Act Like You Love Me
(Accidentally In Love, #2)
By: Cindi Madsen
Publisher: Bliss
Published: June 10, 2013
Genre: Romance
Rating:
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What would you do for a second chance with your first crush?
Brynn
McAdams isn’t the awkward drama geek she was in high school—she’s grown
up and confident, or at least she likes to think so. But when her old
crush, the impossibly handsome and impossibly unattainable Sawyer
Raines, comes back to town to direct her community play, Brynn finds
herself determined to be someone other than the girl he doesn’t even
recognize. Good thing she’s an excellent actress.
After his bad
breakup in NYC, the last thing Sawyer wants is to get involved with
another actress. But the glamorous and beautiful Brynn draws him in,
even though as her director, he knows she’s off-limits. There’s just
something about the woman that feels…familiar. Like home.
As
Brynn’s lies start to snowball, she struggles to stop acting and come
clean. But what if Sawyer is already falling for the fake Brynn, not the
Brynn she truly is?
We've
all had a crush on someone in our life and Brynn is no exception. She
was awkward in her high school days and of course found herself crushing
on the football player who didn't even look her way. So when she
finally got the nerve to talk to him and ask him to prom she's crushed
when he blows her off. Almost a decade later and not only is Sawyer back
in town but he's now the director of the play she's in. He has no idea
who she is and not wanting to be that girl anymore she decides to
pretend to be someone else. Pretty soon Brynn finds herself caught in
her web of lies.
I really liked Falling For Her Fiancee and was
really excited to start this one but I wasn't able to fully immerse
myself in the story. I found Brynn's character really immature. Instead
of confessing who she is, she plays along that she's some actress from
Los Angeles. She then decides to practice her flirting on Sawyer.
Meanwhile, she's cursing him in her head for the way he ignored her in
high school. I just felt like she held her grudge against him a bit too
long. Not only that but she ran so hot and cold when it came to him that
I just couldn't keep track.
I did like Sawyer's character
though. It wasn't that he was outright rude to Brynn as a teen. He just
didn't pay her any mind. At the time his father was dying and he was
dealing with a lot of stuff at home that he sort of wasn't really that
into all the high school stuff.
I liked that they lived in a
small town. So everyone knows everyone. It was hard for Brynn to keep
her secret around Sawyer but somehow she managed to keep her real life
separate. If Brynn didn't hold such a grudge against Sawyer throughout
the entire book, I think I would've enjoyed this story a bit much but I
just wasn't a fan of the main character.
"Guys are like fish. You wave something shiny at them and then once you get your hook in, you yank real hard and reel him in."
Cindi Madsen sits at her computer every chance she gets, plotting
revising, and falling in love with her characters. Sometimes it makes
her a crazy person. Without it, she’d be even crazier. She has way too
many shoes, but can always find a reason to buy a new pretty pair,
especially if they’re sparkly, colorful, or super tall. She loves music,
dancing, and wishes summer lasted all year long. She lives in Colorado
(where summer is most definitely NOT all year long) with her husband and
three children.
Previous reviews from Accidentally In Love
Falling For Her Fiance
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The Flesh Cartel
(Season 2 : Fragmentation)
By: Rachel Haimowitz & Heidi Belleau
Publisher: Riptide Publishing
Published: Jan. 7, 2013
Genre: Horror Erotica
Rating:
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Nikolai Petrovic is a man of refinement. He collects fine art, enjoys
gourmet cuisine, and trains boutique sex slaves for some of the
wealthiest—and most morally dubious—men and women in the world.
Charged
by a wealthy client to buy a man to train but not break—to shape into a
skilled, obedient slave who will yield with hatred rather than love in
his eyes—Nikolai finds the perfect raw material in Mathias Carmichael.
But there’s a problem: he was auctioned off in a lot with his beautiful
younger brother.
Douglas Carmichael is a lovely, trainable thing,
but Nikolai never takes on more than one slave at a time. As a master
trainer who’s never once failed in his task, he knows he’s up to the
challenge, but it will take formidable skill and planning to mold these
drastically different brothers into their best selves. And in order to
make them obedient to Nikolai and their future masters above all others,
he’ll first have to break their greatest loyalty of all: their
dedication to each other.
Episode #3: Choices
This is such a heart
wrenching story. Luckily the brothers get somewhat of a break in this
one (if you can even call it that). Their new Master is Nikolai, and he
kind of refurbishes the slaves he buys and molds them into what a
potential buyer would like. So unlike the brutal men who raped Mat and
Dougie, this man is all about training. His goal is to beat them down
and then reshape them into the perfect slaves for their owners.
