★ Current Giveaways and other Goodies ★

A Digital Set of THE SEEN TRILOGY by Cynthia Sax — Ends Apr 20th, 2014
Two Winners! Get choice of a $10 Amazon gift card OR a print copy of Prince's Fire: Hearts and Thrones # 3 by Amy Raby — Ends Apr 20th, 2014
Lauren Layne Prize Pack with: Review Copies of Stiletto Series, Loveswept Tote and Mug or $15.00 E-Retailer Gift Card of Winner’s Choosing — Ends May 4th, 2014
TOUR WIDE Rafflecopter Commenter Giveaway for FIVE Print Copies of HOLD ME IN CONTEMPT by Wendy Williams — Ends Apr 27th, 2014
Grand Prize - $25 egiftcard and a copy of A KISS OF LIES ebook retailer of choice or one of 3 First Prize bundles - A KISS OF LIES and A PROMISE OF MORE from your ebook retailer of choice from Bronwen Evans. — Ends Apr 26th, 2014

♦ Quote of the Week ♦
“Those who feed on rumors are small, suspicious souls.” ~ Charles R. Swindoll
“Ducking for apples -- change one letter and it's the story of my life.” ~ Dorothy Parker

Rating Guidelines
5 Stars: must read
4 Stars: good book just not great.
3 Stars: A readable book, passable
2 Stars: Large errors / plotting holes
1 Star: Not recommended
Sexual Heat Levels
Adult Romance only
5 Flames: Taboo, or extreme
4 Flames: Same Sex, menage, frequent
3 Flames: Sex at end: not prolific
2 Flames:Heavy Petting, not graphic
1 Flame: Kissing, Flirting. No sex.
Miscellaney
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Submissions & Policies
Review policies, submission form and accepted genres will be found at this link. UPDATE 10/17 Reviews are OPEN for 2014 Dates. Submission form is open, no reviews are implied or guaranteed.
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A Promise of More (The Disgraced Lords #2) by Bronwen Evans with Giveaway

Today I am continuing with a wonderful historic romance series from author Bronwen Evans, that combines romance, society and a touch of suspense to make a wonderful series! You should be sure to check out the other tour stops and don’t forget to enter the wonderful (and expansive) tour-wide giveaway where you can win the Grand Prize – $25 egiftcard and a copy of A KISS OF LIES ebook retailer of choice or one of 3 First Prize bundles – A KISS OF LIES and A PROMISE OF MORE from your ebook retailer of choice.

Book Review:

The second in the series and the second I have read by this author, and this series is just getting better! What’s not to love from a group of men, nicknamed the Libertine Scholars: each of the men has a difficult family history and other issues to overcome, although most have struggled for years to prove themselves different from their fathers. The women in this series are all, bar one, the exact woman each man needs at this time in his life. None of their women are typical missish romance heroines: strong willed, determined, loyal and laden with their own past issues to overcome; these are interesting pairings that feel appropriate. Read more

AudioBook Review: Graven with diamonds: the many lives of Thomas Wyatt by Nicola Shulman

AudioBook Review:

I had the opportunity to review this title before it was released in print last year. I jumped at the chance to review the book in AudioBook form, while the 389 pages of text are layered with references, poetry and fact, I wanted the chance to see if hearing the words would be easier or more difficult to affix references and information than the easy flip-back a page or two which can be done with the book in written form.

As with my first review, the book starts with a bang using poetry as it was used in the time of the Tudor court: information sharing, poking fun, setting alliances, all used very much in concert and context with the affairs of the court and courtiers of the day. Narration provided by Paul Fleschner is both mellifluous and crisp, providing nuanced recitations of the poetry that enhances the phrasing and provides structure and emphasis to lines that are further used to elucidate the author’s points as she puts the information into a context. Read more

Shadow’s Dangers: Le Dernier Espoir #1 by Cindy Mezni

My thanks to Evatopia for another fun title!!

Book Review:

Le Dernier Espoire translates to the Last Hope, a particularly evocative and intriguing phrase hinting at good things to come. Cindy Mezni does not fail to fulfill those early indications for intrigue. In this, her first novel published in English, Mezni manages to build a world and an emotional tone that is mesmerizing as Deliah’s journey and struggles unfold before our eyes.
More than a simple YA paranormal romance, fantasy, supernatural or even coming of age story, Mezni manages to bring several elements together while revealing only the “need to know’ information, keeping readers engaged and wondering as the story unfolds.

Deliah lives in a small-ish town with her sister and grandmother: she and her sister don’t get along; in fact they are very different entirely. Since their parents died when Deliah was just a toddler, the girls have lived with their grandmother. Read more

Hold Me in Contempt: A Romance by Wendy Williams

If you haven’t seen Wendy Williams’ television show, or heard her on the radio – this will be a good introduction to the lady. Be sure that you check out the other tour stops, and don’t forget to enter the tour-wide giveaway where the publisher is offering FIVE winners a paperback copy of the title.

Book Review:

From reading the blurb for this title, I was expecting a steamy romance: what I got was an edgier story: more urban and street than romance and sexy. You have to be aware of that before picking up this title, the story does not unfold simply or gently, and the characters are often more dressing for action and ‘name dropping’ of cultural references than developed with a clear sense of purpose. Read more

AudioBook Review: The Ladies’ Paradise by Émile Zola

AudioBook Review

Prodigious barely can encompass the volumes added to literature by Émile Zola. In this, his eleventh book that dealt with various familial and societal relationships, Zola creates captivating characters that both serve as witness to, and participants in the great changes that are occurring throughout Paris in the post 1860′s world. Now familiar to many as the genesis idea for the PBS Masterpiece Classic series The Paradise, it was an interesting listen as I was able to work out the direct correlations between characters and the more composite or ‘informed by’ in the television version.

Having read excerpts in the original French several years ago, the one lasting impression from the writing of Zola is his rich and layered use of description. Long unused, to attempt this book now, either in written or spoken version would be daunting – I would understand little at first go, yet the beauty of the phrasing and descriptions do resonate, even if their meaning is lost. Read more

Just One Night: Sex, Love & Stiletto #3 by Lauren Layne

Today I have a review from the third title in the Sex Love and Stiletto series by Lauren Layne. Please be sure to check the other tour stops, and don’t forget to enter the tour-wide giveaway where you could win a Lauren Layne Prize Pack with: Review Copies of Stiletto Series, Loveswept Tote and Mug or $15.00 E-Retailer Gift Card of Winner’s Choosing.

Book Review:

Lauren Layne brings another installment to her Sex, Love and Stiletto’s series, and manages to pair off yet another member of the Stiletto’s staff. Riley is the sex columnist, doling out the advice to the single women who make up the majority of readers. Riley is clever and fun, and while this story wasn’t as humorous as the first two, the story keeps pace with the earlier books and gives a character who has insecurities and pressures that are easy to relate to, even if we aren’t in New York and known by many. Read more

Her Best Laid Plans by Cara McKenna

Today, thanks to Harlequin, I have a new release from their Cosmo Red Hot Reads collection: Her Best Laid Plans from Cara McKenna.

Book Review:

A trip to Ireland after the end of a long-term relationship is to serve as Jaime’s time to find a new direction and start to work on her own life. Early on, I had a couple of problems with the timeline on this one: Jamie’s age is confused and had me wondering. She states that she was in a 4 year relationship with Noel, left school to support him emotionally and financially, and says she is 22. Then nearly the next sentence, she mentions Conor’s age and states there are 3 years between her and his 28. It was one of those strange things that seem minor, but kept me wondering about her for the rest of the story. Read more

Prince’s Fire Hearts and Thrones #3 by Amy Raby

Today I have a review and giveaway for the fantasy romance title Prince’s Fire, Hearts and Thrones book 3 by Amy Raby. Please be sure to check out the other tour stops and don’t forget to enter the tour-wide giveaway here where two people can win their choice of a $10 Amazon gift card OR a print copy of Prince’s Fire: Hearts and Thrones # 3 by Amy Raby.

Book Review:

My first encounter with this author and series, and I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised to find a story that carried romance, intrigue and clever characterizations throughout the book, and didn’t seem to have any great gaps in my understanding even as it is the third in the series. Read more

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★ Current Giveaways and other Goodies ★

Rating Guidelines

Sexual Heat Levels

Miscellaney

Submissions & Policies