ARC Review….In Too Deep by Michelle Kemper Brownlow

In Too Deep releases June 6

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Synopsis:

Gracie has just finished her freshman year of college in Memphis when she takes a job at a local pizza joint in her home town of McKenzie, Tennessee. She is the epitome of innocence when she meets Noah. Noah is unabashedly handsome, intriguingly reckless and just cocky enough to be sexy. Gracie’s instincts tell her to stay far away from him and based on the stories she hears from her co-workers he leaves broken hearts in his wake. But still, she can’t explain her fascination with him.

Noah puts aside his bad boy ways when what he thought was a summer crush has him unexpectedly falling in love. But soon after Gracie transfers to UT Knoxville to be with Noah, their unexpected love becomes riddled with anger, deceit and humiliation.

Jake, Noah’s former roommate and Gracie’s best friend, can no longer be a bystander. Gracie’s world falls out from beneath her and when she breaks she turns to Jake for strength. As Jake talks her through a decision she’s not yet strong enough to make, together they uncover a truth so ugly neither of them is prepared for its fallout. Will Jake pull her to the surface or is Gracie Jordan finally In Too Deep?

 

My Review:

I am beyond lucky to have received an advance copy of In Too Deep, the debut work from Michelle Kemper Brownlow. This was a story that pulled me in and didn’t let go….and I loved it!

Gracie is a happy, innocent, southern good girl with a great life, a great boyfriend with her whole college career, and life, ahead of her.  Everything is going well in her life until she meets Noah, the typical handsome, rugged bad boy with a reputation that screams: STAY AWAY.  As much as Gracie knows all about Noah, and his frat-boy ways, she also knows he shows her a softer side of himself that no one has ever had the honor of seeing.  It’s a rare glimpse into his soul she knows she can’t resist and isn’t willing to run from, no matter how bad his reputation is.

Noah has had his fair share of girls…but there’s something about Gracie.  She makes him want to be a better person.  He realizes he’s fallen for her….hard and fast. The problem is, he’s been the bad boy for so long, it’s all he knows.  The revolving door of girls, the parties, the booze and the cocky attitude that comes with it.  Hell bent on getting Gracie, he’s willing to do whatever it takes.  But when Gracie transfers to his college, even the best laid plans can crumble….and soon Noah’s ability in excelling at being a bad boy prick outshines his efforts to be the kind of guy she needs and deserves.

Gracie and Noah have a road ahead that will end up taking a toll on emotions, friendships and will end up crushing each of them in very different ways.

As I had said earlier in this review, this book pulled me in and didn’t let go until I read the very last word on the very last page….even as I write this review, Gracie and Noah’s story is with me.  This was a high emotion, gut wrenching, beautifully bittersweet love story…one that I’m sure many of us can relate to.  It’s a story about being so in love with a person that no matter what their faults are, the want and need to believe in that person trumps all reason…even if you know deep down inside what you are fighting for simply isn’t worth it.  I can’t tell you how many times I wanted to scream at Noah, and Gracie, while reading.  Michelle has done such an amazing job at transporting the reader into Gracie and Noah’s world and feeling all of the twisted emotions in this story.  I audibly gasped and was actually talking to Gracie while I was reading….I’m not sure if I have ever done that before with a book!  I was so utterly conflicted while reading Gracie and Noah’s relationship and the up’s and down’s that came with it.  And let me say, they were some great up’s and dismal down’s…but I loved it and I felt it.  I felt the hurt and the pain and the happiness.  Gracie grew up before our eyes, thanks to some amazing friends, and I was cheering for her to become the woman she had the potential to be from the very first chapter.  Noah is a sad soul, who I was also cheering for…but there are some things that he did that I had to put my megaphone away for.  The back and forth between them took a toll on me, but in my opinion, that’s the sign of a good book.  I want to feel something in the hours after I’ve finished reading, and Michelle has done that with In Too Deep.

I was a nervous wreck for the ending.  Noah had pulled my back into his corner many, many times throughout the story that I was truly conflicted with if I wanted them together or not.  Well, I won’t spoil it, but I will say I was relieved and delighted with how it played out.  Perfect, if you ask me.

Thank you, Michelle, for an amazing story.  I look forward to reading more from you and I know you have a bright future bringing us your amazing writing talent!

* I received a copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review

4andahalflovesFour-and-a-half Loves

 

About the author:

Michelle Kemper Brownlow has been a storyteller her entire life. Her debut was on the high school cheerleading bus granting requests to re-tell her most embarrassing moments for a gaggle of hysterical squadmates.
Earning her Bachelor’s degree from Penn State University in Art Education and then marrying her very own “Jake,” she moved to Binghamton, NY where she taught high school. After having two children she quit work and finished her Master’s degree in Elementary Education at Binghamton University.
The Brownlow family of four moved to Michelle’s hometown of Morgantown, PA while the children were still quite young. A few years after moving, her family grew by one when they welcomed a baby into their home through the gift of adoption. The family still resides in PA, just miles from where that high school cheer bus was parked.
Michelle has been an artist for as long as she can remember, always choosing pencils and crayons over toys and puzzles. As a freelance illustrator, her simple characters play the starring roles in numerous emergent reader books published by Reading Reading Books.
“Writing is my way of making sense of the world. When I give my characters life on the pages I write, it frees up space in my mind to welcome in new stories that are begging to be told,” says Brownlow.

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Website 

Book Tour & Giveaway…Time Changes Everything by Melinda Dozier

time changes everything tour

Synopsis:

Amanda Larson is dedicated to her job and doesn’t want to make time for anything else. Until she runs into Jake Edwards. He used to be the cute boy next door; now he’s a sexy, big shot lawyer.

Jake Edwards isn’t interested in commitment. He’s successful, sexy, and single–and that’s how he likes it. When he reconnects with Amanda, Jake realizes he might have to rethink his philosophy on the carefree, bachelor lifestyle.

But, is it too late for them? Or can he convince her that he’s ready to give her his heart?

 

Excerpt:

In high school, Amanda was someone special. Hell, even before then. Their parents were best friends, which had forced Jake and Amanda together. At first, he’d thought it was a hindrance. Later, when she developed longer legs and a bigger bust, he found himself around her more. After discovering her quirkiness, her love of art and her sense of humor, he actually enjoyed being around her. But he never touched her.

He contemplated running his fingers through her hair like he did his first year of college –– the last time they were alone –– the night he left town and never saw her again.

Did she remember the night he left? Of course she did. Seven years ago, he’d ruined their friendship.  He knew Amanda almost as well as he knew himself. Well, he’d known her. Now she was a different woman.

 Jake leaned in closer, running his hand down her arm. “Know what I’m thinking?”

Amanda fiddled with her coaster and smiled at him. “I’m not sure I want to know.”

“I’m thinking we should spend a lot more time together.” He reached over and held her chin. “It’s been way too long.”

Amanda licked her lips, and damn it, it actually turned him on. Sweet little Mandy Larson wasn’t so sweet anymore. She was driving him crazy.

She moved closer bridging distance. “Why wait? There’s no time like the present.”

“Exactly.” He drank the last of his beer as the waiter returned with her martini sans olive. 

Jake leaned on the table with his elbows, folded his hands together and studied her.  “Look at you, drinking a martini, living the life in New York City.” He examined her from head to toe. “A sexy skirt. Tall boots.” He ran a finger down her cheek. “A beautiful face.”

Amanda hiccupped and put down her glass. “Now, wait a minute. I know it’s been a while, but some things never change, including you.” She wagged her finger at him. “No smooth talking with me. Don’t forget I used to know you better than anybody.”

Because his fingers actually ached with the need to touch her again, he reached over and held her hand. “Yeah, but things have changed, Mandy. We’re two different people now, and I can’t wait to get to know who you are now.”

 

Melinda will be giving away a $25 Amazon gift certificate and an ecopy of Time Changes Everything. Winner will be announced on Melinda’s blog May 25. Good luck! 

 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

About the author:

Reading romance has always been at the top of Melinda’s favorite past times. After hectic days of teaching English to middle school students, Melinda finds time to write and read in the evenings. She lives in Guatemala, Central America with her husband, three boys and German Sheppard. She enjoys being the queen of her household and dreams of being pampered fully by her boys once they are grown. Melinda loves reality TV, traveling, blogging and playing Words With Friends.

Website  ~  Blog  ~  Twitter 

ARC Review….Dangerous to Know & Love by Jane Harvey-Berrick

Web

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Synopsis:

Silence is only skin deep.

Nineteen year old Daniel Colton is the guy all the girls want to date, and the man all the guys want to be. Moody, with an explosive temper, closed off and sullen, he’s also beautiful, tatted in delicious ways, with a pierced eyebrow and spiky black hair. It’s rumoured he has piercings in other places, too. Is he really mad, bad and dangerous to know?

Daniel lives with his older brother, Zef, and their home is party central. You want drugs, a good time, liquor, no questions asked? Colton’s is the place to go.

When Daniel and good girl Lisanne Maclaine have to work together on an assignment, Lisanne finds there’s a lot more to the college’s bad boy than his reputation. He’s intelligent and funny and good company. And then she discovers his secret, why he’s so closed off to everyone, and determined to keep people at arms’ length. But being his secret-keeper is harder than she ever dreamed.

Recommended for readers 18+ due to sexual references and sex scenes, some coarse language, drug references and drug use.

 

My Review:

As some of you may know, I am a big fan of Jane Harvey-Berrick and her work.  I adored the duo of The Education of Sebastian and The Education of Caroline.  So, when I received an email from Jane’s publisher offering a chance to read Dangerous to Know & Love, I jumped at the opportunity.  Only a few chapters in, I emailed back and said:  “Jane has done it again”.  This book was amazing…truly amazing and immediately goes on my favorite list.

Lisanne Maclaine has started college and is adjusting quite well until she has to be paired up with Daniel Colton for a project in one of her classes.  Sure, he’s gorgeous and bad-boy style delicious, but he’s also rude and has an ego the size of Chicago…..in other words: no one she wants to work with.  It’s on their first night of working on their project that she discovers Daniel has a huge secret.  A secret that immediately changes her opinion of him and instantly pushes their relationship into an intimate direction…one that neither her, nor Daniel, had ever intended.

Daniel Colton has earned every ounce of his bay boy reputation and has no intention of changing people’s minds.  He’s happy keeping people at a distance and having them back off with just a sideways glance.  After all, when your older brother is known to be the go-to for illegal indulgences and has turned their house into THE place to party, you kind of have to keep your guard up.  He’s also got a huge secret to keep…and you can’t keep secrets when you let people in.  He’s already lost too much in his young life and he is through with feeling the pain you end up with when the things, and people, you love are lost forever.  Yep, it’s easier to be the tough guy loner that everyone thinks him to be.  But when he’s paired with Lisanne, he has no idea that she may be the one person he will change him for the better.

What starts out to be a simple chance assignment pairing for Lisanne and Daniel turns into something so much more and will show both of them what love, trust and taking a chance can do.

I have to repeat myself in saying that Jane has done it again.  I was a little leery at first, seeing that the two main characters were so young, but by the third chapter, I was completely hooked and threw all preconceived hang-ups out the window.  This story was amazing.  Daniel is described as a rough and tumble, lean, muscled, motorcycle riding, tattooed and pierced, hazel eyed hottie with a bad temper and short fuse….an image that is completely shattered once we realize what he his life has been like for him the past seven years.  It is a HUGE piece of the story, and unfortunately also a huge spoiler, so I can’t give it away.  I know, I know, but just trust me on this!  I didn’t see it coming and I completely melted and fell in love with Daniel the minute I knew what his secret is.  Lisanne is a music major with a nice, normal, white picket fence family and has never really known heartache or what real disappointment has felt like.  One would think that she wouldn’t understand a kid from the wrong side of town, or a kid with such a huge chip on his shoulder…well, one would be very wrong.  She is absolutely perfect for Daniel.  They complete each other beautifully and the emotions between them are so strong.  Whether it’s fighting because one of them is being thick-headed or they are sharing a quiet and loving moment, this couple is just amazing.  They have many obstacles along the way, facing parents and friends that don’t understand their attraction, loss, heartache and prejudices just to name a few.  But they know they can handle it all, as long as they can get through them together.  I cried many, many times while reading this book, and as you know, I do love a book that makes me feel and this is a book that will be with me for quite some time.  Daniel absolutely broke my heart one moment and awed me with his perseverance the next.  Lisanne has the biggest heart and is willing to put it all on the line….for him.

The Book Gods were shining on me when they dropped this gem into my inbox and, although I’m not sure of a release date for any source other than Amazon, I highly recommend it.  From start to finish, this was an emotional, heart-warming story where the Phoenix rises from the ashes and a happy ending comes well deserved.  Thank you, Jane, for once again giving us an incredible story.

*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

5LovesRLB

Five Loves 

ARC Review….Love Me by Diane Alberts

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Love Me COVER

Synopsis:

Thomas Jones has come to Vegas to win yet another account for his marketing company. But when he sits across from beautiful and sensual Brianna Faulk to deliver his pitch, his desire to leave Vegas as quickly as possible is replaced by the need to get close to her. Yet she resists his charm.

Brianna knows a date with Thomas could jeopardize her job, but he’s so maddening and insistent, she has a hard time denying him just one date. But that’s all it can be: one date. Because she has to protect her job and her secrets, even if it means giving up a chance at a life she never thought she’d have again.

 

My Review:

Love Me is the second installment in Diane Alberts’ Try Me series and after loving the first in the series, Try Me, I was beyond excited to receive this ARC from Entangled Publishing.  True to Diane’s writing style, she nailed it!  I loved this story.

Thomas Jones is in Vegas getting ready to meet with another “suit” in order to land another big account for his marketing company…a job he truly excelled at.  Good thing he was more successful in his career, because goodness knows, he wasn’t as successful in his personal life.  After finally leaving his bitch of an ex-wife, eight years earlier, he still has yet to heal from that wound.  As he heads into his latest meeting, he realizes the suit he’s meeting with happens to be filled out deliciously by the beautiful woman he saved from a texting-while-walking disaster in the parking lot.  Immediately Thomas realizes his love life may be sparking back to life after a long hiatus.

Brianna Faulk is fully prepared for her business meeting…and wholly unprepared for the instant attraction to the man she’s meeting with.  She’s equally unprepared for his advances and insistence that they meet for a more casual date later that evening.  She’s equally surprised to find that his advances aren’t exactly unwelcomed…which is totally uncharacteristic of her.  Being a woman in a man’s business world, she’s used to keeping things professional and being somewhat detached.  Thomas, however, makes her want to break her own rules and take a chance and maybe, just maybe, learn to live again.  But, is she willing to give him a chance and let him into her life?  She knows she isn’t strong enough to deal with another hurtful blow from the unkind fates…she also knows not a lot of men like women with baggage, and she’s got more baggage than Macy’s luggage department.

Don’t let the fact that this only has 134 pages trick you into thinking that it isn’t long enough to build a relationship to the characters, because it simply isn’t the case.  This story started out hot and heavy, cooled down, went to high emotion, and ended with the most perfect ending for Tom and Brianna. Thomas and Brianna’s push and pull and build up of sexual tension was delicious. They play off of each other so well and their personalities compliment one another beautifully.  They have a lot to work through in order to see where the road may lead for them, and it’s an emotional roller coaster for sure….but so well worth it!  I gave a heavy contented sigh of pleasure when I read the last chapter….simply perfect.  Diane is one of those talents that pulls you in from the very first chapter and holds you interested until the epilogue.  To me, that’s the mark of a great author!

Thank you, Diane, for another phenomenal story that I enjoyed from start to finish!  Cannot wait for more in this series!

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

4LovesRLBFour Loves

 

About the author:

Diane Alberts has always been a dreamer with a vivid imagination, but it wasn’t until 2011 that she put her pen where her brain was, and became a published author. Since receiving her first contract offer, she has yet to stop writing. Though she lives in the mountains, she really wishes she was surrounded by a hot, sunny beach with crystal clear water. She lives in Northeast Pennsylvania with her four kids, a husband, a cat, and a Senegal parrot. In the rare moments when she’s not writing, she can usually be found hunched over one knitting project or another.

She is a multi-published, bestselling author with Entangled Publishing, Swoon Romance, and Decadent Publishing. She has, as of this date, four books with Entangled Publishing, one book with Swoon Romance, and five older books with Decadent Publishing. Her February release with Entangled Publishing, ON ONE CONDITION, hit #18 on the Barnes and Noble Bestseller List, and TRY ME hit #76 on Amazon. Her Swoon Romance novella, CAPTIVATED BY YOU, hit #31 on the Barnes and Noble bestseller list. Her goal is to write so many fantastic books that even a non-romance book fan will know her name. Diane is represented by Louise Fury from the L. Perkins Agency.

Website  ~  Facebook  ~  Twitter 

ARC Review…South of Surrender by Laura Kaye

South of Surrender releases May 28, 2013

Buy from Amazon  ~  Buy from Barnes & Noble

South

 

Synopsis:

She’s the only one who can see through his golden boy façade to the broken god within…

Chrysander Notos, Supreme God of the South Wind and Summer, is on a mission: save Eurus from his death sentence and prove his troubled brother can be redeemed. But Eurus fights back, triggering vicious summer storms that threaten the mortal realm, dangerously drain Chrys, and earn the ire of the Olympic gods who ordered Eurus dead.

Laney Summerlyn refuses to give up her grandfather’s horse farm, despite her deteriorating vision. More than ever, she needs the organized routine of her life at Summerlyn Stables, until a ferocious storm brings an impossible—and beautiful—creature crashing down from the heavens.

Injured while fighting Eurus, Chrys finds himself at the mercy of a mortal woman whose compassion and acceptance he can’t resist. As they surrender to the passion flaring between them, immortal enemies close in, forcing Chrys to choose between his brother and the only woman who’s ever loved the real him.

 

Review:

This is the third book in Laura Kaye’s Hearts of the Anemoi Series and I have been looking forward to reading it since finishing West of Want, the second title in the series.  Well, it was well worth the wait.  This, so far, is officially my favorite book in the series. Loved, loved, LOVED!

Laney Summerlyn lives a very routine and organized life on the beloved horse farm left to her by her grandfather.  Learning to live with a degenerative disease that is slowly stealing her sight, having such a routine and organized life is crucial to letting her keep her independence and stay with her cherished horses.  With a little help around the farm from her close family friend, Sam, she has managed to do just that….until a severe summer storm rips through the farm and sends something, or someone, crashing through her barn and turns her life completely upside-down.

Chrysander Notos, Supreme God of the South Wind, is on the hunt for his brother, Eurus, and is determined to save him from a death sentence that was handed down from the Olympic gods…even if the sentence was rightfully earned by his evil brother’s transgressions. But it seems that all the paths that should lead him to Eurus turn up to be dead ends. On this night, however, he finds Eurus and also finds himself in a fight nearly to the death.  Severely wounded and completely out of it, Chrys winds up crashing through Laney’s barn and into her life.  Will she be able to heal not only his physical wounds, but also his burdened soul?

Together, Laney and Chrys, along with Chrys’s family, must journey on a mission to find Eurus as the situation passes bad and heads straight into disaster territory.  Eurus has gained too much power and must be stopped.  Now, after helping Chrys heal, she unknowingly has a front row seat to otherworldly conflict.  Will a human be able to withstand a clash between gods? Will a god be able to withstand the attraction and lure to a human?

As you all know, I am a huge fan of Laura’s writing…and with this book she continues to earn her spot as a favorite author of mine.  This story was told with such feeling and description that I honestly felt what Chrys and Laney were going through.  I could feel Laney’s determination and perseverance, I could feel Chrys’s need for a resolution and the swirling emotions he has concerning his brother.  The story line was exciting and well written.  The back and forth between loving moments, terrifying fight scenes and defeated sadness was done with the perfect amount of each that ultimately gave a delicious balance to the story.  I also appreciated the mythology built into the story and felt that was done equally well…it wasn’t overly explained and filled with more than necessary for the story line which sometimes happens when mythology is involved. Ultimately this story has everything I love in a book…I laughed, I had white-kuckled-ereader-gripping moments and I also cried…a lot.  To me, that’s what a great story does for a reader….takes you on a roller coaster ride of emotions. South of Surrender was that, and more.

Since I am not a fan of spoilers, I can’t give you much more in regards to what happens with Eurus and if they resolve their conflict.  I will tell you that I am anxiously awaiting the next release in this series to see what is next for our favorite Anemoi family.  It was so great to see our friends from the previous books…Owen and Megan, Zeph & Boreus.  It was also wonderful to meet new characters that will undoubtedly be seen more in the future!

Thank you, Laura, for yet another amazing story and for giving us Chrys *dreamy sigh*.   I look forward to reading more from The Hearts of the Anemoi Series and, well, honestly, more of anything you have to write for us!

*I received a copy of this book for an honest review

5LovesRLBFive Loves

 

About the author:

Laura Kaye is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author of contemporary and paranormal romance. Laura’s hot, heartfelt stories are all about the universal desire for a place to belong. Laura grew up amidst family lore involving angels, ghosts, and evil-eye curses, cementing her life-long fascination with storytelling and the supernatural. Laura lives in Maryland with her husband, two daughters, and cute-but-bad dog, and appreciates her view of the Chesapeake Bay every day.

 Website  ~  Facebook  ~  Twitter 

Cover reveal…Dangerous to Know & Love by Jane Harvey-Berrick

I am THRILLED to reveal the new cover for the upcoming work from a personal favorite author, Jane Harvey-Berrick….

introducing: Dangerous to Know & Love

Web

Dangerous to Know & Love releases May 17

Also, some exciting news from the publisher:

“This novel is a stand-alone, but a special stand-alone. A typical New Adult
comes in at around 80K words, this one is 150+. You nearly get two
books for the price of one. It is our way of saying thank you to the
readers.”

WOOOHOOOOO!!

Synopsis:

Silence is only skin deep.

Nineteen year old Daniel Colton is the guy all the girls want to date, and the man all the guys want to be. Moody, with an explosive temper, closed off and sullen, he’s also beautiful, tatted in delicious ways, with a pierced eyebrow and spiky black hair. It’s rumoured he has piercings in other places, too. Is he really mad, bad and dangerous to know?

Daniel lives with his older brother, Zef, and their home is party central. You want drugs, a good time, liquor, no questions asked? Colton’s is the place to go.

When Daniel and good girl Lisanne Maclaine have to work together on an assignment, Lisanne finds there’s a lot more to the college’s bad boy than his reputation. He’s intelligent and funny and good company. And then she discovers his secret, why he’s so closed off to everyone, and determined to keep people at arms’ length. But being his secret-keeper is harder than she ever dreamed.

Recommended for readers 18+ due to sexual references and sex scenes, some coarse language, drug references and drug use

Review…Pursuing the Times by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

Buy from Amazon  ~  Buy from Barnes & Noble 

Purusing the Times COVER

Synopsis:

All that popular Chick-Lit author Mercury Lauren wants is to have one of her books reviewed by the New York Times Book Review – just one – and she’ll do almost anything to get it. In this contemporary romantic comedy, with a nod toward Pride and Prejudice she crosses swords and hearts with the Editor-in-Chief of the NYTBR in a madcap adventure that takes her from her home in Westport to a yoga retreat to a golf course in Florida. Will she get what she wants and will she finally be happy if she does? Only one thing’s for certain: nothing will stop her from Pursuing the Times.

 

My Review:

I was introduced to this title after receiving an email from the author, Lauren Baratz-Logsted, requesting a review.  Of course, I was immediately drawn to the story after reading the synopsis and after finishing the book just last night, I have to thank Lauren for reaching out to me….because I adored this book!

Mercury Lauren is a modern day female author writing what she loves to write.  Unfortunately what she loves to write, books with quirky heroines, humor and satire, lands her in the category of chick-lit.  Now, Mercury doesn’t exactly love the chick-lit label.  The biggest fault with the chick-lit label is that as long as her writing is labeled as such, there’s no way it will be reviewed by The New York Times.  Seeing as though being reviewed by The Times has been her dream since she can remember, this is not good.  Now her mission is to get at least one of her books read and reviewed by Frank D’Arcangelo, Editor-in-Chief of the New York Times Book Review.  After meeting Frank, but not knowing it was him, and calling him a rude bastard to his face, she now has her work cut out for her and will stop at nothing to get her name in that paper. Cue: a mission of hilarity and adventure!

This book had me laughing out loud by the third page.  I absolutely love Mercury and her manic, slightly hysterical at times, quirky, talented, witty, and determined personality.  She is without a doubt, a character I’d love to hang out with in real life! To read her adventures in stalking Frank D’Archangelo in the attempt to change his mind about her and her writing and get her book reviewed was such a treat.  She begins her stalking by emailing him, which turns into an email battle between the two of them, and lands on the list as one of my favorite parts of the book.  Her determination in getting Frank to recognize her writing has her crashing a yoga retreat with the Namaste skills of a toddler, golfing at a five star resort with the skills of, well, someone who’s never played golf before, and receiving the Heimlich after choking on a mushroom the size of a baseball in a five star restaurant.  In other words, a total nightmarish disaster!  All the while, justifying her calamity with a sense of humor that most would envy.  Ultimately, to balance out all of the disaster, emerges a very unlikely romance with a partner in which Mercury truly meets her other half.  Of course, I won’t tell you who it is (you know there’s not a spoiler-ish bone in my body!)…you’ll just have to read the book!

Pursuing the Times is a light, funny, entertaining read that should be on the top of your summer reading list! Ms. Baratz-Logsted has earned a new fan in this blogger and I look forward to reading more of her work.  Thank you, Lauren, for a wonderful story and for bringing us Mercury in all her madcap glory!

*I received a copy of this book from the author for an honest review

5LovesRLBFive Loves

 

About the author:

Lauren grew up in Monroe, CT, where her father owned a drugstore at which her mother was the pharmacist. She is a graduate of the University of Connecticut at Storrs, where she majored in psychology. She also has what she calls her “half-Masters” in English from Western Connecticut State University (five courses down, another five to go…someday!).

Throughout college, she worked semester breaks as a doughnut salesperson, a job that she swears gave her white lung disease from all the powdered sugar she breathed.

Upon graduation, she began work at the venerable independent spacebookseller, now sadly defunct as such, Klein’s of Westport. There, she bought and sold for the better part of 11 years.

In November 1994, Lauren left the bookstore to finally take a chance on herself as a writer. Success did not happen over night. Between 1994 and May 2002 – when Red Dress Ink called with an offer to buy THE THIN PINK LINE – Lauren worked as a book reviewer, a freelance editor and writer, and a window washer, making her arguably the only woman in the world who has ever both hosted a book signing party and washed the windows of the late best-selling novelist Robert Ludlum.

Since Red Dress Ink’s call in 2002, Lauren has been kept very busy with writing more novels and checking her Amazon ranking on a daily basis. She still lives in Danbury, with her husband and daughter, where she has lived since 1991.

In addition to writing, Lauren’s daughter keeps her busy, accounting for the rest of her time.

Lauren’s favorite color is green.

Lauren’s favorite non-cat animals are penguins.

Lauren wants you to know that, however you are pronouncing her last name, you are probably pronouncing it wrong. 

 

Cover Reveal…Lockout by Maya Cross

Introducing:

Lockout by Maya Cross

Lockout Cover

Lockout releases the end of May 2013

 

 

Synopsis:

This is not a standalone story. It is the sequel to Locked, which should be read first. Locked is currently available for just $0.99. (Buy it from Amazon  ~  Buy it from Barnes & Noble

Who is Sebastian Lock?

Sophia had never felt attraction like that before. Raw. Electric. Irresistible. Swept off her feet by the dashing, enigmatic billionaire Sebastian Lock, she was taken on a journey of self-discovery, taken to places she never dreamed she’d go.

But things are never as simple as they appear. Sophia’s trust is a fragile thing, and Sebastian seems insistent on testing it. He has his own demons to battle, and nobody has brought them to the fore like she has.

As their relationship deepens, and Sophia begins to break down his walls, all that greets her are more questions. Why is Sebastian fighting so hard to keep her at a distance? Who is the girl on the background of his phone? And why does the strange tattoo on his chest seem so familiar?

These puzzles plague her, but as Sebastian’s mysteries begin to unravel, she must face an entirely different truth. Staying in the dark may be painful, but finding the answers could be deadly.

 

Teaser:

As the first song ended, the music changed. The new tune was slower, more sultry, and Sebastian was quick to adapt. A delicate twist of his wrist and I was spinning away, then suddenly snapping backwards to rest against him once more, this time with my back against his chest. With torturous softness, his hands began to trace their way across my sides and down my thighs, flirting with the hem of my dress. Such intimacy in a public place should have made me balk, but the sensuality in the air was infectious. I was utterly lost in the moment. I could feel his breath hot on my skin as his lips teased the air just above my neck, tantalising but never touching. With every vacillation of our hips my ass grazed against his pants, letting me know that I wasn’t the only one finding this to be a powerfully erotic experience.

Other couples were throwing propriety to the wind too. Several men swept passed us with open shirts, their chests glistening with sweat, their partners slicing the air with their skirts like fans. One woman had shed her top all together and was twisting from side to side in just her bra like a belly dancer. All around the room, people were laughing and clapping and cheering in time with the beat. I’d never been part of such an unrestrained expression of joy before.

“You look stunning,” Sebastian breathed into my ear.

“Do I now?” I replied.

“You do. Although it might have something to do with the fact that everything you’re doing right now, I’m imaging you doing it naked.”

I laughed. “Is that so? Well then, I probably shouldn’t do this.” Slipping free of his grip, I turned once more and began to glide around him in a slow circle, swaying my hips provocatively and dragging my hands slowly up and down my body.

A low, masculine sound escaped his throat. “God, I can only restrain myself so much, Sophia.”

I grinned, but didn’t stop. It was thrilling putting on that kind of show for him in the middle of a crowded room. I could see the outline of his excitement pressing urgently against his pants. The truth was, with all the electricity that was coursing through my veins, I wasn’t sure I wanted him to restrain himself. I’d had the elaborate foreplay, now I wanted what that promised.

 

About the author:

Maya Cross is a writer who enjoys making people blush. Growing up with a mother who worked in a book store, she read a lot from a very young age, and soon enough picked up a pen of her own. Her previous work spans many genres including horror, science fiction, and fantasy, and she has now started this pen name as an outlet for her spicier thoughts (they were starting to overflow). She likes her heroes strong but mysterious, her encounters sizzling, and her characters true to life.

She believes in writing familiar narratives told with a twist, so most of her stories will feel comfortable, but hopefully a little unique. Whatever genre she’s writing, finding a fascinating concept is the first, and most important step.

The Alpha Group is her first attempt at erotic romance.

When she’s not writing, she’s playing tennis, trawling her home town of Sydney for new inspiration, and drinking too much coffee.

She loves to hear from readers, so please feel free to follow her on any of her social media channels. And don’t forget to check out her website. You can sign up to her mailing list there, to hear about new releases and any promotional sales she might be running.

 

Website  ~  Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Goodreads  ~  Shelfari

 

Cover Reveal…Lifeless by J.M. La Rocca

Introducing:

Lifeless by J.M. La Rocca

Lifeless COVER

Synopsis:

After graduating from the University of South Alabama, Scarlett Moore finds out her boyfriend of five months is actually married with a kid on the way. Feeling used and heartbroken she decides it’s time to take her best friend Jules’ advice to move in with her, but she’ll have to move to Atlanta. There, Jules helps her get a job at Entertainment Atlanta where she works as an entertainment insurance agent. It’s nothing Scarlett dreamed of doing with her life, but it’s better than not having a job at all and who wouldn’t mind working with famous people, right.

But then she gets assigned EA’s newest client Kade Evans, rock star turned actor. Not only is he a drug addict, he’s also known for never dating the same girl twice. He’s tall, dark, and handsome, has an amazing voice, and good acting skills, but he’s also arrogant and intense.

After their first meeting the chemistry between them is undeniable.

The love that comes later is unexpected.

But Kade’s life is full of secrets. His past has now become his present and when Scarlett finds out what his secrets are, deception hits.

Excerpt:

Kade captured my mouth in a hard kiss then stood up, taking off his jeans and boxers.

“Stand up, Scarlett,” he commanded as he kicked his clothes out of the way.

I looked at him with wide eyes, wondering what he was going to do. I got up from the couch and stood next to him, staring him in the eyes. The look he was giving me was pure, unadulterated lust. The butterflies in my stomach were going crazy.

“Take your clothes off then get on your knees on the edge of the couch and lean forward,” he commanded as he started stroking his length back and forth.

I just stood there and watched him. He was so beautiful. I was mesmerized by the movement of his hands. I licked my lips wanting to drop to my knees so I could please him again.

“Now, Scarlett,” he growled at me.

Not wasting another minute, I lifted the t-shirt over my head and hurriedly took off my panties, watching him stroke himself the entire time. Kicking my soaked panties out of the way, I turned and kneeled on the edge of the cushion and braced my hands on the back of the couch.

“Like this,” I asked, turning my head to look behind me.

“Spread your knees further apart.”

I did as he instructed.

“Yeah, baby, just like that,” he said roughly as he moved closer behind me.

 

About the author:

My name is Jennifer La Rocca and I’m a stay at home mom of 3yr old twins. I’ve been married for 7 years and I just recently moved from Pensacola, FL to Atlanta, GA. I started writing Lifeless three weeks after our move and just recently finished it. I’ve had a passion for writing since I was a little girl, writing poems and short stories. My mother has always told me that I should start taking writing seriously, but I always thought of it as just a hobby until a couple years ago. Now that I’ve finally written my first book I wish I would have listened a long time ago. Lifeless will be released July 9th and I can’t wait for you to meet Kade and Scarlett.

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Goodreads

 

 

ARC Review & GIVEAWAY…Summer in Napa by Marina Adair

To celebrate the release of Marina Adair’s Summer In Napa, the second in her St. Helena Vineyard Series, I am so happy to offer a signed paperback copy to give to one lucky winner (US residents only)!  

The rafflecopter is posted below my review with all of your chances to win!  

Good luck! 

Summer in Napa releases May 14

Summer-in-Napa cover

Buy from Amazon  ~  Buy from Barnes & Noble 

Synopsis:

When Alexis “Lexi” Moreau caught her husband, Jeff, sampling the sous-chef’s more intimate wares in their New York restaurant, she ran—all the way back to her hometown of St. Helena, California. Six months later, Lexi has no husband and no restaurant. But she does have a three-step plan: First, convert her grandmother’s bakery into her dream bistro. Second, ignore Grandma’s matchmaking attempts. And third, avoid Marco DeLuca, her ex’s commitment-phobic, distractingly sexy best friend.

In school Lexi was off-limits for Marco. After all, she was his buddy’s girl. But she’s still as smart and as gorgeous—and apparently as immune to his charms—as she used to be. Yet the simple fake romance they agree upon to dodge Lexi’s grandmother’s matchmaking plans soon turns deliciously complicated. And the sultry summer might bring together all the right ingredients for Marco to win the only woman he’s ever wanted.

 

My Review:

This is the second installment of Marina Adair’s St. Helena Vineyard Series and follows Kissing Under the Mistletoe.  I was so excited and looking forward to this story after loving Kissing Under the Mistletoe and it lived up to every expectation I had….and more!

Lexi Moreau is back in her hometown of St. Helena and looking for a new start after leaving her ex-husband, ex-restaurant and ex-dreams behind in New York.  What she isn’t looking forward to is running into all of her old friends and having to deal with all of their questions….and worse, their pity.  What she REALLY isn’t looking forward to is a calendar bursting at the seams with blind dates set up by her grandmother and her grandmother’s friends.  Lexi has a lot on her plate with trying to re-build her life and find a new future, certainly she won’t have time for love, but when she starts seeing old friend Marco DeLuca more and more, Lexi realizes that he may have been “the one” all along.

Marco DeLuca is up to his eyeballs in work.  He’s trying to get the old hotel, his hotel now, the one  in the center of town, up and ready to showcase at the Summer Wine Showdown…which is the biggest event in St. Helena every summer.  What he isn’t planning on is running into a very stuck Lexi Moreau hanging ass first out of her grandmother’s bakery window.  He always had a thing for her, but she had married his best friend, and even though they weren’t together any longer, she was still off-limits.  Man code dictated she was still off-limits.  So he should walk away, but Marco was never known to walk away from a beautiful woman.  His shoulder just may be the shoulder she needs to cry on….and he may end up realizing he should have never let her marry his dumb-ass of a former best friend.

Together, Marc and Lexi have more obstacles to hurdle than most.  Grandmothers determined to set her up, long-buried feelings, town snoops, bitter ex-girlfriends and an ex-husband that turns out to have a laundry list of dishonest deeds that threaten to ruin what Marc and Lexi have just begun to realize as a love they have denied themselves since they were teenagers at prom.

What a fantastic, feel good, honest and true romance read.  I freaking LOVED this book.  What Marina gives the reader is truly a gift.  I felt for each character.  Every laugh and every cry and especially every minute of sexual pull between Lexi and Marc.  Dear God….the heat from Marc was palpable.  There’s a scene in this book, in the pantry, that ranks as one of my fave hottest moments (a Frisky Friday post, perhaps?).  Marc has such a way with words that I don’t doubt for one minute that any woman would be putty in his hands.  He is sex on a stick and has such a big heart that when he finally finds love, you know it’s all-in, forever.  Lexi is a freaking dream character!  I love her!  I don’t love many heroines as much as I love Lexi.  The fact that she eats her weight in éclairs through this book and finds the strength to smile in the face of adversity all while still giving love a chance is so admirable.  I had more than a few laugh-out-loud-at-work moments while reading this story.  Lexi and Marc are a book couple I will be looking for in future installments in this series…they are just too great together! Oh, and don’t even get me started on the grandmothers! Those ladies are the best and I wish we all had women like them in our lives! Talk about fan-freaking-tastic characters!! Spunky, no-nonsense, loyal ladies with a love of life and their families….love those old biddies!

Marina is such a phenomenal storyteller.  I am lucky to have been giving the chance to read Summer in Napa Valley and be able to bring my voice to all of you in recommending it.  If you love love, happy endings and paddling through countless emotions to get to that happy ending, this is a book for you.  Thank you, Marina, for doing what you do….and don’t ever stop! Can’t wait to have another visit to St. Helena in the future!

5LovesRLBFive Loves

 

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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

Interview with Dr. Ivan Rusilko from The Winemaker’s Dinner Series & Giveaway

IvanInterviewPic

I was extremely lucky to catch up with Dr. Ivan from The Winemaker’s Dinner Series recently at the 2013 Romantic Times convention, fresh off of the release of Dessert.  Thanks to your help on Twitter, and help from the two great gals with me, we were able to get a little bit of insight into the mind of the delicious Dr. Ivan!

Oh, and what interview wouldn’t be complete without a fun giveaway? I have a set of paperback copies of The Winemaker’s Dinner Appetizers and Entree to give away along with a signed goodie from Ivan and Ivans-you-can-eat (his adorable face on M&M’s!) YAY! Enter to win in the rafflecopter below….enjoy!

                                                                                                                                                                                      APPETIZERS_FRONT  Entree_Cover_AB_v3  Dessert_Cover_

Interview with Ivan:

What are you afraid of? Any phobias? “SPIDERS!! Arachnophobia….obviously ;-)”

What was engraved in that ring? “No spoilers……”

How do your parents feel about being in the books again? “They don’t know they are In this book yet, but they love being in the other ones”

What made you decide to call your inner demon “freak”? “Korn’s Freak on a Leash”

What prompted you to use your real first name in the book? “Who says that’s my real first name? Haha! …..because it’s a real story”

How was it writings book that showed you as not the perfect guy, but as a flawed man? “It’s great to write true nonfiction….”

Still some unanswered equestrians when it comes to Jaden’s family. Another book? “The series is not over :-D”

How does it feel knowing Dessert debuted the highest if the series? “It feels special, very special….it’s my favorite in the series”

Apples or oranges? “Green apples”

What writes influenced you? “C.S. Lewis”

Build your ultimate sandwich: “asiago cheese bread, lettuce tomato, pickle, mustard, Italian dressing and chicken OR two brunettes”

Do you see yourself writing any other books besides TWD? If so, main character again or total fiction? “Yes, more books…still erotica. Yes, I’d still be the main character, but introduce some new characters.”

Favorite aspect of writing a book? “Physically creating a reality that’s not real; like a lucid dream in a way. But, overall, it’s meeting the fans”

Favorite guilty pleasure? “Saying in one night and not doing anything.  I’m constantly doing three things at the same time and multitasking…it’s rare that I just shut the world out.”

Favorite sport? Team? “Ice Hockey (watching and playing…he was almost A professional hockey payer and was quite the bruiser!) and the Penguins [are the fave team]”

Next tattoo? “Not sure yet, but it will involve medicine in the design somehow”

Fave band? “Pink Floyd”

Fave medical procedure to perform? “Lips”

Boxers, briefs or commando? “Depends on the woman and what’s planned for the evening”

Are you intimidated by anything? “Approaching and talking to a single woman”

Most attractive thing a woman wears? Says? “Wears….short, tight skirt for a night out and baggy jeans with holes in them during the day.  As far as what a woman says….anything an educated woman says is attractive.”

Do you want kids? “Yes…two boys. I would like them to be athletic, learn a second language and learn/play an instrument….being well rounded is important.”

Worst interview question? “Is it in yet? haha! just kidding…I’ve never been asked that 😉 Basically just being asked the same questions at interviews.”

What was your favorite video game growing up? “Goldeneye for Nintendo 64….or Duck Hunt or Paper Boy”

What’s your advice for a guy looking to pick up a gal? “It’s a game; learn how to play it.”

Are we your favorite interviewers? “By far!” (good answer, Ivan!)

 ______________________

Many thanks to Ivan for taking the time to sit down with me and my friends to chat and answer our questions, and many thanks to those that contributed to my interview on Twitter! Ivan is incredibly charming, gracious, wonderfully idealistic, open and funny….loves “that’s what she said jokes” and has managed to accomplish a great many things before hitting the big 3-0. Oh, and ladies, he’s a Pisces.  If my interview is reaching you and introducing you to Dr. Ivan and The Winemaker’s Dinner Series for the very first time, I can’t recommend this book series highly enough….so grab a copy, a glass of wine and enjoy the ride!

……And another huge thanks to Micha….for being Micha <3

Enter to win a paperback copy of Appetizer and Entree as well as a signed Ivan picture and Ivans-you-can-eat!

IvanInterviewGiveaway

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