This blog is for those 18 and older.

Friday, February 28, 2020

Dark Sentinel by Christine Feehan

I'm a little behind the game when it comes to reading Christine Feehan's Dark series. But, I'm ready to make up for it, starting with the Dark Sentinel. I may work my way back through the novels, but right now I'm all about Andor.



Dark Sentinel

After the devastating loss of her entire family, Lorraine Peters heads to the woods searching for peace of mind and anything to quell the anger in her soul. Instead, she stumbles upon a scene of horrific violence, as one man lies helpless in the face of three attackers. 

Andor Katona’s existence has been a harsh one, living for centuries as a monk in the Carpathian Mountains. Unable to find his lifemate, he almost welcomes his release from a colorless and unfeeling world at the hands of the vampire hunters who have mistaken him for their prey. That is, until a whirling ball of fury bursts onto the scene, determined to save him. 

In one glimpse, in one breath, Andor recognizes Lorraine as his lifemate, but it will take more than their telepathic connection to convince her of their immortal bond. Lorraine is a lethal combination of cunning and courage. So much so that she captures the attention of a master vampire, one who has already lost what was once irreplaceable to him. One who will strike with deadly precision at Andor and his ancient Carpathian comrades in a war to end all wars. . .


Read the excerpt: Dark Sentinel Excerpt

Watch the trailer: Dark Sentinel Trailer

Buy Book: Retailer links

Wednesday, February 26, 2020

Life's Little Surprises!


Hello, gentle readers!
My home is my castle. I’m sure you’ve heard that expression before. I know I have, but in my case, it’s true. My home is my sanctuary, the place I go to when the day has been hard and frustrating. I know, when I walk through the door, I will be welcomed.
Granted, it’s not the newest house on the street (in fact, it is the oldest). It’s not the grandest, either. It’s actually rather small compared to the newer houses that went up on either side of me. Still, it’s mine (well, mine and the mortgage company). I’ve been here for twenty-three years and I have no desire to leave. Not yet anyway.
Like any grand lady who is beginning to show her age, mine recently needed a little “face-lift”. We had an awning in the back that was, quite frankly, falling down (the posts had been sunk into dirt and well…the wood was rotting and sinking). I was convinced a stiff wind would take it, as well as half my house so we, the DH and I, decided to do something about it. We took it down.
Unfortunately, when we did so, all the siding from the awning up to the eave of the roof came down as well (no one had any idea the awning had been glued to the siding…yes, I said glued). What a mess! We also had no idea what was behind the siding. As I said, what a mess! Life is certainly full of little surprises!
         Did I cry when I saw what was behind the siding? No, I didn’t, but I sure as heck wanted to! They say any kind of home remodel is the stuff of nightmares. We’ve all heard the stories. Visions of dollar signs flashed through my head on what it would cost to fix this mess I had helped to create, not to mention how long it would take. Would it rain and do more damage before I could find someone (yes, it did rain, but thankfully, there was no more damage).
         It’s amazing how fast something can get done when you’re desperate! The phone calls, the repair guys coming out to give me estimates, etc. And honestly, it didn’t take as long as I thought (again, thankfully…I sure didn’t like being that stressed!) I wasn’t even able to work on my latest story during this time, my usual way of dealing with stress). 
         As of this writing, though, it’s all done. A concrete pad has been poured, the siding has been fixed, and I now have a new awning that’s beautiful and sturdy and won’t fall down the next time the wind blows.
And it’s lovely. A beautiful place to sit and relax as the sun is going down and think about what I’m going to write about next. To all those who helped me keep my sanity, a heart-felt Thank You!

Until next time, remember to spread kindness wherever you go.
Marie

Sunday, February 23, 2020

BESOTTED by Madison Michael and a Chance at 16 Paperback books!

Besotted
The Beguiling Bachelors, Book 4
By Madison Michael

♥♥♥GiveAway ♥♥♥

Madison is celebrating the paperback release of Besotted with one incredible giveaway. She is offering 16 books, that's right 16 paperback books to 16 lucky readers! Readers out of the US will receive an ebook. Enter with the Rafflecopter below. You have a chance to enter everyday so be sure to follow along with us on the tour. You may find all the tour locations here http://bit.ly/2OSlZcl
About Besotted:
He Promised Forever, then Walked Away. Now he wants her back.
Tyler’s Winthrop, rich, handsome, elusive sees his moment to win Regan Howe slipping through his fingers. He has remained on the outskirts of Regan’s life since high school, reluctant to reveal his true past and expose her to danger. Despite their obvious attraction, Tyler has remained her friend and protector, keeping Regan at arm’s length for her own safety,
Regan Howe, won her coveted CEO position through hard work and a willingness to buck family tradition. Now, Brandon Hockney, a handsome US Senator with his eye on the White House, wants her to give it up, along with her home, friends and family for a move to DC and marriage to him.
Regan wants a family but is she prepared to leave all she loves, including the alluring Tyler Winthrop. Regan has waited twenty years for Tyler to commit. He once promised her forever, then he destroyed her trust and her hopes for a future together. Still, she cannot break the ties between them.
When Regan tests the waters with Brandon, Tyler is tapped as acting CEO, throwing the pair together, and forcing both to make a choice. Is this the end or their one last chance at love? Battling overwhelming odds and a racing clock, will Tyler be forced to release his one true love to find happiness with another man? How can he when he’s besotted?
As the danger mounts for Tyler,, can he wrestle free of his past and lure Regan away from her Senator? Join our handsome hero as he attempts to win back his love in this exciting and steamy page turner, the fourth of the sexy, contemporary Beguiling Bachelor romance series. Genre: Steamy Contemporary Romantic Suspense

Excerpt from Besotted:
Regan was just too damn alluring in that dress for him to accept that he couldn’t have her if he wanted her.
He was an idiot. He should have told her years ago. He should have told everyone. Despite the tongue- lashing he was silently giving himself, Tyler was certainly no fool. “The professor” to his friends, he was generally serious and professional. He had the smarts necessary to obtain both an MBA and a law degree, and he was now CEO of LHRE and on hiatus from one of the fastest growing tech companies in the country. He kept his cool in general, but again and again he behaved like an idiot around Regan.
Since that damn frog almost thirty years ago, he had loved no one but Regan. Sometimes they made it work together, like in high school, but most times not. His feelings were unchanged, but something always stopped him from declaring his love and asking her to do the same. This time it was something insurmountable.
And yet Tyler couldn’t stay away. He was the proverbial moth to the flame, flirting with disaster every time he flirted with her. He had promised to stay away, to keep her safe,but the attraction was undeniable. Yep, prize idiot.
Returning to the ballroom after the latest threats, Tyler briefly considered sharing the conversation, coming clean with Regan and perhaps moving their relationship forward. He was at a fork in the road but remained silent, Tyler knew he was on the wrong path but couldn’t summon the will to fix it. Not only were his problems unsolvable, but she was involved with Brandon. Tyler felt hopeless.
He was preoccupied just as Regan accused, but Tyler tried to give Regan the attention she deserved. He failed miserably until Regan suggested they just leave. That got his attention. Who knew when he would hold her in his arms again.
“Come dance with me again. It would be a crime to waste that dress.”
Encircling Regan in his arms, his body responded to her nearness, even as his mind worried over the earlier texts. He was unaware of his hand stroking her back, fingers lightly skimming over her bare skin. He wasn’t thinking clearly when he pulled her close or when he dropped kisses on her hair. He wasn’t paying attention, just acting on instinct, Regan was responding, her breath growing uneven, her hands clinging to his shoulders.
The Beguiling Bachelors Series are all available in Paperback now!
Bedazzled (Book 1):
Amazon Buy Link: https://amzn.to/2K3OL4D
Bedazzled is on Kindle Unlimited 
Beholden (Book 2) Amazon Buy Link: https://amzn.to/2AjMtPg Beholden is on Kindle Unlimited Bedeviled (Book 3) Amazon Buy Link: https://amzn.to/2uUHsYu Bedeviled is now on Kindle Unlimited
About Madison Michael:
Madison Michael is an indie publisher, blogger and the author of the Beguiling Bachelor Series as well as the novella Desire & Dessert, from her sizzling B&B Billionaire Bachelor series.
A Chicago native and hopeless romantic, Maddy was raised on Chicago culture, fairy tales, great literature and swashbuckling movies. Maddy employs that history, writing steamy contemporary romance novels set against the sumptuous backdrop of Chicago’s elite society.
After receiving a BA in Journalism from the University of Illinois and an MBA from Loyola University of Chicago, Madison abandoned her writing to find her way in the corporate business world. Daughter of a librarian, it was inevitable that she would return to the world of books.
Maddy writes from high above Chicago where she can stare at its gorgeous skyline or the shores of Lake Michigan surrounded by feline assistants. When she is not writing,, Maddy can be found lost in a book, fighting for the rights of the mentally iil or dining on Chicago’s famous cuisine. Hot dogs and pizza, anyone?
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Madison's Social Links:

