Read-Love-Blog

Read-Love-Blog’s Cowboy Summer…..Selene’s Review of Tied Up, Tied Down by Lorelei James

Read-Love-Blog’s Cowboy Summer continues with Selene’s review of Tied Up, Tied Down by Lorelei James

Book Links:

Synopsis:

…The strongest bonds are the ones unseen.

Businesswoman Skylar Ellison is firmly in control of her life. So getting tangled up with a sexy Wyoming cowboy—and conceiving a baby in the parking lot of a honky-tonk—wasn’t in her plan. Since it appears the daddy has taken off for greener pastures, the only thing to do is pull up her bootstraps and carry on alone.

Cattle rancher Kade McKay returns home after a year on the range, and is knocked for a loop when he learns he’s the father of a three-month-old baby girl. When Skylar refuses to marry him, Kade grits his teeth, moves in and plays house by her rules to prove he’s a man in for the long haul.

Despite Skylar’s insistence they are to remain strictly parenting partners, their old passions flare hot as a brush fire, spurring Kade to demand absolute sexual surrender from the headstrong woman. Skylar willingly submits her body to the hot-blooded cowboy but she’s leery of handing Kade the reins to her heart.

Can Kade convince Skylar the wicked sex games aren’t a temporary distraction? Or will he have to bust out the ropes to show her he wants to be tied to her…forever?

Selene’s Review:

FAVORITE. BOOK. OF THE SERIES.

Kade McKay. What can I possibly say about him? All I know is if he were a real man, I would stomp every woman in my way to get at him. He is, quiet simply, the perfect man. A 6 foot, 3 inch hunk of a man with icy blue eyes and almost jet black hair. Oh and he has a killer body, too. I said perfect man, right?

As a fairly tall woman myself, I love to see authors write about other big, tall women instead of those cute, petite little things you could fit in a Barbie box. Not judging, just saying. Skylar Ellison is a force to be reckoned with –a woman always in control… until dreamboat Kade McKay comes along. Well, at first she actually goes out on a date with Kade’s twin brother Kane, but since that didn’t pan out, Kade thought he’d take out the beautiful Skylar while impersonating his brother Kane so that he could save the McKay reputation. This does cause a major rift between Kade and Skylar – she finds out not long after they have sex for the one and only time that he is really Kade and not Kane and she breaks it off. This devastates Kade and he needs time to clear his head so he travels up north for a year. Meanwhile, Sklyar is busy with her company… and busy having Kade’s baby.

Upon finding out about one Miz Eliza Belle, the first girl McKay born since Keely McKay, Kade takes ownership and immediately moves in with his baby girl and her mama. And as soon as he sees Skylar again, and she sees him, the sparks fly anew and they can’t deny their attraction… lucky for us! And I have to say that the sex between them is equal parts hot and sweet, something Lorelei James does so very well.

Another great thing about this book is the many subplots and set-ups for future stories. It adds variety but in no way takes away from the main story.

And last but not least, the many proposals Kade makes to Skylar – NGH! They are unbelievably swoon-worthy! *le sigh*

All books in series were bought by the reviewer through Amazon.

10 million Loves…or maybe just 5.0 Loves since that is all that’s possible.

Five 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.

Blog Tour stop & Giveaway….The Marriage Merger by Jennifer Probst

How fun is this? For Read-Love-Blog’s stop on Jennifer Probst’s blog tour for her latest release, The Marriage Merger, she gives us the playlist she listened to while writing Sawyer and Julietta’s story……

I also have a paperback copy of The Marriage Merger to giveaway to one lucky winner! Enter in the rafflecopter below!

Oh, and my review for The Marriage Merger can be found HERE

Enjoy!

Book links:

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Goodreads

From Jennifer:

PLAYLIST FOR THE MARRIAGE MERGER!

Everyone who knows me realizes I’m a huge music lover. I adore a big variety across all genres, and music is key to creating certain characters depending on the book I’m currently working on.

The Marriage Merger was no exception.

The music I listed to over and over on my Ipod made a huge difference as I wrote and developed scenes. The kick ass metal of Guns n Roses. The gorgeous richness of Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin. The emotional intensity and husky drawl of Daughtry, Rob Thomas, and Bruno Mars. The seductive, sultry beat of Rhianna and Beyonce.

God, I love my job.

Writing my stories with music pounding in my ears helps me get to that magic place where the words flow and the images pop and I lose myself. Lose yourself in the music. A little Eminem there lol!

So, I’m going to share all the songs I had on loop while writing the Marriage Merger. Each means something special to me and helped create a scene or a mood. Enjoy!

1. The Start of Something Good by Daughtry

2. Welcome to the Jungle – Guns N Roses

3. Mockingbird – Rob Thomas

4. You and Me (We Wanted It All)– Frank Sinatra

5. Lose Yourself – Eminem

6. Someone Like You – Adele

7. Aint That A Kick in The Head – Dean Martin

8. I Love You – Climax Blues Band

9. My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark (Light Em Up) – Fall Out Boy

10. Master of Puppets – Metallica

11. Overjoyed – Matchbox Twenty

12. Barely Breathing – Lifehouse

13. I Want To F**k You Like An Animal – Nine Inch Nails

14. Never Gonna Leave This Bed – Maroon 5

The Marriage Merger synopsis:

Her sisters have found wedded bliss with their wealthy, wonderful dream men, but not Julietta Conte. She’s stayed on terra firma as top executive of the family’s corporation, La Dolce Famiglia bakery. Work is her passion, and her trendy Milan apartment her sanctuary . . . until Sawyer Wells, a masculine masterpiece in a suit, lures her out of hiding with an irresistible offer: an exclusive partnership with his international chain of boutique hotels.

Julietta’s been burned before—and trusting her brother-in-law’s friend, whose powerful gaze alone has her rethinking the best use of a conference room, is the riskiest proposition. But with a once-in-a-career chance to take the bakery global, will she mix stone-cold business with red-hot seduction?
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About the author:

I’ve always wanted to be a writer. At twelve, I took a pen in hand and wrote my first love story. I haven’t stopped since. Those heroines taught me valuable lessons that served me well. I learned to keep my head up high and surge forward when I was afraid; I learned to demand respect in a relationship; I learned about compromise and dreams and independence. Those are the stories I want to write, and I can only hope I give back some of the joy I received over the years.

I live in the beautiful Hudson Valley in upstate New York. I’ve traveled to many places but always seem to be drawn back to the mountains. I graduated with a business degree, worked for Mercy College, and now spend most days dedicated to my family and my characters. I’ve pursued many career paths such as travel agent, yoga teacher and insurance salesperson. I’ve wanted to be an airline pilot, a dancer, an archaeologist, and a vineyard owner. I have been all of the above through romance novels, and intend to explore many more.

One of my turning points in my career was when I joined Romance Writers of America and met the wonderful people in my local chapter, The Hudson Valley RWA. Through supportive critique sessions, I learned how to develop my raw skills to get a publishable manuscript. I discovered my tendency for wordy prologues and passive phrases that all new writers work through, and now try to help others on their journey.

My “leisure time” is spent writing, reading, and raising two active boys. I believe animals are the other children in this world, and enjoy spending time at the local animal shelter, where I got my first “baby” Bella, a shepherd hound mix who gets into as much trouble as my son! I rescued my second dog from an abusive home, a beagle, basset hound who is the peacemaker in the household.

I met the love of my life when I had finally given up on my own romantic journey. The first time he asked me out he promised to buy my book if he could buy me dinner. We had dinner and fell in love over sushi and haven’t been apart since. We married and settled into domestic bliss. That’s when I learned it wasn’t about happy endings. It was about happy beginnings.

Visit her website

Follow Jennifer on Twitter: @jenniferprobst

Subscribe to her newsletter!

Get it on your bookshelf giveaway…The Goddess Letters by Vicki Matthews

Getitonyourbookshelfgiveaway

Happy Thursday, gang!

Today, I have an eCopy of The Goddress Letters by Vicki Matthews to give away along with a great Q & A about the book. This one looks pretty interesting!

Enter to win by commenting on this blog post and I will pick a winner on Sunday, 7/21. Enjoy!

The Goddess Letters - Front Cover

Book links:

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Goodreads

Synopsis:

Chicago economics professor Rob Harris has it damn good: dream job, devoted wife, adorable daughter. Selena Richards has it even better – she’s a wildly popular Hollywood actress with awards and men galore. Yet each has a dark secret that only the other knows.

Since college, Selena has had alarming dreams where she’s asked to encourage women to create a radically different future for our world. Rob, her old college boyfriend, is the only person Selena’s told about these dreams. The devoted family man, Rob never mentions to his wife that he was secretly engaged to Selena when they met. Or that he and Selena still correspond.

Rob and Selena’s secrets collide when her dreams take a frightening turn. The powerful Jacobi appears, violently warns her to stop meddling with the world, then vanishes. Terrified, Selena reaches out to Rob, who wonders if she’s a prophet, or merely mad.

Unable to abandon her, Rob is slowly drawn into Selena’s haunting world of forgotten knowledge, ancient ritual, and demigods quite interested in controlling mankind. The line surrounding reality continues to blur and Rob finds himself in Selena’s dreams, face-to-face with Jacobi, who is happy to kill to hide the truth that will change the world. As Rob fights to keep himself and Selena alive, his concepts of reality crumble, as do his once-rigid views on nature, divinity, and even love. To his amazement, he finally accepts that the greatest hope for our world may actually rest with Hollywood.

The Goddess Letters is a story of love and faith, and one man’s unfolding relationship with both. A testament to passion of all kinds, it celebrates those who have the courage to discard the new in favor of the old, be it love, beliefs, or entire civilizations.

Q & A with Vicki:

1. What inspired you to write The Goddess Letters?

My primary inspiration for The Goddess Letters was a desire to help change the world. I feel the reason we find ourselves dancing so close to the dangerous edge of lost sustainability is that we are missing a dynamic balance our world used to possess. I wanted to share this idea in a way that people would want to read, and was greatly influenced by the success of The Di Vinci Code. I think if you entertain and educate, you have the possibility of reaching more people than you would by writing a purely educational book.

2. The storyline for The Goddess Letters centers on a Chicago economics professor, Rob Harris, and a Hollywood actress, Selena Wilmington, whose dreams of ancient rituals and forgotten knowledge haunt them both. How did you choose the professions of the two characters and are they based on people you know?

Much of the beginning of the book is autobiographical. I used my husband and myself as the starting point. Then, since we are told to write about what we know, I kept Robert in academia and economics (my husband’s interests) and placed Selena in acting because, while I’ve never been a serious actress, my father worked in Hollywood so I am familiar with that world. After that, it was just a matter of presenting my characters with the elements of the plot and letting them weave their stories.

3. How would you describe the themes outlined in the book?

We are out of balance as a world and a people, and I think this puts us on the brink of real disaster at so many levels. All of our dominant cultures are patriarchies where, by definition, the masculine has a disproportionate share of the power. All of our main religions have a male god at their head, too. It didn’t used to be that way, but we have moved away from the balancing aspect of the feminine principle. That is what I hope people will come to see as they read The Goddess Letters.

4. The Goddess Letters is about matriarchal vs. patriarchal societies as a cause of imbalance in the world. Yet the story is told by a male main character, Rob Harris. How did you determine which of the two main characters, Rob or Selena, would tell the story?

I decided to use the Rob to tell the story because I thought his reality would be the easiest to access for the reader. Rob is a male in a patriarchal culture. Selena is different not only in the “other-worldly” experiences she has, but also in the fact that she is a powerful woman in a patriarchy. Rob provided the access point of the story, and Selena provides the movement and motive behind the story arc. I thought that would be a winning combination.

