Brazen Broads Book Bash

A Short Novella - Great For A Quick, Steamy Romp - Short On Depth. Devil To Pay is the first novella in the Second chances series by author Maria Zannini.  Shannon McKee is down on her luck.  Wiped out financially by a man she loved and facing bankruptcy with her antique shop because of the betrayal, Shannon prays for a way out.  Unfortunately for her, both heaven and hell determine to grant her hasty request, each sending a harvester angel to collect her soul. When Shannon falls hard under their charms, sparks fly, and the rival angels, Liam and Michael, find themselves inexplicably unable to hand Shannon over to either realm, instead becoming fugitives and vying to win Shannon's heart. Liam sacrifices himself, enabling Michael time to save Shannon, and both he and Shannon must make choices that will have eternal consequences.  For Shannon, the cost is dear.  To save Liam, whom she loves, she must bond her soul in eternal servitude to his rival - and brother - Michael. Z

Blood.  Sex.  Elizabeth. 'He looked as if he knew everything...and cared for nothing... ' Blood Eternal, the final in Marie Treanor's  Awakened By Blood series, may well be my favorite of the three.  Treanor first introduced us to her wonderful heroine, Elizabeth Silk, in her novel, Blood On Silk.  It was within those pages that we had our first taste of the sexiest vampire overlord this Broad has ever encountered - the last of the ancients, Saloman.  Treanor maintained danger, suspense, and questions throughout that novel, continued brilliantly in the second, Blood Sin, and now culminates in Blood Eternal - crafting an ending of epic proportions.  The author added a healthy twinge of fear for our hero and heroine while staying true to that Mad, Bad, & Dangerous To Know character of whom I've grown so fond.  I fell in love with Saloman for a number of reasons.  At last, someone wrote a cool headed, confident vampire who knew with absolute certainty that he would a

Is worth two if she made you look!  (Sorry, I really couldn't help myself.) I wasn't sure what exactly to call this post since it's not baking and yet isn't totally in the braised category either.   You see, my best girlfriend and I decided to make -and can- apple butter.  I know, right.  Now, for most people, this might be a fairly innocuous event.  Sadly, or should I say hilariously, we are not most people.  While I'll concede this was not, by far, one of our funniest adventures (i.e...we didn't laugh til we peed, and no one stopped breathing) you can always bet there will be humor.   After having to return to her house to get her forgotten jars, BF and happy puppy arrived at my house.  We got happy puppy settled in with grumpy dog, who frankly, wasn't happy to see happy puppy at all.  I believe he used the term "whippersnapper" and reminded us of his age and his bad leg.  He's an 8 year old rat terrier and his leg was broken about 4 yea

ROW80  Check-In Is Here Again! How did you fare this week on your goals?  We Broads did great!  We've nearly visited enough blogs to meet our combined weekly goal, so it looks as if we'll surpass it. Here are a list of the blog posts we'd like to feature.  It is a list in progress, keep in mind.   *Coffee-Talk ~ which will feature author interviews.  We don't want all the same questions that other interviewers ask.  Nope!  We'll be trying to entice those 'authorly' secrets to be spilled as only a coffee klatch can do. *Brazen Books ~   offering our one of a kind reviews. *Braised Broads ~ which will feature a food recipe and our thoughts on ease of preparation, taste of dish, cost or availability of ingredients, and cooking times. *Broads on the Bake  ~ which will feature a baking recipe with the same additions as above. *Dinner and a Movie ~ which will feature a movie review of the Brazen Variety. *What's A Broad Got To Say ~ open discuss

Here's A Group For Writers Of All Varieties... Click the link to find out what creator Kait Nolan has to say about her wildly popular and growing writing challenge that knows you have a life! What Is  ROW80 ? In short, it's a place to set flexible writing related goals in which you can glean encouragement from fellow writers/bloggers/reviewers and benefit from accountability.  (Complete instructions/rules/guidelines below) Here's what Mina and I would like to accomplish during Round 4: *  We will check in at least once a week, offering a post that deals with some aspect of writing.  It may be a writer we'd like to showcase, a poem we've found or written ourselves, or our own quirky commentary on some shiny bauble/idea/thought/fashion/recipe/book/author that's caught our eye or attention.  *  Both Moira and Mina will visit around and visit at least 5 blogs per week - that's 10 in all.  We may complete this for each check-in...but we like to maintain a

Did you ever start to do something and then get distracted by something else?  I just had one of those moments.  I had an idea of how I wanted to start this post when I looked down and realized my keyboard is quite. . .um. . .icky?  Anyhoo, We're doing some tweaking here at the broads, as you've probably noticed.  A little diddling with the background and fonts and such.  Any feed back would be wildly appreciated by the way.  You know, colors and setup, ease of use, and is the font easy to read.  That sort of thing. We are also going to be tweaking our postings a bit.  Adding some new things and whatnot.  Don't worry, we're still all about the book reviews!  We have thought of adding a recipe post, which should be yummy.  Possibly called "Braised Broads"?  Get it?  Ha!  Seeing as I really only use most recipes(excluding baking) as a loose guideline, well, let's say my posts should be informative, funny and slightly confusing.  But fearest thou not!  I ha

Pirates and prosthetics...what's not to love? This high seas adventure stars, Amy Stewart, a financial analyst with a repressed sense of fun and an overdeveloped sense of organization. So to save her from imminent death by work and boredom, and as only a teen can do, her daughter cajoles and guilts her into trying a virtual reality game called Buckling Swashes. (Which, I might add, is a great name for a pirate game.) The game isn't quite finished yet and teen Tara has an advance copy to try before she interviews the game developer, P.C. Monroe. With the promise to make officer before she quits and gives up on the game, Amy signs on as Earless Erika (you need a piratical name, right?), dons her VR glasses and gets ready to sail the seven seas. Once in the game, which was made to be as real as possible, from clothes to food, sights and smells, she begins to meet the various and sundry characters that make up this new world. She's soon grabbed from behind and hau

Fantasy Writing, Vampires, And A Dash Of Romance... The title of this book is somewhat deceiving as the story is told from Michael Allen's perspective. Beginning with his normal young adult life in Chicago and taking the reader through his brutal transition to vampire, this novel continues into the present day where our hero leads a solitary life. Haunted and tortured by the memories surrounding the night he was bitten, Michael maintains a lonely existence, fighting against 'The Beast' and hating the very nature of what he is. When Michael begins hearing a strange voice and finds himself inexplicably drawn to Kiara, a local young woman with a life almost as strange as his own, a longing takes root deep inside him - a longing that could end in disaster. What Michael doesn't know is that Kiara has secrets of her own, some she doesn't even know she keeps. Together, Michael and Kiara discover the peace of self-acceptance through their unconditional acceptance of one ano

The Pride & Prejudice Marathon Goes On! ...Darcy & Elizabeth, for better or for worse... Pemberley Manor, by Kathryn L. Nelson is the first completed sequel in my P & P marathon. I have mixed feelings. Elizabeth was very well written, and Nelson kept close to the original character in her portrayal. The author wrote great emotion and dialogue into her scenes, providing sharp wit and smart interactions not only between Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam, but within each of our heroine's relationships. Darcy is another story. While I agree with the author's interpretation of Darcy's discomfort and difficulty in openly expressing himself when it comes to feelings, Nelson added a tortured haunt to Fitzwilliam that, while not an unbelievable theme, crossed the line on more than one occasion into emasculation. This did not sit well with this Broad! Darcy's brooding and prideful nature was usually tempered by his love for Elizabeth, and her effect on his moods

MMA and romance, definitely claims the prize.... This is the debut book by author Nadja Notariani, and it is worth the read. It is well written with intelligent dialog, realistic events and well rounded characters. It is especially comforting to have a hero who isn't turned into a simpering "yes, dear" by the end of the book. The personalities of our cast stay true to form throughout. Which, for those who have suffered through "sybil" books, is very refreshing. The blending of romance with the sport of MMA is also a new twist in the genre. For those who are not familiar, MMA is mixed martial arts. It combines the boxing, wrestling and different martial arts disciplines. Ladies, trust me, it is an eye candy store I love to get lost in! Notariani also reaches a nice middle ground with her descriptive elements. I was not left wanting more, nor was I skipping past pages droning on about furniture, flowers and inane character musings. It is helpful to remember that t

Here we are again! This week, we (Mina & Moira) have scrounged up two more covers to inspect. We'll dive right in with what our Google search produced. Do you have a favorite cover you'd love for the Broads to showcase? Have you come across a wretched cover that makes you wonder how it ever got selected to grace a book? We want to know! The Broads Are Dishing Up A New Batch Of Cover Cheers & Jeers ... What do you say? Love it? Or Hate it? Give us a shout out with your cover love! First , let's take a look at this interesting specimen that we pulled from the internet..... Mina ~ This just in! Half naked mer-fellow with festering head wound rescues maiden from slight snow storm and takes her to his enchanted garden inhabited by creepy faery children. What...it could happen. The title of this book is flirting dangerously with being an oxymoron. But I love the hair ornament, though. No, really. The sea shell- snake rattle- fleur de lis combo really works for you.

A Timeless Classic... For anyone who has never read Pride And Prejudice , this Broad would urge you to crack the cover! If you enjoy a smart romance, sharp wit, and the humor of peering into the character flaws of those about you, you won't be disappointed. Austen wrote my favorite heroine of all time within the pages of this novel. Elizabeth Bennet absolutely steals the show! The Bennet sisters, under the hand of an often dramatic and obnoxiously silly mother and a father, who abounds with dry humor but mostly abdicates his role, face life, society, and courtship in the English countryside. This is no easy task, for the young women have no considerable wealth or lofty position to aid them in a time when that was quite important. Pride And Prejudice chronicles the romantic fiascoes of the Bennet girls. Jane, the eldest sister, wins the love of the young and well-to-do Mr. Bingley , although certainly not without trial and tribulation. But jealousy and interference

Panic Room...Welcome Mina Naveen ! Okay, truthfully, it took me forever to try and think up a good beginning for my first post. I wanted to say something really pithy and fascinating, drawing you to me like that piper guy with the rats. Except I wouldn't want you to be rats, because that's gross and really unsanitary in large groups. But butterflies, or cookies, would be nice. Anywho , once I had your attention I'd hit you with the one-two punch of my sarcastic and rapier like wit, leaving you stunned and totally under my spell. Fortunately for you, that isn't what happened. SIGH . Apparently I shall have to woo you to minion-hood . So be it. The real reason I'm here is, in what was a completely sane (if somewhat dubious) decision on her part, my sister Moira has asked me to join the broads! I know, right! I seriously don't know what she was thinking. My name is Mina Naveen , and I'll be the comedic and slightly not grown up one. I try to

Some Fun Changes And Maybe Some New Broads....... Hi all! Hope everyone's having a great week! I've got some fun ideas for the blog, and I hope to be posting them soon. Of course, it's sad to say goodbye to Alexandria, but life has a way of changing on us, sometimes unexpectedly. We live our lives in chapters, and for Alexandria, a busy chapter is upon her. Best wishes. Of course, I'll still be reading and writing reviews. It's what this Broad does. But I'm hoping to add a few new Broads - the brazen sort - to the line-up. In the meantime, I'm planning a little project! One of my favorite books is Pride And Prejudice , by Jane Austen, and I've read it countless times. It's a favorite for many, the proof of which is evident in the many sequels this classic has inspired. In honor of that, I'm going on a Pride & Prejudice marathon............... I'll read the original - again - and post a review. Then, I'll

Alexandria here--this is my last post at the Brazen Broads.  Life outside the blog has become just too hectic for me to continue, as much as I wish I could.  A little over a year ago, Moira and I began this blog because we love books and love talking about them.  However, in the past few months, life has just gotten too busy for me to continue, and I think the blog deserves better than I can give right now.  Moira will be continuing with the blog, so keep checking back for more great reviews of books she's read, and when she brings another broad on board, I know readers will be as great to her as they have been to me. So goodbye to those of you who have visited us in the past year.  It was great sharing my ideas about books with you. -Alexandria

It's Time Once Again For... Broads Undercover!   The Brazen Broads are dishing up two new covers in our 'Cheers & Jeers' adventurers this week, and my, oh my, have we got a few things to say about these selections.  Weigh in with your thoughts if you'd like, but only after taking at look at these....... Moira:  Where do I begin?  Oh, the agony!  The shame!  I must start off by saying that I have a problem with the type of art used on this cover for an obviously sexual situation.  It reminds me of drawings one might find on a children's book, and therefore it goes without saying (even though I'm saying it!)....No Good.  That troubling issue being dealt with, I can get on with my assessment.  The couple appears to be quite young, another problematic issue when considering that A HAND JOB is going on!  The blond - seriously has he reached puberty yet? - has a weird King Julian vibe to his posture and expression.  "Lookie what I am h

Thank you to the Brazen Broads for having me here at the Bash today.  I just love the name of the blog, and I guess in some ways my post is about something a bit brazen, or at least somewhat unorthodox.  My new novel is called Stolen Destiny .  A romance novel, it's about a race of people called Aeveren and three of these people in particular:  Varek, Callia, and Amon.  Here's the blurb:  Released from prison to find a murderer, a prison-hardened Varek Leale is convinced no woman deserves the man he’s become, but his Aeveren destiny makes him succumb to sweet and sexy Callia Reynolds. To catch a murderer, he and Callia must find an Aeveren with the power to control time. But Amon Kalins isn’t a man to trifle with, and when he wants something, he’ll use his powers, devastating charm, and good looks to get it. When Amon manipulates time and seduces her away, Varek must turn to the people who set him free for help to get her back. But the Council doesn’t do anything without re

Time can be a friend, or an enemy........   Sentenced to spend three lifetimes in Nil, the hellish prison of the Aeveren race, Varek Leale accepts his punishment, reliving the night he murdered his first destined one in a crime of passion after finding her in bed with another man, knowing he deserves the torturous existence he now lives.  But destiny has other plans for him.  Summoned by the Council, Varek learns that he is to be released, for a price.  He must track down a serial killer who is murdering innocent Aeveren families.  With little more than the clothes on his back, he is transported to the town of New Hope, the scene of the latest murders.  Drawing on his past law enforcement background, Varek trails the killer, and the case leads him to the New Hope Orphanage, a home for Aeveren children.  As soon as he meets Callia Reynolds, his Aeveren biology reveals the impossible and unwanted.  She is now his destined one.   Certain that his crime and his years in Nil have left hi