Kelly reviews Fury Of Desire by Coreene Callahan

TITLE: Fury of Desire
SERIES #: Dragonfury #4
CHARACTERS: Wick & J.J. Solares
AUTHOR: Coreene Callahan
PUBLICATION DATE: October 15, 2013
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
No warrior of the Nightfury pack is more complicated or damaged than Wick.

Scarred from a childhood of slavery and torture, Wick cannot bear the touch of another person. But all bets are off when he meets J.J. Solares. When she is unjustly imprisoned, Wick agrees to help rescue and keep her from harm. But Wick lives a life of self-imposed isolation and venturing into the world to seek justice for J.J. may be more than he can bear.

Brutalized by the harsh reality of prison, J.J thinks she is hallucinating when a majestic dark-haired god sweeps in to save her—and Wick is shaken to his core by the attraction he feels for J.J. But neither is out of harm’s way yet. When they find themselves at the center of a Dragonkind war, they are forced to make the ultimate choice—surrender to their fears or accept each other’s love.

REVIEW:
4.25 Hearts I love Wick. He is a man of very few words but shows his loyalty with his actions. So when he wants to payback Mac ,his fellow Nightfury, for saving Venom’s life he decided to rescue Tania’s little sister Jamison (aka J.J.). Not everything goes quite according to plan while getting Jamison out of the hospital . And thing get even worse the moment Wick touches her.

This was a great Nightfury story. Wick and Jamison are perfect for each other. Both have a past that allows them to understand the others pain. Wick really does try to do what he thinks is the right thing. He tries to stay away from Jamison, he really wants to let her go because she deserves better. Or what Wick thinks is better. But Jamison has other plans. 🙂

If you have read the other Nightfury books you will really like Wick’s book. A lot of things happen. And I have a new soft spot for Venom. All I will say is poor Venom, this boy needs some serious love. I can’t wait to see what is in store for the Nightfury’s and I really wish the bad guys would get their just desserts very soon.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

October 13, 2013October 12, 2013

Book Spotlight and Interview: Endless by Jessica Shirvington

I am very excited to have Jessica Shirvington here today to discuss her new book, Endless, which is the fourth book in the Embrace Series. I finished this series in a week and I am happy to have her here today.

1. Tell me about your new release Endless

Endless is the 4th book in the series and it is one I really enjoyed writing. Violet has accepted her life as a Grigori warrior but now she must face not only a great evil, but the consequences for her past choices. Violet finds herself with the weight of the world on her shoulders as hell unleashes its worst.

To save the people she loves the most, Violet faces the ultimate sacrifice. And she is not the only one.

2. Where did you come up with the idea for the series?

It was an idea that evolved in its own way. First the names, Violet and Lincoln, then the idea of the supernatural, then angels, then biblical folklore and it went from there.

3. What kind of research did you have to do for this series?

The research was huge and was ultimately the driving force behind the storyline. I let the research take me in new directions and I loved that. I’m not sure I will ever write another series that will lend itself so well to mythology, folklore, and ancient history so well.

As for what kind of research – it was an all and everything kind of thing. I love research and it can be simple as following a thread on the internet, going to the library, or talking with historians, teachers, doctors, theologians, and my next door neighbor. Though I will admit, in the very beginning there was one story of Lilith by Ben Sira and an account of the Great Flood in the Book of Enoch that very much led the way.

4. Have you always wanted to write YA or have there been other genres that you have been interested in?

Definitely YA was the obvious choice for me. In fact, I never even stopped to think about it, I just started writing knowing it was YA. That said, I do have a picture book on the way and whilst I will continue to predominantly write YA, I am also toying with the idea of an adult trilogy at the moment.

5. What are you working on now?

Right now I’m working on the edits for the final book of the series, EMPOWER and on the American edits for my first stand alone – ONE PAST MIDNIGHT which will be out in the US in June 2014. On top of that I have a duology on the way and I am just about to start working on the early edits for the first book.

6. Which authors have inspired you?

C.S. Lewis…And every other author out there! Every book I read whether good or average gives me something or teaches me something about the kind of author I want to be.

About the Author:

Jessica Shirvington lives in Sydney with her husband of ten years, FOXTEL presenter and former Olympic sprinter Matt Shirvington, and their two daughters. She has previously founded and run a coffee distribution company, Stella Imports, in London, and been involved in managing the restaurants Fuel Bistro, Tow Bar and MG Garage in Sydney.

She is currently a full-time mum, author and co-director in the company MPS Investments Pty Ltd.

On Writing …

One day, instead of picking up a new book, I started to write. The first name that came to mind was Violet. From there the rest naturally followed. I can honestly say, once Violet was discovered – she really did write the rest of the book!

Writing this book has drawn on my life experience – in my travels around the world and the different people I have met. It draws on love and loss and the overall confusion that comes with growing up. It also looks to many of my friends and their experiences.

I have always loved ancient history – tales and stories of the best kind.

Website /Twitter/ Facebook

Love will kill us all.

Angels are real. They aren’t always kind. Violet Eden is certain of all this because she is Grigori – part angel, part human. She has felt the influence of both light and dark.

When Hell unleashes its worst, Violet must embrace every facet of her angel self to save the people she cares about and the world as she knows it. But death is not the worst thing that Violet will face. For her, the endless question ‘Can love conquer all?’ will finally be answered.

October 10, 2013October 10, 2013

Kelly reviews An Unlucky Moon by Carrie Ann Ryan

TITLE: An Unlucky Moon
SERIES #: Dante’s Circle
CHARACTERS: Hunter Brooks & Becca Quinn
AUTHOR: Carrie Ann Ryan
PUBLICATION DATE: October 7, 2013
ORDER LINKS: Waiting on links | B&N
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Humans aren’t as alone as they choose to believe. Every human possesses a trait of supernatural that lays dormant within their genetic make-up. Centuries of diluting and breeding have allowed humans to think they are alone and untouched by magic. But what happens when something changes?

He’s spent the last few years in hell fighting in the demon games and doing things that would haunt even the fiercest of men’s nightmares. But now Hunter Brooks is back in the human realm, ready to take on the Pack that left him behind…and take the mate he’s just met.

Becca Quinn is one of the seven lightning-struck women—a human who isn’t so human and only needs to find her true half to unlock all that she could be. Hunter, the dangerous, sexy wolf, has saved her life twice, and yet she knows nothing about him—only that she wants to know everything she can.

Between the Pack’s council and strangers who could take everything away from them, Becca and Hunter have more to fight and everything to fight for. Hunter’s dark past takes over their courtship, and just when he thinks all his lost, he’ll find that Becca’s more than he—or she—ever thought.

Warning: Contains a sexy wolf who broods with the best of them, a woman who defines the term unlucky, and a chemistry that’s sure to make the wolf howl in all of us.

REVIEW:
4.5 Stars I have been patiently waiting for Hunter’s book since we met him in Her Warriors’ Three Wishes (bk 2). Okay not so patiently. I loved Hunter’s character even when he was trapped in hell. He was all gruff, stubborn and totally alpha. So I was extremely happy when I got an early copy of An Unlucky Moon.

Hunter & Becca know what they are to each other. But Hunter has things he needs to straighten out before he can claim Becca as his mate. Now that Hunter is ready to be mated, Becca has put the brakes on their relationship. Not to stop it but to slow down and learn more about each other. When Becca is kidnapped and left for dead Hunter is not taking it slow any more, he is determined to complete their bond. Lucky for him Becca is finally on the same page. Hunter and Becca are going to need to be on the same page. They are about to be tested like nothing before. They have enemies coming from all sides.

If you have read the first two books in the Dante’s Circle series you will know a little about Hunter & Becca’s history. But while I think you should start with book one Dust of My Wings, I think An Unlucky Moon can be read as stand alone. Now that I have had my Hunter fix I really really really need some Dragon love. Bring on Dante!!!

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

October 8, 2013October 7, 2013

Kelly’s review of Death & The Girl He Loves by Darynda Jones (& a giveaway)

TITLE: Death and The Girl He Loves
SERIES #: Darklight #3
CHARACTERS: Lorelie McAlister, Jared & crew
AUTHOR: Darynda Jones
PUBLICATION DATE: Oct 8, 2013
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
The fate of the world is not something a girl wants on her shoulders, and that is especially true for Lorelei McAlister. Unfortunately for her, that is exactly where the world’s fate has decided to take up residence. Lorelei has seen firsthand the horrors that lie beneath our everyday world. And those horrors are getting her friends killed. Because of this, she agrees to leave the sanctity of her hometown and is sent to a different world entirely. A boarding school. But even here she is being watched. Someone knows what she is. What she carries inside her soul. And on top of that she’s seeing visions. This is nothing new for Lorelei. But these visions are something more: death, destruction, and the end of the world. Lorelei must face the fact that there are people who want her dead, and no matter where she goes, no matter how far she runs, the lives of her friends and family are in mortal peril. Lucky for her, her friends and family include the handsome Angel of Death, a fiercely protective half-angel, and a ragtag group of loyal supporters who aren’t afraid to get a little dirty in the name of fighting pure evil.

REVIEW:
3.75 Stars

Lorelei has always know that she was the key to stopping a war. But she never knew how she was suppose to do that. Even as everything comes to a head she still doesn’t know how she is going to save everyone she loves and the world all at the same time.

