Love You Dead by Peter James….Book Spotlight, Excerpt, & Giveaway

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About Love You Dead:

An ugly duckling as a child, Jodie Bentley had two dreams in life – to be beautiful and rich. She’s achieved the first, with a little help from a plastic surgeon, and now she’s working hard on the second. Her philosophy on money is simple: you can either earn it or marry it. Marrying is easy, it’s getting rid of the husband afterwards that’s harder, that takes real skill. But hey, practice makes perfect . . .

Detective Superintendent Roy Grace is feeling the pressure from his superiors, his previous case is still giving him sleepless nights, there have been major developments with his missing wife Sandy, and an old adversary is back. But worse than all of this, he now believes a Black Widow is operating in his city. One with a venomous mind . . . and venomous skills. Soon Grace comes to the frightening realization that he may have underestimated just how dangerous this lady is.

Love You Dead is the gripping twelfth book in Peter James’ Roy Grace series.

Book Links:

Amazon  |  B&N  |  IPG Books

 

 

Excerpt (can also be found on the Pan Macmillan website site)

1

Tuesday 10 February

The two lovers peered out of the hotel bedroom window, smiling with glee, but each for a very different reason.

The heavy snowfall that had been forecast for almost a week had finally arrived overnight, and fat, thick flakes of the white stuff were still tumbling down this morning. A few cars, chains clanking, slithered up the narrow mountain road, and others, parked outside the hotels, were now large white mounds.

Everyone in the smart French ski resort of Courchevel 1850 was relieved – the resort managers, the hoteliers, the restaurateurs, the seasonnaires, the ski-rental shops, the lift companies, and all the others who relied on the ski season for much of their livelihood. And, most importantly of all, the winter-sporters themselves. After days of blue skies, searing sunshine and melting snow, which meant treacherous ice in the mornings and slush and exposed rocks in the afternoons, finally the skiers and snowboarders, who had paid top money for their precious annual few days on the slopes, now had great conditions to look forward to.

As Jodie Bentley and her elderly American fiancé, Walt, put on their skis outside the boot-room entrance of the Chabichou Hotel, the falling snow tickled exposed parts of their faces beneath their helmets and visors.

Although a seasoned skier and powder hound, this was the financier’s first time skiing in Europe and he had been relying all week on his much younger fiancée, who seemed to know the resort like the back of her hand, to guide him.

They skied down carefully in the poor visibility to the Biollay lift, just a couple of minutes below the hotel, went through the electronic turnstiles, and joined the short queue to the chairlift. A couple of minutes later, clutching their ski poles, the wide chair scooped them up and forward.

Walt pulled down the safety bar, then they settled back, snug in their cosy outfits, for the seven minutes it took for the lift to carry them to the top. As they alighted, the wind was blowing fiercely, and without hanging around, Jodie led the way down an easy red then blue run to the Croisette, the central lift station for the resort.

They removed their skis, and Walt, despite suffering from a prolapsed disc, insisted on carrying Jodie’s skis as well as his own up the ramp to the lift. As a red eight-seater gondola came slowly round, he jammed their skis into two of the outside holders, then followed Jodie in. They sat down and pushed up their visors. They were followed by another couple and, moments later, just before the doors closed, a short man in his fifties clambered in after them, wearing a smart Spyder ski outfit and a flashy leather helmet with a mirrored visor.

Bonjour!’ he said in a bad French accent. Then added, ‘Hope you don’t mind my joining you?’ He settled down opposite them as the gondola lurched forward.

‘Not at all,’ Walt said.

Jodie smiled politely. The other two strangers, both busy texting on their phones, said nothing.

Ah bien, vous parlez Anglais!’ The stranger unclipped his helmet and removed it for an instant to scratch the top of his bald head. ‘American?’ he said, pulling off his gloves, then removing a tissue from his pocket and starting to wipe his glasses.

‘I’m from California, but my fiancée’s a Brit,’ Walt said, amicably.

‘Jolly good! Beastly weather but the powder at the top should be to die for,’ the man said.

Jodie smiled politely again. ‘Where are you from?’ she asked.

‘The south – Brighton,’ the stranger replied.

‘Good lord, what a coincidence! So am I!’ Jodie said.

‘Small world,’ he muttered, and suddenly looked uncomfortable.

‘So what line of business are you in?’ Walt asked him.

‘Oh, in the medical world. Just recently retired and moved to France. And yourselves?’

‘I have a group of investment trusts,’ the American replied.

‘I was a legal secretary,’ Jodie said.

As the small gondola climbed, rocked by the wind, the snow was turning into a blizzard and the visibility deteriorating by the minute. Walt put his arm round Jodie and hugged her. ‘Maybe we shouldn’t go too high this morning, hon, it’s going to be very windy at the top,’ he said.

‘The powder’s going to be awesome up there,’ she replied, ‘and there won’t be too many people this early. There are some really fabulous runs, trust me!’

‘Well, OK,’ he said, peering dubiously through the misted-up windows.

‘Oh, absolutely,’ the Englishman said. ‘Trust your beautiful young lady – and the forecast is improving!’ As the gondola reached the first stage, he waited politely for them to alight first. ‘Nice meeting you,’ he said. ‘Bye for now.’

The other couple, still texting, remained on the gondola.

With Walt again insisting on carrying Jodie’s skis, they trudged the short distance to the cable car. Normally jam-packed with skiers squashed together like sardines, this morning the huge cabin was three-quarters empty. Along with themselves there were just a few die-hards. Several boarders in their baggy outfits, two rugged-looking, bearded men in bobble hats, wearing rucksacks, who were sharing swigs from a hip flask, and a small assortment of other skiers, one wearing a GoPro camera on his helmet. Walt raised his visor and smiled at Jodie. She raised hers and smiled back.

He removed a glove, jamming it between his skis, produced a chocolate bar from his breast pocket and offered it to Jodie.

‘I’m fine, thanks, still stuffed from breakfast!’

‘You hardly ate anything!’ He broke a piece off, put the bar back in his pocket and zipped it shut, then chewed, peering out anxiously. The cable car rocked in the wind, then swayed alarmingly, causing everyone to shriek, some out of fear, others for fun. He put an arm round Jodie again and she snuggled up against him. ‘Maybe we should get a coffee at the top and wait to see if the visibility improves?’ he said.

‘Let’s do a couple of runs first, my love,’ she replied. ‘We’ll find some fresh powder before it gets ruined by other skiers.’

He shrugged. ‘OK.’ But he didn’t sound particularly enthusiastic. He stared at her for some moments. ‘You know,’ he said, ‘you’re incredible. Not many people can look beautiful in a helmet and visor, but you do.’

‘And you look every inch my handsome prince!’ she replied.

He tried to kiss her but the top of his helmet bashed against her visor. She giggled, then leaned closer to him and whispered, ‘Too bad there’s other people on here,’ running her gloved hand down his crotch.

He squirmed. ‘Jeez, you’re making me horny!’

‘You make me horny all the time.’

He grinned. Then he looked serious again, and a tad nervous. He peered through a window into the blizzard, and the car yawed in the wind, then swung, almost throwing him off balance. ‘You have your cell with you, hon?’ he asked.

‘Yes.’

‘You know – just in case we lose each other in this white-out.’

‘We won’t,’ she said, confidently.

He patted his chest and frowned. Patted it again, then tugged open another zipper. ‘Jeez,’ he said, and began to pat all over the front of his stylish black Bogner ski jacket. ‘I can’t believe it, how stupid. I must have left mine back in the room.’

‘I’m sure I saw you put it in – your top right-hand pocket – before we left,’ she said.

He checked all over again, and his trouser pockets. ‘Goddammit, must have fallen out somewhere – maybe when we were putting our skis on.’

‘We’re going to stay close. Just in case we do get separated, then plan B is we both ski back down to the Croisette and meet there. Just follow the signs for Courchevel 1850 – it’s well posted all the way.’

‘Maybe we should ski straight back down and go and check it’s not lying in the snow outside the hotel.’

‘Someone’ll find it if it is, darling. No one’s going to steal it, not at that lovely hotel.’

‘We’d better go back down, I need it. I have a couple of important calls to make this afternoon.’

‘OK,’ she said. ‘Sure, fine, we’ll ski fast!’

Five minutes later the cable car slowed right down, and a shadow loomed ahead. The car rocked from side to side, bumping against the buffered sides of the station, slowly sliding in, before stopping. Then the doors opened and they stepped out in their heavy ski boots, onto the gridded metal walkway.

They shuffled along it, then carefully down the steps and out into the ferocious blizzard, their faces stinging from snow as hard as hailstones. They could barely see a few feet in front of them, and the group ahead, ducking down and clipping into their boards, were little more than shadowy silhouettes.

As they stood beside a sign mostly obscured with snow, Walt laid their skis down on the ground, kicked the ice away from the bottom of his boots, tapping them with his ski poles to make extra sure there were no lumps of snow stuck there, then stepped into his bindings and snapped them shut.

As the silhouettes began to move away, Jodie said, ‘Hang on a sec, darling, I need to clean my visor.’

Walt waited, turning his face away from the wind as best he could, while Jodie tugged down one of her zippers, produced a tissue and wiped the inside of her visor, then the outside.

‘This is horrible!’ He had to shout to make his voice heard.

‘We’re almost at the highest point in the whole resort,’ she said. ‘As soon as we get off this ridge we’ll be out of the wind!’

‘I hope you’re right! Maybe we should start with something easy – is there a blue run back down? I don’t fancy anything too challenging in this goddam visibility!’

‘There is and it’s lovely. There’s one tiny steep bit to get into it, then it’ll be a glorious cruise. It’s my favourite run!’

He watched the last of the silhouettes disappearing as Jodie pulled her gloves back on, then stepped into her skis.

‘Ready?’ she asked.

‘Uh-huh.’

She pointed to the right. ‘We go down here.’

‘Are you sure? Everyone else has gone that way.’ He pointed in the direction that the others who had been in the cable car with them had taken.

‘You want the hardcore black run down or a gentle blue?’

‘Blue!’ he said emphatically.

‘That crazy lot have all taken the black.’ She glanced over her shoulder and could just make out the cable car leaving the station for its return journey. It would be around fifteen minutes before the next load of skiers arrived. Right now, they were alone. ‘Blue?’ she said. ‘Are you sure? I’m sure you’d cope with the black.’

‘Not in this visibility.’

‘Then we go this way,’ she said.

‘I can’t see any sign pointing this way, hon. There must be a signpost up here, surely?’

With one ski pole, she began to brush away the fresh powder snow from the ground beside her. After a moment, tracks were revealed beneath it, frozen into the cruddy, icy surface beneath. ‘See?’ she said.

He peered at them. They led straight ahead for a couple of yards before disappearing into the swirling white blizzard. Looking relieved, he smiled. ‘Clever girl! I’ll follow you.’

‘No, you go first in case you fall over – I can help you up. Just follow the tracks. Bend your knees and brace yourself because the first fifty yards or so are a bit steep, then it levels out. Just let yourself go!’ She shot an anxious glance around her to make absolutely sure no one was watching.

‘OK!’ he said with a sudden burst of enthusiasm. ‘Here goes! Yeee-ha!’

He launched himself forward on his poles, like a racer out of the gate, and whooped again. ‘Yeee-ha!’

Then his voice turned into a terrible scream. Just for one fleeting second before it was swallowed by the wind.

Then silence.

Jodie turned round, then pushing with her poles, headed off in the direction all the other skiers had taken, oblivious to the wind and the stinging snow on her cheeks.

 

Giveaway:

To be entered to win a print copy of LOVE ME DEAD, comment on this blog post with the title of the book you are currently reading.

(contest on 12/8/16 and US addresses only, please)

Author Bio: 
peter-james-black-coatPeter James is an international bestselling thriller writer. He is a New York Times bestseller
as well as having 11 consecutive Sunday Times No 1s and he is published in 37 languages. His DS Roy Grace crime novels have sold 18 million copies worldwide. Prior to becoming a full-time author he was responsible for 25 movies. In 1994 Penguin published his novel ‘Host’ on two floppy discs as the world’s first electronic novel. His novels have won numerous awards most recently the coveted 2016 CWA Diamond Dagger for sustained excellence and he was publicly voted by WH Smith – Britain’s biggest book selling chain – The Best Crime Author Of All Time. Visit him on YouTube: www.peterjames.com/youtube
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Endurance by Georgia Cates….Release Day Blitz & Review

 

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endurance-coverI’m a doctor. Mobster. Killer.

My hands are covered in filth. I don’t have the right to touch anything as clean and pure as Ellison MacAllister.

 

I distance myself … always remaining obscure, composed, restrained.

Careful to never allow my eyes to linger too long.

Careful to hide my interest.

Careful to keep my burning desire buried beneath the surface.

 

I do it for her—suffer in silence—because it’s what is best for the woman I love.

And she has no idea.

 

She’ll be initiated as a Fellowship member soon. One of my mafia brothers will go through endurance so he’ll earn the right to claim her.

Make her his wife.

Kill. Me. Slowly.

 

I’m running out of time. Only a month remains before she’s beyond my reach forever.

I want to taste her. Share sleepless nights. Ride out her storm.

I want to give her the kind of nights she will still feel between her legs the next morning.

I want us to share the kind of passion that forms on our skin and drips down to saturate the sheets.

Between the sweat and the moans and the messy hair, I want her to know how hard she’s been loved.

 

To have her is to taint her.

I should stay away. But I won’t. I can’t.

I’m a selfish bastard.

A selfish bastard in love.

 

AMAZON

 

 

 

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Prologue: Ellison’s POV

I left everything behind. Every. Thing. My possessions. My career. My friends. My past. My present.

My future.

I’ve traded my nursing clogs for rain boots. Shorts and tank tops for jackets and scarves. Sunscreen for an umbrella.

I’ve been calling bonny Scotland home for the last nine months. I spent the first five weeks living in a bubble within my sister’s domain where the criminal world known as The Fellowship didn’t exist. I believed Bleu and Sin were a normal husband and wife expecting not one, but two babies, to go along with the precious baby girl they’d adopted. They were a beautiful family. A living and breathing fairy tale in my mind. He was her rich and handsome Scottish knight in a shining black luxury sedan. She was his beautiful, badass princess who carried a Beretta . . . but still needed saving.

I envied the fuck out of them.

And then the bubble burst.

That was almost eight months ago. Everything changed. I know about the brotherhood’s world of organized crime. Or at least as much as any outsider can know without being clipped. Burned. Marbh. I don’t know what that word means but I’ve heard Sin use it with an angry tone more than once when talking to a brother. I haven’t asked but I’m pretty sure it means somebody fucked up big time and they’re about to get whacked.

Fellowship 101. Lying. Cheating. Stealing. Killing. That’s just the shortlist. I got the CliffsNotes version but it didn’t change my mind about staying in Edinburgh. Nothing will ever separate me from my sister or those precious babies.

Sin’s finally resigned to my choice to become part of the brotherhood. He agreed to let me attend an official Fellowship function tonight for the first time. The babies’ consecration—their official dedication to the brotherhood where Bleu and Sin vow to raise the children in the way of The Fellowship.

Oddly, I didn’t feel surrounded by liars, cheaters, thieves, and murderers when I was at the consecration ceremony earlier tonight. I felt the deep love The Fellowship has for Sin, Bleu, and their three babies. Their affection radiated like a fire emitting both light and warmth. It was a beautiful thing, yet one lone, uncontained spark has the power to burn down everything within its path.

My sister calls those dangerous people family.

And I will as well. Soon.

The normal procedure for someone who isn’t born into The Fellowship, but wishes to become a member, is to participate in endurance. The man wishing to join must prove he is strong enough to endure a beating that will send him so close to the gates of hell, he’ll return with singed eyebrows.

Barbaric.

The case is different for a woman. No female has ever undergone endurance. Not even my tough-as-a-muthafucking-former-FBI-agent sister. Sin voluntarily stood in her place so she wouldn’t be hurt. He was beaten to a bloody pulp so his people would accept the woman he loved as one of their own. She was the first of her kind to be adopted into the brotherhood by this method. And that’s what a man, a Fellowship brother, will have to do for me.

Bleu says it’s an act of love in its purest form. Sounds more like an act of stupidity. But apparently, a necessary idiocy if I’m to stay.

It isn’t right that some innocent man—the word innocent being used loosely—should endure that kind of suffering so I can be with my own family. But I don’t think these people really get the gist of what’s right anyway. They aren’t exactly sitting around polishing their halos.

I agree with one thing Bleu says: No man will volunteer to go through something so barbaric unless he loves me madly. Men are horny bastards, but I don’t know a one who would sign on for endurance just to get between my legs. That means he will truly love me. And no one in The Fellowship will ever question it.

I haven’t been allowed to mingle with the brothers with the exception of Jamie, Leith, and Mitch. Sin says I need to be properly introduced before that can happen. He wants the brothers to know and understand exactly who I am and how he expects them to behave toward me. He acts like the big brother I never had. I like it; it’s sweet. But I almost feel inclined to tell him it’s unnecessary. I know how to manage men even when they have no clue how to handle me. Just call me the man whisperer.

Thane and Isobel plan to throw some kind of bash at their house to introduce me to the brotherhood. Sounds very much like a matchmaking party to hook me up with a bro. But it can’t happen until this takeover thing with their enemy, The Order, is finished. That means I’m a good two months from being introduced into the fold and matched with the man who will take responsibility for me. My future husband.

All of this worry and uncertainty would be unnecessary if the beautiful man driving me home from the consecration would open his eyes and see what’s right in front of him: me, standing before him with my heart in my hands. Silent but wanting so, so, so badly to give him everything I have to offer.

Jamie Breckenridge. The blind bastard just won’t see me. But how can he when he rarely even looks my way? I’m as unnoticed as the air around him. I exist. I’m right next to him. And I’m invisible.

I’m standing on the corner of Screw This and Keep Pursuing and it’s time to choose which route I’ll take. I’m leaning toward giving up but it’s killing me. I’m Ellison MacAllister. A white flag isn’t part of my repertoire. Normally.

 

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my-review

 

WOW!  Talk about intense.  I need a strong drink after reading this book.  Georgia definitely makes you endure a lot in this story.

First off – let me tell you that really don’t need to read the first 3 books in this series.  However, as someone who hasn’t (and now truly regrets that), I strongly urge anyone to read them first.  It doesn’t take away from this book in particular.  But it does take away from the overall understanding of who the Fellowship is, who The Order is and everything that revolves around that.  I get a pretty good broad overview, but can say with 100% certainty, reading the books in order will make this whole world so much better.

Ok.  So on with this book.  WOW.  I am still breathing heavy from the intensity of this book.  And yes, I had to write the review immediately because I just need to get all this emotion out.  Ellison and Jamie put me through the ringer.  Sheesh.

“Into me, you see.”

Ellison is not part of the Fellowship but has chosen to become a part of it since she learned about it.  She’s been in Scotland for 9 months since deciding to stay there and be with her sister, whom is married to Sin.

Jamie is the physician for the Fellowship and also holds a seat.  However, because of his choce in profession, he doesn’t feel that he is suited for Ellison since she is  the sister-in-law to the leader of the Fellowship.  He won’t be able to protect like she deserves.

Let me tell you, I wanted to slap Jamie so hard quite a few times.  Wanting to be her safety above both their happiness is just ludicrous.  Sweet but damn.  And keeping his feelings hidden, again for her, just drove me nuts.  GAH!!

Before I give everything away because that’s what I will end up doing, I will say this.  Jamie and Ellison are put through a lot.  ALOT!!  And none of it’s pretty.  And it made me heart go all over the place.  But it was damn worth it.

I am very anxious for Westlyn’s book next.  But I will be going back and reading the first three so that I am full prepared to understand everything!!!

Another heart-pounding book from Georgia.  She just may be the death of me one day with her books.

 

5LovesRLB

 

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

gaauthorGeorgia resides in rural Mississippi with her wonderful husband, Jeff, and their two beautiful daughters. She spent fourteen years as a labor and delivery nurse before she decided to pursue her dream of becoming an author and hasn’t looked back yet.

When she’s not writing, she’s thinking about writing. When she’s being domestic, she’s listening to her iPod and visualizing scenes for her current work in progress. Every story coming from her always has a song to inspire it.

Representation: All questions regarding subsidiary rights for any of my books, inquiries regarding foreign translation and film rights should be directed to Jane Dystel of Dystel & Goderich.

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Unnatural Deeds by Cyn Balog…Spotlight

Unnatural Deeds

By Cyn Balog

November 1, 2016; Hardcover, ISBN 9781492635796

Book info:

Title: Unnatural Deeds

Author: Cyn Balog

Release Date: November 1, 2016

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

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Praise for Unnatural Deeds

 

“Vic’s psychological struggle culminates in an unpredictable, shocking ending that most readers will not see coming. This thriller will stay with readers long after the last page.”

School Library Journal

“Like a PG-13 version of Gone Girl, Balog’s latest tells the tense and tragic story of three teens mixed up in a world of murder, obsession, and mental illness… A page-turner that will keep readers riveted, this is a treat for mystery fans and will keep readers guessing right up until the end.”

Kirkus

“Unnatural Deeds is a compelling, dark confessional with pages that keeps you guessing and an ending that will blow you sideways.”

Natalie D. Richards, author of Six Months Later and One Was Lost

Summary:

Secrets. Obsession. Murder. Victoria is about to discover just how dangerous it can be to lose yourself.

Victoria Zell doesn’t fit in, but she’s okay with that. All she needs is the company of her equally oddball boyfriend, Andrew, who is a musical prodigy, homeschooled, and agoraphobic. They’ve been neighbors and inseparable all their lives, and Vic doesn’t care what anyone else thinks.

Until the day Zachary Zimmerman sits beside her in homeroom. Z, as he likes to be called, is magnetic, charming, and mysterious, and Vic is drawn to him in ways she doesn’t understand.

Despite Vic’s loyalty to Andrew, she finds her life entwining with Z’s. He’s an enigma wrapped in a mystery, and she becomes obsessed with figuring him out. Soon, she’s lying to everyone she knows—even Andrew—in an effort to unravel his secrets.

But Z’s not the only one with a past. Vic’s hiding secrets. Dark, horrible secrets. Secrets that will come back to haunt her…and destroy everything in her path.

Goodreads Link:

http://ow.ly/GjrS305yyoM

Buy Links:

Amazon:

http://ow.ly/ZSNA305x6bo

Barnes & Noble:

http://ow.ly/c9VO305x6iU

IndieBound:

http://ow.ly/r29K305yyG4

Foul whisp’rings are abroad. Unnatural deeds

Do breed unnatural troubles. Infected minds

To their deaf pillows will discharge their secrets.

Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Act V, Scene 1

CHAPTER 1

Duchess—­Police are investigating an apparent homicide after a body was found in a wooded area early Tuesday morning. Authorities have not yet released the name of the victim or the person(s) they are questioning in connection with the investigation.

—­Central Maine Express Times

Is this thing on?

Ha–ha, I’m a laugh a minute.

Anyway, Andrew. It’s me. Vic. I wanted to say I’m sorry. Sorry for… Well, where do I begin? I—-

Cough, cough, cough.

Sorry. I’m losing my voice. Something bitter is stuck in my throat, and the air is so cold it’s hard to breathe. This place reeks of decaying leaves, of the musty, damp rot of dead things returning to the earth.

There’s something soft and wet under my head. I hope it’s not brain matter. I can’t raise my arms to check because of the way I’m twisted here. I think my leg is broken. Or maybe my back? Damned if I can twitch a muscle without pain screaming its way up my spine.

Somehow I managed to pry my phone out of my jacket pocket and prop it on my chest, but you know how spotty service is around Duchess. All charged up with zero bars—-not that I’d be calling anyone but you. I wish I could see the background photo of you and me. It’d keep me company. You know the one. It’s the picture of us at the Renaissance Faire when we were fourteen. We’re both grinning like mad and you have your arm around me, claiming me as your own. It’s probably the only time you were ever comfortable with yourself. With us. I miss that.

Anyway, you know how glass half–empty I am, Andrew. I wanted to record a note for you on my phone. You know, in case I don’t get out of here.

Of course I’ll get out of here. I wouldn’t be lucky enough to die here. But maybe this’ll be easier than telling you in person.

Cough, cough.

Where should I start?

It’s so quiet. You must have left me, Andrew. But you’ll come back. You always come back. You were scared, maybe, when you saw what you’d done. And now I’m all alone here.

I don’t really know where “here” is. I think it’s a drainage ditch on the side of Route 11. The last thing I remember is rushing down the road near the Kissing Woods, feeling powerful. Immortal. Like everything I wanted could be mine. For an instant, I felt like he could be mine.

But that’s not possible now.

I know what people have said behind my back in hushed whispers. They call me delusional. But I’m not. I know what is real and what isn’t.

No, wait. The last thing I remember is you with that fierce look in your eyes. You sure surprised me. Who knew that my boyfriend, quiet, unassuming Andrew Quinn, had that in him?

I thought I knew you inside and out, but…I was wrong.

I guess I should explain. After all, I have no other pressing engagements. And you’re overdue an explanation, aren’t you? The tall pines can be my witnesses. They can pass judgment as they see fit.

I’m not sure when it all began, but Lady M said it best. Hell is goddamn murky.

Whoops. Blasphemy. Yet another sin to add to my act–of–contrition list.

Looking back, you knew when I started to change, didn’t you, Andrew? You know everything about me. It was that very first day of school, the day my life began and the day it began to unravel.

So here are the gory details. It won’t be enough, but I’ll try. You can’t know it all until you’ve smelled that intoxicating cinnamon–and–cloves scent, read those texts that elevated even the blandest words to poetry, and seen those heart–stoppingly blue eyes.

His eyes. Even now, I can see them with perfect clarity. I’ve seen them in my dreams, in the sky when the sun hits the clouds just right, and in my morning breakfast cereal. It all goes back to him. Every single thought always winds right back to him. Always. Always. Always.

It’s no use. I want him out of my head. I wish I could scrape him out of my memory. I don’t want to live with him etched in the deepest part of me. I don’t want to die thinking of him.

But I know I will.

 

About the Author:

cyn-balog-photo

Cyn Balog is the author of a number of young adult paranormal novels. She lives outside Allentown, Pennsylvania with her husband and daughters. Visit her online at www.cynbalog.com.

Social Media Links:

Author Website: http://cynbalog.blogspot.com/

Facebook: http://ow.ly/nqUK305yAEp

Twitter: https://twitter.com/cynbalog

 

What Might Kill Us by M.N. Forgy….Excerpt Reveal

 

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Excerpt

Walking toward my room I notice my bike propped up on two blue milk crates. I stop in my tracks, my hands balling in my palms so hard my nails cut the skin.

Bull is hunched down, a cigarette hanging out of his mouth. No shirt on under his leather vest and grease all over him.

Music plays behind him as his dexterous hands make quick work at the guts of my Fixie. Panic races in my chest. He’s breaking her apart bolt by bolt!

What the fuck? Is he trying to destroy everything of mine?

“Oh I love that song.” I flinch, not noticing Jose standing behind me. “It’s Godsmack‘s Stay Away.” He informs.

“Jesus Christ, Jose, you can’t just sneak up on me like that!” I scorn, clutching my chest. “I could have just punched you in the throat, do you realize that?” He knows what goes on out here, I have to stay on my toes all the time.

“You going over there?” Jose ignores my rant, eyeing Bull over my shoulder. Biting my cheek I turn. My throat bobbing as I watch Bull toss bolts and shit over his shoulder.

My thighs clench on their own, defying the rage poisoning me. Sweat drips from his forehead, black grease streaked among his hard chest. I can’t help the hitch in my breathing.

“Can I have him?” Jose whispers. I blink away the sultry smog clouding my anger and stomp toward the sexy biker.

“Yeah, after I kill him!” I clip.

Bull stands and flicks his cigarette. His movements appearing in slow motion as smoke bellows from his lips. He turns, his back facing me and shrugs out of his cut, throwing it over on the patio. His muscular back inked with the same image that is on the vest.

I narrow my brows, trying to remind myself of the mission at hand.

Holding my hand out I hesitate on if I should touch him or turn around. I look over my shoulder and see Jose looking at me like I lost my mind.

Maybe I have.

Inhaling a large breath, I poke Bull in the shoulder as hard as I can.

His skin is slick with sweat and hot to the touch. The contact shooting warmth through my finger and through my body before igniting in my toes.

He looks over his shoulder, a hard look on his face.

“What the fuck are you doing?” I snarl.

He lifts his chin and smiles. Fucking smiles.

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what_might_kill_us_preorder

What Might Kill Us by M.N. Forgy releases November 7th!

Now Available for Pre-order! 

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2elyL1U

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2dZ5Anq

iBooks: http://apple.co/2dNCvrW

Nook: http://bit.ly/2eXUyP2

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2eeizhF

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Blurb

Brotherhood is what Bull bleeds and all that he knows.

Being the king of The Devil’s Dust and surrounded by easy women was his everyday… until having his heart broke rooted him to the bottom of a whiskey bottle.

Heartbroken, and drowning in lost memories he’s unsure of the direction of his life, when the answer – consisting of a terrified Mexican girl- nearly knocks him off his feet.

Determined to get his act together and rectify his club, he rides to Texas for answers, only to be confronted with the emotional ghosts he isn’t ready to deal with.

He sees Anahi, and he wants her.

But she may come with more baggage than Bull is ready for.

Anahi used to be prim and proper. She used to wear dresses and keep up appearances to impress people she didn’t know. I guess you could say she was a fucking lady.

But that was when she lived in Mexico with her parents.

Before her uncle turned on her.

Before, the only man she ever loved, her step-brother, betrayed her.

Before she was forced to be a drug mule for the Cartel.

Evening gowns a lost memory, expensive heels traded for boots, and a nine millimeter in her hand instead of a limited edition purse. Anahi sets aside everything she’s ever known including the fairytale stories her mother told her about America.

She’s angry, determined, and looking for a way out.

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Haven’t read this series yet?

Now is your chance,  grab books 1-4 for ONLY $0.99!

Amazon US:  http://amzn.to/2eINe62

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2dZ5Anq

About the Author

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M.N. Forgy was raised in Missouri where she still lives with her family. She’s a soccer mom by day and a saucy writer by night. M.N. Forgy started writing at a young age but never took it seriously until years later, as a stay-at-home mom, she opened her laptop and started writing again. As a role model for her children, she felt she couldn’t live with the “what if” anymore and finally took a chance on her character’s story. So, with her glass of wine in hand and a stray Barbie sharing her seat, she continues to create and please her fans.

Stalk Her:  Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

 

Island of Exiles by Erica Cameron….Cover Reveal

IslandofExilesIsland of Exiles (The Ryogan Chronicles, #1) by Erica Cameron

To Be Released on February 7th, 2017

In Khya’s world, every breath is a battle.

On the isolated desert island of Shiara, dying young is inevitable. The clan comes before self, and protecting her home means Khya is a warrior above all else.

But when following the clan and obeying their leaders could cost her brother his life, Khya’s home becomes a deadly trap. The only person who can help is Tessen, her lifelong rival and the boy who challenges her at every turn. The council she hoped to join has betrayed her, and their secrets, hundreds of years deep, reach around a world she’s never seen.

To save her brother’s life and her island home, her only choice is to trust Tessen, turn against her clan, and go on the run—a betrayal and a death sentence.

 

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About the Author:

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After a lifelong obsession with books, Erica Cameron spent her college years getting credit for reading and learning how to make stories of her own. Erica graduated with a double major in psychology and creative writing from Florida State University and began pursuing a career as an author.

Erica is many things but most notably the following: writer, reader, editor, asexual, dance fan, choreographer, singer, lover of musical theater, movie obsessed, sucker for romance, Florida resident, and quasi-recluse. She loves the beach but hates the heat, has equal passion for the art of Salvador Dali and Venetian Carnival masks, has a penchant for unique jewelry and sun/moon décor pieces, and a desire to travel the entire world on a cruise ship. Or a private yacht. You know, whatever works.

Her debut novel, Sing Sweet Nightingale, released March 2014 and it was the first volume of The Dream War Saga. In May 2015, Erica and her co-author Lani Woodland launched the Laguna Tides series with Taken by Chance. Riptide’s new YA imprint Triton Books will release both books in the Assassins series, Discord and Nemesis, in 2016. The Ryogan Chronicles, a fantasy trilogy set to launch through Entangled Teen, will launch in 2017 with Island of Exiles.

Sweetest Taboo by J. Kenner…Blog Tour & Review

 

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sweetest-taboo-comp-10In this irresistible Stark International Novel, J. Kenner ups the ante on Dirtiest Secret and Hottest Mess, proving once again with the S.I.N. series that she “may very well have cornered the market on sinfully attractive, dominant antiheroes and the women who swoon for them” (RT Book Reviews).

All eyes are on us . . . and there’s nowhere to run.

Everyone has their own ideas about Dallas Sykes: He’s a reckless billionaire, a devilish playboy, a man who gets whatever he wants the minute he wants it. But I know the real Dallas behind the money, bravado, and power—and he’s completely, blissfully mine.

We carefully guarded our secrets, and in each other’s arms we sought refuge from our dark past. Our pain became our pleasure, our control within the chaos. But we could only hide from the truth for so long.

Now we’ve let loose our inhibitions and are ready to face the future. And no matter what people think or say, coming clean is its own sweet reward.

Sweetest Taboo is intended for mature audiences.

my-review

 

What a ride?!?!  Not just this book but the whole series.  WOW!!  I need a minute or lots of minutes to take everything in.   And this will probably be a short and quick review because saying anything is giving away too much.

Sweetest Taboo is the third and final book in Julie’s S.I.N. series.  And let me tell you, it’s one hell of ride.  It’s naughty, suspenseful and nail-biting tilt he end.  I couldn’t put it down once I started it.  I had to know what was going to happen next and how all this ended.

Dallas and Jane have finally come full circle with everything and the hotness is off the charts with these two.  However, they have gone through so much and continue to go through even more, is there bond strong enough to survive it all in the end?

I love how Julie was able to make something that seems so taboo become something that is so beautiful.  I love those two broken souls so much.  Even though I had pretty much figure out who was behind it all, I still loved the thrill of everything.  Julie plotted this story line out perfectly and wove in all together beautifully.

A fantastic ending to an amazing and thrill riding series. 

4LovesRLB

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Amazon US   | Amazon Print  | Audible CD  | Amazon UK  | Kobo  | iBooks  | iBooks UK  | B&N/Nook  | Google Play

 

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“There are so many things to say. Important things. Essential things.”

“Jane—”

“But not now. I don’t want to talk about any of it right now.”

Hope warred with fear inside him.

“I just want—oh, please, Dallas. I don’t want to talk. Right now, I just want you to kiss me.”

And that was it—that was the moment she broke him. He felt himself shatter, the fear that had hardened inside him like glass breaking into a million tiny pieces. He reached for her, then cupped her head and closed his mouth gently over hers.

Immediately, he became drunk on the taste of her, aroused by the feel of her.

He wanted to crush her body against his, to feel her heat, her heart. He wanted to bruise her mouth with his kisses and close his hands tight around her arms. He’d come so damn close to losing her, and he couldn’t stand the thought of ever letting her go.

But he didn’t—he couldn’t. She was too fragile, and the possibility that he might hurt her—more, again—ate at him. So instead, he littered soft kisses on her face, her neck. He stroked her. Touched her. Hell, he worshipped her.

“Dallas?” Tentatively, her fingers brushed his face.

He blinked and focused on a space over her shoulder, knowing that he’d come completely undone if he looked into her eyes. “I thought I’d lost you. First, when you walked out. And then—and then—”

The words caught in his throat, too horrible to even voice. “Christ, Jane. I can’t lose you.”

Gently, her fingertip stroked his lower lip. Even more gently, she took his chin and forced him to look at her. “I’m right here.”

“And thank God for that.”

Their eyes met and held, and for a moment there was no time, no space, no world that judged them. There was just them.

Then she lunged, her mouth closing over his with such firm finality that it both broke the moment and had him laughing. “This is how I want you,” she said, and he answered her silently but enthusiastically, pulling her hard against him, slamming his mouth against hers. Taking. Consuming. Until he was nothing but heat and need, an ache building in him that he couldn’t quench no matter how tight he held her, how hard he kissed her.

He was lost in her, drowning in the sensuality of her fingernails digging into his back. Of her teeth claiming his lips. Of the way her pelvis ground hard against his erection.

With a low, needful groan, he slid his hands down and grabbed her hips, craving an even closer contact. He tightened his grip, pulled her toward him, then immediately released her and stepped back when she released a soft, sharp, “Oh!”

“Jane?”

She stood before him, breathing hard. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”

He frowned. “I hurt you.”

“No. No, I’m fine.” She shook her head, but he knew better. “Dallas, please. I don’t want—”

“What?”

“Distance.” She dragged her teeth over her lower lip as if she was unsure about how he felt.

“Oh, baby. No. Never.” He held out his hand. “Come here.”

She cocked her head, then narrowed her eyes. “Where?”

“Do you trust me?”

“Yes.”

The speed of her reply sang in his heart. “Then let me take care of you.”

The corner of her mouth twitched. “If you’re thinking about putting me to bed, you can just stop that nonsense right now. I’ve been in a hospital for almost two days. Between boredom and sedatives, I’m all caught up on my sleep.”

“I promise, sleep is the last thing on my mind.”

That was a little bit of a lie. She’d protest, he knew, but she needed more sleep. Good sleep, not with nurses popping in and out and a sterile bed with the scent of hospital disinfectant permeating the room.

She’d sleep, all right. But he intended to make sure she was ready for it. That she would drift under, safe and warm and content in his arms.

Gently, he drew her into the bathroom, her favorite room in the apartment. The previous owners had knocked out a wall, turned the small second bedroom into a closet, and used part of that space to make room for a steam shower and an oversize whirlpool tub. The day they’d moved in, Jane had told him this bathroom was a little slice of heaven.

He turned the water on, cranking up the heat the way he knew she liked it, then he stood her on the dense, white rug that filled most of the space.

“Are you tending me?” Her voice was as teasing as her expression, and it was all he could do not to gather her close and sigh with contentment. Yes, he knew she was still aching and sore. No, they didn’t know who her attacker was. Yes, her birth father was locked in a cell, and Dallas was the one keeping him there.

But none of that mattered. Not then. All he cared about—all he could hold in his head—was Jane. That she was alive. That she was his.

That she’d come back to him.

“Damn right I’m tending you. Now put your hands up,” he added with mock sternness.

She complied, and he peeled off her scrub top, delighted to find that she wore nothing beneath it. Her breasts were perfect, round and firm, and as he watched, her nipples tightened and her areolae puckered. He wanted to roll her nipples between his fingers. He wanted to taste her breasts and feel her arch back and moan, her tits hard and hot in his hands as he licked and sucked, taking her so far that she came in his arms simply from the pressure of the desire building between her legs.

Not now. Not yet.

Instead, he met her eyes. Then he lowered his gaze to her chest, watching it rise and fall as her desire heightened to match his. Her pulse quickened in her throat, another spot that he wanted to lick and tease.

Slowly, he reached for the drawstring of her pants. His fingers brushed her abdomen as he did, the touch so light it was almost negligible. It was enough, though, and he felt the shock of that connection all the way down to his cock. He was rock hard and straining against his jeans. And when her pants slid over her hips to the floor—when she stood before him completely naked—he had to fight the battle of his life not to step forward, slide his hand between her thighs, and feel the creamy heat of her arousal.

Instead, he simply stood and stared and wanted, his gaze caressing her. Reviewing every curve, every nuance. He knew her body as well as he knew his own, and the bruises he saw on her thighs and hips started a slow burn inside him.

He was going to kill whoever did this. No doubt. No question.

 

 

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julie-j-kenner-author-photoJ. Kenner (aka Julie Kenner) is the New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, Wall Street Journal and #1 International bestselling author of over seventy novels, novellas and short stories in a variety of genres.

Though known primarily for her award-winning and international bestselling erotic romances (including the Stark and Most Wanted series) that have reached as high as #2 on the New York Times bestseller list, JK has been writing full time for over a decade in a variety of genres including paranormal and contemporary romance, “chicklit” suspense, urban fantasy,  and paranormal mommy lit.

JK has been praised by Publishers Weekly as an author with a “flair for dialogue and eccentric characterizations” and by RT Bookclub for having “cornered the market on sinfully attractive, dominant antiheroes and the women who swoon for them.” A five time finalist for Romance Writers of America’s prestigious RITA award, JK took home the first RITA trophy awarded in the category of erotic romance in 2014 for her novel, Claim Me (book 2 of her Stark Trilogy). Her Demon Hunting Soccer Mom series (as Julie Kenner) is currently in development with AwesomenessTV/Awestruck.

Her books have sold over three million  copies and are published in over twenty languages.

In her previous career as an attorney, JK worked as a clerk on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, and practiced primarily civil, entertainment and First Amendment litigation in Los Angeles and Irvine, California, as well as in Austin, Texas.  She currently lives in Central Texas, with her husband, two daughters, and two rather spastic cats.

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | YouTube | Amazon Author Page

 

Jagger by Heather C Leigh…Release Blitz & Review

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NEW DARK ROMANCE by Heather C. Leigh 

Meet Miri (Junkie) and Jagger (Boss) in the Broken Doll Series!

NOW LIVE & FREE

on KINDLE UNLIMITED!

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 Jagger (Book Two)

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2bcNfvW

Junkie (Book One)

Amazon US:  http://amzn.to/2bI47Mm

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2bgZfye

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Jagger

Book Summary

I sell drugs. Heroin to be specific. And I’m fucking good at my job. Enough to fight my way to the top position, controlling all of Austin’s supply.

So what if I had to kill the previous boss to do it. I do what has to be done. Never cared about consequences because I never had anything to lose.

Until I met Miri. My doll. She’s my weakness and somehow, my enemies found out about her.

If they hurt her, they will regret the day they ever heard my name. Boss. They call me Boss for a reason. What I say goes, including the price on the heads of anyone who dares to fuck with what belongs to me.

My Miri.

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Read a Bonus Scene HERE

my-review

So let me just say that Heather has gained a new fan in me just from this two book series, alone.

Jagger takes off like bullet from where Junkie ended and never once loses it pace.  It’s a quick read but not once do I feel like there was never enough description or anything left out.  I felt the pain, hatred, disparity, just everything that Miri goes through – but damn is that woman a fighter and a trooper.  If you once thought she was a weak and timid woman, you won’t after this book.

Jag – where do I start???  How he didn’t kill every single person that stood in front of him, is a flat-out blessing.  I could feel his anger, his need for vengeance billowing out of him.  But underneath all that, I could feel his love for Miri powering through it all.

Let me just say that Heather is one hell of a story teller.  She wove this story together with intricate and precise detail, I loved it.  Yes, there were things that were pretty easy to figure out, but I don’t think the mystery was the whole point of it.  I did wish we could have gotten more from why the “traitor” chose to betray Jag but I think the reason was pretty much understood since a certain point beforehand.

I loved this story.  Loved these characters and felt that Heather played it all out perfectly.  Another highly recommended read!!!

5LovesRLB

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BOOK TRAILER

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Meet Heather C. Leigh

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Heather C. Leigh is the author of the Amazon best selling Famous series. She likes to write about the ‘dark’ side of fame. The part that the public doesn’t get to see, how difficult it is to live in a fishbowl and how that affects relationships.

Heather was born and raised in New England and currently lives outside Atlanta, GA with her husband, 2 kids, and French Bulldog, Shelby.

She loves the Red Sox, the Patriots, and anything chocolate (but not white chocolate, everyone knows it’s not real chocolate so it doesn’t count) and has left explicit instructions in her will to have her ashes snuck into Fenway Park and sneakily sprinkled all over while her family enjoys beer, hot dogs, and a wicked good time.

My favorite authors are Dan Wells, Ken Follett, and Stephen King.

 

 STALK HER: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

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The Kept Woman by Karin Slaughter…Blog Tour Stop & Review

the-kept-womanAbout The Kept Woman

Hardcover: 480 pages
Publisher: William Morrow (September 20, 2016)

Husbands and wives. Mothers and daughters. The past and the future.

Secrets bind them. And secrets can destroy them.

The author of Pretty Girls returns with an electrifying, emotionally complex thriller that plunges its fascinating protagonist into the darkest depths of a mystery that just might destroy him.

With the discovery of a murder at an abandoned construction site, Will Trent of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation is brought in on a case that becomes much more dangerous when the dead man is identified as an ex-cop.

Studying the body, Sara Linton the GBI’s newest medical examiner and Will’s lover realizes that the extensive blood loss didn’t belong to the corpse. Sure enough, bloody footprints leading away from the scene indicate there is another victim a woman who has vanished . . . and who will die soon if she isn’t found.

Will is already compromised, because the site belongs to the city’s most popular citizen: a wealthy, powerful, and politically connected athlete protected by the world’s most expensive lawyers a man who’s already gotten away with rape, despite Will’s exhaustive efforts to put him away.

But the worst is yet to come. Evidence soon links Will’s troubled past to the case . . . and the consequences will tear through his life with the force of a tornado, wreaking havoc for Will and everyone around him, including his colleagues, family, friends and even the suspects he pursues.

Relentlessly suspenseful and furiously paced, peopled with conflicted, fallible characters who leap from the page, The Kept Woman is a seamless blend of twisty police procedural and ingenious psychological thriller — a searing, unforgettable novel of love, loss, and redemption.

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Purchase Links

HarperCollins | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

 

My review:

The Kept Woman is the newest work from author Karin Slaughter and after seeing her speak at ThrillerFest this past summer in NYC, I was dying to read some of her work.  I was lucky enough to read an early copy of this release and I am totally hooked on her writing.  From start to finish this book kept me glued to each page, dying to see what would happen next.

This is a bit out of my normal reading genres and I while I don’t step outside of those genres a whole lot, this book gave me a reminder to do it more often.  The mystery surrounding the murder victim and the investigation that ensues was done so well and had so many twists and turns.  Clues were dropped perfectly and expertly along the way and while I thought I knew who was ultimately responsible, I couldn’t never be 100% certain and I loved that.  This story holds corruption, duplicity, the deep depths of greed, the shady life of big time sports stars, and some dark moments involving the underbelly of society and I was so engrossed in the pages I read half of the book in one sitting.    On top of the murder mystery was turmoil within the main character’s love life and I think that gave this story a softer edge that a lot of thrillers don’t have.  I was a nervous wreck for the outcome of not only the murder investigation but for the underlying love story.  I certainly won’t ruin either aspect for you but I will say the ending gave me hope and satisfaction all at once.  This book is packed with characters you will end up adoring and some you can’t help but love to hate.

Now that I’ve read this author, I have no doubt I will be scooping up the rest in this series!  Thank you, Ms. Slaughter, for a phenomenal read!

*Note:  While this is a part of a series, I had no issues reading it as a standalone.

4andahalfloves

Four-and-a-Half Loves

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Photo by Alison Rosa
Photo by Alison Rosa

About Karin Slaughter

Karin Slaughter is the #1 internationally bestselling author of more than a dozen novels, including the Will Trent and Grant County series and the instant†New York Times†bestselling standalones, Cop Town and Pretty Girls. There are more than 35 million copies of her books in print around the world.

Find out more about Karin at her website and connect with her on Facebook.


 

 
Tuesday, September 20th: Kahakai Kitchen
Wednesday, September 21st: The Book Bag
Thursday, September 22nd: Buried Under Books
Friday, September 23rd: Books and Bindings
Monday, September 26th: Read-Love-Blog
Tuesday, September 27th: No More Grumpy Bookseller
Wednesday, September 28th: A Chick Who Reads
Thursday, September 29th: Kritters Ramblings
Monday, October 3rd: A Bookworm’s World
Wednesday, October 5th: Vox Libris
tlc tour host

The Cabin by Natasha Preston…Review

There may only be one killer, but no one is innocent in this new young adult thriller from Natasha Preston, author of The Cellar, a New York TimesBestseller, andAwake

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They think they’re invincible.

They think they can do and say whatever they want.

They think there are no consequences.

They’ve left me no choice.

It’s time for them to pay for their sins.

A weekend partying at a remote cabin is just what Mackenzie needs. She can’t wait to let loose with her friends. But a crazy night of fun leaves two of them dead—murdered.

With no signs of a forced entry or struggle, suspicion turns to the five survivors. Someone isn’t telling the truth. And Mackenzie’s first mistake? Assuming the killing is over…

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2c2MCGJ

B&N: http://bit.ly/2bQSNyZ

iBooks: http://apple.co/2bQSVyE

BAM: http://bit.ly/2c2NDOS

my-review

So I have to admit that I am bit torn on this book.  And it could be because I was just not in the right mindset to read this book or because I also knew this book was written under a different name and this was just the book being redone with more added to it.  Regardless, it wasn’t terrible.

I enjoy Natasha’s writing style.  She’s got a way that hooks you into the story and keeps you glued to the pages.  Even if you don’t care for any of the characters or their actions.  Or the fact that the majority of the book doesn’t take place in a cabin (tad letdown on that).  But her writing is one that will always capture me.

This book is told from Mackenzie’s POV as she is the one who ends up doing her own investigation into the murder for her friends.  And instead of protecting her friends, she finds herself having to protect herself from them.  Because you know one of them has to be guilty.

I enjoyed the pace and flow of the book with the twists along the way.  The reason for only a 3 star rating is because I had a hard time connecting with the characters and the ending just killed me.  I didn’t like it – which really hurt the book for me.

Overall, it’s not a bad read.  It just wasn’t my cuppa.  If the synopsis catches your attention, I would definitely recommend giving it a go.  It could have been just bad timing for me.  Natasha has written some superb books (Cellar and Awake) so I will still continue reading her books.

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3LovesRLB

 

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Saturday, August 8
I cracked my eyes open and they were immediately stung by the evil morning light. It didn’t help that the room was a bright yellow. Groaning, I ran my hands over my face. I felt like I’d been hit by a bus. My head throbbed, and every time I swallowed, I felt as if I were downing sawdust. To make matters worse, this time Blake wasn’t waking me up. My hangovers weren’t usually this bad. Last night, I had drunk a lot, but nowhere near enough to feel as awful as I did. When had I become such a humongous lightweight? Blake lay on his side, with one arm and one leg thrown over me. He looked peaceful. Whatever weighed on his mind during the day didn’t trouble him while he slept.
Biting my lip, I watched him sleep, feeling a bit like a creeper. I had never had a one–night stand, so my experience with the morning after was nonexistent. I knew the general idea was to leave ASAP, but in this situation, that was impossible. We were spending the weekend in the same secluded place, and it’s not like I had my own car.
Oh God. I had a one–night stand! I tried to calm myself. It’s fine. You’re an adult, remember? Adults do this all the time. But I didn’t. Why had I allowed myself to sleep with Blake when I hadn’t even known him twenty–four hours?
Shut up, it’s fine. You’re allowed to be into a guy, to have a good time.
I had to get a grip. There was nothing I could do to change what had happened. But neither of us needed to freak out or make this awkward—-and by neither of us, I meant me. We were attracted to each other and acted on it. We were both into it, both consenting adults. It’d be fine. Besides, I felt too ill to worry much anyway.
Pushing myself up, I flopped and fell back against the mattress. My heavy stomach rolled. Oh God. I had no energy. I needed water, aspirin, and to throw up the remaining alcohol that was still sloshing around in my system.
Never again. Never ever, ever, ever again.
My movements woke Blake. He removed his hand from my stomach and rubbed his face. “I feel like death,” he groaned.
Blushing because of the situation we were in, I replied, “Join the club.”
He smiled at me. “How do you not look like hell in the morning? I mean, you’ve got that stunning, post–sex glow that’s turning me on.”
Seriously? “How can you feel like crap and still want sex?”
He replied, “Have you ever seen yourself, Mackenzie?”
His comment made me bite my lip. I didn’t think I was that pretty, but I kind of loved how he saw me. Everyone wanted someone to think they were special, and my ex never had. Blake made me feel sexy and appreciated, which was nice, even if I broke my own rules.
“I…” I what? What did I want to say?
Chuckling quietly, he shoved himself up and reached for his jeans. “I need food and strong coffee. Do you know what everyone has planned for today?”
Following his lead, I grabbed my clothes and started to get dressed. I flicked my gaze at him to make sure he wasn’t looking at me. He was. “We’re going down to the lake to swim. Aaron wants to feed everyone barbecue food all day; then we’re making a bonfire in the evening.”
Blake stilled. “You’re making a fire in the middle of the forest?”
“A small bonfire. We’re not setting trees alight.”
“At least not purposefully,” he muttered. “I’m overseeing that.”
“Oversee away. I’m sure Aaron would love the help.”
“It’s not Aaron I want to hang out with.”
Holy…
I bit my lip. “Well, good.”
He lifted an eyebrow while staring into my eyes. “Yes, it is.”
If he kept looking at me like that, I was going to explode. I already felt too hot.

Jagger by Heather C Leigh….Teaser

jaggerad1

NEW DARK ROMANCE by

Heather C. Leigh

Meet Miri (Junkie) and Jagger (Boss) in the Broken Doll Series!

Jagger (Book Two) Releases September 27th

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2bcNfvW

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2bKBKy0

NOW LIVE & FREE on KINDLE UNLIMITED!

Junkie (Book One)

Amazon US:  http://amzn.to/2bI47Mm

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2bgZfye

 

 

El Diablo by M. Robinson…Blog Tour & Review

BLOG TOUR September 6th-20th
EL DIABLO
USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR M. ROBINSON
COVER DESIGN: THE FINAL WRAP
RELEASE DATE: AUGUST 30TH, 2016

 

 

I was ruthless.
I was feared.
I had sacrificed. Myself. Her. Everything…
Living in a world where I was worth more dead than alive was
a choice. I was a bad man, never claimed to be anything else. I’ve done things
I’m not proud of. Seen things that can’t be unseen. I’ve caused pain that I
can’t undo.
It was all my choice.
Every decision.
Every order.
Right and wrong never mattered.
Until her.
She was under my protection, until she became my obsession.
But who was going to save her…
From. Me. The devil himself.
Fate brought us together. Destiny destroyed us.
my-review
Let me give you a fair warning that you are not going to like Alejandro at all.  Oh he will intrigue you and make you want to figure out how this all plays out, but you will not like him.  You will loathe him, despise him and that’s putting it mildly.  But that’s why I love this book so much.
As with all her books, M is never one to let us down in the angst, drama and oh holy fucking shit scenes.  In all honesty, in some ways, she has upped her game when it comes to truly writing a ruthless and despicable character.  And I love her for that.  I won’t give away details of this book but I will let you know what kind of man and heroine you can expect.
“You were never supposed to be in my life.  I was never supposed to be in yours.  But fate brought us together and it was only a matter of time before destiny destroyed us.”
Alejandro is El Diablo, The Devil, in the flesh and blood.  He cares about no-one and nothing.  He is the most feared and the most wanted man in the states.  He knows that he’s a walking dead man, but that doesn’t stop him from doing anything.  If anything, he feels that warrants him the ability to do anything without so much as another thought.
Lexi pretty much grew up on her own.  She knew how to live and survive in this world on her own.  And when it came Alejandro, she knew to never show fear.  However, she forgot to never show anything else.  Alejandro was an enigma to her and she was untouchable to him.
“This was our ending, when it should have been our beginning.”
I really liked that this book is told from both their POV’s and shows how everything began since they were kids.  Never once are you confused and the pace moves along perfectly.  And I promise you, do not expect the typical when it comes to Alejandro. He’s El Diablo and he never fails in showing exactly why he’s called that – even when it comes to Lexi.
C signature
5LovesRLB
 
“Go stretch again, cariño,” I ordered in a dominant tone. Nodding to the barre.
“I’m fine,” she stubbornly replied. Shaking her legs and arms out. Getting back into position, looking at me through the mirror.
I cocked my head to the side, arching an eyebrow. She narrowed her eyes at me, but begrudgingly listened. I pressed play, allowing the melody to once again take over. She placed her leg on the lowest barre, making her ass stick out in my direction.
Tempting me.
She closed her eyes, needing to get lost in the music, wanting to push away all the negative thoughts, already feeling discouraged. I stood, taking off my suit jacket. Rolling up the sleeves of my collared shirt as I stepped onto the hardwood floor. I slowly came up behind her, catching her off guard.
She froze, turning around, opening her eyes. Peering up at me through her lashes. “What are you doing?”
I leaned forward against her ear, grinning. “I’m helping you stretch.” Getting down on my knees in front of her.
Her eyes dilated. The feeling of disappointment replaced with nothing but lust. She placed her arms out to the side, resting up against the barre, supporting her weight. I grabbed her ankle, lifting it up in the air, rubbing along her leg as it was fully stretched, before setting it on the lowest barre. Running my other hand up her side, easing her over toward the extended leg. She understood what I was doing, reaching for her ankle, stretching. Standing back up, bringing her arms above her head, I caressed along her leg again, casually turning her torso so her leg was still placed on the barre behind her.
Her breathing hitched as I touched her all over her lower body. My lips softly kissing the inside of her thigh to where she wanted my mouth the most.
OFFICIAL TRAILER FOR EL DIABLO

 

THE GOOD OL’ BOYS STANDALONE SERIES
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USA Today Bestselling Author of The Good Ol’ Boys Standalone
Series, The VIP Trilogy, Tempting Bad, and Two Sides.
 
M. Robinson loves to read. She favors anything that has
angst, romance, triangles, cheating, love, and of course sex! She has been
reading since the Babysitters Club and R.L. Stein. 
She was born in New Jersey but was raised in Tampa Fl. She
is currently pursuing her Ph.D in psychology, with two years left. 
She is married to an amazing man who she loves to pieces.
They have two German Shepherd mixes and a Tabby cat. 

 

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SIGNED EL DIABLO PAPERBACK