Brandy’s Blog

Worth the Scandal: Worth it By Karen Erickson @karenerickson

romancebookwormLeave a comment

Excerpt from Amazon:

Strictly business? Try telling that to her heart…

Worth It, Book 1

Alexander Worth, President and CEO of Worth Luxury Goods, is a man never to be crossed. His unwavering sense of responsibility to the family business requires him to always be in complete and utter control. Until it comes to Tessa Crawford.

She’s quietly professional, shy, voluptuous…and she works for him. Which means she is the one woman he must never touch, no matter how hard his gut twists with need for her.

After rising above her disadvantaged childhood, Tessa knows the last thing she should do is risk throwing it all away by falling into bed with her sexy boss. But on an extended European business trip, all self-imposed barriers burn away in the heat of their sizzling chemistry.

Once back home, though, whispers of corporate espionage turn into full-blown scandal—and Tessa finds out the hard way where Alex’s loyalties lie. Determined to soldier on, she picks herself up and carries on with a secret, yet welcomed burden. Never guessing that Alex will make a reappearance in her life, ready to show her once and for all that family does, indeed, come first.

Warning: Contains a sweet-yet-strong woman, and a bossy alpha male brought to his knees by the woman he desperately loves. Involves enough begging and groveling that the reader may be tempted to “accidentally” leave it for her significant other to “find”. For instructional purposes only, of course!

This was a decent read but not something that set my kindle on fire.  It is your typical girl works for boss and finds him attractive.  They end up hooking up and falling in love.  Tessa seemed flat to me though.  I was kind of hoping that she would turn into this badass heroine that told him where he could take himself.  Alex just seems to be the typical rich boss, who seems to think that he is entitled or something.

I was kind of surprised that Hunter (Alex’s brother) was determined to convince Alex that Tessa was a corporate spy.  It seemed like he didn’t want Alex to find love or be happy.  After Tessa left, Hunter seemed to be pissed off that his brother wanted to find her.  I was disappointed that he wasn’t more supportive.  When Alex finds Tessa, I was pissed that she caved into him as quickly as she did and I was not happy that he blamed her for everything.  I think Tessa should’ve had more backbone and I would have probably liked her more.

All in all, I liked the book.  I would have liked to seen more depth to the main characters but that is a personal preference.

Rated 3 Bookworms

bookwormbookwormbookworm

Jabril by D.B. Reynolds (Vampires in America) @DBReynoldsWrite

romancebookwormLeave a comment

Excerpt from Amazon:

Houston, Texas—Cowboy boots, baseball and journeys to the stars . . . right? Wrong. Because Houston is also home to Jabril Karim, one of the eight powerful Vampire Lords who control all of North America. And as Private Investigator Cynthia Leighton will soon discover, not all Vampire Lords are created equal. For Jabril is the face of evil in the new world, a vampire who values no life but his own, who enslaves those he desires, steals whatever he covets and destroys anyone who stands in his way. Running from L.A. and its seductive Vampire Lord, Raphael, Cyn sees the Houston job as a welcome refuge, a place to get away and heal her broken heart. But Texas will be no vacation. For in Jabril Karim, Cyn will confront a true enemy, one who will go to any lengths to satisfy his lusts, enrich his coffers and expand his power. Fighting for the lives of two young sisters, Cyn’s journey will take her through the streets of Houston and back to L.A., where the human police are determined to bring Raphael down for the murder of one of their own. But the danger doesn’t end there. For Jabril has set his sights on Cyn, and he will stop at nothing to have her.

The second book in the Vampires in America series picks up a month after Raphael ends.  Raphael has left Malibu and Cyn for parts unknown.  Cyn is desperate to return to some sense of normalcy but the sensual dreams she has won’t allow that to happen. Cyn has been contacted by a vampire lord to help find a missing girl in Texas. When she arrives she discovers that he has hired a man to do the job and really only wanted to upset Raphael.  That doesn’t stop Cyn from doing her job though.

Mirabelle and Elizabeth were the daughters of wealthy parents and after their tragic deaths, the courts allowed Jabril to have custody of them.  On Mirabelle’s 18th birthday she was turned so that Jabril would always have their fortune.  Now with Elizabeth’s 18th birthday on the horizon, she has runaway in order to stay human.  Once Cyn realizes what is really going on, she makes it her mission to not only find Elizabeth but to rescue Mirabelle as well.

