The Two Crystal's Review: Run the Risk by Lori Foster

Run the Risk 
(Love Undercover #1)
by Lori Foster 
Paperback, 379 pages
Published September 25th 2012 by Harlequin HQN
ISBN 0373776950 
ARC Courtesy of NetGalley

When Detective Logan Riske goes undercover to find Pepper Yates, a potential link to his best friend's unsolved murder, he vows to gain her cooperation by any means necessary. But the elusive beauty is more suspicious—and in far more danger—than he expected. And the last thing Logan needs is to start caring for her….Pepper has spent years dodging the corrupt club owner who will stop at nothing to keep her silenced. She can trust no one, not even the handsome new "construction worker" who's moved in next door. The heat between them is undeniable. But will surrendering to passion bring her the safety she so desires—or will her feelings for Logan draw them both into a killer's crosshairs?

Goodreads
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Crystal’s Thoughts: (A.K.A. Crystal 1) 
Neither of them are what they seem, yet despite pretending to be someone their not, they still find love...

The Fifth Story By Ivy Bateman (Guest Post: The Allure of the Sexy Witch)

Today I would like to give a warm welcome to author, Ivy Bateman, who is joining us with her new paranormal erotic adventure, The Fifth Story!

The Allure of the Sexy Witch By Ivy Bateman

Hello everyone. I'm here at Reading Between the Wines today to promote my latest Breathless Press release The Fifth Story. It's a paranormal erotic adventure about a girl named Bryn, whom after being lured into the world of her own stories by the cunning Darkness has to carry out a mission that will allow her to leave. This mission takes her though four of her stories where she has to weave herself into the fabric of her tales and face her characters, many of them being unsavory and not very nice.

One of the characters Bryn has to interact with is the gorgeous and sexy sea witch named Melusine. I really enjoyed writing Melusine and Bryn...she um...ahem...enjoys Melusine too, but in a different way. I enjoyed spending time writing the witch character because I find witches very attractive. Why? Well because they are unfettered and they have a wild nature, an aura of free spiritedness that I think all women, artistic, creative or otherwise possess. Often, women are not at liberty to let this side of their nature selves free and will be drawn to characters in novels or movie that let this side free.

Guest Review: My Brave Highlander by Vonda Sinclair - 3.5 Wine Glasses!

My Brave Highlander 
(Highland Adventure #3)
by Vonda Sinclair 
ebook, 297 pages
Published July 18th 2012
ASIN B008N1UZVC
Copy courtesy of author

Battle-hardened warrior Dirk MacLerie isn't who everyone thinks he is. He's Dirk MacKay, heir apparent to the MacKay chiefdom and Dunnakeil Castle on the far north coast of Scotland. When he returns home after a long absence, will his clan know him and will the duplicitous enemy who tried to murder him twelve years ago kill him in truth this time?
Lady Isobel MacKenzie is a beautiful young widow betrothed to yet another Highland chief by her brother's order. But when her future brother-in-law accosts her and threatens to kill her, she is forced to flee into a Highland snowstorm. When she runs into a rugged and imposing man she thought dead, she wonders if he will turn her over to her enemy or take her to safety.
Dirk remembers the enchanting, dark-eyed Isobel from when he was a lad, but now she is bound to another man by legal contract—an important detail she would prefer to forget. She wishes to choose her own husband and has her sights set on Dirk. But he would never steal another man's bride… would he? The tantalizing lady fires up his passions, testing his willpower and honor at every turn, even as some of his own treacherous clansmen plot his downfall.

Goodreads
Purchase at Amazon and Barnes & Noble

Crystal L’s Thoughts:

Tour: Ember's Kiss by Deborah Cooke (Interview/Giveaway)

October is a magical month; Samhain will happen and bring us as close to magic as possible. What better way to prepare for it than having author Deborah Cooke stop by to talk about her dragons! Welcome Deborah!

Lexi: You write a paranormal young adult series (The Dragon Diaries) about dragons. You also write a paranormal romance series (Dragonfire) about dragons. You might say you have a thing for dragons?

Deborah: Haha! Yes, I do. I’ve always thought dragons were amazing creatures - meeting one was one of my dreams as a kid. (I looked, but never found one. I became convinced that this was because I didn’t live in England or Europe. We have bears and deer in Canada, but not so many dragons.)

The Dragon Diaries is actually a spin-off from Dragonfire. It tells the story of Zoë’s coming of age. In the world of Dragonfire, there is only ever one female dragon shape shifter at a time. She’s called the Wyvern and has special powers. Well, in KISS OF FATE (Dragonfire #3) the current Wyvern died (you’ll have to read the book to find out how and why) and the child conceived in that book was a girl instead of a boy. Her father, Eric, is leader of the Pyr and believed then that she would be the next Wyvern. The male dragons come into their powers at puberty, so it’s the same for Zoë. The Dragon Diaries tells of her mastering her powers without really having any reference as to how to master them or clear idea what they are. She also has to keep these new powers secret from her best friend, bring the young male dragons together to battle a new threat that the older dragon shifters don’t take seriously, decide whether she’s crazy to be so wild for the unpredictable Jared (who knows more about dragons than she does) and pass math. 

Lexi: I have loved stories about dragons every since I was young, Dealing With Dragons was the book that hooked me. Do you remember the first book that introduced you to dragon lore?

Quickie Review: Against the Storm by Kat Martin - 4 Wine Glasses!

Against the Storm 
(Raines of Wind Canyon #4)
by Kat Martin
Mass Market Paperback, 393 pages
Published October 25th 2011 by Mira
ISBN 0778312925
ARC Courtesy of NetGalley

Some women find trouble wherever they go. And some men are their only protection against it.
Redheads like Maggie O'Connell are nothing but trouble. But Trace Rawlins, a former army ranger turned private investigator, takes the case anyway. After all, he knows a thing or two about women.
Trace can sense that something is wrong--Maggie isn't telling him everything. If these menacing calls and messages are real, why won't the police help her? And if they "aren't" real, what is she hiding?
As Trace digs deeper to find the source of Maggie's threats, he discovers a secret that no one was meant to uncover. And the only puzzle left to be solved is whether the danger comes from an unknown stalker...or from the woman he's trying his hardest not to fall for.

Goodreads
Purchase at; Amazon, Kindle, Barnes & Noble and The Book Depository  

Crystal’s Thoughts:

Charming Blue by Kristine Grayson (Guest Post/Giveaway)

Today I would like to give a warm welcome to romance author, Kristine Grayson!

The Hecklers

Kristine Grayson

So far, I’ve retold half a dozen fairy tales. From Sleeping Beauty to Bluebeard (this month’s Charming Blue), I have fractured fairy tales, sometimes beyond recognition.
Oh, and I’ve added a few Greek Gods into the mix, as well as characters from literature. Other writers aren’t immune either. I’ve stolen from Dickens and Shakespeare, and had characters malign them both (even though I’m quite fond of them personally).

People keep asking me how I choose the fairy tales to fracture. I have only one unsatisfactory answer: I don’t. They choose me.
And that takes me deep into what I call “mystical writer’s talk.” At some point, writers get all woo-woo. Their characters “talk” to them. The characters “run away with” the story. The characters “gain a life of their own.”

18 & Over Book Blogger Follow #48: Let's Get Random!

  <center> <a href="http://readingbetweenthewinesbookclub.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad3/folksohana/RBtWBC%20Memes/Follow.jpg"width="200" height="300"/></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. 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 some 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 and say 'Hi!' 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 Blogging love!

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

Question Of The Week: Pick up your current book, turn to a random page, and jot down the first few sentences that pop out at you. Make sure to share the author & title of the book with everyone!

Review: A Perfect Storm by Lori Foster - 4 Wine Glasses!

A Perfect Storm 
(Men Who Walk the Edge of Honor #4)
by Lori Foster 
Paperback, 442 pages
Published March 27th 2012 by HQN Books
ISBN 037377656X 
ARC courtesy of NetGalley

He never saw her coming... 
Spencer Lark already knows too many secrets about Arizona Storm, including the nightmare she survived and her resulting trust issues. But in order to expose a smuggling ring—and continue avenging his own tragic past—the bounty hunter reluctantly agrees to make Arizona a decoy. Yet nothing has equipped him for her hypnotic blend of fragility and bravery, or for the protective instincts she stirs in him. 
Arizona wants to reclaim her life, which means acting as bait to lure the enemy into a trap. Sure it's dangerous, especially with a partner as distractingly appealing as Spencer. But as their plan—and their chemistry—shifts into high gear, Arizona may discover there's an even greater risk in surrendering her heart to a hero...

Goodreads
Purchase at: Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Amazon Kindle

Crystal’s Thoughts:
I have followed this series faithfully since When You Dare was released and it fast became one of my favorite romantic suspense series! 

Immortal Surrender by Claire Ashgrove (Guest Post/Giveaway)

Today I am happy to welcome back one of my favorite romance authors, Claire Ashgrove! Please give her a warm welcome!

What’s In A Name?

Good morning, everyone!  Thanks so much for hosting me today!

Names…we all have one.  We probably know what ours means.  Take mine for instance.  Claire means “clear” or “famous” and has French origins.  It still means clear in French.  It’s also traditionally male.

But what about character names? I tend to use historical names or names that could have been historical when I’m writing, and specifically in the series, The Curse of the Templars.  So let’s take a peek at our hero’s name:  Farran de Clare.

Farran comes from ‘fardi’ and ‘nanthi’, which means journey and venture, respectively.  It can also mean in French Iron Grey.  I went with the first meaning, because I felt that was more appropriate for his role.  Like critters who grow into their names (never name a dog Chewy!) I think characters do also.  He’s a Templar Knight who’s gone places and seen many things in life.

Guest Review: Danger Next Door by Katie Reus - 3.5 Wine Glasses!

Danger Next Door
(Red Stone Security #2)
by Katie Reus
ebook
Published June 1st 2012
ASIN B00882GFR4
Copy courtesy of the author

After an explosion leaves detective Grant Caldwell scarred he quits his job and tries to hide from his well-meaning family while he heals. When Belle Manikas, a beautiful new neighbor, moves in next door with problems of her own he finds himself drawn to her even while he tells himself she’s nothing but trouble. Even though he knows he’d never have a chance with a woman like her—not with his disfigurement—he can’t stay away.
Thanks to severe health problems as a child Belle grew up sheltered and smothered by her loving, if overbearing, family. Now that she’s finally out on her own she plans to wring everything she can out of life. When she sets her sights on her brooding neighbor nothing can stop her from getting him into bed—until a madman fixates on her.
With Grant now working for Red Stone Security, he sees it as his duty to protect her at all costs. Unfortunately a violent criminal is stalking Belle and will stop at nothing until he’s destroyed her.

Goodreads
Purchase at Amazon Kindle and Barnes & Noble Nook

Crystal L.'s Thoughts:

Grant Caldwell thinks he's a monster. He detests the burn scars that cover his back, left arm, and the left side of his neck and face. It doesn't matter that he received those burns because he was saving the life of a six year old boy who was caught in the middle of a drug factory sweep that went horribly wrong. All that matters to Grant is that the somewhat attractive appearance he had before the accident is now gone, and what woman could possibly want to look at what's left of him now. If that wasn't bad enough, his father and brothers are bugging him to come work for the family business, Red Stone Security, instead of trying to return the the Police Department on any capacity.

Hold 'Em by Katie Porter (Guest Post/Giveaway)

Today I would like to welcome back the talented writing duo of Katie Porter who is joining us with their newest release in the sexy high-flying Vegas Top Guns series, Hold 'Em! 

Female Fighter Pilots 

By Katie Porter

I have to admit that when we (Carrie Lofty and Lorelie Brown) came up with the idea for the idea for the Vegas Top Guns, neither of us knew much about fighter pilots. I had some knowledge about the Air Force, and more generalized knowledge about the military in general, but we wanted to play with fighter pilots. Because they’re hot. And we wanted a female fighter pilot too. So ta-da, we’ve got Leah from Hold ’Em.

So we started researching. (We both come from a background of historical romance. We’re big on research.) Who exactly would Leah be, as a female fighter pilot? In the US armed forces, how long have the women been flying along side the guys?

Tour: Naughty Little Bedtime Stories by Tamaria Soana (Guest Post)

more

Please give a warm welcome to author, Tamaria Soana, who is joining us on tour for her book, Naughty Little Bedtime Stories!

The idea for Naughty Little Bedtime Stories came from a writing exercise I used to do to sharpen my sexy scene writing skills. I would look for a steamy image and write around a thousand words describing it. An author friend suggested I lengthen a few and Naught Little Bedtime Stories was born.

Review: Lie To Me by Tori St. Claire - 4 Wine Glasses!

Lie To Me
Black Opals #2
by Tori St. Claire
Paperback, 352 pages
Published July 2012 by Berkley heat
ISBN 0425253074 
Courtesy of author & publisher

After helping to break up a Russian human trafficking ring as part of the CIA’s elite Black Opal team, Alexei Nikanova’s newest assignment is to rescue one of the stolen women and return her to her father. When he arrives in Dubai, he discovers his target is Sasha Zablosky—a woman he knows all too well, and who has haunted him ever since their one unforgettable night together. But he finds Sasha reluctant to leave her Sheik, the only true friend she’s ever known. Only Alexei can’t give her a choice.
With their yearning roused by intrigue, Alexei and Sasha can no longer resist and spend night after night in forbidden pleasure. Soon Alexei finds himself falling for her even as he battles a shadowy menace to protect her. But Sasha is no innocent. She has a past darker than she could ever admit or that Alexei could ever forgive. And it is about to explode into her life once more. Now, as the lies they tell themselves—and each other—pull them deeper into a perilous desire, what began as simple passion becomes a love certain to destroy them and end the lives of countless innocents.

Goodreads
Purchase at; Amazon, Kindle, Barnes & Noble and The Book Depository 

Crystal’s Thoughts:
Tori St. Claire has fast become a must-read author for me! Her dark and seductive, Black Opal series continues with the eagerly anticipated second installment, Lie To Me. 

Breaking the Devil's Heart by H.A. Goodman (Guest Post/Giveaway)

Please give a warm welcome to author H.A. Goodman!

H. A. Goodman, Breaking the Devil's Heart, and Alternate Realities

A recent NPR article describes physicist Robert Greene's view of an alternate universe in the following manner:

Our universe might be really, really big — but finite. Or it might be infinitely big.

Both cases, says physicist Brian Greene, are possibilities, but if the latter is true, so is another posit: There are only so many ways matter can arrange itself within that infinite universe. Eventually, matter has to repeat itself and arrange itself in similar ways. So if the universe is infinitely large, it is also home to infinite parallel universes.

So, on some planet millions of light years away, another you might be doing what you're doing now. Or, he or she might be using your character traits, personality, emotional and physical attributes, and everything that makes you unique in a different manner.

For example, let's say your long lost quantum mechanical twin exists in a tumultuous time period. Let's assume, for instance, that your facsimile lives in his or her world's equivalent of Nazi Germany.

Guest Review: (ARC) Never Seduce a Scot by Maya Banks - 5 Wine Glasses!

Never Seduce a Scot
(The Montgomerys and Armstrongs #1)
by Maya Banks
Mass Market Paperback, 352 pages
Published September 25th 2012 by Ballantine Books
ISBN 0345533232
Courtesy of NetGalley

This sinfully sexy new romance from Maya Banks features a remarkable woman whose rare gift teaches a gruff Scottish warrior how to listen with his heart.
Eveline Armstrong is fiercely loved and protected by her powerful clan, but outsiders consider her “touched.” Beautiful, fey, with a level, intent gaze, she doesn’t speak. No one, not even her family, knows that she cannot hear. Content with her life of seclusion, Eveline has taught herself to read lips and allows the outside world to view her as daft. But when an arranged marriage into a rival clan makes Graeme Montgomery her husband, Eveline accepts her duty—unprepared for the delights to come. Graeme is a rugged warrior with a voice so deep and powerful that his new bride can hear it, and hands and kisses so tender and skilled that he stirs her deepest passions.
Graeme is intrigued by the mysterious Eveline, whose silent lips are ripe with temptation and whose bright, intelligent eyes can see into his soul. As intimacy deepens, he learns her secret. But when clan rivalries and dark deeds threaten the wife he has only begun to cherish, the Scottish warrior will move heaven and earth to save the woman who has awakened his heart to the beautiful song of a rare and magical love.

Goodreads
Purchase at Kindle, Amazon, Barnes & Noble and The Book Depository 

CRYSTAL L.'S THOUGHTS:
Love Maya Banks books! Seriously I've read almost everything she's written. This book is a fantastic addition to her Scottish Historical Romance shelf!

