Being Brooke
Standalone
Romance, adult contemporary 
283

Rating : 3.0

Buy it here

My name is Brooke Barker...
And I'm a freaking disaster.
No, seriously. I’m a college drop-out working a dead-end job, my best friend Carly’s dog gets more action than I do, and I have more bad dates in my diary than there are movie remakes.
Not to mention I'm completely and utterly in love with Cain Elliott.
The problem? He’s in a relationship. With a girl who’s so plastic she makes Barbie cry herself to sleep with jealousy.
The second problem? He's my best friend.
My shut-up-and-put-on-Harry-Potter, yes-this-is-your-shirt, help-I-have-no-power, crap-I’m-out-of-tampons, kinda best friend.
And that’s all he can be, right?
Right.

Restraint isn't a skill I've ever learned— unless you count the fact I've made it just over twenty-four years and haven't been arrested for murder. With my temperament, that's worth celebrating. 

Girl, I totally understand. 

I'm not into reading romantic comedy's, or even watching them except for on the occasion. *Ducks from judgement* I'm not sure why I wanted to read this, but I guess the mood struck for something funny. I've only read a book or two by Emma Hart, so I knew a bit about her writing style and figured I would like this one, too. 

Brooke is in love. Not with the boy next door, or the hot CEO that happens to be her boss. No, she's in love with her best friend. He doesn't know, of course, why would he? If he did, it would ruin everything Brooke holds dear to her: their friendship. So she tries to keep it platonic, but as things start to heat up and hiding her love becomes more of a challenge than she'd like, she has a choice to make. 

I love Brooke. She's funny, down to earth, and totally knows whats up. She watches Harry Potter, drinks wine all day, and thinks scratching her back is too much of a workout. So, really, she's me but in book form. She's just so relate able and cool, and since she's like me, it was like reading about myself. Woah. She tries so hard to remain cool and passive around Cain (her bff slash crush. Keep up!), and often fails at times. I was constantly wondering how Cain couldn't figure it out, the poor girl had it written all over her body!

“Tonight has been the craziest, most insane night of perhaps my entire life—except the one I was born. I imagine that’s insane, coming out of a vagina and all that.” 

Cain doesn't realize his best friend likes him. He's too busy trying to ignore those feelings that almost, kinda swarm inside him. Besides, he's got a girlfriend already, he shouldn't be thinking about Brooke like that. But boy, does he! His girlfriend, I couldn't stand her, therefore, I don't have a name for her. Let's go with plastic Barbie. Plastic Barbie is exactly how her name sounds. She's fake, whiny, and doesn't like Cain hanging out with Brooke. (Plus, her boobs are obviously fake).


It took a while for Cain to get into gear, but when he finally did, everything went the way I expected. They had their share of problems and arguments, but found a way to get over them and their awkwardness. Man, their awkwardness was awkward.

“I'm twenty-four, it's a Friday night, and I'm waiting in for a take-out gyros and fries in my onesie. My life is just so exciting I can barely stand it.  ” 

By the way, the above quote doesn't match me perfectly. I'm 20, thank you.


I think this was a fun book. The plot was interesting even though the friendship to lovers thing happens so much. It can become a cliche type story, so I'm glad Emma Hart could make it different and entertaining. Her writing is great, and really kept me immersed in the story. 

I don't really dislike anything about this book, and while it was fresh, I felt like it missed something. But the characters really got my love and for that reason, its has three stars. 

Review: Lip Service by Simone Sowood

Lip Service
Standalone
Romance, erotica
239
Four and a half stars

Buy it here

Out of curiosity, I checked out her videos. Who wouldn't?
I didn't count on being tempted by her silky voice or her full lips.
Too bad she's off limits.
Being a single dad isn't easy, and I have rules -- no relationships, and no screwing close to home.
But when I become the subject of her posts, I can't keep my hands off her any longer.
I have to teach her everything she got wrong in her videos.

"Ox man: I promise you I can each you more than what's in that book, guaranteed. Anytime you want a lesson, baby."

Dang, okay.

Lip Service is about two characters who just want to have some fun and not worry about being in a relationship. But of course, that fickle thing called love gets in the way and ruins what could possibly be the best thing to ever happen to them.

Avery is our main character, and she's pretty cool. I've read books where the chicks have the same jobs, like fashion designer or farm lady with the cool Stetson, but never have I read a book where the chick's job is YouTube. More precisely, a channel where she talks about sex, toys, and other neat things. I think that's super cool, not only because it's different but how open about the topic Avery is. It almost feels taboo to have a character actually know what she's doing, seeing as how so many women characters are seen as innocent dolts who don't know the first thing about their own body, let alone a hunky mans.

I do really love Avery, though. Outside of her awesome "fake" bedroom, she's a great person. She's loving, tender, and just wants her next door neighbors heart. And other things...

Knox (phew, that name!) is a single dad who just wants some fun. Piper is his first priority, has been since she was born, and because of that, relationships aren't his thing. He doesn't want a bunch of women to come around, only for his daughter to see them leave. While at first he was a jerk of a neighbor, he realizes that he has the hots for Avery, especially after learning about her being a sex expert with a channel. Thus begins the secret hookups.

"I meant I don't want a relationship with you. Because I have Piper, and she's my priority."

I adored Piper, you could see she was a little match maker from the beginning, and I loved the bond between her and Knox, and how she became to trust in Avery. I wish they had a few more scenes together, ones that really would have made their bond with each other more tight and important.

While I loved this book, I was a tad confused about it's genre. It felt like a romance occasionally switching to a erotic story. It's not a bad thing, but I would have liked for it to be more one or the other. There are some points where Knox or Avery does something that seems like an erotic bit but then the next page it becomes a regular romance story. Not sure if this is just me, but it's still a good story, nonetheless.

This is my first book by Simone and I'm sure I'll be reading more by her. The writing is great and draws you in. I have no regrets reading this book, and I know you won't either. It's also available on Kindle Unlimited, so why not give it a go?

Review: Everything, Everything-Nicola Yoon

Everything, Everything
Standalone
Young adult
336
Five stars

Buy it here

My disease is as rare as it is famous. Basically, I’m allergic to the world. I don’t leave my house, have not left my house in seventeen years. The only people I ever see are my mom and my nurse, Carla. 

But then one day, a moving truck arrives next door. I look out my window, and I see him. He's tall, lean and wearing all black—black T-shirt, black jeans, black sneakers, and a black knit cap that covers his hair completely. He catches me looking and stares at me. I stare right back. His name is Olly.

Maybe we can’t predict the future, but we can predict some things. For example, I am certainly going to fall in love with Olly. It’s almost certainly going to be a disaster.

Could this book have possibly rid me of my slump? Well, I hope so. After three months of torment, I finally was able to read. Who knew it would be this on? I only got it because I heard it's going to be a movie, so i figured it must be good. 

Everything, Everything is about a girl who is sick of, well, everything. Maddy hasn't left her house since she was a baby. She spends her time reading (as would I), or playing games with her mom. Life is simple for her, yet there's always this wish for it to be different. For her to be able to go outside, be in school and have friends. Who wouldn't? Despite all this, Maddy is strong and lives with it. She doesn't brood, she doesn't scream or throw a fit because life has dealt her with one heck of a blow. She's calm and likes her days filled with books.

“Sometimes I reread my favorite books from back to front. I start with the last chapter and read backward until I get to the beginning. When you read this way, characters go from hope to despair, from self-knowledge to doubt. In love stories, couples start out as lovers and end as strangers. Coming-of-age books become stories of losing your way. Your favorite characters come back to life.” -Maddy

Olly lives next door with his non functioning family. He's curious about her and they soon begin to email. What's between them is a bond that starts as friendship and changes into more. Maddy doesn't think love can kill her, and sets out on a journey she knows will be life changing. 

“prom·ise (ˈpräməs) n. pl. - es. 1. The lie you want to keep. [2015, Whittier]”

I really loved this book. I don't typically read YA contemporary books much, but I guess the mood struck. I think the concept was interesting, and was wonderfully done. It almost has an uncertain feel to it, like wondering how it'll end well with her being unable to go outside and be with him. 

“You're not living if you're not regretting.”

What really had me was the delightful humor Maddy gave throughout the book. Especially in her journal posts. They really added to the feel, and made her seem like a real person and had real emotions.

Yoon wrote an amazing book with down to earth characters and story line. I look forward to reading her next book I have, The Sun is Also A Star.

Review: Vicious-L.J. Shen

Vicious
Book 1 in the Sinners of Saints series
Romance
328
Four stars

Buy it here

Emilia

They say love and hate are the same feelings experienced under different circumstances, and it’s true. 
The man who comes to me in my dreams also haunts me in my nightmares. 
He is a brilliant lawyer. 
A skilled criminal. 
A beautiful liar. 
A bully and a savior, a monster and a lover. 
Ten years ago, he made me run away from the small town where we lived. Now, he came for me in New York, and he isn’t leaving until he takes me with him. 

