Friday, 27 September 2013

Anniversary Blog Tour ~ Review & Giveaway ~ The Baby Series 'Lite' by Andrea Smith


Baby Series 'Lite' is the anniversary edition of last fall’s Baby Series by Andrea Smith.
These Lite editions have been condensed from the originals to accommodate those readers who prefer a shorter read. The essence of the story is the same, but its length has been edited and bonus chapters added on Book 2 and 3!

**Please note when reading the reviews they may contain spoilers to the previous books**

Book 1 ~ Maybe Baby 'Lite'

Book Description: 

When college student Tylar Preston goes to work for the wealthy Sinclair family stables the summer of her senior year, she quickly meets with unexpected events and the disturbing unraveling of her past. Is her past destined to taint her future?

Pulling Tylar from unspeakable danger, Trey Sinclair, an arrogant high-powered attorney makes it his mission to protect the innocent and unworldly young woman from the dreams that haunt her. Spirited and independent, Tylar proves to be a challenge to the stubborn and unyielding young lawyer. Together their often bumpy journey weaves itself mysteriously, comically, passionately and erotically down a path that promises to engage and move the reader in this emotionally stirring story.

For anyone who has ever been in love or in lust, 'Maybe Baby Lite will stir those forgotten feelings of passion and emotion within you; making you ageless as you travel the romantic and erotic journey with Tylar and Trey unraveling the secrets of their past.

This book is intended for mature audiences.
 

Our Review: 

Reviewed by Donna ~ 4 Stars

“My lips wanted him to kiss me, my heart wanted him to love me, and my hormones, well they were all about him spanking me at the moment.”

I read the original Maybe Baby many moons ago and absolutely fell in love with Trey and Tylar. So much so I had to read all the books back to back. I was a bit surprised when Andrea condensed them as I felt the originals were fine as they were, although they were really long, they didn’t read long so I was worried that some of that magic may have disappeared, but I had no reason to worry! I could tell that it had been stripped but it didn’t detract from the story at all.

Tylar Preston had a very rough upbringing, her mother was awful, her father was absent and she was dealt a tough deck of cards. This only made Tylar more resilient and determined not to become the woman her mother was.

“I have a shitty mother, so what? A lot of kids grow up with shitty mothers and absent fathers. I guess we can’t all be brought up with perfect parents, perfect educations, and perfect lives! Some of us simply do the best we can with the cards we’re dealt!”


Tylar takes a summer job at “Sinclair Stables”, she is a college student and is doing really well for herself, she is excited with this job as she absolutely adores horses, so this is going to be a summer spent doing what she loves rather than feeling like work. It is while working at the stables Tylar comes across Trey Sinclair (swoon)!!

Trey Sinclair is one alpha male, he is a very successful businessman in his own right, he is gorgeous, super sexy, a tad arrogant and everyone is scared of him! Why I ask myself?? He is a pussycat really!! The stables belong to his parents but he is keeping an eye on things for them during the summer.

When Trey and Tylar come face to face for the first time, both are taken aback by the instant attraction. It is not acted upon immediately, so no real instalust, but you feel the build up. The sexual chemistry is scorching, it radiates off the page. Trey is a stranger to these feelings and never thought he would be in this position. It takes him a while to compute, but once his mind catches up to his nether regions, the book just heats up a few more notches. Seriously, Andrea Smith can write CHEMISTRY!!I absolutely loved this couple and was willing them along from start to finish.

"Tylar, I want to make love to you more than anything that I've ever wanted. You understand that, right?"
"Finally, and this part's a deal breaker. Once we do this, you're mine, do you understand?"


This book takes us on the voyage of discovery of their relationship, it has many ups and downs and twists and turns, but is a fabulous read. Tylar was a bit immature in the beginning and could be frustrating at times, but by the middle she somewhat came into her own and new Tylar was born. A lot of her insecurities and worries stem from her childhood and whilst you feel sorry for her I just wanted her to realise her future was hers for the making and taking, not determined by her past. Once she had her “Eureka” moment she became a totally different and loveable character. I cannot gush enough about Trey in this as I said before super hot and super alpha, but you did get to see his softer side during this book, he may be Mr Dominating but he had a serious weak spot for Tylar and it was lovely to read. I could feel their passion, at times I lived it…it was seriously that good.

In summary this is a fab story about romance, hot sexy times, suspense and what I hope is a “forever” kind of love. It is a wonderful journey that you could tell was written from the heart and with passion. I love Andrea Smith’s writing, have read all her books and have never been disappointed, she sure knows how to write a great story! They are captivating reads that you cannot put down, her characters become friends and you just get swept away. Totally loved it! 

Book 2 - Baby Love 'Lite'

Book Description: 

This second volume in the series finds Trey and Tylar the proud parents of a child. They are in love and their relationship is blossoming, but soon Tylar discovers that her nightmarish past will continue to haunt and threaten her new found happiness with her family. She fears for the safety of her baby and the sanity of herself.

There are many surprises in store not only for Trey and Tylar; but for Gina (Ty’s friend) and Tristan (Trey’s brother) as well. Will the love and intimacy they share be enough to bond them even closer or will their pasts tear them apart?

This book is intended for mature audiences.

Our Review: 
 
Reviewed by Donna ~ 4 Stars

“I’d never felt this kind of love before. It was a different kind of love than what I had for Trey. It’d been so immediate and so strong from the beginning. It was so unconditional, this baby love.”

This is the continuation of the love story that is Trey and Tylar. Now the proud parents of baby Preston their lives have changed and will never be the same again. Preston has made such an impression on them and their lives, their relationship is still on the up and the love between them is seriously infectious.

Now that Tylar is a parent herself and she has experienced the overwhelming love you have for a child she cannot help but wonder what went wrong with her own life and her own mother. She had never had that relationship with her mother.

“I thought about my mother and wondered why she’d never felt that “baby love” for me.”

They also have to deal with the changes within their relationship now that Preston is here, Tylar sometimes fears she is failing as any new mother does but Trey is always there to lift her spirits and keep her on the straight and narrow.

“Sweetie, you’ve not neglected me at all, okay? I’m so proud of what a great mother you are to our baby; you’re going to be a fantastic wife and lover to me as well. This is all new to you, sweetie…I feel like I’ve expected too much from you. I’m sorry, really sorry. I’ve been selfish, I know.”

After digging deeper into her history Tylar discovers some really disturbing things about her past and her situation suddenly becomes a lot more clearer. Things that have happened in the past suddenly have a lot more clarity and whilst it still does not excuse what happened at least she gets a sense of understanding, the benefit of this is that this brings somebody new into Tylars life. I for one was so glad that she got the opportunity.

This book is one amazing roller coaster ride, as usual intertwined with the love and smexy times that we love and associate with Andrea Smith, we have kidnappings, murders, angst, suspense, twists and turns, ups and downs, round and rounds, it was a lot to take in but it kept me hooked and on the edge of my seat at ALL times! This was one seriously mad crazy train! I would go into detail but I don’t want to spoil it for you so am keeping my lips zipped, but you will just have to read for yourselves, you will not be disappointed.

In this book I loved that we got closer to other characters, in particular Tristan and Gina. I can’t wait to read more about them going forward. I have absolutely loved the Sinclair family, as you are reading you feel like one of them and can’t help but be drawn into their little family unit.

I can’t leave out my man, actually “the man” Trey Sinclair, have I said I absolutely adore this man…he is LUSH!! I love their relationship so much, you can’t help but feel the love oozing off the page.

“I want to make love to you, baby,” he whispered against my lips. “What if I want to f**k?” I teased. “I’m fairly certain that we can accommodate both, Mrs Sinclair.”

Can’t wait for the next one, totally in love with this series. Fab job Andrea Smith!!

Book 3 - Be My Baby 'Lite'
Book Description:

It has been a mostly bumpy road thus far, but they have always managed to find the strength they needed in each other... however, their relationship will soon be put to the ultimate test.

Trey and Tylar will discover that there are those who are willing to destroy the loving relationship they have by death or at the very least, infidelity. Their love and commitment to each other is put to a tragic test. Will they be able to survive the unexpected hardship that befalls them? Will the strength of their love, the depth of their commitment to each other and the ability to forgive draw them ever closer or break them apart forever?

This book is intended for mature audiences.

Find it on Goodreads here: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18284070-be-my-baby-lite

Our Review

Reviewed by Donna ~ 5 Stars

“That’s when I knew I loved you, Tylar. That’s when I knew I wanted you to be my baby forever. I didn’t even know you but I loved you – crazy stuff huh?”

I am sad, so very sad, Tylar and Treys story is finished and I don’t want it to be!! I want to read about them forever!! I have loved this couple from the get go and it always puts me on a downer when it finishes..I may have to bribe Andrea to write more…I am not ready for my, yes MY Trey to leave me just yet!!

This is by far the best one of the series and boy did Andrea put us through the wringer to get to the end of their story. I cried a lot in this book, those heart wrenching guttural tears, I couldn’t believe what I was reading at times.

Everything is running smoothly in the beginning and then wham, it all goes tits up! Suffice to say, both Trey and Tylar made mistakes in this book. I could have screamed…in fact I think I did, several times.

Both Gina and Tylar now have their babies and Tylar is pregnant again, she has a tough pregnancy this time and this puts her through the mill both physically and emotionally, add to that pregnancy hormones and we have an unhappy Tylar.

This book is extremely intense, we have love, loss, grief, forgiveness, enough angst to sink a battleship but once again an extremely engaging story. Another one that I could not put down! Just when you think that all is happy in the world something else happens and you are left reeling, will this couple get their HEA? After everything they have been through you just want them to be happy and have that perfect little family.

We all deal with things differently and this is shown throughout this book, but this is what makes the story all the more believable. We finally see that Trey and Tylar do not have the perfect relationship, whilst it was hard to read about, again it was real. The good thing being is that they both fought for it, but not before putting me through the wringer to get there.

“I love you Trey,” I said as I met his gentle thrusting with my own. “It’s always been you and only you.” I buried my face against his shoulder; tears ran down my cheeks as he continued to pleasure me with his body. He pulled back from me; his lips captured my tears as his sapphire blue eyes looked into my soul. “I love you, Tylar,” he said huskily.

Despite the heavy storylines and the emotional and mental turmoil that you go through whilst reading this book, Andrea has still given us the usual romance, love and smexy times interspersed throughout all that “heavy stuff.”

I originally read the full length version of this series so I will leave you with my comments I made after finishing this the first time as I feel that truly reflects my emotional fragility at the time.

Loved Loved Loved it...what an ending and I am so upset that this has finished :-( I love Trey and Tylar and would love to read more about them, I could read on and on and on...well this book started as it meant to go on 6% in I am sobbing...those big guttural sobs....30% I am screaming NOOOOOOOOOOO about 90% in more guttural sobbing....I am an official emotional wreck after devouring this book... the course of true love never runs smooth and for Trey and Tylar nothing changes, but the chemistry between them is palpable and I so wanted my HEA for them, for me, for my heart and for my emotional wellbeing!! I will not give a detailed storyline as it needs to be read to be believed but I thoroughly enjoyed this last instalment and I am devastated that there will be no more....unless I can blackmail Andrea Smith into carrying on........hmmmmmmmm.

And there you have it…go read and devour this series, you are in for one hell of a ride but it is a truly brilliant series!

I love you, Trey

I love you, Tylar

Gonna miss you, Trey

Gonna miss you, Tylar

OMG seriously, the series has finished!!!!! Noooooooo, I need more… 

Book 3.5 ~ Baby Come Back 'Lite'

Book Description:
 
‘Baby Come Back Lite’ is the final installment in the 'Baby Series Lite'. This novella follows Trey’s brother Tristan and Ty’s best friend Gina. It is written from Gina's point of view, providing insight into her past and secrets that she has shared with no one.

Unfortunately, events unfold which force Gina to come to terms with unresolved issues from her past that have hindered her ability to love and trust unconditionally. Tristan also has something to share with Gina as their relationship reaches a new level.

This story overlaps with ‘Baby Love Lite’ (book 2) and ‘Be My Baby Lite’ (book 3). It mainly focuses on the events of Gina and Tristan, but manages to shed light and further clarify Trey and Ty’s story, wrapping up the series about the Sinclair’s.
This book is intended for mature audiences. 

Find it on Goodreads here: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18284087-baby-come-back-lite

Our Review

Reviewed by Donna ~ 3.5 Stars

“It seemed like there was always someone nearby wanting to piss on my cornflakes.”

I loved seeing the background into the enigma that was Gina. We didn’t really understand her through books 2 and 3 and this novella is where all the blanks are filled in.

We eventually get to hear her back story and at times it is not pleasant but it does go some way into making you understand why she is who she is. It is just up to Tristan now to help her forget and heal. During this story, despite the ups and downs you get to see that he is doing a really good job of it by the end!!

“Oh God,” he rasped, his voice was now thick with emotion, “I love you, baby. You’re my life.”

It was great to be reminded of the goings on that happened in books 2 and 3 from a different perspective, although these were not in depth you still got the opinions and it was intriguing to say the least. Gina is quite a complex character and it was great to understand her train of thought behind some of the things she did and said in the previous books.

Tristan is totally adorable, (although he doesn’t hold a candle to my Trey) it does take him time to sit back and digest and think things through but once he has dealt with things mentally he just throws himself back into the ring and deals, conquers and saves!

“That would mean it was truly over and it couldn’t be. My mind was screaming, “Baby Come Back!”.”

This was a great wrap to the series and I loved the epilogue, we still got to see glimpses of Trey and Tylar and the others which made my day. I think this story needed to be told and was glad that Andrea did. It made me understand Gina so much more and I can now actually relate to her, whereas before that was always a bit difficult.

I actually would have liked to read a bit more on these two, I felt some things were introduced and finished a bit too quick and so for that reason I have given it a 3.5 but I have loved this series so much. I cannot recommend it highly enough. Whether you read the full version or the Lite version you will not be disappointed especially if you are a sucker from romance books like I am.  

Baby Series Buy Links: 

Maybe Baby:

Baby Love:

Be My Baby:

Baby Come Back:

About the Author: 

Andrea Smith is an Ohio native, currently residing in southern Ohio. Ms. Smith is the mother of
two grown sons; grandmother of four. The 'Baby Series' trilogy is Ms. Smith's first self-
published work. Having previously been employed as an executive for a global corporation, Ms.
Smith decided to leave the corporate world and pursue her life-long dream of writing fiction.

Favorite Quote: "You'll have to forgive me for speaking my mind, but I happen to believe that's
what it's for."~Lauren Bacall

Favorite Author(s): Harper Lee, Kathleen Woodiwiss, E.L. James, Daphne du Maurier, Emily
Bronte, Betty Smith, William Inge

Favorite Classics: To Kill a Mockingbird; A Tree Grows in Brooklyn; My Cousin Rachel;
Wuthering Heights, Splendor in the Grass

Favorite Historical Romances: The Flame and the Flower; The Wolf and the Dove; Shanna; Ashes in the Wind. [Woodiwiss]

Favorite Current Day Fiction: The Twilight Series, Fifty Shades Trilogy, Wallbanger

All Time Favorite HR Hero: Ruark Beauchamp in 'Shanna' (Kathleen Woodiwiss)

All Time Favorite Alpha Male: Wulfgar of Normandy in 'The Wolf and the Dove' (Kathleen Woodiwiss)

Favorite Books without a 'HEA': Gone with the Wind; The Way we Were; Splendor in the Grass 

 photo BabySeriesLitePromo_zpsf6c69739.gif

Thursday, 26 September 2013

Upcoming Releases

Did you know, thanks to our Friend Sam Lomax we have a massive list of upcoming releases? 


Sam regularly updates this list, so don't forget to keep checking it out!  

Review ~ The Coil by LA Gilbert (@L_A_Gilbert)

Reviewed by Donna ~ 5 Stars 

“Whether it came down to nature or God, people are what they are, and it’s never wrong. Nature is not wrong. Nature is one certainty, the one truth that is visible to people, and he hung onto that.”

My oh my, I absolutely adored this book, I have been reading a lot of the M/M genre recently, as it was so kindly pointed out my repertoire was severely lacking if I had not at least had a dabble and I must say, I am getting hooked!!

This is the story of Mattie and Simon. I was hooked the minute I read the prologue, I love an agonising prologue, but this just pulls you right in and as you are reading the story you can’t help but wonder how the prologue ties in to the story as it is all going so well. Then bam! There you have it, you can’t quite believe it but you did just read it on the page and your heart breaks, well mine did, several times throughout this story!

Simon is a successful writer, but deep down he is really very lonely. His life was turned upside down when his sister died and left him with her little baby Jamie. Simon adopted him and began to bring him up as his own, his long term partner could not hack being “a family” and left when it became apparent that Jamie had problems, it turned out he was autistic. So Simon has been a single parent family for years, Jamie is such an adorable little boy though, yes he has his issues but he makes up for it in spades, the little boy is totally infectious and you cannot help but fall in love with him during this book. Simon’s life revolves around Jamie and as such he has found a little coffee shop near Jamie’s school, where he can go and have breakfast, have his coffee and write. He stays there all day till it is time to pick Jamie up from school. This is where Simon meets Mattie.

“People who loved you, people who chose you, who made you their family and made you belong, they’re the ones that you have to hold onto with everything you have.”

Mattie, totally ADORABLE!! He has issues, lots of issues, he fell through the system as a child, he could not read or write and has been working to fund earning his GED through college even though he is in his 20’s, he is determined to make himself a better person. He is a talented artist and needs his GED to get into Art School in New York, this is his one life’s ambition. He barely makes ends meet as it is as the sandwich maker in the cafĂ© that Simon frequents daily, he often goes without food and art supplies in order to pay his rent but he has other ways of making up the deficit and it is not pretty. He is basically a male prostitute with a difference, he does not have sex, he just does blow jobs as long as it is covered up!

“Confession time…I am insanely attracted to you.”

Ty, what an amazing best friend to Mattie, he was so supportive and only had his best friends interests at heart, even if that made him a meddling so and so sometimes, but the line of the book came from him, he had me in hysterics!

“He was looking because he thinks you’re hot. I’m losing masculine points by the second here”

“Scratch your balls or something” He discretely scratched his balls. “That’s better.”


If you want hot sex scenes this is not necessarily the book for you although there is a bit in there, this story concentrates on the emotional and relationship side. It is breathtakingly beautiful. This book shows you the highs and lows of bringing up a child single handed with autism, the struggles of being illiterate and trying to make something of yourself, falling in love, fighting for that love, struggling with that love, giving up that love and getting it back. It is a roller coaster of emotions and I felt every single one.

“This is me, telling you that you are still the guy I tell my secrets to…you always will be.”

I loved Simon and Jamie with a passion, he does make some ridiculous choices but I could understand why, but it didn’t make them any easier to read about. I adored Mattie, he had been through so much, yet he was still selfless. He gave everything and Jamie adored him, hurdle number 1 complete but will it be enough? Can Simon overcome Mattie’s lifestyle choices, can Mattie let Simon in enough to help or will pride get in the way, can Simon let Mattie into the little bubble that Simon calls his and Jamie’s life?

“I didn’t do anything with him because of you. I’m f**king broke and can’t pay my rent, but I turned down free cash because it felt disrespectful to you.” He took another shuddering breath. “F**k you, Simon.”

You will go through a plethora of emotions whilst reading this book, sadness, happiness, anger, you will laugh and you will cry but you will feel better for reading it. I totally connected with all the characters, Jamie was the star of the book for me, that little kid could have asked me for anything and I would have said yes! As Mattie said, Jamie is…

“No less, just different.”

Totally and utterly loved it, highly recommended.

Wednesday, 25 September 2013

Review ~ That Wedding (That Boy 2) by Jillian Dodd

Reviewed by Donna ~ 5 Stars

“To the nights you’ll never remember with the people you’ll never forget.”

That Wedding is the sequel to That Boy, whilst That Boy covered the 22 year life span of Jadyn, Phillip and Danny, this book covers just a few short months of hilarious wedding planning and “That Wedding”. It may be a few short months, but this book is packed, I absolutely loved it, I have laughed so much reading this book. Having not long got married myself I could really associate with Jadyn during this book, I knew her pain, I felt her pain and I lived it with her. She picked the same colour theme as me so we are now officially BFF’s lol.

As with any Jillian Dodd book, there are highs and lows, there is some angst, some misunderstandings, but we all know wedding planning is strenuous, at least I thought so!!

My highlight of the book STD’s, you will know when you get there. I absolutely howled with laughter, in fact I laughed so much, my husband woke up and thought I was being attacked! Jillian, that was pure genius!!

Phillip just gets better and better in this book, before he was always seen as the quiet and reserved one just biding his time until he could unleash, well in this book, he unleashed. We got the smoking hot Phillip and he really changed in my eyes. I loved him even more. I will say that there is no gratuitous sex scenes in this book, it is clean, you have to use your imagination, but the implication is there! Phillip was so understanding with Jadyn, he knew what to do and when to do it and what to say and when, he was her true soul mate, he grounded her and he was absolutely PERFECT! I loved “hiberdating” this is going to be used in the future!! The cold/warm feet analogy, also loved…sigh! Even feet means they are perfect for each other!

“That’s why we are perfect for each other. Mine are always hot. Yours are always cold. You cool mine down. I warm yours up. Together they make the perfect temperature.”

“So I actually do something that helps you?”

“You make me a better man, Princess. That’s why I wanna marry you.”

“Really?”

He pulls me in close and kisses me. “Really.”


Jadyn, well she is just Jadyn, sometimes I could have kicked her and told her to wise up, but I could understand her. I must admit I didn’t agree with some of the things she did and said but she was having a meltdown at the time, so I forgave her. The couples counselling was hilarious, thank god I never had to go through that!

“That I love you. Promise me that no matter what, no matter if we fight, no matter how hopeless things may feel, that you will look at this ring and know that when you love someone, that’s all that really matters. That we’ll always figure it out together.”

Danny, I still love this guy with a passion, his and Jadyn’s tects about a “XXX Wedding” had me howling, his sense of humour just has me cracking up, I still feel there is some underlying sexual tension between these two but neither will act on it. They truly are BFF’s and their friendship is absolutely brilliant. I love that these two still have that connection.

I also think that Jillian has another career lined up as a wedding planner, the attention to detail in this book was AMAZING! If only I had read this a few months earlier I could have so used some of the little things that happened in “That Wedding.” Hell, I could have even hounded her for ideas and inspiration!! The wedding dress shopping had me laughing, the gifts were so well thought out, the venue (sigh!), the vows, I could go on and on, but Jillian put soooo much detail into this that you could picture it!

“This dress looks like something designed by Cinderella, Barbie and Lady Gaga while they were getting high on mushrooms, or crack, or whatever drug makes people hallucinate.”

The pro’s and con’s list….another (sigh!!)

“Two messed up halves that make one perfect whole?”

“Exactly,” he says


Absolutely loved this book, I can’t wait for “That Baby.”

Well done Jillian, another fab, brilliant read.