Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Ink Exposed by Carrie Ann Ryan - Review and Giveaway

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Author: Carrie Ann Ryan
Publication Date:  29 November, 2016
Publisher: Carrie Ann Ryan, Self-Published
Series:  Montgomery Ink, book 6
Genre:  Contemporary Romance
Age Recommendation: 18 and Up
Rating: 4 Stars

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


Book Description:


The Montgomery Ink series continues with the brother that deserves a second chance, and the woman who has always loved him.

Alex Montgomery lost his first love and then proceeded to leave himself in the bottle. Only he and his ex-wife truly know why he fell so hard and so fast down a path he never thought he’d take. Now he’s clean, out of rehab, and learning how to be a Montgomery once again—a task that isn’t quite as easy as some of his family assumes. Tabby Collins is an honorary Montgomery and the organizational mastermind behind Montgomery Inc., the family’s construction company. She loves her planners, friends, and a certain dark-haired man who’s never given her a second glance. Alex is slowly re-immersing himself back into the world, but the demons he faced before aren’t out of the picture, and he’ll have to learn to rely on others to make it out whole. When Alex discovers that Tabby’s life is in danger, he not only finds a way to help her but also learns the true woman behind the soft smiles he’s always seen. Their romance won’t be an easy one, but nothing this passionate and heart-pounding ever is.


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Find out who your Montgomery Ink hero is on Buzzfeed!

My Review:

I was so excited when I got my hands on this book, I feel like I have been waiting for ever to get Alex Montgomery's story and I couldn't have been more thrilled to learn that his love interest would be my favorite fictional organizer Tabby!

There is no doubt that fans of Carrie Ann Ryan's Montgomery Ink or Gallagher Brothers series will love Ink Exposed.  You will find her themes of love, friendship, and family through out the book.  It's one of those books that feels like you are coming home for a visit, where you can just slip right back into the family fold and relax while the world plays out around you.  There is a comfort that comes with this series and even when things go askew as you know they will, because you can't have a 'Montgomery Family Reunion' with out a bit of drama, you know that it will all be okay in the end.  You know that this family will come together and fight for each other and love will win out.

So are you asking yourself if that's the case then why should I pick up this book, it sounds like they are all the same?  Let me tell you that they are not, each book has it's own personal demon that the Hero and or Heroine have to battle and Int Exposed takes on a challenging topic that could have gone badly except that Carrie Ann Ryan manages to pull it off with dignity and grace.  Alex Montgomery is you see a recovering alcoholic.  It can be scary to go into a book when you know that one of the characters is an addict because you never know how the author will treat the character or their addiction.  Will they be too harsh and indifferent, will they be overly sympathetic and simpering, or will they have their characters act as though the addiction is 'no big deal' and life goes on?  Thankfully for us as readers Ms. Ryan gives Alex's addiction just the amount of attention it deserves. Does it play a large roll in the book, of course because it is who Alex is now.  Alex will ALWAYS be an addict, he is simply now a recovering addict.  He's behaviors toward his family and friends must be addressed and acknowledged, his future is changed forever and he has to not only find out who this new Alex will be but how he will be going forward.  With all that said know that while the addition must clearly play a large roll in the book it does not take over the book.  There are so many dynamics going on in Alex and Tabby's story and that made me love it even more.  I loved learning more about Tabby, especially more about her love of planning, (we need to be planner girls Tabby, haha) I loved watching her character development as well as Alex's.  They are both two characters that have been very much been feeling as outsiders and having to learn that they are a part of an amazing family both by blood and just by friendship.  This entire book is learning acceptance.  Acceptance for your past, acceptance for yourself, acceptance of others, and acceptance of your future, it was really fun and heart warming to 'watch'.

Also, you guys get to meet Tabby's brother and yeah.....I can't wait for their books.  I am loving these spin-offs, first the Gallagher Brothers and now Tabby's brothers will be getting their own series Whiskey and Lies....although from the sounds of it, the Whiskey and Lies series may be a bit darker and more emotional to read, but seriously I can not wait.

If you have been a fan of the Montgomery Ink series you want to read this one.  Don't let Alex's challenges scare you away from his book.  He deserves to tell you his story after all this time.  Also, if you haven't started this series before now, I would highly suggest not starting with Ink Exposed.  Technically you could pick up this series any where along the line, but especially with Alex and Tabby's story I think you need and deserve to see them through from start to finish and their journey (Alex's in particular) does not start in Ink Exposed.  This is one of my favorite Contemporary Romance series so I hope that you will give it a try, I mean really who can pass up Tattooed hotties, male and female, bearded alpha hunks, sassy strong women, and a family you would die for.


~HAPPY READING ~



Want to win?

Carrie Ann Ryan is giving away a $50 Amazon gift card and swag pack - you can enter via the Rafflecopter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

About Carrie Ann Ryan

Carrie Ann Ryan is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of contemporary and paranormal romance. Her works include the Montgomery Ink, Redwood Pack, Talon Pack, and Gallagher Brothers series, which have sold over 2.0 million books worldwide. She started writing while in graduate school for her advanced degree in chemistry and hasn’t stopped since. Carrie Ann has written over fifty novels and novellas with more in the works. When she’s not writing about bearded tattooed men or alpha wolves that need to find their mates, she’s reading as much as she can and exploring the world of baking and gourmet cooking.

Tuesday, November 29, 2016

Ink Exposed by Carrie Ann Ryan - Release Day Blitz

ie-release

 

He failed himself. His family. His heart. Will he fail her? 

New York Times bestselling author Carrie Ann Ryan's INK EXPOSED is available now!

 Get your hands on Alex's story now. 

You can find out more about INK EXPOSED, read the first chapter, and enter to win a $50 Amazon gift card below!

 

InkExposed300 (1)

GoodReadsAmazon ~ iBooks ~ 

Book Description:

The Montgomery Ink series continues with the brother that deserves a second chance, and the woman who has always loved him.

Alex Montgomery lost his first love and then proceeded to leave himself in the bottle. Only he and his ex-wife truly know why he fell so hard and so fast down a path he never thought he’d take. Now he’s clean, out of rehab, and learning how to be a Montgomery once again—a task that isn’t quite as easy as some of his family assumes. Tabby Collins is an honorary Montgomery and the organizational mastermind behind Montgomery Inc., the family’s construction company. She loves her planners, friends, and a certain dark-haired man who’s never given her a second glance. Alex is slowly re-immersing himself back into the world, but the demons he faced before aren’t out of the picture, and he’ll have to learn to rely on others to make it out whole. When Alex discovers that Tabby’s life is in danger, he not only finds a way to help her but also learns the true woman behind the soft smiles he’s always seen. Their romance won’t be an easy one, but nothing this passionate and heart-pounding ever is.


ink-exposed-teaser-lost-it-all

Want to read the first chapter?

The first full first chapter of INK EXPOSED was revealed last week! You can read all three parts now:


Want to win?

Carrie Ann Ryan is giving away a $50 Amazon gift card and swag pack - you can enter via the Rafflecopter below!



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About Carrie Ann Ryan

Carrie Ann Ryan is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of contemporary and paranormal romance. Her works include the Montgomery Ink, Redwood Pack, Talon Pack, and Gallagher Brothers series, which have sold over 2.0 million books worldwide. She started writing while in graduate school for her advanced degree in chemistry and hasn’t stopped since. Carrie Ann has written over fifty novels and novellas with more in the works. When she’s not writing about bearded tattooed men or alpha wolves that need to find their mates, she’s reading as much as she can and exploring the world of baking and gourmet cooking.
Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ 

Monday, November 28, 2016

Blackbird by Molly McAdams - Cover Reveal


Title: Blackbird
Author: Molly McAdams
Series: A Redemption Novel
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Releasing February 28th, 2017


Cover Design: r.b.a DESIGNS






“Consuming. Enthralling. Sexy. MIND-BLOWING. From the very first line to the very last page, Blackbird sank into me and didn’t let me go. This is Molly McAdams at her best! A must-read that will have you questioning all your emotions as you fall in love with this unforgettable story.” – New York Times bestselling author, AL Jackson




From New York Times bestselling author Molly McAdams comes a powerhouse romantic suspense that will have you questioning your morals and second guessing your view on love.
I live in a world few know exist. I’ve trained for this. I know what to say, what to do, and how to act. I’ve perfected the lethal calm required for this life.
Now it’s time to buy my first girl. But all it takes is one look at the brave girl who starts singing mid-auction for that calm to slip.
Briar Chapman is going to be the death of me, and I don’t care. I’ll take every day with her until that death comes, and I’ll welcome it when it does.
On the outside, Lucas Holt is what nightmares are made of. A man cloaked in darkness, with sin-filled eyes and an enticing grin. A devil so devastatingly beautiful and cruel that his very presence instills fear.
But beneath his terrifying, ever-calm exterior is an affectionate man haunted by a past that refuses to stay buried. And Lucas looks at me as though he’s finally found the only person who can make it all go away.
We’re a battle of the brightest day and the darkest night—and I want to lie in the wake of our war.