When Cyn discovers that Liz has runaway to L.A., she enlists the help of her friend who runs a shelter to assist her.  In return, Cyn agrees to look into murders of young girls that just happen to look like vampire kills.  This story keeps you coming back for more.  D.B Reynolds has captivated me with her vampires and I love it!

Rated 4 Bookworms

bookwormbookwormbookwormbookworm

RECALLED Cover Reveal!

romancebookwormLeave a comment

recalledwrap

I am so excited to be taking part in Cambria Hebert’s cover reveal for her new book RECALLED!!! This is a brand new series that incorporates romance, thriller, paranormal and fantasy. This fabulous new book comes out on February 15, 2013 and will be available in print and Ebook!

Check out the Youtube trailer here!

Blurb:

Love or Death? A simple question really. The choice seems obvious. But. What if you never knew love, what if your life was spent just trying to survive? What if you knew your fate before you were fully grown?
And then you died.
And you were given another chance. A better chance.
This new life depended upon one thing: your job. And so you agreed. You thought it would be simple. You thought it would be cut and dry.
It never is.
And now you are left holding the fate of someone else in the palm of your hand and you have to make the ultimate choice.
Love or Death?

newbio

Cambria Hebert is the author of the young adult paranormal Heven and Hell series and the upcoming Death Escorts series. She loves a caramel latte, hates math and is afraid of chickens (yes, chickens). She went to college for a bachelor’s degree, couldn’t pick a major and ended up with a degree in cosmetology. So rest assured her characters will always have good hair. She currently lives in Pennsylvania where she is plotting her next book. You can find out more about Cambria and her work by visiting http://www.cambriahebert.com

“Like” her on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/JournalJabber#!/pages/Cambria-Hebert/128278117253138

Follow her on Twitter: https://twitter.com/cambriahebert

Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/cambriahebert/pins/

GoodReads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5298677.Cambria_Hebert

Cambria website: http://www.cambriahebert.com

BLOG TOUR STOP! Beyond 10 Nights by Michelle Hughes and Karl Jones (@MichelleHughes_ , @kast1j)

romancebookworm1 Comment

Wow!  Do you ever put down a book and just sit there for a moment and wonder how in the world you were going to make it till the release of the next story?  That is how I felt when I finished reading 10 Nights.  (Click here for my review of 10 Nights!)  Let me tell you that Beyond 10 Nights was everything I expected and then some!

Leah is in love with Rhett and has accepted his proposal of marriage.  Even though Janie and David don’t understand the relationship that she has with Rhett, Leah is hopeful that she will be able to fix things with her friends.  She is devastated when she realizes that Janie has no desire to support her relationship with Rhett and explodes on her.  Furious and in tears, Leah returns to Rhett’s house where he makes it clear that he wants her to stay with him anyway and that he wants to take care of her.  The submissive side of her wants to take him up on that offer but she knows that she still needs to find a job to take care of herself.

Leah is very nervous when Rhett tells her that he is opening the dungeon back up and she will be doing a scene that night.  She is not sure how she will react but wants to please her Master.  Later that night, while folks are arriving a surprise guest arrives.  A lifelong friend of Rhett’s who also is a Master and lives the lifestyle, Alex.  I have to stop here and say that there is not a single thing about Alex that I don’t find sexy as hell.  The man is yummy with a capital Y and it makes me want to find the nearest dungeon and convince him to join me!  That being said, back to the story.  Alex is intrigued when he meets Leah for the first time and can’t seem to figure out what has happened to his friend.  He has never treated a sub like he does Leah and Alex decides to take Rhett up on his offer to stay at the house so they can catch up.  Running into Leah in the kitchen the next morning, Alex joins her for breakfast and after talking to her for a bit, he begins to understand Rhett’s obsession.  When he realizes that she is job hunting he offers to give her a shot at his advertising agency and convinces her to go with him to check it out.

When Rhett finds that Leah has spent the day with Alex, he explodes with pent up rage and emotion. Leah doesn’t feel like she should have to deal with that so she leaves with Alex to take a break. I have to tell you that I don’t think I would have been able to handle myself around Alex, cause when sex walks like sin, you have to take advantage. Leah and Alex develop a wonderful friendship and it eventually leads to more. I love where this story goes and the intricate relationships. Go Beyond 10 Nights and into a world of desire.

