Monday, September 30, 2013

Cover Reveal! - Lost Without You (Haven #1) by Liz Hannah

Lost Without You by Liz Hannah 

Expected Publication: December 30 2013 
Cover Design: CoverIt! Designs
Summary from Goodreads
Grace Young thought she was a survivor - until the day her twin brother died, leaving her parents heartbroken and their relationship with Grace fractured beyond repair. Now all Grace wants is a chance to experience something of a normal life, before it's all too late. Going to college hundreds of miles from home seems like the right way to embrace her new found freedom, especially after years of homeschooling, but while Grace takes to her classes naturally, it's the other side of college that she's unprepared for. The parties. The friendships. The boys. Especially one Dean Michaels, the Haven University's star soccer player. Fate throws the pair together, and their friendship starts to turn into something more. But can Grace keep the secrets of her past hidden without hurting those she's come to count on the most? 

 *New Adult Contemporary Romance, recommended for readers 17+ for mature situations* 




Author Bio:
Liz Hannah is a New Adult author that calls both Scotland and Australia home. Currently studying her Bachelor of Arts at university, when she’s not busy reading or writing, Liz can be found procrastinating from her studies indulging in her Pinterest habit or watching too many TV shows. Lost Without You is her debut New Adult novel. 

Links: Blog | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter





Giveaway – Win 2 New Adult Paperbacks 


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eARC BOOK REVIEW... Keep You From Harm by Debra Doxer



KEEP YOU FROM HARM

Author: Debra Doxer

Release: September 27, 2013

Age Group/Genre: Mature YA/New Adult Paranormal Romance


Links to the book:
Goodreads – http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18324431-keep-you-from-harm?from_search=true

Where to buy:

Book Description:
Secrets…
They weigh you down. I’ve kept a secret all my life. It’s my mother’s secret, too. I inherited it from her along with a unique ability that only we possess. She’s gone now, another victim of addiction. If her death isn’t enough to bring me to my knees, her betrayal flays me to the bone. Because the secret my mother and I have been keeping is just one of many she’d kept. She never told me I have an older brother. And now he’s here, eager to be my guardian.
There is no one else. So I move across the country to live with this stranger, my brother. But experience has taught me that most situations are temporary and forming attachments only leads to hurt in the end. That’s why I’m determined to keep to myself in this new place, struggling to seem aloof while I’m quietly breaking apart.
Then I meet Lucas…
His magnetism is hard to resist, and most girls at school aren’t resisting. I don’t fall so easily though, especially not for guys who use their good looks as a weapon. From the start, our interactions are tense and volatile. I know it’s because I’m denying the unwelcome desire that grips me when he’s near. I think he feels it, too. He looks at me with an intensity that threatens to unhinge my resolve. Soon he’s trying to break through the walls that past hurts have built.
But I’m not what I appear to be, and it wouldn’t be fair to get involved with him. At least that’s what I tell myself. Until a terrible act of violence reveals that Lucas has a secret, too. It’s a secret that links us together and ties us to an evil history I never could have imagined.

About the Author



Debra Doxer has always loved to write. She also loves to read, often finishing several books a week. Debra works as a writer in the network and software security field. For fun, she writes fiction novels.
Debra lives with her family outside of Boston and is currently working on her next book.




Author social media links/website, etc.:


•.¸. ♥★


MY REVIEW:

The good: Refreshing and intriguing plot; good pacing, and likable characters.

The bad: Nothing that I could pick up on.

"With great power comes great responsibility." 
--For some reason, this is the first thing that popped up in my mind when I learned of Raielle's secret.

Raielle is just your average teenage girl EXCEPT she isn't exactly normal. She has a secret, well, gift if you will, that can be seen as an endowment or even a curse.

After her mom dies, she finds herself in the custody of a brother she never knew about and moving to a new school.

Enter Lucas. Lucas is the your typical high school ladies man. At first, he and Raielle don't get on with one another but as fate would have it, one situation leads to another and the two can't deny that they're somehow meant to cross paths.

Now with a growing undeniable attraction for one another,and Lucas holding his very own secret, it seems that the secrets that brought them together could be the very own that tear them apart.


My thoughts:
Over all, great read!! I must have read this in about four hours and was very intrigued with all of the suspense and trying to figure out what was going to happen next.

I felt very bad for Raielle as I could see her dilemma at every turn. With her gift, people will be greedy and will always want a piece of her and a lot of it she can't control herself. Her gift, like everything else, has it's limitations and with that there are dire aftereffects that may follow if she doesn't use it right. 

"You have to be careful, Raielle. Everyone wants a piece of you. You need to be smart. Don't let people use you for their own purposes." 

As for Lucas, I also sympathized with him as well. Due to a "fallout" with Raielle's grandmother years before, it has affected his home life and in the end he has to sacrifice a lot of his childhood toward being the man of the house and taking care of his brother while his dad is away and his mom is in her moods.

I am now very curious as to where Ms. Doxer plans to take the next book in the series since at the end of this story it kind of leaves you at a semi-cliffhanger. Well, actually, I take that back. It's not a cliffhanger but it does leave you hanging as to ponder what's in store for Raielle (and even Lucas) as now the stakes have risen considerably and their relationship has taken a standstill.

I CAN'T WAIT!! 


•.¸. ♥★

My Rating:

-Overall : 8.5
-Plot : 8.5
-Writing : 8.5
-Characters : 8.5

-Cover : 8.5

Friday, September 27, 2013

RELEASE DAY BLITZ!- The Guardians Crown by Wendy Owens

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guardians crown cover


Title: The Guardians Crown
Author: Wendy Owens
Series: The Guardians, Book 5
Genre: YA Paranormal

Book Description:
Gabe is finally forced to answer the ultimate question, will he give his life to save the world? What about just to save the one he loves the most? The Guardians struggle to find another way--ideas that don't involve Gabe's death--to defeat Baal. Time is running out. What will Gabe choose? What price will he pay for that choice?




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About Wendy Owens:

Wendy Owens is a 34 year old author, born in the small college town, Oxford Ohio. After attending Miami University, Wendy went onto a career in the visual arts. For several years she created and sold her own artwork. In 2011 she gave her true love, writing, a try. Her first novel flowed from her in only two weeks time, as though it had been fighting to get out. That moment was when she knew she had found her calling. Wendy now happily spends her days writing the stories her characters guide her to tell, admitting even she doesn’t always know where that might lead. Her first series, The Guardians, will be concluded with the fifth and final book in 2013.
When she’s not writing, this dog lover can be found spending time with her tech geek husband, their three amazing kids, and two pups, lovingly nicknamed stinks and chubbs. She also loves to cook and is a film fanatic.
For more info on Wendy's young adult fiction visit http://wendy-owens.com/
If you want to follow her on social media you can visit:
                                                                                       Facebook
                                                                                       Goodreads



Where to get your copy!
Amazon
Barnes and Noble


 

Thursday, September 26, 2013

BLOG TOUR STOP- Taming Cross (Love Inc. #2) by Ella James

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Taming Cross by Ella James ebooksm
Title: Taming Cross
Author: Ella James
Series: Love Inc
Genre: NA Romantic Suspense
Book Description:
ROMANTIC SUSPENSE FROM BESTSELLING AUTHOR ELLA JAMES... For twenty-three years, Cross Carlson was a playboy. You know the type. Tall, dark, and wealthy. Blue-eyed. Charming. He seemed to have it all so easy. But Cross was harboring a terrible secret - one that helped ruin the life of an innocent girl and almost ended his own. Finally out of the hospital, Cross is flailing, scarred in both body and mind and stifled by the weight of the secret he still keeps. The only way to absolution lies in a Mexican convent, and going there could cost him everything. If there's anyone who knows what it's like to screw up big time, it's Meredith Kinsey. Just a few years ago, Merri was an ordinary girl with a job at her college newspaper and white picket fence kind of dreams. Now she's holed up in a Mexican convent, hiding from a drug lord who thinks he owns her. What happens when the only way out of hell is with the son of the man who put you there? They say love conquers all, but does it really? NOTE: Cross and Merri's story is a Love Inc. Book. It features some characters from Selling Scarlett, but it follows a completely different story line can be read as a stand-alone. *Taming Cross is a new adult romance novel and is not intended for young readers due to violence, sexual situations, and mature language.

Teaser
Sister opens the door to a small reading room with green carpet and white bookshelves, and we pause before going in. All at once she pulls me to her chest and kisses my head. “Be brave, Merri, my love. You must do what you must do. We only want what's best for you.” And then she...leaves. She leaves me here, before I even see who's in the room. For the longest second, I stay on the threshold, staring at the man who is facing the bookshelf. My eyes run down the length of him, expecting to find Jesus or one of his Sicarios, but that's not what I find. I don’t know who this man is. He’s tall, with dark hair and large bones. Long legs, wide back, big shoulders. He looks lean, almost sick, because I can tell he shouldn't be. He reminds me of a starved lion I saw once in a documentary. He turns toward me slowly, and as he moves I'm frozen, like in those nightmares where you're being chased but you can't run. At first I'm not looking at his features—only the expression, which is somehow both solemn and surprised. And I feel like I've been struck dead, because he has an angel's face. It's not just the flawless blue of his eyes or his celebrity-perfect bones. It's not his perfect, straight-line nose or that lush, cherubic mouth. It's not his smooth skin. It's what I see inside his eyes. Something so intense, so sad, so ecstatic, so relieved, that I know he must be God's answer to my prayer. For the longest moment, he just looks at me. I feel like I'll unravel in the brilliance of those ice blue eyes. I'm so thrown off I whisper exactly what I'm thinking. “Are you here to take me?” His lips curl slowly, into something that's not at all a smile. My heart stops as he steps slightly closer. “Rescue you.”


MY REVIEW:

The good:  Interesting plot and story line, good pacing, likable characters; and ultra steamy!

The bad:   Nothing constructive to embellish on.


My thoughts: 
"Taming Cross" was a great follow up from "Selling Scarlett" and can be read as a standalone.  I was at first very skeptical of it but in the end I couldn't put it down.

"Taming Cross" tackles topics such as sex, violence, and some illegal activities that may not be everyone's cup of tea.

What I really liked about this story were the characterizations of the Cross and Meredith "Merri."  Both characters have been through unthinkable ordeals in their lives and when they collide it's pure magic.  Such a good pair of people that bring upon different dynamics to the table.  How refreshing.

I'm definitely looking forward to the next installment, "Unmaking Marchant," and hope to see Cross and Merri in it again!  Pretty please! ;)


My Rating:

-Overall : 8.5
-Plot : 8.5
-Writing : 8.5
-Characters : 8.5
-Cover : 8.5


Don't forget to check out the first book in the Love Inc Series: Selling Scarlett
Selling Scarlett by Ella James ebooksm
Book Description:
Elizabeth DeVille doesn't belong at a party like this - one where the gowns cost more than her Camry and cigars run higher than her grad school utility bills. Dragged out of seclusion by her best friend Suri, Elizabeth is merely playing dress-up, rubbing elbows with a crowd that banished her troubled family years ago. Hunter West is tired. Tired of parties, tired of pretending, and tired of trying to right a wrong that haunts him every day. Bourbon heir and professional poker player by day, by night Hunter is gambling with his life in a high-stakes game of crime and blackmail. When Elizabeth stumbles into Hunter's den of vices, she's a light in the darkness, a flame in the void. And, just like everything he touches, Hunter mars her in a record time. To rectify the damage done, Elizabeth needs money she doesn't have, and she's come up with a foolproof way to get it. Follow Elizabeth - code-named Scarlett - to the lush Nevada brothel where she'll auction her virginity and risk the only thing that's not for sale: her heart. The highest bidder is a familiar face, with wicked hands and the devil's mouth. And a secret so dark that it could cost her life. **Mature Content Warning** Not recommended for readers under the age of 17 due to mature language, sexual content, and violence.
Selling Scarlett is a full-length novel of 107,000 words. It has a complete happily-ever-after ending with no cliffhanger. It's the first Love Inc. novel, featuring a different couple in each novel.
About Ella James
Ella James is a Colorado author who writes teen and adult romance. She is happily married to a man who knows how to wield a red pen, and together they are raising a feisty two-year-old who will probably grow up believing everyone's parents go to war over the placement of a comma. Ella's books have been listed on numerous Amazon bestseller lists, including the Movers & Shakers list and the Amazon Top 100; two were listed among Amazon's Top 100 Young Adult Ebooks of 2012. To find out more about Ella's projects and get dates on upcoming releases, find her on Facebook at facebook.com/ellajamesauthorpage and follow her blog, www.ellajamesbooks.com. Questions or comments? Tweet her at author_ellaj or e-mail her at ella_f_james@ymail.com. Links Purchase Taming Cross on Amazon Purchase Selling Scarlett on AmazonPurchase Taming Cross on B&N Purchase Selling Scarlett on B&N Website Facebook Twitter

Monday, September 23, 2013

BOOK EXCERPT- Darkness Knows Me by Chrinda Jones





Title: Darkness Knows Me

Author: Chrinda Jones

Release date: April 1st, 2013

Genre: Mystery

Tour: Irresistible Reads Book Tours


Book Description:

Richard McMann hangs by his arms from the rafters of Red Curtain Club- naked. His ankles are bound together and his throat is cut in what appears to be a gruesome still-life tribute to Christ’s crucifixion. There is no blood in spite of the gaping wound to his throat and his entire body is covered by what looks like a fine white powder. The salt granules scattered on the dance floor beneath his feet and the fact that his body faces due east, make his murder different yet similar to the death days earlier in a club a few blocks away.
South Dallas police detective, Olivia Gates and criminal psychologist, Dr. Will Green, engage in a game of wits with a serial killer who haunts the nightclubs of Deep Ellum, leaving behind ritualistic sacrifices of those people he believes deserving of the act. Is he a raging psychopath, killing just to kill, or is there method behind his madness?

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18108167-darkness-knows-me?ac=1



Book Excerpt 4:

“So, what sedative did he use if it wasn’t Ketamine?”
“They listed the overridin’ chemicals in McMann’s blood as diphenhydramine, heroin, acetaminophen and salicylic acid. Then all the other chemicals, minerals, etc you expect to see in a blood work-up.”
“Cheese Heroin and aspirin,” Olivia said.
“Judging by the size of the dose he took of salicylic acid, the fella had one hell of a head banger before whoever got hold of him, got hold of him. His ears must have been ringin’ like a bicycle bell.” Verna said.
“Big guy, big dose. Makes sense to a person who doesn’t make a habit out of reading dosage labels.” Olivia never heard of this particular type of heroin being used purposefully as a respiratory depressant.
“I had them run a break down on a sample of the Cheese we found in McMann’s mouth. I wanted to know the percentage of heroin used to make it. The test came back at twenty percent. That’s three times higher than the five percent found in the original samples they ran years back when it appeared in the schools.” Verna’s pastry slowly oozed amoretto filling with every piece she tore from it. She licked the filling off the tips of her fingers and said, “Black Tar Heroin is thirty percent Heroin. The drug we found is nearly that level. Considerin’ the effects of an increased amount of acetaminophen and diphenhydramine, we’re lookin’ at more consumer deaths due to respiratory failure.”
Olivia handed Verna a napkin and asked, “Anything else? What about the weapon?”
“Flip through those papers with the blue paper clip until you see the section that talks about the knife wound.” Verna waved her sticky hand in the direction of the open file folder. “I took swabs from the outside edges of McMann’s neck wound and from inside the wound itself and sent it to the lab with the rest of the specimens. The results came back showin’ animal blood mixed with McMann’s blood at the site. Odocoileus virginianus - White Tailed Deer for people who speak English.”
“White tail live mostly in Canada, but there are some as far south as here and Louisiana.”
“How do you know that?” Verna asked.
“I’m the daughter of an avid hunter with no sons. You would be surprised by some of the things I know.” Olivia continued flipping through the pages, skimming the rest of the report. “So, that probably makes our murder weapon a hunting or survival knife like I thought.”
“Ya, I guess it does.”
“Exsanguination makes sense now that we know he’s probably a hunter.” Olivia said.
“But what does exsanguination have to do with his method? Why do somethin’ so freakin nasty?” Verna shuddered.
“I’m almost certain it has to do with the act of sacrifice. If he’s working from the Old Testament version of ritual sacrifice, blood has to be spilled in order for forgiveness to be granted.” Olivia said this with confidence, certain of her assumption, at least where the sacrifices were concerned.
“So, the murders are ritualistic. Girl, that’s just weird.”

About the Author:
Chrinda Jones was born in 1964, in Sacramento,CA. She lived the first 30 years of her life in Oregon and has since lived in several different states across the U.S. She began learning to write in earnest when her four children started leaving the nest. She is the author of the Olivia Gates and Will Green crime series set in Dallas, Texas, of which “Darkness knows Me” is the first installment. A musician and lover of books, she lives in Murphy, Texas with her husband and her Jugg, Abby.


Tour Giveaway:

Prize: 15USD Amazon Gift Card

a Rafflecopter giveaway



Tour Schedule:



Schedule: http://bit.ly/17lYDPp



Friday, September 20, 2013

BLOG TOUR STOP- eARC Book Review: 3:AM Kisses (3: AM kisses #1) by Addison Moore



From the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author, Addison Moore

New Adult *Intended for mature audiences.

Baya Brighton is looking forward to her first year at Whitney Briggs University, new friends, dorm life, and finally being close to her brother again. Love is the last thing on the list, but when Baya meets her brother’s roommate she begins to have thoughts and feelings that make even her blush. 

Bryson Edwards has a secret he prefers buried in the past and long forgotten. He prefers loose girls, fast cars, and long nights working at the string of bars his family owns. When his roommate’s sister shows up on the scene, she’s far too innocent and sweet for him but he can’t shake Baya out of his mind and worse, it looks like she’s seeping into his heart as well. 

Baya seems determined to show her brother she’s not a little kid and equally determined to use Bryson’s body to prove her point. It’s been made pretty clear that Baya is off limits to Bryson but their undeniable sparks explode into a whole lot more than just a few 3:AM KISSES.


“My what a long penis you have. 
--the better to spear you with.” LOL! Baya you’re such a hoot!

Baya Brighton: 


-Dark brunette hair; lime green eyes; has a buxom chest. 
-Raised by her mother and older brother after father’s death. 
-Very innocent, sheltered, and forthright. 
-And also a virgin. 












Bryson Edwards: 



-Caramel hair; pale grey eyes; ripped, tanned, tattooed. 
-Ex-manwhore of Whitney Briggs University (aside from Cole Brighton, bestie and Baya’s older brother). 
-King of one liners. 
-Has a secret that makes him feel tainted and unworthy for wholesome Baya.







The good: 

- Fast, easy read with a likable female character that you can’t help but laugh at her witty, sarcastic comments, and reactions.

(Bryson): “So you’re a freshman?” He opens the door to the building with his back and nods me in first.

(Baya) “What gave it away? My ‘How to Survive Your First Year at University’ handbook for dummies or my perky peach nipples?” 

The bad: 

-No substance and real plot at all. 

-Most of the characters (with the exception of Baya) seriously lack in personality and are very narrow minded.

-The pacing of the story is also very blah. It’s not too fast or too slow but more so just “on a straight line” if you know what I mean. 

-Cheesy and unrealistic. What I mean by this is, is that not only did I find Baya and Bryson obnoxiously corny at times, I also found their “love” rushed and quixotic. How can two people who barely know each other fall passionately in love with each other in a such a short span of time? I just don't get it. There was absolutely no build up toward their relationship that can vouch for their deep, everlasting love that this book was trying to convince us readers that they have.

-And lastly, Bryson’s painful secret. Why does one of the heroine’s in stories always have to be hiding something? So cliche and overused in stories!

“I’ve hung out in the dark for so long, I’ve forgotten what it really feels like to live, too soar with the promise of something wonderful on the horizon. Baya just might be the light at the end of this long, hellish tunnel.” 



SO, OVER ALL: 

Just an okay read that you really only read once. While I had hoped this book would appeal to me, I kept finding myself thinking, “things like this only happen in the movies or storybooks” because of the improbable dialogue and situations that these characters find themselves in. So unlike real life.

I’m not saying it’s a bad book because it’s not. It just lacks content quality and practicality is all.

I'm just hoping the novella coming in November,“Winter Kisses,” which stars Baya’s friend, Laney, will be a cute, fun, read that will expand on Laney's character since I couldn't divulge much about her from "3:AM Kisses." 

I’m also secretly crossing my fingers and praying, that: 
1)the next novel after the novella will be Cole and Roxy (Baya’s friend) story as a couple 
2) and perhaps Holt's (Bryson's brother) story will take place after?! Pretty please?!? I'm already smitten with him! ;)

As for later installments following those, I’m open to other characters. 

Until then, I'll conclude my review here. Despite my criticisms, I did actually like this story in my own way and hope the rest of you will too!! Happy reading everyone!



My Rating:

-Overall : 7
-Plot : 7
-Writing : 7
-Characters : 7.5
-Cover : 8.5



Where to get your copy!

COVER REVEAL!- True For You (Boys of the South, #3) by Marquita Valentine


A Boys of the South Companion Standalone Novel
By New York Times Bestselling Author Marquita Valentine
TRUE FOR YOU (Boys of the South, #3)
Contemporary New Adult
Coming October 2013
  For country music bad boy, Jaxon Hunter, failure has never been an option, especially with an abusive father who controls his entire career. But when Jaxon's efforts to win back the girl that got away end up with him helping his rival, he concedes defeat— and sneaks away to Charleston, South Carolina to lick his wounds. Only Jaxon wasn’t counting on the seamstress for the band driving the getaway car. She may not have finished high school, but Bliss Davenport graduated with honors from the school of hard knocks. Four years ago, after barely surviving the most terrifying ordeal of her life, she ran away from home and never looked back. Bliss is stunned when she wakes up married to the famous Jaxon Hunter. It only gets worse when she realizes he doesn’t even remember the ceremony. While Bliss struggles to reconcile herself with the two sides of the man she’s falling in love with—sweet, thoughtful and humble--- or the character he plays on stage—arrogant, selfish and prideful, Jaxon’s battling his own demons, unsure who he wants to be, other than free. Then just as the two of them start to learn to trust again, the past makes its way to the present, threatening their relationship. Threatening to suck them both back to where they were before, without each other.

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About the Author:
Website | Facebook | Twitter  

New York Times Bestselling Author, Marquita Valentine, writes sexy heroes that make you swoon and sassy heroines that make you laugh. She’s the author of the bestselling contemporary romance series, Holland Springs, and the new adult romance series, Boys of the South. Marquita met her husband aka Hot Builder at Sonic when they were in high school. She suggests this location to all of her single friends in search of a good man—and if that doesn't work, they can console themselves with cheesy tatertots. She lives in North Carolina in a very, very small town with Hot Builder and their two children.

 photo AToMRToursC66a-A00aT03a-Z_mdm_zpsa3cc6896.jpg

Release Day Blitz!- Through Glass by Rebecca Ethington

Don't Eat The Food

ThroughGlass-BN-Kobo

Title: Through Glass

Author: Rebecca Ethington

Genre: NA Dystopian

Everyone remembered the day the sky went black. The day the sun was wiped from the sky. They remember the wind as it brought in the darkness; the way the earth shook and everything changed.

Everyone remembered the screams as the darkness ate those who were out in the open, those who had surrounded themselves by light, and those who made noise. Everyone remembered the voice from the sky and the way food disappeared. At least, that’s what I hoped. I hoped that there was an ‘everyone’ that would remember because I am not sure how many are left, how many survived. Or if anyone did. I hoped that I wasn’t alone. I remembered that day. I remembered because it was the day I became alone. It was the day that everything was perfect until the monsters took it away. Then the house went silent and the birds stopped singing. It was the day when everyone disappeared, everyone except the boy, the only person I have seen in two years. The boy I talk to through the glass.

Teaser

I looked up as the screech of the Ulama ended, as the monster fell to the ground of my room, the dark blood of the two dead creatures spilling over my once white carpet. I stared at the monsters as I panted and my heart beat a frantic pulse against my skin. I stared as my pulse slowed until I could pull my eyes away from the thing that tainted my room to look into the eyes I had dreamed about every night for as long as I could remember. I couldn’t move, I couldn’t make my tongue work. I just looked at him, knowing that tears were sliding down my cheeks; knowing and not caring. I wasn’t sure why I was crying, I wasn’t sure if it was because of the panic that still surged through my body or the joy that I felt at seeing him there. “Alexis,” he said, his voice as deep and rumbling as I remembered it. It shot through me and for the first time in years I felt alive. It was him. I didn’t say anything. I didn’t trust my mouth enough to form coherent words. I just moved. I moved as he moved, our hands meeting for the first time in two years as we hovered over the body of the monsters that had attempted to kill me. I grasped his skin, my heart beating so fast I was sure I couldn’t take it. A shaking breath moved out of me, his own breath moving across my skin. He moved closer as his frantic breaths rolled over me—the heat of his breath, of his touch—igniting a fire across the surface of my skin. His fingers trailed their way up my arms, over my face, across my neck… I had forgotten how good this felt. I had forgotten what touch was like; what it did to my body. Everything felt like it was on fire. I smiled through the tears as he wrapped his arm around me and pulled me toward him. I let him, letting my own arms wrap around him in my desperate attempt to get closer to him, to feel more of him. I felt his lips graze against my skin, the touch dry and foreign, but incredibly welcomed. I turned into it, my fingers digging into his tattered shirt and into his shaggy unkempt hair as the scruff on his chin moved against my face. I gasped at the prickly sensation that cut into me, the gasp deepening into a groan as his lips made contact with mine. The feeling of ecstasy I was now feeling grew into something I couldn’t ignore. I clung to him, I pressed into him. I felt every part of him as he did the same to me. No words had passed between us since he had said my name, but we didn’t need them. I could feel his happiness in the way he clung to me, sensed his relief in the way he breathed and his joy in the taste of his lips. I felt it all and I knew he felt it all from me. He pulled away from me slowly; his hands unwilling to leave my body as he moved back to look at me. His cheeks were stained with tears as he moved my hair out of my face and stared into my eyes. “You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to do that,” he said again, the same words from all those years ago sounding even more beautiful. “Two years, one month, thirteen days and a few hours?” He smiled as I spoke, his fingers running over the skin of my face like he would never let me go. “And a few minutes,” he gasped, the sounds of ecstasy heavy in his deep voice. He smiled and I couldn’t help it, I laughed. I laughed loud and deep and let the sound carry around us. Cohen smiled as his laugh filtered through mine like a silver ribbon. The happy sounds surrounded us and, for that moment, I was happy. I was free. I couldn’t feel the pulse of fear that still beat through me. I didn’t see the monsters that lay lifeless in my room. It was Cohen and me, and everything was perfect. Until the sound that would ring in our death rent through the air. The screech of the Ulama broke through the sound of our laughter and destroyed the perfect peace we had created. The sound left as quickly as it had come, the warning received. We didn’t have much time. They were coming.  

About Rebecca Ethington

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Rebecca Ethington has been telling stories since she was small. First, with writing crude scripts, and then in stage with years of theatrical performances. The Imdalind Series is her first stint into the world of literary writing. Rebecca is a mother to two, and wife to her best friend of 14 years. She was born and raised in the mountains of Salt Lake City, and hasn't found the desire to leave yet. Her days are spent writing, running, and enjoying life with her amazing family.

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Release Event and Giveaway!- Loved By You by Kate Perry‏

Kate Perry's newest release in the Laurel Heights series is now available!Read a teaser below and enter the giveaways!
Title: Loved By You
Author: Kate Perry
Publisher: Phoenix Rising Enterprises, Inc. (Indie) Release date: September 18, 2013
Genre: Contemporary romance
Age Group: Adult   

It’s time for Karma Taylor to ante up. When her mom raises the stakes, KT has no choice but to prove that she’s living up to her potential. To her mom, that means performing in the upcoming concert, but KT would rather run naked through Golden Gate Park than expose herself on stage. Chance Nolan, world traveler and all-around gypsy, offers KT a solution: distract her mom by faking an engagement—to him. KT would be doing him a favor, too, so he can shake the overzealous blonde who won’t take no for an answer. Only pretending to be in a relationship feels very real, and Chance wonders if he hasn’t been searching for KT all along. He just has to convince her he’s so much more than a decoy fiancé.

About the Author: Kate has tangoed at midnight with a man in blue furry chaps, dueled with flaming swords in the desert, and strutted on bar tops across the world and back. She’s been kissed under the Eiffel Tower, had her butt pinched in Florence, and been serenaded in New Orleans. But she found Happy Ever After in San Francisco with her Magic Man. Kate’s the bestselling author of the Laurel Heights Novels, as well as the Family and Love and Guardians of Destiny series. She’s been translated into several languages and is quite proud to say she’s big in Slovenia. All her books are about strong, independent women who just want love. Most days, you can find Kate in her favorite café, working on her latest novel. Sometimes she’s wearing a tutu. She may or may not have a jeweled dagger strapped to her thigh...

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To enter the author's Facebook giveaway for $200 Gift Card to any online store of choice, visit here.

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

eARC BOOK REVIEW...Worth the Fight (MMA Fighter #1) by Vi Keeland


Title:  Worth the Fight (MMA Fighter #1)
Author: Vi Keeland
Publication Date: October 3rd 2013
Ebook/Book Copy Source:  Author

Plot:    It didn’t matter that the ref called it a clean hit. Nico Hunter would never be the same.

Elle has a good life. A job she loves, a great apartment, and the guy she’s been dating for more than two years is a catch and a half. But it’s boring…and she strives to keep it that way. Too many emotions are dangerous. Her own past is living proof of what can happen when you lose control.

Then Nico walks into Elle’s office and everything changes…for both of them. But what can the tattooed, hard-bodied MMA fighter and the beautiful and always steady attorney have in common? A lot more than they bargained for.



The good: Solid, interesting, and a definite page-turner!  Possesses a realistic story line, decent pacing, and likable characters.

The bad: Hmmm.  Nothing constructive to embellish on BUT... I would have liked more Nico smutt!!  Hehe.  Absolutely loved it when he turned on the charm or became a caveman over Elle!  <3


•.¸. ♥★

Story Overview:
"Worth the Fight" tells the story of two damaged souls looking for redemption.

Nicholas 'Nico' "The Lady Killer" Hunter:  MMA fighter.  Tan skin, deep green eyes, unruly dark hair, and a rugged jaw.

Nico, is a fallen athlete looking to rebuild his career after a devastating accident caused him to live the last eighteen months of his life in guilt and shame.  Now with the fight of his life coming up and a certain woman in the mix, he has to decide are they both worth the fight or will he allow his demons to resurface and rule them out of his life forever?




Elle: Lawyer.  Sandy blonde hair.  Has an irresistible butt that Nico can't keep his eyes and hands off of.


Elle, is running away from a haunting and chilling past that she cannot escape.  When she meets Nico she is nothing but an empty shell pouring almost all her time into work and straggling through a meaningless, non-existent relationship with a colleague from another firm.

When these two tortured souls collide, will they be able to grant each other the absolution that each other so desperately craves?  Or will their pasts cost their love go down in flames?

Elle: "You really think there's no forgiveness in what happened?"
Nico: "Forgiveness from who, Elle?"

My Thoughts:

"Worth the Fight" may have just picked up my new book boyfriend!! *Squeals*  I love alpha possessive men and Nico "The Lady Killer" lives up to that and his nickname!! He was so masculine, sexy, and very dominant when it came to what was his *cough, cough...ELLE!* and his dirty talk was swoon-worthy!  Definitely made my girly parts scream when he took control or would 'mark' Elle as his!  Don't believe me? Well... O_0
•.¸. ♥★
Exhibit 1: "Ride me.  You're so tight and wet.  I'm going to fill up that pretty little pussy and make it mine.  In you.  So that the whole god damn world knows you're mine." 
Exhibit 2: "Glad I coated you with my sweat now.  It'll keep the other lions away." 
Exhibit 3: "An hour later I'm on my way back to the office, with Nico's scent on my clothes and inside of me.  I have a sneaking suspicion that Nico wanted it that way, knowing that I was seeing William."

SO HOT!, isn't he?! And also super naughty if you ask me!! Laying his claim on her like an animal!  *drools* LOL!

•.¸. ♥★


 BUT ANYWAY, MOVING ON!....

I appreciated how Ms. Keeland took the time to build a relationship between Nico and Elle before they fell in love.  Many at times, I come across reads where the characters have an instant "love at first sight" connection and from there their 'love' evolves so rapidly that they're already sprouting declarations of everlasting love within a couple of days to a week of getting to know one another.  SO UNREALISTIC.

I also liked the fact that there was more of an emotional punch to the plot and characters.  Both Nico and Elle share a similar yet different kind of bond over their pasts and save each other from their own personal hells  of pain and destruction.  When they find each other, they're literally
"Two lost souls that found each other and became one"
that ended up changing each other's lives and gave each other peace to move on with their lives.


•.¸. ♥★

SO, MY VERDICT:
A definite must read for readers that love MMA stories as much as me!

"Worth the Fight" is a raw, passionate, and touching journey that is both riveting and consuming.

I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys two characters who against all odds face their fears and conquer their tragedies face on while giving into the inevitable...

"When we met, we were two injured souls.  But keeping the real out of our lives for fear of what we might find.  But nothing could have kept us apart.  I never believed in destiny.  Thought that was a bunch of crap for people who read too many books.  Until you."










My Rating:

-Overall : 9
-Plot : 8.5
-Writing : 8.5
-Characters : 8.5
-Cover : 8.5




Where to get your copy!
(Links to be provided when available)

COVER REVEAL!- Meant For Her by Raine Thomas

 
COVER REVEAL!
Meant for Her
A New Adult Contemporary Romance
by
Raine Thomas
Cover design by Regina Wamba of www.MaeIDesign.com
Cover photos by Kelsey Kukal-Keeton of K Keeton Designs
 photo AToMRToursC66a-A00aT03a-Z_mdm_zpsa3cc6896.jpgCover reveal organized by: AToMR Tours




Photographer Sierra Stratton views the world through a lens all her own. She has an uncanny sense about people, something that often causes her trouble. When she meets the sexy and brooding Evan Dorsey, her intuition tells her he’s suffering, and she wants to be the one to help him. Evan isn’t open to help from anyone, however. His focus is on his Major League career and making himself as marketable as possible for his upcoming free agency. He plans to ride out the season in Atlanta and then sign with another team, away from the painful memories that haunt him. Someone’s eager to send him on his way, too. Between anonymous threats and equipment sabotage, it’s clear he’s earned himself an enemy along the way. To him, it’s one more sign that he’s right to move on. But Sierra threatens his conviction. Her contagious smile proves hard to resist, as does her kiss. She tempts him in ways he never anticipated, making him question his plans for the first time. If he’s not careful, she might just convince him that he’s meant for her.  

Coming October 17, 2013

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Check out For Everly on Amazon and Barnes and Noble and get to know some of the characters making appearances in Meant for Her!

About the Author Raine Thomas is the author of bestselling YA and NA romantic fiction, including the award-winning Estilorian series. She’s a proud member of Romance Writers of America and is a contributing blogger to The Writer's Voice. When she isn’t planning weddings, writing, or glued to social networking sites, she can usually be found on one of Florida’s beautiful beaches with her husband and daughter or crossing the border to visit with her Canadian friends and relatives.

 Ways readers can connect with Raine:
Twitter (http://twitter/Raine_Thomas)
Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/rainethomas)
Goodreads (http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5053436.Raine_Thomas)
Pinterest (http://pinterest.com/raine_thomas/)
Linkedin (http://www.linkedin.com/pub/raine-thomas/53/111/bb3)
Website: (http://rainethomas.com)
Blog (http://RaineThomas.com/blog/)  

Saturday, September 14, 2013

eARC BOOK REVIEW...Watercolor (Dragonfly #3) by Leigh Talbert Moore

Title:  Watercolor (Dragonfly #3)
Author: Leigh Talbert Moore
Publication Date: October 3rd 2013
Ebook/Book Copy Source:  Author

Plot:  Love is stronger than distance...

Finishing senior year is supposed to be the best time in a person’s life.
Finishing senior year as Julian’s girlfriend should’ve been the icing on the cake.
Knowing the secret that could change everything for him is the only thing threatening to spoil it all. 
Until Jack returns.

Anna and Julian are together at last, and it’s as hot and happy as they knew it would be. The only problem is The Secret. 

And Jack. 

But while Anna is determined to fight for the guy she loves, she could still lose Julian when he discovers the truth she’s been helping to hide.

"My biggest fear had been treating Julian like a rebound guy. Was my brain trying to tell me that was exactly what I was doing? Everything I believed felt shaken. It was like I’d been betrayed by my own body when I was completely unconscious and powerless."

•.¸. ♥★


The good:  Intriguing, suspenseful, and there's much more romance featured between Julian and Anna which I liked. <3

The bad:  Some minor pacing issues but nothing much if at all.  

**A short, cute excerpt that made me giddy:  
- “Tell me the truth. Do you just love me for my money?”I laughed. “Of course!” Then he tickled me and I screamed. We both dropped to sitting on the sand, me in his lap. My arms were around his neck, and his hands held my waist.“Julian LaSalle, I’ve loved you since I wouldn’t look at you in algebra class,” I said softly. He leaned closer, and I kissed him. “I wanted to die every time you said something to me. That’s why I hid behind my books. I’ve been crazy in love with you for years.”He laughed and shook his head. “Life is so screwed up.”“But somehow it all seems to work out.”

•.¸. ♥★


My thoughts:  

Leading up to "Watercolor,"  I felt that where "Dragonfly" set the stage for the story and"Undertow" served as the catalyst where many secrets of the past were brought to light; "Watercolor," on the other hand, was more so where characters' choices and secrets fluctuated and culminated altogether.




During the course of this book, you will notice that a lot of the time what it came down to was making a decision and standing by it.  It was more less controversial than "Undertow" but it still had it's elements of surprise that kept me guessing as to what was to come next.  


•.¸. ♥★

My Verdict:

Very solid read!  "Watercolor" lived up to my expectations.  It was nicely crafted and developed and I enjoyed the dynamics between the characters and the story.

"Watercolor" will take you on a sweet and emotional journey filled with an interesting plot and unique story elements that will test and challenge the characters in every way.

I'm now super curious as to where Ms. Moore plans to go with this series next.  I just read the sneak peak for the next book in the series, "Mosiac," and I have to say that my interest is peaked!

"The future never works out as expected.
People are not always how they seem.
And time changes everything."





My Rating:

-Overall : 8.5
-Plot : 8
-Writing : 8.5
-Characters : 8
-Cover : 8.5




Where to get your copy!
(Links to be provided when available)