Tara Chevrestt's Blog, page 128

Some Enchanted Season by Patricia Burroughs

As I read the last page of this book, I was very moved by the message within. Overcome. Never give up. Don't let others stand in your way. It was something I've been needing to be reminded of.

The heroine is an artist who has a disability she's deeply self conscious about. She'd rather people not know it; not because she's ashamed, but she's tired of the looks and judging. As a woman with a disability, I could totally relate.

She meets the hero when she's searching for the perfect book cover model and ends up kidnapping a well-known football player. This was funny!

Rusty and Kevyn (Kevyn being the heroine) discover they have much in common. They were both bullied and made fun of growing up, Kevyn for her disability, Rusty for his ability to dance. The bullying carries repercussions for them both throughout their lives. Rusty barrels full speed ahead, nothing will stop him, not even a bum knee. Kevyn hides from the world.

I didn't like Kevyn at times. She was just weird. The cat, the candles, and at times, she was very self pitying. I also grew tired of her "You've had a life of privilege" crap. Sorry, but I gotta be honest. I really liked Rusty and his attitude though and loved watching these two grow individually as they became a couple, Rusty full speed ahead, Kevyn with reluctance and whining.

Their banter when they weren't arguing was great.

Him: "Damn. You look good."
Her: "I was going to say something similar. Expletives deleted."

Nevertheless, they hit a few spots like him endangering himself for a game, her not accepting his help with her problem 'cause she feels he can't accept her for the way she is...etc. But the ending was a strong message: Don't give up.

Favorite part: (edited so as not to reveal disability)
"Rusty, I'm normal. Not being able to **** is normal for me. It hasn't stopped me from doing anything that I wanted or needed to do. It's only when people make me feel not normal that all of the pain comes back and all of the old wounds open up."

Four stars. I received this from the author in exchange for an honest review.

The Governess and the Master by Lisa Greer

I've never seen this done before...this is literally the first part of a story and you have to buy the second one to find out what the whole story is.

A penniless governess shows up at a dark estate with a strange master. There's a sickly little boy we never meet, a strange portrait of a Montmoor ancestor, and a slightly touchy feely man who offers her his "missing" sister's clothes.

It's interesting and mysterious, but I didn't like being left hanging before it got to solid story. :( I was also a bit thrown off by the heroine's sudden change of heart regarding the clothes.

I think this was a good taste of what the author writes like though. I don't know any authors that focus on gothic romance. I'm sure there are some; they just haven't crossed my radar, so this was new for me.

I like the darkness, mystery, and my favorite part of all: "But ugly on the outside doesn't mean he is such on the inside."

That makes me wonder what other morals are in store and revealed in each book.

Three stars. I bought this on Amazon.

Please Welcome Lauren Clark, Author of Dancing Naked in Dixie

I had the pleasure of reading Dancing Naked in Dixie and reviewed it here on Book Babe. Now, I have the author visiting to answer a few questions I had while reading it. Please welcome Lauren Clark.


Me: The heroine is a travel writer. I'm so jealous. But, tell me, what's the most exotic place you have ever traveled to?

Lauren: The most exotic place I've visited is Germany. I went several years ago in December with my girlfriend and loved it! We landed in Frankfurt, traveled to Heidelberg (gorgeous), visited Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria, and then rode the tram to the top of the Zugspitze, the highest peak in Germany with an altitude of 10,000 feet. The people were so friendly, the food was delicious, and everything was festive and decorated for the holidays.
Me: The most...po dunk? LOL Feel free to share an experience/impression.
Lauren: Wow. I've been to A LOT of teeny, tiny towns. I grew up in a village of 2,000 people, went to school in the same K-12 building, and graduated with 120 other students. I would have to say that Florala, Alabama, is one of the most memorable small places I've visited. I was in sales for a few years and remember visiting a doctor's office--the television was on and "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" came on. The entire waiting room was riveted, everyone's mouth was hanging open. I don't think anyone blinked for ten minutes. Pretty hilarious.
Me: The Alabamans in Dancing Naked in Dixie love their college football so much, they even name their children after coaches. Are you into College football? Have a favorite team?
Lauren: I have to say that this way a brand-new experience for me when I moved from New York to Alabama. Everyone is in two "camps" ... The University of Alabama (Roll Tide) or Auburn University (War Eagle). My husband attended Alabama and played football there--we are season ticket holders and attend quite a few of the home games. It's a lot of fun and it's hard not to get caught up in all of the excitement, especially since the team has done so well the last few years. I do admire UA's brilliant coach, Nick Saban, for running a tight program, demanding excellence on the field and off, and disciplining players who get out of line.
My favorite team is The Ohio State University. I went to graduate school there and loved living in Columbus. The stadium is amazing (huge) and the marching band is excellent!
Me: Ella Rae is a little demon; throwing rocks, spilling tea on people. But it's revealed: "I was the same way, a little out of control, on the edge of everyone's nerves..." And it's possible Ella Rae has ADHD. Do you have experience with this yourself? Did you behave like Ella Rae at some point in your life?
Lauren: You'll have to ask my mom for all of the details, but I was pretty headstrong. I once ran away from my mother in a department store and rode the elevator until one of the employees found me. Another time, my mom found me eating a moth (I think I was two) and when she tried to take it away from me, I tried to bite her!!
My older son was diagnosed with ADHD at age seven, but most of the symptoms have disappeared as he's gotten older (he's now 15 and has turned into a fine young man).
Me: Historical landmarks/buildings are a theme in Dancing Naked in Dixie. What's the most fascinating historical site you have been to? Feel free to share a picture. What was so great about it?
Lauren: My family has always traveled, so I've visited some really great places. One of the most fascinating was The World Trade Center--and I'd consider it historic, as it doesn't exist anymore. My mom just showed me a photo taken on the top floor observation deck. I remember being absolutely terrified because the windows were floor to ceiling!!
Me: What does Shug look like? Who did you visualize?
Lauren: Tall, Soft-spoken, dark-haired, and handsome!!  I've thought about Patrick Dempsey and Channing Tatum, but settled on the dreamy Chris Pine or Ian Somerhalder.
Thanks so very much for having me on your site, Tara! I LOVE hearing from readers and welcome questions and comments about Dancing Naked in Dixie, writing, and publishing.    xx, Lauren

