I’m back!

Hello, you lovely book lovers!

I know its been a while since I’ve posted (a little over a year) but I’m back now. Originally this blog was started for a college course on blogging. So, once the course was over I stopped posting. I wasn’t sure it was something I could keep up alongside the workload of my last semester of undergraduate study. Now, I’ve been a college graduate for eight months now, trying to navigate the job market, starting online courses to get my masters in publishing and navigating the roller coaster that is your twenties where you’re trying to figure out your place in the world (I know cliche but how else do you describe it?).

Overall, 2018 hasn’t been a great year for me. I’m working though to turn things around, have a more positive outlook, focus on me and work on my writing. I’m already working on my writing as a romance ghostwriter and now picking up with the blogging again. I’ve also been toying with the idea of writing my own book. I’ll keep you all posted on that possibility.

So, “Head Stuck in a Book” is going to have new posts soon. You’ll see the usual book reviews of romance novels I’ve read, good and bad. Also, I’m looking into posting other types of posts that may be reviews of books made into movies or posts focused on books that may not be romance novels. Whatever I post about here I promise you it will be focused on books in some shape or form. “Head Stuck in a Book” is a book blog and it’s going to stay that way. You may see some change in the writing style as well. I want to make the blog more fun and connect with you the readers more. I haven’t started writing any posts yet and that’s one of the ideas I have brewing in my head so we will see what magic flies across my keyboard.

I hope you all enjoy the new posts to come. As you see the blog become more active again, any input from you all is welcome no matter if its post suggestions, likes or dislikes of the new posts or anything else that comes to your mind and you want to share with me. Don’t be afraid to hit up the contact page.

Happy reading!

‘Locke and Key’: a soldier hurt by a tenacious reporter collide with a fiery passion

Synopsis

Locke is a military man who lost a group of his men in Iraq years ago. To him, there is one person solely responsible for the tragic night 26 soldiers were killed.

Cassidy is the reporter Locke blames for the fateful night in Iraq. After that night, Cassidy lost her place has a high standing reporter and is working to make her way back to the top.

Several years later Locke and Cassidy collide when Locke is on a Titan rescue mission in Russia. The two butt heads, but soon discover there is an explosive chemistry between them. Locke and Cassidy soon find temselves working together and uncover Russian mobsters putting together a sex trafficking network.

Locke and Cassidy must work through their differences to help uncover the truth, save lives and find love.

Thoughts on the Book

                Ever since I started the Titan series, I have loved each new book Cristin Harber has released. “Locke and Key” is no exception.

Locke is a sexy sweetheart! The man knows how to make a girl swoon. I am one of those girls who loves when a guy comes up with nicknames, and Locke comes up with not one, not two, but several. I won’t reveal all of them, especially the one he sticks to for Cassidy (you’ll have to read the book to find that one out), but a few include Red, Flamethrower, Riding Hood and Strawberry Shortcake. See a theme here? Cassidy is a red head with a fiery personality and Locke roles with it.

When these two get together for a hot and steamy scene, Cristin Harber definitely went all out. The entire book was great, but the scenes where Locke and Cassidy got a little down and dirty were wow. Harber does a fantastic job of conveying the passion and chemistry between the two in the process. Take a look at the below snippets from “Locke and Key,” provided by Cristin Harber and her publicist Tara Gonzalez, to see what I mean.

 

Trust me, it gets better as you read. This is only a taste of what occurs between Locke and Cassidy when they are together.

Throughout the entire book, I was on the edge of my seat. My heart was constantly going crazy throughout the entire book, as well. Between the chemistry Locke and Cassidy have, the steamy sex scenes, and the stomach clenching fear induced from interactions with Russian mobsters, you won’t be able to get off the rollercoaster ride that is “Locke and Key.”