Poor
poor Mat. Due to his fighters pride, he always seems to get the most
brutal attention. Nikolai is no exception. He plans to condition Mat to
keep his fighting spirit but to still be subservient to his Master,
which is proving to be a difficult task. Mat is shot up with drugs that
make his nervous system go haywire anytime he does something that
dissatisfies Nikolai. Meanwhile Dougie is isolated at treated like a
baby bird. He's cherished by Nikolai and is given a tender hand by him.
But of course, one wrong misstep on Dougie's part will come with
ramifications and he soon learns to make sure Nikolai is happy with him.
Episode #4: Consequences
The brother's are learning
their roles and realizing what Nikolai wants from them. Dougie is
turning out to be quite the little slave while Mat still fights against
Nikolai every chance he gets. However, Mat knows that escaping is a lost
cause and by not pissing Nikolai off too much, he doesn't have to get
injected with that horrible drug again. He'd do anything to keep that
from happening to both himself and his brother.
I thought it was
interesting the way Nikolai treated each of the brothers. He's
gentle with Dougie but the second Dougie does something that displeases
him, he is quick with a punishment but then turns around and comforts
him. However, with Mat, he's amused by the fight in him. He doesn't
coddle him or even try to show compassion towards him like he does
with Dougie. He seems almost, more real with Mat. He buys Mat all this
workout equipment to give him something to do and focus on. Nikolai is a
very complex character. He adapts himself based off of the brother that
he's dealing with. However, regardless of how he treats the brothers,
it's clear that he favors Dougie and is showing interest in keeping him
for himself.
Gosh, this was another great episode to the story.
It wasn't as horrific as the first season was but that could also be
because I knew what to expect this time around. I've never read a story
before that had me so shocked and disgusted the entire time but still
managed to keep me from putting the book down. It's like driving by an
accident on the road. We've all done it, rubbernecked to see all the
horrible details, this story is no exception.
"That's
what he was, wasn't he- what he's always been. The big brother. The
protector. That's what he would live for. Because obviously this whole
mess was bigger than him and Dougie. Was huge. Frighteningly organized-
he ran gentle fingers over his forearm, where the microchip sat just
beneath his skin- and nationwide at least. Maybe worldwide at least. So
he'd live, Dougie or no Dougie, to get out of here. To help everyone
else stuck in hellholes like this one and like Madame's to get out too.
He'd be the fighter Nikolai wanted him to be. Except secretly, he'd be
fighting for his own cause."
Waffles
Fun recipes for every meal
By: Tara Duggan
Publisher: Weldon Owen
Published: March 13, 2012
Genre: Cookbook
Rating:
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A collection of 40
recipes that show waffles can be part of any meal. With classic as well
as creative options, such as chicken & waffles, waffle sandwiches,
and waffle sundaes, this new, beautifully designed and deliciously
photographed title proves that waffles aren’t just for breakfast
anymore.Who can resist the aroma of freshly baked waffles in the
morning? Watching with anticipation as thick pats of butter melt into
the indentations, before pouring sticky-sweet maple syrup over the top?
Or the moment your fork sinks into a stack of waffles, dripping with
goodness, and you taste the first bite? With this book, you can
re-create these delicious moments and dozens more.
Breakfast
isn’t the only time to make good use of your waffle iron. With the
recipes to prove it, this book shows just how easy it is to serve
waffles for brunch, lunch, dinner—even dessert. Savory waffle sandwiches
for a midday meal are a unique spin on classics like PB&J and BLTs.
Or, try waffles studded with cheese and spinach or sweet corn and
roasted red peppers for dinner. And for dessert, satisfy your sweet
tooth with decadent chocolate or fruit-filled waffles topped with scoops
of ice cream, toasted nuts, and more. The possibilities are endless.
Each
recipe includes easy instructions for standard or Belgian waffle
makers; some can even be made in a stove top Hong Kong–style waffle
maker with delicious results. Filled with tempting full-color
photography and lots of batters and toppings to mix and match, you’ll
have plenty of inspiration for every occasion.
I'm a huge waffle fan. There's just something about those pockets that hold your syrup perfectly that I just love. I would even make brownies in my waffle maker. So when I saw this book was available on NetGalley for review I was quick to jump on it. I mean, I hadn't really tried a lot of waffle combinations and I was really looking forward to trying a bunch of new recipes.
