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Three Stages of Love: Lust by T. C. Anthony

I received a coy of Three Stages of Love: Lust by T. C. Anthony in exchange for an honest review.

Three Stages of Love: Lust by T. C. Anthony begins with main character, Evangeline Chase, standing at a crossroad. Very determined and ambitious, she embarks on a new path and chooses to put her own “needs” first for once. One drunken night, she makes a move on a sexy stranger but he declines because she is intoxicated. But, ironically, he turns out to be her new boss. Torn between her ambition and her desire for the sexy, Alexander Mason, she caves and lets her desires take front stage. Alex rocks her world (in more ways than one) and she is forced to choose between her career, her “needs” and quite possibly love with Alex. But, will she be able to make the right choice even after she transforms into what she has always wanted?

Boy, when I say steamy, I mean it … and this book definitely has steam. I usually don’t read books in this genre very often because I find that the story lacks depth, but this book didn’t. The characters were developed very well (although I all too often wanted to smack Eva for being such a pain in the ass) and I loved Alex and thought that he truly was a charmer. Overall, this book is very entertaining and I absolutely loved that the character’s roles were reversed in this one. I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book.
Rating: 4 stars

Pursuing the Times by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

I received a copy of PURSUING THE TIMES by Lauren Baratz-Logsted in exchange for an honest review. Pursuing The Times by Lauren Baratz-Logsted follows author…

On Tour: I Kill Me: Tales of A Jilted Hypochondriac …

Tracy will be on tour January 14 – February 4 with her novel I Kill Me: Tales of A Jilted Hypochondriac

I Kill Me was a semifinalist (top 20!) in the Humor Category for the Goodreads Choice Awards!

Christine Bacon has a fatal attraction. To all things fatal. A veteran hypochondriac, her near-death experiences are exacerbated when her husband proposes they have a menage a trois with Eleanor, his busty British massage therapist, to “shake things up.” Christine reluctantly agrees (although she is more wholesome than threesome), never expecting just how much she’d be rattled. As her marriage to Richard, a/k/a “Dick,” falls apart, so, too, does Christine, whose fear of her own demise causes her to research every freckle, blemish, cough, bump, lump, tingle and hiccup. She isn’t a doctor, but she plays one on the internet.

There is solace for Christine: in raising daughters Lily and Carli, leaning on her friends, and wearing out the shower massager. In order to heal, she struggles to become her own person and to view her symptoms (and ex-husband) as less malignant, while searching for that special someone who will love her–despite her grave condition.

Please visit CLP Blog Tours for all the tour stops!

tracy tuckerAuthor Bio:

Tracy H. Tucker is first and foremost the mother of three of the best people on Earth. She has a Master’s in Literacy from the University of Maine and has inspired the youth of America for seventeen years. She’s an avid animal lover and would like to publicly thank her husband for putting up with the pet hair, the dogs in the bed, the things the cats hack up and the repeated requests for goats. It’s a wonderful life.
Connect with Tracy!
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Tracy-H-Tucker/445365385497413
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15758840-i-kill-me
Blog: http://tracyhtucker.wordpress.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/THTucker
Buy the Book!
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Tracy-H.-Tucker/e/B008KZ50OS/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_3
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/205124
I Kill Me was selected as the Best Indie Book for 2012 by Chick Lit Cafe!

I Kill Me Button

In My Mailbox: Week of January 13

In Samantha’s Mailbox:

fashion victimTitle: Fashion Victim

Author: GT Herren

Received: Via CLP Blog Tours

Synopsis: To hear her buddy Chanse McLeod tell it, Paige Tourneur is rotund, cute as a button, a truly bad driver, and the best friend a gay P.I. could possibly have.

Now Paige gets a chance to tell it herself in her own witty and worldly-wise way. Please! Is that really her name? Seems like she has quite a past and in FASHION VICTIM, it’s starting to haunt her.

Since his first novel, Greg Herren’s fans have been begging him to spin off their favorite character, the hard-drinking, hard-bitten, smart-mouthed red-headed reporter with the heart of gold and the unlikely name.

