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Book Promotion & Review

Dash of Peril by Lori Foster…Blog Tour Stop & Review

 

Dash of Peril cover

Book links:

Amazon   |  Barnes & Noble 

Synopsis:

A no-nonsense female cop reluctantly teams up with the one man who makes her lose control in a deliciously sensual new novel from New York Times bestselling author Lori Foster…

To bring down a sleazy abduction ring, Lieutenant Margaret “Margo” Peterson has set herself up as bait. But recruiting Dashiel Riske as her unofficial partner is a whole other kind of danger. Dash is 6’4″ of laid-back masculine charm, a man who loves life—and women—to the limit. Until Margo is threatened, and he reveals a dark side that may just match her own.

Beneath Margo’s tough facade is a slow-burning sexiness that drives Dash crazy. The only way to finish this case is to work together side by side…skin to skin. And as their mission takes a lethal turn, he’ll have to prove he’s all the man she needs—in all the ways that matter.

 

My review:

Dash of Peril is the fourth book in author Lori Foster’s Love Undercover series. I was so excited to get to Dash’s story and oh my, this by far was to hottest book of the series to date and I loved it!

Lieutenant Margaret “Margo” Peterson is used to down playing the fact that she’s a woman. She has worked damn hard to get her position as lieutenant and being a bit hard assed came with the territory. She had more to prove as a female and her fellow officers respected that about her. But sometimes being a woman had its advantages and right now, working on the type of case she was currently, was one of those times. She was on the hunt for the people responsible for repeat crimes involving the drugging and raping of innocent women. She realizes she is getting closer when she’s almost killed…most likely by the people she’s trying to catch. Now she’s injured and pissed. Pissed at the dirt bags responsible but also because she finds herself in need of help while recovering and getting that help from Dash. She has been desperately trying to ignore her attraction toward him and his advances toward her but now with him in her house, staying with her night after night, she realizes it may be a losing battle. Surely he would go running for the hills if he ever learned what she liked in the bedroom…right? It didn’t matter though because she wouldn’t let things get that far. Or would she?

Dash Riske has had a thing for Margo for far too long and now she needs his help. Even if she won’t admit it. There was no way he would let her stay alone to recuperate. Not with her life on the line. He knew she was tough as nails and was more than capable of taking care of herself, hell, it was one of the things he loved about her, but he wasn’t going to leave her to face this debacle alone. And maybe, just maybe, this would be the opportunity he’s been needing to prove that they could be great together. This could be the chance to get her to open up to him and let her walls down and to let him in. He wanted that so damn badly he could taste it. She’s everything he wanted. Smart, tough, ballsy, and no-nonsense all wrapped up in a beautiful package with a killer body. One thing was for sure: when Dash had his eye on something, he got it. And he would get Margo. She was the ultimate prize for him.

Dash and Margo go through a boatload of drama which brings them closer than either one of them could have imagined. When all is said and done though, will what they’ve found in each other be enough to take a chance on? For the long haul?

I will say it again, this book was insanely hot! The chemistry between Dash and Margo is scorching and their personalities play beautifully off of one another with so much heat and intensity that I was practically panting while reading. Margo is a tough gal. She’s had to be and I totally get why she has a really hard time letting her hair down, so to speak. But underneath her tough exterior is a woman. It’s hard for her to almost lead two separate lives. The tough lieutenant vs the woman she is…and what she wants when she’s with a man. But leave it to Dash to figure her out. He’s had her number from the very first chapter and there was no way she was going to escape that man. He’s smoking hot, caring, attentive and knows exactly what she needs. And when he gives it to her? Oh my yum. Of course beyond all the steamy hot time spent together, they are working on solving one hell of a crime and if there’s one thing Lori does so well, it’s write suspenseful nail-biting moments. There was also a bit of a shocker at the end when they figure out who is really behind the drugs and rapes. My lips are sealed but be ready for a “whoa” moment!

And of course another thing to love about this book is seeing the rest of the gang: Rowdy, Cannon, Reese, Logan…and did I mention Cannon? I do love me some Cannon and I am DYING for his book!

Overall, Lori Foster fans will love this latest installment and if you aren’t a Lori fan yet, get your hands on a copy of Dash of Peril. You won’t be disappointed!

 

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About the author:

Since first publishing in January 1996, Lori Foster has become a Waldenbooks, Borders, USA TODAY, Publishers Weekly and New York Times bestselling author. She also received the Romantic Times “Career Achievement Award” for Series Romantic Fantasy and Contemporary Romance.
Lori believes it is important to give back to the community as much as possible, so she routinely arranges events among authors and readers to gather donations for various organizations.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter

 

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Marked by Hades by Reese Monroe…Blog Tour Stop & Review

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Welcome to my stop on the Marked by Hades Blog Tour!

Thanks for stopping by and hope you enjoy my review.

 

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Marked By Hades

Reese Monroe

 

One choice away from eternity…

 

Synopsis:

For 911 years, Gatekeeper companion Justin Bradford has denied the possibility of being mated to only one woman. He enjoys them all too much to settle down. So when he feels his mate’s Ahavah mark surface, his first instinct is to ignore it. But when he sees the leather-clad beauty in need of his help that’s easier said than done…

Yvonne wakes up naked on a cold park bench in a small town with no memory of who—or what—she is. All she knows is the gentle man who woke her was turned to dust when she touched him. And now the strange mark that appeared on her shoulder throbs in the presence of the raven-haired man now offering to help her…

As Justin and Yvonne navigate the mystery of her past, their bond grows, but the secrets they discover and the sacrifices that must be made could be enough to rip them apart for eternity.

 

My Review:

 

Marked by Hades is the second book in author Reese Monroe’s Bound by Hades Series and offered up an enticing and interesting look at the paranormal world. It was an enjoyable read from start to finish and although I didn’t read the first in the series, I wasn’t lost at any point.

Yvonne hasn’t a clue about anything other than her name…and that she just turned the Good Samaritan offering to help her into a pile of dust. Clearly something is really different about her. If she could just remember something about her past. Now she’s on a mission to find out not just who, but what she is. Yvonne has no idea that her quest will take her on a path into a world she never knew existed with gods and demons…and with fated mates. She knew when she met Justin that she couldn’t explain, or ignore, the urge to be near him but she never imagined what he would come to mean to her or the fight she had ahead of her.

Gatekeeper companion Justin had sworn off the whole fated mate idea years ago. He didn’t want the insanely intense feelings and needs that came along with a mate and that bond. Too bad the powers that be have the ultimate say and he soon finds out what it’s like. But when he finds out the his mate may not be playing for Team Good he questions the whole idea even further. Could he possibly be mated to someone belonging to the group he’s been fighting against for the last 900 years? Could fate be that cruel?

The journey Justin and Yvonne embark on is one that will change them both…forever.

Now there’s a lot that happens in this story that I don’t really want to touch on because it may be considered spoileryish, and you know I don’t do spoilers! So here goes…. I really enjoyed the fresh take on the paranormal world author Monroe has given us. I felt terrible for Yvonne from the very beginning. She had nothing, knew no one and knew her touch was dangerous. But she was determined, and I admired that about her. Justin was an enjoyable character and I loved that his mating took him by surprise considering he was more than happy in his bachelor like state. But what I liked the most was the author’s take on good vs. evil. The soldiers, if you will, that “The Great One” has created to keep Lucifer’s demons out of the human world and their tight knit bonds were fantastic. There were plenty of twists and turns that kept this story engaging and interesting throughout.

Plus, getting to see the well thought out foreshadowing of what may be to come in the next installment was pretty awesome!

All in all, paranormal fans will enjoy the world and characters Reese has created and I will be looking forward to book three in the series!

 

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Goodreads  |  Amazon  |   Entangled

 

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

Twitter: @EPEmbrace Steals and Deals

 

Author Bio: Originally from Minnesota, Reese Monroe currently enjoys living in the sunny Arizona desert with her husband of seventeen years and her loveable Shetland Sheep dog, Maddux. Monroe holds a degree in psychology from Southwest Minnesota State University and a master’s degree from the University of Iowa. When she’s not busy writing her next trilogy, she can be found pounding the pavement, training to run her first marathon.

Reese Monroe is a contributing blogger at the widely popular siteNew Adult Alley and has been part of the New Adult revolution for years having penned over thirty novels in the exciting new category.

Connect with Reese onTwitter, throughFacebook or herwebsite. Reese also writes as Lynn Rush and you can find her alter egohere.

 

Website  |  Blog  |  Twitter  |  Facebook  |  Goodreads

 

 

Giveaway:

Marked by Fate prize pack including: a Marked By Fate necklace, $10 Starbucks gift card and a $10 iTunes gift card (if the winner is intl a $25 Amazon gift card will be substituted for the prize pack)

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

 

 

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Review….Dyed and Gone by Beth Yarnall

 

Dyed & Gone Cover

Book links:

Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble   |  Goodreads 

 

Synopsis:

Hairstylist Azalea March is looking forward to a wild weekend in Las Vegas with her friends. Oh, sure, they’re supposed to be there on business, attending the biggest hair show on the west coast, but that doesn’t mean they can’t have a little fun. But fun quickly turns to drama. On the first morning of the show, Dhane, the biggest celeb of the hair-styling world, is found dead. As it urns out Azalea’s friend, Vivian, not only knew Dhane, but the tale she weaves of how they met is faker than a showgirl’s uh… assets. When Vivian confesses to the murder and is arrested, Azalea knows there’s no way she could have done it and suspects Vivian may be trying to protect someone. But who?

Azalea now has to convince Alex, the sexy detective from her past, to help her prove Vivian’s innocence and comb through clues more twisted than a spiral perm. But the truth is stranger than anything found on the Las Vegas Strip, and proving Vivian’s innocence turns out to be more difficult than transforming a brunette into a blonde.

 

My review:

Dyed and Gone is the first book in the Azalea March Mystery series by author Beth Yarnall and let me say kicked this series off with a fantastic start! Funny, entertaining, suspenseful, and witty, this book was all that and more.

When hairstylist Azalea March packed up for a weekend away in Las Vegas for the biggest hair event of the year she had no idea that it would go from trying out new shears and blow dryers to trying to solve a murder. The reigning king of hair, Dhane, has been murdered and Azalea finds herself smack dab in the middle of the investigation. Not only because she happens to be new friends with his inner circle but also because her business partner, Vivian, had a past with Dhane and that past would be called into question. Especially when Vivian confesses to the murder. A murder Azalea is positive Vivian didn’t commit. Now, Azalea has a bigger mess on her hands than if she forgot to wear gloves while dying a blonde to a dark brunette. Adding even more to the debacle is Azalea having to rely on her sort-of-ex-fling and detective, Alex, to help her and Vivian out of this pickle. And to think, Azalea’s biggest worry just days ago had been what shoes to pack.

When I say this book has it all, I mean it. There were parts that had me laughing out loud and there were parts that had me worried. Parts that had me fanning myself and parts that had my upset. I loved how much was packed into Dyed and Gone. The characters are wonderfully colorful and delightfully quirky with personalities that leap off of the page. The murder mystery had me guessing from the very beginning until the last few pages. I couldn’t put my finger on who I thought committed the crime and I loved that I was kept on my toes until the very end. I say “very end” because just when I thought I got my killer, BAM, we were treated to a great twist. Azalea is a smart and witty heroine that I can’t wait to read more of! I’m dying to see what adventures she has in store and if things heat up more with her kinda-sorta-ex/kinda-sorta-boyfriend Alex. He is so opposite Azalea in many ways and they really compliment each other well. Great chemistry that totally deserves exploring!

Overall, I loved this story and would recommend it to any reader whether a mystery fan or a chick lit fan. There really is something for everyone! Thank you, Beth, for Dyed and Gone. I can’t wait to read more!

 

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About the author:

Best selling author, Beth Yarnall writes romantic suspense, mysteries and the occasional hilarious blog post. For a number of years, Beth made her living as a hairstylist and makeup artist and co-owned a salon with her very best friend. Somehow hairstylists and salons always seem to find their way into her stories. Beth lives in Southern California with her husband, two sons, and their dog where she is hard at work on her next novel.

Website  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Goodreads

 

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Fix You by Christine Bell…Blog Tour Stop & Review

FIX YOU BT Button

 

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Fresh, sexy, and addicting–you won’t want to put it down!“—New York Times Bestselling Author Jen McLaughlin

 FIX YOU is part one in the new adult McDaniels Brothers serials from USA TODAY Bestselling Author, Christine Bell. Fans of Monica Murphy, Jen McLaughlin, and H.M. Ward will be seduced by Bash and Olivia’s story and will look forward to a new installment in this ongoing family saga every month!

Buy from Amazon

 

Synopsis:

Olivia Beckett’s once-charmed life is falling apart. Her family is about to lose everything, and she has almost no chance of continuing her college education. She can’t even seek solace from her high school sweetheart. He’s changed. She doesn’t recognize the boy she used to know— his violent behavior is escalating and it scares the hell out of her. Her whole world is crumbling, and she has no one to turn to……

Sebastian “Bash” McDaniels is an up and comer in the boxing world working nights at the local college bar until he can land the fight of his dreams that will get him the hell out of Boston and away from his family’s tragic past. He’s weeks from his goal when Olivia Beckett comes tumbling into his life in a flash of silky dark hair and haunted eyes. When he saves her from a potentially brutal beating, they begin to grow close, but Olivia’s ex isn’t ready to let her go so easily.

Bash can’t bring himself to walk away, but fixing Olivia just might leave him broken…

 

My review:

Fix You is the first book in author Christine Bell’s Bash and Olivia\McDaniel’s Brothers Series and I will warn you, has a bit of a cliff hanger ending.  Now, I don’t mind those type of endings and even if you do, I totally say read this book anyway…it was THAT good! (and the second book comes out soon)

College student Olivia Beckett has entirely too much weight on her shoulders.  Her family is going through a major rough patch and is losing all financial stability and she’s starting to realize her boyfriend since high school is turning into someone she doesn’t want to be with.  His temper is getting out of hand and the excuses she’s been making for him come to an end when she is saved from a violent situation in a bar bathroom.  As embarrassing as that was, it was the turning point she needed.  There were no more excuses to be made for his behavior and her bartender in shining armor savior, Bash, is just what she needs to help her through this.  But adding insult to injury, Bash loses his job over saving her.  He insists it was just a job to tide him over until he gets in the ring, but she knows better.  Seizing the opportunity, Olivia decides Bash is the perfect teacher for the self-defense lessons she fears she will need when she breaks things off with her boyfriend.  Hopefully it will also help ease her guilt over getting him fired…the bigger question is, will is ease her wicked strong attraction to the gorgeous boxer?

Sebastian McDaniels, aka Bash, does not need this kind of distraction or complication in his life right now.  He just needs to keep his focus on training and getting ready for his fights.  He does not need to be involved in a clearly effed up relationship between some douchebag college kid and his girlfriend.  Nope.  Too bad there’s no way he could ever allow a girl to be hurt by a guy.  Especially someone as beautiful as Olivia.  Now he’s lost his job, thanks to his heroics, and she shows up asking for self-defense lessons.  He wouldn’t be any better than her ass of a boyfriend if he turned her away and didn’t help her again.  Now, if he can just convince himself that as soon as the lessons are over, he will be able to let her go….

What starts out as two people thrown into a situation by chance turns into a sizzling hot and undeniable attraction that will prove too strong to ignore.  But with so many forces working against them, will they be able to make things between them work?  Or will Olivia’s ex turn out to be more dangerous than just in the physical sense?

Oh man, I loved this book.  Again, I will say that it has a kinda cliffy ending but please don’t let that turn you away from Bash.  He is too delicious to ignore.  He’s the strong, silent type that comes from the wrong side of the tracks but has a true moral compass and could never let a man hurt a woman.  His hard edged looks are at odds with his soft heart and who doesn’t love that?! The bad boy boxer with a soft side is always a win for me and Bash was all that and a bag of chips.  Olivia is in a pretty tough spot and I feel for her.  She’s starting to realize her “boyfriend” isn’t who she thought he was and is changing right before her eyes.  But she’s decided to get rid of him and knows it may become dangerous so she’s trying her best to prepare for the worst.  I’m worried for her but knowing that she has forged a friendship with Bash comforts me a bit.  I say a bit because something happens at the end and Olivia may be on her own for a little while, without Bash, and the boyfriend is mighty pissed.  But the spark between Olivia and Bash can’t be denied and they are positively delectable together! (so HA to you, loser boyfriend!)

I cannot wait for the next installment in Bash and Olivia’s story and will be anxiously awaiting its release!  Thank you, Christine, for one hell of a story!

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Add FIX YOU to your TBR pile on Goodreads!

Want to learn more about FIX YOU? Be sure to check out this exclusive interview with Christine Bell!

Follow the tour and win some awesome prizes!

Prizes:

A $50 e-giftcard to Amazon or Barnes & Noble (winner’s choice, open internationally) and an opportunity to have a character named after the winner in serial #3 of The McDaniels Brothers series!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

About Christine Bell

ChristineBell+HeadshotChristine Bell is the USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romances, and one half of the happiest couple in the world. She doesn’t like clowns or bugs (except ladybugs, on account of their cute outfits), but loves movies, football, and playing Texas Hold ‘Em. Writing is her passion, but if she had to pick another occupation, she’d be a wizard. She loves writing fun, sexy romance and deep, emotional new adult novels, but also hopes to one day publish something her dad can read without wanting to dig his eyes out with rusty spoons.

Subscribe to Christine’s mailing list for exclusive content, ARCs, giveaways and more!

Website | Twitter | Goodreads | Facebook

 

 

 

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Unfixable by Tessa Bailey….Blog Tour Stop & Review

 

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Synopsis:

He’s the last thing she wants…but the only thing she needs.

Willa Peet isn’t interested in love. She’s been there, done that, and has the shattered heart to prove it. Ready to shake the breakup, she heads to Dublin, Ireland. But there’s a problem. A dark-haired, blue-eyed problem with a bad attitude that rivals her own. And he’s not doling out friendly Irish welcomes.

Shane Claymore just wants to race. The death of his father forced him off the Formula One circuit, but he’s only staying in Dublin long enough to sell the Claymore Inn and get things in order for his mother and younger sister. He never expected the sarcastic American girl staying at the inn to make him question everything.

But even as Willa and Shane’s fiery natures draw them together, their pasts threaten to rip them apart. Can Shane give up racing to be with the woman he loves, or will Willa’s quest to resurrect the tough-talking, no-shit-taking girl she used to be destroy any hope of a future together?

A new adult novel from Entangled’s Embrace imprint…

 

My Review:

Unfixable is the newest work from author Tessa Bailey and is Willa’s story. I had been dying for Willa’s story since we first met her in Protecting What’s His and it was so worth the wait. This book, in true Tessa fashion, blew me away.

To say Willa Peet has given up on love and happy endings would be a gross understatement. Willa had a childhood made up the complete opposite of gumdrops and rainbows. Her mother was a junkie prostitute, bringing home unsavory men and constantly putting her and her sister Ginger at risk of the dangers that come with the underbelly of society. The only person she could ever rely on was Ginger and when Ginger got her happy ending, Willa couldn’t be happier. That still didn’t mean she believed in all that love and happiness for herself. She’d given it the old college try recently with a nice guy who was good to her and said he loved her but in the end she only proved herself right: she wasn’t meant for love. Life and the baggage that came with it was just too much recently and she needed to take a step back and get away. The perfect opportunity arises when she wins a photography contest and an all expense paid trip to Ireland for a month. Ever since Ginger bought her a camera when she was little, it was the one escape she had. The one thing she truly felt at peace doing. And now it had given her a chance to escape. Escape her inner turmoil, her too familiar town, her personal chains, her ex-boyfriend. Ironic that the minute she lands in Ireland she will meet a ruggedly handsome, dark-haired, blue-eyed, ornery Irishman whose family just happens to own the inn she’s staying at. He gets under her skin immediately and she’s scared to death that it may not exactly be in a bad way.

Shane Claymore begrudgingly spends his day running his family’s inn and is counting down the minutes until he can get out of there and return to what he loves. Racing. He was between a rock and a hard place at the moment and was pissed as all hell about his situation. He had left his family, thanks in part to his disapproving father, and never wanted to see the insides of this inn again. Yet here he was. Since his father had died he had been back at the inn helping his mother and sister run the place but he was itching to get back on the track….and just biding his time until he was behind the wheel again. So here he is, at the airport, waiting for some contest winner to take her back to the inn where his family would host her for the next month. Almost immediately thought he realizes he’s in trouble. He never counted on the smart mouthed, understatedly beautiful girl who walked off the plane. And he sure as hell didn’t count on being attracted to her.

You know what they say about finding love when you least expect it, right? Willa and Shane both have zero desire to get attached…. especially not to each other. But the undeniable attraction and chemistry will win out in the end. The questions that will remain are: will a month be enough time to scratch the itch? With both Willa and Shane having plans to move on with their lives after the visit ruin what they’ve found?

So, you may know that I’m a huge Tessa Bailey fan. I love all of her Line of Duty books and I was so sad to see that series end, but also excited for Tessa to write something different and new. Willa’s book was just that…different and new. Willa is a complicated gal and when we first met her I knew she was going to be an amazing character. And she truly is. She has every right to feel the way she does about flowery love and colorful happiness. It’s also just not who she is. She’s a heroine that doesn’t do girly crushes, writing doodles with hearts and “Mrs. Willa (insert guy crush last name)” and I totally love her for that. I can relate to that. I knew there would be someone out there who would love her for being that way. For being her. And oh my, was Shane the freaking perfect match! He’s almost like the guy version of her. He’s been hurt before and gets the whole messed up family thing. He also calls Willa out when she needs it and that’s what I loved most about him. He made her face things she wouldn’t have otherwise and made her admit there was something between them. And what they have between them is a combustible spark that heats up hotter and hotter every scene. Damn, Tessa can write some chemistry! I will admit I was worrying that things wouldn’t work out for them because, let’s face it, their time came with an expiration date. But don’t you worry. If there’s another thing Tessa does so freaking well it’s write some killer endings. This ending? Had me crying, laughing, palms sweating, reading wide-eyed, nervous, and ultimately so freaking happy. It stands out in my mind as one of the best book endings I’ve ever read….and I’ve read a whole lot of book endings.

I will always recommend Tessa’s work and Unfixable is now the newest member of my rec list. Thank you, Tessa, for continuing to give us amazing stories with tremendous characters. You freaking rock, girl!

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Buy links:

Entangled  |  Goodreads  |  Amazon  |  B&N

 Entangled Embrace:                                      

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

Twitter: @EPEmbrace  Steals and Deals

Giveaway:

An Irish-themed/Unfixable themed swag pack and a Kindle Fire.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Author Bio: Tessa lives in Brooklyn, New York with her husband and young daughter. When she isn’t writing or reading romance, Tessa enjoys a good argument and thirty-minute recipes.

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ARC Review…The Collector of Dying Breaths by M.J. Rose

The Collector of Dying Breaths releases today

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Synopsis:

A lush and imaginative novel that crisscrosses time as a perfumer and a mythologist search for the fine line between potion and poison, poison and passion…and past and present.

Florence, Italy—1533: An orphan named René le Florentin is plucked from poverty to become Catherine de Medici’s perfumer. Traveling with the young duchessina from Italy to France, René brings with him a cache of secret documents from the monastery where he was trained: recipes for exotic fragrances and potent medicines—and a formula for an alchemic process said to have the potential to reanimate the dead. In France, René becomes not only the greatest perfumer in the country but the most dangerous, creating deadly poisons for his Queen to use against her rivals. But while mixing herbs and essences under the light of flickering candles, Rene doesn’t begin to imagine the tragic and personal consequences for which his lethal potions will be responsible.

Paris, France—The Present: A renowned mythologist, Jac L’Etoile, is trying to recover from personal heartache by throwing herself into her work, learns of the 16th century perfumer who may have been working on an elixir that would unlock the secret to immortality. She becomes obsessed with René le Florentin’s work—particularly when she discovers the dying breaths he had collected during his lifetime. Jac’s efforts put her in the path of her estranged lover, Griffin North, a linguist who has already begun translating René le Florentin’s mysterious formula. Together they confront an eccentric heiress in possession of a world-class art collection. A woman who has her own dark purpose for the elixir… a purpose for which she believes the ends will justify her deadly means. This mesmerizing gothic tale of passion and obsession crisscrosses time, zigzagging from the violent days of Catherine de Medici’s court to twenty-first century France. Fiery and lush, set against deep, wild forests and dimly lit chateaus, The Collector of Dying Breaths illuminates the true path to immortality: the legacies we leave behind.

 

My review:

The Collector of Dying Breaths is the sixth novel in author M.J. Rose’s Reincarnationist series and admittedly the first in the series I have read.  However, not having read the previous stories did not leave me loving this story any less.  It was a work of art.

This novel is essentially two stories happening centuries apart being told in tandem all leading up to an emotional and fascinating end.

The early tale being of René le Florentin, perfumer to Catherine de Medici, and his life from orphan to alchemy apprentice to de Medici’s personal perfumer, friend, and loyal subject and importantly, collector of dying breaths.  René had been fascinated and compelled to learn about the possibility of reincarnating souls using the dying breath captured on one’s deathbed.  Ever since his mentor and teacher, Brother Serapino, had died and René collected his last breath, he had been attempting to complete the proper mixture of ingredients to make reincarnation possible.  He was a renowned perfumer and cunning adversary to de Medici, using his knowledge of scents and poisons to help keep her reign intact.  René had no way of knowing then that eventually his loyalty to Catherine would tragically cost him the only love he’d ever known. Fortunately, a bond of true love had been formed and would end up spanning centuries, looking for a chance to grow and blossom without being cut short.

The later tale being of mythologist Jac L’Etoile and her journey of healing after the devastating loss of her brother.  It’s because of that loss that she finds herself in the middle of a project her brother had been working on before his death.  The project involved a wealthy heiress and her obsession with immortality.  The heiress had amassed an impressive collection of items needed to complete an elixir and finally harness the properties of the dying breaths that had been captured all those centuries ago.  But Jac would need help and calls on her former love, Griffin, to aid in her quest.  While working on the project, Jac has experiences that tell her that this is much more than an eccentric woman’s latest obsession.  This could be the chance for two lost souls to finally be reunited after hundreds of years of trying to get it right.  Could she and Griffin be fated to be together in this life?

The two stories weaved together to make one harmonious and entertaining read.  On top of the rich and beautiful storytelling with detail that made me believe I could smell the scents being so richly described, there was deceit, mystery, and murder.  I felt a connection to René from the very beginning and was so emotional reading the end to his part of the story.  Jac was smart and full of emotion being torn between not wanting to believe she had a connection to the past and opening up to the notion that it was possible.   The heiress, Melinoe, reminded me of an old porcelain doll.  The kind that looks beautiful at a glance but if you really look closely, and stare long enough, becomes unnerving and frightening.

My favorite parts of this experience were how gorgeously author Rose described everything from the perfumery workspaces to the décor in rooms to the scent in each moment.  And finally, how it all culminated into a heartbreaking yet beautiful ending.

This is quite different from the books I’ve been reading lately, and I’m grateful I had the chance to read The Collector of Dying Breaths….it was the coffee beans to my reading palate.  Thank you, Ms. Rose, for a stunning read.

 

5LovesRLBFive Loves

 

About the author:

M.J. Rose grew up in New York City mostly in the labyrinthine galleries of the Metropolitan Museum, the dark tunnels and lush gardens of Central Park and reading her mother’s favorite books before she was allowed. She believes mystery and magic are all around us but we are too often too busy to notice…  Books that exaggerate mystery and magic draw attention to it and remind us to look for it and revel in it.

She lives in Connecticut with Doug Scofield, a composer, and their very spoiled dog, Winka.

Rose is a the Co-President and founding member ofInternational Thriller Writers and the founder of the first marketing company for authors: AuthorBuzz. She runs the blog, Museum of Mysteries.

In 1998, her first novel Lip Service was the first e-book and the first self-published novel chosen by the LiteraryGuild/Doubleday Book Club as well as the first e-book to go on to be published by a mainstream New York publishing house.

Rose has been profiled in Time magazine, ForbesThe New York TimesBusiness 2.0Working WomanNewsweek, andNew York Magazine.

She has appeared on The Today ShowFox NewsThe Jim Lehrer NewsHour, and features on her have appeared in dozens of magazines and newspapers in the U.S. and abroad, including USATodaySternL’OfficialPoets and Writers, and Publishers Weekly.

Rose graduated from Syracuse University and spent the ’80s in advertising. She was the Creative Director of Rosenfeld Sirowitz and Lawson and she has a commercial in the Museum of Modern Art in NYC.

 

Website  |  Facebook  |  Twitter

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ARC Review…..Silent Bite by Tina Folsom

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Book links:

Kindle  |  Amazon paperback  |  Goodreads  |  1,001 Dark Nights 

Synopsis:

New York Times Bestselling Author Tina Folsom presents: Silent Bite (A Scanguards Wedding), Scanguards Vampires 8 1/2

Newbie vampire Oliver and Ursula, the woman he saved from a blood brothel, are finally tying the knot. But with Ursula’s old fashioned Chinese parents arriving in town for the traditional wedding, chaos soon breaks out–with Oliver always one step away from accidentally revealing to his soon-to-be inlaws that he and his extended Scanguards family are vampires.

Amidst all the chaos and confusion, will there ever be a private moment for Oliver and Ursula to consummate their union in a blood bond?

 

My review:

Silent Bite is story 8 ½ in author Tina Folsom’s Scanguards Vampires Series as well as the 4th novella in the 1,001 Dark Nights Series.  I’m a huge fan of vampires and had been looking forward to this story and it was fantastic.

Oliver and Ursula come from two very different worlds.  Sure, he’s a newborn vampire and she’s still human but besides that, Ursula’s family is Chinese and her parents believe in their traditions.  Normally that wouldn’t cause too much of a headache except during a wedding, which is exactly what they are in town for.  Ursula and Oliver’s wedding.  Let the wedding stress begin!  Of course adding the whole “my fiancée is a vampire” thing into the mix is bound to make things just a tad more stressful than the usual “what color taffeta should we use for the table runners” stress.  And it does.  As if all of that wasn’t enough, someone is lurking in the shadows, determined to kidnap Ursula and consume the blood that is calling to him.

Will their wedding go off without a hitch and will they finally be able to bind themselves together forever in blood bond union?

From start to finish I loved this story.  I found myself laughing, fanning myself, and gripping my e-reader for dear life at points.  Ursula and Oliver weren’t only sexy to read they were also very endearing and relatable.  Relatable in the sense that their attempts at keeping things from Ursula’s parents brought me right back to the many times I tried to hide things from my own parents (sorry, mom!).  The panic when you think you fudged your lie or your friends not remembering what they were supposed to say and the laughter that happens when it all comes out in the end anyway.  Add that to the smoking hot connection they share and oh my, they are pretty amazing.  The other aspect of this story I loved was the ever-present threat that was lurking in the shadows.  The threat that no one knew about apart from the reader.  It’s like those horror movies when you yell “don’t go into the basement!” at the screen.  It was intense, nerve-wracking, and really well done.  Now, I won’t give anything away but I will tell you that the ending was beautiful and I couldn’t have asked for a better one for Ursula and Oliver.

All in all, Silent Bite was the whole package.  Elements of suspense, romance, sexy heat, and humor make this novella a win in my book! Thank you, Tina, for a fantastic read!

5LovesRLBFive Loves

 

About the author:

Tina Folsom was born in Germany and has been living in English speaking countries for over 20 years, the last 11 of them in San Francisco, where she’s married to an American.

Tina has always been a bit of a globe trotter: after living in Lausanne, Switzerland, she briefly worked on a cruise ship in the Mediterranean, then lived a year in Munich, before moving to London. There, she became an accountant. But after 8 years she decided to move overseas.

In New York she studied drama at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, then moved to Los Angeles a year later to pursue studies in screenwriting. This is also where she met her husband, who she followed to San Francisco three months after first meeting him.

In San Francisco, Tina worked as a tax accountant and even opened her own firm, then went into real estate, however, she missed writing. In 2008 she wrote her first romance and never looked back.

She’s always loved vampires and decided that vampire and paranormal romance was her calling. She now has 15 novels in English and several in other languages (Spanish, German, and French) and continues to write, as well as have her existing novels translated.

Website  |  Facebook  |  Twitter 

 

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Sex & the Single Vamp by Robin Covington….Blog Tour Stop & Review

LoveAndTheSingleVamp2-1 copy

Synopsis:

Cici Trent, vampire and media darling, spends her days finding true love for humans and supernaturals (the “Others”) at her dating agency. But someone is trying to sabotage her business and she needs help. Unfortunately, the best man for the job is the one who broke her still-beating heart two hundred fifty-four years ago.

Deacon is a patient vampire. He’s only loved one woman in over three hundred years— CiCi— and she chose another. So when she shows up in his office asking for help, he finally has the chance to lay that demon to rest. He’ll help her, but for a price—a night in his bed.

Adrenaline, mischief, and a little late-night B&E light the passion that even a couple of lifetimes couldn’t put out. But Deacon has a secret and when CiCi is suddenly mortal, his deception might be the only way restore her immortality. Can love bridge the gap between a heartbeat and forever?

 

My review:

Sex & the Single Vamp is author Robin Covington’s first dip into the vampire world and after loving Robin’s contemporary work, I was really excited for her vampires.  Well, she didn’t disappoint.  This book was fantastic!

CiCi was used to those opposing her matchmaking business.  There are a lot of people who just don’t believe a person can have a hand in matching up a couple like two puzzle pieces.  As if those doubt weren’t enough, add human/supernatural matches and she just about tripled the people opposing it.  But she wasn’t going to let that stop her from helping people find true love. Supernatural or not.  Everyone was entitled to that kind of happiness.  She had once dreamed of that kind of happiness for herself but that was a lifetime ago and she refused to let her memories drift back to that time…and that man.  Things really start to get messy for CiCi when someone starts trying to ruin her reputation and hurt her clients.  There’s only one person she would ever go to for help…and it just so happens to be the man who broke her heart a couple of hundreds of years ago.

Deacon could say that he was shocked when CiCi shows up at his office asking for help, but if he’s being honest, he’s not.  He’s been keeping tabs on her for years and had hoped when things starting happening involving her matchmaking business that she would come to him for help.  He still loved her and any excuse to see her was good for him.  Besides, he couldn’t turn her away if he wanted to.  He promised her dying father hundreds of years ago that he would protect her at all costs for the rest of her life.  So here she was, asking for help.  And Deacon, being more than happy to provide that protection, agrees.  Of course, he has his own terms that she must agree to and it may involve making up for some lost time….between the sheets.

The mystery surrounding the sabotage and who, or what, is responsible for them will take Deacon and CiCi on a road that will change them forever….if they live that long.

Wow.  As I said earlier, I’m a big fan of Robin and her work and she totally rocked the vamp world with this book.  The backstory between CiCi and Deacon gave their relationship so much depth and it was easy to imagine the feelings they had toward one another.  It was easy to feel the sexual tension between them in that first meeting and it was easy to cheer for them to get together.  Oh, and when they do?  Smoking hot!  Deacon is total alpha vampire who knows exactly what he wants and isn’t afraid to get it.  CiCi is strong-willed and can’t let go of her feelings of hurt, even if it was hundreds of years earlier.  I can’t really blame her either.  Having to work together to solve the mystery on their hands really helps push them into spending time together and working things out.  Of course, there’s a pivotal moment near the ending that had me a nervous wreck for this couple.  Luckily, endings are another one of Robin’s strong suits and this was no exception!

All in all, this was a fresh and sexy read and I really enjoyed it.  I will be looking forward to more of the supernatural from Robin….well, actually, anything from Robin because I do adore that gal!

4LovesRLBFour Loves

 

Buy Links:

Amazon  |  Barnes and Noble  |  iBooks  |  Kobo  |  Allromance ebooks

Add it to your Goodreads shelf

Website book page with trailer, playlist and more

About the author: 

312887_2137342108017_1567363616_nRobin Covington loves to explore the theme of fooling around and falling in love in her bestselling books. When she’s not writing sexy, sizzling romance she’s collecting tasty man candy, indulging in a little comic book geek love, and stalking Joe Manganiello. You can find Robin at her website (robincovingtonromance.com), Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. Don’t send chocolate . . . send eye candy!

 

Social Media Links:

 Website  |  Facebook Profile  |  Facebook Page  |  Twitter: @RobinCovington  |  Pinterest  |  Newsletter sign up

 

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Immortal Hunter by Kait Ballenger…Blog Tour Stop, Review & Giveaway

ImmortalHunter_FINAL

 

Synopsis:

Hunters of the supernatural, the Execution Underground are an elite group tasked with protecting humanity…but at what price?

As an exorcist, David Aronowitz grew up the target of demonic assassins. Now he’s a member of the Execution Underground and hellspawn everywhere fear his name. But when a demon slips into the seductive body of the only woman he’s ever loved, David must confront the heartbreak of their past to save her.

The piece of her heart Allsún O’Hare gave to David so long ago left her trapped between two worlds: the Fae and the human. And when David comes to her rescue, fate reunites her with her greatest temptation—and her biggest mistake.  Now, as they’re swept together into a wicked game with the demon who controls her, David must decide if saving Allsún’s life is worth sacrificing his own—and the future of humanity itself

 

My review:

Immortal Hunter is the second book in author Kait Ballenger’s Execution Underground Series and admittedly the first book I have read. First let me say that I wasn’t lost at all while reading even though I hadn’t read the first book.  Second I have to say….I loved this book and will be reading all of the installments from here on out!

Exorcist and Execution Underground member David Aronowitz is used to seeing some pretty gruesome things.  In his line of work he’s come across some of the most heinous demons imaginable and all sorts of things that go bump in the night.  But the particular demon he just killed has him scared the most he’s ever been.  Not because the demon was particularly terrifying but because the demon told David something that left his blood running cold….that other demons knew about Allsún and that she was the last fae in this world.  She was valuable and vulnerable to the demon world and had remained hidden until now.  Allsún, the love of David’s life.  Once his fiancé, he would still do anything to protect her and right now she was in dire need of that. Right now she was in a hospital bed recovering from the last time he couldn’t protect her and there’s no way he’d let that happen again.

Suddenly awakened out of a drug induced coma and being pulled by an indescribable force, Allsún O’Hare knew something bad was happening in the demon world.  She didn’t know what or where, exactly, just that she had to follow this feeling to where it led her and fight whatever evil lay ahead.  She never expected to see David at the house her feelings led her to.  It shouldn’t surprise her, really.  He was an exorcist after all.  But the horror that she encounters at the scene was truly a shock.  This wasn’t like anything either of them had seen before and instantly they both know things are bad.

With Allsún in danger and David on the hunt for the most diabolical demon he’s ever encountered, they will be forced to work together to end this reign of terror.  Of course spending time together after years of being apart is bound to bring up all of the feelings they once shared.  Feelings that never truly went away.

Oh man, I loved this book! I think one of the things I loved most about this book, and the series, is that it takes a different approach.  Yes, it’s paranormal and deals with demons and the underworld, but the rituals and weapons they use are different than others I have read.  There is a lot of Judaism in the methods David uses to exorcise and I found that really refreshing.  One of the other things I loved about this book was the love story between David and Allsún really took a front row seat instead of being on the back burner.  I really enjoyed that.  The have a whole lot to work through and I wouldn’t have been happy if their issues were resolved in a chapter or two.  Luckily, Kait gave us plenty to read and time to understand the feelings fro both David and Allsún’s POVs.  It made the connection to the characters so much stronger, which for the ending of this book was imperative.  I was a nervous wreck for the last few chapters because I was so worried for David, Allsún and the whole Execution Underground crew! They have one hell of a fight on their hands (no pun intended) and I had no idea what the outcome was going to be.  I loved that feeling!

I also loved getting a peek into Damon’s very guarded emotions in the end and I am really hoping we get to see his story soon! I can imagine it’s going to be gut wrenching.

Thank you, Kait, for your take on good vs. evil and for giving me a series to look forward to reading more from!

5LovesRLBFive Loves

 

Book links:

IH on Amazon  |  IH on Barnes and Noble

Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

About the author:

Kait Ballenger is a full-time paranormal romance author, wife, professional bellydancer, and graduate student. She lives in Central Florida with her husband, their doggie-daughter Sookie (like Charlainne Harris’ character), and two kittens, Elliot and Olivia (like the SVU characters). Kait believes anything is possible, and one day, she hopes people name their pets after her characters, too.

Website  ~  Facebook  ~  Twitter

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Lie by Night by Cathy Marlowe…Book Tour Stop & Review

LieByNight500

Lie by Night

by: Cathy Marlowe

Release Date: 3/24/14

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Synopsis:

When Emma Bailey’s brother disappears, leaving her in possession of dangerous information, there’s no one she can turn to for help. Her desperate search for her brother leads her to a remote island where she discovers the one man who can help her is a man she can’t trust.

Cole Stevens is on a mission to bring down the drug mastermind who threatens to destroy the lives of his family. His plans take an unexpected turn when Emma runs head first into his investigation. Not only is she a danger to his heart, but her brother is one of his key suspects.

Cole and Emma reluctantly join forces to unravel a web of deceit that reaches deeper into their lives than either had imagined. As the lies unravel they will be forced to choose between fear of betrayal and their willingness to put their emotions on the line in order to save the people they love.

 

 

My review:

Lie by Night is an Out of Darkness novel by author Cathy Marlowe and the first of her work that I have read.  The cover alone had my attention and the story kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end.

Emma Bailey was used to not knowing where her brother was, what type of mission he was off doing, or how long he would be gone for but one thing she always knew was that he would call her every Sunday.  After all, they only had each other as family.  So it was extremely unnerving when she didn’t get that Sunday phone call.  Even more unnerving was the package she received from her brother for her birthday a couple of days later.  Enclosed in the package was a cryptic note telling her not to trust anyone along with some important looking information.  Without a doubt she knew he was in danger and she knew she was the only one that could save him. So she did what any sister would do…packed her bag and went in search for him.

Right in the middle of his top-secret investigation into one of the most dangerous operations headed by one of the most devious men, the last person Cole Stevens expected to see was Emma Bailey.  But here she was in a very dangerous spot…literally.  After saving her from her precarious position, he now realizes there is no was she is leaving his side.  For too many reasons to count.  One being she needs help finding her brother, the brother he has a suspicion may be a part of the operation he’s trying to squash.  The operation that has already hurt too many people.  Cole wanted to make sure no one else had to suffer…especially Emma.

Each with reservations about working jointly, Emma and Cole decide that maybe working together could actually be beneficial to taking down an operation that time and time again has proved to be infallible.  But as time passes, and they spend more and more time together, their relationship threatens to grow from old acquaintances to so much more.

The story line in Lie by Night was intricate and weaved with deceit, drugs, danger, disloyalty, and murder.  It was also weaved with love and compassion.  All of that created a great balance and it kept me wanting to know what was going to happen next.  There were a lot of players in the plot that I was unsure of and that kept me guessing and I really enjoy that aspect of a romantic suspense.  Cole and Emma were well matched and were equally stubborn and yielding when it mattered.  Overall, I was pleased with all facets of this story and the last few chapters had me almost speed-reading because I was so nervous!  My lips are sealed but know that it was intense and, ultimately, very satisfying.

Thank you, Cathy, for a fantastic and suspenseful read!

4LovesRLBFour Loves

 

Book links:

Goodreads  |  Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  EP Link

 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

About the author:

Cathy lives in Missouri with a huge chocolate lab whose crazy antics occasionally appear in her books. She’s blessed with a supportive husband and three wonderful children. When not writing, she coaches soccer and works to create a safe world for children. She loves dark chocolate mint M&Ms accompanied by a steaming mug of coffee, and smart stories that touch the heart while making you laugh, cry and stay up all night turning pages.

When her children were young, she wrote stories for them. Her daughter encouraged her to pursue publication, presenting her with a card that read “God is cheering for you and so am I.” This sign of support has been a source of inspiration for her throughout her writing career.

She believes in the power of each of us to change the world, by word and by deed, in big ways and small.

Her first published novel, Lie by Night, was a winner in the Entangled Smackdown Competition held during National Novel Writer’s Month. A romantic thriller, Lie by Night will be available in March 2014.

 

Email: cathy@commonpurpose.biz  |  Website  |  Twitter: @Cathy_Marlowe  |  Facebook  |  Goodreads

 

 

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Review…Perfect Pitch by Mindy Klasky

Perfect Pitch cover

Book links:

Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble 

 

Synopsis:

Reigning beauty queen Samantha Winger is launching her pet project, a music program for kids. All she has to do is follow the pageant’s rules—no smoking, drinking, or “cavorting” in public.

That’s fine, until D.J. Thomas—God’s gift to baseball—throws her a wild pitch. He slams her in an interview, and the video goes viral. Sam’s no shrinking violet. She parlays D.J.’s apology into a national T.V. appearance—and a very unexpected, very public kiss.

Soon, paparazzi catch the couple in a steamy make-out session, and Sam’s music program is on the block. The blazing hot relationship is threatened even more when D.J.’s son begs to trade in Little League for music class.

Can Sam and D.J. sizzle past the sour notes and find their perfect pitch?

 

My review:

Perfect Pitch is the first volume in author Mindy Klasky’s Diamond Brides Series and threw one hell of a home run.  I loved this book!

Beauty queen Samantha Winger had given up a lot for this title.  She had to pretty much act like a complete vanilla angel in public, lost a lot of her friends because she couldn’t go out and party, and certainly wasn’t allowed to go out on dates and be caught kissing anyone.  You’d think it was the 1940’s with the rules this pageant had in place.  But it was all worth it when she’s able to get her music education program into the local schools.  She had become the person she was thanks to her love of music and she wanted other kids to be able to experience what she had.  Things were going smoothly until baseball star D.J. Thomas belittles her on national TV.  Ok, he didn’t exactly belittle her, just her title.  He shows up a day later with an apology and she sees this as one hall of a golden opportunity….to help get her music program some TV exposure.  Only problem was that from their first introduction, there are some serious sparks between the beauty queen and the baseball star.  A problem because she couldn’t act on in while reigning as queen.  It was written in the rules.  And when they start spending time together, and are caught by the paparazzi kissing, her time as queen may be over.  But like a run of strikeouts that bring the losing team back from being down to win the game, can D.J. make everything ok?

Oh man, the amount of heat packed into this story was positively delectable! Both Sam and D.J. were likeable characters from two pretty different backgrounds and with two pretty different views on things. But you know what they say about opposites attracting, right?  Thanks to a baseball team road trip, their relationship was able to grow over hours long phone calls and that made their story even more special and believable.  They learned one another inside out and backwards in those phone calls.  They also had some sexy convos that I’m sure would have any eavesdropper blushing! Of course, it wasn’t all happy moments for this unlikely couple and they have more than one obstacle to overcome.  But like all good love stories, they are able to make it all work out in the end.

Thank you, Mindy, for a sexy, sweet read! I will definitely be looking forward to the next in this series!

4LovesRLBFour Loves

 

About the author:

Mindy Klasky learned to read when her parents shoved a book in her hands and told her that she could travel anywhere in the world through stories. She never forgot that advice.

Mindy’s travels took her through multiple careers, including copyright lawyer and law librarian. Mindy now writes full time. Her books fall in a number of genres — including traditional fantasy, urban fantasy, and category romance.

In her spare time, Mindy knits, quilts, and tries to tame the endless to-be-read shelf in her home library. Her husband and two cats do their best to fill the left-over minutes in her days.

Website  |  Twitter  |  Facebook  |  Goodreads 

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