Jennifer's Taking a Break: Top Ten List

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Monday, September 1, 2014

Author Spotlight - Veronica Forand

Veronica Forand

4D Characters in a 3D World

End of the Innocence by Alessandra Torre BLOG TOUR

He thought I owned him. He thought he loved me, that I was enough. But this animal, this sex god who could drive me crazy and steal my heart in the same breath, he would never be fully mine. It was impossible. No one ever owns a God.

I felt Brad’s hand move, tugging on my chair and pulling me close to him. He captured my face in his hands, his eyes examining my features. “I love you so much,” he murmured, his eyes moving over and focusing on my lips before he tugged me to him, taking ownership of my mouth with a few soft swipes of his tongue. I opened my lips further, deepening the contact, my hands stealing into his hair. I broke the kiss, pushing my chair back and standing, moving closer to him and spreading his knees with my legs. He slid deeper in the chair, reclining back against the soft leather, gazing up at me with a latent dominance of the nothing-but-trouble variety. I grinned playfully down at him, and slid one strap, then the other, of my dress down, dragging the fabric until my bare breasts were exposed, lit softly by the blue-gray lights of the room.

He groaned softly, a guttural sound, and stared into my eyes, tightening his knees against my legs. “Come here.”

I shook my head and knelt, running my hands softly up his dress pants, past his muscular thighs, until I reached his belt. He watched me, his eyes darkening and he leaned forward suddenly, snagging my chin and pulling it up, his eyes grabbing me possessively before kissing me hard, a deep kiss that reclaimed his power before he released me, leaning back and watching me.

“Do you always have to be in control, Mr. De Luca?” I purred the words, unbuckling his belt with one motion, then rubbed my hand over the zipper line, feeling the outline of his cock underneath the fabric, the shape of him hardening under my fingers. He didn’t answer, his eyes locked on mine, dark orbs of sexuality. I suddenly needed to see him, needed to have his bare skin in my hand, to feel the throb of what was mine. I looked away from his eyes, focusing, and unbuttoned and unzipped his pants. Then, he was in my hand, an impossibly thick, hard shaft, the skin hot beneath my palm. I stroked it, the firm grip eliciting an intake of Brad’s breath.

“Put it in your mouth.” The order came through in a drugged tone, desire glowing at me from under heavy eyelids.

I shook my head, increasing the speed of my stroke as I watched him. He frowned slightly, lifting his hips a bit, bringing the nine inches of insanity closer to my face. I spoke, my tone a mixture of dominance and bite. “What is your plan with the girl?”

He sat up slightly, his eyes opening more, and watching me carefully. “What girl?”

“The stripper. The one you fucked last time you were here.”

“I thought that didn’t bother you.”

I hissed. “It didn’t bother me last time. Things are different now. Are you going to talk to her?”

“I feel like this is a test of some sort …” he mumbled. His breath hitched a bit as I squeezed his cock, loving the feel of complete stiffness in my hands. “What is you want, Julia?”

I ran my tongue lightly, teasingly, over the top of his head, taking it into my mouth for one brief moment before I pulled off, my hands never pausing in their movement, a quick pace that traveled his entire length with every stroke. “I want you to handle it,” I said firmly. “I want her to understand that you will never have sex with her again.”

“Never?” I released him, the sudden departure causing his eyes to open and a frown to settle over his features. “I’m joking. Don’t stop.”

I resumed my movement, my free hand gathering his heavy balls in my hand, squeezing him softly as I stroked his length with a firm hand.

“Come here,” he said, sitting up and pulling on my arms.

“No.” I fixed him with my sternest look, my hand increasing in speed.

“Julia, come here. I want to talk to you about this without being tongue-tied by your hands on my cock.” He pulled harder, his strong arms lifting me easily onto his lap, despite my best attempt at resistance.

Sitting on his lap created a new set of problems. Mainly him, standing at attention against my thighs. I sat sideways on his lap and spread my knees slightly, my hand stealing in between my legs to grab him.

This is the conclusion of this amazing series of Brad & Julia. These two people have been through hell, and deserve a HEA like no one else.

This starts off as a dark romance, but quickly sucks you into these characters lives.

In this book, they are planning their wedding in one years time. They meet their partners families, however things aren't always ass perfect ass they seem.

This is a must read series. I personally fell in love with the characters, and can't let them go. Needless to say, when it ended, I actually yelled at the book. I want more of Brad & Julia.

If you want a romance filled with love, laughs, some hot steamy sex, and a little intrigue, this is a have to have.

Alessandra Torre is a new author who focuses on contemporary erotica. Her first book, Blindfolded Innocence, was published in July 2012, and was an Erotica #1 Bestseller for two weeks. The sequel to Blindfolded, Masked Innocence, will be released in February 2014.

Alessandra lives in the Southern United States and is married, with one young child. She enjoys reading, spending time with her family, and playing with her dogs. Her favorite authors include Lisa Gardner, Gillian Flynn, and Jennifer Crusie.

Learn more about Alessandra on her website at www.alessandratorre.com, or you can find her on Twitter (@ReadAlessandra) or her Facebook fanpage.

Top 10 things Alessandra Torre Eats

Chocolate chip cookie dough

Watermelon

Nutty Bars

energy drinks Dr Pepper Chicken Stir-fry with white rice
Monster Absolute Zero

Apples

Chicken and Rice

Grits

Fried Chicken

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Monday, March 24, 2014

The Stable Boy by Harmony Stalter

Claire is a 40 year old widowed farm owner. She lost her husband in a terrible freak accident. In a constant state of depression for the past two years, her farm is failing. She barely has enough money to survive and her last farmhand just left to follow his new wife’s dreams.

She is all alone, until he walks into her life. She knows she needs the help, but does she want his help? Can she resist his good looks, charm, and flirting or will she give into temptation and open her heart and bed to him?

the stable boy

harmony stalter

goodreads

Excerpt

He came walking across the field in his tight blue jeans, dark brown boots, beige plaid shirt, and dark brown cowboy hat. He was walking my unruly colt by a lead rope with ease. The colt had broken the fence and ran off. He found him. How he got the horse calmed down was a mystery to me. I could not get that horse to walk on a lead rope. He reached my door. I stepped out from behind the screen door.

"Ma'am, I believe he is yours," he said with a slight southern drawl.

"Yes, he is. Thank you for bringing him back," I said, taking all of him in. He had ice blue eyes, a five o'clock shadow, and broad shoulders. His tight shirt showed off his muscular arms and tight torso. "How did you know he was mine?"

"I pass by your house sometimes in morning on the way to the Everett farm," he said. "I work there when they need an extra hand."

"Thank you for bringing him back. Can you please put him in the paddock with the other horses?"

"Sure can," he replied. "Do you need help fixing the fence?"

"Thank you, I would really appreciate it."

"Be happy to help. If you don't mind, I'd like to take a look around the farm and help you out in anyway I can. It does not seem that you have much help around here," he said, as he looked me up and down.

I was wearing my blue jeans and white t-shirt. My long, chestnut brown hair was pulled back into a ponytail.

"Unfortunately, I do not. I had a farm hand, but he got married recently and they moved out west. I don't have enough money to hire someone else."

purchase links

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Claire has suffered a terrible and heartbreaking lose. She has been trying to move on with her life for the last two years, and it hasn't been going well. Claire is barely functioning, and has pushed everyone away from her, including her family.

Josh has lost his entire family, and for the last few years, has been coasting. He helps out on farms and sleeps in either his car or on the floor of the barn.

Claire & josh meet when he brings back her colt that broke through the fence and escaped. He comes into Claire's life at just the right time. The last farmhand she had has left, and she is trying to run her farm on her own.

Claire has reservations about any type of a relationship with Josh. She is twelve years older, Josh reminds her of her late husband, and she is filled with guilt over having someone new in her life and moving on from her marriage.

Will Claire be able to get past her hangups and move on? Will Josh be able to get Claire to admit that she is attracted to him? Will these two amazing people be able to get past their pain and move on with their lives??

ten fun facts about harmony

1. I smile at everyone.

2. I love making people laugh.

3. I am a lover of local bands. I see them as often as I can.

4. I dance around the house constantly, even when there is no audible music playing. If a song is in my head, I dance to it.

