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Ten Early Bird Book Releases + a few preorders going live at midnight…

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Monday starts the week off right with these awesome-sounding early birds. There’s one for each of our romance tastes. 😉 From sexy sports stars, to sexy firemen, to creepy-thrillers, to a porn star, to a ghost, in love, I already have two of ’em on my TBR list, since putting this list together. I can’t wait to see if they’re as good as they sound!

<— P.S. That one to the left? Burning up the Amazon charts right now!! HOT and steamy sounding, and with a title like that, I can just imagine… 😉

Pimmie likes the mouse-pointer. “Ooooh is that a bug I can eat?” Follow us on Instagram? It’ll be fun, I promise. 😛

Oh and did you see the pre-orders going live at midnight? *gasp* Okay tomorrow’s going to be a CRAZY list. Seriously. I was going to highlight a few of the authors up here, but they’re ALL huge, so… I’ll just let you see ’em below. LOL!!! 😛

JUST WENT LIVE!!!

  1. Mister O by Lauren Blakely  <— TEE HEE!! THAT TITLE SAYS A LOT 😉 *blush* “I suppose that makes me a superhero of pleasure, and my mission is to always deliver. BUT then I’m thrown for a loop when a certain woman asks me to teach her everything about how to win a man. The only problem? She’s my best friend’s sister, but she’s far too tempting to resist–especially when I learn that sweet, sexy Harper, has a dirty mind too and wants to put it to good use. What could possibly go wrong as I give the woman I’ve secretly wanted some no-strings-attached lessons in seduction?“
  2. Atticus by Leslie Fear <— SHE FEELS AN AMAZING PULL TO A GHOST ALERT! New girl in town is fascinated by a rumored “haunted house” and the ghost inside is fascinated with her… “…once I stepped through the window inside that house, I could feel the peace surrounding me. Hugging my body as if it had arms. Protecting me. Loving me. It was like the house knew what I craved and it felt too good to question any of it…” (my review)
  3. Waiting for Him (Waiting Series Book 3) by Dawn Stanton <— LOVE TRIANGLE ALERT! She has a fiancee and suddenly her ex is back… “My past and present are at war, pushing and pulling me in two different directions and sooner or later I’m going to break. How do I choose between the two men I love?”
  4. The Summer Games: Settling the Score by R.S. Grey <— OLYMPIC STARS! She’s a soccer player and he’s a swimmer… “…she’s forced into the path of Frederick Archibald, a decorated Olympic swimmer and owner of a sexy British accent—too bad he’s unavailable in a way that “it’s complicated” doesn’t even begin to explain. In other words: off limits.”
  5. Exrated by Stevie J. Cole <— SHE GETS A JOB WORKING ON A PORN SET (yikes!!) BUT!!!!! “Although she anticipates being shocked her first few days on set, nothing could prepare her for the moment she’s asked to hold the reflector as her ex-boyfriend plows through a woman like a Kansas cornfield…” *snort* WHOA. This one could be interesting (angst-wise).
  6. Leveling The Field (Gamers) by Megan Erickson <— RECLUSIVE EX-GAMER “It takes approximately two seconds for Lissa Kingsman to recognize Ethan as the popular YouTube gamer who fell off the planet years ago. But this Ethan is different than the charming man she used to watch, and the crush she had on him then is nothing compared to the way she’s lusting after the brooding man he is today…”
  7. To Seduce a SEAL (Sin City SEALs) by Sara Jane Stone
  8. Seducing the Fireman (Risky Business) by Jennifer Bonds
  9. Accidental Salvation by Colbie Carter <— HE’S OUT OF PRISON AND HUNTING HER… “Emmy Burke made a grave mistake ten years ago. A tragic accident took the life of a neighborhood child, and the young boy’s father beat her nearly to death in retaliation. Now, the boy’s father is out of prison, and Emmy’s worst fear is confirmed as she’s forced into a dangerous game of cat and mouse…”
  10. The Drowning Girls by Paula Treick DeBoard <— PSYCH THRILLER ALERT! And it sounds right up my alley. 😉 She moves to a beautiful house in a high-end neighborhood with her husband and teen daughter… “In a place where reputation is everything, Liz soon discovers that even the friendliest residents can’t be trusted. So when the gorgeous girl next door befriends Danielle, Liz can’t help but find sophisticated Kelsey’s interest in her shy and slightly nerdy daughter a bit suspicious…” Yikes!!!