Lauren Clark is the author of Stay Tuned and Dancing Naked in Dixie. She writes contemporary novels set in the Deep South; stories sprinkled with sunshine, suspense, and secrets.
A former TV news anchor, Lauren adores flavored coffee, local book stores, and anywhere she can stick her toes in the sand. Her big loves are her family, paying it forward, and true-blue friends. Check out her website at www.laurenclarkbooks.com.

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Dancing Naked in Dixie by Lauren Clark

This was such a cute book with some surprisingly serious themes I didn't expect.

You have a globe-trotting travel writer who isn't really traveling, but running away from people and feelings. She's running from her father, her mother's death, her fear of commitment... and ends up running to Alabama, somewhat reluctantly.


But more is waiting for her there than a mere tour of historical homes. Enter a handsome man name Shug, a jealous girlfriend, a helpful B&B owner, an aspiring chef, a nightmare child, and a town full of drama, life, and love.


And there's Phase III... Seems  half the town is going to be grazed for condos unless Julia can do something about it.


There's no lack of humor either as the heroine gets herself almost killed by a bee, chokes on sweet tea, breaks a heel...


"I can picture the headline: NY Travel Writer unveils secret identity as Circus Sideshow Act."


"I'm hoping it's a 95 percent discount program for wayward Yankees who lose their luggage in Atlanta."


The first person narrative is witty,engaging, sarcastic, and heartfelt. Expect for some odd moments where it got into Alabama history and I got a bit bored, I really loved this book. (Southern history simply doesn't enamor me.)


I especially loved the fact we have a romance and a solid story without sex. HUGE thumbs up for being different, especially in a time of more sex, hotter sex, sex sells...etc.


But more important of all, I appreciate a moral revealed at the end: let people explain before jumping to conclusions. Always give them a chance.


Four stars. I was given this book by Sizzling PR.

Jen Morales Gets A Clue by Claire Matthews

This is the sequel to Lacy Wagner Gets In Shape and I loved that book. I couldn't wait to download this one.

First, I have to say, it's not as funny as the first. Second, it's not as long. That's not a bad thing, just something I noticed. Though I must say everything felt like it was happening overnight. Third, I don't like Jen as much as I did Lucy. I liked Jen just fine in book one, but being in her thoughts this time, she is somewhat Anti-Lucy and jealous and that put me off at moments. Have to admit all women are like that at some point or another though.

This continues where the first one left off, basically letting us readers have a final conclusion to Lucy and Will's story with a chunk of Jen's crazy love life thrown in.

Jen and Dax have broke up. He was too much of a slob. She kicks him out and of course, wants him back when she sees him with someone else... temporary eye rolling moment there, BUT there is actually so much more going on here. I won't say what.

I appreciated that Jen was a honest and real character, not perfect like so many romance novels try to portray women. I liked the picture frame thing and Kevin Ho stuff. I actually wonder if there will be a book three featuring Kevin Ho and his new love interest.

A good, solid read. Four stars.