5. I cannot count how many concerts I have been to. There are just too many.

6. I treat people how I would like to be treated. I have been told I am one of the nicest people going.

7. I prefer to work in my pajamas, but driving an hour to my 9 to 5 job, I am sure I would get some looks from the other drivers and my boss when I walked in the office.</ p>

8. I have a habit of staring at people, almost to the point of being a creeper. It is just my way of memorizing the parts of them I want to use for a character in my next book.

9. I am an animal lover. They all seem to know it. Even as a child, I would walk up to any dog and hug it. My mother was always afraid I was going to get bit. I have never been.

10.I am very shy. I tend to keep to myself most times, but I do love to hang out with friends.

excerpt #2

“What am I going to do with you, Josh?”

“I can think of a few things.”

“I can’t believe you just said that,” I said, hiding my face in a dishtowel. It was as if he could read my mind. He laughed. He walked over and wrapped his arms around my shoulders.

“What can I help you with?” he asked as he hugged me.

“You can take the pitcher of tea outside with some glasses,” I said hugging him back. I did not want to let go.

“Okay,” he said, slightly pulling away. He leaned in to kiss me. Backing me up against the counter, he kissed me hard. I let out a slight moan. This made him smile a little. He kissed me deeper and harder. He went to pull away. I pulled him back in. I returned his kiss, this time making him moan. He picked me up and sat me on the counter, continuing to kiss me. He kissed my neck, working his way down to my chest. I stopped him.

“We can’t do this right now,” I said. The panic was starting to kick in.

“Was it something I did?”

“No, it is definitely not you. It’s me.”

“I’m sorry. I will try to restrain myself.”

“It’s okay. I just keep thinking I am some how cheating on my husband.”

“But,” he said.

“I know, I know he is dead. Alison said the same thing the other night. I want to, believe me I want to, but I think we need to slow it down some.”

“I can go as slow as you like,” he said with a crooked smile.

about the author

Harmony Stalter (1976-Present) was born in Newburgh, New York. She currently makes her home in Central Florida, and is a freelance writer that currently writes for a monthly magazine called All Access Music Magazine. She was an architectural drafter for three years before she dove head first into pursuing her career in writing, her first love. Employee Body Language Revealed: How to Predict Behavior in the Workplace by Reading and Understanding Body Language is her first book.

Since completing this book, she has written Dancing the Night Away, Bulk Cooking: Everything You Need to Know, and The Great Wolf Lodge 2011 Travel Guide. Look for these, and more upcoming titles from this writer on the rise, and make sure to visit her website at http://www.harmonysfreelancewritingworld.com.

Contact Links

Facebook | Twitter: @writer247

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

All Of Me by Gina Sorelle

One year after undergoing a unilateral mastectomy, twenty-eight year old ER nurse Stella Ciaramitaro is working on healing all wounds, visible and invisible. And it’s going pretty well. Sure, she has four pain-in-the-butt sisters, an occasionally suicidal dad, and some serious trust issues. And, yes, all dreams of soul mates, mind-blowing sex, and everlasting love have gone the way of her left breast. But overall, she’s hanging in there. Doing just fine, actually.

Or at least she was until HE showed up. Nathan Drazek is a hot mess and he knows it. The laundry list of things contributing to his dysfunction includes, but is not limited to: a childhood full of mental and physical abuse, four tours in Afghanistan, and ten years policing one of the toughest beats in East Cleveland. Adding insult to injury, he’s ridiculously straight-laced, beyond aloof, and nearly incapable of interpersonal relationships. But that’s okay, because Nathan isn’t interested in anything more than just getting by. Or at least he wasn’t until SHE showed up. From the moment Nathan nearly arrests Stella on, sparks fly, limits are tested, and boundaries are shattered. A tenuous, tender friendship quickly evolves into something powerful and passionate they cannot wish away or control. But as they grow closer, new issues arise and old hurts resurface, threatening to destroy their fragile new beginning. With everything at stake, Nathan and Stella must ultimately decide which runs deeper: their scars or their love.

I like nice guys...I always have and I always will. I married one and now I write about them. :)

When I'm not torturing my stoic, stalwart heroes with strong, witty heroines, I enjoy reading, drinking way too much coffee, trying to be the best wife and mom I can be, and procrastinating (especially when it comes to cleaning the house). I am also a part-time student, a lover of history, and hopelessly addicted to Lifetime movies. Do not judge me. :) I also like smiley faces. A lot. :)

First let me say, I am personally in LOVE with the setting of this amazing story. It is set in Cleveland, my home town! As a result, I had to giggle at times reading the story as I know the settings and it was like going home to me.

