Friday, May 31, 2013

Sun, Sand, Sex w/ Linda Lael Miller, Shelly Laurenston & Jennifer Apodaca

I officially bow down to each of these ladies because damn they put together a fine anthology. I don't give 5 stars out easily and like never to a short story but they so earned it. They each have very unique and different voices and really created some stand out short stories/novellas that all had a little something to do with Sun, Sand, Sex. They had me tearing up one minute and laughing out loud the next. Between the three they're heart felt, sexy and funny as hell. If you like beachy reads this is one to grab. It won't disappoint...
One Last Weekend by Linda Lael Miller

College sweethearts Teague and Joanna Darby, once passionately in love, are on the brink of divorce. When a ferry strike leaves them stranded together at their beloved beach cottage, it could be the most awkward weekend ever. Or the perfect chance to fall for each other all over again-one steamy encounter at a time...

You Give Love a Good Name by Jennifer Apodaca

Lexie Rollins is a wedding planner on the lam. All she did was defend herself (with a staple gun) against a sleazy groom-who knew the Assault and Battery charges would stick? Now Lexie's "vacation" at an exclusive resort has put her at the top of gorgeous bounty hunter Nick Vardolous's list. And Nick always gets his woman-every which way imaginable...

My Kind of Town (The Long Island Coven #1) by Shelly Laurenston

Deputy Kyle Treharne of seaside Smithville, North Carolina, hates Yankees-even exotically beautiful ones like Emma Lucchesi. The sexy New Yorker's got trouble written all over her, and she knows more than she's telling about the increasingly strange goings-on in his town. But if the lady's got a few tricks up her sleeve, so does the lawman. And it's high time for every wicked thing to be deliciously revealed...

Type: Contemporary Romance & Paranormal Romance (shifters)
Heat: 3 out of 5
Rating: 5 out of 5

One Last Weekend by Linda Lael Miller
This was my first contemporary from Miller and ooo right from the start she grabbed my emotions and had me invested in Teague and Joanna's relationship. Near divorce the two agree to one last weekend away together and whew things get explosive. In the bedroom and out. Miller had my heart aching for these two and really hoping they'd find a way to actually see each other again and not the misunderstandings that have plagued them. It's a little serious but there are also some really sweet and funny things included. Like everyone from their grown daughter to their divorce attorney fretting over their dog and what will happen to him if they divorce. Since, you know, he'd be from a "broken home". It was really endearing and had me smiling.

Thursday, May 30, 2013

Guest Post w/ Donna Grant: Supernatural Smackdown!

OOoo we have a Highland Warrior joining us today for a supernatural smackdown. And he is all kinds of yummy. Check out what Arran has to say then leave the man some love!  ~Anna
Dr. Veronica Reid is a world-renowned archeologist whose Druid abilities help her to unearth ancient magical items. The arrival of the all-too-attractive and charismatic Arran MacCarrick puts her on the defensive when he begins to question how she really finds her artifacts…until an unknown foe attacks and Ronnie discovers that Arran has a secret as great as her own. Together, they unleash an all-consuming passion that won’t be denied…

Immortal Warrior Arran is on a mission to find the spell to bind the god within him. But one look at the impossibly beautiful Ronnie and he knows there is more to her than meets the eye. With danger lurking around every corner and an undeniable hunger that grows with every kiss, Arran must reveal who he is to keep Ronnie from his nemesis. Now he is left with no choice but to fight—or fall—for the woman he loves…

"Supernatural smackdown, huh? I doona know exactly what that is, but as a Highlander and a Warrior, I’m all about battle. With a primeval god inside drug up from the bowels of Hell, few would dare to take me on.

But I’m willing to go against any who dare.

I spent decades locked in the Pit of Cairn Toul Mountain after a drough found me and unbound the god passed down to me through my bloodline. That samedrough used her not inconsiderable magic to torture me time and again in the hopes that I would break and fall to her side. I suffered through it all.

Cat Thursday...basement kitteh...


Welcome to the weekly meme hosted by The True Book Addict that celebrates the wonders and sometime hilarity of cats!

Join us by posting a favorite LOL cat pic you may have come across, famous cat art or even share with us pics of your own beloved cat(s). It's all for the love of cats! Enjoy!


::gigglesnort:: I love Basement Cat. 

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

His Risk to Take (Line of Duty #2) by Tessa Bailey



The greater the risk, the hotter the reward…

Homicide cop Troy Bennett had a reputation on the Chicago PD for being fearless and in control—until the night his daredevil partner is killed during a raid. From that moment on, he swears he’ll never again be responsible for the loss of a loved one. To escape his demons, Troy transfers to the NYPD, bringing him up close and personal with Ruby Elliott, a beautiful, street-savvy pool hustler.

Reckless and stubbornly independent, Ruby embodies everything Troy’s avoiding, but when she walks into O’Hanlon’s Pub and blows his carefully laid plans to hell, Troy knows he has to have her—risks be damned. But there’s a connection between Ruby’s shadowed past and a case Troy’s working involving a notorious Brooklyn felon, throwing her safety into jeopardy. Confronted with his biggest fear, will Troy push Ruby away to keep her safe or fight to keep her in his arms where she belongs?


Type: Contemporary Romance
Heat: 3.5 out of 5
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Follow the TOUR
Oh my, um...yes...ladies...we have a dirty talker. *thud* This was my first from Bailey and dayum if all her men are like this I am so. on. board! 
"What changed your mind?"

"Does it matter?"

"Yes." He leaned in and nipped the underside of her jaw. "It damn well matters."

Heat pooled between her legs, stealing even more of her breath. She couldn't think of anything but the truth. "Maybe I just decided to live in the moment." 

Troy pulled back to study her, scrutinizing her expression. Base hunger clouding his features, he shook his head once. "No."

"What do you mean 'no'?"

Using his teeth, he scraped a path up the side of her neck. "I mean, when I sink my cock between those insane thighs, I need to know you're not going to regret it afterward." He dropped his hand to the underside of her panties, where he palmed her roughly. "I need you right there with me, loving every second of me riding you. Knowing I'm going to do it all over again within the hour."

She bit back a moan as he applied pressure right where she needed it. "You're turning me down? It doesn't feel like it."

"I'm not capable of turning you down." he said on a pained laugh, gaze devouring her breasts. "I'm going to take you to my bed and pleasure the fuck out of you. But the panties stay on. It's non-negotiable."

Cover Reveal: Reclaim My Heart + giveaway!

Morning dearlings. Just a quick cover reveal for Donna Fasano this morning. I'm liking it. I love the colors and his tattoo. And just the way he's holding her. So works for me. What about yall? Like it? Love it? Leave it?  ~Anna

Sixteen years ago, Tyne Whitlock cut all ties to her past and left town under the shameful shadow of a teenage pregnancy. Now her fifteen-year-old son is in trouble with the law and she is desperate for help. But reaching out to high-powered attorney Lucas Silver Hawk will tear open the heart-wrenching past in ways Tyne never imagined.
Forced to return to the Delaware Indian community where Lucas was raised, Tyne and Lucas are tempted by the heated passion that consumed them as teens. Tyne rediscovers all the reasons she found this man irresistible, but there are scandalous secrets waiting to be revealed, disgraceful choices made in the past that cannot be denied. Love is a powerful force that could heal them both—if the truth doesn't rip them apart.

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

South of Surrender (Hearts of the Anemoi #3) by Laura Kaye



She’s the only one who can see through his golden boy façade to the broken god within…

Chrysander Notos, Supreme God of the South Wind and Summer, is on a mission: save Eurus from his death sentence and prove his troubled brother can be redeemed. But Eurus fights back, triggering vicious summer storms that threaten the mortal realm, dangerously drain Chrys, and earn the ire of the Olympic gods who ordered Eurus dead.

Laney Summerlyn refuses to give up her grandfather’s horse farm, despite her deteriorating vision. More than ever, she needs the organized routine of her life at Summerlyn Stables, until a ferocious storm brings an impossible—and beautiful—creature crashing down from the heavens.

