Release Day Review ~ Rock F*ck Club: A Postseason One Novella ~ Michelle Mankin @MichelleMankin #2018NewRelease #COYER

Rock F*ck Club: A Postseason One Novella by Michelle Mankin
Rock F*ck Club #2
Release Date: August 7, 2018
Genre: Adult, Contemporary Romance
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the author. This does not affect my opinion or rating. I voluntarily provided a review. I also purchased my own Kindle copy.
Rating: 4.5 Bookworms
Challenges: #2018NewRelease, #COYER
Goodreads

Synopsis
A Postseason One Novella
10 cities. 10 famous rock stars f*cked.
Raven Winters has chosen the one rock star she wants to keep. She has completed filming for the Rock F*ck Club. Her season of the reality show is about to debut on the World Media Organization channel.
Her once very private sex life is about to become public.
Can her life ever return to normal?
Does she want it to?
And what about the next season of RFC?
Who will be the next star?
Who will be f*cking whom?

This novella - and it's meaty so it doesn't feel like a novella - is a treat! Getting to see Raven and Lucky and how they're faring was a delight. And we also got a glimpse of where RFC is going from here and that was exciting! 

The novella revolves around Raven and Lucky, of course. Seeing how they're working at maintaining their relationship, dealing with their newfound fame, the fallout over RFC, etc., felt realistic and genuine. I liked that it wasn't all hearts and roses because part of their relationship had been that way so I appreciated Mankin keeping it real. Lucky being the lead singer of a band with mounting popularity and, therefore touring more meant fans and  being on the road were issues...also real. And being a fan of character growth, I was thrilled to see both Lucky and Raven - especially Raven - do some growing.

The other plot threads - RFC's next season, Raven and Marsha's friendship, and the relationships of Lucky's band mates were all compelling and kept me flipping through the pages. I especially enjoyed Marsha's growing friendship with Lucky's sister, Sky, and it further developed Marsha's character. I'm excited about the direction Mankin seems to be taking with things.

That ending! WOW!! It was a shocker and I am more than happy RFC #3 releases soon!

Travel by the Book ~ Rock Stars, Surf and Second Chances/Ocean Beach

Welcome to Travel by the Book. I know for most of us, reading is an escape. One of the things I love about reading it getting to travel. And I'm sure I'm not the only reader who has wished to take a trip inspired by a place I read about in a book. I've been fortunate in that my Hubs is kind enough to indulge me and take me to said places. This is where I share those vacations that were inspired by a book.

***UPDATE***

So, I know you haven't seen a Travel by the Book post in quite a long while. This is mostly because I wasn't thinking ahead when I started doing these posts and after ONE year, I'd run out of places I'd traveled to because of a book! LOL But I got to thinking about how to resurrect this feature and I decided to continue sharing these posts - quarterly? - and switch it up a tiny bit when necessary. 

I hope you'll enjoy these posts!

***The Book***

You may have recently read my review of Michelle Mankin's Oceanside. I've been reading Ms. Mankin since 2012 and there's a lot to love about her stories. Her characters are always well drawn, the romance is always compelling and swoon-worthy, her stories always deal with a relevant social issue, and she does an incredible job at conveying the look and feel of her setting. From the gritty streets of Seattle (yes, they do exist) to the honky-tonk feel of Billy Bob's in Ft. Worth to the eccentric town of Ocean Beach, she's continually made me feel as though I've been there. So when I got the opportunity to travel to Ocean Beach to tour the locations and establishments that inspired Ms. Mankin's Rock Stars, Surf and Second Chances series there was no way I was going to pass it up! 

This series revolves around a group of guys who grew up in Ocean Beach, love surfing, and also happened to be the band known as The Dirt Dogs. I loved the Ms. Mankin gave each of the couples a unique backstory, compelling stories with tragedies and triumphs, and romances I believed in. This group of characters is so well developed and feel so genuine - and part of the genuineness is due to Ms. Mankin making their environment so realistic.

***The Travel***

My friend, Denise, who frequently travels to book event locales with me, was my traveling companion for this trip. We stayed at the Ocean Beach Motel and y'all, the beach was right across the street! We got to see the beach, surfers and surf shops, restaurants, buildings, and houses that served as inspiration as well as the murals that are all over the town on the sides of buildings and in alley-ways. Here are a few photos:

This is the bar that inspired The Deck Bar featured in all the books.

This is the house that served as inspiration for Ramon's house in Riptide.

There were tons of surfers out on this day. The Ocean Beach pier is in the background.

I took lots of pictures of the various murals around town but decided to feature this one because of the surfers. =)

This is the sub-pump structure where Fanny and her sister Hollie were living in Oceanside.

The building you see here is the building where Ash makes his home as well as the Dirt Dogs' recording company, Outside.

A gorgeous sunset from the pier. Just WOW!

Because I adore this series and because I love y'all, I'm giving one lucky reader an ebook set of the trilogy on Kindle. (the trilogy is currently only available on Kindle. Sorry!) To enter, leave a comment letting me know if you've ever traveled to somewhere because you read about it and if so, where.

Oooh! And as a PSA, Oceanside, Ms. Mankin's latest release is currently only 99 pennies on Kindle! You're welcome!! *smooches*

Release Day Review ~ Oceanside ~ Michelle Mankin @MichelleMankin #2018NewRelease

Oceanide by Michelle Mankin
Rock Stars, Surf, and Second Chances #3
Release Date: April 10, 2018
Genre: Adult, Contemporary Romance
Source: I received an ARC from the author. I voluntarily provided a review. I also purchased my own copy.
Rating: 4.5 Bookworms
Challenges: #2018NewRelease
Goodreads ~ Amazon

Synopsis
Oscar night.
Rock star legend, Ashland Keys should be on top of the world, but the blond blue-eyed SoCal surfer is disillusioned with fame, done with drugs, bored with the groupies and sick of all the fake f*ckery.
A rising star, Fanny Bay is nominated for best original song in the same category as the Dirt Dogs band, but the novel redhead with the corkscrew curls and the slight Canadian accent would prefer to chart a course with a different destination.
Hollywood is not for her.
He's full of regrets, darkness and secrets.
She's full of hope and light and has mysteries of her own.
He's her reserved hero.
She's his gypsy rose.
He's water. She's fire. Together, they don't make sense.
But he's what she's always wanted, and she just might be everything he needs.

Omigosh did I love Oceanside! This whole series has been fabulous - the backstories, the romance, the friendships. But Oceanside...it's unique. Ash, the drummer for the now-retired Dirt Dogs, isn't your everyday hero. And Fanny is not your conventional heroine. They're from different worlds and they're opposites for sure...him dark, her light. But their story was captivating.

Highlights:

• Gripping
  I was immediately pulled into the story despite it having been a year since I read the last installment.

• Character Development
  Character development is a strength of Mankin's and she showed her prowess here. Ash is such a complex guy with all his rules and boundaries. I could feel his inflexibility and I understood the why's of his rules and his actions in regards to Fanny. Fanny was so mature for her age. She'd lived through quite a lot and even if I didn't agree with all her decisions, they all came from her heart and her desire to do right by those she loved.

• Chemistry
  The chemistry between Fanny and Ash was palpable but there was also just that something there that pulled them toward one another.

• Secondary Characters
  I, of course, loved spending time with Linc & Simone, and Karen & Ramone, who I met in the previous installments but I also adored a new character, Hollie. Mankin created a strong cast of characters to inhabit this series and the addition of Hollie only added to the depth of this story.

• Suspense
  A big part of the plot was suspenseful and kept me turning the pages wondering if and when things would go south for Fanny.

• Reason Behind Ash's Behavior
  I'm being vague here on purpose but know that Mankin did a tremendous in conveying how Ash felt about this and how he dealt with it.

• Shakespeare
  Being a fan of Shakespeare myself, I loved how Mankin wove in meaningful and relevant quotes.

You can read Oceanside without having read Outside or Riptide but why deprive yourself of meeting all these characters and getting their stories in order? I'm not sure if Oceanside is the end of the road for this series but I do feel confident in saying we haven't seen the last of these characters. And I, for one, am thrilled with the prospect. But this was a great way to wrap up the series with the original Dirt Dogs members. I hope you'll give them all a try.

Favorites of 2017 ~ Books & Audiobooks

I enjoyed doing a "look back at the year" in 2016 so I figured it'd once again be fun to bring 2017 to a close by listing some of favorites. I hope you enjoy reading about some of my favorites and I'd be happy to hear about any of yours!

*~*Books & Audiobooks*~*

• How the Duke Was Won - I chose this book solely because it was narrated by Beverley A. Crick but I found a new favorite author in Lenora Bell
• The Nightingale - a powerful read about how war affected women during WWII from Kristin Hannah
• Red Rising - so realistic in nature and well written, so many parallels to our world today
• Rock F*ck Club - a female anthem, if you will, for equality - especially in our sexuality
• Outlander - omigosh! I adore Jamie and Claire!
• And I Darken - I'm only waiting til 2018 to read the next installment - and honestly, I'm so anxious over it - because the final installment releases in June of 2018. Sometimes I hate the wait.
• Texas Rodeo series - an incredible series revolving around small town West Texas and the rodeo circuit - great writing and narration (Kari Lynn Dell & Johanna Parker)
• New Camelot Trilogy - I listened to the first two - excellent narration - and read the final installment because I was too anxious to wait for the audio! I adored this trilogy!
• The Angel - such a unique story and so very well conveyed
• Steal the Light - it's making the list because IT. HAS. IT. ALL!

Honestly, this list was hard to compile. I mean, I read 160 books this year so it's hard to narrow it down to ~10. In the end, I realized it was just a good reading year. *grins*

Release Day Review ~ Scandalous Beat ~ Michelle Mankin (@MichelleMankin) #2017NewRelease

Scandalous Beat by Michelle Mankin
Tempest #6
Release Date: November 16, 2017
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance
Source: Purchased on Kindle but I also had the pleasure of being a beta reader as well. This in no way affected my rating and my review is voluntarily provided.
Rating: 5 Bookworms
Challenges: #2017NewRelease
Goodreads ~ Amazon

Synopsis
A rock star. A stripper. Can a hookup lead to a happily ever after?

Juaquin Acenado.
A drummer. A rapper. A rock king.
My brother's best friend.
Arrogant. Forbidden.. Do-not-go-there-trouble.
The sexy Latino was too old for me when we first met and I was in high school. But he was my first love. I've never gotten over him.

Miriam Jackson
Stripper. Exotic dancer. Her stage name is Queen.
My bandmate's little sister.
Spicy and sweet. The spark that fires my inspiration. The rhythm to my beat.
She's the one I imagine when I settle for the others. My ultimate fantasy. Only I can never have her.
Until I arrive in Vegas to record my solo rap album, visit a strip club, and there she is. Miriam was supposed to be in college, but she's not. She is so not.
Sin City, a place where anything can happen, and I'm the only one in the band who knows her secret.
So why resist anymore?
Who could possibly stop me?

Ah the Tempting Men of Tempest...I'm so sad to see this series come to an end but I'm been eager to finally get King's story, to see who stole his heart. Scandalous Beat was the perfect way to round out one of my favorite Rock Star series.

Highlights

• Characters
  In Miriam, we have a young woman who had a difficult childhood suffering from dyslexia and verbal abuse. She found solace in acting. She's such a sweetheart. Selfless, loyal, and caring...she puts others' needs and feelings before her own.
  In Juaquin, we have a talented young man who also grew up in hardship. He lost his brother to gang violence and has dealt with anger management issues for most of his life. He's loyal and caring but finds it difficult to deal with his emotions.
  These two together were always magic. They met when Miriam was too young but they shared a special connection, were kindred souls. But even once Miriam was of age, Juaquin felt himself unworthy of her attention, plus being the little sister of his bandmate automatically put her on the "off-limits" list.
• Forbidden Romance
  This was a trope that really worked in this case. Not only was there the age difference and the bandmate connection, but Miriam served as Beauty to Juaquin's Beast. There were all the reasons in the world for them to be apart but fate seemed to bring them together.
• The Journey
  Yes, there were obstacles against them...age, etc., but the biggest obstacle was not knowing themselves. Juaquin, in his desire for Miriam to have better than him, unwittingly hurt her over and over again. Miriam, in her desire to have him, lost herself. When they are thrown into each other's paths once again, without the reminder of the original obstacles, they both journey towards finding themselves, realizing their true worth as well as their feelings for each other. As Miriam said, "[Love is] about becoming something better because you're together. Transforming each other's weaknesses into strengths. Making something beautiful together."
• Relevant Issues
  This is a specialty of Mankin's, bringing awareness to social issues. Scandalous Beat was no exception. There were a couple of topics touched on including abuse and dyslexia but the main point I felt Mankin was trying to make was having the courage to ask for help when you need it. The way in which she conveyed Miriam's courage in getting the help she needed was brilliant as well as how she parlayed it into a way to help others.
• Emotion
  Mankin is adept at evoking strong emotions. The push and pull between Miriam and Juaquin kept me on edge, alternately cheering, steaming, or crying. The depth of feeling between these two was something special.
• Secondary Cast
  The secondary cast was a strength - not only because I got to spend time with some of the other Tempest couples but I also got to know Miriam's best friend, Mike. Mike is well developed and added complexity and depth to Miriam as well as the story. Mankin also skillfully tied in people and plot lines from earlier stories.

Scandalous Beat delivered characters that are genuine, a compelling story, and the full range of emotions as well as some smoking smexy scenes. It was the perfect way to "crown" this series.

Rock F*ck Club ~ My Interview with Author Michelle Mankin (@MichelleMankin)

Hey Michelle, I appreciate you taking the time to answer some questions I had immediately upon finishing Rock F*ck Club. 

BB: This is quite a premise. Did anything in particular inspire it?

MM: A number of events inspired it. The sexual empowerment for a woman theme in Rock F*ck Club came after I read a very thought provoking article by Lexxie Lin from Unconventional Book Views about romance being more than just Mommy Porn. (An aside: that term sets me off.) The Navajo details were inspired after a trip to Phoenix in November. The two best friends road trip aspect came after talking to two girls outside a club in Dallas. They were there early like me in order to be closest to the stage to see their favorite band.

BB: Was the mention of past drug use on Raven't part to establish something about her character? 

MM: She is flawed by strong and resilient? Yes, for sure. She acted out in order to get attention from her dad. As the story unfolds she learns with a certain someone's help to handle that particular issue more maturely.

BB: Raven's close friendship with Marsha and Lucky's closeness with Sky and his bandmates added depth to the characters and story. Do you feel as they do in that family and friends are integral to a happy life? 

MM: Friendships enrich life. There might be a quote about that in the story. It's something I truly believe. 

BB: There was a certain irony to the circumstances Raven found herself in once RFC took off. Are you making a statement there? Or do you feel Raven proved/made her point even if she didn't have all the control? 

MM: 0-0  Yes about our perspective being colored by the filter we view the world through. It's too spoilery to give the quote I want to, but if you do a word search for perception you'll find it.

BB: I was delighted with the inclusion of all the bands I've previously met in your books. Did you have fun with that element?

MM: Yes. I. Did. Once I owned up to the story I wanted to tell. At one time I considered a pseudonym for this story. But in the end I decided I had to be bold and brave like my heroine in the story.

BB: I enjoyed the Navajo/Native American element you wove into the story. Was it a starting point or did it come about while you were writing? 

MM: It was a starting point. After talking to Aunt Eve who lives in Phoenix I knew I had to have a spiritual symbolic place in that region.

BB: The travel aspect - visiting all the locales with Raven and Marsha was fun. Have you been to all the stops along Raven's RFC tour? 

MM: Hmm. Great question. Dallas check. NYC  check. Boston check. Chicago check. Detroit(No) Nola check. Atlanta check. Phoenix check. Kansas City check. LA check

BB: Will we see more from this set of characters? Please????

MM: Definitely. RFC will continue. More seasons. More power for women. More rock stars. I have ideas for novellas with some of Raven's ten guys and I even left myself some wiggle room to tell more with her and a certain someone.


Thanks so much for allowing me to interview you, Michelle!

If y'all haven't snagged Rock F*ck Club yet, you can read my review here and then go one-click it here! :D

Release Day Review ~ Rock F*ck Club ~ Michelle Mankin (@MichelleMankin) #2017NewRelease

Rock F*ck Club by Michelle Mankin
Release Date: April 24, 2017
Genre: Adult, Contemporary Romance
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the author. This does not affect my opinion or rating. I voluntarily provided a review. I also purchased my own copy.
Rating: 5 Bookworms
Challenges: #2017NewRelease
Goodreads

Synopsis
10 cities in two weeks 10 famous rockstars.
On my knees. Against the wall. On my tits I don't care. As long as I get the evidence to prove it. Why? Because I caught my former prick of a boyfriend from Heavy Metal Enthusiasts doing a groupie doggie style backstage on the night we were supposed to be celebrating our 1 year anniversary.

He told me I was too uptight. Too vanilla. Too boring. So I got drunk with my bestie, Marsha West, the aspring videographer. I ranted. I raved. I came up with a crazy idea. What I didn't know was that my best friend recorded me. Marsha put the video up on YouTube. It went viral with 10 million hits. Now I've got fans and sponsors offering me big bucks.

Rockstars are volunteering to be my f*ck buddy.
Hollywood is calling.
I get to choose which rockstars I want.
The stakes are hight.
This sh*t just got real.
What could go wrong?

Rock F*ck Club. Wow! What a novel premise! It's...it's refreshing! I love it! Women should be able to be comfortable and confident in their sexuality without fear of judgement. I liked Raven's taking a stand against the injustice of society's double-standards when it comes to sex. I felt the irony that in wanting control over her sexuality she was put on a path where she had none - but a path that allowed her the ability to find herself as well as love. Because while on the surface Rock F*ck Club might look like a simple story of a girl getting her jollies and lifting a finger to her ex as well as society, it's so much more. It's a journey whereby Raven finds herself.

A drunken rant is the set up for RFC - after Raven finds her rockstar boyfriend in a compromising position with a groupie. She feels heartbroken and upset by men's ability to screw any time, any place. The Rock F*ck Club was born.

I adored Raven even if her decisions at times made me scratch my head. She's flawed but also loyal and loving - determined to right all the wrongs of her past. She thinks she knows who she is - marked by the tragedy of losing people close to her - but barely into her journey of self-empowerment, she finds herself on a journey of self-discovery when she meets Lucky Spencer.

Lucky seems the typical front man for an up-and-coming band. Talented, sexy, cocky. But he's more than he appears - just as he believes Raven is. He's compassionate, protective, and loyal to her family and friends. And he sees - nay he feels something when he first sets eyes on Raven.

I think this was a journey of self-discovery for both Raven and Lucky - but mostly Raven. The events, as they unfolded, were riveting - sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes heartwarming. I relished getting mentions of and cameos from all the bans I've bet in Mankin's books - specifically King, Ash, and Ryland. It added a nice touch for long-time fans but new readers won't be lost at all. Getting to know a whole new cast of characters who are just as compelling as ones I already know has me eager for more. I'm hoping for quite a few more books starring several of my favorites from RFC.

I'm so excited about this new side of Mankin. She's really stretching her creative muscles and the results are incredible! Not only did she create a story around characters I was immediately invested in, but she also brought to life the positives and negatives of life as a rockstar, and incorporated some Native American lore, as Raven is of Native American descent. All in all, RFC was gripping - a story I didn't want to put down. And one where, in the end, I was proud of Raven. She set out to empower herself - and she did accomplish that. But she accomplished so much more!

Release Day Review ~ Riptide ~ Michelle Mankin (@MichelleMankin)

Riptide by Michelle Mankin
Rock Stars, Surf, and Second Chances #2
Release Date: February 21, 2017
Genre: Adult, Contemporary Romance
Source: I received an ARC from the author. I voluntarily provided a review. I also purchased my own copy.
Rating: 4.5 Bookworms
Challenges: #2017NewRelease
Goodreads ~ Amazon

Synopsis
Rock star Ramon Martinez can have any woman he wants, and he frequently does because he can't have her.

Karen Grayson
Surfer girl.
My band mate's wife
The one woman I can't have.
The one woman who could have my heart though I can never let her know.

Ramon Martinez
Romeo
Completely forbidden.
I wanted him back at the beginning, but he didn't want me.
So I made the safe choice.

The wrong one.

We were once friends.
Now we're not even that.
But we're both back in Ocean Beach and that dangerous attraction remains.

**PSA: Outside, the first book in this series, is currently FREE. And Riptide is ONLY $0.99**

I'm a sucker for a second chance and in Riptide, the second chance allowed for Karen and Ramon was equally heartwarming and bittersweet because of all the reasons it came about.

These two - their lives together and apart filled with so many "what if's". If only Karen had waited, or chosen more wisely. If only Ramon had behaved differently or fought for what he wanted from the beginning. But maybe things happened the way they did for a reason. Both Karen and Ramon had things to learn - about themselves, about each other, and about the nature of love. I wish their path hadn't been so rocky or painful and full of loss, but it seems that was the path they were meant to take.

See, Karen married Ramon's best friend and band mate, Dominic. But things went awry when he joined the military after 9/11. Ramon was there to support her during Dominic's long absences - and yes, a case could be made that she cheated - if only emotionally - but I'd argue that Dominic cheated too - again, emotionally - with his brothers in the Marines. However, there'd always been a flame between Karen and Ramon - they just wouldn't admit it or act on it. And apparently, it was a flame that wouldn't die.

There were lots of events and years in the making of this romance. Many misunderstandings and hurt feelings. And like I said, a lot of maturing. I felt Ramon's growth more acutely than Karen's, however. The changes he made were visible even if Karen couldn't see them. Karen...in the end, she got there but her insecurities about Ramon's feelings and her desire to become what he wanted - what Dominic wanted as well - made me sad. She couldn't see her own worth and want to be loved or accept love based on that. When she arrived though, that was a thing of beauty.

There was also a lot of back and forth because neither would admit their feelings or misunderstood when feelings were mentioned. This frustrated me a little because they were friends first and foremost so I felt they should've been able to be honest with one another. But then the history they shared explained the reluctance, especially Karen's - so... They'd been though so much together, shared everything with each other, except for their true feelings.

I enjoyed the camaraderie between Simone and Karen, and Ash and Ramon. I hope that continues in the series. And I also appreciated the tough topics Mankin tackled - being a soldier's wife as well as Alzheimer's. I've not experienced military life myself but what Karen went through both with Dominic's continual re-enlistments and his long absences without his discussing his decisions or life overseas, felt very realistic. I felt her fear and hurt and understood her feelings. Dealing with a parent having Alzheimer's - the good days and the bad days - felt realistic as well.

There was a character introduced that had no resolution but I'm guessing she'll reappear in a future story. In fact, I'm counting on it and am very curious about her story as well as how it'll affect a certain former bad-boy rock star. 

Overall, I was enthralled with Karen and Ramon's story. The format, both the dual POV as well as the insertion of the past between present, worked very well. Getting to see where Karen and Ramon were currently and then seeing the progression of the friendship as well as when, how and why the feelings between them developed over the years they've known each other, added the depth and complexity that made this romance rock solid. And Mankin's prose, her description of both the physical and emotional, beautifully conveyed a story where we learn it's never too late to reach for your dream.

Release Day Review ~ Tempting Tempo ~ Michelle Mankin (@MichelleMankin)

Tempting Tempo by Michelle Mankin
Tempest #5
Release Date: October 13, 2016
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance
Source: Purchased on Kindle but I beta read as well
Rating: 5 Bookworms
Challenges: #2016NewRelease
Goodreads ~ Amazon ~ B&N

Synopsis
HE SEES HER IN A WAY SHE COULD NEVER SEE HERSELF.
SHE HAS NEVER FELT MORE BEAUTIFUL THAN WHEN SHE WAS IN HIS ARMS.
Sager Reed, the strong and silent bassist of the rock band Tempest, is well acquainted with loss. The thoughtful artist's own tattoos only hint at his turbulent youth. He buries his guilt about it deeply within his troubled heart.
Melinda T. Belle, the daughter of a dysfunctional rock legend, as a rule avoids emotional entanglement. In fact, she has turned her back on nearly everyone and everything she has ever known. Now she is alone, trying desperately to find fulfillment in the one dream she has left, competitive skiing.
CAN SAGER OVERCOME HIS DARK PAST AND FINALLY BELIEVE THAT HE IS WORTHY OF HER LOVE?
WILL MELINDA REALIZE TOO LATE THAT HE IS THE ONE THAT REALLY MATTERS?

**PSA - The first FOUR books in The Tempest Series (Irresistible Refrain, Enticing Interlude, Captivating Bridge, and Relentless Rhythm) are currently only 99 cents each!! You're welcome!**

Also, because I love y'all and Tempting Tempo is an incredible story that works as a standalone (although I *highly* recommend you read the whole series) I'll gift a copy to one lucky reader. Just leave a comment to be entered. I'll use random.org to pick the winner.

Now, here's my review. ;)

It's been awhile since I spent time with the Tempting Men of Tempest and I must say I relished being back with them. Oh, a few of them made me want to smack 'em for their behavior but that seems standard when spending any time with these bad...er reformed bad boys of rock. Of course, for most of them their behavior significantly changed - for the better - as they've settled down with women who captured their hearts.

In Tempting Tempo, it's Sager's turn. Sager, serious Sager...who's so into Melinda aka Blue that he jumps at the second chance he's given with her. These two get first got cozy in Relentless Rhythm, the previous installment. But betrayal, misunderstandings, and hurt feelings put distance between them. With Tempest reconvening in Vancouver and Sager and Blue bumping into one another, the connection as well as the sparks rekindle.

As per usual in a Tempest novel, Mankin takes on a social issue. This time she targets anorexia. Blue, having grown up in a less than loving home, has a skewed body image. Being a ski cross competitor doesn't help as she feels a lower weight would likely aid her on the course. And then there's her impulsiveness when it comes to making decisions, which generally leads to poor ones. Essentially, Blue feels the only thing she can control is her food intake. Sager sees more though. He sees all her flaws and still seems to love her. A love she finds it difficult to trust.

Sager, naturally, has had his own share of hard times. Growing up in Southside with an abusive dad and drug dealing older brother led to no good. Luckily he found a family with King. That enabled him to get a handle on his anger. Music and art became his outlets but he never believed he'd find someone to love all parts of him. Til Blue.

Of course, the road to love and happiness is bumpy. And I appreciated how Mankin created the obstacles she threw in their way - particularly the life-altering event Blue experiences that allows her to change her perspective, especially regarding herself. I think these two have a few challenges ahead but can weather them together.

I enjoyed that the other members of Tempest and even Brutal Strength are present in varying degrees - some with integral parts. I liked getting glimpses of what life is like for them now and am extremely eager for King's story. And possibly Mary's as well. Oh, but I delighted in seeing past that woman's icy facade.

Full of emotion, a gripping story, smexy scenes that may fog up your reading glasses, and characters that are engaging and genuine, Tempting Tempo is another gem in the Tempest series.

One of the things I've always appreciated and admired about Mankin's Tempest series is her desire to bring awareness to social issues via the story. In Tempting Tempo, she wields her pen for eating disorders. Mankin's son helped her put together the book trailer and a video interview based on questions the National Eating Disorder Association recently posed to her. They worked together on the project for weeks and when they finished, he told her how proud he was of her for speaking publicly about her personal struggles. Here are the trailer video as well as the interview:

Release Day Review ~ Dream Magic ~ Michelle Mankin

Dream Magic by Michelle Mankin
Magic Series #2
Release Date: June 7, 2016
Genre: Adult, Paranormal Romance
Source: Purchased on kindle (I also had the pleasure of beta reading this installment)
Rating: 5 Bookworms
Challenges: #2016NewRelease
Goodreads ~ Amazon ~ B&N

Synopsis
The dreamscape is a place of magic and mystery and meaning. In that nocturnal realm, ideas, images, sensations and emotions drift on the currents of the unconscious mind.
Morpheus the Dream Falcon is most at home in that domain. By night, the one of a kind winged immortal soars on those winds, observing and sometimes even entering the slumbering thoughts of another. By day, he is a highly sought after mercenary feared by his immortal kin for both his unmatched ferocity and his wicked obsidian talons. None of his prey escapes him.
Cecilia Ramirez y Aguilera is the one her truly wants. But the striking oracle of the Court of the Light Immortals is closed to the handsome outlaw, even in her dreams. Broken by unimaginable losses, the seer is but a slave, subject to the whims of a master who is mad and without mercy.
Drawn together by fate, their impossible passion ignites. But will that be enough given the dangerous secrets each keeps from the other? Or will mistrust and the desire for revenge threaten to unravel the powerful magic that binds them?

Dream Magic is the continuing story of the characters from Strange Magic and introduces a new set of characters as well. Like Strange Magic, Dream Magic has it's own plotline but it also ties into an over-arching plotline. Therefore, Strange Magic *must* be read first.

In Dream Magic, we're introduced to Cecilia, "Ceci", and her sister, Millie. They have interesting parentage and are blessed with interesting abilities. Certain events occur whereby the sisters, due to their abilities, are taken prisoner. They are held in the Court of the Light Immortals, and there are witness to parts of their world that their parents tried to shield them from. While at court, the sisters make many new friends and possibly some enemies. And Ceci meets Morpheus, the Dream Falcon. 

Mankin did an excellent job in crafting a fascinating story revolving around mythology: the different gods, both dark and light, evil and good. It was exciting but also relevant in its messages. I very much enjoyed seeing Morpheus, Thyme, Billy, and Bacchus again but I also liked how Mankin meshed the two stories with the introduction of new characters. All of Mankin's characters are well fleshed out, the mythology was used well, and the story was solid. I was pulled into the story in the first few pages and was loathe to put it down. Mankin tossed my emotions in different directions - one minute, I was gasping, the next cheering. I laughed and I cried. I was biting my nails in anticipation of what would happen next. I was enthralled with Ceci and Morpheus' story and enchanted when Billy and Thyme's story intertwined with theirs. 

Obviously, I adored Dream Magic. I may have liked it even more than Strange Magic. The ending was shocking in several ways and I'm more than eager for Twisted Magic, the conclusion to this trilogy. Ms. Mankin, write faster! :D

New Release Reviews ~ Find Me, Remember Me, Keep Me ~ Michelle Mankin

Woohoo! They're live! I just love this series y'all!

Below you'll find all the details for the series, my reviews, and a giveaway!

Find Me, Remember Me, and Keep Me by Michelle Mankin
Release Date: January 15, 2016
Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance
Source: I received complimentary copies in exchange for an honest review. I then purchased my own copies.
Rating: 4.5, 5, 5 Bookworms
**Find Me, Remember Me, and Keep Me is a full and complete novel in three separate parts. A standalone Tempest spin-off.**

Goodreads ~ Amazon (Part One) ~ Amazon (Part Two) ~ Amazon (Part Three)

Synopsis

Almost forty-one-year-old Annabelle Morris, wife to multi-billionaire record label executive Charles Morris of Zenith Productions, and mother of two is at a crossroads in her life.

Separated from her husband after walking in on him having sex in the public restroom of a charity event she was hosting, she has arrived on the island of St. John alone and rejected, determined to re-evaluate her life and her marriage. She's tired of being her husband’s showpiece while he pretends she doesn't exist. She's tired of trying to make their marriage work for the sake of their two teenage boys.

When she meets Johnny Lightning, a sexy but mysterious piano-playing, bearded sailor, she is tempted to break vows she has never before broken. But Johnny is much younger than her and seems to be hiding more than a few secrets of his own.

From the laid-back sandy beaches of the Caribbean to the elite circles of Dallas high society, Annabelle is forced to make critical choices.

Is a chance for happiness worth the risk of giving up the life she has always known? Worth jeopardizing her own and possibly even her children's future? In the end, will she stay on her present course or brave a new and uncharted one?

Find Me

I had the pleasure of beta reading this series and I'm so excited about Anna & Johnny's introduction to the world. I hope y'all love them as much as I do.

Anna - a wounded soul, a broken heart, when she comes to St. John in order to make some decisions about her life. She's been separated from her philandering husband for a year. It's time for her to find her way...find herself again.

Johnny - a wounded soul, a man who isolates himself as well as his heart, is back in St. John. He's working at finding his way after his life didn't follow the path he was expecting.

He found her - the real her. She found him. Have they found what they were looking for? Have they found more than they anticipated?

I was immediately drawn to Anna and Johnny. I could feel the hurt they both felt - their lack of confidence in themselves and their lack of trust in others. That they both ended up in the same place at the same time seems serendipitous. The pull between them was palpable, but I enjoyed the ease there was between them and how they got to know one another.

Some things are revealed causing a misunderstanding though, and Anna's husband appears as well. This first installment ends in confusion and indecision.

Remember Me

Remember Me allows us to become better acquainted with Anna. We meet her boys, her family, and her best friend, Claire. And we bear witness to the interactions between Anna and Charles as he attempts to worm (slither?) his way back into her life.

This installment cemented Anna's character for me. She's kind, generous, and compassionate. The interactions with her family and friends were genuine. And it made me all the more certain she deserves more out of life than Charles.

Then Johnny appears once again. Can they remember who they were together back on the island?

Keep Me

With Johnny's reappearance, he and Anna realize that in each other's arms is where they belong. However, Charles isn't going down without a fight and his machinations and a surprise threaten Anna and Johnny's tenuous happiness.

What I loved most about Keep Me was getting to know Anna's family better as well as getting more of Johnny's history. We even get a few chapters from his POV. All this combined to fully flesh out Anna and Johnny as characters - rounded them out. And really made me believe in them.

What I took away from their story:

• The titles could be more apropos for the characters and their story. I delighted in Mankin continuing her tradition of defining pertinent terms at the beginning of the book as well.
• Mankin deftly conveyed a real story - the characters are relatable and their situations realistic.
• Mankin's use of metaphor brilliantly paints pictures of scenery as well as emotions.
• Seeing Anna blossom into a emotionally stronger and confident woman was a beautiful thing.

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Michelle Mankin is the New York Times bestselling author of the Black Cat Records series of novels. Rock Stars. Romance. Redemption.

Love Evolution, Love Revolution, and Love Resolution are a BRUTAL STRENGTH centered trilogy, combining the plot underpinnings of Shakespeare with the drama, excitement, and indisputable sexiness of the rock 'n roll industry.

Things take a bit of an edgier, once upon a time turn with the TEMPEST series. These pierced, tatted, and troubled Seattle rockers are young and on the cusp of making it big, but with serious obstacles to overcome that may prevent them from ever getting there.

Rock stars, myths, and legends collide with paranormal romance in a totally mesmerizing way in the MAGIC series.

Catch the perfect wave with irresistible surfers in the ROCK STARS, SURF AND SECOND CHANCES series.

Romance and self-discovery, the FINDING ME series is a Tempest spin off with a more experienced but familiar cast of characters.

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