Stella isn't your typical female lead of a romance story. She is recovering from a terrible illness that disfigured her and caused her to have issues with her body. She is one of four girls in her family. "It had never been wise to mess with a Ciaramitaro girl, because when you messed with one, you messed with all."

Stella is working hard to help her sisters, protect them as needed, and work as an ER nurse all at the same time.

Nathan is a cop in Cleveland. He hasn't had an easy life in any way, shape, or form. He lost his mother way too young. "Nathan and his brothers hadn't been able to save her from her death at the hands of their father or all that had come before it. They hadn't been able to save themselves either."

When these two first meet, it isn't all sunshine and roses. They meet when Nathan and his partner are called out to assist "A man is reporting his girlfriend's sister is threatening him." When Nathan has to restrain Stella, there really is no threat to him "Nathan was 6'4," 225 lbs and the female was 5'4," 125 lbs soaking-wet."

These two don't have an easy road ahead of them. What will the future hold for these two amazing people?

Top 10 Movies for Gina Sorelle (in no particular order)

1. "Emma," with Gwyneth Paltrow/Jeremy Northam.

I'm a sucker for a nice, sensible guy and Mr. Knightley fits the bill perfectly. Plus, I tend to love any movie featuring period costumes and British accents. :) Great story about falling in love with a friend.

2. "Pride & Prejudice," with Keira Knightley and Matthew MacFadyen.

I've already mentioned I'm a sucker for a nice, sensible guy, but if he's quiet, uptight, and brooding, too? Well, that's just icing on the cake. Love, love, love the costumes, accents, and scenery, too.

3. "When Harry Met Sally"

The friends-into-lovers theme is one of my favorites and this movie rocks it. I've seen this hundreds of times, but the New Year's Eve emotional outburst gets me every single time.

4. "The Birdcage," with Robin Williams and Nathan Lane

It's about so much more than two gay dudes running a nightclub. This movie makes a lot of powerful statements on equality, love, acceptance, and not judging a book by its cover...all while being ridiculously hilarious and heart-rending.

5. "The Mirror Has Two Faces," with Barbra Streisand and Jeff Bridges.

"I believe in love and lust and sex and romance. I don’t want everything to add up to some perfect equation. I want mess and chaos. I want someone to go crazy out of his mind for me. I want to feel passion and heat and sweat and madness. I want valentines and Cupids and all the rest of that crap. I want it all." - Rose Morgan.

Enough said. :)

6. "Bridget Jones' Diary"

Again, love the uptight, serious, quiet dude ("Mark Darcy," played by the awesome Colin Firth). But, even more than that, I love watching that kind of man become undone by feelings he can't control. The fight scene in the Greek restaurant is a particular favorite of mine. :)

7. "The Big Lebowski"

This one is atypical for me: very little romance (if any), with lots of Coen brothers weirdness thrown in. But watching Jeff Bridges play "The Dude" is priceless, as is John Goodman's character, "Walter Sobchak." I don't know exactly what it is about this movie, but I love it.

8. "Mulan"

I have many animated faves, but this one tops the list. Mulan is a strong, smart woman who defies society's (and her family's) dictates to do what she knows is right. Add in another serious, by-the-book dude ("Chang") and you've got me hooked. It also has a lot of great music and funny dialogue.

9. "The Godfather II"

This doesn't really need explaining, does it? Amazing film and I get sucked in every time.

10. "My Big Fat Greek Wedding"

I love everything about this movie: the actors, the dialogue, and the overall theme. Even though they are Greek-American and I'm Italian-American, so much of it resonated with me. And just witnessing "Aunt Toula's" shenanigans is worth the price of admission. :)

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February 24

Naughty Edition Reviews / Lustful Literature / Scandalicious Book Reviews

February 25

Cu's Ebook Giveaways / Ripe For Reader / Jennifer's Taking a Break

February 26

The book Obsessed Momma / Abigail Books Addiction / Cajun Book Lover

February 27

Deal Sharing Aunt / Up all night read all day / My Book Review Blog

February 28

Mythical Books / Rockin' The Bookshelf / The Nightly Book Cravings Blog