Friday 28 February 2014

Guest Post: Leigh Ann Kopans.







Today's post is from Leigh Ann Kopans.
 

Raised on comic books and classic novels, Leigh Ann developed an early love of science fiction and literature.  As an adult, she rediscovered her love for not only reading, but also writing the types of fiction that enchanted her as a teen.  Solving for Ex was born of her love for Jane Austen’s classics, and how they taught her that love stories could be funny and wickedly smart.


Hi Lettie! Thanks so much for inviting me to your blog to celebrate the release of Solving for Ex! I’m so excited to talk about one of my favorite topics – literary reduxes.
I’ve always been a bit obsessed with reduxes – close retellings of classic stories. I think it’s because, in some way, I’ve always known that the greatest stories are, at their core, applicable to humanity no matter what the time period, setting, or genders of their characters. I’ve always also believed that writers get their inspiration from all sorts of places – no story is truly, one hundred percent original. As I learnt with Solving for Ex, which is a fairly close retelling of Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park, writing a story with just one source of inspiration is actually a little more difficult than writing a novel pieced together completely from scratch. Without going into too much detail, making sure you stay true to the story, in this case two hundred years old, while maintaining a plot arc and character arc that will engage contemporary readers. As you might imagine, I have a pretty high standard for reduxes, and I want to share my favorites with you. I basically swoon any time I think of any of these.
Clueless.
A redux of Jane Austen’s Emma, Clueless does an arguably better job of handling some of the story elements and drawing supporting characters than Austen did – meanwhile, Cher is in some ways more endearing and a deeper character than the original Emma.

Eyre House by Caitlin Greer.
Jane Eyre was the first book I ever loved, so I’ve always scoffed when I hear that someone’s written a retelling. As if (as Cher would say.) So when my friend Cait approached me saying she was thinking of retelling Jane Eyre on a Southern haunted plantation-turned-inn, and by the way, she was probably going to swap the genders of the two main characters, I have to admit I was a  bit skeptical. But Lord in Heaven (as her characters would say,) did she ever do an amazing job. It captures every nuance of the original you would ever want to see, spins the characters into something you wouldn’t have imagined, and adds a truckload of steam. Check it out here: http://www.amazon.com/Eyre-House-Caitlin-Greer-ebook/dp/B00DTMISIM/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

Ten Things I Hate About You
This is a really cool redux, because not only does it recast The Taming of the Shrew pretty darn faithfully, it also incorporates a pretty large number of elements from the original play – for example, the characters attend Padua High. Not only that, they are super-smart teens who incorporate actual lines from the original play into their dialogue, and it doesn’t feel awful or contrived at all. This is one of my fave movies of ever.

For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund.
Honestly, I always thought that Austen’s Persuasion was one of her blandest titles (I’m sure that was on purpose, Jane, no hard feelings,) but Diana Peterfreund managed to give it a really cool twist as a dystopian futuristic class-conflict based love story. Two thumbs up.

 
Thanks again for having me over, Lettie! You’re such an amazing support and I can’t wait to work with you again!!!

I love the majority of these reduxes! I've never read Eyre House though!
What are your favourite reduxes?
Much Love!
Lettie
Xxx

Thursday 27 February 2014

Stacking the Shelves: February!

What is Stacking The Shelves all about?
Stacking The Shelves is hosted by Tynga all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!
 
Welcome to my monthly round up!

Borrowed Shelf!
 Fall of Five by Pittacus Lore~ My library finally put it on long term loan!
What's Left of Me by Kat Zhang~ This one has been on my TBR for years!
 
Actual Shelf!
Into the Still Blue by Veronica Rossi~ Finally got my hands on this one-excited to finish up this trilogy
 
Virtual Shelf!
NONE! First time ever~ finally getting some self control!
 
Review Shelf!
NetGalley
The Best Thing I Never Had by Erin Lawless~ Sounds like an interesting read.
Panic by Lauren Oliver~ Love the sound of this and I'm interested in Lauren Oliver's contemporaries.
Never Google Heartbreak by Emma Garcia.
Song of the Fireflies by J.A. Redmerski.
Saving Quinton by Jessica Sorensen.
Searching for Beautiful by Nyrae Dawn.
Day of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor~ I was lucky enough to get this on read now!

Blog Tours
Best Kind of Broken by Chelsea Fine~ I loved this new adult debut.
Unconditional by Melody Grace~ Love this series! 
What joined your shelves in February?
Much Love!
Lettie
Xxx

Wednesday 26 February 2014

All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill.

"You have to kill him." Imprisoned in the heart of a secret military base, Em has nothing except the voice of the boy in the cell next door and the list of instructions she finds taped inside the drain.
Only Em can complete the final instruction. She’s tried everything to prevent the creation of a time machine that will tear the world apart. She holds the proof: a list she has never seen before, written in her own hand. Each failed attempt in the past has led her to the same terrible present—imprisoned and tortured by a sadistic man called the doctor while war rages outside.
Marina has loved her best friend James since the day he moved next door when they were children. A gorgeous, introverted science prodigy from one of America’s most famous families, James finally seems to be seeing Marina in a new way, too. But on one disastrous night, James’s life crumbles apart, and with it, Marina’s hopes for their future. Now someone is trying to kill him. Marina will protect James, no matter what. Even if it means opening her eyes to a truth so terrible that she may not survive it. At least not as the girl she once was.
 


Thoughts!
I'm not usually a fan of books involving time travel but All Our Yesterdays is a brilliant result of stepping out of my comfort zone. The time travel aspects of the book were clear, well explained and actually made sense! The plot itself was full of twists and turns, more than enough to keep you engrossed chapter after chapter late into the night. The characters were well written and so distinctive. I loved how unaware of themselves they were and how they all interacted. From the beginning I found James to be quite manipulative towards Marina especially as he seemed to know she was hopelessly in love with him. As the book progressed he became more obsessive, selfish and unlikeable but at the end he almost redeemed himself which was surprising! Marina had her faults but she was unfailing loyal and good hearted deep down. I loved Finn, he was brave, assertive when needed yet still maintained a semblance of mystery! I adored how he interacted with Em and to an extent James. Em grew in my estimations as her backstory was explained and revealed, I think it really added depth and made a Em more realistic character. I enjoyed how clever and witty she could be while remaining good and kind hearted. I found Nate to be the most intriguing character, mainly because he became a big what if? I especially liked his influence over James, Marina and Finn who all idolised him. The Doctor was possibly my least favourite character, he simply used people until they became useless to him and then cruelly discarded them. I found his 'interrogation' methods cruel and his enjoyment of them worrying!
I absolutely adored every page of this book! I felt like all the characters and plot points were tangled up in a ball which slowly unravelled revealing each surprising twist. It is the perfect mix of sci-fi, light dystopia and contemporary.

Rating!
First one of 2014! I immediately brought the paperback for my shelf and rereading purposes!

Are you an All Our Yesterdays fan?
Much Love!
Lettie
Xxx

Tuesday 25 February 2014

Taking Something by Elizabeth Lee.


 

I know what you’re thinking. “You were such a jerk, Nick!” Believe me, I know I screwed up the best thing I had going in my life, but that was kind of my thing. I’d learned how to run cons before I could even form complete sentences, and I’d always been selfish. But I changed. Lila forgave me, my brother and I were getting along, and I was trying to make a name for myself in the music world.
At least that was what I was trying to do when I negotiated my way into the recording studio with pop superstar Sadie Sinclair. I thought it would be a piece of cake—charm my way into her heart and into her record label’s good graces.
Just when I thought I had it all figured out, I got mixed up in a web of lies, manipulation, and deception. A web that had me questioning my motives and desires altogether.
Was the fame and
fortune really worth the price?


Thoughts 
Give Me Something has been on my TBR for ages so I jumped at the chance to read Taking Something! I did occasionally feel like I was missing some background knowledge but overall it read well as a stand alone. I found the characters to be well developed and unpredictable. Nick surprised me as a character, he was much more dedicated and hard working than I expected. I loved how charming and persuasive he could be to further his career. Nick's pitch and his subsequent working relationship with Westwood really showcased these qualities in Nick and was a great way of introducing his character. His relationship with Sadie was not what I expected which was different and made the book much less predictable, even if Nick was a bit naïve in starting the relationship! I expected a more polished sweet pop star than Sadie who was high maintenance and highly selfish. Gia, who wasn't even mentioned in the blurb, turned out to be one of the most secretive characters right up until the very end of the book! I liked her integrity and loyalty, even if it was misplaced! Landry was my unexpected favourite, I found him witty and industry smart! I liked how he reacted to all the twists and turns of his life and how he befriended Nick.  The plot was complex and well thought out. I assumed it would be your usual boy meets famous girl story but it was much more complicated and layered than that. I enjoyed discovering all the character driven twists throughout the book.  

The characters were well developed and uncliched and the plot was clever and surprising! I hope to see more books in this series and will be picking up Give Me Something soon!

Have you read this series? Do you recommend Give Me Something?
Much Love!
Lettie
Xxx
 

Tuesday 18 February 2014

Mini Reviews: Reveiw Copy Cleanup Edition!

 
The Only Exception by Magan Vernon
 
Fiercely liberal Monica Remy prefers to blend in. Despite her tattoos, piercings, and outspoken personality, she transferred to Central to escape—before she finds out that her next door neighbour is the uber conservative governor's son, Trey Chapman.
No matter how hard she tries to avoid Trey, he still finds a way to get under her skin. Monica can’t stand his crisp white shirts or his staunch views on women. But she can’t help counting every freckle on his face and wondering what it would feel like to have him stop talking politics and kiss her.
A class debate project forces the unlikely pair to work together, and the political lines are blurred in late-night make out sessions. But despite their fiery chemistry, Trey’s politics threatens to smother their relationship for good.


Thoughts!
I really enjoyed the political aspects of this book. Although as I'm British I did find it hard to follow at times and the issues surrounding contraception completely went over my head. I liked Monica and how direct she was with her thoughts and actions especially with her roommate at the very beginning! I also found her very brave and resilient despite the circumstances. I really liked Trey as a character, he was such gentleman and respectful of Monica with their political difference. I think sometime his politics clouded his actions. Trey's family were refreshingly uncliched despite their political beliefs they were welcoming and friendly towards Monica. I really enjoyed the epilogue and how it wrapped up loose ends and showed how Monica fitted into the Republican family!
Rating!
I enjoyed the politics and the chemistry between Monica and Trey!
 

 Hearbeat by Elizabeth Scott.
Life. Death. And...Love?
Emma would give anything to talk to her mother one last time. Tell her about her slipping grades, her anger with her stepfather, and the boy with the bad reputation who might be the only one Emma can be herself with.
But Emma can't tell her mother anything. Because her mother is brain-dead and being kept alive by machines for the baby growing inside her.
Meeting bad-boy Caleb Harrison wouldn't have interested Old Emma. But New Emma-the one who exists in a fog of grief, who no longer cares about school, whose only social outlet is her best friend Olivia-New Emma is startled by the connection she and Caleb forge.
Feeling her own heart beat again wakes Emma from the grief that has grayed her existence. Is there hope for life after death-and maybe, for love?
Thoughts
This book had such a deep and controversial core issue, it definitely humanised an issue and situation that is often showcased in the media with little attention to the people involved! I admired Emma as she was at the centre of this difficult situation and I think I identified with her as an only child of a single mother. I think she struggled to remember how things had truly been before the accident and also to have faith in Dan. It was hard for her to move on as her mother though technically dead was still there so she'd had no closure through a funeral or anything. It also made her a spectacle  at school, people were confused with how to deal with her. Olivia however was such a supportive and open friend who tried her best to be there for Emma which at times couldn't have been easy! I loved her side story with Roger and her techy parents! Caleb had his own background which I enjoyed learning about and understanding. I liked how he and Emma related to each other and how their friendship/relationship grew throughout the book
I wasn't too keen on Dan, I felt like he and Emma didn't really take an time to figure out their relationship without Emma's mum and he didn't quite understand how to reassure or relate to Emma after the accident.
I loved the journey Emma went on during the book as she dealt with her grief, anger and confusion and struggled with her relationships but ultimately started to repair her relationships, express herself better and say goodbye.

 Rating
 
Believe by Erin McCarthy
 Robin used to be a party girl… until she got black out drunk and woke up in bed with her best friend's boyfriend. Now she's faced with being THAT girl, and couldn't be more disgusted with herself. She can't even tell her friends the reason for her sudden sobriety and she avoids everyone until she meets Phoenix—quiet, tattooed, and different in every way that's good and oh, so bad…
Phoenix is two days out of jail when he meets Robin at his cousin's house, and he knows that he has no business talking to her, but he's drawn to her quiet demeanour, sweet smile, and artistic talent. She doesn't care that he's done time, or that he only has five bucks to his name, and she supports his goal to be a tattoo artist.
But Phoenix knows Robin has a secret, and that it's a naïve dream to believe that his record won't catch up with them at some point. Though neither is prepared for the explosive result when the past collides with the present…
 Thoughts
I really enjoy this series but I wasn't too keen on Robin before I read Believe. In less than a chapter I was completely taken in by Robin and Phoenix! Robin was a lot less confident than she had seemed through Jessica and Rory's eyes especially after the incident. It was refreshing to read about 'THAT girl' from a different perspective and to see  how Robin reacted and felt in regards to it. I think at times she blamed alcohol to heavily for the incident. I loved Phoenix, he seemed like such a cliché bad boy but turned out to be a sweet boy who lived a clean life according to his convictions. I admired how hard he worked and I enjoyed his banter with his cousins. The way he pursued Robin and saw the real her was just what they both needed! Once again great chemistry and a fresh relationship. I also enjoyed seeing how the group's dynamic changed and grew in this instalment and seeing them from the more outsider view of Phoenix. I'm looking forward to next book already!
 Rating
I love this series and each book is just an fresh and passionate as the last!
 
Related reviews:
 
Three great books- thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read them!
 
Have you read any of them?
Can you recommend any other Elizabeth Scott books?
Much Love!
Lettie
Xxx
 
 

Monday 17 February 2014

Interview: Jay Crownover


 I'm thrilled to have the chance to ask Jay Crownover (Marked Men) a few of my burning questions!
Jay Crownover
I’m a native Coloradoan and if you live here you know why that is a source of pride.  I love all the things Colorado has to offer and that is why I choose to set my books in this familiar setting.  I try to write about things I know and am familiar with which is why my stories feature plenty of rock and roll and body modification.
I’ve been in the bar industry since I was in college and I spend over forty hours a week watching the interaction between men and women in a unique way.  I think my 9 to 5 job offers me valuable insights into how relationships start and evolve in a social setting.  I love it.
I like to write New Adult novels because I remember being in my early twenties and thinking I had it all figured out only to be proven wrong time and time again.  When I look back those were the years that defined who I am today, and good or bad those decisions untimely set me on my current path, so that’s what I like to explore in my writing.


Questions!

Did you plan Marked Men series to be a six part series? Particularly Asa, was he always going to get his own book?
No, Asa was going to die originally at the end of Jet's book,  but something about him just kept whispering to me that he could turn it around. Plus of all the guys I needed a guy that was actually a bad-boy. He’s a criminal and really shady so that's fun to play with. I did know all the other guys once they were introduced were going to get their own books. They were all just too interesting to leave hanging.

Do you have a favourite guy or couple?
From the Marked Men books I absolutely do not have a favourite. I love them all and their stories have all been really important to me. I do have a favourite character...he's just in a different series and no one has met him yet! His name is Bax-Shane Baxter and he's a car thief.

What do you have planned for after the Marked Men series?
Right now I have a new series called Welcome to the Point that has the first two books coming out between the marked men books.  Better When He's bad is the first book and it's out in June. This series is very different from the Marked Men so it's exciting to try something new and something really kind of not out there in the NA market right now!

Books
Great series full of hot tattooed guys and strong girls! Highly recommended!

Are you a fan?
Which Marked man is your fav?
Much Love!
Lettie
Xxx

Saturday 15 February 2014

Book Blogger Love-A-Thon Interview!

I took part in this last year and I was so excited to take part again this year!
I'm thrilled to have Melissa from Allodoxophobia here with some brilliant questions that she came up with!
 Be sure to check out her blog which she shares with her best friend Christina for some great posts and also my interview! Like last year I've added my comment underneath in italics.
 
Early bird or night owl?
Night Owl
 
What are you currently reading?
Up From The Grave by Jeaniene Frost.
 
Favourite pizza toppings?
Mushrooms, tomatoes and green peppers.
 
Cake or pie?
Pie, chocolate cream preferably. I don't think sweet pies are as big over here as they are in America! I've never seen a chocolate cream pie for sure!
 
What was the last TV show you watched?
Modern Family :) Love this show!
 
If you could travel to any place in the world tomorrow, where would you go?
Paris with my daughter- it is her dream trip.
 
If you could sit down and interview any author (past or present) who would it be?
William Faulkner, I was always impressed with stream of consciousness.
 
Who is your favourite book boyfriend?
Barrons from The Fever Series by Karen Marie Moning...super bad, dangerous and very hot!
 
Favourite book heroine?
Celaena from Throne of Glass, Tris from Divergent because she made the brave choice. Great choices!
 
What is the one piece of advice you would give any person thinking of starting a book blog?
Read, read, read and don't be afraid to ask questions to other bloggers. They are the best source of wisdom :)
 
Thanks to Melissa for being my interview partner- I enjoyed meeting you and I've definitely been introduced to some new books and authors.
A huge thanks to Katelyn and Alexa for hosting the event!
 
Be sure to check out all the events going on today and tomorrow!
Much Love!
Lettie
Xxx

Tuesday 11 February 2014

Top Ten Tuesday: Swoon Reads!

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by: The Broke and the Bookish.
This week's topic: Top Ten Books That Will Make You Swoon
In recognition of Valentine's Day this Friday here are my top ten swoon reads!

Charade by Nyrae Dawn.
Jet by Jay Crownover.
All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill.
The Summer I Became a Nerd by Leah Rae Miller.
 
What would you recommend as a swoon read?
Much Love!
Lettie
Xxx

Monday 10 February 2014

Stacking the Shelves: January 2013 Follow Up!

Yearly follow ups on my monthly stacking the shelves posts.

After realising it had been a year since my first monthly Stacking the Shelves post I thought I would do follow up posts! I have a bad habit of buying lots of books and then not getting around to reading them...... Please tell me this happens to other people?
Hopefully these posts will make me accountable and encourage me to read the leftovers :)

Read!
Through The Ever Night by Veronica Rossi- Great middle book!
Reckless by S.C Stephens- Good ending to an old favourite.
Island of Lost Girls by Jennifer McMahon- Not my usual genre, but I enjoyed it.

The Next Forever by Lisa Burstein- Good intro for this series!
Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally- So glad the Hundred Oaks series lived up to my expectations!
Vain by Fisher Amelie- So different

Reviewed!
Falling by Jolene Perry.
Beautiful Things Never Last by Steph Campbell.
Falling by Jolene Perry.

Leftover......
Bunheads by Sophie Flack.
The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin.
Up In Flames by Nicole Williams.

Unmaking Hunter Kennedy by Anne Eliot.

Oooo not too bad I suppose....
Which of my leftovers should I read first?

Much Love!
Lettie
Xxx 

Wednesday 5 February 2014

Anything to Have You by Paige Harbison: Sneak Peek



Nothing should come between best friends, not even boys. ESPECIALLY not boys.
Natalie and Brooke have had each other's backs forever. Natalie is the quiet one, college bound and happy to stay home and watch old movies. Brooke is the movie—the life of every party, the girl everyone wants to be.
Then it happens—one crazy night that Natalie can't remember and Brooke's boyfriend, Aiden, can't forget. Suddenly there's a question mark in Natalie and Brooke's friendship that tests everything they thought they knew about each other and has both girls discovering what true friendship really means.


Sneak Peek!
First Semester, Junior Year
The new guy was hot. People had been talking about him all day long—well, all right, girls had been talking about him all day long—but I had yet to see him. I knew everyone in the school except the new freshmen, so I was sure that when I saw him, I would know it was him.
It would have been impossible to miss him, even if I hadn’t been keeping my eyes peeled for hours. I was sitting at my usual lunch table holding court with my friends, as I generally did, when he walked through the doors. I was struck speechless—something that was verifiably difficult to do. I stared at him and was instantly infatuated by his good looks and charmed by the nervous way he looked around the cafeteria.
I almost stood up and invited him to come sit with us, but resisted. I was glad I did when a girl named Kylie went up to him and did, and I saw how pathetic she looked.
“Brooke?” asked Alexa.
“What?” I responded dumbly, not able to take my eyes off him.
“You just…stopped talking.”
“Right.” I snapped my gaze back to her and tried to look unrattled. “The point is, everyone should watch the 1968 version of Romeo and Juliet and the ’96 one back-to-back at least once in their lives. You’ll never look at love the same way again.”
God, would someone else come up with something to talk about for once? Why is the burden of conversation always on me? This was fine except for when I didn’t feel like it.
The next day, I was lucky enough to be standing in the right place at the right time in the hallway.
“Excuse me.”
I turned to see Hot New Guy behind me, holding a schedule and looking lost. And still superhot.
“What’s up?” I tossed my hair to one shoulder.
“Can you tell me where to find room 324? It jumps from 318 to 400… .”
“It’s down this one weird hallway. Here, I’ll show you.”
“Are you sure? I don’t want you to be late to class.”
I was almost always late to class, but I liked that he thought I might be the studious kind of girl that hated tardiness.
“It’s fine,” I said. “My teacher will understand when I say I was helping the new kid.” He gave an adorably timid laugh. “Thanks so much.”
“No problem. So…are you a junior?” I asked, like I didn’t know damn well that he was.
We started making our way down the hall.
“Yes, ma’am.” Was that an accent? “And you?”
“Yes, I am. And you just moved here from…”
“Texas.”
We were already almost at his classroom. “Wow, Texas. Must be a big change for you, then.”
He breathed in and nodded slowly. “It definitely is. But I’m excited to be here. I knew all the same people back home for most of my life. Pretty small town. So I’m lookin’ forward to meeting new people.”
There was definitely a slight accent, and I couldn’t help but smile at it. “Here’s 324.”
“Yeah…I would never have found this.”
“It’s a tough one. Well, hey, if you want to, then look for me in the cafeteria at lunch, and you can meet some new people.”
“Sure, I’ll look for ya. Thanks again. What was your name?”
“Brooke.”
“Brooke. I’m Aiden Macmillan. Pleased to meet you.”

Check out the rest of the tour!

Much Love!
Lettie
Xxx

Tuesday 4 February 2014

Be With Me Release Day Launch!




















Teresa Hamilton is having a rough year—she’s in love with her big brother’s best friend, but he hasn’t spoken to her since they shared a truly amazing, mind-blowing, change-your-life kiss. She got out of a terrible relationship. And now an injury is threatening to end her dance career for good. It’s time for Plan B – college. And maybe a chance to convince Jase that what they have together is real.
Jase Winstead has a huge secret that he’s not telling anyone. Especially not his best friend’s incredibly beautiful sister. Even though he and Teresa shared the hottest kiss of his life, he knows that his responsibilities must take priority. He certainly doesn’t have time for a relationship. But it doesn’t help that all he can think about kissing the one girl who could ruin everything for him.
As they’re thrown together more and more, Jase and Tess can’t keep denying their feelings for each other. But a familiar danger looms and tragedy strikes. As the campus recovers, the star-crossed couple must decide what they’re willing to risk to be together, and what they’re willing to lose if they’re not…



Sneak Peek!
“You got a visitor, Tess.” He rested his chin atop my head, which caused my pulse to try to outrun my heart. “Two of them to be exact.”
“Okay.”
There was a pause. “Are your eyes closed?”
“No.”
His chin slid off my head and then his chest rumbled as he laughed. “Your eyes are
closed.” He laughed again. “Open them up.”  
Cursing under my breath, I pried one eye open and then jerked against him. His arm tightened. “Oh wow …”
The black-and-white horse was the closest, standing mere feet away from me. The brown one wasn’t too far, shaking its head and making soft snorts. My eyes were wide as they bounced between the two creatures. “They’re not carnivorous, right? Because at their size, they could eat me.”
Jase laughed deeply as his hand shifted up, resting in the center of my stomach, just below my breasts. “Horses do not eat people, you little idiot.”
I started, eyes narrowing. “There’s always a first.”
The lips pulled back on the black-and-white horse as if it was smirking at me. 
            “This one right here? Mr. Friendly? Jack calls him Bubba One,” he said in a quiet,
calming voice. But air hitched in my throat when his thumb moved in a slow circle over the thin material of my tank top, hitting against the wire in my bra. “And the brown one is Bubba Two.”
Mouth dry, I wetted my lips. “That’s good for remembering names.”
He chuckled as his pinkie and forefinger started to move up and down, reaching my bellybutton and then sliding back up. It was almost as if he was unaware of what he was doing, or the electrifying response the tiny motions were dragging out of me. “I think so too, but his real name is Lightning.”
Said horse shook his head, tossing the shaggy mane.
“Lightning seems to be a more suitable name,” I admitted, relaxing as the seconds passed. Maybe that was his intention. Distract me with the soft, almost innocent touches. It was working. “What about Bubba Two?  
“Ah, the one who is staring at the pail like it’s the holy mecca of grain?” His cheek
grazed mine as I laughed. “That’s Thunder. And we’re going to feed them. Together.”
The friction his fingers created with my shirt sent tiny shivers up and down my back.
“With our hands?”
His answering laugh tipped the corners of my lips up. “Yes. With our hands.”
“After checking out the choppers on them, I’m not so sure about that.”
“You’ll be okay.” He slid his hand off my stomach and wrapped it around my wrist.
Slowly, he lifted my hand out in front of me. “Hold still.”
My heart lurched. “Jase—”
Lightning trotted forward and pressed his wet nose against my hand. I cringed,
for him to eat my poor fingers. The horse didn’t. Nope. It nudged my hand as it whinnied softly. 
He guided my hand up over Lightning’s jaw, all the way to the pointy, twitchy ears.
“See?” he murmured. “That’s not too bad, is it?”
I shook my head as my fingers curled along the soft coat. Lightning seemed to anticipate the direction of the petting, pressing his long head against my hand as my fingers tangled in his mane. It wasn’t bad at all. 
Jase shifted behind me, and in an instant all thoughts of the horses evaporated. His hips lined up against my backside, and I bit down on my lower lip as I focused on the white splotch covering Lightning’s muzzle. 
I could feel him—feel Jase. And there was absolutely no doubt in my mind that he was affected by how close we were standing. That knowledge and the hard length of him left me dizzy, just like it had done that Saturday night. An all too warm flush spread down my neck. In the back of my head, I was rationalizing his physical reaction. He was a guy. Our bodies were pressed together. If a wind blew on a guy’s private area, they got hard. So I should just ignore it, but my body was so not on board with my head. My body was operating on a different playing field. An ache centered low in my stomach. A sharp and sweet yearning raced through my veins. 
“Not so scary, right?” His voice was deeper, richer. “They’re like dogs. Well, like a dog that can carry around two hundred pounds, if not more.” Hand sliding off mine, he stepped back, and the sudden emptiness of his body was like a cold shock. “Trust me.”
Then he smacked my ass.


Links!
 J. Lynn'sWebsite 

Unfortunately I will have to wait for the 13th Feb to purchase my copy!
Much Love!
Lettie
Xxx