Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Cover Reveal: Breaking the Rules by H.B. Heinzer


 Release date: August 1st

Synopsis:

Growing up in small town Wisconsin, Carly Turner couldn't wait to escape when she graduated high school. Now, she's living the life in New York City, even if she isn't seeing her name in lights like she used to dream about at night. She's living paycheck-to-paycheck, working behind the scenes in small theaters off Broadway. When there's an equipment malfunction the week before opening night, Carly makes a call that winds up changing everything.

Life in the city isn't all it's cracked up to be. While she feels like she's getting closer to making the move from behind the scenes to center stage, she misses being surrounded by people who understand the quirks that come from living in a town of five thousand people. That, and the fact that he's sexy as sin, make Adam everything she feels like she's missing.

The only problem? He's her best friend's kid brother...

Adam Sanders wants to settle down, find a good woman and start a family like he sees so many of his friends doing. But how is he supposed to meet Ms. Right when he's constantly on the road for work? When he's sent to New York to handle a repair that would typically be contracted out as a favor to his boss, he's just about to his breaking point.

Everything changes when the stagehand sent to open the theater for him is none other than his big sister's childhood friend. The same girl he lusted after as a teenager. Could this be fate's way of showing him that he was looking in the wrong place for love?

As Adam and Carly's friendship develops, lines will be crossed and rules will be broken. Will they be able to come out the other side without destroying everything they had back in Brooklyn?


Author Bio:

With the exception of three years spent in the middle of Nebraska, H.B. Heinzer has called southern Wisconsin home. During that time in Nebraska, she imagined one of her favorite authors living on the far western edge of the county, just south of the highway. At the time, becoming a novelist was a distant dream for her. Now, she is the author living in that location. Ironically, she later found out that same favorite author lives just outside the town HB lived in for the first eighteen years of her life.
Now, HB lives in the middle of nowhere but still close enough to the city to not feel isolated. It's the perfect place to let her two kids run and explore their huge yard, teach them about the food chain as they prepare their first-ever garden and debate building a chicken coop. It's one of those dreams that is only possible thanks to the amazing opportunities that have come through writing.


Teaser:

"Hello?" A deep voice resonated from backstage. The way the timbre of the man’s voice echoed off the acoustic panels in the empty theater sent a shiver down Carly’s spine. She was surrounded daily by men whose voices could melt butter, but there was something about this particular voice that heightened her senses.

"Out here," she shouted, still wrestling to pull the set piece out of the curtain without causing any damage Dax would make her fix later. She blew a stray hair away from her eyes as the lighting contractor rounded the corner.

When she looked up, she did a double-take. The broad shoulders and angled jaw were all new but there was no mistaking the icy blue eyes looking down at her.  They were the same eyes she had seen nearly every day of her childhood. "Adam?"            

"Carly Turner? What are the odds..."

When she had moved away from home, Adam Sanders had been a bit gangly and not nearly this tall. She figured he would have grown up to be the man a woman grew to love for his heart despite his awkward appearance. The fact that it looked like he wasn’t opposed to spending time in the gym and he had lost the child-like face did nothing to settle her nerves. Carly shook the thoughts out of her head. This was Adam, the boy who had been the little brother Carly never had. Even if she had never felt that familial bond with him, there was definitely a rule about drooling over your best friend's little brother.

"Well, I think they're probably long enough that there's no point in buying a lottery ticket tonight," Oh god, did I just compare seeing Adam to winning the lottery? 




While you're waiting for BREAKING THE RULES to be released, here are some free gifts from the author!   

BENT (book 1 in the Back to Brooklyn Series) will be FREE June 25th-27th on Amazon.

BUY IT NOW! - Amazon



This weekend (June 28th-30th), BLESSED TRAGEDY will be FREE on Amazon.



Social Media Links:

Facebook | Website | Twitter | Goodreads Author Goodreads Book

Hosted by: Book Enthusiast Promotions


Get Ready! Edible by Ella Frank Blog Tour Begins July 8th!

This blog tour begins on July 8th and will end on the 19th.  That's two exciting weeks of excerpts, interviews, reviews and prizes - YES!  I SAID PRIZES!  YAY! 

There are 31 exciting stops on this tour, gearing up for the release of the third book in the EXQUISITE Series by Ella Frank.  The expected release date is July 9th.  Although each book can be read as a stand alone, they are best when read in order (in my opinion) so you get to know the wonderful cast of characters as they make their debut appearances!

I LOVE this series! Author Ella Frank does not skimp when it comes to creating “real” characters that jump of the page in 3-D and that is what I love about this series.  Read my reviews of the first two books to find out more about what makes them so appealing!











Edible by Ella Frank

Description:
Edible, delicious, delectable.

Rachel Langley is more than familiar with those three words in her line of work. After all, she spends her afternoons and evenings creating desserts so divine that your mouth will water and your taste buds will tingle.

They aren’t, however, the words she would have ever expected to think of when she locks eyes with a certain lawyer she knows only as Cole.

With each encounter, the infuriatingly persistent man becomes more impossible to resist, and edible is the exact word that comes to mind.

Crave, demand, covet.

Cole Madison knows exactly what he wants, and Rachel Langley is it. From the moment he spotted her at Whipped, he knew he wanted to grab hold and take a bite.

However, the woman has enigmatic moves, avoiding him at every turn.

But not for much longer.

Rachel’s time is up, and as far as Cole is concerned, he’s waited too long for a taste of what he desires. Nothing, including the woman herself, will stop him from consuming what he hungers for.

The only question left is: Who will take the first bite?


Ella Frank's Social Links:

 Website ● Twitter ● Facebook ● Goodreads


Check out the tour schedule!

Thank you Nicole from Romantic Rendezvous for coordinating this tour!

Monday, June 24, 2013

Blog Tour Giveaway, Review & Excerpt: Love & Devotion by Jove Belle













GIVEAWAY ENDS ON 6/28!

Love & Devotion by Jove Belle

Description:
KC Hall loves her family, her small East Texas town, and her best friend, Emma Reynolds. All of that takes a backseat when her lover beckons. Lonnie is blond, beautiful, and willing. She’s also married and a lifelong friend of KC’s mama.

KC knows the affair is a bad idea, but she just can’t help herself. When presented with the lush landscape of Lonnie’s body, KC subscribes to the philosophy of “orgasm first, think later.” Unfortunately, a secret that big is impossible to keep in a close-knit community where everybody knows everybody else’s business. The scandal would hurt her entire family.

Emma is KC’s exception, the one woman she loves enough to not have sex with. When Emma confesses that she’s loved KC since high school, KC is terrified. One wrong move and she could lose Emma completely.

Is she willing to let her family pay the price for her good time? Or will she turn to Emma to discover the true meaning of love and devotion?


BUY IT NOW! - Amazon


Review:

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

LOVE & DEVOTION takes place in small-town Texas, where lesbians are as scarce as cow-tippers living in New York City.  A town where drinking away your problems seems commonplace and necessary.  It’s also a town where gossip flows faster than sermons at the local Baptist church.

The lead heroine, KC, is a womanizer and is described in very feminine terms.   She appears to be very close to her family  and has cheerleader trophies in her childhood room at her mama’s house.  At first when I pictured her character, I thought of one of the actresses in the movie Thelma & Louise, but I later changed my image to Demi Moore when she is going through one of her femme-phases with long hair.   Though I couldn’t really identify with KC’s life, I did identify with her need to drive around aimlessly when she needed to think with no clue where she was headed.  I thought this line from one of KC’s sisters was humorous and summed up KC as a character:

                ❝You’re the Dalia Lama for lesbians now?

KC, shamefully, has been sleeping with a married woman for the past year, and (gasp) the woman is her mother’s good friend to boot.  Lonnie, the harlot who is tramping around on her husband with KC, is a quintessential Southern Belle who oozes sexuality in a Southern Cougar style.  I pictured one of the Sugarbakers from the 80s sitcom Designing Women.  Not something that is personally going to get me going, but the image somehow popped into my head and stuck.   I thought this quote from the novel summed up my image of Lonnie very well:

                ❝She kissed KC on the cheek and with her hand hidden from view, squeezed her ass fondly.

                The damn woman got off on the duplicity of it all.

KC’s best friend is Emma, another ultra-femme character.  This is probably how the Thelma & Louise picture originally got stuck in my head when trying to imagine the characters I was reading about.  Emma has obviously got a big ole crush on KC, but KC seems oblivious to it and continues with sexing-up Lonnie in 5 minute rendezvous sessions.   Emma and KC have an extremely tactile friendship, complete with cuddling each night in the same bed and kissing each other frequently in greeting.   It’s obvious to the reader from the get-go that they belong together,  and the rest of the story is pretty much the culmination  of how their relationship will come together.  A humorous line from the author about Emma:

                ❝Sometimes talking to Emma was like trying to extract stock advice from a schnauzer.

Before I go any further in my review of this novel, I must admit that though I am bisexual and had many girlfriends before I got married, the women described in this book are decidedly not my type.  Unfortunately, that was slightly distracting for me and kind of made it hard to picture the characters in a titillating way without doing a lot of extra help from my brain to supplant the author’s descriptions.  I’m afraid that’s my little caveat before I continue.  Lipstick lesbians are not my thing, but I tried not to hold that against the plot of the book.

The sex in this book was a mix-bag for me.  I found some personal humor from the author occasionally referring to anatomy as “naughty bits”, “sexy parts”, and even “girlie parts”.  Then again, she also would got down and dirty with her descriptions.  The first sex scene didn’t involve any oral sex at all, and I immediately questioned whether the author was actually a lesbian.  I continued to question this when in a later sex scene involving KC donning a strap-on the author referred to KC coming inside Lonnie.   The idea of that actually made me raise my eyebrow.  However, after reading several of the other scenes, I canceled my confusion over whether the author was a lesbian.  I enjoyed reading some very sexy scenes in the book including sex against the door, domination in drag, imminent fear of getting caught during sex, and lots of sexy dirty talk in very commanding tones.  I’ve chosen a line from one of my favorite sex scenes to share below:

                ❝ ‘Good, let it go.’ KC nipped at Lonnie’s ear, punctuating each word with her teeth.

                ‘ So I can push you down and do it all over again.’ ❞

I was definitely puzzled by KC’s and Emma’s friendship.  I’ve already mentioned that they were very touchy-feely with each other.  They were also constantly saying “I love you” to each other.  I would have been very confused in a female friendship that was that close, trying to determine if the person loved me in *that* way or not.  I think there was a lot of mixed signals.  At one point, my mind started wandering while looking at their complex relationship of confusion, and I pictured KC cutting her hair into a Demi Moore’s G.I. Jane style and showing up, doing some one-armed push-ups for Emma,  and then fire-arm carrying a squealing Emma in a naval uniform à la Officer and a Gentleman.  Then I chastised myself and had to give my brain a lecture that this is not what the author had in mind. *big sigh* oh well. 

Overall I would give the book 3 stars.  It was interesting enough to keep my attention for a Saturday afternoon.  I thought the author had good writing skills and wrote interesting characters.  There was some humorous and witty dialog at times.   The sex was interesting to read, and certainly thought provoking.  I could picture myself reading another novel by the author in the future.

✳✳ Review by Guest Reviewer, FlibBityFLooB


Excerpt:

The crunch-slide of tires on gravel was KC Hall’s only warning that she was about to have company. She barely had time to check her teeth for signs of the cold pizza she’d been eating and run her hands through her hair. Lonnie slammed through the door, leaving a string of curse words such as “fucking hell” and “damnation” in her wake.

“Lonnie, what’s going on?” KC sounded like she wasn’t happy to see Lonnie, which wasn’t true. She mostly wasn’t happy to see her car—a candy-apple red Mustang—slanted next to her beat-up Accord. No way her neighbors wouldn't recognize it as Lonnie's. There were a few other Mustangs in town, but hers was the only one with a FRONT STREET BAPTIST CHOIR bumper sticker on one side and THE PTA GETS THINGS DONE on the other.

Lonnie grabbed KC’s lapels and kissed her hard. She’d have liked it better if Lonnie had kissed her like she meant it rather than pouring off anger about whatever brought her to KC’s door in the first place. KC eased back a tad, teasing the edge of Lonnie’s lips with her tongue. This woman was melted-sugar hot, and the taste of her made KC weak. She still didn’t know why she’d arrived at KC’s door early on Sunday morning for God and all creation to see, but the longer they kissed, the less KC cared.

By the time Lonnie released her, she’d have let Lonnie add a bumper sticker that declared I’M FUCKING KC HALL.

“I’m going to kill that bastard.” Lonnie’s eyes were on fire, and not the good kind of fire that said KC'd touched her in just the right way. Nope, this was more of a spitting-mad kind of fire.

KC stepped away. She didn’t want to get caught at ground zero if Lonnie decided to give life to that temper of hers. Fortunately, Southern women were simple—a glass of whiskey and a little bit of time was the standard therapy session. She poured four fingers of Jack Daniel’s, added some ice, and passed it to Lonnie.

“Thanks, sugar.” Lonnie closed her eyes and tipped the glass. The lines of her face softened.

She waited until the first sip passed Lonnie’s lips, then asked, “Which bastard?” No doubt Lonnie was talking about her husband. KC liked to pretend he didn’t exist, but she asked the question anyway.

Lonnie drained the whiskey and handed her the glass before saying, “Forget about that. We don’t have much time.” Lonnie zeroed in on KC’s lips and kissed her in a way that made her think she was being substituted for the whiskey.

KC pulled away with a gasp and set the empty glass on the counter. Lonnie’s chest heaved and she reached for KC, trying to pull her back in.

The flush in Lonnie’s cheeks ran down her neck and covered her chest. KC wanted to touch, to ride the wave of Lonnie's labored breathing with her tongue. She moved closer to her, bent her face to Lonnie's neck, and inhaled deeply. The sweet subtle scent of honeysuckle and lavender surrounded her, drawing her in. She exhaled long and soft against Lonnie's skin. “Church starts in an hour.”

Lonnie tilted her head to the side, opening the line of her neck to KC. She gripped KC’s head, her fingers woven into her hair. “I know. Stop talking.”


Enter to Win! 
(eBooks are open Internationally; EVERYTHING else is US ONLY)

Here's what's up for grabs:

5 e-copies of Love & Devotion by Jove Belle
1 signed paperback copy of Edge of Darkness by Jove Belle
1 signed paperback copy of Split the Aces by Jove Belle
1 signed paperback copy of Indelible by Jove Belle
1 set of 4 wine charms (heart)
1 set of 4 wine charms (cowboy boot)














a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the Author:

Jove Belle was born and raised against a backdrop of orchards and potato fields. The youngest of four children, she was raised in a conservative, Christian home and began asking why at a very young age, much to the consternation of her mother and grandmother. At the customary age of eighteen, she fled southern Idaho in pursuit of broader minds and fewer traffic jams involving the local livestock. The road didn’t end in Portland, Oregon, but there were many confusing freeway interchanges that a girl from the sticks was ill-prepared to deal with. As a result, she has lived in the Portland metro area for over fifteen years and still can’t figure out how she manages to spend so much time in traffic when there’s not a stray sheep or cow in sight.

She lives with her partner of twelve years. Between them they share three children, two dogs, two cats, two mortgage payments, one sedan, and one requisite dyke pickup truck. One day she hopes to live in a house that doesn’t generate a never ending honey-do list.

Incidentally, she never stopped asking why, but did expand her arsenal of questions to include who, what, when, where and, most important of all, how. In those questions, a story is born.


Social Links:

Goodreads Author ● Goodreads  Website ● Twitter ● Facebook ● Amazon

Blog Tour Host: 
















Check out the rest of the tour!

Leah Kaye, She can rock covers! What else can she do?

So, we know she can rock covers! What else can she do?

Leah Kaye is a freelance Graphic Designer and Cover Artist.  Although she loves working with a variety of media, her true passion is with graphics, for print and on the web.  When it comes to designing, she is open to working with any genre and on any design project.  No matter what you are looking for, she can help bring your vision to life!  She certainly helped bring my vision to life!

What's Leah's background?

❝I attended Valencia College in Orlando, FL (2002-2004), graduating with an A.S. in Graphic Design. I began working with various publishers, printers, newspapers, design agencies, in corporate environments and as a freelance designer throughout the Southeast. In August 2009 I started Middle Tennessee State University full-time and graduated in May 2012 with a Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts (Major: Graphic Design, Minor: BookArts/Letterpress). Since graduation I have been searching for a full time career opportunity while pursuing various freelance projects.❞

What can she do for me & how much does she charge?

If you are interested in kick starting your blog or promotion, or looking for an amazing cover for your new book, I'm sure she can conjure up something fantastic!  If you are thinking you can't afford a graphic designer, THINK AGAIN!  Leah is incredibly affordable and equally talented.  Want to know how much Leah charges?  Check out her fee structure here:  (Click "Book Graphics" to view Leah's prices)

Sexy New Desktop Wallpaper for author, Donna Grant's NEW RELEASE Midnight's Kiss (Dark Warrior)Check it out on Donna Grant's Facebook Page!

(I love those, Leah!  They look even better in their full sized glory - great job!)




Keep an eye out for more samples of Leah's work right here on I ♥ Bookie Nookie Reviews.  

Leah Kaye Suttle
Graphic Designer & Book Cover Artist

Facebook: MsLeahKaye • Goodreads: MsLeahKaye • Twitter: LeahKaye_

Blog Tour Review: The Parts I Remember by A.K. Mills













The Parts I Remember by A.K. Mills


Description:

Act first. Think never. Remember nothing.

Welcome to Kelly Rockport’s existence at Haysville University, where responsibility is just an elective. After all, fake IDs, alter egos, and one-night stands are all part of the college experience, right? So what if she blacks out from time to time? Memory is overrated.

When freshman year lasts about as long as a one-night stand and is quickly followed by the Year of the Blackout, Kelly projects junior year to be nothing shy of amazing. But as shots, beer, cocaine and men mesh together in an intoxicating haze, Kelly’s reckless ways get her into serious trouble. The only problem is, she can't remember what happened.

As she hovers along the edge of consciousness, Kelly forces herself to think past her pain to piece together the shards of her life. This is her story, told in her words: The Parts I Remember.


Review:

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


 photo witheverychoiceyoumakeyoucreateyourlife_zps8bd67354.jpg

If only I could go back and do things differently… Who hasn’t said that in their life? Chances are high that EVERYONE has said that at one time or another. Yes, because hindsight is 20/20 and if we all knew what bad choices we could get away with and which once we couldn’t, well, that would be pretty awesome, but that is not reality.

Act first. Think never. Remember nothing.

Sounds like a pretty selfish mentality if you ask me. That is how Kelly Rockport lives her life – in the “right now.” She is a loose cannon; with no regard to any of the potentially devastating consequences to her numerous poor decisions.

THE PARTS I REMEMBER is an excellent tale of caution and would definitely recommend this book to older teenagers and twenty-somethings that may be headed down the wrong path. Through a series of flashbacks, we learn how Kelly began living her life with reckless abandon and it’s not a pretty tale. Kelly’s first three years of college were basically a blur of booze, boys and drugs. She successfully skated through promiscuous encounters - unprotected sex with God only knows how many boys - night after night of blackout drunkenness and let’s not forget the drugs – but through it all, somehow she managed to escape facing any real consequences for her actions… lucky her.

THE PARTS I REMEMBER begins when Kelly’s luck finally runs out. When I say the repercussions for her actions were devastating times ten, well, that is perhaps a major understatement.

 photo the_choices_i_mad-164_zpsd4f74811.jpg

Yet another reason to make sure the choices you are making today are ones you can live with tomorrow.

I experienced a number of emotions while reading this book. I was a bit nostalgic remembering my college years – suffice it to say, my college experience was nothing like Kelly’s, but I had my fun. I was angry – angry to think anyone could be so reckless with their life and the lives of others. I was sad for Kelly. Although she never really made any attempts to better her life, I was sad that she got sucked into the downward spiral and no one did anything about either because they were oblivious (how, I don’t know) or they enabled her wild-child behavior. But ultimately, Kelly was responsible for her own destiny.

New author, A.K. Mills makes an excellent debut with her first novel, THE PARTS I REMEMBER. I am really looking forward to reading her work again in the future; perhaps a story about the (hopefully) reformed wild-child that is Kelly Rockport?


✳✳ Copy provided by the author/publisher for an honest review.



BUY IT NOW! - Amazon

About the Author:

"I'm just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her." 
- Julia Roberts, Notting Hill

To put it simply...
"I'm just a writer, standing in front of the world, asking it to enjoy her stories."


If you would like to contact me, email me at byakmills(at)gmail(dot)com.

Contact A.K. Mills:

Official Website ● Goodreads ● Facebook ● Amazon 





Sunday, June 23, 2013

Review: Fire Inside


Fire Inside
Fire Inside by Kristen Ashley

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



In true Kristen Ashley fashion, FIRE INSIDE brings to the table what we have all come to love and sometimes hate; the most alpha of all alpha males you have ever encountered, a spunky heroine, and badass bikers with a healthy dose of dominance, sex and romance.

I was excited that many of the heroes and heroines from past installments and series had cameo appearances.

If you have read other books by Kristen Ashley and enjoy her brand of alpha male – you know the kind that kind of grunts when he talks and beats his chest as he drags his “old lady” back to the cave, then you will likely love Hop Kincaid and his damsel in distress, Lanie.

✳✳ Copy provided by the author/publisher for an honest review.

✳✳ Reviewed on I ♥ Bookie Nookie Reviews

___________________________________________________
If you like this type of book, you might enjoy one of these groups. Check us out!

Menage Readers

Erotic Enchants

Bookie Nookie's Erotic Lending Group


BUY IT NOW! - Amazon

View all my reviews

Review: Forever Too Far


Forever Too Far
Forever Too Far by Abbi Glines

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



We can step into that office right there and I’ll slip my hand up this cute little dress you’re wearing and play with your wet pussy until you have to bite my shoulder to keep from crying out. Won’t take long. I don’t want my girl needing me. I want her satisfied.

Well, Jesus Christ! Can I be your girl too? I need you! I want to be satisfied!

So you see, things haven’t changed much in the TOO FAR series. Rush is still a wicked dirty talker – mind you, he isn’t all talk… It seems that he is pretty talented at burning up the sheets as well. Blair is totally preggo and hornier than a brass band on Flag Day and lucky for Blaire, she’s got Rush to fulfill all her needs and desires and then some – the boy has staying power, that’s for sure! Rush is still the rope in a mean game of tug-o-war between Blaire and his family – his family dynamics are whew! Over the top messed up! Blaire is a saint! I would have killed every last one of them by now… Well, except for Rush… Wouldn’t want to waste a mouth like that… A girl can only take so much and as much as I love Rush, I was jumping up and down, acting a fool when she finally found her backbone again.

I am Abbi Glines’ bitch! Yep! Fan-girl here! Whatever story she is spinnin’, I’m all over it and I have yet to be disappointed. I was happy this third book of the series pretty much wrapped up Blaire and Rush’s story and even happier to see the way was paved for a number of possibilities for future installments and love connections. I can’t wait! I have confidence they will be solid gold!

If you haven’t picked up this series yet, then stop everything you are doing and click your happy ass right on over to your favorite book etailer and get it! If you like fun and feisty characters, drama, romance and the new-adult genre, then you are really missing out on a good time. Be sure to thank me when you’re done ;-)

OH! P.S. Totally loved that Glines found a way to slip this in:

I’m going to go on up to my room. I have a book to finish. Recently I’ve found indie authors on my Kindle and I’m slightly addicted.

Addicted indeed!


✳✳ Reviewed on I ♥ Bookie Nookie Reviews

___________________________________________________
If you like this type of book, you might enjoy one of these groups. Check us out!

Menage Readers

Erotic Enchants

Bookie Nookie's Erotic Lending Group


View all my reviews

BUY IT NOW! - Amazon

Saturday, June 22, 2013

Blog Tour Review: Birthday Wishes by Braxton Cole

Birthday Wishes by Braxton Cole
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Happy Birthday to ME! I think it is totally fitting that I am writing this review the day before my birthday since not only is it called BIRTHDAY WISHES but it was about as hot a present as I could have hoped for… Unless of course Braxton Cole is planning on delivering Luca to my door dressed in only a bow. Please, please? My address is… Oh yah, I’m drooling just thinking about that. I will be ecstatic but my husband might be a little (a lot) ticked. What to do…

So back to my review. Mari and Luca meet online with very specific intentions. They want a no strings attached rendezvous (or several) and it will include all of their hottest fantasies. They’ve shared drug tests, discussed logistics, compared wish lists, and now it’s all about pleasure, all night long. That is, until Mari’s nosy brother grabs her phone and gives Luca the address to Mari’s surprise 30th birthday party. Now all of Mari’s family and friends want to know who the smoking hot package is that just walked through the door. Whoops.

Here’s what I loved about BIRTHDAY WISHES: Everything.

More specifically? I loved that Braxton Cole didn’t use the length of the book as an excuse to rush feelings or create romance where there isn’t any. She used her pages VERY wisely. Oh my hotness, did she use them wisely. Mari isn’t some girl who says she wants no strings attached and then the second she meets the guy, she’s head over heels imagining how many kids they’ll have. That is one of my big pet peeves in a story, by the way. Either it’s a fling or it’s a romance – but if you’re going to make it both I better be able to believe it. And since I’m wondering when Luca is going to show up at my door, I think Braxton Cole was more than successful!

Personally, I’d rather we skipped the small talk and got straight to the fucking. He seemed like a nice guy and I was sure he could chat me up as well as anyone, but why bother? We didn’t meet online for dating and time with the family.

I knew exactly where I wanted to start and it didn’t involve words beyond the occasional Oh, God! And Yes, right there!

Wasn’t the woman supposed to beg for more while the man remained emotionally distant? Apparently I was dating a girl. A really hot girl with sexy man parts and chiseled abs, but a girl nonetheless. Fuck my life.

You go, Mari! Love it. And then there’s the seamless way Braxton Cole was able to slowly worm Luca’s way into Mari (and my) heart. He’s hot and sexy and demanding in the bedroom. But he also has a soft side that we get to accidently witness when he doesn’t think we’re looking that makes it endearing without being overkill.

The car slid to a stop and the doors opened. An elderly couple entered and he stepped away from me. His face colored slightly and I stifled a giggle in my hand. This man had written, in explicit detail, all the debauched things he wanted to do to my body, but the thought of being busted by other people made him respond like a school boy.

My relationship with Luca was turning out to be more fun than I expected. We had some very specific, very kinky fantasies that we wanted to play out and we’d agreed to do it together. That we were both learning the roles we wanted to play made it that much more endearing. We were in kinky sex kindergarten together.

The words Luca used for the introductions were standard and simple. The reaction it evoked in me was not. He spoke my name with reverence, with pride, and with possession. And emotion in his voice made me warm in forgotten places. Not just in sexy, oh-yeah-right-there places, but also in the neglected cracks and crevices around my heart.

It was the perfect combination of explosive, passionate sex and sweet, disarming moments that made me feel everything! This is one of those novellas that I want to hold up, shake, and say LOOK! This is what a novella should look like! This! You CAN have your cake and eat it too! This was a spectacular 4.5 star read that will have you all kinds of worked up!

**Copy provided by the author/publisher for an honest review.

**Reviewed by preppea on I ♥ Bookie Nookie Reviews.

View all my reviews


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Friday, June 21, 2013

Blog Tour Giveaway, Review & Excerpt: Carry Your Heart by Audrey Bell











GIVEAWAY ENDS ON 6/29 AT MIDNIGHT!

Carry Your Heart by Audrey Bell

Description:
Champion skier Pippa Baker lost everything in the avalanche: her boyfriend, his best friend, and her will to win. After a year of grief, she returns to competition.

She finds more than buried memories and steep slopes in Utah. She finds Hunter Dawson, a heartbreaking daredevil with the gold medals to prove it. And she finds that his reputation doesn’t stop her from falling hard, and that her heart might not be as broken as she once believed.

But, Hunter has scars and memories too—scars that make him believe falling in love might hurt too much, scars that make him run.

Pippa knows how much love hurts when it’s gone. Will she stop herself before she’s in too deep? Or will she let herself fall?

This is a new adult, contemporary romance novel.


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Review:

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Why is it that good girls always fall for bad boys? It must be a chemical found only in females. WAIT! I think I remember reading about this in science class… *goes to look it up* Ah, yes! I was right! I KNEW IT!   It’s the chemical called I'ᴍAᴅᴜᴍʙᴀssBᴜᴛOʜHᴇIsSᴏHᴏᴛGᴏᴛTᴏHᴀᴠᴇTʜᴀᴛDɪᴄᴋRɪɢʜᴛNᴏᴡ! This chemical makes girls lose all common sense in the presence of overly confident, hot and sexy males – I say girls, but don’t get excited, because it never goes away; in fact it sometimes gets more intense with age.

There is no fucking way I’m letting you toss my board into the bottom of an airplane. You know how many times I’ve lost my snowboard? Zero. You know how many times JetBlue has? Four. Four fucking times. How is that level of incompetence even possible?

See? That’s snowboarder and Gold Medalist, Hunter Dawson. Prime example right there. Any level headed female would run the other way – I mean, who would want a hot-head like that? Okay, who cares that he is perhaps the most gorgeous man you have seen in ages? He loses major points for possessing the asshole gene. DO NOT PASS GO! DO NOT COLLECT $200! And by all means, DO NOT GET IN BED WITH THIS MAN! Ha! Not so fast! Did you forget about the aforementioned chemical found in normally levelheaded females? Umm-hmm. Pippa Baker is a woman, so, yep! She has it!

Pippa Baker lost everything that meant anything to her in an avalanche over a year ago. Once a champion skier, she walked away from it all; lost in a world of grief over the death of her boyfriend and his best friend. She has pretty much stopped doing anything that ever brought her any joy, including skiing. She just can't go back to it. Her former coach isn’t taking “no” for an answer. He is determined to build her back up to the champion she once was. So, when she finally succumbs to his persistence, the last thing she is looking for is love – especially love with a loose cannon like Hunter Dawson.

Hunter throws off jerk vibes at every turn. He’s arrogant and he’s a womanizer. He has a bad reputation, but there is something truly magnetic about him. See? Even I’m getting sucked in and wouldn’t mind having a little piece of his "action," if I’m being honest. Hunter may seem like he has it all, but he has wounds from his past that need healing too. Once he drops the “tough guy” act and shows his tender side, there is just no way any woman could resist – and Pippa is no exception.

Pippa and Hunter have amazing chemistry, but old habits die-hard. Hunter is a bit like a puppy being potty trained… It takes a bit for him to learn, but once he gets it, he really gets it.

New author, Audrey Bell makes a fantastic debut with CARRY YOUR HEART. She did a wonderful job with creating great characters – characters that I look forward to learning more about. I’m a fan. I’m really looking forward to what she has in store for the second installment in this series called After Forever.

NOTE: Self-Published indicates no “professional editing” has occurred. With the exception of some grammatical and spelling errors, Bell has done a great job of giving the reader a lovely finished product. I know some readers take off stars for editing errors, so I thought this was worth mentioning - if the story is appealing to you, please don’t let this deter you from snatching it up. I can almost guarantee you will not be disappointed.


✳✳ Copy provided by the author/publisher for an honest review.


Excerpt:

“I’m going to grab a drink,” I say, badly wanting something to ease the nerves and excitement of being back here. The last time I saw most of these faces was at Ryan’s funeral. I shake that unpleasant, searing memory. Parker had been a pallbearer. Joe had practically collapsed outside of the church. I shudder. Center myself in the present.

You’re in a bar. Almost a year later.

I look around for a bartender, and find Laurel instead.

“Hey!” she slurs enthusiastically.

“Hey, Laurel.”

“Lucky break today, huh?” she asks.

“Yep. You okay?”

She rolls her eyes. “Fine. I was so fucking pissed.”

“It happens to everyone,” I say with a shrug.

“Not to me,” she tosses her hair. “So, you’re like back or whatever? For real?”

I nod. “I’m back.”

Hunter leans further on the counter and looks down, past Laurel to me. “How’d you do?” he asks. His eyes are locked intensely on mine. It’s a gaze that I can’t hold for long.

“Third,” I say.

“Not bad,” he smiles mischievously. “Told you I’d pray for you.”

Laurel shakes her head as if she’s noticed that Hunter and I are talking for the first time. “Oh. Hunter, this is Pippa.”

“Hey,” I say.

“We know each other,” Hunter says automatically.

“How?” she demands.

“We were on the same plane here,” Hunter says. He watches me. He answers Laurel’s question, but his eyes don’t leave me. “Philly, can I get you a drink?”

“Ah…” I glance at him and at the bartender and at Laurel.

“Her name is Pippa,” Laurel says.

“What do you like?”

“Gin and tonic.”

He grins. “Country club girl, huh?”

Laurel looks at him and scowls. “Hunter, don’t leave without me. I’m going to say hi to all of my friends.”

She disappears over to Brooke and a few of the men’s Alpine skiers. I watch her, curiously, while a few of the male skiers let their eyes roam over me. They’re not checking me out. It’s more of a haunted look. Like, I’m the ghost of a bad memory they try to forget everyday.

They were the ones who were Danny and Ryan’s best friends. The guys they grew up with, fought with, all of that stuff.

And I’m the girl who somehow didn’t die when both of their buddies did. I swallow. I know they can’t look at me without thinking of them. I know that’s true for so many people here.

“Hey,” Hunter says softly, getting my attention. He has a beer and my drink.

He pushes the glass towards me and leaves a twenty-dollar bill on the bar.

He steps closer, sits down on a stool near me, and leans close, so I can feel the heat of his body and smell his aftershave. I like being near him. It’s warm. It feels dangerous.

“So are you always this happy with third place?” he teases.

“No. Not usually.”

He nods. “Better than second.” He rubs his chin. “Someone once told me that there’s nothing worse than fourth place, because you’re the best person not to get a medal. But I don’t think that’s true. I think second is the worst.”

I nod. “You finish second a lot?”

He laughs. “Nah. I finish first or I don’t finish at all.”

“You race?”

“Used to,” he nods. “Not anymore. I do some freestyle stuff, half-pipe.” He smiles. “I actually started snowboarding because I hated racing—when I skied. When I was a little kid.” He bites his lip and cocks his head. “But, I like to compete. Plus, I wasn’t any good on skis.”

“I doubt that’s true.”

“No, it is…” he shakes his head. “I raced your ex-boyfriend for a while. Danny?”

I nod. “Oh, yeah?”

“Back in middle school. Ryan, too. Ryan was fucking good. Everyone always told us to try and do it like Ryan.”

I flutter my eyelashes briefly, remembering how quick and graceful Ryan was. Even my dad, who knew little about competitive skiing, said so when he watched him race.

“The Snow Cat.”

“Huh?”

“Ryan the Snow Cat. That’s what Danny called him—always landed on his feet.”

Hunter nods.  “You don’t want to talk about this.” He moves a little closer.

“We can talk about it.” I don’t mind telling Hunter about them—he barely knew them and he seems barely curious.

“But you don’t want to.” His hair is combed back, in soft dark waves, and his eyes are big, green and glassy. The color of celery. He lifts the dark Budweiser bottle to his mouth and takes a long sip of beer.

God, he looks good.

He wipes the back of his mouth with one hand, a lazy, athletic gesture that makes me look at lips, soft and…shit, Pippa, you cannot be doing this right now.

I finish half of my drink in one swallow.

“Thirsty?”

“Yeah,” I say. “Nervous.”

He raises an eyebrow. I wish I could do that. “Yeah? Do I make you nervous, Pippa?”

I blush. Stupid admission. Yes. “You’ve decided to call me Pippa?”

He smiles. “I feel weird buying someone named Phil drinks.”

“Ah, got it.”

He leaned forward onto his arms. I smell the alcohol on his breath; he’s more than a little bit tipsy at this point. “So, did you feel it change?”

“What?”

“Everything.”

“When?”

“Today.”

“I didn’t feel anything change.”

“When you finished third,” he bites his lip and slides even closer to me. He leans and whispers in my ear. “You know, nobody feels sorry for you anymore. Now that they think you might be in the way again.”

I look back, over the people I know, and then up at Hunter. “Everyone here is an adult. We all want the same thing. We know that.”

He laughs. “You think Laurel’s going to go quietly if you keep beating her?” He shakes his head. “I saw you go today. You weren’t even trying. If I could see that, then I’m sure everyone else could”

“I was trying.”

“Not like you used to.”

“You never saw me ski before, so…”

“I know what playing scared looks like. Trust me. I was that guy for a long time,” he nods. He looks down at the bar.

“What’s your point?”

“Nothing.” He shrugs: “You seem like a cool girl. And I know what it’s like. One year I was the down on his luck kid and everyone was happy to see me win. The next year, I was just the competition. And I couldn’t figure out why people I thought were friends weren’t my friends anymore. Things change when you win. When it’s you, you’re the last person to realize what’s happening.”

I nod. “Oh, and you’re just looking out for me?”

“You don’t have to believe me.”

“No,” I say. I step back. “I never said I didn’t believe you. Thanks, I guess.”

“Laurel hates your fucking guts, by the way.”

“Yeah. So I’ve heard.”

He shrugs, not saying anything back to me.

“So, what’s your deal with her? She’s your girlfriend?”

He takes a long sip of beer, buying a little more time. He swallows and smirks. “I guess it depends on whether you want to come home with me.”

A flush rushes to my face. I didn’t think I seemed that easy. Or like I wanted him that badly. “Excuse me?”

“Do you want to come home with me?”

I stare at him. “How much have you had to drink?”

“Not that much,” he shrugs. “Interested?”

“No,” I say indignantly.

“Yeah, then, sure. I guess she’s my girlfriend.” I stare at him for a few seconds.

“I…”

“What? Changed your mind?” he asks wickedly.

“No.” I shake my head. “Have fun.”

“I’ll try, Philly.” It really doesn’t seem like he cares that I’ve said no, and he definitely doesn’t care if I’m pissed off. But I am pissed off—both by the question and by the fact that he’s leaving with Laurel so soon after asking me if I wanted to go home with him.

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About the Author:

Audrey Bell lives in New York City, where she indulges her SoulCycle addiction and expresses her passionate hatred of the 6 Train. You can find her reading in Central Park, overcaffeinating at Starbucks, or trying to kidnap her neighbors’ Maltese puppy. She loves hearing from readers

Contact Audrey Bell:

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Blog Tour Review & Giveaway: Consequences by Aleatha Romig



Consequences by Aleatha Romig

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Book Synopsis: 

Besieged by memories of a brutal abduction, Claire Nichols wakes in an unfamiliar bedroom, within a luxurious mansion. Her recollections have one common denominator, the man she just met, Anthony Rawlings.
Unbeknownst to Claire, for a very long time, she has been within Anthony’s sights. Many of the pivotal events in her life occurred, due to his sinister manipulation. Every action has a consequence, and his actions result in their chance meeting.

More than a psychological thriller, Consequences is a vivid story of one woman’s struggle to survive incomprehensible circumstances. Every aspect of her being suddenly depends upon the tall, wealthy, dark haired, dark eyed businessman. Anthony Rawlings is known to the world as prosperous, benevolent, and kind. Claire quickly learns that he can also be a menacing controlling captor.

With few options but concession, Claire attempts to earn her freedom, while enduring a hellish existence that truly appears perfect. Persevering tests and trials, she struggles to retain her pure Midwest values and beliefs. Encouraged by memories of a loving upbringing, she gains strength in the simplest of joys: solitude in nature and good in the face of evil.

His goal in sight, Anthony’s calculated agenda encounters an unforeseen detour. He becomes captivated by Claire’s beauty, resilience, and determination. The interaction of these two compelling characters instigates strong emotions: fear, anger, love, and lust. Claire and Anthony’s tumultuous journey flows into uncharted waters of intrigue and passion.

Utilizing vivid detail, this 167,000-word novel unfolds like a movie, before the eyes of its readers. From the opening criminal abduction, through twists and turns, to the unlikely romantic thrills, the suspense climaxes as Anthony’s motivation becomes evident.

Anthony and Claire must decide if they will stay true to one another, or allow preceding actions to result in justifiable Consequences.



My Review:

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


STOP THE MADNESS!!! 

I get giddy just thinking about the level of excitement and frustration I felt when I first read CONSEQUENCES.  I was a little crazed by the "not knowing" what was going to happen next, but that is half the fun, right?  I struggled with wanting to strangle and hug Aleatha Romig for creating a story that elicited such powerful emotions in me.  I was one of the first people to review this book on Goodreads and according to the author, Aleatha Romig, I was the first blogger to ever post a review - WOW!  I have got to say, she writes a damn good story!

If you have not read CONSEQUENCES, then congratulations!  You have the pleasure of looking forward to beginning this insane roller coaster of a trilogy.  I am jealous!  You have a whole boat load of mystery, intrigue and sexy thrills ahead of you.  LUCKY YOU!  You don't have to wait for the second installment, because it is already out and the third and final book in the trilogy is due out somewhere in the September-ish (2013) time frame...

First of all, I feel the need to disclose that CONSEQUENCES is not a fun and fluffy book – entertaining, mysterious, scary and frustrating – yes, yes, yes and yes! NOT a story of goodness and light. Of-course, parts of the book are fun and sexy, but there is always a sinister undertone lurking in the background.

Brutalized and kidnapped by a handsome and wealthy psycho, Claire struggles with a wide range of emotions over a period of 2 years while being held captive - trapped in beautifully exquisite surroundings but a horrifically terrifying life.

As the book’s blurb says, it really does “unfold like a movie.” In fact, SLEEPING WITH THE ENEMY came to mind a lot. Reading CONSEQUENCES was like being on an emotional rollercoaster and I am still reeling. I was constantly conflicted. The emotional and physical abuse Claire endured was painful to read – I was screaming at her to get a freaking grip and get the hell out! Then, at other times, I was really rooting for Anthony and Claire to make it as a couple. As I was reading, I tried to distance myself from the contents on the pages, but ultimately, the bold imagery forced me to internalize the emotion of the abused heroine – this must be similar to the feelings abused women go through. The emotions of despair and anxiety at having to constantly walk on eggshells in fear of upsetting the sensitive balance between loving elation and angry outbursts. It was exhausting.

I love it when the author throws the reader a curve ball and that is exactly what Aleatha Romig does in CONSEQUENCES. I was certain I knew what was going to happen then she totally yanked the rug right out from under me, knocking me on my ass and leaving me totally stunned.

Just as I teetered on the narrow ledge between sanity and insanity, I was saved by the release of the second book in the Consequences Trilogy.  Trust me when I say Aleatha really knows how to keep her readers on their toes!

Looking for a psychological thriller? Then you have found it! It’s a good one! CONSEQUENCES is definitely a book you have to read. I hope it evokes the same crazy emotions in you that it did in me and I hope you love it as much as I did!


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Want a little preview of what you are gonna get?  
Here is a little teaser of the Tony I love...


She lifted her head out of the water to clear her ears and began to tread water.

“Tony, you startled me. Catherine said you wouldn’t be home until late.” She couldn’t see his eyes. She waited for him to respond. He stood in silence for a moment; she thought about talking. While she debated, he walked to a chair hidden in darkness. When he returned she could only see his silhouette but knew he was now nude.

Still not speaking, Tony dove into the pool. He swam up to Claire and wrapped his arms around her. Within seconds, Claire’s bathing suit disappeared. His actions were fast and rough. Their mouths united as their tongues searched wildly for one another. He moved from her lips to the nape of her neck and all places in between. The pool depth allowed Tony to touch but not Claire. She wrapped her legs around his torso, allowing him to support her. He continued to nuzzle her neck, lifting her body so her round supple breasts found his lips. His kisses became nips and he gently bit the tips of her hard nipples.

Claire groaned with pleasure.

His hurried movements caused his bristled face to scratch her soft skin. However, the pain of his beard was quickly forgotten as the pleasure from his touch filled her consciousness. His mouth tantalized and his hands explored. Claire’s back arched as she pressed her breasts toward his mouth and wrapped her fingers in his wet hair. Though the night was hot, Claire’s arms and legs cloaked with goose bumps. In the silence of the country night her moans echoed as her body convulsed.

Tony eventually led Claire out of the pool, onto a chaise lounge. He resumed his exploration but not with his hands. They still hadn’t spoken. Claire’s mind teetered between the cognizant he doesn’t seem upset and the unconscious ecstasy. His actions slowed, became more deliberate and sensual, causing sensations deep inside of her. She held on to his massive shoulders and accepted everything he had to offer.

The carnal heat intensified by the night’s humidity instigated perspiration. Claire tasted the amazing salty, sweat, and chlorine potion as her lips and tongue seduced his neck. When he finished they were both moist, more from one another than the pool.

Panting, they lay still, listening to the cicadas and crickets. Finally, with a grin, Tony spoke, “Good evening, Claire.” His eyes were soft suede brown. “I wasn’t happy when you weren’t in your suite.” Claire started to speak but stopped as Tony’s finger lightly touched her lips. “But your idea of a swim on this hot evening was much better than what I planned.”

Claire smiled. They moved back into the water to cool off but found that even in the water they had problems staying cool.












































Author Bio: 

Aleatha Romig voted #1 "New Author to Read" on Goodreads, July 2012 through now! She is a "Published Author's Network" member of the Romance Writer's of America.

She has lived most of her life in Indiana, growing-up in Mishawaka, graduating from Indiana University, and currently living south of Indianapolis. Together with her husband of twenty six years, they've raised three children. She works days as a dental hygienist and enjoys spending her nights writing. She also likes to spend time with her family, friends and patients. Her pastimes include exercising, reading and writing.

Aleatha enjoys traveling, especially when there is a beach involved. In 2011 she had the opportunity to visit Sydney, Australia to visit her daughter studying at the University of Wollongong. Her dream is to travel to places in her novels and around the world. CONSEQUENCES, her first novel was released in August 2011 and has sold over 20,000 copies. TRUTH, the sequel was released October 2012 and has surpassed 10,000 copies in less than 3 months!

Aleatha originally published through self publisher Xlibris a subsidiarity of Author's Solution/ Penguin Publishing. In October of 2012 she re-published on her own, a true Indie Author. Later that month she published Truth through Romig Works. Aleatha is happy to be represented by Danielle Egan-Miller of Browne & Miller Literary Associates.

Author Links:  
Facebook ● Goodreads  Website/Blog  Kindle

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