Sunday, May 31, 2015

The Monthly Herd--May 2015--a near loss, blogging ahead and reading hell...


Whew. Boy! May was a doozey. Both on the home front and the blog front. 

I've gone through a horrible reading spell the last 2-ish weeks. I read more DNF, 1 star and 2 star books than I do normally in 8-10 months. It's been so frustrating and had me near tears because I WANT to read but had just shit luck in picking out review books recently. It didn't seem to matter though what I did. Changing genres, reading favorite or new to me authors, just for fun books or review books. And it was all stuff that would normally piss me off (cheating, hate towards romance readers, cliffhangers, etc) so not just my mood. Just very bad luck picking books. I'm thinking I've finally broken out of it but it made May reading an absolute bitch.

Everything else on the blog went fine though. Busy as normal. Hosted Blog Ahead and a big hop event I was nervous about but think did well. 

Friday, May 29, 2015

The Unlikely Lady (Playful Brides #3) by Valerie Bowman



The Unlikely Lady was my first read from Bowman and oh I had so much fun as as Jane and Garrett--who drive each other a spot crazy--are forced to endure each other's presence at a friend's wedding party. A little mistaken identity at a masquerade ball. a bit of meddling by those pesky friends and witty banter land the two in quite the different sort of engagement than they're used to and it was just a delightful ride to go along on as both their worlds were tilted on their sides. 

So today's review is a little different. It's all about...the heroine! I usually have so much trouble with heroines but Jane...I adored her. And here's why...


10. She's courting scandal...just a little bit. Jane just wants to be left alone to her own pursuits and not have to worry about marriage and matchmaking. And her friends are the ones to help her come up with a little scheme to make that happen. I loved her and her friends. They're a little bit mischievous and would so give a mama grey hairs but they were fun, loved each other for exactly who they were and ready to do whatever was needed to help each other get the lives they wanted.

Thursday, May 28, 2015

Rock the Blog-- My Top 13 Tips for Bloggers

Rock the Blog is a "How To" for bloggers!

From graphics to html and all kinds of bloggery goodness!

Since I'm based on Blogger most posts will revolve around the Blogger platform though some ideas may apply to Wordpress as well.

Rock the Blog is a little different today. I've seen a handful of posts and comments lately that got me thinking about the bits and pieces I feel are important in blogging. Things that make it easier, help give a blog presence, make it stand out and that keep it going year after year. 

So I picked out my top 13 tips or things I do that have kept me going the past 3 1/2 years. That have kept me loving blogging with a passion. So, today, I thought I'd share some of my <tries to keep a straight face and not snort> blogging wisdom. lol So here goes...

Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Need Me (Broke and Beautiful #2) by Tessa Bailey

Well now. That was an interesting romance. Older hero, younger heroine (by a nice sized clip)...a teacher and his student...big city guy and a girl from Kentucky. Need Me was a little edgy but oh it worked. It so worked.

The quick of it is that Honey...she's crushing hard on her English professor. And she's ready to start her seduction of this tweed and glasses rocking man. An accidental encounter locked in a cabinet, finding out they're friends know each other and, well, attraction through the roof despite the taboo-ness of it all and sparks...they are a flying.

Tuesday, May 26, 2015

Playing Dirty (Monkey Business Trio #1) by C.L. Parker

Playing Dirty was one of those books that had potential. Enemies to lovers. A competitive battle where everything was on the line. But it fell flat in nearly every aspect and layer of the story. From unlikable characters with no growth, to a stagnant storyline, unsafe sex and a cliffhanger at the end it boiled down to being a 300+ page hate-fuck between Shaw and Cassidy as they compete against each other for a partnership in their company. Scheming, playing dirty, fucking each other when they got angry enough then cleaning up and repeating over and over again. With no emotional elements or anything romantic to lend it's hand to the storyline I was extremely disappointed especially considering all of the glowing 4 and 5 reviews.

Monday, May 25, 2015

Quote-tastic/Review--Pffft I'm just lazy--Under the Lights by Shannon Stacey


Join us every Monday and share a favorite quote that's grabbed ya for one reason or another. 

Everyone's welcome to join in. Authors, bloggers, readers. The more the merrier! Just grab the button and toss up your post :) 

No blog? No worries, just leave your favorites in the comment section.
So. I adore Stacey. Years ago I fell for her Kowalski series. Had a little falling out with a few of them but was pretty stoked to see a new series and give it a go and it was a good time :) I loved this quote. Totally made me snort because it's so something I would say. lol

Sunday, May 24, 2015

Books. Books! *squeals with delight* ---New Releases (May 26) & Book Deals!


All kinds of goodies today! Just click on the category on the left side of the widget and it'll bring up new releases, sales and freebies to scroll through. Once you've clicked on a book to check it out you can hit the back button to return to the original page.

Everything links over to Amazon. If you do pick one up it helps the Herd! Yay! We earn a small commission (about 7%) for any purchase made through us. It doesn't cost you anything extra and helps keep the blog running (so thank you!). It's greatly appreciated!

Let me know if you grab anything! It helps me for picking future 99cent and freebie deals! ~Anna

In My Cart Review: a little bit of everything...


So! A little different post today. A bit back Mary from over at Dark Thoughts got me curious about a couple product review programs she takes part in and I thought...sure! Sign me up! So I joined Influenster and BzzAgent and a couple other spots to get different products to try out and share my thoughts on. I figured I'd do some "group" posts on here once a month or so for different products.

Today a few from the #ModaVoxBox. I actually got this a long while back and reviewed it on another blog but figured I'd post them here too :)

It came will all kinds of goodies from lotion to water to makeup and tissues.

And I liked most of them too!

Check out the bits and pieces below for a little more on each :D

Friday, May 22, 2015

Chase Me (Broke and Beautiful #1) by Tessa Bailey


College drop-out, Roxy Cumberland, moved to New York with dreams of becoming an actress, but her dwindling bank account is quickly putting the kibosh on that fantasy. To make some quick cash, she signs up to perform singing telegrams. Her first customer is a gorgeous, cocky Manhattan trust-funder if she ever laid eyes on one. And what could be more humiliating than singing an ode to his junk, courtesy of his last one night stand? Maybe the fact that she’s dressed in a giant, pink bunny costume...

After a night out to celebrate winning his last case, lawyer Louis McNally II isn’t prepared for the pounding in his head or the rabbit serenading him from the front door. But the sassy wit and sexy voice of the girl behind the mask intrigues him, and one look at her stunning face—followed by a mind-blowing kiss against his doorjamb—leaves Louis wanting more.

Roxy doesn’t need a spoiled rich boy who’s had everything in life handed to him on a Tiffany platter. But there’s more to Louis than his sexy surface and he’s determined to make Roxy see it...even if it means chasing her all over NYC.

Amazon | All Romance | Book Depository | BAM | Goodreads
I just want to <tackle hug> Tessa Bailey. Chase Me was oh so fun, sexy, touching and everything that is amazing about Bailey and her stories. It's been a bit since I've read one of hers and I swear I just wanted to roll around swoon a little in it all. lol
"Please, oh keeper of the golden penis, let me worship at your flawless phallus."
The quick of it is that Roxy has hit rock bottom and is doing whatever she has to to survive including delivering singing telegrams and belting out an ode to Louis and his mighty fine cock ---thanks to his hook up from the night before. It's...quite the first meet. Whew boy! And oh she catches the playboy's eye something fierce. So now not only does she have to find a job...and a place to live...and deal with new roommates who wanna be friends but she's got to keep her cool around one sexy cocky man with a dirty mouth and a thing for prickly females.

Thursday, May 21, 2015

Day Shift (Midnight, Texas #2) by Charlaine Harris


There is no such thing as bad publicity, except in Midnight, Texas, where the residents like to keep to themselves. Even in a town full of secretive people, Olivia Charity is an enigma. She lives with the vampire Lemuel, but no one knows what she does; they only know that she’s beautiful and dangerous.

Psychic Manfred Bernardo finds out just how dangerous when he goes on a working weekend to Dallas and sees Olivia there with a couple who are both found dead the next day. To make matters worse, one of Manfred’s regular—and very wealthy—clients dies during a reading.

Manfred returns from Dallas embroiled in scandal and hounded by the press. He turns to Olivia for help; somehow he knows that the mysterious Olivia can get things back to normal. As normal as things get in Midnight…

Type: Mystery/Paranormal
Heat: N/A
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Amazon | Book Depository | BAM | Goodreads
Oooos I'm loving me some Midnight, Texas and the crazy people who call it home. A little mystery, a huge wallop of paranormal-ness, curious new arrivals to the town and a squeal-able guest appearance from another series made for an entertaining time as Day Shift slowly uncovers the secrets of it's residents.

The quick of it...or, maybe not so quick of it since there was a LOT happening in Day Shift is that Manfred's client died during a reading and he's been accused by her son of stealing from her which has brought all kinds of attention to Midnight. Attention NONE of the residents are all that thrilled about since they all have secrets and people they're hiding from. On top of that a young boy has been left in the town's care who has some strange things happening to him and a corporation has restored the local hotel and moved in elderly residents--which brings about all kinds of questions and suspicions. There's just a lot happening in this little town that's got everyone feeling very nervous.

Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Hot Alphas Anthology by Lora Leigh, Laurelin McGee, Shiloh Walker, Kate Douglas


Type: Contemporary Romance w/ Light Suspense

AmazonAll Romance | Book Depository | BAM | Goodreads
*noms* I love a sexy alpha so I was all in when I saw Hot Alphas. Plus the fact that Leigh, Walker and Douglas are favorites? <looks around dreamily> Yes, please! Some good loving, a nice variety of set ups and a tiny bit of suspense made for some good reads for the most part.

I totally expected this to be a complete knock out. But it didn't quite make it there. Douglas and Walker came through with stellar reads that were fun and sexy--though Walker's was a previous release, Leigh brought the only real alpha in the bunch and great characters but McGee. Well. The McGee contribution left me truly livid and wicked pissed. It also brought down the rating to a 3 star and a suggestion that if you want to read this one try to get it via the library. For the price and how insulting I felt the McGee read was I'd have a hard time suggesting otherwise...

Interview w/ Carolyn Crane-- margaritas, kitties & grabby hands!


When her long lost twin sister is won in a card game by a brutal drug cartel, Association head Zelda Pierce knows what she has to do: Take her place. Save her. She’ll use the opportunity to infiltrate the shadowy group--and try not to think about the reason she left the spying game eight years ago. She’s slept with dangerous criminals before; she can do it again.

Hugo Martinez is one of South America’s most lethal and wanted men, a legendary mercenary living on a windswept mountain. Even at the height of the war he wasn’t in the habit of taking women captive, but the cartel’s American whore has seen his face. And he and the orphan boy need a cook. He shouldn’t get attached to this woman, but her presence and passion are becoming addictive.

Zelda finds herself falling for her captor…but is he the killer she’s been hunting all these years?

Amazon | All Romance | Goodreads

Mornin' Carolyn! Welcome to herding cats! I'm having a go at making sopaipillas and the Herd has been particularly devilish today so I decided to go theme and break out with the margaritas a bit early today. Figured we could drink and nosh while we chat Behind the Mask. How's everything going over in yall's world?
Hey, thank you so much for having me!!  I’m so happy to be at your lovely blog. *clinks glasses* Who doesn’t need a nice margarita while doing the hard work of herding cats? 
Amen to that! *takes a fortifying sip of frozen strawberry goodness while pointedly ignoring the herd* So. Behind the Mask sounds crazy intense. If you had 10 seconds to get someone good and curious what would you tell them?

Tuesday, May 19, 2015

Game Changer (Bomb Squad #3) by Melissa Cutler



Welcome to Destiny Falls, New York, home of Bomb Squad—an ice hockey team full of rugged military heroes. A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity has the team captain packing his bags for greener pastures, but saying good-bye to the woman who’d captured his heart is easier said than done…

After being wounded in combat, Brandon Theroux lives every day like it’s his last. He never could have imagined that the sleek mechanics of his prosthetic leg would open so many doors, including minor celebrity status as a fitness model and a well-earned reputation as a rakish playboy. The only door it hasn’t opened is the one to Harper Johnson’s bedroom.

Harper has too much self-respect to join the ranks of Brandon’s “carpe diem” conquests, but when she needs someone to keep the peace in the tavern she owns, Brandon offers his help—as long as she agrees to a very tempting trade. It isn’t long before the two realize that a deal struck between friends who can’t keep their hands off each other has the potential to be a whole lot hotter than either of them is prepared to handle…

Type: Contemporary Romance
Heat: 3 out of 5--though very limited
Rating: 4 out of 5

Amazon | All RomanceGoodreads
Game Changer. So, so, much more than I expected. And I was expecting an awesome sexy read to begin with so that's saying something. I really loved everything about this one as Brandon and Harper screw things up, patch them back together and figure out what the hell is really important in life.

So. Why this one rocked so much awesome...

  • I love the set up of this series. *noms* Military men who have overcome tremendous odds and injuries from war--they're all amputees of some sort or suffer PTSD--and formed a hockey team. So Military men. And a sports fix. And they're all sexy to boot. This one was a little light on the sports aspect since he was out of town for a large portion but there are some nice scenes.

Sunday, May 17, 2015

Quote-tastic-- Eeps! We've been memejacked by Shelley Munro!


Join us every Monday and share a favorite quote that's grabbed ya for one reason or another. 

Everyone's welcome to join in. Authors, bloggers, readers. The more the merrier! Just grab the button and toss up your post :) 

No blog? No worries, just leave your favorites in the comment section.

Greetings from New Zealand. My name is Shelley Munro, and I’d like to tell you a story before I get to my quotes from my latest release Alien Encounter: Janaya.

Way back in 2003, I was an unpublished writer. I had loads of ambition and determination, which was why I was sitting down on a Saturday morning and trying to work on a new story about aliens crash-landing in a small country town. Scotty, our beloved fox terrier dog, wanted to go for a walk—as in right now, immediately, Shelley. Take me now!

“Scotty,” I said. “Please let me write a little bit more. Then we’ll go for an extra-long walk. I promise.”

I wrote a few paragraphs.

“Woof,” said Scotty. “Woof. Woof.”

Books. Books! *squeals with delight* ---New Releases (May 19) & Book Deals!


All kinds of goodies today! Just click on the category on the left side of the widget and it'll bring up new releases, sales and freebies to scroll through. Once you've clicked on a book to check it out you can hit the back button to return to the original page.

Everything links over to Amazon. If you do pick one up it helps the Herd! Yay! We earn a small commission (about 7%) for any purchase made through us. It doesn't cost you anything extra and helps keep the blog running (so thank you!). It's greatly appreciated!

Let me know if you grab anything! It helps me for picking future 99cent and freebie deals! ~Anna

Tasty Delights--Spaghetti with Cabbage & Breadcrumbs


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

I'll share my delights and my disasters. Yall feel free to join in and create your own posts, share your favorite recipes, what have you. If you have a recipe suggestion just let me know!


I've been on a cooking spree lately and wanting to try dishes I've never made before. You know. Instead of making the same old...same old. So I whipped out my stack of recipes I've snagged from magazines and such over the years.

This one popped out at me and omg. It might not look like much but it's absolutely delicious!

Friday, May 15, 2015

Word from the Herd: Done. I am DONE!!! This book & Me?...OVER!


So this one was kind of a toss up between being a Word from the Herd or a Randomly Random but it landed here since I'm feeling more ranty than cheeky. One of my review books today had me feeling a bit...peeved. Actually a few books lately have. I've not had a good reading week and it got me wondering....

What makes you quit a book?

Not just things you'd rather not read but things that have you going...

'oh hell no! I quit this fucking bitch! Next!' type things.

Bites & Nibbles--Some Quickie Reviews--Yield to Me by Sarah Castille, Chasing Danger by Katie Reus, Scandalously Yours by Cara Elliott


Amateur MMA fighter, Marcy Foster is determined to win the state championship. But dark secrets and a broken trust mean there's one submission she just can’t master. Fortunately Club Excelsior has hired a coach who knows all the right moves.

Sexy, confident and commanding, fight consultant Jax demands control, both in and out of the ring. But once he has Marcy against the ropes, Jax knows he’s in too deep. He has the dominance to give her what she needs, but once he unleashes her hidden passions, there's no going back.

Under Jax's skilled hands, Marcy submits to her deepest desires. But when her personal and professional worlds collide, she is forced to face a brutal truth — yielding to her darkest needs may be the one thing that costs her the fight...and her heart..

Type: Contemporary, Novella     Heat: 3 out of 5      Rating: 2 out of 5
Yield to Me (Club Excelsior #1)
Amazon | All Romance | Book Depository | Goodreads

SIGN UP-- Favorite Heroines Blog Hop (June 17-24)


June 17th-24th we're sharing our favorite kickass heroines! Come meet these awesome ladies and find out why they're the best of the best. Be sure to stop by each blog. There's a giveaway at every stop!

Thursday, May 14, 2015

The Scoundrel and the Debutante (The Cabot Sisters #3) by Julia London



The dust of the Cabot sisters' shocking plans to rescue their family from certain ruin may have settled, but Prudence Cabot is left standing in the rubble of scandal. Now regarded as an unsuitable bride, she's tainted among the ton. Yet this unwilling wallflower is ripe for her own adventure. And when an irresistibly sexy American stranger on a desperate mission enlists her help, she simply can't deny the temptation.

The fate of Roan Matheson's family depends on how quickly he can find his runaway sister and persuade her to return to her betrothed. Scouring the rustic English countryside with the sensually wicked Prudence at his side—and in his bed—he's out of his element. But once Roan has a taste of the sizzling passion that can lead to forever, he must choose between his heart's obligations and its forbidden desires.

Type: Historical
Heat: 3 out of 5
Rating: 4 out of 5

Amazon | All Romance | Book Depository | BAM | Goodreads
An out-of-his-element American who's burly, grumbly. searching England--unsuccessfully-- for his runaway sister, and has oh so wide shoulders. Really. It's just the thing to make a sensible young woman lose her head, throw her travel plans out the window and follow said wide shouldered burly American unbeknownst to her family. See. She's on the way to visit a friend and while waiting for her chaperon at the trading post she spots this man who's a fish out of water, having trouble with his accent and getting where he needs to be and chickie just can't resist helping him get where he's going.  Oooos! Yeah. She's a bit naughty for sure.

Wednesday, May 13, 2015

Interview w/ Deeanne Gist--the Tiffany Girls, dyslexia and a TON of tomatoes


As preparations for the 1893 World’s Fair set Chicago and the nation on fire, Louis Tiffany—heir to the exclusive Fifth Avenue jewelry empire—seizes the opportunity to unveil his state-of-the-art, stained glass, mosaic chapel, the likes of which the world has never seen.

But when Louis’s dream is threatened by a glassworkers’ strike months before the Fair opens, he turns to an unforeseen source for help: the female students at the New York Art Institute. Eager for adventure, the young women pick up their skirts, move to boarding houses, take up steel cutters, and assume new identities as the “Tiffany Girls.”

Tiffany Girls is the heartwarming story of the impetuous Flossie Jayne, a beautiful, budding artist who is handpicked by Louis to help complete the Tiffany chapel. Though excited to live in a boarding house when most women stayed home, she quickly finds the world is less welcoming than anticipated. From a Casanova male, to an unconventional married couple, and a condescending singing master, she takes on a colorful cast of characters to transform the boarding house into a home while racing to complete the Tiffany chapel and make a name for herself in the art world.

As challenges mount, her ambitions become threatened from an unexpected quarter: her own heart. Who will claim victory? Her dreams or the captivating boarder next door?

Amazon | Book Depository | BAM | Goodreads


Good morning Deeanne! So excited to have you joining the Herd today to chat about Tiffany Girl. I set up tea and cookies on the patio so come on back. *pours a spot of tea* Alright, now,if you had 10 seconds to hook someone what would you tell them about Flossie and her journey?
Flossie was a New Woman in the 1890s—meaning she moved away from her family’s home and got a job before she was married. (That was totally taboo during her time). She’s an only child who was told her whole life that she was above average, and she gets a rude awakening when she strikes out into the real world and realizes that she’s not quite as “special” as she thought.
I just adored her. Can you tell us 3 interesting/unique/fun/etc behind-the-scenes facts about Tiffany Girl? Think Pop-Up Video style.

  • The Tiffany Girls had an exhibit at the Women’s Building at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair 

Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Kilts and Daggers (Highland Spies #2) by Victoria Roberts


Ever since Lady Grace Walsingham discovered her uncle and sister are spies for the Crown, she has yearned for adventure. She's counting the days until she can leave barbaric Scotland behind, even if she must endure Highland captain Fagan Murray's company for weeks.

Fagan has a simple mission: escort the haughty Lady Grace back to England. But nothing is ever easy. The sharp-tongued woman needles him at every turn. But when a menacing threat follows them on their journey, Fagan's grudging tolerance for Grace turns to respect...and into a perilous attraction that could seal their fate.

Type: Historical Romance
Heat: 2.5 out of 5
Rating: 4 out of 5

Amazon | All Romance | Book Depository | BAM | Goodreads
Men. In. Kilts. Really this is kinda like sweaty Marines rolling around in the grass. I'm all on board with a little look-see at that. Plus the gorgeous cover? Is an actual review really needed?? heh

Okay so a burly Scottish captain of the guard who isn't so fond of English lasses. An English lass who would rather be ANYWHERE than surrounded by brutish kilt wearing Highlanders. And the cursed luck that her sister married his laird. Bwahaha oh the scuffle these two are in as they poke and prod and drive each other absolutely batty just by breathing. And of course being all hot and tempting.

Monday, May 11, 2015

Quote-tatic/Review--I do not snot!!--A Midsummer Night's Romp by Katie MacAlister


Join us every Monday and share a favorite quote that's grabbed ya for one reason or another. 

Everyone's welcome to join in. Authors, bloggers, readers. The more the merrier! Just grab the button and toss up your post :) 

No blog? No worries, just leave your favorites in the comment section.
Ahhh how I love Katie MacAlister and her zany humor. I had a great time with this one and chuckled-snorted though a lot of it. These are a couple of my faves...
Lorina waited until he was settled on the scooter before asking. "Are you really interested in the mouse stones, or are you setting me up solely in order to be snotty to me?"

He stopped the scooter and stared at her. "Snotty! I am not snotty. I have never been snotty. I don't even know how to be snotty. Snarky, yes--snarky, I know--but snotty?" He gave a loud sniff. "I do not snot."

Sunday, May 10, 2015

Books. Books! *squeals with delight* ---New Releases (May 12) & Book Deals!


All kinds of goodies today! Just click on the category on the left side of the widget and it'll bring up new releases, sales and freebies to scroll through. Once you've clicked on a book to check it out you can hit the back button to return to the original page.

Everything links over to Amazon. If you do pick one up it helps the Herd! Yay! We earn a small commission (about 7%) for any purchase made through us. It doesn't cost you anything extra and helps keep the blog running (so thank you!). It's greatly appreciated!

Let me know if you grab anything! It helps me for picking future 99cent and freebie deals! ~Anna

Tag: The Cat Herder [Edition 7]

I get tagged, tweeted, private messaged all the time with variations of... "omg this so reminded me of you! (or) that book you're reading!" which...okay...at this point...kinda makes me nervous. I just never know WHAT it's going to be. lol

And I thought it might be fun to start putting those random and wonderfully weird things people think just scream...me. This feature won't always be, erm, family friendly. Heh. Big <tackle hugs> to everyone who tags me. Yall really make my days so fun :)

  

Saturday, May 9, 2015

Word from the Herd--Affiliate Links...the Good and the Ugly


Ahhh affiliate links. Something everyone--especially bloggers--should keep up with. They can be a huge help in paying for blog expenses and giveaways but they can also be used in a pretty underhanded way as well. They're fantastic when used right--on your own personal blog/pages, disclosed and in a straight forward way. But they can also be used in a rather slimy way that's actually against most TOS and can get bloggers, authors and tour companies in trouble. Which is where my problem comes in and the reason behind this post. 

Thursday, May 7, 2015

Cover Reveal & Guest Post w/ VK Sykes---oh mygosh. she loves our favorite show!!

Hey guys! Today we've got Vanessa (part of the VK Sykes duo) joining us for a little share about her and her writing partner. Plus we've got a cover reveal for their 3rd book in the series. So...have a visit with Vanessa and be sure to leave her a little comment love! She's an awesome one :) ~Anna
YOU CAN’T STOP A RISING TIDE

When Lily Doyle spots her high school crush Aiden Flynn on the inbound ferry, she knows trouble is about to dock in Seashell Bay. And not just because he’s more handsome than ever. If Aiden’s in town, the rumors must be true about his family’s plan to sell their coastal land to the highest bidder. But Lily will do whatever it takes to convince the hottest guy on the beach to protect their idyllic island home.

Gorgeous Lily Doyle was the only thing Aiden missed after he escaped from his hometown to play pro baseball. Now all Aiden wants is to wrap up the business deal and get back to his life, not relive a past that still haunts him. But as memories rush in about the night of passion he and Lily shared long ago, everything else washes right out to sea-everything except the desire that still burns between them.

Book One: Amazon | All Romance | Book Depository | BAM | Goodreads

Thanks so much for hosting us today at Herding Cats & Burning Soup, Anna. Now that the cat is out of the bag (okay, that was really bad), we thought readers might like to know a few fun facts about VK Sykes.

Here we go!

Spotlight: Naming His Mate by M. Limoges + giveaway!

Welcome to the Naming His Mate Tour!!

Naming His Mate is the 3rd release from M. Limoges. We totally <3 Melissa. She's an awesome one and loves food like we do and pretty books. Anywho. Her newest is a  M/M Paranormal novella ~65 pages and part of the multi-author published series Black Hills Wolves. I read her first one and had a fab time with it.

Check out the spotlight below and be sure to enter the giveaway!

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

Busted (Barnes Brothers #3) by Shiloh Walker


Like his brothers Zach and Zane, Trey Barnes thought he had found the love of his life. But fate had other plans. A widower who’s had to raise his five-year-old son on his own, Trey has not allowed himself to be with another woman. Until he meets Ressa Bliss at—of all places—a children’s library program. The beautiful librarian is wonderful with his son, Clay, but every time Trey even considers asking her out, he is tortured by guilt.

Fate is indeed fickle. When the two meet again at a conference, this time the attraction is too powerful to resist. But is their connection and passion strong enough to survive Trey’s deep inner torment?

Type: Contemporary Romance
Heat: 3 out of 5
Rating: 4 out of 5

Amazon | Book Depository | BAM | Goodreads
Omg Busted was like a book lovers wet dream! I loved it! He's a writer, she's a librarian, there's a book themed restaurant which is like the best. first. date. ever, --and yes, as I type this I'm totally ticking them on my fingers lol--a book conference, fan girling, bookish references to some of my favorite romance authors...I just. So much yay! Seriously. So. Much. Yay! Plus he's hella hot, a single daddy (I'm a sucker for those) and the heroine is a pretty awesome woman as well and rocks some killer tats and style. *whispers one more yay*

Okay so the quick of it is that Trey's wife died years ago and he's been raising his son by himself and not really living his life. Until he spots Ressa. His son's librarian. And suddenly he's feeling...something again. Attraction, desire, you name it. But also guilt and insecurity. And Ressa's got a bit of all that happening too. Though something keeps pulling them together despite their best efforts and, well, heart mending things happen and it's wonderful. Darker and more serious than expected but also had light, sexy and funny happening.

Interview w/ Lia Davis--food, randy shifters & "missing" phones


Tao Pack Tracker, Alanna Kemp possesses the rare gift of mind control. She allows nothing to stand in her way of keeping the existence of shifters a secret from humans—until she meets a sexy human doctor who stirs emotions long buried and puts her Wolf on a lethal edge.

Bastian Storm wants to start a new life in a new place where no one knows about his failures as a doctor. But when his past catches up to him, threatening the life of an innocent, he must place his trust in the hands of a woman with a deadly secret in order to save more lives than his own.

Amazon | All Romance | Goodreads

Mornin' Lia! Welcome to herding cats! Figured if we're up this early to chat...breakfast needed to be had. So muffins and omelettes and all the fixings are ready to go while we have a little Tempting the Wolf gossip. *noms* So how goes it in your world?
Hi! My world is busy and wonderful!
Good to hear! *hands over some blueberry muffins* Now, if you could only tweet a tweet to get someone rushing off to snag Tempting the Wolf what would you say?
That woman was like a drug—beautiful, addictive, and dangerous to his heart. #BlackHillsWolves #TemptingTheWolf http://amzn.to/1KNGMHQ

Tuesday, May 5, 2015

**Pick of the Litter** Tiffany Girl by Deeanne Gist


As preparations for the 1893 World’s Fair set Chicago and the nation on fire, Louis Tiffany—heir to the exclusive Fifth Avenue jewelry empire—seizes the opportunity to unveil his state-of-the-art, stained glass, mosaic chapel, the likes of which the world has never seen.

But when Louis’s dream is threatened by a glassworkers’ strike months before the Fair opens, he turns to an unforeseen source for help: the female students at the New York Art Institute. Eager for adventure, the young women pick up their skirts, move to boarding houses, take up steel cutters, and assume new identities as the “Tiffany Girls.”

Tiffany Girls is the heartwarming story of the impetuous Flossie Jayne, a beautiful, budding artist who is handpicked by Louis to help complete the Tiffany chapel. Though excited to live in a boarding house when most women stayed home, she quickly finds the world is less welcoming than anticipated. From a Casanova male, to an unconventional married couple, and a condescending singing master, she takes on a colorful cast of characters to transform the boarding house into a home while racing to complete the Tiffany chapel and make a name for herself in the art world.

As challenges mount, her ambitions become threatened from an unexpected quarter: her own heart. Who will claim victory? Her dreams or the captivating boarder next door?

Type: Historical Fiction
Heat: N/A
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars **Pick of the Litter**

Amazon | All Romance | Book Depository | BAM | Goodreads
Breathtakingly beautiful. It's not often that a novel leaves me stunned. Where I find myself closing the book and looking around the room with tears in my eyes wondering what in the world I'm going to do with myself next because I've just read something so overwhelmingly moving I'm simply stunned trying to process all of the emotions it's ripped out of me. Tiffany Girl..joined the ranks of the elite few that left me completely spent and raised the bar to near impossible heights for any future reads. Even weeks later as I'm sitting here editing this post one last time it has me fighting back tears just thinking about Flossie and everything she went through.

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