Vicious

She is a starving artist. 
Pretty and evasive like cherry blossom. 
Ten years ago, she barged into my life unannounced and turned everything upside down. 
She paid the price. 
Emilia LeBlanc is completely off-limits, my best friend’s ex-girlfriend. The woman who knows my darkest secret, and the daughter of the cheap Help we hired to take care of our estate. 
That should deter me from chasing her, but it doesn’t. 
So she hates me. Big fucking deal. 
She better get used to me.

I'm so glad I found this book. I was in one of my book slumps (oh, who am I kidding? I've been in one for months now), and taking a gander in the store like I always do. The cover caught my eye, I mean, come on. I know we aren't supposed to judge a book by the cover, but how can you not when it's this great?

Anyway.

This one is a bit different from the usual read I like. Vicious is mean, and hateful. He teases Emilia down to her last breath, and he enjoys every second of it. Deep down, he's a guy who's just looking for revenge. Which is where Emilia comes in.

Emilia is poor, at least compared to Vicious. She doesn't get to throw caution to the wind like he does. She has to work for it, and to help out her family, she does so without being honest to her parents boss, Vicious. This causes problems. Major ones. I like Emilia, she doesn't take Vicious' crap and throws insults right back at him, which of course he doesn't enjoy.

The story moves on a few years and they're basically in the same situation. Vicious is still a jerk with more money, and Emilia is working two jobs to keep her apartment with her sister, who is sick. There was some serious sexual tension between these two, and I just wanted to squeeze them together until they both realized that they like each other. It drove me nuts. But when it finally happened, it was great. Explosive.

This is a standalone story, and I'm looking forward to book 2, though I have no idea what it's about. Shen really knows how to write a story and draw you in. I couldn't put this one down, and I hope it's broken the silly slump I'm in once and for all.

Review: Rescuing Harley-Susan Stoker

Rescuing Harley
Book 3 
Romance
320
Four and a half stars

Buy it here

Video game coder, Harley Kelso, thought a tandem skydive would help her make her latest game more realistic. Instead, it literally put her in the arms of the sexiest man she s ever seen. Geeky to the core, Harley is the polar opposite of big and burly Beckett, but that doesn t stop her from wanting to play more carnal games with the sexy soldier. 

When Beckett Coach Ralston offers to fill-in at a friend s skydiving club, he doesn t suspect he ll meet a woman who will change his life and he definitely doesn t expect her to save it. But that s exactly what happens when an accident mid-air forces Harley to land them both safely. She s earned Coach s complete gratitude, and even more, sexual interest 

Until she disappears without a trace. 

With Harley missing, a happy ending might not be in the cards for the man who loves her especially when he becomes the main suspect.

I swear, every time I read a book that wasn't asked for me to read, I end up forgetting to highlight quotes. So here I am, stuck because I forgot to highlight the stupid quotes. Guess I'll just have to improvise and actually write a review for once. << Joking! You totally know I actually write reviews with less quotes than words all together in the actual book.

Heh. Yeah.

Anyway, I've been reading Mrs. Stokers books since the beginning. Like her first character, Caroline. So, yeah, I feel a little cool at that fact. Let me bask in it.

Harley Kelso is cool. So cool, I can use the term like a bowtie is cool, because I can. She's a video game artist, meaning she makes games and is kickass at playing them, because, duh. I love her personality and how down to earth she is. Mrs. Stokers characters are always down to earth, but since we're talking about Harley, I'll point out her down to earthness. As Harley is making her current game, she can't seem to get the scene to look real enough and decides to skydive.

I mean, why not?

This is where Harley meets Coach, one of the tandem skydivers that helps out. He's hot, strong, and obviously an alpha male. Like all of Mrs. Stokers fine specimens of guys she writes about, Coach is there for Harley and falls for her quick. It's hot and strong, something he can't back away from. He wants Harley, and with patience, he'll keep her.

Their relationship is adorable and hot. He's so slow with her, not wanting to rush anything and show her that looks don't always matter and that he loves her for who she is. Geeky clothes included. And she's there to reign in his grr grr, I'm full of testosterone maleness. They're perfect together.

But this isn't just a regular, everyday romance. No way. Throw in some suspense and action, and you've got a great story. I love seeing all the other characters in this book. That's what I love most about these books, is that characters from different series come in to play. It's cool to be reminded that they're all in the same world. I'm always looking forward for the next character and their book, never letting a second slip by when its pre-order time!

