Audiobook Review: First Star I See Tonight by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

I finally got around to listening to Susan Elizabeth Phillips First Star I See Tonight. The story was pretty good, and the narrator wasn't bad, but she wasn't Anna Fields. I think it would have been better if they had found a narrator who could have done a more southern drawl I would have been happy. After all it's Cooper Graham. Nicole Poole did a good job.

Now I have been hopping around through this series, you don't have to read the previous books in order to read this one. There are a few characters that popup from the previous books here and there. Don't worry.

We have Piper Dove who is a struggling PI. She's trying her best, but she wasn't cut out to be in that line of work, but it's her legacy. She was hired to follow Cooper Graham. She's quite harmless. Anyway, Piper isn't the type of girl would go after, but she's a challenge. I love how Susan makes these heroine, because they are normal woman, but extraordinaire personality. Piper is quite the character. She's sassy and funny, which knocks the wind out of Cooper Graham. You have Cooper Graham. There is no other way to describe him than using his full name.

Overall, First Star I See Tonight is like the predecessors in this series, fun to listen to. There were a couple things I wondered about the story like where he went to school. To a normal reader it wouldn't bother them, and I probably wouldn't have cared had I not moved to Oklahoma. In the story says one thing, but then mentions Norman which is OU territory. It's just me. Narration was all right, but a fun listen. It would be something I would go back and re-listen. Need something to pick you and laugh, First Star I See Tonight might be your answer.  

InkSlinger PR Cover Reveal: Royally Matched by Emma Chase

ROYALLY MATCHED

By Emma Chase

Release Date: January 10, 2017

Some men are born responsible, some men have responsibility thrust upon them. Henry Charles Albert Edgar Pembrook, Prince of Wessco, just got the motherlode of all responsibility dumped in his regal lap.

He’s not handling it well.

Hoping to force her grandson to rise to the occasion, Queen Lenora goes on a much-needed safari holiday—and when the Queen’s away, the Prince will play. After a chance meeting with an American television producer, Henry finally makes a decision all on his own:

Welcome to Matched: Royal Edition.

A reality TV dating game show featuring twenty of the world's most beautiful blue bloods gathered in the same castle. Only one will win the diamond tiara, only one will capture the handsome prince’s heart.

While Henry revels in the sexy, raunchy antics of the contestants as they fight, literally, for his affection, it’s the quiet, bespectacled girl in the corner—with the voice of an angel and a body that would tempt a saint—who catches his eye.

The more Henry gets to know Sarah Mirabelle Zinnia Von Titebottum, the more enamored he becomes of her simple beauty, her strength, her kind spirit…and her naughty sense of humor.

But Rome wasn’t built in a day—and irresponsible royals aren’t reformed overnight.

As he endeavors to right his wrongs, old words take on whole new meanings for the dashing Prince. Words like, Duty, Honor and most of all—Love.

Author's Pal Spotlight + Review + Excerpt + Giveaway: Loving You Easy by Roni Loren

Loving You Easy

Loving on the Edge, 9

Roni Loren

Berkley

Sept 6, 2016

Blurb

Three lovers really click in the latest from the New York Times bestselling author of Call on Me—
Cora has an amazing sex life. She’s beautiful, daring, and the most popular submissive in Hayven. Too bad none of it’s real...

IT specialist Cora Benning has figured out the key to her formerly disastrous love life—make it virtual. In the online world of Hayven, she’s free of her geek girl image and can indulge her most private fantasies with a sexy, mysterious master without anyone in her life discovering her secrets. Until her information is hacked and she finds herself working to fix the breach under two very powerful men—one who seems all too familiar...

Best friends and business partners Ren Muroya and Hayes Fox were once revered dominants. Then Hayes was wrongfully sent to prison and everything changed. Ren wants to get back to who they were. Hayes can’t risk it. But when they discover the new IT specialist is their online fascination, and that she’s never felt a dominant’s touch, the temptation to turn virtual into reality becomes all too great…

My Thoughts:

Tasty Book Tours Teaser + Giveaway: Embrace Me by Ann Marie Walker & Amy K. Rogers

Embrace Me
Chasing Fire #3.5

By: Ann Marie Walker & Amy K. Rogers

Releasing September 20, 2016
Intermix

Blurb
Hudson Chase and Alessandra Sinclair's heartracing romance continues in this hot, new novella in the Chasing Fire series.
Return to the dangerous and seductive romance that got pulses racing in the Chasing Fire trilogy...

It took ten years for Hudson Chase and Alessandra Sinclair to find their happily ever after, and they’re not about to let anything get in their way...

Nothing could stop the passion between Allie and Hudson—not time or distance. Not even tragedy, betrayal, and blackmail. But now they’re facing a new challenge: wedding planning. And while Allie’s social status demands she put on the event of the century, her well-intentioned family and friends have her doubting her walk down the aisle...

Hudson knows tensions are pushing Allie to the brink, but he’s not letting her throw everything away over some flowers and cake. He has plans for his new bride, and unlike their last adventure, he's determined that this time there will be no unwelcome surprises. But for all his determination and control, there’s one element Hudson Chase has never been able to predict—and she has some adventurous ideas of her own...

Teaser:

Just Married by Jenna Bayley-Burke (Review)

 Just Married seemed like something I would like to read. I normally don't go for friends-to-lovers kind of things, but this sounded to good to pass up. I mean you have marriage of convenience and Vegas, what could go wrong?

Anyway, Miranda Rose and Callum Kerr have been best friends with benefits. However, Callum drops that he's getting married to some woman right before his birthday, and Miranda freaks out. So, goes in thinking she needs to stop a wedding, but comes to find out she's a woman. Yes, they have a lot of issues to work out, especially when Miranda finds out she's pregnant with twins. By the way is highly unlikely even if Callum's father was a twin. Twins wouldn't come from the father's side anyway they are more likely to come from the mothers or it's a fluke. That is the gist of Just Married.

Now the story is a fairly fast read, and enjoyable. Yes, there are emotional ups and downs. Callum doesn't grasp that they need to change the dynamics of their relationship. He definitely has a hard time with this. I liked Miranda, because she starts to focus on what is better for the babies. Anyway, if you are marriage of convenience and Vegas fans you might enjoy Just Married. Granted it could have been a little longer, but for a quick read it was pretty good.

Copy provided by St. Martin via NetGalley

Rating:
4 Stars

Lusting for Covers (139): The Bachelor Billionaire by Jessica Lemmon

Lusting for Covers is a weekly meme, held on Sunday, that allows bloggers to share their current cover obsession with fellow book lovers.

This meme is hosted by TBQ @ TBQ's Book Palace.

This Weeks Selection:

The Bastard Billionaire by Jessica Lemmon

Publisher: Forever (Feb 2017)

Series: Billionaire Bad Boys, 3

Genre: Contemporary

Blurb:

Not Yet. Probably after books release I hope. 

Preorder Links:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Jessica's Website

Why?

I have been eyeing this cover for some time. I have been waiting to sharing this, because I wanted a blurb. Still no blurb and I don't know what else to do, so we have The Bastard Billionaire. Still love the cover. All I know he's definitely sexy. Anyway, what do you guys think of the cover?

Shadow Falling by Rebecca Zanetti

I don't know how much to stress, but read the first book and novella. Don't be like me and start with Shadow Falling, you will be missing some key elements and have to play catch up. You all have been warned. With that said, I did finish Shadow Falling. For an apoplectic-end of the world situation Shadow Falling is a pretty good read. It had me wanting to go back to see how this all went down. If you jump in the middle of the story, and it grabs you to go back, it's a pretty good read.

Basically, we have world in chaos. Different groups trying to survive, while you have one crazy dude who has his own agenda. You have a group that wants to make the world habitable. I mean the Scorpius bacterium isn't going away, not they need to find a way to live with it and survive. Which they are making slight progress. You all also have a relationship developing between Vivienne Wellington and Raze Shadow. With the world being in such chaos is it a good idea for these two to get together. Anyway, the story continues to build while they try to take down President Atherton while figuring out to survive. So far there are only one group which are the Pure which do not have the bacterium. How long before that group doesn't get the bacterium? The importance to find a way to live Scorpius. The double D's are in Shadow Falling Danger and Drama. Overall, a pretty good read. This read like it could be post-apoplectic movie. So, if you are into that kind of thing, Shadow Falling is your read.

Copy provided by Kensington via NetGalley

Rating:
4 Stars

Right now the 1st book is on sale. 
If you would like a chance to read a copy of Shadow Falling click on the link: http://sillymelody.blogspot.com/2016/09/kensington-spotlight-excerpt-giveaway.html

Kensington Spotlight + Excerpt + Giveaway: Shadow Falling by Rebecca Zanetti

SHADOW FALLING

Scorpius Syndrome Book 2

New York Times Bestselling Author

Rebecca Zanetti

Zebra

August 30, 2016

Blurb: 
“Thrilling post-apocalyptic romance at its dark, sizzling best!”
—Lara Adrian

Before the Scorpius Syndrome tore through North America and nearly wiped out the population, Vivienne Wellington was the FBI’s best profiler. The bacteria got her anyway. But she survived. She recovered. And when she woke up from a drug-nightmare of captivity, her trust in her fellow man had gone from shaky at best to nonexistent. Her mysterious rescuer wants to convince her he’s the exception. But no matter how tempting he is, with his angel’s eyes and devil’s tongue, Vinnie knows she shouldn’t trust him.

If the FBI were still around they would rate Raze Shadow as one of the bad guys. His military training can’t wipe out his association with the Mercenaries, the most feared gang in a thousand miles. His loyalties are compromised. He won’t even tell Vinnie his real name. But there’s no FBI in the new America of fear and firepower, only instinct and risk. And the way his arms wrap around her tells its own story. Whatever else Raze is concealing, he can’t hide his desire . . .

“Sexy, tough, and deftly sprinkled with dark humor.”
—New York Times bestselling author Larissa Ione

Excerpt:

Forever Romance Marina' s Top 5 + Excerpt + Giveaway: Last Kiss of Summer by Marina Adair

For today's Top 5 I asked her to list her Top 5 pies. If you read the blurb it would make total sense, so here are her Top 5 pies:

1. My Grandma Ruth’s Blackberry Cobbler

2. Pumpkin Pie

3. Coconut Cream Pie from Loveless Café, TN

4. Mud Pie from Chart House

5. Grandma Ruth’s Apple Pie

LAST KISS OF SUMMER

Destiny Bay, #1

Marina Adair

Forever

August 30, 2016

He's one bad apple she just can't resist…

Kennedy Sinclair never dreamed she'd own a pie shop and an orchard in a small town like Destiny Bay. But nestled between the mountains and the Pacific Ocean, it's the perfect place to cross something off her "Life's short so eat the icing first" list and start her life over from scratch. Her shop, Sweetie Pies, is famous for its hot, flaky apple turnovers and sinfully delicious deep dish pie. For Kennedy though, nothing is more enticing than the tall, strapping slice of temptation who keeps coming back for more.

Luke Callahan is determined to make his hard cider business a success. With his beloved father's cider recipe and the opportunity of a lifetime in his grasp, he'll stop at nothing to get this deal done. There's just one catch: he needs Kennedy's apples. At first, he thinks it'll be as easy as pie to charm those apples right off her trees. But Kennedy isn't falling for his tender charms or his wicked ways. When the negotiations start heating up, so do the feelings they have for each other. And it takes just one kiss to seal the deal…

Excerpt:

The Darkest Link by Scarlett Cole

 We need to get out of the way the customary schpeale about me jumping into a series without starting the first book. We know I do this and notorious about it, moving on. Anyway, if you haven't read any of A Second Circle Tattoos books, don't worry you won't be too lost. The story focuses on Reid Kennedy and Julianne Carlisle (Lia), but there are some previous characters that integrate into the story. They do have ties to main character. Anyway, moving on.

We have all heard the saying that, "Blood is thicker than water," when talking about the family bonds. I think it should be "In most cases blood is thicker than water, but there are exceptions to the rule." The Darkest Link is one of those stories. Reid is basically run from a past, but misses his family. Lia can't get away from her family. Her father basically manipulates Lia to do what he says, but she has decided to cut ties. By the way isn't the easiest thing to do, because her mom is basically losing grasp on reality.

I wasn't sure if I was going to finished The Darkest Link, because it seemed a little slow at the beginning. However, Scarlett was able to drag me in with her characters. The next thing I knew I was waiting with baited breath to see what happen in the next character. Entranced by these characters lives, especially when Reid's past collided with his present, and possible future. However, that wasn't the only thing going on, Lia's father. Dude, he made my crazy family look like I don't know. Talk about lies and deceit that oozed from that man. Overall, The Darkest Link won me over. It started out slow, but turned into a page turner once I got started. Plus, the cover is yummy one.

Copy provided by St. Martin's Press via NetGalley.

Rating:
4 1/2 Stars

SMP Romance Spotlight + Excerpt: Just Married by Jenna Bayley-Burke

JUST MARRIED 

by Jenna Bayley-Burke

E-Original published by Swerve

Publication Date: August 30, 2016

Book Description

Seattle attorney Miranda Rose arrives in Las Vegas determined to keep her best friend-with-benefits from making a costly mistake – marrying some stranger just to save his family trust. But once there, Miranda discovers she’s the surprise bride! One red-hot honeymoon later, they’re back to their over-scheduled lives on opposite coasts. But a marriage of convenience with regularly scheduled sexytimes turns complicated when Miranda gets the shock of a lifetime: she's pregnant...with twins.

Miranda has always wanted a family of her own, but her infertility made it impossible. Besides, Callum’s difficult upbringing places him adamantly in the no-kid zone. Now she must decide between the man she’s been in love with for years and the children she’s longed for. Or will Callum surprise her yet again and come through when it matters most?

Excerpt:

Tasty Book Tours Book Blast + Giveaway: Watch Me Ada Frost

Watch Me
By: Ada Frost

Releasing August 29, 2016.  
Self-Published

Blurb
This is my world, my kingdom. I sit on the throne and control the empire I created.

My skill? Providing illicit pleasure to thousands. If there is a fantasy to fulfil, my company will provide it.

I am the Porn Prince.

The cold hearted producer at Stone Industries who creates the hottest porn in the business.

But every ruler has an Achilles heel, and mine is chaos.

Abigail Warner is chaos.

From the moment she entered my office my world was turned upside down. She is my passion, my fantasy and everything I never wanted in life. The chaotic infuriating mess of a woman is everything I hate and avoid.

So why can’t I stop watching her.

Why do I crave her?

One taste and I know she will destroy me.

Mad for the Plaid by Karen Hawkins (Review)

If you have been keeping up with the Orenburg Princes books you would have notice that the Grand Duchess has a tendency to get herself in a pickle and needs one her grandson's to rescue her, along the way they find their true love. However, Tata didn't get herself in the current pickle, I know surprising. Now her oldest is needs to rescue her from somewhere out of the middle of nowhere Scotland. At the beginning Nik, isn't too impress with Ailsa. However, the more he gets to know her.

In Mad for the Plaid we get to know Nik a little better and we learn that he's more than a womanizer. However, he does put up walls when he's around people. Yet, they start coming down when he gets to know Ailsa. Now Ailsa is tenacious youngest child who has been left to care for family's castle. She has everything to prove.

All pretty Mad for the Plaid was a pretty good read. We have Nik, Ailsa, and their entourage on the search for Nik's grandmother. However, nothing goes according to plan. At first I thought it was one person given the circumstances it made total sense, but Karen manage to throw a curve ball which caught me off guard. Impressive. Mad for the Plaid made a nice conclusion for the series. You have adventure, deceit, and romance all wrapped into one. Anyway, who doesn't love a foreign prince getting knock done a peg or two.

Copy provided by Pocket Books via NetGalley

Rating:
4 Stars

Lusting for Covers (138): The Scottish Duke by Karen Ranney

Lusting for Covers is a weekly meme, held on Sunday, that allows bloggers to share their current cover obsession with fellow book lovers.

This meme is hosted by TBQ @ TBQ's Book Palace.

This Weeks Selection:

The Scottish Duke by Karen Ranney

Publisher: Avon (Nov 2016)

Genre: Historical

Blurb:

New York Times bestselling author Karen Ranney returns with the first novel in a new series about dashing, charismatic dukes—and the women who tame them…

Though raised as a gentleman’s daughter, Lorna Gordon is obliged to take a position as an upstairs maid at Blackhall Castle when her father dies. Alex Russell, the Duke of Kinross, is the most tempting man she’s ever seen—and completely unattainable—until, at a fancy dress ball, Lorna disguises herself as Marie Antoinette and pursues an illicit tryst…with scandalous consequences. 

Months after his mysterious seductress disappears, Alex encounters her again. Far from the schemer the distrustful duke assumed her to be, Lorna is fiercely independent and resourceful. She’s the one woman capable of piercing his defenses. But when danger threatens Lorna, Alex must prove himself not just the lover of her fantasies, but the man who will fight to protect her.

Preorder Links:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Karen's Website

Why?

I love it, but now that I look at the guy looks kind of like Ramsay Bolton a character for Game of Thrones. If you watched Game of Thrones you would agree with me. So, I could understand why she's escaping. Pretty dress and handsome guy if you aren't a Game of Thrones fan. 

Wickedly Innocent Spotlight + Review + Excerpt: Tainted Bride by A.S. Fenichel

Tainted Bride

Forever Brides, 1

A.S. Fenichel

Lyrical Press

September 27, 2016

Blurb:

Only trust can save her...

Sailing to London, Sophia Braighton only hopes to escape certain ruin. But when she arrives, her Great Aunt Daphne has other plans for the American-born beauty.  Determined to marry off her niece to a man of means, she propels Sophia into London society, not knowing that the young woman’s trust in men is shattered. In fact, Sophia never expects to ever feel anything for a man. Then again, she never expects to find herself in the company of the dashing earl of Marlton….

From the moment he sees Sophia, Daniel Fallon feels alive in a way he has not since his broken engagement.  Though the vulnerable beauty shies from the passion burning bright between them, Daniel is determined to court her and make her his bride. When he learns of the painful secret she harbors, he is equally determined to take revenge on the man responsible. But will the quest destroy him—and his future with his beloved?

My Thoughts:

Tasty Book Tours Book Blast + Excerpt + Giveaway: With Every Breath by Maya Banks

With Every Breath
Slow Burn #4

By: Maya Banks

Releasing August 23, 2016 
Avon

Blurb

#1 USA Today and New York Times bestselling author Maya Banks continues her suspenseful and sizzling Slow Burn series with this fourth book—a mesmerizingly sexy tale of a strong, brilliant woman who encounters the one man who makes her lose all control.

Eliza Cummings fought free of a monster who terrorized her when she was an innocent teenager and helped put him away for good. She took a job with Devereaux Security Services and devoted every hour to taking down the very thing she’d nearly become. No one, not even those closest to her, know her darkest, shameful secrets. But now the killer has been set free on a legal loophole and it’s only a matter of time before he comes for her. Eliza's only choice is to run and lead the monster away from the people she loves.

Wade Sterling has always lived by his own rules, a law unto himself who answers to no one. He’s never professed to be a good man, and he’s definitely not hero material. Wade never allows anyone close enough to see the man behind the impenetrable mask—but one woman threatens his carefully leashed control. He took a bullet for her and the result was more than a piece of metal entrenched in his skin. She was under his skin and nothing he did rid himself of the woman with the courage of a warrior and who thinks nothing of putting her life before others.

But when Wade sees a panicked and haunted Eliza he knows something is very wrong, because the fool woman has never been afraid of anything. And when she tries to run, the primal beast barely lurking beneath his deceptively polished façade erupts in a rage. She may not know it, but she belongs to him. This time, Eliza isn't going to play the protector. She was damn well going to be the protected. And as long as Wade breathes, no one will ever hurt what is his.

Excerpt:

Tame the Shame (Blogger Shame Review Challenge): The Prince's Runaway Lover by Robin Covington

It seems like I have been knocking out more Blogger Shame reads this week than I have in the last eight months. Woot! However, I still have many to go. I'm truly hopeful that I will be able to knock 18 I have left to go. A huge feat, but I'm up to the challenge. Today we will take a look at The Prince's Runaway Lover by Robin Covington:

Tasty Book Tours Book Blast + Excerpt + Giveaway: Bedded Bliss by Cari Quinn & Taryn Elliot

Bedded Bliss

Found in Oblivion #1

By: Cari Quinn & Taryn Elliott

Releasing Aug 19th, 2016

Rainbow Rage Publishing

Blurb

A hot night in Vegas is just what the rockstar ordered... until someone ends up married.

Michael Shawcross is living the dream, opening up for his idols, Oblivion, on his band Warning Sign’s first tour. Until an overzealous fan goes too far and his hard-partying ways catch up to him in the form of an ultimatum from his manager, Lila Crandall.

Clean up your image—or else.

Single mom Chloe Adams is in Vegas for a rare girls’ night out. She wasn’t ever supposed to be attracted to another rockstar. In fact, she’s in rockstar rehab, and the cure for her addiction definitely isn't a sexy, smart-assed guitarist with wicked fingers.

She never expects to accidentally end up his wife. Or to have her new husband suddenly decide that she’s the solution to all his problems. And surprise…he’s happy to show his appreciation in a number of interesting, inventive ways.

Pretending their marriage is real might just be the hottest proposition she’s ever been given.

But what happens when a lie becomes the truth? 

BEYOND OBLIVION - A Rockstar Romance full of sexy fun set within the world of our Lost in Oblivion series! You never know who you'll see show up in the books. 

Excerpt:

Lusting for Covers (137): Lord Perfect by Loretta Chase

Lusting for Covers is a weekly meme, held on Sunday, that allows bloggers to share their current cover obsession with fellow book lovers.

This meme is hosted by TBQ @ TBQ's Book Palace.

This Weeks Selection:

Lord Perfect by Loretta Chase

Publisher: Berkley (Mar 2006)

Series: Carsington Brothers, 3

Genre: Historical

Blurb:

IDEAL

The heir to the Earl of Hargate, Benedict Carsington, Viscount Rathbourne, is the perfect aristocrat. Tall, dark, and handsome, he is known for his impeccable manners and good breeding. Benedict knows all the rules and has no trouble following them—until she enters his life.INFAMOUS

Bathsheba Wingate belongs to the rotten branch of the DeLucey family: a notorious lot of liars, frauds, and swindlers. Small wonder her husband’s high-born family disowned him. Now widowed, she’s determined to give her daughter a stable life and a proper upbringing. Nothing and no one will disrupt Bathsheba’s plans—until he enters her life…

SCANDALOUS

Then Bathsheba’s hoyden daughter lures Benedict’s precocious nephew into a quest for a legendary treasure. To recover the would-be knights errant, Benedict and Bathsheba must embark on a rescue mission that puts them in dangerous, intimate proximity. It’s a situation virtually guaranteed to end in mayhem—even scandal!—if anyone else were involved. But Benedict is in perfect control of events. Perfect control, despite his mad desire to break all the rules. Perfect control. Really.

Purchase Links:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Loretta's Website

Why?

Love this arrogant pose. So, awesome! There is another cover, but I love this cover. What do you think of my cover pick?

Tame the Shame (Blogger Shame Review Challenge): The Unforgettable Hero by Valerie Bowman

Okay, it's time to bust out some Queen with Another Bites the Dust. Seriously, I amuse myself. Anyway, I tackled another shame. Now, I have under 20 to go. WOOT! *Happy Dance*. Todays same is Valerie Bowman's The Unforgettable Hero, so lets dive in: