Monday, December 9, 2013

A Book A Week Giveaway: Week #4 (Winner's Choice)




Giveaway Rules: You must leave a comment telling me what book/books you would love to win. Then enter it into the Rafflecopter thingy and do the other stuff if you choose for more entries. This one is a little different only cus I wanna know what you guys want to read :D


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sunday, December 8, 2013

What's Happening This Week!!!

Hey folks, hope you guys had a splendid week. Just a few weeks until the Holidays and my Christmas tree is barren, my boys are probably trying to understand whats happening and why there aren't any presents. I suck at shopping this year and will most likely get caught in the rush and get annoyed and swear up and down that I'll never let it happen again. To those of you celebrating Christmas, did you get all/most of your shopping done? or are you like me and is completely behind?

Lots of awesome coming this week, both giveaways and reviews thanks to my awesome reviewers that is because once again I got stuck on STEREK fanfic and I can't walk away *sigh*. I am hell bent of finishing all the books I have to review before 2014 *fingers crossed*.

Without further rambling, here's whats causing a pants losing this week...


Reviews:
The Impetuous Afflictions of Jonathan Wolfe by Charlie Cochet (Whuppsy)
Flying Colors by Clare London (SinChan)
The Little Things by Jay Northcote (Whuppsy)
Bad Idea by Damon Suede (DarienMoya)
Baja Honey Moon by Roland Graeme (Whuppsy)
Fish and Ghost by Rhys Ford (DarienMoya)
Vamp by Rob Rosen (Whuppsy)
The Promise of Snow by Elizah J. Davis (DarienMoya)




Guest Post & Giveaways:
Boy Band Blog Tour
Lou Harper Giveaway ( Secrets and Ink)



Other Post:
A Book A Week Giveaway



~Have A Great Week~

Thursday, December 5, 2013

Review: Prodigal Wolf by LE Franks & Sara York

Reviewed by Whuppsy
Prodigal Wolf (Wolves and Waves #1) by LE Franks & Sara York
MLR Press
Novel: 199pgs
2 Pants Off

Blurb:
Carlo has a problem, after years away he's finally returned to his South Carolina roots - but instead of peace and quiet all he's found are nosy wolves, romancing twinks, an out of control roommate threatening to expose them all, and a demanding Alpha who just won't go away.

All his Alpha wants is to show Carlo who he really is, and where he belongs. But Carlo Montefiore is a man fighting his instincts, memories, and responsibilities. His beachside home was supposed to provide sanctuary, but pack politics, unruly roommates, and human neighbors at risk of discovering that shifters exist, are making life anything but peaceful. Twinks Kevin and Grady have their own problems. Two college freshmen are no match for a couple of hot wolves who like to play chase. If they don't stop playing games they'll miss the biggest thing to happen in their young lives---love.


Review
Carlo Montefiore comes home to South Carolina after being gone for four years of college. The problem is that when he left, he felt betrayed from the one whom he cared about the most, Angelo. Carlo’s father had passed away and Angelo took the reins of the Pack when Carlo was too young to take the reins. Angelo gave the reign to Carlo when he had to go into the military. He comes back and sends Carlo off to college as that was Constantine’s, Carlos’ father’s wish. Carlo didn’t’ want to go and he left hurt and angry. During his four years of college, he didn’t come home or spend any time with the Pack members who went to see him.

His 25th birthday is approaching and it’s now time for him to take back control of the Pack and become the Alpha that he’s been born to be. The problem, Carlo is still upset about what happened and even though he’s come home, he wants nothing to do with the Pack Leadership even though a Montefiore has always been Pack Alpha.

I can’t really tell you much about the story because; this is just a big ol’ jumble. There were sooo many characters being thrown into this story that I couldn’t even tell you what really is going on. I get that the authors wanted to get you excited about the new series, Wolves and Waves, but really this fell way short.

I tried to understand Carlo. I mean, I could understand to a point where he was coming from, but there was so much that was implied and not given. Again, to get you excited about reading the series, but really it was so very vague that I couldn’t even fathom what’s going on in his head. There was so much miscommunication and outright evasions. Still brooding over the past and not making an effort to get answers or even talk about it. He runs and evades even speaking to Angelo.

I get where Angelo was coming from, he was fulfilling the request of the man whom he loved and respected. He knows that Carlo is his mate, but won’t force the issue. He just wants to do the right thing, by everyone. Angelo I liked as I understood him. He was a developed character.

There were Carlos’ roommates, Joey and Ted, Joey who grew up with Carlo and Ted who met Carlo in California. Ted who has secrets of his own, that again they were vague about. Ted and Joey, I understood and liked. Kevin and Grady, the human twinks on vacation in the house next door. I even understood their characters; I’m just not sure why they were there. They actually didn’t bring anything to the plot.

Now, I will say that this was a sexy read. Kevin, Grady, Ted, Joey, Kevin and even Carlo got in on some action. That was fun. I’m all about some good sex and good sex with a plot is a plus.

If you want a confusing book that will keep you off your game, this is the book for you. It ended in a cliffhanger that I hope will be answered in the following books. I hope that the author’s next venture in this series will focus more on main characters. I don’t mind getting to know more than the two main characters, but I’d like to be able to at least connect with them in some way. I didn’t feel connected to anyone really.

I am cautiously hoping that the next book and those following will be better. I hope that they develop the characters and bring more of what the plot is and not be so angsty. I’d like to see where they are going with this series. I am intrigued enough to even want to read the next book. I want to see what happens. I’m funny that way. I am ever hopeful that the authors can bring this together and give their fans what they want a great story where we can connect to the characters that we’re reading. That we want and HEA for the main characters, that they are more focused and less giving all over the place. That’s what readers want. I truly hope that they give that to us. I want that. I want to read the next book and be drawn into the story and be sad when it’s over. I didn’t feel much for this one just confused.

2 Pants Off

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Review: Danny's Dom by Nick Hasse

Reviewed by Whuppsy
Danny's Dom (Talon's Keep #2) by Nick Hasse
Self-Published
Short Story: 72pgs
2.5 Pants Off

Blurb:
Danny has always known he was submissive. So when a tall, dark, handsome man saves him from an abusive encounter in New Orleans, who’s to question the knight in shining armor? Fast forward two years and Danny’s man is now his Dom, providing for his every need. But just what kind of business keeps Him away so often and calls Him off in the middle of the day? What makes Danny’s Master keep secrets from him? When things are not adding up, questions arise and it’s time to learn the truth. Who is Danny’s Dom?

Only finding out the truth just may surprise him with an element of chill to add to their already smoldering one.


Review:
Danny meets his Master after his boyfriend at the time, who is abusive to Danny, drags him out of their home for what he’s made for dinner.  His Master pulls him off of Danny and Danny follows his new Master to his car and thus starts his new life.

The next we see of Danny, he’s been with his Master for 2 years.  How his life has changed, he’s in school and has a job.  He takes care of their home.  He’s sad at times that his Master is gone for work and he’s alone more than he’d like to be.  But, he’s so happy when his Master comes home and gives him what he needs.

Ice, Danny’s Master isn’t what you’d call a “normal guy”.  He’s from the land of Fairie.  He’s a Warrior of Winter. He’s been living a dual life, if you will. He loves his pet, Danny and tries to keep his other life far away from him. This works, until someone who wants to hurt Ice makes a play for Danny.

This novella is short and very to the point. I would have loved for this story to be longer and to get more information on these guys.  I’d love to hear more about the war in the Fairie Land. I didn’t really feel as if I got a chance to “know” who the characters are. I think that if this story was longer, that I wouldn’t feel that way.  As it was, I’m rather ambivalent about the story.  I mean, it’s good but there could have been so much more to the story.  I think the fact that there was no real character development, I’m unsure about how I feel about them.

I would say that if you want a quick read with no real angst and a happily ever after, this is the story for you.

I would add, that the dedication was really sweet at the beginning of the story.  It was really touching.

2.5 Pants Off

Review: To Serve the Count by Cassandra Pierce

Reviewed by Fehu
To Serve the Count (Proud to be a Vampire) by Cassandra Pierce
Less Than Press
Short Story
2.75 Pants Off

Blurb:
Cast out of his village when he is caught kissing another man, Rupert seeks refuge at the mysterious Castle Blutstark. But refuge means carrying out unusual duties for his new master, the enigmatic Count Kaspar, and he starts to wonder if Blutstark is a place of safety after all.




Review
Well written, but the characters were a bit too simplistic as was the plot.

The story was quite simple: a boy gets kicked out of his village and flees to a castle to find work. There is a vampire who takes notice of the boy and invites him to his bed and to be his blood donor. Said boy had a lover, who followed him, had known the lord to be a vampire, unlike the naive boy and who wants to take the vampires riches and kill him, by using the unsuspecting boy.

That is also what happened, very fast paced, no time left for a lot of explanations or normal human reactions. If you ever find out about vampires, would anyone, especially a boy from a backward village, be so blasé about it, in a historical time setting? I find that hard to believe!

Rupert, the boy or youth in question was generally acting a bit like a modern spoiled brat. He ran away from his home, the whole dialog with his father didn't have the historical feeling, his actions were too bold for a young character with his background and he could not have honestly expected anyone in a historical period after the French Revolution to be ok about gay tendencies, when people were hanged for such tendencies in the past!

I thought he took the whole vampires exist and why not just let the guy, you known a day drink your blood and have sex with him. There is fast and then there is swearing your love after a few days acquaintance, which happened here.

I liked the writing style, but the story and the characters just didn't have any depth and were very predictable.