This Week’s Book Feature: Tempting Tristan by Melissa Foster
Kelly Jamieson – Top Shelf (Aces Hockey, #3)
REVIEW
This is a sincerely thoughtful hockey romance story. It has all the critical elements of a hot hockey romance: sinfully sculpted male, spicy sex scenes, endearing love interest, and a fanatical drive to win games. In addition to all this, this book sets forth a theme about the importance of mental health.
I think this book sets a great message about the need for people to seek help for depression when they need it. Life can send people some incredible difficult challenges that can put them in a temporary state of depression. With a little help from professionals, depression can be addresses and conquered. I appreciated the fact that the book stresses that even if a person needs a little help at some point that it doesn’t undo their ability to become strong and independent.
I loved this book, in lieu of the fact that the author downplays the skills of my favorite NHL hockey team. The heartfelt tension overpowered any irritation I had about choice of hockey teams.
Most of all, I LOVE the TITLE of this book!
This was the first book that I’ve read in Kelly Jamieson’s Aces Hockey Series. I just added the rest of the books to my TBR.
BLURB
Whether it’s a clutch goal or a cocktail, nothing beats “top shelf.” In this novel from the bestselling author of the Heller Brothers Hockey series, a fun-loving jock and an ambitious career woman mix business with pleasure.
Not only is Jared Rupp one of the stars of the NHL’s Chicago Aces, he’s also the owner of the Sin Bin, the after-hours hot spot where the whole team hangs out. Lately, Jared can’t take his eyes off the woman he’s hired to give the Bin a more modern feel: a sexy, sophisticated consultant who has carved out a niche updating drink menus. She’s as passionate about her career as Jared is about hockey—and yet he can’t help wondering what kind of cocktail she really wants.
In her line of work, Sidney Frayne is used to guys hitting on her in bars, but Jared gets her hot enough to burst into flames. When he’s wining and dining her, he’s sophisticated as hell; on the rink, he’s a testosterone-fueled powerhouse. Still, Sidney’s bitter divorce taught her to keep her emotions on ice. With her busy schedule—and Jared’s playboy reputation—she’s not sure she’s ready for a fling. Because if she lets Jared into her bed, she just may have to let him into her heart.
BUY AT AMAZON
OTHER GREAT BOOKS THAT I’VE READ BY KELLY JAMIESON:
Kelly Jamieson – Reward of Three
Kelly Jamieson – Rhythm of Three
Kelly Jamieson – Wicked One Night
Kelly Jamieson – With Strings Attached
to Kelly Jamieson!
Joshua Edward Smith – Duality
REVIEW
If you read the first book in this series, you can understand how it was nearly impossible not to start reading this book. Fortunately, I had the pleasure of not having to wait between finishing book 1 and book 2.
Book 2 continues with a flare of originality. In the sea of many repetitive books, I give a lot of credence to the newness of the material. Also, the heat is turned up a bit higher in book 2.
Following a 10 month time lapse in the story between book 1 and book 2, the relationship between Lisa and Sir takes on a physical relationship.
Sir’s personality or needs (I’m not even quite sure what the proper reference word would be) is not very likable. That is not intended to be a negative about the book. Hatred for a character makes for a good read sometimes. I admit to having hopes that Sir would eventually redeem himself. I’ll keep that opinion to myself. I will say that I do believe that Sir’s final moments seem to be out of character. I had a difficult time reconciling his final choices.
There is a large cast of characters in this book. I would have liked to have had the chance to know Annie a bit more.
BLURB
Lisa and Sir have finally managed to balance their kinky love life with the vanilla world of suburbia. But when Sir starts training a sexy young submissive, the strength of his relationship with Lisa is tested. Could polyamory be the key to maintaining the stability Lisa needs while giving Sir the variety he craves? This captivating sequel to Entropy is a provocative journey through the complex world of physical and virtual sexuality.
to Joshua Edward Smith!
Joshua Edward Smith – Entropy
REVIEW
This book breaks the standard formula for a romance novel. First, the concept of an online romance is uniquely fantastic. To make things more interesting, it is a D/s relationship. Coincidentally, I had just first heard of the concept of an online D/s relationship a few days before I started reading the book. I felt like I was reading an entirely new genre, which was new and exciting.
The ebb and flow of the developing relationship is less linear than most romance novels. There are a number of issues that derail or set-back the progression of the relationship.
The depth of Lisa’s feelings grow incrementally throughout the book. The author never seems to make those unexpected leaps that ruins the believability of the book.
I fell in love with Lisa’s character when she starts tweeting from her hospital bed. (Hey, it’s in the first 20% of the book, which I’ve decided doesn’t count as a real spoiler). Her humor and strength completely endeared me to her.
Sir always says, “Excuse me?” when Lisa says something disrespectful. When I finished the book I screamed, “Excuse me!” Beware of cliffhanger.
BLURB
Lisa is adrift—searching for connection on social media to compensate for the absence of love and attention in her marriage. But when a dominant married man entices her to become his online submissive, Lisa’s world starts to collapse around her. Could giving up all control be the secret to finding the serenity she longs to have? Cerebral and erotic, Entropy explores the murky depths of an online affair and how upheaval of the status quo reverberates through a woman’s life and sense of self.
BUY LINK
to Joshua Edward Smith!
AUTHOR
Joshua Edward Smith was born in Michigan, and now lives with his beautiful wife and three unbelievably awesome children in central Massachusetts. He started writing early, and was a columnist for his college newspaper. He now makes his living as a technology executive, but continues to scratch the writing itch on his blog and on Twitter. “Entropy” is Joshua’s first novel.
Additive Authors: featuring Abbi Glines
There’s no denying that I get addicted to certain authors. Looking at my archive of book reviews, there are certain authors that I’ve blogged about many times. The books by these authors are consistently enjoyable. Perhaps you may like these authors as well. If you’re looking for new authors to read, I highly suggest this addictive author.
FEATURED AUTHOR: Abbi Glines
Abbi Glines is a #1 New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of the Rosemary Beach, Sea Breeze, Vincent Boys, Field Party, and Existence series. She never cooks unless baking during the Christmas holiday counts. She believes in ghosts and has a habit of asking people if their house is haunted before she goes in it. She drinks afternoon tea because she wants to be British but alas she was born in Alabama. When asked how many books she has written she has to stop and count on her fingers. When she’s not locked away writing, she is reading, shopping (major shoe and purse addiction), sneaking off to the movies alone, and listening to the drama in her teenagers lives while making mental notes on the good stuff to use later. Don’t judge.
WEBSITE: http://www.abbiglines.com
LINKS TO RELATED POSTS
Abbi Glines – Rosemary Beach Series
Abbi Glines – Bad For You
Abbi Glines – Hold On Tight
Abbi Glines – Kiro’s Emily
Abbi Glines – Sea Breeze Series
Abbi Glines – Until the End
Abbi Glines – Until Friday Night
Abbi Glines – Up in Flames
Abbi Glines – The Vincent Boys
Abbi Glines – When I’m Gone
Abbi Glines – When You’re Back
Abbi Glines – You Were Mine
to Abbi Glines for hours of enjoyment!
Cindi Madsen – 12 Steps to Mr. Right
REVIEW
Unlike the ’90s dating book “The Rules” this is a nice clean fictional romance story. This definitely isn’t some crazy self help book.
Through various characters, there’s a glimpse of how the steps can help some find love, but how a lot of it is left up to interpretation of the steps. I really liked the emphasis on the combination of respect and chemistry.
The book is filled with a fantastic mix of humor and great friendship. The HEA is sure to please any romance book lover.
BLURB
12 steps to finding Mr. Right, composed by dating coach extraordinaire Savannah Gamble
1: Admit to being powerless over your attraction to the wrong type of guy. (Like Lincoln Wells, who broke your heart after an unforgettable one-night stand.)
2: Believe Mr. Right is out there.
3: Take inventory of past mistakes. (See step #1.)
4: Make a list of qualities you want in a man. (Avoid charming baseball players/reason you made these rules in the first place)
5: Take charge of your own life.
6: Learn to love yourself.
7: Sort the hookup guys from the relationship guys. (Avoid a painful brushoff after an amazing night together.)
8: Never, ever settle. (Even if the chemistry is off-the-charts.)
9: Don’t believe you can change a guy. (Once a commitment-phobe, always a commitment-phobe)
10: Communicate your needs.
11: Open your heart & love fully. (Still working on this one…)
12: Don’t ever, ever stray from the steps.
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31428210-12-steps-to-mr-right
Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Steps-Mr-Right-Cindi-Madsen-ebook/dp/B01LM0F2Y0
Barnes & Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/12-steps-to-mr-right-cindi-madsen/1124511470?ean=9781633757370
to Cindi Madsen!
Jerry P. Gore, MD – Holistic Medicine
REVIEW
This book came to me as a welcome deviation from the books that I generally review.
Typically, when I review a book, it is one of my choosing that I have high expectations of enjoyment. Almost all of the books that I read are fiction. My Review Policy
Because I believe that a book’s rating is directly reflective of the reader, I feel that I need qualify a few things about myself. The author of this book is my neighbor, but I have never visited his Center for Holistic Medicine. I do believe that wellness is directly related to living a healthy life and I am not one to eagerly seek out medical treatment.
As such, I opened the book with an open mind.
First off, I’ld like to make note of the fact that the author does have a M.D. I believe that intrinsically it offers a lot more credibility to the topic than others. This is a non-fiction book and therefore the background of the author is critical to the integrity of the material.
As a whole, I enjoyed learning more about the intricacies of holistic medicine. The author made numerous case connections. This offered a more practical understanding of the methods of holistic medicine. Often times, I considered how the approach could benefit people close to me. This was something that surprised me, because I tend be skeptical. I have degree in engineering and law and tend to need to have all things proven in order to believe. However, the book doesn’t contain any formal scientific proof to back up the holistic theories. The book is more of an introduction into the world of holistic medicine. In the end, the author’s words moved me enough to suggest his services to a friend.
I found it particularly interesting that homeopathy in Great Britain is, “widely practiced, recognized, and paid for by health insurance plans[.]” Whereas, in the United States, my home, homeopathy is not subsidized by health insurance (at least none that I am aware of). The author notes that there are some cost savings by opting his services to those of “standard medicine.” However, I would have preferred more discussion in this area.
Chapter 8 is entitled Food for Health and Wellness. This chapter read like a typical nutrition or diet book. It is this chapter that made me reduce my star rating for this book. There are certain aspects of all nutrition books that are consistent. For example, you can’t live on baked goods (ah, to dream). I have read many nutrition books and am in contact with a trainer and nutritionist on a weekly basis. I felt this chapter contained an opinionated perspective. This chapter lacked continuity with the rest of the book.
While I might not have agreed with all the methodologies in the book, they were discussed with clarity. I am pleased to have gained a better understanding the practices of holistic medicine. Overall, I found the book to be quite informative.
BUY LINK
AMAZON https://www.amazon.com/Holistic-Medicine-Physical-Clarity-Consciousness-ebook/dp/B01HJ2IIUK/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1476024274&sr=8-2&keywords=holistic+medicine
BLURB
Have you ever had a body ailment that no physical treatment could cure? Has your state of mind ever affected your health—for better or worse?
These are the types of questions that only alternative medicine can address. Holistic medicine isn’t a passing fad; it’s a comprehensive approach to health that recognizes the interconnectedness of body, mind, and spirit. Rather than writing off traditional medicine, however, author and holistic medical practitioner Jerry P. Gore, MD, acknowledges it as one approach within the bigger picture of health possibilities.
Introducing the basic concepts of holistic medicine, this easy-to-read guide highlights the range of methods you can practice in your everyday life, from nutrition and exercise to yoga chakras and meditation. Examples are accompanied by real-life case studies to better illustrate how these techniques work and what they can accomplish. There’s even a twenty-four-hour health plan included in the appendices so you can immediately put what you’ve learned into action.
Your health and well-being are essential if you want to fulfill your potential and enjoy your life. Discover how to build a partnership between your body, mind, and spirit through the art of holistic medicine and start reaping the benefits today.
to Jerry P. Gore, MD
Doctor Jerry P. Gore M.D. Medical Director & Holistic Psychiatry in North Shore, IL
Doctor Gore is a holistic doctor and obtained his M.D. from the University of Illinois Medical School, and completed his post-graduate program at Northwestern University’s Institute of Psychiatry. He is a co-founder and Medical Director of the Center for Holistic Medicine in Riverwoods/Deerfield IL where he practices both general medicine and psychiatry. He has over 35 years of experience specializing in integrating the body, mind and spirit of the person into an individualized medical treatment plan specific to that patients needs. His vision is to treat symptoms, educate the patient about his/her health and help people transform their lives using holistic medicine.
Additive Authors: featuring Jaci Burton
There’s no denying that I get addicted to certain authors. Looking at my archive of book reviews, there are certain authors that I’ve blogged about many times. The books by these authors are consistently enjoyable. Perhaps you may like these authors as well. If you’re looking for new authors to read, I highly suggest this addictive author.
FEATURED AUTHOR: Jaci Burton
I’d like to say I always wanted to be a writer, but that’s not the case. First I wanted to be a teacher. When I was a kid I used to play school in my friend’s basement. She had actual school desks—and index cards. I’m a list maker, so those index cards rocked my world. Then later on, I wanted to be a nurse. My other friend had a stethoscope and a medical book. I had a thing for props, okay?
But during my early teen years my cousin and I—back in the day before the internet—would exchange scripts we’d written of a popular TV show. No, I won’t tell you which TV show because then you’d know how old I really am. But it was a western with two gorgeous cowboy heroes and we were each in love with one of the main characters. I’d say that was my first foray into writing, and it got me hooked.
As an adult, marriage, work and raising two sons took priority. And while I fell madly in love with reading romance, there wasn’t much time to write it. It’s amazing how much corporate life, soccer games, high school musicals, dinner and laundry can suck out of the average day. But I would occasionally dabble in writing, then put it aside when I got busy. Unfortunately, I was always busy.
Eventually my kids grew up and I was on my second marriage when Biker Dude (what I call my husband because of his love for his Harley Davidson) found out I used to dabble in writing and encouraged me to try again. So I did.
I sat down and wrote a romance novel, start to finish. I was so proud of it, but I didn’t sell that romance. Not right away, anyway. I didn’t sell the one after that, either. Or the one after that. Suffice it to say I wasn’t an overnight success. But eventually I did sell a book, then another, and then another. I have an exceptionally smart agent and write for amazing editors. I’m a USA Today and New York Timesbestselling author, and I have you wonderful readers to thank for that.
This has been a dream come true for me, one I wanted for so many years. Writing is my full time career and something I love so much. I can’t imagine a day that isn’t filled with hot, sexy heroes who save the day, strong, capable heroines who don’t need a man to save them, and the happily ever afters in every book.
Sometimes I even write about teachers and nurses. And hot cowboys.
I live in northeast Oklahoma with Biker Dude and our wonderful, crazy dogs. Between us we have three kids who are all grown up and living out in the wild. When I’m not writing I can usually be found in the garden, coaxing the tomatoes to grow, heading out to our local casino trying to become a millionaire (so far, no luck there), or riding on the back of Biker Dude’s Harley. And when I want to relax I read other authors’ masterpieces or I’m parked in front of the television watching sports, reality TV or crime shows. And maybe a drama or a comedy. Okay, I really watch way too much television.
Welcome to my world.
Website: http://jaciburton.com
LINKS TO RELATED POSTS
Jaci Burton – All Wound Up
Jaci Burton – Changing the Game
Jaci Burton – The Kent Brothers Series
Jaci Burton – Play by Play Series
Jaci Burton – Taking a Shot
Jaci Burton – Quarterback Draw
Jaci Burton – Unexpected Rush
Jaci Burton – Unwrapped
to Jaci Burton for hours of enjoyment!
Cover Reveal: Between Lust and Tears by Dani René
Title: Between Lust & Tears
Series: Backstage Series Book #2
Author: Dani René
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Cover Design: Dani René
Release Date: October 29, 2016
Blurb
HIM
Irresistible. Bad Boy. Manwhore.
That’s what they call him.
But I know better.
You can’t change someone
who doesn’t want to be changed,
but it didn’t stop me trying.
Can I really be the person
to break down those walls?
HER
Innocent. Sweet. Beautiful.
That’s what she is.
I know her better than she knows herself.
You can’t make someone stay,
but you can show them your truth
and let them choose.
Can I ever be enough for her?
Can I be the man worthy of her heart?
*This story is for mature audiences only. Contains explicit scenes intended for adults 18 +
ADD TO GOODREADS
Author Bio
Hey darlings,
I am an indie author and freelance graphic designer. I started focusing on writing in January 2015 and after a few fan fiction stories, I decided to publish Ace of Harts it was my first full length novella. On a daily basis I have a few hundred characters, storylines, and ideas floating around in my mind. If I am not on Pinterest or Instagram looking for my next muse, you can find me on Twitter or Facebook. So head on over, I love meeting new readers and authors.
When I am in the cave, I am happiest. If you can’t find me sitting behind my trusty MacBook writing about hot alpha males, I am probably drinking coffee at a coffee shop, or wine tasting one of the few hundred wine farms in my home city of Cape Town, in South Africa.
I have an addiction to reading (who doesn’t?), TV series, music, tattoos, chocolate, and ice cream. I am constantly looking for a new book to get lost in and new book boyfriend to fall in love with. My favorite authors include – M Never, K Webster, KL Kreig, Meghan March, and that’s just to name a few!
Chat soon xo
Author Links
PINTEREST / NEWSLETTER / AMAZON / TUMBLR
FACEBOOK GROUP / SPOTIFY / BOOKBUB
The Meaning of TBR
As per usual, I added a few books to my TBR list on Goodreads. What is this list of books that seemingly keeps growing day by day? It’s not like a To Do List where most of the items must be accomplished. If you don’t finish the items on a to do list, there’re usually inconvenient consequences.
What does it mean to put something on a TBR?
Thrilled
I get truly excited every time I push that Want to Read button because I anticipate that I’ll enjoy every book on my list. I feel the same way about books as others feel about going to see a movie. Sometimes, I just want to read a popular book so I feel like I’m in the know. When I fall in love with an author’s writing, I instinctively want to read every book they write. Other times, I fall in love with titles, book covers, book blurbs, or book reviews.
Balance
Instinctually I want to push that Want To Read button. I try and control my impulse to add too many books to my TBR. Let’s face it, even for the fastest of readers (which I’m not) there is a limit to the number of books that a person can consume in a lifetime. Also, my book budget isn’t bottomless.
Resigned
The rational side of my brain knows that the reality is that I will never be able to read every book on my TBR even though my heart burns to read them all. On the good side, a large TBR means I’ll never be left without any suggestions for what to read next.
Should there be a difference between a Must Read list and a TBR?
As a book reviewer, I keep a running spreadsheet of the books I plan to read for the upcoming months. This list is what I whittle down as my Must Read list. I tend to accept a predetermined number of books from indie authors and a limited number of books from promoters and publishers. I purposely leave openings in my list for last minute books that I absolutely Must Read. Also, as one of my reading goals for the year was to read books outside my usual romance genre, I try to leave the occasional space for one these types. When I get ahead of schedule, I pick a book from my TBR.
Indulge in Life's Guilty Pleasures 