Another good book from Darynda Jones. I have really enjoyed Lorelei, Jared and their groups of friends. Poor Lorelei has the weight of the world and everyone on her shoulders. But i didn’t expect her to try to revert into her own shell. Even with everyone telling her that she will do great, that she will know what she has to do, Lorelei has some major doubts. The final fight scene was gut wrenching for me. I cried!! I love Lorelei and Jared, but as I am reading I have to remind myself that this was a YA book. I kept waiting for them to go pass just a sweet teenage kiss. But those darn grandparents always seem to be there to break it up 😉
I hope that this is not the end of the Darklight series, but…… I guess we will have to wait and see what Ms. Jones has in store for us next

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

• Giveaway (Open Internationally) Code
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NYTimes and USA Today Bestselling Author Darynda Jones has won numerous awards for her work, including a prestigious Golden Heart®, a Rebecca, two Hold Medallions, a RITA ®, and a Daphne du Maurier, and she has received stellar reviews from dozens of publications including starred reviews from Publisher’s Weekly, Booklist, and the Library Journal. As a born storyteller, Darynda grew up spinning tales of dashing damsels and heroes in distress for any unfortunate soul who happened by, annoying man and beast alike, and she is ever so grateful for the opportunity to carry on that tradition. She currently has two series with St. Martin’s Press: The Charley Davidson Series and the Darklight Trilogy. She lives in the Land of Enchantment, also known as New Mexico, with her husband of almost 30 years and two beautiful sons, the Mighty, Mighty Jones Boys. She can be found at www.daryndajones.com.

Find Darynda here: Darynda Jones Website | Facebook | Twitter

October 7, 2013October 5, 2013

Molly Harper interviews Bonnie from Rhythm & Bluegrass

Books-n-Kisses is please to let Molly Harper (One of Kelly’s all time favorite authors) take over the blog today to interview Bonnie Turkle from Molly’s Rhythm & Bluegrass. Take it away Molly.

Molly: So, tell us a little bit about yourself.

Bonnie: I’m Bonnie Turkle. I work for Sadie Hutchins, director of marketing for the highly fictionalized Kentucky Commission of Tourism. You make us say highly fictionalized every time we discuss our setting because you’re afraid that the taxpayers in Kentucky will think that state employees are as irresponsible as your characters. Good employees who make sound decisions rarely end up trapped together in supply closets with only PB&Js and vodka to sustain them.

Molly: Went off on a little bit of a tangent, didn’t you, sweetie?

Bonnie: I just think you tend to be a little mean to your human characters to make up for the lack of vampire angst in our undead-less universe. It’s the only way I can rationalize you setting my car on fire in the first chapter of the book, and the tornado, and the thing with the possum –

Molly: Hey, hey, don’t give the whole thing away. Now, let’s get back on track. What is your position with the highly fictionalized KCT?

Bonnie: I am a multimedia historian.

Molly: And what does that mean?

Bonnie: No one really knows.

Molly: But what do you do?

Bonnie: I put together traveling displays from the marketing information Sadie gives me, usually related to the Kentucky Derby or the state’s significance in the Civil War. I go to schools and do presentations on important figures and events in Kentucky history. And when I’m lucky enough to get funding I get to travel to locations that haven’t been mined by other historians, collect artifacts and put together an entire exhibit on my own. That’s what brings me to Mud Creek and the practically abandoned McBride’s Music Hall. Before it closed, McBride’s was a stop on the country western performance circuit and the rhythm and blues circuit, putting it at a crossroads in American musical culture. All the greats played there. And they left behind all sorts of historical goodies that I need to snatch up before the site is bull-dozed to make room for an underwear plant.

Molly: You say ‘underwear plant’ with an unusual amount of disdain. For you, I mean. Could it be because the subject puts you at odds with Mud Creek’s mayor? Mud Creek’s extremely handsome mayor? Mud Creek’s extremely handsome mayor who also happens to be the grandson of the original owner of McBride’s?

Bonnie: You’re evil.

Molly: (shrugs innocently.)

Bonnie: Yes, the subject puts me at odds with Will McBride. I know that building the factory will bring much-needed jobs to Mud Creek’s economy, which is top priority for him. I know the music hall brings up bad memories for Will. But I can’t help but feel that preserving that priceless musical legacy is just an important as securing a man-panty manufacturer.

Molly: Is that why you overstep your bounds a little bit, filing papers to have the hall designated a protected historical site?

Bonnie: I’d rather not answer. Will and I need to work through it, when we’re not dealing with his wacky neighbors, my cranky stripper-seamstress landlady and his loveable, but meddling, mama. And the possums.

Molly: Fair enough.

Bonnie: Can we talk about the possum thing? And why your characters keep tangling with them?

Molly: Yeah, I had no idea that possums would become a trademark thing with me. My editor, Abby, loves them. And since my books are based in Kentucky, where possums are plentiful, she has threatened to send back any marsupial-free manuscripts back to me unread… I’m not entirely sure she’s kidding.

Bonnie: You couldn’t have given me possum mace or something?

Molly: You wouldn’t have used it. You’re too nice.

Bonnie: True enough. So what’s next for our little troupe of characters? I’d like to know what to expect.

Molly: I thought I was conducting this interview.

Bonnie: Possums, Harper. Angry possums. Near my face. You endangered my face.

Molly: Fine. There will be a third as-yet-untitled book in the BLUEGRASS series, featuring your best gal pal, Kelsey, and her struggle to re-connect with the elusive Charlie Bennett as the whole staff heads to a remote lodge for a staff retreat. And then there is an ice storm… trapping you in the lodge… without power.

Bonnie: Evil.

Molly: I do what I can.

Learn more about Molly here Website | Facebook | Twitter @mollyharperauth| Goodreads

Want to take a look at Molly’s Rhythm and Bluegrass and my review? Keep reading…

TITLE: Rhythm and Bluegrass
SERIES #: Bludegrass #2
CHARACTERS: Will McBride & Bonnie Turkle
AUTHOR: Molly Harper
PUBLICATION DATE: Oct. 7, 2013
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N | Audible

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Bonnie Turkle, multimedia historian for the Kentucky Commission of Tourism, is dispatched to Mud Creek, a tiny eastern Kentucky town, with few prospects but many oddballs, to rescue important artifacts from McBride’s Music Hall. Now fallen beyond disrepair, McBride’s was once a jewel of the early American music scene, an intersection of the country-western and rhythm and blues circuits. The former owner’s grandson, Will McBride, who also happens to be Mud Creek’s esteemed mayor, would like nothing more than to see the place bull-dozed in favor of a factory that will provide much-needed jobs to his citizens. But Bonnie finds evidence of a legendary musical event at the music hall and her plans to turn it into a museum put Mud Creek’s economic future at risk – not to mention the growing flirtation between the two of them. If Will and Bonnie can’t find common ground, the town’s past and future will be lost.

REVIEW:
Any Molly Harper books is a good book. But let me tell you about my love hate relationship with Mr. Will McBride. At first I loved Mr. Roadside Cowboy, but as the book went on I started to hate Mr. McBride. He was a complete and udder asshat to Bonnie. I wanted to smack him around on her behalf. But I will say by the end Will redeemed himself.

I loved this book. As I said any Molly Harper books is a good book. I love that her characters are always witty, humorous and just like you and me. Will & Boonie and a fun couple even if they are at each others throat more often than not. But really it was all a big case of miscommunication.

If you love Molly’s first book My Bluegrass Baby, you will love Rhythm & Bluegrass. I can’t wait to see who is next in the Bluegrass series.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

October 7, 2013October 6, 2013

Bloody Lessons Guest Post and Review

I am very excited to have M. Louisa Locke here today doing a guest post about romance in her mystery series and discuss her new book, Bloody Lessons.

What’s love got to do with it? What’s love but a second-hand emotion?

Okay, the title for this post dates me. Who quotes Tina Turner anymore? But that song is what went through my mind as I thought about the role of romance in my Victorian San Francisco mysteries. I write historical mysteries, in the cozy vein, and romance is a definitely a part of my stories. But love has to compete with both the historical setting and the mystery plot and I know that, for some readers, romance (or love) might seem out of place.

But for me, the romance is as important as the history or the mystery, and it isn’t second hand or second best.

Regency romances by Geogette Heyer are what inspired me to be a writer, and my hope is that readers get the same enjoyment from following the romantic arc of my two main protagonists, Annie Fuller and Nate Dawson, as I get from following the romance in a Heyer novel. When the series opens with Maids of Misfortune, Annie is a widow who has had a very unhappy first marriage (her husband lost her fortune and then took his own life), and after five miserable years living at the beck and call of in-laws who blamed her for their son’s death, she has finally gained some economic independence. As a result, she is very wary of any relationship with a man. Nate Dawson is a fairly conventional young man and a lawyer who is frustrated by the minor role he has as the junior member of his uncle’s law firm. He finds Annie’s independent streak frustrating but strangely attractive. Needless to say, the romance between these two people does not progress smoothly.

Unlike a traditional romance, which usually depends on the happily-ever-after occurring by the end of the book, a mystery novel must resolve the mystery, not the romance. As Conan Doyle discovered with Sherlock and Watson, mysteries work well when you can have two people detecting. They can bounce ideas off of each other, split the work in interviewing witnesses, and it increases the sense of tension when one of them gets in danger. For me, all of this works even better when the two sleuths are of the opposite sex and romantically attracted to each other.

One of the first mystery authors to blend mystery and romance this way was Dorothy Sayers with her Lord Peter Wimsey and Harriet Vane series. When I discovered her work forty years ago, I learned that I liked being able to savor the development of a romance over several books and, ever since then, I have found that I enjoy mysteries with a romantic element more than I do straight mysteries. I get to try to solve the puzzle at the core of the mystery, while enjoying the romantic tension between the couples along the way.

The fourth book in the Wimsey-Vane books, Busman’s Honeymoon, carried the couple past the happily-ever-after moment and other mystery series with a romantic element often do that same – continuing to develop a couple’s relationship once love had been declared or a proposal accepted. Deborah Crombie’s contemporary mystery series with detectives Kincaide and James is an excellent example of this. As with life, it is often what happens after a couple gets together that is the real challenge and it is one I look forward to exploring with Annie Fuller and Nate Dawson.

Finally, there is the historical aspect of my mysteries. It has always been the emotional rather than the physical side of romance that intrigues me, which is one of the reasons my mysteries are in the cozy style. Since my series is set in late 19th century San Francisco, its historical setting actually helps rather than detracts from the romantic arc. The social norms that constrain Annie and Nate from acting on their physical desires just add to the romantic tension within the stories. For example, Annie is so busy trying to maintain her independence that she keeps getting in trouble and needing to be rescued — the last thing she wants. Nate, on the other hand, is so busy doing the honorable thing that he is in danger of losing everything. In a contemporary novel, the behavior of both Annie and Nate might be seen as hopelessly old-fashioned and unrealistic. But in a Victorian historical mystery, they actually appear incredibly modern!

At the same time, the fact that these two persons are engaged in solving crimes means that it is easy to spice up the romance with danger. Romantic suspense is fun to do when women have long skirts and corsets to contend with while fighting off the bad guys and men are trying to act like gentlemen while having revolvers at their hips.

In short, I happen to believe that romance is the perfect complement to an historical mystery, and I plan to never stop blending the three. In Bloody Lessons, my newest book in the series, I even get to lay the ground-work for a new romantic couple, just as Annie and Nate’s relationship hits a turning point. Because, what love has to do with it is everything!

About the Author:

M. Louisa Locke is a retired professor of U.S. and Women’s History, who has embarked on a second career as an historical fiction writer. The published books in her series of historical mysteries set in Victorian San Francisco, Maids of Misfortune, Uneasy Spirits, and Bloody Lessons, feature Annie Fuller, a boardinghouse owner and reluctant clairvoyant, and Nate Dawson, a San Francisco lawyer, who together investigate murders and other crimes, while her short stories, Dandy Detects and The Miss Moffets Mend a Marriage, give secondary characters from this series a chance to get involved in their own minor mysteries. Locke is an active member in the Alliance of Independent Authors, and a Director of the Historical Fiction Authors Cooperative.

Website/ Twitter /Facebook/ Goodreads

In Bloody Lessons, it’s the winter of 1880, and the teachers of San Francisco are under attack: their salaries slashed and their competency and morals questioned in a series of poison pen letters.

Annie Fuller, the reluctant clairvoyant, has been called into investigate by Nate Dawson, her lawyer beau, and the case becomes personal when they discover that Laura, Nate’s sister, may be one of the teachers targeted for attack.

In this installment in the Victorian San Francisco Mystery series, readers will find the same blend of a cozy mystery with romantic suspense, played out against the historical backdrop of late 19th century San Francisco, that they found in Maids of Misfortune and Uneasy Spirits.

If you are new to this series, you will still enjoy spending time with the lively residents of Annie Fuller’s boarding house and visiting San Francisco when Golden Gate Park was filled with horse-drawn carriages, saloon-keepers controlled politics, and kisses were stolen under gaslight.

Amazon / B&N

My Review (4 Stars): Bloody Lessons is the third book in the Victorian San Francisco mystery series and I really liked the story in this one. I loved the first book, Maids of Misfortune and it was a treat to see how Annie and Nate’s relationship have developed over the books. In this book, Nate’s sister, Laura, is living in Annie’s boarding house and working as a teacher in a nearby school. She is attacked in the very beginning of the book which leads to mysterious events that make her wonder if she being followed by a person from her past. I loved the historical aspect of these books and I think that Annie is a great character that I always like learning more about. Bloody Lessons was a delightful mystery that I thoroughly enjoyed and am looking forward to reading more in the series.

October 7, 2013October 6, 2013

Kelly reviews Rhythm and Bluegrass by Molly Harper

TITLE: Rhythm and Bluegrass
SERIES #: Bludegrass #2
CHARACTERS: Will McBride & Bonnie Turkle
AUTHOR: Molly Harper
PUBLICATION DATE: Oct. 7, 2013
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N | Audible

REVIEW:
4.25 Hearts Any Molly Harper books is a good book. But let me tell you about my love hate relationship with Mr. Will McBride. At first I loved Mr. Roadside Cowboy, but as the book went on I started to hate Mr. McBride. He was a complete and udder asshat to Bonnie. I wanted to smack him around on her behalf. But I will say by the end Will redeemed himself.

If you love Molly’s first book My Bluegrass Baby, you will love Rhythm & Bluegrass. I can’t wait to see who is next in the Bluegrass series.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

October 4, 2013October 3, 2013

Strangled by Silk Blog Tour and Review

Darlings! Here’s the scoop on my latest mystery STRANGLED BY SILK. It’s all about Daphne and Margot––two independent young California women in 1957––own their own dress shop called Poppy Cove.

When one of their top clients––Constance Stearns-Montgomery––is strangled to death with her own silk scarf at the opening ceremonies for her new girls’ academy, Daphne and Margot are shocked. They can’t believe that such a horrid crime could take place in their sleepy little oceanside village of Santa Lucia. Worse, they’ve lost one of their best clients. The two women quickly become embroiled in solving the crime. After all, if anyone can track down the killer, it should be them. Margot’s long-time beau is the town’s top cop, and Daphne is a master at using her flirtatious wiles to extract information from unsuspecting men.

Of course, neither girl will let their snooping get in the way of more urgent tasks such as choosing new textiles and accessories for Poppy Cove or planning their fall fashion show or––most important––selecting the appropriate ensemble to wear for each and every occasion. But these two fashion detectives are on the case, and the murderer––and the poorly attired––had better watch out!

Amazon/B&N

About the Authors:

Barbara Jean Coast is the pen name of authors Andrea Taylor and Heather Shkuratoff, both of whom reside in Kelowna, BC, Canada. Barbara Jean, however, is a resident of Santa Lucia, California (eerily similar to Santa Barbara), where she enjoys long lunches, cocktail parties, fancy dinner dates with attractive and attentive gentlemen. Her interests include Alfred Hitchcock movies, reading Carolyn Keene, music by popular musicians, such Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett, shopping for new dresses, attending society events and always looking fabulous in kitten heels. STRANGLED BY SILK is her first novel in the Poppy Cove Mystery Series.

Blog / Twitter/Facebook/Pinterest

Jennifer’s Review of Strangled By Silk

NUMBER OF STARS: 4 Stars

Review: This was a very cute mystery for me. I loved the characters, Margot and Daphne, two women who run a clothing shop in the 195o’s and it was such a delight to read about that time period. I enjoyed the descriptions in regards to the clothing that were popular at the time and it just reminded me how things have changed over the years. The mystery was very interesting because the ladies knew the victim and were trying to piece together who could have possibly wanted her dead. So many suspects and I liked trying to figure out the clues with Margot and Daphne. Strangled by Silk was an enjoyable read and I would love to read more in the Poppy Cove Mystery series.

October 3, 2013October 2, 2013

Lauren Dane Interview and Giveaway

The Brown series has a special place in my heart because when I read about Erin, I was hooked. We had a child about the same age and I remember being in tears when I read what had happened to her. Now, her best friend, Raven, has her own book and I am so excited that Raven finally gets her chance for a happy ending. Lauren is here today to discuss her new book, Drawn Together, and I am very excited to have this fabulous author here on Books-n-Kisses.

1. Tell me about your new release Drawn Together.

Drawn Together is the story of Raven Smith and Jonah Warner. Over the Brown Family series we’ve seen lots of prickly behavior from her and had a few glimpses of her softer side but she’s always had this backstory– this reason she acts the way she does and I didn’t want to tell her story until I had the right match for her.

As it happens, Jonah Warner, uber alpha, came along at just the right time and I was so excited to write this book and give her the HEA she needed.

She doesn’t totally change because of love. She’s still Raven. But Jonah gets her and he’s worth opening up for. And he’s sort of pushy and bossy and so totally patient she can’t resist. She finds herself breaking all her personal rules for him and sort of liking it too.

It’s a love story on a few levels, not just between Raven and Jonah, but also between these characters and their friends and family too, which is the heart of this series. Oh and smoking hot sexytimes too 😉

2. Where did you come up with the idea for the Brown Family series?

Erin was the heart of it from the very start. I had this scene come to me and it ended up being the opening scene for Laid Bare – a woman on stage, boots, dreds, tats and piercings. I wanted her to be bold and strong and vivid but also to have this darkness. Laid Bare was born and at the start it was just a one book sale to fill a slot in the Berkley schedule. I knew I wanted to do books for Brody and Adrian but as I was about halfway through Coming Undone, I realized I wanted a book for Cope and that he needed to be with Ella.

Eventually, I wanted to write Raven’s book but she needed a few years to be ready for her HEA. She’s a fitting close for this generation of Brown/Keenan/Copelands and friends.

I love this tight knit group of friends and intentional family. I love how colorful and artistic they are. I love how much they love and support each other while retaining their edges. I’m happy I wrote them all!

3. What kind of research did you have to do for this series?

Mostly fun stuff. I watched a lot of videos of people playing instruments – Erin is a bass player, Adrian a guitarist so lots of that. Concert videos. Tattooing stuff for Brody and Raven (piercings too).

The criminal justice stuff I knew (I’ve got a law degree). I did domestic violence advocacy work post law school so I knew all the protection order stuff really well (for Ella’s situation in Laid Bare and Inside Out). I did ask my dad some stuff about sentencing in California (he was a parole office before he retired several years back).

I live in the Northwest so many of the places they go are my favorites (Zeek’s Pizza, Red Mill, The Dahlia Lounge, etc.) and I know the neighborhoods I set parts of the story in. Written On the Body doesn’t exist, but that neighborhood does, for instance.

Other stuff is made up totally like Happy Bend – although I hear there is an actual town in Arkansas called Happy Bend, it’s not the one from the book! I promise you real citizens of Happy Bend I would not insult your town that way, LOL.

4. I love the Browns, especially Erin, and I was wondering if you are planning any more books for them?

This part of the series is over. I’ve written books for everyone and I don’t want to drag it out and have readers thinking, “She should have ended this three books ago.” But there’s a whole new generation of Brown/Keenan/Copelands coming up as well as Jonah’s brothers so we haven’t seen the last of these characters.

