Friday, October 31, 2014

Fragile by Veronica Short RELEASE DAY!



Fragile by Veronica Short
Contemporary Romance
Released Oct 31st 2014

Synopsis


They say to keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Whoever said that didn't have a family. It should be keep your friends close and you family closer. After all its family who can hurt you the most. I needed change, I needed a new life. Getting a job at a large hospital in another state was the way to do it. A way to get away from my old life, from the people who destroyed me. Working at a large hospital was a way to keep busy and to not procrastinate on my broken life, my old life, and it was working, until I met Rick Harvey. It started out as a favour for the mother I despised, but turned out to be something so much more that happened so fast, it knocked me on my ass. All I wanted to do was work my way up in the law firm I work at, make sure that my father is proud of me and doing well himself and to meet a girl that wouldn’t break my heart. That was the plan until I met Dr Lucy Jackson, my mother’s favour. Call her to make sure that she was ok, settled in. When that didn’t work out in the way that I had hoped, quick and easy, I was asked to go and see her, to make sure that she had all of her arms and legs. Big mistake. One look and I was a gonna. One look and I could see that she was fragile. As it turned out our story would be fragile.

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About the Author
Veronica Short lives in sunny Queensland, Australia with her son and large deaf guard dog. She has always had an interest in writing and has been writing since she was a child. After experiencing some of the world and being a teenage mother statistic as well as completing a Bachelor of Social Science at university she decided to take her writing back up and has self published her first novella Happening Now, followed by Love Obsessed, Love Separated, Olive and her novel Fragile. Veronica is a full time mum by day, full time writer by night. Her son doesn’t believe in sleeping so she finds plenty of time to write at night when the world is quiet and dark.

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Teaser


I walked over and pulled the curtain back and stopped stunned. I didn’t want to see him or speak to him, but here he was in my ER. Deciding to keep it professional, I stepped into the small space and pulled the curtain closed and reached for the chart sitting on the end of the bed.

“I’m Dr. Jackson. They say you’ve been having headaches and dizzy spells?” I looked up at him and saw that he was smiling. “So help you, Rick, if you’re wasting my time right now I will give them a reason to admit you and it won’t be pleasant.”

“You weren’t answering my calls or texts.”

“So, there’s nothing wrong with you then.”

“Lu, please hear me out.”

“I have actual patients who need to see me.” He stood up and came over to me, taking my hand but I pulled it away before he could get a good grip on it.

“I was out of line.”


Thursday, October 30, 2014

The Same but Different by Serena Clarke

The new you could be someone unexpected...

 Stunned by a life-changing secret and an unexpected inheritance, Cady Morrow leaves her responsible London life behind and hits the California flash mob trail. With her wild twin sister Shelby in tow, she's determined to make every day of her new start count. So when they're invited to travel on the flash mob team's luxury tour bus - in close company with Reid, a man who sets her dangerously, deliciously off-kilter - Cady grabs the chance to be a different version of herself.

 But uncovered secrets soon test her faith in her reinvented self, as well as in those around her. And when the flash mob implodes and Shelby goes missing, Cady has to rely on the enigmatic Reid for help - even as she doubts his motives, and her resistance to his teasing charm.

 Torn between two lives, she eventually learns just how different she can really be...and exactly what she'll do for the sake of a new start.

My Thoughts….


I always thought it would be fun to be a twin or to have twins.     The Same But Different show how different twins truly can be.   While growing up in the same household with the same parents, Cady and Shelby are as different as night and day.   Shelby is the mover and shaker while Cady keeps everyone and everything in line.   I related more with Cady but would love to be as carefree as Shelby.

The Flashpoint part of the story was a little odd to me.    I don't really get the whole flash mob thing and do not see the draw of it.    I did enjoy meeting the characters on the bus and imagining living with such a hodge podge of people in a small area.

I thought I was picking up and easy chic-lit book.  I was wrong.  This is a romance, adventure, family drama, with a lot of fun story.

Book Links

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Ultimate Fear (Ultimate Core #2) by Kristine Mason

Published August 5, 2014

When a deranged mother's grief drives her to replace her dead son over and over, obsession leads to murder...

Chicago detective Jessica Donavan will never stop looking for her missing daughter. Her obsession has destroyed her marriage, but the search is the only thing that helps keep her sane and her mind off of everything she’s lost—her husband and her baby girl. When she uncovers a string of unsolved disappearances and reappearances of a number of baby boys, Jessica turns to her soon to be ex, Dante Russo, a former Navy SEAL turned investigator for the private agency, CORE, to help her fit together the pieces in this perplexing puzzle. But as Dante helps her, she realizes just how much she still craves his support—and his touch.

Dante is still in love with his wife and would do anything to have her back in his life again. He’s been miserable since she left him to deal with the grief over their daughter’s abduction, never understanding how much he grieves as well. When Jessica tells him about the case she’s working, he jumps at the chance to take part in her investigation. He's hoping not only to save their marriage and ease his personal pain over the loss of their daughter, but to stop a serial kidnapper from taking another victim.

As Jessica and Dante work side by side, pregnant women begin to turn up missing or dead, and they start to uncover the consequences of another woman's unfathomable grief. The childless mother doesn’t just want a baby. She wants a newborn straight from the womb.

And when forced to confront the dark and twisted perversion of a mother's obsession, can Jessica and Dante find their lives again…or merely more death? 

My Thoughts…

I love when a series feeds off each other just enough to have the same characters, but the reader can still pick up any book in the series and enjoy them on their own.  That is exactly what the Ultimate CORE series is.    I luckily have read the first book and did not hesitate to read the second book when asked.   A good murder/mystery always satisfies me. 

The first night all I read was the prologue and had goose bumps.  The next day I woke up knowing that I would be starting and finishing this book in a short time frame.   I was kept on the edge of my seat, not able to get anything else accomplished while reading Ultimate Fear.  I knew that this story would send chills down my spine, pull at my heart, and have me hoping for the best available outcome.  

The story of Dante and Jessica was absolutely heart breaking.   The horror and heartache that they had to go through after their young daughter is kidnapped would cause nightmares for any parent.  Then as they search for clues to their daughter, then discover a serial kidnapper.  I cannot even imagine how Dante and Jessica were able to deal with it all.

I absolutely recommend this series, including this book, to everyone.   This is a great series for all mystery lovers.

  
Book Links
Amazon   |   Barnes and Noble   |   Goodreads

About the Author


Kristine Mason didn’t pick up her first romance novel until she was in her late twenties. Immediately hooked, she read a bazillion books before deciding to write one of her own. After the birth of her first son she needed something to keep her mind from turning to mush, and Sesame Street wasn’t cutting it. While that first book will never see the light of day, something good came from writing it. She realized her passion and found a career she loves.

When she’s not writing contemporary romances and dark, romantic suspense novels (or reading them!) she’s chasing after her four kids and two neurotic dogs.



LINKS:



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Tuesday, October 28, 2014

On the Mountain ( Follow your Bliss #5) by Deirdre Riordan Hall & GIVEAWAY

Published October 14, 2014

Modeling contract? Check.

New Louboutins? Check.

Drinking and dancing at the hottest NYC clubs? Check.

Friends with benefits? Check.

An unsettled feeling about the future? Um, check.

Pressure to begin college and an epic blowout with her best friend, turns Baskia Benedict’s party life toxic. Late nights bubble with drama, her relationship with her “not-boyfriend” fizzles, and failing to meet her parents’ expectations results in an escape to the family cabin in the mountains.

Unexpectedly, her brother’s friend Trace appears, seeking refuge from his own obscure problems at the rural hideaway. All Baskia needs are a few days to get her head clear, but Trace distracts her with his smile—always on the edge of amusement—and infuriates her with his seductive charm. When the rumble of his motorcycle fades, Baskia focuses on figuring out her future and nursing a not-so-healthy crush on Trace.

As days turn into months, Baskia stubbornly remains at the cabin, determined to find her purpose and secretly hoping for mysterious Trace to return. After she meets locals—including getting snowed in with her cute neighbor—learns how to cook, and mends past relationships, she discovers the simple life might just save her from herself. Although Baskia transforms and gains independence, Trace returns and stirs up trouble, challenging her to follow her ultimate bliss. 

My Thoughts…

Everything about this book is wonderful.   From the spirited names and attitudes of the characters to the settings.  I loved that each character had their own story.   Not just a hey here I am story, but a background and a history, a reason for why they are how they are.   Even the secondary characters had big parts in this story.    Deirdre Riordan Hall was able to make the characters relatable and for the most part likable.   The few that were not so likable at the beginning became more likable by the end of the story.  

The gorgeous settings in this book made me wish for the fun of the big city.  The parties, the friendships, and the clubs are all beyond my reach, but are part of my imagination.    The mountains, with the icy and snowy landscape, are definitely in my dreams.     I could picture where Baskia was and how she was living her life.  When a book manages to play like a movie while I am reading it, I know that is a winner.

This is the first book that I have picked up by Deirdre Riordan Hall and the Follow your Bliss series but I anxiously await more from her.   I recommend this book.


More abour Deirdre Ridordan Hall
Author of New Adult novels available on Amazon & Other Booksellers.
Please visit her Website.
Join her eNewsletter Mailing List.
Find her on Twitter.
Friend on Facebook

She also has a tie-in Etsy shop with a necklace pulled from the pages of the novel that will be available. 

Also, here’s a link to Deirdre Ridordan Hall's siteTwitter Pinterest and Facebook if you want to see more.


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Monday, October 27, 2014

Destination to Be Determined by J.B. McGee and Nicole Andrews Moore

 Destination to Be Determined

Life has never been easy for Emmy London. Raised in foster homes, she learned to never get too comfortable, to never let anyone in. When her classmate, Chloe Oliver, disappeared at the tender age of five, so did she. From that moment on, life was never the same. She kept a secret and kept her distance from everyone. With the twentieth anniversary of Chloe's disappearance looming, Mr. Oliver sought Emmy's assistance, asking her to revisit the past in order to give him the closure he so desperately needed. As a private investigator, she was accustomed to facing unpleasant situations and sifting through others' lives. Unfortunately, this time to do that, she has to face her own. Soon, she herself is being followed. A handsome stranger insinuates himself in her life. Everything she believed and thought she knew is called into question beginning with…can she turn her curse into a gift? Her mission is clear, her destination is to be determined.

 Destination Derailed~~ Bonus Story

When Emmy finally answers a series of missed calls, the first words Sean speaks are, “Peaches is missing!” Rushing back to Shiloh Cove, her new mission is a favor for a friend that lands her in a strip club, working undercover. Blaze really appreciates her new work uniform…and he’s not the only one. Like so many others on the force, Detective Morrow moonlights in a security position after hours at Leather and Lace. He’s seen many girls come and go through the years without giving it another thought, until Emmy enters his life once more, this time wearing makeup and not much else. Then, he can’t stop thinking about her. In the midst of an alpha pissing contest between two men who make her quiver, Emmy finds herself embroiled in a dark and dangerous underground. Everything she believed to be true is put to the test. It has been said rules are meant to be broken, that life is all fun and games. Yet in her case, never has so much been at stake when Emmy finds her destination derailed.

My Thoughts…

The idea of time travel is intriguing to me.     The time travel part of the story is really a minor part; I mean it is part of the story but there is so much more to Destination to Be Determined than just time traveling.   There is romance, a broken heart caused by a tough childhood, and a mystery to be solved.  I also loved that there was a follow up bonus story included with Destination to Be Determined.  

I love Emmy.   She has spunk and is a tough cookie.    While she wants a “normal” life, she knows that it is not possible so she sets up a ton of rules to follow.   These rules make it very tough to have a relationship of any type, whether friendship or more.   I also loved that she took notes on what not to do or to do while living her life.    I am a note taker and list maker, so I totally understood her needing to document what is happening in her world.  

Although there is a tidge of paranormal or sci-fi in this story, it is definitely more of a romance/mystery story.   I cannot wait for more with these characters. 

Book Links
Facebook      |   Amazon   |   Goodreads

Bio

J.B. McGee

J.B. McGee was born and raised in Aiken, South Carolina. She is the mother of two beautiful children and a stay at home mom/entrepreneur. She finished her Bachelor of Arts degree in Early Childhood Education at the University of South Carolina-Aiken in 2006. During her time studying children's literature, a professor had encouraged her to become a writer.
In 2011 it was discovered that both of her children and her husband have Mitochondrial Disease, a disease that has no cure or treatments. Being a writer allows J.B. to remain close to her family, work on raising awareness for this disease and to lose herself in the stories that she creates for her fans.
J.B. McGee and her family now reside in Buford, Georgia. She is an Amazon Top 100 bestselling author of her debut series, the 'THIS' Series.
She is represented by Stacey Donaghy with Donaghy Literary Group. Her books can be found on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, Apple, and Smashwords in ebook, paperback, and even some audiobooks. The German translation for her debut novel, Broken, will be available July 1, 2014, through Amazon Crossing.




Nicole Andrews Moore 

Nicole Andrews Moore has been an author since 2011, but it was after the birth of her daughter, Kenna in January of 2012, that she was determined to make it a full-time career. As the fourth smallest preemie in the world, Kenna’s medical needs would prevent her from ever going to day care. A fan introduced her to JB McGee, who became her mentor and best friend. They have been working together ever since, but The Traveler Series is their first collaboration.

For fun, she spends time with those she cares about, cooks, reads, writes, and especially lives to travel. The current travel goal: visit every Margaritaville. Three down! (Eleven to go?)

Her writing can also be found on Shine, where she is a Shine Parenting Guru and an award winning Yahoo! Contributor on YourWisdom as the relationship and dating expert. In addition, she has been published by McClatchy News in their syndicated papers.

Her books can be found on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, Apple, and Smashwords in ebook, paperback, and even some audiobooks.










Saturday, October 25, 2014

Vengeance is Mine by Kasey Millstead

99c SALE BLITZ
Release Date:  August 20, 2014


SYNOPSIS
Target - Spades Motorcycle Club
They call me The Praying Mantis.
Because after I fuck my target, I kill them.
Vengeance is Mine is a dramatic tale of revenge by way of fatal fucking.
“Look what I did,” I say, grabbing a handful of his cock. “I’m such a naughty girl.” I rub my hand up and down, never breaking eye contact with him.
From USA Today bestselling author Kasey Millstead comes a book that will leave you gripping the edge of your seat as you live the life of Ella Moore. With a heart that's been hardened by the tragic death of her parents, she sets in motion a lethal chain of events that will eventually avenge her parents murders.
'Before my parent’s tragic death, I had never been vengeful person. I was nice, quiet, friendly and definitely a glass-half-full kind of girl. But death has a way of changing everything.'
Ella Moore is the epitome of a badass.


PURCHASE LINKS
AMAZON US:  http://amzn.to/1uUF9z4   |   AMAZON UK:  http://amzn.to/1tg9y94
AMAZON AU:  http://bit.ly/1tHpG64



AUTHOR BIO
Kasey Millstead lives a quiet life in country New South Wales, Australia, with her husband and their four young children. She enjoys baking, singing (ridiculously out of tune) & spending time with friends and family. Kasey has always harboured a deep love for reading and writing, and she is now lucky enough to be living her dream of being an Author.

AUTHOR LINKS
Website |   Facebook   |    Twitter   |      Google+   |   Goodreads





GIVEAWAY
There is a giveaway for a $25 Amazon gift card + an ebook set of the Down Under Cowboy series including an ARC of Tatted Cowboy.
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Friday, October 24, 2014

Imitation by Heather Hildenbrand

Published July 29, 2014 by Alloy Powered by Amazon

Everyone is exactly like me. There is no one like me.

Ven wrestles with these contradicting truths every day. A clone of wealthy eighteen-year-old Raven Rogen, Ven knows everything about the girl she was created to serve: the clothes she wears, the boys she loves, the friends she loves to hate. Yet she’s never met the Authentic Raven face-to-face.

Imitations like Ven only get to leave the lab when they’re needed—to replace a dead Authentic, donate an organ, or complete a specific mission. And Raven has never needed Ven . . . until now.

When there is an attack on Raven’s life, Ven is thrust into the real world, posing as Raven to draw out the people who tried to harm her. But as Ven dives deeper into Raven’s world, she begins to question everything she was ever told. She exists for Raven, but is she prepared to sacrifice herself for a girl she’s never met?

My Thoughts...

The idea of clones being made by the rich to save themselves and those they love intrigued me.    The added bonus is that this book is written by Heather Hildenbrand, who I enjoy.

Heather did a great job setting up the characters and the worlds they live in, and giving enough background.   It was a slow build to get to the true action of this story.  Once we got to the depth of the story it just sped by.    I was unable to stop reading and finished this book in one day.

Heather Hildenbrand is an author that has never let me down and I know I can go to when I want a story that will pull me in and entertain me from the first page to the very last page.


Book Links



Thursday, October 23, 2014

Seaside Hearts by Melissa Foster with a GIVEAWAY


NEW RELEASE SEASIDE SUMMERS BOOK 2.....
The newest addition to the LOVE IN BLOOM series, featuring a group of fun, sexy, and emotional friends who gather each summer at their Cape Cod cottages. They’re funny, flawed, and will have you begging to enter their circle of friends. You met them in READ, WRITE, LOVE, (The Remingtons, Book 5), follow these friends on their search for forever love in the Seaside Summers series.

SEASIDE HEARTS
Jenna Ward is vivacious, spontaneous, and confident—except when she’s around the man who stole her heart years earlier, strikingly handsome, quiet, and reliable Pete Lacroux. After years of trying to get his attention and overwhelmed from dealing with her mother’s new cougar lifestyle, Jenna’s giving up on Peter—and is ready to explore other men.

As the eldest of five siblings, with an alcoholic father to care for, boat craftsman Pete Lacroux always does the right thing and has no time for a real relationship. He’s looking forward to seeing his friend Jenna, a welcome distraction who’s so damn sexy and so painfully shy that she equally entertains and confuses him.

When Jenna picks up a hard-bodied construction worker, jealousy ignites Pete’s true feelings, and he’s powerless to ignore the desires for Jenna he never realized he had. But Pete’s not the quiet guy he appears to be, and his life is anything but conducive to a relationship. Can Jenna handle the real Pete Lacroux—the sexiest, most passionate alpha male she’s ever seen—or will she crack under pressure? And can Pete reclaim the life he once had without tearing apart his family?

My Thoughts…

I don’t even know what to say about Seaside Hearts.   I have read all the books thus far in the Love in Bloom series, yes all, and they just get better and better.    Seaside Hearts has my favorite characters so far reoccurring.  Jenna, Bella, Amy, and Leanna are still at The Cape this summer, like every summer for so long.   They are still watching the men, although two of the ladies are attached to men.    Jenna and Amy are still hoping to find what Leanna and Bella have found.  These ladies are exactly what best friends should be.   They finish each other’s sentences, laugh at private jokes, read each other minds with just a look, and know when the others are falling in love.   I am so envious of the relationship’s in this book, both their man/woman relationships and their friendships.    It is exactly what every person should have in their lives.

Now onto the fun part….hot and steamy scenes happen often and Melissa Foster knows how to write it.   They are hot, steamy, sexy and so fun to read, but don’t cross that line where it is too much.    They are written to show the love and respect in the relationship and are never taken lightly.   The heart and love between Jenna and Pete is so evident in each interaction, whether in the bedroom or on the beach, that I could not hope but wish for the best for them.  


I highly recommend this entire series.  I cannot wait for more from Melissa Foster.  She is an author that always comes through and I know will continue to do so. 

SEASIDE SUMMERS are the newest addition to the LOVE IN BLOOM series
**CONTENT WARNING: Due to mature content, recommended for readers aged 18+**

Buy the book from...... 

Melissa Foster is the award-winning author of a number of International bestselling novels. Her books have been recommended by USA Today's book blog, Hagerstown Magazine, The Patriot, and several other print venues. She is the founder of the Women's Nest, a social and support community for women, the World Literary Cafe. When she's not writing, Melissa helps authors navigate the publishing industry through her author training programs on Fostering Success.

Melissa hosts an annual Aspiring Authors contest for children, she's written for Calgary's Child Magazine and Women Business Owners Magazine, and has painted and donated several murals to The Hospital for Sick Children in Washington, DC. Melissa's interests include her family, reading, writing, painting, friends, helping others see the positive side of life, and visiting Cape Cod.

Melissa is available to chat with book clubs and welcomes comments and emails from her readers. Visit Melissa on The Women's Nest or her personal website.

Follow the Author.....
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Photobucket
I received this book to review through Beck Valley Books Book Tours, all the opinions above are 100% my own.

ALSO AVAILABLE 
Books 1 - 3 Snow Sisters, Love in Bloom Series #1 - 3

Books 1 - 6 The Bradens, Love in Bloom Series #4 - 9

Books 1 - 5 The Remingtons, Love in Bloom Series #10 - 14 


Books 7 - 12 The Bradens, Love in Bloom Series #15 - 20


Books 1 - 4 Seaside Summers, Love in Bloom Series #21 - 24


NOW FOR THE AUTHOR'S GIVEAWAY !!
Five lucky winners will each win the first two ebooks in the Love in Bloom Series, 
Sisters in Love & Sisters in Bloom
Ending on Sunday 23rd November at 11.59pm EST
Open Worldwide

Enter Below & Good Luck !!



Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Ruse and Romance by S.G. Rogers

Published September 8, 2014 by Idunn Court Publishing

Unjustly labeled a flirt, Kitty Beaucroft is in need of a fiancé. Lord Philip Butler’s father wants him to settle down before he can become a landowner. With no intention of following through, Kitty and Philip enter into a temporary engagement as a means to an end. Unfortunately, someone knows the truth and is determined to expose them. Will the ruse turn into a romance before it’s too late?

My Thoughts…

My ONLY complaint is that Ruse and Romance left me craving more.    This is a shorter story and it managed to pull me in from the very beginning and kept me in until the very last page.    I even took it with me in the car and read while sitting in the drive thru at the bank.   S.G. Rogers was able to write a story that in just a few pages, the characters were well developed and likeable (well most of them were likable), the plot was well developed and engaging, and the reader was thoroughly entertained.

The story of Kitty and Philip is heart tugging sweet.   While they are not instantly in love, the immediate attraction is obvious.  It was fun to watch them circle each other and try to figure out what was romance and what was the ruse part of their relationship.   I do not fault Kitty for how she felt, she is young and naïve.  Philip was great.  I loved the scenes when Kitty arrives at his country estate and he reacts to her arrival.  


Ruse and Romance is a short story that I am happy to recommend. 

Ruse and Romance Links

Tuesday, October 21, 2014





RICH LOVE
Author: Zoe Adams
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Series: The Billionaires Club, Book 1
Publisher: Limitless Publishing
~ SYNOPSIS ~
Susanna Marston was educated, married, and widowed young.

After the tragic death of her husband she leaves all she knows and heads for the one place that brings her comfort…her family ranch.

Her plans take an unexpected turn, however, when she finds him lying in the middle of the road after a late night motorcycle accident.

Royce Blackwater is wealthy, charming, and has yet to cross paths with a women who doesn’t throw herself at him.

So when Susanna’s first instinct is to blow him off, Royce will stop at nothing to win her affection. He goes out of his way to buy a neighbor’s property, and an abandoned goldmine, just to keep Suzanna within his reach.

Then opportunity strikes. Susanna falls helpless due to a life threating rattlesnake bite, and Royce is there to sweep her off her feet.

Will Susanna and Royce be able to find a balance between city and country life? Or will their two worlds push them apart as quickly as they were pushed together?






~ PURCHASE ~
BUY➜ AMAZON




~ ABOUT THE AUTHOR ~
Zoe Adams

I was born in South Dakota, and currently live in Lanikai Beach Hawaii. I was born the fifth of eight children, age wise I am right in the middle. Just in case you’re wondering…no, my parents are not Catholic, they just love each other :-)

When I was very young I found a deep respect and love for words and books. I broadened my vocabulary and learned how to solve problems through words.

I attended Jackson Hole Writers Convention in 2011 and it was great! The first thing the speaker said is that most writers are introverts. We could be perfectly happy with a computer and a desk chair. But there are certain times in life when you need to stop writing and start smiling at your peers. Social media is the biggest wink of all.

My husband Mike makes everything easier. Mike, myself, and our three year old puppy are finally settled in. We have paradise right outside our door, and happy vacationers all around us. It’s the perfect place for nature to be powerful, calming, and beautiful at the same time.

Social media links:


Tour Host:
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Monday, October 20, 2014

By Way of Accident by Laura Miller

Publish Date of October 21, 2014


They say in every guy’s life there’s a girl he’ll never forget and a summer where it all began. Well, for me, 1999 is that summer, and Brooke Sommerfield is that girl. But that was nearly nine years ago. And what they don’t tell ya is that you’ll blink, and both the summer and the girl will be gone.

I have no idea where Brooke ended up. She disappeared that same summer I met her. And kind of like when you move something on a wall after it’s been there for a long time and everything around it is faded, that’s how I feel about Brooke. She wasn’t there very long, but when she left, everything around her memory sort of dimmed. That is until a letter postmarked the year she left mysteriously resurfaces. And call me crazy—everyone else has—but I have to find her. I have to know what became of the green-and-gray-eyed girl who stole my last perfect summer. I have to know if she believes in second chances—because I do—even if they do come with good-byes.

My Thoughts…

Laura Miller is an author I have read often and each time I am enthralled and unable to put the book down.    By Way of Accident is my favorite so far (see below for her other books).    The fact that it is written from a teenage boy’s point of view to start and then follows that boy as a college student made it incredible.   Who can possibly understand a teenage boy’s mind?   Laura Miller obviously does. 

River, the boy in this story, is a typical boy.  Then he meets Brooke and his life forever changes.  The attraction between them is obvious, but it is also innocent.   When they first meet, the nerves are there and the conversation is childish, but true to how 13 year olds communicate.    The difference is the fall in love and it is more than just a teenage love.  They both make promises, knowing how hard it will be to keep them.   Even when things change in their lives and they both move on, the memories of their days together stay so real.  

There is so much that I want to share, but to do so will give away so much of this amazing story and I would hate to ruin it for you.   What I can tell you is that you have to pick up By Way of Accident.   It is a book that you will pull at your heart and make you smile throughout the entire story.   Laura Miller has a unique style of writing that makes every character, even the secondary, seem like people you know or meet on the street daily.    She writes a real life story that is impossible to put down. 

Book Links

 Other books you have to check out by Laura Miller

Author Links

Saturday, October 18, 2014

Dreamless by Erin Manbeck

Published August 17, 2014 by Smashwords Edition

In the beginning, when the battle for heaven was won and the rebellious angels were cast into hell, not every angel had a place. Those who hadn't chosen a side were sentenced to exist between the two parallels…earth. The angels who repented were called the Fallen, peaceful angles that existed amongst mankind. Those who rejected their punishment became known as the First, angels that survived by stealing souls.                                                                                                                                                                                 Over time, a First and Fallen unite and the Protectors were born.

Eighteen year old Mira Daly had one goal, get out of Redding,WY and never look back. That was until her best friend goes missing the day before graduation. Chloe’s disappearance brings back haunting memories of her father, and through the help of some unexpected new friends, the story of who he was and what she’s meant to be unfolds.

With a living, breathing, nightmare determined to destroy her, Mira knows the only way to survive is to accept her fate and meet this demon in battle.

My Thoughts…

This is the fourth of Erin Manbeck’s books that I have read.   Dreamless is a stand alone, where the first three were The Gifted Trilogy.   I loved them all. 

Dreamless starts slow.  There is a lot of background that the reader has to know for the rest of the story to make sense.   While I love when a book pulls you in from the first page, I also enjoy knowing the entire story.    Make it through the first part of this book and you will not be able to put it down.
 I was truly invested in Mira’s life.   I wanted to know if she comes to terms with her dad’s death.  Did Mira figure out what the guardian angel was telling her, solving all of the riddles being thrown at her?   Could she be strong enough to prove herself a talented fighter?   I also loved her relationship with her mother.   While it is not a huge part of the story, I found myself comparing their relationship to that of my family’s.    They had a great sense of humor and were able to talk about anything, which is what every mom wants to have with their daughter.  

The romance in this story was typical high schooler.  Hot and steamy, whiling holding back and taking caution not to move too fast too quickly.    I enjoyed seeing the couples circle each other and then finally admit their feelings, but still knowing there was too much happening for them to move too fast.   I am not sure I could be as open and accepting as Mira’s mom, but I did like that instead of criticizing she supported and gave sound advice.  


Erin Manbeck is an author I will not hesitate to recommend to anyone looking for a great paranormal story.    I happily and totally recommend Dreamless. 

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Friday, October 17, 2014

How Much Do You Love Me? By Paul Mark Tag & GIVEAWAY

It's December 1941, and the Japanese have bombed Pearl Harbor. Politicians fuel anti-Japanese hysteria and campaign to segregate Japanese Americans. During this period of hate and racial frenzy, Keiko and James, a Japanese American and a Caucasian, fall inlove and marry. Before long, James goes off to war and Keiko to an internment camp. 

Sixty years later, Keiko has a stroke and lies near death, while James suffers from Alzheimer's. Coincidentally, a chance incident makes their daughter, Kazuko, born in the camps, suspect a family secret. Fighting the clock before her mother's death, she races to unravel the mystery. What she uncovers represents nothing short of the epitome of human love and self-sacrifice.

My Thoughts…

This is the first book I have read that included the Japanese internment camps, as a matter of fact I didn’t even realize that this had happen during WW II.   I can actually understand why it is not a part of history that the US should be proud of or even discuss often.  Just the fact that the Japanese, whether US citizens or not, had to leave their homes just in case they were spies broke my heart.   Although, seeing how Keiko and her family handled it and how they were able to build their family ties tighter it ended up being not all bad.   I am not saying that it was okay they were sent there, more that some good did come from it.   

But now on to the book, absolutely amazing.   Going between 1942-1942 and 2000 could be tricky, but Paul Mark Tag did it perfectly.   Instead of having two separate stories that sometimes intertwined, this is one story that is told exactly how it needed to be.  The flashbacks gave history that needed to be shared and told, while the present is searching for clues of what the secret is.  While the secret was kept until the end of the story, I can honestly say I had no clue what it was going to be.  I had theories, but none ended up being what happen.   


I have to recommend this book.  World War II fans, mystery fans, and historical fictions readers will all love this story.  

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Thursday, October 16, 2014

Sharing Spaces Series by Alicia Michaels

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A New Adult series of Contemporary Romances revolving around five college roommates. A laugh-out-loud look at college life and all the joys and challenges of becoming an adult. Sassy girls, hot guys, and a touch of sexy fun … once you meet the roommates of apartment 4C, you might just want to move in!

Book 1: V-Card   Buy Links: Amazon Barnes and Noble Smashwords iBooks   Add it on Goodreads   Jennifer Nolan has been unlucky when it comes to love; even more unfortunate when it comes to sex. In fact, the twenty year-old college junior is about to enter her senior year still carrying her v-card. All she wants is to be with that special someone without it resulting in a trip to the emergency room, runaway office supplies, or being scarred for life by someone's weird fetishes. With several botched attempts under her belt, she begins to fear she'll end up a lonely spinster or a crazy cat lady. With only 60 days until her 21st birthday, Jennifer is determined to lose her virginity once and for all. Little does she know that her mission will lead her down a path toward love. She never expects that her mission will lead her to a discovery of what true womanhood is, and where true and lasting love begins.
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V-Card is currently available for only $0.99, but not for long! Don’t miss out on this deal, ending October 17!
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Brat by Alicia Michaels Book 2: Brat **NEW RELEASE**   Buy Links: Amazon Barnes & Noble Smashwords iBooks   Add it on Goodreads   She’s a spoiled shopaholic with daddy issues. He’s a socially conscious vegetarian who doesn’t hide his disdain for people who come from the trappings of wealth. Of course, none of that would have mattered if Chloe could have just left her summer fling with Chase behind her without a glance back—something that will prove impossible when the consequences of that fling rear their head. Particularly one consequence; one with ten fingers, ten toes, and the potential to turn Chloe’s privileged life upside down. But deciding what to do about her unexpected pregnancy is only one of Chloe’s problems. When Chase moves in across the hall, pretending that their one night together didn’t mean anything will be the hardest thing she’s ever had to do. Especially when that night meant more to her than she’d ever want to admit out loud. Chase is determined to make her see that they could be so much more than a mindless fling; and a girl who’s used to getting her way will find Chase’s determination hard to resist when love is at stake.    
Enter to win an autographed paperback copy of Brat at Goodreads

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Brat

by Alicia Michaels

Giveaway ends October 15, 2014. See the giveaway details at Goodreads.
*Excerpt from Brat* By then we’d finished eating, and when the waitress asked about dessert we both declined. We traded glances across the table, and I could tell Chase was as anxious to get on with the reason for our little date in the first place. The waitress brought the check, and after arguing for five minutes over who would pay, Chase physically wrestled it from my hand. “I think I can afford a steak and a salad,” he grumbled once he’d overpowered me. “Relax, princess, this one’s on me.” After he paid, we left the restaurant and took our time walking toward Chase’s car. The sun had set and the night was clear and balmy, knocking off the chill of the restaurant comfortably. Once inside the car, Chase turned the engine on and then faced me, his stare pointed. “What is this, Chloe?” he asked, finally cutting right to the chase. “I know we said what happened this summer would be a one-time thing, and I can see how my showing up here might have shocked you. Maybe I was a little too forward, and my talking about having something more between us than a one night stand might have freaked you out a bit. I don’t blame you. It freaks me out, too. Neither of us has the rosiest past, and we couldn’t be more different as people.” He leaned toward me over the middle dash, one hand coming up to the nape of my neck. His fingers slid through my hair, trailing down to my bare shoulder, sending little shivers down my spine, which curled in my middle and shot down straight between my legs. I swallowed noisily as he came closer, his lips brushing my ear. “But damn it, Chloe, I can’t get the smell of you out of my head, or the taste of you off my tongue.” A gasp caught in my throat, and I couldn’t pull away from him. His lips found my neck, his breath racing over my skin. He kissed me there, tracing a path down toward my shoulder and one of the thin straps holding my dress up. “Chase,” I whimpered as he kissed my shoulder, his fingertips causing goose bumps to break out over my arm. “I know it’s crazy,” he murmured, “but don’t you remember how good we were together?” I shivered, remembering a tangle of arms and legs and the humid mists of the rainforest. My thighs clenched at the memory of how he’d felt between them. “Yes,” I whispered, “I do.” Chase’s lips found my jawline, tracing a slow path toward my mouth. “I remember, too,” he sighed. “Kissing you, touching you, untying the strings of that sexy little bikini of yours.” He gave my spaghetti strap a little tug for emphasis, just as I turned my head toward his. “That pretty little sound you made in the back of your throat when I touched you. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it … about you. What about you? Do you ever think about it? About me?” “All the time,” I whispered against his lips just before he kissed me. It had all started with the worst first date ever, and ended on something of a dare …   Meet the roommates of apartment 4C!   Beautiful girl with blue eyes Beautiful girl with blue eyes Jenncharacterreveal Beautiful girl with blue eyes Beautiful girl with blue eyes
IMG_6201     About the Author Ever since she first read books like Chronicles of Narnia or Goosebumps, Alicia has been a lover of mind-bending fiction. Wherever imagination takes her, she is more than happy to call that place her home. With seven Fantasy and Science Fiction titles under her belt, Alicia strives to write multicultural characters and stories that touch the heart. V-Card, the first book of the Sharing Spaces series, was her first Contemporary Romance. The mother of three and wife to a soldier, she loves chocolate, coffee, and of course good books. When not writing, you can usually find her with her nose in a book, shopping for shoes and fabulous jewelry, or spending time with her loving family. Alicia can be found on the web at any of the following links: www.fantasybyalicia.com www.facebook.com/fantasybyalicia www.goodreads.com/alicia_michaels www.pinterest.com/fantasybyalicia Follow her at Twitter: @fantasybyalicia Follow her on Instagram: @authoraliciamichaels Visit the V-card website for fun extras, including the V-Card Blog, character profiles, playlists, video trailers, and more: www.vcard-aliciamichaels.com Be sure to like V-Card’s Facebook page for more on the upcoming second book in the Sharing Spaces series: www.facebook.com/vcardbook Sign up for Alicia’s monthly newsletter for sneak peeks at upcoming works, insider news, and a special monthly giveaway for subscribers only: http://eepurl.com/pgwOz     GIVEAWAY! a Rafflecopter giveaway