You guys. WTAF is going on here? The title caught my eye first, then the huge gun she was holding. Then I noticed the monkey. What the hell kind of nanny has a gun and a monkey? I just can’t with this cover.
Casee: I finished two books yesterday, one of them on audio. I read Dark Illusion by Christine Feehan. I really like where this series is headed. I also listened to Pieces of Us by A.L. Jackson. I am really loving this author.
Last night I started Lethal Nights by Lora Leigh. This is the third book in her Brute Force series. I haven’t read the first two, but this one sounded interesting. We shall see. I’m listening to Show Me the Way by A.L. Jackson. The narrators are so incredibly good, I can’t stand not listening.
Holly: I finished Kill the Queen by Jennifer Estep, which I really enjoyed, then moved on to the Foundling Series by Hailey Edwards. I’m finished with Bayou Born and Bone Driven, and I’ve just started Death Knell. The books are fresh and I’m really looking forward to seeing where things end up. I also read Sweet Heat by Zuri Day, a cute contemporary romance. There were some cheesy parts, but overall I enjoyed it. Aside from that I just reread a couple books (Soaring by Kristen Ashley and Castle Hill by Samantha Young).
I’m currently listening to Selkies are a Girl’s Best Friend by Molly Harper, her latest Mystic Bayou audio original. I’m only about 1/4 of the way in, but so far it’s really good.
Rowena: I’m not reading much. Lots of personal stuff going on right now that doesn’t leave much room for reading or anything else. I read Kill the Queen by Jennifer Estep and enjoyed that one. I’m pretty curious about the next book and I hope that we’ll get a romance between Evie and Sully. Fingers crossed. I also managed to finish reading Coming Up Roses by Staci Hart and it was cute. The heroine got on my nerves in the beginning but she got better as the story progressed so that was something. I was going to start in on some of my summer reading books since I’m woefully behind on that challenge and probably failed it already but I’m mentally exhausted right now so I haven’t picked anything up yet. I think I’m going to jump into Don’t You Forget About Me by Mhairi McFarlane. That sounds like a plan to me. Fingers crossed that I actually pick it up.
We are very fortunate here at Book Binge. We have loads and loads of books to read and we want to share the wealth so each week, we’ll be tacking on a Freebie Friday giveaway to our What Are You Reading posts. This week, we’re giving away…
The Duke Buys a Bride by Sophie Jordan 
A bride wasn’t in his plans . . .
The last thing Marcus, the Duke of Autenberry, expects to see after sleeping off a night’s drunken shenanigans is a woman being auctioned in the village square. Before he can think about the ramifications, he buys her, thinking he’s winning the girl her freedom. Instead, he discovers he’s bought a wife.
A duke wasn’t in hers . . .
Alyse Bell is almost rid of the shackles that bound her in a name-only marriage, but the day her friend promised to purchase her in a wife auction, he vanishes, leaving her to face a mob of unsavory bachelors intent on owning her body and soul. But the appearance of a wicked, wealthy stranger changes her path forever.
The road to ruin . . .
Marcus doesn’t know what to do with the impertinent chit who clearly isn’t duchess material! Insisting their marriage isn’t legitimate, they leave for his estate in Scotland, hoping to devise a plan to get rid of each other. However, on a journey fraught with misadventure, their attraction grows and Marcus realizes he’ll do anything to keep this fiery woman for his own.
What are you reading this week? Any new favorites or books that drove you crazy? Share!
Reviewer: Tracy 
When a prophesy brings war to the Land of the Black Hills, Keeley Smythe must join forces with a clan of mountain warriors who are really centaurs in a thrilling new fantasy romance series from New York Times bestselling author G.A. Aiken. The Old King Is Dead With the demise of the Old King, there's a prophesy that a queen will ascend to the throne of the Black Hills. Bad news for the king's sons, who are prepared to defend their birthright against all comers. But for blacksmith Keeley Smythe, war is great for business. Until it looks like the chosen queen will be Beatrix, her younger sister. Now it's all Keeley can do to protect her family from the enraged royals.
Luckily, Keeley doesn't have to fight alone. Because thundering to her aid comes a clan of kilt-wearing mountain warriors called the Amichai. Not the most socially adept group, but soldiers have never bothered Keeley, and rough, gruff Caid, actually seems to respect her. A good thing because the fierce warrior will be by her side for a much longer ride than any prophesy ever envisioned ...
Keeley is a blacksmith and loves what she does. She comes from a long line of female blacksmiths and doesn’t plan on ever doing anything else. She has a large loving family and loves taking care of them as well. When she finds out that her bookish (and she feels, not too smart) younger sister, Beatrix, is prophesied to be the next Queen, Keeley is a little skeptical, but totally supports her sister. When one of the sons of the recently deceased king shows up to execute Beatrix (they want no one on the throne but themselves), Keeley protects the family, along with her War Monk sister, Gemma, and four Centaurs called the Amichai that show up to protect Beatrix as well.
Keeley and Gemma get their family to safety after being attacked, and then make their way to the Witches of Amhuinn to verify with their seer that Beatrix is in fact the true prophesied queen. When their Seer stands before Beatrix she states that yes, Beatrix will be queen, but then she points to Keeley and states, and so will she. Beatrix isn’t happy about this additional prophesy at all. She takes off and no one knows where she goes after trying to take matters with Keeley into her own hands. After the witches stronghold is attacked, an injured Keeley is taken to the Amichai’s homeland to heal.
Keeley doesn’t want to be queen but after much deliberation and arguing she finally resigns herself to the fact that this is what needs to happen to save their lands. She then heads out to drum up an army.
This book was a good one. Set in Aiken’s Dragon Kin world yet far removed from the dragons. In fact Keeley had only heard rumors about dragons being real. I liked the characters and the beginning of what I hope will end up being a fantastic series.
I liked Keeley a lot despite the fact that she was rude at times and completely vicious when it came to fighting. Besides that she was a pretty darned happy person and liked to smile. People would underestimate her because she was a blacksmith and a fighter, and happy, thinking she was dumb, but she was actually quite brilliant.
During the course of the book Keeley starts falling for one of the centaurs named Caid. He falls for her too and endures endless teasing from his siblings. It’s hilarious. While they “get together” in this book there’s only a tad bit of what would be considered romance. Neither Caid nor Keeley are the romantic type so take that into consideration.
Overall I liked the story. There was quite a bit of action in the book (read: fight scenes) but it worked for what the characters were trying to accomplish. The Dragon Kin series books were definitely romance, with each book having its own hero and heroine – which was what I was expecting with this book. Despite my disappointment in not getting a true romance, I thought it was good. This book ended without a conclusion, so we’ll have to wait until the series continues before I can find out what happens to Keeley as queen and with her and Caid.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
Reviewer: Rowena 
Ella and Micha have been best friends since they were kids. But one tragic night shatters their friendship and their lives forever.
Ella used to be a rule-breaker with fiery attitude who wore her heart on her sleeve. But she left everything behind when she went to college and transformed into someone that follows the rules, keeps everything together, and hides all her problems. But now it's summer break and she has nowhere else to go but home.
Ella fears everything she worked so hard to bury might resurface, especially with Micha living right next door. If Micha tries to tempt the old her back, she knows that it will be hard to resist.
Micha is sexy, smart, confident, and can get under Ella’s skin like no one else can. He knows everything about her, including her darkest secrets. And he’s determined to bring his best friend, and the girl he loves back, no matter what it takes.
(New Adult Contemporary)*Mature Content** Recommended for ages 17+ due to sexual situations and language.
This review was originally posted on Apr 17, 2013
This story is filled with secrets up to my ears and I spent a good deal of this book, confused. I was trying to figure out what happened, why they weren’t talking about it and yet, I couldn’t put this book down. I thought this book was written exactly the way that it was supposed to be written because I was so wrapped up in Ella and Micha’s world that I was sad when it all came to an end.
Ella and Micha are best friends and have been best friends since they were children. They’ve also got some big time feelings for each other but for reasons that belong to the both of them, they’ve never gotten together. They’ve never been an official couple. When Ella’s mother dies, things happen and Ella runs away. She runs away from her home, from her friends and from Micha. Nobody knows where Ella went, except for her Dad and he’s not telling anyone, anything and that, more than anything, pisses Micha off.
The story takes place eight months later. It’s summer time and with nowhere to go for the summer, Ella has no choice but to go back home and face the music that is sure to be waiting for her when she gets back.
Throughout this whole story, I was engaged. My heart, my emotions, my mind, it was all focused on the characters in this book. I couldn’t put it down. The book isn’t a very long read anyway but I still inhaled it. I came to love both Ella and Micha so much as well as Ethan and Lila.
Ella and Micha together made sense and man, the amount of love and passion that Micha showed for Ella, holy cow…it was fantastic! He was my very favorite part of this book and I cannot freaking wait until the next book. There were a few times when I wanted to strangle Ella and Dean and Ella’s Dad but overall, the story was a great read. I highly recommend.
Rating: 4.75 out of 5
Reviewer: Tracy HAPPILY-EVER-AFTERLondon socialite Amelia-Rose Baxter is nobody’s fool. Her parents may want her to catch a title, but she will never change who she is for the promise of marriage. Her husband will be a man who can appreciate her sharp mind as well as her body. A sophisticated man who loves life in London. A man who considers her his equal―and won’t try to tame her wild heart...
IN THE HIGHLANDSRough, rugged Highlander Niall MacTaggert and his brothers know the rules: the eldest must marry or lose the ancestral estate, period. But Niall’s eldest brother just isn’t interested in the lady his mother selected. Is it because Amelia-Rose is just too. . . Free-spirited? Yes. Brazen? Aye. Surely Niall can find a way to soften up the whip-smart lass and make her the perfect match for his brother for the sake of the family.
JUST GOT A WHOLE LOT HOTTER.Instead it’s Niall who tempts Amelia-Rose, despite her reservations about barbarian Highlanders. Niall finds the lass nigh irresistible as well, but he won’t make the mistake his father did in marrying an Englishwoman who doesn’t like the Highlands. Does he have what it takes to win her heart? There is only one way to find out...
The Earl of Aldriss and his London wife head to his home in Scotland after they marry. She hates Scotland. He hates London. The wife has three sons and all is good, until she has child four, who is a girl. The wife declares that there’s no way she’s bringing up a daughter in the wilds of Scotland because it’s completely barbaric. She takes off for London with the girl, leaving her husband and three sons on their own. Oh, and she controls all the money. She agrees to keep sending money as long as hubs lets her leave. Nice mom. Not. Her oldest is 12 years old and the other two just a few years behind that. What impressionable ages to just up and leave! This pissed me off.
Seventeen years have gone by and the absent mom decides that her sons have to come to London and get married or shall stop sending money. What kind of asinine plan is that? Not only that, but one of those wives need to be of her choosing. Does she really think that if they marry women from London that they’ll stay? I don’t think so. Oh, and on top of that they have to get married before their younger sister or they lose everything. The sister is already engaged, so they are on a strict time limit.
Anyway, the woman the mom chooses for the oldest son isn’t his cup of tea. Niall, the second son, ends up escorting her places saying that Coll, the oldest, will be there anytime. Of course the more time Niall and Amelia-Rose spend together the closer they get.
I really liked both Niall and Amelia-Rose. I thought that individually they were great characters, but together they really were something special. The mom’s intentions were horrible, but it ended up working out for the both of them.
I really liked this book and I am very much looking forward to the next book in the series.
Rating: 4 out of 5