REVIEW: Defying the Odds by Kele Moon

Defying the Odds by Kele Moon

Series:Battered Hearts, #1

Publication Date: December 20th 2011

Publisher:Loose Id LLC

ebook, 165 pages
Useful Info: Goodreads, Author's Website, Book Depository

When struggling waitress Melody Dylan gives a handsome, lonely stranger a simple gift she has no clue her life is about to take a drastic turn.

The stranger ends up being Clay Powers, a famous UFC heavyweight fighter. Clay’s large build and dangerous fists have always intimidated. People in his hometown keep their distance and Clay is fine with that. Everything changes when a new waitress at the local diner buys him a piece of pie on thanksgiving. Touched by the gesture when it’s obvious she can barely afford to survive, her warm smile and lush body churn up powerful feelings that leave Clay wanting more from her than pie.

Melody is running from her past and the small, country town of Garnet is the perfect hiding place. With an ex-husband after her and scars from her abusive marriage etched deep, the last thing she expects is to fall for a man who makes a living with his fists, but she can’t resist Clay or the tender connection they share.

Finding love in the most unlikely of places, the passion is undeniable, but Clay and Melody know their haunted pasts and unpredictable futures leave the odds stacked against them.

Publisher's Note: This book contains explicit sexual situations, graphic language, and material that some readers may find objectionable: violence.

Defying the Odds was a very pleasant surprise for me! Surely, I have read all the raving reviews about this book but with my luck lately, that doesn't mean that I would actually enjoy a book others have loved... But I'm glad to say, that Defying the Odds lives up to its expectations and it was a book I really enjoyed reading!

It's no big secret that I love my contemporary romances sweet yet at the same time sexy. It's a common combination in stories out there, but it's not that successful always as one might think. In some cases the sexiness overshadows everything else, while some other times a story can be really sweet, but with little to no sex in it, something that I have no problem with, but let's face it, I tend to feel unsatisfied afterwards, searching for a little spiciness in all that sweetness. Who says I'm hard to satisfy?

Defying the Odds though has the perfect balance between sexy and sweet. Between cute and lust. It's just written in a way that will satisfy any reader's appetite and mood. And that is the best thing about this story for me. That is what I loved the most and why I couldn't wait to pick book two as soon as I finished reading this one. Kele Moon, has found in this novel the perfect balance between everything thus making her story irresistible!

As far as the plot is concerned, you will not find any big surprises here. Defying the Odds follows most of the cliches of the romantic genre but fear not, it manages to stand out. Not only because of that balance I talked about before, but because of its characters as well, both main and secondary. And that is the second thing I really loved about this story: the way the characters were written and their development. Kele Moon really focuses on her characters, since most of the secondary characters in this one will either be the main ones in future novels or will appear again. So she tries her best to introduce everyone to us and make us want to know more about them, making it hard for the reader to not anxiously await for future novels in this series. At least I know I can hardly resist them when they get published! I want to read each and everyone's story!

This one though, is the story of Clay, a UFC fighter and Melody, a waitress who runs for her past and falls right into the hands of one unmistakably sexy and gorgeous man who will change her life forever! Clay is super delicious while Melody is as naive as one could get but somehow her naivete instead of irritating me made me adore her. Their chemistry is off the charts and the romance between them has the exact pace I love in a story. No insta love or lust. Surely they like each other and are attracted to each other but not in the way I'm tired of reading lately with clenching wombs and wetness between the heroine's legs every single time she lays her eyes on the hero.

All in all, Defying the Odds was a most pleasant surprise of a book for me! I loved pretty much everything about it and as soon as I finished reading it, I just immediately grabbed the next one. And so far, it's just as good, so something tells me that this series, will be my next obsession for some time :)

*This title was provided for review via NetGalley

REVIEW: Dare you To by Katie McGarry

Dare you To by Katie McGarry

Series: Pushing the Limits, #2

Publication Date: May 28th 2013

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Hardcover, 462 pages
Useful Info: Goodreads, Author's Website, Book Depository

Ryan lowers his lips to my ear. "Dance with me, Beth."

"No." I whisper the reply. I hate him and I hate myself for wanting him to touch me again....

"I dare you..."

If anyone knew the truth about Beth Risk's home life, they'd send her mother to jail and seventeen-year-old Beth who knows where. So she protects her mom at all costs. Until the day her uncle swoops in and forces Beth to choose between her mom's freedom and her own happiness. That's how Beth finds herself living with an aunt who doesn't want her and going to a school that doesn't understand her. At all. Except for the one guy who shouldn't get her, but does....

Ryan Stone is the town golden boy, a popular baseball star jock-with secrets he can't tell anyone. Not even the friends he shares everything with, including the constant dares to do crazy things. The craziest? Asking out the Skater girl who couldn't be less interested in him.

But what begins as a dare becomes an intense attraction neither Ryan nor Beth expected. Suddenly, the boy with the flawless image risks his dreams-and his life-for the girl he loves, and the girl who won't let anyone get too close is daring herself to want it all...

What can I possibly say about Dare you To that could do this book justice? I mean honestly, once more, Katie McGarry delivers a heart wrenching story, a story so full of meaning and deep, that words can't possibly describe it. You just have to read this book to fully understand what I'm saying.

Dare you To is one of those books that will just stay with you long after you've finished reading it. Much like with Pushing the Limits, the first book in this series, the second story is not just a romantic YA story between two deeply troubled teens. Oh no, it's so much more... One might think that with how popular the New Adult genre has become lately and how most of the books in that genre feature a deeply troubled hero and/or heroine, that Dare you To would almost feel like a repetition. One couldn't be more wrong about it. On the contrary, Dare you To, is a shining example of how one should write about troubled and emotionally scarred characters without becoming repetitive and shallow while handling such delicate issues. Katie McGarry is just the kind of author one should study in order to understand how to talk about difficult things not simply because that is the trend but because they actually have something important to say with their story. She's the author whose stories reminded me why I like so much to read about far from perfect heroes. I have to admit that lately, because more and more stories feature heroes with a troubled background but too shallowly portrayed, I had forgotten why I did. I'm glad that there are still authors out there that can remind me of how much can a complex character add to a story. A complex character that has a background that is.

Anyway, I don't know what more can I say to describe what a brilliant author Katie McGarry is. You simply have to read her books and you'll understand what I mean. I won't even say anything about the plot. I think it's better for Ryan and Beth to tell you their story for themselves. I will only say that Dare you To is a great story, an incredibly well written one, with characters that are flawed but real, like every real person is. Both main and secondary characters have a voice of their own and a place in the story. All characters have a great and solid background. In the end of day, Dare you To is just the kind of story that will speak directly to your heart. I almost cried for Beth, I cried at how she had to change herself in order to survive and how in the end all that she actually needed was for someone to care about her.

All in all, Dare you To is a story that no one should miss the opportunity reading. It's the best YA book that I read in quite sometime. Surely I loved other books too, but Katie McGarry managed once more with her story to remind me what it feels to read something that goes way further than just enjoying myself with a book. Dare you To is the kind of book that will make you cry, think and love. One of the best books of 2013!

* ARC copy provided via NetGalley for review purposes

Rules of Entanglement Blog Tour: Excerpt + Giveaways!

Today I'm very excited to be the next stop in the Blog Tour for Rules of Entanglement by Gina L. Maxwell! Since I read the first book in the Fighting for Love series I just couldn't wait to get my hands on the sequel! Well, the time has finally come and let me assure you that Rules of Entanglement is as good as Seducing Cinderella and then some! Today I have an excerpt of the book to share with you and not just one but two giveaways! You can read all the details at the end of the post and you can also see the full Blog Tour schedule here for more chances to win the amazing prizes!

Jackson watched Vanessa walk back to the couch and settle in with her laptop again. Something was off about her answer. She was so jaded when it came to men and relationships, and yet no one had hurt her in the past? It didn't make any sense. She was a puzzle with missing pieces, and he wanted to find them.

"How long do you plan on working today?"

She looked up briefly, then continued jotting notes on a yellow legal pad on her knee. "I don't know, probably for a while yet."

"Have you been doing that all morning?"

"Yes, I have. What were you doing all morning?"

He smiled and leaned his hips back on the counter. "Afraid I'd run off with the maid, darling?"

She looked up, gave him an exaggerated smile, and batted her eyes innocently. "I'd hoped."

He slapped a hand over his heart. "Wife, you wound me."

"I'm not your wife yet, sugarbug, and once I can figure it out, I won't be your fiancée for much longer, either."

"Well," he said, rubbing his hands together, "then I'd better make the best of it until then. You've got exactly a half hour left to toil on those boring-ass files before I whisk you away from here."

"Since when did fiancé become interchangeable with master? I'm not going anywhere until I'm damn good and ready."

He walked over, cupped her chin in his hand, and kissed her firmly on the mouth. “Then get damn good and ready in exactly half an hour." Then he left the bungalow and a stunned redhead behind.

It took him only about twenty minutes to get the things he needed for their afternoon. He'd hunted down Robert, who had only been too happy to help him put a picnic basket together with food from one of the restaurants and some bottles of water. Since he had a few extra minutes, he stopped at the beach bar and enjoyed the view of the crystal blue ocean and chatted with the bartender.

Thirty minutes past the time he’d left, he walked up the path to the bungalow with basket in hand, fully expecting to find Vanessa in the same spot he'd left her. But to his surprise she was sitting in one of the Adirondack chairs on the front lanai, arms crossed and a stern look on her face.

"You didn't tell me how to prepare."

"Uh…what?"

"I have no idea what we're doing or where we're going. How am I supposed to know what to wear or if I need to bring anything? If we're going sightseeing then I'll want to wear shorts and a cute top and comfortable shoes for extended walking. If we're going swimming somewhere then I'll want to wear a suit and flip-flops. If we're going to lunch in one of the restaurants at the resort I have to dress up a little, which is neither of the outfits I mentioned previously. And that doesn't even cover my makeup and hair."

Jackson stood still, not wanting to make any sudden movements and scare the animal into an attack frenzy. "Holy shit, are all women like this? If you told me to be ready in a half hour I would've made sure I wasn't indecently exposed, then pulled a sixer of beer out of the fridge for the trip."

She threw her hands up and let them fall to slap her thighs in frustration. "Why am I not surprised?"

That’s when it hit him; this wasn’t anger. It was distress because she didn’t have control over the situation. She stopped working, so she obviously wanted to enjoy an afternoon out of the house, but given the circumstances, she didn’t know how.

Setting the basket on the steps, he walked over to her and brought her up by her hands. "I'm sorry. I didn't realize you needed more information. Next time I'll make sure you at least have an idea of how to prepare for any surprises I make for you. Deal?"

"Next time?” Her face softened and the sparks quelled in her green eyes. “You plan on giving me more surprises?"
He hadn't really thought about what he said, but now he took a few moments to evaluate it. "Yeah, I think I will. I don't have anything in mind at the moment, but something tells me I'm going to like keeping you on your toes."

About the Author:

Growing up in small town Fort Atkinson, WI, Gina L. Maxwell, formerly Bisbee, could often be found onstage in the latest theatrical production, performing with her high school show choir, or holding office in her local FFA chapter. She dreamed of following in her father’s footsteps in the entertainment business, of enabling her audience to forget about life for a few hours as they enjoyed the stories she told through her love of singing, dancing, and acting. It wasn’t until her sophomore year in college when she realized she had no acting talent to speak of and her dream needed some adjusting. Another ten years would pass before she discovered a different means to accomplishing the same dream.

Within those ten years Gina married her high school sweetheart, had two beautiful children, and moved more times than she cared to count. In 2009 she started writing as a hobby while her kids were in school, and it quickly became an obsession she couldn’t stop, and then a dream to publish stories of love and passion for romance addicts just like her.

Three years later, her dream came true when she signed with Entangled Publishing for a total of seven books in two of their imprints.

Her Fighting for Love series with MMA heroes debuted July 20th, 2012 for the digital Brazen imprint with the first book, Seducing Cinderella, and reached #9 on Barnes & Noble’s best seller list in just seven days.