5. Can you describe some of the research you did when you were writing this book?

Even though this is a novel, all of the facts presented as part of the story are true. I used over 100 nonfiction books in writing my novel, and they are listed on The Goddess Letters website. There’s a whole lot of truth in this work of fiction. I wanted the book to be compelling and eye opening. I hope it is.

6. Are you working on another novel? If so, what can you tell us about it?

Where the edge of today intertwines with forever, there are tales of a place called the Weave. Seamlessly bound to our world, but not of it, this is where the Weavewalkers plan the cultural shift necessary to keep Earth from destruction. No surprisingly, it will involve an infusion of more matriarchal ways onto our planet. The success or failure of the plan rests squarely on a young girl who has been brought to the Weave for one purpose: to travel the Weaver’s Web and change a pattern that unraveled 30 years before she was born.

About the author:

Vicki Matthews, a Naturopathic Physician and Director of Education for Innersource, is passionate about re-establishing balance in the world. She has been an outspoken advocate for alternative healing and spiritual pursuits most of her adult life, and has appeared as a guest on The Oprah Winfrey Show twice to share aspects of this message. Matthews grew up in Santa Monica, California, and has a degree in psychology. Her graduate work includes an MBA from the University of Chicago and an N.D. in Naturopathy. Matthews lives on a lake just north of Chicago with her husband, Mark.

For more information on Vicki Matthews or The Goddess Letters, please visit www.amazon.com or www.thegoddessletters.com.

Blog Hop….In Too Deep by Michelle Kemper Brownlow

The day he said, “I love you” should have been the day she said, “Goodbye.”

I am so happy to be a part of Michelle Kemper Brownlow’s Blog Hop for her debut novel, In Too Deep!

I read this book a little bit ago and you can find my FOUR LOVES review below and I have a great excerpt for you!

So, thanks for stopping by and enjoy!

Book links:

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Goodreads

Synopsis:

Gracie has just finished her freshman year of college in Memphis when she takes a job at a local pizza joint in her home town of McKenzie, Tennessee. She is the epitome of innocence when she meets Noah. Noah is unabashedly handsome, intriguingly reckless and just cocky enough to be sexy. Gracie’s instincts tell her to stay far away from him and based on the stories she hears from her co-workers he leaves broken hearts in his wake. But still, she can’t explain her fascination with him.

Noah puts aside his bad boy ways when what he thought was a summer crush has him unexpectedly falling in love. But soon after Gracie transfers to UT Knoxville to be with Noah, their unexpected love becomes riddled with anger, deceit and humiliation.

Jake, Noah’s former roommate and Gracie’s best friend, can no longer be a bystander. Gracie’s world falls out from beneath her and when she breaks she turns to Jake for strength. As Jake talks her through a decision she’s not yet strong enough to make, together they uncover a truth so ugly neither of them is prepared for its fallout. Will Jake pull her to the surface or is Gracie Jordan finally In Too Deep?

Excerpt:

My phone buzzed.

Jake: Gracie?

I turned off my phone. The doorbell rang before I even had a chance to feel guilty for not answering. I threw the covers over my head and lay there, eyes wide open. It rang again.Can someone please get the door? I’m too busy feeling sorry for myself to get up.

Ding dong.

I groaned as I pulled myself from under the covers and flung my legs off the edge of my bed. The UPS man was going to get an eyeful because I didn’t even have the energy to pull my sleep pants on. The super huge t-shirt I wore to bed was longer than some skirts I had. I would just have to reach around the opened door, sign something on his little clipboard and throw the package on the hall table before jumping right back into bed. No one was home. I could have slept all day. Stupid delivery guy.

But when I rounded the corner into the foyer, I could see Noah through the side window to the right of the door. My heart slammed its next beat so hard I was sure someone standing in front of me would have seen my ribcage lunge forward.

“What do you want?” I said the words on my side of the window. He didn’t need to hear me, he had to be expecting something like that. He knew I wouldn’t be happy to see him. I was pissed that he was at my door. Flashes of my birthday night coursed through my mind one by one. I winced and squeezed my eyes closed hoping to wring the images from my head.

“Gracie, I know you don’t want to open the door, but I need you to listen to what I have to say.” He was talking louder than he needed to for me to hear him. I was instantly annoyed. I shuddered.

“So talk.” If I kept a locked door between us, I could walk away whenever I’d had enough.

“Can I please come in?”

“No.”

“Okay, I’ll talk through a window if that’s the only way you’ll listen.” He waited a couple seconds like he thought I’d have a change of heart and open the door. When he saw that was not in his cards, he started talking. I leaned my forehead against the cool glass and watched his lips form words that proved introspection, self-awareness and a level of thought so deep I could do nothing but hold my breath and wish he wasn’t doing this to me.

“Gracie. I haven’t had a solid example of how to show love or how to accept it. At least not the depth of love you are willing to give. I don’t know how to reciprocate that without feeling terrified. I never expected to fall so hard for you. I never thought I could love someone so hard it hurt. But I can. I do.

“Gracie. When you look at me and I know you can see all the way into my soul, my first instinct is self-preservation. I instinctively push you away so you won’t climb deeper into me. Your heart is so big, Gracie, it could swallow me whole, and that scares the shit out of me because I shouldn’t be worthy of that kind of love. I don’t deserve you. I guess in a twisted sort of way, I push you away to save you.”

The window steamed from the warm breath escaping between my lips. I remembered the conversation I had with my mom. She said only if it was of their own volition could someone truly make a change. I couldn’t believe what was happening in front of me. A huge part of me didn’t want it to be happening because Noah and I proved to be a disaster. I knew I couldn’t handle one more blow from him. My sanity was already climbing the walls. But, as if they had minds of their own, one hand turned the deadbolt and the other opened the door. Cool air across my thighs reminded me I was still only in a t-shirt. I motioned for Noah to follow me back to my room. I needed to put more clothes on so he didn’t ruin his heart-felt apology by making a move on me. He sat on my bed and I pulled sweats off the hook on the back of my door and slid myself inside them. I sat down next to him. He took my hands in his.

“I am head over heels in love with you, Gracie. I have been since the night you kissed me after the fireworks. I’ve always thought that shock between our lips was a sign that you were the one. I’m terrified of that. If I let myself truly feel the level of love I know we are capable of, then what happens if you leave me? I don’t know how to handle that kind of pain. I am sure I’ve never felt something that severe.”

“Noah, you just described what you have done to me, over and over and over. You have split my heart wide open so many times because, unlike you, I don’t know how to guard my heart. I opened it to you almost two years ago, and I’ve been giving you all I have ever since. I can’t turn it off, I don’t know how. So, when you pierce me with your hateful words, the pain is palpable. It takes me to my knees.” There was no holding back the tears. I didn’t even try to. I was done walking on eggshells. Again.

That’s when he did something I never thought I’d see. He fell into my lap and cried like a baby. I had taken all the pain he had inflicted on me and threw it straight to his heart before he had the chance to get that wall back up.

My Review:

I am beyond lucky to have received an advance copy of In Too Deep, the debut work from Michelle Brownlow. This was a story that pulled me in and didn’t let go….and I loved it!

Gracie is a happy, innocent, southern good girl with a great life, a great boyfriend with her whole college career, and life, ahead of her. Everything is going well in her life until she meets Noah, the typical handsome, rugged bad boy with a reputation that screams: STAY AWAY. As much as Gracie knows all about Noah, and his frat-boy ways, she also knows he shows her a softer side of himself that no one has ever had the honor of seeing. It’s a rare glimpse into his soul she knows she can’t resist and isn’t willing to run from, no matter how bad his reputation is.

Noah has had his fair share of girls…but there’s something about Gracie. She makes him want to be a better person. He realizes he’s fallen for her….hard and fast. The problem is, he’s been the bad boy for so long, it’s all he knows. The revolving door of girls, the parties, the booze and the cocky attitude that comes with it. Hell bent on getting Gracie, he’s willing to do whatever it takes. But when Gracie transfers to his college, even the best laid plans can crumble….and soon Noah’s ability in excelling at being a bad boy prick outshines his efforts to be the kind of guy she needs and deserves.

Gracie and Noah have a road ahead that will end up taking a toll on emotions, friendships and will end up crushing each of them in very different ways.

As I has said earlier in this review, this book pulled me in and didn’t let go until I read the very last word on the very last page….even as I write this review, Gracie and Noah’s story is with me. This was a high emotion, gut wrenching, beautifully bittersweet love story…one that I’m sure many of us can relate to. It’s a story about being so in love with a person that no matter what their faults are, the want and need to believe in that person trumps all reason…even if you know deep down inside what you are fighting for simply isn’t worth it. I can’t tell you how many times I wanted to scream at Noah, and Gracie, while reading. Michelle has done such an amazing job at transporting the reader into Gracie and Noah’s world and feeling all of the twisted emotions in this story. I audibly gasped and was actually talking to Gracie while I was reading….I’m not sure if I have ever done that before with a book! I was so utterly conflicted while reading Gracie and Noah’s relationship and the up’s and down’s that came with it. And let me say, they were some great up’s and dismal down’s…but I loved it and I felt it. I felt the hurt and the pain and the happiness. Gracie grew up before our eyes, thanks to some amazing friends, and I was cheering for her to become the woman she had the potential to be from the very first chapter. Noah is a sad soul, who I was also cheering for…but there are some things that he did that I had to put my megaphone away for. The back and forth between them took a toll on me, but in my opinion, that’s the sign of a good book. I want to feel something in the hours after I’ve finished reading, and Michelle has done that with In Too Deep.

I was a nervous wreck for the ending. Noah had pulled my back into his corner many, many times throughout the story that I was truly conflicted with if I wanted them together or not. Well, I won’t spoil it, but I will say I was relieved and delighted with how it played out. Perfect, if you ask me.

Thank you, Michelle, for an amazing story. I look forward to reading more from you and I know you have a bright future bringing us your amazing writing talent!

Four Loves

About the author:

Michelle Kemper Brownlow has been a storyteller her entire life. Her debut was on the high school cheerleading bus granting requests to re-tell her most embarrassing moments for a gaggle of hysterical squadmates.
Earning her Bachelor’s degree from Penn State University in Art Education and then marrying her very own “Jake,” she moved to Binghamton, NY where she taught high school. After having two children she quit work and finished her Master’s degree in Elementary Education at Binghamton University.

The Brownlow family of four moved to Michelle’s hometown of Morgantown, PA while the children were still quite young. A few years after moving, her family grew by one when they welcomed a baby into their home through the gift of adoption. The family still resides in PA, just miles from where that high school cheer bus was parked.

Michelle has been an artist for as long as she can remember, always choosing pencils and crayons over toys and puzzles. As a freelance illustrator, her simple characters play the starring roles in numerous emergent reader books published by Reading Reading Books.

“Writing is my way of making sense of the world. When I give my characters life on the pages I write, it frees up space in my mind to welcome in new stories that are begging to be told,” says Brownlow.

Blog ~ Twitter ~ Facebook

Get it on your bookshelf giveaway…Tidal by Emily Snow

Happy Monday and cheers to the first GET IT ON YOUR BOOKSHELF GIVEAWAY!

I will be having these giveaways from time to time featuring a book that I think sounds really great, is on my own bookshelf, but I don’t have the time to read and review just yet…..so I’m gonna give a copy to one of YOU to enjoy!

Fun, huh?!

Today I have a paperback copy of TIDAL by Emily Snow to give away. You can enter to win in the rafflecopter below…good luck!

Book links:

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Goodreads

Genre:

New Adult Romance

Synopsis:

Now that Willow Avery is out of rehab, she’s got one chance left to prove herself before she’s officially on every producer’s shit list. At least, that’s what her parents and agent are claiming. She doesn’t really give a damn if she never makes another movie or not—she just wants to get on with her life, get back to her friends, and find her next escape. But Willow is broke. And whether she likes it or not, acting is the only job she knows how to do.

When she accepts the lead in a beach drama, Willow finds herself in Hawaii. And in Hawaii, she finds Cooper, the gorgeous surfer hired to train her for her new role. With the bluest eyes she’s ever seen and the sexiest Australian accent she’s ever heard, Cooper’s different from the men she’s used to. He doesn’t want to use her. And he refuses to let her fail. But when an old friend re-enters Willow’s life—a friend whose toxicity she’s been drawn to time and time before and whose presence brings about the painful memories she’s tried so hard to suppress—Willow will have to choose between the girl she was and the person she’s becoming. The lifestyle that helps her forget the pain and the guy she’s falling hard for

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About the author:

Emily Snow is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author of the DEVOURED series (2012, 2013) and TIDAL (2012).

Twitter ~ Goodreads ~ Website

Read-Love-Blog’s Cowboy Summer…..Selene’s Review of Cowgirl Up and Ride by Lorelei James

Read-Love-Blog’s Cowboy Summer continues with Selene’s review of Cowgirl Up and Ride by Lorelei James

Book links:

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Goodreads

Synopsis:

…Ridin’ the edge of lust is fun—until someone falls in love.

Goody-two boots AJ Foster has waited her entire life for her dream cowboy Cord McKay to see her as more than the neighbor girl in pigtails. Now that she’s old enough to stake her claim on him, she’s pulling out all the sexual stops and riding hell-bent for leather—straight for his libido.

Divorced rancher Cord has sworn off all women…until innocent AJ suggests he teach her how to ride bareback—and he realizes she doesn’t mean horses or bulls. Between his responsibilities running his massive ranch, missing his young son and dealing with the sexual shenanigans of his brother and cousins, Cord is more than willing to take AJ up on her offer. On a trial basis.

The fun and games tie them both up in knots. AJ isn’t willing to settle for less than the whole shootin’ match with her western knight. But for Cord, even though the sexy cowgirl sets his blood ablaze, he’s determined to resist her efforts to lasso his battered heart.

Sweet, determined AJ has the power to heal—or heel—the gruff cowboy…unless Cord’s pride keeps him from admitting their relationship is more than a simple roll in the hay.

Selene’s Review:

Yum, yum, and…oh yes, YUM!

Cord McKay and Amy Jo Foster have had very few and far between moments in the past, mainly because he’s her best friend Keely’s big brother, a full-time father, and 13 years her senior. But once new name and new attitude AJ decides she’s going to seduce Cord into teaching her anything and everything in between the sheets, he doesn’t have a shot in Wyoming to resist.

This book is definitely in the top 3 of the series for me. The sex between the two is too hot to handle and the build-up to their story made the anticipation to their long-awaited union absolutely delicious. Their insecurities, his age and her inexperience, made me root for them even more – we learn throughout the novel what each has had to overcome in order to be where they are and to deserve the love that without a doubt they each are worthy of.

Very rarely do I ever speak aloud while reading a book but I’ll admit here and now that when AJ was flaunting her sassy ass and rocking that come-hither look directly at her cowboy fantasy, I yelled out, “Get it, girl!” Nothing makes me want to cheer a heroine on more than when she sheds her shy-violet persona and goes after what she wants.

And don’t get me started on Cord McKay. Wooo-eeeee! That man sure does know his way around a ranch, but better yet… a woman’s body. *growl* And he’s an awesome father to boot! I’ll say it again and again: TRIPLE YUM!

I highly suggest this book to readers, even if you haven’t read the other two in the Rough Riders series.

Five Loves

From author website:

Review…Rosethorn by Ava Zavora

Book links:

Goodreads ~ Amazon

Synopsis:

Rosethorn is a breathtaking debut novel of love lost and found again that culminates in a stunning end you won’t soon forget.

“I know I could be happy with someone else . . . But it was decided a long time ago. It was always going to be you.”

From Morocco to Paris, Sera has traveled the world over but she never forgot Rosethorn, the beautiful, abandoned mansion where she and Andrew used to meet for trysts. Until the day Sera found her mother’s diary. Sera’s obsession with the shocking secrets it contained tore them apart and sent Sera fleeing to New York with a devastated heart.

10 years later, Sera revisits Rosethorn, only to run into Andrew, all grown up and handsomer than ever. Politeness gives way to a heated confrontation over their painful past. Yet unable to resist each other’s lure, both surrender to the undying power of first love.

Fate has brought them together once again, but will an old tragedy destroy Sera and Andrew’s second chance.

My review:

Rosethorn is the debut work from author Ava Zavora and I was 100% wholly unprepared for how much I ended up loving this book. Yes, this title goes on the list of books I’ve read in 24 hours and I loved every minute!

Growing up with only her grandmother and not ever knowing the parents she was born to, Sera dreamed of where her life would take her and all of the magical places she would travel to and see. Now, after realizing those dreams, she knows a piece of her is missing. The piece she left behind years ago with the memories of her first love and the magical place they shared…Rosethorn. Now, faced with the decision of accepting her boyfriend’s proposal to take their relationship to the next level, she realizes she has to go back. Back to Rosethorn and hopefully be able to bury the still potent longing for that lost love once and for all. But she sees the fates have other plans in store for her once she steps foot onto the lands Rosethorn stands upon….

Andrew cannot believe she’s back. Restoring Rosethorn was a dream of his since he first found the old home with Sera all those years ago. Now, she’s back and standing here…at Rosethorn. So many unanswered questions immediately plague his brain. The most important one being: Would there ever be another chance for them? He had tried for years to put his life back together but the girl who he had always noticed in his peripheral, ever since they were little kids in grade school, was a constant pain in his heart and thought in his mind since she left him years ago. He knows what they had was so much more than a first love…and he’s determined to make her see that they were always meant to be together.

What. A. Book. Sera and Andrew’s story was so pure and real that it brought me back to the innocence of the first crush and all of the emotion that goes along with it. Watching their relationship grow from the teasing when they were kids to the realization they both had feelings that went way beyond that as they grew up, was such a treat. Add the magic of the house itself, with its mystery and allure, and I was completely hooked. Reading about the adventures Andrew and Sera shared and the stolen moments in an old abandoned charming mansion and it ended up being like their very own fairy tale. Of course, there was plenty of mystery beyond the house. Sera never gave up trying to find the truth of who her parents were and what had happened to them. Never has the phrase “be careful what you wish for” been truer than in this situation. Sera finds out more than what she had bargained for and, even though her and Andrew had been drifting apart, what she learns about her past stiffens her resolve to go her own way…far from Rosethorn. I went through every emotion while reading this book…I laughed, got super angry and cried my eyes out. If you know me though, I love when a book gets the reader to feel and Rosethorn certainly did just that!

Hopefully I haven’t bored you with my blathering! In the end, I highly recommend Rosethorn (if you haven’t guessed!). If you enjoy stories about true love, second chances, mystery and self-discovery all wrapped up in an extremely well-written package, then this is a book for you! So, get to downloading, clear your schedule, grab some tissues and ENJOY! Thank you, Ava, for a story that will stay with me for a long time to come.

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Five Loves

About the author:

In my childhood, I used to ride water buffaloes and wade in swamps. When I discovered books, I would go adventuring with Anne of Green Gables, the Pevensies, Bilbo Baggins, or Alanna of Trebond. I incurred my mother’s displeasure for reading too many romance novels, so I learned to hide them and read underneath covers with a flashlight late at night. Nowadays, I travel and write dark fairy tales and romantic novels about adventurous women. And I still stay up too late reading, even though I don’t get in trouble for it anymore.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Goodreads ~ Twitter

ARC Review…The Marriage Merger by Jennifer Probst

The Marriage Merger releases July 30

Book Links:

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Goodreads

Synopsis:

My review:

The Marriage Merger is the fourth book in Jennifer Probst’s Marriage to a Billionaire Series and is Sawyer and Julietta’s story. I am a huge fan of this series and have been dying to read this installment…and in true Jennifer fashion, she delivered a fabulous story!

As the head executive of her family’s bakery empire, Julietta Conte hasn’t made her love life a priority and with the louses she’s dealt with in the past, one can hardly blame her. Now, with her sisters all being married and convinced she needs to follow suit, she concedes to their requests to recite the love poem to Mother Earth that they has all done and are convinced had brought love into their lives. So, doubtingly, she does it. Not expecting much, she’s surprised when a business deal that would make La Dolce Famiglia an even bigger success, falls into her lap almost immediately after her spell was cast. Why is she surprised? Because the man with the offer, Sawyer Wells, evokes all sorts of sexual desires and delicious sexual tension within her. She soon realizes she may have been playing with fire when she recited those words. Now she just has to decide what to do with it…fan the flames or extinguish them.

Sawyer Wells has been through hell and back and has the scars to prove it…both emotional and physical. Now, he’s a man on a mission to make his mark on this world and in doing so pay back many promises he’s made to himself and the people who have helped make him who he is today. With his latest project, a merger of his new luxury hotel and the exclusive old world style bakery, La Dolce Famiglia, he’s one step closer to realizing his dreams. It hasn’t been an easy road, and he will remember every dark twist and turn along the road leading him to the uber successful business man he turned out to be. Now, those roads also lead Julietta Conte into his life and with the zing of sexual awareness like he’s never experienced before, he knows there is something special about her. But when she turns him down flat, he relies on the determination that hasn’t ever failed him to get her to admit there’s something more between them then just a business deal.

Sawyer and Julietta have a great many hurdles to overcome, both personally and professionally. They both have a lot to prove and can stand to learn a few things about love and trust and breaking down emotional walls. Will they be able to help one another and maybe find love along the way?

So as I had said, I am a huge fan of this series and I have to say that this is officially my fave in the series. Jennifer took a slightly darker approach to this book and I think it was simply perfect. Sawyer is the ultimate damaged hero…the type of hero I absolutely adore. His past is positively heartbreaking. There were passages that had me reaching for tissues and damn, if that didn’t make me love Sawyer even more. One of the things I loved most was that Jennifer didn’t display Sawyer’s past all out in the open at once. We got pieces throughout the story and bit-by-bit the puzzle of his life comes into focus. The reader was right there with Julietta as she tries to figure him out. He is a character I won’t soon forget. Julietta is 100% kick ass. Yes, we know she is a tough as nails businesswoman and can hold her own in the boardroom but what was nice to see was that she has a vulnerable side. She has many facets that round out her personality beautifully. Together, they are a fantastic couple. Both strong-willed and used to the take-no-prisoners approach, it’s great to see the push and pull between them and learn their individual weaknesses. The heat and chemistry between them is delish and the softer moments they share are some of the best I’ve read.

Also a treat was getting to see the whole cast of characters from the Conte crew! I love when we get to see where life is taking them all and enjoy a Sunday dinner with them and Mama Conte.

I know all of you Marriage to a Billionaire Series fans will adore Sawyer and Julietta as much as I did! Thank you, Jennifer, for another awesome read!

Five Loves

About the author:

Visit her website

Follow Jennifer on Twitter: @jenniferprobst

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Guest post & Giveaway with Mia March author of Finding Colin Firth

I am so lucky to have author Mia March on the blog today with a great guest post on her favorite Colin Firth film!

Her recently released novel, Finding Colin Firth, is a heartwarming tale about three gals, a monumental summer and Colin Firth…of course!

Also, along with Mia’s guest post, I have a paperback copy of Finding Colin Firth to give away to one lucky winner.

Thanks so much for stopping by today and enjoy!

My Favorite Colin Firth film by Mia March

First, did you know that Colin Firth, British Oscar-winning actor and my personal heartthrob since 1995, has appeared in over seventy films between TV movies and film? Since I discovered him on my TV screen as Mr. Darcy in the 1995 BBC miniseries of Pride and Prejudice, I’ve seen so many of his films, marveling over his talent (and swooning over him in general). From Valmont to The King’s Speech, from Mamma Mia to Then She Found Me, from Shakespeare in Love to Fever Pitch, Colin Firth has played a wide range of roles—funny, heartbreaking, moving, adorable, and everything in between.

But my favorite Colin Firth film has always been Bridget Jones Diary. Case in point: take a look at that photo, with Colin in the reindeer jumper at a Christmas party. That photo alone makes me so happy! This is when he, as Mark Darcy, first meets Bridget, and he’s none too nice to her, but he’s snooty in a way that we understand, and that’s Colin Firth’s gift. Even when he’s being snobby, he’s so trustworthy and honest and full of integrity that you enjoy him and feel stung for Bridget and can’t wait to see how their relationship will progress—or not. “I like you. Very much. Just as you are.” Colin Firth, as Mark Darcy, utters these words to bumbling, insecure, wonderful Bridget, and if I thought I couldn’t love him any more than I already did, I fell even deeper into Colin Firth fever.

If you haven’t seen Bridget Jones’ Diary, you are in for a delicious treat! The three main characters in my new novel, FINDING COLIN FIRTH, each wants to find him for a very different reason, but that wanting is something I (and many women) identify with very much. Rumor has it that the actor is coming to a small Maine town to film scenes from his new movie, and 22 year old Bea, nervously connecting with her birth mother; 38 year old Veronica, baker of healing pies and an extra on the film, and 29 year old married journalist Gemma with a big secret, each have ties to the actor that bring them together. If you have a chance to read the novel, I hope you enjoy it!

Book links:

Barnes & Noble ~ Amazon ~ Goodreads

Synopsis:

After losing her job and leaving her beloved husband, journalist Gemma Hendricks is sure that scoring an interview with Colin Firth will save her career and marriage. Yet a heart-tugging local story about women, family ties, love, and loss captures her heart— and changes everything. The story concerns Bea Crane, a floundering twenty-two-year-old who learns in a deathbed confession letter that she was adopted at birth. Bea is in Boothbay Harbor to surreptitiously observe her biological mother, Veronica Russo—something of a legend in town—who Bea might not be ready to meet after all. Veronica, a thirty-eight-year-old diner waitress famous for her “healing” pies, has come home to Maine to face her past. But when she’s hired as an extra on the bustling movie set, she wonders if she is hiding from the truth . . . and perhaps the opportunity of a real-life Mr. Darcy.

These three women will discover more than they ever imagined in this coastal Maine town, buzzing with hopes of Colin Firth. Even the conjecture of his arrival inspires daydreams, amplifies complicated lives, and gives incentive to find their own romantic endings

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About the author: (from Mia’s website)

A little bit about me: I’m the single mother of a wonderful kiddo in elementary school. We live in a small town on the coast of Maine, about an hour and a half south of Boothbay Harbor, the setting of FINDING COLIN FIRTH and THE MERYL STREEP MOVIE CLUB (June 2012, Simon & Schuster). Walking distance from our house is a wonderful little independent bookstore, a smoothie shop, a good restaurant, our town library, the weekly farmer’s market, and a great coffee place where I like to write and read. In other words, everything I need.

Goodreads ~ Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook

Guest Post & Giveaway with Eleri Stone author of Witch Bound

I am so happy to have Eleri Stone, author of Witch Bound, here today with a fun and interesting guest post. She has also offered to give away an eCopy of either Witch Bound or Demon Crossing (1st book in the series)…just enter in the rafflecopter below.

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy!

Book Links:

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Goodreads

Eleri’s guest post:

I’m a little bit obsessed with the new Vikings show on the History Channel. And why not? Big strapping men. Fierce women. Political intrigue. Exploration. Discovery. Conquest. The tagline for the Twilight of the Gods series is “Modern-day Vikings in the American Midwest.” So I thought I’d tell you how my Vikings match up against the Vikings on the TV show.

1. My Vikings are contemporary. While Vikings, the TV series, is set about 800 CE in Scandinavia, my Vikings could be your neighbors. Well, they could be your neighbors if they didn’t live in an isolated and close-knit farming community that’s unwelcoming to strangers. But they could live the next town over and you’d never know it.

2. My Vikings are Norse demigods. The premise of the series is that Ragnarök, the Norse apocalypse, happened centuries ago, destroying Asgard. Some of the Æsir (Norse gods) managed to escape and settle in spots on earth where the wall between worlds is the thinnest. Because the source of their magic is their devastated home-world, their power is greatly diminished. Add to that the fact that few of them are full-blooded Æsir and you have a group of people who don’t possess the legendary powers of their ancestors but who aren’t quite human either.

3. My Vikings aren’t invading new lands. They’re trying to defend this one. When the wall between worlds thins at new moon and full, the demons who destroyed Asgard are able to break through to earth and the Æsir descendants have to hunt them down and kill them.

4. My Vikings travel by magic, not by longship. (Although longships are very cool and if I could figure out a way to work one in, I’d probably do it.) The Æsir came to earth on the bridge Asbrú which still connects earth to Asgard. They’re able to cross to Asgard and also to make short portal jumps between places on earth.

5. My Vikings could kick TV Viking ass. They carry magically spelled Skimstrok blades designed to fight demons. They’re trained warriors, witches and shapeshifters descended directly from the gods. How could they not win that fight?

But as powerful as they are, they’re really just trying to survive in a world that’s not their home. They can’t let the human population know they exist. They can’t run away from their responsibilities and their connection with the magic of their homeworld without losing their sanity.

Here’s what the new book, WITCH BOUND, is all about:

Raquel Lindgren knows what her future holds. An arranged marriage. A new home in Ragnarok, Iowa, with another clan of refugees from Asgard. She should be happy. But there’s a mental block preventing her from tapping in to her true abilities as a witch. And she’s more attracted to the best man than she is to the groom…

Fen can’t believe he’s falling for his best friend’s future wife. As a hound, a wolf shifter, his duty lies with the pack. He’s seen too many hounds destroyed by love, and he’s sworn never to take a mate, never to have children of his own. He can’t deny his desire for Raquel, but she deserves more than he can offer her.

Raquel’s been raised to trust in magic, her clan and her destiny. But when a vengeful demon threatens to break out of Asgard and destroy the clan, Raquel learns she must trust in love if she is to take the future into her own hands.

Are you a fan of Vikings or Norse mythology? Willing to give it a try?
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About the author:

Eleri Stone was born and raised in New Jersey. She graduated from the University of Iowa, married her college sweetheart, and settled in the Midwest where she still lives with her husband and their three children. A lifelong fan of fantasy, she started reading romance as an adult and was instantly captivated by the strong female protagonists, character-driven storylines and guarantee of a happy-ever-after. Writing fantasy and paranormal romance, she is the author of the Lost City Shifters series (shapeshifter paranormal romance), the Twilight of the Gods series (paranormal romance based on Norse mythology) and the Spellcraft series (secondary-world fantasy romance).

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Cover Reveal…Forever Freed by Laura Kaye

I am so pleased to be able to bring you the new cover for Laura Kaye’s FOREVER FREED! Along with the cover, you can enjoy an excerpt and the trading card photos for the main characters…how fun!

Thanks so much for stopping by and be sure to add FOREVR FREED to your reading list…enjoy!

Book Links:

Amazon Kindle ~ Amazon paperback ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Kobo

Synopsis:

A heart can break, even one that no longer beats.

I stalk my new neighbors, a single mother and her child, drawn by the irresistible scent of their joy and love. I crave their blood, starved for some healing respite from my ancient guilt and grief. Now to lure them into my grasp.

But they surprise me. Little Olivia accepts me without fear–talking, smiling, offering innocent affection that tugs at my long-lost humanity. Her mother, Samantha, seeks me out when she should stay away, offering sweet friendship, and tempting the forgotten man within me. They lure me instead.

Ah, Dio, Lucien, run and spare them while you can…

NJRW GOLDEN LEAF WINNER FOR BEST PARANORMAL ROMANCE OF 2011
NJRW GOLDEN LEAF FINALIST FOR BEST FIRST BOOK OF 2011

GDRWA BOOKSELLERS’ BEST CONTEST FINALIST FOR BEST PARANORMAL 2012
GDRWA BOOKSELLERS’ BEST CONTEST FINALIST FOR BEST FIRST BOOK OF 2012

Excerpt:

The bedroom door had barely clicked behind me when Samantha grabbed and shoved me toward the bed. I fell backward, and she was on top of me, clawing at my clothes and ripping off her own. Whatever had been going on with her all day was now clearly finding a release.

“Sam?”

She kissed me roughly and shoved her tongue into my mouth. I groaned and pushed her back.

Though we french kissed all the time, I generally kept her out of my mouth.

“Sam?”

Finally, she stilled. With her hands braced on my shoulders, her eyes burned down into mine. Her anger squeezed my chest. Her voice was strained. “Lucien, we’ll talk later. I promise. But right now I want you, and I need you. And I need you to know it, feel it.” Her words clarified little, but I nodded.

She unleashed herself on me, kissing and licking and roughly nipping at my upper body all while

maintaining eye contact. I thrust my hips into her when she lingered over my Blood Mark. I finally had to grab her hair and tug her attention away from it.

With a groan, she reached a hand down between her legs and worked herself as she devoured me. When I realized what she was doing, I moaned and gripped her shoulders and rolled on top of her.

I grabbed her hand and pulled it to my mouth, then noisily sucked on her wet fingers. I groaned at the sweet nectar of her arousal.

“You see what you do to me, Lucien? What only you do to me?” she rasped. “Take me, Lucien. I’m yours,” she offered as she planted her feet flat on the mattress and pushed herself up forcefully against my erection.

Her aggression spurred mine, and I grunted. “You want me?” I asked as I ground myself against

her wetness. She ran a hand over the bedspread and found the packet she’d apparently laid out earlier. She slid herself against me as she opened it and then rolled on the condom. “God, yes,” she whimpered.

I plunged forward and filled her in one hard stroke. She screamed and wrapped herself around

me. Hard breaths and grunts and strained curses in two languages filled the room as we battled through Samantha’s emotions with our bodies. She kissed me roughly and dug her nails into my flesh. The physical pain mingled with her radiating pleasure to coax what I was sure was going to be one of the most intense orgasms I’d ever experienced.

She came in a frenzy of screams and muscle contractions. And then bit against the taut skin at

the base of my neck. Hard.

My fangs and release shot out at the same time. I growled and in a blur turned my head in search of my biceps. I missed the tender skin of her shoulder by a hair as the urge to bite down became irresistible.

Finally, I willed my fangs to retract and licked at the wound I’d made on my arm, then slid down a little and laid my head on her heaving breasts.

“I love you,” I whispered breathlessly.

She hugged my shoulders and combed her fingers through my hair. “I love you, too.” We lay together, panting, for a long time. “Lucien?” I lifted my head off her chest to look at her. “I’m ready to talk now.”

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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