Review ~ Tuesday Teaser ~No Weddings by Kat and Stone Bastion @KatBastion @StoneBastion

 No Weddings by Kat and Stone Bastion

Review and Teaser 

The No Weddings Series

(available September 8, 2014)

 

 

About No Weddings (Release Date Sep 8): Award-winning author Kat Bastion teams with her husband, Stone Bastion, in this first book in the No Weddings Series about Cade Michaelson, a successful man with his sights set on a new venture in business, and Hannah Martin, the woman who makes it personal. I think I have my act together as a successful bar owner, my master’s degree within reach, and a list of no-strings-attached women warming my bed. Turns out, I don’t. Hannah believes she has safeguarded her wounded heart by shunning men and focusing on her new baking business. The thing is, she hasn’t. When my three sisters and I start a new event-planning business with Hannah as our baker, I have no idea how my life is about to change. As Hannah and I work closely together, the attraction between us becomes irresistible. And complicated. I’ve promised my sisters I wouldn’t mix business with pleasure. But I’ve never been one to follow the rules.

Add on Goodreads

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My Review

I am so excited to share this review with all of you.  No Weddings is my favorite Summer read!

No Weddings is a cleverly written story told in the male point of view.  I am a huge fan of male POV.  I love getting into the mind of the male protagonist.  Kat and Stone, your male POV was simply perfect!

So how can I best explain how I feel about this book?  Here goes…

The perfect recipe is made up of  fresh ingredients, creativity, attention to details and passion (the love of the craft) which stirs the emotions, the taste buds, and allows you to enjoy the dish. Your story, No Weddings is just like that perfect recipe.  No Weddings has all of the right ingredients, well written characters, a touching and entertaining story line, passion (which most definitely stirred my emotions) and the right attention to detail (through the delicious male point of view) which allowed me to enjoy this story so much.

Your cast of characters were all cleverly written.  Cade and Hannah, I totally love them.  Hannah is a beautiful baker, need I say more?  Cade, he is the delicious business savy male lead.  Cade’s three sisters and his roommates/friends each bring something different into the book.  They are like the little dash of this or that added to a recipe to make it taste better.  All together, these characters complete this fine book.

On a personal level, I connected with this story because I can relate with so many things.  Catering, party planning and baking are all part of my life.  I do however wish I had my own Cade giving me business advice.

This entertaining story will leave you feeling hopeful. I don’t want to give too much away in this review.  You need to read this gem for yourself.  Trust me, you will love this book.  I am looking forward to the next book in this series.  And as for Cade, he has officially been added to my list of book boyfriends.

No Weddings is filled with humor, family, heartbreak, cupcakes, cakes, charity, romance and hope.  All of these topics combined made this a fantastic read that I highly recommend.

Congrats to Kat and Stone on a fantastic collaborative debut!

I gave this book 5 delicious stars!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

 

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Review – A Gentleman’s Memoir by A.J. Linn @FuckedUpFifty @GentlemansHub

Susi Reviews

A Gentleman’s Memoir by A.J. Linn

 

Here is one review I am super excited to share.  I was lucky to get my hands on A Gentleman’s Memoir by A.J. Linn  last week while I was on vacation and I have to tell you, I loved it.

 

 

You may already know Donovan Hart from A Gentleman’s Affair and A Gentleman’s Secret. Here is your chance to get to know him a bit more personally…more, behind the scenes, or under the sheets, as I like to say. In A Gentleman’s Memoir, you will get a glimpse into his past. You will see Donovan tackle loss, love, heartbreak, and sexual exploration. You see him grow from a directionless, 25-year-old, entitled, partying, beach bum and well-known Malibu ladies’ man into a man who decides to take on the world…or at least, La Fuga. Spanning seven years of his life, from the death of his beloved mother, to his relationship with Danielle Hughes -aka cheating whore- to the sexual escapades that go beyond even his wildest imagination. A Gentleman’s Memoir, written in Donovan’s own words, may just shock you. Possibly as much as it did him.

 

My Review

I first discovered A.J. Linn last summer when I read his first book A Gentleman’s Affair.  I immediately fell in love with his writing style.  You see, I love to read books written in the male point of view.  His writing style is bold, refreshing, humorous, and sexy as hell.  And, I met Donovan Hart.  Need I say more?  Donovan was quickly added to my list of book boyfriends.  A couple of months later, A Gentleman’s Secret was released and once again, AJ did not disappoint with another fantastic sexy read.

