REVIEW - FANCY FREE (GIVEAWAY)

"James on the other hand had the playboy meets a prude story arc that was thoroughly enjoyable and his worry that his new "kink" was prissy almost virgins in horrid clothing was quite amusing..."

Author: Shelley Munro
Pages: 266 pages
Publisher: Ellora's Cave on March 2008
Form: E-book (from tour for an honest review)
Genre: Contemporary Erotic Romance (+18 Only)
Series: Fancy Free #1
Amazon: Buy / $1.49 (Kindle) ( EU price, click to see yours )
Barnes & Noble: Buy / $1.49 (Nook)
All Romance E-books: Buy / $1.49 (E-book)
Excerpt: Excerpt : "She was willing. She wanted him, and knowing that was a powerful aphrodisiac."

"Warning: Condoms were tested and a few harmed during the writing of this story.

It’s not every day a girl inherits a condom company, and to say accountant Alice Beasley is astonished and out of her depth is putting it mildly. For an almost virgin, she needs a quick education in all things condom because her inheritance is in danger. Someone is intent on sabotage and trying to destroy her new company.

Alice is suddenly getting down and dirty with charismatic James, the factory manager, all in the name of business, testing new condom designs. The sex is hot. Mind-blowing. It’s a dark thrill and an erotic journey. Yeah, it’s a hard job, but a girl’s got to do what a girl’s gotta do.

Alice wants James. She craves his talented touch and sultry kisses, she desires passion and physical pleasure on a permanent basis but first she must convince bad-boy James to give up his fancy-free ways."  ~ From Goodreads

If you love quirky Tim Burton movies then you'll love Fancy Free! The story of a shy woman inheriting a condom company, Fancy Free, and deciding she needs to know more about the product this odd bird chooses the factory manager as her way of doing it. This book is funny, odd, hilarious and occasionally you wanna cringe at the things that the heroine spouts out.

Despite it Alice is a joy to read for all the oddness included and she has nice growth arc as a character, while still remaining peculiar. James on the other hand had the playboy meets a prude story arc that was thoroughly enjoyable and his worry that his new "kink" was prissy almost virgins in horrid clothing was quite amusing.

The romance was in the guaranteed Ellora's Cave fashion hot, oh so hot! There is something about virginal quiet girls that bag and bang a stud muffin that just delights me! Especially when the aforementioned stud muffin has it bad for her and is creative in showing aforementioned virginal quiet girl just how many ways there are to use a condom!

Rating :

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:: Question ::
Who would you mostly like featured in a racy condom commercial?

I'd say Ryan Reynolds. ;)

Come on now you knew that was coming. ;)

Shelley Munro is tall and curvaceous with blue eyes and a smile that turns masculine heads everywhere she goes. She’s a university tutor and an explorer/treasure hunter during her vacations. Skilled with weapons and combat, she is currently in talks with a producer about a television series based on her world adventures.

Shelley is also a writer blessed with a VERY vivid imagination and lives with her very own hero in New Zealand. She writes mainly erotic romance in the contemporary, paranormal and historical genres for publishers Carina Press, Ellora’s Cave and Samhain Publishing. You can learn more about Shelley and her books at http://www.shelleymunro.com

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Shelley Munro's FANCY FREE Book Blast Schedule
June 10 - 22

6/10 - For the Love of Reading
http://niinas-reading-and-reviewing.blogspot.com/

6/10 - Mimmi's Musings
http://mimmismusings.blogspot.com/

6/11 - Reading Between The Wines
http://www.readingbetweenthewinesbookclub.com/

6/11 - United by Books
http://unitedbybooks.blogspot.com/

6/12 - Books, Books & More Books
http://booksbooksmorebooks.blogspot.com/

6/12 - Sassy Book Lovers
http://sassybooklovers.blogspot.com/

6/13 - Urban Girl Reader
http://www.urbangirlreader.com/

6/13 - In Shadows
http://brynnacurryguests.blogspot.com/

6/14 - Wicked Readings by Tawania
http://www.wickedreadingsbytawania.blogspot.com/

6/15 - Book Lovin' Mamas
http://booklovinmamas.blogspot.com

6/15 - Feeling Fictional
http://www.feelingfictional.com/

6/16 - Mama's Reading Break
http://www.mamasreadingbreak.blogspot.com/

6/17 - The Book Chick
http://bookchickwithkick.com/

6/18 - You Gotta Read
http://yougottaread.com/

6/19 - Cocktails and Books
http://www.cocktailsandbooks.com/

6/20 - Scorching Book Reviews
http://scorchingbookreviews.blogspot.com/

6/21 - Book Monster Reviews
http://www.bookmonsterreviews.com/

6/22 - Flirting with Romance
http://flirtingwithromance.blogspot.com/

REVIEW - WOLF WITH BENEFITS

"Toni doesn't know how she keeps getting herself into these situations. But even she has to admit there’s something about Ricky Lee Reed that she finds kind of interesting…and downright sexy. Now they just have to survive long enough to figure out if what they have is worth fighting for."

Author: Shelly Laurenston
Pages: 433 pages
Publisher: Kensington Books on March 2013
Form: E-book (from NetGalley for an honest review)
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Series: Pride #8
Amazon: Buy / $9.39 (Kindle) ( EU price, click to see yours )
Barnes & Noble: Buy / $9.39 (Nook)
Excerpt: Part of Chapter 1

"Ricky Lee has no plans of getting serious about anyone, but he will protect Toni Jean-Louis Parker. Not just because he’s been hired to do so, but because it’s the right thing to do. And if that means traveling around the country with one complicated She-jackal, dealing with chocolate-eating wild dogs, instigating trouble between his brothers, and having the most amazing sex he’s ever had…well, who said his job didn't have perks?

Toni doesn't know how she keeps getting herself into these situations. But even she has to admit there’s something about Ricky Lee Reed that she finds kind of interesting…and downright sexy. Now they just have to survive long enough to figure out if what they have is worth fighting for."  ~ From Goodreads

The blurb is misleading, I was expecting yet another great Paranormal Romance by Ms. Laurenston and most of the time it's not even about the romance between Ricky and Toni. This was both sad and upsetting. If they would have sold this one as just Urban Fantasy then I would have known what to expect, it's never fun to expect one thing and get the other. Now, let's forget what I said for just a second shall we?

Wolf With Benefits was great UF story with a steady plot and intrigue, tons of laughs and unique characters! Most of this book was positive and witty, even though almost every female in the book seemed to be a dangerous bitch or atleast over the top, and I admit it got old pretty fast. I hate saying all the things I didn't like about this book because I'm a big fan of Ms. Laurenston writing - but one more, way too many point-of-views, I think  four is pushing it, but over ten is too much ( let's see if I recall them all; Toni, Ricky Lee, Reese, Brendon, Kyle, Delilah, Oriana, Freddy, Jackie, Paul, Vic, the Russian bear, Dez, Dee-Ann, Ric, sociopath killer, Raina, the lion-bpolarbear shifter and his fiancee... I just can't recall all of them! ), it breaks concentration and when reading romance it's just no good.

Now to all the things I loved about this book! I loved Ricky lee and his redneck hillbilly personality and his ability to be both funny and lethal when needed and he was just hanging out taking it easy which was humorous to read. Toni really was a peacemaker keeping the brood of ten siblings in line with them making Toni and the readers mad. I loved the snarky, witty language and the kick-ass characters.

I have always enjoyed Shelly Laurenston's writing, she's got talent in creating a world that's fun to read, that keeps you on your toes and ( usually ) is hot as hell! So if you are a fan of the series you'll love meeting all the old cast members and some new ones! Just make sure to read it as more UF than PR and you'll be good!

Rating :

GUEST BLOG : QUIRK COMPATIBILITY AMONG COUPLES

Quirk compatibility among Couples

by Judy Reiser

It isn't Mental Cruelty that’s the primary cause of broken marriages. Nor is it Adultery, Abandonment, or Habitual Drunkenness.

The first and foremost cause is Toilet Paper. And the second is Toothpaste. If she likes the toilet paper going “over” and he insists it hang “under” or if he squeezes the tube neatly from the bottom and she messes it up by squeezing in the middle, those are grounds for divorce in my book. What did you think Irreconcilable Differences meant, anyway?

Quirk compatibility is essential among couples.

The next time you’re at a party, instead of asking, “Are you a Leo?,” find out whether he’s a Folder or a Crumpler. It’s a good way to avoid serious problems in a relationship.

Your honeymoon was a big hit with both of you jockeying for the same side of the bed. The marriage vow you took was, “I do—claim the right side for the rest of my life.”

Are you a Blanket Hogger? Someone with an overwhelming but unconscious need to slowly and systematically wind yourself up in the blanket in the middle of the night so there is no hope for your poor half-frozen partner to retrieve even a corner. Worse than having a Blanket Hogger for a spouse is having one who is a Diagonal Sleeper. Don’t plan on getting any sleep if you’re late to bed.

Some of our and our partner’s quirks are very funny, some of them are strange, some are charming, and some are damn good ideas! All of them are very human, intriguing, tasteful, and absolutely true. Quirks transcend gender, age, race, nationality, income, and marital status. Everybody's got 'em!

I should know. I interviewed thousands of people about their outrageous, outlandish and downright ridiculous eccentricities for my books, "Admit It, You're Crazy! Quirks, Idiosyncrasies and Irrational Behavior" and "And I Thought I Was Crazy! Quirks, Idiosyncrasies and Meshugaas". From hilarious bathroom behavior to funny money and unconventional clothing habits to eating and sleeping peculiarities to germ-a-phobia and more. People do the darndest things!

Here are some quirks you may have observed your guy doing:

• When he gets dressed, he’ll put on his pants, zip up the zipper, button the button and buckle the belt. Then he gets his shirt, unbuckles the belt, unbuttons the button, unzips the zipper, tucks his shirt in and then does the whole thing up again. Why doesn't he put his shirt on first!!!?
• When he gets home at night, does he remove all the contents of his pockets and stack it on the dresser?
• And, of course, how many times has he driven miles out of the way rather than ask for directions?

Ladies, don't laugh. We may dress more efficiently, but we’re just as quirky as the guys:

• In a social situation, women usually go to the ladies' room in pairs or groups. If two couples are out to dinner and one of the women excuses herself to go to the ladies' room, the chances are pretty good the other woman will go with her. Can you imagine a guy doing this? “Hey, Charlie, I'm going to the men’s room. Wanna come?”
• And for those gals who are fortunate enough to have a housekeeper, I bet you tidy up before the housekeeper is due to arrive!

After reading some of these strange but absolutely true goings-on, you will be amazed that hardly an hour in your life goes by that you don’t witness some of these quirks…either in yourself (who me?) or in others. You’ll finally understand your friends, enemies, bosses and partners a lot better.

My books are not attempting to solve, define, or make excuses for some of the more common or uncommon idiosyncrasies. Its intent is simply to help you recognize them, laugh at them, and breathe a little easier.

Admit it, you're crazy!

About The Author

Judy Reiser began collecting quirks when she divulged something crazy she does (she doesn't remember which one it was–there are so many) and her friend shared something he does. After having a good laugh about it, she soon discovered that everyone has quirks. She has been observing, gathering, marveling at and laughing about quirks ever since and personally interviewed thousands of people for her three acclaimed books: "Admit It, You're Crazy! Quirks, Idiosyncrasies, and Irrational Behavior", "And I Thought I Was Crazy! "and "In a Cell Phone Minute".
Her humorous / human interest books have received much media attention and excellent reviews/excerpts in prestigious publications. Judy has been a guest on numerous radio and television shows. She lives in New York with her husband, who insists that if she had written the quirk books as autobiographies, they would have been much longer!

REVIEW - CATTITUDE

"After Belle the cat switches bodies with a psychic on the run from a murderer, she wants her perfect cat body back instead of this furless human one. But she doesn't count on falling in love with her former owner."

Author: Edie Ramer
Pages: 274 pages
Publisher: Blue Walrus Books on Aug. 2012
Form: E-book (from the author/publisher for an honest review)
Genre: Fantasy/Paranormal Romantic Suspense
Amazon: Buy / $4.99 (Kindle) ( EU price, click to see yours )
Barnes & Noble: Buy / $4.99 (Nook)
All Romance E-books: Buy / $4.99 (E-book)
Excerpt: Teaser

"It's all in the Cattitude...

After Belle the cat switches bodies with a psychic on the run from a murderer, she wants her perfect cat body back instead of this furless human one. But she doesn't count on falling in love with her former owner. Or that a CEO and a beauty queen want to use up her nine lives. Now is her chance to prove anything a human can do, a cat can do better."  ~ From Goodreads

Hilarious and entertaining! Cattitude was intriguing, let's face it a cat turning into human and having to adjust to walking, eating, learning to talk and read, and yikes, taking a SHOWER for crying out loud. I absolutely loved all Belle's and Max's parts of the book! Cattitude is fresh, new and hilarious!

Now the the critique part... There were too many point-of-views that distracted a reader from the story and it slows the book down, if it had been up to me I would have cut off Gwen and Phil's POV at least or had some of their parts in another's POV. I seriously believe the book would have been more quick witted and romantic had the plot stayed together. That is the only fault in the book. ( even though it's a big one for me )

Everything else I loved! I loved the hero and the heroine, I loved the supporting cast, I loved Ms. Ramer's writing and her story telling and I loved the funky, little bit weird romance - and all the awesome cattitude Belle had going on, she was a totally believable cat in furry and woman form. And I very much enjoyed the drama and the mystery!

I would have loved to give Cattitude 5 stars - but the too multiple point-of-views really did bother me, if that had been fixed it would have been a stellar 5 star book for me.

Rating :

REVIEW - ADMIT IT, YOU'RE CRAZY!

"Quirks, Idiosyncrasies, and Irrational Behavior."

Author: Judy Reiser
Pages: 192 pages
Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing on April 2005
Form: E-book (from the author/publisher for an honest review)
Genre: Humorous Non-Fiction
Amazon: Buy / $6.69 (Kindle)( EU price, click to see yours )
Barnes & Noble: Buy / $4.99 (Nook)
Excerpt: Amazon Look Inside

"Judy Reiser gets people to confess to their most bizarre behavior. Judging by the success of her first book, And I Thought I Was Crazy!, it's a good thing she does!

Admit It, You're Crazy! is the follow up book, chock full of outrageous, outlandish, and downright ridiculous things people do. Kids say the darndest things? Adults DO them!!!

Author Judy Reiser offers up more hilarious eccentricities exhibited ( and confessed to ) by otherwise normal people. Everyone has at least one particular oddity in his or her daily way of life. The trick is to get them to admit to it. These side-splitting actions are categorized from hilarious bathroom behavior to funny money and clothing habits to eating and sleeping peculiarities to germ-a-phobia and more."  ~ From Goodreads

For everyone : It's so great to know I'm not crazy! Or that I'm not the only one who is. ;) This book is shockfull of crazy stuff people do, it's hilarious to read about men's bathroom habits, like that they can't use stall next to each other but the furthest only will do - there is coughing involved. It really is interesting seeing other people do crazy stuff and it's even more interesting spotting yourself doing something another person does as well. This book says it's humorous but I find if hilarious! - and not in the laughing at other people's OCD kind, but genuinely just weird and funny.

For authors : Oh you'll love this! This is the golden treasure chest of idiosyncrasies! As a reader and reviewer I'll spill that for me to connect with the main character they have to be a little odd to interesting, so instead of using what you do weird check out this book! There are so many character quirks in there that it's perfect to snatch few for your characters as well. Take a heroine in urban fantasy who whops head of monsters and doesn't mind blood but has the habit of putting on sunglasses when she gets a nights snack so that the fridge light won't bug her out. See! She's instantly more interesting character! Now add someone witnessing this oddity, and you got a whole chapter of  quirkiness.

Here are some of the oddities!

* Flipping through a magazine at a newsstand then reaching for a 

fresh copy to buy because the one they were flipping through is no longer new.

* Enumerating (1, 2, 3...) while urinating and trying to end their peeing on an even number.

* Flossing between their toes with a pair of socks to remove sock fuzz at the end of the day.

* Eating the most expensive part of a meal first, just in case they can't finish everything.

* Ironing the newspaper before reading it to protect them self against germs.

* Leaving sunglasses on top of the fridge so a midnight raid won't blind them by opening it.

* Controlling shedding by vacuuming the cat.

Let's admit it, we're all crazy! And if you don't yet agree read Admit it, you're crazy! and you'll be agreeing in no time!

Rating :

REVIEW - HOW TO FLIRT WITH A NAKED WEREWOLF

Author: Molly Harper
Pages: 385 pages
Publisher: Pocket Books
Published: February, 2011
Form: Paperback
Series: Naked Werewolf #1
Adlibris: Link

One of the funniest, laidback Paranormal Romances I've read in years!

Mo was raised by a pair of hippies, no seriously, her mother and father are spitting image of Dharma and Greg's D's mom and dad, except Mo is nothing like Dharma, she rebels against vegan diet, organic living and protesting against evil corporations and her parents suffocating style of raising nearly thirty year old Mo. So Mo decides she's moving to Alaska, to see who she is without any influence or pressure from her parents.

Grundy Alaska is a small town, real small with only +2000 inhabitants, Mo slips in quite announced and begins to make friends and gather admirers from first step onto a small diner.

Mo is funny, witty and soon finds she's only butting heads with on person, Cooper, a crumby but hot guy who lives close by her little cabin. Mo and Cooper can't stand each other, but then Mo gets into a bit of trouble and it seems there is more to Cooper than the temperamental, snappy personality.

Without revealing too much I have to say, this author has a fun way of telling her story, there are laugh out loud moments as well as oh that made me cringe kind of embarrassments. If there would have been more explaining on the bad tempered Cooper this would have been a five star read, but it lacks a little something from Cooper's side to be perfect. 

That said I truly liked this book and plan on reading everything Molly Harper has written so far!

It's not from the steamy end of Paranormal Romance, but more the building a life together includes some scenes of werewolf yumminess. Molly Harper creates a whole world, instead of just depending on the love story. Which I love! We get to know, Evie, Alan, Buzz and a small Alaskan town full of characters!

This book is 380 pages of FUN, witty, lovable Mo who is so entertaining to read you don't want to put the book down and right after reading search for more of her writing.

Rating :

Started Reading : 30th of July 2011

Finished Reading : 31st of July 2011

P.S. How bad is it that I want to raise my kids like her parents do, well except for the sticking around like glue after they turn 18?