Swagalicious Giveaway

So, as some of you know, I was at the Liberty States Create Something Magical Writers Convention last weekend and had a BLAST! I ended up coming home with some awesome swag (goodies and BOOKS!) and was able to hang out with some amazing people….including the awesome Elisabeth Staab!

Well, Elisabeth was kind enough to add to the swag with some fabulous signed goodies and to sweeten the deal, I’m adding an eCopy of her book, King of Darkness, book one in her Chronicles of Yavn Series! That’s some serious swag….and I’m gonna give it away to TWO lucky winners!

All you have to do to enter is in the Rafflecopter below…so get to it and good luck!

xo ~Jillian

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Tour…The Nightlife Series by Travis Luedke

Read-Love-Blog is happy to be a part of Travis Luedke’s The Nightlife Series Blog Tour!

Below you will find information on each book in the series as well as excerpts and you can enter in the RaffleCopter below to win the SET OF 3 NIGHTLIFE BOOKS eBooks!

Also, Travis needs our help! Please help by voting on which gorgeous cover you like best for The Nightlife Paris! Tough decision since all the cover choices are kick ass!

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The Nightlife New York

Synopsis:

Vampires, strippers, escorts, night clubs, gangs, pimps and corrupt cops, the Nightlife of New York is never boring.

Is she a beautiful blond guardian angel as he imagined, or something else entirely? When Michelle saves Aaron’s life she shares the benefits of her blood (after getting him shot accidentally). He awakes a changed man, living in a purgatory of eternal night, never to see the sunrise again.

Michelle drags Aaron through a hardcore learning curve of vampiric slavery. Forced to adapt to servitude, Aaron is subject to her authority of compulsion. She orders him around like a puppet on a string, a dog on a very short leash. First things first, he must learn to feed properly without creating bloodslaves (humans addicted to the powerful drug-like effect of their venomous bite).

And then she puts him to work-a male escort in the sex trade-same as Michelle. Aaron walks a tightrope of strictly controlled feeding regiments and intensely erotic sexual adventures while catering to the neurotic control-freak tendencies of his new master. It’s do or die, Michelle vows to eliminate him if he proves too difficult to control. The real kicker-amidst all these shocking and degrading adjustments, Aaron finds he’s falling in love.

Can he maintain and keep a sliver of his humanity intact? Innocence is a luxury few can afford in the decadent nightlife of New York. In a world where sex, blood, and power over women is so readily accessible, Aaron struggles against the predatory instincts deeply rooted in his new psyche. He must find his way quickly, practicing rigid self-control, or risk the consequences of Michelle’s wrath.

Excerpt from THE NIGHTLIFE NEW YORK:

Aaron burned, outraged at the audacity of the grotesque, fat, ugly bulldog of a man assaulting the blond goddess. An involuntary cry tore from his throat, “Hey! Leave her alone! Get your hands off her!” He couldn’t believe either of these crude creatures would dare lay hands on the beautiful blond vision of perfection who spoke in an intoxicating stream of French obscenities.

“T’as une tête à faire soutier les plaques d’égouts!” She blasted the bulldog. Aaron recalled just enough French to know she’d told him his face could blow off manhole covers. She continued with, “Voulez-vous cesser de me cracher dessus pendant que vous par lez”, further expressing her disgust by telling him to stop spitting on her while he spoke.

Never ceasing her tirade of lovely French filth, the blond struck at the bulldog in a blur. In one swift move, she broke his hold on her wrist and clawed his face, leaving a trail of bloody slash marks across his left cheek. Without pause she instantly pivoted and punched Barney Fife in the nose with a gratifying crunch sound, and a backward head snap. A splat of blood flew through the air. She pivoted a split-second later to face the bulldog with a Taser in hand, magically snatched from Barney Fife after breaking his nose. The combat unfolded before Aaron’s eyes like a scene from a martial arts film. The heroine had the appearance of moving with super human velocity. By comparison to her whip-like actions, the detectives seemed to be in slow motion.

Aaron’s jaw dropped. He stood in complete awe of the scene taking place before him. He had difficulty accepting these bizarre events for reality. As the shimmery cocktail dressed wonder woman fired her stolen Taser, Aaron recognized the bulldog was not truly as slow as he had seemed. He had a pistol drawn and moving upward in a sweeping arc.

Aaron’s dream state shattered along with his heretofore unremarkable and short life when the Taser struck the bulldog at precisely the point when his gun sights aligned with Aaron. The electric shock of the Taser began a domino effect. All muscles and tendons in the bulldog’s body clenched, including his trigger finger. The sharp crack of the gun resulted in a slug passing through Aaron’s chest and out his back, knocking him to the ground with the impact.

The pain came seconds later, delayed. When it hit it was all-consuming, overpowering. Nothing existed beyond the horrible agony of his body torn to shreds by the wicked projectile. He wasn’t brave or manly or noble like all these scenes of bullet wounds from Hollywood films. He screamed and howled like a baby, and promptly blacked out from the overwhelming agony.

* * * *

SMACK, SMACK, SMACK. Aaron felt someone smack him three times. He beheld an angel with a halo of light around her tousled blond curls like the corona encircling the sun. She had the most succulent puffy lips and a benevolent shine of concern and compassion.

“Are you an angel?” His beautiful seraph began swearing in a stream of melodic French.

“Le réalité’ et toi vous ne vous entendez pas, n’est-ce pas?” She remarked on his disconnect with reality. He didn’t know what to say. How do you greet the angel of death?

She resumed her obscenities, “C’est vraiment des conneries!” The words seeped in slowly, sparking a memory from French class––this was bullshit. Are angels supposed to curse?

He was so tired, cold, numb. Is this what it feels like to die? He drifted back into unconsciousness content in the belief that heavenly hosts carried him off to a better place

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The Nightlife Las Vegas (Book #2 in The Nightlife Series)

Synopsis :

Vampires, Aaron Pilan and his master Michelle, live by one rule — no bloodslaves. EVER. Aaron breaks that rule when he meets Anastasia. All Anastasia wants is to be loved and cherished, but the predatory men she’s attracted to bring her only pain and abuse. Escaping one train-wreck relationship for another, she finds happiness with Aaron and Michelle as a bloodslave, a ‘pet’. When Aaron uses his telepathy to win thousands at the gambling tables, he attracts the deadly attention of the Colombian Cartel and Aaron and Michelle are ‘disappeared’. Addicted to the bite of her vampire lovers, Ana is desperate to find them. But, Las Vegas isn’t ready for vampires mixing heroin, sex and vengeance. Ana is trapped in the spiraling chaos.Find out what happens in the second novel of the Nightlife Series.

Excerpt from THE NIGHTLIFE LAS VEGAS:

They say what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, but what the hell do they know? Twenty-two year old Aaron Pilan could testify from experience that significant gambling losses––or winnings––definitely follow you home.

After three weeks of hitting the gaming tables, he was practiced at the fine art of gambling. He knew the truth behind the veil of glamour. As P.T. Barnum said, “There’s a fool born every minute.” Many a fool arrived in Vegas with a wad of hard earned cash fantasizing about winning big and coming home to boast of the thousands they reeled in during their brief stint as a high roller.

He joined the foolish masses in their desire to hit it big. He fully intended to beat the odds and walk away from the gaming tables, winnings intact. It looked damn good for him at the moment. Of course, being an exceptionally gifted telepath afforded him a decidedly unfair advantage –– definitely contributed to his good luck.

Another caveat to the Vegas rule would be murder. An untimely death by strangulation definitely puts a kink in the high roller status. Aaron read his opponent Alexander Demarco’s mind as the man contemplated this very thing. Poor Demarco had been suffering the systematic and thorough fleecing of his poker chips. He was a very unhappy man.

* * * *

Demarco envisioned a number of ways to kill Aaron Pilan, starting with the quick and dirty double-tap bullet to the back of the head. Upon further consideration, that seemed almost too merciful, too quick and easy. He graduated to fantasies of Aaron begging and pleading for his life out in the Vegas desert. He imagined Aaron hog-tied at the bottom of a six-foot pit as the dirt hit his face while being buried alive. Demarco had personal experience with both methods of murder.

He finally settled on a slightly more violent alternative. Strangulation would be the most satisfying method of killing the punk. He imagined the strength of his own hands wrapped solidly around Aaron’s throat, squeezing out his life as he flailed about feebly. God I wish I could do it right now. He had always preferred the ‘hands on’ approach.

I know that son-of-a-bitch is cheating somehow. His gut instincts were rarely wrong in these matters. The punk always knows exactly when to fold and when to call, he’s impossible to bluff. He could smell a con from the end of the room. No way could Aaron clean him out so consistently by pure chance.

His intuition was sharply honed from the years he spent hustling on the streets of west Humble Park Chicago, between Grand and Arlington, smack dab in the center of Latin Kings territory. He bore his gangland battlefield scars proudly, a soldier displaying badges of merit. The dog-eat-dog survival-of-the-fittest lifestyle was second nature. He couldn’t enter a building without staring down every person in sight and watching all the exits.

This punk can’t weigh more than a hundred sixty pounds. I could take him any day of the week. He sized up Aaron, measuring him against his own two hundred ten pounds of lean muscle and six foot frame of a professional athlete. Why am I lettin this white devil bitch run the show? I wonder if he’s a Fed? Maybe this is a setup. He had an overwhelming feeling he was being taken for a ride. He much preferred being the one doing the taking.

By sheer luck and opportunity he’d been one of the select few who escaped the Federal Racketeering indictment leveled against the Chicago Latin Kings when he moved to Vegas in 2004, a year before the indictment was issued. Everything changed when he setup operations in Vegas. He graduated from small time movements of heroin and cocaine by the gram to major deliveries measured in kilos. His buddies back in Chicago became the end consumer. Long gone were the days of pushing dime baggies out on the street. Now he sold wholesale, fat transactions with sweet profit margins and far less risk of being snitched out by a punk ass junky popped off for banging a gram in a public bathroom.

And here he was a high roller, a shot caller, a badass, punked-out for thousands of dollars by a pinche gringo white devil with a smug smile. He scowled at the pair of fives in his hand and continued fantasizing about murdering Aaron.

* * * *

Aaron was well aware of Demarco’s malicious intents. He read all the sordid details in his mind as he raised the pot, smiling at Demarco all the while. He knew his pair of kings would win the hand unless the last card pulled a surprise. Not having learned his lesson yet, Demarco foolishly called his bet and slid another stack of chips forward on the table.

When the dealer laid out a queen, Demarco’s losses tallied up to $26,000. More than enough to justify murder. Demarco had once beaten a man to death over a thousand dollars’ worth of cocaine on the streets of Chicago. He now had twenty-six reasons to kill Aaron.

When his hand won again, Aaron knew it was time to leave the table. He bid everyone a good night, collected his winnings, and winked at Demarco. It was the wink that finally did it. Demarco literally saw red. The color of everything around him turned a violent shade of pinkish red as his blood pressure skyrocketed, hitting his temples in a pounding throb. The white devil had given him a migraine. He folded his hand and sat there fuming.

Aaron walked away tens of thousands richer. Worse, a drop dead gorgeous blond wrapped herself around the white devil as if she would bang him right there.

“You left them with their pants?”

“Yes love. Shirts. The phrase is ‘lose your shirt’. I feel merciful tonight. They’re still fully dressed.” Aaron caressed Michelle’s face as she cuddled with him, aligning her curves to all his sharp angles.

Demarco’s mind broadcast clearly as he watched Michelle holding Aaron intimately. Demarco seethed with a rare combination of envy and hatred. In his opinion, a woman like that deserved a real man, not some arrogant young prick. Back in the ghettos of Chicago, Aaron was what they called soft.

He glanced over his shoulder at Demarco with a look. It was not a soft look. In this one instance Demarco’s instincts were dead wrong. He was young, but not soft. Not by anyone’s definition of the word.

He scanned Demarco’s mind one last time before walking away. Green-eyed jealousy consumed his every thought. They always want what they can’t have. Aaron had become accustomed to this reaction. He and Michelle were a strikingly attractive pair. He knew onlookers considered his dark haired, dark eyed, five foot eleven frame of model caliber, but Michelle was a whole different level of attractive. If not for her petite five-foot two, she could have been a world famous runway model. Her lazy golden curls framed flawless pale skin and vibrant green eyes. Her shapely hourglass curves could win international beauty and swimsuit contests.

All who crossed paths with the couple felt the effect of the magnetic attraction they exuded. They had a phenomenal stage presence drawing the eye of any observer. As several sets of eyes tracked the couple, Aaron remembered his first night spent with Michelle. Just five weeks ago, he awoke to her angelic face and adorably incomprehensible French accent explaining, “This is the magnétisme animal of the vampires.”

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Blood Slave

Synopsis:

Her mother named her Esperanza de Salvador – Hope for Salvation. But when a girl works as an escort for Colombian cartel in the ghettos of Spanish Harlem, there wasn’t much hope, or salvation.Hope’s telepathic ability keeps her a step ahead of ruin, but her unusual gift attracts the attention of a psychotic vampire bitch. Trapped in a Manhattan penthouse with the psycho, she thought she was dead meat.

Her survival lies in the hands of Vampire Master Enrique. He seems to respect her, perhaps even care. As a measure of protection, he makes her his personal Bloodslave. Helplessly addicted to his bite, Enrique rules her every moment. As always, Hope must adapt to survive.

Swept into the decadent nightlife of Manhattan’s elite, she falls in love with Enrique and prays someday he may grow to love her, too. But is it simply a relationship of convenience? Is she nothing more than a concubine desperate to satisfy his nightly demands for blood and sex?

And forever in the background is the fear that one day the cartel boss she abandoned will hunt her down to collect on old debts.

Excerpt from BLOOD SLAVE:

I awoke in the afternoon alone in bed. I could still smell him on the sheets. Like the fool I am, I thought he’d be there. Wake up sex can be awesome, but I rarely if ever have someone there when I wake up. And it usually isn’t someone I really want there.

A dining cart awaited me with pizza, bottled water, a couple cans of Ensure protein shakes, and a note. The pungent aroma of the chicken pesto pizza had me ravenous. I inhaled two pieces as I read Enrique’s little love note:

Dear Hope:

Please eat and drink as much as you can. You will be anemic constantly. You must take very good care of your health. The Ensure supplement will help. There will be plasma and blood transfusions available soon, you will probably need them. Take the sublingual strip Suboxone to hold off withdrawals until we meet again after sunset around 7:15 p.m. The Suboxone goes under your tongue.

I apologize for your situation. I hope we can find a way to work through this and become friends.

Love

Enrique

Okay … Suboxone. Some of the guys at the Towers mentioned it once. It helps fight off heroin withdrawals. One guy said it gave a slight buzz, but nothing like heroin. I have never and will never try heroin. I’ve seen what addicts look like, it’s really fucked up.

So why would he give me Suboxone?

And why wait till seven? Three hours from now. I didn’t want to wait for him. I wanted him here now. Right now! I wanted him to bite me again right now!

“Son of a bitch! He got me with that fucking bite. That’s what he’s been talking about. He’s got me hyped on his bite! Fucking vampires!”

I had a craving, a need, an unscratchable itch for Enrique. Three more hours to go.

* * * *

I was bouncing off the walls by 5:30 p.m.. The Suboxone helped get rid of my headache, and I had a decent buzz going. None of that solved the craving I had for Enrique, or more specifically his bite. A warm bath didn’t help, the three cans of Ensure didn’t help, nor did the half bottle of chardonnay, although it kicked up my buzz nicely.

By 7:16 p.m., I was ready to strip the floral print wallpaper off with my nails. Every part of my body ached for Enrique. I don’t mean pain, I mean need, desire, angst. By 7:17 p.m. I kicked at the locked door, front kicks and sidekicks. I took a few steps back to do a jumping side kick when he opened the door with the most infuriatingly calm comment on his lips.

“Did you miss me?”

I screamed and launched forward. “You son of a bitch!”

He caught me right out of the air in a graceful embrace, absorbing all my impact in his iron hard arms. Before I could react, he bit me fast and hard, right in the neck, robbing me of all sense and reason. Anger, hatred, need, frustration, all obliterated in the blast of sweet, sweet euphoria so intense it brought tears to my eyes. He carried me to the bed as I convulsed with orgasms, still held in the leech’s embrace as if he cared for me. It’s a good thing I didn’t have any underwear on beneath my bathrobe, I would’ve had to change them. My inner thighs were soaked by the time he let up.

I hated and loved him. I wanted to kill him, fuck him, and kiss him, all at the same time. What a mess. Hate won the toss up as the strongest sentiment of the moment.

“I hate you.” I spoke in a quiver, breathless from his bite.

“I expected as much. It’s regrettable, but under the circumstances you left me no choice.” He sighed.

“That’s all you have to say? What did you do to me?”

“I know this seems bad. I understand you’re upset, and rightfully so. I apologize, but it was necessary.”

“What do you mean?”

“I had to assure your loyalty. I had to bind you to me. There was no other way.”

“What do you mean bind? How am I bound? I can’t read your mind! You have to tell me what you’ve done to me. Why do I want to be with you all the time? Why do I need you to bite me?”

“I understand. It must be upsetting you can’t get in here.” He tapped his finger on his skull. “The only name for your condition I have ever known is an archaic terminology I learned from my master over a century ago. He called them ‘Bloodslaves’. I think it’s an inappropriate title. I have no intention of making you a slave.”

“If I’m not a slave then why don’t you let me go home?” I whined.

“Querida, you know too much. It was bad enough you knew of our existence. Then Lia brought you here. She is a constant strain on my patience. If she had let you be, the situation would’ve diffused itself. I imagine you considered her an eccentric. As it stands now, I can’t let you go. To be truthful, your particular talents are intriguing. I’m beginning to like the idea of having you around.”

He had me crying by then. I couldn’t go home, ever. He’d never let me go. Hating him for my captivity, I still felt this inexplicable desire to touch him, coerce him into biting me again. The bastard had me hooked like a damn heroin junky! As I stood there with tears streaming down my face, the son of a bitch hugged me.

It didn’t seem real. Like a bad dream I couldn’t wake up from. He had to let me go home.

“What if I promised I would never say a word to anyone? Who would believe me? This is all so crazy! I can’t hurt you or expose you in any way! I’m an illegal immigrant! I can’t call the police or any other government agency! Your secret’s safe with me! I don’t care who or what you are, or where you live. I just want to go home!” I begged him shamelessly. “I don’t want to be a bloodslave! And I can’t stand it here. Your mind is locked up solid. You could be lying to me! I don’t know anything about you!”

“Shush, Shush, Shush. It does no good to lament. What’s done is done. Querida … you are bound to me. The bond cannot be broken. Surely you’ve noticed the connection between us, the way you need me?”

“OH MY GOD! You did this to me on purpose!”

“Though I’m not proud of it, I’ll not lie. Yes … I did this.”

“Oh God, I’m a slave!”

“That’s not really correct. I’ve no need to stoop to such degradation. I respect you. Enough drama – let’s look at some of the positives here.”

“What’s positive?”

“I know this seems bad, and it is, but there are some benefits to this life. Come with me.”

I followed him reluctantly into the luxurious bathroom attached to my bedroom prison cell. The nicest bed/bath combo I’d ever stayed in. If I could come and go at will it would be perfect.

We stood before the mirror. “Do you notice anything different about yourself?”

I looked in my eyes. I had a post orgasm flush, anger and frustration evident on my face. My eyes were wet from crying. Nothing seemed different from the person in the mirror an hour ago when I’d taken a bath.

“What’s supposed to be different?”

I took him seriously, a new sense of fear bloomed in my gut. What had he done to me? Was I changed? Was I like him now? I opened my mouth to inspect my teeth, looking for the tell-tale fangs. Nada. Nothing changed that I could see.

Enrique snorted laughter. I elbowed him in the ribs. My temper flared up. This was my life he laughed at! The asshole felt so damn solid, like hitting a piece of wood.

He had a twinkle in his eye. “Look at your face. Do you see any bruises or black eyes?”

The bastard hadn’t even flinched when I hit him, he was impervious. He stared at me expectantly with a faintly amused expression. I looked in the mirror again. I scowled, not a very attractive look for me overall. No bruises, no black eyes, not a mark on me from yesterday’s scuffle. My elbows didn’t have any raw spots from when I’d hit the floor. The bite marks that should have been on my neck were nowhere to be found.

I again asked the question, “What did you do to me?” My voice filled with fear and awe.

“There are some pleasant advantages of repeated exposure to our bite. With each bite a small amount of venom is released into your system. This causes the euphoria. Our venom is quite beneficial over time. You’ll heal much more quickly. Your immune system will improve, a higher resistance to communicable diseases. And you’ll age more slowly than the average person. You could live to be well over a hundred. How old are you? Twenty-four? Twenty-five?”

In shock from his words, it took me a few seconds to answer. “Twenty-two”

“Oh … well you seemed a bit older. So very young to have lived through so much. It’s to your advantage. You’ll look as you do for many years to come. A good situation for someone so young, to enjoy youth for a few extra years.

“How old are you?”

“Very old.”

“You don’t look a day over thirty five.”

“Why thank you.”

The bastard had calmed me down. I chatted with him like old friends. He was so damn easy to talk to. Attractive, intelligent, kind, beautiful hazel eyes staring at me without blinking. Damn. I was falling under his spell. And why tell me all this? The more he revealed the more dangerous I became to him. He’d never let me go now, I knew too much. Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! And still he stared at me with those beautiful unblinking eyes.

“I thought vampires were immortal, what’s all this hundred years shit? I could live that long just by being careful.”

“We live very long lives indeed, several hundred years or more. But you’re not a vampire.”

“Oh I get it. I’m just here for you to bite and fuck. I’m just food – a bloodslave.”

“Calmate querida. Vulgarity is so unattractive coming from such a beautiful woman. Listen to me carefully. You are not a slave. You’re my guest, permanently. That’s how you’ll be treated, that’s how it is.”

“A guest who can never leave the bedroom. That’s the same thing as a slave.”

“No more strife. Let’s get you some clothing, a few amenities. Lia has provided clothes temporarily. Get ready and I’ll return for you shortly.”

“We’re leaving? I actually get to leave the bedroom? Where are we going?”

“Yes, with me of course. I’m not letting you out of my sight. I’m taking you shopping as a gesture of goodwill. Isn’t that what all women want to do in Manhattan?”

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Ok…now the fun! Help Travis by voting on your favorite cover for The Nightlife Paris!

Be sure to check out the other bloggers who are on The Nightlife Series Book Tour:

Enter to win the THREE NIGHTLIFE SERIES EBOOKS!

Enter To Win

About the Author:

Travis Luedke is a husband, father, and author of Urban Fantasy thriller, Paranormal Romance, Contemporary Fantasy, Young Adult Fiction, and Sci-fi. He is currently catching a 3rd degree sunburn in San Antonio, Texas, and loving every minute of it. His recent works include “The Nightlife New York”, “The Nightlife Las Vegas” and “BLOOD SLAVE” the first novels in the Nightlife Series.

You can find him on Twitter, GoodReads and be sure to visit his blog and website!

ARC Review & Giveaway…Edge of Dawn by Lara Adrian

Only a few more days until the newest in the Midnight Breed Series releases and because I’m a huge fan of Lara Adrian and her writing, I’m giving away an ECOPY PRE-ORDER for Edge of Dawn!

Enter in the RaffleCopter below for a chance to win!

Buy from Barnes & Noble ~ Buy from Amazon

Synopsis:

In this pulse-pounding and thrillingly sensual novel, New York Times bestselling author Lara Adrian returns to the mesmerizing world of the Midnight Breed, following new characters into a dark future where an uneasy peace can unravel into war—and a great betrayal can mask an all-consuming love.

Twenty years after the terror of First Dawn—when mankind learned that vampires lived secretly among them—the threat of violence reigns as the two species struggle to coexist. The only group preserving the fragile harmony is the Order, an elite cadre of Breed warriors dedicated to protecting humans and vampires alike. And in this precarious world of torn loyalties and shattered trust, Mira, a fiery squad captain, finds that every fight bears an intensely personal cost.

Raised among the Order, Mira has always believed in the warrior’s code of swift—and even lethal—justice. But the one thing she desires more than the Order’s hard-won acceptance is Kellan Archer, a sexy but troubled Breed fighter. In love with him since childhood, Mira once broke through his tough exterior during an unexpected night of rapture, but the next day he mysteriously disappeared, never to return.

Kellan didn’t think he would ever see Mira again—or have to confront the truth of why he left. After abandoning the Order years ago, he now leads a band of human rebels intent on carrying out their own vigilante rule of law. Yet a high-profile kidnapping assignment brings him face-to-face with the past he sought to avoid, and the striking woman he has tried desperately to forget. And as tensions mount and the risk of bloodshed grows, Kellan and Mira must take sides—between the competing missions that dominate their lives, and the electrifying passion that claims their hearts.

Review:

Although I have been a fan of Lara Adrian for some years now, I had taken a break a little while back and had sadly lost touch with the Midnight Breed world. I had recently gotten back into the series and was extremely lucky to get my hands on an advance copy of the latest installment, Edge of Dawn. Let me say this…I have been reacquainted with my Midnight Breed obsession and boy, it’s good to be back!

This story takes us into the future of the Order and gives us a glimpse into what is in store for our beloved otherworldly warriors. The shaky truce that the humans and vampire races have been keeping is threatened to be broken beyond repair. It is now in the Order’s hands to keep what little trust there is intact. Dealing with the rebels’ usual antics and the typical human contempt toward the vampire race, the last thing the Order needs is another threat. I’m not one to put spoilers in my reviews, so I can’t go into detail but I will tell you…this is one hell of mess.

On top of having to worry about normal Order patrols, Mira, the female warrior raised in the Order by Renata and Niko, is still nursing the broken heart she received eight years ago when her love, Kellan Archer, was killed. She has vowed to dispatch retribution to the rebel scum responsible for his death. It’s that desire for revenge that puts her on a security mission that will lead her down a path that will change her life forever.

Kellan Archer has been living a lie for the past eight years. He’s currently the leader of a small rag-tag group of human rebels fighting for the side of good. The problem is….a rebel is a rebel no matter what side you’re fighting for. The newest mission is to put a stop to technology that could wipe out the entire breed race. Imagine his surprise when a certain female warrior member of the Order gets mixed up in his plan and ends up a hostage in his camp.

I friggin loved this story. Lara has such a remarkable style about her writing. She switches gears from achingly tender love scenes to kick ass fighting scenes with such smooth transition that it is truly a gift to read. The characters have such depth…I laughed, cried, got utterly pissed and ultimately ended thoroughly satisfied. The twists and turns in the plot were stellar and the direction Lara has the future of the Order headed in is sure to keep longtime Midnight Breed readers on board and certainly will pull new readers in for years to come. Thank you, Lara, for another amazing read!

Five Loves

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Valentine’s Day in Dog Tags Event: Interview and GIVEAWAY

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Today is the big finale of my Valentine’s Day in Dog Tags Event!

Recently, I was lucky enough to have a moment to chat with Skye, Tim, Madison and Jeremy and see what they are planning for their holiday. I was also lucky enough to have some fun with author Jeanette Murray and see what her idea of Valentine’s Day fun is!

I am giving away an eCopy of The Officer Says I do and The Officer Breaks the Rules since I know you guys will love the series as much as I do. You can enter to win in the rafflecopter below!

Enjoy!

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Ok…since I don’t want to ask the same old questions that I’m sure you guys hear all the time (the dreaded “so, when are you having kids?” for you, Skye and Tim) I figured, since we are celebrating Valentine’s Day soon, I’d see what you all had planned! No groaning and pouting, you know you want to tell me some juicy details….

~ Skye and Tim: So…..any fantastic Valentine’s Day plans?

Skye: “You know, I had this wonderful plan to head out to a little restaurant two streets over from Fletcher’s, because who wants to have their special evening where they work? Quiet dinner, just the two of us. That is, until someone managed to pull overnight duty…”

Tim: “I’m sorry! Look, I don’t choose the hours of who gets stuck with duty. You go when it’s your time. It would be irresponsible and a bad example to pawn it off on someone else. And besides, we’ll get a better table the next night. No competition for the day after Valentine’s Day.”

Skye: “Yeah, fine. So you told me. Let’s just say…you owe me.”

Tim: “I’m sorry, I thought you didn’t even like all that traditional stuff.”

Skye: “Maybe I’m a romantic at heart.”

Madison: “Of course you are. You married my brother thanks to Fate, right? That has to have its root in romance.”

Skye: “Good point.”

Tim: “Thanks, Madison.”

~ Madison and Jeremy: How about you two? Anything special planned?

Madison: “At the risk of Skye killing us, we’re ordering in and watching a double-header. His pick, then my pick of movies.”

Jeremy: “It’ll be an early night, since Madison has work the next morning.”

Madison: “But I’m glad for the chance to spend it together.”

Skye: “Okay, I’m going to just smother you. I have keys to both your apartments.”

Tim: “Not helping, Mad. After all that Fate junk earlier—”

Skye: “Junk?!”

Tim: “I mean…Fate talk…you pull that.”

Madison: “Whoops! My bad.”

____________________

And now, for the awesomesauce author, Jeanette, I have some word association fun! (no groaning and pouting from you either haha!)

First word that comes to mind……

– Conversation hearts: Blah (Not a fan!)

– Roses: Ahhh-choo! (Allergic)

– The color pink: Tot (3 year old daughter’s favorite color EVA!!!!)

– Edible underwear (sorry, I couldn’t resist!): Disaster (…waiting to happen)

hahahahahaha Apparently I am a Valentine’s Day FAILURE! No, but really, out of all the Valentines in the past we have been dating or married, Hubs and I have been physically together for…wait for it…two. Out of ten. Not a great record, right? So I’ve sort of just trained myself to not expect magic on the holiday. But, on the plus side, this gets me out of having to worry about what to do for him. So there’s the bright side. One year, just randomly, he had an Edible Arrangements sent to the house. That was a nice surprise, and perfect for me since I’m allergic to flowers and I love fruit. But otherwise, we just sort of ignore its existence.

But I think if I had to choose to make a big deal out of Valentine’s Day, I’d pick Madison and Jeremy’s date over Tim and Skye’s. Watch a movie or two on the couch, have a meal ordered in, and just veg. I’m all about it. Fancy dinners are nice but I’m lazy and getting dressed up stresses me out. Haha

So there are all my deep, dark Valentine’s secrets. I’m a lazy slob. 🙂

Hope you all enjoyed the fun interview and Valentine’s Day in Dog Tags!

Special thanks to Jeanette for joining in on the fun and for writing some kick ass heros!

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Valentine’s Day in Dog Tags Event: Review…The Officer Breaks the Rules by Jeanette Murray

Today continues the Valentine’s Day in Dog Tags Event!

Jeanette Murray’s Semper Fidelis, Always Faithful Series is one of my favorites and in honor of the series, I’m having some Valentine’s fun!

Today’s post is my review of The Officer Breaks the Rules, Madison and Jeremy’s story. For the big finish on Valentine’s Day, tomorrow, I’ll have an EXCLUSIVE interview with Tim, Skye, Madison, Jeremy and the amazing author herself, Jeanette Murray!

I’ll also be giving away an eCopy of both books with the interview!

So, enjoy the reviews and interviews and be sure to enter to win on February 14th!

Buy on Amazon ~ Buy on Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:

Captain Jeremy Phillips believes in doing his duty…both as a son and as a friend. This means that he should obey the “friend code” and stay away from his best friend’s little sister. Too bad Madison O’Shay doesn’t believe in his code and is ready to break all of the rules

As a Navy nurse, Madison is finally stationed next to the man she’s been dreaming about for years. And she’s ready to launch a full-scale attack to show this thoughtful, handsome Marine that they belong together.

My Review:

This is the second book in Jeanette Murray’s Semper Fidelis, Always Faithful Series and I was so excited to read it after LOVING the first in the series, The Officer Says I Do. I was not disappointed! In fact, I loved it even more than the first!

Madison has been in love with Jeremy for quite some time now….years in fact. She has a sneaking suspicion that he may have feelings for her, too. Now, after a delicious but disastrous first kiss, she has concocted a plan to ensure she wins the man she knows she’s meant to be with. Poor Jeremy doesn’t stand a chance….

Jeremy has it bad…he’s head over heels for Madison. Who wouldn’t be? She’s smart, beautiful, spunky, a real spitfire…and his best friend’s little sister. In other words: off-limits. After kissing her, he knows he’s gotta walk away. Only that proves to be a losing battle when Madison sets her sights on showing him exactly why they are meant to be together. Add trying to please his father in continuing with a career as a Marine, a career he isn’t sure is for him anymore, and Jeremy is just plain tired. Tired of fighting the losing battle with Madison and tired of being someone he’s not to his father. Now the question is….what the hell’s a guy to do?

Good Lord…I loved every minute of this book. The push and pull between Madison and Jeremy was delectable! Madison is an amazing heroine. She’s strong willed and went for the prize, consequences be damned! She is exactly my kind of gal. Jeremy broke my heart and was a hero so worth fighting for. He’s the kind of guy that puts those he loves ahead of himself and always thinks of himself second. He’s loyal and kind-hearted but doesn’t like to show his soft side to many. He is a Marine, after all! Together they complete each other in the most perfect way. I laughed while reading this book, cried while reading this book, got über frustrated with both Jeremy and Madison while reading this book and ultimately finished feeling utterly contented and so very happy.

Plus, we also got to see our fave characters from the first book, Tim and Skye, and found out a teensy bit more about the mysterious Veronica, Skye’s cousin. I’m also guessing that the next on the series will be featuring Veronica and Dwayne *squeeeeee*

Thank you Jeanette for reminding me how amazing it feels to fall in love with a book. I’ve SO missed having that “I need to drop all responsibilities and READ” feeling! I’m eagerly awaiting the next book…can’t wait!

Five Loves

Valentine’s Day in Dog Tags Event: Review…The Officer Says I Do by Jeanette Murray

I’m so excited to announce that this review kicks off the “Valentine’s Day in Dog Tags” event!

Jeanette Murray’s Semper Fidelis, Always Faithful Series is one of my favorites and in honor of the series, I’m having some Valentine’s fun!

Today’s post is my review of The Officer Says I Do, Tim and Skye’s story. Tomorrow’s post is my review of The Officer Breaks the Rules, Madison and Jeremy’s story. For the big finish on Valentine’s Day, I’ll have an EXCLUSIVE interview with Tim, Skye, Madison, Jeremy and the amazing author herself, Jeanette Murray!

I’ll also be giving away an eCopy of both books with the interview!

So, enjoy the reviews and interviews and be sure to enter to win on February 14th!

Buy at Amazon ~ Buy at Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:

He’s a Marine…she grew up on a commune.

He always puts duty first…she’s a free spirit with an unshakable belief in Fate.

He loves routine and order…she brings chaos and creativity wherever she goes

Captain Timothy O’Shay is on pre-deployment leave in Las Vegas when he meets Skye McDermott. For once, Tim lets loose and the two hook up. But in the morning, Tim wakes up to discover he’s married to a woman who’s the polar opposite of what he always envisioned in a wife.

But Skye is sure that this is fate, and that they are destined to be together. Can she convince him to stay with her before he’s deployed?

My Review:

The beginning of this story starts out with three best friends, and Marines, having one last night before deploying on their latest mission. A night filled with gambling, girls and a few drinks…well, for one of the trio, more than just a few drinks….

Tim is always the one in control. Always the one making sure his buddies keep things somewhat level. And damn, sometimes that just sucks. So tonight, he’s gonna give up the babysitting duties and live a little…what’s the worst that can happen?

Skye is out with her two besties for a typical night of Vegas fun. Since they live and work in Vegas, this will just end up being a normal night out with some drinks and girlie fun….how much different than all other nights out can it really be?

Imagine the surprise when Skye and Tim wake up the next day……married.

The thing that I loved most about this story was it’s backwards way to a happy ending. It was so refreshing! Skye believes that everything happens for a reason so when she wakes up to find her new husband gone, she is determined to find him and figure out a way to make it work. Since Tim is a total straight-laced rule follower you can imagine how he takes to something as free spirited as the idea of fate. However, the one thing they can both agree on is that maybe this relationship deserves a go of it. And so the journey begins…

Skye and Tim are so endearing, both as a couple and on their own. The completely opposite personalities end up complimenting each other in the most amazing ways. I was pulling for them from the very first chapter. The internal turmoil each of them experienced was so valid and honest…never once was I in my common eye roll mode over a heroine’s shallow complaint about something trivial. Both Skye and Tim are so eager to please each other and try so hard that their efforts were truly heartwarming. That doesn’t mean they don’t stumble along the way.

I highly recommend this book. I enjoyed it from start to finish. It’s happy-ending-in-reverse made for a fabulously interesting read! Thank you, Ms. Murray, for a fantastic story! I cannot WAIT for the other two books in this trilogy!

Five Loves

Renhala by Amy Joy Lutchen…Review and Giveaway

Buy from Amazon Buy from Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:

Kailey Rooke, timid accountant, dedicated to philanthropic work, finds herself spiraling into a deep depression after she suffers a horrifyingly odd and humiliating assault, to only discover more of these freakish assaults occurring across the globe.

A chance discovery leads Kailey to a meeting with elderly Gunthreon, actual master of persuasion. Gunthreon, who seems to know too much of Kailey’s history for her liking, opens Kailey’s eyes to a coexisting realm she never knew existed: Renhala, while entrusting her with the knowledge of her newfound power as karmelean, serving as a beacon to the Higher Ones. Kailey slowly starts revealing new talents, and Gunthreon is fascinated with what she starts achieving.

She soon discovers that Renhala is in danger, and this danger has been leaking into her own realm. As she uncovers secrets within herself, and attempts to toughen up, she fuses with an unlikely band of fellow travelers (including a dragon, woodsprite, six-hundred-pound greble, her faithful female canine companion, and a “giver”), falls into an unexpected love triangle, deals with her sexy and flirtatious best friend’s “issues,” and finds the courage to master a new deadly weapon.

On her mission to save Renhala, Kailey will find herself running from life-threatening disasters, such as greble Tartarin, who likes to remind Kailey that when he catches her, he plans on eating her brains with ice cream; she’ll run from the deadly meeples: small cute bunnies with talons and an undeniable thirst for imposing self-destruction on others. Kailey will also run into the possibility that a centuries-old Renhalan rumor is true, that advanced technology existing in Kailey’s realm shortens all life spans.

As blood is shed and puzzles near completion, Kailey pulls from deep within herself, conjuring up mystical qualities that enable her to astonish as once predicted at her birth, but despite the newfound strength, Kailey will discover that monsters not only come in ugly packages, but can be easily disguised as those she has come to love and trust.

My Review:

So, as I’m sure you know, I love to read. I’d like to say that I read a lot of different genres and have a broad spectrum of reading material in my bookcases. Truth is, sadly, I don’t. So, when I was introduced to a book titled Renhala, I read the description and knew it was something I had to read. Fantasy and magic was not something I normally read…no particular reason, really. Holy hell, I am so glad I found this book…. I was hooked on Renhala from the very first page.

We meet Kailey in the beginning recuperating, both physically and mentally, from an attack. An attack that she still can’t make sense of. She’s certain her attacker wasn’t exactly human…but surely she must be mistaken, right? In her quest to return to normalcy, her paths cross with an interesting man named Gunthreon. Gunthreon will show Kailey what her true nature is, and he will introduce her to Renhala…an alternate realm she never knew existed. Now, she not only has to learn all she can about Renhala and the creatures and beings that inhabit it, but that she must aid in saving it. Along the way, Kailey meets some amazing and endearing creatures that she learns not to fear but instead, to love. She also meets two interesting men who will both make a play for her affections.

Kailey is a kick-ass heroine. She is developed so well that I feel like I could pick up the phone and invite her over for a glass of wine. She’s spunky, intelligent and has a dry sense of humor that I absolutely ADORE! I mean really, how can you not love a gal who isn’t above sticking her tongue out at someone when they are acting a fool? She’s snarky but delivers her snark with affection and pulls it off every time. Love her!

This story was amazing. The creatures Ms. Lutchen has created are so vivid in my mind that I feel as though they are right beside me. Her descriptions of the settings, objects, landscapes and characters are truly a gift given to the reader. There are evil creatures called meeples that are described so richly that I won’t soon forget their evilness…even if they do sorta look like fluffy bunnies. The characters the Kailey befriends along the way are creatures I wish were real. My personal favorite is Bu….a big, hairy, smelly, sorta scary beast that has a heart of gold who speaks like a child and will protect Kailey with his own life if it were to come to it. Then there’s Conner and Ladimer, the two men who suddenly appear in her life and who both want a place in her heart. Each of them have amazing qualities that make it so hard for Kailey, as well as the reader, to decide who her choice should be. The relationship that touched me the most, however, was the relationship between Kailey and her mother. I am actually tearing up as I type this recalling their story. It is just beautiful.

All of that being said, what I found most remarkable was the way Ms. Lutchen told the story. Never once did I feel lost and not understanding of what was going on within the story. We learned about Renhala and all of the creatures and problems right along with Kailey. Not only did Gunthreon teach her what everything was along the way, but he taught me as well. I really appreciated that characteristic of the book. Even if I read a section and was starting to feel a “huh?” coming on, it would be within the next sentence that things were explained and the idea became clear. I can only imagine how difficult a task it must be, from a writing standpoint, to be able to accomplish that.

I feel so lucky to have found this book and I hope that even if fantasy isn’t necessarily your thing, you’ll give this book a try. I’m certain you will love Renhala and what Ms. Lutchen has created as much as I did! Thank you, Amy Joy, for sharing the gift of your imagination with us and I will be eagerly (notice I didn’t say patiently haha!) waiting for the next book!

Four-and-a-Half Loves

And now, because Amy Joy is truly amazing, she has put together the most amazing tea themed Renhala giveaway for you! Kailey, the heroine in Renhala, absolutely ADORES tea and I’m sure would be jumping for joy at this list of goodies!

The Tealicious Goodie Basket includes:

African Nectar tea by Mighty Leaf

Lady Grey tea by Twinings

Chocolate Mint tea by Harney & Sons

Chocolate HobNobs cookies by McVitie’s

Pineapple Chamomile tea by Lipton

Chocolate non-pareils by Streit’s

Meditative Mind (white tea, rosebuds, jasmine pearls) by the tea spot

Various Leonidas chocolates

Paris tea by Harney & Sons

Blackberry Sage tea by The Republic of Tea

and…fancy caramels by Bequet Confections

ALSO …..an eCopy of Renhala!

Enter to win in the RaffleCopter below! Good luck! (U.S. residents only for this giveaway)

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Blood Vine by Amber Belldene….Blog Tour, Excerpt, Review & Giveaway

Buy Blood Vine at Amazon or at Barnes & Noble

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?

Exclusive excerpt:

To die on the Hunt was the greatest honor, though it offered little solace at the moment. That smug son of a bitch Ethan had been right—he shouldn’t have come alone. Blood pounded in his ears. Would they make him watch while they ripped out his entrails?

One of the vampires called out to him from the darkness. “Hunter, don’t they teach you to stand down wind?”

Words pressed against the lump in his throat.

“Too bad for you,” the other said.

Then they were on him. One pushed him to the ground and placed a knee into his back. Dirt and dust filled his mouth, choking him, and he spit, trying to get the grit out. A hand gripped his shoulder and flipped him.

He looked up into the eyes of his target.

“It will have to be gory,” said Andre Marasović. “If we do not make an example of him, they will think they’ve won.”

“Can’t have that,” the son said.

“Kill him first. Then we will make our example.”

Surprise was the last emotion to flutter through the Hunter’s heart—a vampire had shown him mercy.

My Review:

The minute I received this information on this book, I was intrigued. I was eager to start and see just how this spin on the vampire world would play out and I gotta say…WOW! This story was a-freaking-mazing!

Zoey is a talented PR agent working for a successful firm in California. She’s beautiful, young and should be feeling like she’s got it all…only she knows she doesn’t. She’s been mourning the death of her husband for a few years now and has put up an icy wall that no one will be able to penetrate. It’s easier that way. After all, if you don’t let people in, you can’t get hurt if they leave. So she’s managed to keep her love life to a fling with her boss and one attempt at a one-night stand with a handsome stranger she met in a bar. However, for some reason, the minute she laid eyes on that stranger, she knew there was something more to him and it was a bad idea…so she shored up her icy reserve and left him where he sat on the barstool. Imagine her surprise when the owner of the vineyard she’s now representing is the very same man she left sitting on the barstool….

Andre is a centuries old vampire living on his vineyard and desperately trying to come up with a cure for the disease that is slowly killing him and his fellow vampires. Since the Hunters, a group of zealots hell-bent on wiping out the vampire race, have exiled him and hundreds of other vampires form Croatia, he has been working on a cure and believes he’s finally found it….in the wine he has made using the vines from his homeland. Now, with the help of a PR firm, he needs to get word out to his fellow refugees. Could it be fate has more in store for him when the woman that left him dumbfounded, sitting on a barstool months earlier is the very same woman sent to help with his PR work?

Together, Zoey and Andre, along with his friends, house staff and two sons, they have the fight of a lifetime ahead of them. The Hunters are closing in, the wine and the vineyard need to remain safe so the vampire race can be cured, and they need to figure out if this attraction between them is something worth exploring.

This book kicked ass. I know, I know…we’ve all read a million vampire stories but this is a book I highly recommend no matter how many vampire tales you’ve explored. The dynamic between the characters is fantastic. Every move Zoey made in this book is EXACTLY what I would have done. She wasn’t unrealistic or overly emotional. She took things at face value and was level headed where many other heroines would have gone into hysterics. I really appreciated Zoey’s genuineness. She was strong and stoic when she needed to be yet somehow kept her soft side.

Andre is delicious. He is kind, determined, responsible and oh-so utterly male. His love for his sons and for the staff that helps him in his quest to save the vampire race, is so endearing. He is a man who knows what he wants at when push comes to shove, he gets it.

Along with Zoey and Andre, we meet Lucas and Pedro, who are amazing. They absolutely broke my heart…I cannot wait to see what the future holds for them. Andre’s sons, Kos and Bel, are also characters that capture your heart as well and I also am excited to see what happens for them in this series. This book had everything I love in a great story…love, loss, conflict, devious villains, heroes and heroines worth rooting for and great originality.

I won’t go into too much more detail, because I am not a spoilery kind of gal, but I will tell you this….put this book on your to-read list and settle in for a great read. I absolutely LOVED this book and see this series becoming a success we will be talking about for some time. Thank you, Amber, for a remarkable read!

Four-and-a-Half Loves

And now, because we all love giveaways, I have an eCopy of Blood Vine to give away! Enter in the RaffleCopter below!
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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.

Author Links:

Website: http://amberbelldene.com/

Blog: http://amberbelldene.com/blog/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AmberBelldene

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

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6537150.Amber_Belldene

Fall in Love With the Sullivan Family: The Sullivan Series by Bella Andre Blog Tour….My Review of From This Moment On

Today I’m continuing the fun in The Fall in Love With The Sullivan Family Blog Tour with my review of From This Moment On.

In Bella’s sexy, emotional and funny contemporary romance series, each member of the Sullivan family will eventually find true love…usually where he or she least expects it.

Synopsis:

For thirty-six years, Marcus Sullivan has been the responsible older brother, stepping in to take care of his seven siblings after their father died when they were children. But when the perfectly ordered future he’s planned for himself turns out to be nothing but a lie, Marcus needs one reckless night to shake free from it all.

Nicola Harding is known throughout the world by only one name – Nico – for her catchy, sensual pop songs. Only, what no one knows about the twenty-five year old singer is that her sex-kitten image is totally false. After a terrible betrayal by a man who loved fame far more than he ever loved her, she vows not to let anyone else get close enough to find out who she really is…or hurt her again. Especially not the gorgeous stranger she meets at a nightclub, even though the hunger – and the sinful promises – in his dark eyes make her want to spill all her secrets.

One night is all Nicola and Marcus agree to share with each other. But nothing goes as they plan when instead of simply tangling limbs, they find a deeper connection than either of them could have anticipated. And even though they both try to fight it, growing emotions – and sizzling attraction – keep drawing them closer together.

Close enough for them to wonder if stealing one more secret moment together can ever be enough?

My Review:

From This Moment On is the second book in the Sullivan Series and oh…..my…..God…..I loved this book! Devoured it in two sittings and ignored all responsibilities (apologies to my family for not having clean clothes) to make sure I could give this book the proper attention it deserved.

Nicola has had it with her lonely existence as pop princess “Nico”. Sure it’s glamorous and she loves to write and perform her music but when the lights on the stage turn off and the crowds are gone it’s a solitary life lived in hotel rooms with no one to see who the real Nico is. After being hurt the last time she trusted someone, she’s weary to ever let anyone in again. But tonight, after staring out of her hotel window, Nico has decided she’s going to throw caution to the wind and find someone for a hot one-night stand to make her lose herself and forget all her troubles. Only the last thing she expects is to find a smoking hot stranger who makes her want to be more than the one night of passion she had planned.

Marcus Sullivan is tired of being the ever responsible, always perfect, oldest brother of the Sullivan clan. Now, the life he thought was perfect is crumbling around him. After leaving his brother’s engagement party, he realizes he needs to figure this mess out….only not tonight. Tonight is for finding a warm body to spend the night with and try to erase the hurt he experienced this afternoon at the hands of his now EX-fiancé. What he wasn’t expecting was Nicola. She’s walked into his life and turned everything upside-down….and he unexpectedly loves every minute of it.

I’ll say it again; I loved this book. Nicola is such an amazing character. She’s written so well and with such feeling that I actually physically felt her loneliness and her craving to be loved for who she is, and not the image created for the public. She is such a fighter and has amazing strength and courage. Marcus is a-freaking-mazing. He’s held his family together in the years since his father has died and doesn’t realize that it’s his turn to find his own true happiness in life. He is so wholly male and dominating, yet has a softer side that I think even he hadn’t realized he had. Together, they are HOT!! Marcus, and his “I’m in charge” attitude is freaking delicious. Some of the scenes in this book, with Marcus giving Nicola commands…holy hell…I still get the chills thinking about it. Simply delish. I will be diving in to the rest of this series and can’t wait to see if any of the other Sullivan brothers make me swoon like Marcus does. Thank you, Bella, for another yummy read!

Four-and-a-Half Loves

Tour Notes:

The Sullivans are on tour with Novel Publicity. Follow along for your chance to win amazing prizes. We’ve got special romantic swag baskets for each book, an iPad Mini, Kindle Fire, Nook Color, and Kobo eReader, and Amazon and iTunes gift cards. WOW!

You’ll also get introduced to this amazing contemporary romance series via excerpts as well as interviews with and guest posts from New York Times and USA Today best-selling author, Bella Andre. You’ll definitely want to learn more about the family that has captured the world’s heart.

All the info you need to join the fun and enter to win amazing prizes is RIGHT HERE. Remember, winning is as easy as clicking a button or leaving a blog comment–easy to enter; easy to win!

To Win the Prizes:

Purchase any of the Sullivan ebooks by Bella Andre for just $4.99 (optional)
Enter the Rafflecopter contest on Novel Publicity (go here or enter below)
Visit today’s featured social media event (that’s where the HUGE prizes are – visit: http://www.novelpublicity.com/the-sullivans/ )

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Fall in Love With The Sullivans: The Sullivan Series by Bella Andre Blog Tour….Guest Post

The Fall in Love with the Sullivan Family Blog Tour continues with more fun today!

Please enjoy this guest post by Bella Andre, New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of the contemporary romance series, The Sullivans. Then read on to learn how you can win huge prizes as part of this blog tour, including special romantic swag baskets for each book, an iPad Mini, Kindle Fire, Nook Color, and Kobo eReader, and Amazon and iTunes gift cards!

Alpha Heroes & Happily Ever Afters: The Perfect Combo

A guest post by Bella Andre

“Alpha heroes are my favorite kind of hero: sexy, rugged, independent and take-charge. Yum!

Take Chase Sullivan, the hero of THE LOOK OF LOVE, the first book in my best-selling Sullivan series. He’s a jet-setting photographer, a mind-blowing lover, and is surrounded by gorgeous models all day long. But it isn’t until he meets Chloe Peterson on the side of a road during a rainstorm in the Napa Valley wine country that he falls in love.

One of my favorite things about an alpha hero falling in love is that all those alpha traits – his single-minded determination, his focus – are then devoted entirely to the woman of his dreams. Chloe’s been burned by men before, but Chase is determined to show her that he’s worth trusting. What follows is his relentlessly sexy pursuit of Chloe, because now that Chase has found love, he won’t accept anything less.

Each of the Sullivan heroes is an alpha in his own way. Marcus (FROM THIS MOMENT ON) is the de-facto family patriarch. He looks after the rest of his family and takes care of them. Gabe (CAN’T HELP FALLING IN LOVE) is a take-charge firefighter. He rushes into danger to save lives – what’s not to love? Zach (IF YOU WERE MINE) is a handy, self-sufficient mechanic and businessman. In addition to being wealthy and successful, he’s useful with a wrench.

What’s hot is when those alpha traits are turned towards pursuing – and catching – the women of their dreams.”

Tour Notes:

All the info you need to join the fun and enter to win amazing prizes is RIGHT HERE. Remember, winning is as easy as clicking a button or leaving a blog comment–easy to enter; easy to win!

To Win the Prizes:

Purchase any of the Sullivan ebooks by Bella Andre for just $4.99 (optional)
Enter the Rafflecopter contest on Novel Publicity (go here or enter below)
Visit today’s featured social media event (that’s where the HUGE prizes are – visit: http://www.novelpublicity.com/the-sullivans/ )

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Fall in Love With the Sullivan Family: The Sullivan Series by Bella Andre Blog Tour….Interview with Bella Andre

Welcome to the Fall in Love With The Sullivans Blog Tour:

I will have some fun things happening this week with two reviews, an author interview and guest post! YAY!

To kick things off, please enjoy this interview with Bella Andre, New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of the contemporary romance series, The Sullivans. Then read on to learn how you can win huge prizes as part of this blog tour, including special romantic swag baskets for each book, an iPad Mini, Kindle Fire, Nook Color, and Kobo eReader, and Amazon and iTunes gift cards! Information below!

1. You create characters beautifully and are an absolute master of plot twists. It seems like you could write in almost any genre and do a bang-up job of it. What made you decide to devote your efforts to the romance genre in particular?

Thank you so much for the compliments! I’ve always been a huge romance fan – I’ve been reading nearly a book a day since I was a teenager – so it was a natural fit for me when the characters starting appearing in my head one day.

2. How did the idea for this interconnected contemporary romance series first come to you? What was your inspiration?

I love the family series that have always been popular in historical romance – like Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton series and Nora Roberts’s MacGregors – and I was also inspired by my husband’s large family. It seemed like a natural fit to combine the funny and sweet family dynamics into an overarching series of sexy contemporary romances with the alpha heroes that I love so much.

3. Everyone seems to have a favorite Sullivan. Now I know this is like asking you to choose between your own children, but who is your favorite? And who’s most like you?

I’ll have to plead the fifth and pick Mary Sullivan – the family matriarch – as my favorite Sullivan. She’s the heart that keeps the family together and I get emotional whenever I write a scene with her. In fact, in COME A LITTLE BIT CLOSER (Smith Sullivan’s story), the scene where he calls his mother to ask for love advice is one that so many readers have told me is their absolute favorite scene in any Sullivan book.

As for who is most like me – maybe Sophie Sullivan from I ONLY HAVE EYES FOR YOU. She loves to read (and is a librarian) and when she wants something (in her case: bad boy Jake McCann), she goes for it! Of course, I’m also a lot like Lori Sullivan (aka “Naughty”) with her big mouth and constant laughter.

4. In your opinion, what ingredients are needed to make up a good love story? Is life the same as fiction in this respect? Why or why not?

I love to love my characters and when I write a story I need two heroic, nice, good people (and why not gorgeous, too?!) who deserve love and have a lot of love to offer in return, but who are flawed partially because they haven’t found that perfect someone who complements them like no other. I like my fiction to be a little bigger than life – the Sullivans are extraordinarily hot, sensitive and attentive – but at their heart, they’re all very real.

5. How has your own love story with your husband informed the Sullivan series? Are there any scenes that are directly taken from your own life?

I have the best husband in the entire world. Sweet, loving, sensitive…and super hot! He’s always supported me in everything I’ve ever done and I think his strength and capability to love is at the core of every hero I write.

With that said, none of the scenes are ever taken directly from my own life. I have a very active imagination.

6. Let’s pretend for a second that you are a single woman living in the world of the Sullivans, which of the six brothers would you be most likely to fall in love with and why?

Ohhhh, now THAT is a fun fantasy! I would fall in love with each and every single one of them – and do, while I’m writing each of their stories! If I had to pick one, I might have my eye on Marcus (FROM THIS MOMENT ON) – because while all of my Sullivans are sweet, sexy and sensitive – Marcus is the only one with his own endless supply of wine from his winery. And there’s just something about the oldest brother…. Then again, Zach Sullivan is such a great combination of cocky and sweet. And Ryan Sullivan has all those muscles. And Gabe is such a hero as a firefighter (and I love his dirty talking between the sheets). And Chase is so sexy and protective. And then there’s Jake McCann (who falls in love with Sophie Sullivan) with his tattoos and big muscles. Not to mention Lori’s hero in the upcoming ALWAYS ON MY MIND which will be out this spring. I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that Lori’s hero just might be the hottest hero I’ve ever written.

See, what did I tell you earlier? I’m no good at picking just one. So let’s just say, yet again, ALL OF THEM!

7. The Sullivans and their beaux have some pretty interesting careers. From photographers and sculptors to professional actors, musicians and ball players all the way to firefighters, librarians and business owners, they lead very exciting lives! What type of research did you have to do to capture these jobs so well? Do you have any interesting research anecdotes to share?

I’ve written firefighters and athletes in previous series which helped with my firefighter, Gabe (CAN’T HELP FALLING IN LOVE) and my baseball player, Ryan (LET ME BE THE ONE). I also live in Sonoma and have a lot of experience with wine and wineries which was ideal for winery owner Marcus (FROM THIS MOMENT ON) and as a writer I’ve been blessed to work with many librarians who served as information points for Sophie (I ONLY HAVE EYES FOR YOU.)

For books where I need inspiration, the internet has been amazing and when needed, I also call on the help of professionals. Even though I’d written firefighters before, I still sent all my firefighting scenes to a professional and for Smith’s book (COME A LITTLE BIT CLOSER) I sent all the acting-set sequences to a local film producer.

8. I was very touched by the inclusion of Yorkie puppy, Cuddles, and Great Dane rescue, Atlas, in book five, If You Were Mine. Are you a dog person yourself? If you have pets, I’d love to know more about them!

I *love* animals. I had the best time writing the two dogs in IF YOU WERE MINE. They had their own little love story in that book, which pleased me to no end. There’s a cat that plays a very important role in ALWAYS ON MY MIND (Lori Sullivan’s story, coming Spring 2013). My whole family loves animals, and we’ve recently adopted a beautiful cat. Or more accurately, the cat has adopted us, smart little minx.

9. The Sullivan series is currently seven volumes long. How many more books do you have planned, and which other family members will get the spotlight in their own books?

Lori’s book (ALWAYS ON MY MIND) is up next, and there are 5 Seattle Sullivans who are ready for love – I will start with Rafe Sullivan’s book this summer! Plus, I have something *very* special planned for Mary Sullivan, their mother, planned to release for the holidays in 2013.

10. And lastly (for a bit of random fun), what has been the most amazing/ touching/ validating interaction you’ve had with a fan of your books?

Everyone who has ever written to me on Facebook or Twitter or Goodreads or via email to tell me how much they love my books and that the Sullivans have moved them in some way has touched me. I love my fans, so, so much! I have the very best time in the world writing about my Sullivans… and knowing that I have so many absolutely wonderful people waiting to read them as soon as they’re released is a total thrill every single day.

Tour Notes:

All the info you need to join the fun and enter to win amazing prizes is RIGHT HERE. Remember, winning is as easy as clicking a button or leaving a blog comment–easy to enter; easy to win!

To Win the Prizes:

Purchase any of the Sullivan ebooks by Bella Andre for just $4.99 (optional)
Enter the Rafflecopter contest on Novel Publicity (go here or see the Rafflecopter posted below)
Visit today’s featured social media event (that’s where the HUGE prizes are – visit http://www.novelpublicity.com/the-sullivans/ )
a Rafflecopter giveaway