September 2013 – Read-Love-Blog

Review…Dazzled by Jane Harvey-Berrick

Book links:

Synopsis:

When Hollywood calls, is the price for fame too high?

Miles Stephens is a young actor from London. Out of work, unemployable, and fired from his last job, he gets the chance to star in a break-out role in a big-time Hollywood film.

The film is a great success, propelling him to worldwide Hollywood fame – but it’s not all it’s cracked up to be, and the pressure starts to get to Miles.

Throughout, he is supported by his friend, Clare, the girl next door whom he grew up with – and who is secretly in love with him.

Miles finds out that fame and fortune isn’t everything he’d dreamed about.

My Review:

Dazzled is the newest release from author Jane Harvey-Berrick. I am a huge fan of Jane and always look forward to new material from her and while this was a little different from the style and feel of her previous books, I really enjoyed it!

Miles and Clare have been best friends for as long as they can both remember. And for as long as she can remember, Clare has been madly in love with him. After all, what’s not to love? Miles is gorgeous, talented, kind and humble….the perfect package. Surely he would never be interested in the plain Jane she was. He deserved so much more, according to her. So when he’s called away to Hollywood to audition for and snags the role in the anticipated next big hit, she supports him like she always has. This is what he was meant for and she would be there for him whether it was to build up his ego when the Hollywood life crushed it, or protect his kind heart when the media tried to break it. She would also continue to pine over him in secret and love him from afar…in other words, doing what she’s been doing for years.

This was a whole new world for Miles. Hollywood, stardom, fame, fortune, tabloids….all of it. It was so overwhelming at times and the only thing keeping him grounded was his rock. His best friend, Clare. He doesn’t know how to handle these kinds of things and sometimes it ends up coming out sideways and unfortunately Clare was the one who paid for it. She was the only one here in this fake, plastic world that truly cared for him and he knows he isn’t showing her just how much he appreciates her. His constant salvation, she was the person who mattered most in his life. He also knows she can’t stay with him forever in Hollywood. She had a life back in the UK and eventually she will leave him. Will he be able to bear it? Could it be she means more to him than just a friend?

Clare and Miles have a strong relationship with a strong background that makes their journey an emotional ride. Miles is the shy artistic one while Clare is the strong opinionated one. They really balance each other out quite well and it felt very real. Miles really broke my heart while reading him trying to cope with all of the new things in his life….and he doesn’t cope very well at times. Poor guy. I just wanted to bring him home with me and make him tea and chocolate chip cookies. Clare was a real spitfire! Loved her tenacity and fierce loyalty when it came to defending Miles and being his rock. Plus, her snark was brilliant! She was quick witted and a total smart ass at times and it was a treat! I also loved that Jane had two Brits in the U.S. making fun of the slang differences. Lift vs. elevator is just an example. Again, this was different from Jane’s other works in that it was more lighthearted to me compared to the intensity of The Education of Sebastian, for example. Still just as enjoyable, though.

Thank you, Ms. Harvey-Berrick, for a fun and witty read!

Four Loves

About the author:

I love to write.

Out of the crowd of voices in my head, I love to thread together their thoughts and tell the kind of stories that I want to read.

I’ve written my whole life, in one form or other, but it’s only since I started writing adult/new adult books that everything finally made sense.

I’ve lived in the metropolis and now I live in a small village by the sea. Inspiration comes from unexpected places and often when I’m walking my dog.

I hope my stories make you laugh and cry, and feel every emotion in between, because then I guess it’s job done.

Without you, there’s no me. Thanks for reading. jhb x

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter

Baltimore Book Festival Goodie Giveaway

Happy Monday!

Well, I’m back from The Baltimore Book Festival and I had an amazing time hanging out with some of my favorite author friends and was so excited to be on the very first panel about book blogging with some of the most amazing fellow bloggers!

While I was there, I was able to get a BUNCH of fun things to fill a super cute tote bag with…and one lucky winner will win it ALL!

Here’s what’s in this adorable tote bag:

Signed paperback copies of:

Hearts in Darkness and Forever Freed by Laura Kaye

Origin and Wait for You by Jennifer Armentrout/J. Lynn

Planning Love by Christi Barth

Prince of Power by Elisabeth Staab

The Rebound Pact by Eliza Knight

Also:

Signed notebook from Laura Kaye

Signed bookmarks from Jennifer Armentrout, Kimberly Kincaid, PJ Schnyder & Diana Crosby

Signed tote bag and other signed goodies from Elisabeth Staab

Robin Covington koozie

Buttons, pens and more!!

(enter to win in the rafflecopter below the picture, U.S. entires only please)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Fun Friday Event….Spreecast chat with Larissa Ione today at 4:00 p.m.

How much fun is THIS!?!?

Join a Spreecast chat with Larissa Ione and Bound by Night! Today, Friday September 27 at 4:00 p.m.

You can also access the chat by clicking HERE

#1 New York Times bestselling author Larissa Ione’s bestselling Demonica series has captivated fans with its sensual blend of dark passion and demonic fury. Ione’s first in the riveting MoonBound Clan Vampires series, BOUND BY NIGHT (Pocket Books; September 24, 2013; $7.99), takes readers to another intoxicating world—where a dangerous clan of wild vampires rules the night…

A WOMAN OUT FOR BLOOD: Nicole Martin was only eight years old when the vampire slaves rose up in rebellion and killed her family. Now she devotes her life to finding a vaccine against vampirism, hoping to wipe out her memories—along with every blood-sucker on the planet. But there’s one thing she cannot destroy: her searing, undeniable attraction for the one man she should hate and fear the most…

A VAMPIRE OUT FOR REVENGE: A member of the renegade vampire MoonBound Clan, Riker is haunted by demons of his own. When he recognizes Nicole and remembers how her family enslaved his loved ones, his heart burns for vengeance. But when he kidnaps Nicole and holds her in a secret lair, his mortal enemy becomes his soul obsession, his greatest temptation, and, perhaps, his only salvation—a hot-blooded lover who could heal him with her touch…or bury him forever.

“Fast. Fresh. Fabulously dark. Vampire fans will devour Larissa Ione’s riveting BOUND BY NIGHT in one ravenous sitting!”

Larissa Ione welcomes visitors to www.larissaione.com.

Fun Friday Event….BookTrib Live Chat with Carla Neggers

Fun Friday Event!

Today, there is BookTrib Live Chat with Carla Neggers happening at 3 p.m. ET!

visit www.booktrib.com for more information

During the Chat you can:

Ask Carla questions directly
Win a free copy of Declan’s Cross

How much fun is that?

While you’re waiting for 3:00 to come around, you can enjoy this beautiful slideshow of photos Carla took while vacationing/working in Ireland…..

Book links:

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Goodreads

My review can be found HERE

Synopsis:

An escape to an idyllic Irish seaside village is about to turn deadly in this riveting new novel by master of romantic suspense Carla Neggers.

For marine biologist Julianne Maroney, two weeks in tiny Declan’s Cross on the south Irish coast is a chance to heal her broken heart. She doesn’t expect to attract the attention of FBI agents Emma Sharpe and Colin Donovan—especially since a Donovan is the reason for her broken heart.

Emma and Colin are in Ireland for their own personal retreat. Colin knows he’s a reminder of everything Julianne wants to escape, but something about her trip raises his suspicion. Emma, an art crimes expert, is also on edge. Of all the Irish villages Julianne could choose…why Declan’s Cross?

Ten years ago, a thief slipped into a mansion in Declan’s Cross. Emma’s grandfather, a renowned art detective, investigated, but the art stolen that night has never been recovered and the elusive thief never caught.

From the moment Julianne sets foot on Irish soil, everything goes wrong. The well-connected American diver who invited her to Ireland has disappeared. And now Emma and Colin are in Declan’s Cross asking questions.

As a dark conspiracy unfolds amid the breathtaking scenery of Declan’s Cross, the race is on to stop a ruthless killer…and the stakes have never been more personal for Emma and Colin.

Cover Reveal….Love in the Time of the Dead by Tera Shanley

I am pleased to bring you the cover for Love in the Time of the Dead by Tera Shanley…….

Title: Love in the Time of the Dead

Author: Tera Shanley

Genre: Adult supernatural/zombie romance

Publication Date: October 22, 2013, by Omnific Publishing

Event Organized by: Literati Author Services, Inc.

Synopsis

Laney Landry has been fighting Deads alongside her brother and friends for three years. But she has a secret. She’s immune to Dead bites and has to find the right people to trust with the information. Her team rallies around her to find a doctor who can extract a vaccine from Laney which could fight the virus that ended the world.

Sean Daniels leads a colony that provides her team with much needed shelter and supplies. He is obviously interested in Laney. The question is whether he’s only intrigued by her as a source for the possible vaccine, or for something more. Tests for the cure might push her body beyond what it can endure, and just as she faces a ghost from her past, her longtime teammate Derek Mitchell hints at an interest in more than just her Dead slaying abilities.

Two honorable and alluring men – one colossal decision to make. Despite historically bad taste in men, can she rise above the chaos of the apocalypse and choose the one who deserves her heart? The right choice could mean the difference between surviving…and living.

Add to Goodreads

About the Author

Born and raised in small town Texas, Tera Shanley grew up in books. Her cousin gifted her a signed copy of Beauty by Bill Wallace when she was young and that was it for her. So smitten was she with getting lost in a story, that while other eleven year olds her age were groaning at the accelerated reader program in school, she was racking up the points just for fun.

Balancing chronic book-wormyness is her devotion to the outdoors. Hunting, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, camping – her soul is happiest out of doors. And lucky for Tera, her family feels the same. She grew up a wild child helping her grandma ranch cattle, and has a hundred memories out in the wilderness which tend to influence her books.

When she’s not eating chocolate, slinging rifles, or soaking up some sun, she’s lost in a book, but these days it’s more often one she’s writing. From historic western romance, to paranormal romance, to apocalyptic (zombie) romance, the genre doesn’t matter quite as much to her as the love story.

She currently lives with her husband and two young children, and is owned by two crazy mini-cujos.

ARC Review….Beautiful Broken by Nazarea Andrews

Book links:

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Goodreads

Synopsis:

She’s been broken by her past. He’s been breaking for as long as he can remember.

Together, they can make each other whole–or destroy each other.

When his best friend asks for something, Dane rarely says no. But babysitting a newly sober Scout Grimes for three weeks isn’t exactly a normal request. And with their history, it’s a recipe for disaster. Not to mention, she’s drop dead gorgeous and he can’t touch her.

There are few people Scout trusts as much as Dane Guillot. He’s always been her safe place, where nothing can hurt her. He’s also been the only man she’s never let herself want–screwing up their friendship isn’t worth one amazing night together.

They have too much history, and too much personal baggage to ever work. But if they are willing to take a chance on love–it might be worth the risk.

My review:

Beautiful Broken is the second book in Nazarea Andrews’ University of Branton Series. I absolutely loved the first book in the series, This Love, and was dying to get my hands on this book and it was freaking incredible.

Attorney Dane Guillot is used to taking care of Scout. She’s his best friend’s sister and has needed him more times than he can count. He has never taken issue with that…he cares way too much about her to ever let her down. If he’s being honest with himself he cares way too much about her, period. He has for as long as he can remember, even though he shouldn’t think of his best friend’s sister that way. Now she’s back in his life and is just starting her latest attempt at sobriety, something he knows a little something about himself, and his best friend wants her to stay with him. So wrong on so many levels, and Dane knows having Scout in his house is going to test his resolve to keep her at arm’s length. Will he be able to ignore his desire for her long enough to help her get on her feet and out from under his roof?

The reasons that led Scout down the road to addiction are reasons she and only one other person know. Dane has kept her secret for six years and has always been the safe harbor she’s needed in the storm that rages within her. Now, she’s out of rehab and wants nothing more than to stay clean and give normal life a try. As always, Dane is there for her and at the request of her brother, Atticus, gives her a place to stay until she can get her bearings and start living again. But when too many memories come rushing back and the darkness inside threatens to swallow her whole, she leans on the only person who truly understands her….Dane. Suddenly Scout sees that he’s not just he brother’s best friend. He’s the reason she wants to be better and clean and whole. He’s who she wants to start living life with. Will he ever look at her other than a broken soul?

A shared history and memories, both good and bad, will either be able to being Scout and Dance together as more than friends or end up pushing them apart, keeping them in friend-only zone forever. Will they both be able to look past the reasons they shouldn’t and take a chance on the reasons they should? It’s not easy putting a friendship on the line, especially when that friendship has saved you more times than you can remember.

We met Scout and Dane in This Love and I have to say, as excited as I was for this book, I knew it was going to be an emotional story and damn if I didn’t cry my eyes out more than once. But, if you know me, you know I love that! Dane is the take charge, no mincing words best friend and cares for Scout something fierce. He’s sexy and charming when he wants to be but also has an uncontrolled and vulnerable side I didn’t see coming. With his own share of skeletons in his closet, he has a past that is equally as heartbreaking as Scout’s. Is there anything better than a sexy alpha male with a broken side? Nope! Scout really surprised me as well. I wasn’t sure if I could understand her and her reasons for her drug use, but when the truth came out, it broke my heart. I admired her strength to make sobriety stick this time and I admired that she saw what she wanted most and went for it. She took chances when it scared her to death and took her future in her own hands and decided enough was enough. I loved Scout and Dane together…two broken pieces fitting together to make an imperfect whole but a whole nonetheless.

Nazarea just has a way of telling a story that I adore. She doesn’t give us a whole heaping spoonful of information in the beginning, but instead gives us juicy bites along the way. Really enjoyable and makes for a great read.

Thank you, Nazarea, for Dane and Scout and for another kick ass read!

Four-and-a-Half Loves

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 ~ Blog ~ Twitter ~ Facebook

Guest Review….Phoebe Chase reviews Bite Me by P.J. Schnyder

Book Links:

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Goodreads

Synopsis:

Few people walk the streets of London since the zombie outbreak, but that’s not an issue for Seth. As a werewolf, he can handle himself and save humans reckless enough to take a nighttime stroll. While on patrol he comes across a group of people under attack. The one woman brave enough to take a stand against the zombies catches his eye—and not just because of her way with a gun. Learning the beautiful woman is homeless and fends for herself only intensifies his urge to protect and care for her.

Maisie can’t help but admit that she’s attracted to her werewolf rescuer. She’s drawn to Seth’s strength and ferocity, and finds herself opening up to him in ways she never imagined, even though she’s determined to not rely on Seth or anyone else. She doesn’t want another person to get hurt—or die—for her sake. She has enough scars, physical and emotional, from the last time…

But when Seth realizes something is drawing the zombies to Maisie, there may be nothing he can do to save her…

Phoebe’s Review:

I quite enjoyed this novella (94 pages on a NOOK). It managed to jumpstart a series centered around a zombie-infested London and the werewolves who try to protect the city and what’s left of the human inhabitants.

The best thing about this story was the writing. It’s polished, smooth, and tight. Which is probably why I also thought the world-building was particularly good. And part of the great world-building is the dialogue. It made me feel like I was watching something on BBC. Bonus points for using the word idjit! I got a great sense of a scarcely populated London barricaded in by the military to try and contain the zombies through detailed descriptions of the parks and city streets.

Each of the main characters was strong in their own way. Maisie, our heroine, is smart and knows how to survive in her environment. She isn’t tough and a kick-ass heroine because of epic fighting skills or unexplained strength, she’s street-smart and calm. Though she does ill-advisedly wander into the park at night, you forgive her for her lapse in judgment when you discover the reason. Also, it’s where she meets our hero, Seth.

Seth is a werewolf. Alpha pack leader. He rescues Maisie when she gets in over her head trying to rescue a family. His instincts kick in and he wants to protect her, especially when he learns more details about her life. As his urge to protect her escalates, we get some really great interactions between him and Maisie. There was some fun give and take between them, but some of the best moments came from Seth’s internal dialogue. I laughed out loud a couple of times and it reminded me of the scenes were the Beast is trying to woo Belle and reigning himself in.

There wasn’t a lot of sexual chemistry between the two of them, but the author manages to build enough emotional depth into their relationship that the ending didn’t feel rushed.

Definitely recommended!

Four Loves

About the author:

Born and raised in the North East, PJ Schnyder spent her childhood pretending to study for the SATs by reading every fantasy and sci-fi novel she could borrow from the local and school libraries. She scored fairly high in the verbal portion.

She was introduced to the wonderful world of romance a decade later by her best friend at an anime convention in Seattle.

She now lives somewhere temperate watching the seasons go by with her two dogs and super stealthy ninja kitty, writing her stories.PJ would love to hear from you. Whether it’s questions or comments regarding her stories or this website, please feel free to email her.

Goodreads ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Website

About the guest reviewer:

Phoebe Chase loves books. Keep your eye on her, she may just tempt you with some stories of her own. You can catch a little of what goes on in her head at Wickedly Twisted Tales.

Twitter ~ Facebook

Blog Tour & Review…Forged in Dreams and Magick by Kat Bastion

Welcome to my stop on The Forged in Dreams and Magick by Kat Bastion Tour!

Please enjoy my review and enter to win Kat’s amazing giveaway below…she’s got prizes that include signed paperback copies of Forged in Dreams and Magick, eBook copies of Forged in Dreams and Magick and a Pandora sterling silver Happily Ever After charm with a Pandora sterling silver bracelet!

Book links:

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Goodreads

Synopsis:

The award-winning debut in the Highland Legend Series:

Isobel MacInnes wakes up in present-day California, lunches in medieval Scotland, and by ten days’ end, falls in love with a man and his country, only to lose them in a heart-wrenching twist of fate . . .

Found in the arms of her second soul mate . . .

Forced to balance the delicate strands of time between two millennia . . .

Shocked by revelations rewriting the very foundations of history . . . of everything.

Isobel, a rising-star archaeology student, is dropped into two ancient worlds without warning . . . or her permission. Her fiery spirit resists the dependency thrust upon her. Amid frustration at her lack of control, she helplessly falls in love. Twice.

She struggles to adjust to the unimaginable demands of two leaders of men—a laird in the thirteenth-century Highlands and a Pict chieftain in a more ancient Scotland. Isobel transforms from an academic, hell-bent on obtaining archaeological recognition, to a woman striving to care for those she loves, and ultimately . . . into a fearless warrior risking everything to protect them.

My review:

I have always loved stories rich with Highland legend, so when Kat asked if I would be interested in reading Forged in Dreams and Magick, I jumped at the chance. Well, this may very well be my favorite Highland adventure yet! It was phenomenal!

Isobel MacInnes has always had a deep-seated love for all things ancient. That love began as a child and after visiting the Highlands and her dying grandfather, she returns back to her position as Assistant to the head of the Archaeology Department at UCLA with a very interesting treasure. Isobel stumbled across a mysterious box that had unfamiliar markings and appeared to be made from materials she had never seen. Kind of strange considering she works with ancient artifacts. Her quest to learn more about this box has her reaching out to her friend, Iain Brodie. He’s a cinema heartthrob but also shares her love of Highland history, having come from Scotland, and competes in the modern day Highland Games. It’s where they met and where she realized she had seen the markings from the box before…..the broach that held Iain’s plaid during the games. When she asked for his help, Isobel knows she will have to deal with Iain’s flirtations, and was prepared to rebuff him (Sure, she’s attracted to him, but she doesn’t have time for a relationship) What she wasn’t prepared for was his somewhat closed off reaction when he sees the box…or what happens when they kiss while holding the box.

Isobel suddenly finds herself in the thirteenth-century Highlands…with Iain. Only thirteenth century Iain seems very much at home and apparently this is where Isobel will also be calling home now. Talk about a shock to the system! Once the shock wears off, Isobel realizes she has a mystery to solve and knows the box and some sort of magic are responsible. In her journey to find answers, she realizes she’s found love. Love in her Highland warrior and love in the history she is now currently living. Was this where she was truly meant to be?

Isobel will be thrown into another time, yet again, before she can contemplate that question. Thrown even further back in time, and away from the man, and time, she has fallen in love with, Isobel finds those very same things here in a more ancient time with a Pict chieftain. Is it possible to feel the same things toward two different men in two different times? What is her role in all of this magical mystery? Never have answers been so needed for Isobel.

This story was a magical journey from start to finish with so many amazing twists and turns throughout that I was on the edge of my seat while reading. The mystery surrounding this “magic box” and why Isobel was thrown around like a time traveling rag-doll was kept artfully hidden through the story and was revealed at just the right moment…when the fate of the people Isobel has grown to love was held in the balance. Isobel’s story is one filled with love, passion and self-discovery. She realizes nothing is as what it seems and has to push aside her “scientific brain” in order to wrap her head around what is happening. Iain Brodie is so yummy and pure alpha Highland male but also is willing to bend when Isobel needs it most in order to help her find her way in a world he has always had the knowledge of. Velloc is Isobels’ other love interest when she is thrown back into the Pict times and is such a worthy hero. A strong, caring, loyal and fierce warrior it was easy to see how Isobel could love both men. I wasn’t sure I would be ok with her loving two men at first, but I grew to love both men for their similar qualities as well as their differences. It was really, really tough to try to predict how the story was going to go and that was one of the treats about this book. There were so many unknowns and it was a fantastic mystery almost until the very end. One of my favorite things was the lush description of the lands and times. Kat painted such a beautiful picture that I could feel the furs, smell the foods and see the beautiful landscapes. It was a gift to be able to read such gorgeous narrative.

This is a series I am so lucky to have been introduced to and will be looking forward to reading more from and I highly recommend if you want to be whisked away from the norm and pulled into a world of Highland fantasy filled with magic and mystery. Thank you, Kat, for a fantastic read!

Five Loves

Kat’s Giveaway:

(5) Signed Paperback Copies of Forged in Dreams and Magick

(5) eBook copies of Forged in Dreams and Magick

(1) Pandora sterling silver Happily Ever After charm with a Pandora sterling silver bracelet.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the author:

Kat Bastion is an award-winning paranormal romance writer, poetic warrior, and eternal optimist who loves getting lost in the beauty of nature.

On a never-ending, wondrous path of self-discovery, Kat throws her characters into incredible situations with the hope that readers join her in learning more about the meaning of life and love.

Her first published work, Utterly Loved, was shared with the world to benefit others. All proceeds from Utterly Loved, and a portion of the proceeds of all her other books, support charities who help those lost in this world.

Kat lives with her husband amid the beautiful Sonoran Desert of Arizona. Visit her blog at www.talktotheshoe.com, her website at www.katbastion.com, Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kat-Bastion/382546338470769 ,and her Twitter account at https://twitter.com/KatBastion for more information.

To see other stops on the tour for reviews, guest posts, and excerpts click here or the tour button below.

Release Day Blitz….Beautiful Broken by Nazarea Andrews

Happy Release Day to Nazarea Andrews and her second book in the University of Branton Series……

Beautiful Broken!

Book links:

Amazon ~ Paperback ~ Barnes and Noble

Book summary:

She’s been broken by her past. He’s been breaking for as long as he can remember.

Together, they can make each other whole–or destroy each other.

They have too much history, and too much personal baggage to ever work. But if they are willing to take a chance on love–it might be worth the risk.

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the author:

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

Brazen’s Mr. September Throwdown

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The six heroes from this month’s BRAZENS are battling it out to be your Mr. September. Who gets your vote?

Each day this week the six heroes are stopping by some awesome blogs to answer both sexy and sweet personal questions, so you can really get a taste of what they’re like 😉 Each day you get to cast your vote, and at the end of the week one sexy hero will be crowned the winner of the #MrSeptember Throwdown!

Remember, each vote also counts as an entry for one of SIX prizes so be sure to follow along and vote every day to increase your chances of winning! Visit Entangled in Romance for a recap on the awesome prizes!

Now, to meet the men competing in the #MrSeptember Throwdown!

Whew! Hot, hot, hot – these men have definitely turned up the heat!

Ian: Wicked Games by Samanthe Beck (part of the anthology)

Grayson: Seducing Mr. Right by Katee Robert (part of the anthology)

Landon: Tempted by His Best Friend by Cari Quinn (part of the anthology)

Derek: Protecting What’s Theirs by Tessa Bailey (part of the anthology)

Jett: Wicked Heat by Nicola Marsh

Trick: Dirty Trick by Christine Bell

Here are today’s questions for the men

Question #1: Favorite ice cream flavor?

Ian: Bourbon or whiskey, hold the ice cream.

Grayson: Chocolate

Trick: Cherry Garcia

Derek: I don’t do sweet…not unless I’m licking it off Ginger’s belly. So I guess you could say my favorite ice cream flavor is Ginger.

Jett: Rum and Raisin (though don’t believe the cliché Aussie stereotype that we need alcohol to have a good time. We don’t. We just like having a good time period.)

Landon: Vanilla bean. I’m anything but vanilla behind closed doors but when it comes to dessert? Can’t do better than that.

Question #2: Steamiest place you’ve ever seduced a lady?

Ian: Private room at a club called Deuces, but “seduction” is too tame a word for what went down. I still have bruises…

Grayson: My office. I bent her over my desk and… Well, a true gentleman never tells the dirty details.

Trick: Funny you should phrase it that way. It was in a sauna, pretty recently and was definitely steamy.

Derek: While operating a motor vehicle through Chicago traffic in evening attire. Not as complicated as it sounds, if you know the right words to say. But I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone else.

Jett: First class cabin on a jet. Ask Allegra. She’ll vouch for me.

Landon: Hmm, I distinctly remember having some fun on the receptionist’s counter at my law firm with my favorite leading lady…but I don’t kiss and tell, so read my novella to find out for sure.

Now….let’s get to voting!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour….Out of Line by Jen McLaughlin

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

I’ve got a fabulous excerpt to share with you all as well as my review and Jen’s AWESOME giveaway!

Enjoy and thanks so much for stopping by!

Buy Links:

Amazon ~ B&N

Book summary:

Desperate to break free…

I’ve spent my entire life under my father’s thumb, but now I’m finally free to make my own choices. When my roommate dragged me to my first college party, I met Finn Coram and my life turned inside out. He knows how to break the rules and is everything I never knew I wanted. A Marine by day and surfer by night, he pushes me away even as our attraction brings us closer. Now I am finally free to do whatever I want. I know what I want. I choose Finn.

Trying to play by the rules…

I always follow orders. My job, my life, depends on it. I thought this job would be easy, all the rules were made crystal clear, but when I met Carrie Wallington, everything got muddy. She’s a rule I know I shouldn’t break, but damn if I don’t inch closer to the breaking point each time I see her. I’m ready to step out of line. And even worse? I’m living a lie. They say the truth will set you free, but in my case…

The truth will cost me everything.

Excerpt:

I grabbed my stuff and headed toward the store. After a quick conversation with the employee, I came back out and found Finn standing there, his hands in his pockets and his shoulders hunched. I held my hand out and waited for him to take it with bated breath. I don’t know why I did that. We weren’t dating. We weren’t even friends yet. I couldn’t resist. He stared at my hand for a second, muttered something under his breath, and closed his fingers around mine. A shot of electricity skittered up my arm, making me jump slightly.

What the heck had that been?

His eyes darkened and something weird twisted in my belly in response. Something I was only loosely familiar with. Desire. I was a virgin, but I’d read about sex enough times to recognize the sensation. And I would bet my favorite pair of Converses that he was feeling it, too.

“Ready?” he asked, his voice deeper than usual.

“So ready,” I said, peeking up at him through my lashes. “I’ve always wanted to ride one, but my dad wouldn’t let me.”

He perked up. “Maybe we shouldn’t. You know, if your dad would be mad.”

“Oh, please. I’m nineteen.” I tugged him toward a Harley I could only assume was his. “I’ll ride what I want to ride.”

He groaned under his breath. “I bet you will.” When we reached the bike, he grabbed the helmet off the handle and slid it over my head. I tried to pull back, not wanting to wear the ugly thing in front of him, but he didn’t let me. “My bike. My rules. You wear the helmet.”

“What about you?”

“I’ll be fine.” He gently slid the helmet the rest of the way down over my head, making sure to keep my hair out of my eyes as he did so. My heart did a weird little flip flop at the way he watched me, his eyes hot and his lips soft. His touch, gentle as it might seem, held a strength behind it.

“How do I look?”

“Perfect,” he said lightly. Then he climbed onto the bike and looked over his shoulder at me. That look he gave me was the look that so many books described. Like he was inviting me to fall into his arms and stay there forever. God, I wanted to. His muscles flexed, teasing me with his perfection. “Climb on and hold on as tight as you can.”

I swallowed hard and slid on the back of the bike.

My review:

Out Of Line is a work from Jen McLaughlin….an author I also know (and love) by the name of Diane Alberts. As it stands, I am a big fan of Diane and after reading Out of Line, I am now a HUGE fan. This. Book. Was. Incredible.

*I will warn you that this review may be slightly spoilery, but if you’ve read the first 25 pages that Jen has posted on her site, it won’t be*

As a politician’s child, Carrie Wallington is used to being in the spotlight. As a daughter, Carrie Wallington is used to be overprotected. As a college student, Carrie wants to shed all of it and just be. She’s tired of being watched by security and never being able to just live her life. It’s understandable that her dad worries and wants her safe but it’s unreasonable to always have people watching her. So, when she leaves for college and her father agrees to let her go sans security, she’s more than just a little shocked. Now was her time to live. She was never one to get carried away and always had a good head on her shoulders. Studied, got good grades, was always aware of her surroundings and rarely drank and partied. So when she meets the deliciously handsome surfer, Finn, while getting some air at one of the only parties she’s ever been to, she knows he’s exactly what she’s been missing out on. And he’s exactly the kind of guy who can show her how to live. Now’s the chance to make up for lost time and Finn’s just what she needs.

Finn Coram is not sure what he’s gotten himself into on his latest assignment. He’s a marine with an outstanding record that’s caught the eye of a politician with a daughter in need of protection. It just so happens that he also looks the part of a college surfer boy, too. So here he is, on a college campus, with strict orders to keep an eye on Carrie while looking the part of a college kid….while keeping it all a secret Great. Unfortunately for Finn, and his exemplary record, all of the rules he knows he should be following completely go out the window when he sees Carrie on the beach at a frat party. She’s much more than the file he had on her and the minute he starts talking to her, his brain and mouth completely ignore each other and he finds himself making plans to teach Carrie how to surf. Finn knows this is trouble and he’s wondering how long he will be able to keep Carrie at arm’s length….and in the dark as to his true identity of her personal protector.

Carrie and Finn start on a journey of friendship that turns into so much more than that…and is constantly threatened by the truth. Carrie would be devastated to know Finn is part of the security she is eager to be rid of. Finn knows that every minute he spends with her, he is falling for her more and more….he also knows it’s completely forbidden. With so much on the line, will they be able to keep what they’ve found?

A few times in my life, I’ve voraciously devoured a book and was just about to finish it and stopped. Just stopped reading when I got to the last few chapters. Why? Why the hell would I do that? Well, it’s because I cannot bear the thought of finishing the book and the experience it has brought me. THIS was one of those books. I got to 85% after reading it all day and I just couldn’t go on. I put it down for the next whole day, and when I finally picked it back up and I savored every last word. Finn and Carrie’s story was just so amazing. I was hooked after chapter 3 and completely fell in love with Finn. Yes, he’s got a body made for sin and is gorgeous but he’s also honorable and loyal and has such a way about him that I rank him as one of my all-time favorite characters. He had me laughing out loud while reading his internal dialogue and the next minute had my chest physically aching with his growing love for Carrie and his denial that he would ever be good enough for her. He knows it’s his duty to protect Carrie and he knows he can’t have a relationship with her. But hey, they say the road to hell is paved with good intentions, right? He killed me. He’s just one of those guys any gal would love. Carrie was just as amazing a character as Finn. She’s smart and giving and stands up for the underdog in life. She volunteers and helps those in need, but does it anonymously. She’s a girl we would all be lucky to know. She’s also innocent and that adds to her charm. They balance each other out beautifully and I was cheering them on from the very start. The emotional ups and down they weather are intense and real and so very believable. This is a story that will stay with me and one I will be re-reading as soon as I can. Maybe this time I will read it all the way through without stopping……eh, who the hell am I kidding?

Jen, thank you. Thank you for giving us Carrie and Finn. Thank you for giving me one of those books that I couldn’t bear to finish. It may sound corny to some, but for me, that’s the sign of a kick ass book. I cannot WAIT for more and will be chomping at the bit for book two in the series!

Five Loves

Even though the book was just released, it is already zooming up the charts on Amazon and B&N. To celebrate this, Jen is offering a one-of-a-kind prize for a lucky reader! Anyone who helps spread the word about OUT OF LINE (through tweets, facebook messages, leaving a review, etc.) gets entered to win 30 pages of the manuscript, which include editing marks and special never-before-seen notes from Jen! You will have all the deets on what Jen changed, deleted scenes, and special extras.

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: http://dianealberts.com/

Facebook Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/DianeAlberts6

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DianeAlberts

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6921962.Jen_McLaughlin