A Kindled Winter Book Review

Title:  A Kindled Winter
Author:  Rachel L. Demeter
Publisher:  Black Lyon Publishing
Release Date:  Nov. 1, 2015
Available free on Kindle Unlimited Amazon

My Rating:  4 Soul Touching ♥'s

First Thoughts:  Sometimes, when all hope is lost, fate steps in.  If you're willing to open your heart and take a chance, the light can shine again.

*Many thanks to the author for a copy of this book for review.

Synopsis:

“Christmas, my child, is love in action. Every time we love, every time we give, it’s Christmas.” — Dale Evans

A week before Christmas, Jeseca Reed sets off for Blue River, Oregon—her childhood home and a vault of tender memories. However, fate takes an unexpected turn when she’s left stranded in the mountains’ vast, untamed wilderness. Desperate and alone, she seeks shelter at a cottage and finds herself in the arms of a mysterious stranger.

Dr. David Drake was once a renowned cardiovascular surgeon. But a devastating tragedy has left him scarred both inside and out, unable to use his hands to operate again. For the past five years, his Blue River cottage has been his sole escape—a safe haven where he can shut out the world, bury himself in his grief, and reunite with his son’s memory.

Together they are summer and winter. Fire and ice. And yet a poignant connection forms between them. Jeseca awakens David and thaws his heart with a romance hot enough to melt snow. But before David and Jeseca can fully embrace each other, they must wade through darkness and confront the ghosts of their pasts …

Equal parts steamy and heartfelt, A Kindled Winter brings the spirit of the holidays to life with a passionate story of second chances and healing love.

My Review:

I wasn't sure what to expect when I was asked to read and review this book by the author, but I loved the cover at first sight and the synopsis enticed me so I said Yes.  I'm glad I did.  My Kindled Winter is a heart-touching story that really embodies the holiday spirit as two lost souls meet and dare to reach out to one another.  Jeseca Reed and Dr. David Drake both bear the crushing weight of past tragedies in their lives.  When Jeseca crashes her car near David's house during a torrential rainstorm and collapses on his porch, their worlds collide.

 David wears his grief and guilt like armor as he hides, locked away from the world in his house in the mountains.  For the first time in years, his safe world is invaded by a woman that stirs his emotions, both sexually and emotionally.  While he fights to keep his distance, Jeseca's beautiful spirit invades his body, heart, and soul.  But he doesn't believe he deserves her, doesn't believe he has the right to happiness so he hides behind his scars, both inside and out.

Jeseca is traveling to her mother's, her childhood home, for the holidays when she crashes her car and stumbles upon David's house.  She wasn't expecting to be drawn to this stranger, wasn't expecting to feel a soulful connection to him but she does.  She recognizes his pain, his loss, because she knows what it feels like.  But how does she get him to open his heart?

As the days before Christmas wind down, two lost souls connect, fate steps in, and love is kindled from a spark into a flame.  A Kindled Winter is a beautiful story of what can happen if you're willing to open your heart and let the love and light shine in, if you're willing to take a second chance at happiness, if you're willing to forgive yourself.  Perfect story for the holidays!  A Must Read!

My Rating:  4 Soul-Touching ♥'s . . . And that's the truth!

Cross My Heart . . . xxx

Sandra

Brazen Release Day Blitz!!

Looking for some naughty reads that are oh-so-nice? Welcome the newest Brazen releases to your ereader today!

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Crashed Out by Tessa Bailey

Jasmine Taveras is the reason Sarge Purcell grabbed his six-string and bailed the hell out of New Jersey four years ago. She's the fuel for every song he's ever written—each one laced with bitter, hard-edged, hungry lust. Now, with his hugely successful band on temporary hiatus, Sarge is determined to prove to Jasmine that this “kid” turned into every inch the man she's always needed...

Men are slim pickings for a single factory girl in Hook, New Jersey…until tall, broad-shouldered hotness walks—or rather storms—into Jasmine's life. Sarge's return shouldn't affect her this way. He's her best friend's much younger kid brother, and the kind of rough, gritty, sexiness Jasmine has no right to taste for herself. Even if he lets her.

But lust is a blinding, insatiable force. And when it crashes, it will take both Sarge and Jasmine down with it...     

My Review of Crashed Out

Find your copy of Crashed Out by Tessa Bailey: Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Kobo | Entangled | Goodreads

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His to Take by Katee Robert

Erin Robinson is having an epically bad year. Her blossoming career on Broadway tanked, forcing her to crawl back to home to Wellington. The icing on her failure cake? Her former on-again, off-again fling is in town, and the sexy Marine is taking up way too much space.

Warren Davis always knew Erin was special, which is exactly why he can’t have her. A girl like her deserves something permanent—something neither of them wants. But now that they’re both back in town and she’s right there in front of him, a challenge in her eyes he’s never been able to resist, he’s questioning everything.

That challenge quickly escalates into an epic game of Truth or Dare. Erin’s sure she’s got him on lock, but as the night progresses, Warren’s dares intensify, drowning her in lust. But with the past still breathing down their necks, there’s no way either of them can win…

Find your copy of His to Take by Katee Robert: Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Kobo | Entangled | Goodreads

My Review of His To Take

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Say You're Mine by Diane Alberts

Navy SEAL Steven Thomas has only ever been able to count on three things: waking up in the morning, going to sleep sometime during the night, and Lauren Brixton. She’s been his best friend since grade school, and what they have is the only relationship he’s managed not to ruin.

Until one drunken night puts that all in jeopardy.

Lauren’s watched Steven flit from one-night stand to one-night stand, seemingly not interested in something more. So when the long-ignored attraction between the two of them blows up in their faces, she does the only thing she can—she pretends she doesn’t want him. But all’s fair in love and war, and Steven’s not about to lose the only person in his life who matters…
Find your copy of Say You're Mine by Diane Alberts: Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Kobo | Entangled | Goodreads

Unseen Book Review

Title:  Unseen
Series:  Will Trent #7
Author:  Karin Slaughter
Publisher:  Delacorte Press
Release Date:  May 29, 2013
My Rating:  5 Intensely Riveting ♥'s

First Thoughts:  They say the truth will set you free.  But sometimes, there's nothing more dangerous than the truth.  What happens when you're forced to face your own dark truths?

Synopsis:

Karin Slaughter’s novels featuring detective Will Trent are utterly riveting and masterfully drawn. Her latest thriller, Unseen, pits detectives, lovers, and enemies against one another in an unforgettable standoff between righteous courage and deepest evil.

Will Trent is a Georgia Bureau of Investigation agent whose latest case has him posing as Bill Black, a scary ex-con who rides a motorcycle around Macon, Georgia, and trails an air of violence wherever he goes. The cover has worked and he has caught the eye of a wiry little drug dealer who thinks he might be a useful ally. But undercover and cut off from the support of the woman he loves, Sara Linton, Will finds his demons catching up with him.

Although she has no idea where Will has gone, or why, Sara herself has come to Macon because of a cop shooting: Her stepson, Jared, has been gunned down in his own home. Sara holds Lena, Jared’s wife, responsible: Lena, a detective, has been a magnet for trouble all her life, and Jared’s shooting is not the first time someone Sara loved got caught in the crossfire. Furious, Sara finds herself involved in the same case that Will is working without even knowing it, and soon danger is swirling around both of them.

In a novel of fierce intensity, shifting allegiances, and shocking twists, two investigations collide with a conspiracy straddling both sides of the law. Karin Slaughter’s latest is both an electrifying thriller and a piercing study of human nature: what happens when good people face the unseen evils in their lives.

My Review:

As usual, Slaughter wastes no time diving right into the deep end - and dragging me with her! The chaos begins right away in Chapter one - my heart is already breaking, racing out of my chest. Stepping inside one of these books is like stepping on to the train tracks, with the train racing straight at you. It's insanely intense, graphic, and yet totally mesmerizing, hypnotic. Even with the train running you down, you can not look away or get out of the way.

Since the synopsis gives a great overview of the story, I'll just share a few of my thoughts. Will, Sara, Faith, Amanda, Lena, as well as some other familiar and also new characters are all caught up in a Perfect Storm - the kind that surrounds you on all sides and pounds you over & over, on and on, leaving devastation and destruction in its wake. All hell breaks loose. Lives are irrevocably changed, family members are buried and still no one can figure out who's running the show. There's so many layers to this story - just when you think you might have a handle on it, something changes and another piece of the puzzle drops into place.

Unseen is shocking & intense, as revelations explode, one after the other. There are some strange moments of kindness between some odd bedfellows, and there are moments of unforgivable betrayals and unbelievable cruelty delved out at the hands of a monster. Who is Mr. Whitey? What kind of cruel game is he playing? Who brought this horrible devastation down on them? Who will survive it?!

In my opinion, some of the best, life altering scenes of the series occur in Unseen: Lena & Sara - OMG! It's been a long time coming! Will & Sara - Wow...left me speechless & hurt my heart while other times made me smile - nothing comes easy for this couple! Lena & Jared - heartbreaking, what in the world happened? Before I finished this story, a few characters really stepped up to surprise me - a few hatchets are buried, a little forgiveness is offered, and some declarations of love are made.

The only thing I could find wrong with this book is that now I have to wait for the next release in the series. Unseen goes on my Favorites shelf. A Page Burner. A Must Read. This series ranks in my top 5 series of all time. It touches me in so many different ways.

My Rating:  5 Intensely Riveting ♥'s . . . And that's the truth!

Cross My Heart . . . xxx

Sandra

His To Take Book Review

Title:  His To Take
Series:  Out Of Uniform #3.5
Author:  Katee Robert
Publisher:  Entangled Publishing
Release Date:  Dec. 7, 2015
My Rating:  3.5 Sizzlin' ♥'s

My First Thoughts:  Sometimes, our perfect life plans work out and sometimes, they don't.  Sometimes, fate has other ideas.  Sometimes, life hands us lemons.  It's our choice what we do with them.


Synopsis:

Truth or dare...

Erin Robinson is having an epically bad year. Her blossoming career on Broadway tanked, forcing her to crawl back to home to Wellington. The icing on her failure cake? Her former on-again, off-again fling is in town, and the sexy Marine is taking up way too much space.

Warren Davis always knew Erin was special, which is exactly why he can't have her. A girl like her deserves something permanent--something neither of them wants. But now that they're both back in town and she's right there in front of him, a challenge in her eyes he's never been able to resist, he's questioning everything.

That challenge quickly escalates into an epic game of Truth or Dare. Erin's sure she's got him on lock, but as the night progresses, Warren's dares intensify, drowning her in lust. But with the past still breathing down their necks, there's no way either of them can win…

My Review:

The snow is falling  and Christmas bells are ringing as Erin finds herself back in the small town where she grew up.  It's not just a brief visit this time as she's out of luck and out of a job.  Her lifelong dream of making it big on Broadway came crashing down when she was fired from what was to be a starring role.  She's back in town to lick her wounds, recoup, and decide what to do next.  Warren Davis is also back in town - for good this time.  The ex-marine's injuries will keep him from going back to Afghanistan.  He has some decisions of his own to make, and he's decided to make Erin part of his permanent future.  Now all he has to do is convince her that it's what she wants too.

Crashed Out takes place mostly over one evening & day as Erin and Warren reconnect.  They've been friends with benefits for several years, meeting up when they both happen to be in town and then going their own separate ways.  Warren is ready for more - he knows he has one shot at convincing Erin that they are right for each other, that they should take a chance at a permanent relationship.  And so, he proposes a game of Truth or Dare that Erin can't refuse.  As they spend the night sparring back and forth, traveling around the snowy town, playing out their game, the sparks fly.  Who will win this game of Truth or Dare?  At what cost?

Crashed Out is a short read but it's jam-packed with great scenes - intense, hot, erotic, sweet, funny . . . it's got it all.  I couldn't help but get swept up in Warren's game to win Erin's heart.  The longer they played, the hotter it got as he knew exactly what buttons to push. Before their game ended, they both learned that sometimes, life hands you lemons.  It's your choice what you do with them.  Sometimes, you just have to play the hand fate deals you.  If you trust enough, love enough, and are willing to take a chance, you just might find what you're looking for.  A Must Read!

My Rating:  3.5 Sizzlin' ♥'s . . . And that's the truth!

Cross My Heart . . . xxx

Sandra

Crashed Out Book Review

Title:  Crashed Out
Series:  Made In Jersey #1
Author:  Tessa Bailey
Publisher:  Entangled Publishing
Release Date:  December 7, 2015
Heat-O-Meter:  Scorching Hot - 10!
My Rating:  5 Flaming ♥'s

First Thoughts:  When it comes to love, you have a choice to either play or fold, take a chance or live with regrets.  If you desire it enough to take a chance, if you're willing to lay it all on the line and go for broke, if you care more about the other person than you do what others think, you have a shot at true happiness, real love.  

*Many thanks to Entangled Publishing for this ARC via Netgally.

Synopsis:

His inspiration. His torment. And his temptation...

Jasmine Taveras is the reason Sarge Purcell grabbed his six-string and bailed the hell out of New Jersey four years ago. She's the fuel for every song he's ever written-each one laced with bitter, hard-edged, hungry lust. Now, with his hugely successful band on temporary hiatus, Sarge is determined to prove to Jasmine that this "kid" turned into every inch the man she's always needed...

Men are slim pickings for a single factory girl in Hook, New Jersey...until tall, broad-shouldered hotness walks-or rather storms-into Jasmine's life. Sarge's return shouldn't affect her this way. He's her best friend's much younger kid brother, and the kind of rough, gritty, sexiness Jasmine has no right to taste for herself. Even if he lets her.

But lust is a blinding, insatiable force. And when it crashes, it will take both Sarge and Jasmine down with it...

My Review:

Holy Moly!!  This is one erotic, flaming hot read!  The pages of this book almost literally burst into flames as Sarge and Jasmine dance around each other, and I love that some of that hotness occurs before they ever have sex.  The air surrounding them is electrically charged every time they're in the same room as desire and lust rolls off their bodies in waves.  Tessa Bailey has certainly mastered the art of writing seduction.  I challenge anyone to read this and say they don't need a cold shower - or their very own Sarge!  I simply fell in love with this couple and their journey.

The hottest thing I've read/seen this year is Sarge Purcell laying it all on the line - going after the girl of his dreams, the girl that once "babysat" him, the girl he has fantasized and written songs about since he was fourteen years old.  News Flash:  Sarge isn't fourteen anymore.  He's a very sexy, very hungry, very lustful twenty-three year old sex-on-a-stick rock god!  His mission is to convince Jasmine, the "older" woman (soon to turn 30) that he's been in love with most of his life, to accept him as an equal, as her man, not the younger brother of her best friend.  Sarge knows it's going to be an uphill battle, but this dirty talking, rough around the edges, walking, talking, sex dream knows he's the man for the job. He just has to make Jasmine believe it.  His plan is to tear down her fences one by one, peel away her layers of defense, and strip her of her inhibitions.  Sarge plans to introduce Jasmine to the man he is now and show her just how good he can make her feel, how much she needs him.  He doesn't plan to leave town without owning her.

Jasmine's life sucks . . . she's stuck working on an assembly line in a factory in the small Jersey town where she grew up.  Her dreams of writing songs and singing professionally have been dashed by rejection after rejection.  She's resigned to her life, if not satisfied by it, and has given up on daring to dream for more.  But fate isn't finished with her yet. Jasmine Taveras is shocked when she sees her best friend's little brother all grown up and looking too hot to handle after he steps in to rescue her from her drunk date one night in a bar. Shock quickly turns to pure, unadulterated sexual desire . . . this isn't the boy she remembers. Standing before her is a sinfully sexy, wicked temptation that she has to keep reminding herself over and over is not for her.  But when Sarge ends up staying at her place and presses her to step up and play, she's sorely tempted.  Somehow, she knows if she does, she won't be able to walk away from him unscathed.  Does she dare take a chance?  

Crashed Out is the steamiest romance I've read this year, and I read a lot of romance!  It's intense, erotic, seductive  - a true romance that tugged at my heartstrings as these two characters dance back & forth, around & round, desiring each other more than their next breath.  I loved the plot line as it's unique and well-written - not your typical rock star story, and I loved getting inside both character's heads - discovering just how deeply each felt, wanted, needed.  The pages are filled with so much desire, lust, angst, but also with hope, truth, love - a reminder that we all have a choice - either play or fold, take a chance or live with regrets.  Sarge & Jasmine's story is a Page Burner, a Must Read!  Great first book in this new series!

My Rating:  5 Flaming ♥'s . . . And that's the truth!

Cross My Heart . . . xxx

Sandra

IWSG: Exercising the Mind, Body, Soul . . . & Writing Muscle!

Once again, it's the first Wednesday of the month and time for our Insecure Writer's Support Group postings.  I'm excited to be a co-host in December and am looking forward to visiting with many of you.  



The Insecure Writer's Support Group is a community of writers who love to share ideas and encourage others.  It's a great place to express doubts and concerns as well as offer and receive tribulations and guidance from other writers. IWSG posts the first Wednesday of every month.  I think you'll find it to be a great writer's resource that's well worth your time.  Be sure to stop by and visit with some of the other IWSG writers/bloggers at IWSG Members.

Please thank your other awesome co-hosts for the December 2 posting of the IWSG! 
Mark Koopmans, Doreen McGettigan, Megan Morgan, and Melodie Campbell! 

Exercise Those Muscles!

As we reach the end of another year and start looking ahead to the next, our thoughts often turn to those pesky Resolutions - things like lose weight, get organized, finish that book, exercise more!  While these will all certainly be on my goal list for 2016, the one that has consumed my thoughts the most lately is Exercise.  

The benefits of exercise to the body and mind are well documented - lower blood pressure & blood sugar levels, lower stress, greater fitness level, a feeling of well-being, and so on & on.  I strive to get my 10k steps daily (note I said strive), wearing my trusty FitBit for documentation and motivation.  I find that getting in a good, brisk walk not only helps me maintain a level of body fitness, but more importantly, it helps clear my mind and aids me in releasing stress.  It also frees my mind to wander and collect new book ideas.  I have a notebook filled with possibilities that I garnished from daily walks.  Having said that, the type of exercise I want to talk about today involves the writing muscle.  

One thing I continue to struggle with is the habit of daily writing.  I recently read a quote by Jane Yolen that set off bells in my head as it rings so true.

The Art of Writing is another thing that greatly benefits from daily exercise.  Just like exercising the body muscles, the act of writing needs to become a daily habit - practice makes perfect and all that jazz.  It's true.  As Jane Yolen said:  Writers are like dancers, like athletes.  Without that exercise, the muscles seize up!  The more you write, the better you become, the easier the words flow, the more productive you will be as a writer.  

Exercise those writing muscles!  Make sure you're writing something every day, even if it's just notes, character sketches, plot points, etc.  You'll keep that old writing muscle loose, warmed up, and ready to go each time you sit down to work on your story.  Definitely a goal for me in 2016!  How about you?  Do you exercise your muscles, both body & writing, daily?  How do you keep your writing muscles warmed up?