Sunday, July 28, 2013

Stacking the Shelves (15)


Welcome to this week's Stacking the Shelves by Tynga`s Reviews. It is about adding books to my shelves I received during the past week whether it is physical or virtual.


Bought from Amazon:


Frigid by J. Lynn

Received for Review:




Witchling by Ari Harper
Unteachable by Leah Raeder
Spring Training by Parker Kincade

I hope everyone has a good week :)

Raquel
xoxo

Friday, July 26, 2013

Review: Selling Scarlett by Ella James

Title: Selling Scarlett
Author: Ella James
Release Date: April 14, 2013
Publisher: Self-Published
Pages: 269
Source: Received for review from author


Synopsis:
Elizabeth DeVille doesn't belong at a party like this—one where the gowns cost more than her Camry and cigars run higher than her grad school utility bills. Dragged out of seclusion by her best friend Suri, Elizabeth is merely playing dress-up, rubbing elbows with a crowd that banished her troubled family years ago.

Hunter West is tired. Tired of parties, tired of pretending, and tired of trying to right a wrong that haunts him every day. Bourbon heir and professional poker player by day, by night Hunter is gambling with his life in a high-stakes game of crime and blackmail.

When Elizabeth stumbles into Hunter's den of vices, she's a light in the darkness, a flame in the void. And, just like everything he touches, Hunter mars her in a record time. To rectify the damage done, Elizabeth needs money she doesn't have, and she's come up with a foolproof way to get it.

Follow Elizabeth—code-named Scarlett—to the lush Nevada brothel where she'll auction her virginity and risk the only thing that's not for sale: her heart. The highest bidder is a familiar face, with wicked hands and the devil's mouth. And a secret so dark that it could cost her life.

***RECOMMENDED FOR READERS 17+ DUE TO SEXUALITY AND MATURE LANGUAGE.***

My Thoughts:
In Selling Scarlett, we meet Elizabeth Deville who is a 23 year old virgin. She has known Hunter almost her entire life but has never really talked to him. Lizzy (Libby, Liz or Scarlett) has a major crush on him and sees the good in him. At one of his parties, Lizzy’s best friend Cross, admits he has feelings for her. After they have a fight, Cross ends up in a major accident and in a coma. Cross is not able to pay for his treatment and Lizzy comes up with a plan on how to pay so that he can get the best treatment. She decides to sell her virginity to the highest bidder.

I was really looking forward to this book but it fell short of my expectations unfortunately. The beginning of the story was a little confusing, I didn’t know what was going on or if the same person was being talked about. After that got figured out, the story picked up but after awhile I predicted what was going to happen.

I find this book a little hard to review. There were some parts I really liked and thought was interesting like Lizzy going to a brothel to get training lessons on smut. The story was definitely unique, someone actually selling their v-card to make money; this was extremely new to me. Who knew men would pay such a price for a woman’s virginity. I mean $10,000,000…wowser.

I really didn’t like Hunter. I find he was always 5 maybe even 10 steps behind Priscilla and her partners. I think this is what bugged and irritated me the most about this book. Overall, the book was ok for me. This book is so much more than ‘Selling Scarlett’, it has a lot of mystery behind it as well.

My Rating:
2 stars out of 5 

Raquel
xoxo

Thursday, July 25, 2013

Blog Tour-Blurb, Excerpt & Giveaway: The Corollaria by Courtney Lyn Batten

The Corollaria

Release date: February 2nd 2013
PurchaseAmazon

Synopsis via Goodreads:
Emily has always felt like there was more to her parents' mysterious death, more to her being sent to live with the Lyall’s when she was fifteen. And definitely more to her inexplicable infatuation with Luke, the Lyall’s youngest son.

Luke can’t help but be drawn to Emily. She has these perfect blue eyes, unlike any he’s ever seen. And he feels a fierce need to protect her. Suddenly, one night, changes everything. He feels conflicted about his feelings and his destiny, as he and Emily are suddenly plunged into a strange new world. 

Fast paced and action packed, a romance between Emily and Luke begins to take shape just as they are thrust into an ancient war, caught in the crossfire of bloodlust, revenge and love.


About the Author
Courtney grew up in Texas where she still lives with her husband, their two kids, and two dogs. She was studying to become a teacher and has graduated in May 2013.
Courtney loves to read and write love stories. She has an obsession with books, and owns far far too many.

Blurb: 
The excerpt I picked below is kinda steamy and gives you a glimpse of how much Luke's wolf wants Emily and their need to be together. I hope you enjoy :)

Excerpt:

Emily’s breathing was ragged. Her body trembled with longing and anticipation. Her left arm draped over his shoulder, her right hand gently and tentatively caressed up the hard muscles of his chest, and then over his scruffy neck, and into his hair, her fingers gliding easily through the shaggy brown strands.

Luke’s eyes never left hers. He was waiting. Waiting for her or waiting for himself to fight against this, he wasn’t sure. Emily wiggled herself forward, her soft breasts brushed against him, and he had to bite back a groan.

“Kiss me,” she implored impatiently. Her breathy whisper was so husky and sexy Luke could no longer resist. He crushed his lips to hers, desperate and hungry. Emily’s lips were unbelievably soft. When she parted them, he slid his tongue inside the warmth of her mouth, and moaned at the taste of her tongue against his, sweet and delicate.

Luke’s hand on her hip slid over the curve, his thumb brushed the bare skin there and she shivered. A new and intense heat surged through her, collecting between her thighs. His hand gripped her firmly, pulling her body hard against his. Emily swung her leg over his hip as his hand continued to caress her, moving in slow circles over her back.

His lips left hers, kissing along her jaw and down the smooth slope of her neck. Luke’s nose brushed along her skin, inhaling the deep rich heady scent of her. He buried his face in her neck and groaned.

“You’re killing me, honey,” he murmured into her skin. His muscles were twitching and quivering, barely restrained passion burned in his veins. He had a fleeting thought to pull back, but then she whimpered and dug her nails into his shoulder. Whatever semblance of control he had vanished.

Luke kissed his way across her collarbone, and then back up to her jaw. His scruffy chin scratched her smooth skin, as he reclaimed her lips once again. Their mouths melded together with a fevered intensity. Emily was swept away. Luke hands under her thin cotton shirt skimmed along her ribcage, roving over her soft satiny skin.

All Emily could think about was how good his hands felt against her bare skin, his tongue as it probed and explored her mouth.

Luke was completely lost. Overcome by the intensity of his emotions and the way her body was reacting to his touch. He kissed her until she was breathless, panting, her eyes heavy and a deep dark midnight blue with desire. He slowly slid his hand the rest of the way up her torso, feeling her softness beneath his hands.

Emily gasped. Luke stilled. His breath was ragged. He suddenly worried he shouldn’t be doing this. Was he taking advantage of her? Shit.

“Luke?” Emily asked softly. He rested his head on her shoulder for a moment, trying to convince himself that he had to do the right thing. He had to stop. This was too much too fast.

“I’m sorry, Em. I think—” Luke cleared his throat, part of him kicking himself, part of him so full of desire for her he could barely breathe. He took another deep breath and forced the words through his throat, “— we should, um, we should slow down.”

“Oh,” she responded. “ Okay.”

Emily couldn’t help but feel rejected. It pricked her skin and twisted in her gut. Luke felt it too. He quickly pulled her against him, an instinctual desperation to comfort her roared inside him. Emily hid her face in his neck, breathing in the familiar smell. Her breathing slowed as he rubbed slow circles on her back and pressed his nose against her ear.

Luke hugged her to him tightly. Mine. He was startled by the thought. Mine. This moment, this feeling felt real and pure. And it had nothing to do with the wolf or destiny or some ancient magic.