Review by Lexi for Ardor by Elena M Reyes

Summary.
Gregory Thomas has always had an easy life. When it came to his profession, he excelled, gaining himself the position of manager to one of the nation’s biggest wholesale retailers. He was amazing at everything; except when it came to love. The night he found his ex-wife in bed with her gay best friend was the night he decided it wasn’t worth it. He was better off just focusing on his career, and nothing more.
He became content with just being. That is, until Jasmine Velez, his new employee, walked into his store.
Blunt, and honest to a fault, the woman captivates him against his will. Not only is she gorgeous, but she’s the first woman that doesn’t chase him around. Something that makes ignoring her that much harder. The last thing he wants to do is try to have a relationship with a woman again, and he knows that if he allows Jasmine in, that’s exactly what he’s going to go for.
Except, then he’s faced with the possibility of Jasmine being with someone else, and the choice is taken from him. He’s left with only one option: He needs to make her his. But that might prove harder than he originally expected.
How the hell does a man seduce a feisty woman who’s gotten tired of waiting for him and is hell bent on not giving into him?

Lexi's review.

In "Ardor" by Elena M Reyes we are presented the story of Gregory Thomas and Jasmine Velez.
Everything changed for Mr. Thomas when Jasmine entered his life as his new cashier at the store he managed.

His anterior experience with women left him no choice but to guard his heart from any other woman, that is until he met Jasmine. And this is when the excitement between the two of them begins.

The premise of the story and the main idea of it are great. I love the way Gregory's thoughts are narrated and the passion everything is written with. But the main drawback for me -and the reason my honey pots are limited- was that at the beginning, the pace of the story was too fast for my liking. In my honest opinion the first 4 chapters were really rushed,but it evened out until the end.

Rating: 3 out of 5 honey pots

Links to purchase book.
http://www.amazon.com/Ardor-ebook/dp/B00E34KT96/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1375038411&sr=8-1&keywords=ardor
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ardor-ebook/dp/B00E34KT96/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1375039073&sr=8-1&keywords=ardor

Review by Heather ~ Vanished by John Shephard

Vanished by John Shepard

In this story we follow Papria as she takes her test, or physical trial, but it takes an unexpected and horrific turn.  Her life changes in ways that she wasn’t expecting and she finds herself at a different destination than where she planned at the start of her day.  She quickly finds herself back on her original path under different circumstances.  On her journey to Earth, she begins to heal but it isn’t until they reach the journey’s end that Papria truly finds herself and others that she never expected.  

“. . . pain couldn’t heal until it was let free.”

“That time will heal all? Yes, in the sense that the wound heals but a scar always remains. Scars, too, fade with time, but they are never truly gone.”

“You’ll never win in a fistfight. You’re too dainty. It’s about using leverage and their weight against them. Fight smart and win. Fight angry or panicked, and you’ll lose.”

“Rule one: everyone is an enemy until they save your life.”

“If you spend your whole life believing everyone will turn on you, you’ll make it happen.”

Will these inner monologues and life lessons help make her or break her?  You’ll have to follow along with Papria and those she meets to discover how strength can sometimes help and hinder one’s journey all at the same time.

Summary:

Papria’s father used to tell her stories. Stories of a planet; a haven, a wondrous place filled with intelligent life. His passion became her obsession. When he died she swore she’d become the woman he wanted her to be.

Even he didn’t know how far her kind would go to stop a woman from succeeding. She’s humiliated, publicly shamed, and hurt, but wins the trials. Yet she’s still denied her right to leave the planet.

Papria’s not a quitter. She’s getting off-world no matter what the cost; including sparking a revolution.

About the author:

John's earliest memories are of curling up on the chaise in his father's study with books. Though he didn't seriously take up writing until his late twenties, he's poured his heart and soul into learning and has a love of strong-willed women leads, tempestuous characters, and anti-heroes.

He lives in Washington, loves to swim in the Sound, and can be found writing more often than not. Because reading was such an important part of his childhood, he's decided to donate 50% of all profit on his books to Kourageous Kids Storybooks; an organization dedicated to writing books for terminally ill children featuring them as the hero.

Available at:

http://www.amazon.com/Vanished-ebook/dp/B00DTAWQT6/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1374497876&sr=1-1

Rating:     4 out of 5 Honey Pots

Cover Reveal ~ LANDSLIDE by NJ COLE

Title: Landslide

Author: NJ Cole

Release Date: August 4, 2013

Cover Designer: T.m. Franklin

Blurb:

Senator Maxwell Joseph has it all—money, power, and good looks—the trifecta when it comes to attracting the ladies. He even has women willing to be tied up, spanked, and completely at his mercy, all while calling him Daddy, fulfilling his secret fantasy. On the night of his thirty-fifth birthday, Max finds a goddess waiting for him in his hotel room. She is beautiful, sexy, and very willing, yet the fruit she offers is very forbidden. Not only is she barely legal at nineteen, but she also happens to be the daughter of his best friend and political advisor.

Mackenzie Wade has had a crush on the senator for years. When an overheard phone call affords her the opportunity she needs to make her fantasies a reality, Kenzie jumps at the chance, offering herself as a birthday gift.

Throwing caution to the wind, Max gives in to temptation and gives them both what they have been yearning for—a night filled with ropes, floggers, and toe-curling sex. Although satiated, one night of passion isn’t enough for either of them, and they begin a clandestine affair.  

For Maxwell, the solid ground on which he’s built his career starts to shift as his hopes and dreams for the future begin to change. In what can only be described as a landslide, Max holds on tight to the only thing that he can—Kenzie. He goes on the ride of his life, knowing all along that in the end, he may have to make a gut-wrenching decision between the woman of his dreams and a path to the White House.

About the Author:

NJ Cole is a witty, mid-western girl with a kinky side. She works by day and writes by night, all while being a mother to her wonderful boys and serving her Sir. Unlike many of today’s authors, she chooses to write in first person, allowing the readers to experience life through the eyes of the unique characters that live in her head. Her love of those characters and respect for their stories come through loud and clear in her writing. With over two million reads of her online work in the past six months, NJ Cole is clearly an up and coming author.

Links:

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7077804.N_J_Cole

www.njcoledls.blogspot.com

on facebook https://www.facebook.com/njcoleauthor

Excerpt from Landslide:

Opening the door to the suite, I found a beautiful creature in my bed with the hottest body I’d ever seen. She was wearing white thigh highs, a short plaid skirt, and a white top. It was a classic school girl outfit and I loved it. Everything about her was perfect, but everything about her was wrong.

“Mackenzie! What the hell are you doing?”

“I’m giving you your birthday present, Senator Joseph.”

The way she said my name made my dick rock hard again.

“Mackenzie, this is completely inappropriate.”

“Who gives a fuck if it’s appropriate or not,” she said, rubbing her thighs together. “And I know you want me. I saw how you were looking at me earlier. I even know what you’re into.”

My stomach dropped. Could she mean she knew about my sexual preferences? “What are you talking about?”

“Oh, I know. I overheard my father talking once.” She got off the bed and walked over to me, her eyes never leaving mine as she crossed the room. She grabbed hold of my tie and began running her fingers over it. “I know exactly what you are into, Senator Joseph.”

“Mackenzie, you’re what…sixteen years old?” I questioned, grabbing her wrist and removing her hand from my tie.

“Sixteen? You sent me a graduation present last year,” she laughed. “I’m nineteen. My birthday was just last week.”

She was legal. I’m sure she said more, but all I heard was that she was nineteen. I had also caught something else she said a moment ago. She’d mentioned that she knew what I was “into,” and I needed to know what she meant.

“What is it you think I’m into?” I asked with more authority than I felt at that moment.

“You like to tie up little girls and fuck them. Isn’t that right, Senator?”

Her words made my dick twitch. The summary wasn’t exactly accurate; I didn’t like actual little girls, just women in their early twenties who were willing to dress up for my fantasies. What I gathered from her statement, though, was that she wasn’t repulsed; she sounded excited at the thought.

There were a million reasons I shouldn’t do this. She was barely legal. She was the daughter of my top advisor…and best friend. I wasn’t prepared. We didn’t have any sort of contract. I had no clue what her limits were. It just seemed wrong, yet all of that flew out the window when she looked up at me and licked her lips.

“Don’t you wanna tie me up and fuck me, Senator Joseph?”

Consequences be damned. I wasn’t thinking with my head, I was thinking with my dick. And my dick wanted her. “On your knees, little girl,” I commanded harshly.

She dropped to the floor instantly; when she did, I walked around her and pulled her hands behind her back. “So you want to be tied up? To offer yourself to me? To please me?”

“Yes,” she panted.

“Yes, what?” I asked, removing my tie.

“Yes, Sir,” she moaned.