The Way You Look Tonight by Claire Matthews

This was a short story that was free on Amazon... When I saw it I had to download it as I have loved a previous work by this same author.
I was expecting more humor, so I was a tiny bit disappointed, though I must say the story itself is cute. **The sister is really annoying though!!!! I wanted to slap her.**
When Jordan's old crush shows back up in town, her sister sets her sights on him, despite the fact she's engaged to someone else. She just seems to want anything that has a dick and two legs... But Jordan has to stop it. Her sister's fiance is at the heart of a great merger/business arrangement. Calling off the wedding means no job for Jordan, to put it bluntly.
But she falls for the guy herself. So we have a sorta love triangle, romance, sex, and then...well, an inconvenient moment throws a wrench in things.
Thought it wasn't as humorous as I expected, I did like it. I didn't see that ending coming. I was pleasantly surprise by the "wrench."
Three stars.

Random Reading

This Sunday, I want to kick off a new post I'd like to make every week. Some people do Libary Loot. Some people do Mailbox Monday. Me, I don't use the library. I have nothing against it; just hate having to read a book in a certain amount of time, and as for Mailbox Monday, I can't say most of my titles come in my mail. I buy them usually or get them via paperback swap.

And I find them the most random ways, these titles.

So here's what I bought in the last week, scored via PBS, or added to my "to read" and the odd and random way I came across them. Hopefully, you will find some titles that interest you too!

On my Kindle:
Loving the Pink Kiss by Shiralyn J. Lee. I came across this thanks to one of those rafflecopter contests. It made me like the author's page just to earn a new entry. And I liked what I saw on my Facebook feed! She's writes f/f too. And this book...look at that cover! It's also about an arranged marriage of sorts.. Girl agrees to marry Robbie so he can stay in Canada/avoid deportment, and discovers a bit too late, Robbie is a girl!

Can't resist and downloaded it when it was on sale for 99 cents.






Girl Power: War on Women by Dee Dawning. With the upcoming election, there's much ado about the breaching of women's rights. This author apparently wrote a chick-lit humor about it. The blurb says a group of determined women take matters in their own hands and form their own political party. You all know where I stand on women's rights so this promptly went on my to read and my kindle. Where I found it? All Romance Ebooks. It was a featured book at a whopping 5 dollars and some cents, whereas it was 99 cents on Amazon. Strange!




A Paid Getaway (Aerosexual series) by Telma Cortez. This was a freebie, and I bought two others in this series last week. These are naughty, erotic shorts I like to read on the treadmill. Get the heart pounding double time. LOL. I first heard of this series on a marketing blog, Shades of Rose, and due to my aviation history, promptly added her to my to read pile. This particular tale is about two women and a money-making scheme.








His Very Own Girl by Carrie Lofty. Came across this quite by accident whilst searching for a slideshow of color photos of women working during WWII. The image was on my screen, I clicked on it, the rest is history. This book was promptly purchased by yours truly. Why? WWII. An airplane. A woman paratrooper medic. "Nuff said! Very excited about this one.





The Way You Look Tonight by Claire Matthews. A freebie that came to my attention when the author announced it on Facebook. I had no idea the book existed until then. Damn Facebook author pages! They don't show me what the authors are posting half the time. Regardless, due to the fact I absolutely loved her Lucy Wagner Gets in Shape, I scooped this up. It's a short story that seems to revolve around a concerned sister and a surprise romance.







Spotted on a blog I follow, Unusual Historicals, The Twelve Rooms of the Nile by Enid Shomer. Not obtained, but added to my to read. WHY? Florence Nightingale fits my idea of a strong woman heroine and though I'm not fascinated with Gustave Flaubert, I have been intrigued by Madame Bovary. It made a good movie. The idea of these two crossing paths? I can't resist.





And merely marked as to read because it's not available yet and Sourcebooks doesn't like me, How To Tame a Willful Wife by Christy English has gone on my wishlist. Wonderful looking cover and the blurb promises a strong, willful heroine, my favorite, as well as lots of humor. This came to my attention in an email seeking reviewers. Unfortunately, I no longer use netgalley, which is where I was required to score the book. And as I said above, SB always declines. Grrr. *shakes fist* Looking forward to its release anyway. Here's what the goodreads blurb says:

Description of How To Tame A Willful Wife:
1. Forbid her from riding astride
2. Hide her dueling sword
3. Burn all her breeches and buy her silk drawers
4. Frisk her for hidden daggers
5. Don't get distracted while frisking her for hidden daggers...




And I did get one book in the mail. Thanks to Paperback Swap. It's called Romancing the Pirate by Michelle Beattie. It's been out a while, but I recently read her Another Chance for historical romance blog and really enjoyed her combination of strong heroine and romance. I realized I already have the first of this series, and am pretty confident I'll love it as well, so all I had to do was score book two and add book three to my wishlist. I love pirate tales.





Leave me some comments and tell me what you think of this new feature for Book Babe. Meanwhile, I'm off to read in hopes I can get to these soon!

What's the first book you remember?

What's the first book you actually remember reading? Obviously, fair tales, that little tug boat that did amazing things or whatever, but what is the first solid book that you remember truly choosing to read, sitting down and enjoying word for word, and even maybe telling your parents about?

Remember? You were six, seven, eight...there was a book fair...you begged for THIS book. You got your greedy hands on it and halfway through, ran to tell mom and dad what so and so had done in the book. You stayed up late with a flashlight under the covers to read it when you were supposed to be sleeping...

That kind of book. What's the first one you remember?

Here's mine. I remember this from elementary. I remember getting it from the library. And I just may have snuck a flashlight under the covers. Sorry, dad. LOL

Taming of the Thief by Heather Long

Today I have Heather Long visiting with Sizzling PR. She's talking about her latest release, The Taming of the Thief.

Blurb: One Treasure…

Some would kill to know what Sophie Kingston knows. Rich and powerful people will do anything to possess the secret, but not even Sophie realizes how much danger she is in—or how far they will go to hunt her down and take it from her. But when she sees a murder no one can prove, the threats to her life keep coming.

One Hunt…

Pietr Sauvage is neck deep in the hunt for The Fortunate Buddha when a lead draws him to New York and thrusts him into the life of art history specialist Sophie. What began as a favor turns into a desperate need to protect the sexy curator from the dark web of deception threatening to pull her under.

Too Many Thieves…

Lost in the shadow of intrigue and danger, Sophie must learn to trust Pietr, a man with an agenda, a man she can’t help but desire, before the ruthless thieves steal their only chance.

Raising the stakes heightens the attraction…
Interview:


1. Sophie is pretty brave after witnessing a murder and finding an intruder in her apartment. Instead of running scared as most of us would, she actually converses and flirts with Pietr. How do you see yourself reacting in the same situation?
I’d be running like hell in the other direction--well at least I think I would. Of course, knowing what I do for a living, I might be taking mental notes to give the cops as much key data as I could.
2. "...comfortable pub, live music on Fridays and Saturdays, local ambiance the rest of the week." Sophie and Pietr go to such a place, where they get a nasty surprise. Is there a favorite local hot spot you like and feel comfortable in?
I used to adore the Tipperary Inn which is an Irish pub near downtown. Of late, it’s Boomer Jacks, a comfortable sports bar around the corner.


3. Sophie doesn't drink coffee!!! *Gasp* Are you coffee or tea?
Both. I grew up drinking tea and I used to live on a coffee I.V. but I’ve scaled that back dramatically today.

4. "She named your brother after speechmaking and gave you a name for facetious arguments?" Sophistry and Rhetoric. Where in the world did this come from? What are some funny names in your own family?
I love the word Sophistry. It’s beautiful and lyrical. I also love the Southern irony of Rhetoric. My family doesn’t have a lot of ‘interesting’ names - but I wouldn’t mind adding a few.

5. Phishing. "You've been gathering information on artifacts with Middle and Far Eastern origins. That research triggered phishing programs that sample for specific terms." And this sorta gets Sophie in trouble. Do you think you've ever set off a phishing search?

With what I research? I could imagine. Fortunately no one’s come knocking at my door. Though I could have enjoyed meeting a sexy devil like Pietr!
6. I laughed out loud at Sophie, a grown woman, squirming when her dad meets Pietr. "Thank God Daddy doesn't carry a gun anymore." Do you or have you ever been super nervous about your dad 1. meeting a guy for the first time or 2. knowing you spent the night with him?

Unfortunately, no, I never knew my father, but I’ve known enough dads to know Sophie’s reaction wasn’t that unwarranted.
7. Give us a picture of the buddha.
You can see that Buddha on the covers of both The Love Thieves and Taming of the Thief - he’s tucked away there.

I see it now. I found the Buddha. Can you?

Thanks for stopping by, Heather, and good luck with your release. :)

Aviation Industry Oozes Sexuality

Yep, it does. When you have 2000 men and 100 women, you're going to have some high feelings of sexuality. As someone who worked in the industry 11 years, I saw it.

Some women thrive on the attention of men, love being at the center of it, get their tits done, wear sweatpants that crawl down their ass every time they do something, tantalizing all the men around them.

Some are truly feminists, there to kick ass and take names.

But that's just from a mechanic's perspective. The flight attendants see even more, and a new author, Telma Cortez, and telling all through a series of hot, erotic shorts. Allow me to introduce to you the Aerosexual Series.

No, I wasn't even asked to post this. I just came across these and immediately bought three of them and when the author posted her Aerosexual movie, decided to share. This is too cool. I love it. Anybody who is interested in aviation and likes to read erotic literature won't be disappointed.


You can find the books on Amazon.