Today I welcome the lovely Cari Quinn to my little World of Romance. Last Wednesday was the release of REVEAL ME. I've bought and read it and I can tell you that if you're in the mood for a sizzling hot, quick read, you definitely should enter the giveaway to win the e-copy Cari is generously offering. I just loved REVEAL ME, my review of it will be up in due course. That's all from me for today. I am giving the stage to Cari now and hope you will join me in welcoming her and answering her question.

An Inquiring Writer Wants To Know:
What Storylines/Setups Are You Tired Of As A Reader?

First of all, I wanted to thank Pearl for hosting me on her blog today to promote my new Ellora’s Cave release, Reveal Me. Reveal Me is the story of Alana and Carter, old frenemies from high school. Alana didn’t really give Carter a fair shot back then and now he’s determined to create a different result after their chance meeting at a voyeuristic sex club called Kink. This story is very special to my heart for a lot of reasons and I’ve grown really attached to these characters and this “world.” The story about Alana’s best friend Kelly is finished and with my editor and I’m in the process of writing two more connected stories about other characters in this world. Part of that world is Kink, who has become almost as real to me as another character.

Kink isn’t the typical sex club I read about most often. There are rooms for the more adventurous who are interested in BDSM, etc. but I’m not focused on exploring that aspect here. Kink’s more about the freedom to be yourself, with anyone watching. My characters all, in one way or another, learn if voyeurism, public sex or sex with more than one partner works for them. For some of them, it does. For some, it really does not.

I’d like to think “my” sex club’s a bit different than the ones out there already but I’m curious if there are certain setups or storylines you’ve seen enough of and aren’t interested in reading any more about. Maybe it’s a certain type of were-creature you’ve read more about than you’d ever care to. I’m sincerely curious.

My iffy subject area right now is menages. They seem to be everywhere and sometimes too much of a good thing can be...too much. But I read a really fabulous one last week that raised the bar -- Raising The Stakes by Jess Dee. I’m also writing one in the next book in the Kink series but I’m determined to make it just a little different.

So now it’s your turn! What type of story or trope has you crying, “Enough already”? Cari will pick a random commenter to win a copy of Reveal Me.

Reveal Me Buy Link: http://www.jasminejade.com/ps-9027-50-reveal-me.aspx
Link to Cari's Blog: http://cariquinn.blogspot.com
Link to Cari's Website: www.cariquinn.com

Alana MacGregor craves excitement, but when her sometimes lover dumps her at a popular sex club, she wonders if she’s outgrown her live-fast-and-recover-later lifestyle. The last thing she expects is to run into the nerdy guy she rebuffed in high school—or for him to rock her world in ways no other man ever has.

Hot on the trail of a story, Carter Nicholas can’t believe his luck at encountering the one woman he’s never forgotten. He’s come a long way from being a wall-hugging geek. Now he gets all A’s between the sheets. But can he convince Alana he’s her sure ticket to an unforgettable night—and maybe much more?

Quite belated because of several circumstances and being swamped at work but I finally found a sliver of time to pick the Wild Irish Week Winners...


The winner of COME MONDAY is: barbara
The winner of RUBY TUESDAY is: JenM
The winner of WAITING FOR WEDNESDAY is: desi
The winner of SWEET THURSDAY is: johnsonsteven
The winner of FRIDAY, I'M IN LOVE is: flchen1
The winner of SATURDAY NIGHT SPECIAL is: Aurian
The winner of ANY GIVEN SUNDAY is: elaing8

Congratulations to all winners! And thanks everyone for commenting during this Wild Irish Week. Special thanks to Mari for writing such wonderful books and for her cooperation and generosity.

If I do have your email address I will sent it to Mari and she will contact you about your prize. I've contact the winners whose email address I don't have. johnsonsteven, I haven't found a way to contact you to get your email address so if you read this please send me your email address asap so I can get it to Mari.

Due to my own stupidity and dropping my iPhone in water last night there is no full-review of ANY GIVEN SUNDAY yet and I am not sure there will be today. Because on the iPhone, which is now hopefully drying out all the water, were the major part of my review-notes for ANY GIVEN SUNDAY (as I hadn't finished reading it yet at the time I dropped the iPhone) and I cannot write my full review without them.

However I still want to give the commenters who have been commenting so loyally every day the opportunity to enter for ANY GIVEN SUNDAY too and therefore I have decided to post some snippets from the second part of my review-notes together with 2 quotes so you can still comment and enter the giveaway.

As soon as it's "safe" to try and turn on the iPhone and maybe retrieve the first part of my review-notes I will post the full review. If this is not possible before Monday January 10th, the winners will be announced at a later date too.

I am very sorry and believe me when I say I could kick myself into the next century for this!

The child who is born on the Sabbath day, is bonny and blithe and good and gay.

Sean Collins is happy working at the family pub and sharing a house with the woman of his dreams. He and Lauren are equals in every way, including in bed, where they burn the sheets. Life is good. Even if he must hide a couple of secrets to keep it that way.

Lauren is madly in love with Sean. They share everything—almost. She can’t deny sensing…something. A certain feeling when she, Sean and their friend Chad are all together. But she doesn’t press. How can she when she’s not being completely forthright herself?

