Weekly Wrap-up / Sunday Post #1

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimberly @ Caffeinated Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead. 

International Bookworms: My Favorite International Bookish People

hosted by Books & Babble

Hello my fellow bookworms! How are you on this gloomy rainy day? Today's topic in the International Bookworms feature hosted by the awesome Ayla is about our favorite international bookish people. I hate choosing favorite people, really, mostly because I am always scared of missing anyone. So, because of this, I'll stop at 5 bookish people on the main platforms where I follow bookish people: Instagram and Blogs

Book Review: Unconditional by Lexi Blake

Author: Lexi Blake
Series: Masters and Mercenaries #5.5
Audience: 18
Genre: Erotic Romance, BDSM
Publisher: DLZ Entertainment, LLC
Release Date: January 21st 2014
My Rating: 4 Cups
Source: Autorh
Blurb (from Goodreads):

A curious woman

Ashley Paxon understands responsibility. After her fiancé left her alone and pregnant, she forged a new life for herself and her daughter. Moving to Dallas, she went back to school and found a job at a club called Sanctum. As one of the BDSM club’s waitresses, she watches the Doms and their submissives every night. She yearns to explore their lifestyle of discipline and power exchange, but she knows she wouldn’t belong.

A wounded man

Keith Langston believes in living in the moment. Haunted by the past, he moves from one casual relationship to the next and never looks back. But the moment he lays eyes on Ashley, something primal and possessive takes over. He can’t stop thinking about her and yet he knows he can’t offer her what she needs. Having her seems impossible until Sanctum’s owner, the mysterious Ian Taggart, makes him an offer he can’t refuse.

The perfect contract

Offered the chance to train Ashley and initiate her into the D/s lifestyle, Keith is delighted to accept. Under the guidelines of a carefully crafted contract, they lose themselves in the pleasures and intimacies of being Master and submissive. But when Ashley and her daughter are threatened, Keith realizes she needs much more than a part-time Dom. To protect her, he will have to break through the barriers of their contract and finally face the demons haunting his heart.

*Disclaimer: I received an e-copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not influence my rating or the content of my review in any way.

**Disclaimer: This book contains mature content. As a result, my review may contain references to content intended for mature audiences only.

St. Patrick's Day Promo/Sale: RILEY O'BRIEN & CO series by Jenna Sutton

Looking for the perfect read for St. Patrick's Day? Get your hands on Jenna Sutton's Riley O'Brien & Co series - and don't miss grabbing the first book, ALL THE RIGHT PLACES, on sale for just $1.99! You can also enter to win a $10 Amazon gift card - be sure to check it out below!

 

About ALL THE RIGHT PLACES

Amelia Winger is a small-town girl with big dreams of becoming a successful designer. So when she gets a gig designing accessories for denim empire Riley O’Brien & Co., it’s a dream come true. Amelia can handle the demanding job, but she isn’t quite prepared for sexy CEO Quinn O’Brien. She’s doing her best to keep things professional, but the attraction sparking between them makes it personal. And so does the secret project she's working on behind his back...

Quinn’s not interested in the new accessories, but he is interested in the woman designing them. Amelia is smart, sexy, and talented, and he hasn’t been able to stop thinking about her since they met. Mixing business and pleasure isn’t wise, but that doesn’t stop him from coming up with excuses to spend time with her. He thinks he understands the risk he’s taking when he gets involved with Amelia. But he doesn’t know he’s risking a lot more than his heart.

✦Amazon http://amzn.to/2BhCPJ7 

✦iBooks https://apple.co/1Fi41Rz 

✦Barnes and Noble http://bit.ly/2DrT2wO 

✦Kobo http://bit.ly/2FiU6DZ

   

About COMING APART AT THE SEAMS

From the author of All the Right Places, a sweet and sexy romance about finding the right words and the perfect fit...

Love can take some time to break in...

Teagan O’Brien, heiress to the Riley O’Brien & Co. denim empire, is anything but a spoiled rich girl. She’s worked hard to secure her place in the family business and can hold her own, in and out of the office. Only one man has ever been able to get under her skin—sexy football star Nick Priest. Years ago they crossed the line from friends to lovers, but he left her heartbroken. Since then, she’s been determined to keep him at arm’s length—no matter how tempting he looks in his jeans...

Nick has fortune, fame, and looks that make most women hot and bothered. But he doesn't have the woman he really wants. He knows he screwed up when he walked away from Teagan, and now that he has a second chance, he’ll do whatever it takes to win her over—no matter how tongue-tied he gets...

✦Amazon http://amzn.to/2FhLhOi 

✦iBooks https://apple.co/2oLBS7k 

✦Barnes and Noble http://bit.ly/2I8p5UE 

✦Kobo http://bit.ly/2HaWxIY

   

About HANGING BY A THREAD

Third in the “sweet and sumptuous”* romance series from the author of Coming Apart at the Seams...

Thirty-year-old Bebe Banerjee is desperate to get rid of two things: her fiancé and her virginity. Escaping her arranged marriage might be impossible, but she refuses to give her firsts to an entitled jerk who lives on another continent. Instead, she devises a plan that guarantees another man will get her momentous firsts. But she never imagined that man would be Cal O’Brien, the gorgeous heir to the Riley O’Brien & Co. denim empire….

Although Cal has always been fascinated by Bebe’s brilliant mind and beautiful eyes, he’s never pursued her. She can’t stand the sight of him, and every time they’re in the same room, they end up trading insults. Yet when he finds out about Bebe’s bold plan, he makes his move, unaware of her upcoming nuptials. He promises to make her firsts unforgettable, but he doesn’t know how hard it will be to forget her when their arrangement ends.

✦Amazon http://amzn.to/2I8J2KX 

✦iBooks https://apple.co/28ViSyr 

✦Barnes and Noble http://bit.ly/2I78PTO 

✦Kobo http://bit.ly/2FhGpce

 

About FOREVER IN BLUE JEANS

Get to know the men and women of Riley O'Brien & Co., the nation’s oldest designer and manufacturer of blue jeans. This trio of sexy, steamy novellas will make you unraveled and wish you were unzipped…

THE PERFECT FIT

After a devastating IED attack ended Zeke May’s Army career, he found the perfect civilian job with denim empire Riley O’Brien & Co. Now he needs to find the perfect roommate.

Fresh out of veterinary school, Margo Lange is excited to join one of the best animal clinics in San Francisco. But she can’t afford to live in the city alone. Fortunately, Zeke’s place is the perfect price for her budget.

How long will it take for Zeke and Margo to realize they’re the perfect fit for each other?

A KICK IN THE PANTS

Jake Lilliard has always been a gambling man. Now he’s ready to take the biggest risk of all: acting on his feelings for Kyla Andrews. As a trainee in his department at Riley O’Brien & Co., she’s off limits. But the countdown until she moves on to another job has begun…

Kyla doesn’t take risks with her job or her heart, and she doesn’t want to be a cliché – the foolish woman who falls for her sexy boss. Yet, Jake is everything she wants, and it’s impossible to resist him.

Will their gamble pay off or will Jake’s past ruin any hope of a future with Kyla?

WILL NEVER FADE

For Phoebe Werner, the management trainee program at Riley O’Brien & Co. represents a new beginning. She never expects to run into Garrett Gale again. The handsome hotelier is the only man she wants… and a reminder of what she can never have.

Years ago, Garrett enjoyed one memorable night with Phoebe before she disappeared without a word. He tried to forget her, but fate has brought her back into his life and his bed.

With Phoebe’s fears threatening to ruin their chance at happiness, can Garrett convince her that their feelings for each other will never fade?

✦Amazon http://amzn.to/2HyA5tt 

✦iBooks https://apple.co/2Dv5nik 

✦Barnes and Noble http://bit.ly/2DvdxHB 

✦Kobo http://bit.ly/2Dv2fTS

 

Enter to Win

Want to win a $10 Amazon giftcard? Enter via the rafflecopter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

About Jenna Sutton

Jenna Sutton is a former award-winning journalist who traded fact for fiction when she began writing novels. Surprisingly, the research she conducted for her articles provided a lot of inspiration for her books. She’s the author of the Riley O’Brien & Co. romances and the new Trinity Distillery series. Although Jenna calls Texas home, more often than not, she’s somewhere else. Her love’s job takes him all over the country, and she tags along, just like a groupie follows her favorite band.

You can find out more about Jenna and her work on her website http://www.jennasutton.com. Sign up for her newsletter at http://bit.ly/1K8MaCH to access the latest news and monthly contests.

   

Connect with Jenna Sutton

• Amazon: http://amzn.to/2khu0v3
• Author website: www.jennasutton.com
• BookBub: http://bit.ly/2jacup6
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/jennasuttonauthor
• Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2nkoSaw
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/jennasuttonauthor
• Newsletter: http://bit.ly/1K8MaCH
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/jsuttonauthor

Spotlight: Hello Stranger by Lisa Kleypas

New York Times bestselling author Lisa Kleypas delivers a scintillating tale of an unconventional beauty who finds passion with the spy who can’t resist her

A woman who defies her time

Dr. Garrett Gibson, the only female physician in England, is as daring and independent as any man—why not take her pleasures like one? Yet she has never been tempted to embark on an affair, until now. Ethan Ransom, a former detective for Scotland Yard, is as gallant as he is secretive, a rumored assassin whose true loyalties are a mystery. For one exhilarating night, they give in to their potent attraction before becoming strangers again.

 A man who breaks every rule

As a Ravenel by-blow spurned by his father, Ethan has little interest in polite society, yet he is captivated by the bold and beautiful Garrett. Despite their vow to resist each other after that sublime night, she is soon drawn into his most dangerous assignment yet. When the mission goes wrong, it will take all of Garrett’s skill and courage to save him. As they face the menace of a treacherous government plot, Ethan is willing to take any risk for the love of the most extraordinary woman he’s ever known.

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2mGsuAd

IndieBound: http://bit.ly/2mRfLvD

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/2EQPLH5 

Books-A-Million: http://bit.ly/2BckeNI

iBooks: https://apple.co/2DJ339o

GooglePlay: http://bit.ly/2rjQ37l

ABOUT LISA KLEYPAS

New York Times bestselling author Lisa Kleypas graduated from Wellesley College with a political science degree. She is a RITA award winning author of both historical romance and contemporary women’s fiction. Her novels are published in fourteen different languages and are bestsellers all over the world. She lives in Washington State with her husband Gregory and their two children.

Connect with Lisa Kleypas

Facebook: @LisaKleypas
Twitter: @LisaKleypas
Instagram: @lisakleypas

Blog Tour Book Review: The Hook-Up Experiment by Emma Hart

   

Author: Emma Hart

Series: The Experiment #1
Audience: +18
Genre: Chick Lit, Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: March 13th 2018
My Rating: 4 Cups
Source: InkSlinger PR
Blurb (from Goodreads):

1.Hate-screw my high school nemesis.
2.Remember to hate him.
3.Prove my brother wrong.
It should be easy.
It isn’t.

As the owner of Pick-A-Dick, New Orleans’ premier hook-up website, my job is simple. Connect two people for a no-strings, no-expectations hook-up. The plus for my clients is that I’m the one who gets to sift through the dick pics—except this time, they're required.

My problem? My brother, co-owner of Pick-A-Dick’s sister dating site, doesn’t believe it’s possible to hook up with someone three times and not fall in love. I disagree. I know it’s possible.

And my disagreement is exactly how I end up reconnected with my high school nemesis, Elliott Sloane. The guy who asked me to junior prom and then stood me up. Who egged my car when I rejected him, and convinced my senior homecoming date to ghost me.

It should be easy to hate-screw him. If only he was still that person, instead of a hot-as-hell single dad, working as a builder to make ends’ meet, fighting for custody of his daughter. Not to mention packing in the pants department...

Three hook-ups.
One outcome.
Right?

*Disclaimer: I received an eARC from this book from InkSlinger PR in exchange for an honest review. This does not influence my rating or the content of my review in any way. 

**Disclaimer: This book contains mature content. As a result, my review may contain references to content intended for mature audiences only.

Wednesday Chatter: The Good And The Bad Of Being A Mood Reader

Wednesday Chatter is a weekly feature at Ruby's Books where we'll be talking about anything and everything related to books and reading. Click here if you want to see what we talked about in the previous weeks

WARNING: Some bad words might be used in the following post. Don't say I didn't warn you!

Hello my lovely bookworms! Today I wanted to talk to you about the ups and downs of being a mood reader. Also, a big shout out and a huge thank you to Nicole from Feed Your Fiction Addiction for compiling the awesome list of discussion posts ideas where I got the idea for today's post from. Thank you Nicole!!

I've always been a mood reader. Ever since I started reading for fun, I've known to listen to that little voice inside my head asking for a certain type of book. The same can be said about me and music. However, unlike with music, where seasons influence my Spotify playlists and I know just what I'll be listening to in, say, August, my reading moods are completely random, and really unpredictable. I can stay here all day and plan what I'll be reading in April, but the truth is, I can't make a plan or a realistic TBR, because I might not want to read those books when the time comes. The good thing is that I'm not always in a mood to read a certain genre. It fluctuates, and sometimes that inner voice shuts up, satisfied for having been on a genre/author binge. As with every thing in like, being a mood reader has its good sides and its bad sides. 

The Good

• The first thing I learned in all these years is that being a mood reader allows me to discover many new to me authors. I've probably discovered more new authors when I'm in one of my moods than when I read whatever it is that happens to be next on my TBR list.

Source: Popkey

• Another good thing that happens when I'm in a mood reading episode is that I'm able to enjoy and appreciate certain books or themes a little bit more than I would if I wasn't in a mood read. It happens a lot more than you think, and it's not that it makes my rating deceitful, but it does make me ignore some flaws or things I normally wouldn't enjoy reading about, that otherwise I wouldn't be able to ignore.
• Ultimately, being a mood reader definitely helps me read more in a shorter time. For me being in a mood reading episode is the complete opposite of being in a reading slump. Take January, for instance, when I was on a romance kick and I read 11 books. By comparison, February was a slump month and I only read 7 books. Now, while I don't have a set number of books I want to read in a month, being in a reading mood definitely helps me get closer towards my yearly reading goal.

The Bad

• One bad thing of being a mood reader is that, usually, I have a hard time enjoying other genres or authors, so much so that I usually DNF books that I normally wouldn't DNF. So I've learned to not try out other stuff if I'm not in the mood for them. For example, if I'm in the mood for dark erotica, I sure won't be trying out any romance books. Luckily, this doesn't apply to books I have to read. My brain allows me to read the books I receive for reviews when I'm in my mood reading episodes, so that's a relief.
• Another bad thing is that while I'm less critical of certain themes or words or even scenes, being compelled to read a certain type of books makes me more critical of other things. It's not uncommon for me to DNF a book in the genre I'm reading or by the author I'm bingeing if I don't feel it meets certain requirements. This might sound confusing and almost like I'm contradicting myself, but I've DNFed books by my favorite authors more frequently while bingeing that author's books than in any other instance in which I picked up their book at random.
• Last but not least, being a mood reader makes my TBR get way too big. Because while the mood to read something strikes me at random and it's hard to predict when it will strike me, it's also hard to predict when it will end. And I usually don't enjoy reading something that I've just binged on if I am no longer craving that type of book. It's like I'm fully sated and I need to distance myself from that genre or that author in order to continue to enjoy their work. My TBR also gets bigger because the more books I read by an author, or in a genre, the more books I discover that meet certain criteria and the more books I want to read. Basically everything makes my TBR pile get bigger and bigger. 

Let's discuss. Are you a mood reader? What are your challenges as a mood reader? Or how lucky are you that you are not a mood reader?

Blog Tour Book Review: Cards From Khloe's Flower Shop by Isabella Louise Anderson & Giveaway

Author: Isabella Louise Anderson
Series: N/A
Audience: +18
Genre: Contemporary, Chick Lit
Publisher: Chick Lit Goddess, LLC.
Release Date: March 17th 2017
My Rating: 4 Cups
Source: Neverland Blog Tours
Blurb (from Goodreads):

As the owner of a successful florist shop, Khloe Harper trusts her instincts. She has a strong bond with her family and friends, but after being betrayed by her last love, she's kept herself at arms’ length from romance. When dashing entertainment attorney Derek Thomas walks into her store, Khloe’s interest is piqued. What at first seems like a business relationship quickly turns into romance, and Derek slowly plucks away the petals she’s been hiding behind. Just as Khloe lets down her guard, she discovers that Derek may not be worthy of her love after all.

Frumpy Connie Albright has a faux fascination with an imaginary man named Walt, thinking that by sending herself flowers from him she’ll feel less out-of-place with the “mean girls” she works with. When she comes face to face with her possible prince charming and thinking she might have a happy ending, when a truth is revealed, she wonders if she’ll ever have a Cinderella story.

A recently widowed senior, Gabby Lewis, isn't ready to give up on love—which means releasing herself from survivor's guilt and taking a chance on finding happiness and companionship again. After signing up for an online dating site for senior citizens, much to her surprise, she’s matched with Harry, an energetic and loving man, who quickly eases himself into her heart. Will Gabby take the leap of falling in love again, knowing it’s possible to have two loves of her life?

As each woman’s story develops through flowers and cards sent from Khloe's shop during the Fall months, they begin to learn that love can only truly blossom when you trust your heart.

*Disclaimer: I received an e-copy of this book from Neverland Blog Tours in exchange for an honest review. This does not influence my rating or the content of my review in any way.

**Disclaimer: This book contains mature content. As a result, my review may contain references to content intended for mature audiences only.

Wednesday Chatter #21: Trusting The Author - Take 2

Hello my lovely bookworms!

Wednesday Chatter is a weekly feature at Ruby's Books where we'll be talking about anything and everything related to books and reading. Click here if you want to see what we talked about in the previous weeks


WARNING: Some bad words might be used in the following post. Don't say I didn't warn you!

Today's topic is a little sensitive and slightly inspired by drama, so please keep that in mind. Also, keep in mind I'm writing this while being super sleepy, so I may be coming across as extra bitchy #sorrynotsorry

I want to talk to you about trusting the author, expectations and why sometimes it's best to let authors do their thing. I previously wrote another post about Trusting the author (hence the Take 2 on today's title), but I feel like I need to write another post on this topic.

A few weeks ago I saw a Facebook post that a very well-known author wrote about how they weren't writing books for a certain segment of readers, they were writing the story that they wanted to write and the story they felt was true to the characters. Notice how I'm not naming the author? It's not because I don't want to name who it is, but because this isn't a discussion about a certain author, or about author behavior, but rather a discussion about storytelling itself and the readers. This author went on to say how they received messages from fans complaining about certain books, how some characters ended up with the wrong person, yada yada yada.

Source: Popkey

This FB post prompted a memory. Years ago...I think....maybe almost 4 years now? Anyway, years ago a different author decided to do what was, in my opinion, a brilliant marketing decision/campaign, by having fans pick the ending of the last book of their trilogy. Again I won't name the author, but a little search on the net will reveal exactly who the author is.

Now here's the thing. I don't know if this author was really going to write the book as the fans wanted said book to be like. I also don't know if the author simply wanted to get more publicity on their book and chose this brilliant way to do it. All I know is that it got people talking. And boy were some of them pissed. I remember seeing comments going from "wow I didn't expect this" (which isn't that bad) to "wow this author can't write" (and really other rude comments). So basically some where really mean comments.

Source: Popkey

Can you see the hypocrisy there? Here you have an author willing to give readers what they wanted, a book where they can decide what happens, and most people were angry and disappointed and saying how the author can't write their own book. And at the same time you have readers complaining about a story not going the way they wanted it to and telling the author they were wrong with their own story. I'll tell you what, I happily voted on the ending. I kept my fingers crossed that I would get the ending that I wanted, but I also didn't fully believe that my vote was truly going to influence the story. Why? Because authors write, readers read.

Before you roll your eyes at me, hear me out. Right now, I'm 100% convinced that Alina will end up with Mal in the Grisha trilogy, which I haven't yet finished. (I'm a chicken, but I will finish reading that series in March). Does that mean I'm happy? No. But that's how the author saw that story going, and that's how I'm reading it. I'm trusting the author to write their story, not the one I want to read no matter what.

I'm not saying "don't have expectations", because we all do. I have those expectations with each and every book I pick up, and with every movie I watch. What I am saying however is that if you're not enjoying the book, the movie, whatever, why are you pushing yourself and forcing yourself to read or watch it? Stop reading it, stop watching it, pick up another book or movie or whatever. I don't understand people who force themselves to read something when they know they're not enjoying themselves. But that's another topic and one I really don't want to get into right now.

Back to talking about trusting the author. Readers trust the author when they pick up a book to write a good story (with good being a very subjective thing - much like rating stars), one that makes them feel things, one that maybe even makes them think, but definitely one that entertains them. If I can't trust the author, I don't enjoy the story. I don't like it when an author lets me down, and oftentimes I DNF the book.

I imagine we all pick up a book expecting something, whether it's a life lesson, a good representation about something or someone, or even just plain smut for those who enjoy erotica. Ultimately, we want to be entertained. Is this entertainment more important than the quality of the finished product though? I once saw a quote on social media (don't remember where or who said it; if you know, let me know in the comments) that said something along the lines of "if the book you want to read hasn't been written yet, write it yourself". Do we all have the gift of storytelling? No. And while yes, I am a reviewer, and I do write critiques to the books I read, whether positive or negative, I don't feel like I should start dissecting a story and point out all the mistakes, in detail, and offer pointers on how those mistakes should have been dealt with to those who do have the gift of storytelling, those who try to write something and publish it, no matter the form. I'm including fanfiction here by the way, since I've read some truly awesome fics.

Would you tell a painter they should have used a color instead of another? Would you tell a game designer they need to code a certain way to have the trees on the right instead of on the left of the screen? No? Well...then... trust the author to write the story that made sense to them, trust them to have a plan, or just don't read it.

Bottom line is, we all have different tastes in reading, and with the amount of books and fanfiction out there, we're bound to find the story that satisfies us. So maybe instead of telling an author how they made a mistake in writing a story the way they did, how about we branch out and try out a new author? You might even find the gem you've been waiting for.

Source: Giphy

PS: Please don't give me spoilers on the Grisha trilogy and how it ends. I'm going to read that book this month. No spoilers! :D

Let's discuss. Do you trust the author when picking up a book, no matter your expectations?

Top Ten Tuesday: Favorite Book Quotes

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl

This might seem shallow of me, but it's rare that a single quote from a book sticks with me. I'm more of a "this book was so great, the entire story sticks with me" kind of reader. But there are a few passages from books that sometimes manage to stay with me for a very long time. Here are just a few of them: