Sunday, April 15, 2012

Recommendation of the Week: 4/15/12 - 4/21/12


'Passion Wears Pearls'
by Renee Bernard
Read  First Chapter: here
Review from The HR Critic: here
Amazon: Print: here | Kindle: here



After the darkness of a dungeon in India, artist Josiah Hastings found that years of imprisonment left his eyesight weak and failing. So when the fiery beauty of Miss Eleanor Beckett appears in his vision amidst the bleak grays of a London winter, he knows he's found his muse and one last chance at a masterpiece...







Book Video:

My Thoughts: Oh Renee! A going-blind hero? I've been craving one (is that bad? odd? not normal?) since reading Teresa Medeiros' Yours Until Dawn! I know this book will be smashing! And not just because the housekeeper's named after moi ;) I am currently re-beginning Ecstasy Wears Emeralds after my grandmother 'borrowed' it while I was in the middle of it. But this author has the goods. I knew 3 chapters in she was good and I can't wait to revisit Emeralds, catch up with Rubies and Sapphires, and then ATTACK Pearls ...all while eagerly awaiting Opals ;) And if any of you are wondering what the hell I am talking about, just check out Renee Bernard and get back to me ;) 


What do YOU think of this week's Recommendation?
Have you read it yet or anything by this author?
What are your thoughts? 

Until Next Week<3...

Saturday, April 14, 2012

Yay, Blogoversary Fun: Build Your Own Book Giveaway-Giveaway

Since last year’s giveaway was such a hit, and this time around planning time was scarce, I’ve decided to do it again! Just a little something for the readers who enjoy this blog ;)

A bit of this and that: some historical romance and fiction, YA, contemporary, paranormal, and an option to have your choice of an ebook! There’s a little of everything to please most of you diverse readers out there.

And what blogoversary would be complete without Tea and Chocolates?
A box of Twinings Tea (winner’s preference of flavor) and some Lindor Truffles Chocolate-variety bag (everything will be bought the day of shipping to ensure maximum freshness and orgasmic deliciousness!)




And we can’t forget the books, can we? The winner gets to pick 6!


Up for grabs:
Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor by Lisa Kleypas (Hard copy)
One Whisper Away by Emma Wildes (never read ARC)
Silk is for Seduction by Loretta Chase
The White Queen by Phillippa Gregory
Seven Years to Sin by Sylvia Day (never read ARC)
A Brush Of Darkness by Allison Pang
Vow Of Deception by Angela Johnson (signed by author-read once for review)
Dark Awakening by Kendra Leigh Castle
Night Falls Darkly by Kim Lenox
Hot Wheels and High Heels by Jane Graves
The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen
Or exchange 1 pick for: E-book of your choice- valued at or under $7.99

Click to view amazon pages:




So whether you’ve spot a few reads you never got the chance to read, want to try something new, want to use the E-book of choice option to move a book off your wish list, or a combination of all, I encourage you all to enter!

Rules:
I only ask that you be a GFC follower of this blog. Twitter and Facebook friends get extra entries, but GFC follow is mandatory.
Also, get extra entries for commenting on the “Happy 2nd Birthday To The Blog” post, Tweeting or Facebooking about the giveaway, and/or Joining the Goodreads Discussion Group!

Just fill out the form below before April 28th, 2012 to enter

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Unrelated: But I just want to remind you guys and and new followers or visitors to the blog that I’ve entered this blog in the Independent Book Blogger Awards and would LOVE it if you could vote for my blog! I am not going to make it an extra entries task because I don’t want to bribe votes, but if you’re inclined to vote because you enjoy the content on this blog, I’d appreciate it greatly!

Thanks for the support on all fronts, And good luck!

Happy 2nd Birthday To The Blog!!!

Yep, 2 years. Two…years…
Holy Shitake!

Where’d the time go? It seems like just a short time ago I was celebrating my first year of blogging, but now it’s time to start the party all over again!

As I said a few post ago, there’s a saying that if you want to hear God laugh, just tell him your plans. This 2nd year of blogging exceeded expectations but in ways that didn’t go according to plan. I’ve flexed my networking skills and met and talked with so many amazingly talented people (bloggers, authors, industry peeps, ect) and also made some lovely new friends in the process! I went to my very first ‘industry party’-and got HAMMERED!, my first book signing, a Romance Book Conference (attended RomCon 2011- and had THE MOST AMAZING TIME EVAHH!!) and sneaked around like a creeper at RWA 11- yelling at my idol Julia Quinn from a taxi and accosting authors like Teresa Medeiros and Grace Burrowes in a bathroom (true story)…These are all memories I’ll treasure.