Injured while fighting Eurus, Chrys finds himself at the mercy of a mortal woman whose compassion and acceptance he can’t resist. As they surrender to the passion flaring between them, immortal enemies close in, forcing Chrys to choose between his brother and the only woman who’s ever loved the real him.

Type: Paranormal Romance, Gods
Heat: 3.5 out of 5
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

I hate the summer. Hot weather, the sun beaming down on you, sweating. Just do not like anything that has to do with the heat but Sweet Mary Chrysander, Supreme God of the South Wind and Summer, has me craving anything and everything to do with it. I'm telling you. Kaye is good.

South of Surrender was everything and at the same time nothing like what I expected. As always with Kaye I know I'm in for an incredible ride that's well written, exciting, steamy and utterly captivating. But she really brought some different aspects to the game this time including a heroine that was losing her eye sight and was nearly blind. Different, right?

Spotlight: Avenging Angel by Cynthia Eden!

Morning lovelies. Doing a release day spotlight for Cynthia Eden today. I got to meet her a few months back at a book convention and she is just the sweetest. Have any of yall read her? Check out the excerpt from her new release and leave her a bit of love!  ~Anna

With a messed up family background and a tendency to grow claws and fangs, Tanner Chance isn’t exactly the boy next door. But he’s a decent cop, and he keeps himself on the side of the good guys. Convenient, because when he rescues a survivor of a horrific shifter attack he finds himself instantly smitten—with an honest-to-goodness angel, as innocent as she is irresistible.

Marna may be angelic, but she’s not stupid or weak. She can take care of herself. Tanner is more temptation than protection anyway. Or so she thinks, until someone wearing her face starts taking out some of New Orleans’ more unsavory paranormals. With police and predators both gunning for her blood, Marna has no choice but to trust Tanner…even though what’s sparking between them is hotter than anything holy.

Spotlight: South of Surrender by Laura Kaye + 24 hr giveaway!!

Ahhh it's here!! Chrys is finally here! This book is so good yall. I read it last week and damn near swooned. Check out the excerpt and be sure to leave your favorite bit in the comments. Laura is doing a huge release day only giveaway so check it out now. Then hop to some of the other blogs and check out the rest of the excerpts!   ~Anna   Oh and if you want to check out my review it's HERE and there's man candy...



She's the only one who can see through his golden boy façade to the broken god within...

Chrysander Notos, Supreme God of the South Wind and Summer, is on a mission: save Eurus from his death sentence and prove his troubled brother can be redeemed. But Eurus fights back, triggering vicious storms that threaten the mortal realm and dangerously drain Chrys.

Laney Summerlyn refuses to give up her grandfather's horse farm, despite her deteriorating vision. More than ever, she needs the organized routine of her life at Summerlyn Stables, until a ferocious storm brings an impossible—and beautiful—creature crashing down from the heavens.

Injured while fighting Eurus, Chrys finds himself at the mercy of a mortal woman whose compassion and acceptance he can't resist. As they surrender to the passion flaring between them, immortal enemies close in, forcing Chrys to choose between his brother and the only woman who's ever loved the real him.


Monday, May 27, 2013

Guest Post w/ Hildie McQueen + giveaway

Woot! We've got Hildie McQueen on the blog today. I got to meet Hildie down in Florida earlier this month at a book convention and she is awesome. Check out her guest post and leave her some love people!    ~Anna
Adeline Buckley escapes her abusive father only to find herself in a brothel, on a stagecoach to the untamed west and married to a stranger, all in that order. Plotting another escape becomes harder, the more she gets to know her new husband.

Jackson Pruitt didn’t expect a secretive mail order bride to show up the same week cattle wrestlers absconded with a large part of his herd. The bigger surprise was the loveliness of the woman. Why would a beauty like her need to travel so far to marry?

Jackson and Adeline learn that secrets and marriage do not go hand-in-hand when both of their pasts comes knocking and both have to come to grips with the reality, that sometimes trust comes only after you lose it all.


Today I'm sharing with you the hero and heroine of Where The Four Winds Collide, as it travels on this virtual blog tour. I will tell you their physical attributes, personality and lastly some tidbits that did not make it into the book.


