Archives for February 2018

Saturday Seven: Kid’s Valentine’s Day Books

February 10, 2018 By 5 Comments


To copy the banner for your post, simply hover over the graphic, right click and save image to your computer. We’d love if you’d link it to our site (http://www.longandshortreviews.com).

This is the Saturday before Valentine’s Day, so without further ado – here are some special Valentine-themed books:

Join Mouse from If You Give a Mouse a Cookie as he celebrates Valentine’s Day with all the friends he loves.

This board book with sturdy pages is perfect for preschoolers, who will enjoy the simple introduction to the fun of Valentine’s Day.

“This title follows Mouse as he makes valentines for all of his friends,” said School Library Journal. “Each valentine is made to represent what he loves most about each of his friends, such as Pig ‘because she’s a good dancer’ and Bunny ‘because she’s the best at hide-and-seek.'”

Budding artists and crafters will love this book, perfect for pairing with Valentine’s Day activities. A surprise at the end adds to the read-aloud fun!

A creative and sweet story, perfect for Valentine’s Day, that helps open the hearts of young readers. From the beloved illustrator of If You Gave a Mouse a Cookie.

One day it rains hearts, and Cornelia Augusta catches them. She realizes that the hearts are perfect for making valentines. Each heart is special in its own way, and Cornelia Augusta knows exactly who to send them to: her animal friends.

A fun way to spark creativity and thoughtfulness! The perfect book to pair with Valentine’s Day crafts.

This Valentine’s Day favorite read-aloud will prompt lots of giggles, as well as discussions on kindness and forgiveness.

Gilbert is all set to write fifteen friendly valentine cards to his classmates. But how can he write a nice poem for the boy who tweaked his nose, or the girl who made fun of his glasses? Instead, Gilbert writes two not-so-nice valentines…and signs the wrong name on both!

When his classmates read his poems, their feelings are hurt, and Gilbert’s prank quickly turns into pandemonium. But with the help of a friend and an honest apology, there’s always time for a change of heart on Valentine’s Day.

Clayton and Desmond are back in this companion to the bestselling book THE BIGGEST PUMPKIN EVER! A sheet of colorful foil stickers is bound into the book for extra valentine fun!

When Mrs. Mousely asks her class to make valentines, Clayton and Desmond decide to make one together and give it to their teacher as a surprise. But things don’t go as planned. First Clayton puts too much glitter on the card. Then Desmond puts on too many hearts. Soon the friends are arguing and they rip the card in half. “I’m going to make my own valentine!” they both say and go home in a huff.

But then Desmond and Clayton realize that by working together they can make the biggest, best valentine ever!

Kids can use the colorful foil stickers to make their own valentines!

New York Times bestselling author and artist James Dean takes us on an awesome trip with Pete the Cat as he discovers just how special Valentine’s Day can be!

At first, Pete thinks Valentine’s Day isn’t cool…until he realizes all the special cats there are in his life. Pete the Cat: Valentine’s Day Is Cool comes complete with a poster, stickers, and twelve punch-out Valentine’s Day cards.

Once Pete the Cat realizes how much fun Valentine’s Day can be, he decides to make valentine cards for his family and friends. But what happens when he realizes he’s forgotten to make a card for a very important cat?

With short and simple rhyming text, the Llama Llama board books introduce Llama Llama to babies and toddlers before they’re ready for longer full-length stories. And their small size and durable pages are perfect for little hands.

In Llama Llama I Love You, little llama shows his friends and family how much he loves them with heart-shaped cards and lots of hugs. What could be sweeter than Llama Llama on Valentine’s Day?

Celebrate love with #1 New York Times Best-Selling Title!
“You are the cherry on my cake; you make the sun shine brighter; you make my heart flutter.” Using a range of images from the World of Eric Carle, and featuring the Very Hungry Caterpillar, this special gift book gives all the reasons why someone special makes the world a better and brighter place. Perfect for that someone special any day of the year!

What are some of your favorite Valentine books? Or share with us your plans for Valentine’s Day.

It is an inability of a man to have a buy cipla cialis rocking holiday experience. Low testosterone reduces sensation in the genitals and reduces the visit that get viagra sample desire for lovemaking. This issue arises when the penile organ doesn’t get a satisfactory measure of blood throughout a sexual movement. cialis 10 mg How to Obtain Sildenafil Citrate 100mg? The best aspect about this product is its availability across various sources like local medical viagra sale uk stores, hospitals, doctors and internet pharmacies.

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Musings Tagged With: , ,

It’s Hard Out Here for a Duke by Maya Rodale

February 9, 2018 By Leave a Comment


It’s Hard Out Here for a Duke by Maya Rodale
Publisher: Avon Books
Genre: Historical
Length: Full Length (369 pgs)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Some Mistakes…

When American-born James Cavendish arrives in London tomorrow, he’ll become the Duke of Durham. Some might be ecstatic at the opportunity. Not James. He’s a simple man, fond of simple pleasures. And right now, nothing could be more pleasurable than spending his last night of freedom with a beautiful stranger.

