Beach Reads + Giveaway

So, I (Britney) am going to the beach next week ! 

Not the exact beach in the picture but the beach none the less. My husband and I will be spending 5 whole days in lovely PCB (Panama City Beach for those of you who aren't familiar with the local beach slang). So of course, I've got my "TBR BEACH READS" list. There's only one tiny problem I've come across. I HAVE TOO MANY BOOKS ON MY LIST! 

Yep, I have only 5 short days and 34 books. No, I cannot read 7 books a day, although that would be totally awesome. Here is my list in no particular order.

The Indigo Spell – Bloodlines #3 – Rachelle Mead

Requiem – Delirium #3 – Lauren Oliver

Reckless – Thoughtless #3 – S.C. Stephens

Until I Break – M. Leighton

Twisted Perfection – Abbi Glines

Because of Low – Sea Breeze – Abbi Glines

While It Lasts – Sea Breeze – Abbi Glines

Just for Now – Sea Breeze – Abbi Glines

Music of the Heart – Katie Ashley

Wallbanger – Alice Clayton

Slammed – Colleen Hoover

Point of Retreat – Colleen Hoover

This Girl – Colleen Hoover

The Forgotten Ones – Laura Howard

Until I Break – M. Leighton

Luke series – Cassia Leo

Chase series – Cassia Leo

Wreck Me – Wrecked series #1 – J.L. Mac

Translation of Love – Alice Montalvo-Tribue

Suicide Note – Teresa Mummert

Once Week Girlfriend – Monica Murphy

The Edge of Never – J.A. Redmerski

Consequences – Aleatha Romig

A Beautiful Lie – Playing with Fire #1 – Tara Sivec

Because of You – Playing with Fire #2 – Tara Sivec

Shattered Promises – Jessica Sorensen

The Perfect Game – J. Sterling

The Mighty Storm – Samantha Towle

Ten Tiny Breaths – K.A. Tucker

Rock my Bed – Michelle Valentine

Demon at My Door – Michelle Valentine

Damaged – H.M. Ward

Wounded – Jasinda Wilder

Falling Into You – Jasinda Wilder

South of Bixby Bridge – Ryan Winfield
Beauty from Surrender - Georgia Cates

So, this is where I need your help. I need suggestions for narrowing down this list or at least putting them in some kind of "order of importance." Don't worry, they will all get read eventually! In exchange for helping me out, I'll give away a $5 Amazon GC to 1 lucky person. I'm leaving next Wed. so the giveaway will end 1 week from today. Just enter through the Rafflecopter form below. 

Oh and our Facebook page is just 1 like away from 200, so for every 50 "likes" we get over 200, I'll draw 1 additional winner to win an e-book of their choice ($5 or less). So get entered! Share your suggestions and spread the word!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

HONEY RED by Liz Crowe - Review

Source: Provided by publisher for honest review.

Honey Red

by Liz Crowe 

**WARNING: This is an adult read with various topics and activities that are not suitable for all readers. 

Two men suffering from visible and invisible wounds meet by chance circumstance.

Nick Traynor and Ian Donovan spend a lot of time and effort keeping it very hot, only physical, and purely superficial. But when their resolve starts to slip, a woman is tossed into their midst.

Hannah Williams wants nothing more than to do her job until something better comes along, but is forced to own up to her visceral reaction to Ian, her new boss, and later to Nick, his sometimes lover.

Lust has a funny way of turning into companionship, and eventually evolving into a deeper connection. Faced with the internal and external complications of their potential three-way relationship, they begin to heal and trust, to consider that it might work. Then life tosses them a hardball, forcing them back into their respective corners, where each must choose what is most important.

Three people determined not to commit, thrown together by fate and undeniable attraction--their nights heat up and emotions run high in spite of a claimed mutual desire to "keep it simple." In the process of honest self-discovery, can they learn that while love is never simple, it is definitely worth fighting for?

Review:

Ok, this was a VERY different read for me. I don't typically pick up books that have M/M or three-way relationships. It's just not something that really appeals to me. So naturally when I was first asked if I'd like to review it, I was a little iffy, but since I've absolutely loved everything of Liz's that I've read so far I decided to give a chance. After all, she does write some epic love stories, and I love how she always writes about the craft beer industry. I'm a sucker for a good beer. Needless to say, I already had a long list of reviews scheduled so it took me a little time to get around it Honey Red. 

