Young Adult Angels of Omnific Event

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Omnific Publishing is celebrating all things Omnific, Romance, and Angels! August 5th-10th, participating blogs will be featuring different guest posts, interviews, and excerpts by the authors of The Omnific Angels. Don’t forget to enter the giveaways and visit the other stops by clicking the linky list below.

Omnific and the authors would like to invite you to join the Angel Goodreads Group! Head over to Goodreads and see what’s going on: http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/100102-angels-in-romantic-fiction. 

Click here to enter your link if you would like to participate and also to view the other Angels of Omnific stops…

Read-Love-Blog has been chosen to host author Carol Oates!  PLease enjoy two fantastic excerpts and be sure to enter the giveaway Omnific is hosting….enjoy!

Young Adult Event Giveaway: The publisher/author is offering an Event Giveaway of :

(1) Print Copy of Ember and Iridescent

(1) Beaded angel wings bookmark

(1) Angel wings earrings (gold toned, hypoallergenic, nickel free). (US Only)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Ember Omnific 450x679

Ember

When Candra Ember wakes up in hospital after a dangerous encounter with a red-haired woman, she is shocked to discover that seeing a winged boy wasn’t her imagination. Candra is exposed to a world of rivalry and sacrifice she never knew existed, and the aftermath of a war to save humanity thousands of years ago. Soon she finds herself relentlessly stalked by Sebastian, a beautiful and arrogant Watcher Angel and romantically pursued by his darkly seductive rival, Draven. Ultimately, dubious about her own goodness, Candra’s very existence compromises a tentative peace in the city of Acheron.

 

Excerpt:

“She is not a toy,” she hissed like a cat arching its back and instinctively unfurled her jet black wings tipped with scarlet, resembling an oil slick creeping outward in a pool of blood.

Sebastian felt Candra’s weight against him increase when she leaned forward to look over his shoulder. There was no longer merely a shadow of Ananchel’s wings. Candra’s warm breath made the hairs on his neck rise when she gasped at the sight of Ananchel’s magnificent, dark, silken plumage brushing against the unsuspecting dancers around her.

Sebastian knew Ananchel’s words were for Candra’s benefit. If it was to her advantage, Ananchel would be just as willing to claim Candra as he was.

“This isn’t the time or the place for this discussion,” Sebastian told her pointedly.

“Excuse me,” Candra screeched from behind him, once again push­ing to get past.

He heard her utter a small gasp and felt her breath against the back of his neck when all the air left her lungs. Just like everything he seemed to do lately, uncurling his wings wasn’t intentional. His only thought was to keep Ananchel away from Candra. As soon as his mind thought the word barrier, there they were. He was sure Ananchel could see his weakness; his desire to protect Candra at any cost to himself was perfectly apparent. He turned his head to catch a glimpse of the girl behind him, and her shocked eyes stared back at him. Her mouth was hidden behind her two hands.

“Go!” Sebastian bellowed fiercely to Ananchel without fully turning from Candra, his nails digging into the palms of his clenched fists.

“You go,” Ananchel laughed in return, apparently amused by Candra’s reaction.

When his eyes met Ananchel’s again, he confirmed by the way her smile faded infinitesimally that he had exposed himself. She had forced him to prove to Candra once again that he wasn’t human, not even in the smallest measure. He should have known she wouldn’t stop there. They had played this game a long time.

The trembling began in his stomach, shooting downward like tiny electrical pulses, and his already tense muscles tightened further. All over his body, his skin felt like it was on fire, and it made him shudder. He fought it, closing his eyes to keep from looking at Ananchel and keeping Candra out of his peripheral vision. He couldn’t look at Candra now. The volume of the music seemed to grow until the bass was an eruption inside his brain and every thump matched his heart.

Cover  ~  Trailer  ~  Goodreads  ~  Amazon 

Iridescent1

Iridescent

Candra Ember used to dream of saving the world one person at a time. She never expected to become an angelic weapon and the last hope in the battle against ultimate darkness.

Falling for a Nephilim wasn’t part of Sebastian’s plan. Distraction is something he can’t afford when his rival, Draven, wants what Sebastian has.

Lies, manipulation, and corruption are twisting the lives of the citizens in Acheron. The Arch is missing from Heaven, and a demon is intent on claiming the city. At a time they should be growing closer, grief and paranoia is driving Candra and Sebastian apart.

If the price of restoring the Watchers to Heaven is a human soul, who deserves to be saved?

 

Excerpt:

Sebastian had showered and the scent of death and Guinness no longer clung to him the way it did to her. Instead, he smelled of soap, spices and heat. His damp hair brushed against her forehead. In moments like this, his embrace made her feel secure and loved unconditionally. On other occasions, it was much easier to doubt herself and doubt him. Watchers perceived an innate goodness in her that Candra wasn’t sure of. When given a choice between love and war, she was very much tempted to choose war. Sebastian made no secret of the rage in his heart, a rage she knew could easily destroy him.

“I do,” she murmured, shifting to sit across his lap and linking her fingers around his neck. As always, it brought on a strange little flutter in her stomach. Loving Sebastian was one of those things that was never meant to happen. It had blindsided both of them. If there were two people in the world less likely to fall in love, it was Sebastian and Candra.

She pressed her lips to his quickly, weaving her fingers up into his soft as silk hair. One of his hands tightened on her thigh and the other slid up her spine, stopping between her shoulder blades where his fingers spread out wide.

She pulled back and giggled when Sebastian’s lips chased her with a playful pout. “I wasn’t finished.”

“I haven’t brushed my teeth,” she told him, making a show of covering her mouth when she spoke. “Morning breath.”

“It’s eleven at night.” He pushed forward.

Candra applied pressure against his shoulders, blocking his advance. “And I need a shower. I smell like an Irish man.”

Breath left her in a whoosh followed by a squeal as Sebastian spun her around and pinned her to the bed beneath him. His full weight pressed down on her, giving Candra a comfort she didn’t fully understand. He made her feel protected, hidden away and small. She shivered all the way to her toes. Sebastian would die to keep her safe if he had to.

“Who would have thought I’d find the smell of an Irish man so appealing.” He breathed the words close to her ear and then glided his hot lips to the throbbing artery just below.

Candra felt the warm, grainy flesh of his tongue peek out and swirl in a small circle over her skin. She bit down on the inside of her cheek to hold back the whimpering noise she was sure would escape her lips otherwise. She squirmed below him until she was breathless, and he dragged his fingers down the length of her forearms to secure her wrists by the side of her head.

“You fight me on everything,” Sebastian reprimanded her, slipping his fingers between hers and clasping them firmly. “When will you ever give in quietly?” His eyes blazed and flickered to her mouth.

 

Cover  ~  Trailer  ~  Goodreads  ~  Amazon 

Author information:

carol oatesCarol Oates has never been one to remain still for long. After her parents’ mad dash to the hospital through the empty city streets of Dublin, Ireland, Carol made her debut into the world in the early hours of Christmas morning. Since then her pace has not slowed down in the least.

Carol was introduced to the world of supernatural books when, as a child, her family moved to a coastal suburb on the northern border of Dublin known as Clontarf, famous as the birthplace of Bram Stoker, the prolific author responsible for breathing life into the legendary story Dracula. This stirred in Carol an early passion for reading about all things supernatural. Combine that passion with a deep interest in the history and folklore of Ireland, as well as an active and vivid imagination, and Carol Oates the author was born. Carol’s love of writing about anything not entirely “human” emerged, and the premise for her debut novel, Shades of Atlantis, was born.

Website  ~  Twitter  ~  Facebook  ~  Goodreads 

 

Review….Facade by Nyrae Dawn

Facade Cover

Genre: New Adult

304 pages

Book links:

Amazon  ~  Barnes & Noble  ~  Goodreads

 

Synopsis:

Can love save them?

After her father commits a crime that shatters her family, eighteen-year-old Delaney Cross is tired of pretending everything is all right. Packing up her car, she sets out to find the people her father hurt. Her search leads her to places she’s never been—and into the arms of Adrian Westfall.

To the outside world, Adrian is a sexy, charming ladies’ man. But his playboy persona is just an act. Secretly his soul is tortured by a memory too painful to share. Only Delaney seems to see through his façade to the real man underneath. And for the first time in his life, Adrian feels he can begin to open up about his past.

Together, Adrian and Delaney share a passionate love they never expected to find. Yet both still harbor their own secrets. When the dark truth is finally revealed, will it bring them closer together—or tear them apart forever?

 

My review:

Façade is the second book in author Nyrae Dawn’s Games Series and the first of her work that I have read.  Two things: first, I am happy to say that you don’t have to read the first in the series to enjoy this amazing book and second, what a positively remarkable and emotional story this was!

Delany had been living a pretty decent and normal childhood.  Older football player brother, working dad, stay-at-home mom….your typical all-American family.  Until her father has a horrific accident and ruins their picture perfect life.  Well, if she’s being honest, the cracks in their foundation were starting to show even before the accident.  Always one to want to fix things, Delany sets off with her brother to attempt to reach out to the other family that was affected by the terrible tragedy.  She’s hoping that maybe she can help the healing process not only for her, but also for Adrian…the handsome, brokenhearted parallel victim.

Adrian Westfall never really had it very good.  His father was an abusive bastard and his mother a battered wife.  The only bright spots in his life were his sister and Ash.  Now that he doesn’t even have those two bright spots in his life, he has learned to master the façade that now carries himself through his lonely and depressed days.  His poetry and his writing have been the only things helping him keep a loose grasp on his sanity.  Some days the sadness threatens to swallow him whole.  Then, he meets Delany and thinks there may be something in her that can relate to him…he has no idea how right he is.

The secrets and unimaginable hurt that ties Delaney and Adrian together will prove to be a tie that binds and also the bond that can tear them apart.  They are instantly drawn to one another and find solace in each other’s company and what starts out as an innocent attempt at healing turns into something so much more.  Will they find happiness again? Can they truly ever heal?

If you could see my right at this moment, you would see that my eyes are still puffy and swollen from finishing this book last night.  Partly because I couldn’t put it down and read late into the night but mainly because I was a sobbing, blubbering mess by the time I was done.  This book was intense and emotional and broke my heart more than once…..but you know I don’t think of that as a bad thing! Adrian and Delaney’s story is painful and beautiful and ran through some pretty intense emotions.  Grief, betrayal, guilt, overwhelming sadness….but also love and strength.  The connection they share is a heartbreaking one and they truly need each other to start the healing process and attempt to find happiness in life again, even if Adrian isn’t as knowing as Delaney is in the situation.  Delany is strong and determined with an innocence she still is able to hold on to despite the terrible hand dealt to her.  She knows she can’t change the past and what happened but she is willing to try to bring some peace to Adrian and help him heal.  Adrian is a broken soul.  The accident left him completely ruined emotionally and no matter how he’d like his life to be different, he can’t change what has happened and that has made him who he is today.  He tries hard to keep up a cool appearance and act as though he’s into his partying and sex filled social status, but it couldn’t be further from the truth.  The road Delany and Adrian travel down is absolutely gut wrenching but also extremely necessary in healing. I have to mention there was a twist near the end that I didn’t see coming….and it made the story even more emotional than it already had been, which I didn’t think was possible.  THAT was what turned my sad sniffles into an all out ugly cry.  But remember, I don’t think of that as a bad thing (my family may disagree since I looked like hell the next day, but pffft to them!).

Emotionally stunning is how I would best describe this book.  I was drained when I finished but happy with how the book ended…I say book, because I know Delany and Adrian’s story will continue on even when we aren’t reading it.

 

4andahalflovesFour-and-a-Half Loves

 

About the author:

Writing has always been Nyrae Dawn’s passion. There have been times in her life where she wasn’t able to chase that dream the way she desired, but she always found her way back to telling stories.

One of her loves has always been writing about teens. There’s something so fresh and fun about the age that she loves exploring. Her husband says it’s because she doesn’t want to grow up. She doesn’t think that’s such a bad thing and luckily for her, he doesn’t either.

Nyrae gravitates toward character-driven stories. She loves going on emotional journeys with characters whether it be reading or writing. And yes, she’s a total romantic at heart and proud.

Nyrae resides in sunny Southern California with her husband (who still makes her swoon) and her two awesome kids.

When she’s not with her family, you can be pretty sure you’ll find her with a book in her hand or her laptop and an open document in front of her.

She writes for Entangled PublishingGrand Central Publishing and is self-published.

 

Website  ~  Goodreads  ~  Facebook  ~  Twitter

Cover Reveal….Unlocked by Maya Cross

I’m so excited to bring you the cover for Unlocked by Maya Cross! Maya also has a great giveaway starting as well as a fantastic teaser she is sharing with all of you! You can find both below.

Enjoy and thanks for stopping by!

Unlocked releases August 18th

UNLOCKED

Book Blurb:

The breathtaking conclusion to the USA Today best selling Alpha Group Series.

Who is Sebastian Lock?

The heart can lead you to dangerous places. Abandoned by the man she loves, with nothing more than sweet words and riddles for an explanation, Sophia Pearce felt like her life was crumbling before her eyes. And then they came for her. Now, things will never be the same.

Confronted with the truth about Sebastian’s identity, she’s thrust into a high stakes world beyond anything she could have imagined. A world that threatens much more than just her feelings. Sebastian’s enemies will stop at nothing to get what they want, and they want her.

The energy between them is as intense as ever, but as the danger mounts, and loyalties are tested, Sophia must answer one simple question. What is she willing to risk for love?

This book will be approximately 45,000 words, or about 160 printed pages. It contains erotic content and a dominant man who always gets what he wants in the bedroom. It is intended for readers aged 18 and over.

 

Teaser:

The third or fourth time I woke, it was with a sob. Moonlight cast the room as a series of jagged silhouettes, and despite knowing that I was somewhere safe, the unfamiliarity of my surroundings sent something sharp skittering through my chest. Suddenly, it felt like everything was closing in around me. I let out another cry and burrowed deeper under the covers, feeling fresh tears welling in my eyes. I didn’t want to be this person, this person who cried at shadows, but I didn’t know how to deal with the emotions that were roaring up inside me.

I felt another bolt of fear as I heard the door open, but in a moment there was a familiar weight on the bed, and then Sebastian’s arms were circling my body from behind.

“It’s okay,” he said softly. “Let it out.”

I have no idea how he knew I was in distress, but in spite of everything that was still unresolved between us, I loved that he’d come. The sheer strength of his presence dwarfed everything else, dulling the fear. He was like an anchor, and I clung on for dear life lest I slip back below the surface again.

He didn’t say anything else, and so neither did I, but just the act of being together was enough. I lay there, listening to the sound of his breathing, enjoying the sensation of that solid chest rising and falling against my back. Gradually, my turmoil began to dissipate. I had no idea how he had such a calming effect on me. When we were together, nothing else seemed to matter.

He felt like home, and for just that night, I pretended like he still was.

 

Links to Other Books in the Series:

 Locked (The Alpha Group Book One):

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Barnes & Noble

 Lockout (The Alpha Group Book Two):

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Barnes & Noble 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

About the author:

Sexy silhouetteMaya Cross is a writer who enjoys making people blush. Growing up with a mother who worked in a book store, she read a lot from a very young age, and soon enough picked up a pen of her own. She’s tried her hands at a whole variety of genres including horror, science fiction, and fantasy, but funnily enough, it was the sexy stuff that stuck. She has now started this pen name as an outlet for her spicier thoughts (they were starting to overflow). She likes her heroes strong but mysterious, her encounters sizzling, and her characters true to life.

She believes in writing familiar narratives told with a twist, so most of her stories will feel comfortable, but hopefully a little unique. Whatever genre she’s writing, finding a fascinating concept is the first, and most important step.

The Alpha Group is her first attempt at erotic romance.

When she’s not writing, she’s playing tennis, trawling her home town of Sydney for new inspiration, and drinking too much coffee.

Website  ~  Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Goodreads

 

ARC Review….Outside the Lines by Kimberly Kincaid

Outside the Lines releases TODAY!

Outside the Lines Cover

Book links:

Amazon  ~  Goodreads 

Synopsis:

As an ivy-league ER doctor who eats double shifts for breakfast (and lunch…and dinner), Blake Fisher has little appetite for anything other than work. Being on the staff at Brenstville Hospital means taking care of people, a need Blake understands all too well from losing his brother to cystic fibrosis eight years ago. When he’s asked to coordinate a carnival fundraiser for the cause, he jumps at the chance to help others with the disease…until it lands him side by side with the one woman he never thought he’d see again: his ex-fiancée.

Streetwise and rough around the edges, Jules Shaw is no stranger to earning a living through hard work. But when her job as the restaurant manager of Mac’s Diner puts her shoulder to really broad shoulder with Blake Fisher, she nearly balks. She’d rather dodge and deflect than admit the real reason she broke things off, but the catering contract for the carnival means big business for Mac’s, and feeding people is Jules’s lifeblood.

As Blake and Jules join reluctant forces, they quickly rediscover the spark between them. But the possibility of a future together hinges on coming clean about the past, with potentially devastating consequences. Can Blake and Jules overcome their drastically different backgrounds and learn to love again, or will they always be outside the lines?

 

My Review:

Outside the Lines is the newest piece from Kimberly Kincaid and follows her novella, Drawing the Line, a story I really enjoyed.  Well, Kimberly has worked her magic again! Outside the Lines was wonderful!

Jules Shaw, the manager at Mac’s Diner, has faced her share of hardships in her past and is finally feeling like she’s overcome them.  She feels at home running the restaurant and feels like she’s doing some good in the world making and feeding people with foods she loves.  So, you’d think she knows her way around the kitchen but when she burns her arm and heads to the hospital the last person she expects to have treat her wound is the ex-fiancé she left behind eight years ago.  Adding insult to injury, after being treated and thinking she could outrun her past again, she finds out she will be working with the good doctor for a charity event she has busted her chops to land the catering contract for.  The fates really do have it in for her, it seems.

Blake Fisher must have worked entirely too many shifts in a row…because surely his eyes are playing tricks on him.  The woman who took his heart with her when she left him eight years earlier cannot be sitting in his ER.  He never would have thought he’d run into her when he moved away from the city and back to his roots and this hospital.  But sure enough, here she is, and his reaction to her is exactly as strong as it was back then.  Can he be lucky enough to have a second chance with the beautiful, strong and talented woman he hasn’t been able to get out of his mind for all this time?