Unfortunetly this book didn't have the crazy combinations that I was hoping for. For instance the Smore's recipe was just a plain waffle with chocolate chips and marshmallows on top. I was thinking something different. There were a few interesting recipes that had lettuce on top, so it did have a few creative recipes.
I liked that there were full size pictures to go along with some of the recipes. I'm a very visual person, so whenever a cookbook has pictures, it gets two thumbs up from me.
I did get a chance to try a couple of the recipes. One of which was the cranberry ginger orange waffle. That one was really good. You got the sweet orange taste when you bit into a cranberry and the ginger really helped balance everything out. I think this was my favorite recipe from the book.
I also tried the lemon poppy seed which tasted like the muffins but in waffle form. I wasn't overly sure if maple syrup would go with it so instead I spread some butter on it and sprinkled it with powdered sugar.
The recipes that I tried turned out delicious and I wish I had had more time to try more. If you are looking for recipes for your waffle iron this is a good book to get since it goes over the basic waffle recipe and then adds some variations to it. However, if you're like me and are looking for some whacky waffle recipes that aren't your usual maple syrup and fork variety, then this may not be the book for you. Like I said, it's got a lot of good recipes but I was looking for something a bit more out there.
Rapture's Edge
(Night Prowler, #3)
By: J.T. Geissinger
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Release Date: June 18, 2013
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Rating:
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SECRETS…In the hidden
world that exists beside our own, a mirror world of ancient magic and
elegant deceptions, a world of people who are so much more than they
first appear, a war is brewing. Most of these Gifted people—the Ikati, a
savage, sensual race of lethal predators—are content to hide behind
human smiles, disguising their splendor in order to survive. But others
are discontent. And they will hide no longer.
BETRAYALS…Eliana
lives for two things only: vengeance on the man who killed her father
and seeing her father’s dream of living in the open with humans come to
pass. But that dream is far too dangerous for The Hunt, a group of elite
Ikati assassins with one objective: eliminate her before she can expose
their secrets to the world.
SEDUCTION…Demetrius is haunted by
the memory of the woman he once loved. He will risk everything to save
her from the killers on her tail…and convince her, before the ancient
walls between two worlds crumble, that only together can they defeat
their real enemy, a brilliant, cunning traitor far more deadly than
either of them can guess.
3
Years after Edge of Oblivion, Princess Eliana is in hiding with her
people. She's no longer the naive little girl that we first met, okay
well maybe she's still a little naive. She's hardened herself to the
world and has become quite the skilled fighter. She earns money for her
colony by fighting in rings and stealing priceless artifacts and she's
quite good at it too. Only, there is an unknown organization who have
been secretly monitoring her and it isn't until her latest heist that
they finally catch her in the act. They know that she's not human but
with a little bit of testing, they are hopeful that they can figure out
exactly what she is.
Demetrius has been searching for Eliana
since she ran away with her people 3 years ago. He has never forgotten
the young princess who stole his heart but she thinks that he killed her
father and has pretty much disappeared on him. However, one day while
out, the news is broadcasting that the infamous thief has been captured
and it's none other than his princess. He knows that with her face being
broadcasted all over that The Hunt, assassins who carry out any
punishment for all ikati, now know where their target is and will be on
their way to her. D only hopes that he can get to her before they do
because if not, the Hunt will surely kill her for her father's sins.
In
Edge of Oblivion I really liked these two characters. After all,
Demetrius was the king's security detail and Eliana was the princess.
However, for the first 100 pages the two of them don't even meet up. We
read about how the two have been doing over the past 3 years and how
they've been suffering. Once they do get together there seems to always
be something tearing them apart. With the way these two characters were
before, I was expecting more romance but there just wasn't much of that
in this story.
I liked that the author wrote the characters in a
way that the reader never forgets that the main characters are not
human. Just by the way they move and their transformations to mist and
panther. There was one scene in the book where Demetrius becomes mist
and uses the air current to take him over the English Channel. At no
point did I forget how lethal and foreign these characters were.
"Demetrius looked down at her with such savage fury in his
expression it froze her in place like a mouse staring into the jaws of a
snake. He crouched as if to spring, but then his head snapped up, his
eyes focused on something behind her, and a hair-raising growl rumbled
through his chest."
Eliana has grown so much since we last saw her. She's
no longer the spoiled princess and is instead more of an equal among her
people. She is very protective of them and will fight until the death
to keep their location a secret to those who wish to harm them.
Demetrius is the same way when it comes to Eliana. He risks the wrath of
his brothers and ultimately puts his life in jeopardy to try to keep
Eliana safe.
I am a fan of the author's writing style and the way she describes not only her world but her characters as well.
"Dressed in a black pair of men's boxer shorts rolled over at the
waist so they didn't sag down her legs and a white men's undershirt she
must have found in one of the dresser drawers, with her choppy blue hair
sticking up in every direction and her wild, glittering eyes, she
looked like an insane, cross-dressing pixie."
The story had a lot of action going on between the
scheduled fights, heists and fighting amongst each other that there was
never a dull moment to the story. We also meet up with some new
characters as well as characters that we may have bumped into before but
are now brought to the forefront. I wish I had connected with the main
characters a bit more since I was really looking forward to their story
but it was still a fun read. This is a series that I will keep up with.
"A nice rack can topple empires, princess. It's just the way we're build." -Gregor
Previous reviews from Night Prowler
Shadow's Edge
Edge of Oblivion
Curse Girl
(Blue Winter, #2)
By: Mark Mackey
Publisher: Jessina and Montalay/Trixie in the Mirror Publications
Published: March 23, 2013
Genre: Horror
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Amanda Hansen targets a
new student Julie Argyles whose ancestor just happens to be a witch.
Julie’s act of payback changes Amanda in a way she could not expect or
want, and now she and her friend Gillian must take a road trip to find
Julie before seven days pass, and Amanda is stuck the way she is
forever.
Feeling the cool fall air against her face stepping from the house gave Julie a strong incentive to continue what she set her mind on doing.
Starting to walk along a residential block with the street named Cylers caused Julie to feel excitement blossom in her at a rapid pace. The idea being in a new town would allow her to escape and be free of the constant torment of ridicule; this coming as a result of Sharon, Angela, Bridget and her being what they were. It sure would be something of a miracle if Blue Winter was void of pathetic, vile witch-haters like Tracy and Heather; the thought of this causing Julie to start moving faster toward the section of Blue Winter with stores and businesses.
As the hour progressed following departing her house, Julie arrived at her intended destination. What she saw brought her to be reminded of good old Darkwoods, Blue Winter and it bore one heck of an incredible resemblance to one another. In addition it was like any other quaint little suburban town, a mixture of old time dime stores, ice cream Shoppes, and the new, Starbucks and Subways. Now if there weren’t any pathetic witch-haters such as Tracy and Heather infecting Blue Winter, her life here would go perfectly smooth in this new town she and her parents had relocated to from Darkwoods.
Continuing to travel along, what snagged Julie’s attention, a store front music store with the name Rosemonts. If it was one thing Julie enjoyed besides spending an hour or so talking on the phone with Sharon, it was listening to and buying music.
“Hey new girl welcome to Blue Winter,” Maddie announced as Julie stepped in; “yeah I know you’re new all right, I have a talent of knowing each and every one of the teenagers who live in this town. It’s quite easy for me to do so since the only high school is Saint Anne’s. So what brings you here?”
“My Dad being handed the opportunity of running a branch of the company he works for,” Julie answered as she started heading toward the counter and Maddie and Dahlia.
“So what’s your name new girl?”
“Julie Argyles, and since your last name is Rosemont, I suppose you’re related to the owners of this record store?”
“Yeah uh-huh, it’s been in my family for generations now.”
“Well I’m glad to meet the two of you Maddie and Dahlia. Hey you think you could tell me a little bit about Blue Winter?”
“I should have expected that question next,” Maddie replied. “Julie this town isn’t much different than any other wholesome, quaint little American community.”
“What about the residents and others our age?”
“For the most part, Blue Winter’s residents are accepting of new citizens, but-” Maddie said, not finishing her sentence, but shooting a brief nervous glance at Dahlia.
“Okay what’s with you not finishing your sentence Maddie, is there something I should know about?” Julie asked with nervousness present in her voice.
“Just to give you a heads up before you start settling in and getting comfortable here.”
“Sure go on I’m listening.”
“Julie there’s a group of girls who Dahlia and I asked to join and had our invitation rejected, run by best friends Amanda Hansen and Kristen Flemings. Well just by Amanda now, since Kristen moved away only yesterday.
“What’s that have to do with me?”
“Oh come on Julie, you arrived here practically at the same time Kristen left. Are you seeing why Amanda might try and attack you in some way because of the hurt and depression she’s feeling over losing her best friend?”
Mark Mackey, I live in Chicago, I’ve won two screenplay awards, have
had four of my short stories published in four separate anthologies,
Without Title, Christmas Lites, All the Lovely Creatures, and the Perfect Christmas Stuffing.
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