December 2014 – Page 2 – Read-Love-Blog

Caress of Darkness by Julie Kenner eBook Giveaway

Happy Tuesday!

I have five kindle copies of Julie Kenner’s Caress of Darkness to give away! (if you don’t have a kindle, not to worry! You can download free Kindle reading apps HERE)

Enter to win in the rafflecopter below…the contest runs through midnight Sunday and winners will be announced Monday, December 22 .

Thanks for stopping by!

I also had the pleasure of interviewing Julie for the 1,001 Dark Nights Monthly Newsletter.

Here is a snippet:

I have to tell you, I absolutely adored Caress of Darkness and it grabbed me from the very beginning. This novella kicks off a new paranormal series for you and has an interesting hero. I would love to know your inspiration behind it and his abilities.

Thank you!! I’m thrilled you enjoyed Caress of Darkness, because I am totally in love with this series … and these heroes!

As for inspiration, in a way, it was self-inspired, LOL! I absolutely love the erotic romances that I’m writing as J. Kenner. The characters, the stories, the drama, the heat. And I have always loved writing paranormal, which I’ve written throughout my entire writing career (both light and dark paranormal). So I wanted to create a paranormal series with heroes as sexy, commanding, enigmatic (and, yes, dangerous) as the Stark, Stark International, and Most Wanted heroes. But I also wanted to add a paranormal flair. But how? I don’t recall exactly how I came up with the immortal concept (too many viewings of Highlander, perhaps) but it was the idea of the phoenix fire that truly got my creative juices flowing.

Speaking of the new series, do you already have an idea of how many books it will be?

Honestly, it depends on how readers respond. The series is set up to have quite a few books … and I am dying to write all of them. Right now, I have plans for Raine’s story (Caress of Darkness), Mal’s story (Find Me in Darkness, Find Me in Pleasure, Find Me in Passion), and Dante’s story (Caress of Pleasure, the next 1001 Dark Nights novella).

If readers respond to the series the way I hope they will, then there are several more stories after that featuring other heroes that readers will meet in both Caress of Darkness and in the Find Me trilogy.

Which is a long way of saying five books minimum, but the world is big and vibrant enough to fill over a dozen stories, and I hope to do just that!

Your recent releases have been primarily erotic romance, are you exited to get back into the paranormal world?

I am! I love paranormal stories—they’re larger than life and get my imagination flowing. The possibilities are truly endless. And the truth is, I was weaned on paranormal and SciFi books and television. So in a lot of ways, paranormal is my comfort zone.

There have been a lot of paranormal books made into movies. Do you have a favorite adaptation?

I’m going to have to go back to the classics on this one, because I think Rosemary’s Baby is one of the best book adaptations ever (paranormal or not!).

You can read the entire interview HERE

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About 1,001 Dark Nights:

1001 Dark Nights is a collection of novellas that are breathtakingly sexy and magically romantic. Some are paranormal, some are erotic. Each and every one is compelling and page turning. Inspired by the exotic tales of The Arabian Nights, 1001 Dark Nights features New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors. In the original, Scheherazade desperately attempts to entertain her husband, the King of Persia, with nightly stories so that he will postpone her execution. In our versions, month after month, each of our fabulous authors puts a unique spin on the premise and creates a tale that a new Scheherazade tells long into the dark, dark night.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest

About the author:

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

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

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

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

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

Caress of Darkness by Julie Kenner…Blog Tour Stop & Excerpt

About CARESS OF DARKNESS

From New York Times and International bestselling author Julie Kenner (aka J. Kenner)…

From the first moment I saw him, I knew that Rainer Engel was like no other man. Dangerously sexy and darkly mysterious, he both enticed me and terrified me.

I wanted to run-to fight against the heat that was building between us-but there was nowhere to go. I needed his help as much as I needed his touch. And so help me, I knew that I would do anything he asked in order to have both.

But even as our passion burned hot, the secrets in Raine’s past reached out to destroy us … and we would both have to make the greatest sacrifice to find a love that would last forever.

And don’t miss the next books in the series, already available for preorder!

Find Me in Darkness (January 13, 2015)
Find Me in Pleasure (January 20, 2015)
Find Me in Passion (January 27, 2015)
Caress of Pleasure (a 2015 1001 Dark Nights release!)

Amazon | Amazon UK

Excerpt:

“Do you need to forget? To get lost in the feel of my hands upon your skin, my mouth on your breast? Do you want to lose yourself in passion, in submission, in pleasure?”

He could see the effect that his words had on her. The flush on her skin. The parting of her lips. The way she moved a hairsbreadth closer to him.

He saw—and he was satisfied.

“I’ll give you what you need, angel, I promise you that. But not until you tell me what that is.”

“I don’t know what I need,” she whispered, her head tilted down. “I only know what I want.” She lifted her face to his, her eyes burning, and the words she spoke held enough power to bring him to his knees. “Please, Raine. Right now, all I want is you.”

Enter the GIVEAWAY!

About Julie Kenner

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

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

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

The Game by H.J. Bells…Release Day Event

Synopsis

Born to shine.
Groomed to dominate.Levi Wilks is destined only to be a champion…Number one on the field, in the record books, and in every fans’ heart. This star QB is perfection from head to toe. Only his looks rival his talent on the field.

Not one flaw to be found…that is, until he looks in the mirror…

Levi sees his dad’s dreams, his mother’s demands, and lost dreams of his own. Dreams that vanished one by one as his life, and career, were carefully etched out for him by others.

He was always jealous of his younger brother, Lincoln, a carefree spirit. Some nights he’d pray for a normal life. An average life. But that wasn’t who he was, he’d never have the courage to be like him.

But what happens when Levi is forced to sit on the sidelines for a couple of games?

At the lowest part of his career, he finds himself magnetized by a blonde beauty.

This unexpected girl challenges everything he knows…

And dares him to fight for everything he wants…

Is Levi Wilks ready for her? Is he ready for “The Game” of his life?

Buy Now

AMAZON/AMAZON CA/AMAZON UK/AMAZON AU

Check Out Book #1 That Girl Now

AMAZON

About the Author

I am an independent author excited about releasing my first novel
very soon. A big dream coming true!!! I’m all country…the kinda country where
green grass grows and corn pops up in rows….love Miranda and her bad ass
music!!! Just a simple country girl getting one story out of her head at a
time…I always fall hard for a trucker style hat…especially if it’s a John
Deere hat….loves me a good ol’ farm boy!!!!!!

Website/Facebook/Twitter/TSU

Hosted By:

Jingle All The Audio featuring Hillary Huber & Allison McLemore

With audio books on the rise, the pool of great narrators is growing deeper every day. The first of three featured this week is Hillary Huber, who narrates The Midnight Breed series by Lara Adrian. With a multitude of both commercial voiceovers and audiobooks to her credit, Hillary has earned herself several Audie award nominations and numerous Earphone awards from Audiofile Magazine. She wields a wide range of accents and covers an impressive array of genres. I really enjoy Hillary’s ability to narrate a story while making recognizable distinctions between characters with her voice. She is the perfect center for Lara Adrian’s Midnight Breed series which happens to be an auto-buy for the paranormal romance lover in me. Hillary also lends her voice to the final installment of Larissa Ione’s Demonica series, Revenant, which releases this Tuesday.

Listen to a sample of Hillary Huber narrating Revenant from Larissa Ione’s Demonica series:

Links:
Hillary Huber’s Website: http://hillaryhuber.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/hillatious

Earning an Audie Award nomination in 2013, Allison McLemore embodies absolute perfection in her narration of Diana Rowland’s White Trash Zombie series. I couldn’t imagine not listening to any of these fun science fiction novels that put a white trash spin on zombies and make you wonder if they really do exist among us. Angel Crawford is high on my short list of favorite female heroines in fiction and Allison personifies her lovable sarcasm to a tee. If the undead and SciFi is your thing, I highly recommend giving White Trash Zombie a listen.

Listen to a sample of Allison McLemore narrating My Life as a White Trash Zombie, Book 1 of the White Trash Zombie series:

Last this week, but certainly not least, Lauren Faye Smith is fairly new on the audio book scene in comparison to the two narrators above, but she certainly stands amongst the pack with her narration of Liliana Hart’s J.J. Graves series. Lauren’s approach to these romantic suspense novels is pretty straight forward, but her portrayal is both real and engaging. Paired with the wonderful writing of Liliana Hart, the J.J Graves audio books are definitely on my list of favorites.

Listen to a sample of Lauren Faye Smith narrating Dirty Little Secrets, Book 1 of the J.J. Graves Series:

For entry into the Jingle all the Audio Giveaway this week, let us know what you like to listen to this time of year.

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Cover Reveal….Fighting Silence by Aly Martinez

Add Fighting Silence to your TBR list on Goodreads!

http://bit.ly/1A9dk5y

RELEASE DATE: February 2015

Blurb

Sound is an abstract concept for most people. We spend our lives blocking out the static in order to focus on what we believe is important. But what if, when the clarity fades into silence, it’s the obscure background noise that you would give anything to hold on to?

I’ve always been a fighter. With parents who barely managed to stay out of jail and two little brothers who narrowly avoided foster care, I became skilled at dodging the punches life threw at me. Growing up, I didn’t have anything I could call my own, but from the moment I met Eliza Reynolds, she was always mine. I became utterly addicted to her and the escape from reality we provided each other. Throughout the years, she had boyfriends and I had girlfriends, but there wasn’t a single night that I didn’t hear her voice.

You see, meeting the love of my life at age thirteen was never part of my plan. However, neither was gradually going deaf at the age of twenty-one.

They both happened anyway.

Now, I’m on the ropes during the toughest battles of my life.

Fighting for my career.

Fighting the impending silence.

Fighting for her.

Every night, just before falling asleep, she sighs as a final conscious breath leaves her.

I think that’s the sound I’ll miss the most.

Excerpt

“That wasn’t yours to take away,” he exploded into the otherwise silent night. His words echoed off the surrounding buildings, each wave slicing me to the quick all over again. “That was our place. Not yours.” His voice cracked right alongside my heart.

“Yeah, well, there was a lot of stuff that wasn’t yours to take either.” I held his gaze, desperately trying to be strong, but as his eyes grew wide, I whimpered.

His long legs strode forward, stopping only inches away from me. He was crowding me, but he still leaned in closer to my face. “There is nothing in this world that was ever more mine than you,” he stated. Though it was the absolute truth, I wished with all my heart that it were a lie.

“Till,” I cried, swiping the tears from my eyes.

“Why!” he shouted, causing his muscles to tense under the force. “Goddamn it! I needed that place.”

Porch lights flashed on from the surrounding apartments, illuminating not only the dark but also my rage.

I shoved my hands into his chest. “What about what I needed? You left! I waited in that fucking apartment for weeks.”

He didn’t budge, but my bare feet slipped, sending me toward the ground. Impossibly fast, Till’s hand snaked out and caught my arm. I didn’t let his chivalrous gesture douse my fire. I had six months’ worth of words to say to the man I was irrevocably in love with.

“You took what you wanted. Then you left me.”

“Doodle,” he whispered.

I had been perilously close to the edge of insanity, and with one single word, he’d pushed me over.

I lost it completely.

Pounding my fists against his chest, I screamed at the top of my lungs, “It’s Eliza! My name is fucking Eliza! Not Doodle!” I spun to march away, but Till’s arms folded around me, lifting me off my feet to restrain me.

I was miniscule compared to him. There was no use in fighting, but I still kicked my legs, irrationally desperate to get away from him—but only because I knew I couldn’t keep him for forever.

“Stop it!” he growled into my ear. “I know your Goddamn name—probably better than I know my own.”

About the author:

Born and raised in Savannah, Georgia, Aly Martinez is a stay-at-home mom to four crazy kids under the age of five, including a set of twins. Currently living in South Carolina, she passes what little free time she has reading anything and everything she can get her hands on, preferably with a glass of wine at her side.

After some encouragement from her friends, Aly decided to add “Author” to her ever-growing list of job titles. Five books later, she shows no signs of slowing. So grab a glass of Chardonnay, or a bottle if you’re hanging out with Aly, and join her aboard the crazy train she calls life.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Sugar’s Twice As Sweet by Marina Adair…Review & Giveaway

Synopsis:

He’s trouble she doesn’t need . . .

Thanks to a cheating fiancé, Josephina Harrington’s perfect life just crashed and burned. Moving in with her overbearing parents is definitely not an option. No, she needs to prove she can make it on her own. And she will-by turning her great-aunt’s old plantation house into a destination getaway. She’s just not expecting her contractor to be so hands-on-and so totally irresistible.

. . . but everything she wants

Bad-boy golf champion Brett McGraw figured his hometown of Sugar, Georgia was the perfect place to lay low and get his life back up to par. The leggy blonde with a pint-sized pup is the kind of sweet ‘n sassy trouble he never saw coming. She doesn’t know a nut from a bolt and before long, he’s renovating her house . . . as she steals his heart. Can he convince Josephina that his womanizing ways are in the past and he’s ready for forever?

My review:

Sugar’s Twice As Sweet is the first book in author Marina Adair’s Sugar, Georgia Series and as a big fan of Marina and her writing, I was so excited to read this latest work. In true Marina fashion, this book was simply wonderful…choc full of emotion, amazing characters, sass, and wit, I loved every second of this story.

The last thing Josephina Harrington ever imagined she would be doing at this point in her life was staring at her late great-aunt’s old plantation home and actually thinking of tackling a project this big. But she had no choice. It was her last option at this point. Ever since being dumped by her arrogant ex-fiancé she knew it was now or never. She was stuck between a rock and a hard place. No way would she move in with her parents and she really wanted to prove, more to herself than anyone, that she could do something amazing…all on her own. Turning this old plantation into an upscale-with-a-down-home-charm inn was a dream she wanted to see become a reality and when she embraced her great-aunt’s outlook on life, she knew she could do it. What she didn’t need right now was any sort of distraction, and her neighbor Brett McGraw was a distraction waiting to happen. Sure he was all sexy and southern charm, but she needed to stay away from men and focus on her new life. Good thing she had one hell of a workload in front of her to keep her mind off of the sexy golf pro showing up at her doorstep at every turn. Only problem was she really needed some help and eventually his neighborly offers start to wear down her resistance. Would she be able to pull of a project of this magnitude? With’s Brett’s help? More importantly, would she ever want to risk heartache again?

After the media debacle he was in now, golf star Brett McGraw needed to lay low. He needed to stay out of the public eye and out of the arms of star-struck women and that’s what led him back home to Sugar, Georgia. He would stay here, help out with a few organizations, and keep out of the public eye for a few months until things blew over and the next big tour started. That was the plan, anyway. All of that “stay out of the arms of women” talk goes out the window when Josephina comes back into town. Suddenly Brett can’t remember why swearing off women was a good thing. Of course it would figure that the only girl he had eyes for now couldn’t be bothered with him. Figures. Now he had to up his game and actually try…something he wasn’t accustomed to. But something happens along the way…Brett actually starts to grow some serious feelings for the girl he remembered from his childhood. The girl he could see had been hurt and wanted to make a fresh start. Would he be a part of that fresh start? Goodness, he really hoped so.

With a wounded heart and so much turmoil in both of their lives, Josephina and Brett seem to find solace in each other’s company. When things start to heat up and an undeniable attraction starts to blossom, will what they’ve found be able to whether the storm of Brett’s former playboy ways, Josephina’s broken heart, and a few hidden truths?

I have been reading Marina Adair’s work for a few years now and I have enjoyed all of her books…but this, hands down, is my favorite so far. There was so much to love about this story. We are introduced to Josephina at her lowest moment, right after the break up of her engagement, and it was so amazing to read her journey from broken-hearted to determined businesswoman. She stumbles along the way, and second-guesses herself as the enormity of this undertaking starts to show, but she doesn’t give up. I loved that about her. Her tenacity and pride are amazing. Even when things get pretty horrible for her, she picks herself up and keeps going. Brett is also an amazing character with a loyalty to his family and his roots that had me melting. Sure, he’s a ladies man, but he’s got a huge heart and is just waiting for the right woman to give it to. Oh, and his southern charm? Swoon-worthy!

Another one of my absolute favorite aspects of this story are Hattie and her band of misfit grannies. Brett‘s grandmother and her friends are absolute hilarious and added an amazing facet to this already wonderful story. I would love to have a Hattie in my life!

Again, there is so much to love about this book. The town’s description and making me feel like I was there, the secondary characters I can’t wait to read more about, the push and pull between Brett and Josephina, the laughs that ensue along the way, the heartwarming connection between Brett and Josephina…from start to finish I loved it all.

Ms. Adair is an author all romance lovers should have on their to-read list. She tells one hell of a romantic and emotional story each and every time and always delivers many a contented sighs throughout. I can’t wait to see what’s next for the Sugar, Georgia gang!

Five Loves

Book links:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Giveaway:

In addition to this tour-wide giveaway, I have an autographed paperback copy of Sugar’s Twice As Sweet to give away to one lucky winner! To exert that giveaway, comment on this blog post!

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About the author:

Every author can identify the exact moment of inception, when the skies parted, the heavens sang, and a divine being came forth, anointing them one of the chosen, blessed to spend the rest of eternity weaving stories of ‘ever after’ for mass consumption.

For me, it wasn’t so much a moment, but an intervention. Sophomore year, my fellow Blockheads sat me down and explained that I had an addiction. I was a NKOTB–A-holic. Afraid of becoming enablers, they refused to listen to another one of my never-ending stories about our passionate intrigues with Jordan, Joe, Jon, Danny, and Donnie. What they didn’t understand was that New Kids on the Block wasn’t my obsession—they were my current romance-medium of choice. Twenty years later, my romance addiction is a hard, bodice-ripping, half-dozen books per week. When I’m not reading it or watching it, I am writing it—or workshopping it—or editing it—or strategizing how my hands to get more of it. In 2010, I realized I was closer to menopause than prom and got serious about my career, writing my way toward a post-graduate degree in creative writing (in the off chance that the first one didn’t stick) and becoming a published romance author.

January of 2012, I sold my first novel, TUCKER’S CROSSING, to Kensington Books and The St. Helena Vineyard series to Montlake Romance. KISSING UNDER THE MISTLETOE, the first in the series is a National Bestseller and #1 Romance Series bestseller. SUMMER IN NAPA releases May 14, 2013 and AUTUMN AT THE VINEYARD releases October 2013. In 2014 the first in the Sugar Series, BUT SUGAR’S TWICE AS SWEET, will release from Grand Central’s Forever line. I live with my husband, daughter and three neurotic cats in Northern California.

Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Website

Review…Eyes Turned Skyward by Rebecca Yarros

Synopsis:

Since her sister’s death, twenty-year-old Paisley Donovan, who shares her sister’s heart condition, is treated like delicate glass by her parents. But nothing will stop her from completing her Bucket List—even if it kills her. And it almost does, until Jagger Bateman pulls her from the ocean and breathes more than air into her lungs—he sets her soul on fire.

Jagger is enrolled in the country’s toughest flight school. He’s wickedly hot, reckless, and perfect for a girl looking to live life to the fullest. Except that Paisley is the commanding general’s daughter, and her boyfriend is Jagger’s biggest rival. Now Paisley must decide just how much to risk for a guy who makes her heart pound a little too hard.

They’re flying through dangerous territory—and one wrong move could make them crash and burn…

My review:

Eyes Turned Skyward is the second book from author Rebecca Yarros, and follows Full Measures…a book I completely adored. I was beyond lucky to get an early copy of this book and let me just say, it is unbelievably amazing. I loved, loved, loved, it. Ignored every daily responsibility and devoured it in one sitting.

Paisley wasn’t her sister. She wasn’t as fragile as everyone treated her. She wasn’t going to die young, like her sister had. If she could just convince her parents that she knew, deep down inside, she would be ok. Despite sharing the same heart condition that had killed her sister years earlier, Paisley had a plan and would live to see her later years. She wasn’t breakable. It was that philosophy that brought her to the beach one day and almost ended her life. Not because she was being reckless, but because some idiot was…and threw her into the ocean despite her pleas that she couldn’t swim. Luckily Jagger was there and he saved her life. Jagger, the handsome and sexy stranger she had been admiring just a little while earlier. Jagger, who would end up saving her a few more times as their story is written. Jagger, who could give her a life she never could have imagained…if she only gives him the chance.

Student pilot Jagger wasn’t one to do long term. He was fast and furious and lived life to the fullest. He had plenty of admiration from women and didn’t mind the attention. But it was Paisley’s attention he craved. After saving her that day on the beach, he knew it would take a lot to get her out of his system. Not even the fact that she turns out to be his commander general’s daughter or his biggest flight school competition’s girlfriend could make him back off. He couldn’t know that he may lose her before they even get a start. He couldn’t know that his life was about to be turned upside-down by this amazing woman. With so much at stake, his flight career, his standing with his commanding general, his future, would Paisley be worth the risk of all of it? He sure as hell felt with a bone deep certainty she was. Now he just had to convince her.

The odds are stacked against Paisley and Jagger from the word “go” but despite all of the negatives, the positives seem to win out…at least for a little bit. Will they truly get a chance at a happily ever after? For more than just a few months?

I’m pretty sure I mentioned this already, but it bears repeating: I loved this book. There was just so much to love. Jagger, Paisley, their situation, their relationship, even their struggles…it was all amazing. Rebecca Yarros has an amazing way of getting the reader invested in her characters and feeling all of their emotions. The good, the bad, and the heart wrenching. Jagger is one of my favorite book guys. He’s loyal, sexy, kind, caring, and has a larger than life personality. You can’t help but adore him. Paisley is equally amazing. She stumbles along the way and wants to remain the prim and proper girl her parents raised, but also wants to live her life without being treated like a piece of glass. She just wants to live like she has no expiration date.

The push and pull between Jagger and Paisley is fantastic and really fit their situation. Jagger had his dream career at stake and Paisley had her parents and long-term boyfriend to deal with. They couldn’t just jump right into things and all of that made it even more special when they finally could. Of course, I was a nervous wreck for these two and between Paisley’s heart and problems with Jagger and her boyfriend, I was so worried things wouldn’t work out. I won’t give anything away, but I will warn you to have an entire box of tissues at the ready. Yes, an entire box. Don’t worry though, Rebecca has yet to let me down yet and gives an ending that is totally movie worthy!

This is a must read for all romance fans. It’s packed with emotion and passion and is the embodiment of a well-rounded story with well-written characters. Thank you, Rebecca, for yet another amazing read. I can’t wait to see what you have in store in the future for your fans!

Five Loves

Book Links:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks

About the author:

Rebecca 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

Review…Wanting Forever by Diana Gardin

Synopsis:

Sometimes the one thing you want is exactly what you can’t have.

For Sam Waters, it’s Aston Hopewell. Talk about a girl out of his league. But he’s just a hired hand, happy to keep his head down and work hard on her father’s ranch. With a warrant out for his arrest, he can’t afford trouble.

Everyone thinks Aston’s life is perfect, but she knows the truth: nothing is as it seems. The only one who gets that is Sam. He understands her in a way no one ever has. But even he won’t tell her everything-until the night that changes their destiny forever . . .

My review:

Wanting Forever is the newest work from author Diana Gardin and the first in a new series. After enjoying her other works, I was excited to read this book and it was fantastic.

Having to leave his hometown, family, and girlfriend behind, Sam Waters is trying to make a new life for himself. He hadn’t really had much of a choice and is trying to make the most of it. Luckily, he found a decent job as a ranch hand to a wealthy family who also gave him a place to live and he had been thankful. He knew it wouldn’t be forever but it was a great temporary gig. Of course he starts to have second thoughts about it being temporary when he meets Aston. She’s the daughter of the family he works for and, despite being opposite him in many ways, becomes a good friend. Soon that friendship starts to grow into something more and he can’t deny the attraction to this amazing woman. Unfortunately having a girlfriend at home complicated that attraction.

Fate has a way of stepping in when you least expect it though, and Sam suddenly finds himself not as a ranch hand but working for Aston’s family’s company and “temporary” starts to feel like “permanent”. Still, Sam can’t fathom leaving his girlfriend. The one he gave everything up for. Would the distance prove to be the breaking point in their relationship? Would Sam’s attraction to Aston? Again fate will step in and lead Sam in a direction he never expected…but truly desires.

This was a read I couldn’t put down. It was interesting, a bit mysterious, and plenty heated. I was torn from the very beginning on if I wanted Sam to stay with Aston’s family or head back to his hometown. I wasn’t sure if I wanted him to remain faithful to his long distance girlfriend or give Aston a chance. For me, feeling a jumble of emotions like that, is the mark of a great story. The characters were well developed and I couldn’t help but fall in love with not just Sam and Aston, but the supporting cast of characters. I won’t give anything away as far as what happens between Sam, Aston, and the girlfriend, but I will say that it ended exactly how I wanted it to!

Thank you, Diana, for an emotional, remarkable, and captivating read. I can’t wait to see what you have for us next!

Four Loves

Book Links:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

About the author:

I’m a Virginia girl living In South Carolina, and my beloved home in the South is the backdrop for all of my novels. I adore writing about Southern girls and boys finding their way in and out of love. I’m married to the love of my life, and we have two fabulous/crazy children and an equally crazy boxer doggie. Life is a fun roller-coaster, and I wouldn’t trade it! Now that I’m a stay-at-home-mom and have recently added author to my list of things to do, I’m busy ALL THE TIME!

My first book Color Blind, is a young adult contemporary Romance. The first series I wrote is The Ashes series, and both books are currently available, new adult contemporary Romance/Romantic Suspense: Out Of The Ashes and Settling Ashes. All three books are self-published.

My newest series is called The Nelson Island series and the first book, Wanting Forever, is due out Oct. 7, 2014 from Grand Central Publishing/Forever Yours.

I love to hear from readers, it’s what keeps me going! Please tweet me @DianaLynnGardin My Facebook page is www.facebook.com/authordianagardin Or find my blog posts and more book info at www.dianagardin.com

Revenant by Larissa Ione…ARC Review

Revenant releases December 16

HELL HATH NO FURY . . .

For five thousand years, Revenant believed he was alone in the world, a fallen angel beyond any redemption. Now he finds he has a twin brother who had all the light and love Revenant was denied. Caught in a tug of war between Heaven and Hell, he must weigh his thirst for revenge against his desire for a mysterious female named Blaspheme—a female whose very origins could deliver him into salvation . . . or destruction.

LIKE AN ANGEL SCORNED

Blaspheme has a deadly secret: she’s the forbidden offspring of an angel and a fallen angel. Hunted by both heavenly and satanic forces, she has survived only by laying low and trusting no one. When Revenant claims he can save them both, how can she possibly believe him? But the powerful angel is persistence incarnate and for Blaspheme, there’s no place she can hide in Heaven or Hell where he won’t find her . .

My review:

Revenant is the sixth book in author Larissa Ione’s Lords of Deliverance series as well as the eleventh book in her Demonica series and I’m sad to say the last book in both. I am a huge fan of author Ione’s work and reading this book was indeed bittersweet. It was a fantastic finale and I adore every minute of it.

I will say that if you haven’t at least read the preceding book, Reaver, I don’t recommend reading Revenant as I’m pretty sure you will be a bit lost. That being said, the entire series is phenomenal and I highly recommend.

Fallen angel and underworld bad ass, Revenant, had been raised alone in a world of death and cruelty. After the death of his mother when he was younger he knew he would truly be alone for the rest of his life and had lived with that weighing on his chest his entire life. Until now. After having his memories restored he found out he had a brother…and not just a brother but a twin. As if that wasn’t enough to reconcile he finds out who his twin is and he couldn’t be more opposite from Revenant. Adding to all of this confusion is the turmoil with Satan and Lucifer’s impending rebirth which meant a whole lot of trouble for all worlds, good and bad. Of course, it was fitting that he would meet a woman who would capture his attention like no other woman ever had before. It was all too much to take at once and Revenant must soon decide whom he can trust and what side of the team good vs. evil he must play for. Could a fallen angel ever have hopes for redemption and some kind of happiness? After all he had gone through in his life, didn’t he deserve it?

Underworld General doctor Blaspheme knew her time was running out. As the forbidden love child of an angel and fallen angel, she had been shrouded in a false identity her entire life to keep her true nature hidden…and that shroud was slowly disappearing. When it was gone, she didn’t stand the chance of survival and that thought terrified her. Now, with time running out and growing desperate, she finds she must rely on Revenant to help her. Revenant, the fallen angel she was both attracted to and unsure of. He had the power to end her or save her and never having gotten close to anyone before, both of those options had Blaspheme weary. Could she trust him to save her? Would he want to after finding out what she was?

With so much tension building between good and evil and the impending rebirth of Lucifer, due any day now, it’s insane to think now would be the chance for Blaspheme and Revenant to find a connection. Even more insane would be to think they would find love. But isn’t that always how things work? When you least expect it?

Once again Larissa brings the reader into a complex and fantastic world with great odds, tons of sarcastic wit, and characters we all have grown to love. Reading Revenant’s childhood was positively crushing. My heart broke for the little boy who grew up in agony and suffering and had grown into a man who, despite all of that, still had the desire to be accepted and loved. Blaspheme is amazing and since meeting her I have been dying to read more. She’s caring, loyal, and has some zingers in this book that had me totally loving her. I was so worried for her and her situation as it truly seemed hopeless. Of course, once you’re part of the UG family, they won’t ever let you down and it was so amazing to see Eidolon, Wraith, and the whole gang do their best to help solve this major problem. Speaking of which, the problems they are facing are huge and I was worried sick that there wouldn’t be a way to get out of it. Now I won’t give anything away but let me say that when the Horsemen and Demonica crew all come together don’t doubt that there’s a way.

Thank you, Larissa, for giving us all of these characters and their stories. Each one of them holds a special place in my heart and they are books I will continue to recommend and re-read at every opportunity. As sad as I am to see it all come to a close, I have no doubt we will see them again one day and I am excited to see what you have in store for us next!

Five Loves

Book links:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks

About the author:

Air Force veteran Larissa Ione traded in a career as a meteorologist to pursue her passion of writing. She now spends her days in pajamas with her computer, strong coffee, and supernatural worlds. She believes in celebrating everything, and would never be caught without a bottle of Champagne chilling in the fridge…just in case. She currently lives in Wisconsin with her U.S. Coast Guard husband, her teenage son, a rescue cat named Vegas, and her very own hellhound, a King Shepherd named Hexe.

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Cover Reveal…Throb by Vi Keeland

Cover designer: Sommer Stein, Perfect Pear Creative

Model: Josh Kloss

Photographer: Scott Hoover Photography

Genre: A contemporary romance novel

Want to read the first few chapters? Sign up for Vi’s mailing list now and get a sneak peek! http://eepurl.com/0ABfr

Add Throb to your TBR list on Goodreads!http://bit.ly/1w5mbHN

RELEASE DATE: January 26th, 2015

Additional Books by Vi Keeland

Worth the Fight (MMA Fighter Series, Book One)

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1xC6epE

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

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1dbzZ8R

Smashwords – http://bit.ly/1is0zNX

iTunes: http://bit.ly/1co2ZpF

Worth The Chance (MMA Fighter Series, Book Two)

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1xC71aa

B&N: http://bit.ly/1gwTyJw

Itunes: http://bit.ly/1gHMCZg

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

Smashwords: http://bit.ly/NU2rCR

Worth Forgiving (MMA Fighter Series, Book Three)

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

B & N: http://bit.ly/1ljdVzb

iTunes: http://bit.ly/XBTLFX

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1kWP4ka

Belong to You (A Cole Novel, Book One)

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

Made For You (A Cole Novel, Book Two)

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

First Thing I See (Stand Alone)

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1qLL4ET

Left Behind (Stand Alone)
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1wvew5K

About the author:

Vi Keeland is a native New Yorker with three children that occupy most of her free time, which she complains about often, but wouldn’t change for the world. She is a bookworm and has been known to read her kindle at stop lights, while styling her hair, cleaning, walking, during sporting events, and frequently while pretending to work. She is a boring attorney by day, and an exciting smut author by night!

Want It by Jennifer Chance…Book Blitz

Jennifer Chance returns with another novel that’ll keep you hooked.

Erin Connelly meets alpha male Zander James in WANT IT, the third novel in Jennifer Chance’s sizzling Rule Breakers series! This one is not to be missed by readers looking for their military romance fix!

Want to get to know Jennifer better? Check out this exclusive interview!

Blitz Wide Giveaway:

Jennifer is offering up two fabulous prizes during the Want It Blitz Event. One lucky Grand Prize winner will receive a Seasons Greetings Gift Basket and one Runner Up will receive a $25 Gift Card for Amazon or B&N (winner’s choice)! To enter, simply fill out the Rafflecopter below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Direct link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/YjA1MGVmMjkwYTE2NWQzYWI3ODNiODExNGJiNGU0OjQ1/

About WANT IT:

In the latest tantalizing Rule Breakers novel from Jennifer Chance, an irresistible alpha male follows his ex into a deadly standoff—and reignites a heated affair.

For Erin Connelly, being a good girl isn’t such a bad thing. She’s working her dream job at a Boston art gallery and staying out of trouble, which is more than she can say for her deadbeat mom. Unfortunately, her mother’s latest misadventure lands her in the clutches of a Mexican drug lord. Now the only person who can save her is the one man Erin has no business asking for help: the sexy-as-sin army ranger who just so happens to be her former high school sweetheart.

Zander James is no gentleman—and no officer, either, thanks to Erin. Four years ago, she made a call that terminated his highest aspirations … and their relationship. He’s never forgiven her, but when he learns that Erin’s embarking on a half-baked rescue mission, he sure as hell can’t let her go alone. Now, with a treacherous enemy lying in wait, the electrifying tension between them may just be Zander’s undoing. Because while he may be able to keep Erin alive, he can’t promise to keep his hands off her.

Goodreads | Amazon| Barnes and Noble

Also in the Rule Breaker series: Rock It (Book #1) and Fake It (Book #2) by Jennifer Chance!

Excerpt:

A note to readers from author Jennifer Chance:

Because WANT IT is a romance, not a military suspense book, I found I had to focus very hard on not writing scenes that were too “action-adventurey”. But one character who just refused to leave the narrative was Rey Torres. Rey is a shadowy “friend of a friend” who shows up to help Zander and Erin when they need it most, on their quest to free Erin’s mother. He’s smart and funny and a little too happy to bend the rules, but he fits well with the more serious Zander and goes a long way toward making Erin feel just a bit safer in a strange country. Here Rey touches on the danger that exists in Nuevo Laredo, even while trying to reassure Erin. It’s a difficult balance to strike!

“You doing good back there?”

Zander’s words brought her back and Erin blinked. “Yes! Yes, all good.” They were approaching a long line of cars at a bridge, and she was struck with how, well, how normal everything seemed. Not that she wanted a big shoot-out at the Mexican O.K. Corral, but if they went through this with no more trouble than a trip to the grocery, she admitted that a small part of her would be . . . ever so slightly disappointed. She’d read a tiny amount about the drug trade in Mexico, and about people who ran afoul of the dealers. It seemed a lot more scary on the Internet than it did driving around in a rental car.

She frowned as they drove past the first bridge. “Isn’t that where we’re headed?”

Rey glanced at her in the rearview mirror, his ever-present smile still curving the edge of his mouth. “No, ma’am. That’s what we call Bridge Number One—a good enough bridge, don’t get me wrong. But the one we want is Bridge Number Two. I have a pass for the SENTRI lane there.” He tapped a small hang-card he’d slung over the rearview mirror.

“Like an express lane?” she asked, and Rey nodded.

“Exactly like that.”

They turned onto the bridge, and Erin watched the sunlight playing over scorched concrete as they made their way across the arching expanse. “So, is it really as dangerous here as I read about? Should I be worried?”

“You? Not at all.” Rey shrugged. “You have Zander with you, and he seems like a smart guy. You seem like a smart woman. With two smart people, I have found that there is never much need to be worried.” They bumped off the bridge and down onto the street, Rey handling the vehicle easily to get over to the first exit, heading west. “Now if you were dumb? Well, that would be another thing altogether. Camino Real, yes?” Rey asked, and Zander nodded, while Rey flashed Erin a bright grin in the rearview mirror. “Then your adventure begins, my very smart friends. Welcome to Nuevo Laredo.”

About Jennifer Chance:

Jennifer Chance is the award-winning author of the new adult Rule Breakers series, which feature sexy, wish-come-true romances that launched with ROCK IT and FAKE IT in 2014. A lover of books, romance, and happily-ever-afters, she lives and writes in Ohio.

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