Win a Copy of Pleasuring the Pirate by Emily Bryan!

The lovely Mrs. Emily Bryan is a guest at Author Diana Rubino's blog today and they are giving away a copy of Emily's Pleasuring the Pirate to a lucky commenter!

It's another great interview and who doesn't want to win one of Emily's books! Me, me, me...raises hand!

If you aren't familiar with my love of Emily's books check out my posts here and here.

So head over and visit with Emily today and enter to win!

Audio Lovin": Queen of Babble Gets Hitched by Meg Cabot

Queen of Babble Audio Version
By Meg Cabot
Ready by: Justine Eyre
Books on Tape
2 Heart Review

So I'm catching up on all the reviews for all the audio books I've been listening to lately. I spent a lot of time in my car driving and was starting to forget all the audio books that had crossed my path. Enjoy and if you don't do the audio book thing, check out my post here about why I think they are the bomb. Yes, I did just totally dork out. :)

Having listened to the audio books of the previous Queen of Babble titles, I was already familiar with the characters and the readers voice and inflection. I think that made this particular audio book easier to get into despite a lead female character who had slightly annoyed me previously.

The gang's all here again, with the hero Luke starting to show his true colors and steady sidekick Chazz suddenly deciding he's loved Lizzie for years. After the very first book, I had high hopes for Luke as a real hero and was disappointed that he turned out to be such a...well...wanker.

Having Lizzie and Chazz come together does work perfectly, but there was something about the ending that left me unsatisfied. It seemed like a bit of a cop-out by Lizzie and by Chazz as neither gets what they had said they wanted. But, I guess compromise is what it's all about.

I really enjoyed the Ava Geck character and would have liked for her to play a bigger par t of the story. The way Ava and Lizzie come together at the end was a nice touch and you could see Ava grow as direct result of Lizzie's influence.

The loss of Lizzie's grandmother was very well done and threaded throughout the story so well that you felt it didn't just serve as a senseless plot twist.

If you've read the other Queen of Babble books, I recommend you read or listen to this one as well. It's a great ending to a story even if this book lacks a little something.

PRICELESS: Friday Fun From SBTB

Those Smart Bitches are fantastic and they have one incredibly hilarious post today! If you are looking for some cheap Friday fun to get your weekend started, you must head on over there immediately and check out "Crimes Against Photoshop."

http://www.smartbitchestrashybooks.com/index.php/weblog/comments/crimes-against-photoshop/

Audio Lovin': REVIEW of The Magic of You by Johanna Lindsey

The Magic of You Audio Version
By Johanna Lindsey
Read By Laural Merlington
Brilliance Audio

4 Heart Review

As wild and reckless as the most incorrigible of her male cousins, young Amy Malory has reached marriageable age, and she has set her amorous sights on a most unsuitable mate: the handsome, straitlaced ship's captain who once nearly had her uncle James hung for piracy.

Warren Anderson is shocked by the brazen advances of his despised enemy's high-spirited niece. Still tormented by past treachery, he is determined to resist Amy's charms. But an overpowering yearning for the enchanting minx threatens to defeat his defiant heart...and force its sensuous surrender to a love that could stoke the fires of a perilous family feud.

So, I'm not shy about how much I love the Malory series! I cannot get enough of them and love the interaction between the Malory family and the Andersons who can't seem to stop marrying their women! The books do such a great job of creating male characters both full of emotion and who are also men of action. We get so much insight into the thoughts and feelings of Lindsey's men and I guess that’s a big part of what draws me to these stories – that I love the outward gruff and toughness of the men juxtaposed with their internal old softies.

This Malory book is no different. In fact, Warren is the gruffest of the Andersons having been badly hurt and thrown over by the woman he loved years before. Hearing him struggle to maintain his Oscar the Grouch routine is loads of fun, especially when headstrong Amy tries her hardest to make him smile at every turn.

Amy is every bit a Malory and it's interesting to see a female of the family get hit with the love bug. She doesn't disappoint as she shows the Malory spunk and determination to make Warren hers. I enjoyed Amy as a character and found her to be a perfect foil for Warren.

I believe this is the same reader of the other Malory audio books I've listened to, and she does manage to give all the characters their own distinctive personalities. You never have to guess who is speaking and she inflects just the right emotion into her voice for each situation.