Sexy Snippets: Phantom Shadows by Dianne Duvall

   <center> <a href="http://readingbetweenthewinesbookclub.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad3/folksohana/RBtWBC%20Memes/SexySnippets-1.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 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 add your post to the linky below so everyone can follow along. Have a sexy good time!

I hope everyone's week is starting off well! Today I have a sweet and sexy snippet from Dianne Duvall's upcoming novel in her Immortal Guardian series, Phantom Shadows. (October 2nd, 2012)

When You Give A Duke A Diamond by Shana Galen (Interview/Giveaway)

If you enjoy sweeping historicals with witty emotional characters then you know Shana Galen. And if you don’t know her (yet) get ready, she is with us today to talk about her new series, the Jewels of the Ton! Welcome Shana!

Shana: Thanks so much for having me back. And I love your description of my books. I do try very hard to balance the lighthearted and the poignant.

Lexi: You are one of my favorite historical romance authors. Every series you have written so far I have loved, and this one is no different. How long have you been planning on writing a series about the Jewels of the Ton?

Shana: First of all, thank you very much for the lovely compliment.

I began planning this new series in the spring of 2011. I’d been reading a book titled My Lady Scandalous by Jo Manning, which is a biography on Grace Dalrymple Elliott, a courtesan and spy in the Georgian/early Regency period. I thought courtesans would make fun heroines. We’re all drawn to celebrity gossip, and courtesans were the celebrities of the day.

A Place Beyond Courage by Elizabeth Chadwick (Guest Post/Giveaway)

Please give a warm welcome to historical fiction author, Elizabeth Chadwick!

Matters at the sharp end – or a few words on the 12^th century sword

John FitzGilbert Marshal, the hero of A Place Beyond Courage spent much of his time on the battlefield in both military and organisational roles.  As an accomplished soldier and a male of the Anglo Norman aristocracy, John was expected to be proficient in the use of the weapons of the time.

Perhaps the most iconic weapon of his period  – and often a misunderstood one is the sword.  I often see  written in novels and even in some historical sources that should know better that the medieval sword was an enormous instrument, brutal of construction that the average person would be unable to lift, let alone wield – think Conan the Barbarian for the musculature required. 

This notion is a fallacy owing more to fantasy novels and Hollywood than the truth.  While the later Middle Ages did spawn some rather spectacular two-handers, the swords  of John Marshal’s period were items of austere grace and beauty, perfectly balanced, forged with loving skill, and weighing in total no more than three pounds.  If a man had to fight up close for his life, he needed a weapon that was easy to wield in battle and tireless in use. Think tennis racket rather than stodgy iron bar. 

Tour: Primal Song by Danica Avet (Guest Post: 5 Tips to Dating a Lion)

Today I would like to give a warm welcome to author, Danica Avet, and Deputy Daisy Picou from Primal Song!

5 Tips to Dating a Lion

(Written by Deputy Daisy Picou with help from Danica Avet)

Hey y’all, so you want to know about dating a lion? Not just any lion, but a rock star lion? Get in line! I would’ve loved to have some tips to follow when Ram bulldozed his way into my life, but I will share what I’ve learned.

ARC Review: When You Give a Duke a Diamond by Shana Galen - 4 Wine Glasses!

When You Give a Duke a Diamond

Jewels of the Ton #1

by Shana Galen

Mass Market Paperback, 384 pages

Published Sept 4th 2012 by Sourcebooks Casablanca

ISBN 13: 9781402269738

copy courtesy of NetGalley

He had a perfectly orderly life...
William, the sixth Duke of Pelham, enjoys his punctual, securely structured life. Orderly and predictable—that's the way he likes it. But he's in the public eye, and the scandal sheets will make up anything to sell papers. When the gossip papers link him to Juliette, one of the most beautiful and celebrated courtesans in London, chaos doesn't begin to describe what happens next...
Until she came along...
Juliette is nicknamed the Duchess of Dalliance and has the cream of the nobility at her beck and call. It's disruptive to have the duke who is the biggest catch on the Marriage Mart scaring her other suitors away. Then she discovers William's darkest secret and decides what he needs in his life is the kind of excitement only she can provide...

