HR Review: The Wild One by Danelle Harmon

The Wild One 

by Danelle Harmon 

Book #1 in the de Monteforte Brothers series
Buy: Amazon - B&N
RATING: ★★★★★

Lord Gareth de Montforte is known as an irresponsible rake with a heart of gold. When he thwarts a stagecoach robbery, he is stunned to discover that the beautiful young woman he has heroically rescued, Juliet Paige, is his deceased brother's fiancée, accompanied by her infant daughter. Despite his family's refusal to acknowledge Juliet, Gareth is determined to do right by the courageous woman who crossed an ocean to give her baby the name she rightfully deserves. 

As a practical American woman, Juliet is wary of marrying this black sheep aristocrat, yet she is hopelessly charmed by the dashing devil. Never has she met anyone who embraces life so thoroughly, who makes her laugh, who loves her so well. And, even when it seems the odds are against them, Juliet has absolute faith that Gareth will go beyond the call of duty to give her and her daughter a home -- and a love that will last a lifetime. 

REVIEW:

Juliet Paige is on her way to England to meet the family of her deceased fiance, Charles de Monteforte. She's arrived from war-torn Boston with her 6-month old daughter, Charlotte, the product of her relationship with Charles, and it's been a year since his death. When her stage coach is attacked by highwaymen not far from the de Monteforte estate, as fate would have it, Gareth de Monteforte comes to the rescue of the travelers but is injured in the process. It's not long before they realize each other's identity.

Gareth is also called The Wild One for his cavorting ways. It's a well-deserved title and he and his group of friends are called the Den of Debauchery. I'm not normally a fan of these type characters but Gareth is hard to dislike. He has a big heart and kind soul, even if he is a screw up. Coming to Julie's rescue was a turning point for him after experiencing what it feels like to do something right. Even with his oldest brother, Lucien's manipulation, Gareth is determined to do the right thing by marrying Juliet and giving his niece a name and a father. While he has good intentions, he has no idea of how to carry this off.

Juliet also tries to put her love for Charles behind her and accept Gareth as her husband, as is. Gareth has lived his whole life being compared to Charles and it's hard for Juliet to not do so as well. The journey they take to create a bond is directly linked with his efforts to grow up, become a responsible man who can take care of his new family and find self-respect. When they reach that pivotal point, you've been to hell and back with them and it is so satisfying. I was so taken in by Gareth's charm and Juliet's grit and determination and loved the story, which is very well written, in keeping with the voice and style of the period (circa 1775-76). It isn't predictable in the least and there are highs and lows I never anticipated. I had a wonderful time with this book and didn't want to let go when I reached the last page.

I'm definitely continuing this series, which seems to be a diamond in the rough. Harmon is my new favorite author in this genre.

CR Review: The Last Boyfriend by Nora Roberts

 

The Last Boyfriend 

by Nora Roberts 

Book #2 in The Inn BoonsBoro series
Buy: Amazon - B&N
RATING: ★★★

Owen Montgomery and Avery MacTavish have been best friends forever. The organizer of the Montgomery clan, Owen runs the family’s construction business with an iron will and an inflexible spreadsheet. His brothers might tease Owen about his compulsive list-making, but everyone knows he played a key role in seeing Inn BoonsBoro opened right on schedule. 

From her popular pizzeria right across the street from the inn, Avery MacTavish boasted a front row seat to its amazing renovation—and she found a new appreciation for Owen. She considers Owen her first boyfriend, due to a childhood crush, and a bubblegum ring. But she can't claim the attraction she feels for him now as child-like or innocent. 

As Avery and Owen cautiously take their relationship to another level, the opening of the inn gives the whole town of Boonsboro a reason to celebrate. But Owen’s hard work has only begun. Getting her to let down her guard may take longer than he expected—as will convincing Avery her first boyfriend is going to be her last. 

Review: 

Avery MacTavish and Owen Montgomery have known each other almost all of their lives and are great friends. They find themselves suddenly with a deeper attraction for each other and are trying to figure out what to make of it. Is this something comfortable that might mess with the friendship they treasure or is it really something more for both of them?

The renovation of the Inn BoonsBoro is almost complete and they ready for the opening. While I enjoyed learning of the details of the project in the first book, I found myself wearying of it in this one, especially since the first couple of chapters seemed to focus on it entirely. However, the story seemed to regain its rhythm and the relationship between Avery and Owen took center stage. I liked that they didn't spend a lot of time debating whether they should or shouldn't give in to their attraction but actually thought about its repercussions and prepared for it. This was truly an adult level relationship and both handled later conflicts like you would hope two mature people who care about each other would. This was the most outstanding aspects of the story, in my opinion as both stayed true to character.

Another high point of the book was the continuation of the characters from the first story as all prepared for Clare and Beckett's wedding. Those adorable boys have their moments and keep it fun. The Montgomery boys also have to contend with a new to them relationship involving their mother, Justine, that is belly laugh funny. The character continuation was integrated with Owen and Avery's and didn't overpower their story. There is also more to learn about the Inn's resident ghost, Lizzy.

This may not be the greatest story but it is one I enjoyed and am looking forward to the next in the series. There were some complex relationship issues tackled here and give Avery and Owen's relationship serious credibility.

PNR Review: The Ghost Hunter by Lori Brighton

 

The Ghost Hunter

by Lori Brighton 

(The Hunter #1)
ebook

Published by Smashwords September 11th 2010
RATING: ★★★★

When Ashley Hunter inherits the Inn where her father mysteriously vanished years ago, she jumps at the chance to finally uncover the truth about his disappearance. But soon after taking ownership of the decrepit building, Ashley realizes she’s in for far more than she bargained. Not only has she inherited answers to many sought-after questions, she’s also inherited spirits, demons and even fallen angels! Then Cristian arrives, a gorgeous man who insists he merely needs a room to rent. She believes him, until one by one her ghosts start disappearing... As a fallen angel destined for a life of servitude, Cristian Lucius is relegated to protecting earth from unwanted spirits. But he can’t accomplish this daunting task alone. He requires assistance from the very woman who frustrates him as much as she intrigues him. Cristian is determined to ignore his intense attraction for Ashley, and focus on his mission. If they don’t work together, they won’t have a chance in hell of defeating the demon threatening their lives. The problem is getting Ashley to trust him. No easy task, considering Cristian is the very man responsible for her father’s disappearance. (From Goodreads)

Review: 

Cristian Lucius is an angel who is literally fighting to earn his way back into Heaven and he needs the help of a Seer. Ashley Hunter has just inherited her aunt's haunted pub. She can see ghosts and denies her powers. But she can't even attempt to deny she is attracted to Cristian.

I really enjoyed this book!

Cristian was wonderful and I liked Ashely's character (besides her constant denial of her powers and then how she gets angry when she finds out new info on ghosts and other strange things that are taking place within her pub. Her "why didn't you tell me" or "you knew all this time?" got old)

The romance/relationship grew over the course of the book, both struggled against their attraction to each other, which was a plus for me. It is nice to have a slow building romance sometimes.

This book was filled with supernatural creatures: ghosts, angels, demons, vampires, werewolves, leprechauns - Wow!

This book was so much fun and gives the reader a lot to look forward to.

 The Ghost Hunter is available at:

Amazon

B&N
Smashwords


Other cover:

UF Review: Chasing Magic by Stacia Kane

Chasing Magic

by Stacia Kane

(Downside Ghosts #5)
Urban Fantasy
ebook, 320 pages
Publication: June 26th 2012 by Random House Publishing Group
RATING: ★★★★ 1/2

A DEADLY HIGH

Magic-wielding Church witch and secret addict Chess Putnam knows better than anyone just how high a price people are willing to pay for a chemical rush. But when someone with money to burn and a penchant for black magic starts tampering with Downside’s drug supply, Chess realizes that the unlucky customers are paying with their souls—and taking the innocent with them, as the magic-infused speed compels them to kill in the most gruesome ways possible.

As if the streets weren’t scary enough, the looming war between the two men in her life explodes, taking even more casualties and putting Chess squarely in the middle. Downside could become a literal ghost town if Chess doesn’t find a way to stop both the war and the dark wave of death-magic, and the only way to do that is to use both her addiction and her power to enter the spell and chase the magic all the way back to its malevolent source. Too bad that doing so will probably kill Chess—if the war doesn’t first destroy the man who’s become her reason for living. (Summary and Pic grabbed from Goodreads)

REVIEW:

Stacia Kane can do no wrong in my book. Man this series just grabs you by the balls and will not let go! This review will be hard to write without spoilers; that’s for sure. (The only reason Chasing Magic didn't get a the full 5 stars is that I felt like Chess back peddled some in her relationship with Terrible and I feel like they are solid and she should be over some of her self destructive ways. So I have high hopes that we will see a new an improve Chess in the next book.)

Terrible equals awesomeness. He is the best male character I’ve read since Karen Marie Moning’s Barrons. He is exactly what Chess needs in her life. He is strong but can also be sweet and kind but Chess is the only one that gets to see that side of him. These two complete each other (yes that is the most freaking cheesy thing to say about these two but it’s the Truth. And Truth is Fact and Fact is Truth. Dig!)

I’ve send it before and I’ll say it again; I have a love/hate relationship with Chess. And in Chasing Magic I wanted to freaking killer her in one part. (Those that have read it know what part I’m talking about) All I could think was that botch better not hurt Terrible again. But Chess pulls her head out of her sorry ass just in time and I loved Terrible’s reaction to the guilt he saw on her face. That scene with them two is in second place with the bathroom scene from an earlier book for hotness.

We get to see Chess and Terrible out of their element when she brings him to Elder Griffin’s wedding. And I could have died at Terrible's answer to Griffin's husband's question as to if Terrible and Chess were going to get married....
 
I think that Chess has done some growing and realizes that she can no longer sit on the fence about some things in her personal life. I just hope that her small growth stays with her and that we see more personal growth in the future from her. DO NOT BACK PEDDLE.

Ok let’s move away from the personal side before I spoil you guys…

This time around Chess and Terrible are dealing with people in Downside going crazy and dyeing from speed that some new dealers are selling on the street. The speed is special in the fact that it has magic mixed in with it. All kinds of bad and bloody crap goes down because of this new “designer” drug. Chess and Terrible find themselves up against an angry mob of “zombies”.

And in the middle of them trying to figure out who is behind it, they have to deal with Lex. See he has big plans now that he is in charge of the other side of town. He got plans, big plans. Like trying to get Terrible to work for him or kill him if he says no. I am so done with Lex.

Also Terrible is still having problems with the sigil that Chess put on him a few books back that saved his life. In true Chess fashion all her bad choices are coming back to bite her and everyone around in her in the ass.

If you are a Urban Fantasy fan and you have not started this series you need to do so NOW! Great writing, great characters, just LOVE LOVE LOVE this series. I pre-ordered Chasing Magic while I was reading the FREE ARC from Netgalley because I know this is a series I will re-read so many times. Honestly, I own this series in ebook and audio book and I enjoy it in both formats. And once Chasing Magic is out in audio I will be paying it again!

Chasing Magic is available at:

Amazon

B&N

ARC provided by Netgalley

Now enjoy some swoon-worthy Terrible quotes:

"Shit. You so fucking pretty, Chessie. True thing. So....ain't even can breathe sometimes."

"I ain't ... Don't know how to say it up right. Never-Fuck, Chess. Thought you was dead once before, you recall? Never felt so bad in my life, not ever. Then on the other day, thought you was gone an just ... I ain't can do it, bein without you." 

"Love you, Chessie," he murmered. "Ain't never...Fuckin' love you, more-n anything." 

 Checkout my reviews of the other Downside Ghosts books.

Unholy Ghost

Unholy Magic

City of Ghosts

Sacrificial Magic

CR Review: About Last Night by Ruthie Knox

 

About Last Night 

by Ruthie Knox

ebook, 230 pages
Published June 11th 2012 by Random House Publishing Group BUY: Amazon - B&N
MY COPY: From publisher for honest review.
RATING: ★★★★★

Sure, opposites attract, but in this sexy, smart, eBook original romance from Ruthie Knox, they positively combust! When a buttoned-up banker falls for a bad girl, “about last night” is just the beginning. 

Cath Talarico knows a mistake when she makes it, and God knows she’s made her share. So many, in fact, that this Chicago girl knows London is her last, best shot at starting over. But bad habits are hard to break, and soon Cath finds herself back where she has vowed never to go . . . in the bed of a man who is all kinds of wrong: too rich, too classy, too uptight for a free-spirited troublemaker like her. 

Nev Chamberlain feels trapped and miserable in his family’s banking empire. But beneath his pinstripes is an artist and bohemian struggling to break free and lose control. Mary Catherine—even her name turns him on—with her tattoos, her secrets, and her gamine, sex-starved body, unleashes all kinds of fantasies. 

When blue blood mixes with bad blood, can a couple that is definitely wrong for each other ever be perfectly right? And with a little luck and a lot of love, can they make last night last a lifetime?  (Summary and pic from Goodreads)


REVIEW:

Let me tell ya About Last Night, it was freaking hot and entertaining. It’s the first book in a long time that I started and finished in one day. I could not put it down.

It starts off fun and flirty. Nev, a US gal living in London rides the subway everyday to work and she sees other regulars and has nicknames for them. One is a sexy guy that looks all business and no fun that she has nicknamed, City.

After agreeing to go on a blind date that her friend pretty much blackmails her into, Cath finds herself drunk and alone in the subway station trying to get home after the date does bad. Lucky for her City finds her and helps her home…..to his place.

Cath wakes up in someone else’s bed the next morning and wonders what kind of trouble she got herself into. Then she realizes that she is in City’s flat. But he’s not all business. City knows how to have fun and how to make her body crave things it’s not craved in a years.

As the book and their relationship progresses, their feelings start to get deeper and what started as a fun couple of nights blossoms into a serious love.


I’m pretty new to the whole contemporary romance genre since I usually like my men to have a little monster in them (PNR) but I really enjoyed Ruthie Knox’s About Last Night and I have already downloaded her other book, Ride With Me. And if it’s half as good as About Last Night was I’m in for a real treat.

 

Vacation - I'll be back

As you read this I'm on the road to Gulf Shores, AL for some fun and sun. I hope to squeeze in a book while I'm gone but not sure if I'll be lucky enough.

I have this week's reviews already schedule so you'll still get to see reviews from us at The Book Nympho. Just letting you know why I'll be MIA for the week.

Have a great week and feel free to comment away. I'll check in when I can.

What are you reading this summer?

RS Review: The Witness by Nora Roberts

 

The Witness 

by Nora Roberts 

Published April 17th 2012 by Putnam Adult
Buy: Amazon - B&N
RATING: ★★★★


Daughter of a controlling mother, Elizabeth finally let loose one night, drinking at a nightclub and allowing a strange man’s seductive Russian accent lure her to a house on Lake Shore Drive. The events that followed changed her life forever. 

Twelve years later, the woman known as Abigail Lowery lives on the outskirts of a small town in the Ozarks. A freelance programmer, she designs sophisticated security systems—and supplements her own security with a fierce dog and an assortment of firearms. She keeps to herself, saying little, revealing nothing. But Abigail’s reserve only intrigues police chief Brooks Gleason. Her logical mind, her secretive nature, and her unromantic viewpoints leave him fascinated but frustrated. He suspects that Abigail needs protection from something—and that her elaborate defenses hide a story that must be revealed. 


REVIEW:

Elizabeth Fitch is a child prodigy whose mother has orchestrated her life from and including conception (her father was a donor). Mom's a highly successful Chicago surgeon who treats her daughter more like a genetic experiment. Elizabeth is16 and looking forward to having a free summer before starting medical school in the fall (Mom's career choice) and Mom reneges but ignores her pleas. Elizabeth decides to rebel for the first time in her life and ends up at a popular club that night, complete with a forged ID, new look and an 18-year old acquaintance from high school. It turns out to be a memorable night for all the wrong reasons when Elizabeth unwittingly becomes a witness to murder.

This was one of the more extraordinary stories I've read by Nora in quite some time. Normally, there's a mystery component with a whodunit challenge. Here we know who the murderers are and the suspense is all about how Elizabeth stays alive to testify against them. Since the Russian mob is involved, this is an even bigger concern as law enforcement is corrupted, Mom is uncooperative and Elizabeth has to rely on her own considerable wits and skills to manage her life over the next twelve years.

Once again, Nora has also created a delectable male character in Brooks Gleason, a sexy local police chief who becomes the romantic interest. He's got plenty of Southern charm with a great sense of humor and a delightful family to round him out. Brooks' romantic prowess leaves nothing to be desired, even with the challenging Elizabeth who has no social skills and is not used to family.. If there's any weakness in this story it's with this odd heroine who is pretty difficult to warm to but that's by design. If you try to juxtapose yourself into her backstory it's a bit easier to do but you do question sometimes just what is it that Brooks is attracted to. I got her after awhile and their relationship but it takes imagination. Her transformation was interesting and heartwarming. There are also some great pets here, too (I love when dogs are part of a storyline)!

This is a story of intrigue with a lot of tension as Elizabeth's journey to survive is protracted. The secondary characters are nicely crafted and provide meaty secondary plots but are woven very well into the main one. While the ending was a little anticlimactic, it was a clever one that left you feeling good about it. I was holding my breath a lot throughout the story and never relaxed until the end.

Now that's good suspense.

Blitz Day PROMO: Shadows of Kings by Jack Whitsel

Welcome to Shadows of Kings 

and the Dragon Rising series.

With the June release of Shadows in Kings upon us - I thought I would share a sneak peak of the region and provide a list of characters. Thanks to everyone who have contributed to this journey.


The Players

• Lady Lucia – Dragon Maiden of the Order
• Lord Baudouin – Son of Duke Theudis
• Rizela – Princess and Sorceress of the Darkfey
• Ghruelnar – Sorcerer and leader of the Harhn Horde
• Alaric – Dragon Initiate of the Order
• Norris – Cousin and Standard Bearer of Lord Baudouin
• Flannery – Cousin of Lord Baudouin
• Isidore – Knight of Mersalia
• Alaric – Initiate of the Order
• Dragana – Young sorceress, daughter of Lord Yannic of the Order
• Celestine - Sorceress
• Duke Theudis – Duke of Camille and Standard Bearer of King Amger
• King Amger – King of Mersalia

The Founding 

According to the Hugue Calendar, the region was established over five hundred years ago. Following the Great War between Elves and Men, Humans from the Ancestral Plains, fearing another onslaught from the Elves, left their homes and traveled across the Barren Steppe to the region called the Hugue. The settlers comprised of nobles and commoners from the various cities decimated by war. Together, they made the long journey, putting aside cultural differences in order to start a new beginning. Upon reaching the Hugue, they found the region infested with Harhn and all manner of foul beasts. Led by Lord Theudemund of House Amric, the warriors from the assembly of Men, combined with the native Humans and Halflings of the region, drove the beasts from the Hugue. After this great victory, the Principalities were established. Each sovereign of the three strongest factions were married to one of Theudemund's daughters as a token of good will and to strengthen the newly formed alliances. Theudemund’s son became the King of Mersalia. The other Principalities formed were Pratalsia, Gruneheim, Cadyrnia, and Mersalia. Already existing principalities were Verslund, Vhor, and Henstubber.

Shadows of Kings

by Jack Whitsel

ebook, 248 pages
Published June 15th 2012 by Twilight Times Books

Steel and sorcery clash as the Harhn incursion sweeps through the Hugue. Mankind faces its greatest peril without the Order Knights of legend to defend them. Crusading deep in the frontier, the Order is unaware of the savage beasts threatening their homeland as the Hugue realms muster their armies for war.

Between a cunning Harhn sorcerer, and an alliance forged with the decadent Darkfey, the horde threatens to extinguish the domains of men. Only Lord Baudouin and Lady Lucia, a Dragon Maiden from the Order, stand in the enemy’s path. One must find the strength to unify the realms. The other must discover the strength within her, while coming to terms with the agendas of her Order. But only together will there be any hope to repel the onslaught, and preserve the future for a mysterious girl they do not know.

Shadows of Kings is available at:

Barnes and Noble
Amazon








Keep reading to find out about the author 
and to read chapter one excerpt.

Midnight Breed

Hey guys head over to Grave Tells to check out her 

week long spread about the Midnight Breed guys.

Today my guy Chase is up.

 

To see the full schedule go HERE.

CR Review: The Next Best Thing by Kristan Higgins

 

The Next Best Thing
by Kristan Higgins
Contemporary Romance
Published February 1st 2010 by Hqn
RATING: ★★★★

Lucy Lang isn't looking for fireworks... 


She's looking for a nice, decent man. Someone who'll mow the lawn, flip chicken on the barbeque, teach their future children to play soccer. But most important... someone who won't inspire the slightest stirring in her heart...or anywhere else. A young widow, Lucy can't risk that kind of loss again. But sharing her life with a cat named Fat Mikey and the Black Widows at the family bakery isn't enough either. So it's goodbye to Ethan, her hot but entirely inappropriate "friend with privileges" and hello to a man she can marry. 


Too bad Ethan Mirabelli isn't going anywhere. As far as he's concerned, what she needs might be right under her nose. But can he convince her that the next best thing can really be forever?


REVIEW:


Lucy Mirabella was widowed 5 1/2 years ago at the age of 25. Her husband's death devastated her and she's unwilling to go through that kind of pain again. Her solution is to find someone that she can like, raise a family and move on again. The person can never be her one true love again because she doesn't think she could survive it.

Lucy is surrounded by lots of family who are committed to keeping her grieving. Her aunts and her mother, known as the Black Widows (maiden name is Black and they were all widowed young), think Lucy is following their tradition and should be committed to staying single and martyred. Her in-laws want her to keep their favored son enshrined for the rest of her life. Thank goodness for her friend Parker who brings some balance to the mix, encouraging Lucy to live full out. Lastly, there's Jimmy's younger brother, Ethan, who's stood by her and been her best friend throughout.

I liked this story, full of humor, quirky characters and Lucy's angst as she struggles to release the shackles of the hurtful loss of her husband and those around her who would keep her crippled. She knows she needs to move on and has come up with her own scheme for how to do it, in spite of her family. Ethan is an extremely appealing character, who unknown to Lucy (because she's deaf, dumb and blind to it!) has always loved her. He gives her to space to get where she needs to be, even at his own expense. Some may find Lucy terribly frustrating but her journey is realistic, especially when you factor in the lovable nuts around her.

I enjoyed each character and what they added to the story, no matter that they sometimes drove me crazy. It's well written and I found it hard to put the book down.

 (FYI - Higgins' new book, Somebody to Love, is a sequel to this story.)

The Next Best Thing is available at:

Amazon

B&N

Cover Revealed: Rogue Rider by Larissa Ione

Rogue Rider

by Larissa Ione

(Lords of Deliverance #4)
Expected publication: November 20th 2012 by Grand Central Publishing

The prophecies were there but no one listened. Until now. They are the Lords of Deliverance and they have the power to ward off Doomsday . . . or let it ride. Jillian Cardiff came to this remote mountain town to forget the demon attack that almost killed her. Instead, she rescues - and falls for - a gorgeous stranger who has no memory of anything other than his name. Handsome, charming and protective, Reseph seems like the kind of man that Jillian can trust. But with hints of a troubling history of his own, he's also the kind of man that can be very dangerous . . . Reseph may not know his background, or why he mysteriously appeared in Jillian's life, but he knows he wants to stay. Yet when Jillian's neighbours are killed and demon hunters arrive on the scene, Reseph fears that he's putting Jillian in danger. And once it's revealed that Reseph is also Pestilence, the Horseman responsible for ravaging the world with death and destruction, he and Jillian must face the greatest challenge of all: can they forget the horrors of a chilling past to save the future they both desire?

Ione showed off the UK cover a few months back but while cursing around on Goodreads I ran across the US cover.

It's nice but I don't think it fits with the rest of the covers. 

 

What do you think of the US cover?

Blog Tour Guest Post: Rhiannon Frater

The Creation of Vanguard Maria Martinez of 

THE LAST BASTION OF THE LIVING

By

Rhiannon Frater

People often ask me how I create my characters. The reality is most just show up in my head in dreams, or sometimes day dreams.

Maria Martinez was born in a dream. It was an incredibly vivid one that immediately sucked me into the reality of The Bastion. When you read the first chapter (not the prologue) of THE LAST BASTION OF THE LIVING, you're reading exactly what I saw in my dream. I was an omniscient observer to Maria’s interaction with her older lover, Dwayne, and their conversation.  My mind’s eye camera swung around them, observing the small flat as they talked, before I caught a glimpse of the enormous dying city just outside her window. I was instantly intrigued with the world and Maria’s story.  When I awakened, I knew that one day I would write about her and the story of The Bastion.

A lot of times readers assume I base characters off a real people. Their appearance, mannerisms, etc. Though a character's traits might end up inspired in some way by someone’s voice or traits, I don’t base my characters on real people. In fact, my characters often don’t resemble anyone I know in real life, or even a celebrity.

Maria Martinez created in The Sims 2

I love the Sims 2 and use the character creation tools to create my novel characters. I find having a representation of my characters helps me in the writing process. I made a Sim of Maria almost as soon as I dreamed about her.  This Sims model of her is pretty close to how I saw her on the movie screen in my mind.  People often ask me to “dream cast” her for film. I always pick Michelle Rodriquez because of their common background, but Maria was not cultivated in her image.  And though I love the cover of the book and feel it captures the essence and power of the plot line, the model is not a lookalike to my internal vision of the character.

Once I had her visual down, I entered Maria's information into yWriter. It’s a free program I use to write all my novels. It has a cool option to create a character directory and it’s a much easier way for me to track the physical traits of my characters.  Sometimes when writing character details may alter a bit, so I often update the character information.

Here is a look at Maria’s entry.

I can also make sure I keep the biographical details of characters straight by using the same option, but under another tab. I update the biography as I write sometimes because characters tend to surprise me. Sometimes I have to set a project aside to finish up revisions on another, so it's always good to have a way to refresh my memory quickly.

I spend a ton of time daydreaming about characters before I ever start writing their novel. I like to know the character before I dive into a project. It makes it much easier to write about them once I understand their personality, their fears and ambitions, and background. A well-formed character basically writes itself.

I really don't know how characters are formed in my imagination. Like I wrote earlier they tend to show up in my dreams, but I love the process of uncovering all the details about them and helping to bring them to life in the pages of my story.

Vanguard Maria Martinez is definitely one of my favorite characters. I'm so glad I was able to tell her story in THE LAST BASTION OF THE LIVING.

Keep reading to find out more about the book, author and giveaway.

CR Audio Review: Sugar Daddy

Sugar Daddy
by Lisa Kleypas
(Travises #1)
Audio, Narrated by Jeannie Smith
Published March 6th 2007
Contemporary Romance
RATING: ★★★★

SHE’S FROM THE WRONG SIDE OF THE TRACKS
Liberty Jones has dreams and determination that will take her far away from Welcome, Texas---if she can keep her wild heart from ruling her mind. Hardy Cates sees Liberty as completely off-limits. His own ambitions are bigger than Welcome, and Liberty Jones is a complication he doesn’t need. But something magical and potent draws them to each other, in a dangerous attraction that is stronger than both of them.

HE’S THE ONE MAN SHE CAN’T HAVE
When Hardy leaves town to pursue his plans, Liberty finds herself alone with a young sister to raise. Soon Liberty finds herself under the spell of a billionaire tycoon---a Sugar Daddy, one might say. But the relationship goes deeper than people think, and Liberty begins to discover secrets about her own family’s past.

WILL THEY FIND THEIR HEARTS’ DESIRES OR WILL HEARTBREAK TEAR THEM APART? Two men. One woman. A choice that can make her or break her. A woman you’ll root for every step of the way. A love story you’ll never forget.

REVIEW:

Sugar Daddy is my first Lisa Kleypas read. I’ve seen so many bloggers that love her and I’ve wanted to branch out some into contemporary romance to have a little bit of a break from my usual paranormal romance reads. I'm glad I gave a new to me genre a listen, I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed Sugar Daddy.

It was a bit slow in the being but it picked up speed after a few chapters. I didn’t know what to expect from Sugar Daddy, so I didn’t realize that we would be following the main heroine, Liberty Jones through her teen years up to her early twenties. But I enjoyed seeing her grow and it made me remember feelings I had during those years and how at that age you fall for someone and how they feel like they are the whole world to you; even if they don’t feel the same about you.

Liberty and her mom are all the family they have after Liberty’s dad died when she was very little. They’ve had it rough since, they didn’t have much in the way of money. Liberty’s mom is a very beautiful blonde woman and most people looked at them funny since Liberty looked more like her Mexican father, with an olive skin tone and black hair. But as Liberty grows she really comes into her own beauty and starts getting noticed by boys. But the one that she really wants is a couple years older than her and treats her like a little sister. Until they share a kiss. But since he’s plans include getting out of their small town he doesn’t act on his feelings for Liberty and tells her goodbye.

We follow Liberty through her early twenties and she only gets stronger after one hard knot after the next. I was so glad to see that after having a hard life and having to grow up so fast that Liberty got her HEA with a smoking hot man that was just what she needed in her life.

Sugar Daddy is a real emotional ride and I enjoyed every minute of it. I can’t wait to start listening to the next book, Blue-Eyed Devil.

Sugar Daddy is available at:

Amazon

Audible

B&N

I borrowed my copy.

Winners

Winner of the Shameless Summer Blog Hop is...

Heather at Book Savvy Babe

Winner of the True Blood Hop is...

Molly Frenzel

Thanks to everyone that stopped by and entered the giveaways.

My next giveaway will be...

Historical PNR Review: Firelight by Kristen Callihan

Firelight 

by Kristen Callihan 

(Darkest London #1)
ebook, 289 pages
Published February 1st 2012 by Grand Central Publishing
Buy: Amazon - B&N
RATING: ★★★★

London, 1881 Once the flames are ignited . . . 
Miranda Ellis is a woman tormented. Plagued since birth by a strange and powerful gift, she has spent her entire life struggling to control her exceptional abilities. Yet one innocent but irreversible mistake has left her family's fortune decimated and forced her to wed London's most nefarious nobleman. 
They will burn for eternity . . . 
Lord Benjamin Archer is no ordinary man. Doomed to hide his disfigured face behind masks, Archer knows it's selfish to take Miranda as his bride. Yet he can't help being drawn to the flame-haired beauty whose touch sparks a passion he hasn't felt in a lifetime. When Archer is accused of a series of gruesome murders, he gives in to the beastly nature he has fought so hard to hide from the world. But the curse that haunts him cannot be denied. Now, to save his soul, Miranda will enter a world of dark magic and darker intrigue. For only she can see the man hiding behind the mask. (summary and pic from Goodreads)



REVIEW:


Firelight is a mix-mash of genre elements. The timeline is historical and while reading it I often thought of The Phantom of the Opera, Beauty and the Beast and Jack the Riper, with paranormal elements through out.

I had originally got approved for the ARC through Netgalley back in January but I kept pushing it down my reading schedule for different reasons. So by the time I was ready to start Firelight the galley had expired. But I’ve seen so many great reviews and high rating I thought what the heck. So I bought it for my Nook and I'm really glad I did.

Firelight has the usual push and pull with the heroine and hero as far as the romantic stuff. You know boy meets girl, one or both are reluctant to let go and trust the other with their heart because either they are afraid of getting hurt or hurting the other.

BUT the reasons for this are different and instead of one character being hard headed they both are. I love the fact that because the story is set in a historical time, Miranda is still a spit fire and does not need a man. But oh she wants this man and she finds herself needing him. Not for his money or security but because of the man that he is on the inside. And the fact that he is dead sexy doesn’t hurt either.

Even though I’m pretty new to the whole historical genre and really enjoyed the time that Firelight was set in and I believe it only made the story and characters more believable and enjoyable. The only thing that I felt like was missing or maybe not missing but something I wanted to know more about was Miranda’s ability to control fire. It remained a mystery but maybe we will find out more about it in the next book since it’s about her sister. Or it may forever be a mystery. In any case, I can’t want to dig into the sequel, Moonglow.

Next book in the series:

August 1, 2012

Book Tour Review: The Naked Truth by Lilly Cain

The Naked Truth

by Lilly Cain 

The Confederacy Treaty

Book Two Carina Press 

Buy: Carina Press - Amazon - B&N
RATING: ★★★

Captain Susan Branscombe was the victim of brutal torture at the hands of terrorists. Though rescued, she’s now facing an equally brutal accusation: treason. 

The only way she can prove her innocence is to allow Asler Kiis, a Confederacy Examiner, to delve into the depths of her mind. Asler is Inarri, the alien race that made contact with Earth just months before. His duty is to find the truth, but when he explores Susan’s mind he can’t resist drawing her into a more intimate experience. 

Susan takes comfort in Asler’s heated sensuality. Their erotic sensory exploration chases away the darkness and her body aches for more. But as their desire reaches new limits Susan finds it difficult to suppress the memories she is desperate to forget. 

Is the passion they share enough to let Susan push aside her fear and trust Asler, not only with her mind and body but with her ever-opening heart?

REVIEW:

In the start of this second book of the Confederacy Treaty series, Captain Sue Branscombe has just been rescued after the terrorists attacked with her in tow and she’s in pretty bad shape. Sue was one of the characters from the first book that I really liked so I was glad this was her story. She’s no nonsense, brash and seemed to have great instincts, which bore out by the end of the story.

Several months have evidently passed since Major David Brown joined the Inarri’s but unfortunately, not a lot was shared about him or Alinna. He mostly receives an honorable mention, enough for you to know he fared okay but that was about it. The humans on Earth and the Confederacy are working together to form a Treaty and there’s still a threat out there from a group of Earth born terrorists and another rogue alien race that pose an added threat. As with the first book, the science here isn’t very complicated, just futuristic enough to support the notion of an alien-human connection and a few cool things to make life easier. It worked for me but if you’re a true sci-fi buff, you may not be so easy a judge.

Sue and Asler’s connection was pretty immediate as he was responsible for helping her heal and conducting the “private” investigation using their mind connection abilities. The Inarrii don’t have the same hang-ups as humans about sexuality so it gets pretty sensual and steamy very quickly. However, this story lacked the seductive qualities of the first book and I wasn’t connecting with these two as a couple until near the end. There was a lot of reiteration about what was at risk for Sue if she couldn’t be cleared of treason and Asler’s probe into her mind seem to drag on endlessly. It really kicked into high gear in the last two chapters with some exciting action and tension. I liked both Sue and Asler but wished some of the time spent musing about the m’ittar (mind communication) would have been devoted to more dialogue and relationship between the two. Well, see, I’m already using the Inarrii language!

While I had some issues with this story, I’m still strangely drawn to this series and its characters. The premise of an alien confederacy interacting with Earth is a pretty good one that serves as an interesting backdrop for the relationships in each book. The sensual nature of the Inarrii eliminates any erotic boundaries you would normally expect to see for military officers so pretty much anything goes in the area of romance. The two together make for interesting reading. If not for all that repetition, I’d give it a higher rating. But, I’m hooked on the series and waiting to read next one!

KEEP READING TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE AUTHOR AND FOR AN EXCERPT FOR THE NAKED TRUTH

PNR Review: Alien Revealed by Lilly Cain

Alien Revealed

by Lilly Cain 

The Confederacy Treaty

Book One 

Buy: Carina Press - Amazon - B&N

RATING: ★★★


Inarrii agent Alinna Gaerrii was tasked with observing the Starforce base on Earth. Crash landing her observation pod onto the base was not part of her mission briefing. Neither was making m’ittar—mind contact—with Major David Brown, the human who discovered her amongst the wreckage.

David thinks she’s a psychologist sent to evaluate his Special Forces team, and Alinna goes along with his misconception, seizing the opportunity to observe humans up close. But their daily contact has unexpected side effects, and Alinna soon invades David’s dreams. Through their intimate mental connection she allows him to express his forbidden physical desires. 


Alinna delights in the sensory exploration and grows excited by the prospect of a treaty with the humans and a potential life mate in David. But an attack from an unknown ship sends the base into chaos, and Alinna may be forced to reveal her lie, erasing all hope of a successful treaty, and driving David away forever…


REVIEW:

I must admit I began reading this book with some reluctance as science fiction is one of those genres I've had better experience watching on film or television. The science tends to confound me but if I have a visual depiction, I don't get bogged down trying to figure things out. Fortunately, this story doesn't waste a lot of time creating new gadgets or space ships to analyze. They're mentioned and it was left up to me to form an image and that worked for me, letting me focus on the story and characters. And, it seemed credible (mind you, I'm not the expert here but nothing stood out as absurd).

There's not a lot of detail provided about Alinna and David's backstories but surprisingly, I felt I knew them pretty well by the time I reached the end of the story. They were plausible in their roles as trusted, ranking officers in their respective worlds and the heated attraction didn't feel forced, not immediately jumping each other, which would have seemed silly given their levels of responsibilities.

 I thought the premise of the book was pretty creative, once I got past my sci-fi fears. It was an interesting and unique approach to use for a seduction, and this one was done quite well. Alinna and David come from separate worlds but they had enough in common physically for it not to be weird and where they were different it provided intrigue. And speaking of seductions, the sexual encounters were highly erotic using metaphysical connections as a means to form relationship and trust. I LOVED this aspect and it helped suspend reality when they developed deep feelings fairly quickly. It's a good device and was extremely effective and arousing. Not only were they able to scratch those itches but had some new and provocative discoveries about themselves in the process. The encounters were sexy, steamy and had absolutely delicious amounts of naughtiness that caught me by surprise. You'll need to discover that on your own.

There was, however, a bit too much repetition sometimes. David's concerns in being assigned to the upcoming mission to the new space station, his team needing to pass a psych evaluation in order to be approved...both were reiterated too often. Same goes for Alinna being worried about her discovery; a valid concern but one I got without needing to be told over and over. And, once both of their scents were described, a reference to it would have been enough instead of alliterating it time and again. This bogged down the story somewhat.

There were a couple of very interesting characters that were standouts and I'm sure we will see them later in the series. They were fleshed out just enough for me to want to know more.

Overall, an interesting concept, story and created world with really good erotica to wrap around. A common complaint with the genre is it's sex looking for a story and you won't find that here. I wish the ending could have been a little more elaborate but it's one I can live with.

Summer Book Exchange 2.0

I did the Fall Book Exchange last year and had so much so I decided to sign up for the Summer Book Exchange 2.0 hosted by Ruby's Reads.
Each participant will link to at least one wishlist with a collection of titles they'd like to receive from their Santa. Names will be thrown in a virtual hat and drawn so that each person will have a Summer Santa who will give them a book, and a Summer Santee they will give to. Summer Santas will choose titles from their Santee's wishlist(s). I want to be clear: Everyone who signs up will both give and receive. Sounds like fun? Yeah, I thought so too.

To see the list of rules visit the Book Exchange Blog HERE.

Sign up ends June 30th.

*VIEW MY WISHLIST

{also on sidebar under logo}


*I also accept Nook books from Barnes and Noble.

CR Review: The Next Always by Nora Roberts

The Next Always 
by Nora Roberts 
Book #1 in the Inn BoonsBoro Trilogy
Contemporary Romance
RATING: ★★★★

The historic hotel in Boonsboro has endured war and peace, changing hands, even rumored hauntings. Now it’s getting a major facelift from the Montgomery brothers and their eccentric mother. Beckett is the architect of the family, and his social life consists mostly of talking shop over pizza and beer. But there’s another project he’s got his eye on: the girl he’s been waiting to kiss since he was fifteen. 

After losing her husband and returning to her hometown, Clare Brewster soon settles into her life as the mother of three young sons while running the town’s bookstore. Busy, with little time for romance, Clare is drawn across the street by Beckett’s transformation of the old inn, wanting to take a closer look . . . at the building and the man behind it. 


With the grand opening inching closer, Beckett’s happy to give Clare a private tour - one room at a time. It’s no first date, but these stolen moments are the beginning of something new - and open the door to the extraordinary adventure of what comes next . . .

REVIEW:

Beckett Montgomery is one of the three brothers who comprise the Montgomery Family Contractors. He's the architect and together they're renovating the old Inn BoonsBoro. Clare Brewster works right around the corner in her Turn the Page bookstore, a business she started after her husband was killed in action in Iraq. She returned home to be with family and in a community that would be helpful in raising her three young sons.

Beckett has had a crush on Clare since she was 15 years old but she only had eyes for her husband, Clint, at that time. Now, five years have elapsed since his untimely death and both find themselves drawn to each other. The whole town is watching the renovation and their burgeoning relationship (it's a small town).

There are so many light moments in this story. Whether it's when Beckett is interacting with Clare's boys or his banter with his brothers, I found myself laughing out loud on quite a few occasions. Clare also has two friends, Avery and Hope, to provide girlfriend moments that help us get a gauge on where she is in her feelings about Beckett. I much prefer this approach than having to read the musings going on in a character's mind. It makes for more interesting reading. The same is true with Beckett as he endures his brothers' ribbings as his relationship with Clare develops.

I happen to have a great interest in interior design and building construction so I cannot gauge whether the descriptions about the two are overly so in the story. I launched the website for the actual Inn BoonsBoro while reading about the construction and decorating, which provided real time visualization and made it fun. Some might find this shameless marketing but it does seem like it was more of a chronicling of a labor of love.

I liked the romance between Beckett and Clare but, quite frankly, the romantic scenes were curtailed more than I'm used to seeing in a NR book. There were far too few interludes between this couple and not just because of Clare's Mommy duties. However, the scenes involving Beckett and Clare's adorable sons were heartwarming and added to the romance.

This is a story you're going to like with characters you'd like to meet and hang out with. I like the start of this trilogy and cannot wait for the next two books.

The Next Always is available at:

Amazon

B&N