Pure Textuality

NOW BOOKING: The Burning Review Tour! (Urban Fantasy / Paranormal Romance)

puretextuality — Wed, 22 May 2013 03:13:16 +0000

June 10th – 14th

THIS TOUR HAS UNLIMITED OPENINGS

THE BURNING REVIEW TOUR IS A REVIEWS ONLY TOUR.

THE BURNING REVIEW TOUR WILL INCLUDE AN OPTIONAL TOUR-WIDE GIVEAWAY
OF 10 SIGNED PAPERBACK COPIES OF BURNING. A RAFFLECOPTER CODE
WILL BE SUPPLIED A WEEK BEFORE THE TOUR STARTS.

THIS IS A PROMOTIONAL TOUR IN ANTICIPATION OF THE JUNE 25TH
RELEASE OF THE DEVIL YOU KNOW (DEMON LEGACY #1).

Title: Burning
Series: Demon Legacy # 0.5
Author: J.M. Gregoire
Release Date: October 2, 2012
Genre: Urban Fantasy / Paranormal Romance
Length: 37 Pages (Short Story Prequel)
Burning on Goodreads - Current Average Rating is 4.35 Stars

“Lucas was a typical playboy – lots of alcohol and a different girl every night.

One woman brought his emotional walls and the beliefs he used to build them crumbling to the ground.

Now, an unexpected visitor is going to change both their worlds forever.

Burning is the short story lead-in to the upcoming Demon Legacy series by J.M. Gregoire.”

GRAB YOUR FREE COPY OF BURNING FOR THE TOUR!
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Filed under: Blog Tour Tagged: Burning Review Tour, Demon Legacy, J.M. Gregoire

REVIEW by Jena: The Prince (Original Sinners #3) by Tiffany Reisz (@tiffanyReisz)

puretextuality — Tue, 21 May 2013 22:33:15 +0000

Two worlds of wealth and passion call to Nora Sutherlin and, whichever one she chooses, it will be the hardest decision she will ever have to make. Unless someone makes it for her…

Wes Railey is the object of Nora’s tamest yet most maddening fantasies, and the one man she can’t forget. He’s young. He’s wonderful. He’s also thoroughbred royalty and, reuniting with him in Kentucky, she’s in his world now. But this infamous New York dominatrix is no simpering Southern belle, and Nora’s dream of fitting into Wesley’s world is perpetually at odds with the relentlessly seductive pull of Søren—her owner, her lover, the forever she cannot have. At least, not completely.

Meanwhile Nora’s associate Kingsley Edge is only too happy to take her place at Søren’s feet during her hiatus. Søren is the only man Kingsley has ever loved, and their dark, shared history has forged a bond that neither the years—nor Søren’s love for Nora—can break. But a new threat from an old adversary is forcing Kingsley to confront the past, reminding him that he must keep his friends close, and his enemies closer.

We are getting closer to the end of this little saga (if you want to call it that) and I, for one, and excited to see how it ends but sad to see it go!

The Siren told the story of Nora and Zachary, Nora and Wesley, Nora and Soren, Nora and riding crops.

The Angel told MORE of the story of Nora and Soren, a little more Nora and Wesley, Nora and Michael, Nora and Griffin and the best story of all, Griffin and Michael.

The Prince takes us on a bit of a different story. We still have Nora and lots of her. We get to learn more of the Nora/Soren backstory and why it is that she loves him so much. We also have Nora and Wesley, which up to this point has been a hot mess of emotion. Where she’s a pro in brutality and kink, Nora is very much a virgin in the vanilla sex, vanilla relationship, vanilla ANYTHING arena. Wesley is the one man on this planet that makes her genuinely NERVOUS! It’s kind of fun to watch her squirm a bit and get weird with the mushy gushy stuff.

The other half of this book is one that I really did not see coming and the story is just mind-blowing: Soren and KINGSLEY. I know it was mentioned in the past that Soren and Kingsley had been known to share a bed and it may have even been mentioned that they were actually lovers. I knew they were or at least I assumed they were.

Well, The Prince tells the story of how Soren and Kingsley came to be as well. It. Is. HEARTBREAKING. There are some very sweet moments and there are also some very painful moments. Their story is intense and really horrible to witness but no matter how bad it makes you want to cry, you just can’t stop reading.

Amidst all of these books is a story arc that has profound consequences. Some very sensitive files are stolen from Kingsley’s townhouse and the potential badness those files could cause goes in several different directions. At the end of The Prince, you find out just how big this story arc really is and it’s a little terrifying. I am DYING to find out what happens next!!!!!

This book also left off with something said that will leave you completely slack-jawed. A question and an answer you would never thought you would EVER READ in one of these books. I am also DYING to find out what the hell happens with that!!!

On a side note, as with the other books in this series, I listened to the unabridged audiobook. The first and second books were phenomenal. The Prince?? Not so much. I have a GPS in my car. I named said GPS after a transvestite. Her name is Lola. Does everyone remember that song?? Lol Anyway, the woman reading this book sounds JUST LIKE LOLA! A computer voice. Hard core. I mean, it sounds enough like a computer that at 38 minutes into the audiobook, I went back to the beginning and listened to the credits to see if they even named a narrator or if it really was a computer reading the book. Well, it is an actual woman and I can’t imagine having to listen to that voice every day. However, it should tell you how much I love this series that I suffered through it just so I could “read” The Prince while I was at work. I would love to have heard The Prince read by the woman who narrated The Angel. She was amazing.

That brings to end of my review but I also have some great news to share! While we wait for The Mistress (the 4^th and final Original Sinner installment) to come out in July, Tiffany Reisz was awesome enough to agree to do an interview with us here at Pure Textuality. I am almost done typing up my questions to her and they will be sent to her tomorrow afternoon. When we post the interview, I am also doing a giveaway of an autographed paperback copy of The Siren!!! I can’t wait!!!!

I am giving The Prince 5 little leather corsets! Such an awesome book and such an amazing addition to the series!!!!

70 DAYS UNTIL THE MISTRESS RELEASE DAY!

THE SIREN
Original Sinners #1

CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR COPY!

