Monday, October 27, 2014

Review: "Dark Layers (Volume One)" by A. L. Gray

I know it's been a while, but life has been way too damn hectic to spend time for myself and read. I've actually been asked to review volume one of the "Dark Layers" series by A.L. Gray and here is my review (I literally just copy-and-pasted it, so it's a little different than how I would normally write it):

Clicking on the cover will take you to its Goodreads page.

Prepare to be obsessed and possessed by the most unprecedented love.

Synopsis - 18 + Only

Knowledge is Power to everyone who seeks it
The beginning of knowledge is the discovery of something we do not understand.
Frank Herbert (1920 - 1986)

Law graduate Anile has recently finished university. She's now ready to venture into the working world. Anile has suffered two discriminating and scrutinizing interviews but still remains sanguine with her attitude. She refuses to let anyone bring her down.
She reaches Darks Lawyers for her third interview - she's optimistic, but nervous.
While waiting for her interview, she meets a man who's dangerously beautiful. He's enigmatic, prepossessing and smart beyond any of her expectations - she has no idea who he really is, and she runs out of time before she can find out his name.
Anile inevitably finds him - Elijah Darks. He wants to possess her and lure her into darkness - he wants to indulge in his desires, as well as show Anile her own.
Are his intentions good or bad - is he good or bad? He has secrets, he has an agenda, but is there more to his obsession with Anile than meets the eye?
She cannot seem to find any information about him, he's reticent - and so is the internet - but she cannot help her desire for him, regardless of the unknown.
The danger, love, and trust issues ahead of her life are going to be challenging - will exploring a deviant man be the making or breaking of her?
Funny and smart beyond your expectations.
Read it for yourself.

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4.75 out of 5 stars

*this book contains mature subject material (i.e., politics, symbolism, religion, sexually suggestive comments, BDSM, explicit scenes, etc.) and is intended for an older audience with an open-mind.

Wow.

Just wow.

There isn’t really much to say about the first book in A.L. Gray’s “Dark Layers” series except that it isn’t at all what I expected.  At first, I was a little skeptical because it seemed to start off similar to “Fifty Shades” but it quickly took a turn and pulled you along.

Anile Gooden and Elijah Darks are two amazingly developed characters that instantly have you dying to learn more about them from the moment you begin reading.  Anile is your typical sweet, innocent, gorgeous blonde trying to make her way through the world. She’s strong, witty, and definitely hiding something.  Elijah is the handsome, mysterious, temperamental billionaire every woman wishes she had. He has a captivating mind that works in cryptic ways and is most definitely haunted by something. Together, they are just this incredibly energized pair, full of constant ups and downs and in-betweens.

Gray writes the story in a way that really makes you wonder what kind of person Elijah is through his interesting choice in quotes, his preference in decor, and his constant mood-swings. You also can’t help but wonder just what it is about Anile that has Elijah so enthralled (and why it isn’t you that he is completely taken by…come on, just for once let it be me?). As much as I hate his mood-swings because I just want him to be the perfect, caring, loving man that he is, Elijah’s multiple personalities seem to dig deep into his past and his haunting secrets, making him that much more desirable.  The moments where his loving mood comes out, it is normal to be completely jealous of Anile because you’ll want to be on the receiving end of those swoon-worthy comments and sexual suggestions. Trust me. Which brings me back to my question: Why Anile and not me?

The setting takes place in London, England, and the writing style reflects that through the vocabulary. If you’re familiar with common English terms, you should be fine. However, if you’re not used to the way that the English speak or some of the words they use, like ‘lift’ and ‘underground’, then you may need a dictionary near by. Also, this means Elijah has an accent. An English accent. A very sexy and mouth-wateringly mesmerizing English accent. There are quite a few mythological references throughout the book, specifically the Greek gods and goddesses, and some background knowledge of them would be recommended. I must admit, I had to search a few of the names myself.  If you don’t search the names, some things might not make sense to you at all, and because I gave up constantly searching for the significance of the gods and goddesses after a while, I feel that it may have compromised the overall significance of having them there in the first place. This is also the reason why I did not rate it a full five stars. Had A.L. Gray included some background about the mythological beings instead of having the reader research them, it would have been an easy five stars.

Overall, I loved “Dark Layers (Volume One)” as I could not put it down…not even for a minute or two. I literally began it this morning on the way to class and finished it on the way home. I’m actually about to begin “Dark Layers (Volume Two)" because I don’t think I can wait until tomorrow to see what Anile and Elijah have in store. It was literally a page-turner and kept me intrigued with every single page because it isn’t at all what you would expect. There are just so many themes and concepts that A.L. Gray took risks with and I believe they did her and “Dark Layers” great justice, giving the story those twists and turns that make it what it is.
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After that review, you know you want to find out more about Elijah...don't you. ;) Get it here:


A.L. Gray is also offering a free PDF version on this site for anyone that is willing to write a honest review of "Dark Layers (Volume One)".

OH...I feel like I should also mention that there's a sneak peek of the book on her site as well, so feel free to have a look at chapter one. ;)
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If you buy ALL four volumes of "Dark Layers" by A.L. Gray on Amazon now, you can get it for FREE! I'm not sure how long the sale lasts, but it's well worth it, so HURRY and grab it now from here:



Don't forget to share with your friends and fellow book lovers!

~BB♡


UPDATED: November 19th, 2014

SO, I was talking to a friend about this series and went to give her the link from here. I just realized that these old links no longer work. Seems that the four volumes have now been combined into two books and both books are bought together as a box set.

Also, apparently only Amazon Canada has the new format available for Kindle. UK and US have only paper backs available, and only the second book. Sorry! If you find any other links, feel free to post them in the comments please!

Here is the new link:

Amazon Canada






Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Teaser: "Something like Redemption" by Monica James

For those of you who have read my last post from yesterday and for those of you who haven't, here's a little tease (or two) from Monica James' new release, "Something like Redemption":



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If you haven't already entered the Rafflecopter Giveaway from my last post, go there now and enter to win one of three prizes from Monica James!

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Haven't gotten "Something like Redemption" by Monica James yet? No worries! Here are the links:


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Don't forget to pass this amazing new release on to your book loving friends!

Love always,  
~BB♡ 

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

New Release: "Mr. Beautiful" by R.K. Lilley

So, I log on to my computer to do some work for school, and what do I see?


After a long day of work, that was definitely a sight for sore eyes. For those of you who are not familiar with "Mr. Beautiful", it is the fourth book in R.K. Lilley's Up in the Air series. You DO need to read the first three books, I assume, mainly because it's the same storyline told through a different point-of-view. Aside from that, it is an amazing series and James Cavendish will have you drooling...literally.

Clicking the cover will take you to its Goodreads page.

 From R.K. Lilley's blog: Mr. Beautiful will be a male point-of-view novel for the Up in the Air series that tells the story of James, and Stephan, and their unwavering love of a woman that would make the two men family. Follow all of the characters from the Up in the Air universe in the years after the trilogy, with POVs from James, Stephan, Frankie, Tristan, and Akira.  
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I've done a review for the first book in the series on a previous blog I've had, but I can't wait until I get the chance to reread all the books in the series to write a fresh review here on BBBB. Honestly, these books are to die for. It makes you consider becoming a flight attendant. Trust me.

I highly recommend reading the first three books, like NOW, so I've decided to give you easy access to all the purchase links. However, there is a challenge: 
  
I dare you not to fall in love with James Cavendish. 

 Clicking on the cover will take you to its Goodreads page.

 When reserved flight attendant Bianca gets one look at billionaire hotel owner James Cavendish, she loses all of her hard-won composure. For a girl who can easily juggle a tray of champagne flutes at 35,000 feet in three inch heels, she finds herself shockingly weak-kneed from their first encounter. The normally unruffled Bianca can't seem to look away from his electrifying turquoise gaze. They hold a challenge, and a promise, that she finds impossible to resist, and she is a girl who is used to saying no and meaning it.

Bianca is accustomed to dealing with supermodels and movie stars in her job as a first class flight attendant, but James Cavendish puts them all to shame in the looks department. If only it were just his looks that she found so irresistible about the intimidating man, Bianca could have ignored his attentions. But what tempts her like never before is the dominant pull he seems to have over her from the moment they meet, and the promise of pleasure, and pain, that she reads in his eyes.

This book is intended for ages 18 and up.

Get "In Flight" (Up in the Air 1) by R.K. Lilley:


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Clicking the cover will take you to its Goodreads page.

James and Bianca’s tumultuous story continues in the sequel to In Flight.

James has initiated Bianca into a dark and drugging world of passion and pain. He taught her about her own submissive, masochistic nature, and she fell swiftly and deeply in love with the undeniably charming and impossibly beautiful Mr. Cavendish, but a painful misunderstanding and the return of the brutally violent demon of her past have combined to overwhelm Bianca, and, confused and hurt, she pushes him away.

It’s been over a month since the shocking attack that hospitalized her, and since she told a distraught James that she needed space, but her feelings haven’t gone away. Even she knew that it was only a matter of time before he would cast his spell on her again…

Get "Mile High" (Up in the Air 2) by R.K. Lilley:


Clicking the cover will take you to its Goodreads page.
 James and Bianca’s story draws to a close in the explosive conclusion to the Up In The Air Trilogy.

After a short but earnest courtship, Bianca can no longer deny her feelings for James, and though she’s tried her hardest, she can’t help but see that he cares deeply for her, as well. In a completely uncharacteristic move, she has put aside her misgivings and agreed to live with the enigmatic billionaire. Is her leap of faith the beginning of something wonderful, or is it too much, too fast?

As James and Bianca feel a growing need for each other that neither can deny, circumstances beyond their control intervene, trying to tear them apart. Amidst the ever mounting threat of a monster who wants Bianca dead, and the constant pitfalls of an indiscreet past that James can’t seem to escape, can these two passionate lovers manage to find their happily ever after?

Get "Grounded" (Up in the Air 3) by R.K. Lilley:


New Release & Giveaway: "Something like Redemption" by Monica James

Hey lovely readers! I just wanted to let you know that I've decided to participate in a Book Blog tour with a lot of other wonderful book blogs in order to promote Monica James's new release, "Something like Redemption".  So, without further ado, please welcome Monica's second book in her Something like Normal Series:


Synopsis

Some secrets are best left untold...
Mia Lee escaped to the sleepy little town of South Boston, Virginia with the intent to be normal, and to find a place she could call home. 
Sadly for Mia, her past has come back with a vengeance, and forced her to flee yet again.
This time, however, she’s not alone…
Mia and Quinn are on the run, fleeing for their lives, while attempting to prove their innocence for a crime they did not commit.
But with a tainted past like Mia’s, it was inevitable that one day, it was going to catch up to her in a way she never fathomed.
One ill-fated decision leads to an explosion of unimaginable events, and now Mia and Quinn are not only running for their lives, but also, for their redemption.



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Buy Links

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Author Bio
Monica James spent her youth devouring the works of Anne Rice, William Shakespeare and Emily Dickinson.
When she is not writing, Monica is busy running her own business, but she always finds a balance between the two. 
She enjoys writing honest, heartfelt and turbulent stories, hoping to leave an imprint on her readers, and her inspiration comes from every day life. She is an Amazon best selling author in the US, UK, Canada and Australia.
Monica James resides in Melbourne, Australia, with her wonderful family, and menagerie of animals.
She is slightly obsessed with cats, chucks and lip gloss, and secretly wishes she was a ninja on the weekends.


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Other books by Monica James

Amazon US              Amazon US              Amazon US
Amazon UK             Amazon UK              Amazon UK
Amazon CA             Amazon CA              Amazon CA
Amazon AU             Amazon AU              Amazon AU
B&N                         B&N                         B&N
Kobo                         Kobo                         Kobo
Smashwords              Smashwords              Smashwords

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Rafflecopter Giveaway

If you cannot see the giveaway on this blog page, feel free to use this link to take you to the giveaway page.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Please make sure to share this page with your friends and fellow book lovers!

Lots of love, 
~BB♡
 

Thursday, October 2, 2014

Review: "Lascivious" by Shea Swain

As much as I try not to, this review might include some hints that may lead to spoilers, sooooo read at your own risk.

Clicking on the cover will take you to its Goodreads page.


Lascivious: adjective-[luh-siv-ee-uh s] - inclined to lustfulness; wanton; lewd.

Reece, a good guy with a sweet chunk of bad boy mixed in, was hot as Hell. But to Lilly, Reece was just Reece. To see him as anything else was silly. He would always be her older brother's annoying best friend. That was until the day Reece had carried her to her bedroom, lost his balance, and his fingers slipped under her loose shorts, and into her panty-less crotch. For Lilly, it had awakened and confirmed her darkest desires.

She wanted more.

When Lilly was left in his care, Reece had the best intentions of being a responsible "Big Brother", and he had done a great job. For Reece, the slip up (or was it slip-in?) had changed everything. Over the years Lilly had grown from an innocent 13-year old into an 18-year old wet dream walking. She had already been skating on the edge of his self control, wearing little to nothing around the house. One accidental but red-hot touch…and Reece had to release while conjuring an image of Lilly naked and beneath him.

How in the hell was he going to resist little Lilly now, when he wanted inside her so badly?


Warning: Mature content and language not intended for anyone under 18 years of age. All characters are 18years or older.


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Sooooooo...where to begin. Let's start with:

HOLY SHIT!

I mentioned that I would probably start reading "Lascivious" by Shea Swain in a post a few days ago, even though I'm still reading "Let Me Love You" by Megan Smith, and well, I did. I ended up reading it last night.

First off, it is exactly what I thought it would be like, yet it was completely unpredictable at the same time. Like, come on, that summary gives away practically everything, so the storyline is pretty much a given...but what you don't expect is all the sudden twists and turns and loop-de-loops that keep you on your toes.

At first, the story was pretty much your "girl falls in love with older brother's best friend", but it doesn't play out as it typically would and it sort of turns into "girl falls in love with the man that has her under his care" as it says in the summary. Because it's in the third person point-of-view, you get to see both Lilly's and Reece's side of the struggle while trying to stay apart. Sometimes it's a little frustrating because there is absolutely nothing holding them back from being together but their own stubbornness. When they finally get together, because you know they will, it is so...very...hot. It's intense. Shea writes with such detail that it literally leaves nothing to the imagination, well, the parts that shouldn't be.

From then on is when all predictability goes downhill. There is just so much that happens with Lilly, Reece and a few of the supporting characters, it's insane.  I was constantly like "Whoa!" "Really?" "What the...?" "Are you SERIOUS?" "Holy shit!" "Wow!" "Nice....." and a few other vocables that can't really be typed. 

Shea definitely stays true to the book's title, "Lascivious", as it is truly "lustful, wanton, and lewd". Lilly and Reece literally experience the ultimate fantasies that are so sexy, hot and incredibly enviable...if you like that sort of thing. But I can honestly tell you that I may not have ever considered something like this before now and well, I am definitely having second thoughts. There are a few things that I wouldn't do just because it's a little taboo, even for me, but hey, whatever floats your boat. Regardless, it makes for a very awesome read.

The only things I may not have liked are very minor and personal opinions, so they're very minor. The first thing is that it is really hard to read in the third person point-of-view because of the constant perspective change. I've always preferred first person because it allows the reader to get into the heads of the characters, and gives you a well-rounded understanding of what is going on. Shea's third person did give insight into Lilly and Reece's minds, but to me, I felt it wasn't enough. I like to "live" through the character. Another thing is the choice of words used during "certain" scenes. In my opinion, I don't like using the words "cunt" and "twat", so meh, it just didn't appeal to me. Lastly, it was way too short. I feel that Shea could totally have expanded and made it much longer. This would also give the story a chance to develop and flow together more. Because it was so short, I felt that the scenes were a little random and choppy and didn't flow so well. Don't get me wrong, they were still amazing scenes, but I just think there could have been more of the background story instead of just the nitty-gritty. I understand it was just a novella, and that the title and summary pretty much set you up to know exactly what was entailed, but I just like "more" (as I've said so many times).

Alright, I think I've gone on and on and should probably stop before this turns into a novel itself. Overall, I loved the book. Definitely one of the more mature books because of its focus on sex, but amazing nonetheless. If you're one of those "Fifty Shades of Grey" fans or other erotica books, than you'll definitely love this.  
  
In the mood for your imagination to run wild? Get "Lascivious" by Shea Swain here:
Amazon US 
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Thanks for reading, and don't forget to share BBBB with any booklovers you know!

-BB♡