The only reason I gave this four and a half stars is because I felt like the suspense and climax were rushed. It wasn't drawn out and left me with white knuckles as I realized the truth and what not. It seemed like that part was second to their romance, which isn't a bad thing. I just expected more.

These are all HEA, standalone stories but I highly recommend reading in order OF SERIES when beginning this journey with hot guys and non damsels-but always in trouble women.

Review: Vampire Academy-Richelle Mead

Vampire Academy

1 of 6 

Young Adult, paranormal, vampire

340

5 stars

Buy it here

St. Vladimir’s Academy isn’t just any boarding school—it’s a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They’ve been on the run, but now they’re being dragged back to St. Vladimir’s—the very place where they’re most in danger. . . .
Rose and Lissa become enmeshed in forbidden romance, the Academy’s ruthless social scene, and unspeakable nighttime rituals. But they must be careful lest the Strigoi—the world’s fiercest and most dangerous vampires—make Lissa one of them forever

“Taking a deep breathe, I made one of the hardest decisions of my life.
I walked away.” 

This isn't the first time I've read this book. Or series. If I had to count, I couldn't possibly do so because I can't even count that high. 

So, it's a lot. 

This story follows Rose Hathaway, a Dhampir in training who has the personality of, well, myself. She's sarcastic, blunt, and often times doesn't know when to stand down. Rose is brave but emotional, keeping herself in check because Dhampir's shouldn't be emotional. They're job is to protect the Moroi, the special ones of their kind. They are vampires. Rose is my abosolute favorite character, the way she draws us into her mind is perfect. I feel like she's my best friend, and her snarky side is the best. 

“Jesse: " Hey Rose, welcome back. Still breaking hearts?"
Rose: " Are you volunteering?”

Vasilisa is her best friend, and Rose is determined that she'll become her Guardian, the one who will always watch over her. Lissa is a princess, and is a huge target for those out to take the Moroi down. I love their friendship, it's the epitome of what friends should be like. They're there for each other all the time, both physically and emotionally, especially Rose for Lissa.

“She accused me of wearing pants from the salvation army."
"Rose, your pants ARE from the salvation army."
"That's SO not the point!” 

Dimitri Belikov is surely on the top of my book boyfriend list. He's dreamy, he's large, and Russian. What does Russian have to do with it? No idea, but he's hot. He tries to stay distant from Rose, needing to be only her teacher and nothing else but that doesn't work. Who can resist Rose? Certainly not Dimitri. He's tough and is hard on her, getting her to understand it's not a walk in the park to go after Strigoi, the Moroi turned bad. 

“My name is Dimitri Belikov. I've come to take you back to St. Vladimir's Academy, Princess.” 

This will always remain my favorite series out there. It has so much action and drama, it's so different compared to other vampire stories I've read and that's what I love about it. Please check this out, you won't regret this series. 

Review: Between Here and the Horizon-Callie Hart

General
Between Here and the Horizon
Series: Standalone
Genre: Romance, Contemporary
Pages: 270
Rating: Four and a half stars

Buy it here

Ophelia Lang needs money, and she needs it bad. Her parent’s restaurant is going under, and ever since she lost her job teaching third grade elementary, scraping enough cash together to pay the bills has proven almost impossible. Her parents are on the brink of losing their home. The vultures are circling overhead. So when Ophelia is offered an interview for a well-paid private tutoring gig in New York, how can she possibly say no? 

Ronan Fletcher is far from the overweight, balding businessman Ophelia expected him to be. He’s young, handsome, and wealthy beyond all reason. He’s also perhaps the coldest, rudest person she’s ever met, and has a mean streak in him a mile and a half wide. A hundred grand is a lot of money, however, and if tolerating his frosty temperament, his erratic mood swings and whatever else he throws at her means she’ll get paid, then that is what Ophelia will do.

Her new boss is keeping secrets, though. Awful, terrible secrets.

The ghosts of Ronan Fletcher’s past are about to turn Ophelia’s future upside down, and she can’t even see it coming. 

“You think you know me. You think you want to know me. But trust me, Miss Lang. Pursuing me will be the worst mistake you ever make. I’m broken beyond repair…

…and I take great pleasure in breaking everyone else around me.”

Let me begin by saying...

What.

Happened.

Okay, let me give you a little background. This story started out typical. I figured the heroine would end up with the lonely man with two kids after having a rocky start. It happens, I've read plenty of romance books with this premise.

But then things got... weird.

Okay, now a little more background. Ophelia needs money for her parents, or their restaurant will go under, and since she lost her job as a teacher, she needs something. A interview to tutor two kids for six months appears just at the right time, and she takes it, hoping that it'll go okay. It doesn't, or so she thinks. 

After taking the job, she starts. It's only been a few days since she got hired and she's gotten to know the man who hired her. Ronan is a single father after his wife died. He's been trying to make it work but knows he isn't doing the best job he can. So he brings his kids to his home town to fix the gaping hole that has built over time. Only Ronan has some secrets, and Ophelia is about to learn them... whether she wants to or not.

Um, yeah. So this book was crazy. Like I said, I totally thought it was like every other romance I've read. Single woman falls for single father who's wife died some years before. He's stubborn and they fight before he comes to his senses. Yada yada yada, right? Well this one isn't like that. It does a complete 180 and I was thrown-not for a loop but from a shove off a cliff. I was gobsmacked. So much so, I just wrote gobsmacked. I can't say much more without giving something away, yet I want to discuss this book so much. It affected me, that's for sure.

“He was a man possessed. I was a woman lost. Together, we were two halves of something fragile and delicate, beautiful in its complexity.” 

Review: Chasing Wishes-Nadia Simonenko

General
Chasing Wishes
Series: Standalone
Genre: New adult, romance, fiction
Pages: 303
Rating: Four and a half stars

Buy it here

For sixteen-year-old Nina Torres, it feels as if life is nothing but a dead end. Despised by her rich classmates and afraid that she'll become just like her drug-addicted mother, Nina's future seems to get dimmer every day.

There is one bright spot in her life though...

Sitting beside her one night, the only person in the world who cares about her makes a promise. No matter what happens—no matter how much Isaac's wealthy family disapproves—he and his girlfriend Nina will be together forever.

Fate plays a cruel trick on Nina, though, and a visit from Child Protective Services the next morning turns Nina Torres into Irene Hartley, a woman with a future but who will never see her beloved Isaac again.

Nine years later, a blind and incredibly handsome young entrepreneur hires Irene to be his personal assistant. Terrence Radcliffe reminds her so much of Isaac that she can hardly believe her eyes, and she's falling for him fast. Irene knows that fairy tales don't come true, but she allows herself one last wish. She wishes that she could finally say goodbye to Isaac and let herself take a chance on Terrence.

What she doesn't know is that Terrence is also searching for someone: a shooting star who streaked through his life nine years ago, and he won't give up until he finds her...

"I wish I didn't have to go home. I wish I was someone else—someone with a future..."




This book was unrealistic, cheesy, and predictable. But it's also cute, fun, and just full of "aw" moments. It made me happy, and didn't give me the killer tendencies I usually get when reading New Adult romance. To be honest, often times I love the cheesy, predictable stories. They're isn't a main character that makes me want to beat my head into the wall because she/he doesn't want to be loved or whatever.

Nina wants to be loved. She wants to go away and be with someone who is nice, and loves her because she certainly isn't getting it at home from her mom. She's had a tough life and dreams of getting free of it and the violence that goes on. Her mom pays for drugs by using her body, an embarrassing fact to Nina. She's the brunt of teasing at her school, which is how she meets Issac.

Issac wants to help Nina. He wants to be her friend in a place where no one else wants her. She doesn't believe him when he says that and tries to stay away. But Issac, my man, doesn't give up. He wants Nina.

Long story short, because I don't want to give spoilers, life happens.

But then they meet up years later. Just not as them.

Nina is now a young woman who is an inspiring voice actor with a job at a sandwich shop. Not exactly where she wanted to be her in life, but doesn't give up. She's been fighting for so long, she won't quit now. And one day, while reading stories to children at the library, she sees this guy who she finds handsome. And they meet at the sandwich shop.

Terrance needs someone to help him get around, and really add details to the descriptions from the world around him. He's blind, and his old friend doesn't cut it. Nina comes into his life at the right moment, and he ends up hiring her to get him around.

But what neither of them expected was to fall in love.

And that their past isn't too far behind them...

This is a standalone, new adult romance and I loved it. It's just fun to get away for a quick, cheesy read and this is what I needed. The times Nina describes places for Terrance is great, it becomes real in my mind. And the side characters are good, they definitely served their purpose. So if you're looking for a fast, loving read, here you go.

