New Releases – Page 241 – Read-Love-Blog

Return to Poughkeepsie by Debra Anastasia….Blog Tour Stop, Giveaway & Review

Welcome to my stop on the Return to Poughkeepsie by Debra Anastasia Blog Tour!

I am beyond excited for this release!

Along with my review today, and the tour-wide giveaway, I have a set of the Poughkeepsie eBooks to give away to one lucky winner! Comment on this blog post to be entered to win. I will be picking a winner on Saturday morning (1/4)…..

enjoy and thanks so much for stopping by!

Book Links:

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Goodreads

Synopsis:

Beckett Taylor is a murderer. His calling, his craft are destruction and intimidation—whether he wants it that way now or not. He left Poughkeepsie to keep his brothers safe, to keep Eve safe. Set up with happy lives to live, they’re better off without him, right?

But all his willpower crumbles when he hears his brother Blake’s frantic voice on the phone. An unknown enemy has moved in on his old territory, and Livia’s been taken. In an instant, Beckett knows it will take an attack only he and Eve can execute to bring her back. All his self-imposed embargoes are torn to shreds, perhaps along with the new man he’s struggled to become.

“Brother, call Eve. I’ll be there soon.”

In this emotional and action-packed sequel to Poughkeepsie, Debra Anastasia conjures a tale of love at its most raw and ragged. With Beckett and Eve, how could we expect anything less? But even when it’s messy, not magical, true love perseveres. Real love finds a way—for better or for worse until death does part.

My review:

Return to Poughkeepsie is the second book in author Debra Anastasia’s Poughkeepsie series and follows Poughkeepsie…..a book I adored so much so I got the tattoo (of course!). I have been DYING for this book and *dreamy sigh* Debra has done it again. It was amazing.

Ok…so you all know I don’t do spoilers and there is a whole lot I need to be tight lipped about, so bear with me here while I do my best to not ruin one single second of this kick ass book for you…..

Beckett Taylor has left Poughkeepsie behind…physically that is. There is no way he would ever be able to forget his brothers or Livia or Kyle…or Eve. He knows leaving was best for everyone, even if it still hurt like hell to be away from the only family he’s ever known. And don’t even get him started on missing Eve. He left his heart with her. He only hoped she had done what he wanted her to do and live a life without him filled with only the good things life had to offer. Not murder, death and deceit, which were the only things he could offer. He had settled in a small town and was doing the best he could, despite being a hardened killer. He still quietly kept tabs on Poughkeepsie and had been hearing there was a new player in town trying to take over his former “businesses” in the area. As long as nothing got too crazy, Beckett didn’t mind what was going on in the underbelly of society there. Yep, things were going ok until he gets a phone call from Blake. That phone call would change his life. Livia had been kidnapped and Beckett knew he had no choice but to go home and save his family. Yes, he was still a wanted man. Yes, he knew if he saw Eve his heart would break all over again. No, there was no way in hell he wouldn’t do whatever it took to get his brother’s wife back.

The crime-filled mess Beckett has to dive head first into to get Livia back was a way bigger and more “organized” mess than he ever expected. One his Eve was somehow a part of, too. Now, they’ve got to work their ass-kicking magic together to bring down a problem much bigger than just the kidnapping. But there’s nothing Eve and Beckett do better than kick ass and take names.

Hold on, I’ve give my fingers a stretch here, they are a bit cramped….I have just finished reading this book, you see, and I swear my hands practically crushed my eReader from the death like, white-knuckled grip I had on it while reading. Talk about one hell of a ride! I don’t think I can even begin to list all of the emotions I experienced while reading this book. Even if I did, it wouldn’t do this book justice. Equally gut wrenching and tender, hard assed and feather soft, Debra rocked my world. This book was a lot grittier than Poughkeepsie, and very fitting as it centers on Beckett and Eve. They are both just as wounded and dark as before but seeing their emotions in depth was so heartbreaking. If ever two wounded souls needed one another, these two are it. I love Beckett and Eve. They both had really awful lots in life and are the products of that. The amazing quality about them is that even though they have seen and been a part of so much darkness and pain, they have true emotions and are capable of such love…even if it is buried deep. Two broken pieces that make up an imperfect whole…but a whole nonetheless.

Blake and Livia are even more amazing than before…even through the horror of the kidnapping. The tender moments between the two of them reminded me of exactly why I adore them and their unique and beautiful relationship.

Cole and Kyle….broke my heart. Cole is just so freaking amazing and with every scene I grew to love him more. His words to Kyle are full of his love for her. He is real and wise and speaks from his soul. Kyle is the same feisty and foul-mouthed girl I love but shows a soft side that was humbling to read. I honestly love these two…big time. They are going through an exceptionally rough time in this book and I cried my eyes out more than once for them. My lips are sealed, but trust in Debra that she gives them happiness in the end….doesn’t she always?

Oh, and the even better thing? There’s another Poughkeepsie book in the works! Yep, if you didn’t already know, we will be getting book #3! *happy dance*

Now, I hope I was able to convey how amazing this book was without giving anything away. Debra wrote one hell of an emotional, pulse pounding book and it’s one that you deserve to experience first hand without knowing what’s coming next….truly, it’s a gift to read a book like Return to Poughkeepsie.

Thank you, Debra, for giving us more Poughkeepsie. Thank you for making me laugh, cry, gasp and smile like only you can do. Love you, girl! (and my tattoo loves you, too!)

Five Loves

My Poughkeepsie tattoo

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the author:

Debra Anastasia is busy, just like every other mom. There’s dinner, the dogs, the two kids, and her violent IBS–which is under control thanks to medication except for occasional multi-tonal farts. Her first love and crowning achievement is her thriving career as the weirdest mom on the block.

Her writing started a decent handful of years ago when–along with the animals and humans in her house–the voices of characters started whispering stories in Debra’s ear. Insomnia was the gateway to plots that wouldn’t give up, wouldn’t let go. Now they stalk her everywhere. Halfway through making lunches, a twist takes hold and–fingers full of peanut butter–she finds somewhere, anywhere to write it down.

She’s eternally grateful to Omnific Publishing, which has now published four of her books: two in the Seraphim Series and two in the Poughkeepsie Brotherhood Series, as well as her novella, Late Night with Andres. That one is special because 100% of the proceeds go to breast cancer research. (So go get it right now, please!) She also very much appreciates her open-minded readers, who embrace everything she has to offer, with a focus on anti-heroes and bathroom humor.

Debra lives in Maryland with her family. You can find her at DebraAnastasia.com and on Twitter @Debra_Anastasia. But be prepared…

Reaver by Larissa Ione…ARC Review & Giveaway

It’s Friday the 13h, one of my favorite days of the year and it’s only FOUR more days until Reaver by Larissa Ione releases!

I thought why not do something fun on this favorite day and to go along with my review?

So, in honor of that Reaver, that sexy angel, and because Larissa is awesome, I have THREE signed copies of Larissa’s Rogue Rider to give away!

Two copies are ARCs with a different cover than the mass market paperback, which is pretty cool if you ask me. Oh, and this contest is open internationally!

I hope you enjoy my review and thanks so much for stopping by!

Book links:

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ IndieBound ~ Powell’s ~ Goodreads

Synopsis:

WARRIOR OF HEAVEN

Reaver is an angel with a past, a record, and a less-than-heavenly attitude. Powerful enough to fight alongside the fiercest battle angels-and crazy enough to risk his wings on a one-way mission to hell-he’s agreed to go where no angel has ever gone before…to steal the most seductive and dangerous prize of Satan himself.

ANGEL OF HELL

Harvester is one of the Fallen, a once-heroic angel who sacrificed her wings to work as an undercover agent in hell. But now her cover has been blown, and she’s been doomed to an eternity of agonizing torture. Even if Reaver can snatch her away from Satan’s lair, even if they can fight their way out of the underworld’s darkest depths, there is one thing Harvester can never escape-her newfound thirst for an angel’s blood…

My review:

Reaver is the fifth book in Larissa Ione’s Lord of the Deliverance Series and is also the tenth book in her Demonica Series. As some of you may know, I absolutely adore this series. It’s one of the series I will continue with as long as Larissa writes it and one that I will always recommend. I have been chomping at the bit to start this book and holy book gods in booktopia…..this book was truly amazing.

There are mysteries solved in this book as well as many secrets revealed…so I am going to do my best to give you a review without spoiling anything. Trust me, you would be mighty angry if I did because there are some major “WHOA” moments you need to experience for yourself. Okay, here goes nothing!

Reaver, the badass angel with a rebellious streak a mile wide, is a man on a mission. A mission he never would have thought he’d be on. Once again he will be breaking the rules set by the Heavens but this time, the stakes are much higher than they ever have been. He is going into enemy territory to rescue Harvester. The enemy being Satan’s lair, of course, and Harvester being the Fallen he has an extreme love/hate relationship with. Having been robbed of his memories, he had no idea what connection they shared, just that they shared one. What he learns about their connection had rocked him to his core and he knows, at the very least, he owes her this rescue and to be returned to safety. Many questions arise when his decision is made to go find her. Will they survive the journey back from the underworld? Will she agree to let him help her? What will she think when he tells her the truth of what they once were? That last question is the one that will plague Reaver and worry him most.

Harvester has pretty much accepted her fate in the underworld as the torture plaything for Satan. After she had been ousted as a traitor and spy, she knew it would happen. And yeah, it sucked but she knew what she was getting involved in when she volunteered to fall all those years ago and watch over the Horsemen. She would do it all over again for the angel she once loved and the one she made an oath to. The memories of that angel, Yenrieth, were the only things keeping her somewhat sane during the endless hours and days of torture. Memories were erased of Yenrieth so she was lucky that she still had any at all, even if she could never see his face. She had given up on ever getting out of this (literal) hell until Reaver shows up…to save her.

In the end, getting out of the underworld may not be the hardest journey for Reaver and Harvester. There’s five thousand years worth of history they will need to sort through and with the possibility that they shared more history than either one had imagined, putting up with Satan may be less complicated. Oh, and there’s also the itty-bitty problem of an impending war between Heaven and Hell. Yeah, lets just say the odds are stacked against them from the word GO.

I literally just finished this book ten minutes before I stared this review and I’m sill in awe of everything I just read. Larissa has blown my mind. I was already in love with Reaver from the previous books. On the flip side, I hated Harvester until the very end of Rogue Rider, the last book. Reaver was amazing in this story. His resolve and determination from start to finish is beyond anything I’ve read. He adapted to every twist and turn and proved himself a worthy warrior on the side of good. Harvester is beyond damaged, emotionally and physically, and broke my heart. When we finally learn her history and why she agreed to fall, oh my….she now goes down as one of my favorite heroines. She has a whole lot of rough exterior to break down and it was poignant when she showed her vulnerable side. Luckily Reaver realized what a gift that was and tried his best to handle her with care. As I had said earlier, there are MANY twists and surprises I never saw coming. Wow. Just wow. Larissa threw some zingers in this story that blew my freaking mind and I loved every single one! Oh, and the fight between Heaven and Hell is reaching a fevered pitch and had me on the edge of my seat until the last freaking chapter! Well done….

Oh, and I can’t go without mentioning how great it was to see our Demonica friends…Eidolon, Gem, Wraith, to name a few and of course the Horsemen and their other halves. Than talking about a play date between his kid and Wraith’s was priceless! The humor peppered into the story from these guys and enjoying their sibling bond was a treat to read.

And so here we are, at the end of my long, somewhat vague review and if you can take away one thing this should be it: BUY. THIS. BOOK. It was everything I was hoping it would be and ended exactly how I wanted it to for Reaver and Harvester (lips are zipped up tight!)

Thank you, Larissa, for an amazing, emotional, edge-of-your-seat, kick-ass read. You have done it again!

Five Loves

Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the author:

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

Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Goodreads

The World Without a Future by Nazarea Andrews…Blog Tour Stop & Excerpt

Welcome to my stop on The World Without a Future by Nazarea Andrews Blog Tour.

I am beyond excited to have an excerpt to share with you today as well as the tour wide giveaway information.

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy!

The World Without a Future by Nazarea Andrews

December 2013

Book links:

Goodreads ~ Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:

She was born the day the world ended…

Nurrin has lived her entire life with zombies—trapped behind walls meant to keep them safe. She’s mostly happy there. But when a zombie horde breech the walls of her Haven, she has to trust her brother, Collin, and his best friend to keep her alive.

He just wants his past to die…

Finn O’Malley has given up on voicing warnings that are ignored. No one cares that the zombies are changing. Now all that matters is keeping Collin and Nurrin safe from what’s outside the walls of a Haven. But when Nurrin’s best friend picks up a contact infection, he agrees to get the medicine needed to save his life. Forced together, relying on each other in a strange Haven, zombies aren’t the most dangerous thing they’re facing.

Excerpt:

The black man takes a half step forward, but Lori stops him with a single hand. Neither says anything to me as I escort Nurrin out of the tiny room. Another fight has started, and I drag her into the crowd, tugging her until her back is pressed against my front. She’s stiff and furious,

her breasts heaving under the material of her dress. “We can’t leave—Lori is watching, and it’s safest if we enjoy the Underground before we make a departure.” “So we’ll watch men pummel each other until Lori loses interest?” she hisses. It’s the first thing she’s said since we entered the Underground, and I’m pleased to hear how steady her voice is. “Unless something else in the Underground captured your interest,” I say. She inhales sharply, licking her lips. My dick hardens, and there’s nothing I can do to keep it from her, not with her pressed against me. I’m not willing to let her go. “What the hell, Finn?” she whispers, furious. “Chemical reaction, Ren. Nothing to worry about.” My words are dismissive, my tone condescending, but she twists, staring at me with curious, probing eyes. I see a question in them, but I don’t have an answer, and if she keeps staring at me, her lips inches from mine, I’ll kiss her and the consequences be damned. “Eyes on the fight, little girl,” I murmur.

Giveaway:

Nazarea is giving away a really awesome prize! The grand prize winner will receive a zombie survival kit and 25 edited pages of the manuscript and swag — with notes from Nazarea. A runner up will receive the zombie survival kit and swag. This contest is US only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the author:

Nazarea Andrews is an avid reader and tends to write the stories she wants to read. She loves chocolate and coffee almost as much as she loves books, but not quite as much as she loves her kids. She lives in south Georgia with her husband, daughters, and overgrown dog.

Site – http://www.nazareaandrews.com/

Blog – http://www.nazarea-andrews.blogspot.com/

Twitter – https://twitter.com/NazareaAndrews

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nazarea-Andrews/43623123516

“The Infects” Street Team – https://www.facebook.com/groups/427502530700422/

Review…Tinsel My Heart by Christi Barth

Tinsel My Heart Links:

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Goodreads

Synopsis:

Becca Huntley’s produced the Lyndale Park Players’ over-the-top Christmas show for ten years. It’s a beloved Minneapolis tradition, and the theater’s main fundraiser. But this year’s production is in danger of being canceled when their director disappears into rehab. Good thing his directing partner steps in to save the day. Except for the minor fact that he hates everything about Christmas.

Jack Whittaker wiped this town off his shoe with his graduation tassel and never looked back. But duty compels him to fulfill Tyler’s promise to direct the show. Even though it means working with Becca, the girl he always wanted, lost to Ty, but never forgot.

It’ll take more than a few handfuls of tinsel to soften Jack’s heart toward Becca’s favorite holiday. Steamy kisses that melt the snow right off his boots are a step in the right direction. They’ll both discover that Christmas is about making each other’s dreams come true. But will it require sacrificing their chance at a happily-ever-after together?

My review:

Tinsel My Heart is a holiday novella by author Christi Barth and is part of the All I’m Asking For: A Contemporary Christmas Anthology. I adored this read and, in fact, it may actually be my favorite work from Christi!

The pressure to put on the Lyndale Park Players’ annual Christmas show and fundraiser has never been greater for Becca Huntley. And of course, this is the year that the show may not go on. In an attempt to raise money for a new home for the LPP, they decided to make this year’s show into a DVD to sell. Ty, her childhood friend and famous movie director, agreed to donate his time and make it happen. Now, only a few weeks before LPP needs to make the move to a new home and have their funds raised, the director ends up in rehab. At a loss for what to do next, Becca is shocked when Ty’s directing partner and also a childhood friend, Jack Whittaker, comes to the rescue. Figures that the guy she’s had a crush on since a kid and the biggest Grinch she’s even known would be here to help. Becca’s new mission is to change Jack’s mind about Christmas and try to keep her old feelings at bay…..the latter of those two not looking promising.

Jack Whittaker couldn’t believe the mess he was in now, thanks to his best friend and business partner Ty. He never wanted to step foot in his hometown again, especially at Christmas. Now, facing all of the bad memories of being made fun of all through his childhood, he has to direct the annual Christmas play. He was going to kill Ty when he gets out of rehab. The only saving grace in this whole mess is that he would be working with Becca. The girl he’s had an insane crush on for as long as he can remember. Seeing her again may be the only thing that keeps him sane during this Christmas hell. Seeing her again also makes him realize he has to tell her how much she means to him and how much he needs her. She’s the one that could thaw out his frozen heart.

This story was fantastic from start to finish. They backstory between Ty, Jack and Becca really added to things. The way they were the three amigos when they were kids was a layer to the story that I enjoyed. I loved that Becca and Jack had a mutual hidden attraction for years and finally have a chance to act on it. Becca is a loyal and caring gal with a big heart for the ones she loves. I admired how much she put into making this show work. Jack was a tough nut to crack, if I do say so myself. Not that I didn’t love him from the very beginning, but in that Becca sure had her work cut out! He is also loyal and kind to the people he holds close which is at odds with the gruff exterior he displays. I fell in love with him even more when we learned about his childhood and how rough it was for him growing up in a small town and being labeled a poor kid. It absolutely broke my heart. Becca, knowing how difficult it was for Jack to be back, was there for him and it was beautiful to see them reconnect but in a much deeper way than they ever had….and it was sexy and hot and oh-so-delicious! Oh, and the ending scene? So. Freaking. Perfect!

I highly recommend this holiday read. So, grab some hot cocoa, sit by the fire and enjoy! Thank you, Christi, for a heartwarming story!

Five Loves

All I’m Asking For: A Contemporary Christmas Anthology Links:

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Goodreads

Synopsis:

Put love on your wish list

This Christmas, the producer of a small-town holiday spectacular is swept away by a handsome Hollywood director. Being stranded in a snowstorm offers a couple a second chance at a future together. And an American in London helps a brooding Brit put the ghosts of Christmas past behind him. Wherever you are, however you celebrate, this collection of three festive novellas will bring warmth to your holiday season.

Edited by Angela James, this anthology includes:

Tinsel My Heart by Christi Barth
Season of Second Chances by Brighton Walsh
Mine Under the Mistletoe by Kat Latham

Stories also available for purchase separately.

About the author:

Christi Barth earned a Masters degree in vocal performance and embarked upon a career on the stage.

A love of romance then drew her to wedding planning. Ultimately she succumbed to her lifelong love of books and now writes contemporary romance.

Christi is President of the Maryland Romance Writers and lives in Maryland with her husband.

Website ~ Goodreads ~ Twitter ~ Facebook

ARC Review…Out of the Ashes by Diana Gardin

Out of the Ashes releases December 12

Goodreads

Synopsis:

Out of the frying pan and into the fire…

Paige Hill is discovering who she is again after losing everything she loves in a tragic fire. She’s endured a long road to recovery with the help of her best fiend Gillian and is finally beginning her life again: college, a job, and a blossoming love she never even saw coming.

Clay Forbes is the notorious campus playboy. He’s a star athlete, a senior architecture major, and the only son in a family with power and money back in his hometown. When he crashes into Paige, his whole perspective on life shifts, and his world as he knew it becomes nonexistent. He’s wrapped up in her.

They’re both learning how to love, but Clay’s ex-girlfriend Hannah won’t make it easy for them. She puts a target on Paige’s back, and won’t stop until she’s derailed their budding romance once and for all. Who will be left standing after the ashes settle for the second time?

My review:

Out of the Ashes is the first in a new series from author Diana Gardin and a book I really enjoyed.

After a horrific fire took her entire family from her, Paige Hill enrolls in college with her best friend and is trying her best to live her life. The scars that mar her skin have healed pretty well, but the scars that mar her soul will never go away. It’s those emotional scars she wants to keep buried deep. Keeping people at a distance is always a safe bet but when Paige meets a gorgeous soccer player at the beginning of the semester and, after spending more and more time with him, she finds herself wanting to share her secret pain. Can this gorgeous, blue-eyed soccer jock look past her scars and grow to love her? Not if his vindictive ex-girlfriend has anything to say about it….

Running into the beautiful stranger at the bookstore has been on Clay’s mind for the last few days. Never had he been so affected by a girl before. On a mission to find out who she is, he’s surprised when she turns up at a party at his apartment. Turning on the charm he’s known for, he can’t help but feel that she’s special and she won’t be like any other girl he’s ever been with. With her shy smile and her understated beauty, he knows he will do whatever it takes to gain her trust and her heart. Now he just has to make sure his ex-girlfriend knows it’s over between then for good.

Paige and Clay have more than a few obstacles in their way. Paige’s family tragedy, Clay’s hateful ex-girlfriend, raw emotions and navigating a new love are just a few of them. They have found something special, but will it be strong enough to withstand all that life throws at them?

Ok, so I will say it now: this book has a cliffhanger ending. Now, I don’t mind them but I know a lot of people do. If you’re one of them, I suggest waiting until the second book comes out and read both books back to back. That being said, the ending had me gasping and my eyes bugging out when I read it. Not in a bad way….quite the opposite. It was a huge twist and I loved it. Paige has been through so much and I admire her will to live and to pick up her pieces and move forward as best she can. Clay is so amazing with her and treats her exactly how she needs to be treated. He is really in-tune with her needs and emotion states. He’s gentle, loving and kind but knows when he can give her a little push. I really enjoyed watching their relationship grow. Paige’s best friend, Gillian, is a friend anyone would be lucky to have. She’s strong and loyal and is the rock Paige needs at her lowest moments. Clay’s has two close friends that also some great people. However, the ex-girlfriend, Hannah, is a raging psycho and tormented poor Paige. I wish I could hunt her down and give her a piece of my mind. Grrrrr. All of the relationship building and ups and downs leads us to an ending I never saw coming. Whoa. Diana really shocked me and I loved it!

Overall, Out of the Ashes is an enjoyable story about new love, letting go of the bad and letting in the good and overcoming the worst life can throw at you. If you don’t mind the cliffhanger ending, I definitely recommend this book. Thank you, Diana, for a fabulous story. I cannot WAIT to see what book #2 holds for us!

Four Loves

About the author:

Books are my passion. Whether I’m writing them or reading them, they have always been a big part of my life. As an adult who just entered my thirties, I realize that it’s something I can’t live without, and what I really want to do for a living every day. It’s, for me, the job that doesn’t feel like work. So now, I’m proudly able to say that I’m a crazy wife, a worrywart mama of two, and a passionate writer. Love this life!

Twitter ~ Goodreads ~ Facebook ~ Website

Theatricks by Eleanor Gwyn-Jones…Book Tour

Welcome to my stop on the Theatricks by Eleanor Gwyn-Jones Book Tour! My stop today includes the playlist for Theatricks as well as information on the tour-wide giveaway.

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy!

Title: Theatricks

Author: Eleanor Gwyn-Jones

Genre: Contemporary Women’s Fiction/Contemporary Romance

Publication Date: December 3, 2013

Publisher: Omnific Publishing

Event organized by: Literati Author Services, Inc.

Synopsis

Enna Petersen has never been good at making personal decisions, particularly when she has to choose between her passions. As a theater director, the stage is her world, the spotlight her vitamin D, the waft of greasepaint her oxygen. However, when her handsome American businessman boyfriend proposes and paints the picture of a luxurious life in Pennsylvania, she has to tear her heart in two and give up on her theatrical dreams.

But as she navigates the visa gauntlet at the US embassy in England, she meets Will, a charismatic, erudite actor who encourages her to not give up on her dilapidated and much beloved theater. She is torn, tormented by the thought that her departure will certainly lead to Ashtead Theatre’s demise, but she follows her heart, says goodbye to her homeland, and begins her new role as Cole’s fiancée in America.

However, homesickness soon strikes. Enna longs for the English countryside, her theater, and the passion that Will has inspired in her. After her American dreams fall apart, she is reunited with all three back in the UK, and with Will’s help, she soon finds her theater more successful than she ever thought possible. She has everything she’s ever wanted, including a gorgeous man in her bed to share it with, so why is it she can’t stop thinking about Cole?

Add to Goodreads

Purchase Links:

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble

Tour-Wide Giveaway

Playlist:

About the Author:

Eleanor Gwyn-Jones lives in Scranton, Pennsylvania, but originally hails from Surrey, England. Huzzah! She studied biology at Southampton University before taking to the stage as an actress, agent and administrator of a touring theatre company. She performed in theatres, studios, schools and festivals across the British Isles before moving to the States. It was whilst visa-dangling and unable to take on acting work that she started to write and decided she far preferred it to anything else in the world! In 2008, Eleanor started her own ‘at home’ business to afford her more time to be with her ‘book babies.’ Now she spends her time writing by day and teaching ladies to look fabulous at night. She is a travel junkie—it’s research, darling, research!—a gourmand, a yogi, a sometime blogger and she adores her family and friends beyond all measure. She is currently putting the finishing key strokes to the sequel to Theatricks, due for release in 2014.

If she weren’t writing, she’d like to think you’d find her in Downton, The Paradise, or having a goblet of wine with Tyrion in King’s Landing.

Connect with the Author: Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Out of Time by Jen McLaughlin….Blog Tour Stop & Review

Welcome to my stop on the Out of Time by Jen McLaughlin Blog Tour!

I am beyond excited to share my review with you and my Finn tattoo!

I’m also thrilled to share Jen’s AMAZING giveaway! The grand prize winner will get to help name a character in book 3 of the series, and will get their name in the acknowledgement section of the book! How exciting is that!?

Also, to celebrate the release of OUT OF TIME, book one in the series, OUT OF LINE, will be just .99¢.

Enjoy and thanks for stopping by!

Buy links:

Out of Time: Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble

Out of Line (book #1): Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble

Follow the rest of the tour HERE

Synopsis:

Desperate to keep him…

I’ve finally gotten everything I ever wanted: love, freedom, happiness, and, most importantly, Finn. Our love is everything I expected it to be and more. We’ve finally found each other, but the world seems determined to tear us apart. We thought my father was the only obstacle between us, but now it’s the military. With Finn’s departure looming, we’re squeezing in every moment together before we run out of time.

Trying to make every moment count…

Being Carrie’s bodyguard was one thing. Being her boyfriend is another. Every day she’s mine is a day the sun shines in my life. Yet our time together is running out. Her father will never think a tattooed Marine will be good enough, so I’ll do whatever it takes to be worthy of her love. But the road will take me away from the girl who makes me feel alive–the girl I can’t live without.

Time only gets us so far…

My review:

Out of Time is the second book in Jen McLaughlin’s Out of Line Series. After falling completely in love with Carrie and Finn in the first book, Out of Line, I was beyond eager to get my hands on this book. Well, it was everything I could have dreamed of…and more. I loved, loved, loved this book.

Carrie and Finn have overcome the obstacle of Finn being Carrie’s bodyguard and are enjoying their newfound love. Well, they’ve sort of overcome that whole bodyguard thing. Carrie’s father, a senator, still has no idea their relationship went from professional to personal. They plan on telling him, eventually, but now the more pressing problem is Finn’s role in the Marines. He’s gotten an ominous call and fears he will be deployed much sooner than he thought. Fearing he will upset her if he hides what little info he has about leaving, he has no choice but to tell her what may be in store. Finn sees an upside to this mess when he’s given the chance of a lifetime in the form of a special mission. One that will hopefully improve the senator’s view of him and ultimately the senator’s view of him as someone worthy of dating Carrie. Now, the only thing left is to just enjoy the possibly limited time they have left together. Of course, that’s when her father decides to come for a surprise visit. Now the question becomes will it be the Senator’s visit or Finn’s choice of a mission that will threaten their relationship more….

As some of you may know, I completely adore this series. So much so that I deemed it “tattoo worthy”….and got a Finn tattoo. Well, I was a nervous wreck waiting to read this book. I had an idea from the message Finn got in the last book that he would be leaving Carrie. Well, between the waiting game and Carrie’s dad visiting, I didn’t think my emotions could get any more chaotic! I was a ball of nerves from one page to the next but then I would get to a Finn and Carrie moment and I would just swoon and give a happy sigh. The heat and passion between them is scrumptious. I adore these two. I don’t know of many book couples that I enjoy this much. Finn is just, well, the perfect package. Loyal, caring, sweet, sexy and so in love with Carrie he is the perfect guy. If he didn’t already win my heart in the first book he would have won it in this one. His love for Carrie is so intense and so real. I just adore that man! Carrie is once again a girl with quite a head on her shoulders and really shows it at the very end of this book. She knows what she wants and will do what it takes to make it happen for her and Finn. The navigation from Carrie’s POV to Finn’s POV is so well done and makes his book that much better, which I didn’t think possible.

The ups and downs Carrie and Finn have to deal with in the beginning of the story are nothing compared to what they go through right before this story ends. Get tissues handy. Not a few tissues, a box of tissues. I was a complete and utter mess by the time I finished reading (I’m actually tearing up as I type this review). Not all sad tears though….there were tears of joy and relief after all the sad tears. I won’t give anything away, but I will say I would never recommend a book that ended badly….so you’ll just have to trust me on this.

Jen writes emotion so damn well. It’s raw and beautiful and makes the reader feel everything Carrie and Finn are feeling. It’s a rare gift and I appreciate every moment of it.

After all my blubbering, if you take one thing away from this review, it’s that you MUST get this book and if you haven’t read the first in the series, read it….and then read Out of Time. I am waiting on pins and needles for the next book and I cannot wait to see what the future holds for Finn and Carrie. Thank you, Jen, for another amazing read and for a book dedication that still has me smiling from ear to ear! Heart you, girl!

Five Loves

My Finn tattoo!

Giveaway:

Jen is giving away 4 $10 Amazon Gift Cards and an amazing grand prize! The grand prize winner will get to help name a character in book 3 of the series, and will get their name in the acknowledgement section of the book! Contest is international.

If the book happens to hit the top 10 on amazon during the blog tour, there just might be another special surprise in the works for the fans!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the author:

Jen McLaughlin is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. She writes steamy New Adult books for the young and young at heart. Her first release, Out of Line, came out September 2013. She also writes bestselling Contemporary Romance under the pen name Diane Alberts.Since receiving her first contract offer under the pen name Diane Alberts, she has yet to stop writing. She is represented by Louise Fury at The Bent Agency.

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 schnauzer mutt, 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. Her goal is to write so many well-crafted romance books that even a non-romance reader will know her name.

Website ~ Facebook Fan Page ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

ARC Review…On Solid Ground by Michelle Kemper Brownlow

Book links:

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Goodreads

Synopsis:

Emotional abuse can break both your heart and your spirit. Twenty-one year old Gracie is broken and weak but she’s determined to heal. With the encouragement from her best friend, Becki and her best friend-turned-boyfriend, Jake, she is ready to do what it takes to heal from the pain she suffered while with her ex, Noah. Gracie’s post-Noah days are filled with the gentle love she receives from Jake but in her sleep she is plagued by nightmares that she fears will never go away.

It’s summer on UTK’s campus and Gracie, Jake and Becki have all decided to stay at school for the summer, each for their own reason. Gracie wants to be as far away from Noah as possible, Jake knows Gracie will need him to lean on and, because of a late in the game change of major, Becki has a ton of classes to take before her senior year.

In the beginning of summer, Gracie and Jake continue to steam the windows with their beautiful love-making but Gracie’s internal struggles with self-esteem and confidence weigh heavily on their relationship. Jake’s point-of-view alternating throughout the book will have readers falling even harder for him.

When Gracie’s new counselor suggests she may have jumped into a relationship too quickly, Gracie knows what she needs to do to make a full recovery. With strength she didn’t know she had, she walks away from Jake to recover her spirit. Staying true to the promise he made her the semester before, although heart-broken, Jake remains her closest friend and support system while trying to give her the space she needs to heal.

Gracie has spent years pouring her heart into volume after volume of journals. Gracie starts writing poetry that seemingly pours from her heart, proof that writing is merely an extension of her soul. Gracie also reconnects with her musical talents and takes up guitar again, a talent not even Jake knew about. The beauty in her passion for both playing music and writing renders Jake speechless.

Gracie is inspired by what she’s learning about herself in therapy, writing poetry and lyrics. And as fate would have it, she unexpectedly runs into Calon Ridge, the lead singer of her favorite local band, Alternate Tragedy.

Memories of an evening she spent with Calon two years prior and his sudden intense interest in Gracie throws both she and Jake for a loop. Jake experiences something he’s never had to deal with. He is jealous; fist-clenching, pulse-thumping jealous.

With broken souls and passion for music in common, Calon and Gracie reconnect on a different level. Calon becomes a creative confidant for Gracie and with his cocky humor, sexy mannerisms and sensitive spirit, he convinces her to begin to explore the depths of her talent by taking the stage. Jake’s new job as a bartender gives him a front row seat to the sensual connection between Calon and Gracie as they practice. But that connection is just what Gracie needs to lift her confidence as she starts to find herself again.

Becki and Gracie spend more time together than usual because of their shared newly-single status and Becki is completely intrigued by Calon. Becki’s honesty and no-filter humor is gut-busting hysterical and keeps Gracie grounded and giggling. She’s up for a summer fling but may not be expecting the intensity Calon’s soul holds.

And when the end-of-summer festival brings the whole cast of IN TOO DEEP back, front and center for a weekend none of them will soon forget, stakes are set, tempers flare, truth prevails, and unexpected plans are made. And Gracie finally finds herself On Solid Ground.

My review:

On Solid Ground is the follow up to Michelle Kemper Browlow’s emotional debut, In Too Deep. I fell in love with Gracie and Jake in that debut and damn if I didn’t fall in love with them even more in On Solid Ground.

Gracie is just at the very beginning of her personal journey to become stronger and get back to the girl she once was. The girl she was before she experienced the emotional abuse at the hands of her ex-boyfriend, Noah. Luckily she has the amazing Jake by her side to help her realize the amazing and beautiful soul she is. But it won’t be an easy road for her and certainly not her and Jake’s relationship. Will they be able to weather the storm left behind by Noah?

Jake is bound and determined to make his Gracie see just how amazing she is. He needs to her to see herself through his eyes. She has been too broken and seeing her like that is killing him. He will give her whatever it takes to build her back up….even if it means time away from the woman who holds his heart.

Together Jake and Gracie have more hurdles to overcome than anyone they know. Determined to put the past in the past, and heal the hurt that has been caused, they will need to reach within to find the strength to be survivors…..together.

This. Book. KILLED. Me. Gracie broke my heart when she opened up and started the healing process. She is an amazing, strong, determined, resilient and beautiful person. Inside and out. She is an inspiration to anyone who reads this book. I think we can all learn something from her. To take the steps she knows she needs to get herself to a better place and admit that she needs help getting there is truly amazing and it is gift to be able to read. Now, let’s get to Jake….*dreamy sigh*. Damn, where to even begin? He is truly an amazing partner. He gives Gracie any and everything she could possibly need to get back to the girl he fell in love with all that time ago. He is a guy and girl would be lucky to call hers and had me crying too many times to count with his insight and caring soul.

Michelle also introduced us to Calon, the smoking hot lead singer of a local band and one that shares a deep connection with Gracie. He’s another beautiful and intense person with a story that broke my heart. I really, REALLY, hope he gets his own happy ending because that boy truly deserves one.

But beyond On Solid Ground, and In Too Deep, I have to say that I think Michelle Kemper Brownlow is one of the most truly unique and special authors I have come across these days. She writes from her heart and soul and I can feel it in every page. Rarely does a reader come across a gift like that. My wish is that my review reaches someone who may not have heard about Michelle and that person decides to read her work. Thank you Michelle, for another phenomenal story and I look forward to seeing more from you!

Five 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.

Blog ~ Twitter ~ Facebook

Out Of Time by Jen McLaughlin Release Day Blitz & AMAZING Giveaway

Out of Time by Jen McLaughlin

December 2013

Buy links:

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:

Desperate to keep him…

Trying to make every moment count…

Time only gets us so far…

But first, Jen is having a PAR-TAY! You can stop by any time on Tuesday, the 3rd and join in!

She is having a giveaway for a diamond necklace, too! And, there will be several other authors stopping by to chat and give away more prizes.

Join here and please share this link: https://www.facebook.com/events/456550377788774/

Excerpt:

When he closed his mouth over mine, I shut off my mind and stopped thinking. He’d already told me all he could tell me about the call, so focusing on it wasn’t the healthiest choice. We had to wait until this weekend to hear anything more. Until then we were just sitting ducks.

And if I was going to be forced to wait, then I’d do it my way.

He picked me up and carried me to his bed. He was so hard and solid and it drove me insane every time he moved his tongue over mine like that. His teeth scraped my lower lip, and I whimpered into his mouth. His fingers moved over my butt, slipping between my legs and rubbing against the spot where I needed him most.

As he lowered me to the mattress, he started to climb on top of me, but I broke the kiss and shoved at his shoulders. “No,” I said, locking gazes with him. “It’s my turn. Just stand there.”

He stilled, instantly giving me what I wanted. “Your turn for what?”

“Control,” I said, my cheeks heating. “I want to undress you. And then I want to wrap my lips around your…your…”

When I drifted off, uncertain what to call his penis, he chuckled. “Cock. It’s a cock, Carrie. Say it.”

My cheeks heated. I knew what it was called. It just sounded so dirty and wrong. “Around your cock,” I said in a rush, my cheeks getting even hotter.

“Okay.” He fisted his hands at his hips, watching me from beneath his lowered lids. When he looked at me like that—like I was his dessert or something—it made everything inside me quiver and beg for his touch so much it hurt. I licked my lips and crawled to the edge of the bed on all fours. He twitched and took a step toward me; as if he couldn’t hold himself back anymore, but then he stopped.

He stood there because I’d asked him to.

I ran my hands over his chest, then up over his shoulders. Just touching him made me feel like the luckiest girl in the world, and I wanted to do everything to him. Everything in the romance books I read at night, and then more. Even though my mother had never figured it out, I used to sneak them out of her library after she was finished with them. I’d started it in sixth grade. Now I bought them with my own money.

And I had a lot of ideas stored away in my mind that I wanted to try out on Finn.

BLOG TOUR GIVEAWAY:

Jen is giving away 4 $10 Amazon Gift Cards and an amazing grand prize!

The grand prize winner will get to help name a character in book 3 of the series, and will get their name in the acknowledgement section of the book!

Contest is international.

If the book happens to hit the top 10 on amazon during the blog tour, there just might be another special surprise in the works!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the author:

Website ~ Facebook Fan Page ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

The World Without a Future by Nazarea Andrews….Release Day Blitz & FANTASTIC Giveaway

The World Without a Future by Nazarea Andrews

December 2013

Goodreads

Buy links:

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:

She was born the day the world ended…

He just wants his past to die…

GIVEAWAY:

Nazarea is giving away a really awesome prize! The grand prize winner will receive a zombie survival kit and 25 edited pages of the manuscript and swag — with notes from Nazarea.

A runner up will receive the zombie survival kit and swag. This contest is US only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the author:

Site ~ Blog ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ “The Infects” Street Team

Bitter Sweet Love by Jennifer L. Armentrout Release Day Launch & Excerpt

Jennifer L. Armentrout’s amazing novella in her new The Dark Elements Series, BITTER SWEET LOVE, is out and we are excited to join in the release day launch for it. BITTER SWEET LOVE is the Prequel Novella for The Dark Elements Series and is full of Wardens, fantasy, and romance. The first novel in the series, WHITE HOT KISS, will be released February 25, 2014. Check out what we have for you today! There’s also a fantastic excerpt for you to check out below!

Excerpt:

Moving lightning fast, Dez shifted and I was suddenly underneath him. His arms were on either side of my head, caging me in. Our bodies didn’t touch, but I felt him to the tips of my toes anyway.

The teasing grin disappeared when I dragged in a deep breath and my chest brushed his. Everything changed in an instant. The playful mood faded, replaced by primal heaviness. Our gazes collided and locked. Neither of us moved. His closeness sent a series of shivers skittering across my skin and made it hard to take slow, even breaths. My body tensed when his gaze dropped to my mouth.

He tilted his head to the side. “I… I honestly have no idea what we were talking about.”

“Good. Neither do I.”

He shifted his weight onto one arm, bring him closer. “Have you enjoyed your trip so far?”

“Yes.” I felt as if I couldn’t get enough air into my lungs.

“Good.” He lowered his head. His breath was minty as it moved across my cheek and then my lips. “I’m glad.”

I wasn’t really following the conversation and I wasn’t sure that he was fully aware of what was coming out of his mouth. I searched my hazy brain for something to say and wet my lips. I-

The sound that came out of Dez’s chest rumbled through me. A stuttered heartbeat passed and then his lips were on mine. There was nothing slow about this kiss. It scorched my skin and caused my body to stretch tight like a bowstring. The kiss deepened, spinning my senses. I shuddered when his hand curved over my shoulder and drifted down to my waist, his long fingers spreading out under the hem of my shirt, grazing the bare skin of my stomach.

I gasped, floored by the raw sensations pounding through my blood. My skin felt as if I was about to phase. Maybe I was.

“Jasmine,” he whispered, the word falling against my lips, and then his body was pressing mine into the mattress, heavy, sweet and hard.

Bitter Sweet Love Buy Links:

AMAZON ~ BARNES AND NOBLE ~ iTUNES

Bitter Sweet Love Synopsis:

In a sizzling prequel novella to her new series The Dark Elements, #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout draws readers into the extraordinary, irresistible world of Wardens and demons.

Dez wasn’t just Jasmine’s crush. A gargoyle Warden like Jas, he helped her come to terms with her destiny—fending off demons and maintaining the balance between good and evil. He was her everything…right until the moment he disappeared without a trace. It didn’t help that Jas’s father had just announced that she and Dez would one day be mated. Hard not to take that personally.

And now he’s back, three years older, ten times hotter, ready to pick up exactly where they left off. But Jas isn’t taking that risk again. Dez has seven days to meet all her conditions and earn back her trust. Seven days filled with terrifying danger and sweet temptation. Seven days to win her heart—or shatter it all over again…

Don’t miss White Hot Kiss, book one in Jennifer L. Armentrout’s The Dark Elements series from Harlequin TEEN!

About the author:

# 1 NEW YORK TIMES Bestselling author Jennifer lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing. she spends her time reading, working out, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell Loki. Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen. Her book Obsidian has been optioned for a major motion picture and her Covenant Series has been optioned for TV. She also writes adult and New Adult romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

Links:

Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook

BITTER SWEET LOVE Goodreads ~ WHITE HOT KISS Goodreads

Jennifer L. Armentrout Goodreads ~ Jennifer L. Armentrout Amazon

WHITE HOT KISS Buy Links:

AMAZON ~ BARNES AND NOBLE ~ iTUNES