Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Blog Tour - Made the Grade: Dark Wolf Enterprises by A. M. Griffin | Review & Gift Card Giveaway

Today I'm turning my blog over to A. M. Griffin, with a review of her debut novel "Dark Wolf Enterprises," which is the first novel in her Dark Wolf Enterprises Series!!

ALSO -- Be sure to check out Rafflecopter at the bottom of this post to be able to sign up for this blog stop's GIVEAWAY(s)!! [Blog Tour will run on December 31, 2014 -- Giveaway will run from ???]



- This is an ARC book - Available Formats through Amazon.com: Kindle Edition - File Size: 2731 KB | Release Date: November 19, 2014 | Publisher: Three Twenty-One, LLC | Obtained: Goddess Fish Promotions

"Dark Wolf Enterprises" [Dark Wolf Enterprises Series, Book 1] by A. M. Griffin

Author's Book Description : The big break Trudy Hollander’s small accounting firm needs has finally arrived, but unfortunately it comes with murder, mayhem and Kristof Farkas, a man she just can’t seem to resist. Even worse, Kristof is the CFO of Dark Wolf Enterprises—the one person who can pull the plug on the job that will take her company to the next level.

And then there are the assassins who can jump from three stories up and still be able to run away...

Kristof has no intention of giving in to his inner wolf and claiming Trudy. She’s human. Too fragile to withstand being a shifter’s mate. But the need to protect her is stronger than his resolve, and his desire is more powerful yet. He’ll fight with everything he has to keep her safe, both from those who would hurt her, and from himself.

My Book Review : 3.5 out of 5 stars. Landing her newest account is all that matters to Gertrude (Trudy/Tru) right now. Yet, when her world gets turned upside down because of the information she learns Trudy will find out what it really means to be a part of something great, if only she can be accepted for who she happens to be.

This intense novella keeps you on your toes as you follow Trudy and Kristof’s growing relationship through an extreme bout of “getting to know one-another.” I liked Trudy’s character. It was fun reading about Trudy finding other ways of besting Kristof even though she’s portrayed as being weak because she’s a human. They are definitely a matched set.

In addition, while I liked how this novella laid out the foundation for this series, I wish the ending for it was a bit more meaningful instead of Kristof fighting himself for its majority and then coming to the conclusion that he shouldn’t have done what he does. I guess it was just too abrupt for me to like completely. Nevertheless, I am intrigued by Meisha (Trudy’s small spitfire best friend) and can’t wait to see where this series will lead us next!

I recommend this novella to those who are looking for a quick paranormal romance!

Purchase This Book and/or The Other Books From It's Series Here : Smashwords : Lover Claimed | Kobo : Lover Claimed


Author's Novel Extras : Brought To His Knees - Overview | New Book Release! Yule's Tyd!!!

Author's Series Extras : Dark Wolf Enterprises Series - Overview | Brought To His Knees #boxset, #0.99 | Blog Tour Schedule for Lover Claimed Dark Wolf Enterprises Book Two

Book Teaser(s) :
“I swear. Who gave these idiots a marriage license in the first place?”
Trudy hadn’t been paying attention to the bickering couple on screen. Who aired their dirty laundry on national television anyway?
“I mean, he knew the baby wasn’t his when they got married. Why is he so surprised that the new baby isn’t his too? Give me a break.” Then for added measure, Meisha screamed at the television. “She’s a whore, Jessie! Your momma warned you not to marry her.”
Trudy shook her head. Meisha spent most of her days watching daytime television and communicating with students via internet. Trudy realized that at some point her best friend might’ve lost touch with reality. ~ within Chapter 2
Streaks of blood were on his body. He looked...deadly. She startled and fell back.
She aimed the gun at him. “Don’t hurt me.”
“Trudy, darling.”
She stared at him.
“Y–yes.”
“If you’re going to shoot me, I’d rather you aim for my head and get it over with quickly.”
Her gaze followed the path of her aim. It was on his wonderful hanging cock. Aw shit.
“My other head,” he said softly. ~ within Chapter 8
For more information on this book, series, and/or any other books by A. M., then please check out her website.



About the Author :

A. M. Griffin is a wife who rarely cooks, mother of three, dog owner (and sometimes dog owned), a daughter, sister, aunt and friend. She’s a hard worker whose two favorite outlets are reading and writing. She enjoys reading everything from mystery novels to historical romances and of course fantasy romance. She is a believer in the unbelievable, open to all possibilities from mermaids in our oceans and seas, angels in the skies and intelligent life forms in distant galaxies.



Book Excerpt :

Kristof is some kind of freak and he’s being attacked by wolves. She was god knows where with god knows who.

She could be killed out here and no one would know how to find her body.

Her gaze shifted to the cockpit door. They could kill her.

Flare gun.

She scrambled to the back of the plane and flung open the closet door. On the top shelf was the metal box Kristof had told her about. Grabbing it, she pulled the box down. The handle slipped in her sweaty palms and hit the floor with a crash. The contents spilled at her feet.

She spotted the flare gun immediately. Grabbing it, she ran back to her seat by the window and aimed the gun at the cockpit door.

While she waited for the pilots to come out, she continued to watch the fighting below. One of the wolves was down, leaving Kristof to fight the other two. She peered at the cockpit door. Still shut. Then back to Kristof. One of the others wolves was now limping badly.

Kristof snarled and grabbed the uninjured wolf by the neck and shook him. The wolf went limp and appeared to be more like a rag doll than anything else. Kristof stopped and opened his mouth. The wolf he held there fell to the ground in a lump. The only wolf left stood his ground. Both he and Kristof growled and circled each other until, finally, the injured wolf seemed to realize this was a losing fight and scampered off into the darkness.

Standing alone, Kristof let out a long howl at the night.

Trudy pressed her face to the glass and looked left to right, trying to see if she spotted any more of the other wolves.

Kristof ran off, to where she couldn’t see.

He’s leaving me.

The thought ripped through her mind. Then an instant later, another thought eased the first.

He’d never leave me. I belong to him.

She’d no time to pick apart the last thought because, on the next blink, Kristof—the wolf—was standing outside of her window—watching her.

She knew it was him and not some other wolf, she felt he was hers. Their eyes locked. A part of her wanted to shrink away under his stare, but the other…wanted to claim him.

The cockpit door creaked open and the pilot peered at her. Yelping she raised her gun and aimed. Screaming, he shut the door before she could fire off a shot.

“Come out here and I’ll kill you! Do you see what happened to your buddies?” Her hands shook as she aimed the gun.

She was going to die. There was a man-wolf killer outside and a pilot-kidnapper in here.

Another glance outside and Kristof stood, as a man, watching her. A naked man. A wonderfully naked man.

She shook her head.

Wolf-beast.

“Trudy. Open the hatch. I’m coming back up,” He yelled out to her.”

Was she supposed to let him back in? He hadn’t said that.

She chewed on her lower lip, waiting for an answer she couldn’t think of. If she opened the door would he attack her? Was he a rabid beast who couldn’t control himself?

She shook her head. “No. You said not to open the hatch.”

“I meant don’t open the hatch for them.”

“Since I know your secret are you going to kill me now?”

“Don’t be silly. It’s cold out here. Open the hatch.”

Should she let him back in?

“Are the pilots still alive?” he asked.

Her gaze shot back to the cockpit. “Yes. But not for long,” she yelled, loud enough for the pilots to hear.

“I’m naked and it’s about thirty degrees out here. Can you please let me in?”

“Wh-what about your super-human heating abilities? Aren’t you supposed to be so hot that’d you’d melt snow?”

He cocked his head to the side. “This is not a young adult story. I’m freezing my ass off.”

“If he kills me I’m going to be so pissed,” she mumbled to herself.



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Find A. M. Griffin :

Sunday, December 28, 2014

Happy New Year / Kids Penguins

For Christmas 2014 I found this create your own penguin set (it had about 20 of them) so after talking it over with my 3-yr-old she decided that she would put them together as her Christmas gifts to her relatives. Below are shots of her at work:




So I could remember it years later I took "group shots" of them below is one to wish you a Happy New Year in 2015!

