Wednesday, December 30, 2015

The Lie by Karina Halle - Cover Reveal

theliebanner  

I am so excited about this next book in The McGregors series by Karina Halle!  I have loved each book more than the last and I know that The Lie is going to be one in which Karina rips out my heart, does a jig on it, tapes it all back together, and then stuffs it back into my chest where it will beat with happiness. 

Check out another amazing cover addition to this series and then make sure to add this to your TBR, you won't want to miss it!  



  The Lie AMAZON



Book Description:

Their love led to a lie. Their truth led to the end. Scottish enigma Brigs McGregor is crawling out from the ashes. After losing his wife and son in a car accident - and, subsequently, his job - he's finally moving forward with his life, securing a prestigious teaching position at the University of London and starting a new chapter in the city. Slowly, but surely, he's pushing past the guilt and putting his tragic past behind him. Until he sees her. Natasha Trudeau once loved a man so much she thought she'd die without him. But their love was wrong, doomed from the start, and when their world crashed around them, Natasha was nearly buried in the rubble. It took years of moving on to forget him, and now that she's in London, she's ready to start over again. Until she sees him. Because some loves are too dangerous to ever rekindle. And some loves are too powerful to ignore. Can you ever have a second chance at a love that ruined you? The Lie is a second-chance romance with a dark, forbidden twist.    

  seriesbanner


Halle Headshot
With her USA Today Bestselling The Artists Trilogy published by Grand Central Publishing, numerous foreign publication deals, and self-publishing success with her Experiment in Terror series, Vancouver-born Karina Halle is a true example of the term "Hybrid Author." Though her books showcase her love of all things dark, sexy and edgy, she's a closet romantic at heart and strives to give her characters a HEA...whenever possible.
Karina holds a screenwriting degree from Vancouver Film School and a Bachelor of Journalism from TRU. Her travel writing, music reviews/interviews and photography have appeared in publications such as Consequence of Sound, Mxdwn and GoNomad Travel Guides. She currently lives on an island on the coast of British Columbia where she’s preparing for the zombie apocalypse with her fiancĂ© and rescue pup.

  FACEBOOK ~ TWITTER ~ GOODREADS ~ AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE
 

Tuesday, December 29, 2015

Untouchable Darkness by Rachel Van Dyken - Release Day









Book Description:

To love a Dark One is to invite death...

It is wrong to love her.
It is worse to want her.
It is sin to consume her.
I desire all three.

I've been given thirty days to prove my love to another immortal--as a human. Cursed to use nothing but the side of myself I've always despised to win her affection. I am Cassius, the King of the immortals, A Dark One.
And today I tasted fear for the first time.
How can I win her when my human emotions over take every ounce of logic I possess?
A darkness is brewing.
One I cannot stop as a human.
One that Stephanie, my loves visions, have shown, will be my end.
Thirty days ago I was King of the immortals.
Today I know fear.
Today I know how I will die.
By her hand.
The woman I love.





Quick Thoughts from me, full review to come soon.

Untouchable Darkness is another fantastic book from Rachel Van Dyken.  She is so good at pulling you straight into a story and keeping you there until the very end then leaving you both satisfied and wanting so much more.  Not more of that particular storyline exactly but just wanting more of the world she has created and the characters she has given us.  I think I could easily follow her through a series of 20 books with out ever feeling like we are getting lost, bored, or repetitive.

I love her characters, their depth, their passion, their pain, and especially in this book their compassion.  Rachel has taken a genre that was becoming mundane and given it new life.  I love her take on this genre and her world building.

I definitely recommend starting with her book Dark Ones so you aren't missing any of the story but you could start here and not be completely lost.  This is a fantastic new series for Paranormal Romance fans one that I highly recommend.  So grab your self a copy and settle in.

~ HAPPY READING ~ 




Rachel Van Dyken is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author of regency and contemporary romances. When she's not writing you can find her drinking coffee at Starbucks and plotting her next book while watching The Bachelor.

She keeps her home in Idaho with her Husband, adorable son, and two snoring boxers! She loves to hear from readers!

Mastered by Maya Banks - Review




Author: Maya Banks
Publication Date:  29 December 2015
Publisher: Berkley
Series:  The Enforcers, book 1
Genre:  Contemporary Erotic Romance
Age Recommendation: 18 and up
Rating: 3.5 Stars

~ I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review ~


Book Description:

What he wants, he takes with no remorse or guilt.

She stood out in his club like a gem, unspoiled and untouched. A lamb among wolves, she clearly didn’t belong. Drawn to her innocence he watched as she was surrounded by men who saw what he did—but no one but him could touch her. He summoned her to his private quarters. He sensed her fear. He also recognized the desire in her eyes. And he knew she wouldn’t leave before he possessed her. She had no need to know his secrets. Not until he had her under his complete and utter control.

What he wants, she isn’t sure she can give him.

The moment he told her want he wanted, she couldn’t resist. Instinct told her to run, but her heart said stay and walk the fine line between pleasure and pain. Though she wasn’t sure she could ever completely surrender, the primal part of her wanted to try, even knowing this man could break her in ways she never imagined. Because once he possessed her, he owned her and it would be too late to turn back. She can only pray that he doesn’t destroy her in the end.