One thing within the book that I questioned was how fast Locke flips from hating Cassidy to lusting after her. It seemed all of a sudden to me. I get that he didn’t have all the facts before his “intel-therapy” on the night in Iraq where 26 of his men died, but I felt there could have been a smoother transition. Maybe it also felt this way to me because I had to pause in my reading a few times. I’ll have to read it again to see if that is the case, but for this first round, it felt like it needed a smoother transition from a hate relationship to a love relationship. However, I did like that they resolved their issues from that night and that there was a build up before they jumped into bed together. The build up aspect wasn’t rushed and seemed to flow just right.

Overall, I would definitely recommend you read “Locke and Key.” Honestly, I would recommend you read the whole series if you are looking for an amazing military romance series. You won’t regret it. No two stories are ever the same, and you just can’t help falling in love with each and every one of the sexy and strong men that make up Titan.

Check out my book cover reveal post for “Locke and Key” to see the official synopsis for the book and my release day post to read a full excerpt from “Locke and Key.” Also check out my review post on “Garrison’s Creed,” the second book in the Titan series, to see what other Titan books are like and to find links to free books to get you started on the series.

 

Release Day of ‘Locke and Key’ by Cristin Harber

The day has arrived! Cristin Harber’s newest addition to the Titan Series, “Locke and Key,” is out and available for purchase. If you’ve been following Head Stuck in a Book lately, you know I have done a review of one of Cristin Harber’s Titan books, “Garrison’s Creed,” and a cover reveal with book description for “Locke and Key.” Now, I have an excerpt for you lovely readers so you can get a taste of the sexy Locke and the hot chemistry between him and the fiery Cassidy.  Check back here May 3rd for my review of the book. Hint: Hot, steamy, and makes your heart beat like crazy for so many reasons.

For now, here is the excerpt from “Locke and Key” to peak your interest.

Locke ducked close to her ear, purposefully rasping a five o’clock shadow against her neck, and again asked, “Do we know anything new?”

She whimpered. He had to have heard the quiet groan, and he swayed them together and— damn, she felt him. Cassidy’s eyes went wide as he held her backside against his crotch.

Was Locke turned-on? Locke was turned-on. And he wanted her to know. The realization was as potent as a narcotic. It hit her blood, and she was high.

But he’d asked about work. What was she supposed to do? She tried to recover. Shaking and stupidly pretending this wasn’t a thing, she turned. Eye to eye, she couldn’t read him!

He didn’t move. Didn’t touch her. Was the ball in her park? He’d asked about Alex, twice. But he had a hard-on!

Cassidy was so confused and turned on that she couldn’t trust her instincts. She needed to do what she did best— work. Focus on the job.

“He’s in there.” Cassidy, failing to regain her composure, was still breathless.

Locke smiled. “Good to know.”

She’d made the right choice in focusing on work. She was there for Alex. If Locke wanted to… pursue something, he could do it when she wasn’t busy. He had her number.

“Cass…” His eyebrows challenged her to admit their tension escalating.

There was Cass again. She hated nicknames— until they flowed from his mouth. They needed space, but she didn’t trust her legs. They were weak as her mind was wild. She tried to swallow, shifting away—

“Don’t go.” He was holding her, hugging her. Locke cupped her cheek and let his fingers slide along her jaw. She was drowning in him as Locke’s hand moved down her neck, letting the thump of her pulse jump against his fingertips. “I—”

“Excuse me,” a woman snapped as she bustled in, grabbing her shawl, and she sneered on the way out.

“Oh, God.” Cassidy jumped, her cheeks hot and her embarrassment swallowing her alive. She choked on the knot in her throat and covered her face, backing away from him. “I’m so sorry.”

“Cassidy.” Locke reached for her.

“So, so sorry.” She tilted to face him, and they stood in the dark shadows. She was the reporter; he was the protector.

His voice rumbled, not judgmental or embarrassed. “You have nothing to say sorry about. To anyone.”

“We might disagree on that.” She’d staked the rebound of her career on Alex, but when Locke came around, she always seemed to forget.

“I don’t try to upset you.” The pregnant pause hung heavy. “Not on purpose anyway— maybe for fun, playing around, but I won’t do that again.”

“Okay…”

He was playing down their moment of intimacy. Maybe for him it had been nothing but an erection and a tease, while for her it was the stuff of nightly fantasies. How foolish was she? Embarrassment made her stomach drop.

But still.

Again, they were almost stomach to stomach. Too close. Too intimate. Too… much. “I’m not upset.” But that wasn’t true.

“You’re something,” he said.

“Something,” she agreed. “True.” Something she’d never, ever admit to. Tugging her bottom lip between her teeth, she couldn’t map out his intentions—

“Don’t do that.”

“Do what?” Cassidy froze, wondering what she’d done wrong.

His gaze lasered on her lips. “That.”

Finally, she saw the same desperate hunger on his face. The authority in his command made her shiver. Unquenched lust boiled in his eyes, and Cassidy didn’t know how to handle this Locke— the uncontrolled and unscripted one. “Oh… um. I…”

In a tailspin, she couldn’t decide whether to fight for what she could finally read on his face or pull her act together and act like they were working together. She did neither, standing there, still unsure.

“You keep biting that lip, Cass.” Locke lifted an eyebrow and scorched her panties. “Don’t do that.”

“Okay.” The devil on her shoulder whispered, Bite your lip again. Or bite his. Maybe they could kiss and work.

Locke lifted his chin, his gaze falling past her. “Alex is leaving.”

Wait— what? Damn it.

What do you think? Comment below in the comments section!

‘Club Shadowlands’: a sexy erotic novel more realistic than what you read in ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’

“Why they think everyone should be alike in making love when no one can even agree on what ice cream they like, I’ll never know” -“Dark Citadel”(Masters of the Shadowlands Series Book 2)

                With the release and popularity explosion of “Fifty Shades of Grey,” erotic romance novels have become increasingly present in stores.

Although the genre of erotica and BDSM novels can be controversial at times, I feel I should provide you with reviews on all types of romance novels. If you are wondering if reading these types of novels says something bad about you, my response to you would be “Hell no, it doesn’t.” Some people read the erotic genre simply because they like to. It doesn’t necessarily mean they participate in such activities, but if they do, so what? There is absolutely no shame in it.

The quote above sums up what Cherise Sinclair’s series, “Masters of the Shadowlands,” a series solely focused on Dominant/submissive members of a private BDSM club, is focused on. We don’t all have the same opinions, thoughts, likes, dislikes or even sexual preferences. You don’t have to fall into what people think the status quo is for a certain aspect of life. And that is exactly what Sinclair’s characters do. They don’t follow the status quo. Do what you want and what makes you happy and, in some cases, make sure you do it in a safe and consensual manner.

Book synopsis

                Jessica Randal, an accountant, becomes stranded during a storm with the only hope for shelter being a lone mansion in the middle of nowhere. The mansion isn’t just a rich family’s home, though. Jessica discovers she has stumbled upon a private BDSM club.

Master Z, owner of the “Shadowlands,” caters to all varying types of sexual preferences in his club, as long as it follows his golden rule of safe and consensual.

Z hasn’t found a submissive he is willing to commit full time to until Jessica, drenched and covered in mud, walks into his club. Jessica, though, is used to the straight-laced life of being an accountant, all of which doesn’t involve the kinky lifestyle of a Dominant/submissive relationship.

“Club Shadowlands,” the first novel in the Masters of the Shadowlands series, brings to realistic life the lifestyle of BDSM in the form of a master dominant opening the eyes of an abruptly introduced submissive to the lifestyle.

Bonus! It’s FREE!

What more do I need to say? Free is always good! Without spending a dime, you get a taste of the erotic world Sinclair has created, and you can see if it intrigues you enough to venture further into the series. Z and Jessica do appear in the novels following “Club Shadowlands” conclusion.

Thoughts on the book

                Overall, I wasn’t disappointed with this book. It introduced the characters and the different facets of the club and lifestyle smoothly without overwhelming you. The sexy scenes are steamy, and Master Z definitely shows he is in control and knows what he is doing

It is a bit fast paced at times, and I felt at one or two points there could have been something added between the fast jumps from one occurrence to the next. But it didn’t bother me to the point of being annoying.

                One strange thing I originally didn’t like was the fact that Master Z can sense a person’s thoughts/emotions.

“Within a short distance, I can actually read minds. Emotions, rather, and limited to what the person feels”

This added character trait of Master Z’s threw me off and made me think I had stumbled upon a supernatural novel set in a BDSM club. I soon, however, accepted it as a unique character trait for him. After a while, it grows on you. Z is the only character throughout the series, though, with a unique ability. It makes Master Z quite effective as the owner of the “Shadowlands” who endeavors to watch over and protect all his members. And it helps him in his meddling attempts to find the perfect and permanent submissive for other dominants.

The series and the author

                Sinclair does a fantastic job in opening your eyes to the realistic aspects of a BDSM lifestyle and a Dominant/submissive relationship. She comes off as very informed on the subject of BDSM. Check out her website and see what I mean. She has written several articles about different aspects of participating in BDSM, which show how knowledgeable she is.

Sinclair doesn’t simply explore dominant and submissive relationships in her series, though. She also incorporates into her series the varying types of Dominant/submissive relationships. Some of her books explore the aspects of a relationship between a sadist and a masochist, a female dominant and a male submissive and two dominants sharing one submissive. She explores it all.

So, check it out if you are interested. Remember this is a work of fiction, and if you choose to explore outside of just reading, be careful.

‘Garrison’s Creed’: a sexy sniper and fierce CIA agent reunite

Synopsis

Cash Garrison is a sniper working for Titan Group, a black ops organization. He fell in love with his best friend’s sister back in college, believing she died his senior year. However, one fateful mission destroys what he believes happened to the girl of his dreams and brings them back into each other’s lives.

Nicola, an undercover CIA agent, thought she would never see her family or the love of her life ever again, but things change when a Titan mission collides with the mission she has been working on for months.

Confused and unsure of how to proceed, Cash and Nicola try to sort out their feelings and the new situation of reunited lovers they find themselves in.

Cash and Nicola are put together to catch a mole in the CIA and deal with a mobster seeking revenge. Cash learns he must accept that Nicola works in the field as a CIA agent, which places her in precarious situations. At the same time, Nicola looks to show she can go toe-to-toe with the bad guys and doesn’t need a man to protect her.

“Garrison’s Creed” is a military romance rollercoaster filled with action, steamy love scenes and a long sought for happily-ever-after.

Thoughts on the book

                 Full disclosure: Cash is one of my top five book boyfriends. With his endearment of “sweet girl” for Nicola, Cash is a sweet gentleman who isn’t afraid to let his alpha male attitude show.

“Stop your sweet ass one second, and turn around, Nicola”

“I trust you to make the right move. But if something happens, I’m there, itchy trigger finger and all. You’re mine to protect and possess.” Processing his words….The seconds ticked by. “I’m yours?” “Was there some confusion about that?”

And boy is he not afraid to lay it all out for Nicola.

“Screw that. Here’s the truth. I lost you once… I like this. I like us. And I liked last night. A lot. You’re more than a fun fuck, and I don’t want to lose you again, so there you go sweet girl. Maybe I’m all lost in nostalgic malarkey, but not only do I want you in bed, I want you out of bed. Which, as you’ve been clued in to, isn’t my MO. So shit’s different with you.”

At the same time, Nicola is a warrior woman who can hold her own and can run with the big boys.

…slammed her against the wall. Her head lolled to the side, but rights. Her eyes locked on Cash’s. A fucking smile danced across her face, mouthing “hi.” She was insane. He loved a crazy woman

Cristin Harber, author of the Titan series novels, does an amazing job bringing the characters and the world they inhabit to life. The story doesn’t drag and you fall in love and sympathize with the characters completely wishing you could be a part of the Titan world, especially if it means you are surrounded by sexy warrior men.

FREE books to look at alongside “Garrison’s Creed”

                Who doesn’t love free books? Not only is there one free book, but two you can add to your Kindle or iBooks library.

“Sweet Girl” is the prequel to “Garrison’s Creed,” telling the story of how Cash and Nicola fell in love back in college. You get to see who Cash and Nicola were before they became the kickass Titan sniper and CIA agent and discover what tore the two apart for 10 years. I absolutely fell in love with Cash and Nicola through this book, which made me buy “Garrison’s Creed” immediately when I discovered their story continued. Then, it was up hill from there in buying every book in the Titan series. I cannot tell you how much I have loved this series from day one and continue to with each new book released.

The second free book is the first novel in the Titan Series, “Winter’s Heat.” Military psychologist Mia Kensington collides with Titan operative Colby Winters. Start from the beginning, and a free one at that, to discover what the Titan Series is all about. It only gets better and better after this one.

WARNING about one book in the Titan series

                I want to warn you about one of the books, “Savage Secrets,” if you do delve into the Titan series. “Savage Secrets” includes a detailed sexual assault scene. I did not see the warning on Amazon stating “book includes violent scenes” (which isn’t very clear as to what “violent scenes” fully entails) when I first bought and read the novel. I love the series and have reread the books several times, but I never reread this one because of how disturbing the sexual assault scene is. I love Rocco and Caterina’s story, but I can’t make myself reread it because of this one disturbing aspect.

Titan World

                Be a part of Titan world through Facebook. Cristin Harber has a personal Facebook page and a Team Titan page where you can connect with her and the amazing, fierce and strong readers who love the series. It’s an amazing group of people, which I am a part of, and Cristin Harber is great at interacting with all her readers

Cristin Harber’s 12th Titan Book Cover Reveal!

I have a treat for you lovely readers! Military romance author Cristin Harber is the author of the Titan series and is releasing her next book, “Locke and Key,” on May 2nd. Today is the big cover reveal, and below I have the cover and a description of the book for you. I absolutely love this series and would highly recommend you to check it out if you haven’t already! While we wait for “Locke and Key” to be released, keep an eye out for my next book review on one of the Titan series books with links to FREE books to get you started on the series. In the meantime, what do you guys think of the cover and description of Cristin Harber’s soon to be new addition to the Titan series?

ABOUT LOCKE AND KEY

THE STOIC SPECIAL FORCES OPERATOR

There’s only one person to blame for darkening the last years of Locke Oliver’s military career: Cassidy Noble. And damn if he doesn’t have to save her from the side of a frozen mountain.

Even after the job is done, he can’t shake the woman from his thoughts. He blames her for the deaths in his Army unit so many years ago, and he’s not ready to let that go. It’s driving him to the point of distraction, and now his Titan Group boss says to get his act together or get out.

THE FEISTY, FALLEN REPORTER

Cassidy is a disgraced journalist, once accused of treason—Or she’s an American hero. It depends on who you ask. She’s on a mission to rebuild her name and started with a simple question but discovered a complex web of spies and possible human trafficking.

Titan Group believes in her.

Locke does not. Until he can’t deny the truth any longer about the past or what she’s uncovered in her investigation.

BECOME AN INSEPARABLE TEAM

Cassidy volunteers to go undercover. Locke would do anything to stay by her side as she slips into the network and is sold to the highest bidder. All is going right until everything goes wrong. Nothing is as they expect including falling in love with the woman he thought he hated.

PREORDER LOCKE AND KEY

Amazon: http://smarturl.it/LockeAMZ

iBooks: http://smarturl.it/LockeiBooks

BN: http://smarturl.it/LockeBN

Kobo: http://smarturl.it/LockeKobo

Google Play: http://smarturl.it/LockeGP

ABOUT CRISTIN HARBER

Cristin Harber is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling romance author. She writes sexy, steamy romantic suspense and military romance. Readers voted her onto Amazon’s Top Picks for Debut Romance Authors in 2013, and her debut Titan series was both a #1 romantic suspense and #1 military romance bestseller.

Website: http://cristinharber.com/

Newsletter: http://bit.ly/11aWFzM

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cristinharberauthor

Team Titan Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1411308265771683/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CristinHarber

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7192034.Cristin_Harber

Enhancing your reading experience, showing your love of books

As a book lover, we not only buy and collect books. We also possess other items to enhance our reading experience and to show off our love of books.

For this post, I want to show you some of the items I have collected over the years, and continuously collect, to add to my reading experience. Also, I wanted to give you some shopping items to add to your shopping list.

So, first the items I love and use to enhance my reading experience with items both big and small.

1. BookBub is a website for readers who are looking for great e-book deals or new books to discover. The website has you choose the genres you enjoy reading, and then every day they email you their daily deals of free or discounted e-books based on your preferences
2.  Of course, what does it mean to read a book without a bookmark? You may be a reader who burns through a book in a few hours without stopping with no need for a bookmark, and that is awesome! However, if you are like me, you are constantly busy and have days where you can only fit in 30 minutes to an hour of reading time. P.S. these are only the ones I currently have at school with me. I assure you my collection is much larger than just three!
3. If you find yourself reading at night, then you might find it beneficial to invest in a reading light. I personally bought one because 1) I used to share a room with a roommate and stay up late reading 2) now that my roommate and I have separate rooms, I prefer dimmer lighting and 3) I don’t feel like rolling out of bed just to flip the light switch off. It’s late at night and I am tired, so don’t judge.
4. This is a new discovery of mine. Sometimes you find holding a book open through a reading spree can cause your thumb to hurt, especially with smaller books with stiff binding. This is where “Thumb Thing Book Page Holder” is great. The only drawback I have found is it is plastic and it tends to dig into the top of my thumb, but there are other options out there. I still use it, though, and it is very helpful.
5. This little gem is called “The Book Seat” and is my favorite new thing in the world to use when reading. I tend to use it more when utilizing my Kindle. You just rest it in your lap and it holds the book up for you! It has annoyed me slightly with paper books when I need to turn the page, but it’s definitely useful with e-readers. I would recommend this for avid book lovers who want something to help prop their books up while sitting or lying on their side when reading.
6. When setting up a peaceful environment while reading, usually I like to have dim lighting, occasionally turn on my mini essential oil diffuser and soft, mellow music in the background. Spotify has several great playlists for this. I usually go to the “Focus” or “Sleep” category when browsing or to the coffeehouse playlists in the “Mood” category.

Now, book accessories are great, but a true book lover takes it further and buys many items, showing how much they passionately love books, aside from the bookshelves full of books or, in the case of my future home, a whole room (or two) full of books.

1. Clothes! Nothing says I love books like clothes saying it loud and proud.
2. Of course, we can’t always hold a book in our hand, especially when we need them for other activities, like eating. So, to continue to convey to the world what an amazing booklover you are, you eat/drink in style.
3. My mom found these for me and obviously knows me well enough to know my favorite classical romance novel is “Pride and Prejudice.” Find some temporary tattoos, or permanent ones, to show your love of books.

What are some of your favorite book accessories or apparel?

‘Lords of the Underworld’ series: You have to read them all

Overall synopsis of full series

After opening Pandora’s box, 13 immortal warriors are condemned to earth and cursed to carry a demon within themselves. Every day is a constant struggle to calm the demon inside and to stay in control.

The Lords are always actively searching for Pandora’s box and the artifacts that can aid them in finding it. Once they find the box, they can remove their demons and return them to the box. However, in the process of their search, they must contend with power-hungry gods, different powerful species, an old friend who irrevocably betrayed them in the past and a group of extremists who believe they are the epitome of evil and must be destroyed.

In the midst of all the turmoil, each Lord finds the woman he is destined to love forever and who can tame the demon within.

Each Lord is an experienced warrior, fiercely loyal towards one another, and would do anything to protect his fellow brothers and their women.

The order of books in the series

• “The Darkest Night” – Maddox, keeper of violence
• “The Darkest Kiss” – Lucien, keeper of death
• “The Darkest Pleasure” – Reyes, keeper of pain
• “The Darkest Whisper” – Sabin, keeper of doubt
• “The Darkest Passion” – Aeron, keeper of wrath
• “The Darkest Lie” – Gideon, keeper of lies
• “The Darkest Secret” – Amun, keeper of secrets
• “The Darkest Surrender” – Strider, keeper of defeat
• “The Darkest Seduction” – Paris, keeper of seduction
• “The Darkest Craving” – Kane, keeper of disaster
• “The Darkest Touch” – Torin, keeper of disease
• “The Darkest Torment” – Baden, former keeper of distrust
• “The Darkest Promise” (releases June 23, 2017) – Cameo, keeper of misery

Top three favorite Lords

                I really do love all the Lords in this series; but, of course, I have my top favorites. The reason I love the three listed below is because they’re cocky and witty. They will make you laugh at their sly and sometimes crude humor. For each of my three favorites, I found one quote within their respective books that can give you a glimpse into their personalities and, I thought, summed up how they act throughout the series.

• “Ego check. He’d told himself he was going to stop patting himself on the back for all his wonderful qualities. After all, it wasn’t fair to the citizens of the world. They couldn’t help being inferior to him in every way.” – Strider, “The Darkest Surrender”

• “Paris, the FedEx deliveryman of Pleasure and Fatality.” – Sienna (Paris’s woman), “The Darkest Seduction”

• “’My greatest flaw is my total lack of flaws. Do you know what a burden it is, being perfect all the time?’” – Torin, “The Darkest Touch”

Thoughts on the series

I love each book and each Lord’s story. Some Lords are hilarious, while others are snarky or always act serious. All of them, though, find their match when they fall in love with women who can handle them and their demons, see them for who they are despite their demons and love them just as fiercely as the men love them. You can’t help falling in love with them all and getting involved with their stories.

All the Lords are kickass warriors, and their women have no problem being kickass partners. The women aren’t your average human beings either. How could they be? If you’re going to be in a relationship with a demon-possessed warrior, then you have to be just as fierce, powerful and/or unique.

Get started and check out the “Lords of the Underworld” series by Gena Showalter. If you enjoy mythology, sexy warriors, romance and the paranormal, then this is the series for you.

‘Sugar Kisses’: Sass and cupcakes will win his heart forever

Synopsis

She is a sassy, aspiring baker living with her best friend’s brother after ditching her cheating boyfriend.

He is the womanizer who isn’t looking for a commitment with just one woman, let alone falling in love with one. However, the girl living just down the hall from him in his apartment changes everything.

Living together in close proximity quickly becomes difficult for Roxy and Cole to deny the attraction they have towards each other. But with a past like Cole’s, a relationship between the two isn’t going to be easy. It becomes increasingly difficult with past relationships rearing their ugly heads, disapproving family members and less-than-supportive friends.

“Sugar Kisses,” by Addison Moore, includes romance, cupcakes, crazy bimbos who can’t take a hint that the womanizer is now a one-woman man and an ex-boyfriend only looking for a sugar mama. On top of all that, when you combine baking in the kitchen with a little passion, it’s inevitable that baking ingredients will be tossed around in between passionate kisses. Maybe that’s why the author titled the book “Sugar Kisses”?

Personal thoughts

The book was actually an enjoyable read. It didn’t read like a cheesy fluff novel. I enjoyed the book so much that, once I have some free time, I plan to purchase the two books preceding it in the “3:AM Kisses” series.

Cole and Roxy will make you wistfully sigh at how sweet they are together. No matter what, if a book has a relationship that can make me feel warm and fuzzy inside due to the love the characters show each other, no matter how cheesy, then I am hooked.

After finishing the book, though, I’m still trying to figure out why no one was questioning how Cole’s flings from the past were getting into the apartment without a key. I mean seriously! Was no one else in the book freaked out or a little concerned as to how people kept getting in with no explanation? Either someone isn’t locking the door when they leave or these girls don’t understand the concept of breaking and entering.

As for Cole dealing with clingy girls from his past, I will say he could, and should, have handled them a little differently while trying to make things work with Roxy. I won’t give any spoilers. When you read it, you’ll see what I’m talking about.

Give it a shot!  I think you’ll enjoy it if you’re like me and like a mushy romance novel mixed with sugary confections.

 

‘A Discovery of Witches’: A tale of vampires, witches, alchemy and history

                One of my all-time favorites, “A Discovery of Witches” has it all.  With forbidden love between a vampire and a witch, conflicts that will have your heart pounding and an added mix of alchemy and history, you won’t be disappointed.

                “A Discovery of Witches,” which was on the “New York Times” bestseller list, is a world filled with suspense, mystery, laughter, love, sexy vampires, fiery witches and much more. Also, no book is complete without a villain, or several in this case, who make you cry out in rage and make your blood boil for harming your beloved characters.

                 Diana Bishop, the first main character we meet, is a historian of alchemy at Yale University and a witch who fights to live a normal life among humans by turning her back on magic. Diana isn’t your average witch, though, and soon begins to discover she holds more power within herself than any other witch. Inadvertently, Diana sets off a chain reaction of events within the mythical creature world when she opens a mysterious manuscript, Ashmole 782, in the Bodleian library at Oxford University.

   Looking to uncover the truth of Ashmole 782, Matthew Clairmont is the powerful and mysteriously handsome vampire who appears in Diana’s life. As Matthew begins to interact with Diana, his focus shifts from obtaining the manuscript to protecting Diana from those who will stop at nothing short of killing her to get the manuscript. All the while projecting a fierce and commanding persona to everyone, he shows how caring and loving he can be towards Diana, while endearingly calling her “mon coeur” and “ma lionne.”

                Diana and Matthew stir up trouble when they begin to get a little too close for comfort in a world where an outdated covenant for vampires, witches and demons forbids intimate relationships between opposite species. However, nothing will stop Diana and Matthew from falling in love. They do face their fair share of trials that test their relationship, but what love story of any worth doesn’t have its fair share of ups and downs?

               As you read, you will fall in love with the couple as they fall in love with each other. Matthew helps Diana face her fears of letting magic be a part of her life, and Diana shows she will love Matthew despite his dark past. In the process, Diana and Matthew uncover secrets of the past that will begin to forever alter the world they live in.

               Alongside the mythical creature aspect of the novel, you also get educational tidbits in alchemy and European history as you read, providing a captivating plot.

              Deborah Harkness, author of “A Discovery of Witches,” knows her stuff when it comes to the history aspects within the novel. Harkness is a scholar who teaches European history and the history of science; she focused on the history of magic and science in Europe for her doctoral degree. So, needless to say, she’s got this.

              Now, I’m not all that crazy about reading history, but Harkness does a fantastic job in incorporating it into the storyline in a way that doesn’t bog the story down. Some sections you may need to really concentrate on or read slowly, as I did, but in the end it really is fascinating.

             All in all, “A Discovery of Witches” is a must read you will struggle to put down. Don’t worry though, once you finish, there are two more books that follow in continuing the tale of Matthew and Diana’s love story. If that isn’t enough, Harkness is working with Bad Wolf productions to make “The All Souls” trilogy into a TV series soon.  To make it even sweeter, check out the world of the  “All Souls” trilogy here to look at Spotify playlists Harkness created for the books, news and events concerning the series, photos of the settings in the books, reading guides, and so much more.

             So, find a cozy spot to hunker down in, read the book and then let me know what you think in the comments!