Today, I am happy to share my review for his third and most anticipated book A Gentleman’s Memoir.  What can I say? I loved it.  This third book takes you back in time to Donovan’s early years.  Many questions about characters in the first two novels are answered in this memoir.  I loved reading about a younger Donovan in this book. Tragedy changed Donovan’s life and this memoir tells the tale of his life after that.

In his first two books, Donovan mentions Danielle, the ex girlfriend.  Well, I didn’t particularly like her then.  This book helped me confirm why I didn’t like her to begin with. As Donovan sets out to maintain and properly run La Fuga, his hotel, new staff members, several that are mentioned in the previous books emerge.  I enjoyed getting the back story on them and how they came to be.  This memoir will take you back in time, year by year to where and how it all began for the sexy Donovan Hart.  Those unanswered questions you may have had after reading the first two books will be answered in an enjoyable, witty and well written memoir in Donovan’s entertaining point of view.

My favorite part of this book, learning about how Donovan started his club and his “participation” in it.  But, I digress…. (I just had to)

AJ, I am a fan and I love how you incorporated your readers/fans in this book as well.  I look forward to reading more of your writing soon. Your writing style is unique and memorable.

I gave this book 5 sexy stars and highly recommend it.

 

 

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Other Books in The Gentleman’s Series

A Gentleman’s Affair:

Donovan Hart is handsome, wealthy, successful, and single. While his single status has always been something he’s coveted, enjoyed, and exploited, now his attitude is changing. The former Malibu playboy has been set up, fixed up, felt up and is now fed up. At the age of 32, he is ready to settle down and find the girl of his dreams. Can he escape his sordid past and move forward, or will it keep him from finding his unico vero amore, his one true love? Unlucky in love in the past, he begins his search, filled with humor, heartbreak, and hope…for the one.

A Gentleman’s Secret:

Donovan Hart has finally found his unico vero amore’ in the beautiful Scarlett Montgomery, but the question remains…will he be able keep her? Will his secret be too much for her to handle, or…will hers be too much for him to handle? A Gentleman’s Secret is an unpredictable ride full of twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the very end. Two people, desperate to escape the sins of their past, hoping to find the one thing that has been missing…Love. But is love really enough to conquer all?

Buying Links ~ The Gentleman’s Series

New Release! Book 3: A Gentleman’s Memoir (the prequel, may be read as a standalone or as a wonderful complement to the rest of the series)

Book 1: A Gentleman’s Affair

AmazonUS (print) AmazonUK (print) Smashwords (eBook – all formats)
iTunes Lulu Barnes&Noble (Nook)

Book 2: A Gentleman’s Secret

AmazonUS (print) AmazonUK (print) Nook (Barnes & Noble)
Smashwords (eBook) Lulu iTunes

 

Book 3:  A Gentleman’s Memoir

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Lulu 

 

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About the Author

Author AJ Linn began writing as a fanfiction blogger on Twitter as @FuckedUpFifty_ with an incredible FSOG blog written from Christian Grey’s point of view (http://christiangreypov.wordpress.com/). At the encouragement of his followers, he decided to write a novel and Donovan Hart, the charming, handsome, sexy protagonist of The Gentleman’s Series was brought to life.

His first novel, A Gentleman’s Affair, was published in May, 2013…even as he was writing his second novel, A Gentleman’s Secret, which was published in December, 2013. His unique style and boundless creativity have produced a series of books that will hang in readers’ memories forever. His latest, A Gentleman’s Memoir, a novella, published in August, 2014, is a prequel to the first novel, and will give readers an in-depth look at Donovan’s past, adding even more to the story of Donovan Hart.

After the release of A Gentleman’s Memoir, he plans to take a long, well-deserved break, and with the upcoming Fifty Shades of Grey movie in 2015, he will be re-visiting that series again on his blog.

We haven’t heard the last of AJ Linn.

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Stay Connected and follow A.J. Linn on Social Media

Twitter (@FuckedUpFifty_) Twitter Hub (@GentlemansHub)
Facebook Author Page Tumblr Hub WordPress Blog (Christian Grey POV)

Promo Tour – Bethany’s Awakening- Pt 1(Vignettes Book 2) by R.J. Redlynn @rjredlynn

 Bethany’s Awakening – Part 1 (Vignettes Book 2) by R.J. Redlynn

I just started this steamy book.  My full review is coming up later this week.  