Will Blake and Jules find out what went wrong and what caused her to leave him with nothing more than a Dear John letter? Having to work together for the next six weeks planning the hospital’s annual charity event will give them plenty of time spent in each other’s company….and will make it damn hard to ignore the spark that still lingers between them.

Well, let me say that for just 109 pages, this novella packs a punch! I sat down to start this, and before I knew it, I had ignored a whole afternoon worth of responsibility because I was so into this story.  Jules is a gal I really enjoyed.  She’s overcome many obstacles and never forgot where she came from.  She is always baking or cooking and making sure the people she cares for have what they need.   Blake is just as enjoyable.  He’s an honest to goodness, all around good guy wrapped in a handsome package.  He’s got a great big heart that shows when he’s caring for his patients and when he’s with Jules.  Together, their relationship is just very honest to me.  They realize their attraction and are simply two people trying to figure out how to make it work.  What I liked best about this novella was that there had been a history between the characters before the story picked up, which made the story really easy to get in to, and a pleasure to read.  The back-story and current situations both were balanced out really well and I didn’t feel I was missing anything or that I was getting too much of somthing.  I imagine that’s hard to do with a shorter story, but Kimberly does is flawlessly here!

Thank you, Kimberly, for another delicious read! I cannot wait to see what treats she has in store for us in the future (…and I’m hoping it involves a sexy fireman named Aaron!)

5LovesRLBFive Loves

 

About the author:

Kimberly Kincaid Author PicKimberly Kincaid writes contemporary romance that splits the difference between sexy and sweet. When she’s not sitting cross-legged in an ancient desk chair known as “The Pleather Bomber”, she can be found practicing obscene amounts of yoga, whipping up anything from enchiladas to éclairs in her kitchen, or curled up with her nose in a book. Kimberly is a 2011 RWA Golden Heart® finalist who lives (and writes!) by the mantra that food is love. Kimberly resides in northern Virginia with her wildly patient husband and their three daughters.

 Website  ~  Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Goodreads

Play Me by Diane Alberts Release Day Blitz

Happy Release Day to Diane Alberts and Play Me!

Exciting things happening today! I’ve got a fabulous excerpt for you below and Diane is having a $10 Amazon or Barnes & Noble gift card giveaway (rafflecopter to enter is also below)!

Enjoy and thanks for stopping by!

Play Me Cover

Book links:

Amazon  ~  Barnes & Noble 

Synopsis:

Even the best-laid plans can go awry.

Single-mom Kiersten Worth knows a bottle of champagne and night of hot, no-strings-attached sex is the perfect solution to her jilted bride blues…and Garrett Kelly, long-time friend and her teenaged son’s sexy basketball coach, is just the stud for the job.

Garrett wants more from the elusive temptress than a casual affair, but he never expects it to come in the form of an unexpected pregnancy. When he proposes an unorthodox solution—move in and raise their baby together—Kiersten has to decide whether to let down her guard and open her heart to the man who secretly loved her for years, or risk losing his tender embrace for good.

playme4

Excerpt:

Three months, two weeks, one day, and nineteen hours.

That’s how long it had been since Garrett walked away from Kiersten. She barely even spoke to him anymore, other than a soft hello as they passed on the court after practices. It was probably better that way. Anything more than a brief encounter hurt too much. He’d spent most of his life pretending not to care about her. Pretending he was fine without her. But now that he’d had one night in her arms, he knew he wasn’t.

And he wanted her more than he could ever possibly describe.

Oh well. Tough shit. He wasn’t going to get her on his terms. And he wouldn’t accept hers. 

He needed a drink. Or three.

He unlocked the door to his apartment and froze. Pots clanged in the kitchen. Dropping his gym bag to the carpet, he walked around the corner. Only his buddy Mike had a copy of his key, and that was just in case of an emergency or if he somehow lost his own set. But why would Mike let himself in and then cook? To the best of his knowledge, Mike didn’t even know how to cook.

“Mike?” he called out.

“Uh, no,” Kiersten replied. “It’s me.”

He tensed and walked slowly into his kitchen, his heart beating rapidly in his ears. “How did you get in here?”

She flushed. “I asked Mike for the key. Told him I needed something for Chris to practice at home.” She waved a hand. “He didn’t question me, thank God. My story was weak.”

He studied her. “Why are you here? You could have just knocked.”

“I was worried you wouldn’t let me in,” she said softly, averting her eyes. “So I took matters into my own hands.”

“And the dinner?”

“A way to try to make up for what I did. It’s pathetic and not big enough, I know, but I had to do something.”

He raised his brows. “You could give me space, like I asked. Why cook for me? What do you want?”

She looked at him. “I thought you might like to eat some food. Last time I checked, you were human.”

“It’s been over three months since we talked or hung out.” He crossed his arms over his chest, not sure what her sudden reemergence in his life meant. What game did she play? “And last time I checked, we weren’t really on speaking terms. Yet here you are. Cooking me dinner.”

“Yep.” She set down the spoon she was stirring the sauce with, shoulders tight as she leaned on the counter. “Pretty much.”

He looked away from her and swallowed hard. Did she realize how much it hurt him just to see her face or to hear her voice? Probably not, since he’d been the only idiot who had wanted more. Every woman paled in comparison to her. No matter how hard he tried to move on, to be attracted to another woman, there was only one person on his mind. Kiersten. But if she was here…

He shoved his hands into his pockets. “Have you changed your mind about us?”

She paled and he cursed himself for jumping to foolish, optimistic conclusions. “I—no, not yet. But—”

“Then you need to leave,” he said. He raised his head and met her eyes, unwilling to back down. “I haven’t changed my mind, either. I need space.”

“It’s been three months. Isn’t that enough space?”

“No.” He drew in a ragged breath. “It’s not. Now please leave.”

She bit her lip. “No.”

“Yes.” He stalked toward her, picked her up, tossed her over his shoulder, and headed for the door. He tired not to remember that the last time he’d carried her like this, they’d been going up to her bedroom. “If you won’t walk out on your own, then I’ll carry you out.”

She punched his back and squirmed. “Let me down. We need to talk.”

“The time for talking is over. I need distance right now. Eventually we can be friends again. But for now?” He opened the door, set her in the hallway, and closed the door in her face. “Please go home.”

He turned away and stomped into the kitchen. Damn it, he wasn’t doing this anymore. He may have played the part of the lovesick friend for months—hell, years—now, but he was done with being a benchwarmer she pulled out when it suited her mood.

From now on, it needed to be a starting position for him…or nothing at all.

Shutting off the stove, he picked up the pot and peeked inside. She’d made his favorite meal. Cheese ravioli. Vodka sauce bubbled away in a different pot and he could smell the garlic bread in the oven.

“Listen, Garrett, we need to talk,” Kiersten said.

Garrett jumped and faced her with a glare. “What are you doing in here—again?”

“I have a key.” She waved a gold key under his nose, her nose tilted up in the air stubbornly. “And I know how to open a door on my own. I’ve been doing it since I was three.”

“Congratulations.” He snatched the key out of her hand and reached for her, determined to put her right back where he had left her. “But you need to go. I’m serious.”

She jumped out of his reach and sprinted behind the relative safety of his favorite chair. “Not until you listen to me. Sit down and shut up for a second, will you?”

He pursued her, ready to stick her back out in the hallway, sans key this time. “All I asked for was a break. Can’t you respect that?”

He bolted around the chair, reaching for her arm. Her eyes widened and she darted to the side when he feinted left and ran right, hoping to fool her into his arms. “I can’t leave until we talk,” she replied.

“Why not?” he asked in exasperation, holding his hands up. “What could possibly be so damn important?”

 She blinked at him, wringing her hands. “I’m pregnant.”

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

About the author:

DianeAlbertsAuthorPicDiane Alberts has always been a dreamer with a vivid imagination, but it wasn’t until 2011 that she put her pen where her brain was, and became a published author.  Since receiving her first contract offer, she has yet to stop writing. Though she lives in the mountains, she really wishes she was surrounded by a hot, sunny beach with crystal clear water. She lives in Northeast Pennsylvania with her four kids, a husband, a schnauzer mutt, a cat, and a Senegal parrot. In the rare moments when she’s not writing, she can usually be found hunched over one knitting project or another.

She is a multi-published, bestselling author with Entangled Publishing, Swoon Romance, and Decadent Publishing. ON ONE CONDITION hit #18 on the Barnes and Noble Bestseller List, and TRY ME hit #76 on Amazon. CAPTIVATED BY YOU hit #31 on the Barnes and Noble bestseller list.  Her goal is to write so many fantastic books that even a non-romance book fan will know her name. She also writes New Adult books under the name Jen McLaughlin. Diane is represented by Louise Fury from the L. Perkins Agency.

 

Website  ~  Facebook Fan Page  ~  Twitter  ~  Goodreads 

Read-Love-Blog’s Cowboy Summer…..Selene’s Review of Branded As Trouble by Lorelei James

Cowboy Summer

Read-Love-Blog’s Cowboy Summer continues with Selene’s review of  Branded As Trouble by Lorelei James

Branded as Trouble Cover

Book links:

Amazon  ~  Barnes & Noble  ~  Goodreads

Synopsis:

…It’s hard to trust the future when you’ve been branded by the past

As a walking advertisement for the tattoo shop she’s set up in a small Wyoming town, India Ellison is well acquainted with preconceived notions. Despite the odd looks and off-color comments about her off-color hair, life is good. She’s clean and sober, dotes on her sister’s kids and, best of all, spends most of her free time with her best buddy, cowboy Colt McKay.

Reformed bad boy Colt never expected three years of sobriety to lead to three years of abstinence. Curbing his craving for booze and random sexual encounters is nothing compared to the ever-increasing craving for his hot-tempered, hot-bodied best friend, India. Too bad she’s his A.A. sponsor. Too bad she hasn’t a clue that Colt’s been head-over-bootheels in love with her from day one.

After an unexpected, steamy interlude, all India can think about is riding the sexy cowboy instead of her motorcycle, even when Colt is determined to show her a slower ride is worth the wait.

Or are they risking their friendship for a fling that could burn them both?

 

Selene’s Review:

A [personally] highly anticipated book… that did not let down.

From the outside perspective, India, a tattooed, hot-tempered, and impossibly stubborn beauty, and Colton, an only-in-dreams-is-someone-this-beautiful former-bad boy cowboy, could not be more of opposites if they tried. But their experiences, both internal and external, have made them…well, absolutely perfect for each other. Too bad it took them so long to see it for themselves!

What author Lorelei James does best is delayed gratification. Her building up of Colt and India’s tension and their breaking point is just as delectable as when the two experienced lovers come together. And I definitely couldn’t get enough of their sexual moments; it left a brand on the reader like nothing else.

Another thing I had been waiting for besides the long-awaited couple’s union was the acceptance of Colt’s hard work throughout the years by his McKay family, specifically his older brothers. It took younger brother and war hero Cameron McKay to initiate this and it was absolutely tear-jerking. And it was wonderful to see Colt reformed and be the strong man that he is…with an equally strong woman backing him up, of course. It took India awhile to own up to her faults, but when she did, damn it was romantic.

I highly recommend this book for those readers that believe that friendship first can turn into the greatest of loves.

4andahalflovesFour-and-a-Half Loves

 

From author website:

A bit about me: When I’m not squirreled away behind my laptop writing fun, sexy, contemporary erotic romances set in the modern day Wild West, I can be found reading everything under the sun, practicing yoga until I’m a pretzel, shootin’ my .22, watching the Professional Bull Riders tour on Versus, and running a kid’s taxi service, all in the guise of avoiding housework and rustlin’ up vittles.

Why do I have a particular fondness for all things western? Well, I’m a fourth generation South Dakotan, living in the Black Hills, which is chock-full of interesting characters, including cowboys, Indians, ranchers, and bikers. The geographical diversity of the surrounding area showcases mountains, plains, and badlands. Living in and writing about rural settings gives me a unique perspective, especially since I’m not writing historical westerns. Through my fictional world, I can show the ideals and the cowboy way of life are still very much alive.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Book Birthday & GIVEAWAY…The Winemaker’s Dinner: Appetizers

 

Happy 1st Birthday to The Winemaker’s Dinner: Appetizers!

Omnific is celebrating in a BIG way for this very special first birthday!

There will be fun quotes and pictures on the blogs celebrating and an AMAZING giveaway with great prizes so be sure to enter to win (rafflecopter link is below) and if you haven’t already read The Winemaker’s Dinner Series, what are you waiting for?

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Book links:

Amazon  ~  Goodreads  ~  Barnes & Noble   ~  Facebook

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(yep….that’s me, Jilly, and the dreamy Dr. Ivan….squeeee!)

**psssst….in case you missed it, I got the opportunity to interview Dr. Ivan and you can read all the fun HERE

Synopsis:

Recently named executive chef at one of Miami Beach’s hottest restaurants, Jaden Thorne is determined to make her culinary mark and fulfill her professional dreams. When Jaden is given highly coveted tickets to the ultra-exclusive Winemaker’s Dinner, she jumps at the opportunity to meet South Florida’s wealthiest and most influential food and wine enthusiasts.

Jaden’s eyes are drawn to the VIP section even before the appetizers appear, but she soon finds herself thinking less about networking and more about the intriguingly sexy stranger eying her from across the room. After dinner, what begins as a light-hearted flirtation unexpectedly catapults into a night of explosive passion. But when morning dawns, Jaden leaves her sleeping Mr. Oh So Sexy behind, sure they’ll never see each other again.

Dr. Ivan Rusilko, a handsome, young physician, boasts an extensive resume’ and a well-established position on Miami Beach’s social scene. But despite his success and glamour, he’s routinely had to suffer uninspiring dates and doomed relationships. With a romantic heart, Ivan’s not the love-‘em-and-leave-‘em type. But when he awakens to find that the girl in the red dress has done exactly that, he resolves to find her–only if it’s just to ask why she left without even a kiss goodbye.

The Winemaker’s Dinner is a fictionalized erotic memoir inspired by the romantic triumphs and tragedies of Dr. Ivan Rusilko’s real life. Weaving fact with fantasy, authors Everly Drummond and Dr. Ivan Rusilko have gifted readers with a swoon-worthy flesh-and-blood romantic hero and the intoxicating bouquet only a heartfelt tale of passionate love can create.

About the authors:

Dr. Ivan Rusilko: 

Dr. Ivan Rusilko, DO, CSN, PT, is an accomplished weight loss, wellness, physical enhancement and sexual health physician in Miami, Florida. A certified sports nutritionist, champion bodybuilder, international male fitness model, and former Mr. USA 2008 & 2010, Dr. Ivan graduated from the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2010 and sits as the national media and public relations expert and spokesperson on diet, exercise and sports nutrition for the American Osteopathic Association (AOA).

Dr. Ivan has been a feature health writer and lifestyle coach for numerous magazines and online publications including The Washington Times and Quarter Life Health.

In addition to health and wellness, he has a variety of interests and activities including event coordination, photography, writing, and politics.

With his debut novel, “The Winemaker’s Dinner: Appetizers,” book one of a planned three book series due out in the summer of 2012, Dr. Rusilko is excited to offer a male voice in a predominantly female authored genre. Always one with a story to tell, he hopes to continue writing, exploring new genres and projects, as well as field future entertainment opportunities.

He is proud to bring two of his passions, his medical wellness and sexual health background and writing together in this unique project. He hopes that the “The Winemaker’s Feast Trilogy” will help spark an enthusiasm and liberation among women, inspiring them to bring their sexual health into focus and achieve a better quality of life.

“The best cosmetic procedure is adding a smile.” – Dr Rusilko

Everly Drummond:

As a student of the Centennial College Social Service Worker program, and the Trent University Biology program, Everly Drummond had a previous life in administration and transportation before launching her career as a writer. Everly’s other writing projects include City of the Damned, a paranormal romance series, and Blood of the Ancients, a YA paranormal romance. All four novellas in the City of the Damned series have appeared on the Amazon.com bestseller list. Everly resides in Toronto, Ontario,where she is currently working on the full length Inked novel, which is scheduled to be released Spring 2013.

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Enter to win the amazing contest with prizes that include:

$50 Amazon or B&N Gift Card (winner’s choice)

Custom Silver TWD-centric charm bracelet

Custom Silver TWD charm book mark

Mollydooker Baseball Cap like Ivan wears

Set (3) of signed print books

5 complete series ePack

5 Swag Packs

a Rafflecopter giveaway

ARC Review….Play Me by Diane Alberts

Play Me releases July 29

Play Me Cover

Book links:

Amazon  ~  Barnes & Noble  ~  Goodreads 

Synopsis:

Even the best-laid plans can go awry.

Single-mom Kiersten Worth knows a bottle of champagne and night of hot, no-strings-attached sex is the perfect solution to her jilted bride blues…and Garrett Kelly, long-time friend and her teenaged son’s sexy basketball coach, is just the stud for the job.

Garrett wants more from the elusive temptress than a casual affair, but he never expects it to come in the form of an unexpected pregnancy. When he proposes an unorthodox solution—move in and raise their baby together—Kiersten has to decide whether to let down her guard and open her heart to the man who secretly loved her for years, or risk losing his tender embrace for good.

 

My review:

Play Me is the third story in the Take a Chance Series by Diane Alberts.  I have read, and enjoyed, the first two and was really looking forward to this story after just looking at the cover.  Well, Diane has done it again…..this story rocked!

Kiersten Worth was not supposed to be spending this day alone.  It was supposed to be her wedding day, but thanks to a cheating fiancé, there will be no wedding bells for her.  Luckily, she has been spending time with Garrett, a childhood friend of her and her brother and her son’s basketball coach.  She’s looking forward to seeing him tonight for one of their casual chill-on-the-couch-with-a-movie nights when she decides to hatch a plan to get her ex out of her head, even if just for one night.  She knows Garrett has had a crush on her for years and tonight she plans on taking advantage of that.  Yep, hot and sexy Garrett is just the man to get the job done.  After her itch is scratched, surely they will be able to go back to their carefree relationship as friends….until the unexpected happens.

Garrett has watched Kiersten from across the gym floor at basketball games and dreamed of what it would be like to have more with her….more than just a close friend.  But he knows that’s just a fantasy.  He’s best friends with her brother and her son’s basketball coach and that’s all he will ever be to her. Imagine his surprise when he heads to her house for a typical night in and gets way more than what he’s ever imagined.

Here’s the thing with those friendly hook-ups….most of the time they just don’t work.  The awkwardness that follows can ruin the best of friendships and it just may ruin Garrett and Kiersten’s.  Fate won’t let that happen though and when Kiersten finds out she’s pregnant, Garrett comes up with a plan to make things work for all of them…..hopefully.

What a great read this was.  High emotion and intense at times but with such caring and love interspersed throughout it gave the story great balance.  Kiersten has been hurt and just can’t shake it.  I can’t blame her, really.  She doesn’t want to want Garrett and tries to push him away at every turn because she thinks it’s the best way to keep what’s left of her heart safe.  Lucky for her Garrett is focused and headstrong and won’t give up without a fight! Damn, I do love me some Garrett!  He’s loyal, trustworthy, reliable and damn sexy with a huge heart.  He’s not ready to give up on Kiersten or their growing family.  They have a rough go of things and have to really work through some major issues.  I will admit I wanted to shake Kiersten a few times while reading and tell her to grab Garrett before it’s too late but if you know me, you know I love characters that get me to feel! Oh, and the chemistry between them and their schmexy scenes are positively delicious! I was fanning myself more than a few times…..yum!

If you’re looking for a yummy, heartwarming and entertaining read, I say get Play Me on your to-read list! This is a series I will always look forward to seeing more from.  Thank you, Diane, for another fabulous story!

 

4LovesRLBFour Loves

 

About the author:

Diane Alberts has always been a dreamer with a vivid imagination, but it wasn’t until 2011 that she put her pen where her brain was, and became a published author. Since receiving her first contract offer, she has yet to stop writing. Though she lives in the mountains, she really wishes she was surrounded by a hot, sunny beach with crystal clear water. She lives in Northeast Pennsylvania with her four kids, a husband, a cat, and a Senegal parrot. In the rare moments when she’s not writing, she can usually be found hunched over one knitting project or another.

She is a multi-published, bestselling author with Entangled Publishing, Swoon Romance, and Decadent Publishing. She has, as of this date, four books with Entangled Publishing, one book with Swoon Romance, and five older books with Decadent Publishing. Her February release with Entangled Publishing, ON ONE CONDITION, hit #18 on the Barnes and Noble Bestseller List, and TRY ME hit #76 on Amazon. Her Swoon Romance novella, CAPTIVATED BY YOU, hit #31 on the Barnes and Noble bestseller list. Her goal is to write so many fantastic books that even a non-romance book fan will know her name. Diane is represented by Louise Fury from the L. Perkins Agency.

Website  ~  Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Goodreads 

Review….All My Life by Rucy Ban

temptation woman and man

Book links:

Amazon  ~  Goodreads

Synopsis:

Seventeen-year-old Kari meets Neil Mars. “Neil as in Armstrong and Mars…as in Bruno.” A boy who beats every vampire, werewolf, highlander fantasy Kari has ever had. But she knows she can’t get close to him. Not ever. Because that would mean telling him everything. Coming clean. And Kari can’t bear the idea of changing the way Neil looks at her. Like she’s the only girl in the world. His reverence is something too precious to lose. Perhaps even at the cost of losing him.

But Kari doesn’t know why Neil calls her his ‘Angel’ and when she finds out, she realizes what love is all about. Boundless joy, unending longing and a fuckload of heartache.

 

My Review:

All My Life is the debut from author Rucy Ban and the first in the First Things Series. As I sit here and begin this review I have to say….this was one hell of a kick ass debut!

Kari hasn’t exactly had what you’d call the best of luck when it comes to boyfriends.  She’d fallen for the wrong guy in high school and has been paying for it since.  Now, in college, she’s happy for the anonymity college life brings.  Even if she can’t shake the regret her high school ex-loser boyfriend brings, no one else had to know about it on this campus.  It was without a doubt a story she never wanted to share with anyone.  Now, with school going well, she’s longing for more and that comes in the form of a chance part-time job offer at the tattoo parlor opening up right down the street.  Seems interesting enough, and she had always done well in art class, so why not!  Maybe this is just what Kari needs to breathe some life into her miserable, regretful life. What she doesn’t need is the distraction of the positively lickable hottie that has just walked into the shop.  Not making things better is his relationship to the shop owner and the fact that he’s around a whole lot more than Kari would like.  His panty dropping looks and kind and polite personality is a combo she is finding hard to resist and starts breaking down the walls she’s built around her heart.

Neil Mars is a young guy with a whole lot on his plate.  Heartbreaking issues that a young guy shouldn’t have to be dealing with.  But as he walks into the tattoo parlor, he meets Kari.  Kari, the one who ends up representing all that is good in love and life and turns out to be the lifeline he needs.  His angel.

Where to begin?! This story rocked.  Seriously rocked.  Keri is full of snark and had me laughing out loud too many times to count.  Her life kinda sucks when we meet her and she totally knows it.  The cynical outlook she has on things is justified and she weaves that cynicism with sarcasm and a dash of innocence that turns it into a combo that is awesome to read! She’s written in a way that I could see her in my mind’s eye and imagine how she would be behaving at that moment and is someone I would totally love hanging out with.  Neil is such a swoon worthy hero.  The bad boy looks with the big heart, soft-spoken demeanor and unwavering strength in the face of adversity is a package that’s hard to beat.  These two have a whole lot to deal with during this book, and reading some other reviews, some may think too much but I really enjoyed how the whole story played out.  I felt that it kept the story going and never left the reader with a dull moment. The cast along with Keri and Neil are also some amazing characters.  Spunky and heartwarming people who complimented the story at every turn and added to the moments whether they were the laugh out loud or grab me a tissue kind.

All in all, I really REALLY loved this book and am so happy I got a chance to read it.  I absolutely recommend it if you’re looking for a witty, snarky, sexy, heartwarming read with a few “whoa” moments peppered throughout.  Thank you, Rucy, for a fantastic story!

4LovesRLBFour Loves

 

About the author:

Rucy Ban was born in 1978 and still continues to thrive. Ever since she first met Francine (the protagonist of her favorite novel, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn), Rucy fell in love with the written word. Rucy has a B-school degree in Marketing which she now puts to good use teaching lovable rowdy rogues and negotiating with her equally belligerent adolescent. In her previous avatar, she handled corporate communications for companies. At present, Rucy lives in Sao Paulo, travels often, speaks decent, if not quite fluent, Portuguese and really hates talking about herself in third person.

Goodreads ~  Facebook  ~  Website  ~  Twitter 

 

Blog Tour & Giveaway….Blood Entangled by Amber Belldene

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Title: Blood Entangled (Blood Vine #2)

Author:  Amber Belldene

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Publication Date:  July 23, 2013 by Omnific Publishing

Event organized by: Literati Author Services

Purchase links:

Amazon  ~  Barnes & Noble  ~  Omnific

Synopsis:

Book Two in the Blood Vine series:

KOS MARAS’s orderly life is in shambles—he must distribute Blood Vine to a population of ailing vampires, but Hunters block him at every turn. To make matters worse, each night he watches over a temptingly beautiful woman sleeping in his bed. He is convinced love cannot last a vampire-long lifetime and an entanglement will only cause them grief, but he doesn’t have the heart to send her away.

From a long line of blood servants, LENA ISAAKSON is destined to serve a vampire, but a string of humiliating rejections thwarts her pleasure. When Kos shows her kindness, she hopes he will claim her. Instead he proves himself a coward in the face of love and sends her to serve another.

Will the dark seduction of a rakish new vampire finally bring Lena the pleasure she desires or deliver her into the hands of Hunters who want to destroy everything the Maras family has worked for?

 

My review:

Blood Entangled is the second book in Amber Belldene’s Blood Vine Series. After falling in love with this series while reading the first book, I was so excited to get my hands on Blood Entangled….and Amber rocked the vampire world once again with this story!

Still reeling and embarrassed from Andre’s rejection, Lena Isaakson is talking solace in the comfort given to her from Andre’s son, Kos.  Staying in Kos’s home after leaving the Kastle Estate Winery, and place she’s called home, she has to decide what to do with her life.  Lena knows she was born to serve a vampire household as her grandmother had done before her and she thought the estate was that household.  While contemplating her next move she starts to realize that her feelings for Kos run far deeper than she expected and thinks he may be the vampire she truly wants to serve.

Kos has more than enough on his plate.  Hunters trying to take down his family and their winery and trying to distribute life-saving blood vine wine to dying vampires should be plenty to keep his mind occupied but Lena is all he can think about.  She has always held a place in his heart and now, after he offers to take care of her until she decides what to do next, he starts to think there’s no way he can let her leave.  Unfortunately, the nagging memories of his mother and Andre’s disastrous love affair can never be erased and he believes love can never last.  Looks like the only solution is to find a new household and new vampire for Lena to serve…it may prove to be that hardest thing he’s ever had to do.

Their chemistry is undeniable, but old memories and too many emotions and hurt will lead to many twists in the road for Lena and Kos.  Add Ethan Bennett and his hunter’s insatiable appetite for their demise and destruction and the odds are certainly stacked against them.  Will what they’ve found between them prove to be worth fighting for and taking a chance?

It was SO great to get back into the Kastle Estate Winery and see where things are headed! Predictable is NOT a word I would use to describe this book, that’s for sure.  I wasn’t sure how I would like Lena when I started this book, but by the end of the first chapter I loved her.  She is a passionate gal with a wit about her that was unexpected and totally enjoyable.  She called Andre a “big mean jerk”…..I’m still laughing at that! She was written so well that I could feel her emotions when she felt rejected and defeated.  I was really pulling for her happy ending because she truly deserved it (of course, I can’t tell you if she got it – mwahaha!). Kos is so loyal and focused.  He is driven and wants nothing more than to help his father, his race and Lena.  He broke my heart every time he would swear off love.  Men, vampire or not, can be so stubborn!

There were more than a few surprises in this book and damn, if I didn’t love them! The hunters are still relentless and there was an addition to Ethan’s crew that I’m sure we will be learning more and more about as the series continues because she’s quite a mystery. The last half of this book was packed with *gasp* moments for me.  We meet someone who helps solve some old family mysteries and gives hope to Kos and Lena when they need it most but the very last fight with the hunters in this story was the biggest *gasp* moment of them all! Not gonna spoil it for you but I will say I really, REALLY, didn’t think it would play out the way it did.  I love that from a book! Again, predictable is NOT a word I’d use.

Thank you, Amber, for another amazing look into the vampire world at Kastle Estate Winery.  I will be looking forward to more and more from Andre, Zoey, Kos, Lena, Bel and the whole awesome cast of characters!

4andahalflovesFour-and-a-Half Loves

 

Enter the amazing tour wide giveaway for a chance to win some fabulous prizes!

Be sure to follow the rest of the tour for more Blood Entangled reviews! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

About the Author

authorphotoAMberAmber Belldene grew up on the Florida panhandle, swimming with alligators, climbing oak trees and diving for scallops…when she could pull herself away from a book.  As a child, she hid her Nancy Drew novels inside the church bulletin and read mysteries during sermons—an irony that is not lost on her when she preaches these days.

Amber is an Episcopal Priest and student of religion.  She believes stories are the best way to explore human truths.  Some people think it is strange for a minister to write romance, but it is perfectly natural to her, because the human desire for love is at the heart of every romance novel and God made people with that desire. She lives with her husband and two children in San Francisco.

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Goodreads  ~  Website

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Follow the tour….

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Brazen’s First Birthday Bash

Happy first birthday, Brazen!

Read-Love-Blog is happy to celebrate with you!

I’ve loved so many books from the Brazen line (Tessa Bailey and Laura Kaye YAY!) and hopefully this fun celebration will introduce you guys to some new favorites!

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Brazen Books, who brought us Wrong Bed Right Guy, Officer Off Limits, Seducing Cinderella, and Tempting the Player – to name just a few – is turning 1 this month, and they’re celebrating in a big way. They’ve got a ton of great things going on this week, including Twitter parties, FB events, and even a huge sale!  Full deets below: