Tuesday, 28 February 2017

Review: Mastering Her Senses - Laura Kaye

12 Masters. Infinite fantasies. Welcome to Blasphemy…

He wants to dominate her senses—and her heart…

Quinton Ross has always been a thrill-seeker—so it’s no surprise that he’s drawn to extremes in the bedroom and at his BDSM club, Blasphemy, where he creates sense-depriving scenarios that blow submissives’ minds. Now if he could just find one who needs the rush as much as him…

When an accident leaves Cassia Locke with a paralyzing fear of the dark, she’ll try anything to get help. Ready to fight, she knows just who to ask for help—the hard-bodied, funny-as-hell Dom she’d always crushed on—and once stood up.

Quinton is shocked and a little leery to see Cassia, but he can’t pass up the chance to dominate the alluring little sub this time. Introducing her to sensory deprivation becomes his new favorite obsession, and watching her fight fear is its own thrill. But when doubt threatens to send her running again, Quinton must find a way to master her senses—and her heart.

Hard Ink Series:
Hard as It Gets
Hard as You Can
Hard to Hold on to (Novella)
Hard to Come By
Hard to Be Good (Novella)
Hard to Let Go
Hard as Steel (Novella) (This is a Raven Riders MC crossover novella)
Hard Ever After (Novella)
Hard to Serve (Novella) (This is a Blasphemy crossover novella)

Raven Riders MC Series:
(This is a spin off from the Hard Ink Series)
Hard as Steel (Novella) (This is a Hard Ink crossover novella)
Ride Hard
Ride Rough
Ride Wild
Ride Dirty (Novella)

Blasphemy Series:
(This is a spin off from the Hard Ink Series)
Hard to Serve (Novella) (This is a Hard Ink crossover novella)
Bound to Submit
Mastering Her Senses
Eyes on You (Novella)
Theirs to Take (Crossover with Reveal Me by Jennifer Probst)
On His Knees
Switching for Her (April 2018)

Visit Laura Kaye's website for more information

Review:
After a horrible accident a couple of years ago Cassia is petrified of the dark and it's affecting her life in all kinds of negative ways, even down to stopping her from doing the job she has always loved. Desperate to overcome her fears she turns to Blasphemy, the club she used to be a member in the hope of working through her fears with the help of a Dom. Quinton is the club's expert when it comes to sensory deprivation and when he sees how much Cassia is struggling because of her phobia he becomes determined to help her get past her issues.

I knew I was going to love Quinton after his appearances in the previous books in the series but I fell for him even harder than I expected to. He's the perfect combination of in control alpha in the bedroom and fun loving guy outside of it. He's a bit of an adrenaline junkie and loves to push his limits in all kinds of ways and that is just what Cassia needed. I love that the characters in this series are able to use their kink to help them deal with other issues but that Laura Kaye never uses sex as an easy answer to all their problems. Quinton uses pleasure to change Cassia's perception of the dark and it works brilliantly but it doesn't magically take her fears away and that's something she'll have to keep working on.

Mastering Her Senses has some incredibly hot scenes (probably some of the hottest from the series so far!) but we also get to see Quinton and Cassia spend time together outside of the bedroom at the Raven Rider's race track with Cassia's brother Jagger (who will hopefully get a book in the other series). I loved every minute of this story and I thought both of the characters were brilliant but if anything I would have loved to spend a little more time with them. I think if we could have had a couple more chapters their romance would have felt a little less rushed. Don't get me wrong these two are perfect for each other and I loved the way Quinton cared for Cassia but their HEA came a little quickly, it was totally believable but could have been even better if it had taken a little longer. This was definitely my favourite book in the series though and I can't wait to get my hands on the next one!

Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Paperback / Kindle:

Blog Tour: Mastering Her Senses - Laura Kaye (Including Giveaway!)

Decadent… Sensual… Forbidden…

12 Masters. 12 Desires. 12 Fantasies Come to Life.

Meet the Masters of Blasphemy…

About MASTERING HER SENSES (Blasphemy #2, 2/21/17):

12 Masters. Infinite fantasies. Welcome to Blasphemy…

He wants to dominate her senses—and her heart…

Quinton Ross has always been a thrill-seeker—so it’s no surprise that he’s drawn to extremes in the bedroom and at his BDSM club, Blasphemy, where he creates sense-depriving scenarios that blow submissives’ minds. Now if he could just find one who needs the rush as much as him…

When an accident leaves Cassia Locke with a paralyzing fear of the dark, she’ll try anything to get help. Ready to fight, she knows just who to ask for help—the hard-bodied, funny-as-hell Dom she’d always crushed on—and once stood up.

Quinton is shocked and a little leery to see Cassia, but he can’t pass up the chance to dominate the alluring little sub this time. Introducing her to sensory deprivation becomes his new favorite obsession, and watching her fight fear is its own thrill. But when doubt threatens to send her running again, Quinton must find a way to master her senses—and her heart.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks

Add to your Goodreads

Laura Kaye’s MASTERING HER SENSES – Review Tour Schedule:

February 27^th

A Wonderful World of Words

bad boys and bedtime stories book blog

Books According to Abby

Naughty Girls and Their Books

Reads All the Books

S3OC

The Book Hammock

we stole your book boyfriend

February 28^th

Abibliophobia Anonymous book Reviews

Bloggin' With M.Brennan

East Coast book chicks

Feeling Fictional

Heartbeats Between Words

Knotty Girl Reviews

NightWolf Book Blog

Ripe For Reader

Romancing the Readers

SBB Reviews

The Book Boyfriend Addict

Vagabonda Reads

Wicked Babes Blog Reviews

March 1^st

Ashley Book Blog

Bookgasms Book Blog

Book Reader Chronicles

Books, Dreams,Life

Bound by Books Book Review

FMR Book Grind

Krista's Dust Jacket

Lit. 4 Ladies

Mommys naughty playground

My Girlfriends Couch

Novel Addiction

Only One More Page

Sunday, 26 February 2017

Review: F*ck Club: Riley - Shiloh Walker

"The first rule of F*ck Club...we don’t talk about it. We just do the job and get paid."

And Riley Steele did his job very well. He’ll be the first to admit that his current life isn’t the one he’d foreseen. It’s not even one he really wants, but after his parents died and he was left to care for two siblings and a mountain of debt, he was willing to do almost anything.

Now, after almost ten years of being paid to pleasure, he’s almost numb to it…and to women.

That all changes with one phone call. Brianna Sharpe, the girl he’d loved as a boy, is leaving an abusive lover and needs someplace to hide.

Opening his home to Bree is easy. Protecting his heart is a different story. She’d completely shattered it once already. But Bree has changed and Riley wants to think there might be a chance. Only...what will she do when she discovers his secrets?

F*ck Club Series:
F*ck Club: Riley
F*ck Club: Con

Visit Shiloh Walker's website for more information

Review:
Riley started working as an escort after the death of his parents so that he could afford to raise his younger siblings. He couldn't find another job that paid enough to clear the mountains of debt he'd been left with as well as send his brother and sister to college and he loved women anyway so there was no harm in it. Now his siblings are older, his money problems are behind him and he's also part owner of a successful bar he's been winding down his extracurricular job and seeing less and less clients on the side. When his ex-girlfriend Bree needs his help to escape from an abusive ex Riley immediately offers her and her young son a safe place to stay. Bree is the one who got away, the woman who he never stopped loving and now he'll do whatever it takes to keep her safe and hopefully win her back in the process. Only one thing is standing in his way - what Bree will say if she discovers his previous occupation.

Riley was such a fab character, he's very protective of his siblings and as the oldest brother he did what he had to to make sure they were able to stay together after the death of their parents. He took the weight of the world on his shoulders but never resented them for a minute and I loved how close the three of them are now as adults. Riley isn't ashamed of his past but Bree's opinion of him matters and he worries about what she will think if she finds out about his side job. Bree has had it pretty tough since she split up with Riley but he is the only man who has always been there for her and he's the one person she can turn to when her ex crosses a line she can't forgive and hurts their son. Riley never understood why Bree left him but when we learn more about her backstory it was utterly heartbreaking and it was very easy to root for the pair of them as a couple.

The one thing that put me off this story was a scene between Riley and one of his clients, he'd already decided to give up being an escort but rather than let his client down gently he decided to keep one last appointment with her. We don't get to see any of the details but it put me off that he had sex with another woman when he was about to start something with Bree, it wasn't technically cheating but it was a little close for comfort. Especially since he returns from meeting his client and immediately ends up having sex with Bree (he has to convince her to join him in the shower so he can wash the smell of the other woman away and that was just too much of a no, no for me!).

Apart from that I really enjoyed this story though and I already love Riley's brother Con and their best friend Shame. I can't wait to read both of their books so I'll definitely be continuing this series.

Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Kindle:

Saturday, 25 February 2017

Review: Martians Abroad - Carrie Vaughn

Well-known for her bestselling series Kitty Norville, Carrie Vaughn moves to science fiction with Martians Abroad, a novel with great crossover appeal. Polly Newton has one single-minded dream, to be a starship pilot and travel the galaxy. Her mother, the Director of the Mars Colony, derails Polly's plans when she sends Polly and her genius twin brother, Charles, to Galileo Academy on Earth.

Homesick and cut off from her plans for her future, Polly cannot seem to fit into life on Earth. Strange, unexplained, dangerous coincidences centered on their high-profile classmates begin piling up. Charles may be right--there's more going on than would appear, and the stakes are high. With the help of Charles, Polly is determined to find the truth, no matter the cost.

Visit Carrie Vaughn's website for more information

Review:
Polly and her twin brother Charles were born and raised on Mars, they don't really feel much of a connection to the place their ancestors originated so they're horrified when their mother announces that they're being sent to Earth to finish their education. Earth is a culture shock in so many ways, not only does the different gravity make even walking a much more difficult task than they're used to but they're also thrown in at the deep end thanks to gaps in their education and their totally different life experiences. It quickly becomes clear that the earthborn kids view off worlders as second class citizens so they're going to have their work cut out if they want to be accepted.

