Lori L. Clark's Blog, page 109
September 15, 2014
Book Review: At This Stage
At This Stage by K.K. Weil: The attractive man sleeping on her couch was never like a father to her. That would've been much easier... Outspoken seventeen-year-old Kaitlyn Fowler loses her mother, gets taken in by a gorgeous family friend, and discovers her mysterious biological father has always known she existed. All within a few months. At twenty-three, Jackson Wall lives without a single obligation. That is, until the daughter of his late public relations manager and dear friend is threatened with foster care. Shocking even himself, the rising playwright volunteers to become her guardian. Eloquent and incredibly talented, Kaitlyn comes to mean more to Jackson than he ever imagined. Or wanted. Jackson struggles with their friendship as it develops into something much more complex. While Kaitlyn can't deny her feelings, she knows what will happen if she pushes him too far. As they search for Kaitlyn's unknown father, she wonders if Jackson will reject her, too, or if she can convince him that something wrong to begin with can become right over time.
Toni's thoughts: The writing was almost completely flawless and it has a really good story line. Unfortunately I just never fell in love with the book or the characters. I did enjoy reading the book and would suggest others to try it out. I have absolutely nothing bad to say about the book other than it didn't suck me into the world and make me feel like I was apart of it.
Release Blitz: Pulled Within
Title: Pulled Within (Bar Harbor Series #2)Author: Marni MannGenre: New AdultPublisher: Booktrope (http://booktrope.com/) Release Date: September 12, 2014
Synopsis:Storms can't last forever…can they?
For five long years, Rae Ryan has lived in a storm over which she has no control. Little by little, everything has been taken away from her—her job, her relationship, her best friend and her home. Plagued by nightmares and a terrible family secret, she carries her scars as much on the inside as she does on the outside.
Hart Booker, another disappointment from her past, returns to Bar Harbor and shelters her from the rain. He reminds Rae that forgiveness is possible, happiness can be found on the other side of darkness, and beauty rests beneath her scars. But a sinister figure lingering in the background seems determined to pull Rae back into a past she’s been trying to outrun. Can she survive the storm and become part of the light she so desperately desires? Or is she destined to remain
Pulled Within?
Recommended for mature audiences due to explicit language, sexual abuse, disturbing situations, and drug use.
TeriLyn's thoughts: **Pulled Within generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.**
Certain authors I expect certain elements present in their stories. While I’ve not a clue what to expect in terms of plot awareness of what to expect in terms of writing and feeling I retain certain ideas about what I’ll read. One such author is Marni Mann. I can’t ever guess her plot lines but I always feel deeply when I read her stories. I’ve once said a Mann story is an unstoppable force, Pulled Within proves to be no exception.
Mann delves into the dark and damaged souls of her characters in an effort to exorcise demons. In doing so she delves into the dark and damaged souls of her readers. The writing lends itself to keeping readers in the dark of the secrets lurking beneath the words. We’re in the point of view of the heroine and such is brilliance as we’re stuck with the same limited knowledge of her story as the hero.
What has happened to this girl who so easily comforts those around her but can’t comfort her own demons? Our, Rae, needs both the strength within her and the strength of someone else the war waged within her. Moving through life as fluidly as the words on the pages furthers the reader’s belief the darkness will find light. The innate courage of her character astounded me. She’s been hurt deeply and her trust in the few she allows inside comes from bravery. No one writes a beautifully damaged female main character quite like Mann. Rae becomes accustomed to hardship, sacrifice, and the most upsetting of tragedies yet still a charming, giving, gifted woman lurks in the shadows of the darkness surrounding her. She feels everything deeply from the relationships she’s lost to the ones she works hard to maintain. Thanks to the smart, concise, haunting words of Marni Mann we feel deeply about Rae too.
The hero presented in Pulled Within gave me something quite different than I’ve experienced before in a novel by this author. He’s a hero whose darkness doesn’t run near as deep as the heroine. One classified as a knight in shining armor. Hart made mistakes of his own admittance. He’s a character moving forward. He’s understanding and compassionate. He’s strong and protective. He’s quite charming even though he’s simplistic.