Goodreads

Purchase at Amazon, Kindle, Barnes & Noble, and The Book Depository

Lexi's Thoughts:

Three stunning courtesans have the ton hanging on their every move. Each one has their own beauty and grace, but when you put them all together they take your breath away. Galen’s new series Jewels of the Ton starts out with the Diamond and is everything you want in a historical romance. 

The Mageri Series by Dannika Dark (Guest Post/Giveaway)

Please give a warm welcome to author Dannika Dark who is joining us with her urban fantasy romance series, The Mageri. 

The Mageri Series: World building 

It's great to be here at Reading Between the Wines as part of the Mageri Series blog tour. Thanks so much for having me! I thought I would give readers a little insight as to what was involved in creating the world in my series. Zoe is the victim of a senseless attack and wakes up to find that she's changed. Not just physically, but there are some new abilities that she's having difficulty in controlling. I wanted to tackle the "What if this happened to you?" theme by introducing a world of immortals and other supernaturals and finding a way to incorporate them within our own. I also liked the idea of a little mystery, and slowly revealing facts as the series progresses. 

Guest Review: Impulse by Moira Rogers - 4 Wine Glasses!

Impulse 
(Southern Arcana #5)
by Moira Rogers
ebook, 270 pages
Published September 4th 2012 by Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
ISBN 1609287673

Her submission can heal him. His dominance can free her.
Sera Sinclaire is a New Orleans rarity: a submissive coyote trapped in a town overrun by dominant shapeshifters. Worse, she lacks the willpower to deny the alphas-in-shining-armor who need her soothing presence, even when their protectiveness threatens to crush her hard-won self-reliance.
The only shifter she doesn’t want to push away is Julio Mendoza, a wolf so dominant he’s earned a place on the Southeast council.
Julio doesn’t have the luxury of indulging in the vacation his psychic shrink insists he needs. He can't turn his back on responsibilities he’s beginning to wish he’d never shouldered. When an obsessive ex endangers Sera, though, instinct drives him to get her out of town. Watching her come to life outside the city makes him feel like he's finally done something right, and her touch ignites desire he doesn’t want to ignore.
But soon, lighthearted flirting becomes a dangerous game of seduction, where every day spent falling into each other is another day avoiding the truth. Sera's ex isn't the only one who’d disapprove of their relationship. There are wolves who would kill to get Sera out of Julio's life—starting with his own blood kin.
Product WarningsContains endless summer road trips, family drama, redneck werewolves, sexual power games and a taboo love affair between a submissive coyote who’s among the last of her kind and a dominant wolf who loves his heroine’s ass. Literally.

Goodreads
Purchase at Amazon and Barnes & Noble

Crystal L's Thoughts:
Moira Rogers is one of the authors I turn to when I want to read a shifter book. Her latest book in the Southern Arcana series, Impulse, is #5 and still manages to bring her standard strong world building with its mix of interesting characters. This book focuses on Julio, an Alpha wolf shifter who is one of the three wolves residing on the Southeast council. However, recently Julio was the victim of torture when he and his human friend Kat were kidnapped. He doesn't want to do any ridiculous counseling, and he really wishes everyone would stop staring at him as if they are trying to analyze what's going on his brain. But no matter whether he wants to admit it or not, Julio is still suffering from nightmares and such from the ordeal.

Blog Tour: Joan Swan's BLAZE (Interview/Giveaway)

What better author to have stop by the blog today than one who lives in the heart of wine country California? Raise your wine glasses and welcome Joan Swan! 

Joan: Thank you, Lexi! I do love wine country!!

Lexi: Joan you are a relatively new author. Your debut, Fever, being released this past March. Now book two, Blaze, in your Phoenix Rising series will be released this month! Congrats! Does it ever feel surreal for you?

Joan: LOL, no. I’ve worked too hard for it to feel surreal. After months and months of writing and more months of revising, it feels very, very real. 

Lexi: You have two series, Phoenix Rising and Covert Affairs. Do you have a favorite yet? Or a favorite hero, one man who takes you out of your normal everyday life and makes you weak in the knees?

18 & Over Book Blogger Follow #47: What book has you by the knickers?

   <center> <a href="http://readingbetweenthewinesbookclub.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad3/folksohana/RBtWBC%20Memes/Follow.jpg"width="200" height="300"/></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. 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 some 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 and say 'Hi!' 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 Blogging love!

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

Question Of The Week: What book are you currently in the middle of? Not 'just finished', I want to hear about what you're currently deep into and your thoughts on it right now. Loving it, not so much, or mixed feelings, maybe? Get it all out, sometimes how we feel about a book in the middle is totally different then how we feel at the end. It will be interesting to hear about it now and then go back to check out everyone's reviews later!

ARC Guest Review: Hold 'Em by Katie Porter - 4 Wine Glasses!

Hold 'Em 
(Vegas Top Guns #3)
by Katie Porter
ebook, 320 pages
Expected publication: September 25th 2012 by Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
ISBN 1619210878 
Copy courtesy of author

A man with handcuffs. A woman with a paddle. Both fly F-16s. 
Daughter of a world-famous motocross champion, and head-on competitor with three brothers, Captain Leah "Princess" Girardi was born with a need for speed. No one tells her what to do, especially not men with chauvinistic "girls can't be fighter pilots" attitudes.
That's what ended her brief relationship with Captain Mike "Strap Happy" Templeton. Now, six years later, he’s been assigned to her squadron, and whoa damn, he’s filled out nicely. Plus he’s cultivated a Zen-like chill factor that pulls at her hormones.
Even after four tours, Mike's the new kid in the 64th Aggressor Squadron. That's not the only thing new. Since he last saw Leah, he's learned a few things about himself. A female who outranks him still makes his teeth grind, but in the bedroom he craves the rush of pain inflicted by an adoring, powerful woman.
Their reunion is an explosive revelation. Leah is the beautiful mistress he's been searching for, and she takes to her new role like a natural. But Leah's aware one thing hasn't changed. Loving him is still an all-or-nothing proposition. She's not sure her reckless streak is wide enough to risk her career--and her heart.
Warning: This book contains a hot stud on his knees, a woman wielding a paddle, and filthy-gorgeous femdom sex. Also: dangerous rock climbing, two amazing motorcycles and some bad tequila.

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The Ruins of Lace by Iris Anthony: Score a Gift Basket!

Sourcebooks is super excited about the upcoming release of The Ruins of Lace by Iris Anthony. This story is told in a very different way by sharing the stories of seven different characters from their point of view. To celebrate the book's upcoming release (October 1st), Sourcebooks has come up with an object for each character that relates and holds significance in their story and today they would like to share those with you as well as a short letter from each character! And guess what? You can enter to win a gift basket of each of these objects plus the book, The Ruins of Lace! 

The Ruins of Lace reveals how the magnetic pull of the forbidden can ensnare anyone into its web. Seven different characters will have their lives impacted by lace, some in ways they never could have imagined. 
Here are their stories...

Spotlight & Excerpt: POWER by Debra Webb (Score a FALL In Love With FOREVER Prize Pack!)

Today we are helping Grand Central Publishing/Forever Romance celebrate the release of Debra Webb's POWER. This is the first previously unpublished book in the Faces of Evil series. The first two books, OBSESSION and IMPULSE, where released as e-books last month. Here's some more about POWER and a special excerpt courtesy of Forever Romance...

Power
Faces of Evil #3
by Debra Webb
Paperback Expected Publication: March 26, 2013 by Forever
eBook: September 4, 2012 by Forever
ISBN 1455527564

Agent Jess Harris is back in another thrilling installment of Debra Webb's Faces of Evil series.
Jess is ready to start the next chapter in her life as the new deputy chief of Birmingham's major crimes division. But with her first love, Chief of Police Dan Burnett, acting as her new boss, it looks like Jess won't be able to put the past behind her that easily.
Jess has decided to focus all of her attention on work when a celebrated ballet instructor is found dead by one of her students. Though Jess's instincts tell her otherwise, the death is ruled an accident, and the case is assigned to another division. Still, Jess can't shake the feeling that there's more to the story, and her investigation leads her into the worlds of Birmingham's gang culture and its powerful elite.
Now Jess's investigation has dug a little too deep, and there's a target painted on her own forehead. Will she be able to solve the crime before her own life is in jeopardy? 

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Purchase the eBook at Amazon ($2.99) and Barnes & Noble ($3.99)