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Wednesday, May 10, 2017
Monday, May 8, 2017
Monday Book Review: Luke's Redemption by Anni Fife
by Anni Fife
Published November 2016 by The Wild Rose Press
About the Book:
Red-hot sex. Searing betrayal. A passionate and elusive love...
Chased by her criminal kingpin father, Katya Dalca runs to New Orleans and straight into the arms of Luke Hunter. Sucked into the carnal world of the French Quarter, she succumbs to Luke’s potent sexuality. He not only steals her breath, he steals her heart and the only leverage she has against her father. She is left with no choice except to pick up the pieces and rebuild her life alone.
Undercover DEA agent Luke Hunter thought his newest assignment—recover a stolen flash drive to gain the trust of the Russian mob—was like any other. But his target brings him to his knees, and after one taste of her intoxicating beauty, he's in too deep. Doing his job means walking away, leaving his heart behind with nothing but a promise to reunite. It's a promise he can't keep.
When Katya's past reaches out and her world unravels, her only hope is the one man she is most vulnerable to—Luke.
My Take:
This sizzling romance will take you on a roller coaster adventure filled with sex, violence, and betrayal, but ultimately lead to a happily ever after. Hot, steamy, and HEA, what more could you ask for?
Twenty-something Katya has just run away from home to avoid an arranged marriage when she first meets Luke. Except he's undercover at the time, just trying to get back something she stole from her mobster father on her way out the door. She spends one perfect day with him before he disappears, taking both her virginity and her heart. She moves on with her life on the run, raising their daughter alone until circumstances bring them back together to face the danger she thought to leave behind.
The story is told in alternating points of view, with only Katya's chapters told in first person, which I found a little disconcerting at first but quickly adjusted. Actually, more disconcerting was Katya's repeated overuse of exclamation points, which I know is a common device in steamy New Adult novels, but I felt like these characters were a little old for so many exclamatory statements.
Regardless of the punctuation, the story line barrels along at breakneck speed from one narrow escape to the next. The sex scenes are steamy, urgent and powerful, the chemistry between the characters palpable. The language and dialogue are also raw and urgent, and if you're looking for a sweet romance or are easily offended, this isn't the book for you. However, if you enjoy sizzling heat and nonstop action, give this new author a try. You're in for a wild ride.
Okay, that's then end of my official review, but I need to add a few critical words - the cover? I don't really like it. I do like the "King Security" logo, and think it'll be a great way to brand this series, and fits in well with others in the genre. But the purple flower petals? Umm, where's the dislike button? They seem to imply a paranormal flair that's not anywhere to be found. They made me expect witches -- or voodoo, with the New Orleans angle. Nope. After I finished the book and looked at the cover again, it surprised me because I forgot it was like that. I also think the muscular chest should be a little more in focus. A little more sizzle-worthy - because this book is ALL about the sizzle.
But that's it. The extent of my complaints. Take away the purple flower petals, and maybe a few of the exclamation marks and this book is a winner all the way. Totally on my recommend list, but make sure you're sitting next to the pool or the ocean because you'll definitely need a way to cool off after reading this steamy suspense. And I mean that in the best possible way.
Grab a copy on Amazon. No really. Grab one for your beach bag now.
Wednesday, May 3, 2017
Writing Wednesday: Writing Retreats and Wordcount
Well, until the kids are all out of the house, I can't even think about it. But I can dream.
And I can do a mini-retreat, even if it's not official.
As of Saturday, I've been in Mexico with my husband (sans kids). We flew down early for a company event/retreat that starts this coming weekend.
And I brought my WIP with me that needs to be finished for this summer. Fingers crossed.
The last time I was alone in a hotel room with my computer and book, the words wouldn't come. But I did end up reading through, finding plot holes and problems and writing out an outline of how to fix it. Which I've accomplished in the last month. Unfortunately, in the process, I lost 2,500 words despite writing lots of new ones. Yup. Had to cut that much. Hopefully the word count goes in the opposite direction over the next week.
My goal? At least 50,000 new words by the time I return to the U.S. Or half that and a solid outline of how to finish.
Have you ever been on a writing retreat, official or not official?
What worked for you - what didn't? How do you get the most out of the experience?
Monday, May 1, 2017
Monday Book Review: Cooking with Kandy, by Peggy Jaeger
Cooking with Kandy
By Peggy Jaeger
Published 2017 by Kensington Press
About the Book:
Sugar and spice and everything sexy make the perfect recipe for romance in this brand-new series by Peggy Jaeger. Look for exclusive recipes in each book!My Take:
Kandy Laine built her wildly popular food empire the old-fashioned way—starting with the basic ingredients of her grandmother’s recipes and flavoring it all with her particular brand of sweet spice. From her cookbooks to her hit TV show, Kandy is a kitchen queen—and suddenly someone is determined to poison her cup. With odd accidents and threatening messages piling up, strong-willed Kandy can’t protest when her team hires someone to keep her safe—but she can’t deny that the man for the job looks delicious. . .
Josh Keane is a private investigator, not a bodyguard. But with one eyeful of Kandy’s ebony curls and dimpled smile, he’s signing on to uncover who’s cooking up trouble for the gorgeous chef. As the attraction between them starts to simmer, it’s not easy to keep his mind on the job, but when the strange distractions turn to true danger, he’ll stop at nothing to keep Kandy safe—and show her that a future together is on the menu. . .
I've been a fan of Peggy's writing for a while now and was so excited to be offered a chance to review an ARC of her latest release in exchange for my honest review. Her characters are always so real and her stories never fail to satisfy. Cooking with Kandy is no exception, and I'm very excited that this will be a series of books.
First let me say, I'm not a fan of this cover art. I don't think it does either of the main characters justice. Reading the story, I imagined them both slightly older. Kandy's hair should be darker, her curves more pronounced. Josh should be rougher, with more planes and angles... and bigger biceps. Much bigger. But on to the actual story and writing.
Kandy Laine is a celebrity chef who's written a few best selling cookbooks and has the top rated cooking show on television. She's the oldest daughter in a tight knit yet slightly dysfunctional family, and takes pride in the fact that her relatives all pull their weight in her food-based empire.
Success breeds envy, though, and someone has been threatening her... so her cousin, who is also her personal assistant and planner and right-hand woman, decides to hire a private investigator to figure out if its simple harassment or something more. Enter Josh Keane, an ex-cop turned PI who takes the bodyguard/investigative position.
Sparks immediately fly between them as the tension quickly ratchets up. The harassment turns from annoying to dangerous and Josh becomes Kandy's shadow to keep her safe. Kandy feels the heat in his every look, despite his insistence on keeping his distance. But will he be able to keep his focus on his job and keep her safe?
Told in alternating points of view, the story moves at a satisfying pace, with lots and lots of sensual tension sizzling between the main characters. The cast of characters and multiple red herrings reminded me of some of Jennifer Crusie's romantic suspense novels. Humor, heart, and sizzle wrapped into a puzzle to be solved.
If you like a touch of suspense with your romantic tension, give this novel and this series a try. You will totally be glad you did.
Grab your copy on AMAZON.
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