Wave the flag

Happy first day of July everyone and as a public service announcement I am here to remind you to fly the flag with American pride.  USA Independence Day is from Stamping Dragon Designs and its important to their family that you know that even dragons wave the flag!

If you have been drag-on your feet and haven't enter Stamping with the Dragon's latest Summer Time Fun/Sketch Challenge, you still have time. And while you are at it, visit the blogs of my fellow Stamping with the Dragon design team members.

Random Acts of Kindness- June Edition

Random Acts of Kindess is hosted by the ultra fabulous ladies of Book Soulmates aka Vanessa and Isalys. At the beginning of each month, you can sign up on their site with your wishlist and you may receive a book from another participant. It's a really great monthly program! New, used, paperback, hardback, ARCs, and eBooks are welcome to be sent out to participants who have the book on their list. This is my second month participating and I received some awesome books that I've been coveting. I also sent out some really great books.







SENT OUT:

Aislynn @ Knit, Purl, Stitch: HEIR by Grace Burrowes and NOWHERE NEAR RESPECTABLE by Mary Jo Putney

Heather @ Book Savvy Babe: MIDNIGHT RISING by Lara Adrian

Michelle @ Bookbriefs: PERFECT CHEMISTRY by Simone Elkeles

Emma @ Bellebooks: VIRTUE: A FAIRYTALE by Amanda Hocking

Bex @ Kindle Fever: ROCK HARD by Olivia Cunning

Cat @ Cat's Thoughts: PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: WILD AND WANTON EDITION by Jane Austen and Michelle Pillow

RECEIVED:

Aislynn @ Knit, Purl, Stitch: HIGHLANDER EVER AFTER by Jennifer Ashley and the GENA SHOWALTER Kindle Bundle containing: THE STONE PRINCE, THE PLEASURE SLAVE  and HEART OF THE DRAGON.

Bex @ Kindle Fever: RICHELLE MEAD DARK SWAN Kindle Bundle containing: IRON CROWNED, STORM BORN and THORN QUEEN

THANKS TO AISLYNN AND BEX FOR ALL MY NEW WONDERFUL BOOKS!!!! 

Which I will get around to reading before the year is over. Promise =)

ARC Review: Black Ties and Lullabies by Jane Graves

Black Ties and Lullabies by Jane Graves
Format: ARC
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Mass Market Paperback: 432 pages
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing-Forever (June 28, 2011)
ISBN: 9780446568470
A good girl can be bad for one night...
Bernadette Hogan doesn't make mistakes. Not when it come to caring for her mother, and not at her job protecting Texas's most eligible--and infuriating-- bachelor. Maybe that's why she's overcome with guilt after one tiny indiscretion: a passionate fling with him that's left her confused, intrigued...and pregnant.
but can a bad boy be good for a lifetime?
To self-made millionaire Jeremy Bridges, women are life fine wine: if held for too long, they sour. But one wild night with Bernadette changed all that. She makes him laugh, she makes him think, and soon she's going to make him a father. For the first time, Jeremy wants to be a one-woman man. So how can he convince the fiercely independent Bernadette he's ready to change from partying playboy to dependable dad--and become the loving husband she deserves?

Where to buy: Amazon | Kindle | B&N | Nook | Book Depository 
Where to find Jane: Author Site | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads
Extras: Read an Excerpt

I loved it. 

REVIEW:

---

Can I just say that a certain Ms. Jane Graves has actually made me want to give contemporary romance the love it deserves? I've been stuck wayyy too long in the past or almost getting burned out on vampires, demons, weres and things that go bump in the night. It's time to finally suck it up and spend time with real people, who have real problems that I can relate to. Of course, I haven't gotten knocked up by a gorgeous millionaire, not do I have the aspirations of being a bodyguard, but it's nice to read about modern day people.

Top 5 Things I Liked About This Book:

1. Jeremy Bridges: Jeremy is one of Texas's most eligible millionaire bachelors. Ruthless in the boardroom and a complete Casanova in the bedroom, why would he step outside his comfort zone for a regular woman? Uh, because he got one pregnant? He started off as a total Jerkface, only thinking about himself. He does have a very hard childhood and he has pulled himself up from there, so that may explain why he is the way he is. He wants to be involved with his kids' lives since his father was never in his. He's tall, broody and in need of a total set down from the least likely female he thinks would do so.
2. Bernadette Hogan aka Bernie: Bernie is Jeremy's bodyguard. Yes. She is a woman, protecting a man. And she's badass. After a robbery gone wrong, she thinks quickly on her feet but having been pushed too far by Jeremy, she does something rash. She quits on the spot and fast forward two months later, finds out she's pregnant. Uh oh! Her mother's health is failing, she finds out she's having twins and Jeremy may not be the man she thinks him to be. She is smart, independent and sassy. Just the way I like my heroines. 
3. Texas: Oh this book makes me a little homesick. Thanks for bringing a little of Texas to California Ms. Graves. 
4. Charmin: Not the toilet paper. *giggle* She's a Mafia Wars playing, Cheetos eating, soap opera watching, good for nothing apartment complex manager. She's only good for laughs and boy does she come through. 
5. Max: He takes over bodyguard duty to Jeremy Bridges after Bernie quits. He's a gun toting, sunglasses wearing, knuckle cracking, Jeremy Bridge's scaring, one word answering all around awesome bodyguard who has Bernie's back. He is what a bodyguard should look like and boy is he funny! 

Favorite Quote: "I'm the dumbass who's spending all that money to try to turn this piece of crap complex, into Buckingham Palace." (***quote subject to change in finished copy of the book***)


Overall: Oh Ms. Jane Graves, I have already bought TALL TALES AND WEDDING VEILS and HOT WHEELS AND HIGH HEELS and you have convinced me to give contemporary romance another chance. The first contemporary I ever read (which shall remain nameless) left a bad taste so I basically abandoned this sub-genre. This book had me laughing out loud, sighing, feeling a lump in my throat, a knot in my chest, and cheering Bernie and Jeremy to a HEA. On the back cover of the book, there's a quote by NYT bestselling author, Lori Foster-"Jane Graves will win your heart." Yes, Ms. Foster, I must agree with you. She has won my heart and I am ready to give contemps another go. 




***I received this book from Brianne Beers of Grand Central Publishing for review.***

Monthly Mailbox-June Edition

Another month of awesome books! My romance shelf is 3 deep. Thank goodness they're all mass market paperbacks and can fit on one shelf. But it may expand to 2.
I really should be doing the Mailbox Monday meme since I've been getting at least 1 or 2 books a week lately, but time flies and I keep forgetting to do it.
It's such an awesome feeling to get new books. But then I look at my shelf and freak out. There's over 50 books on that shelf (not including what's floating around in my Kindle *shudder*) I haven't gotten around to reading. Eep! And the following books will one day get read. I think.


BOOKS I WON:

Elizabeth Boyle cause she's now on Twitter:
To Tame a Dangerous Lord by Nicole Jordan
The Hellion Bride by Catherine Coulter
The Making of a Gentleman by Shana Galen
Seduced by a Highlander by Paula Quinn
Confessions of a Little Black Gown by Elizabeth Boyle (signed)
Memoirs of a Scandalous Red Dress by Elizabeth Boyle (signed)
The Fire Lord's Lover by Kathryne Kennedy
How to Woo A Reluctant Lady by Sabrina Jeffries
And a fabulous tote bag to carry all this stuff in!

P.J. Hoover from the Splash Into Summer Blog Hop:
Wildwing by Emily Whitman (uncorrected proof)
Radiant Darkness by Emily Whitman (ARC)
Abandon by Meg Cabot (ARC)
Dead Beautiful by Yvonne Woon (ARC)
Shadow Hill by Anastasia Hopcus (uncorrected proof)
Some fun bookmarks
And a set of Solstice Trading Cards during a one day only giveaway on her site.

Chloe @ YA Booklover Blog from the Splash Into Summer Blog Hop:
Other Words for Love by Lorraine Zago Rosenthal

Kat @ Page Flipperz from the Splash Into Summer Giveaway Hop:

Vampire Mine by Kerrelyn Sparks

Tessa Woodward from Twitter giveaway:
A Borrowed Scot by Karen Ranney

Kim from SOS Aloha courtesy of Terri from Bodice Ripper Novels:

Knight of Passion by Margaret Mallory

Goodreads courtesy of Megan Traynor from HarperCollins:
Something Old, Something New by Beverly Jenkins (uncorrected Proof)

Goodreads courtesy of Greg from Random House:
Becoming Marie Antoinette: A Novel by Juliet Grey (ARC)

Goodreads courtesy of Simon & Schuster:
The Mistress's Revenge by Tamar Cohen (ARC)

Beverley Kendall @ The Season:
Lord Langley is Back in Town by Elizabeth Boyle

Elisabeth Naughton courtesy of Carolyn Brown:
Love Drunk Cowboy by Carolyn Brown




FOR REVIEW FROM NETGALLEY:


GIFTED BOOKS:

Both by Rita J of Not Another Romance Blog:
Seven Day Loan by Tiffany Reisz
Dark Lover by J.R. Ward









Gifted Swag:
I participated in the Midsummer's Eve Giveaway Hop, gave away some of my favorite books, and asked some of the authors if I could have some swag to send out along with the books.

Ashley March & Jenn LeBlanc (aren't the bookmarks, trading cards, business card and photos gorgeous?)

BOOKS I BOUGHT:
The Duke and I by Julia Quinn
The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn
Just Like Heaven by Julia Quinn
How to Marry A Duke by Vicky Dreiling
Seducing the Duchess by Ashley March
Devil Without A Cause by Terri Garey







So, anything exciting you got in YOUR mailbox this month?

Yard Sales

I love to go to yard sales. There was a time when I went with an open mind and brought home kitchen gadgets, pretty dishes, books, and everything and anything I thought my children or grandchildren could use (in my opinion). Then the day came when I developed a passion or obsession with cards and now it is hard to concentrate on anything besides are there any stamps, paper, ribbon . . . you know the drill. At one yard sale, in particular I found an old book filled with wonderful examples of cards similar to the card I am posting today. Very simple and elegant.

W...W...W...(6)

W...W...W...Wednesdays is a weekly meme MizB of Should Be Reading. 

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you’ll read next?

So, here's my answers:

• What are you currently reading? 

Dark Awakening by Kendra Leigh Castle. This is my first book by this author and I am enjoying it.

• What did you recently finish reading? 

Black Ties and Lullabies by Jane Graves. This is my first book by this author and it is laugh out loud funny. 

Embraced by Blood by Laurie London. The second in her Sweetbloods series. An absolute fun read. Check out my review here. 

• What do you think you’ll read next?

Ripe for Pleasure by Isobel Carr. Yes, I had this book on last week's WWW Wednesday under what I'll be reading next. Turns out, I received some books in the mail for review so I had to start those. But this book is going to be a must read next for me.

Cowboys Like Us by Vicki Lewis Thompson. Uh, have you SEEN the cover? If all cowboys looked like that, I wouldn't have left Texas. (kidding) This is going to be the first book of Vicki Lewis Thompson's I'll  be reading. Actually, it'll be the first book in the Harlequin Blaze line. Ever.


PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own WWW Wednesdays post, or share your answers in a comment here (if you don’t have a bl0g). Thanks! 

Dude Time Doodles New Release Blog Hop

Apple Pie Sam

The last Wednesday of the month can only mean one thing, its new release time for Dude Time Doodles premiering the latest images by Bonibleaux Designs! Our fabulous design team has assembled to form a hop so you can enjoy each of the new images. And if you are like me, you are going to want them all!  Along the hop you will meet Herman Hustle, Last Call Leonard, Kyle Karate, Vicky Viking and Apply Pie Sam.

This blog hop is especially exciting since along the way you will get to meet the newest Dudettes to join the team, Janet (former guest designer), Michelle, NanaConnie, Dawn, and Linda. As you travel along the hop, remember to leave some love because one of us is the MYSTERY HOSTESS.

If you came from Linda's blog or if you just joined, your next stop will be Ginny's blog. The hop is a loop so keep going and you'll see it all. Here's the list in case you get lost.

Anne

Janet

Cleota

Michelle

Ruth

NanaConnie

Boni

Dawn

Lynn

Linda

Tammy

Ginny

Dude Time Doodle

Teaser Tuesday (6)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• 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 that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Here's my teaser:

"She was in the hands of a beautiful monster now. And like it or not, she was headed back into the darkness."


~page 84 Dark Awakening by Kendra Leigh Castle (***quote subject to change in finished copy***)

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own Teaser Tuesdays post, or share your ‘teasers’ in a comment here (if you don’t have a blog). Thanks!

Man's Best Friend

This image absolutely makes my heart smile. In my world, there is nothing like the companionship of a dog or two. The artists at Just Inklined's have created many wonderful images of dogs but the earnest expression of Man's Best Friend spoke to my love for the four-legged fur babies.

Man Candy Monday: RWA11 Edition

Due to RWA in New York, most of the lovely ladies on Man Candy Monday will be congregating there. They'll be busy with workshops and book signings so no Man Candy Monday on Twitter this week or next week. Since next week will be the Fourth of July. So we'll go on a two week hiatus but we'll come back strong.

In honor of RWA and all things romance, I present you with these hotties along with a list of some of the books they've been featured on or in stepbacks:

Paul Marron Seduce Me At Sunrise- Lisa Kleypas To Beguile A Beast- Elizabeth Hoyt Lover Avenged- J.R. Ward

Jed Hill The Perfect Play- Jaci Burton Breaking Point- Pamela Clare A Lot Like Love- Julie James

Derek Hutchins The Rake and the Recluse- Jenn LeBlanc

	Greg Plitt Mysteria Lane- Mary Janice Davidson, Susan Grant, Gena Showalter, P.C. Cast Veiled Trust- Vivi Anna Kiss Me Deadly- Michele Hauf

So... What other gorgeous cover models deserves a spot on Man Candy Monday? Sharing is caring.

I Pledge Allegiance

Big doings at Squigglefly today, it's the official start date of the new term and the new team. I am very pleased that I have been invited to stay on another term. Thank you Squigglefly! "Marlene's Marvels" is providing the inspiration for this week's Squigglefly challenge to use red, white, and blue and besides, we are about to celebrate this country's birthday on the Fourth of July. I used Cheryl Alger's "I Pledge Allegiance" to lend my support to the first challenge of the new term.