Show Ember the Love Giveaway!!

Jessica Sorensen (Author of The Fallen Star series, which I LOVE!) is having a HUGE giveaway. Anyone that shares the link for her new book Ember will get a signed bookmark. If you review Ember by September 6th you will also get a keychain. One lucky winner will win A signed copy of Ember, a signed bookmark, an Ember tote, a keychain, poster an Ember necklace and signed copies of The Fallen Star, Darkness Falls and The Lost Soul. Here are all of the details from her facebook page

So while we’re all waiting for the likes to reach 2,000--so I can hold an All Day Giveaway again--I thought I would do a different giveaway specifically related to Ember (Death Collectors, Book 1).
One winner will win the following:
A signed copy of Ember
A signed bookmark
An Ember tote bag
...

An Ember keychain
An Ember poster
Ember’s necklace
A signed copy of The Fallen Star, Darkness Falls, and The Lost Soul
(There’s a picture on the entry page of all the prizes except for the Ember book).

Here’s how to enter:
Each time you “Share” a post related to Ember (teasers, videos, links, ect.), you get one entry. So the more you share, the more entries you get. You can also get entries if you share it on twitter or on your blog.
Also, when Ember is released, you can get entries for posting reviews on Amazon, Goodreads, and Barnes & Noble. Each review counts as one entry.
You can either email me your entries at jessicathefallenstar@yahoo.com or post them on the Entry page.
The Giveaway Ends September 7, 2012 at midnight.

I’m also going to be giving a signed bookmark to anyone who shares the link too Ember on Amazon and/ or B&N (only one bookmark per person). And anyone who post a review on Amazon or B&N between now (August 29th) and September 6th gets a Ember keychain.
You can do this buy either clicking share from my facebook post, or go directly to the page and share on facebookand/or twitter. Copy and past the share from your wall and send me a email with your address.
For Reviews, copy and paste the review and send me the address.

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Ember-Death-Collectors-Book-ebook/dp/B0093DI6UQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1346248089&sr=8-1&keywords=Ember+jessica+sorensen

Amazon UK: uk/Ember-Death-Collectors-Book-ebook/dp/B0093DI6UQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1346248564&sr=8-1

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What to Read After Fifty Shades of Grey

Okay guys, I know that I have not reviewed Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James (LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!) and as much as I love it, I don't think I’m going to (that doesn't mean Ashley won't lol, I know she loves her some Christian Grey). I think the book has become so vastly popular in a short period of time, there is no reason for me to review it. Pretty much everyone knows it is AWESOME, and knows the basics of it.

I will say on a side note, I went into the book blindly. I had no idea exactly what it was about (I read it long before it became the popular series it is today). I remember thinking in the beginning OH, I should let my Mom read this....then I got to the good stuff and turned about fifty shades of red. I was like OMG, I almost sent this to my Mom!! Should I still be reading this!?...well as long as no one knows what I'm reading (thank you Kindle, hehe) it won't hurt me to learn a few new tricks...... J

Okay--getting back on track hehe-- I do however think we need a What to read after Fifty Shades of Grey, cause I mean seriously....who isn't still trying to come down from that Fifty high, lol

Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire- okay, so not in the same ball field as Fifty as far as like the NC 17 rating (couldn't resist lol) this book still has the same intensity as Fifty to me. I read Beautiful Disaster before Fifty and this is actually the book that led me to Fifty. I was on a search to find someone that could help me get over the intensity of BD and how much I missed Travis and Abby.

Bared to You: A Crossfire Novel by Sylvia Day- Probably the closest to Fifty that I could find (that doesn't mean you can ignore the rest of the list, lol, the other reads are just as good!) It follows the same theme and intensity as Fifty. An unavailable billionaire becomes taken with a beautiful woman that he bumps into in his building. The must learn how to make their love (maybe lust lol) lives fit together. This one has some pretty steamy scenes too!

Gabriel's Inferno by Sylvain Reynard- Almost obsessed with this book, I was (whoops, had a Yoda moment)! Gabriel reminded me very much of Christian. He is a well known, super rich, super bossy professor that (against his own will power) becomes attracted to one of his students. It is against university regulations for him to involved with a student, this provides a lot of tension. Are any of you familiar with the story of Dante and Beatrice? If so, then you can guess how the book got it's name. Full of Dante references as well as many similarities of Dante and Beatrice can be found in Gabriel and Julia.

Backstage Pass (The Sinners on Tour) by Olivia Cunning- Who loves rock stars!! WE DO WE DO!! (One of mine and Ashley's many obsessions) This book may not be filled with as much intensity as Fifty, but is definitely filled with many many HOT bedroom (bathroom, tour bus...anywhere lol) scenes. I got the Fifty vibe from this book based on those scenes alone ;)

Thoughtless and Effortless by S.C. Stephens don't have any BDSM in them like Fifty, but are filled with extreme passion, intensity, betrayal and a horrible love triangle (I mean seriously, it seems like I am always talking about these books lol, so you know I am obsessed with them for sure and recommend them any chance I get).  

