Review: The Story of Rachel by K.D. McLean

The Story of Rachel (Tales of Pandora)

3.5 Stars

Rachel Collins is praying. And not for world peace. Thirty six years old and single, her prayer is self-centered. "Kill me now, Lord," she pleads during her latest attempt to meet Mr. Right via the internet.

She’s not hoping for a billionaire or even a millionaire, just a guy who can strike a spark to her tinder! Is she asking too much? She's a great gal! Just ask her parents! She might be a bit naive about some things, but capable enough- she's a correspondent for a major magazine, after all. So there!

On assignment she meets Michael, 42 years old, also a writer. The attraction is immediate and intense. Rachel, who sees vanilla as only a baking ingredient, enchants him. Michael can whip up some pretty hot delights himself, outside of the kitchen. He introduces a curious Rachel to powerful experiences of sensuality. Her Ladylike sense of propriety engages in a running battle with her now sparked Tinderbox desires.

Michael is an excellent cook and knows how to turn up the heat. Sampling the flavors offered, Rachel experiences humorous hiccups. On a date, Michael ramps up the risqué, resulting in a memorable skirt swirling salsa dance. Rachel's "What the hell, I ain't getting any younger" attitude spurs Michael to take her to the exclusive, adults only club Pandora's. Here, Rachel witnesses even more variations of earthly delights, and begins a lifelong friendship with another guest.

Michael is a realist, convinced that within 90 days, his affair with Rachel will be but another painful memory of loss. He is neither willing nor able to yell 'Geronimo' and fall for her. He can't, and that's that.

Maybe he should just get a damn dog.

This modern, urban, grown up love story is a recipe –three cups romance and one cup of slapdash humor. Blend in spices of eroticism, and beat until smooth.

    My Thoughts; At first when I started reading this I was on the fence. I couldn't decide if I liked it. I am a little quirky when it comes to reading a book so sometimes I have to push my character flaws aside so I can truly read a book and see it for what it is. ( I will explain momentarily)

    I really enjoyed Rachel's personality. She reminded me of myself a lot of times. She is able to laugh at the serious stuff and make jokes about even the most mundane things. She is a smart, independent woman just looking for a guy to share her time with. Hence the internet dating profile.... Epic fail!

   Michael is also a very successful individual who just wants to find someone to share his spare time with. IF she would like to explore the 'dominate' side of his personality even better. However is never strikes me as a make or break it type of personality trait. 

  He and Rachel hit it off quite nicely and begin and not so whirlwind love affair. Michael has decided to take things slow with Rachel and so the story goes from there. I really did enjoy the story once I got passed the aforementioned quirkiness. Which I will explain now. Rachel seems to have the same sort of 'inner personality disorder' as another young woman we know. Rachel's inner personalities are known as Tinderbox and Ladylike. This little thing, as minor as it is, almost made me want to stop reading. It was WAY too, Inner Goddess for me. Don't get me wrong, I love the inner goddess but she doesn't live in Rachel's story she lives somewhere else entirely. After I took a few minutes to regroup I sat back down and said, 'Ok, we are gonna read this... we are gonna put aside our nit-pickiness... and we are gonna see what this book has going on. After I was able to do those things, I really did enjoy it. The story was quite good. And honestly had it not been for the little issue we just discussed  I may have even given it 4 stars. 

Cover Reveal: Till Death Do Us Part (Lily Drake #2) and Valentine Giveaway

Blurb:

With a doting husband and a new job training a vampire military, Lily Drake was living up to the prophecies of being the best.  Her life was seemingly perfect, until tragedy strikes bringing her a loss she's not sure she can endure.

The hard-working super mom / vampire slayer, Lily Drake, has just learned problems still exist even after you become immortal. 

As everyone knows, even if you find your soul mate, you don't always get a happily-ever-after.  Lily may have found temporary happiness being a newlywed, but the honeymoon is over.  When she finds her husband going out for late night bites with another woman, Lily has to fight to try and regain what she wants most, love and a happy family.

If Lily thought being a single mom was hard, she’ll find being married can be a bloody mess.

~~~

Life and Death of Lily Drake – Have you read the first book yet? You wouldn’t want to miss Lily Drake kicking some serious vampire butt. 

Check out more about this series here! – Life and Death of Lily Drake

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About the author:
T. Michelle Nelson is a native of Benton, Kentucky and a graduate of Murray State University holding a degree in Education.  Currently she resides in picturesque Mount Vernon, Ohio, which
is also the setting of her Lily Drake series.  The first book in the series, Life and Death of Lily Drake, is available at Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Kobo, and your other favorite online book stores in paperback as well as e-reader formats.  The second book, 'Til Death Do Us Part, is being released by Inkspell Publishing in April of 2013 and currently, T. is working hard to finish her third book.
When she isn't writing, you can usually find her singing out of key while playing Rock Band with her husband and son, watching B-Horror movies or wrestling with her two ill-behaved fur babies, Buddy Perro and Bunchie. 

~~~

VALENTINE GIVEAWAY!!!

Enter To Win 

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Lover at last Count down week Two and Three

As you all know I am completely obsessed with J.R. Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood series. So... that being said, I am going to be posting a snippet every Friday until release day March 26, 2013 (originally posted on J.R. Ward's facebook page) I hope you enjoy them

**Due to technical difficulties (yes I am blaming the computer) Week 2 which should have been posted LAST Friday has been added to this week so YAY two snippets ;-)



Pre-Order NOW -- Lover At Last: A Novel of the Black Dagger Brotherhood

Qhuinn, son of no one, is used to being on his own. Disavowed from his bloodline, shunned by the aristocracy, he has finally found an identity as one of the most brutal fighters in the war against the Lessening Society. But his life is not complete. Even as the prospect of having a family of his own seems to be within reach, he is empty on the inside, his heart given to another....

Blay, after years of unrequited love, has moved on from his feelings for Qhuinn. And it’s about time: The male has found his perfect match in a Chosen female, and they are going to have a young—just as Qhuinn has always wanted for himself. It’s hard to see the new couple together, but building your life around a pipe dream is just a heartbreak waiting to happen. As he’s learned firsthand.






Dec 9

J.R. Ward - And in this book, where upon Layla grows a set:

In the Old Language, she hissed, “If any harm shall befall him, I will come after you, and find you where you sleep. I do not care where you lay your head or who with, my vengeance shall rain upon you until you drown.”

That last word was drawn out, until its syllable was lost in more growling.
Dead silence.
Until Doc Jane said dryly, “Annnnd this is why they say the female of the species is more dangerous than the male.”  -Lover at Last, MS pg. 251

~~~

 Dec 4

J.R. Ward - I think this is my fav quote from the book, and I have to share:

Straightening up so the full force of that cold blast hit him square in the face, Qhuinn glared into the rush, picturing those pines ahead that he couldn’t see because his eyes were watering from the wind. Opening his mouth, he screamed bloody murder, adding his voice to the maelstrom.
Godd*mn it, he wasn’t going down like a pussy. No ducking, no pathetic oh-please-God-no-saaaaaave-me. F**k that. He was going to meet death with his fangs bared and his body braced and his heart pounding not from fear, but from a whole boatload of . . .
“Bl** me, Grim Reaper!” -Lover at Last MS, pg. 148

   

Cover Reveal: Give Me Something by Elizabeth Lee

Release date March 7, 2013

cover design by Regina at Mae I Design http://www.maeidesign.com/

BLURB:

   Here's the deal... I learned a long time ago that sometimes you have to use what you've got to make things happen. What I happen to have is a pretty smile, long legs and the ability to make men believe anything I say. Before you get on your high horse and start judging me, can you honestly say you've never batted your lashes at some guy for a free drink at the bar? That's what I thought. 

   Keep that in mind as I tell you my story of how I took it one step further. My story of lies, deceit, manipulation and love. Yeah, love. Believe me, it fits. Especially, when you factor in Nick and Tucker – one had my heart and the other one wanted it all for himself. Which one? Well, I can't tell you that. It would defeat the purpose of the story. If I'm going to fill you in about me, Lila Garrison, and my life as a con artist you're going to need to know all the facts, including the ones about the two guys who made me want to give up the life of fancy clothes, expensive jewelry, fast cars and easy money. Because sometimes, one person can give you something that's more valuable than all of that.

   If you're still interested, stick around. Just remember, I'm pretty good at convincing people to do what I want, so if by the end of this whole thing you feel worked over, don't say I didn't warn you.

GOODREADS:

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16488227-give-me-something

~~~~

About Elizabeth:

  Born and raised in the middle of a Midwestern cornfield (not literally, that would be weird), I’ve spent my entire life imagining stories. Stories where the right guy always gets the right girl, first kisses are as magical as they are on the big screen and anything is completely possible if you believe.

  Although this journey began years ago, it recently took on a whole new life. After years of devouring hundreds of Romance, YA and New Adult novels, I had an epiphany... I should write a book. And I did it! My first YA/New Adult novel is out now!

I  f I’m not reading, writing, enjoying drinks with my amazing group of girlfriends or chasing around a sarcastically funny one-year old, I’m probably watching television shows that were created for teenagers, while my husband teases that I’m too old to watch them.

Connect with Elizabeth:

www.facebook.com/elizabethleewrites

www.elizabethleewrites.blogspot.com

www.goodreads.com/elizabethleewrites

www.twitter.com/elwrites

Waiting on: Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine. It spotlights books that have not yet been released, but I am looking forward to.......

Release Day March 19, 2013

Pre-Order Clockwork Princess (Infernal Devices) Today!!

Danger intensifies for the Shadowhunters as the New York Times bestselling Infernal Devices trilogy comes to a close.

If the only way to save the world was to destroy what you loved most, would you do it?

The clock is ticking. Everyone must choose.

Passion. Power. Secrets. Enchantment.

Danger closes in around the Shadowhunters in the final installment of the bestselling Infernal Devices trilogy

Re-Read continues: Lover Awakened by J.R. Ward

 Order now - Lover Awakened (Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book 3)

Review: The Education of Sebastian by Jane Harvey-Berrick

4 Stars

A friendship between the lost and lonely Caroline, and the unhappy Sebastian, leads to an illicit love that threatens them both.
Caroline Wilson is trapped in a cold and loveless marriage with an older man. When her husband finally wins a long sought-after promotion, Caroline feels she has little choice but to follow him to a new home in San Diego. There she meets Sebastian, a young man of 17.
For an all too brief summer, their happiness blooms.
But external pressures begin to bear down, not least from the overbearing David, and Sebastian’s parents begin to suspect that their son has a secret. Even Caroline’s new friend, Donna, realizes that dark passions exist below the serene surface.





Order The Education of Sebastian (The Education of...)