Read-Love-Blog

February 2014 Release Day Event

Cover Reveal February 2014

Cover Reveal….Beautiful Ties by Alicia Rae

by Jilly

Title: Beautiful Ties (The Beautiful Series #4)

Author: Alicia Rae

Genre: Contemporary Romance 18+

Publication Date: March 25, 2014

Cover Design: Okay Creations

Event Organized by: Literati Author Services, Inc.

Synopsis

While watching her brothers find their happily ever afters, Abbey dreams of falling in love. Smart, fun, and sexy, Abbey is also independent and works hard alongside her brother, Kyle. When Kyle joins his business ventures with his wife’s cousins, Jason and Damon, Abbey struggles with keeping things professional.

Jason is instantly enamored with Abbey, and he becomes determined to win her over. Although she does not want to mix business with pleasure, he uses his good looks and sweet charm to work his way into her heart. All the while, Abbey begins building a friendship with a neighborhood child, Pearl. Abbey’s heart warms to Pearl, and their friendship quickly blossoms into a loving relationship.

Can Abbey find a way balance her growing feelings for Jason and her need to take care of Pearl? Or will Abbey need to sacrifice one relationship for the sake of the other?

Add to Goodreads

About the Author

Alicia Rae is a Contemporary Romance Author who lives in Dekalb, Illinois, with her husband and three beautiful boys. Alicia has a passion for reading all types of romance, writing to bring a story to life, and photography.

Thank you to my dear sister, Kels, who showed me a few years ago how much I truly missed reading. And to my loving husband, for not throwing away my Nook, and planting the seed of writing into my mind. I am forever grateful. Xo

Readers, words cannot thank you enough for supporting me along this incredible journey. I hope you enjoy my novels as much as I do writing them. I thank each and every one of you.

Believe in yourself and follow your dreams…

Connect with the Author: Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

My Way Series by HJ Bellus…Blitz Tour

by Jilly

CREE

(My Way Series, #1)

By: HJ BELLUS

Synopsis:

Whose parents abandon them in a trashy trailer when they are five years old? Oh Yeah! Mine do!

Hey Hoochies! I’m Milly, and I am tired of taking kicks to the gut. A broken family, an asshole husband and the loss of loved ones have left me crying Uncle, and declaring a serious case of the Fuck-Its!

I had my heart broken, stomped on and shattered before I ever started on my journey to find my little piece of happiness. With a bucket list, a ’66 Ford and wild dreams, I set out on an adventure that changed my life forever.

I found Cree…

A pirate with a little princess and they swept me off my ever lovin’ feet, filling my world with sprinkles, mac n’ cheese and the courage to live again.

They forced my fragile heart to trust and love without fear.

But the truth is, nobody’s past stays hidden forever. It’s an invisible monster waiting to attack and destroy. It has the capability to ruin everything you’ve worked to set right.

All it takes is one final blow to the gut to end everything…

Add on Goodreads

Purchase links:

Amazon | Paperback | B&N

_____________________________________________________________

TRIPP

(My Way Series #2)

by: HJ Bellus

Synopsis:

Lacey’s Story…

Covering up pain is easy. It’s keeping it tucked away that’s hard. I’ve always needed the cover of tattoos to hide the nasty past that leached its way into me, tainting me beneath my skin.

Not the shiny, trendy tats, but the ugly broken kind, meant to keep the world at bay. If they weren’t enough, then my piercings, foul mouth and crazy hair usually did the trick. Life had taught me to never follow the rules, because when you do, you get burned.

My life was perfectly imperfect until Tripp…

Our relationship is what most would describe as fuel meeting fire. We were both hell bent on burning each other to the ground. Tripp was sexy as hell, a charismatic beast, and soon became one of my best friends. We shared a love of ice cream and tattoos as we blazed our own path that could only lead to a beautiful train wreck.

The only question left is, will we set the countryside ablaze with our hot tempers and foul mouths? Or will we paint our own happy ending filled with all the gushy shit normal people crave?

Add on Goodreads

COMING MID MARCH!

MILES

(My Way Series #3)

Willow’s story COMING SUMMER 2014!

Add on Goodreads

About the author:

HJ BELLUS

I’m just a simple girl who loves the country life… Oh yeah, & a good corn dog! Throw in a little Vanilla Ice, and shits bound to get crazy!

Be Brave!

Social media links:

Email: hjbellus@gmail.com

Hosted by:

Book Blitz February 2014

Hard As You Can by Laura Kaye…Release Day Event & Review

by Jilly

Happy Release Day to Laura Kaye and Hard As You Can!

I’ve got tons of goodies to share today including an excerpt, my review and a Q&A with Laura! I’ve also got info on Laura’s fabulous giveaway!

Thanks for stopping by and ENJOY!

Book links:

Synopsis:

Five dishonored soldiers.

Former Special Forces.

One last mission.

These are the men of Hard Ink.

Ever since hard-bodied, drop-dead-charming Shane McCallan strolled into the dance club where Crystal Dean works, he’s shown a knack for getting beneath her defenses. For her little sister’s sake, Crystal can’t get too close. Until her job and Shane’s mission intersect, and he reveals talents that go deeper than she could have guessed.

Shane would never turn his back on a friend in need, especially a former Special Forces teammate running a dangerous, off-the-books operation. Nor can he walk away from Crystal. The gorgeous waitress is hiding secrets she doesn’t want him to uncover. Too bad. He’s exactly the man she needs to protect her sister, her life, and her heart. All he has to do is convince her that when something feels this good, you hold on as hard as you can—and never let go.

My review:

Hard As You Can is the second book in Laura Kaye’s Hard Ink Series. Being a huge fan of Laura’s work and this series, I was so excited to read this second installment…and it did not disappoint! Filled with action, emotion, intensity, and suspense, this book is a WIN!

Knee deep in a mission to answer some haunting questions, former Army medic Shane McCallan is working with the men he never thought he’d have the honor of doing so again. After half of his Special Forces until had been killed in a horrific ambush, the surviving members had pretty much gone their separate ways after returning from overseas. But his brothers in arms were never far from Shane’s mind. Now, they were trying to put the pieces of an act of betrayal together and figure out just what happened to their unit in the desert that day. Their first not-exactly-legal mission has come to and end but has left more questions. With hopes of finding the answers, Shane keeps thinking about the strip-club waitress who helped him and his team the night of the daring rescue they pulled off. If she hadn’t helped them, who knows what the outcome may have been. But that’s not the only reason Shane keeps thinking about her. She was beautiful and held a certain something that Shane knew was special. She didn’t belong in the dangerous world he and his buddies were up against. Little did he know just how right he would be and just how much that waitress would need the lifeline he gives her.

Cocktail waitress Crystal Dean has been pushed to her limits so many times that she isn’t sure she even has them anymore. But she only has eight more months of living this hell. The hell of working in this strip club, of being a thug’s girlfriend, and of paying off her father’s debt to one of the most dangerous gang’s in Baltimore. In eight short months, her sister will have graduated from college and they can start over in a new town, with new identities and really live life the way it was meant to be for two young women. The only problem now was the handsome grey-eyed stranger who kept coming back into her life and threatened to make her bad situation much worse. She had helped him when he and his men came in to rescue the poor guy being kept in the basement of the club and she sure as hell never thought she’d see him again. But he keeps coming back. To the club and to her apartment and she finds herself taking chances with him that she knows are potentially deadly for her and her sister. But there is something so good and honest about him that makes Crystal want more out of this hellish life she’s living. Maybe he can help her and she can get out sooner. Crystal has never wanted anything more. Could Shane be her savior? Could he be more?

The odds against Shane and Crystal are stacked a mile high and the dangers are severe but they won’t prove too great to defeat hope. Hope for a new life, hope for love, hope for becoming whole again. Both Shane and Crystal need those things more than ever and together they can accomplish them….but at what cost?

This book rocked. There was so much packed into the pages that I was excited and anxious for every chapter and to see what would happen next. Shane is delectable. He is charming and kind with a confidence most would envy. But under all of that, he has a huge heart and has his own painful past that has made him hold the ones he loves even closer. He is persistent in his pursuit of Crystal because he knows she’s in trouble and he knows she’s an anomaly in this world of crime and corruption. He can feel her attraction to him and he vows to get her out of this hell. His honor is immeasurable and I adored reading him. Crystal is in an awful spot and really could use someone to trust. She has been through so much all while showing a brave face to the world. I was so happy Shane found her. She proved to be an immensely strong woman and I was pulling for her and Shane to get together. Did they? Well, I won’t spoil anything for you but I will say this…..the sexual tension between them builds beautifully and ends in a most delicious way.

Of course, the heart of the story is the unraveling of the mystery surrounding Shane’s former unit’s commander and his betrayal of them. Laura is doing an amazing job of building this aspect of the story and I can’t wait to see how it all progresses as the series continues!

Thank you, Laura, for another kick ass Hard Ink book!

Four Loves

Excerpt:

Today, I’m excited to share Shane and Crystal’s first kiss! Don’t you love first kiss scenes? Gah! I so do. *grins* Here we go:

“Tell me not to,” Shane said, his voice a raw scrape.

“I can’t,” Crystal whispered in a shaky voice. “I don’t want to.”

Shane’s body took over then, all urgent need and basic instinct. The rest of the world be damned. He pulled her in and kissed her, his lips devouring, his tongue exploring deep. Nothing held back. Nothing denied. Not even as her lips reawakened the sting from the cut on his lip. Totally worth it.

Crystal’s arms came up around him. She trembled against him, and Shane wasn’t sure if it was caused by adrenaline or fear. Unable to tolerate the thought that she might feel forced, he eased off.

She moaned and held him tighter, like his retreat had made something snap within her. Their kisses deepened, and her body moved against his, sinuously, maddeningly, desperately.

They tasted one another again and again, giving in to the heat that had sparked between them from the moment Crystal had collided with him at Confessions. Little nips and bites of lips and teeth warred with long, sensual strokes of tongue that stole his breath and made him instantly hard. The sting in his lip, the throb of his GSW, the aches from Nick’s asskicking, every bit of it faded away—no, her touch made it all go away.

The few times they’d spoken, Crystal had most often been guarded, tentative, fearful. Just as she’d been when he first kissed her. But, now, she was revealing a passionate woman who could be fearless, giving and receiving openly and without hesitation. Christ, the thought that this fierceness was the real Crystal slayed him because it meant she was burying and denying her true self, not because she wanted to, but because she had to.

No, because someone forced her to.

The thought reminded him of the bruises on her arm. Shane had known this woman for three days, and twice in that time she’d been hurt by another man. And both as a consequence for things Shane had done.

A crack of thunder echoed from the heavens, making Crystal jump and gasp into his mouth.

“I’ve got you,” he rasped around a kiss.

Part of him wanted to say more, to tell her he had her and he’d keep her safe. But he couldn’t make himself give up her heat, her sweetness, her obvious hunger—for him.

So he made her a silent promise instead.

Never again, Crystal. He’ll never hurt you again. Not on my watch.

Because Shane McCallan had made a mistake like that once. And, as bad as his sister’s disappearance had been, something’s happening to Crystal would actually be worse because Shane knew it was coming. The one break he’d ever given himself over Molly was that he’d had no way to know she’d be abducted. Didn’t excuse the role he played in allowing it to happen, but he couldn’t have known. But with Crystal, while he might not know when or how this Bruno asshole would strike out to do the ultimate damage, it was all but a done deal at this point. Always was with guys like him. And Shane would go to the grave before he let it happen, before he failed another female for whom he cared.

Because he did care. Made no damn sense given how long he’d known her. And the timing was beyond piss-poor. But there it was all the same.

So that’s Shane and Crystal starting to give in to what they feel for one another – I hope you enjoyed! Did you have a favorite line? Thanks for reading!

~Laura

“Edgy, sexy, and full of suspense! A great read from a great new author!”

~J.R. Ward on Hard As It Gets

Q & A with Laura:

HARD AS YOU CAN is your second book in the “Hard Ink” series (after USA Today bestseller, HARD AS IT GETS). What can readers look forward to?

Readers can look forward to tons of sexy alpha male goodness, awesome bromance between the Hard Ink men, more antics from the Hard Ink puppy, and another great love story between Shane and Crystal. But readers should also be ready for a book that is darker, more intense, and more emotional. This book pushed me to emotional places that were tough as a writer, and might be tough for readers, too. But I think that just makes the payoff at the end so much sweeter!

Describe Shane and Crystal. What are their best traits? What are their weaknesses?

Shane and Crystal are such an amazing couple to me. They’re each exactly what the other needs. Shane’s best traits are his protectiveness, his fundamental kindness, and his soul-deep loyalty (his southern accent and humor are also right up there!). His biggest weakness for sure is a tragedy from the past for which he blames himself—and it’s something that continues to motivate him in Hard As You Can. Crystal’s best traits are her courage, protectiveness, and selflessness—she’s willing to do anything to keep her younger sister safe. Her biggest weakness is also that selflessness, because the sacrifices she’s required to make are getting bigger and bigger and bigger.

If you could describe your book in a 140 character tweet, what would it be?

When a woman in trouble assists an ex-soldier’s covert mission to regain his team’s stolen honor, he finds a new mission to save her, too

What are you most excited about with this second book release?

I’m really excited to take readers deeper into these awesome characters and into the mystery behind the Hard Ink team’s ambush and discharge!

What books are you reading right now?

I’m almost done with Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander (yes, I’m very late to the party but OMG JAMIE FRASER!!!). And I’ve recently devoured and loved Juliana Stone’s Offsides and Shelly Thacker’s time-travel historical romance, Forever His.

What can fans of your “Hard Ink” series look forward to next?

There will be two more Hard Ink books in 2014!

Hard to Hold on To – August 2014

Hard to Come By – November 2014

Read an Extended Excerpt of Book 1, Hard As It Gets

Buy Hard As You Can at Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Kobo

Giveaway:

February 2014 New Releases New Reviews Release Day Event

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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ARC Review….Theirs to Cherish by Shayla Black

by Jilly

Theirs to Cherish releases March 4

Book links:

February 2014 New Releases New Reviews

Synopsis:

The perfect place for a woman on the run to disappear…

Accused of a horrific murder she didn’t commit, former heiress Callie Ward has been a fugitive since she was sixteen—until she found the perfect hideout, Club Dominion. The only problem is she’s fallen for the club’s Master, Mitchell Thorpe, who keeps her at arm’s length. Little does she know that his reasons for not getting involved have everything to do with his wounded heart…and his consuming desire for her.

To live out her wildest fantasies…

Enter Sean Kirkpatrick, a Dom who’s recently come to Dominion and taken a pointed interest in Callie. Hoping to make Thorpe jealous, she submits to Sean one shuddering sigh at a time. It isn’t long before she realizes she’s falling for him too. But the tender lover who’s slowly seducing her body and earning her trust isn’t who he claims…

And to fall in love.

When emotions collide and truths are exposed, Sean is willing to risk all to keep Callie from slipping through his fingers. But he’s not the only man looking to stake a claim. Now Callie is torn between Sean and Thorpe, and though she’s unsure whom she can trust, she’ll have to surrender her body and soul to both—if she wants to elude a killer…

My Review:

Theirs to Cherish is the 8^th installment in author Shayla Black’s Wicked Lovers Series and can absolutely be read as a stand alone. Talk about a delicious thriller! This book was sexy, sensual, and mysterious all rolled into a delectable package. I adored it!

Callie Ward knows she’s been stationary too long. She’s been on the run since she was 16 after her seeing her family brutally murdered and almost becoming a victim herself. She’s also been unjustly accused of the brutal crime. It’s that mystery killer she’s been running from for years now. She’s been at Club Dominion for four years and fears the feelings she has developed for not only her Dom, but also the club’s master, will be her downfall. Callie has fallen, hard…for both men. Sean the sexy Scottish Dom and Thorpe, the club master. Both men have been kind to her over the years and they make her feel safe. Almost like feeling at home. To her, those feelings are practically as terrifying as a killer stalking her from the shadows. Deciding to flee Club Dominion was one of the hardest choices she’s ever had to make. Leaving the people you love is never easy. But Callie has no idea that these two men love her just as much and will do anything to protect her. They refuse to let her shoulder this mess on her own and with their help she may be able to live her real life again. But will she be able to live it with just one of these amazing, caring, sexy guys? Hopefully she won’t have to choose.

As if all of that wasn’t enough to deal with, the plaguing mystery of her family’s murders will come to light once more and Callie with Sean and Thorpe’s help, she may finally get the answers she needs. Hopefully without anyone else getting hurt or killed.

Wow. This book was fantastic. Callie’s life has been filled with heartache. She lost her entire family and has been on her own. She’s finally found a home within the walls of a BDSM club and went from loving no one to loving two very different, but equally desirable, men. I don’t blame her one bit for being torn. I don’t think I would have been able to choose between the two. Sean is smart, strong, understanding, kind, and ridiculously sexy. Thorpe is all of those things and more. He’s experienced and more dominant than Sean and holds the power to rein her in in a way she’s never known. It would be like asking someone to choose between two decadent desserts….who could?! I won’t say what Callie’s choice ended up being but I will say that the ending made me very happy.

Oh, and the mystery surrounding the murders? Wow. Shayla did an amazing job of weaving the who-done-it through the entire story and had me on the edge of my seat up until the very end. Really well done!

Fans of The Wicked Lovers Series will love this latest steamy installment and if you haven’t tried the series yet, I highly recommend you do! Thank you, Shayla, for a truly enjoyable read.

Four Loves

About the author:

Shayla Black (aka Shelley Bradley) is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over 40 sizzling contemporary, erotic, paranormal, and historical romances produced via traditional, small press, independent, and audio publishing. She lives in Texas with her husband, munchkin, and one very spoiled cat. In her “free” time, she enjoys reality TV, reading and listening to an eclectic blend of music.

Shayla’s books have been translated in about a dozen languages. She has also received or been nominated for The Passionate Plume, The Holt Medallion, Colorado Romance Writers Award of Excellence, and the National Reader’s Choice Awards. RT Bookclub has twice nominated her for Best Erotic Romance of the year, as well as awarded her several Top Picks, and a KISS Hero Award.

A writing risk-taker, Shayla enjoys tackling writing challenges with every new book.

Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook

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Tyler & Stella (Tattoo Thief #2) by Heidi Joy Tretheway…Blog Tour Stop & Review

by Jilly

Welcome to my stop on the Tyler& Stella by Heidi Joy Tretheway Blog Tour!

Thanks for stopping by and please enjoy my review!

Book links:

Kindle | B&N | Print via Amazon | Createspace

Synopsis:

Stella Ramsey always says bad boys can’t break your heart. They don’t call, don’t cuddle and don’t send flowers—but what do you expect? For Stella, no strings means no regrets.

When the biggest story of her fledgling career as a music journalist nearly ruins her relationship with her best friend, Stella has one chance to redeem herself. Tyler Walsh could be that chance.

Stella promises the bassist for the rock band Tattoo Thief anything in exchange for behind-the-scenes access. But Tyler doesn’t want anything. He wants everything—and that’s more than Stella is prepared to give.

When Tyler’s explosive secret thrusts Stella into the media spotlight, she must choose between the selling the story and telling the truth—and exposing the truth about herself as well.

Tyler & Stella (Tattoo Thief #2) is a sizzling story of lust, lies, and sacrifice, revealing how much love can forgive.

My review:

Tyler & Stella is the second book in author Heidi Joy Trethway’s Tattoo Thief Series and the first in the series I have read. Well, after reading this book I have added this series as one I will be looking forward to more from. I freaking loved this book!

Anxiously looking for a way to further her music journalism career, Stella Ramsey knows she is holding that very thing in the palm of her hand. Literally. But she also knows that if she leaks what she has, she won’t just be reporting an über exclusive piece on hot rock band Tattoo Thief, she will be risking losing her best friend and her best friend’s trust. Without really thinking her actions through, she leaks it anyway and regrets it immediately. Now Stella finds herself having to gain her friend’s trust back. She also has to get more stories on Tattoo Thief, which means she’s going to have to gain their trust back as well. Enter Tyler Walsh. As Tattoo Thief’s hot and sexy bassist he steps in and gives her a chance to fix things while giving her material for a story. Tyler seems to good to be true but Stella knows all about the bad boy rocker types. The thing is, Tyler keeps surprising her. He turns out to be unlike any preconceived notion she had about him and that becomes dangerous. Dangerous because Stella doesn’t do the whole nice guy thing. She’s used to dysfunction and hurt. It’s all she’s known when it comes to guys. Could Tyler be the one to change her mind? The better question is, would Stella ever feel worthy of a guy like Tyler?

Rock star bassist Tyler Walsh has learned the hard way that he’s got to keep his guard up. He went from awkward teen to gorgeous and sexy rock star in such a short amount of time that he still isn’t used to all the attention that comes along with it. It was hard believing a girl wanted him for him and not just his fame and face. Then came Stella. She was sort of a mess when they met and he knew he could help her. He wanted to help her. The problem was he had to keep her at arm’s length until he got to know her better. Tyler finds himself hoping beyond hope that Stella could see past all the hype and into who he really is. He was willing to give her everything if she could do just that.

The attraction and chemistry between Tyler and Stella is positively delicious and they both feel it. But with old trust issues and constantly being in the spotlight, will they be able to find something true and real in a world of hype and tabloids?

*Dreamy sigh* Oh, how I loved this book. From the very beginning the story grabbed me and I was kept in its hold until the very end. I devoured it in 24 hours and loved every minute. Stella is kind of a mess. She drinks too much and hurt her best friend. She’s got a messed up past that has cut her deep emotionally and in turn has made her self-worth take a nosedive. But I loved her. She is raw, gritty and fresh at the same time. She wasn’t the flawless heroine that every guy drools over and I truly enjoyed that facet of her as a character. As for Tyler, all I can say is: yes, please! Talk about the complete opposite of the rock god persona. He is so amazing. He’s the good guy in a bad boy role. He’s kind and warm and has a huge heart. He’s got his share of secrets that he holds close to his vest and rightfully so. He treats Stella with such care both physically and emotionally and I absolutely fell in love with him. He is one of those book guys that I will hold future book guys up to for quite some time. I think one of the reasons I enjoyed this story so much was that Stella and Tyler’s roles were almost reversed. She was the one in need of love and kindness and he was the one who had so much love to give. The build up of heat between them was perfect. It was ever-present but acting on it was something that took time and when it finally happened it was sublime.

The secrets that both Stella and Tyler are keeping are two pretty big doozies and I let out a huge “whoa” when one of Tyler’s was revealed. Never saw it coming throughout the whole book. I love being shocked like that!

Overall if you love a good guy saving a damsel in distress with a modern rock and roll twist, this is a book for you! Thank you, Heidi Joy, for an amazing story! I can’t wait to see what’s next for Tattoo Thief!

Five Loves

About the author:

Heidi Joy lives in Happy Valley off Sunnyside Road. She swears she did not make that up.

Heidi’s obsessed with storytelling. Her career includes marketing, journalism, and a delicious few years as a food columnist. Media passes took her backstage with several rock bands, where she learned that sometimes a wardrobe malfunction is exactly what the rock star intends.

You’ll most often find Heidi Joy with her husband and two small kids cooking, fishing, exploring the Northwest, and building epic forts in their living room.

She loves to hear from readers via messages at facebook.com/author.heidi.

Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Author Goodreads | Tyler & Stella Goodreads

Blog Tour February 2014 New Releases New Reviews

Taking Something by Elizabeth Lee….Blog Tour Stop & Guest Post

by Jilly

Welcome to my stop on Elizabeth Lee’s Taking Something Blog Tour!

I have a fun guest post to share with you all today along with the tour-wide giveaway.

Thanks for stopping by and ENJOY!

Book links:

Synopsis:

I know what you’re thinking. “You were such a jerk, Nick!” Believe me, I know I screwed up the best thing I had going in my life, but that was kind of my thing. I’d learned how to run cons before I could even form complete sentences, and I’d always been selfish. But I changed. Lila forgave me, my brother and I were getting along, and I was trying to make a name for myself in the music world.

At least that was what I was trying to do when I negotiated my way into the recording studio with pop superstar Sadie Sinclair. I thought it would be a piece of cake—charm my way into her heart and into her record label’s good graces.

Just when I thought I had it all figured out, I got mixed up in a web of lies, manipulation, and deception. A web that had me questioning my motives and desires altogether.

Was the fame and fortune really worth the price?

Elizabeth’s Guest Post:

10 Reasons Nick is the Perfect Book Boyfriend

1. He’s good with his hands. He knows how to push all the right buttons.

2. He’s a lover not a fighter.

3. Nothing is sexier than a guy who can dance.

4. He knows what he wants and he gets it.

5. Anybody who is related to Tucker Kline has to have a few good lines, right?

6. He’s a deejay, ladies. He knows exactly what songs will put you in the mood.

7. He knows just how to steal your heart.

8. You know those super soft old t-shirts that feel so good against your skin? Well, he’s got about a hundred of them and has no problem letting you slip one on.

9. Tattoos. Need I say more?

10. There’s a fine line between love and hate and he knows how to walk it with the best of them.

Giveaway:

Blog Tour February 2014 Guest Post

About the author:

When I’m not writing or playing the part of wife and mother, you can find me dancing back-up for Beyonce, singing back-up for Miranda, or sunning myself on the beach with a drink in hand. Here’s the thing about being born and raised in a small town—you have a very vivid imagination! Now, I channel it all to create stories where the girl always ends up with the right guy, first kisses are magical, and a happy ending is just that!

LINKS:

Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Website ~ Author Goodreads ~ Novel Goodreads

Reaper’s Touch by Eleri Stone….Guest Post & Review

by Jilly

Happy Friday!

Thanks so much for stopping by today! I recently read Reaper’s Touch by Eleri Stone and really enjoyed it. I was also lucky enough to have Eleri stop by the blog with a fabulous guest post!

Please enjoy and thanks again for visiting!

Book links:

February 2014 Guest Post New Reviews

Synopsis:

Abby is a Ranger, part of an elite group who defend the border against Reapers—humans infected with a parasite that turns them into mindless cannibals. Rangers are immune to Reaper infection, and as one of the only female Rangers, Abby is expected to settle down and breed more Rangers—a fate she’s keen to avoid. When she’s ambushed on the plains, she’s ready to go out with guns blazing—until a mysterious, handsome cowboy rides to her rescue.

Jake has his own motives for helping Abby, beyond aiding a damsel in distress. He’s a Reaper, and while he’s learned to wrest control of his mind from the parasite, the effects won’t last without a permanent cure. And he needs Abby to get it.

Abby and Jake are natural enemies and unlikely partners. But when their search reveals a conspiracy between Reapers and the rich industrialists who own the mountain cities, they must work together to find the cure—or lose the border, and each other, forever.

My review:

Reaper’s Touch by author Eleri Stone is a cowboy meets zombie story with a steam punk feel that I really, really enjoyed!

One of a very few female Rangers, Abby is a rare breed. She is part of a select group born to defend the population against the Reapers….or zombies as we know them. These reapers are infected humans that have been taken over by a parasite and have turned from normal people to cannibals. The Rangers are blessed with the immunity of that parasite which makes them perfect to police the infected and keep the uninfected safe. Rangers rely not only on their physical training to fight but also an innate ability to actually sense a Reaper’s presence. It’s that combo that has kept Abby on the battlefield and not in a Ranger village somewhere having little ranger babies, which is what most female Rangers did. So not Abby’s style. So when Abby is sent to give a message to another Ranger camp, she is a little suspicious that her Captain may be setting a retirement in motion for her. Being strong-willed, Abby agrees to go on the mission but knows to keep her guard up. She was never going to do anything other than fight. That’s what she was good at. Imagine her surprise when the training she has relied on fails her when she meets Jake. A sexy and rugged cowboy who saves her ass from a nasty group of men while on her mission only to find out that he is exactly what she’s supposed to be fighting…..a Reaper.

Jake has been a reaper for over a hundred years now and has come so very far from those first mindless days of being infected. He has learned to control his urges and hopes one day to find a cure for the parasite he’s been infected with for far too long. This is where he needs Abby’s help. He never thought he would be asking a Ranger to trust him and ask for her help but that’s what he needed to do if there was any hope of eradicating this sickness. This was his last chance and his only hope….

Never would Abby and Jake have thought they would be working with the enemy for the common good but that’s exactly what needs to happen. Will Abby be able to trust Jake won’t hurt her when all she’s even known was killing reapers? Would Jake have what it takes to earn that trust? Only time will tell and unfortunately time isn’t something they have a whole lot of. Forming an unlikely alliance will slowly turn into something more for these two and oh how I loved it!

Again, I have to say that I loved this cowboy/zombie mash-up! It was different and exciting and interesting to read packed with suspense, intensity and even some sexy heat. Abby and Jake are on opposite teams in this war and the building of trust between them was really great to read. Neither one of them wants to be working with the other one but luckily they are pretty reasonable and realize they may be able to save the human race…together. There were more than a few twists and turns in this book that I enjoyed as well. Of course I won’t spoil it for you!

If you’re looking for something fresh and exciting, this is a book for you. Thank you, Eleri, for giving me a book I was excited to read from start to finish!

Four Loves

Guest Post:

Hi! Thank you so much for having me here to talk about my new release Reaper’s Touch. The inspirational “what if” question behind the Reaper series was: What if early explorers to the Americas discovered the fountain of youth but found that immortality came at a terrible price?

The story strayed from that original concept. The parasite that turned men into Reapers—immortal, violently aggressive cannibals—didn’t come from a fountain. Hurricanes and flooding contaminated the drinking water unleashing a plague on pre-Civil War era America. Because the parasite is killed by freezing temperatures, small populations of people survived by fleeing north or retreating into the mountains. Reapers migrate with warm weather, running south during the winter and rising again in the spring. A small percentage of the survivors are immune to the parasite and they become Rangers whose job it is to protect human farming and ranching settlements on the plains.

That’s the basic premise. Is it science fiction? Most biological plagues and apocalyptic stories fall into that category. The historical setting puts it more within the realm of alternate history/fantasy. And when you throw a strong romantic storyline into the mix, what the heck is it then? Not really paranormal romance, but what? I’ve spent a lot of time scratching my head trying to figure out what category to put this story in and it got me thinking about how much genre labels really matter.

Genre categories are supposed to aid in the discovery process and help set reader expectations. If you feel like reading Fantasy, you go find the shelf marked Fantasy and when you pull one of those books, you have a general idea of what you’re getting yourself into.

This traditional system works fine for physical bookstores and libraries. There are a limited number of books to look at and you can skim covers and blurbs until you find something close to what you’re looking for. Online is a different story. For one thing, there are so many titles available, especially if you’re looking at digital books. Browsing aimlessly isn’t really an option unless you have hours of time on your hands. And using the booksellers’ search engines can be an exercise in frustration.

Instead of browsing by genre-categories, what I’d really like to be able to do is type in a specific search “Epic Fantasy Romance Anti-Hero Sorcerer” or “Biological Plague Wild West” and get a list of relevant suggestions. Or maybe search for favorite tropes. But right now it can be hard to find what you’re looking for.

Reaper’s Touch ended up categorized as Paranormal Romance and Sci-Fi Dystopian. I’m curious about how much people pay attention to genre categories when they’re looking for books. And what would you call a cowboys vs. zombies + romance story?

Thanks for stopping by today, Eleri! ~Jillian

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 and character-driven storylines. All of her stories have some element of speculative fiction and they all end with a happy-ever-after.

Website • Facebook • Twitter • Goodreads

Cover Reveal February 2014

Lauren Blakely’s Caught Up In Love Series Cover Reveal

by Jilly

We are so excited to bring to you Lauren Blakely’s new covers for CAUGHT UP IN US and PRETENDING HE’S MINE today!

Lauren gave us a special message to share with you about why the covers are changing.

Caught Up in Us and Pretending He’s Mine are my first two books, and

while I have great affection for the original covers and the way

readers responded to those two romances, I wanted the covers to better

match the look of the rest of my books. I began working with the Sarah

Hansen at Okay Creations starting with Trophy Husband and she went on

to also design Playing With Her Heart’s cover as well as my No Regrets

series. I love the work she did on those books, and while she was busy

creating the cover for my next novel, Night After Night (releasing in

May!), I asked Helen Williams at All Booked Out to do a cover makeover

for Caught Up in Us and Pretending He’s Mine so that those could match

Playing With Her Heart’s look. Helen does amazing work and has done

many graphics for me and other book covers, so I knew she would be

able to do a brilliant redo — she also redid the covers in only one

weekend!! It was a fast turnaround and I am thrilled with the new

looks, and especially how well all the books play together now. And to

celebrate the redesign as well as the one-year anniversary of

Pretending He’s Mine this month, I will be offering Pretending He’s

Mine for free on iBooks starting today and through the weekend! (It’s

possible Amazon might price match the free offering, but I can’t

guarantee what Amazon will do so if you want to read it for free, snag

it on iBooks!)

Aren’t they gorgeous? See below for individual pictures of each new cover and all of the information on each, as well as where you can find Lauren and stalk-we mean follow-her!

CAUGHT UP IN US:

Amazon | Amazon UK | B&N | iBooks or HERE

ABOUT CAUGHT UP IN US:

A New York Times and USA Today
Bestseller!

A second
chance at first love…

Five years ago, Kat Harper
fell into a dizzying summer romance with her brother’s best friend Bryan. It
was a mad, crazy love full of kisses all through the night — but he broke her
heart and she had to move on. Five years later, Kat is finishing her graduate
degree and building her business as a jewelry designer, when Bryan, head of his
own successful company, walks back into her life. Bryan has been assigned to
Kat as her new business mentor and the rules are clear. No hanky panky
permitted. Kat can handle that because she’s totally over him… right? Except,
he still makes her laugh, and he remembers all the things she likes. Not to
mention that he’s even more handsome now than he was then. Then there’s the
spark between them — the simply undeniable chemistry, and the tender ways he
shows he still cares for her. Can they resist each other the second time around
or will first love trump all?

Recommended
for 17+ due to sexual content.

Caught Up In
Us is the first book in the New York Times and USA Today bestselling Caught Up
In Love series, that includes Pretending He’s Mine, Playing With Her Heart and
Trophy Husband. (While each book can be read as a standalone, you’ll likely
enjoy the other books too.)

PRETENDING HE’S MINE:

Amazon | Amazon UK | B&N | iBooks or HERE

ABOUT PRETENDING HE’S MINE:

“The one
you like best. That’s my favorite position. My favorite thing is making you
feel good.”

Reeve Larkin needs a job. Sure, the actor is talented and gorgeous in that
dreamy, broody sort of way that makes all the women swoon. But he lost out on a
part in a big movie, and now his day job hours have been slashed too.
What’s a handsome young thing in need of a role to do? Sign up to be the
fake fiancé of the sexy and shrewd casting director Sutton Brenner,
who must appear temporarily attached if she’s to land a coveted gig casting a
red-hot film. So Sutton strikes a pact with Reeve to play the role of her
fiance until she closes the deal. The trouble is – she’s sexy-as-hell and damn
near irresistible to him. And he’s not only a great guy, but also the best
dirty talker she’s ever met. It doesn’t take long for their pretend love affair
to heat up, especially after that toe-curling night in the balcony of the
Broadway theater. And that scorching afternoon in the stacks of the New York
Public Library.

A red-hot
love affair. An intense connection. But as the lines between make-believe
and matters of the heart blur, can two people working in the world of acting
fake it til they make it?

Recommended
for 17+ due to sexual content.

Pretending He’s Mine is a novella in the New York Times and USA Today
bestselling Caught Up In Love series, that includes Caught Up in Us,
Playing With Her Heart and Trophy Husband. (While each book can be read as a
standalone, you’ll likely enjoy the other books too.)

About
Lauren Blakely:

Lauren Blakely writes sexy contemporary romance
novels with heat, heart, and humor, and her books have appeared on the New York
Times, USA Today, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and iBooks bestseller lists. Like
the heroine in FAR TOO TEMPTING, she thinks life should be filled with family,
laughter, and the kind of love that love songs promise. Lauren lives in
California with her husband, children, and dogs. Her novels include Caught
Up In Us, Pretending He’s Mine, Playing With Her Heart,
and Trophy Husband. She also writes for young adults under the name
Daisy Whitney.

Links:

Tyler & Stella (Tattoo Thief #2) by Heidi Joy Trethway…Release Day Launch & Excerpt

by Jilly

Happy Release Day to Heidi Joy Trethway and Tyler & Stella!

I am SO excited for this release!

My review will be up on Sunday but I have to say…I LOVED Tyler & Stella!

Book Links:

Kindle | B&N | Print via Amazon | Createspace

Synopsis:

Stella Ramsey always says bad boys can’t break your heart. They don’t call, don’t cuddle and don’t send flowers—but what do you expect? For Stella, no strings means no regrets.

When the biggest story of her fledgling career as a music journalist nearly ruins her relationship with her best friend, Stella has one chance to redeem herself. Tyler Walsh could be that chance.

When Tyler’s explosive secret thrusts Stella into the media spotlight, she must choose between the selling the story and telling the truth—and exposing the truth about herself as well.

Tyler & Stella (Tattoo Thief #2) is a sizzling story of lust, lies, and sacrifice, revealing how much love can forgive.

Excerpt:

Setup: After selling a story that nearly ruins her relationship with her best friend, Stella has to make it right without risking her job as a music reporter. Tattoo Thief’s bassist, Tyler, offers Stella that chance—an exclusive interview in his loft, which doubles as the band’s practice space. But throughout the interview, Tyler’s teasing touches are as confusing as they are enticing.

I can’t tell whether we’re in the Friend Zone or if it’s something else. He keeps touching me, but it isn’t the lusty grope I’m expecting. He’s just … touching, and as he massages my feet, I find myself more and more attuned to his frequency.

I want him. I want to feel his hands on me beyond my feet—oh, God, does he have a foot fetish? But then, would that mean he’s into me?

My resolve to keep this journalist-to-musician interview platonic has drowned in vodka and I’m sure I have enough notes to form a cohesive story tomorrow.

I pull my feet from Tyler’s hands and scoot on my knees over to where Tyler sits on the couch.

“That felt fantastic,” I purr, and I throw one knee across his lap to straddle him. My dress stretches higher on my thighs and I plant my hands on his shoulders. Tyler stills and I try to read his expression. “I don’t want you to stop.”

I don’t just mean the foot rub. I stretch my neck forward to bring my face close to his and I hear his breathing shallow. I know I have an effect on him and I move even more slowly, savoring it.

But why isn’t he responding? Instead of running his hands up the back of my thighs or grabbing my ass, his hands are still on the couch, motionless on either side of my legs.

I ignore Tyler’s hesitation and bring my lips closer to his, smelling a little beer and maybe basil from our dinner. The tip of my nose touches his cheek and I pivot my mouth, reaching for his lips. They’re soft and yielding.

I press deeper into him, my tongue teasing the corners of his mouth, my breasts pressed to his chest. I hear a noise from his throat, maybe a groan, but he hesitates. I buck my hips and that’s the last straw—his hands are suddenly on me, sliding across my back and around my waist as he pulls me into a breathless kiss.

His lips are hot and hard on mine and I want to drink him in, devour him. But in the next moment, his hands have changed course and he’s pulling me away from his mouth.

Wait—what?

“Stella. Hang on here.”

I can see Tyler fighting for control and I’m struggling to breathe normally too. I’m in his lap, his arms were around me and I can feel his erection pressing against my very damp panties.

He shouldn’t be pushing pause right now when every sign points to play. Or fast forward! Even slow-mo, if that’s his style. But pause?

“Stop,” he commands. My hips are still moving against him of their own free will.

Oh, God. Stop. That’s the kiss of death.

“Seriously? Stop?” My face is flaming with humiliation and I climb off Tyler’s lap and grab my shoes, trying to shove them on my feet as fast as possible. “Whatever you say, Tyler. At least you made up your mind. You’ve been sending mixed signals all night.”

My voice says I’m angry with him, but I’m really just mad at myself. First I decided to keep it professional, just do the story after he’d offered me access. Then his touch lights me on fire and I throw that very sane plan out the window. Then I have two or three more shots to further fuck with my resolve.

And then, the foot rub. Tyler has a secret weapon.

So I’m angry because Tyler pushed me past my limits, even though I was the one who climbed into his lap. I started that kiss and he ended it. That should tell you everything you need to know, and it should tell me to leave him the hell alone.

Tyler’s face darkens and he’s mad that I’m mad.

“Mixed signals? I was giving you what you wanted, your story, so that you wouldn’t try to dig into Beryl and Gavin’s life and get something else on them. Something ugly.”

Tyler’s statement hits me like a slap in the face. “Is that what you think I’m about?” I hear my voice rise. “That I’m going to throw my best friend under the bus again?”

Tyler’s voice drops to a dangerous whisper. “You said it yourself: again. I did what I thought I should do to protect Gavin.”

My jaw goes slack, realizing Tyler was playing me to give me the story he wanted me to write, rather than the truth.

I stalk to the kitchen to grab my purse as angry tears slide down my face. That asshole really had me going. I turn to look at Tyler, who’s still seated on the couch, his hands buried in his hair.

“Have a nice life, Tyler,” I say, and I wish I could say something more cutting to make up for how embarrassed I feel. “I’d say it’s been fun, but I’d be lying.”

My trip down five flights of stairs is slow and painful as I limp in my stupid shoes and cling to the handrail. I snort up the snot in my nose from crying—I’m looking super attractive right now with a night’s worth of mascara sliding down my cheeks.

Damn him. I’ve been in plenty of compromising situations after getting frisky with a bad boy, but I can’t remember one quite so humiliating. I can’t remember a time when a bad boy turned me down.

He played me.

That’s the thought that sticks in my brain. I always say, “A bad boy can’t break your heart,” because with them, you’ve got no expectations. You don’t expect roses. You don’t expect to be wooed or complimented or spooned. You don’t expect to be called the next day or taken home to mother.

And that’s what kills me about Tyler. I assumed he was a bad boy, with his tattoos and devil-may-care rocker attitude. But then, somewhere along the line, I started to think he was good.

And it bit me in the ass.

Giveaway:

February 2014 Release Day Event

About the author:

Heidi Joy lives in Happy Valley off Sunnyside Road. She swears she did not make that up.

You’ll most often find Heidi Joy with her husband and two small kids cooking, fishing, exploring the Northwest, and building epic forts in their living room.

She loves to hear from readers via messages at facebook.com/author.heidi.

Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Author Goodreads | Tyler & Stella Goodreads

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Yes, Master by Margaret McHeyzer…Release Day Blitz

by Jilly

My uncle abused me.

I was 10 years old when it started.

At 13 he told me I was no longer wanted because I had started to develop.

At 16 I was ready to kill him.

Today, I’m broken.

Today, I only breathe to survive.

My name’s Sergeant Major Ryan Jenkins and today, I’m ready to tell you my story.

“Master would flog me if I did, she won’t be happy when I tell her what happened here.”

“Master?”

“Stella.”

Oh, Master.

I do as I’m asked and close my eyes as I anticipate her heavenly touch.
She brings her hands up to start washing my torso and I let a huge expulsion of air out of my lungs, I didn’t even realize I was holding it in.
I concentrate on her hands as they slowly rub circular motions all over my body. When she gets to my thighs, my chest rumbles and lets out a low deep moan.
The way her hands are caressing and grazing over my body with the lightest of touches is sending my own feelings of lust into overdrive.
“Hmmm,” I moan again as her fingertips brush against my cock.
“I know, babe,” Stella says as she captures my mouth in hers. She nips on my top lip but her tongue doesn’t come out to greet mine.
This kiss is different to all the others she’s given me.
This one simple act conveys volumes without saying a single fucking word. Stella and I both feel the same thing. I know that I’m more than just her submissive and she’s more than just my Domme.
“You found me when I was lost,” I murmur against her lips.
“Together, we’ll find your way.”

Yes, Master is ON SALE for only 99 PENNIES!!!

** AMAZON US * AMAZON UK * AMAZON AUS **

I don’t do ‘normal’.

I’ve found that the more I write, the more I like being different to other authors. I write in first person, and I love to challenge a reader.
I take the normal and switch it around.
For me, I really enjoy getting a reaction from a reader. So if I can evoke an emotion (regardless of if it’s the emotion the reader wants) then I figure that I’ve done my job as an author I want to be.
I really quite revel in taking people out of their comfort zones and pushing them to read something different.
My genre of writing is, well quite frankly, where ever my mind goes. I won’t label myself because I don’t like sticking to one genre.
My goal with writing is just to take people away from whatever is going on in their lives, even if it’s only for a split second.
I’m a go with the flow sort of person and don’t really take a course of action to get where I am going. I live in the moment and don’t usually worry about tomorrow because whatever life is due to bring me, I’ll be happy to accept.
I love my family and friends and will help anyway I can if someone needs it. I really don’t like people that are nasty just because they can be, I don’t believe that’s necessary, I mean life’s hard enough as it is!
I hope you enjoy my books, I’ve had a hoot writing them. There’s more to come…..
Til next time.

M xx

** Visit Margaret on FACEBOOK **

February 2014 Release Day Event