Read a SAMPLE of BLACKBIRD on iBooks!





Molly grew up in California but now lives in the oh-so-amazing state of Texas with her husband, daughter, and fur babies. When she’s not diving into the world of her characters, some of her hobbies include hiking, snowboarding, traveling, and long walks on the beach … which roughly translates to being a homebody with her hubby and dishing out movie quotes. She has a weakness for crude-humored movies and fried pickles, and loves curling up in a fluffy comforter during a thunderstorm … or under one in a bathtub if there are tornados. That way she can pretend they aren’t really happening.
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The Rift by Amy Foster - Review




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Author: Amy S. Foster
Publication Date:  4 October, 2016
Publisher: Harper Voyager
Series:  The Rift Uprising, book 1
Genre:  Young Adult Science Fiction
Age Recommendation: 15 and up
Rating: 3.5 Stars

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




Book Description:

The first book in the fast-paced action-adventure, The Rift Uprising trilogy—an enthralling mix of speculative fiction and military thriller—in which a young soldier comes to question the monsters she’s trained to fight against . . . and the monsters she fights for

Seventeen-year-old Ryn Whittaker is a Citadel: an elite, enhanced soldier specially chosen to guard a Rift, a mysterious and dangerous portal to alternate Earths scientists cannot control or close. Trained from the age of fourteen, Ryn can run faster, jump farther, and fight better than a Navy SEAL—which is good when you’re not sure if a laser-wielding Neanderthal or an axe-wielding Viking is trying to make it through the Rift and into her world.

But the teenager’s military conditioning and education have not prepared her for the boy who crosses through—a confused young man, seemingly lost and alone. Because while there’s an immediate physical attraction, it’s his intelligence and curiosity that throws Ryn off balance. The stranger asks disturbing questions about the Rift that Ryn herself has never considered—questions that lead her to wonder if everything about her life and what she’s been told these past six years has been a lie. Are the Rifts as dangerous as her leaders say? Should her people really try to close them . . . or learn how to travel through them?



My Review:

 I was really excited about this book and while I didn't fall head over heels in love with it I, on the whole, quite enjoyed it.  The concept of these 'random' rifts opening up around the world, rifts that open into other earthen planes, even some that are exactly like the one we live in currently is pretty cool.  The diabolical concept that these rifts are guarded by teenagers instead of adults is intriguing, the underlying suspense and the unknown to the story is capturing.  The problem for me:  These teens particularly our Heroine are so focused on sex that it almost completely drowns out every other part of this story.  

Now, I get that these teens have been dealt a pretty crappy hand whether they know it or not, but dang it if you can't get through two pages with out the fact that they can not have sex being brought up.  I get you Ryn, you're a horny teenager, but dang girl everything does not revolve around sex.  There are plenty of teens that manage to make it through their high school career with out ever having sex at all but you act like it is the end of the world and we should all pity you because you can't get it on with every cute guy you come across.  I am all for teen romances, I don't even have a problem reading about teens having sex...it happens, if it doesn't happen as a teen it will happen as an adult, (unless they choose celibacy) cool, what ever floats your boat people, but to act like there is nothing more important, uhhh, did we forget there are huge freaking tears through time and space opening up sometimes at random around the world and CHILDREN are protecting the human race from what ever comes through, than the fact that you can't have sex and you lose me.  Now, all this said, at first I did start to question myself because maybe it's just me, maybe the fact that I am old enough I could have teenagers of my own I just don't get it.  Then I kept reading about her non-exsistent sex life over and over and over again and guess what I was over it.  

As harsh as that sounds the fact is I like the concept of this story.  I like a lot of the characters in the story.  Ezra, Henry, Boone, Violet, Edo, Levi... I want to know more about them.  I want to see how this all plays out, I want Ryn to get her head out of her backside and look around her and not at herself.  She's completely oblivious to anything but her own needs, concerns, and wishes and I want to see her grow and become the Heroine I think she can be.  I am also not sure I am in total love with the current love interest and like the idea of, what I am afraid is going to become a 'love triangle', the other guy better. I want to learn the secrets of ARC and how the Rifts came about and how they have been being used.  I want to learn more about tall the different beings that come through the Rift and how they will play a role in what I am assuming will be its ultimate downfall. So as you can see it's this kind of love/hate relationship for me.  I want more of this series all while wanting to throw my hands in the air and shake the life out of the Heroine.

