Review: Grounded

After a short but earnest courtship, Bianca can no longer deny her feelings for James, and though she’s tried her hardest, she can’t help but see that he cares deeply for her, as well. In a completely uncharacteristic move, she has put aside her misgivings and agreed to live with the enigmatic billionaire. Is her leap of faith the beginning of something wonderful, or is it too much, too fast?

As James and Bianca feel a growing need for each other that neither can deny, circumstances beyond their control intervene, trying to tear them apart. Amidst the ever mounting threat of a monster who wants Bianca dead, and the constant pitfalls of an indiscreet past that James can’t seem to escape, can these two passionate lovers manage to find their happily ever after?

Title: Grounded (Up in the Air ~ Book 3)
Author: R.K. Lilley | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Website
Publication Date: February 10 2013
Publisher: Self-Published
Length: 378 Pages
Add it to your TBR Pile: Goodreads
Buy It: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Source: Purchased (Kindle Edition)
Cover Love: Wow.  How long are her legs? She is exactly how I would picture Bianca.
Point of View: 1st person, following Bianca.  However, there are a few surprise chapters from Stephan and James' point of view.

My Rating: 5 Stars

What a completely perfect series this has turned out to be.  I am a big fan of the Fifty and Crossfire series, but the Up in the Air series has officially overtaken them in my eyes.  I never thought I would see the day when I said this, but... "Christian who?"  James Cavendish is simply perfect, but more on him in a bit.

“I want so much for this to last – for us to stay together.  I’m desperate for it.”

I found that Bianca and James' relationship progressed the most in Grounded.  As it should do as it's the last book of the series.  But they really learn to communicate, and you can tell that they are both starting to trust each other. Bianca mostly, as she has always had problems with trust, but even James is learning.

One of the things I have always liked about James is that he never lies to Bianca.  If she asks him for an answer he tells her.  It may not always be a popular answer or one that she will like but he tells her the hard truth.  Because Bianca ran before, James is always scared of that happening again.  You can tell now that he has a bit more faith in her to stay.  This of course is because Bianca is finally understanding out how devoted he is.

“You are more precious to me than my own life, by far.  It’s not even a question.  I would do anything for you.”

James... *sigh*  Never has there been a character written that is the complete embodiment of so many wonderful attributes.  He is the perfect blend of absolutely everything.  I think it would be difficult at this stage for him to be knocked off the pedestal I have put him on.  I just think he is perfect.

And Stephan continued to be the best book best friend... EVER.  I really don't think you understand how much I love Stephan.  And not only him but his and James' relationship has continued to grow.  It means the world to Bianca that these two get along, but she should never have had any worries.  James and Stephan have complete bromance going on, and it's amazing.  They are never jealous of each other, and they know that together their love for Bianca is everything.

“I sometimes thought that our fast friendship had been kind of like joining a club, one made up of men that thought that Bianca Karlsson was the most perfect woman on the planet.”

The hot and steamy scenes are in fact as hot and steamy as ever.  With this being the third book you would think that their sex scenes would get old, and or repetitive by now.  But that isn't the case.  One thing that Bianca and James don't have to worry about is being boring in that department.  However, I want to stress that this series is not all just about the sex.  There is so much character development, main and side stories, action and romance that helps to keep the pages turning.

“Is it romantic or psychotic when I say I'll never let you leave me?”

I have to admit I am quite sad to be saying goodbye to Stephan, Bianca and James.  Although I couldn't have wished for a better ending to their story.  We are also blessed with not one but two epilogues.  It could not get any better than that.

Even though this is the end of their series, it doesn't mean it is the end of the characters in this story.  In Grounded we get to meet Tristan and Danika.  They are not on the best of terms, however you can tell there is a deep and complicated past between the two of them.  Thankfully we get to find out what it is, because they are getting their own books.  Bad Things, which is already published, will be my next read.  From what I can tell on a time line it will take place before In Flight, the first book of the Up in the Air series.  We will get to see how Tristan and Danika met, and maybe we will get to find out why it seems that Danika now dislikes Tristan so much.  And maybe, just maybe we will get to see a little bit more of our very own Mr. Beautiful.

“The world went from black and white and into color when I laid eyes on you, my love. There'll be no going back.”

MORE QUOTES FROM GROUNDED

Book Blogger Spotlight: That Artsy Girl's Book Blog

Hi, I am Nazia and I am an engineering student from India. I love reading, writing, sketching and listening to loud rock music and I detest anything to do with engineering. I hope you guys aren't too hard on me for any grammatical errors I might make because English is not my native language. :)

When and why did you become a book blogger?

I started my blog a little over a month ago - May 15, 2013 to be exact. I've always loved reading books and after seeing how much fun the other book bloggers seemed to be having, I wanted in too. :) It's been amazing so far and I just hope I can keep doing this.

How did you come up with the name of your blog?

It's actually not a very interesting story. A girl in my class once called me "that artsy girl" because I'm always sitting around sketching or reading a book. It sort of stuck with me and a few of my friends started calling me that too - The Artsy Girl. So, it seemed natural that my blog would be named That Artsy Girl's Book Blog.

What is your favorite thing about blogging?

The best part of blogging is sharing my love for books with others. Where I come from, I don't meet many people who are as obsessed with books as me. So, it was really amazing to find that I'm not the only book-crazy person out there.

What do you find the hardest about blogging?

When I started my blog, I was on vacation and it was quite easy for me to post something every other day. But now that I'm back in college, it is really difficult to balance lab reports and project presentations with blog posts. But blogging is way more interesting than any of my college work, so I don't mind spending hours on my blog everyday.

Does your blog participate in any weekly features and if so which is your favorite?

Since my blog is newish, I've not participated in any weekly features yet. But I've seen some fun features on the blogosphere like Waiting on Wednesday, Stacking The Shelves etc. so, I'm sure you can see some regular feature posts on my blog pretty soon.

What has been your favorite moment since you became a book blogger? Which review, interview or giveaway have you been most proud of?

Ah, let's see. My proudest blogging moment is actually the very first time an author contacted me and asked me to review her book. When I received that particular email, I jumped around my room for an entire five minutes. Embarrassing, I know. Here's the link to the review of the book I'm talking about, Phantasma by Penelope Reece.

What kind of genres do you enjoy reading and reviewing the most?

My favorite genres are Fantasy, YA Paranormal and YA Contemporary but I also occasionally read New Adult, Science Fiction, Mysteries and Thrillers. I don't review erotica on my blog, but I do read it once in a while when I'm not feeling my best. There is just something about a mindless, steamy read that makes you feel instantly better, isn't it?

What is your favorite individual book or series? What makes you love it so much?

My favorite series is Harry Potter especially because it is what started my love for magical books. If not for Harry Potter, I would probably still be reading smutty Mills & Boon and Harlequin type books. Harry Potter saved my life. No. Seriously.

Who is your favorite fictional male character, why and from what book or series are they from?

It is a tie between Etienne from Anna and the French Kiss and Archer from Hex Hall. I love both of them equally.

Who is your favorite fictional female character, why and from what book or series are they from?

Again, it is a tie between Anna from Anna and the French Kiss and Sophie from Hex Hall. I guess you can say AATFK and HH are two of my fav books.

Who are your favorite three authors and why?

In no particular order: J. K. Rowling for allowing me to get lost in the wonderful world she had created. Rachel Hawkins for capturing perfectly the adorably snarky voice of Sophie Mercer. Susan Ee for restoring my faith in good YA fiction.

If you could turn one book or series into films, what would you pick and who would you cast as the main characters?

Actually, it's already been optioned for a movie but I would love to see Angelfall as a movie. As for the cast, it would be superawesome if Henry Cavill could play Raffe and Ellen Page could play Penryn. I know that is kind of an odd pairing but I actually think they would look good together.

What has been your favorite book of 2013? Why did you love it?

My favorite book so far in 2013 has been Angelfall by Susan Ee. I went into the book with absolutely no expectations because I'm not a big fan of angel books (*meaningful glare at Hush, Hush*) but this one absolutely rocked my socks off. I mean, if you haven't read this, you should. Like, immediately. Because this book is intense, raw and absolutely wonderful. The best thing about this book is that Penryn is such a kick-ass heroine. She is not one of those I-need-a-guy-to-protect-me types. She is awesome.

What books are you most looking forward to in 2013?

The book I'm just dying to get my greedy hands on is World After, the sequel to Angelfall by Susan Ee. After how Angelfall ended, I really can't imagine how Raffe and Penryn could get their happily-ever-after, but I have faith in Ms. Ee. I'm sure she'll write an equally, if not more, amazing sequel.

Paper books or ebooks?

I read mostly ebooks nowadays, but whenever I can, I buy a "real" book because nothing can beat feeling the pages in between your fingers. Don't you agree?

Where is your favorite place to read?

I'm kind of a couch potato, so yeah, couch. :)

Milk chocolate, white chocolate or dark chocolate?

Dark chocolate.

Coffee, hot tea or hot chocolate?

Coffee all the way.

Would you like to give any other details about yourself? How can others find you around the web? Such as Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, etc...

Blog: http://thatartsygirlsbookblog.wordpress.com
Bloglovin: http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/7698789
Twitter: http://twitter.com/ThatArtsyGirl92
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/That-Artsy-Girls-Book-Blog/563343327043497?ref=hl
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/ThatArtsyGirl

Author Spotlight: Emma Chase

EMMA CHASE

Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Website

By day, Emma Chase is a devoted wife and mother of two who resides in a small, rural town in New Jersey. By night she is a keyboard crusader, toiling away the hours to bring her colorful characters and their endless antics to life. She has a long standing love/hate relationship with caffeine.

Emma is an avid reader. Before her children were born she was known to consume whole books in a single day. Writing has also always been a passion and with the 2013 release of her debut romantic comedy, Tangled, the ability to now call herself an author is nothing less than a dream come true.

Tell us one thing about yourself that you do not usually include in your regular author bio.

I bite my nails incessantly.  It’s a terrible habit, that I’ve never been able to break. 

Who and what did you grow up reading? Do you remember the first book that you fell in love with?

The first book I remember making an impression  was Animal Farm by George Orwell. When I was in 4th grade, my older brother had a copy that he had to read for a school assignment.  I was sick, home from school for the day, and I was bored so I picked it up and read it in one day.   Of course, I didn’t understand the political implications, but I remember thinking it was such a sad, but good story about animals.

The first book I ever cried over was Summer of My German Soldier, in 7th grade.  To this day, thoughts of that book tug at my heartstrings.  That same year I read a book version of the play West Side Story. I found the ending shocking and devastating.

I also went through a big VC Andrews phase (starting with Flowers in the Attic).

When I was a little older I’d read whatever romance books my mother had around the house - Kathleen Woodwiss, Danielle Steel, and later Julie Garwood and Johanna Lindsey.

Who would you say has had the most influence over you becoming a writer?

Writing is something I’ve always enjoyed.  At a very young age, I used short stories and poetry to express whatever feelings I was experiencing at the time.

As far as the biggest influences over me becoming an author – I’d have to say it was the wave of talented self-published and indie authors that have really transformed the publishing industry today.  Reading about regular, every-day women who took a chance and put their work out there, inspired me to explore the possibility of publishing.  Whereas before, publishing my work felt like wishful thinking, they made it seem attainable.

How long have you been writing? Do you write part-time or full-time?

I’ve been writing my entire life – always part time – whenever I could squeeze it in.  I consider being a mother to be my full time job, but since Tangled’s publication I now schedule and plan daily writing time.

What is your normal writing style? Do you outline and plot or do you just start writing to see where the story takes you?

I have the outline in my head.  The ending or climax of a story is usually the clearest part for me in the beginning.  And then, I work backwards to see how the characters got to that point.  But the story itself is all laid out.

That being said, when I actually sit down to write the scenes, it doesn’t always go like I’d originally planned.  Certain actions or points end up not fitting with the characters or overall story, and adjustments are made.  But typically, the plot ends up being pretty close to what I’d first envisioned.

Do you have any quirky writing habits?

Haha, yes.  I have to be alone when I’m writing. If someone talks to me or interrupts me, I’ll lose the words – the feelings of the scene I’m writing.   Also, I walk around and speak my dialogue out loud – another reason I like to be alone when I write – it feels less absurd to do this if I’m by myself.

How long on average does it take you to write a book?

Anywhere from three to six months, depending on what else is going on in life.  I enjoy promotion and chatting with friends and fans on social media, but that does take up a lot of time.

What would you say is the hardest and the most enjoyable thing about writing?

The hardest thing is finding the time to get a story or a character out of my head and onto paper.  My characters are always with me – new scenes and situations are always popping into my mind. And they’re situations or events that I really enjoy imagining. The challenge is actually getting it written before I lose or forget them.

The most enjoyable thing is completing a chapter.  It’s one step closer to telling a character’s story.  While finishing a whole book is great too – it’s also bittersweet, because you have to say goodbye to the story.  But finishing a chapter is exciting and motivating.

Also – the absolute best feeling – is chatting with someone who’s read and liked my book.  Knowing that a reader has enjoyed a story I put my heart into, that they care for the characters as much as I do, feels more wonderful than I could put into words.

What has been your most memorable experience since publishing your first book?

When my husband brought home the New York Times and I was #15 on the ebook & print list.  It was a surreal but amazing moment for me.

If you could go back in time, what advice would you give to your younger self?

Write more often.  Make the time.

Give us a little hint and insight into what you are working on at the moment.

I’m simultaneously working on multiple Tangled related projects. Bonus scenes, alternate POV scenes, as well as the upcoming  books in the Tangled series. It will be a multi-book series, but which story will be published next is still being worked out between myself, my publisher and my agent.

Now, let’s have some fun. What is your favorite pizza topping?

Pepperoni. It’s so bad for you…but so good.

Describe to me your most perfect Ice Cream Sundae.

Vanilla ice cream, brownie pieces, chocolate, caramel and marshmellow sauce, whipped cream and rainbow sprinkles. I don’t have Sundaes often – when I do I go big.

As a reader, do you prefer ebooks or paper/hard backs?

Paper/Hardback – no contest.  I enjoy the immediate gratification of ebooks, but I’ve never gone back and reread an ebook.  I reread my favourite paperbacks all the time.

Where is your favorite place to read?

I like to read in bed or on the couch, preferably when it’s raining or snowing outside. I’m a real romantic when it comes to reading itself – a quiet house, a glass of wine or a hot cup of coffee, a roaring fire – really help me get into a story.  Of course between my husband, the kids, the dogs and real life in general, the opportunity to have a “date night” with a good book is few and far between.

If you found yourself stranded on an island, what is the one book you would want with you? And why?

Gentle Rogue by Johanna Lindsey, because no matter how many times I’ve read it, it makes me smile.  In my opinion, the banter is witty, the love scenes are steamy and the characters are relatable and so entertaining.

I am a huge lover of book quotes, what is your all time favorite quote from a book? And what book is it from?

“And I pray one prayer – I repeat it till my tongue stiffens – Catherine Earnshaw, may you not rest as long as I am living; you said I killed you – haunt me, then! The murdered do haunt their murderers, I believe. I know that ghosts have wandered on earth. Be with me always – take any form – drive me mad! Only do not leave me in this abyss, where I cannot find you! Oh, God! It is unutterable! I cannot live without my life! I cannot live without my soul” -  Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

For me, Drew Evans from Tangled has always had a little bit of Heathcliff hiding inside him.

And last but not least, I am an animal lover. Do you have any pets? And if so, what kind and what are their names?

Yes, my family and I are huge pet lovers.  We have two dogs - Max and Jake, three turtles -  Racer, Boo, and Rocky, two hermit crabs - Crabby and Ladybug, and two hamsters - Snowball and Scurry.

Be sure to check out Tangled by Emma Chase, and be on the look out for Twisted.

Review: Mile High

James has initiated Bianca into a dark and drugging world of passion and pain. He taught her about her own submissive, masochistic nature, and she fell swiftly and deeply in love with the undeniably charming and impossibly beautiful Mr. Cavendish, but a painful misunderstanding and the return of the brutally violent demon of her past have combined to overwhelm Bianca, and, confused and hurt, she pushes him away.

It’s been over a month since the shocking attack that hospitalized her, and since she told a distraught James that she needed space, but her feelings haven’t gone away. Even she knew that it was only a matter of time before he would cast his spell on her again…

Title: Mile High (Up in the Air ~ Book 2)
Author: R.K. Lilley | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Website
Publication Date: November 02 2012
Publisher: Self-Published
Length: 283 Pages
Add it to your TBR Pile: Goodreads
Buy It: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Source: Purchased (Kindle Edition)
Cover Love: That is Bianca, she is perfect.
Point of View: 1st person, following Bianca

My Rating: 5 Stars

Love. Love. Love.  This is all I have for this series... LOVE.  There is just so much I can say about the Up in the Air series.  I will be gushing and the words love and adore will be used often.

“Meet my future.  Her name is Bianca.  Come to terms with it.  My advice would be to get on her good side.”

Bianca continued to impress me in Mile High.  However, I did roll my eyes a few times at some of her internal thoughts and actions but who is perfect?  I still find her to be a strong female character, and even her imperfections were endearing.

“There you go, belittling us again.  You must know by now that I've never done any of this for anyone else.  I was a slut once with my body, but I've never been a slut with my heart.”

But the true star of this show continued to be James.  I can't say enough good things about him.  He has continued to be honest with Bianca.  He pushes her just to the limit to which he thinks she can handle.  He is mindful of her first inclination to run, so he never pushes too far or too fast.  Instead of coming out and demanding something of her he puts the idea in her head, tells her to start thinking about as it is something he would like to see happen in the future.

I want to point out that there is of course a lot of sex in this series.  But it just doesn't feel like it is all about sex, if that makes sense.  And James always shows Bianca the respect she deserves.  Even though this is a book about BDSM, the scenes never go too far in that you feel uncomfortable, at least I never did.  James practically worships Bianca, and would never dream of hurting her.

There is so much give and take with their relationship.  Bianca is very closed off with her emotions and her past.  But again, he never pushes her.  He also offers information about his past and his life in exchange for her opening up.  I loved these exchanges.  It showed how their relationship was slowly evolving into something deeper and more meaningful.  We are in Bianca's head and we know her feelings for James.  But even without being in James' head, I have no doubt his feelings for her.  I really just love him.

“I don't feel alone with you.  I feel like I have a family and a home again.  You're my home.  All of the dark shadows seem to disappear when we're together.”

Stephan continued to be the very best BFF.  He and James grew even closer in Mile High, and I still love their relationship.  It would have been so easy for R.K. Lilley to make them spiteful or jealous of each other's relationship with Bianca and you just never feel that.  They both love her and with that love they have become friends.

“Careful, Love.  You can't offer a starving man a feast and expect him not to take you up on it.”

The third and final book in the series is Grounded.  I am so very excited to start it right away.  I wouldn't say that Mile High ends on a cliffhanger, although it is obvious that there is more to their story that we need to find out.  But as all three books are published, it doesn't matter.  My suggestion is that if you have any interest at all in this type of story, that you start them as soon as possible.

MORE QUOTES FROM MILE HIGH

Review: In Flight

When reserved flight attendant Bianca gets one look at billionaire hotel owner James Cavendish, she loses all of her hard-won composure. For a girl who can easily juggle a tray of champagne flutes at 35,000 feet in three inch heels, she finds herself shockingly weak-kneed from their first encounter. The normally unruffled Bianca can't seem to look away from his electrifying turquoise gaze. They hold a challenge, and a promise, that she finds impossible to resist, and she is a girl who is used to saying no and meaning it.

Bianca is accustomed to dealing with supermodels and movie stars in her job as a first class flight attendant, but James Cavendish puts them all to shame in the looks department. If only it were just his looks that she found so irresistible about the intimidating man, Bianca could have ignored his attentions. But what tempts her like never before is the dominant pull he seems to have over her from the moment they meet, and the promise of pleasure, and pain, that she reads in his eyes.

Title: In Flight (Up in the Air ~ Book 1)
Author: R.K. Lilley | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Website
Publication Date: October 20 2012
Publisher: Self-Published
Length: 263 Pages
Add it to your TBR Pile: Goodreads
Buy It: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Source: Purchased (Kindle Edition)
Cover Love: Simple, but perfect. 
Point of View: 1st person, following Bianca

My Rating: 5 Stars

Honestly, can there be too many book about rich, sexy, kinky and hot as hell billionaires?  No?  Oh how right you are.  I am so in love with the Up in the Air series.  I will say this right now... Christian Grey will also hold a place in my heart.  The Fifty Shades series was the first set of books of it's kind that I had read, for that he will also be a top book boyfriend of mine.  But holy hades... James Cavendish sure does give him a run for his money.  He is absolutely a-ma-zing.

“I want you to feel what I’m feeling, Bianca.  I want you to feel this uncontrollable need.  I can’t stand the thought that you’re indifferent to me.”

Bianca.  I actually really like Bianca.  This is truly saying something for me.  I love these types of books but the heroine always finds a way for me to dislike them.  They are all the same... Ana, Ava, Eva... I had problems with them all.  Now I am not saying that Bianca is perfect, but she is the smartest one of the bunch that's for sure.  I loved that she is a flight attendant.  This added a whole new dynamic to the story.  I loved when she was at work, meeting the other flight attendants, a few of the passengers, and I loved it when James is on the same flight as her.

“Please, call me James,” he chided me.  He leaned in closer, speaking directly into my ear.  “In private, though, you may call me Mr. Cavendish.”

James Cavendish aka Mr. Beautiful.  *sigh*  What can I even say?  He is an Alpha Dominant who can just as easily melt your heart.  I love how honest James is with Bianca.  He never lies to her.  He knows that she isn't always going to like his answers but when she asks him a question, he is honest.  This is rare for this type of character.  It's not that he is forthcoming with information, but like I said when asked he never lies.

I also love how accepting he is of Bianca's life.  This isn't to say that he wouldn't welcome her to quit her job tomorrow so that she can be by his side 24/7, but for the most part he is supportive.  Bianca also paints, and I loved his reaction to her paintings.  You could tell how much he truly loved her paintings.

And my favorite thing about James?  His relationship with Stephan.

“I knew I had a problem.  I was starting to like that kinky rich bastard.”

Stephan.  He is Bianca's best friend.  They have both had a pretty crap start to their lives, and somehow managed to find each other.  There is no blood relation, but I don't even think they could be closer if they were in fact brother and sister.  They love each other without question, and they accept the others choices.  They support each other in all activities and are there for each other if things go bad.

In short... Stephan is the bomb.  He has got to be the best book BFF, ever.  I adore him.  And the relationship between James and Stephan is something special.  I completely assumed at the start that one would be jealous of the other, and that their dislike of each other would be one of the hurdles of Biana and James being together.  I could not have been more wrong.  They have a mutual respect for each other, and they work together to ensure that Bianca is happy and safe.  James feels he is in debt to Stephan for how he protected her when they were growing up, and Stephan loves that James has brought Bianca out of her shell and that she seems to be happier that she ever has been before.  Honestly, I could go on and on.  I can only hope that these two continue with their 'bro'mance because I really do love them both.

“It was hard to remember that we weren't supposed to feel anything for each other when he looked at me like I was more important than the next breath.”

oooOOOooohhh... and I have to give a little shout out to the chapter titles.  They are a play on Bianca always calling James, Mr. Beautiful.  You can get an idea of what James' mood is going to be with the chapter title.  Mr. Charming, Mr. Stalker, Mr. Mercurial, etc... They were cute and fun. 

The Up in the Air series is a trilogy.  I would classify In Flight as having a cliffhanger, but the good news is that all three books have been published.  So there is no need to wait, you can start them right away.  Book two is Mile High.  I am excited to see Bianca and James continue their romance, and to see what happens next.  I am sure that there will still be plenty of heart stopping moments, kinky sex, and sweet romance.  I can't wait...

MORE QUOTES FROM IN FLIGHT