I don’t want to ruin the story for anyone so I will stop there.  If you haven’t read the first book in the series, 10 Nights, then you need to hop over to Amazon or click the link below to get started.  This book picks up where it leaves off so you might be a little lost! 🙂  I was invited to be a stop on this blog tour and excited doesn’t even begin to describe it!  The genius behind this fabulous tour decided we should do a little This or That with our two amazing authors.  I have to admit that I was a little curious about their answers to my questions.

This or That with our Authors!
I was curious about what our authors’ choices would be and I was surprised at a few!

Michelle Hughes                                                                                  Karl Jones

Satin or Silk? Silk                                                                                 Satin or Silk? Silk
Whips or Feathers? Feathers                                                         Whips or Feathers? Feathers
Dom or Sub? Sub                                                                                 Dom or Sub? Dom
Kittens or Puppies? Puppies                                                           Kittens or Puppies? Kittens
Piercings or Tattoos? Piercings                                                    Piercings or Tattoos? Tattoos
Beer or Liquor? Liquor                                                                     Beer or Liquor? Liquor
Santa Claus or Easter Bunny? Santa Claus                               Santa/Easter Bunny? Santa Claus
Open Scene or Private Show? Private Show                           Open/Private Show? Private Show
Print or E-book? Ebook                                                                    Print or Ebook? Ebook
Cross or Bench? Cross                                                                       Cross or Bench? Bench

10 Nights (Forbidden Desires Series)

I would also recommend checking out Michelle and Karl’s other books while you are visiting Amazon.  They are all worth the read!  These are a couple of my favorites!

Click here for my review of Tears of Crimson!

Click here for my review of Eternal Crimson!

Click Here for my review of Shattered!

Michelle Hughes Bio

mhughes[2]

Michelle Hughes is the international bestselling author of the book 10 Nights. She currently resides in Alabama with her husband and her five children. Hughes began her career in entertainment as a singer and host for a nationally televised satellite talent program and continued to perform across the United States until she decided to move home and start her family.
Hughes and her co-author, Karl Jones, own Tears of Crimson. The website began as role-play and fan fiction base and has since become the home of Tears of Crimson Books and promotions. Hughes states her love of writing comes from her muse Rafe, who has given her dreams of fantasy worlds since she was a young girl.
Hughes started reading Harlequin romance books at eight years old, sneaking them from her grandmother. It instilled in her a love of romance that is still with her today. Her grandmother was raised on a cotton farm and only completed a sixth grade education, it was through watching her struggles with reading that Hughes states gave her the love of the written word.
Amazon/Michelle Hughes http://www.amazon.com/Michelle-Hughes/e/B00605O89I/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1354383782&sr=1-2-ent
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/groups/448502065202528/?fref=ts
Blog/website http://www.tearsofcrimson.com/

Karl Jones Bio

karljones[1]

Author Bio, Karl Jones:

In the dark of the night and the still of the evening you’ll find Karl Jones writing furiously to exercise his dark muse to the delight of his fans.

Specializing in Crime and Horror thrillers, he refers to himself as a loner, haunted by the stories he pens and driven to push the boundaries until all lovers of the genres have no choice but to sleep with one eye open.

Karl explores the dark side of humanity and turns the stories of some of the most depraved into literature you’ll have no choice but to read with one eye on the door and every light in the house on.

Grab a sample if you dare…

Amazon/Karl Jones http://www.amazon.com/Karl-Jones/e/B006ZJKS1G/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1354383853&sr=1-2-ent

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/AuthorKarlJones?fref=ts

Blog/website http://booksboozeandbanter.blogspot.com/

**I was given a copy of B10N in return for my honest review.**

Rated 5 Bookworms

bookworm

bookwormbookwormbookwormbookworm

Follow the rest of the tour!

January 1st – The O’Raven Chronicles -Loush O’Raven

January 2nd – Tam’s Two Cents-Tammy Middleton

January 3rd – Kindle Hooked -Kim Box Pearson

January 4th – Into the Night book reviews -Heather Gunter

January 4th – Romancebookworm’s Reviews-Brandy Dorsch

January 5th – Mad Sheep reading-Jenny Needham

January 6th – Don’t Feed the Mimsey – Jay Mims

January 7th – The Indie Shop -Tamara Beard

January 8th – The Page Turners -Keelie Bennett Howard

January 9th –Author Belinda Boring aka The Bookish Snob

January 10th – BookEnd 2 BookEnd -Jessica Johnson

Haunted on Bourbon Street (A Jade Calhoun Novel: Book 1) by Deanna Chase (@writerdeanna)

romancebookworm1 Comment

Excerpt from Amazon

Jade loves her new apartment–until a ghost joins her in the shower.

When empath Jade Calhoun moves into an apartment above a strip bar on Bourbon Street, she expects life to get interesting. What she doesn’t count on is making friends with an exotic dancer, attracting a powerful spirit, and developing feelings for Kane, her sexy landlord.

Being an empath has never been easy on Jade’s relationships. It’s no wonder she keeps her gift a secret. But when the ghost moves from spooking Jade to terrorizing Pyper, the dancer, it’s up to Jade to use her unique ability to save her. Except she’ll need Kane’s help–and he’s betrayed her with a secret of his own–to do it. Can she find a way to trust him and herself before Pyper is lost?

This is the first book in the Jade Calhoun series and I really enjoyed it.  I was not familiar with this author before this book so I love finding someone new to read!

Jade Calhoun is an empath that has moved to New Orleans and into an apartment above a strip club.  While that in itself may bother some folks she is fine with it until she discovers her apartment is haunted.  She does not share her empath abilities with anyone since her last relationship was destroyed because of them.  I love the fact that she is creative and is into beadmaking.  I thought that was a great niche that the author created.  When an evil spirit attaches itself to her friend, Jade will use all the skills and people at her disposal to save her. 

This story is full of wonderful characters that include a stripper friend that runs a coffee shop, a sexy landlord with secrets of his own, an ex-boyfriend that used to be a best friend, and a whole cast of ghosts, witches and friends that make this story a must have on your TBR list.

Rated 4 Bookworms

bookwormbookwormbookwormbookworm

When in Paris (Language of Love) by Beverley Kendall (@beverleykendall, @Season4Romance)

romancebookwormLeave a comment

Excerpt from Amazon:

Recommended for readers +17 and up
New Adult – mature content (language & sex)College freshman Olivia Montgomery is thrilled at the chance to start over, escape the rumors that plagued her in high school. And she can finally put her juvenile crush, Zachary Pearson, where he belongs–in her past. Then her unrequited love strolls into her French class, shattering Olivia’s newfound peace, and the feelings she’d thought buried for good come rushing back. Now she can’t shake her unwanted attraction to the one guy who can twist her stomach into knots with just a smile…but has never given her the time of day.Zach’s good looks may have always gotten him his pick of girls, but it’s the star quarterback’s skill on the football field that gives him his pick of the Big Ten colleges. To escape the crushing demands of his win-at-all-costs father, Zach opts for a private university in upstate New York. There his present and past collide. And the one girl he’s always wanted but can’t have–and a class trip to Paris–turn out to be the ultimate game changer that has him breaking every one of his rules.

 

I really enjoyed this book and I don’t normally read a lot of this genre!  Olivia reminded me of how I felt when I moved away from home.  You long for the chance to start over and recreate yourself.  I can only imagine how stunned she felt when Zach walked into her class.  It seems like when you think your past is in the past, it walks right in and smacks you in the face.  Feeling a strong attraction to someone that can’t even stand to look at you has to be a blow to the ego and self-esteem.

I understood completely where Zach was coming from though and the reasons that he stayed away from Olivia.  Family comes first and he did the right thing.  However, sometimes destiny intervenes and takes control.  The tension that these two exhibit and the interactions between the characters all seem like what would really go on between two college kids.  This story seems more real then a lot of college age books I have read.

When in Paris is the story of how attraction and passion can lead to finding the love that was always meant to be.

~I was given this by the author in return for my honest review.  I am not being compensated for my opinion.~

Rated 4 Bookworms

bookwormbookwormbookwormbookworm

 

 

RELEASE DAY! Beyond 10 Nights by Michelle Hughes and Karl Jones (@MichelleHughes_, @kast1j)

romancebookwormLeave a comment

beyond10coverblank

I am so excited for the release of the second book in The Forbidden Desire Series! Beyond 10 Nights is the continuing story of Leah and Rhett’s relationship. I fell in love with this series and I have recommended it to everyone I know!

Excerpt:

Beyond 10 Nights with Rhett, Leah discovers that her journey into submission has a new temptation awaiting her awakening mind. The depths of Rhett’s depravity come full circle and force her to make a decision on the path she’ll choose to walk in his dark world of sensual indulgence.

When an old friend of Rhett’s returns to Chicago, the ultimate alpha male competition ensues to win the heart, mind, and body of our heroine. Two worlds of enticement collide, and emotions are overwhelmed as the true game begins.

