True Blood - DNF Book Review

True Blood
by Patricia Waddell

What is it about:
She's a diplomat…
Danna MacFadyen of the League of Planets is assigned to investigate the explosion of a space freighter. She must use her psychometric skills to determine whether this was an accident or terrorism -- but for Danna, the hardest part of this assignment is working with Korcian Enforcer Cullon Gavriel.

He's a warrior…
Fighting isn't just in a Korcian's blood -- it's in his very soul. Cullon Gavriel already knows the freighter explosion was terrorism -- targeted at the Korcian prince traveling incognito aboard the ship. Cullon's single goal: to discover who is killing Korcian True Bloods. He never expects to become enchanted with a beautiful Terran female who has the ability to step into the past.

As the pieces of an explosive puzzle fall into place...
Danna and Cullon realize they have uncovered a conspiracy that stretches across the galaxy. The trail leads to the capitol city of the Korcian Empire, where shocking secrets lie hidden-- and where the lines between politics and love cross unexpectedly.

What did I think of it:
Another SF where all the aliens are basically humans (well, ok: there are dwarves as well), but I'm used to that by now, so I went along with that.

I had a hard time getting to like any of the characters. Danna is a bit bland and easily impressed by looks, while Cullon is an alpha asshole. The only character I even liked a bit was the dwarf, but he was friends with the alpha asshole, so I didn't really trust him because of that.

The story felt a bit static and didn't really draw me in. The interaction between Danna and Cullon felt stilted as well. When for the gazillionth time Cullon was being a jerk again, and Danna was still swooning over his feline/viking good looks, I threw the book across the room and decided it wasn't for me. I just couldn't stand either of them any longer.

I do have the second book in this series (True Deception) in my TBR pile. I understand it's about two different people, so if I ever feel in the mood for SF and have nothing else on hand, I might give it a try to see if its as infuriating as this book or not.

Why should you read it:
Maybe you like über alphas being jerks.

On McPig's Wishlist - The Blast

This sounds like it might be a cool read.


The Blast
by Sarah Perlmutter

After a series of blasts force Beatrice Hicks and her family into their prepper bunker, they emerge to discover they are among the survivors of a nuclear apocalypse. Fighting against rogue groups and coping with deaths are just some of the adjustments Beatrice must make to survive, but how will she maintain her humanity after the blast?

Teaser Tuesdays on a Wednesday - Wicked After Midnight

I rolled my eyes and held up my hands, curling them into faux claws inside their gloves. "No. I'm totally going to kill everybody. Roar. Rawr."

(page 75, Wicked After Midnight by Delilah S. Dawson)




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Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following: - Grab your current read - Open to a random page - Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) - Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

The Devil's Doorbell - Book Review by Voodoo Bride + Giveaway

The Devil's Doorbell
by Anne Calhoun, Megan Hart, Christine d'Abo, Jeffe Kennedy, Megan Mulry, Delphine Dryden and M. O'Keefe

What is it about:
A woman’s pleasure is a dangerous thing. A primal appetite that, once awakened, can never be sated. A secret that gives power to those who know it. A magic that, once unleashed, can never be contained.

Some say the clitoris is the devil’s doorbell, set to summon him forth at the merest touch…

It’s time to ring the bell.

Here are seven tales of sexual empowerment and erotic defiance, featuring the hottest storytellers of erotic fiction.

In the Garden, by Anne Calhoun
Forbidden fruit is the most delicious...
A wedding in the bucolic English countryside offers Kelsey ripe temptation in the form of a hot groomsman, Julian. Will the illicit attraction satisfy an old craving or stoke a new desire?

Exact Warm Unholy, by Jeffe Kennedy
Tonight my name is Mary...

Or is it? Sometimes she’s Tiffany or Syd or Bobbi. But whatever face she wears, she returns to the same bar, to find a new man and seduce him, safe in the knowledge that no one will recognize her. Until one man does.

Red Leather, by Delphine Dryden
Some activities are definitely not safe for work.
Maggie's sadness over being dumped quickly turns to relief and excitement when she discovers a new freedom...a new Maggie she could have never been with her ex. Combine New Maggie with Tim the Hot Mailroom Guy and an unexpected vibrator...and the office supply room door becomes the portal to a world of devilish fun.

Drowning on Dry Land, by Megan Hart
Some doors stay open until you close them.
Moving on from a past love, Bette Douglas has discovered a whole new world of satisfaction and contentment with her boy Damian...but when the past comes knocking, Bette's decision to answer it could change everything.

Devil in the Dark, by Christine d’Abo
When developer Shona needs to beta test her new app - The Devil's Doorbell - she goes out on the prowl for a man who will fulfil her wildest fantasies - oral sex in public. What could possibly go wrong when she finds her devil in the dark?

London Calling, by Megan Mulry
"Face-sitter wanted, in exchange for free accommodation in Mayfair." -Craigslist
She hadn't planned on being quite so adventurous when she decided to spend the year in London, but when she read the ad, she couldn't resist.

We Are All Found Things, by M. O'Keefe
Rennie's trying to forget her past; her mysterious new tenant is trying to keep his past a secret. But when Rennie finds out the truth about Luka she discovers as much about herself as she does her innocent lover.

What did Voodoo Bride think of it:
This is a seriously hot anthology. I will give you my thoughts about each one of the stories.

In the Garden, by Anne Calhoun
This is a well written story, but didn't work for me. It's about a woman who sees a man who reminds her of an ex and that's why she feels an attraction. I have to confess that all my exes are exes for a reason, and when I break up with someone it's a clean break, so I just don't understand how someone would feel sexually nostalgic about an ex. So that I didn't connect with this story, is all on me, I'm afraid.

Exact Warm Unholy, by Jeffe Kennedy
This story is the reason I wanted to read this anthology, as you might have guessed.
And it's another winner. The heroine in this story has her reasons to hide behind different personas, and it was a delight to slowly discover more about her. The hero is wonderful as well. There are some hot scenes, but the scenes where the two of them connect were the best, in my opinion. The ending was very touching and sweet.

Red Leather, by Delphine Dryden
This was a really fun story.
It's about leaving past hurts behind and trying to open yourself up for someone new.
I loved the sweet awkwardness of the encounter between Maggie and Tim. It made it both hot and touching. I will have to check out other works by this author.

Drowning on Dry Land, by Megan Hart
Another story with someone pining after an ex. I felt sorry for the new guy, who was sweeter than the heroine deserved, in my opinion.

Devil in the Dark, by Christine d’Abo
This is a fun and super hot story.
Shona is testing her new app, which should help women find a partner to satisfy their desires. She hits a delicious jackpot I can tell you. Another author to investigate.

London Calling, by Megan Mulry
This story felt more like the beginning of a story than a complete story. It ended just as I was wondering how things would develop. Still I liked it. It's not my normal sort of story as it has a pairing I usually don't particularly like, but here it worked.

We Are All Found Things, by M. O'Keefe
This is a really touching and sweet story. Both Rennie and Luka are scarred by things that happened to them, but they slowly connect and help each other cope. I loved reading how these two learn to trust again. Not so much a hot story, as one filled with hope and warmth. I'll have to see what other stories O'Keefe has written.


So all in all this is a wonderful anthology with stories that are hot, delicious, and touching. It gave me a wonderful story by one of my favorite authors, and introduced me to three authors I will have to investigate further.

Why should you read it:
It's a fun and steamy anthology


Buy from
Amazon - Kobo


Giveaway:

A digital copy (mobi or epub) was kindly provided for giveaway to one reader of my blog.
Use the Rafflecopter to enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Plush Life - Book Review

Plush Life
by Gini Koch

What is it about:
Tom and Meggie have been best friends forever. They’ve been in love with each other for almost as long, but neither one has ever admitted it to the other. Now they work together at the Plush Life Toys, the company Tom started where Meggie is the head of sales.

Meggie’s engaged to Mark, a successful doctor, but she’s having serious second thoughts. However, before she and Tom can talk about it, they get a strange offer from their make-or-break client – go to New Orleans and convince the head of the powerful Family Mart megastore chain that Plush Life is the right kind of company to be one of their vendors. The only catch? Family Mart is the poster company for family values, and Tom and Meggie have to be married or they won’t be approved.

Meggie can’t tell Mark why she has to cancel their weekend plans because Mark doesn’t like that she and Tom are friends. What Meggie and Tom don’t know, though, is that Mark is aware of a secret that affects Meggie’s life – and he and his friends will do anything they have to in order to ensure Mark gets to marry her.

Now Tom and Meggie have to figure out their feelings for each other while trying to keep the eccentric head of Family Mart believing that they’re happy newlyweds. But when Mark and his friends get involved they put Meggie’s life and sanity in jeopardy, and only Tom, a street thief, and the Voodoo Queen of New Orleans are going to be able to save Meggie from the devil himself.

What did I think of it:
This is such a fun read.

I can especially recommend this book to people who secretly ship Kitty and Chuckie in Koch's Katherine “Kitty” Katt series. Tom is a lot like Chuckie (although luckily for me more likeable).

The whole set-up of the story is a little bit out there, but that's a Koch trademark in my opinion, and I'm always willing to go with the crazy if it's not too unbelievable, and leads to a cool and exciting adventure.

And this is quite the adventure. Usually I'm no fan of contemporary stories, but this one grabbed my attention and kept it until the end. Mark and his friends are creepy bastards, and the people at Family Mart are seriously weird as well. Meggie and Tom have a hard time trusting anyone. They do manage to figure out their feelings for each other, but everything that's happening might prevent them from having a Happily Ever After.