THE ANGEL
Original Sinners #2

CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR COPY!

THE PRINCE
Original Sinners #3

CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR COPY!

Filed under: Erotica, Review Tagged: Jena, Original Sinners, The Prince, Tiffany Reisz

REVIEW by Jena: The Forgotten Ones (Danaan Trilogy #1) by Laura Howard – Released 4/28 (@laurahoward78)

puretextuality — Tue, 21 May 2013 07:30:51 +0000

Allison O’Malley’s plan is to go to grad school so she can get a good job and take care of her schizophrenic mother. She has carefully closed herself off from everything else, including a relationship with Ethan, who she’s been in love with for as long as she can remember.

What is definitely not part of the plan is the return of her long-lost father, who claims he can bring Allison’s mother back from the dark place her mind has gone. Allison doesn’t trust her father, so why would she believe his stories about a long forgotten Irish people, the Tuatha de Danaan? But truths have a way of revealing themselves. Secrets will eventually surface. And Allison must learn to set aside her plan and work with her father if there is even a small chance it could restore her mother’s sanity.

I had the pleasure of sorta-kinda-by-accident-but-not-really meeting Laura Howard online. She and I are both part of (and organizing) the Stamford Author Event this coming August. In talking with her about publishing and whatnot, I agreed to review her debut novel The Forgotten Ones.

And I absolutely loved it.

I ended up reading The Forgotten Ones this last weekend. Being cooped up at home with a sick child who demanded that I be cuddled up with him rather than working on my own book, I had plenty of time and decided that would be my book of choice.

Within just a few pages, I was completely sucked in. It took no time at all before I was burning through the pages of this book at demon speed. I had stuck to my age old rule of not reading the synopsis before reading the book so I went into the story not knowing what to expect aside from the obvious fae reference in the name of the series (the Danaan Trilogy). And who doesn’t like a good fae story?

The characters are very well-written. The main character has the weight of the world on her shoulders in the form of her self-imposed duty to put all of her own needs and wants aside in an effort to take care of her mentally ill mom. Now, this would ordinarily sound like the start of some heavy chick lit book but right off the bat, you know her mom’s “illness” is not normal.

The intrigue in this book is what keeps you turning the pages. The author writes in such a way that she doesn’t give it up on the first date. The secrets and revelations in the book are perfectly timed so you don’t learn everything too quickly but at the same time, the little morsels of information are given often enough that you don’t feel like anything is dragged out. Pace is key, folks and Laura Howard has got it down!

Good books often require a steamy male lead and we have got one. Ethan. Oh, Ethan. There’s just something about him. I honestly had him pegged as a scum bag in the beginning but I have a hunch that he’s actually a genuinely nice guy. We shall see as the story continues.

The fae in this book have classic fae qualities. They’re not twinkly little shits that pass their time floating amongst the trees. They are selfish with selfish agendas. Much like the fae in more modern tales such as the Fever series by Karen Marie Moning and the Southern Vampire Mysteries by Charlaine Harris, Howard’s fae have little regard for humans. Are there acceptions? Well, aren’t there always? You’re just going to have to read the book to find out more.

Now all these kind words come with one fair warning. Be prepared for a cliffhanger that will leave you saying Whiskey Tango Foxtrot?!?!?!?!?!?!?! The ending is not BAD. It’s just a MASSIVE cliffhanger. Massive. You WILL be left craving more!

Overall, I am giving The Forgotten Ones a solid 5 stars! This is a wonderful debut novel from a promising new indie on the market! I thoroughly enjoyed this book from cover to cover. The plot is well thought out, the dialog flows smoothly, the characters have depth – it has everything you need for the good book cocktail. I can’t wait to read the rest of this series!

CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR COPY OF THE FORGOTTEN ONES! <<<< ONLY $0.99 ON KINDLE!!!

Filed under: Fantasy, New Adult, New Releases, Paranormal, Review, Romance Tagged: Danaan Trilogy, Jena, Laura Howard, The Forgotten Ones

RELEASE DAY SPOTLIGHT: Trophy Husband by Lauren Blakely (@LaurenBlakely3)

puretextuality — Tue, 21 May 2013 07:00:18 +0000

Sometimes you can’t help falling in love, even when you try to do the opposite…Successful fashion blogger McKenna Bell has spent far too long protecting herself after the way her ex-fiancé left her at the altar for a college chick he met the night of his bachelor party. Loving again, trusting again, well, that’s just not in the cards. Especially now that her ex is back in town with his new woman, demanding custody of McKenna’s favorite creature in the whole world–her dog. No effing way. McKenna’s had enough of him, and she decides to even the score by finding her own hot young thing — aTrophy Husband. Sure, she’s only twenty-seven, but doesn’t that make it even more fun — and infuriating to her ex — to pursue a younger man? When she declares her intentions on her daily blog, her quest quickly skyrockets in popularity, and that’s when Chris enters the picture, and he’s got all the assets. He’s handsome, successful, and turns her inside out with a kiss to end all kisses, the kind that makes you feel like a shooting star. But loving again could mean losing again, and it’s so much easier to focus on getting even, isn’t it? Unless, you just can’t help falling in love. Which means McKenna will have to come face to face with what she really wants in life — protecting her heart from hurt, or letting go of her fears of a new beginning.

Trophy Husband
Lauren Blakely
Publication date: May 21st 2013
Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance

CLICK HERE TO ADD TROPHY HUSBAND TO YORU GOODREADS SHELF!

AUTHOR BIO

Lauren Blakely is an unabashed fan of clever jokes, toast, and good guys in novels. Like the heroine in TROPHY HUSBAND, she thinks life should be filled with hot men, cool clothes, and the kind of love that love songs promise. Lauren lives in California with her husband and children, and spends her days writing both true stories and make-believe ones.