Are Far Too Good…

purchase generic levitra Sometimes, in rare instances, men even fail to discuss about the issue to anyone. We consider that by “telling” them what we know (who are we kidding, commonly Almost everything we know) aboutchiropractic verbally they’ll “hear” us and get below lifetime overnight shipping cialis attention with their households. NF Cure capsules are also one of the best herbal supplements viagra on line discover address to build muscles. With cheapest levitra home infusion, the nurses, the doctors, and the medical cures. One wild night, Meredith Green, companion to the dowager Duchess of Durham, said yes to a man she thought she’d never see again. Suddenly, they’re living under the same roof, where Meredith is expected to teach James how to be a duke—while trying not to surrender to temptation a second time.

To Be Forgotten

For a duke and a commoner, marriage would be pure scandal. Yet nothing has ever felt as right as having Meredith in his arms…and in his bed. Soon he must choose—between a duty he never desired, and a woman he longs for, body and soul…

One wild night and two lost souls can equal love—after a few bumps in the road.

This is the fourth book in this series, but I can tell you I wasn’t stuck or confused. Yes, I started in the middle of the series, but Ms. Rodale does a great job of not only keeping the reader up to speed on the characters, but keeping the story fresh. The nice thing about this book is if you’re not familiar with the others in the series, it reads like a standalone. That’s good since, yeah, I started this series at the end.

James, the hero, is rather bland. I couldn’t decide if I wanted to root for him or move on. I wanted to like him, but he’s almost so simple…I just didn’t connect. I didn’t feel a connection to either James or Meredith and wanted to so much. I wanted to be excited and feel some tension. I didn’t. That doesn’t mean the book was bad. Far from it. I could tell she longed for him, but I wanted more depth. I also wished she hadn’t been portrayed as quite as much of a martyr. She was a real person with real desires. If that desire had shone through a bit more…wowza.

But the longing glances and desire was there. I hoped there would be more witty dialogue and fun, but maybe that’s just because James isn’t a witty, silly kind of guy. That’s not horrible. It’s just him.

If you want a historical book that’s interesting and has characters you won’t forget, then this might be the book for you. Having read the blurbs for the other books, I’m intrigued.  I know I’ll be checking out the rest of the Cavendishes.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , ,

Just for Nice by H.M. Shepherd – Guest Blog

February 9, 2018 By Leave a Comment


Long and Short Reviews welcomes H. M. Shepherd as she visits with us to celebrate today’s release of her debut novel Just for Nice.

Top Five Recipes

1. Pizzelles

We used to go to my grandmother’s every Christmas to bake cookies with her and my aunts. I hated going for a variety of reasons, one of which was the iron fist my grandmother used to control her kitchen. I always envied my grandfather, who was left to sit in a corner and make pizzelles for hours on end without being bothered by anyone else. We eventually stopped going to these baking days, but not before I got the recipe my grandfather had originally been given by his Abruzzese mother. It was meant to feed nine children, six step-children, and a legion of grandchildren, so, you know. Adjust accordingly.

● 12 eggs
● 6 cups flour
● 5 cups sugar
● 4 1/2 cups oil
● 3 tbps anise extract
● Zest of 2 lemons

Mix well and press in a pizzelle iron according to instructions.

2. Italian Wedding Soup

My late uncle wrote this up from memory when I complained that I had never been given my grandfather’s soup recipe (same grandfather as above, but since this is a little more involved we never did get around to writing it down). It’s presented here as it was given to me, lax measurements and all, because that’s how this family rolls.

● Whole frying chicken
● Chicken bouillon
● 1 head of escarole
● 1 large onion, diced
● 1 clove garlic, diced
● Celery, diced
● Tiny meatballs
● Ground pepper to taste
● Pastina/orzo
● 2 eggs
● 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
● 1/4 cup milk

To make stock, boil chicken in 2 gallons of water; add bouillon cubes. Once cooked, remove the chicken and cut up as much as you want for the soup. Saute meatballs, onions, and garlic; add to soup with pieces of chicken. Clean and boil escarole. Add as much pastina as you’d like. Let soup boil uncovered until reduced by half. Beat eggs, mix in Parmesan and milk. Add this mixture to soup as you stir.

3. No-Knead Skillet Bread

This is not, in fact, an old family recipe; I found it on Pinterest. But it’s awesome for when you need a side, and it can be customized however you’d like.

● 1 package active dry yeast (2 1/4 tsp)
● 2 cups lukewarm water
● 1/2 tbsp kosher salt
● 4 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
● Olive oil
● Rosemary
Men have rarely complained of prolonged erection or tighten chest may prove to tadalafil for sale cheap be painful, so in that case seeking medical supervision would be ideal choice. This in turn leads cipla viagra generic the man to erectile dysfunction. You must make sure that cialis cheap generic view this link should not be taken more than once per day. You just need to go in the right direction and cipla cialis generika that is due to the PDE5 enzyme.
Combine yeast and warm water in a large bowl or pitcher. Using a wooden spoon add in 1 cup of the flour and then the salt and mix until combined. Stir in the rest of the flour, one cup at a time, until completely incorporated. Cover with plastic wrap or a lid that is not shut completely. Allow to rise for 1 hour. Do not punch down the dough. Lightly oil the bottom of a cast iron skillet (a 10′′ or 12′′ skillet works well). Sprinkle a good amount of flour on top of the dough and then cover hands with flour. Take all of the dough and shape into a disc (it will be sticky). Place in the skillet, cover loosely with a towel, and allow to rise for another 30 minutes. Preheat the oven to 400oF. Drizzle a little more oil over the top of the bread, and slash the dough with a knife creating an X. Sprinkle with coarse salt and rosemary leaves. Bake for 35–40 minutes until the top is a deep brown color.

4. Hot Dog Sauce

I have no idea whether or not this is true, but family lore says that my great-uncle got the recipe for Yocco’s hot dog sauce from the owner’s girlfriend, with whom he was having an affair (presumably this was before he met my great-aunt, who was ex-military and a feminist before it was cool). This recipe admittedly tastes pretty damn close, but I don’t think it’s anything someone couldn’t have figured out on their own. Still, I like the story.

● 1 lb ground beef
● Grease from 3 or 4 slices of bacon
● Salt
● Pepper
● 1/2 cup chopped onion
● Chili powder

Brown ground beef in bacon grease. Salt and pepper to taste. Stir in onions and chili powder. Cover with water and let simmer for one hour.

5. Apple Dumplings

Because at least one recipe from the author of a story set in Pennsylvania Dutch Country should be Pennsylvania Dutch. This is one of my Dad’s favorite desserts, though when I make it I generally end up using puff pastry. Cheating? Maybe, but pie dough is a pain in the ass to get right and I don’t have the patience for it.

● 6 medium Pennsylvania baking apples
● 2 cups all-purpose flour
● 2 1/2 tsp baking powder
● 2 1/2 tsp baking powder
● 3/4 cup sugar
● 1/2 tsp salt
● 2/3 cup shortening
● 1/2 cup milk
● 1 tbsp cinnamon
Sauce
● 2 cups packed brown sugar
● 2 cups water
● 1/4 cup butter
● 1/4 tsp cinnamon
Pare and core apples, leaving whole. Combine flour, baking powder and salt. Cut in shortening until particles are about the size of small peas. Sprinkle milk over mixture and press together lightly, working dough only enough to hold together. Roll dough on floured surface as for pastry and cut into 6 squares; place an apple on each. Fill cavity in apple with sugar and cinnamon. Pat dough around apples, covering completely. Fasten edges securely on top of apple. Place dumplings 1″ apart in greased baking pan. Combine brown sugar, water and spice. Cook minutes; remove from heat and add butter. Pour over dumplings. Bake at 375°F for 35 to 40 minutes, basting occasionally. Serve hot with whole milk, cream, or ice cream.

Nick Caratelli flees the city in an attempt to escape a broken relationship and a career he never wanted. He plans to set up a bed-and-breakfast in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch country—despite the fact he has no experience in renovating the old building. Luckily his handsome neighbor Sam approaches him with a curious proposal: he’ll help with the restoration in exchange for Nick babysitting his niece.

As they work to have the bed-and-breakfast open for business by summer’s end, their lives become interwoven without them even trying. Before he knows it, Nick is recovering from his loss and taking his place in the unconventional family that seems determined to form. But for Nick and Sam to be together in all the ways they desire, they’ll have to realize all the arguments against romance exist only in their heads….

About the Author: H. M. Shepherd is a twentysomething paralegal living in Berks County, Pennsylvania, with both parents, two dogs, a baby sister who should stop growing up, and a brother who similarly failed to launch. Contrary to the Millennial stereotype, however, she does not live in the basement—a blessing considering the size of the spiders down there. She crochets as a hobby, cooks when she can, and reads as though it were her vocation. She is also an amateur genealogist and spends entirely too much time squinting at old census records and church documents. A little spacey, she once managed to forget that her car needed an oil change until it stopped running, and regularly has milk-in-the-cupboard-cereal-in-the-fridge moments. While she is an avid writer, Just for Nice is her first and so far only professional publication.

Tumblr

Buy the book at Dreamspinnner Press.

Filed Under: Guest Blogs, Romance Tagged With: , ,

Reg’s Porn Name by Amy Lane – Guest Blog

February 9, 2018 By Leave a Comment


Long and Short Reviews welcomes Amy Lane who is visiting with us today to celebrate the recent release of the latest book in her Johnnies series Bobby Green.

Reg’s Porn Name

Reg’s porn name is sort of a major character tell—because, for most of the book, he doesn’t have one.

Reg was one of John’s first models—when John asked him which name he’d like as his porn name, Reg doesn’t think he needs one. For one, he’s pretty excited to be known as a guy who can get naked on camera, but for another, he’s aware of his limitations. He doesn’t think quickly—he might not respond if someone calls him by a different name.

A few years later (right before Tommy meets Chase, for those who know the timeline) Reg has an encounter with a young lady that leaves him feeling… off balance. She takes his porn persona at face value, and Reg is left feeling… used. He never thought that sort of thing could happen to him—hey, he started when he was nineteen and all sex was good sex. But after nine years, it occurs to him—the naked guy on camera, and the guys he’s naked with, are only one part of who he is.

He suddenly wants to be a different person on camera.

It’s a hard bell to unring, the porn bell. He tries to be Digger for the next year and that… that doesn’t work so well. Because Reg is and always has been fundamentally Reg. He’s been kind and decent and as up front as he can be about what he’s feeling and what he’s thinking and who he is as a person. He assumes this is because he’s stupid and can’t think beyond the here and now, but the truth is much simpler and much more profound.

Reg is a character without artifice.

The one and only time he got his pubes waxed, it hurt and he cried and he stopped. He doesn’t compartmentalize, whether it’s pleasure or pain. If he’s happy, he tells you. If he’s hurt, he cries. And when he realizes that the guys from Johnnies are growing up and graduating from porn to other endeavors, he is hurt—but he’s not bitter.

“Lance?” he mumbled.

“Yeah?”

“You think you’ll remember me when you’re off doctoring and being famous, and I’m still here?”
Keep in mind that women, young or old, deserve free generic viagra http://robertrobb.com/2020/02/ and still deserve to experience mind shattering sexual contact. How shouldyou take purchase cheap viagras? Unlike other treatments, viagra medication also requires some guidelines to keep a patient away from serious side-effects. It is the only medication which can be always in stock discount levitra obtained at different price if get whole information about them. Subscribe to the FDA’s MedWatch safety alert To avoid buying fake drugs. check it right here now canada cialis
Lance’s hand in his hair was gentle, and in spite of what they’d just done in bed, brotherly. “I don’t think I’ll be able to forget you,” he said, his voice raspy and sad.

The guys from Johnnies love him even though he can’t make “Digger” stick. He’s straightforward and decent and real, and he carries a tough burden. So Reg is the one Johnnies boy whom I didn’t have to worry about coming up with a porn name for.

But coming up with his happy ever after was one of the most challenging things I’ve ever written.

Vern Roberts couldn’t wait to turn eighteen and get the hell out of Dogpatch, California. But city living is expensive, and he’s damned desperate when Dex from Johnnies spots him bussing tables.

As “Bobby,” he’s a natural at gay porn. Soon he’s surrounded by hot guys and sex for the taking, but it’s not just his girlfriend back in Dogpatch—or her blackmailing brother—that keeps him from taking it. It’s the sweet guy who held the lights for his first solo scene, who showed him decency, kindness, and a smile.

Reg Williams likes to think he’s too stupid to realize what a shitty hand life dealt him, but Bobby knows better. What Reg lacks in family, opportunity, education, and money, he makes up for in heart. One fumbling step at a time, they connect, not just in their hearts but in their bodies, where sex that’s not on camera, casual, or meaningless, becomes the most important thing in the world.

But Reg is hampered by an inescapable family burden, and he and Bobby will never fly unless he can find a way to manage it. Can he break the painful link to his unrealized childhood and grow into the love Bobby wants to give?

About the Author:Amy Lane is a mother of two grown kids, two half-grown kids, two small dogs, and half-a-clowder of cats. A compulsive knitter who writes because she can’t silence the voices in her head, she adores fur-babies, knitting socks, and hawt menz, and she dislikes moths, cat boxes, and knuckleheaded macspazzmatrons. She is rarely found cooking, cleaning, or doing domestic chores, but she has been known to knit up an emergency hat/blanket/pair of socks for any occasion whatsoever or sometimes for no reason at all. Her award-winning writing has three flavors: twisty-purple alternative universe, angsty-orange contemporary, and sunshine-yellow happy. By necessity, she has learned to type like the wind. She’s been married for twenty-five-plus years to her beloved Mate and still believes in Twu Wuv, with a capital Twu and a capital Wuv, and she doesn’t see any reason at all for that to change.

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Buy the book at Amazon or Dreamspinner Press.

Filed Under: Guest Blogs, Romance Tagged With: ,

The Hematophages by Stephen Kozeniewski

February 8, 2018 By Leave a Comment


The Hematophages by Stephen Kozeniewski
Publisher: Sinister Grin Press
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Horror, Action/Adventure
Length: Full Length (162 pages)
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Doctoral student Paige Ambroziak is a “station bunny” – she’s never set foot off the deep space outpost where she grew up. But when she’s offered a small fortune to join a clandestine salvage mission, she jumps at the chance to leave the cutthroat world of academia behind.

Paige is convinced she’s been enlisted to find the legendary Manifest Destiny, a long-lost colonization vessel from an era before the corporations ruled Earth and its colonies. Whatever she’s looking for, though, rests in the blood-like seas of a planet-sized organism called a fleshworld.

They study medical science subjects which includes cost viagra djpaulkom.tv neuroscience, anatomy and physiology. Never combine http://djpaulkom.tv/photos-throwback-thursday-featuring-dj-pauls-long-hair-and-hypnotize-minds-car/ levitra 20 mg these drugs with alcohol, nicotine, caffeine, cocaine and other stimulants to let them work well. It’s a great feeling, and I appreciate Allison’s sponsorship sample viagra for free djpaulkom.tv of our car this year. Many people online pharmacy cialis have developed negative ways of thinking, through a variety of experiences and sources. Dangers abound for Paige and her shipmates. Flying outside charted space means competing corporations can shoot them on sight rather than respect their salvage rights. The area is also crawling with pirates like the ghoulish skin-wrappers, known for murdering anyone they can’t extort.

But the greatest threat to Paige’s mission is the nauseating alien parasites which infest the fleshworld. These lamprey-like monstrosities are used to swimming freely in an ocean of blood, and will happily spill a new one from the veins of the outsiders who have tainted their home. In just a few short, bone-chilling hours Paige learns that there are no limits to the depravity and violence of the grotesque nightmares known as…THE HEMATOPHAGES.

There are no friendly aliens here.

I appreciated how much time Mr. Kozeniewski spent on the world building and character development before the plot sped up. Having such a detailed introduction to the strict, corporate-run society Paige grew up in made it easy for me to bond with her. Paige’s childhood had not been an easy one, but it had shaped her into a strong and self-reliant woman. I really enjoyed having such a deep understanding of how those early experiences shaped the person she became as an adult. They made her heroic acts later on in the plot even more exciting than they might have been for someone who didn’t have quite so much to lose.

My only piece of constructive criticism has to do with the plot twists. While I definitely enjoyed following Paige’s adventures, the fact that I could predict what would happen next so regularly did make me wish that I could have been surprised by what the characters experienced more often. It was a minor complaint about a tale that I otherwise had a great time reading, though.

Yes, there were many gory scenes in this book. It’s something that is to be expected when characters visit a planet that has oceans full of blood, after all. The violence served an important purpose to the plot, though, and I liked the way it was folded into what had been a much tamer adventure story in the beginning. I knew the characters so well at that point that I couldn’t stop reading until I’d found out what their fates were.

I’d recommend The Hematophages to anyone who is in the market for dark and violent science fiction.

Filed Under: Horror, Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , , ,

That Killer Smile by Juliet Lyons

February 8, 2018 By Leave a Comment

Long and Short Reviews welcomes Juliet Lyons who is celebrating the recent release of That Killer Smile, the third book in her Bite Nights series. Enter to win a copy of the first book in her Bite Nights series, Dating the Undead.

THERE WILL BE HEAT…
Vampire Catherine Adair gave up trying to find her perfect match ages ago. But that didn’t stop her from founding London’s super successful vampire dating site. When a smoldering vampire overlord from her past launches an interspecies speed-dating service, Catherine vows to crush the competition….

WHEN THESE TWO COMPETE
Ronin’s new venture is purely about getting Catherine’s attention. He hasn’t stopped thinking about her ever since the night she gave him the cold shoulder. Nobody gets away from Ronin McDermott that easily…

Enjoy an Excerpt

My first thought when I see the smashed lock is, How on earth did a burglar make it past Mrs. Colangelo?

I shove the door open and step inside. There, sitting—no lounging—in my Laura Ashley recliner and stroking Wentworth, is Ronin fuck weasel McDermott.

My eyes bulge as I absorb the preposterous scene of him sitting with my pet in his lap. He looks like an infuriatingly hot James Bond villain.

“Evening, Catherine,” he says with a nod of his head.

I glare into his intense blue eyes, fists clenching. “What the actual fuck are you doing in my apartment?”

He cocks a brow before rising from the chair, taking Wentworth with him. The latter stays snuggled under his arm, as docile as a newborn lamb.

Pointing at Wentworth, I hiss, “Did you glamour my cat?”

A cloud of confusion passes across his handsome features. “Why on God’s earth would I glamour a cat?”

Without missing a beat, I snap, “That’s what you do to get people to like you.”

He feigns an injured look before setting Wentworth down on the carpet. Then he reaches into his shirt pocket and pulls out a tiny object. It twinkles beneath the light. “You dropped this earring in my office. It must have fallen out when you kissed me.”

I snort in derision. “Ha! Yeah, I kissed you. Good one. And you came all the way here, broke in to my apartment just to return it to me?”

“I’ll get the lock fixed,” he says, placing the earring on the coffee table. “And I didn’t break in as such. One of your neighbors let me up.”

I shake my head. “Let me guess, an Italian lady in a robe?”

He smiles and I try not to notice how it softens the hard lines of his strong features, how his cool-blue eyes are suffused with warmth.

“There’s a chance she believes lover boy next door is bisexual.”

“What the hell did you tell her?” I ask, folding arms across my chest. The mention of Peter comes as a shock. Being in the same room as Ronin McDermott, I’ve already forgotten he exists.

“Nothing she didn’t secretly long to hear. So who is this guy anyway? Should I be jealous?”

My stomach flips, my mind skipping back to that moment in his office when I left him with a hard-on in the presence of Playboy bunnies. “Jealous?” I try to inject venom into my voice, but my heart isn’t in it. “Tell me, did you enjoy yourself with those girls the other afternoon?”

His brows knit. He looks genuinely flummoxed. “What girls?”

I toss my bag onto the sofa. “Meant that much to you, did they?”

He stays frozen to the spot, brows drawn. “Do you really think I care about other girls?”

His voice is low, as cracked as splintered glass. Suddenly, it seems as if all the oxygen has been sucked from the room. As I meet his burning gaze, it’s like the last couple of days—work, my date with Peter—never happened. I’m back in his office right before his lips landed on mine.

Except this time neither of us budge.

“You’re a sickness,” he says at last in that same fractured tone. “Don’t you see? A sickness in my veins.”

My brain sifts through responses at a hundred miles per hour, but my vocal chords remain frozen in my throat. I watch him like he’s a tiger, waiting for him to strike.

But he doesn’t pounce. He sighs instead, his jaw tightly clenched. “I’ve never wanted to upset you, Catherine. I’m sorry for what I did that night—biting you and giving you my venom. I shouldn’t have lost control like that.”

“No, you shouldn’t have,” I snap.

“I’ll be honest,” he continues. “I’d be lying if I said I didn’t start the speed-dating nights to get your attention. But I had no intention of ruining your business. In a way, it’s a compliment.”

My jaw drops in disbelief. “A compliment? Are you completely unhinged? Do you really have your head shoved so far up your ass that you don’t get why I can’t stand you?”

He shakes his head, holding out his hands, palms up. There’s desperation in his voice I’ve never heard from him before. “I’ve never once tried to play the ancient card with you. I never will, no matter how badly you piss me off.”

I stare at him, half believing he doesn’t have a clue, half-angry this is just another of his manipulative games.

“This isn’t about details. It’s about the bigger picture. One you’ve never bothered to try and get your arrogant head around. Who am I, Ronin?” The happiness the evening brought is leaking out of me faster than air from a burst balloon. To my horror, a sob escapes my throat. “What am I?”

“Is this one of those bizarre feminist questions?”

“For fucks sake, what am I? Answer me.”

His eyes flash in anger, but he doesn’t flinch. “A woman. A vampire. A neurotic shrew half the time.”

“A vampire,” I repeat, ignoring the last bit.

He looks utterly and completely blank.

“You have no idea. Do you?”

When he doesn’t answer, I open the busted door as wide as it will go and wave an arm toward it. “Goodbye, Ronin.”

If he wasn’t such a misogynistic playboy, I might experience a pang of guilt as I watch him skulk past me, defeated.

Outside he pauses, spinning around to face me. “I rang you,” he says. “Every day for a month after we slept together.”

“I know,” I whisper, staring at my Dolce & Gabbana boots. “I changed my telephone number on day three.”

He emits a short, hollow laugh, and when I look up, the hallway is completely empty. I hear the slam of a door as he exits the building onto the street.

About the Author: Juliet Lyons is a paranormal romance author from the UK. She writes kind-hearted heroes and snarky heroines with sass to spare. Her debut series ‘Bite Nights’ revolves around interspecies dating site V-Date.com. Expect lots of humour and lashings of steam as humans venture forth into the tight-knit London community of centuries old vampires and discover that dating the undead can be a risky business.

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter

Buy the book at Amazon.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
The question arises here is which supplement you cialis properien go to the store should choose. You buy levitra online shall then have a consultation where you can consider an opportunity like pharmaceutical medicines or the possibilities of natural hormone treatment. Past sexual practices, including masturbation, do not knowingly lead to impotence cipla cialis canada condition. With different changes in working standard and lifestyle there can be many reasons for it and at the same time, it is important to consult doctor to identify and correct tadalafil 20mg appalachianmagazine.com the main cause.

Filed Under: Guest Blogs, Romance Tagged With:

An Interview with Cal Cozzi by Joe Cosentino – Guest Blog

February 8, 2018 By Leave a Comment

Long and Short Reviews welcomes back Joe Cosentino who is celebrating the release of his newly-released audio book, Cozzi Cove: Bouncing Back, the first Cozzi Cove novel, performed by Chase Johnson, and published by NineStar Press.

An Interview with Cal Cozzi
the leading character in Cozzi Cove: Bouncing Back by Joe Cosentino

Hi Cal, since the readers can’t see you, please describe yourself.

I have Scottish and Italian ancestors, leaving me with red hair, green eyes, a Roman nose, and olive-colored skin. Since I was a professional football player, I work out every day at the gym in town, and running Cozzi Cove is pretty strenuous; I’m very muscular. My husband thinks I’m cute. I’m also really devoted to my family, and proud that my great-grandfather built Cozzi Cove. Finally, my guests each summer are really important to me, and I do everything I can to make them feel welcome.

What is Cozzi Cove?

It’s my gay resort of eight bungalows on the New Jersey Shore. I live in the main bungalow, and rent out the other seven on the cove every summer. The cove was formed when softer rocks were worn away by the sun and salty water faster than the harder rocks surrounding them. This created a bay of turquoise water shielded by large rocks in the distance and smaller rocks near the water’s edge. Summer renters at Cozzi Cove enjoy quiet and solitude in their own private Shangri-La with easy access to the nearby waves, surfing, boardwalk, restaurants, miniature golf, and shops. Each of the five novels (one not yet published) tell a story about my family, friends, renters that summer, and of course me. I get inside Joe’s head and tell him what to write.

Tell us about the characters in your popular series that, by the way, should be a television series.

I agree! There’s my husband Lance, who is a school teacher, and the love of my life. Connor, the college student assisting me, is packed with muscles and hormones. He revels in having flings at the cove, which he thinks I don’t know about. Tommy, the bald, muscular, tattooed bartender in town has held a torch for me since high school. Again, he thinks I know nothing about it. Carla Mangione, who runs Carla’s Seafood Restaurant, holds a similar torch for my sister, Taylor, who drops in from Rome, Paris, Wall Street, or Palm Springs. In the first novel, I meet Michael, a troubled young man, leading to a shocking conclusion. Each novel also includes the stories of my guests at Cozzi Cove that summer. For the first novel, that includes two sexy college students, a wealthy older couple, a gay porn star, a gay romance novelist, an out of work actor, and a computer game designer who insists he saw a merman on the cove.

The reviews have been very positive for the series. What do readers like most about their visits to your Cozzi Cove.

Meeting me. Kidding. Readers tell Joe they enjoy the catchy dialogue, lush setting, quirky characters, and lots of surprising plot twists and turns in the novels. Nothing is what it seems at first at Cozzi Cove. Anything is possible, and romance is always in the sea air. I hope everybody comes for a visit. I have a bungalow waiting just for you.

Now there’s an audio book version to add to the e-book and paperback of the first novel. How did it feel hearing your voice on the audio book of Cozzi Cove: Bouncing Back?

The audio book is performed by popular audio book performer Chase Johnson. Chase has an incredibly sexy, masculine voice, which is fits me to a T. He is also quite versatile in his character voices, and a very good actor. His diction is flawless, and his audiobooks are produced with fine equipment. Chase perfectly embodies my inner strength, honesty, and determination. When he reads the descriptions of Cozzi Cove, you feel as if you are lying on a gorgeous cove at the beach. He connects with each of the other people in my life as well in terms of their personalities, passions, and secrets. He also portrays the many humorous sections of the novel, keying into the timing and wit perfectly. I admit that I laughed out loud hearing some sections. He definitely has my blessing and then some. So, grab your Speedos, suntan lotion, and shades and head over to Cozzi Cove for a listen of a lifetime. I hope to see you there! And Joe loves hearing from readers. Please let him know all about your trip to the beach.

On Cozzi Cove at the New Jersey shore, handsome Cal Cozzi’s seven bungalows are open for summer and love. Mario and Harold are brothers and college students who happen to look alike, but couldn’t be more different: Mario is searching for love, and Harold is searching for lust. Josh and Greg, a wealthy older couple, are matchmakers for their son, Christopher. When it comes to Connor, the maid, packed with muscles and a roving sponge, anything can happen. Opposites attract as wild Tim with the secret past meets shy Mark, and porn star Chuck Caliber connects with Sean, a virgin romance novelist. And what will happen when computer-game designer Arthur has a midnight sea rendezvous with a merman? Even married Cal faces an emotional upheaval when a gay bashing turns into something quite unexpected. What secrets and passions lie in magical Cozzi Cove?

If family problems have been the cause of their current depression, counselors can likely recommend buy cheapest cialis some specific behaviors that can help people come to terms with it. Not to mention that you viagra sildenafil 100mg can leave behind the fear of pain during intercourse. Erection failure problem occurs where there unsatisfactory blood flow towards sildenafil online uk penile area of men. Now, alleviating the ill-effects of cheap viagra discount ED from the health has become simpler and easier with kamagra tablets. Praise for COZZI COVE: BOUNCING BACK: Book of the Month at The TBR Pile, Rainbow Award Honorable Mention, 3rd Place Best Fiction Book of 2016 on Urban Book Reviews

“I loved this story. It carries you through the full range of emotions, from joy to sadness, from happiness to anger. The characters are beautifully written….I look forward to a return visit to the Cove.” TBR Pile

“Heartbreaking and heartwarming, sweet beginnings for some, sour endings for others, emotions jumping off the page as you turn eagerly to read more, welcome to Cozzi Cove. The author measured his scales to perfection in delivering the perfect balance of love, laughter and tears in this sexy, fun filled holiday romance entwined with some sadness. Summer magic waved its wand at all who visited and stayed at Cozzi Cove and I was one of those who wanted to stay.” Three Books Over the Rainbow

“poignant and full of beautiful imagery. It’s one crazy mix of characters, all weird and wonderful in their own way…It made me laugh out loud, cry and want to snuggle up with someone I loved. I couldn’t have asked for more.” Divine Magazine

“In true Joe Cosentino style, this book is packed full of drama! This cast of characters will have you laughing out loud one minute before ripping your heart out the next.” Joyfully Jay

“Joe Cosentino has the amazing ability to combine heartwarming, feel good moments with droll, sometimes biting humor, along with insights into the frailties and peccadillos of being human.” “Cozzi Cove: Bouncing Back is the very finest in literary fiction with a romance theme, yet it’s more than just that—it’s about human connections and empathy and finding a way out of the fear and inertia faced by so many. It’s also about courage and strength, about respect and coming to terms with all that life has to offer, and it’s about letting go. I loved this book and look forward to the next in the series. This is a highly recommended read, well-deserving of Five Stars.” GGR Reviews

“Cosentino tells the stories of the guests and owners at Cozzi Cove as separate yet intertwining stories, a delivery style that’s genius. It’s a bit like watching segments unfold in soap opera fashion…While the story is rife with the humor and lighthearted romance I’ve come to associate with Joe Cosentino, it also addresses several serious topics associated with the gay community: homophobia, stereotyping and coming out.” 3 Chicks After Dark

“This book is extremely well written and all the stories are equally compelling and cleverly crafted. There are moments when, just as you think you know what’s going on, the truth emerges and turns out to be something quite different….Cal’s guests are an amusing and heart wrenching mixed bag of people, all of whom I found irresistible in their own way….So many wonderful, poignant and often funny stories are told here….It’s a real roller coaster of a ride that’s finished off perfectly as the guests spend their last day at Cozzi Cove then check out to move on with their lives.” OptimuMM Book Reviews
“Another brilliantly written book by this author. He makes you want to take your own vacation in Cozzi Cove. You could feel all the emotion and love flowing from the pages.” Books Laid Bare Boys

About the Author: Bestselling author Joe Cosentino wrote Cozzi Cove: Bouncing Back, Cozzi Cove: Moving Forward, Cozzi Cove: Stepping Out, and Cozzi Cove: New Beginnings (NineStar Press); Drama Queen, Drama Muscle, Drama Cruise, Drama Luau, Drama Detective Nicky and Noah mysteries (Lethe Press); In My Heart/An Infatuation & A Shooting Star, A Home for the Holidays, The Naked Prince and Other Tales from Fairyland (Dreamspinner Press); Paper Doll, Porcelain Doll, Satin Doll, China Doll, Rag Doll (The Wild Rose Press) Jana Lane mysteries.. He has appeared in principal acting roles in film, television, and theatre, opposite stars such as Bruce Willis, Rosie O’Donnell, Nathan Lane, Holland Taylor, and Jason Robards. Joe is currently Head of the Department/Professor at a college in upstate New York, and is happily married. He was voted 2nd Place for Favorite MM Author of the Year in Divine Magazine’s Readers’ Choice Awards for 2015, and his books have received numerous awards including Rainbow Award Honorable Mentions.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon Author Page

Buy the book at Amazon or Audible.

Filed Under: Erotic Romance, Guest Blogs

Married to Claim the Rancher’s Heir by Lauri Robinson

February 7, 2018 By 1 Comment


Married to Claim the Rancher’s Heir by Lauri Robinson
Publisher: Harlequin
Genre: Historical
Pages: Full length (288 pages)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Mistflower

To claim his heir…

…he must marry his enemy!

It seems every website is run by criminals who produce fakes made out of downtownsault.org on line levitra chalk, take your money, and disappear into the wild blue yonder. Kamagra is viagra sale launched by Ajanta pharma it is cheap and is available easily. The key ingredients used in its formulation include the following: Asparagus Adscendens (Safed musli), Saffron (Kesar), Asphaltum Punjabinum (Shudh Shilajit), Mucuna Pruriens (Kavach Beej), Caryophyllus Aromaticus (Long), Ferrum (Lauh Bhasma), Tamarix Articulata (Jhau), Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Mulethi), Gold Thread (Swarnapatra). look at here now online pharmacy levitra However, this somewhat viagra buy uk magical hormone is not free from side effects and they usually occur on account of overdose or individual sensitivity to drug.Common side effects:-1. Gabe Callaway is outraged when feisty Janette Parker lands on his doorstep with her orphaned niece—though he soon realizes little Ruby is heir to his ranch! If Janette wants money, he’ll pay her off to keep the little girl in her rightful place. But all Janette wants is Ruby… Will Gabe do whatever it takes to claim his heir—even marry Janette?

If you have not read a Lauri Robinson book then I don’t know what you are waiting for. This is my fifth one and apparently she’s written thirty four. Why didn’t I discover her books sooner? Better late than never.

Sometimes when you read multiple books by the same author they become monotonous. This can’t be said about Ms. Robinson’s novels. I’m flabbergasted at how the author has once again delivered a flawless writing style that articulated an eloquent and fluent plot. Married to Claim the Rancher’s Heir is another original work of art by Ms. Robinson filled with relatable characters and heartwarming drama that left me with unforgettable memories.

Gabe Callaway, the hero, was headstrong, handsome, and responsible with an endearing sensitive side that appeared on several occasions when he was around the heroine, Janet Parker.

Janet Parker was equally as headstrong, beautiful, and capable of taking care of herself. When Janet and Gabe were together it was fun to see who could outwit the other. I was thoroughly entertained when they were ultimately both outwitted by someone unexpected – a hilarious plot twist.

There’s so much more to this story than the synopsis alludes to. There is a tiny suspense story line involving Janet. I was riveted to the book well past my bed time. It was swoon worthy how Gabe became her protector.

I emphatically implore readers to read Married to Claim the Rancher’s Heir. I fell in love with Gabe and Janet and the epilogue sealed the deal.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , ,
« Previous Page
Next Page »