Amanda J. Greene (Author)

Saturday, March 26, 2016

Kick Back Saturday

Welcome to Kick Back Saturday!
In my opinion, one of the best ways to spend a Saturday is to curl up with a book, a delicious cup of coffee, a glass of wine, or a cocktail, and hang out with my writing partner: my sweet pup, Kelly!

Join me on Saturdays for a book blurb and a new, tasty drink recipe - coffee or cocktail...?

Take up a book, mix a drink, and kick back.

The Book

Reforming a Rake (With This Ring #1)
Suzanne Enoch

A governess must never be alone with a man. Her reputation mustn't have even a hint of scandal.
She must never reveal personal emotions. No matter how strong the provocation by her employer.
A governess never questions her employer's commands. Even when he's tempting her to forsake respectability for desire?
She must never, ever, fall in love with someone above her station. Especially a rake—no matter how devastating his kisses may be.
Alexandra Gallant is a governess extraordinaire—and if it weren't for that unfortunate incident at her last position, she wouldn't now be forced into the employ of Lucien Balfour, the most notorious rake in London. Though the sinfully attractive earl hired her to teach his young cousin, his seductive whispers and toe-curling kisses suggest he has something far less respectable in mind...and that will never happen. For although Lucien seems determined to teach her about pleasure, she has a few lessons to teach him about love!

The Drink

Boulevardier

Ingredients

1 ounce bourbon or rye whiskey
1 ounce Campari
1 ounce sweet vermouth
Garnish: orange twist or cherry

Directions

1. Pour ingredients into a mixing glass and fill with cracked ice. Stir well for 20 seconds and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a cherry or a twist of orange peel.

Thursday, March 24, 2016

Twitter Thursday

~ The Mistress loved her defiant slave and wouldn’t allow mortality to rob her of her favorite bleeder.~

Tentative Release 8/16/16

Caressed by the Edge of Darkness (Rulers of Darkness #5)

Hardened by centuries of torture, former blood slave, Gabriel Erhard, is driven by an insatiable need to destroy his enemies. Violence darkens his battered soul, leaving no place for mercy in his world. Gabriel’s only desire is vengeance—until he finds her.
Seized by vampires, bound as a slave, and placed on the auction block, Jordan Culver is instantly entranced by the dangerous male who claims her. Jordan’s new captor vows to set her free, but his haunted gaze burns with savage desire and his wicked kiss makes her crave his touch and...complete surrender.
While Gabriel battles his enemies, he will break every sacred law to achieve his ultimate goal—uniting the Outcast Society and creating a new vampire Clan. But the distracting human with mesmerizing violet eyes jeopardizes his plans. With every soft whisper she evokes his tormented memories, testing his sanity and challenging his every boundary. Can Jordan help him overcome the miseries of his past and find a future with her?

Wednesday, March 23, 2016

Review of Cursed by Ice

Amazon B&N

Cursed by Ice (Immortal Brothers #2)
Jacquelyn Frank
3.5 of 5 Stars

*Personal Purchase*

Description:
As punishment for plotting with his brothers to steal immortality, Garreth is suffering a freezing torment until the end of time. Again and again, his fierce fighter’s physique is frozen into a chiseled ice sculpture, his heart hardening like a diamond in his chest—only to thaw and resume the chilling torture. Until, like his older brother Dethan, he is offered a reprieve from a goddess—in exchange for his allegiance in a celestial civil war.
Garreth lives to fight and fights to live. But while laying siege to an embattled city, he finds another reason to go on—a beautiful warrior woman named Sarielle, who commands a mythic beast through a mysterious and powerful bond. Terrified of her strength, the city rulers have kept her captive, and now she refuses to submit to a new master. As Garreth seeks to unleash her passion and melt the icy resistance of her heart, will he become her ultimate salvation—or lead them both to greater destruction? (From Goodreads)

Review:

Jacquelyn Frank's world building in all of her books is top notch and Cursed by Ice is no different. She does a magnificent job of combining paranormal, fantasy, sci-fi to create captivating stories.

Cursed by Ice is the second installment within the Immortal Brothers series. Garreth is a sensible with a strict honor code. He kind of reminded me of a Robin Hood character – championing the underdog.

Like his brothers, Garreth has been cursed by the Gods for stealing immortality. Every night he is magically whisked away to freeze to death again and again, but by day he is a warrior fighting to reclaim territory and subjects for a Goddess, who has have the power to end his and his brother’s torment.

It is during a siege that he meets Sarielle, a beautiful woman who is bound to and commands a wyren (a bird/dragon like creature). Sarielle has been kept as a slave and is forced to use her wyren to do the bidding of the king. But now that Garreth and his brother, Dethan, everything the citizens within the castle know is about to change.

The plot was well thought out and there is action from beginning to end – with a few predictable plot twists. The main characters are sweet together, but I just didn’t feel the spark, the passion, the burning lust that generally comes along with this genre. I also was very annoyed with Dethan’s character. I understand that he is the eldest of the cursed brothers and wants what’s best for everyone (especially his youngest brother, Garreth) but he’s a bit of an idiotic-ass in this story.

I’m seriously interested in finding out what happens to the next brother in line – I’ve already hit up Barnes and Noble and have the titles sitting on my To Be Read Shelf. If you enjoy paranormal romance with a touch of sci-fi and urban fantasy, Jacquelyn Frank is the perfect author.

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

Sexy Snippet Tuesday

I hope everyone is having a wonderful Tuesday! Now, let's make it sexy with snippets from the Rulers of Darkness Box Set (Books 1,2,&3).

Note: this post intended more mature a audiences.

Caressed by Moonlight (Rulers of Darkness #1)

His tongue drew sensual circles across her nape, tickling and pleasing, sending shocks down her spine.

Snatching off her hat and tossing his cloak to the ground, he gripped her tightly to him and dropped

Dorian inhaled her flowery scent and growled with primal satisfaction as she rubbed her hips against him. His fingers quickly freed the buttons of her shirt and delved inside to explore her heated flesh.

Victoria quivered as the cool air, rain, and the warmth of Dorian’s hands caressed her. He nipped playfully at her neck and shoulder, from behind. His hands slowly, lovingly, caressed their way down to her breeches.

He had to have her. He had to take her here and now. Nothing in the world could stop him. It was amazing how easily she could spark his lust. Her rain-soaked clothing had left nothing to the imagination and with just one touch she had gone from tantrum to writhing goddess.

Dorian shoved her breeches down as he frantically worked at the band of his. Kissing her throat, flicking his tongue over her raging pulse, he thrust into her...

Caressed by Night (Rulers of Darkness #2)

Dimitri’s lust consumed him and threatened to carry him over the edge. The beast wanted her, needed her, in every way. The combination of her racing pulse and pleasurable sighs was the sweetest sound he had ever heard. He could almost taste her blood, her very life. God, how he wanted it, just one tiny droplet. All he had to do was sink his fangs into the tender column of her throat.

Remember, the beast whispered. Hunger. Remember. Blood, so rich, so sweet, so satisfying. One taste, it urged.

His hunger raging, his body burning with need, Dimitri grazed her skin. An unearthly growl filled the room and rumbled the walls.

“Yes,” Kerstyn whispered.

He lowered his head and stepped forward. He captured her hands and flattened her palms against the wall.

“Keep them there,” he ordered, his voice sensuous and menacing.

His fingers smoothly ran up her arms. One hand tunneled through her hair, the other slid down her torso to fill the space between her hips. He tugged on her hair, tilting her head to the side and exposing her pulse where it danced teasingly just below her flesh.

Caressed by a Crimson Moon (Rulers of Darkness #3)

~ Eva couldn't find her voice. Her throat was dry and tight. She hated how good he felt atop her and loved it at the same time. He shifted, his erection pressing between her thighs. Her already rapid heartbeat doubled, if that were possible. Her breaths came in gasps, her breasts brushing his solid chest with every breath.

Hadrian groaned, his cock strained against his pants and when he shifted…God, her body was soft where it should be and leanly muscled. He wanted to strip her then and there. He brutally fought the need to claim her here in the snow. His gaze traveled over her face. Her cheeks were flushed with anger; her amber eyes shimmered with lust, and her scent…God, that vanilla scent. Unable to resist, he leaned his head down and pulled aside her jacket. Her pulse tantalizingly danced for him and he traced the spot with his tongue. She shivered beneath him, her hips rocked sweetly, softly against his and he ground into her.

Panting, she said, “Get off of me, leech.”

A wickedly delicious smile curled the corners of his lips. “No. I rather like the position we are in.”~

All 3 books are Night Owl Top Picks!