Wednesday, February 19, 2020

Steal Her Heart by T.S Joyce

I always look forward to reading a story by T.S. Joyce!  Her wicked words and strong women and men, or should I add Shifters rule the story?!
Maris is a powerful woman even when pulled down by an ex-husband and the loss of her ability to run a complete ranch by herself.  When she names her cattle things like Marshmallow Face and Marmalade, you can't help love the soft side of her.  When she fights the wolves attacking her herd, she has another strong side that makes a reader proud.Steal Her Heart (Kaid Ranch Shifters Book 1)
Bryson has his own turmoil in loving his former wife. Guilt is a hard trick to overcome.  When Bryson sees the problems on Maris's ranch next to the one he works on, he chances himself to be of help in his own stubborn manner.
Maris doesn't find it helpful at all that Bryson buys her herd at auction, but what he does with it, and his special traits to help fight the wolves may change her mind.
Matter of fact, Maris is intuitive and notices the grizzly in Bryson, and tests her theory more than the average human would attempt. It's a delicious, evocative, and slightly dangerous test.
Bryson's surprise at her acceptance of his other half, the grizzly, doesn't immediately convince him she can handle his demeanor.  Not until he reveals his secret.
I rooted for their romance all the way.  Maris and Bryson are strong and honest in their acknowledgement of each other.  When they weren't sure they could make it together, I wanted to burst into the novel and straighten them out.  Fortunately, they have a way of figuring it out for themselves!

Happy reading,
Dawn

Sunday, February 16, 2020

THE WHITE HOUSE WEDDING by Seelie Kay


The White House Wedding 
By Seelie Kay
About The White House Wedding:  When politics interferes with love, can love survive? Getting married isn’t easy when your father’s the President of the United States! After reluctantly agreeing to a White House wedding, Sarah Lee Pearson, the president’s daughter, finds herself swept into a political maelstrom of unimagined proportions. The White House staff and the first lady see the wedding as a political event, a way to sweep the president into his next term. Congress is complaining about the collateral costs. The media is delightfully rehashing every aspect of Sarah’s life, even those events that have nothing to do with the impending marriage. And the American public? Visions of an American royal wedding have swept them into a frenzy and vendors take advantage, making a quick buck off of everything from limited edition t-shirts to commemorative teacups. Sarah and her fiancé, Sam, fight hard to ignore the craziness, but after learning a bounty has been put on their heads by an anti-government militia group, they have to decide whether a White House wedding is indeed worth it. And given all the hurtful controversy, perhaps a better solution is to not get married at all.
The White House Wedding Buy links:
  • Publisher: extasy books
  • Amazon:  TBD
  • Barnes and Noble: TBD
  • Kobo:
 
The White House Wedding Excerpt:  “How does my father feel about this?” Sarah asked. “Your father wants you to do what makes you happy.” Jamisen Powell entered his Chief of Staff’s office and nodded coldly at Jeremiah. He added, “He would never ask you to do otherwise.” Sarah smiled and rose to kiss her father on the cheek. “Thanks, Dad. I knew you wouldn’t ask me to be a political stool pigeon.” Jamie Powell chuckled. “No. That job apparently falls to staff.” He smiled at Sarah. “Look, hopefully, you only get married once. Make a memory that will mean the most to you and Sam. Nothing else matters.” He shook his head, “Maybe Jeremiah will get lucky and your sister, Melissa, will hook some poor sucker before the next election. She and her mother would be overjoyed planning a White House wedding.” Jeremiah scowled. “I am only thinking about your re-election, Mr. President. Your first term has been a bit rocky. You need a solidifying factor, something that will grab the hearts and minds of the American public and provide a clear path into the next term. Your story, a daughter lost and found after twenty-five years, especially a daughter who just happens to be a stellar human being and a successful international law attorney, won their hearts in the first election. “Walking that same daughter down the aisle, something you had never dreamed was possible? The ratings alone will rival a royal wedding. No offense, but Melissa’s marriage—if it ever happens—could never have the same impact. People don’t view her in the same light as Sarah. Melissa is a flighty socialite. Her deep-seated sense of entitlement offends. The ratings for her wedding would be nonexistent. But Sarah? She’s the golden child. The American public loves her.” The president’s sapphire blue eyes, which mirrored Sarah’s, flashed with annoyance. “Be that as it may, I am not about to force either of my daughters into something they don’t want. Sarah has declined your request, and as far as I am concerned, that’s the end of it. You will have to find another solidifying factor, Jer. Surely I have done something that’s re-election worthy!”
About Seelie Kay: Seelie Kay is a nom de plume for an award-winning writer, editor, and author with more than 30 years of experience in law, journalism, marketing, and public relations. When Seelie writes about love and lust in the legal world, something kinky is bound to happen!  In possession of a wicked pen and an overly inquisitive mind, Ms. Kay is the author of multiple works of fiction, including the Kinky Briefs series, the Feisty Lawyers series, The Garage DwellerA Touchdown to Remember, The President’s Wife, and The President’s Daughter.  When not spinning her kinky tales, Ms. Kay ghostwrites nonfiction for lawyers and other professionals. She resides in a bucolic exurb outside Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where she shares a home with her son and enjoys opera, gourmet cooking, organic gardening, and an occasional bottle of red wine.  Ms. Kay is an MS warrior and ruthlessly battles the disease on a daily basis. Her message to those diagnosed with MS:  Never give up. You define MS, it does not define you! Seelie's Social Links:
Prior Books:

Friday, February 7, 2020

Veronica Reviews: TWISTED FATES by Kitty Thomas

Twisted Fates
by
Kitty Thomas


4 Stars
  
“Because of the nature of the house, the choice was once and it was forever.  Choose wisely…”

Eight years ago, Shannon Foster was given a choice…to be trained in submission and to be owned by a Master who would never discard her.  But the choice, once made, could never be reversed…regardless of circumstances.  When Shannon displeases the one trainer feared by all within the House, she pays a price that costs her in more ways than just the scars left on her body.  No longer able to continue being broken, Shannon takes fate in her own hands, only to be awakened and held in the arms of the last person she ever wanted to see again…

Doctor Lindsay Smith has been finding women longing to be submissive and have control taken from them.  The recruits he discovers and takes back to the House know it’s a one-way ticket, with no opt-out.  When he meets Shannon, it is she he desires and plans to make his own.  Unfortunately, he is too late to save her from the monster in the House…
 
Shannon and Lindsay’s fates are truly twisted together in a romance that is both dark and beautiful.  Finding the strength to face their fears, Shannon and Lindsay overcome the scars, both physical and emotional, to find their version of a happily ever after…
Kitty Thomas continues to weave dark and beautiful stories that are both impossible to put down as well as forget.  While this is a continuation in her Pleasure House series, each installment is written in a way to be read standalone.  Highly recommend!


Sharing what I love, 
Veronica


Wednesday, February 5, 2020

The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton

Just a warning...This is a tragic romance.
Nella Oortman is married off by her family to a merchant, Johannes Brandt, at the age of eighteen.  Moving to Amsterdam and becoming the new head of house in a rich home doesn't turn out quite as she expected.The Miniaturist By Jessie Burton (2015, Paperback)
Johannes treats her with respect, although he's rarely home.  Nella is left with a secretive family consisting of Johannes's sister, a house maid, and a black house man.  It is rare in the sixteen hundreds to give a person of color the status and comfort of a home and job.
Johannes gives Nella a wedding present of a miniature house replicating their home.  When Nella is left alone and longing to get to know her husband, she turns to filling the little house and calls on an artist to create the furniture and people.The Miniaturist
The artist, or miniaturist, matches the interior of the house strangely with exactness. This includes the current items and those that somehow tell the future.  When a small baby doll arrives for Nella, she wonders if it's her that will be blessed with a child.
More clues that tell the future and aren't understood fill Nella with many questions as to the fate of her marriage, her new family, and the household.
Johannes has his own difficulties with his trading business, his new wife, and his private social life.
Some secrets must be kept hidden and others dealt with.  The strange love circling the Brandt house brings a shattering change to all.

Happy reading,
Dawn