Dark Mafia Prince by Annika Martin…Excerpt Reveal

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We are thrilled to share an excerpt of Dark Mafia Prince by New York Times bestselling author, Annika Martin! Releases on June 28th!

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Blurb:

Aleksio
Don’t look at me like that. So trusting.
Like you think I’m not a monster.
Like I won’t wrap your hair in my fist and bend you to my will.
Like I won’t sacrifice you, piece by piece, to save my brother.
I’m the most dangerous enemy you’ll ever have because every time you look at me, you see somebody good. That friend who died.
And when you look at me like that, I die again.

Mira
I spent years making myself invisible.
A good girl, apart from the noise.
Then you came back, beautiful and deadly in your Armani suit.
Don’t look at me like you still know me, you say.
But I remember your smile and those sunny days.
Before they lowered your small casket into the ground.
Before they told us the prince was dead.

 

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Mafia-Prince-Promo

EXCERPT

The way he uses me is violent. Primitive. Demeaning. And all I can think is, don’t stop.

He warned me he was going to be rough. He warned me I’d feel alarmed when he shoved his cock all the way down my throat. I was ready for that.

I wasn’t ready for the names he would call me.

Or to be so wildly turned on by it all.

It’s as if we crossed over to the right side of wrong, and everything is too hot, and his cock is too huge, and I have too many clothes. I want him to lay me out and use me. I want him to do anything to me. Everything to me.

I pull back, knowing he’ll shove my head back onto his cock, and he does, fingers digging into my scalp.

My nipples rub on his legs, heating—from the friction, maybe—and I nearly get off. It’s pure madness. Usually I need a lot of help.

But this is Aleksio being Aleksio. He always went too far, and I always loved him for it.

I feel when he’s going to come.

“No teeth. Don’t you fucking…” He jerks into my throat. The orgasm goes on forever. He holds my head firmly in his grip, panting.

I move my tongue a tiny bit and he clutches my hair. “God! Don’t move.”

I feel dazed. Heart pounding. This was the wildest and most powerful sexual experience of my life and I didn’t even come.

“Okay,” he whispers after a while, gently extracting himself from me. I sit on the coffee table, wiping my mouth and striking the tears from my cheeks.

His eyes shine, and I know he felt power of what just happened. The mad connection. Deep down, I know that neither of us have been here before. He reaches out and brushes my hair from my forehead.

That’s when I see the gun in his other hand, dark and cold and black.

He was holding a gun? Why? Why would he need a gun?

“Don’t worry, the safety was on.” He puts it aside, eyes averted, and then he swipes his phone off the floor. He presses something. A red light goes off.

My mouth falls open. “What the hell? What did you do?”

“Saved your finger.”

Red. A record light.

He tucks himself in, zips himself up.

He recorded us? Why record us like that? With him holding a gun? Why would he want to make it look like he was being a violent asshole, forcing me to do that?

Suddenly everything in the room gets too bright, too real. “No!” I go for the phone.

He grabs my wrist, hauling me up off the couch with him. “Leave it.”

“You’re going to show that recording to him? No!” I try to twist free. “You can’t!”

He can and he will.

I’m flooded with shame for how much I enjoyed it. And Aleksio made a movie out of it! To frighten Dad!

“Fuck!” I jerk and twist, trying to get at the phone. “You can’t! Please.”

“Sorry.”

“Oh my God!”

That’s when Viktor comes in. He regards us calmly, like it’s no big deal Aleksio is manhandling me. Aleksio tosses the phone to his brother. “Play it.”

“No! Don’t!”

Viktor taps the screen.

“Don’t watch it!” I go for Viktor now, but Aleksio has me.

“You can’t send Dad that clip.”

“We’re not sending him your bloody finger, isn’t that what you wanted?”

Aleksio. So cool, so smooth. Like it meant nothing to him. And me like an idiot, getting off on his rough treatment. Making myself vulnerable to him. Showing him something I never even showed myself. I want to die.

Viktor pockets the phone. “Her severed finger would be more extreme. More urgency. But this is more pain for the old man.”

“You guys are animals!”

Aleksio tightens hold on me. “You need to be done going crazy or we’ll handcuff and gag you.”

“You have to erase it!”

“You prefer the finger? That’s what you’re saying here?”

I trusted Aleksio. I followed him somewhere extreme, and he ripped my heart open. Cutting off my finger seems tame in comparison.

“You’re thinking about it? Fuck! No. Fuck that.” He turns to Viktor. “Call and see if the sack of shit’s awake.”

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ADD TO GOODREADS

About the Author:

Annika Martin is a NYT bestselling author who enjoys writing dirty stories about dangerous criminals! She loves helping animals and kicking snow clumps off the bottom of cars around the streets of Minneapolis, and in her spare time she writes as the RITA award-winning author Carolyn Crane.

Connect with Annika:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Newsletter | Dirty quote newsletter

Review…Christmas Roses: Love Blooms in Winter by Mary Jo Putney, Patricia Rice, Susan King

Christmas Roses COVER

Book links:

Amazon  ~ Barnes & Noble  ~  Goodreads

Synopsis:

Love blooms in Winter. Three rare, historical romance novellas by acclaimed writers Patricia Rice, Mary Jo Putney, and Susan King are collected together here for the first time in this exclusive eBook, Christmas Roses. “The Snow Rose”, “The Black Beast of Belleterre”, and “The Kissing Bough” weave tales of the joy of unexpected Love, at a special time of year, Christmas – as only these talented writers can. Discovery in the midst of a clash of clans, hidden desires from an unexpected suitor, and a love once lost and found combine for a truly romantic journey through history. This tantalizing collection of historical romances also includes all-new introductions and recipes to add to the delight of the season.

 

My review:

The Snow Rose by Susan King

Catriona MacDonald is in need of help and calls on a promise made to her family years ago by her now enemy clan, the Frasers.  She needs to regain control of her family’s estate from her uncle and knows they are the only ones that can help her.  After being turned away and her plea for help falling upon deaf ears, she heads back to her makeshift home to ring in the New Year.  Alone and in need of luck, she tries to lift her spirits and is surprised when Kenneth Fraser shows up at her door.  He comes bearing gifts and well wishes but still won’t offer to help her take back her rightful home.  But fate indeed had a plan for Kenneth and Catriona and has brought these two soul mates together. Together, they will be able to conquer anything, especially getting her home back.

I loved this story.  I was instantly transported to 16th century Scotland with rich descriptions and dialogue worthy of the Highlands.  Despite the length of the story, the characters were well developed and there was plenty of emotion and even a few laughs.  Kenneth is a loyal man with a huge heart and a soft side that had me swooning.  Catriona is a strong and resilient woman caring for the ones she loves and puts her own needs second.  Together they prove to be a perfect match.  The Snow Rose was a fantastic start to this collection!

 

The Black Beast of Belleterre by Mary Jo Putney

Lord Falconer has the gifts of wealth and intelligence.  He owns gorgeous properties and has traveled and visited many beautiful places.  What he didn’t have the gift of were handsome looks.  He was burned as a child and has kept himself hidden behind the hood of a cloak for too many years to count.  It was easier to be thought a phantom than be known as a horrid looking monster.  Resigned to the notion he would never take a wife, he was surprised when he had no other wish than to do just that after seeing the beautiful daughter of one of his debtors.  As luck would have it, his debtor needed to marry his daughter, Ariel, off to a wealthy man so he could pay of his debts.  Was it fate that Falconer happened to be wealthy and a creditor owed a substantial debt by this man?  After hearing the name of the weasel she was going to be married off to, he stepped in and offered his hand.  She was offered anything her heart desired and he promised it would remain a marriage in name alone.  Never would such a beautiful woman love someone as hideous as he……or was it possible after all?  They do say love is blind….

This was my absolute favorite story in the collection.  A take on Beauty and the Beast, it was a beautiful story.  Falconer broke my heart.  He was warm and compassionate but never though himself worthy of love and affection.  He had lived a life almost entirely alone and was so grateful to have this beautiful woman in his home.  He was kind to his new bride and gave her everything she desired.  The more time Ariel spent with Falconer, the more she started to fall in love with him and his reaction to it was fear and disbelief.  Ultimately though, Ariel took a chance at showing him how she felt and it was simply perfect!  This is a story that will stay with me for quite some time and deserves a re read very soon!

 

The Kissing Bough by Patricia Rice

Mourning over the recent death of her dear father, Diana Carrington certainly wasn’t in the mood to decorate her home for the holiday but she knew it had to be done.  Her family needed a bit of happiness and on the chance that her brother would be returning home from war very soon, he would need that happiness as well.  Of course, if her brother was set to return, it most likely means he would be coming home with his best friend, Jonathan.  Jonathan, the young man she had been madly in love with before he went off to war four years earlier.  She thought he had loved her too but when he didn’t send word about his departure, her heart had shattered.  Clearly he hadn’t cared for her as much as she thought.  She had no idea how wrong she was and luckily Jonathan would get a chance very soon to show her just how much he missed her and how much he truly did care for her.

The ending story to this anthology was a sweet finish.  The Carrington family dynamic was fantastic with a mischievous set of twins that proved to be quite a handful.  They had me laughing out loud a few times at their antics.  Diana has a good head on her shoulders and wasn’t afraid to give Jonathan a piece of her mind more than once.  I loved her spirit!  Jonathan is a stand-up man not willing to let Diana go and his ability to bear his heart to her was so touching.  The ending scene with Diana and Jonathan was so sweet and loving and just perfect.

Overall, this anthology was a win from start to finish and I recommend to anyone who loves love and the holiday season.  Thank you, Susan, Mary Jo and Patricia, for three fabulous stories!

 

4LovesRLBFour Loves

 

About the authors:

Patricia Rice
With several million books in print and New York Times and USA Today’s bestseller lists under her belt, former CPA Patricia Rice is one of romance’s hottest authors. Her emotionally-charged contemporary and historical romances have won numerous awards, including the RT Book Reviews Reviewers Choice and Career Achievement Awards. Her books have been honored as Romance Writers of America RITA® finalists in the historical, regency and contemporary categories.

A firm believer in happily-ever-after, Patricia Rice is married to her high school sweetheart and has two children. A native of Kentucky and New York, a past resident of North Carolina, she currently resides in Southern California, and now does accounting only for herself. She is a member of Romance Writers of America, the Authors Guild, and Novelists, Inc.

Mary Jo Putney
A New York Times bestselling author, Mary Jo Putney was born in Upstate New York with a reading addiction, a condition with no known cure. Her entire writing career is an accidental byproduct of buying a computer for other purposes. Most of her books contain history, romance, and cats. Her current Lost Lords series include No Longer a Gentleman, May 2012, and Sometimes a Rogue, September 2013. October sees the release of the mass market edition of Mischief and Mistletoe, a Christmas anthology by the eight authors of the Word Wenches blog. She has had ten RWA RITA nominations, two RITA wins, and in 2013 is the recipient of the Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award.

Susan King
Susan King is the bestselling, award-winning author of 22 historical novels and novellas praised for historical accuracy and lyrical writing. Writing as Susan King and Sarah Gabriel, she is the author of several historical romances for major publishing houses; as Susan Fraser King, she writes highly acclaimed historical fiction, including Lady Macbeth and Queen Hereafter, published by Random House. Her backlist novels are now being released in e-book form and she is currently working on new fiction. A founding member of the successful author blog Word Wenches, Susan holds a B.A. in fine arts and an M.A. in art history, and did her Ph.D. work in medieval art history. She lives in Maryland with her family.

Review, EXCLUSIVE excerpt & SIGNED ARC Giveaway….Prince of Power by Elisabeth Staab

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Synopsis:

This Fight Is Personal…

Wizards and vampires have been mortal enemies since the beginning. Now Anton, son of the Wizard Master, has one last chance to steal the unique powers of the vampire king’s beautiful sister, Tyra…and then kill her. But when he meets Tyra face-to-face, everything changes…

Tyra will stop at nothing to defeat the wizards, until Anton saves her life and she suddenly sees an opportunity she never could have imagined…

As the sparks ignite between them, together they could bring an end to the war that’s decimating their people, but only if they can find a way to trust each other…


_______________

My Review:

This is the second book in the Chronicles of Yavyn series and follows King of Darkness.  I was so looking forward to this book and the story of Anton and Tyra and I will say…Elisabeth friggin nailed it!

We first meet Anton and Tyra in King of Darkness and this book picks up where we had left off.

Vampires and Wizards have always been at war.  However it is at this juncture that things have reached a critical point.  Anton is the son of the Wizard Master and has been charged with the task of kidnapping the vampire king’s sister, Tyra.  The Master wants to kill Tyra and absorb the unique powers and abilities she was born with.  Only once Anton starts his surveillance, he realizes how amazing Tyra is.  She’s caring, fierce, beautiful and strong…. there is no way Anton can kill her and deprive the world of one such as her.  He’s never truly fit into the Wizard world of violence and certainly has no love for the “father” that has beaten and neglected him his entire life.  He cannot continue to live a lie and he realizes he needs to act, and it must be soon.  Now, he just has to figure out how to save not only Tyra’s life, but also his own.

Tyra has been lucky in finding something she truly loves…her work at the homeless shelter.  In the intense, brutal war she, her brother the king, and their vampire guard have been waging against the wizards, this is the one thing that brings her peace.  However, nothing like a mysterious, handsome, stranger saving your life to throw a wrench into things.  Now she has to figure out who has is and why he knows so much about her…and if she can ever learn to trust a wizard.

What a fantastic book this was!  We got see deeper into the wizard and vampire cultures and learn more of the web the two sides weave together to create the conflict they have been living for years.  There are some intense fight scenes that had me gripping my e-reader with white knuckles and parts that I audibly gasped at.  I love to feel that from a book.  I love to feel like I’m there, watching it all play out in front of me.  However, the parts I loved the most were the moments between Anton and Tyra.  Anton broke my heart.  Totally crushed it. He is a broken soul who wants nothing more than to be worthy of Tyra and her love.  He has known nothing other than hurt and violence…hate and pain.  I absolutely love him.  Tyra is the exact amount of hard and soft in a heroine that I love.  She’s a female fighter in a war but when all is laid bare…she’s a woman we can all identify with.  A woman just trying to make sense of life and trying to learn to let her guard down and give love a chance.

I found this book, like King of Darkness, to be a fresh take on the vampire world.  One of the things I enjoy most about all of the characters Ms. Staab has created is that they don’t have all the answers.  They are vulnerable in an endearing way.  They all have a weakness that we are able to see in their private moments.  Hell, we get to see the strong guys cry every now and then! I appreciate that.  It gives the characters an authenticity that is frequently lacking.

We also get to see more of our favorites from King of Darkness….Thad, Isabel, Lee, Alexia and Siddoh.  Plus, there’s a secondary story involving Theresa and Xander that put me through the emotional wringer…and I loved every tear inducing moment! I cannot WAIT for the next book and know this is a series I will be keeping up with in the future!  Thank you, Elisabeth, for another amazing read!  Oh, and for getting me to cry!

4 1/2 LovesRLBFour-and-a-Half Loves

I spoke with Elisabeth and asked her what one of her favorite moments in this book was and, well, she didn’t just tell me, she is sharing it with all of you in this EXCLUSIVE EXCERPT! Enjoy! 

Excerpt:

Dark shadows lingered underneath Anton’s gray eyes, and he needed a great deal of effort to hold himself up. He was worn out. Keyed up. She would bet he was running on fumes.

“I’ve been in torpor,” she said. “How long?”

On the desk lay a stack of those little two-packs of saltine crackers. The kind that came from the salad bars of restaurants. Or in this case, probably the shelter dining hall. He scratched his head, then picked each one up and counted as he slapped them back onto the desk. “One… two… three… four… five… six… seven… eight… nine… Ten days.”

Tyra squeezed her eyes shut.

He pointed to the crackers. “I brought some back for you every day from the dining hall at dinner. Stupid, but it made me feel like I was doing something for you. Other than that–and taking a piss–I didn’t go anywhere. Didn’t want to leave you alone.”

Holy cow. He’d watched over her all that time. She didn’t know quite what to say to that. And odd warmth bloomed in her chest…

 

And, because Elisabeth is incredibly generous and full of awesome, she has given me a SIGNED ADVANCE PAPERBACK COPY of Prince of Power to give to a lucky fan! How awesome! 

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the Author:

esElisabeth Staab still lives with her nose in a book and at least one foot in an imaginary world. She believes that all kinds of safe and sane love should be celebrated but she adores the fantasy-filled realm of paranormal romance the best. She lives in the Washington DC area

with her family and one big scaredy cat, where she loves to spend time with good friends, go dancing, collect wacky coffee mugs from which to drink her favorite beverage, and sing off-key in her kitchen (when she isn’t making characters fall in love, that is).

 

 

 

Review….Snowbound by Larissa Ione

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Synopsis:

Passion hot enough to melt the slopes and their hearts.

Thanks to a devastating medical diagnosis, ski patroller Sean Trenton has endured two years of celibacy. Two long years that have chipped away at his confidence. Now, with the career opportunity of a lifetime on the line, he’s ready to remedy the celibacy situation, and sexy snow bunny Robyn Montgomery is just what the doctor ordered.

Unfortunately, the last thing reliable, intense radio station manager Robyn Montgomery wants in her suddenly turbulent professional and personal life is a thrill-seeking former Olympic skier-even if he is a total hottie. She’s had it with guys who hog the spotlight and leave her in the shadows. So why is it that even an icy blizzard cant temper the combustible heat between them?

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My review:

Being a huge Larissa Ione fan, I knew I had to read this book.  Well, I finally got the chance this past week and abso-freaking-loutely loved it!

Robyn Montgomery is chairing her high school reunion’s charity auction this year and is already dreading it when her jerk of an ex, and her current boss, backs out of emceeing the event at the very last minute. Of course.  It didn’t make any difference to him that she hated her high school years and that her way of getting back at all of the catty women she knew was to show off her success as a New York radio station manager.  Having the ex use his fame as a media prince was going to help her shut them, and all of their hurtful teasing, up for good.  Known for being the overweight, brace-face, glasses wearing nerd, this was supposed to be her chance to show off how she’d grown into a beautiful and successful woman.  Now she’s stuck heading to her hometown lacking an emcee and in jeopardy of losing her battle with the emotions she’s fought off since the day she graduated.

Sean Trenton has left the world of competitive skiing behind.  After a terrible medical issue two years before, he’s traded his Olympic gold medal hopes for a medical kit and a read ski patroller’s parka.  He loves what he does now but there’s just something missing.  He needs a woman.  Sean is ready to jump back in the saddle after swearing off sex since his diagnosis.  It should be easy for the self –assured, fun-spirited, sexy patroller….but what he wasn’t expecting was wanting more than a one night stand the minute he lays eyes on Robyn.

What a great story this was.  The build up and sexual tension between Robyn and Sean was absolutely delicious.  I do believe I groaned out loud on more than one occasion while reading this book.  Sometimes I get so frustrated when the back and forth between the two characters lasts and lasts, but in Snowbound it was the perfect amount.  Sean is what every hero should be…compassionate, cheeky, gorgeous, sexy, funny, kind, and a guy you want to root for.  He’s not perfect, and makes his share of mistakes, but that made me love him even more.  He’s believable and real in a way some characters never get to be.  Robyn is no less believable than Sean.  She has been put through the “mean girls” wringer, something I’m sure a lot of us can relate to.  She’s not one to just jump in with both feet and tends to take things more cautiously.  I really felt for her.  I so wanted her to succeed and really stick it to all the morons that still act like they are in high school.  The ending to this book was just *dreamy sigh* freaking perfect.  I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a fun, sexy, heart-felt read!  Thank you, Larissa, for yet another incredible story!

 4LovesRLBFour Loves

COVER REVEAL….Blood Vine by Amber Belldene

Today I’m excited to share with you the eagerly awaited cover forBlood Vine by author Amber Belldene!
I had no idea what to expect with this cover, but let me tell you… I think the art department at Omnific did a pretty wonderful job with this beautiful cover!! What do YOU think of this cover? Let us know in the comments!
 
Haven’t heard of this title? Check out more info on this soon-to-be released title!

Note: This is an adult title

Synopsis: In Blood Vine, bites are an inconvenient bliss, exiled vampires are wasting away, and the fate of their kind depends on the perfect PR campaign.

When public relations pro Zoey Porter arrives at an enchanting California winery, she discovers her sexy new client is the almost one-night stand she can’t forget. After her husband’s suicide, Zoey has vowed never to risk her heart again. But can she walk away from the intriguing winemaker a second time?

Driven from Croatia by his ancient foes, vampire Andre Maras has finally made a blood-like wine to cure his fellow refugees. Now he needs Zoey’s PR expertise to reach them. After his wife’s death, Andre has a vow of his own—never to risk another painful blood bond. And one taste of the tempting Zoey would bind him to her eternally.

His secrets stall her PR plans. Her jealousy is stoked by the blissed-out beauties leaving his bedroom. At every turn, he utterly fails to resist her. When she discovers he is a vampire, will she be lost to the golden-eyed Hunters, or lose herself to the emptiness in her heart, before she can help him save his kind?

Trailer:

Direct Link: http://youtu.be/Is-mvrLlheo

 

Author Bio: 

Amber Belldene grew up on the Florida panhandle, swimming with alligators, climbing oak trees and diving for scallops…when she could pull herself away from a book.  As a child, she hid her Nancy Drew novels inside the church bulletin and read mysteries during sermons—an irony that is not lost on her when she preaches these days.

With a B.A. in comparative religion and an M.A. in theology, Amber is a Christian minister and student of religion.  She believes stories are the best way to explore human truths.  Some people think it is strange for a minister to write romance, but it is perfectly natural to Amber. She believes the human desire for love is at the heart of every romance novel and God made people with that desire.

Amber is addicted to vampire stories, but loves to read all kinds of romance and literature.  Her favorite books examine history and cultural origins, like Neal Stephenson’s Baroque Cycle, Anita Diamant’s The Red Tent, or Salmon Rushdie’s The Satanic Verses.  And, yes, she was named after that Amber, of the classic romance novel Forever Amber.

From the wine country of Sonoma County to the foggy neighborhoods of San Francisco, all of Amber’s fiction is set in Northern California, where she lives with her husband and two children.

Find Amber Online:

WebsiteBlog | Twitter | FacebookGoodreads

 

GIVEAWAY INFO!!!

 

Goodreads Book Giveaway
Blood Vine by Amber Belldene

Blood Vineby Amber Belldene

Giveaway ends January 08, 2013.See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.

Enter to win

 

ARC Review & Blog Hop….The Winemaker’s Dinner: Entrée (The Winemaker’s Dinner, #2)

TWD Entree Tour Banner 2

Overview:

Dr. Ivan Rusilko has got it bad. He’s in love—with life, his work, and his baby girl, Jaden Thorne. The nearly 3000 miles between Miami and L.A. that once threatened their happily-ever-after now seem nothing more than a mere geographical challenge—nothing a few hours on a plane and a sexy weekend rendezvous can’t trump. No time apart is too long to keep him from wanting her in his arms and in his bed. He’s absolutely sure Jaden is his dream come true.

Jaden Thorne is living the life she’s always wanted. She’s got her one-in-a-million job on a TV cooking show, she’s achieved celebrity chef status, and she’s in a committed relationship with her perfect guy… Then the network’s surprise decision to add a co-host to her show takes a bite out of her perfectly balanced life and career. With a new man in the mix, living the dream gets a whole lot more complicated both personally and professionally.

When the emotional, mental, and physical paths of true love’s course collide with frustration, secrets, and assumptions, will Ivan and Jaden pay the price? Does their dream-come-true cost something neither can afford?

The Winemaker’s Dinner: Entrée is a decadent meal of passion, sex, and secrets, inspired by the real romantic life of Dr. Ivan Rusilko. Authors Everly Drummond and Dr. Ivan Rusilko have turned up the heat in this emotional follow up to The Winemaker’s Dinner: Appetizers, expertly executing their unique recipe for blending fact and fantasy, with more than a dash of passion and sex.

My Review:

*long, drawn out dreamy sigh* Oh, I’m supposed to be writing my review! Must. Stop. Daydreaming. Ok, I think I’m ready now…..

The Winemaker’s Dinner: Entrée is the second book in the Winemaker’s Feast Trilogy and satisfied the palate that Appetizers whet our appetite for!

This installment picks up where TWD: Appetizers left off and puts the reader on course for a trip through the highs, and lows, of Jaden and Ivan’s blossoming relationship.

Jaden is enjoying her new career in L.A. as the host of One Hot Kitchen, her cooking show and chef’s dream.  Despite the stresses of daily life in the spotlight and a new pain-in-the-ass co-host, Jaden appreciates it all and feels like the luckiest girl in the world.

Unfortunately, Ivan is still in Miami tending to his own thriving medical career.  They’re both determined to make it work though.  Twice monthly interludes filled with surprises, romance and lust are sure to keep this love affair on the right track. Surely nothing can come between Ivan and Jaden and ruin the amazing thing they’ve found….or can it?

I freaking loved this book. Jaden is a kick ass heroine with a strong personality with a soft side for the important things in life….family and love.  Ivan is, well, Ivan! He’s delicious! I mean who doesn’t love a guy who is enchantingly romantic one minute and chopping down trees the next?  Talk about the perfect combo! And, I’m sure by now you’ve all seen the package it all come in?! Hello!? *dreamy sigh….oops!  Got lost in a daydream again*

This book had everything a story should have….an amazing couple, romance the oozes off the pages, HOT scenes that practically set the reader on fire, humor, a villain you love to hate and a cliffhanger at the end that leaves the reader filled with emotion and longing for the next book.  Without giving any spoilers away I will say this….have a box of tissues on hand for the last quarter of the book and get ready to spend the rest of the day with puffy eyes and a book hangover (and any book that makes me feel that way is a great book in my opinion!)

Once again, Ivan and Everly have nailed this fact-based fiction and have made this reader a happy camper!! Thank you both!

 

5LovesRLBFive Loves

Giveaway:  Omnific Publishing is running an AMAZING giveaway that includes:

(1)   Kindle Fire Pre-loaded with APPETIZERS, ENTRÉE, RSVP, and NO RESERVATION

(2)   Signed Print copies of APPETIZERS and ENTRÉE

(1)   Signed 18X24 Poster of Dr. Ivan

(10) Signed Winemaker’s Swag Packs

(2) Miama Beach Sea Turtle Key Chains

a Rafflecopter giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

(Omnific is running the Rafflecopter below and will be choosing the winners)
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Don’t forget to check out the rest of the tour for fun interviews, guest posts and more! Here’s the list of the participating blogs:


About the authors:

Dr. Ivan Rusilko, DO, CSN, PT, is an accomplished weight loss, wellness, physical enhancement and sexual health physician in Miami, Florida. A certified sports nutritionist, champion bodybuilder, international male fitness model, and former Mr. USA 2008 & 2010, Dr. Ivan graduated from the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2010 and sits as the national media and public relations expert and spokesperson on diet, exercise and sports nutrition for the American Osteopathic Association (AOA).

Dr Ivan Rusilko author picDr. Ivan has been a feature health writer and lifestyle coach for numerous magazines and online publications including The Washington Times and Quarter Life Health.

In addition to health and wellness, he has a variety of interests and activities including event coordination, photography, writing, and politics.

With his debut novel, “The Winemaker’s Dinner: Appetizers,” book one of a planned three book series due out in the summer of 2012, Dr. Rusilko is excited to offer a male voice in a predominantly female authored genre. Always one with a story to tell, he hopes to continue writing, exploring new genres and projects, as well as field future entertainment opportunities.

He is proud to bring two of his passions, his medical wellness and sexual health background and writing together in this unique project. He hopes that the “The Winemakers Feast Trilogy” will help spark an enthusiasm and liberation among women, inspiring them to bring their sexual health into focus and achieve a better quality of life.

Dr. Ivan Rusilko | Twitter | Facebook

Everly DrummondAs a student of the Centennial College Social Service Worker program, and the Trent University Biology program, Everly Drummond had a previous life in administration and transportation before launching her career as a writer. Everly’s other writing projects include City of the Damned, a paranormal romance series, and Blood of the Ancients, a YA paranormal romance. All four novellas in the City of the Damned series have appeared on the Amazon.com bestseller list. Everly resides in Toronto, Ontario, where she is currently working on the third installment to The Winemaker’s Dinner with co-author, Ivan Rusilko.

Everly Drummond | Twitter | Facebook

Omnific Publishing Kindle Giveaway

Omnific Publishing Kindle Giveaway:

Omnific Publishing is celebrating the Season of Giving by giving away THREE KINDLES loaded with hot, sweet, rule-breaking romance! Each day will feature a new holiday themed post by Omnific authors.  Come back every day to get extra entries!

To enter, just Spread The Love! The Rafflecopter is set up to give entries each time you share about the contest, and each time you share a new post. As an added incentive, most of the posts are sexy and sweet and may just have some hot pictures of cute boys in their holiday best…or out of it!

For example, meet the boys from Nicki Elson’s Three Daves:

cute-daves-Christmaspic

 

HERE’S THE LINK TO ENTER:

http://omnificpublishing.blogspot.com/2012/12/holidays-without-rules-kindles-full-of.html

GOOD LUCK!

A few of my favorite things….giveaway!

In the years that I’ve become a hard-core book lover I have had some truly fantastic experiences and met some unbelievably amazing authors. I’ve also been shown some amazing support from all of you.  You guys have helped give Read-Love-Blog the unbelievable start it has kicked off with.  Now, since it’s the holidays and as a huge thanks to the support you guys have given me, I am giving you all a change to win some of my faves from this year!  This list includes works from authors I adore…not only because they are amazing writers, but because they are amazing gals.  They all mean something special to me and it gives me no greater pleasure than to share their works with one lucky winner! This goodie package includes e-copies of:

~Rogue Rider by Larissa Ione ~ Heart of the Hunter by Lara Adrian ~ Poughkeepsie by Debra Anastasia ~ Her Forbidden Hero by Laura Kaye ~ Try Me by Diane Alberts ~ Creating Fate by Rachel Firasek ~ King of Darkness by Elisabeth Staab ~

I am also including a package of swag that will include a SIGNED copy of Lara Adrian’s Heart of the Hunter, goodies from Debra Anastasia along with some other fun things! YAY!

Happy Holidays! 

xo Jillian 

            



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Review and SIGNED ARC Giveaway…Kissing Under the Mistletoe by Marina Adair

Regan Martin stopped believing in Christmas miracles six years ago when she lost everything—her house, her job, and her impeccable reputation in the wine industry—after she fell in love with a man she had no idea was married. Then Regan gets a chance for a fresh start in the Napa Valley. With her dream job, dream home, and her daughter enrolled in a wonderful new school, she starts wondering if holiday wishes really do come true.

But she soon tumbles back down to earth when she learns that her new boss is none other than Gabe DeLuca, the scorned wife’s brother. Gabe wants nothing more than home-wrecking Regan Martin out of his life, his sister’s world, and his family’s business. Mostly, he wants the lush beauty out of his head. Yet his attempts to run her out of town have him thinking twice, especially when he sees that Regan may hold the key to tracking down his sister’s stolen start-up capital. Even worse for Gabe, Regan might just be his Christmas wish and hold the key to his heart.

This is the first book in Ms. Adair’s St. Helena Vineyard Novel Series and I am so honored to have had the chance to read it before it hits the shelves!

Regan is a gal who is no stranger to disappointment.  She is also no stranger to strong character and certainly isn’t one for letting the bad outweigh the good that she does have in her life.  After all, she has a beautiful daughter and is about to start a new life in a new town.  Things are looking up, until her past threatens to come back and ruin things yet again.

Gabe is determined to make sure the home wrecker that ruined his sister’s marriage gets pay back in spades for what she’s done.  He’s been making sure her life has been less than easy for the past six years and yet here she is, in his town, working for his family’s business.  Although now, he starts to think that maybe this isn’t such a bad thing.  Maybe now, if he puts his charm on, he can get some info on where his cheating ex-brother in law may have run off to….with his family’s money.  Too bad he has no idea that he will in fact be the one who gets charmed and not the other way around.  Can he risk falling for the woman responsible for causing his sister so much pain?

From the very first page, I was brought in by the emotion coming from Regan.  She is such an amazingly strong character but not in an overbearing way that some heroines can come off as.  She’s strong in a way that is so admirable and has such poise and confidence that she is a character I won’t soon forget.  She’s been through some difficult times but is able to maintain her dignity and reminds us that sometimes you have to keep your chin up, square your shoulders and give it another try.

Gabe is loyal to a fault.  He’s been keeping his family together since the death of his parents and isn’t sure there’s any other option for him.  He is fierce and protective and sexy as hell.  He’s your girlfriend’s sexy, responsible older brother you would oogle when you went over to her house. He knows exactly how to push buttons…the ones that annoy and the ones that make you melt.  He’s so convinced that always figuring things out and having the answers for his family is enough for him….until Regan makes him start to want more.

Together they have an emotional ride ahead that if they choose to believe in each other, and not other people’s opinions, they can have a chance at something real and something they both deserve.  They also have help from unlikely allies who have big personalities and equally big hearts.

I loved this story.  Ms. Adair had my heart hurting so many times throughout this book but only because she did such an amazing job at telling Gabe and Regan’s story.  I felt so much for both of them and it truly was an enjoyable read with humor along with the heartache! This is a must read for any romantic!  Thank you, Ms. Adair, for an amazing story and I look forward to more in this series.

Oh! One last thing…the PTA mentions and shenanigans were HILARIOUS, and not entirely false (but you never heard that from me!  *wink*)

 

5LovesRLBFive Loves 

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