5. What are you working on now?

I just finished a novella called All That Remains that will be in the Marked anthology out in February. It’s an earth set futuristic erotic romance menage (say that ten times fast!) and the start of a new self published series I’ll be doing.

Now I’m working on Fool’s Gold, which is book one in my HURLEY BOYS series and features Paddy Hurley (Damien’s brother from LUSH).

6. Any advice for aspiring writers?

The only real takeaway that I think applies to everyone is that you can’t be a writer unless you write. Don’t talk about it. Do it. If that’s 100 words a day, or 45 minutes a night or at your lunch break, or every other day or weekend, whatever. Put your butt in that chair (or wherever you work) and get working. You can fix whatever you get on the page, but it has to be there to fix.

Thank you so much for answering my questions and I just want to say that I love all your book and am looking forward to everyone learning more about Raven.

Thank you and thank you so much for having me. 🙂

About the Author:

The story goes like this: While on pregnancy bed rest, Lauren Dane had plenty of down time so her husband took her comments about “giving that writing thing a serious go” to heart and brought home a secondhand laptop. She wrote her first book on it before it gave up the ghost. Even better, she sold that book and never looked back.

Today Lauren is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over forty novels and novellas across several genres. Though she no longer has to deal with Polly Pocket and getting those tiny outfits on and off, she still has trouble blocking out the sound of iCarly so she can write a love scene.

Website/ Twitter/ Facebook

Jennifer’s Review of Drawn Together

TITLE: Drawn Together

SERIES #: Brown Family Series #6

CHARACTERS: Raven Smith and Jonah Warner

AUTHOR: Lauren Dane

PUBLICATION DATE: 10/1/13

ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS: Beauty is more than skin-deep…..Tattoo artist Raven Smith is blunt and hard, broken and jaded, dark and beautiful. While she doesn’t hide her painful past, she does keep a wall around her heart. She’s free sexually–but no one gets to the real Raven beneath the prickly exterior.

With a voice like smoke, Jonah Warner is a smooth-talking, highly successful attorney, with a body that should never be hidden by a suit. He’s the kind of man who never takes no for an answer and always gets what he wants. And what he wants is Raven. She’s a survivor, and he finds that incredibly alluring.

Jonah gets under her skin in a way Raven has never experienced. He makes her break all the rules–including her no-monogamy rule. But when a figure from Raven’s past shows up at the tattoo parlor and drops a bomb into her life, their relationship will face the ultimate challenge…

REVIEW PROVIDED BY: Jennifer NUMBER OF STARS: 4.5 Stars

REVIEW: Raven has always been such a mystery to me throughout the series. A tough free-spirit, who lived by her own rules and at first, I didn’t like her because she just seemed like a mean person. Slowly, she started to grow on me, especially because of her interactions with Erin and Erin’s son, Alexander. I had loved Erin from the very beginning and if Erin loved Raven with such an intensity and protectiveness, I knew there had to be more to her than meets the eye and I was glad that we got to see that side of her in Drawn Together.

Raven is a beautiful, smart, artistic and strong woman that most people don’t cross because of the image that she portrays. She had such a hard life growing up and that life has made her who she was an adult. Jonah was exactly what she needed. He was an alpha in his own world and he was able to break down her walls with his love and devotion and at points in this story, those walls are made up of pretty strong raw emotion. She needed someone that she could finally trust to help her lose a little bit of the tight control in her life and the fact that she was able to do that with Jonah was a huge step for her. She didn’t feel the need to run like she had in the past, she just felt that being with him was the right thing and he proved to her that he was in it for the long haul. The sex scenes were very hot and steamy and I will warn people that Raven and Jonah’s sexual relationship was perfect for them but may not be for everyone.

Everyone knows that Lauren Dane is one of my absolute favorite authors and I purchase every book that she has ever written. The Brown Family series is one of the best series out there and Drawn Together is a perfect addition to these great books. I am so happy for Raven to finally get her happy ending and I can’t wait to read what happens to the next generation of these great characters.

Giveaway

I’m excited to give away a ARC copy of Drawn Together. This giveaway is for US Residents only. To be entered in the drawing by October 6th, leave a meaningful comment for Lauren below:

October 3, 2013September 30, 2013

Kelly & Kimberly review Shadowed by Rebecca Zanetti

TITLE: Shadowed
SERIES #: Dark Protectors #6
CHARACTERS: Jase Kayrs & Brenna Dunne
AUTHOR: Rebecca Zanetti
PUBLICATION DATE: Oct 3, 2013
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Jase Kayrs was the fun brother. The warm, charming, easy-going brother of the vampire leaders. Until he was taken and tortured by demons with their evil mind tricks for nearly five years. Upon his return, he’s dark, violent, and not the man they all thought they knew. Not the man he once was. He’s haunted that the only reason the demons would have let him live was to use him as a weapon against his family—but he can’t figure out when or how he’ll explode. Plus, once again the demons are after Jase with a vengeance…or rather, a female demon he rejected is out to destroy him.

Then the king asks Jase for a favor…a big one. To mate with one of their allies in order to save her. She’s everything that’s good and light in the world…while he’s at home with darkness. Yet he agrees…knowing mating may be the only chance to save them both.
KELLY’S REVIEW:
4.5 Stars Jase was always the fun loving brother. But all that changed when he was captured by demons. After five years at the tortuous hands of the demons Jase is finally free of his prison but not the demons. In order to try to get some of his power backs Jase decides it time to take a mate. But this mating will not before love. This mating will be only about regaining power and possible saving Brenna from the poison in her system.

Brenna is at the end of the line. There is nothing more that doctors can do for her. Her only chance is to mate and hope that can save her. But there is no guarantee. And not just any mate will do. Brenna will need a non witch and preferable someone she at least likes a little. The last thing Brenna ever expected was Jase Kayrs offer to mate.

HOLY WOW!!!! I loved this book, love this world, love Jase & Brenna and love Rebecca for writing this series. If you are a fan of Rebecca’s Dark Protectors series you know Jase’s story. You know all that he has been through, how much he has changed and the hope that we all have for him. I can promise that Shadowed will not let you down.
If you are new to the Dark Protectors series I would highly suggest starting from the very beginning. There is so much that happens in each book that is important to the next. But I do think that you could pick up Shadowed and read it as a stand alone if you really wanted too.
I so can’t wait to see what is next!!!!

KIMBERLY’S REVIEW:
4.5 Stars I have been waiting and waiting for Jase’s story and I was not disappointed! Zanetti has a way of bringing you right into her world and makes you never want to leave.

If you have read the Dark Protectors then you have been waiting just like me. However while some of Zanetti’s books can be picked up and read as a stand alone I believe Jase’s story is different we have been watching his story unfold pretty much from the beginning so really pick up the other 5 before you read this one… you will not be disappointed.

I can not wait for the next in the series… for that matter I can not wait for any book from Zanetti. She is one of the best!

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

October 2, 2013September 30, 2013

Winter Romance Wednesday! Kelly reviews The Christmas He Loved Her by Juliana Stone

TITLE: Christmas He Loved Her
SERIES #: Bad Boys of Crystal Lake #2
CHARACTERS: Jake Edwards & Raine Edwards
AUTHOR: Juliana Stone
PUBLICATION DATE: October 1, 2013
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
All he wants this Christmas is her.

In the small town of Crystal Lake, Christmas is a time for sledding, hot chocolate, and cozying up to the fire with those you love. For Jake Edwards, it’s also time to come home and face his past. He thought there would never be anything harder than losing his brother. Turns out there is: falling in love with his brother’s widow, Raine.

Ever since they were little, Jesse was the Edwards brother who was always there for her, and Jake was the one who knew just how to push her buttons. Raine can’t imagine a life without them, which is why it was doubly decimating when Jake left town after his brother’s sudden death. Now he’s back and she doesn’t know whether to be mad or thrilled. Maybe both. Maybe it will be the perfect chance for both of them to finally find happiness again.

REVIEW:
Jake & Raine have both been mourning the loss of Jesse but in very different ways.

Jake is mourning his twin. But he has to live with the guilt that he could not save his brother, the guilt that he has been in love with Raine since they were all kids, the guilt that he has not been there for his family for the last year and half.

Raine had to deal with not only the loss of her husband but her best friend too. Jake told her he would be there for her, but he wasn’t. Jake was not there for Raine when she needed him the most.

These two have a heartbreaking story. The whole story was very emotional but very good. Jake and Raine really should have been together from the start, but that is want second chances are for. Right?

I really love this series and I love the cast of characters that Juliana has created. I can’t wait for the next book in this series.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

September 30, 2013September 21, 2013

Kimberly reviews Against The Ropes by Sarah Castille

TITLE: Against The Ropes
CHARACTERS: Makayla & Max
AUTHOR: Sarah Castille
PUBLICATION DATE: 09/03/13
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
He scared me. He thrilled me. And after one touch, all I could think about was getting more…

Makayla never thought she’d set foot in an underground mixed-martial arts club. But if anyone needs a medic on hand, it’s these guys. Trouble is, at her first sight of the club’s owner she’s the one feeling breathless.

All sleek muscle and restrained power, the man they call Torment plays to win at any cost. Whether it’s in the ring or in the bedroom, he knows exactly when to use a soft touch and when to launch a full-on assault. He always knows just how far he can push. And he’s about to tempt Makayla in ways she never imagined.

REVIEW:
I wasn’t sure when I first started this book how it was going to be. The writing seemed a little off even though I honestly can not say why it was off it just was. But as I read more of the story I realized how much I was enjoying it.

Max is one in the many of the controlling millionaires in the romance genre today but something is a bit different about him. While rich and controlling he is also a down to Earth kind of guy. He has his own demons but he enjoys the way he deals with them. Makayla is funny, sweet and just a average girl with debts and demons of her own. The connection between them is immediate.

I really enjoyed this story. I liked the humor and the sincerity of this story. Looking forward to another story from Castille.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.