Martians Abroad by Carrie Vaughn wasn't quite what I expected but that's definitely not in a bad way because it was a thought provoking and enjoyable story. I thought she did a fantastic job of highlighting the how strange it would be for children raised on an inhospitable planet like Mars when they visited earth for the first time. From the way the increased gravity made it so difficult for them to carry out day to day tasks to the panic Polly felt the first time she stepped outside and suddenly realised she wasn't wearing an oxygen mask - something that would have killed her back home! There were just so many clever little ways that Polly and Charles were effected by their new surroundings and that made the story feel completely realistic and believable.

I hated the way the earth students treated those who had come from other planets but unfortunately that was incredibly easy to believe too. We've seen time and time again how humanity treats anyone they perceive as different and as horrible as that is it doesn't seem to be getting any better thanks to politicians who love to preach hate and intolerance. What I really loved was the way Polly and Charles handled their situation. Polly is the kind of girl who acts first and thinks things through later, she's impulsive and it often gets her in trouble but she's also a quick thinker and great to have by your side in an emergency. Charles is quieter and tends to plan ahead so he's usually the one trying to stop Polly doing anything too crazy and keep her out of trouble. What was interesting was the way the earth kids were so privileged and spoiled but had very little in the way of common sense, it was the off worlders who were better at problem solving because they'd had to learn things the hard way in life or death situations that the earth kids had never faced.

I don't want to go into detail about the plot but there was much more going on at their school than first meets the eye and I enjoyed seeing Polly and Charles work together to figure things out. Martians Abroad was the kind of book that you can easily devour in one sitting and I really enjoyed trying to figure out what was going on. As far as I know the story is a standalone but if Carrie Vaughn decides to revisit these characters I'll definitely be picking up any sequels.

Source: Received from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Hardback:

Friday, 24 February 2017

Review: Barbarian Lover - Ruby Dixon

As one of the few humans stranded on the ice planet, I should be happy that I have a new home. Human women are treasured here, and one alien in particular has made it clear that he wants me. It's hard to push away the sexy, flirtatious Aehako, when all I want to do is grab him by his horns and insist he take me to his furs.

But I've got a terrible secret - the aliens who abducted me are back, and thanks to the translator in my ear, they can find me. My presence here endangers everyone...but can I give up my new life and the man I want more than anything?

Ice Planet Barbarians:
Ice Planet Barbarians
Barbarian Alien
Barbarian Lover
Barbarian Mine
Ice Planet Holiday (Novella)
Barbarian's Prize
Barbarian's Mate
Having the Barbarian's Baby (Short Story)
Ice Ice Babies (Short Story)
Barbarian's Touch
Calm: Slice of Life (Short Story)
Barbarian's Taming
After Shock: Slice of Life (Short Story)
Barbarian's Heart
Barbarian's Hope
Barbarian's Choice
Barbarian's Redemption
Barbarian's Lady
Prison Planet Barbarian
Barbarian's Rescue
Barbarian's Tease
The Corsair's Captive
The Barbarian Before Christmas (Novella)

Icehome Series:
(Set in the same world as the Ice Planet Barbarians series but introducing new characters)
Lauren's Barbarian

Visit Ruby Dixon's website for more information

Review:
I really do love these hunky blue aliens (who doesn't need some alien smut in their lives sometimes?) and Aehako is my new favourite. He's just such a funny, easy going guy who doesn't take himself too seriously. I wasn't so sure about pairing him up with Kira at first, she's always been the most standoffish of the women and I was worried she'd bring Aehako down, but they ended up working really well together.

I liked Kira a lot more than I expected to when I learned about her backstory and it was pretty heartbreaking that she was expecting to be rejected by the clan when they found out that she can't have children. Aehako has been drawn to Kira from the moment he saw her, he doesn't care that they haven't resonated for each other because he's convinced that she's the only woman for him and he's determined to prove it to her. Kira is more reluctant though, what if she gives Aehako her heart and then he resonates for someone else in a few months or years time and abandons her? I loved Aehako's reaction when he realises that Kira can't have children and that's whats holding her back, he doesn't care if that means they'll never have kids of their own he just wants Kira to be his.

My favourite moment was when Aehako presents Kira with a courting gift. Only Liz would manage to convince an alien that it's traditional for human men to present the women they're interested in with a carved replica of their own penis and only Aehako would see the funny side of her playing that trick on him. His reaction was just priceless and I laughed out loud throughout that whole scene. It just showed how sweet and funny Aehako is.

This story isn't all about the romance though, there is also a bit more action thanks to the return of the aliens who originally kidnapped the women and brought them to Not-Hoth. Kira still has the translator implant in her ear that they gave her on the ship and she can hear that they have retuned and are searching for them. She's worried that the translator will have a locator chip that will allow them to find her and she's terrified about leading the aliens to the rest of the group so she decides to go off alone and confront her enemies. Of course Aehako isn't going to let her leave without him but with only primitive weapons they're no match for the other aliens so it's going to take all of Kira's smarts to figure out a way to defeat them.

Barbarian Lover was definitely my favourite book in the series so far. I do have one complaint about something that happened to Kira right towards the end of the book but I can't really talk about it without giving spoilers, it was something I had guessed pretty early on would happen but I was disappointed when I was proved correct. I just don't think it sent the right message to other women out there who can't have children (or don't want them) and I would have loved this book even more if Ruby Dixon hadn't taken the obvious route to give this couple their HEA. It's a fairly minor niggle in the grand scheme of things though and I'm still really looking forward to continuing the series.

Source: Purchased

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Paperback / Kindle:

Thursday, 23 February 2017

Review: Caraval Stephanie Garber

Welcome to Caraval, where nothing is quite what it seems.

Scarlett has never left the tiny isle of Trisda, pining from afar for the wonder of Caraval, a once-a-year week-long performance where the audience participates in the show.

Caraval is Magic. Mystery. Adventure. And for Scarlett and her beloved sister Tella it represents freedom and an escape from their ruthless, abusive father.

When the sisters' long-awaited invitations to Caraval finally arrive, it seems their dreams have come true. But no sooner have they arrived than Tella vanishes, kidnapped by the show's mastermind organiser, Legend.

Scarlett has been told that everything that happens during Caraval is only an elaborate performance. But nonetheless she quickly becomes enmeshed in a dangerous game of love, magic and heartbreak. And real or not, she must find Tella before the game is over, and her sister disappears forever.

A mesmerising, magical and stunningly imaginative debut novel for anyone who loved The Night Circus.

The hardback will have FOUR secret hidden-on-the-board covers featuring stunning foiled illustrations. The one you receive will be random, but all are jaw-droppingly beautiful.

Caraval Series:
Caraval
Legendary
Finale (2019)

Visit Stephanie Garber's website for more information

Review:
It's always makes me nervous when books receive the amount of hype that Caraval did, my expectations are raised sky high and that can be hard for any book to live up to so it often ends in disappointment, especially when you compare a book to two of my favourites - The Daughter of Smoke and Bone and The Night Circus! Thankfully in this case Stephanie Garber's debut more than lives up to it's reputation though and I was captivated from the very first page.

Scarlet and Tella's father has gone from overprotective to downright abusive since their mother's disappearance and the girls are desperate to escape his clutches. For years Scarlet has been trying to get them tickets to Caraval, an exclusive performance of magic and mystery held once a year and offering one lucky winner the chance at a price of a lifetime. She had hoped to use that prize to win their freedom but after getting no response to her letters from Caraval's Master Legend Scarlet has found another way to escape - an arranged marriage to a stranger. Then just days before her wedding the sisters receive the tickets they've always wished for but will Scarlet be brave enough to risk her future happiness for a game that she has very little chance of winning.

I honestly don't know if I can do this book justice, especially when I want to go into as little detail as possible about what happens after the girls arrive at Caraval. This is the kind of story that it's best to go into without knowing what to expect, you'll have a lot more fun with it if you just let things unfold as you're reading. Scarlet is repeatedly told that Caraval is only a game and that nothing is quite what it seems but it's very hard not to get sucked into the events that play out around her, especially when Tella is missing and it's up to Scarlet to find her. Stephanie Garber throws twist after twist at her readers and I loved experiencing everything through Scarlet's eyes and seeing how much she grew over the course of the book.

Scarlet and her sister are complete opposites but they both try to protect each other in the best way they know how. Scarlet is the shy sister, the one who overthinks things and tries to plan ahead for every possible outcome, she's less of a risk taker but she's very, very protective of Tella. On the other hand Tella is much more impulsive, she lives for the moment and doesn't worry about the future when there is fun to be had in the present. She wants to escape their father just as much as Scarlet does but she wants to have her freedom rather than finding another safety net. They have very different ways of looking at life but it's obvious that they care about each other deeply and that sisterly love shines through in a lot of different ways. I found Scarlet much easier to relate to and very easy to root for while Tella could come across as a little selfish and rash. One of my favourite characters was Julian though, he's very much a mystery for most of the book and he's keeping some pretty major secrets but I loved the way he brought out Scarlet's more adventurous side and how he was always there to help her. The romance that develops between them was sweet and even though it happened over a fairly short time period it never felt rushed.

Caraval contains a bit of everything from action and romance through to magic and mystery. The island is like a huge playground for adults where every dream can come true but so can every nightmare, anything you could wish for is there for the taking but you have to be very careful you don't end up bargaining away something you can't live without. I was completely captivated by Stephanie Garber's beautiful writing, the story is very cinematic and it's easy to picture events unfolding in front of you so it's no surprise that movie rights have already been optioned. I would absolutely love to see this on the big screen so I'm really hoping that the movie will go ahead. This was a fabulous debut and I'm already looking forward to reading the sequel, Stephanie Garber is definitely an author to watch out for.

