Sunday, August 31, 2014

Rules of Protection by Alison Bliss

Source: Received eBook in exchange for a fair and honest review.

It’s rule breaker Emily Foster's birthday, and like everyone at The Jungle Room, she just wants to get some action. Unfortunately, she stumbles on the wrong kind, witnessing a mob hit. To protect her, she’s entered into the Witness Protection Program with by-the-book Special Agent Jake Ward as her chaperone.

When the location of their safe house is compromised, Jake stashes Emily deep in the Texas backwoods. The city-girl might be safe from the Mafia, but she has to contend with a psychotic rooster, a narcoleptic dog, crazy cowboys, and the danger of losing her heart to the one man she can’t have.

Jake's as hot as he is infuriating, and she can't help but push all his buttons to loosen him up. Their mutual, sizzling sexual attraction poses a dilemma: Jake’s determined to keep her safe and out of the wrong hands; she’s determined to get into the right ones—his.


https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22859182-rules-of-protection

http://www.amazon.com/Rules-Protection-Tangled-Entangled-Select-ebook/dp/B00MEGM7NQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1409370283&sr=8-1&keywords=rules+of+protectionhttp://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/rules-of-protection-alison-bliss/1120058560?ean=9781633750623&itm=1&usri=9781633750623&cm_mmc=AFFILIATES-_-Linkshare-_-GwEz7vxblVU-_-10:1&r=1,%201


Review...


I accepted this book for review because it sounded so good.  Forced into witness protection with the guy your attracted to as you guard, of course I wanted to read it.  But I didn't like it.

By far, my reason for not liking it was Emily.  I'm trying very hard to be kind here but she irritated me so much.  She waffles back and forth on everything - from kissing the hot guy to pushing him away and then following him in the back room (not by invitation).  Then her mouth engages.  Up to this point, she seemed pretty normal if not a bit sarcastic but once her world falls apart she become irrational and dare I say stupid.  It's not really a spoiler to say she won't accept witness protection until the bullets are flying around her head.  Then she does it kicking and screaming.  She fights everything.  While I think it's meant to make things funny and increase the tension between them, I just have to agree with Jake and wonder what the heck her problem is.

I'm not really a fan of the sexy times - yes I said that.  It feels forced and the timing is weird.  I wasn't feeling it.  I'm pretty sure a federal agent and the witness he's guarding being together is frowned upon.  And while there is some minor resistance, it wasn't nearly enough to convince me.  I was just shaking my head.

Do not get me started on her bikini trim job.

The only thing I did like about this book was Jake.  He's actually trying to be a gentleman, at least at first, but Emily is a total jerk.  He saves her and she mouths off.  He deserved sainthood for not slapping her.

So, yeah, I didn't like it.  Others felt differently.  Check those out below.

   
 

Stacking MY Shelves ~ 8/31/14



Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews.  Make sure to checkout her post with links to all the other participates.




click covers for Goodreads links

For Review...


https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18591464-the-homecominghttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20757528-whatever-life-throws-at-you?from_search=truehttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20530956-rowdy?from_search=true


https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19189481-what-if?from_search=truehttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20821540-snow-angel-cove?from_search=truehttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21911619-christmas-with-a-seal?from_search=true


From Penguin Books...

(Through Netgalley)

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22077246-promise-me-this?from_search=truehttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20893538-when-we-met?from_search=truehttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19101162-caged-in-winter?from_search=true



Won...


I won Naomi's Paranormal Palace 2 year Blogiversary Prize Pack!
Some I owned, so I gave those to Jess. 
Here's my winnings.


https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17791506-blood-purple?from_search=truehttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17924822-blood-yellow?ac=1


https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18584731-soul-mates?ac=1

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17914333-in-the-light-of-the-moon?from_search=truehttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20527654-dance-in-the-moonlight?from_search=truehttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22233992-on-torn-wings


https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22769093-pandora?from_search=true


https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19101162-caged-in-winter?from_search=true


Thanks go to...


Harlequin
Entangled
Jay Crownover
Grand Central Publishing
Harlequin
Penguin Books
Naomi
Ashley Nemer
A.L. Kessler
Rainy Kaye
Hanna Peach


Author signing...

I was at a local author signing this last week and bought these three books.  All are signed and I'll be giving them away soon (and I'll have an interview with all three authors).

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21420473-the-fixed-trilogy?from_search=truehttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20557510-better-when-he-s-bad?from_search=truehttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20945757-i-want-it-that-way?from_search=true



Bought for 99¢...


https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20440672-temporarily-yours?ac=1





Click on cover for Goodreads links 

For Review...

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20757528-whatever-life-throws-at-you?from_search=trueClaimed By Light (A Bound By Hades Novel)

The Write StuffLeather and Lace 


A gift...

Embedded image permalink 


Thanks go to...

Entangled
Tiffany King
Inkslinger PR
Priya Kanaparti AKA Clara Stone


That's what we've added to our stacks this week! What do you think? What did you add to your stack? Leave us a comment!


Saturday, August 30, 2014

Lone Wolfe Protector (Wolfe Creek #1) by Kaylie Newell ~ Review

Lone Wolfe Protector (Wolfe Creek, #1)Source: e-ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Lone Wolfe Protector (Wolfe Creek #1) by Kaylie Newell

Maggie Sullivan is back in Wolfe Creek, determined to find out why her best friend vanished one fog-shrouded night a year ago.  But it quickly becomes clear that if the folks in the secluded mountain town know what happened to her friend, they aren't talking.
Seasoned sheriff's deputy Koda Wolfe reluctantly agrees to help this beautiful woman, even as he tries to convince her to leave for her own good. Soon he's compelled to protect Maggie from herself, his family's ancient curse, and a killer who could strike again.
The nights heat up in more ways than one as Maggie and Koda begin a fiery relationship.  But as they delve deeper into the disappearance, the eerie woods come alive with secrets bound to tear them apart. And someone is watching their every move.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22859137-lone-wolfe-protector?ac=1


http://bit.ly/LoneWolfProtectorAMhttp://bit.ly/LoneWolfProtectorBN

Review...

There were a couple of things that drew me into this book. The first was the title. Even though it's WOLFE and not WOLF, I still went into it thinking without that extra E. And since I'd taken this book to be a paranormal, I was thinking shifters. Shifters are my favorite supernatural creatures, so that would have been perfect! Then there was the fact that Koda is a deputy and sounds pretty protective. Those two things alone pushed me into wanting to try out this book. 

Now that I HAVE read the book, I have to say that I liked it, but I'm not really impressed. To explain why, I'm going to break it down a bit...

What I Liked: 

The characters were well done. Maggie was a sincere woman, determined to unravel the mystery behind her best friend's disappearance. The chick had some guts, and I definitely respect her for that. She was also kind and caring, which swayed me into her favor. Koda was the kind of guy I generally like--strong, protective, gruff, and a big teddy bear despite what he exudes sometimes. I liked that he was so solidly HIM. The deputy who was loyal to the people he was to protect. I found him more and more endearing as I made it farther into the story, and the final verdict is that I do kind of heart the guy.

The mystery was incredibly intriguing, as well. It's introduced right from the start, and builds as the book progresses. Of course, I had my own guess on whodunit. And I was totally wrong. Honestly, I was SO sure I knew who it was. But I was wrong. That mystery, paired with the chunk of the end when STUFF was going down...they played a major part in making this novel work for me.

I was also a fan of the romance around the end, when that STUFF I mentioned before was happening. It made my heart happy in the midst of the events unfolding, and was honestly just so sweet. Considering how much I liked Maggie and Koda, I was glad to see them as a solid couple. 

What I Didn't Really Like: 

As I said, I was expecting this one to be paranormal. I can't say I was wrong, because I wasn't, but it wasn't nearly as paranormal as I'd have liked it to be, either. I actually ended up just not being too convinced by this aspect. I liked how it was intertwined with town legend, but not enough for it to win me over.

The romance for the beginning and half of the middle of the book fell flat for me. The romance at that point just felt so forced to me. We had Maggie, doing her thing, and we had Koda, doing his thing. While I think they were a great couple, I don't think their relationship and romance worked much for me until later in the book. 

And it took me too long to actually get IN to the book. I understand that the beginning was used to introduce everything, but it didn't really hold my attention well. Plus, even when I was IN to the book, I never felt too connected. I would have liked to be invested in the whole thing the whole way through, freaking out over stuff. But that didn't really happen. I was happy for Koda and Maggie and their relationship. And I guessed at the mystery, trying to figure it out. But I didn't feel too invested in it all.

Overall: 

Lone Wolfe Protector ended up being a read that was just okay for me. I didn't love it, but I didn't hate it. The mystery was well done, the characters were solid, and the tail end of the romance made me happy. But I really would have liked to have been pulled into the story more. That said, I think I WILL probably give the next book in the Wolfe Creek series a shot, so that I can see if the paranormal aspect I wasn't too fond of in this one improves. And who's to say the other issues I had with this one won't be fixed? I'm interested to see.


3 stars - Great mystery and characters, but an okay read overall.

Book Boyfriend ~ 8/30/14


Join the Book Boyfriend meme
  • Pick your book boyfriend for the week
  • Current read or not
  • Tease us with something about your boy
  • Don't spoil the book
  • Link up with us
  • Visit the other book boyfriend posts



So my book boyfriend for the week is

Alec Petropoulos





From USA Today Bestselling Author, Tiffany King.

Twenty-two-year-old historical romance writer Nicole Blake, or N.S. Blake to her readers, hasn't taken an official poll, mind you, but she is convinced she may be the only romance author on the planet who is still a card-carrying member of the virgin club.Not that she hasn't tried to end her membership. Life just keeps finding pesky ways to interfere. With no prospects on the horizon, Nicole begins to feel like the closest she will ever get to experiencing a man is within her own stories.

Opportunity presents itself in the form of hot-as-sin-on-a-lollipop-stick bartender/premed student Alec Petropoulos, who agrees to be the cover model for her upcoming book. Sparks fly instantly between them, and Nicole begins to entertain the possibility that she's finally found the right guy to hand over her tattered V-card. Alec has all the makings for a perfect one-night-stand candidate except, much to Nicole's surprise, he seems to be the only man in existence not interested in bagging a virgin.

Stuck between a rock and a stubborn male, what's a virgin to do? Seduce him, of course. How hard could it be? If it works for the characters in her stories, why wouldn't it work for her? After all, what happens under the cover…stays under the cover.



https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22920825-the-write-stuff

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MQ8YYHEhttp://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-write-stuff-tiffany-king/1120184865?ean=9781500846862

 

Why?

 

His winks...





 

His sexy...

 

 

 

His irresistible self...





So loved this book and Alec was a big part of that.  Love him lots.  What do you think?  Leave us a comment.

Have a book boyfriend this week?  Link up with us...