Bind Me - Stacey Kennedy

Title: Bind Me (Pact of Seduction #1) (Novella)
Author: Stacey Kennedy
Format: Ebook won from Bitten By Paranormal Romance and Stacey Kennedy

From Goodreads:
Four best friends embrace their fantasies and make a pact of seduction to live out their deepest and darkest desires. The women place their lives in the hands of fate and one short straw declares Marley will be the first to awaken her secret wishes. 

Reed, a Dom at sex club Castle Dolce Vita, has lived the BDSM lifestyle for awhile, but has yet to find a submissive that suits him. That is until he meets Marley, a woman seeking to indulge her fantasies. 

As Reed guides her through a night of pleasure, Marley brings more to him than a perfect submissive--she stirs emotions in him long ago lost. By binding Marley, he runs up against his own limits, and now he has to choose between his self-protective barriers or surrendering to the wildfire Marley has reignited in his heart. 

Publisher's Note: This book contains explicit sexual situations, graphic language, and material that some readers may find objectionable: BDSM theme and elements, including spanking.


I had wanted to win this novella so very badly, and I did!! So thank you very much to Bitten By Paranormal Romance and Stacey Kennedy!! 

This was a deliciously naughty novella. Marley and her friends have decided life is boring. So one night while hanging out with eachother, they make a pact. A pact of seduction. They each tell a fantasy and promise to fulfill it. Then they draw straws, and Marley’s is shortest. She goes first. 

Marley’s fantasy is… BDSM! So they sign her up online at a website catering to the lifestyle. That very night Reed (or should we say, Master Reed) has given up his sub to another Dom so that she can get what she needs – already proving he is a sensitive (yet Dominant) man. Reed goes onto the same site and its lust and need at first sight when he sees Marley. He contacts her right away. She is as blown away over the phone and by his picture as he is by her, and they make plans to meet. 

Marley is new to the lifestyle and you can feel that as she waits in her car and then screws up the nerve to go into the sex club where they are to meet. Then there’s paperwork etc etc. But Reed puts her at ease, she isn’t embarrassed or nervous. She just wants to please him. 
I really enjoyed this story. It had the steamy bdsm sexual activity. 

There was a strong sense of duty, of doing right by the sub and by the Dom. You even get a little something more than lust, but I’m not going to tell you what! And really, anything beyond this point is a spoiler. But I definitely recommend this to anyone interested in adult reads, erotica, or BDSM. You will not be disappointed! 

Hey heyyyy, It's Sunday!

So this is where things stand right now, with Fictional Candy.  Currently there is the Thanks for the Books Hop happening right now.  If you haven't entered yet, make sure you do so.  You can win $10 gift card to Amazon or  Barnes & Noble!  And I've opened it internationally.  So as long as you can shop at Amazon or B&N, you can enter :) This giveaway is open until November 14, so make sure you tell your friends.  It's so easy to enter, just give me your name and email.  Of course I'd love you to follow, twitter, or facebook me, but its not required!   On this giveaway I am also trying out Google Docs for a form entry, versus the Rafflecopter I used for the Spooktacular Hop.  Finding out which one I like more.  I think Rafflecopter is easier and more efficient. But we will see :)

I am still debating when to do my kids book giveaway.  I have 3 books, and then 2 parenting books (which perhaps I should have read considering my daughter...) from Supernanny.  I'm also trying to think of a good title for the giveaway.  I'm going to give away both prizes... Maybe I'll get to that this week.

Also, little pet peeve here... Don't you just hate when you have found a blog and you think, this is awesome, and you start reading it then... wait, what?  They haven't posted in 6 months?  A year?  Darnit!!!  I just had that happen to me - again - this morning.  So disappointing!

I had a very lucky week this week.  I won a total of 7 books *and* a gift card which allowed me to get 3 more books.  That is so entirely exciting for me!!  Yay!!

So I guess that's it for now... Oh wait, another thing.  Does anyone out there still read VC Andrews?  I have two brand new hardcovers (#1 & #2 in some series, I forget which one off the top of my head) that I'm thinking about doing a giveaway.

I am also getting some Harlequin books together for another giveaway!!

Oh, and I signed up for the Gift Card Hop in December with I am a Reader, Not a Writer.  Any suggestions on what stores to give gift cards to?  This hope is open to any store, not just book related.  A real Christmas  treat :)

Knock knock...anyone out there?  *crickets chirping*  Hello?  :)  Happy Sunday everyone!!!!!

Me and My Shadow - Katie MacAlister

Title: Me and My Shadow
Author: Katie MacAlister
Format: Borrowed print copy from library


From Goodreads:
May Northcott is at the end of her tether. Her demon boss has moved in and is making life hell. Her scorching hot dragon lover seems to think everything can be solved with a fiery kiss. And worse still, she's being shadowed by her ditsy twin sister -- a naiad who simply can't seem to stay out of trouble. The arrival of a nearly-dead man on May's doorstep could be the final spark that sets light to their tinder-box world. And with dragon war imminent, it's looking increasingly like it will be up to May (and her watery shadow) to stop it before the fire consumes them all, and their lives end up in smoke!

This is the third book in the Silver Dragons series.  First, of course I loved it, as I did the other two.  This book had a lot more action, and a lot less firey dragonny mating.  I remember one, but there might have been more.  Anyhow, I believe this is the last in this installment of the series.  The Dragons continue their next book with the Light Dragons and “Love in the time of Dragons”.  However, I need to go backwards and read the Aisling Grey series.

It seemed like for a large part of this book May and Gabriel were apart, and when they were together there were a lot of other pressing matters to attend to.  I really would love to see the whole book devoted to just those two, but I suppose that is a bit selfish of me.  There was a lot of missing Gabriel, thinking about Gabriel… When they were finally together there was a dragon hunt scene that was fun and sexy and fresh. 

Ok, I’m finding it hard to review this without spoilers.  So here they are.  For those who want to read the spoilers, just highlight the text.  For the rest of you, you will (hopefully) just see white space.  If it doesn’t work, I’m sorry and you may as well stop reading now.

Ok, you’ve been warned… (and email subscribers, just stop reading now….)

Here’s my page break to help…

Meme: Movie Cast (2)

<center><a href="http://fictionalcandy.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img alt="Fictional Candy" src="http://i1187.photobucket.com/albums/z392/FictionalCandy/moviecast.jpg"/></a></center>

It's really easy to do.  Just pick a book, and cast it for the movie you wish it'd be made into!  Comment, pass on, come back here and link to your post.  And link to Fictional Candy in your post :)

Rules?  You can make it as extravagent as you want, or as simple as you want.  Want to add locations?  Or a soundtrack?  You don't have to add pictures, but it sure does help :) Live or dead actors, it doesn't matter!

And if you want to do the same book, go for it!  I'd love to see how you envision the characters.

Dirty Little Secret - 11-3-11

Dirty Little Secret is a weekly meme hosted by Under the Covers. Every Thursday we get to know other bloggers and our readers more intimately by asking them a question hoping to reveal their dirty little secrets. 

To participate in the meme all you need to do is:

1. Be a follower of Under the Covers.
2. Create a post in your blog taking the meme image and copy instructions (located at Under the Covers).
3. Answer the question they propose! This can be done in any way you like, post a video, write a post etc.
4. Then add your link at Under the Covers.

"Zombies are attacking your house! 

What do you grab first?"

Ok, for this I actually have two answers... 

Long range (ideal) situation:

Ok, this is not so much an "If" scenario, as a "when" scenario... And I'm stealing a couple ideas from my friend, Cara, who knows more about zombies than I do and has a terrific plan. 


But my plan is to wait at home til its safer to go out.  You can't just run out of the house like it caught fire.  I would pack as much as I could, cause my plan involves "procuring" a truck rather than my Grand Am.  I would pack as many toys, clothes, and food that I could.  I would take all my books, kindle (with approximately 1000 titles!) and my laptop.  Then I would spray paint my truck windows, cause I don't need anyone seeing whats inside.  Then it is off to the pharmacy to grab *everything* I can. Preferably a CVS or Rite-aid so I can also stock up on some foods and other necessities. Then I am off to a gas station to fill up.  Then I would head out to my family's house which is in a neighborhood that isn't quite rural but isn't suburban at all. On the way I would try to hit a Meijer or Walmart, one of those megastores that have it all. 


I would like to say I'd head to a mall, cause they do have everything and that would be awesome to live in a mall.  But there are just too many openings to monitor.  We've all seen Dawn of the Dead.  It doesn't end well for them.  


The main thing is to keep one vehicle stocked as full as possible in case you have to leave where ever you are at any time. 


Short range (Up The Creek) situation:
Obviously, I first grab my daughter.  Then my phone, keys, laptop if possible (alternate communication when cell towers are jammed), and whatever weapon I can get to.  Get the car and drive like hell.  Come back periodically to check on the house and put my Long Range plan (see above) into action!


What would you do????

Modern Women - Ruth Harris

Title: Modern Women
Author: Ruth Harris


Originally published: 1989
Format: Ebook provided by author for review


From Amazon: 
Beginning with the assassination of John F. Kennedy and ending as the 20th Century moves toward its close, MODERN WOMEN is about the problems faced and progress made by the women—and men—who lived and often thrived during this challenging and tumultuous era.

Lincky Desmond: With beauty, brains and money, she married Mr. Right—only to risk it all for Mr. Wrong.

Elly McGrath: She was loyal and idealistic but when faced with the ultimate betrayal, would she be able to stand up for herself?

Jane Gresh: Bawdy, outrageous and determined not to be ignored, she managed to shock the entire country.

Owen Casals: Handsome, successful, magnetic. He would marry one, betray another and make one of them very, very rich.

Modern Women tells the story of 3 women, starting from the time they were children (but moreover from the time they were young adults).  While this book is not a regular genre for me, I enjoyed it quite a bit.  Born in the 1970s, I didn’t get to witness some of America’s history just prior, and the stories of Jane, Elly, and Lincky gave me a perspective that history books in school just didn’t provide - the woman’s point of view.  It was very interesting to see these women go through the civil rights movement, JFK’s assassination, and just being women in a time when women were undervalued compared to men.

In this book it was a few chapters for one character, and then it would move on to another.  Just as I was getting comfortable with one character, it would switch.  However, this wasn’t annoying or unsettling.  It kept the story fresh.  Yet not so much time would pass in between chapters that you were able to forget about a previous character and her story.  In the beginning there were bits of crossover, but by the end it was a merge of the characters and I totally enjoyed that.

This story opens with the assassination of JFK, where each of the women were and what they were doing.  Much in the way we all remember where we were during 9-11.  We get to peek in on what they were doing, what they were thinking, and how they and the world around them reacted when it happened.  Then the story jumps backwards to give us some history and leads us up to that point and beyond.

At 38% I declared to myself that Lincky is/was my favorite character.  I’m really hoping for a different outcome than what I am expecting of her.  There is a scene with her and her boss, Hank Greene, where he is pounding on the door that is just full of so much emotion between the two…Affair or not, you can’t deny the passion they have for each other.  I could have read a whole book just about these two.  I’m crossing my fingers that their story will take the turn I am hoping for, but time will tell…

I really loved how these women were all so different, raised different, felt different, looked and acted different.  But they are similar.  They wanted to live differently, see differently, and be seen differently.  And that is a major struggle that I feel any woman can relate to.

This is a book I really don’t want to give any spoilers away because if you look at how Lincky’s life turns out, you find out about Jane’s.  And if you look at Jane’s, you know about Elly’s.  You also learn about all the men that come and go in their lives, in whichever capacity they are.  But the characters are very rich and full of life.  You really get the feeling that you get to know them.

This story is an honest look at life.  I found myself getting mad, and rejoicing, worrying that this situation or that wouldn’t work out.  After it was finished, my favorite character remains Lincky.  But even Lincky had faults, every character in this book did.  Some of them were gigantic huge faults.  But you keep living.  You make the best of what you got, you get over it and you move on.  Sometimes a gamble will work, sometimes it won’t.  This book isn’t one success for the characters after another.  They make mistakes.  Some they learn from, some they don’t. 

I would definitely recommend this book to my friends.  Especially love those who are interested in midcentury history, women and their stories, and just life in general.

About Ruth Harris: 
About the author:Ruth Harris is a long-time NYC editor and publisher as well as a New York Times bestselling author. Her novels, originally published by Random House, Simon & Schuster and St. Martin's Press have been translated into 19 languages and sold millions of copies in hardcover and paperback in more than 30 countries. They were selected by the Literary Guild, Book-of-the-Month Club and book clubs around the world. Ruth has reverted all rights and is now making her work—new and previously published—available in e-editions.

Congratulations To My Spooktacular Winners!

I have sent out emails, so check your spam folders if needed and get back to me right away :)


Prize #1: Memrie from Darkangel88
Prize #2: Aeicha from Word Spelunking



PopularVirals.com

Thanks for the Books Hop!!!!

This is the "Thanks for the Books Hop" sponsored by

Livre De Amour (Books of Love)

I am giving away a $10 (USD)gift card to Amazon OR Barnes & Noble OR a book up to $10 from The Book Depository!  

All you have to do is fill out the form below.  Easy, just fill out your name and email. That's it!  Of course, I would love if you follow me, subscribe, comment, twitter, or facebook, but its not required! Yay!!!!! 

Good luck!

I am opening this giveaway to international, as long as you can accept an Amazon or B&N Gift card.

Giveaway starts November 1 at midnight, and ends November 14 at 11:59pm.

I will announce the winner on either November 15 or 16.  

Winner has 48 hours to respond, or I will choose another winner.  Winner will be chosen through Random.org.  

Other Participants

1.	Grace@ Livre De Amour- Books of Love	7.	Rage, Sex and Teddy Bears	13.	Erin @ Pagan Spirits book blog
2.	Bonnie (A Backwards Story)	8.	Liz @ Fictional Candy	14.	Book Stacks On Deck
3.	The Book Nympho	9.	Jessica Bronder	15.	Absorbed in a book
4.	Living Fictitiously	10.	Shari @ Seduced by the Book	16.	Book Lover62
5.	Wandering Hues	11.	I Am A Reader, Not A Writer (US only)
6.	Lindsey	12.	Beck Valley Books

OVER - STAY TUNED FOR WINNER ANNOUNCEMENT!