BRANDED by Abi Ketner and Missy Kalicicki

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Fifty years ago the Commander came into power and murdered all who opposed him. In his warped mind, the seven deadly sins were the downfall of society. He created the Hole where sinners are branded according to their sins and might survive a few years. At best.

Now LUST wraps around my neck like blue fingers strangling me. I’ve been accused of a crime I didn’t commit and now the Hole is my new home. 

Darkness. Death. Violence. Pain. 

Now every day is a fight for survival. But I won’t die. I won’t let them win.

The Hole can’t keep me. The Hole can’t break me. 

I am more than my brand. I’m a fighter. 

My name is Lexi Hamilton, and this is my story.

My Review: 

I was completely surprised by the concept that the Commander used to reduce crime and unemployment in Branded. By using the seven deadly sins to brand someone for life is really harsh, especially because who hasn't broken a 'deadly sin'. This story follows the life of Lexi Hamilton, and the 'crime' that she was accused of. I was shocked by the news Sutton uncovers and that the accused are not allowed a period of time to prove their innocence. 

Lexi Hamilton is a very strong female character, which you hardly have the pleasure of reading about anymore. Lately, its how a man saves a women from some chaos. In Branded Lexi endured a lot of pain before and during her stay at the Hole. By the end of the book, Lexi has things in her life she never thought she would before the Hole. 

This story brought many emotions to the surface and there was a part in the story where I actually did cry. It was a story that could have you from a happy emotion to the next from page to page. While reading this book I kept thinking of The Dark Knight when Bruce Wayne is stuck in the hole and all he wanted to do was escape so he could save his beloved city. 

I was very surprised by the ending of this book, which only added to how much I really enjoyed reading this story. I was actually sad when I finished the last page. I really hope a second novel will be published. Even if a second book is not published that will be okay because each reader can create Lexi's own happily ever after in their heads if they really wanted too. 

My rating for Branded would defiantly be five stars because I was quickly able to fall in love with the main characters. I hope to see more come out of these two very talented authors. 

Purchase Links: 

Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Branded-A-Sinners-Series-ebook/dp/B00DOPHK56/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1373396049&sr=1-1&keywords=Branded

Barnes & Noble:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/branded-abi-ketner/1115861790?ean=2940016481692

Maid For The Billionaire

Synopsis from Amazon:

Dominic Corisi knew instantly that Abigail Dartley was just the distraction he was looking for, especially since having her took a bit more persuading than he was used to. So when business forces him to fly to China, he decides to take her with him, but on his terms. No promises. No complications. Just sex.

Abby has always been the responsible one. She doesn’t believe in taking risks; especially when it comes to men - until she meets Dominic. He’s both infuriating and intoxicating, a heady combination. Their trip to China revives a long forgotten side of Abby, but also reveals a threat to bring down Dominic’s company. With no time to explain her actions, Abby must either influence the outcome of his latest venture and save his company or accept her role as his mistress and leave his fate to chance. Does she love him enough to risk losing him for good?

My Review:

This story had a feel similar to the Crossfire series, with Dominic as the rich guy who has a tough exterior who hardly lets anyone in and the whole world knows that. While his reason for climbing the rich ladder so quickly is not as horrific as Gideon’s , he still has his own reason. A honorable reason at that!

Abby is used to living on the safe road, because she had to help raise her little sister when her parents died, meeting Dominic has changed her for the better. She takes a stand for what she loves and helps A LOT of people in the process! She is a person that Dominic realizes he needs to help him stay calm.

I found this story very amusing at times, and contained a little bit of action as well. The romance was great, and there wasn’t steamy sex scenes (well there might have been a couple, but it didn’t overpower the book). In the end of the story, Abby defiantly has a way in helping Dominic even though a week earlier he would have been really harsh in the same situation.

Maid for the Billionaire was a great and a fast read for any reader who simply enjoys romance books. I am glad that there are more books to this series that involve others instead of simply following the story of Dominic and Abby. I am really excited to read Abby’s little sister’s book!

My rating for this story would be 4 stars!!

Want to read more in this series? Here is the reading order:

Book 1: Maid for the Billionaire (Free Download)
Book 2: For Love or Legacy
Book 3: Bedding the Billionaire
Book 4: Saving the Sheikh
Book 5: Rise of the Billionaire

Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Maid-Billionaire-Legacy-Collection-ebook/dp/B004XJ4NI4

Banes & Noble:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/maid-for-the-billionaire-ruth-cardello/1100737499?ean=2940032938170

Claimed

Synopsis from Amazon (I removed a little bit because I thought they were spoliers!!):

Career woman Jessica Tandy, has a rest stop in a tiny town called Alma, in the Alaska Range. Coming back from the ‘camping trip from hell’, with a cold and obnoxious boyfriend; she meets Flint Riverclaw, a Native Alaskan. The handsome stranger sees she’s unwell with her diabetes and insists on shouting her food and drink. 

He offers to take her to Anchorage, since her boyfriend who’s driving, has been drinking beer. Jessica accepts and the two continue to become acquainted, during the journey. Flint’s strong build, handsome features and kindness wins her over, so much so, she invites him into her hotel room.

The next morning, she tiptoes out when he’s still asleep, to catch her flight back to Seattle. However, she can’t get the man out of her mind as her body won’t stop shaking. She’s shocked three days later when out of the blue, Flint shows up at her apartment to tell her two things….

My Review:

Like most novella’s this story was simply too short. This story reminded me so much of my favorite vampire series by Lynsay Sands, which if you haven’t read they are simply amazing. Claimed is told in the POV of a 29 year old Jessica Tandy who has a bad habit of dating the wrong guys, and is left stranded with Flint, a sexy man she was instantly attracted too! I liked Flint the minute he was introduced because he was worried about Jessica’s safety and made sure she ate and drank some OJ. While I knew what the story was basically going to be about before they left the bar, I still finished and I am glad I did.

Claimed is a quick and easy read (103 pages) that readers who enjoy paranormal romance would love to read. There are moments in the story where you want to laugh or you feel sad for what can no longer happen. I feel that this could have easily been a novel or miniseries with Jessica and Flint. I’m a sucker for romance and wish I could read about the couple’s lives forever. J Well I have researched this series and found out that there are others, I am not sure if there are others about Flint and Jessica.

My rating for this story is 4 stars!

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Claimed-The-Circulate-Series-ebook/dp/B0054H1I7S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1372080188&sr=8-1&keywords=claimed

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/claimed-a-novella-k-r-smith/1112414668?ean=2940011274824

Gabriel's Inferno by Sylvain Reynard

Gabriel's Inferno 

by Sylvain Reynard

                                              Publication Date: July 31, 2012

Book Description: (taken from amazon)

Enigmatic and sexy, Professor Gabriel Emerson is a well-respected Dante specialist by day, but by night he devotes himself to an uninhibited life of pleasure. He uses his notorious good looks and sophisticated charm to gratify his every whim, but is secretly tortured by his dark past and consumed by the profound belief that he is beyond all hope of redemption. 

When the sweet and innocent Julia Mitchell enrolls as his graduate student, his attraction and mysterious connection to her not only jeopardizes his career, but sends him on a journey in which his past and his present collide. 

An intriguing and sinful exploration of seduction, forbidden love, and redemption, Gabriel’s Inferno is a captivating and wildly passionate tale of one man’s escape from his own personal hell as he tries to earn the impossible—forgiveness and love.

                                                                         My Review:

I started this book because my book club was reading it so therefore I read it. At the beginning of this book needed something to make it pop. It starts making you think why did you read this book? It all starts out with Julia who is a graduate student taking Professor Gabriel's class. Then you learn that Julia and Gabriel have a history, one where Gabriel thought it was all but a dream. There is so much intensity between these too is electrify and intriguing.  When I got almost 200 pages into this book I wanted to stop because it wasn't interesting, but when you get that far into a book you think you have already dedicated a lot of time into this book you might as well finish it. Then when it was finally leading up to the "big" sex scene it was really disappointing. I am still debating rather or not I want to read the sequel.  

Stars:

3.5 out of 5

Links:

 Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Gabriels-Inferno-ebook/dp/B008R25E0Y/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1370719290&sr=1-3&keywords=gabriel+inferno

B&N

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/gabriels-inferno-sylvain-reynard/1030883910?ean=9780425265963

The Right Wrong Number: Barbara Delinsky

Synopsis from Amazon:

In this 30-page short story by bestselling author Barbara Delinsky, Carly Kelly has just been presented with a life-changing business opportunity for tiny nursery and flower store, Plant People. But she only has four days to decide, which means she will most likely have to cancel her weekend trip away. She dials her friends to let them know, and excitedly launches into a speech about the opportunity. But when she pauses, a sexy, inquisitive stranger is on the other end, and he’s eager to hear about her store, her passions and her life. She’s dialed the wrong number--- and the man on the other end, with his deep voice, his charming jokes and his excellent advice, is a surprise she never expected…

Will this wrong number turn out to be right man for Carly?  

My review:

This short story is a great fast read that any reader could enjoy while waiting for a simple doctor’s appointment. In a quick moment, Carly made a call that might change her life, I mean what women wouldn’t love the sound of a deep sexy voice belonging to a man. I know that I wouldn’t complain. The Right Wrong Number describes the struggles that Carly must face in order to hear from this mystery sexy man once again. This short story was an easy read and could be finished in one setting. From the work introduced in this short story I would read more work created by Barbara Delinsky any day. The Kindle version of this story also includes a preview to Sweet Salt Air. The only thing negative about this story is the length; I feel that this would have been an incredible romance novel if only Barbara decided to go on with their relationship. My rating 3 ½ stars!

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/The-Right-Wrong-Number-ebook/dp/B00B8SAI3M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1370360476&sr=8-1&keywords=the+right+wrong+number

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-right-wrong-number-barbara-delinsky/1114995514?ean=9781466834637

LA"S FREE Contest!!!

FREE CONTEST!!!!

(posting for a really great aithor and a friend. 

Nowadays it is not uncommon to see many products with book covers or phrases from book series being featured. Many indie authors such as Lizzy Ford has developed this in products such as bookmarks. 

I figured that this would be a great thing to try but rather than design everything myself I will give my fellow Aradians a chance to submit designs and things. You can also submit an idea for what kind of product you want your design to appear on. Anything from a t-shirt to a tote bag to even a bumper sticker.

There is only one catch: you must submit your design to my email address at

Lajonestheauthor@gmail.com.

If they meet with both my and my editor Harrison R. Bradlow's approval then we will use them.

Keep in mind you can suggest what type of product you want it to be used on.

Don't worry if we approve you will get a percentage of the products sales and we will acknowledge your name with design. You can even give it your own personal signature.

The contest will last until next year the sixth book comes out. So either way, everybody wins.

Good luck my fellow Aradians.

The designs are things you can come up with on your own. The same with the products but here are some examples of the products you can choose:

Unite Our Souls

Unite Our Souls

Rachel Carrington

Synopsis from amazon.com:

A sexy Angel of Death had to tell me I was dead. But he wasn’t there to offer comfort. He was there to take me to the other side. Wherever that is. I wasn’t ready to go, though. My nephew, Joey, needed my bone marrow if he was going to survive, but I wasn’t sure how I was going to give it to him now that I was dead.

Grayson, the angel, told me he’d help but then I’d have to cross over. I certainly didn’t expect to fall for the one being that intended to hustle me across the mortal realm. I don’t think he expected to fall, either. You’d think that would be difficult enough, but the real trouble began when I discovered his ‘help’ came at a price…or a punishment, rather. He’d broken a rule, and for that, he would suffer if I couldn’t stop it.

So here I am in love with the Angel of Death, trying to save my nephew’s life, and wondering what exactly happens on this other side Grayson talks about. And learning more and more that I didn’t want to leave my angel any more than I wanted to stay dead. Sometimes, though, life just doesn’t give you choices..

My review:

It is hard for me to pick my favorite couple from this series, because they are all such great stories. I was really surprised while reading this because the ending was different from the other two Rachel Carrington novella’s that I have read previously. While the other two stories were about revenge and a love-hate relationship, this book contained much love between family members with a side of passion between the Angel and the spirit, in this case Erica. I sat down tonight to start this book after a long busy week and I loved every page. I really hope that Rachel Carrington will bring back each couple and give more of their story to her readers. I would read any work published by Rachel Carrington and recommend it to any reader. My rating for this novella is 4 out of 5 stars. Go 1-click your way into this book, you will not regret it!

Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Unite-Souls-Spirit-Series-ebook/dp/B005NAT64S

Barnes&Nobles:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/unite-our-souls-rachel-carrington/1105450265?ean=2940011521546