It’s here! It’s heeeeeeeerre!!! *squeeeeeeee* IN e-book format on Kindle!! S.C. Stephens has just announced her official Effortless release in digital format!
She says:
“Kindle version is live!”
Check out my book review.
Book Review – Playing for Keeps (A Neighbor from Hell Novel) by R.L. Mathewson
Playing For Keeps (A Neighbor From Hell Series – Book #1)
I stumbled upon this series while checking out some potential new reads that had been recommended. These weren’t on my list, but something possessed me to click on them and check them out a little deeper. I mean, come on… anything that has a “Neighbor from Hell” in the title sounds like it’s gonna be fun! There weren’t many reviews at the time, but the few they did have were extremely positive, felt real, and the synopsis had me chuckling. Oh and the price couldn’t be beat! I downloaded both ASAP, and even though I had other books I intended to read first, these just kept calling me.
And let me tell you. They were GREAT!! 4 star great! Maybe even 4.5 stars. Yep! I couldn’t help but announce my enthusiasm here for book#2 (even if my book review wasn’t done yet) AND on my Facebook page when I finished book #1 (this one). It would appear so many of my Facebook friends agreed!
Maryse’s Book Blog: Heading to the airport, on my way home. While I was away, I read Jason’s book in the Neighbors From Hell series. I loved it just as much as #2 and even found it to be slightly more intense at times. There’s nothing more awesome than a book about two “friends” that sleep together and it be only sleep… I LOVED that about them! all that build up is titillating!!
Yanira: I loved this one had me LMAO and I needed the laugh after a very intense sad reading.
Brandie: I loved it too! Read #2 yesterday and loved it just as much. They were just so much fun! Can’t wait for more.
Nicolle: I read Perfection first and was kind of bummed I read out if order ! I guess I should still read about Jason?
Jamie: I actually liked Jason more than Trevor. I liked Trevor in the end, of course, but Jason had me cracking up hysterically in both books!
Maryse’s Book Blog: Nicolle you must read Jason’s book. It’s not ruined because their story isn’t elaborated on in book #2 and I was very much into their “issues”. Hilarious but their attraction was believable.
Nicolle: Okay, twist my arm! 😉
Yanira: I also liked Jason better, he’s so funny!! I was laughing my butt off since the second page.
Sara: Reading it right now. I love the whole foody hoarding the Bradfords have going. so funny. Jason is funny, but so is Haley.. good story
Lisa: I’m reading book 2 now. I did love Jason in the first. to funny
Janet: Loved both, but I liked Jason more than Trevor
Patricia: It’s a tie for me Trevor had me at the cinder blocks……teehee and Jason when he became a stowaway ……..oh Maryse…..I think you found a winner I wonder if all her books are as good?
Jamie: I loved the cinder blocks too! I loved his family’s response to the cinder blocks. Too hilarious! What a great family! Hahahaha!
Brandie: The food thing had me dying laughing and their genuine suprise and outrage at things, lol, I really loved these books. I felt guilty that they were only a dollar a piece because they were worth more than that, imo.
Sandra: OK, I’m still in my PAJAMAS – finished both books! I liked book two better
Mariel: Hey Maryse!!! Just finished the neighbor from hell series and I’m hooked!!! Can’t wait for the 3rd 🙂 thanks again!!
While I accidentally read book #2 first, this one was not spoiled. In fact, Jason, the main character in this book had me laughing so hard in book #2 that I couldn’t wait to get to him, officially. And he did NOT disappoint. In fact, I don’t have a preference between the two. Trevor’s book had me laughing more, and had me shed a few tears right off the bat (and had me growling in anger quite a few times), but this one had a more intense thing going on. Funny, OH YES, but the romantic tension is what had me. I love the whole “trip mishaps/hotel issues” where the best friends are forced to share a room, premise.
“Fine but just so you know, anything that comes over this way will be chopped off.”
“Duly noted,” he said, snuggling deeper into the bed.
“Oh, and if you snore I’ll kill you in your sleep,” she mumbled.
“Ditto.”
That attraction that they are denying themselves, well… it’s hard to deny it when you wake up “spooning” ya know? All cuddled up, and limbs intertwined, and they suddenly realize just how cozy they really are…. tee hee!! But don’t think the romance starts there, and that it’s all just given away at that point. ‘Cause it ain’t. (ew! I said “ain’t” ;))
So what’s it about?
Well, once upon a time, a sweet, quiet schoolteacher buys a house, tends to it, builds her beautiful flower gardens, and thoroughly enjoys her quiet and peaceful life. And then… Jason moves in next door and he proves to be a neighbor from hell. Gorgeous, but UGH!!!! He pees in public, has obnoxious friends, does all sorts of things to drive her crazy. But she’s non-confrontational and holds her tongue, enduring his tortures.
For the next five years he turned her picturesque life into a nightmare. She wasn’t sure how one person managed to take so much control over her happiness, but he did. Over the years she dealt with paintball pellets decorating the laundry hanging on her clothesline and the side of her house, loud music, parties, twice she found naked people trying to climb the fence to skinny dip in her pool, three a.m. drunken basketball games, women throwing hissy fits on his front lawn and sometime on hers when the jerk refused to come out and deal with them.
Oh, and!! He is a new teacher at her school. LOL!!! Steals her CHALK!!! But then one day… he does something that absolutely makes her crazy and her wrath is unleashed!!
Sooooo fun! These two enemies that sort of become friends, and slowly but surely, BEST friends. Complete opposites, but it’s the “getting to know each other” that will hook you. And it’s the fact that the author allows us to experience every little detail, every look, every thought, every nuance of their denied attraction to each other. I dunno… it was just so well-described, or the story was paced well enough that even though I *knew* the obvious, and was sure of where the book was going, I still felt antsy, excited and giddy over their emotional flubs. And the emotional flubbing really takes them into some danger zones, taking this from silly fun to a much deeper, almost angst-y level, and even that was intense.
Jamie: Did you laugh really hard? I agree with the intensity. It had some pretty intense stuff in the end. I honestly didn’t know which way it was going to go…”
You are so right, Jamie! Sure, Jason’s an absolute goof. You can’t help but fall for him, but even he has his limits (and I loved him for it).
4 stars!
Megan Hart – Order of Solace Reading Order Guide
About the series:
Introducing the women of the Order of Solace
The handmaidens of the Order of Solace are each named for the exquisite service that best reflects their true calling. Their greatest delight is giving pleasure–devoted as they are to fulfilling the desires of the mind, the needs of the soul, and the cravings of the body.
Meet Stillness, called upon to soothe the conscience of a man in need of redemption after a shocking act from his sexual past. Then there’s Honesty, whose vow of Solace is to a prince looking for a submissive handmaiden. Instead, he gets the unexpected. And finally, Determinata, a handmaiden confronted with a client lost in a haze of random sex and drugs. She has just the plan to literally whip her man into shape.
- Pleasure and Purpose (Order of Solace, Book 1)
- No Greater Pleasure (Order of Solace, Book 2)
- Selfish is the Heart (Order of Solace)
- Virtue and Vice (Order of Solace)
Kristen Ashley and her Alpha Men
So you know… lately we’ve been on a Kristen Ashley kick, because, in all honesty, her men just do it for us. In fact, discussions about her heroes and her books still dominate my Facebook page (and I’m glad for it). I just found out that two very recent releases were two of her best yet, and that means I know what I’ll be reading this weekend!
When I asked what should be my next read, I received a ton of suggestions, with many consisting of:
Lori: Either Heaven and Hell or Play It Safe…. Sam and Gray are both totally swoon worthy!
Krystal: Omg omg !! Heaven and Hell !!! Play It Safe !! Like right now !!!
Nancy: Wow..guess I’ll have to catch up on those KA books after finishing the Night Huntress Series I’m workin on!! They’re getting enough votes!
Joy: Heaven and Hell. Read that and then Leah and Lucien will be ready for you on Friday!
Rebecca: I agree…definitely can’t go wrong with KA. Heaven and Hell and Play It Safe rank right up there with the rest of them.
… and so on and so on. I have never had more adamant and enthusiastic reading suggestions
And I know I’ve said it before, but, ya just can’t beat a bad-ass, bad-boy with a heart of gold (and who doesn’t even realize it). One that can’t be bested, one that fights his battles (and yours) from deep within… digs right down there in the dark, and yet always manages to shine so bright (even with a scowl on his face).
Even better, her men are gorgeous, unattainable, self-confident, infuriating, bossy, arrogant, demanding and yet so amazing with words. But… not the wordy type (bleh!!). I’ve found lately that the wordier heroes irritate me. They don’t feel real (yep! I’ve said that before too).