Even though I had decided to give it a shot, I still wasn't sure I was going to like it so I opened it a little reluctantly. And of course, after all that I fell in love with it, but I was still struggling with whether or not I would review it. But I finally decided that, at the center of everything it's just a love story. Granted an unconventional one, but I fell in love with the characters, and realized that they were struggling with their own story just like I was struggling with my decision to review it, and that's when I realized that yes, of course I would review it because it's a good book! So duh, that's what it's all about.

Ultimately, this is a story about love and loss and confusion, which are all things that make for a great story, but the way Liz tells the story is what makes it so unbelievably engrossing. The story is told from all 3 POVs, which allows the reader to really understand the motivations and feelings of each character. These are 3 very different people trying to come to terms with a very unconventional way of life and love while each battling their own insecurities and pasts. 

Honey Red is heartwarming and captivating and just an all around good love story. I seriously hope that, if you are like me and a little reluctant, that you will give this book a try. Admittedly, it's not for everyone. I wrote this review with my personal approach to the book for a reason. Many of you out there  are probably wondering why I feel the way I do, and have probably read books with similar relationships; however, I never have. So I wanted to give you all my honest perspective. This was a new adventure for me, and at times I know I blushed furiously. But the beauty of this love story really shined, and I really felt compelled to share it. I hope you all love it as much as I did.

If you've never read anything by Liz Crowe, you can read my reviews of Mutual Release and Paradise Hops. 

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REVIEW (adult) ~ Mr. Real by Carolyn Crane

He finds the girl of his dreams…with the secret agent of his nightmares.

Alix Gordon is a woman who doesn’t take life too seriously. What’s the fun in that? So when she stumbles across occult software that can bring any computer image to life, she conjures up lots of awesome outfits and accessories. And then, on one drunken, horny night, she conjures up Sir Kendall, the sexy TV ad spy . . . who looks exactly like Paul Reinhardt, the super-sexy martial arts teacher who kicked her out of class three years ago.

Fighter Paul Reinhardt has good reason to hate Sir Kendall, the character he brought to life to land a part in a TV ad; he’d do anything to forget him. A cross country road trip seems just the thing . . . until Paul finds himself inexplicably drawn to Minnesota and is shocked to discover Sir Kendall - in the flesh - with the girl he’d once loved from afar. He barges into Alix and Sir Kendall’s love nest, determined to stop the madness - somehow.

But is superspy Sir Kendall transforming into something more dangerous anyone can imagine? And what will Sir Kendall do when Paul and Alix finally give into their mad lust for each other?

Virtual manifestations, doppelgängers, and a show down? You betcha you got an entertaining story!

I am a fan of Carolyn Crane's witty writing. She grasps my attention with suspenseful plots, surprises and spicy love scenes. Her Disillusionists series is a favorite adult read of mine, and now, she has the Code of Shadows series, book 1- Mr. Real. As expected, she leaves you with satisfaction from the beginning to the end with quite an interesting read.

Hold on to your keyboards peeps!! This is like computer voodoo magical manifestations gone wild!!! And I mean MAN... Hear me roarrrr!
This chick, Alix, had the world at her fingertips. BUT.... There's always but... Is it what it seems? Is she prepared for this? Is it real? I can tell you this much, Alix has her hands full as two worlds collide. Will she make it right? Does she want to? Can her want become a reality?

Alix was a very enjoyable character. She had a spunky, daring attitude and was reckless, desperate and naïve- but not dumb - not to mention she had über cool pink hair trying to live it up in the country in a house her aunt left her. But, is that the only thing she inherited? Plus, she's got a cool BFF Karen. And their friendship supportively rocked.

Sir Kendall left me panting... Man was he hot- totally knew how to take care of the ladies! I caught myself many times reading in the accent of his language and made facial expressions while I did it, lol! Therefore, I very much enjoyed the portrayal of Sir Kendall Nicholas the Third, a dangerous, but seductive man.

Oh Paul. One more time. Paul. Glorious. Confident, yet scarred. Intense. Savior. Hard Ass Paul. I'm not going to lie, you may wanna tap his trunk. Poor fella. I can't imagine walking in on the situation he did. I know it left me wide-eyed!

There was so much tension between the two male characters- I.Guess.So- considering the circumstances, plus the battle of their inner selves. It was very nice and easy stepping into Alix's shoes while I read. I'm certain I would've made the same choices and handled the situations as she did.

If you are looking for a refreshing, charismatic and eager read, then Mr. Real is for you!

Mr. Real on Goodreads

Purchase Mr. Real by Carolyn Crane on Barnes and Noble or Amazon

 

Kimberly