Blog Tour Stop and Giveaway!- Night Games by Collette West

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Title:  Night Games

Author:  Collette West
Publication Date: February 28th 2014
Goodreads URL: HERE
Plot:   The moment Grey Kelleher locks eyes with All-Star shortstop Chase Whitfield, she's a goner. For years, she's watched him play on TV, and now she's gazing at his hard, lean body across a bar in her hometown.

Grey's crush on Chase goes all the way back to his rookie season. So when she approaches him for an autograph, she's startled by what a jerk he can be.

Chase is no mood to humor his fans, even one as alluring as Grey. He's in the last year of his contract and stuck having to prove himself on a minor league team. He's only there to rehab an injury, nothing more.

But when Grey tells him off, Chase realizes her fiery spirit may be just the distraction he needs to take his mind off not being in the majors. His heart is safe. No one's going to break his streak as baseball's most eligible bachelor. Not even someone as irresistible as Grey.

Until she meets twenty-one-year-old Shane Harper.

Shane was once the star of the local high school basketball team. With a full ride scholarship, his dream was to play college basketball and study planetary science. When a tragic car accident permanently sidelines his basketball career, college is out of the question.

Sparks fly when their two worlds collide.

Can a relationship between a thirty-year-old starry-eyed woman who's on the run from an extremely dangerous man, and a twenty-one-year-old science geek who's hell-bent on protecting her at all costs survive?

***Caution*** for mature readers. Contains graphic violence including rape. This is a complete, standalone novel. 

MY REVIEW:

Please bear with me while I try to unwind my thoughts and feelings on this read!…

Night Games was a sweet romance that falls into the 3.5-4 star region for me. While I did like it, it was admittedly on the slow/”draggy” side for me.

Another aspect I feel conflicted as to discuss is the characters’ relationship. I mean, the progression was a bit fast and slow at the same time. Sounds a bit contradicting already (my review) doesn’t it? *sighs* ;)

So, the story:

For feisty and hardworking Grey Kelleher, Chase Whitman had been the ultimate dream guy for her since the ripe age of 16.

Following his track record off and on the field years later, she and her sister end up attending a baseball game of his where a chance encounter leads to a heated encounter between Chase and Grey that will forever change their lives.

Enter Chase. Chase Whitman, thought he had it all: money, women, and a soaring career. That is, until he stuck in limbo playing for a minor league team while he recuperates from a sports injury that could possibly end his career altogether.

While switching teams and being sent from New York to Pennsylvania, what he doesn’t know is that his world is about to turn completely upside down.

From the moment he locks eyes with Grey (as he is humorously kicking her and her sister out of his baseball game) it is all over. Something about Grey strikes something deep within him that he had thought was long lost and finds himself wanting to let down the walls that he had so carefully built around himself just to let her in.

Only…will fame, money, and secrets of their pasts get in the way of their budding romance? Will Chase’s insecurities of being burned and used by others get the best of him or will it tear it apart? And will Chase ever play in the Major leagues once more?

Read and you will find out!

So my additional thoughts: I will also attest that nothing really big happens in this read. It’s kind of just runs on one wavelength from start to finish which is really ironic since it leaves the buildup of Chase’s and Grey’s relationship and struggles/victories to be sort of anti-climatic at the end.

I mean, there was a lot of give and take between the two of them and then Grey's revealing secret that she tried to keep under wraps took tow of a good amount of conflict as well. But, what it really comes down to is that both characters are insecure and need the extra push to come to terms with it.

As for the steaminess, I was actually hoping for more but at the same time it was kind of refreshing to get the whole “black out” ingredient as it keeps their relationship more on the pure side and not so raunchy.

And LASTLY, the ending. For me, once again, I bring up anti-climatic. I don’t know what it is with me but I just wanted MORE really to it is all. It just felt kind of rushed and kind of left me unsettled for some reason.

I KNOW, I KNOW what you guys are thinking…This girl is one confused, all over the place chick. I KNOW. I'd want to kick me too!

Honestly guys, read this book for yourselves. It's a delightful story but there were some points and parts were I wish it were either edited or elaborated on more.

I'm sure a lot of you won't have the same sentiments as me and that's fine. After all, I am just ONE READER, hence ONE VOICE. I'm just being picky is all, SORRY!...

Pick it up when it releases!! I'm sure you'l just love it!! It really is a lovely book debut for Ms. Collette West!!


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


Where to get your copy!:
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Smashwords

Collette West Bio:

Collette West grew up as somewhat of a jock-nerd hybrid. Entering the world three weeks premature, her dad nearly missed her birth because he had seats behind the dugout for a sold-out, highly-anticipated match-up between two of baseball's biggest rivals. Not to be outdone, her book-loving mom taught her how to read by the time she was three. A love of the game coupled with an appreciation for the written word were instilled in Collette's impressionable brain from a young age. No wonder her characters believe in the philosophy: sports + romance = a little slice of heaven.

 Splitting her time between the Pocono Mountains and Manhattan, Collette indulges her inner fangirl by going to as many games as she can from hockey to baseball and downloading every sports romance novel in existence onto her iPad. When she's not clicking away on her laptop, she enjoys walking her dog in Central Park, satisfying her caffeine craving at the Starbucks on Broadway and keeping an eye out for Mr. Right. But above all, she loves dishing with her readers. Email her at collette_west@yahoo.com.

Links:

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 Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7539982.Collette_West

 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Collette-West/537935442972229

 Twitter: https://twitter.com/Collette_West

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Release Day Blitz and Giveaway!- Fierce (Storm MC, #2) by Nina Levine

                                 

Fierce by Nina Levine

Book Two In The Storm MC Series

Contemporary Adult Romance

Title:  Fierce (Storm MC #2)  

Author:  Nina Levine 
Cover Designed by: Nina Levine and Louisa Maggio
Publication Date: February 10th 2014
Goodreads URL: HERE
Plot:   She’s everything he’s never wanted. He’s everything she’s never known.

Scott Cole is a force to be reckoned with. As Vice President of the Storm Motorcycle Club he carries out his duties with a ruthless determination. He moves through life with a clear agenda - protect his club and his family at all costs.

He is intense.

He is loyal.

He is fierce.

He doesn’t give his love easily, but when he does, he loves fiercely. Settling down, however, has never been part of his plan. 

Harlow James is a country girl who has never met a biker in her life. She is also done with men. In her experience all they ever do is lie, cheat or steal. When she meets Scott Cole she knows he is heartbreak on legs. 

He is confident.

He is sexy.

He is bossy.

She knows she must fight her growing attraction to this complex man in order to guard her heart. When his world crashes into hers and danger comes calling, Scott’s fierce desire to protect kicks in and Harlow realises that she might just have found a man worth taking a risk on.

Excerpt:

“I get the impression that underneath that badass biker image there’s a gentle giant.”

“No, there’s just me, Harlow. There’s no image; I am what I am. Don’t fuck with me because I’ll fuck back,” he said, roughly, eyes piercing mine.

I leant forward, towards him. “I get that, but from where I’m standing, what I see is that for the people who don’t fuck with you, you’d give your life for them. And just for the record, I don’t fuck with people. Ever.”

He stiffened and his jaw muscles tightened. His breathing that had been deep and even was now ragged, and his eyes reached into my soul. I struggled to keep my own breathing even as the intensity of his gaze sent sparks of electricity through me. When he reached his hand up and ran his thumb over my lips, my heart nearly jumped out of my chest and goosebumps flooded my skin. 

Our faces were so close now, and when he spoke, his warm breath touched my lips. “The more I get to know you, the more I want to know you,” he rasped.

Storm by Nina Levine

Book One In The Storm MC Series

Contemporary Adult Romance 

Synopsis

Life can be a bitch but love can get you through any storm.

Madison Cole’s family is the Storm Motorcycle Club. Her father is the President and her brother is the VP. She grew up surrounded by bikers, crime and violence. Two years ago she walked away from her family and the world they live in. Her soul was shattered, her heart was broken and she had an addiction she couldn't shake. She picked up the pieces and put herself back together. Now her family wants her back. The club is being threatened and they send a club member to return her home to safety; the one person that could destroy everything she has worked so hard to build.

Jason Reilly has sacrificed a lot for the motorcycle club he calls family. Two years ago he made the biggest sacrifice of all; he gave up the woman he loved for them. Now he is being sent to bring her back and he is conflicted. He thought he was over her but discovers their connection is as strong as ever. Their love was all-consuming, passionate and fiery. It was also their undoing and he doesn't know if either of them is strong enough to battle the demons that ripped them apart, to find love again. 

Madison and Jason are brought back together by a force out of their control; one that pushes them to a breaking point. Can they overcome their past and discover a love worth fighting for or will the harsh reality of their world finally and completely break them both?

Buy Links

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Barnes & Noble

iTunes

Kobo

Excerpt

I found her sitting at the bar with Stoney. I liked Stoney, but I didn’t like the way he was looking at Madison. “Eyes off her tits, Stoney,” I snapped.

Madison’s eyes widened and I waited for her response but she surprised the fuck out of me with her silence.

“Yeah, yeah,” he grumbled, moving off his stool to stand, “I’m outta here.” 

“His eyes weren’t on my tits, J,” she said as we watched him leave.

“Yeah, baby, they were.”

She rolled her eyes, “You weren’t even standing in front of him to be able to know that.”

I moved into her space, pushed my body up against her side and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. Leaning my face down, I spoke into her ear so that only she could hear me, “I know they were because you’re wearing a low cut, tight dress that your tits are almost spilling out of and it’s exactly where my eyes would have been if I was Stoney.”

About the Author

Nina Levine is an Aussie writer who writes stories about hot, alpha men and the tough, independent women they love. 

WARNING: You will find hot, dirty sex, lots of swearing, occasional violent encounters and men and women who live fast and love hard.

Nina's debut book Storm was released in November 2013. It is based around the Storm Motorcycle Club and is the first book in an MC series.  The second book, Fierce, is due out in early 2014.

Connect with Nina:  Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Pinterest

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Promo Release Event and Review!- Unbearable Guilt (Breathe Again, #2) by Emma Grayson

Title:  Unbearable Guilt (Breathe Again, #2)

Author:  Emma Grayson
Publication Date: February 24th 2014
Goodreads URL: HERE
Plot:   Kane Archer hasn’t always been tormented; he hasn’t always hated himself or been full of rage. He hasn’t always lived his life with an overpowering sense of guilt that threatens to destroy him. 

There was a time when his life was different. He was optimistic; he smiled and laughed; he loved passionately; he had it all.

Kane was content—until the unthinkable took it all away.

Two and a half years later and still reeling from his fiancée’s death, Kane returns to the one place he vowed he’d never visit again—Camden—with the promise to find the men who killed her and bring them to justice, regardless of the cost.

Emotionally numb, stricken by guilt, and haunted by the events preceding Aimee’s death, the last thing Kane wanted was to meet someone he connected with; someone who made him feel again.

As Kane gets closer to those responsible for Aimee’s death, he is thrown a curveball when he discovers a secret so devastating it rocks his world and threatens to destroy his chance at happiness.

Whitney Jareau packed up her life when tragedy struck her family, leaving everything behind. Finally free from the persistent and domineering family that insisted she do the one thing she couldn’t, Whitney found peace in Camden.

Two years later, her family wants her to come home and will stop at nothing to get her there. Wearing her heart on her sleeve for Kane Archer, a man so gorgeous it hurts to see the pain he carries, Whitney fights her family and refuses to return home to carry out their wishes.

Can Whitney stay strong without giving in to the demands of her family?

Can Kane let go of the past and move forward with the woman who brought him back to life?

Or, will he walk away from her and carry the burden of UNBEARABLE GUILT

Unbearable Guilt Excerpt:

“Yeah, that will do—” Kane said into his cell as he came out of the kitchen, wearing nothing but a pair of black baggy sweats that hung low on his hips, the top of his V showing perfectly and making the ache inside me grow more intensely. He stopped dead when he saw me standing by the door. “Gotta go,” he said and hung his cell up without giving Basil a chance to say anything.

“Hey,” I said, trying to keep my focus on the yellow bag of M&Ms and can of Red Bull he was carrying.

He looked me over then tossed his cell phone on to the table in the dining room, and walked into the living room. “Hey, what’re you doing here?” he asked, sitting down on the couch and putting the M&Ms and Red Bull on the coffee table.

“I just wanted to stop by and talk. Sorry, maybe I should have called.”

He took the black game controller into his hand and pressed a couple of buttons and the screen on the TV came to life.

Video games. Figured.

“If you came to talk to me more about what you said last night, you should just turn around and leave,” he said dryly.

Ouch.

Shit.

“No, I just came to apologize for what I said. It wasn’t fair for me to bring any of that up, especially Aimee, and I just want you to know that I’m sorry,” I said, watching him for any kind of acknowledgement, but he stayed focus on the TV. “If you ever need to talk or anything, I’m here for you, you know where to find me.”

He didn’t say anything.

He just nodded and kept his eyes on his game. I could see his jaw was tight, like he was clenching it, and his eyes looked as if they weren’t even watching the TV, but just staring at nothing—like he was waiting for me to leave.

Again, ouch.

“Okay, I’ll just let you get back to what you were doing,” I mumbled, then turned around and made my way to the door and pulled it open to leave.

I didn’t hear him get up off the couch, and I didn’t hear him come up behind me until his arm reached out over my head and pushed the door shut, and then he grabbed me by the hand and turned me around so we were facing one another.

My heart rate spiked and my core vibrated with anticipation the moment we came into contact. I could feel the tiny sparks of electricity igniting and spreading over my entire body and shooting right between my legs, making my pussy throb desperately for him and only him.

I swallowed the breath that was caught in my throat as I looked up at him. His green eyes vibrantly shimmered down at me as one side of his lips twitched then started to curl, as if he could read my mind.

Fuck. Me.

Literally.

Kane continued to look down at me as his hand slid up over my body until his fingers wrapped around the first button of my coat and pulled it open, then did the same with the next two that followed.

My bag fell to the ground as his hands slid inside my coat, his warm fingers softly grazing over my breasts as he moved them over my shoulders and pushed my coat off, and I let it slide down and fall to the ground around my feet.

“Baby,” he said, his voice low and raspy. “You’re not going anywhere.”

MY REVIEW: 

Unbearable Guilt knocked it out of the ballpark for me!! I LOVED it!!♡♥  I had been waiting for Kane’s story ever since book one when he had saved Lexie and was even more intrigued when Lukas had mentioned that he was dangerous and had something to do with his fiancées death. After that, I was SOLD and there was no going back for me. EVER.

“Nothing is more wretched than the mind of a man conscious of guilt” 

So as you guys know from Unbeautifully Loved and my last paragraph, two years and a half ago Kane lost his entire world: his friends, the community, and most importantly: his fiancée, Aimee. 

“There was no changing the fact the love of my life was dead, and I would carry the guilt of her death for as long as I lived.” 

After that, he is shunned by the entire town (and even Lukas) and is labeled a murderer. Not to mention, he holds an immense amount of guilt for Aimee’s death and makes it his purpose to track down the people responsible and make them pay.

He now vows no more relationships with women. Only unattached strings of hot one night stands.

That is, until he meets barista/gym worker, Whitney Jareau, waltzes into his life and all of his previous ideals are shot to hell and are constantly challenged.

So, Whitney. 

Whitney Jareau moved to Camden after tragedy struck and she had lost her parents and “brother”. She tries to make a new start of things until the demands of her family start coming back to haunt her and threaten her budding relationship with Kane.

Now faced with a man who wants no connection to her and new discoveries that threaten to demolish all that Whitney’s ever believed, what will Whitney do? And will she give in to her family’s demanding decree? 

Moreover... with the murderer’s of Aimee much closer to base than Kane thought, will it change his ordeals with Whitney or shatter it?

With secrets, lies, revelations, and betrayal in the air it’s going to be a heck of a ride! 

Will Whitney be the one to give Kane his life back and find redemption for the one he had failed in the past? Will Kane be able to let go of the pain, anguish, hatred, disgust, and heartbreak that’s he’s carried all these years and be able to start over and breathe once again?

He’s well in for the fight of his life!

My verdict: Man, I FREAKIN’ LOVED this book!! Albeit, it was slow at parts (like when Kane went all into his hunter/business mode where I admittedly skimmed over) and then there were moments where I wanted to grab Kane’s head and beat it with a stick!! He was so dang stubborn and acted like a jacka** to Whitney at times!!

And as for Whitney, boy did I think that only Kane had problems!! Whitney may not hold any sort of guilty conscious but after the sh** she goes through and finds out in this book, I think she deserve a lifetime shot supply of whiskey (her favorite alcoholic beverage) for messed up family f*ckery of the year!!

I liked her immensely though and thought she was even funny at times. I mean, just the way from the very first chapter we get introduced to her when she was checking Kane and then at the time where she was once again drooling over and daydreaming about him at the gym cracked me up!:

“To be that band across his large bicep”, “To be that towel and water bottle”…
“How’s that book?” Kane’s voice broke through my thoughts.
-“Tanned and muscular,” I whispered out loud, then looked up to see Kane standing in front of my desk-sweat dripping down his chest, an amused smirk spreading across his lips.
-"Interesting"
-"Why’s that interesting?"
-“Because, that’s a magazine, not a book, darling.” 

buahahaha! lol!

I now can’t wait for Kessel’s story which will be book three!! It looks to me that he might be paired up with that mysterious bartender, Ryhon, that he was shown to be having a heated argument with!! Hmm, I wonder how they know each other?

I'm also hoping for a Zane (Whitney’s playboy older bro) and Basil book!! As well as a Mollie and Adam? Or her and Thaddeus? And or Thaddeus and (??) story? 

Gosh, the possibilities!

Bravo, Emma Grayson!! I already want more!!

*An ARC was provided by Rockstar Lit and Author's Angels on behalf of Emma Grayson for an honest review*

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

Where to get your copy!:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Smashwords

ABOUT EMMA GRAYSON:

Emma Grayson is a Canadian author who resides outside of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada with her family and six year old son. She is Amazon’s Bestselling author of Unbeautifully Loved, the first book of the Breathe Again series and Take it All, book one of the two part, inspired by real events series, Blinded by Love. Currently she is working on Promise it All, the conclusion to the Blinded by Love series, and also in the prewriting stages of a new trilogy, Breaking the Rules, a spin-off from Blinded by Love. When she’s not writing she enjoys time with her son, coming up with new book plots, going to the movies, reading, enjoying time with girlfriends, and watching rerun episodes of Criminal Minds. She loves music of all kinds, coffee, all things purple, Oilers hockey, and doesn’t leave the house without her iPhone, Kobo, flip flops and a pack of gum.

GOODREADS- http://goo.gl/VOgBXP

TWITTER- http://goo.gl/uY0kCc

FACEBOOK- http://goo.gl/wdK7am

AMAZON- http://goo.gl/kg9Zhz

Links for UNBEAUTIFULLY LOVED #1

Amazon US http://amzn.to/1dbGcxA

Amazon UK http://goo.gl/oZSytc

B&N http://goo.gl/krHj7G

Kobo http://goo.gl/xwiYkR

iTunes http://goo.gl/ZKhldZ

Goodreads http://goo.gl/kgaoDW

Blog Tour Stop!- Moore than Forever (Needing Moore #3) by Julie A. Richman

MOORE THAN FOREVER

(Needing Moore Series, Book 3)

Released February 21, 2014

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Title:  Moore than Forever (Needing Moore #3)  

Author:  Julie A. Richman
Publication Date: February 21st 2014 by Julie A. Richman
Goodreads URL: HERE
Plot:   In this third and final book in the Needing Moore Series trilogy, Schooner Moore and Mia Silver must learn how to grow together and fight together as a team to hold onto their second chance love.  Continually stumbling on roadblocks and ghosts from their past, can Schooner and Mia take the lessons they've learned and use them to forge a future together.

MY REVIEW:

Moore than Forever was a glorious conclusion to the Needing Moore Series!! Albeit, some parts kind of gave me a headache, I was glad to be a part of this reading experience all in all.

The breakdown of the series: In the first and second books of this series, we get to meet Mia Silver and Schooner (*I still think his name is a riot! sorry!) and learn the 411 as to who they are, how they meet, and what their deal is.

In book three, we journey along Mia and Schooner with confronting their pasts while learning to trust, have faith in and embracing each other's faults and strengths together.

So, my thoughts: I’ll admit that I did have my doubts as to Ms. Richman could uphold the par and deliver but boy did she exceed my expectations!!

I felt that in this finale, things FINALLY came around and Mia and Schooner were finally (*yes, I'm using this word again!) able to put their obscurities aside and embrace the light and move on with their lives/relationship.

Granted, during the first leg of the book, I was beyond stressed and felt emotionally suppressed as if I was on a never ending roller coaster ride!! But then during the middle to the last part, things started to piece together and tensions were dropped and I felt as if I could breathe again! THANK JESUS! Lol.

From there on out, things were "easy squeezy" for me and I was lovin' every moment of the book from there after! :)

THAT SAID, a VERY climatic yet satisfying ending to the tumultuous Moore love affair!! I can't believe it's over now!! ☹

Needing More Series

An Adult Contemporary Romance

By Julie A. Richman

SEARCHING FOR MOORE

(Needing Moore Series, Book 1)

Amazon | Barnes and Noble

If your true love was just a Facebook friend request away ... what would you do? 
Sexy entrepreneur Schooner Moore never knew why the love of his life, college sweetheart, Mia Silver, disappeared. 
Now, two decades later, he finds her on Facebook and is a friend request away from the truth about what ripped them apart and a second chance at the love that was torn from them. 
Now if she'll only accept his friend request ... 
One true love, two shattered hearts, a single friend request and a second chance at love ... 
Searching for Moore is the first book in Schooner and Mia's journey of love, loss and betrayal as they fight for their own happily ever after. 
____________ 
This is the first book of the Needing Moore Series trilogy and is not meant to be read as a stand-alone. Book 2 - Moore to Lose is currently available. Book 3 - Moore than Forever releases February 21, 2014.

Goodreads - http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18071924-searching-for-moore

MOORE TO LOSE

(Needing Moore Series, Book 2)

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AMAZON TOP 100 BESTSELLER LIST
Continuing the fight for their happily ever after that began in Searching for Moore, Schooner Moore and Mia Silver struggle to overcome the ghosts and baggage they accumulated during their time apart.
Exploring the missing 24 years when they were separated, Moore to Lose follows Mia's journey from heartbroken teen to kickass businesswoman to her emotional reunion with Schooner and the exploration of the love that was ripped from them.
But is their love really strong enough to overcome the damage of those missing 24 years or will they continue to be ripped apart by pasts that can't be changed?
This is Book 2 in the Needing Moore Series trilogy. This is not a stand alone book. It is meant to be read after Searching for Moore. Book 3 - Moore than Forever releases February 21, 2014.

Goodreads - http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18132425-moore-to-lose

About the Author:

I must've been 5 or 6 when I started writing "stories".  I would write them and hide them. Not wanting anyone to see my "secret" thoughts. I needed to write -even back then.  Now I'm just not hiding them anymore.  Is that a sign of maturity?  Nah .... 

Writer, photographer, insatiable wanderluster, edge-player, foodie, music addict, pop culture fanatic, animal lover, warrior for the rights of people and planet, and avid cusser (am a Native New Yorker, so very little offends me ... and if I am offended, it must be pretty freaking bad .. like bad grammar!).

I am big believer in signs and if we keep ourselves open, there are guideposts all along the way. Stay humble. Be true. Be you.

Life is not a dress rehearsal ...

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Tour Giveaway!: 

 (5) eBook copies of Moore than Forever – International

 (3) $5 Gift Cards – International

 (3) Print Copies of Moore than Forever. – US Only

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