Book Review, Interview & Giveaway: Let's Keep On Truckin' by Laci Paige

The blurb as seen on Goodreads:

Release Date: May 8, 2012
Publisher: Decadent Publishing
44 Pages

Lily loves traveling on her job since no one can do it better than her. Being out on the open road gives her plenty of time to reflect and avoid unwanted attention, but somehow it always finds her....

When she comes across Ryder, first at a grocery store, then at a rest stop, sexual desire sparks and she knew she had to have him. If only her ex hadn't shown up, igniting a fantasy she never thought possible.

Seeing Alex in a whole new light, Lily realizes second chances are in order, but will she have to choose between the two men? Or could she be happy with both?

WARNING: THIS BOOK CONTAINS MATERIAL UNSUITABLE FOR CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 18. 

VISIT THE AUTHOR:

Goodreads.Twitter.Website.Facebook

FIND THE BOOK:

Goodreads.Amazon.Barnes & Noble

Interview:

1. How did you get into the erotica genre?

I won an eBook from Decadent Publishing last year during an author chat. It was my first erotic read. I enjoyed it, and decided I would like to give it a try and write something a little spicy. 

2. Do you plan on expanding this story at all? If not, what do you like to think happened to your characters after the story finished?

I don't know, I do miss Lily, Alex and Ryder, though. They were fun to write. 

Knowing my characters, they're doing just fine. They have up's and down's just like everyone else. But long term, I see Ryder going off and finding one woman he can settle down with. The four of them will be the best of friends (and maybe more).

3. Where did the idea come from for this story?

My family and I love to travel. A lot. We drive up and down east coast USA to visit friends & family. One day there were a lot of semi-trucks on the highway. My muse kicked in and wondered if anyone ever hooked up with a trucker at a rest stop. That was it, my mind was all over the story.

4. What is planned for you next?

I've written three more adult novella's. They all have to do with transportation in one way or another. I didn't plan on doing that, but I guess my love of travelling had my muse a rockin' and rolling (no pun intended).

5. What do you use for inspiration?

Everything. Just sitting back watching people and nature in the life around me. My mind is always on the go. It's annoying sometimes, but fun as heck to see what I think up.

6. What's your favorite part about being an author?

My favorite part is also my least favorite. Yeah, I know it makes no sense when I say it that way. I love feedback on what I write. It pleases me to know that I made someone smile, laugh, or even cry.  When I do those things while reading, that means I've stepped completely into the authors world. So when someone tells me that I evoke any kind of emotion in them, that to me is a huge compliment.  

Then the other side of feedback, I can't please everyone, this I know. So when the negative feedback rolls through, it really does sting. I think that's just human nature though. 

7. Can you give some advice for aspiring authors?

Read, read, read, write and research. 

*Reading is number one - How can you write if you don't enjoy reading? You need to read what's out there, get a feel for what people enjoy, learn different writing styles, and immerse yourself in the genre you'd like to write (but also read a few things "outside of the box" for you to expand on). I believe all of these things will enhance ones original style. 

*Write a little each day, it's good homework. It doesn't matter what you write, or if anyone else ever reads it, it keeps your brain up to par.Just as your body needs exercise, so does your brain!

*Research - Know your genre. Read your genre. Look into publishers, cover artists, and editors that work within your genre. Go stand in the book store in that section (or search online), see whats out there, whats actually selling.  Use this knowledge.

8. What was your first reaction to getting your work published?

I was sitting down in a real comfy cushy chair when I read the email. I began to bounce up and down. My kids just looked at me as usual - like I was crazy. I had serious doubt in my head that it would not pan out though. I kept thinking I would get an email saying "sorry we made a mistake".

9. What kind of books do you read in your free time?

I love young adult paranormal, and erotic contemporary. Go figure. Day and night.

10. If you had to pick ONE novel to recommend to people, what would you choose and why?

I would recommend The Hunger Games. I think it's a unisex read, and people of all ages can enjoy it.

Quickies:

Cats or Dogs? CATS.

Hot or Cold? HOT.

Tea or Coffee? TEA.

Summer or Winter? SUMMER.

Backstreet Boys or N*SYNC? BACKSTREET BOYS.

Peeta or Gale? PEETA.

Review:

Let's Keep On Truckin' is Laci Paige's debut and she begins by plunging (excuse the innuendo) into the erotic genre.

I was lucky enough to get to read this before it was released and let me tell you... It's definitely not for the faint of heart. The sex in this novel is extreme and most definitely only for those interested in erotica. This is not a heart-felt romance, though there is romance within it. 

Ms. Paige writes a fantasy that I'm sure almost every woman has imagined at one time or another. In fact, there are multiple fantasies put into this one tale. The two men involved in these fantasy are wonderful. They are two very different men, but they both have qualities that make you completely jealous of the main character, Lily. Ryder, who is my favorite, is a sweet, handsome gentlemen. I swooned over him immediately. Alex loves Lily and has since they dated. She broke his heart, but all he wants is for her to be happy. It's very sweet. 

I wouldn't exactly call this a "PWP" or porn without plot, but everything that happens within the story is written to lead up to the sex and the novel ends with sex. So if all you are looking for is a short, hot story, Let's Keep On Truckin' is exactly what you are looking for!

Ms. Paige is very descriptive. The story is imaginative. It's a great beginning into the genre. I can't wait to see what she comes up with next.

Giveaway Details

1 Winner will receive an e-copy of Let's Keep Truckin' by Laci Paige

Open Internationally

Ends on 06/01/2012

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Waiting on Wednesday (14)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme held on... you guessed it, WEDNESDAY and it's hosted by the wonderful Jill at Breaking the Spine!

Prodigy (Legend #2) by Marie Lu

Release Date: January 29, 2012
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
384 Pages

The Elector Primo of the Republic has died, with his son assuming power over what’s left of the USA’s West Coast as it teeters on full-blown chaos. June and Day join up with Patriot rebels so they can rescue Day’s brother and head east for the Colonies. In order to help, though, the rebels want June and Day to kill the new Elector, who may pose an even greater threat than his father.

I read the first book of this series when I received it for Christmas from a very good friend of mine. I really enjoyed it and can't wait to get a chance to read book two! January is too long to wait for this one! Dystopian novels are books that I can't do any waiting for.

What are you waiting on this week?

Book Review: Blackout (Newsflesh Trilogy #3) by Mira Grant

The blurb as seen on Goodreads:

Release Date: May 22, 2012
Publisher: Orbit
560 Pages

Rise up while you can. -Georgia Mason

The year was 2014. The year we cured cancer. The year we cured the common cold. And the year the dead started to walk. The year of the Rising.

The year was 2039. The world didn't end when the zombies came, it just got worse. Georgia and Shaun Mason set out on the biggest story of their generation. The uncovered the biggest conspiracy since the Rising and realized that to tell the truth, sacrifices have to be made.

Now, the year is 2041, and the investigation that began with the election of President Ryman is much bigger than anyone had assumed. With too much left to do and not much time left to do it in, the surviving staff of After the End Times must face mad scientists, zombie bears, rogue government agencies-and if there's one thing they know is true in post-zombie America, it's this:
Things can always get worse.

Blackout is the conclusion to the epic trilogy that began in the Hugo-nominated Feed and the sequel, Deadline.

VISIT THE AUTHOR:

Goodreads.Twitter.Website.Facebook

FIND THE BOOK:

Goodreads.Amazon.Barnes & Noble

Review:

Months. I wanted for this book for months. I couldn't breathe when the last book ended. Seanan McGuire aka Mira Grant has a way of stealing your heart along with your breath with her stories. When I picked up Blackout, I didn't expect for it to live up to my expectations. I heard good things about it, but I didn't know how the author would top off the series.

SHE WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND MY EXPECTATIONS. SHE IS A GODDESS, A WINNER, A WOMAN WHO I LOVE MORE THAN LIFE. Sorry for the caps, but you just have to understand that this series WILL change your life. It didn't make me go out and fight zombies (because they don't exist. YET), but it changed my taste in writing styles and made me think about the important things.

The writing, dear lord, the writing was phenomenal. Mira puts the "pro" in prose. I not only learned during her novels, but I loved learning. It didn't feel like learning because the storyline was so thick and the characters were learning just as you were. It was a complete addiction and I couldn't put the pretty words down. Each book in this trilogy was read in one sitting. I read Blackout in five hours. I literally could not put it down. I had to keep reading. There was no other option.

So much happens in this series. It tore my heart to shreds, but who can expect only happily-ever-afters in a world where most of the population would sooner eat your heart than fall in love with it.

I'm a huge zombie fan. HUGE. All of my friends know that the three things that I love most in this world are cats, books and zombies. So The Newflesh Trilogy is like a dream come true. The zombies in it are terrifying, but real. Mira gives them a reason for existing and one that remains part of the plot. Many times, zombies in books just seem to appear out of nowhere and then you are left to question why. There is a backstory to this series that makes it all the more addictive because the entire time you wonder, "Could this really be happening beneath our noses?"

Blackout is the most scientific of the three novels. It adds elements to the story that no one ever expected. It made it all the more difficult to know how it would end. I don't even know what to say because everything, especially the science of this story were perfection. PERFECTION, I TELL YOU.

And then... there is my issue. The end. It's what the author wanted, I know, but it left much to be desired for me. I needed more Shaun and George. I needed to see some things resolved, because there were a couple of things that I feel needed extra explanation. That is literally the only problem I had with this book - no, with this series. So I can't find the will to give it less than five stars.

I know that the author has more coming for us, but I can't wait very long because I need more. As soon as possible (aka NOW). So thank you, Mira Grant (Seanan McGuire) for giving me this amazing series, where I could fall in love with the characters, and the plot, and cry when it all ended.

I'm going to sign off from this review now because I'm crying and sad and need chocolate.

And so to everyone else, RISE UP WHILE YOU CAN.

Top Ten Tuesday (11)

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly Tuesday meme hosted by The Broke and The Bookish.

The prompt for this week is Top Ten Blogs/Sites You Read That AREN'T About Books!

1. Twitter - my life.
2. The Oatmeal - I read these when I'm having a really bad day because I know they will make me laugh my butt off.
3. Tumblr - I just started following some art blogs on here and learned how to do crayon melting art. I know, I'm really behind on the times.
4. Honestly WTF - so. much. prettiness. I stalk gaze lovingly at check this site daily.
5. I waste so much time - The title says it all.
6. StumbleUpon - SU has some of the most interesting things that I never would've found had it not been for the randomness of the site.
7. Dear Blank, Please Blank - My friend just told me about this, but it's so funny!
8. Yahoo! - Yes, I read the little articles on the main page. Judge me.
9. HelloGiggles - HAVE YOU SEEN THIS AMAZINGNESS?
10. Texts From Last Night - Literally, the greatest site ever. People are so funny. And scary at the same time.

Teaser Tuesday: The Last Echo (The Body Finder #3) by Kimberly Derting

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by MizB over at Should Be Reading!

To participate all you have to do is:

•Grab your current read

•Open to a random page

•Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page

•BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure what you share doesn't give too much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others!) 

 Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

--------------------------

"Violet had known before she was fully awake the next morning that she'd overslept, and she vaguely wondered why her parents hadn't come in to wake her. She'd heard a faraway buzzing sound--something that sounded strangely like her cell phone--but even in the fuzzy depths of sleep she knew that couldn't be."                                                Chapter 10, Page 147                            The Last Echo (The Body Finder #1) by Kimberly Derting

--------------------------

Cover Reveal

The blurb as seen on Goodreads:
Release Date: September 11, 2012
Publisher: Entangled Publishing

On the precipice of her sixteenth birthday, the last thing lone wolf Cat Crawford wants is an extravagant gala thrown by her bubbly stepmother and well-meaning father. So even though Cat knows the family’s trip to Florence, Italy, is a peace offering, she embraces the magical city and all it offers. But when her curiosity leads her to an unusual gypsy tent, she exits . . . right into Renaissance Firenze. 

Thrust into the sixteenth century armed with only a backpack full of contraband future items, Cat joins up with her ancestors, the sweet Alessandra and protective Cipriano, and soon falls for the gorgeous aspiring artist Lorenzo. But when the much-older Niccolo starts sniffing around, Cat realizes that an unwanted birthday party is nothing compared to an unwanted suitor full of creeptastic amore. 

Can she find her way back to modern times before her Italian adventure turns into an Italian forever?

VISIT THE AUTHOR:

Goodreads.Twitter.Website.Facebook

FIND THE BOOK:

Goodreads.Amazon.Barnes & Noble

Want to know about Rachel?

As a teen, I threw raging parties that shook my parents’ walls and created embarrassing fodder for future YA novels.

As an adult, I read and write obsessively, rehash said embarrassing fodder, and dream up characters who become my imaginary friends.

When I'm not typing furiously or flipping pages in an enthralling romance, you can find me homeschooling my two beautiful princesses, hanging out with my amazing husband, or taking a hot bubble bath…next to a pile of chocolate.

MY SUPER SWEET SIXTEENTH CENTURY is my first novel. I did have my own fantabulous Sweet Sixteen in high school. Sadly, it wasn’t televised.

And now for the cover...

GORGEOUS. I love this cover. To be honest, I wasn't a fan of the first one, but this cover, I absolutely adore! I can't wait to read it and hold it in my hands!

And because the wonderful ladies at YA Bound love book lovers, here is a little peak of what's in store us!

Never-Before-Seen Excerpt from MY SUPER SWEET SIXTEENTH CENTURY:

“I thought I’d teach you a dance from where I come from,” I tell him. “One that’s much easier than that multi-step mess inside.”

  I place my left hand on Lorenzo’s shoulder and slip my right one into his. I pause to listen to the music floating over the tinkling voices and bubbling fountain, and begin counting the three-beat tempo. “One, two, three. One, two, three.”

  I stand still, only my head moving, slowly nodding with my words so he can hear the rhythm.

  When his head begins subtly bobbing with mine, I show him how to add his feet. He takes a tentative step forward with his left while I step back with my right, then we side step, close, and repeat the steps with our other feet, all while I lightly whisper the beat count.

  The breeze picks up, blowing my skirt and skimming my veil across the back of my neck. Chills run down my spine, but the warmth coursing through my veins from being in his arms provides a delicious contradiction.

  Lorenzo continues nervously darting his eyes to our feet, but he is dancing. As he relaxes into the movement, his shoulders rising and falling with the steps, the confidence he always seems to exude creeps back on his face, and he tightens the hold around me. Our faces are kissably close, our lips a hairs breadth away from touching. I stare into the chocolate depths of his eyes and the rest of the ball fades away. The only music guiding our steps is my light whisper and the erratic rhythm of our breathing. Time slows. Lorenzo grins.

  “I think you got it,” I say breathlessly, running my hand along the soft fabric of his shoulder, feeling the rock-hard muscles underneath.

  My body curls inward, pressing against his. The proper form for the waltz is a straight spine and shoulders back, but if there was ever a time to break the rules, this is it.

Bet you are excited now! (I sure am!)

Click here to view the book trailer on Youtube!

Enter below for a chance to win some great prizes. And thank you to YA Bound for doing this awesome cover reveal and allowing me to be a part of it. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Stacking the Shelves (3)

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews!

Emily's Stack For The Shelves:

From Netgalley:

Acrobat by Mary Calmes

Release Date: May 7, 2012

Armed & Dangerous by Abigail Roux

Released Date: May 18, 2012

Triumph by Etienne

Release Date: April 23, 2012

For Review:

ALIBI: The Complete Series by Annie Miles, Isabel Eckersley, John Byrne and Sorrel Provola

Release Date: March 1, 2012

Caterpillar (The Metamorphosis Trilogy #1) by Kate Oliver

Release Date: April 10, 2012

Blog Tour Stop: June 18, 2012

Manhunt by Lillie Spencer

Release Date: May 1, 2012

Bought:

An Illicit Engagement (The Gentlemen Next Door #2) by Cecilia Gray

Release Date: Novemeber 30, 2011

Find my review HERE.

A Dangerous Expectation (The Gentlemen Next Door #3) by Cecilia Gray

Release Date: March 28, 2012

Find my review HERE.

Falling (Fallen Idols #1) by Cecilia Gray

Release Date: July 22, 2011

Find my review HERE.

Fading (Fallen Idols #2) by Cecilia Gray

Release Date: December 13, 2011

Find my review HERE.

Swag:

Jennifer Echols sent me six Such A Rush bookmarks. Obviously, I can't keep them all to myself. Giveaway, anyone?

Marissa Meyer also sent me some swag. Once I get two physical copies of Cinder, you can expect another giveaway!

Edwin Didn't Get Anything To Put On His Shelves This Week

Book Review: Fading (Fallen Idols #2) by Cecilia Gray

The blurb as seen on Goodreads:
Release Date: December 13, 2011
Publisher: Self-Published through The Alpha Division, LLP

Ever had an itch you just can’t scratch?

Mhaya hasn’t. As a goddess, she doesn’t itch, or hunger, or thirst. In fact, she’s pretty much above petty human annoyances, from humiliation to heartbreak.

Until now.

Because ever since her better-known twin brother Eros gave her the boot from Mount Olympus, Mhaya has been fading from human memory. The only way to prevent her godly demise is to temporarily trade her immortality for the drudgery of pitiful, pointless humanity. Which is not exactly Mhaya’s style.

Her only ally in her quest to stay alive is the stunningly sexy, utterly unobtainable Marcus, a man who has his own reasons to see Mhaya fail. And yet, he’s somehow unable to turn his back on her… and the more she struggles to survive her brush with mortality, the more interested he becomes in showing her the very best part of being human: passionate, pulse-racing love.

VISIT THE AUTHOR:

Goodreads.Twitter.Website.Facebook

FIND THE BOOK:

Goodreads.Amazon.Barnes & Noble

Review:

Book two in the Fallen Idols series is all about Mhaya and Marcus. I'll admit that I wasn't sure that I would like this one because of my intense hatred of Mhaya after the last book. Of course, she was written to be the bad guy in the last book, but Cecilia Gray intends to redeem her in this book.

I'm a sucker for romance. In fact, I very rarely read a book that doesn't have some form of romance in it. Cecilia really has a knack for making you feel as you read. I can say this because before reading Fading, I loathed Mhaya. While I read, I started to sympathize with her and eventually cheer her on. I was shocked that my feelings toward the goddess changed because she is the same person as in the first book. It's because you see her perspective of everything that has happened to her and it causes you to understand. Eventually you want her to succeed and find happiness and love.

This book was an adventure, both literally and figuratively. In my opinion, it was different from the first. Probably because the plot line was such a contrast. There are some details within the plot that are the same, but in my opinion this one had more of an adventure.

I really enjoyed Mhaya's point-of-view. That's honestly how I would picture a goddess of her stature to act. My first thought as I read through her story was that she was like a trust fund baby who was forced to live without her parents money (i.e. Paris Hilton). But the way it was written really worked for the story.

I really liked that the love in this story was not insta-love. That was a pet-peeve of mine in the first book, but in this one it's very gradual. AND SO SWEET AT THE END. My only complaint for this novella is that we didn't get to see Alexis or Jason at all. I missed them. A lot. But we get a bit of Laurie and she was as spunky as ever! We are also introduced to Harry and Beth. Beth is so sweet. I really enjoyed the tidbits of her point-of-view that we were given and would love to see more of her in the future. We didn't get to see much of Harry, but I know his role will grow as the series progresses.

This is another series that I'm going to keep up with! I'm so, so, so excited to read the next chapter in the Fallen Idols series. I'm sure they will live up to my expectations seeing as how much as I enjoyed the first two books.