text:
A Maldivian's Passion for Romance
Book Reviews, from the Sunny Side of Life!
MBR's Ratings!
Score Sheet Review!
Most Viewed!
Review: The Devil's Waltz by Anne Stuart
Review: Lethal by Sandra Brown
Review: A Study in Scarlet Women by Sherry Thomas
Review: Adam's Fall by Sandra Brown
Review: Birthday Girl by Penelope Douglas
Review: Smoke in the Wind by Robyn Donald
Follow MBR
MBR has read 9 books toward her goal of 25 books.
Read Shelf!
Follow A Maldivian's Passion for Romance on WordPress.com
Favorite Books Shelf
Category / Awesome Read
Rating of 4.25 Stars
December 31, 2019 January 4, 2020 by mvbookreviewer
Review: Ask Me Why by Harloe Rae
Awesome Read, Brooding Hero, Charming Hero, Contemporary, Emotions Wrencher, Endearing Hero, Endearing Heroine, Red Hot Reads, Review, Scarred Hero, Scarred Heroine, Self Published, Toe Curler!!, Tortured Hero, Tortured Heroine
Format: E-Book
Read with: Kindle Paperwhite
Length: Novel
Series: Standalone
Hero: Brance Stone
Heroine: Braelyn Miller
Sensuality: 3.5
Started On: November 09, 2019
Finished On: November 10, 2019
Ask Me Why by Harloe Rae is a story that caught my ever roving eye because I am a sucker for an anti-hero or a hero whose most redeeming qualities aren't visible from the get go. I mean, I can take heroes who are sappy, good to the very core of their existence etc. to a certain level, but I need my fix of anti-heroes, who are in short supply, considering the need for authors to conform to what the current reader-base wants, and how romance as a genre has evolved over the years.
The heroine Braelyn Miller is three years in her road to recovery from the deepest loss that has marked her life; the loss of her significant other Devon, to a senseless accident. Suffering from post-traumatic disorder, panic, and anxiety since, Braelyn gives all of herself to her shop which stocks all sorts of knickknacks for those looking for something out of the norm. It is the abundant candy section at her store that draws Oliver Stone (Ollie), a young boy whose enthusiasm and joy brings undiluted happiness to Braelyn for the first time in a long while.
However, all of that is overshadowed by Ollie's father, a successful divorce lawyer Brance Stone, who carries his cynicism close to his heart like body armour. With a mother whose actions had left its bitter mark on him, to Ollie's mother who had removed any ounce of compassion left in his heart, Brance's only saving grace comes from Ollie, for whom he would brave the store of Braelyn's, even if it means his entire being prickles and goes on high alert mode in a way that does not sit well with him.
Brance views all women with suspicion, especially given that he knows the effect he has on women at large. However, that suspicion is laced with contempt when he believes that Braelyn is using Ollie to get close to him. Clash is what Brance and Braelyn do at first, their verbal warring such fun at certain points, laced with heavy moments as well. But ultimately the fight goes out of both of them and succumb they do to the thick and heavy desire between them which is almost palpable at times.
I enjoyed Ask Me Why in a large way because I needed the kind of hero that Brance was in the story. I have missed heroes like him to the point I could cry! Ollie contributed in a huge way towards making the story adorable. That is no mean feat I tell you. Especially given the fact that my previous read featured a child who was so tiresome, that I felt like throwing my Kindle at the wall most of the times. Then came Ollie, and all of that discontentment went poof and I was all smiles and love and wanting to cuddle the little guy for all the optimism and inquisitiveness he brought to the story.
I also adored Braelyn. She was hands down, one of the best aspects of the story. Her unwavering strength in the face of such a tragedy was something I could identify with, be it in a little way. It is not easy to pick up the pieces of your life when you suffer such a terrible tragedy, and there is an embedded message of hope in Braelyn's phases of recovery. One does not get cured overnight, it takes effort and the love of well meaning friends/family around you to keep you grounded and able to take those difficult first steps, one at a time. Her inherent goodness shines through in every single aspect of the story and I couldn't have asked for a better heroine in any way.
Let me not forget to mention just how much of an effect Brance had on me. He was obnoxious at points where I wanted to throw something at him, but that does not detract from the fact that he is sexy in a way that makes you melt on the spot. Once he turns on his charm, and when he is not even trying, there is a certain way with which he carries himself that does a number on you. The term sex-in-a-suit was invented for men like Brance, and alongside with that confidence of his, I was a mess every time he started talking dirty!
With all that I loved about the book, there were a couple of things that disturbed me as well. I understood why Brance was the way he was; cynical and damaged from the past that had done its number on him. But I found his attitude towards Ollie's mother to be double standards; he himself sort of agrees to that. He is all for women's rights and each woman having the independence to decide whether they want to carry a pregnancy to term or not.
But when it comes to Ollie's mother, Brance was practically the one that "forced" her to do have him. Don't get me wrong, I can't even imagine the story without Ollie. I also agree that the way Ollie's mother treated Brance from that point forward was abominable, but what do you expect when you force someone to do something that they do not want to wholeheartedly? Resentment flares and some people are obviously worse than others. I am not excusing her behavior for one second, but I just found it all to be very hypocritical.
That brings me to the point where things head south in Brance and Braelyn's fragile beginnings of a relationship. When Braelyn suffers a panic attack (with good reason if you ask me), and Brance did not even try to understand where she was coming from, at that moment I actually hated Brance. For someone who suffers from the same, I understood the panicky, end-of-the-world scenarios that had been running through Braelyn's mind at that point in time. Once your brain starts running in that direction, it is extremely difficult to rein it in and keep it in check. Because lets face it, our minds tend to have a life of its own; that is one reason why it is so fascinating as well. I would have liked it better, had Brance tried to understand, even a little.
However, I bow down to Harloe Rae's amazing ability to spin a tale that sucked me in right from the beginning. I enjoyed Brance and Braelyn's extremely bumpy journey to their happily ever after.
Recommended for those who love a hefty dose of their alpha-holes. Brance is definitely that and more! My first Harloe Rae certainly did not disappoint!
Final Verdict: Ask Me Why is breathtaking on many levels, combining terrible tragedy and heartache with the surprising curve balls that brings immense joy and happiness in life; I loved Harloe Rae's voice that resonated deep within.
I find a sliver of space to move closer. "Wanna hear a secret?"
"Always," Braelyn purrs.
"You're a damn distraction."
She snaps her fingers. "Guess it sucks to be you."
Her tactics don't deter me. "All I can think about is wiping that sad look off your face."
"I'm fine, other than these inconvenient visits from you." Her guarded eyes skitter away from mine.
"Don't lie. You want me. Just once would do. I'd turn that frown so far upside down, you'd never stop smiling."
"Cocky asshole." She dips her chin, but I catch the blush staining her cheeks.
I close the distance between us by another foot. "I'll lick your clit until you scream my name. Then it'll be my cock's turn to pleasure you. Over and over until you beg me to stop."
I shiver when Brance's hand begins to wander. His fingers drift along the bare skin of my inner thigh. The loose fit of my shorts grants him easy enough access. I sag against the shelf when he reaches my center. Brance shoves my panties to the side with masterful precision. He glides through my slick heat, turning me into a quivering mess. He doesn't waste time teasing with me, zeroing in on my clit with sure strokes.
Brance rips his mouth away with a snarl. "You're wicked. This shouldn't be happening."
"But it is," I whisper.
The talking abruptly cuts off when he crashes our mouths together. I moan into the kiss, arching against him. His lips drift up my cheek and temple. The move is almost tender.
"You're such a pain in my ass," he growls close to my ear.
I shift against him, rubbing along the hard ridge prodding at me. The empty space inside of me weeps. I curl my fingers on the shelf, but metal doesn't satisfy me. A chunk of finely toned Brance would do nicely. I want to grip his sculpted ass and soothe any pain he might be feeling.
"Don't make me wait, Brance. Please." When the plea drops off her lips, a surge of need propels me forward. I grab a condom from my discarded pants. With calculated precision, I ripDon't make me wait, Brance. Please."
When the plea drops off her lips, a surge of need propels me forward. I grab a condom from my discarded pants. With calculated precision, I rip open the foil and roll the rubber down my shaft. I climb onto the mattress and move between her parted thighs. Leaning on an elbow, I lower myself until we're aligned together. My cock nudges her entrance. Braelyn loops her arms around me. She's about to let me conquer the deepest parts of her body. I line up with her center and push inside.
Her hips lift and tilt, welcoming me further. I sink to the hilt. We share a groan.
Braelyn's nails dig into my back. "B-Brance, holy shit. You fit just right."
I brush my mouth against hers. "So fucking good."
I crawl backward until my head bumps against a pillow. He reaches behind him and strips off his shirt with one smooth move. I'm antsy, rubbing my thighs together before spreading them apart. Brance undoes his jeans and shoves them down. He stands before me in a black pair of briefs, tenting in the front with his desire.
I prop myself up and lick my lips. With a curl to my fingers, I beckon him to me.
Brance strokes himself through his shorts. Such a damn tease. "Take off anything you don't want ripped into shreds."
Make me feel good."
"Don't I always?"
I open my mouth with another plea. Brance lines up and slams into me. A burst of color blooms in my vision. I claw at the sheets and tumble under his spell.
Brance's hips grind against me, forcing us closer. There's not a sliver of space separating our bodies.
When we're alone again, I arch a brow at my date. "Same side seating?"
"Only way to appreciate these booths."
Brance's palm rests on my bare thigh, drifting up and higher. "Yeah, babe."
I spread my legs without hesitation. With one touch, I'm dragged under his seductive spell. Those talented fingers roam further, disappearing beneath my dress. I've never been more grateful for my choice in clothing. He reaches my satin covered center with no signs of slowing down. I really like the direction he's taking.
"W-what are you doing?" My tone is barely a rasp.
Brance ghosts his lips over my cheek. "I've missed you. Just a little starter while we wait for the main course. Relax, babe."
I sag against the seat in a pliable puddle, ready for Brance to mold me into his making. The rest of my resistance fades when he swipes across my slit. I'm so wet, almost embarrassingly so. Telltale tingles are already creeping up my legs. The thrill of getting caught. The tender warmth in his searing gaze. His strong strokes against my clit. It's a recipe for a sharp and powerful climax.
I clamp a hand over my mouth and moan. Tremors wrack my limbs, an eruption cracking through the volcanic surface. My eyes roll back while I shudder in his grip. I do my best not to rattle the booth.
"You're so fucking sexy." His voice is a hypnotic pulse lulling me deeper into the waves of euphoria.
Purchase Links: Amazon
Want to share?
December 30, 2019 December 29, 2019 by mvbookreviewer
Review: Dreams of 18 by Saffron A. Kent
Awesome Read, Brooding Hero, Contemporary, Emotions Wrencher, Endearing Hero, Endearing Heroine, Erotica, Forbidden Love, Red Hot Reads, Review, Scarred Hero, Scarred Heroine, Scorcher!, Self Published, Tortured Hero, Tortured Heroine
Publisher: Graham Edwards
Hero: Quentin Savage
Heroine: Violet May Moore
Sensuality: 4
Date of Publication: October 10, 2019
Started On: October 10, 2019
Finished On: October 13, 2019
Dreams of 18 by Saffron A. Kent is her latest novel, published on October of this year. This was a much awaited novel on my part, like every other fan of Saffron I believe, because that is just how it is when it comes to books by an author who literally and figuratively takes your breath away. What Saffron does with her characters is priceless, the boundaries she pushes in the genre makes her books stand out, and the wealth of emotions her books carry are second to none.
Dreams of 18 brings to readers 18 year old Violet May Moore and 36 year old Graham Edwards, whose story begins when Graham moves next door to Violet's home in Cherryville, Connecticut. Violet had been just 16 years old then, and Graham's son Brian had quickly become a close friend. But from the moment Violet had laid eyes on Graham from the very first day they had moved in, there had been no other man for her, even though she knows that nothing would ever come to fruition from her harmless crush on her someone who would never give her the time of day.
However, the night she turns 18 is the night all hell breaks loose. One kiss, and everything unravels, Graham leaves town and Violet is left to pick up the pieces. The story continues ten months later, when Violet seeks Graham, largely to ask his forgiveness and to right the wrong she had done by initiating a kiss that had destroyed Graham's life and forced him to leave.
The Graham she finds is one who unravels her even more than before, and the more time Graham and Violet forcibly spends together, increasingly she comes to the realization that Graham is not as unaffected by Violet as he pretends and would like to be. The battle of wills between the two heightens until of course there is nothing left but to give in, and give in they do, oh so gloriously!
I loved Graham and Violet, because its hard not to fall in love with two characters who are as lost and lonely as they are. But I have to admit that I loved the first half of the book more than the latter. Graham, having grown up with an absentee mother, and a father who had mourned the fact every single day to the point where Graham had never known love or affection. Violet's childhood had been just as bad. Her mother who had never really wanted her had left its mark, and Violet had learnt to keep herself occupied so that the loneliness would be kept at bay. The very first time Graham wishes Violet a happy birthday was a scene so full of gut punching emotions that it nearly undid me.
The yearning that hits Violet at such a deeply intrinsic level is one that is echoed in Graham, even though he berates himself every single day for the way he feels about someone so young. There is just something about heroes who are larger than life and heroines who are dainty and beautiful, and the way these heroines basically have the hero wrapped around their little finger.
Graham who tenderly cares for his roses, and Violet who sees through to what it actually represents. Graham who sees and understands the wealth of accumulated hurt in Violet, and eases them with every kiss he lays on her with carnal intention or otherwise. Violet, who understands the grouchiness that is at times Graham, but loves him for it regardless because the more grouchy and possessive he is, the harder she loves him all the more. Graham who would have walked away in a heartbeat if it would have ensured her Violet's happiness at the risk of damning his own soul. That is in essence what Graham and Violet are about, and the beauty that Saffron delivers to readers.
The other thing that struck me the most is the premise upon which the plot of the story is based. Saffron is famous for writing on taboo tropes, undoubtedly. In Dreams of 18, she navigates perhaps one of the trickiest topics of present times, especially when discussions such as #MeToo, pedophilia, and child grooming are hotly debated. The ingenuity in Dreams of 18 lies in the way Saffron skates the very edge and somehow makes it all work and entices the reader to fall in love.
Dreams of 18 may perhaps not be for everyone. And that is fine. But for readers like myself who loves authors who push the conventional norms when it comes to romance, Saffron Kent is like hitting jackpot! I just wish there were more authors like her out there, and that Saffron had an extensive back-list of books I could gorge on until the date of her next publication.
Definitely recommended!
Final Verdict: Dreams of 18 is an overload of emotions and sensations tied up in a neat bow presented to readers. Let the unraveling begin!
"What do you think she wanted me to do to her?" he asks.
With every question that he asks me, the answers become more and more difficult. I should really put a stop to it.
Mostly because it's none of my business. But also because I don't wanna talk about her. I don't wanna talk about what that woman wanted from him and what he wanted from her.
And yet, I can't help it when my lips part and my answer slips out. "Keep kissing her and never stop."
"What if I bring my hand forward, slide it down her stomach? Would she like that?"
My eyes go down to his hands. They're clenched into fists by his sides, mimicking my own.
His stance is wide, and his body sprung tight, completely in conflict with his low, lazy, almost sleepy voice. And I realize that maybe this is how he looks when he's aroused.
Oh Jesus, is he aroused? Did she get him going that much?
It makes me wanna sob.
Instead, I whisper, "Yeah. Yeah, she'd like that. Very much."
But before I go, before I become a puddle on his couch, I ask, "Are you saying that I'm… visible?"
"No, Violet, I'm not saying that you're visible. I'm saying that you're the only thing that a man sees. I'm saying that you're a thing that drives a man to distraction. You make him forget what's right and what's wrong. You're a thing so terrible and beautiful and fucking breathtaking that he can't escape you. He can't think of anything else, not about his job, his responsibilities, his promises, his family, nothing but you. You undo him. You make him helpless. You turn him into an animal who wants to rut. You're a girl who makes a man go bad."
My breaths are louder. Louder than his hand jerking off his cock.
God, he's jacking off and I don't know what to do.
How to simply stand here and not go to him.
I'm salivating for it. My mouth is full of saliva and I'm biting my lip and licking it.
I'm gasping and probably rolling my hips in the air and that's how he knows I'm here.
He catches me perving over him while I'm making noises.
As soon as his eyes hit me, his face goes from flushed to furious in a split second and he whips around, his shaft hard and pointing toward me. "What… What the… What the fuck?"
He goes for my panties.
He hooks his fingers in my waistband and yanks them down. He keeps yanking until they are off and somewhere on the floor where he throws them before coming back to me.
Before coming back and lying down on his stomach, as sprawled as I am on the bed.
My legs are all open now, almost in a split and his shoulders are jammed between them. His face is at my open, bare core that he's breathing over, fanning my steamy folds with the air within his lungs.
He stares at it, burning my most intimate flesh with his eyes, as his thumbs run in circles at the juncture where my thighs meet my hips.
He stares at it and stares at it, getting lost for a second like he did when he looked at my breasts, and I have to call his name again. "Graham?"
He looks up, then.
"What's my special kiss?"
Finally, he growls, "This."
With that, he licks me.
"Graham," I whimper, my hands going to his chest, my fingers burying in his chest hair.
He lets go of my nipple and moves further up. He kisses my pulse and I bend my neck to the side to give him more access. Then, he's at my lips. But he doesn't stop there. He goes up and up and finds my forehead.
Closing my sleepy eyes, I nuzzle my nose at his stubbled throat as I feel him kiss me there, at my sweaty forehead, and whisper, "Happy birthday, baby."
"You gonna grip me hard, Violet? You're gonna keep me here, huh?"
To emphasize here, he massages my entire core again and I can feel that I've practically drenched my pajamas. I can feel the wetness on my thighs. I can feel him rubbing that wetness back into my pussy and I'm almost there. Almost.
And then, he edges me over with these erotic, filthy words that he rasps just below my ear while he licks me there, rubs his jaw and beard over my soft skin.
"Your mommy should've tied you to the bed, Jailbait. Barred your windows. Hidden you from the world. It was only a matter of time before you ended up on the wrong side of a bad man's cock."
I dig my nails in his biceps, making him groan and making myself whimper.
But more than that, I make myself move and rock and twist against his length. I'm sliding back and forth on his cock, humping against it when suddenly, my eyes pop wide open.
Because holy shit, he's inside of me.
He's just pushed himself in on a groan and a grimace, his eyes still on me but so much foggier now. So much brighter and covered in a sheen that wasn't there before. Not when I closed my eyes a few seconds ago.
Just that look of his, all panting and drugged, makes me come.
"Do you think I'm bleeding?"
He jerks slightly, his fingers digging into my flesh. Not a lot but enough that I feel the movement ricocheting in my swollen cunt.
"Jesus Christ, virgins," he mutters to himself like he forgot about the bleeding part, panic laced in those words. To me, he grits out, his eyes concerned, "I hope to fuck that you're not."
I wind my arms around his neck and shake my head. "No, no. Don't hope that."
"I like that. I wanna bleed." He shudders over me; I feel the muscles of his shoulders quaking. "Because I'm… I'm a woman now. You made me one. I'm all grown up."
His cock lurches inside me as he curses, and comes down on his elbows, as if he doesn't wanna be away from me. As if he wants our skin to touch and slip against each other.
A second later, he pops the candy out of my mouth and throws it away before kissing the fuck out of me.
Before fusing our bodies together and slamming his cock into me. Pounding and ramming and beating up my horny channel as he fucks me. Plows into me like a beast.
It's even more intense than last night. The way he's riding my pussy.
His strokes are harder and more powerful. More possessive. Like his need for me only increased after he had one taste of me.
Like he wants me even more now. Like he needs me more.
I clench around his cock and his drives become rough and haphazard.
He jerks and twitches, his body slipping over mine with the sweat, the friction we've created. And then, he comes too.
He does it still looking at me.
He doesn't close his eyes. He doesn't get lost in his climax alone.
He gets lost in it with me.
The girl he can't love but looks like he does.
The girl who's thinking, I can't. I can't. I can't.
I can't lose that look. I can't tell him. I can't tell him the truth.
I love him.
While his truck is shaking and rocking with us and the windows fog up.
But more than anything, I wanna do this all day and for the rest of my life because I want to make all my secrets with him. Secrets like this one. So dirty and sacred at the same time.
It's us: him and me. The new us that we've created together.
I told him that night when I wore the red dress for him, that I want us to be us, just him and me.
This is us.
Wild and savage and filthy and beautiful. Beauty and The Beast.
"When I saw you, Violet, it felt like someone stabbed me in the chest," he rasps.
My eyes go wide. "What?"
He chuckles; it's brittle and thin. "Or at least, it felt like it. I saw you up on the roof, with your thick, gorgeous hair and your arms open wide, something got lodged inside my chest, just under my heart and for the longest time, it felt like a knife of some sort. Something that made me… different. It wasn't that, though."
"W-what was it?"
"My soul," he whispers. "It was my soul waking up. The thing that keeps a man alive, came alive in me when I saw you. You woke up my soul, Violet."
November 15, 2019 November 14, 2019 by mvbookreviewer
Review: Bad Boy Blues by Saffron A. Kent
Awesome Read, Brooding Hero, Charming Hero, Contemporary, Emotions Wrencher, Endearing Hero, Endearing Heroine, Forbidden Love, New Adult Romance, Red Hot Reads, Review, Scarred Hero, Scarred Heroine, Scorcher!, Tortured Hero
Genre: New Adult
Hero: Zachariah Benjamin Prince
Heroine: Cleopatra Marie Paige
Started On: July 22, 2019
Finished On: July 25, 2019
Mine.
My prize.
She is my prize.
She. Is. My prize.
Bad Boy Blues is another rip-your-panties-off kinda novel from the uber fabulous Saffron A. Kent. An enemies-to-lovers story that delivered all the feels right up till the very end, I am convinced that Saffron is an author who could literally do no wrong when it comes to writing romances that speaks to this wicked heart of mine.
Nineteen year old Cleopatra Marie Paige (Cleo) was born and raised in the "wrong" side of town. The side where folks worked hard and did not have much to show for it. Where everyone had to rely on the other side of town, the one owned by the Princes, for their means of living and employment, that is if you did not leave for greener pastures as soon as you were able to.
Months into her job at the mansion of the Princes, comes back the proverbial son home, Zachariah Benjamin Prince (Zach), the boy who had tormented her all through grade school into high school, until he had abruptly left town. Cleo believes herself to hate Zach with every fiber of her very existence, but at the same time, she cannot help but be drawn towards the man Zach is, the broody mess that is sheer perfection, searing with that sheer heated gaze of his whenever his mocking eyes rest upon her.
Zach tries to keep his distance from the one person he had made it his life's mission to torment. That had been the only way Zach had known how to deal with all the misery in his own life, with parents who had put their mark on him through emotional abuse and neglect. Uncovering Zach's life as it had been with his parents was an awakening experience in its entirety, because you never know what drives someone to lash out (not that it excuses their behavior). But for a child who was struggling with his own issues of acceptance and existence from the very two people who should have loved him unconditionally, that right there is the reason my heart wept for the boy Zach had been.
Drawn towards each other despite their misgivings and lack of trust on Zach's part when it comes to love and being loved, it is the gamble of Cleo's life when she embarks upon an affair that scorches the very pages of the book, leaving the reader breathless and wanting more. Saffron is an author who has that remarkable way with the words which takes the reader from zero to hundred in a millisecond, and that is one reason why reading her books are like walking a tight rope, all in a good way.
I loved both Cleo and Zach, and rooted for them both all the way through. Cleo had her own issues to deal with, leftover symptoms of losing her family in a way that is bound to leave a mark on anyone. Zach's issues are more deeply interwoven into his psyche, which means that it is difficult for him to see beyond the surface, fear of rejection being the norm when he had been a child starving for affection and love. Complex is his psyche in every way, which made him a fascinating character. If any woman could do bring Zach out of his inner warring with himself, it would be Cleo, because she had been his, from the very first day they he had laid eyes upon her, and he hers.
Recommended for fans of Saffron A. Kent and readers who love a romance that takes you to that razor's edge of sharp anticipation; Saffron definitely delivers!
Final Verdict: Bad Boy Blues is another winner from Saffron, an author who pushes all your buttons and gives you every bit of angst and emotion you want to be punched in the gut with!
I thought his thumbs were driving me insane but the scratch of his jeans along my thighs turns every breath into something… erotic.
Before I can dwell on that, Zach grabs my face.
His hands are so large that they span my entire cheek, going up to my messy hair. "So, if I shove your panties aside and stick my finger inside you, I won't find that tiny little piece of flesh that proves you're untouched?"
I shudder at the graphic picture he's painted.
Inside me. His finger.
A moment later, I feel him on my neck. He's nosing the line of my throat.
I grip his biceps. "A-are you smelling me?"
"Yeah," he groans.
I flinch and my neck bends sideways. I'm nothing in the face of his aggression right now. The way he's sniffing my neck, like he's snorting a line of cocaine. I'm nothing in the face of that need.
Need of a junkie.
"Because you smell nice. Like sugar."
And sugar is his favorite thing in the world. He's eating up my scent.
My hips jut off the car but Zach keeps me balanced with his body and his mouth that's still sucking on my clit while lapping up all the juices from my core. His fingers are still buried in my seam, pressing against my dark hole that won't stop clenching.
I moan and claw at his neck and chant out his name over and over. My entire body clenching and releasing until there's nothing left.
"You fucked up, Blue," he growls over my mouth.
"What?" I pant.
"Now, you're fucked, baby." His scans my face. He looks like he's memorizing it. He's committing me to memory.
His eyes, black and threatening and so beautiful, come up to mine. "Do you have any idea how long, how fucking long I've wanted to kiss that mouth?"
"A thousand years." He studies my parted, blue-painted lips. "Or at least, it feels like it. I've wanted to kiss it ever since you first put on your lipstick in eighth grade."
"You're gonna pull down your uniform every time I ask, aren't you?"
I rock against him again because he read my mind. "Yes."
Groaning, he gives a long, tight suck before letting go of my breast. "Fuck yeah, you will. You'll bare your tits for me. Every day. Multiple times a day. Whenever I'm hard up for it. You'll come to my room and make my bed. And then, I'll throw you down on it, tear your clothes off, get out your tits and suck on them. You'll writhe for me, won't you?"
I nod, almost whimpering.
"You will. I'll keep sucking on it and sucking on it and you'll make a mess on the bed. You'll cream my sheets. You'll leave a wet spot, yeah?"
"Yes. For you."
Still panting and sweaty, he lowers me on the bed, half-dressed and indecent. From this angle, the sun glares down at me but Zach blocks it with his big body.
He wraps his hand around my neck and growls, "Who are you?"
Even though I have very little energy left, I still arch my back. As if his voice is a call from my master.
"Your prize."
His fingers flex around my throat in possession and he bends down to smack a hard kiss on my lips. "As long as I'm here."
I spasm around his fingers and that makes his shaft jerk inside my mouth. I let his head go and peek out my tongue so he can come on it like I'm coming on his fingers.
The tightness and convulsions of his body match mine. And so do our noises. Probably our heartbeats match too, in this moment.
I drink him down all the while he's milking me. His taste is just as I imagined it to be. Musky and spicy and him.
So fucking him.
So fucking Zach.
His spine arches, throwing the ridges of his torso into stark relief, as he moans out my name to the ceiling and comes inside of me.
I feel it in my slowly dying heart, that moan, that jerk of his dick.
I sit up and wind my arms around him, bringing us both down on the bed. Groaning, he falls over me.
I'm soothing his back, tracing it with my hands up and down as my channel absorbs his orgasm.
And finally, my body goes limp, listening to his heartbeats.
He's mine.
I turn my face and tell him, "You can't torture me like this, you know. You promised."
"Promised what?"
"That you'll fuck me like I'm your slut."
Zach grabs my tits in both hands and squeezes them so hard that the moan that comes out of me is the loudest yet. "Yeah? You want everyone else to think you're my slut too? Because if I fuck you like that, Blue, you'll be screaming the roofs down. Your Mrs. S won't be the only person to know what you do for me. How you serve me."
Why does that arouse me so much?
Why do I want him to make me scream when I know the consequences?
I scratch his shoulders, his back, his biceps, whatever I can get to as I rock against him, fucking him with all these emotions in my heart.
I realize what I feel for him is too intense, too passionate, too heartbreaking and sad to be called love.
Maybe it's a tragedy.
Or maybe it's the blues.
I've got the blues and that's why I can't stop crying.
Zach sweeps his gaze all over my face before shaking his head once and entering my wet channel.
It's a slow, sweaty fuck.
Actually, it's not a fuck at all. It's love.
We're making love.
Slowly, gently, thoroughly.
He's rocking into me like a soft wave and with every stroke, I'm drowning.
October 30, 2019 October 29, 2019 by mvbookreviewer
Review: The Highlander by Kerrigan Byrne
Awesome Read, Brooding Hero, Emotions Wrencher, Endearing Hero, Endearing Heroine, Forbidden Love, Historical, Red Hot Reads, Review, Scarred Hero, Scarred Heroine, St. Martin's Press, Toe Curler!!, Tortured Hero, Widowed Hero
Kerrigan Byrne
Series: Victorian Rebels, #3
Publisher: St. Martin's
Hero: Lt. Col. William Grant Ruaridh Mackenzie
Heroine: Philomena St. Vincent
Date of Publication: August 02, 2016
Started On: August 17, 2019
Finished On: August 20, 2019
The Highlander, the 3rd book in the Victorian Rebels series turned out to be my first sampling of Kerrigan Byrne's stories. Discovering a new author that speaks to you on so many levels is rare and so very treasured, and I intend to go through the back-list of her books in its entirety to sample each and every one of her published works over time.
The hero, 40 year old William Grant Ruaridh Mackenzie (Liam), comes from a place of violence. The fact that his childhood had been a difficult one would be an understatement. With an abusive father who had cared naught for the physical and emotional well-being of his children, legal and otherwise, Liam had been the big brother who had taken most of the physical brunt to protect his younger siblings. But that had not been enough to prevent them from witnessing the horrors of a childhood better left in the darker fringes of one's memories.
The main story begins 20 years later, with the opening chapter focusing on the heroine, Lady Philomena St. Vincent (Mena), Viscountess Benchley, who has been institutionalized by none other than her husband and his family. Mena who grew up with a father who thought the world of his daughter and brought her up to be an intellectual, kind and generous soul, the horrors of her marriage that are revealed in stages to the reader is something that is as old as time itself.
The mental asylum, which was a norm in the past for husbands to commit their wives to just to get rid of them, is the mother load of horrors. Tortured in ways that really leaves a mark on the reader, some may find those particular scenes to be too disturbing for them to continue with the story. However, that particular aspect of the book does not set the tone for the rest of the book as the author brings to readers the stunning and vivid portrayal of a love that was so worth delving into.
When Mena is rescued and her well meaning and newfound friends sends her away to Scotland to evade the clutches of her husband, it is to the keep of Liam she is sent, where the very first moment she lays eyes on the strong, deeply masculine, and beautiful man that he is, something long forgotten stirs to life inside of her. Liam too is shaken by the very physical and visceral reaction he has towards Mena from the onset, but even though both of them might think to avoid each other hoping that the yearning for the other is a fluke on their part, things of course do not work out that way.
Liam's haunted eyes that bespeaks of horrors and regrets of his life draws Mena to him like a moth to flame. Mena's gentle strength and wit that had remained unbroken by the violence she had experienced in her adult life speaks to Liam on a level that he cannot comprehend. However, old enemies stirring in the darkness, tempting and beseeching to turn on Liam might prove to be the undoing of what blossoms to life between him and Mena, if her husband's search for her does not bear fruit first.
I enjoyed my very first novel by the Kerrigan Byrne. Mena was glorious. Beautiful, kind, and soft, with just the right touch of authority to her which made her appealing on so many levels. I rooted for her with every fiber of my being, wanted the best for her because she deserved nothing less.
Liam's soul is a broken one, even though he does not let it on. Betrayed and widowed, there is a wealth of unspoken pain in his heart. His inability to get through to his own children is a source of continued frustration for him, that is until Mena comes into his life and shows him what that entails. Drawn to each other by the kind of tangible connection that leaves the reader breathless, Byrne does a marvelous job of crafting both characters and bringing them to life.
The sexual tension that is interwoven into the very fabric of the story was just as enticing, and Byrne definitely delivers without leaving the reader hanging. Absolutely loved this gem of a novel and would recommend it for readers who love historical romances with characters that speaks to you. These are two very broken characters who meet and find their way to a happily ever after. Don't let the barbarity depicted in the first couple of chapters deter you from reading. I believe we have to take the bad with the good to achieve a balanced nuance in order to deliver a story worth sinking into.
The epilogue was super cute and healing in so many ways. Perhaps, Byrne may write a novella depicting two secondary characters who definitely deserve their story to be told somewhere down the line. A reader could always hope!
Final Verdict: There is a rawness to Byrne's story that speaks to me. A ruthlessness to her heroes that does things to this wanton heart of mine. The Highlander is marvelous in every sense.
Then she saw him.
Her mouth became dry as the desert, and a tremor that had nothing to do with the cold rippled through her.
Though he wore a soiled kilt and loose linen shirt beneath his drenched cloak, he sat astride a black Shire steed with the bearing of a king. Dark waves of hair hung long and heavy with moisture down his back, and menace rolled off the mountains of his shoulders in palpable waves.
Whoever he was, he was their undeniable leader. She saw it in the way they looked to him, in the deference they used when speaking. If not by birth, then by physical laws of nature, surely. As the largest, the strongest, and the most fearsome of them all, he towered above the brawny men as he scowled through the window at her.
"Och, lass." Liam beat her to it. "These roses are a jealous flower." Cupping her hand with his, he pressed a thumb into her palm to secure it before plucking the thorn out quickly, to cause her the least amount of distress.
A tiny drop of blood welled from her fingertip.
Liam had no other handkerchief to offer her, and didn't want to use the one on the ground, so he did the only other thing he could think of, and slid her finger into his mouth. Closing his lips around the insignificant wound, he watched her reaction with rare pleasure.
She froze, her eyes growing round as two glowing moons.
His body's reaction was just as astonishing, and just as instantaneous.
Liam sprang toward her, grasping her wrists and pulling her back down to him. He sank his fingers into her luxurious hair, loosening the intricate coiffure there, and pinned her head between his two strong palms as he took her wicked mouth with his own.
It was in the joining of their lips that Liam found what he'd come to the chapel seeking. He kissed Mena with a reverence he'd never felt in the entirety of his life. Driven by a hunger that welled from the darkest, most heretical depths of his soul, he knew he'd finally found something worthy of his worship.
He swallowed her shocked gasp and plundered her with his tongue as though she were a lifelong conquest. Digging his fingers into her ribs to keep from taking what she did not offer him, he deepened the kiss, using his tongue to convey what he could not find the words to say.
She wasn't the only one who was afraid. Liam was terrified.
Of losing her.
Of loving her.
And at this moment, he was in mortal danger of both.
"Kiss me, Mena," he moaned against her mouth, his hot, sweet breath fanning over the moisture on her lips. "Touch me. Teach me to keep the demon at bay."
She could only see the whites of his eyes in the dim light, circling the obsidian of his pupil and iris in such a way that truly seemed demonic.
With trembling fingers, she reached up to softly test the shape of his masculine jaw. Bristle scraped against her fingertips as they explored the raw, hard features that she'd always wanted to study, but didn't even allow herself to look at for too long, lest she be lost.
Then his hand was there, clever fingers slipping into the wet cleft and touching a place no one had ever before paid attention to. He somehow ignited frenzy into her blood with infuriatingly slow strokes. A curious heat unfolded in her core and quickly caught into a blaze of sensation.
Mena writhed helplessly against him, riding his strong thigh as more heat created more friction, which in turn built the flames even higher. What sort of pagan magic was this? How could hands so rough and raw create such smooth, silken sensations against her most tender skin?
"I can't," she cried, feeling her knees melt.
His lips left her with a wet, wicked sound. "Ye will," he breathed against her most intimate flesh.
"I'm going to fall," she warned weakly, her hips undulating toward his mouth with mortifying wantonness.
"Fall apart in my arms, lass," he soothed, his hands caressing around to fill his palms with the flesh of her backside, making a cradle of her hips. "I'll not let ye go."
"Can ye take more of me?" he panted.
Mena's eyes flew open. How could there possibly be more? He withdrew yet again, gazing down at her with dilated eyes as he surged forward. He touched a place inside her she'd not known existed, and Mena tossed her head from one side to the other, letting out a high cry of ecstasy.
"Yes," he whispered fervently. "I knew ye would take all of me, Mena." He drove forward again. And again.
When another climax blinded her with pure bliss, she locked her legs around his pistoning hips, pulling him impossibly deeper. Shivering pleasure assaulted her in wave after unrelenting wave.
He roared her name to the sky as her pulsing body gripped and stroked at the swelling length of him. Hot spurts of his release spilled inside her. His great body locked with spasms as he crushed her to him and joined her in that place where right and wrong no longer mattered.
Then they said nothing at all when he pulled her above him and split her legs over his lean, sinuous hips. They'd communicated only in gasps and sighs as she'd ridden him with sensual rolls of her body. He'd palmed her breasts in his warm hands and said wicked things in his people's native tongue while she pleasured herself upon his sleek and magnificent body. Then, when he could stand it no more, he'd dug his strong fingers into the flesh of her hips and driven upward until he'd bowed with such shocking pleasure, Mena had thought his back would break.
Purchase Links: Amazon | B&N | Kobo | eBooks
Review: Guilty Pleasures by Laura Lee Guhrke
Awesome Read, Brooding Hero, Charming Hero, Emotions Wrencher, Endearing Hero, Endearing Heroine, HarperCollins Publishers, Historical, Red Hot Reads, Review, Scarred Hero, Toe Curler!!, Tortured Hero
Series: Guilty, #1
Hero: Anthony Courtland
Heroine: Daphne Wade
Started On: June 26, 2019
Guilty Pleasures by Laura Lee Gurhke is testament enough as to why I adore her books. In the debut book to her Guilty series, Ms. Gurhke certainly does not disappoint readers with her take on a plain Jane heroine with a hero who is a self-assured duke, oblivious to the upheavals that is forthcoming, all to reach that sweet and soul satisfying destination called the happily ever after.
24 year old Daphne Wade has been in the employment of Anthony Courtland, Duke of Tremore for five months and counting. The 29 year old Duke had been Daphne's saviour even had he not realized it at that point in time when he had taken her under his employment. Left bereft in the wake of the death of her father, Daphne had nowhere to go but turn up on the Duke's doorstep, hoping against hope that Anthony would not mind hiring her services as an artifact restorer instead of her father.
Daphne's secret vice since then, has become observing Anthony in every setting she could find him, engrossed in the work that is more than just a hobby for the Duke. Little does Anthony know that the timid and unassuming woman under his employment as he sees her, has fallen for him, and fallen hard.
Things change abruptly on the night that Daphne overhears how Anthony views her as a woman, something that hurts her significantly enough to make her give a month's notice to quit and leave. Anthony has absolutely no idea as to why Daphne does something that is so out of character for her. However, Anthony is determined that he would persuade Daphne to stay with him and see it through to the end of the one year project, just as much as Daphne is determined to leave when the time is up.
So begins a clash of wills and a time during which Anthony begins to discover a woman who makes his head spin with desire and his heart do the unwanted. Anthony is a man deeply scarred from his childhood, not in the usual fashion, but something that readers would have to discover for themselves to understand where he is coming from.
There is such heady desire in the sense of discovery that unfolds between Daphne and Anthony, and to see Daphne emerge from her shell through Anthony's eyes was one of the best aspects of the story. When a hero realizes that he had been underestimating the heroine all the while, and finds that he is head over heels in lust at the very sight of her; there is nothing more enjoyable to a romance reader than that. I absolutely reveled in the feels of the story, of that whole journey of especially Anthony coming to terms with how he feels about Daphne.
There is a sweet ache in the agony of wanting someone and pushing them away at the same time. Because humans by design are programmed for self preservation, and we at times tend to do that at any cost, sometimes at the cost of losing our chance at happiness with someone who is deserving of us. Anthony's tale is as such, he could have easily taken the easy way out, but then the heart wants what it wants, even if Anthony takes a while to accept that truth.
The ending to this story was such a beautiful one. I believe that was what did it for me in this novel. The beguiling courtship of Daphne by Anthony towards the end, and how everything just came together was devastating to the heart, all in a good way.
Definitely recommended for all romantics out there, especially the ones who root for the heroines who are usually overlooked; beauty even though it lies in the eye of the beholder, sometimes takes a while to get there.
Final Verdict: Laura Lee Guhrke is an author who knows how to deliver a romance that packs a punch; a hero who makes you swoon, a heroine that makes your heart ache, and a love that is all encompassing.
"It is so hot in summer that the air shimmers over the horizon in waves, so hot it's hard to breathe. The heat makes your skin feel stretched so tight over your bones that it hurts." She closed her eyes and rubbed her wet cheeks with the tips of her fingers as if in remembrance of the hot desert sun. "And all you feel is your own sweat turning the dust on your face to caked mud. Your mouth is dry, and you keep licking your lips over and over, but it doesn't help. They are so chapped and dry."
Anthony lowered his gaze to her mouth, watching as she ran the tips of her fingers back and forth over her moist, parted lips. Though they may have been chapped in the desert, there was nothing but softness to them now. Lust hit him with such unexpected force that he could not move.
The skin of her cheek felt warm and satiny beneath his fingers. How? he wondered. How did a woman who had lived in deserts all her life have skin as soft and fine as this? He touched his fingers to her lips as she had done. How could her lips be so velvety as this?
She was looking at him, her eyes wide with shock, but in their depths, there was also something else, something that reflected what he was feeling. Yes, desire was in her eyes and in the rapid wisp of her breath against his fingers. It was in the way she stood so still, tense and poised like a deer about to flee. If he slid his hand down, he would feel her heart pounding as hard as his own.
His hand touched her cheek, he brought his mouth closer to hers, and she felt a queer, weightless sensation in her stomach as if she had just dived off a cliff. His lips pressed to hers.
Pleasure unfolded inside her like a butterfly opening its wings to fly. Never in her imagination had she experienced anything so piercing and sweet as this.
He tore his lips from hers and trailed kisses along her jaw as his hand shaped and caressed her breast. Her soft curves burned him wherever her body was pressed against his. Her hips moved, arching against his weight, and shudders of pleasure fissured through his body.
All he wanted was to pull her down onto this hard, dusty floor and feel her hips move like that beneath him, feel those long legs wrap around his body. He wanted her to say his name, over and over while he made love to her.
"I tried to stay away," he said, pressing quick kisses to her lips, her cheek, her forehead, her chin. "Because if I came back to say good-bye, I would not be able to stop myself from doing this. Daphne, you have been like a shadow beside me for six long weeks, and everywhere I went, I could see you. I am not made of stone. I am just a man, and God help me, I cannot stop wanting you. Do not torture me anymore." His tongue ran across the crease of her lips. "Kiss me back."
Her lips parted beneath his, and she closed her eyes, groaning into his mouth. So long. He had been away so long, and she had forgotten how it felt to have his mouth on hers.
"Say my name," he breathed against her skin. "Say it, Daphne. Say it."
He touched her with his thumb, and that tiny movement unlocked something inside her, released all the repressions and restraints she had imposed on herself ever since she had first met him. With the force of a river breaking through a dam, pure, indescribable pleasure rushed through her, and she could no longer stop herself from giving him what he wanted. "Anthony," she cried, "oh, please, oh, yes, yes."
"Daphne," he said, sliding his hands behind her shoulders, pulling her to a sitting position. She slid to the edge of the table, and the feel of her, moist and inviting against the tip of his penis drove away any thought but the need to possess her. With one hard thrust, he entered her.
She cried out, and he knew he had hurt her. He stilled, but she wrapped her arms around his neck and tightened her legs around his hips, pulling him deeper into her, and he lost any semblance of sanity.
Final Verdict: Amazon | B&N | Kobo | eBooks
August 4, 2019 August 3, 2019 by mvbookreviewer
Review: The Wicked Ways of a Duke by Laura Lee Guhrke
Avon, Awesome Read, Charming Hero, Emotions Wrencher, Endearing Hero, Endearing Heroine, Historical, Red Hot Reads, Review, Scarred Hero, Toe Curler!!, Tortured Hero
Series: Girl Bachelors, #2
Publisher: Avon
Hero: Rhys De Winter
Heroine: Miss Prudence Bosworth
Date of Publication: December 26, 2007
Started On: May 05, 2019
Finished On: May 15, 2019
The second book in the Girl Bachelors series, The Wicked Ways of a Duke by Laura Lee Gurhke turned out to be a delightful read in so many ways, one that I enjoyed perhaps even more than the first book in the series.
28 year old Miss Prudence Bosworth is a girl bachelor, now working as a lead seamstress, a position which she had worked hard 11 years for. A chance meeting brings to her notice Rhys De Winter, the Duke of St. Cyres, who is in dire need of a wealthy heiress.
33 year old Rhys has a pretty good idea of what he wants – a wife who is wealthy enough to pay off the debts his family has accumulated during his absence, a wife who would pretty much let him be as he has no intention of falling in love, ever.
A romantic at heart, Prudence's fortune comes in the most unexpected of ways. An illegitimate child, Prudence had learnt to support herself through her own hard work, all of which comes to an abrupt halt when her father's solicitor informs her that she is now the sole beneficiary of a vast amount of wealth, the kind that one only dreams about. But this wealth does come with its own requirement that she marries within a certain period, something a tad difficult given that Prudence has no such significant person in her life.
When Rhys finds out what Prudence is worth, thus begins his scheme of ensnaring Prudence into his life, something he does rather ruthlessly and effectively. Prudence has no idea of the true intentions of the man she falls so hard and fast for, and before she knows it, Prudence is the one who takes that leap of faith and comes clean about the immensity of her wealth, never knowing that it is exactly what Rhys had banked upon. Rhys deserves an Oscar for his performance during the scene that unfolded. If I had not been privy to the information that he had before, I too would have been taken in by the "genuineness" of his performance.
Through all of this and what takes place beyond the marriage, Laura Lee Guhrke exposes to readers tidbits of what makes Rhys the way he is. A childhood that had not seen much happiness, a younger brother who had taken his own life, and a mother who had ignored what had led him to commit suicide. The way Prudence chips away at the iron clad armor around Rhys' heart and emotions was one that I reveled in. The way that Rhys is helpless in the face of the visceral attraction that exists between the two was something that gave me all the good feels.
When all is said and done, the fact that Rhys grovels, does it so well, and redeems himself was one of the best aspects of this novel. Prudence getting "back at him" in kind was such fun to watch as it unfolded. I adored Prudence and how unconventional she was. There is this refreshing aspect to her character that I found so easy to fall in love with. Prudence might be a romantic at heart but she is definitely not a pushover. That is something I loved about her character from the onset.
Rhys and his past played a lesser prominent role in the story than I thought it actually would. But the truth of the hows and whys when it comes to an event that had scarred him badly and Rhys's relationship with his mother was one that served its purpose in the story when all is said and done.
Enjoyed the lusciousness that is Rhys and Prudence together. Recommended!
Final Verdict: The many wicked ways in which the Duke of St. Cyrus seduces Prudence is something worth mooning over. Loved Prudence to bits and Rhys forever more!
Prudence stood on her toes and twined her arms around his neck. Her lips parted willingly beneath his, but when he deepened the kiss and his tongue touched hers, she stirred in involuntary surprise. She started to pull back, but his hand tightened in her hair to keep her where she was, and his mouth tasted hers in a lush, openmouthed kiss that was so sensual, so blatantly carnal, she knew he must have learned it from those French cancan dancers. She feared she was equally carnal, however, for when he withdrew, she followed his move, pressing her tongue into his mouth. That seemed to ignite something inside him, for he made a rough sound against her mouth and leaned into her, using his body to maneuver her backward.
Rhys's hand slipped beneath her skirt and petticoat, then glided up her leg, across her hip and between her thighs, his touch scorching her beneath the thin lawn material of her drawers. The tension inside her continued to build as his fingers eased inside the slit of her drawers, and when he touched the dark curls there, she felt her whole body blushing in response.
"I could stop," he said, the tip of his finger caressing her in her most intimate place. "Is that what you want?"
She tried to speak, but a frantic, "N-N-N…" was all she could manage, for her body was on fire with shameful excitement, excitement that flared higher with each touch of his fingers.
She couldn't imagine what could be better than what he'd done to her on the train, but then his hands spread her thighs apart and he opened his mouth over the same special place he'd touched that morning.
She cried out, her body jerking at the exquisite sensation evoked by that carnal kiss, and he stopped, lifting his head a fraction. "Do you love me?"
"Yes," she panted, her hips writhing, arching upward. "Yes."
He raked his tongue ever so lightly over the spot where all her pleasure seemed centered. "Say it. I want to hear you say it."
"I love you, Rhys." Her fingers curled in his hair. "I love you."
Rhys turned her body lengthwise on the table, then hoisted himself up, bringing his body fully over hers and bracing his weight on his arms. "Prudence," he said, reminding himself she was a virgin, thinking to warn her what to expect, wanting to go slow, but the feel of her, velvety hot and wet, against the tip of his penis was such an erotic sensation, he knew there was no time for gentleness or warnings. With one hard thrust, he entered her.
She cried out again, and this time he knew it was not with pleasure. Cursing himself, he kissed her, smothering the sound of her pain with his mouth, hating that he'd caused it, even as he relished the virginal tightness of her.
"Love me?" he whispered, nuzzling her throat.
"Yes," she whispered, her fingertips caressing his face.
He lifted himself above her, kissed her, nipping her lower lip between both of his. "Say it again." She began to laugh. "I love you."
He laughed, too, laughed, by God, in this place, where he'd never laughed in his entire life.
"Come on top of me," he told her, rolling onto his back, and when she complied, he pulled her skirts up to keep them out of the way and spread her legs over his hips. He then reached between their bodies and hooked one thumb in the opening of her drawers, ripping the thin lawn fabric farther apart to give himself greater access. Gently, he spread her labia with his fingers and thrust upward with his hips, entering her fully.
She sucked in a deep gasp, and he went still. "Did I hurt you?" he asked, dreading that he had.
But she shook her head from side to side so emphatically that her hair came tumbling down to tickle his face. "No. Oh, no."
Relief flooded through him, followed at once by desperate, hungry need.
She was blushing, her skin awash with a tint of soft pink in the afternoon sunlight. Her forehead glistened with a fine patina of sweat. Her eyes were closed, her dark lashes like tiny fans against her cheeks. Her lips were parted, and between soft, panting cries, she kept touching them with her tongue. Her expression was one of such erotic concentration, with everything in her striving to reach climax, it made him smile. And when she came, in wave after wave, her hand over his, her body clenching around his penis in convulsions that went on and on and on, he felt a pleasure greater than any he had ever known before.
And afterward, when she lay in the crook of his arm, nuzzled her face against his neck and whispered, "I love you," the warmth that washed over him thawed the icy chill in his soul as the gut-twisting heat of Parisian absinthe and the blistering summer sunshine of Italy had never been able to do.
"This is where we'll live," he said.
And as he kissed her lavender-scented hair and listened to the songbirds in the leafy English elms over their heads, Rhys de Winter thought that perhaps his own April had come at last. He dared to believe that he had finally come home.
Purchase Links: Amazon | B&N | Kobo
April 22, 2019 April 21, 2019 by mvbookreviewer
Review: Crazy Like a Fox by Anne Stuart
Awesome Read, Brooding Hero, Charming Hero, Contemporary, Emotions Wrencher, Endearing Hero, Endearing Heroine, Harlequin, Red Hot Reads, Review, Scarred Hero, Scarred Heroine, Tortured Hero, Widowed Hero, Widowed Heroine
Hero: Peter Andrew Delacroix Jaffrey
Heroine: Margaret O'Rourke Jaffrey
Date of Publication: November 01, 1997
Started On: March 09, 2019
Finished On: March 14, 2019
Crazy Like a Fox by Anne Stuart begins when Margaret O'Rourke Jaffrey, with her nine year old daughter Carrie in tow, finally makes her way to her deceased husband's family in order to recoup and find her footing once again. Having had a less than stellar marriage with Carrie's father Dexter, it was the last thing that Margaret wanted; to finally admit defeat and seek the help of the Delacroix family.
In the midst of the Delacroix family, Margaret finds the mysterious Peter Andrew Delacroix Jaffrey, the Delacroix who by all accounts is a lunatic, looking for a reason to go off the hinges at any moment's notice. Margaret cannot explain why she is drawn to Peter, why she finds him fascinating when she rightfully shouldn't, and at the same time has distrust for him running through her veins.
Peter has been in a jail of his family's and his own making ever since the events surrounding the death of his former wife. A man who had everything he could have desired, Peter's downfall had come from his marriage to a woman who had wanted more. Along with her death, the blame of which had fallen squarely on him, Peter had found himself biding his time, waiting for his cousin Wendell to prove his innocence, sort of lost in the midst of the sea upon which he had been tossed adrift. That is until Margaret walks into the family home and makes him want again.
Crazy Like a Fox sounds like a title that would deliver a humor-filled read. While the book has its witty moments (it is Anne Stuart after all with her acerbic wit), the book delves into two characters who have been lost for a long while. Margaret had made the mistake of marrying a man who had wanted the next high that gambling would bring his way, a wayward character if ever there was any, leaving both herself and Carrie destitute when he had left this world.
Peter is the character that is truly intriguing, Anne Stuart's masterful creativity bringing forth a someone you cannot figure out at first. Peter is a character that is revealed to readers in layers, his story emerging in bits and pieces that makes the story that much more intriguing. I loved the unveiling of his character as much as I loved the connection forged between the two lost souls himself and Margaret are, and the resolution to a mystery that had been a miscarriage of justice right from the start.
Anne Stuart's intelligent heroes & equally witty heroines always reel you into the story without fail. An innocent man doubts his own sanity while the madman responsible for it all lives among them, waiting and biding his time. The wildcard that changes it all proves to be Margaret and her daughter Carrie, infusing Peter's life with the vitality and vigor it had been lacking since a long while back. Loved the awakening, the connection, and the happily ever after.
Definitely recommended.
Final Verdict: Anne Stuart's books age so finely that you don't even remember how long ago the book was written, because each word inexorably woven with the other presents readers with sheer magic.
Taking her arm, he pulled her away from the tomb, away from an approaching group of tourists, back into one of the shadowy alleys. They were alone, sheltered from sight, separated in time and space from the crowds around them. "That's Marie's speciality," he said, reaching his hands up to cup her face. "Trust her." His mouth moved down to touch hers, softly. "Trust me." And he kissed her again, just as lightly, his mouth teasing hers, drawing her into a response she couldn't help but give.
He tasted of champagne and pancakes. He smelled of the night and smoke from the ceremonial flambeaux. He felt warm and solid and real, no phantom at all. Sliding her arms underneath his cloak, she made a small, whimpering sound of surrender, of a longing so deep she couldn't begin to understand it. And her mouth opened beneath his.
"Thank you for everything," she said, knowing she sounded stilted. "Goodbye." She turned and opened the door.
She was unprepared for his reaction. Catching her arm, he whirled her around, enfolding them both in his voluminous cape, and this time when his mouth met hers it wasn't gentle, or teasing, or quietly seductive. His kiss was harsh, full of demand and despair, and she wrapped herself around him and returned the kiss, lost in the same sense of desolation.
Then abruptly he released her and she sank back against the doorway of the old building, her breathing rapid, her eyes shut.
"Next time, Marguerite," he whispered, "I want to see your red hair."
His hands moved down to cover her breasts, and she made a tiny, almost indistinguishable sound of protest. That protest drifted into a sigh of pleasure, and she dropped her head back, her hair flowing over both of them as he caressed her breasts through the thin lacy barrier of her bra.
And then the barrier was gone. His hands were warm and rough skinned against her sensitive breasts, and his mouth was at her neck, drawing her, drawing her. She turned, opening her eyes for a moment, staring up at him with a dazed expression, and then his mouth caught hers.
Deliberately he pulled her toward him, his hands rough on her arms, not allowing her any escape.
She had no intention of escaping. She slid her arms around his waist, moving against him, and her mouth reached up for his.
He stumbled against her, pushing her up against the wall, his body covering hers, pressing against every square inch of her, and his hands cupped her face, holding her still for his devouring mouth. He kissed her lips, her eyelids, her cheeks, her nose, then returned to her mouth, slanting across her soft, giving lips and drinking deep. She gave a little cry deep in the back of throat, one of desire and acceptance. She didn't care.
"Let go, Peter. Let me leave, drive away from here, out of your life. Please, Peter. Let me go."
And they both knew she wasn't talking about anything as simple as his hand on her arm.
"Marguerite," he said, his voice low and sorrowful. "Chère. I'm not that crazy." And he pulled her slowly, carefully, into his arms, giving her plenty of time to pull back, to fight, to resist.
"Oh, Peter," she whispered. "I am." And rising up on her toes, she kissed him, pressing her mouth against his, opening it slightly, touching her tongue against his lips.
His response was a muffled growl of longing as he threaded his long, beautiful fingers through her hair and kissed her back.
He yanked his clothes off, his eyes never leaving hers. He stripped off her jeans and threw them halfway across the room, and then he covered her body with his, with his long, lean, muscled beauty that was unlike anything she'd ever seen. She wanted to touch him, to treasure him, to delight in him, but his mouth was on her breasts again, suckling them deep, his hands were between her legs and she was damp and aching for more. She reached down to hold him, but he'd already moved on top of her, between her legs, hot and heavy and ready for her.
"I can't wait," he whispered, his voice harsh with desire and an impossible restraint. "Come to me, Marguerite." And he sank into her, deep and hard and wonderful.
"Scream for me, Marguerite," he whispered in her ear. "I want to hear you scream." And he reached between their bodies and touched her, deftly, as he surged against her.
She did scream then, as he'd wanted, as she never had in her life. She felt her body dissolve, even as he surged and shuddered against her, and the flames engulfed them, destroying and devouring them, until there was nothing left but ashes.
Purchase Links: Amazon | B&N | Kobo | iTunes


text:
Understanding the Restorative Power of Sleep
Trending > Genetics & Genomics
The Gene Behind Friendly Human Faces
Domestication has transitioned rugged wolves into dogs with floppy ears, curly tails and spotted coats. And humans have undergone a similar process- now having smaller, flatter faces than our ancestors, and less prominent brow bones. Unlike dogs, who were largely domesticated by us, humans are thought to have domesticated themselves. And now, researchers have found a gene responsible for a lot of the process.
Previously, scientists had proposed that, to achieve current human appearances, our ancestors had selected for genetic changes that hamper the movement of neural crest cells. Responsible for the development of tissues including bones, adrenal glands, pigment cells, facial cartilage and smooth muscles in embryos, the researchers proposed that mild genetic changes may result in neural crest cells that don't move so well, and thus result in more "cuddly" facial features.
It wasn't until more recently though that scientists found a genetic basis for this explanation. In a new study, investigators from the University of Milan in Italy analyzed cells from people with developmental conditions to better understand how neural crest cells work. In particular, they found that one gene, called BAZ1B, controls 40% of genes active in those cells. Moreover, their research showed that genes under direction from BAZ1B were among those that changed in both animals and humans as they evolved.
Crucial for the development of the face, BAZ1B is found on chromosome 7 alongside genes known to cause Williams syndrome, a genetic disorder that leads to distinct facial features and hyper-sociability. Using the gene in a stem cell model, the researchers found that it affects the activity of 448 genes, making it a "master architect" of the cranial neural crest.
Although many of the genes regulated by BAZ1B are known to be significant in physical elements of recent human evolution, the extent to which the gene has played contributed to more sociable and friendly behavior is unknown. Giuseppe Testa, involved in the study said that this comes especially as changes in our faces and brains may have occurred at different stages of our evolution.
Nevertheless, the researchers' findings provide landmark evidence supporting the human-domestication hypothesis of human evolution. Brian Hare, an evolutionary anthropologist at Duke University said, "This is the strongest test yet of the human self-domestication hypothesis, and seems to support the idea that humans, like many other animals, have evolved due to selection for friendliness that also shaped other features like our faces."
Sources: New Scientist, Science News and Science Advances
Annie graduated from University College London and began traveling the world. She is currently a writer with keen interests in genetics, psychology and neuroscience; her current focus on the interplay between these fields to understand how to create meaningful interactions and environments.
Hiccups Key For Infant Brain Development
Although we know how we hiccup, why has remained a mystery for some time, with researchers suggesting it to be an evolutionary hangover from when our ances...
Humans Are Continuing to Evolve, Along With Immune-Related Diseases
Humans have evolved in some ways to be less susceptible to pathogens, but those benefits can also carry risks of other diseases....
Ocean Microbes Demonstrate an Evolutionary Principle in Action
Our world is teeming with bacteria and viruses, and in the oceans, their coexistence has them locked in an evolutionary battle....
Newly Identified Small Proteins Could Have a Big Impact
While the human genome has been sequenced, there are plenty of parts of it that we don't know much about....
Making T-Cell Therapy Even More Effective
Curated w/video - CRISPR/Cas9 deletion of an enzyme resulted in longer lasting, more robust therapy....
A New Type of Muscle Cell That Could be a Target for Gene Therapy is ID'ed
Muscles have a supply of restorative stem cells called satellite cells, and now they have identified a new type....
Behavioral Research
Behavior Sciences
Genomics Selection
T-Cells
T Cell
Human Genetics
Pursuing private foundation and corporate grant opportunities...
A case study of protein sample prep strategies for membrane...
Significance of Mean Cell Hemoglobin of the Reticulocytes...
Upcoming Virtual Events
FEB 26, 2020 6:00 AM PST
MAR 11, 2020 6:00 AM PDT
APR 08, 2020 6:00 AM PDT
MAY 06, 2020 6:00 AM PDT
I'm Contagious T-Shirt
Gut Bacteria Influences Response to Fear
Study finds association between hair products and breast cancer risk

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Italian based Gamma Yachts launches it's latest model at the Hainan Rendez Vous April 5th-8th. The Gamma 24 Mediterranean is the bigger sister of the trendsetting Gamma 20. All Gamma's are designed and engineered by Dutch renowned Naval Architect Vripack.
Guido Bonandrini of Gamma Yachts is thrilled with this new semi-custom yacht, "This is a very special moment for our company and we selected the best place we could imagine to show her to the world. Asia is one of our target markets and it is only fit we treat them with respect and give them our premier showcasing."
Designer Pim Dijksman for Vripack explains the main features, "We gave the Gamma line a very remarkable sight with the double curved sheer, so the Gamma 24 Med got that as well. Furthermore we extended the flybridge to give the large aft deck full sun coverage and at the same time enlarge the fun space on top. The huge open plan layout her sister is kept as well as is also the innovative crew cabin in the front. And due to the hinged swim platform her overall length is actually 27-meters"
"Another important item we kept is the custom design of the clients interior by Vripack's Design Studio" informs Guido Bonandrini. "Together with the yacht the client receives a complimentary plane ticket to fly out to their rich material LAB and designs the interior with them. This is the Gamma way of having our customers connect with their yacht straight from the drawing board." With her Dutch-Italian lines, custom interior and European craftsmanship the Gamma 24 Mediterranean is poised for success in the year of the Water Dragon.


Memberships – Queensland Wildlife Artists Society Inc.
The Queensland Wildlife Artists Society Incorporated was established in 1983, in Brisbane Australia, by a small group of artists interested in fostering the study and appreciation of wildlife art specifically relating to Australia's unique flora and fauna. Since then membership has steadily grown to include artists from all over Australia as well as overseas.
To engage the general public and to educate them through art, on the importance of preserving Australia's unique natural heritage, and the imperativeness of environmental sustainability.
To organize and publicise environmentally themed art exhibitions with a large number themed to Australian species.
To assist young and emerging artists to achieve their potential with access to workshops, demonstrations and mentoring by leading master artists.
To use exhibitions to increase awareness of species and habitats covering a wide spectrum of flora and fauna that are threatened, from around the world.
To generate career support and professional development opportunities for artist members.
To facilitate art sales and commissions to support conservation and artists.
We are constantly on the lookout for new members whose talents would mesh well with the society. If you are a highly skilled artist who is passionate about depicting nature in their art, or are a newly emerging artist interested in fostering this interest in subject matter with the help of more experienced mentors, you may consider applying for selection to this not for profit organization.
As a group we work together to promote our work, participate in member's only exhibitions and at the same time promoting our conservational and environmental message through art.
While we are a not for profit incorporation staffed by volunteers, we do have many expenses that are shared among the members (please see membership pricing at the bottom of this page).
You will be contributing to the QWASI mission of Education through Art.
You will feel the prestige of being accepted into one of Australia's leading wildlife Art Societies.
You will be eligible to enter QWASI exhibitions which are open to members only (unless otherwise agreed upon with conservation groups or art societies). There may be up to three major shows in a year.
You will have full representation on the official QWASI website which is updated regularly. Once selected you will be asked to provide all the relevant materials for your page which is linked to your personal website.
You will receive the QWASI newsletter which comes out every two months in full colour. It contains up and coming open exhibitions, member's art news, world art news, coming events and much more.
You will have the opportunity to post exhibitions, news and events on the website and in the newsletter.
Thank you for your interest in joining The Queensland Wildlife Artists Society Inc. We have three different membership categories. Please indicate on the membership application form which category you would like to apply for.
We ask for all new members to please read through the QWASI Model Rules and By-Laws as details on our website. These documents outlines the objectives of QWASI, how we conduct our exhibitions, copyright guidelines, photographic reference used and other aspects of QWASI. Please sign the membership application form where indicated to confirm that yo have read through these documents and agree to abide by them when joining QWASI.
When applying for membership please consider a short bio of your art history and any interest relating to flora dn fauna of Australia. Exhibitions you may have attended, Flora dn Fauna conservation you may have connections with and your general interest in Australian Wildlife.
If you know a current member you may like to ask him or her to support your application with an email.
While membership normally continues as long as dues are paid, QWASI reserves the right to subject any financial member to a review process if it is felt their standard of work has dropped or their interests clash with the objectives of the Society. QWASI reserves the right to revoke membership of members whose work is deemed no longer up to standard.
The QWASI financial year starts January 1st with a small discount to membership after 1st July.
For people interested in wildlife art who are not currently artists or not exhibiting at this time, but they are interested in attending meetings, workshops and outings. As places in workshops may be limited, preference will be given to our members over non-members.
For wildlife artists under 18 years of age.
Come and join us at a Outing / General meeting, held every second Sunday of the month. Venue and time advised on the website and social media pages. Please bring a completed application form and current work.
If your work is already posted on the internet, send the web address or email images with size and medium details to info@qldwildlifeartists.com.au. You must also complete an application form.
A one-time Joining Fee of AUD $20.00 applies to Ordinary memberships.
APPLY ONLINE or download a PDF Application Form.


Wooden farmhouse tables and clocks made from wire spools. Clocks start at $55 and tables start at $80. Full price list and our most popular stain colors shown in pictures.
Sizes range from 20"-54" in diameter. Many leg heights (12"-34") and stain colors to choose from.
Custom size, color(s), leg height, and name/text additions available upon request. US shipping available.
Call or text show contact info . Visit Midwest Wooderness on FB for many more clocks and tables!


text:
Q: Running batch file with python script I have a batch file, which I'm trying to run with python and it doesn't work for some reason.
The batch file specifies path, then executes a certain command, like this:
Path= %systemdrive%\somefolder\secondfolder\Step1
setupEP.exe ADDLOCAL="tp"

Then python script should this file and then does some other things, which are irrelevant for the current some other similar files.
The problem is batch files aren't been executed.
Below is my python script
def func1():

    os.popen(r"%systemdrive%\s1.bat")
def func1():

    os.popen(r"%systemdrive%\s2.bat")

list=[func1(),func2()]

for i in list:
    t1=threading.Thread(target=i, args=(1,))
    t1.start()
    t1.join()

If I substitute the batch execution with some random loop, like
for i in range(0,60):
     print i

Everything works perfectly
Help anyone?

A: .Thread should receive a callable object, you are passing func1() which is the result of the object after being called.
You basically need my_list = [func1, func2]
In your case, the batch files run only once on script start, not during your for loop.

A: You should try calling the batch file instead of opening it. Try something like
call("PathToFile/File.bat")

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


The imageRUNNER ADVANCE C5250 color copier transforms workflow from a series of individual processes to an integrated flow of shared information. A beautifully compact communications hub, this Series can drive your organization to new levels of performance and productivity. From every point of view, these models are simply advanced.
The imageRUNNER ADVANCE C5250 helps each user accomplish every task with outstanding ease. A center of extraordinary productivity, these models are simple to personalize, creating a truly customized way to work.
A powerful digital communications center, the Canon imageRUNNER ADVANCE C5250 integrates enterprise applications, connects to the cloud, and gives you the freedom to work from wherever you are, efficiently and easily.
In today's networked world, you need greater control over your resources and data. The imageRUNNER ADVANCE C5250 delivers just that with the ability to configure a system, safeguard information, and track resources, all right at your fingertips.
It's all about a brighter, greener future. The imageRUNNER ADVANCE C5250, registered in EPEAT®, incorporates innovative, eco-conscious solutions that propel your business while reducing your environmental footprint.
In today's networked world, you need greater control over your resources and data. The imageRUNNER ADVANCE C5250 delivers just that with the ability to configure a system, safeguard information, and track resources, all right at your fingertips.
It's all about a brighter, greener future. The imageRUNNER ADVANCE C5250, registered in EPEAT®, incorporates innovative, eco-conscious solutions that propel your business while reducing your environmental footprint.


text:
Dangerous AI Hysteria Could Retard Important Research
Maxwell ReboJuly 29th 2015
/ Artificial Intelligence
/Artificial Intelligence
If you were to go by recent headlines, you might understandably conclude that artificial intelligence is out to get us. The open letter that's been all over the news forces a final confrontation with the question: do we actually need to worry about AI?
Despite recent attention garnered by alarmists, not all have issued such dire warnings as Elon Musk and Stephen Hawking. Mustafa Suleyman, a co-founder of Google-acquired AI firm DeepMind, came back with excellent points about taking a more tempered, pragmatic approach to dealing with AI. He should know: he and his team have been behind some of the most impressive advances in the field seen to date. A calm voice in a storm of hyperbole, he proposes to focus on the benefits AI lends us as a controllable tool.
It is precisely this approach that can provide some much-needed grounding during the present fear frenzy. While AI is frequently being compared to nuclear weapons, we ought to remember that nuclear fission has transformed our entire modern society for the better. Though the tendency to weaponize new technology unsurprisingly continues, it is not worth stagnating growth and investments in AI while citing unfounded concerns.
While the open letter specifically discusses lethal AI in military settings, all that would be required to effectively stall otherwise useful advancements in the field would be to accept an overly broad definition of what could be considered harmful. AI-controlled decision support systems in military communications, for instance, could drastically improve the quality of situational awareness and save hundreds of lives. Though the letter calls for a ban on "offensive autonomous weapons", the actual definitions may become murky in negotiations. Should a UN ban ensue, even more benign applications may come under fire.
Suleyman proposes that artificial general intelligence will be "a cheap and abundant resource to solve our toughest global problems". Viewed in this light, it is clear that a focus on development of AI in civilian and humanitarian circles can position it for the greatest positive impact. Today we have the tools of open source software and international policy frameworks which can help regulate and guide the technology.
If AI were to be developed primarily in the confines of the world's military complexes, then we would have cause to worry. However, any ban on military use is obviously unenforceable — one needs only look at the difficulties of regulating nuclear weapons. Perhaps unintuitively, the best way to ensure that AI is used for the best purposes is to simply do so and, most importantly, do so openly with a vast international community. Out in the open, reasoned dialog can take place.
Though real dangers from AI do exist, worries regarding its misuse can be allayed by proactively pursuing open, civilian development.
Maxwell Rebo is the CTO at Factr and loves developing AI and discussing theoretical technologies. You can argue about AI and the robot uprising with him on Twitter.
Robo-Burger Joint to Open in San Francisco
Tune In: A White House Conversation on Automation with Futurism
Robots in Europe May Become "Electronic Persons"
Study Says Automation May Replace 40% of Canadians in Just 10 to 20 Years
U.S. Congress Discusses AI, Automation, Robotics, and Basic Income


What are the benefits and insights of MS Project Training?
It is absolutely necessary to have sound project management knowledge for a good project manager but is that really sufficient….?? Especially, for managing long duration, complex and complicated projects, managing projects with a lot of interdependencies coupled with frequent resource churn, gaps in resource capabilities, changing requirements, varied reporting requirements from stakeholders?……. While a seasoned project manager might be able to still manage the project by investing a lot of time and energy in manual planning, tracking and controlling activities and updating static charts, most would struggle to do that. Even a seasoned project manager would be hard pressed for time to provide real value-added services to the project that are demanded by dynamically changing project environments. This is where a Project Management tool like Microsoft Project comes in handy. It allows you to plan a project in detail by building a dynamic schedule model and makes tracking and controlling easier by automatically updating the impacted areas in response to changes and updates you make, highlighting any conflicts. This frees up your bandwidth for real value-added work like stakeholder engagement, alternatives analysis, scanning environment for changes and risks etc.
MS-Project is an Industry standard tool with huge social presence. It is used by over 22,000,000 users across large and small businesses. Though it was traditionally used for large enterprise-wide project management, 67% of even small businesses are found to use it today. Many companies mandate their project managers to be proficient in Microsoft Project.
Experts and Project Management practitioners have extensively used MS-Project and have seen the product evolve over a period of time and can safely say that it is one of the best in class project management software- worth the investment.
Let's have a look into some of the insights into MS-Project capabilities and features.
Develop and Manage project schedules: You can create tasks based on duration or effort and assign resources either full time or part time making use of custom created task, resource and project calendars. MS-Project allows you to set 11 baselines and 10 Interim plans to help create snapshots of project schedules for comparison.
Allocate and manage project resources: You can create different types of resources, assign costs to them and manage their allocation to tasks. MS-Project allows you to create a different resource calendar for every resource – a useful feature for multi-country projects.
Share resources with a common resource pool: You can create common resource pool that helps identify shared resource conflicts with other projects early. This helps in managing Resource data centrally and results in better resource management and utilization.
Earned Value Management: Helps you to monitor and control integrated performance of project w.r.t. work, schedule, and cost.
Ability to meet diverse reporting needs using – both built-in and custom reports: MS-Project provides a lot of Out of the box (pre-canned) reports such as burndown, task overview, resource overview etc. You can create custom reports and save custom report templates for use on other projects and also create dashboards for multiple projects using master project plan.
Ability to manage multiple projects with a master project plan: You can track multiple projects or portfolio of projects.
Ability to provide different views which can be customized: You can create a number of different views such as Gantt, Resource Usage, Task Sheet, Calendar etc. to see the project data from different angles for focusing on certain areas and analysis.
Project timeline view: You can create customized bird's-eye view of the project that can be directly used in stakeholder presentations and email.
Create custom fields to capture specific details: MS-Project allows you to add different types of custom fields such as text, number, flag and then use formulas to populate them. You can create custom fields such as comments, team names etc to store information about your organization, team etc. and also associate images or other graphics instead of text. You can implement traffic light indicators with custom fields for effective status communication within the team.
Filters, groups, and highlights to help with task management: MS-Project provides some very convenient features like Filters, Highlights, and Groups. You can use the features to filter and highlight resources or tasks based on certain criteria such as late tasks. You can use Groups feature to group resources or tasks on certain criteria. You can create custom highlights, filters or groups.
Integrates well with other tools: You can use MS-Project with other tools such as MS-Excel, Jira etc. Also, you can use MS-Project with Enterprise based solutions such as Project Server and Sharepoint.
Let us look at some of the benefits that we can derive by making effective use of MS-Project capabilities.
Always stay in control. Know and communicate project status accurately on demand. Never lose focus on the critical path and maintain awareness potential of conflicts via traffic light implementation and early warning indicators.
Run what-if scenarios quickly to assess impacts of various alternatives.
Ease of integration with other tools helps communicate with diverse stakeholders easily.
Optimise resource utilization across projects in the organization using shared resource pool and effective use of different calendars.
MS-Project is very user-friendly and easy to learn. It has a very intuitive experience driven UI and anyone with a bit of project management experience will get the confidence to use the tool effectively with a mere 16hours of systematic training such as the one provided by ProThoughts. As it is a widely used tool, there is a lot of online content and help available for Microsoft Project. Users of MS-Project can keep themselves updated and exploit the features provided by latest MS-Project version to the fullest using such online resources.
We would strongly recommend you to gain proficiency in MS-Project if you are seriously thinking about building your career as a Project, Program or Portfolio Manager.
PMP Certification Journey: An average student like me!


This pretty shell pink dress is from Cecilie Copenhagen.
The design of the dress is feminine and contemporary as the silhouette has a diagonal ruffled neckline and one open shoulder short sleeve. The brand's fashionable pattern is cool and modern, and makes the dress stand out even more. For a statement summer dress to wear day or night, this is the quintessential pick.


text:
Q: Database.emptyRecycleBin(ID[]) is showing some flaws I'm trying to delete certain records from the recycle bin.
I am querying the Account records like as:
Map<Id,Account>accMap = new Map<Id,Account>([Select id.name from Account where Type='xyz value' ALL ROWS]);
List<ID> accIds = new List<Id>(accmap.keyset());// Getting correct Ids
Database.emptyRecycleBin(accIds);
//my account records are successfully deleted from recycle bin

However if i do the same query again then it again showing the same account records.
Can anyone help me why these records are coming out by SOQL but has already been removed from recycle bin.

A: This is because the records have not been hard deleted from the recycle bin. Salesforce runs a process on a scheduled basis that physically deletes records that have been deleted from the recycle bin, if that process has not run yet, you will still see the records there.
A fuller description of the behavior of emptyRecycleBin can be found here.