April 2015 – Read-Love-Blog

Looking For Potholes by Joe Wenke….Book Spotlight & Author Q&A

Looking For Potholes Synopsis:

Finding beauty in ordinary moments

You’ve probably never gone searching for potholes, but Joe Wenke justifies the unusual practice in his new book LOOKING FOR POTHOLES. When you are driving along and hit a pothole, most of the time you and your car simply drive over it. Instead of simply moving past these bumps in the road, Wenke examines these setbacks and obstacles with the clarity of a magnifying glass. Wenke takes a closer look at the potholes people carve out in their lives each day. No detail goes unnoticed in Wenke’s poetry as he tackles questions about identity, complacency, and how to make a home in such a vast world. Wenke’s background in LGBTQI rights activism and social criticism prepared him for this collection of challenging poems. For those who love poetry that leaves you hanging on every line, Wenke’s writing style is nothing short of breathtaking.

Book links:

Amazon | B&N

Q &A with Joe Wenke

author of

LOOKING FOR POTHOLES

Why did you decide to title your new collection of poems Looking For Potholes?

I like to use as a title one of the poems in a collection that captures my attitude or communicates one of the key themes of the collection as a whole. Looking for Potholes is about pushing limits, taking risks, causing trouble, shaking things up. I believe that one of the main purposes of art is to disturb, i.e., moving the reader existentially from one place to another. Poems can do a great job of disturbing in the sense of altering perception and consciousness. I think the poems in Potholes do exactly that.

Which poem in this collection resonates with you the most? Why?

Well, of course, they all do. They’re my babies. Obviously “Looking for Potholes” resonates with me for the reasons I just described, but if I had to single out one other poem in the collection, it would be “Stand Up.” It’s an activist poem about standing up for who we are as human beings, despite the risks—and there are many. I believe that the most radical thing any of us can do is to simply stand up every single day and be who we are. That’s what the poem is saying, and I believe it very deeply.

In five words how would you describe your new collection of poetry?

It’s a book of revelations.

What was the biggest challenge while writing Looking For Potholes?

I had written poems sporadically over the years, but last July I suddenly began writing one poem after another. In September I published my first book of poetry, entitled Free Air. It’s a combination of the poems that I had written over the years and the new ones that just began exploding out of me last summer. By the end of August I had written all of the poems that appear in Looking for Potholes, so the challenge was really just to stay open and relaxed and let the poems come. I’ve since written two more books of poetry, which I’ll be publishing in September and January. Another book is about two-thirds done.

In what ways has poetry touched your life? Is there a particular poem that has changed you in some way?

Poetry is an inspiration. It’s epiphanic and revelatory. It can change how we look at ourselves and how we experience the world. One poem that changed me and resonated with me is T. S. Eliot’s “The Waste Land.” I read it when I was young, and it’s of course one of the most powerful poems ever written in terms of the power of its imagery. So it blew my mind, as one would say back in the day, and it told me that, yes, you can use the power of the poetic imagination to capture the essence of human experience. That is a very inspiring thought, and I continue to carry that thought with me every single day.

About the author:

Joe Wenke is a writer, social critic and LGBTQI rights activist. He is the founder and publisher of Trans Über, a publishing company with a focus on promoting LGBTQ rights, free thought and equality for all people. In addition to Looking for Potholes: Poems, Wenke is the author of, The Human Agenda, The Talk Show, A Novel, Free Air: Poems; Papal Bull: An Ex-Catholic Calls Out the Catholic Church; You Got To Be Kidding! A Radical Satire of the Bible; and Mailer’s America.

Praise for Joe Wenke

“Another collection of poems by Joe Wenke that captures the idiosyncratic, fleeting moments that make up the human experience.”
—L. Giampa on “Looking for Potholes”

“It is now a pleasure to read criticism of my work at the good high level where Mr. Wenke resides.”
—Norman Mailer on “Mailer’s America”

“Joe Wenke here offers up a chilling—albeit humorous—thriller.”
– Lavender Magazine on “The Talk Show”

“A radically funny book.”
—The Advocate on “You Got To Be Kidding!”

Nice Girls Don’t Ride by Roni Loren….Blog Tour Stop: Review & Excerpt

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Book Blurb:

Natalie Bourne thinks she has the perfect night planned for her twenty-first birthday. But when her car breaks down and her boyfriend bails on her, she’s left stranded in an auto shop dealing with a way too cocky, way too hot mechanic, who seems to be intent on pushing every button she has.

Monroe Hawkins knows he shouldn’t be messing with a girl from the uppity private college. Especially when he can tell she sees him as the help. But he’s having trouble resisting the redhead with the smart mouth and the killer legs. So when Natalie’s night goes from bad to worse, there’s no way he’s letting her spend her birthday alone. He makes her a deal—he’ll take her home but not until the sun comes up.

Ten hours, one motorcycle, and the city of Austin at their fingertips…things are about to take a major detour. And soon, there may be no U-turn in sight.

Purchase links:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1ag79Fe

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1DtFFYB

iTunes: http://apple.co/1D5r1Fo

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1yjuHVm

My Review:

Nice Girls Don’t Ride is the newest work from author Roni Loren and admittedly the first of her work that I’ve read. Well, after reading this sweet, sexy, and sassy novella this blogger is a fan. I loved this story so damn much!

Fate had a plan when Natalie became stranded and ended up being rescued by Monroe. These two have an instant connection and share a playful banter with a clear underlying flirtatious vibe. Both Monroe and Natalie excel at witty comebacks and when they realize Natalie’s jerk of a boyfriend has ditched her on her birthday, those comebacks and banter turn from innocent to heated in record speed. Oh, how I loved it. Monroe is a tattooed knight on a iron horse and Natalie ends up being a damsel in need of a love-life rescue. I loved how their story played out and really loved how they both took a chance on exploring the pull and attraction they felt for each other. My only complaint? It wasn’t long enough…although I probably could have read 400 pages of these two and still want more!

If you’re looking for a read filled with sexy fun, this is a book that needs to be on your list! Thank you, Roni, for giving us Natalie and Monore and for giving this blogger a new go-to author!

Five Loves

Excerpt:

Chapter One

Happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me, happy birthday, dear . . .

I groan and lean back against the guardrail, shielding my eyes from the piercing sunlight. How exactly should I finish that?

Girl who currently smells like sweat and roadkill?

Girl about to go broke paying for this mess?

Girl whose boyfriend will not answer his goddamned phone?

My fingers move over the screen as I text Caleb again. Where r u???

I stare at my phone, willing a response out of it, but the screen goes black before there’s any answering ding. Caleb had warned me that he was going to be cutting it close for our date tonight. And I know his internship at the local campaign office sometimes runs late when they’re prepping for a rally, but he should be out by now.

My fingers move over the screen again. R U secretly Superman in ur off hours? Come on, u can tell me. If ur saving the world, I’ll understand.

Of course, there’s still no response. And now my neck is prickling with not just sweat but anxiety. What if something happened to him? What if he was in an accident? What if—?

I stop myself before the thoughts spiral, closing my eyes and taking a deep breath. Cool it, Nat. But that little exercise only gets me a lungful of the dead skunk that’s roasting in the heat a few yards away from me on the side of the highway. Blech. I press my fingers over my mouth, fighting a wave of nausea.

I check the clock on my phone for what seems like the hundredth time. The roadside-assistance lady said they would contact a local garage and get me a tow right away. But it’s been over an hour, and the only cars that have passed by have either ignored me or sent catcalls flying my way. Because, of course, my piece-of-crap car had to break down when I’m all dressed up in a low-cut dress and heels for my birthday dinner. Yay for timing.

One guy had at least offered to help and had seemed nice enough, but I’ve seen how those horror movies end. Girl on the side of the road accepts help from a seemingly harmless stranger, only to have her organs carved out later that night. No, thanks.

A grinding of tires on gravel draws my attention upward. A black tow truck rolls past me on the road and pulls to the side, sending a cloud of dust in its wake. I keep my phone clutched in my hand, quickly check the can of Mace in my purse, and then push off the guardrail. The side of the truck says Billy’s Custom Cycles and Auto Repair. There’s a tattoo-style logo of a motorcycle on fire, and I know that it’s definitely not the name of the repair shop the roadside assistance service gave me. It had been some big chain—AutoPlus or something like that. A little shimmer of nerves goes through me and I stop where I am, my heels sinking into the gravel.

The front door of the tow truck opens and a tattooed arm appears before anything else. For some reason, my eyes lock onto pieces of the man instead of the whole—like I can’t handle the entire view quite yet, only snapshots. That muscular arm as the driver slides out of the truck. The worn black motorcycle boots that hit the ground. I force myself to look up, tracking along the faded jeans and fitted black T-shirt, until I collide with a dark blue gaze.

“Looks like you need a ride.”

The deep voice startles me for a second and snaps me back into the moment like a slingshot. Ping! Pay attention, Nat. Now is not the time to let my guard down. “No, thank you, I don’t. I already have another shop on the way.”

His gaze tracks over my dusty dress, slow and lazy like, before he lifts a dark brow. “How long have you been waiting? It’s pretty hot out here.”

The once-over makes me more than a little self-conscious. He can’t be all that much older than me, early twenties for sure, but something about him is intimidating as hell. “I don’t know. Not long. I’m sure they’ll be here any second.”

He crosses his arms over his chest and eyes my car, which has chosen this moment to start smoking from under the hood—as if it senses help in its midst and is crying out for it. “What shop is coming?”

I brush at the skirt of my dress, trying to give my nervous hands something to do. I don’t want to look worried or scared or show him that I’m melting in this brutal Texas heat. “AutoPlus, AutoMart . . .”

He scowls. “Autoland.”

“That’s it.”

“You might as well set up a tent then. They take forever to get to calls, and they’ll charge you twice as much as we would. Plus, they close at six. They’re just going to tow you in and then lock up for the night.”

“Says the guy who wants to make a buck on a girl stranded on the side of the road.”

The corner of his mouth lifts. “Hey, princess, I’m just trying to be a nice guy and get you to your”—he looks me up and down again—“sorority party on time. I get paid the same either way.”

Princess? Sorority party? My eyes narrow and I give him my own head-to-toe look, taking in the messy dark hair, the tattoos, the heavy boots, the finely shaped . . . I snatch the thought back before I can go there. “Look, Son of Anarchy, I appreciate the nice guy offer, but how do I even know you’re legit?”

He snorts. “You think I drive a tow truck around for fun? Call the number on the side of the truck if you want. But otherwise, I’ve got better stuff to do than stand here in the heat, smelling roadkill. Two minutes, princess. I’ll be in the truck. You want a tow and a ride? You get in. If not, good luck with Autoland.”

He turns to go, and I feel a little dart of panic at being left alone again—even if he’s not exactly the company I want. This isn’t the best part of Austin, and the sun is on its way down. “Wait, what’s your name? You know, so I can verify.”

He doesn’t turn around but calls back. “Monroe.”

I dial the number to the shop and, of course, they verify that Monroe works for them and is driving the truck today. The guy on the phone sounds amused by my questions. And his reaction makes me realize that I’m being paranoid, that my nerves are officially frayed, and it’s making me act like a bitch. I thank the guy on the phone, hang up, and take a steadying breath. This is going to be okay. Not everyone is out to take advantage. Some people actually do things to be helpful without ulterior motives.

My mother would laugh her ass off at that logic. Everybody’s got an agenda, Nattie.

I straighten the neckline of my dress, hike my purse up my shoulder, and walk over to the tow truck with as much dignity as I can muster for a sweaty girl in a dusty dress. Monroe hasn’t climbed back into the cab, but is instead leaning against the front bumper and watching the cars zoom by on the overpass up ahead. He doesn’t look my way. “Verified that I’m not a serial killer?”

“Verified that you work for Billy’s. The serial-killer part is yet to be determined.”

He smiles out at the horizon. “Want to check the backseat for weapons or body parts?”

“I have a feeling you’d be too sneaky to leave such obvious evidence lying around. And if you aren’t that clever, I’m going to be seriously disappointed in myself if I fall victim to a dumb serial killer.”

He chuckles and it changes his whole face, warming it. When he turns his head, his blue eyes meet mine and my stomach tightens a little. I do my best not to let my reaction show on my face. Last thing I need is him thinking that I’m interested in him. Because, of course, I’m not. I’m totally not. If there’s an opposite of my type, it’s this guy. And plus, I have Caleb. Cute, smart, on-his-way-to-big-things Caleb.

Caleb, who won’t answer his goddamned phone.

Monroe pushes himself off the bumper. “I’m not sure if that’s a compliment or an insult, princess, but I’ll take it you’re going to ride with me.”

“Yes. But only because I can’t handle the dead-skunk smell for another minute.”

“I’m preferable to skunk guts? The flattery just rolls off you, doesn’t it?”

The jab lands squarely. I press my fingers to the space between my eyes and rub. “Sorry. I’m really not trying to be a bitch.”

“It just comes natural, then?”

My eyes snap open and I’m ready to hurl an insult back, but I find him wearing a playful grin and clamp my lips shut.

He angles a thumb toward the truck. “Get in . . .”

“Natalie,” I supply.

“Natalie. And kick the A/C on. Getting your car hooked up is gonna take a few minutes. You may want to call someone for a ride, too, because there’s no guarantee we can get this fixed tonight. I’m assuming you have plans.”

I glance down at my outfit, suddenly self-conscious about the sexy getup. It’s not my typical style, but tonight was supposed to be special, and I had wanted to knock Caleb on his butt. He’s been so wrapped up in work and school lately that I’ve felt a little like furniture. So I borrowed my roommate’s dress with its plunging neckline and treated myself to the new risqué lingerie I’m wearing beneath. I’m not exactly Ms. Vixen normally, so Caleb would’ve never seen it coming. Now it’s all a waste.

“I have a date with my boyfriend,” I say to Monroe.

“Right. So, he can pick you up?”

“He’s not answering his phone. But I’m sure I’ll get him soon.”

Monroe makes some noncommittal noise and nods. “I’m going to get to work. You go and cool off. There’s bottled water in the ice chest in the backseat.”

“Thanks.”

Before getting in the truck, I find myself watching Monroe walk back toward my car. He’s easily over six feet tall but doesn’t move in that awkward, hunched way that most of the taller guys on campus move. There’s an easy confidence to him, like he’s fully grown into his body and taken ownership—a man’s walk. My eyes follow him as he pops the hood of my car and leans over. The hem of his shirt lifts as he bends, exposing a strip of tanned, muscular lower back. I find myself wondering what it would feel like beneath my fingers and if he has any more ink hidden under there . . . I force my eyes away.

What the hell is wrong with me? I don’t have random illicit thoughts about complete strangers. Especially not strangers who have tattoos and call me princess.

I shake my head and pull open the door on the passenger side. Maybe I have heatstroke or something.

I lay my head back against the seat and close my eyes. But all I can see is the image of my new mechanic pulling his shirt all the way off, sweat dripping off him, me putting my hands . . .

I sit straight up.

Yep, definitely heatstroke. Has to be.
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Author Bio:

RoniLorenAuthorHeadshot2 Roni wrote her first romance novel at age fifteen when she discovered writing about boys was way easier than actually talking to them. Since then, her flirting skills haven’t improved, but she likes to think her storytelling ability has. Though she’ll forever be a New Orleans girl at heart, she now lives in Dallas with her husband and son.

If she’s not working on her latest sexy story, you can find her reading, watching reality television, or indulging in her unhealthy addiction to rockstars, er, rock concerts. Yeah, that’s it. She is the National Bestselling Author of The Loving on the Edge series from Berkley Heat.

Places to find Roni Loren:

Site: www.roniloren.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RoniLoren

Twitter: https://twitter.com/roniloren

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4877863.Roni_Loren

Say My Name by J. Kenner….Blog Tour Stop

New York Times bestselling author J. Kenner kicks off a smoking hot, emotionally compelling new trilogy that returns to the world of her beloved Stark novels: Release Me, Claim Me, and Complete Me. Say My Namefeatures Jackson Steele, a strong-willed man who goes after what he wants, and Sylvia Brooks, a disciplined woman who’s hard to get—and exactly who Jackson needs.

I never let anyone get too close—but he’s the only man who’s ever made me feel alive.

Meeting Jackson Steele was a shock to my senses. Confident and commanding, he could take charge of any room . . . or any woman. And Jackson wanted me. The mere sight of him took my breath away, and his touch made me break all my rules.

Our bond was immediate, our passion untamed. I wanted to surrender completely to his kiss, but I couldn’t risk his knowing the truth about my past. Yet Jackson carried secrets too, and in our desire we found our escape, pushing our boundaries as far as they could go.

Learning to trust is never easy. In my mind, I knew I should run. But in my heart, I never felt a fire this strong—and it could either save me or scorch me forever.

Say My Name is intended for mature audiences

AMAZON US I AMAZON PRINT I AMAZON UK I NOOK I BAM I KOBO

iBOOK S I INDIEBOUND I GOOGLE PLAY I ALL ROMANCE

J. Kenner (aka Julie Kenner) is the New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, Wall Street Journal and International bestselling author of over seventy novels, novellas and short stories in a variety of genres.

Though known primarily for her award-winning and international bestselling erotic romances (including the Stark and Most Wanted series) that have reached as high as #2 on the New York Times bestseller list, JK has been writing full time for over a decade in a variety of genres including paranormal and contemporary romance, “chicklit” suspense, urban fantasy, Victorian-era thrillers (coming soon), and paranormal mommy lit.

Her foray into the latter, Carpe Demon: Adventures of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom by Julie Kenner, has been consistently in development in Hollywood since prior to publication. Most recently, it has been optioned by Warner Brothers Television for development as series on the CW Network with Alloy Entertainment producing.

JK has been praised by Publishers Weekly as an author with a “flair for dialogue and eccentric characterizations” and by RT Bookclub for having “cornered the market on sinfully attractive, dominant antiheroes and the women who swopn for him.” A three time finalist for Romance Writers of America’s prestigious RITA award, JK took home the first RITA trophy awarded in the category of erotic romance in 2014 for her novel, Claim Me (book 2 of her Stark Trilogy).

Her books have sold well over a million copies and are published in over over twenty countries.

In her previous career as an attorney, JK worked as a clerk on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, and practiced primarily civil, entertainment and First Amendment litigation in Los Angeles and Irvine, California, as well as in Austin, Texas. She currently lives in Central Texas, with her husband, two daughters, and two rather spastic cats.

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Ivory Ghosts by Caitlin O’Connell…Blog Tour Stop & Review

Synopsis:

In a blockbuster debut thriller brimming with majestic wildlife, village politics, and international intrigue, a chilling quadruple homicide raises the stakes in the battle to save Africa’s elephants.

Still grieving over the tragic death of her fiancé, American wildlife biologist Catherine Sohon leaves South Africa and drives to a remote outpost in northeast Namibia, where she plans to face off against the shadowy forces of corruption and relentless human greed in the fight against elephant poaching. Undercover as a census pilot tracking the local elephant population, she’ll really be collecting evidence on the ruthless ivory traffickers.

But before she even reaches her destination, Catherine stumbles onto a scene of horrifying carnage: three people shot dead in their car, and a fourth nearby—with his brain removed. The slaughter appears to be the handiwork of a Zambian smuggler known as “the witchdoctor,” a figure reviled by activists and poachers alike. Forced to play nice with local officials, Catherine finds herself drawn to the prickly but charismatic Jon Baggs, head of the Ministry of Conservation, whose blustery exterior belies his deep investment in the poaching wars.

Torn between her developing feelings and her unofficial investigation, she takes to the air, only to be grounded by a vicious turf war between competing factions of a black-market operation that reaches far beyond the borders of Africa. With the mortality rate—both human and animal—skyrocketing, Catherine races to intercept a valuable shipment. Now she’s flying blind, and a cunning killer is on the move.

My review:

From the very beginning, Ivory Ghosts was filled with rich description, thoughtfully developed characters, and tons of suspense and mystery.

I loved Catherine, her tenacity and belief in doing what’s right by the people of the village she was living in and the elephants she loved so much. I appreciated her strength in overcoming the loss of her fiancée and her determination in getting to the bottom of the illegal trade happening on her doorstep.

There are many faces to the multi-layered illegal trade storyline and I was truly kept guessing until the very end who the mastermind behind it all was. The players in the game were reveled at a pace that was perfect. Nothing was revealed too early and I really enjoy that in a story as this.

I also really enjoyed that there is a romantic layer that develops between Catherine and one of the gentlemen she is working for. It had an enemies-to-lovers vibe that I enjoyed a lot.

Now, in the copy I received, the author’s note was at the end, after I had finished the story. I loved reading about the author’s background and connection with Africa. It gave me an even greater appreciation for the lush description of the sights, sounds, and smells Catherine experienced in this book. I highly recommend reading it before starting the story and think it will really give the reader a greater connection to the character and the book.

Thank you, Caitlin, for a wonderful read!

Four Loves

Book Links:

Amazon | Goodreads | B&N

Giveaway:

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About the author:

Dr. Caitlin O’Connell is a Consulting Assistant Professor in the Department of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery at Stanford University School of Medicine and a world renowned expert on elephants and vibrotactile sensitivity. She is the author of the internationally acclaimed nonfiction science memoir, The Elephant’s Secret Sense (2007, Free Press), which highlights a novel form of elephant communication as well as their conservation plight. Her narrative nonfiction photo book An Elephant’s Life (2011, Lyons Press) uses a graphic novel approach to revealing subtle and intimate aspects of elephant society. Her co-authored nonfiction children’s book, The Elephant Scientist (2011, Houghton Mifflin Children’s Books) won five awards, including the Robert F. Sibert Honor and Horn Book Honor for 2012. A Baby Elephant In The Wild (2014, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books for Young Readers) is a Junior Library Guild Select and winner of the 2015 NSTA award for Outstanding Science Trade Book for students K-12. Elephant Don: The Politics Of A Pachyderm Posse (University of Chicago Press) comes out May, 2015. Her debut novel, Ivory Ghosts, comes out with Random House, April 7, 2015. O’Connell is the co-founder and CEO of the nonprofit organization, Utopia Scientific (www.utopiascientific.org), dedicated to research and science education. She is also co-director of Triple Helix Productions, with a mandate to develop more accurate science content for the media. She has taught Science Writing for Stanford University and The New York Times Knowledge Network.

Caress Of Pleasure by Julie Kenner…Release Day Event

CARESS OF PLEASURE by Julie Kenner is available today!

Dante is waiting…

About CARESS OF PLEASURE

I’d thought that he was mine, the dark, arresting man who commanded not only my body but my heart. Dante had swept into my life, and I’d succumbed to the burn of passion in his arms.

I’d believed we had a love that would last forever, but he’d shattered my dreams and broken me into pieces when he’d walked away, taking a piece of my soul with him.

Now he has come back seeking my help, and though I try to keep my distance and protect my heart, I cannot deny that the fire between us burns hotter than ever. And I cannot help but fear that this time our passion will reduce us both to ashes.

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Excerpt

I fell in love with him once—and I’m honestly not sure that I ever fell out of love.

But I do know one thing for sure—Dante Storm is dangerous to my heart. And whatever we started just now is something that we can’t finish.

I meet his eyes and am about to say just that when he shakes his head. “No. Don’t say it. You don’t need to say it.”

“What?”

“That we can’t do it again.”

“We can’t.”

“I know.”

I stand in silence. I know why I can’t; it’s because he will break my heart.

But I don’t know why he doesn’t want me. I only know that he doesn’t. I only know that he walked away once, and that he has already told me he will walk away again.

That should be enough, but then I have to go and open my mouth. I have to ask— “Why? Why did you leave?”

For a minute, I don’t think that he’s going to answer. But he surprises me by saying, “Because I was looking at forever.”

“And you don’t think I was, too?” I’m baffled. With Dante, forever was my mantra.

He looks at me, his eyes so sad I want to cry. “No,” he says, “I know you weren’t.”

I start to protest, but he just shakes his head, like a dog shaking off water. “Let’s go transfer your money.”

“No,” I say, standing firm.

He cocks his head, then winces. “We shouldn’t have done this. It won’t happen again. But please don’t back out. I really need your help. I can’t tell you how urgent this is.”

“I’ll help,” I say. “But I don’t want your money. And I don’t want sex.” That’s not entirely true. I want it; I don’t think I can handle it.

“Then why?”

“I don’t know,” I say. “Maybe because I loved you once upon a time.”

Maybe because I still do.

About Julie Kenner

Julie Kenner (aka J. Kenner and J.K. Beck) is the New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of over forty novels, novellas and short stories in a variety of genres.

Praised by Publishers Weekly as an author with a “flair for dialogue and eccentric characterizations,” J.K. writes a range of stories including super sexy romances, paranormal romance, chick lit suspense and paranormal mommy lit. Her foray into the latter, Carpe Demon: Adventures of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom by Julie Kenner, is in development as a feature film with 1492 Pictures.

Her most recent trilogy of erotic romances, The Stark Trilogy (as J. Kenner), reached as high as #2 on the New York Times list and is published in over twenty countries.

J.K. lives in Central Texas, with her husband, two daughters, and several cats.

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Taking What’s His by Jen McLaughlin…Release Day Event

Taking What’s His by Diane Alberts was released today! This is an adult, contemporary romance from Entangled’s Brazen imprint. It is book #4 in the Shillings Agency series. Be sure to check out the contest below for a chance to win a gift card!

BOOK BLURB:

A sexy category romance from Entangled’s Brazen imprint…

Some lines are meant to be crossed…

One explosive device was all it took to turn Holt Cunningham from ass-kicking Marine to IT technician. Hell, he’s still not over it. So when the cute little strawberry blonde at the bar asks him to kiss her, Holt can’t resist the temptation of a sexy distraction. Before he knows it, she’s blown his mind…and then skipped out the next morning.

Lydia Thomas never expected things with Holt to go quite that far, but oh, it was worth it. After being far too good for way too long, she was ready to be bad. Except that there’s that tiny detail that Lydia kept to herself-Holt just spent the night doing naughty things…with his best friend’s little sister.

One night isn’t nearly enough. But with his friendship on the line, how far will Holt go in order to claim what’s his?

PURCHASE LINKS:

Amazon: amzn.to/1JKT3Ie

B&N: bit.ly/1JKTHFx

iTunes: apple.co/1EwR8qT

Kobo: bit.ly/1PMQJ7o

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Diane Alberts is a multi-published, bestselling contemporary romance author with Entangled Publishing. She also writes New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling new adult books under the name Jen McLaughlin. She’s hit the Top 100 lists on Amazon and Barnes and Noble numerous times with numerous titles. She was mentioned in Forbes alongside E. L. James as one of the breakout independent authors to dominate the bestselling lists. Diane is represented by Louise Fury at The Bent Agency.
Diane has always been a dreamer with a vivid imagination, but it wasn’t until 2011 that she put her pen where her brain was, and became a published author. Since receiving her first contract offer, she has yet to stop writing. 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, and a cat. Her goal is to write so many fantastic stories that even a non-romance reader will know her name.

Website: http://dianealberts.com/
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Twitter: https://twitter.com/DianeAlberts
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Giveaway….Signed Paperback Copies of The Italian’s Deal For I Do by Jennifer Hayward

What better way to end April than with a giveaway?

I have five SIGNED paperback copies of Jennifer Hayward’s The Italian’s Deal For I Do to give away!

Enter to win a copy in the Rafflecopter below…thanks for stopping by!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Caress Of Pleasure by Julie Kenner…ARC Review

Caress Of Pleasure releases tomorrow, 4/28

Synopsis:

I’d thought that he was mine, the dark, arresting man who commanded not only my body but my heart. Dante had swept into my life, and I’d succumbed to the burn of passion in his arms.

I’d believed we had a love that would last forever, but he’d shattered my dreams and broken me into pieces when he’d walked away, taking a piece of my soul with him.

My Review:

Caress of Pleasure is book number 3.5 in author Julie Kenner’s Dark Pleasures series as well as the 5^th novella in the 2015 1,001 Dark Nights line-up. I have loved the Dark Pleasures series from the beginning and filled with heat, action, and mystery, this novella was a wonderful addition.

I always enjoy a story where former lovers who experienced a nasty breakup are reunited and put into a situation which forces them to be in one another’s company again. This was the case with Brenna and Dante and oh my, the emotions run high from the very first time they lay eyes on each other.

When he calls on her for her expertise in her field and to help procure a rare jeweled brooch, she wanted to tell him no. It would prove to be easier said than done when she sees him and immediately all the feelings she had thought lay dormant awaken. She also realized he hadn’t aged a bit. Not one wrinkle. Now she wasn’t just on a mission to get a brooch, she was determined to know why he had crushed her dreams all those years earlier and what was going on with him and his eternal youthful appearance.

Those missions will throw her headfirst into a world she never knew existed. A world that not only held immortal beings but an enormous amount of danger. Those missions would also bring about another chance for the love she and Dante once shared.

When I first started this series I had been in a paranormal romance funk. With each release in this series and Ms. Kenner’s unique take on the supernatural beings within these stories, I am reminded of just what makes PNR so amazing. It’s a series I will continue to look forward to and one I enjoy more and more with each installment.

Thank you, Ms. Kenner, for another amazing read and for bringing us Dante and Brenna!

Five Loves

Book links:

Amazon | 1,001 Dark Nights

About the author:

Julie Kenner (aka J. Kenner and J.K. Beck) is the New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of over forty novels, novellas and short stories in a variety of genres.

Praised by Publishers Weekly as an author with a “flair for dialogue and eccentric characterizations,” J.K. writes a range of stories including super sexy romances, paranormal romance, chick lit suspense and paranormal mommy lit. Her foray into the latter, Carpe Demon: Adventures of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom by Julie Kenner, is in development as a feature film with 1492 Pictures.

Her most recent trilogy of erotic romances, The Stark Trilogy (as J. Kenner), reached as high as #2 on the New York Times list and is published in over twenty countries.

J.K. lives in Central Texas, with her husband, two daughters, and several cats.

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Mr. Right Now Vol. 4 by H.J. Bellus…Release Day Event

Volume 4
Deadlines threaten to drown the Sterlings as they wrap up business in LA. Dax is in jail serving time, Eli is preoccupied, and Kam is in rehab, leaving Cole to keep the business afloat once again. He was even forced to call in their cousins, the Bennett boys, to oversee club business in Denver. All he knows is Kam better come out of rehab with his head on straight and ready to get back to work.

Jett has problems of her own. She screwed Kam over in the worst possible way, but that won’t stop him from seeking revenge and getting his old life back. The thing is, nothing stops a Sterling from getting what he wants.

-This is a four-part erotic serial.-

(links to be sent when available)

AMAZON

I’m just a simple girl who loves the country life.. .oh yeah! & a good corn dog! Throw in a little Vanilla Ice, and shits bound to get crazy! Be brave…

-Loves country life & music
-Gets the case of the “eff-its” often
-Loves Big
-Hurts Big
-love corn dogs & candy…. & (sex & candaaay)
-My heart is happy writing!!!

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Cover Reveal…Reaper’s Fall by Joanna Wylde

Reaper’s Fall is the newest standalone in the Reaper’s MC Series.
Painter & Melanie’s story will be available on November 10th and
is currently up for Pre-order!

Pre-order available at the following retailers:

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

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1yYt1Rn

Nook: http://tinyurl.com/pljucpa

iBooks: http://tinyurl.com/pwfxzyj

Blurb

He never meant to hurt her.

Levi “Painter” Brooks was nothing before he joined the Reapers motorcycle club. The day he patched in, they became his brothers and his life. All they asked in return was a strong arm and unconditional loyalty—a loyalty that’s tested when he’s caught and sentenced to prison for a crime committed on their behalf.

Melanie Tucker may have had a rough start, but along the way she’s learned to fight for her future. She’s escaped from hell and started a new life, yet every night she dreams of a biker whose touch she can’t forget. It all started out so innocently—just a series of letters to a lonely man in prison. Friendly. Harmless. Safe.

Now Painter Brooks is coming home… and Melanie’s about to learn that there’s no room for innocence in the Reapers MC.

Behind Closed Doors by Elizabeth Haynes…Blog Tour Stop & Review

Synopsis:

An old case makes Detective Inspector Louisa Smith some new enemies in this spellbinding second installment of New York Times bestselling author Elizabeth Haynes’s Briarstone crime series that combines literary suspense and page-turning thrills.

Ten years ago, 15-year-old Scarlett Rainsford vanished while on a family holiday in Greece. Was she abducted, or did she run away from her severely dysfunctional family? Lou Smith worked the case as a police constable, and failing to find Scarlett has been one of the biggest regrets of her career. No one is more shocked than Lou to learn that Scarlett has unexpectedly been found during a Special Branch raid of a brothel in Briarstone.

Lou and her Major Crime team are already stretched working two troubling cases: nineteen-year-old Ian Palmer was found badly beaten; and soon after, bar owner Carl McVey was found half-buried in the woods, his Rolex and money gone. While Lou tries to establish the links between the two cases, DS Sam Hollands works with Special Branch to question Scarlett. What happened to her? Where has she been until now? How did she end up back here? And why is her family–with the exception of her emotionally fragile younger sister, Juliette–less than enthusiastic about her return?

When another brutal assault and homicide are linked to the McVey murder, Lou’s cases collide, and the clues all point in one terrifying direction. As the pressure and the danger mount, it becomes clear that the silent, secretive Scarlett holds the key to everything.

My Review:

Behind Closed Doors is the second book in author Elizabeth Hayes DCI Louisa Smith series and the first of author Hayes’ work I’ve read. While this is, in fact, a book centered around the victim of human trafficking, and obviously a bit dark, I did enjoy it quite a bit.

We follow the ten-year journey a young girl, Scarlett, who was taken away from her family while vacationing in Greece. What follows is the mystery and story of a young woman being trapped in a very dark and dangerous world with no way out for those ten years and her sudden and unexpected return.

Of course, there were clear hints that all was not as it had appeared within Scarlett’s home life and that even though she was in the awful world of human trafficking, it wasn’t as though she had been taken from a world of warmth and love. I was kept on the edge of my seat, waiting to get the bottom of why this girl had returned to her hometown, after being missing for ten long years, but had no desire to see her mother and father. She did, however, share a close bond with her sister and I was hoping the two girls would have a nice reunion. Of course, with things not as they seem within the family, things will get worse before they have a chance at getting better…if at all possible.

The story also mirrors the current investigation into Scarlett’s return and the detectives working to get to the bottom of where she had been and hopefully will result in some arrests and rescues of other woman being held against their will. These detectives are pretty amazing, excelling at their careers while possessing big hearts and the gift of being able to deal with the most fragile of victims. I really enjoyed reading the two sides simultaneously. It added a nice layer to the book.

I went through many emotions while reading this story. I was anxious and sickened by what women go through every day in this very real situation. I was filled with emotion and worry for Scarlett and wasn’t sure there was any way she could have a normal life again. Through reading her journey, and having suspicions that her childhood before she was taken wasn’t ideal, I knew there would be one hell of an ending and I wasn’t disappointed. Up until the very end I was kept on the edge of my seat and I loved the amount of suspense that was written into the situations.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. If you’re a fan of mystery and suspense, this is a book I’m sure you’ll enjoy. Thank you, Ms. Haynes, for an emotional and thrilling read!

Four Loves

Purchase Links

Amazon | IndieBound | Barnes & Noble

About Elizabeth Haynes

Elizabeth Haynes is a police intelligence analyst, a civilian role that involves determining patterns in offending and criminal behavior. Dark Tide is her second novel; rights to her first, Into the Darkest Corner, have been sold in twenty-five territories. Haynes lives in England in a village near Maidstone, Kent, with her husband and son.

Visit her at elizabeth-haynes.com, connect with her on Facebook, and follow her on Twitter.