Book Review

Sydney Author Event – SWAG GIVEAWAY

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Recently I had the enormous pleasure of attending the Sydney Author Event, 2016. This was a super fun author signing at the Ivy Ballroom in Sydney.

There were so many authors in attendance, and it was wonderful to discover and meet so many new people. There were a few authors I had been literally DYING to meet and my day was made (Read: the delicious Leisa Rayven and the dynamic duo Christina Lauren!)

I’ll write up more on the day, with pics, in another post, but for now.. I picked up A LOT of SWAG to share with you all!! Soooo.. CLICK ON THE IMAGE below to head over to my Facebook page and enter to win!

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*Competition is open internationally
*SWAG box may contain signed and unsigned items
*Must LIKE SydneyGenReads on Facebook to enter
*Winners will be drawn using a computer random name generator
*Competition closes SUNDAY 29th August, 9am (AUSTRALIAN EST)

Book Review: Wicked Heart by Leisa Rayven

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Genre: Contemporary Romance

Liam Quinn is talented, gorgeous, and one of the biggest movie stars in the world.

He’s also the only man Elissa Holt has ever truly loved.

After being out of her life for six years, he and his gorgeous fiancé are set to star in the new Broadway show Elissa is stage managing. The only trouble is, when late night rehearsals bring Elissa and Liam together, the line between what is and what could have been gets blurred, and one moment of weakness will lead to a scandal that will echo around the world.

Elissa knows that falling for Liam again would be a tragedy in the making, but as any good romantic will tell you, love doesn’t always follow the script.

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It’s no secret that I’m a fan of Leisa Rayven. The lady knows how to pack the punches and smash it right across the page and knock you out, pounding you right in the chesticles.

The latest instalment, #3 in the “Starcrossed” series, does not disappoint.

Rayven has used her wicked way with words to tangle with our hearts and make us fall in love all over again. Following on from her popular books, Bad Romeo & Broken Juliet, this book takes the readers on a journey of the secondary characters, giving them a voice of their own. There’s the familiar push and pull that the characters do, lane-almost-kiss-5-owhich is familiar in the Starcrossed books. Sacrifice and Love once again come to the forefront and the reader is left turning the page until the very end.

One of the things I admire the most about reading these stories is the way the author weaves in the emotion and captures your heart without you even realising how invested you’ve become.

This book is easily added into my Top 10 of 2016 pile.

I can’t wait to see Leisa at the upcoming Sydney Author Event in a couple of weeks! I hope to get some swag signed – stay tuned for a giveaway!

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Book Review: Lily and the Octopus by Steven Rowley

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Genre: Fiction

In this moving, revelatory literary novel, a young writer finds himself unable to open up to the possibility of love — except through the companionship of his aging dachshund Lily. But with the unexpected arrival of a small octopus that affixes itself, unrelenting, to Lily’s head, it soon becomes clear this invader is strangling the life from his dog and threatening the bond between man and his one true friend.

With transportive spins into magic realism at sea and beautifully evoked universal truths of loss and longing on land, a hilariously sardonic and not altogether reliable narrator, and one unforgettable hound whose simple passions and inspiring wisdom will break your heart and put it back together again, Lily and the Octopus captures the singular search for meaning in the face of death and introduces a dazzling new voice in fiction.

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Excuse me for a moment while I wait for the emotional rollercoaster to slow down and cruise into the docking station, ready for me to get off. Oh my heart. This book is a wonderful, emotional, heart bleeding story of a man and his dog. Of course, once you read the first chapter you’ll know exactly how the story is going to go. Don’t let that stop you. Steven Rowley tells a wonderful tale of a dog and his owner. I fell in love with the relationship he has with Lily right from the beginning. I mean, surely everyone tumblr_mgoopn41in1rz2ot3o1_1280plays Monopoly and talks boys with their dog, right?! My heart is so full of love, but so heavy with sadness. This is a literary wonder. A book that makes you want to read it, but not continue on because you want to save yourself. You’ll never look at another dachshund without thinking of the beautiful Lily. Being a dog person I feel like I may have invested myself heavily in this book. There’s just no description of the love and loyalty a dog and owner have. Read this book… that’s all I can say. Read it and feel the love that exists in this world. I’ll be right back, I need to go and smother my two senior furry babies in lots of love!!!

~ A beautimous (both beautiful and fabulous) must-read. Grab this book! NOW!

Photo:Malina Saval

Book Review: A Kiss From Mr Fitzgerald by Natasha Lester

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Genre: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Women’s Lit.

It’s the roaring twenties in the Manhattan of gin, jazz and prosperity. Women wear makeup and hitched hemlines and enjoy a new freedom to vote and work. Not so for Evelyn Lockhart, who is forbidden from pursuing her passion to become one of the first female doctors. Chasing her dream will mean turning her back on her family: her competitive sister, Viola; her conservative parents; and the childhood best friend she is expected to marry, Charlie.

In a desperate attempt to support herself through Columbia University’s medical school, Evie auditions for the infamous late-night Ziegfeld Follies on Broadway. But if she gets the part, what will it mean for her fledgling relationship with Upper East Side banker Thomas Whitman – a man Evie thinks she could fall in love with, if only she lived a life less scandalous…

Captivating, romantic and tragic, A Kiss from Mr Fitzgerald follows a young woman ahead of her time amid the fragile hearts and glamour of Jazz Age New York.

 

 

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This book was simply the bee’s knees! Stepping back in time to the 1920’s was a copacetic experience. Whilst it did take me a little while to get a wiggle on, once I got over the hurdle, there was no turning back..only turning pages! The author has undoubtedly done her research, as there is so much culture spread on to the pages.

giphyThe main character, Evelyn (Evie) Lockhart is definitely not a wallflower. She is smart, clever, and strong. Although some of her choices are questionable, and I’ll admit they left me feeling a little uneasy reading through. Despite that, I was so glad to read all the way in one sitting, and found the ending truly satisfying.

964605036161d5630a6d5d25510043d8This book had me up until 2am in the morning! I could not put it down. The whole book was littered with language from the 1920’s which makes me want to bring it back! With settings like the speakeasy, to sayings like “spifflicated” (something I’ve certainly done on the weekends past), this book is a delightful insight into a woman who is faced with adversity in a time when men ruled, and women kept quiet…until Evelyn Lockhart came along. Much more than a love story.

 

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(This book is also available in paperback from leading book retailers)

Thank you to Hachette Australia and Natasha Lester for the opportunity to read and review this book. 

Book Review: Secret Father by Suz DeMello

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Genre: Contemporary Romance, Sweet Romance

When Linda Travers was fourteen, Dave Madsen, then age seventeen, rescued her from a snowy death. They later met at an end-of-term party at their college and lost their virginities to each other before Dave left the country.

And now…Despite spending her teenage years mooning over Dave, Linda Travers has moved on with her life. Being left pregnant and alone will force that on a gal. Age twenty-five, she lives in their hometown with their six-year-old, Mac. Then Dr. Dave Madsen reappears. He’s spent the last years exploring in the Amazon, searching for new plants and medications. A vicious snakebite has left him needing rehab from the only physical therapist around—Linda.

Their college lovemaking was the first time for both, so Linda and Dave remember each other. She’s amazed to feel the same old anger, hurt, and need. Less emotional, Dave’s curious about Linda, wondering why she didn’t leave her address and phone number for him when what they’d shared had been so good. Neither totally believes the explanations the other offers.

Since the rescue, Dave was always Linda’s hero, but she doesn’t know him anymore. Is he worthy of fathering their son? And what of their love? Can they create a future…together as a family?

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This is such a sweet read. If you’re after a nice, clean book with lots of chemistry and romance than look no further. Suz DeMello has written a lovely story of a couple who spent many years apart, but in the end, fate and the universe bought them back together. I love how intense Dave gets at the end towards Lin. One of my favourite quotes is about their love, when he explains it as:

“No, not just biology. So much more than hormones saying ‘hi’ to each other. I love you. With all your confusion and your struggles, you’re the one. You’ve always been the one, and you always will be.”

This is a definite happily ever after, and the author is up front about that in the beginning. Be sure to read this book when you’re in the mood for a kind, easy to read, touching HEA.

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Best-selling, award-winning author Suz deMello, a.k.a Sue Swift, has written seventeen romance novels in several subgenres, including erotica, comedy, historical, paranormal, mystery and suspense, plus a number of short stories and non-fiction articles on writing. A freelance editor, she’s held the positions of managing editor and senior editor, working for such firms as Totally Bound and Ai Press. She also takes private clients. Her books have been favorably reviewed in Publishers Weekly, Kirkus and Booklist, won a contest or two, attained the finals of the RITA and hit several bestseller lists. A former trial attorney, her passion is world travel. She’s left the US over a dozen times, including lengthy stints working overseas. She’s now writing a vampire tale and planning her next trip.

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–For editing services, email her at suzdemello@gmail.com
–Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/suzdemello/
–Her current blog is http://www.TheVelvetLair.com

Thank you to Words Turn Me On and Suz DeMello for the opportunity to read and review this book. 

Review – Me Before You by JoJo Moyes

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The movie is out Thursday! Have you read the book, yet?! I’m very excited about watching the movie. It’s going to be tissue heaven!

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mebeforeyoucoverGenre: Romance. Adult Fiction. Chick Lit. Drama. Angst. Contemporary Romance.

Lou Clark knows lots of things. She knows how many footsteps there are between the bus stop and home. She knows she likes working in The Buttered Bun tea shop and she knows she might not love her boyfriend Patrick.
What Lou doesn’t know is she’s about to lose her job or that knowing what’s coming is what keeps her sane.
Will Traynor knows his motorcycle accident took away his desire to live. He knows everything feels very small and rather joyless now and he knows exactly how he’s going to put a stop to that.
What Will doesn’t know is that Lou is about to burst into his world in a riot of colour. And neither of them knows they’re going to change the other for all time.

I’m going to keep this simple. There aren’t many books that…

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Book Review: Fire Me Up by Rachael Johns

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(Deacons of Bourbon Street 2) 

Genre: MC Romance. Contemporary Fiction

Travis “Cash” Sinclair values only two things from his days with the Deacons of Bourbon Street: his prized Harley Davidson and the man who gave it to him. But now Priest Lombard is gone, and Cash has inherited the Deacons’ clubhouse—not to mentions its unexpected tenant. She’s exactly the type of woman he tries to avoid: all incense and art, with a sharp tongue that promises trouble. So why does Cash want to push aside those flowing skirts and lose himself between her legs?

Billie Taylor fled a bad marriage to start a new life among the grit and glamour of the French Quarter. She refuses to let another man distract her from her dreams, especially an outlaw biker with nothing to offer except hot sex and an eviction notice. Cash is dangerous, with an untamed streak he tries desperately to conceal. He drives Billie wild, sending her too close to the edge for her own good. And she won’t fall under his spell—or into his bed—without a fight.

 

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The next instalment in the Deacons of Bourbon Street fills in some more detail surrounding the mysterious death of former President, Priest. Travis “Cash” Sinclair has been let down so many times in life, that he truly believes that he is meant to travel the world alone, never to love.

“If he learned one lesson early in life, it was that the only person you could count on was yourself. He was a lone player now, and that the way he intended to stay.”

That is, until he meets a feisty Australian artist who occupies the art gallery, former home to the clubhouse. Cash comes barreling into Billie’s world and turns it upside down, without ever meaning to. Billie and Cash have a swirling, messy romance, like charcoal on paper. They epitomise the opposites attract analogy; the yin and yang of love.

The author seamlessly recreates the world established by the first author in the series. This is something to be commended when writing in the same world, with some of the same characters from the previous book. The city of New Orleans features once again, as the artistic and historical side starts to come into play. The introduction of the ‘bad bikers’ from the rival motorcycle club ramps up the tension and creates interest and intrigue into the continuing storyline of finding out why Priest died, and why the four brothers left town in the first place. Another great read.

Can’t wait to read the next instalment.

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Book Review: Make You Burn by Megan Crane

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Genre: Contemporary Romance. MC Romance.

Meet the Deacons of Bourbon Street, bad boy bikers who are hell on wheels and heaven between the sheets. Fans of Madeline Sheehan, Katie Ashley, Joanna Wylde and Kristen Ashley, buckle up – you’re in for a wild ride. First stop: Make You Burn by Megan Crane.

Sean ‘Ajax’ Harding’s oaths are inked into his skin. Once second-in-command of the Deacons of Bourbon Street motorcycle club, he left New Orleans to protect his brotherhood. But the death of his beloved mentor, Priest Lombard, has lured him back. Heading straight to the club’s hangout, he’s welcomed by the delectable new owner. A wild ride with her is just what he needs – until he finds out she’s Priest’s daughter, all grown up and off limits.

Sophie Lombard loved her father, but she’s done with bikers. Then Ajax roars into town and changes everything. Sophie knows better than to get close to an outlaw but Ajax is impossible to resist. Their chemistry is steamier than the Louisiana bayou – and with heat like this, it might just be worth getting burned.

 

 

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Stepping into the world of the Deacons of Bourbon Street is as thrilling as a fast paced ride on the back of a motorcycle. The first book, Make You Burn, is a scorching read covering loss, love, and tragedy. Sophie tries to navigate life without her father, the president of the local disbanded MC club, after he dies mysteriously in a riding accident. Enter, Ajax, returned home after ten years of exile by Sophie’s dad, slipping into the role of President. 

It was great to read a female lead who gave as good as she got. Sophie did not back down from a guy like Ajax, and was able to me meet him head on, creating chemistry off the charts. There’s a lot of mystery surrounding why Ajax and the three ‘brothers’ were exiled, and whilst you don’t find out in this book, the story line offers enough mystery and clues to start piecing the puzzle together.

“Why had Priest sent four of his most loyal and trusted brothers away ten years ago? Sure, shit had gone down wrong and blood called for blood, but why four exiled lives for one death? That math had never worked”.

I loved the setting of New Orleans-reading her as another character that created depth to the story. The book is full of flawed characters who live in a dark and dirty world. Together, can they create the light that can dim the darkness of the back alleys of NOLA?

A great read for anyone who loves a good, well-written, MC genre story.

~Book 1 in the Deacons of Bourbon Street. Look out for my future reviews of the rest of the series! 

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About the Author:

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Megan Crane is a New Jersey native who had great plans to star on Broadway, preferably in Evita, just like Patti LuPone. Sadly, her inability to wow audiences with her singing voice required a backup plan. Accordingly, she graduated from Vassar College and got her MA and PhD in literature from the University of York in England. She wrote her doctoral dissertation on AIDS literature, mostly so she could wallow in her obsession with the remarkable multimedia artist David Wojnarowicz and her idol, the bitter and hilarious David Feinberg. After many years in the rain and subject to the whim of seasons, she followed the sun to Los Angeles, where she lives with too many pets and an artist named Jeff. She is still plotting her Broadway debut.

Visit Megan’s website www.megancrane.com, find her on 63df2-icon-facebook-128 and on twitter-button

 

Book Review: The Master by Tara Sue Me

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THE MASTER by Tara Sue Me

Genre: Contemporary Romance – BSDM – Erotica  

She’s ready to try again. . . .

Sasha Blake is scarred from a BDSM session gone wrong, but she can’t deny how much a strong Master turns her on. Determined to overcome her fears and rejoin the Partners in Play community, she asks Abby and Nathaniel West to set her up with a Dom who can help her feel safe again as a sub. They know the very experienced Cole is exactly the kind of man who can push all of Sasha’s buttons—and she soon wants to go much faster than she had planned. . . .

Cole knows that Sasha is not the kind of submissive he needs. He wants someone who will serve him 24-7, not a part-time partner. Still, the further they go into their play, the more Cole begins to wish he could make Sasha his all the time. . . .

When forbidden desires turn into scorching action, Sasha and Cole come face-to-face with their demons—and realize their scorching relationship might be too dangerous to last. . . .

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In her latest novel, Tara Sue Me has masterfully written a world of sophistication and eroticism as we step into the pages and days of master and slave. The relationship between Master Cole and his submissive, Sasha, takes the reader on a journey of discovery and healing. Sasha has experienced a tragic experience in the world of BDSM, and it’s up to Master Cole to train her to trust again. Can he do it while remaining professional and not becoming emotionally involved?!  giphy

One of my favourite things about Tara Sue Me and her writing is the ability she has to build a world without to need to micro describe every detail. The reader is encouraged to use their imagination and form the characters and situations from the page to their mind.     

The Master is another delightfully dirty addition to the world of BDSM that Tara Sue Me started in The Submissive. Having the characters from her ‘series’ appear in this book makes it feel like you’re reading about a special group of people, that don’t usually let outsiders in. A true voyeuristic peek into the world of BDSM, both in and out of scenes.

The Master is a must read for anyone who loves eroticism sprinkled with deeper relationships. A stand alone that can be read as a part of the series, or on its own.

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I received a copy of this book on NETGALLEY

Out of Office

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I am currently out of the office (and on a delayed posting schedule) due to scheduling conflicts (aka – life, work, school balance!) I will return as soon as possible with reviews and words.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

 

((I am still reading with the intent to review – reviews will be posted soon))