         

PRE-ORDERS (Going live at midnight!!! :D )

Book Review – Atticus by Leslie Fear

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Atticus <— JUST WENT LIVE!
I do love a good ghost story, whether it be ghost-horror or ghost-romance! I’ve read a few ghost stories that were full terrifying (evil ravaging ghosts) or… ghost-loves-human-gone wrong (eeeeeep!!), or ghost-loves-human/love-conquers-all (despite the er… “physical” differences). And I’m into ALL of ’em. I was anticipating that this one was going to tickle at least one of my ghost-fancies, for sure. 😉

But to tell you the truth, since I’m a romance addict, I’m a sucker for a true ghost-love story. Trying to overcome the obvious obstacles that a romance like that would face? SO FUN!! I mean, come on… did you see that gorgeous guy on the cover? Oh yes. I was SO in before I even started. Such promise of intensity.

So what’s it about?

Candice is the new girl, trying to balance her last year in high school with her alcoholic mother’s drunken rages.

It’s borderline torture living with a mother who doesn’t remotely act like one. Lately, everything sets her off and her red-hot temper is getting worse.

Having spent her life moving from one school to the next, her goal is to stay low key (even with the bruises on her face). Despite her attempts to remain under the radar, she attracts the attention of one of the popular boys in school.

I wish I were like other, normal girls, excited to have the attention of an attractive guy. But I simply can’t have him right now—not when my life is sh!t. My head won’t allow it even though my heart doesn’t understand. I’ve never had roots and I sure as hell don’t think we’ll stick around here long enough for them to grow.

She hesitates, but they soon become friends. However she also finds herself attracted to a house. One that is rumored to be haunted, but she can’t help herself. Because when she’s inside of it, she feels calm. Safe. Almost happy and at peace.

…a sense of warmth touches my face. I turn in the direction it came from, quickly realizing it’s only the sun’s rays breaking through a cracked piece of wood above the broken window. But it’s more than that. It’s beyond soothing, as if the stress from the past twenty-four hours is being sucked out of my body. It feels amazing.

And she keeps going back,

I have a yearning in my gut to go back. It’s like an invisible rope is physically pulling on my heartstrings and on every bone and muscle and cell in my body, and I have to go.

Now.

…finally encountering exactly what it is that keeps calling her back.

The house needs me and I don’t have a choice but to do what it wants.

His name is Atticus. And he is smitten with her.

I’ll let you discover the rest. 😉

It’s YA, and while the characters are 18, it still has an overall teen “feel” to it. From the character’s inexperience and tentative interactions, the quick-crush to the internal dialogue (very teen). Even though there were some darker subject matters that I could appreciate, the writing style and story-progression had a light quality to it. Maybe a little too light, for this angst-loving reader.

I didn’t find myself becoming invested with the potential romance angle, because the story unfolded (love story, scary parts, extra characters and all) too quickly. Sure, everything had a part to round-out the story, but not enough information or time spent on much of it, for the reader to become enraptured with it. Not in-depth enough to keep me guessing, to keep me scared and on the edge of my seat, or to have me swooning. In fact, so much of the potential intrigue was too easily “given-away” to the reader.

And that’s my biggest issue. While it had a fairly strong start, with a variety of strife and sweetness and personal history, the rate at which it progressed, and how quickly it all wrapped up (at least part 1 of it) kept me from truly feeling it. Sure, good things, bad things, sad things and scary things happened. It had all sorts of things going on. But something about the characters kept me from living it, with them.

In fact, the writing style, while very “clean” (somewhat safe, despite some of the darker elements) gave me the impression of being written for a younger teen audience. Had a feel of “The House” (another YA haunted house ghost story that I enjoyed recently) mixed with a touch of “made for TV Disney” movie. Don’t get me wrong. I actually LOVE those movies, and this story would be PERFECT for a Disney Halloween movie (with the mean girls, the concerned teachers, the sweet romance, the “message” and all!)

But I need more. I need history, I need intrigue, I need angst, I need emotion, I need penetrating internal dialogue, I need her to “go there”. Take risks, and delve in deep. I want the author to keep me guessing. Maybe even trick me, and take my breath away. Turn a ghost-love story (or ghost-scary story) into an unforgettable one.

That said… this one did end on sort of a cliffhanger, so it’s obvious there’s more to come. Who knows what’s in store. 😉

3 stars

P.S. Thank you to the author for sending me this review copy!

Kate Stewart – The Reluctant Romantics Series Reading Order

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New release in this series!! It can be read as a standalone, but the author recommends reading the first two books before it. I absolutely loved another book this author wrote a few years ago (called Room 212, which she indicates also “compliments” this series). VERY COOL!!

Christine: Love this series!

Stacy:  This is my favorite book of 2016!! Absolutely amazing!

Pia: I read Room 212 some time ago, and it is still one of my favorites. Kate Stewarts other book – Never Me – is just as good.

About book #1:

Dallas

He was the beginning of my heart . . . and the end of it. I was only fifteen years old when he claimed it and twenty when he took it with him.
They say what is meant to be will find a way. But when you have changed to the point of no return, how can anything ever be the same?

Seven years later, Dean Martin waltzed back into my life in hopes of resuming what I had fought so hard to forget, but he was in for a wake-up call. I was no longer the naïve woman he had left . . . and I was no longer his. I met the love of my life and my soul mate when I was fifteen. I knew that; he knew that. He wanted that girl back. I wanted to forget she ever existed.

Dean

What I thought was my pre-destined path was very much an illusion. Living seven years with regret, I realized too late that I was broken, and that I only had myself to blame. I thought love could wait . . . but it didn’t.

We’d had it all those years ago, and then I foolishly left it behind. She was all that mattered. She was all there ever was. There was no life without Dallas, no reason . . . except her. No matter how hard she tried to convince me, I knew I had to once again make her mine, to make her remember . . . the fall.

    

10 Questions based on our TBR lists – Bev’s List:

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Still don’t know what you’re in the mood to read, even though your TBR list is overflowing? LOL!! Every book-addict suffers this (although I can’t find a better way to suffer)! 😉

Since our ever-growing TBR lists are constantly shifting, every time we *squirrel* over a new release, or are contemplating starting an adamant book recommendation, bev has proposed a fun “TBR list quiz“, and she even supplied the questions. They’re good, too!!

Yep! I think this could work. Maybe this’ll help us choose our next read. Kind of like “self help” but in book format. You know, if you write it down… in a list (I love lists!! 😀 ) maybe it will suddenly makes sense. LOL!

So each Saturday, I will be featuring a fellow reader’s responses. Of course, I too, will be answering the questions. I’m so excited!!!

bev: It is weird. Sometimes I scroll through my books and I want to read them all right now. They all look good. Other times I just want to buy buy buy but nothing looks that good, lol. I know Maryse has posted a question list based on our tbr. It was fun. Want to play again? 20 q based on tbr?

  1. Book(s) you can’t believe you haven’t read yet?
  2. Book(s) that the cover grabs your attention?
  3. Book(s) from buzz/review?
  4. Book(s) from book buddy book talk?
  5. Book(s) you are hesitant to read?
  6. Book(s) in part because the author makes you feel you are in that locale?
  7. Book(s) you really hope is what you think it is going to be?
  8. Book(s) that randomly pop into your head and you think yes I need to read that?
  9. If your weekend read had to come from this list what 1 or 3 would they be?
  10. Last one. Should Maryse put her tbr away and watch the first episode of Sherlock and blog it?

Fabi: haaaa on your last question Bev. If you pushed books as much as you do TV, I would always know what to read next. I still can’t believe I didn’t read Radiance when MichelleS first mentioned it. I don’t even know if it was her mention first or Michelle’s. Sometimes I wish you guys would hit me over the head with the recs. I don’t know what I’m reading next. I have 4 ARCs waiting for me. I’m tempted to go to the 2nd Radiance book, Elo…something. I can’t remember the title. Meh, I don’t know what I’m in the mood for.

bev: Fabi, do you really want me to push more books on you?….. Have you driven on that Jellicoe Road yet?

Jean: Omg bev, just those questions are giving me the shakes! Lol! I hit the thousand mark on my TBR so yeah, I don’t even know where to start! Off the top of my head without looking at my list, The Mason List, Brightside, Hopeless, continuing BDB series (I’m up to book 10), the Driven trilogy, the Roam series, tons of KA books, Consequences series…….yeah ok, thanks for overwhelming me!

bev: You are welcome Jean. Heh.

Maryse: bev you know I’m just gonna make this into a new Saturday reader post, right? LOL!!! Keep ‘em coming guys. I’ll answer it, too! :D And LOL on that last question. 😉 Okay I’ll watch the first episode. 😀

bev’s Answers:

1. Book(s) you can’t believe you haven’t read yet? Marked In Flesh: A Novel of the Others & Cold-Hearted Rake. If you know me on here its bewildering, right? I scratch my head myself.

2. Book(s) that the cover grabs your attention? Joyride by Anna Banks. Not sure why. The Carnival at Bray by Jessie Ann Foley. Ireland & music.

3. Book(s) from buzz/review? I’ll Meet You There by Heather Demetrios. I saw it on a couple best of lists and then read a super positive review. Cocky Bastard. Maryse’s review has me intrigued about the humor and the conflict.

4. Book(s) from book buddy book talk? Cocky Bastard. You all seemed to enjoy it.

5. Book(s) you are hesitant to read? Tiny Pretty Things by Sona Charaipotra & Dhonielle Clayton. The Walls Around Us by Nova Ren Suma. These two slightly scare me.

6. Book(s) in part because the author makes you feel you are in that locale? The Chocolate Kiss (Amour et Chocolat Book 2) by Laura Florand. France. Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins. San Francisco.

7. Book(s) you really hope is what you think it is going to be? The Distance Between Us by Kassie West. I have it in my head it is going to be like Pretty in Pink.

8. Book(s) that randomly pop into your head and you think yes I need to read that? The Lies of Locke Lamora (Gentleman Bastards, Book 1) by Scott Lynch

9. If your weekend read had to come from this list what 1 or 3 would they be? I’ll Meet You There, The Distance Between Us, Cocky Bastard.

10. Last one. Should Maryse put her tbr away and watch the first episode of Sherlock and blog it? Oh, um, maybe. *shrug*

“Ok, that was a lot. Maybe too much.”

          

Alanea Alder – Bewitched and Bewildered Series Reading Order

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<— YOU GUYS!!!!!!!! I’m hearing this one is a MUST-READ. It’s a paranormal series that’s new-to-me, but has SO many awesome reviews, and our fellow readers are cackling with glee over this one! I just found out about it, and OMG what am I waiting for?!!

Laura: Oh u guys!! I just started a new series by alanea alder it’s a shifter/vampire/witch/fae series and it sooooo amazing and I haven’t even finished book 1! There’s a scene where he has so go get her tampons and of course he has no clue what they are so he takes his whole command unit with him I’m crying with laughter it’s so good u have u look it up maryse!! … so friggin good u have to have to take a look at this it’s making me all clappy hands excited

Michelle: Omigod I’m laughing so hard that I’m crying! Laura recommended My Commander by Alanea Alder and it’s freakin hilarious! I wish it had audio so I could listen on my drive. On the tampon scene…five paranormal alpha males trying to figure out what a period is and what tampons to get *giggling*

Ela: YOU GUYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THIS PNR IS THE NEXT EPIC READ/SERIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Bewitched and Bewildered SERIES BY Alanea Alder!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I AM CRACKING THE ‘EF UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Grace: I totally get why Ela was screaming about My Commander – Bewitched and Bewildered Series by Alanea Alder. The book is hysterical, but not just that. It’s amusing all the way through so the smile stays on your face throughout the entire book. There are times you are gut busting belly laughing, and then times when it’s so lovely I found myself crying, but good crying, happy crying, touching moment kind of crying. Then back to laughing. The paranormal world she creates is great.

The story is great. The characters are really great. The sexy times are great. Listen to Ela! Read it! She was so right! I also highly recommend it if you are coming off of something really angsty and full of tension and need to recover a bit. I’ve moved on to the second book and it’s just what I wanted too. New lead characters for the love story, but all the old ones are there being themselves, which we’ve already established is them being really great! *buries her face back in the e-reader cackling like a banshee cause Meryn from My Commander is absolutely HYSTERICAL!*

Michelle: Yesssss My Commander love finally! I read all five books recently and laughed until I cried in all of them. There is a store scene with hilarity ensuing in each book. What I really liked was that Meryn and all the characters carry over into each book and it doesn’t just focus on the new couple. They were such fun books – book 6 out in June :D

Kim: Best series ever don’t know how many times I have reread this xx highly highly recommend x

Kelly: It’s fantastic! And I’m a very picky reader. I can’t tell you how many people I’ve gotten to read it and they all love it. Meryn, the lead female in book 1 and whose story continues throughout the series, is quirky and sensitive and a smartass and extremely intelligent. At the same time the plotline is well developed and a unique take on paranormal. Without spoiling anything you’ll laugh to tears anytime the men go to the grocery store!

Tressa: Absolutely a must read! I’ve probably re-read the entire series three or four times… whenever I’m in a book slump or just need my spirits lifted. Fun characters and emotional too…

About book #1:

When the topic of grandchildren comes up during a weekly sewing circle the matriarchs of the founding families seek out the witch Elder to scry to see if their sons have mates. They are shocked to discover that many of their son’s mates are out in the world and are human!

Fearing that their future daughter in laws will end up dead before being claimed and providing them with grandchildren to spoil, they convince their own mates that something must be done. After gathering all of the warriors together in a fake award ceremony the witch Elder casts a spell to pull the warrior’s mates to them, whether they want it or not.

Aiden McKenzie is adamant that he doesn’t need a mate and that she would only get in the way. He doesn’t have time to coddle a female. He likes his world run with military precision. Little does he realize, Fate is sending him his mate first! He meets his destined mate Meryn Evans and things go downhill from there. She is the embodiment of chaos. In the first twenty-four hours she kicks, screams and knocks her bear shifting mate unconscious.

Eventually they discover that life before finding each other may have been good, but life afterwards is perfect, even if it involves super soaker battles and accidentally discharging hand grenades.

Unfortunately the joy of their mating is overshadowed when Aiden and Meryn find themselves embroiled in a missing persons case assigned to Aiden by the Lycaonian Council. By assisting Aiden, Meryn finds herself the focus of a demented killer.

Can Aiden and the elite warriors from the Alpha Unit keep Meryn safe? Or did Fate bring her to Lycaonia to die?

SERIES READING ORDER

      

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