Tuesday Jams--Ed Sheeran

Sooo. The ladies over at Brazen Babe Reviews do this Meme-- Tuesday Jams-- where you share a song or band or what-have-you that's been on your LOVE list lately. If you want to join in check out their blog! Everyone's welcome :)

I'm a bit eclectic with my listens. Just like I am with pretty much everything else.
So it'll be an odd mix of things here. lol And this week it's....Ed Sherran. I just love his voice and accent when singing. The acoustic version I think is even better than the album version. He's pretty damn good live. So many just can't pull that off these days...

Review/Quote-tastic--parasites exploding?! Gah!--Shatter by Erin McCarthy

Join us every Monday and share a favorite quote that's grabbed ya for one reason or another. 

Everyone's welcome to join in. Authors, bloggers, readers. The more the merrier! Just grab the button and toss up your post :) 

No blog? No worries, just leave your favorites in the comment section.

So this week I'm picking Erin McCarthy's latest release--Shatter. This is a New Adult series and turned into one of my favorites. Just great characters and interesting set ups. Anywho. This scene freaking cracked me up. One of the funniest things I've read and so showed Jonathan's personality perfectly. It's actually a pretty serious read but had some really hilarious moments mixed in...

Uncivilized by Sawyer Bennett

Putting a woman on her knees before me is what really makes my cock hard. I fuck with dominant force and absolute control. I demand complete surrender from my conquests.

Savage man, loner, warrior… I am dangerous at my core. I have lived amidst the untamed wild of the rainforest, in a society that reveres me and where every woman falls before me in subjugation.

Now I’ve been discovered. Forced to return to a world that I have forgotten about and to a culture that is only vaguely familiar to my senses.

Dr. Moira Reed is an anthropologist who has been hired to help me transition back into modern society. It’s her job to smooth away my rough edges… to teach me how to navigate properly through this new life of mine. She wants to tame me.

She’ll never win.

I am wild, free and raw, and the only thing I want from the beautiful Moira Reed is to fuck her into submission.

She wants it, I am certain.

I will give it to her soon.

Yes, very soon, I will become the teacher and she will become my student. And when I am finished showing her body pleasure like no other, she’ll know what it feels like to be claimed by an uncivilized man.

Type: Erotica
Heat: 4 out of 5
Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Amazon | Goodreads

So. I finished this one and my first thought....daaaayum girl how can you possibly walk at this point? ::snort:: Yups. There is a LOT of sex brandied about in Uncivilized by Sawyer Bennett And whewboy! It's some intense sexing happening too! This is basically a modern take on Tarzan and it's a hot and steamy ride as Zack--whose missionary parents passed away leaving him to be adopted and raised by the primitive tribe they were living with-- comes back to the US after 18 years living in the Amazon and falls for the woman helping him acclimate to his new life. And attempts to dominate the hell out of her. Bless his uncivilized and randy little heart. It was a good time.

SIGN UP-- Blog Ahead! (NaNoWriMo bloggy style)

A bloggery version of NaNoWriMo!

November 1-30th, 2014

The Goal

The basic goal is to get "ahead" in your blog posts.

At the end of the month of Nov you'll have 30 additional pre-schedules than when you started the month. 

ex--If you Start with 5 pre schedules--End with 35 pre schedules

     Start with 10 pre schedules-- End with 40 pre schedules

Cat Thursday-- Have you seen this cat?!

Welcome to the weekly meme hosted by The True Book Addict that celebrates the wonders and sometime hilarity of cats!

Join us by posting a favorite LOL cat pic you may have come across, famous cat art or even share with us pics of your own beloved cat(s). It's all for the love of kitteh!

I just thought these were a hoot. People are so very very odd sometimes. Thank goodness. lol

His to Claim (His To Claim #1-6) by Opal Carew

What if you could have everything you’ve always wanted, but it cost you the life you’ve always known?

Rafe Ranier was my boss and secret crush. A rock musician by night and head of a billion dollar empire by day, Rafe could have any woman he wanted. But I was just the shy secretary he never noticed. For years I obsessed over him, until I finally realized I had to walk away. I needed to leave my secure life behind to discover who I really was.I never expected Rafe to follow me.Now I’m on the road with his band, Savage Kiss, and all my secret fantasies are coming true. But I fear I’ve made a huge mistake, because if I get any more attached to a man I can never truly have, my heart will be broken beyond all repair.

Type: Erotica
Heat: 4 out of 5--menage elements though HEA is m/f only
Rating: 2 out of 5

Amazon | All Romance | Book Depository | BAM | Goodreads

Well. This one did not play out how I'd hoped. I was really looking forward to His to Claim. I've enjoyed Carew in the past and, hello, hot rockstar billionaire romance where the two have a past? That is right up my freaking alley. I love all those bits and pieces. But His to Claim landed more in the hot mess category than stellar erotic romance for me and more often than not left me seriously confused as Rafe (who also goes as Storm when with his band) and Melanie--his former employee-- try to figure things out both with each other and what they want in life.

Alright so what did work for me. 

Wickedly Dangerous (Baba Yaga #1) by Deborah Blake

Older than she looks and powerful beyond measure, Barbara Yager no longer has much in common with the mortal life she left behind long ago. Posing as an herbalist and researcher, she travels the country with her faithful (mostly) dragon-turned-dog in an enchanted Airstream, fulfilling her duties as a Baba Yaga and avoiding any possibility of human attachment.

But when she is summoned by a woman desperate to find her missing child, Barbara suddenly finds herself caught up in a web of deceit and an unexpected attraction to the charming but frustrating Sheriff Liam McClellan.

Now, as Barbara fights both human enemies and Otherworld creatures to save the lives of three innocent children, she discovers that her most difficult battle may be with her own heart…

Type: Urban Fantasy
Heat: 1.5 out of 5
Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Amazon | All Romance | Book Depository | BAM | Goodreads

Oooos a new paranormal/uf to loves! Wickedly Dangerous was...well...it was interesting and fabulously fun! How could it not be with a dog shaped dragon, a heroine called Baba Yaga, 3 burly badass motorcycle driving side kicks and a cop full of determination and heart? I'm telling ya. It was paralicious. Bwaha.

I'm....herding authors now?!

So! One of the big new things for me...herding authors! lol

Or rather...HCBS Author Services.

Yup! I'm finally giving this a go after like a year of kicking the idea around.

For those interested I've got a site set up...HCBS Author Services as well as a FB Page.

I'll be offering all sorts of things from help maintaining different social media pages to Goodreads listings to graphic design help and more. I'm happy to work with other bloggers as well on items.

Linger (In Vino Veritas #3) by Lauren Jameson

On her last night in Nevada before embarking on a yearlong veterinary internship, Scarlett Malone is celebrating—and looking for one night of incredible pleasure. But the man who draws her eye is not her usual type: He’s a cowboy whose alpha-male tendencies tempt her beyond belief. Scarlett can’t understand why she wants this man and no one else, but she’s determined to entice him to submit.…

Dr. Logan Brody lives an isolated life in rural Montana, running a ranch and suppressing his submissive tendencies. Only on his occasional trips does he give into his hidden urges. He can’t deny his scorching attraction to Scarlett or that she makes him want more, but he never lets anyone break him down fully. He’s hers for one night and one night only.

But when Scarlett shows up at Logan’s door as his intern for the year, he realizes that the walls around his heart are about to crumble—and that this sexy dominant woman has no intention of letting him keep control.…

Type: Erotic Romance--BDSM
Heat: 4 out of 5--bdsm, anal play (male)
Rating: 4 out of 5
Cover: 1 out of 5--whew that's hard on the eyes

Amazon | Book Depository | BAM | Goodreads

Oh Sweet Mary. *slaps hand over mouth* My non-blurb reading ways landed me a wicked surprise with Lauren Jameson's Linger...a bdsm-esk read where the heroine was a Domme and the hero a submissive. ::slow blink:: Hmmm...interesting and...so not my thing but damn Linger ended up being a fantastic read with a unique couple, sizzling hot love scenes that left me scorched and characters I just ached for and wanted so badly to figure out their relationship both professionally and personally. Gotta love that. *nods*

Review/Quote-astic (69): Big...weapons?!--In His Sights by Jo Davis

Join us every Monday and share a favorite quote that's grabbed ya for one reason or another. 

Everyone's welcome to join in. Authors, bloggers, readers. The more the merrier! Just grab the button and toss up your post :) 

No blog? No worries, just leave your favorites in the comment section.

Aaaannnnd this week's Quote-tastic is from Jo Davis and her latest Sugarland Blue series. It's out tomorrow and was so fun! I just loved this little exchange between them while out having dinner. It so had me snickering. There's a review for the book down below if yall wanna check it out :)

2014 Historical Romance Reading Challenge--September LINK UP!

We're 3/4ths of the way through! September's Link Up is below!

Yall hanging in there? Are you ahead of the game? Have a few to catch up on?

Who are you reading this month??

Challenge Recap!

2014 Erotic Romance Reading Challenge--September LINK UP!

Welcome to Fall!! It's time for our September Link up! 

Add all of your September reviews to the linky below!

Yall have any exciting reads planned for this month?

Quick Recap!

The Monthly Herd: August Recap!

Whew yall I can't believe August is already over! It was quite the month and dang I hardly remembered the beginning of it until going through posts for this. lol

I turned a year older this month *flails*, went to the AAD signing and got to meet some of the awesome blogger ladies from my state and visit with some fab authors, started on a super secret event that I'll hopefully be able to tell yall about soon (eep it's killing me not sharing!) and will soon have an authors services page up. Probably next week on that. The blog went through some tweaks and nudges and should all be working again for those on IE.

Tasty Delights/Cookbook Review--Meatless All Day by Dina Cheney--ALT Sandwiches w/ Frisco

Move over bland, wimpy tofu and lackluster salads—Meatless All Day redefines meat-free meals as colorful and super-satisfying. Whether you’re a committed vegetarian or are trying to cut down on meat, the hearty, creative recipes in Meatless All Day will inspire you to cook in new ways. Here, you’ll discover Beet Wellington, Spaghetti with White Bean Balls, Quinoa-Polenta Cakes with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce and White Bean Puree, Roasted Root Vegetable and Goat Cheese Salad with Lemon-Tahini Vinaigrette, and Baklava Sticky Buns—fare that will make avowed carnivores jealous. One secret behind these dishes: high-impact ingredients (like miso, tomato paste, and mushrooms).

To ensure that readers' dishes come out perfectly, the book opens with key cooking techniques, such as Tips for Perfect Vegetables, The Art of Cooking Eggs, and Tips for a Golden Brown, Crispy Exterior. It then lists 45 "power ingredients" that lend vegetarian food a meaty flavor, meaty texture, or both. The heart of the book is 85 ultra-flavorful recipes, with meal suggestions and ideas for making non-vegan fare vegan.

Type: Cookbook--Vegetarian
Rating: 4 out of 5
Difficulty: easy to moderate

Amazon | Goodreads

So! For today's Tasty Delights...I'm actually reviewing a cookbook in addition to putting together a recipe. I thought it might be fun to work some into the blog now and again. So my first go at it is...Meatless All Day. Perfect since I'm a vegetarian and always looking for new vegetarian friendly dishes that are both easy, tasty and healthy. And Meatless All Day totally delivered! From a nicely detailed introduction with suggestions and cooking tips to gorgeous photos and mouth watering recipes Meatless All Day was a culinary win and will keep me busy in the kitchen for weeks trying everything out. The price I think is very reasonable as well coming in at around $14 on Amazon.

A little breakdown on parts of the cookbook then a tasty recipe that omg was SO good!

Exclusive Excerpt & Giveaway w/ Jill Shalvis!

A quickie little excerpt and giveaway from Jill Shalvis! Check it out yall and let me know what you think. She's one of my faves :) ~Anna

Becca Thorpe has uprooted her life and escaped to the beach. Now's her chance to get away from city living, throw caution to the ocean winds, and live in the moment. Especially if the moment includes the deliciously sexy surfer she meets shortly after arriving in Lucky Harbor. Something about the dark intensity of Sam's eyes and the thrill she gets at his touch convinces her to stay awhile.

Boatbuilder and investment genius Sam Brody is a self-made man who knows how dangerous it can be to mix business and pleasure. But he can't resist offering Becca a job just to hear her laugh and have her near. Yet when her brother comes to town asking for help, will he tempt her back to her glamorous life in the city? Or do Sam and little Lucky Harbor have a chance to win Becca's heart?

Amazon | All Romance | Book Depository | BAM | Goodreads

In IT'S IN HIS KISS I had fun making up nicknames for the heroine and hero to call each other. He calls her Tough Girl -- well earned as she is more than a little independent -- cough, stubborn as hell, cough... And she calls him Sexy Grumpy Surfer, also well earned because in the beginning, he is exactly that. Sexy AND grumpy.  :) I went on to use other nicknames as well, including Sam calling Becca "Peeper" and not because she has big eyes but because she peeks out her windows in the mornings and watches him surf. Here's an excerpt to explain.  ~Jill Shalvis

The Bucket List (3)--Nail polish bookmarks, cross stitch, closets and musical events!

A Bucket List with a herding cats twist. lol

Each month I'm going to pick out...something to do or try and then give myself the entire month to make it happen. It's not going to be the typical "bucket list" kinda things but still in that spirit.

They won't all be big things.

Some will be fun, some serious, some easy or a little more complex. 

Things I've wanted to see or do, projects around the house, things on the blog, etc.

Everyone is welcome to join in if they'd like!

Create a blog post or add what you're doing in the comments!

Well...I'm working on it!

How to Reprimand Your Rock Star by Mina Vaughn

Thea is a star basketball player at UConn on track to be Rookie of the Year. That is, if she can stay focused on the game. Lately that hasn’t been going so well, as her knee has been bothering her. But that’s not the only thing on her mind…

Ever since rock star Keaton Lowe surprised her in the girl’s locker room, Thea can’t stop thinking about him. On top of his status and enticing ways, he seems to know everything about her. But some of his actions cross the line, and Keaton needs to be punished. Will Thea keep her head in the game, or get distracted by her other favorite pastime—reprimanding her rock star?

Type: New Adult, Erotic
Heat: 3.5 out of 5--light BDSM
Rating: 3 out of 5

Amazon | Goodreads

Well that was cute! How to Reprimand Your Rock Star was a fun little jaunt as a young basket ball star runs into a sexy rock star and the two heat things up while getting to know each other and realizing they might just have a little kink between them. Ooo la la!

SIGN UP: Fairy Tale Magic Blog Hop Sept 15-22nd!

Wanted to pass this along here as well! We're hosting another hop! This one is set for September 15th and is all about the Fairy Tale. If you want to keep up to date on hops we host check out our other site HERE. 

If you're able to share this with other bloggers/authors you think might be interested please do! It's greatly appreciated :) 

Signed, Sealed, Delivered (The Ladies Who Lunch #2) by Sandy James

When life gets tough and love is hard to find, four friends take their troubles to lunch. High school teacher Juliana Kelley tells the Ladies Who Lunch that her life needs an overhaul . . . and gets a whole lot more than she wished for.

Juliana has spent thirteen years in the same teaching job. She’s ready to dive into a new career with both feet . . . when a run-in with the hottest man she’s ever seen knocks her head over heels. But with her failed marriage to a fellow teacher fresh on her mind, Jules can’t afford to lose herself in a relationship—no matter how perfect it may seem.

Connor Wilson has hit rock bottom when he loses his career as a top-notch Realtor because of a large gambling debt. Now, in a small town he finds a fresh start—and a gorgeous redhead who sparks new life into him. Together they start a successful real estate company, but when pleasure sneaks into the business, they’ll have to decide what they can let go . . . and what they can’t live without.

Type: Contemporary Romance
Heat: 3 out of 5
Rating: 4 out of 5

Amazon | Book Depository | BAM | Goodreads

Oh yes. I'm smitten. I would LOVE to be part of the Ladies Who Lunch and their delectable men. Signed, Sealed, Delivered...delivered everything I adore about contemporary romance. Fabulous characters, steam, passion, friendship and a romance that while it might not have had the most...conventional of starts was touching, sweet and perfectly imperfect.

Review/Quote-tastic (68)- *shakes fist* --Show Me, Baby by Cherise Sinclair

Join us every Monday and share a favorite quote that's grabbed ya for one reason or another. 

Everyone's welcome to join in. Authors, bloggers, readers. The more the merrier! Just grab the button and toss up your post :) 

No blog? No worries, just leave your favorites in the comment section.

Oh I do love the Shadowlands. And this week's Quote-tastic is from the new novella from Cherise Sinclair. This is a set of novellas from different authors that are connected by a girl from current times that finds herself trapped in a story she read and only able to stay alive by telling the King different tales she remembers so he'll spare her life to hear more. And this time it's Jake and Rainie from the Shadowlands story. Kinda neat but other than the intro the "story teller" doesn't come into play again during the novella.

Anyways. This one was pretty hot and had some great scenes. I love these two moments. The first for his response and the second for hers.