Articles for the Month of July 2014

Book Review: The Sweet Spot by Stephanie Evanovich

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Print copy published by William Morrow on July 8th, 2014 
Pages: 272 
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Last summer readers were captivated by Stephanie Evanovich’s highly-anticipated New York Times bestselling debut novel, Big Girl Panties. This summer, Evanovich is back with THE SWEET SPOT, the sizzling story of two of readers’ favorite characters from Big Girl Panties: Chase Walker, the hunky professional baseball player, and his beautiful, curvy, and exceptionally sassy wife Amanda.

 

Amanda is a successful, levelheaded woman who built her restaurant from scratch. She’s certainly not looking for a prince charming to sweep her off her feet. So when Chase, baseball’s golden boy, begins to pursue her, she barely gives him the time of day. Her heart-shaped face and big blue eyes stop him dead in his tracks and her lush, plus-size curves don’t hurt either. And while Amanda’s used to celebrities and politicians dining at the Cold Creek Grille, she just can’t stop staring at Chase—he’s hotness personified.

 

At heart, Chase is a monogamist who likes strong women, despite his playboy image. Amanda is exactly the type he’s been looking to settle down with, but she won’t say yes easily. From daily visits to the restaurant to extravagant flower arrangements, Chase will stop at nothing to persuade her to go out with him—and he finally succeeds!

 

For Amanda their romance is all too good to be true, and something has got to give. Can Chase really be this perfect? And then she discovers that squeaky-clean Chase Walker has a spicy little kink. While readers of Big Girl Panties will remember it quite well, Chase’s fans have no idea that off the field, he likes to indulge in a little passionate spanking from time to time.

 

To her surprise, Amanda discovers a naughty side she never knew she had. But then, thanks to a tabloid, their secret comes to light and becomes the nation’s favorite water-cooler gossip. Will Amanda give up a little bit of her single-girl freedom for true love with a twist? Or will the pressure of Chase’s stardom spell doom for this sexy couple?

 

THE SWEET SPOT is an incredibly sexy and charming story filled with wit, fun, and extra-spicy romance. This is the perfect follow-up to Big Girl Panties and undoubtedly a great choice for summer reading.  

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Review: 

*This was an ARC provided to me for free in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and comments are my own.*


The Sweet Spot by Stephanie Evanonich is one of those books you take to the beach, lay back and enjoy. The story is a prequel to Big Girl Panties which I have not read. However, I’m kind of curious after reading The Sweet Spot. I liked the story well enough, but there were things I could have done without. The beginning of the book is charming and sweet, the middle takes somewhat of a dark turn and kind of fell a bit flat for me, but the author redeemed herself with the ending — though I felt that part was a bit rushed and the struggles that go the couple to that ending didn’t sit with me as a necessary struggle. There is a lot I want to say, but I’m struggling with how best to word it without giving away much of the story, though if you’ve read Big Girl Panties it’s safe to assume you know the outcome. 

The story is about professional baseball player Chase Walker and business owner Amanda Cole. Chase is instantly smitten, but Amanda takes some convincing before she agrees to a date. This date leads to a series of dates and a seemingly perfect relationship. Amanda came off as someone that self sabotages and although there were things that got in this couples way some didn’t make much sense to me.  The courtship has sweet and witty moments, but I wasn’t impressed with Chase and his antics. He is definitely an alpha male, but his behavior throughout the book both annoyed and turned me off. Amanda is a character you will either love or hate. She frustrated me and added unnecessary drama to what could have been a fairly stable and exciting relationship, but she was also a woman I admired in a way. She ran a successful business and her independence was important to her, but there is a fine line with this for me and some things seemed a bit too old fashioned for my liking.  

The author sets the reader up for expectations that were not delivered as well as I hoped. The book is entertaining, there are funny moments and playful banter between the couple, but I wasn’t on the edge of my seat. I just felt disconnected at certain points and the book felt rushed in many ways. The erotic aspect of this book never made me feel as though it were a good thing for these two in fact it felt wrong in some ways due to Amanda’s reactions. What should have been something that brought this couple together actually managed to pull them apart and I’m not convinced the reasons were major enough to cause the turn of events that occurred.

This read was ok for me. I won’t lie to you though, I was a bit disappointed. Their relationship left much to be desired as things progressed quickly. Chase remained sweet and loving in many ways but the alpha male side wasn’t the typical dominating sexy male I’ve come to love in other books. This was different and I think maybe that’s why I gave it a chance and still feel it’s worth a read. Other than Chase working hard to get Amanda’s attention, I felt the story could’ve been developed a bit better. The  erotic moments weren’t as fun and playful as expected. 
OVERALL I’d give this book a 3 star rating and recommend it to anyone who is a fan of Big Girl Panties and a sweet romance with a bit cleaner erotic moments thrown in.  

