of those short stories that I wish was longer. I enjoyed the characters and wanted to go deeper into their budding romance.

Charlie has only even been with her husband and when she meets Jamie she is unsure of herself and what she feels. It's been five years since she lost her husband and did not ever think she could date someone else much less really go for it. All the while she is unsure of letting her heart go, what if Jamie gets deployed away, can she handle loss again?Charlie learns to be a strong woman with Jamie by her side, even letting her son Evan make the choice of the Army or collage. I also like the friendship she has with Bethany. Bethany is often Charlies voice of reason and I found sometimes Bethany could be funny. Every woman has the one true friend who tells you like it is!

This is Tamara Hoffa's first published story and I do believe she has great potential! I wish her luck and look forward to her next story.

3 out of 5 stars



Monday, September 17, 2012

Good Choice Reading Promotions Launch!




ATTENTION ALL BOOK AUTHORS, PUBLISHERS, BLOGGERS AND GOOD CHOICE READING FOLLOWERS! 

The ladies of Good Choice Reading have been pouring through books, writing reviews, scheduling author posts and generally adoring books for the past 3 years now. And we've learned a few things along the way:

1. We're suckers for good love stories - but we're so sick of love triangles! 

2. Some books are so amazing that we have actually told strangers on the street about them. 

3. We are SO OVER vampires and werewolves, LOL

4. Dystopian Literature ROCKS!

5. Books have the amazing power to help boost sales of the most random items - like...handcuffs (thank you, Fifty Shades of Grey

But the most important thing we've learned is that some of the greatest books out there just never seem to get noticed! No matter how many reviews we write, no matter how many people we tell, it just isn't enough. So we've decided to take matters into our own hands. So Welcome to: 

GOOD CHOICE READING PROMOTIONS! 

GCR Promotions is dedicated to spreading the word about books and their authors. We offer a variety of packages that will take your novel to the next level. Using honest and positive reviews throughout the blogger world, promotional posts, banners, and advertising, GCR Promotions strives to make sure that your novel gets seen and read! 

Take a look now at our amazing packages (ranging from 1 week tours to "The Works") and shoot us an email if you're interested. Trust us, you will not regret it!


Note: We are still updating the site so somethings might be incomplete.




Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Authors After Dark List of Authors.




Ah! OMG! OMG! I am super excited!!! All authors for Authors After Dark 2013 in Savannah, GA have officially been announced! Including YA Day authors! Check it out...

Master of Ceremonies:



Featured Authors:
Cara North
Shannon West




And for YA Day...



*Jumping up and down* I am so excited and cannot wait!

Registration for Authors After Dark is already open http://authorsafterdark.org/pages/registration.html

"Like" Authors After Dark on Facebook for the latest news: https://www.facebook.com/authorsafterdark







Monday, September 10, 2012

Review: Slave by Sherri Hayes

Slave (Finding Anna #1) 
By Sherri Hayes
Paperback, 276 pages
Published July 28th 2011
by The Writer's Coffee Shop Publishing House

Stephan has lived the lifestyle of a Dominant for five years. After several rebellious teenage years, it gave him the stability and control he had been seeking after his parent’s death. As president of a not-for-profit foundation, he knows what his future holds and what he wants out of life. All that changes when a simple lunch with his college friend and Mentor, Darren, leads him to buying a slave. Thrust into a situation he never thought he’d be in, Stephan can’t walk away. He is compelled to help this girl in the only way he knows how. Brianna knows only one thing, she is a slave. She has nothing. She is nothing. Can Stephan help Brianna realize that she is much more than just a Slave?

Every once and awhile you come across a book that touches you in a way you will never forget that book. This for me is such a book. I found once I started, I could not put it down. I was so drawn into the story of what Brianna went through and how she tries to cope yet still is in the mindset of being a slave and worth nothing. This is not your everyday love story but rather more a story of the journey Brianna takes to heal and how Stephan is there by her side to guide her and help her to become a normal your woman again.

Brianna was sold into sexual slavery at 17 years old. Given to a man so horrible he sees her as nothing but property, the abuse she suffer in the ten months she is with him, has scared her so much physically and emotionally. It is sad to think that there really are girls like this out there that suffer as Brianna did. I truly ached for her and all she feels. She simply has no way to function with old being told what to do or when, she has completely lost herself and any sanity in her mind.

Stephan is like an angel to Brianna and is her saving grace. While so attracted to Brianna he knows he can't have her the way he wants. She is so scared and timid, he uses her knowledge as a Dom to help her heal. It is evident early on that he cares deeply for Brianna, yet knows it can never work between them, as he says:
          "Why did the first time I fell in love have to be with a woman who 
            may never be capable of loving me back."
He knows they have a long road ahead, but can Brianna every be normal again. Stephan knows the day will come he may have to let Brianna go but until then he will do whatever it takes to keep her with him and keep her safe. Even when it causes problems in his own family.

I loved the way the story was written from both points of view. I liked seeing inside both their minds. I was so drawn into this story and this series that I bought book two Need immediately upon finishing Slave. I had to know what happened next. Now it is killing me to have to wait for book three since Need ended with a major cliffhanger.

I can't recommend this book enough, an emotional journey of a young woman and her need to claim back her life with a man willing to do anything to help her get there.

5 out of 5 stars


Saturday, September 8, 2012

Review: On Dublin Street by Samantha Young

On Dublin Street
By Samantha Young
Kindle Edition, 302 pages
Published August 31st 2012

GoodReadsAmazon † Smashwords
Four years ago, Jocelyn Butler left her tragic past behind in the States and started over in Edinburgh. Burying the grief, ignoring her demons, and forging ahead without any real attachments has worked well for her so far but when Joss moves into a fantastic apartment on Dublin Street, her carefully guarded world is shaken to its core by her new roommate's sexy older brother.

Braden Carmichael is a man who always gets what he wants. And what he wants is Jocelyn in his bed. Knowing how skittish Joss is concerning any kind of relationship, Braden proposes a sexual arrangement that should satisfy the intense attraction between them without it developing into anything 'more'. An intrigued Jocelyn agrees, completely unprepared for the Scotsman and his single-minded determination to strip the stubborn young woman bare... to the very soul.

Contains strong adult content. For readers ages 18+

There isn't really much I can say in this review that I haven't said before when it comes to one of Samantha Young's books. She is one of my ALL TIME favorite authors! I love, love her writing!

On Dublin Street is her first adult contemporary novel and it did not disappoint. Although, I didn't really think it would to begin with. In fact, it actually turned out to be better than what I expected. And let me tell you, I had high expectations. I just absolutely love the way Samantha Young can tell a story!

When I started reading On Dublin Street I never expected to laugh as hard as I did. Braden and Joss complimented each other in every way. From the very first time they meet, I was rooting for them. You could feel the chemistry between these two with every word. Their relationship felt real.

Joss was a broken character, but not weak one bit. I found her to be too stubborn at times, but it fit the story well. I don't really know what to say about Braden except that I love a man who isn't afraid to take charge and fight for what he wants. He was smart, funny, daring, and hot all in one.

I was happy with the beginning, middle and ending of this book. I have no complaints at all and think that those who love to get lost inside of a good romance novel should definitely pick up On Dublin Street. It will give you butterflies, make you blush, and laugh until you have tears in your eyes. You will find yourself stuck to your reading spot for hours! You will not be able to stop reading it until you are done. Picking up one of Samantha Young's books is like candy. You can't have one piece and stop there. She is a great writer, a great story teller and her stories are always entertaining.

I cannot wait to see what Samantha writes next!

5 out of 5 stars!





Saturday, September 1, 2012

Labor Day Giveaway Hop!




Starting 9/1 through 9/15, Romance at Random, & the participating sites below, are hosting a blog hop with FREE books!

For our stop there will be ONE winner and we're giving the choice of TWO romance books. Whether it be adult romance, or YA romance, it's readers choice!

We will ship directly from Amazon.com or Barnesandnoble.com. All you have to do is enter via Rafflecopter below!

Make sure to stop by Romance at Random to enter their GRAND PRIZE!

Happy hopping!
-- This giveaway is open to all. If you live outside the US and win, your books will be shipped via The Book Depository or Fishpond.com.
-- Must be 13 or older to enter.
-- Winner will be announced on our FB and Twitter account.

a Rafflecopter giveaway