The first book in her paranormal romance trilogy, Desires of the Soul, is set to release both digitally and in mass trade paperback in Summer 2013 for the Entangled Select imprint.
When she’s not writing or wrangling plot bunnies, Gina keeps busy with her wonderful family and their ever-growing extra-curricular schedules. Thanks to their immense patience and support, she’s able to do The Thing She Was Meant To Do and live her dream of bringing a little romantic fantasy to the world, even if only in the pages of a good book.

Visit Gina:

Goodreads ~ Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook

About the Book:

Title: Rules of Entanglement 
Author: Gina L. Maxwell
Genre: Contemporary Romance 
Length: 397 pages
Release Date: March 2013 
Imprint: Brazen
Purchase Info: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, iBookstore

Seven days. And seven rules to break...

District Attorney Vanessa McGregor firmly believes that structure and order are the stuff that dreams are made of. Happiness can be planned - and it starts with seven rules she's laid out for her future. But as she's organizing her best friend's wedding in Hawaii, all of Vanessa's best-laid plans are about to meet their match in a wickedly hot MMA fighter...

Jackson "Jax" Maris is focused on surfing, training and fighting. That is, until he opens up his big mouth, and finds himself having to pretend he's engaged to his little sister's best friend, Vanessa. When they're force to share a romantic bungalow, however, their little charade suddenly takes a turn for the seriously sexy. And while Jax is definitely not part of Vanessa's long-term plan, he has seven days - and seven naughty nights - to turn her seven-rule plan upside down.

~~~~~~~~~~~~GIVEAWAYS~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Giveaway 1: Entangled Publishing is generously offering  1 Seducing Cinderella and Rules of Entanglement swag pack to one lucky winner.Open to all!

Guidelines

~ The contest is open to all.

~ You must be 13 years old or over to participate.

~ The winner will be chosen via Random.org

~ The prize is submitted by the author/publisher and I have no responsibility whatsoever over it.

~ The contest will be open until May 18th.

~ The winner will be notified via e-mail and will have 48 hours to confirm his/her e-mail address before a new winner is selected.

~Fill the form below to enter ~

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Giveaway 2: There's also a Tour Wide Giveaway in celebration of the Rules of Entanglement release where one lucky winner will receive a Kindle Fire HD or a $200 Amazon Gift Card. Just fill the form below to enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

REVIEW: Seducing the Secret Heiress by Jennifer St. George

Seducing the Secret Heiress by Jennifer St. George

Publication Date:January 10th 2013

Publisher:Destiny Romance

Paperback, 188 pages
Useful Info: Goodreads, Author's Website

Diamond heiress, Charlotte Wentworth, is passionate about two things - cooking and her billionaire fiancée, Paul. That is, until she finds Paul has been unfaithful. Shocked, she flees to Europe where she is determined to build a life of her own without her family's name, fortune or connections. When she meets gorgeous Englishman, Gabe Grenville, a famous reality TV producer, sparks fly. Charlotte passes herself off as a lowly catering assistant but soon finds herself a star on his TV cooking show. But how will he react when he discovers Charlotte's true identity? And Paul has not given up – he has his own agenda for forcing Charlotte to return to Australia and marry him.

Will their love turn into a recipe for disaster? Or will it turn out to be a perfect concoction?

Seducing the Secret Heiress is the second book by Jennifer St. George, the first one being The Convenient Bride, which I absolutely loved, so, I started this second book of hers having somewhat high expectations to be honest. And I'm so glad to say that St. George has lived up to them! Her books are incredibly cute and sweet and romantic, with enough dose of sexiness in there to keep you turning the pages.

The story of Seducing the Secret Heiress follows more or less all the cliches of romantic stories but still, Jennifer St. George's writing style and her descriptions and settings are some of the things that make her stories stand out among the rest.

This story follows Charlotte Wentworth, a diamond heiress from Australia who ventures to Europe in escape of her family and cheating fiance and somewhere in Italy she meets Gabe, a reality producer who has trust issues of himself. The plot here doesn't have any surprises. Couple meets, falls in love, resists their feelings for various reasons, misunderstandings happen and all that leads us to the end. But the fact that the plot isn't hiding any surprises doesn't make this story any less pleasant or cute.

I absolutely loved both Charlotte and Gabe and thought their characters were well developed for a rather short story. I found a little hard to believe the way both Charlotte chose to stay in the same house with a complete stranger as well as the easy way with which Gabe trusted Charlotte, especially since he faced some trust issues, but still, Jennifer St. George's writing style managed to take me away and travel me once more! Her descriptions of places and cities are plainly powerful and as a writer she has the ability to make her readers travel. With both her stories, you don't just read to meet a new couple but a few places along the way.

On the other hand, what made Seducing the Secret Heiress so interesting to me was the fact that it was focused on a cooking reality and it was topped with a couple of amazing recipes. Well, not the actual recipes, but lately I find myself enjoying romances that evolve around food. And no, I'm not on a diet (yet)!

All in all, Jennifer St. George delivers yet another enjoyable story and she is slowly becoming one of my favorite authors for many reasons. I'm just eager to see what she has in store for later!

*This title was provided for review via NetGalley

Lover Undercover Blog Tour: Guest Post with Samanthe Beck + Giveaway!

Today I'm very glad to welcome back to Books to Brighten your Mood author Samanthe Beck as part of the Blog Tour for her newest release with Entangled, Lover Undercover! During the span of a month Samanthe had two almost back to back releases with Entangled, all the better for us to indulge in her sinfully hot stories, don't you think? I just finished reading Lover Undercover and let me tell you it was just perfect, so stay tuned for my review which will be posted real soon :) But for now, let's welcome Samanthe who is here today sharing a very interesting guest post and like always, don't forget to check at the end of the post for the details of our giveaway :)

The dangers of falling in love while undercover by Samanthe Beck

Hi Anna! Thanks for having me back at Books to Brighten Your Mood to talk about my new release, “Lover Undercover,” from Entangled’s ultra-sexy Brazen line. Buckle up, because this time I’ve thrown danger, suspense, and dirty-dancing into the mix!

Kylie Roberts reluctantly switches identities with her injured identical twin, Stacy, to dance at Deuces, the upscale Hollywood strip ... er ... gentlemen’s club where Stacy works as a featured performer. The first night on the job is murder. Literally. Kylie finds a customer beaten to death in the parking lot. Next thing she knows, she's staring into the jaded eyes of Detective Trevor McCade, who, hours earlier, served as the unsuspecting recipient of her very first lap dance. He needs her help to solve the crime, and promises to protect her, but his keen gaze says he knows full well she's not telling the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. With Trevor posing as her new best client, the dances get hotter but the leads remain cold. Can this substitute stripper lure a killer to justice without losing her life ... or her heart?

Yikes…sounds dangerous, right? Let’s just say falling in love while undercover comes with a unique set of hazards! Kylie senses the peril of her ruse right from the start. Way before she knows Trevor’s a cop, she knows he’s a serious threat to her peace of mind:

Dark, seen-it-all eyes locked on hers. Recognition—one observer to another. The other men looked at her, but this man saw her.

Her stomach quivered in reaction, and her thighs tensed. In the midst of fear and mortification came a strange shock of…excitement, followed quickly by shame. What kind of woman got excited about cavorting next to naked in front of a complete stranger, especially one who liked to spend his evenings in a club like Deuces? A sick woman, for sure, but humiliating as it was, she couldn’t deny the secret thrill as his eyes moved over her body.

Trevor soon has his own dangers to deal with. This duty-first homicide detective finds himself posing as a customer, and on the receiving end of some super-hot private dances. Turns out his rule-book wasn’t written for such situations:

“I’m all eyes.” Keeping them on her face, he leaned back in his chair and mentally recited the Law Enforcement Oath of Honor.

She rose from his lap and slowly tipped her head back until her hat tumbled away. Then she crossed her arms behind her neck, lifted her hair, and let it cascade down her back. The Oath segued into a prayer for strength.

Prayers wouldn’t be enough, he realized, when she splayed her hands on her rib cage and slowly slid them up her torso toward her breasts. At the last minute, however, she hesitated. Her eyes drifted to his. “Do you want me to…?”

The cynical part of his brain took charge, because he didn’t have any prayers left. “You’ve got the innocent, virginal act down pat. It’s surprisingly effective.” Then the cynic surrendered and all he had left was the truth. “Hell, yes, I want you to,” he whispered. “I might die if you don’t.”

Brings a whole new meaning to the term, “undercover,” huh? Is “Lover Undercover” too hot to handle? You’ll have to judge for yourselves. ;)


About the Author

Sam was transfixed from an early age with any tale featuring a handsome prince, a great dress, and, of course, the all-important kiss, and eventually aspired to write her own happily-ever-afters. Naturally, she became a lawyer. The legal world heaved a sigh of relief a few years ago when Samanthe retired from law to take the plunge as a writer.

When not living the glamorous life of a romance author (i.e., chained to her computer), Samanthe keeps busy with the care and feeding of her extremely patient prince-charming of a husband, a not-so-patient ball of energy known as their son, a furry ninja named Kitty, and Bebe, the trash talkin’ Chihuahua. Their love, support, and willingness to eat Pizza Hut three or more times a week enables Samanthe to pursue her literary dreams.

Visit Samanthe

Website ~ Goodreads ~ Twitter ~ Facebook

About the Book
Title: Lover Undercover

Author: Samanthe Beck

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Length: 293 pages
Release Date: April 2013

ISBN: 978-1-62266-977-6
Imprint: Brazen
Buy it at: Amazon, B&N, Kobo

He’s undercover. She’s in over her head. Yoga instructor Kylie Roberts is the good twin. At least she was—until an accident forces Kylie to step into her twin’s sexy stilettos at a posh Hollywood “men’s club." But nothing could've prepared Kylie for the dead body in the club’s parking lot or the ridiculously hot detective who insists the killer is targeting her regulars. Detective Trevor McCade needs Kylie’s help to draw out the killer. It means long nights undercover and long dances where Kylie’s body tempts him with sensual promises. Dances that leave them both wanting more. But despite Kylie's hidden identity and the danger lurking in the shadows, it’s only a matter of time before Kylie and Trevor take this undercover operation under the covers…