Source: Received from Hodder & Stoughton in exchange for an honest review

Other reviews of this book:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Hardback / Paperback / Kindle:

Wednesday, 22 February 2017

Review: Hopcross Jilly - Patricia Briggs, Rik Hoskin & Tom Garcia

Mercy is a shapeshifting coyote and honorary member of the Tri-Cities werewolf pack. When the pack stumbles upon the buried bones of numerous dead children, she shapeshifts into a mystery of the legendary fae - a mystery that draws Mercy's stepdaughter Jesse into the fray!

The supernatural romance series Mercy Thompson continues in this all-new, original story by New York Times bestselling author, Patricia Briggs, exclusively created for the comic book medium!

Collects the six-issue Mercy Thompson comic book series from 2014-2015, a story set in official continuity.

Mercy Thompson Series:
Homecoming (Graphic Novel)
Moon Called
Blood Bound
Iron Kissed
Bone Crossed
Silver Borne
River Marked
Frost Burned
Hopcross Jilly (Graphic Novel)
Night Broken
Shifting Shadows: Stories from the World of Mercy Thompson
Fire Touched
Silence Fallen

Alpha and Omega Series:
(This is a spin off to the Mercy Thompson series)
Alpha and Omega (novella found in the On the Prowl anthology)
Cry Wolf
Hunting Ground
Fair Game
Dead Heat
Burn Bright

Visit Patricia Briggs' website for more information

Review:
Hopcross Jilly is the second Mercy Thompson graphic novel I've read and I have to say I think I liked it more than the first one. The characters still aren't exactly how I pictured them but I don't think any artist would be able to get this perfectly right for every fan out there so that's not a real issue. The main thing is that the characters are easily recognisable and the artwork is much more consistent here than it was in Homecoming. If you're wondering where this story fits into the series time line it's between Frost Burned and Night Broken (and just after events in Dead Heat if you're reading the world order including the Alpha & Omega books - which I'd HIGHLY recommend you do!) so it may contain spoilers if you're not at least that far into the series.

Just in case you'd like to get an idea of what the main characters look like in Hopcross Jilly here are Mercy, Adam and Jesse.

This is a story about missing children and it gives us a chance to spend some time with Adam's daughter Jesse which I really enjoyed. I really hate that she is treated so badly at school just because her dad is a werewolf but considering how ruthless teenagers (and humans in general if we're honest!) can be towards anyone different I didn't find that at all surprising. When Adam's pack finds a bunch of very old skeletons and then children start to go missing they immediately become suspects in the eyes of the public and Jesse becomes a convenient target for the missing teenager's friends. Fear and ignorance is never a good combination and we see that in spades here.

Things have definitely got interesting in the series since the fae decided to stop hiding how dangerous they are, especially since they seem to be deliberately letting the worst of their kind out of the reservations with the sole purpose of reminding humanity that they are a force to be reckoned with. I hope that means we're going to see lots more interesting fae creatures from here onwards.

I think the graphic novel format worked really well to tell this story, it doesn't give the same depth of characterisation as a normal book but now we're at a point where we know the main players so well it was fun to see them in a more visual manner. I absolutely love this series though and will happily devour as many stories as Patricia Briggs can write no matter what format they come in!

Source: Received from publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Hardback / Kindle:

Tuesday, 21 February 2017

Spotlight: Mastering Her Senses - Laura Kaye

Decadent… Sensual… Forbidden…

12 Masters. 12 Desires. 12 Fantasies Come to Life.

Meet the Masters of Blasphemy…

About MASTERING HER SENSES (Blasphemy #2, 2/21/17):

12 Masters. Infinite fantasies. Welcome to Blasphemy…

He wants to dominate her senses—and her heart…

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks

Add to your Goodreads

Excerpt:

Taking Cassia’s hand, Quinton guided her to the locker room, then through it to one of the private Jacuzzis. It sat flush with the floor and had tiled steps down into the shallow tub. He adjusted a few knobs, and the bubbling water came to life. He turned to her. “After what happened earlier, I’ll completely understand if you prefer to do something else. I just want to make you feel good. So, no blindfolds and no darkness, just pleasure. Do you feel up to that?”

“I think that sounds incredible,” she said. “I love hot tubs.”

Brave woman, once again. “Well, all right, then. Go ahead and get in. I need to make one further arrangement.” When she slipped into the water, he stepped out of the room and called the club’s food service to order a tray of refreshments for them to share. “How’s the water?” he asked when he returned.

“Ah-mazing,” she said, submerged almost to her chin with her head resting against the curved tile.

“Good.” He unbuttoned his jeans and shoved them down over his hips.

Cassia’s mouth dropped open.

Quinton grinned, and tugged the denim all the way off until he stood before her naked as the day he came into this crazy world. “Damn, girl, you know how to make a man feel ten feet tall.”

Her lips snapped shut. “I, uh…”

“Don’t pick up your jaw on my account. I mean…” He waded into the water.

She rolled her eyes. “My jaw did not drop.”

“Oh, Cassia. Did you just roll your eyes at me, little one?” He moved until he stood right in front of her. The water bubbled just below his hips, leaving his half-erect cock exposed and nearly at her eye level.

A fast shake of her head as her eyes went wide.

“No? You didn’t just roll your eyes at me?” He donned a well-practiced stern expression and affected an ice-cold stare, even though Quinton was totally enjoying himself. “Because I know I was quite clear on what the consequences would be if you did.”

“I’m sorry, Sir,” she said, holding up her hands. “I won’t do it again.”

“Sit on the edge of the tub, Cassia.”

“Sir—”

“Now.”

Slowly, she complied. And he enjoyed every goddamned second of the water sluicing off her body. Over her breasts, her nipples, the curve of her belly. Lower…

“Feet up on the edge next to you. Legs open.” He arched a brow.

Releasing a shaky breath, she got into position, and fuck if she wasn’t a vision. Pussy open to his view. Rivulets of water running over her skin. A flush in her face and anticipation in her eyes.

“Wider,” he said.

She let her knees fall to the sides.

“Just like that.” Without another word, he sank in the water to his knees right between her thighs and cupped her ass in his hands. “Now, don’t move a muscle.”

Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Books in Series:

Hard to Serve #.5

Bound to Submit #1

Mastering Her Senses #2 – 2/21/17

Eyes on You #3 – 7/11/17

Join the MASTERING HER SENSES Facebook Party on February 21st!

JOIN THE PARTY HERE!

Monday, 20 February 2017

Review: Dawn Study - Maria V. Snyder

The exhilarating conclusion to the Chronicles of Ixia series

Despite the odds, former poison taster Yelena and warrior Valek have forged an irrevocable bond - and a family - that transcends borders. Now, when their two homelands stand on the bring of war, they must fight with magic and cunning to thwart an Ixia plot to invade Sitia.

Yelena seeks to break the hold of an insidious evil that could force her to make a dangerous deal whilst Valek peels back the layers of another dark betrayal. At its rotten core lies a powerful sorcerer . . . and his latest discovery - that the fate of all rests upon two unlikely weapons.

One may turn the tide.

The other could spell the end of everything . . .

The Chronicles of Ixia:
Poison Study
Assassin Study (Short Story)
Magic Study
Fire Study
Power Study (Short Story)
Ice Study (Short Story)
Storm Glass
Sea Glass
Spy Glass
Shadow Study
Night Study
Shattered Glass (Novella)
Dawn Study

Visit Maria V. Snyder's website for more information

Review:
I fell in love with Yelena and Valek in Poison Study and have been a devoted fan of this series ever since then. Maria V. Snyder has created such a wonderful world along with so many favourite characters and I just devour each new instalment so I'm pretty heartbroken that Dawn Study is the final book. If you're going to end a series then it has to be on a high note though and she has definitely achieved that goal here. This book was action packed from beginning to end, we get a chance to catch up with all our favourite characters (old and new) and I don't think there could have been a more fitting end to the series.

This is the conclusion we've been building up to, the final showdown between Yelena and her herd and their longstanding enemies, and it was well worth the wait. Owen Moon thinks he has everything planned down to the tiniest detail, he has the Commander brainwashed, the Master Magicians and the Sitian Council are under his control and he is about to start a war between Ixia and Sitia to destroy the magicians once and for all. Unfortunately for him Yelena, Valek and their allies are determined to stop him at any cost. They're short on manpower, they're up against weapons they have no idea how to counter and they are still trying to figure out all of Owen's backup plans but they're fighting for their lives and they're aiming to win no matter what it costs them.

I'm not going to say anymore about the plot but just when you think you have everything figured out Maria V Snyder throws another curveball to change the game completely. Our team are hit with one thing after another and the danger has never been greater so it's genuinely an edge of the seat read that leaves you praying everyone you love will make it to the end. If I have one complaint it's that I'd have liked a longer epilogue but that's only because I'm not ready to say goodbye to these characters and I wanted to spend more time with everyone, not because the book actually needed any more. I can't help it, I'm greedy when it comes to this world! In reality I actually think the author was right to end Yelena and Valek's story here, it's about time they found some peace and are able to focus on themselves and their growing family.

That doesn't mean I'm not hoping for more in the future though, I'd be happy to read extra stories about ANY of the characters in this world but what I'm really keeping my fingers crossed for is a spin off set a few years down the line starring some of the younger characters. I'd love to see more of Reema and Teegan as they grow into their powers and just imagine how much they could achieve if you had them working alongside Fisk and his helping hands or Valek's younger siblings. Onora would be another interesting character to follow and I'd be happy to spend more time with Ari and Janco too. There are so many options for expanding this world and of course if we could get a glimpse into Yelena and Valek's future too that would just make things even sweeter.

This is without a doubt one of my favourite series and it's one I can't recommend highly enough. It has been excellent from beginning to end and Maria V Snyder continues to be an auto-buy author for me so no matter what she decides to write next I'll definitely be reading it.

Source: Received from Mira Ink in exchange for an honest review

Other Reviews:
Blackplume
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Paperback / Kindle:

Tuesday, 14 February 2017

Review: Chester 5000-XYV: Isabelle and George - Jess Fink

1889: an age of industrial revolution and sexual frustration. Isabelle is a lonely orphan, reprimanded at every turn by her strict matron. George is an inventor on the cusp of a brilliant discovery. Together they find love, but in an age of violent mechanization and military secrets, can their passion survive?

After the smash success of CHESTER 5000’s first volume (the tale of a Victorian woman and her robot lover), beloved webcartoonist Jess Fink returns with another triumphant story of boundary-breaking love, sex, and technology. Discover the origins of your favorite characters along with all-new thrills. All the drama and adventure of the silent film era is here, enlivened with modern whimsy and erotic charm.

Chester 5000 Series:
Chester 5000-XYV
Chester 5000-XYV: Isabelle and George

Visit Jess Fink's website for more information

Review:
If you enjoyed the first book in this series then you're bound to love this one just as much if not more. Once again you can read it completely for free on Jess Fink's website but there is also a print edition releasing on the 14th of February. This story actually starts before the first book begins but I would definitely recommend reading them in order because it spans a much larger length of time and continues beyond the end of Chester 5000-XYV.

We already met Isabelle in the first book but this story allows us to get to know her and her husband George much better from how they met and married through to when Isabelle was introduced in the first book. I have to say I like George a LOT more than I liked Robert but we actually get the chance to see more of Robert here too and he wasn't as bad as I initially thought he was. We get to see just why he became so work obsessed and started neglecting Priscilla and that made him an easier character to like.

As with the first book Chester 5000-YXV: Isabelle and George is written completely without dialogue so it's impressive how well you are able to connect with all of the characters and understand what motivates them without them ever speaking. The artwork was just as impressive and I think this had more of an actual story than the first book. That's not to say there isn't sex in here (in fact I think it's a little more risqué this time around!) but there were other things going on too which is probably what held my interest enough to read both books in one sitting. I hope that this isn't the last we've seen of these characters, the web comic hasn't been updated in a year but the book is only just being released in print so perhaps there is still more to come.

Source: Read for free online at Jess Fink's website

Other Reviews:
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Hardback:

Monday, 13 February 2017

Cover Reveal: Exiled - Amanda Carlson

I love Amanda Carlson's Phoebe Meadows' series so I'm thrilled to be taking part in the cover reveal for the third book in the series, Exiled, today. I also have a giveaway for the first book in the series, Struck, so that'll give someone the perfect chance to catch up before the new book releases!

First though let's have a look at the stunning cover for Exiled!

About Exiled:

Phoebe Meadows is on trial for her life.

After freeing her half-brother, Baldur, Phoebe is set to stand before the Council in Asgard to answer for her actions. The threat of exile if she’s found guilty looms, not to mention the added stress of meeting her real father for the first time.

Upon entering Asgard, Phoebe discovers new allies in a half-brother she’s never met as well as an oracle who is in possession of valuable information. A little added help couldn’t have come at a better time, because when Phoebe is tossed into an unknown realm, she’s armed only with Gundren, a jewel, and her wits.

When Loki shows up, all bets are off. The trickster god throws a wrench in Phoebe’s plans and kidnaps Fen, her only ally. And just when she thinks she sees the light at the end of the tunnel, Phoebe finds she has to defeat one last obstacle: The Norns.

And they aren't planning to go down without a fight…

About Amanda Carlson:

I’m a Minnesota girl, born and bred. I started writing stories about teenage girls and their social missteps when I was in high school. I still have the handwritten spiral notebooks to prove it.

I started writing FULL BLOODED because kickass heroines rock and I love shifters of all kinds. There aren’t enough warm-blooded girls to go around, in my opinion. I fell into Jessica’s story and had such a great time writing it and now I couldn’t imagine writing anything other than urban fantasy and paranormal romance. When you’re creating a story in this fantastic genre, it can contain almost any elements you can dream up. Creatively, for me, there’s nothing better.

Amanda is a graduate of the University of Minnesota, with a BA in both Speech and Hearing Science & Child Development. She went on to get an A.A.S in Sign Language Interpreting and worked as an interpreter until her first child was born. She lives in Minneapolis with her husband and three kids.

Website: http://www.amandacarlson.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/authoramandacarlson
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/amandaccarlson
Instagram: http://instagram.com/author_amanda

Giveaway:

I'm giving away 1 digital copy of Struck by Amanda Carlson (winner can choose between epub or mobi format). You can enter the giveaway using the rafflecopter form below, giveaway closes on the 21st of February and the winner will be contacted soon afterwards.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sunday, 12 February 2017

Review: Incredibuilds: Harry Potter: House-Elves: Deluxe Book and Model Set - Jody Revenson

House-Elves are some of the most beloved magical beings of the wizarding world. With a special focus on Harry Potter's friend Dobby, this book provides a thrilling behind-the-scenes look at how the house-elves were brought to life for the Harry Potter films, from early designs to film-making secrets. This deluxe book and model set includes everything you need to create your own wooden Dobby model. Features easy-to-assemble laser-cut wood pieces, step-by-step instructions, colouring and crafting ideas, and a character guide book featuring interviews from cast and crew of the Harry Potter films, plus film-making and special effects secrets.

Harry Potter Series:
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone: Illustrated Edition (Illustrated by Jim Kay)
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone: 20th Anniversary House Editions
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets: Illustrated Edition (Illustrated by Jim Kay)
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban: Illustrated Edition (Illustrated by Jim Kay)
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire: Illustrated Edition (Illustrated by Jim Kay)
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Play Script written with John Tiffany & Jack Thorne)

Pottermore Presents:
Short Stories from Hogwarts of Heroism, Hardship and Dangerous Hobbies (Short Story Collection)
Short Stories from Hogwarts of Power, Politics and Pesky Poltergeists (Short Story Collection)
Hogwarts: An Incomplete and Unreliable Guide (Short Story Collection)

Incredibuilds:
IncrediBuilds: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: Erumpent (Deluxe Book and Model Set)
IncrediBuilds: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: Niffler (Deluxe Book and Model Set)
IncrediBuilds: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: Swooping Evil (Deluxe Book and Model Set)
IncrediBuilds: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: Thunderbird (Deluxe Book and Model Set)
IncrediBuilds: Harry Potter: Aragog (Deluxe Book and Model Set)
Incredibuilds: Harry Potter: Buckbeak (Deluxe Book and Model Set)
IncrediBuilds: Harry Potter: Hedwig (Deluxe Book and Model Set)
Incredibuilds: Harry Potter: Hogwarts Express (Deluxe Book and Model Set)
Incredibuilds: Harry Potter: House-Elves (Deluxe Book and Model Set)
Incredibuilds: Harry Potter: Quidditch (Deluxe Book and Model Set)
IncrediBuilds: Harry Potter: Sorting Hat (Deluxe Book and Model Set)
IncrediBuilds: Harry Potter: Stag Patronus (Deluxe Book and Model Set)
Incredibuilds: Harry Potter: Thestral (Deluxe Book and Model Set)

Other Harry Potter Books & Products:
Funko Pop 2019 Harry Potter Advent Calendar
Harry Potter: A Pop-Up Guide to Hogwarts - Matthew Reinhart
Harry Potter - Creatures: A Paper Scene Book
Harry Potter Hedwig Owl Kit and Sticker Book (Model & Sticker Book)
Harry Potter: Magical Film Projections: Patronus Charm (Activity Book)
Harry Potter Talking Sorting Hat and Sticker Book: Which House Are You? (Model & Sticker Book)
Harry Potter: The Character Vault - Jody Revenson
Harry Potter: The Marauder's Map Guide to Hogwarts - Erinn Pascal (Activity Book)
Harry Potter: Winter at Hogwarts: A Magical Colouring Set (Colouring Book, Gift Tags & a build your own 3D Firebolt in a Keepsake Box)
J.K. Rowling's Wizarding World: Magical Film Projections: Creatures (Activity Book)
Metal Earth: Harry Potter Gringotts Dragon (3D Puzzle)
Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter: The Official Guide

Visit J.K. Rowling's website or the Pottermore website for more information

Review:
I've been wanting to buy one of the Incredibuilds Harry Potter model kits ever since I built the Firebolt from the Winter at Hogwarts box set so when I spotted a copy of this at a good price I couldn't resist. The set comes with a small (in page numbers rather than in size) hardback book that's full of fun facts about some of the House Elves from the Harry Potter books and movies. Obviously Dobby is the star House Elf of the series but there is some information about Winky (who never made it into the movies) & Kreacher too.

See pictures of some of the artist sketches created when they were trying to decide what Dobby looked like, learn about how the Dobby you see on screen was the first fully computer-generated character in the Harry Potter series (they used tennis balls on sticks as place holders for the actors to interact with during filming!). Although he was a CGI character they still created several life sized models of him to help with placement on set but the only time one of them appears in the movie is during Dobby's final heartbreaking scene. This booklet is only about 40 pages but it's packed full of fun facts and I really enjoyed flicking through it.

Of course the main thing about these Incredibuild sets are the models though. You'll receive a laser cut sheet of wood (whatever you do don't pop out all the pieces before you get started - remove them as you need them so you can easily find the pieces you're looking for!) and an instruction sheet. All of the pieces are numbered and they're very easy to pop out, just follow the simple instructions and slot the pieces together and before you know it you'll have a finished model of Dobby.

You'll find tips on decorating your model inside the main hardback (rather than in the separate instruction sheet which seems a little illogical to me!). To be honest it would probably be easier to paint the pieces before you slot them all together but since I made the model before looking at the book I didn't figure that out until it was too late. I actually quite like my model as it is though so I'm not planning on decorating it further at this time.

Dobby stands about 15cm high and 8cm wide from elbow to elbow, he's very steady on his feet so you don't need to worry about him tipping over and I think he'll make a lovely addition to anyone's Harry Potter collection. I can't wait to make more of these (I've already ordered the Buckbeak and Golden Snitch versions!).

Source: Purchased

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