Michelle Franklin (Guest Post & Giveaway)

Hi lovelies! We have the wonderful Michelle Franklin back today with an excerpt from her novel, Tales from Frewyn, as well as a giveaway!

Chapter 1

                The Duchess of Marridon’s visits to Frewyn being more frequent as of late was the subject of much discussion in the Chambers. Each of her returns to the Triumvirate courts supplied fresh gossip for the officiating nobles, and the subject of the highest discussion was Her Grace’s friendship with King Alasdair and her acquaintance with the commander and Den Asaan. Numerous were those who wished to know all the various beginnings of the strange connection: to be in company of a king was expected for one of the Duchess’ rank and consequence, but for Her Grace to befriend a giant and a farmer was not a natural occurrence. Many became curious of the association, and when it was discovered that the woman and the giant were responsible for Frewyn’s pride as a free nation, a reporter was dispatched from Marridon to their southern neighbors to obtain the particulars of the friendship’s history.

Hades by Alexandra Adornetto (Book Trailer & Giveaway)

Hades (Halo #2)

by Alexandra Adornetto

Hardcover, 422 pages

Published August 30th 2011 by Feiwel & Friends

ISBN 0312656270

Bethany and Xavier are even closer since battling Jake Thorn and his evil influence (in Halo) and Beth and her angel siblings must still protect Venus Cove from the Dark Forces. 
When a party game – a séance – inadvertently releases Jake from the Underworld, he disguises himself and tricks Beth into taking a ride on his motorcycle. When the highway opens up and swallows them, Beth learns too late that she’s now a prisoner in hell. What happens to angels there? As her archangel brother, Gabriel, her sister Ivy, Xavier, and her best friend, Molly search for her, Beth must weigh Jake’s bargaining for her freedom: one night with him, and she will be released back to Earth. Can Jake be trusted in this wager? And is he also using Beth to engineer the fall of the archangel Gabriel? Xavier has already lost one love – when Jake tricks him into thinking that Bethany is dead, his grief and anger result in a betrayal that will leave Bethany – and readers – wondering if he is so good after all. 
It will be up to Beth to use everything she’s learned about her powers as an angel – and about love – to free herself and those she loves from the clutches of Hades.

Book of the Month Wrap-Up: Changing the Game by Jaci Burton

Good morning lovelies! It's time to wrap up our August Book of the Month and announce the winners!
First, I wanted to say a BIG thank for making our first ever Book of the Month such a huge success!  And if you loved this feature as much as Kelly and I did, no worries!  We will be announcing September's Book of the Month tomorrow.  There will be more reviews, Sexy Snippets, an interview and a few giveaways.  So be sure to check back! 

Okay, and now on to the details!

• The winner of the character face-off was Mick with a land slide victory of 24 votes out of 38 total. Woohooo! Thank you all for voting for the fabulously hot football player, I love seeing so many Team Mick fans out there! And if you were one of the few who voted for Gavin, well no worries - we can still be friends. We'll just have to work on your taste. ;)

• Thank you to everyone who stopped by Jaci's guest post and entered to win the first in Jaci Burton's Play-by-Play series, The Perfect Play and matching book thong from Dalla Luna!  The winner is JenM!

• Changing the Game received 209 entries for this giveaway, thank you to everyone who entered!  The winner of a copy of Changing the Game, our fabulous Book of the Month, is Pam S.

Don't forget, Jaci's third book in the Play-by-Play series, Taking a Shot, will be out in March 2012.  I know, it's a long wait, but I'm sure it will be well worth it! 
You can pre-order your copy now at: 
 or 

Thanks again to everyone who joined us, and don't forget to check in tomorrow for our next book of the month!

