Duality Principle Review + #Giveaway

Duality Principle Rebecca Grace Allen Genre: Erotica Romance Release Date: November 11th, 2014 Publisher: Samhain Publishing
ISBN: 9781619223707 ASIN: B00M3XTPU8 Pages: 132

Goodreads Rating:  3.94 My Rating: 5.0
Book Description:
Sometimes A + B = O. Yes. Oh, yes. Just like that.
Gabriella Evans’s life exists in terms of logic and definitions. She’s holed up in Portland, Maine, for the summer to work on her PhD thesis, but something is screwing up her concentration: the rumble of a motorcycle every time the embodiment of her rough-and-tumble fantasies rides down her street.
When her best friend talks her into a blind date, she finds herself out with the opposite of her fantasy. He’s polite and well-mannered, yet something behind his crisply tailored shirt doesn’t add up—a rebellious gleam in his eye that piques her curiosity.
Orphaned at fifteen, Connor Starks has finally put the years of failing grades, breaking laws and breaking hearts behind him. The only holdover? His penchant for getting down and dirty in public places. But Gabriella makes him want to prove he’s become a better man. Nothing intrigues Gabriella more than a problem she can’t solve. But the more Connor tries to bury his past, the more determined she is to uncover it. And what she finds makes all her trusty logic begin to fail her…
Warning: This book contains a summer romance, dirty talk, dockside kissing, motorcycles and tattoos. Features a rebellious nerdy girl with an appetite for outdoor sex and light spanking, and a bad boy who’s turned good…or at least he’s trying.

My Take On The Book:
When I read the synopsis of this book I was super excited to jump into a new type of book as all I've been reading lately is paranormal. That would have more to do with where my mind has been like lately, the only exception being the True North Series. I was also slightly excited cause the model on the cover reminded me of the actress that play Felicity Smoak on Arrow ^-^. It was fun & flirty & definitely a breath of fresh air!
The Great (Pros):

• Characters. I loved the characters and that this wasn't your a-typical romance. Each had their own set of hurdles to overcome so it wasn't a case of guy effs up or vice versa but a nice mix of the 2 characters coming together and expirencing a romance all of their own and learning how to fold that in with their lives. 

• Storyline. The storyline, while focused on the romance of Gabby and Connor, is a nice blast of fresh air in the romance department.

• Romance. I don't think I've fallen in love with another coupling as much as I did with these 2 characters. It was cute and definitely hot where it needed to be.

• Duality. I loved that whole story was based on this principle. It was interesting ad made the book have that different wow factor. I think this on its own could have been the reason the book was so refreshing. I can't really name a book I've read lately that is anything like this one.

The Not So Great (Cons):

• Predictability. While the story was different and a breath of fresh air there were some very predictable parts. It's hard to remove predictability in books especially from someone who reads as much as I do so it didn't affect the raiting but I would have like less predicatbility or those parts done is such a wow factory way that it doesn't even irk the reader.

5 Quills
Its a definite must read and a short one at that. the book only took me about an hour, maybe 2 to read but i loved every second. If you like intensity but fun and quirky characters then there is no better read for you. It calls to the inner nerd in all of us. A realistic read that sizzles and inspires laughter.

Buy Links:

Amazon | B&N

About The Author 

Rebecca Grace holds a Bachelor of Arts in English with a double concentration in Creative Writing and Literary Comparison, which seemed like a good idea at the time. After stumbling through careers in entertainment, publishing, law and teaching, she’s returned to her first love: writing. A self-admitted caffeine addict and gym rat, she currently lives in upstate New York with her husband, two parakeets, and a cat with a very unusual foot fetish. Author links:
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads
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Manhattan Ten Series (Books 1-3) Review + #Giveaway

Temptress

Manhattan Ten Series

Book #1

Lola Dodge

Genre: Adult Fantasy Romance, Superheroes

Release Date: June 12, 2012

Publisher: Samhain Publishing Ltd.

ISBN: 978-1619211094

ASIN: B0083WTVT8

Pages: 114

Goodreads Rating:  4.03

My Rating: 5.0

Book Description:

Kiss your powers goodbye.

Kidnapping a super-powered suspected felon from a Vegas bachelor party is another day at the office for Jenny Ray, alias Temptress. With one kiss, any naughty supe’s powers are hers. Except this time she’s caught by her mark’s boss, who’s no ordinary superhero.

It’s Thinktank, leader of the toughest hero crew around. One destroyed men’s room and near-toilet-drowning later, Jenny’s forced to steal an innocent hero’s powers.

For a super brain, Tank’s feeling pretty idiotic. First, he let Jenny close enough to get to him. Second, he’s helpless against the tide of desire that rises in him every time he kisses her. Which he’s doing a lot, since she’s trying to give him back his power—only it’s not working. As he shadows her on her various freelance casino security jobs, he realizes she’s no she-demon—she’s a time bomb. Her acquired powers are shredding her, body and soul.

As they give in to desire, a shadowy figure from Jenny’s past surfaces with a kidnapping plan of his own. Jenny will do anything—even level Las Vegas—to rescue the man she loves. But there may not be anything left of her when the dust settles.

Product Warnings
Contains high-stakes poker, high-end cocktails, and high-flying over Las Vegas skies. Never drink and fly!

Ivory

Manhattan Ten Series

Book #2

Lola Dodge

Genre: Adult Fantasy Romance, Superheroes

Release Date: April 30, 2013

Publisher: Samhain Publishing Ltd.

ISBN: 978-1619214415

ASIN: B00BUKRAJI

Pages: 115

Goodreads Rating:  4.0

My Rating: 4.5

Book Description:

That cold day in hell? It’s here…

If Ivory’s fellow flight attendants whisper that she has ice in her veins, they’d be right. She’s spent years ruthlessly suppressing her dangerous ice powers, pretending she didn’t grow up wild on the tundra.

Her legendary coolness has held solid—until a crazed attacker snaps her composure, unleashing her ice beast and blowing her cover. And she’s not sure if the man who defuses the situation is any less dangerous.

When Panther’s trans-Atlantic catnap is interrupted by Ivory’s ice spear through his mark’s gut, he doesn’t hesitate to claim her as one of the Manhattan Ten. It’s the only way to shield her from prosecution. It doesn’t hurt that the Nordic beauty puts his inner cat on the prowl.

Panther tempts Ivory in every smoldering way, but to let him melt her resistance is a risk she can’t afford. But when her past rises up to claim her, Pan is caught in the crossfire…and the only way to save him is to let the beast claim her, body and soul.

Product Warnings
Contains one smoldering ice vixen and the sexy beast man who wants to get his claws all over her. Make sure your icemaker is in tip-top shape before reading. Mukluks optional.

Belle Fury

Manhattan Ten Series

Book #3

Lola Dodge

Genre: Adult Fantasy Romance, Superheroes

Release Date: February 4, 2014

Publisher: Samhain Publishing Ltd.

ISBN: 978-1619222670

ASIN: B00HF8X4DU

Pages: 111

Goodreads Rating:  4.25

My Rating: 5.0

Book Description:

This is one diva with killer moves…

Belle Fabian has worked her toes to the bone to become an internationally renowned ballerina. When the curtains rise on her career-making performance of Giselle, she brings down the house—literally.

Mid-dance, she manifests a superpower that nearly destroys the Metropolitan Opera House, wiping out a line of chorus girls and sending the audience dashing for the exits. As she flees the theater, she assumes the worst. Her hard-won career is over.

The Manhattan Ten’s leader is playing hooky with his new lady, so it falls to Red Ruin to round up the super-powered danseur. It’s just one small, bird-boned woman hiding in a convenience store. How hard could it be?

Their first encounter generates sparks that border nuclear and their chemistry sends Belle’s powers into overdrive, but their perfect storm of passion is marred by her suspicion that Ruin is holding back. That secret that could turn the sweet burn of Ruin’s lightning into a permanent scar on her heart.

Product Warnings

Contains one lightning-hot hero and a not-so-blushing ballerina. May cause third-degree burns and spontaneous tango

My Take On The Books:

I’m a scatter brain, my scheduling absolutely sucks and I tend to forget deadlines, so I’m not surprised I almost missed this review O_o. Not only that, but for the longest time I was sure that the series was titled Manhattan Teen. Anyways, these books were absolute gems. Romantic, action packed and steamy where they needed to be.

I feel that its safe to admit wanting my own Manhattan 10 guy. Squee. I loved, Loved, LOVED book 1. The story between Tank & Jenny (Temptress) was just too freaking cute. I loved the build up to the big shebang. It wasn’t a love at first sight thing, really it was more of lust at first sight that boils into a steamy love affair… love being the operative word. I loved how book 2 explains the story of Panther and Ivory and how the team made their way to Vegas for the beginning of book 1.

But suffice to say that Book 3, Belle Fury, is my favorite of the series thus far. There is just something so sweet about their story. Its different from the others in the sense of trust and vulnerability. They know each other’s real names for the moment they first meet so there is no secrecy there. (Also, I may be a bit biased due to my love of Ballet and wanting a Red Ruin book while reading Temptress).  My only pet peeve is the Angel angle. I didn’t want them to go there are they did so it irked. I loved her character in book 2 and continued to like her in book 3 but it was where the author wanted her character to go emotionally that made me really sad and uncomfortable.

Temptress – 5 Quills

Ivory – 4.5 Quills

Belle Fury – 5 Quills

Overall Rating

5 Quills

Book 4 where are you?!?! I need my hero romance fix stat. It feeds the comic book/ super hero nerd in me. It’s a book that can be enjoyed by anyone who likes romance, action and intrigue. If you like strong female leads, sexy bruiting males and love stories to curl you toes, dip into the Manhattan Ten Series now.

About The Author 

Lola Dodge was forged in the suburbs, tested in the retail wastelands and reborn as a romance writer after several strong cocktails. Armed with her M.F.A. in Writing Popular Fiction, she travels the world in search of story fodder and men with accents.

Website: http://www.loladodge.com/

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 “I received a free copy of the book from the author/publisher for my honest opinion. I was in no way compensated for this review and all opinions are expressly my own”

Open Flame by Lacy Danes Review & Giveaway!!!

Open Flame

Dragon’s Fate Book 2
Lacy Danes

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Date of Publication: September 24, 2013

Publisher: Samhain Publishing

ISBN: 978-1-61921-746-1

ASIN: B00CZ8MCHO

Number of pages: 118

Word Count: 32K

My Rating: 3.5/4

Samhain Publishing | Kindle | Kobo | Nook

Book Description:

Between hate and lust lies heaven, hell… and smoldering love.

Like his brothers, Madoc is a dragon born by blood magic. Unlike them, he has only once bitten a human in a near-hopeless quest to find his eternal mate. Watching that woman die nearly destroyed him.

Now he works to invent a watch that will rewind time. When he attends the Spectacle of Time in Paris, though, he finds a woman who shakes the foundation of his world and crumbles his ferocious control.

Ever since the black-haired man with the red crescent on his cheek ruined her family, Fina has hated him. When she runs into him in Paris, she is determined to show him just how much. Instead, overwhelmed by the desire to both kill him and bed him, her body betrays her and she melts in his arms.

Sparks fly, and—when his teeth sink into her skin—she ignites. But she can’t run far and fast enough to avoid the burning truth. She is now part of Madoc’s dangerous world, body, soul, and fire.

Warning: This novel contains explicit sex, time-shifting, distance-hopping, a super-hot dragon, and a woman who can take the heat.

Short Excerpt: http://www.lacydanes.com/books/open-flame/#read-an-excerpt

My take on the book:

Ok Ok, I have to admit I was conflicted about my review of this book.

On the one hand, I loved it. I loved the concept of Dragons, the fact that each dragon wields a particular magic of their own and the integration of vampires. But on the other hand, I was a tad disappointed with how the story unfolded. Book one of this series, Waterfall was permanently added to my fave book list not long ago when I read it, it was chalk full of steam and so much je ne sais quoi which I felt was missing a bit from Open Flame. It was a good read, a really good read. I loved the characters as much if not more than book one but and this is a really big but, I felt like this story and its characters might have done better if featured in a longer novella or full length novel. Now maybe I’m being partial due to my disappointment in the book’s ending (not the way it ended but well its ending read the pros and cons for a better explanation) but I’ll stand by my observation. I didn't feel there was enough of a story, everything felt rushed this time around and that was my confliction while reading this story.

