"Waiting on" Wednesday: Play to Win by Jaci Burton

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is: Play to Win by Jaci Burton

Expected publication: September 4th 2012 by Penguin Group

Blurb from Goodreads:

Cole Riley’s a hot headed football player who has put his career on the line with his off field behavior. Consultant Savannah Brooks comes on board to save his image—and to get his game on the right track. When two opposing forces collide, there’s bound to be sparks.

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Play to Win is book 4 in the Play by Play series by Ms. Burton.  If you love strong heroines, alpha jocks and steamy romance this book is for you.  It is not necessary to read all of the books in this series but I highly recommend checking them out:


Book 1: The Perfect Play
Book 2: Changing the Game
Book 3: Taking a Shot

Finally getting some writing done

Hi ladies and gents.  It's been a while since my last post but if you've been following me you will probably notice that this wouldn't be the first time this has happened.  Work has been busy, busy, busy.  We were able to settle three of our largest cases and my boss has finally taken a vacation, giving me some "ME" time.  Last night was the first time in a few weeks that I had anything productive going on with my writing and I hope to continue on that streak.

I'm in the middle of writing a short erotic story for a side project/website that has been in the works with a good friend of mine.  As soon as I have further details regarding launch dates and such I will be posting the information.

In the mean time, here is a little unedited piece of what's bouncing around in my head at the moment.  This currently untitled short is about an author, Mollie Derbie and her neighbor/muse, Adam Morris.

If she stayed in front of the computer any longer Mollie Derby was going to get a damn tan.  Saving the latest draft of chapter fifteen, although she knew it wasn’t perfect, it was still better than the first draft.  And the second, and the third and who knows how many this was now.  “Ten, actually”, she sighed rubbing her eyes with the back of her hands getting a glimpse of the time displayed on her silver wrist watch.  

Five hours had gone by while she typed, reviewed, deleted, then followed the same routine over and over again in a vicious cycle.  Her head felt the way her waste basket looked at this moment, an overflow of balled up sheets of paper.  Chapter fourteen had given her some problems as well.  Writer’s block was hell.  Even more so when Mollie had little more than a month to turn in Her Heart’s Desire to her agent and there was only about two-thirds of the book done... 

Adam and Mollie look like:

 

(c) 2012 Ria Cruz

"Waiting On" Wednesday: Never Love a Highlander by Maya Banks

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is: Never Love a Highlander by Maya Banks

Expected publication: October 25, 2011

Blurb:

In a tale of strong ties and true love, Maya Banks’s trilogy comes to its stunning conclusion, as the youngest McCabe brother uses sword and seduction to save his clan—and seal his heart.
Caelen McCabe’s young, reckless heart nearly destroyed his clan. Now, putting family loyalty above all else, he steps up to marry his older brother’s jilted bride and salvage the uneasy alliance between two clans. While beautiful Rionna McDonald is a fit wife for any man, Caelen trusts no woman, especially not this sweet temptress who torments him with white-hot longing.

As the sacrificial lamb in her father’s power game, Rionna will do her duty but vows to protect her heart and her pride from humiliation. Despite everything, though, the heat in Caelen’s touch melts her defenses, and she craves the sensual delights of a husband who guards his emotions as fiercely as his clan. But when the ultimate battle for the McCabe legacy is upon them, Rionna’s true warrior spirit emerges. She will risk the wrath of her father, the fury of her enemies, and her life to prove to Caelen that his wife’s love is too precious to lose.

Book Review: An Appetite for Passion by Cynthia MacGregor

Blurb from Goodreads:

Kari meets Max online, and the relationship sizzles. But there is a BIG obstacle--her weight. He knows she loves to eat but doesn’t know what that’s done to her figure. Will it bother him when he finally meets her in person? Meanwhile, Jeff is funny and fun, and Kari loves being with him as a friend, but he admits he has a secret. Could it be that he is, after all, the guilty party in the political campaign sabotage? But if he’s innocent, can Kari prove it and clear Jeff’s name? And can they be more than just friends?

Review: 

This short contemporary romance revolves around Kari, a plus sized publicist with bad luck in love. Her best friend is married with a baby on the way and no longer has time for her. Her friend's husband gets her involved in volunteering with a mayoral candidate where she befriends Jeff, a funny, sweet and lifelong volunteer for different causes. When Kari purchases a computer to get connected she joins a chat room and exchanges recipes with several people.

Online Kari meets Max. He seems to loves her love for food and they share many things in common. When their emails start turning towards flirtation Kari starts falling for him. They exchange pictures but she only sends him a head shot out of the insecurities she has with her body. The online relationship advances over the course of a few weeks when they start calling each other on the phone at night before going to bed.

When Max decides to make the four hour drive to consummate what he and Kari started online she worries he will not like what he sees but figures if he likes her online and over the phone that her weight will not be too much to dwell upon. She even buys a negligee that enhances her figure. Bad weather delays Max's trip and Kari is completely distraught seeking friendly comfort with Jeff, who is slowly falling in love with her, they cook and laugh together but Kari's thoughts revert back to Max.

When Max finally comes by he seems a bit cold and distant but she figures he's tired from his long drive. Unfortunately Kari's deepest fear, that Max doesn't do big woman is proven within 48 hours of the trip leaving her heartbroken.

I liked this story up until Max showed his true colors.  I agree with the character that Kari should have been truthful with him about her size, she had tried to do so many times in their daily emails but always deleted and changed the subject but from that came her feelings for Jeff who never criticized her size and never made fat jokes.  I do feel she had built up the “relationship” with Max in her head a bit more than it actually was, calling him his boyfriend before they had even met in person.

Overall, An Appetite for Passion is a well written contemporary romance with real, believable characters.

Rating: 3 ½ stars