All of the books I have listed are series, so If you start them and just feel like you can't get enough, go on to the next one J

Abbi Glines Bookmark Giveaway!!

One of our favorites, Abbi Glines, is doing a SIGNED book mark giveaway. Here is her post from facebook on what you need to do:

"I'm going to giveaway some signed bookmarks. They have the banner on this page on them. So it showcases all my contemps. I also have bookmarks with the Existence series on them. You can choose which one you want.
Here is what you need to do if you want a signed bookmark: Tweet or FB - "Read Chapter One of WHILE IT LASTS http://www.abbiglines.com/2012/08/while-it-lasts-chapter-one.html

THEN email me at abbiglines@yahoo.com with your name, mailing address, and choice in bookmarks. Also include your twitter handle so that I can find your tweet if that is how you entered.
This IS open to international readers too. I love y'all just as much ;)
I will mail out bookmarks on Wednesday so you have until now and Wednesday to get your signed bookmark. I will be drawing two names from everyone who participates and giving them a signed WHILE IT LASTS or EXISTENCE poster as well"

 

So get to it readers! Post away for your signed bookmark and for a chance to win a signed poster :)

 

FREEBIE ALERT!! 08/24/12

Who doesn't love a good freebie! Remember freebies are usually only good for a limited time, so if you click the link and it's no longer free, I DID NOT LIE!! lol, you were just too slow ;)

Hot Secrets (Tall, Dark, and Deadly) by Lisa Renee Jones- Yumm, FBI agent that works at a private security firm with his brothers...

UnEnchanted (An Unfortunate Fairy Tale) by Chanda Hahn- Pretty sure this will be my next read :) Mina is descended from the Brothers Grimm and has inherited all of their unfinished fairy tales....

Glimpse (Zellie Wells #1) by Stacey Wallace Benefiel- LOOOVING the cover!! o0o0o the heroine gets visions!!

 Fractured Crystal: Sapphires and Submission (The Crystal Fragments Trilogy) by M.J. Lawless- for mature audience....interesting :)

Heller by JD Nixon

Twenty-Eight and a Half Wishes (Rose Gardner Mystery #1) by Denise Grover Swank- I'm from the south so I'm sure to love this southern mystery

Daron's Guitar Chronicles: Volume One by Cecilia Tan- Sex, drugs, and rock and roll. Coming out and coming of age in the days of AIDS, MTV, Reaganomics, and Just Say No.

A Hidden Fire: Elemental Mysteries Book 1 by Elizabeth Hunter

Maid for the Billionaire (Book 1) (Legacy Collection) by Ruth Cardello- No strings attached sex? Sounds like someone is going to get tamed :)

12 Rounds by Lauren Hammond

12 Rounds (Knockout Series) by Lauren Hammond has everything you want from a bad boy, muscles, tattoos, fighting, mafia and plenty of bad attitude. This is a must read!!! This was another one of those book I couldn't down. Your heart will break and fill with joy over and over again for Sean and Hadlee.

Sean "Right Hook" Reilly is the undefeated middle weight boxing champion of the world who also happens to be in the Irish Mafia, also known as the Braithreachas Don Saol. Due to some unfortunate circumstances, Sean took an oath and swore his loyalty to the Braithreachas Don Soal and to it's leader Conner Doyle (aka Connie). Sean knows he made a mistake, but there is no going back, the only way out is death. He knows that Connie needs him and considers him family, but he also knows to do what he is told. In Connie's world everyone is replaceable.

Hadlee Flax is alone in the world, she has no family and not very many friends. It's been a year since she was beaten and almost raped. That year has been the hardest of her life, she still can't be around men or crowds and doesn't want to be touched at all. With the help of her therapist and her best friend she decides that self defense classes may be what she needs to help overcome her fears. What she doesn't expect is to meet Sean. One look at him and her world is turned upside down, she is instantly drawn to him, she knows he is a play boy and always has girls hanging all over him, but she can't fight this feeling.

Sean  knows that he is not good enough for Hadlee and never will be. All she knows is the boxer Sean "Right Hook" Reilly, she has no idea he has a whole other life of organized crime, but he just can't stay away from her, he wants to give her the world. For once in his life he wants a relationship and has hope for a bright future with Hadlee. He wants to tell her about his other life, but is scared he will lose her and that isn't a chance he wants to take.

Will Hadlee be able to handle the truth? Can she let her guard down and let Sean in? What will Connie think?

I will admit that we were left with a HUGE cliffhanger that left be panicking and wanting more!!! I can't wait for the next book to be released I know it will be as amazing as the first!!

Okay, since we started posting pictures of who we think the characters look like, I will gladly show you MY Sean "Right Hook" Reilly

Bone Deep by Bonnie Dee

Bone Deep by Bonnie Dee was a freebie I picked up a few months ago. I started reading it yesterday and couldn't put it down! This was a GREAT find! The book takes place in 1946. Once I saw that I wasn't sure I wanted to continue reading, I didn't think I could relate to characters from this time period...I am SOOOOOO glad I did! I would have hated myself if I missed this book!

Sarah, a grieving widow that lost her husband to the war goes to the travelling carnival with her friends. While at the carnival they decide to check out the freak show (I have always wanted to go to a freak show, but after reading this I don't want to any more, it breaks my heart!) Tom is tattooed from head to toe (literally) and is the tattooed man in the freak show. Sarah sees him and oddly feels more alive from the lust than she has since she lost her husband. Why would she feel this way about a stranger....

Sarah wakes up the next day to find Tom in her barn. He has escaped the carnival to come to Sarah. She asks how he knew to come to her and he says because he dreamed of her...(wait, like a vision? Yep! That's right! Our historic romance has a bit of paranormal to it too!) The carny owner comes looking for Tom. He feels that he is his personal property and belongs to the freak show. When he comes to Sarah's farm looking for him, she lies about knowing where he is (squeee!! Why would she do that??) Sarah becomes close with Tom. She enjoys his company and wants nothing more than for him to be accepted into her small community.

This is a MUST read about the most sensitive man with tattoos I have ever read about and actually enjoyed hehe. The story grabs the reader in every way. You will feel the emotions as the characters feel them and grow to love them. Imagine, a man tattooed from head to toe in 1946 knowing that he will never be accepted in society all the while our heroine wanting nothing more than for him to stay with her and convince the towns people he belongs.

I think I may be on a Bonnie Dee kick now. This is the 1st book I have read by her and I am in LOVE! I can't wait to read more from Bonnie Dee.

Wraith by Edie Claire

WOW! Is all I can say. I just finished Wraith by Edie Claire and I loved every minute of it. It has to be one of the best YA paranormal reads I have read to date. This book is filled with heart and soul. It kept me wanting more even in the end (ahh, the end was wonderful!!). Edie says she would love to follow up with a sequel, and I tell you I can’t wait! How can we get a sequel? Well…. make sure all of your friends read Wraith and let Edie know how much we love it and want to continue the story of Kali and Zane.

There are not many books that can make me cry. I read books and feel like I’m going to cry, but I don’t think I have actually cried over a book since I was in the 7^th grade and read Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls (damn book still gets me every time!). This book literally made me cry. I cried from sadness and happiness and that is not easy to explain when you are sitting at work on your lunch break and people are looking at you like “OMG, why is she crying” lol.

Kali is a military brat. She has been forced to move around her entire life and is now in the process of looking for a home in Oahu with her mother and father. She has had a gift her entire life that she looks at more of like a curse. She has the ability to see “shadows”, or what we think of as ghosts. She doesn’t have any physical contact with the “shadows”. She can’t talk to them, or touch them and they can’t see her. The “shadows” are more like a residual haunting than an intelligent haunting. It’s almost like she can see their memories and sometimes feel their emotions. Each shadow is different, some Kali can’t stand to be around because it hurts too much, others she wants to continue following because the happiness of their situation overwhelms her.

Then, there is Zane. Kali is causally lying on the beach one afternoon and notices a guy in board shorts with curly blond hair dripping wet from surfing. She soon realizes he is a “shadow” because she can see through parts of his body. She asks herself out loud “why are all the good ones dead?” Zane responds by looking at her and asking her what she said. She thinks he is just another typical “shadow” until he continues looking at her and again asks what she is talking about. Kali then realizes that Zane can see her and communicate with her (YES! This is where the story starts to come alive J) .

Chord Overstreet is my Zane 

Okay, I’m serious. Just thinking about everything Kali and Zane go through together has me wanting to break out the tears again (I won’t tell you if they are good tears or bad tears hehe). PLEASE READ THIS BOOK!! Tell your friends to read the book! Let Edie know how much we love the book so she will be FORCED to write another!! Really Edie…I’m begging, write more Zane and Kali J

**POSSIBLE SPOLIER** DO NOT READ UNLESS YOU HAVE READ THE BOOK

What would I like to see in the second book? I would love to know how Kali explains to her parents and her friends how she met Zane and how she knew to go to him. I would also like to know where Zane will live when he gets out of rehab. Will he slowly start to remember Kali and how she found him? Will they stay together? Will he go to college? Does Kali remain friends with Matt? Does Kali get the chance to help anyone else? Does Kali get over her fear of water and go surfing with Zane?

Dark Lover by J.R. Ward

Book #1 of the best vampire series of all time!

Dark Lover introduces us to the vampire world of the Black Dagger Brotherhood. We learn of the transitioning process to becoming a vampire (not your typical vampire transition, you pretty much have to be born into the vampire world), we learn a little about each of the "brothers" and their job to protect the human race.

In Dark Lover we learn the story of Wrath (the Blind King) and Beth (my favorite female from the entire series...a journalist, who is the daughter to one of the brothers that has recently been murdered).  Wrath has promised to protect Beth and help her through the transition she will recently have that she has no idea about. Beth's cop friend Butch, has also taken to protecting Beth on his own will (probably because he is in love with her! I mean she is drop dead gorgeous and sweet, so who wouldn't be?)

Not sure who this is, but she is my Beth. He is not my Wrath, he is too clean lol

Peter Steele is my Wrath

By protecting Beth, Butch is slowly pulled into the vampire world with Beth. Both, unaware of exactly what is happening. Beth, because she is still having trouble believing vampires are real, and Butch because he has no idea what is going on.

The vampires of this series are not your typical vampires. The are not exactly immortal, they can die...they just live a really long time. They also eat human food and only drink of other vampires. The feel, the love and they bond (I mean REALLY BOND!) After book 1 you should be hooked! If you're not, I think you need you head examined ;)

For longest time Wrath was my favorite brother, but I found out quickly the more you read of this series, the harder it is to decide who is the best brother.

Related Posts:
Black Dagger Brotherhood Series by J.R. Ward

Black Dagger Brotherhood Series by J.R. Ward

I told Ashley today, "We have GOT to get some paranormal book reviewed or we will have to take the 'all things paranormal' off". So here goes!! The first paranormal review goes tooooo (drum roll....) THE BLACK DAGGER BROTHERHOOD!!!!

One of the BEST vampire series of all time!! If you got into Twilight before the movies, and enjoy reading (and watching hehe) True Blood, then you will LOVE The Black Dagger Brotherhood series. So far there are 10 books in the series, along with An Insider Guide and a short story e-book. The 11th book is expected to be released March 26th, 2013. Each book is filled with lust, love, thrill, fighting, heartache, adventure...etc there are so many emotions and thrills, it's hard to get them all, lol.

Skilled vampire warriors protect the human race from a group of not so human men. Each book is about a different brother and takes you through their struggles. Each brother has a different struggle and you will learn to love each of them for different reasons. My favorite is Vishous--Ashley loves Zsadist. I love hearing about what everyone thinks of the brothers. After you read the series make a comment and let us know who your favorite is. I guarantee you will have a super hard time deciding.

Reviews of each book to follow after this introduction to the series that literally rocked my world for 2 weeks straight.

Related Posts:
Dark Love by J.R. Ward (BDB#1)
Lover Eternal by J.R. Ward (BDB #2)
Lover Awakened by J. R. Ward (BDB #3)

Effortless by S.C. Stephens (#2 in the Thoughtless Series)

If you have not read Thoughtless DO NOT read this review. It contains spoilers and will kill the 1st book for you and you JUST have to enjoy the 1st book because this is one of my favorite series of all time, even if it did put me through agonizing turmoil!!

After reading the 1st book of the series I just had to jump right into the 2nd one. Yes, I know I should have allowed myself to catch up on sleep and get over the MAJOR anxiety the 1st book caused me but I just couldn't wait! I figured, hey everything ended good in the first book, what else could happen? Everything should be smooth sailing from here....WRONG!!

Thoughtless had me wanting to throw my kindle against the wall, grab Kiera and smack some sense into her and then fall in the floor in sobs....Effortless was 10 times worse.

Kiera and Kellan have kind of already gone through all of the horrible relationship problems that we tend to have, even before they were in a relationship. The lied to each other, lied to their friends, lied to their families, even lied to themselves. They have both been hurt in so many ways and are afraid of being hurt again. When you start out lying even before you have a relationship of course you're going to have trust issues. The continue hurting each other and going through all of the HORRIBLE ups and downs, the same as in Thoughtless. I came to a point where I thought I couldn't possibly take it any more. This was the first book to ever put me through this. I didn't think I could finish, it just hurt so bad! My co-worker had to coach me to finish the book. She was like, "Melissa, you can do it. Just take deep breaths and go a step at a time. It has to get better, it can't get much worse".....she was WRONG, just as I was WRONG!!

I'm not going to tell you too much about the book. You all know I have a problem with telling wayyyy too much. I just can't with this one, because if I tell too much it gives it all away.

Kiera continues to live with her sister instead of moving back in her old room at Kellan's She starts working for Pete's bar again and dates Kellan while in the process of readjusting to life. Seems like all is well in paradise but I just KNEW something was going to happen. The D-bags start to get more attention. They play the Bumbershoot festival (how about this is a real festival!! It's not just made up for the book), the fans and groupies start growing at this point. Can Kiera take it? She's a big girl, of course she can...BUT The D-bags have now been noticed. They are asked to go on the road for 6 months with another band (a famous band I may add, so of course the groupies will grow even larger!)....so I'm pretty sure you know this is where everything takes a turn. This was the 1st point in the book that I didn't think I could make it. I wanted to leave Kiera and Kellan as they were at the end of Thoughtless....but I just couldn't do it could I? I had to set myself up for more heart break, I should have known better!

