Jenn LeBlanc's Blog, page 10
June 27, 2011
The Taming of the Rake – Kasey Michaels
The Taming of the Rake by Kasey Michaels
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I really like this book, I mean really. Both the hero and heroine were genuine and likable and the supporting cast was well done. There a bit bit of freeforall near the end that seemed to only serve the purpose of future books, so it stuck out rather strangely, but other than that is was a wonderful little trip across England.
I didn't actually see Oliver as a rake. Ever. At all. He wasn't portrayed as a rake, he wasn't described as a womanizer or a manwhore. So that part of the title provided for a bit of disconnect. He was merely described as your typical twenty-something man who has sowed the appropriate number of oats and is in no danger of being chased by angry brother, fathers or husbands. The bad guys are so horrible that when they are done it's simply a giant sigh of relief. I didn't even want to read about them at all because they were just awful. To the nth degree.
In the end things wrapped up rather neatly and you thought there would be a satisfying solution with the brother of the heroine only to be thwarted and have him prove himself once again to be just plain awful.
I never rolled my eyes, or threw my iPad across the room, but there was a bit of WTFckry at the end which confused me. However, I really loved the main story.
The cover is quite beautiful.
I received this eGalley from Netgalley for review.
Filed under: historical romance, review Tagged: historical, Kasey Michaels, review, The Taming of the Rake
June 24, 2011
WINNER WINNER chicken dinner!!
AISLINN MACNAMARA!!
@aislinn_mac won the #RomCon11 ticket giveaway and meetup with the Pervy Trinity and Naughty Authors #1 and #2 AND DEREK!! YAY!!
The two runner up swag baskets full of awesome goodies go to:
Jen Martin aka @RedHotBooks and Isalys aka @IsaBookSoulmate
Thank you for all the entries and the fun over the past couple weeks!
I hope you all can make it to RomCon this year!
Filed under: CONTEST
June 17, 2011
Update to the contest!
NEW PRIZES!!
Just because we love you all so much, and we would love for everyone to be a winner (but can't afford to take everyone to RomCon) we have added TWO runner up baskets to the RomCon11 ticket giveaway!!
WOOOT. The swag baskets will include some Romance Trading Cards, signed books, other Pervy Trinity favorites and a few other things we might throw in there. I might be persuaded to include some prints from my illustrated romance as well…hmmm…what else can we give away!?!?!
So go enter now, the more stuff you find and follow the more entries you get into the giveaway, but there is always the quick and dirty entry, all you have to do is click it, tweet it and send it! YAY!
Who doesn't like a good truck-stop quickie? I know I do.
Derek wants to meet you…at RomCon…
Filed under: CONTEST, News
June 16, 2011
What I Did For A Duke – Julie Anne Long
What I Did For a Duke by Julie Anne Long
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Love, love LOVE.
I think I loved The Perils of Pleasure a bit more, but that story is just so very out of the blue and incredible it was difficult to top (for me). The references to The Ballad of Colin Eversea in this book are terribly endearing having read his story.
I am smitten with these characters, all of them. I'm just thrilled she has contracted to continue the Pennyroyal Green series.
Genevieve is a lovely girl, drifting through life doing exactly what has been expected of her. Being calm and patient and falling in love with a respectable, if poor, but honorable-ish man. The problem is, she isn't at all that girl, and quite honestly doesn't even know it herself until a Duke comes to her family's home purposing himself with the nefarious pursuits of revenge against her brother Ian…and she is to be the weapon.
The banter between these two characters is incredibly moving, poignant and downright hilarious. I actually woke my husband reading at night because I was laughing out loud.
And so we have it. Never once rolled my eyes, the fact I couldn't take them off the screen was probably a hindrance in that respect, never wanted to throw my ipad across the room. There was no WTFckery and the cover is not just stunning but speaks loudly to the two main characters. It's absolutely stunning.
Filed under: historical romance, review Tagged: histroical romance, Julie Anne Long, Pennyroyal Green, review, What I Did For A Duke
June 5, 2011
ROMCON ENTRY FORM
Filling out this form WILL NOT add you to any mailing lists and / or spam bots. This entry is sent as an EMAIL directly to Jenn LeBlanc.
Jenn will NOT sell or distribute this information for any reason.
This information will be used SOLELY to contact you should you be the winner of the contest, and to thank you for entering.
If you would like to be included in any update lists, we recommend you follow our respective blogs.
Thank you for entering the RomCon 2011 Ticket Giveaway with the Pervy Trinity and Naughty Authors.
GOOD LUCK!!
Ashley, Jenn, Kati, Rita and Jamie.
**this is the entry form…click here to find out about the contest this goes with.**
Filed under: CONTEST
ROMCON 2011 ticket giveaway!!
Romance lovers unite! If you're interested in attending RomCon 2011 August 5-7, 2011, in Denver Colorado, here's a great opportunity for you to win a ticket! Please see below for the rules and participating blogs:
The participating bloggers are known (in the twitterverse) as the Pervy Trinity. If you follow them you know why.
The Pervy Trinity is:
Kati at Romancing Rakes
Rita at Not another Romance Blog
Jamie at For the Love of Romance.
The participating authors, dubbed Naughty Author #1 and Naughty Author #2 by the Pervy Trinity are:
Ashley March and
Jenn LeBlanc
Here are the rules:1. Follow the Naughty Authors and the Pervy Trinity on Twitter and 'Like' their pages on Facebook (note that this means you have ten things to click on).
Ashley on twitter / Ashley on Facebook
Jenn on twitter / Jenn on Facebook
Kati on twitter / Kati on Facebook
Rita on twitter / Rita on Facebook
Jamie on twitter / Jamie on Facebook
2. Find the hidden quotes from Ashley March's SEDUCING THE DUCHESS and Jenn LeBlanc's THE RAKE AND THE RECLUSE that are hidden on the respective blogs (two quotes on each blog). We will be tweeting and facebooking hints about the locations of the quotes every day of the contest.
3. Tweet THE FOLLOWING PHRASE EXACTLY:
I entered The #RomCon11 ticket giveaway with the Pervy Trinity and Naughty Authors. Info here: http://bit.ly/lc9Q8J Please RT!
4. When you have collected all 10 quotes (5 from each book) go to Jenn's blog to fill out the entry form.
This contest will give away ONE entrance ticket for RomCon 2011 and a meet and greet (timae and day to be determined by group) with the Pervy Trinity, The Naughty Authors, and Derek. (If you don't know who Derek is, check out Jenn's book- or scroll down.)
You will be responsible for all travel, hotel, additional show (there are certain premium events that cost extra.) and other related expenses.
This prize is currently valued at $245 (procrastinator's special)
This contest can be cancelled at any time by the organizers should it be determined the contest has been tampered with, is being entered maliciously, is posted on any other sites, or it is determined to be abused or abusive in nature.
The official drawing will be held online and announced on Friday June 24, 2011 on every blog, Facebook and Twitter.
Good luck. Hope to meet you there!
Additional note: the winner will be selected from all entries by Random.org as there may or may not be entries from real and or twitter friends of the contests hosts. The only people excluded from the contest are the hosts of the contest, and anyone not actually human.
And here is Derek:
Filed under: CONTEST, News Tagged: contest, giveaway, Naughty Authors, Pervy Trinity, RomCon
May 17, 2011
Breaking Point – Pamela Clare
"Denver journalist Natalie Benoit and Deputy U.S. Marshal Zach McBride find themselves captives of a bloodthirsty Mexican drug cartel. Working together, they escape through the desert toward the border, the attraction between them flaring hotter than the Sonoran sun. They fight to stay ahead of the danger that hunts them as forces more powerful than they can imagine conspire to destroy them both…"
I read one romantic suspense novel a couple years ago and didn't care for it. Unfortunately because I love historicals and didn't like that one, I just dumped the subgenre and stuck with what I loved. I don't usually abandon things after just one disappointment but since there is an abundance of alternatives, I just didn't give it a second thought.
I have been remiss.
I am in love.
I met Pamela Clare at the Denver Lady Jane's Salon - if you love romance and are in the neighborhood please check it out. She read from this book and I was buying it before she finished the section. WOW. It was great that she and I have a great deal in common. I absolutely LOVED the opening, loved the characters and the voice and the thrill from the get-go. I was hooked.
I'm quite shocked it took me a week to read it actually. Zach is such a powerful and strong character and his personality is written so well. I know returning service members and my heart breaks for this man and his struggle. She doesn't glaze over it, she doesn't glamorize it. This is straight talk, hard core, pain and difficulty. As for Natalie, her tragedy mirrors his, but is born from entirely different circumstances. Having recently been in the Gulf of Mexico and meeting people who were there during Katrina I felt every inch of her pain. The amount of research and development that went into this novel is staggering.
It made me so happy to read it on every single page. Every little detail written into the storyline only added to the overall effect and carried the story straight through to the end. I loved the setting, I loved the characters I loved everything about this. The suspense was solid and the mystery was both believable and very well done.
I could go on, but…well ok one more thing. BROMANCE. I LOVE guy talk, I love locker room banter, I grew up the girl amongst the guys and every word of the brotherhood in this is compelling, enriching and absolutely wonderful. I have to read the other books now, starting with Hard Evidence so I can meet Julian, because I loved him here. I loved all of them and they were tangible, real and valiant. The chipmunk line. THE CHIPMUNK LINE!! I woke my husband up I was laughing so damn hard.
I never once rolled my eyes, I never wanted to throw my iPad across the room, there was absolutely NO WTFckry. I LOVED this book.
I purchased this book (during Pamela's reading) from Barnes and Noble for Nook on iPad. I also have the paperback. No touchy. MINE.
The cover…no. THAT cover is beautiful and there is no way it could have been better. It is quintessentially Zach McBride. It IS him, it shows the story, it shows him. It's gorgeous. P.S. Thank you Jed Hill for doing what you do you gorgeous beautiful man you.
Filed under: Contemporary, review, Romantic Suspense Tagged: Breaking Point, Natalie Benoit, Pamela Clare, review, Zach McBride
The Rake and the Recluse Playlist
Due to popular demand here is the playlist with a few footnotes 
None of these fit into the timeline of the story, they are more selections curated for the emotion and rhythm I was going for. To read more into it or to read the book to this would not go over well, I don't think. It is an eclectic group of random and some of these were added for the want of one line in the lyric or one chord in the song. But it's fun to check out nonetheless. 
In Your Eyes • Peter Gabriel • This song drove the riding scenes, I really sank into the bass notes and felt the hoofbeats in the music. The lyrics are just icing. An incomparable love song. This really is the these song for the book.
Somebody • Depeche Mode • Because Francine longs for a connection to someone, and that feeling came straight from this song.
Strip • Adam Ant • Because, well, you need a song for the fun naughty scenes and bygawd, ya better have some fun in bed once in awhile. Plus this song, and the video are simply ridiculous.
Fly Me To The Moon • Antônio Carlos Jobim • Because you need a general upbeat mood song about the emotions dealing with falling in love.
Wild World • Cat Stevens • Seriously, because the world is wild and sometimes someone needs to remind you of that in a lighthearted way.
Dreams • The Cranberries • Because Francine spends a lot of time considering her waking and dreaming life, ultimately giving into the dream and believing in her future.
Georgetown • David Foster • Because this is a simply precious lilting melody that tells a love story.
Louis' Revenge • Elliot Goldenthal • Angry Rox. 'nuff said.
Hero • Enrique Iglesias • Because we all need one.
Motherless Child • Eric Clapton • Because many of us are.
Landslide • Fleetwood Mac • Because we often feel caught in one, and so did Francine and Rox.
I've Got You Under My Skin • Frank Sinatra & Bono • Because neither could understand the intangible draw. Plus when Bono comes in with the growly voice…*swoon*
Patience • Guns N' Roses • because life takes a lot of this when falling in love.
Hallelujah • Jeff Buckley • because Hallelujah is all that can be said when it all comes together, in such an incredibly passionate and loving way.
You Can Leave Your Hat On • Joe Cocker • Because stealing someones clothes requires a soundtrack.
Faithfully • Journey • Because there is NO other way when you love someone.
Tonight I Wanna Cry • Keith Urban • Because sometimes you have to.
When I Close My Eyes (Acoustic Version) • Kenny Chesney • Because another simpler song about dreams is always called for. No clip because you can't find the acoustic and it HAS to be the acoustic.
The Last Day Of Our Acquaintance • Sinéad O'Connor • Because every relationship has the moment where you heart breaks and you believe it will be goodbye.
Nothing Compares 2 U • Sinéad O'Connor • Because it's true.
With Or Without You • U2 • Because it's also true.
All I Want Is You • U2 • Because how could it not be true.
Trip Through Your Wires • U2 • Because he does, constantly, trip over the reality that is Francine.
Only You • Yaz • Because there can only be one.
Midnight • Yaz • Because sometimes a song makes us realize what will happen if we don't speak up soon enough.
Forever In Blue Jeans • Neil Diamond • Because Neil Diamond writes some damn sexy lyrics.
Ai Du • Ali Farka Toure/Ry Cooder • SMEXXXXIE
Flightless Bird, American Mouth • Iron and Wine • Because it doesn't need to make sense.
Better Than • John Butler Trio • Because we all need to smile.
Filed under: News, Snippets, The Novel Tagged: driven, fun, Jenn LeBlanc, music, playlist, powerful, sexy, Sinead O'Connor, songs, The Rake and the Recluse, U2
May 16, 2011
I Get Around
So I have been a bit remiss, but I haven't been avoiding you my lovelies. I'm actually on a blog tour this month:
May 2 – Ashley March – historical romance author, and one hot momma.
May 9 – Just a Harmless bit of Smut with Monica Kaye – erotica author awesome lady
And coming soon at a date TBA – B Renae Reads – Brandy, über mom, Army wife and former Navy brat
These ladies rock my world, no really…
I have one more blog coming up that I will add later…something about a pirate…hmmm,
and P.S. everywhere I go I take my lovelies with me, every blog is different, I didn't simply recycle posts. (that would be ridonkulous) and each has a different giveaway, with a different deadline. Now go get some goodies!
Filed under: News Tagged: blog tour, news
May 8, 2011
A Little Harmless Sex – Melissa Schroeder
"Is it love, or just a little harmless sex? Book one in the Harmless series. Max has always been Anna's knight in shining armor. But Max has always seen her as a charming, and very sexy, little sister. Until Max's cold fianc dumps him, Anna unloads another of her many conquests and she invites him over for margaritas and Mexican food. Too much tequila, too much flirting, and too many years of fighting the attraction-Max loses control and has mind-blowing sex with Anna on her couch. And in her shower. And in her bed. When the sun rises the next morning, both of them must face that their night together is just the first of many. For Max, he knows he wants Anna forever, but convincing a commitment-phobe like Anna is no easy task. For Anna, she can't believe she has finally slipped beneath Max's steely self-control. He is every woman's dark, wet fantasy come true. But what happens when the Max pushes Anna for more than just A Little Harmless Sex? This book was previously published, but has been rewritten, revised, and reedited-more than doubled in length from its original version. Warning, this title contains the following, explicit sex, graphic terms for body parts, torture via silk stockings, a little spanking, and shower and office sex."
This was a great little contemporary with lots of hot sex. it started off with a bang and just kept delivering. The characters were believable and endearing, Max stuck to his guns and to his heart where Anna was concerned, allowing her to work through issues but not run away from them. He was a strong hero with good values when it came to women and business and that truly made him a believable and worthy hero for this romance.
Anna also stuck to her character, she didn't waffle and get all wishy washy, she knew what she wanted, but she just honestly didn't believe she could have it. She didn't go back and forth in her emotions, they were true to her character, and I appreciate that because you could really see who she was and what she had to deal with.
I don't read many contemporaries, but I might read more Melissa Schroeder because it was quick and easy, I never wanted to throw my iPad across the room, I didn't roll my eyes and there was no WTFckry.The conflict was genuine and so was the resolution. She walked a very fine line, I could feel the eyeroll coming on when the ex-fiancee showed up but it didn't quite get there.
Overall 3.5 stars, I received this book as a free download from Barnes and Noble. Go quick as of writing this it was still free. I also picked up a couple more of hers because they were on sale for great prices, so look for those reviews…
Filed under: Contemporary, erotica, review Tagged: A Little Harmless Sex, ALH, comtemporary, erotic, erotica, Melissa Schroeder, romance
