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7.11.14

Book Review | Spice by Seressia Glass

Hello & TGIF!
If you hadn't noticed, I've been on kind of a reading binge lately and I'm going to take advantage of the free time I have until this reading high wears off. This means I space out a lot more than usual and I will be writing a lot more book reviews - yay!

Today I'm going to be reviewing Spice by Seressia Glass which is book number 1 in the Sugar and Spice series.



Here's the blurb on the back of the book:
Temptation comes in many flavors…… 

Nadia Spiceland works in the business of temptation. The confections she crafts at the Sugar and Spice Bakery and CafĂ© lure in the locals. But one customer is interested in more than just her delectable sticky buns……

Kane Sullivan teaches human sexuality at the nearby college, where coeds are clamoring for seats in his lectures. Nadia is reluctant to his advances, yet she also has needs. Who better to fulfill them than the man who’s referred to as “Dr. Sex” by his female students?

Soon Kane creates a hunger in Nadia that nothing can satiate. It weakens her, and that’s something she cannot risk. Not again. But Kane’s masterful touch might just be powerful enough to melt her heart—and free her to trust again……

Now, I have a serious problem with erotic romances - not because I don't appreciate the sex factor (because I totally do). The problem is that I find more and more of the books in this genre to be kind of cheesy and superficial. Luckily for me, Spice was not one of them. For reasons listed below, Spice appealed to me and I was honestly glued to my kindle screen until I finished the book.

I loved Nadia's backstory. While I cannot give it all away (because that is part of the fun in reading this book), I can say that Nadia is suffering from a drug addiction she dealt with years ago and this attempt at a relationship with Kane is the first time she's been out on the prowl since the incident. With the help of her friends (who I should mentioned are all dealing with some type of addiction) so far, Nadia has been recovering well except this part of her life hovers over her new life every day. Being aware of her inner struggle made it an all the more interesting story by creating an entirely different story line (as a back drop to the main one) - as we slowly discover the depth of the travesty Nadia faced at the peak of her addiction.

I also thoroughly enjoyed the connection between Nadia and Kane and the development of this relationship. There are semi-heavy BDSM elements in the novel without the scary whip and chains that people like to shy away from. It was just enough to have me become aware of the trust issues/sacrifices that they were both making in order to open up for the other. It was kind of sweet - and entirely sexy.

Overall, a steady-paced plot, hot sexy times and hilarious relatable characters made me give this book 4 out of 5 stars. If you're into Erotic Contemporary Romance with a dash of some BDSM woven through it, Spice is the book for you.


Basic info. about this book:

Name: Spice (Sugar & Spice #1)
Author: Seressia Glass
Review Source: Provided by Publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Publishing Company: Berkley Trade
Publication Date: November 4, 2014
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Erotic
Rating (out of 5): 4.0

Recommend? Yes!

Where it can be purchased: The Book Depository 

Author online: goodreads 


Hope you enjoyed my review & will definitely be back soon :)


&& here is where you can find me on the interwebz:
Vampire Book Club: Vampirebookclub.net
Book Depository Affiliate: bookdepository.com


Until next time-


-Jannelle

6.11.14

The Art of Eating Through the Zombie Apocalypse: A Cookbook & Culinary Survival Guide | Blog Tour

Hello & welcome back - 

I'm happy to announce that Jannelle Reads is hosting the ZPOC Eating Blog Tour today!

I'm going to be sharing with you all a recipe from The Art of Eating Through The Zombie Apocalypse: A Cookbook & Culinary Survival Guide




CHOOSE YOUR OWN GRILLED CHEESE ADVENTURE:

I have a profound love for all things cheesy and most especially, grilled cheeses. In this hilarious and frighteningly informational cookbook/survival guide, we are given a wide array of fillers to choose from for a delicious grilled cheese sandwich.

Here are some quick tips Lauren Wilson has shared with us for making grilled cheese in the zombie apocalypse:
  • Use grated cheese if available
  • Try to achieve the right bread to cheese ratio - not too much cheese or too much bread here ; trim the bread if necessary
  • Spread your fat of choice (butter, oil, back fat) on the bread, not on the pan 
  • Try to use a nonstick pan to prevent from sticking
  • Press the sandwich down while it's cooking
  • Keep the heat medium-low to prevent from burning ; Low & slow
  • Let the sandwich cool for a few minutes before eating it - it will taste better & you won't burn yourself ... we're trying to survive here, people!

The whole point of this is to be creative and use what you have & I have everything that I need to make a pizza but I'm making a grilled cheese instead! Here's the recipe:


What I used:

Bread: Turkish Pide Bread, cut in half

Spread: Marinara sauce

Cheese(s): Fresh mozarella & Jalapeno jack 

Flavor Bomb(s): sauteed mushrooms with garlic

Fat of choice: Olive Oil for the outside of the bread

I started off by cutting my mushrooms since cooking them would take the longest

Added about a tablespoon of oil to the pan and the grated garlic right away - don't let the oil get hot because you will probably burn the garlic

Added the mushroom and cooked for 3-4 minutes on medium until the mushrooms were soft and fully cooked. Set aside and let them cool


Start getting your other ingredients ready while the mushrooms cool...


To start building our grilled cheese sandwich, start by applying your sauce

This was how I layered mine: Mozarella on the bottom, topping it with the mushrooms and adding a thin layer of pepperjack cheese

I brushed the olive oil on both sides of the bread.
Then cook on medium-low heat for about 2-3 minutes until the bread is golden brown in color (like this^). Make sure to press it down.

Final product: deliciousness in or out of a Zombie Apocalypse


** & while I didn't do this, a great sweet grilled cheese alternative would be white cheddar, honey and slice almonds on some olive bread (or grain bread if you're not into olives) - sounds different but I promise it will be delicious**

Basic info. about this book:

Name: The Art of Eating Through the Zombie Apocalypse: A Cookbook & Culinary Survival Guide
Author: Lauren Wilson
Review Source: Provided by Publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Publishing Company: BenBella Books
Publication Date: October 28, 2014
Genre: Cookbook, Survival Guide, SciFi?
Rating (out of 5): 4.5

Recommend? Yes!

Where it can be purchased: The Book Depository 

Author online: goodreads 

& now I guess you can say that I am a ZPOC Eating SURVIVOR


Be sure to pick up your copy today and if you're interested, be sure to follow Lauren Wilson on twitter. Her username is @LaurenDoesThis which I will link to here.


&& here is where you can find me on the interwebz:
Vampire Book Club: Vampirebookclub.net
Book Depository Affiliate: bookdepository.com

Until next time-
-Jannelle

5.11.14

Short Book Review | Breaking out by Lydia Michaels

Hello & happy Wednesday!

Today I wanted to continue my reviews of the Surrender Trilogy by Lydia Michaels with the second book in the series: Breaking Out.



This review makes references to previous installments in the Surrender Trilogy. If you haven't read or are interested in the first novel -Falling In- you can read a review here.

Here is the blurb found on the back of the book:
Evelyn “Scout” Keats has left behind her painful past of surviving on the streets, and is now living in the luxurious penthouse master suite of Hotel Patras with her lover, billionaire Lucian Patras. But what she doesn’t know is the price Lucien paid for her freedom.

To protect Scout’s life, Lucian cut a deal with a dangerous man from her past, Parker Hughes. He swore to stay away from her for thirty days, even though he knows Parker will be fighting to keep them apart for good and take Scout as his own.

Yet neither man realizes that Scout is not about to be used as a prize or a bargaining chip for any man’s power play—and she falls back on her hard-earned self-respect and courage to show both men that the only person she truly needs is herself.

But Lucian has other plans…
 


After the bargain Lucian made with Parker at the end of Falling In, it is safe to say that Lucian is on the edge. Scout is aware of something being off with his personality but is completely oblivious as to what is bothering him. Parker also decides to take a hiatus from her life while he gets his effects in order and Scout is again oblivious as to where he is and why he has disappeared.
I was so angry at Lucian and Parker in this one. Who the hell does Parker think he is? And why the hell does Lucian even keep his end of the bargain? Hello, you don't play with a woman's heart and mind like this.
Evelyn, as always, is my favorite. She has so much pride and strength that I might have had to (silently) applaud a decision or two.
Lucian and Evelyn's relationship also becomes stronger and deeper in Breaking Out - get ready for some heavy sexy times and a deep connection that translates into every sexual scene and had me glued to the page.
Breaking Out was my favorite of the three installments in the Surrender Trilogy- the unpredictability of the story line and a strong connection with Evelyn after the end of Falling In helped capture my completely emotional attention.


Basic info. about this book:

Name: Breaking Out (Surrender Trilogy #1)
Author: Lydia Michaels
Review Source: Provided by Publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Publishing Company: Berkley Trade
Publication Date: November 4, 2014
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Erotic
Rating (out of 5): 4.5

Recommend? Yes!

Where it can be purchased: The Book Depository 

Author online: goodreads 



So, that's my review!
I hope you enjoyed it and I will be seeing you tomorrow with a special blog tour Thursday Mash-Up. :)



&& here is where you can find me on the interwebz:
Vampire Book Club: Vampirebookclub.net
Book Depository Affiliate: bookdepository.com


Until next time-


-Jannelle

2.11.14

October 2014 Wrap-Up

Hello everyone!

Happy second day of November & happy late All Saint's Day (if you celebrate). Also hope you had a great Halloween - I was stuck at home with Hocus Pocus & NyQuil, hoping to get rid of this nasty cold.

I definitely took advantage of my free time in October and made up for the lack of reading in September (after my OD on books during my vacation). In total, I have read 9 books and am kind of reading 3 more starting off November #nojudging

Anywho - on to my October Wrap-up in which I discuss all the books I have read in October and do a mini-review of each book :)



Name: Break Out (Blood Hunter #1)
Author: Nina Croft
Publishing Company: St. Martin's
Publication Date: September 30, 2014
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Fantasy

I actually already reviewed this book on vampirebookclub.net which you can find here. So if you are interested in aliens, vampires and GMO humans and aliens in a futuristic society in outer space... definitely pick up this one!

Rating (out of 5): 3.0
Recommend? Yes
Where it can be purchased: Book Depository 
Author Online: goodreads 



Name: Falling In (Surrender Trilogy #1)
Author: Lydia Michaels
Publishing Company: Berkley NAL/ Signet Romance
Publication Date: December 17, 2013
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic, Romance

This is the first book in the Surrender Trilogy by Lydia Michaels. It is about a homeless 22 year  old named Scout and her relationship with multi billionaire Lucian Patras. For my full review you can check out my previous blog post, here.

Rating (out of 5): 4.0
Recommend? Yes
Where it can be purchased: Book Depository 
Author Online: goodreads



Name: Breaking Out (Surrender Trilogy #2)
Author: Lydia Michaels
Publishing Company: Berkley NAL/ Signet Romance
Publication Date: November 4, 2014
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic, Romance

After reading Falling In, I fell in love with this series and luckily, I had early access to this second
installment in the Surrender Trilogy. This book continues Scout and Lucian's difficult journey in and out of their relationship where they realize what they are willing to sacrifice for the advancement of their relationship. Loved this book (I think it was my favorite of the series).
More in-depth review to come :)

Rating (out of 5): 4.5
Recommend? Yes
Where it can be purchased: Book Depository 
Author Online: goodreads 



Name: Coming Home (Surrender Trilogy #3)
Author: Lydia Michaels
Publishing Company: Berkley NAL/ Signet Romance
Publication Date: December 2, 2014
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic, Romance

This conclusion to this erotic contemporary romance was extremely well done. And we all know how
picky I am with final installments to series - I can be a bitch (I'm well aware).
Loved this series as a whole and a more in-depth review closer to the release date will be coming :)

Rating (out of 5): 4.0
Recommend? Yes
Where it can be purchased: Book Depository
Author Online: goodreads  



Name: Burn For Me (Hidden Legacy #1)
Author: Ilona Andrews
Publishing Company: Avon
Publication Date: October 28, 2014
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy


Rating (out of 5): 5.0
Recommend? Yes
Where it can be purchased: Book Depository 
Author Online: goodreads 



Name: Guilty Pleasures (Anita Blake Vampire Hunter #1)
Author: Laurell K. Hamilton
Publishing Company: Berkley Trade
Publication Date: January 1. 1993
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance

OK So I am definitely late to the party with this series. The 23rd book comes out next month and I've been eyeing it for years at Barnes & Noble as well as getting wonderful reviews from fellow paranormal book lovers. Honestly, I was expecting more. I mean, I love vampire novels. The vampires in this series are mean and cruel but like all vampires, extremely sexually appealing.
Vampires are also "out of the coffin" along with a bunch of other supernatural creatures in this world
which I always enjoy. Maybe because it was the first book of the series? I don't always get really into the first novels because there is a lot of setting up for future books. Overall, 3. 5 stars but I left intrigued to keep reading. Just no binge-reading of this series (for me, anyways).
In-depth review to come :)

Rating (out of 5): 3.5
Recommend? Yes
Where it can be purchased: Book Depository 
Author Online: goodreads  



Name: The Laughing Corpse (Anita Blake Vampire Hunter #2)
Author: Laurell K. Hamilton
Publishing Company: Berkley Trade
Publication Date: January 1, 1994
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance

After reading the first novel and being semi-disappointed, I am so happy I continued reading. Definitely enjoyed The Laughing Corpse more than Guilty Pleasures and am looking forward to continue reading this series.

Rating (out of 5): 4.0
Recommend? Yes
Where it can be purchased: Book Depository
Author Online:  goodreads 


Name: Lying with Wolves
Author: Cynthia Cooke
Publishing Company: Harlequin Nocturne
Publication Date: October 1, 2014
Genre: Paranormal Romance

In this novel, we meet Celia who is a shifter escaping her life and former love in the Pacific Northwest in exchange for a fresh new life in Arizona. Unfortunately, Malcolm (her former flame) comes to find her and take her back to her home to help protect the other colonists after the death of her mother.
This was an easy read and if you like shifter/werewolf stories, this is the book for you.
I also reviewed this title for Vampirebookclub.net and will update you as soon as it goes up :)

Rating (out of 5): 3.5
Recommend? Yes
Where it can be purchased: Book Depository 
Author Online: goodreads 



Name: Seventh Grave and No Body (Charley Davidson #7)
Author: Darynda Jones
Publishing Company: St. Martin's
Publication Date: December 17, 2013
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Fantasy

If you have been following my blog for a while, you will know that I am in love with the Charley Davidson series and it is one of my top favorite series of 2014 (or even all time).
Charley Davidson is a P.I/Grim Reaper who is engaged to the Son of Satan - Reyes Farro.
Every single installment is action-packed and full of high-tension scenes between Charley and Reyes. I also think that the story line just gets better and better with each new book.
If you haven't read this series, you need to do yourself a favor and pick it up. Start it off with the first book in the series, First Grave on the Right.

Rating (out of 5): 4.5
Recommend? Yes
Where it can be purchased: Book Depository 
Author Online:  goodreads 



So, that's it! I hope you enjoyed my overview of my October reads. See you soon!


&& here is where you can find me on the interwebz:
Vampire Book Club: Vampirebookclub.net
Book Depository Affiliate: bookdepository.com


Until next time-


-Jannelle

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