3 Liner Review: The Boyfriend App by Katie Sise


The Boyfriend App
By Katie Sise

Stand Alone Novel
Genre: Young Adult, Romance
Publisher: Balzer & Bray
I received this book at BEA (Book Expo America ’13), from the publisher, in exchange for an honest review

In The Boyfriend App by Katie Sise, super-smart, somewhat geeky Audrey McCarthy can’t wait to get out of high school. Her father’s death and the transformation of her one-time BFF, Blake Dawkins, into her worse nightmare have her longing for the new start college will bring.

But college takes money. So Audrey decides she has to win the competition for the best app designed by a high schooler – and the $200,000 that comes with it. She develops something she calls the Boyfriend App, and suddenly she’s the talk of the school and getting kissed by the hottest boys around. But can the Boyfriend App bring Audrey true love?

The Boyfriend App on Goodreads, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble

My Thoughts:

This book is cute with a capital C. The main character, Audrey, is so clever and geeky and I wish I had even 1/8 of her coding skills! The app she created was very smart especially for her age group after all what girl doesn’t want to be matched with her prince without having to kiss a bunch of frogs first. 

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5

Friday Foodie Affair: 3 Liner Review of Something's Cooking by Meg Lacey




 ...where I profess my love for food and food related things.





Something’s Cooking
By Meg Lacey

Stand Along Novel
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Foodie
Publisher: Entangled Indulgence

Tess Banyon has turned her brilliant recipe and crafting ideas into a multimedia empire. Landing her own TV show throws her into a panic. If she’s not careful, the public will discover she isn’t the domestic diva everyone thinks she is. Investigative reporter Josh Faraday smells something smoking in Tess’s world. His goal to expose the real Tess goes into overdrive when she lands a television show deal. He secures an assignment to shadow her, reporting on her program, but what he’s really doing is getting dirt for his expose. Things get even stickier when Tess’s family play matchmaker. There’s no shortage of fire between them, and after an impulsive night together, Josh discovers a story he never expected – or bargained for.

Something’s Cooking on Goodreads, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble
Meg Lacey’s Website

My Thoughts:

There is immediate and delicious tension, both sexual and professional, between Tess and Josh and for good reason on both parts. Their first meeting alone had my Kindle smoldering. Aside from all of the sparks flying between the two, my favorite things about Something’s Cooking are the hilarious scenes that result from Tess’s clumsy moments.
Overall Rating: 4 out of 5

3 Liner Review: Party Crasher by April Angel


**Over 18 Review**

Party Crasher
by April Angel

Stand Alone Novel
Genre: Adult, Contemporary Romance, Erotica

She crashed his party and became his prize…

According to one annoying Drex Callum, Chris is a “nosy reporter”. And maybe she is. She’s heard of the super secretive event known as the Seduction Party, and she won’t be content until she finds a way in. The last thing she expects to find is that Drex is the host. She’ll never get an invitation from her nemesis-unless she finds a way to get one herself. And breaking into his house is nothing if it means getting the scoop. But what she gets instead is an eye-full of the man himself, half-naked and more than she’d ever dreamed he could be in all her teenage fantasies.

Drex has been fantasizing about Chris forever, and now that she’s a grown woman, he still has a hard time treating her like one. So when she shows up at the Seduction Party-on the auction chair!-he’s got no other choice but to teach that nosey woman a lesson. He never dreamed sex could be like this, which Chris in his room, tied to a bed, asking him for stuff that blows his mind.

Party Crasher on Goodreads, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble

My Thoughts:

The Seduction Party takes up a decent chunk of this story and boy oh boy is it ever wild. The happenings at this party alone will get your heart racing and that’s before you even add in the h o t main characters that have craved each other for so long. This short read will no doubt keep you warm on a cold, winter evening.

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5

Shelf Candy Saturday (52): Magic Study (Study #2) by Maria V. Snyder


Shelf Candy Saturday is hosted by A Night's Dream of Books


Magic Study
By Maria V. Snyder

Series: Study #2
Genre: fantasy, magic

You know your life is bad when you miss your days as a poison taster…

With her greatest enemy dead, and on her way to be reunited with the family she’d been stolen from long ago, Yelena should be pleased. But though she has gained her freedom, she can’t help feeling isolated in Sitia. Her Ixian background has changed her in many ways – and her newfound friends and relatives don’t think it’s for the better…

Despite the turmoil, she’s eager to start her magic training – especially as she’s been given one year to harness her power or be put to death. But her plans take a radical turn when she becomes involved with a plot to reclaim Ixia’s throne for a lost prince – and gets entangled in powerful rivalries with her fellow magicians.

If that wasn’t bad enough, it appears her brother would love to see her dead. Luckily, Yelena has some old friends to help her with all her new enemies…

Maria V. Snyder on Goodreads, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble
Maria V. Snyder’s website

I know this isn’t a new series or even a new cover but I do love this Turkish version of Magic Study!

And for Maria V. Snyder fans that haven’t seen them yet, I’ve included the three cover versions for the next book in her Healer series. Taste of Darkness releases December 31st. 



Favorite Places by Kelly Gendron



Favorite Places - Extreme PROMO Blitz
By Kelly Gendron

Contemporary Erotica
Date Published: 12/10/2013

Add to Goodreads

A five-minute trolley ride, one troublemaking luggage, and two stolen identities. Six months later, two strangers discover they’re married. She wants an annulment. He has other plans.

Being illegally hitched is about the only way Chase Lennox would ever be shackled to any woman. But when the multimillionaire playboy finds out he’s married to the woman who caused him to lose the biggest deal of his life, Chase decides before he gives his new wife an annulment, she’s going to help him close the deal he’d lost.
Jessina Landi has a three-foot radius comfort zone. The last man she let into it cost her a lot more than a broken heart. And the huge debt she owes for that trust, well, it’s due. If she takes Chase Lennox's up on his offer, it’s sure to cover the bill.
There’s an annulment waiting at the end of their rainbow… well, that’s if they can get through the next two weeks without consummating the marriage.

Excerpt

"Finish getting ready. We're outta here in a few minutes.” He turned his back to her.
Jessina struggled to recover from the total body meltdown he’d so easily triggered. "Are we heading back to your apartment?"
"Yes," he responded just as he disappeared from the doorway.
"Good." She raised her voice. "You can drop me off at the bus stop then."
Chase's head swayed back in the doorway. "Come again?"
"I'm going home, but I'll be back in time for Caplin's arrival on Thursday."
He stepped back into the room. "Why do you want to go home?"
The question caught her off guard. She'd assumed he'd be pleased to be rid of her. Nonetheless, telling him the truth wasn't an option. "As you said, the only reason we needed to spend time together was so I could get to know you, so we can convince Caplin we're married."
His forehead wrinkled. "And you feel like you know me?"
"Well enough to pull off a bullshit marriage, yes."
"Hmm." He rubbed his chin, the intensity of his stare holding her captive. She clung to those dark eyes, waiting for him to say something. He dropped his hand and took a step toward her.
"I don't want you to go." His low, husky words resonated in her ears.
Her body hesitated, heart skipped, and nerves stammered. All of her senses failed her. She couldn’t have heard him right. "What?"
"There are a few more things you need to know about me in order to successfully pull this off, Jessina."
Every single one of her senses came back to life as he moved closer.
"Will you stay just one more night?" He stopped in front of her. "So I can show them to you?"
"What?" Heat flushed through her body once more. "What sort of things?"
Dark, ravishing eyes dropped to her mouth as he drew a finger down the side of her cheek. It trailed along her neck, gently grazing her shoulder and caressing the length of her arm. "The sort of things I would do with my real wife." He looked back up at her, his hand now settled on her hip. The weight of his touch caused her stomach to clench with desire. His hand shifted to the small of her back, and her next breath got caught in her throat. "I want to show you how my wife would make me feel when I'm this close to her." He applied light pressure with his hand to her back, and the space between them descended. Their bodies became one.
"Chase…" His name fell from her lips in a near whisper when his hardness pressed into her tight-with-desire belly.
"Jessina…" he hissed back in a throaty murmur…


About the Author
Kelly Gendron

Kelly resides in a quiet suburb somewhere between Buffalo and Niagara Falls, NY. Her day job? Kelly has worked in the healthcare field for years. She represents a group of reputable nursing facilities in the WNY area.
She's been faithfully writing for three years. However, she wrote her first book ten years ago but had to put it down to raise her son as a single mom. When her son got a little older, she was able to pick it back up. That's when she settled into her newly married life and started to seriously write again.
The recipe for the men in her stories: a dash of bad boy attitude, a cup of strong and confident and, of course, besides being packed with magnificent bodies, and doused with shameless aptitudes, they must have a tender heart you want to rip out of the pages (or your e-Reader) and take to bed with you at night.
Kelly loves to hear from her readers! Visit her Blog, FB Page, Goodreads, Twitter.

Author Links

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Friday Foodie Affair: Cake Batter Cracker Dip




 ...where I profess my love for food and food related things.

Cake Batter Cracker Dip


This photo is from the recipe source, the other
photos in the post are ones that I took.

Prep Time 5 Minutes
Servings 20 
Difficulty Easy 

Ingredients

1 package (about 18 Oz. Size) Cake Mix, Any Flavor
1-½ cup Plain Yogurt
2 cups Whipped Topping

Preparation Instructions

In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients and mix until smooth and creamy. Chill for at least 1 hour before serving with your favorite crackers or fruit.This will store up to 3 days in the refrigerator.




My Thoughts

You can't get any easier than this recipe, it's only three ingredients mixed together. I have made this dip twice and used nonfat yogurt and lemon cake mix both times. Eventually I will try other combinations (maybe chocolate?) but the lemon is heavenly and I had to have it a second time.  

Recipe Source:

I heard about this recipe from my friend, Emmalee and then found the Recipe source online.

Tied (Fire Born #1) by Laney McMann


Tied
By Laney McMann

Series: Fire Born #1
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy          
Publisher: J. Taylor Publishing
I received this book, from the author/publisher, in exchange for an honest review

Normal people don’t believe their nightmares stalk them. They don’t fall in love with boys who don’t exist, either.

Seventeen-year-old Layla Labelle, though, is far from normal. Her delusions walk the earth. Her hallucinations hunt her, and her skin heats to a burn every time her anger flares.

Or is that all in her head?

Layla doesn’t know what to believe any more because if none of that’s true, Max MacLarnon must be an illusion, and her heart must still be broken.

No matter how much she wants to believe Max is real, doing so would mean everything else is, too. How, then, is that possible?

The answers lie in an age-old legend the supernatural aren’t prepared to reveal, and with a curse that could tear Layla and Max apart forever – if it doesn’t kill them both first.

In TIED, book one in the Fire Born Trilogy, learning the truth will mean fighting an arsenal of demons, and being with Max will put Layla on a path toward her own destruction.

Just how far will Layla go to protect the one she loves?

The answer may never be far enough away.

Laney McMann’s Website

My Thoughts:

What to say about this one. Well I guess I’ll start by saying that I had mixed emotions throughout the story. I liked most of the characters, the variety of paranormal ‘creatures’, and the enjoyable and unique plot. The part that I didn’t enjoy was the fact that one of the main characters was annoyingly weak. I know that not every character in every book needs to be strong in order to have a good story BUT at the same time I would much rather read about someone who at least has a little inner strength. The character in Tied has an inkling of strength but for most of the book this person is w e a k and it really irritated me! I can only tolerate so much fainting and woe is me before I just throw my hands in the air and say WTF. If you can overlook the weakness then definitely check this one out because that was the main reason for the slightly lower rating. 


Overall Rating: 3 out of 5

Bitter Sweet Love by Jennifer L. Armentrout Release Day!!

Jennifer L. Armentrout's amazing novella in her new The Dark Elements Series, BITTER SWEET LOVE, is out!!! BITTER SWEET LOVE is the Prequel Novella for The Dark Elements Series and is full of Wardens, fantasy, and romance. The first novel in the series, WHITE HOT KISS, will be released February 25, 2014. Check out what we have for you today! There's also a fantastic excerpt for you to check out below!

EXCERPT:


Moving lightning fast, Dez shifted and I was suddenly underneath him. His arms were on either side of my head, caging me in. Our bodies didn’t touch, but I felt him to the tips of my toes anyway.
                The teasing grin disappeared when I dragged in a deep breath and my chest brushed his. Everything changed in an instant. The playful mood faded, replaced by primal heaviness. Our gazes collided and locked. Neither of us moved. His closeness sent a series of shivers skittering across my skin and made it hard to take slow, even breaths. My body tensed when his gaze dropped to my mouth.
                He tilted his head to the side. “I… I honestly have no idea what we were talking about.”
                “Good. Neither do I.”
                He shifted his weight onto one arm, bring him closer. “Have you enjoyed your trip so far?”
                “Yes.” I felt as if I couldn’t get enough air into my lungs.
                “Good.” He lowered his head. His breath was minty as it moved across my cheek and then my lips. “I’m glad.”
                I wasn’t really following the conversation and I wasn’t sure that he was fully aware of what was coming out of his mouth. I searched my hazy brain for something to say and wet my lips. I-
                The sound that came out of Dez’s chest rumbled through me. A stuttered heartbeat passed and then his lips were on mine. There was nothing slow about this kiss. It scorched my skin and caused my body to stretch tight like a bowstring. The kiss deepened, spinning my senses. I shuddered when his hand curved over my shoulder and drifted down to my waist, his long fingers spreading out under the hem of my shirt, grazing the bare skin of my stomach.
                I gasped, floored by the raw sensations pounding through my blood. My skin felt as if I was about to phase. Maybe I was.

                “Jasmine,” he whispered, the word falling against my lips, and then his body was pressing mine into the mattress, heavy, sweet and hard.

ABOUT BITTER SWEET LOVE (The Dark Elements #.5):

In a sizzling prequel novella to her new series The Dark Elements, #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout draws readers into the extraordinary, irresistible world of Wardens and demons.

Dez wasn't just Jasmine's crush. A gargoyle Warden like Jas, he helped her come to terms with her destiny—fending off demons and maintaining the balance between good and evil. He was her everything…right until the moment he disappeared without a trace. It didn't help that Jas's father had just announced that she and Dez would one day be mated. Hard not to take that personally.

And now he's back, three years older, ten times hotter, ready to pick up exactly where they left off. But Jas isn't taking that risk again. Dez has seven days to meet all her conditions and earn back her trust. Seven days filled with terrifying danger and sweet temptation. Seven days to win her heart—or shatter it all over again…

Don't miss White Hot Kiss, book one in Jennifer L. Armentrout's The Dark Elements series from Harlequin TEEN!

About Jennifer L. Armentrout:


# 1 NEW YORK TIMES Bestselling author Jennifer lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing. she spends her time reading, working out, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell Loki. Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen. Her book Obsidian has been optioned for a major motion picture and her Covenant Series has been optioned for TV. She also writes adult and New Adult romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

Links:

WHITE HOT KISS Buy Links:



Cover Reveal: Vegas to Varanasi by Shelly Hickman




Vegas to Varanasi - Cover Reveal
By Shelly Hickman
Romantic Comedy
Date Published - 12/1/2013

Anna has never been the beautiful one; she’s always been the nice one. So when the gorgeous man sitting across the table at a wedding reception remembers her from high school—and quite fondly at that—she’s taken off guard. Formerly overweight and unpopular, Kiran has never forgotten Anna, the one person who was kind to him when no one else could be bothered, and Anna’s a bit flustered as she slowly comes to grips with his intense attraction for her. In what feels like a romantic dream come true, all-grown-up, hunky Kiran invites Anna on a trip to Varanasi. But her troubled, whack-a-do ex-boyfriend starts interfering, creating drama at every turn, which begs the question, “Can nice girls really finish first?”




Excerpt

As I take a sip from my glass, the most stunning couple sits down at our table. I can’t decide who is more attractive. The woman reminds me of a movie star from old Hollywood, with wavy auburn hair that cascades down her shoulders and milky white skin I’m sure has never seen a pimple in its life.
The man? My God, he takes my breath away! I have to avert my eyes because when I look at him, I just want to grin like an idiot, he’s so beautiful. 
I once had this same reaction when I was in college and had to take a summer geology class for a random science credit. I was not looking forward to the class because the study of dirt and groundwater doesn’t exactly excite me. However, when the instructor, a grad student, walked in, I got a big, stupid grin on my face because he was so cute. 
That guy in no way compared to the specimen sitting across from me now. He looks Indian. Dark skin, luscious black hair with just a touch of grey, and the most amazing, sea green eyes. They might be the same color as mine, actually, but with my coloring, they’re nothing special. On him . . . holy hell!
I must be forgetting to avert my eyes because Luke’s voice jars me. “Anna!” he whispers. “You do realize that you’re psychotically staring at that guy, don’t you? Because I’m pretty sure he notices.”
The heat rises to my face, and I raise my glass to polish off my champagne. The man smiles politely at my show of bad manners.
No one else is seated at the table with us, so Luke offers introductions. “Hello, I’m Luke and this is Anna.” 
“I’m Kiran, and this is Miranda,” the man replies. Miranda offers a curt nod, but is clearly bored with us already.
“It’s nice to meet you both,” Luke says.  “So how do you know the newlyweds?”
The waiter returns to fill their glasses. “I’m not a fan of champagne,” Miranda says as she pulls a compact out of her Coach wristlet. “Could I have an amaretto sour?”
“Certainly.”
“Thank you,” Kiran says to the server, before he addresses Luke’s question. “I’m friends with the family of the groom, for about fifteen years now.”
He must have grown up in the States, because I detect no accent when he speaks. “So you’ve known Jacob since he was a boy then. I hope you can vouch for his character,” I tease. “Luke and I have known the bride’s mother, Julia, since high school.”
“Her daughter made a good choice,” he confirms solemnly, as if I were being serious.
The waiter returns with Miranda’s drink and she takes a sip. “I don’t know what this is, but it’s not a vodka sour.” She sets the glass down in a huff.
“I’m sorry, ma’am. I thought you said amaretto sour.” The waiter glances at each of us nervously.
“Well, clearly you thought wrong. Would you please get it right next time?” She then wrinkles her nose at me and smiles.
A roaring fills my ears, and I squeeze Luke’s knee to keep from saying something. He puts his hand over mine and pats it.
Kiran leans over and whispers something in Miranda’s ear, and her smug expression turns to indignation. She says nothing in response, but shifts in her seat to create some distance between them.
“I’m very sorry, ma’am,” the waiter says as he collects her glass. “I’ll get that vodka sour.”
As he passes me I touch his arm to stop him. I put my hand against my mouth like I’m trying to be discreet, but make sure my voice is loud enough for her to hear. “She did ask for an amaretto sour.” 
I think Kiran stifles a chuckle.
“Whatever,” Miranda says.
Did she just say whatever?
Luke mutters under his breath, “Could she be any more horrible?”
“I don’t think so,” I answer at normal volume, looking straight at her with my fake smile. Then I make a show of taking the lip balm out of my Kohl’s Nine and Co. clutch, simply because I have the burning desire to repulse her with my mediocrity.
We continue to make idle chat, and the minute it comes up that Luke and I are not an item, Miranda makes it her mission for the evening to sink her claws into him, making me wonder about her relationship with Kiran. It isn’t long before the rest of the guests assigned to our table show, making it more difficult for Miranda to flirt. However, it doesn’t deter her from speaking over the couple between her and Luke. 
Luke plays along, and I know exactly what he’s doing. He’s leading her to believe there will be some sort of fruit for her efforts, and even asks her to dance. He’s good. Very good.
