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
Review: Hawaiian Gothic by Heidi Belleau and Violetta Vane
Hawaiian Gothic by Heidi Belleau & Violetta Vane M/M Paranormal Romance June 12, 2012 Loose ID Reviewed by Helyce This is the story of Ori and Kalani, childhood best friends. Ori knows he’s in love with Kalani but believes that Kalani can never feel the same way about him. So he joins the Army and spends about three years away from home. In that time, he’s dishonorably discharged for punching an officer and spends a year in jail. When Ori learns that Kalani was attacked, beaten Continue Reading
Winners!
The winners of the Take my Books Contest are: Set #1 – Amelia Set #2 – Selena Mc Set #3 – ClaudiaGC Set #4 – Elizabeth H. Set #5 – Diana N. Congrats. All winners have been emailed. We’ll do it again in August. Continue Reading
Pimp My Read! Win an E-Reader
The Contest Pimp My Read is your chance to win one of four fantastic e-readers, as well as best-selling, super-sexy, fun contemporary romances by authors Ruthie Knox, Sarah Mayberry, Shannon Stacey, and Molly O’Keefe. This week, we four authors bedeck ourselves in (virtual) feathers and gold chains, climb on top of our Pimp Caddies, and sing the praises of e-readers and digital books at four fantastic romance review sites: Smart Bitches, Trashy Books, Smexybooks, Dear Author, and The Season for Continue Reading