Review of Hungry for You by Lynsay Sands

Hungry for You
Author: Lynsay Sands
Paranoromal Romance - eBook - From Netgalley
eBook - 384 pgs
Release Date: 11/30/2010
Author's Website



This vampire has been alone for far too long . . .

As one of the most ancient in the Argeneau clan, Cale Valens has given up on finding a life mate. His friends and family, however, have not. In fact, they believe they've finally found his perfect match. Getting them together, however, requires one little white lie . .

Alexandra Willan is in a panic. Her restaurant is due to open in two weeks, but her chef just walked out. Then a highly recommended replacement arrives, an impossibly handsome culinary genius who sends electric tingles racing through her body . . .

Except he can't cook. In fact, Cale hasn't eaten real food in two thousand years. Yet he's determined to prove to Alex his prowess in the kitchen . . . and elsewhere. Because never has he hungered so for any mortal woman. And not just for a taste of her, but for the whole delicious feast!

Rating

Sexual

I absolutely loved this story! This is storytelling at its best! I found myself smiling and chuckling throughout the story. Sands is the only consistently funny author I have ever read in the PNR genre. It was sweet, romantic, steamy, funny, and interesting. I loved both of the characters. They were both hard working & very kind to each other. The poor guy couldn’t find his way around a kitchen which describes me almost to a tee. Every time I think of the microwave scene I start laughing!!

The words just flowed across the pages in this story. The dialogue was interesting and realistic and there was plenty of it. I prefer this over books where everybody is just thinking about everything instead of saying anything. This also made me anxious for Bricker’s story. He’s a stitch!

Review My Love Eternal by Liz Strange

My Love Eternal
Author Liz Strange
Author's Web site: http://www.lizstrange.com

Paranormal Romance
Requested Review

Blood, sex and eternal life… What more could a girl ask for?

Tall, dark, and sexy, as well as fabulously wealthy, Giovanni is everything a girl could ask for in a lover. There’s only one catch. He’s been undead for more than three hundred years. When Rachel is drawn into Giovanni’s world, she learns that the rules of human existence mean nothing in the world of vampires. This, however, is a fair price to pay for a love that will last forever.

Hunted by the Desmarais family, who carry a centuries-old vendetta, Rachel and Giovanni travel to the ends of the earth in order to stay one step ahead. Can their love survive, or will their eternity together end?

Content Warning: Violence, sexual encounters with the undead

Review: Magick Charm by Jennifer Wells

Magick Charm
Jennifer Wells
Author Requested Review
Paranormal Romance ~~ Voodoo, magick
Ebook (print available)

Author's Website



Janie Adler likes her quiet, orderly life reviewing books for a small New Orleans newspaper exactly the way it is. So what if Duke Hot Pants, the hero of her favorite romance novel, is the only man in her life? She has a Pulitzer Prize to chase. That is until her quirky twin sister Rachel moves in, bringing boyfriend drama, a smelly ferret, and irrational belief in all things magickal along with her.

Persuaded by a local voodoo priestess-and maybe one margarita too many-the twins cast spells to improve their love lives. Loser-magnet Rachel focuses on avoiding the wrong men and Janie seeks her romance novel ideal. While plenty of eligible bachelors flood into their lives, Janie only has eyes for her coworker who lives in the apartment downstairs and works in the cube next to her. But the twins soon discover the incantations' many unintended-and dangerous-consequences. The increasing number of mishaps and misfortune putting the sisters in grave peril seems more like the work of a curse. Can Janie and Rachel's "twintuition" save them from the menace stalking them?



My Review and Rating


I applaud Ms. Wells on getting her first book published. This is not paranormal romance. This is a work of fiction. It is a narrative light on the romance, light on the suspense and light on the paranormal.

Romance Lite: Of the identical twin sisters, the heroine Janie, is the only one who finds any type of romance, and barely. I stopped counting the word "boyfriend" at twenty.

Suspense Lite: A stalker is threatening one of the twins. What they undertake to unveil the stalker is a little far-fetched. Switching identities is too Disney for me.