Although I’ve let the crazy hectic life of a full time college student and part time shirt folder (yes, a real position) take the reins more recently, in this second year of blogging, so many amazing opportunities and experiences found its way to this neck of the blogging woods. I got to throw a KICK ASS Xmas party (with Dani from Ramblings From This Chick), a SICK Valentine’s Day event (also with Dani), interview and hosted so many authors- both established, indie, debuting, ect. Hosted a short lived (but due to come back at some capacity) online web show; It’s just been an unpredictable but fruitful year! I’ve gotten the chance to review books I’d never get the chance to try otherwise, find some new favorite authors (Theresa Romain, Renee Bernard, Shana Galen..list goes on), and use this crazy creative mind of mine to do blogging my way.

I don’t think it’s an exaggeration when I say that I have the BEST blog followers in the world! I consider you all my friends. From followers here, to Facebook fans and friends, to Twitter Tweaps, and Goodreads pals. We chat (sometimes disagreeing, but most of the time feeling the same exact way) about certain books, publishing, LIFE in general. I love that I’ve been privileged enough to count on your support time and again and offer in return some unique entertainment (aka, a slow corruption- which is really my mission). Every interview, review, giveaway, and blog event is done with you guys in mind and it’s an amazing feeling to know that there are a few people out there who don’t know me from Eve (another old saying) but appreciate and enjoy what I have to say nonetheless! You guys rock!

I am not going to set any expectations other than to improve on the quality and quantity of content on this blog and I'll let the rest unfold on its own. Expect my presences around here more frequently than as of late, and look out for cool new stuff like the GoodReads Discussion Group I just started (and you guys can start joining now) and new features I'll come up with as we go along.

Here are some of my favorite posts from this past year:
Like I mentioned earlier: the X-mas and Valentine's Day events
Interview with Anna Campbell (a favorite author!)
Interview with Loretta Chase (yes, THE Loretta Chase)
"So You Want To Be A Young Corinthian" was a cool and different guest post where you guys got to play a guessing game and be spies
Guest Post by Jenn LeBlanc (she broughts pics of man titties...how could it NOT be a fav?)

Today, you guys can also begin entering the special Blogoversary giveaway (post will go live at noon). It’s just my little way of thanking you followers and friends for the support. I thought that this year I’d be able to do something grander than what I did last year, but year 2 has snuck up on me just as year 1 did! Enjoy this year’s giveaway and look out for a slammin’ summer and other associated coolness in the 3rd year of this crazy little thing I like to call blogging.

Note: In the comments, please take this opportunity to tell me what you’d like to see more of on the blog. Is there anything you’ve really enjoyed and wish I’d bring back? Any favorite posts? Let me know or email them to me! Thanks again!

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Ecstasy Wears Emeralds by Renee Bernard –Review-

Read an excerpt: here
Buy at Amazon:
Print: here | Kindle: here
What can I say? I simply adored this book.
From the first page I knew this book would be riddled with characters my heart could bleed for. Ms Bernard has the special gift of not only making her characters feel authentically real, but making readers want to feel for them almost the minute they step onto the page. Gayle and Rowan will go down as one of my favorite historical romance couples ever. Their relationship and interactions felt very genuine. And I’ve been CRAVING a good romance with a Doctor lead for a while. I could gush about this book for forever, but I think I’ll just get to my review and outline what made this book work for me.

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Contest Alert: BookTrib's Mary Jo Putney Giveaway!

Below, check out the deets on a very cool and different giveaway brought to you by BookTrib. You can follow the button and enter!

Mary Jo Putney is a fixture on national bestseller lists including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USAToday, and Publishers Weekly. This spring Mary Jo has not one, but two releases to share with you. The first being a reissue of her classic, The Rake, available now! The second, coming out on April 24th, is No Longer A Gentleman. If you are a Mary Jo Putney fan you know this means historical romance at its best. If you haven’t read any of Mary Jo’s titles, now’s your chance to be swept away. In celebration of the two-title release Surroundings Flowers and Events of NYC has partnered with BookTrib for an amazing giveaway–


This giveaway includes One Grand Prize winner: Three consecutive months of exquisite fresh flower arrangements delivered to your door, plus a copy of THE RAKE and NO LONGER A GENTLEMAN by Mary Jo Putney.

Ten randomly selected winners: A copy of THE RAKE and NO LONGER A GENTLEMAN by Mary Jo Putney.


Enter Today! Good Luck!

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Vote for N.A.R.B in the Independent Book Blogger Awards!

*seductive eyes, smokey voice*
"Why, hello Blog followers..."

LOL! Ok, so maybe trying to seduce you guys won't work, but seriously bookies, I need your help! 

I've entered this blog in the Independent Book Blogger Awards contest sponsored by The Association of American Publishers Trade Division and Goodreads.

The blog is coming up on its 2nd birthday on Saturday and I hope that over the past two years it has become clear that I love books and review from the heart. Hopefully, if you've stuck around with me this long, I've done something right-ish and I appreciate the support!

With over 800 entrants in the 4 different categories, every vote counts! So if you enjoy the content on this blog and have a Goodreads account (its free and easy to make if you haven't got one already) I'd LOVE it if you could take a second to vote for this blog in the Adult Fiction>Romance catagory! Also, take an opportunity to check out some of the other blogs that have entered! I've already found and subsequently followed 3-4 just by peeking at the competition!

Voting starts Today, April 10th and runs until Monday, April 23rd
Click the button below to vote!

Independent Book Blogger Awards
Vote for this blog for the
Independent Book
Blogger Awards!



Click the sexy man...you know you want to!




And if my seduction earlier really didn't work on you, how about an endorsement from my future husband?:
Thanks again for all the support and I look forward to bringing you guys many more years of cooky reviews, fun interviews, unique blog events, giveaways, and more!

Monday, April 9, 2012

Coming Soon: Anticipated Releases for April 2012

Decided to knock the dust off this blog feature and highlight some spectacular reads I can't wait to get my hands on. May showers brings April flowers...
Time to shower all of you with April Releases!

Here are the anticipated releases for April 2012!!!

April 1st- A wonderful literary talent (and I am not just saying that because I like to call her 'friend'), Vicky Dreiling, is releasing her 3rd book on this day. We've followed these two characters the moment they stepped onto the page in Dreiling's previous books, How To Marry A Duke and How To Seduce A Scoundrel, and now it's time for them to shine in their own love story!

Sunday, April 8, 2012

Recommendation of the Week: 4/8/12 - 4/14/12

'A Night To Surrender'
by Tessa Dare

Welcome to Spindle Cove, where ladies with delicate constitutions come for the sea air, and men in their prime are…nowhere to be found.

Or are they?


Spindle Cove is the destination of choice for certain types of well-bred young ladies: the painfully shy, young wives disenchanted with matrimony, and young girls too enchanted with the wrong men. It is a haven for those who live there.
Victor Bramwell, the new Earl of Rycliff, knows he doesn’t belong here. So far as he can tell, there’s nothing in this place but spinsters…and sheep. But he has no choice, he has orders to gather a militia. It’s a simple mission, made complicated by the spirited, exquisite Susanna Finch—a woman who is determined to save her personal utopia from the invasion of Bram’s makeshift army.
Susanna has no use for aggravating men; Bram has sworn off interfering women. The scene is set for an epic battle…but who can be named the winner when both have so much to lose?

My Thoughts: Tessa Dare is an author who's works I became aquainted with last year. I JUST took this book out from my local library, and with all the hype surrounding it, I can't WAIT to crack it open!

Read a review of 'A Night To Surrender' at Smexy Books: here

What do YOU think of this week's Recommendation? Have you read it yet? What are your thoughts? 

Until Next Week<3...

Friday, April 6, 2012

Return of the Blogger: Quick Recap

Wonderful blog readers, I've missed you so :P
Life. Oh, how it can run away with you! I've neglected this blog, my social networks, ect terribly, but its about time to make a return! In the middle of Economics class, it just hit me, My blogoversary is next week! I haven't posted in decades. This year didn't go anywhere NEAR how I PLANNED, but you guys know the old saying: If you want to hear God laugh, tell him about your plans. All I know is I've missed reviewing and connecting with you guys so much! I literally haven't found a moment to finish a single book until two week ago (Thank you Lisa Kleypas!). I've got some previous review commitments to get out of the way, and then I'll be able to focus on getting back to the origins of this blog.
I just wanted to post and let you guys know I am still alive and ready to give my blog the TLC it deserves! I'll put together a quick, Build Your Own Giveaway-Giveaway as I did last year for my blogoversary (Which is April 12th), and then until summer, I'll only be able to post reviews of books I've either been meaning to post or happened to squeeze in some reading time of. But hold on to your panties, because summer will be hear soon and an explosion of fun is right around the corner! I won't get into too many details just yet as I am still in the planning phases of a lot of things, but suffice to say, I am back  :) 

Look forward to more frequent posts and I would love to hear from you guys in the comments!
What you've read lately, what books you're excited about, ect. Let me know!
 

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