Review & Giveaway: Turning Up the Heat Blog Tour

Title: Too Wicked To Wed

Series: Lords of Midnight #1

Author: Cara Elliott | Website

Available: Now

Genre: Historical Romance

Reading Level: Adult

Description via Goodreads:

Outspoken and independent, Lady Alexa Bingham enjoys the heady freedom of making all her own decisions, even though the challenges of overseeing her family's country estate are daunting. But when a chance encounter with London's most notorious rake awakens a secret longing for adventure, she accepts her aunt's invitation for a Season in Town . . . only to find that breaking the rules of the ton has serious consequences.

The Earl of Killingworth uses his rakehell reputation to hide the fact that poverty has forced him to work for a living. As the owner of a gambling den and brothel, Connor has no time for glittering ballrooms or innocent young ladies. But after a reckless wager leaves him with a new business partner, he is forced to take a risky gamble . . . Will the cards fall in their favor? Alexa and Connor begin to play a dangerous game of intrigue and deception as they seek to outwit a cunning adversary who wants to put them permanently out of business. But if they are not careful, it is the flames of their own fiery attraction that may destroy them.

My thoughts:

Loved it! Too Wicked to Wed starts Cara Elliott's new series off amazingly. Main characters Connor and Alexa meet in a brothel where they engage in a steamy kiss up against a very erotic painting. With the story starting out on such an intense note I was worried the author would be hard pressed to continue the momentum. I had no reason to worry. They had a chemistry that was palpable from page one, and it just kept getting better and better. I couldn't get enough of them together. Alexa was so sassy and brave. She is exactly the type of character I hope to encounter when picking up a historical romance novel. Connor was also unbelievably sexy. Wow, wow, wow! He had me swooning. It was easy to see why Alexa became so easily smitten with the man aptly nicknamed "The Irish Wolfhound".

Too Wicked to Wed also offers a healthy dose of suspense. Someone is out to get Connor, and Alexa is eager to help him solve the mystery much to his dismay. I was flipping through the pages of Too Wicked to Wed at a rapid pace eager to discover the "bad guys" as well as to witness more steamy (and a few heartwarming) moments between Alexa and Connor. 

We also meet Connor's closest friends, Cameron and Gryff. I think it is safe to assume we will get to know them better as this series continues. I for one can't wait! This was a superb start to a brand new series. Cara Elliott did a great job of creating an engaging story that will leave readers pining for more.

My Rating:

Title: Deliciously Sinful

Author: Lilli Feisty | Website

Available: 11/22/2011

Genre: Romance

Reading Level: Adult

Description via Goodreads:

Things are cooking in the kitchen...and the bedroom.

Restaurant owner Phoebe Mayle thought she had it all under control. Sure, her new chef has a bad-boy reputation - and a chiseled body to match - but she's positive she can whip him into shape.

But from the moment Nick Avalon roars into town in his Hummer, he makes her whole world sizzle. Now Phoebe has lost control of her kitchen, and Nick has taken over her mind and her body. His insatiable appetite for pleasure leaves her breathless with carnal cravings only he can satisfy. Yet can their hunger for each other be a recipe for a love that lasts?

Quotable quotes:

"Out of all the women in all the world, he had to go and slather chocolate on this one."

My thoughts:

Holy hotness, Batman! Deliciously Sinful almost started a five-alarm fire in my living room. Wowzers! I've become a bit of a romance junkie since starting my blog, but erotic romance isn't something I've read much of. After experiencing Lilli Feisty's, Deliciously Sinful, I have to ask myself why that is. I totally loved this story! 

Nick is a badass chef from L.A. After getting wrapped up in a scandal, he takes a job working for Phoebe at the small-town cafe she inherited from her aunt and uncle. Nick is 100% bad boy and carrying a massive chip on his shoulder. Phoebe is a temper wielding control freak. Both main characters possess very dominant personalities. This causes them to be at each others throats from day one. Their shared anger quickly dissolves into an undeniable attraction and leads to some less than professional behavior in the storage room, on the beach, at his house. Well, you get the picture.

I fell in love with setting of Deliciously Sinful. The "hippie" community of Redbolt, California is exactly the type of place I envision myself (hopefully) living someday. The writing was also beautifully descriptive. The time and detail dedicated to exploring tastes, textures, and smells had my mouth watering. I love food centric books. Food played a huge (at times unorthodox) role in Deliciously Sinful. There were several scenes involving food and kitchen tools in ways I don't think my mind would be capable of conjuring on its own. I'm blushing just thinking about it ;) This book is seriously HOT no question, but it is also paired with perfectly developed characters who evolve and change so much over the course of the novel. Deliciously Sinful is much more than just sexy time (no worries there is plenty of that as well). Utterly fabulous! I do wish the ending had been stretched out a bit more. The tension and emotion that built up while reading was so strong and intense that the ending left we wanting just a little more. I'm a sucker for a drawn out dramatic ending. What can I say :)

The author also took the time to introduce several secondary characters including Phoebe's niece and brother-in-law who I'm eager to learn more about. I truly hope she considers revisiting the town of Redbolt in forthcoming novels. Regardless of where she takes reader next, I will definitely be picking up more of Lilli Feisty's books in the future.

My Rating:

Giveaway:

I have 3 sets of Too Wicked to Wed & Deliciously Sinful up for grabs.

Open to residents of the U.S & Canada

No P.O Boxes please

Ends 11/22

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Review: The Language of Souls by Lena Goldfinch

Title: The Language of Souls
Author: Lena Goldfinch
Available: Now
Reading Level: Adult












Description from Goodreads:


Solena, a young healer with a generous heart, is desperate to heal her dying grandfather. When she ventures into a hostile territory to find a rare herb, she finds out just how much she’s risked when she’s captured by the enemy and accused of being a spy. 

As a soldier, Rundan has struggled all his life to please his father, a ruthless army commander, but when he’s ordered to take the beautiful trespasser to the royal courts, where she’ll be summarily tried and executed, he’s plagued by the most inconvenient desire to protect her at all costs. 

Though terrified and anxious to escape, Solena is confused by the handsome young soldier who cruelly captures her and then displays uncommon kindness. When he risks his own life to save her, she discovers she may have risked more than her life… she may have lost her heart.


My thoughts:


The Language of Souls is an enchanting little novella. I was immediately drawn in by the fascinating world in which Solena lives. As Solena sets out on her quest to find the herbs needed to save her grandfather, I was continually impressed with her courage and kindness. She is an amazing character that I couldn’t help but love and admire. When Rundan came into the picture I was extremely pleased with the direction the author took the plot. I feel like the entire story played out perfectly. The ending was everything I could have hoped for and more. This is a world I can see myself wanting to visit again.


I enjoy reading short stories, but sometimes find I feel dissatisfied when I reach the end. Almost as if the story was incomplete. This was most definitely not the case with The Language of Souls. The author did a beautiful job of packing what felt like a full length novel into a short, but sweet package. This reader was left completely sated. The writing flowed so smoothly, and gave me enough detail and growth to become completely immersed in Solena and Rundan’s world.I finished reading many weeks ago, but thinking of The Language of Souls still causes a pleasant nostalgic feeling. 


A truly stunning novella that I highly recommend to readers who enjoy romance laced with elements of fantasy, or anyone longing for a good old fashioned HEA. While I feel The Language of Souls falls into the adult fiction category, it can easily appeal to teens who enjoy fantasy with a side of sigh worthy romance. At just under 80 pages this is a story that can be easily devoured in an afternoon. 

My Rating:

Lena Goldfinch on the web:

Website | Facebook | Goodreads

Buy from Amazon:

Source: Author

Review & Giveaway: Montana Glory by R.C Ryan

Title: Montana Glory
Series: Montana Trilogy #3
Author: R.C Ryan
Available: Now
Reading Level: Adult 


4 out of 5 Stars












Description from Goodreads:


The last thing in the world Zane McCord wants is a wife. But after returning home to the family ranch in Montana to help his cousins search for the lost treasure that is their legacy, Zane can't help notice that love and marriage seem to be contagious. Both his cousins have succumbed, but he refuses. Determined to stay a bachelor till he dies, Zane wants to devote his time to filming documentaries and taking care of the ranch...and then Riley Mason walks into his life.

The last thing on Riley Mason's mind is romance. Sent to the McCord ranch to save the family's accounting problems, she only wants to impress her firm in Helena and be on her way. Life as a single mother isn't easy and she needs to impress her bosses for a raise. But when Zane McCord opens the door, her breath catches in her throat and a desire she's never experienced before takes over her. When the McCords insist that she and her daughter, Summer stay at the ranch, she's forced to give in and before long, she's pulled into their search for the long lost treasure. But she absolutely draws the line at getting involved with Zane McCord, playboy and heartbreaker extraordinaire. 

But as they all get closer to finding Coot's lost treasure, a dangerous series of accidents target Riley and her daughter Summer. Can Zane keep her safe while trying to win her heart?


My thoughts:


Riley Mason is running from her past. When the opportunity to work at a ranch in middle of nowhere Montana becomes available, Riley is convinced it will be the best thing for her and her daughter. It will also make a great place to hide. She never expected to be tempted by the likes of a sexy cowboy named Zane. Zane is planning to live the life of bachelor for as long as possible. After witnessing the dramatic demise of his own parent’s marriage, Zane has no desire to get hitched. Then he meets Riley and her adorable little girl, and they both start slowly winning his heart. Will he be able to break through the emotional walls Riley hides behind?


What a sweet story with a breathtaking setting! I’ve always wanted to visit Montana. The author made you feel like you were actually witnessing life on a working ranch. This is the final book in a trilogy about the McCord cousins, and their search for the lost family treasure. I haven’t read the first two books, but had no problems catching up with what was happening. The characters were charming, and I enjoyed the quirky locals. The mystery added a nice edge to the plot. The sexual tension between Riley and Zane was intense. Major chemistry alert! Zane’s softness when it came to Riley’s daughter had me swooning. There is nothing sweeter than tender moments between a big hunky guy and a child. 


The story also explores the relationship between Cal Randall and Cora McCord. After loving her from afar for most of his life, Cal is still afraid to confess his true feelings. I really liked Cal. He is a no nonsense kind of guy, and total opposite of the artistic free spirit know as Aunt Cora. Kudos to the author for giving readers two love stories in one unputdownable book!


Just an all around great read that leaves you feeling good. Check this one out if you have a thing for sexy cowboys or want a romance story that will leave you smiling.


Cover thoughts: I am completely smitten with the cowboy on the cover. Reminds me of Milo Ventimiglia who I find absolutely delicious. 

R.C Ryan on the web:

Website | Facebook

Fun extras:

Five Fun Facts | Author Info

I also have 5 copies of Montana Glory up for grabs. 

Rules:

*Book will ship directly from the publisher

*Open to residents of the U.S & Canada

*No P.O Boxes please

*Winners will be subject to the one copy per household rule, which means that if they win the same title in two or more contests, they will receive only one copy of the title (or one set in the case of grouped giveaways) in the mail. 

*Please fill out this form to enter

*Comments will not count as entries, but are always appreciated :)
*Ends 11/30 @ 11:59 PM CST

Source: Received from publisher in exchange for participation in the Montana Glory Blog Tour