Paranormal Lite: A few voodoo spells and a tarot card reading. Nothing else, nada, zilch.

This book seemed to be more about the relationship between the sisters, Janie and Rachel. While the hero, Ryan, was secondary.

Review Stones Skipping on Water by Richard Taylor

Stones Skipping on Water
Author Richard Taylor
Mystery/Thriller

Author's web site: http://www.richardtaylorwriter.com/

Requested Review

Lust, love, envy, and murder in the mind-set of total recall: Venture capitalist John Kincaide's company has developed a memory enhancement drug called ClearThought. The inventor has overdosed on it and claims ClearThought allows him to see past lives. In one of them he claims Kincaide killed him and his lover who has reincarnated and is now involved with Kincaide. He wants her back, and revenge for what Kincaide did to him

Rating-

                      

Extaordinary Story on glimpse's of how reincarnation intertwines in our current lives.
Ever wondered why someone or something seemed similar but you couldn't put your finger on it or maybe the feeling of a deja vu where you might have lived or done it before? If so then you will find yourself relating to this story and finding it amazing how the writer has brought the lives of the past into the future to be reborn again.

I didn't know what to expect in the beginning and I thought it moved a little slow at first until I learned about the new pharmaceutical drug ClearThought that was soon to be introduced by genePharm; A new drug that would enhance your memory. Enhance your memory indeed as the pharmacist Bischof discovers he is really Henry when he tries the drug on himself and realizes his past life mingles with his current employer John who is really the reincarnate Stefan. A employer who had killed him and the love of his life Diana in the past. Diana happens to be in this life is called Vanessa and also happens to be the love of John's life. I loe how all the characters all played a role of the past and how they all ended up in the present mingled once again.

The story was weaved very well and even though the ending was sad because of death, it made sense in the fact that stones skipping through water represents our sould moving from one life to the next as it reincarnates and implants its memories into another creation advancing into the next life.

I love the quote the Taylor leaves in the book towards the end.

"There is no love without hate. There is no joy without sorrow. There is no triumph without defeat. There is no light without darkness. The stone skips."

Review Alice's Tea Cup cookbook by Haley Fox, Lauren Fox

Alice's Tea Cup Cookbook
Authors Haley Fox, Lauren Fox
Cookbook Hardcover
Requested from NetGalley
Webiste

The delightful sisters and owners of Alice's Tea Cup share nearly one hundred recipes from their charming and wildly popular Manhattan restaurants

For almost ten years, Alice's Tea Cup has been a destination in New York City for locals and tourists alike who crave a scrumptious afternoon tea without airs or pretension. Haley and Lauren Fox learned at an early age that tea was more than just a beverage—it was an event to be shared and protected—and they divulge their tea-making philosophy and dozens of delectable recipes in this beautiful cookbook.
Embodying the mantra "tea turned on its ear," Alice's Tea Cup serves up unique twists to traditional Victorian tea fare, including:
Savories—Lapsang Souchong Smoked Chicken Salad and Cucumber Watercress Sandwiches with Lemon Chive Butter
Baked goods—Banana Nutella Cake and Mint Black Bottom Cupcakes
Sweet treats—Alice'S'mores and Queen of Tarts
Tea selections—from African Dew to Rooibos Bourbon

Specialty drinks—Alice's Tea-jito and Ginger Mar-tea-ni
And of course Alice's world-famous tender, moist scones—including nineteen versions, from pumpkin to peanut butter and jelly to ham and cheese

Haley and Lauren also show you how to throw a personalized "Curiouser and Curiouser" tea party with household props and offer lots of other ways to celebrate with tea and festive food. From salads to scones, pancakes to cupcakes, afternoon tea to evening mar-tea-nis, this fabulous cookbook lets you enjoy Alice's mouthwatering recipes without leaving home
 

My Review
Rating-

I requested this cookbook for the scones and baked goods. I do like tea and their selection is very good, I just don’t drink that much of it.
I have prepared the chili, the Vanilla Cake with Butter Cream icing and Lemon poppy seed scones. My family and I loved it all so far. The recipes were easy to make and the instructions is very easy to follow. The only complaint I have is there is not enough pictures. Over all I loved the flow of the cookbook and the recipes so much I will be buying it next month. One word of caution as you look at the cookbook and website you will want to pack and leave for New York right away, at least I did;) You can go to Alice tea cup’s website and order this cookbook, tea and gifts.