In her first solo outing, she’s long since left the Times-Picayune, played out a stint on television, and has now landed a job at Crescent City Magazine, which sends her out to do a personality piece on bitchy fashion designer Marigny Mercereau. Only Marigny ends up dead fifteen minutes before her fifteen minutes of fame.

Twisting through Marigny’s creepy past, Paige is accompanied, as always, by best friend Chanse, her cop buddies Venus Casanova and Blaine Tujague, and ( finally!) by the perfect man: her new boy friend, Blaine’s brother Ryan. So what happens when a woman meets the perfect man and her past comes calling?

FASHION VICTIM is the first in a series of interconnected novellas in Paige’s MISSING HUSBAND SERIES. This spring: watch for THE DEAD HOUSEWIVES OF NEW ORLEANS.

wedlockedTitle: Wedlocked

Author: Bonnie Trachtenberg

Received: From Bonnie Trachtenberg

Synopsis: On what should be the happiest day of her life, Rebecca Ross is panic Stricken. Rebecca has just wed Craig Jacobs, but she realizes she put more thought into choosing her florist than she did in choosing the man she’s just pledged to love for the rest of her life.

Before Craig, Rebecca, a talented Long Island girl, dreamed of following in her grandmother’s footsteps with an acting career. Unfortunately, she was cut down to size by years of disappointment, and by her first love, a Hollywood director. She returned to Long Island a lost and broken woman, and ended up in the last place she ever wanted: her old bedroom at her parents’ house.

But Rebecca’s mother, an overzealous convert to Judaism, has a long held dream too: marry off her three daughters to Jewish men. So no one is more thrilled than her when Rebecca meets and marries bon vivant Craig Jacobs, the man who has won over the whole family. Too bad they’re all about to discover that underneath his charismatic shell, this Prince Charming is anything but!

This unputdownable romantic comedy will amuse and enthrall you from angst-ridden start to glorious finish.

Neurotically yoursTitle: Neurotically Yours

Author: Bonnie Trachtenberg

Received: From Bonnie Trachtenberg

Synopsis: Smart, attractive, and ambitious, thirty-seven-year-old Dara Harrison is, nonetheless, still single, and on sabbatical from dating. Ironically Los Angeles’ most renowned relationship advice columnist, Dara has become a Southland sensation with her “tell-it-like-it-is” approach to the mating game.

Parlaying her success into a new business, Dara launches a revolutionary dating service geared for the perennially single and romantically challenged. Its no-holds-barred theme soon makes the company a roaring success, even catapulting Dara onto the national talk show scene, until, of course, it all backfires.

With her company under threat and a publicity stunt gone haywire, Dara is forced to join the ranks of her lonely heart clientele, and suddenly realizes that saving the business she cherishes, means facing her lifelong fears, and maybe even falling in love again.

Witty, poignant, and immensely engaging, this romantic comedy from the bestselling author of Wedlocked: A Novel features sparkling dialogue, colorful characters, and a story that pulls you in and never lets you go.

amy and zachTitle: Amy & Zach

Author: Sarah Louise Smith

Received: From Sarah Louise Smith

Synopsis: Meet Amy & Zach

Flying home to the UK from the US for her sister Libby’s wedding, Amy has some major issues with her homecoming.

She is furious with Zach, who should have been travelling with her, but after he dropped a bombshell the day before she left, she hid his passport and flew alone.

Now, can she act normal when she meets Libby’s fiance Tim?

After he finds his passport, Zach heads for the UK to surprise Amy. He wants to apologise to her and finally meet her family. He has kept his secret for way too long and knows he has a lot of explaining to do.

So, how did Amy and Zach get to this point? What is Zach hiding anyway? And what’s going on between Amy and Tim?

How well do Amy and Zach really know each other?

why can’t i be youTitle: Why Can’t I Be You?

Author: Allie Larkin

Received: From Penguin Group

Synopsis: At one time or another, everyone has wished they could be someone else. Exploring this universal longing, Allie Larkin follows up the success of her debut novel, Stay, with a moving portrait of friendship and identity.

When Jenny Shaw hears someone shout “Jessie!” across a hotel lobby, she impulsively answers. All her life, Jenny has toed the line, but something propels her to seize the opportunity to become Jessie Morgan, a woman to whom she bears an uncanny resemblance. Lonely in her own life, Jenny is embraced by Jessie’s warm circle of friends—and finds unexpected romance. But when she delves into Jessie’s past, Jenny discovers a secret that spurs her to take another leap into the unknown.

In Sara’s Mailbox:

lustTitle: Three Stages of Love: Lust

Author: T.C. Anthony

Received: unsolicted

Synopsis: Evangeline Chase is standing at the edge of a crossroad. After choosing to be blissfully ignorant for far too long and willfully ignoring what her life has been lacking, fate is about to intervene. When Alexander Mason, a striking and powerful venture capitalist, is introduced as her new boss, Eva is overwhelmed by an intoxicating cocktail of hormones and lust that leaves her struggling to maintain her composure and more importantly, control of her life. With an undeniable urge to dominate her new boss, her own lust-filled fantasies lead to a transformation that shakes her to her core. But when Alexander challenges Eva to satisfy her carnal urges, she is forced to choose between her career, her desires, and an unconventional and lustful relationship. Consumed by fear and forced to maintain control at all costs, Eva must decide if having it all is worth risking her career, her world, and possibly, love. Three Stages of Love: Lust is the first book in a suspenseful new erotic romance series that explores the questions that young women have while embarking on their journey through life and love. Eva’s transformation from prim and proper to fun and dominating proves to be one of the most erotically intriguing personal makeovers around. Her passion for her career and life goals ultimately gives way to uninhibited encounters that leave her intoxicated and yearning for more. Eva’s emotional battle between her heart and mind leave her juggling with a desire to have it all and a profound fear of losing everything. Written to illustrate the average, driven woman’s point of view, Three Stages of Love: Lust tackles the everyday fears and desires that young women have in an intoxicatingly erotic way. A gripping, palpitation-inducing romance full of underlying themes that are extraordinarily relevant to modern women, this enthralling erotic novel by T. C. Anthony is a must-read for women of all backgrounds.

Torn Together by Emlyn Chand

I received a copy of TORN TOGETHER by Emlyn Chand in exchange for an honest review.

Daly has issues with trust and it’s understandable why. Whether it stems from her cheating boyfriend, her dead father or her judgemental mother, no one has ever come through for her when she needed them to. But, that all begins to melt away when she meets Kashi, a charmer who wants more for Daly than she wants for herself. Their romance blossoms and what ensues is an uplifting love that carries Daly into a positive place in her life … the only catch is that she must go to India and get the seal of approval from Kashi’s family. Meanwhile, in another world, her mother, Laine has become a widow and is struggling to cope. She attempts to flee from her life but finds her way back. Will the two find a way to mend their broken relationship? Or is it already too far gone?

This heartbreaking story about a broken relationship between a mother and her daughter is beautifully written. Although hard to summarize into words, Emlyn does a really great job developing characters and allowing them to define themselves through her writing. I loved watching the story unfold and I was really curious to see how everything would end up … and I was not disappointed. Overall, this story is a really good read. A ton of heart and I was definitely smitten with Kashi from the get go. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a great read.
Rating: 4.5

Interview with Bella Andre about her best-selling series, The Sullivans

1. You create characters beautifully and are an absolute master of plot twists. It seems like you could write in almost any genre and do a bang-up job of it. What made you decide to devote your efforts to the romance genre in particular?

Thank you so much for the compliments! I’ve always been a huge romance fan – I’ve been reading nearly a book a day since I was a teenager – so it was a natural fit for me when the characters starting appearing in my head one day. 🙂

2. How did the idea for this interconnected contemporary romance series first come to you? What was your inspiration?

I love the family series that have always been popular in historical romance – like Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton series and Nora Roberts’s MacGregors – and I was also inspired by my husband’s large family. It seemed like a natural fit to combine the funny and sweet family dynamics into an overarching series of sexy contemporary romances with the alpha heroes that I love so much.

3. Everyone seems to have a favorite Sullivan. Now I know this is like asking you to choose between your own children, but who is your favorite? And who’s most like you?

I’ll have to plead the fifth and pick Mary Sullivan – the family matriarch – as my favorite Sullivan. She’s the heart that keeps the family together and I get emotional whenever I write a scene with her. In fact, in COME A LITTLE BIT CLOSER (Smith Sullivan’s story), the scene where he calls his mother to ask for love advice is one that so many readers have told me is their absolute favorite scene in any Sullivan book.

As for who is most like me – maybe Sophie Sullivan from I ONLY HAVE EYES FOR YOU. She loves to read (and is a librarian) and when she wants something (in her case: bad boy Jake McCann), she goes for it! Of course, I’m also a lot like Lori Sullivan (aka “Naughty”) with her big mouth and constant laughter.

4. In your opinion, what ingredients are needed to make up a good love story? Is life the same as fiction in this respect? Why or why not?

I love to love my characters and when I write a story I need two heroic, nice, good people (and why not gorgeous, too?!) who deserve love and have a lot of love to offer in return, but who are flawed partially because they haven’t found that perfect someone who complements them like no other. I like my fiction to be a little bigger than life – the Sullivans are extraordinarily hot, sensitive and attentive – but at their heart, they’re all very real.

5. How has your own love story with your husband informed the Sullivan series? Are there any scenes that are directly taken from your own life?

I have the best husband in the entire world. Sweet, loving, sensitive…and super hot! He’s always supported me in everything I’ve ever done and I think his strength and capability to love is at the core of every hero I write.

With that said, none of the scenes are ever taken directly from my own life. I have a very active imagination. 🙂

6. Let’s pretend for a second that you are a single woman living in the world of the Sullivans, which of the six brothers would you be most likely to fall in love with and why?

Ohhhh, now THAT is a fun fantasy! I would fall in love with each and every single one of them – and do, while I’m writing each of their stories! If I had to pick one, I might have my eye on Marcus (FROM THIS MOMENT ON) – because while all of my Sullivans are sweet, sexy and sensitive – Marcus is the only one with his own endless supply of wine from his winery. And there’s just something about the oldest brother…. Then again, Zach Sullivan is such a great combination of cocky and sweet. And Ryan Sullivan has all those muscles. And Gabe is such a hero as a firefighter (and I love his dirty talking between the sheets). And Chase is so sexy and protective. And then there’s Jake McCann (who falls in love with Sophie Sullivan) with his tattoos and big muscles. Not to mention Lori’s hero in the upcoming ALWAYS ON MY MIND which will be out this spring. I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that Lori’s hero just might be the hottest hero I’ve ever written.

See, what did I tell you earlier? I’m no good at picking just one. So let’s just say, yet again, ALL OF THEM!

7. The Sullivans and their beaux have some pretty interesting careers. From photographers and sculptors to professional actors, musicians and ball players all the way to firefighters, librarians and business owners, they lead very exciting lives! What type of research did you have to do to capture these jobs so well? Do you have any interesting research anecdotes to share?

I’ve written firefighters and athletes in previous series which helped with my firefighter, Gabe (CAN’T HELP FALLING IN LOVE) and my baseball player, Ryan (LET ME BE THE ONE). I also live in Sonoma and have a lot of experience with wine and wineries which was ideal for winery owner Marcus (FROM THIS MOMENT ON) and as a writer I’ve been blessed to work with many librarians who served as information points for Sophie (I ONLY HAVE EYES FOR YOU.)

For books where I need inspiration, the internet has been amazing and when needed, I also call on the help of professionals. Even though I’d written firefighters before, I still sent all my firefighting scenes to a professional and for Smith’s book (COME A LITTLE BIT CLOSER) I sent all the acting-set sequences to a local film producer.

8. I was very touched by the inclusion of Yorkie puppy, Cuddles, and Great Dane rescue, Atlas, in book five, If You Were Mine. Are you a dog person yourself? If you have pets, I’d love to know more about them!

I *love* animals. I had the best time writing the two dogs in IF YOU WERE MINE. They had their own little love story in that book, which pleased me to no end. There’s a cat that plays a very important role in ALWAYS ON MY MIND (Lori Sullivan’s story, coming Spring 2013). My whole family loves animals, and we’ve recently adopted a beautiful cat. Or more accurately, the cat has adopted us, smart little minx.

9. The Sullivan series is currently seven volumes long. How many more books do you have planned, and which other family members will get the spotlight in their own books?

Lori’s book (ALWAYS ON MY MIND) is up next, and there are 5 Seattle Sullivans who are ready for love – I will start with Rafe Sullivan’s book this summer! Plus, I have something *very* special planned for Mary Sullivan, their mother, planned to release for the holidays in 2013.

10. And lastly (for a bit of random fun), what has been the most amazing/ touching/ validating interaction you’ve had with a fan of your books?

Everyone who has ever written to me on Facebook or Twitter or Goodreads or via email to tell me how much they love my books and that the Sullivans have moved them in some way has touched me. I love my fans, so, so much! I have the very best time in the world writing about my Sullivans… and knowing that I have so many absolutely wonderful people waiting to read them as soon as they’re released is a total thrill every single day.

Brownie Points by Jennifer Coburn

I received a copy of Brownie Points by Jennifer Coburn in exchange for an honest review.

Brownie Points follows the Taylor family as they move to Los Corderos, a small suburban paradise. Lisa knows that the move from San Francisco will take a toll on her family but she doesn’t expect them to fit in right away considering they will be the only interracial family in the area and her 13 year old son Logan … is gay. But, what she doesn’t expect is that things might be more difficult than she expected. After Logan is incessantly bullied at school, he soon makes nice with his twin’s Girl Scout troop. But, when he tries to join, they refuse and he sues them for discrimination. What ensues is national news story that only makes things worse for him and the Taylor family. Adding that on top of all of the complications Lisa is facing, and she is close to losing it all. Will the Taylor family be able to survive living in Los Corderos? Or will they regret that they ever moved?

When I first received the review request for this book, I instantly said yes. I have been such a fun of Coburn since her earlier works and usually devour each and every one of her books. Typically, she brings the heart and the humor to each book, and this one is no exception. This book is unlike anything she has ever written and I actually enjoyed that about it. Definitely uncharted territory, I feel like Coburn handled this topic gracefully and with tons of poise. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and was sad to see it end. It is definitely tons of full of plot twists, so stay sharp!

[Rating: 4.5/5]

Come A Little Closer by Bella Andre

Bella AndreI was provided with a copy of COME A LITTLE CLOSER by Bella Andre in exchange for an honest review.

Come A Little Closer is the most recent book in the Sullivan family series, and it stars movie star Smith Sullivan. At an important time in his career, Smith can’t afford any distractions. He is taking a risk bigger than anything he has ever done before but he just can’t seem to keep his head in the game. He is distracted by Valentina Landon and no matter what he does, he can’t get her off his mind. But, things are more complicated than they seem. Valentina is a business manager and has seen one to many women fall victim to actors and their ways. So, Smith knows that she will be a tough cookie to crack but he thinks that she will be worth it. So, after sparks fly after weeks together, Smith knows that he will stop at nothing until he can convince her that he isn’t like the rest of them. But, will he able to steal her love and change her mind?

To be honest, this is the first book in the Sullivan series that I have ever read. Actually, I had never heard of them before I dove into the latest from Bella, and I am completely smitten and am so excited that I found this series! I loved everything about this book: I loved the romance and the sparks between Smith and Valentina and I fell head over heels for Smith early on and was only waiting for Valentina to follow suit. I always suspected that she would though and I couldn’t have been happier with the ending. This book had heart, great character development, a believable story, fun and humor … and sexy steam! Woo-wee! What a read! I am definitely going to dive into the other books after this one!

[Rating: 5/5]

Kismetology by Jaimie Admans

I received a copy of Kismetology by Jaimie Admans in exchange for an honest review. Kismetology by Jaimie Admans starts off stating two truths: finding…