Review ~ Lord of Wicked Intentions by Lorraine Heath

Lord of Wicked Intentions by Lorraine Heath

Avon Books
historical
spicy

Only one woman can break through his heart of stone...

Three young heirs, imprisoned by an unscrupulous uncle, escaped—to the sea, to the streets, to faraway battle—awaiting the day when they would return to reclaim their birthright...

Lord Rafe Easton may be of noble blood, but survival taught him to rely only on himself and to love no one. Yet when he sets his eyes on Miss Evelyn Chambers, and earl's illegitimate daughter, he is determined to have her, if only as his mistress.

After her father's death, Evelyn Chambers never imagined she would be sold to the highest bidder, yet circumstances give her little choice except to accept the lord's indecent proposal. Rafe is wealthy, as well as ruthless. Yet his coldness belies deep passion and deeper secrets. If she must be his, Evelyn intends to lay bare everything the Lord of Pembrook is hiding. But dark discoveries threaten to destroy them both until unexpected love guides the last lost lord home.

available here: 
http://www.amazon.com/Lord-Wicked-Intentions-Lorraine-Heath/dp/0062100033/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1372348234&sr=1-1&keywords=lord+of+wicked+intentions+by+lorraine+heath

My take?

Some people are just meant to be. It's fate. Lorraine Heath's characters are two of those people. Eve and Rafe need to be together. The writing flows well and I couldn't put this book down. I couldn't! I felt like I was right there with them, realizing their feelings and what a cad the bad guy was.

Eve is in a bad situation. Her 'brother' is a jerk and is attempting to sell her off to the highest bidder. For what? He doesn't care. And she's too sheltered to know better. That's not cool. Rafe, though he's not interested in having a long term relationship with anyone, isn't going to let her suffer. He feels he's a bad seed. When he swoops in, he shows he's not. He's just got to realize that.

There were moments when I wanted to clock him and a couple where I wondered why she did what she did. But I chalk it up to emotional investment. Ms Heath had me turning pages needing answers. I'm glad I did.

If you want a historical that's sure to please, then this might be the book for you.

Review ~ Let Sleeping Rogues Lie by Sabrina Jeffries

Let Sleeping Rogues Lie by Sabrina Jeffries

Pocket Books
Historical
Spicy

When Madeline Prescott took a teaching position at Mrs. Harris's School for Young Ladies, it was to help restore her father's reputation. Instead, she's in danger of ruining her own. The devilishly handsome Anthony Dalton, Viscount Norcourt, has agreed to provide "rake lessons" to Mrs. Harris's pupils so they can learn how to avoid unscrupulous gentlemen, and Madeline is to oversee his classes. She has always believed that attraction is a scientific matter, easily classified and controlled — until she's swept into the passionate desire that fiercely burns between her and Anthony. Nothing could be more illogical than risking everything for a dalliance with a rake — even one who's trying to behave himself. Yet nothing could be more tempting....

Available here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1416551514?ie=UTF8&tag=httpwwwgoodco-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1416551514&SubscriptionId=1MGPYB6YW3HWK55XCGG2

My take?

She wants to resist. Resistance is futile. Okay, that's a cheesy line, but it's true--for the both of them. She wants to resist him because he's a rake. He's the bad guy. Kind of. He wants to resist her because he's got a lot of issues and she can't be trusted. Tony's going to teach the girls at the School for Heiresses how to be smart around rakes. One issue? He's a little too good at his job and she's got a weakness for...well, him.

I liked this book. I liked how she stuck up for him and how he chased her. So much for being the tough guy all the time. He's got issues. Good! Men who are all brawn and no problems are good, but Tony's got lots of extra dimensions to him. Madeline isn't a slouch either. She's got pluck and even if she's obsessed with the nitrous oxide party, she's got reason. 

If you're interested in an intriguing historical read, then this might be the book for you. 

Fantastic Review For One More Night

Got a fantastic review for One More Night and I can't wait to share it with you!

"This story was such a sincere and understanding reality of how our insecurities from the past can be worked out when there is communication in a relationship. Whether it is about personal issues with your family up bringing baggage or your sexual appetites, there is nothing that love can’t fix especially when love connects you with your soul mate – after all, love does conquer all.

Jenna and Drake's erotic passion burns the pages up, the erotic foreplay, spankings, one on one love making and anal action had me spellbound. The tenderness and understanding Drake gave Jenna after getting everything out in the open left me craving for more of their on going future. I look forward to reading more of Wendi Zwaduk’s work."

Read the full review here!



Fear can blind. Will love show the way in the dark? All it takes is one more night...

Three years ago, Jenna ran away from what should have been the best night of her life. Letting her fear and shame get in the way of true happiness has haunted her ever since. It’s time to move on and put the past behind her. A date through the 1Night Stand service is the perfect opportunity to start living life again.

When the love of his life slipped through his fingers, Drake hated to let her go. A near-death accident prevented him from going after her. But after three years of recovery and waiting, he’s ready to take back what’s his, and he’ll do whatever it takes to keep her from running again.

Can Madame Eve work a miracle or will love lose out to pride and fear?

Want a copy of your own? Go here!

Today I'm in Two Places!

Today I'm in two places. Yep. Queen of the Night Reviews and The Bunny's Review. Check them out! And in case you missed any of the stops, here's the list to follow the other posts: 

11/5/2012 Sugarbeat's Books

11/6/2012 Musings from an Addicted Reader AND Bad Barb's Reviews

Thanks for joining me on the tour!

Kind Words for When You're With Me

Available here!

Now here's those kind words. They came from twitter!

"It is a wonderful character driven story, full of emotion...she has a talent to make one feel the pain of her characters. I really love this book!" ~ Reader Tee from Michigan

Made my day!! Thanks Tee!!

You can get copies at Amazon, BN and AllRomance Ebooks, too!

New Review For When You're With Me!

Natasha Blackthorne has posted a review for When You're With Me. Natasha is a dear friend of mine and I very much appreciate her thoughts on this book. Here's what she had to say!

I loved this story. The main characters are so well drawn and deep. They are two flawed human beings who are working hard to overcome the obstacles in their life, and in doing so, find love together.The journey that Jude and Drew takes is very emotional and erotic and a touch on the darker side. There is a definite feeling of hope for the future and healing and a very credible and satisfying happy ending. When I Am With You is one of my top two favorites of Wendi Zwaduk's works. I also love Please Remember Me. Her realistic heroines are so easy to cheer for as they struggle to grow and learn.

Read the full review here!

A topless dancer plus a cynical cop doesn’t equal a lifetime love...or does it?

There’s more to Jude Nelson than just a sequined thong. She has big dreams of becoming an artist. There’s one tiny wrinkle in her plan-she’ll never forget the bloody image of her friend’s battered body in the dumpster.

Who can a nude dancer turn to for help? Certainly not a hardened undercover cop...

Detective Drew Alwyn is on the case to find out who murdered his good friend and fellow officer. But the moment he sees Jude, he can’t look away. He has to decide which is more important-his dedication to his job or the girl who holds his bruised and battered heart.

Will these two opposites come together to solve the case or will their desire consume them?

Reader Advisory: This story contains scenes of bondage, mentions of drug use by secondary characters, silk, sequins and art supplies used in foreplay, voyeurism and a little spanking for good measure.

Available at Total-E-Bound or AllRomance Ebooks

Feedback: How To Give It, How To Get It ~ A Review

Feedback: How To Give It, How To Get It
by Jo Sparkes

Feedback … a kinder word for criticism, is an organic component to life.

When a toddler learns to walk, he falls. He screams, cries – and persists. What would happen to the human race if he gave up after a few bumps?

Before we could read self-help books, before we could understand a language and sit in a classroom, we learned by trial and error. “Feedback” is the natural teaching process. It’s how the creator set it up. It’s how the world actually works.

Here, at last, is a simple process for getting the most from all the feedback the world offers us.

I wasn't sure what to think when I opened this book. Would this be a help for my writing? A hurt? Waste of time? Like I said, i wasn't sure. Reaching the second paragraph showed me that this book was for real. I could learn and as Ms. Sparkes reminds, grow. I enjoyed how Ms. Sparkes broke down the ideas in the book in a way that explained without talking down to the reader. As much as it irritated me to be told not to use emotion when getting a crit - that's a major point in the book. I'm not thinking clearly when I'm letting my emotions get the better of me. Authors think they can handle being critiqued. Some can. This book broke that idea down into ways authors can use. I recommend authors read this concise book. It worked for me.

Feedback: How To Give It, How To Get It ~ The Tour Stops Tomorrow!

I'll be posting my review of Feedback: How to Give It, How to Get It (Talk about a tough job... hope my feedback is enough...yikes!) tomorrow. I'd comment if I were you. Let me know what you thought of the book. Never hurts. Why? Jo will be giving away a $50 Amazon.com gift certificate to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour. So that means you should comment. And now onto the tidbits about the book!

Feedback: How To Give It, How To Get It by Jo Sparkes

Feedback … a kinder word for criticism, is an organic component to life.

When a toddler learns to walk, he falls. He screams, cries – and persists. What would happen to the human race if he gave up after a few bumps?

Before we could read self-help books, before we could understand a language and sit in a classroom, we learned by trial and error. “Feedback” is the natural teaching process. It’s how the creator set it up. It’s how the world actually works.

Here, at last, is a simple process for getting the most from all the feedback the world offers us.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Here's an excerpt, because YOU asked for it!
For some reason it's easy to cling to criticism. To walk through the world telling yourself, “I can't act my way out of a paper bag,” or “my work is sloppy no matter what I do.”
If you think about it, you probably can recall criticism you heard as a child. When I was eight-years-old, I overheard my father tell my mother I was lazy. To this day, if I'm not getting everything done as fast as I wish, if things are piling up on my desk, I can hear him saying, “she's lazy!”
Clinging to criticism, to all the negative comments or snide remarks we've heard over the years, creates a very heavy burden. If you walk through the world so weighted down, you will inevitably slow and finally stop altogether from the sheer pressure.
All you can humanly do is what we just did. Take in the information, analyze it, and decide what to do. There is nothing more to be done.
It – the criticism – has served you. Now send it on its merry way.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~
And here's a little bit more about Jo!

A well-known Century City Producer once said that Jo Sparkes "writes some of the best dialogue I’ve read." Not only are those words a compliment to Jo’s skills as a writer,but a true reflection of her commitment to her work.

She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Washington College, a small liberal arts college famous for its creative writing program. Years later, Jo renounced life in the corporate world to pursue her passion for writing.


Taking every class she could find, she had the good fortune to study with Robert Powell; a student of renowned writers and teachers Lew Hunter, and Richard Walter, head and heart of UCLA’s Screenwriting Program.

The culmination of those years was the short-film "The Image", which she wrote and produced single-handedly. And in so doing, she became fascinated with the dynamics of collaboration on a project.

Since then, Jo hasn’t looked back. Her body of work includes scripts for Children’s live-action and animated television programs, a direct to video Children’s DVD, television commercials and corporate videos. She's been a feature writer on ReZoom.com and a contributing writer for the Arizona Sports Fans Network; where she was called their most popular writer, known for her humorous articles, player interviews and game coverage. Jo was unofficially the first to interview Emmitt Smith when he arrived in Arizona to play for the Cardinals.

She has adjunct taught at the Film School at Scottsdale Community College, has teamed with a Producer on a low budget thriller, and a Director on a New Dramady.” She went in front of the camera for a video, “Stepping Above Criticism”, capturing a popular talk with her students.

Her new book, FEEDBACK HOW TO GIVE IT HOW TO GET IT, shares her lessons learned with writers, and indeed everyone dealing with life's criticism.

When not diligently perfecting her craft, Jo can be found exploring her new home of Portland, Oregon, along with her husband Ian, and their dog Oscar.

http://www.feedbackthebook.com

http://josparkes.com/

New Review for Careless Whisper!!

I went out on a limb and offered on Twitter that if someone wanted to review one of my titles, I'd send it. I got some takers. One of which was this fantastic review from A Buckeye Girl Reads for my book, Careless Whisper.Talk about a nice review!! Here's what she had to say:

"I love books that are outside the box of their genre. Careless Whisper is one of those books.
Careless Whisper is not your typical erotica. It's told mainly from Ryan's point of view, and it was so much fun watching him fall for Samara and try to win her heart. Samara didn't believe in ghosts, even though she worked for Ryans team. It was equally fun watching her fall for Ryan and believe in things she didn't think were possible.