I'm glad I jumped off the deep end and read Effortless. I couldn't get enough Kellan, and still can't. It was great to get to know all of the same characters again and in more detail as well as go through more ups and downs with Kiera and Kellan. Fair warning though, I promise this will make you want to KILL Kiera even more than Thoughtless...just saying hehe. Go ahead, read it. You can do it!! and if you need a coach to get through it, just shoot me a message :)

Loving you, Kellan, is so easy, it's effortless

Related Posts:

Thoughtless by S.C. Stephens

Kellan Kyle Rock God

The Many faces of Kellan Kyle



While it Lasts by Abbi Glines

A few months ago I discovered the AMAZING author Abbi Glines. After reading my 1st Abbi Glines book I was hooked and have since read everything she has written. I have just completed her most recent release While it Lasts, which is the 3rd book of the Sea Breeze series. Abbi never ceases to amaze me. I have been hooked on Cage York since his introduction in Because of Low (#2 in the Sea Breeze Series) and have desperately been waiting for his story.

Good girl Eva Brooks is your typical farmers daughter. Beautiful, sweet, and off limits to the hired summer hand. Eva has had a hard 18 months. The love of her life was killed in the Baghdad. She still wears the engagement ring she was given before he was deployed, refuses to play her guitar because it reminds her of Josh, and won't even drive her bad ass Jeep that sits in the barn because Josh proposed to her in it. Her only sanity comes from spending all of her time with his twin brother Jeremy.

Cage York was recently arrested for a DUI and threatened to lose his scholarship unless he goes to work for his baseball coaches brother for the summer. Cage has no one but his best friend Low. He comes from a broken family with a mother that could care less about him. Cage is used to the wild night life parties, upon parties and girls coming at him from every direction. How will he ever make it on a farm in the middle of no where.....

Chris Zylka, my versions of Cage York

Cage arrives on the farm and Eva immediately hates him. She knows he has been arrested for driving while intoxicated and has never been exposed to anything bad in her life. She knows Cage is hot, but quickly realizes that good girls and bad boys don't mix and decides it best to give him the cold shoulder. She spends all of her time with Jeremy, giving Cage the impression that she is engaged to Jeremy. An impression she doesn't care to fix, because the less he knows about her, the more he will have to stay away...right? Cage tries his best to get the attention of Eva after he finds out from Jeremy that they are not engaged and that Josh is dead. Eva slowly starts paying more attention to Cage and when he realizes her nice gestures he comes back with "Well, thank you. I was under the impression you wouldn't spit on me if I was on fire" (tehehe).

Shortly after this the story of Cage and Eva begins to unfold. They start spending time together when her father is away. While Cage works on the farm Eva takes every chance she can to bring him water, snacks and cold towels. As their relationship progresses Eva has a conversation with her late ex-boyfriends mother about what kind of boy Cage is and how she should know better than to spend time with him. This makes Eva think about what she is doing and she starts avoiding Cage again.

Why had I let myself care? Why had I decided to fucking care about someone who was so out of my damn reach? Girls like Eva didn't want to keep me. They wanted to play with me for a while and then go find the boy their parents would approve of. I'd learned at a young age that women didn't keep me

So...what happens to Eva and Cage? Why are they so attracted to each other? What do they go through together?  Do they even end up together? Who knows....I guess you will just have to suck it up and read While it Lasts for yourself to find out :)



Taken by Kelli Maine

All I can say is WOW!! I started this book yesterday and didn't put it down until I was finished. It had me captivated from the first sentence until the last word!!! I was right there with the characters through every emotion, every up and down and believe me there were many ups and downs. Ahhhh, I just loved it!!!

Rachel Desalvo has recently lost her father to cancer and her mother is very distraught over the loss, so much so that she can't let Rachel go. Rachel is forced to turn down her dream job with Rocha Enterprises at a dream location to renovate a historic hotel because of her mother. Rachel has always taken care of everyone else in her life, her father, mother, and best friend Shannon, and always puts herself last.

Merrick Rocha was captivated by Rachel in just one video chat during her job interview. Once she turned him down he decided he would stop at nothing to have her, she is the BEST candidate for the job. After watching Rachel for three months he is desperate to have her, not only as project manager for the renovation, but for himself also.

One night while Rachel is out dancing, a man approaches her and asked to buy her a drink, next thing she knows she is waking up tied to a bed in a strange place and the mysterious man from the club is there with her. She realizes that she was drugged and this man is no stranger, he is Merrick Rocha, CEO of Rocha Enterprises.

"I don't even know you. Were you stalking me?"

You grin like I'm a little girl asking a silly question. "I offered you a job. You couldn't take it. Your life wasn't your own. Now it can be."

Your voice. Your face. That's it - I know you. "We video chatted. You're...." I shake my head in disbelief. You can't be the clean-shaven man in the business suit I spoke to. "Merrick Rocha, CEO, Rocha Enterprises."

You smooth the crease between my eyebrows and laugh at my shock. "You made a lasting impression on me, Rachel, and I don't like to be turned down. I need to find out why you didn't come work for me."

How can a respected, beautiful man be entirely crazy? "So you kidnap me?" You flinch at my words. "I'm detaining you until you choose to be here."

Merrick has to make Rachel realize that she wants to be there to head up this job of renovating the hotel and to be a part of his life, but can Rachel get over the fact that he took her control away from her when he kidnapped her. She wants to be with him so bad but she just can't bring herself to let go of what he's done.

Merrick has his own demons from the past that he has to overcome while proving himself to Rachel and show her that this is what she needs and wants. Can they overcome everything together or is this just too much for Rachel......

Kelli Maine has also released a follow up to Taken, called No Take Backs. It's a short Novella that sums up Taken and leads you into the next book Given (release date 2013).

Of course I read this. I just had to know what was to come and I can honestly say...I CAN'T WAIT!!!!

Joe Manganiello is my Merrick Rocha

Kellan Kyle Rock God

Don't you wish the D-Bags were a real band and we could all pack up and follow them around the states? lol I DO! While reading Thoughtless and Effortless, every time the D-Bags would play, or every time Kellan would sing I always tried to imagine what his sultry, sexy voice must sound like.

I am a big fan of alternative and grungy music, so it's hard for me to ever think anything I am reading sounds anything other than grunge or alternative. I think Kellan sounds like Robin Wilson, lead vocalists for the 90's alternative band Gin Blossoms. If you listen to anything by the Gin Blossoms, you know whoever wrote the lyrics must have been hurt before. It seems that each song is about being jealous, or cheating. For all of you Kellan Kyle fans you know this goes hand in hand with Thoughtless and Effortless and I'm pretty sure it will go right along with Reckless (the 3rd book to be released in December) too.

Hey Jealousy- Gin Blossoms

Til I Hear it from You- Gin Blossoms--I honestly have no idea what's up with this video, lol. I couldn't find a simple video with the lyrics, I had to find something crazy with a match.com add in it lol.

Of course we all have different ideas of how Kellan should sound. Ashley thinks he sounds more like Caleb Followill from Kings of Leon. Her songs for Kellan to sing are Closer and Revelry.

Closer- Kings of Leon

Revelry- Kings of Leon

We are always looking for new music, what better way to do it than through Kellan!! Please post what you think Kellan or the entire D-Bags band would sound like. 

Related Posts:
Thoughtless by S.C. Stephens
The Many faces of Kellan Kyle
Effortless by S.C. Stephens (#2 in the Thoughtless Series)   

Travis Maddox

I just love trying to find pictures of what I think our book men should look like. Sometimes, there just isn't a guy out there that can touch my book boyfriend at the time is. TOTAL FRUSTRATION!! I have come to that problem with Travis from Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire. Travis is a fighter, with muscles and covered in tattoos (perfect right?) Once, just once.... several months ago I found my perfect Travis. Now the time has come for me to share and I can't find him again!!

This no name face (couldn't find his name for the life of me lol) is the closest I can come at the moment for my Travis

While on the search to find my TravisI found several other's that some may find suitable to be their Travis.

I think Daniel Conn may be the same guy as my Travis above, but I'm not certain. If he is, forgive me for being crazy and not being able to out 2 and 2 together :)

Related Posts:

Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire 

Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire

Okay, since the wonderful Jamie McGuire has recenlty been signed with Atria and Beautiful Disaster was released to book shelves on August 14th. I thought I would review this book for those of you who have never read it and those of you, like me, who have read it many, many times and just want to re live the glory of TRAVIS "MAD DOG" MADDOX!!!!! (Enter ---> BIG cheesey grin on my face just thinking about it).

Travis is an underground fighter, paying his way thru college with his fists. He is the best of the best, top dog and undefeated. He is also the "play boy" on campus. He can and does get any girl he wants any time he wants them. He lives with his cousin Shepley who is his best friend and biggest fan. He is always in Travis's corner and attends all of Travis's fights.

"Our next fighter doesn't need an introduction, but because he scares the shit outta me, I'll give him one anyway! Shake in your boots, boys, and drop your panties, ladies! I give you: Travis "Mad Dog" Maddox!"

Abby Abernathy is trying to start a new life, with her best friend America. Together they move to anther state to attend college. Abby decides that since her past is kind of shady, she needs to be a good girl with a straight laced guy who has a solid future.One night she decides to go with America and her (America's)boyfriend Shepley to an underground fight.

"My heart pounded in my chest, with a pink cashmere cardigan and pearl earrings, I felt like a school marm on the beaches of Normandy" 

With Abby looking so out of place at the fight, she quickly catches Travis's attention, which she is having none of. He is a fighter with big muscles covered in tattoos, not to mention he goes thru women like water. He is as far away from straight laced as you could be. Abby wants nothing to do with him, but he is not giving up, he promises to be just friends with her and not even think about her panties or getting into them, so she reluctantly agrees to their friendship.

As the friendship grows and they become very close, spending all of their time with each other, Abby realizes there is more to Travis than he shares with the rest of the world and she starts to see him as more than a friend. Travis loves Abby, he has never had any kind of relationship with a girl, friend or otherwise. He knows he is not good enough for her, she deserves the world.

"First of all...I have standards. I've never been with an ugly woman. Ever. Second of all, I wanted to sleep with you. I thought about throwing you over my couch fifty different ways, but I haven't because I don't see you that way anymore. It's not that I'm not attracted to you, I just think you're better than that."  I couldn't hold back the smug smile that crept across my face. "You think I'm too good for you." He sneered at my second insult. "I can't think of a single guy I know that's good enough for you."

Even though there is more to Travis, he is still not the straight laced guy Abby is looking for. She knows that if she goes there it will end in disaster and they will no longer have their friendship. As both of them try to sort out their feelings for each other and still maintain a "just friends" relationship things get kind of rocky, emotions are high and jealousy rears its ugly head and Abby's past comes back to haunt her.

So, for fear of giving too much away, I will stop there. I just love this book so much that I could talk forever about it. (By this I mean I could talk about Travis ALL DAY hehe). Jamie has recently finished Walking Disaster, which is a book from Travis's point of view that will be released in 2013 and I can't wait. Also, this book is being made into a MOVIE!!!! Yes, people we will get to see the magic unfold on the big screen :)

Beautiful Disaster is currently $7.99 at amazon.com for those Kindle owners and $7.99 at barnesandnoble.com for all of you Nook owners.

Related Posts:

Travis Maddox 

The Many Faces of Kellan Kyle

So, how do picture Kellan Kyle? Me personally, I see him as Jared Leto (during the My So Called Life days).

But I can also see him as this Jared Leto, maybe just a little longer hair (I loves my men with long hair!!)

Jared Leto is hot, just not smoking Kellan hot. When I think about Kellan I see drop your jaw when he enters the room hot...so.....if I put the Kellan personality with Jared Leto's looks that gives me the smoking hot, drop your jaw Kellan I am looking for.

While on my Kellan look a like search I ran across a few other guys that would probably make another reader a great version of Kellan. If not, just enjoy the hotness and find your own Kellan lol.

Imagine Johnny a few years younger and I think we have a great candidate for Kellan!

I have no idea who this is, just a random picture I found. They would make an excellent Kiera and Kellan, don't ya think?

WHEW!! Is all I'm gonna say. I don't know that I see him as even a bit of my Kellan, but I do know that I found him on the search for Kellan and he was too hot to not share!

Related Posts:
Thoughtless by S.C. Stephens
Kellan Kyle Rock God
Effortless by S.C. Stephens (#2 in the Thoughtless Series) 

Thoughtless by S.C. Stephens

There are not many things in this world that can cause me to have a sleepless night. My husband says I fall asleep harder and faster than anyone he has ever know. We can get in the bed, he runs to the bathroom and I am knocked out cold by the time he comes back. While reading Thoughtless by S.C. Stephens (for some reason amazon won't pull the book, so I can't link it! Sorry!!) and the second book of the series Effortless, I had MANY sleepless nights which left me a not so happy Melissa in the morning. I would read until I couldn't keep my eyes open any longer, put my kindle up and attempt sleep which failed me. I would toss and turn, get pains in my arm (how weird, right?) and eventually have to get my kindle back out and read a little more to sooth my need to know of what was happening with Kiera, Kellan, Denny and the D-Bags.

Okay, here goes, I'm going to try and do a quick synopsis without giving too much away. Seriously, this is a MUST read, no matter what I say on here about the book, no matter how bad I say the emotional roller coaster was, YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK!!

Kiera and her boyfriend Denny move across the country for his internship with the company he hopes to one day work for. She is required to transfer to a new college, but would do anything to follow him anywhere, he is her first true love. They move to Seattle (if I could go anywhere in the world, where would it be?? Seattle!! Yea, I'm that much of a loser) and live with one of Denny's best friends Kellan Kyle (my #1 book boyfriend of all time!! Seriously, I red heart him more than Travis from Beautiful Disaster and Christian from Fifty Shades of Grey put together!). Kellan is a super hot, bad boy rock star lead singer of the D-Bags (short for Douche Bags, hehe).

After only being in Seattle for a few weeks Denny is asked by the company to go to Arizona for a few months, to work on a project. It’s the chance of lifetime, but the news breaks Kiera’s heart. But hey, it's only for 2 months, they can make it through this.....right?

So Kiera is left alone with no family, in a new town, getting ready to start a new school, not to mention she has no friends, only her new roomie Kellan. Kellan innocently helps to keep Kiera company. He hangs out with her, gives her a shoulder to cry on when Denny's calls become few and far between and even goes with her to her orientation and shows her around the campus. Then Denny calls Kiera with exciting news, he has been asked by his company to take a permanent position and move to Arizona. What does Kiera do? She freaks out! She has already moved across the country for him to start a new life, and now he wants her to start over again. No! She is not having this, she barely had the funds to start college in Seattle, there is no way she is changing her life again for someone who already left her for his career. She is pissed, he goes berserk, and who is there to pick up the pieces when she falls.....my #1 book boyfriend!! The day after Denny calls, Kiera wakes up to him in the room with her.....wait how did that happen, I thought he was staying in AZ (and so did she...)  

Okay, so I should probably stop. I am getting a little carried away. I don't want to give the story away, just know this YOU HAVE TO READ THIS BOOK!! It will become an emotional roller coaster, I'm talking such an emotional roller coaster it will blow your face back and leave it like that for a few days. I'm sure you will have many sleepless nights as well as want to jump into the book and literally KILL KIERA!! Just do me one favor, don't be a wimp like I was and have to flip to the end of the book to know what is going to happen, it kills all of the fun. But seriously, this book is that intense. I didn't think I could go on with my life without flipping to the end (yea, it's that intense lol).

Related Posts:

The Many faces of Kellan Kyle 

Effortless by S.C. Stephens (#2 in the Thoughless Series)

First Review of our Blog!!!

Okay so how AMAZING is this........

 

Smardy Pants Book Blog!

Obsessed with Rockstars, Bad Boys and all things Paranormal?
Melissa Hardy and Ashley Smith just started a brand spanking (I heart that word) book blog and Fall From Grace was the first book they reviewed. And it was AWESOME! Here's the link!
http://smardy-pants.blogspot.com/2012/08/fall-from-grace-by-christine-zolendz.html

 

Thank you so much Christine Zolendz for mentioning us on your blog at goodreads.com we really appreciate your support :)

My idea of Shane from Fall from Grace

What do we love more than reading great books? Finding the men that resemble the great guys in our great books!!

So far this years I have read 91 books. I'm pretty sure it will take me a long time to find all of my book boyfriends in their human form, but since I have just finished reading Fall From Grace, I figured now would be the time to post my idea of Shane Maxton.

Shane is a super hot musician that can pretty much make any girl drop their panties just by looking at them. He has dark hair, and is super sculpted. It took me 2 days to find this guy. Someone posted this picture a few months back on facebook. It reminded them of another character. I didn't see him as that character, but I knew one day I would find who he should be. I'm not really into mainstream music, so it was killing me not to be able to remember his name, or the band he was from. Luckily, I made a facebook post to get ideas from anyone that may remember who the guy was. Within 3 minutes I received a response, and let me tell you, it has MADE MY DAY!!

Without further ado, I present to my fellow readers, Matthew Sanders aka M Shadows singer for Avenged Sevenfold as my Shane

It's not often that I go looking for a picture of the heroine from my reads. Really, I just want to see the guys lol. But, while on the prowl for a good picture of M Shadows, I fell upon a picture that I KNOW would make a perfect Grace. I have no idea who she is, I just know she has almost grey eyes, milky skin and the blackest hair, just like Grace.

Thanks again to Christine Zolendz for writing this great book! I am in love with the story and can't wait to read more about Grace and Shane and all of their troubles to chose the right path.

Related Post:
Fall from Grace by Christine Zolendz

Defying the Odds (Battered Hearts) by Kele Moon

If you're into bad boys with big muscles and bad attitudes then this is the book for you!! It's a quick read that you will not be able to put down.

Clay "Powerhouse" Powers is a Heavy Weight UFC Fighter living in the small town of Garnet with his two best friends and no family. Everyone in town keeps their distance from him, knowing he is not someone you mess with. While sitting alone at a local diner on Thanksgiving a stranger offers him a piece of pie. Clay is touched at this act of kindness. He's not use to people being nice for no reason at all, everyone always expects something from him.

"But you hate pumpkin pie.”

“Yeah, I know that.” Clay scowled. “You think I don’t know I hate it?”

Wyatt gave him a look. “Then why you eating it?”

“That new waitress brought it,” Clay explained, the reminder compelling him to take another bite. He choked, forcing himself to swallow it.

Melody Dylan is trying to escape her past and is on the run from her crazy abusive ex-husband. She is trying to start a new life in Garnet and lands a job as a waitress at a local diner. When she offers Clay a piece of pumpkin pie she has no idea that she is about to lose her heart.

As Clay tries to figure out what these new emotions are that he has for Melody she is trying to fight the demons from her past and pushing Clay away is the only way she knows how.  Clay is not giving up on her and he will do anything to keep her in his life.

"I never met anyone like you, Mel.

First time I saw you I thought you were an angel, and I'm still not all that sure you're not"

Isn't that the sweetest thing you have ever heard!!! (sigh). As I said earlier I couldn't put this book down, but as I got closer to the end I was left feeling that it could have been drawn out a little more, like I didnt get enough. Luckily there is a second book to this series and I know Kele (kelemoon.com)  will not disappoint.