Once again Lacy Danes was a genius with words and imagery so that was a major plus in my opinion so the story wasn't lacking there. The world was vivid, almost tangible. Ms. Danes has a unique way with setting a scene and I believe wholeheartedly that this book captured that.  I’d probably make more sense if I broke it all down for you guys.

The Great (Pros):

• The Characters. I loved Madoc and I really liked Fina. She was just the right of spunk and woman. She made me mad and made me laugh at her utterly ridiculous monologue (this is of course meant it the best sense. Ms. Dane’s writing was superb so I’m not calling that ridiculous in the least.) She was strong which seemed like a great fit for Madoc. Madoc was just the perfect mesh of sexy dragon goodness and lost puppy.

• The Prologue. This part of the story was simply and to the point. A perfect intro to the story and a great way to allow readers the opportunity to jump into the series even without reading book one. It allows the book to stand on its own giving the reader the option of picking up the first book if they so choose. I recommend reading both though ;)

• Hudson. He deserves to stand on his own and not fall into the category of characters lol. He was so conflicted and his story tugs at your heart strings but his ability to put that behind him and still be such a great friend to Madoc makes you giddy and swoon. He truly is a great friend to Madoc and in turn Fina, not to mention he is pretty funny in his witty remarks.

• The Magic. The magic of this world, the creation of Lacy Dane’s brilliant mind, has to be one of my favorite aspects of this story. She crafted the world ‘magically’ and it shows in the way she penned it.

• Lacy Dane’s Writing Style. It makes you breathless. As I stated before the characters were well loved and amazingly constructed. The world, The Spectacle of Time, The distance hoping just leaves you yearning to read more.

• Carmen. She was just so well written. While she doesn't appear in the book much, she kinda has a knack for stealing the spotlight when she entered on the page. I can’t delve to seep into this, for fear that I would give away some of the story.

• The Epilogue. It literally leaves you hungry for more. It has so many redeeming qualities. You have a slight moment of fear but mainly it ends the book on a relatively happy note and you with a smile on your face.

• Zir. I don’t know why but I just love that word. It’s different, weird even, but a perfect fit for a group of males who are indeed Dragons. Am I the only one wondering how she came up with that?

·    

The not so great (Cons):

• The word elemental. I know this might sound silly but I have this pet peeve about repetition. The word in my opinion was used way too much in the first chapter. It was elemental this and elemental that and I couldn't stop the sigh of frustration that escaped me while reading it. Then it completely disappeared and I calmed only for it to return again and frustrate me once more.

• Ilmir. He’s one of the brothers, his element air and I wanted to like him, I really did but I couldn't. At least not till the epilogue. I couldn't stomach his brash attitude or the way he was with Madoc. He was so cold and demeaning. It just irked me to no end.

• The length. As I stated before, I felt this story would have done more with a little more meat. I felt like it was rushed. Not enough action. There were two baddies for Fina/Madoc to deal with other than the obvious resistance from Fina described in the book summary and neither of them were to my liking. I felt like one was rushed through and the other was added as an afterthought and dealt with poorly by the characters. This was probably my biggest deciding factor for my rating

3.5 Stars/Quills

All in all, I would recommend this book for many readers especially those who like books set in the past, those who love romance and those who love supernatural books. If you read ‘Destiny Kills’ or ‘Mercy Burns’ by Keri Arthur and loved it then this is definitely the book for you.

About the Author:

Lacy Danes made a New Year's resolution to write a hot, historical romance. A year and a half later, she achieved her goal. She lives in Portland OR, where besides writing she enjoys horseback riding, gardening and savoring a great martini while watching the world go by.

Visit Lacy online:

LacyDanes.com

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“I received a free copy of the book from the author for my honest opinion.”