What are your thoughts on a possible Charitable Auction?

This morning while I was trying to figure out what to do with the excess books I have on my bookcases and through out my house I had a small "brain child."  I just realized that we are heading into the season of giving and then I started thinking about how I could give.  Then that thought turned into wouldn't it be cool if I (if anyone else likes the idea and wants to team up I'm game) could come up with an event that Book Bloggers could participate in? The it came down to what hasn't been done (at least as far as I know anyway) in the book blogging community?  There are TONS of Giveaway Hops and Giveaways so those kind of got pushed to the side.  Then the more I started thinking about it the more I thought that it could still be a Giveaway but in addition to a cool prize you get to help someone else out too. Like a charitable auction maybe?  An unconventional giveaway :)  Bid on a prize and the winner's winning bid goes to their choice of charity or library?!

Then that turned into IF I were to do something like this how exactly would it work?  Would it be strictly bookish related things or could the items be anything?  How would I "advertise" the event (since I'm starting over and I'm a small fish in a great big pond)?  Would anyone out there even want to donate items?  Is it even a good idea to being with?  And that's just the tip of the iceberg.  I'll spare you the full length novel diatribe of questions I came up with.

So what are your thoughts bloggers?  Is this something that you would participate in?  Is this something you would consider donating too?  Let me hear it peeps! :)

Have a great day!

Feature Idea's

So after viewing several WOW's this week that hosted sequels to books that I have sitting on my TBR bookcase. I've been kicking around the idea of hosting a feature where you the readers/followers of the blog will get to choose my next read and help me unclutter my shelves. I haven't thought of a catchy name for it yet and I haven't decided when I'm going to start it yet but it is most definately in the works. I'm even throwing around the idea of giving away some of the chosen books after I read them.

Another feature I've been kicking around is "Laci Recommends." For this feature I'm getting a little bit personal and letting my furbaby take over the blog for a day. I used to do a similar feature on my old blog and I really enjoyed doing it so I'll be bringing it back. I think until I get some more content up on the blog it will be a once every 2 weeks feature but after that it will be a weekly feature. 

I'm also kicking around an idea for a once a week (maybe) personal feature. Where y'all can learn a little bit more about me and my other hobbies outside of reading. I guess the idea for this feature came to me while reading a Bloggiesta mini-challenge, where someone commented about losing the "personal side" to her blog. I don't want my blog to turn into book blog "robot" and I definately don't want it to feel impersonal either.

I'm looking forward to feedback/discussion on these idea's. Please feel free to share your thoughts on these idea's in the comment section below.

Stacking the Shelves #1

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga of Tynga's Reviews.  This is our opportunity to show off all the lovely books that we got during the week.  Please feel free to leave links to your STS/IMM in the comments below and I'll drop by and check it out :)

Summary (from goodreads): Sean (Right-Hook) Reilly knows a few things about himself. One, he's the middle-weight boxing champion of the world with an undefeated record. Two, women find his cocky persona, chiseled biceps, and inked body sexy. Also, the fact that it's known that he doesn't do relationships only adds to his sex appeal. And three, he's Irish, proud of it, and a member of the Braithreachas Don Saol, a branch of the Irish mafia and king pins of the drug cartel taking over the streets of Cleveland.

Connor Doyle(aka Connie) the boss and leader of the Braithreachas Don Saol, has been like a father to Sean, taking him under his wing and teaching him how to survive on the streets after the death of his parents. Sean has never been ungrateful, but has always wanted one thing...

More. More to live for. More to fight for. More to believe in. A chance at a future without drugs or guns. A chance at a future without wondering which day will be his last.

There's only one problem with that. You live by the braithreachas. You die by the braithreachas. And Sean knows whether Connie considers him to be family or not, the only way he'll be leaving the braithreachas is in a body bag.

Hadlee Flax has had a year to overcome her issues. After almost being raped and brutalized, she's putting her best foot forward, seeing a therapist, and has even(with some persuasion from her best friend, Lara) enrolled in self defense classes. And she's doing well moving on with her life until she meets the dark, and conflicted Irish boxing champion of the world, Sean Reilly.

Hadlee is immediately drawn to the gorgeous, cold, and mysterious man who speaks with a slight Irish brogue. She soon learns that there is much more to him than his darkened gaze, cool demeanor, and body covered in tattoos. He's not the type of man she thought he was. And Hadlee finds herself doing something she never thought she would do in the last year...

Falling for a guy.

Falling for Sean Reilly. A man who is on the path to becoming a boxing legend.

One thing Hadlee doesn't know is the other part of Seans' life. His life of drug running, and killing. Or the fact that when he's not boxing he's walking the streets with a gat tucked into the back of his loose jeans, and glancing over his shoulder at every turn.

But it doesn't take Hadlee long to learn that some attractions and relationships can be fatal.

And sometimes...

They just might be worth fighting for

Book Review ~ Virgin River (Virgin River #1) by Robyn Carr

Title: Virgin River
Author: Robyn Carr
Series: Virgin River #1
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Source: Personal Purchase
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Sexual Meter: sex scenes, acts of sensuality

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Synopsis

“Wanted: Midwife/nurse practitioner in Virgin River, population six hundred. Make a difference against the backdrop of towering California redwoods and crystal-clear rivers. Rent-free cabin included.”

When the recently widowed Melinda Monroe sees this ad she quickly decides that the remote mountain town of Virgin River might be the perfect place to escape her heartache, and to reenergize the nursing career she loves. But her high hopes are dashed within an hour of arriving: the cabin is a dump, the roads are treacherous and the local doctor wants nothing to do with her. Realizing she’s made a huge mistake, Mel decides to leave town the following morning.
But a tiny baby, abandoned on a front porch, changes her plans…and a former marine cements them into place.
Melinda Monroe may have come to Virgin River looking for escape, but instead she finds her home.
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Review

I downloaded the first 4 books of the Virgin River series onto my Nook a long time ago. I just hadn’t gotten around to reading them until just recently. Then I’ve been in a reading/reviewing dry spell. So now here is my review, better late than never

Mel Monroe moves to Virgin River after the death of her husband to help out the aging town doctor. When she get’s there she finds that the Doc wants nothing to do with her and is trying to force her out. She also meets Jack Sheridan, bar owner, former Marine and overall good guy. Just watching Jack and Mel fall in love is so much fun. Add in all the secondary characters that make Virgin River what it is and you are in for an endearing and sometimes comical read.

The drama that is added to this story and the authenticity of the midwife scene’s really made me enjoy this book even more. I guess my only quirk with the book was that at some points I just felt that there was a little bit too much information being provided. I also thought that in some of the scenes with Jack and Mel there was a tich to much “cheese” added.

Overall, Virgin River is a great start to this series and I’ve already continued on. I’m on the 6th book in the series and I’ve only found 1 book in the 6 I’ve been through that I didn’t care for at all. Please check out this series. It’s way worth the investment

Rating: B

18 and Over Book Blogger Follow ~ BDSM Themes

 

Question Of The Week: With all the hype about BDSM themed books lately thanks to the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy, what is one BDSM that you think is better? Or if you haven't read 50Shades, what is a BDSM themed book that you would recommend over it?
 

I haven't read Fifty Shades of Grey yet, though I do own the first book in E-book format.  Since I haven't read Fifty yet I am going to recommend ANY of Lorelei James' Rough Rider series.  The McKay's are good with not only their hands but also ropes, cuffs, popsicles as well as various pieces of fruit just to name a few things. 

Friday Follow #1

Q: What do you hope to accomplish with your blog? Is it to one day become an author yourself, just for fun, maybe get some online attention, or maybe something very different?

 

I like to keep things simple.  My goal for both of my blogs (I also book blog at The Paranormal Palace) is to rebuild my readership after taking an extended book blogging vacation.  For me personally, this is a really fun hobby.  When it starts to feel like a job that is the point at which I need to re-evaluate things.  I guess part of what I love about book blogging is making new friends who share a common interest with me which is books.  If I turn into a "big" book blogger, so be it.  If not it's all good.

 

What about you? What are some of your blogging goals?

 

If you are a new follower please let me know.  I look forward to making new book blogging friends :) 

 

 

Giving Chase (Chase Brothers #1) by Lauren Dane

Giving Chase by Lauren Dane
"A plate of Chili Cheese Fries + pants = True Love"

Title: Giving Chase
Author: Lauren Dane
Series: Chase Brothers #1
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Erotica
Source: Personal E-Book purchase
Rating: A-
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Sexual Meter: Sex scene's, acts of sensuality, graphic language and violence
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I really enjoyed this book very much. I downloaded this book onto my Nook on a whim and once I finished this book I automatically downloaded the next 3 books in the series. It was just that good and that dang HOT!

Our heroine Maggie has just been dumped by yet another boyfriend, ha ha sucks to be him, and is out with her girlfriends, Liv and Dee, at The Pumphouse when the Chase brothers walk in for their weekly pool night. The Chase brothers are the one group of guys in the town of Petal, GA that EVERY woman wants to get there hands on, LITERALLY, Maggie included. A little run in with Sheriff Shane Chase and a plate of Chili Cheese fries in her lap, a bat crap crazy mother/sister combination and a creepy stalker starts off a whirlwind of excitement in this book.

Shane Chase has been burned by women before. Needless to say his attitude towards Maggie in the beginning is well, he climbed on his menstrual cycle and tried to run her ass over. But after apologizing Shane decides that he wants to take Maggie out on a date, do the casual thing. All goes well for a while. But then the good looking nutcase implodes is own relationship.

In steps little brother Kyle to clean up the mess. Yeah White Knight! Kyle is the exact opposite of Shane. He befriends Maggie first then goes about pursuing a relationship with her. And BOY HOWDY do things get HOT when the smexing starts.

The one thing that I really didn't care for in this book was Maggie's mother and sister. Can you say emotionally abusive much?! I think that all the drama that's thrown in, Kyle's mom Polly or Tsunami Polly as I like to call her, and the budding romance between Kyle and Maggie even out all the emotional abuse.

Overall, I was really happy with the first book in this series and I most definitely continued on with it. If you haven't checked out this series please do!

Book Review ~ Kissin' Tell (Rough Riders #13) by Lorelei James

Title: Kissin' Tell
Author: Lorelei James
Genre: Contemporary Romance/Erotica
Series: Rough Riders #13
Source: Personal E-Book Purchase


She once led him around by a string. Now he’s the one holding the reins.

Georgia Hotchkiss swore wild horses couldn’t drag her back to Sundance, Wyoming. So it’s ironic she’s forced to take a rodeo PR job in her former hometown—right before her ten-year class reunion. The only thing worse than facing her cheating ex-husband and his pregnant wife? Showing up to the reunion without a date. Fate smiles on her when she runs into her former classmate and current cowboy hottie Tell McKay. With his infectious smile and fun-loving ways—not to mention his banging body—he’s the perfect solution to her problem.

Tell McKay had it so bad for Hot Lips Hotchkiss during high school that he let her run roughshod over him. But he is no longer that easily manipulated boy—these days he’s earned a reputation with the ladies that lives up to the McKay last name. He agrees to escort her to the reunion with one stipulation; that Georgia proves she has left behind the goody-goody cheerleader of the past—by sharing his bed.

Their sexual chemistry flashes so bright, they barely notice that the reunion has come and gone, and now they’re tangled up in another dreaded “R” word—relationship. But if Tell wants to get the girl this go-around, he’ll have to come up with a whole new set of knots to tie up her heartstrings.

Warning: Contains a sweet talkin’ wild cowboy with a wagon load of crazy-hot sex fantasies and the mad bedroom skills to back up his claims.

Review:

This is one of my favorite series that I've come across recently. My mom turned me onto the McKay's and I haven't stopped reading since. Those McKay men sure are something. Though I will be honest...This is not my most favorite book in the series. I'm not saying it's a bad book because it's not at all...It just didn't live up to some of the expectations that I had going into this book.

I really liked our main character's Tell McKay and Georgia Hotchkiss as individuals. As a couple I was pretty lukewarm on them. As you can read from the synopsis, Tell and Georgia have history...history that they aren't afraid to use against each other. There were times when I felt that some of their issues were dealt with in a pretty juvenile manner as well. Though I will admit that once Tell figured out he was playing for keeps their were a fair amount of really sweet moments between the two.

There are plenty of cameo appearances by the majority of the McKay men, which always makes me a happy girl. Even when they are doing dumb things, which they are pretty good at. Then there is the addition of family drama on both sides, which makes things interesting for sure. Then there are the misconceptions...Not everyone is the same person they were in High School and sometimes people forget that.

Overall, this was, in my opinion anyway, a decent installment of this series. I'll definitely be continuing to read the rest of the Rough Riders series that's for sure. It's hard to imagine that there are only 2 McKay's left. If you haven't read this series I highly recommend it. It's unbelievably HOT and I'm not just talking about the guys either.

Rating: B-

Book Review ~ Skin Deep (I-Team 5.5) by Pamela Clare

Title: Skin Deep
Author: Pamela Clare
Series: I-Team 5.5
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense
Source: Personal E-book purchase
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Sexual Meter: Sex scenes, acts of sensuality
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Broken on the inside
Megan Hunter has worked hard to get back on her feet, leaving the nightmare of her teenage years behind. The last thing she wants or needs in her life is a man. But when she is attacked by someone from her past, a scarred stranger intervenes, saving her life and that of her little girl. Looks can be deceiving, for despite the man’s rough appearance, she feels safe with him. And for the first time in her life, she knows the stirrings of desire.
Broken on the outside
Nathaniel West paid a high price serving with the Marines in Afghanistan. He returned to his family’s ranch in the Colorado mountains to heal—and be alone. Disfigured as he is, he has put all thoughts of sex and romance aside. But something about Megan brings him back to life, heats his blood, makes him feel like a man again. As danger pursues her, and the truth about her past is revealed, he vows to protect her—and to heal her wounded spirit.
But confronting the past is never easy—especially when it’s carrying a gun. Megan will have to learn to trust Nate to survive and to claim a passion that is much more than … Skin Deep.
Includes a Bonus Story, Marc & Julian Make a Beer Run
Ride along with Marc, Julian, Zach, Gabe, Reece, Nate, and Joaquin as a beer run turns out to be more than they bargained for.

I saw this book as I checking out the lendable books that were available from my Nook Friends. The premise of the story sounded so good that I just had to have it. I’ve read one other book in the I-Team series and I really enjoyed it very much. If you haven’t checked out this series I highly recommend it.

We actually meet Megan in an earlier book in the series, one that I haven’t read yet and I actually didn’t know this until I was reading reviews for this book on Goodreads. Megan has her own set of demons that she’s dealing with most of them stem from events that happened to her when she was younger. Megan is also a single mother who is trying to do right by her little girl Emily. But Megan does have 1 big problem and his name is Donny.

Nate West is a former Marine who is dealing with the burns that came from an IED. He has always admired Megan from afar but when Megan is attacked in the parking lot on her way to pick up Emily from pre-school he steps in and rescues her. After reading a little bit about Nate you learn that he’s been “burned” by women before and he really wasn’t ready to through his hat in the ring yet when it came to dating but Megan saw past his burns and he eventually gets over himself.

The romance between Nate and Megan starts off pretty slowly and escalates pretty quickly once Megan takes Nate up on his open invitation. I really enjoyed all the secondary characters that are in the book very much. Every character adds a little something extra to the book to make it just that much more appealing. The drama and suspense kept building through out the story as well. The only issue that I had with the book was you know at the beginning of the book who the bad guy is. That slightly detracted from the story for me.

Rating: B