Saturday, December 27, 2014

Feasted On: Freakn’ Shifters Series, Book 1

Format: Kindle Edition | File Size: 4338 KB | Release Date: July 1, 2011 | Publisher: Self-Published | Obtained: Amazon.com

"Delicate Freakn’ Flower" [Freakn’ Shifters Series, Book 1] by Eve Langlais

Author's Book Description : Genre: Paranormal/Shapeshifter Multi-Partner Romance (MFM)

Dammit, just how many toes was she going to have to stomp on before people realized she was a delicate freakn’ flower?

Naomi doesn’t want to follow tradition and settle down with a violence-loving, chest thumping shapeshifter. She grew up in a household with five, testosterone laden brothers where none of the dishes ever matched, the ugly-as-sin furniture could withstand any catastrophe, and where crazy glue was bought by the case.

When fate—with a snicker—makes her meet not one, but two mates, Naomi digs her heels in and refuses to do what her wolf—and her body—demands. No way is she voluntarily allowing herself to get hitched to a pair of dumbass—totally hot and muscled—lacrosse players.

Can Ethan, the towering Kodiak bear, and Javier, the sexy, tanned jaguar convince this she-wolf that life with them won’t be all chaos? And can this delicate freakn’ flower unbend her prejudices enough to recognize she needs a pair of men who can handle her thorns—and her passion?

My Book Review : 4 out of 5 stars! A tough woman finds out what she's really looking for in a man, while dealing with the two men fate sent her.

Even though I don't typically like wishy-washy characters I still liked Naomi because she truly owned being the way she was, especially when she stated, “I’m such an indecisive ninny.” in Chapter 10. Together Javier & Ethan are Naomi's perfect counterparts, especially with how quickly they could settle her "ruffled feathers." This cute novel is great for fans of Ms. Langlais!

I recommend this novel to those who like paranormal romances!

Purchase This Book and/or The Other Books From It's Series Here : Kobo : Freakn’ Shifters Bundle (1-3) | Smashwords : Freakn’ Shifters Bundle (1-3) | Kobo : Freakn’ Shifters Bundle 2 (4-6) | Smashwords : Freakn’ Shifters Bundle 2 (4-6) | Kobo : Delicate Freakn’ Flower | Smashwords : Delicate Freakn’ Flower | Alibris : Delicate Freakn’ Flower | Kobo : Jealous And Freakn’ | Smashwords : Jealous And Freakn’ | Alibris : Jealous And Freakn’ | Kobo : Already Freakn’ Mated | Smashwords : Already Freakn’ Mated | Alibris : Already Freakn’ Mated | Kobo : Human and Freakn’ | Smashwords : Human and Freakn’ | Alibris : Human and Freakn’ | Kobo : Jungle Freakn’ Bride | Smashwords : Jungle Freakn’ Bride | Alibris : Jungle Freakn’ Bride | Kobo : Freakn’ Cougar | Smashwords : Freakn’ Cougar | Alibris : Freakn’ Cougar


My Previous Review(s) for this Author : Bunny And The Bear | Hybrid Misfit | Croc and the Fox | A Demon and His Witch

My Previous Mention(s) of this Author's Books/Characters : Best Book Couples -- Happy Valentine's Day 2013 | Feasted On: Ridgeville Series, Book 5 | Best Book Couples -- Happy Valentine's Day 2014

Author's Novel Extras : Delicate Freakn’ Flower - Overview & Excerpt

Author's Series Extras : Freakn’ Shifters Series | Freakn’ Shifters Bundle (1-3) | Freakn’ Shifters Bundle 2 (4-6) | Jealous And Freakn’ - Overview & Excerpt | Already Freakn’ Mated - Overview & Excerpt | Human and Freakn’ - Overview & Excerpt | Jungle Freakn’ Bride - Overview & Excerpt | Freakn’ Cougar - Overview & Excerpt | Is jealousy romantic? | Another week until you can FREAK! | Now in French! | Because Older is Sexier… Freakn’ Cougar, excerpt posted