 

 

Book Summary

Bethany and her husband Tim had recently heated up their sex life. Now with the help of an adult home toy party, Bethany hopes to help her friends spice up their lives as well. As the drinks flow and as the group gets more comfortable with each other, erotic stories abound as each of the ten guests shares their tawdry tale. Their stories will excite you as much as it did them and with such a variety of guests, the stories are varied as well.

 

 

 

About the Author

 

RJ Redlynn is new to the writing scene, but has developed quite a large body of work in a short time. RJ currently has two Erotica books and two books in the works due out late spring. However, RJ has a blog on Goodreads.com and also contributes stories to Dirtybitpodcast.com which can be heard for free.
Explicit and realistic erotica are a common theme in RJ’s stories. “I like writing stories that will heat you up and leave you torn between not wanting to put the book down and wanting to run to the bedroom.” RJ has written from both the male and female point of view and has even ventured into the paranormal.
RJ can be found at a hockey game and in the kitchen baking cupcakes when not writing. “My cupcakes have a large following and I think a pairing of my hot and erotic stories with a cupcake would make a great combination.”

Amazon Links

 Bethany’s Awakening (Vignettes Part 2 )

http://www.amazon.com/Bethanys-Awakening-part-Vignettes-Book-ebook/dp/B00L9RL28W

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bethanys-Awakening-part-Vignettes-Book-ebook/dp/B00L9RL28W

                                                            Tales of passion (Vignettes Book 1)     

http://www.amazon.com/Tales-passion-Vignettes-Book-1-ebook/dp/B00FKYD7BK

A Loving Heart’s Desire 

 http://www.amazon.com/Loving-Hearts-Desire-R-J-Redlynn-ebook

 Follow R.J. Redlynn on Social Media

Goodreads : https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7214882.R_J_Redlynn

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RJRedlynn

Twitter: https://twitter.com/rjredlynn

Amazon Page: http://www.amazon.com/R.-J.-Redlynn/e/B00J7F9BWM

iTunes Podcasts: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/dirtybitpodcast/id568141869?mt=2

Release Day Blast and Giveaway – A Gentleman’s Memoir by A.J. Lynn @FuckedUpFifty @GentlemansHub

One of my most anticipated books is finally here!

RELEASE DAY – A GENTLEMAN’S MEMOIR BY A.J. LYNN

Title: A Gentleman’s Memoir

Author: A. J. Linn

Release Date: August 11, 2014

Synopsis

You may already know Donovan Hart from A Gentleman’s Affair and A Gentleman’s Secret. Here is your chance to get to know him a bit more personally, more…behind the scenes, or under the sheets, as I like to say.

In A Gentleman’s Memoir, you will get a glimpse into his past. You will see Donovan tackle loss, love, heartbreak, and sexual exploration. You see him grow from a directionless, 25-year-old, entitled, partying, beach bum and well-known Malibu ladies’ man into a man who decides to take on the world…or at least, La Fuga.

Spanning seven years of his life, from the death of his beloved mother, to his relationship with Danielle Hughes -aka cheating whore- to the sexual escapades that go beyond even his wildest imagination, A Gentleman’s Memoir, written in Donovan’s own words, may just shock you.

Possibly just as much as it did him.

Excerpt

No shortage of wild, wet, and more-than-willing participants fill the dark, smoky adult club that Mike and Russ dragged me to. Dragged may be too strong of a word, I went willingly. True, this would be my first experience in a club like this, and I even surprised myself at just how much I enjoyed everything about it…

The large wooden stage at the front of the club would soon become the platform for the uninhibited, the exhibitionist, and at times, as I quickly found out, the perverse. Play parties, as they were commonly referred to in these adult clubs, were the main attraction.

Sex acts in this public forum were the norm for most here, but for me, the closest I ever got to sex in public was a lifeguard tower or backseat of a car. Amateur stuff to this crowd. I was about to enter into a world that some have only heard about, and certainly never talked about. Most have probably said, ‘No way, I’d never do that!’ But hey…don’t knock it if you’ve never tried it.

I wouldn’t take the stage on that first night, but it wouldn’t be long before I did. Trust me when I say that I had to work my way up to that, but when I did finally decide to grace a stage with my presence, it would turn out to be the most exhilarating, titillating moment of my life, and I would quickly become addicted. Addicted to the eyes that were watching with such intent. Addicted to the rush that I never knew would come with the act of exhibitionism. Just plain addicted.

Add A Gentleman’s Memoir to Goodreads!

About the Author

Author AJ Linn began writing as a fanfiction blogger on Twitter as @FuckedUpFifty_ with an incredible FSOG blog written from Christian Grey’s point of view (http://christiangreypov.wordpress.com/). At the encouragement of his followers, he decided to write a novel and Donovan Hart, the charming, handsome, sexy protagonist of The Gentleman’s Series was brought to life.

His first novel, A Gentleman’s Affair, was published in May, 2013…even as he was writing his second novel, A Gentleman’s Secret, which was published in December, 2013. His unique style and boundless creativity have produced a series of books that will hang in readers’ memories forever. His latest, A Gentleman’s Memoir, a novella, published in August, 2014, is a prequel to the first novel, and will give readers an in-depth look at Donovan’s past, adding even more to the story of Donovan Hart.

After the release of A Gentleman’s Memoir, he plans to take a long, well-deserved break, and with the upcoming Fifty Shades of Grey movie in 2015, he will be re-visiting that series again on his blog.

We haven’t heard the last of AJ Linn.

Connect with A. J. Linn via Social Media

Twitter (@FuckedUpFifty_) Twitter Hub (@GentlemansHub)
Facebook Author Page Tumblr Hub WordPress Blog (Christian Grey POV)

Other Books in The Gentleman’s Series

A Gentleman’s Affair:

Donovan Hart is handsome, wealthy, successful, and single. While his single status has always been something he’s coveted, enjoyed, and exploited, now his attitude is changing. The former Malibu playboy has been set up, fixed up, felt up and is now fed up. At the age of 32, he is ready to settle down and find the girl of his dreams. Can he escape his sordid past and move forward, or will it keep him from finding his unico vero amore, his one true love? Unlucky in love in the past, he begins his search, filled with humor, heartbreak, and hope…for the one.

A Gentleman’s Secret:

Donovan Hart has finally found his unico vero amore’ in the beautiful Scarlett Montgomery, but the question remains…will he be able keep her? Will his secret be too much for her to handle, or…will hers be too much for him to handle? A Gentleman’s Secret is an unpredictable ride full of twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the very end. Two people, desperate to escape the sins of their past, hoping to find the one thing that has been missing…Love. But is love really enough to conquer all?

Buying Links ~ The Gentleman’s Series

New Release! Book 3: A Gentleman’s Memoir (the prequel, may be read as a standalone or as a wonderful complement to the rest of the series)

Book 1: A Gentleman’s Affair

AmazonUS (print) AmazonUK (print) Smashwords (eBook – all formats)
iTunes Lulu Barnes&Noble (Nook)

Book 2: A Gentleman’s Secret

AmazonUS (print) AmazonUK (print) Nook (Barnes & Noble)
Smashwords (eBook) Lulu iTunes

 

Book 3:  A Gentleman’s Memoir

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Lulu 

  Giveaway!

Click here for a chance to win The Gentleman’s Series trilogy (eBooks):

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Stay tuned for my review of A Gentleman’s Memoir!  It is coming up later. 🙂

On Vacation

 

As the summer comes to an end, this blogger will be away on vacation.  

I will schedule some posts to run while I am disconnecting and clearing my mind.  

Of course, I will be reading some wonderful books that are all loaded and ready to go on my tablet.  

I will have some exciting reviews when I get back.

Read, dine, drink wine, relax and be kind.

~Susi

Italian Cream Cake Recipe – Inspired by Sempre by J.M. Darhower @jmdarhower

As a baker, I always have baked goods in my kitchen.  Sometimes the goodies are for customers, other times I am simply testing new recipes.

I was inspired to make an Italian Cream Cake after reading Sempre by J.M. Darhower.

Here is my easy Italian Cream Cake Recipe.  I think Carmine will approve. 🙂

You can make this shape using round cake pans too.  I used 3 9 x 5 loaf pans.

Ingredients

1 box White Cake Mix with pudding (any brand will do)

1 1/4 cup Buttermilk

3 large eggs

1/4 cup Vegetable oil

1 package flaked coconut  120z

3/4 cup chopped pecans

1/4 cup of rum

3 9 x 5 inch loaf pans

 

Frosting Ingredients 

2 8 oz creme cheese packages (softened)

2 sticks of unsalted butter (softened)

4 cups  powdered sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1/4 cup chopped pecans

 

Directions  (Preheat oven to 350 degrees)

1.  Beat cake mix, buttermilk, eggs and oil with electric mixer for 2 minutes at medium speed.

2.  Fold in the coconut flakes and pecans

3.  Pour even amounts of cake mixture into each of the loaf pans.

4.  Bake at 350 degrees for 17 -18 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

5.  Cool cakes for about 30 minutes

6.  Sprinkle rum on each cake layer and allow the rum to soak into cake (15 minutes)

7.  Spread frosting over layer 1 and assemble cake. Frost over each layer. Top the final layer with frosting and pecans.

8.  Refrigerate cake for at least 2 hours.  Cake tastes best cold.

9. Serve and enjoy!

 

Frosting Directions

1. Using the stand mixer, mix 2 sticks of butter and cream cheese together.

2. Add vanilla extract

3.  Slowly add powdered sugar to the mix

4. Ready to spread (refrigerate extra frosting)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Joint Review ~ Sempre by J.M. Darhower @jmdarhower

Joint Review 

Sempre by J.M. Darhower

 

 

THIS IS A STORY ABOUT SACRIFICE . . . DEATH . . . LOVE . . . FREEDOM. THIS IS A STORY ABOUT FOREVER.
Haven Antonelli and Carmine DeMarco grew up under vastly different circumstances. Haven, a second-generation slave, was isolated in the middle of the desert, her days full of hard work and terrifying abuse. Carmine, born into a wealthy Mafia family, lived a life of privilege and excess. Now, a twist of fate causes their worlds to collide. Entangled in a web of secrets and lies, they learn that while different on the surface, they have more in common than anyone would think. In a world full of chaos, where money and power rule, Haven and Carmine yearn to break free, but a string of events that began before either of them were born threatens to destroy them instead. Murder and betrayal are a way of life, and nothing comes without a price-especially not freedom. But how much will they have to sacrifice? Can they escape their pasts? And, most of all, what does it mean to be free?

GIVEAWAY – ROGUE by Katy Evans @authorkatyevans

GIVEAWAY

Enter to win one paperback copy of Rogue by Katy Evans

The fourth story in the new adult series that began with the New York Times bestseller Real, featuring Brooke’s best friend, Melanie, and the ROGUE she can’t resist.

Greyson King…
My boyfriend. My friend. My protector. He’s the reason I wake up every morning with a smile on my face, and the reason I fall asleep limp, worn out, and aching for his warm arms around me. When we make love, he says my name like it means something. Like I mean something.
He
Lied.
His name is Greyson King, but his alias is Zero.
There’s zero trace of him, he has zero past, and now I know that with him, I will have zero future.
He may leave no trace of him anywhere, but his imprint is in me, in my very soul–and I hate that a mere look at him commands the beat of my heart. The temperature of my body.
I’ve looked for love my entire life. I’ve waited for the butterflies, the rainbows…
Instead I’m in a free fall of emotions and there’s no one to catch me but the one man I should be running away from. The one man I thought was my prince charming.
Except this prince charming went rogue.
Greyson will stop at nothing to make me be with him. He’ll let no one stand in our way, will allow no one to threaten me, and maybe this is what scares me most of all…
What will my rogue do to keep me?

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One lucky winner will win a paperback copy of Rogue by Katy Evans.

This giveaway is US only.

Giveaway Rules

Leave a comment on this post to enter.

Contest runs 8/1 through 8/5 .

One winner will be selected via random.org on 8/6 and notified via email.

No purchase necessary to participate.

Good Luck!

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 Buy Links

Kindle

​​BN

iTunes

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About the Author

Katy Evans

My Life in 8 Words: “Hectic, wonderful, complete; everything I ever wanted.”

Katy Evans grew up with books and book-boyfriends until she found a real sexy boyfriend to love. They married and are now hard at work on their own happily ever after. Katy loves her family and friends, and she also loves reading, walking, baking, and being consumed by her characters until she reaches “The End.” Which is, hopefully, only the beginning…

Follow Katy Evans on ​Social Media
http://www.katyevans.net/

Twitter
https://twitter.com/authorkatyevans

Facebook
​https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKatyEvans?fref=ts