Everywhere and Every Way by Jennifer Probst…EXCLUSIVE EXCERPT and Giveaway

Everywhere and Every Way

EVERYWHERE AND EVERY WAY by Jennifer Probst

Synopsis:

Hot on the heels of her beloved Marriage to a Billionaire novels, New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Probst nails it with the first in an all-new sexy romance series featuring red-hot contractor siblings who give the Property Brothers a run for their money!

Ever the responsible eldest brother, Caleb Pierce started working for his father’s luxury contracting business at a young age, dreaming of one day sitting in the boss’s chair. But his father’s will throws a wrench in his plans by stipulating that Caleb share control of the family business with his two estranged brothers.

Things only get more complicated when demanding high-end home designer Morgan hires Caleb to build her a customized dream house that matches her specifications to a T—or she’ll use her powerful connections to poison the Pierce brothers’ reputation. Not one to ignore a challenge, Caleb vows to get the job done—if only he can stop getting distracted by his new client’s perfect…amenities.

But there’s more to icy Morgan than meets the eye. And Caleb’s not the only one who knows how to use a stud-finder. In fact, Morgan is pretty sure she’s found hers—and he looks quite enticing in a hard hat. As sparks fly between Morgan and Caleb despite his best intentions not to mix business and pleasure, will she finally warm up and help him lay the foundation for everlasting love?

 

EXCLUSIVE EXCERPT:

They stared at each other, but Morgan didn’t retreat. The foundation was being set. They circled around like boxers, trying out jabs, looking for weak spots, because they were complete strangers. She expected him to start yelling or zinging insults, but he surprised her again by letting out a laugh and shaking his head. “Now that we’re all warm and fuzzy with preliminaries, why don’t we talk business?”

Her skin tingled. Talking business was her favorite thing to do. It was like getting to play hard in a controlled environment. “Agreed. I’m hoping you decided to take the job?”

He nodded, allowing her to pretend it was a question rather than a statement. “On consensual terms.”

“Of course.” The word consensual was matched with a tiny smirk. She ignored the tickle of awareness in her lower half.

“Add thirty percent to your initial proposal in cost,” he said.

Ouch. He’d gotten the first hit. “Absolutely not. That’s criminal and insane. The original price stays because it’s fair. We can incorporate bonuses for early completion, and scales for specialized supplies we require.”

“Not good enough. You stole a job that would’ve given me more than just money. I could’ve built my reputation as an environmentally competent builder. Instead, I get stuck with a house that will hardly be lived in.”

Her nail tapped faster against her glass. “You’ll get exposure by publicity and a featured spread in Home Style magazine.”

“In this town, everyone’s going Green. It’s the new thing. Not overpriced, oversize mansions on the water that scream Im better than you. Welcome to the new century.”

She seethed, more because he was right. Kind of. Green building techniques were blowing up everywhere, and she’d snatched that prize away from him. She wished the Rosenthals cared about social consciousness, but they didn’t. They wanted a huge, ostentatious house that said they had arrived, without openly bragging. It was a fine line she had been hired to walk. Morgan hated feeling guilty, but a tiny bit seeped in. Pursing her lips, her brain clicked away at the percentages, the financial breakdown, and her cushion that she’d automatically thrown in.

“Twenty percent. I won’t go higher.”
“Done.”
The smirk made her realize she’d been conned. He

would’ve taken 10 percent. Damn, damn, damn. That mis- take would never happen again. To make herself feel better, she snapped through the list of needs she’d memorized. “Completion must be in six months. Turn-key ready. My specs were clearly listed on the original plans and triple- checked with some of the best architects in the world.”

He snorted. “Don’t care until Brady says it’s doable. We go by my architect or no one at all.”

She knew that would be the case, and had already anticipated agreement. Again, she’d researched Brady Heart, and he was top-notch. “Fine. I have final say in all decisions. The Rosenthals trust me to bring them a home completed perfectly to their expectations, and the only way to deliver is to be on-site the entire time.”

“You like white, huh?”
She looked up from the glass she’d been tapping. “Huh?” He jerked a thumb toward her outfit. “White. Second time I’m seeing you in that color. Not a great look for a site, you know.”

Her gaze narrowed. “Mr. Pierce, I’ve been to over a dozen building sites and know exactly how to handle myself. And what to wear. This is my choice of outfit for business meetings and personal events only.”

“Like hanging out at home? Were you just relaxing here or waiting for me to storm the gates of your castle?”

 

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EVERYWHERE AND EVERY WAY by Jennifer Probst is coming May 31st!
Pre-order now:
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1YqvR9O
iBooks:  http://apple.co/1ZO0tCp
BN:  http://bit.ly/1TCkbg4
GooglePlay:  http://bit.ly/24WYzWY
Kobo: http://bit.ly/27kudwu

GIVEAWAY:

I’ve got a copy of EVERYWHERE AND EVERY WAY and a fabulous keychain to give away to one lucky winner!!

US addresses only please.

To enter, comment on this blog post with what room in your house you’d like to re-do! 

We will be picking a winner Tuesday afternoon, May 31st

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About Jennifer Probst:

Jennifer Probst wrote her first book at twelve years old. She bound it in a folder, read it to her classmates, and hasn’t stopped writing since. She took a short hiatus to get married, get pregnant, buy a house, get pregnant again, pursue a master’s in English Literature, and rescue two shelter dogs. Now she is writing again.

She makes her home in Upstate New York with the whole crew. Her sons keep her active, stressed, joyous, and sad her house will never be truly clean.
She is the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of sexy and erotic contemporary romance. She was thrilled her book, The Marriage Bargain, was ranked #6 on Amazon’s Best Books for 2012. She loves hearing from readers. Visit her website for updates on new releases and her street team at www.jenniferprobst.com.

Website:  www.jenniferprobst.com
Facebook Fan Page:  https://www.facebook.com/jenniferprobst.authorpage
Twitter:   https://twitter.com/jenniferprobst
Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2965489.Jennifer_Probst

Wednesday by Clare James….Sales Blitz & Review

 

 

Title: Wednesday

Series: Love in Days #1 

Author: Clare James

Genre: Contemporary Romance

 Release Date: September 27, 2014

Blurb

 

A #1 Amazon category bestseller!
Real. Raw. Insanely Sexy. WEDNESDAY is a stand-alone story.
*Book #2, Alex’s story, coming this summer!

Her. Him. Alone. Every Wednesday …

Twenty-one-year-old Aria Prince has just moved back to her hometown to start over after a painful divorce. She’s always prided herself on being an early bloomer, but had no idea she’d be married, divorced, and the mother of a toddler by twenty-one.

Unlike her friends who were at school, going to parties, and sowing their oats–wild and otherwise–Aria’s days were measured in the number of orders she took at her family’s restaurant, the chapters she read in her nursing text, the amount of Cheerios she cleaned up off the floor, and the wet kisses she received from her son.

And that was just fine with her.

But when she began running into her former best friend Tristan Green – who was home taking care of his sick father – she remembered what it felt like to be just Aria. Not a single mother, or sleep-deprived nursing student, or royal screw up. And though she didn’t even have time to shave her legs, let alone consider a sex life, Tristan makes an offer she’d be a fool to refuse.

Each day they’d give themselves to those who needed them. Every day – except Wednesday.

Wednesday, they’d take what they needed from each other.

*Wednesday is a gritty and intoxicating romance from Clare James that will keep you turning the pages no matter what day of week you choose to indulge! *

Purchase Links

On sale for $3.99, will go up to $4.99

AMAZON US / UK

 review

I am a huge fan of Clare James.  I loved the synopsis of this book.  However, this book fell short for me.

I was pulled into the book from the very beginning but at some point, I am not even sure exactly where, things started to become rushed and the characters fell flat.   I had a hard time connecting to any of them and just felt there was so much more that could have been added to the story.

For me personally, I felt that everything was too rushed  Aria’s ability to just go back and forth with her feelings on Tristan but none of that was explored or developed. Aria and Alex’s relationship and things afterwards just seem to be glossed over and not worked out.  There was some sibling rivalry with Aria and her sister Serena, but nothing ever came of that.  I just felt like there so much more potential for a better plot and was let down by how quickly everything ended.

I could easily visualize everything playing out and was really hoping as I was reading that we’d get more and more. Things were starting to get interesting and  we  were given some added tension around the 75% mark. But next thing I knew the books ends and none of that angst and drama played out.  WTH?!?!

Even for a novella, this book just comes across as underdeveloped.  It has the potential for so much more.  But that won’t stop from me reading more from Clare! 

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Pre-order

 

Releasing August 1, 2016

Clare James’ new take on Sports Romance has never hurt so good…

 

A football star on his climb to the top loses his footing when a person from his past needs help. But as he’s forced to deal with the life, and the people, he’s left behind, he begins to jeopardize his future.

 

With a swoon-worthy hero to die for, a cast of characters that feel like family, and a sizzling romance that’ll keep you up well into the night, TGIF will take on an entirely new meaning. Coming this summer! 

Special pre-order price of $2.99, will be $4.99 

AMAZON US / UK

Author Bio

Clare James writes steamy contemporary romance and new adult stories, penning more than a dozen novels. Her Entangled Brazen debut, CAUGHT, was a #1 Amazon Best-Selling Romance Series, and the touching family drama, WEDNESDAY, also hit #1 as a category bestseller on Amazon.

 

Clare is fan of spunky women, gorgeous guys, and super-hot romance, and spends most of her time lost in books. When she’s not reading, you can find her locked away writing. Clare is also a former dancer and still loves to get her groove on – mostly to work off her beloved cupcakes and red wine. She lives in Minneapolis with her two leading men – her husband and young son – and is always on social media chatting with readers.

 

Author Links

NEWSLETTER

TWITTER

 

Giveaway

Bedmates by Nicole Chase…Cover Reveal

 

BLURB

Everyone makes mistakes, especially in college. But when you’re the daughter of the President of the United States, any little slip up is a huge embarrassment. Maddie McGuire’s latest error in judgment lands her in police custody, giving the press a field day. Agreeing to do community service as penance and to restore her tattered reputation, Maddie never dreams incredibly good looking but extremely annoying vice president’s son, Jake Simmon, will be along for the ride.
Recently returning from Afghanistan with a life-altering injury, Jake is wrestling with his own demons. He doesn’t have the time or patience to deal with the likes of Maddie. They’re like oil and water and every time they’re together, it’s combustible. But there’s a thin line between love and hate, and it’s not long before their fiery arguments give way to infinitely sexier encounters.
When Jake receives devastating news about the last remaining member of his unit, the darkness he’s resisted for so long begins to overwhelm him. Scared to let anyone close, he pushes Maddie away. But she isn’t about to give up on Jake that easily. Maddie’s fallen for him, and she’ll do anything to keep him from the edge as they both discover that love is a battlefield and there are some fights you just can’t lose.
Add to Goodreads:

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Nichole Chase is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Suddenly Royal and Recklessly Royal. She lives in Georgia with her husband, toddler, superhero dog, Sulcata tortoise, and two cats. When not devouring novels by the dozens, you can find her writing, painting, crafting, or chasing her daughter around the house while making monster noises.

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Harlequin May Spotlight: Deadly Obsession by Elle James

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Synopsis:

In New York Times bestselling author Elle James’s latest, one woman finds she’s unsafe in her own home—and in her heart… 

Real estate whiz Jillian Taylor thinks heroes and haunted houses are bogus. But when a series of strange events leaves her in danger, Stealth Ops Specialist Chance McCall is quick to the scene. Jillian can’t resist the chemistry brewing between her and the sexy agent. But as she and Chance deconstruct her nightmares, someone becomes more desperate to keep those secrets from surfacing.

Chance knows there’s more going on at the derelict Victorian manor than just ghosts—just as he knows there’s something about the blonde beauty he can’t resist. If only he could help decipher the meaning of Jillian’s tortured dreams…and keep her safe in his arms forever.

Available now!

Amazon | Amazon UK | Kobo | Nook | iBooks | GooglePlay

 

Date Night Dinner:

muschroom steak

 

Steak and Mushroom Gravy

  • 5 tablespoons butter, divided
  • 2 teaspoons all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 pound thick-sliced fresh mushrooms
  • 1/2 cup sherry
  • 1/8 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, divided
  • 2 (10-ounce) boneless beef loin strip steaks
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  1. Melt 4 tablespoons of butter over medium heat in a large skillet.
  2. Add flour and mix.
  3. Add mushrooms and sauté 3-5 minutes, or until golden. Stir in sherry, Worcestershire sauce, and black pepper. Reduce heat and cook on low 5-6 minutes, or until sauce is thickened, stirring occasionally.
  4. Heat grill pan over high heat. Rub tablespoon of butter on both sides of the steaks, sprinkle with the salt and pepper. Place the steaks in the grill pan and cook for 4-5 minutes each side for, or until desired doneness. Serve steaks topped with mushroom sauce.

Serve with baked potato and steamed carrots or fresh green beans. Add a dry red wine like Merlot and you’re in business!

Have a leisurely meal, getting to know each other and then snuggle up to the movie GHOST, starring Demi Moore and Patrick Swayze for romance, humor and thrills.

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About the Author

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author ELLE JAMES also writing as MYLA JACKSON is an award-winning author of stories including cowboys, intrigues and paranormal adventures that keep her readers on the edges of their seats. With over eighty stories in a variety of sub-genres and lengths she has published with Harlequin, Samhain, Ellora’s Cave, Kensington and Avon. When she’s not at her computer, she’s traveling, snow-skiing, boating, or riding her ATV, dreaming up new stories.

Elle’s Links: Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads | Newsletter | Amazon Author Page

 


Cover Reveal…Luka by Jane Harvey-Berrick

 

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Coming June 16th

Pre-Order Links

Amazon US  Amazon UK  Amazon CA  

Add to your Goodreads shelf now.

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I’m not a good man.

I’m not a bad man.

But I’ve made some bad mistakes, made the wrong choices.

Who hasn’t? But the consequences are tearing us apart.

 

I love two people.

I love them differently.

The world tells me I have to choose. Why? Why do I have to choose?

Loving hurts. Dancing heals.

 

Love makes you soar, makes you fly and sets you free—and then it lets you freefall until you’re smashed and bleeding on the ground. Ultimately, love is the worst thing that can happen to a human being.

 

Im my opinion.

I love two people.

I love them differently.

One is a man.

One is a woman.

And they are brother and sister.

 

**** A stand alone novel in the best-selling Rhythm Series. ****

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Jane is a writer of contemporary romance fiction, known for thoughtful stories, often touching on difficult subjects: disability (DANGEROUS TO KNOW & LOVE, SLAVE TO THE RHYTHM); mental illness (THE EDUCATION OF CAROLINE, SEMPER FI); life after prison (LIFERS); dyslexia (THE TRAVELING MAN, THE TRAVELING WOMAN).

She is also a campaigner for former military personnel to receive the support they need on leaving the services. She wrote the well-received play LATER, AFTER with former veteran Mike Speirs. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hk1CyB8c0xA )

Author Links

Web Facebook  Twitter  Amazon Page Goodreads Instagram

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Charged by Jay Crownover…Release Week Event

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From New York Times bestselling author Jay Crownover comes CHARGED, the latest in her sexy The Saints of Denver Series, releasing May 24th! Known for her strong heroines and alpha males, you won’t know what hit you as you read Avett and Quaid’s story. Keep reading for more about the Leagle Eagle and Avett and order your copy today.

 

 

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Amazon ** iBooks ** Barnes & Noble ** Kobo

About CHARGED:

From the New York Times bestselling author of the Marked Men books comes the second installment in the Saints of Denver series featuring a bad girl and a by the book attorney who could be her salvation…or her ruin.

Avett Walker and Quaid Jackson’s worlds have no reason to collide. Ever. Quaid is a high powered criminal attorney as slick as he is handsome. Avett is a pink-haired troublemaker with a bad attitude and a history of picking the wrong men.

When Avett lands in a sea of hot water because of one terrible mistake, the only person who can get her out of it is the insanely sexy lawyer. The last thing on earth she wants to do is rely on the no-nonsense attorney who thinks of her as nothing more than a nuisance. He literally has her fate in his hands. Yet there is something about him that makes her want to convince him to loosen his tie and have a little fun…with her.

Quaid never takes on clients like the impulsive young woman with a Technicolor dye job. She could stand to learn a hard lesson or two, but something about her guileless hazel eyes intrigues him. Still, he’s determined to keep their relationship strictly business. But doing so is becoming more impossible with each day he spends with her.

As they work side-by-side, they’ll have to figure out a way to get along and keep their hands off each other—because the chemistry between them is beyond charged.

 

CHARGED - RWB Teaser 1

 

 

And don’t miss the first titles in The Saints of Denver Series!

 

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LEVELED

 

Studio portrait of young bearded man --- Image by © pinkypills/Corbis

BUILT

 

 

Jay Crownover - author picAbout Jay Crownover:

Jay Crownover is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Marked Men, The Point,and the Saints of Denverseries. Like her characters, she is a big fan of tattoos. She loves music and wishes she could be a rock star, but since she has no aptitude for singing or instrument playing, she’ll settle for writing stories with interesting characters that make the reader feel something. She lives in Colorado with her three dogs.

 

 

 

Website ** Blog ** Facebook ** Twitter

CHARGED Goodreads ** Jay Crownover Goodreads

 

 

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

CHARGED - Available Now

 

 

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Harlequin May Spotlight: Truth and Consequences by Lenora Worth

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Synopsis:

THE PROTECTOR’S MISSION

Honoring a promise to a fallen comrade, former army medic David Evans heads to Arizona to check up on the soldier’s sister. But as his train pulls into Desert Valley, David witnesses a drug run gone wrong and narrowly avoids the bullets flying his way. And when the police show up, he discovers the investigating officer is the woman he’s supposed to look after. With a fiercely protective K-9 partner and a new badge, Whitney Godwin insists she can take care of herself and her infant daughter. But the criminals want both David and Whitney permanently silenced, so David will stop at nothing to protect the family he yearns to join.

Rookie K-9 Unit: These lawmen solve the toughest cases with the help of their brave canine partners

 

Date Night Dinner:

bt

Beef Tenderloin with Balsamic Tomatoes

Ingredients:

1/2 cup balsamic vinegar

1/3 cup coarsely chopped, seeded tomato

2 teaspoons olive oil

2 beef tenderloin steaks, cut 3/4 inch thick (about 8 ounces)

1 teaspoon snipped fresh thyme

Directions

  1. In a small saucepan bring vinegar to boiling. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, 5 minutes or until reduced to 1/4 cup. Stir tomatoes into hot vinegar reduction.
  2. Meanwhile, trim fat from steaks. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. In a large skillet heat oil over medium-high heat. Add steaks; reduce heat to medium. Cook to desired doneness, turning once. Allow 7 to 9 minutes for medium-rare (145 degrees F) to medium (160 degrees F).
  3. To serve, spoon vinegar reduction over steaks. Sprinkle with thyme.

 

About the author:

Lenora Worth has written 35 books for three different publishers. She reached a milestone in 2006 when she received her 25th book pin from Steeple Hill and Harlequin. Her books have won both regional and national awards and she now has over 1 million books in print. Currently she is writing both Love Inspired and Love Inspired Suspense for Steeple Hill. Married to her childhood sweetheart, Lenora has two grown children. She wrote a weekly opinion column for five years for the local paper and currently also writes freelance for a local magazine. Lenora lives in Louisiana.

 

 


 

Cover Reveal…Screwmates by Laurelin Paige & Kayti McGee

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Screwmates

by Laurelin Paige and Kayti McGee

Cover by Hang Lee

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Synopsis:

I knew from the first time I saw Marc Kirby that I was screwed.

Big eyes, scruffy face, brown curls yes, yes, and yes. The man is wicked hot.

Hes also my roommate, and since I work nights and hes at class all day its like living alone at half the rent.

Then an unexpected night off turns into an unexpected morning in Marcs bed and an even more unexpected realization that both of us are terrible in the sack.

This is not great news for Marc whos going on a bangcationat the end of the summer a whole month in France that hes planned to spend getting busy with the women of Paris.

Its also not great news for me for obvious reasons.

With both of us needing work on our skills, theres only one logical solution to our predicament.

Told you I was screwed.

Add on Goodreads

Pre-Order Now Exclusively on iBooks

http://apple.co/1sN99iw

Screwmates Coming Soon

About the Authors:

With over 1 million books sold, Laurelin Paige is the NY Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling Author of the Fixed Trilogy. She’s a sucker for a good romance and gets giddy anytime there’s kissing, much to the embarrassment of her three daughters. Her husband doesn’t seem to complain, however. When she isn’t reading or writing sexy stories, she’s probably singing, watching Game of Thrones and the Walking Dead, or dreaming of Michael Fassbender. She’s also a proud member of Mensa International though she doesn’t do anything with the organization except use it as material for her bio.

Kayti McGee is a Kansas City native who now calls Colorado home. When she isnt writing, shes making up recipes to go with her favorite books.

 

Connect with the Authors:

Laurelin Paige:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/LaurelinPaige
Twitter: @laurelinpaige
Website: www.laurelinpaige.com
Newsletter Sign-up: http://bit.ly/1Tvh763

Kayti McGee:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/Kayti.McGee.Author
Twitter: @KaytiIsWriting
Website: http://www.LaurelinMcGee.com
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Love Sick: A Memoir by Cory Martin

Love Sick by Cory Martin

LOVE SICK
A Memoir

“Unflinchingly honest and vulnerable, Martin’s book says all the things people need to hear and few are brave enough to voice. Full of humor, absurd situations, and wry observations, her story inspires us to never stop looking for love.” – Stephanie Savage, co-creator Gossip Girl

“This is an honest book that does not hesitate in pulling its punches. Packed with emotion, it will leave you turning the pages in anticipation…” – New York Journal of Books

“Many women spend their thirties trying to get settled in their careers, friendships, and love lives, Cory Martin spent hers trying to do all that while dealing with an insane medical curveball. An incredible story told with honesty, humor, and hope.” – Leila Gerstein, creator Hart of Dixie, writer Gossip Girl, The O.C.

“Candid, wise, funny, heartbreaking and ultimately inspirational: in an unpredictable world, Cory Martin’s Love Sick reminds us of what really matters.” – Matt Ward, writer Madam Secretary, Suburgatory, My Name Is Earl

“I expected Cory Martin’s memoir about a girl’s diagnosis and struggle with multiple sclerosis to be heart-breaking, but I didn’t expect it to also be a hilarious, hip, and sexy trip through her adventures in dating and her un-jaded quest for true love. You’ll cry but more importantly you’ll laugh.” – Marianne Wibberley, writer Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle, National Treasure

From a former writer on the once popular television show, The O.C., comes LOVE SICK (Write Out Publishing, February 9, 2016, $24.95, hardcover) a smart and witty account of dating while navigating a life of uncertain health. This powerful memoir speaks to a new generation of women, sparking the conversation: when you’re dealing with illness and you’re still single, what do you do? Face it alone, or look for love?
At 28, Cory Martin thought she had it all, a budding career as a writer in Hollywood, an apartment of her own, and a healthy obsession with yoga. But when she found herself on the floor of her apartment wailing into the phone, ‘but I don’t want to be sick,’ her entire world came crashing down.
A doctor had just revealed that she had multiple sclerosis, a potentially debilitating disease, her good friend was getting married that weekend and the only people she wanted to call were her parents. In a time when she was supposed to be coming into her own as an adult, all she could think was who’s going to want to marry me now?
As she embarked on a medical quest, subjecting herself to countless MRIs and a painful spinal tap that landed her in the ER, Cory simultaneously threw herself head first into dating. But no matter how many doctors she saw or men she met there would never be a cure for MS. And if you think it’s hard to get the guy you’re dating to give you a ride to the airport, try getting him to drive you to the hospital. Add to that an unfortunate incident with a blue thong and a cute young doctor, and Cory quickly realized that just as there was no concrete method to diagnose and treat the disease, there was no surefire way to find “the one.”
Written from a place of strength and vulnerability, LOVE SICK is an unforgettable tale of heartache, perseverance and love. True to life and relatable, it is a story of facing one’s fears head on with humor and grace. There is no magical ending and no grand epiphany. Instead it is Cory Martin’s desire to be loved and feel normal that makes her journey so poignant.
Write Out Publishing is an independent press based in Los Angeles, publishing books and short stories. Its mission is to “write out” the world’s problems one story at a time. They are committed to donating ten percent of the profits from each work sold to a charity of the author’s choice. The National Multiple Sclerosis Society is the beneficiary of the ten percent from LOVE SICK.

____________________________
Cory Martin has written for television and authored a variety of books. She is the writer behind the documentary Titans of Yoga and her work has appeared online with XOJane, The Mighty and Elephant Journal. She lives in Venice, CA.

LOVE SICK: A Memoir
Publication date: February 9, 2016
$24.95, hardcover
268 pages
www.writeoutpublishing.com

review

From time to time I find myself drawn to memoirs or autobiographies.  Cory Martin’s publisher contacted me in regards to receiving an arc in exchange for an honest review.  I saw that it was a memoir but to be honest, what made me jump on board to read it was that Cory written for the hit television show, “The O.C.” which just happens to be one my all-time favorite shows.  So I jumped at the chance to read her memoir.

Anyway, as I started reading this book, I was just completely amazed about how honest, real and raw she is.  She doesn’t hide anything – she explains exactly what she was thinking, how she felt, when she was diagnosed with MS (multiple sclerosis).  There were times I just wanted to hug her and take away her frustrations, anger and confusion.

Love sick isn’t about the ins and outs, dos and don’ts of MS.  It’s about Cory’s daily, weekly, annual journey of what it’s like to find out you have MS and then what happens afterwards.  But she also makes you laugh with her quirkiness and openness about her thoughts and feelings.  Cory brings up many important questions that I am sure anyone diagnosed with an incurable disease will have.  She doesn’t hold back on anything.

I enjoyed reading about Cory’s journey and all the ups and downs she had.  Even though Cory may not have seen it when she was going through everything, she was and is an extremely strong woman.  She never gave up on learning more about MS.  Yes, doing google searches probably causes us all to get more information than we probably want or need, but when you are getting undecided answers from doctors – what are you to do??  And Cory is flat-out honest in her path to figure out what exactly is causing her to have all these unusual aches and pains.

I applaud Cory for writing this memoir.  I urge anyone to read this – it’s very thought-provoking and moving.  And the best part – 10% of the profits from this book will be donated to the National MS Society.

Anyone who purchases the book from the link below, will receive 20% off an ebook and/or hardback copy.  Just enter the code READLOVEBLOG20

LOVE SICK

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Questions for Cory Martin, author of LOVE SICK.

At what point did you decide you wanted to be a writer?

Before I became a writer in any sense, I was an avid reader. I remember the first book I actually learned how to read – Dr. Seuss’s Are You My Mother? To this day I can still feel that excitement when I read the words to my mom and she praised me for getting them right. From then on I read every book I could get my hands on. Eventually I learned to write and that started to transform from classroom assignments to my own explorations in writing. In high school, I frequently found ways to turn ordinary writing assignments into creative writing pieces. Junior year we had to write a piece about fate vs. free will and what that meant to us. While the other kids in my class wrote their straightforward opinions, I wrote my paper as a ‘choose your own adventure’ book. I compared fate and free will to these books and explained it by giving the reader the option on how to read my paper. It wasn’t until college however that I really decided that I wanted to be a writer. When I first left my small town in Indiana to go to school in LA at USC, my major was undecided. I’d looked at journalism and communications, but they didn’t appeal to me that much. So I stayed undecided and I took a required GE class on writing papers and instead of writing mine as assigned I once again turned it into a creative writing piece. This time however the professor acknowledged my skills and then wondered if I’d ever considered majoring in Creative Writing. I hadn’t. In fact, I didn’t even know you could major in it. So I chose Creative Writing and I’ve never felt more sure of a decision since.

Creative Writing classes mainly focus on short stories and poetry, how did you end up working in Hollywood?

When you go to a school like USC that’s known for producing some of the Hollywood greats, you kind of get sucked into it. But truthfully, the industry has always fascinated me – there’s something about the draw of celebrity and fantasy that a shy Midwestern girl finds hard to resist (yes, growing up I wanted to go to school with Donna, Brenda and Kelly – because life in 90210 looked perfect). Also, I thought making a living as a novelist would be too hard, and all you hear about in Los Angeles is writers selling scripts for a million dollars. So I devised a plan. I’d work in Hollywood so that I could make enough money to retire and write novels. Funny thing is, the first thing I ever got paid to write was a novel.

You were fairly young the first time you got paid to write, what was that experience like?

I was twenty-four when I wrote the first novelization of the television show The OC. It was crazy because I was also working as an assistant to Stephanie Savage, the producer behind Gossip Girl, The OC, Astronaut Wives’ Club and others. I was basically working ten to twelve hours a day on the TV shows and movies she was producing and spending whatever extra time I could find to write the novel. I remember I got the assignment in December. I figured, since all I had ever read about writing novels was that it took writers years to write books, that I would have at least a year to write this one. Boy was I wrong. I turned in one chapter in mid-December. I thought Scholastic would send me some notes and I’d keep going from there. Instead, they called in January and asked if I could have the book done at the end of the month. I was flabbergasted. In my head I thought I was going to be the next great American writer and I did not want to be rushed. I needed extra time. They gave me until the end of February. I got the work done and went on to write two more of those novels for Scholastic. Since then every other book I’ve written I’ve done in shorter and shorter amounts of time. The last book I wrote, Yoga for Beginnners, I wrote in three weeks. My memoir, Love Sick, however? That’s a whole other story.

Okay, so how long did it take you to write your memoir?

Eight years. Now that doesn’t mean that I sat at my computer every day for eight years straight and wrote the thing. In fact it was quite the opposite. I wrote in spurts. When I first came up with the idea for the memoir, I had just been diagnosed with MS and my mind was flooded with thoughts on how it would affect my life and I knew there had to be a story in there somewhere. So one month after that fateful day at the MS specialist’s office I signed up for a memoir writing class at UCLA extension. I wasn’t expecting much in terms of the instruction (yes, I still have a USC bias), all I wanted was for someone to give me assignments and hold me accountable to a few deadlines and give me some feedback on my writing. What I got was far more than that. Deanne Stillman, the instructor and an accomplished writer herself, gave us amazing prompts and assignments each week and those became the first fifty pages of the memoir. Well, the first fifty in the original version, but that’s beside the point, because also in that class was a writer by the name of Chris Miller. He’s one of the writers behind the movie Animal House. He wrote for the Lampoon and has his own memoir, The Real Animal House. Anyway, the only reason I bring this up is because after we had to read our first assignment aloud in class, Chris came to me afterwards and said. “You’re really funny. You’ve got what it takes to do this.” I was so flattered because I had never thought of myself as funny. In fact, if you meet me in real life I am quiet and am constantly rethinking what I say. But hearing that the man who helped create the iconic movie that is Animal House thought that I had something to offer as a writer was the first bit of encouragement I needed to keep going. From there the book got written in bursts of fifty pages here and there and a thousand different rewrites. And that’s why it took eight years.

How did you come up with the title?

The original title was M.S. to M-R-S. It was a play on words, or letters shall I say. I came up with it when I was twenty-eight and all my friends were getting married around me. I thought my time would come soon and wouldn’t it be clever if I wrote a book about MS and dating and eventually got married, thus turning the M.S. into an M-R-S in front of my name. Of course, years later when I realized this was not going to happen and making life choices based on trying to keep a title of a book was not the best way to go about life, I dropped that title and started searching for something new. I kept a little notes section going in my phone and whenever I had a title idea I would write it in there. For almost a year I did this and nothing was sticking. Then one day I was out for a walk and it hit me. Love Sick. It was the perfect play on words. A few days later I looked it up on urban dictionary and found this: “A deep often depressing feeling of wanting to find love. To be longing for love; to be without a companion to share one’s life with, though it is desired deeply.” And I knew I had made the right decision.

A big part of the struggle you went through in dealing with MS was wondering when you should tell people or if you should tell at all. When did you tell people? And do you have any advice for others dealing with this?

Honestly, up until about five months before Love Sick was about to come out I kept the MS a secret from most people. Except for my family and my close friends, no one knew. Then one day in October, 2015 I saw that Playboy announced that they were getting rid of nudes from their magazine. And I thought, oh my gosh, I have a story that would go perfect with this. There was a chapter that used to be in my book that talked about all the things I wanted to do with my body before it failed me. It was a bucket list of sorts, only I called it my wheelchair list. In this piece of writing I talked about the kinds of things that you would only fantasize about if you were dealing with the fact that one day soon you might end up in a wheelchair or lose control of your body. On that list was posing naked in Playboy. It was a tongue in cheek look at what happens when you face something like MS and you let your imagination run free. Anyway, I pitched the story to XOJane, the online women’s magazine, and they liked it. Two days later that article ran. I posted it to my own Facebook and Instagram pages and watched the comments roll in. People from all stages of my life were commending me for my braveness, and that’s when it occurred to me I wasn’t just showing off another piece of my writing I had literally outed myself to all of my friends that I was dealing with MS. If you had told me years ago to go and do that I would’ve thought you were crazy. I would’ve been scared out of my mind to post something so personal about something that I believed made me so ugly and unlovable. But posting it under the guise of my writing made me realize that I had a story to tell and that I could help others by sharing it. It also helped me to get over any fear I had of telling others about my disease, or publishing my memoir. Now, I don’t recommend to others who might be in my situation that they should go out and shout their health matters to the world, but if you have a story to tell or you believe others can relate then I think you should share it with them. This doesn’t have to be so public either. It can be on a case-by-case basis. Think about who you’re going to tell and why you’re telling them. Is it because you want them to know that you understand a struggle they’re facing? Is it because you need help or support? Or is it because you’re beginning a relationship with them and you don’t want to have secrets? Whatever the reason, make sure it is one that will be satisfied by you telling the person. Because I have learned from experience that if you tell the wrong people and you are not ready for their reaction it can be devastating.

Your story, or life for that matter, has not been easy and yet you have such an optimistic and humorous approach to it. How do you do this?

You know, I wish I could tell you, because if I could I would sell that idea in a heartbeat. I would make myself the next self-help guru and knock Tony Robbins on his feet. What I can tell you is that I am very lucky to have the family I have. My parents have been extremely supportive and they always made me feel like I could accomplish anything I wanted. But also, they kept me grounded. While I was a fairly good student growing up, I had a few bad grades on tests and assignments here and there. I remember the first time I brought a bad grade home. I was scared to death to show my parents. But when I finally mustered up the courage to give it to them, they laughed and hung the big F on the refrigerator. They wanted me to own what I had and not be ashamed. And that’s the lesson: If you can’t own your shortcomings or your failures or the shit life deals you, and laugh through it all then life is going to be quite difficult. So now I own what I’ve got.

Besides writing, yoga seems to be the one thing in your memoir that gives you respite from the disease. Can you talk about this?

Ah, yoga. You would think I’d have come to it after getting the MS diagnosis as a way to stay healthy. But honestly, I found yoga a year prior to receiving my prognosis. It was after a bad break up with a not so nice guy. Our relationship was extremely unhealthy, we ate like crap together and never worked out. I was probably in the worst shape of my life after that breakup. So I decided to make a change and again, own my shit and take responsibility for it. I signed up for a six-week transformation program at my local health spa. It included yoga, time with a nutritionist, another workout plan and acupuncture. It was amazing. I got back in shape and despite the fact that I had always thought yoga was weird and too soft for me, I became addicted to it. At first it was all about the physicality of the poses, being able to do crazy things with my body that I probably hadn’t done since I was a kid on a jungle gym or in gymnastics class, but then it became about far more. It started to seep into other parts of my life and I started to feel so great, and when things started to get more serious with the testing and the doctor’s ideas of what was actually wrong with my body, yoga was there to help me keep a sense of calm. Obviously, if you’ve read my book you know that it’s become a far bigger part of my life, but I don’t want to give anything away. Instead I want to leave you with this, yoga is not always about the poses, if you practice it often enough it becomes a way of life, and for me, nothing has ever rang more true.

How do I reach you? Or better yet, how can I internet stalk you?

You can email me at corymartinyoga@gmail.com
Or find me on Facebook at /corymartinyoga
Or Instagram at @corymartinwrites

Read-Love-Blog’s 20K Facebook Likes Giveaway

Little old Read-Love-Blog hit the amazing milestone of 20,000 likes over on our Facebook page!

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Can you even BELIEVE it!? We sure as heck can’t! Of course, with any huge milestone, we’ve got an awesome giveaway as a thank you to our amazing fans…after all, we wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for you!

Ok, down to business….

 One Grand Prize winner will receive a THREE MONTH subscription to The Book Drop’s Jane box*

Six other winners will receive one of these amazing prizes:*

A signed copy of Seth King’s Honesty

A signed copy of Him by Carey Heywood

A signed copy of  Thizz: A Love Story by Nicole Lufas

An audiobook set of Unseen & Unborn by Amber Lynn Natusch

An ebook by Christi Barth (Winner’s choice of one of her current release titles)

A signed copy of Full Measures by Rebecca Yarros

All you have to do to enter is in this handy Rafflecopter below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*US addresses only, please.  Shipping overseas puts a big strain on our pocketbooks.  Our apologies! 

xoxo

Harlequin May Spotlight: The Marshal’s Justice by Delores Fossen

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TMJ

 

Synopsis:

A Texas lawman will move heaven and earth to keep his former lover and their infant daughter safe

A shoot-out on the banks of Appaloosa Creek is the last place marshal Chase Crockett expects to find his ex-lover. Former criminal informant April Landis is supposed to be in WITSEC awaiting the birth of their child. But the desperate woman caught in the cross fire isn’t pregnant.

Telling Chase he was a father—two months early—wasn’t an option with murderous thugs targeting April and their infant daughter. Despite the violence that divides them, her only prayer is to trust the Texas lawman sworn to protect his family. Until desire ambushes them again, leaving April and Chase at the mercy of a past with no promise of a future.

Excerpt:

The ranch hand opened the gate, and the bull charged out. Snorting and bucking. Its massive head was down while the animal spun around, trying to hurl off the rider. But Lucky held on. He squeezed his legs around the bull’s sides, the chaps reacting to that pressure.

Cassie reacted, too.

And she thought about how it would feel to be that bull right now. Oh yes, she was worked up, all right.

The bull bucked even harder, slinging Lucky around, but Lucky just adjusted, his long, lean body sliding into the bucking moves. His left arm stayed high, dipping and lifting only when his body did. It was like watching some kind of dance. With a guy wearing chaps and spurs.

Cassie completely lost track of time. Eight seconds or an hour could have passed for all she knew, but then Lucky threw his left leg over the bull’s head, and he jumped off. Lucky landed on his feet and hurried to get out of the corral before the bull came back at him.

He laughed.

That’s when Cassie realized she was holding her breath. Possibly drooling, as well.

Lucky looked at her again, their gazes connecting and holding for a couple of seconds. Cassie didn’t believe in ESP, but something passed between them. He said something to the hands who were still watching the bull, maneuvered off the railing and came toward her. She had another chance to assess that ESP thing, but this time she knew what it was.

A really hot look.

Lucky walked toward her, the spurs jangling and the chaps swaying to give her another Look here! Look here! moment. Cassie tried to seem unaffected by all of this and failed so badly that she just gave up.

“Yeah,” Lucky said, his voice doused with testosterone. He bit down on the fingertip of his right glove to remove it. Then did the same to the second one. “It has the same effect on me.”

This probably would have been a good time for her to play innocent and say oh? or maybe a huh? But after watching what he’d done to those gloves, her innocence was shot to Hades.

Lucky kept coming closer, and the moment he reached her, he slid his hand around the back of her neck, hauled her to him and kissed her.

 

About the author:

USA Today bestselling author, Delores Fossen, has sold over 90 novels with millions of copies of her books in print worldwide. She’s received the Booksellers’ Best Award for romantic suspense, the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award and was a finalist for the prestigious Rita ®. Her books have been featured in Woman’s Day magazine and Vogue. In addition, she’s had nearly a hundred short stories and articles published in national magazines.