Review: One Night in a Storm by Shay Savage

One Night in a Storm (Kinksters #1) by Shay Savage

Publication Date: July 23rd 2019 

Pages: 188

Source: Author

Purchase Links: Amazon 

About the book:

Two university students thrown together in the midst of a raging storm, one a Shibari expert, the other an instinctive submissive. 
As the flood waters rise, so does Kasinda’s panic. When she allows Cree to use his expertise to ease her fears, she finds herself healing from the trauma of her past.
The floodwaters may soon subside, but their passion for each other is just beginning to grow. Cree may be the rigger, but it’s Kas who has his emotions in knots. 

My Thoughts:

When I read the premise of One Night in a Storm and the fact that Shay Savage was writing it, I knew the story would be good!  How about being stranded with your high school crush and finding out his kink is to tie people up?  Not in a serial killer way, of course, but in a kinky I-want-to-dominate-and-give-mind-blowing-pleasure sort of way. This is what happens to Kasinda and Cree one stormy night. Trapped inside an old library while floodwaters rise, and Kas trying to stay calm while battling fears from a childhood tragedy, Kas happily lets Cree “distract” her.

Oh, I just loved this story so much!  I flew through the pages and didn’t want the story to end!  It’s not often that I read kink or BDSM/erotica, but when I do, I need it to be smart, seducing my mind instead of just sex, sex, sex. Ms. Savage had the perfect balance for full impact.  The buildup was sensual, electric, and wow did it make me feel and my heart race! The connection between Kas and Cree was palpable as they got to know each other, tentative and vulnerable at first, but wow when they let each other in, so hot!

Cree was excellent building anticipation with whispered words, grazing touches, and most of all: honesty between them. Because of that honesty and facing such a dangerous situation together, they built trust rather quickly, and I think you need that for a connection to be truly pleasurable.  Boy was it ever!  

Can’t wait for the next installment with Casey and Rocco!

4 Suns

Connect with Shay Savage:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Book Event & Giveaway: Authors Under the Lights

Today (Saturday, March 21st) I (Rachel) had the privilege of attending a big author event: Authors Under the Lights in Universal City, California. There was a big turnout but nothing overwhelming, making the event fun for all. I met a Goodread friend who I regularly chat with on Goodreads, as well as a couple more Goodreads addicts who happened to be in line ahead of me.  I had fun chatting and laughing with these fellow booklovers.  No one gets the obsession and passion for stories more than a fellow booklover and so it’s so easy to click with them. 

As usual my ability for coherent speech leaves me when I go up for a signing and so I’m sure I come off as a total scatterbrain to the authors, lol! Here’s a few that I met and “dazzled” with my “expert” linguistic skills:

Jay Crownover:

I’m a big fan of Jay’s Marked Men series and now her Welcome to the Point series.  I asked Jay if she plans on doing a book for Booker and Karsen (Karsen is Brysen’s younger sister in Better When He’s Bold and Booker was basically their bodyguard) and she said she’s hoping to tell their story in the future. This will have to wait some because Karsen was under age at the time. I’d love a romance there, though!

Shay Savage:

I loved Surviving Rain, Transcendence, and the Evan Arden series! Shay knows how to write a jackass/hero you can’t help to love! We got to meet the male model for the cover of Transcendence too:  

Jessica Park:

Flat-Out Love, Flat-Out Matt and Left Drowning were amazing reads!

I brought some goodies to share. I have a SIGNED copy of each: Rule and Better When He's Bad by Jay Crownover, Left Drowning by Jessica Park, and Transcendence by Shay Savage as well as the Event Tote filled with bookmarks to give away to one Waves of Fiction Follower. The giveaway is open to US Residents only.

Review: Transcendence by Shay Savage

Transcendence by Shay Savage

Published February 13th 2014 by Shay Savage, LLC

It’s said that women and men are from two different planets when it comes to communication, but how can they overcome the obstacles of prehistoric times when one of them simply doesn’t have the ability to comprehend language?

Ehd’s a caveman living on his own in a harsh wilderness. He’s strong and intelligent, but completely alone. When he finds a beautiful young woman in his pit trap, it’s obvious to him that she is meant to be his mate. He doesn’t know where she came from; she’s wearing some pretty odd clothing, and she makes a lot of noises with her mouth that give him a headache. Still, he’s determined to fulfill his purpose in life – provide for her, protect her, and put a baby in her.

Elizabeth doesn’t know where she is or exactly how she got there. She’s confused and distressed by her predicament, and there’s a caveman hauling her back to his cavehome. She’s not at all interested in Ehd’s primitive advances, and she just can’t seem to get him to listen. No matter what she tries, getting her point across to this primitive, but beautiful, man is a constant – and often hilarious – struggle.


With only each other for company, they must rely on one another to fight the dangers of the wild and prepare for the winter months. As they struggle to coexist, theirs becomes a love story that transcends language and time.

Arlene's Thoughts

Beautiful, beautiful novel that truly encompasses what phenomenal story-telling is all about. LOVE!

I can’t stop the tears. I don’t want to cry. I’m too tired to cry. My life with Beh was beautiful, transcending everything that set us apart from each other and bringing us together...
Before I started Transcendence, I took the time to read the authors note, and the one thing that branded in my brain was artistic license... artistic license. Keep an open mind Arlene when reading this because she’s exercising her artistic license. Well, Shay Savage sure did use her artistic license, and you know what? She accomplished what very few authors have been able to do when they exercise this right. Where I still don’t believe vampires can have babies, I truly believe a girl from modern times can meet and fall in love with a caveman. Shay made me believe it can happen... with a little bit of artistic license... It CAN happen! :D

In Transcendence, we meet Ehd who is from prehistoric times and is struggling to survive from starvation at the end of a harsh winter. When he finally catches his first real meal after a long, cold and hungry season, his small victory is suddenly cast aside when he stumbles upon a girl that somehow fell into one of his traps. She’s wearing very odd clothing and makes constant loud noises that gives him a headache and he doesn’t quite understand, but his baser instincts kick in, and he takes her to his cave to protect her, feed her and yes... put a baby in her.

I too chuckled at the last bit, but despite how elementary his purpose in life was, every single one of his actions was made with purpose and heart. I absolutely fell for this unlikely character from the beginning. I could not put this book down until I was completely done because I just had to know what made it possible for Ehd and Beh to meet and how their life would unfold.

For those that don’t know my reading style, I love witty banter, word play, and nicknames. If a book doesn’t have good dialog, I’m likely not going to connect with the characters. Well, there’s another thing Savage managed to do aside from accepting her artistic license! She made me fall in love with Ehd who possibly used only a handful of words throughout the entire novel when communicating and connecting with Beh. Falling into the daily cadence of their life through Ehd's POV was addicting and captivating. Reading this book in one sitting means only one thing where I’m concerned - this book consumed me completely.

Transcendence is my first exposure to Shay Savage’s storytelling and I can’t wait to see what other masterpieces she’s penned. Beautiful, real, heart rending and emotional. Perfect book in my opinion!

5 Suns

Rachel's Thoughts

Transcendence was amazing and I kept thinking about it for days after finishing. It was an original story about survival and finding a love that “transcendences” time.
Ehd is a caveman alone and barely getting by. He has his own little cave and should be out preparing for the coming winter, but with being so lonely, he can’t quite muster up the will to get to it. This all changes when he discovers a girl, Elizabeth or “Beh” as he calls her, stuck at the bottom of his animal trap. She is different from any other girl he’s come across. Beh wears strange coverings, and babbles on and on. But she’s another person and a female at that, and Ehd is overjoyed to have found her. He knows immediately that Beh must be his mate, and he sets out to convince her. Funnily enough, Beh has different ideas and so winning her over isn’t as easy as Ehd thought.

This story is told through Ehd’s POV alone, and there is VERY little dialogue throughout, yet I loved being inside his head. Being a caveman, his goals and drive is very primal: food, shelter and mating to form his own tribe. But Ehd has profound emotions and a desire for love and acceptance that comes through loud and clear through his narrative. Ehd is so very grateful to have found Beh, and he puts her happiness and welfare far above his own.

"It is far beyond not wanting to be alone anymore. I want her—only her. I will do anything to make Beh mine."
"There is nothing more important than Beh, and if making her happy means my own sorrow, I will have to accept that."
I couldn’t help but fall hard and fast for this caveman! I was so touched by Ehd’s kind and tender soul, and I hoped desperately he’d get his heart’s desire.

This story was fascinating! From their struggles to survive, and the dangers that came along with it to the progressive deepening of both Beh and Ehd’s feelings for each other, I couldn’t put this book down. Oh my heart!

I don’t want to say too much because I think it’s best to go into this story knowing as little as possible. I will say this is one of my favorite reads so far of 2014. I’ve read several books by Shay Savage, and her writing continues to amaze and impress me!

5 Suns

Reviews: Otherwise Occupied & Otherwise Unharmed (Evan Arden Trilogy #2 & #3) by Shay Savage

Otherwise Occupied (Evan Arden Trilogy #2) by Shay Savage

Publication Date: June 17th 2013

Purchase Link: Amazon 

About the Book:

Evan Arden is a hit man for a Chicago mob boss. He lives his life day to day with the company of his dog, Odin. He has to work hard to get back into his boss’s good graces, but the target proves to be difficult. As demons of his past begin to haunt him, he seeks the comfort of sleep from an unlikely candidate, but will confiding in her be his undoing?​

​He’s struggling to forget his past, and keep himself Otherwise Occupied.

My Thoughts:
I read Otherwise Alone (book #1) back in October which is basically a novella (56 pages, my review) but an absolute must before picking up the next in the series. It was HOT!! And I completely fell for Evan and Lia as a couple.

*****Spoilers if you haven't read the Otherwise Alone*****

Otherwise Occupied was gritty, and in parts completely mortifying, but extremely addictive.

Evan is back from his exile from in the Arizona desert and working again for his Chicago crime boss, Rinaldo. Still, memories of his short time with Lia cloud his mind, but he believes that can never be. Instead he tries to put her out of his mind and focus on getting back into the good graces of Rinaldo. His boss quickly assigns him a difficult task, but in the meantime Evan’s stability is deteriorating. His PTSD from his time in the military is back in full force causing him to lose sleep and mental calm.

“You endured most than men ever will,” Rinaldo said quietly. “You’ve had it worse than anyone you ever killed. They died quick and easy. You’ve been dying since they brought you home.”

Evan seeks distraction in the arms of Bridgett a hooker who looks very similar to Lia, and you just know things will not end well.

I have to say I was equal parts fascinated and horrified reading about Evan’s life. You understand why his the way his is being raised without much love in a convent and then experiencing the nightmare with he was a POW during his time in the military, but still, his attitude at times was shocking. I do think that some of it was a shield he didn’t know he put up for protection, an unconscious survival choice. That, IMO, becomes very evident by the end.

I was disappointed we didn’t get Lia for the majority of the book; really it’s their relationship that drew me to this series in the first place, so to have her absent did not make me happy. To rub that in even more was his interactions with Bridgett. Every time they were together I kept my guard up, not wanting to fall for her or them as a couple because I was rooting for Lia and Evan to be reunited. I was torn about how Evan treated her, because I didn’t want him to get attached to her but at the same time I couldn’t help but feel so very sorry for Bridgett and everything that happened to her. Evan bears a lot of responsibility for that situation.

There was a complete shakeup by the end and I’m so happy I had the next book on deck to dive into immediately. I needed to find out how this all played out!

4 Suns

Otherwise Unharmed (Evan Arden Trilogy #3) by Shay Savage

Publication Date: December 5th 2013th

Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble 

About the Book:

After Evan Arden was imprisoned by the enemy for a year and a half, he returned from the desert as a military hero. He’d suffered some minor injuries during his captivity, was discharged from the Marines with just a touch of shellshock, but was considered otherwise unharmed. Now he wonders how he ended up where he is now – incarcerated in Chicago’s Metropolitan Correctional Center for using his sharpshooting expertise to take out the neighborhood park with a high-powered sniper rifle and multiple rounds of ammunition.

Lia Antonio, the woman he rescued from the desert heat the previous year, is the only person who can bring him out of his sleep-deprived psychosis and mounting PTSD. When she does, Evan knows he can’t just let her go again. He’s never considered leaving the business before – who retires from the mafia? – but he’s determined to get both Lia and himself out of harm’s way.

Evan faces forces from multiple directions as a deal to get him out of jail turns more deadly and dangerous than he ever could have imagined. With a three-way mob war on the horizon and the feds holding evidence over his head, Evan has no choice but to throw himself into the middle of another war-zone.

In his efforts to make things right in his own mind, Evan crosses the wrong man and finds himself on the business end of the cross-hairs. With his observation skills and intelligence, he tries to keep a step ahead of his former co-workers, but this time, it isn’t just his own life on the line – he’s got to protect Lia from the man who once called him son.

My Thoughts:
Otherwise Unharmed was an amazing, and exciting conclusion to the trilogy, really, I couldn’t have asked for a better one!

*****Spoilers ahead if you haven’t read the previous books*****

The story picks up immediately where Otherwise Occupied left off with Evan having breakdown after the betrayal of Bridgette and subsequent events, buying him a trip to prison. I wondered how things would all work out! Of course, this is the moment Lia finally finds him, but no worries, not much can keep Evan down!

Lia is like a life-line and a calming force in Evan’s life and with her presence he can finally get some much needed sleep and focus on getting his life back together.

Her fingers tugged gently through the strands of hair just behind my right ear, and it was as if each stroke over my scalp was removing pieces of the pain, the guilt, and the damage inside my brain.*

Good thing because while Evan’s in prison he approached by other parties that lay on the pressure to come up with evidence against his crime boss Rinaldo, or else. With Lia being in the picture, that “or else” is a real and damaging threat. Evan’s not about to lose her now that she’s back in his life again, and he’ll do just about whatever it takes to keep her safe while figuring out a way for them to be together permanently. Evan hopes that once Lia finds out the truth of his life, she’ll want permanent with him.

This was an action packed, and nail biting conclusion! Not a dull moment, I tell you! Being inside Evan’s head is fascinating, and I couldn’t help but fall for him completely in this final book. He is the complete anti-hero, doing things that no one could condone, shocking things. Especially in the last book, but after knowing everything he went through, for his country no less, and even before that, I couldn’t hold it against him!

As for Lia and Evan, I was in complete heaven that they were back together! Her reactions to Evan’s truths are believable and she wasn’t a pushover just because of her strong feelings for him. Yet, she was able to see the big picture and the good man deep down.

“You’re warm,” she said as her body pressed against mine, “and you’re so smart. You’re gentle, and strong, and handsome. You’re compassionate and self-sacrificing.” -----*

“You are perceptive,” she continued. “You always know exactly what I want and need. You’re loyal and brave. You have endured so much—far more than any one person should ever have to face—but you kept going.”*

I loved this riveting series! Evan Arden was a complex, imperfect, and yet magnetic character and I’m sorry to say goodbye. At this point, anything Shay Savage writes will be on my automatic buy list!

4.5 Suns

A copy was provided by the author via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

*Quotes taken from an uncorrected proof and may have changed in the final copy.

Connect with Shay:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Novellas #1: Reviews & Giveaway

I know some readers are not a fan of novellas but I’m especially fond of them. They can provide a romance and wrap it up in just a small amount of pages providing you with the quick fix you crave if you’re short on time.  Or they can whet your appetite for a series.  A talented writer can use those pages and dazzle!  I thought it would be fun to showcase a few novellas that I’ve enjoyed.  I’ll give away a choice of two novellas from the ones reviewed below to one lucky reader!

Roman Holiday #1: Chained by Ruthie Knox

Expected Publication: November 11th 2013th by Random House: Loveswept

Pages: 40

Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

About the book: 

Meet Ashley and Roman—complete opposites who can’t hide their attraction—in Episode 1 of Ruthie Knox’s eBook original serial, Roman Holiday.

Ashley Bowman is having a bad week. Reeling from the death of her beloved grandmother, she returns to the Florida Keys only to learn that a heartless Miami developer has gotten hold of the crappy vacation rentals she calls home. Ashley has one day to clear out before Roman Díaz destroys the only place in the world that matters to her. Chaining herself to a palm tree in the bulldozers’ path seems like a good way to stop him . . . until she realizes she should’ve brought food and water. And pants. Also, it would help if the evil developer weren’t so ridiculously hot.

The last thing Roman Díaz needs is some sun-kissed blond protester getting her picture in the newspaper and messing up his plans. He bought the property fair and square, and the resort he wants to build on the site is the key to realizing his highest ambitions. But when a hurricane blows through, Roman has to hustle Ashley to safety if he wants to protect his reputation—and that means giving in to her unreasonable demands.

Roman needs to learn a little compassion, and Ashley’s decided to teach it to him . . . even if she has to drag him all over the Eastern Seaboard to do it.

My Thoughts:

Roman Holiday is the start of a 5 part mini-series, each installment released one week apart. Chained is the first installment and starts out fun and snarky with our potential love interests, Ashley and Roman, completely at odds with each other.  Some of the best romances start off that way, don’t you think?  I certainly do.

When we meet Ashley and Roman they are locked in a battle over Sunnyvale Vacation Rentals.  Roman is the cliché heartless businessman who wants to tear them down Ashley’s beloved family vacation apartments to build Coral Cay, a fancy high dollar resort.  Come the day of the tear down, Ashley impulsively chains herself to one of palm trees to halt progress. Roman is NOT happy.  She could potentially ruin everything if his investor backs out because of all the drama. 

Chained makes you laugh with wacky humor, and sets the stage for a sizzling romance.  All those feelings of hate when mixed with intense attraction can lead to combustible results!  And with the way Chained ended I think things are about to get very interesting!  Danger is a-brewing!

Even with such a small page count there’s a depth to both Ashley and Roman’s characters, and something darker and painful hinted at.  I expect we’ll get a little more of what makes these two tick as the story progresses.  I think both Ashley and Roman’s initial rush judgments about each other may prove wrong. 

Chained releases November 11^th and then we get a new installment each week with the last one on December 9^th.  I can’t wait to pick up the next one!

A copy was provided by Random House: Loveswept in exchange for an honest review. 

4 Suns

Otherwise Alone (Evan Adren Trilogy #1) by Shay Savage

Publication Date: December 15th 2012

Pages: 56

Purchase Link: Amazon 

About the Book: 

Lieutenant Evan Arden sits in a shack in the middle of nowhere, waiting for orders that will send him back home - if he ever gets them. Other than his loyal Great Pyrenees, there's no one around to break up the monotony. The tedium is excruciating, but it is suddenly interrupted when a young woman stumbles up his path.

He has two choices - pick her off from a distance with his trusty sniper-rifle, or dare let her approach his cabin and enter his life.

Why not? It's been ages, and he is otherwise alone...

My Thoughts:

I wanted to pick up another read by Shay Savage after reading and LOVING Surviving Raine, and I'm not disappointed. 

This novella, really just a morsel, is only 56 pages but it's a brilliant set up for what promises to be an addictive series! And it was HOT, with a capital H!! Oh Ethan, I hope you're around if I get lost in the desert! He's dark, mysterious, dangerous, and I want more! He's a couple of quotes for you:

"You say the word, and I'm going to give it to you just how you need it." 

My lips smash down on hers, and my tongue invades her mouth. She gasps and cries out into my mouth, but I don't stop. I don't even slow down. I need this as much as she does. 

I'm left with lots of questions that make me want to pick up the next book Otherwise Occupied ASAP! 

4.5 Suns

The Diary of Brad de Luca (Innocence #1.5) by Alessandra Torre

Publication Date: September 30th 2013 by Patchwork Press
Pages: 55

Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

About the book:

I was happy with my life. And who wouldn’t be? Beautiful women, money, a job that I could sleep through and still make bank. But I was bored. And I never could walk away from a challenge.

This challenge turned out to be brunette. Feisty. Just the way I like them. But innocent. Too innocent for me. Too innocent to do anything other than sample and then toss back. Anything more would be too risky, too much work.

I was unprepared for Julia Campbell. I should have done my homework, should have looked before jumping off that cliff. Ditching her proved to be problematic, my sexual needs greater than my common sense.

She was different. She became more than a challenge.

She may just bring my world crashing down.

*

This novella is meant to complement, and be read after, Blindfolded Innocence, a #1 Erotica Bestseller.

My Thoughts:

The Diary of Brad De Luca was a companion novel to the first in this series.  It’s scenes from the first story told in Brad’s POV instead of Julia’s.  I must admit I haven’t read the first book so my thoughts are limited because I’m not clued into all that happened.  I only got glimpses, jumping forward in time and events.  In spite of that, I was drawn in and I can see this could be an addictive, erotic series.

Brad comes off as completely arrogant and without much in the way of morals. He’s good-looking, and a successful lawyer who seems used to getting what he wants.  I have a feeling Julia might take him down a peg.  Instead of being obsessed over he’s the one doing the obsessing. 

She should be texting, emailing, calling, begging for more of him. Instead, silence. She was doing godknowswhat with godknowswhom and not giving him a second thought. It was maddening, made even worse by his realization that he had noticed the slight.

At this point I don’t really care for Brad.  He’s screwed about four different girls in the space of 55 pages. Plus, Brad takes Julia to a strip club and more than just Brad and Julia were involved. Not my cup of tea, and not a place I’d find appealing to be taken for a date. I’m all about animal passion and lust, but I like there to be a deeper connection as well.  What can I say, I’m more of a vanilla, sweet romance kind of girl!  Maybe this will change as the story progresses and their feelings for each other grow.

I will say this is a scorcher and I suspect that the rest of the series would probably light your panties on fire! 

A copy was provided by the Patchwork Press in exchange for an honest review. 

3 Suns

I’m giving away a choice of two of the above novellas to one lucky reader.  Simply fill out the rafflecopter for a chance to win.  Note: Otherwise Alone is only available through US Amazon.  The others can be fulfilled through US Barnes & Noble or US Amazon.

Review & Giveaway: Surviving Raine by Shay Savage

 

Surviving Raine (Surviving Raine #1) by Shay Savage

Publication Date: May 19th 2013

Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords

 

About the book:

As the captain of a schooner catering to the elite on the Caribbean Seas, Sebastian Stark does his best to avoid any human encounters. Interacting with people isn’t his thing, and he prefers the company of a bottle of vodka, a shot glass, and maybe a whore. There’s no doubt he’s hiding from a checkered past, but he does well keeping everything to himself…

…until the night his schooner capsizes, and he’s stuck on a life raft with one of the passengers.

Raine’s young, she’s cute, and Bastian would probably be into her if he wasn’t suffering from alcohol withdrawal. As the days pass, DTs, starvation, and dehydration become the norm. Even the most closed person starts to open up when he thinks he’s going to die, but when she realizes their traumatic pasts are connected, it’s no longer the elements that have Bastian concerned.

He has no idea how he’s going to Survive Raine.

My Thoughts:
Surviving Raine was everything I love in a story and more! Action, suspense, romance, and FIERY HOT scenes!  Let me break down this story into a simple equation for you:

On the Island + a Kristen Ashley alpha male + danger X 10 = Surviving Raine. 

Sebastian Stark is pretty much a total jerk.  He pilots his own ship, taking passengers on luxury boutique cruises in order to make a living while drinking, whoring, and generally just being an ass.  What brought him to this existence?  Well, that my friends is all part of the addictive story!

When his ship is wrecked and he saves one of the passengers, the two of them must struggle to survive.  It’s an uphill battle because while Sebastian is a master at survival situations, he has no alcohol, and is about to go into major detox.  Couple this with the extreme situation they’ve just been shoved into, and things get very intense!

Raine Gayle, unfortunately, is a passenger Sebastian’s ship when it sinks, and now she’s stuck with him on a life raft.  She’s a college student who splurged on this vacation with settlement money.  Looks like she picked the wrong trip!

With being forced to rely on each other and nowhere else to go, Bastian and Raine become very close.   He is a big GIGANTIC ass to begin with!  Doesn’t mean he won’t have you cracking up, but this guy is a top notch jerk, and we get every wicked thought that crosses his mind because the story is narrated by him.  As time goes on and they open up to each other, we learn Bastian’s sordid, tragic, and dangerous past.  Raine take all this in stride, and you can’t help but love her with the amount of patience she shows.  She compares Bastian to the rescue pit bulls she worked with, the product of being starved of affection and love, a comparison that ticks Bastian off to no end, (lol!) but a very fitting one.  Her persistent care and compassion helps Bastian see he’s not the worthless human being he thinks he is.  

The romance in this was a slow cooker.  Not for Bastian’s lack of trying, although I don’t think it was romance he had in mind at first.  The man is horny as hell, and I swear his “cock,” as he so eloquently refers to it (about a million or so times!), is just as much a character in the book as he is! I have no idea if this is actually how men think, but, wow!  Don’t let my words fool you the romance was incredibly sweet and intensely HOT!  Oh man, the buildup!  Once Bastian lets a girl in, his devotion will melt your heart!  This quote melted mine:

“I want to be with you, and touch you, and hold you.  I have this overwhelming desire to protect you and make sure you’re safe. Every time I look at you, it’s like my chest gets crushed, and I just want to stare at you and hold on to you and tell you everything is going to be all right. Raine.  I don’t understand what you’re doing to me.”

My one and only complaint is Bastian’s constant cries of worthlessness in the end.  I understand why he has those feelings, but it was on and on in parts.  If that was lightened up a bit this would’ve been a perfect read for me.

I’ve been in quite a book funk lately.  Surviving Raine officially ended that!  This is my first Shay Savage story, but it certainly will not be my last.  Her writing had me super glued to my kindle.  A definite recommend!

 

4.5 Suns

 

 



I loved this story so much I had to make this into a giveaway!  Simply fill out the rafflecopter below for a chance to win an e-Copy from US Amazon or US Barnes & Noble.  The giveaway will end September 17^th 2013.

Waves of Sunday #38 & Giveaway

Welcome to our weekly edition of Waves of Sunday where each Sunday we spotlight a book that has been making waves in the book scene or has simply caught our attention causing a riptide on our TBR. 

Don't forget if you let us know which book has caught your attention this week, you have a chance to win our new feature giveaway! Just leave us a comment or quote in the comment section. 

This week we are spotlighting:

 

Surviving Raine by Shay Savage

Published on May 19, 2013

About the bookAs the captain of a schooner catering to the elite on the Caribbean Seas, Sebastian Stark does his best to avoid any human encounters. Interacting with people isn’t his thing, and he prefers the company of a bottle of vodka, a shot glass, and maybe a whore. There’s no doubt he’s hiding from a checkered past, but he does well keeping everything to himself…
…until the night his schooner capsizes, and he’s stuck on a life raft with one of the passengers.
Raine’s young, she’s cute, and Bastian would probably be into her if he wasn’t suffering from alcohol withdrawal. As the days pass, DTs, starvation, and dehydration become the norm. Even the most closed person starts to open up when he thinks he’s going to die, but when she realizes their traumatic pasts are connected, it’s no longer the elements that have Bastian concerned.
He has no idea how he’s going to Survive Raine. 

Arlene's Thoughts:

This has definitely caught my attention! The description sounds intense, the reviews seem to be promising and the overall storyline sounds extremely captivating! I'm ready to deep dive into this novel by Shay Savage to see how fate plays its hand with Raine and Bastian. Count me in!

Crystal's Thoughts:

I have to say that I am really liking the sound of this one!  It has gotten some pretty great reviews from people that I trust and it honestly sounds WAY intense.  I can't wait to see how Raine and Bastian deal with being shipwrecked together.  And that one line "but when she realizes their traumatic pasts are connected" has me bouncing in my seat!!  This book is definitely at the top of my must read list! 

Cover Reveal: Surviving Raine by Shay Savage

Today Waves of Fiction is participating in the cover reveal for Surviving Raine by Shay Savage hosted by CBL Book Tours.  We also have a very special Teaser and giveaway to share with you!

Surviving Raine by Shay Savage

To be released on May 21, 2013

About the book

As the captain of a schooner catering to the elite on the Caribbean Seas, Sebastian Stark does his best to avoid any human encounters. Interacting with people isn’t his thing, and he prefers the company of a bottle of vodka, a shot glass, and maybe a whore. There’s no doubt he’s hiding from a checkered past, but he does well keeping everything to himself…

…until the night his schooner capsizes, and he’s stuck on a life raft with one of the passengers.

Raine’s young, she’s cute, and Bastian would probably be into her if he wasn’t suffering from alcohol withdrawal. As the days pass, DTs, starvation, and dehydration become the norm. Even the most closed person starts to open up when he thinks he’s going to die, but when she realizes their traumatic pasts are connected, it’s no longer the elements that have Bastian concerned.

He has no idea how he’s going to Survive Raine.

Teaser

“What’s your problem?” I snapped again. I hadn’t really meant to, I was just tense and pissy.
The smoke was helping, but what I really wanted was a drink. I didn’t suppose anyone packed any of those little tiny airplane-sized booze bottles in the survival kits.
“I…um…” she stumbled over her words and looked away. Even under her darkened skin, I could see red creeping into her cheeks.
“What?” I was annoyed now. If she was going to complain about my smoking, I was going to lose it.
“I…have to go to the bathroom.”
I laughed. I took one last long drag, getting it all the way up to the filter before I tossed the butt out onto the waves.
“Then fucking go!”
“Where?”
“Didn’t you notice the en suite bath?” I laughed again, and then took a smidgen of pity on her. “Over the side, where do you think?”
“Well…how?”
All right, she did have a point there. Or rather, she didn’t have a point. Or a pointer. I had to laugh again at my internal joke.
“Just…I don’t know…hang your ass out over the edge. Or get in the water.
Whatever.”
“I’d have to take off my suit.”
“So?”
She blushed again.
“What? You want me to hang out in the next room for a few minutes? I promise I won’t gawk at you.”
She didn’t move. Well, actually, she was still fidgeting around; she just didn’t make a move to actually solve her dilemma. If she kept this up, she was going to pee in the fucking raft.
“If it makes you feel any better, I’ve already checked you out front and back, had my mouth on yours and my hand on your tit, so it’s not like…”
She gasped and covered her mouth with her hands. I realized how what I had said sounded, considering she had been unconscious the entire time. I shook my head.
“I didn’t mean…ah, fuck.” I grabbed my shirt and flopped down on my back, covering my whole face up with the garment. I lay there for a moment but didn’t hear her moving at all, so I yelled at her again. “Get on with it!”
She moved. I could hear her shuffle over to the front of the raft and then move around in one place, presumably taking off her shorts and her bathing suit.
“If you are going to get in the water, put the life preserver around your waist first and hold on to the fucking ladder. I don’t want to have to dive in after your ass again.”
“Okay,” she said. “Um…where is it?”
“Right outside the opening – on the left.”
“Thank you,” she said.
“Whatever.”
I listened to her move around a bit more and then felt her move closer to the opening and off to the side. There was a soft splash, and a minute later I heard her pulling herself back up onto the raft.
“There’s something similar to a towel over there,” I said – flinging my arm out in the
direction of the back of the raft and waving my hand around. “Make sure you dry off the floor, too.”
“Thank you,” she said.
“Whatever.”
I listened to her move around some more, getting pretty fed up with just lying there, baking, with my fucking shirt over my head.
“Are you done yet?”
“Almost,” she said quietly. Her voice still sounded scratchy. “Okay, I’m done.”
I grabbed the shirt off my face and sat up, looking over at her. She was adjusting the straps on her suit and still blushing.
“Do you know why my…um…throat hurts?”
“Yeah,” I said. I didn’t elaborate. After a minute she finally asked.
“Why does my throat hurt?”
“Because you inhaled a shitload of salt water,” I stated. “It fucks up your throat and your vocal cords. Give it a day; it’ll be better.”
“Thank you,” she said, again.
“Whatever,” I replied, again.
I shoved my hand down into the sealed up container for rations and pulled out a carb bar. I tore it in half and threw one of the pieces at her.
“Eat it,” I instructed. “You can have the other half in six hours.”
“Six hours?” she repeated.
“Are you a fucking recorder? Yes, six hours.”
I knew I was being a bastard, but my brain was working overtime trying to figure out what our best course of action might be. Having her here made it ten times more difficult. If it was just me, I was pretty sure I would be fine. There was plenty of food and water for just me. I could fish, I could take care of myself, and I could stay alive under pretty extreme circumstances.
Having her here with me just…complicated everything.
About the Author:

Shay Savage lives in Cincinnati, Ohio with her husband, two children, and a variety of household pets.  She is an accomplished public speaker, and holds the rank of Distinguished Toastmaster from Toastmasters International.  When not writing, she enjoys science fiction movies, and loves soccer in any and all forms.  During the fall, she coaches her daughter’s soccer team.  Though she currently works in the technology field, her school background is in psychology, and she brings a lot of that knowledge into the characters within her stories.

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 Giveaway time!  It's international and consists of 2 ARC ebook copies of Surviving Raine & 2 ebook copies of Otherwise Alone.  Good luck!

Surviving Raine Giveaway