All in all this is an action-packed story, with plenty of steamy scenes as well, that will delight fans of Koch, and serves as a great way to introduce you to Koch's writing and humor if you're unfamiliar with her work.

Why should you read it:
It's a fun, action-packed Gini Koch style adventure.


Buy from amazon

Hit - Book Review

Hit (Hit #1)
by Delilah S. Dawson

What is it about:
NO ONE READS THE FINE PRINT.

The good news is that the USA is finally out of debt. The bad news is that we were bought out by Valor National Bank, and debtors are the new big game, thanks to a tricky little clause hidden deep in the fine print of a credit card application. Now, after a swift and silent takeover that leaves 9-1-1 calls going through to Valor voicemail, they’re unleashing a wave of anarchy across the country.

Patsy didn’t have much of a choice. When the suits showed up at her house threatening to kill her mother then and there for outstanding debt unless Patsy agreed to be an indentured assassin, what was she supposed to do? Let her own mother die?

Patsy is forced to take on a five-day mission to complete a hit list of ten names. Each name on Patsy's list has only three choices: pay the debt on the spot, agree to work as a bounty hunter, or die. And Patsy has to kill them personally, or else her mom takes a bullet of her own.

Since yarn bombing is the only rebellion in Patsy's past, she’s horrified and overwhelmed, especially as she realizes that most of the ten people on her list aren't strangers. Things get even more complicated when a moment of mercy lands her with a sidekick: a hot rich kid named Wyatt whose brother is the last name on Patsy's list. The two share an intense chemistry even as every tick of the clock draws them closer to an impossible choice.

Delilah S. Dawson offers an absorbing, frightening glimpse at a reality just steps away from ours—a taut, suspenseful thriller that absolutely mesmerizes from start to finish.

What did I think of it:
I've wanted to read this book from the moment I heard of it, but there's only so much hardbacks this piggy can afford, so I waited on the paperback before getting my trotters on it.

And this is such an awesome read!

Patsy is set an impossible choice: kill ten people or she and her mother will be killed themselves. Patsy decides to chose life even though the things she has to do will change her forever.

I rooted for Patsy to survive her ordeal, and to find a way to cope with what she has to do. This book doesn't pull any punches, and the things Patsy has to do impact both her and the people she encounters.

Just a few chapters in I was totally hooked and couldn't put the book down. I had to find out if Patsy would go through with her assignment, or if she would find a way out. Slowly she begins to notice a pattern and she has to figure out what's going on.

The book ends in a way that has me eager for more without being frustrated by the ending. Luckily the next book is already out, and will be making its way to me soon, because I need more!

Why should you read it:
It's a gritty YA read.

Camp Alien - Early Book Review

Camp Alien (Katherine "Kitty" Katt #13)
by Gini Koch

What is it about:
The President and First Lady, aka Jeff and Kitty Katt-Martini, don’t get any downtime once the Mastermind has been revealed to the world. Not only do they have myriad high-level government positions to fill, but the scrutiny and pressure on this Administration has gone into overdrive. The sudden reappearance of a long-forgotten adversary turns out to be the tip of the iceberg. New robots and androids attacking, old enemies making new alliances, and new aliens with interesting abilities almost overshadow the fact that the U.S. still has to host a peace summit at Camp David between Israel and Iraq.

It’s clear that while the Mastermind may be down, there are plenty of others ready to take his place —and all that stands between them and success are Kitty and Company. Kidnappings, rescues, creepy hideouts, a hidden black site, and a domestic dispute that could end Jeff and Kitty’s marriage are nothing compared to finding not one but two hidden labs where dangerous and deadly things are brewing.

But when the President and his entourage finally get to the peace talks, things are no better. Mossad rightly suspects something’s wrong with both their Prime Minister and the President of Iraq. A hidden in-control superbeing, an android replacement, and an army of Fem-Bots turn the peace talks into a Battle Royale that the team might not actually survive. And if they don’t make it, Earth won’t make it, either. But no pressure.

What did I think of it:
This is yet another awesome addition to the series.

Just when you think that things will get easier to follow, now that the Mastermind is finally known, lots of new baddies turn up with evil plans of their own.

I was at the edge of my seat, wanting to know if Kitty would find her missing friends and survive being First Lady.

The events in this book take Kitty to new and cool locations. There's lots of action, conspiracies, and misunderstandings. As always you have to keep paying attention so you don't miss the clues to figure out what's going on and why. New characters are introduced, and old favorites keep being awesome. All in all a roller coast ride as only Koch can deliver.

So once again: if you still haven't started on this series, what are you waiting for?! And if you are reading this series: Go get your hands on this as soon as it releases!

Why should you read it:
It's an awesome SF read.