Saturday, August 25, 2012

Summer Reading List: May-July 2012

I haven't been very diligent these summer months, but I decided at the last minute to fill in with an update of what I've been reading. When I wrote everything down I was surprised by how small the list was. Normally I could bust out this many books in a month. But I guess it's more about quality rather then quantity.

1. Blood Before Sunrise by Amanda Bonilla***
2. Ravishing The Heiress by Sherry Thomas***
3. Melt Into You by Roni Loren
4. Still Into You by Roni Loren
5. Without A Spark by George Berger**
6. Rift of Askrah Book 1: Fracture by Benjamin Andrews**
7. Scandal Wears Satin by Loretta Chase***
8. Return of the Viscount by Gayle Callen***
9. Forever A Lady by Delilah Marvelle***
10. Lessons From A Scandalous Bride by Sophie Jordan***
11. When You Wish Upon A Duke by Isabella Bradford***
12. The Ugly Duchess by Eloisa James***
13. A Lady By Midnight by Tessa Dare***
14. How to be a Proper Lady by Katherine Ashe***
15. A Gentleman Undone by Cecilia Grant***
16. The Casanova Code by Donna MacMeans***
17. My Fair Concubine by Jeannie Lin***
18. Lethal Rider by Larissa Ione***
19. Messenger's Angel by Heather Walden-Killough***
20. Forbidden by Nicola Cornick***
21. Secrets of an Accidental Duchess by Jennifer Haymore
22. About Last Night by Ruthie Knox
23. A Duchess to Remember by Christina Brooke
24. The Siren by Tiffany Reisz*
25. Her Best Worst Mistake by Sarah Mayberry

My August reading list will be coming up shortly, as well as post on what I learned from my latest submission experience. I've got a couple of reviews as well from self-published sources as well.

*Review posted here.
**Review posted on IndieBooksRUs blog
***Review posted on The Season

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Funday Monday: August 20th, 2012

Well we're halfway through my birthday month and so far I'm lovin' it! Yesterday was the official day I turned one year older. Nothing exciting but as always worthwhile. It's been a long time since I posted a Funday Monday set, and a few things have popped up on my radar. This week's group of 5 involves stuff for writers (of course). Just a bit o' everything.

5. Reviewers Needed! So you're not into the full blown romance novel set, but you want to write reviews... how about YA/ New Adult? The Season Review site is looking for those interested in reviewing YA novels. You can sign up for what you want, but need some strong writing skills for more info check out THIS POST.

4. I love reading self-pub/indie books! If that's the case do you want to review them? Currently Lexcade and I are searching for a few good folks to help enhance our IndiesBooksRUs review blog. We want to do more but we're only two folks. 2013 is just around the corner so be on the lookout for a post here and there coming soon! Until then if you have some interest you can send me an email direct.

3. Writing Opportunity. Have you checked out the Writer's Digest site? I'm sure you'll tell me you have, but it's one of those things you can easily forget. What captured my interest is this upcoming webinar on Self-Editing. I can't participate due to the fact I work a day job during these hours, but I felt like sharing the wealth. If this doesn't interest you there's another webinar for query help coming up in September. Just check out the site. You won't regret it.

2. Avon Romance Addict? Yes this is a question for those fans of Tessa Dare, Caroline Linden, Julie Anne Long, Lynsay Sands, Kerrelyn Sparks and Lori Wilde to name a few. If you are then Avon is looking for 25 special addicts to get the opportunity of early reads, free swag, and other special perks. All you need do is apply here. Deadline to apply is September 7th, 2012.

1. Finally the last bit of Funday Monday jazz is this article that's a bit sad. I recently read this and thought heavily about the decline of the Ninja. This got me thinking about other practices throughout history that are now in a decline including doll collecting (weird I know). Not that I collect dolls, but I'm just saying. So when you're thinking about plotting a book something obscure like this may be fun, different. Just felt a need to share the news with the rest of those out there.

Saturday, August 4, 2012

Review: Temptation & Twilight by Charlotte Featherstone

Review: Temptation and Twilight by Charlotte Featherstone

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

For back cover blurb or more information about the author visit Charlotte Featherstone's website here.

Three words that describe this book: anxious, agony, and sensual

Featherstone is a master of sensual description and emotion. In the final book of The Guardians trilogy she once again shows us how she can squeeze every ounce of feeling from the encounters between two people. For Elizabeth York and Iain Sinclair there's plenty of feeling, secrets, and dwelling emotions between once lovers.

Elizabeth is essentially the character we know and love. Mentioned in previous Guardian books, Elizabeth is blind. Featherstone has created a wonderful, strong woman that manages to operate without her sight, which makes the sensuality of the story ten times better. Add in a secondary man in the competition ring and things are downright hawt! Yes, you heard right, there's competition for Elizabeth's hand. Dedicated readers to the series will remember the man Elizabeth was introduced to at the party during Pride and Passion. Oh, and just to confirm this storyline is parallel with Pride and Passion, with the timing of the two being one and the same. There's a few dark moments in this story along with a dark recollections of what happened after Elizabeth and Iain connected the first time.

Now to the subject of Iain. This is was a man that I was extremely attracted to visually, but I found him a bit more sensual then emotional for most of the book. He's Scottish and extremely possessive, which seems to be the main focus of his attentions toward Elizabeth. Along with a deep desire for forgiveness and a need to repent for his previous sins against her, though he's not aware of all of them. Every time he took a step towards an emotional element he'd counteract it by sexually approaching Elizabeth. Halfway through the book it got a bit annoying and I really wanted Iain to grow a bit more. He finally grew, but just a bit slower then I would have enjoyed.

Overall, Temptation and Twilight is a decent book and wraps up the tale of the Guardians for those who've read previous books in the series. By now we know the face of the true villain, but seeing his ultimate defeat at the hands of this group of heroes and heroines is still enjoyable. Iain wasn't nearly as much fun in person as I expected, but Elizabeth exceeded all of my previous expectations.