Ladies first, her name is Adeline Buckley.  She is twenty-three and has waist length bright red hair, she is curvy and has green eyes.  Adeline is an only child raised by a distant and quite harsh father. Although Adeline was kept under his tyrannical control, and she kept quiet while under his care, this feisty woman was brave enough to escape and end up in the wild western frontier.

Sunday, May 26, 2013

Quote-tastic (4)...Peaches for the win!


Every Monday I'll share a quote that tickled me from an old favorite or from what I'm reading now. Just a fun way to show off those favorite reads!

Yall are all welcome to join in. The more the merrier!

Have a blog? Grab the button and toss up your post whenever you can then link up below...

Don't have a blog? No worries, just leave your favorites in the comment section :)

~~*~~*~~

Tasty Delights (and a bit of Dazzling Disaster): Lemon-Blueberry Muffins


Tasty Delights and Dazzling Disasters is all about playing in the kitchen and having some fun.

Each Tuesday I'll share my delights or my disasters.  Yall feel free to join in and create your own posts, share your favorite recipes, what have you. 



Ahhh. So in my attempt to eat a bit healthier I decided to give these a try after a friend posted them to a group. Healthiest thing out there? Nah. But a little better than your average muffin.

They turned out pretty good....on the second try. First attempt so fell in the "dazzling disaster" category. lol

Saturday, May 25, 2013

Tempting the Billionaire (Love in the Balance #1) by Jessica Lemmon

Crickitt Day needs a job . . . any job. After her husband walks out on her, she's determined to re-build her life and establish a new career. When swoon-worthy billionaire Shane August hires her as his assistant, she jumps at the chance to prove herself. Despite her growing attraction to her boss, she vows to keep things strictly professional. No flirting. No kissing. Definitely no falling in love...

Shane August is all business, all the time. He's a self-made man who's poured his heart and soul into his company, and he'd never allow himself to get involved with an employee. Then he hires sweet, sexy Crickitt-and he can't keep his mind or his hands off her. But no matter how much he wants Crickitt, Shane fears that painful secrets from his past will always come between them. With fate working against them, can these two lonely hearts learn that sometimes mixing business with pleasure is the perfect merger?

Type: Contemporary Romance
Heat: 3 out of 5 (but not too detailed)
Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Tempting the Billionaire turned out to be a little bit of a surprise. And a nice one at that. I was expecting your typical billionaire story. Hero's richer than sin, damaged, has some kinky fetishes and is a bit of a jerk. But that's really not Shane at all. Thank goodness. Instead Lemmon brought together two very likable and wonderful characters and created a romance that felt like real life. One that was full of passion, insecurities, hopes and fears, strength and in the end love.

Friday, May 24, 2013

Character chat w/ When Honey Got Married cast + giveaway



Four high school friends and a high society bride reunite to celebrate the wedding of the year with the sexy, successful men who steal their hearts and set their skin aflame... A wedding planner should never mix business and pleasure, but Grace couldn’t resist breaking rule number one for a hot night with her high school crush!

Eve hoped to make one last play for the groom-who-got-away…but instead the down-on-her-romantic-luck actress instead found herself in dark corners with his successful, seductive cousin.

The sister of the bride needed a date of convenience and who better than her hazel-eyed, mysterious co-worker? If only Nina could keep her hands off his perfect body until she learned his true identity…

The groom proposed to her eight years earlier, but it was the steamy kiss that Pippa shared with his brother the night she left town that haunted her memories.  Now she’s back and sharing much more than just kisses.

Nothing was going to ruin Honey’s wedding to the man of her dreams.  And she has just the wedding surprise for her beloved groom!


Pippa, Eve so nice to meet you! Come on in, help yourself to some sandwiches and cookies, they're Rolo stuffed peanut butter cookies. Thought I'd whip something special up for your visit.
PIPPA:  Well, that's me taken care of, what are you going to eat Miss Eve ;)?  
EVE: Do the ones with the watercress have any mustard?  I’ll try one of these, thank you very kindly. I do love a hot bite.