Review: Enemy Mine by Karin Harlow

Enemy Mine (L.O.S.T #2)

by Karin Harlow

Mass Market Paperback, 384 pages

Expected publication: August 30th 2011 by Pocket Star

ISBN 1439177872

Courtesy of publisher

Lovers from opposite worlds reunite in Karin Harlow’s explosive, erotic new L.O.S.T. adventure. . . .
While tracking a hijacked cask of enriched uranium in Kyrgyzstan, L.O.S.T. operative Nikko Cruz is ambushed and left for dead. Which means he must be hallucinating when the only woman he ever loved—the woman he was sentenced to death for killing—comes to his rescue. Half-daemon Selena Guererro has secrets she’d kill for. The most important one, she’s already died to protect. Now she’ll do anything to keep her daughter safe. But she can’t just leave her lost love to perish. She injects Nikko with immortal blood serum, putting herself in grave danger.
When Nikko comes to, he is superhuman and super pissed. The mother of his daughter—the one he thought killed their child—is alive. He wants answers. He wants blood. And despite his best intentions, he wants Selena. He traces her to a mysterious terrorist cell where the cask has surfaced. First, he must retrieve the deadly material. Then he’ll take revenge on his beautiful ex. But when nothing goes as planned, Nikko and Selena find themselves burning with desire . . . and blowing the roof off their separate worlds, human and daemon alike.

GoodReads

My Thoughts:

Karin Harlow’s latest offering in the L.O.S.T. series will not disappoint!

On bookshelves today... (08/30/2011)

New release for Tuesday, August 30th 2011

I apologize for this post being pretty lazy, it has just been one of those days and I ran out of time to do this post up right. =(

Sexy Snippets: Enemy Mine by Karin Harlow

<center><a href="http://readingbetweenthewinesbookclub.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c290/kellymarie1081/SexySnippetsButton.jpg"width="200" height="300"/></a></center>

Tuesdays have never been so sexy!

Sexy Snippets is a weekly feature hosted by Reading Between the Wines and Secrets of a Book Lover for the 18+ crowd. To join in just grab the button, post a sexy paragraph or two from your current read and share the author & title so other participants can add the book to their TBR list if they like. Then ass your post to the linky below so everyone can follow along. Have a sexy good time!

His blood blazed with such intensity it burned. His cock stiffened to the consistency of steel. He pushed her legs apart, and with no preamble, filled her to his root. Selena closed her eyes, pressing her back against the wall, bringing him with her. "I love that," she moaned.

Nikko swelled more, if that was possible. Lightening bolts of desire shot through him. "God, Selena," he hoarsely groaned, his rod throbbing inside her. Her liquid muscles clamped around him. He could feel every part of her. Slick, tight, demanding. Pulling him deeper. The intensity of the feelings nearly brought him to his knees. He pushed higher into her and she responding by arching into him. He pulled back, her muscles reluctant to release him. The erotic drag inside her pushed him to the edge. He thrust back into her. Every part of him sparked with fire, every cell of him pulsed, raw, aching. He thrust again. And again. 

Now it's your turn! Add your snippet to the linky below and show me your sexy!

Review: The Game of Love by Jeanette Murray

The Game of Love

by Jeanette Murray

ebook

Expected publication: August 29th 2011 by Carina Press

ISBN 1426892128 

Courtesy of NetGalley

Chris St. James is ready for normal. After walking away from her pro tennis career and a toxic relationship with a star hockey player, she's starting a new life as a teacher and tennis coach in a small town. Now all she needs is an average guy to share it with.Brett Wallace is no average guy. Forced to retire from the NFL after an injury—and suddenly single after being dumped by his status-conscious wife—he's returned to his hometown to coach the varsity football team. Wary of women interested only in his celebrity, Brett finds Chris's indifference to his former career refreshing.The last thing Chris needs is to get involved with another pro athlete, but she can't deny the sparks that fly between them. So she agrees to a purely physical, no-strings-attached affair. But the rules of the game change when she falls for him…

GoodReads

My Thoughts:

Brett ‘The Wall’ Wallace is a retired NFL player who has returned to his home town to couch the Northeastern High School football team. Wary of women after him only because of his past career Brett is instantly intrigued by Chris who seems to want nothing to do with him.

Chris St. James is a retired pro tennis player who has just moved to town to couch the girl’s tennis team and teach high school math. Embarrassed and resentful of her pro past Chris hides it from everyone, and wanting nothing to do with pro anything Chris instantly forms a dislike for Brett.

Shameless Sundays (1)

Shameless Sundays is a new weekly feature where I will shamelessly self promote or promote a friend's product! 

This week, since we are wrapping up our Book of the Month, Jaci Burton's Changing the Game I thought that I would share with you all a gorgeous book thong that is currently listed in my Etsy store, DallaLuna, that matches the book!

Jess's Review: Bound by Blood by P.A. Lupton

Bound by Blood by P.A. Lupton
Paperback, 360 pages
Published July 21st 2011 by Self Published
ISBN 0987749307
Courtesy of Author

FBI agent and psychic, Brianna Reece, descends from an ancient and powerful bloodline of witches, only she doesn’t know it. But now that legacy has come back to bite her—literally. In the shadows of night in Denver Colorado, a serial killer is hunting women, and FBI agent Brianna Reece is hunting the killer. Unlike any case she’s worked before, Brianna can’t ignore the prickling at the back of her neck when she glimpses the resemblance she shares with the victims. The investigation begins to touch even closer to home when it is revealed that all of the victims were also psychic. Complicating matters further, Brianna is captivated by the FBI’s prime suspect Nathan Donovan. Though she senses he is hiding something from her, the attraction she feels for him is compelling, and unlike anything she’s ever experienced. Through a chance twist of fate, Nathan learns of Brianna’s ancestry and is forced to divulge secrets to Brianna that will change her life forever. When she learns that the killer is an evil vampire, and he’s now set his sights on her, Nathan alone holds the key to awakening her dormant powers. Now he must race to teach her how to control her emergent gifts before she becomes the next victim.

GoodReads


Jess's Thoughts:

Bound by Blood opens on Brianna Reece, a no-nonsense FBI agent, in a bar searching for clues surrounding a murder on a job she’s heard of but doesn’t officially start work on until a few days later. She’s clever, independent, good in a fight, oh and she’s also psychic. More accurately: she’s an empath and able to sense other people’s emotions.

Book of the Month Review: Changing the Game by Jaci Burton

Changing the Game
Play by Play #2

by Jaci Burton

Paperback, 320 pages

Expected publication: August 2nd 2011 by Berkley Heat

ISBN 0425242404

An erotic new game from the New York Times bestselling author of The Perfect Play. 
Sports agent Liz Darnell will do anything to win back her number-one client, baseball pro Gavin Riley. And Gavin's more than ready- especially when Liz is offering herself as part of the bargain. But when love unexpectedly enters the playing field, neither Liz nor Gavin are ready for the biggest game-changer of all.

GoodReads

My Thoughts:

Liz Darnell has been in love with her client, MLB baseball star Gavin Riley, for years. But Gavin’s a play boy and she doesn’t mix business with pleasure. When Liz thinks that she is on the verge of losing him as a client though she agrees to a no-strings off-season affair with Gavin, what can it hurt? She’s a big girl and can keep her feelings contained, protecting her heart in the process right?

Bookish News!

Happy Friday everyone, woohoo FRIIIIDAY! Excited I am. LoL

So there was a lot of exciting bookish news today. First;

Karen Marie Moning has announce that she is currently working on a trilogy set in the Fever world featuring Dani, Christian and Ryodan. *Happy Dance* She states that it will not be a Y.A. which I know will make a lot of readers, including myself, who was concerned with Christian being in a Y.A. happy! 

After that KMM will be working on TWO MORE BOOKS in the Fever series featuring Mac & Barrons!!!! It's okay to get up and do a little jig for that one! lol She also says that a lot of questions that haven't been answered yet, which she delights in torturing us with I think, will be answered in these books! 

To find out more visit KMM's FaceBook page under 'My Notes'

18 & Over Book Blogger Follow

<center><a href="http://readingbetweenthewinesbookclub.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad3/folksohana/Follow.jpg"width="180" height="280"/></a></center>18 & Over Book Blogger Follow is a weekly feature that begins on Fridays and runs through the weekend, hosted by Crystal from Reading Between the Wines and Kelly at Secrets of a Book Lover.This is a Friday blog hop with the objective to find and visit other book blogs that share the same interest as you, namely books geared towards the 18 & over crowd, and make new friends!

How to join in:

-You should run a book blog that features and reviews mostly adult reads, some Y.A.’s are okay but 18 & over adult reads should be your majority.

-Make a separate post for the 18 & Over Book Blogger Follow on your blog.

-Copy the html for the button above and place it at the top of your post.

-List & answer the ‘Question of the Week.’

-Place your name and blog title in the linky below and the url for a direct link to your post

-Visit the other blogs on the list. If you like what you see make sure to leave a comment and follow so the blog owner knows you stopped by and can return the favor. Following each blog is not mandatory but I know it is always appreciated, and if someone comments saying they’re a new follower it’s polite to follow back. J It’s always nice to spread the 18 & Over Book Blog love!

-Contact me (readingbetweenthewines10 at gmail dot com) or Kelly (secretsofabooklover at gmail dot com) with any questions!

Lexy's Review & Giveaway: Ripe for Pleasure by Isobel Carr

Ripe for Pleasure 

The League of Second Sons #1

by Isobel Carr

Mass Market Paperback, 295 pages

Published May 1st 2011 by Forever 

ISBN 0446572756

Courtesy of publisher

Second in line, first in loveA secret society of younger sons, sworn to aid and abet each other, no matter the scandal or cost.... Their fathers and brothers may rule the world, but they run it . . . and when it comes to passion, they refuse to accept second best.
Searching for hidden treasure,finding forbidden fantasy.London's most sensual former courtesan, Viola Whedon, is incapable of being seduced-she does the seducing. Until she meets Leonidas Vaughn. Her salacious memoirs have made her the target of half the lords in England, and Vaughn is the only man she can turn to. When he promises to protect her-and to make her beg for his touch-the alluring beauty finds both offers impossible to refuse. 
Leonidas Vaughn secretly believes Viola possesses a fortune given to his family by the King of France. So the strong and sexy Vaughn charms his way into Viola's life . . . and her bed. But when their arrangement is consummated, he'll experience pleasure far beyond his wildest fantasies-and realize his heart may need the most protection of all.

GoodReads

Lexy’s Thought’s:
When you are a second son you are usually not left with much of anything save a name. Lucky for Leonidas (Leo) Vaughn he has been left with property and the means to support himself if he can scrape by. When he finds the equivalent of a treasure map he follows it with the hope to save his property. Leo fully expects to find treasure, it’s just not the type of treasure he was expecting to get his hands on that has him falling head over heals.

Review: Deadly Obsession by Katie Reus

Deadly Obsession

by Katie Reus

ebook, 80,000 words

Published August 15th 2011 by Carina Press

ISBN 1426892047

Courtesy of NetGalley

The chilling words of a killer: This is just the beginning...Ten years ago, Lilly Carmichael left town without an explanation, breaking Braden Donnelly's heart. The death of her aunt has brought Lilly home—and face-to-face with memories she thought were long buried. Still getting over a traumatic incident from her work as an NSA agent, Lilly initially dismisses the face at her window as a figment of stress-induced paranoia.Now the sheriff of Hudson Bay, Braden has spent the past year hunting a sadistic murderer. His investigation is turned upside down when new evidence indicates that Lilly is the killer's next target. Determined to protect the woman he's never stopped loving, Braden must race against the clock to trap a dangerous psychopath—before it's too late...

GoodReads

My Thoughts:

I really enjoyed this romantic suspense. It was a quick, easy and engaging read. 

On bookshelves today...

New releases for Tuesday, August 23rd, 2001

Body of Sin by Eve Silver

Paperback, 384 pages

Expected publication: August 23rd 2011 by HQN

ISBN 037377592X 

The ultimate fall from Grace…Once the favorite son of the Lord of the Underworld, Lokan Krayl held enviable privileges and powers. Powers that led to a devastating betrayal—murder.Resurrected by his immortal brothers, Lokan is still trapped in purgatory. He has no way to contact his family. He has no answers. In order to find the truth about his death, and who killed him, he must escape his prison. And there's only one way out: through the twelve gates of his eternal enemy, Osiris.But Lokan has help. Bryn Carr, the woman who duped him once before, is his beautiful yet unwanted guide. She's been sent by his brothers to aid him. She's his last hope. Lokan must place his fate—and that of the mortal and immortal worlds—in the hands of the one woman he can never trust.

Sexy Snippets: Deadly Obsession

<center><a href="http://readingbetweenthewinesbookclub.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c290/kellymarie1081/SexySnippetsButton.jpg"width="200" height="300"/></a></center>Tuesdays have never been so sexy!Sexy Snippets is a weekly feature hosted by Reading Between the Wines and Secrets of a Book Lover for the 18+ crowd. To join in just grab the button, post a few sexy paragraphs from your current read and share the author & title so other participants can add the book to their TBR list if they like. Then ass your post to the linky below so everyone can follow along. Have a sexy good time!