Kristen’s alphas are the kind of guys that say it all, and make you melt right there, on the spot, with their ONE-word answers (okay sometimes a few words). They never overdo it. They just don’t have the time, the patience, or the need for it. They’re too cool for that, without even having to try. YES!! Thats what it is!!! Her guys don’t even try!! They just ARE. They’re perfect in all of there manly imperfection. Men of few words, but that use them precisely, and appropriately, and without apology. The kind of guy that can make you both growl, and purrrrrr, simultaneously. They do it by saying so little, and yet they mean SO much. That’s just HOT!
And in a way, they kind of remind me of another group of hot-as-heck, leather-clad, paranormal bad-asses from another one of my favorite series.
After Jedi-mind tricking my friends last week into reading “Tate’s” book, “Sweet Dreams” next (’cause they were shamelessly drooling on some Harley’s – tee hee!!), they had this to say:
Sherry: Alright, I’ve started *Sweet Dreams* with the wavy hands and all……and I’m loving it!!!
(side note from Maryse: the “wavy hands and all” were my attempt at the Jedi-mind-tricking… HEY! I had to do something to get their attention away from the Harleys!)
Sherry: I’m in such a dreamstate when I’m with Tate ♥ just wow!!!! He’s everything you wish you could have *in a far off fantasy* bike, boots, tats, attitude and looks!!! Holy s**balls. Maryse, who do you have as your Tate?? I’m going to look later for him …..
Maryse: Tate is he only one that is in my head only so far… I love him almost the most, and yet… he’s not clear to me.
Sherry: Hmmmmm, I’ll have to look far for him 😉 beard and no beard!!
And over the last few months, the whole bunch of us have chatted about our favorites and what they look like. Her heroes alone have their own “top-lists”. What do these guys look like? And what do they look like to Kristen? So you know what I did? I asked her!
Maryse: “I can’t BELIEVE I forgot to ask this question for the interview considering how badly I want to know… I want to dedicate one more post to you (well not just one more, but ANOTHER one)!
If you feel so inclined, since we know Ty is *sorta* Dwayne Johnson (YES to him!!) – who do your other characters look like? Even if it’s just a round about idea.Like to me… Wood looks like the guy from Sons of Anarachy… he just CAME to me – perfectly formed as this guy (sorta):Strangely enough, I struggle with Tate (Sweet Dreams) and who he looks like. He came to me but it wasn’t sticking…. I don’t know why, considering he’s the one I latched on to the most. He’s like a ghost in my head… I catch glimpses of him, clear and then *poof* he’s vague again.Hawk came to me perfectly. I could go on and on… but I’d LOVE to get your versions.Help a girl (or a bunch of girls out, will ya?)”
And here’s what she said:
“Now… what actors could be my boys… I often get this question and I can’t answer it except vaguely. It is because they are “real” to me so I know exactly what they look like, who they are so it is hard for me to say because they are who they are, very, VERY defined in my head. Someone once told me Hugh Jackson absolutely WAS Hank Nightingale (from Rock Chick Redemption) and I got ticked because he’s not, he’s Hank. That was awhile ago and I’m over that reaction now 🙂 hee hee. Even though Dwayne’s movie Faster inspired (Lady Luck (Colorado Mountain Series), Ty doesn’t look a thing like him. And my Ty is WAY taller (but just as muscle-bound).
To be honest, my hubby and others mention my books being made into movies and sometimes I get a weird, not happy feeling in my belly about that because I cannot imagine any actor or actress playing my characters, even secondary ones. And I don’t want them to be defined by an actor, does that make sense?
However…
When I first saw Joe Manangiello in a photo (before seeing him in True Blood), I lost my breath because he is almost exactly how I picture Lee Nightingale (Rock Chick) in my head.
And a friend of mine just told me Tate (Sweet Dreams) in her head looks like Matt Schulze and I looked him up and he kind of does! Then again, so does Joe Manangiello who is hot, hot, hot.
And since The Golden Dynasty (Fantasyland Series) was based on Game of Thrones, Lahn looks somewhat like Jason Mamoa – though my Lahn is taller, his muscle is leaner and more defined as is his face.
Mamoa could also be Mace from the Rock Chicks.
(side note from Maryse – OH WOW! Mamoa is too cute here!!)
Since Wood is based on a real man, Charlie doesn’t look like him for me (and Wood has black hair) and it is hard for me to say that because Charlie is ALL THAT! I love that show and I adore him in it. But Wood is short-ish (for my men, that said, he’s still tall) and bulkier in a hot guy cuddly way.
If it ever happens, I would be delighted if Jim Beaver would play Duke from the Rock Chicks. He is not gray but his voice and manner, he’d be perfect.
Luke Stark from the Rock Chicks is also based on a real guy though not one I met, one who walked into a services while I was having a coffee. He had a motorcycle helmet in his hand and the most ridiculous mustache IN THE WORLD! But he freakin’ ROCKED that ‘tache! I just stared at him the whole time he was ordering his coffee and Luke was born instantly.
Max does not look like Bradley Cooper, Max is bulkier, darker, taller but he has his hair. Bradley Cooper has the best hair.
I think that’s about it… probably more than you wanted to know.”
Okay, so Joe as Tate – heck yah!!! Now I wanna re-read, with that picture in my head.
And now, I ask… who do these guys look like to you? I still have a bunch to read in Kristen Ashley’s repertoire and I’d love to get a little kick-start on the images in my head.
P.S. – I just received an update. For those of you interested in reading Kristen Ashley’s paranormal Alpha males, she JUST released (TODAY!!!) her latest, which is a VAMPIRE novel entitled: Until the Sun Falls from the Sky (The Three Series)
Oh! And if you’re new to Kristen Ashley? Check out some of her book series, and my book reviews here:
➔➔➔ Looking for my must-read recommendations? Browse my 5 star and 4.5 star and 4 star reviews. 😀
➔➔➔ Love this author? Browse more Kristen Ashley features and reviews on my blog. 😀
Book Review – Unsticky by Sarra Manning
Unsticky
Wait. I just realized… I still have no idea what “Unsticky” means. What the heck is unsticky? Interesting title for sure but it seems I may have missed the hidden meaning. *shrug* Ah well. The title might be convoluted, but the book was straightforward, and an easy read. Interesting enough to hold my interest, but I was able to put it down.
So was it like the Fifty Shades trilogy? Is Vaughn as awesome and freaky, as tormented and as infuriating, yet as sexy, as Grey? Was THIS the book that we’ve been looking for to give us another “Christian-style fix? Hrmmm…. sorry. But nope. Sorta close, but not close enough. It had everything it needed to “give me the need to read” – I mean how could one not want to read this? This looked like it would be right up my alley!
- young, inexperienced, down-on-her luck girl wanting to get ahead in the world
- super wealthy, distinguished man that has “his way, and ONLY his way of doing things” who sees potential in said girl
- An interesting “business/personal” proposal that includes a 6 month timeline that allows her to live his lifestyle
- An incredible tension, and a constant like/love/hate relationship
- A seemingly unattainable man who can be sweet and gentle and generous at times, and then turn around and absolutely destroy all of the tiny crushes I was developing on him. Constantly. Give and take, but when he takes, he has a tendency to smash it to bits.
And yet, I could never wholeheartedly latch on to the potential (and I must underline potential) “love” story.
Because for a grand majority of the book, the romance is kept right on the edge, you think it might be coming. It’s there it’s hovering, it’s close, but the reader is not allowed to fully indulge. I never felt like I was in it. Indulge me deeply, and then take it away if you must, but PLEASE let me bask in the romance glory, even for just a bit before the drama starts up again. I LOVE the drama. I love the give and take of an alpha male that won’t let himself lose control, that wholeheartedly resists the potential for true love. I enjoy that in a book because it keeps me on the edge of my seat, and I find myself pining… anxious for him to break (well you know, not “break” but more like… show his vulnerability). Love that!
This had it. Sorta. But here is yet another book that was just… missing something. At least to me.
We were discussing this one on Facebook (Gitte’s friend LOVED the book so Gitte was already planning on reading it, and Yanira was reading it at the same time I was):
Maryse’s Book Blog: It’s a good book. BUT, go into it to enjoy their journey and “issues” and go into it NOT expecting to fall in love with Vaughn. Not that he is not “fall-in-lovable” but I think I was really expecting the passion and intensity that we had with Grey and Anna… and that was a bit of my downfall. Because Vaughn really does stick to his guns… whereas Grey gave in a little bit easier. The end though, in this one… – VERY worth the read. And she may seem “shallow” at first, but she’s in fashion, and she’s 23, so you know… it makes sense. There is a lot of “growing up” in this one, and they are both broken.
Gitte: Thanks Maryse..it still sounds good so am still quite excited to read it!!! xx
Yanira: Gitte it’s a good read, I’m sure you’ll enjoy and at times you’ll want to kick both their asses… I’m currently reading it, at moments I’ve hated Vaughn, the main character, so much, he can be an ass sometimes, or most of the time. But they grew on me.
Yanira: Back to Unsticky…I hate him all over again!! This a rollercoaster alright!!
Julie: Can’t wait to get my copy!
Iced: I honestly can’t make up my mind with this one, I think I’ll subconsciously keep comparing it to 50Shades all along and that will totally ruin the experience before it even starts. I will put it on my TBR pile but I think I need to further detoxify myself from the whole 50 Shades realm!
Maryse’s Book Blog: Yep Iced… I think that was my problem. Had I read this before Fifty I would have loved it more, for sure, because the story IS interesting and the journey is quite a ride… but. I dunno. Not enough *oomph* I suppose.
Was it too much Vaughn barely ever giving in?
“Another reason why people take me seriously is because I never apologize even when – no, especially when I should,” he told her coolly. “No pleases, thank-yous or sorries – remember that and you might have that interesting year I was talking about.”
Despite his “glorified bigger than life persona” did I just not find him sexy enough? Was it that I didn’t feel the heroine truly falling for him? Now I’m not saying whether that does, or doesn’t happen… eventually ;). But for a large part of the book I found what I was mostly reading about was the struggle while they learned to adapt to one another (which caused Grace serious issues at first – I mean, wow she had some learning to do…). That, and all of the bumps in the road they encountered (plenty of those, and they were SO fun to read). OMG Vaughn could be infuriating (but there was that undeniable attraction…)
“God you’re pushy.” Grace sighed without much bite, because there was something to be said for a man who got what he wanted and didn’t just wheedle and whine until she did it for him.
And Grace… well you know what? I kinda liked her most of the time. She had issues to resolve, and she was sometimes irritating. Some of her decisions (no wait – most of her decisions) were all wrong and yet, she had a few things I could relate to. Her love of fashion, and her love of floppy-haired bad boys (especially of the rock star/artist kind):
And as usual, that first sight of Liam made her heart flip over because he really was pretty, but the stubble and the tattoos gave him a dangerous edge. God, the bad boys were Grace’s kryptonite.
Hehe. Yeah. *blush*
I dunno. Had I read this before Grey, I probably would have loved it. Honestly, it’s not fair for me to compare anything to Christian. It just isn’t. He ruled my world for months, and there was just so much more of him to love (hee hee! Not like that silly! Okay.. maybe a bit of that too 😉 ). So much of every part of him (emotionally, professionally, romantically, desperately…) and we just had so much of him from the start, and even though he resisted falling, you could just tell… you could feel him… and her.
Vaughn… well, we get that, but something was held back in the romance part of this book for too long, that I never fell for him completely.
However, I must say, the last quarter of the book really had me. LOVED it. So I’m gonna give this book 3.75 stars (maybe 4 stars? I dunno – I’m undecided). Anyway. It’s almost there. There were lessons learned (and some that were sorely needed)…
“Yeah, yeah, I know all that,” he conceded. “But that’s it. You’re funny but you’re not happy.” He nodded again, a short, decisive dip of his head “You have no happiness in you, Grace, you just fake it.”
But unfortunately, I needed much more to *squee*. I swooned… but only a little bit.
So… I have one copy to give away (mine) It’s used and slightly abused, but still worth the read ———-> WINNER ANNOUNCEMENT!!! –> Congratulations Teresa! You win my copy of Sarra Manning’s “Unsticky” book!!
How to enter for a chance to win it? Just leave a comment below, and Friday night (Friday February 24th 2012) by 10pm EST, I will randomly select one winners.
The winner will be contacted and will have 24hrs to respond with a mailing address (must respond by Saturday February 25th 2012 – 9pm EST at the latest), so if you are picked, do not delay or you will lose your chance.
Here’s a suggestion. If you want to enter to win the book, leave your comment, and you may also pre-send me your mailing address, by email, in case you do win (please don’t post it in your comment). In a couple of my past giveaways, there were some issues with getting the mailing address on time, so to avoid this, if I pick your name, and I already have your address, then all is good. Sorry for my international readers, this is a open to U.S. residents only (but you’re welcome to comment and join in any time!!).
And while you’re here, if you haven’t already joined me (actually “us”, ’cause we’re a big group now) on Facebook and Twitter, whatcha waiting’ for?!
