10. I think we should all take a swig from my new Mustache Flask before continuing with the Top Ten. ‘Stache Flask makes everything go a little better. Thank you to my friend Sarah, who is awesome sauce. (The brown bottom is even fuzzy – *giggle*) 9. Jill Shalvis has announced that she is writing a third trilogy set in her Lucky Harbor world. Copied from her website: I know that the first new hero will be a San Francisco Lieutenant Detective who goes through hell at work and escapes to Continue Reading
AAD Spotlight: Damon Suede
Our Authors After Dark Spotlights continue with Damon Suede. He has pretty much lived everywhere and tried every profession, but couldn’t be happier writing stories. Last summer he released Hot Head to good reviews. It finished #3 in the Goodreads 2011 Best Romance contest. Since 9/11, Brooklyn firefighter Griff Muir has wrestled with impossible feelings for his best friend and partner at Ladder 181: Dante Anastagio. Unfortunately Dante is strictly a ladies' man and the FDNY isn’t exactly Continue Reading
Review: On the Island by Tracey Garvis Graves
On the Island by Tracey Garvis Graves Contemporary Romance Self Published - October 11, 2011 Published through Penguin – June 7, 2012 Reviewed by Mandi On the Island starts with a thirty year old teacher, who has decided to take a tutoring job for the summer with a family that will be vacationing in the Maldives, a chain of 26 islands in the Indian Ocean. Anna has a boyfriend of eight years but she is tired of waiting around for him to propose so they can move on with having a Continue Reading
AAD Spotlight: Manda Collins
We continue or AAD Spotlight with author Manda Collins. Manda is an academic librarian by day, and writing her Ugly Ducklings Trilogy at night. Her debut book, How to Dance With a Duke came out earlier this year. Miss Cecily Hurston would much rather explore the antiquities of Egypt than the uncharted territory of marriage. But the rules of her father's exclusive academic society forbid her entrance unless she weds one of its members. To clear her ailing father's name of a scandalous rumor, Continue Reading
Review: Two In Winter by Vanessa North
Two in Winter by Vanessa North Contemporary Romance July 2, 2012 Novella Liquid Silver Books Reviewed by Mandi This novella (51 pages) didn't work for me for a couple of reasons. First of all, I feel like we only skim the outer layer of who these characters are. Getty owns a small clothing line where she takes care of the business operations, and her friend Anna is the designer. She is in her mid thirties and ready to move on with having a family. She comes across as Continue Reading
The Siren on Sale!
A few months ago I picked up The Siren by Tiffany Reisz on a whim. And it turned out to be one of my favorite books I’ve read. I reviewed it here. It is about an erotica writer/dominatrix named Nora and her bdsm relationship she has with Soren (a catholic priest and her master). I’ll emphasize that it has intense BDSM in it and some uncomfortable situations. There are many supporting characters, who also have very well done story lines. Last week, I read an arc of book two in the series (and Continue Reading
Review: Giving It Up by Amber Lin
Giving it Up by Amber Lin Erotic Contemporary June 18, 2012 LooseID Reviewed by Mandi I think Giving It Up has a really intriguing and good premise and it has very dark, emotionally damaged characters, which is always something I enjoy. And while the first 10-15% of this book is really strong, I feel like nothing comes together at the end. But there is still something about this story that will stick with me. Allie was raped by her best friend two years ago and it changed her Continue Reading
Review: One Small Thing by Piper Vaughn and M.J. O’Shea
One Small Thing by Piper Vaughn and M.J. O’Shea Contemporary M/M Romance May 4, 2012 Dreamspinner Press Reviewed by Mandi Based on the blurb and cover (the feet creep me out) for One Small Thing, I don’t think I would have ever picked it up on my own. But there is this thing called Twitter (have you heard of it?) where people recommend books to me every day (that’s the sound of my credit card weeping). Brie from Romance Around the Corner (also a fab person to follow on twitter) Continue Reading
A Few DNF’s
We all have DNF’s (Books we “did not finish”) and usually we just put the book down and move on. But every once in awhile, we like to explain why we didn’t like the book. Here are a few: Moonshell Beach by JoAnn Ross Reviewed by May If you are looking for a very community focused small town on the Oregon coast where everyone knows the business of everyone else book, this may be one you really like. I have read and really liked some of this author’s previous books, though none based in Shelter Continue Reading
Review: Star Crossed by Kele Moon
Star Crossed by Kele Moon (Battered Hearts #2) Erotic Contemporary July 3, 2012 LooseID Reviewed by Mandi Kele Moon is has definitely hit my radar as a solid erotic contemporary author. She has two series that I follow: Her Eden series which is a darker, bdsm, m/m/f and Battered Hearts, a more straight up erotic contemporary. (She also has one book in a m/m series that I’m keeping my eye on). She writes the dirty sex really well and gives us some interesting characters along the way. Continue Reading