My Review:

After being pushed by her friends to leave a bad and in the end mentally abusive relationship behind by going to one of the hottest clubs in the city and strutting 'her stuff' in front of the man that hurt her, Evangeline Hawthorne ends up in a world she only dreamed of during her deepest fantasies.  

Drake Donovan is not a man to be trifled with.  This is his world and he rules it by following his own strict set of rules.  Let no one close, trust very few...and even those few trust hesitantly. Earn and demand respect, and never have a liability.  Yet in one night his carefully constructed world begins to crumble around him.  She doesn't belong in his world but in the face of a doe-eyed innocent Drake Donovan can not turn away.  

So I am pretty torn on this book and a lot of that oddly has to do with the and can be explained by the friendships in this book.  First off, I do not like Evangeline's friends, (Drake and I totally agree on this point) they are instead of supportive (thought they act as though they are being so) manipulative, jealous, petty, and in general I think a group of mean girls.  We don't get a lot of time with them and perhaps in the future they will grow on me, because I have no doubt we will see them again (a lot) but as of this book I am again appalled by the idea of female friendship that I keep seeing come up in books.  It's all very slick and pretty on the outside but full of ugly when you look a bit closer.  

On the flip side of that I LOVED Drake's friends.  These are a group of men that know the importance of standing up for one another, of having someone's back, of caring for those your friend(s) love because you truly love your friend.  I want to know everything about these friends of Drakes, the little tidbits did nothing but wet my appetite.  It felt like where with the female characters we were watching a gaggle of teenage girls (which they are not and which makes me rather sad) with Drake's friends we are getting the story and the behavior of grown men and I really wish we could have had the same feel from both sides.  Both sides have clearly struggled through life, yes it is clear what Drake's inner circle has gone through (although we really don't know what that is yet) individually growing up is likely much harsher than Evangeline's but both sides have known adversity, sadly only one side has seemed to 'step-up' to the plate.  

This dichotomy between the friendships is the same challenge I had through the whole book.  I loved the story, not so much the relationship, I loved one set of friends not the other, I loved the mystery but didn't feel like I got enough information.  I needed less mental fluff from Evangeline and more depth from both characters.  Donovan makes it clear over and over again that all he needs from Evangeline is her trust and she claims over and over that he has it but then she gets snitty and does something that goes against her statement, not once, not twice...but continually through out the book.  Mastered turns from what I see as a potentially deep love story to a battle of wills, temper-tantrums, and apologies.....and then there is the cliffhanger.  Nooooooooo!  Haha 

So you may think now that I didn't like the book, well I did actually.  I like the cast of characters, I liked Donovan and his 'brothers'. I like that there is a story in there, one that can be really powerful and moving when we get to it and I do hope that we will get to it.  I will continue to read this series because I want to get to the nitty gritty of it and learn all the details.  I loved that deep down both the main characters have similar flaws, they both need someone to care for them, they need someone to love them, to prove that they are worth everything.  I loved the peek we got into Donovan's world, and I am looking forward to seeing how Maya develops it, how she opens it up to us.  I feel a bit like Maya was the Donovan in this situation, only letting us part way in because she wasn't quite sure she could trust us with all the ugly yet and I want to yell "Trust us Maya, you can trust us to love you if you just let us in!"

 If you enjoyed 50 Shades, The BlackStone Affair, or other Contemporary Erotica Romance you will enjoy this.  Know that it ends on a cliff-hanger, know that there is a lot left to learn at the end of this book and even a lot will still be left to learn at the end of the next book.  I am curious how many books will be in this series, because Drake seems to 'have' a lot of men and I want to know all of their stories.  That being said know that if you go into this book you are making a commitment, because I don't think you will be able to stop at just one!  

***This is a MATURE adult Erotica read!***


~ HAPPY READING ~



My name is Maya Banks and I live in Texas with my husband and three children and our assortment of pets. I’m more of a cat person, but my daughter became convinced she NEEDED a dog. So convinced in fact that it became her mission to convince her father and me. She prepared a two page hand written proposal that detailed WHY she needed a dog, and well, after I sent her to her father (I knew he wouldn’t tell her no) we embarked on the search for the perfect dog. The journey that was two hours away and that I got pulled over for speeding while I was on the phone with my agent who had an offer from a publisher for one of my books… The officer wasn’t impressed. He wrote me a ticket anyway. Thus, I now tell my daughter that her dog turned into one very expensive concession! But isn’t he cute?

                 

When I’m not writing, I love to hunt and fish with my family. We all love the outdoors and go on family hunting trips every year. We also love to travel. One of our more recent trips was to Scotland, which was every bit as comical as National Lampoon’s European Vacation. You know the part about “Look kids, Big Ben, Parliament” as they went round and round the roundabouts? Yeah, that was us, only we couldn’t even get out of the airport in Glasgow without hitting three of those suckers.

Perhaps the most rewarding aspect of a writing career is getting to meet so many wonderful readers. There’s nothing better than dishing books with someone who loves the romance genre as much as I do. Romance readers are passionate and vocal. We love our books, love our happily ever afters, and we love to spend time talking to others about our favorites. THIS is why I love my job so much, and I’m so grateful to readers who gave ME a chance when I began my career. So thank you.


Tuesday, December 22, 2015

The Mother Road by Meghan Quinn - Teaser Blast


Check out this teaser for THE MOTHER ROAD 
by Meghan Quinn! 
Be sure to add it to your TBR!


THE MOTHER ROAD by Meghan Quinn
NA Romantic Comedy
Release date: January 12, 2016
Cover Designed by: Meghan Quinn


Book Description:

Never in a million years would I have pictured myself as an axe-wielding, dragon lady, chopping up multi-colored flannel shirts into my very own plaid mulch. But here I am, chopping away my frustrations.

It all started when my brother, Paul, convinced me to go on one last family road trip across the Mother Road with him and my dad.. Just like old times, right? Wrong. What Paul fails to mention is his best man, Porter, will be joining us, who just so happens to be my childhood crush and the man who broke my heart four years ago.

What is supposed to be a fun, family bonding experience across Route 66 turns into a war
of pranks, awkward moments and bathrooms full of dirty flannel shirts and day old beard clippings. Paul’s know-it-all attitude and Porter’s devilish charm brings me to the brink of my sanity on my seven day trek across the United States with three bearded men in a small 1980’s RV.



About the Author:

Born in New York and raised in Southern California, Meghan has grown into a sassy, peanut butter eating, blonde haired swearing, animal hoarding lady. She is known to bust out and dance if "It's Raining Men" starts beating through the air and heaven forbid you get a margarita in her, protect your legs because they may be humped.

Once she started commuting for an hour and twenty minutes every day to work for three years, she began to have conversations play in her head, real life, deep male voices and dainty lady coos kind of conversations. Perturbed and confused, she decided to either see a therapist about the hot and steamy voices running through her head or start writing them down. She decided to go with the cheaper option and started writing... enter her first novel, Caught Looking.

Now you can find the spicy, most definitely on the border of lunacy, kind of crazy lady residing in Colorado with the love of her life and her five, furry four legged children, hiking a trail or hiding behind shelves at grocery stores, wondering what kind of lube the nervous stranger will bring home to his wife. Oh and she loves a good boob squeeze!

Monday, December 21, 2015

My Favorite Children's Christmas Books - A Mom Monday Post


MOM MONDAY

As you may know by now, I love books.  I love all sorts of books including holiday books and my favorite holiday books have to be Christmas books.  There are so many great ones out there and I know that I have missed plenty of them, but over the last few years while my girls were (are) little our Christmas book collection has grown to about 25 books




Today I am going to take a moment and share my favorite 5 with you...I hope you will find one to add to your collection!


Mooseltoe by Margie Palatini
Illustrations by Henry Cole



Book Description:

'Tis the night before Christmas and Moose is determined to make everything perfect for the big day. With checklist in hoof and ho ho ho's on his mind, he makes sure everything is perfect. He wraps, he decorates, he bakes and he sings. He does it all, except one thing. Somehow, some way, some moosetake has occurred, and one little item has gone unchecked. Moose has forgotten the Christmas tree. Nothing will ruin this Moose family's Christmas, though, and with a little imagination (and a lot of glue) Moose's moosetache turns him into a splendid, breathing Christmas tree.This sweet story is guaranteed to have children chuckling as they follow Moose through his holiday.

 ~ We love the fun of this book and the story reminding us that Christmas isn't about everything being "perfectly perfect" but about spending time with and the people you love the most and finding joy in the simple things even if things have gone awry.  Oh and Moose has the most amazing Moose-stach of them all, it is glorious.  

This is a great read for young children.  My 10 year old laughs at it, but it is more geared toward children 8 and under, although enjoyable for any age.  


One Snowy Night by M. Christina Butler
Illustrations by Tina Macnaughton



Book Description:

Jewel-like colors, animals with unmistakable character, and a flocked woolly hat on every page enhance this tender story about a little hedgehog who is caught unprepared by a chilly winter wind.

~ This is one of those sweet stories that will have you trying to inconspicuously wipe away tears as you read to your children.  This is a beautiful story of a precious hedgehog and the journey of a very special gift.  We love the illustrations, the 'velvet' red hat that you can touch on every page as it makes it's way from one friend to another.  The thoughtfulness that each animal has and the coming together as a group of friends to help when it is needed.  

This is a beautiful and touching story that is perfect for reading to your youngest little ones, especially with the touch and feel aspect, but it will also move even the oldest of readers.  

Snowmen at Christmas by Caralyn Buehner
Illustrations by Mark Buehner




Book Description:

Snowmen at Night shared with us the magical, slip-sliding adventures of snowmen after dark . . . but have you ever wondered what snowmen do for Christmas? Well, now’s your chance to find out! The snowmen are back, and this time they’re celebrating Christmas—the snowman way! This snappy and entertaining companion to the New York Times bestseller Snowmen at Night depicts all the best parts of the holiday, replete with icy treats and a snowman Kris Kringle.Told in the same bouncy verse as the original, Snowmen at Christmas is perfect for a snowy evening read-aloud.

~ We fell in love with this happy community of snow people after reading Snowmen at Night and had to have this book when we saw it on our bookstores shelves at Christmas time.  The art is whimsical with a touch of Americana.  There is so much happening on each page that after you read the story you will want to just flip back through the book to look at the pictures.  Make sure you do too because you may be surprised to find some hidden pictures!  The story is a fun and the poetry flows nicely as you read it out loud to your children, no tongue twisters here, thank goodness.  
We love imagining that snowmen don't just stay in our yards all winter long but that they have families and nights filled with revelry and joy.  

This is a great read for anyone in your household, there is a little something for everyone in this book! 


Bear Stays Up for Christmas by Karma Wilson
Illustrations by Jane Chapman



Book Description:

"The day before Christmas,
snuggled on his floor,
Bear sleeps soundly
with a great big snore...."

Bear's friends are determined to keep Bear awake for Christmas! So they wake Bear up and have him help them find a Christmas tree, bake cakes, hang up stockings, and sing Christmas songs. Bear stays up -- by discovering that giving is one of the best Christmas presents!

How a SURPRISE visit from someone very special gives Bear and his friends a Christmas to remember makes an enchanting holiday story for young readers. With Karma Wilson's memorable text and Jane Chapman's glowing illustrations, Bear Stays Up for Christmas is a book to cherish throughout the year.


~ This is a special book for me because I adore this entire series and I am pretty sure that while my children thoroughly enjoy this book I really bought it just for me, haha.  The illustrations are gorgeous and just wonderful to look at and get lost in and the story.  Ah, I love this story.  The story of Bear and his wonderful group of friends.  The narrative is rhyming and another lovely one to read out loud to your youngest children.  I adore the feeling in this book.  The knowledge that this group of friends who are basically family and how they care for each other.  There is are feelings of love, joy, and wonder throughout the tale.  Also if you haven't met bear before I highly recommend all his books :)

This is a great story to be read out loud to even your youngest 'readers' and a wonderful book for early readers and up to read to themselves.  A perfect Christmas eve story.  


A Wish to be a Christmas Tree by Colleen Monroe
Illustrations by Michael Glen Monroe



Book Description:

This charming tale of an overgrown pine always being passed by for Christmas, and what his woodland friends do to help him, is sure to become a Christmas classic. With delightful illustrations by wildlife artist Michael Monroe and enchanting text from Colleen Monroe, the birds, deer and squirrel of this story help make their special friend's wish come true.

~ Now I will start this by saying that this is a rather sad tale, but beautiful for it's sadness and it's ending.  This is another one of those books that will have you secretly wiping away your tears as you read it to your children, but it will also make your heart feel full when you get to the end so you know that the tears were worth it.  The illustrations are beautifully done, you can truly feel the emotion coming off the page as you look at them and read the story.  The prose is beautiful but it will be more difficult for your early readers to grasp, you have to get the rhyming tempo just right, making it a perfect out loud Christmas read for your family.  I love the message in the story, that you are more than you think you are and that you are important no matter how unimportant you might feel from time to time.

This is a perfect read-out-loud story for your family or a read-alone story for upper middle grade readers. It may be a bit heavy for a school story time, but it is a beautiful tale that deserves to be heard.

~ Merry Christmas Everyone 
Happy Reading ~


Wolf Bite by Nina West - Cover Reveal

Wolf Cove - banner   

I am  so excited to help bring you the Cover Reveal for Nina West’s WOLF BITE
Releasing in February 2016, WOLF BITE is the highly anticipated second novel in her Wolf Cove Series! 
Be sure you grab WOLF BAIT while it is free
This deal only lasts today and tomorrow! 
Wolf Bite is Book 2 in the Wolf Cove series and should be read after finishing Wolf Bait (Book 1).


  Wolf Bite, Book 2

Add WOLF BITE to your Goodreads!

 Book Description: 

Isolated in the luxurious Wolf Cove Hotel in Alaska, Abbi Mitchell is thousands of miles away from her family and friends. In the hands of a predator. Potentially. After discovering condemning information about the mercurial man who controls her day-to-day work life and, now, her most intimate private life as well, Abbi's not sure she can continue on with... whateveris going on between her and Henry Wolf. Especially when he's about to be thrown into a fiery media circus ring, and she, along with her reputation, will undoubtedly get dragged into it with him. But breaking things off with the Big Bad Wolf now likely means losing her job and her summer of freedom, and going back to the farm and her controlling mother. She's not doing that. Abbi does have something to hold over Henry's head. If he forces her hand. If she has the guts to do what amounts to blackmail. But will the all-powerful Henry Wolf concede, or will she finally feel his bite? 


     Wolf Bait - Free December 21 & 22    

And don’t miss the first book in the Wolf Cove Series, WOLF BAIT!

Now FREE for two days only, December 21st& 22nd!

Wolf Bait -cover

Amazon

    About Nina West: Nina West lives in the city but spends her summers in the wilderness with her husband. She loves having a steaming cup of cocoa in one hand and a steamy story full of angst in the other. Follow her on Facebook or on Twitter!

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Phoenix Rising by Madison Granger - Cover Reveal

Welcome to the Cover Reveal for Madison Granger's 
Phoenix Rising.  
Phoenix Rising is the first book in Madison's new series, The Kindred and is being published by Eclectic Bard Books.  
Phoenix Rising will be available April 2016!  



(It's so pretty!)
Links coming soon!  

Book Description:

Torie Masters is a curvy, middle-aged, divorcee with a normal job and family life. Her penchant for paranormal romances leaves her longing for the day she will meet the man who will sweep her off of her feet. She’s been dreaming a long time.

Quinn McGrath is Liege Lord to a centuries old clan of shapeshifters known as The Kindred. All have been promised a destined mate by the Goddess. He has all but given up finding his. 

Sparks fly when Quinn meets Torie. Could his ‘Promised Soul’ finally be real? The eternal mates might not stand a chance as man and nature work against them. From assassination attempts to a devastating hurricane, their future is put to the test across the globe. Is their bond strong enough to see them through to forever?



Meet the Author:


Madison Granger writes paranormal romances. Sexy shifters and mature BBW's find love and adventures in these tales, lending a realistic bent to a fantasy.


Friday, December 18, 2015

Entangled by Alex Rosa - Cover Reveal, Excerpt, and Giveaway!

I am excited to share the cover of Entangled by Alex Rosa with you! 
This is the fantastic sequel to Tryst and it’s coming out 
June 2016. 
Check out this excerpt and enter her giveaway!
  entangled_CV2


Book Description: 

In the emotional and dramatic sequel to Tryst, Skyler and Blake’s relationship is finally out in the open. But as new challenges open up old wounds, their love is put to the ultimate test...   Blake is desperate to be the kind of man that Skyler deserves, but with his latest film putting him on the verge of superstardom, being there for her is growing harder and harder. As his filming schedule takes him on the road and away from the woman he loves, he discovers that being in a public, committed relationship is no easy task—especially from two thousand miles away.   Skyler wants Blake to pursue his dreams, but his constant absence weighs on her more than she admits. Even as she throws herself into new distractions, she finds herself facing uncertainties and jealousies that could tear apart everything they’ve built. And when disaster strikes while Blake is away, she’ll have to decide if their passion is worth the pain...


 Catch up on the Series:




Exclusive Excerpt: 

Josh shakes his head, admonishing me. “Help your bro out and tie his tie.” Lifting his chin upward to signal my help, I giggle. “You wear a tie nearly every day. Why the help all of a sudden?” Blake’s ego make’s a surprise appearance from behind me as he quips, “It’s got to be because of his girl. What is it this week, Josh?” Josh’s stare frosts over, but if anything, among his anger I sense a bit of fear as he grunts, “Shut up, Blake.” Blake sticks his hands in his pockets, and struts around us, nose in the air. “C’mon, man. Don’t act like I don’t know you. There are only two things that make you nervous as hell. One, is spiders, you pussy. The second, well, that’s easy —commitment.” My throat goes dry as I loop my brother’s tie into a Windsor knot. I mean, this conversation is perfectly normal, but let’s not forget Josh is my brother, and his girlfriend, Vanessa, is one of my best friends. The idea of throwing commitment into the already awkward equation throws me. I peer up from my tying to see Josh already staring at me apprehensively. He chews the inside of his cheek, and releases a huff. “I’m not a commitment-phobe.” Why is it I feel like I’m intruding on their conversation as I make my final adjustment to my brother’s tie? Blake swivels around, smug and smiling, as if proud to admit whatever he’s about to say. “Bullshit. You and I both know we avoid commitment. It’s practically why we became friends. We understand each other. We avoid commitment by nature, but hey, that was until we met girls that handed our hearts to us on a silver platter, right?” Josh cannot fight his agreeing chuckle, but tries to cover it up as he shoots me an apologetic smirk. “I guess I can’t argue with that. Vanessa’s worth it though. And don’t forget, you break my sisters heart, I ruin you.” “Oh, ruin me? No death threats this time?” Blake goads with more attitude than I think he intends. Josh turns around to face him, and it almost seems playful. I’m hopeful for an element of normality between them. “I think it’s fair to assume both.” Blake clicks his tongue, and I hate that I think Blake looks hot when he goes into alpha-asshole mode when I know I should be scolding him, but then again, sometimes it’s good to stand up to Josh. “What makes you think she won’t break my heart?” Blake brazenly retorts. There’s a pause in the room, and both men swing their stare to me. Do I look like a deer in the headlights? Because I feel like one. The thought never crossed my mind that I would ever break anyone’s heart, let alone Blake’s. I consider my college friend and tutor, Richard Bennett, as a possible broken heart when I denied his advances, but he ran back into the arms of his ex, Heather, so it seems far from fair for it to qualify. Josh smiles warmly at me before turning back to Blake. “Skye? She can barely kill ants. What makes you think she would do the heart breaking when you’re far more experienced in that department?” Blake’s angular face blushes an adorable pink that’s so unlike him as he bashfully turns away, avoiding Josh’s glare. “Because I love her, man. Duh. She holds all the cards. When have you ever heard me say that?” Josh swallows down the idea before huffing, “I don’t know how I expect to get used to hearing that.” With Josh’s back to me I release my full ear-to-ear grin at hearing Blake. He peers over Josh’s shoulder to purposefully lock his stare with mine. The delicate, and charming wrinkling around his eyes confirms everything, and more. I’m caught in his spell as I pull in a deep inhale, eager to breathe him in, touch him, feel him —to just be near him. He knows it too as the corner of his mouth arches upward, and it’s as if he’s beckoning me. Josh, sensing the forming tractor beam going right past his face turns his body, which only gives me the opening I need to begin my sprint into Blake’s arms. Blake pulls his hands out of his pockets just in time to catch me. I look up into my favorite emerald eyes, trying to speak in a whisper, “You don’t have to say things like that, you know?” thinking that maybe he says them to prove something, whether it’s to me or Josh. He runs the tip of his nose down the bridge of mine, and that perfect bubble forms around us, and I haven’t got a care in the world. “I know I don’t have to, but I want to. It’s the truth, isn’t it?” Josh adjusts his throat loudly, rolling his eyes as he does it. Blake and I turn our attention to him. “Spare me the PDA until I get used it, will you?” Josh snaps. Blake defiantly drags his hands down my back, getting dangerously close to my ass. This time I’m the one who wants to roll my eyes, but it’s hard to ignore my body buzzing with anticipation at the movement. Could we NOT do this front of my brother, please?


  Alex Rosa Bio:
Alex RosaAlex Rosa lives in San Diego, California. When she isn't scouring city parks or cafe's to write she is more than likely trying to convince her friends to join her on her next adventure. A sufferer of wanderlust, she is always looking for a new mountain to climb, a canyon to hike, or a plane to board. Her resume consists of coroner, to working at a zoo, and most recently as an executive assistant, but finds her home amongst words, whether it be in books, or in film. Her obsessions are on the brink of bizarre, but that's just the way she likes it.



  Links:
  WebsiteFacebook ~ TwitterPinterest ~ 

  Giveaway:
a Rafflecopter giveaway          

Thursday, December 17, 2015

Love In the Light by Laura Kaye - Cover Reveal

Hearts in Darkness Duet Banner    

I am beyond thrilled to help bring you the amazing Cover Reveal for Laura Kaye’s LOVE IN THE LIGHT!
Releasing January 12, 2016, LOVE IN THE LIGHT is a novel told in dual POV and Part Two of her bestselling Hearts in Darkness Duet.
Grab your copy of HEARTS IN DARKNESS now and be sure to preorder LOVE IN THE LIGHT!

  Love in the Light - cover
Cover designed by Trish Schmitt of Pickyme Artist.

Preorder your copy of LOVE IN THE LIGHT for just $2.99 for a limited time!

Price will be going up after release day!

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Book Description:

  Two hearts in the darkness… Makenna James and Caden Grayson have been inseparable since the day they were trapped in a pitch-black elevator and found acceptance and love in the arms of a stranger. Makenna hopes that night put them on the path to forever—which can’t happen until she introduces her tattooed, pierced, and scarred boyfriend to her father and three over-protective brothers. Must fight for love in the light… Haunted by a childhood tragedy and the loss of his family, Caden never thought he’d find the love he shares with Makenna. But the deeper he falls, the more he fears the devastation sure to come if he ever lost her, too. When meeting her family doesn’t go smoothly, Caden questions whether Makenna deserves someone better, stronger, and just more…normal. Maybe they’re too different—and he’s far too damaged—after all…    

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Laura Kaye - author picAbout Laura Kaye: Laura is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over twenty books in contemporary and paranormal romance and romantic suspense. Growing up, Laura’s large extended family believed in the supernatural, and family lore involving angels, ghosts, and evil-eye curses cemented in Laura a life-long fascination with storytelling and all things paranormal. She lives in Maryland with her husband, two daughters, and cute-but-bad dog, and appreciates her view of the Chesapeake Bay every day.      

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Wednesday, December 16, 2015

The Vampire's Daughter by Leigh Anderson - Cover Reveal, Excerpt, and Giveaway!

The Vampire’s Daughter by Leigh Anderson

Cover by Cherith Vaughn Publisher:

 Rogue Phoenix Press Genre: Gothic Paranormal Historical Romance 

Publication Date: March 22, 2016

Front EBOOK Web Size - Vampire's Daughter 

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Book Description:

When Ethan discovers that the love of his life, Victoria, is actually the child of a monstrous beast and must marry another man to save her family, he retreats to a monastery to live out the rest of his days alone. But the Church has other ideas. Ethan’s mentor asks him to lead famous vampire hunter Dom Calmet back to his home village to rid the town of the vampires that plague it. Ethan must then take a journey, emotionally and literally, back to the town of his youth and choose between love and faith when he once again meets The Vampire’s Daughter. Containing many tropes of a classic Gothic novel combined with the sensuality of a passionate romance, The Vampire’s Daughter will leave you gasping for more.

Full PRINT - Web Size The Vampire's Daughter (1)

EXCERPT 

Victoria rode her horse Gregory toward the village at a steady pace. She was looking forward to seeing Ethan, and Gregory was glad to be out of the barn. As she got close to the village, she could sense something was wrong. She could hear the faint sound of a woman crying. Sorrow seemed to hang on the air. As she got closer, she could see a few people moving about quickly and quietly. Some were boarding up their windows; others were reinforcing their animal enclosures. Riding through the town, the usually cold people looked at her with disgust. In one house, she saw a little child pointing at her until the mother came up to close the drapes. A group of older women gathering firewood stopped and mumbled as she got closer. She dismounted at the blacksmith’s and greeted the man with a smile, but he did not repay her in kind. “Thank you for watching Gregory for me for a few hours, sir,” she said as she tied him in his usual stall. “No need to thank me,” he replied as he untied the horse and gave her back the reigns. “Why?” she prodded, confused. “You should not be here,” was all he said as he headed inside. She led her horse back out into the street and looked around. There was hardly anyone about. A few prying eyes watched her from the houses. “I have just as much right to be here as any of you,” she thought to herself as she held her head up high. She felt herself getting mad, but she wasn’t sure why. Why were the people staring and pointing at her? Why would the blacksmith say she didn’t belong there? What had she done to any of them? She decided to go to her future home and see if Ethan was there. She tied her horse to the hitching post at the end of the walk. She approached the house and ran her fingers through what looked like claw marks on the oak front door. She did not remember seeing them there before. “Hello?” she called inside as she opened the door. A small fire was going in the fireplace, telling her Ethan had been there and most likely would return. She felt herself calm down and her anger at the people melt away. The room was warm and safe. She closed the door and looked around the cottage. It already looked so homey, fully furnished with curtains on the windows and rugs on the floors. She ascended the wooden steps to the second floor and opened the first door to a room on the left. It was small with equally small furniture - most likely a child’s room. She imagined that one day, her and Ethan’s children would be playing on that floor looking up at her with wide-eyed wonderment. Then their eyes reflected fear, and she thought of how the townspeople reacted to her today and how, even now, she was an outcast. She sighed, frowned, and shut the door on the frightened children she imagined were there. She opened a door on her right and found the master bedroom. She entered the room, took off her cape, and hung it on a hook by the door. She walked over and placed her small hand on the large pine spindles of the bed. She walked to the far side of the bed, running her fingers over the covers. A multi-colored crotched blanket overlaid a beautiful pink and ecru quilt. She folded the blanket back so it only covered the foot of the bed and the quilt could be more fully seen. The quilt was so soft to the touch. She bent down and put her cheek to the fabric. She sighed in delight. She looked at the door and listened to see if anyone was there. When she only heard silence, she took off her shoes, climbed up onto the bed and laid long ways across it. It was a large bed. She stretched her hands way above her head and still could barely touch the other end. She laughed at herself and how she found such delight in such a simple thing. “What are you doing?” a voice asked. “Ahh!” she screamed and sat up straight and turned toward the voice. “Ethan! You startled me!” “I startled you?” he asked. “What are you doing in my house?” “Your house?” she asked. “I thought this was our house.” Ethan began to laugh as he put the wooden club he was carrying by the door. “You should see yourself,” he said. “Why were you so afraid? I did not mean to scare you.” “Oh, I do not know,” she replied, settling herself down. “Everyone was just acting so strange when I got here. I guess I am just on edge...” she trailed off, noticing the club. “What is that for?” “Oh, well, do not worry about that,” he said, taking off his coat and sitting on the other side of the bed. “Everyone is a little nervous. Some wolves came into town on Sunday night and killed a man.” “Oh, my goodness,” Victoria said, putting her hand to her mouth. “That is awful. Who was it?” “Mr. Stanek,” he said. “We just had the funeral this morning,” “I am sorry I missed it,” she lamented. “It’s all right; you had no way of knowing about it.” “Still, I feel awful.” She laid back and placed her head on one of the pillows. Ethan looked at the sorrow on her face. He knew Father James was wrong about her. She cared and felt deeply for every person. “Wait!” she said, sitting straight up again. “You said ‘wolves’ as in many of them? Is that what clawed the front door?” she asked. “Yes,” he said. “There were five by my count, but some people saw more.” “A whole pack attacked the town?” she asked. “That is like something out of an old legend, back when werewolves ruled the woods at night.” “I know,” Ethan said. “The whole town is worried about the next full moon. Everyone is boarding up their windows and reinforcing their doors. I’m sure they are overreacting, though. Werewolves. How silly. They were just normal wolves. This cold weather probably has them desperate for food.” “You actually saw them?” she asked. “My God, are you all right? You were not injured, were you?” She crawled over to him and put her hand on his face. “No, no, I’m fine,” he said, chuckling over the fuss she was making. He liked how much she cared for him. “I’m fine,” he whispered, looking at her beautiful face. His face turned stone serious and he exhaled slowly. She could tell by the way he was looking at her he wanted something. He turned his body to face her, reached up and pulled her toward him. She closed her eyes and let him kiss her. He stood up to kick off his shoes. She lay on the bed with her head on a pillow. He crawled up next to her and just looked at her for a moment. She pulled her feet up under her gown in a fetal position and put her hands under her cheek on the pillow. Ethan reached over and took the pins out of her hair, letting it frame her face. She looked so innocent, so pure. Her white skin was flawless and her dark eyes were glossy. She was not evil. If anything she was godly, angelic. He leaned over to kiss her, but she pulled back. “Ethan,” she said. “Do you…would you mind if…maybe we…” She didn’t want to hurt his feelings, but she needed to ask him something. “What?” he asked. He reached a reassuring hand to her and rubbed her shoulder. “What is it?” “It’s …maybe we could not do that today. I still have not confessed from last time, and it has been a bad couple of days. Things have not gone well at home. I don’t need any more sin on my conscience right now.” “Oh, sweetie. That’s all right,” he said. “Don’t worry about it. I don’t want to do anything you’re not comfortable with.” “Have you talked to Father James yet? I really need to see him.” “Oh, yes. I did speak to him…” He didn’t want to tell her what Father James had said, but he did not want to lie to her, either. “He was not happy, as expected,” he said. “He still wants me to go to Rome, of course.” “Of course he would,” she agreed. “He is still upset; I doubt he would absolve you of anything right now. Or me for that matter. I actually never confessed after last time either. Don’t worry, though, I am sure that in a few days, he will calm down and see that we are doing the right thing.” “I hope so,” she said. “Did you tell your father?” he asked. “No, I have not been feeling well; I have not even seen him since Sunday. I think my nerves are making me tense. It has only been a couple of days; there is still plenty of time.” “We have all the time in the world,” he said and smiled. His tone and happy demeanor calmed her so much she almost forgot about the wolves, and the priest, and the way the people in town were acting, and the women back home. All she wanted was to be with him forever. She leaned over and gave him an enticing kiss. “I thought you were feeling guilty!” he said, pushing her gently away. “If I die without confessing my already many and egregious sins, I suppose it makes no difference if I have one more added to the list, does it?” “No, I suppose it doesn’t!” he said, climbing onto her, wrapping his arms all the way around her, holding her just as close and tight as he could. He rolled over and let her lay on his chest as they kissed. She straddled him to keep from falling over. She ran her tongue down his neck and kissed his chest. He reached down, pulled up her dress and caressed both of her legs. He ran his hands up to the top of her thigh-high stockings and touched her soft skin. She put the full weight of her body on top of him and he kissed her forehead. He slowly removed one of her stockings, feeling her bare, exposed skin from her thigh to her toes. He then removed the other stocking, a little more quickly this time. Victoria breathed heavily; the room was hot. Ethan was burning for her. Ethan’s hot breath on her skin was almost more than she could handle. She reached a hand under his shirt and touched the skin of his rigid stomach. The sensation of her cold touch on his skin made Ethan gasp, but he took it as a sign that the shirt needed to be removed. He sat up and removed it while she still straddled his lap. He suckled and bit her neck and chest and caressed her thighs while she ran her fingers through his hair. The way his muscles had a slightly moist sheen in the subdued light filtering in from the window dressings excited her. She reached around her back to try to find the many buttons that ran from her neckline to her waist. Ethan’s hands followed hers and realized what she was trying to do. He laughed a little, out of surprise and joy. He had an easier time removing the buttons from their loops than she did. He only got about halfway down when he thought the dress would be loose enough to take off. They both got up on their knees and he helped pull the heavy gown over her head. His face sank for a moment when he saw the full-length shift she was wearing underneath a fully laced corset. She laughed when she saw his expression. “You did not think it was going to be that easy, did you?” she asked. “Sorry if I seem a bit eager,” he said. She felt relieved; she could breathe better and she felt lighter with the gown off. Ethan kissed her while she ran her fingers down his naked back. He reached around her and began pulling at the laces on her corset. She did not protest. She did not care if Helena noticed the lacings or not. She did not care if her father found out. What could he do about it after it was already done? If she gave herself to Ethan, let him have her most prized possession, it was hers to give. Ethan removed the corset and laid himself fully on top of her. She undid the top button on his pants. She moved her fingers deeper inside his pants to undo the next one and he groaned in anticipation. “Victoria,” he said, propping himself up and looking at her. “Victoria. I love you so much.” He reached up and brushed some stray hairs away from her face. “Are you sure this is what you want?” “I want you, Ethan,” she said, running her hands up his back. “I love you.” He leaned back down and sucked on her neck. She held him tightly to her. He moved both of his hands to her legs and pulled her chemise up almost to her waist. He kissed her so strongly and his tongue prodded her mouth so deeply he almost gagged her, but she did not dare protest for fear he would stop. Her breath quickened. He did not want to go too quickly. This was the first time for both of them. He wanted to make sure it was perfect. She was about to tell him to take her when a terrible feeling flooded over her. It was as if someone inside her head told her to run. She froze, trying to listen to the voice. Ethan felt her tense up. He stopped because he was afraid he had hurt her or that she had changed her mind. “Victoria?” he began. “Shhhhh!” she said, holding up a hand to silence him. Her harsh tone shocked him. She did not mean to sound cruel, but something was certainly wrong. He saw a disturbed look on her face. All of her senses seemed to come alive - she could see and hear everything around her. Hushed tones, the light clang of weapons, the smell of the cold air wafting in through an open door. “Ethan!” she said, letting go of him and sitting straight up. “Someone is in the house!” She had a feeling it was more than someone simply looking for them – they were in danger. “What?” he asked as he got up, closed his pants, and moved toward the door. She stood on the far side of the bed, pulled down her undergarment, and looked around for something she might be able to use to defend herself, but there was no time. As Ethan reached for the door, an unimaginable sense of danger overwhelmed her. “No!” she screamed. He stopped, but it was too late. Someone kicked in the door, and several of the village men entered the room followed by Father James.    

 

leigh anderson

Leigh Anderson

Leigh Anderson is an American author and editor living and traveling in Asia. She has a master’s degree in English and her thesis was on Gothic imagery in vampire literature. You can learn more about her at her website LeighAndersonRomance.com.

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