Review: Secretly More, Lux Zakari

Title: Secretly More

Author: Lux Zakari

Kindle: 604 KB
Publisher: Etopia Press
Release Date: 11/08/2011
ASIN: B0065546AO

Description:

What if the one you love IS the one you’re with...

Jay Navarrete has been in love with his best friend Kimber York for years. When she ends her frustrating long-term relationship with an apathetic musician, he decides the time is finally right to tell her how he feels.

But Kimber has an agenda of her own, one that doesn't include returning Jay's feelings. Instead, she's eager to make up for lost time by becoming more sexually adventurous. Her mission leads her to an upstairs bedroom at a wild party, where she agrees to be blindfolded and await a mystery lover. Although Jay knows it's wrong, he's unable to resist the opportunity to be with her.

But Jay soon finds himself in a complex tug-of-war between his integrity and his heart, one that threatens to ruin everything between Kimber and him—especially when she falls hard for someone else: her mystery lover.

My Review:

Kimber finds herself with a boyfriend who is less than perfect, a best friend who she can't live without, and a bossy sister. After many failures of her boyfriend Dane, Kimber decides to move on. Her best friend Jay is there each step of the way. Reminding her why Dane was not the man she needed or wanted, even if he did introduce them.

Jay hold his secret until one action caused a whirlwind of events. Denied the one thing he wants more than anything Jay went along with his friends plan.

Kimber, vowing to explore more avenues in her life was caught by her friend and blindfolded and placed into a bedroom. Her mysterious lover comes into play and Kimber finds herself giving more to this man then what she ever had given any man before. With each encounter she finds herself falling for a man whom she does not know yet desires more and more.

The mysterious lover wants to ends things and tell the truth but with each encounter the truth failed to prevail. Once the truth was spoken betrayal filled the air. Kimber could not understand why someone who claimed to care so much, who claimed to love her would do something so disheartening.

There is nothing like a best friend, especially if that friend is of the opposite sex. There is a fine line that tends not to be crossed when feelings emerge from the background. Decisions have to be made and sometimes regrets and pride stand in the way. Lux Zakari nailed the passion, desire, and the perfect friendship that turned into a lot more. 

Sizzling with hot erotic sex Secretly More has you wanting more.  Not only is the story hot but also filled with passion and meaning.  Secretly More is a must read. 

My Rating:

Hunt Me, Shiloh Walker

She’s been keeping secrets…

Drew Quentin has been crazy about sexy Dakota Coulter from the moment he met her, but after two years of dating, he still doesn’t have her phone number. Sooner or later, a man has to move on.

That was the plan. But the night he broke things off, things went from bad to worse…and he figured out some of her secrets…bloodthirsty secrets.

Dakota Coulter is having a lousy night. The man she loves just broke up with her. And she can’t even take an hour to sulk, because duty calls—and as a Hunter, she must answer.

Being a vampire is hell on the love life, that’s for sure. But it will get better, right? Just do the job, get out of town and oh…avoid the ex-lover who is suddenly out to track her down. Too bad a happy reunion is soooo not on his mind.  Excerpt

Coughs, Sneezes, Sniffles, and Surgery

As some of you know, the past two months have been difficult to say the least but I am happy to say progress was made.  It seems that everyone, including two wild children, and myself have recovered from the flu.  Never again do I want everyone sick at once.  Talk about moodiness!

I also had a lot of oral surgery done a week ago.  As painful, as it was I can honestly say that I am 100% happy with the outcome and I do not regret it one bit.  I still cannot eat anything more than soft food although I have tried.  I know to reach the desired result will be slow however it is well worth it.

The past two months has given me plenty of time to read so expect more reviews to come.  Let me tell you some of them left me begging for more and fanning myself off. 

I want to thank everyone for their support without you I could not have done the surgery.  Thank you for believing in me enough to lend a hand or a shoulder to cry on after twenty shots in my mouth.  I owe you one!

Until then happy reading!

Friday 56

About the Friday 56

• Grab the book nearest you. Right now
• Turn to page 56.
• Find the fifth sentence.
• Post that sentence (plus one or two others if you like) along with these instructions on your blog or (if you do not have your own blog) in the comments section of this blog.
• Post a link along with your post back to this blog.
• Don’t dig for your favorite book, the coolest, the most intellectual. Use the CLOSEST

"My new favorite catchphrase was "Fabulous!" and absolutely everyone in the world became "honey" as I became freer with my personality.  Now that I was grown-up, I wanted to do as I pleased (although looking back, there is nothing more immature than declaring yourself a grown-up, and no life less free than that of a competitive skater.)"

Review: Welcome to My World, Johnny Weir

Title: Welcome to My World

Author: Johnny Weir

Hardcover: 272 Pages
Publisher: Gallery
Release Date: 1/11/11
ISBN: 978-1451610284

Description:

In a memoir as candid and unconventional as Johnny Weir himself, the three-time U.S. National Champion figure skater who electrified the 2010 Winter Olympics shares his glamorous, gritty, heartbreaking, hopeful, and just plain fabulous life story. How does a boy from rural Pennsylvania become an all-American original style icon on the ice and off, adored by fans around the world, and hailed as “The Lady Gaga of skating” (Salon.com)? The answers are here, in his invigorating and thoroughly entertaining chronicle of the emergence of his natural talents for skating and horseback riding; the physically and emotionally grinding path to becoming a champion; a family who sacrificed everything to support his passions; an ability to rise again after the most devastating defeats and never look back; an appreciation of style (from his mom) and self-discipline (that would be from his dad); and a fearless confidence to say whatever’s on his mind.

Because when you’re Johnny Weir, you don’t worry about what other people think. You let everyone else worry about that for you.

Welcome to his world.

My Review:

I have to admit that yes, I am one of Johnny's Angels.   What is a Johnny's Angel, his fans of course.  Rather if it is his skating or his TV show, I have always been a huge fan of Johnny's.  I love his personality, who he is without pretending and conforming to what he "should" be.  

I was ecstatic when I found his book at the local Library and I have to admit I was the first one to check it out.  With that being said, I was absolutely shocked when I read his book.  If anyone watches his show, you would know that he and the skating federation do not have a wonderful relationship.  I was a shamed of how they treated Johnny because he is different, because he is who he is.  Yes, Johnny can be a diva but who doesn't have those moments, in my opinion, his diva moments are far better than hockey fights, and other player meltdowns. 

Welcome to My World, starts when Johnny was a child and showed how his parents sacrificed for him.  It showed his struggles and his growth not only as a man but as a skater as well.  I'm going to end this review with one of my favorite passages from this book.

"Putting people in boxes--whether the label is lesbian, gay, nerd, or freak---is just phony.  In our society, too many people box up their personalities, stowing away aspects of themselves that don't fit in the confining shape.  In that sense, I wish people would come out, to live freely and openly.  I wear my heart on my sleeve.  Whether it's with my mother, best friend, or lover, I give everything that I am.  To me, gay and straight is only sex.  Love is completely without boundaries."

My Rating:

Review: Alpha, Rachel Vincent

This blog contains spoilers.

Title: Alpha

Series: Shifters

Author: Rachel Vincent

Mass Market Paperback: 480 Pages
Publisher: Mira
Release Date: 10/1/10
ISBN: 978-0778328186

Description:  

YOU’VE GOT TO HAVE FAYTHE… 

The unscrupulous new Council chair has charged Jace, Marc, and me with trespassing, kidnapping, murder, and treason. Yeah, we’ve been busy. But now it’s time to take justice into our own hands. We must avenge my brother’s death and carve out the rot at the heart of the Council.

It’s not going to be easy, and loss seems unavoidable, but I have promised to protect my Pride, no matter what. With a target on my back and Marc at my side, I’m heading for a final showdown that can—that will—change everything forever.

But life never waits until you're ready.

My Review:

Faythe, once again finds herself in trouble with the Council and now Jace, Marc, and herself are charged with trespassing, kidnapping, murder, and treason.  On top of that, she has to revenge her brother's death and take down certain members of the Council.  If that isn't enough, once again the fight over Faythe continues between Jace and Marc.  

In Alpha, you find old friends coming to play, favors called in, death, and war.  With her family and her Pride at her side, can she come on top once and for all?

The last in the Shifter series had me sitting on the edge of my seat.  Alpha had it all.  Over the series I watch Faythe grow and become much more of an Alpha then I expected.  With sound advice from her father, she learned that her mother also, was between two men, and her father won.  That left the question whom would she choose my favorite Jace or the stray Marc?

When Faythe became Alpha she had some tough decisions to make and with help of her father's closest friends, she takes on her enemies.  Alpha had it's fair share of death, and at times, I dotted my eyes. 

Alpha was a great read just like the whole series, I was sad to read the final page of Alpha.  Rachel Vincent did a wonderful job creating her Werecat world.  All six books had me begging for more

My Rating: 

Review: Goodnight Tweetheart, Teresa Medeiros

Title: Goodnight Tweetheart

Author: Teresa Medeiros

Paperback: 240 Pages
Publisher: Gallery
Release Date: 12/14/10
ISBN: 978-1439188156

Description:

@WhtTheHeckHappenedToMyLife

 

Abigail Donovan has a lot of stuff she should be doing. Namely writing her next novel. A bestselling author who is still recovering from a near Pulitzer Prize win and the heady success that follows Oprah’s stamp of approval, she is stuck at Chapter Five and losing confidence daily. But when her publicist signs her up for a Twitter account, she’s intrigued. What’s all the fuss?

Trending Topic: True Love

Taken under the wing of one of her Twitter followers, “MarkBaynard"—a quick witted, quick-typing professor on sabbatical—Abby finds it easy to put words out into the world 140 characters at a time. And once she gets a handle on tweets, retweets, direct messages, hashtags, and trends, she starts to feel unblocked in writing and in life. After all, why should she be spending hours in her apartment staring at her TweetDeck and fretting about her stalled career when Mark is out there traveling the world and living?

Or is he?

Told almost entirely in tweets and DMs, Goodnight Tweetheart is a truly modern take on a classic tale of love and loss—a Griffin and Sabine for the Twitter generation.

My Review:

I must admit that when I picked up Goodnight Tweetheart that I was uncertain how could a book be written with tweets of a 140 characters or less.  Let me say that Goodnight Tweetheart was everything I was not expecting.  It was cute and adoring.  It also proved what kind of conversations you could have with very few words.

As a novelist Abigail had the dreaded writers block on chapter five.  That is when her publicist signs her up for a Twitter account.  Not knowing a thing about Twitter MarkBaynard takes Abigail under his wing and teaches her the finer points of Twitter.

Eventually, they had online dates somewhere different each time, learning about each other, discovering similarities.  Never meeting in person Abigail finds herself drawn to MarkBaynard.  Was he for real or was he hiding something from her.

MarkBaynard has his own secret and he refuses to tell Abigail about it.  He enjoys the conversations and dates as Abigail discovers Twitter.  At the end, will their Twitter romance turn into something more?  Or will MarkBaynard's secret be too much for her to handle?

My Rating: 

Review: Harvest Moon, Robyn Carr

Title: Harvest Moon

Series: Virgin River
Author: Robyn Carr

Mass Market Paperback: 368 Pages
Publisher: Mira
Release Date: 2/22/11
ISBN: 978-0778329428

*I received a copy from Mira*

Description:

Rising sous-chef Kelly Matlock's sudden collapse at work is a wake-up call. Disillusioned and burned out, she's retreated to her sister Jillian's house in Virgin River to rest and reevaluate.

Puttering in Jill's garden and cooking with her heirloom vegetables is wonderful, but Virgin River is a far cry from San Francisco. Kelly's starting to feel a little too unmotivated…until she meets Lief Holbrook. The handsome widower looks more like a lumberjack than a sophisticated screenwriter—a combination Kelly finds irresistible. But less appealing is Lief's rebellious stepdaughter, Courtney. She's the reason they moved from L.A., but Courtney's finding plenty of trouble even in Virgin River.

Kelly's never fallen for a guy with such serious baggage, but some things are worth fighting for. Besides, a bratty teenager can't be any worse than a histrionic chef…right?

My Review:

In Wild Man Creek we learned that Luca, Kelly Matlock's mentor, was leaving his wife leaving the next step in their relationship open.  However, that all came crashing down when Luca's wife Olivia visited Kelly in the restaurant where she worked.  Olive came in throwing accusations of affairs, sexual messages and how Kelly Matlock was having an affair with her husband all were false accusations.  It only progressed worse from there when in the kitchen a co-worker yelled at Kelly also accusing her of sleeping with Luca. 

When she opened her eyes she found herself staring at an emt, she had fainted at work.  With test showing nothing wrong and new medications to help her with stress she returned to work only to make one of the biggest choices of her life, she walked out. 

Now jobless she once again returns to Virgin River and too her sister.  Once arriving at Virgin River she decided she needed a drink or two.  That is where she met Lief Holbrook.

When Kelly Matlock walked into Jack's bar, he was blown away from her beauty.  Offering his shoulder to lean on he never imagined what was to come.  It didn't take long for Kelly to get drunk although she insisted that she wasn't.  Being the gentleman that he is he drove Kelly to her sister's house. 

Lief has his own problems, his wife died two years ago and his step-daughter is rebellious, even though she is smart she is failing her class, getting into trouble, and make terrible decisions.  He would do anything for her.  Slowly he seen her progress but that wasn't the only thing progressing.

Courtney did not want another mother Kelly did not want a daughter but making Courtney understand that Kelly was not going to be her mother was easier said than down. 

All three grow and learn to open up to new possibilities.  Together they learn new boundaries, new determinations, and more about themselves and others.

I enjoyed reading Harvest Moon it was enjoying to watch all three grow.  Lief, heartbroken after his wife's death and has not been involved with anyone since, Courtney, lost her mother and rejected by her real father and treated horribly by her stepmother and brothers.  Kelly was hurt and looking to restart life without the help of Luca.  All three with different paths and yet all three together make a stronger foundation.

Also I enjoyed the fact that Courtney showed emotions that I myself rarely read about with death of a parent, rejection from another, and the fear of losing the only person who loves her.  It broke my heart seeing her suffer within but I could relate.  Robyn Carr's Harvest Moon had the laughs, the tears, and the growth. 

My Rating:

Review: A Creed in Stone Creek, Linda Lael Miller

Title: A Creed in Stone Creek

Series: The Creed Legacy
Author: Linda Lael Miller

Mass Market Paperback: 384 Pages
Publisher: HQN
Release Date: 2/22/11
ISBN: 978-0373775552

*I received a copy from HQN*

Description:

When single attorney Steven Creed becomes the guardian of an orphaned five-year-old boy, he trades his big-city law firm for a ranch near his McKettrick kin in the close-knit community of Stone Creek, Arizona. Taking care of little Matt and fixing up his run-down ranch house with its old barn loosens something tightly wound inside him. But when Steven takes on the pro bono defense of a local teen, he meets his match in the opposing counsel—beautiful, by-the-book county prosecutor Melissa O’Ballivan. It’ll take one grieving little boy, a sweet adopted dog and a woman who never expected to win any man’s heart to make this Creed in Stone Creek know he’s truly found home.

My Review:

After attorney Steven Creed adopts the orphan son of his best friend he thought it would be best if he is raised on a ranch.  Together, they leave the home they knew travel to Stone Creek.  The home Steven buys needs work and the barn even more.  With all intentions of camping out his distant cousin Meg showed up with her famous country singer, Brad, the brother of the sexy woman he had met earlier.  Brad offered Steven and his new son Matt the use of his tour bus until he can get the ranch up and running.

Melissa O'Ballivan, Prosecutor, avidly denied the opportunity of being the head person for the Parade Committee.  She wanted no part of it in fact one of her sisters would be a better person for the job.  That was until the words; there isn't going to be a parade?" caught her attention.  Then the words of the little dark hair boy stating that was the reason he didn't runaway was because of the parade and the rodeo.  Now, Melissa feels as if she needs to put on this parade rather if she wants to or not.

Both had their hearts broken, Steven vowing of all lawyers and anyone that works for them.  When he told his fiancée about Steven she said he had to choose between her and Matt, he chose Matt.  Melissa had her heart broken by a single dad with two boys she loved those boys and knows that it would not be wise to involve herself with another single father.

I enjoyed reading about Steven and Melissa.  Two separate people vowing never to involve themselves with the kind that had already broken their hearts.  However, destiny has other plans.  Matt, the little boy, had my heart from the beginning.  As they say, sometime children are too smart for their own good, including Matt.  It was because of Matt Melissa and Steven met, and it was also because of Matt that they first had dinner, and the first date. 

In A Creed in Stone Creek, you had a touch of their backgrounds but not enough to drown the book in heartbreak and heartache.  I very much enjoyed reading A Creed in Stone Creek and I cannot wait to read about Steven's sexy twin cousins.

My Rating: