Stacking the Shelves #70

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

If you want to find out more about Stacking The Shelves, please visit the official launch page!

For Review:

Playmaker: A Baltimore Banners Intermission Novella by Lisa B. Kamps 

Bought

I bought a bunch of books at ARe's 50% off sale yesterday.  Didn't realize how crazy I went until after I added them here.  Sad thing is, I always read my ARCs first so who knows when and if I'll ever get to half of them....

Falling For You by Linda Engman
Goal Line (The Dartmouth Cobras #7) by Bianca Sommerland 
One Shot by Nikki Ryan
Unsportsmanlike Conduct (Renegades #2) by Melody Heck Gatto
Killian (On the Line #1) by Brenda Rothert 
Deflection (In The Zone Series #2) by Paige Matthews
The Last Shot by Sara Hubbard 
Captive (Fire on Ice #2) by Brenda Rothert 
Edge (Fire on Ice #3) by Brenda Rothert
Drive (Fire on Ice #4) by Brenda Rothert
Release (Fire on Ice #5) by Brenda Rothert 
Abandoned and Unseen (Branded Packs #2) by Alexandra Ivy, Carrie Ann Ryan
Across the Line (In the Zone #2) by Kate Willoughby 
Burning Up the Ice (International Men of Sports #5) by T.A. Chase, Devon Rhodes 
Blood on the Ice by Katriena Knights 
Back in Play (Power Play #2) by Lynda Aicher
Surrender the Chase (Grizzly Rim #2) by Mia West
Tidings of Love: 7 Holiday Romance Novellas by Alicia Hunter Pace, Monica Tillery, Diana Jean, Angelita Gill, Mary Billiter, Peggy Bird, Lola Karns 
Illusion (Chronicles of Nick #5) by Sherrilyn Kenyon 

What did you add to your shelves this week?

Click here to check out my Giveaways

Follow Me: Follow

Stacking the Shelves #51

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

If you want to find out more about Stacking The Shelves, please visit the official launch page!

For Review:

Kissed by Fire (Blood & Magic #2) by Danielle Annett 
Making a Play (Hometown Players, #2)  by Victoria Denault 
Primal (Wild Heart Chronicles #1) by Lucy Auburn
Off Limits (Aces Hockey #1.5) by Kelly Jamieson 
His Perfect Wolf (Mystic Wolves #2) by Elle Boon 

Won:

Penalty Play (Power Play #3) by Lynda Aicher (autographed eBook from author)

Chase the Darkness (Alpha Pack #7) by J.D. Tyler (paperback/ from thereadingcafe.com)

Freebie:

The Legend of the Blue Eyes (The Blue Eyes Trilogy #1) by B. Kristin McMichael (Amazon)

What did you add to your shelves this week?

Click here to check out my Giveaways

Follow Me: Follow

Hockey Romance Authors’ Stanley Cup Picks: Hawks Win!

I should have posted this last night, but I was too busy celebrating.  It was nice to have a win at home. 

Yes, I know I picked the Lightning to win in this bracket, but I wanted the Hawks to win.  Plus, I did pick the Blackhawks to beat the Lightning in my NHL.com bracket:

Here are the hockey romance authors that picked the Chicago Blackhawks to win the 2015 Stanley Cup!

Lynda Aicher

Melissa Frost

Helena Hunting*

Jaymee Jacobs

Cindi Madsen

Lindsay Paige

Mary Smith

Melanie Ting

Mary Smith and Nikki Worrell picked 

Duncan Keith 

to win the Conn Smythe Trophy!

Our Ferrets, Kane and Towes, are claiming we need to get a third ferret and name it Keith.  I don't Know about that....

I would like to thank all the authors for participating in this event.  It has been a lot of fun.  I will definitely do it again next year. 

Now we have to wait patiently for next hockey season.  Guess we'll have to read some hockey romance novels to tie us over.

Thanks Everyone!

Click HERE for links to the author brackets and hockey romance book covers.

Click HERE for hockey posts.

2015 Hockey Romance Authors’ Stanley Cup Picks: Lynda Aicher

Author: Lynda Aicher

Hockey Series Name: Power Play

Hometown:  Michigan

Favorite NHL Team: Detroit Red Wings

Favorite Player: Steve Yzerman

Website Link: http://lyndaaicher.com

Goodreads Link

Lynda Aicher's picks for the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs:

Western Conference:

Saint Louis vs Minnesota:  Minnesota

Nashville vs Chicago:  Chicago

Anaheim vs Winnipeg: Anaheim

Vancouver vs Calgery:  Vancouver

Which two teams will go to the Western Conference Third Round?  

Chicago & Anaheim

Eastern Conference:

Montreal vs Ottawa:  Montreal

Tampa Bay vs Detroit:  Detroit

New York Rangers vs Pittsburgh:  Rangers

Washington vs New York Islanders:  Washington

Which two teams will go to the Eastern Conference Third Round?:  Rangers & Detroit

Which two teams will play for the Stanley Cup Championship? Chicago & Rangers

Who do you want to win the Stanley Cup?  Detroit

Who do you think will actually win the 2015 Stanley Cup? Chicago

Who will be awarded the 2015 Conn Smythe Trophy? I have no idea. Sorry.

Click HERE to view more author brackets.

Game Play: Power Play # 1 by Lynda Aicher: Character Interview, Review, & Giveaway

Game Play

Power Play # 1

By: Lynda Aicher

Releasing February 16^th, 2015

Carina Press

Blurb

One night, one time, nothing more. That’s all it was supposed to be. They’d agreed their first night together would be their only night together—and Minnesota Glaciers defenseman Dylan Rylie was fine with that. Giant hickeys and claw marks on his ass had never been his style, even if the very memory of Samantha Yates’s merciless sexual energy gets him hard within seconds. He needs to focus on getting a better contract, not mind-blowing orgasms.

One night, one time, nothing more. Fresh off representing the US at the Games and with nowhere else to play, Samantha gave in to one night of frantic passion with the Glaciers’ brawny hotshot. She couldn’t get hurt—not if she controlled the outcome. And she planned to leave Minnesota soon, anyway. She didn’t expect to be recruited to coach Dylan after they’d gotten down and dirty.

When brutal on-ice workouts lead to kinky locker room sessions and “one night” falls by the wayside, Samantha insists on keeping things casual, despite Dylan’s quiet hope for more. But when Dylan goes down—hard—and his career is in jeopardy, Samantha is the first one by his side. What will it take to keep her there after he’s healed? 

Available at:

Amazon US     Amazon UK     B&N     ARe     iBooks     Kobo     Smashwords     Audiobook

Excerpt

Timing was everything, and she waited for her moment to kick up some fun on an otherwise blasé event. The charity that donated hockey equipment to kids from military families was a great cause that would benefit from a little show. At least, that was what she told herself.

“Don’t be stupid,” Meg warned in her ear.

“Why not?” Sam asked. “What do I have to lose?” Absolutely nothing. She’d never do anything to smear her name, but it wasn’t like she had a hockey career to worry about. Or a coach she was accountable to.

Or a reason to behave.

Rylie was spending as much time tipping his trademark worn brown cowboy hat at the passing women as he was paying attention to the kids looking for pointers. The ends of his brown hair curled over the back of the gray hoodie he’d worn under his jersey and seemed to match his hat color almost perfectly. Too perfectly.

Nicknamed Cowboy within the hockey world, he was dubbed Pretty Boy as well. The second label was coined his rookie season by a sports announcer and as far as Sam had heard and seen, the man cultivated both brands equally.

“Hi, Rylie,” a group of teenage girls dressed in skinny jeans and overdone makeup chorused as they skated past. Rylie shot them a nod and grin that somehow managed to be appropriate for the age of the girls.

Sam shook her head and chuckled at his easy charm. The guy had it all. Talent, looks, personality—he was a star in the making. One full of potential if he didn’t get distracted by the fame and parties he seemed to enjoy.

Walters smacked the puck toward Rylie, and Sam broke through the kids to swoop across the ice and steal the puck from the preoccupied man. A cheer went up from the kids when she circled the pro player, puck firmly in her control. The air chilled her cheeks and laughter rang in her ears as she sped away.

A quick glance over her shoulder showed Rylie chasing her, the determined pull of his brows blending with a full smile that somehow managed to put a matching one on her face. She caught sight of Meg and passed the puck off before she stopped then took off in the direction she’d just come from.

The circle of kids widened as Walters got into the play, tailing Meg. She swooped around a group of unsuspecting adults, using them as a pick to cut off Walters, and she smacked the puck back to Sam.

“Think you’re hot stuff, do you, Yates?” Rylie was at her side, jabbing his stick at the puck with no effect. She was under no illusion the man knew who she was. Her name was printed in big letters across the back of her jersey.

“Just having some fun.” She cut a sharp circle and faced off Rylie, who skidded to a quick stop.

He tapped his stick on the ice, an indulgent half smile on his lips. “Come on then.” He glanced over his shoulder. “You and me to the net.”

Her stomach did an unwanted flip when his eyes landed back on her. An interesting mix of brown and green, they seemed to dance with the same excitement that flooded her. The challenge was exactly what she’d wanted and his proposition was the best offer she’d had in months. On or off the ice.

“You are so on,” she said, grinning.

Author Bio

Lynda Aicher has always loved to read. After years of weekly travel implementing computer software into global companies, she ended her nomadic lifestyle to raise her two children. Now her imagination is her only limitation on where she can go and her writing lets her escape from the daily duties as a mom, wife, chauffeur, scheduler, cook, teacher, volunteer, cleaner and mediator. Find her at: http://lyndaaicher.com

Author Links:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Character Interview  

Please welcome Samantha from Lynda Aicher's Game Play to Diane’s Book Blog. 

What is your full name? 

Samantha Yates.

Do you have a nickname? 

Most people call me Sam, especially on the ice.

What is your hair color? 

Blonde.

Eye color? 

Blue

How old are you?   

25

Where were you born? 

I was born in a small town about two hours north of Minneapolis, MN.

Where have you lived since then? 

I’ve lived within the state of Minnesota my entire life, although I’ve been fortunate to travel all over the world to play ice hockey.

Where do you currently call home?   

Minneapolis, MN.

Who is your funniest friend? 

That would be Megan. She’s been my roommate, teammate and best friend since we first played together on the U.S. Women’s National U18 team. She followed me (yes, you did Meg) to the University of Minnesota women’s ice hockey team when I was a sophomore. This will probably go to her head, but I’m really glad she did. She’s a winger who played on my line and was the one who could always talk me down and get me to focus when I got wound up during a game, usually by making me laugh.

What or who is the greatest love of your life? 

Ice hockey. My dad is a coach and he strapped on my first pair of skates before I was two. I grew up at the ice rink and started playing with the boys when I was five. My entire life has been dedicated to playing the game and the ice is the one place where nothing matters except getting the puck in the net. It’s home—that’s the best way to describe it.

What is your favorite journey?

I’ve had some pretty great journeys thanks to hockey. But they all led to the most amazing one which was playing on the USA team at the Olympics. There is no way to describe how incredible it was to be a part of a great team of women and represent our country in front of the world. It was…exhilarating, nerve-racking, exhausting, overwhelming, exciting and a pure adrenaline rush.

What is your greatest regret? 

This is going to sound weird, but it’s probably being born a girl. I know that doesn’t make sense since I had no control over my gender but it’s true. Unfortunately, I spent most of my life shoving the regret onto my father. Let me explain. If I was boy, my hockey career wouldn’t be over once college was done. I could play in the pros, earn a fantastic income and possibly get the recognition I’d work my entire life to receive. But most importantly, I would get to keep playing until I chose to leave the sport instead of being force to end my competitive career simply because there’s nowhere else for me to play.

Which talent would you most like to have?

Gender switching! Is that a talent? Then I could play hockey as a boy and still be the girl I am everywhere else. *head scratch* I suppose that would be more of a super power than a talent, but I’d still like to have it.

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Game Play (Power Play, #1) by Lynda Aicher Review

Game Play by Lynda Aicher
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Minnesota Glaciers defenseman Dylan Rylie and Woman’s Hockey Olympian Samantha Yates agree to spend one night together but will it be enough?

Samantha is a fun heroine. I love how she challenges Dylan when she meets him. I also like that she plays hockey and her realistic feeling about her career ending after college.

Dylan is a worthy hero. I like his Texas persona. It makes him unique as a hockey player. I also like that he is man enough to admit he could learn things from Sam.
I love that he sees her as a fellow hockey player and an equal.

I adored the banter between the teammates. It makes the relationship between the hockey players feel credible.

There are some great life lessons in the story, like the importance of communication.

Game Play is a well-written story with a believable plot. I enjoyed the story and the characters. I’m really looking forward to the next book in the series.

Complimentary copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Kindle Edition, 248 pages
Expected publication: February 16th 2015 by Carina Press
ASIN: B00MTGFB70
edition language: English
series: Power Play #1


View all my reviews

Stacking The Shelves #19

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

If you want to find out more about Stacking The Shelves, please visit the official launch page!

I see a theme this week.....

Bought:

The Big Book of Hockey Fun by The Hockey News 

Mr. Hockey: My Story by Gordie Howe

The Ultimate Guide to Hockey Nutrition: Maximize Your Potential by Joseph Correa 

National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2015 by National Hockey League

For Review:

Game Play (Power Play #1) by Lynda Aicher 

What did you add to your shelves this week?

Bonds of Courage (Wicked Play #6) by Lynda Aicher

Bonds of Courage by Lynda Aicher
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Bonds of Courage (Wicked Play #6) by Lynda Aicher

Professional hockey player for the Minnesota Glaciers Holden Hauke, has been denying his sexual needs due to that damage it could do to his career. He thinks he finds the perfect Domme, Vanessa Delcour, who knows how important discretion is for him. Now he just needs to convince her.

Holden is a likeable character. He knows he is a submissive but has been denying himself due to a photo that was leaked of him almost damaging his career. He is persistent, but not overbearing. I like that he is a genuinely nice guy who wants to give back to the community.

Venessa is a strong heroine. To those that don’t know her, she is “the Ice Queen” but she is guarded due to her profession and being hurt in the past. It is easy to see how she became a Domme, making her character realistic.

I love the psychological aspect of Bonds of Courage. It is fascinating how the characters read each other. I felt this was the strongest facet of the story.

The plot is believable. Male athletes have a perception to uphold. Being a submissive would not fit that mold even though it could be argued that a submissive is actually strong. I liked that there was more to the plot then sex. There are a lot of real-life examples that happen that make you understand the characters better.

Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review.

ebook
Published June 16th 2014 by Carina Press
edition language: English
series: Wicked Play #6

View all my reviews