Thursday, February 28, 2013

Undone by the Duke Review




Victoria Andrews is a prisoner inside her own home.  Due to an accident, she has become a recluse and becomes psychically ill when stepping outside.  She is a dressmaker who makes seductive lingerie with her sisters in disguise.  Unlike her sisters, she doesn’t fancy getting married and is settled into her life until she meets the Duke of Worthingstone.

Jonathan Nottoway, Duke of Worthingstone, is attempting to escape a scandal that has followed his family’s name for years.  After being shot and left for dead, he ends up at the Andrews home with Victoria acting as nurse. As his wounds heal, he spends several nights with Victoria who thinks he’s the son of a baron or something lesser than a Duke.  She has no idea what the cards hold for her until Jonathan wants to marry her. Can these two overcome their issues and be together…?

 
I flat out loved this story! I found the book very well written with likeable characters to boot.  I liked that they both had issues to work through and helped each other pull through them. One theme that always gets me is unexpected love.  Victoria didn’t have a coming out or “season”  like her sisters and wasn’t worrying about love but then Jonathan came into her life.  However, I will say this, I felt like the ending was a little bit rushed.  It was all, I love you, and then boom here’s baby.  But even with that, I still really enjoyed it. Ms. Willingham also threw in little side stories to help set up for the next few books in this series.  Overall, I thought this was a great beginning to a new series. 

If you want to read more by Michelle, I've included her website and Facebook:
http://www.michellewillingham.com/
Michelle Willingham Facebook

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Bad Reviews

So, while I'm attempting to finish up my current read, I came across a twitter follower who posted about writing a bad review for a book.  I didn't ask her why the book was bad or why she wrote a bad review for it.  One thing that I will say is always be honest.  If you didn't like something, you didn't like it.  You can't win 'em all.   Maybe the writing itself wasn't all that bad, but maybe there were some parts in the book that you didn't like. As I've written before, I know we all have our certain quirks that get us when we're reading.  One of mine? When my hero or heroine cheats. I absolutely hate that in my stories because it's a ROMANCE BOOK.  On top of all that? It just makes me aggravated.  I know that I'm new to blogging but I have been reading books for a loong time.  If that happens, I will usually at least finish the book, but I will definitely tell you a thing or two after.  It has to be a really, really horrible book for me to ever not finish reading it.  What are some of your aggravations when you read?  What would make you give a book a bad review?  I look forward to hearing what you guys have to say.

Monday, February 18, 2013

20 Followers!! Woohoo!

I just wanted to say thank you to my 20 followers! Now, I know that doesn't seem like a lot to some people, but to me, it means the world.  I only hope to grow more and bring you guys some more reviews.  I will always try to be as truthful and honest as I can be.  Mainly because I don't want people to pay for a book and end up regretting it.  I also understand that we all differ as human beings and something that's not my thing may be yours and that's just fine with me.  So, please be patient as I learn my way around this whole blogging universe. And if anybody has any tips for me, please let me know! :)

That's all for now folks!

Sunday, February 17, 2013

Kilted Desire Book 1: Sands of Betrayal


Just a brief little overview and then I’ll get into my review of the first book.

Scott Maclaren is a Scottish Special Forces soldier who has had to overcome so many tragedies in his life.  His wife divorces him for another man while he was still in the hospital recovering from injuries(including a broken back). 
He then travels overseas to visit his grandparents and that’s how his story begins.  
Luckily with three years of physical therapy, Scott was finally back to living a somewhat normal life, however a lonely life.  He takes to the internet and finds Katie Johnson, a school teacher who he falls hard and fast for.  Scott’s devotion and love for Katie will take him across the world once again to the Middle East.  He takes a bodyguard position to secure the life of Britney Parnell. Britney is of course a very young, pretty, businesswoman.  Of course, this causes problems between Scott and Katie. 

The story follows Scott and Britney’s time in Baghdad as well as his devotion to his girlfriend Katie.   The book is jammed packed with lots of action, adventure, and satisfying love scenes.
 
My thoughts...
I have to be completely honest here, this is probably the only romance book I have ever read that I skipped the biggest majority of the sex scenes.  It’s not that they aren’t well written, because they are, it’s just not what I focused on. I focused more on Scott’s story in the Middle East and how he protected Britney.  I really sympathized more with him than any other character in the story.  He was a character that you wanted to root for.  Scott had to overcome so many obstacles in his life and he never let any of them get him down.  He was a fighter!  Scott did everything he had to do to provide for his girlfriend Katie and her daughters. Now, with saying that, Katie drove me nuts.  I’ll let you have your own opinion of her, but that’s just mine. I don't want to sway your judgment at all, but let's just say that she really tried my patience. My heart really went out to Scott and ladies, let’s be honest, who wouldn’t want some strong, Scottish soldier totally devoted to us? Count me in. Overall, it was a very nice, easy read.  I gave it a 4 out of 5 on Amazon.

You can find Mr. A.B. McKinley at his facebook page here:  Author A B McKinley Facebook

And his twitter: Kilted Desire Twitter

He also has a newly revamped website: http://www.kilteddesire.com/index.html

Please check him out.  He’s really a nice guy who likes to interact with his fans.  I'll be hosting him on my blog in March.  I'll also be back before then with my review of the second book.

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Used book stores? Yay or Nay?

So, this is a question that has been on my mind for a little while, and I’ve finally decided to ask ya’lls opinion on it.  I sometimes visit our used bookstores, few though they may be around here.  Every time I go into one, I always think about how I would feel about them if I were an author.  Don’t get me wrong, I know that the author has received money for those books already, but it just seems like it’s stealing.  I hate that at least some of that money doesn’t go to the author. Of course, I understand that the purpose of the used bookstore is for it to make money, and they should. If there is any business making money right now, I support it.  I also understand that there really isn’t a way to monitor used bookstores, so what they have is what they have. 

But, for most of us, a used bookstore is an easy way for us to still get books without spending a fortune.  Because lets face it, sometimes a book at  $7.99 is a lot of money, especially if you’re unsure about the author and not sure how you’re going to like it.  So, at least if you buy paperback you have the option of getting a little bit of your money back at the bookstore.  I love my Kindle, but I still love the feel of a real book too.  Not only that, but sometimes a used bookstore is great for finding old books that may not be available to purchase anymore.  So, what is your take on a used a bookstore? Do you support it? Do you hate it? Thoughts anyone?

Monday, February 11, 2013

Raphael/Parish by Alexandra Ivy and Laura Wright

Woot Woot.. My first ever review! :) I want to say so much but then I realize that these stories are only like 50 or so pages which means that if I kept writing I would be pretty much rewriting the story.

I also realize that these two stories came out about a month ago, but hey, life gets in the way and prevents us from doing what we really want to do.  I finally got around to reading them and for the most part they were both a really quick, easy read.   These two authors have teamed up to create a new world of puma shifters who live in the bayou’s of Louisiana. 
The first story is centered on Raphael who is a diplomat for this race of shifters, called The Pantera, in the Louisiana swamps.  He met our heroine Ashe one night at the local bar and had a sexy romp with her then hides her memory of the night in question.  Then oopsie, she ends up pregnant and has no idea how that happened.  She keeps remembering tidbits here and there but can’t tell if they’re real or imagined.  Ashe goes to the bar to pay her mother’s bar tab (she’s the town drunk) and meets up with Raphael again and that is where their story begins.  He explains to her that he knows she’s pregnant with his child and wants her to be with him.  Ashe isn’t so sure of that so Raphael has to convince her that she should be with him because he can offer her a home (her mother kicks her out at the beginning of the story).  Of course, nothing is ever as simple as it seems and there’s a group of bad guys who want to kill Ashe because she carries the first Pantera child in 50 years.  She is constantly in danger and Raphael does his best to protect her from the ones who want her and the baby dead. They finally make it to Raphael’s homeland which is called the Wildlands.   

The sexiness factor was definitely there.  For the most part, I liked Ashe and Raphael, so I gave their story a 3 out of 5.  I liked it but I didn’t love it.  Plus, it’s only 50 or so pages and it’s hard to squeeze a lot of plot and development into that short of a story.  I thought Alexandra Ivy did a good job with this one.

Second story is based on Parish, who we see briefly at the end of the Raphael.  He also has a deep hatred for humans but has a good reason (which I don’t want to spoil).  Raphael sends Parish to New Orleans to bring back a baby doctor for Ashe.   Julia Cabot is one of the best baby doctor’s in the state of Louisiana.  She’s also just had a terrible string of bad luck because she’s had to deal with her cheating boyfriend, being kicked out of her home, and then gets kidnapped by Parish.   He was only supposed to talk to her and reason with her to come be Ashe’s doctor, but one look at Julia and Parish knew she was his.  So, Parish takes her to the Wildlands and from then on out we see the relationship build between these two.  Julia didn’t want to fall for Parish because of her cheating ex and Parish didn’t want to fall for her because she was human.  Julia wants to leave but Parish convinces her to stay with him.  Of course, she decided to stay with him because she loves him.   This story is also left with a cliffhanger.  Ashe gets injected with something and now it’s a race against time to figure out what she’s been injected with and how it’s going to affect her. So hopefully, the next two stories will give us some idea as to what’s going to happen with Ashe and the baby. 

 I gave Parish a 3 out of 5 too.  Like I said earlier, I liked it but I didn’t love it.  Laura Wright did a good job with Parish as well.

If you’ve read the Breed series by Lora Leigh, I felt a similar connection to that series after reading these two stories. I liked that series so I have high hopes for this series as well.

Sunday, February 10, 2013

Don't be a D-Bag!

Haven't blogged in a few days, so it's about that time again.  I went to see Steve Byrne Friday night at our local comedy club.  Now if you're not sure who that is, he has a show on TBS called Sullivan and Son and 2 other comedy specials recorded (check him out on Netflix).  He's honestly one of the most funniest people I've had the chance to see live.  But, besides that, I just want to talk about how nice he was in person.  He signed my tshirt and took a picture with me (at no charge mind you) and truly appreciated my support. One thing that will turn me against you in a heartbeat is if you don't appreciate my supporting you by spending my money on your merchandise or buying a ticket to see you.  Not only TV actors but this goes for authors too.  Because let me tell you something, I don't have to spend my money on your merchandise, DVD's, or books but I will if you treat me like a human being.  All I ask is that you show a little appreciation that I came to see you.  Plus, honestly, there is nothing more disappointing than to finally meet someone that writes a book(or is on a TV show) that you love and then they turn out to be the biggest d-bags ever.  I've had a few authors treat me that way, and I refuse to support that.  I don't ask that you do much for me.. sign my book or whatever I've brought with me and take a picture if I ask. I don't think that's asking too much, do you? 

Monday, February 4, 2013

Don't like it? Don't look at it!

Well, since I didn't have anything witty or intelligent to say yesterday, I thought I would give it a break.  Plus, I haven't been reading much lately *cries*, so I can't talk about my latest read.  I just haven't been motivated to read at all since school has been over.  I'm sure I'll recover soon though, I always go through these periods from time to time. But the real reason I've come to blog today is from something that I've been noticing on Facebook lately.  This has to do with these insane, crazy people who like a page and then want to bitch about a picture or a post that they claim "offends" them.  Well people, let me break this down nice and easy for you. It's called unlike the freaking page!  It's not a very hard concept.. here let me show you what to do if somethin offends you.

see how easy that is??

 
Please, do us all a favor and just unlike a page if you don't like what they're posting. Trust me, they won't be worried in the least to lose someone like you.  Furthermore, why waste your time messaging someone about something that you don't like? I would most definitely call you out by name and go from there.  I have no tolerance for stupidity and most of these people are stupid.  Because, I'll tell ya, if I don't like something about a page, I have no qualms about unliking it.  But I also tell you this,  I won't be emailing somebody just because I don't like it. Who has time for that?  Not this girl... ain't nobody got time for that. :)


Great Monday besides that. 

Saturday, February 2, 2013

Off to the Weiner Race...

Well.. not quite "the" weiner race.. at least not the one that I'm sure you dirty minded people are thinking of.  I mean who wouldn't want to go to a weiner race, but sadly it's a race for dachshunds.I know this because all I've done this Saturday is watch Animal Planet and dog shows.. Does that scream of loneliness?  Meh, I can't say that I really care. Mainly because it's cold outside and who doesn't love puppies and kitteh's? Speaking of weiner and animals.. I give you Channing Tatum holding a chicken.

Damn.. my cock is fine!
 
Alright, this is probably the most random blog post ever... I seriously think my ADD is kicking in.  Channing Tatum is pretty fine though huh? 

I would like to say Thank You to Melinda at Beautiful Redemption for making my beautiful blog banner! That's all for now folks. 

I'll try to think of something more witty and intelligent to say tomorrow. 

Friday, February 1, 2013

Tax Season.. Oy!

Ok.. So if you follow me on Facebook and Twitter, you might have seen me make a post or two about a little business called Liberty Tax. Now, if you haven't seen my posts on either of my accounts, I will thoroughly explain why I hate them. Please don't get me wrong, I have nothing against this so-called establishment per say.  I'm sure they do a great job on people's taxes, I wouldn't know first hand because I've never used them... but that's neither here nor there.  Anyway, my main annoyance with them is that they like to stand in the road.  Now, the picture I'm about to show you really doesn't show the full effect because the guy is standing somewhat on the sidewalk. This is not always the case.


Alright, now I'm not saying that I completely hate the Liberty Tax workers.. but I hate the Liberty Tax workers. One wrong move and that sign blocks your vision and somehow you're on the hood of my car.  Is it my fault if you accidently fall because you have absolutely no skill at dancing and waving your sign around? No, it's not and I get tired of you trying to get my attention for something like tax preparation. Now, at least Little Ceasars is tempting me with pizza. This? You have nothing that I want Liberty Tax... Nothing at all.