Beyond 10 Nights will Leah discover that desire and the heart can be the hardest checkmate of all? Passion, love, and heartbreak in the end it all takes you Beyond 10 Nights!

Check out my review of 10 Nights and see how far temptation will take you!

Vampires in America: The Vignettes-Vol 1 by D.B. Reynolds (@DBReynoldsWrite)

romancebookwormLeave a comment

I am a huge fan of this series and have already done a few reviews (more are coming!).  This volume is a look after the books to catch up on our characters.  I don’t want to include any spoilers in case you haven’t read the actual books. 

These short stories include followups to Raphael and Cyn (my faves), Duncan and Emma, and the wedding of Raj and Sarah.  I hope that you will include this in your Vampires of America collection!

Rated 4 Bookworms

bookwormbookwormbookwormbookworm

How to Marry a Duke by Vicky Dreiling (@vickydreiling)

romancebookwormLeave a comment

I originally reviewed this book when I started my blog in 2011.  My blog fizzled out and I have since revamped and expanded.  I decided to review this again and include some fun stuff from Vicky Dreiling. 

This is Vicky’s debut romance and I was hooked from the get go.  Our heroine is Tessa Mansfield who considers herself a spinster and has created her own life as a ton matchmaker.  Tristan, Duke of Shelbourne has decided that it is time to set up his nursery and hires Tessa to find him a bride.  Humor commences as Tessa creates a courtship between the Duke and twenty-four of London’s most eligible debutantes.  I find it hysterical that Tessa creates a “game show” style process to find the next Duchess of Shelbourne.  I love the friendship and chemistry that develops between the characters.  I have read all of Vicky’s books and this is one that is on my permanent keep list. 

Now on to some fun stuff!  Vicky Dreiling posted the following on her Facebook page and I thought it was so funny, I wanted to include it here!  I contacted her and she agreed to let me post it on my blog.  As a struggling author, I found it to be a lighthearted gaggle of laughs!  Enjoy.

Vicky Dreiling’s How to Survive and Thrive List for Debut Authors 

How to Celebrate your First Sale 

  1. Squee in your agent’s ear.  Apologize profusely afterward.

  2. Call your friends and insist on meeting up at your favorite Mexican food restaurant for celebratory Chambord swirl margaritas.

  3. Spend part of your first advance check on something special-you earned it!

  4. Eat lots of chocolate.  It is one of the basic food groups for writers. 

How to Prepare your First Revision Letter 

  1. Buy post-it notes in many colors.  They are your friends and make the printed pages look pretty.

  2. You will need the printed version because page numbers will change as you revise.

  3. Stock up on your caffeinated beverage of choice.

  4. Memorize the phone numbers and/or website addresses of Pizza Hut, the local Chinese delivery service and Chili’s to go,

  5. Eat lots of chocolate.  It is one of the basic food groups of authors. 

How to be a Glamorous Almost Published Author 

  1. Make an appointment with a photographer for your author photo.

  2. Try on several outfits and decide you deserve a new one for the photo.

  3. Smear mascara under your eyes.  You’re out of practice putting on makeup since you became a recluse.

  4. Ask the photographer if he can work miracles with Photo Shop.

  5. Eat lots of chocolate.  It is one of the basic food groups for authors. 

How to Write your First Dedication and Acknowledgements 

  1. Sniff a little as you dedicate your book to someone special who helped you make your dream come true.

  2. Thank your wonderful editor whose insights made your book so much better.

  3. Thank your Uber Talented agent who knew exactly how to sell your book.

  4. Sniff a little as you thank all your fabulous writing friends and family members who encouraged you along the journey.

  5. Eat lots of chocolate.  It is one of the basic food groups for authors. 

How to Stay Sane as You Realize You Didn’t Prepare Enough 

  1. Call your published friends and beg them to tell you what works for publicity.  Friends will tell you nobody knows.  Don’t freak out.  And don’t overspend (Hah!).

  2. Get a professional website.  Don’t skimp as this is your window shop to the world.

  3. Social media is not an option.  Embrace it.  You’ll make friends and gain name awareness.

  4. Admire your Advance Reader Copies.  Keep one and give the others away on blog tour.

  5. Eat lots of chocolate.  It is one of the basic food groups for authors.

 Reprinted with permission of Vicky Dreiling.

Rated 5 Bookworms

bookwormbookwormbookwormbookwormbookworm