Two of Hearts by Christina Lee

Dakota Nakos was always the resilient, strong-willed achiever. But when her father dies and she’s entrusted with the family’s casino, she feels vulnerable, scared, and more than a little emotional —not exactly the best time to see an old lover she’s never really gotten over.

Dakota once meant the world to Shane Garrity. Then suddenly he left town to train as a U.S. Marshal, and their love for each other crashed into a memory. Now he’s come home for her father’s funeral, and one look at the girl he left behind stirs up both memories and regrets, and reignites a fire he feared he’d lost forever.

Dakota may be the same driven girl she always was, but she’s also changed in ways neither could have anticipated. She’s not just a young woman searching for own identity in the Native American community in which she was raised, but one questioning her new life outside her father’s shadow. Above all she wonders if Shane can push past her weakened defenses to rekindle what they once had, or whether the intense blaze between them will ultimately reduce her heart to ashes.

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

Amazon | All Romance | Book Depository | BAM | Goodreads

Christina Lee is one of my absolute favorite authors and I was pretty damn stoked to see she was going to write an adult contemporary--usually she's NA. And Two of Hearts, while I still found myself slipping into the New Adult mindset now and again, was a luscious second chance  romance with a sexy hero, a damn strong heroine, a little suspense and some verra hot lovin' as a heartbreaking loss brings Shane back into Dakota's life years after their paths went separate ways.

Blog Ahead Mini is a Go!!! My goals!

Woots!! Aaaaannnd it's time for Blog Ahead! The mini version!

The goal is to get ahead and create a buffer of schedule posts.

Two weeks...14 extra scheduled posts.

Full Deets HERE

Reading Challenge Link Ups--New to You, Erotic Romance, Historical Romance

Woots! And so...we begin!

Herding Cats is hosting 3 reading Challenges this year!

For those participating you'll find the link ups for your reviews below.

Just click the link for whichever challenge you're participating in and add your reviews to the linky in that post. Those wanting to join in? You're welcome any time!

So! Who is doing what?! Any books you plan on trying out?

Have you done a reading challenge before?

#AtoZChallenge--Tasty Delights--Baked Zucchini Crisps

It's the A to Z Challenge!

We're blogging the alphabet along with 1000s of other bloggers.

There's a specific letter for each day and then you pick your own theme.

Our Theme: herder of cats, burner of soup
Basically...a day in the life of and all the things I love

One of my favorite things to do when I need to relax is cook. Or bake. I love trying new recipes out or doing some little twist to an old favorite. I saw this cookbook over on Blogging for Books and wanted to try it right away. Just had to try the baked zucchini crisps too :)

Type: Cookbook            Difficulty: Easy           Rating: 3-3.5 out of 5

Amazon | Goodreads

Southern Girl. Southern recipes. Comfort foods. Um. Yes, please! Lighten Up, Y'all was a very nice cookbook that had me ready to bust out my pots and pans and whip up a few of the dishes. Everything was simple and familiar comforting while having little twists to make the dishes a little lighter and healthier.

#AtoZChallenge--Yes, please! I'll take Two!

It's the A to Z Challenge!

We're blogging the alphabet along with 1000s of other bloggers.

There's a specific letter for each day and then you pick your own theme.

Our Theme: herder of cats, burner of soup
Basically...a day in the life of and all the things I love.

 

I love odd/unique/different items. My house is kinda full of them (cue post H)

and I'm always seeing new things I just gotta have. Thought I'd share some of those today:)

#AtoZChallenge--Xanthippe

It's the A to Z Challenge!

We're blogging the alphabet along with 1000s of other bloggers.

There's a specific letter for each day and then you pick your own theme.

Our Theme: herder of cats, burner of soup
Basically...a day in the life of and all the things I love

Definition of XANTHIPPE
:  an ill-tempered woman

I don't know. Is that polite for bitch?

heh. it will be for today.

I...can be a bitch.

I'm actually pretty good with that.
People piss me off...I'm gonna get a little bitchy.
Maybe a whole lot bitchy.

Which leads to "ranty" Anna.
And I kinda have fun being ranty Anna.

PS. I want these tea cups. *nods*

Books. Books! *squeals with delight*--- New Releases (4/28), Sales & Freebies!

All kinds of goodies today! Just click on the category on the left side and it'll bring up new releases, sales and freebies to scroll through. To navigate the widget! On the left side are three categories

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!)

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

Quote-tastic/Review--Damnable women & neckcloths!!--Too Dangerous for a Lady by Jo Beverley

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.

Sooo I'm late posting Quote-tastic by like...12 hours. Oops! A nap happened and that nap ended up lasting like 10 hours. Heh. So anywho. Today's book is Too Dangerous for a Lady. It was my first by Beverly and it's like book 16 in a series but worked. It was a fun one and I just loved these little moments. There's a bit of a spy/danger thing happening he's pulled her into, fyi.

#AtoZChallenge--Victory & Words I *really* effing HATE

It's the A to Z Challenge! We're blogging the alphabet along with 1000s of other bloggers.

There's a specific letter for each day and then you pick your own theme.

Our Theme: herder of cats, burner of soup
Basically...a day in the life of and all the things I love

Victory is nigh!!!

Gah. Yall I'm tired. It's been a LONG April. 

But almost to May!

And now...words I really really hate!

#AtoZChallenge--the USO

It's the A to Z Challenge!

We're blogging the alphabet along with 1000s of other bloggers.

There's a specific letter for each day and then you pick your own theme.

Our Theme: herder of cats, burner of soup
Basically...a day in the life of and all the things I love

Aaaaand today brings the letter U. And the USO.

I get asked often what I do at the USO.
So I thought I'd tell yall about some of the things today :)

While our USO does all kinds of things throughout the state I volunteer at our RDU center which is located at our international airport.

Books. Books! New Releases (4/21) & Deals!

LOL I'm WAY late with this week's book deals post. But if you're still looking or New Releases from this week and a few sales...

All kinds of goodies today! Just click on the category on the left side and it'll bring up new releases, sales and freebies to scroll through. To navigate the widget! On the left side are three categories

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!)

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

#AtoZChallenge--Throwback Tracks (oh Sweet Mary...me in High School)

It's the A to Z Challenge!

We're blogging the alphabet along with 1000s of other bloggers.

There's a specific letter for each day and then you pick your own theme.

Our Theme: herder of cats, burner of soup
Basically...a day in the life of and all the things I love

Sooo...me in high school. Yeah. Not even gonna lie. I kinda miss some of these guys....

Support The Troops Auction! (donation sign up!)

It's the A to Z Challenge!

We're blogging the alphabet along with 1000s of other bloggers.

There's a specific letter for each day and then you pick your own theme.

Our Theme: herder of cats, burner of soup
Basically...a day in the life of and all the things I love

Woots! It's time for our Annual Support the Troops Auction!

Authors, Bloggers, Publishers, Readers....we're asking for your help!

Nice Girls Don't Ride by Roni Loren

Natalie Bourne thinks she has the perfect night planned for her twenty-first birthday. But when her car breaks down and her boyfriend bails on her, she’s left stranded in an auto shop dealing with a way too cocky, way too hot mechanic, who seems to be intent on pushing every button she has.

Monroe Hawkins knows he shouldn’t be messing with a girl from the uppity private college. Especially when he can tell she sees him as the help. But he’s having trouble resisting the redhead with the smart mouth and the killer legs. So when Natalie’s night goes from bad to worse, there’s no way he’s letting her spend her birthday alone. He makes her a deal—he’ll take her home but not until the sun comes up.

Ten hours, one motorcycle, and the city of Austin at their fingertips…things are about to take a major detour. And soon, there may be no U-turn in sight.

Type: Contemporary, New Adult,Novella
Heat: 3 out of 5
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Amazon | All Romance | Goodreads

Did you hear the *squeals of delight*??! Tuesday came in all dreary and rainy and blah at Casa Herding Kitty. And I was bumming on that and trying to figure out what to do with myself so I busted open Nice Girls Don't Ride and holy freaking awesome novella! It totally put a smile on my face and turned Tuesday into a damn good day. So. Today. 10 reasons why Nice Girls Don't Ride was so fucking awesome and why you need this novella in your life *grins*

Oh oh. First! The quick of it is that Natalie's having a bitch of a day. Her car's broken down and her boyfriend won't answer his phone to come get her. On her birthday no less. And now she's dealing with a knight in tattooed armor aka...the random drive by tow truck guy..who's shaking her day up even more as he rescues her. Alright. Now on to the 10 reasons...

10. It's Roni Loren. At this point...she can do no wrong and is an auto-buy for me. She's an amazing storyteller and 'd totally do naughty things to get my hands on her books :D No matter what the genre or type of relationship she tackles...she just rocks it something fierce and creates a stellar romance that charms, delights and will heat you up too. <can you tell I'm smitten? lol>

#AtoZChallenge--28 Awesome Reading Nooks (and a little more)!

It's the A to Z Challenge!

We're blogging the alphabet along with 1000s of other bloggers.

There's a specific letter for each day and then you pick your own theme.

Our Theme: herder of cats, burner of soup
Basically...a day in the life of and all the things I love

  

(1 and 2)

Reading is obviously a huge part of my life. There aren't many days that I'm not reading or writing about reading or hanging out with reader friends either in real life or e-life.

So reading nooks/rooms are totally my weakness and lust-worthy for me.

Thought today I'd share 28 of my favorites!

Interview w/ PA DePaul & Julie Ann Walker-- There's man candy, wacky socks, lots of food & sexeh reads!

You're here! <runs and tackle hugs PA>  It's so good to see you! Um. Sorry about that. *pulls PA up off the ground and looks sheepishly about* Hey Julie! Welcome to the Herd! Come on in ladies. I made some cookies. <looks over at the table of cookies> Okay. I made lots of cookies. Lent's over and I can have sweets again and it just kinda happened. Heh. So grab your cookie poison and lets nosh and chat books.

*PA straightens shirt and grins* It’s awesome to see you too Anna!!! <surveys the cookies, thinks about being polite, then scraps the notion> *piles plate high with an assortment of sweets*

#AtoZChallenge--Quote-tastic--You're...you're...a...what?!!--Garden of Lies by Amanda Quick

It's the A to Z Challenge!

We're blogging the alphabet along with 1000s of other bloggers.

There's a specific letter for each day and then you pick your own theme.

Our Theme: herder of cats, burner of soup
Basically...a day in the life of and all the things I love

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.

Yay for Quote-tastic. My Q post which also went with Quick. For yall new around here. I'm a total junkie when it comes to quotes. I just love them and host Quote-tastic every Monday :)

Amanda Quick is one of my favorites and I had a nice time with Garden of Lies. The hero and heroine were both great. I totally related to the hero in this first quote. heh

#AtoZChallenge--Pet Peeves. Yeah. The things that Piss. Me. Off.

It's the A to Z Challenge!

We're blogging the alphabet along with 1000s of other bloggers.

There's a specific letter for each day and then you pick your own theme.

Our Theme: herder of cats, burner of soup
Basically...a day in the life of and all the things I love

*smiles sweetly*

P just could have gone SO many ways.
I mean. Yall know I have an obsession with pierced peckers.
And Pinterest.
And Pussy...the feline variety of course!
<dirty girls I know what you were thinking. mmhm>

But I thought...pet peeves might be fun.
So my top 10 pet peeves in no particular order.

Guest Post w/ Elisabeth Staab--food...#ManCandy...best of both worlds!

I was a normal teenager who loved music and dancing, until the day I was attacked in my favorite record store. A few years later when my mom succumbed to depression and took her own life, I couldn’t stay in my hometown with all the memories and the curious stares. I decided to get in my car and just go – except my car decided it was done going outside a tiny place called Evergreen Grove. That’s where I found Jake. Or I guess Jake found me.

For the last eight years, all I can think about is the day I ended another man’s life. Then I manage to save Cassie’s, and I feel like maybe I’ve got some kind of second chance. To do what I couldn’t before, or maybe even for something bigger. Something like love. If only I could feel like I deserve her...



Amazon | All Romance | Goodreads

 

Hi, everyone, and many thanks to Anna for having me on the blog today. Since this is a blog that talks a lot about food and man candy, I tried to bring some of both.

Silver Bastard (Silver Valley #1) by Joanna Wylde

Fourteen months. For fourteen months, Puck Redhouse sat in a cell and kept his mouth shut, protecting the Silver Bastards MC from their enemies. Then he was free and it was time for his reward—full membership in the club, along with a party to celebrate. That’s when he saw Becca Jones for the first time and set everything in motion. Before the night ended he’d violated his parole and stolen her away from everything she knew.

Five years. It was five years ago that Puck destroyed Becca and saved her all in one night. She’s been terrified of him ever since, but she’s even more terrified of the monsters he still protects her from... But Becca refuses to let fear control her. She’s living her life and moving forward, until she gets a phone call from the past she can't ignore. She has to go back, and there’s only one man she can trust to go with her—the ex-con biker who rescued her once before.

Puck will help her again, but this time it’ll be on his terms. No more lies, no more tears, and no more holding back what he really wants...

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

Amazon | All Romance | Book Depository | BAM | Goodreads

Whew boy! What was I doing at 530am instead of sleeping? Reading Silver Bastard, of course. I just couldn't stop reading. Wylde did NOT hold back with the start of the Silver Valley series! It was an edgy exciting ride that had me pretty damn captivated as Puck and Becca deal with their shady first meet from years ago and the killer attraction they've tried their best to ignore ever since. Throw in some club drama, friendships and manipulative family members and...yeah...no sleep for Anna. lol

#AtoZChallenge--Obsession. Yeah. #HasIt

It's the A to Z Challenge!

We're blogging the alphabet along with 1000s of other bloggers.

There's a specific letter for each day and then you pick your own theme.

Our Theme: herder of cats, burner of soup
Basically...a day in the life of and all the things I love

Yeah. So I've got a bit of an obsessive personality it seems.

#Shame. I want to say I have it.

But I don't.

Not even a little.

The Wrong Billionaire's Bed (Billionaire Boys Club #3) by Jessica Clare

Audrey Petty's always been the responsible one. The good twin.  Successful, dependable, and trustworthy—that's Audrey. She'd be the perfect girlfriend for her childhood crush, billionaire Cade Archer...except that she's pretty sure she's not even on his radar. But when fate (and her chaotic twin) come together, Audrey finds out that she'll be spending the next month with Cade at his remote cabin retreat. It's a dream come true...

Until she meets her worst nightmare.

Billionaire playboy Reese Durham is used to seducing women to get what he wants. But when stiff, too-proper Audrey bursts into the private mountain lodge and scares his companion out the door, it's time for a little revenge. It's clear that Audrey's in love with his buddy, Cade... and it's clear to Reese that blackmailing Audrey with this information can get her to agree to just about anything. Like furtive kisses in the dark, or a secret rendezvous in the woods. Audrey may think she knows what she wants, but Reese is determined to show her what she needs.

And as Reese discovers the volatile minx behind the buttoned-up exterior, he starts to think maybe she's just what he needs, too.

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

Amazon | All Romance | Book Depository | BAM | Goodreads

Oh yes. The Wrong Billionaire's Bed...totally has me in a swoon! A little family drama, a fiery romance, delicious sex and captivating characters...yeah. It was a blast as Audrey finally decides to make a move on her childhood friend Cade--who is now a billionaire--and manages to land in the bed of his slutty best friend instead.

The quick of it is that Audrey's twin sister is into drugs and in a last ditch effort to save her they're spending a month at Cade's lake house to try and get her clean. And the stolen moments she was hoping to steal with Cade, well,  his blasted frustrating best friend, Reese, gets in the way and under her skin instead.

#AtoZChallenge--Nail Art--Yup I'm going all girly today!

It's the A to Z Challenge!

We're blogging the alphabet along with 1000s of other bloggers.

There's a specific letter for each day and then you pick your own theme.

Our Theme: herder of cats, burner of soup
Basically...a day in the life of and all the things I love

This last year I've started doing my nails again and tried out NAIL MARBLING.

And I've been having a lot of fun with it.

I like that they're kind of random design-wise.

Thought I'd share some of the random pics I've had of them this last year and then some of the other things I've been trying lately :) If you click on images it should pull up larger pics.

#AtoZChallenge--Mansicles--good enough to...lick!

It's the A to Z Challenge!

We're blogging the alphabet along with 1000s of other bloggers.

There's a specific letter for each day and then you pick your own theme.

Our Theme: herder of cats, burner of soup
Basically...a day in the life of and all the things I love

Mansicles...all those man candies that are good enough to lick...

So basically this month yall are getting my favorite things. And that includes man candy. If you've been around for even a minute you know this. lol

Today...my favorite models. In no particular order other than what Blogger decided to put them in.

And....you are welcome. :D

Interview w/ Diana Gardin-- rock stars, ARROW and cookies!

Reed Hopewell is a lot of things to a lot of people . . .

To his parents, he's the son who needs to get serious. To his friends, he's the player they all want to be. And to his fans, he's the hottest rocker in Charleston. But never has Reed been anyone's hero-until the night he finds Hope.

Hope Dawson can count the number of men she trusts on one hand. Definitely not the guys she goes out with or the stepfather who treats her like property. She'd be out of his house tomorrow if not for the need to protect her little sister. But when things at home go from bad to worse, Hope has to act fast-and Reed is the only person she can turn to . . .

Amazon | All Romance | Goodreads

Morning Diana!! Welcome to herding cats! *passes around some chocolate chip cookies* How goes things in your part of the world?

Cookies! *munches merrily* I’m sorry, what? My favorite dessert distracted me. One of them, anyway. Things are great down here in South Carolina. We are having seventy-degree weather and loving life outside again! Thanks so much for having me!

It's always awesome to have another Carolina author stop by :) *noms another cookie* Alright. I'm crazy curious about these Reed and Hope. If you had 10 seconds to get someone raising their eyebrow with curiosity what would you tell them about Falling Deep?

AtoZ2015-- [log·o·phile] aka words I freaking LOVE in my reads!

It's the A to Z Challenge!

We're blogging the alphabet along with 1000s of other bloggers.

There's a specific letter for each day and then you pick your own theme.

Our Theme: herder of cats, burner of soup
Basically...a day in the life of and all the things I love

Totally singing *theeeese are a few of my favooooorite words!*

Quote-tastic/Review-- A thing called books-- Mate Bond by Jennifer Ashley

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.

Jennifer Ashley's Shifters Unbound series is one of my all time favorite para reads. I just love how her characters think, the humor, the heat. Pretty much all of it. This quote totally made me snort. The hero and heroine have been together over a decade and you could totally tell.