Read-Love-Blog

Jingle all the Audio featuring Katherine Kellgren

by Jilly

Jingle all the Audio kicks off today and we are so excited!

The holidays are just around the corner, which usually means busy schedules, overcrowded supermarkets and shopping malls, and an inevitable decrease in free time to pick up that latest from your favorite author. Don’t fret, Read-Love-Blog is dedicating the month of December to audiobooks and the narrators that make them a wonderful escape from the hustle and bustle. Audiobooks can be the perfect companion this time of year. You can delve into the worlds of your favorite authors while cleaning the house for company, baking confections for social gatherings, or that long trip home for the holidays. Audiobooks have come a long way and are available through a multitude of outlets, including your local library.

A narrator can make or break an audiobook experience and a huge reason why seasoned readers run for the hills at first listen. But hopefully, Jingle All the Audio will entice you to give audiobooks another try. Every Monday this month, I will feature one or two narrators that I believe embody the best of the best, with a wide range of genres to choose from; cheeky mysteries, frightening science fiction phenomenon, kick-butt urban fantasy, and blissfully hopeless romance. At month’s end we will give one lucky follower a chance to choose an audiobook from any of the narrators featured.

Today’s featured narrator is Katherine Kellgren who narrates the Royal Spyness series written by Rhys Bowen. Katherine is an award-winning narrator of over 200 audiobook. She navigates a wide range of accents and masters an abundance of voice inflections, making it easy for the listener to differentiate between characters, male and female alike. The Royal Spyness series is a collection of tongue-in-cheek mysteries centered around Lady Georgiana, thirty-fourth in line to the throne of England, who must find a means of supporting herself after the prospect of a disagreeable marriage is forced upon her.

You can listen to a sample of Her Royal Spyness, narrated by Katherine Kellgren here

Link to Katherine Kellgren’s Facebook

To be entered into the Jingle All the Audio Giveaway this week, name a confection you like to make or eat this coming holiday season in the comments. The sweeter the better!

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December 2014 Jingle all the Audio

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Love Beyond Reason and A Treasure Worth Seeking by Sandra Brown…Teaser Tour

by Jilly

Love Beyond Reason

Katherine Adams said she’d never make her sister Mary’s mistakes. Mary’s fairy-tale marriage into the wealthy, powerful Manning dynasty had turned into a nightmare of abuse. Then, on the night her playboy husband was killed in a car accident, Mary died in childbirth. Now savvy, smart, and very angry Katherine vowed to never let a Manning, any Manning, near Mary’s child — not even the dashing, charismatic oil man who showed up at her door. Katherine wanted to believe Jason Manning wasn’t like his ruthless family. But secrets and lies were part of his heritage. And Katherine could be destroyed by a truth she was afraid to face…and a man she could not resist.

Purchase Links:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iTunes

A Treasure Worth Seeking

Erin…After years of searching for the brother she’d never known, Erin O’Shea had finally found his San Francisco address. She stood on the doorstep, unaware that she was about to walk into a shocking drama of family lies — and to meet an intriguing, infuriating man who would change her life. Lance…He was a G-man for the government’s toughest cases — like the big-money scam involving Erin’s long-lost brother. But although Lance was immediately attracted to her, he never dreamed that his feelings would drive him to break every rule in the book — and put his career and even Erin’s future on the line. . .

Purchase Links:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iTunes

Giveaway

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About the author:

Sandra Brown is the author of more than sixty New York Times bestsellers, including DEADLINE (2013), LOW PRESSURE (2012), LETHAL (2011), TOUGH CUSTOMER (2010), SMASH CUT (2009), SMOKE SCREEN (2008), PLAY DIRTY (2007), RICOCHET (2006), and CHILL FACTOR, all of which have jumped onto the Times bestseller list in the number one to five spot.

Brown began her writing career in 1981 and since then has published over seventy novels, bringing the number of copies of her books in print worldwide to upwards of eighty million. Her work has been translated into thirty-four languages.

Brown holds an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Texas Christian University. She served as the president of the Mystery Writers of American in 2012 and was named ITW’s Thriller Master for 2008, the top award given by the International Thriller Writer’s Association. Other awards and commendations include the 2007 Texas Medal of Arts Award for Literature and the Romance Writers of America’s Lifetime Achievement Award

Connect:

Site: http://sandrabrown.net

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/sandrabrown_NYT

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/sandrabrownnyt/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6218.Sandra_Brown

December 2014 Teaser

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Hart Attack by Cristin Harber…Blog Tour Stop, Review, & Excerpt

by Jilly

Synopsis:

Outside of Titan Group, there are few people that Roman Hart would die for. He’s a soldier, a protector, and he’s haunted that one of the people he should’ve been able to protect didn’t let him. That was years ago, and now a hardened heart and a cocky attitude are his impenetrable shields, until one woman—one challenge—drives him to distraction.

On the outside, Beth Tourne has it all. Luxury car, gorgeous condo, and a job partying with the rich and famous. It’s a plush CIA cover, but she wants more. Anything for an adrenaline rush that can override her guilty numbness and let her forget the tragedy she never saw coming.

Their scars make them perfect operatives. Their mirrored pasts give them deep, wounded reasons to stay alone. But the more they ignore the tension, the more vulnerable they become. Survival means trust. In one another, behind closed doors, and on the job. The only way they’re making it out alive is if they find peace while waging a war.

My review:

Hart Attack is the fifth book in author Cristin Harber’s Titan Group Series and unfortunately the first book in the series I have read. I say unfortunately because I have clearly been missing out on one hell of an amazing series and author. This book is everything a romantic suspense should be. It was exciting, pulse pounding, hot, sexy, and action packed!

Now, I will say that since I don’t know a whole lot of the back story between Roman and Beth, my review may be lacking in that area but I will say that regardless of not reading the previous books in the series, I didn’t feel that I was missing out with the plot that played out in this installment.

Beth Tourne is damn good at her role within the CIA. She’s the pretty face who uses her refinement and social status to schmooze with the high-caliber criminals the government is after and she does her job well. The one major downfall is that she really isn’t taken too seriously by her colleagues and that pisses her off. She yearns for a real assignment she would be able to show off her real skills as a CIA agent. She also yearns for the excitement that type of assignment would bring to help push away the pain she is suffering after a devastating loss in her past. Then there was Roman. Roman, the sexy Titan Group member who has grown to mean something to her despite her attempts at keeping her life focused solely on her career. Both infuriating and intriguing, Beth knows the attraction between them is growing and when she finally has the chance at a meaningful assignment, it may come at quite a cost.

Titan Group member Roman Hart has spent years perfecting his skill as a soldier, fighter, protector, and pompous ass…according to Beth. Beth, the only woman that he wants to both push away and pull closer. The woman who breaks down his defenses and makes him want more. And that scared the crap out of him, primarily because he didn’t know how to handle having the woman he is caring more for day by day in situations that risk her life. He went through the pain of losing someone her loved a few years earlier and vowed never to let anyone get close to him again and to never feel that type of pain again. If only his heart would get on board with that plan. Now Roman must figure out how to handle the risks her career puts her in. Easier said than done for a man like Roman…

With lives and love on the line, both Beth and Roman will have to break down their emotional walls and learn to trust and love again…before it’s too late and they lose the chance at happiness fate has given them.

This was one hell of a book. I was drawn in from the very beginning and couldn’t put it down. The chemistry and attraction between Beth and Roman was done beautifully. It wasn’t soft and sweet. It wasn’t tender and fluffy. It was hard and real. It was honest and raw and I loved all of it. They both have been hurt terribly in the past and have very valid reasons for wanting to push one another away. It was those feelings that made the push and pull between them so delectable. Even though they both wanted to remember the reasons why they should stay away from each other, their hearts have a way of reminding them of just why it’s so damn right to be together.

Adding to their individual emotional turmoil is the complication of Beth’s new assignment and the dangers she is in. Dealing with the wealthy and unsavory will put Beth in harm’s way and possible at the hands of a traitor within the CIA. The suspense aspect of this story played out beautifully and left me white knuckled, holding onto my e-reader and paying Beth and Roman would make it though and get their happy ending. (I won’t give anything away except to tell you that the ending was simply perfect! *dreamy sigh*)

Thank you, Cristin, for an amazing read packed with emotion and suspense. I will certainly be going back to the beginning of the series to enjoy all of the Titan Group members!

Four Loves

Book links:

Excerpt:

Beth parked in the driveway of his nice house, which sat on a huge piece of property. After a quick knock on the door, it opened. Roman was bruised and battered and shirtless, and the shelved box of feelings came screaming open. Whatever his agenda was, the shirtless hello wasn’t fair.

“No, no, no.” She closed her eyes and pointed blindly. “Turn around, get dressed, and we can try this again.”

She stood her ground and wouldn’t cross the threshold. There was no possible way to remain detached when a wall of perfectly sculpted muscle stood a few feet away. “Roman.” She shook her head. “I’m not a booty call, go find a shirt.”

“Babe.”

She peeked through one eye. Holy shit! He was perfect. Her mouth watered. Definitely dangerous, he was a man who could leave her without a sane thought left.

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About the author:

Cristin Harber is a USA Today bestselling romantic suspense and military romance author. Fans voted her onto Amazon’s Top Picks for Debut Romance Authors in 2013, and her debut Titan series was #1 romantic suspense, #1 military romance, and a USA Today Top 100 bestseller.

She lives outside Washington, DC with her family and English Bulldog.

Connect with Cristin Harber

December 2014 Four Loves Romantic Suspense

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Rina’s Quick Audio Bytes ~ Audiobook Reviews in Short: Mud Vein by Tarryn Fisher

by Jilly

Quick Audio Bytes

Rina’s back with her review of the Mud Vein by Tarryn Fisher audiobook!

mud vein cover

Mud Vein by: Tarryn Fisher

Narrated by: Simone Lewis
Genre: Romance/Psychological Thriller
Source: Audible

Story: 3.5
Performance: 4
Overall: 4

“Life is too short to hide your wrongs, so I hide myself instead.”

Senna Richards is a reclusive novelist. She wakes to find herself in a strange bed, wearing unfamiliar clothes in her particular size, and locked inside a house with enough food to last a seasonal winter. The most unsettling discovery, she is not alone. Senna must revisit her painful past and piece together the clues, slowly closing in around her, before it’s too late.

Upon finishing Mud Vein by Tarryn Fisher, I decided to digest the story a bit before writing my review. Ms. Fisher penned one of those rare novels that left me seriously unsure of whether I loved or hated the book. To be honest, I’m still undecided. I will say that the writing is top notch. Descriptive prose that draw you in so deep you feel as though you could reach out and touch the world created.

“Clarity bleeding through my denial. Warm against my numb brain.”

The main character was intense and flawed. Almost flawed to a fault. My lack of compassion towards Senna Richards at times could have much to do with my indecisiveness regarding the story as a whole. Mud Vein started slow, but my principal issue rested with the ending. I felt the tie up a bit rushed and somewhat unbelievable. The thriller junkie inside me had hoped for more of a psychological twist.

Simone Lewis did an excellent job of narrating Mud Vein. Her voice was clear and concise, leaving the line between character and storyteller indiscernible. A trait I’ve come to appreciate in a good narration.

All in all, Mud Vein was an interesting offering and a good choice for any reader who enjoys a enigmatic puzzle with a slow reveal. I found Ms. Fisher’s style of writing complex and beautiful, and I fully intend to check out more of her books.

~Rina

About the author:

I am a real life villain, truly. I drink sick amounts of Starbucks. Most of the time my hair smells like coffee. I was born in South Africa, and lived there for most of my childhood. I moved to Seattle just for the rain. Rome is my favorite place in the world so far, Paris comes in at a close second. I read and write more than I sleep. When I was eleven, I wrote an entire novel about runaway orphans, using only purple ink. I am addicted to Florence and the Machine and will travel to see concerts. I love scary movies and giraffes. I spend way too much time on Facebook. Meet you there?

Website

November 2014 Quick Audio Bytes

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Cover Reveal…Forever Found by Nazarea Andrews

by Jilly

Today we are revealing the cover for FOREVER FOUND by Nazarea Andrews. This is a novella that will be released on December 30th and it is the stunning conclusion to the story begun in Girl Lost.

BOOK BLURB:

Losing Gwen was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to survive. I’ve never loved anyone the way I love her.

But finding her was never about that. And now that I have found her–now that she knows the truth about me and the Island, I have to trust her to believe. Because her leaving me didn’t just destroy me–its killing Neverland.

I need her to love me. But we all need her to believe again.

Peter Pan has grown up and found the girl who left–but the stakes are higher than ever in this romantic conclusion to the story begun in Girl Lost.

CLICK HERE TO ADD FOREVER FOUND TO GOODREADS.

EXCERPT:

Gwen is leaning against the window. Every time I leave her, I forget. She’s not all gangly limbs and huge eyes and dirty hair hanging in her face, flinching at her own shadow. Not anymore. That Gwen still haunts my island, but this—this Gwen is breathtaking.

She thinks she’s broken. Fractured pieces of a broken mind, held together by medication and stubborn denial. But she doesn’t see herself, not the way I do.

Lane had that right. She’s breathtaking—even now, when I know she’s sad and broken. She stands straight, a pair of thin sleep pants curving around her ass before falling loose and free to the floor. Her shoulders are back, graceful and strong, under the thick sweater she’s wearing, her hair pulled into a messy knot at the top of her head.

She can see me, my reflection in the dark glass. And I see the tension in her tighten, drawing her up and sharp, until she’s almost vibrating with it. “Why are you here?” she asks, her voice low and hoarse.

She sounds like that when she’s been crying. I know—I’ve heard her so many times, heard her tears. Wiped them away. Whispered happy thoughts until I teased a smile from her.

“Peter,” she snaps, and I jerk, out of the memories and into the moment.

“You ran away.”

She gives an unladylike snort. “You decided you were a delusion of my past, and then you expected me to sit there and listen to your insane ramblings. Thanks, but no. I can’t do that. I’ve had enough crazy for one life.” She bites her lip, and then blurts, “You stole my file, didn’t you? That’s how you know about the Boy.”

“Do you remember the firefly meadow?”

She goes still, and I smile, gently. “You do.”

“That wasn’t real,” she whispers, and I feel the shudder.

“We’d hide there, from the lsot boys. And you’d fall asleep telling me your happy thoughts, and wake up to a galaxy of fireflies, and we’d chase them until you made yourself sick, laughing. And then I’d hold you and we’d stare at the stars, and you always said they were different. It smelled like jasmine and honey-“

“And wild woods and freedom,” she whispers, her blue eyes impossibly wide in her pretty face. I take a tentative step toward her, and touch her fingers.

Why are your stars different?

“It wasn’t a delusion, Gwendy. You know it wasn’t. Trust yourself.”

She shudders. “Can’t. My mind lies. It wasn’t—“

“Gwendy,” I say, desperately. Her eyes are filling with tears and I can feel the disbelief, the way it will tear apart the world I’ve known, and the girl I’ve loved, and I can’t. I move without thinking, catch her head and bring her lips to mine.

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AUTHOR LINKS:

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

Street Team – https://www.facebook.com/groups/427502530700422/

Cover Reveal November 2014

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Entangled’s Black Friday BOOK SALE!

by Jilly

Entangled Romance’s HUGE Black Friday sale kicks off TODAY!

November 2014 Special event

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Hard To Come By by Laura Kaye…Release Day Event

by Jilly

We are beyond thrilled to bring you the Release Day Launch for Laura Kaye’s HARD TO COME BY! HARD TO COME BY is the third full length novel in Laura’s Hard Ink Series, published by Avon Romance. As a special treat, through December 2, pre-order Hard to Come By or purchase it during release week, and receive exclusive bonus content! Just fill out the quick form here!

Hard to Come By on Goodreads

Pre-order or purchase before December 2, and get awesome bonus content!

Excerpt:

Marz was playing with fire. He damn well knew he was. But that didn’t make him want to pull away.

He just wanted more of the heat.

Marz nuzzled the side of Emilie’s face with his nose, his lips. She turned her face toward him and offered her lips. He couldn’t refuse.

Capturing her mouth on a tortured groan, Marz poured every ounce of his longing and confusion and desire into the kiss. They grasped at each other and Emilie turned in his arms. He pinned her against the railing and planted his hands in her hair. She opened to him and accepted his tongue, sucking him in until Marz’s blood ran hot and his hard-on ached. He ground himself against her and devoured every little moan and whimper and gasp she spilled.

Trailing kisses from her mouth to her jaw to her ear, Marz dragged a hand down her body and grasped her breast in his palm. She cried out and her head dropped back, drawing his mouth to her neck, where he licked and sucked and nipped as he kneaded her soft flesh. “You are so damn sexy.”

Her hand flew to his hair and grasped the back of his head. “Touch me,” she said. “Don’t stop touching me.”

Marz pulled away long enough to do a three-sixty scan. The lighthouse cast a dark shadow over them, and the pier was otherwise empty. His heart raced and his pulse hammered. He dove back in, trailing kisses down her neck to her collarbone, which he traced with his tongue. Her nails scratched deliciously at his scalp and her grip urged him down.

Through the thin material of her blouse and bra, he mouthed and flicked at her nipple. He shifted the deep vee of the neckline to reveal a lacy royal blue bra. He tongued her through the lace until she was panting and moaning and writhing against the railing.

“Oh, my God,” she rasped as he shifted her shirt and moved to her other breast. This time, he tugged the lace down to bare the deep pink of her nipple. She tasted and smelled like something fruity and sweet, and it made Marz hunger for more. “Derek,” she gasped. “Yes, yes, yes.”

Her palm cupped and squeezed the bulge of his erection through his jeans. His hips jerked into the touch, craving more of her, all of her. He groaned and it seemed to egg her on, because she pressed and rubbed her hand against his trapped cock until he was panting and imagining taking her down to the ground.

“Jesus, Emilie, you’re driving me fucking crazy,” he said as he worked kisses back up her body to her mouth.

“I know just what you mean,” she said. Her molten hot gaze met his. Eyes hooded, lips shiny and swollen, cheeks flushed, she was a freaking goddess standing under the moonlit sky. He felt the force of her beauty every bit as much in his chest as in his cock.

“You sure about that, babe?” he asked as he took her mouth in a deep, wet kiss. “Because my imagination has me stripping you of those fuck-hot jeans.”

“Yeah?” She rubbed his cock in a long stroke with the heel of her hand. “Mine has us getting a room at the hotel back there. So I’m sure,” she said with a smile.

Marz’s heart hammered against his breastbone and his cock jerked, clearly liking her idea, too. Except, if he took her up on it, he was going to end up buried inside her for as long as she’d have him. And so long as this clusterfuck of a situation defined their relationship, he couldn’t take things that far. Could he?

About HARD TO COME BY:

Caught between desire and loyalty…

Derek DiMarzio would do anything for the members of his disgraced Special Forces team–sacrifice his body, help a former teammate with a covert operation to restore their honor, and even go behind enemy lines. He just never expected to want the beautiful woman he found there.

When a sexy stranger asks questions about her brother, Emilie Garza is torn between loyalty to the brother she once idolized and fear of the war-changed man he’s become. Derek’s easy smile and quiet strength tempt Emilie to open up, igniting the desire between them and leading Derek to crave a woman he shouldn’t trust.

As the team’s investigation reveals how powerful their enemies are, Derek and Emilie must prove where their loyalties lie before hearts are broken and lives are lost. Because love is too hard to come by to let slip away…

And don’t miss the other Hard Ink books, now available:

Hard As It Gets

Hard As You Can

Hard to Hold On To

Praise for Hard to Come By:

“Rough sex and explosive fights power Kaye’s third Hard Ink novel, a thrilling adventure that feels more like an action movie with a romantic subplot than a typical contemporary romance. New readers will head straight for Kaye’s backlist after powering through this installment.” ~Publishers Weekly Starred Review
“TOP PICK! If you’re looking for danger, gritty action, and sizzling passion, then Kaye has just the book and the series for you.” ~RT Book Reviews Magazine

About Laura Kaye:

Laura is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over a dozen books in contemporary and paranormal romance. Growing up, Laura’s large extended family believed in the supernatural, and family lore involving angels, ghosts, and evil-eye curses cemented in Laura a life-long fascination with storytelling and all things paranormal. She lives in Maryland with her husband, two daughters, and cute-but-bad dog, and appreciates her view of the Chesapeake Bay every day.

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November 2014 Release Day Event

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Mrs. Kaplan and the Matzoh Ball of Death by Mark Reutlinger…Blog Tour Stop & Review

by Jilly

Synopsis:

Move over, Miss Marple—Mark Reutlinger’s charming cozy debut introduces readers to the unforgettable amateur sleuth Rose Kaplan and her loyal sidekick, Ida.

Everyone knows that Rose Kaplan makes the best matzoh ball soup around—she’s a regular matzoh ball maven—so it’s no surprise at the Julius and Rebecca Cohen Home for Jewish Seniors when, once again, Mrs. K wins the honor of preparing the beloved dish for the Home’s seder on the first night of Passover.

But when Bertha Finkelstein is discovered facedown in her bowl of soup, her death puts a bit of a pall on the rest of the seder. And things go really meshugge when it comes out that Bertha choked on a diamond earring earlier stolen from resident Daisy Goldfarb. Suddenly Mrs. K is the prime suspect in the police investigation of both theft and murder. Oy vey—it’s a recipe for disaster, unless Rose and her dear friend Ida can summon up the chutzpah to face down the police and solve the mystery themselves.

Advance praise for Mrs. Kaplan and the Matzoh Ball of Death

“Is there kosher food in jail? These two heroines have gotten themselves in quite a pickle! Well, it’s a matzoh ball mess, really. Too deliciously funny!”—Rita Mae Brown, bestselling author of Nine Lives to Die

My review:

Mrs. Kaplan and the Matzoh Ball of Death is the first cozy mystery from author Mark Reutlinger and is a fun and quick read that reminded me of The Golden Girls meets Columbo. I really enjoyed it!

There’s been a suspicious death during this year’s seder at the local home for Jewish seniors and the police are on the case. It turns out the victim, Bertha Finkelstein, has choked on an earring that seemingly has been cooked into one of Mrs. Kaplan’s matzoh balls. But things are not as they appear as this mystery will lead Mrs. Kaplan and her friend Ida on the search for the real culprit, since Mrs. K knew it wasn’t her. They sure have their work cut out for them and in the end, these women have a good shot at solving this culinary misfortune and prove that neither Mrs. K nor her famous matzoh balls are to blame.

This was a fun read for me, especially being a Jewish gal myself. There was a lot of yiddish being spoken between the characters which really appealed to me and reminded me a whole lot of my own grandmother and the friends she has at our local home for Jewish seniors. I enjoyed the mystery as well and thought that Mrs. K’s investigation was fantastic. There was a lot of wit and charm despite the fact that this was actually an investigation into an unfortunate death. Again, it really did remind me of The Golden Girls and I loved this departure from my normal genres.

If you’re looking for a quick and entertaining read, this is a book to get on your list! Thank you Mr. Reutlinger for bringing us the mysterious case of the matzoh ball of death!

Three-and-a-Half Loves

Book links:

Amazon | Goodreads

Giveaway:

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About the author:

Mark Reutlinger is the author of the novel Made in China and a professor of law emeritus at Seattle University. Born in San Francisco, Mark graduated from UC Berkeley and now lives with his wife, Analee, in University Place, Washington.

Follow the rest of the tour!

Mystery November 2014 Three Loves

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Hard To Come By by Laura Kaye….Blog Tour Stop & ARC Review

by Jilly

About HARD TO COME BY:

Caught between desire and loyalty…

Derek DiMarzio would do anything for the members of his disgraced Special Forces team—sacrifice his body, help a former teammate with a covert operation to restore their honor, and even go behind enemy lines. He just never expected to want the beautiful woman he found there.

My review:

Hard To Come By is the third book in author Laura Kaye’s Hard Ink Series, a series I have loved from the very beginning. While I love every character in this series, I have to say, Marz and this book are my absolute favorite in the series so far. There is something about this wounded warrior and his very unlikely love interest that pulled me in from the very first chapter and didn’t let go until the very last page. It was phenomenal!

(I do want to make note that I vote reading the series as a whole before digging into this book. The back story and plot are becoming more involved with each book and I would hate for you to miss something…it’s just too good!)

A team of former special forces operators has been working tirelessly on getting to the bottom of the mystery that got them all kicked out of the army and half of their team killed. It’s this situation that has led them to Emilie Garza’s front door.

Her brother was involved somehow in a drug smuggling mess that was plaguing their city and their lives. She had no idea, however. The team had to get to her and hopefully get some answers. This leads Emilie and Derek Marza to cross paths and set off an immediate, and somewhat forbidden, attraction. What started out as a play to get Emilie away from her house so some of the guys can check it out and see if it held any clues to her brother’s whereabouts, turned into a dinner date and opened up all sorts of feelings between Emilie and Derek. Talk about bad timing. Making matters worse was they the team did in fact find some things and they knew Emilie’s brother was a ticking time bomb and she wasn’t safe. Another date later, Derek was a jumble of emotions. Emilie was going to have to know the truth about her brother soon. And the truth about why she and Derek had met in the first place. How was Derek supposed to let her know he had been lying to her from the second they met? Would she ever forgive him? He had to tell her, and soon…because things with her brother and the other dangers were getting worse by the minute. Would she ever be able to overlook his lies? He really hoped so…she ended up becoming a bright spot in his life and he didn’t want to let her go.

Man. I loved this book. While the story line continues and grows with each book, each installment in the series primarily follows one couple. Derek (aka Marz) and Emilie are the main focus in this book and I loved them together from the word “go”.

On paper, they aren’t a good match. She is the sister of one of Marz’s current enemies. Never a good way to start out. But Marz being Marz, he always looks for the good in a situation and immediately finds it in Emilie. She isn’t involved with her brother’s indiscretions and he knows it with deep certainty. One of his best qualities is always looking at the silver lining. He’s one of the most memorable characters I’ve read and stands out in my mind thanks in part to his character and outlook on life. He’s loyal and smart. Never lets life get him down, despite having lost his leg in the battle that killed half of his former teammates. Always trying to lighten the mood and help carry his friend’s emotional burdens. He has a beautiful soul and he will always be a favorite of mine. Emilie is a perfect match for him. Deeply understanding and equally loyal, she stands up for what’s right even if it may hurt her brother and her family. She’s full of integrity and heart and doesn’t flinch when Marz shows her his physical weakness. They had fate on their side when they met, for sure.

As far as the rest of the story, there were three huge “WHOA” moments that I can’t give away but I will tell you that I cried when I read two and cheered for the third. The story took a turn I didn’t see coming and it’s one that I’m glad it did. There may be hope for redemption of these amazing soldiers in the eyes of the government and I couldn’t be happier! But my lips are sealed…

Laura has done it again with Hard To Come By. Packed with emotion, suspense, action, and well-developed characters, this book is the whole package. I cannot WAIT to continue on with this series and see where the Hard Ink gang is going to end up. Thank you, Laura, for a fantastic book!

Five Loves

Hard to Come By on Goodreads

Pre-order or purchase before December 2, and get awesome bonus content!

Praise for Hard to Come By:

 ”TOP PICK! If you’re looking for danger, gritty action, and sizzling passion, then Kaye has just the book and the series for you.” ~RT Book Reviews Magazine

And don’t miss the other Hard Ink books, now available:

Hard As It Gets

Hard As You Can

Hard to Hold On To

Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway
About the author: Laura is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over twenty books in contemporary and paranormal romance and romantic suspense. Growing up, Laura’s large extended family believed in the supernatural, and family lore involving angels, ghosts, and evil-eye curses cemented in Laura a life-long fascination with storytelling and all things paranormal. She lives in Maryland with her husband, two daughters, and cute-but-bad dog, and appreciates her view of the Chesapeake Bay every day.

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Follow the rest of the tour:

November 20

Deluged with Books Café-Excerpt No BS Book Reviews-Excerpt The Brunette Bookworm-Excerpt Angie and Jessica’s Dreamy Reads-Review Love Affair with an EReader-Review Love Drug Book Blog-Review

November 21

Booklovers for Life-Excerpt Friends Til The End Book Blog-Excerpt What I’m Reading-Review Chris Book Blog Emporium-Review Kelsey’s Corner Time-Review Typical Distractions-Review

November 22

Dr. Pepper Diva-Excerpt Fandomly Bookish-Excerpt Sisters of Sass-Excerpt Hot Guys in Books-Review Red Hot + Blue Reads-Review Turn the Page-Review

November 23

Book Lovin Mamas-Review RhiReading-Excerpt Rumpled Sheets Blog-Excerpt Becky on Books-Review The Geekery Book Review-Review Truly Simply Pink-Review

November 24

Garden of REden-Excerpt Twin Sisters Rockin Book Reviews-Review Chelle’s Book Reports-Excerpt Cris Conquers-Review Mignon Mykel: Reviews-Review Read-Love-Blog-Review Talking Books Blog-Review

November 25

Riverina Romantics-Excerpt Snoopy Doos Book Reviews-Excerpt The Book Whisperer-Review Wicked Reads-Excerpt Fangs Wands and Fairy Dust-Review My Favorite Things-Review

November 26

Made for You Book Reviews-Review Alexandria’s Book Blog-Excerpt Nette’s Bookshelf Reviews-Excerpt Romance Reads to Love-Excerpt Always YA at Heart-Review Reviews by Tammy & Kim-Review The Bookish and the Romantic-Review

November 27

The To Be Read List-Review Book Lovers Obsession-Excerpt Kate George-Excerpt Those Crazy Book Chicks-Excerpt Nose Stuck in a Book-Review Sofia Loves Books-Review

November 28

Booklover Sue-Excerpt Nancy Romance Reads-Excerpt Fire and Ice Book Reviews-Excerpt Inner Goddess-Review Jodie’s WINE List-Review Sweet Spot Book Blog-Review

November 29

Naughty Book Eden-Excerpt All in a Book-Excerpt Ramblings From This Chick-Excerpt Book Nook Nuts-Review Renee Entress’s Blog-Review Sassy Divas Book Blog-Review

Blog Tour Five Loves Romantic Suspense

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Braydon by Nicole Edwards…ARC Review

by Jilly

Braydon releases today!

Book links:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks

Synopsis:

Braydon Walker has always shared everything with his identical twin brother Brendon—hopes, dreams, career choices, and yes, even women. Known for tag-teaming their love interests in every way imaginable, Braydon is surprised and unnerved when he finds himself wanting to keep their newest lover all to himself. Will the twins’ relationship evolve to fit this new mold, or will Braydon’s desire for independence tear them apart?

My review:

Braydon is book number six in author Nicole Edwards’ Alluring Indulgence series and admittedly the first in this smoking hot series I have read. I didn’t feel at any point that I was lost in the story, despite this being the sixth book, however I do wish that I had read the previous books, as I would love to get better acquainted with the other characters in this family. They all seem as amazing as Braydon’s story was.

Identical twins Braydon and Brendon have shared their woman for as long as they’ve been having women. Jessie was no exception. The beautiful woman had shared their beds for the longest a woman has been around them…ever. All was going well until their carefree and heated lifestyle started to involve some very serious not so carefree feelings. Braydon had started falling for Jessie. And he had no idea what to do about it. She was everything he wanted in a woman and he wanted it for the long-term. He also wanted it for himself. He didn’t want to continue sharing her with his twin. That leads to two huge questions in Braydon’s mind: Could Jessie feel the same way about him and would his brother let her go? With so many emotions swirling in his heart, things come to a head and Braydon decides to leave this whole mess behind him. His brother, his family, the emotions, Jessie. All of it. By leaving though, he may just miss out on the fact that Jessie does share some similar feelings toward him and is in the same emotional mess that he is. She’s unsure of how to handle it all and they could have figured it out if they had just voiced all of their feelings. Is it too late? Will Braydon come back before it’s too late?

Wow. As I said earlier I wish I had found this series earlier because it is pretty freaking amazing. The characters, even in the background in this installment, seem to be pretty amazing. This book primarily focuses on Jessie, Braydon, and Brendon and their relationship. I really enjoyed the dynamics between the three of them and it was gut wrenching to read the destruction of what the three of them had shared but also it was beautiful to see the growing bond between Braydon and Jessie. I would have felt bad for Brendon if I didn’t suspect he had feelings for someone else and was really pulling for Jessie and Braydon to put their fears aside and get to the heart of the matter…their love for one another. No, they didn’t know how to admit it and they both stumbled along the way but ultimately I was so happy with the way things ended up for them! Oh, and the heat in this book? Off the freaking charts. Seriously off the charts. The emotion author Edwards brings into the trio’s physical relationship was amazing and jumped off the pages. It was palpable and was easy to get pulled into. Truly amazing.

I will certainly be going to the beginning of this series and will be looking forward to more! Thank you, Nicole, for a smoking hot and emotion packed read!

4LovesRLB

Four Loves

About the author:

Nicole lives in Central Texas with her husband, kids and her two dogs. Although she has been writing since a very young age, she has recently ventured into the full time world of writing and is loving every second of it.

She is the author of the Club Destiny and Alluring Indulgence series and working on more projects at this time

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Erotic Four Loves

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Darkness Unbound by Zoe Forward…Blog Tour & Excerpt

by Jilly

Synopsis:

Covert op partners Astrid Scarre and Kane Langford click on a level that defies logic. Astrid wants to say yes to the sexy Kane. But the guy who stole her heart and then shattered her soul twelve years ago shows up. Seeing the Dragon magus, Zannis, again ignites a wild physical attraction, but doesn’t eliminate her simmering hatred. Astrid is torn between her physical need for Zannis and her emotional connection to Kane.

Kane will never turn his back on Astrid, even when she gets inducted into the Scimitar magi, an organization he knows well and respects. His gorgeous ex-spy partner might push him away at every turn, but that’s too bad. He’s exactly the man she needs to protect her life and her heart. All he has to do is convince her that when something feels this right, you don’t let it go.

Excerpt:

“Astrid…” He tried again. Yet his face moved toward hers until their lips met. His thigh pushed between her legs, pressing tight right where she wanted him to be. He tilted her face back and dragged his lips along the line of her jaw. “We shouldn’t…”

Just get in the shower with me, she instructed him in his mind.

He tilted his head to meet her gaze, appraising her offer. Something dark passed over his expression. “We would fall right into the gods’ plans.”

She leaned forward and teased his nipple with her tongue. “They are gods. We are not. Let’s face it, they’re going to win.” She glanced upward and thought to him, Don’t you want me?

“I always want you. Never doubt that.”

Buy Links:

Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the author:

Zoe Forward is a hopeless romantic who can’t decide between paranormal and urban fantasy romance. So she writes both. In addition to being a mom to one rambunctious kindergartener and wife to a conservation ecologist who plans to save all the big cats on the planet, she’s a small animal veterinarian caring for all the small furries, although there is the occasional hermit crab.

When she’s not typing at her laptop, she’s tying on a karate belt for her son or cleaning up the newest pet mess from the menagerie that occupies her house. She’s madly in love with her globe trotting husband of ten years and happiest when he returns to their home base in North Carolina.

Links:

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Blog Tour November 2014

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Book Promotion & Review

Jingle all the Audio kicks off today and we are so excited!

Love Beyond Reason

A Treasure Worth Seeking

Giveaway

Synopsis:

My review:

Four Loves

Book links:

Excerpt:

Rina’s back with her review of the Mud Vein by Tarryn Fisher audiobook!

Mud Vein by: Tarryn Fisher

~Rina

Today we are revealing the cover for FOREVER FOUND by Nazarea Andrews. This is a novella that will be released on December 30th and it is the stunning conclusion to the story begun in Girl Lost.

BOOK BLURB:

CLICK HERE TO ADD FOREVER FOUND TO GOODREADS.

EXCERPT:

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

Street Team – https://www.facebook.com/groups/427502530700422/

Entangled Romance’s HUGE Black Friday sale kicks off TODAY!

And don’t miss the other Hard Ink books, now available:

Synopsis:

My review:

Three-and-a-Half Loves

Book links:

Giveaway:

My review:

Five Loves

Giveaway:

Follow the rest of the tour:

Braydon releases today!

Book links:

Synopsis:

My review:

Four Loves

Synopsis:

Excerpt:

Buy Links:

Giveaway:

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