Read-Love-Blog

Out of Time by Jen McLaughlin….Blog Tour Stop & Review

by Jilly

Welcome to my stop on the Out of Time by Jen McLaughlin Blog Tour!

I am beyond excited to share my review with you and my Finn tattoo!

I’m also thrilled to share Jen’s AMAZING giveaway! The grand prize winner will get to help name a character in book 3 of the series, and will get their name in the acknowledgement section of the book! How exciting is that!?

Also, to celebrate the release of OUT OF TIME, book one in the series, OUT OF LINE, will be just .99¢.

Enjoy and thanks for stopping by!

Buy links:

Out of Time: Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble

Out of Line (book #1): Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble

Follow the rest of the tour HERE

Synopsis:

Desperate to keep him…

I’ve finally gotten everything I ever wanted: love, freedom, happiness, and, most importantly, Finn. Our love is everything I expected it to be and more. We’ve finally found each other, but the world seems determined to tear us apart. We thought my father was the only obstacle between us, but now it’s the military. With Finn’s departure looming, we’re squeezing in every moment together before we run out of time.

Trying to make every moment count…

Being Carrie’s bodyguard was one thing. Being her boyfriend is another. Every day she’s mine is a day the sun shines in my life. Yet our time together is running out. Her father will never think a tattooed Marine will be good enough, so I’ll do whatever it takes to be worthy of her love. But the road will take me away from the girl who makes me feel alive–the girl I can’t live without.

Time only gets us so far…

My review:

Out of Time is the second book in Jen McLaughlin’s Out of Line Series. After falling completely in love with Carrie and Finn in the first book, Out of Line, I was beyond eager to get my hands on this book. Well, it was everything I could have dreamed of…and more. I loved, loved, loved this book.

Carrie and Finn have overcome the obstacle of Finn being Carrie’s bodyguard and are enjoying their newfound love. Well, they’ve sort of overcome that whole bodyguard thing. Carrie’s father, a senator, still has no idea their relationship went from professional to personal. They plan on telling him, eventually, but now the more pressing problem is Finn’s role in the Marines. He’s gotten an ominous call and fears he will be deployed much sooner than he thought. Fearing he will upset her if he hides what little info he has about leaving, he has no choice but to tell her what may be in store. Finn sees an upside to this mess when he’s given the chance of a lifetime in the form of a special mission. One that will hopefully improve the senator’s view of him and ultimately the senator’s view of him as someone worthy of dating Carrie. Now, the only thing left is to just enjoy the possibly limited time they have left together. Of course, that’s when her father decides to come for a surprise visit. Now the question becomes will it be the Senator’s visit or Finn’s choice of a mission that will threaten their relationship more….

As some of you may know, I completely adore this series. So much so that I deemed it “tattoo worthy”….and got a Finn tattoo. Well, I was a nervous wreck waiting to read this book. I had an idea from the message Finn got in the last book that he would be leaving Carrie. Well, between the waiting game and Carrie’s dad visiting, I didn’t think my emotions could get any more chaotic! I was a ball of nerves from one page to the next but then I would get to a Finn and Carrie moment and I would just swoon and give a happy sigh. The heat and passion between them is scrumptious. I adore these two. I don’t know of many book couples that I enjoy this much. Finn is just, well, the perfect package. Loyal, caring, sweet, sexy and so in love with Carrie he is the perfect guy. If he didn’t already win my heart in the first book he would have won it in this one. His love for Carrie is so intense and so real. I just adore that man! Carrie is once again a girl with quite a head on her shoulders and really shows it at the very end of this book. She knows what she wants and will do what it takes to make it happen for her and Finn. The navigation from Carrie’s POV to Finn’s POV is so well done and makes his book that much better, which I didn’t think possible.

The ups and downs Carrie and Finn have to deal with in the beginning of the story are nothing compared to what they go through right before this story ends. Get tissues handy. Not a few tissues, a box of tissues. I was a complete and utter mess by the time I finished reading (I’m actually tearing up as I type this review). Not all sad tears though….there were tears of joy and relief after all the sad tears. I won’t give anything away, but I will say I would never recommend a book that ended badly….so you’ll just have to trust me on this.

Jen writes emotion so damn well. It’s raw and beautiful and makes the reader feel everything Carrie and Finn are feeling. It’s a rare gift and I appreciate every moment of it.

After all my blubbering, if you take one thing away from this review, it’s that you MUST get this book and if you haven’t read the first in the series, read it….and then read Out of Time. I am waiting on pins and needles for the next book and I cannot wait to see what the future holds for Finn and Carrie. Thank you, Jen, for another amazing read and for a book dedication that still has me smiling from ear to ear! Heart you, girl!

Five Loves

My Finn tattoo!

Giveaway:

Jen is giving away 4 $10 Amazon Gift Cards and an amazing grand prize! The grand prize winner will get to help name a character in book 3 of the series, and will get their name in the acknowledgement section of the book! Contest is international.

If the book happens to hit the top 10 on amazon during the blog tour, there just might be another special surprise in the works for the fans!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the author:

Jen McLaughlin is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. She writes steamy New Adult books for the young and young at heart. Her first release, Out of Line, came out September 2013. She also writes bestselling Contemporary Romance under the pen name Diane Alberts.Since receiving her first contract offer under the pen name Diane Alberts, she has yet to stop writing. She is represented by Louise Fury at The Bent Agency.

Though she lives in the mountains, she really wishes she was surrounded by a hot, sunny beach with crystal clear water. She lives in Northeast Pennsylvania with her four kids, a husband, a schnauzer mutt, a cat, and a Senegal parrot. In the rare moments when she’s not writing, she can usually be found hunched over one knitting project or another. Her goal is to write so many well-crafted romance books that even a non-romance reader will know her name.

Website ~ Facebook Fan Page ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Blog Tour December 2013 New Releases New Reviews

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Cover Reveal & Excerpt….Savor by Monica Murphy

by Jilly

We are thrilled to share the cover for Monica Murphy’s SAVOR. SAVOR is a sexy Contemporary Romance novel in Monica’s The Billionaire Bachelors Series.

Check out the hot cover then read on to learn more about SAVOR and read an excerpt!

About SAVOR:

New York Times bestselling author Monica Murphy concludes her sexy Billionaire Bachelors Club series with a fiery romance that refuses to be left at the office…

Bryn James can’t take much more. Smart, sexy Matthew DeLuca is everything she wants in a man, but he’s also her boss—the youngest, hottest vineyard owner in the Napa Valley—and he doesn’t see her as anything more than his shy assistant. That’s all about to change. Armed with a hot new look and an attitude to match, Bryn is determined to catch Matt’s eye… professionalism be damned.

With his winery’s grand reopening approaching, Matt is trying to stay focused, but Bryn is suddenly making it very difficult. He’s always thought her prim demeanor effortlessly sexy, but Matt can’t deny that her transformation is jaw-dropping …and going to make it very difficult to keep his hands to himself.

But when one thing leads to another and suddenly Matt is stripping Bryn bare, he’ll be faced with the biggest risk of his career—and his heart. Can he convince her—and himself—that this might just be more than a no-strings office affair?

Excerpt:

“Don’t be so cranky. It’s okay to admit you have a thing for Bryn.” Ivy leans forward in her chair, a secretive smile curling her lips. “I have a feeling she has a thing for you too, you know.”

I do know. And I can’t act on it. Bryn James works for me. She’s my assistant. She’s by my side constantly; we spend more time with each other than probably anyone else in our lives, especially lately what with the winery’s grand reopening approaching. She’s a representative of my business. If I were to fuck around with the help and the relationship fell apart, I’d be in huge trouble. She could screw me over financially every which way by suing me for sexual harassment and I’d be left with a limp dick in my hand and a ruined business.

Yeah. Not going to take the chance. Saw it happen with my father. Not going to let it happen to me.

“It doesn’t matter. Nothing can happen.” I send Ivy a stern look. “And this conversation can never leave this office.” Glancing over her shoulder, I try to see if Bryn is at her desk but the chair is empty.

Thank Christ.

Ivy’s expression goes solemn and she holds up three fingers. “This conversation stays here. Scout’s honor.”

“You were never a scout,” I mutter, afraid she’s making a promise on an untruth. She’ll probably just blab to everyone. Or specifically Archer and Gage. I don’t need to hear their shit.

And I am worrying way too much over this.

She laughs again. “I won’t say a word, I promise. But I need to tell you something, Matt.” She leans in close, her voice dropping. “She’s got a major crush on you. You might not see it but it’s there—sounding in her voice, shining in her eyes, every time she looks at you, talks about you. The way her body turns into yours every time the two of you are together . . . it’s pretty obvious. A body language expert would have a field day with you two.”

Body language expert? What the hell is Ivy talking about? “I have no idea what you’re referring to, but office crushes are just that. Crushes. Harmless attractions no one ever acts on. Period. End of story.”

This is what I keep telling myself. I can’t pursue anything with Bryn, no matter how much I’m tempted to. Not only would it be wildly inappropriate, dating my assistant, but we come from two different worlds. She seems nice and normal, quiet and unobtrusive, and I am anything but. My life has been a circus sideshow for years.

“I get it. You’re trying to do the right thing, and I admire that. So, of course you don’t see anything beyond an efficient assistant in Miss James.”

Well. Ivy’s not too far off the mark. When I first met Bryn, she hardly said two words, kept her head bent when I spoke to her and offered lots of yes–sir and no–sir answers. She had this way of almost blending in with the walls, like she didn’t want anyone to notice her.

So I didn’t.

As we got comfortable working together though, something happened. I’m thinking Ivy had a hand in Bryn’s slow transformation. She actually makes eye contact when she speaks to me, and she’s become somewhat animated. Started to wear bolder colors as well, drawing my attention to her chest though I keep my eyes averted as best I can.

These subtle changes made me notice all of the little things—like the color of her eyes (blue), how her hair looks (like silk and I want to touch it), and the tempting fullness of her lips (they’re spectacular).

Her gaze lingers when she looks at me and sometimes so does mine. Her smile softens, her voice drops lower when she speaks, sparking my imagination. Would she sound like that right before I kissed her? Took off her clothes? Took her to my bed?

Yeah. All of those are dangerous thoughts. I almost prefer the old Miss James. The one who was like the wallpaper—boring and nondescript. Mean to say, but hell, the last thing I need is a distraction.

And she’s become the biggest distraction I’m currently facing. The very last one I need.

Pre-Order Links:

ABOUT MONICA MURPHY:

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Monica Murphy is a native Californian who lives in the foothills below Yosemite. A wife and mother of three, she writes New Adult and contemporary romance for Bantam and Avon. She is the author of One Week Girlfriend and Second Chance Boyfriend.

Links:

Website: http://www.monicamurphyauthor.com/#

Blog: http://missmonicamurphy.blogspot.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MsMonicaMurphy

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MonicaMurphyauthor

Author Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5934418.Monica_Murphy

Amazon author page: http://www.amazon.com/Monica-Murphy/e/B00AVPYIGG

SAVORGoodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17905607-savor?ac=1

Cover Reveal December 2013

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Review…Christmas Roses: Love Blooms in Winter by Mary Jo Putney, Patricia Rice, Susan King

by Jilly

Book links:

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Goodreads

Synopsis:

Love blooms in Winter. Three rare, historical romance novellas by acclaimed writers Patricia Rice, Mary Jo Putney, and Susan King are collected together here for the first time in this exclusive eBook, Christmas Roses. “The Snow Rose”, “The Black Beast of Belleterre”, and “The Kissing Bough” weave tales of the joy of unexpected Love, at a special time of year, Christmas – as only these talented writers can. Discovery in the midst of a clash of clans, hidden desires from an unexpected suitor, and a love once lost and found combine for a truly romantic journey through history. This tantalizing collection of historical romances also includes all-new introductions and recipes to add to the delight of the season.

My review:

The Snow Rose by Susan King

Catriona MacDonald is in need of help and calls on a promise made to her family years ago by her now enemy clan, the Frasers. She needs to regain control of her family’s estate from her uncle and knows they are the only ones that can help her. After being turned away and her plea for help falling upon deaf ears, she heads back to her makeshift home to ring in the New Year. Alone and in need of luck, she tries to lift her spirits and is surprised when Kenneth Fraser shows up at her door. He comes bearing gifts and well wishes but still won’t offer to help her take back her rightful home. But fate indeed had a plan for Kenneth and Catriona and has brought these two soul mates together. Together, they will be able to conquer anything, especially getting her home back.

I loved this story. I was instantly transported to 16^th century Scotland with rich descriptions and dialogue worthy of the Highlands. Despite the length of the story, the characters were well developed and there was plenty of emotion and even a few laughs. Kenneth is a loyal man with a huge heart and a soft side that had me swooning. Catriona is a strong and resilient woman caring for the ones she loves and puts her own needs second. Together they prove to be a perfect match. The Snow Rose was a fantastic start to this collection!

The Black Beast of Belleterre by Mary Jo Putney

Lord Falconer has the gifts of wealth and intelligence. He owns gorgeous properties and has traveled and visited many beautiful places. What he didn’t have the gift of were handsome looks. He was burned as a child and has kept himself hidden behind the hood of a cloak for too many years to count. It was easier to be thought a phantom than be known as a horrid looking monster. Resigned to the notion he would never take a wife, he was surprised when he had no other wish than to do just that after seeing the beautiful daughter of one of his debtors. As luck would have it, his debtor needed to marry his daughter, Ariel, off to a wealthy man so he could pay of his debts. Was it fate that Falconer happened to be wealthy and a creditor owed a substantial debt by this man? After hearing the name of the weasel she was going to be married off to, he stepped in and offered his hand. She was offered anything her heart desired and he promised it would remain a marriage in name alone. Never would such a beautiful woman love someone as hideous as he……or was it possible after all? They do say love is blind….

This was my absolute favorite story in the collection. A take on Beauty and the Beast, it was a beautiful story. Falconer broke my heart. He was warm and compassionate but never though himself worthy of love and affection. He had lived a life almost entirely alone and was so grateful to have this beautiful woman in his home. He was kind to his new bride and gave her everything she desired. The more time Ariel spent with Falconer, the more she started to fall in love with him and his reaction to it was fear and disbelief. Ultimately though, Ariel took a chance at showing him how she felt and it was simply perfect! This is a story that will stay with me for quite some time and deserves a re read very soon!

The Kissing Bough by Patricia Rice

Mourning over the recent death of her dear father, Diana Carrington certainly wasn’t in the mood to decorate her home for the holiday but she knew it had to be done. Her family needed a bit of happiness and on the chance that her brother would be returning home from war very soon, he would need that happiness as well. Of course, if her brother was set to return, it most likely means he would be coming home with his best friend, Jonathan. Jonathan, the young man she had been madly in love with before he went off to war four years earlier. She thought he had loved her too but when he didn’t send word about his departure, her heart had shattered. Clearly he hadn’t cared for her as much as she thought. She had no idea how wrong she was and luckily Jonathan would get a chance very soon to show her just how much he missed her and how much he truly did care for her.

The ending story to this anthology was a sweet finish. The Carrington family dynamic was fantastic with a mischievous set of twins that proved to be quite a handful. They had me laughing out loud a few times at their antics. Diana has a good head on her shoulders and wasn’t afraid to give Jonathan a piece of her mind more than once. I loved her spirit! Jonathan is a stand-up man not willing to let Diana go and his ability to bear his heart to her was so touching. The ending scene with Diana and Jonathan was so sweet and loving and just perfect.

Overall, this anthology was a win from start to finish and I recommend to anyone who loves love and the holiday season. Thank you, Susan, Mary Jo and Patricia, for three fabulous stories!

Four Loves

About the authors:

Patricia Rice
With several million books in print and New York Times and USA Today’s bestseller lists under her belt, former CPA Patricia Rice is one of romance’s hottest authors. Her emotionally-charged contemporary and historical romances have won numerous awards, including the RT Book Reviews Reviewers Choice and Career Achievement Awards. Her books have been honored as Romance Writers of America RITA® finalists in the historical, regency and contemporary categories.

A firm believer in happily-ever-after, Patricia Rice is married to her high school sweetheart and has two children. A native of Kentucky and New York, a past resident of North Carolina, she currently resides in Southern California, and now does accounting only for herself. She is a member of Romance Writers of America, the Authors Guild, and Novelists, Inc.

Mary Jo Putney
A New York Times bestselling author, Mary Jo Putney was born in Upstate New York with a reading addiction, a condition with no known cure. Her entire writing career is an accidental byproduct of buying a computer for other purposes. Most of her books contain history, romance, and cats. Her current Lost Lords series include No Longer a Gentleman, May 2012, and Sometimes a Rogue, September 2013. October sees the release of the mass market edition of Mischief and Mistletoe, a Christmas anthology by the eight authors of the Word Wenches blog. She has had ten RWA RITA nominations, two RITA wins, and in 2013 is the recipient of the Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award.

Susan King
Susan King is the bestselling, award-winning author of 22 historical novels and novellas praised for historical accuracy and lyrical writing. Writing as Susan King and Sarah Gabriel, she is the author of several historical romances for major publishing houses; as Susan Fraser King, she writes highly acclaimed historical fiction, including Lady Macbeth and Queen Hereafter, published by Random House. Her backlist novels are now being released in e-book form and she is currently working on new fiction. A founding member of the successful author blog Word Wenches, Susan holds a B.A. in fine arts and an M.A. in art history, and did her Ph.D. work in medieval art history. She lives in Maryland with her family.

December 2012 New Reviews

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ARC Review…On Solid Ground by Michelle Kemper Brownlow

by Jilly

Book links:

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Goodreads

Synopsis:

Emotional abuse can break both your heart and your spirit. Twenty-one year old Gracie is broken and weak but she’s determined to heal. With the encouragement from her best friend, Becki and her best friend-turned-boyfriend, Jake, she is ready to do what it takes to heal from the pain she suffered while with her ex, Noah. Gracie’s post-Noah days are filled with the gentle love she receives from Jake but in her sleep she is plagued by nightmares that she fears will never go away.

It’s summer on UTK’s campus and Gracie, Jake and Becki have all decided to stay at school for the summer, each for their own reason. Gracie wants to be as far away from Noah as possible, Jake knows Gracie will need him to lean on and, because of a late in the game change of major, Becki has a ton of classes to take before her senior year.

In the beginning of summer, Gracie and Jake continue to steam the windows with their beautiful love-making but Gracie’s internal struggles with self-esteem and confidence weigh heavily on their relationship. Jake’s point-of-view alternating throughout the book will have readers falling even harder for him.

When Gracie’s new counselor suggests she may have jumped into a relationship too quickly, Gracie knows what she needs to do to make a full recovery. With strength she didn’t know she had, she walks away from Jake to recover her spirit. Staying true to the promise he made her the semester before, although heart-broken, Jake remains her closest friend and support system while trying to give her the space she needs to heal.

Gracie has spent years pouring her heart into volume after volume of journals. Gracie starts writing poetry that seemingly pours from her heart, proof that writing is merely an extension of her soul. Gracie also reconnects with her musical talents and takes up guitar again, a talent not even Jake knew about. The beauty in her passion for both playing music and writing renders Jake speechless.

Gracie is inspired by what she’s learning about herself in therapy, writing poetry and lyrics. And as fate would have it, she unexpectedly runs into Calon Ridge, the lead singer of her favorite local band, Alternate Tragedy.

Memories of an evening she spent with Calon two years prior and his sudden intense interest in Gracie throws both she and Jake for a loop. Jake experiences something he’s never had to deal with. He is jealous; fist-clenching, pulse-thumping jealous.

With broken souls and passion for music in common, Calon and Gracie reconnect on a different level. Calon becomes a creative confidant for Gracie and with his cocky humor, sexy mannerisms and sensitive spirit, he convinces her to begin to explore the depths of her talent by taking the stage. Jake’s new job as a bartender gives him a front row seat to the sensual connection between Calon and Gracie as they practice. But that connection is just what Gracie needs to lift her confidence as she starts to find herself again.

Becki and Gracie spend more time together than usual because of their shared newly-single status and Becki is completely intrigued by Calon. Becki’s honesty and no-filter humor is gut-busting hysterical and keeps Gracie grounded and giggling. She’s up for a summer fling but may not be expecting the intensity Calon’s soul holds.

And when the end-of-summer festival brings the whole cast of IN TOO DEEP back, front and center for a weekend none of them will soon forget, stakes are set, tempers flare, truth prevails, and unexpected plans are made. And Gracie finally finds herself On Solid Ground.

My review:

On Solid Ground is the follow up to Michelle Kemper Browlow’s emotional debut, In Too Deep. I fell in love with Gracie and Jake in that debut and damn if I didn’t fall in love with them even more in On Solid Ground.

Gracie is just at the very beginning of her personal journey to become stronger and get back to the girl she once was. The girl she was before she experienced the emotional abuse at the hands of her ex-boyfriend, Noah. Luckily she has the amazing Jake by her side to help her realize the amazing and beautiful soul she is. But it won’t be an easy road for her and certainly not her and Jake’s relationship. Will they be able to weather the storm left behind by Noah?

Jake is bound and determined to make his Gracie see just how amazing she is. He needs to her to see herself through his eyes. She has been too broken and seeing her like that is killing him. He will give her whatever it takes to build her back up….even if it means time away from the woman who holds his heart.

Together Jake and Gracie have more hurdles to overcome than anyone they know. Determined to put the past in the past, and heal the hurt that has been caused, they will need to reach within to find the strength to be survivors…..together.

This. Book. KILLED. Me. Gracie broke my heart when she opened up and started the healing process. She is an amazing, strong, determined, resilient and beautiful person. Inside and out. She is an inspiration to anyone who reads this book. I think we can all learn something from her. To take the steps she knows she needs to get herself to a better place and admit that she needs help getting there is truly amazing and it is gift to be able to read. Now, let’s get to Jake….*dreamy sigh*. Damn, where to even begin? He is truly an amazing partner. He gives Gracie any and everything she could possibly need to get back to the girl he fell in love with all that time ago. He is a guy and girl would be lucky to call hers and had me crying too many times to count with his insight and caring soul.

Michelle also introduced us to Calon, the smoking hot lead singer of a local band and one that shares a deep connection with Gracie. He’s another beautiful and intense person with a story that broke my heart. I really, REALLY, hope he gets his own happy ending because that boy truly deserves one.

But beyond On Solid Ground, and In Too Deep, I have to say that I think Michelle Kemper Brownlow is one of the most truly unique and special authors I have come across these days. She writes from her heart and soul and I can feel it in every page. Rarely does a reader come across a gift like that. My wish is that my review reaches someone who may not have heard about Michelle and that person decides to read her work. Thank you Michelle, for another phenomenal story and I look forward to seeing more from you!

Five Loves

About the author:

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

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

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

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

Blog ~ Twitter ~ Facebook

December 2013 New Releases New Reviews

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Out Of Time by Jen McLaughlin Release Day Blitz & AMAZING Giveaway

by Jilly

Out of Time by Jen McLaughlin

December 2013

Buy links:

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:

Desperate to keep him…

Trying to make every moment count…

Time only gets us so far…

But first, Jen is having a PAR-TAY! You can stop by any time on Tuesday, the 3rd and join in!

She is having a giveaway for a diamond necklace, too! And, there will be several other authors stopping by to chat and give away more prizes.

Join here and please share this link: https://www.facebook.com/events/456550377788774/

Excerpt:

When he closed his mouth over mine, I shut off my mind and stopped thinking. He’d already told me all he could tell me about the call, so focusing on it wasn’t the healthiest choice. We had to wait until this weekend to hear anything more. Until then we were just sitting ducks.

And if I was going to be forced to wait, then I’d do it my way.

He picked me up and carried me to his bed. He was so hard and solid and it drove me insane every time he moved his tongue over mine like that. His teeth scraped my lower lip, and I whimpered into his mouth. His fingers moved over my butt, slipping between my legs and rubbing against the spot where I needed him most.

As he lowered me to the mattress, he started to climb on top of me, but I broke the kiss and shoved at his shoulders. “No,” I said, locking gazes with him. “It’s my turn. Just stand there.”

He stilled, instantly giving me what I wanted. “Your turn for what?”

“Control,” I said, my cheeks heating. “I want to undress you. And then I want to wrap my lips around your…your…”

When I drifted off, uncertain what to call his penis, he chuckled. “Cock. It’s a cock, Carrie. Say it.”

My cheeks heated. I knew what it was called. It just sounded so dirty and wrong. “Around your cock,” I said in a rush, my cheeks getting even hotter.

“Okay.” He fisted his hands at his hips, watching me from beneath his lowered lids. When he looked at me like that—like I was his dessert or something—it made everything inside me quiver and beg for his touch so much it hurt. I licked my lips and crawled to the edge of the bed on all fours. He twitched and took a step toward me; as if he couldn’t hold himself back anymore, but then he stopped.

He stood there because I’d asked him to.

I ran my hands over his chest, then up over his shoulders. Just touching him made me feel like the luckiest girl in the world, and I wanted to do everything to him. Everything in the romance books I read at night, and then more. Even though my mother had never figured it out, I used to sneak them out of her library after she was finished with them. I’d started it in sixth grade. Now I bought them with my own money.

And I had a lot of ideas stored away in my mind that I wanted to try out on Finn.

BLOG TOUR GIVEAWAY:

Jen is giving away 4 $10 Amazon Gift Cards and an amazing grand prize!

The grand prize winner will get to help name a character in book 3 of the series, and will get their name in the acknowledgement section of the book!

Contest is international.

If the book happens to hit the top 10 on amazon during the blog tour, there just might be another special surprise in the works!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the author:

Website ~ Facebook Fan Page ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

December 2013 New Releases Release Day Event

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The World Without a Future by Nazarea Andrews….Release Day Blitz & FANTASTIC Giveaway

by Jilly

The World Without a Future by Nazarea Andrews

December 2013

Goodreads

Buy links:

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:

She was born the day the world ended…

Nurrin has lived her entire life with zombies—trapped behind walls meant to keep them safe. She’s mostly happy there. But when a zombie horde breech the walls of her Haven, she has to trust her brother, Collin, and his best friend to keep her alive.

He just wants his past to die…

Finn O’Malley has given up on voicing warnings that are ignored. No one cares that the zombies are changing. Now all that matters is keeping Collin and Nurrin safe from what’s outside the walls of a Haven. But when Nurrin’s best friend picks up a contact infection, he agrees to get the medicine needed to save his life. Forced together, relying on each other in a strange Haven, zombies aren’t the most dangerous thing they’re facing.

GIVEAWAY:

Nazarea is giving away a really awesome prize! The grand prize winner will receive a zombie survival kit and 25 edited pages of the manuscript and swag — with notes from Nazarea.

A runner up will receive the zombie survival kit and swag. This contest is US only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the author:

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 ~ Blog ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ “The Infects” Street Team

December 2013 New Releases Release Day Event

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Bitter Sweet Love by Jennifer L. Armentrout Release Day Launch & Excerpt

by Jilly

Jennifer L. Armentrout’s amazing novella in her new The Dark Elements Series, BITTER SWEET LOVE, is out and we are excited to join in the release day launch for it. BITTER SWEET LOVE is the Prequel Novella for The Dark Elements Series and is full of Wardens, fantasy, and romance. The first novel in the series, WHITE HOT KISS, will be released February 25, 2014. Check out what we have for you today! There’s also a fantastic excerpt for you to check out below!

Excerpt:

Moving lightning fast, Dez shifted and I was suddenly underneath him. His arms were on either side of my head, caging me in. Our bodies didn’t touch, but I felt him to the tips of my toes anyway.

The teasing grin disappeared when I dragged in a deep breath and my chest brushed his. Everything changed in an instant. The playful mood faded, replaced by primal heaviness. Our gazes collided and locked. Neither of us moved. His closeness sent a series of shivers skittering across my skin and made it hard to take slow, even breaths. My body tensed when his gaze dropped to my mouth.

He tilted his head to the side. “I… I honestly have no idea what we were talking about.”

“Good. Neither do I.”

He shifted his weight onto one arm, bring him closer. “Have you enjoyed your trip so far?”

“Yes.” I felt as if I couldn’t get enough air into my lungs.

“Good.” He lowered his head. His breath was minty as it moved across my cheek and then my lips. “I’m glad.”

I wasn’t really following the conversation and I wasn’t sure that he was fully aware of what was coming out of his mouth. I searched my hazy brain for something to say and wet my lips. I-

The sound that came out of Dez’s chest rumbled through me. A stuttered heartbeat passed and then his lips were on mine. There was nothing slow about this kiss. It scorched my skin and caused my body to stretch tight like a bowstring. The kiss deepened, spinning my senses. I shuddered when his hand curved over my shoulder and drifted down to my waist, his long fingers spreading out under the hem of my shirt, grazing the bare skin of my stomach.

I gasped, floored by the raw sensations pounding through my blood. My skin felt as if I was about to phase. Maybe I was.

“Jasmine,” he whispered, the word falling against my lips, and then his body was pressing mine into the mattress, heavy, sweet and hard.

Bitter Sweet Love Buy Links:

AMAZON ~ BARNES AND NOBLE ~ iTUNES

Bitter Sweet Love Synopsis:

In a sizzling prequel novella to her new series The Dark Elements, #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout draws readers into the extraordinary, irresistible world of Wardens and demons.

Dez wasn’t just Jasmine’s crush. A gargoyle Warden like Jas, he helped her come to terms with her destiny—fending off demons and maintaining the balance between good and evil. He was her everything…right until the moment he disappeared without a trace. It didn’t help that Jas’s father had just announced that she and Dez would one day be mated. Hard not to take that personally.

And now he’s back, three years older, ten times hotter, ready to pick up exactly where they left off. But Jas isn’t taking that risk again. Dez has seven days to meet all her conditions and earn back her trust. Seven days filled with terrifying danger and sweet temptation. Seven days to win her heart—or shatter it all over again…

Don’t miss White Hot Kiss, book one in Jennifer L. Armentrout’s The Dark Elements series from Harlequin TEEN!

About the author:

# 1 NEW YORK TIMES Bestselling author Jennifer lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing. she spends her time reading, working out, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell Loki. Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen. Her book Obsidian has been optioned for a major motion picture and her Covenant Series has been optioned for TV. She also writes adult and New Adult romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

Links:

Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook

BITTER SWEET LOVE Goodreads ~ WHITE HOT KISS Goodreads

Jennifer L. Armentrout Goodreads ~ Jennifer L. Armentrout Amazon

WHITE HOT KISS Buy Links:

AMAZON ~ BARNES AND NOBLE ~ iTUNES

December 2013 New Releases Release Day Event

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ARC Review….Thrown by Colette Auclair

by Jilly

Thrown releases December 16

Book links:

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Simon & Schuster ~ iBooks

Synopsis:

THROWN is a lighthearted yet steamy contemporary romance by Golden Heart finalist Colette Auclair, featuring a young woman who must choose between capturing a gold medal and the man who’s captured her heart.

In THROWN, professional trainer Amanda Vogel dreams of riding jumpers in the Olympics, but after seeing her best friend die in a riding accident, she’s so traumatized she can’t show. Broke and desperate, she takes a summer job in Aspen teaching some big-shot widowed movie star’s spoiled daughters to ride—even though she hates teaching kids. She braces herself for three miserable months. But by Labor Day, she has to choose between capturing a gold medal…and the man who has captured her heart.

THROWN was a 2012 Golden Heart finalist in the single-title contemporary romance category. It also won the 2011 Winter Rose Contest (Yellow Rose Romance Writers) and finaled in the 2011 Cleveland Rocks Romance Contest (North East Ohio Romance Writers Association)

My review:

Thrown is the first work from debut author Colette Auclair and was truly enjoyable from start to finish.

Trying to pick up the pieces after seeing her best friend killed in a riding accident, Amanda Vogel finds herself the personal trainer to one of the biggest movies stars in Hollywood’s two little girls. More like two little spawns of Satan, if she’s being honest. Seems like Amanda really can’t catch a break. She’s had to sell her beloved horse, she lost her best friend, can’t even think about jumping anymore without going into a panic attack and now she has to train these little brats. There was one up side though…getting to see the girls’ gorgeous movie star father, Grady. A girl could get used to seeing his sexy self every day. Grady’s personal assistant already warned Amanda that she was to keep things professional and that trying to get into Grady’s bed was not part of her job. Well, Amanda didn’t have time for a relationship anyway, so no worries there. Plus, the last break up still stung. Looks like the only thing left to do was focus on her work, get these girls trained and hopefully move on once the summer and this job was over. Except fate seems to have a different plan in store for Amanda and this job may be exactly what she needs to put the bad memories behind and find a chance at life, and love, once again.

Thrown is one of those books that leaves you feeling happy and smiling from ear to ear when you finish reading. Amanda’s story was pretty damn sad when we first meet her. Her dreams of being an Olympic jumper and all but crushed when her best friend dies tragically and the accident Amanda emotionally scarred and unable to jump. But she’s got a strong will and is trying her very best to pick up the pieces and move on. I truly admired her strength…which she sure needed in dealing with Grady’s two little girls. Ugh, those two were rotten in the beginning of the book! Amanda had her work cut out for her, but she managed to build an amazing relationship with those two little girls who were in need of a mother figure in their lives. Speaking of relationships, what Amanda and Grady build throughout the story is one of those “dreamy sigh” kinds of relationships. The attraction between them was there from the start and builds slowly and beautifully. There were more than a few starts and stops and a lot of emotional ups and downs between them and I really wasn’t sure of they could get past all of it and make things work between them, but it ended exactly how I wanted it to. Oh, and Grady’s best friend and house chef, Harris, is someone I want to hang out with! He is quite a character and the voice of reason on more than one occasion for both Amanda and Grady. Love that man!

Overall, Thrown is a beautifully written love story with a whole lot of heart. I will be looking forward to see what comes in the next book, Jumped, due out in June. Thank you, Ms. Auclair, for a fabulous read!

Four Loves

About the author:

I write lighthearted, sexy romances that often include horses and a Portuguese water dog or two. My debut novel, Thrown, will be available as an e-book in Simon & Schuster’s Pocket Star line on December 16th (you can order it now). Stay tuned for the next book in the series, Jumped, in June 2014.

My agent is the lovely and talented Emily Sylvan Kim of Prospect Agency.

I live in Colorado and—not surprisingly—have a Thoroughbred mare and a Portuguese water dog. Both are smart, sweet and gorgeous. I’m originally from Pittsburgh and am still fiercely loyal to all of its pro sports teams. I studied theatre and advertising at Northwestern University (go Cats!) and have been a copywriter for more than twenty years. If you ever meet me, beware—anything you do or say could end up in a book and I make no apologies.

Personal Interests: Horses are right up there, as well as dogs, food (cooking and eating), wine, chocolate, gardening, Mad Men, hiking, Italy, gazing at the Rocky Mountains, reading, and making my husband laugh hard enough to cause whatever he’s drinking to exit through his nose.

If you want to talk books, writing, horses, food, wine or just about anything else, email me at colettea@gmail.com.

Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Website ~ Goodreads

December 2013 New Releases New Reviews

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Keep Me Still by Caisey Quinn….Blog Tour Stop

by Jilly

Happy Saturday and welcome to my stop on the KEEP ME STILL by Caisey Quinn Blog Tour!

I have a fabulous Top 10 from Caisey to share with you along with information on the tour wide giveaway.

Enjoy and thanks so much for stopping by!

Top 10 Things I Do to Get Inspired

Sometimes I have a scene to write or an outline to finish or edits that need completed and my brain just won’t cooperate. So I have a few go-to’s that help me refresh!

1. Browse Pinterest (You can find my boards here)

2. Peruse Tumblr. I don’t have an account but I love looking at everyone else’s!

3. Listen to or a make a playlist on Spotify

4. Take a walk.

5. Take a shower. Besides getting so caught up in my writing that I often can’t remember the last time I washed my hair, for some reason, this is when I get some of my best ideas!

6. Change the scenery. Sometimes just taking my computer on my back deck or to Starbucks makes a huge difference.

7. Make a dream cast for the book I’m working on.

8. Step away and do something entirely unrelated like bake something I’ve never made before, play a game with my kiddo, or read a book completely outside my genre of interest.

9. Chat with friends on Twitter or Facebook. Have to beware the time suck though or it will be midnight and I’ll still have a scene to write, an outline to finish, and edits to correct! 😉

10. Grab a snack like a protein bar, or something super carb-loaded and caffeine filled. Not the healthiest version, but when it’s too late at night for some of the others, its works!

~Thank you for sharing your inspiration, Caisey! xo Jillian

BOOK SUMMARY:

Layla Flaherty had the perfect life, or close to it. Until a stranger gunned her parents down right in front of her, leaving her with seizure inducing PTSD. After years of trying to pass as normal and failing miserably, she resigns herself to being invisible. But new to town Landen O’Brien sees her, and he likes what he sees. Much to Layla’s surprise, he doesn’t freak out when she has a seizure in front of him. He does the exact opposite, calming her until the tremors subside. But Landen has secrets of his own. Secrets that both bind them together and tear them apart.

Scarred by loss, Layla leaves her hometown of Hope Springs, Georgia, hoping to put her painful past behind her and start over in college in California. When she runs into Landen at freshmen orientation, she has a choice to make. Reinforce those steel walls she’s built up around herself or give the only boy who can keep her still a second chance.

Landen’s more than ready to tear down those walls but this time when they come crashing down, they might bury her.

Buy Links:

Amazon US ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Kobo

Giveaway:

Prizes include a $50 Gift Card, a KEEP ME STILL Kindle Case, and a swag pack. Plus signed copies of WISH I MAY by Lexi Ryan, BREAK IT UP by E.M. Tippetts, and a winner’s choice title from Elizabeth Lee. 5 winners get one or more of these prizes! US only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the author:

Caisey Quinn lives in Birmingham, Alabama with her husband, daughter, and other assorted animals. She is the bestselling author of the Kylie Ryans series as well as several New Adult Romance novels featuring country girls finding love in unexpected places. You can find her online at www.caiseyquinnwrites.com .

Website: http://www.caiseyquinnwrites.com/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7041163.Caisey_Quinn

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CaiseyQuinn

Blog Tour November 2013

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Cinderella Screwed Me Over by Cindi Madsen….Blog Tour Stop & Guest Post

by Jilly

Welcome to my stop on the CINDERELLA SCREWED ME OVER by Cindi Madsen Blog Tour! I have a fabulous guest post from Cindi and an excerpt to share with you all.

Also, you can find my review HERE (I loved this book!)

Enjoy and thanks for stopping by!

Book links:

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Goodreads

Guest Post:

Excerpt:

Jake put his arm over the back of the couch. His fingers grazed my shoulder, then

he twisted them in the ends of my hair, sending a tingly sensation along my scalp “Nope.

Just had some experience with stuff like this before.”

“You think you’ve got women all figured out, then, do you?” I asked.

Jake shook his head. “No way. Every time you think you do, they change the rules on you. Like they could love the way you were yesterday and hate it the next day.”

“Every now and then, we change our minds. It’s our prerogative. The big secret is”—I leaned in conspiratorially—“sometimes, even we don’t know why. There are times after we pick a fight where we’re as confused as you are. But there’s no way we’re admitting it.” I shrugged a shoulder. “That’s why we have boobs.”

Jake’s eyebrows shot up.

“See, after we’ve acted crazy, and the guy’s wondering what he’s doing with us, we use them to mesmerize him, so he forgets that we’re crazy.” I shot Jake my most seductive smile and leaned the assets in question against his arm. “And by the way, if you look at my cleavage right now, even though I’m the one talking about it, I’ll accuse you of not caring about what I say and of just treating me like an object.”

Jake swallowed hard, keeping eye contact with me, though I could tell he was fighting his impulse to look down. A mischievous glint flickered through his eyes. “And treating you like an object would be bad?”

“It depends on how big a deal you make about how smart, funny, talented, etcetera, etcetera I am first.”

Jake slid his hand behind my neck and swept his thumb along my jaw. “Have I told you how smart, funny, talented, and etcetera I think you are?”

“You think I’m going to fall for that when I just fed you the lines?” Before he could answer, I kissed him. Using his hand on my neck, he pulled me closer, forcing my lips open with his tongue. His other hand slid up my thigh, and even through jeans, my skin burned from his touch.

About the author:

Cindi Madsen sits at her computer every chance she gets, plotting, revising, and falling in love with her characters. Sometimes it makes her a crazy person. Without it, she’d be even crazier. She has way too many shoes, but can always find a reason to buy a new pretty pair, especially if they’re sparkly, colorful, or super tall. She loves music, dancing, and wishes summer lasted all year long. She lives in Colorado (where summer is most definitely NOT all year long) with her husband and three children. She is the author of YA books All the Broken Pieces, Cipher, and Demons of the Sun and adult romances Falling for Her Fiancé, Act Like You Love Me, and Cinderella Screwed Me Over.

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Blog Hop November 2013

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My Today by HJ Bellus….Blog Tour Stop

by Jilly

Happy Thanksgiving!

Welcome to my stop on the MY TODAY Blog Tour.

You can find my review for MY TODAY here and find out why this book holds a huge spot in my heart!

Also, my review for the first book in the series, MY NOW & FOREVER can be found here.

Enjoy and thanks for stopping by!

My Today

My Way Series, Book Two

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.

That philosophy served its purpose,
until I met someone who turned my life upside down. Milly, the little hoochie,
stormed into my life and changed everything with her undying faith in me, her
love and her shitty coffee concoctions. I found a family in Milly, and her sexy
farm boy, Cree. She accepted me without hesitation, and never ran from the dark
and dangerous secrets that I harbored. My new family loved me unconditionally,
with their showers of sprinkles and impromptu dance parties.

My life was perfectly imperfect until
Tripp and his crazy-ass ideas of princesses. Our relationship is what most
would describe as fuel meeting fire. We were both hell bent on burning each
other to the ground. Tripp, fresh out of rehab, moved in with Milly and Cree to
try and make a new life for himself. Tripp, the sexy as hell, charismatic
beast, soon became one of my best friends. We shared our 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 HERE

Purchase Link:

Kindle

Join the FACEBOOK EVENT

Playlist:

Excerpt:

“How weird of a couple we are. I’m short and plump, you are a tall, sexy
Beast. We are both way beyond repair.”

“I think it’s pretty damn sexy, if you ask me.”

“Really?
Of course you would…you are a typical horn dog.”

“Lacey, I really like you. There is something about you that makes me
want to have you all to myself.”

“You better only see me or I’d have to cut a
bitch.”

Teasers:

My Way Series:

Both books in the
MY WAY SERIES will be on SALE for $0.99 during the BLOG TOUR!

Purchase links:

“My Now & Forever” Kindle

“My Today” Kindle

My Now &
Forever

My Way Series,
Book One

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
My now and forever NEW COVER

life forever. Follow me on my journey that resurrected my inner badass.

I found my soul sista from another mista, and opened my
dream shop along the way. Just when I gave up on finding true love, a pirate
and a princess swept me off my ever lovin’ feet and filled my world with
sprinkles, mac n’ cheese and the courage to live again. They forced my fragile
heart to trust and love without fear.

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.

Goodreads

Purchase link:

Amazon

Meet 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…

-Loves country life & music

-Gets the case of the
“fuck-its” often

-Loves Big

-Hurts Big

-love corn dogs & candy…. &
(sex & candaaay)

-My heart is happy writing!!!

Social Media Links:

Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads ~ Amazon

GIVEAWAY:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour November 2013 Uncategorized

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Book Promotion & Review

Buy links:

Synopsis:

My review:

Five Loves

Giveaway:

About SAVOR:

Excerpt:

Book links:

Synopsis:

My review:

Four Loves

Book links:

Synopsis:

My review:

Five Loves

Out of Time by Jen McLaughlin

December 2013

Buy links:

Synopsis:

Excerpt:

BLOG TOUR GIVEAWAY:

The World Without a Future by Nazarea Andrews

December 2013

Buy links:

Synopsis:

GIVEAWAY:

Excerpt:

Bitter Sweet Love Synopsis:

Links:

Thrown releases December 16

Book links:

Synopsis:

My review:

Four Loves

Buy Links:

Giveaway:

Book links:

Guest Post:

Excerpt:

Happy Thanksgiving!