Some of the contents inside the cookbook
For tea, there is a section for tea parties, the basic brewing for tea and more.
For baked goods there is scones and brunch recipes, cookies, cupcakes and cakes.
For other recipes, there is Sandwiches, soups and Salads.
For one sample recipe you’ll have to visit my blog.

Lemon Poppy Seed Scones
3 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup sugar
½ teaspoon baking soda
2 ½ teaspoons baking powder
¾ teaspoon salt
1 ½ stick of unsalted butter, cut into ½ inch pieces
1 tablespoon plus ¼ teaspoon freshly grated lemon zest
1 tablespoon poppy seeds
1 ¼ buttermilk
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
¼ cup of heavy cream (for brushing)
¼ coup of sugar (for brushing)

1.Preheat oven to 425
2. In large mixing bowl, combine the four, sugar, baking soda, baking powder and salt.
3. With clean hands, work the butter into the dry mixture until it is thoroughly incorporated and has consistency of fine breadcrumbs. Add 1 tablespoon of the zest and the poppy seeds, and mix until the zest and poppy seeds are evenly distrusted
4. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients, and pour the buttermilk and vanilla extract into the well. Combine the ingredients until all the dry mixture is wet, but do not knead!
5. Turn mixture onto a floured surface and gather the dough together. Gently pat the dough to make a rectangle about 1 ½ inches think. Using a dough cutter, cut the scones into wedges measuring them about 3 ½ x 4 inches, and lay them on a nonstick baking sheet. Gather the remaining dough together lightly to cut out more scones- just don’t knead the dough too much.
6.Stir the remaining ¼ teaspoon lemon zest into the heavy cream. Brush the top of each scone liberally with this mixture, and the sprinkle with sugar.
7. Bakes the scones for about 12 minutes, or until lightly browned.

Here is a couple of pictures one is of the scones above the next one is the Vanilla Cake with Butter-cream Icing, my icing may be lighter in color because I didn't use as much chocolate cocoa.

Guest post and give away with Author Eleri Stone

Please welcome Author Eleri Stone!


Thanks for having me here today Laurie! My name is Eleri Stone and I’m a new author whose debut novel Mercy just released from Carina Press. I thought I’d tell you a bit about myself and how I went from being a paranormal romance fan to an author.
First off, I love paranormal romance. It’s a peanut butter and chocolate combination of my favorite genres – romance, fantasy and horror. In my early teens, I was a big fan of authors like Stephen King, Mercedes Lackey, David Eddings, Anne McAffrey and Lois Duncan. (Does anybody remember that book with the astral projecting evil twin? Loved that one.) My first urban fantasy about vampires was Fred Saberhagen’s An Old Friend of the Family from way back in the 80’s.
In my late teens I picked up my first romance - Whitney, my love by Judith McNaught. (I know a lot of people have trouble with the riding crop scene and the forced seduction in that one but I loved it then. I love it still.) Almost overnight, romance became my go to genre. Historical romances were my early favorite but then something miraculous happened… there was this explosion of paranormal romance in the bookstores. It was the coming together of everything I loved to read growing up in fantasy and horror, and everything I loved about romance as an adult. I was in heaven. Vampire lovers - I’m there. Fae – Yup. Shapeshifters of any variety – Yessss.
Right now my two favorite series to follow are Patricia Briggs’ Mercy Thompson series and Karen Marie Moning’s Fever series.
So when I sat down to write my own story, I didn’t even stop to question what kind it would be. The only question was whether I would be able to finish it. You see, I’ve always loved to write. The problem is that while I’m really good about starting stories, I’m really bad about finishing them. I like beginnings and it seemed like I was always getting an idea, writing a chapter or two under that wild sweet thrill of inspiration and then one of the kids would get sick or I’d have to put in overtime. I’d put the story on the shelf for awhile and by the time I got back to it, the thrill was gone.
When my youngest started preschool last year, I decided I was going to use those two hours to write – ignore the laundry and the dishes and just try to finish one manuscript. That was Mercy – my own paranormal romance about jaguar shapeshifters living in the Amazon jungle. It has a touch of fantasy in that the Yaguara are a remote tribe of shapeshifters and I was able to build their society from scratch. It has an edge of horror in the brutality of that society - the hero and heroine meet in what should have been a battle to the death. And, of course, it has romance.


