SUMMER READING! by Keris Stainton

I am thrilled to introduce my first blog guest: Keris Stainton! Please welcome her and enjoy the fun post about summer reading! Also, check out her information below the post if you want to find her and her exciting work. Thanks Keris!!!

 

 

 

Summer reading

I take my summer reading VERY seriously. Before I go on holiday, I have to compile a perfectly balanced reading list. I need fiction (something light, something perhaps a bit more literary), non-fiction, and some YA, of course. I also need a LOT of books. I generally estimate one book per day, even though I know I'm unlikely to get through that many since I've got two young children (before having kids, I could quite easily read a book a day on holiday), but I take them just in case. You never know when you might be delayed - what about all those people who got trapped by the volcanic ash? Did they have enough to read? I'm not taking any chances... 

I haven't even book this year's summer holiday yet (it's on today's To Do list), but I know which books I'll be taking: 

Truth & Dare, edited by Liz Miles

I don't generally read short stories, but I've heard great things about this one and my lovely friend Luisa Plaja has a story included. Plus shorter fiction is handy for holidays for when you haven't got a lot of time to read, but you do want to read something other than the back of a sun cream bottle... 

Sunnyside by Glen David Gold

I adored Gold's first book Carter Beats the Devil and actually took Sunnyside on holiday last year, but didn't have time to delve in. I'll give it another try this year because it does sound wonderful. 

A Most Improper Magick by Stephanie Burgis 

I've been meaning to read this book for the longest time. It sounds wonderful and the sequel is already out, which makes me slightly panic about being behind on my reading. Summer is the perfect time for catching up. 

More Awkward Situations for Men by Danny Wallace

I love Danny Wallace's books. They're always so sweet and joyful and make me laugh out loud. The benefit of taking this one is my husband will read it too. Double duty. (More room for another book for me.) 

A Kiss at Midnight by Eloisa James

I would never have thought historical romance was my kind of thing, but once I started reading Eloisa James I couldn't stop. Funny, charming, sweet and sexy and completely addictive. I'm hoping to save this for my holiday, but it's possible I won't be able to resist its ample charms for that long...

Good Stuff by Jennifer Grant

A memoir by Cary Grant's daughter, but with a twist - she adored him and he her (he gave up films to spend more time with her). Makes a nice change when someone writes about someone you admire and isn't slagging them off or listing their grievances. I suspect this book will make me yearn for Cary Grant and old Hollywood even more than I already do. 

Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson

I've heard great things about this teen novel and since I'm almost always hankering for a road trip I'm hoping it will be an excellent summer holiday read. 

~ Keris StaintonOUT NOW! Jessie Hearts NYC 

"A breezy summer rom-com, with oodles of New York glamour." The Bookseller

Twitter @keris
My website http://www.keris-stainton.com/
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Ready for Ten http://www.readyforten.com/users/Keris/posts

Lords of the Underworld Series (1-3)

Gena Showalter

I am in the midst of reading the Lords of the Underworld series. These books have me hooked and I felt I MUST blog about them. I am currently on book three, Reyes and Danika and have just read book one,  Maddox and Ashlyn and two, Lucien and Anya.

The Darkest Night

by: Gena Showalter

Rating: 5 candles ~ Silk sheets and chocolate sauce

naughty naughty naughty!

Maddox is an instant winner! He is Violence contained who has a conscience. I can't resist a bad boy who can't help himself but to fall in love with the nice girl. When Maddox runs into an intruder at his home he doesn't understand this pull he has to her but he must find out why. He has refused women for decades because of his demon 'Violence' and he isn't going to start accepting one now....by choice. Seems, he can't help himself when it comes to Ashlyn, and 'Violence' likes her too. She isn't afraid of him. She wants to be near him.
The LOTU are each chained with a demon, all having to struggle for control in order to keep peace. Introductions are made of:
Lucien, keeper of Death
Torin, keeper of Disease
Reyes, keeper of pain
Paris, keeper of Promiscuity
Aeron, Keeper of Wrath
Danika, human
Anya, Minor Goddess

Back of book:
His powers -- Inhuman...
His passion -- Beyond immortal . . .
All her life, Ashlyn Darrow has been tormented by voices from the past. To end the nightmare, she has come to Budapest seeking help from men rumored to have supernatural abilities, not knowing she'll be swept into the arms of Maddox, their most dangerous member -- a man trapp ed in a hell of his own.

Neither can resist the instant hunger than calms their torments . . . and ignites an irresistible passion. But every heated touch and burning kiss will edge them closer to destruction -- and a soul-shattering test of love . . .
Though they carry an eternal curse, the Lords of the Underworld are irresistibly seductive -- and unimaginably powerful . . . Don’t miss this incredible new paranormal series from Gena Showalter!

Read an excerpt on genashowalter.com here.

Buy from Amazon
Buy from Barnes and Noble
Buy from Borders
Buy from Harlequin

Werewolf Descent

by: Elizabeth J. Kolodziej

Rating: 3 candles ~ silk sheets but no chocolate syrup

This book was a fun read because I was always suprised at each twist and turn. WD can either be viewed as a very racy young adult or a tame paranormal romance. Either way the audience will be satisfied. The story was interesting, the characters likeable (especially Vincent, the psychic vampire), and the action was intense. When beginning this book I was really confused as to what was happening. The author jumped right in from the last book with no background whatsoever. I hadn't read the previous book, 'Vampyre Kisses', so I'm still a little fuzzy on a few things, but I feel like I know enough of the characters at the end of the second. Also confusing was the constant change between characters in each chapter. At times I wasn't sure who was "talking" and had to reorient myself. All in all, this was an entertaining book. I imaging I would have enjoyed it more if I had been able to read Vampyre kisses before hand. Not sure if this is what the author was going for. Check out the video and information below.

Book Information:

• Publisher: Third Broom in the Left Press (June 11, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-13: 9780983449409

Purchase a Kindle copy of Werewolf Descent from Amazon
Purchase a print copy of Werewolf Descent from Barnes & Noble
Purchase a Nook copy of Werewolf Descent from Barnes & Noble
Books in The Last Witch series in the order in which they should be read:
Vampyre Kisses
Werewolf Descent

Check out this awesome giveaway on larissa's life blog ~ 'larissaslife.com'

http://www.larissaslife.com/2011/06/bhsvjeanne-c-stein-interview-7-signed.html

Jeanne C. Stein interview with giveaway. There are so many ways to add to your chance to win.
For more information about Jeanne C. Stein and her books, check out her website at
www.jeannestein.com

Win a 7 SIGNED Book Set of the Anna Strong Series by Jeanne C. Stein {Books 1-6 + Hexed} & Swag!

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My Life Undecided by Jessica Brody

Synopsis from book:

PLEASE READ THIS! MY LIFE DEPENDS ON IT!
Okay, maybe that was a bit melodramatic, but I’m sorry, I’m feeling a bit melodramatic at the moment.

Here’s the deal. My name is Brooklyn Pierce, I’m fifteen years old, and I am decisionally challenged. Seriously, I can’t remember the last good decision I made. I can remember plenty of crappy ones though. Including that party I threw when my parents were out of town that accidentally burned down a model home. Yeah, not my finest moment, for sure.

But see, that’s why I started a blog. To enlist readers to make my decisions for me. That’s right. I’m gave up. Threw in the towel. I let someone else be the one to decide which book I read for English. Or whether or not I accepted an invitation to join the debate team from that cute-in-a-dorky-sort-of-way guy who gave me the Heimlich Maneuver in the cafeteria. (Note to self: Chew the melon before swallowing it.) I even let them decide who I dated!

Well, it turns out there are some things in life you simply can’t choose or have chosen for you—like who you fall in love with. And now everything’s more screwed up than ever.

But don’t take my word for it, read the book and decide for yourself. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll scream in frustration. Or maybe that’s just me. After all, it’s my life.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Review by: Lexi Boo

I like the book a lot and I think a lot of teenage girls would like to read this book! I think most girls would like Brooklyn and the guys she meets (Hunter and Brian). Brooklyn has had a lot of trouble in her decisions so she starts a blog to get other people to make them for here. Even thought in the end she realizes that she can make her own choises to what kind of person she wants to be and who she hangs out with. I love reading about how she matures during this story. She finds out that Hunter wasn't the one and she wanted Brian. But if you dont understand what I'm talking about, just pick up the book. You will love it.

Upcoming Reviews

Hi all!! Just wanted you all to have a heads-up on reviews that are in the near future for the site. Ive read these books but haven't had a chance to write a review that would do them justice. let me know which ones you are excited about. Thanks!

Highland Master by Amanda Scott

House of Immortal Pleasure by Katie Salidas

Wallflowers by Lisa Kleypas:
~ Secrets of a Summer Night
~ It happened one Autumn
~ Devil in Winter (NOW READING)
~ Scandal in Spring (TBR)

Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins

Anita Blake Series by LK Hamilton

Black Dagger Brotherhood by JR Ward

Mine Until Morning By: Samantha Hunter

Boudoir Rating: 3.9 out of 5

Excerpt:
Tessa Rose is intoxicating to bodyguard Jonas Berringer. But not simply because she has an intimate knowledge of aphrodisiac scents. Nor is it because she's forbidden fruit: a client, the boss's daughter. Though both things help….

But Jonas thinks he has nothing to offer Tessa, not after a moment of lost focus costs Jonas his sight. But when Tessa and Jonas find themselves alone during a blackout, they discover endless temptations in the dark. Until morning, they'll just have to trust their other, heightened senses to see them through….
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This book was hot! From the first chapter to the last it was everything I look for in a harlequin Blaze book! Jonas is a strong confident bodyguard and Tessa seems to be your typical spoiled rich girl. They both want each other but misunderstandings happen that results in a lot of internal conflict for the characters. This is thankfully resolved at the end. I'm not going to give anything away, but my favorite part was on the train. I loved that a lot of their time was in the dark like the restraunt and apartment, since Jonas was temporarily blind. It kinda evened the playing field for me. (possible spoiler) I would have liked for him to have had his full sight just once for a hot dark scene at the end. Tessa was great with showing him her true personality and how great she really is. They really are great together, especially in the boudoir. Hopefully Jonas' brothers will get their stories just so I can read a sentence or two about him. What a hunk!

