Brazen Bibliophile: May 2014

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

This Year's Black by Avery Flynn

A fighter since birth, Allegra “Ryder” Falcon would rather trade in her all-black wardrobe for
head-to-toe hot pink than let anyone ever see the cracks in her tough exterior. But one night with
a stranger changes everything.

Devin Harris may have given up his MMA fighting dreams for high fashion, but that doesn’t
mean he isn’t always in control. So when someone embezzles millions under his watch, he isn’t
going to let the private investigator working the case go it alone—even if she is the woman who
blew him away in bed and then blew him off.

Just when it seems like it couldn’t get any hotter between Ryder and Devin, the case takes them
to a tropical paradise where the danger increases. From the catwalk to the pineapple fields, they
have to work together to track down the missing millions before the thief finds—and kills—
them.

A little peek!

If she hadn’t run a background check on Devin, Ryder would have sworn he’d grown up, like her, in the working class neighborhoods of Waterberg, far from the ritzy urban enclaves of Harbor City. Talk about being dead wrong. Even if she had a hundred dollars for every pasta noodle she’d eaten in her life, she wouldn’t put a dent in his trust fund.

Devin cleared his throat, never pausing his pounding on the keyboard or bothering to look her way. “You’re staring.”

Yeah, so damn hard her eyeballs were about to fall out. Blinking rapidly, she straightened in the bucket seat and picked an invisible piece of lint from her black chiffon tank top while running through a mental list of shitty ex-boyfriends to remind herself of why she needed to stop

ogling her client. No matter how hot he was.

“I was wondering how a white-bread, private-school-attending, eating-Sunday-brunch-at-the-club dude like you ended up with a healthy start to a tattoo bodysuit.” There. That should put him on the defensive.

His fingers paused on the keyboard. “Ten years as a carny.” The clickity clack revved back up to full speed.

Score one for the rich kid. “Tilt-a-Whirl?”

The clacking ceased. He leaned back in his seat and arched his neck from side to side in a move natural to every jock she’d ever dated. Next, he rolled his shoulders under the perfectly-tailored shirt and leveled a heated gaze at her. Appraising and full of dark promise, the look made her clothes too tight to contain her suddenly aching boobs, and her lungs too small to hold the proper amount of oxygen.

“Kissing booth.” He turned his attention back to his laptop.

Years ago, Ryder’s mother had warned her never to poke a bear with a stick. While she’d always remembered her mother’s advice, she hadn’t taken it then and she wasn’t going to now.

Big, grumpy bears didn’t scare her. She liked hearing them growl.

Ryder tsk-tsked. “Funny, I figured you for a big draw at the dunk tank.”

His fingers froze.

A shiver of anticipation danced down her spine. Picking a fight with a client might not be the smartest move, but it was so much better than sprinting across the aisle and jumping his bones at five thousand feet. The butterflies in her stomach disagreed, but what did they know about anything?

Buy it ! Amazon B&N

My Take On It:

You just have to love any book that makes it's way from Avery's brain to a readable piece of art! Her gift for snark and wit never fail to bring on the smirks or laughs or sometimes, yes, a full on snort. I've seen it happen! Ok, fine, it was me. Devin and Ryder take us on a wild ride from start to finish. I swear there were times it was so hot I could see smoke coming out of my kindle. I just loved the interaction between them. Take a strong and hard headed woman, cross her with a man just as strong and hard headed, add in a whole lot of attitude, and hidden insecurities and hello, we've got enough sparks to start a bonfire! This is one of those books that is just an absolutely fun read!!

Just in case you missed it, the first book in The Killer Style Series:

Sylvie Bissette may be one of Harbor City's youngest glitterati, but only her best friends know her most closely guarded secret. She's the woman behind The High-Heeled Wonder, a must-read blog for fashionistas everywhere. Gossip, fashion advice, exposés. Too bad some people can't take a little criticism. When an internet troll discovers her secret identity and escalates from stalking her to threatening her life, Sylvie turns to security expert Tony Falcon for help. The investigator from the other side of the tracks is the olive oil to her Evian water and aggravates her to no end, but it's not just her temper he's inciting...

Tony Falcon wouldn't know a kitten heel from a tabby cat, but since most of the bad guys he tracks down aren't wearing stilettos, it's never been a problem...until he meets Sylvie. When a murder investigation leads him to the same place Sylvie works, he realizes the feisty fashionista may be his best chance at catching the criminals who killed his best friend. It all leads back to the cut-throat fashion world. But solving that case means going after the people Sylvie cares about, and soon his attraction for her--and the danger she's in--has him wondering if solving the case is worth hurting the woman he can't stop fantasizing about ...

When Sylvie's almost run over in broad daylight, Tony goes undercover as her boyfriend to infiltrate the close-knit fashion community. And when they discover Sylvie's stalker may be linked to Tony's own investigation, what started as a simple plan to find his friend's killers turns into a hot bed of secrets and revelations. In a world full of overblown egos and dog-eat-dog ambition, Tony and Sylvie must work together to find her revenge-obsessed stalker before Sylvie ends up with a literal knife in the back.

You can get it here: Amazon B&N

Avery Flynn has three slightly-wild children, loves a hockey-addicted husband and is desperately hoping someone invents the coffee IV drip.

She fell in love with romance while reading Johanna Lindsey's Mallory books. It wasn't long before Avery had read through all the romance offerings at her local library. Needing a romance fix, she turned to Harlequin's four books a month home delivery service to ease the withdrawal symptoms. That worked for a short time, but it wasn't long before the local book stores' staffs knew her by name.

Avery was a reader before she was a writer and hopes to always be both. She loves to write about smartass alpha heroes who are as good with a quip as they are with their *ahem* other God-given talents. Her heroines are feisty, fierce and fantastic. Brainy and brave, these ladies know how to stand on their own two feet and knock the bad guys off theirs.

Find out more about Avery on her website, follow her on Twitter and Pinterest, like her on her Facebook page or friend her on her Facebook profile. She's also on Goodreads and BookLikes.

Join her street team, The Flynnbots, and receive special sneak peeks, prizes and early access to her latest releases!

Also, if you figure out how to send Oreos through the Internet, she'll be your best friend for life.
Avery can also be found on her website

Monday, May 26, 2014

Cut Too Deep by K.J. Bell and a GIVEAWAY!!!

A woman traumatized by her past, beaten, battered, and unwilling to trust.

A man held captive by his greatest failure, lost, and self-destructive.

Letters that unexpectedly bind them together.

Is their bond strong enough to survive each other?

As a web of deceit is revealed, will they be able to determine what’s real, and what’s worth fighting

for?

Or will they crumble under the weight of secrets that cut too deep?

Can Miller forgive himself and move beyond his fear of failing the one he loves?

Can Hadley accept the love she desperately wants but doesn’t believe she deserves?

Release Date May 27th

Dear Ms. Walker,

I know exactly who you are. You’re the beautiful and intriguing young woman who

shakes like a leaf when I get near you, but watches me with heated intensity every

morning when I arrive to work as though you would like to undress me.

I’m pleased to learn the little voice in your head won out and you decided to mail

your letter. Perhaps with distance between us, I won’t intimidate you, and we can get

to know each other properly. I would very much like to know more about you.

I am receiving many letters, but let me put your mind at ease. I’m not opening any of

them. I’m not interested in words from strangers that are obviously looking for ten

tiny minutes of fame. Yours, however, spiked my curiosity. I wasn’t sure if it was the

same Hadley Walker that brightens my mornings until I smelled the delicate perfume

on the outside of the envelope, and knew with certainty it was you.

You would like to know what I miss the most about home. I’m a man. Your answer,

Ms. Walker, is sex. I’m accustomed to having a woman in my bed. There are no

women here, and it’s lonely. Would you be willing to keep me company? Fucking

through words can be very erotic. Chances are, you squirmed in your seat, shocked

by what I’ve written. Your panties are wet, and you’re reading the above sentence

over again. Perhaps you’re cursing me, but it won’t stop you from reading on. You

said you’re drawn to me, and I am rather enamored with you as well. There is nothing

for you to be “curious” about. It’s purely sexual attraction that draws you to me and

me to you. I’ve wanted to have you since the first time I saw you watching me. The

other morning when your big doe eyes peered up at me, and you knew I’d caught you,

I wanted to drag you into the elevator and fuck you until you screamed my name so

loud, the entire building heard you. I’ve thought about nothing else since. I saw in

your eyes that you wanted me to make you come right there in the building lobby. I’m

hard thinking about it.

What do you say, Ms. Walker, would you care to have letter sex with me? When I’m

free of this shit hole, I promise to deliver the real thing, and then you can determine if

I’m still mesmerizing.

Regards,

Miller Genetti

Purchase links:

Goodreads

My Take On It:

First, I was given a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

That said, I completely fell in love with this book! It was incredibly well written and captured me right from the start. I started reading it mid-evening and didn't/couldn't put it down. There were so many twists and turns, some I expected, some I didn't. There were moments of horror, and moments of joy. Tears and laughter. Anger and pain. I absolutely loved the way this story was told. It was outside the norm, it was something new and different, it was the perfect way to tell it! What could have been a heavy story was told with emotion and humor and intelligence, making it a story that will stay with the reader long after the pages have been turned. KJ Bell, I'm a new fan!!

About the Author

K J Bell currently lives in California with her husband and three children. As a mother of three,
when she’s not writing, she’s usually carting one of her children to their various activities.
She enjoys reading, and music, and is equally addicted to both.
Writing is a passion she simply can’t live without.
She loves hearing from her readers and can be found on various social media sites

Facebook

Goodreads

Amazon

Twitter

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A Single Swim by Kristina Circelli

An absolute MUST read for everyone!

In an effort to help raise awareness for PAM (Primary Amoebic meningoencephalitis), Kristina has written about the story of her niece and others like her who have contracted this silent killer.

On August 13th, 2011, sixteen-year-old Courtney Nash passed away after contracting Naegleria fowleri, a brain-eating amoeba that lurks in warm waters. This is her story.

A Single Swim follows Courtney's life and death, while taking a closer look into an amoebic infection very few people ever hear about - until it's too late. Tracing as far back as 1960s, Naegleria fowleri and the resulting infection of this parasite have taken more than a dozen lives, with a fatality rate of nearly 100%.

Through an examination of Courtney's case along with stories of other victims across the United States, A Single Swim offers a glimpse into our waters' rare silent killer. From ecology to symptoms, hospital care to awareness, find out what can happen ... after a single swim.

Purchase links: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon AU IBooks

My Take On It:

Quite simply? This is a book that everyone who goes in water MUST read. Like pretty much everyone out there, I had no idea these dangers even existed, let alone that they had been silently killing at will. Now that I am aware, I will absolutely be making sure that all those around me are also aware, including my physician! Kristina Circelli has done a phenomenal job of bringing the facts and stats to the forefront, all the while, telling the stories of these poor, unknowing victims. Do yourself a favor, buy it, read it, and tell everyone you know about it. Help raise awareness!

Thursday, May 22, 2014

Renovating a Heart by Deanndra Hall! GIVEAWAY!!!

Title ~ Renovating A Heart

Series ~ Love Under Construction, Book Three

Author ~ Deanndra Hall

Genre ~ Erotic Romance

Amazon B&N Smashwords AllRomance

Check out the entire Series ~ Find out for yourself what all the hype is about!

FREE ONLY $0.99

Steve McCoy survived a harrowing youth and a horrible tragedy and still made it as a successful attorney and businessman. And he’s managed to keep his broken, battered heart under wraps by working with short-term submissives at his popular BDSM club, Eden’s Gate.

Until Kelly Markham came along. Kelly’s history was as bad or worse than Steve’s. She lost the only man she ever loved, a faithful, loving Dom, but she never lost hope. When she’s invited to visit Eden’s Gate, she feels like she’s finally found a home. Better yet, she finds a man who’ll help her reintegrate into the community, even if his help is only offered for one month.

Unfortunately, Kelly discovers that being Steve’s submissive is not easy. Matter of fact, when she accidentally trips a trigger from Steve’s history, being his submissive could actually be dangerous, even deadly. Steve’s determined to keep her at a distance and never show her his heart, but can he hold out when he realizes his best shot at a happily ever after might not survive?

20 Fun Facts – Steve
1. When he was in grade school, Steve used to scavenge drink bottles, turn them in for the
deposit, and buy a jar of marshmallow cream, which he’d eat with a spoon.
2. Steve has one implanted tooth. He called a woman at a bar a “cow” and her husband
punched him in the mouth.
3. When he was high school age he wanted to marry Cher.
4. He loves the beach in Gulf Shores, Alabama; it’s his favorite place to vacation.
5. As a teenager he wanted to be a math teacher.
6. He doesn’t like to wear anything red.
7. He’s truly ambidextrous.
8. Football-wise, he’s a St. Louis Rams fan. In 2002 he told everyone at the club that if the
New England Patriots beat the Rams in the Superbowl, he’d strip naked and let the female
club members play ringtoss with his cock. A woman named Faith won in quadruple
elimination. And Steve vowed to never make a statement like that again.
9. He likes his cheese sliced a certain thickness. Too thick, too thin, he won’t eat it.
10. He got caught in bed with a jealous husband’s wife one time. After that, he never went
home with a woman again; he made them come to his place.
11. He wears jeans, but he’d rather be in chinos.
12. When he first moved to Louisville, he dated a woman who’d been a nun. For years he
said it was the best sex he ever had.
13. Steve was introduced to BDSM in college by a college buddy’s mom (and yes, she was
still married to the buddy’s dad).
14. He’s never worn a ring of any kind, even when he was married. He says they bother him.
15. He’s terrified of being carjacked. He had his car outfitted with bullet-proof glass and he
always drives with the doors locked and windows up.
16. No matter what he does, when he eats asparagus he can’t keep it down.
17. He had a boat in a marina on the Ohio River in Louisville once, but it broke loose from
its moorings and was never found. He didn’t both buying another one.
18. When he goes to a casino he leaves his debit and credit cards in the hotel safe and only
takes cash. And when it’s gone, it’s gone.
19. Steve doesn’t play any musical instrument, doesn’t sing, and really doesn’t listen to
music. It’s never been important to him.
20. Right after he got out of college, he took out a girl who turned out to be a guy. His motto
from that time forward: “When in doubt, don’t ask her out.”

20 Fun Facts – Kelly
1. Kelly likes stilettos – the higher the better. She hates being short.
2. Until that funeral, Kelly had never been in a church. Never. All she knew about church
was what she saw on TV. When she was a kid she watched reruns of The Flying Nun and
thought churches were a magical place. It made her want to be a nun. She finds that really
funny now.
3. Right after she started seeing her old Dom, Gary, he decided he wanted to get his penis
pierced. She went with him and passed out cold, hit her head, and had to have a CAT scan.
4. She hates the color orange. For years she wouldn’t eat oranges either.
5. For the first two years she had her breast implants, she was terrified; she was sure they
were going to explode.
6. Maroon 5 is her favorite band; second favorite is Matchbox 20. Apparently it’s
something about numbers.
7. Pick a color and her hair’s been it. Except for orange.
8. Gary taught her to drive when she was 28. He bought her a car about three weeks before
he died.
9. She has a beautiful soprano singing voice.
10. She has two places she wants to go: Washington, D.C., and New York City.
11. Before Nikki and Tony met, Kelly was determined she was going to have Tony
eventually.
12. Her favorite dessert is Key lime pie.
13. When she sneezes she sounds like a mouse squeaking.
14. The smell of bacon cooking makes her sick.
15. Her favorite drink is a Long Island Iced Tea. And she likes a sprig of rosemary in it.
16. When she was growing up she always wanted to be a ballerina.
17. In a bra, Kelly wears a 30G. She always has to order them. There’s an airbrush artist in
Louisville who paints them for her.
18. When she first moved to Louisville, she met a gorgeous guy named Matthew. They dated
for about six weeks and spent most of their time at her apartment. She was crazy about him.
He asked her to move in with him. Then she found out he lived with his mother; she said no.
19. When she was little she had a stuffed bear named Felix. She found some scissors, cut a
slit in his tummy, and stuffed food in there to “feed” him. It ended badly.
20. She had a top flog her one night in a club. When he was done she asked, “Is that all you
got?” Thirty minutes later she regretted that question.

Love Under Construction Series Dream Cast (Through Book 3)
Tony – Raoul Bova

Nikki – Patricia Clarkson

Vic – Alessandro Etrusco

Laura – Lauren Graham

Dottie – Roseanne Barr

Kelly – Lisa Ann

Katie – Emmy Rossum

Annabeth – Gal Gadot

Brittany – Deborah Ann Woll

Clayton – Alex O’Loughlin

Raffaella – Valerie Harper

José – Ash Armand

Peyton – Scott Caan

Molly – Mary Louise Parker

Steve – Chris Charles

Doug – Chris Hemsworth

Jared – Sean Murray

Wendy – Alyson Hannigan

Kyle – Jason Ritter

Malcolm – Brandon Mychal Smith

Hunter – Ryan Gosling

As you can see, Deanndra has some serious hotties in mind when she comes up with these awesome characters!!

My Take On It:

You really do need to read this series in the correct order.

If you're familiar with my blog, you know that I'm seriously in love with this series. So, it's no surprise to anyone that I was anxiously awaiting this book. I was a little worried that Steve wouldn't be able to pull me in like Tony did, or (sigh) Vic....I shouldn't have worried. I will say that there were a couple of times I would have liked to give good ol' Steve a high five right upside his head, but still....he did redeem himself and he did bring me back from the dark side. Kelly is absolutely the best thing that ever happened to him. Her capacity for love and her courage make her the perfect mate for this largely broken man. As with the other books in this series, I was seriously drawn in and felt like I was actually part of this group of people. I know them, they are friends and family! Reading this book was much like going to visit old friends and family. I can't wait to go back!

Deanndra Hall is a working writer living in far western Kentucky. A free spirit and chronic jokester, she and her partner of over 30 years enjoy visiting their two adult children and their partners and playing with their three crazy little dogs. When she's not writing, Deanndra can be found kayaking, working out at the gym, cooking something healthy, or reading. After writing for business, industry, academia, and non-profits for years and having her work credited to others, she jumped into the fiction realm, particularly erotic fiction and erotica, and had so much fun she never looked back. Look for her on Twitter and Facebook and on her website and blog.

Connect with Deanndra

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/deanndra.hall

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/DeanndraHall

Email: DeanndraHall@gmail.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DeanndraHall

Website: www.deanndrahall.com