Here’s the blurb:
To the Yaguara, an ancient jaguar shape-shifting people living deep in the Amazon jungle, nothing matters more than strength. Iada is their champion; genetically pure, she has been trained since birth to fight. Her destiny is to become the next Queen of the Yaguara by winning the tournament of succession—a battle to the death.
Her opponent is Gabriel, a half-blooded outcast whose mother was human. To everyone's shock, he defeats Iada but does not strike the death blow—instead, he extends mercy, thereby claiming her as his mate.
Despite their enmity, the attraction between them is powerful, and soon they are mates in more than name only. Their mutual distrust serves only to fuel their passion—two champions bested only by their overpowering desire for each other.
But Gabriel has an agenda that threatens the most basic tenets of Yaguara society—and that will force Iada to choose between her people or her King.
You can find an excerpt here: http://www.eleristone.com/index.php?p=1_6


You can find me online at…
My website http://www.eleristone.com/
My blog http://www.eleristone.blogspot.com/
Or on Twitter http://www.twitter.com/EleriStone


Thanks for stopping by! I’m giving away a free copy of Mercy. To enter the drawing, please leave a comment below. Tell me about your favorite author, your favorite book or what you’re most looking forward to reading in the coming months. The giveaway will stay open until midnight on October 8th.

Review The Wrong Suitor by Tina Folsom

The Wrong Suitor
Author Tina Folsom
Erotic romance Western with hot cowboy;)
Novella eBook: I bought mine in the Kindle version from Amazon
Authors Website

Book description
When Rancher Irving tries to attract a suitable husband for his gun-shy daughter Ellen by offering a large amount of money, she takes things into her own hands and plans to run away. But a cowboy thwarts her plan and kidnaps her instead. James isn't a cowboy, he's a rancher in need of a wife. And when he rescues Ellen from her own ill-conceived plan to escape, he takes her on a passionate and erotic journey trying to teach her that a husband does have his uses.Caution: explicit and steamy sex scenesErotic Novella

My Review

Rating-

Sexual-

 A sweet and sexy story. This is a short novella it took me a little over an hour to read. So if your looking for a sexy ride that wont take up your whole weekend this is an excellent choice. I very much enjoyed it.


Ellen is a pure spitfire. She is still not married and now all of a sudden is having men come and seek her hand in marriage. She knows something is up and has to find out. Ellen doesn’t want some cowboy she wants romance and poetry, so she is not going to take this lightly and has plans to escape, one way or another.



James has seen Ellen at a dance before and liked her. Now he hears her father is offering a huge amount of money (for this time period) for someone to take her off his hands. James wants her, but he has to handle her different because she has a reputation and knows she will decline every offer, so he goes about this a different way. How you say, you’ll have to read.



This book was very entertaining and fun to read. The hero and heroine fit together so well, all they have to do is have sometime to find out how well. I found this very emotional at times. My biggest emotion was one time Ellen escapes and falls and gets a lot of cactus spines stuck in her back side. James has to help out and takes his time to get them out it was really sweet how he took care of her. The sexual tension along with the sex is very hot.

Review Mercy by Eleri Stone

Mercy
Author Eleri Stone
requested review
Paranormal Romance- Shape-Shifters
Ebook
Authors website

To the Yaguara, an ancient jaguar shape-shifting people living deep in the Amazon jungle, nothing matters more than strength. Iada is their champion; genetically pure, she has been trained since birth to fight. Her destiny is to become the next Queen of the Yaguara by winning the tournament of succession-a battle to the death.
Her opponent is Gabriel, a half-blooded outcast whose mother was human. To everyone's shock, he defeats Iada but does not strike the death blow-instead, he extends mercy, thereby claiming her as his mate.
Despite their enmity, the attraction between them is powerful, and soon they are mates in more than name only. Their mutual distrust serves only to fuel their passion-two champions bested only by their overpowering desire for each other.

