“Retrace” by Sigal Ehrlich – My Review

Title: “Retrace”

Author: Sigal Ehrlich

Genre: New Adult / Contemporary Romance

Release Date: 6th November, 2014

SYNOPSIS

Nia Martins believes a fresh start will help her leave her traumatic past behind. Moving to a different country, she seeks to shake off her demons by doing the one thing that sets her free from her destructive thoughts – teaching dance. But change doesn’t come easy, and all Nia really wants is to take the next breath without the perpetual suffocation that follows.

Reeves Mitchell has looked death in the eyes so many times it’s become habitual. That is, until his best friend’s life was on the line. When the one thing he feared the most turns into reality, all he can do is pick up the pieces of his loss. As Reeves tries to live with the constant thought of “what if” gnawing at the back of his mind, he persistently and steadily builds a thick wall around himself.

Their solitary lives are all they have—until fate brings them together. Nia and Reeves’ new friendship helps make life, shadowed by the ghosts of their past, more bearable. But as their relationship deepens and new, suppressed feelings emerge between them, are they willing to retrace their steps back to where wounded hearts can be broken once more?

*THIS IS A STAND-ALONE NOVEL. New Adult Contemporary Romance: Due to strong language and sexual content, this book is not intended for readers under the age of 18.*

ADD TO GOODREADS

My Review

Complimentary copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review

Loss. Pain. Hope. Courage. Love. These are the words that, I feel, best describe “Retrace” by Sigal Ehrlich. It is a story of two people fighting to break free of the darkness in their pasts. And it is a story about how incredibly hard it can be to find the courage to do so.

Nia and Reeves meet each other in a less than typical way – and I might as well tell you that this part made me giggle – and despite having a strong, physical attraction, they both seem to hold back from acting on it at first because they instinctively know that it will only bring trouble. Both are so closed-off from their feelings because of past heartaches, and they both struggle with simply moving forward in their day-to-day lives.

However, they soon come to the same realization: that this attraction will not simply go away on its own. It does not exactly help that they live in the same building, of course. And why should they not just enjoy themselves in each other’s arms for as long as this flame is burning bright? So an agreement is made: why not simply be friends-with-benefits? It seems to be the right decision, but when is anything ever truly simple?

First of all, I would like to say that I truly enjoyed this deeply emotional romance; I admire Nia, despite the fact that she has chosen to run away from Brazil and her parents instead of facing her issues, because she believes that it is the only way for her to find some semblance of a life free of her past. Furthermore, she shows some very endearing character traits: she can be funny, she feels confident about herself sexually, and, little by little, she finds the courage within herself to let the past go, allowing herself to feel again.

As for Reeves…His past just about broke me to pieces. He is definitely a victim of survivor’s guilt, and he has major issues with trust; his demons and the pain they bring is always close to the surface, but I love how he actually seems willing to open himself up before Nia realizes the extent of her own feelings towards him. Reeves is most definitely struggling just as much as she is, but I find it refreshing to see a male protagonist able to be honest with himself over a rather short time frame.. And once this alpha male comes to the conclusion that Nia is the woman he wants to be with, he is definitely not afraid to go after her.

These two characters are very easy to like, actually. At no point in time did I find their actions, or reactions, for that matter, to be over-the-top or annoying. No, quite the contrary: the bond they share, the broken pasts they struggle with, is very powerful and lovely to experience. And the fear of letting go is understandable and genuine.

The writing of Miss Ehrlich is very engaging, and you can truly feel how much she cares for her characters; she has also managed to create some very interesting and quirky secondary characters – including a rather wicked witch – and I truly hope that the author chooses to give us their stories in the future.

There are only two reasons why I am not giving this book a full 5 star rating. One is due to the fact that there are a couple of spelling and grammatical mishaps that I found hard to ignore, because they made me wonder about the meaning of a certain phrase or scene. And the other reason is that I would have liked a bit more background info about Nia; the relationship to her parents and her brother was very well written, and it provided a lot of insight about her character, but I cannot help but sit back with a feeling that something is missing.

Nevertheless, I strongly recommend that all lovers of emotional, heartbreaking romance novels to buy this book, and I feel confident that you will enjoy it as much as I did. I love the journey Nia and Reeves go through, separately but also together, and I dare you to not be moved by their story.

½

 

PURCHASE LINKS

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

By teen age, Sigal already lived in three different continents where she was lucky enough to experience and visit varied places, meet unique people, which only helped fuel her overly developed imagination. Currently, Sigal calls Estonia home where she lives with her husband and three kids.

Not exactly sure where they will end up next…

When she is not hiding in her office, writing, she enjoys music, reading and taking care of her little clan.

With a great believe in “don’t wait for things to happen – make them happen,” she enjoys anything exciting life has to offer.

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Cover Reveal: “Sting” (Spark Series #4) by Jennifer Ryder – Synopsis, Excerpt & Giveaway

Title: “Sting” (Spark, #4)

Author: Jennifer Ryder

Genre: Steamy Erotic Romance

Release Date: Early 2015

SYNOPSIS

RYAN

After two years undercover, Detective Ryan Clark is tasked to the job he’s been waiting for. Ryan, together with undercover operative, Mick Gallagher, could very well be the men responsible for bringing together the biggest drug bust in Australia’s history.

The seemingly sleepy coastal town of Fremantle, has become a hotspot for a newly formed drug syndicate, which threatens to flood the market with high-grade coke through the ports.

Settling into his new locale, scouting out the local haunts, Ryan finds himself coming back to the same coffee shop. The attraction to Blondie, the local barista, has him puzzled. He knows it’s not just one-sided.

She’s trying to keep her distance.

It only makes him want her more.

WILLOW

Willow Asher left it all behind. Not by choice.

After two long years, she’s finally getting somewhere. Willow has a busy café a stone’s throw from the beach. It’s her pride and joy, and her buxom business partner, Gabby, is the closest thing to family to speak of.

Although Willow’s past still plagues her thoughts, she’s determined to one day have her happily ever after. Just not yet.

What she doesn’t need is the complications of Mr Sexy-Brown-Eyes, who seems to be drinking more and more coffee.

She doesn’t want the questions.

She’s still trying to get her story straight.

 

Enjoy the excerpt!

The curvy redhead behind the counter warmly greets everyone like their old friends, winking and smiling, her iridescent hot pink lipstick unmissable. Her silver nametag bears the name ‘Gabby’.

“Well, it’s a good morning now,” the redhead says, her hazel eyes sizing me up when I move to the front of the line. She smirks, and readies her hand on the register. “What’ll it be, honey?”

“Large flat white, thanks.”

“That’s four dollars, please.”

I pay, and she hands me my change, her hot pink fingernails grazing my outstretched palm. The redhead slides a piece of paper across the counter and a small hand from behind the machine takes it. Apart from the noise you wouldn’t even know someone was there with the cups piled high on top.

A flash of messy blonde hair dashes out from behind the machine. “Is that take,” she says, and her jaw goes slack as her pretty eyes scan from my chest up to my face.

“Huh?” I say, leaning in closer to the counter, taking in an eyeful of her petite body, golden tanned skin against the stark whiteness of her tank top. I don’t miss the growing blush that’s spreading across her freckled cheeks either.

She shakes her head and briefly closes her eyes as she huffs out a breath. “Sorry, take-away?”

“Nah, think I might stay?” I say and nod. Yep. Definitely staying.

“Um, sure. Take a seat,” she says and turns to her colleague. “Gabs, can you give him a number?”

“Oh, honey. I’ll give this one a number alright.”

I chuckle, and take the number on a metal stand that she hands me. Blondie gives me a tickle of a smile and then returns behind the machine.

I lazily wander to the only vacant chair in the corner, and wait impatiently for blondie to deliver my coffee.

I’ve got a fuckin’ good feeling I’m gonna enjoy this assignment.

© Jennifer Ryder 2014

 Interested in the Spark Series?

Then check them out below!

“Spark” (Spark #1): Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon AU | B&N

“Spike” (Spark #2): Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon AU | B&N

“Strike” (Spark #3): Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon AU | B&N

 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 

New Adult and erotic romance writer, and author of the Spark series.

A sexy imagination, a life-long love of books and a sucker for romance, Jennifer Ryder couldn’t stifle her creativity any longer.

Writing steamy adult romance has become her new focus. Living on a rural property in New South Wales, Australia, she enjoys the best of city and country.

Her loving husband is ever willing to provide inspiration, and her two young cherubs, and sheep that don’t see fences as barriers, keep life more than interesting.

Jennifer placed third in the International Stringybark Erotic Short Fiction Award 2013.

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Release Day Blitz: “Shiver” – C. M. Foss – Synopsis, Excerpt & Teaser

 

Title: “Shiver”

Author: CM Foss

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: 22nd November, 2014

ADD TO GOODREADS

SYNOPSIS

This is a love story.

This is a romantic story.

Except bananas. Bananas are never romantic.

Lissa was a twenty-year-old girl trying to make it in the equestrian world. She was sassy and smart, strong and a little weird. And she had no idea what she was doing.

Ethan was twenty-seven, tattooed, tall, dark, and hot. And lugging some baggage. He’d already made it in the business and brought Lissa on to help get her on her feet. And it turned out, he liked a little weird.

Ethan made it clear that he wasn’t in the market for a relationship. Lissa was happy to learn the ropes and push her attraction aside.

But how do you draw the line when every touch makes you…shiver?

Amazon

It sometimes surprised people how effectively I could tune out the world when I fell into a great read. I didn’t do it in the company of others often because, well, it was pretty rude. My family knew they could talk at me for twenty minutes and I wouldn’t process a word of what they’d said. Ethan had not had the dubious honor of witnessing it.

“Are you reading porn?” he whispered really loudly over my shoulder, startling me into actually dropping the Kindle onto my lap. 

I fumbled to keep it from falling to the floor. “What? No!” I whispered back, laughing. “Are you reading over my shoulder?”

“I’ve been trying to talk to you for the past five minutes, and you haven’t heard a word I said. I figured I should see what had you so captivated.”

I started to giggle. “It’s not porn. It’s romance!”

“Romance.” He scoffed. “So you would consider it romantic if my huge cock slapped you in the face?”

I let out an incredibly loud bark of laughter, drawing looks from surrounding passengers. “That is not what it says!” I smacked him in the chest.

“Go on. Enlighten me then.”

“It’s about the emotions, you asshole! The feelings people have when they fall in love. The man who would never settle down finding his other half, who makes him realize he needs no one but her. If a penis inadvertently smacks someone in the face”—I shrugged, grinning wickedly—“well, so be it.”

He threw his arm around me, squeezing me close and kissing the top of my head. “You still fascinate me.” He laughed. 

“I still haven’t decided if that’s a good thing or not,” I muttered.

 

I live in beautiful Northern Virginia with my incredible husband, two awesome kids, three dogs, and two budgies. My husband and I both grew up riding and competing horses and have our own equestrian operation that we run together. In my spare time, I read through the hundreds of stories awaiting me on my e-reader.

My love of books started early, and my mom used to ration my reading time so I didn’t go through them too quickly. I love all things romantic, whether it’s dark or light or silly or dirty, but I really love a happy ending!

In my small moments of quiet time, you’ll find me sipping on wine and reading while any movie where people randomly burst into song or dance plays in the background.

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“A Reason To Kill” (Reason #2) by C. P. Smith – My Review

Title: “A Reason To Kill” (Reason Series #2)

Author: C. P. Smith

Genre: Contemporary Romantic Suspense

Release Date: 21st November, 2014.

 

SYNOPSIS

WARNING: Author believes in soul mates and insta-love, proceed with caution if you’re not a romantic at heart.

You’ve met Jack from “A Reason To Breathe” now meet his cousin and lumberjack Max, Max Hunter or as Mia likes to call him Thor, God of Thunder

You know what they say about lust at first sight…..It’s a seven deadly sin but when you sin . . . you sin hard.

Max Hunter has a problem, well, two, actually. One he fished out of the river and the other…A killer.

Mia Roberts has a problem that stands six foot five and swings an axe like a God. On assignment to study the grizzlies of the Alaskan frontier, she stumbles across a body and then stumbles into the arms of a lumberjack she can’t resist.

Throw in Max’s mother, a handful of crazy friends and family and you have a recipe for adventure.

Rated B for Bossy, F for funny, T for Thor, God of Thunder, R for language, explicit sexual content and EDIBLE UNDIES. For mature audiences only. 18 and above.

 

ADD TO GOODREADS

 

My Review

Complimentary copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review

I love romance novels – no surprise there, I know – and I even love romantic comedy when it is done right. They are the books I turn to when I have had a long stretch of “heavy reads” and when I need something a bit lighter, yet still romantic, and with a solid plot, to read. And I am thrilled to say that this book, “A Reason To Kill”, by C. P. Smith was exactly what I needed – and the fact that I do not seem able to let the story go, and even bring out my Kindle in order to read certain scenes again, tells me that I am in love. So I might as well admit it right away: another book has been added to my all-time favorite books shelf. And thank you, Miss Smith! *wink*

Now, I will not go into too many details about the story line because I feel that the synopsis ought to be enough – I am not after providing you with spoilers, dear readers, and you should know that about me already – and I only hope that I will be able to convey how much I love this book without ruining it for you.

Thirty-year-old Mia Roberts is a very smart, attractive, adorably klutzy zoologist whose field of expertise is the grizzly bear. She has been sent to Alaska for the first time, and although loving her line of work, she is a city girl, meaning that she definitely does not seem to be the right person for the job – apart from her love of the bears, of course. It does not exactly help matters that, on the day of her arrival to Trails End, Alaska, she manages to catch the attention of one very bossy, very alpha lumberjack: Max Hunter.

Max is thirty-three, a very prominent figure in town, single, and happy to stay that way – until Mia comes along – and he almost immediately knows that she will become “a pain in his ass”, as he likes to call it. When the murder of Mia’s incredibly annoying boss happens on the same day, his prophesy seems to come true: apparently, Mia seems to be the kind of woman who lands herself in trouble, even when she does not mean to, and Max cannot seem to help letting out his alpha tendencies, thus feeling very protective of Mia.

The question is, though, if Mia will allow Max to become more than a fling? Well, you will have to read the book in order to find out.

“Never in my life had I met a man who acted, well, like a man. Apparently, I’ve been surrounded by she-men all this time and the whole experience was rather eye opening, if not a little life altering if I was honest. Where do men like that come from and where have they been hiding all my life?” (Mia)

To be perfectly honest, I am harboring a bit of a girl crush on Mia: I love her commitment to these incredible animals; her feisty – and quirky – personality made me shake my head while having a big smile pasted on my face at the same time; she has a very strong sense of what is right and wrong; and, last, I enjoyed how she became befuddled or shy when she first gets to know Max. But none of her character traits seem to be unrealistic or too much: no, she seems real to me.

As for Max…*deep sigh* No, I may not want to move to Alaska, but I can definitely see how any woman would feel tempted when faced with a commanding lumberjack the likes of him. The way he instinctively knows how to handle Mia is incredibly funny to read about, but what really gets to me is his sweet mixed in with his alpha personality: this man is not afraid to let his feelings come to life, and that speaks highly of him.

“Mia, the reality of you, of how I feel now that I’ve found you…Christ, it far outweighs any dream. I see you, all of you, and I wouldn’t change a thing. Now I’m askin’ you to look at me, see me, see what we can have together and fuckin’ take what’s already yours.” (Max)

Like I said in the beginning, this is a romantic comedy, but I love that there also is a mystery to be solved; even though I had a few suspicions about who the culprit was, I was never completely sure until the big reveal took place, so I really feel that Miss Smith has managed to deliver a very engaging and suspenseful book when you look at that specific element of the book alone.

I would also like to address that although the author “warns” her readers in the book – about it being about insta-love – it really does not feel like it. Yes, there is a very powerful physical attraction simmering right from the beginning, but what I love about this book is that it certainly does not feel like it. Somehow, Mia and Max manage to get to know each other really well in a short period of time, and I really swooned as I got to see what a strong connection they find in each other.

I feel that it would be wrong to leave out two very important aspects that stood out to me while I was reading this book. One is the environment and setting the author has chosen to venture into: I sometimes felt as if I were inside the book because she managed to draw a very vivid picture of these two factors. The bears, the nature and the work entailed to keep them safe – and keeping the human population safe from the bears – was very fascinating to me. Second, I have to mention two of the most amazing secondary characters I have ever come across: the feisty Maxine – Max’ mother – and her friend, Martha: Oh…my…god! Let me just say that I want to be Maxine when I grow up! *wink* Seriously, these older women nearly made me wet my panties with their antics!

If you are looking for a book that will make you laugh hard, and one that definitely focus on two very believable characters which will make you combust with their sexual chemistry, look no further: this is the book for you. So thank you, Miss Smith, for writing this story! I am very much looking forward to your next.

 

PURCHASE LINKS

Amazon US

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iBooks

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

C.P. Smith is a stay-at-home mom. The need for more stories featuring older couples is the driving force behind her writing. Love isn’t just for the young it’s for everyone. A first kiss at 18 or 50 is still a first kiss–full of wonder and expectation.

 

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“Come Dancing” by Leslie Wells – My Review

Title: “Come Dancing”

Author: Leslie Wells

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Allium Press

Release Date: 14th June, 2014.

 

SYNOPSIS

Julia is a book-loving publisher’s assistant. Jack is a famous British rock star. “Opposites attract” is an understatement.

It’s 1981. Twenty-four-year-old Julia Nash has recently arrived in Manhattan, where she works as a publisher’s assistant. She dreams of becoming an editor with her own stable of bestselling authors—but it is hard to get promoted in the recession-clobbered book biz.

Julia blows off steam by going dancing downtown with her best friend, Vicky. One night, a hot British guitarist invites them into his VIP section. Despite an entourage of models and groupies, Jack chooses Julia as his girl for the evening—and when Jack Kipling picks you, you go with it. The trouble is … he’s never met a girl like her before. And she resists being just one in a long line.

Jack exposes her to new experiences, from exclusive nightclubs in SoHo to the Chateau Marmont in Hollywood; from mind-bending recording sessions to wild backstage parties. Yet Julia is afraid to fall for him. Past relationships have left her fragile; one more betrayal just might break her.

As she fends off her grabby boss and tries to move up the corporate ladder, Julia’s torrid relationship with Jack takes her to heights she’s never known—and plunges her into depths she’s never imagined.

With a fascinating inside look at publishing, this entertaining story of a bookish young woman’s adventures with a rock superstar is witty, moving, and toe-curlingly steamy.

 

ADD TO GOODREADS

 

My Review

Complimentary copy provided by the author through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

New York, 1981. To say that I was pleasantly surprised by this book would be an understatement. Being a child of the eighties, I cannot say that I remember much from that time period, but I have seen enough movies and read plenty of books depicting this decade, so I believe that Miss Wells has given us a really great romance novel that is true to how life was like when you were young and living in the metropolis that is New York.

Although I have read quite a few books about “the average girl meeting and falling in love with a rock star”, I must say that this is definitely one of the better ones. This is also due to the fact that Miss Wells is showing great storytelling skills, and you can most certainly feel that she is very knowledgeable about the setting and genre she has chosen to write in.

I really enjoyed getting to know the heroine, Julia Nash, especially how she struggles with making a name for herself in the publishing industry. She does not come off as being naïve or disillusioned about life – rather, she seems to be a very realistic, down-to-earth kind of girl who does not want to become another notch on the bedpost of famous British rock star, Jack Kipling. Even though she is a massive fan of the band, and has been harboring a bit of a crush on Jack for years, she knows that he is living his life in a completely different way than she is. And the question is if Julia dares to let herself fall for a man who seems hell-bent on avoiding any kind of commitment even when his own heart is urging him to let go?

I feel that the life of Jack Kipling is described really well: he is charming, sexy, and a bit of a manipulator. The way that he is drawn to Julia is really sweet and fun to read about; because here is this famous rock star who cannot fathom why a gorgeous, brainy girl such as Julia will not simply fall at his feet and let him have his way with her! Yes, the “courting” of Julia is particularly enjoyable to me. But I also find him to be rather vulnerable, and I loved seeing him open up to Julia, albeit on his own terms; does he, at times, seem selfish and annoying? Absolutely! However, as these two characters get to know each other better, you can really feel the need and longing for love they share – even when one of them (read: Jack) does not exactly want to admit it.

The whole rock star lifestyle was also depicted really well in the book: theirs is a life of excess and indulgence, living each day as if it were the last, and not taking things too seriously – at least, not when it concerns other matters outside the band and its success. The way Julia is, at times, a bit overwhelmed by everything feels very realistic to me, and I think that one of the things I really admire about her is the fact that she does not let go of her own values, trying to make herself become a person she is not: she stays true to her life’s goals.

I am choosing to give this book 4.5 stars because of two things: the ending being one of them. Because even though all seems well in paradise – for now, at least – I feel that it is a bit too abrupt. It may seem like a small matter to a lot of readers, but I have to be honest: if I had not known that a second book about Julia & Jack will be out next year, I would be really disappointed, because their story seems far from being over. Also, I would have really liked getting inside Jack’s head, because he can be so puzzling sometimes, so I hope that we will get a few chapters written from his point of view in book #2.

All in all, I would recommend this book to any lover of romance novels: the scene of New York in the eighties is fascinating; Julia and Jack – as well as the secondary characters – are well-rounded, loveable and flawed characters that you will come to care about a great deal; the writing of Miss Wells is flawless and engaging; and, last, the banter and sexual attraction between this couple will make you smile, laugh, and swoon – not to mention, even perhaps blush a little bit.

I am so looking forward to reading the next book!

½

 

PURCHASE LINKS

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | IndieBound

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Leslie Wells left her small Southern town in 1979 for graduate school in Manhattan, after which she got her first job in book publishing. She has edited forty-eight New York Times bestsellers in her over thirty-year career, including thirteen number one New York Times bestsellers. Leslie has worked with numerous internationally known authors, musicians, actors, actresses, television and radio personalities, athletes, and coaches. She lives on Long Island, New York.

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Blog Tour: “Fighting The Fall” (The Fighting Series #4) by J. B. Salsbury – My Review, Excerpts & Teasers

 

 

 

The toughest fighters aren’t created in the octagon but are born of necessity. When life delivers blow after punishing blow, you fight back or get destroyed.

 

Eve Dawson has had her fill of bad luck. A string of unhealthy relationships has left her angry, bitter, and frustrated. She’s given up on being happy and settles for content. Swearing off men, she repels advances and makes herself a challenge to even the most persistent suitors. After all, how much can the fragile human heart take? But life isn’t finished with her, and when things can’t possibly get worse . . . they do.

 

STAY ON YOUR FEET

 

It’s Cameron Kyle’s motto, but with his fighting career ripped from his grasp, a child he wasn’t strong enough to save, and a marriage that even the brawn of a heavyweight couldn’t hold together, it’s getting harder and harder to stay upright. He takes on the position of CEO of the UFL, intent on hiding his biggest weakness in order to forge a path that leads him back into the octagon.

 

When an old rival mysteriously gets wind of Cameron’s plan to fight again, he comes out of retirement to settle old debts, but secrets, lies, and betrayal threaten to deliver the death-blow. The distraction of a sass-mouthed girl seventeen years his junior is the last thing he needs until a tragic accident shatters the firm foundation of his resolve and he realizes just how far he’s fallen.

 

Will they risk it all and fight to be together?

OR DOES DEFEAT LIE WITHIN THE FALL?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Complimentary copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review

It can, I believe, sometimes be difficult for an author to maintain the interest of her readers when said author writes a series. Will the readers still be invested in the characters? Is it possible to keep each character’s voice different from the others? And what about the environment in which the series takes place – are readers still enjoying it? You might wonder why I start my review of “Fighting The Fall” in this way, but these questions have crossed my mind from time to time, so that is why I choose to voice them here.

I am happy to say that although this is not exactly one of my favourite books this year, I still thoroughly enjoyed it, and I am, as ever, in awe of Miss Salsbury’s storytelling skills. These MMA fighters, and the women who “tame” them, are all very interesting to read about, and I will definitely recommend the entire series to romance lovers.

Now, this installment of The Fighting Series deals with some very controversial issues, but I do hope that you will keep an open mind, because you will rob yourself of a very compelling reading experience if you do not.

Cameron Kyle has suffered more than others: due to a blow during a fight when he was at the peak of his career in his early twenties, he was forced to leave the octagon, perhaps for good. A minor brain damage was the result of that last fight, and since then, he has spent the last fourteen years getting his strength back in order to take up fighting again. He is now the CEO of the UFL, and although being great at it, it is not exactly his dream. But that is not all he has had to endure, and when you read his story, I am quite positive that your heart will bleed for him.

Things start to change one night when Cam meets Eve Dawson, Raven’s best friend. Sworn off men for good – well, at least that is what she tries to convince herself of – she is unlike any other woman he has ever met. Not much intrigues Cam, but he finds himself completely unable to get Eve out of his mind, and she feels exactly the same way about him. The question is, though, if these two very broken people can find a way out of the darkness and live their lives to the fullest? And can they do it together, ignoring the scorn and ridicule they may face due to the age difference between them? Time will tell…

The character I connected with the most is actually Cam: he is strong, but hides his vulnerable side to everyone; his determination to never fall again is admirable; and his personal heartbreak tore at my heartstrings, making me hope that this strong man would find a way out of his pain-filled life. He is also an alpha male with a capital A, fiercely protective, and he truly has a heart of gold once you get to know him.

As for Eve…well, there is no doubt about the fact that she does seem older than her years in many ways. As it is with everyone, her past has shaped her, and I admire her tenacity and her pride: she does not want to be a charity case. I also admire her nurturing and caring sides a great deal, actually, and how she is determined to fight her way back whenever she falls. These are some of the characters traits she possesses which make her perfect for Cam. There were times, however, when I struggled a bit due to some of the things she said and did – which seemed unnatural or uncharacteristic to the person I had got to know – and that is why the book is given 4 stars instead of 5 from me.

The journey Cam and Eve go through, together but also separately, is not an easy one – but when is life truly ever easy? There are many obstacles these characters must go through, but that is why I, in many ways, find their love story to be very genuine and believable.

I love how this author always manages to keep me enthralled and fully invested in the stories she writes; her writing is very powerful, in my opinion, and she has a certain knack of incorporating a bit of wit and banter after some very heavy scenes have taken place. I really like that.

Overall, I cannot recommend this series enough; I enjoyed getting glimpses into the lives of the characters from previous books, and I would like to stress that I have no problem whatsoever with the age difference between Cam and Eve. Maybe it is because I am from Europe, and we see this type of thing a lot more different than other nations do, but I am of the firm belief that as long as people are consenting adults, love is the only thing that truly matters. Everything else is simply details.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fighting for Flight:

 

Amazon US

 

Amazon UK

 

Fighting to Forgive:

 

Amazon US

Amazon UK

 

 

Fighting to Forget:

 

Amazon US

Amazon UK

 

 

Cameron

 

Meeting with the whiners. Check. Weigh-ins. Check. I’m flipping through the pages and checking off things I’ve completed when I feel her eyes on me.

I don’t look up from my lists, but hear her feet on the carpet and finally the sound of creaking wood as she takes a seat across from me. “You got something to say?”

“Can I ask you something?”

“As long as you make it fast.” Her silence brings my eyes to her contemplative expression.

“I noticed you’re not married.” She tilts her head to my left hand that is very much without a wedding ring.

Not anymore. “And?”

“Nothing really. Just surprised.”

I lean back in my chair as irritation pinches my brows. “Surprised.”

She shrugs. “Yeah, I mean you seem like a decent guy.”

I’m not. “You seem like a decent woman and you aren’t married.” I nod to her empty left ring finger.

She grins. “That’s because I just got divorced. Marriage jumping isn’t my thing.”

This feels like one of those you-share-I-share conversations that I do not participate in. I find if I can bite back my impulsive outbursts and stay zipped people eventually give up.

She twirls a strand of her long blond hair. “Ever been married?”

I lock my jaw and wait, but she doesn’t fucking budge and stares with expectant eyes. Something tells me we’ll be here all day if I don’t give her something. I’d lie, tell her I’ve never been married, but if I plan on digging in here for the long haul, I’m going to have to give her enough to keep her satisfied.

“Once.”

Her eyes light up as if she just realized we belong to the same super-secret club. “Really.”

What is it about sharing that creates this weird expectation from people? As if simply telling another person about your past allows them some special access into friendship. I don’t do friendship.

I flip through my notebook and hope like hell this conversation is headed toward The End.

“Any kids?”

My hand freezes mid page-turn, and a whisper of pain echoes through my gut that would usually be followed by a cringe, but not anymore. I clear my throat and refocus on my notebook. “I have a son.”

“Oh, that’s cool.” She’s silent for a few beats that are probably uncomfortable for her but don’t bother me at all. “I have a daughter.”

The rumble of an old hurt reverberates against my shield. Ten years ago those words would’ve bled me alive, but not anymore. “Mm.”

“How old—”

“Look, I really have a lot to do.” I’m still studying the pages of my notebook like a complete asshole, but honest to God it’s as if we’re about to bust out some knitting needles and tiny sandwiches.

“Sure thing.” She hops up and moves toward the door when she turns suddenly. “Oh, I forgot. We’re having a party after the fight tonight. The Blackout. You should come.”

“Thanks, but”—I flip a page and another—“I think I’ll go home after the fight. Long day.”

“Suit yourself. If you change your mind, we’ll be there.” She’s gone with the soft click of my office door.

After party. Haven’t been to one of those in a while, at least not many I remember. The little flashes I’ve managed to retain carry good feelings of camaraderie with the team. I groan and lean back in my desk chair. My goal is to get back into the octagon, but until then I need to run this organization and put it back on its feet. The fighters got screwed by Gibbs and are having trust issues. I get that. Maybe showing up at this party is a smart move after all. Just for one drink. Should be painless enough.

Eve

 

With my head down, I make way to my car when I notice a familiar car parked next to mine. I look up and my steps freeze just feet away. Leaning against my car, arms crossed at his chest, long powerful legs crossed at his ankles, is Cameron.

My hand clutches my purse to my side. “Hey, what are you doing here?” I internally scold myself for sounding more defensive than happy to see him. He can’t possibly know what’s in my purse.

It’s been days since I’ve seen him, and our quick telephone conversations do little to slake my desire to see him in the flesh.

He shrugs. “Passing by, saw the place was closed for the night. Thought I’d hang out and see if I could speak to the manager.”

My stomach jumps and goes warm. He came all the way here just to see me?

“Did you have a bad experience? Like to make a formal complaint?”

He pushes off my car and takes two steps toward me. Close, but not close enough. His eyes set in their usual glare, he shoves his hands into the pockets of his dark washed jeans. “Mmm . . .” He rubs his fingers across his lower lip, as he did the night in front of Mason. His eyes burn through me. “I have no complaints about my . . . experience.”

His presence combined with his insinuation become too much and I drop my gaze. A tickle of caution pricks at my subconscious, reminding me that I’m not the kind of girl who shies away from flirtation. I’m not timid, demure, or easily swayed by just any man. But there are a few who have brought me to my emotional knees, and both of them I dislike. Immensely.

His feet move into my line of site, and I pull my gaze up to settle on his face. How is he even more beautiful than I remember with all that thick dark hair, his fierce jaw, and full lips that I know are as powerful as they are soft?

“What’re your plans tonight?” He reaches out and brushes my bangs off my forehead.

Such a tiny gesture, but the sweetness of it makes my eyes flutter. “I was going to grab a bite to eat.”

His eyebrows pinch together. “You hungry? I’ll take you to dinner.”

I look around at the empty parking lot then move my eyes back to his. “Now?”

“You hungry now?”

“Very.”

“Then yeah. Now.”

“But it’s the middle of the night.”

The corner of his mouth lifts so slightly it’s barely noticeable. “It’s Vegas, babe.”

“But I’m in the mood for a bacon cheeseburger.” I lick my lips. I can almost taste the greasy goodness. “With green chilis.” My stomach grumbles in agreement. “And onion rings. Not the battered ones, but those breadcrumb ones.” I hum low in my throat. “Oh, and a chocolate milkshake or an ice cold beer will also do.” I tap my lips, thinking. “Hm. Maybe both.”

 

So lost in my food-fantasy I don’t notice the way he’s staring at me until I focus on him. His glare isn’t as tight as it usually is, and his mouth isn’t the straight—but full and kissable—line it usually is. It’s as if someone pulled the starch from his expression, not completely relaxed, but tender.

 

 

 

JB Salsbury, New York Times Best Selling author of the Fighting series, lives in Phoenix, Arizona with her husband and two kids. She spends the majority of her day as a domestic engineer. But while she works through her daily chores, a world of battling alphas, budding romance, and impossible obstacles claws away at her subconscious, begging to be released to the page.

Her love of good storytelling led her to earn a degree in Media Communications. With her journalistic background, writing has always been at the forefront, and her love of romance prompted her to sink her free time into novel writing.

Fighting for Flight, Fighting to Forgive, and Fighting to Forget are the first three novels in the MMA romance series. Fighting the Fall is due to be released in November 2014.

 

For more information on the series or just to say hello, visit JB on her website, Facebook, Twitter or Goodreads page.

 

 

 

 

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Cover Reveal: “Kick” (Savage Saints MC #1) by Carmen Jenner

Title: “Kick” (Savage Saints MC #1)

Author: Carmen Jenner

Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance

Release Date: 26th January, 2015.

SYNOPSIS

When I was ten, my father indoctrinated me into the family.

A brotherhood who would fight, protect, and give their lives for one another. A club whose ties ran thicker than blood, murkier than the dirt and grime that tainted my soul. Stronger than the bonds that connected me to my own family.

A band of brothers where loyalty was kept and paid in a currency of blood.

When I was twenty-seven, I betrayed that brotherhood.

I’ve spent every day since running, avoiding paying back that debt.

My name is Daniel Johnson, and I have betrayed everyone I ever loved.

This is my story—if you’re screwed up enough to want to read it.

***Warning: KICK contains graphic violence, profanity, drug use, and explicit sexual situations of a taboo nature. Intended for an 18+ audience only. Not intended for pussies.***

ADD TO GOODREADS

 

Additional books by this author

 

Welcome to Sugartown

Amazon: http://amzn.to/13X0U6S

B&N: http://bit.ly/1yjefiK

iTunes: http://bit.ly/1skhr98

 

Enjoy Your Stay

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Greetings from Sugartown

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1yjdLJp

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iTunes: http://bit.ly/1yjeZ7w

 

Welcome to Sugartown Website:

http://www.welcometosugartown.blogspot.com.au/

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Carmen Jenner is a thirty-something, USA TODAY Best Selling Author, doctor, pilot and CIA agent. She’s also a compulsive, flagrant prevaricator who gets to make things up for a living.

While Sugartown may not technically exist, Carmen grew up in a small Australian town just like it, and just like her characters, she always longed for something more. They didn’t have an Elijah Cade, though.

If they did, you can be sure she would have never left.

SOCIAL LINKS

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

 

“That Night With You” by Alexandrea Weis – My Review

Title: “That Night With You”

Author: Alexandrea Weis

Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance

Release Date: 2nd November, 2014

 

SYNOPSIS

Madison Barnett spent one night with a stranger that changed her life forever.
But when she takes a job at Parr and Associates as their newest architect, Madison has no idea that the stranger she has spent five years trying to forget is about to walk right back into her life. And what she hoped would be a fresh start turns into a perplexing dilemma.
Soon Madison’s life is sent into a tailspin as she tries to juggle the demands of her controlling boss, Hayden Parr, with her persistent desires for her long lost sexy stranger.
Then, just when she thinks all hope is lost, everything changes.
Madison embarks on an education in the art of pleasure that began five years ago in the bed of the man who captured her heart. But there is one little catch…
When fantasies become reality, passion can turn addictive in…That Night with You.

 

ADD TO GOODREADS

 

My Review

Complimentary copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review

I have been a massive fan of Miss Weis for close to a year now, and I love how she always manages to make me laugh and swoon with her romance novels. This author has a very down-to-earth way of telling her stories and she has a certain knack of creating strong, believable characters who you wish you could sit down to have dinner with sometimes. So yes, I always recommend her books to lovers of romance, and “That Night With You” is just as enjoyable as the other novels written by Miss Weis.

I will not go into that many details about the actual storyline of this novel, because the synopsis tells you a lot already, and I will do my best to not give you any spoilers, either.

Have you ever had a romantic or sexual encounter that you think back on years later from time to time? Do you sometimes wish that things had turned out differently? I believe that we all have regrets in life, and Madison Barnett is no different: when she was a 19-year-old student, she made a very un-romantic decision: having a one-night-stand in order to get rid of her virginity. I know, it is a bit shocking, BUT so very realistic – at least to me. On this fateful night, she meets a man, Harry, and, unbeknownst to him, he manages to make such an impression on Madison that no man since Harry manages to make her fall in love.

When Madison is hired to work at a very prestigious architect firm Parr & Associates, she is shocked to find that her boss, Hayden Parr, reminds her so much about her one-night-stand, Harry. What is Madison to do now? Wait and see if Hayden brings up the past himself? Or confront him and risk making a complete fool of herself?

Well, if you want the answers to these questions, you will have to read the book. *wink*

I might as well confess right away that I am harboring a massive girl crush on Madison! Yes, there is such a thing as a girl crush, dear readers. Madison is sweet, ambitious, strong-willed, yet also rather shy when it comes to the opposite sex. In the beginning, she has some self-esteem issues, but I really like how she, through her encounters with Hayden, grows into becoming a very mature, feisty woman who goes after the things she wants. There were times, while reading her story, when I felt completely crushed on her behalf, and I just wanted to give her a hug – so yes, I like Madison very well indeed.

As for Hayden: he is the perfect match to Madison in many ways. He has been hurt in the past, thus preventing him from putting his trust in other people, and I really like his honesty and him being upfront about his intentions with Madison. He is quick-witted, a clever businessman, but, more importantly, the fact that he searched high and low for Madison after their one-night-stand so many years ago completely melted my heart. It speaks of a very strong character. This does not, however, mean that I did not find him to be a bit of an idiot sometimes – because I did – and I was actually very unsure about how this book would end until I read the epilogue. So I applaud the author for keeping me in the dark until the very last page.

But I can already hear your question: Why not give the book 5 stars, then? Well…In all honesty, my reasoning for this is Hayden: although he possesses many positive character traits, he confuses me a lot. What I mean to say is that he can be hot one minute, then cold, and he acts like a boyfriend even when he makes it quite clear to Madison that he is not after a real relationship. I never felt completely satisfied with his reasoning, I suppose, because the things he said did not always match his actions. Call me crazy, but I have to be honest here: A man who changes his mind a lot about what he wants can be a bit of a turn-off for me. Nevertheless, I do think that Hayden redeems himself in the end, and this book is definitely one of my favorites of 2014.

As always, I am in love with the storytelling skills that Miss Weis possesses: you will find that there is plenty of wit, laughter, romance, as well as a cast of quirky, funny secondary characters in her books. But Miss Weis is trying something a little bit different this time, and that concerns the sex scenes: because they…are…hot! I mean, hot-as-sin hot! Most definitely guaranteed to make your panties combust! So keep the fan ready, my friends: you are going to need it.

There are always some serious issues being dealt with in this author’s books, and it is the same with “That Night With You”. To me, the love story of Madison & Hayden is about trust – trust in other people, but most definitely also about trusting in yourself; you can overcome past issues if you let go, overcome your fears, and, lastly, allow your heart to feel again. Nothing is more important in life than love.

 ½

 

PURCHASE LINKS

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Barnes & Noble

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Alexandrea Weis is an advanced practice registered nurse who was born and raised in New Orleans.  Having been brought up in the motion picture industry, she learned to tell stories from a different perspective and began writing at the age of eight. Infusing the rich tapestry of her hometown into her award-winning novels, she believes that creating vivid characters makes a story memorable. A permitted/certified wildlife rehabber with the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries, Weis rescues orphaned and injured wildlife. She lives with her husband and pets in New Orleans.

SOCIAL LINKS

 Facebook

Twitter

Goodreads Author Profile

Website

Blog Tour: “When We Met” by A. L. Jackson, Molly McAdams, Tiffany King & Christina Lee – My Review, Excerpt, Teasers & Giveaway

SYNOPSIS

Today’s premiere New Adult authors combine their talents to tell four original stories from inside one house. 

When four girls decide to live off campus together as juniors at a college in Michigan, they expect it to be their best year yet. Little do they know, it’s a year that will change the rest of their lives.

BEHIND HER EYES by A.L. Jackson 

Unable to live down her ex-boyfriend’s deception, Misha is determined to avoid betrayal. When, the new guy next door, Darryn starts to get under her skin, her defenses start to crumble. But trusting Darryn seems impossible, especially if he’s not sure he can trust himself.

SAVING ME by Molly McAdams 

On the outside, Indy is always ready for a party—but inside she’s breaking. Kier makes a weekly routine of saving the girl next door from herself on Saturday nights… but when will she be ready to remember him on Sunday morning?

FOULING OUT by Tiffany King 

Working at a sports bar, Courtney has become a pro at sidestepping propositions from arrogant jocks—which makes her a more elusive catch for campus basketball star Dalton than he expected. But when he falls for the saucy waitress, Dalton will have to rethink his game plan to prove he’s not the jerk Courtney expects.

BENEATH YOUR LAYERS by Christina Lee 

In order to ace her fashion internship, Chloe must team up with local college dropout and set builder, Blake—much to her chagrin. But after some “hands-on” experience, Chloe will have to ask herself if Blake factors into her carefully laid plans…

 

ADD TO GOODREADS

 

My Review

Complimentary copy provided by the authors through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

I have to say that while I have read a few of AL Jackson’s novels, I have never read anything by the other authors – Molly McAdams, Tiffany King & Christina Lee. Well, that ends today! Because I am completely in love with these authors after having read each of their story in “When We Met”. Experiencing how these four college girls – Misha, Indy, Courtney and Chloe – find love has been very emotional, romantic, and fun at the same time.

Seeing as this is meant to be a review, I feel that it is unnecessary to go into too many details about each of the story – it would also feel more like a novella instead, if I were to do this, and that really defies the purpose of a review, in my opinion. Also, you should know by now that I do not want to give you any spoilers, because I really loathe them myself. However, I hope that I will be able to convey how incredibly special this book is to me, thus making you, my readers, wanting to read it yourselves.

But before I begin, I would like to add that each novella is told from dual POVs, and that is truly one of the major reasons as to why my rating of the book as a whole is so high.

The first novella is about Misha & Darryn. Then follows Indy & Kier, Courtney & Dalton, and ending with Chloe & Blake. While each character’s voice is distinctly their own, I am in complete awe over the fact that these four authors have managed to make the overall story blend together so well. I mean to say that although you are able to distinguish each author’s storytelling, thus each novella, from each other, the flow of the story works well, and the setting and the time period as a whole is spot-on.

Furthermore, I am of the belief that these girls, and their subsequent boyfriends, are very realistic and believable characters. Each of them are battling their own fears, perhaps even demons, and each will have to find the courage and open up their hearts to another – and, in doing so, letting go of their pasts and believing in a bright and hopeful future.

These novellas are, after all, love stories, and while they all happen to give you those warm and fuzzy feelings you hope to experience as a reader of this particular genre, there are also some very serious issues being dealt with at the same time. I love how the authors also manage to incorporate some great banter, wit, and, let me not forget to add, steaminess in their stories.

The reason “When We Met” does not get a full 5 star rating from me may seem inconsequential to some readers, but I feel that it would be a disservice if I do not voice my thoughts on this. Or, rather, one thought only: because although this book is near perfect to me, I feel that each character – all of them, yes – contain so many layers and hidden depths, and that I, in some cases, did not get to the bottom of the characters I was reading about at the time. So, to me, each story could very easily be turned into full-length novels – and make no mistake, dear Miss Jackson, Miss McAdams, Miss King & Miss Lee: I would LOVE to see this happen in the future! *hint-hint* That is why I choose to give the book 4.5 stars instead, which still makes it a favourite book in 2014 to me.

In my opinion, these novellas have a very strong message to give: to never give up hope even when you feel that all is lost; to believe in yourself, even when others try to put you down; and, above all, to never let go of love once you have found your soul mate. As long as you have this special person as your love, everything will be alright: because you are not alone. Someone is there to hold, comfort, and love you no matter what life deals you with.

½

 

PURCHASE LINKS

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iBooks

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 Enjoy the excerpt!

SAVING ME – MOLLY McADAMS

“I’m about to embarrass the hell out of myself, but I don’t care anymore. I feel like when I’m near you, I’m safe, and it makes no sense to me. It is the weirdest feeling to have with someone I only know three things about.”

My eyebrows rose at that and I turned to fully face her. “Three?”

“Yes. Three things. Your name is Kier, you’re extremely quiet, and you are the biggest puzzle I’ve ever tried to figure out.”

“I’m the puzzle?”

“Yes!” she said in exasperation.

That had to have been the most backward statement I’d ever heard. “And why am I a puzzle?”

“Because of what I just told you. I don’t know you, you don’t even talk to anyone, and I feel safe when you’re near me! Why is that? I feel like I’m going crazy because all I’ve been able to think about for these past two weeks is you, and how every time you open your mouth it’s like déjà vu, and I just—I don’t know what’s happening.” Her green eyes were massive and she looked like she was on the edge of losing her shit.

I took a few steps toward her and lowered my voice. “Calm down, Indy. You’re fine.”

“I just don’t understand,” she said loudly, the pitch of her voice rising. “Do you believe in past lives?” she asked suddenly.

I paused, a laugh slipping past my lips. “I’m sorry, what?”

“Past lives? Like that whole stupid YOLO saying is really just bullshit, because we’re about to get another shot down the road?”

I tried to contain my smile, but she was really fucking adorable when she was like this. “What does that have to do with what you’re freaking out over?”

“In stories with soul mates they find each other no matter what in every life. And it’s like they have a weird connection they can’t explain.”

I closed the distance between us and dropped my head so I was looking directly into her eyes. “Are you saying we’re soul mates?”

“No!” she said, horror lacing her voice, her cheeks filling with heat.

“I think you were,” I teased.

“I wasn’t, I was just saying that in stories . . . I don’t know what I’m saying, okay? But I don’t get what’s going on with us!”

“So now there’s an us?”

“Oh my God,” she whispered. “I need to stop talking.”

I laughed and took a step back. “I’m teasing you, Indy. And no, I don’t believe in past lives. I think we have this one, and that’s it.”

She sighed, and her body visibly relaxed. When she spoke again, she sounded exhausted—and in a way, defeated. “I don’t, either, but I can’t figure out how to explain this feeling like I know you.”

I ground my jaw for a few seconds as her green eyes held mine. “Because maybe you do know me. You’re just not ready to remember why.”

 

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

A. L. JACKSON

A.L. Jackson is the New York Times bestselling author of Take This Regret and Lost to You, as well as other contemporary romance titles, including Come to Me Quietly, Come to Me Softly, Pulled, When We Collide, and If Forever Comes.

She first found a love for writing during her days as a young mother and college student. She filled the journals she carried with short stories and poems used as an emotional outlet for the difficulties and joys she found in day-to-day life.

Years later, she shared a short story she’d been working on with her two closest friends and, with their encouragement, this story became her first full length novel. A.L. now spends her days writing in Southern Arizona where she lives with her husband and three children. Her favorite pastime is spending time with the ones she loves.

To stay up to date with important news on A.L. Jackson, including new releases, sales, and exclusive specials and excerpts, text “jackson” to 96000 to subscribe!

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MOLLY MCADAMS

Molly grew up in California but now lives in the oh-so-amazing state of Texas with her husband and furry four-legged daughters. When she’s not diving into the world of her characters, some of her hobbies include hiking, snowboarding, traveling, and long walks on the beach … which roughly translates to being a homebody with her hubby and dishing out movie quotes. She has a weakness for crude-humored movies and fried pickles, and loves curling up in a fluffy comforter during a thunderstorm … or under one in a bathtub if there are tornados. That way she can pretend they aren’t really happening.

Come be my friend!

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TIFFANY KING

USA Today Bestselling author Tiffany King is a lifelong reading fanatic who is now living her dream as a writer, weaving Young Adult and New Adult romance tales for others to enjoy. She has a loving husband and two wonderful kids. (Five, if you count her three spoiled cats). Her addictions include: Her iPhone and iPad, chocolate, Diet Coke, chocolate, Harry Potter, chocolate, zombies and her favorite TV shows. Want to know what they are? Just ask.

For information on any of Author Tiffany’s titles, visit her blog at www.authortiffanyjking.blogspot.com

Where to connect with Author Tiffany

Twitter- @AuthorTiffany

Facebook- AuthorTiffanyKing

Pinterest- Tiffany King

Blog- authortiffanyjking.blogspot.com

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Email– authortiffany@yahoo.com

CHRISTINA LEE

Mother, wife, reader, dreamer. Christina lives in the Midwest with her husband and son–her two favorite guys.  She’s addicted to lip gloss and salted caramel everything. She believes in true love and kissing, so writing romance novels has become a dream job.  Author of the Between Breaths series from Penguin. ALL OF YOU, BEFORE YOU BREAK and WHISPER TO ME available now, PROMISE ME THIS on October 7th, 2014.  Also Adult contemporary romance TWO OF HEARTS coming from Peguin/NAL on May 5th 2015.

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

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7060187.Christina_Lee

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Christina_Lee04

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Christina-Lee/e/B00D1W5RSE/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1414001350&sr=8-2-ent

 

Here is the giveaway!

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Blog Tour: “The Morbid & Sultry Tales Of Genevieve Clare” by J. B. Hartnett – My Review, Excerpt & Giveaway

 

Title: “The Morbid & Sultry Tales of Genevieve Clare”

Author: J. B. Hartnett

Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance

Release Date: 30th October, 2014.

Cover Designer: LM Creations

SYNOPSIS

My name is Genevieve Clare, professional mourner, destined to spend my days donning a black suit and throwing myself on top of caskets for money. Sometimes I mixed it up and threw myself on top of a willing warm body instead. Finding the right warm body though, that was a different story.

ADD TO GOODREADS

My Review

Complimentary copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review

 Death is such a taboo subject when, in fact, it really should not be. Now, do not go into this book thinking that that is everything this story is about: no, this is a love story that makes you feel everything. The love story between Genevieve Clare and Ahren Finnegan is sweet, funny, life affirming, and uplifting. Add to that some great, dry wit delivered by some of the secondary characters, a bit of steaminess, and overall “feel-good-vibes”, and I am positive that you will come to love, maybe even adore, this book as much as I do.

As always, I will not give away any spoilers of the story, but what makes it so much more important than usual is the fact that this is such a different romance novel from what we see on the market these days, and I honestly believe that it will ruin the reading pleasure for you if I reveal too much of it.

Genevieve – Gen – has suffered great loss at a very young age: losing both her parents and grandmother in a horrific way. Needless to say, she is filled with sorrow, but she does not know how to work through it in a “normal” way. She has been in love with Ahren Finnegan since she was a little girl, and even though he admits to feeling the same way about her, fate decides to step in and tear these lovers apart. It does not happen in an overly dramatic way, but, again, I refuse to give any spoilers; suffice it to say, years will pass until Gen and Ahren meet again, and, this time, decide to take a leap of faith in order to find happiness together.

”All the men in my life had been compared, unbeknownst to them, to Ahren Finnegan. They never stood a chance.” (Genevieve)

Gen is a quirky, sweet, and caring person; to say that her line of work is different would be an understatement: I honestly do not know if there exists professional mourners in this day and age, but I kind of hope so. You see, the services Gen offer her clients are compassionate, selfless, and absolutely amazing. Are they eccentric? Yes, absolutely. But is this really such a bad thing? To some, yes – to others, not so much.

As for Ahren: well, he is such a wonderful person. I love him! In some aspects, he is just as scared as Gen, but I love his stubbornness, his humour, and his alpha tendencies (especially in the bedroom *wink*). He understands Gen like no other person does, and he knows how to handle her when she feels afraid and want to bolt. Furthermore, he understands why she has chosen the profession she has, and that means everything.

‘”I wanted to be your first, Gen. All those years, I knew I could say anything, tell you anything, and you would’ve thought it was cool or asked me more, and we would talk. I missed you. I missed talking to you. Not the little girl you; I missed you.”’ (Ahren)

I would also like to add that Ahren is not insecure about opening up the can of worms, and you just have to love a man who does not shy away from disagreeing with his woman – because that, my dear readers, is not an easy task!

‘“No going back,” he said firmly. “I mean it, Gen. It’s you and me, now. Not our pasts. Now. If you ask me to leave, I will not go. Do you understand?”’ (Ahren)

As I said in the beginning of my review: death is not something you want to dwell on – and I do not think that you should, of course – but neither is it a subject to ignore at the same time. It just is. It is a fact of life, plain and simple. But what I feel that Miss Hartnett wants to tell us by writing this story is that one should make the most of one’s life; that it is more than acceptable to be different; and, last, that love is all that matters in the end. True love, in any shape or form, is everything. And that brings me hope.

‘I felt his smile against my own. “What if something happens to me?” I asked. He held my face in his hands and said, “Then you wait for me to join you, baby. I won’t be far behind.”’ (Genevieve & Ahren)

So: yes, I recommend this rather different, but endearing, romance novel: the storyline is unusual; Gen and Ahren are lovely, believable, and genuine characters; Miss Hartnett’s storytelling skills are so unique, and you can really feel that she cares deeply for every single person she introduces us to in her book; finally, the cast of secondary characters in this novel is so much fun! Yes, even when you find yourself bawling your eyes out – and yes, that I did – you will end up smiling because of something a certain person said in a previous chapter.

This has become one of my favourite books this year, so please take a chance, dear reader, and buy it!

 

 

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ENJOY THE EXCERPT!

I approached Bryce Oskin, with caution, and when I reached his side, he demanded, “Who the fuck are you?”

Charm and disarm. Charm and disarm.

“I’m Genevieve Clare, Mr. Oskin,” I said with a grin. “I believe you hired me to come to your funeral? Mind if I join you?” I brought my own bag of goodies and opened a white baker’s box from Brewster’s.

“You some kind of spooky chick?” he asked, his eyes squinting as he studied me.

If I didn’t know any better, I’d think he was… sweet on me already. “Kinda, yeah. If by spooky you mean I get paid to go to funerals, give people a nudge, and check for a heartbeat. Oh, and I live at Eden Hills. Then yeah, I’m spooky.” I grabbed a plastic fork and took a bite of amazing cake. It was always amazing, but today it seemed more amazing than usual.

“There,” I nodded toward the folder I’d set down on a little table to his side. “I just need you to sign on the dotted line. And the bag there is from Ruby. But I’m taking over the goody-bag duties, so tell me what you like and I’ll get it for you.” I licked my lips and did it seductively because I knew this was a man who appreciated a woman. Also known as a dirty old man. “Want a bite?”

“You gonna tell that Nazi Nurse Ratchet on me?” He jerked his head toward Cheryl.

“Are you gonna drop dead from half a slice of cake?” I countered.

“Nope.”

“Then I think this is the start of a beautiful friendship, Mr. Oskin. I visit once a week, unless I have a funeral, usually on Tuesday or Wednesday. I always bring cake for my clients. If there’s something you don’t like, just tell me. But I usually bring a selection.”

“You do this every week?” he asked, disbelief in his voice.

“What do you mean?”

“You eat like that every week? When you see other clients?” His eyes slid up and down the length of my body.

“I have a high metabolism.” I smiled. It really was a miracle I wasn’t as big as a house. But my sweet tooth was limited to sharing with clients. I had to give myself some sort of boundaries.

He grabbed the plastic fork I’d handed him and stabbed the slice of Meyer lemon cake with vanilla bean cream cheese frosting. His eyes closed, and when they opened, he said, “God bless you.” After a few more bites, he asked, “So, you’re gonna open up my box and poke me before they burn me, right?”

“Yes, sir, I’ll make sure you’re good and dead.”

“Spooky chick.” His tone was gruff, but his lip tipped up in the corner.

I saw it with pride. Disarmament, accomplished.

Bryce Oskin had ordered the Shake N Bake. I had permission from most of the mortuaries and crematories to open the casket and check the body. I mean, you could just tell when someone was dead. By the time I had my turn with the deceased, they were most likely already embalmed. But some of them chose not to be, or if they were, they hired me to come to their place of death and make damn sure there was no chance in hell they were coming back to life.

A while back, there was a highly publicized case in Southern California. A woman had been pronounced dead and taken to the hospital morgue. But when they opened the fridge for her to be transported to the funeral home, they saw obvious signs of a struggle. She’d been put in there alive.

Yikes.

I’d never been afraid of death, and, after my family died and the man I loved almost had, I embraced death in my own strange way. I made it my life’s work, I guess. While it took a lot to creep me out, that story gave me the heebie-jeebies something fierce. It was all over the news. Every staff member from the hospital to the morgue was investigated then sued or fired or both. And, of course, old people sitting in the common room of a rest home from the wee a.m. hours to beddy-bye time, saw that story six times in one day, minimum. I ended up receiving so many requests to make sure they weren’t breathing, I added the Shake N Bake to my website

 

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Julie is a Southern California native, a fan of a really good story (preferably romance with a happily ever after), really good pie (preferably pumpkin) and copious amounts of coffee (preferably Folgers).

She has always enjoyed writing and at one time thought she could be a singer songwriter…the ‘writer’ part is the one that stuck.

Julie is obsessed with pi…the equation (and the food). She’s allergic to cats and cantaloupe and hates mushrooms…so if you ever want to give her a gift, those are out for sure. She currently lives with her own romance hero husband and two boys in Melbourne, Australia.

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