Book Review~ Purely Professional by Elia Winters

Title: Purely Professional
Author: Elia Winters
Genre: Erotica, Romance, BDSM
Release Date: 1/13/2014
Rating: 5 stars
Steam factor: 5/5

Bridget Hartwell is a columnist at a magazine called Sultry. In an effort to further her career with her new boss, Bridget agrees to write some "edgier" articles about BDSM. She already writes articles for women of a "sex-positive" nature but nothing like this. After being told she couldn't just Google such things by her best friend. Her best friend gets her an interview with an established dominant that is active in the BDSM scene. 

Bridget soon discovers that this mystery contact of her friend is none other than the neighbor she has a crush on! 

English Professor Max Harlow agrees to an interview with Bridget to help with her BDSM article. Max reveals that he has never been able to find a woman who meets his submissive needs in the bedroom as well as his everyday intellectual and relationship needs. Once the article becomes a hit, Bridget needs his help to continue with a new project. 

 As Max teaches Bridget all about what it means and feels like to be a submissive through hands-on training, Bridget discovers a side of herself that she can't deny, however hard she tries to...

There isn't a character in this book that I don't like! Even the "bulldog" new boss, Marcy! Bridget is a strong woman who knows what she wants (or what she thinks she wants) and is willing to give up having a man in her life to achieve it all. It was great to see her realize that it was okay to be submissive and that it didn't mean she was weak! Max is a college professor who was a nerd in high school and a late bloomer. He has had only one serious relationship that ended badly when he revealed his desire to explore his dominant side with her. This past experience makes Max hesitant to get attached to the inexperienced Bridget. I liked both Max and Bridget instantly! You could feel the chemistry between them before she even knew about his predilection. But once they started her "training" it was explosive! Bridget's best friend Helen is awesome and I would love to read more about her! She knows very well how Bridget feels about her neighbor before setting her up on a blind date/interview with him. I suspect she knew Bridget would be submissive and saw this as a perfect opportunity to let her explore it. I would give Helen the "best supporting character" award!

The book is well written with a story that flows nicely. Bridget and Max both develop at about the same pace. I love how Mrs. Winters shows them developing each other as well as the internal development going on with Bridget. The supporting characters are all crucial in the development of the main characters as well. There are no arbitrary people flitting about. 

This is a stand alone book! No cliffhanger. No "but, what happened with_____?".  Everything is clear and explained. The only thing I would like to explore further is Helen. I see her having a very interesting story! The detail in the intimate scenes is explicit. You are inside Bridget's mind, feeling what she feels. This book gets a 5/5 on the steam factor here! There is dirty talk, toys, spanking and public experiences. 

I can't wait to read more from Elia Winters! She is currently working on a steampunk erotic novel called Combustion! 

Connect with Elia Winters

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Buy Purely Professional

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*I was provided a copy of this book by NetGalley in exchange for my honest review

Release Day Giveaway: Blindness by Ginger Scott

I have a wonderful surprise for you! Ginger Scott is going to give away an e-copy of Blindness to one of my readers!

In case you missed my review please check it out! I gave it 5 stars and a steam factor of 2/5. This is a fantastic love story about making choices and being true to yourself told in a first person perspective that I love.

Without further babbling use the rafflecopter form below to enter and Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Want another chance to win a copy? Check out her blog: www.littlemisswrite.com/

~Book Review~ Blindness by Ginger Scott

Title: Blindness
Author: Ginger Scott
Genre: New Adult, Romance
Release Date: 2/25/2014
Rating: 5 stars
Steam factor: 2/5 (think PG13)

Charlotte or Charlie as her dad used to call her is a hard character to describe frankly. She is flawed, she is strong, she is independent while also being codependent. I love her! I want to be her friend. Charlie is dropped on her father's doorstep at 7 years old by a mom who was an addict and never told him she was even pregnant. Her father, Mac, did the best he could but they were basically roommates until an incident with her boyfriend left her with a bruised face. It is at that point that her father realizes she needs more and they become best friends. Then, after 1 year of having an amazing father, she loses him. 

Charlotte runs from the town that reminds her of all that she lost and starts fresh in college. She is dating Trevor for a year when she finds herself with no option but to move in with him and his severely dysfunctional parents. She has the "perfect" boyfriend and is looking forward to his proposal and the safe existence she knows she will have with him. Then she meets Cody. Cody is the tattooed math tutor she felt an instant attraction to. She shrugs it off, reminding herself of her perfect boyfriend, Trevor.

Cody is a former Motocross prodigy with a past as complex and devastating as Charlie. Cody lost his dad as suddenly as Charlie did. A devastation like that would cause anyone to lose concentration which is exactly what happened during Cody's last motorcycle stunt. A stunt just a week after his father's death leaves Cody in a wheel chair for months. Cody's mom, Shelly, remarried. She married Trevor's father. Trevor and Cody are step brothers. Trevor never mentioned a brother to Charlotte so when the math tutor she clicked with shows up for a family dinner, you can imagine her confusion. 

Blindness is written in first person from Charlie's perspective. I love first person because it feels more like I get to glimpse into their thinking process. You get to develop along with the character. In this case Charlie.

Reading this book, you go back and forth with her decisions. Will she stay with Trevor? Is she brave enough to leave that safe relationship and recognise the connection to Cody? Does she even know what love is anymore? 

Blindness has me literally saying "Wow"! There are things that come between the characters. Misunderstandings, blackmail, exes... Normally this would have me yelling at the characters to "Just tell him/her!!" But you know they can't! There are good reasons why things are left unsaid. The clarity of these is something Ginger Scott has thoroughly impressed me with. The story progresses in such a natural way, a flow that just keeps you going! If I wasn't reading this book I was wondering what was happening next. 

This book doesn't leave me with more questions! I LOVE that about it! While there were a few extra side stories, they weren't ones that I felt needed development. They could potentially be separate stories but the amount of information is perfect in the development in the Charlie/Cody story. There is one particular one involving Trevor's dad's Chicago trips that I suppose didn't need to be so strong. It would have been just as effective to have him too involved in work to care. (Trying to avoid a spoiler) 

If you like the What-is-she-gonna-do-next? books that you can't put down, Blindness is available February 25th on Kindle, Kobo, Smashwords, iBooks and Barnes & Noble! There will also be a giveaway right here on release day! If you aren't already a subscriber, enter your email on the right to get that post! (Don't forget to confirm)

Connect with Ginger Scott

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An ARC was provided by NetGalley in exchange for my honest review

Valentine's gifts for him that are really for you!

I'm seeing a lot of posts about "what to get him for Valentine's Day" lately. Yes, I know it's coming up but really? Are you really buying things for him?

1. Lingerie- You buy this to make yourself look sexy. Why? Because looking sexy makes you feel sexy! This is all about you! Honestly, he would prefer you with nothing on!
2. Candy- Totally guilty of this one here! My hubby isn't a candy person at all! But I buy him candy so I can eat it. He knows it. I know it. It is what it is!
3. Dinner out- This one is so you don't have to cook or clean. Not because he likes restaurant food better. He would rather you not spend the money. OK I suppose if you let him pick the restaurant it would be for him...
4. Boxers with hearts on them- He really doesn't care what goes under his pants... perhaps that should be re-worded. Perhaps not... This gift is really so you can throw away a pair of boxers that have more than the required amount of holes. 
5. 12 days of Valentine's- This is something I'm doing this year. Really, this is just to keep reminding him that the day is coming and that he needs to get to it!
6. Love coupons- This is actually part of my 12 days thing... These look like you are willing to do all these things for him. But you know he is going to lose them and forget about them. So you are giving him something that you know you won't have to follow through on.
7. Anything used to groom himself- Do I really have to explain this one? You are totally gonna benefit from this one. Provided he uses said product.

What he really wants: 

Beer and a full body massage with a happy ending... Oh and to not have to guess at what you really want for Valentine's Day! I say buy yourself something you really want, wrap up the receipt along with a 12 pack and some massage oil. Give it to him a few days before Valentine's Day (Because we both know he hasn't bought anything yet) He might even be so grateful that he uses the massage oil on you!

Disclaimer: This post is meant to be taken with a light heart. My husband is amazing! He would appreciate anything I gave him! I know yours would too!

Book Review: Random Acts of Trust by Julia Kent

I have been spending so much time reading lately that I have been neglecting my blogging! I'm sure there are a few other things getting neglected lately too, like laundry and other stuff moms are supposed to do. I prefer to read than clean.

One of the authors I have been reading is Julia Kent! After reading ALL of her books (listed below) which were either free or I paid for, I contacted her and asked about becoming a part of her street team and Random Acts of Trust was just days from being released! So, I was sent an Advanced Review Copy free of charge to provide my honest opinion! To clarify I paid for all the other books, but Random Acts of Trust was a free review copy.

About the Author:

Julia Kent is a USA Today Bestselling author who writes contemporary romance. Think: semi erotic, romantic comedy usually with a twist and often with more than 2 love interests. 

Julia Kent is like my long lost sister! In RAOC she mentions the Diva Cup. In It's Complicated, Laura briefly tackles breastfeeding issues including NIP (Nursing in Public). Complete Abandon talks about babywearing and mentions that Laura makes her own cloth diapers!!! All topics not usually in romance novels that are very close to my heart. 

My Review:

My first experience with Julia Kent was Random Acts of Crazy (RAOC). In that book I feel in love with Darla and her brazen openness. We were taken through a journey that made all three main characters in that book grow both emotionally and socially. I have since read every other book written by Julia Kent!

Random Acts of Trust is not a continuation of that story. (Although it does happen after RAOC) Random Acts of Trust is a new story about the drummer from the band we met in RAOC and his struggle to recreate a love lost years ago and to come to terms with what it is to truly trust.

Growing up in a society that was made up of fake lives, decided futures and family secrets, Sam and Amy went to different high schools and were on the debate team. Senior year they found themselves battling each other to make it to Nationals. For Sam, the stakes were very high. His entire college career would be decided by the outcome and little did he know his family life would be too. After the debate Sam disappeared from Amy's life. Four and a half years later Sam and Amy rediscover each other and the secret to his disappearance is revealed.

When you are raised to tell half truths in order to cover up lies who can you trust? How do you learn to trust?

To be honest, The beginning moved a little slowly for me. It seemed a bit drawn out until about 20% into the book. But then we get hurled into a fantastic love story that made you root for them, laugh and cry and really want to get to know them on a deeper level.

We meet the whole band which includes Trevor and Joe from RAOC and their girl, Darla. They are a big part in this book as well as Liam, the fourth member of the band. Each character feels like someone you either know already or want to know! Ms. Kent has a way of doing that!

I have to mention that there is one part just past the halfway point that had me laughing so hard I was crying! My 3 year old kept asking me if I was OK... I don't want to spoil it so I will leave you with this: There was a urgent trip to visit a "Hoohaw" doctor and a misplaced cell phone.

Joking aside, I loved the overall story and found it very relatable. Afterall, who doesn't have a family secret? In this book you get:

Lies

Family secrets

Love

Lost love

Competition

Sex

Hysterical comedy

I would say you don't need to read one before the other really. If you haven't read RAOC it could be read after and it would just fill in the back story of Darla, Trevor and Joe and explain the Chicken jokes.

After the book we get a sneak peek at the next book starring Liam! The preview was awesome and I can't wait to read Liam's story!!!

Connect with Julia Kent:

She often posts excerpts on her blog as well as occasional giveaways! jkentauthor.blogspot.com

Her social media pages:

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Amazon

Other Titles by Julia Kent:

Get the first "Billionaire" book for free here: 

Read It's Complicated AFTER the Billionaires series:

She is currently finishing the third in the "Obedient" series:

And let's not forget the Random Acts series:

She is also included in several book bundles. This one is where you can find Complete Abandon which should also be read AFTER the Billionaires series: