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Saturday, October 26, 2013

Weekly Winners

Below is a list of all of the winners from the past week.

Barrie Mac
Undeniable by Shannon Richard

Sandy
Seven Day Fiance' Poster from Rachel Harris

Giedre
Casa Holiday Book Prize Pack from Sourcebooks

Karen
Run to You by Rachel Gibson

Dawn
Charm Bracelet from Tracy March

Sienna
Bold Tricks by Karina Halle


**Replacement Winner**

Glenda
Maggie's Man by Lisa Gardner


All winners have been notified via email. Thank you to everyone that stopped by and entered. =)

ARC Review: On Every Street by Karina Halle


On Every Street is the prequel to Karina Halle's The Artists Trilogy. I had heard a little about this series before starting this, but didn't know much about them other than that people seemed to really love them. I cannot believe that it took me this long to read this! I was blown away with this prequel and I know that I will be getting little sleep until I devour the rest of this series. I absolutely have to know what happens next. After reading On Every Street, I feel completely emotionally wrung out. But in a totally good way. This story really drew me into it, and I feel very invested in these characters! This book had me on an emotional roller coaster and really made me feel very strongly about what I was reading.

Ellie is a con artist with only one thing on her mind. Revenge. She was ruined years ago by a drug lord and has vowed to make him pay. After honing her skills with the help of an old friend of her con artist parents, she sets out to work a long con. She never expects that her mark, one of the drug lord's henchman will be someone that she could possibly fall in love with though. Having changed her name to Eden, Ellie sets out to seduce Javier. Javier is not just an average criminal though, and soon she begins to think about really being with Javier and giving up her quest for revenge. As Ellie (now Eden) and Javier begin a passionate relationship, secrets and lies threaten to tear them apart as lines are blurred. Can Ellie and Javier make their relationship work, or were they doomed from the start?

I really liked Javier. Yes, he works for a cartel and has done some terrible things. But he was also sexy and protective, willing to do whatever it took to look after Eden. He was dangerous and dark, but underneath all that he seemed to wish that he was better for Eden and it was clear that he struggled with it all. Ellie had a hard life. She was damaged from her past and being pretty much alone. It was clear that she was vulnerable and was looking for a way to heal herself. I really liked her and Javier together. I felt like they really balanced each other out and were good for each other. They were extremely hot together and had amazing chemistry. These two were so attracted to each other that it felt as though they would combust at any time just from being near each other. They had highs and lows, and at times they absolutely broke my heart! I felt so strongly about them and became very emotionally invested in them.

Overall, this story was fabulous and I really loved it. I felt the connection between Eden/Ellie and Javier was very real, and although it wasn't perfect it seemed right. Not only did I feel their connection to each other, but I also felt very connected to them. These characters are deep and interesting and I loved them flaws and all. The ending of this story left me absolutely shattered and I found myself wanting to scream at Javier. How could he do that? He did something and it just left me completely gutted. I cannot wait to read more and finish this series. I know that the road to the end isn't going to be an easy one, and i'm sure that these books will continue to be gut-wrenching and emotional. But I am along for the ride, and I can only hope that at the end everything will work out the way its supposed to. I absolutely recommend this series to anyone who likes their reads a little dark and dangerous as well as sexy and hot. This story was so unique from anything else I have read and is an absolute must read!

**ARC provided by NetGalley**

Purchase: | Amazon | Barnes & Noble |



Guest Post with Maya Rodale

Meet Maya Rodale. Maya is celebrating the upcoming release of her newest book, The Wicked Wallflower. Please give her a warm welcome.

Maya Rodale began reading romance novels in college at her mother's insistence. She is now the author of numerous smart and sassy historical romance novels. A champion of the romance genre and it's readers, she is also the author of the non-fiction book Dangerous Books For Girls: The Bad Reputation Of Romance Novels, Explained and a co-founder of Lady Jane's Salon, a national reading series devoted to romantic fiction.Maya lives in New York City with her darling dog and a rogue of her own.

Places to find Maya:
Site | Facebook | Twitter |

Friday, October 25, 2013

ARC Review: Never Desire a Duke by Lily Dalton


Christmas stories are inevitably sentimental. They almost always have themes of redemption and renewal, as we would expect. Never Desire a Duke is no exception. There are many themes here that have been done and done again. Yet they were done very well in this sweet story of forgiveness and renewed love. Lily Dalton feels like a natural storyteller to me. Her writing flowed smoothly and the dialogue was fresh and genuine.

The Duke and Duchess of Claxton’s marriage is completely derailed. It got off to a wonderful start. Then Lady Sophia, pregnant with their first child, discovers a note from one of Vane’s paramours. Rushing to leave him, she falls and loses the baby. Vane (who has actually given up his womanizing ways) is crushed by the loss of the baby and by Sophia’s grief. He feels inadequate to deal with the emotional upheaval and leaves England for about a year. Now he is back to try to mend the fences. Sophia is ready for a legal separation, but first she wants to have a baby. They become snowbound at one of his small estates just before Christmas and are forced to confront their issues.

In some ways Never Desire a Duke is like dozens of other Christmas romances. It had a carload of plot devices that have been used again and again: the big misunderstanding, the good-marriage-gone-bad plot, snowbound at Christmas, the former lover, the misguided younger brother, the I-want-a-baby-but-not-you trope. So this should add up to a really trite book, right? Wrong. Dalton makes these tired devices fresh by offering new twists. Yes, there is plenty of misunderstanding, but they do talk about it. Even though they are snowbound they are far from completely alone; there is a great deal of humorous interaction with the townspeople, friends and relatives. The former lover seems evil, but we gradually see another side of her. Add it all together and you have a sweet little delight of a Christmas story with the requisite sentimental sobber ending. It was a pleasure to read and I recommend it.

**ARC provided by NetGalley**

Purchase: | Amazon | Kindle | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository |





Feature and Giveaway: Never Desire a Duke by Lily Dalton


Lady Sophia has long been estranged from her husband, Vane Barwick, the Duke of Claxton, whose rumored list of amorous conquests includes almost every beautiful woman of the ton. Yet a single touch is all it takes to reawaken her furious passion for him. But how can she trust the man who crushed her dreams and took away the one thing she wanted most?

Claxton has never forgiven himself for the youthful mistake that ruined his marriage to Sophia. Now, after nearly a year abroad, the reformed rogue vows to win back the only woman he's ever truly loved. He'll do whatever it takes to prove he can be the honorable husband she deserves-and the passionate lover she desires.

Purchase: | Amazon | Kindle | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository |