REVIEW – The Magic was in the Chocolate by Kiki Howell
Book Title - The Magic was in the Chocolate
Author - Kiki Howell
Stars - 5
Buy Link – AMAZON
Sick of being stuck in the friend zone, David works a sex spell to open his long time friend’s heart to true love. With every aspect of the evening strategically planned, he invites Danielle over for a movie and pizza. His heart on the line, he places his bets on a cake made with spelled chocolate. But, can a little indulgence make all his dreams come true, or will his confession about the magic he used shatter his future?
This was an awesome read! Why wouldn't it be, it had chocolate in the story lol.
This was about two friends who were there for each other since being school age. They told each other everything, called each other when one needed reassurance from a broken relationship. Best friends sums up their relationship.
David was in love with Danielle and had been for quite some time. So he decided to do a love spell that involved chocolate cake. This was suppose to open Danielle up to love and hopefully David will find out if she loved him. Danielle had so many bad relationships that she had built a wall around her heart and was determined never to let a guy get close enough to hurt her again.
I loved the fact that Wiccan religion was hinted at by the way of the goddess and god. Two people who were best friends and had feelings for each other but so afraid to admit those feelings because both were afraid that getting involved romantically would ruin the friendship they both held so dear. This happens in life all the time. One minute you have a great relationship with your bestie and then all of a sudden it hits you like a brick, you love your bestie for more than just your best friend. This is how I my husband and I ended up together. Great friends and now we are married going on twenty years. Probably would have been easier with a love spell. But as everyone knows love spells don't work and some could back fire.
This author has a way of writing that makes her character jump off the page and right into your mind. David was so easy to like because he only wanted the girl of his dreams and was willing to risk their friendship and Danielle being upset when she finds out he did a love spell. Danielle is a lot like me. Built a big wall around my heart and swore no guy would ever get near that heart again. I was so wrong. Life has a plan for all of us and no matter what you try to protect your heart, life has a way of throwing your plans to the wind and lets love wiggle it's way into your life and heart.
Barb gives The Magic was in the Chocolate
REVIEW – Kitty’s Christmas Hope by Sharon Kleve
Book Title - Kitty's Christmas Hope
Author - Sharon Kleve
Stars - 5
Buy Link – AMAZON
Kitty Skinner meets the perfect guy, he's kind, considerate and sexy as hell. She hopes to spend her favorite holiday with him, Christmas Eve. The only problem is, Aaron treats her like his best friend, not the girlfriend she dreams of being. To make matters worse he’s found his perfect girl and wants Kitty to help plan their first date.
Aaron Tyler thinks Kitty is sweet, talented and someone he can settle down with, but believes he has to deceive her into believing he cares for someone else to win her heart.
Nothing goes as planned when one mishap after another prevents them from admitting their true feelings.
Can Kitty and Aaron take a leap of faith and reveal their true feelings before their friendship takes a beating and miss out on their perfect date—Christmas Eve?
This was the third book in this series and the first one I have read but it was good no matter what order I read this series in. I was a little lost but that is my fault not Sharon Kleve's, if I would have started at the first book and not the third I wouldn't have been lost in the first few pages. I plan on reading the series from the beginning because I am hooked on Sharon Kleve's books!
Aaron Tyler and Kitty Skinner are very good friends. They tell each other everything but they have feelings for each other and are too afraid to mention this to the other. To afraid that the friendship they share would be harmed and neither of them could stand losing the other one.
Aaron wants to make Kitty jealous in the hopes she will tell him that she can't live without him. So he comes up with this not so brilliant idea that if he asks Kitty to help him plan a perfect date for a perfect girl, that she will do this without hesitation. I swear the ideas' guys come up with are too funny and this one back fires on him. But with the help of Corny and her friends of animals and her friend Brenda decide to help Aaron to get Kitty back in his good graces and hopefully for more than just friends.
Plenty of humor and tons of friendship between Corny and her friends of animals and humans. Can't wait to read more!
Barb gives Kitty's Christmas Hope
REVIEW – Be Mine by Sharon Kleve
Book Title - Be Mine
Author - Sharon Kleve
Stars - 5
Buy Link – AMAZON
Corny has a unique psychic ability to communicate with animals, but can she come up with five days of perfect Valentines gifts for her tough-as-nails Seattle cop boyfriend.
Time is running out and Brutus—the horny Labrador, Molly—the hussy French Poodle, Hernando Lamberto—the prized Pekinese, Harry—the Penguin, Buddy the Butt Head—Iguana, and three raccoons all need Corny’s attention.
Can she pull it all together for the perfect Valentine’s Day celebration?
This is the second book I have read of Sharon Kleve's books and I am in love with this one just like I was with the first one " Flamingo Blues". This book had the humor and the cases Corny takes to find peoples missing animals. The animals in her books are the true characters of her book, I am laughing at what they say and what they do. I often wonder what it would be like to be able to talk to the animals like Corny does and she uses it in her business of finding lost pets and just helping any animal that needs her expertise.
This one centers around Valentines Day. With the cases that Corny takes, she and her boyfriend Steve, have a little ritual around Valentines Day. The week of Valentines Day, they get each other five gifts for that week. Well Corny is a procrastinator and wakes up and realizes she needs to find the perfect gifts. Well she gets to spend the week with Steve's drug sniffing dog who has been benched because when he was sniffing for drugs, the other dog who is a female was in heat and well we know what dogs do, they sniff each other and that's what he was doing. Brutus came up with ideas for Corny to get Steve for their special ritual. Most plans that Corny plans just don't go the way she wants them too.
You will laugh all through this book. The books has characters with fantastic personalities and animals with the same. Can't wait to read more from this very talented author!
Barb gives Be Mine
REVIEW – Perilous Play: The Real Fifty Shades by Suz deMello
Book Title - Perilous Play: The Real Fifty Shades
Author - Suz deMello
Stars - 4
Buy Link – AMAZON
One woman’s journey into the contemporary kink underworld, Perilous Play is Suz deMello’s explosive personal account of her experiences with BDSM. Engaging and honest, this groundbreaking memoir will grab you and never let you go.
If you are looking into the world of BDSM, then you should read this book. It is a true story with true situations and not always good but not always bad either.
I am pretty knowledgeable in this lifestyle and everything she says is correct for some. Everyone is different so their experience in this lifestyle will not be the same as yours or mine. In this book, you get a look into the lifestyle from someone who is actually living it. She does tell how she feels in situations and how she is suppose to feel in others. There are other ways to find out information about this particular subject but you don't get good information from the internet but reading from the point of view from someone that was there experiencing all the feelings involved. I love seeing the details in this book. I really think the author is very knowledgeable and knows her stuff.
I honestly thought with it being a true story that there would've been more sexual situations from beginning to end. There where situations but I felt like it wasn't from someone who was right there experiencing it but from someone who looks at things from the rule point and not the fun point. Mind you that is my opinion and your opinion probably won't be like mine. I did enjoy the book but I was hoping for a little more hotness and all I got was some warmth.
Give the book a try. It does give you a first hand look into the world of BDSM. It's only part of the lifestyle because there are many many parts of this lifestyle and if you are thinking of trying this make sure you do as the author has done--research research research! The more knowledgeable you are, the more you won't be surprised.
Barb gives Perilous Play: The Real Fifty Shades
REVIEW – The Chimes of Nine by A.H. Scott
Book Title - The Chimes Of Nine
Author - A.H. Scott
Stars - 5
Buy Link – AMAZON
A silver etched invitation to an exclusive club leads a woman into a world of enlightenment, excitement and erotic enchantment.
When you've got a golden ticket, you get to take a chocolate ride to Willy Wonka's.
When you get a silver ticket to this factory of fantasy, you are pampered in pleasure's delights..
This is the second book I have read by this author. The more I read by this author the more I love the writing.
Helen received a silver invitation to an exclusive club that deals in the aspect of sex and making the recipients of the special invitation getting a night they will never forget.
Not only is this story erotic and so very sexy but it does give you a place to lose yourself in and pretend that maybe you could be that woman who was special enough to receive that silver invitation. Silver invitation means you are in for the ride of a lifetime and you nor your body will ever forget. So very sexual.
I am hooked on A.H. Scott's writing and can't wait to read another one. To have a mind that can open up a whole new world on paper and make the reader experience exactly what Helen was feeling in every aspect is what I look for in the books I read and this is one that I will not forget.
