500 Follower Giveaway Winner!!!

Happy Hump Day lovelies!

I've finally been through all the entries I had for my 500 follower giveaway, *whew* there was a lot. 

So first, I was to give a big THANK YOU to all my followers, new and old. And a big 'Howdy' to all my new followers. I hope you enjoy your time at RBtWBC and please feel free to contact me at anytime if you ever have any comments, suggestions, ect. You can find all that info under my 'Pages' tab, 'Contact and Follow'.

Okay, now on to the winner of the big giveaway...if you remember it is for a Black Dagger Brotherhood prize *squee*. 

The winner of one of the following:

1. A Black Dagger Brotherhood Set, complete with PB books 1-6

2. Hard cover copy of the upcoming release, Lover Unleashed

3. $25 for the new Black Dagger Brotherhood Store

is...........

Megan R. !!!!

Otherwise known as meggerfly ;)

Congratulations Megan!!! *clapping & whistling*

I'll send you a notification email shortly, just make sure to reply within 48 hours or another winner will be chosen. 

*small print: all entries were added up and inputed into random.org, which then chose the winner randomly. 

If you didn't win this giveaway, don't despair. Next week I will be hosting Highlander Week and will be featuring a giveaway daily, sometimes even two - thee a day! So make sure to stop by Monday morning to join me in some Highland love!

Until next time, True?

XOXOXO

Quickie Review: Friendly Fire by Megan Hart

Friendly Fire

by Megan Hart

ebook, 50ish pages

Published March 21st 2011 by Carina Press

ISBN 1426891407

Courtesy of NetGalley

DEA Agent Kendall Frasier doesn't want to see the man who shot and killed her partner. Zane Vincent wants to forget about the bust gone bad and the man he killed. When both officers arrive at the same tropical island for a department-regulated vacation, more heats up than just the sand and sun. Will they let their past prejudices keep them from giving in to their mutual attraction, or will Zane and Kendall both succumb to a little Friendly Fire?

GoodReads

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My Thoughts:

Friendly Fire was a fun and quick read, perfect for by the pool or a break in bewteen full-length novels.

The story was well-written, kept my interest and flowed nicely with a great setting; I liked the characters and their background. The sex scenes were steamy but brief and light for an erotica, I was left wanting.

I enjoyed the whole premises of Friendly Fire but honestly; it was just too short for me to become really invested in the characters. It was like when you see someone interesting walking down the street; you follow them with your eyes the whole way down until they disappear but once they turn that corner you’re done with them and won’t think about them again. Does that make sense? LoL

Despite it being so short though Kendal and Zane’s relationship didn’t feel rushed and I felt that by the end it was more then just physical but there wasn’t much in the way of closures and I wish there was an epilogue.

Overall, a good read.

Rating: 3 Wine Glasses - A Good Read

Review: Twilight Prophecy by Maggie Shayne

*Originally reviewed and posted by me on sister site, Paranormal Romance Addict

Twilight Prophecy 

Wings in the Night #17

by Maggie Shayne

Mass Market Paperback, 400 pages

Expected publication: May 1st 2011 by Mira 

ISBN 0778329801

Courtesy of NetGalley

According to ancient prophecy, there's only one chance to avert the complete annihilation of the Undead. Twins James William and Brigit Poe, part human, part vampire, believe that they are that chance. In truth, the key lies with the reclusive—and mortal—scholar Lucy Lanfair.As Armageddon approaches, antivampire sentiment fuels a war neither side can win, driving James to abandon his moral code and draw Lucy into a deadly battle she wants no part of.But Lucy soon realizes that she holds this powerful immortal's soul in her hands and that it's her destiny not only to stop a war but to save him from his inner darkness. If she fails, his race will die—and so will her heart. Is the power of love strong enough to save the world?

GoodReads

My Thoughts:

Twilight Prophecy is a sensational addition to an already outstanding series!

The novel centers on one of Amber Lily’s (now full-grown) twins, James a.k.a. J.W. Both James and Bridget are one quarter human and three quarters vampire, and they are very similar to the yin yang, one good one bad, one the healer and the other the destroyer. But appearances can be deceiving. 

It’s a race against time with an apocalypse looming and the vampire race on the brink of extinction. James takes up the mantle as healer and savior, throwing away his beliefs and risking the one woman he loves to save all.

Shayne keeps to the overall series arc in Twilight Prophecy with DPI, a secret government agency, out to destroy all vampires. We meet both new and old characters throughout the story and it’s been a long while since I’ve read this series but it took me no time to get back into the plot though I had to think back and place some of the characters.

The pace did drag a lot but Shayne blends history, myths and imagination for an interesting mix and a wonderful story. There is romantic tension that keeps your heart tied up in knots and the characters are intriguing.

The ending was tied up nicely for the couple but left threads hanging for the continuation of the series. The cliffhanger was well written, and didn’t leave me frustrated but still anticipating the next novel.

Full of romance, suspense, mystery, action and lots of drama Twilight Prophecy was a great read! It also can be read as a stand-alone but is so much better with the rest of the series. 

Rating: 4 Wine Glasses!

Sexy Snippets: The Neon Graveyard by Vicki Pettersson

<center><a href="http://readingbetweenthewinesbookclub.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c290/kellymarie1081/SexySnippetsButton.jpg"/></a></center>

Sexy Snippets is a weekly meme hosted by Secrets of a Book Lover and Reading Between the Wines for the 18+ crowd. To join in just grab the button, post a sexy paragraph or two from your current read and share the author & title so other participates can add the book to their TBR lists if they like. Then add your post to the linky below so everyone can follow along. Have a sexy good time!

..."I'm going to brand you on the inside. So that from now on wherever you go, and whatever you do, everyone will know you're mine."             He pushed my legs flat, and buried my answer into the pillow, though he wasn't exactly waiting for my surrender. He took it though. I reared back as he barreled forward and he felt, and claimed, it. Forcing his body into mine, he kept forcing until it was mine. And I did the same, his way. For now. For always.                                                         I didn't feel his weight or limbs atop me after that. I lost any sense of the pillow or bed beneath me. I felt instead that I was suspended, that there was only my molten core, two people inhabiting the same spot, existing in a singular moment, exactly where we both belonged.                                     Then I saw stars. And we went supernova. Together. 

The Neon Graveyard by Vicki Pettersson

Now it's your turn, show me your sexy!

ARC Review: Book It Forward ARC Tours - Tempest Rising by Tracy Deebs

Tempest Rising

by Tracy Deebs

Hardcover, 352 pages

Expected publication: May 10th 2011 by Walker Books for Young Readers

ISBN 0802722318

Courtesy of Book It Forward ARC Tours

Tempest Maguire wants nothing more than to surf the killer waves near her California home; continue her steady relationship with her boyfriend, Mark; and take care of her brothers and surfer dad. But Tempest is half mermaid, and as her seventeenth birthday approaches, she will have to decide whether to remain on land or give herself to the ocean like her mother. The pull of the water becomes as insistent as her attraction to Kai, a gorgeous surfer whose uncanny abilities hint at an otherworldly identity as well. And when Tempest does finally give in to the water's temptation and enters a fantastical underwater world, she finds that a larger destiny awaits her—and that the entire ocean's future hangs in the balance.

GoodReads

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My Thoughts:

Tempest Rising was a really sweet Y.A. read that I blew through.

Tempest Maguire is a bit of a tomboy; she’d rather be surfing with the guys and her on-again, off-again boyfriend Mark, then hanging out at the malls with her girlfriends. As her seventeenth birthday approaches though her body craves more then just riding the waves, it wants to be under them, despite how her mind and heart feels. After her mother walked away six years ago leaving her, her brothers and father behind, she swore that she would never choose her mermaid side. But when the sexy and mysterious Kai is drug under the waves the choice may be taken from her. Will Tempest survive the war brewing under the surface of the ocean? And will she choose to remain a mermaid, human or can she find a balance between the two?

Tempest Rising was a fascinating story written from Tempest's point of view. I really enjoyed the unique underwater world that Tracy Deebs has created with different mythical creatures; mermaids, selkies, sea witches. I also liked the how in the plot, Tempest knows her mermaid heritage but despite her prejudices, because of her mother’s abandonment, and being set against becoming a mermaid, you can tell that she was born to the water. I also loved her surfer lifestyle; it was entertaining and makes me want to head out to the beach right now.

The author kept Tempest true to her character throughout the novel, never wavering from her initial feelings, instead having some mature and grow along the way while others remained the same. I was able to dive into the characters without a problem, each one was unique and I found the side characters just as entertaining as the main ones. Tempest is strong, sensitive and loyal with a deep love and commitment to her family. She had a love triangle to deal with and it wasn’t as suspenseful as you usually find in Y.A.'s, but there was a lot of back and forth, should I choose him or him. I thought Kai was sexy and charming and right for Tempest, though I did feel that Mark got the short end of the stick; he really cared for Tempest and thought she was the one.

The setting was imaginative and I could picture the cali surfer life and the world of mermaids and selkies around me while reading.