But Gabriel has an agenda that threatens the most basic tenets of Yaguara society-and that will force Iada to choose between her people or her King

My review
Rating-

 

Sexual-

A hot erotic shape-shifter read that has a good meaning behind the story. You get hot sex, action and emotions. I truly enjoyed this novella.

The Yaguara doesn’t care for humans and their kind mixing and when they do they cast them out. Gabriel is half-blood himself and has been taken care of the Yaguara outcast. He is now ready to take on the biggest challenge of his life and take down the queen and run things different this time around.
Iada has been trained to fight all her life. Her sister is living with a human so she is left alone with her two uncles that trains her to be the queen. I liked Iada she is strong, but has really never learned to love. Until a mutant as she calls him comes into her life. This battle was to the death then something happened during the fight and it all ended up not quite like it should have, Iada ended up with a husband and doesn’t quite know what to next.
Both together they have a lot of problems to over come the biggest one is the trust, neither can trust the other and one ends up getting badly hurt. They both have quite a few obstacles to over come in this adventure before bring both the Yaguara and humans together.
 

New Blood book blogger on the block (Oct 2010)

The New Blood Book blogger of Oct. is Danielle at Romance Book Junkies.  Danielle maybe new, but she has a great blog that she keeps updated. I love visiting it during the week to see what she has posted.

Hi Laurie,
Thanks for having me as one of your Blood Book Bloggers. I love your blog and I'm honored.

Laurie-Would you tell us a little about yourself?

Danielle-I am 29 years old. I am a romance book junkie all the way. I am married with two children. I also go to college part time majoring in Business Administration. My favorite genres are paranormal and historical romance but I am usually up to try anything. I like my books hot and steamy so most of the books I read are adult. But I do enjoy some of the YA books out there like the Vampire Academy series. Besides reading my favorite hobbies are oil painting and shopping. : ) 

Laurie-Why did you start a book blog?

Danielle-I started a book blog because I read so many books and I wanted to share my opinions with other readers that like the same type of books I do. I've read so many wonderful books with no one to share it with. At least with someone who cares. My husband only gives me the blank stare. hehe I also love reading other peoples responses to books I've read. Blogging is just a labor of love and I think I would still like doing it if I only had one follower.

Laurie-What’s your favorite thing to do on your blog?

Danielle-My favorite thing to do on my blog is the author spotlights and giveaways. I always do an author spotlight featuring an author I have read and enjoyed. Then its always exciting to interview them and to give my readers a chance to enjoy the author's work as well by hosting a giveaway.

Laurie-What are some of your favorite reads?

Danielle-The Black Dagger Brotherhood Series
The Twilight Series
The Hunger Games Trilogy
The Fyne Witches Trilogy

Laurie-Who are some of your favorite authors?
Danielle-J.R. Ward
Stephanie Meyers
Nora Roberts (her paranormal stuff)
Richelle Mead

Laurie-Do you have a good tip to give a upcoming book blogger?

Danielle-Get out there and visit other book blogs and make some friends. You can learn a lot from your fellow bloggers and their usually very willing to help you out.
I also think that its important to post almost everyday and try not to make all your posts really long. Some people like shorter posts that don't take up a lot of their time.

Laurie-Any advice for up coming blogger?
Danielle-Have fun!

Now that you know a little about Danielle please visit her blog Romance Book Junkies
You can comment or leave a question below for Danielle.


Would you like to participate in the New blood on the block?
Here is the rules
1.follow my blog
2.Comment! When I seen new people comment I see if they have a blog and if yours is new I just may as you to participate.
3.You can email me and let me know you would like to participate.You can find my email under contact
4. You have to have under 100 followers.

Review Do Over by Mari Carr

Do Over
Author: Mari Carr
Erotic Short- eBook - From Netgalley
eBook - 68 pgs
Release Date: October 4, 2010
Author's Website



Sometimes once is not enough...
After twenty-five years of marriage, Faith Wainwright wonders what she'll do next. Her kids have moved out and sometimes she feels so distant from her husband, Troy.
Right before their anniversary, Troy gives Faith an unexpected gift: a journey through their hometown to reenact all their "firsts." Their first date. Their first kiss. And especially the first time they made love—only better.
Each stop on their tour becomes an opportunity for Faith and Troy to rediscover how explosive their passion can be. Now Faith knows exactly what she's going to do—Troy, over and over again...


My Review

Rating



Sexual
Wow!!! I love short stories, but I don't expect a huge emotional tug with them. This one delivered it in an amazing and happy way. I don't like to cry unless they are tears of joy, and this one got me. The letters he wrote his wife were just absolutely amazing. They were realistic, and you could feel the love pouring from them. I enjoyed the premise of the story and loved watching the couple deepen their connection. I rarely bother looking at covers because they rarely match the characters. In this case, the cover nailed it!

Review of Passions of a Wicked Earl by Lorraine Heath

Passions of a Wicked Earl #1 London's Greatest Lovers series
Author Lorraine Heath
I received this form NetGalley
Mass paperback historical
Release date Oct. 26th 2010
Authors website

Known throughout London for his prowess in the bedroom, Morgan Lyons, the 8th Earl of Westcliffe, cannot forgive an unpardonable affront to his honor. Discovering his young bride in the arms of his brother was a staggering blow–so he banished the beautiful deceiver to the country and devoted himself to the pursuit of carnal pleasure.




Claire Lyons was an innocent, frightened girl on her wedding day, seeking chaste comfort from a childhood friend. Now, years later, she has blossomed magnificently and has returned to London with one goal in mind: the seduction of her notorious husband. Unskilled in the sensual arts, she burns nonetheless for the kisses too long denied her. And she has but one Season to win back the heart of the rogue she betrayed
 

My Review
Rating-

Sexual-

If you like your men tortured this this one is for you. This is a nice quick read that’s full of emotions. This one starts out with Morgan lying with his mistress. Why is he with her instead of his wife? Well you’ll have to read to find out what she done that was so bad. Needless to say this one just didn’t cut it for me in the romance department. The sex is good and this has a great ending. But it got too predictable for me by the middle of the book. I really didn’t like how Claire was treated even though she did what she did. I just felt she is the one that suffered the most from it all. If your one that loves a good sobbing story this would be an excellent book for you.


Few spoilers
Morgan is really messed up and thinks he cant find love or someone love him, so he settles for his mistress and he is with her for the biggest part of the book. His wife Claire was a silly young girl that is scared for her wedding night and does something she really shouldn’t have, so she wouldn’t have to have sex with Morgan that night. When Morgan finds out he is furious with her and takes her to another home and tells her that no man can touch her. Yet he can have all the women he wants (whatever is what I say LOL.). So Claire has to come back to his house in London and try to make a mends, it takes a long time to make it too

In my mailbox (#16)

In my mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren

Used books I bought
Jen Holling- My Immortal Promise
Maggie Shanye- Kiss Me, Kill Me
C.J. Barry
Unmasked
Unleashed
Unraveled
Unearthed
Karin Tabke- Good Girl Gone Bad

Lilith Saintcrow- Working for the Devil shouldn't be in here, its a loner from a friend to see if I like it enough to buy the series.

Books I bought new
Zoe Archer- Scoundrel.
Karrelyn Sparks- Eat Prey Love

I won from Tina Folsom's blog Terry Spear- Seduced by the Wolf

I bought Taken by Midnight online from Lara website during her Virtual book signing. I also received some book marks with it.

Bought Pillsbury Christmas 2010. These last few weeks I have bought a lot of holiday cookbooks, I have been working on cooking and baking from them the last couple of weeks and I should have reviews being added on here by late next week, so if your in need of a holiday cookbook be on the lookout.








For review
Danielle Bourdon- Bound by Blood
Jennifer Wells-Magick Charm
Edie Ramer-Cattuide