Cover Reveal: Avoiding Mr. Right by CJ Ellisson!!



Woot! CJ Ellisson's next book in the Walk on the Wild Side series is almost here! This is the follow up to Vanilla on Top (that was freaking amazing). Check out the cover and blurb for Avoiding Mr. Right! What do yall think? Like it? Love it? Leave it?

I'm loving their position *rawr* and can't wait for it to get here. Just a few more weeks. It's hitting e-shelves on June 20th!!!
Carla Johnson thinks issuing orders to a lover will keep her heart safe and leave her in charge of her own destiny. Afraid for Carla’s future, her best friend Heather implores her to change her self-centered ways, handing her a list of love life mistakes to steer clear of:

1. Casual Sex
2. Friends with Benefits
3. Avoidance of Intimacy

Carla ignores the list—unwilling to face she might have a commitment problem. Until she invites a co-worker to her place one night. She instantly regrets the hum-drum sexual encounter and discourages the accountant from pursuing her.

Andy Shea refuses to become another lover the feisty blonde dumps. It'll take a patient man with a strong hand to unlock Carla's sexual awareness and win her heart. He’s up for the challenge to convince her he’s the one—and eager to prove this number cruncher won’t make a boring bedmate.


So what do you think? Have you read CJ? Looking forward to Carla and Andy's story?

Thursday, May 23, 2013

Bare It All (Love Undercover #2) by Lori Foster

As the person responsible for taking down a brutal human trafficker, Alice Appleton fears retaliation at every turn. No one knows about her past, which is exactly how she prefers it...until the sexy cop next door comes knocking.

Detective Reese Bareden thinks he knows what makes women tick, but his ever-elusive neighbor keeps him guessing like no other. Is his goal to unmask Alice's secrets? Or protect her from a dangerous new threat? One thing is certain: their chemistry is a time bomb waiting to explode. And with no one to trust but each other, Reese and Alice are soon drawn into a deadly maze of corruption, intrigue and desire-and into the line of fire....

Type: Romantic Suspense
Heat: 3 out of 5
Rating: 4 out of 5

Ahhh Lori Foster. The woman just gives good book. Bare It All was really the complete package... sexy-as-sin alpha male, quirky yet strong heroine, romance that's steamy and sweet, danger, humor and of course incredible friendships that make you want to just climb into the book and be part of the group. Seriously, how could you not love that?

Spotlight: Horn Gate by Damon Suede + giveaway

Quick little spotlight this morning for Damon Suede! I got to meet him back in Feb at a book convention and the guy is a riot. Check out his new release and leave him some love! There's a giveaway down at the bottom if yall are interested :)  ~Anna



Open at your own risk.

Librarian Isaac Stein spends his lumpy, lonely days restoring forgotten books, until the night he steals an invitation to a scandalous club steeped in sin. Descending into its bowels, he accidentally discovers Scratch, a wounded demon who feeds on lust.

Consorting with a mortal is a bad idea, but Scratch can't resist the man who knows how to open the portal that will free him and his kind. After centuries of possessing mortals, he finds himself longing to surrender.

To be together, Isaac and Scratch must flirt with damnation and escape an inhuman trafficking ring—and they have to open their hearts or they will never unlock the Horn Gate.

Have you read Damon Suede?! What did you think?

Cat Thursday...love...


Welcome to the weekly meme hosted by The True Book Addict that celebrates the wonders and sometime hilarity of cats!

Join us by posting a favorite LOL cat pic you may have come across, famous cat art or even share with us pics of your own beloved cat(s). It's all for the love of cats! Enjoy!


I just love this one. How sweet is that little face?

***We're taking kitteh submissions!!***

Each month we're going to have a theme day for our last Cat Thursday of the month.
 This month is black cats! 
So send in those favorite pictures of your black kitties!

acade29@gmail.com

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Interview w/ JK Hogan!

Morning chickies! We've got one of my local NC authors joining us today for a chat about her paranormal series and a new release in it. I just love these covers and can't wait to give them a read. They sound pretty interesting. So, come check out our chat and help me give her a warm welcome to JK! :)   ~Anna
She who wields the mark is the barrier between man and monster. She is the daughter of gods, the mother of man, protector of all. Vigilati Usque Ad Mortem”

All Isla Macallen wanted was a simple existence on her little Scottish island, free from her mother’s insanity and the prying eyes of neighbors. What she got was embroiled in a war for the souls of mankind. A war of good versus evil, of witches versus demons, and Isla learns that she alone can end it.

Dr. Jeremiah Rousseau was a self-proclaimed nomad, traveling the world researching paranormal phenomena. He doesn’t expect his research to lead him to Scotland, and to the woman who will turn his world upside down.

Together with a facetious shapeshifting animal spirit guide, Jeremiah and Isla discover that she is part of an ancient bloodline bred to protect the gateways between the human world and the spirit world, to keep evil demons from destroying them. They must find the key to defeating Alastore, the demon king, and closing the gate before Samhain, when the veil between the worlds is lifted. As the war for their souls wages around them, Isla and Jeremiah will risk it all for love—a love neither had ever thought possible.

Book One: Amazon  B&N  Goodreads

Well good morning JK! I just pulled a batch of scones out of the oven so come on in and make yourself comfy and help yourself.

Alright, I've got some questions for ya now that we're all settled. Congrats on your new release in your Vigilati series. The covers are just lovely! Could you tell us just a little about the series?
Thank you! I’m especially proud of my covers. The artist, Roser Portella Florit, is one of the best photo manip artists I’ve ever come across.

Spotlight: Writers Workshop of Science Fiction + giveaway

Thought there might be some of you out there interested in this! I know there are a few writers and aspiring authors out there :) Could be interesting... ~Anna


Writers Workshop of Science Fiction and Fantasy is a collection of essays and interviews by and with many of the movers-and-shakers in the industry. Each contributor covers the specific element of craft he or she excels in. Expect to find varying perspectives and viewpoints, which is why you many find differing opinions on any particular subject.

This is, after all, a collection of advice from professional storytellers. And no two writers have made it to the stage via the same journey-each has made his or her own path to success. And that's one of the strengths of this book. The reader is afforded the luxury of discovering various approaches and then is allowed to choose what works best for him or her.




Monday, May 20, 2013

Interview w/ Kimberly Kincaid + giveaway

When Detective Jason Morgan is tasked with keeping a local restaurant owner safe as part of a make-or-break case, he rises to the challenge. The job is his first priority, and he owes it to the memory of his father, a detective killed in the line of duty, to do it at any cost. But Jason never expected Serenity Gallagher to be so beautiful, so serious...or so tough to protect.

Serenity has moved from place to place at the whim of her capricious mother all her life. The last thing she wants is to leave the diner she finally calls home, even if it means being stuck with a sexy blue-eyed detective. But she’s the only witness to a horrible crime, and the man behind it wants her very, very dead. Going into protective custody means survival, no matter how much Serenity hates hiding.

As Jason and Serenity bide their time together, they are shocked to discover they have much more in common than the surface reveals. But keeping her safe is Jason’s number one priority, no matter how much he’s drawn in by the woman beneath the witness, and Serenity’s past makes it difficult to trust. As the stakes get higher and the spark burns hotter, can Jason and Serenity draw the line?

Amazon  (on sale for 99cents at time of posting!)  Goodreads

Well good morning Kimberly! It's so nice to see you. Come on in and have a seat. I'm working on muffins this week so there's all sorts if your interested. The blueberry-lemon ones are just to die for.
*Grabbing a muffin (okay, two) and some coffee and taking a seat!*
I saw you have a new release coming out...Drawing the Line. That's wonderful! Could you tell us just a little bit about Jason and Serenity and what brought these two together?
Jason is the brother of the heroine in my first novella, Love On The Line-- they're twins, actually (but he will be the first to tell you, he is six minutes older). He's also the detective partner to his sister's love, Noah Blackwell. Serenity owns Mac's Diner, where Jason and Violet have lunch every week. When she witnesses a brutal crime and he's tasked with keeping her safe as part of the case, sparks fly (along with danger...and pastry)!