What can I say – It's another terrific Malory book by Johanna Lindsey and I just can't get enough of them! Whether you read them or listen to them, check out this Malory series if you like historical romance. You won't be disappointed!

Romance Authors Rock! (And I'm really not a kiss-ass)

Okay, so some of you might be saying to yourself "She is too nice and just posts about the good books she reads", but honestly I'm having a major issue lately - EVERY book I'm picking up lately has been really good.

I don't know if this is because I've gotten better at judging a book by its cover (yeah I know that's hokey) or if the quality of work being published is just getting better and better. I used to have at least a few books here and there that I struggled to get through. (That's my weird habit, I HAVE to finish every book I start no better how bad - it's just my thing.)

So hang with me and believe that every review I write is my honest to goodness real reaction to a story and the writing. I created this blog as a place to share my love of romance books and that includes the good and the bad. Even with the books I loved, I usually try to add some critique if something about the characters or story seemed off.

Is it horrible of me to WANT to run across a bad book to balance out my blog posts? That's the way I've felt lately. But I've decided so what if all my reviews lately have been positive. I just hope my posts start a discussion and help other book lovers see what to add to their TBR pile!

Let me know - do you like a blog more if it has as many bad reviews as it does good, or do you just look for an honest blogger whose tastes run along the same lines as your own?

Happy Reading! Sabrina

It's Emily Bryan Week at Royal Reviews!

The Ladies over at Royal Reviews have outdone themselves! They are hosting Emily Bryan week and since you know well the love I hold for Emily's Vexing the Viscount, I had to share the news!

Today they are hosting a fantastic chat with Emily, and she's there to respond to your questions and comments. You can also enter to win free books!

Check out Royal Reviews and Emily Bryan week today!

http://theroyalreviews.blogspot.com/

REVIEW: Twin Temptation By Cara Summers

Twin Temptation

By Cara Summers
Harlequin Blaze - June 2009
4 Heart Review

She didn't know she had a twin...

Maddie Farrell is about to get a double surprise – not only is she an heiress, she has a secret twin sister! What's more, their inheritance depends on temporarily switching places.

And she certainly didn't know sex could be this
good...

Unexpected bonus? Sex with her sister's super hot roommate, Jase Campbell! But he's just a passing - if mind blowing – distraction.

But double the pleasure can also mean double the trouble...

Because as soon as the twin switch is over, Maddie's heading home. Unless she can't outrun the killer who'd rather see her dead than inherit. Or Jase, who'd like to keep blowing her mind – permanently!

Who knew you could wrap a nicely detailed mystery, suspense and romance all in one neat little Harlequin Blaze package? I mean, I knew it could be done, but this book is jam-packed! Somehow Cara manages to keep all the plot points flowing, while still making sure the romance shines. That's why this book deserves extra attention and is truly a step above!

Cara Summers expertly weaves the romance of Maddie and Jase, the mysteries of who killed Eva and robbed her store, and the suspense of who was trying to kill Maddie. It's a lot of story that Cara manages to fit into the traditional Harlequin mold, and she does it extremely well.

The mystery has you guessing, the suspense has you wondering who's around the next corner and the romance has you fanning yourself from all the heat coming from the page. This is three great stories combined into one detailed and well plotted book. What's more, is that Cara even manages to nicely set-up and hint at the “sister” story to this book that will be released in July and features Maddie's twin sister Jordan and her experiences at outrunning a murder plot.

The only thing keeping this from being a 5 Heart Review, was that I didn't feel I got to know Maddie enough to connect emotionally with her. I liked her and thought she and Jase worked well together, but with all the other things taking place in the book something had to go and that was getting to know Maddie better.

That said, you still can't go wrong picking up this book, and I'll venture to say you should pick up the sister's story in July titled Twin Seduction.

Happy Reading!

Deidre Knight & Gena Showalter Chatting Live Tonight @ 9pm ET!

Join authors Deidre Knight and Gena Showalter in a chat at The Knight Agency chat room tonight, Thursday, June 11th @ 9pm ET!!

Both ladies will be dishing about their latest releases and can't wait to answer your questions. Of course there will be trivia and fab prizes.

Check out the full details and how to enter the chat here.

Thank You

I wanted to say thank you for all the lovely messages you all sent.

After losing my mother a little over a year ago, I had been watching my father's health slowly decline but I wasn't really prepared for him to go yet. So I thank you for your thoughts as they have done so much to help me get through this past week.

I'm back home now and will begin some new posts soon. I'd read some great books before this that I haven't posted reviews of yet, so keep on the lookout.

Thank you again and big hugs!

Sabrina

Blog Will be Quiet This Week

Just a quick post to let you know the blog will be quiet this week. My father has passed away and I'm not sure when I'll be back to posting and/or have Internet access.

There are many exciting things coming up on the blog including some awesome author interviews, so don't forget about Cheeky Reads - I'll be back soon.

Sabrina

Angie Fox Giveaway Winners!

Sorry for the delay ladies. A family emergency kept me from being able to post this sooner.

The winner of a copy of the uber-fantastic The Dangerous Book for Demon Slayers by Angie Fox is Kimmad!

The winner of an awesome Kiss My Asphalt T-Shirt from Angie is Jrobe10689.
Ladies - send your name and address to cheekyreads@gmail.com.
Congrats!

Winners of Hounding the Pavement Giveaway

The winners of a signed copy of Hounding the Pavement by Judi McCoy, which earned a 5 Heart Review here at Cheeky Reads are:

DeniseJo and LisaM

Congrats ladies - you'll love this book! Just send you name and mailing address to:

cheekyreads(@) gmail.com

REVIEW: In Over Her Head by Judi Fennell

In Over Her Head
by Judi Fennell
Sourcebooks Casablanca
Available in June
3 Heart Review

He lives under the sea

Reel Tritone is the rebellious royal second son of the ruler of a vast undersea kingdom. A Merman born with legs instead of a tail, he's always been fascinated by humans, especially one young woman he once saw swimming near his family's reef...

She's terrified of the Ocean

Ever since the day she swam out too far and heard voices in the water, marina owner Erika Peek won't go swimming for anything – until she's forced into the water by a shady ex-boyfriend searching for stolen diamonds and is nearly eaten by a shark. Luckily Reel is nearby to save her, and he discovers she's the woman he's been searching for...

Before she knows it, Erica is off with Reel on a series of wild underwater adventures to retrieve stolen treasure, battle the mother of all sea monsters, and defy a death edit from the kingdom's high council. But even if they get out of their madcap mission alive, how will they find a way to stay together when she hates the water and he can't survive on land?

As a debut novel, Judi Fennell's In Over Her Head was a refreshing read with great dialogue and a hero I would consider worth losing your legs for. It's fun and imaginative with plenty of sexual sparks igniting even under the sea. If you're looking for a fun summer read, take In Over Her Head with you to the beach and see if you aren't tempted to wade a little further out to search for your very own merman!

Did you love the story of The Little Mermaid? If so, this is the perfect grown-up romance for you! Judi's undersea world is a delight, and her sidekick characters add the perfect touch of comic relief. I especially enjoyed sidekicks Chum and Ernie the pelican and their suggestive one-liners. The mythology is highly creative, and you'll find the bit about dolphins to be particularly inventive.

My one issue with this book would have been for “The Incident” to have had more substance. Judi plays up this event as being such a huge hindrance to Ericka and a major hurtle to her loving Reel, but when the full details are revealed later in the book I honestly felt a little let down. It's a testament to the outstanding dialogue and engaging characters Judi created that this didn't ruin the story for me. In fact, would easily have been a 4 Heart Review! I can't wait to read the rest of Judi's series since I expect she'll just get better and better! Check out her upcoming books here.

If you are looking for a fun, quirky paranormal with steamy love scenes and wise cracking sidekicks then this is a good bet for you. See you at the beach!

10 Cheeky Questions with Author Angie Fox & An Awesome Giveaway!

Today I'm so pleased to post a Q&A with New York Times bestselling author Angie Fox here at Cheeky Reads! Angie graciously agreed to answer some questions for us about her latest release, The Dangerous Book for Demon Slayers and if you haven't read about how much I loved this book, check out my review here.

So without further ado...10 Questions with Angie Fox!

Did you know when you were writing the Accidental Demon Slayer that this would be a series?
I did write it as the start of a series simply because I enjoy reading series books so much. It’s fun to get to know characters over the course of several books, and to watch them grow and change. There is so much I can do with the biker witches, with Lizzie’s demon slayer education and with the complex relationship she’s developing with Dimitri.

What inspired the idea of Lizzie writing a manual for other slayers?
It just seemed like a very “Lizzie” thing to do. She’s all about planning and figuring things out. It’s what makes her so much fun to write as she learns she’s a demon slayer and has to master her powers. Lizzie isn’t the type that enjoys messing up and she’s certainly not going to make the same mistake twice. She’s going to figure out everything about demon slaying if it’s the last thing she does (and at times, she wonders if it may very well be the last thing she does).

Can you give us a few more sex scenes in the next book because we love them!
Well…okay! This next book is actually turning out to be pretty hot. It takes place in and around Dimitri’s home in Greece. It’s kind of like a gothic Pemberly and it’s just the perfect setting for intrigue, discoveries and romance.

Do you foresee ever writing another male into the picture to tempt Lizzie?
Hmm…it’s possible. You’re giving me an idea here…

What's the most common comment you get from fans at signings and online?
Lots of people tell me that if their dog could talk, he’d say the kinds of things Pirate says.

How did the character of Pirate come about?
I hadn’t planned on Pirate when I began the book, but in the second chapter, when Lizzie learns she’s a demon slayer and all hell is after her. She takes comfort in her dog. As I was writing, I thought, ‘This is a sweet moment. Now how do I throw her off?’ Simple. I made Pirate say something to her. Nothing big. After all, he’s only after the fettuccine from last week. And he knows exactly where my heroine can find it (back of the fridge, to the left of the lettuce crisper, behind the mustard). It amused me, so I did it. Thanks to her unholy powers, Lizzie can understand her smart-mouthed Jack Russell Terrier. Pirate ended up being so much fun that he’s a main character in the books.

What three words would you use to describe your series?
Unexpected, funny, dramatic

Who's your favorite character to write scenes for?
Lizzie, because she’s always in the middle of the action and Pirate because his dialogue is a blast to write. Plus, he’s so present in his world. No matter how crazy things get, Pirate can see the best in the situation and adapt.

Can you give us a hint of what's to come in book three?
Book 3 will be called A Tale of Two Demon Slayers. In it, Lizzie and the gang travel to Greece where they learn more about Dimitri’s family and a threat that could destroy them all. I’m having a ball with it because it’s so much fun to explore Dimitri’s home, his griffin heritage and his juicy past.

Where did the idea for Grandma's “Kiss My Asphalt” shirt come from? She wears the best shirts!
It popped into my head as I was writing the first scene of The Accidental Demon Slayer. It just seemed like something Grandma would wear. Then a blogger started making the shirts and I thought, hey, it would be fun to make some of my own as well. I described to an artist how I’d always pictured the shirt in my head and he designed it for me.

Thanks Angie and I can't wait for the release of A Tale of Two Demons!

Being a fantastic Cheeky Girl, Angie has put one of her freakin' awesome "Kiss My Asphalt" T-shirts up for grabs! I'll be giving away a copy of The Dangerous Book For Demon Slayers. Just take Angie's Biker Witch Name quiz and come back and tell us your new name! We'll pick two winners randomly from the comments and announce the lucky readers on Saturday.

So what's my Biker Witch Name? Well, Easy Edna No Pants of course! LOL!

REVIEW: Hounding The Pavement by Judi McCoy - Win a Signed Copy!

Hounding The Pavement
By Judi McCoy
Signet
5 Heart Review

Ellie Engleman, the newest dog walker on Manhattan's swanky Upper East Side, has a talent – besides scooping poop. She can hear what her canine clientele are thinking. So when an owner is killed, Ellie must perk up her ears and bone up on her sleuthing....

Ditching her dog-eat-dog career and cur of a husband, Ellie happily trades her power suits for a panty-hose free wardrobe and her dream job. And she couldn't be happier – unless of course, Mr. Right shows up at her door with a pint of Haagen-Dazs.

But when she stumbles upon a dead client, Ellie becomes a suspect in an investigation led by smoking-hot, if cocky, Detective Ryder. Ellie wouldn't exactly mind staying in his custody – if it meant sticking close by him 24-7 – but she worries about the deceased's missing prizewinning bichon. Did someone steal him? If only she could find the dog, he'd tell her who the culprit is. But a killer wants Ellie to let sleeping dogs lie...or else.

I'm a huge fan of Judi McCoy's Goddess Series and was delighted to hear she was trying a new mystery series – particularly one with a heroine who can talk to dogs! Hounding the Pavement is an excellent mystery wrapped in humor, with wit and a steamy romance! One thing is for sure, this isn't your grandmother's mystery. It's part of a new breed that includes more sexual steam and a greater emphasis on the romance.

I love Ellie! She's a fantastic character and I would love to step into her shoes for a day – especially a day when she gets all hot and heavy with the super sexy Detective Sam Ryder! I think women will identify with her attitude and fall in love with her upbeat, spunky personality. I sure did!

Detective Ryder is the hero I love to root for. He's a man who's been hurt in the past and is afraid of being hurt again. But, you know he'd be there to rescue you in a pinch and he loves his job even if it's not glamorous. What I found refreshing were the cute insights into the lighter side of his character such as his refusal to obey parking restrictions and bribing his officer buddy to lose the tickets. I love that he's an officer of the law who likes to work around it sometimes.

The addition of the premise that Ellie can speak to animals is done with expert skill. You never feel that it’s annoying or too much to believe. Judi makes you believe it! I can envision my own dogs making the same comments to me and having the same conversations with other dogs. It helps that Judi doesn't make the rest of her world unbelievable. That makes the dogs talking an extraordinary thing in a normal world and gets the reader to more easily accept the idea of talking canines.

I loved this book and think you will too. Beyond the good story, is terrific writing that makes it easy to fall in love with the characters and want to come back to them again and again. I guess it’s a good thing that Judi's second book in the series comes out later this year!

Enter for a chance to win an autographed copy of Hounding the Pavement! Just leave a comment telling me what you think your dog would say to you if he could talk, or why you love romantic mysteries! I'll draw randomly from all the comments on Friday the 29th!

This giveaway copy was happily purchased with all of Judi's royalties from the book going to benefit the Best Friends Animal Society. Support Best Friends and get a terrific book in the process by puchasing Hounding the Pavement today!

Seriously...Harlequin Goes Comic

Did you know that Harlequin publishes versions of its romance books as digital comics in Japan and China?

Neither did I, but they do! How cool is that? Your favorite hero and heroine have their own comic overseas - there are actual faces put to the characters you've only visualized in your mind. And how fantastic is it that Harlequin is making sure to bring romance novels to an audience in the format they prefer. Big applause for Harlequin!

Here's a quote from a recent Harlequin press release:

"Reading novels and comics on mobile phones is a way of life," said Belinda Hobbs, Vice President, Harlequin Asia. "As Harlequin celebrates 60 years of pure reading pleasure we are thrilled to be able to bring digital comics based on the original English novel to a new audience. This reflects both the world-wide appeal of our editorial and Harlequin's focus on providing entertaining reading to women via innovative new channels and formats."

Way to go on spreading the romance book love Harlequin!

Chat with Fantastic Author (and all-around super cool lady) Judi McCoy

One of my personal favorite authors, the lovely Mrs. Judi McCoy, is chatting it up at the Romance Writer's Revenge today. I have a review of her latest book, Hounding the Pavement that I'll be posting on Monday but you can have at her today over at the Revenge!

She's open to answering any questions about her books, the writing process and/or anything that strikes your fancy! Go check out her guest blog and ask her your best questions!

http://www.romancewritersrevenge.com/

Audio Lovin': Review of Naughty Neighbor by Janet Evanovich

Naughty Neighbor
Written By Janet Evanovich
Read by C.J. Critt
Harper Audio
3 Heart Review

I had one major problem (and a few small ones, but more about those later) with this audio book – it was over much too soon! The story is on the shorter side, and I felt these characters had so much more to say and I wanted to get to know them more!

Here's the description from the audio case:

Louisa Brannigan's neighbor is a handsome hell-raiser – and he's driving Louisa crazy. He makes terrible coffee, steals her newspaper, and listens through her walls. But when she's fired from her government job, Louisa is persuaded to join his undercover investigation. Sneaking around in the shadows is more fun than she ever imagined, especially when the getaway car is a Porsche.

Pete Streeter never figured on finding such an attractive partner in crime. Louisa is all he ever wanted in a woman, and more. But once he's taught her to enjoy living on the edge, will she finally feel safe in his love?

This quirky little story really tickled me and I didn't expect that since my initial impression was that this might be a random audio miss. The voice of C.J. Critt immediately felt off to me. It seemed more mature and slightly gruffer than what the story seemed to call for. BUT, Critt is an excellent performer and her enthusiasm and comedic timing will eventually make you forget that her voice isn't exactly matching the heroine's personality. Kudos to Critt for making the characters come alive so well.

I found myself pleasantly surprised as the characters grew on me. Again, part of that was due to the enthusiasm of Critt, but mostly it was the appeal of the characters as Evanovich expertly unveils them. I was particularly drawn to Pete Streeter and his unpretentious attitude and easygoing banter with Louisa. Having the hero fall hard first makes for a nice change, and Pete really puts his heart out there early. Gotta love a man not afraid to commit!

Louisa was a little less developed, so I didn't feel nearly as drawn to her. Still likable, but she could have used more background or some deeper insight into why she valued her independence so much that she was almost willing to let Pete walk away. That felt a little forced to me and I didn't fully see it fitting into the personality that had been painted of her. Otherwise, she was delightful and so was the story.

All in all, this is a cute little audio book that showcases some great work by Critt and by Evanovich. If you are anything like me though, you'll want more substance to the story so you can hang out with Louisa and Pete for a little while longer.

Vote for Your Favorite Romance Covers of 2008

The ladies over at Cover Café are doing it again! It’s time to vote for the best and worst romance book covers of 2008! The nominees are amazing – Definitely eye candy!

Click here to go to the voting website. While you’re there, check out how you can nominate your favorite covers from this year for the contest in 2009!

I've provided one of my favorite covers from 2008 here for your viewing pleasure!

CHEEKY REVIEW: Vexing the Viscount by Emily Bryan

Vexing the Viscount
By Emily Bryan
Leisure Historical Romance
Dorchester Publishing
5 Heart Review

Sign me up for everything Emily Bryan ever writes! With this post, Cheeky Reads officially awards it's very first 5 Heart Review to Vexing the Viscount by the very talented Mrs. Emily Bryan!

Read the back cover copy:

As children they'd sparred with play swords. She's scarred his chin, and he broke her heart. Now, more than a decade later, the true battle was only beginning...

Daisy Drake needed Lucian Beaumont, Viscount Rutland. Tired of being labeled “on the shelf,” she craved adventure. And Lucian held all the clues to a long-buried Roman treasure. Surely, her desire to join his search had nothing to do with his dark curls and seductive Italian accent. Too bad Lucian wanted no help from her – until she donned the disguise of an infamous French courtesan and promised to teach him all she knew about the pleasures of the bedchamber. Of course, she only knew what had been written in naughty books. But Daisy had always been a quick learner. And night by naked night, they'd discover treasure neither expected to find.

From the very first page Mrs. Bryan grabbed my imagination and took it on a sassy, seductive ride. Daisy is everything I love in a historical heroine – smart, adventurous, quick-witted and most of all, she goes after what she wants!

Our hero Lucian will steal your heart with his underdog status, inexperience and endearing personality. His interactions with Daisy/Blanche will make you giggle out loud while you root for him to keep her on her toes.

This book started off with a perfect first meeting between the two and then never lets up. The pacing was excellent and the sparring between Daisy and Lucian is delightful. The story never dragged, and the ending left me with the perfect combination of feelings - amused, satisfied, light-hearted and happy.

I'll be purchasing Mrs. Bryan's entire backlist and will be the first in line for any new releases! Check out Emily's Blog, website and the supercool additional blog she writes at the Chantelaines.

Do you enjoy Historical Romances? You already know I love my heroines cheeky, but what about you? What kind of heroine do you love to read about?