The descriptions of characters where a bit redundant towards the middle but I flew through this novel within a day, turning the pages as fast as I could to see where Tempest’s destiny would take her.

The ending was nice but it felt like it was missing something, I can’t really say what without revealing a major spoiler but I would of like more closure. The story could end here and that’d be it, but the author left a few points open to continue the story with. Nothing to cause those hated throw-the-book-across-the-room cliffhangers, a lot of the story is wrapped up neatly, but it does leave you interested for more.

Full of action, drama, mystery, and angst, with a beautiful cover Tempest Rising was a great and refreshing read.

Rating: 4 - A great read!

Review: Everyone Loves a Hero by Marie Force

Everyone Loves a Hero

Marie Force

Mass Market Paperback, 416 pages

Published February 1st 2011 by Sourcebooks Casablanca

ISBN 140224574

Fame has its perks... Reluctantly famous, First Officer Cole Langston finds being in the spotlight has its advantages-until he meets Olivia. Having women throw themselves at him everywhere he goes becomes a serious problem when he's trying to convince her she's the one... And its price... Olivia has trouble trusting a guy like Cole, and everywhere she turns she sees reasons to run. But he's the only man who's ever seemed to understand her as an artist and as a woman...Cole is working overtime to prove to Olivia that he's serious, but her deep seated mistrust and his entourage of unwelcomed fans may be more than they can overcome...

GoodReads

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My thoughts:

Marie Force delivers with a romance that is both sweet and hot in Everyone Loves a Hero!

Cole ‘Jackpot’ Langston is a former Air Force pilot working as a First Officer for a commercial airline, based out of Chicago. He likes to live the high life with traveling, womanizing, and driving fast cars. When the pilot he is flying with has a heart attack and Cole is forced to take the passenger-filled plane down in a snowstorm, and then administers CPR, saving the pilot’s life he is named a hero. Fame is cool at first but Cole soon tires of all the media attention, though he still takes advantage of the female interest. Needless to say, he is quite the player. With good looks, charm and now ‘Hero’ status he sees plenty of action but is always upfront with the ladies, stating ahead of time he isn’t looking for anything serious.

That is until he gets knocked out standing up for a stranger and wakes up staring into the beautiful face of Olivia Robison. From that first ‘Jolt’ he is lost. Now he has to convince the insecure Olivia that she is it for him and despite all their odds, they can make this work…

I absolutely loved Cole and Olivia right away; the way they fought for their relationship to despite the numerous obstacles was absolutely endearing and I was unable to put this book down because of it.

Cole is just amazing in every way, not perfect by any means, but definitely a man you can easily fall in love with. He knows Olivia is the one for him right away but he has his work cut out for him convincing Olivia and getting rid of a few ex girlfriends while she isn’t looking.

These two provide the perfect balance for each other, Olivia inspiring Cole to be a better man and Cole giving Olivia the push and confidence that she needs.

Olivia is very insecure, she has led a sheltered life and is somewhat intimidated by Cole’s experience, but she is especially insecure when it comes to her abilities to keep him interested in her. And her feelings are very relatable. I know if a sexy, charming man was all of the sudden into me and professing his love I’d be a little wary too, especially with numerous women constantly throwing themselves at him right in front of her, ex-girlfriends showing up wherever they go and a crazy disgruntled ex causing trouble. Cole is patient and constantly reassures her with his words, actions and is just incredibly sweet. I found myself continually smiling while reading this novel. Cole also supports Olivia in her art, pushing her to attend art school and show other’s her work, giving her the courage she lacked.

When these two get together the sex scenes are sizzling and numerous. The writing flowed smoothly and kept me turning the pages, Cole & Olivia’s story was complex and very entertaining. Their character growth was also fascinating and dynamic. Good suspense with their relationship and a few twists to keep you guessing. The ending was wonderful and heart warming, it put a big smile on my face and I closed this book with a happy sigh.

The only reason this novel received a 4.5 from me instead of a 5 was because I thought that the ‘I love you’s’ came a little too quickly and too often, and though I loved all the sex scenes there was one or two too many and it seemed like filler for the plot.

I think that Everyone Loves a Hero would be a great read to lift your spirits if you’re feeling down, but is an exceptional read either way and I will be recommending it to my friends. And Cole was just *dreamy sigh*, wow. I will definitely be adding him to by BB harem. Make yourself comfy hon, I’ll be visiting you often! LoL
I’m not usually one for contemporary romances but this one grabbed me hook, line and sinker.

Rating: 4.5 Loved it, a must read!