“I just want the feeling that I'm safe, the feeling that things can work out and that there'll be a happy ending someday.” 

Author Tour with Mira Stanley

Hey everyone! This is a little different from my usual posts but it was an opportunity I couldn't pass! Today I get to speak with Mira, author of her new release, Irresistible Jerk, which I got the chance to read. Mira is on a blog tour, and one of her stops is mine. This post has Mira's bio, author interview questions, the review, and the rest of the blog spots to visit!

 Mira dreams of a life where hairy-chested, foul-mouthed pool men serve cocktails while she reads in the embrace of a shady hammock. Her reality looks more like errands, carpooling, sneaking in writing time when she can, and snuggling with her husband and kids after a regular-old day in the Pacific Northwest. 

Sex is sacred. It’s also fun. That’s why Mira writes smut with feeling. In her perfect world, every woman who wants it would have access to entertaining, titillating, thought-provoking stories in an environment free of shame.

Learn more about Mira and her books at www.mirastanley.com







Author interview!

Welcome all! Today I’m lucky enough to be interviewing Mira Stanley, author of Irresistible Jerk.

Hi Mira, thank you for doing this interview. Why don’t you tell us a little bit about yourself and your background?

1.       Which writers inspire you?

Thanks so much for having me! Thank you for starting with an easy question.

My absolute favorite erotic romance authors are Charlotte Stein for her quirky, introspective heroines, Cara McKenna for her crazy hot heroes and intense subject matter, and Alexa Riley for her heroes that just can’t wait to breed their women.

2.       Where did you get the idea for Irresistible Jerk?

My Dirty Minds series started with my adoration of construction workers. There’s just something about a hard working hero who wants a neck rub when he’s done working for the day that I love. I love a rough man with a potty mouth. It was a pleasure to write my perfect man in the first two Dirty Minds books. I can’t wait to add more!

3.       What makes your main character so unique?

Kelly’s a preacher’s daughter with a dirty mind. What sets my Dirty Minds series apart, and especially Irresistible Jerk, is Kelly’s desire to break away from the expectations her family and church have placed on her. She’s tired of feeling guilty for the dirty thoughts she has, and Joe is just the guy to help her embrace that dirty-girl side of her that’s been dormant for too long.

4.       What else have you written?

I write Highlander romance and contemporary romance as USA Today Bestselling Author Jessi Gage. As Mira, I’m just getting started. I’ve got a Sci-Fi erom series in the works, and I’m writing some shorter pieces for some fun anthologies, including a naughty priest story and a werewolf ménage.

5.       What are you currently working on?

I’m raising two little kids who have more energy than seems possible. They keep me SUPER busy. But I do find time to write my kinky Mira stories and my less-kinky Highlander stories, usually while they’re at school or after their bedtimes.

My goal is to have ten novellas in the Dirty Minds series, and I’d like to have the series finished by the end of 2017. Anyone care to place bets on whether I can do it?

I’m hoping to have Mira releases just shooting out of the cannon, one after the other. So readers should join my newsletter here. That way they won’t miss anything!

6.       What genre do you write in, and what draws you to it?

I love erotic romance because of the thrill of arousal and the emphasis on relationship. I MUST have happy endings in what I read, and that goes for what I write too.

7.       Why do you write?

These stories are in my head. If I don’t write them down, they just—poof—go away. That seems so sad to me.

I also write to entertain, titillate, and encourage other women. In my own life, sexual dysfunction is a real and difficult thing. I wouldn’t have the happy marriage I do without steamy reads to help jump start my engine. I’m not alone. A lot of other women are in the same boat—or should I say dry dock—with me.

Some people frown on erotic romance or even just romance in general. They say it sends the wrong message. It’s porn for women. There’s nothing redeeming about it. It’s sinful to read and write.

I disagree. I think a woman can love God, have a good relationship with Him, and read steamy books at the same time. Both religion and romance are important parts of my life, and I suspect readers will notice themes of religion in my stories.

8.       Any advice for aspiring writers?

Write what you love, but if you want to make a career out of writing, you absolutely one-hundred percent have to write to an existing market. Find a way to mesh what inspires you with what’s currently selling. Brows retailer bestseller lists and do what those authors are doing, but add your own twist.

Thanks for the interview! I hope all goes well in your writing career.

Thanks for having me! It was fun!

I’ll leave you with a GIVEAWAY that you can earn multiple entries in. I’ve got a $50 Amazon Gift Card up for grabs as well as a few copies of the first two books in my Dirty Minds series.

Here’s where readers can find me!

Irresistible Jerk (Dirty Minds, Book 2)

Amazon | B&N | iTunes | All Romance | Kobo | Google Play | Smashwords | Goodreads

Mira Stanley links

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

*Spoilers ahead*

Irrisistible Jerk
Series: book 2
Genre: romance, erotica
Pages: 63
Rating: four in a half stars

Buy it here

*I received this in exchange for an honest review.*

This story revolves around Kelly and Joe, two people who are very different but want one thing: sex. This story picks up right where book 1 ended, so please read that first. I loved the first one, it was fast paced and hot, something you just need after reading long, drawn out stories for a while.

Kelly is a pastors kid. She grew up conservative, and Joe is the exact opposite of her in so many ways. She's innocent and pure, while he's down and dirty, a one way dancer with the devil. He doesn't want to be with her, not wanting to corrupt her with his darkness, but she's too tempting to resist. So they have fun.

"I wanted to let him."

I love reading about Joe and Kelly. They're great characters, each of them bringing a little something to the story. I don't want to say a whole lot, but there is conflict and they have their ups and downs. This series is a few books I believe, so their story isn't over yet.


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Review: Consumed-Kate Carley

Consumed
Series: book 2
Genre: romance, mystery
Pages: 297
Rating: four stars

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Thirty-seven minutes after midnight.
Like clockwork, an exquisite stranger sashays into his bar, orders up a shot of Jack Daniel’s, and stirs up his curiosity— not to mention his libido. Awaiting the arrival of this mysterious woman, night after night, has Ethan Bearbower growling in frustration. 
Or maybe it’s her hasty retreat after slamming the whiskey that’s driving him crazy. Lord knows her choice of attire isn’t improving his condition in the least—one night she’s dressed like a shy, sweet nymph, and the next, a seductive dominatrix. 
No wonder he’s going out of his mind.
But once Ethan uncovers her true identity, his inquisitiveness morphs into a protective streak he can’t seem to control. Consumed by this unusual fascination for a woman he’s just met and his need to keep her safe, Ethan struggles to reconcile his long-held beliefs with his mounting emotions. 
Danielle is searching for the truth, and she’s not going home until she’s satisfied. But before she can unearth the answers to her biggest questions, she discovers a sexy man who just might derail her quest. 
With explosive chemistry and tenderly whispered words of love, their relationship seems destined to last forever…until Danielle’s unrelenting search brings danger to her doorstep.

*I recieved this in exhange for an honest review*

Danielle wants to know what happened to her sister, who was murdered. And the best way to go about that is to go to where it happened and investigate herself. Despite being determined, Danielle learns that it's much harder than she thought, but she's not letting this go. She goes to the same bar every night in hopes that she'll learn something new.

Ethan finds himself curious about the woman in the bar. She comes in every night, drinks a little, talks to random people, and leaves. His curiosity gets the better of him, and he follows her home, wanting her to be safe once he sees where she lives.

Danielle learns that Ethan might be able to help her on the quest to find out what happened. The police force trust him, so why shouldn't she? But the more she finds out, the closer she comes to danger.

This was a pretty good read. I loved the mystery that surrounds the story, Danielle's determination to figure out what happened, and the romance that blooms along the way. Everything was perfect with timing. Nothing was too fast, and I didn't really see some things coming. I love stories that are heavy in romance and light in mystery, so this one was perfect for me. Ethan and Danielle worked well together, and it was cute seeing Ethan get protective of her, even though Danielle can take care of herself.

This is book 2 but it can be read as a standalone. I'll have to read book 1 now! So if you like romance, light mystery, and suspense, this is your story!

Review: How Meg West Was Won-Libby Mercer

How Meg West Was Won
Series: standalone
Genre: romance
Pages: 247
Rating: three and a half

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Whoever heard of a white knight showing up in a pair of old, scuffed cowboy boots?

She may be smart as a whip, but Meg West's co-op is in a heap of financial trouble. When sexy and rugged cattle rancher, Dutch Hargrave, makes her a job offer, the vegetarian California girl can't afford to refuse. And quite frankly, she hasn't got the strength to turn down a man with a slow, Texan drawl that makes her toes curl.

Enlisting the help of the feisty bombshell is the answer to Dutch's prayers--and his fantasies. Meg has the professional know-how to help lead his ranch into the 21st Century.

Before long, Meg and Dutch are as busy as a stump-tailed bull in fly season, working around the clock trying to preserve Dutch's heritage. But while the grueling work brings them closer together, the heat on the ranch starts to rise. Will Dutch find a way to win over Meg West while saving his family's farm?

*I received this in exchange for a honest review*


I loved this story. It was full of cowboys (obviously my favorite) and a girl who is the complete opposite to said cowboy. But that always make the story more interesting, doesn't it? I love reading stories where the MC's are different, it adds a more realistic touch, because who is the same?

Meg is not country. She's a true California girl who doesn't eat meat and is at one of the earth. She's set in her ways and doesn't let anyone tell her otherwise. I liked that, because no matter what society really says, she owns her self and personality. She has no qualms about who she is and what she wants to change about the world.

Dutch (what a cool name) is a man through and through. He works on his farm, eats meat, and doesn't really care about hippie stuff. But he realizes he needs to go green, so he asks Meg a favor. She needs to help his farm become better, and along the way, maybe they'll get closer.

I loved these characters. They fit well despite their differences. Meg enlightened Dutch and in turn, something sparked between them. It was fun to read about them slowly getting close. It wasn't sudden, which I liked. It took time and trust, just like a real relationship does.

The setting was beautiful. I could really imagine the world Mercer created, the rolling hills and the farm. It felt real and I appreciated that. Her writing is good, I only really spotted a few errors throughout the whole story.

If you love cowboys, hippie Californian girls, and romance, then this is for you!

Review: Burn-Jayelle Morgan

Burn: The Elemental Hearts
Series: Book 1
Genre: Romance/paranormal
Pages: 282
Rating: four and a half stars

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Depending on an Elemental Warrior is the key to her survival…and maybe more.

Brooke Simmonds moved to the isolated mountain town of Topaz Ridge for three things: A position as senior designer at the local paper, money in the bank, and complete independence. The day she gets everything she’s been working towards, her life goes up in flames. Literally. Her rescue is a haze of pain and smoke, but she remembers him, the handsome stranger that carried her out of the blaze. Are her memories clouded by smoke inhalation, or did she really see him manipulating the flames to save her?

He’ll either lose his control, or his heart. Or both.

Levi takes an instant liking to Brooke, whose smile makes him burn hotter than the fire inside him. When her apartment building bursts into flames, he springs to the rescue. As one of the elite Elemental Warriors sent here to fight the forces of Chaos, he’s got the power to do it. His control however, is…unpredictable. He gets her to safety, but not before revealing himself for what he is.

When the enemy turns their sights on Brooke, she’s sucked into a world, and a war, she never knew existed. Now, she’ll have to depend on Levi to help her navigate this new world whether she wants to or not. The burn between them is undeniable, but will it be enough to help them conquer their foes, and their differences? Or will they both go down in flames?

*I received this in exchange for an honest review*

This is a new author for me, so I wasn't sure how I would like the writing style but I always give books a try. I did love this book, and I'm glad that there will be more coming out! Burn was a well thought out story, with just the right amount of action, paranormal, and romance. Three of my favorite types put together!

This is about the Elemental Warriors, who are tasked with ridding the world of chaos, or the Chaolts who use humans with elemental powers, called Erratics, to cause natural disasters. I have never read something with this plot idea, so this was very interesting to me and I was insanely curious about how this would all come to be. The Elemental Warriors protect the earth and making sure humans don't know of their existence, something that can get hard at this point.

Levi is the hero in this book, and he is a Fire Elemental who is struggling to control his power. You could feel how frustrated he was when he wasn't allowed to do something. I felt bad that he was taken off patrols by his commander, and I knew he wanted to control his powers more than anything.

Brooke comes into the picture, having no idea about Elemental Warriors and Chaolts and how they surround them. She's about to get into the middle of a dangerous war, and I love how strong yet vulnerable she is. She doesn't know how to fight like a ninja or anything crazy like that. I don't like when normal girls somehow are able to kick the butts of villains who are magical in some form. That's not realistic. When Brooke's apartment explodes as Levi is chasing down an Erratic, Levi is bound and determined to make sure she's safe.

I loved the attraction between them. Levi knows he can't be with Brooke, it isn't okay, but as time goes on and he grows to like her more, he's about to do whatever possible to keep her safe and make her his.

This is full of action and romance, which I love. Everything moved at the right pace, the secondary characters were right on par. I loved the setting for this story. It's so fun to read about something new in paranormal, and it's great that something new can be created still. I give mad props to Morgan.

If you like action, paranormal, romance, and a new world, check this one out!