Friday, May 31, 2013

Blood Oath - cover reveal




Title: Blood Oath
Author: Charity Santiago
Series: Rapid City Wolves, Book 2 (book 1, Blood Lust, is available at: http://www.amazon.com/Blood-Lust-Rapid-Wolves-ebook/dp/B00CBWEZL0/)
Release Date: June 1, 2013

Cover Artist: Cover Pub (http://coverpub.samanthabagood.com/)
Author FB: http://www.facebook.com/charitysantiago
Author blog: http://charitysantiago.blogspot.com
Author Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/cinephilemama
Author Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4733058.Charity_Santiago



Back cover blurb:
Eve has claimed leadership of the Rapid City wolves, but her insistence on maintaining a platonic relationship with her beta werewolf, Max, has caused friction within the pack. Centuries-old tradition mandates that Eve and Max must be mates as well as co-leaders, but Eve's heart and soul belong only to Jericho, the vampire that Max has sworn a blood oath to kill.

To make matters worse, Jericho has all but disappeared, and the only indication of any vampire's presence in Rapid City is a sudden rash of brutal murders. Eve knows that claiming Max as her beta wounded Jericho deeply, but surely her decision wouldn't drive her soulmate to start killing again...would it?

Thursday, May 30, 2013

ARC - Seal of Honor


ARC - SEAL of Honor
by: Tonya Burrows

Buy on Amazon

Rating: 5/5 Stars

Blurb:

It’s a good thing Gabe Bristow lives and breathes the Navy SEAL credo, “the only easy day was yesterday,” because today, his life is unrecognizable. When his prestigious career comes to a crashing halt, he’s left with a bum leg and few prospects for employment that don’t include a desk.

That is, until he’s offered the chance to command a private hostage rescue team and free a wealthy American businessman from Colombian paramilitary rebels. It seems like a good deal—until he meets his new team: a drunk Cajun linguist, a boy-genius CIA threat analyst, an FBI negotiator with mob ties, a cowboy medic, and an EOD expert as volatile as the bombs he defuses. Oh, and who could forget the sexy, frustratingly impulsive Audrey Van Amee? She’s determined to help rescue her brother—or drive Gabe crazy. Whichever comes first.

As the death toll rises, Gabe’s team of delinquents must figure out how to work together long enough to save the day. Or, at least, not get themselves killed.Because Gabe’s finally found something worth living for, and God help him if he can’t bring her brother back alive.

Review:

"God knew she drew him like the proverbial doomed moth to a flame."

This was an addicting book, but I may be biased because I love Navy SEALS in a book. Once I opened this book up on my Kindle, I had problems putting it down to finish my homework. I may have been late a day or two on an assignment. Alas, this is the life of an avid reader.

The action in this book was extraordinary. There was very little downtime from one event to the next, making this book difficult to put down. With each plot twist, I couldn't help but wonder what the heck was going on. It was refreshing that I wasn't completely able to predetermine the plot. Every time I felt like I had figured something out, another helping of action was added on top of it, rendering my initial ideas moot.

The romantic storyline to the book was the icing on the scrumptious cake. Without the romance, this would still be a high rated book for me, but the love shared in this book set it over the top. Gabe and Audrey are an odd couple that you can't help but root for. Even in the midst of all the action, they were still unable to deny themselves one another.

This was definitely a fun and exciting read, mostly if you're into military romances. Pick it up!

~~

"You didn't get a hold of them?"

"No signal."

"Y'all really should have satellite phones," she said, as if it was common sense.

"Why didn't we think of that?" He infused the words with as much fake incredulity as he could muster. "I'll get right on that as soon as I get us out of guerilla country, rescue your brother, and keep this haphazard team of mine from killing each other. Top of my list. Promise."

"You're such a grumpy butt."

~~
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.”

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Sacrifice – A Fall For Me Prequel Release

Title: Sacrifice – A Fall For Me Prequel (The Tate Chronicles #0.5)
Author: K. A. Last
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Date of Publication: May 24th 2013
Number of pages: Paperback – 114
Word Count: 23,000
Formats available: eBook (Paperback to come)
Cover Artist: KILA Designs – www.facebook.com/KILAdesigns
Purchase Link Amazon: http://amzn.to/11ipsxG
 
Rafflecopter Giveaway Code:
<a id="rc-05ebcc16" class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/05ebcc16/" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
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Book Blurb:
Seth’s heart is breaking. He knows his decision will hurt the one person he keeps breathing for, but he can’t take it anymore. He can’t be near Grace knowing she will always be just out of reach.
 
Grace is oblivious to Seth’s turmoil. She loves him unconditionally, but not in the way he wants. They both know that in Heaven physical love is forbidden, and to break the rules is to defy everything they’ve ever been taught.
 
When Grace and Seth are sent on a mission to save a young mother and her unborn child, Grace must face the fact that Seth won’t be returning home. She doesn’t understand Seth’s decision and hates him for it. But what neither of them realise is how big a part that single decision will play in shaping their entire future.
 
What would you sacrifice for the one you love?
 
 
 
About the Author:
K. A. Last was born in Subiaco, Western Australia, and moved to Sydney with her parents and older brother when she was eight. Artistic and creative by nature, she studied Graphic Design and graduated with an Advanced Diploma. After marrying her high school sweetheart, she concentrated on her career before settling into family life. Blessed with a vivid imagination, she began writing to let off creative steam, and fell in love with it. She now resides in a peaceful leafy suburb north of Sydney with her husband, their two children, and a rabbit named Twitch.
 
Author web links:
Amazon Author Page: www.amazon.com/author/kalast

a Rafflecopter giveaway

His Reluctant Rancher


His Reluctant Rancher
by: Roxanne Snopek

Buy on Amazon

Rating: 3.5/5 Stars

Blurb:

The last place city girl Desiree Burke expected to find herself was living at and working on a ranch, much less butting heads with the ranch’s sexy cowboy owner, Zach Gamble. But that’s exactly where she ends up after an incident at work leads her to her best friend Rory’s doorstep. Desiree is a gifted physical therapist, and Rory knows exactly where her brand of tough love is needed the most.

Zach’s been through hell and back. A devastating car crash left his brother gone, his father paralyzed, and him with mental scars a mile wide. His survivor guilt alone makes him sure he doesn’t deserve to find love. But as Des works her way into his ranch, his family, and his life, suddenly the last person who belonged there is the only one he believes belongs…with him.

Review:

This book was a little more difficult for me to decide upon a rating and review (hence the 3.5).  I had to stew on this book for a few days, to really know how I felt about it.  I feel that depending upon your personal tastes, this book could be very good.  The book was okay, but not really what I had been expected.  There were aspects of this story that are unique and potentially enjoyable, but it just seemed a litle bit off on my personal preferences.  I kind of liked it, but I wasn't really totally won over.  I still felt this book deserved a review, because I can imagine many people really enjoying this book.

Zach was perfectly done.  His entire family was fantastic.  I love the relationship between him and his parents.  I love how much he sacrificed to ensure that his family's ranch stayed in the family.  Zach is a true hero.  I didn't care as much about Des, unfortunately.  She seemed a little too stubborn and prissy for my tastes.  I didn't like the idea that she was running away from her and being dishoenst about her qualifications.  I found it very hard for me to relate to her, which is the main reason for my rating.

Zach's sister was an interesting turn of events.  I've never read a romance where the sister hated the heroine without any real specific reasons.  I found this very interesting at first, but it started to grate on my nerves closer to the end.  I really felt that there would be a little bit more depth into why she disliked Des (other than her problems with Zach).  I feel that the idea was very unique and interesting, but it wasn't executed as well as it could have been.

Now, if you like girly city girls goin' ranch, this is definitely a book for you!

~~
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.”

Monday, May 27, 2013

The Bet


The Bet
by Rachel Van Dyken

Buy on Amazon

Rating: 5/5 Stars

Blurb:

"I have a proposition for you..."
Kacey should have run the minute those words left Seattle millionaire Jake Titus's mouth. Instead, she made a deal with the devil in hopes of putting her past behind her once and for all.
Four days.
She could do four days!
But she wasn't counting on Jake’s older brother Travis being there to witness their farce of an engagement.
One thing is for certain.
One brother is right for her.
One wants a lifetime.
And one is in league with the devil.
She should have gotten Jake’s signature in blood.

Review:

This book was absolutely hilarious.  I loved the banter between Kacey and Travis.  I loved the mystery behind Jake's motives.  The entire book is just a great time.  The grandma?  Hilarious!  She reminds me so much of my granny - so sexually outspoken!  When I was reading some of the things the grandma was saying, I couldn't help but shake my head and laugh.  I just loved this book so much!  I took a break after reading this book so I could think coherently to write my review, and even now I'm still haven't problems not gushing.

The characters were completely loveable, and I couldn't help but fall in love with the entire Titus family.  I definitely don't want to give away any spoilers, but both of the brothers are great guys deep down, just one wasn't quite ready to be in a relationship with Kacey.  I have to admit though, I really hope there's a sequel for the other brother!! 

Kacey is such a sweet character, when I read about her past, I couldn't help but want to hug her.  Kacey grew so much throughout the story of this book and it was a moving journey.

Ugh, I just want to gush more.  Seriously.  This book is absolutely the most adorable and endearing book I've read so far this year.  I think I'm going to have to read it again really soon.  <3 p="">
~~

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.”

Sunday, May 26, 2013

Rachel Olson is Throwing a Birthday Bash!!!

 photo BLOGBANNER_zps7ec7d937.jpg


It's a birthday celebration! Author Rachel A Olson is celebrating her 28th birthday by throwing a HUGE giveaway. With prizes available to participants worldwide, there's a little something for everyone. Jump over to ParaSuperNormalism - a book blog for every kind of story - and join in on the fun!


 photo BIRTHDAYGIVEAWAY1_zps53222447.jpg

Participating Authors:

Dannika Dark, Mary Ann Bernal, Kitten K. Jackson, G.D. Steel, Sandee Woolf, Elena Gray, Yezall Strongheart, Natalie Hancock, N. Kuhn, Cindy Hardwell, Saranna DeWylde, Paula Shene, Audrey Harte, Kelli McCracken, Kimberly Knight, Alexis Alexander, D.N. Simmons, Rachel A Olson, Mark Barry, Brandy Nacole, Alex Shippe, Robynn Gabel, Crystal Schall, Jessica Humphrey, Christin Berger, Susan Jean Ricci, Gena D. Lutz, Carolyn Jewel, J C S, Kerry Brackett, Michelle Turner, Lisa Logue, Wendy Knight, Cyma Rizwaan Khan, Jessica Chase, Nike Campbell-Fatoki, and others!

Participating Blogs:

Free Ebooks and Those Responsible For Them, Paul and Paula's Place, Lip Smackin' Good Books, Le' Book Squirrel, Fiona's Book Review, Indie Author Network, The Book Rack, Danielle's Book Reviews, Room With Books, Les Lectures, The Cult of Me, The Girl With the Red Cape, Book-Marks the Spot, Schmoeker-Welt, Book Boyfriend Reviews, MomOf2BookReviews, Froggarita's Bookcase, Mira's Great Books, Mama's Reading Break, Everything Books and Authors, Zee Books, and MORE!

GET OVER AND ENTER NOW!
CLICK IMAGE

Saturday, May 25, 2013

Cover Reveal - Empath


Title: Empath (The Empath Trilogy)

Author: HK Savage

Genre: Mature YA

Publisher: Staccato Publishing

Reveal Host: Lady Amber's Tours

 


Empath is now FREE on Smashwords!!
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/55906#download

All Staccato ebooks are now available for 3.99 or less!!!

Book Description from Empath:

All she wanted was to disappear…

Claire Martin is an empath. She’s lived her entire life as a slave to a constant barrage of emotions that weren't hers. Off to college she hopes simply to blend with the crowd where she can best hide her curse. Within her first few weeks at school Claire meets Stephen Andrews, a small, fragile looking boy who changes her life forever. 



Stephen, a boy with a secret of his own, instantly recognizes Claire for what she is. It is through Stephen's aid that Claire meets James, a vampire with a talent of his own. As soon as they touch, their abilities connect in a way that has not occurred in over three hundred years forming a bond that cannot be broken.


Follow the trilogy:
Bonded
Secrets


Be sure to check out the other books by HK Savage:
Life Blood
Blood Bound

Author Bio:

HK Savage has been a voracious reader of anything she could get her hands on going back to the second grade when she would set her alarm two hours early to read before school. Her passion for the written word has continued and flowed into writing going back nearly as far. Her books have fans in twenty countries on six continents with hopes of attracting attention on Antarctica if for no other reason than to check a box.

Currently, HK is a mother, wife and black belt in Karate as well as an avid dressage rider. Her three dogs: a Doberman she uses for therapy dog work and two ancient Doxies keep her busy when she is not writing or working or whatever else.

In addition to editing for the past ten years in advertising, HK has been an editor for several newsletters over the years; her favorite being for Heifer International where her ideas were put into effect and complimented by those on high. Currently her skills are being focused on clients in the writing world.

Paranormal is her favorite genre and science fiction because both address the possibilities we have not yet realized and the darker things we have. Her favorite premise: “what if?”

Links:
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4522217.HK_Savage
Twitter: https://twitter.com/HKSavage
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/HK-Savage/181388721888556?fref=ts
Blog: http://www.hksavage.com/Staccato_Publishing/So_that_you_can_write_and_leave_the_rest_to_us....html
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/HK-Savage/e/B004OU2LV8/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

 

Excerpt:

James stood and put his right hand into the air separating our bodies. I looked at it and snapped back up in alarm. “What do you want me to do with that?” My heart started to race. We couldn’t touch. What if he could sense how he affected me? He could do whatever he wanted then and he could just tell Troy and Stephen I’d gone willingly to the slaughter. It would be easy to get me to mirror his thirst.

“I will shield you myself and take it down a little at a time as you learn to pick it up your own. But I will need to know how your ability functions to better work with it. I sense people’s talents, but need to touch you in order to do so. Each person’s is different. I cannot help you to contain or manipulate yours if I don’t know the peculiarities of it.” He held his hand out palm up and wiggled his fingers playfully at me, a grin crept back into his eyes. “You will have to trust me.”

89I stood too, wiping my now sweating palms on my pants, glad I had picked the jeans. They hid the marks so much better than khakis. I raised my right hand and held it palm down a few inches from his. Our bodies were little over a foot apart and my heart started hammering in my chest. My stomach was fluttering and I felt the sweat beading on my back and under my arms. I thought I was having an anxiety attack.

His face was calmly watching mine like this was the most normal thing. “You must learn to settle yourself, we haven’t even tried our first experiment yet.”

“Give me a moment.” I closed my eyes so that I couldn’t see him, then I concentrated on my breathing. With all of my issues I had spent a good amount of time practicing deep breathing and meditation. Taking this moment to “find my breath” as my books had instructed, I found my heart rate coming down and my body responding to my wishes. I reopened my eyes, my body firmly back under control.

James stood exactly as before with a pleased expression. “That was good, Claire. Are you ready to begin then?”

Too frightened to speak, I merely nodded and licked my suddenly dry lips.

Much like my earlier confession, I watched his hand moving toward my own except I felt like it was someone else’s. Mine was some stranger’s body and I was standing beside her, seeing this from the outside. When our palms were about an inch apart, I felt the hum begin, lower and quieter than I was used to. He was different than a human.

My eyes sought his. They quickly became my gyroscope, helping me balance here in this strangest of situations. He saw my surprised reaction to his feel.

 

“I will be easier to work with because I am not human. My emotions are much more fleeting and almost feel...” Here he became uncertain for the first time since I had met him. “I guess you would say that my body has been dead for so long that my human emotions have dulled. They are in my head, but do not affect my body as your kind’s do.”

Hmm, that was curious. I felt it building, the unstoppable urge to touch him. He’d said no harm would come and that he would help shield me, plus I had to put my hands on his. Again I felt that inexplicable pull toward him, but now it was total. The tug was in my head, in my stomach. I could feel it even in my very skin.

Dropping my resistance, I brought my hand down onto his, lightly then more firmly. I knew instantly that it was too much too soon. His feelings rushed up to me. They were so fast and fleeting that it was hard to focus on what I was getting as they flooded into me. With an incredible sense of relief I also found that with them shifting so quickly they were easy to block. It was like I had a box of his emotional “thoughts” and they were wrapped up with enough cotton that I could choose which one I wanted to grab and analyze once I got used to the pace.

I caught glimpses of faces and places from different times go flashing past me. Fascinating. Would I be able to do this when my training was complete?

Almost as rapidly as I had begun to read him, James pulled his hand back and put it in his pocket. He was breathing hard and his eyes were dark again.

“I don’t understand. That was great! I was able to separate each emotive thought you had and if I had more time, I could have read them.” It was hard to contain my exuberance. This was more than I had ever hoped I would be able to do. It was like mind reading, but more than words, I could feel flashes of what he felt about each person and place though

 

too complex to understand in the glimpses I’d been exposed to. Realization struck me then and I felt the guilt over what I’d done.

“James, I am sorry, that was intrusive, wasn’t it? I should have warned you. You said you’d shield and I figured I would just go for it. Like ripping off a band-aid.” I couldn’t meet his eyes out of embarrassment.

Just then, the teakettle whistled making both of us jump to our feet. Carefully, so that we didn’t touch again, James carefully stepped around me before turning to go to the kitchen. “Have a seat, I’ll be right back with your tea.”

“I’ll help.” I wanted something to do with myself to help dissipate the awkwardness.

“No,” he said too harshly and too quickly, holding up his hand to me.

The rejection and humiliation burned hot. He offered to help me and when I wasn’t offending him, I bowled him over like an overeager Labrador. I worried this time I’d pushed him too far and now he would take me home.

He seemed to understand how I was feeling. His voice was meant to soothe as he broke into my thoughts. “Claire, you have a stronger ability than I was ready for. It took me by surprise is all. I will be better able to help you if I eat before we continue.”

Instantly, I felt the color drain from my face. My heart leapt into my throat. He was going to eat? Me? No, Stephen said he didn’t do that.

“Relax,” he assured with a small grin. “My supply is in my refrigerator. If you would have a seat and give me just a few moments, I will take care of my needs and return with your tea.”

 

“Oh, okay. That’s, um, thoughtful.” Well, that was arguably the weirdest conversation I’d ever had. Feeling better about a lot of things, confused about others, I sat down on the couch and pulled my legs up underneath me to wait while James went about his business. Left to my own nosiness, I took the time to look around. What had seemed so clean and streamlined about the house initially I now saw as sterile.

Most people have pictures around their house showing hints of who they are. Pictures of their hobbies, people they know and love, places they’ve been. I hadn’t noticed it at first, but figured out in the lack of what I was seeking that I was hoping to learn more about my handsome tutor. He spoke formally at times, so I thought he was from at least the turn of the century when English got more mixed and slang became more acceptable. Or, maybe he wasn’t American initially and had learned it later. The foreign exchange students I had met in high school had learned what we called “British English” which was way more formal than our own American version. Of course I was also looking for evidence of a girlfriend. She would have to be pretty amazing to get this guy and, I assumed, she would have to be a vampire too, or it wouldn’t be fair because she would be too scared to break up with him.

I had put the cashmere throw on my lap while I was deep in thought about the hottie in the other room who was quickly becoming an incredibly fascinating person. Uh oh, double trouble. Great to look at, better to talk to.

Switching gears for my own safety, I looked around me. This was a comfortable house, I was tired and it was safe here. Relax, I thought as I closed my eyes for just a minute. I could return myself to a steadier place while I waited, thinking we could work that much better when he returned.

It couldn’t have been more than a few minutes that I had been asleep when I awoke to his voice in my ear. “Claire, I should bring you home.”

 

I sat up with a start, nearly smashing into his face in the process. He must have been right in my ear. Good thing he moved so fast or we’d both have serious goose eggs on our foreheads; well, I would anyway. “No, I’m alright. Please, I’ll be fine after I have some caffeine.”

He didn’t look convinced, but I wanted a chance to prove myself after the earlier debacle. We couldn’t end our session like this or it would be our last. “Are you certain? I warned you these practices can be draining. If you are already tired, I don’t want you to pass out on me.” He grinned teasingly and I felt my stomach flip. His color was closer to human, feeding must give him color as well as warmth, which explained the difference I saw in his pallor earlier as well.

“Let me have a cup of tea and I’ll be among the living again.” I froze and shot a look at him unable to read his reaction. Not sure if I had done damage or not, I concentrated on my tea.

After a few sips I put the cup down, pushed the blanket aside and stood up. “Okay, let’s try this again. I’m ready.”

He stood as well, so gracefully it was inconceivable, mesmerizing even. “Yes,” he agreed cautiously. “But this time, you hold still and I will come to you.”

We both put our palms out again but this time, obediently, I held perfectly still. When we touched, it was not like before. He was completely shielded and I had my first feeling of just someone’s hand. This was just touch. I felt the solidness of his palm, the coolness of his skin. I felt him. I was unprepared for what it would do to me. Before I realized it, I was weeping; uncontrollably weeping.

James instantly pulled his hand back and I heard the confusion in his voice. “I was shielded, you shouldn’t feel anything.”

 

That just made me cry harder. I couldn’t look at him. Through my sobs, I tried to speak. “I don’t. That’s it; I’ve never felt...nothing before.”

He understood that and closed the last step between us. As I saw his arms coming up, I jerked my face up to his and he saw my panic.

“Trust me. You’ll be safe.” James put his arms around me, letting his shields block out everything and give me peace. I finally felt what it was like to be comforted by an embrace. I wept for everything I’d never had, for the fear that made me cringe from a hug instead of lean into one. I felt him lift me up with one arm, sweeping my legs up with his other and without the slightest indication of exertion, he sat on the couch pulling me up into his lap. I tried to tell myself he’d seen it all before working with people like me and then cast that aside, preferring to think this first embrace was special for more than just me.

 



 

Friday, May 24, 2013

Risen Release





Risen By Christine James

Author links: 
christinejames28.blogspot.com
Christine James-Author
https://www.facebook.com/ChristineJameswrites
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2951405.Christine_James


Blurb:

Witness the Beginning...

      A fun night in a small town carnival will change Erin’s life forever with a simple visit to a bizarre and mysterious fortune teller. Scared to death by what the haggard woman reveals, Erin quickly
flees and quite literally collides with Angelo, a mysterious and captivating carnival worker. Later
that night, he appears in her dreams but he’s not the only one visiting her slumber. Evil is
lurking on the edge of the shadows and it's coming for her. Angelo is not what he
seems, but then again no one ever is. Not even Erin.
Loyalties are tested and the lines of friendship begin to blur as long hidden truths
come to light and fate bears down upon them all. Everyone has secrets but when
some turn out to be more than heart wrenching, Erin has decide who she can
trust.
Can Erin deal with the harsh past that Angelo has been harboring or will it prevent her from doing what she's been chosen to do?



Author Bio:
Coming from rural Southern Missouri, Christine James is a true country girl, right down to her pink Justin cowboy boots and love for big, loud and muddy trucks. Christine and her husband coach a little league baseball team. She loves camping, fishing, swimming, and too many other things to list. Also she is somewhat of a movie nerd. While she writes a lot of romance in her books, romance movies aren't really her thing. She likes to watch the action thrillers, scary movies, and anything suspense. She loves a good historical romance! Also she is completely fascinated by all things pirate. Her love of writing began when she was in the fifth grade, when her first story was a 'scary' story. She’s always been fascinated with books, and rarely without one.

Christine’s family is the most important thing to her. Her parents and their marriage have had the largest influence in her life. They taught her values that Christine still believes in and firmly rooted in, and if she achieves to be half of the parent they were to her, that would be amazing. She has three younger brothers that she considers her best friends as well as two fantastic sister-in-laws, and one soon to be sisters-in-law she adores. She has the most INCREDIBLE in-laws any person could ever hope to have. They are truly amazing and inspiring people. There are no dreaded or horrible in-law stories here, nor will there be, because she loves them.

Christine and her husband also have two sons that are the center of their world. She is blessed and fortunate to say she gets to stay at home with them. She has been married to her husband for almost eleven years and is proud to call him her biggest fan. He's been the wall that held her up when she felt she couldn't go on. He's picked her up and dusted her off when she was discouraged. With each rejection letter she received he pushed her on. He's laughed with her and many times laughed at her! He's not only her husband, but her best friend.

The thing Christine loves the most, outside of writing and her family, is making people laugh. People come and go from our lives, touching and changing us in all kinds of ways. She wants to be the type of person that touches someone’s life in a positive way, even if it is by writing a book. She believes that if only a quarter of the people in the world would loosen up and smile, it would be a better place.
Never in her dreams did she believe her dreams would come true having always been a hopeless dreamer and this goes to show everyone that no dream is impossible.






Cover Reveal - Darker Days


Darker Days (Darker Agency, #1)  by Jus Accardo

Cover Reveal 



Synopsis

Jessie Darker goes to high school during the day, but at night she helps with the family investigation business. Cheating husbands and stolen inheritances? They’re your girls—but their specialty is a bit darker. Zombie in your garage? Pesky Poltergeist living in your pool? They’ll have the problem solved in a magical minute. For a nominal fee, of course...

When gorgeous new client, Lukas Scott, saunters into the office requesting their help to find a stolen box, it sounds like a simple case—until the truth comes out. The box is full of Sin.

Seven deadly ones, in fact.

They’ve got five days to recapture the Sins before they're recalled by the box, taking seven hijacked human bodies with them. Easy peasy—except for one thing...

There’s a spell that will allow the Sins to remain free, causing chaos forever. When the key ingredient threatens the life of someone she knows, Jessie must make the ultimate choice between love and family—or lose everything.

 
Excerpt

 
“So not your biggest fan at the moment,” I said, closing the office door behind me. The runofffrom my jeans had soaked my sneakers pretty good. With each step, I gave a slight squishing noise accompanied by an annoying squeak against the old tile floor.

From across the room, Mom stared. “What happened to you?”

            “It attacked me.” Tossing my bag on the couch, I sank into her chair and made sure to grind my butt into the cushion. Got it nice and wet. I was all about sharing the love—and right now, the love was soggy.

            She laughed, waving a folder in my direction. “Surely you’re overreacting. It was one little zombie. They don’t attack people.”

            “I’m serious, Ma. It tried to drown me. And the client assaulted me with ugly footwear. As far as punishments go, I’d say we’re probably square. I’ve learned my lesson.”

            “You’re serious?” Amused expression now replaced by concern, she crossed the room and leaned over her desk to get a better look at me.

            “As a coronary.” Once I was sure the chair had sponged up all it could, I stood and huffed past her. Pulling at my favorite T-shirt—the word Fate inside a blood red heart, is a four letter word on the back—I said, “Child welfare would not be happy to hear you tried to feed your only child to a walking corpse…”

“But why would it attack? Did you provoke it?” Folding her arms, she frowned. “Insult it, perhaps?”

            I winked at her. “Provoke it? Sure. I went and wiggled my ass in front of it yelling lunch just to see what’d happen.” I’d called it Stinky, but that didn’t count as an insult. Something couldn’t be considered an insult if it was true, right?

            Right eyebrow twitching, she fought against a smile. “But you’re okay, right? No bites, broken bones, head injuries, possessions…?”

I smiled and did a little twirl. “All in one piece and still me.”

Mom had a checklist she went through at the end of each job. I was known for taking almost as much damage as I inflicted.

“Oh, and you’re probably going to get a call from the client. I sorta smashed her fence in the process.”

            Mom groaned. “I told you to be more careful.”

            “It’s not like I tried to break anything.”

            “Something tells me you didn’t try hard enough not to break anything, either.”

            “In my defense, it wasn’t a simple trap and slap…”

            “We can’t afford this.” She reached down and pulled a white envelope out from under a stack of papers. “This is the bill for that Mercedes you smashed.”

            “Oh! So not my fault. How was I supposed to know that Spring Heel was gonna land on the car? If it makes you feel any better, I think he was aiming for my head…”

            “If you keep this up, we won’t even be able to afford the rent.”

            She was right, of course, and it made me feel horrible. “I’m sorry. I guess I’m a wrecking ball wrapped in blue jeans. Take my cut of this job and put it toward the repairs. Keep my paycheck for the next month, too.” A good start, but it didn’t feel like enough. Sure, it would cover the damages—I hoped—but I felt guilty about upsetting her. The bills that were piling up kept her awake at night. This was only going to make things worse. We got a fair amount of business, but the overhead in our line of work was sky high.

As much as I hated the idea, I knew what would cheer her up. “I’ll even throw in pet possessions for the next month.”
 

Find Darker Days




About Jus Accardo

 

JUS ACCARDO spent her childhood reading and learning to cook. Determined to follow in her grandfather’s footsteps as a chef, she applied and was accepted to the Culinary Institute of America. At the last minute, she realized her path lay with fiction, not food, and passed on the spot to pursue writing. Jus is the bestselling author the popular Denazen series from Entangled publishing and is currently working on the first book in a new adult series due out summer 2013. A native New Yorker, she lives in the middle of nowhere with her husband, three dogs, and sometimes guard bear, Oswald.

 
Find Jus Accardo





 

 

 

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Plastic Hearts


Plastic Hearts
by: Lisa De Jong

Buy on Amazon

Rating: 5/5 Stars

Blurb:

My life has always been safe. I like it that way. I grew up in a fake society where plastic hearts rule. If our hearts are made of plastic, they can never be broken. My parents have expectations and I do everything I can to meet them, even if it means giving up on my own dreams.

Now, all I want is to be free to make my own choices.

Dane Wright is everything I have been warned to stay away from. We met one night while I was with my perfect, parent-approved boyfriend and I haven’t stopped thinking about him. I don’t want to like him. I am doing everything I can to ignore his pull, but my heart seems to want what it cannot have, what it has never had.

Can he measure up? He may think I am too good for him, but maybe he is too good for me.

Life is a series of choices and I have never been able to make my own. Until one day, when my heart decides to make a choice for me.

Recommended for mature readers due to sexual content and language.
 
Review:
 
I stayed up until 2 am due to this book.  I was totally falling asleep the next day at my desk.  Would I do it again?  Hell yes!  This book was completely addicting and there was no way that I was going to put it down, even if I had to work the next day!!  I've waited a few days to write this review, so hopefully I won't come across nearly as gushy as I would have if I wrote it immediately afterwards, but here it goes...
 
Dane is absolutely the most adorable and sweet book boyfriend!  He really proves the point that you should never judge a person just by their appearance.  He may be tattooed and rough around the edges, but he's thoughtful and charming.  Alex is an extremely lucky lady to find a man so ridiculously sweet, even if her parents don't feel the same way.
 
The anger I felt at Alex's parents was surprising.  Even now, I'm feeling frustrated just mentioning them.  I couldn't imagine having such a heartless childhood, and I couldn't help but wonder why Alex wanted their approval so much.  I suppose that every child seeks the approval of the people that raised them, even if they're narcassists.  Ugh... I can't think of them anymore.  They're terrible people!
 
Dane, though, is phenominal.  He and Alex are an absolutely adorable couple. I can't wait to continue their journey in the next book.  So many big decisions were made at the end of this installment that I can't help but want to know what happens now! 
 
This book was worth well over the 99 cent purchase.  I definitely recommend it for anyone that enjoys contemporary romance.
 
~~
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.”

Release Day Blitz for the 5th and Final Book in The Pipe Woman Chronicles

Release Day Blitz for the 5th and Final Book in The Pipe Woman Chronicles by Lynne Cantwell

Naomi Witherspoon lives in interesting times.  At the winter solstice, she was Seized by a Native American goddess to mediate a power-sharing agreement between all the pagan gods and goddesses and the Christian God.  Then, as her relationship with her new boyfriend Fissured, she Tapped a wellspring of strength – her Native American heritage.
Now, Gravid and due any day, she must conduct the mediation of her life.  Will she succeed?  Or will it all go up in smoke?
The answers to those questions, and more, can be found in Annealed, the final installment in the Pipe Woman Chronicles, an urban fantasy series by Lynne Cantwell.

It began at the winter solstice

And it ends

Now.

PWC5 - Annealed




It’s zero hour…
 Naomi has just two weeks to find a new home for Joseph's grandfather. The old Ute shaman is fighting for his life against a mysterious injection of toxin he received at the hands of the Norse Trickster god Loki. If Naomi is to defeat Loki once and for all, she must learn what it is he seeks under the old man's wickiup. 
She has just one week before she must mediate between the Earth's pagan gods and goddesses and the Christian God. If her efforts fail, all of humankind will suffer the consequences.
And her baby is due any day.
In this, the fifth and final book of the Pipe Woman Chronicles, Naomi is in a race against the clock to balance the demands of her body, her family, and her friends – and she must do it while the whole world is watching.
A taste of chapter 10: Jehovah sighed. "White Buffalo Calf Pipe Woman, I concede that much of what You have said here is true. Humanity wrestles still with its baser impulses, even as it reaches for the pinnacle of its potential. Math, the sciences, engineering. I never thought they would figure out fractal theory." He chuckled. "I love My children dearly. Soon they will reach the stars. They are ever a surprise and a delight to Me." Lynne Cantwell's take on the excerpt: "Naomi has finally reached the Big Mediation -- the one between the Christian God and all the pagan gods and goddesses that the whole series has been driving toward. In this scene, White Buffalo Calf Pipe Woman has just outlined all the ways humanity has trashed God's Creation: ruining the environment, using Scripture as an excuse to treat other human races like animals, and so on. God acknowledges all of that. But it's also clear that He takes great delight in what He has created -- and He has a sense of humor, too."

About the Author: Lynne Cantwell

Lynne CantwellLynne Cantwell has been writing fiction since the second grade, when the kid who sat in front of her showed her a book he had written, and she thought, "I could do that." The result was Susie and the Talking Doll, a picture book, illustrated by the author, about a girl who owned a doll that not only could talk, but could carry on conversations. The book had dialogue but no paragraph breaks. Today, after a twenty-year career in broadcast journalism and a master's degree in fiction writing from Johns Hopkins University (or perhaps despite the master's degree), Lynne is still writing fantasy. In addition, she is a contributing author at Indies Unlimited and writes a monthly post for The Indie Exchange.
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Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Blitz - The Promise


Title: Promised

Author: MIchelle Turner

Genre: Young Adult

Blitz Host:Lady Amber's Tours

 

Synopsis

 

Linc knows Wyn is the girl for him.

Wyn knows Linc is the boy for her.

But she’s promised to another.

Lincoln “Linc” Tatman had been at his new school for months and he thought he’d met all the girls it had to offer. Until one day, he spied Wyn sitting against a tree and realized this new place had been hiding the girl of his dreams. He goes out of his way to get to know her, even though he’s warned that it’s a hopeless case. But he’s determined to win her, even if she can only be his for a short time.

Arwyn “Wyn” Scott is the black sheep of her big gypsy family. When most of the girls her age are dropping out to start their own families, she begs her parents to stay. She doesn’t fit in with the gypsy teens and the regular teens are too afraid of her five older brothers to get close. Then Linc comes into her life, showing her a new life she never thought she could have. She can’t stop herself from falling head first for the boy.

Can Wyn leave behind her family and their traditions to follow her heart, or will she become a young gypsy wife?

 


Author Bio:

Michelle is a 28 year old native Ohioan. Go Buckeyes! Who now lives with her husband and son in West Virginia. When she isn't spending time with her family you can find her with her nose stuck in a good book. She released her first book (Reviving Bloom) as an independent author in October 2012 and plans to release two new books (Promised & Enlightening Bloom) in 2013.
Author links:



Excerpt:
“Linc, there are things in my life that you can’t understand and this,” She waves her hand back and forth between the two of us, “will never be able to work out.”

“You can’t know that. You’re not even giving us a chance.” I cross my arms.

She throws up her arms, “You want to know how this will go if I give in?”

“Yeah, since apparently you’re a psychic, tell me how this will go, Wyn.”

“Say my family doesn’t find out, which is highly unlikely. And say if they do find out and they don’t hurt you. And Linc, those are two huge obstacles to overcome right off the bat. Well, say we overcome those, then what?” She runs her hands through her hair before she continues, “We’ll spend a few weeks, a few months it we’re lucky, together. But it won’t last after that, Linc. It’ll be over and we’ll be left with what? Nothing.”

“You’re wrong, Wyn. We’ll have the memories and I’d rather have those than nothing.” I want to reach out and grab her. I want to hold her in my arms but I know she has boundaries that I’m not use to and I can’t cross them. I’m afraid to even hold her hand, that it might cross some unseen line.

“I’m not sure I can handle the memories. Because if you give me everything I think you can and things turn out the way I know they will, I won’t be able to handle them. Knowing I had you and I had to let you go. I can’t do that, Linc.” There’s a quiver in her voice and I have to shove my hands in my pockets to keep from reaching out for her.

“You won’t have to let me go.”

“Yes, I will.”

“The only way I’m going anywhere is if you decide you don’t want me around.” I promise her.

“It won’t be me who pushes you away.”

“Well, I can promise I won’t push you away. I want to be with you, Wyn.”

“I’m promised, Linc.” As the words leave her lips, I watch the tears begin to escape her eyes.

“Explain please.” I have a feeling I know what it means but I need to hear it aloud.

“My Dad informed me last night that someone expressed interest in my hand. He’s going to accept the proposal.” She’s watching my face as she finishes, “I’m going to be married.”

 ~~