Cree by HJ Bellus….Blog Tour Stop & Review

Cree Blog Tour

As soon as I felt him go, I let go again, thrusting and rubbing on him as much as I could, milking every last sensation out of him.

My Way Series by H.J. Bellus

Cover- Cree

Whose parents abandon them in a trashy trailer when they are five years old? Oh Yeah! Mine do!


Hey Hoochies! I’m Milly, and I am tired of taking kicks to the gut. A broken family, an asshole husband and the loss of loved ones have left me crying Uncle, and declaring a serious case of the Fuck-Its!

I had my heart broken, stomped on and shattered before I ever started on my journey to find my little piece of happiness. With a bucket list, a ’66 Ford and wild dreams, I set out on an adventure that changed my life forever.

I found Cree…

A pirate with a little princess and they swept me off my ever lovin’ feet, filling my world with sprinkles, mac n’ cheese and the courage to live again.

They forced my fragile heart to trust and love without fear.

But the truth is, nobody’s past stays hidden forever. It’s an invisible monster waiting to attack and destroy. It has the capability to ruin everything you’ve worked to set right.

All it takes is one final blow to the gut to end everything…

 

My review:

Cree is the debut work from author H. J. Bellus and let me say, she started her writing career with a real bang!  I was already hooked after reading the synopsis….and it only got better from there!

Milly starts out her story by giving us a glimpse into her awfully sad childhood…and I was crying by the second page.  Things don’t really improve much for the funny, spirited, entertaining southern gal until the loss of the only person that has ever truly mattered in her life.  That’s when Milly decides it’s time to take control of her life and happiness.  This is where the fun begins!  Starting off with a bucket list “thingy”, Milly takes us on an emotional ride that had be laughing hysterically one minute and crying the next.  C’mon, you all know I love that kind of book! After she decides on a new place to start her new life, she finds true friendship and gets a chance at real love. We meet some amazing characters along the way…Lacey, her new BFF, and Cree, the new man in her life but typical for Milly, things are never easy.  Cree has a past, and even though Milly is willing to take a chance and look past it, the past comes back to bite them in the ass. But Milly isn’t going to give up her new amazing life without a fight…and it’s one she’s determined to win.

I adored this book!  ADORED! I finished it in a day, it was that good.  Milly is just too amazing.  She’s fun and bright and foul-mouthed and simply incredible. Her outlook on the craptastic cards life has dealt her is truly admirable. Life handed her lemons and she turned it into a spiked lemonade cocktail with a paper umbrella!  She is a gal I would love to hang out with! Cree is freaking drool-worthy to the max.  He’s gorgeous with a charm about him that had me sighing out loud on more than one occasion.  Don’t even get me started on his magic sprinkles!  (can’t spoil it for you, you just gotta read the book!) He is one hell of a catch and together Milly and Cree are book-couple perfection.  They each bring the missing piece into one another’s lives and it’s magical to see play out.

I also have to mention that Lacey and Milly together are freaking HILARIOUS and have language that gives an insight on what girl talk is really like…at least for me and my gals it is!

So, add this book to your summer reading list and sit back and enjoy the ride….I know it’s going to be a book I will be recommending for quite some time!  Thank you, H.J., for a kick-ass read and I can’t wait for more!

5LovesRLBFive Loves

 

Buy Now on Amazon

Also Check Out Book #2 in the My Way Series:
Cover- Tripp

Coming Soon… May 2014
Miles- Book #3

Contact H.J. Bellus on Facebook (Click image)
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Full Measures by Rebecca Yarros…Embrace Entangled Blog Tour Stop & Review

Entangled Tour Banner

Welcome to my stop on the Embrace Entangled Tour!

I was lucky to be a part of this tour and review Full Measures by Rebecca Yarros and I loved it!

Thank you for stopping by… please enjoy my review and be sure to enter the tour-wide rafflecopter below!

Full Measures

Book links:

Amazon  ~  Barnes and Noble

Synopsis:

Three knocks can change everything…

“She knew. That’s why Mom hadn’t opened the door. She knew he was dead.”

Twenty years as an army brat and Ember Howard knew, too. The soldiers at the door meant her dad was never coming home. What she didn’t know was how she would find the strength to singlehandedly care for her crumbling family when her mom falls apart.

Then Josh Walker enters her life. Hockey star, her new next-door neighbor, and not to mention the most delicious hands that insist on saving her over and over again. He has a way of erasing the pain with a single look, a single touch. As much as she wants to turn off her feelings and endure the heartache on her own, she can’t deny their intense attraction.

Until Josh’s secret shatters their world. And Ember must decide if he’s worth the risk that comes with loving a man who could strip her bare.

 

My review:

Full Measures is the debut from author Rebecca Yarros and one of the most amazing debut novels I have ever had the pleasure of reading.  I will warn you now; this may be one of the hardest reviews I have ever had to write.  Not for any other reason than I loved this book so much and I hope I can convey my feelings adequately.  (feel free to ignore my blubbering from this point on and just buy this book….because it’s that good.)

When Ember Howard’s little brother came into her room that morning and said there was someone at the door, and her mother wasn’t answering it, she knew her life would never be the same.  The men in uniform standing on the other side of her front door waiting to deliver their life-altering news would be certain of that.  Now came the choice: break down or be the only person holding it together.  Her father was dead.  An army surgeon….killed in action.  Her mother shuts down, her sister checks out and her little brother needed her.  She could do this.  Little did Ember know she would find strength in her brother’s hockey coach, and former high school hockey star slash huge past crush, Josh Walker.  He’s different now, Ember realizes.  He was something back then, but now?  Now he was so much more.  Mature, kind, patient, gorgeous, sexy…the whole package.  Beyond that he will prove to be the rock she so desperately needs and will ignite the flame she had dismissed as a teenage crush.  Could she be so lucky to call Josh Walker hers?

Josh Walker has more of a connection with Ember Howard’s family than he hopes she will ever know. Because if she ever knew how deep his connection went, she would never speak to him again.  After losing her father, he knew she needed someone to help her carry the burden of caring for her family until her mom got herself together and he wanted to be that man.  Wanted it with a passion he knew he couldn’t deny.  As he and Ember spend more and more time together he knows he’s falling deeper and deeper and he’s so scared of losing her.  He’s determined to do any and everything he can to prevent that from happening…but deep down he knows eventually she will find out the secret he’s hiding.  Will the love they’ve found be strong enough to keep them together?

The stakes are high when you’re dealing with love this deep and intense and with emotions running high from an unimaginable loss, the obstacles Ember and Josh have to overcome are immense.

I can’t say that I remember that last time I got this emotional over a book.  Yes, a whole lot of books make me cry but holy hell, this book had me sobbing uncontrollably.  Please, don’t let that turn you away from reading this book.  The emotions were intense from the very first few pages and carried on throughout but it was unlike recent books I have read in the sense that the emotions weren’t centered on one single relationship.  These emotions were from a loss of a father, husband, son, and soldier and they were so very real and incredibly touching.

Ember is a heroine that commanded my respect from the very first chapter.  She was able to push her own emotions aside to help care for her family.  That, to me, is beyond admirable.  She was strong when she needed to be and but her share of breakdowns and it gave her such a real feeling.  Josh is just amazing.  He gave Ember exactly what she needed, even if she didn’t realize it at the time.  He was patient with her, and kind and caring beyond belief for a handsome guy with a player reputation.  He goes down as one of the most amazing book boyfriends.  And knowing how many books I’ve read, that’s saying something.  The heat and chemistry between them was delectable and builds at a delicious pace…with Josh being the quintessential gentleman the entire book.  He is just too amazing for words.

Ok, the secret that he’s keeping?  Whoa.  I can’t give it away but I will say this:  just when I thought I had cried all the tears I could shed for this book, the waterworks were back.  Full force.  Big, ugly cry.  That being said, I couldn’t be mad at Josh.  In fact, I loved him even more and it in the end it brought a deeper meaning to Ember and Josh’s relationship and the relationship he has to her family.

Now, if you’ve stayed with me up until this point, I hope I’ve conveyed to you just how amazing this book is.  I gave it a “five loves” and I would give it more than that if my rating system went higher.  Rebecca poured heart and soul into this story and it showed with every page.  I cannot wait to see what the future holds for this awesome up and coming author!

Thank you, Rebecca, for giving me puffy eyes and for giving us Ember, Josh and this incredibly amazing story!

5LovesRLBFive Loves

 

Giveaway:

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

About the author:

rebeccaRebecca Yarros is a hopeless romantic and lover of all things chocolate, coffee, and Paleo. In addition to being a mom, military wife, and blogger, she can never choose between Young Adult and New Adult fiction, so she writes both. She’s a graduate of Troy University, where she studied European history and English, but still holds out hope for an acceptance letter to Hogwarts. Her blog, The Only Girl Among Boys, has been voted the Top Military Mom Blog the last two years, and celebrates the complex issues surrounding the military life she adores.

 When she’s not writing, she’s tying on hockey skates for her kids, or sneaking in some guitar time. She is madly in love with her army-aviator husband of eleven years, and they’re currently stationed in Upstate NY with their gaggle of rambunctious kiddos and snoring English Bulldog, but she would always rather be home in Colorado.

Blog  ~  Twitter  ~  Facebook  ~  Author Goodreads 

Tempted by the Soldier by Nicolette Day….Blog Tour Stop & Book Spotlight

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Title: Tempted by the Soldier

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Author: Nicolette Day

Publisher: Entangled Brazen

Pages: 169

 Synopsis:

When one touch isn’t enough, why resist?

Road trips are supposed to be fun. Or, at least, full of hot sex. For photographer Lilly Grayson, the fifteen-hour drive to her friend’s wedding with Nate Jennings will be neither. Not that Nate isn’t sexy—the man is six-foot-three-inches of mouth-watering Marine. But Lilly’s been there, done that…and he walked away. Now it’s time for a little payback. The kind that’ll make a man desperate for a taste of what he can’t have.

And Nate wants a taste—so badly that he can barely keep his hands on the wheel. But the scars and ghosts of his last tour still haunt him. He can’t give into temptation, not this time. Lilly deserves a whole man—one who can love her the way she deserves to be loved, even if she doesn’t believe it can happen. And that can’t be Nate. Not when he’s leaving again in two weeks, and this time, he’s not sure he’ll return…

 AMAZON

Giveaway:

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

ABOUT NICOLLETE DAY

A mom by day and a romance writer by night, Nicolette Day harbors a weakness for black and white mochas and books that steam up her Kindle screen. She grew up in a one stoplight town where she once upon a time she only dreamed of becoming a writer. Now she lives in a slightly larger town in North Carolina where they have at least three stoplights. If you love young adult romance, check out Nicolette’s alter ego, TaraFuller!

 TWITTER * FACEBOOK *WEBSITE *GOODREADS *BLOG

Love, Lies & The D.A. by Rebecca Rohman…Blog Tour Stop & Review

Love, Lies & The D.A. Blog Tour Graphic Option A

Welcome to my stop on the Love, Lies & The D.A. by Rebecca Rohman Blog Tour.

Thanks for stopping by and please enjoy my review!

Love, Lies & The D.A. Book Front Cover 600DPI

Book links:

Amazon   ~  Barnes & Noble 

Synopsis:

Jada McLean is about to get married in nine days, when she walks in on her fiancé in a little more than a compromising position. Days later, she’s on a trip that she intends to be relaxing and a prelude to her fresh start, when she runs into the rude, obnoxious, but gorgeous Jonathan Kole.

Jonathan Kole is San Francisco’s newest District Attorney. When he finds himself deeply attracted to a stunning beauty, he has no idea that she’s about to get into BIG trouble with the law—and he’ll be the one presiding over her trial. To make matters worse, his father is the lawyer representing her in the high-profile case.

When a series of events force them together over New Year’s weekend, Jonathan’s feelings and ethics will come into question, while Jada comes to terms with the fact that she is falling for the man that will be responsible for attempting to put her behind bars… Little do they know, they’re both about to fall into a whirlwind so deep, it will send both their lives spiraling out of control.

 

My review:

Love, Lies and the D.A. is the latest release from author Rebecca Rohman and the first of her work I have read.  Well, Rebecca has a new fan in this blogger.  This book was wonderful.

Young, beautiful, smart, savvy and über successful businesswoman Jada McLean has worked hard at building her popular up-and-coming hotel chain and is now just a week away from the next meaningful chapter in her life….her wedding.  It’s in preparation for that day that she heads home early one afternoon and finds her fiancée and her best friend in a very compromising position.  A very naked, bent over her desk, hot and sweaty compromising position.  Immediately Jada calls off the wedding and cuts her now EX-fiancée and EX-best friend out of her life.  Trying to seek some solace and time alone, Jada heads to Lake Tahoe and almost immediately upon arriving meets an arrogant man who irritates her every time they run into one another.  Unfortunately that seems to be an awful lot.  Just when she can’t imagine things getting much worse, she gets the horrible news that her ex-fiancée has been murdered.  Now, instead of mending a broken heart, Jada finds herself a suspect in his murder investigation.  Jada also finds herself getting closer and feeling a bit warmer to the irritating man, who just happens to be the D.A.

Jonathan Kole has just been appointed to the position of D.A. and he couldn’t be happier.  He’s smart, handsome and things seem to be going well…unless you count how many times he’s put his foot in his mouth with the beautiful new face around town in Lake Tahoe.  It seems he can’t manage to stop being a jerk around him and he needs to change that.  He gets his chance when she becomes his father’s law firm’s client and he starts seeing more and more of her.  Jonathan also realizes that she is completely off-limits and could be career suicide considering her suspected role in a murder but he can’t help it.  She needs a shoulder to lean on and dammit; he wants to be the one.  Is she worth risking it all?

What starts out as a relationship of annoyance between them slowly builds into more when Jada and Jonathan find themselves in the middle of some intense situations.  Murder, kidnapping, theft, and deceit, just to name a few.  But can something good and true come from such an impure origin?  Only time will tell.

This story started out with a one-two punch in chapter one and just got better from that point on.  Jada has ben dealt quite a crappy hand and needs to pick up the pieces.  That proves to be easier said than done and the hits just keep coming for her.  Luckily, even though Jada and Jonathan’s relationship started out a bit strained, they find out pretty quickly that the attraction they feel is something that shouldn’t be pushed aside.  In the meantime, the investigation into Jada’s ex-fiancée’s murder leads to some incredible findings that involve many more players in a plot that I never expected.  I can’t give anything away but I will tell you this:  You will be on the edge of your seat until the very end.

Oh, and the epilogue?  Simply perfect.  I had a big grin when I read it and let out a happy sigh.

If you enjoy romantic suspense with every emotion packed into the pages, this is definitely a book for you!  Thank you, Rebecca, for an amazing story!

4LovesRLBFour Loves

Love, Lies & The D.A. Teaser 3

Excerpt:

The pretty, young host escorts me to a table for two near a window with panoramic water vistas. Within minutes, a server takes my order. As my café latté arrives, I can’t help but overhear a rude exchange between a man and his leggy blonde with the host that escorted me to my seat.

“Look, I reserved that exact seat yesterday,” he says.

“I apologize sir, but that seat is not available,” the host replies.

“Well, if you were doing your job in the first place, it would be available to me, wouldn’t it?”

“Sir, I’m sorry for the error, but it wasn’t written here. If you like, you can wait at the bar where I’ll be happy to serve you a complimentary beverage of your choice while you wait, or I can accommodate you at an available table now.”

I can’t help but look to see who this asshole is.

Everything about him smells of money. From the designer jeans that hug his ass, all the way to the Jaeger Reverso watch that graces his wrist. He’s hot—probably in his mid to late thirties, tall, broad shoulders, piercing grey eyes, and a head of black hair like I’ve never seen.

Ordinarily, I might have found him attractive, if only he would just shut up.

Everything he says to that poor young girl, who has tried so hard to rectify someone else’s mistake, pisses me off. He’s been nothing but rude and condescending. As I look up, my eyes land straight on his. Then I realize they’re all looking my way. I turn around to look behind me, but there is no one. Then it dawns on me that he’s arguing with the host about my seat.

My meal arrives. I mind my business, and I proceed to enjoy it. Before I know it, I see him approaching my table. I pretend not to notice and focus all my attention on my lemon ricotta pancakes before me, but within seconds, he stands beside me.

“Excuse me, my name is Jonathan Kole. Would you mind terribly if you were seated elsewhere?”

My eyes travel across my pancakes to his broad thighs, to his crotch, and to what I suspect is an extremely trimmed stomach beyond his black ribbed sweater. Then I stare into his grey eyes in silence.

“You see, my girlfriend and I met right here at this table a year ago, and I wanted to propose to her.  Here. Today.”

“Actually, Jonathan, I do mind. Seeing that I’m enjoying my meal, surely you wouldn’t mind waiting until I’m done. Or perhaps you can let that polite host, who has done everything possible to accommodate you, have you seated elsewhere.”

“Do you have any idea who I am?” he asks.

Asshole! Your name might sound familiar but who cares… 

“No. You could be the king of England and I wouldn’t give a damn.”

“Who the hell do you think you are?”

“You really want to know?” I ask quietly.

He lowers his head slightly, as if he’s seriously interested.

“I am a woman who walked in on her fiancé screwing her best friend one week before her wedding, so forgive me if I’m not in a sentimental mood.”

His mouth drops open at my response.

“Now, if you’ll excuse me, Mr. Kole, I’d really like to enjoy my brunch.”

His piercing grey eyes are glaring into mine. I know he’s angry. His temple pulsates as he stares at me. He walks away completely flushed.

I don’t care. Perhaps if he had been nicer to that host I would have considered his request. However, because he comes from money doesn’t give him the right to speak to people any which way he wishes.

I continue to enjoy my meal and notice him walking hand in hand to the bar with Malibu Barbie. Half an hour later, I ask for the check then purposely make him wait an additional five minutes before I leave.

On the way out, the host looks at me bright-eyed. “No one ever speaks to Mr. Kole that way, Miss McLean.”

“Well, it’s time someone taught him some manners,” I reply. I hand her a healthy tip, and I’m on my way.

Love, Lies & The D.A. Teaser 7

 

 

 

Giveaway:

Love, Lies & The D.A. Blog Tour Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the author:

Rebecca Rohman is a wife and designer currently living in the Northeastern United States. She was a Sales Manager for a tourist magazine, and for many years prior, she was involved in marketing for a jewelry company, and later for a fine wine distributor.

About fifteen years ago, she started writing her first romance novel, Uncorked, just to purely entertain herself. It was not until early in 2012 when she decided to complete it and share it with the world. The story was published in February of 2013. Love, Lies & The D.A. is her second novel.

Rebecca Roman Logo White Backgroundwww.RebeccaRohman.com  ~  Facebook Rebecca Rohman Page  ~  Facebook Love Lies & The D.A. Page   ~  Goodreads  ~  Twitter  ~  Pinterest

 

 

 

In the Stars by Joan Duszynski….Blog Tour Stop & Review

Welcome to my stop on the In the Stars by Joan Duszynski Blog Tour.

I have my review to share with you all today as well as info on the tour wide giveaway and other fun things!

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy!

in the stars cover

Book links:

 

Synopsis:

Caroline Reyes is starting her second year of college nothing like the first. Following a car accident over the summer with her best friend Raleigh she is now stuck with a bitch for a roommate as Raleigh recovers at home.

One Saturday morning starts off with a bang, literally at Caroline’s door and leads to her needing to comfort a very distraught stranger. This brings Caroline into her first run in with Eric. She feels completely lust driven at just the sight of him, even though his words just piss her off. She can’t shake the sensations running thru her though even after their brief meeting is over. Then comes Kyle and he is determined to get to know Caroline better and she feels the same way dismissing her earlier run in as just crazy hormones.

Now she is left with decisions having to be made and knowing someone is going to get hurt in the process. That someone could be her alone.

Caroline has always looked into the stars for comfort and reassurance since she was a little girl with her Daddy. Now she is looking up into them praying for the right answers and hoping they can help her along with her Daddy who is amongst them now.

 

My review:

In the Stars is the debut work from author Joan Duszynski and kicks off her In the Moments Series.  It was a sweet and hot beginning with potential to sizzle more as the series continues.

College sophomore Caroline Reyes is woken up early one morning by a very angry “other woman” and has no way of knowing it at the time, but things are about to change in almost status quo life.  Turns out the angry gal, Tara, is the girlfriend of the guy her roommate has been shagging.  They soon form a friendship that will introduce Caroline to a deliciously hot police detective….Tara’s brother.  But before Caroline can explore that attraction, she catches the attention of a hottie physical therapist while attending one of her best friend’s therapy sessions.  Torn between the two, Caroline finds herself wondering which her heart will end up choosing.

I enjoyed this book and the rock and hard place Caroline is stuck between is a pretty yummy place to be.  Both of her love interests have great qualities and she certainly has a tough choice.  The was a delicious build up and slow burn throughout the whole book and it ended with the choice of guy I would have made for myself.  There was plenty of steamy scenes and they were written really well *fans self*.  Of course, my lips are sealed and I can’t reveal who it is! I look forward to see what the rest of the series holds for Caroline, Tara and the gang as In the Stars builds a pretty good foundation for the series ahead.

Thank you, Joan, for an enjoyable read!

3andaHalfLovesRLBThree-and-a-Half Loves

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Giveaway:

A Rafflecopter Giveaway

About the author:

I live inVirginia with my husband and our three wonderful (at least typically wonderful) children. I love the privacy I have back in the woods surrounding our home. Honestly thru out my school years I was not a big reader then something amazing happened and I finally opened up my mind to the world of stories. I have some of the greatest and most supportive friends ever that without my sanity might be gone.

Facebook  ~  Goodreads 

Cider Brook by Carla Neggers…Blog Tour Stop, Review & Excerpt

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Book links:

Amazon  ~  Barnes & Noble  ~  Goodreads

Synopsis:

Unlikely partners bound by circumstance…or by fate?

Being rescued by a good-looking, bad-boy firefighter isn’t how Samantha Bennett expected to start her stay in Knights Bridge, Massachusetts. Now she has everyone’s attention—especially that of Justin Sloan, her rescuer, who wants to know why she was camped out in an abandoned old New England cider mill.

Samantha is a treasure hunter who has returned to Knights Bridge to solve a 300-year-old mystery and salvage her good name. Justin remembers her well. He’s the one who alerted her late mentor to her iffy past and got her fired. But just because he doesn’t trust her doesn’t mean he can resist her. Samantha is daring, determined, seized by wanderlust—everything that strong, stoic Justin never knew he wanted. Until now…

 

My review:

Cider Brook is the third book in author Carla Negger’s Swift River Valley Series.  It is the first in the series I have read and really enjoyed it.

Being the granddaughter of a treasure hunter grandfather, daughter of an underwater explorer father and marine archaeologist mother, you could say Samantha Bennett treasure hunting is in her blood.  She has spent her childhood aboard ships and learning about all kinds of stores and artifacts and she loves every minute.  After her grandfather’s death, Samantha decides to take her own adventure and look for the treasure in New England.  The only problem was the possible treasure was in a small, tight-knit town and she would stick out like a sore thumb.  Not normally a big deal, but it so happens she had tried this treasure hunt years before and her reputation had been tarnished back then.  Her mission now is two-fold.  Earn back the trust of this town and find out what mysteries are hidden.  Oh, but before all that?  Escape a fire in the mill she’s currently waiting out a storm in.  Lucky for Samantha, a handsome firefighter happens to own the mill and was driving by at that very moment.  Could it be that Sam finds a treasure other than gold coins and jewels?  Could she find love as well?

This was an enjoyable story with a lot of small town history and large family ties, which I liked a lot.  Samantha is like a rolling stone and has never had roots anywhere and is content living life out of her backpack, looking for lost treasure and forgotten history.  I enjoyed her character in that aspect.  Justin, the handsome firefighter, pulls no punches and has a bluntness about him that I liked a lot.  There are a whole lot of trust issues in this story that the whole town will have to work thought if Samantha ever wants to clear her tarnished reputation.  And Justin and Samantha will have the most to work on, since deeper feelings are developing almost right off the bat.  But besides all of the treasure and trust, what I liked most about this story was the large family Justin comes from and the interactions between brothers, wives, fiancées, and sisters.  It added a heartwarming element to the story as a whole and I really enjoyed it.

Thank you, Carla, for another terrific story!

3andaHalfLovesRLBThree-and-a-Half Loves

Excerpt:

Samantha Bennett slipped her grandfather’s antique silver flask into an outer pocket of her khaki safari jacket. He’d claimed the flask was from an old pirate chest, but she’d discovered in the three years since his death at ninety-six that not everything he’d told her had been factual. Harry Bennett had been a grand spinner of the strategic tall tale. He’d probably been drinking run from the flask when he’d spun the pirate-chest story.

No rum for me, Samantha thought, glancing around her grandfather’s cluttered office on the second floor of the Bennett house in Boston’s Back Bay. She’d filled the flask with the smoky Scotch he had left in one of his crystal decanters. If she was going to hunt pirate’s treasure, she figured she ought to have whiskey with her.

Although what could go wrong in little Knights Bridge, Massachusetts?

Her grandfather smiled at her from a framed black-and-white photograph hanging on the wood-paneled wall behind his massive oak desk. At the time of the photo, he’d been forty-seven roguishly handsome wearing a jacket much like hers. He’d just arrived back in Boston after the Antarctic trip that had sealed his reputation as a world-class explorer and adventurer. It had almost killed him, too. Her couple of nights’ camping in an out-of-the-way New England town hardly compared to an expedition to Antarctica.

She buttoned the flap of her jacket pocket. There were endless pockets inside and out. She was already forgetting where she’d put things—her phone, compass, matches, map, the earth-tone lipstick she’d grabbed at the last second, in case she went out to dinner one night during her stay in Knights Bridge.

Out to dinner? Where, with whom—and why?

If nothing else, a few days away from her grandfather’s clutter would do her good. He had been born on a struggling New England farm and had died a wealthy man, if also a hopeless pack rat. Samantha hadn’t realized just how much he’d collected in his long, active life until she’d been hired by his estate—meaning her father and her uncle—to go through his house and his Londom apartment. She swore she’d found fum wrappers from 1952. The man had saved everything.

The morning sun streamed through translucent panels that hung over bowfront windows framed by heavy charcoal velvet drapes. Her grandmother, who had died twenty-five years ago, when Samantha was four, had decorated the entire house herself, decreeing that gray and white were the perfect colors for this room, for when her husband was there, being contemplative and studious—which wasn’t often, even in his later years. He’d spent little time in his office, mostly just long enough to stack up his latest finds.

Samantha appreciated the effect of the filtered sunlight on the original oil painting that she’d unearthed from the office closet a few weeks ago. The painting was unsigned and clearly an amateur work, but it had captivated her from the moment she’d taken it out into the light. It depicted an idyllic red-painted New England cider mill, with apples in wooden crates, barrels of cider and a water wheel capturing the runoff from a small stone-and-earth dam on a woodland stream. She’d assumed it was untitled but two days ago had discovered neat, faded handwriting on the lower edge of the simple wood frame.

The Mill at Cider Brook.

Her surprise had been so complete that she’d dipped into the Scotch decanter.

She didn’t know if the mill depicted in the painting was real, but there was a Cider Brook in Knights Bridge, barely two hours west of Boston.

Of all places.

A quick internet search had produced a year-old notice that the town of Knights Bridge was selling an old cider mill in its possession. Had someone bought it? Was it still for sale?

Samantha had checked the closet for anything else her grandfather might have stuffed in there related to Cider Brook. Instead, she discovered a legal-size envelope containing about fifty yellowed, handwritten pages—the rough draft of a story called The Adventures of Captain Farraday and Lady Elizabeth.

She suspected but had no way to prove that the story was by the same hand as the painting, but it didn’t matter. It had sealed the deal, and now she had Harry Bennett’s antique silver flask tucked in her jacket and her plans made for her return to Knights Bridge—a town she had expected, and hoped, she would never have to visit again.

 

About the author:

image003Carla Neggers has been spinning stories ever since she climbed a tree with pad and pen at age 11. Now she has millions of copies of her books in print in more than 30 countries, and more than two dozen of her books have placed on the New York Times, USA TODAY and Publishers Weekly bestseller lists. Cider Brook is the third novel in her acclaimed Swift River Valley romantic mystery series that launched with Secrets of the Lost Summer and That Night on Thistle LaneSecrets of the Lost Summer spent four weeks on theNew York Times bestseller list and garnered rave reviews, including a starred review from Booklist and a Top Pick from RT Book Reviews. Growing up in rural western Massachusetts with three brothers and three sisters, Carla developed an eye for detail and a love of a good story. Her imagination, curiosity and sense of adventure are key to creating the complex relationships, fast-paced plots and deep sense of place in her books. 

 

Tyler & Stella (Tattoo Thief #2) by Heidi Joy Tretheway…Blog Tour Stop & Review

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Welcome to my stop on the Tyler& Stella by Heidi Joy Tretheway Blog Tour!

Thanks for stopping by and please enjoy my review!

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Book links:

Kindle |  B&N  |  Print via Amazon  |  Createspace

Synopsis:

Stella Ramsey always says bad boys can’t break your heart. They don’t call, don’t cuddle and don’t send flowers—but what do you expect? For Stella, no strings means no regrets.

When the biggest story of her fledgling career as a music journalist nearly ruins her relationship with her best friend, Stella has one chance to redeem herself. Tyler Walsh could be that chance.

Stella promises the bassist for the rock band Tattoo Thief anything in exchange for behind-the-scenes access. But Tyler doesn’t want anything. He wants everything—and that’s more than Stella is prepared to give.

When Tyler’s explosive secret thrusts Stella into the media spotlight, she must choose between the selling the story and telling the truth—and exposing the truth about herself as well.

Tyler & Stella (Tattoo Thief #2) is a sizzling story of lust, lies, and sacrifice, revealing how much love can forgive.  

 

My review:

Tyler & Stella is the second book in author Heidi Joy Trethway’s Tattoo Thief Series and the first in the series I have read.  Well, after reading this book I have added this series as one I will be looking forward to more from.  I freaking loved this book!

Anxiously looking for a way to further her music journalism career, Stella Ramsey knows she is holding that very thing in the palm of her hand.  Literally.  But she also knows that if she leaks what she has, she won’t just be reporting an über exclusive piece on hot rock band Tattoo Thief, she will be risking losing her best friend and her best friend’s trust.  Without really thinking her actions through, she leaks it anyway and regrets it immediately.  Now Stella finds herself having to gain her friend’s trust back.  She also has to get more stories on Tattoo Thief, which means she’s going to have to gain their trust back as well.  Enter Tyler Walsh.  As Tattoo Thief’s hot and sexy bassist he steps in and gives her a chance to fix things while giving her material for a story.  Tyler seems to good to be true but Stella knows all about the bad boy rocker types.  The thing is, Tyler keeps surprising her.  He turns out to be unlike any preconceived notion she had about him and that becomes dangerous.  Dangerous because Stella doesn’t do the whole nice guy thing.  She’s used to dysfunction and hurt.  It’s all she’s known when it comes to guys.  Could Tyler be the one to change her mind?  The better question is, would Stella ever feel worthy of a guy like Tyler?

Rock star bassist Tyler Walsh has learned the hard way that he’s got to keep his guard up.  He went from awkward teen to gorgeous and sexy rock star in such a short amount of time that he still isn’t used to all the attention that comes along with it. It was hard believing a girl wanted him for him and not just his fame and face.  Then came Stella.  She was sort of a mess when they met and he knew he could help her.  He wanted to help her.  The problem was he had to keep her at arm’s length until he got to know her better.  Tyler finds himself hoping beyond hope that Stella could see past all the hype and into who he really is.  He was willing to give her everything if she could do just that.

The attraction and chemistry between Tyler and Stella is positively delicious and they both feel it.  But with old trust issues and constantly being in the spotlight, will they be able to find something true and real in a world of hype and tabloids?

*Dreamy sigh* Oh, how I loved this book.  From the very beginning the story grabbed me and I was kept in its hold until the very end.  I devoured it in 24 hours and loved every minute.  Stella is kind of a mess.  She drinks too much and hurt her best friend.  She’s got a messed up past that has cut her deep emotionally and in turn has made her self-worth take a nosedive.  But I loved her.  She is raw, gritty and fresh at the same time.  She wasn’t the flawless heroine that every guy drools over and I truly enjoyed that facet of her as a character.  As for Tyler, all I can say is: yes, please!  Talk about the complete opposite of the rock god persona.  He is so amazing.  He’s the good guy in a bad boy role.  He’s kind and warm and has a huge heart.  He’s got his share of secrets that he holds close to his vest and rightfully so.  He treats Stella with such care both physically and emotionally and I absolutely fell in love with him.  He is one of those book guys that I will hold future book guys up to for quite some time.  I think one of the reasons I enjoyed this story so much was that Stella and Tyler’s roles were almost reversed.  She was the one in need of love and kindness and he was the one who had so much love to give.  The build up of heat between them was perfect.  It was ever-present but acting on it was something that took time and when it finally happened it was sublime.

The secrets that both Stella and Tyler are keeping are two pretty big doozies and I let out a huge “whoa” when one of Tyler’s was revealed.  Never saw it coming throughout the whole book.  I love being shocked like that!

Overall if you love a good guy saving a damsel in distress with a modern rock and roll twist, this is a book for you! Thank you, Heidi Joy, for an amazing story!  I can’t wait to see what’s next for Tattoo Thief!

5LovesRLBFive Loves

About the author:

heidi_500Heidi Joy lives in Happy Valley off Sunnyside Road. She swears she did not make that up.

Heidi’s obsessed with storytelling. Her career includes marketing, journalism, and a delicious few years as a food columnist. Media passes took her backstage with several rock bands, where she learned that sometimes a wardrobe malfunction is exactly what the rock star intends.

You’ll most often find Heidi Joy with her husband and two small kids cooking, fishing, exploring the Northwest, and building epic forts in their living room.

She loves to hear from readers via messages at facebook.com/author.heidi.

Blog  |  Twitter  |  Facebook  |  Author Goodreads  |  Tyler & Stella Goodreads

Taking Something by Elizabeth Lee….Blog Tour Stop & Guest Post

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Welcome to my stop on Elizabeth Lee’s Taking Something Blog Tour!

I have a fun guest post to share with you all today along with the tour-wide giveaway.

Thanks for stopping by and ENJOY!

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Book links:

Amazon  ~  Barnes & Noble  ~  Goodreads

Synopsis:

I know what you’re thinking. “You were such a jerk, Nick!”  Believe me, I know I screwed up the best thing I had going in my life, but that was kind of my thing. I’d learned how to run cons before I could even form complete sentences, and I’d always been selfish.  But I changed.  Lila forgave me, my brother and I were getting along, and I was trying to make a name for myself in the music world.

At least that was what I was trying to do when I negotiated my way into the recording studio with pop superstar Sadie Sinclair. I thought it would be a piece of cake—charm my way into her heart and into her record label’s good graces.

Just when I thought I had it all figured out, I got mixed up in a web of lies, manipulation, and deception. A web that had me questioning my motives and desires altogether.

Was the fame and fortune really worth the price?

Elizabeth’s Guest Post:

10 Reasons Nick is the Perfect Book Boyfriend

1.  He’s good with his hands.  He knows how to push all the right buttons.

2.  He’s a lover not a fighter.

3.  Nothing is sexier than a guy who can dance.

4.  He knows what he wants and he gets it.

5.  Anybody who is related to Tucker Kline has to have a few good lines, right?

6.  He’s a deejay, ladies. He knows exactly what songs will put you in the mood.

7.  He knows just how to steal your heart.

8.  You know those super soft old t-shirts that feel so good against your skin?  Well, he’s got about a hundred of them and has no problem letting you slip one on.

9.  Tattoos.  Need I say more?

10.  There’s a fine line between love and hate and he knows how to walk it with the best of them.

 

Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

About the author:

LeeWhen I’m not writing or playing the part of wife and mother, you can find me dancing back-up for Beyonce, singing back-up for Miranda, or sunning myself on the beach with a drink in hand.  Here’s the thing about being born and raised in a small town—you have a very vivid imagination!  Now, I channel it all to create stories where the girl always ends up with the right guy, first kisses are magical, and a happy ending is just that!

 

LINKS:                                                                 

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Website  ~  Author Goodreads  ~  Novel Goodreads

Liabilities by Shannon Dermott…Blog Tour Stop & Excerpt

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Welcome to my stop on the Liabilities by Shannon Dermott Blog Tour!  

I have a fantastic excerpt to share with you all as well as the tour-wide giveaway…

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy! 

Liabilities Cover Art

Book links:

Synopsis:

Trying to put distance between her and Kalen won’t be easy for Bailey. She doesn’t expect that her life will get more complicated when she heads home. At first glance, she knows she’s made a calculated mistake. Turner is everything he had been and more. With her heart out of balance, she risks becoming a liability to everyone surrounding her.

 

Excerpt:

A soft kiss to my neck and a warm body to my back made me squirm. “Lass, you’ve spoiled any chance of me getting a good night sleep without your body next to mine.”

His lips moved lower and forced a giggle from me. “You’ll do just fine without me.”

“Never,” he declared. His brogue so thick, it rumbled from his chest into my back. “I’ll never let you go, lass. You belong to me.”

Lips kissed the nape of my neck and slowly slid down my spine. Firm hands spread my legs and one eager finger submerged into my wet heat. I gasped. “Oh,” I moaned. Another finger slid inside, I could feel the fullness in me. But Kalen was thicker than that. He shoved another and a cry left my lips.

“Are you ready for me, lass?”

“Yes,” I breathed.

 

Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the author:

Shannon Dermott considers herself a native nomad. During her youthful years she’s lived in a number of places around the United States. However, she considers herself a southern girl. Shannon’s first love is reading, diving into other realities to explore and brave new adventures. To share her writing is the best experience of all. She writes for both young adults and adults whether it’s contemporary or paranormal, it’s focuses on romance. When she’s not writing or reading, she can be found hanging out with her family of five, her husband and three kids. She now resides on the east coast of the United States, or maybe more apt is stuck in her office chair.

Website – www.shannondermott.com

Blog – www.shannondermott.net

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/pages/Shannon-Dermott/237824696261512

Twitter – https://twitter.com/Shannondermott

Google + – https://plus.google.com/+ShannonDermott/posts

Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5121644.Shannon_Dermott?from_search=true

Goodreads- https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17452340-liabilities?from_search=true

In the Lyrics by Nacole Stayton…Blog Tour Stop & Excerpt

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 Thanks for visiting my stop on the In the Lyrics by Nacole Stayton Blog Tour!

Please enjoy the fabulous excerpt below and be sure to enter the rafflecopter for the tour-wide giveaway.

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Book links:

Amazon  ~  Barnes & Noble  ~  Goodreads

Synopsis:

Hensley Bradley is the definition of the girl-next-door. She’s kindhearted, beautiful, and talented. Bored with her mundane life, thoughts of fleeing her small town begin to consume her. With aspiring dreams to use her voice as a one-way ticket, she suddenly discovers that music might not be her only passion.

After a fallout back home, Colby Grant decides to leave his family’s farm, determined to show his father he’s more than just a wanna-be country singer. With his All-American good looks, it doesn’t take long for girls in his new town to focus their eyes on him. But things aren’t what they appear from the outside, and it isn’t long until Colby feels he doesn’t fit into the perfect world that so quickly embraced him.

A chance encounter places Hensley in Colby’s path, but it isn’t her natural beauty that first captures his attention – it’s her voice.

When love and music mix, will the combination blossom into a beautiful melody or wither into a heart-wrenching tune?

 

Excerpt:

“Do you know the first thing that I noticed about you?”

She shakes her head no.

“It was your confidence. I had just gotten to town and was going to grab a bite to eat and then call Dusty, but I saw this girl sitting on the street corner.”

        “I felt like you were staring holes in my head,” she says softly.

        “Truthfully, I was. Anyway, once you started to sing…it was like…ya know when your favorite song comes on the radio and you’re jammin’, listening to every word, your heads bobbin’, and you’re just feeling the music, but then your phone rings and you know it’s a call you can’t miss? There’s a split second where you debate on pressing forward to voicemail so you can finish the song, but you’ve been waiting for this call, so you turn down the radio knowing you’ll miss your favorite part just to answer it. It was like you were my favorite song, and I was forwarding my calls to voicemail. In that moment, I didn’t care who was standing around me. All I was worried about was tuning in to you, listening to your voice.”

        “I love you.” Those three simple words are spoken, and much to my amazement it’s Hensley that says them first.

        Clutching her face hard in my hands, I kiss her. I kiss her for being so darn dumb and insecure, for acting like a jealous girl, and more importantly, for loving me through it all.

Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

About the Author:
Nacole Stayton is twenty-something years young and currently resides in the Bluegrass State. She spends her days working at a local hospital in the billing department and nights writing vigorously on her current novel. She has a passion for helping others and wears her University of Kentucky gear proudly. While her husband loves all things outdoors, Nacole enjoys the finer things in life, like getting pedicures while reading on her Kindle Fire. She is passionate about her faith, family, and The Bachelor.

Enticing Interlude by Michelle Mankin….Review & Blog Tour Stop

 

Make sure to check out the TEASER & enter the GIVEAWAY below for some Rockin’ prizes!

Now Available

Come join our Facebook Release Day & Blog Tour Event

Title: Enticing Interlude ~ Series: Tempest Series # 2
Genre ~ New Adult
 
To the talented vocalist Justin Jones, love is merely a game that he plays by his own rules.
But to Bridget Dubois, love and heartache are one and the same.
Broken too many times before, the delicate beauty keeps her emotions carefully concealed. Bridget has her own set of rigid rules when it comes to men. She prefers to avoid them altogether, especially dangerously seductive auburn haired emerald eyed players like Justin.
But the new lead singer of the rising rock band Tempest doesn’t like to be ignored. Justin is used to getting what he wants, and now he’s set his sights on Bridget.
Suddenly, it’s no longer a game.
What do you do when the one you can’t have turns out to be the one you can’t live without?
As the pressure builds, will it temper them or will it shatter them both like fragile crystal?
*Each book in the Tempest series focuses on a different band member so technically they could be read alone, BUT would be much more enjoyable if read in order because of character back stories & continuing story lines*
 
A portion of proceeds from this book go to Covenant House. http://www.covenanthouse.org/ They have a helping hand for single mother’s program that acknowledges that being a good mom is one of the toughest jobs in the world but also one of the most important. The program offers free on-site day care so moms can complete their education or hold down a job.
“It would be so much easier with someone else to rely on.”—Bridget Dubois
 
 
 
 

Review:

Enticing Interlude is the second book in author Michelle Mankin’s Tempest series and admittedly the first of her work that I have read.  Both enjoyable and entertaining, this was a great read.

Single mom Bridget Dubois has recently lost the only family member she could ever count on and now faced with picking up the pieces has decided to start over in a new city.  Thanks to a good friend she met in rehab, she has a place to stay until she can get her bearings in her new hometown.  She has been hurt by too many people in the past and is beyond thankful to have found a true friend in Lace.  It’s through her friendship that she meets Justin Jones, the talented and sexy musician and new front man of the rock band Tempest.  After her less than stellar track record with men, Justin is a risk she isn’t willing to take.  But trying to keep her distance gets really hard when Justin proves to be incredibly kind and sweet to both her and her son.  Would she have the strength to stay away?  More importantly, would she have the strength to give a relationship with Justin a chance?

Things are going really well for Justin Jones these days and after seeing the beautiful blond living with his friend Lace, things just got even better.  He’s landed one of the most coveted positions in music, has finally managed to get his relationship with his family better than it ever has been and now after meeting Bridget starts to think in terms of a real relationship.  Sure, it may seem fast but there’s just something special about her that he can’t ignore.  After getting to know her better, he knows she’s been hurt in the past and Justin is determined to prove he won’t be one of the people to let her down.  Her or her son.  Justin wants to be in it for the long haul.   Will she let him?

Together Justin and Bridget have a whole lot to work on as far as letting go of the past and moving forward together but with a little bit of luck and a whole lot of determination, they truly have a shot at a happily ever after.

The story of Justin and Bridget started out slow and steady and kept building at a terrific pace.  I think that is one of my favorite things about this book.  It was believable.  Bridget’s guard is up and rightfully so.  She isn’t going to just jump into things because she finds Justin attractive and attentive to her and her son.  She’s got a smart head on her shoulders and I appreciated that.  One of my other favorite things about this book was the relationship between Bridget and her son.  Having a son of my own, I really enjoyed reading the interactions between mom and son.  He’s an adorable and smart little boy and Bridget knows how lucky she is to have him.  Justin is kind and patient, which is at total odds with his perceived bad boy rocker persona.  I loved that about him.  He was willing to wait for Bridget to learn to trust him and did everything in his power to make that decision an easy one for her.  Together they make a great couple and family.

There were also a few side plots that were really interesting and added another layer to this love story.

All in all, I think this is a story all romance fans will enjoy!  Thank you, Michelle, for a great read!

 

4LovesRLBFour Loves

 

 
 

I got up, tagged last night’s jeans from the floor, and hastily pulled them on.
I found the remaining pieces of her scattered clothing and threw them at her.
“Get dressed and get out.” Succinct and decisive.
I didn’t make the slightest attempt to soften my words.
Her lips thinned. “Turn around while I put them on.”
“Babe, I’ve already seen everything you got. And believe me when I say I’m not interested in having a do over.”
“F**k you,” she huffed.
I resisted the urge to remind her that she already had.
Several times.
 
 
 

MICHELLE MANKIN is the author of the Black Cat Records series of novels. Romance with subtext. For many years she worked in the insurance industry as an underwriter. Somehow, the boredom didn’t kill her but the hour and hours of looking at facts and figures provided ample time for her mind to wander. Black Cat Records in Vancouver provides the central backdrop for all of Michelle’s current novels. Love Evolution, Love Revolution, and Love Resolution are a Brutal Strength centered trilogy, combining the plot underpinnings of Shakespeare with the drama, excitement, and indisputable sexiness of the rock ‘n roll industry. Things take a bit of a darker, edgier, once upon a turn with the Tempest series. These pierced, tatted, and troubled Seattle rockers are young and on the cusp of making it big, but with serious obstacles to overcome that may prevent them from ever getting there. When Michelle is not prowling the streets of her Texas town listening to her rock music much too loud, she is putting her daydreams down on paper or traveling the world with her family and friends, sometimes for real, and sometimes just for pretend as she takes the children to school and back. BRUTAL STRENGTH SERIES: Love Evolution Love Revolution Love Resolution TEMPEST SERIES: Irresistible Refrain.
Connect with Michelle Mankin on:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Michelle-Mankin/233503403414065
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/MichelleMankin
On her website: http://www.michellemankin.com/
 
 
 
Irresistible Refrain – Tempest Series (Book #1)
Genre: New Adult
 
Two years ago everything changed for the remaining members of the Seattle rock band Tempest.
Two years is a long time.
Too long to keep on remembering.
Not nearly long enough to forget.
In trouble with nowhere else to go songstress Lace Lowell seeks refuge with the band during their stop in New York City. It’s a risky move for her because they are both there, two impossibly good looking men whose lives are inseparably entwined with hers. One who bruised her heart and one who smashed it into pieces.
Warren “War” Jinkins, the mercurial lead singer of Tempest, has always had a thing for Lace. But then again so does his best friend and band mate.
Bryan “Bullet” Jackson, the sinfully handsome tat-sleeved lead guitarist, has a bad boy reputation befitting his nickname. For the past two years Bullet’s had a rule with the groupies: one time, never twice, leave ‘em satisfied, but always leave ‘em.
Two guys, one woman, and a host of dark secrets all together within the tight confines of a tour bus as the group travels cross country.
Can the past be forgotten and buried?
Will friendships prevail?
Or will the three of them succumb to seductive impulses too addictive to resist?
** Irresistible Refrain is a gritty rock and roll tale intended for mature readers seventeen and up. Contains sexual situations, strong language, and drug use. **
 

Brutal Strength series:

Love Evolution:
Amazon: http://amzn.to/KZoJS4
B&N: http://bit.ly/1j25xkP
 
Love Revolution:
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1aeXf43
B&N: http://amzn.to/1aeXf43
 
Love Resolution:
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1kwXTQS
B&N: http://bit.ly/1cZkZ8T
 
 
“ultimate rocker pack” IR+ EI paperback with Black Cat Records tattoo, a BS and Tempest concert bracelet, and a Tempest lanyard with a piece of souloftherose.com rocker jewelry and concert bracelet and GNR & other band stickers.
 
“grand groupie pack” IR+ EI paperback with Black Cat Records tattoo, a BS and Tempest concert bracelet, and a Tempest lanyard and an Aerosmith moto inspired black jacket with zip off sleeves & a Black Cat Records luggage tag.
 
An e-pack with both IR + EI