Waiting on Wednesday (2)



*This is a weekly event hosted by Jill from Breaking the Spine. "Waiting on Wednesday" spotlights upcoming releases that I'm eagerly anticipating.*

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Tart by Lauren Dane 

Expected Publication Date: November 6, 2012

Synopsis from Goodreads

USA Today bestselling author Lauren Dane serves up a sweet, sensual, and hot-to-the-touch novel in which one woman's most intimate desires are stirred by two very special ingredients...

Juliet Lamprey is having the time fo her life running her successful bakery, TART, when Gideon Carter comes back into her life. Returning home to help his grandfather run the family farm, Gideon is back for good. When they meet again, the spark between them is immediate, and it isn't long before the former childhood friends play catch up - in bed.

That's not good news for local lawyer Cal Whaley. Though the sexually open by strictly monogamous Cal has loved Jules for a long time, he's hardly ever taken it further than friendship. When he sees her start to fall for Gideon, he knows he has to make his move or risk losing her forever.

Who would have anticipated that all three of them would connect on such an intimate level? The trio's scalding liaisons take them places they've never dreamed. But such an intensely passionate and unusual relationship comes with equally as complicated emotions, and when Jules must suddenly leave town, she wonders if she'll have a choice to make when she returns...

Find You in the Dark by A. Meredith Walters

(Find You in the Dark series, book 1)

Maggie Young had the market on normal. Normal friends, normal parents, normal grades…normal life.

Until him.

Clayton Reed was running from his past and an army of personal demons that threatened to take him down. He never thought he had a chance at happiness.

Until her.

Maggie thought their love could overcome anything. Clay thought she was all he needed to fix his messy life.

That together, they could face the world.

But the darkness is always waiting.

Sometimes the greatest obstacle to true love is within yourself.

“Maybe I was an idiot, or a glutton for punishment. Or maybe I naively subscribed to the foolish notion that my love could save him. Whatever the reason, I entered the room and sank to the carpet beside that sad and broken boy.” – Maggie

*I was given a copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review*

I finished this book at the end of the work day and as I got in my car to go home, my mind was still on Mags and Clay. I turned on the radio and the song that blasted through my speakers couldn’t have been more fitting; Hard to Love by Lee Brice. If you’re not a country fan, you’ve probably never heard it, but are a few lines….

“I’m hard to love, hard to love

I don’t make it easy.

I couldn’t do it if I stood where you stood.

I’m hard to love, hard to love

You say that you need me,

I don’t deserve it but I love that you love me.”

After you’ve read the book, you’ll understand why I found that song to be so fitting for Clay and Maggie’s volatile relationship.

Maggie was searching for spontaneity in her mundane, normal life; Clay was trying to escape his past and keep his bipolar illness in check. When they run into each other (literally) they both think they may have found the answer to their problems. Through a short few months together, they learn that the answer to their problems may not be so simple and that being together might be creating more problems than they ever had to begin with.

This book is the perfect example of what happens when you use love as a means of medicine; when you use your partner as a crutch. My heart was torn in two throughout this book because I just couldn’t pick a side. Clay had half, and Maggie had half. I felt for Clay when he was going through one of his episodes, but my heart ached for Maggie when he took out his aggression and anger on her. Their relationship was toxic almost from the very beginning, and I think some people would probably think Maggie was a whack job for staying with Clay. I don’t. I know firsthand the struggle of being with someone that suffers from internal issues. My ex’s issues weren’t as severe as Clay’s, but I dealt with the constant seesaw that was our relationship for almost two years. Why? Because I loved him. But there comes a time when you just have to walk away and stop trying to fix someone if they aren’t trying to fix anything on their own.

I was rooting for Maggie and Clay from the very beginning and to be completely honest, I’m pretty sure I still am. I want more of them as a couple. Maybe I’m a masochist or maybe I’m just plain crazy, but I really do love them together. The sweet things Clay did for Maggie made my heart smile, and during a couple particular scenes I had tears in my eyes. Their relationship was beyond the definition of angst-driven, but you could see that beyond the jealousy, the cutting, the mood swings, that Clay absolutely loved Maggie with everything he had. That’s why everything that happens between them is so hard to swallow. Oh, oh, OH! And his letter to her?! I was a crying puddle of woman-raging hormones after that. Let's just leave it at that. 

Find You In The Dark will take you on a rollercoaster of emotions; it will make you laugh, make you swoon, make you love, make you hate, and it quite possibly just might break your heart. This book resonated with me and I absolutely can’t wait to read the sequel. A. Meredith Walters does a fantastic job making you feel the characters’ emotions and brings to light a very real illness that is rarely talked about. This book definitely left me with a hangover, but damn it, it was worth it. 

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PS - Just in case you wanted to hear the whole song I referred to earlier, here ya go :)

Last Night At The Stairways by Jon Lymon

Ever woken up with Beer Fear, the dread that fills you when you try and remember what you drunkenly got up to the night before?

Thank your lucky stars you’re not Lloyd Parker.

As his memory slowly comes back, he becomes convinced that he killed someone in a nightclub. But he’s about to discover that what he actually got up to on his Last Night At The Stairways was far, far more horrific.

*I was given a PDF version of this book for review on The Indie Bookshelf. I have tweaked this review a little bit from the original*

First of all, any book that has beer fear in the title automatically catches my attention. I mean, let’s face it…we’ve all contracted a case of Beer Fear. You have a little too much fun, drink a little too much, and wake up the next morning thinking, “how the hell did I get home?” or “did I really climb up on the bar and start dancing last night?” or even worse “I did what with who in the back of whose car?!” It’s never a proud moment and I’m not going to lie, my dignity took a severe hit on the few mornings I would wake up after a long night of drinking and immediately check to make sure I was still wearing my underwear. Luckily, I’m a little bit of a grown-up now and that doesn’t happen anymore…rarely ever…whatever, you get the point; beer fear is real and it sucks. Now…onto the actual review…

This book was not what I expected at all; in a good way. I expected a potential thriller about a guy who spent the whole book trying to cover his tracks and right his wrongs after a night of getting blackout drunk. Well, I was kind of right…but then again, not really. But kind of. Oy. Last Night At The Stairways was different than the books I normally gravitate to; it’s eerie, suspenseful, macabre, trippy, and you know what else? British. Yep, this nice little story takes place across the pond; I don’t think it’s any secret that I spend way too much time wishing I had a British accent and using words like “bollocks” and calling my guy friends my “mates.” In my mind, I read this entire book in a British accent and it just made my heart happy.

Although it did start off a little slow and seemed a little bogged down with descriptions, it picked up around the 25% mark and only escalated from there. The storyline was unique and anxiously kept me wondering just what did Lloyd do? Why was his best friend, Will, acting so strange? What in the every loving crap happened to his girlfriend?

There is a healthy amount of foreshadowing; however, I have to say I was shocked when I realized what was really going on with not just Lloyd, but everyone around him. I honestly felt for Lloyd; he seemed genuinely concerned and worried about his actions, but no matter what he said or did, he wasn’t getting any answers from anyone. Instead, he was trapped inside this nightclub and forced to endure some pretty grisly stuff. While he was clearly the antagonist of the story, he wasn’t really unlikable and I was rooting for him to make things right.  

Overall, it was an intriguing read. I would recommend Last Night At The Stairways to anyone who enjoys a chilling thriller with a mind-warping twist. With a little gore, a little more creepiness, and a lot of “something else” (I can’t give away everything, silly) I think it was pretty perfect to read this book right before Halloween, because bloody hell…it was a ghoulishly good read. Yep, I used the phrase bloody hell; I told you I wanted a British accent ;)

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COVER REVEAL: Troubles and Treats by Tara Sivec

Expected Publication Date: Late 2012

Troubles and Treats by Tara Sivec is the third and final installment in the Chocolate Lovers series and tells the story of sex-crazed couple, Drew and Jenny.

Guys, I can't even tell you how sickeningly excited I am for this book. And seriously, how perfect is that cover?! It makes my sweet tooth sing with glee just looking at it. 

If you haven't read the first two books...well, what the fuck have you been doing?! It is the funniest series I have ever read and Christ on a cracker, these books are hot as fuck.  Check out my reviews of Seduction and Snacks and Futures and Frosting. 

Synopsis: 
Drew and Jenny have spent years being the envy of their friends with their out of control sex lives - well, not really. Mostly it makes their friends want to throw up in their mouths a little.

With two little kids and two busy lives, for the first time, Drew and Jenny aren't on the same page in the bedroom. Drew will stop at nothing to get his previously amorous wife back in teh sack and Jenny will do anything for a full night of sleep.

Carter and Claire, and Jim and Liz are their usual (un)helpful selves and are full of advice for the disconnected duo, wanting nothing more than to help restore order to the usually happy couple's lives. 

In the third installment of the Chocolate Lovers series, will Drew and Jenny find the spark that's been missing in their marriage, or will the trouble they're having cause a stickier situation than the time Jenny poured honey all over Drew and he fused himself to a tree?

PS - Make sure you follow the fucking genius behind this series on Twitter and check out her blog for updates about Troubles and Treats and other sweet stuff. (See what I did there? Sweet stuff? Ehh, whatever...)

Waiting on Wednesday (1)

*This is a weekly event hosted by Jill from Breaking the Spine. "Waiting on Wednesday" spotlights upcoming releases that I'm eagerly anticipating.*

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Rush by Maya Banks

Expected Publication Date: February 5, 2013

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Gabe, Jace, and Ash: three of the wealthiest, most powerful men in the country. They're accustomed to getting anything they want. Anything at all. For Gabe, it's making one particular fantasy come true with a woman who was forbidden fruit. Now she's ripe for the picking...

When Gabe Hamilton saw Mia Crestwell walk into the ballroom for his hotel's grand opening, he knew he was going to hell for what he had planned. After all, Mia is his best friend's little sister. Except she's not so little anymore. And Gabe has waited a long time to act on his desires.

Gabe has starred in Mia's fantasies more than once, ever since she was a teenager with a huge crush on her brother's best friend. So what if Gabe's fourteen years older? Mia knows he's way out of her leage, but her attraction has only grown stronger with time. She's an adult now, and there's no reason not to act on her most secret desires.

As Gabe pulls her into his provocative world, she realizes there's a lot she doesn't know about him or how exacting his demands can be. Their relationship is intense and obsessive, but as they cross the line from secret sexual odyssey to something deeper, their affair runs the risk of being exposed - and vulnerable to a betrayal far more intimate than either expected.



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COVER REVEAL: Avoiding Responsibility by K.A. Linde

Expected Publication Date: December 2012

Avoiding Responsibility by K.A. Linde is the second book in the Avoiding Series; the first book is Avoiding Commitment. 

Synopsis: 

Lexi has finally given up her destructive relationship and moved onto bigger and better things, namely Ramsey Bridges. But things are amiss with her new beau and she discovers things about him and his past that would make any girl turn the other way. And she's not sure his past can coincide with hers. A year after his entrance into her life, he's trying to make amends and does one thing she never expects: invites her to a wedding...Jack's wedding. Find out what happens to Lexi as she deals with all the twists and turns that proceed from that question, throw in a few more players to shake up the mix, and don't forget all her old partners in crime.

AND...go "like" K.A. Linde on Facebook for updates and info about the Avoiding Series!

Seduced in the Dark by C.J. Roberts

(The Dark Duet series, book 2)

What is the price of redemption?

Rescued from sexual slavery by a mysterious Pakistani officer, Caleb carries the weight of a debt that must be paid in blood.

The road has been long and fraught with uncertainty, but for Caleb and Livvie, it’s all coming to an end.

Can he surrender the woman he loves for the sake of vengeance?

Or will he make the ultimate sacrifice?

“For the love of Christ, shut – up! Let a bitch enjoy her mental breakdown in peace.” – Livvie

Holy mother of God. This book did something to me. I finished it over a week ago, and I’m still thinking about it; I’m still feeling it. I’ve even tried to read a couple light books to bring my emotions back to normal, and it’s not working. I have this book hangover that just won’t go away. C.J. Roberts, I think you have officially fucked up my head…and I’m not even mad about it.

Seduced in the Dark doesn’t pick up where Captive in the Dark left off; it’s months later. The story goes back and forth between Livvie and Caleb’s POV, as well as the past and the present, and ultimately brings the story of Livvie and Caleb to a close. I don’t want to give away any spoilers so I really can’t discuss any of the plot, but I can tell you how much I fucking loved this book…and how much it fucked with every fiber of my being.

The relationship between Livvie and Caleb was taken to an entirely different level than in the previous book, Captive in the Dark, and it tore me apart. It’s hard for me to explain how much of an emotional toll Seduced in the Dark took on me, but I’ll try. Do you know that feeling you get when something terrible happens to you? Where you start shaking and no matter what, you can’t stop? Where you feel like you’ve been gutted and your stomach is hollow? Like you could be sick to your stomach or cry or maybe both at the same time? That’s how I felt during some of the scenes between Caleb and Livvie. Seriously. I was that invested. Some of the scenes were just so incredibly hard to stomach. Some of the scenes were so tender that I thought maybe Caleb was going to change his mind. There were several times that I had tears in my eyes; I hurt for Livvie that much. You know, as the reader I almost felt like C.J. Roberts was Caleb and I was Livvie. She would dangle something in front of me to give me hope and then snatch it away. My emotions were tugged back and forth so many times that by the time I finished the book, I was emotionally exhausted. I love books that can do that to me; that make me feel like there is a void in me after I finish them. Seduced in the Dark did exactly that.

The scenes are just as intense, if not more so, than they were in Captive in the Dark so brace yourself. But guys…this series was absolutely incredible. I feel like a fucking sicko for loving it so much, but if being a sicko is wrong…I don’t wanna be right. (God, I don’t think I could get any cheesier than that.) I fell in love with Caleb and Livvie’s story, and this series is one that will stick with me for a long time. I’m sitting here now thinking that this review really doesn’t even do it justice; it just doesn’t. I could write a 10 page review and it still couldn’t possibly fully describe what I felt while reading this book. Seduced in the Dark was breathtaking, heart wrenching, gut twisting, mind fucking, and disturbingly, sickeningly perfect. 

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