It Ain't Me, Babe(Hades Hangmen #1) by Tillie Cole

• Format: Kindle Edition
• Print Length: 466 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1499291019
• Publisher: Tillie Cole LTD (26 April 2014)
• ASIN: B00JZ5V744

Sinning never felt so good… 

A fortuitous encounter. 

A meeting that should never have happened. 

Many years ago, two children from completely different worlds forged a connection, a fateful connection, an unbreakable bond that would change their lives forever… 

Salome knows only one way to live—under Prophet David’s rule. In the commune she calls home, Salome knows nothing of life beyond her strict faith, nor of life beyond the Fence—the fence that cages her, keeps her trapped in an endless cycle of misery. A life she believes she is destined to always lead, until a horrific event sets her free. 

Fleeing the absolute safety of all she has ever known, Salome is thrust into the world outside, a frightening world full of uncertainty and sin; into the protective arms of a person she believed she would never see again. 

River ‘Styx’ Nash knows one thing for certain in life—he was born and bred to wear a cut. Raised in a turbulent world of sex, Harleys, and drugs, Styx, unexpectedly has the heavy burden of the Hades Hangmen gavel thrust upon him, and all at the ripe old age of twenty-six—much to his rivals’ delight. 

Haunted by a crushing speech impediment, Styx quickly learns to deal with his haters. Powerful fists, an iron jaw and the skillful use of his treasured German blade has earned him a fearsome reputation as a man not to be messed with in the shadowy world of outlaw MC’s. A reputation that successfully keeps most people far, far away. 
Styx has one rule in life—never let anyone get too close. It’s a plan that he has stuck to for years, that is, until a young woman is found injured on his lot… a woman who looks uncannily familiar, a woman who clearly does not belong in his world, yet a woman he feels reluctant to let go… 

Dark Contemporary Romance/New Adult Novel. 

Contains sexual situations, violence, sensitive and taboo subjects, offensive language and mature topics. Recommended for age 18 years and up* 

Cover:  I love the cover for this one.  A dark, gothic cover.  Really atmospheric and sexy at the same time.

I was reading reviews of Undeniable by Madeline Sheehan- as after reading it I was curious to see what others had made of it.  And this series kept popping up as a recommendation.
And I'm so glad I picked this one up.
The Hades Hangmen is a notorious Motorcycle Club, whose leader, Styxx, is infamous but he's never forgotten, when he was a kid, he met a young girl with wolf eyes, separated by a fence- but they still made a connection.  A girl he could speak to, despite his speech impediment.
He searched for her again.  But never found her.
Until years later, she turns up, gravely injured - unconscious on the steps of the MC clubhouse.
I loved this book.  I loved that it was dark, gritty but also quite romantic (which as we all know is necessary for me!)
The chemistry between Mae and Styxx was beautiful- I loved them from the very beginning.
Mae has risked her life to escape a cult, so has a lot to learn about being in the outside world.  Watching her try to take it all in was fun to read.
I loved how protective Styxx was of Mae- it might be old school, or cliche but I really do love that in my romance reads.
I couldn't put this one down- reading it in just over a day.
Recommend for fans of dark, graphic but romantic and sexy reads.
5/5 stars.

Read from February 14 to 15, 2015

W...W...W...Wednesday 29/04/2015

To play along, just answer the following 3 questions:

• What are you currently reading?

• What did you recently finish reading?

• What do you think you’ll read next?

I'm currently reading Paper Towns by John Green


I recently finished reading All I Ever Need Is You by Bella Andre



 I think my next will be Flowers in the Attix by V.C. Andrews

Teaser Tuesday 28/04/2015 'Paper Towns'

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

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
  Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teaser.

This week's teaser comes from page 114 of Paper Towns by John Green.






"Great," Ben said, rolling his eyes.  "Poetry."
"What's wrong with that?" I asked.
"Poetry is just so emo," he said, "Oh, the pain.  The pain.  It always rains.  In my soul."
"Yeah, I believe that's Shakespeare," I said dismissively."

Easy Love (Boudreaux #1) by Kristin Proby

• Format: Kindle Edition
• Print Length: 270 pages
• Publisher: Ampersand Publishing (3 Mar. 2015)
• Sold by: Amazon Media EU S.à r.l.
• ASIN: B00ROFITIE

Eli Boudreaux’s family has built ships and boats in Louisiana for generations. He comes from a hard working, wealthy family and his empire is growing by leaps and bounds. At thirty, he is the youngest CEO to ever head Bayou Enterprises, co-chairing with his eldest brother. His head for business and his no-nonsense work ethic is also quickly making him the best the company has seen in generations. His staff admires him, women adore him and Eli’s family is solid. But he’s recently discovered that someone on the inside of his business is stealing from him and he’s determined to find out who. 

Kate O’Shaughnessy is hired by companies all over the world to slip inside and investigate every member of the organization from the CEO down to the custodial staff to find the person or persons responsible for embezzling. She’s excellent at blending, becoming part of the team, and finding the weakest link. She’s smart, quick-witted, and she’s now been hired by Bayou Enterprises, specifically Eli Boudreaux. The attraction is immediate and the chemistry is off the charts, but Kate has heard all about Eli’s playboy past and she has a job to do. Sleeping with the boss isn’t a part of that job, even if just the sound of her name rolling off that Cajun tongue and the way he fills out a designer suit does make her sweat. 

Eli’s southern charms surprise Kate. The man whose reputation labels him as a ruthless, callous womanizer is not the man she’s coming to know intimately. He’s generous, protective and makes her smile. Cracking through Kate’s cool, reserved demeanor and discovering her love of sexy, expensive lingerie is a challenge Eli can’t resist, but her sweet nature, love of family and sense of humor pull at him in ways no one else ever has. 

But when the person responsible for trying to single-handedly dismantle Eli’s empire comes to light, and it’s time for Kate to move on, to what lengths will Eli go to keep the woman he he’s fallen in love with by his side?

After finishing Kristen Proby's In Seattle series earlier this year, I was worried I would get withdrawal symptoms.  So I was over the moon when I heard about her new series.  Another family saga.  Perfect!  I love series about members of a large family finding love.  Some of my favourite things to read.
And I loved Easy Love.
It's cute, simple, cheesy, romantic, hot and a fast faced read. 
Is it the most original plot ever?  No.
Is it a guilty pleasure read?  Yes it is.
But I loved it none the less.
Yes the attraction is instant, and not 100% believable but I didn't care.
Eli- southern gent with a dirty side.  And omg I loved him.
Kate- has been hurt before, can she risk putting herself out there again, particularly to a guy that says he doesn't do love or commitment.
I loved the chemistry and relationship between Eli and Kate.  Everything just worked for me.
One thing I would say.  Kate is brought into covertly investigate an employee stealing from Eli's family company.  When someone tries to, and nearly does, kill Kate, Eli says that this person will regret ever stepping foot in the company and making them pay.  But you literally hear nothing else about it.  What happened to them?!?!?!?!?  Go to prison, what?  You heard NOTHING about the whole reason Kate was there in the first place, and nearly died.
Ok.  Weird.
Other than that- perfection.
Look forward to seeing more of the Boudreaux family.
4/5 stars.

Read from March 11 to 12, 2015

Movie Thoughts: Disney's Cinderella 2015

I have been dying to get to the cinema to see this for weeks now, and finally I managed to get there.  Like many, I grew up watching Disney films, so to get a live action version of what I would consider one of my classic childhood films, was a huge deal.
And I loved this film.
It was a beautiful re-imagining of the original animated movie, whilst staying faithful to it.
The cinematography and settings were beautiful.  Colourful and vibrant.








I was surprised by how much comedy was in the movie, but it was a pleasant surprise.  I found myself roaring at some parts.  
The step sisters brought a lot of the humour- and they played their parts fantastically.  As did the step mother.  She was a great villain.  I loved to hate her.

The fairy godmother- I thought Helena Bonham Carter was an intereseting choice, but she was great.  Crazy, but great.  She made me smile, despite being vastly different to the original fairy godmother.

The romance- of course it's Disney, fairytale romance.  Cheesy but grin inducing.  Cinderella was sweet, almost saccharine and Prince Kit was charming and swoon worthy.  

The dress- and overall costume was fantastic.  Visually stunning.
I loved this film and I cannot wait to own the dvd.  It actually makes me think it is a perfect blend of the original animated Cinderella and the film, Ever After
5/5 stars.

Erin Recommends #2 - Adult Fiction

BLOGTOUR: The Liar by Nora Roberts

Hardcover: 512 pages
Publisher: Piatkus (16 April 2015)
ISBN-10: 0349403759
ISBN-13: 978-0349403755

When her husband Richard dies in a freak accident, Shelby Pomeroy is devastated. But his death reveals a horrible truth - Richard was a liar and a cheat. Now Shelby is left with the consequences - huge, terrifying debts and mounting proof that her late husband betrayed her in every conceivable way.

Heart-broken but unbowed, Shelby is determined to fix her problems - if only for the sake of her gorgeous little daughter Callie. Returning home to Tennessee and the family she thought she'd lost for ever, she discovers a new sense of strength and freedom. And hope, too, in the handsome form of carpenter Griffin Lott - a straight-dealing man who couldn't lie to her if he tried.

But not everyone is thrilled to see Shelby Pomeroy back in town. And when a shocking act of violence is traced back to Richard's shady business, it becomes clear that she is not safe from him, even in death. With her life in danger, Shelby must face the lies of the past - or lose everything.

When her husband Richard dies in a freak accident, Shelby Pomeroy is devastated. But his death reveals a horrible truth - Richard was a liar and a cheat. Now Shelby is left with the consequences - huge, terrifying debts and mounting proof that her late husband betrayed her in every conceivable way.

Heart-broken but unbowed, Shelby is determined to fix her problems - if only for the sake of her gorgeous little daughter Callie. Returning home to Tennessee and the family she thought she'd lost for ever, she discovers a new sense of strength and freedom. And hope, too, in the handsome form of carpenter Griffin Lott - a straight-dealing man who couldn't lie to her if he tried.

But not everyone is thrilled to see Shelby Pomeroy back in town. And when a shocking act of violence is traced back to Richard's shady business, it becomes clear that she is not safe from him, even in death. With her life in danger, Shelby must face the lies of the past - or lose everything.

Cover:  I really like the simplicity and colour scheme of this cover.  In person, it’s beautiful.

I’ve read a lot of Nora Roberts books.  They seem to be my go-to books when I don’t know what to read.
 I haven’t read many of her romantic thrillers, but the ones I have, I’ve really enjoyed.  The standout for me, being Whiskey Beach.
 The Liar sounded just as good, the synopsis drawing me in straight away- making it one of my most highly anticipated release of this year.
And…I really enjoyed it.
Shelby is such a strong character.  I really admired her, right from the get go.  Her husband dies, leaves her with a crippling debt along with the sinking realisation that their life and marriage was a sham, and possibly something more sinister.
But she just gets on with it, for the sake of her absolutely adorable young daughter, Callie.  Who was such a sweetheart- I loved her.

I really liked the suspense and mystery.  I can’t lie (ha ha), I guessed very early on what was happening- but it didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the book.  I was on edge, waiting and waiting, for someone else to reach the same conclusion that I did.

I loved the romance between Shelby and Griffin- sweet, sexy and perfect.

Seeing Griffin fall for both Shelby and Callie was just so cute.

Over all, it was a great, enjoyable read.

Whiskey Beach remains my favourite, and it is going to take a lot to beat it, in my eyes.

But, I would definitely recommend picking up The Liar, for all fans of Nora Roberts and romantic thrilers.

Read from February 22 to 26, 2015

W...W...W...Wednesday 22/04/2015

To play along, just answer the following 3 questions:

• What are you currently reading?

• What did you recently finish reading?

• What do you think you’ll read next?

I'm currently reading All I Ever Need Is You by Bella Andre

I recently finished reading Stinger by Mia Sheridan

I think my next read will be Paper Towns

His Billion Dollar Dilemma by Alexia Adams

• Format: Kindle Edition
• Print Length: 170 pages
• Publisher: Entangled: Indulgence (14 April 2015)
• ASIN: B00V38KAJO

Never judge a geek by her cover... 
Simon Lamont is an ice-cold corporate pirate. He buys companies, strips them of their assets, and moves on. With money. Lots and lots of money. But when he arrives in San Francisco to acquire a floundering company and is accosted by a cute engineer with fire in her eyes, it takes all Simon has to maintain his legendary cool. 
Helen Winston has mastered hiding behind geeky clothes and an obsessive dedication to her job. So what’s with her desire for the arrogant—and sexy as sin—Simon Lamont? He may have only been wearing a towel when they met, but he’s planning to destroy her company, and Helen will do whatever it takes to change his mind. If that means becoming the sexy woman Simon didn't know he wanted, so be it. If only she wasn’t about to walk into her own trap...

Cover:  Simple but kind of elegant cover.

I went in to this book with limited expectations.  I was looking for a quick, easy read.
And it was that.
But I actually found myself hooked, and invested in the romance very early on.
Yes- it was extremely cheesy.  Almost old school Harlequin.
But- I really enjoyed it.
Simon is looking to take over and break up (think Richard Gere in Pretty Woman) the company that Helen works for.
Helen decides to take a stand and fight for her colleagues jobs.  But find herself conflicted when she starts falling for Simon.
Simon is taken back by the feisty geek.  He's hooked by her.
Great little romance read for those looking for a light fix of some cheesy but satisfying romance.
4/5 stars.

Read from April 06 to 08, 2015

#FridayReads 18/04/2015

Booking Through Thursday 16/04/2015

Booking Through Thursday is a weekly meme hosted by Booking Through Thursday and a different question is posted every week.

I'm terrible.  I admit it.
I buy a lot of books.  I collect them.
So I have more books on my shelves unread than read.  Not through not reading though- I contantly have a book on the go.  In my bag.
I'd estimate 75% unread, 25% read.  I buy more books quicker than I can read the books already on my shelves.
Nooooo idea where to begin to tell you how many books on there- read or unread.

W...W...W...Wednesday 15/04/2015

To play along, just answer the following 3 questions:

• What are you currently reading?

• What did you recently finish reading?

• What do you think you’ll read next?

I recently finished reading His Billion Dollar Dilemma by Alexia Adams

My current read is Stinger by Mia Sheridan

I think my next read will be All I Ever Need Is You by Bella Andre

Teaser Tuesday 14/04/2015 'Stinger'

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

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
  Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teaser.

This week's teaser comes from the 23% mark.

""Remember how you told me to take the hot porn star I mentioned up to my room and let him teach me a few tricks?  Well, I did.  Only we went to his room.  And he did.  Teach me some stuff.  Some really great, amazing, stuff I nev-"

"WHAT?"  Abby screamed so loudly that I had to told the phone away from my ear."

On My Kindle #21 - 13/04/2015

Instead of cluttering up my Book Haul/IMM's with books for my Kindle, I've decided to do a separate post,  hosted by Totally Bookalicious.



I've been pretty lax with 'On My Kindle' posts lately.  And by Lately, I mean the last post that went up was July 2013.  I'm hoping to get into some kind of routine with the Kindle posts.  Possibly monthly, as with my Book Haul/In My Mailbox posts.

Purchased

Purchased

Purchased

Purchased

Received for review via NetGalley

Received for review via NetGalley

   

The Incredible Callaway Blog Tour - The Week's Wrap Up

Well The Incredible Callaway Blog Tour has come to an end.
I have been posting content all week, and in case you missed it, here is a break down and link to all the posts on the blog- and be sure to enter the fantastic giveaway if you haven't already!!

Monday- Day 1: Character Cast and Review

Tuesday- Day 2: On a Night Like This Excerpt #1

Wednesday- Day 3: Author Interview with Barbara Freethy

Thursday- Day 4: Guest post from Barbara Freethy

Friday- Day 5: Review of On a Night Like This

Saturday- Day 6: On a Night Like This Excerpt #2

Sunday- Day 7: Barbara Freethy on Writing & Review of So This Is Love

About the Callaway Blog Tour & All Its Great Prizes!

This is the week you finally meet the Callaways! Not only are they all over the web as part of their extraordinary blog tour, but they are also out and about in your neighborhood. That's right; we're celebrating the print launch with Ingram by throwing a party all over the world! Make sure to follow this tour closely for your chance to win gift cards, swag, autographed books, and other incredible prizes.

All the info you need to join the fun and enter to win amazing prizes is RIGHT HERE. Remember, winning is as easy as clicking a button or leaving a blog comment—easy to enter; easy to win!

To Win the Prizes:

1. Purchase any of the Callaway novels by Barbara Freethy (optional)
2. Enter the Rafflecopter contest on Novel Publicity (go here)
3. Visit today’s featured social media event (that's where the HUGE prizes are)

About The Callaways: The Callaways were born to serve and protect! In Barbara’s new connected family series, each of the eight siblings in this blended Irish-American family find love, mystery and adventure, often where they least expect it! Each book stands alone, but for the full enjoyment of the series, you might want to start at the beginning with On A Night Like This! Get the eBooks via Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, or Kobo.

About the Author: Barbara Freethy has been making up stories most of her life. Growing up in a neighborhood with only boys and a big brother who was usually trying to ditch her, she spent a lot of time reading. When she wasn’t reading, she was imagining her own books. After college and several years in the P.R. field, she decided to try her hand at a novel. Now Barbara is a #1 New York Times and USA Today bestselling author loved by readers all over the world. Her novels range from contemporary romance to romantic suspense and women's fiction. Learn more on her website, Facebook page, or in her Street Team.

The Incredible Callaway Blog Tour - Reader Interview with Barbara Freethy

#1 NY Times Bestselling Author Barbara Freethy talks inspiration, romance, and research, plus tells us about how the Callaways' lives resemble her own… Check out what she has to say then Read on for more information about this blog tour and all its great prizes!

What do you love most about being an author?

Being able to tell stories! I've been a voracious reader since I was a child, and having a job that allows me to create my own worlds, characters and plots is a dream come true.

What first inspired you to write the Callaways? Where did you get the initial idea for the series?

I had wanted to write a family series for a while, and I wanted the family to be blended, just to make the dynamics a little more interesting. Jack Callaway was a widower with four small boys when he met Lynda Kane, a divorcee with two small girls. They fell in love, got married and had twins. The eight siblings are now adults and range in age between 35 and 25. I also wanted the Callaways to stand for something. So there's a family tradition of "serve and protect". All the kids are raised with the idea that they need to serve the community, to help others and to always protect the family as well as anyone else in trouble. And the Callaways always seem to find trouble, even when they're not looking for it.

Which of the Callaway siblings is the most like you? How are the two of you similar?

There is a piece of me in every character that I write, which makes it impossible for me to ever pick a favorite. I do like Emma a lot, because she's the one person in the family who has a close relationship with every sibling. She's also independent, brave and loving, which are all great traits.

Your characters all have such fascinating jobs, and, in reading your novels, it feels like I'm right there with them. How do you perform your research in order to make careers such as a smoke jumper, homicide detective, or Coast Guard rescue pilot so authentic?

I've read quite a few nonfiction books and articles written by smoke jumpers, firefighters, cops, etc. And I have a writer friend who is also a police detective, so I often ask her for help with the more technical aspects. But what's really fun about writing is discovering new things—so I love to write about people in careers I don't know that much about. In THAT SUMMER NIGHT, one of the characters is tied into the pharmaceutical industry, and I had never written a book that delved into that area. I found some of the true whistleblower stories that I read in preparation for writing that book to be fascinating. I think enjoying research is probably a big part of being a successful writer. I was born with a curiosity and an imagination. Writing is a great outlet!

The Callaways all have such beautiful, unique love stories. How do you get in the mindset for writing them? Are any of their stories inspired, at least in part, by your own real-life love story?

I have a wonderful husband who always takes credit for being my inspiration. And while that's true, as a writer I do love to explore stories beyond my own personal experience. I like to bring together couples who complement each other but also drive each other a little crazy. I think love is about finding that one person who pushes you to be better, who challenges the way you think, supports you no matter what and gives you that heady, dizzy, wonderful feeling that comes when you fall in love.

I love that your novels are not only awesome romances but also have gripping suspense as a central part of the story line. How do you start planning your novels with the romance or with the suspense—or with something else altogether?

I enjoy writing romance that brings a little extra in terms of a plot. So every Callaway novel features a great love story, a puzzling mystery, some family drama and a little nerve-tingling suspense. I don't outline in great detail, but I always have a general idea of the suspense plot points before I begin. The story takes shape and changes as I put myself into the characters' heads. That's part of the fun of writing!

Congrats on your groundbreaking, new partnership with Ingram to get the paperback editions of the Callaways out to the world. What about this opportunity has you most excited?

Since I formed my own publishing company and began independently publishing my books outside of the traditional New York publishing industry, it's been a challenge to get my books into print and into physical bookstores across the country. Late last year, I entered into a groundbreaking partnership with Ingram Publisher Services to sell and distribute my books into retail outlets like Target, Barnes and Noble, airport bookstores and supermarkets, as well as other bookstore chains. I know there are lots of readers who still prefer to read in print, and I'm thrilled that they'll now be able to read my bestselling digital series in their favorite format!

About the Callaway Blog Tour & All Its Great Prizes!

This is the week you finally meet the Callaways! Not only are they all over the web as part of their extraordinary blog tour, but they are also out and about in your neighborhood. That's right; we're celebrating the print launch with Ingram by throwing a party all over the world! Make sure to follow this tour closely for your chance to win gift cards, swag, autographed books, and other incredible prizes.

All the info you need to join the fun and enter to win amazing prizes is RIGHT HERE. Remember, winning is as easy as clicking a button or leaving a blog comment—easy to enter; easy to win!

To Win the Prizes:

1. Purchase any of the Callaway novels by Barbara Freethy (optional)
2. Enter the Rafflecopter contest on Novel Publicity (go here)
3. Visit today’s featured social media event (that's where the HUGE prizes are)

About The Callaways: The Callaways were born to serve and protect! In Barbara’s new connected family series, each of the eight siblings in this blended Irish-American family find love, mystery and adventure, often where they least expect it! Each book stands alone, but for the full enjoyment of the series, you might want to start at the beginning with On A Night Like This! Get the eBooks via Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, or Kobo.

About the Author: Barbara Freethy has been making up stories most of her life. Growing up in a neighborhood with only boys and a big brother who was usually trying to ditch her, she spent a lot of time reading. When she wasn’t reading, she was imagining her own books. After college and several years in the P.R. field, she decided to try her hand at a novel. Now Barbara is a #1 New York Times and USA Today bestselling author loved by readers all over the world. Her novels range from contemporary romance to romantic suspense and women's fiction. Learn more on her website, Facebook page, or in her Street Team.