Kiran’s posture is relaxed and he doesn’t seem the least bit perturbed by Miranda’s behavior. In fact, he seems amused. We exchange polite smiles, and he points to Luke’s empty seat, asking if it’s okay to sit there. I nod in agreement.
“Before I forget,” I say as he takes the seat beside me, “Would it be really out of line for me to ask what you said to Miranda after the amaretto sour incident?” Oh, wow. I realize I’m on my fourth glass of champagne, giving me the gumption to ask questions that are none of my damn business.
“No, it would not be out of line at all.” Geezus. Those eyes. “All I said was there was no reason to be unkind.”
“Thank you!” I hold up my knuckles for a fist bump. “You, sir, rock!”
He seems a little uncertain of what I’m doing at first, then smiles and returns a fist. Sheesh. Even his teeth are perfect.
“Well, as long as I’m being, let’s face it, really, really nosy, why don’t you seem to be upset that she’s all over my ex-husband?” Yeah, I’m definitely feeling the champagne.
“Ah.” He looks back in her direction; she is now inappropriately close to Luke on the dance floor. “This is a blind date. A friend of my mother has been bugging her about setting me up with her daughter. I’ve never even met her before tonight, but it didn’t take long to discover we weren’t going to hit it off.”
“I’m sorry.”
“You don’t remember me, do you?” 
That was a quick change of subject and my faculties are a bit dulled. I pinch my eyebrows together. “I’m sorry?”
“From high school. You don’t remember me.”
I’m pretty sure I have a look of panic on my face because apparently all night I’ve been speaking to someone I knew in high school, and I don’t even have the decency to remember him.
“I’m sorry,” I say for the umpteenth time, “but Kiran isn’t exactly a common name. I think I would remember . . . Wait. Now that I think about it, there was a Kiran in my English Lit class junior year, but he was this quiet, kind of pudgy . . . .”
Kiran smiles and raises his eyebrows before nodding ever so slightly. 
Inadvertently, I gasp and put my hand over my mouth. “No way!”
“You remember. You do remember me!” The pleasure in his voice surprises me.
“Oh, I didn’t mean to call you pudgy!” I. Am. Mortified.
“It’s okay, Anna. Actually, I was fat.” He takes another sip of champagne.
I can’t help but giggle at his directness. “No, no you weren’t. I admit I don’t remember a whole lot about you. You were soooo quiet! We did speak a few times though, didn’t we?”
“A few times. But do you know what I remember about you?” Briefly, he taps the top of my hand with his finger.
“Oh, God no.” I suck in some air between my teeth and scrunch up my face, praying it won’t be something embarrassing. “What do you remember?”
“There was this guy in our class, Mark. Big, muscle-bound jock.”
I roll my eyes. “Yes, and my pet name for him was asshole.” Kiran laughs and rubs his chin. I look over his shoulder to see Luke and Miranda slow dancing, and she’s girlishly fiddling with his tie. Boy, is she in for a surprise. I return my gaze to Kiran. “Sorry. Continue.”
“Mark was always making mean comments to me about my glasses, my weight.” I do sort of remember that. He sat behind Kiran, and I sat next to Mark. “Well, one day he was at it again, and you told him to give it a rest. And he said, ‘What about it? He’s a whale!’ Then you said, ‘And you’re a dick.’”
I nearly spit out my drink. I have no recollection of this incident. “I said that?”
“Yes. Yes, you did. And I had a huge crush on you from that day forward.” 
Oh, no he did-unt! This Adonis had a crush on me? Inconceivable! Yes, I know. He wasn’t an Adonis back then, but still . . . .



About the Author
Shelly Hickman

Living in Las Vegas since she was two, Shelly Hickman has witnessed many changes in the city over the years. She graduated from UNLV with a Bachelor of Art in 1990, and in her early twenties worked as an illustrator for a contractor for the Nevada Test Site. In the mid-90s, she returned to school to earn her Masters degree in Elementary Education. She now teaches computer applications and multimedia at a middle school in Las Vegas. She loves to write about people, examining their flaws, their humor, spirituality, and personal growth. Shelly lives with her husband, two children, and their dog, Frankie.



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