~~~~~~~~~~~~GIVEAWAY~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Entangled Publishing is generously offering one PDF copy of Lover Undercover to one lucky winner. Giveaway ends May 11th and it is open internationally.

~Guidelines~

~ The contest is open to all.
~ You must be 13 years old or over to participate.
~ The winner will be chosen via Random.org
~ The prize is submitted by the author and I have no responsibility whatsoever over it.
~ The contest will be open until May 11th.
~ The winner will be notified via e-mail and will have 48 hours to confirm his/her e-mail address before a new winner is selected.

~Fill the form below to enter ~

a Rafflecopter giveaway

REVIEW: The Marriage Mistake by Jennifer Probst

The Marriage Mistake by Jennifer Probst

Series:Marriage to a Billionaire, #3

Publication Date:November 6th 2012

Publisher:Gallery Books

Paperback, 328 pages

Useful Info: Goodreads, Author's Website, Book Depository

Carina Conte has had a crush on her brother Michael’s best friend, Max Gray, since she was a teenager. Now she’s earned her MBA and come to work at Michael’s new venture, America’s fastest-growing bakery empire. But some things never change: her family still treats her like a child. With three drop-dead gorgeous siblings, she’s still the ugly duckling of the bunch. And Max, the company’s new CEO, still barely notices her.

Max knows Carina Conte is strictly off limits. But hot-blooded lust wins out at a conference when the two share a scorching one-night stand—and are busted by her mother! Now, forced by old-world Italian tradition into a marriage he’s not ready for, Max is miserable—and Carina is furious. Her new husband is about to realize that hell hath no fury like a woman transformed…

Reading The Marriage Mistake was so much more fun than reading the previous title in this series! It was so much fun that I just couldn't put this book down. I just loved it! It was fun and cute and super sexy and in overall a contemporary romance title written exactly in the way I like.

The third instalment is Jennifer Probst's Marriage to a Billionaire follows the exact same pattern the previous books do, but in this case, I really loved both Carina and Max, much more than I did Michael and Maggie of the previous title. Especially Carina is so much more fun to read than Maggie was and I didn't have any problems with her, like I had with Maggie. Minor problems, I know, but they had managed to spoil some of the fun of the book, whereas here, I'm perfectly content with both my main characters.

I just knew that this story would work better for me, even while reading The Marriage Trap. You see we got to know a bit about Carina from that book, so, I knew that she would be a heroine right up my alley. And in Marriage Mistake, she proves just that. And at this point, I should add that the woman Carina grew up to be was even better than what I expected. I liked her confidence, especially after witnessing her self-esteem problems in the second book, and the way she knew exactly what she wanted from her sex partner, even if she was relatively inexperienced.

Max on the other hand, is as much an alpha male as one could hope for, without being a caveman occasionally like Michael did. He was drool worthy and sexy as hell, a hero I always appreciate reading about.

As for the secondary characters, all the protagonists of the previous books make their appearance as well as some of the rest of the recurring characters, and since this is the third book, the character development department is pretty good. We already know much about the secondary characters and we just see how their lives progress, while the development of the main ones is evident by the end of the story.

The story is typical for a chick lit title, even cheesy at times, but it's written in such a fun way that I couldn't care less. After all, the premise let's the reader know exactly what he/she should expect from this story, so if you don't like what the premise is about, then don't try this one. If like me, you search for a hot, cute and light read, then The Marriage Mistake is just the book for you.

One last thing I want to mention, is that the 50 Shades phenomenon, is evident in Probst's writing style as well. There are certain references to that book and Carina's submissive side will probably appeal to fans of the genre. Don't expect any heavy BDSM elements, but there are certain references and the subject is mentioned a few times.

All in all, The Marriage Mistake was exactly what I had hoped it to be and I had a really good time while reading it. So good a time that I can't wait for any future releases of this author :)

*This title was provided for review from Edelweiss

REVIEW: Tempted by Trouble by Michelle Smart

Tempted by Trouble by Michelle Smart

Publication Date:March 11th 2013

Publisher:Entangled: Indulgence

ebook, 174 pages
Useful Info: Goodreads, Author's Website

Socialite Pippa Rowantree has always provided excellent fodder for the UK’s gossip rags. After another unfortunate scandal sends the gossips into a feeding frenzy, her shamed family retaliates by forcing her into hiding at old family friend Marco Capello’s lush Caribbean estate—literally the last place on earth she wants to be.As far as Marco’s concerned, wild child Pippa has ruined his life once and he’ll be damned if he lets her do it again. But it’s hard to reconcile the adolescent he knew with the mature, beautiful woman who stands before him. Soon he's questioning if everything the media is claiming about PIppa is the truth or if he should trust his heart.

Tempted by Trouble is a rather difficult book for me to rate. And it's difficult because even though I really enjoyed reading it, there were some aspects of the story that made me want to bang my head on any available surface! And the main thing that made me feel that way was Marco, the main hero of the story.

But let's take things from the start. Tempted by Trouble is a typical romantic story about second chance in love. Pippa is a socialite, the golden girl who has everything right on her feet and chooses to throw them away and be a party animal and Marco, her step uncle, who is her first and only love but doesn't want to ever see her again because he believes she has destroyed his life, or does he?

The setting couldn't be more perfect for me, seeing that it takes place in the Caribbean, and the story, well, it's right up my alley. Add to that the fact that Michelle Smart did a wonderful job both with her writing and the way she developed her characters in such a small story and you get why I really enjoyed this story. I mean we're talking about a rather short story, but still, Smart managed to provide her characters with a solid past, to explore them throughout her story and make her readers care for them. That is a great accomplishment in my book! While I was reading this story I felt more than once my heart breaking for Pippa, the way everyone treated her and the way no one could understand that she was so messed up and all she needed was some love. All she needed was for someone to care about her. And maybe because I cared so much about Pippa, I hated so much Marco and his behavior towards her. Granted, maybe Marco's behavior was justified but still, you never get to treat someone in that way. No matter how much you believe you were wronged, being so short sighted speaks volumes of your own character. For the best part of the book I just wanted to slap both Marco and Pippa. Well, mostly Marco for treating Pippa that way and then I just wanted to slap some sense into Pippa for still dreaming of a man that treated her that way for no apparent reason. He was just horrible to her right until the end. And in case you're wondering, no, he didn't redeem himself by then. Even if he tried to protect Pippa and changed his behavior towards her, I still couldn't forgive him his previous horrible behavior. He was a man with such a huge ego and no matter what he did couldn't change that.

As you can guess, I got quite passionate with this book right? Which is a good thing because it means I got invested in the story, and that is where I find it difficult to rate this book. Because I loved it, but I really hated the main hero. One other thing that I quite didn't like also, were the sex scenes. While I found the whole writing style really good, the sex scenes were a failure. They were very cheesy and descriptions like:

"The first press of his lips on hers turned her bones into fondue." or

"All that mattered was being in his arms again and being kissed with such passion and hunger her whole being turned into noodles"

just killed my mood. Add to that some really unnecessary commands while in the act like "Take me." or "Kiss me." more than once and yeah, the sex scenes were definitely not my favorite part of this story.

Anyway, all in all, Tempted by Trouble is a decent story, well written for the most part of it, that I really enjoyed reading if not for the main hero. He was my main source of problems while reading this book, but Pippa just made up for him. She was one memorable character, so strong and so kind that I just loved her. And maybe because I loved her so much I hated Marco for the way he treated her. Michelle Smart did an incredible job and I just can't wait for her next story!