LINKS
Website
Goodreads
Twitter

Filed under: Blog Tour, Romance, Spotlight Tagged: Lauren Blakely, Trophy Husband, Xpresso Book Tours

REVIEW by Matt: Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander (@mattalarkin)

puretextuality — Tue, 21 May 2013 06:50:26 +0000

Taran the Assistant Pig-Keeper wants to become a hero, joined by Eilonwy, the strong-willed and sharp-tongued princess; Fflewddur Fflam, the hyperbole-prone bard; the ever-faithful Gurgi; and the curmudgeonly Doli–all of whom have become involved in an epic struggle between good and evil that shapes the fate of the legendary land of Prydain.

A friend recommended this series to me when I was much younger, but I never got around to reading it until now. It’s kind of YA, or even MG, which might explain why it didn’t quite capture me. It felt a bit juvenile, without the endearing quirks of Harry Potter.

Nevertheless, it’s a story deeply seated in (Welsh) mythology, which did make it somewhat enjoyable to read.

The story follows Taran, Assistant Pig-Keeper of an oracular pig named Hen Wen. When the Horned King attacks, the pig flees, and Taran sets out on a journey to find her. He encounters a number of odd companions and has a handful of adventures. Among these companions, one reminded me quite a lot of Gollum from the Lord of the Rings.

It’s short and a quick read, and worth looking at if only because it’s such a classic in the genre. I think if I were reading it with kids, it would have captivated me more.

3 phoenix hatchlings

CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR COPY OF THE BOOK OF THREE!

Filed under: Fantasy, Review Tagged: Lloyd Alexander, Matt, The Book of Three

REVIEW by Beth: Stolen Prey (Lucas Davenport #22) by John Sandford (@BunnyBethA)

puretextuality — Mon, 20 May 2013 07:30:06 +0000

Lucas Davenport has seen many terrible murder scenes. This is one of the worst. In the small Minnesota town of Wayzata, an entire family has been killed—husband, wife, two daughters, dogs.

There’s something about the scene that pokes at Lucas’s cop instincts—it looks an awful lot like the kind of scorched-earth retribution he’s seen in drug killings sometimes. But this is a seriously upscale town, and the husband was an executive vice president at a big bank. It just doesn’t seem to fit.

Until it does….

Stolen Prey is book #22 in the Lucas Davenport series of murder mysteries. Davenport, a top cop working at the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Investigation, has been solving crimes for many years, since his days as a beat cop. I’ve read all of the books in the Prey series, and this one disappointed me a little. I’ve kept coming back to this series because when Davenport and his cops are on a case, the story action is fast and damned interesting. I love the way Davenport solves a case, and the relationships that this top cop has with the other cops (especially the cop they all refer to as “that fucking Flowers”) makes for entertaining reading.

No longer the guy who will schtup every good looking woman he meets, Davenport is now a family man, with a wife and children, getting gray hair and wrinkles on his handsome face. Davenport is a happy man.

And then Davenport is held up at an ATM, and despite having a body in pain and being five hundred dollars poorer, Davenport knows that “Sooner or later, he’d see them again.” Sporting a cast from his elbow to his knuckles, Davenport’s going to find the thieves.

I guess it’s Davenport’s physical frailty that had a me disappointed, at first. When he was the randy cop hitting on all the ladies, in his younger days, I would tut-tut and declare that he’s a cop, what do I expect? But now, Davenport’s a victim of a crime. Davenport. He’s vulnerable too. Shocked the hell out of me. Disappointed me.

But then a whole family is brutally murdered, and Davenport’s on a big case that’s taking all of his attention. And this is the stuff that makes the Prey books really good. Davenport’s on the case of the murders, but he’s not the primary, so he’s still trying to find the thieves who ripped him off. The story gets kind of bogged down in too many details, as the cops are trying to find out who killed the family. There’s laundered money, a lot of accountants, the Mexican government, a Mexican cop and his aide, etc. This investigation was a bit too convoluted for my taste. The Prey books usually have a cleaner story line, an investigation that leads the reader from point A to point B. This story did not keep me as enthralled as the other stories have.

Still, Sandford still knows his character well, and there are many pages of classic Davenport to enjoy. The dialogue is, as always, sharp and at times very funny when Davenport and his colleagues are on a case. It’s good to see Davenport happy, and loved, and still a master of the game of crime investigation.

Three stars for Stolen Prey, worth the read for Prey addicts but not the best in the series.

CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR COPY OF STOLEN PREY!

Filed under: Mystery, Review Tagged: Beth, John Sandford, Lucas Davenport, Stolen Prey

REVIEW by Jena: The Angel (Original Sinners #2) by Tiffany Reisz (@tiffanyReisz)

puretextuality — Mon, 20 May 2013 07:00:22 +0000

No safe word can protect the heart.

Infamous erotica author and accomplished dominatrix Nora Sutherlin is doing something utterly out of character: hiding. While her longtime lover, Søren—whose fetishes, if exposed, would be his ruin—is under scrutiny pending a major promotion, Nora’s lying low and away from temptation in the lap of luxury.

Her host, the wealthy and uninhibited Griffin Fiske, is thrilled to have Nora stay at his country estate, especially once he meets her traveling companion. Young, inexperienced and angelically beautiful, Michael has become Nora’s protégé, and this summer with Griffin is going to be his training, where the hazing never ends.

But while her flesh is willing, Nora’s mind is wandering. To thoughts of Søren, her master, under investigation by a journalist with an ax to grind. And to another man from Nora’s past, whose hold on her is less bruising, but whose secrets are no less painful. It’s a summer that will prove the old adage: love hurts.

There is so much I so badly want to say about this book!!!

The characters in this series are just unreal…in a good way.

For someone who used to moonlight as a dominatrix, Nora is one of the most caring characters I have ever encountered. She’s seriously got a heart of gold, even if she doesn’t have the most conventional way of showing it. She’s really sweet and tough and FULL of inappropriately timed humor. I ADORE this character!!!

And that brings us to Michael. Oh, Michael! I just want to track him down and give him a great big hug. That poor kid has such a horrible backstory (as do most of the characters in these books!) and he’s reaching a point in his life where he’s coming to realizations about himself that are not easy for him to deal with. He’s just so frikkin sweet and innocent and…..UGH! I just want to SQUEEZ THE SHIT OUT OF HIM!!!!

That brings us to the tears. Yes, TEARS. I was listening to the audiobook for this one at work (NO JUDGEY!!!!) and the FIRST time I was brought to tears, I was full-on CRYING at my desk. The scene that caused the tears has so my INTENSITY and the sheer gravity of that moment is near unbearable. And this was a scene that caused GOOD TEARS, not bad!!! It’s not often that you become so attached to a character that you genuinely feel love for and pride in a character when this incredible moment happens. I was totally moved!

Then there’s a moment of bad tears. It was horrible. Just horrible…..

In the end, this book brought me to tears three separate times – 1 bad and 2 good. No book has ever done that to me before. This was such an amazing read. The way Michael’s story is what every author should strive for when aiming for good character development. The change in this character is AMAZING.

As I mentioned, I listened to the audiobook for this one. The narrator of The Angel is a female and she’s awesome. After falling in love with the voice belonging to the gentleman who narrated The Siren, I was a little put off at first but after about 10 minutes, I was thoroughly impressed with this woman’s ability. And those intense moments I mentioned? This narrator pours every ounce of emotion into those scenes. She really makes you FEEL the moment. An exceptional job!

I am going to give The Angel 5 little red riding crops! This was such an excellent book! I never thought I would see the day where a S&M novel made me cry with joy. Such a weird feeling….

THE SIREN
Original Sinners #1

CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR COPY!

THE ANGEL
Original Sinners #2

CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR COPY!

THE PRINCE
Original Sinners #3

CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR COPY!

Filed under: Erotica, Review Tagged: Jena, Original Sinners, The Angel, Tiffany Reisz

REVIEW by Lorna : Aris Rising, Court of Vampires (Infinity Diaries #2) by Devin Morgan (@Mollykatie112)

puretextuality — Sun, 19 May 2013 14:56:38 +0000

Can true love survive despite the passage of centuries of time? Psychologist Sarah Hagan may have to pay the ultimate price to obtain the answer.

Sarah’s once safe, quiet life working as a hypnotherapist in Chicago has been completely up-ended by Aris, a vampire whose story first began during the time of Alexander the Great. Aris has taken over the human body of one of Sarah’s patients so that he can be once again close to the only woman to have ever captured his heart. Before Sarah can be sure of her love for Aris, she must overcome obstacles not only in her own modern-day world, but also in Aris’ underground world of the Catacombs, as well as in the mountains of Spain where a vampire war threatens to erupt.

Did Sarah and Aris’ love first ignite during the reign of Henry the VIII when Sarah was the handmaiden at court, Elizabeth Wyatt? Who is the stunningly handsome DeMarco who courts Sarah and will he entice her away from Aris? Can Sarah possibly be welcome in Aris’ Catacombs? Will Sarah willingly give up her human life so that she can be with Aris–her one and only true love–for all eternity? Only time will tell.

I read the first book in this series, Aris Returns, A Vampire Love Story, and to be honest I wasn’t really looking forward to this one. I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised. This book had a lot more going on then the first book.

Aris is an ancient vampire that has taken over Carlo’s body after Carlos is killed by his old gang. The only person that realizes this, is Carlo’s therapist, Sarah. She had met Carlos/Aris during past life regressions done in her office. She can’t tell anyone because who would believe her? Someone else is hunting Sarah and after finding her, is leaving crimson roses on her bed-in a locked highrise apartment. Sarah and Aris have to figure out who this is and why this is happening since it is fairly obvious that a vampire is involved.Old friends of Aris’s(Richard and Gabriella) from a previous life are introduced into the story also. Pretty quickly the two couples realize that the barbarian like vampires of Spain are going to go to war with the sophisticated and educated vampires that live below the city of London. So the story moves from Chicago to London and then to Spain.

This time around, we get to see the past life regression of Sarah back to the time that her previous self is in love with Aris,and to the court of Henry the VIII again. I enjoyed her regression story much more then Aris’s story. One of the reasons for the impending war is to take control of the Infinity Diaries that are kept by the ruling vampires in London. I am still a bit mystified as to what would cause whoever owned them to rule the world(if they were evil) but I will just roll with it. Sarah is still fighting her feelings for Aris for most of the book. She can’t have a true relationship with him unless she changes to vampire, which she really doesn’t want to do. The vampire world building is better in this one and much more interesting-or at least I thought so! It really is important that you read the first book in order to understand this book-I would have been completely lost as it’s pretty much the foundation of the series. This one ends with a cliffhanger but I have to say I had figured out what was going to happen with that very early on in the story. The good thing about this ending is that the prologue for the next book is included and that really helped with not being mad about having to wait for the next one! I really liked this book and will definitely be reading the next one when it comes out.

I rate it 4 stars.

CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR COPY OF ARIS RISING!

Filed under: Paranormal, Review Tagged: Aris Returns, Aris Rising, Devin Morgan, Infinity Diaries, Lorna

REVIEW by Dolly: The Sex Club (Detective Jackson Mystery #1) by L. J. Sellers (@fidget78)

puretextuality — Sun, 19 May 2013 14:49:07 +0000

As a nurse and youth counselor at Eugene, Oregon’s Planned Parenthood clinic, Kera Kollmorgan has endured her share of harassment from fanatical abortion foes. But it only strengthens her resolve. Then a bomb blast rips through the clinic and, soon after, a teenage girl Kera recently treated is found naked and murdered in a dumpster. Kera fears the bitter abortion war in her small community has reached a terrifying new level.

The sexualized killing of Jessie Davenport hits close to home for Detective Wade Jackson. Raising his teenage daughter alone, he understands better than anyone the predatory world that threatens young women. But he never expects his grim investigation will lead to a teenage Bible-study club, the dark underside of high school life, and even the halls of political power. Now he must confront two shockingly different suspects with nothing in common—except a taste for sex and violence.

As Jackson’s manhunt intensifies, Kera becomes a marked woman, stalked by a crazed crusader. And when the fates of the detective and nurse intersect, a world of righteous rage, sexual secrecy, and chilling obsession threatens to blow them apart.

I was taking a break from Urban Fantasy and Paranormal and found The Detective Jackson Mystery series on sale. Of course, I bought them
all.

I’ll read just about anything but I’m not sure Jena would appreciate it if I turned in a review for a cook book or say “How To Cheat At Cleaning”. Anyway, I love mysteries and thrillers. Ms sellers is pretty good at writing them too.

Most of the leads I find in the mysteries I read are either astoundingly brilliant or a chick magnet or a combination thereof. Detective Wade Jackson is not truly either of those. He’s not unattractive in the descriptions and he’s currently a single father with a teenage daughter. Jackson has good common sense and he’s a plodder who slowly ties things up.

I found the world building believable and the storyline very relevant in today’s world. The characters were fully developed and you were able to make a good connection with them. I did, at first, wonder how Jackson could be so clueless about his own daughter but then thought back to my teenage years and realized, my Dad was clueless too.

Kera, the lead romantic interest and a nurse at the Planned Parenthood clinic is extremely likable and a sympathetic character. She unintentionally becomes a target of “the bomber”. Speaking of the bomber, it’s not a big mystery but the circumstances aren’t all they seem. Well, it is a mystery.

As the opening of a series, The Sex Club, was an entertaining read. Not spellbinding but I kept reading and didn’t lose interest. I’m looking forward to the next in the series and will let you know how that goes.

My Rating: 3.75 Stars

CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR COPY OF THE SEX CLUB!

Filed under: Mystery, Review Tagged: Detective Jackson, Dolly, LJ Sellers, The Sex Club

REVIEW by Brandy: Escape to My Arms (A Prepper Romance) by Heather Thurmeier (@romancebookworm, @Hthurmeier)

puretextuality — Sun, 19 May 2013 14:42:18 +0000

Sara’s been preparing for this moment her whole life—she just never believed it would actually happen. With her bug-out bag and emergency food already in her truck, her only goal is to get to her family’s hidden bunker and wait out the pandemic that’s hit every major cruise ship port in the US. But her plan quickly falls apart. She’s out of gas, her route to the bunker is now a two-lane parking lot with no alternative in sight, and her only weapon is a pocketknife. For an experienced prepper, she’s made every rookie mistake.

Dane believes he’s safe in his cabin, off the beaten path and in the woods with his own source for water, electricity and an endless supply of food to hunt. After finding Sara stranded and alone, he’s suddenly not only providing for and protecting himself, but also the girl who wandered out of the woods and into his life. When looters come looking to take what he has, Sara and Dane’s only option is to make a run for their last hope—the bunker.

Can Sara and Dane find safety in each other’s arms and will they survive long enough to escape to a future together?

What a great story! Heather always knows how to wrap you up in a story! Sara is the type of person I would like to be. Always prepared and ready for anything. When the worst actually happens, Sara believes she is prepared and heads to the safety of her familys bunker. What she doesn’t take into consideration is that she didn’t fill her gas tank and the highway is a parking lot.

Dane realizes something is going on when he sees the news and heads back to his cabin in the woods. He wasn’t expecting to find a lost woman there. Taking Sara back to his cabin is the right thing to do. Sara knows the fate of her family is in her hands. Trust is not an option.

LOVE it! This is a short read and I have to say it really makes you wonder. I would love to have more from this couple! Enjoy!

Rated 4 Bookworms

CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR COPY OF ESCAPE TO MY ARMS!

Filed under: Review, Romance Tagged: A Prepper Romance, Brandy, Escape to My Arms, Heather Thurmeier

REVIEW by Beth: The Silent Girl (Rizzoli and Isles #9) by Tess Gerritsen (@bunnybetha , @tessgerritsen)

puretextuality — Sun, 19 May 2013 14:33:21 +0000

In the murky shadows of Boston’s Chinatown lies a severed hand. On the tenement rooftop above is the corpse belonging to that hand, a red-haired woman dressed in black, her head nearly decapitated. Two strands of silver hair—not human—cling to her body. They are homicide cop Jane Rizzoli’s only clues, but they’re enough for her and medical examiner Maura Isles to make the startling discovery: that this violent death had a chilling prequel. Nineteen years earlier, a horrifying murder-suicide in a Chinatown restaurant left five people dead. One woman connected to that massacre is still alive—a mysterious martial arts master who is now the target of someone, or something, deeply and relentlessly evil. Cracking a crime with bone-chilling echoes of an ancient Chinese legend, Rizzoli and Isles must outwit an unseen enemy with centuries of cunning—and a swift, avenging blade.

The Rizzoli & Isles novels is my latest series find, and I broke my usual tradition when starting to read a new series. I’ve read books one (The Surgeon) and two (The Apprentice); I’ve got book three, The Sinner, on my Kindle, but for some reason I read book nine, The Silent Girl, next.

As I was reading the book blurbs of all the R&I novels, I was intrigued that The Silent Girl deals with Chinese legends and a martial arts. So I ordered this title from the library, and found it a pretty good mystery.

The first thing I discovered is that the books take a different track from where the television series is, so far. Okay, I can deal with this. Books and t.v. programs are, after all, different mediums. What isn’t different is that Rizzoli is still a smart ass and does not let anything get in her way when she’s on a case. And Maura Isles is still the uber-rational scientist, just giver her the facts and let her figure out what happened. Isles is also persona non grata with the Boston Police Department, thanks to her testimony against a Boston police officer being tried for murder.

Rizzoli’s family (mom and brother Frankie) factor into this story, and Rizzoli’s father is mentioned but not present. The Silent Girl finds Rizzoli and her partner Frost investigating a murder in Chinatown. As they start their investigation, it’s clear that there are more questions than answers, and the question of why five people were killed at a Chinese restaurant many years ago needs to be answered now.

I found this one a little slower than the first two, especially around the middle of the story. I don’t know, I just felt the details were dragging the story down. I want action when I read a murder mystery, dammit! But I kept with the story, and learned there was a reason for the seemingly superfluous details. This is where Gerristsen brings in a Chinese fable. After pages and pages of feeling fussy with the lack of action, the story hooked me good and proper.

One of the things I like best about this series is the friendship between Rizzoli & Isles. But the relationship between Rizzoli and her partner Frost is also important–they know one another very well, care about each other, and have each other’s backs. These friendships bring out Rizzoli’s human qualities, along with the changes in her personal life (nope, not going to tell you what’s going on, that would be giving away too much story).

Gerritsen writes solid dialogue, and this story is no exception. She pulls out a few story surprises, towards the end. I had a pretty good idea “who done it,” but I didn’t get it all. There was simply more to learn, and I like that. I like surprises!

I’m giving The Silent Girl 3.5 stars, a solid story that delivers.

And I’m going to read some Chinese fables–I hope there are more interesting and spooky fables like the one is this book.

CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR COPY OF THE SILENT GIRL!

Filed under: Mystery, Review, Thriller Tagged: Beth, Rizzoli & Isles, Tess Gerritsen, The Silent Girl

PROMO SPOTLIGHT: Destiny Gift by Juliana Haygert (@Juliana_Haygert)

puretextuality — Sun, 19 May 2013 02:56:35 +0000

Thirty years in the future, a sinister New York City exists in permanent darkness.

A student at the secured NYU, nineteen-year-old Nadine has visions of Victor Gianni, an imaginary guy she has real feelings for. Afraid of being truly insane, she explains the visions away as simple daydreams, but she can no longer deny them when she bumps into Victor in real life. But this Victor doesn’t know her, and turns her away. After the encounter, Nadine’s visions change to those of eerie fates, gods she’s never heard of, demons with sharp claws they are not too timid to use … and instructions.To discover if she’s losing her mind, Nadine follows the vague directions—with the real, rude and reluctant Victor—leading to a man who knows it all: Nadine can restore an ancient creed by unveiling the clues on her visions, and bring sunlight and peace to the world again. But that’s only if the demons and the other evil forces behind the darkness don’t stop her first.

Destiny Gift by Juliana Haygert (Everlast, #1)

DESTINY GIFT ON GOODREADS

CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR KINDLE COPY FOR $0.99!!!

AUTHOR BIO

While Juliana Haygert dreams of being Wonder Woman, Buffy, or a blood elf shadow priest, she settles for the less exciting—but equally gratifying—life of a wife, mother, and author. Thousands of miles away from her former home in Brazil, she now resides in Connecticut and spends her days writing about kick-ass heroines and the heroes who drive them crazy.

LINKS

WEBSITE

GOODREADS

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

Filed under: New Releases, Spotlight Tagged: Destiny Gift, Juliana Haygert

RANDOMS: NEVER Be Ashamed!

puretextuality — Sat, 18 May 2013 18:52:17 +0000

Filed under: Randoms

NEWS: Stamford Author Event Tickets Are Available For FREE!!! (@StamfordAE2013)

puretextuality — Tue, 14 May 2013 23:34:26 +0000

35 authors all coming together to meet YOU!!!

ADMISSION IS FREE!!!!

CLICK HERE TO RESERVE YOUR TICKETS TODAY!

Danielle Bannister
Amy Miles
Karice Bolton
Rebecca Rynecki
Beth Michele
Mary Wasowski
Francine LaSala
Stephanie Keyes
T.L. Manning
Rebecca Ethington
Juliana Haygert
W Ferraro
Danielle Torella
Laura Howard
J.M. Gregoire
Megan Smith
Ashley Wilcox
L.D. Davis
R.J. Keller
Madeline Sheehan
Alice Tribue
Andrea Randall
Daisy Prescott
Charles Sheehan-Miles
Lila Felix
Tasha Ivey
Denise Grover Swank
Christa Cervone
A M Hargrove
Ginny Lurcock
Lynetta Halat
Hannah R Goodman
Liv Morris
Stacey Bentley
Sheryn MacMunn

Pure Textuality is an Official Blogger of the Stamford Author Event!

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Filed under: News Tagged: Stamford Author Event

REVIEW by Lorna: Swordfights and Lullabies (Modern Witch Series) by Debora Geary (@Mollykatie112)

ginnylurcock — Tue, 14 May 2013 12:01:29 +0000

A bachelor curmudgeon, a Celtic witch, and an adorable wee girl with lavender eyes. Join them in the last days of the Swordfights & Lullabies tour – and see what love has wrought.

This is a short read, about the length of two chapters in my series books. Not a short story, really – more like a snapshot. The chance to share a few special moments with some of your favorite witches.

It should be read after A Celtic Witch. Enjoy!

Sometimes I am just in the mood for heartwarming and any of this authors books always fits that mood. I have never read a book by her that I didn’t love. Or novella and that is what this one is.

In Celtic Witch, the grumpy old man of the books, Marcus, finally met his match in Cass. Cass is a world class fiddle player from Ireland. She has spent her life traveling and performing and met Marcus while on vacation. Marcus and his adopted baby daughter, Morgan, become the reason she finally decides to settle down. This novella is the story of her last tour with her band and Marcus and Morgan. The title of this story is also the name of the tour.

First I should point out how short this novella or short story is. On page one on my Kindle it said I had 31 minutes left in the book-just a heads up in case you don’t like short stories. It’s meant to give us another taste of Marcus’s and Cass’s relationship. And it does this. It’s a very simple story and of course it is a little bittersweet to read about Cass’s last concert and last few days of her tour. Since this is what it was meant to be by the author, it totally fulfills this. I enjoyed it and I honestly knew I would simply because of what series it is from. Her Modern Witch series will soon be over with after her next book, A Lost Witch, is released in June. After that,she will be starting her new Witch Central series. I really think she could write about these characters forever and I would never tire of them. I rate it 4 stars.

SWORDFIGHTS AND LULLABIES
A Modern Witch Short

Click here to get your Kindle copy from Amazon today!

Filed under: Paranormal, Review Tagged: Debora Geary, Lorna, Modern Witch, Swordfights and Lullabies

REVIEW by Ginny: How Beauty Loved the Beast (Tales of the Underlight #3) by Jax Garren (@JCGarren) – RELEASED TODAY!

ginnylurcock — Mon, 13 May 2013 21:50:48 +0000

It’s all been leading to this.

Jolie Benoit has become a skilled agent of the Underlight, relying on her savvy to complete assignments while Sergeant Wesley Haukon was out of commission. But an unexpected clue to the Order of Ananke’s diabolical scheme rattles Jolie, and she turns to Hauk for comfort.

It’s been years since Hauk took comfort from the touch of another person, though his love for Jolie is deep and powerful. Uncomfortable in his skin, scarred by a terrible fire, he is unable to give in to the pleasures that Jolie so desperately wants to grant him.

Meanwhile, the Order is lurking in the shadows—and when they strike, the blow is swift and terrible. Hauk and Jolie scramble to fight for their community, but with the future of the Underlight threatened, no one is safe. And Hauk will never be the same…

It feels like I’ve been waiting forever for this book. Really it’s been like three months, but in literary years that’s like… an eternity. Anyways, when this book finally hit my Kindle (thanks Carina Press and Netgalley) I devoured it.

And promptly died.

Repeatedly.

No I’m serious.

Because Jax Garren is a devious bitch.

A dirty rotten scoundrel.

And one of my favorite people of all time.

But I’ll get to that later.

Let’s start with Jolie, which is fitting, since that’s how the book starts. Our favorite burlesque dancing, aerial acrobatic, gluten avoiding heroine is back and, in my opinion, better than ever. She knows she wants Hauk now, and isn’t willing to let his severe body image issues get in the way of their happiness.

And by “happiness” I mean “them getting it on” because homegirl has some serious commitment issues.

Which sort of sucks for Hauk because he’s an all or nothing kind of guy. One with the aforementioned body image issues. How can he resolve the idea of someone not just seeing his body, but touching it on top of figuring out what they actually mean to each other and if he can handle being all in with Jolie when she might not feel the same and…

GOD CAN THESE TWO PLEASE JUST CATCH A BREAK?!

On the plus side, there are no ex-girlfriends.

On the down side, there is an ex-boyfriend.

On the mega downside, their evil enemies the Order of Anake are not willing to take a time out in order to let our two darling heroes figure it all out. In fact, they step up their game in…

Oh god, I just remembered something that happened and nearly started to cry at work. Yeah, that’s right, the epic battle between good and evil was so over the top intense for Jolie and Hauk that I actually forgot one of the… well I’ll call it “casualties of war” though the fate of the character is kind of up in the air. Now I’ve remembered though, and I’m going to need serious therapy because of it.

THANKS A LOT JAX.

*grumblepants*

The Order steps up it’s game, leading Jolie and Hauk into what can only be described as an organ grinder for your soul. One where just as you think you’ve gotten your feet back under you, and you might have figured out how this all is going to end- even if you don’t like it very much- there’s a left turn at Albuquerque and you fall flat on your ass.

(That was the part where I died repeatedly)

Even though I know Jolie and Hauk’s story has been concluded… sort of, in a fashion, I’m willing to read more books about a certain firey red head, just saying…

Where was I going with this…

OH YES! Even though Jolie and Hauk have their resolution, I sincerely hope we get more Tales of the Underlight. There is so much more I want to know.

5 stars.

I’m stealing this from my other review in the series, because it really is the perfect wrap up.

To sum up: Monsters, magic, PTSD, burlesque, an unlikely hero, an even more unlikely villain, and the Greek pantheon versus the Norse. Fuck yes.

I received a free copy of this title from Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

HOW BEAUTY MET THE BEAST
The Underlight Chronicles 1

Click here to read Ginny’s review
Click here to buy your Kindle copy from Amazon!
Click here to buy your Audible copy from Amazon!

HOW BEAUTY SAVED THE BEAST
The Underlight Chronicles 2

Click here to read Ginny’s review
Click here to buy your Kindle copy from Amazon!

HOW BEAUTY LOVE THE BEAST
Tales of the Underlight #3

Click here to get your Kindle copy from Amazon today!

Filed under: Paranormal Romance, Review, Steampunk Tagged: Ginny, How Beauty Loved the Beast, How Beauty Met the Beast, How Beauty Saved the Beast, Jax Garren, Underlight Chronicles

REVIEW by Ginny: Ruby (Facets of Passion #3) by Jeffe Kennedy (@jeffekennedy) – RELEASED TODAY!

ginnylurcock — Mon, 13 May 2013 21:37:46 +0000

Danielle Sosna has no problem denying herself in order to achieve her goals—after all, that attitude landed her a dream job at Vogue Paris. But in New Orleans for one last assignment before heading overseas, she’s faced with the most decadent of temptations. Seductive Cajun chef Bobby Prejean takes Dani’s strength of will as a challenge, and offers her a night of wild indulgence—if she will agree to obey his every command…

Dani can’t resist Prejean’s invitation to join him in a world of carnal desire, complete with fetish costumes and masks. Determined to keep her emotional distance, she gives Prejean everything but her name. A night becomes a week, as she spends Mardi Gras suspended…in the delicious space where pleasure meets pain.

Too late, she realizes the cloak of anonymity has not protected her—and that chasing her dream might come at the expense of her heart.

This is the second book I’ve read by Jeffe Kennedy, and can I just mention that I have mad respect for her for pointing out that sex isn’t always as sterile and clean as it is in books/movies.

(and yes, that is all I’m going to say about it, because now you’ll be all “I MUST KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS” and read the book… which you totally should because it was kind of awesome)

(which you wouldn’t know by how much I’m struggling to write this review…)

Let’s just start with Dani, shall we. She’s all kinds of repressed and fucked up. Not really allowing herself to enjoy the simple pleasures of life. Or the not so simple pleasures of life. Or anything really. She’s kind of a cold frigid bitch.

After a day from hell, during which she misses lunch because she pissed off a chef, she runs into the same chef who makes her a deal. He’ll show her the city, but they have to do things his way. Everything his way.

During the time they spend together you watch Dani aka Ruby come alive as a person instead of the creepy robot person thing she’d previously been. And you even get to watch Prejean make a few leaps and strides of his own.

When you hit the strife I FINALLY got to see something I’ve been waiting for since the first BDSM book that I read. I won’t tell you what that is, but I will tell you I shouted “FUCKING FINALLY.”

The only downfall for me was the quick and hasty reconcile. Just once I want the main character wronged to be all “earn it.” At which point I will go “are you kidding me, just take them back!” because I’m contrary like that.

4.5 stars.

I received a free copy of this title from Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

RUBY
Facets of Passion #3

Click here to get your Kindle copy from Amazon today!

Filed under: Contemporary Romance, Erotica, Review Tagged: Facets of Passion, Ginny, Jeffe Kennedy, Ruby

REVIEW by Ginny: Talking Dirty with the CEO by Jackie Ashenden (@JackieAshenden) – RELEASED TODAY

ginnylurcock — Mon, 13 May 2013 21:24:08 +0000

Gadget journalist Christie St. John is more geek than chic. But when research for an article she has to write on online dating leads to the bed of the hottest guy she’s ever met, she knows that if the geek is to keep the hottie CEO, she’s going to have to come out of her digital shell. Tech mogul Joseph Ashton never expected an Internet blind date to end in the best sex of his life. Yet as the chemistry between him and Christie burns out of control, he can’t help but think this woman is out for his money like all the rest. She claims she wants his heart instead – but that’s the one thing he can never give.

I have real and serious issues with gamer girls who use tags like “naughtygirl” and say shit that is obviously intended to get the attention of their male counterparts. So right away, I was all “fuck I am not going to like this book.”

Then I got to the part where the male lead had ADHD that he then blames on why he can’t be in a relationship. Because he’ll get bored and then move on. I’m married to someone with ADHD and while it might not be the easiest relationship in the world, the one thing I have never had to doubt was his unwavering devotion to me. The laundry might never get down without forty-eight written reminders, but him getting bored with me? Never.

Again, I was stuck in the “fuck my life this is going to suck and then I have to write a review and I hate writing bad reviews and how many times do you think I can tell Netgalley I’m not reviewing a book before the publishers revolt against me and…”

Alright, so maybe I have social anxiety that is just over the line of absurdity in common with the main character. Maybe.

And maybe the spacey paramour strikes a cord.

And perhaps I was a little harsh judging Christie as an attention whore when you find out what prompted her thong and uggs comment… especially once you know that she has nothing resembling social graces.

And fine, maybe the book wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be.

I mean, it still tweaked a few of my hot buttons, (attention whoredom, hiding behind ADHD, absurd obstacles) but once you overlook that (which you might not have to, because those are my hot buttons and not yours) it’s a cute light hearted story with a woman coming into her own and a man coming to learn he can’t hide behind a learning disorder forever.

Plus they rebuild an antique computer. And they watch Next Gen.

3 stars.

I received a free copy of this title from Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

TALKING DIRTY WITH THE CEO

Click here to get your Kindle copy from Amazon today!

Filed under: Contemporary Romance, Review Tagged: Ginny, Jackie Ashenden, Talking Dirty with the CEO

REVIEW by Ginny: Hold Me Down Hard by Cathryn Fox (@writercatfox) – RELEASED TODAY!

ginnylurcock — Mon, 13 May 2013 21:05:58 +0000

When Eden Carver, Iowa farm girl turned NY actress, decides to seduce the sexy cop next door, she begins to wonder if she’s bitten off more than she can chew.　The last thing Officer Jay Bennett wants is to cross a line with the sweet and innocent country girl—no matter how much he’d like to help himself to a nibble. Not only are they in the friendship zone, a naïve girl like Eden doesn’t belong in his dangerous world.　But when she asks him to help her rehearse lines, and things go from simmer to boil, he finds himself doing the one thing he swore he’d never do.He knows he needs to walk away from temptation, but when sweet little Eden bites back, it tilts his world on its axis.Because biting back changes everything.

Out of the six release day reviews I’m writing this week, this has to be the one I was least looking forward to. Not because the book was bad, but because it was short. Really short. Fifty pages short. “This is awkward for me because it was mainly just sex” short.

Well, that’s not true. There was some plot development. You have Eden, a farm girl turned actress who everyone assumes is some sweet innocent little thing but actually craves kinky luvin’ and Jay, a cop who also craves kinky luvin’ but thinks Eden is too sweet and innocent because she’s a former farm girl.

In order to shake things up, Eden crafts this scene to run with her friend and neighbor Jay who she secretly has the hots for. And he responds. Then he freaks out. They go through this super awkward song and dance where he tries to give her what he thinks she needs and she basically calls him a fucktard.

So actually, there was a plot. It was refreshingly honest in addition to feeling natural and real. I could honestly picture this happening as opposed to some other scenarios in the contemporary romance genre.

And all in fifty pages or less.

Rather impressive when you think about it.

4 stars

I received a free copy of this title from Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

HOLD ME DOWN HARD

Click here to get your Kindle copy from Amazon today!

Filed under: Contemporary Romance, Erotica, Review Tagged: Cathryn Fox, Ginny, Hold Me Down Hard

NEW RELEASE SPOTLIGHT: Avatar of Night and Day (Skyfall Trilogy #3) by Matt Larkin (@MattALarkin)

ginnylurcock — Mon, 13 May 2013 17:38:02 +0000

The three dynasties of the Skyfall Isles have fallen to chaos, and three kings war for supremacy. Now Naresh, last protector of the fallen Solar Empire, wants nothing more than to finally bring peace to the Isles. But as he sees the true character of those in power, he finds his loyalties tested.

As his wife spirals into lunacy and the rift between them grows, Naresh is forced to choose between his duty to his people, and his own hopes and dreams. And on the fringes, the horrors of the Spirit World spread across the Isles.

The final book in the Skyfall Trilogy is now available on Kindle and Kobo!

You can also find additional information on Facebook, Twitter, or his website.

Filed under: New Release Spotlight