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Saturday 31 May 2014

Adult Review: TEMPTING THE BODYGUARD by J. Lynn

TEMPTING THE BODYGUARD
Author: J. Lynn
Series: Gamble Brothers (#3)
Publication date: May 12th, 2014
Publisher: Entangled Brazen
Number of pages: 264
Date read: May 31st, 2014
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Suspense
Source: Bought
Format: Ebook
Add on Goodreads



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(Description source: Goodreads)


He can protect her from everyone except himself.


Alana Gore is in danger. A take-no-prisoners publicist, her way with people has made her more than a few enemies over the years, but a creepy stalker is an entirely different matter. She needs a bodyguard, and the only man she can ask is not only ridiculously hot, but reputed to have taste for women that goes beyond adventurous.

Chandler Gamble has one rule: don't protect anyone you want to screw. But with Alana, he's caught between his job and his increasingly hard libido. On one hand, Alana needs his help. On the other, Chandler wants nothing more than to take the hot volcano of a woman in hand. To make her writhe in pleasure, until she's at his complete mercy.

She needs protection. He needs satisfaction. And the moment the line is crossed, all hell will break loose...


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I have been waiting for this book for such a long time and while it was enjoyable, it definitely did not live up to the first two books in the series (which were incredible), which was disappointing after such a long wait.

Alana Gore has made quite the list of enemies while working as a publicist, but she never imagined she'd end up getting stalked across the country. She needs protection, and the only person she can think of for the job is Chandler Gamble, the older brother of an ex-client she pissed off.
Chandler Gamble runs his own security firm and while he hasn't mixed work and pleasure before, he's ready and willing to when it comes to Alana Gore, the uptight publicist who seems to be the star of his fantasies of late.
There's a line of professionalism that will definitely be crossed, and while Chandler is sure he can provide the best protection for Miss Gore, he's not so sure he'll be capable of protecting either of their hearts.

When reading this book, I couldn't really connect the Alana Gore of Tempting the Bodyguard to the Alana Gore of Tempting the Player (maybe it's because I haven't read Tempting the Player in a long time, but I don't think it is), there just seemed to be a divide to the two as J. Lynn tried to redeem her character for readers, which made it difficult to totally sympathise with everything going on.

The chemistry was there between Alana and Chandler but it felt off as while they did talk to get to know each other, what they talked about were pretty much only the things that would make Alana seem like a decent person to the readers after her horrible actions in Tempting the Player, while the rest of the time they're together, they're either avoiding one another, or having sex, and I expected more than that. I really hoped that they'd engage in an activity together (aside from sex) that would bring them closer while letting them get to know each other - there was a mention in book two of this series about how Chandler loved to garden and had a real green thumb, I was hoping there'd be something more than a mention of this in this book, but it didn't happen.

In this book, Chandler is a dominant, pushy alpha male who just wants Alana. He's meant to be a bodyguard but he's not very professional at all and the only bodyguard-like thing he does for the majority of the book is determine security hazards of buildings and surveil Alana when she's working and at the start of the book. 
Alana actually only appears cold and threatening on the outside, while actually being a very caring character who only does horrible things to people to better their lives and she is actually quite a timid and flighty person (see how this doesn't really line up at all with how she is in Gamble Brothers #2).

A lot of this book felt rushed and pushed together - the characters, their chemistry, the suspense, Alana's redemption and especially the ending.
I think it all would have worked better if the characters of the previous books hadn't been pushed so much to the side, if they had have had a part of Alana's redemption then forgiveness might not have seemed such an unlikely thing. 
The suspense was predictable and wasn't actually much of a main plot. Chandler wasn't all that appealing to me, the "rough sex" thing didn't work, I think him being the more gentle, protective type might have rung truer with his character.

The steaminess was definitely there and I loved seeing all the characters from the previous books (even if it wasn't always in the nicest of scenes), this book was enjoyable but not my favourite, I am definitely a huge fan of this series and I recommend reading them - especially the first two.


I rate Tempting the Bodyguard Three out of Five!!

Thursday 22 May 2014

Young Adult Review: OVERDUE by Richie Tankersley Cusick

OVERDUE
Author: Richie Tankersley Cusick
Standalone
Publication date: 
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Number of pages: 212
Date read: 2007
Genre: Horror, Mystery, Thriller
Source: Bought
Format: Paperback



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(Description source: Goodreads)

BOOK DROP


It was after hours. Kathleen was preparing to close the library when somebody returned five grisly books about death. One was slashed. All were overdue. Then Kathleen found the bookmark with the deadly warning.

Now people close to her are falling victim to tragic accidents. Someone is out for blood. Is it Robin, silent, shy, withdrawn? Is it Alexander, the dark, handsome stranger who haunts the library stacks and says he wants to help? Kathleen can count on only one thing: the killer will strike again - her death is overdue...

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I originally read Overdue when I was eleven or twelve after my brother gave it to me, and I loved it, I reread it every few years and always enjoy it.

Kathleen hates working in her local library, the place is creepy and the librarian is grumpy.
However, she never expected that books would become warnings as teens in their town start to become victims in strange circumstances. Alexander is new to town and very mysterious, while Robin is the shy and withdrawn mute. 
Kathleen doesn't know who the killer is, but she is sure that there is one, and that there is one death overdue - hers!

Kathleen is a little bit of a damsel, but when you put yourself in her shoes as she goes through everything it is understandable. Kathleen puts the clues together quickly but struggles when she is doubted by everyone, as she is the only one 

Bran is Kathleen's childhood friend and is adorably sweet, while Alexander is confident and a little self-deprecating, and Robin is sweet and protective.

The setting is a creepy, damp, old library and each scene is perfectly set with detail that sets the mood. There is misdirection, mystery, suspense, foreshadowing and doubt.
I love the interactions between the characters, the sarcasm, joking, teasing and familiarity.
This story shows the intricacy of knowing people, as well as what it means to make assumptions, not be trusted and begin to not trust yourself and doubt everything you think you know.

I love, love, love the ending, it is perfectly suspenseful, followed by absolute sweetness that I could just read over and over. I will always enjoy reading this novel and am sure I will continue to read it throughout the years.


I rate Overdue Five out of Five!!!

Sunday 18 May 2014

Personal Challenge: Books I Own


Books I Own

I buy new books regularly and would love to read them straight away, but things get in the way and then by the time I can get to the title, I'm not in the mood to read that type of book or I need to read a review copy I've received. To fix this, I am challenging myself to read as many books that I own before the end of the year as I possibly can.

Books to read (this list may change at any time)

PAPERBACK:
-Splintered by A.G. Howard
-Of Poseidon by Anna Banks
-All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill
-Hidden by Marianne Hurley
-Let the Sky Fall by Shannon Messenger
-Eon by Allison Goodman
-Pawn by Aimee Carter
-Ink by Amanda Sun
-Acid by Emma Pass
-The Selection by Kiera Cass
-The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
-Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi
-Mind Games by Kiersten White
-The Forsaken by Lisa M. Stasse
-Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins
-The Cinderella Moment by Jennifer Kloester

EBOOKS:
-Reclaimed by Sarah Guillory
-From Gods by Mary Ting
-Twelve Steps by Veronica Bartles
-Captivate by Vanessa Garden
-How to Date a Nerd by Cassie Mae
-Freak of Nature by Julia Crane
-Summer of My Secret Angel by Anna Katmore
-Running on Empty by Colette Ballard
-Reap by Christina Channelle
-Betwixt by Melissa Pearl

Monday 12 May 2014

Release Day Launch: Tempting the Bodyguard by J. Lynn

We are extremely excited to celebrate the release of J. Lynn's TEMPTING THE BODYGUARD!!! TEMPTING THE BODYGUARD is an Adult category romance novel being published by Entangled Publishing’s Brazen imprint and is a part of Jennifer’s Gamble Brothers Series!

Tempting The Bodyguard

TEMPTING THE BODYGUARD Synopsis:

A sexy category romance from Entangled’s Brazen imprint…

He can protect her from everyone except himself.

Alana Gore is in danger. A take-no-prisoners publicist, her way with people has made her more than a few enemies over the years, but a creepy stalker is an entirely different matter. She needs a bodyguard, and the only man she can ask is not only ridiculously hot, but reputed to have taste for women that goes beyond adventurous.

Chandler Gamble has one rule: don't protect anyone you want to screw. But with Alana, he's caught between his job and his increasingly hard libido. On one hand, Alana needs his help. On the other, Chandler wants nothing more than to take the hot volcano of a woman in hand. To make her writhe in pleasure, until she's at his complete mercy.

She needs protection. He needs satisfaction. And the moment the line is crossed, all hell will break loose...



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Author PhotoJennifer L. Armentrout/J. Lynn Bio:

# 1 NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY Bestselling author Jennifer lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing. she spends her time reading, working out, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell Loki.

Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen. Her book Obsidian has been optioned for a major motion picture and her Covenant Series has been optioned for TV.

She also writes adult and New Adult romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.



Website ** Twitter ** Facebook ** Jennifer L. ArmentroutGoodreads


Novel Goodreads ** J.LynnGoodreads

Thursday 8 May 2014

Cover Reveal: Oceans Deep Box Set

 The Oceans Deep Box Set Has a Cover!!! 

Cover Designer: Starla Huchton 

We're so excited to share the amazing cover for the Oceans Deep Box Set. Isn't it pretty???? 

Please be sure to add the box set to your TBR list on Goodreads. To learn more about each of the authors, please click on their name on Goodreads, or above.  Keep track of the project on our tumblr: ocean-books.tumblr.com 

 
OCEANS DEEP 

Twelve Young Adult romance novels that celebrate sun, sea and love to support World Oceans Day 2014. 
As authors, we know while the facts can change people’s minds, fiction can change their hearts. The proceeds from this box set will benefit World Oceans Day, an organization dedicated to celebrating the ocean and encouraging people to really think about what the oceans mean to them. 
Comprised of young adult romances in a variety of genres including science fiction, fantasy, contemporary and mythology, the books all have one thing in common: they leave readers more in love with the ocean than they were before. 
Together we can help ocean conservation efforts, one word, one page, one story at a time. 


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Tuesday 6 May 2014

Top Ten Tuesday: Book Covers I'd Frame as Pieces of Art

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. This meme is all about list-making, with a new topic each week.

This weeks Topic:
Top Ten Book Covers I'd Frame as Pieces of Art











Monday 5 May 2014

Cover Reveal: Empower - Fight Like a Girl


Praise for Empower: Fight Like A Girl



"Even non-girls will feel empowered by these stories about ordinary, flawed characters finding their own strengths. Highly entertaining and original."

- Lee Goldberg, New York Times bestselling author of The Chase and King City, whose mother lost her hearing to lupus.



Women of TV have united against lupus! Presenting Empower: Fight Like A Girl, a special collection of short stories by top women writers from some of your favorite shows, including: Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Family Guy, Person of Interest, Grimm, Battlestar Galactica, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Law & Order: SVU, Star Trek: Voyager, Eureka, Twisted, The 100, Malcolm in the Middle, Millennium, Being Human, The Shield, Castle, Chuck, Gilmore Girls, and Game of Thrones. In this anthology, you'll discover supernatural thrillers, crime mysteries, horror, comedies, and more.



Authors contributing stories to this volume include:




  • Amy Berg




  • Cherry Chevapravatdumrong




  • Akela Cooper




  • Liz Edwards




  • Jane Espenson




  • Shalisha Francis & Nadine Knight




  • Lisa Klink




  • Pang-Ni Landrum




  • Lauren LeFranc




  • Kam Miller




  • Jess Pineda




  • Jennifer Quintenz




  • Lisa Randolph




  • Kay Reindl




  • Kira Snyder




  • Jeane Wong



  • All proceeds will be donated to the non-profit Lupus Foundation of America to help solve the cruel mystery of lupus.