Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Good Girls Don't By Victoria Dahl



Good Girls Don't (Donovan Family)
Publication Date: August 30, 2011
Series: Donovan Family Book 1
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Format: E-book/Paperback
Heat Level: R
Reviewed For: NetGalley
My Rating:


Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Keri Ford: Video Excerpt: Satisfying Her Tastes



Good golly am I excited. Keri Ford has another new release. This girl just keeps on going and I am happy about it. We are now on book 5 of the Apple Trail Series and this book I know is going to be a personal favorite. Its called Satisfying Her Tastes and the heroine's name is Rebecca and I would love to think Keri thought of me. A girl can dream, right?!

Monday, August 29, 2011

Guest Post: Stephanie Beck with bonus excerpt



Today I have Stephanie Beck on the blog. She is going to be telling us a little about building a story. So sit back, relax and enjoy this read.

Building a story—A lot like any craft, only without the sticky fingers.

I’ve been writing romance since I was fifteen years old. I love the way a story can come together using brain power, a notebook and a pen. Adding in new details and feeling an idea come to life make writing an amazing way to pass the time. I also like to consider myself as a crafty person. I enjoy scrapbooking, knitting and baking, but nothing gets me going like writing.


Who needs stickers when you can have two (or more) amazing people come to life on a page in front of you? After crafting a person from the toes up, knowing their ins and outs and giving them the motivation to continue on, putting stickers around pictures is tame.

Sunday, August 28, 2011

Looking for a new memoir/chick-lit to read?



Tout Sweet: Hanging Up My High Heels for a New Life in France
Have you been looking for a new memoir with a nice chick-lit feel? Then you might want to check out this fun book by Karen Wheeler Tout Sweet: Hanging Up My High Heels for a New Life in France.

This book was available beginning August 1, 2011

Here is a little more about it:

In her mid-thirties Karen has it all: a career as a fashion editor, a handsome boyfriend, a fab flat in west London and an array of gorgeous shoes. But when her 'plus one' leaves, she wonders if there is more to life than high fashion. So, she hangs up her Manolos and waves goodbye to her city lifestyle, deciding to go it alone in a run-down house in rural Poitou-Charentes, western France. Once there, she encounters a host of new friends and unsuitable suitors, soon learning that true happiness can be found in the simplest of things - a bike ride through the countryside on a summer evening, or six glasses of Pinot in a neighbor's garden. If you've ever dreamed of chucking away your BlackBerry and down shifting, "Tout Sweet" is perfect summer reading.


Be sure to look for this on you next shopping trip!


 

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Twice Is Not Enough by Emma Lai

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Twice Is Not Enough
Publication Date:
Genre: Historical Romance Erotic
Heat Level: NC-17
Format: E-book
Reviewed For: Myself :o)
My Rating:

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

After The Party by Lisa Jewell



Publication Date: August 16, 2011
Genre: Chick-lit. Women's Fiction
Heat Level: G
Reviewed For: Crazy Books Tours/ Author
My Rating:



Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Giveaway: Making Waves by Tawna Fenske



Making WavesI am very happy to be bringing you this giveaway for this awesome book. Earlier I had an interview with Tawna HERE and I even got to review this book HERE.

Now thanks to Sourcebooks I get to offer two of my readers a chance to win this book. You must be a residant of the USA or Canada to enter. This giveaway will end on September 6th, 2011. All you have to do is fill out the form below.

Interview: Tawna Fenske author of Making Waves



I for one and very excited to have Tawna Fenske on the blog today. I enjoyed her debut book Making Waves to its fullest and you can see that in my review HERE.

Welcome Tawna! Readers, sit back and enjoy this interview between her and myself:


First up, give us a quick bio on yourself.
TF: You’ve got the whole “About the Author” thing at the bottom of this post, so let me think of a few things not on it. I’m 37 years old. I love wine. I hate shopping carts, windy days, and whiny people. I have three cats and an Australian Kelpie, which is pretty much a herding dog on crack. I love to laugh, so it’s probably a good thing I write romantic comedy and not morose literary fiction.

Your novel, Making Waves, is a hoot! How did you come up with this idea?
TF: The story started brewing in my brain on a sailing trip around Australia’s Great Barrier Reef in 2006, though at that point it was the equivalent of, “wow, men on boats are kinda hot.” The plot didn’t come together in my mind until the economy tanked a couple years later and tons of people around me started getting laid off. I began mulling the crazy lengths people might go to if they were unfairly sacked by a shady employer. A high seas diamond heist organized by the four most unlikely pirates on the planet seemed like a good start.

Monday, August 22, 2011

Guest Post: JM Powers - Books are like babies



Welcome to Becks Book Pics. Today I am excited to have JM Powers visiting. Readers, sit back and enjoy this article about her books are like her babies.

Books are like babies. They grow quickly, and then you miss them when they’re fully developed.

Currently, I have two and one on the way—books that is.

I watch my creations grow from conception to full maturity, and then I send them off into the world. With Basket of Hope, the conception happened the night I entered a Halloween short-story contest. It was exciting to make it to the finals, but I didn’t win. Though I put it aside, the idea bounced around in my mind like a sugar infused child. So, I allowed Kara and Machias freedom to grow. They got kind of bossy too. Dang it, I lost control and they started telling me what to write! Through the process, they moved out of my mind and into the magical world of Basket of Hope.

Sunday, August 21, 2011

Sizzling PR - An All New Book Tour Company



Are you familiar with Marissa from Sizzling Hot Books? Well guess what, she has started her own book tour business to help authors at fantastic prices to get their books toured. Currently Marissa is looking for some blogs and authors. Head on over to her site http://www.sizzlingpr.com/ and you can find the form on the side bar. And if your an author, you just might faint over her prices. I know I plan to be touring with her soon (Author Lacey Wolfe).

 

Red's Hot Cowboy by Carolyn Brown



Red's Hot Cowboy
Publication Date: August 1, 2011
Series: Book 2 of Spikes and Spurs
Genre: Western Romance/ Contemporary Romance
Reviewed For: Sourcebooks
My Rating:



Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Midnight Waltz By Jennifer Blake



Midnight Waltz
Publication Date: Reissue. Originally published in 1984
Genre: Historical Romance
Reviewed For: Sourcebooks
My Rating:


Tuesday, August 16, 2011

I'm getting published!



So, I had not announced this yet, but I thought I should since blogging will be a little slow. To those who follow me on twitter might know I was writing. It has been a dream of mine for a long time and always been a hobby. Well, I decided to get serious about it. I got a number of rejections and learned from it. Finally after several drafts of my novella, I got a contract. I am not sure yet what the release date is, but I wanted to share the news.

Saturday, August 13, 2011

Giveaway Winner: Cynthia Selwyn book of choice

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Its time to announce the winner of this giveaway thanks to Breathless Press.

Winner will have their choice of e-book: In The Cards or Dog-Gone But Not Forgotten

The Winner is:
Holly Collins.

Congrats!


 

Guest Post: Liz Crowe - The Great What If On What Inspires Her to Write



Welcome Liz Crowe to the blog today. I for one and really loving this topic on what inspires you to write. I know my readers will too. Be sure to check out her book for a read that will leave you wanting to rush to the nearest pub!

What Inspires This Writer....

The Great What If:

. . .the man you keep making eye contact with across a crowded restaurant gave you a nod, and you got up, made your way to the back hall only to find him there waiting for you....

. . .the guy you just told "no" at the door, when he tried to get you to leave AT&T and rejoin the Comcast fold, the one with the most amazing deep blue eyes and husky voice stopped in your driveway while you watched his attractive rear view, turned, came back to the door and...

Friday, August 12, 2011

DC Juris Guest Post: Magical Moments


Welcome to Becks Book Picks, DC Juris. I am very happy to have you guesting here today. Readers sit back and read about Magical Moments

Buried TreasureI hear people talking about magical moments all the time. Usually it involves grandiose events, like lavish parties or fabulous trips overseas. There are dazzling lights, tasty food, compelling and interesting people with fascinating conversation. The stories seem over the top, filled with fantastic things happening to wonderful people who find just the right words, and do just the right things at just the right time. Loud, audacious times, full of loud miracles.

But when I think about the magical moments in my life, they don't include any of those things. The most magical times, for me, have been simple times, with ordinary people, less than great food, and mediocre conversation about nothing important. Quiet times, full of quiet miracles.

The first one I can remember happened in my childhood. On the way to the bus stop, some neighborhood kids were throwing a little longhaired black kitten back and forth like a ball. My mom and I took her from them, and I convinced my mom to let me bring her home. Mom didn't know anything about rehabilitating kittens, so we stuck her in the rabbit hutch with our two rabbits and a bowl of milk. Mom said she probably wouldn't live and not to get my hopes up. I named her Inky and I checked on her every day before school, and after school I'd spend hours just looking at her. Inky never seemed to be getting any better, until one afternoon when I went to the cage. Inky was up, playing with the rabbits, jumping and rolling around with them.

The second one I can remember happened when I was in high school. My math class that year was Geometry, which I admittedly sucked at. Of course, part of the reason I sucked was that I just sucked, and the other part was that a certain male person of interest was in the class as well. I'd had a crush on him since junior high, so imagine my delight when I ended up in class with him, sitting behind him, no less. We started "going out" and without going into too much detail, I soon discovered that my knight in shining armor not only had some dents in his metal, but he also didn't know the first thing about chivalry. As the year went on and more and more things happened, and it was clear to anyone who paid attention that I was more than a little depressed. On the last day of the year, my Geometry teacher put her hand on my shoulder as I walked out the door, and said, "You are special."

The third one, and the last one I'll tell you about (though there have been tons more), came in 2002. Hubby, then just my boyfriend – we weren't even engaged yet – was critically ill in the ICU. They called and said I should get down there right away, because they didn't expect him to live. I called his family and we went to the hospital. By the time we got there, he had stabilized. The next day, when he was awake, everyone was allowed to see him. Most people, he had a hard time recognizing. These were people he'd grown up with – his family and friends – so my heart sank with the realization that he'd only know me for a little over a year. But my magical moment came when he turned his head, grinned, and held out his hand.
So keep your eyes open for magical moments every day. Remember, they don't have to be spectacular to be magical.





 

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Savor The Danger by Lori Foster


Savor the Danger (Hqn)
Publication Date: June 28th, 2011
Series: Book 3 of Men Who Walk The Edge of Honor (stand alone)
Genre: Romance/ Contemporary Romance
Reviewed For: Publisher
Other reviews/interview of Lori Foster: Interview, Too Much Temptation, When You Dare (bk1), Trace of Fever (bk2)
My Rating:



Book Blurb: She may be aloof, and more pretty than gorgeous, but Alani Rivers is the kind of woman a hot-blooded mercenary can't forget, no matter how hard he tries. So when Jackson Savor wakes up next to the naked, sleeping beauty—with no memory of what happened— he knows he's been drugged…even if Alani doesn't.
After she was kidnapped, Alani vowed never to trust another man again. Still, something about this strong, sexy hero with the tender touch makes her want to believe him. As Jackson hunts down a mysterious intruder, he swears he'll move heaven and earth to keep Alani safe. But what really happened that night? And will the truth bring them closer than they ever thought possible—or put Alani squarely in harm's way again?

My Thoughts: Since I read the first two books in this series, I was itching to get to the end to read Alani and Jackson's story. They are those two characters who in the first two books are spinning circles around one another and as the reader you know they are hot for one another and you can't wait to read what happens between them. The romance and chemistry was there between these two. The mystery is slightly different in this book from the first two. There were many moments I found myself laughing at these two. And to give you a little thought to ponder, imagine Jackson being as built as a mercenary would be, and running out in the middle of the night, stark naked fighting a bad guy. I just cracked up a this and Lori did a fantastic job with describing such scenes as these.

If you have read the first two books, you will definitely want to get your hands on this one to complete the series and feel that tiny bit of pleasure knowing all is well for Dare, Trace, and Jackson. These men are now satisfied with the women they love.


   

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Mia's Book By Tabitha Rayne

Readers 18 and older

Mia's Books
Publication Date: July 18th, 2011
Genre: Erotica (m/f, f/f, m/f/f)
Heat level: NC-17
Format: E-book
Reviewed For: Author
My Rating:


Book Blurb: Ghost lover or mortal—can Mia have both? 
Mia has a big problem. She is in love with two people, and one of them happens to be a ghost. After a late night seduction in a deserted library, Mia brings home a haunted book. The book contains a ghost which instructs her to seduce strangers on its behalf. Mia falls in love with one of her conquests and finds herself in a romantic tangle. Can she keep both her lovers, or will she have to choose?

Content Warning: graphic sexual content, including m/f and f/f sexual interaction.



My Thoughts: This is a hot little book. Wow, all you need is one chapter of this book before bed and your good. Mia loves to read erotica (who doesn't once you start). Her computer is broken so she sneaks into the public library at close to get her read in, but she can't get into the computers. She heads to the adult section and find a leather bound book. It turns out a ghost is with this book and Mia no longer has to read as the ghost takes a hold of her and pleasures her. I was a little unsure at first of the ghost thing but the ghost is not the only one that Mia has encounters with. The book instructs her on who to be with. Mia has many, many encounters in this book, which is why I stated, each chapter is good.

I had never read a f/f scene. So this was my first time reading once. I don't have much to go on, but I will say Tabitha did a wonderful job and I give her props for writing it.

At the end of the book, everything ties together. The ending is a bit of a surprise and leaves your heart feeling warm that love lives on no matter what.

If your looking for something that is going to heat you up the right way, well this book will do it. Be sure to check it out.


 

Monday, August 8, 2011

Sweet Tea and Secrets by Nancy Naigle



Sweet Tea and Secrets: An Adams Grove Novel
Publication Date: July 10, 2011
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Heat Level: PG
Series: An Adams Grove Novel (book 1)
Reviewed For: Crossroads Publishing House
My Rating:


Book Blurb: Adams Grove is mourning the loss of Pearl Clemmons, known for her award-winning chocolate pecan pie and the best unsolicited advice in the county.
When Jill returns to settle her grandmother’s estate, she’s greeted by a Clydesdale-sized guardian dog who doesn't seem to be earning his stripes (although he drools on them pretty well), and Garrett Malloy, the ex-fiancĂ© she left behind a year ago.
Jill insists on staying at Pearl’s amidst a string of break-ins that have sleepy Adams Grove wide awake and locking its doors. Jill’s past with Garrett becomes the least of her worries when she learns that their lives are in danger. She is the only person standing between a desperate conman and a secret from Pearl’s past.
Will Pearl’s past kill any chance of Jill and Garrett’s future together?



My Thoughts: I have been in a reading rut, which I know I have mentioned in previous posts. Currently, if a book is not capturing my attention when starting it, I have just been getting bored. I want that read that is going to make me not want to put it down and see what happens. So, I sat on my couch and looked through my e-reader and I came across this one, Sweet Tea and Secrets: An Adams Grove Novel. I decided to give it a shot, see if this one could captivate me. It did, from the beginning. The grandmother Pearl caught my attention right away. She meddled in Jill's life and Garrett's. She knew these two needed to be together, even though Jill did not feel the same way. I was very sad that Peal passed away quickly in the book and Jill returned home to clean out the house and sell. 
Garrett is thrown right back into her life, the one man she was almost ready to marry. Thinking now that Bradly is the man of her dreams, as a reader we learn fast he is not the man he portrays to be.

The author does a wonderful job with emotions through out this book. As a reader I found myself teary eyed at times and other times smiling.

 This is a fun little romance. Its very clean. There is a slight mystery in this book to help keep you focused. While this story line is a common story line, Nancy spices it up and puts her spin on it. She throws in some twists that lean you flipping through the pages.

I think this book is perfect for anyone who loves a good romance. Enjoys two people who are so right for one another find their way back to each other. There is a good bit of humor in this book too. Don't just take my word for it though, check it out.


 



Giveaway Winners! (2 different giveaways)



Good Monday Morning! I had two giveaways that ended on Friday for two great e-books! Thanks to the authors I am able to giveaway one coy of their release to you.

So onto the winners:

First book up is: To Catch a Spirit by Carrie Pilikinen
Jennifer

Second book is Mia's Book by Tabitha Rayne
Jennifer H

(Wow, two different Jennifer's. Looks like a good day for this name!)

 Congrats to the winners! I will be emailing you to get your preferred e format and I will pass this along to the authors/publishers.

Have a blessed Monday and happy reading!

 

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Guest Post: Camryn Ryhs



I am very excited to have Camyrn Ryhs on the blog today. Sit back and enjoy this guest post as we are told what Camryn's favorite book is.


The Barn-DanceCamryn: Someone asked me recently what was my favorite book I’d ever written. I think they expected me to say, “The Barn Dance, of course!” Because that’s the book I was there to promote. But as much as I love foodie erotic romance and the love story that Leo and Mindy have, I will never love any book as much as the first book I ever wrote.

I was nineteen, I was in love with Braveheart and Outlander. I studied literature and writing, and found that I had a knack for putting words together to form sentences. Sometimes. I adored romance novels growing up, so I thought: I’ll write a romance novel!

For three solid months, I researched. I didn’t even write a word. I spent hours in the map section of the library. I read entire books on thirteenth century Scotland. I did everything I could do short of buying a ticket to Scotland, and that was only because I didn’t have a job, so I didn’t have the cash. If I knew what a credit card was, I guarantee I would have been there.
I researched, read, plotted, and sketched. I knew more about the clans of the characters than I did about my own family. It was the most fun I’ve ever had.

When I finished, I wrote that book in less than a month. Almost 100,000 words of complicated, swoony, bodice-rippery goodness. I sent it to my three best friends, who all loved it, and then I put it down until after the Christmas break. Pass two months in the way writers do, with very little detail, and I pick it up again. I read it straight through and was horrified. In fact, a couple of times, I didn’t finish it and had to come back again.

I threw it away. Thankfully, years later, I still have a digital copy of it. But I threw it away. And I didn’t come back to it for almost eight years. When I did eventually come back, it was because I missed the characters and the story. I re-read it, fell in love with it again, and threw it away again.

Because, let’s face it, it was my first book, and it was crap. I hope to take those characters somewhere else in the future, and will hopefully use some of the same story elements. But there’s too much wrong with it to salvage.

So while it might be my favorite book I ever wrote, it’s also the worst book I ever wrote, and the only thing that will never, ever see the light of day.

No, you may not read it. No, really. Really.

Have you ever written something that you think is absolutely a nightmare? Ever decided to press the delete button on an entire manuscript? Ever thrown a whole book in the trash?

Thanks so much for having me. You can find my blog at http://camrynrhys.blogspot.com and at http://dirtybirdauthors.blogspot.com. I’m on Twitter @camrynrhys and Facebook @CamrynRhys. I’m on Google+, and you can buy my book on Amazon, All Romance eBooks, and the Breathless Press website.

THE BARN DANCE: When Mindy needs a baker’s expertise, Leo offers a trade: one day in the kitchen for one night at the Barn Dance. Either way, the heat is rising. http://www.breathlesspress.org/Book/327


 

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

25% off Breathless Press Erotic E-Books



Have you been thinking you need a  new book that will heat you up in the right ways? All Breathless Press books are 25% off when you purchase one through All Romance E-Books. By clicking HERE you will be taken directly to where the sale is at. Be sure to check it out.

 

3 Free E-books from Sourcebooks



These will  be free August 2nd through August 11th so be sure to get your copy!



Strange NeighborsLegacyElliot and the Goblin War (Underworld Chronicles)