Saturday, August 16, 2014

Review: Cowboy in my Pocket

Cowboy in my Pocket
by Kate Douglas
 
 
Synopsis:
 
If you like your cowboys sexy, your heroines forgetful and your marriages convenient, this gentle parody of cowboy romances will leave you with a smile on your face and a sigh on your lips. Discover romantic comedy at its best in this captivating tale of a woman who finds her one true love and the cowboy hero afraid to give his heart.

Romance author Michelle Garrison is on a mission to learn more about the American West. Her books are no longer selling and her editor has given her an ultimatum--learn what cowboys are really like, then write the next bestseller.

Tag Martin is desperate for a bride. If he doesn't marry before his 40th birthday, his grandmother will sign away the deed to the ranch he's worked and managed for his entire adult life.

Coop Jones has been Tag's sidekick since Tag was barely kicking. Almost 80, he's been pining for the love of Tag's grandmother since she was only 17. An avid romance fan, he's concocted a fantastic plan to stage an MOi-a marriage of convenience for the uninitiated--in order to save the ranch for Tag.

Lenore Martin at 78 is a widow with a mission. Get that grandson married and his hard-headed cowboy sidekick to realize she's not too old to romance. There's sizzle left in the old gal yet.

Add a little amnesia, a few white lies, a flop-eared dog, the requisite white stallion and a love too hot to handle, and you've got a rowdy romp on the wild side with COWBOY IN MY POCKET.
 
Rating: 3/5 Stars
 
Review: 
 
"This story is dedicated, with much affection, to all romance authors, especially those whose editors have admonished them to 'write the book of your heart.' (With the caveat 'so long as it has a cowboy hero, an amnesiac bride, and a marriage of convenience. Oh, and a secret baby wouldn't hurt')." ~Cowboy in My Pocket 'Dedication'

Normally, I don't bother reading the dedication in books. Let's face it, I really don't care if an author wrote a book for their family, friends, or cats. I really care about the book itself. For some reason, I actually read this dedication before I read any of the book. I'm also guilty of not actually reading an entire synopsis before I decide to read a book, (If it catches me fast, I'm in, otherwise... eh!). Quite honestly, I was in the mood for a cowboy romance, so I picked a book on Netgalley.com that had cowboy in the name. I'm easy to please like that.

This dedication is a interesting bit of foreshadowing about the book that I didn't catch in the piece of the synopsis that I read. Reading the dedication, I giggled thinking, "How ridiculous would it be if an author actually put all this crap into one book?" I didn't actually expect the author to DO IT! Hah! And do it she did, with the small exception of no secret baby, **Gasp!** Although, I think that if there was the extra addition of a secret baby, the book would have gone from riding the line at "too much" to going way over the line and become more parody than romance.

I felt that the book was interesting. Oddly enough, I don't recall reading very many books that touch on amnesia, I can only think of one off the top of my head, so this really was a new experience to me. Unfortunately, I don't know much about amnesia, so I'm not really sure about the quality of this aspect. I did find it interesting and wildly amusing that she felt that she was a barrel racer just because of a magazine article that she read shortly before her accident.

The cowboy aspect seemed decently well done. I felt that there were some aspects of the story where the author may have been shoving her competence with ranching in my face, but hey! I never worked on a ranch, so maybe that's a bit normal. Although I did work on tobacco farms and I know my way around a horse, there just seemed to be parts where specifics were used when they really just seemed extraneous. Plus, I have to comment upon having sex on a horse. Now, I'm not saying in any way that it's not possible. I've never tried, but I've heard of having sex in much weirder places. Who'd want to though? No offense, but that just sounds a bit romanticized. Much like sex on a beach. Yes, it sounds hot and romantic, but who wants sand in their bits? Well, to me, the same goes with horsehair and the possibility of being stomped to death. =P I did roll with it though, and I loved the fact that the author added this part in with whimsy, making the couple laugh and have fun throughout the experience.

Now, marriage of convenience is something I've have a decent amount of experience with. These romances have always been my favourite, so when I realized this was also included in this romance, I was pretty excited. Much like the cowboy aspect, it was decently done. I feel that the "dying grandma" might have been a bit over the top, but hey, this book was written in a way for it to be funny as well as romantic, so again, I rolled with it.

Thank goodness there was no secret baby though! Although there really is a little bit of everything that is "hot" in romance these days included within these pages, none of it is really written in such a way that it's overly memorable, except in the aspect that it's ALL there. Singling out each different plot point, I won't remember this book as a great MoC, I won't remember it as a fun Cowboy Romance, I won't remember this as an amusing tale of amnesia. I'll remember it as the book that had it all. In this case, I think that there was much more quantity than quality, yet, I still enjoyed the read and had a fun time reading it.

I'd recommend this to those who don't take their romances very seriously, that don't mind a bit of whimsy in their day!
 
About the Author
 
I've been married for over forty years to a terrific man who puts up with the idiosyncrasies of life with a writer. We raised two really great kids who are now wonderful adults who've produced six grandchildren for us. ALL perfect, of course!
I've concluded my long-running Kensington Aphrodisia erotic paranormal romance series, Wolf Tales (which includes the Sexy Beast anthologies I-VIII) and the erotic Dream Catchers series, as well as The DemonSlayers series from Kensington Zebra. My latest series which began under the Aphrodisia imprint is called Spirit Wild. This one picks up on the lives of the second generation of Chanku shapeshifters, beginning with Lily Cheval's story in DARK WOLF. Kensington decided not to continue with the stories, so I am publishing them independently with Beyond The Page Publishing, an assisted self-publishing company. My first book, Dark Spirit, released in early January 2014. The final Kensington title, Dark Moon, released January 28, and my latest indie offering, Dark Refuge, released May 12, 2014.
 
I've also just signed with St. Martin's Press to write a sexy contemporary romance series with just a bit of suspense. These books will release sometime in 2015. I'll announce dates as soon as I have them.
 
I love to hear from readers and answer all my mail personally. The link with my email address is on the front of my website at katedouglas.com, along with first chapter excerpts of all my books. Please sign up for my newsletter with chances to win books and other goodies by sending an email to KateDouglas-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Friday, August 15, 2014

****Giveaway and Review of Haunting Lia****

 
Author: Shannon Eckrick
 
****ON SALE FOR $0.99****

                                                          

                                         *Book Description* 

Death is her destiny. But she has other things in mind.

Lia Starr’s life isn’t a fairytale. It’s a reality overflowing with scary monsters, death, and betrayal—a past she left behind when she entered her new foster home. Now, with a loving family, a sister she’s always craved, and relief from the gruesome corpses that tormented her as a child, she’s finally content. Until a freak accident changes everything.

The monsters are back, and their mission is simple: drag Lia straight to their murky hell. When Aiden, an apparition, appears to Lia, she has hope once again. Because Aiden can cross the veil between the spirit world and the earthly dimension, physically fighting off the monsters and sending them back. With Aiden’s determination to keep her safe and his absorbing blue eyes, Lia can’t help falling in love with him. But who is he, and what does he really want? As Lia and Aiden’s relationship deepens, so does the mystery surrounding him.

Once Lia finds out Aiden has traded his soul to save her, she enters the darker dimension, a dimension where nightmares are reality, ready to kick some serious butt. But surrounded by twenty-eight mutilated monsters and a deranged cult leader intent on bringing his dark world to the surface, isn’t what Lia expects. And even worse, she must face her traumatic past in order to destroy them. If she fails, not only will she lose the guy she loves and face certain death, but she will also risk the one thing she can’t afford to lose: her eternal soul
 
 
*Review*
 
Haunting Lia is one of the most captivating paranormal reads I have found in the last several months... I had been trying to find a paranormal read to remind me why I love to read paranormal books. Haunting Lia has done just that. I couldn't put it down.. From the start you fall in love with the characters and their suffering. I do think this is one story I think got more than my moneys worth. If you are a paranormal fan of any kind I suggest you pick this one up!!!!
 
*Author*
 
Born and raised in Delaware, Shannon Eckrich lives with her husband, two children, and chocolate lab, Chewy, along with her newest addition, Taylor, a spunky little kitty who loves to terrorize her while she's writing.
Shannon's second love is the paranormal. Ghosts, angels, vampires, aliens, immortals, it doesn't matter, she's obsessed with it all, which is why she's compelled to write stories in the paranormal genre.

Make sure you drop by here Facebook page and give her a like and check out her other books!



                                              *Giveaway*


I decided I enjoyed this book so well I am going to gift on lucky commenter a copy. All you have to do is leave a comment and an email where you would like the kindle gift sent to!

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Release Day Review: Taken by Tuesday

Taken By Tuesday
by:  Catherine Bybee
 
 
Synopsis:
 
He'll do anything to keep her safe, for the rest of their lives.

Romance and excitement tie the knot in Taken by Tuesday, the fifth book in Catherine Bybee's bestselling Weekday Brides series.

Judy Gardner: College graduate Judy stands ready to conquer the world - if she can get a job. Hoping to transition from aspiring architect to famous architect as quickly as possible, the dark-haired beauty moves to LA, staying in the home of her celebrity brother, Michael Wolfe. But it's hard for Judy to focus on work when the sexy bodyguard she fell for last summer keeps showing up in her life and leaving her breathless.

Rick Evans: With his hard body, green eyes, and easy smile, Rick could have any woman he wants. But the Marine-turned- bodyguard only has eyes for Judy and her spitfire attitude. When a faceless villain attacks Judy, Rick will stop at nothing to protect the woman who opened his heart from the monster hunting her.
 
Rating: 5/5 Stars
 
Review:
 
First, I'd like to mention that although this book is the fifth in the series, it can be read as a standalone book without having problems understanding what's going on.  I'm sure that there are small points of interest that can be taken away from reading the prior books, but these can be read out of order.
 
Now, onto the good stuff.  I love Catherine Bybee!  I've read all of the Not Quite series (that's out right now), but hadn't yet started on reading this one, even though I have a couple of them as paperbacks.  It's not that I didn't think I'd like the series, but more like "So many books, so little time."  When I saw this book on netgalley.com, I requested it immediately and sat at my email waiting, hoping to not get denied.  I'm not going to lie, I did cheer a little, which made my husband make fun of me for about 30 minutes.  SO worth it though.
 
Now, the blurb for this book is written so well, but I have to say one thing was left out that I wish had been included!  Judy's a mini-gamer!  I completely loved this aspect, and I have to say, the author did a fantastic job capturing the mannerisms of a casual gamer.  I remember many late nights in college where I spent more time playing my video games procrastinating about the paper I had due in under 12 hours.  As a casual woman gamer, this was just a fun little aspect of the book that made me relate to Judy even more than I already would have.
 
As always, the author has made an absolutely drool-worthy hero.  Rick is a fabulous hero that I wouldn't mind being rescued by.  Under n9rmal circumstances, I dislike the alpha male, but this Military Alpha is written in such a way that although he may be showing his alpha nature, he also shows his gentle and loving side, hence his nickname, Smiley.  I loved how he was always smiling and enjoying his life.  It made it much more easy for me to enjoy him as a character instead of being annoyed by being a bossy man. 
 
This book is fantastic.  The plot was thoughtful and the mystery was actually a mystery.  It's unlikely many readers will find out who the bad guy is in this book within the first few pages like in many other romantic suspense novels. 
 
Are you a lover of romantic suspense or even just contemporary romance?  Definitely pick up this book or ANY other by this author.  It's bound to be fabulous!
 
About the Author
 
New York Times Bestselling Author
USA Today Bestselling Author
Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author
#1 Amazon Bestselling Author
#1 Indie Reader Bestselling Author

New York Times bestselling author Catherine Bybee was raised in Washington State, but after graduating from high school, she moved to Southern California with hopes of becoming a movie star. After growing bored with waiting tables, she returned to school and became a registered nurse, spending most of her career in urban emergency rooms. She now writes full-time and has penned the Not Quite series, the MacCoinnich Time Travel series as well as the Weekday Brides series.

Visit me at www.catherinebybee.com

Friday, August 8, 2014

Cover reveal for Julie Morgan
Southern Roots




Synopsis:
Returning home never looked so good...
Home from college to help her mother on the family farm, Lexi Griffin expects things to be quiet and normal. She's back in her hometown, and everything is the same as she left it, including the slowly mending broken heart given to her by her high school sweet heart, Blaine.

After years away, Robert Shaw has returned to his hometown for his father's wedding, looking forward to reconnect with old friends, but he has no clue what's in store for him when he sees Lexi again. Sparks fly between the two, and Lexi is a bit reluctant to start anything with Robert, especially when past wounds haven't healed the way they should have. Robert is determined to have her, against all odds and good sense. A girl like her came around once in a lifetime, and he never forgot her.

And then Blaine comes back to town, intent on rekindling what he had with Lexi, even though his past cheating and drug use has slightly soured him in her eyes. She still loves him, but can she forgive him?

As Lexi takes a leap of faith, she suddenly faces the ultimate betrayal from one she trusted. Will she realize the truth in time or will corruption ruin the best thing that has just walked out of her life?


So? What do you think? Do you like it? Personally, I LOVE it! Southern Roots is the story of Robert (aka: Bobby Ray) returning home, his getting (intimately) reacquainted with Lexi and the run in they both experience with Blaine, Abby and a world of disaster. Southern Roots is a contemporary romance set in modern times. It's fast paced, exciting and balls out fun as hell of a read! Remember what it felt like to fall in love with your One? Take that ride along with Bobby Ray and Lexi as they experience what love is like after a HUGE heartbreak. 



About the author

Julie Morgan


Originally from Burleson, Texas Julie always had a love of books, especially paranormal stories. Julie finally took the leap and began writing with encouragement from her family. 
Having worked in IT her entire career, Julie now spends her free time writing. Living in Central Florida with her husband and daughter, her favorite pastime is reading children's stories to her daughter, especially those around animals.

Julie is also the author for Chronicles of the Fallen series. Check out her other stories on Amazon and Good Reads on the links below!

Connect with Julie Morgan:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/juliemorganbook
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JulieMorganBook
Blog: http://juliemorganbooks.com/
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/author/juliemorgan
Good Reads: https://www.goodreads.com/juliemorganbooks

Thursday, August 7, 2014

Review: Tortured Souls

Tortured Souls
by:  Kimber Leigh Wheaton
 
 
Synopsis:
 
Sometimes Rest in Peace isn't an option.

Kacie Ramsey sees ghosts—and it's ruining her life. Her mother left, her father blames her, and no matter how hard she tries, she can't keep the ghosts away. Now a new power has emerged. Nightly visions of grisly murders and a relentless predator draw her to the brink of insanity.

When the phantom appears at a party, Kacie's longtime crush, Logan, saves her. He invites her to join the Orion Circle, a group of supernatural hunters with chapters in schools all over the country. Through the Circle, Kacie learns to embrace her spiritual powers, and for the first time in her life she feels in control rather than a victim.

But the Foxblood Demon will not give up so easily. A demented serial killer in life who trapped the souls of the thirteen children he murdered, imprisoning them within the walls of his mansion. Now in death, he plots his return while drawing power from the pure souls of the children. He recognizes something in Kacie he's never seen before—a medium powerful enough to provide a vessel for his tainted soul.

Kacie can't ignore the tortured souls of the children crying out to her every night. With Logan at her side, she will fight the Foxblood Demon. But can they banish this powerful phantom, or will Kacie lose not only her body, but her eternal soul to the monster.
 
Rating: 4/5 Stars
 
Review:
 
I've always had a thing for paranormal hunter TV shows, so when I read the synopsis for this book, I was extremely excited. To me, this book read just like one of the paranormal hunter TV shows that I've seen. While reading this book, I was working a graveyard shift and there were a few times where I was looking over my shoulder or staring at shadows to find out what they came from. Don't get me wrong, the book isn't a horror story, nor is it very scary, but ghosts are just spooky to me, so it was a fun and spooky evening all around.

I feel that the characters in this book were very well developed and easy to relate to. I loved Kacie as a character and felt that the trouble that she had suffered through with her mother's abandonment and later admission of powers were just a travesty. No child should have to suffer due to their own parents denial from fear of themselves.

My only real complaint was how easy Kacie and Logan's relationship just glided into a romance. At the start of the book, Logan was just a crush that she had never even really spoken to, but very quickly into the story, they were already girlfriend/boyfriend. I found this very unrealistic, even if they share similar powers. Honestly, I feel that Daniel was a much better choice for her. <3 br="" daniel="">
Overall I think this is a great start to a new series that I could definitely get into. I look forward to the next book!

A must read for any paranormal lover, be it TV or Books!
 
About the Author
 
Kimber Leigh Wheaton is a YA/NA author with a soft spot for sweet romance. She is married to her soul mate, has a teenage son, and shares her home with three dogs, four cats, and lots of dragons. No, she doesn't live on a farm, she just loves animals. Kimber Leigh is addicted to romance, videogames, superheroes, villains, and chocolate--not necessarily in that order. (If she has to choose, she'll take a chocolate covered superhero!) She currently lives in San Antonio, TX but has been somewhat a rolling stone in life, having resided in several different cities and states.

Tuesday, August 5, 2014

New Release & Giveaway: Pandora Box Set


Title: Pandora Box Set

Author: Angela Fristoe, Apryl Baker, Carole Lanham, Christi Goddard, Conner Kressley, DelSheree Gladden, Heather Kenealy, Kelley Anne Blount, Laura Howard, Louise Caiola, Noree Cosper, Peter Dawes, Rachel Walter, Rainy Kaye, Rebecca Hamilton, Riley J Ford, Samantha LaFantasie, Steven Katriel, Susan Stec, Thomas Sullivan

Genre: Paranormal // Urban Fantasy // Horror
Publish Date: August 5, 2014
Publisher: Indie Published

Event organized by: Literati Author Services, Inc.
 

~ Book Synopsis ~

**COMPLETE BOOKS! NO CLIFFHANGERS!**
 

PANDORA, a best-selling box set of wicked paranormal reads, is brought to you by twenty exciting, best-selling, and award-winning authors!

Ready for a touch of magic?

Whether you love paranormal in the form of romance, suspense, mystery, horror, or fantasy, this box set will have something to entice your preternatural sensibilities. Supernaturally thrilling and engaging, this box set has it all: ghosts, vampires, mind-readers, shape-shifters, demons, faeries, werewolves, and more.

For a limited time, you can enjoy books from today's New York Times, USA Today, Amazon and Barnes & Noble bestselling authors and many more. We have everything from titles that are slated for the big screen to stories from Pulitzer Prize and Bram Stoker Award Nominees! When purchased separately, these books cost over $50! But they are your's today for less than $1.

Professionally formatted, no cliffhangers, and no short stories. Every selection in this rare, limited edition paranormal box set are full-length novels and novellas! A few are "First in Series," but we carefully selected only those which can still be enjoyed as a standalone!


 

Riley J Ford, New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author: INTO YOU

What if you could know exactly what your friends are thinking? High school student Winter Reynolds can, but there's a catch...

She can only read people's thoughts when she's kissing them.

 

Rebecca Hamilton, Amazon Best-Selling and Film-Optioned Novelist: HER SWEETEST DOWNFALL

Ophelia's initiation into the supernatural council won't be complete until she kills the man she loves.

 

Apryl Baker, Amazon Best-Selling and Film-Optioned Novelist: THE AWAKENING

Snap...crackle...pop. The sounds of bones breaking and shifting and of muscles tearing haunt Alexandria Reed.

Aided by her new friends, who have some dark secrets themselves, can she and Jason survive long enough to figure out the secret behind the secret?

 

Carole Lanham, Amazon Best-Selling Author and Bram Stoker Award Nominee: CLEOPATRA'S NEEDLE

"There are monsters in this world, I’ve learned, and sometimes I have fallen victim to them and sometimes I have been one."

A story of Welsh witchcraft, love, and murder.

 

Thomas Sullivan, Pulitzer Prize Nominee: THE WATER WOLF

A global quest by a cynical adventurer searching for links in a colossal subterranean network he has stumbled upon lead him from the ancient fortress at Cuzco, Peru, to the Pyramids of Giza to a dangerous churchyard in Connemara, Ireland, where he falls in love with a woman of more than mortal roots and encounters the strange magic of a small village.

 

Rainy Kaye, Amazon Best-Selling Author: SUMMONED

A dark twist on genie folklore, SUMMONED follows a reluctant criminal as he unravels the mystery of the paranormal bond controlling him.

 

Laura Howard, Amazon Best-Selling Author: THE FORGOTTEN ONES

Truths have a way of revealing themselves. Secrets will eventually surface. And Allison must learn to set aside her plan and work with her father if there is even a small chance it could restore her mother's sanity.

 

Noree Cosper, B.R.A.G. Medallion Honoree: A PRESCRIPTION FOR DELIRIUM

Demons, werewolves, possessed bikers, madness spreading like a virus, and a revenge that has waited for over five-hundred years.

What more could Gabby look for in a vacation spot?



Louise Caiola, Amazon Best-Selling Author: WHAT TRULY KNOWS

She was born with the Magical Knowing – a gift, some said. A curse, said others.

But for Truly, it was the very thing meant to save her life. If it didn’t kill her first.

 

Kelley Anne Blount, Amazon Best-Selling Author: SHADE

Coming Soon!

 

Susan Stec, Amazon Best-Selling Author: DEAD GIRLS NEVER SHUT UP

Toni's grandmother is a psychopath. Her sister is a ghost. Her boyfriend is possessed. And she has no idea who she is.

 

Christi Goddard, Amazon Best-Selling Author: FOUR IN THE MORNING

When a smart-ass magical creature invades Kathleen’s life, a boy she hates turns up dead and her mother goes missing.

 

Steven Katriel, Amazon Best-Selling Author: THE PORTRAIT OF ALATIEL SALAZAR

When Gabriel Holland’s beloved Helena vanishes from his life, he journeys to the home of disgraced artist Cristian Salazar, the man he holds responsible for her disappearance and the death of several friends.

 

Heather Kenealy, winner of MTV's "Stan Lee presents the Seekers" contest and Cinescape's Short Story Contest: THE TRAITORS' TRILOGY

Betrayal comes with a price. For these betrayers, it also comes with an opportunity.

 

Peter Dawes, Blogger Book Fair Reader's Choice Award winner: EYES OF THE SEER

It all started with a murder, but what laid in wait would turn a man into a monster.

 

DelSheree Gladden, Amazon Best-Selling Author: INVISIBLE

Being invisible won’t hide Mason for long.

 

with...

 

Angela Fristoe: LIE TO ME

As a Truth Teller, Phoebe knows a lie when she hears it.

Knowing what to do when her best friend lies is the problem, because in lies, intention is everything.

 

Conner Kressley: THE BREAKER'S CODE

Cresta's the kind of girl who thinks everything is the end of the world. Turns out, she might be right.



Samantha LaFantasie: MADE TO FORGET

After waking up in a hospital with no memory, Elsabetha quickly learns those who claim to be her friend are anything but.

 

Rachel Walter: TRUE CONNECTION

With the help of supernatural friends and protectors, Jazzy thinks she's safe until what remains of her family is put in danger.

Does she have what it takes to save her family, life, soul, and soul mate, or will all be lost?

 

Save over $50! This set is only available for a limited time, so order your copy before it's gone!

Add to Goodreads:


Do you dare to open Pandora's Box?

 

Purchase Links

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Kobo | iBooks

 

Featured Authors


 
 

Giveaway $50 Gift Card

 

Title: The Water Wolf
Author: Thomas Sullivan
Genre: Paranormal/Urban Fantasy
Publish Date: Oct. 3, 2006
Publisher: Onyx

Event organized by: Literati Author Services, Inc.


~ Book Synopsis ~

Lane Anderson is a professional dispeller of myths and manipulation. But the next exposé will rekindle his own painful past. A cryptic pylon that lies beneath an ancient Peruvian fortress will lead him to Egypt, and then to Ireland, where a woman of more-than-mortal roots will guide him to a colossal subterranean world-and the soulless horror that killed his father and now is coming after him.

Add to Goodreads:


More from this author


Excerpt

THE WATER WOLF
by Thomas Sullivan

Ireland, Connemara - 1974

You couldn’t tell the rain from the mist. That kind of day, where the greens were black and shades of gray defined everything else between the village and the cliff which drew the land up like a bowsprit – Ireland sailing ever westward. And like a dreary ship’s crew coming forward to drop anchor and make fast, a handful of villagers accompanied the horse-drawn hearse toward the churchyard.

It was called a churchyard, but no one from Darrig could tell you why. It was rumored there had once been a church near the pond and that through the first half of the 19th century villagers had worshipped there until it was struck by lightning. One or two of the oldest families in the district held to a darker version, saying it had been burned down, and whisperers might add fanciful stories of a pagan altar on the cliff nearby. The McCabes owned the land, however – that was clear enough – and there had always been a graveyard there just as there had always been McCabes. But here was the last of them, Brone himself, about to be laid to rest. The gravediggers had joked about how deep to dig, lest they strike heathen things said to underlie the original site, and that Brone McCabe himself was closer to pagans than to the Pope.

“He’ll be the Watcher now,” said Laughlin O’Brien the young peat cutter, and he moved closer to the mourner in front of him to cover the fact that he had been thinking out loud.

The churchyard Watcher. Even the children of west County Galway knew what it meant to be the last corpse interred in a cemetery. Someone had to guard the graves. And hadn’t Laughlin’s own father, Fahey, been buried the same day as Dolan’s sister, and hadn’t the two funeral processions broken into a run and a gallop to reach the churchyard gates first so as not to be the last one buried, and hadn’t he lost? So Laughlin’s father became the restless spirit who watched over the others and couldn’t lie down proper until another body was interred. But now Brone was dead and coming to his grave . . .

The gravesite tarp was hauled back and the priest changed registers from bass to tenor as the water ran off the mound of dirt into the yawning hole. No one was sad at Brone’s passing. No one was happy to be at his funeral. It went like a speeded up film. The Holy Water sprinkled on the coffin as it was lowered roughly to the bottom of the grave was absurdly redundant. Not only was it raining, Brone had drowned. It was as if God and nature and the villagers of Darrig wanted to make sure he wouldn’t draw another breath.

His body had floated up against the pylon, or “the Pillar of Thiollaney Merriu,” as the oldest inhabitants of the village still called it. He had drowned in the pond somehow, though no one could imagine why he would have gone in unless it was to save his wife Una, who was missing. They had dragged the pond but could not locate a second body. Some thought so ill of Brone McCabe as to suggest that he had murdered Una and drowned himself in remorse. Except it was hard to imagine blustery Brone remorseful over anything, besides which, as far as anyone could tell, he had been as fanatically devoted to his wife as he was disdainful of everyone else in Connemara.

Still, Una McCabe was missing. Not a sign of her in the house (the local gardai had searched thoroughly), no blood, no overturned furniture. His Nibs, the old hound, did not scratch at a loose floorboard or dig at freshly turned earth. It disappointed more than a few. So the stalwarts of Darrig performed their duty to the deceased in cursory fashion, while the county culled through statutes and mulled over what to do with the property should Una McCabe also be declared dead.

She seemed almost to be an unnecessary detail, because few in Darrig had even seen her up close, let alone spoken to her, and when she did speak it wasn’t in their dialect. A startlingly beautiful woman, she must have been two decades younger than Brone who was forty-one. Where had she come from? In this village whose customs and celebrations were no less hallowed than its rituals and rites, there had been no courtship, no wedding. Brone had gone away and come back with a bride. “Dublin,” he grunted in the pub when pressed about her origins. Brone had a rugged masculinity and modest means, nothing to suggest a fatal potency over women. Especially this one.
It was the mourners at the foot of the grave who saw her first. A moving shape in the mist from the direction of the pond, becoming then a human figure, then a female figure – very female – because she hadn’t a stitch of clothing on to hide her comely form. If they hadn’t seen Una McCabe up close before, they got to see her now. Naked to her navel, no matter which direction your eyes started from. Rivulets running off her firm breasts, down her tapered thighs. In the achromatic light she looked almost luminous, her ash blond hair nebulous, her sea-green eyes electric out of dark hollows. And something else that the women noticed for a certainty, and that the men afterward agreed must be true. She was pregnant and beginning to show.

Scota O’Neill threw an elbow into her husband Dolan, meaning for him to take off his jacket and cover the bare naked thing, but somewhat dumbfoundedly Dolan merely jerked an umbrella over the nude woman’s head as she continued to the lip of the grave.

“He’s not dead,” Una said in an even voice.

About the Author

Pulitzer Prize nominee Thomas Sullivan has been a gambler, a "Rube Goldberg" innovator, a coach, a teacher, a city commissioner, and an All-American athlete. Self- described as “well-ranged if not deranged,” the itinerary of his life is as eclectic as his writing. Having lived in a dozen countries by the time he was six, Sullivan is at home in many cultures and across the literary spectrum from mainstream to genre.
Labels mean little in describing his writing. The constant is that he writes “people stories,” timeless tales of individuals and relationships whether caught in fun-house mirrors or in the twists of thrilling intrigues. It is not unusual to find his books and stories reprinted in several categories as well as contemporary mainstream. Or as he puts it, “When you don’t belong anywhere, in a sense you belong everywhere.”

Over eighty publishing credits in all fiction categories, his work includes seven novels in sixteen domestic and foreign editions, journalism, non-fiction and active film options. His short stories have appeared in nearly every market from Omni to St. Anthony Messenger. Likewise, the literary awards and prizes have been extremely diverse, ranging from a Hemingway Days Literary Award to a Writer's Digest listing in the Top Ten Horror Stories of All Time to a Catholic Press Association award in their Best Short Story category.

An avid swimmer, blader, cc skier and canoeist, Sullivan currently lives on a lake in Maple Grove, Minnesota, writing full-time and lecturing across the country.

Connect with the Author



Monday, August 4, 2014

Release Day Review - Reckless

Reckless
by: Priscilla West

Amazon

Synopsis:

Everything about him warned me to stay away.

I’d seen bad boys before, but he had it all and more. The rippling muscles covered in tatts, the piercing eyes hiding dark secrets, the silky voice that could make a girl come with just a whisper . . .

He was exactly the type of guy that would get me in trouble, but when he jumped off the stage, inked skin glistening with sweat and breathed his seductive words into my ear, I couldn’t resist the temptation.

It was supposed to be the best one-night stand of my life, but fate didn’t let it play out that way. Things happened. I got upset. I got hasty. And worst of all, I got reckless.

After that disaster, I thought it was the last I’d see of him. But what I didn’t know was that I’d started something.

Something that could shatter the very thing I had worked so hard to protect.

I should have known back then that the most seductive things in life are also the most dangerous.
 
My Rating: 4/5 Stars

My Review:

At first I thought I was going to be disappointed in this book since Rylie seemed to be hopping into bed with the Big Bad Rocker right off the bat.  I really don't dig the instant-love that's found in some romance novels, but thankfully, Rylie left Jax high and dry-punishing him for his outrageous behavior in regards to being respectful for women.

Through pure coincidence, Riley comes back into Jax's life in the form of his band's on-tour accountant.  After a rough patch where Jax's "adoring fan" (aka his night's conquest's unsuspecting boyfriend), Riley vehemently lets Jax know that although they may have met under sexier terms, their relationship from there on out would be strictly professional.

Once the promise of a 20 thousand dollar bonus if she's able to fix the band's spending hits her email, Riley strikes up a deal with Jax.  Kisses after every show in exchange for a 10% reduction in expenses (and her bikini top back).  Can a kiss here and there change anything for this couple?  It's definitely worth reading to find out!!

Over the course of the book, I grew to care deeply about Jax which surprised me considering that at first I considered him just another cocky rock star.  Jax is a sweet and sensitive character that has gone through total hell but still was able to succeed in a business that he loves - music.  Rylie is a strong and quick-witted heroine with her own demons in her closet.  Quite honestly, the two equal out to be one hot mess, but it works for them.  Both of these characters were well written with the majority of their actions being completely understandable once their pasts are revealed.  Very impressive writing there!

My only wish is that there was a bit more band interaction.  All of the members of the band seemed to have some awesome quirks, and I wish that I had a better chance to get to know them.  Hopefully this is only the start of The Hancocks, because I definitely want more!

About the Author

Priscilla West is the author of the Surrender Series and the USA TODAY Bestsellers, Wrecked, and Rescued.
 
Her next book, Reckless, will be released on August 4th, 2014.
 
She enjoys: cuddles, men in suits, eskimo kisses, life-sized teddy bears, and eggs over medium.
 
You can find her at priscillawest.com


Friday, August 1, 2014

Review: Stupid Girl

Stupid Girl
by: Cindy Miles
 
 
Blurb:
 
Only fools fall in love...After her senior year of high school leaves behind nothing but heartache, Olivia Beaumont is sure of this: She's no stupid girl. She sets out for Winston College, promising herself that she will remain focused on her first and only love - astronomy. But all it takes is cocky sophomore Brax Jenkins and an accidental collision with a football, to throw her entire year off course.

A quick-tempered Southie who escaped the inner city streets of Boston to pitch for Winston, Brax is known to play way more fields than just the baseball diamond. So, when his name is drawn to take part in his fraternity's hazing dare, Brax eagerly accepts the mission to take Olivia's virginity. But he doesn't plan on falling hard for the sweet and sassy Texas girl who sees right through his bad-boy persona.

As Olivia and Brax battle their feelings for each other, echoes of the past year begin to surface. A boy who once turned Olivia's whole world upside down reappears, and "harmless" pranks wreak havoc. Pretty soon the aspiring astronomer is on the verge of revealing her most difficult, heartbreaking secret. All the while, Brax must wrestle with the irrevocable dare, and Olivia struggles against all logic as she does the one thing only a stupid girl would do: fall in love.
 
My Rating: 5/5 Stars
 
My Review:
 
I absolutely loved this book. When I first began this novel, I was a bit concerned by the prologue. I was worried that I was entering a much darker book than I had originally anticipated. Although there is darkness and suffering in this novel, it doesn't overpower the general feeling of the book. Olivia and Brax's witty banter provides a reprieve from the darkness of their pasts.

This book brought out some of my high school nostalgia, mostly when reading about the "Dare". It reminded me of the teen movies I watched in the 90s and even though I had a feeling I knew exactly how the dare would turn out (which I was right about), there was still something comforting in that outcome.

I also enjoyed the idea of a NA novel that isn't all "Sex! Sex! Sex!" t gets a bit irritating for me to read NA novels when they seem like they're just a way to get sex into a YA novel. This book isn't like that at all. This book is the story of a genuine journey between two college students with difficult histories coming to terms with their past to create a happy future.

Loved it! I would definitely recommend this book.

Note: I received a free copy of this book for honest review from netgalley.com
 
About the Author
 
National bestselling author Cindy Miles writes edgy romance, ranging from contemporary love stories to sexy paranormals. A native of southern coastal Georgia, she loves reading (naturally), baking swoon-worthy desserts, traveling abroad, yoga, and classic rock. The cover for her upcoming New Adult romance, STUPID GIRL, was featured on USA Today's Happily Ever After blog. In the novel, a volatile mix of bad boys, sassy smart girls, dark secrets, and red-hot romance add up to one wild ride through college.
Hang out with Cindy on her Facebook fan page at:
https://www.facebook.com/officialcindymilesfanpage
Or check out her website: http://www.cindy-miles.com/
 

"A raw, beautiful, poignant story about pain, heartache and first love. I couldn't put it down."
- Carly Phillips, NYT bestselling author