 

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Author Info:

Stephanie Evanovich-Credit Ron RinaldiStephanie Evanovich is a full-fledged Jersey girl from Asbury Park who began writing fiction while waiting for her cues during countless community theater projects. She attended New York Conservatory for the Dramatic Arts and acted in several improvisational troupes and a few small-budget movies, all in preparation for the greatest job she ever had, raising her two sons. Now a full-time writer, she’s an avid sports fan who holds a black belt in tae kwon do.

 

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Cover Reveal: Leaving Me Behind by Sigal Ehrlich

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Expected Release Date: Autumn 2014

Cover Designer: Damon from Damonza.com


About Leaving Me Behind

Fed up with her comfortable and dull-to-boredom life, Liv takes the bravest leap, leaving it all behind. Unfortunately the crux of her issues – her entrenched, well-kept emotional guard – tags along for the ride.

With the spirit of change burning from every pore and a determined plan to break free from her self-oppressed lifestyle to enjoy life’s simplest pleasures, she moves half way across the globe to a peaceful Spanish coastal town.

With an aim to feel whole again, liberated and happy by herself, Liv begins her journey while maintaining weekly-cyber therapy sessions with her long time, questionable shrink.

As Liv finally begins to enjoy her new life and experience the varied goods the exotic country has to offer, a sudden major turn leads Liv to be swept into the most tantalizing roller coaster of her life.

A turn that leaves her questioning everything she thought was right. 

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Excerpt

“So how did you like our wine?” he gestures with a hint of a knowing glee at the half empty evidence on the table.

“Umm, it was good.”

He cocks an eyebrow.

“Frankly, I’m not much of a wine person. I’m more a sweet cocktail kind of gal. It was very good, but I couldn’t elaborate on the taste or anything else like you experts would…”

“I see…” he says somewhat pensive. He motions for me to take a seat at the sofa, and settles himself on the coffee table in front of me. His legs are slightly parted, almost touching mine nudged between them. He takes the bottle and deftly gets rid of the cork.

“Let’s try to do it together,” he says, his voice a degree huskier. “You need to use your scent, taste and sight to evaluate wine.” He gives me a soft, yet very suggestive look. “Sight,” he says as he brings the bottle to his mouth. His lips wrap around the narrow opening and he takes a slow sip. I swallow hard. He then inclines his head toward me, cups my neck to slightly tilt my head back and touches his mouth to mine. As I part my lips, his tongue reaches in with some of the wine and starts to stroke mine through the rich moistness. It twirls around, letting the delectable liquid reach every part of my mouth. I suck hard on his tongue, tasting the wine and my desire that grows with every erotic stroke of his.

“Taste,” he says low as he pulls back. “Keep your eyes closed, Liv. I’m going to do that again. I want you to suck on it, swirl it in your mouth, and try to think what flavors come to your mind.” And he does, and everything inside me tightens, and everything around me melts, and everything about me arouses.

“Open them, now tell me if it’s balanced,” he kisses my lips gently. “Complex.” Another kiss. “Evolved.” A more profound one.

Tastes like an orgasm? I close my eyes, lick my slightly pulsing lips, his hand trails slowly under the hem of my dress, holding my thigh. I lick my lips again.

“It tastes … warm, and rich.”

“Mmm, hmm,” his hand sprawls, making my skin burn at the spot.

“Fruity, and sexy,” I add quietly, my eyes still closed, the edge of my lips slightly curving.

“Keep going,” his other hand cups my cheek, and his thumb is touching, not touching my lips.

“It tastes like something I want again in my mouth.” My eyelids slowly lift and I look at him with everything that rages inside of me.

“Sold,” he says gruffly, with a hint of a smile. “Oh, and there’s the scent,” he adds next, nuzzling the area just below my ear. “Divine.”

 


 

About the Author

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By teen age, Sigal already lived in three different continents where she was lucky enough to experience and visit varied places, meet unique people, which only helped fuel her overly developed imagination. Currently, Sigal calls Estonia home where she lives with her husband and three kids.

