Have you Heard?

I’m Addicted to Jane Austen! Are you? If so, please join my new blog!

Addicted to Jane Austen will officially go live on May 1st. We will kickoff with a week of giveaways, so please join now. Don’t forget to subscribe to feedburner, that way all the exciting news and giveaways will be delivered straight to your inbox.


If you wish to be a guest reviewer, please email me at ars45123@yahoo.com. Please place “Addicted to Jane Austen reviewer request” in the subject.

I look forward to this new blogging experience.





Best Wishes & Happy Reading,

The Art of Seducing a Naked Werewolf by Molly Harper

Title: The Art of Seducing a Naked Werewolf
Author: Molly Harper
ISBN: 978-1-4391-9587
Publisher: Pocket Books
Format: Mass Market Paperback
$7.99
How I read it: Mass Market Paperback from the publisher
Baring it All

Generations of werewolves have been secretly residing in a secluded valley a stone’s throw from Grundy, Alaska. So when a snooping Outsider comes in to Grundy to investigate rumors of lycanthropic shenanigans in the area, the valley’s pack alpha, Maggie Graham, resolves to chase him away, even if doing so takes a quick bite on the butt. What a pity that researcher Nick Thatcher turns out to be so drool-worthy, and that his kisses make Maggie want to sit up and beg.

Maggie just can’t seem to convince Nick to leave…..and even worse, she can’t convince herself to stay away from him. Cross-species dating is problem enough for a harried alpha female, but on top of that, a rival group of werewolves is trying to move into the valley. With inter-pack war threatening, Maggie can’t afford to be distracted. Combining romance and a career can be tough from anyone; for a werewolf in love with a human, it may be disastrous…….


My Thoughts:
Molly Harper has once again dazzled us with her wit and brilliance as she brings to us Maggie’s story in THE ART OF SEDUCING A NAKED WEREWOLF. This book is just as intriguing and comedic as the first and you will not want to put this book down.

The characters are amazing as well, and if you have read the first the book HOW TO FLIRT WITH A NAKED WEREWOLF, you will recognize a majority of them. Of course rather than featuring Cooper and Mo, this book features Maggie, Cooper’s sister, as the star of the book. She is witty, snaky, and dangerous if you make her mad, you may lose a limb or at least a few fingers and possibly an ear, just ask Cooper. I liked Maggie; I liked the fact that she was a take-no-nonsense kind of girl. The alpha of her of pack, she is very capable to take control of the situation at hand, yet when an outsider comes into her world, her heart seems to have a mind of its own.

Nick, said outsider, was a fun read and I found that the more I read about him, the more I liked him. He had a nice back-story that readers will have to find out on their own, which I believed enhanced his character. Traveling to Grundy, Alaska to investigate the rumors of lycanthropic activity, he soon finds that he is drawn to Maggie Graham. Although the more she tries to push him away, the close they become.

Her snarky remarks and his determination to prove the existence of werewolves create a one-of-a-kina romance that will have readers rolling on the floor in fits of uncontrollable laughter.

Of course, the loveable antics of the residence of Grundy are still included, and we get to see a lovely amount of Mo and Cooper, as well as a mix of new characters that adds a bit of excitement to the book.

Trust me this is the book that you have been looking for.

Cover Thoughts:

Once again the art department has done an outstanding job with this cover. It conveys so much of the book in its quirkiness.









Unfortunately, actual naked hunky werewolves remain elusive…

Molly Harper, author of HOW TO FLIRT WITH A NAKED WEREWOLF and the upcoming THE ART OF SEDUING A NAKED WEREWOLF, has written the following blog post. Please feel free to share it with your readers and followers.

When I was little and came running into the house, sweaty and caked in dirt, my mom would cry, “What the- have you been rolling around with wolves?”

Well, here I sit, sweaty, caked in various layers of dried mud. And I have indeed been playing with wolves. While promoting the release of my Naked Werewolf romance series, I visited the Wolf Run Wildlife Refuge in Nicholasville, KY. Wolf Run, a state- and USDA-licensed non-profit educational facility, provides a safe, loving and permanent sanctuary for 23 adult wolves and wolf-dog hybrids. The refuge is also home to two full-grown lions, deer, goats, sheep, monkeys, and other exotic wildlife. And Rowdy, the most obese raccoon I have ever seen.

Most of the animals are former pets that were either confiscated by or surrendered by their owners. Because it turns out, wolf hybrids do not make great house pets.
As Savannah Massey, director of animal care and education at Wolf Run told me, “These animals are gorgeous, appealing and unique. But they’re also aggressive, destructive and territorial. This is not an animal you want in your home. Wolf genetics do not go away. And it’s not just that they could tear up your furniture or hurt one of your other pets- you are physically in danger when you’re around them.”
Just what you want to hear when you’re sitting right next to one, and he’s been licking your face.

Honestly, Boone, a 10-year-old grey male, could not have been nicer during my visit and our subsequent photo shoot. He was a dignified statesman compared to raucous Razz, a three-year-old tan specimen who seemed to think my make-up was bacon-flavored. (Note to Sephora, wolf-oriented face powder may be a niche market you haven’t considered yet.)

I learned a lot during my visit to Wolf Run. I was happy to find there are some definite similarities between actual wolves and the characters in HOW TO FLIRT WITH A NAKED WEREWOLF and THE ART OF SEDUCING A NAKED WEREWOLF.

For instance, a wolf will pee on whatever it wants, whenever it wants, to make sure you know that thing belongs to them. It is now your tree, Boone, we understand. Thank you for not choosing my shoes.

Wolves have to date. There are five packs at Wolf Run, each with three to five pack members. New wolves are matched to potential packs based on temperament when they arrive at Wolf Run. If the initial matches don’t work, they are moved to different packs until they find a good fit. Some wolves, like Boone, don’t fit well with any group and end up being loners. (Which, I think, makes him a bit like Cooper.)

Wolves struggle over the Alpha position. Large males jockey for the position and it can lead to inter-pack tension. Unlike Boone, who was an Alpha contender, Razz, just seemed to want to play, which made me think of Samson. I did not see a real-life counterpart for Maggie, which was probably a good thing given her penchant for biting people on the

butt.. Mary Kindred, CEO of Wolf Run, calls the animals her babies. When she walks around the yard, any effort to distract the wolves is futile, because a) she is mom and b) she has Pupperoni in her pocket. Kindred noted that the sanctuary receives no outside funding, and all expenses, such sturdy fencing, food, veterinary care, and upkeep of the grounds, are paid through donations. The facility welcomes volunteers. And despite the love and effort Mary and her staff devote to the sanctuary, both she and Savannah look forward to the day they’re no longer needed.

“These animals shouldn’t be here,” Savannah said. “The lions should be in Africa. The wolves should be in the wild. Our goal is to rescue animals and educate the public, until a facility like this is no longer needed.”


I have one copy to giveaway.
Residents of the US only
Contest ends April 29

The Return of Black Douglas by Elaine Coffman

Title: The Return of Black Douglas
Author: Elaine Coffman
ISBN: 978-1-4022-5074-3
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Format: Mass Market paperback
$7.99
Release Date: April 2010
How I Read It: Mass Market ARC from publishers

WANT TO WIN A COPY OF THIS BOOK? FOLLOW THIS LINK
The Return of Black Douglas Giveaway


HE’LL HELP A WOMAN IN NEED,
NO MATTER WHERE SHE CAME FROM…

Alysandir Mackinnon rules his clan with a fair but iron fist. He has no time for softness or, as he sees it, weakness. But when he encounters a bewitching young beauty who may or may not be a dangerous spy, but is surly in mortal danger, he’s compelled to help…


SHE’S ALWAYS WONDERED IF SHE WAS
BORN IN THE WRONG TIME…

Thrown back in time to the tumultuous, dangerous Scottish Highlands of the sixteenth century, Isobella Douglas has a lot to learn about her ancestors, herself, and her place in the world. Especially when she encounters a Highland laird who puts modern men to shame….

Each one has secrets to keep, until they begin to strike a chord in each other’s hearts that never been touched before……

MY REVIEW:
As soon as I received this book in the mail, I devoured it! I was hooked from the moment I read about Alysandir wearing his shiny chain mail.

The character of Isobella Douglas was a brilliant read, and I understood her connection with her Scottish ancestors as I too feel that strong connection with my Scottish roots, so in a way I truly connected with her character. Isobella is on a mission to enrich her connection with her Douglas ancestors as well mend a broken heart, thus she has dragged her twin sister, Elisabeth on a journey to the Scottish Highlands. Seeing the tomb of the Black Douglas, Isobella allows her emotions to take over and in doing so she has evoked the ghost of the Black Douglas who is intent on tormenting her (that how she views it). Now she and her sister find themselves transported to the 16th century, Isobella runs straight into the arms of Alysandir, as a feuding Laird takes her sister captive. As the story progresses we see this modern historian blend into a world that seems she was she was meant for, yet will she be able to conceal the secrets she brings with her while trying to get through the cracks in the armor that surrounds Alysandir’s heart?


Alysandir’s character was so well defined and brilliantly portrayed those qualities you would expect a Highland Laird to portray that it was truly an enjoyable experience to read him. He is The MacKinnon in every sense of the word, putting his clan’s needs and safety above all else, ruling with iron fist, that is fair and balanced. While we see this strong, sturdy Highland Laird, we also see the man that lays beneath the chain mail, the man whose heart has been crushed ands it is those actions that cause him leery of Isobella. We also see that Alysandir is hiding a few secrets of his own.


Isobella never imagined that her search for her Mr. Darcy would lead her to the 16th century.

My Thoughts:

The main characters were very well portrayed as were the secondary characters, and that added a solidness to the plot that made this book a truly enjoyable read. I loved every aspect of this book and the plot was extraordinary. Elaine Coffman brought 16th century Scotland to life with the amazing details that went into this book, each page held something wonderful. I also enjoyed the time travel aspect of this book, transplanting Isobella and Elisabeth into another time and they way that they each brought a bit of the modern world along with them. Vividly composed, rich in detail, this is the type of historical romance that stays with the reader.

This was my first encounter with Elaine Coffman’s writing, and I have to say I am hooked, I will definitely give her other books a go!

How To Flirt With A Naked Werewolf by Molly Harper review, guest post, and giveaway

Title: How to Flirt with a Naked Werewolf
Author: Molly Harper
ISBN: 978-1-4391-9586-4
Publisher: Pocket Books
Format: Mass Market paperback
$7.99
How I Read It: Mass Marker paperback from publishers
Rating:

Even in Grundy, Alaska, it’s unusual to find a naked guy with a bear trap clamped to his ankle on your porch. But when said guy turns into a wolf, recent southern transplant Mo Wenstein has no difficulty identifying the problem. Her surly neighbor Cooper Graham-who has been openly critical of Mo’s ability to adapt to like in Alaska-has trouble of his own. Werewolf trouble.

For Cooper, an Alpha in self-imposed exile from his dysfunctional pack, it’s love at first sniff when it comes to Mo. But Cooper has an even more pressing concern on his mind. Several people around Grundy have been the victims of wolf attacks, and since Cooper has no memory of what he gets up to while in werewolf form, he’s worries that he might be the violent canine in question.

If a wolf cries wolf, it makes sense to listen, yet Mo is convinced that Cooper is not the culprit. Except if he’s not responsible, then who is? And when a werewolf falls head over haunches in love with you, what are suppose to do anyways? The rules of dating just got a whole lot more complicated……


My thoughts:
WOW! I LOVED this book! This has to be one of the funniest books that I have read this year, and I could not help but to laugh as I read it. If you are in a bad mood or have a bit of the blues, this book will improve your mood with its sassy wit and comical characters. Everything worked so perfectly in this book and left me itching to read the second one.

The characters were remarkable, and I found that I loved reading Mo; she was just so witty and fun to read that I could not wait to see what she was going to say next. Then there is the werewolf, Cooper who although he was very gruff he was a fun read as well, and enjoyed watching his story play out. Next, we have the locals of Grundy who are so interesting that you could devote an entire book just to them and then there is the drama with Cooper’s pack that adds tension and intrigue. Oh, and I cannot leave out Mo’s hippie family who bring their own bit of crazy into the mix. So, as you can see this book is loaded with an eclectic cast of characters that brings this book to life.


The plot was remarkable as well. Fast paced and comedic, you will be flipping the pages like mad and before you know it, you will have read it from front to back. I also enjoyed how Molly Harper added mystery, comedy, a healthy dose of romance, and a few twists and turns along the way without one overshadowing the other. Each element was well intertwined with the other and played out its part well adding a lovely flow to the plot.

Trust me BUY THIS BOOK you will thank me later! One of my favorites that I have read this year, a funny romantic romp that will have you laughing until you cry!

Cover Thoughts:

This book defiantly has that “pick me up, take me home, and read me” quality. In my opinion, it was the perfect cover for this book!


Read How It All Began
A Guest Post from Molly Harper

Pocket author based new book on 2009 ice storm experience



An ice storm. Stranded in a strange, isolated place without power. Children with an unsettling ability to win staring contests. This is how horror movies start.



Watching the news coverage as cities across the Midwest are pelted by the much-touted historic blizzard, I’m having strange sympathy pangs. In January 2009, an ice storm ripped through Kentucky, taking out power and phone lines for thousands of homes, including mine. The first night I spent camped out in my in-laws’ darkened living room with my two young children, I was sure this was just a temporary blip. It was going to be a funny story we could tell the next winter. As in, “Remember that night we had to sleep on an air mattress in front of Grandma’s fireplace and cook on a gas grill in the garage?”



By the sixth night, I was no longer amused.



Over the next week, Kentuckians were cold, cranky and progressively ill-groomed. I returned to my dark, cold house to forage for supplies one afternoon, only to find my neighbor shaving his head in his driveway. I sincerely hoped that was related to the lack of electricity and not just a personality quirk I'd never noticed before. Neighborhood block parties have been stilted and awkward since.



But I managed to channel my cabin fever, before going the full fire-ax-through-bedroom-door and elevator-full-of-blood route. I started writing. Having recently published the Nice Girls books, a vampire romance series about an undead librarian in small-town Kentucky, I’d already decided that I wanted to write a werewolf story. And being isolated, in the dark, in an increasingly crowded, enclosed space, I decided to set the story in the frozen regions of Alaska.



While we waited for the power to come back on, I wrote about twenty pages of notes by candlelight. What emerged was the story of Mo Wenstein, a woman who moves across the country to escape her intrusive hippie parents and make a life for herself in the remote town of Grundy, Alaska. Cantankerous neighbor Cooper has been giving Mo a hard time about her place in her new community since day one. But when Cooper stumbles onto her porch, naked, with a bear trap clamped around his ankle, she realizes there’s more to him than a surly- though attractive- surface. A series of werewolf attacks, for which Cooper may or may not be responsible, dysfunctional werewolf clan drama, and romantic hijinks ensue.



The manuscript grew over the next few months and became HOW TO FLIRT WITH A NAKED WEREWOLF, which is due to be released by Pocket Books on Feb. 22, wherever books are sold. The sequel, THE ART OF SEDUCING A NAKED WEREWOLF, will follow on March 29.



So, while the encroaching claustrophobia is frustrating, make the best of your snow days. Use the milk, eggs and bread you hoarded to make French toast. Plow through the To-Be-Read pile of paperbacks on your nightstand. Write journal entries about the sights, sounds and emotions you’re experiencing as a blizzard survivor.



You never know. You could turn this experience into your first manuscript.


I have 1 copy of this book to giveaway.
To enter please leave your name and a valid email address.
Residents of the US only
Sorry no P.O. Boxes
Contest ends: April 14, 2011

The Mistress’ House by Leigh Michaels

Title: The Mistress’ House
Author: Leigh Michaels
ISBN: 9781402241352
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Format: Mass Market Paperback
$7.99
Genre: Historical Romance
How I read it: Mass Market ARC from publishers


THE RULES ARE MADE TO BE BROKEN……

When the handsome, rakish Earl of Hawthorne buys the charming house across the back garden from his town home, he never expects the lovely lady he installs there to ensnare him completely…

AGAIN……

After Lady Anne Keighley marries the earl, it seems a shame to leave the house empty, so she offers it to her childhood friend Felicity Mercer, who discovers that the earl’s gorgeous cousin is precisely the man she’s been waiting for…

AND AGAIN……

Finally, feisty Georgiana Baxter moves into the house to escape an arranged marriage, and encounters the earl’s friend Lord Julian Silsby late one night in the back garden. The handsome soldier is more than willing to give her the lessons she asks for…
There is plenty of gossip, scandal, and torrid speculations surrounding the “mistress’ house”, but behind closed doors, passions blaze…


My review:

I have to say that I really enjoyed reading The Mistress’ House, it was a lovely little romance novel that featured three different stories, each combining to make an interesting read. First we are introduced to Lady Anne Keighly who is desperate to be ruined, and she knows the perfect rogue for the job. It seems that luck is on her side when after a bit of convincing the Earl of Hawthorn agrees. To make matters more interesting Hawthorn has just purchased the perfect house in which to hold a rendezvous, Number Five Upper Seymour Street, although he never imagine that this mistress would win his heart.

Next to visit the house is Felicity Mercer, a dear friend of Anne’s, after an unexpected visit with the brother of her former lover, she proposes a plan that Richard cannot refuse. Felicity soon begins to develop feelings for Richard, even though she believes him to be married, but one must remember that appearance are not quite what they seem.

Last but not least is the whirlwind, Georgiana Baxter, who has come for Hawthorns aid. She is determined not to windup trapped in an arranged marriage, so she finds her escape in Number Five Upper Seymour Street, never imagining that she would also find the man who will take her breath away. Although once again we are reminded that appearance are not quite what they seem.


My thoughts:

Although there are three stories combined in the book, they are not novellas; together they create this charming romance. Each story is filled with romance, as well as a few twists and turns, making it a fun and enjoyable read. A perfect book for those of you who want to do a bit of light reading. One of my top picks that I have read this read.