Tag: Susanna Carr

Review: The Tarnished Jewel of Jazaar by Susanna Carr

Posted August 5, 2012 by Tracy in Reviews | 2 Comments

From one desert prison to another…

Jeweled veil weighing heavily on her head, Zoe Martin waits for her sheikh husband-to-be. The shame of her adoptive family, orphan Zoe has endured six years of being kept a slave–now she’s being sold into marriage… to a man known as The Beast!

The stakes couldn’t be higher … or more sinfully pleasurable!

Being discarded to the sheikh has one bonus–this could mean freedom! Zoe must play along with the three-day–and three-night–ceremony, but she isn’t expecting the blazing attraction from just one stolen glance at playboy sheikh Nadir….

Sheikh Nadir ibn Shihab is not thrilled be getting married but he knows he has a duty and he’s willing to do whatever needs to be done to get in the good graces of this tribe. He was engaged to one woman and at the end of the three day wedding he gave her back. He now needs to marry whoever they put in front of him. He’s pretty shocked when he sees an American sitting in the brides spot but doesn’t utter a peep against her. He plans to do his duty and then stick her up in his mountain home so that he’ll never have to see her again.

Zoe Martin wants nothing more than to get back to America and away from her awful relatives. She plans to go ahead with the marriage and then make her escape from her new husband at the earliest possible time. She’s been living a horrid life since her parents died and now she needs to get to Texas so that she can go ahead with her plans for her medical degree.

Zoe and Nadir do end up getting married and much to Zoe’s chagrin, consummating the marriage (he’s just too sexy to resist!). Plans go Zoe’s way, however when she talks Nadir in to taking her on a trip to China with him right after the wedding. She plans to leave over and over but it’s never a good time and she’s constantly watched and guarded. She’s also finding her new husband quite the gentleman and having a great time in his bed. E turns out to be a nice guy and really talks to her about things – even going so far as to get her opinion on several of his business matters. But for all of Nadir’s progressive ideas in business that does NOT go so far as to letting his wife get a medical degree. That is just NOT done and he’s firm on it. Zoe finds herself falling for Nadir but how can she stay with him when all of her dreams will be wiped away.

This was a pretty good category. I haven’t read a story about a sheikh in about a hundred years but I liked this one. He, unfortunately, was stuck in the middle ages, or in this case the middle east, and refused to let a woman hold a position meant for a man. He got advice from Zoe but that didn’t mean she could make decisions on her own. I can’t say I loved the neanderthal thinking but it fit quite well with the story.

Zoe had been supposedly kept by her Jazaari relatives as more or less a slave. She did all the dirty work from what I could glean from the story but it never went in to great detail. Not, did Zoe tell Nadir about the horrible things that she supposedly suffered. I was a frustrated with this as the story is based on the fact that for so long she wasn’t allowed to think for herself or have a life and now supposed it was the same but since we never really got background I didn’t really feel Zoe’s suffering.

Now the love story was more about sex and companionship than really romance but it still worked. The end was quite satisfying and though I thought it a bit unrealistic is was nice to think that it COULD – this is fiction, after all. 🙂

Rating: 3.75 out of 5

Susanna Carr

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What I Read Last Week

Posted June 25, 2012 by Tracy in Features | 5 Comments

I’m gonna start off by saying…how the HELL did it get to be the last week in June already? Seriously – this month has flown by and I didn’t get half done what I wanted to. I just need another week, please? No? Damn.
Well it was a pretty quiet week at the old homestead. The girls went for their annual dental appts. and my oldest had a couple of cavities. Boo. Luckily the teeth were baby teeth (yes, she’s 14 and still has baby teeth!) so he pulled them out as they were about to fall out anyway. Now she’s got 6 teeth (on the top) and then nothing on either side as they haven’t grown in yet. She was calling herself Bucky Beaver – thank God she’s got a sense of humor about it! lol
DFRAT 2012 – This is the last week of the Digital First Read-A-Thon and we still have lots of great authors and giveaways on all the blogs. I personally read 6 digital first books last week – how many did you read? Tell all!
Current giveaways still open (on Tracy’s Place) as of today:
(open til 7:00pm on 6/25)
(open til 7:00pm on 6/26)
(open til 7:00pm on 6/27)
(open til 7:00pm on 6/28)
(open til 7:00pm 6/29)
(All giveaway times are Pacific)
This weeks DFRAT Schedule:
Monday, June 25th
Elizabeth Hoyt and Larissa Ione Book Binge
Alice Gaines RR@H Novel Thoughts
Tuesday, June 26th
Kaylea Cross Book Binge
Janis Susan May Patterson RR@H Novel Thoughts
Lindsay Townsend The Book Reading Gals
Lynda Bailey Tracy’s Place
Wednesday, June 27th
Elisabeth Barrett Book Binge
Wendy Soliman RR@H Novel Thoughts
John R. Lindermuth The Book Reading Gals
Cathryn Cade Tracy’s Place
Thursday, June 28th
Lila DiPasqua Book Binge
Susan Schreyer RR@H Novel Thoughts
Heidi Cullinan The Book Reading Gals
Leslie Dicken Tracy’s Place
Friday, June 29th
Mk Chester Book Binge
Rhian Cahill Book Binge
Rebecca York (Ruth Glick) RR@H Novel Thoughts
Louise Cusack The Book Reading Gals
Nathan Farrugia Tracy’s Place
Saturday, June 30th
Kris Kennedy Book Binge
Yolanda Sfetsos Tracy’s Place
On to what I read last week:
I started off the week with…get this title…Jimmie Joe Johnson: Manwhore by Lindsey Brookes. I saw it on NetGalley and had to get it. It was a fun book that was definitely “hick lit” with rednecks abounding. I’ll post my review for this next Sunday. 3.75 out of 5
Next was Scandal Wears Satin by Loretta Chase. Oh I like this Dressmakers series so very much. I loved Sophy and Longmore together. I’ll post my review for this one tomorrow.
Slow Summer Kisses by Shannon Stacey is a novella about high strung OCD Anna who lost her job and is at her grandparents’ camp trying to unwind and be calm while she looks for another job. The next door neighbor is Cam – a guy she used to hang with until she was 10 when she was visiting her grandparents. Anna annoys the crap outta Cam but he promised her grandparents he’d look after her. Anna may be annoying but that doesn’t stop Cam from lusting after her. This little love story was so very sweet and funny. I just love Stacey’s writing as it is so realistic and adds her great sense of humor in with it. Good stuff. 4.5 out of 5
Wolf Line by Vivian Arend (book 5 in the Granite Lake Wolves series) is the story of Jared who is running from the relatives of his current lover and ends up taking refuge on a cruise ship. The ship sets sail before he can get off and he ends up impersonating one of the maintenance guys. Keri is on board helping her friend whose family owns the ship and the minute she sees Jared she knows that he’s her mate – but Jared makes no indication that he’s figured that out. On top of the mate thing there are all the secrets that Jared is keeping and Keri and Jared solving crimes of theft on the ship. Good story – very sexy and fun. I do wish that the Big Mis wasn’t in there but I didn’t hate it too too much. 4 out of 5
Townie and the Twink by Daisy Harris was about Gabe who falls in love with Nick but Nick believes himself a straight arrow…even while he’s fooling around with Gabe. You can read my full review here. 4 out of 5
Next up was The Incident by Xavier Axelson. This was a novella that I SO wish would have been a full length novel. The story is about Michael is a cop trying to deal with an incident that caused the death of a child. He is depressed and finding no relief in a bottle. His partner Bertram Angel aka Angel tries to help him both on the job and off by being there for him. Angel and Michael eventually get together which is wonderful. My issues dealt with the seemingly miraculous recovery Michael experienced once he was with Angel. Yes, having the love of a good man goes a long way but I wanted to delve further into Michael and his struggles after he and Angel got together. Still, a very well written story that at times just made my heart ache. 3.75/4 out of 5
Shane and Trey by Anyta Sunday was the story of Shane who just a few months before college realizes/comes to terms with the fact that he’s gay. Trey is Shane’s twin sisters boyfriend and he caused Shane some pain and humiliation some years before and Shane had always been a bit scared of the guy since then. They end up being roommates in college and Shane has a huge crush on Trey – despite his fear. Trey ends up coming out and Shane and Trey get together. The story was about the guys not only dealing with the sister, June, and her feelings about the relationship but also Trey’s past issues with his family and Shane’s relationship with his father. It was a really good story but I wish it would have been expanded in certain places. 4 out of 5
Head Over Heels by Jill Shalvis is book 3 in the Lucky Harbor series. The story is about the last sister running the inn, Chloe, and her relationship with Sawyer, the town Sheriff. Sawyer has closed himself off and Chloe’s afraid that no one can love and appreciate her for herself – being the nut that she is. The story is really great and I loved seeing these two great characters come together. 4 out of 5
Last on the list for the week was The Tarnished Jewel of Jazaar by Susanna Carr. Not my usual read but a good one nonetheless. This one was about an American woman whose Jazaari relatives used her as a slave and then whose tribe used her a a bride for a Sheikh. I’ll post my review closer to the release date in August. 3.75 out of 5
My Book Binge reviews that posted last week:
Happy Reading!

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Guest Author: Susanna Carr – Cover Art

Posted November 15, 2010 by Casee in Giveaways, Promotions | 26 Comments

Susanna Carr is here today to talk about cover art. Her new release, Wicked Wonderland, is available now. You need to go forth and check it out.

______________

I’m often asked if I have any control over the cover art of my books. Not really. As an example, this is my involvement with the cover art for Wicked Wonderland.

About a month or two before my manuscript is due, my editor contacts me when she’s preparing for the cover conference on the book. She asks if I have any ideas for the cover and if I have any sample material like a plot description. The reason she needs a plot description is because she hasn’t seen any of the manuscript yet.

My editor shares the plot description with the art department at the cover conference. The other authors are also asked for plot descriptions and cover ideas. Everyone who attends the conference has a few ideas on what they want for the cover art.

So what kind of cover art did I want? Here are the two suggestions I gave:

1. Snow background, couple in a clinch. The woman is wearing a luxurious, red winter coat. He’s pushing it off her and it’s obvious she’s wearing very little underneath.

2. A bare-chested man sprawled invitingly on a pile of wrapped presents.

As you can tell, they decided to go in another direction. I don’t know what other ideas were presented at the cover conference, or how many versions the artist had to go through before coming up with the cover that everyone at the publishing house agreed upon. What I do know is that the cover immediately tells the reader what kind of stories can be found in this anthology.

Months after the cover conference, my editor e-mailed an image of the approved cover and she asked for my opinion. What did I think? It has a hot guy half-naked on the cover. What’s not to like?

It’s very rare that my cover art suggestions will find their way to the final product, but I’m always glad that my editor is willing to listen to my ideas!I’m often asked if I have any control over the cover art of my books. Not really. As an example, this is my involvement with the cover art for Wicked Wonderland.

About a month or two before my manuscript is due, my editor contacts me when she’s preparing for the cover conference on the book. She asks if I have any ideas for the cover and if I have any sample material like a plot description. The reason she needs a plot description is because she hasn’t seen any of the manuscript yet.

My editor shares the plot description with the art department at the cover conference. The other authors are also asked for plot descriptions and cover ideas. Everyone who attends the conference has a few ideas on what they want for the cover art.

So what kind of cover art did I want? Here are the two suggestions I gave:

1. Snow background, couple in a clinch. The woman is wearing a luxurious, red winter coat. He’s pushing it off her and it’s obvious she’s wearing very little underneath.

2. A bare-chested man sprawled invitingly on a pile of wrapped presents.

As you can tell, they decided to go in another direction. I don’t know what other ideas were presented at the cover conference, or how many versions the artist had to go through before coming up with the cover that everyone at the publishing house agreed upon. What I do know is that the cover immediately tells the reader what kind of stories can be found in this anthology.

Months after the cover conference, my editor e-mailed an image of the approved cover and she asked for my opinion. What did I think? It has a hot guy half-naked on the cover. What’s not to like?

It’s very rare that my cover art suggestions will find their way to the final product, but I’m always glad that my editor is willing to listen to my ideas!

________________

I always love listening to authors talk about how their covers came to be.

Susanna has offered a copy of Wicked Wonderland to one lucky reader. Leave a comment on this post telling us what you think of the cover and you’ll be entered to win. Ends 11/19 @ 11:59pm.

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Guest Review: The Year of Living Shamelessly by Susanna Carr

Posted October 22, 2009 by Book Binge Guest Blogger in Reviews | 4 Comments


Tracy’s review of The Year of Living Shamelessly by Susanna Carr.

Every year, Katie makes the same New Year’s resolution: have an affair with her brother’s kinky and wild best friend, Ryder. Every year, she faces the same disappointment. It doesn’t help that her good-girl reputation can’t stand up to the hot competition, or that Ryder’s always seen Katie as just his friend’s innocent little sister.

Until Katie makes the first move-and matches him, kink for kink. Because this year, Katie knows what she wants. And she’s going to get it.



Katie has been in love with Ryder for forever. But even though she makes these resolutions each New Year she doesn’t actually do anything about it. She wants Ryder to just do it. After many years she finally realizes (not quite sure what took her so long) that she needs to take matters into her own hands. She gets a complete makeover and the soft, kind of shy woman turns into every man’s dream.

After a year of watching Katie turn herself into someone else Ryder has just 8 more days to witness her transformation. That’s right he’s moving out of town to get away from Katie. He pretty much thinks he’s not good enough for her so he’s not even willing to make a move with her and he’s just hightailing it out of town.

When Katie finds out that Ryder is leaving and she has very little time to make a move with him she pulls out all the stops. Ryder starts to give in and they do have some pretty hot sex (which was written very well), but he’s still not willing to stay in town.

This book was a bit all over the place for me. Katie’s shy but willing to be outgoing and change herself but she’s not willing to actually do anything to get Ryder. I don’t get the person who makes all of those changes and then doesn’t help herself. I understand that she wanted Ryder to make the first move but come on! After all of these years do you really think that he’s going to?

For Ryder’s part, I have to be honest with you, I kind of thought he was a coward. He finds himself so unlovable that he has to leave town and move to Dubai. Really? Dubai? Are you sure that’s far enough? lol I understand that he didn’t want to ruin the friendship between him and Katie but from the sound of it that hadn’t been all that close in the past few years. IDK, I just got the impression that he was taking the easy way out – and I wasn’t all that impressed with his dawning realizations by the end of the book. He wasn’t portrayed as a stupid man but for all that he did incredibly stupid things.

The book did have some cute moments with Katie and her friends – they seemed very close and it was fun to watch them together. Overall I was just a little annoyed with the hero and heroine. When I have a problem with the characters I just can’t enjoy the book as much as I’d like.

Rating: 3 out of 5

You can read more from Tracy at Tracy’s Place

This book is available from NAL Trade. You can buy it here.

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What I’ve Been Reading This Week

Posted October 19, 2009 by Tracy in Features | 16 Comments

Greetings all!

It’s been a quiet week here in Tracyland. Besides getting incredibly frustrated with loading documents onto my ereader it was pretty quiet. lol I get a tad loud when I get frustrated…oh, and curse like a sailor. 🙂 I normally don’t have issues with ebookwise and actually it wasn’t anything to do with the reader but the program that loads the books to the readers. It was definitely took a lot of patience! lol

So how are you all? Did you have a good week? What are you reading? Hope it’s good! I read a good assortment of books this week:

First up was Indiscreet by Carolyn Jewel. I read this one for The Book Binge so I’ll let you know when my review posts.


Next were 2 novellas that I’ve been wanting to read for a while. The first one was Snagged by Jet Mykles. I really like her books – I might, some day, be tempted in to reading her Dark Elves stories. Have any of you read them? How are they? Let me know, please. Anyway, Snagged was pretty darned good. I liked both Seth and Kyle in the book, though at first I had no clue what was going on. Jet Mykles just kind of dragged me in and kept me there. 4 out of 5

The next novella was Islands by Samantha Kane. This was a great story about a naval seabee in 1943 who goes to an island in the Pacific to try to talk the owner into letting the Navy build a hospital and an airstrip. The owner is incredibly sexy Rene and he is one hot frenchmen, let me tell you. For the 3 days that Gabe is on the island with “negotiations” he and Renee have one scorching love affair. This is just a great story. It’s wonderfully sensual and I really felt the connection between the two men. Dear heavens – when they first kiss? Ha-cha-cha! 4 out of 5

Following that was my initiation into the Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs. That was a good book and I’m looking forward to reading the next one. 4 out of 5

My Tracy’s TBR Challenge Read for this week was A Date With The Other Side by Erin McCarthy. This was the story of Boston McNamara who is from Chicago and is all about the city life who has been sent to Cuttersville, OH to check out the local plastics plant. But he has no clue what he’s done to deserve such, as he believes, a demotion. While he’s there he meets Shelby who runs the local Ghost Tour – which happens to run through the house he’s renting twice a day. The romance between Shelby and Boston is adorable and of course the ghosts get much more lively when they’re together. Cute book. 3.5 out of 5

I usually read 1 book each week for review at The Book Binge. Well last week that didn’t happen so I read 2 this week to try and catch up/make up. I read The Year of Living Shamelessly by Susanna Carr. As per usual I’ll let you know when my review posts.
Deep Kiss of Winter was next although I have to say that I only read Kresley Cole’s story, Untouchable. I have yet to get to Gena Showalter’s – but will, eventually. This was another wonderful installment in the IAD series. I think it was more heart wrenching for me than her others. Murdoch Wroth finds his Bride in Valkyrie, Daniela, only she’s part ice fey and can’t be touched by anyone but her own kind without severe pain to each party. Oh, and did I mention her kind is trying to assassinate her? So here are Murdoch and Daniela who, eventually, want to be together but still can’t touch. Not being able to comfort or hold. Arg – I would have gone crazy! But Cole writes her stories so well I just soaked up every word. This story was taking place at the same time as some others and Cole shows us how they all intersect…clever. 4.25 out of 5

I won, over at the Kiss and Tell Girls blog, a copy of Samantha Kane’s new book, Play it Again, Sam. This is the first book in a series called the Cougar Challenge. Monica meets 6 other ladies at RomantiCon and they start their own blog – Tempt the Cougar. One Friday night Monica challenges her friends to stop just staring at the pictures of the young men and get out there and find one for yourself – just for fun. Monica does exactly that and finds Sam who’s the bartender at the bar she goes to. Between Sam and his friend Josh they make Monica’s fantasy come true. I really liked this book. Samantha Kane just knows how to write some damn hot love scenes, I’m tellin ya. Turn the air conditioner on before you read this one. lol But as great as those scenes are she just writes the main relationships so well. You really feel like the two are connecting on an intimate level – both physically and emotionally. Good stuff. 4.25 out of 5

Last but certainly not least was the book I read for my Year of the Category Challenge, The Italian’s Inexperienced Mistress by Lynne Graham. I know you’re all dying to hear my thoughts on this one but you’ll just have to wait until the last week of the month when I post my review.

So that was it for me. I hope you all have a great week and dream of the book fairy! lol

Happy Reading!

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