With his free hand, he tugged at her scarf so he could get better access to all of her. Their lips and tongues danced in a hungry frenzy as their bodies pressed against each other. Once he'd freed her scarf, he started a trail of kisses down her jaw until he reached her ear lobe.She'd always been sensitive there. Things still hadn't changed. When he tugged on the tender flesh, she nearly vaulted out of his lap. And that was the only sign he needed. He tugged at the bottom of her sweater and lifted it over her head. She slightly shivered but he knew it wasn't from being cold. The heated look in her green eyes told him everything he needed.

Now it's your turn, show me your sexy!

Early Review: Dark Taste of Rapture by Gena Showalter

LOVE this cover!

Dark Taste of Rapture 

Alien Huntress #6

by Gena Showalter

Mass Market Paperback, 384 pages

Expected publication: August 23rd 2011 by Pocket Star

ISBN 1439175780 

Courtesy of publisher

New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter captivates with a dark, tantalizing world of humans, otherworlders, and a powerful AIR agent consumed by his desire for a woman he can never have. . . .
With one caress, he can give unforgettable pleasure . . . or unending pain. . . .
Hector Dean is shaved, tattooed, and totally ripped—and he has a deadly secret. He is a walking weapon, capable of killing with a single brush of his fingertips. Little wonder he’s determined to remain on his own. But Noelle Tremain is a temptation like no other. She is beautiful and rich, with a party girl smile that hides a shocking vulnerability, and from the beginning his sizzling attraction to her is undeniable. For the first time, his stone-cold resistance is tested. But to be with her, he risks destroying her.
When a wealthy businessman is murdered in New Chicago’s seediest district, the two are partnered, and there’s no escaping what they both want: each other. Yet neither Hector nor Noelle knows what to fear more—the killer case, or their own lethal desires. . . .

GoodReads

My Thoughts:

You know when you pick up a novel from Gena Showalter that you’re going to get the very best!

Series Catch-Up: Alien Huntress by Gena Showalter (#Review)

The Alien Huntress series by Gena Showalter

Books #1-5

Otherworlders have always been on Earth, we just didn’t know about it. Seventy years ago though we found out and there was a deadly war between humans and aliens that almost destroyed the planet. Realizing this, humans and otherworlders came to an uneasy agreement. They would share the planet but humans would police the otherworlders, killing all predator aliens that harmed humans.

Book of the Month Character Face-Off: Mick vs. Gavin

Book of the Month Character Face-Off: Mick vs. Gavin
Character Face-Off is a fun little feature Kelly and I are hosting for our Book of the Month where we pit two characters from the novel and/or series against each other. How do you play? Well, on each of our blogs we will give you the stats on our character of choice and then there will be a poll where you, the reader, can vote for your favorite. At the end of the month we will tally the results and announce the winner along with the giveaway winners for the Book of the Month!

The Players:

Mick Riley sponsored by Crystal at Reading Between the Wines

Gavin Riley sponsored by Kelly at Secrets of a Book Lover

Name: Michael ‘Mick’ Riley

Appearance: The Perfect Play

Profession: NFL star quarterback (and later Super bowl MVP) for the San Francisco Sabers

Age: 30, but celebrates his 31^st birthday in Changing the Game

Height: 6’ 6’’

Features: Black hair and striking blue eyes, rugged but perfect face, full lips and a slightly crooked nose. Mick has a muscled body that he keeps in top shape, broad shoulders, with a wide chest and flat, chiseled abs – the ultimate six-pack. (Just look at the cover, Hello Hawtness!)

Attributes: Smart- Mick received a ton of academic awards in college, sexy, determined, a good dancer thanks to his mother and team ballet lessons, has a wonderful sense of humor, knows his art, passionate about his profession and family, responsible, a great role model for his fiance's teenage son, and oh so romantic, has incredible sexual prowess and is utterly insatiable in bed. (*ahem* Good on all sides if you know what I mean. *blushes*)

Quote: “I’ve known what I wanted since that night several months ago when I met this beautiful woman in a ballroom. She was perfect for me.”

Doesn't that just make your heart melt? Mick really is the ultimate leading man, absolute perfect package but with just enough flaws to make him real. Not to mention he is just sexy as hell, case in point: the eye candy, yum-mee!
So what are you waiting for? You know you wanna vote for Mick on the poll found below and on my right hand side bar >>> You don't even need to check out Mick's little brother Gavin over at Secrets of a Book Lover- Mick is all the man that you're looking for, on and off the field!

