Dare to Love by Carly Phillips Blog Tour and Giveaway!

Welcome to my day of the Dare to Love Official Blog Tour! I've got my review posted for your perusal, and Carly has some amazing prizes lined up for you! Just look -

 First Place:

IPad Mini 16g 

Customized CP iPad Mini Case

Carly Phillips Canvas Tote Bag

Dare to Love Mug

Carly Phillips T-Shirt

And signed copies of:

Dare to Love

Serendipity

Destiny

Karma

Perfect Fit

Perfect Fling

Perfect Together

Cross My Heart

Sealed With A Kiss

Seduce Me

Second Place:

Carly Phillips Canvas Tote Bag

Dare to Love Mug

And signed copies of:

Dare to Love

Perfect Partners

Solitary Man

The Right Choice

Midnight Angel

Third Place:

Carly Phillips Canvas Tote Bag

And signed copies of:

Dare to Love

Lucky Charm

Lucky Streak

Lucky Break

Brazen

Fourth Place:

Signed copies of:

Dare to Love

The Bachelor

The Playboy

The Heartbreaker

Fifth Place:

Signed copies of:

Dare to Love

Kiss Me If You Can

Love Me If You Dare  

See? I told you! Amaazzing prizes!  So check out my review, and then be sure to enter the contest using the Rafflecopter Widget below!  Good luck!!!!!

Oh, so sweet! Oh, soooo sexy! Oh, soooooooo good! Full review now posted...unless I come up with more ways to torture our hero's father. In fact, if you, or someone you love if you don't have your own, is fond of their dangling man bits, you might want to skip this review... Dare to Love is the first book in Carly Phillips’ Dare to Love series, and it’s also her first book as an Indie author. I haven’t read any of her work before, so I have no way to know if she's better as an IA, but I have to say, I truly enjoyed her way of telling this story! The Cover Blurb Since finding out his father had another family on the side, Ian Dare swore to be the upstanding, responsible man his cheating parent had never been. When it comes to his relatives, he gives his all but in relationships he offers the bare minimum. But one glimpse of sensual Riley Taylor arouses his dominant and protective instincts and Ian is entranced. He will do anything to possess her … and does. But any future with Riley must include him extending an olive branch to the half-brother who is a constant reminder of the pain he’d rather forget. Independent and always in control, Riley Taylor makes no apologies for choosing men carefully. Relationships have never been a priority and she believes herself hardened to domineering men – until she meets charismatic Ian Dare. He manages to turn a simple kiss into an all out assault on her senses and when he takes control in the bedroom, she’s stunned to discover she likes it. As their affair heats up, they soon realize they complete each other in ways neither imagined. But Riley’s past is closer than she cares to remember, and her struggles with Ian’s dominance might just cost her everything. My Rambling, Ranting (but spoiler free) Review Wow, well… I have to say, I found this storyline very compelling. In the beginning, my feelings for Ian were mixed – hated him one minute, loved him the next, type thing. I had a tough time imagining what it was like for him to learn that his father, his role model, the man he loved and wanted to be like, had another family on the side. And worse, when that family came to light, Robert Dare chose them over Ian’s mother and siblings. Honestly, when I was finally able to wrap my head around that, I wanted to weep. No wonder Ian is so controlling. No wonder he holds himself back and doesn’t get involved in “relationships” that might lead to him being abandoned by someone else he loves. No wonder he hates his step siblings and wants nothing to do with them. No. Freaking. Wonder. If I were Ian, I'd have hated them, too! But one uttered word brought it all into perspective - and no! I won't tell you what that word is, but it tore out my heart and made me love both sets of Dare children, equally. Riley Taylor had Ian’s absolute attention from the moment he first laid eyes on her, and it had nothing to do with the fact that she had entered the room on the arm of Ian’s step brother, Alex Dare – okay, maybe that had something to do with it. Knowing Ian's and Alex's history, their deeply rooted, consuming animosity for one another, I was worried that there’d be a lot of angst and drama, but thanks to Riley’s compassion and maturity, thankfully there was not. And I loved her for that. Seriously, had there been, it could have easily ruined the story for me, but this was handled by Riley early on, and handled well. I’ve been wavering between 4 and 5 stars, and as I’m sitting here thinking about it, I’ve decided to go with 4 because there was something huge left unresolved, in my opinion, and it was Ian's father, Robert Dare’s remorse for what he’d done, or lack thereof. Granted, years had passed and he was probably tired of the rift his cheating ways had caused between his two sets of children, but SON-OF-A-BITCH! I have personal experience with the heartbreaking aftermath of infidelity, so in order for me to really be okay with the way his ex-wife, current wife, and most of his kids accepted his cheating ass and moved on, I needed some serious on-his-knees groveling. Some truly compelling reason for why he did what he did, and not the kissy-face reason we got. Or hell, just TRUE remorse!!! Sweet baby geebus! You might be wondering if I'm upset! Well, lemme just say that someone needs to meet the old, spineless, limp dick asshole in a dark alley, remove his balls with a spoon and make him watch while they’re fed to sewer rats. Better yet, spread peanut butter on his balls, while they're still dangling from between his legs, and make him watch while the sewer rats eat them! Now YOU decide how upset I am. Fecking fooker! **takes a deep breath** Alrighty, then... Because I've Been Asked No, this book is really not just like Fifty Shades or its clones. Yes, the two leads are wealthy, but not once was the word "millionaire" or "billionaire" mentioned, and trust me, I did a search! Gotta love ebooks! Also, I do have Ian shelved as a "dominant male", but this really is not a BDSM story. The bottom line Dare to Love is at times funny, at times poignant, and at times very sexy! I’m thrilled to have finally read Carly Phillips writing, and yeah, this was my first read by this talented author, but it most certainly will not be my last! In fact, Alex’s story is up next and you couldn’t keep me from it if you tried! My thanks to Chasity Jenkins for providing me with a copy of this story in exchange for an honest review! It truly was a pleasure – despite what my outburst indicates.

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Tasty Virtual Book Tour - The Sum of All Kisses by Julia Quinn

The Sum of All Kisses

By: Julia Quinn

Blurb

Hugh Prentice has never liked Lady Sarah Pleinsworth, and his opinion is confirmed when he overhears her yammering on about how she must get married this season or she will simply die. He’s never had patience for dramatic females, and the words shy and retiring have never been in Sarah’s vocabulary. Besides, even if he did grow to enjoy her company, it wouldn’t matter. A reckless duel has left this brilliant mathematician with a ruined leg, and now, unable to run, ride, or even waltz, he could never court a woman like Sarah, much less dream of marrying her.

Sarah has never forgiven Hugh for the duel he fought three years earlier, the one that forced her cousin into exile, nearly destroying her family. But even if she could find a way to forgive him, it wouldn’t matter. She doesn’t care that his leg is less than perfect, it’s his personality she can’t stand.

But when the pair is forced to spend a week in close company they discover that opinions--even those firmest held--can, in fact, be altered. And when a kiss leads to two, three and four the mathematician may lose count and the miss may, for the first time, find herself speechless. 

 Rafflecopter Giveaway (Paperback Copy of A NIGHT LIKE THIS by Julia Quinn) a Rafflecopter giveaway

Author Info

#1 New York Times bestselling author Julia Quinn loves to dispel the myth that smart women don't read (or write) romance, and in 2001 she did so in grand fashion, appearing on the game show The Weakest Link and walking away with the $79,000 jackpot. She displayed a decided lack of knowledge about baseball, country music, and plush toys, but she is proud to say that she aced all things British and literary, answered all of her history and geography questions correctly, and knew that there was a Da Vinci long before there was a code. Ms. Quinn is one of only fifteen members of Romance Writers of America's Hall of Fame, her books have been translated into 26 languages, and she currently lives with her family in the Pacific Northwest.

Author Links

Visit Julia Quinn's Website

Visit Julia Quinn's Facebook Page

Visit Julia Quinn at Avon Romance

Buy Links:

Amazon: The Sum of All Kisses 

B&N: The Sum of All Kisses 

BAM: The Sum of All Kisses

Excerpt:

“Wasn’t that nice of Daniel to put you in the coach with us?” Frances said, as soon as Hugh had settled into his seat next to her. Or rather, it was a bit before he was settled; he was coming to realize that she was not a particularly patient child.

                “Indeed,” Hugh murmured. He supposed he was thankful, actually. Better Lady Frances than some stuffy old lady or a gentleman with a cheroot. And surely her sisters would be tolerable.

                “I asked him specially,” Frances continued. “I had such a nice time at the wedding yesterday.” She turned to her sisters. “We ate cake together.”

                “I saw,” Elizabeth said.

                “Do you mind riding backwards?” Frances asked. “Harriet and Elizabeth both get sick if they do.”

                “Frances!” Elizabeth protested.

                “It’s true. What would be more embarrassing, my telling Lord Hugh that you get sick from riding backwards, or actually getting sick from riding backwards?”

                “I would prefer the former myself,” Hugh said.

                “Are you going to chatter the whole way?” Harriet asked. Of the three, she looked the most like Sarah. Her hair was a few shades lighter, but the shape of her face was the same, and so was her smile. She looked at Hugh with a hint of embarrassment. “I beg your pardon. I was addressing my sisters, of course. Not you.”

                “Think nothing of it,” he said with a light smile. “But as it happens, I don’t intend to chatter the whole way.”

                “I was planning to write,” Harriet continued, moving a small sheaf of papers onto her lap desk.

                “You can’t do that,” Elizabeth said. “You’ll get ink everywhere.”

                “No I won’t. I’m developing a new technique.”

                “For writing in the carriage?”

                “It involves less ink. I promise. And did anyone remember to pack biscuits? I always get hungry before we stop for lunch.”

                “Frances brought some. And you know Mother will have a fit if you get ink on—”

                “Watch your elbows, Frances.”

                “So sorry, Lord Hugh. I hope that didn’t hurt. And I didn’t bring any biscuits. I thought Elizabeth was going to do so.”

                “Did you sit on my doll?”

                “Oh, bother. I knew I should have eaten a bigger breakfast. Stop looking at me like that. I’m not going to get ink on the cush—”

                “Your doll is right here. How does one use less ink?”

                Hugh could only stare. There appeared to be sixteen different conversations going on at once. With only three participants.

                “Well, I just jot down the main ideas—”

                “Do the main ideas have unicorns?”

                Hugh had been completely unable to track who was saying what until that.

                “Not the unicorns again,” Elizabeth groaned. She looked over at Hugh, and said, “Please forgive my sister. She is obsessed with unicorns.”

                Hugh glanced down at Frances. She’d gone rigid with anger and was glaring at her sister. He didn’t really blame her; Elizabeth’s tone had been as older-sibling as it got, two parts condescension and one part derision. And while he didn’t really hold that against her —he would have been the same at her age, he was sure— he was seized by a sudden urge to be a little girl’s hero.

                He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been anyone’s hero.

                “I rather like unicorns,” he said.

                Elizabeth looked stunned. “You do?”

                He shrugged. “Doesn’t everyone?”

                “Yes, but you don’t believe in them,” Elizabeth said. “Frances thinks they are real.”

                Out of the corner of his eye he saw Frances, eyeing him nervously.

                “I certainly cannot prove that they don’t exist,” he said.

                Frances let out a squeak.

                Elizabeth looked as if she’d been staring into the sun too long.

                “Lord Hugh,” Frances said, “I—”

                “Mama!”

                Frances stopped midsentence and they all looked toward the carriage door. It was Sarah’s voice, just outside the carriage, and she did not sound happy.

                “Do you think she’s going to ride with us?” Elizabeth whispered.

                “Well, she did on the way here,” Harriet replied.

                Lady Sarah. In the carriage. Hugh was not sure he could imagine a more diabolical torture.

                “It’s here with your sisters or with Arthur and Rupert,” came the voice of Lady Pleinsworth. “I’m sorry but we just don’t have room in...”

                “I won’t get to sit with you,” Frances told Hugh apologetically. “They won’t all three fit on the other side.”

                Lady Sarah would be sitting next to him. Apparently there was a more diabolical torture.