Barb gives The Chimes Of Nine
REVIEW – In Sophia’s Eyes by A.H. Scott
Book Title - In Sophia's Eyes
Author - A.H. Scott
Stars - 5
Buy Link – AMAZON
In Sophia’s eyes, Dale was the love of her life. Sophia always had a penchant for bad boys. And, Dale fit that mold of the rebel to it’s fullest. Motorcycle, leather jacket and muscles were Dale’s calling card of seducing sexy Sophia.
Sophia was bubbly and bright. Dale was a bit darker in character. Many saw them as two opposite to be attracted to one another. Yet, as they say – opposites attract.
A.H. Scott shows you love “In Sophia’s Eyes”.
Those who are not able to see the heart will be blind to the soul. ….
This is the first book that I have read that was done in a poem like story. It's a love story between two people by the name of Sophia and Dale.
It starts out how Sophia meets Dale and how she loved the way people look at them while they are walking down the street. They met at ballroom dancing lessons. Moved in together after only seven dates. When you know it's right why waste time, just move forward.
Sophia planned a sexy evening for Dale. She cooked a delicious meal while wearing a very sexy outfit. Sophia was hoping for Dale to unwrap her for dessert.
The story tells how the night progress's with Dale and Sophia loving each other. The way the author describes the scene between these two makes me smile. You can feel the love between these two special people who just happen to take the same dancing class. They found each other in this huge world where some people can't find anyone to love them for who they are not what they are. The last line in the book made me smile and think about the entire story over and over again. Some people would wonder how this love match could possibly work between these two. But if it's meant to be, then it will work and it's always worth putting all your effort into something that makes you happy.
The last line was "For Sophia was a woman. And, as for Dale, so was she. It doesn't matter who is what sex to me. Everybody deserves love and just because they may be different does not mean they are not worth the effort or time. Dale and Sophia make each other happy and that is what counts, in a world that happiness is not always found. Love each other Dale and Sophia because this girl is in your corner.
Barb gives In Sophia's Eyes
REVIEW – Starting Over by Marteeka Karland
Book Title - Starting Over
Author - Marteeka Karland
Stars - 5
Scarlet is on the run. In fear for her life, she flees her boyfriend's bookies and goes into hiding. Fortunately, her best friend has given her a copy of a want ad. It seems an elusive weapons designer -- one suspected of murder -- is in need of a housekeeper. Throwing caution to the wind, Scarlet decides taking a chance at a new job is better than being homeless and freezing to death, so she braves the lion inside his lair. How intimidating could a science geek be, anyway?
Logan knows intimately what it's like to want to escape his past. When his colleagues died because of his weapons, he locked himself away more effectively than if he'd been put in prison. Then Scarlet enters his life.
Both need to heal. Both need comfort. But can either find the courage they need to start their lives over?
Scarlet had decided thanks to her friend at work that showed her a want ad for a housekeeper that was her way to get away from her creep of a boyfriend Mick. Mick had her stealing for him because he had gotten himself into some gambling debts and if he didn't pay them back then he was dead. He needed her to stay alive.
Scarlet ran and ended up on the land of Logan Reinhart, who was looking for a housekeeper. Scarlet camped out on the edge of his land in the dead of winter and with a storm reading to drop even more snow. Before she lost all the nerve, she rang the door bell and a gorgeous species of a man answered the door with a gruff voice that she could listen to any day all day.
The way that Logan treated Scarlet right from the beginning touched my heart. Logan could tell Scarlet was running from something or someone and Logan didn't want her as a housekeeper, he wanted her as his girl. He wanted to take care of her, keep her from harm and just make her feel safe. Everyone has secrets in their life that they regret doing or something like that. Logan had a bad history which he had kept to himself in the woods at his cabin. He was tired of being lonely and then Scarlet shows up looking like a homeless person and needing someone to take care of her, and Logan already knew that would be him.
This story has a gal who has no self esteem, thinks she is not worth loving and feels so bad because of all the things she has done in her past but Logan is fighting his own demons and when they both tell each other of their problems, that is where I felt the connection and knew Logan would always be there no matter what the problem was. They need each other to heal each other's heart. This is a very well written story and the only thing I probably would have liked to know more about was Scarlet and Mick's past. A little more background would've helped me in knowing Scarlet a little better. But otherwise this is a great book to read!
Barb gives Starting Over
REVIEW – Take A Chance by Brodie Storm
Book Title - Take A Chance
Author - Brodie Storm
Stars - 4
Buy Link – AMAZON
Raven is desperately looking forward to a weekend away with the girls. Much to her surprise she finds out that her best friends Mage and Morgan have set her up with a very sexy roommate for the weekend. It’s about to get very steamy if Raven will only...Take a Chance
Raven was looking forward to going away with the girls to a cabin in the woods and just spend some quality girl time together. But things change during a year. Raven's best friend Mage got married and another friend was engaged, so instead of just a girls weekend Mage invited others like her husbands brother Chance. Raven didn't remember Chance at the wedding because she was drunk and she met quite a few people at Mage's wedding.
At the cabin when Raven finally meets Chance again, the memories come back to the wedding and her making lewd propositions to this guy who was of course Chance. He also reminded her exactly what she had said and it took restraint to not take her up on her offer of watching her masturbate. Back then he was being a gentleman but this weekend if she would offer, he was jumping at the chance.
This is kind of a cute book. We all have gotten drunk, made mistakes, and done things to the opposite sex, figuring you won't ever see them again. But life has a way of throwing you off track and I think the universe has a sense of humor because things like this do happen in real life. I like the way Chance and Raven sit down and just starting talking about nothing of real importance but then it kind of turned into more than just talking. When Chance reminded her of her offer at the wedding, I am not sure if jumping into bed together would have happened but it was hot. The other part I really liked was when they were talking about if they had boyfriend or girlfriend and Chance said yes he had someone and he met her at his brothers wedding and helped a flower girl up who had fallen. I could just see Raven's mouth drop open when she realized he was talking about her. That was a very sweet moment in the book. I also laughed at the ending.
So if you want a book that does have a situation that would happen in real life and a very hot sex scene, then you will want to read this book. The characters are easy to like and you will want to keep reading until the end!
Barb gives Take A Chance
REVIEW–Stewart Realty Anthology: The Jack and Sara Trilogy by Liz Crowe
Book Title - Stewart Realty Anthology: The Jack and Sara Trilogy
Author - Liz Crowe
Stars - 4
Buy Link – AMAZON
NOTE: Stewart Realty Anthology: The Jack and Sara Trilogy - The first three books in the Stewart Realty Series together for the first time in one complete book - "Floor Time," "Sweat Equity," "Closing Costs"
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Stewart Realty: Life in the House Lane
Love is an easy word to use, a hard one to demonstrate, and sometimes impossible to trust.
The Stewart Realty series is a sweeping epic, encompassing many years in the lives of two people who know how to love with their bodies, how to please and get pleasure, to control and be controlled. When it comes to the deeper meaning of the one word they both need, backgrounds and personalities get in the way. While their physical connection sizzles they somehow manage to continuously disappoint one another on an emotional level.
Jack Gordon has it all—money, success, a string of women—but also a deep longing for something more. When he thinks he finds it with Sara Jane Thornton, his world is never the same again. Sara releases a side of himself he considered buried out of frustration and unhappiness. Sara soon learns that she must trust him implicitly, something she cannot do, no matter how many times she tries...and he fails.
With a rich cast of secondary characters, including a young man who presents a near-perfect foil to Jack's intensity, and who falls hard for Sara, The Stewart Realty series is a saga with an emphasis on contemporary life with a healthy dose of realistic eroticism. A tale of modern, busy, driven people seeking the ever-elusive and highly coveted combination—a friend, lover and trusted companion who will be there for the long haul.
Start at the beginning, with the Jack and Sara Trilogy, now for the first time ever in a print anthology. The Stewart Realty series is a best seller in family saga and urban fiction categories. See for yourself what the buzz is all about.
This story totally drove me crazy! There was several times I just wanted to scream and throw my iPad at the wall. Jack & Sara drove me nuts. When they were together they were all hot sex and couldn't get enough of each other, but in the end they always ended in a fight. There was several moments that had me very sad and crying a little, but I won't say what I don't want to ruin the story for you. I was glad this was all three books together cause if not I would of had a nervous break down waiting for the next book so I could finish the story. This was the first book that I have read by Liz Crowe and I look forward to reading more by this author.
Lindsey gives Stewart Realty Anthology: The Jack and Sara Trilogy