Not exactly sure where they will end up next… 
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♥ Release Day Blitz ♥: Becoming A Jett Girl by Meghan Quinn

Jett Girl

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Release Date: July 1st, 2014 

Synopsis 

How did I start the Lafayette Club?
Well, I’m in the business of saving tarnished souls. I hand pick girls from the street who have no options left in life and give them an opportunity they can’t possibly refuse.
They come to work in the Lafayette Club which is full of EXQUISITE DEBAUCHERY, where influential men come to conduct business and lap dances are considered a fine art.
The girls are trained, they are morphed, they are educated, they follow the rules of the club and they know to submit to me. They live by my motto, no relationships, no love, just sex.
They are never touched, only by me, they are never completely naked, only with me, and their personas are entirely anonymous. The only person who knows who they truly are, is me, Jett Colby.
If these girls were ever seen on the streets of New Orleans, you would never know they were a Jett Girl.  

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Excerpt

“Work Bitch”
Goldie
“Where the fuck are my titty tassels?” Lyla announced, as she dug through her locker.
She was always losing her tassels. To be honest, I didn’t know why she used them to begin with; they were more eighties porn than New Orleans strip club, but she swore they drove the men crazy. I wouldn’t know, since I was always stuck on drink duty, but that wasn’t my choice.
“Seriously, Goldie, have you seen my tassels? I’m on in five,” Lyla pleaded.
“I haven’t. Maybe you should try something other than mini curtains hanging off your tits, huh?
Maybe wear…oh, what do they call it…a bra?”
“Where’s the fun in that?” Lyla asked, as she shimmied her naked tits in my face and I tried to smack her jugs away.
There was a reason why Lyla, my roommate, was center stage at Kitten’s Castle every night. She was drop-dead gorgeous. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t get a little lady wood every time she was up on stage. She was one of those mixed breeds who lucked out by having parents with perfect genes. Her skin was a deep brown color, her eyes were light green, and her hair was pitch black. Exotic could be a word to describe her, but I would also say fuck-me-in-the-ass beautiful. Yeah, that pretty much described her.
Lyla gave up on the search for her tassels and threw on a white cropped T-shirt over her naked breasts.
“I’ll just do my wet T-shirt routine tonight. There’s a bachelor party out there that has a lot of money to spend,” she said, while wiggling her eyebrows.
“When is there not a bachelor party out there?” I responded. “It’s New Orleans for fuck’s sake and we work at one of the most premier spots for men to get away with murder when they’re away from their own personal finger huts. You know, since the lighting is pretty much non-existent in here.”
Lyla crinkled her nose at my statement. “Hey, I like the fact that the lights aren’t very bright in here. I’d rather not have a spotlight shining up my Britney while I’m dancing on stage.”
“Easy for you to say; you’re not the one delivering drinks in the dark. I swear, Marv is trying to kill me out there.” I slammed my hand on the vanity and said, “And when the hell am I going to get my chance on stage?”
“Down girl. You get paid well.”
“Yeah, but I get groped every time a pass a hairy and horny man and, as we know, that’s pretty much every guy in this dump.”
“You got to work it, bitch, if you want to get the hell out of here, so stop complaining and put your garter belt on. We have some willing customers out there with some fat wallets.”
I huffed and waved Lyla off as she raced out to the stage to get ready for her act.
I looked into the mirror and studied the reflection that looked back at me. Ugh, I hated that my life had become an uphill climb of trying to pay off bills and debt that were, unfortunately, not even mine, but that of my dead parents. Every day, I have to practically sell my soul to skeezy men just to make sure I don’t go hungry and I can pay off the stack of bills that are piling up on my counter.
I’ve spent the last nine years of my life trying to climb back from the hole that Hurricane Katrina put in it and it hasn’t been easy, especially since I have no degree and no job experience
That’s why I’m currently sitting in front of a rusty old vanity with piss poor lighting, outlining my azure colored eyes with cheap-as-fuck eyeliner and praying that only one man tries to stick his thumb in my ass tonight. It was a common occurrence amongst the pervs.

 


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About Meghan Quinn

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When I was in high school I occasionally read books but was consumed by other teenage things so I didn’t take the time to appreciate a good book on a cloudy day, wrapped up in a blanket on the couch, besides “The Notebook” I made time to read the heartbreaking novel.
It wasn’t until I received a Kindle for Christmas one year that my world completely flipped upside down. When looking for books, I came across the Contemporary Romance genre and was sold and I haven’t turned back since.
You can either find my head buried in my Kindle, listening to inspiring heart ripping music or typing away on the computer twisting and turning the lives of my characters while driving my readers crazy with anticipation.
I am currently residing in beautiful Colorado Springs where the sun is always shining and there is a trail waiting to be hiked on every corner. I share a lovely and warm home with the love of my life and my five, four-legged children.

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