“Yes, Daddy,” I corrected.

“Yes, Daddy.”

Spotlight author interview with Drew Avera by Bee.

July's Spotlight author interview we welcome Drew Avera

Welcome to 'The Hive' Drew!

1. Where are you from? 

I'm from Meridian, MS, but I joined the Navy when I was 17. I now live in Virginia with my wife and kids.

2. How long have you been writing? 

I've been writing for just over a year, but I did take some creative writing classes in high school.

3. What book(s) have you published so far?  

I published the first book in the Dead Planet series, Dead Planet: Exodus, in March 2013. I released a novella called Reich on July 1, 2013.

4. What are your current projects and can you tell us a little about them?  

I'm working on the sequel to Dead Planet: Exodus. I don't have the name for it yet, but it's going to put the main character, Serus, up against an enemy far worse than the Syndicate.

5. What inspired you to write your first book?

I was struggling to write a fantasy novel and was on the verge of giving up. I decided to start writing short stories in the meantime and I discovered NaNoWriMo. I knew that I had to start from scratch so I quickly plotted out what became my NaNoWriMo 2012 story, Dead Planet: Exodus.

6. How long did it take you to publish it, after you started trying?

I wrote the entire first draft on my iPhone in just twenty days. I took the entire month of December off from writing to let the story sit and I began revisions and editing in January. I published it at the end of March.

7. How much of the book is realistic?

The relationship and fears are realistic, but the setting and technology are pretty out there. Mars isn't able to sustain life so I had to invent the "technology" to make that happen.

8. Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?  

The only thing that I really took from my life is my feelings in regards to a corporate run government. I think that once humanity is run like a business, then life as we know it is over. I'm not a conspiracy nut, but a lot of cool ideas can be found by asking "what if".

9. What book(s) have influenced your life the most? Why?

I can't choose just one, but when I first started writing I was reading the Dresden Files books by Jim Butcher. That was probably a big influence on using a main character's point of view as the basis for telling the whole story.

10. If you had to choose, which author/writer would you consider a mentor?  

I've come into contact with many self published authors with varying degrees of success. I guess I would put Hugh Howey at the top of the pyramid since he is really paving the way for most of us. The indie author community as a whole is one where each of us supports the other. I have yet to find an indie author who is not willing to help out in some way. It's really amazing to be a part of.

11. Who or what inspires you to keep writing?  

The fact that I can do what I want within the context of the story motivates me. I get to play god in a universe that I've made. It's a lot of work to write a book, but the end product is rewarding.

12. What do you consider to be your best accomplishment so far?

Finishing the first book.

13. If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?  

I don't know, if I had the money I would hire an editor and book cover designer, but I did the best I could with what I had and I've had some positive reviews because of it.

14. Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?  

Thank you for reading, and I would love to hear from you about your thoughts on the characters and stories themselves. If you liked Dead Planet then definitely check out Reich.

15. Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?  

Don't gauge your success on someone else's.



You can find information on Drew on these below links.


www.facebook.com/authordrewavera
www.twitter.com/DrewAvera
www.drewavera.wordpress.com

Reich is here
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DPUYLOI

Dead Planet is here
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00C1KP6SS

Review by Lexi of Indivisible Line by Lorenz Font

Summary

 Pre-med student Sarah Jones is back in Beaver, Alaska, for summer vacation. A loyal member of the Gwich’in tribe, she accepts the rules set by her father, the leader of their small town. Raised in a strict household, she learned early on to do what is expected of her and has agreed to an arranged marriage. Despite her reluctance to marry without love, Sarah is unwilling to defy her father’s wishes. She hopes to help usher in an era of independence and stability for the town, but for now, her focus is finishing med school so she can become Beaver’s resident doctor.

Business owner Greg Andrews wants to escape his philandering wife and his life in general. Leaving New York City to join a hunting expedition in Alaska, Greg’s plans are turned upside down when he is shot on Gwich’in land and ends up on Sarah’s operating table. In the absence of a qualified doctor, Sarah must operate to save his life. She refuses to wait for the consent of their tribal leader, and her father banishes her from the tribal land in punishment.

Grateful for his life, Greg concocts a scheme to help. Plagued by the side effects of her unconventional operation, he convinces Sarah to become his live-in nurse. Without the means to support herself, Sarah agrees to the questionable arrangement, but she soon finds herself in even more trouble. Her new problem is that she is falling in love with this infuriating man, and the choices she now must make are much more difficult than the simple act of saving a man’s life.

Together, Sarah and Greg must both decide whether they can overcome the vast differences between them, or if the indivisible line that separates their worlds will ultimately pull them apart.


Lexi's Review

Indivisible Line by Lorenz Font is a gripping story that narrates the hard lives of Sarah Jones and Gregory Andrews, Jr.

Sarah Jones—daughter of Ahila, Tribal Chief of the Alaskan Gwich’in Tribe—didn’t have an easy life due to numerous restrictions for herself and what her small village had to offer. Gregory Andrews, Jr. (Greg, as everyone called him) is a millionaire who likes to hunt in Alaska. Everything will take a turn for the worse when one of them gets hurt.

This story is not angst-free, but I don’t think it would work without seeing the pain this pair goes through. The plot is filled with cliffhangers and drama so intense that it grabs you and hangs on tight from the beginning to the very end.

Indivisible Line is amazingly well written in third person, giving you a glimpse into the minds of both Sarah and Greg. I highly recommend this story to angst-lovers and to whomever wants to read a beautiful and intriguing love story. In all honesty, I hope to be reading a sequel to this.

Rating: 5 out of 5 honey pots

Author Bio:

 Lorenz Font discovered her love of writing after reading a celebrated novel that inspired one idea after another. Hunted, the first book of The Gates Legacy trilogy, is her debut novel.

She enjoys dabbling in different genres with an intense focus on angst and the redemption of flawed characters. Her fascination with romantic twists is a mainstay in all her stories.

She currently lives in California with her husband, children, and two demanding dogs. Lorenz spends most of her free time writing while also working as a Business Office Manager for a skilled-rehabilitation hospital.

Indivisible Line will be available July16, 2013

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17736331-indivisible-line 

 

Review by Jem of Branded (Sinners #1) by Abi Ketner & Missy Kalicicki

Summary:

Twenty years ago the Commander came into power and murdered all who opposed him. In his warped mind, the seven deadliest sins were the downfall of our society. He created the Hole where sinners are branded according to their sins and might survive a few years. At best.
Now LUST wraps around my neck like blue fingers strangling me.   I’ve been accused of a crime I didn’t commit and now the Hole is my new home.

Darkness. Death. Violence. Pain.

Now, every day is a fight for survival. But I won’t die. I won’t let them win.
The Hole can’t keep me. The Hole can’t break me.
I am more than my brand. I’m a fighter.

My name is Lexi Hamilton, and this is my story.

Jem's review.

Wow this book was an amazing read and I loved every minute of it. I don’t usually read Dystopian but I really couldn't put this book down, I was gripped.

The story is told from Lexi’s point of view and is not for the faint of heart.  Lexi’s life has been turned upside down she has gone from living in High Society to being branded a sinner, and placed in the most horrific place in the world.  She is put in to The Hole for a crime she hasn’t committed and branded a Whore.  The Hole was created by The Commander at the end of World War V.  Under his dictatorship anyone and everyone can be branded a sinner without a trail or conviction.

The Hole isn’t a normal prison where people are locked away in cells; it is a slum or ghetto where violence and death are an everyday occurrence. Everyone is out to either to kill or rape Lexi, even the guards. Her only protection is a guard named Cole who has been given the order to keep her alive.  Through all the pain and suffering a relationship between Lexi and Cole begins to grow.  Slowly he gains her trust and love and a secret love affair develops.    

Lexi is a strong character and will fight to stay alive even in a place where all hope seems lost.  The love she has for her father and the belief that one day she may escape drives her forward.  Her relationship with Cole is forbidden in The Hole and can result in a painfully death for both of them.  They try their hardest to stay away from each other and to stay alive but the urge to be together is too strong.

The supporting characters are wonderfully written and they are what move’s this story on. Dr Sutton becomes the father she lost as a child and is a small amount of good in a mass of bad. Ayless the best friend she never had, the chapters with her are beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time, to the point where I was crying so hard I found it difficult to see the words on the pages. Then there is Zeus the most awesome dog in the whole world.

A word of warning, I found some of the subject matter very hard to read, as I said it’s not for the faint of heart.  But this story needs the pain, suffering and heartbreak to make it the amazing story it is so please give it a go I promise it will surprise you.

Rating: Five honey pots out of five. 

Author Bio:

Abi and Missy met in the summer of 1999 at college orientation and have been best friends ever since. After college, they added jobs, husbands and kids to their lives, but they still found time for their friendship. Instead of hanging out on weekends, they went to dinner once a month and reviewed books. What started out as an enjoyable hobby has now become an incredible adventure.

Links:

Website: http://www.abiandmissy.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AbiandMissy

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AbiandMissy

Cover Reveal: My Mr. Manny by Jennifer Garcia

Summary—

Mia Balducci misses her childhood days and yearns for the big, Italian family that she left behind in small town Massachusetts. At the tender age of sixteen, Mia moves with her bachelor father to Los Angeles, but no matter how many years pass, it never becomes home to her. The years spent living with her father aren’t easy, especially since she can’t stop thinking about what she once had. Her enrollment in the University of Southern California promises to bring exciting changes to her life, but Mia winds up with big problems instead. When she runs into an old friend from her old hometown of Winthrop, she gets swept up in nostalgia, and she soon loses herself in a quickly-progressing romance. When the fantasy falls apart, she is left to raise her precious little girl, Lucia, on her own. The demands of Mia’s work schedule and Lucia’s needs increase, and their lives become increasingly hectic. It is soon clear to Mia that she needs help. Luckily, her life-saving cousin saves the day and brings the mother and daughter a male nanny – their new “manny.”

After losing his high-pressure job on Wall Street, Dominic Roberts wants to follow his dreams to have a family. He’s already one fiancée down, and there are no likely prospects for another. In order to find the family he so desperately wants, he finds himself getting into the manny business. Since he is fully qualified to provide child care and is eager to leave New York City behind, his sister-in-law is able to land him a job in California working for his first client – the beautiful and intriguing Mia Balducci.

Will Lucia like the new man in her mother's life? Will Mia? And will this new trio discover the happily ever after they all so desperately seek?

        Author Bio—

Jennifer Garcia’s (aka Forbes Arnone) love of travel began when she traveled to the West Coast to visit her father at the age of three. Her home until she was sixteen was a small coastal town near Boston. She currently resides in Los Angeles with her husband, two sons, and two dogs.

Her lifelong love for reading and writing was put aside for many years while she made her way in the world and nurtured her young family. Even though she is older, and life never seems to settle, she’s finding her way while attending college full-time in pursuit of a B.A. in English Literature. She also runs a business, and is still caring for her family. Believing she can do it all, with the help of her family, she worked on her first novel during the late hours of the night while balancing the rest of her life during the day. Her hard work paid off, as her first novel, My Mr. Manny, will be published August 2013.

       Find Jennifer on:

Facebook

Goodreads--Forbes Arnone

Goodreads--Jennifer Garcia

Twitter

Blog

About.me

Authorsdb

Cover Reveal: A Divine Life by R.E. Hargrave

Summary—

Over the past year of being Jayden Masterson’s collared submissive, Catherine O’Chancey has worked through the mental terrors left behind by her old Dom — or at least she thinks she has. To celebrate their collaring anniversary, Jayden organizes a special day, during which her final fantasies will be realized and her limits tested. Will it prove to be more than she can handle? Can she endure the erotic onslaught her mind and body will experience and survive unscathed?

While Catherine faces these dark shadows and pleasurable highs, Jayden will find his own inner strength being tested, too. He has come to realize that, somewhere along the way, Catherine has taken possession of his heart, mind, and body. Now, he faces his biggest challenge ever; he must let go of all his submissives but one: his jewel, Catherine. Can he leave his philandering ways behind? Has he made the ultimate mistake by putting his jewel into the hands of others? Will his gift to Catherine wind up costing him the one thing that has ever meant something real to him?

Jayden has helped Catherine heal from past wrongs and chase away the nightmares. In return, Catherine has shown him what it means to care for someone beyond mere sexual gratification. Their strengthening bond as Master and submissive has paved the way for deeper emotions — if they can find the courage to open up to each other.

Join Catherine and Jayden for an emotion packed weekend that could forever change the future of their relationship. This could be their best chance at love, but first both Dom and sub must gain control over the one thing they can’t put in a collar: their deepest doubts and fears. For this kind of healing, the necessary treatment must be mutually given. Is it too late to erase some old scars?

Author Bio—

R.E. Hargrave is a fledgling author who has always been a lover of books and now looks forward to the chance to give something back to the literary community. She lives on the outskirts of Dallas, TX with her husband and three children.

Links:

Blog

Facebook

Goodreads

Twitter

Amazon

About.me

Libboo

Authorsdb