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| 1101625767
| 9781101625767
| B00BF08CP4
| 4.04
| 4,785
| Mar 2014
| Mar 04, 2014
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really liked it
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[image]
ORIGINAL POST, March 30, 2014 at Fangs, Wands and Fairy Dust: http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201... THEIRS TO CHERISH: When is Consent Wi [image] ORIGINAL POST, March 30, 2014 at Fangs, Wands and Fairy Dust: http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201... THEIRS TO CHERISH: When is Consent Withdrawn? Disclosure: Uncorrected Galley provided by publisher via NetGalley for review purposes. No remuneration was exchanged and all opinion presented herein is my own, unless otherwise noted. Even though I couldn’t put this book down and was driven from page to page by the suspense and hot hook-ups, I found myself constantly questioning issues around consent. Look, I am so vanilla that even French Vanilla is sexy in comparison just by virtue of being French, and because of those naughty flecks, so try as I might I am never going to fully understand subspace, or even domme-space. In my mind, regardless of whether a submissive chats with you and removes your collar or if she just removes it and leaves because she thinks you want to kill her, or if she withdraws consent, then you are no longer her Dom. Period. You want to help her out of a jam? Lovely, but your wants are not her problem. When the person says “no” outside of a scene, or uses their safe word, it means “no.” No more. When you take that away, you change the game dangerously. You’ve removed consensual from the equation, negating safe and sane. (view spoiler)[ Now, if you have granted the authority to punish her to someone else then doubly your privileges as her dom are vacated. If someone thinks their Dom wants to kill them should she really stick around to chat about it? If she have a history of watching people get hurt, or hurting them, and if the Dom has never declared his intentions, or affections, and she leaves, well fv@k him and the flogger he rode in on. If she wants to walk into traffic and get her ass run over, well, that’s sad, but he are no longer her Dom and have no control over her. She ended the relationship — case closed. (hide spoiler)] As I said though, and possibly at least partially due to this controversy, I found this story gripping and and tantalizing. The BDSM aspect is not heavy, but neither is it a couple experimenting for a lark. The people are committed to BDSM and they do like their clothespins. Callie’s character is not typical, and she is very sympathetic, resourceful, resigned. Sean, well he isn’t too typical; he’s a sensitive new age dom. Thorpe is a little more two-dimensional; he has interesting hang-ups though — he needed a little therapy. The secondary characters are sometimes cartoonishly fetished out and muscly. How they pull it together and in fact how they pull all their behinds out of the giant sling in which they end up in is interesting, maybe a little naive, but still compelling. There are plenty of red herrings, enough to enjoy a red herring salad. The important object in the story is foreshadowed and forecast in the first few pages if you read observantly but the mystery is not complete solved there. And the ending is inventive and unusual. Maybe a bit too pat. All together, the story is not overly obvious or predictable. It is well-written, well-enough edited and nothing stood out as glaringly discontinuous. The upshot is that this was unusual story with hot and well written intimacy. The characters are mixed in the depth of sketching and in their degree of uniqueness. My big issue had to do with consent. That’s why it was a guilty pleasure I could not put down — I didn’t think I should be enjoying it but I was. ...more |
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not set
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Mar 24, 2014
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Mar 29, 2014
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Kindle Edition
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| 0804178887
| 9780804178884
| B00EMXC022
| 4.08
| 2,479
| Jan 28, 2014
| Feb 10, 2014
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really liked it
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Original Post on March 23, 2014 at http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201... IS LOVE THIS HARD? E-Galley provided by publisher via Net Galley for review. Original Post on March 23, 2014 at http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201... IS LOVE THIS HARD? E-Galley provided by publisher via Net Galley for review. No remuneration was exchanged and all opinions presented herein are my own except when otherwise noted. This story delves unrelentingly into the emotional, painful journey, of the male and female love interests. I think Stacey Kennedy does a great job working her way into her characters’ heads and sharing the thoughts. I did find her discussion of the dominant guys being naturally dominant outside the lifestyle interesting. I seem to remember reading that subs are often tired of having to make decisions and as submissives they can actually relax, but I guess Doms, and maybe Dommes thrive on that. But I have also read about subs who are control freaks everywhere else. You probably can’t identify people as submissive or dominant just from their jobs or life outside the dungeon. The love story is complicated by Aiden’s grief for his late wife or fiancee (I’m not sure). Cora is in love with him and knows he loves here but that he is not willing to give up mourning. You can’t mourn and move on simultaneously; maybe mourning gets you too moving on. There’s a lot of angsting about the relationship on both sides. If only people would communicate! But then again, Cora is worried she’ll lose their connection if she does tell him. She could be right and given the nature of the relationship she could lose him by being honest. And, yikes, at times it seems like Aiden is a dolt for not seeing the obvious. I found myself thinking, is love really this hard? I don’t recall it being this hard after high school. I’ve been married for 31 years, and I can’t say we haven’t had our moments, (Grrr!) but it hasn’t seemed as hard as romance books make it out to be. What do you think? Other than some issues that have more to do with the editing than the writing (misuse of words, ex., there’s for theirs, continuity, verb tense confusion, and a little head hopping), I thought the story was pretty good. I was able to confirm the typos and other editing errors with another reader. For an erotic romance centered on a BDSM club there is not a huge amount of sex or “play.” There’s nothing too terribly, terribly kinky (or I am really, really inured). It really is centered on the story and the characters. I did feel the ending was rushed and kind of unrealistic given the circumstances. But, that is almost a given in the genre. The climax and resolution have a tendency to happen quickly, often culminating in the bedroom for one last romp. Even with some serious editing having to happen in my brain, this was a pretty good read. I was interested in the characters and their dilemmas and really wanted to see how it all worked out. ...more |
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not set
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Mar 14, 2014
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Mar 23, 2014
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Kindle Edition
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| 0425259773
| 9780425259771
| 0425259773
| 4.02
| 5,060
| Mar 25, 2014
| Mar 25, 2014
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it was amazing
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Original Post March 17, 2013: http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201... Where the Wind Comes Sweeping Down the Plains! HOPE IGNITES E-Galley provided by Original Post March 17, 2013: http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201... Where the Wind Comes Sweeping Down the Plains! HOPE IGNITES E-Galley provided by publisher via Net Galley. No remuneration was exchanged and except as noted all opinions presented herein are my own. This is the second book I’ve read by Jaci Burton – begun about three minutes after I finished the first in this series, HOPE FLAMES (Review) Here’s my favorite book quote so far this year. It gave me more than enough reason to love Des, the female love interest, and the book: “Des figured he must have PMS — penis malfunction syndrome. Because he was acting like a dick.” But there is so much more to love. Once again Burton comes through with a great female character in the form of Desiree Jenkins. Honest, able to see people’s faults and still like or love them, but unwilling to be a doormat. And that’s a good thing for Logan, who like his brother Luke in the first book, has a hefty oversized piece of emotional baggage weighing him down. Where Des is open to all kinds of experiences, Logan is not open to anything new or different. If it isn’t about the ranch, it is not about him. It’s an intensively protective piece o luggage — like a Pelikan case or Halliburton Zero bag. Enough of the baggage analogy already. Logan’s life, his choice to be a rancher is one giant chip on his shoulder. It’s as if he needs to defend his lifestyle and his world is so tightly structured that he can’t possibly conceive that a woman could share his love of the land and still have a life outside the ranch. He’s really a bit of an asshat (as the quote I chose demonstrates). It’s ironic that the movie star who mocved around her whole childhood, is more grounded and better adjusted than the rancher who has stayed at home (on the range). It’s kind of a turn around from what we see in the daily new and gossip. Jaci really demonstrates her mastery of the genre in this as much as in the first book. She uses a lot of humor even mentioning, tongue in cheek, the cinematically iconic Oklahoman wind sweeping down the plain. Again, as in Hope Flames, the first book in the series, there is plenty of hot, passionate and sweaty sex but it is all pretty much vanilla. The plot is pretty obvious. There’s no HUGE danger other than a super creepy director I kept seeing in my mind as James Lipton. Weird that he is the only character for whom I got a visual and I have no idea why my mind picked him. There was a continuity error in regards to Desiree’s family, about which I have a question into the publisher. I have not heard back. I loved this book, it was just so welcoming, with a lot of heat. It does go into some areas that make Logan uncomfortable but you can just sit back and watch him squirm as e comes to rips with learning about love. HIGHLY RECOMMEND! ...more |
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not set
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Mar 10, 2014
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Mar 17, 2014
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Paperback
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| 0425259765
| 9780425259764
| 0425259765
| 3.84
| 8,136
| Jan 01, 2013
| Jan 07, 2014
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it was amazing
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ORIGINAL POST: http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201... March 15, 2013 HOPE FLAMES: WHAT BAGGAGE DO YOU CARRY THROUGH LIFE E-Galley provided by publishe ORIGINAL POST: http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201... March 15, 2013 HOPE FLAMES: WHAT BAGGAGE DO YOU CARRY THROUGH LIFE E-Galley provided by publisher via Net Galley. No remuneration was exchanged and except as noted all opinions presented herein are my own. Confession time: I don’t think I ever read anything by Jaci Burton before this book. I’m not sure how that came to be, but her sports series gets raves so when I was invited to read this on Net Galley I decided to go for it. I am so glad I did. This is just great contemporary romance. I couldn’t put it down. Luke and Emma make one hot couple and I didn’t feel a single line, moment or move was untrue. Even though Jaci has to apply some hyperbole to make a point it all works within the context of the book. Characters: Emma is a very committed veterinarian. Like many of us, she put her dreams on hold because of a relationship. It turned out to be a bad relationship. We get a lot of hints about how bad it was but it’s murky until she decides to come clean with Luke. Emma has enough idiosyncrasies that make her a unique and likable character: loves baseball, is aware of her mother’s quirky personality and avoids conflict but is still open and loving with her mother and able to really hear when she makes a good suggestion. Luke is one of the hot brothers the first two books are centered on. His issues with his mother were highlighted and oddly, I read another book this week where a male character had emotional issues due to maternal abandonment. Luke was raised on a ranch but became a cop — being a rancher just wasn’t for him When he and Emma first end up at the ranch to meet his brother, I thought “Oh, here we go with some kinky stuff.” But, nope. He was just showing her part of his life. Sexy Times: There’s no shortage of hot, passionate hook ups. Neither character is inhibited; the sex is straight vanilla but occurs inside, and outside and in a lot of rooms. The relationship is fabulous to watch because of the dance the couple does around each other, but the hook-ups make the book extra yummy. Location: Hope is a small town in Oklahoma (I’m pretty sure it’s OK). It’s one of those great Shangri-Las of a town, it probably doesn’t exist but, oh, if it did! I loved the feel of the town; Jaci gives it real, contemporary crime, so it’s not utopia, but it sounds lovely. Plots and Story: It’s a contemporary romance with a thriller aspect. Except for a couple of surprises in how the story plays out, unless this is the first contemporary romance you’ve read, you’ll know where its heading. And, it’s okay to know that: the romance, heat and that baggage all make for an interesting story. The stasis is that both characters have a way they see their lives going and meeting each other throws those plans out of whack. Both have stuff to recuperate from. There’s also a couple of storylines that put each character in danger. As they expand and culminate the baggage from her past collides in a big way with the way they are conducting their relationship. SEMI-SPOILERISH: (view spoiler)[ So her baggage is an abusive ex-boyfriend who, while she has recovered to be able to function and she she’s back on track with her goals but she is continuing to allow that relationship to color how she moves forward. She has filled her life to the point where she thinks having relationships will get in the way. This past comes back to haunt them more than metaphorically proving that she has allowed it to be the driving force in her life. In short, her ex is still controlling her. (hide spoiler)] He had a mom who didn’t want to live on a ranch and who didn’t want kids really. She abandoned them emotionally, before she even left. He also married a woman who was really similar to his mom. This is his baggage. He thinks no relationship with a woman could work out. They’ve both built their lives with all this baggage pretty well; they function perfectly for the most part. Most of us have learned to function despite or because of our pasts. Well, sometimes you get on one flight and your luggage gets on another. You get to your destination and you have to start over with new clothes and toiletries. Wouldn’t it be great if we could just lose our emotional baggage in transit? It usually catches up to you but in the meantime, you have learned something. In recognizing that the baggage is just extra weight your carrying through life, you have the chance to pack lighter. What baggage are you carrying that slows you down and holds you back? Jaci Burton has really mastered the contemporary romance. Hell, I wanted to move to Hope; it sounds like a great small town (I also wanted to shed 25 years and look much hotter)! If you like erotic romance with a great emotional component and a little danger, then this is a great new series to try! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND HOPE FLAMES! Tomorrow I look at the next book in the series, HOPE IGNITES! ...more |
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not set
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Mar 07, 2014
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Mar 16, 2014
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Mass Market Paperback
| ||||||||||||||
| 0345547284
| 9780345547286
| B00DXKHIIQ
| 3.87
| 1,018
| Jan 14, 2014
| Jan 14, 2014
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liked it
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ORIGINAL POST March 13, 2013 AT: http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201... KISS OF LIES by Bronwen Evans: Is True Love Blind? Disclosure: Book provided b ORIGINAL POST March 13, 2013 AT: http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201... KISS OF LIES by Bronwen Evans: Is True Love Blind? Disclosure: Book provided by author or publisher for review purposes. No remuneration was exchanged and all opinions presented herein are my own except as noted. I tore through KISS OF LIES; I had to know what would happen next in this complicated and suspenseful plot. But, even with a compelling story, I felt the writing in this book was uneven. Sometimes it was fine, but I found my self snorting through several of the love scenes. I also thought there was a little too much “telling. What I did like is the way the heroine, Sarah, falls for the hero, Christian, despite his scars — it’s touching and noble without being condescending. She falls for him because of his character, and the beauty he still possesses despite his tragic burns. She isn’t ignoring them, but she doesn’t think he’s less because of them. That’s a lovely sentiment. At the beginning she says that beauty is fleeting and intelligence is more important, but the character goes on to walk the walk as she falls in love with the hero.We live in a culture where we say that inner beauty is what counts but then we glorify appearance. But a pretty or handsome face opens doors and I see “pretty” women with “handsome” men, or rich ones. It seems the way of the world. Do you think love is truly blind or does it overcome certain types of atypical appearance? I had to remember that the character of Christian feels he has a violent streak, and he certainly has a tendency to act irrationally and out of proportion to the offense. Without this understanding, his reactions did seem out of proportion. But, it is helpful to remember that the character is drawn with a temper he worries about. He also has some very good friends who stick by each other and are all in a pickle — that’s what ties the series together. And they will need to stick together to overcome the threat in the rest of the series. This gets a “cautious recommend” for nobility of sentiment and complex plotting. ...more |
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1
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not set
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Mar 04, 2014
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Mar 13, 2014
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ebook
| ||||||||||||||
| 1101629819
| 9781101629819
| B00GAH3U86
| 4.22
| 1,958
| Mar 04, 2014
| Mar 04, 2014
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really liked it
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ORIGINAL POST MARCH 12, 2014: http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201... NEED YOU TONIGHT by Roni Loren: Some Thoughts: with Author Interview & Giveaway ORIGINAL POST MARCH 12, 2014: http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201... NEED YOU TONIGHT by Roni Loren: Some Thoughts: with Author Interview & Giveaway (see link, above) Re-Posted here by request of author/representative Disclosure: Book provided by author or publisher for review purposes. No remuneration was exchanged and all opinions presented herein are my own except as noted. Interview questions were answered by author Roni Loren. This is the third book I’ve read in Roni Loren’s LOVING ON THE EDGE series (see below for review links). It is definitely erotic suspense with a scary component to each story. I have always liked how Loren gets into the mind set of each woman or man to understand what makes them tick, and the role of their sexuality in their lives. If it is repressed I think it affects one very negatively. That being said, this is not my favorite in the series. It’s totally subjective, but I didn’t like any of the three main characters really, not even the more sympathetic ones. I thought the characters felt dated and unrealistic, and I felt Kade brought Tessa into too many situations blindly, something I don’t like in a BDSM scenario. The action in the story is exciting though, there’s a real sense of danger and I had real antipathy for the bad guy. He reminded me of someone I went to school with. Anyway, I had a chance to ask Roni some questions about the book and some of my issues with it. One of the things I like about Roni is the way she writes her stories subtly, with almost imperceptible plot layers. For some writers that requires extensive outlining and for others it is a seat of the pants thing. It’s fascinating to know which way the author you are reading goes. Are they incredibly methodical, with outlines and character story boards, or do they just sit down and start writing? I also ask about the sexual fulfillment I mention above, and ask why BDSM. Plus, it can be really hard to see the line between what makes BDSM a lifestyle and not abuse. I always want to know more about that difference. And, then, a bit like Joey W. Hill, Roni mentions a certain device Kade uses on Tess. Often Joey’s devices are pure fantasy; are Roni’s? Me: Roni, Welcome to my cyber-lair. This is where I grill authors on their deepest, darkest secrets. ((winks)) Thank you for visiting with us today. Your plots layer almost imperceptibly - do you do a lot of planning/outlining or are you a “pantser?” Roni: Thank you. Glad the plots work, lol. I’m about 95% pantser. Before I start writing a book, I have a one-page summary (similar to back cover copy) and I do what’s called a beat sheet, which is a screenwriting technique that hits 15 major points in a story. But the book almost always ends up different from that rough plan. Really the only thing I have to have before I start writing a book is a good handle on the characters and their backstory since I’m a character-driven writer. Then I let them lead me. Me. At one point Kade talks about owning and celebrating one’s sexual response – is this one of your messages? Roni: Yes, I had a writer friend tell me that all my books have themes of healing and self-acceptance. Of course, I had no idea that these are the themes I’m always playing with, but sure enough, she’s right, lol. And when it comes to the bedroom stuff, I’m of the mind that people have the right to like and enjoy what they like and as long as everyone is consenting and of age. Life’s too short not to embrace that part of yourself—even if it doesn’t fit into a neat box of what’s standard in society. Me: Can you tell us about what it is that makes you write erotic/BDSM romance? Are you interested in the differences between the sexually repressive way most of us are raised and how your characters own and celebrate their sexuality? The should and should not? Roni: I love writing the sexy stuff because it means I don’t have a lot of boundaries to worry about. Like hmm, can I use this word or is this too out there or whatever. I like the freedom of it. And the BDSM I like because the power dynamic is an interesting one to write. And yes, I was a Catholic school girl, so I’m familiar with repression, lol. Maybe that’s why I write a lot of heroines who are breaking out of that good girl/proper role. There’s a lot of I-am-woman-hear-me-roar in it even if the woman is finding out she’s submissive—claiming that right to relish and celebrate her sexuality is an empowering experience. Also, the guys have societal stuff to overcome too. Good, proper men shouldn’t want to hit a woman, they shouldn’t want to treat them as anything but equals, right? So a decent guy might have a journey to make to come to terms with being dominant as well. Me: It seems like part of the book is about the difference between the emotional abuse in Tessa’s marriage and humiliating forms of BDSM (so called in the BDSM community – I have read) like being called a slut and submitting to other forms of slavery like crawling. Why is it okay to take her down a notch verbally in a scene but abuse when her ex does it? Can you explain the difference in the two forms of relationship when both deal with similar language? I ask because Tessa had no contract or real preparation from Kade about what the relationship would entail. Roni: The difference is consent and intent. Abuse is done to someone without their consent; BDSM is between people who have made an agreement to play these roles. And no, Tessa didn’t have a formal contract, but she had safewords. So if Kade told her to do something—like crawl—that she didn’t want to do, she could safe out and he would stop immediately and not hold it against her. Everything doesn’t have to be written out all the time because often with my couples, they don’t exactly know where there lines are yet because one of them is inexperienced. Also, things that can sound unappealing to someone outside the bedroom—like a humiliating word like slut—can feel very different in the midst of a scene with someone you trust. It plays with the forbidden, which can be a turn on for some. In BDSM, slut can be a form of endearment. But that same person who might let their dom call them that behind closed doors would punch a guy out if he called her that in some other context. Same reason that having your lover tie you down for sex is different from having a rapist do it. Consent and context changes it all. Me: On page 245 What is the name of the type of ring that Kade attaches to Tessa’s clitoris? Roni: It’s a clit clip, which can be used in place of a piercing, similar to the ones here: https://underthehoode.3dcartstores.co... Thanks for the interview. These questions made me think! : ) ME: Thanks for the candid and honest responses. That link is very interesting! ...more |
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1
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not set
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Feb 06, 2014
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Mar 12, 2014
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ebook
| ||||||||||||||
| 1463751249
| 9781463751241
| 1463751249
| 4.21
| 1,829
| Aug 05, 2011
| Aug 05, 2011
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liked it
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Blogger Purchase A Lot of Testosterone in One Book Adapted from Original Post: http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201... There were a lot of women standin Blogger Purchase A Lot of Testosterone in One Book Adapted from Original Post: http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201... There were a lot of women standing in line for these MacKenzie boys at Authors After Dark, so I thought I should buy one. After reading the stories I can say that they are erotic romance leaning towards the erotic but with interesting story components. The story components are unusual and interesting, but not fully developed. Basically, although the bones of a story are there, they are all thinly veiled, pure erotica: The time from introduction to the bedroom, wall, or counter top is a few scant pages; regardless of the woman’s resolve. Am I saying that is bad? No, I am merely saying that you should read these knowing there is very little “real life” to them, and possibly even less real sex. This is porn star sex we’re talking about here. Because these were issued as novellas and then combined, it’s fair to say a few similarities crept by that wouldn’t have been as apparent in novellas. First the epiphany each man has that this is his one, true love is almost instantaneous. And two of the heroines rub cream on their faces as part of their toilette and hate coffee. By the way, The MacKenzie Family Christmas is definitely not “family” in the PG 13, or even the R, Rating way. These issues aside, if you go in expecting lots hot, fantasy sex, then this is fun, fairly well done erotica. It isn’t overly vulgar, and the characters treat each other with affection and respect. But, AS Erotica I think it’s a good bet. ...more |
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1
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not set
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Feb 26, 2014
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Mar 02, 2014
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Paperback
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| 4.18
| 674
| Jan 13, 2014
| Jan 13, 2014
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really liked it
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Original Post: http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201... SWEET SOUTHERN BETRAYAL: STEAMY, CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE WITH OLD-SCHOOL STORY TELLING DISCLOSURE: Original Post: http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201... SWEET SOUTHERN BETRAYAL: STEAMY, CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE WITH OLD-SCHOOL STORY TELLING DISCLOSURE: purchased by blogger I loved HIS SOUTHERN TEMPTATION so when I saw this was only ninety-nine cents I ran right over to Amazon and bought it. What a great story, I was riveted to the pages. Sometimes Robin’s writing is so lovely it just jumps off the page — at the speed I read that means something. Mostly, aside from the really erotic romance between Risa and Teague, this is an “Old-Fashioned” contemporary romance. It’s old-fashioned in the sense that it’s good story telling filled with likeable, well mostly likeable, characters in tough situations, depending on support from friends and family to get through it, even if they don’t want to. Character growth through hard lessons and epiphanies are an important variable in this story. And, LOVE. The message in this book over and over is that there’s nothing more important than love. It is the brass ring that you reach out for. Having a place to go home to isn’t bad either. There are a couple of slightly unrealistic things; for example, what seems like a complete lack of political involvement for a guy being groomed for high office. And his hoity toity law firm having a known mobster for client is another. Risa is fabulous. A homeless teen becoming a dancer on the Las Vegas has to have a lot of poise, but standing up for herself in several situations will put you on her side. She is one smart cookie! Teague is pretty dense, well the armor around his heart is dense. I loved how Robin shows his father in a much better light than I read in HIS SOUTHERN TEMPTATION. His mother also comes of much less as Mrs. Stick-Up-Her-Butt. Teague’s personal epiphany is related to this repainting of his father’s motivations. This series takes place in one town, but it feels like a different town in SWEET SOUTHERN BETRAYAL feels different than the town in HIS SOUTHERN TEMPTATION. Reflecting on it I realized it’s not inconsistent voice but, instead, it is seeing the town through the different eyes of the different characters. Even though it is not told in the first person we are seeing the town from different perspectives — Teague’s sophisticated, jaded, want-out-of-here mind set, and Risa’s guilt-ridden, differently jaded, but-this-town-is-a-dream-come-true view. This is pretty sophisticatedly written — more so than I expect from an erotic romance novella (a little lesson in assumption all on its own). Covington writes excellent steamy love scenes! I thought this paragraph was particularly delightful and yummy!
I read this entire book in about three hours — hours in which I should have been sleeping. If you give it a chance, which I highly recommend, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. ...more |
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1
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not set
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Feb 24, 2014
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Mar 01, 2014
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Kindle Edition
| |||||||||||||||||
| 0062267914
| 9780062267917
| 0062267914
| 4.08
| 9,295
| Feb 25, 2014
| Feb 25, 2014
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it was amazing
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ORIGINAL POST INCLUDES LAUNCH DAY EVENTS & LINK TO TOURWIDE GIVEAWAY http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201... HARD AS YOU CAN: Love, Loyalty & Lies! E-G ORIGINAL POST INCLUDES LAUNCH DAY EVENTS & LINK TO TOURWIDE GIVEAWAY http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201... HARD AS YOU CAN: Love, Loyalty & Lies! E-Galley received from publisher via Edelweiss reader service. No remuneration was exchanged and all opinions presented in my review are my own except as noted. I have been following Laura’s writings since her first book came out. I have often said it has been a pleasure to watch her grow as a writer. I just lover her sincere and honest style and voice. It all rings true without feeling too sappy, too sentimental, too rough or too anything. It’s just good, solid writing and in this case it is a thrilling, edge your seat ride from the first page to the last. This story of heros and lovers is filled with danger and desire; heavy on desire. And Laura writes great sex without silly phrasing. I never snort in disbelief in one of Laura’s sex scenes. I do often sigh, it’s all so romantic and hot. One thing that I noticed in this book is Laura’s sympathy for her characters. She seems to understand their feelings; in this particular case how we often feel bad for thinking about non-crisis issues in a crisis. This is something people grapple with all the time. Like when someone is sick and we worry about how that will affect our ability to go on a trip or out to dinner. It’s perfectly normal, the mind simply can’t stay in crisis mode and seeks something normal or comforting. Again, the story has the theme I have been coming across, or at least noticing more, lately: not being able to forgive one’s self for something that happened in the past. Even if it was as a child. That guilt can drive a character into a state of self loathing, or it can push him or her to make up for imagined failure as an adult. Some times it’s a bit of both. Another theme is that of protecting someone from a hard truth. In this book Crystal has a lot of secrets all around. Mostly she is keeping the truth from her sister who she works to support. It amounts to lies. Again, there is a story of rape involved, and I think the victim could use some counseling even long after the fact, even though she seems pretty clear on the difference between rape, sexual servitude and making love. And a third theme is loyalty and trust. The military heroes here are a familiy and their loyalty to each other is unwavering. When you become one of their family that’s it. Laura brings this out so beautifully. And, I know from talking with friends who have been in the military that this kind of loyalty really does exist. It’s truly amazing, and Laura shows me that in a very real way in her descriptions of how far these guys will go for each other. If you like contemporary, steamy romance with strong women and hot heroes you simply have to read this series. In my book it is a MUST READ! ...more |
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not set
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Feb 23, 2014
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Feb 25, 2014
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Unknown Binding
| ||||||||||||||
| 1938601254
| 9781938601255
| B00ICAUB22
| 4.14
| 305
| Feb 09, 2014
| Mar 10, 2014
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really liked it
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OriginalPost: http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201... VANILLA TWIST by C.J. Ellisson: Asks Interesting Questions E-ARC provided by author for review pu OriginalPost: http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201... VANILLA TWIST by C.J. Ellisson: Asks Interesting Questions E-ARC provided by author for review purposes. No remuneration was exchanged and all opinions presented herein are my own except as noted. The author is a friend. I have been reading C.J.'s books for quite some time now. And, we've met both online and in person. She's a hoot — great fun, hard-working. And she is working hard on her craft. In fact, recently she edited some of her earlier books, and she and Boone Brux combined their two series in a paranormal world merger with DEATH TIMES TWO. In this book the sex takes a back seat to emotional growth and while not answered, interesting questions are asked about societies double standards for men and women and the impact that the current popularity of BDSM may have on relationships where it is misunderstood and misused. It's interesting that the second book in the series also explored double standards. CJ has a consistent voice throughout the series. The story is told from Tony's and Heather's points of view in an immediate present to immediate past tense. While this is interesting, and especially in sex scenes, puts you in the moment, it is not my favorite way for a story to be told. It's like a head camera is recording everything the character sees, does, says and thinks as it is happening. It is a more widely accepted format these days, and perhaps our current "instant" media culture and reality TV have something to do with that. I didn't feel the separate points of view defined the characters very differently. I was not always certain which character's head I was in. But, I liked the questions C.J. explores here, and there's an interesting twist on sexual harassment I am pretty sure we haven't seen finished. I did like the way the problems were discussed and resolved, and the way as a couple Tony and Heather honestly explore feelings and admit to themselves and each other what is troubling them I get tired of lack of communication being the biggest obstacle in fictional relationships; couples face other, very real problems. Also, they don't use sex as a way of solving the problems they have, instead they use their words. This is probably the best thing in this book for me, because so often an entire plot hinges on failing to communicate the simplest thing which is blown out of proportion. Not using sex for problem solving doesn't mean C.J. left it out. There's plenty of hot, slightly kinky stuff going on. Everyone is satisfied. I can't always say I like the way it is written out, but the last few encounters are pretty cool. All, in all I recommend this story for its unexpected depth and the interesting ways C.J. looks at issues. What are the precise issues? Now, now — that would spoil the "Twist!" ...more |
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1
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not set
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Feb 24, 2014
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Feb 24, 2014
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Kindle Edition
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| 1476764298
| 9781476764290
| 1476764298
| 4.10
| 11,448
| Mar 04, 2014
| Mar 04, 2014
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really liked it
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CLIPPED WINGS: Fine Fiction, Flying High http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201... Please head to my blog for the original post on this review and a give CLIPPED WINGS: Fine Fiction, Flying High http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201... Please head to my blog for the original post on this review and a giveaway through 2/24/2014 I read the prequel, CUPCAKES AND INK last week and HAD, HAD, HAD to read the next book in the series as soon as possible. I was on the fence about how the story would be fleshed out, but the characters were so damaged, so mysterious and tortured by their pasts. I am going to give away a copy of CUPCAKES AND INK for Kindle or Nook (US stores). There are certain things I look for when I read a new book for review. Complex characters who don’t fit a mold and who are changed by the experiences the author presents. This book has those characters and they are more than the two love interests, Hayden and Tenley; even several of the secondary characters are fully sketched out and not just the same old characters we expect to be found in strip clubs, antique shops and tattoo studios. There are several villainous characters and they aren’t always from the expected quarters and not always behaving linearly. THey are drawn to various levels and some are a bit to type. But on the whole, Hunting gives me the feeling that she knows these people inside and out. They feel real, plausible, scarred, fallable. They are as much flesh and bone characters as I have ever read. What do I mean when I say they are not stamped out of a mold: Well, Hayden, for example, could be that ex-coke-head who is always perfectly noble and never screws up. But he is not. He acts childish and immature, challenges the wrong characters and yet, I remained believing in his innate goodness. Hot Scenes: Well, yeah, of course I want hot scenes (you see the header of the blog) and Hunting brings on the heat. She describes some stuff in detail so real you might wince just a little bit. Tropes and themes: Not their use or non-use, but rather the use of tropes that are over used or badly played. Okay, while I still loved the book, an inability to forgive oneself from self-imposed is possibly the most visible theme in “new” adult I have read this year. Does no one get decent counseling. Sure survivor guilt is normal after tragedy. But where is this trend coming from? Is it a post 9/11 thing? Another theme that is not usually used outside of stories about BDSM is the concept of overcoming emotional pain through physical pain. Interesting placement of that idea in a tattoo studio. Story and characters coming together to engage me emotionally: Hayden and Tenley both see themselves as monsters, blaming themselves for horrific events. They can only reveal part of their truths to each other out of fear. Hayden is a little more mature and has had help pulling himself somewhat from the deep and dark hole of grief. But Tenley’s most likely source of help is Hayden and she holds too much back. The person who should have helped her, well he is no help at all. These two characters, if they could only open up to each other outside of the bedroom, well…. What I thought as I was reading was that these are two characters that see themselves as unforgiveable, unworthy, monstrous. But they are wearing masks that allow them to survive, and “pass” in the real world and these two characters are barreling towards each other with the chance of collision or near miss. Eh – it’s an imperfect analogy. If you can’t tell, I was pretty caught up in these characters and there story. As is often the case, better communication would solve most of the characters’ issues. Voice: I had a little trouble here. This is written in dual first person. Where I had issues was with the tense. I cannot tell when this is happening? Is it the characters’ immediate past, the recent past or their distant past. I kept having issues with this throughout. Other than that the writer’s voice is sophisticated and the story is written with intelligence; and with the expectation of an intelligent audience. The Upshot With all the check marks in place and just a couple of question marks, this book gets my endorsement, my HIGHLY RECOMMEND bordering on MUST READ. Scroll down just a bit more for my giveaway of a Nook or Kindle copy of the prequel CUPCAKES AND INK. ...more |
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1
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not set
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Feb 19, 2014
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Feb 21, 2014
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Paperback
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| 0425256030
| 9780425256039
| 0425256030
| 4.07
| 5,274
| Nov 05, 2013
| Nov 05, 2013
|
really liked it
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Original Post: http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201... COLTERS’ GIFT Forgiveness, Family, Fantasy & the Other “F” word Received invitation to read from Original Post: http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201... COLTERS’ GIFT Forgiveness, Family, Fantasy & the Other “F” word Received invitation to read from publisher via Netgalley. No remuneration was exchanged and all opinions presented herein are my own except as noted. Sadly, rape also makes an appearance in this story. The novels in this series are about the power of family, and love, and this fifth in the series is no exception. It is also about what may be a common fantasy to be totally cared for, coddled even, by men whose greatest passion and pleasure, whose entire life is about pleasing one woman. All but one person in the extended Colter family is in a 3 man, 1 woman relationship. The one who isn’t, Cailie is married to Max, and featured in a book I haven’t read. Lauren is Max’s sister and after a crap relationship to a abusive pimp, he relocates her to the Clyde area where this extended family lives on a mountain above a small town. With new information on the guy who hurt Lauren, Noah and Liam, two men Max hired, go to Colorado to learn the whole truth so they can protect her. These guys are hot and, though not biological brothers, were raised as such. They are both in love with Lauren, and I guess it’s possible they would decide that, given the Colters’ predilection for polyandry, that they should approach her about the feelings they share for her. Lauren is a rape and abuse victim, who didn’t have counseling. That is likely to cause some massive issues. Some women might get through that on family love and romantic love, but it’s kind of hard to accept that having gotten her out and gotten her protection, her wealthy brother, Max, didn’t also get her a doctor. So, already filled with shame for what she perceives as weakness of character and having been used, how likely is it that her relationship with anyone is going to be hunky dory? Yeah, they are patient and the Colters are cool, but there is no substitute for professional help in this extreme case especially adding in the complexities of a menage relationship. That, and Lauren’s inability , to stop beating herself up and to see she needs help, just annoyed me. She is instructed by the Colters, Liam and Noah over and over again to forgive herself, but it is apparent she is stuck in a loop that requires more than helpful hunks and family love. She sees herself as stupid for being in a relationship with the total ass, and she sees herself as weak and selfish for keeping some information hidden that could have helped others. I was also bothered by spontaneous, declarative speeches about their love, loyalty and commitment from Noah and Liam that felt like I was reading a teleprompter instead of dialogue. At the same time the hook-ups are super steamy and while I was worried that poor Liam’s penis would be accidentally bitten off in one scene that reads like a “WARNING!” from a menage manual; I had to fan myself a few times. The relationship must extend from a prior book in the series for Lauren, Noah and Liam to be so interested in this unconventional arrangement. But, Maya wrote some beautiful, intelligent and super hot scenes here. That’s the Other “F” word, by the way. It also made me think of the kind of feeling of being powerless and alone some situations, like abuse, prostitution, and rape can bring on. With help and courage, many people can escape the situations and their psycho-emotional aftermath. But the usual protocol is for counseling, not hiding away; even with a loving and supportive family and town, most people need more professional help. The novel is hopeful, but, Lauren sees herself as a victim and in less than favorable ways. She shows courage and resolve in the end but, I wonder about how realistic her recovery would be in reality. There is a lot of help out there for people recovering from abuse and sexual violence. Do you think it is a writer’s responsibility to stick with a recognized protocol for dealing with issues of abuse and sexual violence, including rape? I don’t know if I am saying this right – basically, is it responsible for a writer to show a female character recovering from a rape without counseling? Does it set a bad example? What are the writer’s responsibilities to the character, and by extension, to other survivors? I don’t know that I think they “ought to” make the best practice in a situation like this obvious, in the way that wearing condoms has become the norm in erotica, but it made it harder for me to believe in her recovery. On the other hand, some publishers do require writers have characters practice safe sex, so why wouldn’t mental health be as important to affirm? ...more |
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1
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not set
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Feb 16, 2014
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Feb 20, 2014
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Paperback
| ||||||||||||||
| 045141568X
| 9780451415684
| 045141568X
| 3.89
| 722
| Mar 04, 2014
| Mar 04, 2014
|
really liked it
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ORIGINAL POST:http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201... BETTING THE FARM E-Galley provided by publisher via Net Galley for review. No remuneration was ex ORIGINAL POST:http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201... BETTING THE FARM E-Galley provided by publisher via Net Galley for review. No remuneration was exchanged and all opinions presented herein are my own except as needed. Try as I might I didn’t fall for this book’s plot or characters. I did not realize it was part of a series, but the book stands well on its own as the paranormal elements are pretty straightforward if you read much shifter romance. The back-story about the family and business history is well laid out too, so I didn’t feel as if I walked in on the middle of a story, nor did I feel as if I was getting a deluge of information to catch me up. My biggest issues were with the characters, who are all very individual and fairly well developed, and situations: The Humans The concept that in this day and age Luke would be so blinded by a vague deathbed promise to “watch out for your sister” that you’d try to direct your own sister’s future felt ridiculous, like something from the nineteenth century. And, the idea that Cynthia couldn’t wait one semester to finish her degree before taking up her dream of being a Vegas showgirl is ridiculous. But most ridiculous is the idea that two bright, well-educated individuals wouldn’t be able to sit down and talk about it. And, why she wouldn’t audition for a job at a different establishment to prove her point is beyond me. The Werewolves Giselle trying to get to speak with her wayward brother, Bryce is actually normal. His behavior of an Alpha on the lam is not as normal. I liked that she just wants to talk with him, at this point and not tell him what to do. And, the pranks that are played by Cynthia and Bryce as they leave riddles trying to show Luke what her dream means to her are so childish that it does little to bolster my confidence in her maturity. Maybe Luke is right after all. But, I kept thinking, where is the harm in letting her take a shot? In the end, the story is about both Luke and Giselle giving up long held notions of what’s right for others and themselves. They do this through talking to each other where Giselle’s wisdom is certainly deeper than Luke’s. She shows him the errors in his logic, and he shows her a good time and considerate nature he would be wise to show others. The concept of betting one’s business concerns (“the farm”) in a grudge card game is sheer, unrealistic fantasy. In any corporation, even in a family business, power is not absolute and that kind of recklessness would be unconscionable. I know of other family, or closely held, companies where the CEO going off the rails a bot like this resulted in the rest of the board members removing her as CEO. On the other hand, I didn’t believe people were so mean to each other in business that they would try to hurt others through acts affecting a company’s bottom line. The hook ups are interesting, if a little messy. I liked that Giselle felt bowled over by Luke’s thoughtful behavior to her. There was a scene involving chocolate that will either turn you on or help you on your diet. In short, if you have liked this series and the families and characters are familiar then you will likely enjoy WEREWOLF IN VEGAS. I do think one needs to go into it with a very elastic suspension of disbelief as far as relationships and business situations are concerned. Although the book feels like it can stand alone, my ambivalence may be due to not having read any of the prior six books. SO, while it wasn’t my personal floatation device, what felt silly to me could be just from a lack of immersion in the series. ...more |
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1
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not set
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Feb 14, 2014
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Feb 19, 2014
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Mass Market Paperback
| ||||||||||||||
| 1476741255
| 9781476741253
| 1476741255
| 4.19
| 11,317
| Dec 17, 2013
| Dec 17, 2013
|
it was amazing
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ORIGINAL POST: http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201... Watching a Slow Motion Train Wreck E-book provided by publisher for review. No remuneration was ORIGINAL POST: http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201... Watching a Slow Motion Train Wreck E-book provided by publisher for review. No remuneration was exchanged and all opinions presented herein are my own except as noted. Have you ever watched a person you love, not because of addiction, but due to stress and an inability to handle that stress, crash and come off the rails like staring, horrified at a train wreck happening in slow motion. You can see it happening and yet, there is nothing you can do about it. You can't catch the train or change its trajectory. You can't warn them. You may be able to help after, but that's little comfort when you're watching it happen. This story in the series, while still filled with humorous moments is also Grace's recounting of watching this happen to Jack as his fame causes stress and at the same time gives him permission to be a jerk. One problem is that the way the industry works he is probably taking other people down with him as he spirals out of control. "UGH!" I thought reading, "I just want to give him a good shake." Obviously, to elicit that reaction Clayton is telling the story in a way that I recognize the characters with their idiosyncrasies and assorted baggage. But the topic is much more serious here than it is in the previous entries in the series. While the lives of stars like Lindsey Lohan, Jessica Simpson, and others play out in the tabloids and even on what passes for legitimate news, they are not living for our entertainment and this book really brings home how money doesn't alleviate stress or buy happiness. It must be hard to go to bed a barely known actor and wake up as a super star. From this fictional lives' story it sounds like it's more like waking up as bait in a pool full of sharks. And, not to be all happy and well-balanced is apparently a crime. It brought home to me how much a star’s personal life, who s/he person is sexing up, and how someone’s weight has changed, is none of my business. There’s a certain amount of information it can be fun to get because they do put themselves in the public eye, but I think it is really out of control. Again, the device Clayton uses in previous books in the series, of Jack's and Grace's manager/agent, Holly, not letting them reveal their relationship because of image, works really well as an anchor in the story. I kept thinking that if that the couple could be more open, Jack's course would be straighter. And the entire story had me feeling really bad for Grace. It goes into size-ism and ageism as well. Grace is every woman, maybe a little more gorgeous, but she’s sort of one of us (if we were actresses with really hot, movie star boyfriends). It's easy to identify with her. The point here is that the writer has very effectively told me a story with emotional content that made me feel, and think. As the last in the series, it probably could stand on its own; Clayton gives good back story, but the experience is richer with the other two read before THE REDHEAD PLAYS HER HAND. I really enjoyed the entire series, but I have to say the first book was my favorite. That's where I really fell for the characters and their story. I feel the writer adjusted the cause and effect that I had experienced as a little weak in the Second Book, THE REDHEAD REVEALED. Action and reaction are more rational and justified again here. Some of the sex was hot, but other interludes felt repetitive. I loved this series and think it is a MUST READ. ...more |
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1
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not set
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Feb 12, 2014
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Feb 15, 2014
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Paperback
| ||||||||||||||
| 1476741239
| 9781476741239
| 1476741239
| 4.18
| 19,031
| Sep 28, 2010
| Nov 05, 2013
|
it was amazing
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ORIGINAL POST: http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201... A SWIMMING UPSTREAM KIND OF LOVE Book provided by publisher for review. No remuneration was exch ORIGINAL POST: http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201... A SWIMMING UPSTREAM KIND OF LOVE Book provided by publisher for review. No remuneration was exchanged and all opinions presented herein are my own except as noted. If you came by last week you know I was bowled over by the first book in this series, THE UNIDENTIFIED REDHEAD (I keep typing “readhead”). So, when I let the publisher know about that review I asked for the next two in the series as well.Clayton’s prose really puts me in the moment and the place. When Grace is in NYC, I can smell the taxis. When she’s in LA, well, then I am just jealous. Also, I can totally feel the age difference between the characters, Grace and Jack. Sometimes I think Grace feels a little bit maternal − just a little bit. For example Jack likes to hug Grace and sort of bury his face in her middle while she scratches his head. He is soothed by the head scratching. To me that feels a little like a mom and a son. On the other hand, when she went through a phase working from home, gaining weight and not seeing many people, she kind of froze her emotional development a little so it gets evened out somewhat. This is the perfect book for Valentine’s Day because it’s a love story, yes, but it’s also a story about giving oneself permission to be in love; especially when that relationship is not the norm. Not only is there a fair difference in ages but, both characters have careers that would make the most conventional lifestyle difficult. On top of that add fans, paparazzi, and bloggers calling Grace all manner of nastiness. In the end do they prevail, or is it all too much? I was really rooting for this relationship to work out, but it is a swimming upstream kind of thing. Have you ever had a relationship where it seemed like fate was conspiring with circumstance against you? Grace’s career puts her in Manhattan while Jack’s is putting him all over the place touring for his new film. That distance makes it hard, and their manager’s insistence they keep their relationship secret when they can get together is a great device for writing friction into the relationship. Some causality in the plot felt a bit weak. While it has humor, I feel it was a bit more serious than the first book. A lot of tough decisions, not good decisions, get made. BTW: I thought Jack sounded a little like Robert Pattinsson as far as his accent and his looks. The way Clayton writes the “tabloid stories” about the relationship between Jack and Grace, or with his ex-girlfriend, sounded a lot like the way Pattinson’s relationships have been reported, or Shia LaBeouf’s and other young stars. But it’s the fun in the relationship between the characters that made me love the first book and the second. I ate this one up as well. It’s just so palpable, and so desirable. I think it’s a hoot that 33 is considered old in the entertainment industry. If you can make it to that age without ending up like Lindsay Lohan or any of the other stars who have gone off the rails of their youthful success train you should be celebrated. Clayton writes the pressures, and the pleasures, of Grace’s and Jack’s lives so well I feel I am right there with them. But, given how much sex they have I realize that would be a little pervy. ...more |
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not set
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Feb 14, 2014
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Feb 14, 2014
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Paperback
| ||||||||||||||
| 4.01
| 29,618
| Jan 01, 2010
| Feb 16, 2010
|
it was amazing
|
ORIGINAL POST: http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201... The Unidentified Redhead: Would You Date a Much Younger Man? Print copy received from publishe ORIGINAL POST: http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201... The Unidentified Redhead: Would You Date a Much Younger Man? Print copy received from publisher for review purposes. No remuneration was exchanged and all opinions presented here are my own unless otherwise noted. I absolutely loved this book. I was amused, fanning myslef, and made to crave Chex Mix. Though the themes of Actress Trying to Make it in LA and Older Woman and Younger Guy aren’t new, Clayton uses them in a fresh and fun plot with quirky characters in interesting situations and snarky language employed with real wit and not just the sarcastic voice. It also features a place I really enjoy, Los Angeles, and it even speaks of it fondly. Most people hate LA but I love to go there. When a book takes place somewhere I go it makes it more enjoyable for me (unless they totally get the place wrong). And, the book also has a lot of cultural references, making it feel timely, some of which I got entirely and others were past when I was a teenager. It also deals with a woman in her thirties considering whether to date a man nine years younger than she is. What do you think about that? It’s over a third of his life. She could have been his babysitter. I don’t know about you but I looked a hella better in my thirties than I did in my twenties, so her story of losing weight in her thirties really struck a chord with me as I did the same (a while ago now). But I wonder, if I weren’t married, whether I would consider dating a man that much younger than I am. What about you? The atmosphere is both realistic and not realistic in that it is what we have come to expect of the “Going Hollywood” story, but at the same time we know that what we expect is a bit off of reality. In other words it works but I am sure the actual experiences are much different. Although from personal experience when you meet a star people really do jump all over them for a photograph (me included see picture). I loved the way they first hook up and then how they keep the energy up in their relationship. I also like how they work out issues between them, by communicating. The hook ups are very hot — Thai chili hot. It isn’t erotica but it is very erotic romance – the sex has a place in the storyline, but the relationship is the real focus. It’s often the case that when I really like a book I get lost in it and kind of stop reading with my review hat on. When that happens I generally devour a book in one sitting. This one had me turning from one page to another and I read the whole thing in four to five hours. In any event – I noted a passage I particularly liked: Would you be intrigued by a film star who wanted to kiss you? he breathed, his fingers finally touching mine,” Having said how much I enjoyed the book, you know I am going to HIGHLY RECOMMEND it to peeps who like super hot contemporary romance! ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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not set
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Feb 02, 2014
|
Feb 09, 2014
|
Paperback
| |||||||||||||||||
| 0425262367
| 9780425262368
| 0425262367
| 3.78
| 1,374
| Jan 07, 2014
| Jan 07, 2014
|
really liked it
|
E-Galley provided by publisher via NetGalley.com. No Remuneration was exchanged and all opinions presented herein are my own except as noted. ORIGINAL E-Galley provided by publisher via NetGalley.com. No Remuneration was exchanged and all opinions presented herein are my own except as noted. ORIGINAL POST: http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201... Held back by the Past, Freed by Love: The Expert’s Guide to Driving a Man Wild The title was what attracted me to this story. It reminds me of books like Sex and the Single Girl and plays like How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying from the “Swinging” 1960s. I was immediately intrigued by the unique and amusing characters and set-ups in this story. It’s cute, fresh, unusual and fun and definitely a case of opposites attracting. Brenna is a strange young-woman and Grant is sort of a stick in the mud with that stick extending directly up his backside. The “official description” above is a little off. Brenna’s upbringing isn’t so much “rigid” as tragic and bizarre. And, she’s not as surprised about the “games” taking “them to the bedroom” as her boss. This is probably a case where the description was written from the author’s synopsis. At first Brenna’s character is portrayed as simply weird, callous and lazy. Then we begin to understand she has a past that has turned her into a free spirit but a free spirit bound by her past. Grant also has a tragic relationship in his past and it influenced him deeply. I liked the incongruity of the ideas Brenna expresses about freedom and how that her past binds her into a life just as limiting as what she struggles against. There is a lot of steamy sex and language. I was amused by the word “dicking,” used by Brenna to describe coitus. I had never heard that but it is actually in my computer’s dictionary. The language is somewhat crude. This is really Contemporary New Adult Erotic Romance. If there were less character drawing or plot it would be erotica instead. But there is story, and it uses the tragic widower and the woman-with-a-past tropes. I thought the way Brenna’s secret was revealed was clever and surprising. Grant’s reaction is a little bit “sit-com.” It has the feel of a comic TV show with a quirky, “Zoey Deschanel” type woman and a really straight guy, maybe like the “Allan” character from “Two and A Half Men.” There are several moments of emotional dramatic relief to bring some of the more silly parts of the story down to earth and give the characters a bit more depth. On both sides of the relationship Clare does a good job explaining the characters’ issues and makes them feel somewhat real and justified. The story is edgy, so it stays fresh and unusual throughout. While the couple has known, and irritated, each other for a while, the change in their relationship is quite fast. There were some discontinuities in my E-Galley and I really can’t confirm they are gone but if you’ve read it and note clothing changing mid-scene or something like that then they have not changed. Even with these few things that were probably edited out, and with a couple of events where I felt both characters were taken just a little too far in attitudes or behavior, I really enjoyed he story a lot. It could have been a little bit deeper but overall the writer did a good job with a fresh approach and unusual characters and situations. It gets my “Recommend” if you like lighthearted erotic romance. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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not set
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Feb 2014
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Feb 08, 2014
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Mass Market Paperback
| ||||||||||||||
| 0345545850
| 9780345545855
| 4.21
| 44,552
| Jul 30, 2013
| Jul 30, 2013
|
liked it
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ORIGINAL POST: http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201... COMPLETE ME: The last in Stark Trilogy is Unabashedly Unrealistic E-Galley provided by publishe ORIGINAL POST: http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201... COMPLETE ME: The last in Stark Trilogy is Unabashedly Unrealistic E-Galley provided by publisher via NetGalley.com. No Remuneration was exchanged and all opinions presented herein are my own except as noted. As the final book in this series the back story is absolutely necessary to the book being really enjoyed. I missed the second book and felt stymied on occasion by my lack of information. This is not helped by the way the story is jumped into: it picks up, apparently from a cliff hanger. There’s little character sketching although the characters do develop to the extent necessary. If relationship problems could be solved with sex as Nikki and Damian’s seem to be, marriage counselors would have to prescribe sex as a cure all for troubled relationships. This poor woman’s vagina would wear out with the amount of sex these two have, and they would both need IV fluids to make up for her loss of fluid from lubrication and his from ejaculation. No genre fence-sitting here: this the book is most emphatically erotica versus steamy romance. There is a lot of sex. Every possible chance to write sex into a story is taken. It’s a bit gratuitous. The books voice is a rolling recent past tense in a first person point of view from Nikki. There’s one mid-size plot hole, no doubt more apparent by the pivotal nature of the point. But, face it, the plot and characters are secondary to the sex and the relationship that it defines. That’s right, the couple’s relationship is defined by sex, and also obsession, his for her, hers for him, the villain’s for the both of them. As erotica goes, it depends on athletic BDSM, mostly involving him tying her up and withholding orgasm, the use of seat belts, illusion of public sex and copious lubrication. It’s titillating, but I found myself thinking, “Maybe they should talk about the problem and not evade it with an orgasm.” He’s obsessed and heavy handed, using his money and power to get what he wants. She gets mad but he fingers her through her panty sticks a finger in her, and she, blinded by love and orgasm, forgives his scary behavior. She has a history as a cutter, using self mutilation and pain to deal with the emotional trauma in her life. His past as a victim of abuse, his secret history, has lead him to need submission to subvert his pain. So he dominates and spanks her and that fulfills both their needs as trauma victims. I guess therapy can only take one so far, and kink has to take them the rest of the way. As the final book in this trilogy, I am reminded of my review of the first, RELEASE ME (http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201...). I claimed the publishing industry was trying to capitalize on the FIFTY SHADE craze. I don’t blame them. There was money to be made and publishing is a business. I say in my title that this is unabashedly unrealistic but is that bad? If erotica were realistic the chapters would probably be really short, right? When you read erotica do you want realism or “fantasy?” Please come by the original post (http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201...) to comment. But, I think I want to read about people who “use their words” instead of their genitals to solve problems. THEN they can screw. This is pretty light bondage and spanking. If it’s what you’re looking for then start at the beginning with RELEASE ME. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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not set
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Jan 29, 2014
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Feb 04, 2014
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ebook
| |||||||||||||||
| 045146625X
| 9780451466259
| 045146625X
| 4.08
| 3,180
| 2014
| Mar 04, 2014
|
really liked it
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ORIGINAL POST: http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201... Safety First in Tara Sue Me’s SEDUCED BY FIRE — Early Review Disclosure: Print galley received u ORIGINAL POST: http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201... Safety First in Tara Sue Me’s SEDUCED BY FIRE — Early Review Disclosure: Print galley received unsolicited from publisher. No remuneration received and all opinions presented herein are my own unless otherwise noted. Tara Sue Me’s book is a sensitive treatment of the psychology of submission and some of its safety issues. As far as the technical aspects of BDSM the story gives attention to the training and mentoring of both dominants and submissives in a club setting, as well as what happens when something goes terribly wrong. The situation isn’t resolved cleanly and it isn’t all kittens and rainbows. Some people I know who are or have been in the lifestyle have spoken to the lack of attention to training and safety in recent books. Their fear is this will lead to people practicing without training, or without enough training. Of course, this is a problem with books about anything people think sounds like something they might want to try. It’s a question of compelling reading and good sense — the don’t try this at home caveat. Kudos to Tara Sue Me for working the safety issue as an organic part of the story and without being pedantic.The author also makes the characters processes complicated; some seem quite natural and others are a little forced. I thought Julie’s struggle through societal conditioning to self-acceptance was well done. But some aspects of Daniel’s and Julie’s relationship seemed forced. Also balanced, but unresolved, is the idea of what if a dominant wants something that is a sub’s hard limit? All aspects of a D/S relationship are up for negotiation. But, love relationships are complex, and attachment is an issue. It’s really up to a Dominant to make sure they don’t use this as a part of their relationship; it would be an abuse of power. In this book, Daniel is a very good, noble, well-trained Dom. Julie is a newbie. He is careful not to push too hard but, you know just as vanilla people can hurt each other and be good or bad partners the same will absolutely be true in the BDSM lifestyle. Their relationship and hook ups are hot with action and definitely with dirty-talking action. Julie might be a BDSM newbie but she is not a shrinking violet in bed. Tara Sue Me gets a little into play parties and clubs here: what they might be like and what the policies are surrounding them. I keep thinking about whether this public aspect is the norm, and whether “casual play” is always the case in BDSM. I rarely read about a D/S relationship without it and I wonder why that is the case. But the events are not the most important part of the story for me. The story here is about self-acceptance, relationship and the responsibility for safety. The safety aspect, here anyway, makes the community important. It’s hard to imagine getting much justice for something one was seen as having consented to. This is a thoughtful and thought provoking story of a relationship, boundaries and overcoming internal obstacles. It was a good read in this sub-genre of erotica; probably a good first read as nothing too crazy happens. I highly recommend it if you want to be entertained, learn something in the process and understand more about this current trend in erotic fiction. I contend that the more even us “vanilla folks” learn about sexuality, the more satisfying this aspect of the human experience can be. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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not set
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Jan 29, 2014
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Feb 02, 2014
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Paperback
| ||||||||||||||
| 0425251039
| 9780425251034
| 0425251039
| 3.99
| 250
| Aug 07, 2012
| Aug 07, 2012
|
it was amazing
|
Original Post: http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201... WEDDED IN SIN: A Hot Regency “Sherlock!” Book received from author at conference. No remuneratio Original Post: http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201... WEDDED IN SIN: A Hot Regency “Sherlock!” Book received from author at conference. No remuneration was exchanged and all opinions herein are my own unless otherwise noted. I met Jade at Authors After Dark in August. She seemed smart, friendly, hilariously funny, and possessed of a delightfully dirty sense of humor. My first thought after the first few pages was, “This is Brilliant; it’s a Sherlock!” The same idea reappeared over and over through out my read. It was hard to put down and kept me up way past my bedtime with its many twists and sexual tension and hot hook-ups. I loved how Jade just goes all out on the writing; she holds nothing back and just says what she wants and I was left with no uncertain idea of meaning. She was definitely “in the zone.” Also, her historical setting and points seemed pretty accurate in the details. The book is filled with interesting characters who are often very different than your typical depictions of a particular person, for example, the constable is charming and caring. But least typical of all are Samuel and Penny. Samuel is sweet, but not exactly innocent second son. He is also a genius, in a kind of genius savant way. Like a pleasant version of Holmes or a congenial “House, MD.” He notices everything and makes those Sherlock-style deductions. He’s also handsome. But, as a second son of a not terrible well-off Baron, he is limited by his allowance. Penny is not the typical Regency tradesman’s daughter. She is privately educated, and a brilliant cobbler at a time when a woman couldn’t be a cobbler. Her father was allowing her to do his work as he took credit. But, the Regency was a time of change and a time of things staying the same as well. We now look back at that time through Victorian lenses, but I am pretty sure they were not as stuffy as we think. The hook ups here aren’t at all stuffy; they’re quite inventive. The plot is also complex and involves Samuel coming to the aid of Penny when she loses her home. She is thankful but Jade doesn’t make her so simple as to blindly trust him. He earns and loses her trust as he realizes she is not a “typical” female. There’s a complicated mystery to solve which Samuel, drawn to a beautiful damsel in distress, offers to solve. She’s smart. And, talented and limited by her gender wherein tradition disallows women from being shoemakers. Have you noticed that a lot of historical romances share this theme? The writing brings the characters to life through their thought processes and the dialogue which has both main characters thinking on their feet. I loved how Samuel's thinking about Penny changes throughout the novel. He’s so kind, but he becomes even more kind, As they get to know each other it becomes banter which adds some humor to what could be a Dickensian tale. The relationship changes both of them, as all relationship does. I really enjoyed the book and think it is a gem. I wish I had found Jade Lee earlier, and I highly recommend this story! ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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not set
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Jan 22, 2014
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Jan 25, 2014
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Mass Market Paperback
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my rating |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| 4.04
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really liked it
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Mar 24, 2014
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Mar 29, 2014
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|||||
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| 4.08
|
really liked it
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Mar 14, 2014
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Mar 23, 2014
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|||||
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| 4.02
|
it was amazing
|
Mar 10, 2014
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Mar 17, 2014
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|||||
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| 3.84
|
it was amazing
|
Mar 07, 2014
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Mar 16, 2014
|
|||||
|
| 3.87
|
liked it
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Mar 04, 2014
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Mar 13, 2014
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|||||
|
| 4.22
|
really liked it
|
Feb 06, 2014
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Mar 12, 2014
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|||||
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| 4.21
|
liked it
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Feb 26, 2014
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Mar 02, 2014
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|||||
|
| 4.18
|
really liked it
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Feb 24, 2014
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Mar 01, 2014
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|||||
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| 4.08
|
it was amazing
|
Feb 23, 2014
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Feb 25, 2014
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|||||
|
| 4.14
|
really liked it
|
Feb 24, 2014
|
Feb 24, 2014
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|||||
|
| 4.10
|
really liked it
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Feb 19, 2014
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Feb 21, 2014
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|||||
|
| 4.07
|
really liked it
|
Feb 16, 2014
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Feb 20, 2014
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|||||
|
| 3.89
|
really liked it
|
Feb 14, 2014
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Feb 19, 2014
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|||||
|
| 4.19
|
it was amazing
|
Feb 12, 2014
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Feb 15, 2014
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|||||
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| 4.18
|
it was amazing
|
Feb 14, 2014
|
Feb 14, 2014
|
|||||
|
| 4.01
|
it was amazing
|
Feb 02, 2014
|
Feb 09, 2014
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|||||
|
| 3.78
|
really liked it
|
Feb 2014
|
Feb 08, 2014
|
|||||
|
| 4.21
|
liked it
|
Jan 29, 2014
|
Feb 04, 2014
|
|||||
|
| 4.08
|
really liked it
|
Jan 29, 2014
|
Feb 02, 2014
|
|||||
|
| 3.99
|
it was amazing
|
Jan 22, 2014
|
Jan 25, 2014
|
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