Sunday, May 19, 2013

Guest Post w/ Kate Meader + giveaway




IF YOU CAN'T STAND THE HEAT . . .


Photographer Lili DeLuca spends all her time managing her family's Italian restaurant, instead of following her dream of getting an MFA. When famous British chef Jack Kilroy unexpectedly challenges her father to a cook-off, Lili decides she's tired of playing it safe and vows to seduce the tempting Brit. But once a video of her and Jack kissing goes viral and her luscious butt starts trending on Twitter, Lili fears she's cooked up a recipe for disaster.


. . . GET INTO THE BEDROOM

Jack Kilroy's celebrity has left him feeling used and used up. While Lili's oh-so-sexy moans when she tastes his delicious creations turn him on, he's even more aroused by how unimpressed this beautiful, funny woman is with his fame. He knows they could be amazing together, if she could only see past his bitch fork-wielding fan base. Now, as he's about to start a new prime time TV cooking show, can Jack convince Lili to realize her own ambitions - and turn up the heat in his kitchen?


Amazon B&N Book Depository Smashwords Goodreads
It’s Getting Hot in the Kitchen

Thanks to Anna here at HC&BS for giving me a chance to chat about Feel the Heat, the first in my Chicago-set Hot in the Kitchen series about an Italian restaurant-owning family and the sexy, sizzling chefs who love them. Feel the Heat is the story of a jaded celebrity chef, the daughter of his cooking show competition, and the hot kiss that ignites a media firestorm. When Jack and Lili meet, sparks fly. She thinks he’s a burglar and takes care of business by throwing a frying pan at his big, arrogant, British head. He thinks she’s a menace, gets her name wrong, and pretty much insults Italian cuisine and her entire lineage. But the sexual chemistry between them is off the charts and with an episode of Jack’s show taping at Lili’s restaurant, the heat in the kitchen is heading for volcanic levels.

Quote-tastic (3)...you mean you're *not* a hooker?


Every Monday I'll be sharing a favorite quote that tickled me from a past book or something from what I'm reading now.

Yall are all welcome to join in! The more the merrier!

Tasty Delights: Glazed Bittersweet Onions... they're good. Really. I swear!


This week's creation is definitely a tasty delight and is one of my favorite holiday side dishes.

 It's one my family makes all the time and really I swear it's good! lol I know most of yall are thinking uh, really? Bittersweet onions? But this is one of those dishes that disappears pretty much as soon as it hits the table. You just have to give it a chance :)

Saturday, May 18, 2013

Last Chance Christmas (Last Chance #5) by Hope Ramsay

Dear Reader,

I've been wishing for a miracle for my oldest boy, Stone, and this Christmas my prayers might just be answered! 

Her name is Lark, and she's here in Last Chance, looking into her father's past-and stirring up a whole mess of trouble without meaning to. As the chief of police, Stone sure has his hands full trying to keep up with her. Ever since his wife died, Stone's put everything into raising his daughters and dodging the Christ Church Ladies' Auxiliary matchmakers. And it's clear Lark has been through some trouble and could use a place to finally call home. I only hope Stone can let go of the past soon enough to keep her . . . 

Goodness, I need to stop talking and finish up Jane's highlights so we can make the town tree-lighting. You come back by because the Cut 'n' Curl's got hot rollers, free coffee, fresh-baked Christmas cookies-and the best gossip in town.

See you real soon, 
Ruby Rhodes

Type: Contemporary Romance, slight paranormal w/ Angels
Heat: 2 out of 5
Rating: 4 out of 5


Last Chance Christmas was one of those reads that pulled me in right from the start and really surprised me... in a good way. Last Chance is a small town that's full of secrets it doesn't want to give them up without a fight which makes life for Lark, who has come into town in search of answers about her father's past, incredibly difficult. But it also brings her into the sights of local chief of police...Stone Rhodes and changes both of their lives more than they could ever imagine.

Life hasn't been easy for Stone and Lark. They're both bruised and battered and fighting painful losses. They're both lonely, hurting and in desperate need of someone to help them heal and live again.

Friday, May 17, 2013

It Had To Be You (Lucky Harbor #7) by Jill Shalvis

Ali Winters is not having a good day. Her boyfriend left her, everyone in town thinks she's a thief, and now she's about to be kicked out of her home. Her only shot at keeping a roof over her head and clearing her name is to beg for help from a police detective who's as sexy as he is stern....

After a high-profile case goes wrong, Luke Hanover returns to his hometown for some peace and quiet. Instead he finds a bombshell brunette in a heap of trouble. As he helps Ali put her world back together, the pieces of Luke's own life finally seem to fall into place. Is this the start of a sizzling fling? Or are Luke and Ali on the brink of something big in a little town called Lucky Harbor?

Type: Contemporary Romance
Heat: 3 out of 5
Rating: 4 out of 5
Coming May 28th
They grow some fine ass men in Lucky Harbor. Seriously, they're just so damn...pretty! Like make you go all girly and *swoon* pretty. I love coming back to Lucky Harbor. It's one of those series that's just fun and light and comforting. And the same held true for It Had To Be You. Shalvis knows how to create a heart filled romance that'll make you smile and has you falling in love right along with her characters.

I really enjoyed Ali and Luke. They have great chemistry and have one of those crazy funny first meets that just make you snicker a bit. There are some grrrs and arrgs, some laugh out loud moments and some sigh worthy sexy bits along the way as they try to save Ali's hide after she kinda sorta frames herself and has the town thinking she's a thief.

Thursday, May 16, 2013

Tempting Cameron (Lone Pine Lake #2) by Karen Erickson

The girl next door never looked so good...

For Cameron McKenzie, Chloe Dawson has always just been his younger sister Jane’s best friend—a pesky annoyance who followed him around and acted like he hung the moon. It isn’t until Jane’s wedding to her firefighter beau Chris that Chloe reappears in his life…and she isn’t pesky or annoying anymore. In fact, the beautiful Chloe tempts him beyond reason. But Cam knows he’s damaged goods—not nearly good enough for Lone Pine Lake’s resident good girl.

Chloe’s always dreamed of a future with the dark, brooding Cam, and after they share an explosive kiss, she wonders if her dream could be coming true. Cam’s never stuck around his hometown for long, though, so she makes him an offer: one sweet summer romance with no strings attached. This good girl’s ready for an adventure…one that just might end up lasting a lifetime

Type: Contemporary Romance
Heat: 3 out of 5 (though not super detailed)
Rating: 4 out of 5

I absolutely love it when an author can take a hero that's a total prick at the beginning of a story and by the end have me completely smitten. Tempting Cameron was such a fun read. It's sweet, funny and even has a little sexy going on as Chloe challenges the man who's always made her swoon, but totally ignored her, to bringing her fantasy of having a "sweet" summer romance with him to life.

Whew boy. These two. I loved them. They were a really sweet couple and had fantastic chemistry even if I was, maybe, rooting for her to run his sorry rear over a time or two when they first met up again at his sister's wedding. lol The sparks between these two fly and it was damn entertaining to watch.
"Sorry," he muttered, feeling like a jackass.

She squinted. "Sorry?"

Now he felt even more like a jackass. "I shouldn't have done that."

"Done what? Kiss me?" She withdrew from him completely, his hands falling away from her. "If you say next it was a mistake, I'm going to kick you in the nuts."

He wanted to laugh. He was also seized by a not too irrational fear of her pointed shoes.

Cat Thurday...the fog creeping in...


Welcome to the weekly meme hosted by The True Book Addict that celebrates the wonders and sometime hilarity of cats!

Join us by posting a favorite LOL cat pic you may have come across, famous cat art or even share with us pics of your own beloved cat(s). It's all for the love of cats! Enjoy!

Snort. Yes. This is the herd. No question.

Do yall's herds do this?


***We're taking kitteh submissions!!***

Each month we're going to have a theme day for our last Cat Thursday of the month.
 This month is black cats! 
So send in those favorite pictures of your black kitties!

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