Vampire Mine
Boudoir Rating:4.5 out of 5 ~ Toe Curling Hot
~ Grab the candles and massage oil ~

by: Kerrelyn Sparks

Excerpt from book cover

Nothing on earth can make this vampire fall in love...

After 499 years of existence, Connor Buchanan has arrived at an inescapable conclusion: he is a cold-hearted SOB. He's been watching his friends--those poor romantic fools-- plummet off the cliff into love like a dazed herd of sheep. But not Connor. He knows that love leads to nothing but heartache.

Until Marielle...

She is an angel cast down from heaven for disobedience. Trapped in a mortal form, she finds a protector in Connor, a Scottish vamipire haunted by a dark past. Marielle hopes to heal his broken heart and earn her way back home, but suddenly she has these...feelings. This is strange yet pleasant physical yearning--for a vampire! Is this the work of a demon luring her into hell, or has this angel found heavenly bliss?

I really loved this book! It was sweet and cheesy and had me smiling at the end. Connor is a hot highlander vampire who claims to have a black pit for a heart. Really, I felt like he was a sweetheart and I couldn't get enough! Marielle is a gorgeous angel of death who knows nothing about being a human. It was really fun to "watch" her learn how to do normal human stuff. It was especially fun to experience the girl talks and how she passed that info onto Connor. I loved how the book didn't abruptly end with the typical: the bad guy was defeated, they got married, had babies...It was exciting all the way to the last page and it added the cheesy love part at the end (and it didnt make me roll my eyes.) Its such a fun light read that you can't be dissapointed with this book. And really, who doesn't love that cover? Let me know what you think!

Passion: Moderate

Comedy:YES

Kilt: Double Yes!

Heavenly bliss: Yes, thank you.

Sword fighting, magic, love, an all around good time.

New stuff

Im adding some new pages such as marked to read, my library, and possibly a page that will focus on new authors I find. Check them out and please let me know what you think!

Show me the Ropes by Roz Lee

This is my first typed review so please be nice. Just finished reading an ebook called show me the ropes.  I liked the main characters Fallon and Richard for the most part. The setting of the lothario as a ship of sexual freedom seemed an easy way to add lots of sex into the plot. Lots of sex in a book is usually great, but I did feel like some of it was overkill. Fallon and I both didnt understand why "One minute he was demanding she submit, and the next he was apologizing for giving her the most amazing orgasm she’d ever had. It didn’t make any sense."I found some parts uncomfortable. "More lube and another finger joined the other two. “You’re tight, sweetheart. Relax. Let me in.” ?.......his other hand massaged and stretched her anus." tight? No shit...
It seemed a bit cheesy when he calls her sweetheart while he talks dirty to her. Seemed the mood of the moment couldn't stay on one track. If there is dirty trash talk, it might just be me but, loving pet names shouldn't be added in.

 I was confused as to how Richard could spend so much time with Fallon for five days, but the next day after FINALLY having sex (for the first and tenth time), he disappears for two days. How did he suddenly become that busy?

F~ “Me either, but let’s not be in any hurry.”
R~ “I’m not. I love you.”
F~ “I love you too.”
R~ “I’ve got to go. Vacation is nice, but as long as I’m onboard I’ve got responsibilities.”

The main theme of ropes for BDSM was quite evident because ropes in all forms were definately used in this book....sailing rope, labia ropes, and even a rope with a butt plug. Now with all the negative, I did like the devotion of Fallon and Richard because of a timeless emotion of "love at first sight." it was also nice that they both felt safe and loved with each other enough to test their boundaries and fears. they are certainly meant for each other. I also liked that the author tied multiple problems into the story and made them work together in the end. I give it a 3 rating. Ok story but i wont reread anytime soon.

Choosing the next book

I have read many books from Ward's BDB, Hamilton's Anita Blake, Eloisa James' series, Kresley Cole and more. Why oh why didn't I write those reviews while reading the books? Anyway, I have a HUGE "to be read" pile at home with at least 50 books in it and I havenT a clue as to how to pick the first one. Most are books that are in a series but I'm missing one or two while others are stand alone.
Should I just jump into a series and add the other books when I get them? Should I read my stand alones? I want to be able to pick up a book that I can honestly say I want to take the time to review. I think what it boils down to is the fact that I'm nearing the end of my degree in school and things are getting pretty hard. So what's the easiest choice for a girl who should be concentrating on school but MUST read? I'll let you know!

Huge book giveaway!!

Go to www.allthingsurbanfantasy.blogspot.com to join in the fun! I know I did...

Well, hello....

Ive read a bunch of books in the past year and decided to share my reviews with the world. I'm just starting out and hope that I can offer something that you will enjoy. It always feels great to speak with other readers about a book you like and even those you didn't. Thanks for checking my boudoir of books out!!