Review & Giveaway: Eighteen At Last by Gretchen de la O

 

Available Now!

 

Momma's Rating

4.5 I want my own Max Stars!

 

 

Momma's Review

 

After devouring the first book in this series I was excited to jump right into Eighteen At Last by Gretchen de la O.  The problem was that I was a little worried.  There seems to be a pattern of second books in a series falling flat but that was completely untrue for this series!  This second in the series was better than the first!  It's packed with so much more angst and drama that I couldn't stop reading and was up so long that I saw sunrise through my bedroom window!

 

While it's true that our heroine is only a month older than she was in the first book, she is hit with situations that are much older than she is.  She has to deal with extended family, jealousy and betrayal.  Because of this you get to watch her grow and start to change....even if she does make some stupid ass choices!

 

While I was reading the book I thought that it was missing more of what happened when she got back to school...the sneaking around that I was expecting but after finishing the book I can see why it was left out.  Adding that would have made the book trashy.  Gretchen de la O has this amazing way of writing great sex scenes without having to use words like moist, shaft or folds!  It's no secret that I am a lover of smut and my kindle probably shouldn't be looked at my anyone under the age of 18, but the way this story was written was really refreshing.  After reading tons and tons of dirty scenes it was nice to read about sex without it being porn......and no I don't have a fever ;)

 

Watch out cause book two has one hell of a cliffy!  But have no fear because book 3, Beyond Eighteen, is already available!

 

Momma's Recommendation

 

I highly recommend this series to any reader who loves a good romance with a bit of steam and a whole lot of drama!

 

Giveaway

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Other Books In This Series

 

Almost Eighteen (The Wilson Mooney Series) by Gretchen de la O

 

Available Now

 

Momma's Rating

4 Holy Hot Teacher Stars!

Synopsis

Abandoned by her mother at the vulnerable age of eight; only to be shipped off to a boarding school in Northern California by her grandparents, Wilson Mooney, is one girl who knows what it’s like to have to grow up way too fast. Now, a month away from turning eighteen and orphaned by the death of her grandparents; she knows exactly what she wants. All it takes is a spontaneous ski trip with her narcissistic roommate to Colorado to make it a reality. When "he" happens to show up at a party in Aspen, Wilson becomes tangled in the powerful emotions of first love, sexual inexperience, and society’s principles. She lives a whirlwind weekend filled with newly discovered boundaries, calloused aches for a family she never had, and all the pressures of keeping their weekend together a secret.

Momma's Review

 

I had the pleasure of meeting Gretchen de la O at the Naughty Mafia Rocks Vegas event this past August and she was most definitely one of the stand out personalities that I met during that event.  Then fast forward to November and I ran into her again at the Rockin Holidays Indie Reader Bash and I think I may have fallen in love with her!  She's one of those personalities that is so big that you can't help to be drawn in and a group of us ended up chatting for hours.  So of course I just HAD to read her debut books, The Wilson Mooney Series.

 

To tell you the truth one of the reasons I hadn't read the book yet was because the title led me to believe that the book was more of a YA novel and I can only handle a few true YAs a year.  But when she updated the cover it definitely put it on my radar and I had to find out more.

 

Almost Eighteen by Gretchen de la O is a well written story about forbidden romance and doing what it takes to get what you want.  The author does an amazing job of walking a very fine line between young romance and "taboo." Because of the age of the characters it would have been very easy to go "too far" and make it a book that many would have found uncomfortable.  But the way she wrote it really made you want to stick up for them and push for a HEA. 

 

There were a few times in the story I had to remind myself of how young the heroine is, at times she sounded like any other 20 something and other times like a teenager.  Her character is complicated by the fact that she had to grow up much faster with the loss of mother and the subsequent stay in boarding school.

 

Overall I really enjoyed book one in this series.  I couldn't put it down and ended up reading it in one day.  Not only that but I immediately picked up and went right into the next book!

 

Momma's Recommendation

 

I highly recommend this book and the series will easily take a spot in my favorite reads of this year.  And the best part.....while this book does have a cliffy, books 2 & 3 are already out!

Giveaway

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Working It by Kendall Ryan

 

 

Available Now!

Momma's Rating

4 Hot Model Stars!

Momma's Review

*I received a copy of the ARC in exchange for an honest review*

Let me start by saying that I love Kendall Ryan and I'm going to try very hard to keep the fangirling to a minimum!  I got Working It by Kendall Ryan a few weeks ago and couldn't wait to dive in. I actually started reading it the same day I got it and stayed up WAYYYYYY past my bedtime until I passed out on my reader.  I had it read in 2 sittings because I just had to find out what was going to happen.

I really enjoyed Working It.  I've seen others compare it to The Devil Wears Prada, but this book is so much hotter!  The heat, the angst and the drama make it so much more than any comparison could make.  And compared to other books that Kendall has written, this is by far the hottest one that I've had a chance to read.  The characters were great, Emmy wasn't some young, virginal novice and Ben was strong, sexy and playful.  Some of my favorite parts were in the playful banter and messages between the two characters.   

My only suggestion to readers is to skip the prologue, It gives away a bit too much of the story and instead of being blindsided by a great dip on the roller coaster it leaves you almost waiting for the other shoe to drop.  Almost like you know what's coming so instead of just enjoying the book you end up trying to dissect each scene just looking for what's coming.  And personally I like to not know what's coming up, to the point where most of the time I don't read a synopsis or jacket cover.....it just makes the ride more fun!

Momma's Recommendation:

I highly recommend this story to anyone who loves a good romance with a bit of angst and a LOT of heat!

Giveaway (hosted by author)

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About the Author

 

Kendall Ryan is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the contemporary romance novels HARD TO LOVE, UNRAVEL ME, MAKE ME YOURS, RESISTING HER and THE IMPACT OF YOU.  She's a sassy, yet polite Midwestern gal with a deep love of books, and a slight addiction to lipgloss. Visit her at: www.kendallryanbooks.com for the latest books news.

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Cover Reveal: The Infamous Ellen James by N.A. Alcorn plus Giveaway & Trailer!

 

Available December 1

 

Synopsis:

 

Meet twenty-eight year old Ellen James. A sarcastic, feisty, foul-mouthed ER Nurse. She is snarky, sassy, and sometimes crudely inappropriate. After a terrible breakup with her fiancé, Ellen has promised herself that she will never make the mistake of falling for another man again… and physicians, well she’s more than written them off.

Once she meets sexy Trauma Surgeon, Dr. Trent Hamilton, this promise is unbelievably hard to keep. This too-hot-for-Ellen's-own-good man is undeniably sexy and down-right irresistible. He leaves her breathless, speechless, and irritatingly turned on. He makes her fantasize about him in all kinds of dirty, inappropriate ways.

With the help of her obnoxious, and often times hilarious best friend Amy, Ellen will find herself in several crazy, embarrassing situations. 

This is a story of friendship, love and how one very sarcastic woman can find the strength to pick up the pieces after having her heart broken. 

In her first novel, N.A. Alcorn provides interesting takes on the word vagina, while giving you a reason to re-think your next visit to the Emergency Room. This book is bound to make you laugh, smile, and provide you with enough sarcasm to choke your grandmother. No, N.A. doesn’t want anything bad to happen to your Grandma Ruth, but she does want you to strongly consider re-naming your vibrator after a guy who’s at the top of your spank bank rotation. Be prepared for dripping juice-boxes, awkward pelvic thrusting, and a little suspense to keep your snatch on edge. 

Warning: This novel contains explicit sex, profanity and far too much vaginal humor. This novel is not meant for anti-fornicators, up-tight prudes, or virgins who refuse to go to Pound Town.

 

 

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About The Author:

 

N.A. Alcorn is a wife, mother, labor and delivery nurse, writer, and blogger. She lives in Cincinnati with her husband and three-year-old son, Sid. In her spare time she enjoys reading, writing, running, and having inappropriate conversations with her blog besties. She also has a serious addiction to music and her all-time favorite band is Incubus. Her ability to eat an ungodly amount of Reese’s Cups in a fifteen minute time frame would quite literally blow your mind.

Links:

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18620442-the-infamous-ellen-james

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/naalcorn

Author Site: http://www.naalcorn.wordpress.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/NAAlcorn

LLL&R Blog: http://livelovelaughandread.com/

LLL&R FB: http://www.facebook.com/livelovelaughandread

Email:  livelovelaughandread@yahoo.com

Mine by Katy Evans

Available NOW!

 





Momma's Rating

5 Hot For Remy Stars!

Momma's Review

Holy crap....how do I even write a review for a book like Mine by Katy Evans.  I'm pretty sure that no matter what I say it's going to end up sounding like a crazy fan girl screaming about her favorite book boyfriend!  But I'll try not to sound like a blubbering fool!

Mine was abso-freaking-lutley amazing!  After reading Real a few months back I was dying for more Remy and I wasn't disappointed in the least!  Remy is still a sexy, strong alpha male who does what he want's and takes what he needs but this time there is so much more depth to him!  In Real I felt like I wanted so much more of his story, his background, and this time we get it!  And more of Brooke too!  I loved Brooke so much more in this story than I did in the last one (and I really liked her a lot in Real).  As expected, Katy Evans has written a book that is filled with angst, suspense, romance and more steamy scenes then you'll know what to do with!

Momma's Recommendation

If you were a fan of Real by Katy Evans than you MUST read Mine!  And if you haven't been introduced to the one and only Remington Tate....well what are you waiting for???  No seriously, Remy is the best fighter BBF out there!  You don't want to miss this series!

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About the Author

Hey! I'm Katy Evans and I love family, books, life, and love.  I'm married with two children and three dogs and sepend my time baking, walking, writing, reading, and taking care of my family.  Thank you for spending your time with me and picking up my story.  I hope you had an amazing time with it, like I did.  If you'd like to know more about my books in progress, look me up on the Internet, I'd love to hear from you.

 

Website:  www.katyevans.net

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Katy-Evans/521052267929550

Twitter: https://twitter.com/authorkatyevans

Email: authorkatyevans@gmail.com

S.E.C.R.E.T. by L. Marie Adeline

 

Available Now

 

 

Momma's Rating:

4 Secret Stars

 

Momma's Review:

 

*I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review*

 

SECRET by L. Marie Adeline was a bit of a surprise to me.  While I knew the basis of the book I really couldn't tell how the author was going to pull off the story and I was pleasantly surprised!  The idea of the book is that their is a SECRET Society of women who set out to help other women regain their self esteem through exploring their sexuality....I know...sounds good, right?  Enter Cassie, a women in her 30's who is a widow and is just working to try and get by.  Her ex was a dead beat asshole who never attempted to satisfy her sexually so when he dies she just seems to give up on sex all together.

 

The book was good, the erotic scenes were pretty steamy but I wouldn't call this Erotica.  It is more Erotic Romance.  I really enjoyed watching Cassie take her ten steps and then finally see what her decision was at the end of the book.  I have seen many low reviews of this book and I can't quite figure out why.  I think it really is one of those books that you need to take a step from reality when reading.  Is there a chance that a group like SECRET really exists....probably not. would it be really cool if there was....absolutely!  But this book was a great escape for me and I couldn't put it down...I just had to know if she would "accept the step"

 

And while the book did end in a rather large cliffhanger I was excited to continue the story with SECRETS Shared which is also out! 

 

Momma's Recommendation:

 

I recommend this book to anyone who loves erotic romance and has an open mind. 



Rotten by JL Brooks

Available Now!

Momma's Rating:

5 Amazing Stars!

 

Synopsis:

 

Growing up on the outskirts of Las Vegas as the daughter of notorious strip club owner, Stephen Knox, and a mother who abandoned her at birth, life was less than kind to a young Antoinette.

After a failed teenage suicide attempt, Toni hit the road in search of a life free of undeserved cruelty and any resemblance to her past.

Years later, Toni finds herself in a dead end marriage and makes a painful confession that sends her back to the one place she always wanted to escape. But can she really right the wrongs that haunt her? Toni soon finds that the only place where things stay the same is in your mind.

When her path crosses with David Stark, childhood playmate turned one night stand, she cannot deny the spike in temperature she feels every time he's near or the scorching dreams that flood her at night.

Digging through the years of heartache, Toni soon finds herself torn between the man she is committed to and the one who has always held her heart. As each layer unfolds before her, she discovers the root cause of her pain. Always believing the source was external, nothing could prepare her for the truth.

Momma's Review:

*I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review*

 

Talk about being blindsided by a book!  This is another book that I chose to read without reading the synopsis and holy shit was I knocked on my ass by this one!  The first chapter had me in tears and my head spinning.  I've been vocal in the past about experiences that I had with bullying while growing up and the way that Toni's story was written hit so close to home that it made me reach out and thank J.L. Brooks for writing it. 

 

Toni was such an amazingly complex character that I immediately fell in love with her.  She's strong, independent and a total spit fire, the problem is that she's been hiding her true self.  As you watch her rediscover herself you can't help but root for her the entire time.  And while there were a few times in the book I wanted to smack her with my kindle I still loved her! Then add in David Stark, a sweet, dark, playful, romantic, teasing, sexy beast!  The angst in this book was one of the parts that I liked the most.  No one jumped straight into bed and because of that you find yourself holding your breath for the next move.

 

The other thing was the fact that religion was used so freely in this book.  I'm Catholic, I've confessed this to you all before.  I've also been vocal about the fact that I HATE when authors use any form of religion in a book as a negative.  It totally turns me off.  And at the same time I hate when authors use it for no reason, like it's just another plot point.  But I was so extremely happy while reading this book.  While the religious beliefs of the main heroine are openly discussed in the book at no time does it feel like the main focal point, the way it's written makes it just so normal....like an everyday thing.  That my friends is hard to do!

 

Rotten by J. L. Brooks is so incredibly well written.  When I write a review I sit down and talk with myself about all the pros and cons, the characters, the plot points and the pace of the story.  I couldn't find a single flaw!  J.L. Brooks has easily jumped on my list of must read authors and I can't wait for her next project!

Momma's Recommendation:

Anyone that has seen my Facebook page in the last week can tell how in love I am with this book!  To say that I highly recommend this book is a complete understatement.  It's easily made my must read list of 2013 and maybe of all time!