The thing that surprised me was that this was one of the rare eroticas where I was as into the story line going on as much as the sex happening with the main couple. There is more then Ryan and Samara that meets the eye and it was fun figuring out what was going on with them and what they were witnessing. The only thing that bothered me was that almost every time Ryan referred to Samara to other people it was as his spiritual mate. I couldn't figure out why he kept using that term. However, the closer I got to the end of the book the more sense it made, but for the longest time I couldn't get why he kept calling her that.

All and all Careless Whisper was an enjoyable read and I liked how different it was. I would say more about how it's different, but I don't want to ruin the things that surprised me about it."

Here's the link to the review.

Want to know more about the book or even get your own copy? Here's the vital info:


He's her kinkiest desire, if she's willing to open her heart and believe in him.

The dead don't always rest in peace. Some stick around to make the lives of the living hell on Earth. Ryan Black knows the frustration of dealing with the dead. He's a Ghost Explorer. He's conquered houses filled with apparitions, abandoned school buildings that house angry vermin, and managed to woo the female population of Snake Falls, Ohio. But he's about to face his toughest challenge—convincing sceptical Samara Jacobs she not only shares his gift, but holds his heart.

Women fall at Ryan Black's feet and Samara's determined not to be one of the many—that is until she's forced to work with him. He's certain ghosts exist and willing to prove it. As she gets to know the man behind the television persona, she decides the handsome klutz who chases things that go bump in the night isn't so silly after all. But is he worthy of her love?

Reader Advisory: This book contains anal sex and a little harmless domination.

Available here:
Total-E-Bound
Amazon
BN.com
ARe

Yanno, I've Been on a Kick...

I've been on a kick about reviews. And the more I thought about it (DH calls it obsessing), the more I've come to this conclusion.

I'll never make everyone happy.

Whether its the length of the book, the amount of time a character does or doesn't happen to be in the book, the amount of sex high or low, the degree of the sex - hardcore or softer, or my vampires breaking the time-honored vestiges of vampirism... I'll never make everyone happy with my books.

And as much as I'd like to have lots of five star reviews and glowing comments on everything, I'm okay with what I write being not popular. I'm honestly okay with it.

Why? Because I like what I write. I wouldn't knowingly write something I think is garbage. The characters are what they need to be and interpreted through my head. I'm okay with this.

How'd I come to this conclusion? Enough crying and grousing that 'gee... I don't understand why __________ is ________." Another thing that's helped is actually talking to the readers. Just because the book isn't long enough isn't always the reason it's rated the way it is, but those thoughts get left out sometimes. I'm fine with that.

I've got a reader who loves to email me with questions. LOTS of questions. But it gets me thinking and gets the characters acting. Yep. They get as fired up as the reader does. And it inspires me to do more with them. See? I do listen to my audience.

So if you rate my books, review them or have a thought on them, let me know. You never know. You might be the one who inspires me (good or bad) to write the next book. :-)

Are We Talking About the Same Thing?

I love to read reviews. I do. I’m a sucker and read my own. Sometimes it’s a great experience. Sometimes, not so much. I look at reviews this way, different strokes for different folks. What might be your favorite book, won’t be mine necessarily. That’s fine. In fact, I prefer it that way. If we all liked the same books, then what fun would that be?

But I came across something in my reading that bothered me. When there’s a review, the book is classified. Fine. The tags make things easier when you want to find a book with certain aspects in it. But this particular review I’d read condemned the book on the basis of a tag. Which book? Nah, I’m not going to throw the author or reviewer under the bus. That’s not the point here.

My point is two-fold. Just because a book has a tag of say, BDSM, doesn’t mean the book will be all about that tag. BDSM is a broad tag. BDSM doesn’t always mean a D/s relationship. It doesn’t mean the couple (or more) will be living in ‘the lifestyle’. BDSM can mean anything from using handcuffs on one character to lashing one to a cross, while using a crop on the character. It’s a wide range. Just because the book was labeled BDSM but the characters are playing a little slap and tickle doesn’t mean the book is any less of a book. It’s not. BDSM happens to have a broad definition. The same thing works for fantasy and paranormal. Paranormal is a gigantic genre of literature. Vampires, Fae, Zombies... paranormal can be a lot of things. A reader can get a book about ESP. That’s got a paranormal slant. Is it any more or any less paranormal than a book about vampires? No.

This leads me to my second part of my point. As the reviewer, you’re not helping your cause if you rate a book low because it’s not what YOU expected. Forcing your expectations onto a book won’t make it any better and will probably make it worse. When you write a review and say things like ‘this book didn’t live up to expectations because it wasn’t what I thought it would be. I can’t rate it high because of this’ you’re missing the point. Did you read the blurb? Look at the cover art? Did you go to the author’s website? If the cover doesn’t give you an idea what the book is about, then go to the author’s site. Most likely there will be excerpts. Read those. Read the first chapter if possible.

Make sure this is a book you want to read before you buy. You’ll save yourself the headache of reading a book you didn’t care for. Grabbing a book that’s labeled paranormal and expecting it will be about vampires isn’t fair to the book or the author. Same thing works for a book with BDSM elements. If you go in expecting the lifestyle and find it’s not about the lifestyle, is that enough to rate it a zero? Or is that irrelevant?

My thought is this: You’re looking for a book to read. You want something paranormal with BDSM elements. You want hardcore. Then look for a book with those tags. Go for it! I’m excited for you. But make sure you read all the tags, check out the blurb, and read excerpts when possible. If it’s the book for you, then read it. If you feel moved to do so, write a review. But be objective. Honesty is fantastic, but it loses its effectiveness if you’re too busy being negative about the nitpicky stuff. The author wants a review so she/he can learn and grow. Help them grow.

White Hot Christmas: Stranded - A Review!

I love to read the seasonal collections with Changeling Press. It's fun and I always manage to find at least one new to me author.

Here's one of the White Hot Christmas books out this week and what I thought.

White Hot Christmas - Stranded
S Michael
contemp, m/f, m/m/f, anal sex, spanking, fetish, toys, bdsm, holiday
novella
Changeling Press
Available here: http://changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=1735

Stranded in Vegas was not how Gretchen had planned to spend her Christmas, but that's exactly what's happened to her and hubby Russ. Just when she thinks it couldn't get worse, a stranger trips over their luggage and sends its contents flying. It turns out their stranger, Dave, is in Vegas for the holiday and he has a suite he's willing to share.

Can this threesome turn a Christmas disaster into a Christmas delight?

So what did I think?

Grab a fan and a cool drink or two...This story is what the name says, white hot. Heck, grab the one you love for a little private time when you're done.

Why was it so hot? S Michael writes scenes that literally melt the computer screen. And this is a short enough read that you can read it over and over, soaking in the details.

I have to admit, I thought it moved really fast, especially for the circumstances the characters are in. As the story unfolds, it's clear why and that's what added to my enjoyment.

The writing is snappy and kept me right in my seat. I needed to know what would happen next. If you want a story that's got plenty of heat, and the mighty whack of a crop involved then this is the short story for you!

Thank You Thursday...Random Thought

I've touched on this before, but a little of it bears repeating. Now don't get me wrong, a review is a review. Whether they liked the book or not, having someone else rate/review it, is actually an honor. There are literally millions of books out there. As much as I don't want to read a negative review, I'm kinda happy they took the time to read it.

But here's my random thought. Why in the whole of the universe are we inclined to be negative? There are a couple of review sites out there that specialize in no snark. If they didn't truly like the book, or find enough redeeming qualities in it to post a review, they won't. I give them a lot of credit for being honest.

Then there are the ones who feel that only by being negative do they get their point across.

So where does that come from? Why is it so important to tear the author down? I'm seeing in a lot of reviews, the review isn't even so much about the book. It's the format, or the price, or the author. Just because an author was a snot in person doesn't mean he/she can't write a book. What if he/she was having a off day? What if their dog died? Yanno? I've said this before: the author doesn't choose what format to put the book on. If it's not in the format you want, blame that on the publisher or better yet, wait a little bit. They might be doing it slowly. And price. Again, the publisher sets that. Saying the book was a ripoff because it was too expensive...maybe YOU should shop around first. A lot of times, the publisher has the book cheaper.

But honestly. Where in the world do we as humans get the right to slam other humans? Competitive nature? Only the toughest survive? Stomp on others to bolster yourself?

I honestly don't get it. I was taught to go by the flies with honey train of thought. Vinegar won't get you too far. And yet, the snark seems to fly. I'm only 32, but call me old fashioned. I can't see the point of publishing something on the 'net that you'd be embarrassed to say in person. Same goes for movie bloggers, film critics, tv critics and the like.

If you can't say something nice, then don't say anything at all.

Thoughts? I'd love to know if I'm totally off on this or if someone thinks the same or what your favorite joke is. How about them Blue Jays....

Buehler? Buehler?

New Review for Please Remember Me!

Rose from Talking Two Lips had this to say:
"The scenes between Jaden and Marlon are highly enjoyable; they have great verbal and physical chemistry. Jaden really wants to start over and she’s determined to make it on her own but at the same time she does want Marlon in her life. Marlon can’t seem to decide how he wants to be involved, which creates additional tension and angst in their relationship. Ms. Zwaduk really does a good job of developing their relationship; it takes time to build trust and these two go back and forth a lot as they get to know each other both emotionally and physically.

The secondary characters in this story are well developed and very important to the plot. I especially liked Judi, an older woman in town who hires Jaden to work with her dog and gives her a place to live. She was just the kind of person Jaden needed in her life to help her start over. We also get to meet Jaden’s dad, Rex Weir (Rex Haydenweir), who really was a piece of work but eventually comes around and recognizes the damage he’s done in his daughter’s life. There are several antagonists in the story who make things very difficult for Jaden and Marlon, and they provide additional angst and action in the story."

I'm stoked. 4 kisses isn't bad either!

What the? Wednesday ... A Review, A Review!!!

Ok, so the title of the post really has nothing to do with the post. No, that's wrong, too. I did get a review and I am happy about it. It's for Ever Fallen in Love and it's from Sensual Reads:



"A great story about second chances, there are plenty of obstacles along the way but Tucker’s persistence makes it all work out."

I'm pretty stoked!

Tucker lost the love of his life once, but this time, he’s not taking no for an answer.

Once a driver, always a driver...

Racing consumes Tucker Poston’s life. Until he sees her again. Megan Rodney. She’s the one person to come between him and his ride. She’s the only woman to understand him. The only woman he’s ever loved. Circumstances tore their love apart. Now he’s determined to show her the contents of his soul, even if it means losing his heart.

Being a driver doesn’t warm his lonely nights. Too bad she’s not interested.

Megan’s not about to fall for his smooth lines and slick image. She’s got a good life as a team owner for a stock car team. Still, memories of their love affair burn bright in her mind. What’s a girl to do when the man of her dreams, the man who pushed her away, wants a second chance at forever?

Contains a little spanking, anal play, and domination shared between former lovers, but no one’s complaining. For good measure, there’s the sizzling use of a Camaro hood for outdoor pleasure.

What the Wednesday? Always Look on the Bright Side of Life

Ok, I've kept my WtW? posts a little quiet. I don't know if they do any good or if I'm talking to myself. Oh well.

This week I wanted to touch on something that's near to me and a pet peeve.

I totally get that you want to write a review. Why? You want to share your feelings about what you read. That's great. You might not like it, you might love it, but you want to share.

Kudos.

What I have a problem with is this: if you can't say something nice, even if you hated it, then don't say something at all.

I'm not saying you CAN'T write a review. Heavens no. I'm saying BE CONSTRUCTIVE.

Seriously.

There are many times when you won't like a book, microwave, television show, CD...etc. Things won't always be up to your version of par. They may be too low or may exceed. Who knows.

If you say something like, this was too short and I don't know why I paid so much for it, my first thought to you is, didn't you do some research first? Most sites, stores, etc. will tell you about the product, be it a short story, a low grade microwave or a new innovation in fridges. Go to the site, check out the vital stats.
But don't hate on something because it's short or because it was junk.

Tell the manufacturer or the author or the company WHY you didn't like it.

"The cord on the fridge is short. You might want to measure the length of the fridge placement to the outlet first." OR "The ice machine is loud. Only a little insulation around it. A little more and this would be a great machine."

What about: "This is a short story, no doubt. At 34 pages, I knew I wasn't going to get something in-depth, but if you want a taste of the author's work, this is something to get." OR "This book has lots and I mean lots of sex. If you're looking for something to spice up the night, this would be perfect. If you're looking for something more inspirational, you might want to skip it."

Gets the point across and makes YOU the reviewer look like less of a fool.

Here's a great example. I went shopping for a new laptop. I looked at lots of laptops, lots of sites pertaining to laptops, and LOTS of reviews. Now, the funny part is this: if you go hunting for a laptop, there are quite a few to choose from. If you go to say Best Buy and look at them, you can see which have a matte finish, shiny finish, removable top, extra number pad, etc. For the laptop I ended up getting, there were reviews like this (and I am not kidding)

"Shows fingerprints really well. Not aesthetic. 1 star of 4"

Um...ok, so I know there will be fingerprints. Fine. But...does it work well? Enough memory? Does it get hot fast and need a cooling pad? Battery life sufficient?

That wasn't touched on. Nope. All I saw was that there was lots of fingerprints, the person had sour grapes and they wrote a review reflecting that.

I probably sound like a broken record, but I look at it like this: no one wants to hear bad things, but we all have to here and there. No one wants to have their work rejected, shunned or labeled as insufficient. But that doesn't really give you the right in this day and age of immediate feedback to be mean or hurtful. You're not going to attract flies with vinegary words and you won't endear yourself to anyone with meanness. You won't.

I could've been really nasty in this post and still gotten my point across. I didn't. Why? I'm trying to show that if you're positive in your need to be negative, the author, company, manufacturer, etc. can learn and GROW from it.

Just think about it.

Thank You Thursday ~ Peer Review ~ Bad Dawg

I wanted to share another book I just loved. It's short, sweet, and totally worth reading again and again and again.

Bad Dawg by Lena Austin

Changeling Press Paranormal, Contemporary, M/M, anal sex Short Story

One OTR trucker. One leather-clad biker. One very special town... Finding himself stranded in the middle of Nowhere, Kansas, Loren comes face to face with his favorite fantasy. Hard to say which turns him on more, the '69 Shovelhead, or Bad Dawg -- the bronze god of a biker in the seat.

But can there be any future for men whose livelihoods pull them in opposite directions? And what's with all the Prairie Dawgs all over the place?

Now I'll start this review with this: I love short stories. Love them. Throw in a furry critter and I'm golden. This book had both.

Ms. Austin's story has lots of heart, lots of heat and a biker. How cool is that? I know truckers, so the character of Loren was easy to relate to. He's realistic and loveable, even with his idiosyncrasies. Then there's Bad Dawg himself. The guy is rough. He's a biker, he's supposed to be. But there's something about it--it's almost cuddly and I couldn't not read more. I loved him.

The idea of a prairie dog shifter intrigued me. Pairing a burly biker with a quiet trucker was something I didn't know how Ms. Austin would pull off, but she did and with gusto. I couldn't wait to see what would happen next and when I found out there was more to the story...I was sold!

Grab a copy of this short story for your reader and keep it handy for a chilly night. It's sure to warm you up!

Thank You Thursday ~ A Review for Grey's Lady!

Grey's Lady by Natasha Blackthorne
Total-E-Bound Publishing
Historical, m/f,
Novella
Available now!
Philadelphia, PA 1812.

Seeking sexual excitement and conquest, poor but beautiful Beth seduces wealthy merchant prince Grey Sexton, only to find herself the pursued as he seeks to own her body and soul.

Flouting the moral standards of Jeffersonian America, temptress Beth McConnell lets no man touch her heart. Her motto is love them once and leave them burning.

But when she boldly seduces Grey Sexton, a self-controlled merchant prince from New York, she finds herself too fascinated by his ice-over-fire nature to stay away. His possessive determination to own her, body and soul, threatens to expose her secret erotic life to public shame.

But Beth will only surrender her love to a man she can trust. And Grey's materialistic approach to relationships leaves her little reason to believe he can ever give her what she truly needs.

For these two cynical yet lonely people, can deep sexual intimacy work a miracle and lead to the opening of their hearts?

She wants a good time. He wants a good time. Then they have each other and sparks not only fly...they scorch everything in sight.

I've said I'm not a big one into historicals. I don't seem to get them. Maybe it's the lingo, maybe it's the clothing. I can honestly say the tide is turning.

I picked up Grey's Lady because I'd read Waltz of Seduction. I like the author's way with words and the depth of the story. Naturally I had to see what else this promising author had in store.

I'm glad I did.

I felt like I was right there with both Grey and Beth. There is more than a few moments where things get tense between these two strong-willed people. Yes, there were times when Beth's motivations weren't clear, but rest assured. Everything is explained and worked out. I really enjoyed Grey. He's terse at times, coddling at others, but he's always got a flair with what he does. He's sexy and I couldn't get enough reading about him.

There are lots of twists and turns and emotional turmoil that makes Grey's Lady a good read indeed. Grab a copy today.
http://natashablackthorne.blogspot.com/

What the? Wednesday...So You Got a Bad Review...

We've all had them...reviews that we don't like. It's a fact of life, there will be people who don't particularly care for your work. Just as there are those who will love it. You can't predict who will be a lover and who will be a hater.

So what do you do? You've written this book you love and think is the beans. Being an author is hard. You have to release your baby to someone else for them to rip apart. Then once you've put it back together, you have to send it to someone else for more ripping - enter the editor. Now, if you've got an editor worth his or her salt, then you should be fine. If you've got a strong story...same thing.

No one author will produce a perfect work. Think about it. The laws of averages are against you and me. So? Now you've sent that work to the editor and he/she's accepted it. There's the next round of edits (as many as four or five if necessary) and the *gasp* release day.

That's when the fun begins. You've worked hard, listened to your editor, kept your writing voice intact...what will the readers think? Will they like? Hate? So-so?

The last thing an author wants to do is produce something that's crap. We don't set out to produce something that's sub-par. Shocking, I know. But what the reader/reviewer has to keep in mind, and the author for that matter, there are occasional blunders. The author tries something that maybe isn't as strong, the author has a plot hole no one saw...stuff like that. It happens.

Now, the book's out and it's being reviewed. You can, hide in a hole, disappear from cyberspace (always a fun one), grin and bear it, or get angry.

Hiding and disappearing isn't bad. Why? You probably know the review is out there and if it's constructive (like my multiple reviews for Tangled Up), you are certainly learning from it. You might even be forming an idea to work with it and strengthen it. If it's not so nice...honestly...grin and bear it. It will more than likely hurt (no one wants to be trashed or have their work trashed), but look at it this way: every author gets their work trashed. From JK Rowling going to umpteen publishers, to Stephen King writing short stories because he couldn't sell the longer work, people won't like everything you write.

For example, I loved Bag Of Bones. Goodness, I had dreams/nightmares about the book. I swore it was real and I'd lived it. Now, I went on Amazon. For the 600 or so 5 star reviews, there was at least 300 that rated it 3 or lower. Are we reading the same book? Yup. But it's that thing...personal opinion.

Stephen King could easily go on a rampage and say everyone should love his book. Or even expect all those poorer reviews/ratings be taken down. He could--he's got clout. Me? Not so much. And if he did get angry, what good does it do? Really? None. Why? Because you end up looking like a diva and people are leery to work with you. It doesn't help you and in many cases it will hurt. Going on a public place, like your blog, to rip the reviewer a new one will get you into more trouble. Your readers see it and it doesn't do you any good.

So honestly, grinning and bearing it is the best idea. As Desiree Holt says, "Don't whine, don't complain, and don't grouse and you'll be fine." She's right.

Monday Moans ~ When Characters Won't Talk

I try to do a Monday Moans every week, you know, to let the characters run for a little bit. I like to let them loose from the cage here and there. But I've got a little problem. They don't want to talk.

If you're a writer, what do you do when the characters won't talk to you? Why do I ask? I'm stuck, that's why.

It's like they know they should be saying something, but they're staring at me with petulant looks on their faces. You want something, we don't want to put out...deal.

BUT I DON'T WANT TO DEAL!!!

Oh well. Maybe they'll be chatty next week.

In other news: I got a review! Yup. For Please Remember Me. I have much love and respect for Whipped Cream Reviews. I guess it's because even when they give a lower rating, it's done with tact, eloquence, and you learn something.

The author puts the reader in the position of not knowing what the truth is and what should come next. When you think you have it figured out, here comes another curve ball. The emotions, the heat and the conflict are almost tangible and suck you in like a vacuum.

Not bad, eh? I'm pretty pleased.