Lockdown by Alexander Gordon Smith (Book Trailer & Giveaway)

Today we have a book trailer and giveaway courtesy of Zeitghost Media.

Lockdown (Escape From Furnace #1)

by Alexander Gordon Smith

273 Pages

Published October 27th, 2009 by Farrar Straus Girous

ISBN 0374324913

Furnace Penitentiary: the world’s most secure prison for young offenders, buried a mile beneath the earth’s surface. Convicted of a murder he didn’t commit, sentenced to life without parole, “new fish” Alex Sawyer knows he has two choices: find a way out, or resign himself to a death behind bars, in the darkness at the bottom of the world. Except in Furnace, death is the least of his worries. Soon Alex discovers that the prison is a place of pure evil, where inhuman creatures in gas masks stalk the corridors at night, where giants in black suits drag screaming inmates into the shadows, where deformed beasts can be heard howling from the blood-drenched tunnels below. And behind everything is the mysterious, all-powerful warden, a man as cruel and dangerous as the devil himself, whose unthinkable acts have consequences that stretch far beyond the walls of the prison.Together with a bunch of inmates—some innocent kids who have been framed, others cold-blooded killers—Alex plans an escape. But as he starts to uncover the truth about Furnace’s deeper, darker purpose, Alex’s actions grow ever more dangerous, and he must risk everything to expose this nightmare that’s hidden from the eyes of the world.

ARC Review: Under Fire by Rita Henuber

Under Fire

by Rita Henuber

ebook,  86,000 words

Expected publication: August 22nd 2011 by Carina Press

ISBN 1426892071

Courtesy of NetGalley

Coast Guard helicopter pilot Olivia Carver is on a very personal mission. Her twin brother, an undercover officer, was murdered by a drug cartel and she won't stop until she finds the man responsible for his death.In the course of her own investigation, Olivia meets informant Rico Cortes. He's mysterious and sexy and despite her reservations, the two share a night of passion. But Rico turns out to be more than a one-night stand. He's a DEA agent, deep undercover in Miami's drug world, and possibly the one man who can help Olivia find the justice she seeks.When Rico realizes his cover is blown, he isn't sure whether it was someone in the cartel or an inside agent. Olivia is the only one he can trust and together they venture on a dangerous, rogue mission to infiltrate a drug lord's inner circle...with Olivia as bait.

GoodReads

My thoughts:

Rita Henuber delivers a smart, sexy and dangerous tale with Under Fire! 

ARC Review: One Grave at a Time by Jeaniene Frost

One Grave at a Time 

Night Huntress #6

by Jeaniene Frost 

Mass Market Paperback, 384 pages

Expected publication: August 30th 2011 by Avon Books

ISBN 0061783196 

Courtesy of publisher
Purchase on Amazon

The grave is one wrong step away.
Having narrowly averted an (under)world war, Cat Crawfield wants nothing more than a little downtime with her vampire husband, Bones. Unfortunately, her gift from New Orleans' voodoo queen just keeps on giving--leading to a personal favor that sends them into battle once again, this time against a villainous spirit. 
Centuries ago, Heinrich Kramer was a witch hunter. Now, every All Hallows Eve, he takes physical form to torture innocent women before burning them alive. This year, however, a determined Cat and Bones must risk all to send him back to the other side of eternity--forever. But how do you kill a killer who's already long dead?

First Line:

"Donald Bartholomew Williams, get your ass back here now!"

Crystal's Thoughts:

Cat and Bones are back and their relationship is better than ever but danger is never far for this vampire duo. This time though, their enemy is something that they can’t even see to fight. How do you kill a creature that has no corporeal body? 

Knight Moves Release Day Blitz

To celebrate the release of John G. Hartness newest release in The Black Knight Chronicles, Knight Moves, I'd like to welcome you to the Knight Moves Release Day Blitz!

In the third installment of The Black Knight Chronicles, vampire private investigators Jimmy Black and Greg Knightwood find another vampire (or more) playing in their sandbox, and the boys are NOT happy about it. While tracking down the killer of a young college student, they encounter boobytraps, defenestration, coeds, a hirsute bounty hunter with a moon fetish and a bad attitude, and worst of all - game night at a comic shop! This comic urban fantasy series has drawn comparisons to The Dresden Files, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Kevin Smith movies. Knight Moves is the followup to the kindle best-selling Hard Day’s Knight and Back in Black.

Vonda Sinclair of My Fierce Highlander (Guest Post & Giveaway)

Today I have the lovely Vonda Sinclair visiting with a fun little guest post and a very sexy snippet from her novel, My Fierce Highlander. You can catch my review on that *HERE* She's also giving away a copy of her novel at the end so make sure to stick around!

A Tryst in the Garden

Why would anyone want to make love in a garden? Well, maybe it's the only convenient place when the mood strikes. Maybe it's a lovely, warm night, and the lovers want an adventure away from the crowd inside the castle. Gardens contain lots of bushes and shrubs to hide behind, mazes to get lost in, benches to sit on, or soft grass to lie on. The flowers and herbs add to the sensory experience.

Review: My Fierce Highlander by Vonda Sinclair

My Fierce Highlander

by Vonda Sinclair

ebook

Published July 27th 2011 by Vonda Sinclair 

ISBN 0013142798 

Courtesy of author

Gwyneth Carswell, an English lady banished by her father to the harsh Scottish Highlands, wants nothing more than to take her young son away from the violence of two fighting clans--her own distant kin, the MacIrwins, and their enemies, the MacGraths. She risks everything to rescue the fierce MacGrath warrior from the battlefield where he’s left for dead by her clan. She only knows she is inexplicably drawn to him and he wants peace as she does. When her clan learns of her betrayal, they seek vengeance. Dare she trust the enemy more than her own family?
Laird Alasdair MacGrath is driven to end two-hundred years of feuding with the MacIrwins. But by taking in and protecting Lady Gwyneth and her son, he provokes more attacks from his mortal enemy. As the danger and conflict surrounding them escalate, Alasdair and Gwyneth discover an explosive passion neither of them expected. With the arrival of a powerful man from her past, a horrible decision confronts her--give up her son or the man she loves.

GoodReads

My Thoughts:

18 & Over Book Blogger Follow

<center><a href="http://readingbetweenthewinesbookclub.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad3/folksohana/Follow.jpg"width="200" height="300"/></a></center>18 & Over Book Blogger Follow is a weekly feature hosted by Crystal from Reading Between the Wines and Kelly at Secrets of a Book Lover. It is a Friday blog hop with the objective to find and visit other book blogs that share the same interest as you, namely books geared towards the 18 & over crowd, and make some new friends along the way!

How to join:

• You should run a book blog that features and reviews mostly adult reads, some Y.A.’s are okay but 18 & over adult reads should be your majority.
• Make a separate post for the 18 & Over Book Blogger Follow on your blog.
• Copy the html for the button above and place it at the top of your post.
• List & answer the ‘Question of the Week.’
• Place your name and blog title in the linky below and the url for a direct link to your post
• Visit the other blogs on the list and make sure to leave a comment so the blog owner knows you stopped by and can return the favor. If you like what you see why not follow? It’s always nice to spread the 18 & Over Book Blog love! Following each blog is not mandatory but I know it is always appreciated, and if someone comments saying they’re a new follower it’s polite to follow back. J
• Contact me (readingbetweenthewines10 at gmail dot com) or Kelly (secretsofabooklover at gmail dot com) with any questions!

Author Sullivan Lee of Brightwing (Guest Post & Giveaway)

Today I would like to welcome author Sulivan Lee who is joining us with a guest post about her new release, Brightwing! Sulivan is also offering a fab giveaway at the end so make sure to stick around! 

When Characters Fight the HEA

Romance readers – a lot of them, anyway – tell me they need a happily ever after ending. Not just a happy ending, but EVER after. Wow. Forever? How on earth am I supposed to do that?

B.K. Ethridge of Black & Orange (Guest Post)

Happy Hump Day everyone! I have an awesome guest post from author B.K. Ethridge today, stopping by on his blog tour for Black & Orange. Enjoy!

What a Man Needs, Other Than That

It dawned on me in the grocery store, standing near the women’s magazines, listening to a couple argue about where they put the coupons, that we still have a long way to go understanding the different sexes.  These two are nipping and snapping at each other over coupons, while I’m reading the cover of Cosmopolitan. HOW TO UNDERSTAND YOUR MAN: 35 STEPS.

Okay, I made that title up, but it sounds familiar, right? Well, everybody knows men are not complicated enough to justify 35 steps, or even 5 most times. In fact, it astounds me this still needs to be discussed, because the matter is not difficult at all. Seeing these articles, for me at least, is like listening to someone pitch ice cubes as a new exciting way to cool off your fruit punch.

Series Review: KGI by Maya Banks

I was honored today to have Jenn over at Frequent Reader, Infrequent Blogger have me over as her featured blog of the month. I brought along a review of Maya Bank's KGI series (Books 1-3)

The Kelly/KGI Series is a dark and sinfully sexy romantic suspense series that centers on a tight-knit military family, the Kelly’s. There are six Kelly brothers, all of whom served in different branches of the military and together form a special private security agency called the Kelly Group International, which take on the missions that even the government can’t handle.  These brothers are hard-bodied, sexy alpha males that will have you swooning in no time; and with each book featuring a brother’s own HEA you receive plenty of danger, sex and a roller coaster of emotions when these sensuous military men must fight for the women they love.

The first book in the series, The Darkest Hour, centers on one of the younger Kelly brothers, Ethan Kelly. Ethan is an ex-Navy Seal grieving for the wife he lost a year ago. When he receives an anonymous package on the one year anniversary of her death, claiming that Rachel is really alive Ethan will do anything to find her and keep her, even if that means raiding a drug cartel’s camp in the middle of the jungle. The Darkest Hour is an emotionally intense novel all about second chances; with plenty of scorching hot romance, action and subterfuge that makes for edge of your seat perfection with a sizzling main couple and a dynamic cast of secondary characters.

No Place to Run continues the series with the eldest of the Kelly bothers, Sam. Being the oldest, Sam is extremely protective of his family and takes his responsibility over the whole Kelly crew very seriously. When a woman from his past washes up in his lake though, his protective instincts rise to a whole new level. On the run from her family, Sophie Lundgren’s only hope for her and the life of her unborn child is Sam, her baby’s father. Swift moving and heart stopping, No Place to Run is sexually charged and full of excitement providing non-stop entertainment as a superb addition to the series.

Hidden Away is the latest book in the KGI series and my favorite so far, centering on the second eldest Kelly brother, Garrett Kelly who insists on being on each mission and protecting his brother’s backs. After being injured on his last assignment though, taking a bullet for his newest sister-in-law, Garrett is forced into some down time. However an all-expense paid beach vacation courtesy of the US government isn’t so bad, especially since all he has to do is keep an eye on the lovely Sarah Daniels, who after witnessing a murder committed by her brother is in hiding. The possible capture of her murdering brother who Garrett holds a personal grudge against is just a bonus. As he gets closer to Sarah though and the more he learns about her the more he respects her and starts to fall for her. But when Sarah is caught in the middle of the only two men she has ever loved which one will she choose? Gripping, sizzling and breathtaking, Maya Banks weaves a riveting story of heart break, intrigue and trust. Banks delivers one hell of a ride with Hidden Away and I was enthralled from the first page. The first love scene was so intense, I didn’t even realize that I was holding my breath until it puffed out when he finally shouted her name!

These are my first Maya Banks reads and they will definitely not be my last! If you like contemporary romance, romantic suspense or even just plain old suspense novels then I recommend her KGI’s to you. I cannot wait for the next addition to the series, even though it won’t be Donavan’s who I am really looking forward to.  Each character in this mind blowing series is smart, sexy and compelling; leaving me craving for more more more!

A without-a-doubt, a five-wine glass-must-read series!

To read more visit my post on FRIB!

On bookshelves today...

New releases for Tuesday August 16th, 2011.

Blood Drive: A Vampire Novel by Traci Houston

Paperback, 252 pages

Expected publication: August 16th 2011 by Writers of the Round Table Press Inc.

ISBN 1610660099

When a group of vampires rises from the dark of the humid Miami summer and murders her partner, officer Cara Evens gathers a group of allies with their own unique abilities to avenge her partner's death and save the city. To succeed she'll have to accept her own changing abilities, ignore her lust for a vampire and hide the one thing her enemies need to kill them all.