Blood on the Tongue by Stephen Booth…Book Blast

by Jilly

Title: Blood on the Tongue: A Cooper & Fry Mystery (Ben Cooper & Diane Fry #3)

Author: Stephen Booth

Genre: Mystery

Publication Date: December 3, 2013

Publisher: Witness Impulse, an Imprint of HarperCollins

Event organized by: Literati Author Services, Inc.

Synopsis

It’s a new year for Ben Cooper and Diane Fry, and that means new mysteries to solve in the icy depths of a bitter winter.

It isn’t the easiest way to commit suicide, but the dead woman seems to have simply curled up in the freezing snow and lay there until her heart stopped. There was no one to observe her death but the foxes and the hares. Yet she is riddled with bruises. Her death is horrifying — is it also suspicious?

When two more dead bodies are found, Cooper and Fry begin to wonder if these tragedies are connected, and whether they will survive the winter…

Add to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17851737-blood-on-the-tongue

Purchase Links: Amazon US | Barnes & Noble

About the Author

STEPHEN BOOTH is an award winning British crime writer, the creator of two young Derbyshire police detectives, DC Ben Cooper and DS Diane Fry, who have appeared in twelve novels set in England’s beautiful and atmospheric Peak District.
Stephen has been a Gold Dagger finalist, an Anthony Award nominee, twice winner of a Barry Award for Best British Crime Novel, and twice shortlisted for the Theakston’s Crime Novel of the Year. Ben Cooper was a finalist for the Sherlock Award for the best detective created by a British author, and in 2003 the Crime Writers’ Association presented Stephen with the Dagger in the Library Award for “the author whose books have given readers the most pleasure”.
The Cooper & Fry series is published all around the world, and has been translated into 15 languages.

Connect with the Author: Twitter | Blog | Goodreads

Blast-Wide Giveaway

Book Blast December 2013

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Frisky Friday….Tinsel My Heart by Christi Barth

by Jilly

Oh, yum-o! I am SO excited to share this bit of sexiness with you all this chilly Friday!

So excited, in fact, that I will be giving away an eCopy of Tinsel My Heart. Just leave a blog post comment telling me what your favorite way to keep warm in the winter is to be entered to win. (I will pick a winner on Monday morning.)

I absolutely ADORED this book and author Christi Barth is the absolute best for sharing this smoking hot excerpt! Thank you, Christi!

Now, without further adieu…..

Book links:

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Goodreads

Frisky Friday Excerpt:

Jack got out of the car. Becca assumed he was going for a blanket in the trunk. Instead, her door opened. Strong arms reached in, nipped her by the waist and flipped her over as he slid into her seat. Pressed chest to chest, he wrapped his arms around her…then firmly planted his hands on her butt. “Everything warm now?”

“To say the least.” The boiling hot springs at Yellowstone had nothing on the bubbling warmth surging through her veins.

“Good. We’ll head for home as soon as you’re thawed.”

“What’s your rush?” She tugged on his earlobe with her teeth. Relished the small shiver that ran through him.

“No rush. Didn’t think you’d want to hang out on a frozen golf course in an idling car.”

“Why not? We’re not idle.” To prove her point, she undulated her hips while sliding her hands beneath his sweater.

“Are you serious?” Jack jabbed at the window with his elbow. “There’s almost two feet of fresh snow out there. Como Park’s a known sledding and tubing spot. Anyone could come by and see us.”

A husky laugh bubbled out of her throat. She shoved his coat down and off his arms. “Not if we fog up the windows.” Then she removed her own and tossed them both into the back seat.

“Becca, don’t tease me.”

“You’re the tease, Jack. Four nights of long make out sessions on my couch. In your hotel room. Never any action past second base. I’ll fess up—I’ve already lusted after you for almost fourteen years. How much longer are you going to make me wait?”

His body stilled to granite beneath her. No blinking, no breathing. Just his superheated stare burning into her. Finally he dragged in a deep breath. “What did you say?”

“I want you. I’ve always wanted you. What are you going to do about it?”

No answer. Not in words, anyway. Jack grabbed the neckline of her sweater. Yanked down and out. Hard. Buttons pinged off the side windows. He scooped her breasts out of her bra. The sight of his big thumbs rubbing circles over her pale pink nipples was incredibly erotic. It made Becca think about the floor-to-ceiling mirrored closet doors in his hotel suite. Made her wonder if she could convince him to have sex standing up against the wall, facing those mirrors. After watching him literally chop down trees, Becca had no doubt he had the strength for it.

Then Jack sucked a nipple into his mouth. Swirled his tongue around it, with the softness of his goatee brushing a wider circle of sensation. And Becca lost all capacity for thought. Grabbing his thick, dark hair, she clutched him tight. Moaned when, with plucking fingers, he duplicated the action on her other breast. Darts of electric lust so bright she could practically see them zinged straight to the aching emptiness between her legs.

He tore his mouth away. Tilted her away from him to unbutton her pants. The position rubbed her against his hardness. Not in a way that soothed, but drove her even higher. Made her clench her thighs against his and rock back and forth on that thick, wide bulge.

He paused, hands on the zipper of his own jeans. “If I promise to make up for it later, would you be on board with getting straight to it, Becca? Not because we’re in a car. And it’s the dead of winter. But because I want to fuck you so badly I’m almost shaking.”

Becca loved, loved, knowing the effect she had on him. Loved knowing she wasn’t the only one about to implode with need. Loved that he wanted her enough not to wait. “If I promise to make it up to you later, can I ride you right now?”

Jack shoved her pants to her ankles with his cockiest grin. “Be my guest.”

She pushed his hand out of the way. Ripped the zipper down and paused, caught off guard when her hand touched only hot, pulsing skin.

Jack laughed at her obvious surprise. “Yeah. I go commando. More freedom.”

He really was the ultimate bad boy. And he was all hers. At least for tonight. “More ease of access.”

“That too.”

Her hand circled his hard length. Feathering her fingers up the sides, Becca rubbed her thumb across the single drop of liquid pearled at the tip. “You know I’m going to think about your lack of boxers or briefs every time I look at you now.”

“Good.” Jack’s hands spanned her waist, lifting her up above him. Then a look of sheer panic washed across his face. “Shit. I don’t have a condom.”

“I do.” Becca reached around in an awkward twist—thank goodness for Pilates class!—and dug into her back pocket. Ripped open the foil packet with her teeth. “I’ve carried one on me every day since the first time you kissed me.”

Dark eyebrows arrowed upward. “Really? Well, I’ve got three boxes back at the hotel I bought right after I kissed you.”

She rolled it slowly down his shaft. “Guess we’re on the same page.”

“No more talking,” he ordered. And seated himself deep inside her with a single thrust.

About the author:

Christi Barth earned a Masters degree in vocal performance and embarked upon a career on the stage.

A love of romance then drew her to wedding planning. Ultimately she succumbed to her lifelong love of books and now writes contemporary romance.

Christi is President of the Maryland Romance Writers and lives in Maryland with her husband.

Website ~ Goodreads ~ Twitter ~ Facebook

December 2013 Frisky Friday

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Cover Reveal….Seducing Lauren by Kristen Proby

by Jilly

We are pleased to be able to share the cover for Kristen Proby’s SEDUCING LAUREN.

SEDUCING LAUREN is a sexy Contemporary Erotic Romance novel releasing August 19, 2014! It is the second book in Kristen’s Love Under The Big Sky Series, published by Pocket Books (an imprint of Simon & Schuster). The first book in the series, LOVING CARA, is due to be released January 21^st!!!

ABOUT SEDUCING LAUREN:

In the second book in the Love Under the Big Sky series from this USA TODAY bestselling author of the With Me in Seattle series, life in Montana gets spicy when a woman and her divorce lawyer sign off the papers—and sign on to love.

Now that his best friend, Josh, has happily settled down with his true love on a Montana ranch, small-town lawyer Ty Sullivan starts thinking that maybe single life isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. And when Lauren Cunningham’s no-good ex-husband comes after her for an unexpected trust fund, Ty steps in to protect her. But soon he can’t help but think of her as more than a client. Lauren’s in no mood to jump into another relationship, so how can Ty convince her that her mistake wasn’t getting married, but marrying the wrong guy?

ABOUT KRISTEN PROBY:

KRISTEN PROBY is the USA Today bestselling author of the popular With Me in Seattle series. She has a passion for a good love story and strong characters who love humor and have a strong sense of loyalty and family. Her men are the alpha type—fiercely protective and a bit bossy—and her ladies are fun, strong, and not afraid to stand up for themselves. Kristen spends her days with her muse in the Pacific Northwest. She enjoys coffee, chocolate, and sunshine. And naps. Visit her at KristenProby.com.

Links:

Website: http://www.kristenproby.com/

Twitter: @handbagjunkie

Facebook: www.facebook.com/booksbykristenproby

Author Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/kristenproby

SEDUCING LAUREN Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18123205-seducing-lauren?ac=1

Amazon Pre-Order: http://www.amazon.com/Seducing-Lauren-Kristen-Proby-ebook/dp/B00GEEB4Y2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1387464903&sr=8-1&keywords=seducing+lauren+kristen+proby

Cover Reveal December 2013

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Sweet Nothing by Mia Henry….Blog Tour Stop & Excerpt

by Jilly

Welcome to my stop on the Sweet Nothing by Mia Henry Blog Tour!

I have an awesome excerpt to share with you all today….enjoy and thanks for stopping by!

Book links:

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:

Elliot Halloran is running away. Away from her privileged Manhattan upbringing and a promising future at business school. Away from her family, which plummeted from A-list to disgraced after her criminal father’s atrocities were exposed. Despite the guilt Elliot feels for abandoning her family, she has no choice. She is too recognizable to live life as the person she has always been. So when an old family friend offers her a position as an economics instructor at Miami’s elite Alford Academy, Elliot jumps at the chance to distance herself from her past. She cuts her hair, changes her name, and vows never to speak of her old life again.

Keeping her identity hidden is harder than Elliot expected, especially with a roommate who seems to be on the verge of uncovering her true identity. As she fumbles through the opening chapters of her new life, Elliot encounters an entirely unforeseen obstacle: photography instructor Luke Poulos. Luke is sensitive and spontaneous. An art lover. Smart. Everything Elliot has ever wanted. Luke and Elliot’s connection deepens when she learns that he lost his parents in a car accident when he was a teenager. Like Elliot, Luke understands that life can shatter in an instant.

Elliot knows that a relationship with Luke is impossible; that he would never love her if he knew the details of her past. But as she struggles with whether to open herself to love or keep her true self locked away, Elliot learns that she’s not the only one with secrets.

Excerpt:

It’s been two years, maybe three, since I’ve snorkeled, but my body slips naturally into rhythm next to Luke’s. My legs propel me through the cloudy blue of the surf. My breath marks the time in steady puffs. I stay slightly behind him, my head at his torso. I can feel my body beginning to relax, leaving tension and fear and doubt to bleed into the water with every stroke.

I keep my head down, letting the patterns of light on the sandy floor lull me into a meditative state. Silvery fish dart at odd angles beneath us, making quick entrances and exits. I like feeling the warmth and safety of Luke’s body next to me without having to look for him. I like that he’s sharing this part of himself, this secret place that he’s kept for himself all these years. I like that he trusts me with it.

If he’s starting to trust me, starting to open up, why can’t I do the same? It’s not like he’s naïve. He’s experienced tragedy in his own life. He knows that families can be destroyed in an instant. But even as the thoughts flicker through my mind, I know that our situations aren’t the same. Luke’s family was killed in an accident, in circumstances completely out of their control. Mine exploded because of the things I did to betray my father. Luke’s said so many times that family is important to him. What would he think of me if he knew the role I’d played in destroying mine?

I feel Luke reach for my hand. With a single, swift kick, my body is next to his, my slippery skin grazing his torso. He intertwines his fingers with mine and squeezes. I squeeze back, tiny shivers running from my scalp to the tips of my toes. It’s unbelievable how he can turn me on with a single touch.

We swim side by side, fingers laced tight, until Luke slows and motions for me to look straight ahead. Just a few feet away looms the remains of a shipwreck. Despite the decades it’s been since the wreck, the sailboat still manages to look intact.

Luke catches my eye, and I know what he’s trying to say. Together, we gulp deep breaths and kick beneath the surface. He leads me around the boat’s perimeter, pointing out a plaque on the ocean floor that commemorates the wreck. I drag an index finger across the sandy bottom, tracing our initials. Around us, cobalt and chartreuse fish glide from bow to stern. I hold my breath until it feels like my body’s going to explode, then kick to the surface and blow the saltwater from my snorkel.

Luke rises soon after me, then tears off his mask and lifts his head above water. I do the same.

“Pretty cool, huh?” He tosses his head to one side, sending his wet curls flying.

“Definitely,” I gasp. “Beautiful.”

“I think that’s what I like about it—how it’s like this broken thing that still manages to be amazing in its own way, you know? Like a message—there’s life after the wreck.”

A lump forms in my throat, and I can feel tears gathering. I hold my breath and let myself fall beneath the water line, allowing a few tears to slip out before I resurface.

“Tired? Out of breath? Need to tug your ear?” he teases, pushing my bangs off my forehead.

“Never!” I shriek, even though my legs are starting to ache.

“Come here.” Luke reaches for me, his strong arms encircling my waist. I can feel his legs churning beneath the surface. I drape my arms over his shoulders and wrap my legs around his torso. Our bodies rise and fall together in the water, our lips close.

Cupping the back of my neck with his palm, he lifts his mouth to my ear. “Relax. I’ve got you.”

I let my muscles go slack, let my body collapse against his. Even here, in the strange weightlessness of water, he is solid and strong, holding me up. My hands slip against his slick, wet body. Over his defined chest and arms, down his back. The man’s body is a work of art.

“Hold on,” Luke whispers before his mouth finds mine.

Tour Wide Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the author:

Mia Henry adores all things romance, from steamy stories to ugly cry-inducing movies. She lives in Florida, where she dreams up storylines during beach walks with her muse, a ferocious 8-pound pup named Lulu.

Twitter: @miahenrybooks

Website

Facebook

Goodreads: Mia Henry

Blog Tour December 2013

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Cover Reveal….The Deep End of the Ocean by Heather Lyons

by Jilly

We are extremely excited to be able to share with you the cover for Heather Lyons’ THE DEEP END OF THE SEA!!

The cover alone is giving us chills! You can buy THE DEEP END OF THE SEA February 13, 2014!!

About THE DEEP END OF THE SEA:

What if all the legends you’ve learned were wrong?

Brutally attacked by one god and unfairly cursed by another she faithfully served, Medusa has spent the last two thousand years living out her punishment on an enchanted isle in the Aegean Sea. A far cry from the monster legends depict, she’s spent her time educating herself, gardening, and desperately trying to frighten away adventure seekers who occasionally end up, much to her dismay, as statues when they manage to catch her off guard. As time marches on without her, Medusa wishes for nothing more than to be given a second chance at a life stolen away at far too young an age.

But then comes a day when Hermes, one of the few friends she still has and the only deity she trusts, petitions the rest of the gods and goddesses to reverse the curse. Thus begins a journey toward healing and redemption, of reclaiming a life after tragedy, and of just how powerful friendship and love can be—because sometimes, you have to sink in the deep end of the sea before you can rise back up again.

About Heather Lyons:

Heather Lyons has always had a thing for words—She’s been writing stories since she was a kid. In addition to writing, she’s also been an archaeologist and a teacher. Heather is a rabid music fan, as evidenced by her (mostly) music-centric blog, and she’s married to an even larger music snob. They’re happily raising three kids who are mini music fiends who love to read and be read to.

Links:

Website ~ Author Goodreads ~ THE DEEP END OF THE SEA Goodreads ~ Twitter ~ Facebook

Cover Reveal December 2013

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Cover Update…Prince of Blood and Steel by Nazarea Andrews & A.J. Elmore

by Jilly

Prince of Blood and Steel by Nazarea Andrews and A.J. Elmore

January 2014

Goodreads link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18713196-prince-of-blood-and-steel

BOOK SUMMARY:

Seth Morgan has returned home after two years spent building an alliance that will take his family’s crime syndicate to a new level in New York City’s black collar society. He expects a warm welcome as heir of the Morgan empire. He hopes to finally marry Nicolette, the woman he’s loved his whole life.

What he finds is a different world, one where his family’s legacy is in ruins. His big brother, Caleb, has changed into someone cold and bitter, plotting to overthrow their patriarch. And Nicolette, daughter of the criminal banking industry, has left the family entirely.

When a vicious misunderstanding leaves Caleb dead, Seth is left reeling. Desperate for truth, Seth is forced to turn to his only remaining cousin, Emma, for support. As he tries to mend his relationship with Nicolette, he begins a search for answers that will take him from the dirty streets to the highest reaches of their illicit empire.

Torn between the desire to protect those who mean the most to him, and a need to learn more about Caleb’s death, he grows distant to protect them. As each secret surfaces, he realizes that the only way to restore his family is to take his place at its head, and fully embrace the brutal way they live.

Author Information

AJ and Nazarea became friends in a writers group. Drawn together by a love of fictional bad boys and good wine, they are best kept several states apart but rack up a ton of emails and text messages arguing plot points.

Nazarea Andrews is an avid reader and tends to write the stories she wants to read. She loves chocolate and coffee almost as much as she loves books, but not quite as much as she loves her kids. She lives in south Georgia with her husband, daughters, and overgrown dog.

Site – http://www.nazareaandrews.com/

Blog – http://www.nazarea-andrews.blogspot.com/

Twitter – https://twitter.com/NazareaAndrews

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nazarea-Andrews/43623123516

“The Infects” Street Team – https://www.facebook.com/groups/427502530700422/

Aj has seven tattoos, two dogs, and a bachelor’s degree in journalism. She enjoys live music, and a diverse range of writing styles and genres. She has been writing creatively and therapeutically since childhood. She also supports artist collaboration and cross-media projects. She is an advocate of experience as inspiration. She lives and works in southern West Virginia as a bartender novelist.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Aj-Elmore-author-muse/329812783118

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MissVish

Cover Reveal December 2013

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Flirting With Chaos by Kenya Wright….Blog Tour Stop & Guest Post

by Jilly

Welcome to my stop on the Flirting With Chaos by Kenya Wright Blog Tour!

I have a fan-FREAKING-tastic guest post to share with you. Seriously, this ranks as one of my fave guest posts ever.

Thank you, Kenya, for stopping by and rocking it!

Title: Flirting With Chaos

Author: Kenya Wright

Genre: New Adult Rock Star Erotic Romance

Publisher: Omnific Publishing

Release Date: November 19, 2013

Synopsis:

Can two mentally unstable best friends have sex and not drown in chaos?

Rain’s been washing blood off her hands for far too long. After five years, she accepts the fact that she”s still a little crazy but feels as if she’s finally gotten it all under control.

Parties, drugs, and sex flood Jude’s life, and music and scandal run through his veins. He’s the son of a rock god and grandson of a jazz legend. It’s no surprise that his own star is on the rise, and with so many groupies vying for his attention, his childhood best friend Rain keeps him anchored in reality.

She’s nothing like him–an art student with no idea of her own beauty, who would rather curl up with a sci-fi novel than party in the spotlight. Everything changes when she asks him for a unique favor: she wants him to take her virginity. He’s more than willing to oblige, but things get complicated when his pervy father gets involved. Meanwhile, intense feelings rise to the surface, ones neither Rain nor Jude are prepared to deal with.

If their relationship has any chance for survival, she must finally confront the demons of her past, and he must face the addictions of the present. When the smoke clears, will they find that sex between best friends was a good idea, or will they discover they had been Flirting With Chaos the entire time?

Teaser

An intricate pattern of colorful tattoos decorated both of his arms. It was a mural of his life—stars that intertwined with musical notes; guitars interlocked into microphones; nude, big breasted angels riding hulky demons. Those arms and that face had adorned the covers of magazines for years. Now he represented a legend of rock history. To obtain his interview would mean lots of money and skilled maneuvering through his agent, publicist, bodyguards, entourage, and any of the other people that walled him away from society.

Guest Post

The Deceptive Significance of Cover Art

People who say they don’t judge a book by a cover are full of shit.

Sorry.

I just wanted to set the mood and let you know that this blog post won’t be lathered in B.S. I won’t be shoveling fake opinions in an attempt to woo you into liking me enough to buy my books.

Nope.

Today, after two large coffees and not much sleep, I will be raw, honest, and probably piss you off. Not that I’m not usually honest, it’s just in this moment, I refuse to sugar coat this message.

Book covers matter. Sometimes more than the implementation of the whole plot-line.

Isn’t that fucked up?

For a writer, it’s disappointing and horrific that before someone gives your words and characters a chance. . .they judge your cover, something that is so outside of your creative process. . .it’s ridiculous.

However, as a reader, I won’t buy a book if it isn’t pleasing to the eyes, well-executed, or grab my attention in some way. So although I’m annoyed about book covers representing the story as an author. . .oh I’m a complete contradictory person when it comes to me buying a book.

But let’s dig deeper. . .

Which book would you buy?

An unexpected experiment happened for me back in the fall of 2013 (so long ago). Amazon decided to finally regulate ebooks that they considered breaking their mature content rules. Basically, the site started deleting books that appeared to involve incest, pedophilia, bestiality, and all those things that pretty much disgust the normal population of people.

My novel The Babysitter was deleted because (I assume) it showed a “shadowy vagina” and because the woman looked like an underage girl with a teddy bear.

Yikes.

What is interesting is the next day I quickly grabbed a quick stock image that I believed represented the characters and the plot-line, then had an artist due the font. I more wanted my short story out there for my fans who were waiting on other books.

This became the cover. . .three hours later. . .The Babysitter was on the Erotica Bestseller’s list as if triggered by magic.

With the other cover, the novel sold five books a day. With the new cover, it sold a thousand books in two weeks. The book continued to rise up to the top twenty on the Erotica list and remained there for several weeks.

Is this confirmed proof that book covers matter?

No.

There are so many reasons why people decided to give my short story a try on that day and all of those reasons could have nothing to do with the cover.

However, do I place more significance on books covers these days?

Um. . .did you see the part about the book going from 5 sales to a thousand?

About the author:

Kenya Wright always knew she would be famous since the ripe old age of six when she sang the Michael Jackson thriller song in her bathroom mirror. She has tried her hand at many things from enlisting in the Navy for six years as a Persian-Farsi linguist to being a nude model at an art university.

However, writing has been the only constant love in her life. Will she succeed? Of course.

For she has been coined The Urban Fantasy Queen, the Super Iconic Writer of this Age, The Lyrical Genius of Our Generation. Granted, these are all terms coined by her, within the private walls of her bathroom as she still sings the Michael Jackson thriller song.

Kenya Wright currently resides in Miami with her three amazing, overactive children, a supportive, gorgeous husband, and three cool black cats that refuse to stop sleeping on Kenya’s head at night.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ YouTube ~ Goodreads ~ Amazon

Blog Tour December 2013

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Death of the Mad Hatter by Sarah J. Pepper….Blog Tour Stop & Review

by Jilly

“Little mad, good. Lots mad, blissfully dangerous.” Pg 293

Welcome to my stop on the Death of the Mad Hatter by Sarah J. Pepper Blog Tour!

I have a great excerpt to share with you along with my review and info on the tour wide giveaway.

Thanks so much for stopping by and enjoy!

Book links:

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Kobo ~ Smashwords ~ Goodreads

Synopsis:

The Jack prophesied: If the king loses his head, then the Queen with a Bleeding Heart would rule the Red Court until Time ceased to move forward. When a second carried on for infinity, every creature in Wonderland would tip their Hat to the misfit girl with a Boy’s name (or was it a boy with a Girl’s name?) who’d end the Reign of Terror. However, it all hinged on the One-Eyed Hare being able to convince an uninspirable Heir that the impossible was indeed possible—like stopping time—and that Love was worth a Beheading.

Heads would Roll…

Hearts would Break…

In the end, would it matter who Reigned?

My review:

Death of the Mad Hatter is the first work of author Sarah J. Pepper’s that I have read and being a book outside of my “norm” I was excited to give it a try. This is a retelling of sorts of Alice in Wonderland but with a new spin on it. Sometimes it pays to step outside of the typical reading box…this was one of those times.

High school senior Ryley Edgar was looking forward to getting out of high school and this small town. He and his mom have move around a ton growing up trying to outrun the rumors of his father’s mental illness. They had stayed in this town longer than any of the others and he was happy that no one had found out about his dad yet. What Riley doesn’t know is that his dad isn’t exactly mentally ill. Instead, his father had ties to Wonderland, a place Ryley unknowingly also has ties to. A magical and twisted world that Ryley would soon learn a whole lot more about courtesy of the new student in school, Alice Mae.

Working, reluctantly, for The Queen of Hearts, Alice Mae’s mission is to find the heir to the Wonderland throne….and ultimately send him to his death. All because the Queen had her husband killed and she wasn’t technically in line to rule. Oh, and there’s the little problem of the Jack’s prophesy. The problem arises when, somewhere in the middle of her mission, Alice Mae falls in love with Ryley….and he falls in love with her.

Between the Queen, the prophesy, two different realms and the emotional turmoil it seems like the odds are stacked against Alice Mae and Ryley. But, like all things in Wonderland, nothing is as it seems and almost anything is possible.

I will admit that this book took a little bit of time to really get in to but when it finally clicked, I was hooked and couldn’t wait to see what was happening next. The characters in this story range from evil and merciless to confusing and mischievous and at times innocently sweet. I thought the love aspect between Ryley and Alice Mae was a fantastic addition to the story and was cheering for things to work out between them from the first few chapters. They had a real love/hate thing going for the first half of the book that only added to the layers of story. The end chapters had me on the edge of my seat wondering and hoping that things would work out for them and they can find their own Wonderland version of a happy ending….because, after all, anything is possible in Wonderland.

Overall this was an enjoyable, magical story with loads of twists and turns. If you’re a fan of Alice in Wonderland and taking a trip down the rabbit hole, then by all means this is a book for you! Thank you, Sarah, for giving us Alice Mae, Ryley and their story!

Four Loves

Excerpt:

There were the types of girls who dressed for guys, the type who still played dress-up, the type who lived in sweatpants, and then there was an entirely different breed who wore mismatched socks with pride. This chick fell into the last category. Why anyone could possibly think bright orange and blue would go together, unless they were a Boise State fan, was beyond my thought process. Her shoes were quite possibly handcrafted a hundred years ago, and her tattered skirt looked as though she found it in a dusty box tucked away in an attic. However, the zebra patterned gloves actually appeared to be from this decade.

“Well, it’s rather fortunate that you didn’t dribble. Mr. Ruth would have a fit if he became familiar with the underside of your pet-soaked shoe,” the girl said, petting the stuffed animal’s head. Her accent was none that I’d heard before—and I’d lived in a lot of different places. She sounded like a British gal impersonating a southern bell. “It’d be quite regrettable if anything happened to him on the first day of school. He must have fallen out of his hidey-hole.”

“You named your stuffed rabbit, Mr. Ruth?”

She covered the bunny’s ears. “Rutherford is his real name, but he hates it and makes all the other rumperbabbits call him by his nickname.”

“Rumperbabbits?”

“Bunnies, rabbits, hares—rumperbabbits. Same thing,” she said with a wink. She had the most volatile light-blue eyes that were so electrifying I couldn’t look away.

Time out—just for reference, I didn’t believe in juvenile notions, like love at first sight. In my book, time didn’t cease to move forward when two people fell in love. As a matter-of-fact, I’d have to be drunk (not on love) for such an irrational thought to enter my mind.

But, there was something magical about her. A mischievous charm. I wouldn’t have said that I necessarily liked it, but it was intriguing. She was intriguing… and new. For a town whose newspaper’s biggest story was the harvest report, having a new girl in school would most likely be headlined on The Gossiper’s front page.

Giveaway:

Enter to win a signed paperback copy of Death of the Mad Hatter

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the author:

I specialize in dark, paranormal romance – think “happy ever after” but with a twisted, dark chocolate center. Real-life romance isn’t only filled with hugs, kisses, unicorns, and rainbows. True-love can be more thoroughly described in times of darkness and tribulation. It’s in those harsh moments where you see what a person is truly capable of – both the good and bad. Sometimes prince-charming isn’t always on time, and the glass slipper is a little snug. However, it doesn’t mean Charming is not Mr. Right, and who says every shoe is the perfect fit?

Website

Twitter: @sarahjpepper

Facebook author page

Facebook profile

Goodreads

Blog Tour December 2013 New Reviews

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Cover Reveal….Lifers by Jane Harvey-Berrick

by Jilly

Introducing LIFERS by Jane Harvey-Berrick

Releasing February 7, 2014

Book cover design and graphic artist for Lifers:Hang Le

Synopsis:

Jordan Kane is the man everyone loves to hate.

Forced to return to his hometown while on parole, Jordan soon learns that this small town hasn’t changed since he was carted off to juvie all those years ago. He is the local pariah, shunned by everyone, including his own parents. But their hatred of him doesn’t even come close to the loathing he feels every time he looks in the mirror.

Working odd jobs for the preacher lady, Jordan bides his time before he can leave this backwards town. But can distance erase the memories that haunt him? Would living in another state free him from the prison of his mind? Will the pain of living ever subside?

Torrey Delaney is new in town and certainly doesn’t behave in a way the locals believe a preacher’s daughter should. Her reputation for casual hook-ups and meaningless sex quickly spreads around town. And that’s on top of her budding friendship with the hardened ex-con handyman – the good Reverend is less than thrilled with her estranged daughter’s path.

As friendship forms, can two damaged people who are afraid to love take their relationship to the next level? Can Torrey live with Jordan’s demons, and can Jordan break through Torrey’s walls? With the disapproval of a small town weighing heavily on them, they struggle to find their place in the world. Can they battle the odds, or will their world be viciously shattered?

Is love a life sentence?

Lifers is up on amazon for pre-order:

Amazon US ~ Amazon UK

Goodreads

About the author:

I love to write.

Out of the crowd of voices in my head, I love to thread together their thoughts and tell the kind of stories that I want to read.

I’ve written my whole life, in one form or other, but it’s only since I started writing adult/new adult books that everything finally made sense.

I’ve lived in the metropolis and now I live in a small village by the sea. Inspiration comes from unexpected places and often when I’m walking my dog.

I hope my stories make you laugh and cry, and feel every emotion in between, because then I guess it’s job done.

Without you, there’s no me. Thanks for reading. jhb x

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter

Cover Reveal December 2013

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The Game by Shawnte Borris….Blog Tour Stop & Guest Post

by Jilly

Welcome to my stop on The Game-Kirsten Backhard by Shawnte Borris Blog Tour!

I have an excerpt and fantastic guest post for you today….enjoy and thanks for stopping by!

Title: The Game – Kirsten Backhard

Author: Shawnté Borris

Publication Date: 27^th September 2013

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Hosted By: Luscious Laylah Release Day

Synopsis:

Kirsten Backhard is a highly respected senior negotiating executive who plays with some of the most powerful men in her field.She is confident, sexy and hell on heels. She fights with a straight face, doesn’t back down easily and she has no scruples about using her ASSets to get the deal done her way.
Kirsten loves the thrill of toying with the game in a man’s world. She is in control of both her professional and personal life, until one heartbreaking night changes everything and for the first time she starts losing.

Can Kirsten negotiate the game of love as well as she does at work? Can she play a love-em and leave-em game as well as a man does?

Or did she already lose when her heart was dealt to the one man who broke it?

Contains crude language, sexual intercourse, and really bad jokes.

Book Links:

Amazon

Goodreads

Excerpt:

Kirsten

“First of all, Mother, it is called a sperm bank, not a sperm bar.” I cannot believe I am having this conversation right now. “And where did you get this information from?”

Max looked over at me, smirking.

“Why does it matter where I heard it from? What will people think?” cried my mother.

“Fuck! Mom, no one is gonna care where or how I get a baby.” I want to crawl into a hole and die. “Mom, you wouldn’t by any chance be talking to Marie, would you? Is that where all this came from? Did she tell you I’m planning to go to a sperm bank? Or did she tell you I should think about going to a sperm bank?”

“That’s not the point, Kirsten. The point is that it’s time for you to settle down and think about having a family. You need to be more like Marie,” my mom lectured.

“Like Marie? My sister, Marie? The one who wears yoga pants and ponytails everywhere and has a kid attached to her hip? No, thanks. Don’t get me wrong, Mom. I love Marie, but I’d rather not schedule in sex night.”

Guest Post:

About the author:

Shawnté lives in central Alberta, with her husband Ricky of 10 amazing years and together they have two beautiful children. Somehow her husband has managed to trick her into running a cow/calf operation. As much as she fusses about it, she loves it.

When Shawnté is not sitting at her kitchen table hammering away on her laptop while watching the moose chase her cows across the yard, yes this really happens. Then she is busy attend school activities, community events and chauffeuring children here and there. She is big on playing softball and watching hockey.

When the time comes to relax, you will find her snuggled underneath her down comforter reading on her Ipad. Wait…who are we kidding, if the dishes, vacuuming, laundry or the bathrooms needs a hose down, you’ll always hear her say, “Just after this chapter.” She doesn’t have a favorite author or best story because everyday she falls in love with someone new.

Shawnté is technology challenged so you won’t find her on twitter (heaven knows she tried) or instagram – whatever this stuff is called. But she can work one hell of a Facebook page  thanks for her fictitious assistant Lacy. Please go like her page and leave a review/star rating on the books she’s wrote.

Author Links:

Email – author.shawnteborris@gmail.com

Also by Shawnte Borris

With Love

Blog Tour December 2013

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Reaver by Larissa Ione…ARC Review & Giveaway

by Jilly

It’s Friday the 13h, one of my favorite days of the year and it’s only FOUR more days until Reaver by Larissa Ione releases!

I thought why not do something fun on this favorite day and to go along with my review?

So, in honor of that Reaver, that sexy angel, and because Larissa is awesome, I have THREE signed copies of Larissa’s Rogue Rider to give away!

Two copies are ARCs with a different cover than the mass market paperback, which is pretty cool if you ask me. Oh, and this contest is open internationally!

I hope you enjoy my review and thanks so much for stopping by!

Book links:

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ IndieBound ~ Powell’s ~ Goodreads

Synopsis:

WARRIOR OF HEAVEN

Reaver is an angel with a past, a record, and a less-than-heavenly attitude. Powerful enough to fight alongside the fiercest battle angels-and crazy enough to risk his wings on a one-way mission to hell-he’s agreed to go where no angel has ever gone before…to steal the most seductive and dangerous prize of Satan himself.

ANGEL OF HELL

Harvester is one of the Fallen, a once-heroic angel who sacrificed her wings to work as an undercover agent in hell. But now her cover has been blown, and she’s been doomed to an eternity of agonizing torture. Even if Reaver can snatch her away from Satan’s lair, even if they can fight their way out of the underworld’s darkest depths, there is one thing Harvester can never escape-her newfound thirst for an angel’s blood…

My review:

Reaver is the fifth book in Larissa Ione’s Lord of the Deliverance Series and is also the tenth book in her Demonica Series. As some of you may know, I absolutely adore this series. It’s one of the series I will continue with as long as Larissa writes it and one that I will always recommend. I have been chomping at the bit to start this book and holy book gods in booktopia…..this book was truly amazing.

There are mysteries solved in this book as well as many secrets revealed…so I am going to do my best to give you a review without spoiling anything. Trust me, you would be mighty angry if I did because there are some major “WHOA” moments you need to experience for yourself. Okay, here goes nothing!

Reaver, the badass angel with a rebellious streak a mile wide, is a man on a mission. A mission he never would have thought he’d be on. Once again he will be breaking the rules set by the Heavens but this time, the stakes are much higher than they ever have been. He is going into enemy territory to rescue Harvester. The enemy being Satan’s lair, of course, and Harvester being the Fallen he has an extreme love/hate relationship with. Having been robbed of his memories, he had no idea what connection they shared, just that they shared one. What he learns about their connection had rocked him to his core and he knows, at the very least, he owes her this rescue and to be returned to safety. Many questions arise when his decision is made to go find her. Will they survive the journey back from the underworld? Will she agree to let him help her? What will she think when he tells her the truth of what they once were? That last question is the one that will plague Reaver and worry him most.

Harvester has pretty much accepted her fate in the underworld as the torture plaything for Satan. After she had been ousted as a traitor and spy, she knew it would happen. And yeah, it sucked but she knew what she was getting involved in when she volunteered to fall all those years ago and watch over the Horsemen. She would do it all over again for the angel she once loved and the one she made an oath to. The memories of that angel, Yenrieth, were the only things keeping her somewhat sane during the endless hours and days of torture. Memories were erased of Yenrieth so she was lucky that she still had any at all, even if she could never see his face. She had given up on ever getting out of this (literal) hell until Reaver shows up…to save her.

In the end, getting out of the underworld may not be the hardest journey for Reaver and Harvester. There’s five thousand years worth of history they will need to sort through and with the possibility that they shared more history than either one had imagined, putting up with Satan may be less complicated. Oh, and there’s also the itty-bitty problem of an impending war between Heaven and Hell. Yeah, lets just say the odds are stacked against them from the word GO.

I literally just finished this book ten minutes before I stared this review and I’m sill in awe of everything I just read. Larissa has blown my mind. I was already in love with Reaver from the previous books. On the flip side, I hated Harvester until the very end of Rogue Rider, the last book. Reaver was amazing in this story. His resolve and determination from start to finish is beyond anything I’ve read. He adapted to every twist and turn and proved himself a worthy warrior on the side of good. Harvester is beyond damaged, emotionally and physically, and broke my heart. When we finally learn her history and why she agreed to fall, oh my….she now goes down as one of my favorite heroines. She has a whole lot of rough exterior to break down and it was poignant when she showed her vulnerable side. Luckily Reaver realized what a gift that was and tried his best to handle her with care. As I had said earlier, there are MANY twists and surprises I never saw coming. Wow. Just wow. Larissa threw some zingers in this story that blew my freaking mind and I loved every single one! Oh, and the fight between Heaven and Hell is reaching a fevered pitch and had me on the edge of my seat until the last freaking chapter! Well done….

Oh, and I can’t go without mentioning how great it was to see our Demonica friends…Eidolon, Gem, Wraith, to name a few and of course the Horsemen and their other halves. Than talking about a play date between his kid and Wraith’s was priceless! The humor peppered into the story from these guys and enjoying their sibling bond was a treat to read.

And so here we are, at the end of my long, somewhat vague review and if you can take away one thing this should be it: BUY. THIS. BOOK. It was everything I was hoping it would be and ended exactly how I wanted it to for Reaver and Harvester (lips are zipped up tight!)

Thank you, Larissa, for an amazing, emotional, edge-of-your-seat, kick-ass read. You have done it again!

Five Loves

Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the author:

Air Force veteran Larissa Ione traded in a career as a meteorologist to pursue her passion of writing. She now spends her days in pajamas with her computer, strong coffee, and supernatural worlds. She believes in celebrating everything, and would never be caught without a bottle of Champagne chilling in the fridge…just in case. She currently lives in Wisconsin with her U.S. Coast Guard husband, her teenage son, a rescue cat named Vegas, and her very own hellhound, a King Shepherd named Hexe.

Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Goodreads

December 2013 Giveaway New Releases New Reviews

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Book Promotion & Review

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Prince of Blood and Steel by Nazarea Andrews and A.J. Elmore

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“Little mad, good. Lots mad, blissfully dangerous.” Pg 293

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Four Loves

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Introducing LIFERS by Jane Harvey-Berrick

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Five Loves

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