Book Teaser(s) :
“Shouldn’t you be leaving?” she asked with a pointed stare toward the door.
A shrug from massive shoulders answered her. “Make me.”
“Ooh,” she almost shrieked in exasperation. Only the pulsing of her painful head held her back. “Why are you both being so stubborn? Can’t you tell you’re not wanted?”
“My mama said the same thing to my dad when they first met,” Ethan admitted. “Not liking her answer, he tossed her over his shoulder and kept her prisoner in a cave for two weeks, making love to her numerous times a day until she finally admitted she loved him, too,” he added with a smug grin.
Naomi’s jaw dropped and her throat worked soundlessly for a moment. “You wouldn’t dare!” Her mouth said one thing, her pussy, drenching at his words, screamed another.
“Well, as you’ve mentioned a few times, I’m probably too dumb to know better. Although, don’t worry, because of the lacrosse season, maybe I’ll just handcuff you to a bed instead of finding a cave.”
“My family won’t stand for it!”
“Children, children,” Javier chided returning to them holding two open beers, and one tall glass of juice. “Can’t we all get along? After all, since our beasts have seen fit to join us in a ménage, we’ll be together a long, long time.”
“Over my dead body,” she growled.
“Not dead, but gagged can definitely be arranged,” Ethan grumbled.
“Hmm, a little kinky, but I’m not averse to the idea,” Javier added. ~ within Chapter 3
“So where’s the other Neanderthal, or is he the smart one and left?”
“Nope, dumber than a rock still,” Ethan announced walking into her bedroom with a tray.
Naomi’s eyes widened as she saw the logo from her favorite coffee house on the Styrofoam cups and at least four Danishes.
“How did you know?” she asked as she dove on the steaming java. She took a burning sip and sighed happily.
“Your mother called to check on you. We actually had a great chat,” Javier announced. He went to grab a lemon pastry and Naomi slapped his hand.
“Mine,” she growled.
“But there are four of them. Surely you can share one?”
She shook her head. “I don’t share, and I warn you, I bite.”
“Promise?” Javier leered, his eyes twinkling. ~ within Chapter 5
For more information on this book, series, and/or any other books by Eve, then please check out her website.

Disappointmentville: Snowbound Surprise for the Billionaire by Michelle Douglas

- This is an ARC book - Available Formats through Amazon.com: Paperback - Pages: 256; Kindle Edition - File Size: 320 KB | Expected Release Date: December 1, 2014 | Publisher: Harlequin : Romance | Obtained: NetGalley

"Snowbound Surprise for the Billionaire" by Michelle Douglas

Author's Book Description : Harlequin Romance
December 2014

All she wants for Christmas...

After a difficult year, and the loss of her father, festive cheer is the last thing Addie Ramsey is feeling. She’s just planning a quiet one on her Outback farm. Until her new boss, billionaire Flynn Mather, offers her the perfect distraction—to spend the holiday in Europe as his temporary PA!

Christmas hasn’t always been magical for Flynn, either, yet with vivacious Addie by his side, and seeing the joy through her eyes, things feel different this year. Could Addie be the Christmas present Flynn never knew he needed?

My Book Review : DNF -- 2 out of 5 stars. Two people come to each aid in unexpected ways...

I was intrigued with the buildup of this novel. Yet, by the time 31% of this novel had been read, I was to disgruntled with how little Addie & Flynn really talked to each other and instead overly admired each other’s looks while talking around each other that I had to stop. In addition, I found Flynn's morals to be a bit skewed, which made it hard to really like him.

I don't recommend but since I didn't finish the novel I'm giving it the benefit of the doubt and saying those looking for a Christmas romance might like it.

Purchase This Book Here : Kobo : Snowbound Surprise for the Billionaire | Kobo : Harlequin Romance December 2014 Box Set


Author's Novel Extras : Snowbound Surprise for the Billionaire - Overview

Book Teaser(s) :
It made him seem suddenly exotic.
Deliciously exotic.
Delicious? She frowned. Well, she knew he was perfectly perfect--she'd known that the moment he'd stepped onto Lorna Lee's dressed in a perfectly perfect suit. He was also decidedly male. That had become evident the moment she'd clapped eyes on him in jeans and boots. She just hadn't felt all of that down in her gut until this very moment. She swallowed. Now she felt it all the way to her bones.
Flynn Mather was a perfect specimen of perfectly perfect maleness. In fact, if he'd been a stud bull she'd have moved heaven and earth to have him on the books at Lorna Lee's and--
'Addie?'
She snapped out of it. She swallowed. 'Sorry, brain fog, jet lag, the cold, I don't know.' What had they been talking about? ~ within Chapter 2
For more information on this book and/or any other books by Michelle, then please check out her website.

Disappointmentville: Lords of the Abyss Series, Book 2

Format: Kindle Edition | File Size: 3894 KB | Release Date: December 18, 2013 | Publisher: The Raven Books | Obtained: Amazon.com | Originally Found Out About @ Romance Book Deals: Hot for the Holiday

"Commanding the Tides" [Lords of the Abyss Series, Book 2] by Michelle M. Pillow (aka Madelyn Porter & Naomi Kalling)

Author's Book Description : Paranormal Shifter Underwater Romance

“Sparks fly and desires heat, when logic and myth collide.”

Terminally ill, Cassandra Nevin has come to the ocean to live out her days on a boat with a bunch of scientists who don’t even know she’s sick—or that she’s not even a scientist. When something from the depths of the abyss attacks their boat, leaving her to drown, she knows it’s her time. But then the unimaginable happens—she lives.

Iason the Hunter doesn’t understand why the woman he’s trying to save from death seems insistent he save anyone but her. Duty bound to try and rescue whoever he can; he takes the woman into Deep Ocean, to his home beneath the waves. But it would seem a watery grave wasn’t the only thing threatening his new charge’s life. To try and save her from her illness would mean possible disgrace and being banned from ever swimming in the ocean again. But what else can he do? From the first moment he saw her, she had command over his heart.

Rating: Contains graphic sexual content, adult language, and violence.

My Book Review : 2.5 out of 5 stars. A merman saves the one woman solely meant for him. However, is the woman strong enough to survive the major changes coming to her life?

I have a hard time liking characters who are the "one step forward and two steps back" type of people, which is the type of person Cassandra (Cassie) is and it made it hard for me to want to finish this novel because of that. I mean the buildup of this novel is really good and intense but when Cassandra literally ran away because she decided running from a man who cares for her was better than discussing her personal issues with him it made me mad. Therefore, from the point where she ran away to her "epiphany" moment I pretty much skipped through it. Yet, even though I liked how Cassandra redeems herself during the time between her epiphany moment to the end of this novel, I wish the ending wrapped up better and without as many loose ends as there were.

I will say that although I'm not a fan of Cassandra I did like Iason as a character and thought that they suited each other very well.

Therefore, I only recommend this novel to those who are fans of Ms. Pillow's and who liked reading book 1 in this series.

Purchase This Book and/or The Other Books From It's Series Here : Alibris : Lords of the Abyss: Trilogy | Kobo : Lords of the Abyss: Trilogy | Alibris : The Mighty Hunter (Book 1)


My Previous Review(s) for this Author : Call of the Sea

Author's Novel Extras : Commanding the Tides - Overview & Excerpt | Excerpt: Commanding the Tides by Michelle M Pillow | Excerpt #2: Commanding the Tides by Michelle M Pillow

Author's Series Extras : Lords of the Abyss Series | The Mighty Hunter - Overview & Excerpt | Captive of the Deep - Overview & Excerpt | Lords of the Abyss: Trilogy (Volume 1) by Michelle M. Pillow

Book Teaser(s) :
“So Ator…Altar…what did you call this island?”
“Ataran.”
“Ataran,” she repeated. “And where exactly is Ataran?”
“Beneath you,” he said, laughing when she gave him a dirty look.
“Fine. Where are we?”
“In the ocean,” Iason said. He sat up, taking his wine.
“Are you being difficult on purpose?” Cassandra challenged, setting her glass down and raising a brow. “Or is it because you need to keep the location secret? Could you give me a basic idea of where we are? Southern Hemisphere, perhaps?”
“No, I answered. We are in the ocean, below the surface.”
Cassandra froze, waiting for the rest of the joke. It never came.
Please God, don’t let him be crazy. ~ within Chapter 14
For more information on this book, series, and/or any other books by Michelle, then please check out her website.
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