SILENT NIGHT'S SEDUCTION - REVIEW & GUEST BLOG

"Rafe Martinez, would do anything to get his ex-wife back, even if it meant taking drastic measures to pretend he was there for another woman. When jealousy and rage surfaces and Lily’s tough demeanor wanes, desire and lust sparks their once powerful connection as truths unfold."

Author: Clarissa Yip
Pages: 35 pages
Publisher: Decadent Publishing Company
Published: November, 2011
Form: E-book (from a tour for an honest review)
Genre: Contemporary Erotic Romance (18+ Only)
Series: 1 Night Stand  #62
Amazon: Buy / $6.89 (Kindle)
Barnes & Noble: Buy / $3.99 (Nook) 
Decadent Publishing: Buy / $2.99 (E-book)
Excerpt: "You came here for a one night stand!"

Lily has been hiding in her parent's ranch ever since her divorce with Rafe went down even though it's been years - finally she gives a little as her brother signs her up for a 1NightStand agency, not that she plans to go through with it, she's considering this as a vacation.

Rafe realized what a mistake letting his wife divorce him was and he has cooked up a plan with Lily's brother to get her to Alaska before Christmas to gain him another chance. He knows she's got one fiery temper and that he has to be sneaky in getting her to admit she still loves him, wants him and is willing to give him another chance. But maybe all that bad water under the bridge is just too much to forgive, or just maybe love can fix any bridges broken.

I enjoyed this novella, as a believer in second chances I liked how badly Rafe wanted her back knowing he'd done wrong - and I loved that Lily confessed that she wasn't blameless either. The characters were hurt, determined and watching them try and dance around the facts and finally hit the sack was quite entertaining. And yes, I'm a sucker for happy endings, in my book it's not a romance if it ends badly!

The cover is beautiful, like most 1NightStand covers are! Clarissa Yip's writing is fun, touching and easily sets up scenery so you can just get into the story. Easy flowing and fun to read! Now without further ado, check out Clarissa Yip's guest blog "Second Chances" under the rating!

Rating :

Wonders of Second Chances

by Clarissa Yip

Thank you so much for having me here today!

I'd love to talk about my new release, Silent Night's Seduction! As part of the Madame Eve's 1Night Stand Holiday Anthology, this was one of my favorite books to right. I'm definitely a second chances girl and my characters, Lily and Rafe, deserve another try. Set up in a resort in Alaska, Lily is forced and kidnapped onto a plane, by her very own brother, Shane (from Tempting a Cowboy). Once she arrives, she thinks it'd be easy to turn down her date and just spend a holiday alone, but lo and behold, her ex-husband shows up with ulterior motives…what a guy! lol.

Sometimes relationships work in the most mysterious ways. Sometimes when you've believed that you've moved on, obstacles from your past reappear only for fate to take over sometimes, and I think that is what happened here with Lily and Rafe. Seeing their love re-blossom and secrets unfold, brings the most bittersweet moments. Time wreaks havoc on a person. Sometimes it could be the wrong time, wrong place, but when destiny takes a role, then you should follow it.

I've always thought back to my past relationships and have done the "what if's" and of course at times wonder if there'd be any hope to reconcile them. But let's be serious. The past is best to leave in the past unless fate occurs to make magic. There are many things that I wished I had another chance to fix and make right, but opportunities only appear when you least expect it. Lily and Rafe deserve their second chance at love through all they've been through, and with the New Year's, I think there are new opportunities to bloom and progress in life to be made. It's just whether or not you grab those opportunities and make the best of it.

What's your take on second chance relationships? Are they worth it or best to just move on?

Niina : I got to say, personally, I'm all for Second Chances if there hasn't been any abuse, I mean sometimes people make the wrong choices that take them in different direction only to find their love never died some years in the future. Most of all I love reading about those romances - especially when the man is doing the chasing... sexy as hell! ;D

TGIF & FRIDAY FOLLOW - NUMBERS AND GOALS

This Weeks Question : "Go count the number of unread books sitting on your shelf. How many?"

"If you are new to the #FF fun, Feature & Follow Friday is a blog hop that expands your blog following by a joint effort between bloggers. Feature & Follow Friday is now hosted by TWO hosts,  Parajunkee's View and Alison Can Read. Each host will have their own Feature Blog and this way it’ll allow us to show off more new blogs! Features this week are: Book Den & Pawning Through Books!"

Answer : Oh boy, gonna go count now... does Kindle count?

Okay 17 Paperbacks - not too bad right. ;) And well... 59 e-books.. that bit more ahem... but still not too bad! Considering I've only been at this for 6 months. ;D

Reading Resolutions: What are some of your reading goals for the new year?

TGIF at GReads is a Friday Feature hosted by Ginger at GReadsBooks.com!

1. Read books that I absolutely want to read
2. Have the courage to be more critical
3. Talk to more publishers and authors
4. Keep up the momentum
5. Read from by back-up stack, the books that I have gotten for free or borrowed from the library
6. Take on only 1 book and 1 novella per week for tours (and 2 extras with interview or guest blogs)
7. Keep up with It's Monday What Are You Reading, Dirty Little Secret Thursday and Friday Follow and TGIF memes

What about what did you calculate on your end?

REVIEW - DAMIAN'S ORACLE

"Sofia begins her transformation from human into oracle, the first in thousands of years. Damian rescues her from the Black God in time to complete a ceremony that will bind her to him for eternity. Sofia struggles with her new world and her role as an oracle and Damian’s mate while haunted by a mysterious man from Damian’s past who’s supposed to be dead."

Author: Lizzy Ford
Pages: 129 pages
Publisher: Self Published
Published: January, 2011
Form: E-book (from tour for an honest review)
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: War of Gods #1
Amazon: Buy / $3.44 (Kindle)
Barnes & Noble: Buy / $0.99 (Nook) 
Excerpt: Chapters 1 and 2

"Inspired by Slavic mythology, Damien’s Oracle is the entree into the ongoing battle between good and evil over the fate of humanity. The White God, Damian, and his Guardians protect the world from the Black God and his monsters while rescuing Naturals – humans with extraordinary paranormal gifts - from the Black God, who would kill or convert them.

Caught in the middle is cool-headed Sofia, a Natural whose gift will tip the scales in the war. Sofia begins her transformation from human into oracle, the first in thousands of years. Damian rescues her from the Black God in time to complete a ceremony that will bind her to him for eternity. Sofia struggles with her new world and her role as an oracle and Damian’s mate while haunted by a mysterious man from Damian’s past who’s supposed to be dead. Unbeknownst to her, her link to the dead man may be all that saves Damian, his Guardians, and the fate of humanity.

While he wants nothing more than for the petite beauty to take her place at his side like the oracles of legend did his White God forefathers, Damian can’t quite rationalize having to win her over instead of command her. Further complicating his life is the sobering realization that there are spies in his organization who are helping the Black God take out his Guardians. Damian must help Sofia reach her potential fast, especially when a threat from his past returns."

Fan Art by yours truly

I liked the plot, the world that was being created, I liked the mythology and definitely the divine spirits and Guardians. It was a story that was easy to read as the action sequences kept the story going, but the beginning was hard to get.

What drew me off a little was the male lead's excessive cursing, sort of without sufficient emotional build up, but other than that very little of this book disturbed me. I liked Sofia she was entertaining to read, she kept a good head on her shoulders and I felt she was relatable. I would have hoped she would have been bit more skeptical of the situation she was thrown in. The book had a distinct feeling of YA to it.

The cover needs a make-over to attract readers, the color schemes don't match, the make-up and the font needs little tweaking - the cover doesn't give credit that the story warrants.

You'll like this if... you're into mythology, like character driven books and like your heroes God-like, little aloof and arrogant, but in a good way.

Rating :

DIRTY LITTLE SECRET THURSDAY - 2012 RELEASES

This weeks question : "Christmas is over. Santa has left the building. We now have 2012 to look forward to! What new release are you looking forward to in the new year?"

Dirty Little Secret is a weekly meme hosted by Under the Covers.
Every Thursday we get to know other bloggers and our readers more intimately by asking them a question hoping to reveal their dirty little secrets.  We hope that you will all join us!

Answer : LOL! Easy! Here are mine with covers!

 March 27th

January 10th!

 June 26th

Read early bird excerpt!

Lover Reborn! Lothaire! and Once Burned (Jeaniene Frost's first Vlad "Dracula" Tepesh book!) Easy choices!

What are you waiting to come out in 2012!?

REVIEW - FEEDING THE VAMPIRE

"Feeding Ivan is a priority, and Misty finally serves a purpose. But when she awakens tied to his bed, an unwilling gift to Ivan from the townspeople, she discovers he has hungers other than blood. Hungers he expects her to satisfy in the most carnal manner."

Author: Jeffe Kennedy
Pages: 30 pages
Publisher: Ellora's cave Twilight
Published: August, 2011
Form: E-book (review copy from the tour for an honest review)
Genre: Paranormal Romance

Amazon (Kindle): Buy / $4.59 

Barnes&Noble (Nook): Buy / $1.99 

Ellora's Cave (E-Book): Buy / $1.49  

All Romance e-book:  Buy / $0.99

Excerpt: From 1st Chapter

"Through good luck and healthy cowardice, Misty has survived the earthquakes that have torn the world apart, but has no skills to speak of. Or so she thinks. She does have blood, and someone must feed the vampire who has offered his protection and strength in exchange for sustenance. Feeding Ivan is a priority, and Misty finally serves a purpose. But when she awakens tied to his bed, an unwilling gift to Ivan from the townspeople, she discovers he has hungers other than blood. Hungers he expects her to satisfy in the most carnal manner. Under his seductive persuasion Misty discovers she has the power to sustain Ivan in all ways, while experiencing unspeakable pleasure herself."

Interesting set up! The Yellowstone National Park mega volcano blew and human survivors are scattered around in small settlements on stable areas. I loved it! I liked the whole plot of a vampire striking a deal with one settlement to get nourishment for protection and strength, and seducing his feeder.

I really enjoyed Kennedy's writing, it was engaging and easy to read - the characters were struggling but not depressed and the love scenes, hot! I liked Misty she's nothing special but turns out to be the luckiest of the settlement people when the settlement sells her out against her knowledge! Ivan is a proper vampire but insist his blood sources need to be willing, and boy does he set out to make Misty willing.

You'll love this if... you like your novella quick with a twist on dystopia and vampires whose bite hurts, spiced with sexy seduction!

Rating : 

FEEDING THE VAMPIRE - EXCERPT

Title: Feeding the Vampire
Author: Jeffe Kennedy
Publisher: Ellora's Cave
Published: August 3, 2011
Genre: Paranormal Romance
ASIN: B005HBYPGW

"Through good luck and healthy cowardice, Misty has survived the earthquakes that have torn the world apart, but has no skills to speak of. Or so she thinks. She does have blood, and someone must feed the vampire who has offered his protection and strength in exchange for sustenance. Feeding Ivan is a priority, and Misty finally serves a purpose. But when she awakens tied to his bed, an unwilling gift to Ivan from the townspeople, she discovers he has hungers other than blood. Hungers he expects her to satisfy in the most carnal manner. Under his seductive persuasion Misty discovers she has the power to sustain Ivan in all ways, while experiencing unspeakable pleasure herself."

Amazon (Kindle) Buy/$4.59 / Barnes&Noble (Nook) Buy/$1.99 / Ellora's Cave (E-Book) Buy/$1.49 / ARe (E-book) Buy/$0.99

I was compelled to feed him. I had no choice, really.

Earl cleared his throat. “Thank you.” Our town administrator looked around for agreement, but they weren’t meeting his eyes either. Like kids ducking the teacher’s gaze. “Thank you, Misty. We all appreciate your…” He trailed off uncomfortably.

Sacrifice? Surely no one wanted to hear that word aloud. Martyr to the cause?  No, not much better.

Earl shuffled the papers in his lap. Waiting for me to get to it, I supposed. Well, he had just said that feeding Ivan ought to be the first order of business. We couldn’t very well make plans for our community while the guy in charge of our defenses wilted before our eyes, especially since we needed him alert and focused. Me? I was pretty damn expendable. I hadn’t brought much to the table so far, except my survival, which really was accidental. Right place at the right time. Turns out stolid New England was just the right place to be for the particular form this apocalypse took. Granite bedrock and all that.

My boring hometown was a safe haven and everyone wanted in on our resources. The people turning up every day were let in or turned away depending on what they offered. I counted my lucky stars I’d been grandfathered in simply because my neighbors didn’t have the heart to kick me out. Excellent keyboarding skills and a customer-friendly personality didn’t count for much in this economy. Especially without, um, customers or working keyboards.

I couldn’t afford to be a useless mouth to feed. Their hearts would harden—they already had. Tonight was pivotal. We’d acquired a vampire of our own for defense. Everyone felt better about our future—if we could keep him happy. At least I knew how to make blood. You could say I was a natural. And yet, the certainty that had propelled me to my feet seemed to be bleeding away, frightened off by Ivan’s fixed intensity and everyone else’s obvious relief. They waited, restless, for me to just get on with it. Uncomfortable silence.

Hi, I’m Misty and I’m a Fool. I haven’t done anything really unwise in twenty-seven days. Kind of a record for me really. Apparently I was due.

The vampire just stared at me.

I set my yellow pad on the chair and made myself walk across the circle to where he sat in the tacky folding metal chair. My sandals slapped lightly on the tiles, making tinny echoes. Ivan’s roving gaze sent tremors of anticipation up my thighs.

A few murmured conversations resumed. They probably didn’t like the creepy silence any more than I did. I appreciated their polite attempt not to gawk. I’d never seen a vampire feed—probably none of them had either. I stopped in front of Ivan. He leaned back, long legs sprawled out in careless indolence. He tilted his head at my hesitation and held out his hands as if to help me down from a carriage.

“Perhaps we should step out of the room?” I tried.

“I haven’t the strength to stand.” His grave eyes watched me with avid intent.

If I ran, he would definitely find the strength to hunt me down. After all, he’d walked into this room. Heck, he’d arrived at the bridge leading to our sleepy town only last night, offering his protection in return for our shelter and sustenance. He had to have gotten there somehow.

He wrapped his long fingers around my wrists, cuffing them with bands of steel. Exerting steady pressure, he drew me closer, parting his lips. White fangs gleamed with fluorescent highlights. My heart thumped in panic, hot fear filling me.

“Will it hurt?” My voice sounded thready, weak.

Hunger flared in his eyes at the question. “It always does.”

Ivan snapped me against his hard body. The sharp movement splintered any second thoughts. He pulled me astraddle his lap. My cheap cotton dress hiked up alarmingly. The chafe of his dark denim jeans sent tremors up my fully exposed thighs. Shame and terror flashed through me.

Then all thought and emotion burst in flame, immolating me through the fierce violence of his teeth sinking into my throat. The agony of the deep puncture, fear feeding pain, fired through my blood. I struggled like a wild thing, without thought. Animal instinct screamed at me to flee, to escape by any means possible.

The vampire held me trapped. There was no escape for me, the mouse flailing under the cat’s paw.

My will, never my strong point, snapped. The fight ebbed away with the tide of my blood. The steady drop of pressure left me enervated, without resistance. Darkness filled my brain, prickled with sparking stars. I wilted, becoming a bit of detritus washed upon the shore of Ivan’s body.

Pain filled my veins, pumped through my heart. It replaced my blood, spiraling through my body from the insistent penetration of Ivan’s teeth in my throat. Helpless against the crashing waves, I relinquished my last hold on consciousness and sank into the hot, tarry sea of oblivion.

Review coming up today at 3PM GMT / 10AM EST!

REVIEW - LORD OF THE ABYSS

"As the dark Lord who condemns souls to damnation in the Abyss, Micah is nothing but a feared monster wrapped in impenetrable black armor. He has no idea he is the last heir of Elden, its last hope. Only one woman knows—the daughter of his enemy."

Author: Nalini Singh
Pages: 288 pages
Publisher: Harlequin Nocturne
Published: November, 2011
Form: E-book (review copy from the NetGalley for an honest review)
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Series: The Royal House of Shadows #4
Amazon: Buy / $5.50 (Paperback)
Barnes & Noble: Buy / $5.50 (Paperback) 
The Book Depository: Buy / €5.50 (Paperback)
Excerpt: 1st Chapter


Liliana - the abused daughter of the Blood Sorcerer who conquered Elden twenty years ago, killing the King and the Queen and cursing the four children who only nearly escaped the battle - has had a vision, so she escaped her father to find the youngest of the four siblings, Micah. The only problem is she will have to get him to remember who she is because she only has a week before it will be too late.

Micah is fascinated by the woman who dropped out of nowhere to his castle and isn't afraid to meet his eyes. Eventually he agrees that she may cook for him, but the outspoken Liliana is so much more than meets the eyes and it doesn't take long before he begins to be tempted by the woman who seems oblivious to how she makes him feel.

     "He was the most beautiful monster she had ever seen.
     It was the first thought Liliana had as she lay weak and drained across the black marble of the floor, her face reflected in its polished surface. As she watched, the one they called the Lord of the Black Castle rose from his ebony throne at the head of the room and walked down the ten steps with a lazy grace that spoke of power, strength…and death.
     Trying desperately to close her hand into a fist, she attempted to push herself up onto her knees, unwilling to meet him at such a disadvantage. But her body was debilitated beyond bearing by the blood she had spilled to make the crossing, her wrists spotted with it, though her magic had sealed the wounds. Her father would’ve sacrificed another without a thought to the life he took, would call her a fool for using her own blood.
     “Weak.” He had spit the judgment at her more than once. “I took a beautiful witch to wife and got a hatchet-faced mewling brat in return.”
     Sensing the vibration of the monster’s boots getting ever closer, she took a deep breath, able to feel it rattle in her throat. It wasn’t meant to be like this. The spell should have deposited her in the forests beyond his domain, not in the midst of his great hall, where he stood as the lone, lethal shield against the vicious beings beyond. She could feel eyes on her, hundreds of them. And yet no one made a sound.
     The boots were almost to her now."

I loved this book, Liliana and Micah make a sizzling hot couple! Both completely new to the other genre one because of his duty and one because of her lacking outer appearance. Of course Liliana's hidden mission to make Micah remember who he is, after all he was only 5 when his parents cast a spell on him to save him from the Blood Sorcerer, might but a damper on their budding romance.

I loved how arrogant and possessive and cave-man Micah was, but he also had a deliciously wicked sense of humor after her got to know her. Liliana I loved because she was not a norm beauty, but was "ugly", eyes too close to each other and too small, hooked-nosed, hair like straw but she still didn't pity herself, she accepted what she looked like and when Micah begins to show interest on her she becomes baffled.

I haven't read Nalini Singh before but I'm a FAN now! This story was great! The plot, the characters, the weird creatures, burning hot romance, tension, fantasy and truly great finish for the Royal House of Shadows series! I suppose this could be a stand-alone, but at least read 1st and 2nd book before reading this, because they are just GOOD and the siblings from all the books make an appearance in the end battle. But like I said this can be read alone because a lot is explained about thing got to this point (and without spoilers! because it does not ruing the other books, so you can read these in mixed order!).

You'll like this if... you like fantasy, paranormal romance and like your heroes bit on the domineering side. ;)

Rating :

IT'S MONDAY! WHAT ARE YOU READING? #14

Hello and welcome to another fun addition of It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?
This is a great way to plan out your reading week and see what others are currently reading as well! You never know where that next “must read” book will come from! This is a weekly meme hosted by Book Journey!

Last week was the week after Christmas, I was off work and dedicated my time to reading. After all with my new books who can blame me! ;D

 Books I have read & reviewed last week...
( Superb Week! )

 3.5 Star Review & Interview

 4 Star Review 

 5 Star Review

4 Star Review

3 Star Review & Guest Blog

4.5 Star Review & 18+ Only Excerpt

3 Star Review & Giveaway (open till Jan 8th) 

Books that I am reading right now...

( and will most likely finish this week )

Books that are coming up next...
( these will be read this week )

  That's it for me this week!
What are you reading right now?
Don't be afraid to leave a comment. ;)