Tasting Never

Tasting Never

Finding Never

by: C.M. Stunich

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Blurb:

Tasting Never, a New Adult Novel Recommended for Ages 18 and Up
Never say Never Trilogy: Book One. Book Two, Finding Never, and Book Three, Keeping Never, are both available now!

"Never Ross wants to be loved.
It's that simple, but it's not that easy."

Never is a girl with a broken soul who doesn't date nice guys and can't seem to go to bed at night without crying herself to sleep. She doesn't need any complications in her life, especially not when they're attached to a man that could be her emotional twin.

Ty McCabe can't stand Never the first time he meets her. He's aware that the feeling's mutual and the two don't think they'll ever see each other again, but when fate takes a hand and puts them both in the wrong place at the wrong time, Ty and Never form a tentative friendship that opens the door on their dark sides and shows them what it's like to live in the light.

"Sometimes, the only way to go forward, is to take a few, careful steps back."

Rating: 5/5 Stars

Review:

Every once in a while, you just want to read a book that is real. I like my rock star and millionaire books, just like everyone else, but it's all just fantasy. Of course, it's extremely rare for anything like that to ever happen. If you want something real, read this. Really. Just do it. This book doesn't sugar coat life, and I love that. Nothing worthwhile in life is simple, and this book reflects that. I absolutely love the writing style. I know this sounds repetitive, but it's just real. Perhaps I just hang out with dirty mouthed folks though. ;)

 

This story is addicting. I devoured the first book in just a couple hours and immediately started book two. The characters are easy to love, and you can't help but root for them - even when they're screwing up. Never's story is so tragic, but seeing her grow as a person is absolutely beautiful. This is a fantastic read!

~~

Ty's hot mouth is on my neck, and I find myself taking short, sharp, little breaths as I press my shaking hands to his chest. If I sleep with him again, I'll be making the biggest mistake of my life. He's the first real friend I've ever had, and I don't want to cheapen the feelings that are simmering between us. We made that mistake once before, and we survived. We've been through a lot since then, and I know that if I lose him now, I will never be whole again. Ty is my other half, lover or no, and just being around him is enough for me.

“Ty,” I say, trying my best to sound stern. Instead, my voice comes out like a butterfly, flutters against Ty's hair and swirls it gently against my lips. I moan and find that my fingers are now curled in the fabric of his T-shirt.

“Never,” he says back to me, the word like fire against my skin. In those two syllables, I hear how he feels about me. He thinks he's in love. Ty McCabe thinks he's in love with me. He doesn't say it aloud, but I can tell. Sex isn't the best way for me to show my feelings; I've abused it for far too long that it has somehow lost some of its meaning. I try to tell Ty this, but I can't speak with his lips on my throat and his hand sliding across the nape of my neck.

I run my own hands down his chest and put them beneath his shirt, on the hard plane of his belly. His muscles contract as I press my fingers into them, touching, feeling, absorbing the man, the complication, that is Ty McCabe. All the while, my mind is racing in circles trying to talk me out of this.

“Kiss me,” Ty says and it's not a question, it's a request, albeit a gentle one. His voice is softer than I've ever heard it. His words are naked, stripped of all the bullshit that's happened to him, all of the horrible things that mirror my own life. Ty and I are like twins, like two halves of the same whole. They say that opposites attract, but Ty and I are very much the same and the attraction between us burns brighter than the sun. “Kiss me,” he says again and I do.

~~
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Finding Never

Finding Never

 

 

Finding Never

by: C.M. Stunich

 

Buy on Amazon

 

Blurb:

 

Finding Never, a New Adult Novel Recommended for Ages 18 and Up

Never say Never Trilogy: Book Two. Book One, Tasting Never, and Book Three, Keeping Never, are available now!

"Tell me, Never, do you still love him?"

Never Ross and Ty McCabe have come a long way – but they can't stop now. Their pasts are still there, ready to sweep over and consume them if they don't confront them. A visit to Never's family seems like the first logical step, but will it make things better or worse? And what about Noah Scott? Ty is Never's tortured other half, but can he also be the healing balm that she so desperately needs? With McCabe's past still a virtual unknown, Never is going to have to make more than one decision capable of breaking both their hearts.

"Ty has changed; I have changed, and things are not always what they seem."

 

Rating: 5/5 Stars

 

Review:

 

"I am like, head over friggin' heels, butterflies and puppies, hearts and fucking kitty cats in love with you."

 

 I love Ty.  Absolutely love him.  I think he's my favourite new book boyfriend. I love the lengths he goes through in order to express his love.  Together they travel to visit Never's family in order to hopefully find some closure.  This book truly shows Never's journy to healing, as well as the start of Ty's journy.

 

The introduction of Noah Scott and Never's sisters was interesting.  I loved her sisters, and Noah was a true pumpkin.  I admit that the outcome of her trip wasn't what I expected with her mother, but I can't say that I was very surprised with how it turned out.

 

This sequel was as addicting as the first.  I immediately started book three.  I couldn't help myself!

 

~~

 

“Before you say whatever it is that you're going to say, can I show you something?” he asks as the fog of his breath tangles and dances with mine in the crisp winter air.

 

“Ty, you don't – ”

 

He cuts me off.

 

“Please.” He says the word like it's a question, but it's not. He's not asking my permission. Ty is telling me that he's going to show me whether I like it or not, so I better be ready for it. “I need to show you how much you rock my f*cking world.” And then Ty is kissing me hot and hungry, down my neck and back up again. He's biting my lip and making me bleed, brushing his lips across the beating pulse in my neck, the one that throbs like crazy when he's around.

 

“Ty, stop,” I say because we're on a playground for God's sake, but he doesn't. He doesn't stop. He adjusts my wrists so that he's holding them with one hand, and although I probably could fight him if I wanted to, I don't. I don't want him to stop, not now, not ever.

 

~~

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”



Keeping Never

Keeping Never

Keeping Never

by: C.M. Stunich

Buy on Amazon

Blurb:

Keeping Never, a New Adult Novel Recommended for Ages 18 and Up
Never say Never Trilogy: Book Three. Book One, Tasting Never, and Book Two, Finding Never, are both available now!

“In your pain, I see my own, so I'm going to tell you and only you, okay?”

Never's past might be under control, but Ty's is just starting to unravel. After receiving a phone call from his broken past, tensions run high between Never and Ty, especially with Never deciding to do something she's never done and keep her pregnancy a secret.

While visiting the skeletons in his dark, dark closet, Ty is threatened by all that he once was and all that he thought he'd overcome. With his pain about to consume him, Never is the only one who stands between Ty and relapse, who can help him control his emotions and find peace, but is she up to it? After all, with two tortured souls desperate for a healing touch, are they more of a hindrance to one another than a help?

Love, marriage, and a baby. Three things that Ty and Never didn't see coming. It's judgment time for both of them, time to see if the light really can overcome the dark. Here's to hoping.

“I know you'll make the right decision, no matter how hard it is, no matter if it cuts you into pieces, because you have to believe that I'll be there for you in the end.”

Rating: 5/5 Stars

Review:

In this book, we finally learn the truth behind Ty's past, and it's just as tragic as Never's past.  The more I learned about him, the more I couldn't help but think how perfect the two were together.  Again, I didn't expect what happened with Ty's mother, but maybe I should have expected it since I was wrong with Never's mother. 

The story of the pregnancy was so well done that there were points where I just wanted to comfort Never.  I was misty-eyed on several occasions.  I absolutely loved this end to Never and Ty's story, but I can't deny that I want more!

What do I want next?  NOAH SCOTT!  He was so great to Never, even after she broke his heart.  I want to see him find love!  Mooooore Please!!!

~~

Ty enters the bathroom, and I turn my head forward, back towards the large, gray seat in front of me, determined not to give myself away by acting too anxiously. After all, I've seen one too many horrible scenarios in movies regarding the infamous Mile High Club. I suppose now I'll get to find out if it's really a reality or if Ty's just sh*tting with me. I want to erase his pain, though, give him something else to occupy his mind for a little while. After all, he did the same for me on the bus, took something that used to be my weakness, twisted it around so that it was not only a distraction technique but a bonding exercise that drew the two of us together in ways that I can still barely understand. For so, so long, sex was just this thing, this dangerous activity with physical and emotional consequences that I ignored in desperation, wildly fighting to fill that emptiness inside of myself. Now, my feelings for Ty and my family sit there and make my heart tight with love, and sex has become … something else. It's just pleasure and not pain, another way for me to show Ty how I feel and vice versa, a stress reliever, exercise, relaxation … It's all of those things and more. It's something for him and me alone, just the two of us. Just us. Us, us, us.

~~
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

COVER REVEAL: More Presents from T.H. Dillon

Title: More Presents from T.H. Dillon

Author: T.H. Dillon (Thomas Hunter Dillon)

Genre: Erotica

Expected Release Date: August, 2013

Notes: The first solo erotica title from author Thomas Hunter Dillon

BLURB:

After creating the erotica title “The Little Purple Book of Passions”, and its paranormal romance sister-title “The Little Black Book of Paranormal Passions”, author Thomas Hunter Dillon has gone his separate ways. He now returns to his specialty: erotica! After writing erotic scenarios privately for women for nearly a decade, T.H. Dillon has now entered the publishing world in hopes of bringing his unique and erotica voice in literature to a much broader audience.

SYNOPSIS:

If the introductory chapter from LPBP (Your Present) struck a chord with you….then you’re in for a treat with “More Presents”. Thomas Hunter Dillon is hard at work for you once more. With his unique voice and style, he strives to bring you, the reader, to edge of ecstasy and back again with a combination of sexy, erotic, narratives, directives, and short story scenarios. Whether you fall into a fantasy scenario and feel the chill-inducing sensations of lust……or whether you sit back and listen to the directives of a man whose only desire is to make you tremble and whimper for more…….there is sure to be something for everyone in “More Presents from T.H. Dillon”. Diamonds may be a girl’s best friend…but T.H. Dillon will keep you cumming back for more!

AUTHOR BIO:

Thomas Hunter Dillon is the typical All-American male, having grown up in his Midwestern home of Madison, Wisconsin. At 6’4” and just over 300lbs….you wouldn’t expect to find such a man writing erotica. Throughout his 20’s, T.H. Dillon mostly wrote erotica privately for various women. Publically he never began writing until a college professor encouraged him to apply his talents to the school newspaper. After doing well for himself on a nationally recognized student newspaper, he remained hesitant to really branch out with his abilities. Now, at the age of 34, he has finally embraced his desire to write and tell entertaining stories. Though he writes in other genres as well, he strives to be a fresh, entertaining, male voice in the world of erotic literature.

Author Links:

♠ Facebook ♣ Twitter ♦ Blog ♥ Amazon ♠ Goodreads ♣

Watch Me Walk Away Cover Reveal

Cover Reveal:

TITLE: 'Watch Me Walk Away'

Author: Jill Prand

Editor: Jodi Murphy

Cover Artist: Airicka Phoenix

Genre: Romance, Contemporary

Add Watch Me Walk Away to Goodreads

Blurb:

At the age of seventeen, Lisa was broken when Bobby left. He was suppose to be her first. First Love. First Time. First Everything. No word for six long years. She moved away from the painful reminders sacrificing her relationship with her best friend Brad. She struggled to rebuild her life.

Now six years later she returns as a strong, successful woman grabbing a job at one of New York’s hottest marketing agencies. She is dating a gorgeous guy with his eyes on a corner office. But it all changes when she sees Bobby again.

Can she risk another heartbreak from Bobby? Will she be able to repair her friendship with Brad? Lisa will have to decide between the man she's with, and the two men that want her.

Who will she be with, and who will she tell to "Watch Me Walk Away?"

Teaser# 1:

"The Letter"

Hi Baby,

I hope the rest of your day went well. I have not been able to concentrate on anything since I left you. I finally decided to get on the plane earlier than planned so I can hear your voice sooner.

I left a few things for your ankle. Please use them, I would have rather taken care of you myself but I have to make this trip. Arthur has been instructed to pick you up and take you to and from work for the rest of the week. I know you are going to balk at this but please let him do this. He would just be sitting around otherwise.

I stop reading and look in the box. An ace bandage, bottle of water, ice pack and Tylenol are all present as well as a small wrapped gift. I take the box out and my heart starts pounding. It is definitely a jewelry box and I know exactly what’s in it. I place it beside me and go back to reading.

To say I’ll miss you seems redundant. I’ve been missing you for years. People have called me heartless and they’re right. My heart resides with you and the only time I feel anything is when I’m in your presence. My greatest hope is that someday you will give me your heart again so I can finally feel complete.

You don’t have to open the gift now but I need you to have it. When you are sure about me, when you are ready to love and trust me again I ask that you wear it. It is a symbol of my commitment to you and seeing it on you will be the happiest day of my life. Once you see it I know you will understand. I found it two years ago and I just couldn’t let it sit in my drawer when I knew it belonged with you. I hope you don’t feel like I’m pushing you, I am just excited that you said we can try.

I will call you when I land. I can’t wait to hear your voice. I plan on keeping you on the phone for hours just so I can hear you talk. I want to be the last thing you think about before you close those gorgeous brown eyes. You are that to me, the first and last thing I think about every day, always.

I will speak with you soon. Open the box take care of you ankle and think of me.

I Miss You,

Bobby

Author Bio:

url

https://www.goodreads.com/JillPrand

born

in The United States

December 02

gender

female

twitter username

jprand

genre

Romance, Contemporary

member since

December 2012

About this author:

I live in Northern New Jersey. I am a wife and mother of two girls.

I have been an avid reader my whole life, I cannot remember a Sunday afternoon that did not include my parents reading. We had a huge bookshelf in our den with a diverse set of authors like Ayn Rand, Stephen King, Mario Puzo & Danielle Steele.

I have always had ideas and characters running around my head but it took a few good friends to push me to start putting them down on paper.

I hope you enjoy my musings. Please feel free to contact me I would love to hear from you.

Author Links:

Facebook

Goodreads

Goodreads: Watch Me Walk Away

Twitter

Editor Links:

Butterflies, Books & Dreams

Butterflies, Books & Dreams Blog

Twitter

Cover Design By:

Airicka Phoenix

Excerpt:

I hear his car pull up and am out the door like a bullet. I wave to Arthur in the front seat and the back door opens and he is here. I freeze and just look at him. God he looks good enough to eat. He shuts the door and walks up to me and stops. I want to throw myself at him and shove my tongue in his mouth.

“Hi Beautiful,” he lifts his hand to caress my cheek. “God you look good. I missed you.” And that’s it. I grab his hair and pull him down for a kiss. We both groan when our mouths touch. His arms
go around me and he picks me up and holds me close. Our mouths open at the same time and our tongues battle for dominance. All thought has left my mind I just want to get closer to him. I wrap my legs around him and use my thighs to push up so my mouth is above his. One of his arms goes under my ass to hold me up. Both my hands are now in his hair my elbows resting on his arms. He nips on my lower lip and I counter by sucking on his tongue. Finally I need to take a breath and pull away.

"Hi Handsome," I pant. I release the pressure of my thighs a littlw so I am more eye level with him.

"Wow, that was some welcome," he smiles at me.

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Ashes & Ice Book Blitz

Book Blitz~ ASHES & ICE By Rochelle Maya Callen

Title: Ashes & IceAuthor: Rochelle Maya Callen Release Day: February 4th, 2013Genre: Young AdultBlitz Host: Lady Amber's Tours

Synopsis: She is desperate to remember.He is aching to forget.Together, they are not broken.But together, one may not survive.

Jade wakes up with no memory of her past and blood on her hands. 

Plagued by wicked thoughts, she searches for answers. Instead, she finds a boy who doesn't offer her answers, but hope. But sometimes, when nightmares turn into reality and death follows you everywhere, hope is not enough. 

LUST. LOVE. LOSS. Sometimes, all that is left are Ashes and Ice

Author Bio: 
Rochelle grew up dreaming up stories. When she entered high school, she tucked away her creative side and jumped head-first into academics, work, and service projects. She graduated summa cum laude with a degree in Political Science and Communication when she was twenty years old. After years away from her writing, Rochelle picked up a pen and started fleshing out a character sketch that she outlined when she was twelve. That sketch was the start of the Ashes and Ice story. Rochelle lives in the DC metro area with her husband and daughter. By day she works as a behavioral therapist. By night, she is a dreamer and is busy tapping out new stories on her keyboard.

Links:Web/Blog: http://www.rochellemayacallen.com/
Twitter: @rockyiswriting
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15864513-ashes-and-ice
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rochelle-Maya-Callen-Author/478176392210312
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Rochelle-Maya-Callen/e/B00C3YE28C/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1

Buy Links: Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Ashes-Ice-Rochelle-Maya-Callen/dp/0988204215/ref=la_B00C3YE28C_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1366718898&sr=1-1
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ashes-and-ice-rochelle-maya-callen/1114308388?ean=2940016192550

Excerpt #1

Jade            
   The girl’s glassy, dead eyes stare into me, through me, pierce me with a fierce urgency, with a wicked accusation. The blood is still on my hands.            
   Red hair, blue eyes, a constellation of freckles on pale skin. She was fragile and innocent, a lovely thing. That is what I think until I see the gashes on her wrists and throat. With her blood spilling out, she looks delicious. She’s mine. Possessiveness shocks me, stabs into me. I run, tearing away from a craving I don't understand.        
    Breathless, I grit my teeth and run harder, faster.         
    My feet pound against the earth, away from the lifeless body and toward the lights of the city lingering on the horizon. Rot and death linger in my nostrils. Unscarred skin stretches taut over my freezing bones. Echoes of an empty memory reverberate in my mind, taunting me. The ice chases me, clutches me, and bites at my heels, sending shivers up my spine. The ice wants me back, but I run forward, toward the lights, toward the heat, toward a world that burns me, because I have no other choice.
      
      The lights are so close. Heat scalds my skin.       
     Images race through my mind, paralyzing me. I skid to a stop, my boots digging into the mud. The vision’s blurred edges materialize into solid shapes.       
      I gasp.          
  A new horror rakes my insides. Desperation propels me forward; the pictures nagging at my seams threaten to tear me apart.       
     Scorching fire licks over my skin. In my vision, I contort like a vile, ugly creature, eyes as black as decay. My frame hunches over the small, dead girl, like a demon looming over a defenseless child. Her blood drips from my mouth.
      
      I lick my lips and taste only salty sweat.        
    I run, desperate to trample the vision under my feet, to crush it deep into the ground.        
    I refuse to believe the image, refuse to acknowledge the monster within me demanding to be unleashed—and the possibility it has already been unbound. An unrelenting tide of fear washes over me. Past the denial, the fear, and the hope, I think I can still taste her.           
 The cold stillness inside me cracks open just as the lights of the city slam into me. 

Excerpt #2

 Connor

        
    Tears burn. I never realized it before, but they do. Tears reach down my throat and settle in my gut until the pain cripples me. I clutch my stomach as I look into the casket. His face doesn’t even look the same. Bloated like a Mardi Gras float, discolored like a mannequin. This isn’t my father.
         
   But it is.        
    If I have learned anything in my short life, it is this: funerals are bullshit. People dress in carefully pressed black suits. Parents give me “meaningful” nods as if that could ease the grief. It doesn't.       
     Then there are the kids from school, the ones dragged along by their parents. People drag their kids along as if filling the church was a necessary thing. As if the more pews filled somehow expedite the dead’s trip to heaven. I doubt it does. Maybe some of the girls went shopping to buy just the right outfit so their cleavage to respectability ratio was just right, or  their ass to waist ratio was cinched properly.          
  People sit in the pews dressed in their finest let’s-go-pay-our-respects-to-the-dead-guy-we-never-knew wear, smacking the gum in their mouths, cupping cellphones so they can LOL any comment  buzzing in, and drumming their fingers because the pastor is going on too long.  All they want to do is go home, sneak in a make-out session with their girlfriends, eat their dinners, and maybe catch a 7 o’clock movie.          
  I hate these kids. The ones who stare at me, roll their eyes, and yawn. The ones who trip me at school and slam me into lockers. The ones who sit in a pew, contributing to the headcount, while I sit up here in front, holding back the tears fighting to make their appearance. I swallow them down. I won’t cry. Not here. Not with these people.      
       Dad’s funeral should be an empty church with mom, his three brothers, and me. It should be the five of us having a messy, sloppy, sobbing affair where we cling to each other because we are all we have left. The marble floors should be slick with our tears. It isn’t. We sit here, straight backed, completely composed as if death is just a passing expiration date and our small, insignificant world has not been split open and left gaping.

***          
  I’m in my room, staring at the ceiling. The funeral service was hours ago.          
  The house feels empty and cold. I hear a stifled whimper from down the hall.          
  Mom.         
   Probably crying into a pillow so the house can’t hear, but it can. It seems unfair she can’t wail aloud, so loud  the house’s hundred-year-old studs tremble.        
    She doesn’t. I don’t either. We cry in our own rooms, remembering a man who will never be here again.         
   The house creaks. Maybe it feels the weight of our grief, maybe the floorboards are buckling because the burden is too heavy.        
    I ache, desperate to forget the long battle with cancer, the blood sputtering out of his mouth with his last words—what where they? I can’t remember because the fear in his eyes overshadowed anything he said. Now the loss. I don’t want to feel this loss. Some divine entity has taken dull scissors and cut out a piece of my life and now I have jagged scars to remind me I lost too much. Too much.        
    I want to forget, because it hurts to remember.          
  I bury my head in the pillow, hoping to suffocate the memories, to choke out the pain. 

Excerpt #3

 “Have you ever been in love?”
         
   I spill my popcorn on my lap. “I, uh, what?” I say, swiping off the kernels. The question catches me off guard.            
“You know, in love.”           
 “No. No, I haven’t.” I shift on the couch, needing more space between us. “What about you?”           
 “Nah.” She flicks her hand toward me as if she is brushing away nonsense, but the hard look in her eyes says something different.        
    “Why?”        
    She points to the TV screen and the couple making out there. “Figured if you had been, then you could explain that to me.”         
   The guy sweeps the girl up and carries her into bed before they… you know. “Uh, sex?”        
    She bursts out laughing. “That too. But I was talking about what  it feels like to be, you know, in love. Totally, without question. Like, does that,” she points to the screen again, “exist?”          
  “Yeah, I think it exists.” I think of mom and dad—the way they kissed every morning, hugged a few moments longer than anyone else, laughed so hard they cried, and cuddled, shutting out the world, looking more content than these fakers on the screen. “It exists. And in real life, it’s better than that crap.” I say, suddenly uncomfortable by the moaning coming from the TV.          
  “I thought you said you’ve never been in love?”           
 “I haven’t. But I’ve seen it. And I haven’t ever seen anything come close to that in the movies.”         
   She opens her mouth as if about to ask a question, but then closes it and smiles, accepting my answer. “Well, it’s good that there may be something in life to look forward to.” She drops a kernel of popcorn in her mouth.          
  “May be?”           
 “Well nothing is guaranteed. Who knows, I may die an old spinster.” She’s smiling, but her eyes aren’t.            
I think about the movie store guy’s possessive eyes, Jesse’s chair fiasco, and Dominic’s leering, my heart. “I doubt that.” 

Excerpt #4

 He smiles a bit wider and hands out the pin.        
    As, I reach to pluck it from his palm, he snatches my wrist with one hand, my bicep with the other and crushes me against his chest.          
  His grip is tight—too tight, it hurts—and the bend of him hovers over me, leaning in. I try to shake him off, but he doesn’t let go. I squirm as I feel his thumb trace circles on the inside of my wrist. The touch sends a skitter of sensation over me. Something tinges the air; a sweet, cool feeling brushes over my skin, making my knees want to buckle. He smells like mint, his breath tickles my face. I pull back, hating the sensations that please my skin and curdle my insides. Bile surges in my throat. I tear myself away from him, glaring.           
 “What?” He says coolly as if he hadn’t just bruised my arms with his clutching fingertips.      “That. Hurt.” I say. I don’t say he smells sweet or his breath is refreshing on my skin or his touch sends chills up my spine, delicious chills. I step away.
          
  His smile is unnerving. “Don’t worry, Jade.” He winks at me. Damn that wink of his. “One day, you’ll like it.”


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An Easter Bonnet For Lily

An Easter Bonnet For Lily

By: Jodi Brooks Stone

Buy On Amazon

Publication Date: February 28, 2013

Blurb:

   Easter Bunny in training, Lily, has lost her way. She is cute and feisty, and everyone in the town of Tulip adores her. While most bunnies are planning for Easter, Lily cannot see past her ears. On the other side of town, three little girls are preparing for the big day as well. One little girl in particular, Savannah, is not as excited as she usually is. While her sisters are painting eggs and preparing for the big egg hunt, Savannah is concerned that her attire is not as fancy as it should be. Join Lily and Savannah as they both learn that Easter is not just about looking perfect, but more about family and friendship. Travel on this journey and discover the magic.

Review:

   I read this to my kids the other night and have found that they have been reading it every night to each other. Its such a beautiful story. My oldest is loving the "follow your dreams" quote. She has been creatively brainstorming ever since and drawing. She wants to write books too. And reading this book made her realize she can do it too. Also the fact I see my kids helping each other more seems to feel like they hit the lesson beautifully.       

Savannah's Story

Savannah's Story

By: Jodi Brooks Stone

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Publication Date: October 11, 2012

Blurb:

All Savannah wants is for someone to play with her. When she asks her older sisters to play, they both turn her down. It's at that very moment when Savannah makes a wish that leads her on a magical journey...one that will lead her on a trip through her favorite dollhouse and floating on a cloud of bubbles. Follow along with Savannah as she realizes the true meaning of friendship and family.

Review:

A really cute story in the lesson of family. Savannah magically is lifted into her dollhouse after no one wants to play with her. After playing for so long she starts to miss her family and feels that there is nothing like family by your side. I am in love with Jodi Stone's books. My kids love them so much. I find them reading them all the time. I am so grateful for her creativeness to reach my children the way they do. When they read the stories, their eyes light up. So a huge thank you Jodi!       

A Beautiful Lie

A Beautiful Lie

by T.E. Sivec

 

Purchase on Amazon

 

Blurb:

 

He saw her first, but his friend made the move.

She settled for the safer choice, but her heart knew the truth.

They love, they crave, they lie.

Garrett McCarthy, Annabelle Parker, and Milo Roberts were as close as friends could get. They shared in each other's joy during graduations, promotions, and engagements. They consoled one another through heartache and loss.

When one of the friend's life is tragically cut short, it's up to the two left behind to pick up the pieces and find out the truth - no matter the cost. As they slowly start to uncover the nature of his deception, and the very powerful people behind it, they begin to question everyone and everything, even themselves.

Everyone has secrets - some do it for love while others do it for power. Those secrets can change perceptions, alter reality and sometimes destroy lives.

What do you do when you find out your whole life has been a lie?

 

Rating: 5/5

 

Review:

 

"Be happy, Anna.  Take the time to enjoy life, never take anything for granted, and do the exact opposite of what your old man's done."

 

Even days after reading this book, I'm still in O-M-G mode.  I feel absolutely ridiculous for being such a fangirl, but I want to suggest it to everyone.  Hell, I bought a copy for a friend, just because I want people to read this book. 

 

Parker's story is so intricate that there were several occasions where I just wanted to figure everything out immediately.  I had to stop myself from skipping to the end of the book.  Sivec did a fantastic job of gradually building suspense until the book just exploded in a frenzy of action.  There were a few points where I set the book down after a flashback and thought, "What the heck was that for?  Was that really necessary?"  I assure you, it all is.  If the flashbacks annoy you at times, or seem irrelevant, I assure you that they do.  Every part of this book seemed to somehow be twisted among another part.  It was nearly impossible for me to put this book down.

 

"You couldn't take back something that was never yours."

 

The love story in this book was very cute, but I admit it took the backburner for me.  I was so entralled in the action, that the lovestory seemed less important.  It was still well done.  If it were seperated from the action, I think that I would have truly enjoyed the love story more.  Personally, I was so enrapt in the action, that the love story seemed less important.

 

I've always been a sucker for the "best friend turned boyfriend" storylines.  Although this type of storyline can be considered tired or cliche, I fear anything more original would have subtracted from the action.  The love is pleasant, but the action is really where it's at.  There's also a few hot scenes. ;)

 

What do I want next?  Ugh!  I don't know!!  I've been trying to think of where this story could really go from here, but everything seemed to neatly wrapped near the end, I can't imagine what could be next.  The best I can think of is a completely different story line, but using the other SEAL members, such as Brady or Austin.  Overall, I just want more action!!

 

As always, have a little taste of the action I loved so much.  <3 p="">

 

~~

The sounds of shuffling and a faint moan came from the speaker before a weak, raspy voice came on the line and wheezed a demand.

"What the hell do you want, Fernandez?"

Garrett watched the colordrain from Parker's face and wished, more than anything that he could go to her.  He wanted to wrap his arms around her and tell her not to worry, tell her not to lose hope no matter what she saw or what she heard.  He wanted to take away all the fear and anquish he could feel radiating from her from across the room.  He never wanted to hear the terror in her voice when she choked out that one word into the room just loud enough for the speaker phone to pick up.

"Dad?"

~~

 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

The Master of Whitehall

The Master of Whitehall

by Rick Veal

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Author's Book Site

Blurb:

After the brutal murder of her parents in a robbery, Katelyn Corbin, a thoroughly modern 21 year old college senior, finds herself attempting to re-start her life in Charleston, SC, where she finds love, healing and a brand new life in a most unexpected avenue.

This story follows Katelyn from her hometown just outside Atlanta to her new school in Charleston. There she meets James and is deeply intrigued by him from their first meeting; feeling as if he has touched her very soul. The more she considers him, the more intense her interest becomes. He is a wealthy patron of the arts, especially at her school. He is tall and handsome with a strong persona; a young widower, living alone in a huge, but beautifully restored old plantation house called 'Whitehall'. Their friendship soon becomes serious, becoming a full on relationship as Katelyn falls madly in love with him. James soon makes his love for her just as obvious. Their lives begin to blend, twisting and turning, as they continue to grow closer.

After several strange incidents, Katelyn begins to develop a series of unsettling questions about her new love. However, she knows that after facing the catastrophe of her parent’s deaths, she can face anything life throws at her. She begins looking at the questions, searching her own soul. Finally deciding that she must know the answers, she confronts him. She soon discovers James' true nature; confirming her fears that he was indeed not the man she thought, but the man she feared him to be. The confirmation of her suspicions are shocking to her, turning her world view on its side. She is forced to acknowledge things about herself and her world that she never thought possible. With her new found knowledge, Katelyn realizes she must make a choice to live with or without James. She quickly decides to adapt her life and adjust her beliefs in order to continue to be with James.

Their love for each other develops and continues to grow as he assists her to close the gaping wounds left by the tragedy of her parent’s murders. Katelyn continues to uncover other secrets, discovering another existence, as she begins her new life with James. The story reaches a highly emotional and completely unexpected ending that fully illustrates Katelyn's personality of love and care for those around her.

The Master of Whitehall story unfolds over the course of nearly a year, and features flashbacks that more fully develop each of the characters, offering insights into their personal histories. The story is narrated in first person perspective by Katelyn as she offers a window into the world of possibilities of love between mortal and immortal.

The Master of Whitehall will be very appealing to readers of Rachel Caine's 'Morganville Vampires', Charlaine Harris’ ‘True Blood’ series, and Anne Rice's 'Vampire Chronicles'.

Rating: 4/5 Stars

Review:

"Gift?" I asked shockingly, "That's what you call it, a gift? You're talking about taking away my life ... and you call it a gift?"

This book was a lot different than I expected.  I've only read two or three of each of the series that the blurb says this book will appeal to, but this book caught me off guard.  Instead of being the fast paced action story that I had expected, this was a slow and beautiful tale of the gift of love.  Out of every vampire story I've ever read, I've never read a story that considered turning another into a vampire a gift.  Although at first I found this extremely odd, it grew on me.  It was just a different aspect on vampirism that I hadn't come in contact with yet.

"James, Everything is so beautiful, I never knew the night held such secrets."

As I said before, this was a slower paced story, the conflict was small and quickly resolved.  Although normally this would be a negative for me, I found the book overall to be extremely peaceful.  I read mostly at night and after a stressfull day, it was nice to unwind to a calm and well written story.  The imagery was so well done in this story that I had no problem at all imagining even the smallest details of what was going on in the story.  In fact (since I read at night), I had quite a few vivid vamp dreams because of this book.  That's not happened to me in a few months.  =P

Why not a five star?  Now, I give this author credit for doing a good job with this story, I have to admit there were a couple things that did stand out to me.  Being a male writer, I feel that there was some weirdness with the female characters.  Overall, he did a great job making a well rounded female character, but there were just a few things that kind of annoyed me.  At 21-22, I couldn't imagine giggling nearly as much as these girls did.  I also don't think I've gotten excited about pajamas since I was 13.  There was just a few things that made the characters seem very immature, and in the end, I just reaged them in my head to be teenagers.  It just seemed to fit better.  In the end, I suppose that everyone matures at a different rate.  It was just difficult for me to personally imagine someone in their 20s being so immature.

What would I like to see next?  I think I'd like to see the family come across a larger conflict.  Although I did enjoy the slow pace of this book, I think if there's a second book, there should be some more action.  The slow pace of this book did very well to fully create and develop the characters, so now it's time for those characters to do something cool!  They have all these great powers, I'd love to see them in action.

As always, I'd like to leave you all with a snippet of my favourite part of the book.  Enjoy!

~~

Now I turned my full attention towards the frightened girl.  The fear that was still running rampant in her caused the scent of her blood to be even stronger, rising up from her like steam off a hot pool.  Even as gorged as I was, her blood still smelled so wonderful to me, so innocent, so tempted; the scent ofa mere child.  I breathed it in like the sweet bouquet that it was ... and then I willfully forced the blood lust away from me.  She looked at me, her eyes growing wide in pure terror.

"Oh my God," She thought to herself, "A vampire ... they do exist ... a real, live, honest to God vampire is standing right in front of me ... and this one ain't sparkling ..."

~~
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”