The dichotomy between the darkness of Rae and lightness of Hart provides an interesting in Rae’s story of redemption. It’s a twist I wasn’t expecting yet one that worked for me in the best of ways. By the end of story I felt proud of these characters for different reasons but I really felt joy for Rae, for her situation, and for her conclusive self-worth.
Marni Mann makes you believe no matter how deep the scar healing is possible. Step into the darkness of this author’s words; relish the demons living inside her characters. This New Adult journey evokes emotion through haunting prose effectively wrapping themselves around our hearts and minds; writing so smart yet easy to read. She makes the dull bright. She convinces the reader to believe in her stories, her characters, and somehow in ourselves no matter what our own darkness may be. It’s an amazing gift to receive as a reader coinciding with another amazing story in Pulled Within. I’m so very fortunate to have been introduced into Marni’s worlds and forever grateful for the stories she writes and the absolute privilege that I'm able to read them.
Favorite Quotes:
“I didn’t just hear his words when he spoke; I felt them push through my jacket and tickle the skin around my navel. Had I closed my eyes, I’d have seen his lips in that exact spot. His tongue, too. My back arching from the syllables he breathed over my flesh.”
“Our paths had diverged, and though we’d ended up with very different lives, we were both in Bar Harbor once again. That was a strange thought.”
“Our relationship wasn’t about my scars. It was about caring for him in a way I hadn’t been able to care for others in my life when they’d really needed me to.”
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20876834-pulled-withinAmazon: http://www.amazon.com/Pulled-Within-Bar-Harbor-Book-ebook/dp/B00JG8TRGA/Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/pulled-within-marni-mann/1120329331?ean=9781620153680
About Marni Mann: A New Englander at heart, Marni Mann, now a Floridian is inspired by the sandy beaches and hot pink sunsets of Sarasota. She taps a mainstream appeal and shakes worldwide taboos, taking her readers on a dark and breathtaking journey. When she’s not nose deep in her laptop, she’s scouring for chocolate, traveling, reading, or walking her four-legged children.
Connect with Marni Mann: Website: http://marnismann.com/Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5400988.Marni_MannFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarniMannAuthorTwitter: https://twitter.com/marnimann
There will be 4 lucky winners in the Pulled Beneath Blog Tour Giveaway!
Grand Prize – Signed Pulled Beneath and Pulled Within paperbacks, and $40 Amazon e-giftcard
1st Runner Up: Signed Pulled Within paperback, and $20 Amazon e-giftcard
2nd Runner Up: Signed Pulled Within paperback3rd Runner Up: Pulled Within e-book
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Excerpt #1 from Pulled Within:I pressed my fingers onto his lips, tracing their outline. I wanted to feel his unmarred skin, to be reminded of its texture. His thick, coarse stubble pricked my flesh. I covered both sides, wandering down to his chin and over his jaw.I could feel him looking at me without meeting his gaze.I passed over his lips again on the way to his other cheek. He kissed behind my knuckle. He gripped my waist even tighter, drawing me to him without actually moving me.He was demanding me to beg for his mouth, and my submission would confirm his control. But there was no way I was going to bend so easily. I was going to give him the best part of me…the part that hadn’t been broken or abused. The part that wasn’t scarred. And for that, I needed to take my time.I moved closer, my breathing becoming more rapid. The pulsing in my chest shivered through my stomach and settled in the spot between my legs. There were inches between my mouth and his…and I stopped. My eyelids shut. Air came through my nostrils, hit his face and bounced back. He was breathing just as hard as I was. His fingers would leave a bruise on my side, but I didn’t care. I wanted the pain. I wanted the mark. I wanted to look at the imprint of his desire like ink across my skin and remember this moment in the morning.I slid another inch closer.I knew once I tasted him, everything between us was going to change. I would move into his house. I would eventually open up, share the past that I kept so tightly bound. I knew it would be a struggle to reveal those secrets, but it didn’t seem important with his face so close to mine. What I wanted was overcoming what I feared most.It pushed me to press my lips to his. I thought once I gave him what he wanted, his touch would lighten. I thought everything within me would begin to unwind. I thought I’d be filled with a sense of calm, having let go of the tension that was building. None of that happened. The noise of our mouths merging, the feel of his scruff spreading over my face, the taste of his tongue - it all built up a tingling surge within me. I wasn’t leading this kiss, and I wasn’t leading the buzzing that was happening inside me.I’d given him complete control, and it was exactly what I wanted.
What I needed.
September 14, 2014
Release Blitz: Hired Gun
Out Now!
Hired Gun 1 by A.J. BennettParanormal Romance Serial
Thorne Hollow is tall, dark and sexy as hell. And he knows it.Cast out by the Gods thousands of years ago, he roams the earth working as an assassin for The Sicarii, a secret society that protects humans from all the things that go bump in the night.Long ago, Thorne made the mistake of falling in love with a human, and her death stripped him bare. Destined to live a life of solitude. One night stands are his way of life—until he meets a mysterious woman whose intriguing power compels him to uncover more about her and the strange magic she wields.
Add to Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1oJgSUL
PurchaseAmazon: http://amzn.to/1pu4uI5
About the Author
A.J. Bennett lives in Nashville, TN with her husband and bulldog. She's addicted to coffee, popcorn and books. Becoming an author has been a lifelong dream, and she's extremely excited about her debut novel Now or Never.
Website / Twitter / Facebook
Book Review: Beast 3
Beast, Part III (Beast #3) by Ella James: Blurb not available. About Ella James: Ella James is a Colorado author who writes teen and adult romance. She is happily married to a man who knows how to wield a red pen, and together they are raising a feisty two-year-old who will probably grow up believing everyone's parents go to war over the placement of a comma.
Ella's books have been listed on numerous Amazon bestseller lists, including the Movers & Shakers list and the Amazon Top 100; two were listed among Amazon's Top 100 Young Adult Ebooks of 2012.
To find out more about Ella's projects and get dates on upcoming releases, find her on Facebook at facebook.com/ellajamesauthorpage and follow her blog, www.ellajamesbooks.com. Questions or comments? Tweet her at author_ellaj or e-mail her at ella_f_james@ymail.com.
Lori's thoughts: Great continuation of the series. I think, so far, I've enjoyed books one and two the best. This one is still good, but I'm looking forward to the final installment, make no mistake. This one sizzles. Ella James knows how to weave a tell of intrigue and erotica. You must read this series!
Amazon Top 10 New Adult Books: September 14, 2014
Amazon Top 10 New Adult Books: August 17, 2014. These are the top 10 bestselling New Adult books as listed on Amazon.com at the time of posting! (Single titles only - No box sets. Also: No pre-orders! Sorry.)
Top 10 Paid:
1. Ugly Love: A Novel by Colleen Hoover
4.8 out of 5 stars
2. Mister Black: A Billionaire SEAL Story, Part 1 (In the Shadows) by P.T. Michelle
4.6 out of 5 stars
3. The Wedding Invite: (Lakeview) by Melissa Hill
5.0 out of 5 stars
4. Trust Me: (Trust Series Book 1) by Kristin Mayer
4.4 out of 5 stars
5. This Sky by Autumn Doughton
4.5 out of 5 stars
6. Losing Control: (Kerr Chronicles Book 1) by Jen Frederick
4.6 out of 5 stars
7. Death Layer: (The Depraved Club) by Celia Loren, Colleen Masters
3.7 out of 5 stars
8. Taming Blaze: (Motorcycle Club Romance, New Adult Romance) (Inferno Motorcycle Club Book 1) by Sabrina Paige
4.2 out of 5 stars
9. Taking Control: A Novel (Kerr Chronicles Book 2) by Jen Frederick
4.7 out of 5 stars
10. SAVING REBEL: Renegade Rebels Motorcycle Club by Honey Palomino
4.2 out of 5 stars
Top 10 Free:
1. Undeclared: (The Woodlands Book 1) by Jen Frederick
4.2 out of 5 stars
2. Bound: (Fire on Ice Book 1) by Brenda Rothert
4.5 out of 5 stars
3. Crash: (Billionaire New Adult Romance) by Vanessa Waltz
3.8 out of 5 stars
4. Sisters in Love: (Love in Bloom: Snow Sisters, Book One), Contemporary Romance) by Melissa Foster
4.1 out of 5 stars
5. One More Day: The Alexanders, Book 1 (Jackson + Ridley) by M. Malone
4.4 out of 5 stars
6. The Arrangement 1 by Abby Weeks
3.7 out of 5 stars
7. Uncertainty by Bella Baird
8. Love Cursed: (L.A. Girls Romance Series) by Julia Derek
3.7 out of 5 stars
9. STRIPPED by Kellie Perkins
4.7 out of 5 stars
10. Deceived - Part 1 New York by Eve Carter
3.5 out of 5 stars
Top rated:
1. Forever You: (The Jade Series Book 5) by Allie Everhart
4.9 out of 5 stars
2. Still Alice by Lisa Genova
4.7 out of 5 stars
3. Thrive: (Addicted Series) by Krista Ritchie, Becca Ritchie
4.7 out of 5 stars
September 13, 2014
Book Review: Bang Bang
Bang Bang by Rachel Van Dyken: He was my best friend.
Until he became my enemy.
All within the span of one night.
Bang, Bang, Bang, Bang.
The rapid fire of gunshots became the soundtrack to my life.
This is the Mafia. Lines are blurred. Choices are never black and white. And the life you thought you knew is... one giant lie.
He was dead.
And I didn't want his life to be in vain, so I tried to make something of myself. I tried and failed.
Now he's back. Alive. And he wants something...
Me.
Nobody ever said the mafia played fair.
Welcome to The Family.
Liza's thoughts: I love this series in itself! Bang Bang introduces you to a couple of new characters and they are just and enticing as the rest of the characters in the Eagle Elite Series. This book can be read as a stand alone, so if you have not read the other books, you are good. I recommend you read them all and see the development of the characters in each book. Bang Bang introduces us to Ax and Amy. We as readers are able to see from early on how no matter how much you are not "In the Family" you can never escape it. It is nice to see other characters and their reactions to the mafia problems. I love how Rachel Van Dyken still puts the other characters throughout the books and has them interact and throw their personalities.
Ax and Amy have their hearts torn apart. You do not know if Amy can survive after such a loss....her best friend....the love of her life, gone. There is too much to react to and I do not want to ruin the twist here and there for anyone. If you enjoyed the other books or this is your first one, I highly recommend taking the change on this books.
Book Review: Silent Whisper
Silent Whisper (Limbo #1) by Andrea Smith: Parrish Locke is 27 years old, a successful model with a gorgeous boyfriend, and a loft in Manhattan. Little does she know that during a photo shoot in Chester, West Virginia, an unfortunate car accident will change her life . . . forever. Parrish discovers she's gifted in a very special way, and thus begins a suspense-filled journey that unravels secrets and mysteries from the past. Once her journey ends, it is just the beginning for Parrish, because only she holds the key that will bridge the past to the present, and allow wrongs to be righted from beyond. From mafia capos, to steamy romance,to solving the unsolved, her journey is one that provides the blueprint for her future--one she never imagined possible.
Lori's thoughts: I chose to read this book because the blurb sounded really intriguing. I wasn't disappointed! I kept turning pages to see what happened next. The only teensy thing that bugged me was the time frame of the story. Most of the book is about Parrish's past. The story from the past seemed like it should have taken place in the roaring twenties, maybe. At least in my opinion. It would have been a perfect story from the prohibition era. And maybe the relationship between Parrish and the ghostly past could have been grandmother/granddaughter. Other than that, I was really engrossed in the storyline and look forward to future books in the series.
Book Review: Mean Streak
Mean Streak by Sandra Brown: Dr. Emory Charbonneau, a pediatrician and marathon runner, disappears on a mountain road in North Carolina. By the time her husband Jeff, miffed over a recent argument, reports her missing, the trail has grown cold. Literally. Fog and ice encapsulate the mountainous wilderness and paralyze the search for her.
While police suspect Jeff of "instant divorce," Emory, suffering from an unexplained head injury, regains consciousness and finds herself the captive of a man whose violent past is so dark that he won't even tell her his name. She's determined to escape him, and willing to take any risks necessary to survive.
Unexpectedly, however, the two have a dangerous encounter with people who adhere to a code of justice all their own. At the center of the dispute is a desperate young woman whom Emory can't turn her back on, even if it means breaking the law.
As her husband's deception is revealed, and the FBI closes in on her captor, Emory begins to wonder if the man with no name is, in fact, her rescuer.
Lori's thoughts: It's been awhile since I've read anything by Sandra Brown. Now, I'm wondering what took me so long. Romance, suspense, action, you name it. This book was riveting and I only put it down when I had to. Twisty and turny and even when I thought I had it all wrapped up in a neat little bow, I was wrong. I like that in my reads. This one had enough heat to keep me rooting for the unlikely couple and enough questions to keep me flipping through the pages. The heroine was someone I really liked. The setting was perfect for the tale. If you haven't read anything by Sandra Brown lately, or at all, I highly suggest you give her a try ... starting with this book.
September 12, 2014
Book Review: Reasonable Doubt
Reasonable Doubt: Volume 1 (Reasonable Doubt #1) by Whitney Gracia Williams: My cock has an appetite.
A huge and very particular appetite: Blonde, curvy, and preferably not a fucking liar... (Although, that's a story for another day.)
As a high profile lawyer, I don't have time to waste on relationships, so I fulfill my needs by anonymously chatting and sleeping with women I meet online.
My rules are simple: One dinner. One night. No repeats.
This is only casual sex. Nothing more. Nothing less.
At least it was , until "Alyssa"...
She was supposed to be a 27 year old lawyer, a book hoarder, and completely unattractive. She was supposed to be someone I shared law advice with late at night, someone I could trust with details of my weekly escapades.
But then she came into my firm for an interview—a college-intern interview, and everything fcking changed...
TeriLyn's thoughts: As a huge fan of Andrew Hamilton in books one and two of the series the anticipation of the secrets of his life being revealed in Reasonable Doubt Three was immense. Told from both Andrew and Aubrey’s points of view, those secrets reveal themselves showcasing unexpected sides of both characters. The writing flows easily across the pages giving the reader a fun and entertaining story. Andrew is a great hero, he comes full circle in the series with his wit, charm, and abrasive attitude making us melt on the spot. Aubrey as well really comes into her own in RD3 and her development made me proud of her character.
The story fell to three stars for me because the plot felt rushed and a bit forced. Certain aspects of events in the story were abruptly concluded. The plot travels through Andrews past off and on answering our questions while confirming and denying our theories however it felt perpetually stagnant and didn’t progress forward enough for what I’d hoped. When the dramatic arcs peaked the fall of the resolution didn’t feel natural to me but rather forced and fast. Circumstances with too much push/pull kept me from loving the story the way I loved the first two books.
Rating the story three stars doesn’t detract from overall opinion of the series and the characters or even this particular story itself. I loved moments in the story and adored the overall ending and full completion of the two characters. It’s a good book, entertaining and fun with drama and angst. It just didn’t have the wow factor the first two books did.
Book Review: Pulled Within
Pulled Within (Bar Harbor #2) by Marni Mann: Storms can't last forever…can they?
For five long years, Rae Ryan has lived in a storm over which she has no control. Little by little, everything has been taken away from her—her job, her relationship, her best friend and her home. Plagued by nightmares and a terrible family secret, she carries her scars as much on the inside as she does on the outside.
Hart Booker, another disappointment from her past, returns to Bar Harbor and shelters her from the rain. He reminds Rae that forgiveness is possible, happiness can be found on the other side of darkness, and beauty rests beneath her scars. But a sinister figure lingering in the background seems determined to pull Rae back into a past she’s been trying to outrun. Can she survive the storm and become part of the light she so desperately desires? Or is she destined to remain
Pulled Within?
Recommended for mature audiences due to explicit language, sexual abuse, disturbing situations, and drug use.
TeriLyn's thoughts: **Pulled Within generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.**
Certain authors I expect certain elements present in their stories. While I’ve not a clue what to expect in terms of plot awareness of what to expect in terms of writing and feeling I retain certain ideas about what I’ll read. One such author is Marni Mann. I can’t ever guess her plot lines but I always feel deeply when I read her stories. I’ve once said a Mann story is an unstoppable force, Pulled Within proves to be no exception.
Mann delves into the dark and damaged souls of her characters in an effort to exorcise demons. In doing so she delves into the dark and damaged souls of her readers. The writing lends itself to keeping readers in the dark of the secrets lurking beneath the words. We’re in the point of view of the heroine and such is brilliance as we’re stuck with the same limited knowledge of her story as the hero.
What has happened to this girl who so easily comforts those around her but can’t comfort her own demons? Our, Rae, needs both the strength within her and the strength of someone else the war waged within her. Moving through life as fluidly as the words on the pages furthers the reader’s belief the darkness will find light. The innate courage of her character astounded me. She’s been hurt deeply and her trust in the few she allows inside comes from bravery. No one writes a beautifully damaged female main character quite like Mann. Rae becomes accustomed to hardship, sacrifice, and the most upsetting of tragedies yet still a charming, giving, gifted woman lurks in the shadows of the darkness surrounding her. She feels everything deeply from the relationships she’s lost to the ones she works hard to maintain. Thanks to the smart, concise, haunting words of Marni Mann we feel deeply about Rae too.
The hero presented in Pulled Within gave me something quite different than I’ve experienced before in a novel by this author. He’s a hero whose darkness doesn’t run near as deep as the heroine. One classified as a knight in shining armor. Hart made mistakes of his own admittance. He’s a character moving forward. He’s understanding and compassionate. He’s strong and protective. He’s quite charming even though he’s simplistic.
The dichotomy between the darkness of Rae and lightness of Hart provides an interesting in Rae’s story of redemption. It’s a twist I wasn’t expecting yet one that worked for me in the best of ways. By the end of story I felt proud of these characters for different reasons but I really felt joy for Rae, for her situation, and for her conclusive self-worth.
Marni Mann makes you believe no matter how deep the scar healing is possible. Step into the darkness of this author’s words; relish the demons living inside her characters. This New Adult journey evokes emotion through haunting prose effectively wrapping themselves around our hearts and minds; writing so smart yet easy to read. She makes the dull bright. She convinces the reader to believe in her stories, her characters, and somehow in ourselves no matter what our own darkness may be. It’s an amazing gift to receive as a reader coinciding with another amazing story in Pulled Within. I’m so very fortunate to have been introduced into Marni’s worlds and forever grateful for the stories she writes and the absolute privilege that I'm able to read them.
Favorite Quotes:
“I didn’t just hear his words when he spoke; I felt them push through my jacket and tickle the skin around my navel. Had I closed my eyes, I’d have seen his lips in that exact spot. His tongue, too. My back arching from the syllables he breathed over my flesh.”
“Our paths had diverged, and though we’d ended up with very different lives, we were both in Bar Harbor once again. That was a strange thought.”
“Our relationship wasn’t about my scars. It was about caring for him in a way I hadn’t been able to care for others in my life when they’d really needed me to.”