 

* This tile was provided for review via NetGalley

REVIEW: Playing the Maestro by Aubrie Dionne

Playing the Maestro by Aubrie Dionne

Publication Date:February 11th 2013

Publisher:Entangled Publishing (Bliss)

Edition:ebook, 190 pages
Useful Info: Goodreads, Author's Website

Melody Mires has sworn off dating musicians, but when the sexy European conductor Wolf Braun takes over her struggling symphony, her hesitation almost flies out the window with the notes of her flute—until he opens his mouth. Wolf is arrogant, haughty, and seems to have a personal vendetta against Melody. Oh, and he’s her boss. If she wants to keep her job as principal flutist, she’ll have to impress Wolf while simultaneously keeping her undeniable attraction to herself.

Wolf came to America to get as far away from his past as possible, and to recover some of the swagger he had as one of the world’s best maestros. He never imagined being forced to reassess the entire orchestra’s talent—and potentially fire anyone who doesn’t make his cut. Dating the attractive flutist is out of the question, but as their feelings reach a fever pitch, can they risk both their careers for a chance at love?

Let's face it, I have a thing for all Entangled's titles, especially those of the Bliss imprint. It's no secret! I love how sweet and cute and at the same time sexy they are without having any really hot sex scenes in them. So, when I read the premise of Playing the Maestro I couldn't wait to get started with it. I mean I knew I would read a cute and romantic story plus, as far as an interesting setting is concerned, one couldn't hope for a better, seeing this one is about a maestro! I haven't read anything like that before, so naturally I was beyond intrigued!

And while Playing the Maestro is fresh and unique in it's own way, it's cute and sweet, everything I had hoped for exactly, still, it failed to impress me or catch my interest. After a point, I couldn't care less about what happened in the story. Not because it was a bad one or the writing was bad but simply because I was bored. And I'm terribly sorry to say that but despite how fresh is the idea behind this story, still, the result was a lukewarm romance and a plot that didn't have anything exciting in it. It was terribly predictable, following every single cliche out there that even a gorgeous maestro or a cute flutist couldn't save the day. I may enjoyed reading about how the orchestra operated or Wolf's ideas to make kids care about classical music, but other than that there was little else I enjoyed in this book. Not that I hated everything else, I just had read everything before so there was nothing to keep my interest there. And if it wasn't a rather short story, I would have put it aside before even reaching the middle, but since it was a quick one, I decided I might as well finish it.

The plot like I said isn't anything fresh or interesting. Full of cliches and as predictable as one could get. The writing style, may be decent, but still I couldn't really appreciate it or give much thought to it since for most of the time, I just read for the sake of reading. With no real interest or a mind set to what I was reading. Too many things just went unnoticed truth be told.

The characters were ok I guess. I liked them. But I wasn't thrilled with them. And like with everything else in this story, I didn't care for them. And that is the main problem. That the author couldn't make me care about anything. Why? Maybe because despite the fresh setting, everything else was presented with in a rush way. Wolf hasn't even met Melody and he's set on impressing her even though he reminds him of his dreaded ex while Melody on the first page of the story vows to never date another musician and a little later she dreams about her dreamy boss... I get that this is a rather short story, but if you can't built your characters and a decent romantic plot in so few lines, use more pages or just don't do it at all. Honestly, at the time I picked up this book I was already tired of romances that just were on fast forward so maybe my judgement is a little bit harsher about this one specifically. But I just can't help it and I'm sorry about that.

All in all, Playing the Maestro is a sweet romantic title but nothing unique or fresh except for the fact that here the main hero is a maestro - and that is something you don't read about every day. Other than that, this story is exactly like a thousand others out there.

 * This title was provided for a review from the publisher.

EARLY REVIEW: Hard Way by Katie Porter

Hard Way by Katie Porter

Publication Date:April 9th 2013

Publisher: Samhain Publishing

Edition:ebook, 327 pages
Useful Info: Goodreads, Author's Website

"No holds barred. No mercy. No going back "

Warning: Time to put the kidding aside. Although 100% consensual between a husband and wife, this book contains violent sex that, in some scenes, will appear forced. Readers sensitive to rape scenarios should proceed with caution...

Throughout their eight-year marriage, U.S. Air Force Captain Liam Dash Christiansen and his wife, Sunita, stayed strong through long separations. However Sunny s new job as a high-profile legal advisor puts a severe strain on their enduring bond.

Her abrupt announcement that she wants a divorce is like a missile to Dash s gut but her confession that she s met another man is what unleashes his shocking passion. Sunny is surprised and nearly repulsed by her body s reaction to Dash s animalistic attempt at complete possession. That doesn t stop her from craving more.

With Sunny s whispered approval, their sex life explodes. Not only does Dash s aggression tap into dark fantasies, she s hopeful that now, "at last," she ll get what she s always wanted from her devil-may-care, don t-give-a-damn husband. Something honest and candid. Something real.

Yet fiery, carnal encounters won t heal two long-broken hearts. Their bodies are finally speaking the same forbidden language, but it will take more than taboo desires to learn each other for the first time and to save a marriage that s only just begun.

Hard Way is one of those books that make it really difficult for me to rate. It's that kind of a book that I had quite a few problems with but I can't just ignore the brilliance of the author and totally dismiss it as a bad read. There were things I liked, things I didn't like and things I both loved and hated in Hard Way. Actually, the title of the story itself couldn't describe my feelings towards it better!

Let's start with the things I liked. Do you remember my review of Lead and Follow written by the same author? I was absolutely amazed by that title, so naturally, anything else written by the same author was a must read after that. So, when I got the chance to review in advance Hard Way, I jumped right at it. The thing I loved so much about Lead and Follow was the way Katie Porter (aka Carrie Lofty and Lorelie Brown) made me enjoy so much a story that was outside my comfort zone. So, when I read the blurb of Hard Way I immediately thought that I was in for a hell of a ride, pretty much the same like before. I mean I have never before read about a couple enjoying engaging in rape scenarios. Like a menage, it is a bit outside my comfort zone, and because of that fact, I was all the more eager to read this book. So, I just kept an open mind towards all the sex scenes. And no matter how violent or rough they were, I didn't mind one bit that fact. I knew what I was going to read, so if I cringed towards any of the sex scenes described it would be no one else's fault but mine. The summary warns the reader enough. So, even though some parts were a bit (or a lot, depending on how you see it) violent, that wasn't my problem. I couldn't engage emotionally in what I was reading, but I could still feel the characters. And that's the brilliance of this duo in my opinion. The way they can make the reader understand their characters and how they communicate and express their emotions during the sexual act.

So, the violence or the "rapes" weren't my problem in Hard Way. My problem was that while I know how great Katie Porter can built a character, in Hard Way both Dash and Sunny felt underdeveloped, felt like a couple of characters with no past and a very bizarre present. And here I have to note that I haven't read any of the previous books in the series, so maybe I'm missing some crucial parts. But since those books can be read as stand alones, I still believe that the author could have done a little bit of a better job building the main characters. The story starts immediately, throwing the reader in the midst of a marriage ready to fall apart, with Sunny asking for a divorce and Dash reacting a little bit violent. Don't get me wrong, he didn't force himself on his wife, he was just rougher than usual and as soon as he saw that Sunny liked it, he stepped up his game. And here is the problem. It was way too soon in the story for the reader to understand either Dash's or Sunny's reactions. There were times that I didn't understand Sunny's reactions at all, if she liked Dash's violence or if she meant it when she asked him to stop. Or I couldn't understand why Dash reacted the way he did. It was the beginning of the story, so naturally the characters hadn't enough time to show us their background. Later on, they developed, I could more or less understand them, but the damage was done. I had lost some of my enthusiasm towards the story.

My other problem was that I couldn't understand how was possible for a couple to be together for so many years and never discuss their problems or understand that they were in for some kinky stuff. You can be shy, but there are always some hints. Granted, both Sunny and Dash were two characters with many problems. So naturally, their marriage would be problematic as well. But the dynamics of their relationship were revealed too late in the story. While the author should show us at first, or at least early in the story, how their marriage operated and then focus on the sex parts, it happened the exact opposite. And while both characters redeemed themselves by the end, the damage was once more already done. Even if by the end Sunny resumed responsibility for her own mistakes rather than blaming Dash for everything, it was a small consolation for me. I already spent the whole book trying to figure her out and disliking her. Because Sunny was my other problem with Hard Way. For a fighter and a woman who knew what she wanted and how to get, she sure acted like a spoiled brat. She chose to fight for anything else but for the man she supposedly loved. Her aversion to having kids or acknowledge what her husband wanted made me like her even less. Because granted, every man or woman can choose whether having kids is what he/she wants in life, but Sunny, just didn't know what she wanted. Her reasoning was a little bit self centred as self centred was the way she chose to react to her fear for Dash's life. But like I said, by the end she redeemed herself. I understood why she acted the way she did and even sympathised with her at some points but still, it was a small consolation.

Dash on the other hand, was a character I liked far more even though he too was a very complex character who could have been explored way more than he was, but still he was sweet even if he seemed to suffer from a split personality at times. I mean he was like two completely different characters throughout the whole story, something that was explained by the end as well, but still I liked him way more than I did Sunny. Bottom line, the problem in Hard Way was that it had two main characters who could add to the whole story if they were better explored, but as it was, they felt incomplete, messing with the whole plotline.

All in all, Hard Way is a story that I enjoyed but had many significant problems especially with the character building. Readers who have a problem with rape scenarios or rough sex should be warned to stay away from this particular story. You won't like it believe me. But for me, the problem with this book didn't lie there. It lay on an inferior character building, especially if one thinks of what these two authors are capable of achieving in that particular department.

* This title was provided for review from the author.

Private Practice Blog Tour: Interview with Samanthe Beck + Giveaway!

Today I'm very excited to be the next stop in the Private Practice Blog Tour! Private Practice is the debut novel for Samanthe Beck with Entangled Publishing and it's the story of a smart doctor who falls in love with the man who teaches her how to seduce the man of her dreams! I don't know about you but I just can't resist those stories :)
Samanthe stops by today to talk all about Private Practice and answer a couple more of my questions! So, let's give her a warm welcoming and don't forget to check at the end of the post for the giveaway details :)

Anna: Hello Samanthe and welcome to Books to Brighten your Mood! Could you please tell us a bit more about your newest release with Entangled, Private Practice?

Samanthe: Thanks for having me! Books to Brighten your Mood is the perfect place to talk about Private Practice, because that’s why I wrote it—to brighten a reader’s mood, give her a giggle or two and deliver the all-important happily-ever-after. Private Practice is my debut novel and I’m thrilled “my first time” was with Entangled’s Brazen line. I definitely can’t wait to do it again! To give you the cocktail napkin summary of the story…Dr. Ellie Swann returns to her tiny hometown of Bluelick, KY to open her general practice, but, before the ink dries on her “The Doctor Is In” sign, she learns the object of her secret—and completely unrequited—adoration, Roger Reynolds is newly single. According to his ex-fiancé, Melody, he’s in the market for a wild, sexually adventurous woman. Ellie’s wondering how she can turn herself into his perfect sexy soul-mate when local bad-boy Tyler Longfoot shows up on her doorstep at 2:00 a.m. with a jealous drunk’s bullet in his butt and a question on his lips. What can he do to convince her not to report the incident to the authorities? Tyler’s a walking, talking wealth of sexual know-how. All of the sudden, Ellie’s ready to negotiate the price of her silence!

Anna: Tyler is obviously a really bad boy! What’s that certain appeal that makes bad boys so irresistible to everyone, proper and good girls included?

Samanthe: One of the best parts about writing “Private Practice” was the chance to get up-close-and-personal with Tyler! He’s six-foot, two inches of Harley-riding, hell-raising naughtiness, and just the right man to show Type-A Ellie how to unleash her inner wild woman. I think that’s a big part of the bad boy appeal…they give us the chance to let our bad girl out to play.

Anna: Could you please give us a short physical description of your two main heroes, Tyler and Ellie?

Samanthe: Tyler’s tall, dark and dangerously sexy, with flashing green eyes that leave a girl with no mistake about his intentions and a wicked smile that makes her wish he’d hurry!

Ellie describes herself as a short, brown haired, brown-eyed former nerd. Tyler, on the other hand, has this to say when he sees her for the first time in ten years: The crazy cap of frizzy ringlets she’d never quite tamed as a kid had turned into a tumble of smooth, ebony waves. Pert features and dimpled cheeks had matured and refined, so the grown-up version delivered a one-two punch of sweet and sexy. Back in the day, she’d worn glasses so thick she could see into next week, but now, only big, brown Bambi eyes blinked up at him. And that mouth. Even bare, it looked soft and ripe and kissable.

Anna: If Private Practice would become a movie who will be your top choices to play Ellie, Roger and Tyler?

Samanthe: I think people expect me to cast Rachel Bilson as Ellie, because of the whole small-town doctor, Hart of Dixie angle, and I love her, but the actress in my head when I wrote the story was Mila Kunis.

I had a harder time finding a real life Tyler. Honestly, the guy on the book cover worked for me. Let’s say a buffed-up, green-eyed Ben Barnes.

In my mind, Roger was a young Paul Walker…blond, blue-eyed, impossibly good looking.

Anna:  Roger is Ellie’s dream man but she is tempted by Tyler when she tries her best to get what she wants, which is Roger. I was wondering how easy is it in your opinion to fall in love with the image you have created of a man rather than the real man.

Samanthe: I think the whole “dream guy/girl” phenomenon accounts for why we love celebrities. We don’t really know them—we connect with the image they project. We fall for a pretty container and a persona we invent for them based on very limited exposure to the person. Is it really love? No. Of course not, (though, if you’re reading this, Matthew McConaughey, yes…it’s really love).

Anna: Tyler teaches Ellie how to seduce the guy of her dreams. How difficult is for the “teacher” to fall for his “student”?

Samanthe: It takes Tyler some time to sort out lust from deeper emotions, but he knows something feels different with Ellie pretty early on. He enjoys her as much outside of the bedroom as he does in it. He likes messing with her—taking her carefully laid lessons plans and just effing them all the hell up—because she’s fun to play with. But Ellie triggers some serious feelings too. She has a difficult relationship with her dad, which brings out Tyler’s empathy as well as a boat-load of protective instincts, and that’s new for him. She holds back the real reason for their “lessons,” but he figures from the get-go she’s building her bedroom repertoire in order to impress someone. Before long he’s jealous of this mystery man, which is also a new experience for him.

Anna: What are your future plans? What should we expect from you after Private Practice? 

Samanthe: I’m like pre-schooler-at-the-petting-zoo excited-slash-terrified to announce I have a new Brazen coming out in April, called Lover Undercover! (Pointless anxiety is part of my charm).

Anna: Is there any author who influenced your work?

So many! Could I be the love child of Nora Roberts and Jill Shalvis--the one neither one of them ever talks about? I’ve read and loved all the other Brazen authors, including my release-sisters, Christine, “Down & Dirty,” Bell and Tessa, “Protecting What’s His,” Bailey.

Anna: When not writing, how do you like spending your free time?

Samanthe: I’m a beach bum lucky enough to live close to the shore in Southern California. An ideal afternoon involves my husband, our four-year-old son, and sand. Lots of sand. Throw in a (sand-free) frozen margarita and I’m in heaven.

Anna: Which place in the world are you dying to visit?

Samanthe: I’m such a cold weather wimp, (I know, I know…winter in Los Angeles…wah, wah). I’m embarrassed to admit I’ve been fantasizing about Tahiti lately. My three favorite words: over water bungalow.

Thank you Samanthe for being here today :)

About the Author

Sam was transfixed from an early age with any tale featuring a handsome prince, a great dress, and, of course, the all-important kiss, and eventually aspired to write her own happily-ever-afters. Naturally, she became a lawyer. The legal world heaved a sigh of relief a few years ago when Samanthe retired from law to take the plunge as a writer.

When not living the glamorous life of a romance author (i.e., chained to her computer), Samanthe keeps busy with the care and feeding of her extremely patient prince-charming of a husband, a not-so-patient ball of energy known as their son, a furry ninja named Kitty, and Bebe, the trash talkin’ Chihuahua. Their love, support, and willingness to eat Pizza Hut three or more times a week enables Samanthe to pursue her literary dreams.

Visit Samanthe

Website ~ Goodreads ~ Twitter ~ Facebook

About the Book
Title: Private Practice


Author: Samanthe Beck

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Length: 263

Release Date: February 2013

ISBN: 978-1-62266-788-8

Imprint: Brazen
Buy it at: Amazon, B&N, Kobo, Books on Board

He’ll teach her how to bring a man to his knees…

Dr. Ellie Swan has a plan: open her practice in tiny Bluelick, Kentucky, so she can keep an eye on her diabetic father, and make hometown golden-boy Roger Reynolds fall in love with her. But Ellie has a problem. Roger seeks a skilled, sexually adventurous partner, and bookish Ellie doesn’t qualify.

Tyler Longfoot only cares about three things: shaking his bad boy image, qualifying for the loan his company needs to rehab a piece of Bluelick’s history, and convincing Ellie to keep quiet about the “incident” that lands him on her doorstep at two a.m. with a bullet in his behind.

The adorable Dr. Swan drives a mean bargain, though. If sex-on-a-stick Tyler will teach Ellie how to bring a man to his knees, she’ll forget about the bullet. Armed with The Wild Woman’s Guide to Sex and Tyler’s lessons, Ellie is confident she can become what Roger needs…if she doesn’t fall for Tyler first.

~~~~~~~~~~~~GIVEAWAY~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Entangled Publishing is generously offering one e-copy of Private Practice to one lucky winner. Giveaway ends April 21st and it is open internationally.

~Guidelines~

~ The contest is open to all.
~ You must be 13 years old or over to participate.
~ The winner will be chosen via Random.org
~ The prize is submitted by the author and I have no responsibility whatsoever over it.
~ The contest will be open until April 21st.
~ The winner will be notified via e-mail and will have 48 hours to confirm his/her e-mail address before a new winner is selected.

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~Fill the form below to enter ~

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