Chad is feeling pretty miserable, and renting a room in Sean and Lauren’s home has only made it worse. In a house filled with secrets, Chad’s are doozies.

When an opportunity arises to explore their deep desires, the trio plunges into a sex-filled, emotionally charged ménage. Long-buried feelings are revealed, changing their lives irrevocably. Whether for better or worse, only Sean, Chad and Lauren can decide.

Memorable:
Chad confessing that he kissed Lauren and Sean's reaction to that > very powerful and pivotal scene.

The 3 Sundays > some of the best ménage sex scenes I've read since I started reading erotic romance

I'm in awe of how Mari Carr tackled the ménage-theme in this book, she showed the problems and dilemmas and never took the easy way out. Approaching the possibility of à threesome from all angles and not making it mainly a sexually triggered one makes this book a keeper on my shelves and Mari Carr a definite favorite.

It's known I m/m is à trope that is not on my erotic romance menu much. I can count the books that include m/m action that I've liked on one hand and there are very few authors who can make me forget my reluctance to read m/m scenes or romance. Mari Carr turns out to be one of those very few.

I've praised Mari Carr in previous reviews about her ability to keep all the books in this series unique and fresh despite known tropes and recurring subjects and themes and with this book she remained true to form. Underneath all the emotional intensity of this book there's still that humor I like so much in the books. It's subtle, giving way for the intricate and heavy emotional struggles

Words fail to describe the emotional impact this book had on me and I can't but give this lovely closing installment of the Wild Irish series my highest rating!

Quotes:
She’d been a fool to listen to Riley’s advice. She’d thought she was engaging in a ménage, exploring some wicked fantasies. With her stupid plan, she’d blown the lid off an ancient, unseen volcano and she had a feeling they were all about to be taken down in the ensuing scorching lava flow.

Sean gave them a shit-eating grin before moving to his knees and crawling forward. He didn’t stop until his face reached Lauren’s and he gave her a long, wet kiss. Chad marveled over how natural their closeness felt. He’d always been a firm believer in personal space…but Lauren and Sean fit in his space.

Mari Carr has graciously offered a chance to win copies of the Wild Irish books and the giveaway is simple and easy:
One commenter will be drawn from the commenters on each review (so daily from Monday January 3rd until Sunday January 9th) to win the book reviewed. The seven winners will be announced here on the blog Monday January 10th)

Saturday’s child works hard for a living…

What do you get when you cross a gold-digging stripper, a down-on-her-luck hooker, an estranged husband, his knocked-up wife, a Wayne Newton lookalike taxi driver and one beleaguered Baltimore cop?

A typical night in the life of Riley Collins—Vegas style.

Riley’s always been the wildest of the Collins clan, but even she bites off more than she can chew during an impromptu trip to Sin City. Once again, it’s Aaron Young to the rescue. No surprise; Aaron’s been watching Riley’s ass forever—and he’s wanted to spank it for even longer. Tracking her down, Aaron finally gets his wish—after he drags a drunken Riley to a chapel and makes it legit, of course.

To say she’s shocked is putting it mildly. But Riley warms to Aaron’s seduction quicker than you can say “all-you-can-eat buffet!” Who knew her mild-mannered best friend was so hot in the sack? Of course, thanks to Riley’s penchant for picking up strays, the newlyweds will have to sneak in some honeymoon boom-boom whenever they can.

But they’ll manage…

Trope/themes:
friends-to-lovers, opposites attract, weekend in Vegas, (light) spanking,

First Line:
Aaron Young walked into the Mirage and took a deep breath, trying to calm his ragged nerves.

Memorable:
- Riley finding out about the marriage > a lot of fun
- sex shop scene > hot

Riley Collins is a dynamic and lively party-girl. She’s stubborn, impulsive, cynical and spontaneous. She’s also the last Collins sibling in the nest and after her sister Teagan's marriage and she feels a bit left out and lonely, afraid her HEA will never come. Beneath the party-girl exterior and behavior, Riley has a heart of gold and a penchant for taking care of strays of the human kind.

Aaron Young has been Riley’s best friend, rescuer and watchdog since forever. He’s the complete opposite of her, being responsible, thoughtful and charming. However, make no mistake, he has a hidden dominant streak, because though he may be easygoing and mild-tempered, he's definitely no pushover and he can be just as stubborn as Riley is.

Riley and Aaron have been friends since the playground, the vivacious girl with a penchant for trouble who can cook up a storm, always the center of the party and the dutiful, quiet, staid cop, happy to stay in the background.
When he follows her to Vegas to, once again, get her out of trouble, they end up married; Vegas-style. The marriage unleashes a side of Aaron Riley has never seen before. Her laid-back and pliable friend of over 20 years can be as commanding and alpha as the best of them. But before the can embark on the joys of married bliss, they have a lot of weird people to trace and get on the right track.

The pairing of Riley and Aaron didn't come as a surprise to me. Saw it coming from the first moment he stepped on to the scene in the first (or was it the second?) book. And I was looking forward to what Mari Carr was going to do with him and Riley.

I loved the Trevor/Bella storyline. It was great fun to read and made me think of those screwball comedies, I used to watch with my parents when I was younger. This element of the story is one of the reasons I love this series. Mari Carr manages to give each and every one its own feel, making it a joy to read this series back-to-back.

Before I started reading this book my eye caught a snippet of a review on Goodreads that said this installment wasn't as sexy or sensual as the others and this had me wondering as every installment has been sexy and sensual in its own way and this had me worried a bit because the great eroticism and sexiness is one of the definite strong points of this series. Well, I worried for nothing because to me there was nothing less sexy about SATURDAY NIGHT SPECIAL. Aaron and Riley had the sexiness down pat and the sex scenes were very yummy.

I suspect Mari Carr had a great time writing this book. The fun and humor is off-the charts. It reminded me a bit of the movie, The Hangover. There was lots of swearing too, which might cause some readers to turn away but not me because I am never bothered by a some good swearing and it definitely fitted the story and the storyline.

True to form, throughout this entire series, I had to wipe a few tears away at the end because even with all the fun, heat and comedic antics, Mari Carr never fails to touch the heart with a lovely and emotional ending.

With SATURDAY NIGHT SPECIAL I have come almost to the end of this wonderful series and I will be very sad to reach the last page of the final book as this series has given me some lovely reading hours and I don’t say this often but this might be a series I will reread in the future.

If by now, you haven’t been tempted to try the Wild Irish series, something could be definitely wrong with you (or it’s just not your thing) because if you like contemporary and erotic romance, this series should not be missing on your digital shelves.

Quotes:
“Hey, sugar,” she slurred. Great, she was drunk. That helped him ignore the pleasure that suffused his body when she called him by her nickname for him.

“Are you going to eat that or try to stare it into your stomach?”

Jesus, she felt as if she were with two different men. One was her familiar best friend, while the other was a hot, dominant stranger who made her want to do all sorts of nasty, naughty things.

His c#ck had never been this hard for this long. He was beginning to fear for his health. Sustaining an erection for hours on end couldn’t be a good thing. What did those warnings on the commercials for Viagra say? Four hours? No way would the doctors in the emergency room believe his was all natural.

“So are you planning on talking me into an orgasm or do you actually have some plan to back up all this tough talk?”
He shook his head, undaunted by her taunt. “It won’t work. There’s no way you’re going to top me from the bottom. Now close your mouth like a good little girl or I’m gonna gag you.”

Mari Carr has graciously offered a chance to win copies of the Wild Irish books and the giveaway is simple and easy:
One commenter will be drawn from the commenters on each review (so daily from Monday January 3rd until Sunday January 9th) to win the book reviewed. The seven winners will be announced here on the blog Monday January 10th)

Friday’s child is loving and giving…

Ewan Collins has had the hots for Natalie for years but she continually rebuffs him, supposedly because of their age difference. When Natalie comes to stay with the Collins family for a week, Ewan decides it’s time to make his move in a serious way.

Natalie’s been in a funk since celebrating another birthday alone. When Ewan proposes to help her “get a life”—seven lessons in seven days—she figures what the hell does she have to lose? Ewan’s plans include tequila shots, fishing, karaoke…and other, more erotic hands-on demonstrations.

But loneliness isn’t Ewan’s only obstacle. Tragedy in her past continually takes Natalie to a dark place her mind can’t easily overcome. With support, tenderness and love, Ewan plans to win over Natalie one lesson at a time.

Starting with lessons of the heart.

Trope/themes:
Older woman/younger man, depression

First Line:
“You’re the life of the party.”

Memorable:
-making out on the living room couch > the baseball analogy made me laugh, the rest was hot!
- scene in Ewan's office > get your cooling packs out before you read this scene ;)
- the goodbye scene right before the end > bawled like a baby

Natalie Miller is sarcastic, direct and a loner. She can be a little bitchy but not enough to be unlikeable as she uses her sarcasm and bitchiness as a way to protect herself and not show her vulnerability. At the start of the book she’s in a funk because she's feeling she's getting old. She also suffers from periods of dark moods, sadness and carrying the weight of the world on her shoulder. She’s afraid of falling in love because she thinks she doesn't deserve it. And she is also afraid to let people get close for fear they will discover her dark secret.

Ewan Collins is a homebody who’s serious, responsible, open and kind, but don't let that sweet, laid-back side of him fool you. He's the perfect example of silent waters that run deep. Sexually he's very commanding, passionate and almost ruthless in his pursuit of Nat's pleasure. The alpha in him he’s always hidden is awakened by Nat's fieriness and her attempts to turn him down.
Ewan is also very persistent because once he has his sights on Nat, he doesn't give up, no matter how much she tries to deter him from pursuing her in very clear language

Ewan has had a crush on Natalie, who is his senior by 8 years, from the moment they met. When he has the opportunity to live with her under one roof for a week, he grabs the chance to win her over, under the pretence of teaching her to live a little by giving her life lessons, one for each day she's staying in his parental home. The lessons include how to have fun, how to relax/commune more with nature, how to think before she speaks, how to be romantic, how to stop worrying about what the world thinks of her and along the way he also teaches her how to love again.

The chemistry between Nat and Ewan is palpable from the very start but Nat tries to ignore and deny it. And then the emotions. There hasn't been one book in this series that didn't make me tear up. And two of them, including FRIDAY I LOVE YOU, just made my heart hurt. The pain and struggle Nat had to go through and the way Ewan fought for his love for her broke my heart.

FRIDAY I LOVE YOU is the fifth installment of the Wild Irish series and I loved that this installment took me back to the heart of the Collins family: the parental home, restaurant and bar. I missed that in the previous book.

I just love this series. I read a few installments, including FRIDAY I LOVE YOU, back-to-back and each and every one is different and has a unique, fresh vibe that's inherent to their main characters. Yet there are elements that return in every installment and depending on the book they are mixed and balanced out in their own way to give them all a different feel. These elements are: humor, heat, family dynamics and emotional intensity.

Mari Carr has a lovely and down-to-earth way with words that I really like! Every one of her books draws me in and it's very hard to put them down. Her characters become like people you could know and relate to.

FRIDAY, I LOVE YOU is another wonderful book in this series. It has become a very, very close second to my favorite of the series: WAITING FOR WEDNESDAY. And maybe they're even both my favorites!

As you will notice I have more quotes than I’ve had in the reviews of the previous books and I even cut a few quotes as I had so many! Me marking a lot of quotes in a book is a very good sign. A highly quotable book equals an awesome book in my eyes and this book definitely falls in that category!

Quotes:
She laughed. “You really are going to have to give up this schoolboy crush. I’ve been nothing but a bitch to you since day one.”
He grasped her hand and she looked at him in surprise. “I haven’t been a boy in a long time, babydoll . And I’m more than man enough to deal with you and your so-called bitchiness.”

She was in a sequined tank top and Riley had loaned her a barely there leather skirt that Ewan could barely keep his eyes off. She was f#cking gorgeous and his c#ck had been locked in mortal combat with his jeans since they’d left the apartment via the fire escape. He wasn’t entirely sure the denim was going to be strong enough to cage the monster for much longer.

The loud, thumping music matched the pulsating, relentless pumping of blood through his body. Natalie’s hands as they caressed him seemed to leave a trail of fire wherever they touched, singeing him and driving him to heights he’d never imagined. She turned slowly in his arms and he felt as if her movements were in slow motion as the flashing, colored lights set the scene around them…the other dancers hazy, unreal. It was as if they were the only two people adrift in a sea of sound, touch, heat, light.

“Wait,” she called out. He was nearly to the door. Four more steps and he’d be free. Free to hit the shower—a cold one. Free to jerk himself off—a lonely one.
“You said you’d kiss me.”
He closed his eyes and prayed for strength. “Tomorrow, Nat. I’ll kiss the shit out of you tomorrow. Not tonight. Don’t ask me.”

She opened her eyes and pierced him with a glare that had destroyed stronger men than Ewan Collins. He merely stared her down. “Now, Nat. I don’t want to have to dump a bucket of cold water on you, but I will.”
“I will crush you like a bug if you try it.” She tried to invoke as much threatening menace into her voice as possible, but for some reason her powers of evil didn’t work against the idiot and he laughed.


They didn’t say anything else as the song continued, simply held each other and moved. As the music drifted away into another song, Ewan grasped her head in his hands, smiled as he bent down to steal the perfect kiss. His lips rubbed lightly against hers, enticing her to open her mouth. She sucked in a deep breath of his air, reaching out to taste him as well. Their tongues met, touched, played. If there was ever a moment in her life she’d want to freeze, this was it. She wanted to stop time, wrap up the occasion in tissue paper and tuck it in her pocket, so she could always pull it out and come right back here.

Mari Carr has graciously offered a chance to win copies of the Wild Irish books and the giveaway is simple and easy:
One commenter will be drawn from the commenters on each review (so daily from Monday January 3rd until Sunday January 9th) to win the book reviewed. The seven winners will be announced here on the blog Monday January 10th)

Thursday’s child has far to go…

In high school, Lily was too shy to do anything about her feelings for her best friends, Justin and Killian. Now she’s ready to put to rest her regrets with a proposal that might shock even her oversexed friends—the three of them, together, one night, multiple positions.

K and J are more than a little surprised to see Lily at their ten-year reunion. The plain Jane they remember is now a stunning woman—who wants to have sex with both of them. Who are they to deny her? Even if Killian suspects they might be treading on dangerous emotional territory.

The night stretches into the weekend and, as K suspected, none of them want it to end. But he and Lily know people live in pairs, not trios, and they call a halt now, before it’s too late.

Justin, however, knows a good thing when he sees it. He’s ready to fight for what he wants…what they all need. He just has to convince Lily and Killian that unconventional can also be extraordinary.

Trope/themes:
ménage, friends-to-lovers

First Line:
Lily lay on the blanket Killian had spread out for them and looked at the endless sea of stars above.

Memorable:
- recliner scene > The combination of Justin and Killian could kill a woman with pleasure

Lily Watterson is a marine biologist. She’s a little shy and quiet but 10 years have changed Lily from a cute but plain Jane-like girl to a stunning, sexy woman. Lily's strict parents/upbringing created a nice opposite dynamic for her desire to be with both Killian and Justin

This story has two main male characters: Killian Collins, who is charming, sensitive, energetic, attentive and protective, always looking out for others. He has been going through an "is this it?"-phase. Feeling like his life has gotten into a rut and he longs for something but doesn't know what exactly.

The other hero is Justin Porter, who is mischievous, playful, potty-mouthed and straightforward. He’s a drifter looking for an emotional safe-place, following where life leads him instead of taking reign over it. He’s also in the same rut as Killian and next to that battling a feeling of not fulfilling expectations and not being good enough for his father’s standards, which creates some insecurity.

Killian is the cautious controlled one of the two; Justin is the impulsive, short-fused one.

Killian, Lily and Justin have been best friends since freshman year in high school. Lily is secretly in love with both of them but shyness and taboo prevent her from expressing her love to them before she leaves to the other side of the country for college and the boys enlist in the Army. Killian and Justin return home after an 8-year stint and become co-owners of Justin's family construction company. Their 10-year high school reunion reunites the three of them again. Lily has gone from plain, shy, quiet and nerdy to a woman looking for some naughtiness and going for what she didn't dare to ten years earlier.

SWEET THURSDAY is the fourth installment of this seris and set about 2 years after the end of WAITING FOR WEDNESDAY, the previous book. This is the first book in the series where the Collins family-run pub doesn't take center stage as Killian doesn't live or work there. I liked that.

Over halfway into the book I did miss the family dynamics that was more present in the previous installment. But this was just something minor and didn’t influence my overall enjoyment of this part of the series.

Over the previous installments I'd noticed that Sean, the youngest Collins, often serves as a touching stone or eye-opener for the main characters when they need it. Putting things into words and getting to the heart of the matter and makes him a noticeable character in this series. I'm curious to read his story and who is going to be giving him advice about his HEA.

With no secondary plot or many secondary characters, SWEET THURSDAY focuses exclusively on the relationship between the 3 main characters, making it a powerful character-driven romance.

Humor and banter between the three friends is alternated with the emotional intensity of embarking on a threesome and some sizzling hot sex scenes. The sexual aspect of the threesome is clear and scorching but for various reasons all three are hesitant about taking it a step further emotionally. The dilemma they all have to work through is portrayed excellently.

I liked that Mari Carr didn't 'beautify' the ménage or leave it purely in the sexual stage. She took the realistic approach to the ménage trope in which not everyone accepts it for a fact and needs time to get used to the idea. Lily's brother Chad in particular has trouble accepting it.

Another lovely installment of this series that is slowly but surely making it’s way to becoming one of my favorite contemporary erotic romance series. It has everything I need in terms of freshness, humor and heat and Mari Carr’s writing style definitely agrees with me.

Quotes:
Justin shook his head. “Jesus, I can’t even remember who half these people are.”
“Don’t look at me. I keep getting dirty looks from the women. I’m trying to sneak peeks at their nametags, but they seem to think I’m looking at their breasts.”
Justin grinned. “That’s funny. I’m looking at their tits pretending to read the badges.”

Lily narrowed her eyes and picked up her butter knife, waving at Justin when it appeared he might say more. “You say that nickname aloud, Justin Porter, and I’ll emasculate you. Right here, right now. With this dull knife.”

And then her two lovers held her as they drifted into sleep. Only when she was sure they wouldn’t see did she let the silent tears flow. Her resistance was shot. Her heart was theirs. And she was f#cked.

Mari Carr has graciously offered a chance to win copies of the Wild Irish books and the giveaway is simple and easy:
One commenter will be drawn from the commenters on each review (so daily from Monday January 3rd until Sunday January 9th) to win the book reviewed. The seven winners will be announced here on the blog Monday January 10th)

Wednesday’s Child is full of woe…

Tristan Collins knows Lane Bryce is strictly hands off. She’s smart, funny, kind…and married. But he still looks forward to her once-a-week visits to the family pub where he tends bar. When she fails to arrive one Wednesday, Tris is concerned. When he learns she’s in the hospital, brutally beaten after attempting to leave her unhappy marriage, he’s enraged. Tris vows to protect her, but he doesn’t get the chance. Lane checks out of the hospital and disappears without a trace.

A year later, newly divorced Lane is back, and enjoying her independence too much to embark on a relationship. Tris intends to prove she can have freedom and love, and he’s not above using seduction to do it. The more she resists, the more he sets her body ablaze with pleasure the likes of which she’s never known.

After a lifetime of disappointment, trust doesn’t come easily for Lane. But when her ex-husband reenters her life, threatening her independence, her happiness, she could discover too late that Tristan is the one man worthy of not only her trust, but also her love.

Trope/themes:
domestic abuse, friends-to-lovers, light spanking,

First Line:
“Lane?” Tristan looked down at the frail form of his best friend lying in the hospital bed and gently took her hand in his.

Memorable:
- Tristan and Lane working behind the bar together > talk about sizzling sexual tension
- Lane and Tristan's first time > *fans self*

Tristan 'Tris' Collins is the bartender in the family-run Collins pub. He’s chivalrous, headstrong and gruff but very charming and sweet too. He carries his heart on his sleeve and is commanding in the bedroom.

Lane Bryce is a nurse. She’s sweet, witty, independent and quick-witted. A peacekeeper who tries to avoid conflicts. Her childhood in the system and her failed marriage left her hesitant of getting close to people and love and she has trust issues.

Tristan has the reputation of a ladies' man and though he's attracted to Lane from the very start he doesn't make a move towards her while she's married out of respect for that marriage, even if it's a bad one. Still he falls in love with her and when an attempt to leave her husband ends in disaster and she leaves town without a trace or a word, Tristan is devastated. Now, a year later, Lane is back and Tristan is determined to use her physical attraction to him and seduce her into falling in love with him. However, before they can live happily ever after, there the matter of a stalking, lunatic ex-husband to handle first.

The Wild Irish series is an awesome series. At book 3 now I'm drawn in right from the start again as I was with the first 2 books. I think a lot of that is linked to Mari Carr's lovely writing. She has such an easy and agreeable style and such great characters that are intense and yet at the same time very down-to-earth. They could be people you meet/see in your everyday life.

The conflict between Tristan and Lane comes from Lane's determination to take care of herself, not needing anyone to protect her, her clinging to her new-found freedom and Tristan's chivalrous desire to protect her and care for her. The sex scenes in this installment were sizzling hot. Tristan is a fierce and talkative in bed, just the way I like my heroes. Awesome! Hot and bothered and fanning myself at Tristan's dirty talk on one page and swallowing a lump of emotion in my throat on the next page at his sweetness and sincerity.

And the humor. I love humor to go with the sizzle and Mari Carr definitely delivers there. I smiled a lot reading this book. Family teasing and the banter between Tris and Lane, despite the difficulties, are what draw me to Carr's writing and keep me coming for more.

WAITING FOR WEDNESDAY is the third installment of the Wild Irish series and another installment I absolutely loved. It was sexy, emotional, funny and a joy to read. If you love excellently written, humorous, contemporary romance that touches your heart combined with sizzling hot sexual tension and erotic scenes, Mari Carr is your go-to author and Wild Irish is your go-to series.

Quotes:
While she was having some serious dirty fantasies about the man, it was obvious he still viewed her as a helpless woman and his “protector genes” had come riding to the rescue. Now she was horny…and pissed off.

"...her fingernails scratching a path across his back that was painful and sexy as hell. His mind whirled as he tried to make this wild woman fit the image of the staid, calm friend he thought he’d known until this moment. He fought to pull himself together. He was humping Lane like a dog in heat in his sister’s bedroom. This hadn’t been his intention when he’d come into the room.

"...Gonna try to do it slow and gentle—at least this first time. I know it’s been a while for you. Thing is, I want you, need you too bad. There’s a demon in me that wants to make sure you can’t walk right for a week.”

“Mine,” he said, wondering how she’d managed to bring him down to caveman level. He couldn’t utter anything beyond one-syllable commands. She was seriously f#cking with his vocabulary.

“I’m going to take you, Lane. I’m going to take you hard and fast and just when you think you can’t stand any more, I’m going to do it all over again.”

“Take off your clothes. I like sleeping naked with you.”
“Haven’t you ever heard of asking nicely? Maybe saying the magic word?” she teased, though she starting taking off her jeans.
“Will you take off your clothes?” he asked. “So I can please you until your toes curl?"
“Mmm. Much better. I like how you use the magic word.”

She couldn’t pinpoint the exact moment. She wasn’t sure there was one. She just knew that Tris had been slowly scaling the wall to her heart and there was no doubt in her mind he’d not only climbed the damn thing, he’d torn it down.

Mari Carr has graciously offered a chance to win copies of the Wild Irish books and the giveaway is simple and easy:
One commenter will be drawn from the commenters on each review (so daily from Monday January 3rd until Sunday January 9th) to win the book reviewed. The seven winners will be announced here on the blog Monday January 10th)

Tuesday’s child is full of grace…

Sky Mitchell is hiding out in Baltimore, seeking peace and solitude while he struggles with a career decision. Lead singer of popular rock group The Universe, he’s thinking of going it alone. Wandering into an Irish pub, he’s ecstatic to discover the breakout single for his solo album—but the songwriter doesn’t want to sell. He challenges the woman to a contest. Not only does he win the song, but also a songwriting partner to complete the rest of the album.

Teagan Collins is sure of her talent but she’s never aspired to fame and fortune. She’s content singing folk tunes in her family’s pub. Working on an album with Sky tests her patience…and her libido. The hot rocker plays her body like a fine instrument, their desire deepening with each song they write.

But someone doesn’t want Sky to go solo, and will stop at nothing to sabotage the couple’s efforts. Undaunted, Sky wants Teagan to join him onstage at his farewell concert to sing her original, “Maybe Tomorrow”…

If they make it through today.

Trope/themes:
virgin heroine, very light bondage, light spanking

First Line:
“Oh. My. God,” Riley murmured behind her.

Memorable:
- Exchanging clothes scene in the storage closet > Laugh-out-loud funny turned to sizzling hot in a second


Teagan Collins is the second daughter of the Collins family. She’s a Folk music singer/songwriter. Teagan is a little gypsy-esque and laid-back. But she’s also socially involved, compassionate and kind. She’s happy singing her songs for the customers of her family’s bar and restaurant and has no ambition to become famous.

Sky Mitchell/Mitch Adams couldn’t be more on the opposite scope of the musical world from Teagan. He’s a famous rock star, lead singer of rock group 'The Universe'. He’s a real charmer and tenacious as a dog with a bone. He’s also on the verge of going solo and working on his debut solo album.

Teagan and Sky don't get off on a good start when within minutes of their first conversation Sky insults Teagan's attitude towards her songwriting and Teagan insults Sky's music. This was the start of a lovely and intricate romance story.

RUBY TUESDAY is the second installment of the Wild Irish series and just as wonderful as the first. From the start I was pulled back into the fold of the Collins family and enticed by Mari Carr's smooth and humorous writing.

I loved seeing the main couple fall in love and knowing they were falling before they realized it themselves. And I also liked that Sky was the first to realize, however Teagan is the first to express her feelings. The progress from casual, sexy no-sex games to finally going all the way was one of the strong points of this installment.

There’s also a little bit of suspense embedded in the romance as someone is trying to sabotage Sky's attempt to go solo. Though it was a little predictable I really enjoyed the way it was written in the story, well balanced and subtle. And there was a little twist in the end that I didn't predict.

The secondary cast was made of the Collins siblings of course, but there were also a few new characters that were introduced. I’m pretty sure this wasn’t the last I’ve seen of these characters and look forward to getting to know them better in future installments of the series.

RUBY TUESDAY is about taking chances and leaving the known behind. Though it wasn't as heavy on the erotic side as the first book, I didn't mind this at all as I enjoyed Teagan and Sky's sweet love story. I think the little change of pace keeps the books unique, refreshing and lets them stand on their own and not look like carbon copies with different character names.

Quotes:
She reached up and grabbed his ear, twisting so hard tears sprung to his eyes.
“I’m only going to say this to you one time, rock star, so listen up. The only music you and I will be making is going to be on the page. If you don’t knock off the sexual innuendoes, you won’t have to worry about Ewan smothering you in your sleep because that’s something you’ll beg for after I cut off that protruding part of your body you call a brain. Got it?”

“Don’t look so scared, gypsy. I’m not the Big Bad Wolf and I’ll only bite when you beg me to.”

Sky stared at her, like the lost fool he was, his words failing him for the first time in his life. She’d done it, captured his heart, beaten down every crumbling structure he’d tried to erect against her.

“My real name. It’s Mitch Adams.” He wasn’t sure why he was offering her such a stupid fact at that moment, but all he could think was that he wanted her to know the real him. The normal man who wanted to live a normal life and love her until the day he died.

Mari Carr has graciously offered a chance to win copies of the Wild Irish books and the giveaway is simple and easy:
One commenter will be drawn from the commenters on each review (so daily from Monday January 3rd until Sunday January 9th) to win the book reviewed. The seven winners will be announced here on the blog Monday January 10th)

Monday’s child is fair of face…


After the death of her mother years prior, Keira Collins willingly put aside her dreams to become a surrogate parent to her six younger brothers and sisters. At twenty-seven, she’s finally pursuing a college degree. Between classes, working at the family pub and still tending to siblings, she’s no time for romance. So why is she spending all her rare free time fantasizing about hot Professor Wallace bending her over his desk?


Will Wallace recognizes Keira’s unfulfilled desires, her habit of hiding her beauty, her obsessive need for control in every aspect of her life. But Will has needs of his own—and they run far darker than Keira’s. As he initiates her into his lifestyle, offering sweet punishments and sweeter rewards, Will’s sexual authority slowly strips away some of her precious control. The one thing Keira’s not ready to relinquish…

Wild Irish Series, book 1: Come Monday

First Line:
Keira Collins stared at the paper in her hands and bit back the growl of frustration that bubbled beneath the surface.

Memorable:
-Keira and Will's fantasies early in tje book > nice appetizers for the "real thing"
-Dressing room scene > *fans self*

Trope/themes:
professor-student romance, D/s, light spanking, bondage, toys,

Keira Collins is stubborn, confident and a control-freak. She’s quick-witted but when around Will she gets a little tongue-tied. Keira is the oldest of seven, and helped raise her 6 younger siblings when her mom died and amidst the storm of loud, out-spoken siblings she's the calm voice of reason and always putting their needs before her own.

Will Wallace is Keira’s professor who is charming, thoughtful and sweet despite his commanding and dominant personality. He doesn’t make a move on Keira until she’s no longer his student.

In Come Monday there are little secondary characters as the story revolves around Keira and Will and their budding relationship. Still there was room for an introduction to the Collings siblings and while reading COME MONDAY I was very happy to know I still had all their stories coming ahead and was looking forward to them

COME MONDAY is a great introductory installment of a promising series. I've had this series on my shelves from the moment this first book came out in November 2009 but it took me a year and coming up with a theme/feature week to finally start reading them and I could kick myself for leaving them on my digital shelves for so long.

The characters are extremely likeable and I love the Collins siblings premise and the family dynamics when a series is centered on a family. The sexual chemistry and sex scenes made me tingly. And on top of all that there's emotional depth and development in the characters even in the limited amount of pages of this novella. It's not just a bunch of sex scenes with a conflict thrown in for the sake of resolution. It's a touching romance in which two people who match perfectly find each other in a lifestyle that suits them both, spiced with some smokin' hot sexy scenes. Allowing the reader to follow them on the journey to their HEA.

The build- up was excellent. COME MONDAY started out nice and sweet and gradually grew more intense, both emotionally and sexually. And the conflict and its resolution were nicely and subtly inserted into the story. Though this story is novella-length it had a definite full-length feel. Few authors can pull it off but not once did I have the feeling that something was lacking because of the length. In the mere 138 pages Mari Carr delivered a well developed and rounded story

This is not my first encounter with Mari Carr's work and once again I am impressed by the ease she manages to capture my attention with her wonderful writing. It's smooth, flowing and enthralling. Once I start reading her books, they won’t let go of me until I finish them and then I’m craving more.

Quotes:
“Come in,” his deep voice beckoned. She shivered at the sound and wondered how in the hell she’d make it through this meeting without ripping her clothes off and throwing herself on his desk.

“Give me your panties,” he commanded.
“What?” she asked.
“I don’t ask twice, Keira. Take off your panties and hand them to me. Now.”

She’d shattered his resistance, his will to ease her into the new role. She was born to be his submissive and by God, he wasn’t questioning that fact again. She belonged to him and he was about to show her exactly what that meant.

She would never understand how a simple touch could take her breath away, reduce her to a pile of mush.

Jesus, she was magnificent, and she was provoking him like a raging bull with her red flag.

Mari Carr has graciously offered a chance to win copies of the Wild Irish books and the giveaway is simple and easy:
One commenter will be drawn from the commenters on each review (so daily from Monday January 3rd until Sunday January 9th) to win the book reviewed. The seven winners will be announced here on the blog Monday January 10th)

First of all Happy New Year to everyone and thank you for visiting and following my blog during my hiatus in the last 2 months of 2010. Due to circumstances, one of which was me finding a full-time job after a year of unemployment I am skipping any end-of-the-year overviews and such for now because I simply didn't have the chance to do one and maybe I'll do as last year and post one in the course of January or February depending on the free time I'll have.


However I'm back at blogging again and am thrilled to have an awesome reason to do so. In the course of last year I contacted author Mari Carr with an idea to review her Wild Irish Series on my blog. She graciously agreed and in between all the hectic stuff going on at the end of 2010 I did manage to read and review the series up till the penultimate book. She also was sweet enough to write a guest post for me to kick-off the Wild Irish Week here on Pearl's World of Romance.


In the coming week I will be reviewing the books of this series, every day of the week, corresponding to the day included in the titles of the books. I'll be starting tomorrow with COME MONDAY and will close the Wild Irish Week reviews on Sunday January 9th with my review of ANY GIVEN SUNDAY(provided I'll be able to finish and review it on time). Commenters will be eligible to win the book of the day they leave a comment with the review, but more about that with the first review tomorrow.


As said, Wild Irish Week will start of with a guest post by Mari Carr, author of the series and she will be telling us some interesting facts about the series. Please give Mari a warm welcome and I hope you will return to read my reviews on this lovely contemporary romance series.

Any Given Sunday, the final book in my Wild Irish series, releases on Friday, January 7. Pearl has very graciously offered to host a week-long Wild Irish celebration and we thought we’d kick it off with seven interesting facts about the seven books in the Wild Irish series…

1. The story stemmed from the traditional nursery rhyme Monday’s Child, which I’d always thought was called Sunday’s Child—hence the mother’s name! Oops.


2. I found the names of the Collins siblings on a website for baby names that showed Gaelic names. I chose names with meanings to fit the poem. For example:

Keira means dark. She was dark haired—full of beauty.
Teagan means little poet. She was my songwriter—full of grace.
Tristan means tumult. He is full of woe.
Killian means war, strife. He has far to go.
Ewan means God is good, young. He is loving and giving.
Riley means Rye. Picked it because I liked it. She works hard and plays hard.
Sean means God is gracious. He was the child born on the Sabbath day.

3. All the titles of the books are taken from song titles.

Come Monday by Jimmy Buffett—my favorite!
Ruby Tuesday by The Rolling Stones.
Waiting for Wednesday by Lisa Loeb
Sweet Thursday by Matt Costa
Friday I’m in Love by The Cure
Saturday Night Special by Lynyrd Skynyrd
Any Given Sunday by Sandpeople

4. Justin in Sweet Thursday was originally named Jason. Wrote the whole book with him as Jason. We were near the end of the first round of edits when my editor remembered that Jason was on the list of ‘overused’ names at Ellora’s Cave and we switched it to Justin. I will still slip up and call him by the wrong name periodically.

5. Every book ends with the family gathered together for some special event.

Come Monday – Sean’s high school graduation party at the pub
Ruby Tuesday – Backstage at The Universe’s last concert
Waiting for Wednesday – Killian’s homecoming from Iraq
Sweet Thursday – Keira and Will’s daughter Caitlyn’s first birthday party
Friday I’m in Love – New Years Eve/Teagan and Sky’s wedding
Saturday Night Special – Riley and Aaron’s wedding reception
Any Given Sunday – Thanksgiving dinner

6. Even though Sunday, the mother, is deceased when the series starts, she is mentioned in every book. I cried when I wrote the Sunday scenes.

7. While the names of the siblings were fictional, I pulled a lot of the names of the other characters from people I know in real life. Mrs. Tibbs, Yvonne, Joy, Johnny Sparks, Bubbles, Aaron Young, Bella, and Johanna really do exist!



Thank you Mari for these great and interesting facts about the series!