Jilly

Review…Out Of Line by Jen McLaughlin

(pssst….make sure to scroll all the way down to see just how much I adored this book.)

Book links:

Synopsis:

Desperate to break free…

I’ve spent my entire life under my father’s thumb, but now I’m finally free to make my own choices. When my roommate dragged me to my first college party, I met Finn Coram and my life turned inside out. He knows how to break the rules and is everything I never knew I wanted. A Marine by day and surfer by night, he pushes me away even as our attraction brings us closer. Now I am finally free to do whatever I want. I know what I want. I choose Finn.

Trying to play by the rules…

I always follow orders. My job, my life, depends on it. I thought this job would be easy, all the rules were made crystal clear, but when I met Carrie Wallington, everything got muddy. She’s a rule I know I shouldn’t break, but damn if I don’t inch closer to the breaking point each time I see her. I’m ready to step out of line. And even worse? I’m living a lie. They say the truth will set you free, but in my case…

The truth will cost me everything.

My review:

Out Of Line is a work from Jen McLaughlin….an author I also know (and love) by the name of Diane Alberts. As it stands, I am a big fan of Diane and after reading Out of Line, I am now a HUGE fan. This. Book. Was. Incredible.

*I will warn you that this review may be slightly spoilery, but if you’ve read the first 25 pages that Jen has posted on her site, it won’t be*

As a politician’s child, Carrie Wallington is used to being in the spotlight. As a daughter, Carrie Wallington is used to be overprotective. As a college student, Carrie wants to shed all of it and just be. She’s tired of being watched by security and never being able to just live her life. It’s understandable that her dad worries and wants her safe but it’s unreasonable to always have people watching her. So, when she leaves for college and her father agrees to let her go sans security, she’s more than just a little shocked. Now was her time to live. She was never one to get carried away and always had a good head on her shoulders. Studied, got good grades, was always aware of her surroundings and rarely drank and partied. So when she meets the deliciously handsome surfer, Finn, while getting some air at one of the only parties she’s ever been to, she knows he’s exactly what she’s been missing out on. And he’s exactly the kind of guy who can show her how to live. Now’s the chance to make up for lost time and Finn’s just what she needs.

Finn Coram is not sure what he’s gotten himself into on his latest assignment. He’s a marine with an outstanding record that’s caught the eye of a politician with a daughter in need of protection. It just so happens that he also looks the part of a college surfer boy, too. So here he is, on a college campus, with strict orders to keep an eye on Carrie while looking the part of a college kid….while keeping it all a secret Great. Unfortunately for Finn, and his exemplary record, all of the rules he knows he should be following completely go out the window when he sees Carrie on the beach at a frat party. She’s much more than the file he had on her and the minute he starts talking to her, his brain and mouth completely ignore each other and he finds himself making plans to teach Carrie how to surf. Finn knows this is trouble and he’s wondering how long he will be able to keep Carrie at arm’s length….and in the dark as to his true identity of her personal protector.

Carrie and Finn start on a journey of friendship that turns into so much more than that…and is constantly threatened by the truth. Carrie would be devastated to know Finn is part of the security she is eager to be rid of. Finn knows that every minute he spends with her, he is falling for her more and more….he also knows it’s completely forbidden. With so much on the line, will they be able to keep what they’ve found?

A few times in my life, I’ve voraciously devoured a book and was just about to finish it and stopped. Just stopped reading when I got to the last few chapters. Why? Why the hell would I do that? Well, it’s because I cannot bear the thought of finishing the book and the experience it has brought me. THIS was one of those books. I got to 85% after reading it all day and I just couldn’t go on. I put it down for the next whole day, and when I finally picked it back up and I savored every last word. Finn and Carrie’s story was just so amazing. I was hooked after chapter 3 and completely fell in love with Finn. Yes, he’s got a body made for sin and is gorgeous but he’s also honorable and loyal and has such a way about him that I rank him as one of my all-time favorite characters. He had me laughing out loud while reading his internal dialogue and the next minute had my chest physically aching with his growing love for Carrie and his denial that he would ever be good enough for her. He knows it’s his duty to protect Carrie and he knows he can’t have a relationship with her. But hey, they say the road to hell is paved with good intentions, right? He killed me. He’s just one of those guys any gal would love. Carrie was just as amazing a character as Finn. She’s smart and giving and stands up for the underdog in life. She volunteers and helps those in need, but does it anonymously. She’s a girl we would all be lucky to know. She’s also innocent and that adds to her charm. They balance each other out beautifully and I was cheering them on from the very start. The emotional ups and down they weather are intense and real and so very believable. This is a story that will stay with me and one I will be re-reading as soon as I can. Maybe this time I will read it all the way through without stopping……eh, who the hell am I kidding?

Jen, thank you. Thank you for giving us Carrie and Finn. Thank you for giving me one of those books that I couldn’t bear to finish. It may sound corny to some, but for me, that’s the sign of a kick ass book. I cannot WAIT for more and will be chomping at the bit for book two in the series!

Tattoo Worthy Five Loves

Yep, it’s the real thing…..my patriotic surf board Finn tattoo!

About the author:

Jen McLaughlin is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. She writes steamy New Adult books for the young and young at heart. Her first release, Out of Line, came out September 2013. She also writes bestselling Contemporary Romance under the pen name Diane Alberts.Since receiving her first contract offer under the pen name Diane Alberts, she has yet to stop writing. She is represented by Louise Fury at The Bent Agency.

Though she lives in the mountains, she really wishes she was surrounded by a hot, sunny beach with crystal clear water. She lives in Northeast Pennsylvania with her four kids, a husband, a schnauzer mutt, a cat, and a Senegal parrot. In the rare moments when she’s not writing, she can usually be found hunched over one knitting project or another. Her goal is to write so many well-crafted romance books that even a non-romance reader will know her name.

Website: http://dianealberts.com/

Facebook Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/DianeAlberts6

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DianeAlberts

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6921962.Jen_McLaughlin

ARC Review….Bound by Night by Larissa Ione

Bound by Night releases September 24

Book links:

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Goodreads

Synopsis:

The first installment in a sexy new paranormal romance series by Larissa Ione, author of the bestselling Demonica series!

A WOMAN OUT FOR BLOOD

Nicole Martin was only eight years old when the vampire slaves rose up in rebellion and killed her family. Now she devotes her life to finding a vaccine against vampirism, hoping to wipe out her memories—along with every bloodsucker on the planet. But there’s one thing she cannot destroy: her searing, undeniable attraction for the one man she should hate and fear the most . . .

A VAMPIRE OUT FOR REVENGE

A member of the renegade vampire MoonBound Clan, Riker is haunted by demons of his own. When he recognizes Nicole and remembers how her family enslaved his loved ones, his heart burns for vengeance. But when he kidnaps Nicole and holds her in a secret lair, his mortal enemy becomes his soul obsession, his greatest temptation, and, perhaps, his only salvation—a hot-blooded lover who could heal him with her touch . . . or bury him forever.

My Review:

Let me start out by saying I am a HUGE Larissa Ione fan so when I found out she was writing a new vampire series, I died. Larissa’s vampires rock my world. Bound by Night is the first in her new Moonbound Clan Vampire Series and it…freaking…ROCKED!

In this story, current day vampires don’t have the luxuries, wealth and jet-setting lifestyles that a lot of vampire novels portray….in fact, quite the opposite. Vampires have been dominated by humans for years and are used as slaves within human households. If you weren’t enslaved, you were a rogue living almost as an outlaw to society and the vampire clans that still survived lived off the mortal radar. For me, this was a fresh look at vampire society and I really enjoyed the change of pace.

Nicole Martin has had quite a love/hate relationship with vampires her entire life. Love, because the nanny that took care of her until she was eight years old gave her some of the fondest childhood memories and helped shape the woman she was today. Hate, because it was that nanny’s mate that killed her nanny….the same night vampires raided her home and killed most of her family. Now, Nicole has taken over her family’s biotech company, Daedalus, and has vowed to help create a vaccine to stop the virus that causes vampirism. Her mission is to make sure no one has to endure the pain she has and with the advances her company has made, they are one step closer. In an instant all of that changes when she is kidnapped by the very monster that killed her nanny….Riker. Now she finds herself in the middle of a combustible situation between clans and her company responsible for the war the clans are about to wage on one another. And as she learns more about the day-to-day lives of vampires she also soon finds herself questioning the hate she has harbored toward the vampire race.

Riker and his clan have a dire situation. They borrowed something of great importance from another clan and the deadline to return it is looming….the only problem is that what they need to return is now in the hands of The Daedalus Corp.. The same company that kills and tortures vampires in the name of science and the same company that is owned by the family that held his dead mate as a slave. Riker comes up with a plan that his chief isn’t exactly thrilled with but he knows is the only way. Well, you know what they say about the best-laid plans, right? Riker’s plan goes to hell and he ends up kidnapping Nicole Martin. The same Nicole Martin that now runs Daedalus. The same Nicole Martin whose family is responsible for murdering his mate. Maybe he should treat Nicole the way her company treats vampires? The way her family treated his mate? Surely that would help ease some of the rage and pain he’s felt since his beloved’s death twenty years ago. He’s had twenty years to think of all the ways to exact revenge and now it looks like he will get his chance. The problem is, after spending some time with her he starts to think maybe she isn’t like the rest of her family and that maybe she’s just innocently caught up in this whole mess.

Riker and Nicole have a whole lot to figure out and they have no choice but to work together….for survival and for revenge. Riker and Nicole have their separate reasons for both but they both need them just as much. As they are forced to spend more and more time together, they are soon realizing they will need to put their differences aside. Riker and Nicole also start to realize they each have misconceptions about the other’s race and start to open up to the possibility that they were wrong about one another.

What a book! I mentioned earlier that this took a fresh approach to vampires and I really enjoyed it. There was a lot of Native American influence and the legend of how vampires came to be was also refreshing. There were more than a few twists and turns in this story and I was so glad Riker and Nicole, even if it did take a while, were able to open up to the possibility that what they’ve known of each other’s people were wrong. The characters in the story were done in typical Larissa fashion….brilliantly. Riker broke my heart. His warring emotions were a constant and they were intense. He’s a warrior and soldier with a loyal and soft heart. Nicole totally surprised me. She was a fantastic heroine with the ability to realize when she needed to take a step back and look differently at a situation. She was always open and willing to accept she may have been wrong about a multitude of things. I appreciated that. Together, the push and pull between them was fabulous….without giving anything away, I will just say that I was really happy with how the book ended for them.

The other characters were just as great. The chief, Hunter, is already painted as a man of more than a few extremes. The all-important clan chief that loves to play video games as just an example. Myne, Riker’s best friend, has a wit about him that had me laughing more than a few times but also, from the sneak peek we got, has a heartbreaking story. Then there’s Bastian. Good Lord, don’t even get me started. Broke. My. Heart. I can’t wait to see what Larissa has in store for the clan!

Thank you, Larissa, for giving us more of your creative mind and your new vampires. I am SO looking forward to more!

Four-and-a-Half Loves

About the author:

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Larissa Ione penned her first novel at the age of 13 and hasn’t stopped writing since. She has been a U.S. Air Force meteorologist, an EMT, and a professional dog trainer, and you never know when one of those interests will pop into her novels.

She lives a nomadic existence with her U.S. Coast Guard husband and son, so her writing career has been a blessing — a job that moves easily.

She writes dark paranormal romance for Grand Central Publishing (formerly Warner Books,) and contemporary romance for Red Sage and Samhain. Under the pen name Sydney Croft, she writes erotic action adventure romance with partner Stephanie Tyler.

Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Website ~ Goodreads

Release Day Event….Sworn to Transfer by Terah Edun

Thanks for stopping by my stop on the Sworn to Transfer by Terah Edun Release Day Book Blast!

Terah is hosting a fab giveaway as well. Be sure to enter in the rafflecopter below!

Sworn To Transfer (Courtlight #2)

Author: Terah Edun

Genre: Young Adult / Fantasy

Release Date: September 20, 2013

Add to your To-Reads on Goodreads

Description:

Companion trainee Ciardis Weathervane has won the friendship of the royal heir and saved his claim to the throne. Yet her interference in the inheritance rights leaves more harm done than good. With the death of the Princess Heir, the Ameles forest – the home of the kith, is dying.

The inhabitants of the forest, magic-wielding non-humans, are defiant. They have not forgotten their long struggles nor are they content to watch as the last of their lands perish. As humans begin to die in gruesome deaths, the Emperor dispatches the royal heir to the forests with the solution to the kith concerns.

With enemies closing ranks in Sandrin, Ciardis can little afford to leave the city’s nest of vipers to take on a new task. But she’s given no choice when her loyalty to the crown and courts are called into question.

To keep the Companions’ Guild happy and the favor of the Imperial Court, Ciardis will be tested in frightening new ways, especially when she’s faced with an obstacle that could risk the lives of her friends and the family she never thought she had.

This second novel continues the story of Ciardis Weathervane from Sworn To Raise.

Sworn To Raise (Courtlight #1)

Author: Terah Edun

Genre: Young Adult / Fantasy

Release Date: April 10, 2013

Add to your To-Reads on Goodreads

Buy Links: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iTunes

Description:

Seventeen-year-old Ciardis has grown up in poverty, a cleaner in a small vale on the outskirts of the empire. But beneath her empire’s seemingly idyllic surface lies a hidden secret. Whispers of an inept crown Prince are growing ever louder—intensified by the five year anniversary of the soulbond initiations.

Amidst scandalous whispers, Ciardis finds herself chosen to train for the Companion’s Guild. She leaves her home and sets off on a personal journey to become a Court Companion. A position she’d never thought possible for a lowly servant to obtain, she must prove that she has the skills to attract a Patron.

But she must master those skills quickly. If the legends are true, only Ciardis can harness the power to raise a Prince in an Imperial Court sworn to bring him down.

This sensational series debut melds intricate storylines with remarkable characters and unforgettable magic. Sworn To Raise is ideal for fans of Kristin Cashore, Michelle Sagara, and Maria Snyder.

ABOUT THE COURTLIGHT SERIES:

It’s a series of full length novels focusing on a young woman’s fight to rise from poverty to elegance. Each book is a clean, teen read with lots of magic and a hint of romance. If you’ve enjoyed books such as The Graceling Series and The Grey Wolf Throne Series then you’ll love this series.

Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the author:

Terah Edun is a young adult fantasy writer born and raised in the Atlanta metropolitan area, who transplanted to the Northeast region for college, and has spent years living abroad in South Sudan and Morocco. She writes the stories that she always loved to read as a young girl.

She prefers tales of adventure, magic, fellowship and courtship – in other words high fantasy. But she’s not adverse to the occasional contemporary fantasy coming her way. Sometimes you’ll see cloaks, daggers, independent and strong girls, independent and strong guys, sweet and soft spoken girls, sweet and soft spoken guys, sparkly magic and irritatingly know-it-all boys. The book she’s currently working on is SWORN TO TRANSFER, the second in the Courtlight series.

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Cover Reveal and Excerpt….Third Time’s The Charm by Genevieve Dewey

Third Time’s The Charm (The Downey Trilogy #3)

by Genevieve Dewey

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Publication Date: October 31, 2013

Add to Goodreads

Synopsis:

Once to Begin, Twice to Bind, and Third Time’s The Charm…

Of all the things Mickey Downey has accomplished in his life, successfully quitting his vices is the one thing he hasn’t been able to master. For the first time Mickey is free to have both Mary and Tommy in his life but yet he’s never been closer to being pulled back into the criminal world. While Tommy, Ginny and James work overtime to expose a nefarious plot threatening all of them, Kiki and Maeve Downey are hatching their own plots to make Mickey’s dreams come true. With shenanigans afoot in every aspect of Mickey’s life, he may be forced to pick up the weapons he promised Mary he would leave behind in order to protect his children. Can Mary finally accept he might never truly be free of it or will Mickey’s enemies once again succeed in tearing them apart?

Strap yourselves in for the rollercoaster conclusion to The Downey Trilogy!

First, I Love You . Second of All . Third Time’s The Charm

Excerpt:

Mary lifted her head and stared dully at his body lounging against the door frame, hands in his pockets, as usual. She was so permeated with emotion and memories and her eyes stung with that dry wetness of too many tears, she couldn’t bother to feel shame at being caught. She said the first thing on her mind.

“You—you never sent them,” Mary stopped and swallowed. “How come you never mailed them to me?”

Michael came and sat on the bed next to her. When the mattress dipped to accommodate him, her hip tilted into his and she put a hand out onto his thigh to brace herself. His left hand reached out and covered hers, tracing the faint wrinkles on her knuckles. His other hand reached across and gently took the box from her lap.

“I didn’t know where you were. But even if I had, I wouldn’t have. I couldn’t. They were never meant for you to see. I thought by writing them I could somehow exorcise you from my heart, get the memories out of my head.”

“But… After you found us and you started writing Tommy…”

“It was easier with him. There was no resentment and pain with the guilt, just love. We’re family. It was my duty as his father to make sure he knew his siblings at the very least. When I wrote to him it felt like a gift. With you…” his voice trailed off and she could tell by the tightness in his tone he was battling his emotions. “I knew after I saw you again, there would never be a day when I didn’t love you. And I no longer wanted to cut you out of my heart.”

She turned her head and looked into his eyes. They were bloodshot but otherwise dry.

“Oh, Michael,” Mary’s voice broke and his face blurred again from her tears. She wiped them impatiently. She moved her body so she could face him more directly. “Don’t you know how much I would have given to have known even half of this?”

His lips tightened and his gaze dropped to their hands.

“I thought you did know, Mary. I tried the best I could to show you what you meant to me. Words are cheap. I spent my days lyin’ to people. You know I’m damn good at it. I thought, with you, the words weren’t as important as showing you. When we were together in Brooklyn, you had all of me. All of the real me. The rest of the world had the smoke and mirrors.”

She reached up her hand and laid it flat against his chest. His heart was racing. He grabbed her hand and pressed it to his lips. She scooted closer and laid her head against his neck. She could feel the sinews of his muscles and bones and his breathing seemed labored.

“Spend the night with me. We’ve wasted so much time. You said you came for me. I’m tired of this dance, so tired,” Michael stopped. She lifted her head and watched him grit his teeth before he continued. “I’m done with it. Done with being a gentleman. We can go on as many dates as you like, but I’m not going to be under the same roof with you and not have you in my bed.”

About the Author:

Genevieve Dewey is the author of The Downey Trilogy (First, I Love You, Second of All & Third Time’s The Charm) and the short stories Bird Day Battalion & V-Day Aversion. She is a wife, mother, sister, friend and Anthropologist. She was raised mostly in Nebraska, partly in Arizona. She has a Master’s in Anthropology and worked as an Applied Anthropologist for years (even ran her own research company for a while) before deciding to be a stay at home mom. She loves passionate (rational) debates, reading, and libraries… oh, and Chicago and high-heels and chocolate and target practice and gangster flicks and anything with the FBI in it and run-on sentences. She lives in Nebraska with her three brilliantly diabolical children and one incredibly funny husband.

Release Day Spotlight & Giveaway….Losing Virginity by Ava Michaels

Happy Thursday and welcome to the release day spotlight on Losing Virginity by Ava Michaels! I’ve got this on my to-read list and am dying to get to it…I think it looks fab!

I’ve got a great excerpt below and Ava is offering a giveaway for a $25 Amazon Gift Card and 5 copies of Losing Virginity giveaway. Awesome! (Enter in the rafflecopter below)

Enjoy and thanks for stopping by!

Book links:

Amazon ~ Goodreads ~ Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:

WARNING: THIS BOOK IS DEFINITELY ONLY FOR AGES 18 OR OLDER. OLIVIA HAS CRAZY THOUGHTS. IF YOU ARE OFFENDED BY INAPPROPRIATE THOUGHTS I RECOMMEND YOU DON’T READ THIS. IF YOU HAVE VIRGIN EARS I RECOMMEND YOU DON’T READ THIS. IF YOU HAVE A SENSE OF HUMOR THEN READ THIS.

Olivia Spurgeon has been a good girl her entire life. Her friends have called her Spurgeon the Virgin since 9th grade. Why? Because everyone in her group of friends had already lost there virginity by then. Over the past four years it has been like a foreign object attached to her and even named it something simple.

Virginity.

Now, she’s a freshman in college and still hasn’t done the deed. All three of her roommates do not have Virginity attached to them and they aren’t scared to show it off. Olivia is jealous. She wants what they are having, feeling. One day she finally decides that she doesn’t want Virginity attached to her anymore and begins the journey of losing it

Excerpt:

Victorian women had a complex system of sending courtship signals with their fans. If she was available, she would fan quicker, and if she was taken she would fan slower. If her fan rested on her left cheek, then she was not that into you. If it was on her right cheek then you were in. Whoever got rid of the fan thing? That sounded great to me! I’ve been borrowing my courtship rituals from Victorian England and sending the slightest, tiniest, most miniscule signals to guys that I was interested. I was assuming that boys could understand a complex system of unspoken language. It wasn’t me after all. It was them!
I needed to be more obvious about my signals, it was as simple as that.
In Finland, girls who were ready to marry would wear an empty sheath around their waists. When a guy wanted to date the girl, he would either make or buy a knife and put it in her sheath.
Tell me it doesn’t get any more obvious than that. Maybe I should just walk up to the next boy I want wearing a sheath. Would he get it then? Somehow I doubted it.
If the woman wasn’t interested in the man, she would give the knife back, but if she wanted to marry him she would keep it. Women in those cooler climates always carried knives around.
I resolved that I was going to drop the fan and go for the knife. It’s time I made a sheath.

Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the author:

“I use to blog about books but now I’m writing a book. You can like me on Facebook, add me as a friend on Facebook, and follow me on Twitter.”

Twitter ~ Goodreads ~ Facebook

Cover Reveal….Bad Idea by Damon Suede

Bad Idea

Damon Suede

Blurb:

Some mistakes are worth making.

Reclusive comic book artist Trip Spector spends his life doodling super-square, straitlaced superheroes, hiding from his fans, and crushing on his unattainable boss until he meets the dork of his dreams. Silas Goolsby is a rowdy FX makeup creator with a loveless love life and a secret streak of geek who yearns for unlikely rescues and a truly creative partnership.

Against their better judgment, they fall victim to chemistry, and what starts as infatuation quickly grows tender and terrifying. With Silas’s help, Trip gambles his heart and his art on a rotten plan: sketching out Scratch, a “very graphic novel” that will either make his name or wreck his career. But even a smash can’t save their world if Trip retreats into his mild-mannered rut, leaving Silas to grapple with betrayal and emotions he can’t escape.

What will it take for this dynamic duo to discover that heroes never play it safe?

Release Date

October 21, 2013

About the Author

Damon Suede grew up out-n-proud deep in the anus of right-wing America, and escaped as soon as it was legal. Though new to romance fiction, Damon has been writing for print, stage, and screen for two decades. He’s won some awards, but counts his blessings more often: his amazing friends, his demented family, his beautiful husband, his loyal fans, and his silly, stern, seductive Muse who keeps whispering in his ear, year after year. Get in touch with him at DamonSuede.com.

Presented by:

Blog Tour & Review….Declan’s Cross by Carla Neggers

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for Declan’s Cross by Carla Neggers!

Book links:

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Goodreads

Synopsis:

An escape to an idyllic Irish seaside village is about to turn deadly in this riveting new novel by master of romantic suspense Carla Neggers.

For marine biologist Julianne Maroney, two weeks in tiny Declan’s Cross on the south Irish coast is a chance to heal her broken heart. She doesn’t expect to attract the attention of FBI agents Emma Sharpe and Colin Donovan—especially since a Donovan is the reason for her broken heart.

Emma and Colin are in Ireland for their own personal retreat. Colin knows he’s a reminder of everything Julianne wants to escape, but something about her trip raises his suspicion. Emma, an art crimes expert, is also on edge. Of all the Irish villages Julianne could choose…why Declan’s Cross?

Ten years ago, a thief slipped into a mansion in Declan’s Cross. Emma’s grandfather, a renowned art detective, investigated, but the art stolen that night has never been recovered and the elusive thief never caught.

From the moment Julianne sets foot on Irish soil, everything goes wrong. The well-connected American diver who invited her to Ireland has disappeared. And now Emma and Colin are in Declan’s Cross asking questions.

As a dark conspiracy unfolds amid the breathtaking scenery of Declan’s Cross, the race is on to stop a ruthless killer…and the stakes have never been more personal for Emma and Colin.

My review:

Declan’s Cross is the third book in the Sharpe & Donovon Series by author Carla Neggers and admittedly, the first book of Carla’s that I have read. After reading this third installment, I am happy to say that I will be putting the others in the series on my to-read list.

This is unlike the stories that I am used to reading lately in that the focus wasn’t on only one couple. There were a few couples as well as other single characters and they all played equally important roles in the whole picture.

Julianne Maroney is a waitress who leaves her hometown in Maine to escape a broken heart as well as begin the fulfillment of her oceanographer dreams. She is supposed to be meeting up with a woman named Lindsay Hargraves. The two gals recently met when Lindsey was visiting her father in the same hometown as Julianne. Their quick and easy friendship was only strengthened when they learn of their mutual love of the ocean, sea life and diving. Ireland awaits the two young women….

Special Agents Colin Donovon and Emma Sharpe were already in Ireland when Colin receives a call from his younger brother, Andy, informing him that his ex-girlfriend, Julianne, will be headed their way. Not really seeing the relevance of Andy’s phone call, they were just about to dismiss the coincidence of travel destination until Andy mentions Julianne will be staying in Declan’s Cross. Emma’s interest is suddenly piqued. That town was the setting of a famous art theft ten years earlier, and a case her grandfather had been working on for years. Maybe Colin and Emma should make their way to Julianne and welcome her…..

When Julianne arrives in Ireland, things don’t go exactly as planned. She can’t get in touch with Lindsay and after finding her way to Declan’s Cross, she runs into Emma and Colin. What were the odds? She meets a few local characters along the way and soon realizes there is way more action going on in this sleepy Irish town than she could ever have dreamed. Lindsay is missing and is possibly tied to the art theft. Suddenly Julianne’s broken heart and feelings for Andy seem like a lifetime ago. It sure doesn’t feel like it was just a week ago.

Together, each in the cast of characters all play a role in attempting to solve a decade old Irish mystery. Pretty exciting for a town filled with more sheep than people.

This really was a who-done-it from the very first chapter. I enjoyed trying to put the pieces together while I was reading and enjoyed that the story focused on numerous characters, rather than one main couple or family. Again, I hadn’t read the first two books in the series and felt that maybe if I had, I would have more of a relationship with the characters. I enjoyed the banter between the Donovon brothers and loved how Carla wrapped things up, for the most part, in the last few chapters. We are still left with a bit of a mystery and it definitely has me curious to see what will happen next in the series. I say that’s Mission Accomplished when it comes to keeping readers invested in a series!

Thank you, Ms. Neggers, for a mysterious read with amazing description of the Irish countryside and of the colorful characters! Count me in for the future adventures of Donovon & Sharpe!

Three-and-a-Half Loves

About the author:

Carla Neggers is the New York Times bestselling author of more than 60 novels, with translations in 24 languages. Born and raised on the western edge of the beautiful Quabbin Reservoir in rural Massachusetts, Carla grew up with tales of her father’s life as a Dutch sailor and her mother’s childhood in northwest Florida.

At a young age, Carla began penning her own stories on a branch high up in her favorite sugar maple. Now she enjoys spending time at the family homestead (now a tree farm) with her six brothers and sisters and their families. When she’s not writing, Carla loves to travel, hike, kayak, garden, and, of course, dive into a good book. She lives with her family in Vermont, near Quechee Gorge.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Cover Reveal….East of Ecstasy by Laura Kaye

*cue drumroll*

I am so excited and honored to bring you the gorgeous cover of East of Ecstasy by the amazing Laura Kaye….

Book links:

Amazon | B&N | Book Depository

Synopsis:

Annalise Fallston made peace with postponing her big-city dreams to care for her ill father, but lately she’s been filled with a restlessness not even her beloved painting dispels. Worse, the colors don’t speak to her as they always have, and all her efforts produce dark, foreboding images of a dangerous man and a terrifying future.

Devlin Eston, black-souled son of the evil Anemoi Eurus, is the only one who can thwart his father’s plan to overthrow the Supreme God of Wind and Storms. But first, Dev must master the unstable powers he’s been given. Distrusted and shunned by his own divine family, he never expected to find kindness and passion in the arms of a mortal.

But Devlin’s love puts Annalise in the path of a catastrophic storm, and in the final Armageddon showdown between the Anemoi and Eurus, sacrifices will be made, hearts broken, and lives changed forever…or lost.

Books in Series:

North of Need

West of Want

South of Surrender

About the author:

Laura is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over a dozen books in paranormal and contemporary romance. Growing up, Laura’s large extended family believed in the supernatural, and family lore involving angels, ghosts, and evil-eye curses cemented in Laura a life-long fascination with storytelling and all things paranormal. She lives in Maryland with her husband, two daughters, and cute-but-bad dog, and appreciates her view of the Chesapeake Bay every day.

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Book Spotlight….Forged in Dreams and Magick by Kat Bastion

I’ve got a fantastic book to spotlight today, a book I’ve read and loved…..Forged in Dreams and Magick by Kat Bastion. I’ve also got Kat’s favorite quotes from the book to share with you…fun!

Kat is also hosting a fabulous giveaway with prizes includnig signed paperback copies of Forged in Dreams and Magick and a Pandora bracelet! (enter in the rafflecopter below) Enjoy!

Forged in Dreams and Magick releases September 23

Goodreads

Synopsis:

Isobel MacInnes wakes up in present-day California, lunches in medieval Scotland, and by ten days’ end, falls in love with a man and his country, only to lose them in a heart-wrenching twist of fate . . .

Found in the arms of her second soul mate . . .

Forced to balance the delicate strands of time between two millennia . . .

Shocked by revelations rewriting the very foundations of history . . . of everything.

Isobel, a rising-star archaeology student, is dropped into two ancient worlds without warning . . . or her permission. Her fiery spirit resists the dependency thrust upon her. Amid frustration at her lack of control, she helplessly falls in love. Twice.

She struggles to adjust to the unimaginable demands of two leaders of men—a laird in the thirteenth-century Highlands and a Pict chieftain in a more ancient Scotland. Isobel transforms from an academic, hell-bent on obtaining archaeological recognition, to a woman striving to care for those she loves, and ultimately . . . into a fearless warrior risking everything to protect them.

Kat’s Favorite Quotes from
Forged in Dreams and Magick

“May all who seek refuge, find it. When you find comfort from another, cherish it. Should you be graced with true love, embrace it.” ~ This favorite quote is a portion of Iain’s toast at the Beltane celebration. Not only is it a wonderful philosophy for their clan, but it serves as a creed for us all to offer and value the important things in life.

His low, graveled tone sounded like the softest silk to my ears. “I love the instant reaction you have to me: the quick pulse at the base of your neck, your struggle for breath, those beautiful green eyes all dark and dilated. You’re a breathtakin’ present, beggin’ to be unwrapped.” ~ Iain courts Isobel on a moonlit picnic. {fans self}

“Woman, I would travel to the ends of the Earth to bring that smile to your face.” ~ Iain. Regarding a surprise both mundane and extraordinary, the scope of his statement expresses the depth of his love.

He put his hand on the side of my head, smoothing my hair. Gentle lips kissed my forehead. “Sometimes our emotions rule us. How we handle the consequences . . . defines us.” ~ Velloc praises Isobel in a way that encompasses kindness, forgiveness, and grace, but its profound meaning applies to everyone.

“A deep ache burned in my heart. My head spun. Panic had set in, and I didn’t want to leave. Conflicting emotions threatened to overrule any sense of purpose I’d had since my entire odyssey began. To a wanderer of worlds, knowledge might’ve been power, but human connections had become everything.” ~ I love this poignant moment when Isobel realizes her purpose is no longer about the historical adventure, but those she loves along the way.

“Markers in my journey, every guidepost had simply showed me the way. I went down the path, choosing right or left at forks in the road, but the doorways did not define me. My actions every step of the way determined my course, revealing the person that existed inside.” ~ Isobel accepts the strength she’s discovered inside and commands her destiny, the warrior within her rising to the challenge, no matter her uncontrollable circumstance. The sentiment is great inspiration.

Giveaway:

Kat has put together an amazing giveaway with prizes including:

(5) Signed Paperback Copies of Forged in Dreams and Magick

(5) eBook copies of Forged in Dreams and Magick

(1) Pandora sterling silver Happily Ever After charm with a Pandora sterling silver bracelet.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the author:

Kat Bastion is an award-winning paranormal romance writer, poetic warrior, and eternal optimist who loves getting lost in the beauty of nature.

On a never-ending, wondrous path of self-discovery, Kat throws her characters into incredible situations with the hope that readers join her in learning more about the meaning of life and love.

Her first published work, Utterly Loved, was shared with the world to benefit others. All proceeds from Utterly Loved, and a portion of the proceeds of all her other books, support charities who help those lost in this world.

Kat lives with her husband amid the beautiful Sonoran Desert of Arizona. Visit her blog at www.talktotheshoe.com, her website at www.katbastion.com, Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kat-Bastion/382546338470769 ,and her Twitter account at https://twitter.com/KatBastion for more information.

Blog Tour & Guest Post….Ivy Entwined by Laura Simcox

Welcome to my stop on the Ivy Entwined by Laura Simcox Blog Tour!

I’ve got a fabulous guest post from Laura and the giveaway she has put together is just as amazing! (enter in the rafflecopter below).

Enjoy and thanks for stopping by!

Book links:

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Goodreads

Synopsis:

When Ivy Callahan returns to her hometown as mayor, she doesn’t expect much to have changed. But now her ex-fiancé is the town planner, the biggest business is closed, and the only store interested in Celebration, NY is a Megamart. On top of it all, the liaison for the big, bad, box store is Marcus Weaver, her childhood crush. And he’s still as dangerously delectable as ever.

Marcus unwillingly spent his teens in Celebration with his vindictive, drunken uncle. As far as Marcus is concerned, the town’s only use is to cement his rise up the corporate ladder. He needs that Megamart opened, and Ivy is his ticket. But the sexy, stubborn mayor could also be his downfall.

As the unemployed townspeople put on the pressure, Ivy needs to do something. With a fresh downtown-renewal project in the works, Ivy could stop Marcus and his Megamart before they kill the town’s spirit. But with sparks flying between Ivy and Marcus, they each need to decide what’s more important: their careers or their hearts.

Excerpt:

He blinked at her. “Who are you?”

“I’m Ivy Callahan. Who are you?”

He froze. Callahan. The mayor’s daughter? The last time he’d seen Ivy, she was a freckly kid in braces, sitting with her friends in the corner of the drugstore and giggling behind her hand. But now? Gorgeous. And probably pissed at him, despite the fact that he’d just saved her from falling on her face. He stopped, glancing behind him. Where was Alberta Fields? He needed a buffer.

Like a beacon, she walked over to them. “That was a close call, but you didn’t fall, so all’s well that ends well. Ivy, this is Marcus Weaver. Can you believe it?”

Ivy’s mouth dropped open. She turned to Alberta and whispered something in her ear. Alberta nodded.

Ivy cocked her head to the side and looked at Marcus. “Oh. Well, I’d like to speak with you. Walk into city hall with me.”

He raised an eyebrow at Alberta, who shrugged and turned to the crowd. “Inside, everybody,” she snapped out in her practiced schoolteacher voice.

Marcus followed Ivy up the steps, letting his gaze bounce over her killer legs and snug suit. Ivy Callahan. Wow. She sure had grown up.

Ivy turned, a flash of annoyance crossing her face. “You are the investor Herman’s been talking about, right?”

“Yes, but what does that have to do with…” Marcus gave her an automatic smile. “Never mind. What was with the welcome wagon back there? Are you…” He searched for an appropriate word, but he couldn’t think of anything that didn’t sound ridiculous. “Famous?”

Ivy raised an eyebrow. “Depends on who you ask.”

“I see.” Marcus crossed his arms. “In any case, where’s your dad? I’d like to speak with him before the meeting starts.”

“You would? How come?”

“Because I wanted to say hello.”

She flicked a piece of imaginary lint from her spotless red suit. “Great. I’ll let him know. Anything else you need?”

Okay, so she was pissed. But she didn’t have to interrogate him. He had saved her from falling on her ass, after all. Marcus leaned forward, not even trying to keep the hint of condescension from his voice. “Look. It’s been fun chatting with you, but I’d really like to talk to the mayor. Okay, sweetheart?”

She went still for a brief second and then a slow grin spread over her face. “Sure, honey. Go ahead and talk to the mayor. You’re looking right at her.”

Guest Post

From the Stage to the Page

I’ve never had a normal job, and there have been times that I’ve dreamed of working in a cubicle, pulling in a predictable paycheck, going to a break room for birthday cake, and trotting out after work for happy hour with friends. It’s something I’ve never experienced, although I did work as a temp in a lot of offices in Chicago. Lots of people do temp work at one time or another, but theater people? I’ve never met one who hasn’t temped. But temping doesn’t count when temping is your life. Theater work is the ultimate temp work and although I didn’t realize it during my twenty year adventure as a costume designer, theater prepared me to be a romance writer.

There’s nothing like throwing together 300 costumes in three weeks to prepare a girl for deadlines. The only way I stayed organized was to obsessively re-write my three page to-do list (which was separated into five categories) every night before I left the costume shop. I did this on and off for years, because I mostly designed costumes for musicals.

Now, I’m not saying writing deadlines are a piece of cake for me, because they’re not. But being creative under pressure? Yeah, I’ve done that. There was that one time at band camp…err, I mean, during a production of Camelot when I was informed that a character had to fly. And light up. And wear a body microphone. And could I get that ready super-quick-thanks? If I’d had the time, she would have been professionally fitted into a theatrical flying harness, but time wasn’t on my side. Like, at all.

So my solution involved a diaphanous (but not see through!) dress, some strings of fiber optic lights, a roll of electrical tape, a roll of surgical tape, a well-digger’s harness in extra small (chorus girls are teeny) and a big box of maxi pads strategically placed for actor comfort while she was suspended over the audience pretending to be a fairy. And singing notes high enough to shatter glass, with a smile on her face. She was a trouper, and I admired her.

I love to write about women like her- not necessarily actors, but women with a sense of adventure and an appreciation of the weird. I love heroines who fly by the seat of their pants. (Ha, ha.) And I love creating worlds for them to inhabit. Of course, true heroines deserve nothing less than meltingly amazing heroes, so I write about them, too.

My background in theater has given me tons of stories like the flying fairy and inspiration to draw on for years. It’s also taught me to be creative under deadline and make lists like a champ. I just hope that I never get over my love affair with the kookier side of life. When I wrote Ivy Entwined, I kept kooky at the forefront of my mind, and my heroine, Ivy sure does thank me for it. Or I thank her. Yeah, that’s it. I’m proud of her and I would love for you to get to know her!

Giveaway:

Grand Prize – ‘Celebration in a Basket’. (In keeping with the series theme – ‘Something to Celebrate’) Includes: fun party supplies for a girlfriends-type party (champagne glasses, napkins and plates, party food recipe cards written by the author), Mardis Gras style beads, candles, chocolate, hard candy, and a deck of ‘Ivy Entwined’ playing cards.

Three runner-up swag bags – Includes: Ivy Entwined bookmarks, magnets, pens and a purse charm-style keychain. Each bag will contain two sets…one for the winner and one for a friend who loves to read romance, too!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the author:

After spending twenty years in professional theater as a costume designer, with a few of those years also spent as a college instructor, Laura abandoned the nomadic lifestyle to sit in a comfy pleather office chair at a beat up ginormous second hand oak desk and write. The result? Romance novels! Her favorite thing ever since she was, oh, about twelve. She writes contemporary, light novels and enjoys creating quirky characters and funny dialogue. Still, the love story is the focus and Laura has a huge soft spot for a sappy, happy ending. She lives in North Carolina with her husband (true love is real!) and her adorable, high energy four year old son who is currently obsessed with pirates. When not playing mamma pirate, she loves hearing from readers and you can find your favorite way to say hi via the social media buttons on her website: www.laurasimcox.com

Having a bad day? Read a romance novel.

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Read-Love-Blog’s Cowboy Summer….Selene’s review of Chasin’ Eight by Lorelei James

Read-Love-Blog’s Cowboy Summer continues with Selene’s review of Chasin’ Eight by Lorelei James

Book links:

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Goodreads

Synopsis:

She wants it. He’s got it. And the chase is on.

Bull rider Chase McKay has finally landed in a pile too big to charm his way out of. Caught with his pants down, he finds himself bucked right off the PBR tour until he can get his act together.

Hollywood actress Ava Cooper became the tabloids’ favorite target when her longtime boyfriend was outed as gay. She needs a place to lay low and a chance to prove to herself that she can satisfy a red-blooded man between the sheets. The sexy, rugged cowboy she finds holed up in her Wyoming hideaway seems like the answer to her every fantasy.

But Chase has sworn off women. Forever. Or at least a month. Whichever comes first.

When they take to the road to get Chase more hands-on bull riding experience, they have every intention of keeping their hands off each other. But the two headstrong stars quickly end up riding a hot and heady rodeo circuit all their own—until the press gets wind of their affair. When the dust clears and the lights of the paparazzi fade, are they ready to give up chasing the dream for a chance of finding forever?

Selene’s Review:

A very different setting from the other books, but it definitely works!

Chasin’ Eight is a sweet, wild, and sometimes heartbreaking story. Main characters Ava Cooper and Chase McKay are both fiery celebrities with very different plans of action in mind; she wants some and he’ll have none. Sparks fly upon their first meeting and while Chase is exactly what Ava wants – a straight hunky cowboy that will make her kick up her bootheels all night long, she is exactly what he doesn’t want: a very , very fine distraction. Their stubborn natures prove to be a riot, but also a great way for their chemistry to sizzle right off the page. It’s absolutely fantastic when she tries to make him jealous with an older gentleman cowboy type!!! But by the end, as per Lorelei James’s style, they get it together…after seriously getting it on.

A sweet but heartbreaking side story is the one with a young up and coming cowboy who befriends Chase and Ava. I think it helps both of them realize what’s important and who they are and want to be to each other. It was definitely a tearjerker though so bring your tissues with you when sitting down to read this one.

This book also provides a new revelation about one part of the McKay family and it’s a good one! Definitely took me by surprise!

I would definitely read this one again as it had great romance, one-liners, story, and those extra steamy love scenes!

Four Loves

From author website:

A bit about me: When I’m not squirreled away behind my laptop writing fun, sexy, contemporary erotic romances set in the modern day Wild West, I can be found reading everything under the sun, practicing yoga until I’m a pretzel, shootin’ my .22, watching the Professional Bull Riders tour on Versus, and running a kid’s taxi service, all in the guise of avoiding housework and rustlin’ up vittles.

Why do I have a particular fondness for all things western? Well, I’m a fourth generation South Dakotan, living in the Black Hills, which is chock-full of interesting characters, including cowboys, Indians, ranchers, and bikers. The geographical diversity of the surrounding area showcases mountains, plains, and badlands. Living in and writing about rural settings gives me a unique perspective, especially since I’m not writing historical westerns. Through my fictional world, I can show the ideals and the cowboy way of life are still very much alive.

Book links:

Synopsis:

My review:

Tattoo Worthy Five Loves

Bound by Night releases September 24

Book links:

Synopsis:

My Review:

Four-and-a-Half Loves

Description:

Description:

Giveaway:

Third Time’s The Charm (The Downey Trilogy #3)

Synopsis:

Excerpt:

Book links:

Synopsis:

Excerpt:

Giveaway:

Book links:

Synopsis:

My review:

Three-and-a-Half Loves

Book links:

Synopsis:

Books in Series:

Forged in Dreams and Magick releases September 23

Synopsis:

Kat’s Favorite Quotes from Forged in Dreams and Magick

Giveaway:

Book links:

Synopsis:

Excerpt:

Guest Post

Giveaway:

Book links:

Synopsis:

Selene’s Review:

Four Loves

Kat’s Favorite Quotes from
Forged in Dreams and Magick