I'll totally be waiting for the next book in the series all while crossing my fingers that in the time we are waiting the Heroine grows up and becomes the character I know she can be.  There is a lot to love about this storyline, we just need to get the connection to the main characters that was missing in this book.  So I say give it a go, you're probably going to want to roll your eyes a time or two, but the underlying story her is worth the headache the eye rolls might cause.

~ HAPPY READING ~ 



Amy S. Foster was born in Victoria, Canada to singer B.J. Cook and legendary record producer David Foster. But Amy opted out of a career in music and chose international business instead. While going to American University in Washington DC, she took a course in creative writing with renowned poet Ann Darr that would change the direction of her life. After graduating, Amy moved to London to hone her literary skills, determined to get a collection of her own poetry published. It was there that she met producer Martin Terefe (Mike Posner, Shawn Mendes, James Morrison) who asked her if she wanted him to put some music to her poetry. The two made a ground breaking spoken word record which turned Amy’s focus entirely to music and from there, the progression to becoming a lyricist was natural. Since then, artists have sought out Amy’s easy, conversational style of writing and her uncanny ability to help them tell their own stories. She has penned four number one hits with Michael Buble (Home, Everything and Haven’t Met You Yet, Beautiful Day). “Home” has also been covered by Westlife and Blake Shelton which gave Amy her first country Number One. She has worked with artists such as Andrea Bocelli, Destiny’s Child, Solange Knowles, Eric Benet, Diana Krall, Josh Groban, One Flew South, Carolyn Dawn Johnson, John Paul White of The Civil Wars, RyanDan, Who is Fancy, Chris Mann, and most recently a collaboration with Michah Wilshire of the band Wilshire. The two have formed their own group called QOINS .
“When Autumn Leaves”, Amy’s first work of fiction was published by The Overlook Press in September 2009. Currently, Amy lives in Portland, OR with her husband Matt Freeman and their three children, Mikaela, Eva and Vaughn. Her next release is, the first in The Rift Trilogy, for Harper Collins is coming to a bookstore near you in the Fall of 2016.


King of Hearts by Irish Winters - Release Blitz





Title: King Of Hearts (Deuces Wild Book 1)

Author: Irish Winters

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: November 24, 2016







Book Description:

Tucker Chase. FBI agent and tough-as-they-come ex-Navy SEAL, Tucker’s take-all-comers attitude attracts trouble on the job and off, but he still gets the hard jobs done. He makes no bones about being the baddest ass on the planet—until his ex-wife runs off to Vietnam with his only son. Until the woman he won’t admit to loving leaves on some humanitarian mission to who knows where.

Until he has to ask for help…

Melissa McCormack. Widow to one of America’s finest USMC war heroes, Melissa is everything Tucker isn’t. Sophisticated. Wealthy. Respected. Don’t forget celibate since Brady, the first love of her life, passed away. She wants Tucker as much as he wants her, but not if she ends up like that elite rifle he totes, the one he could field strip in his sleep without thought or care.

The one he takes for granted…








Excerpt

Tucker headed for the door and a shot of bourbon for lunch. He’d humbled himself enough for one day. It hadn’t worked. In the last six months, he’d gone from a respected ex-Senior Chief SEAL who ruled the FBI world, to a lousy dad who’d lost parental custody and communication with his only kid. Now he’d lost Melissa. He’d paid a hard price, and yeah, he’d had it coming. He knew how to be a hero; he just didn’t know how to be a loser.







Irish Winters is an award-winning author who dabbles in poetry, grandchildren, and rarely (as in extremely rarely) the kitchen. More prone to be outdoors than in, she grew up the quintessential tomboy in rural Wisconsin, spent her teenage years in the Pacific Northwest, but calls the Wasatch Mountains of Northern Utah home. For now. The wife of one handsome husband and mother of three perfect sons, Irish divides her time between writing at home, and traveling the country with her man while – writing. (Seriously, what else? She believes in making every day count for something, and follows the wise admonition of her mother to, “Look out the window and see something!”






Wednesday, November 23, 2016

My Rogue, My Ruin by Amalie Howard and Angie Morgan - Review and Giveaway






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Author:  Amalie Howard and Angie Morgan
Publication Date:  14 November, 2016
Publisher: Entangled Publishing
Series:  Lords of Essex, book 1
Genre: Historical Romance 
Age Recommendation: 16 and up
Rating: 5 Stars
~ I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review ~ 


Book Description:


“Smart and fast-paced with plenty of steam! This writing duo is a powerhouse of talent!” – New York Times bestselling author Sophie Jordan 

  He stole their riches, she stole his heart   The Marquess of Hawksfield’s lineage is impeccable and his title coveted, but Archer Croft is as far from his indulgent peers as he can get. His loathing for the beau monde has driven him to don a secret identity and risk everything in order to steal their riches and distribute them to the less fortunate. Lady Briannon Findlay embraces her encounter with the Masked Marauder, a gentleman thief waylaying carriages from London to Essex. The marauder has stirred Brynn’s craving for adventure, and she discovers an attraction deeper than the charming thief’s mask. Brynn is a revelation, matching Archer in intelligence, wit, and passion. Stubborn and sensuous in equal measure, she astonishes him at every turn, but when someone sinister impersonates Archer’s secret personality, and a murder is committed, Archer begins to think he doesn’t stand a fighting chance without her.


My Review:

This is one of those books that you put down and feel completely satisfied at having read it but also wondering why you don't spend all your time reading, in this case, Historical Fiction.  To say that I adored My Rogue, My Ruin would be an understatement.  The book itself is simplicity at it's finest, allowing you to slip into the world of Brynn and Archer with ease and comfort.  The historical nuances are not too overwhelming to leave you constantly looking up information about the era but not so simplistic that you wonder if you are even reading a historical novel to begin with.  The depth of character development is perfectly balanced with what the authors put the characters through and what you expect to see for their happily ever after.  The secondary characters will suck you in as easily as the Heroine and the Hero by enhancing their story.  You won't wish that you were reading the secondary charters stories while you read Archer and Briannon's but you will want those characters books in your hands as soon as possible.  

I adored Briannon and Archer individually and as a couple.  Archer has a heart of gold hidden beneath his fierce exterior.  He's lived a life of great wealth and comfort yes, but he's also lived a life that has been full of pain and disappointment.  A life he has had to secretly fight to not only keep but to better.  He, as with many of the male population of the Ton,  is far from 'pure' in thought and deed but he is also not the rake that many believe him to be or the brooding angry man he has portrayed.

Briannon is a a breath of fresh air when it comes to some historical fiction heroines.  She will as needed play by the rules of decorum and society but she plays them in her own way.  I loved that not only does she stand strong during a time period that would have women sitting idly at home with their needlepoint while they allow the world to happen around them but that she finds her own path to happiness.  Don't get me wrong, I absolutely am clear on how society worked in this time period, women were not given many options and were expected to hold to a standard that would be beyond reproach and that is why I loved Briannon because she knew that.  She unlike Heroines I have read from similar books was not too timid to go against the grain or too independent and brash to go with the grain at all.  Briannon understood her situation and she understood how to work that situation to her best advantage.  

Together Briannon and Archer are a fierce team as proven in the epilogue, but I knew they would be from their interactions through out the book.  I loved their chemistry, it lights up the pages from the very beginning and keeps your heart racing even during the books more quiet and reflective moments.  

The book takes a bit of an unexpected turn at one point and I will say that I am a bit sad for it.  I had hopes of another storyline developing but I can't say that I am disappointed in what occurred.  It gave me a shock that I hadn't seen coming and I think that was the true moment that I fell in love with this story.  It was a great book to that point but then it became something different all together and well, now here we are with me gushing on profusely about my feelings.  

I am so excited for more in the Lords of Essex series, I need to know all about Lana, Gray, Brandt, who's not a Lord but still needs a story and, Langlevit, who after everything is going to need one I think.  I also am hopeful that in their stories we will get glimpses into Archer and Brynn's life again because I am truly going to miss them.  

This is just a fantastic read for any Historical Romance or plan Romance fans, perfect to read over the holidays!  

~HAPPY READING ~

Want to Win?

Amalie Howard and Angie Morgan have a couple of awesome items to giveaway!




About Amalie Howard

AMALIE HOWARD grew up on a small Caribbean island where she spent most of her childhood with her nose buried in a book or being a tomboy running around barefoot, shimmying up mango trees and dreaming of adventure. 25 countries, surfing with sharks and several tattoos later, she has traded in bungee jumping in China for writing the adventures she imagines instead. She isn’t entirely convinced which takes more guts. She is the award-winning author of several young adult novels critically acclaimed by Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, VOYA, and Booklist, including Waterfell, The Almost Girl, and Alpha Goddess, a Spring 2014 Kid’s INDIE NEXT title. Her debut novel, Bloodspell, was a #1 Amazon bestseller, and the sequel, Bloodcraft, was a national silver IPPY medalist. She is also the co-author of the adult historical romance series, THE LORDS OF ESSEX. As an author of color and a proud supporter of diversity in fiction, her articles on multicultural fiction have appeared in The Portland Book Review and on the popular Diversity in YA blog. She currently resides in Colorado with her husband and three children.

  Website ~ Newsletter ~ Facebook ~ 

About Angie Morgan

Angie is the author of several critically acclaimed young adult and middle grade books written under two other names (Page Morgan and Angie Frazier), and is now thrilled to be taking a much-anticipated leap into the world of adult romance. My Rogue, My Ruin is the first of three books in her new Lords of Essex series, co-written with good friend and fellow author, Amalie Howard. Angie lives in New Hampshire with her husband, their three daughters, and a menagerie of pets.

Monday, November 21, 2016

My Rogue, My Ruin by Amalie Howard and Angie Morgan - Release Day

mrmr-availablenow

MY ROGUE, MY RUIN is available now! 

Sexy and fun with a bit of Robin Hood and a badass heroine, you do not want to miss the first book from writing duo Amalie Howard and Angie Morgan. 

Find out more about it below and enter to win some seriously awesome prizes!

mrmr_1600


Book Description:

“Smart and fast-paced with plenty of steam! This writing duo is a powerhouse of talent!” – New York Times bestselling author Sophie Jordan 

  He stole their riches, she stole his heart   The Marquess of Hawksfield’s lineage is impeccable and his title coveted, but Archer Croft is as far from his indulgent peers as he can get. His loathing for the beau monde has driven him to don a secret identity and risk everything in order to steal their riches and distribute them to the less fortunate. Lady Briannon Findlay embraces her encounter with the Masked Marauder, a gentleman thief waylaying carriages from London to Essex. The marauder has stirred Brynn’s craving for adventure, and she discovers an attraction deeper than the charming thief’s mask. Brynn is a revelation, matching Archer in intelligence, wit, and passion. Stubborn and sensuous in equal measure, she astonishes him at every turn, but when someone sinister impersonates Archer’s secret personality, and a murder is committed, Archer begins to think he doesn’t stand a fighting chance without her.

Get a sneak peek of MY ROGUE, MY RUIN:

“Why are you out here at this ungodly hour?” he asked. “I could ask you the same thing,” she replied. “As well as why you are trespassing on private property.” Archer smiled at her tone and leaned against a nearby tree, easing the weight of his injured ankle for the moment. There it was—the brief glimpse of the woman he’d met in Dinsmore’s carriage, not the quiet mouse he’d waltzed with. “Ah, but I believe this tree, right here,”—he slapped the trunk with a rakish grin—“marks the dividing line between my estate and yours. So technically, I’m on my property and you are on yours.” Her eyes narrowed at his teasing before plucking up the tweed cap from where it lay on the ground and tugging it back into place upon her head. She then picked up the spent pistol and tucked it into the narrow, single holster gun belt looped around her waist. “No matter. It’s hardly any of your concern why I am out on my own land. Go on your way, and I’ll be on mine.” His jaw dropped as she wound her fist into the horse’s bridle, loosely slung around its neck, and pulled herself deftly up onto the horse’s back. She sat astride in a way that made his pulse shorten. “Where is your saddle?” he managed. She eyed him imperiously. “I don’t like them, not that it’s any of your business.” “It isn’t safe,” he ground out, surprised by his sudden irritation. “I’ve been riding without a saddle since I was a child,” she shot back. “I’m safer without one than I am with one.” “As you were before you got thrown into the river?” Archer couldn’t resist taunting. Her jaw jutted forward, a mutinous look in her eyes. She pressed her lips together, likely to stop herself from uttering something completely inappropriate. Perhaps one of the colorful words she’d been using while attempting to climb out of the gulch. “And what if you were attacked by the masked bandit—again?” he continued. “Or haven’t you had enough danger for the time being?” “I can protect myself,” she said. “What with?” he asked before he thought of the clean hole in the boar’s forehead. Briannon sighed dramatically. “Why, with my knitting needles, of course.” Struck again by her lightning-quick wit, the short bark of laughter left his lips before he could contain it. “Pray, where was your pistol the other night when you were robbed?” “In my knitting reticule, of course, where all ladies’ pistols are kept,” came her tart response. “I assure you, if I had my pistol, the outcome of that robbery would have been quite different.”


Want to Win?

Amalie Howard and Angie Morgan have a couple of awesome items to giveaway! 
Check out the details on the rafflecopter below. 


amalie-and-angie

About Amalie Howard

AMALIE HOWARD grew up on a small Caribbean island where she spent most of her childhood with her nose buried in a book or being a tomboy running around barefoot, shimmying up mango trees and dreaming of adventure. 25 countries, surfing with sharks and several tattoos later, she has traded in bungee jumping in China for writing the adventures she imagines instead. She isn’t entirely convinced which takes more guts. She is the award-winning author of several young adult novels critically acclaimed by Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, VOYA, and Booklist, including Waterfell, The Almost Girl, and Alpha Goddess, a Spring 2014 Kid’s INDIE NEXT title. Her debut novel, Bloodspell, was a #1 Amazon bestseller, and the sequel, Bloodcraft, was a national silver IPPY medalist. She is also the co-author of the adult historical romance series, THE LORDS OF ESSEX. As an author of color and a proud supporter of diversity in fiction, her articles on multicultural fiction have appeared in The Portland Book Review and on the popular Diversity in YA blog. She currently resides in Colorado with her husband and three children.
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About Angie Morgan

Angie is the author of several critically acclaimed young adult and middle grade books written under two other names (Page Morgan and Angie Frazier), and is now thrilled to be taking a much-anticipated leap into the world of adult romance. My Rogue, My Ruin is the first of three books in her new Lords of Essex series, co-written with good friend and fellow author, Amalie Howard. Angie lives in New Hampshire with her husband, their three daughters, and a menagerie of pets.

She Runs Away by Jessica Calla -Review



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Author: Jessica Calla
Publication Date:  15 November, 2016
Publisher: BookFish Books
Series:  Sheridan Hall, book 2
Genre:  New Adult Contemporary Romance
Age Recommendation: 17 and up
Rating: 4 Stars
~ I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review ~ 




Book Description:

After tragedy strikes New Jersey University's Sheridan Hall, freshman quarterback Ben Riley’s stable, normal life is turned upside down. Sidelined from playing the game he loves and on the verge of losing his scholarship, Ben wants nothing more than to escape the chaos of college and return home to rural Pennsylvania and his family.

Yet, there’s something that keeps him from running. Or someone. A cute blonde he had a chance with but blew off for all the wrong reasons.


Megan Smith has secrets. Secrets that have burned her in the past. Secrets she’s unwilling to share with anyone at Sheridan Hall—especially Ben, her sexy, rough-around-the-edges floormate who broke her heart in a matter of days after moving into Sheridan. Meg decided early on that it’s easier to live life on her own than to share her secrets and let people in.

Meg runs, and Ben follows. But sooner or later, the clock on their chance at love will expire. With inner demons dragging them both down, they must find a way to stop running and trust one another or risk losing their perfectly matched love forever.



My Review:

She Runs Away is my first book from Jessica Calla and I am happy to have found her. I will say that while this can be read as a standalone it would have been better if I had read book 1, She Laughs in Pink, first. There is a rather significant event that occurs in book one that play a large roll in book two. The author does a great job of explaining what basically went on in book one, but reading how the entire situation came to be and went down would be ideal. Just something to keep in mind before you head into this book.

She Runs Away is the story of Ben and Megan, two characters that you meet in book one, in fact Ben plays a major role in book one. All of the residents of the Sheridan Hall basement are reeling after a tragic event changes their freshman year of college and their lives forever. Everyone one is struggling to find there place in this new reality. Ben is essentially fighting the effects of PTSD from the tragic event, he's been injured and his football career is now in question, his heart has been broken, his reality shattered...he's lost and drowning under feelings of guilt and inadequacy. Megan has secrets, secrets that if discovered could change everything she is trying to find for herself at New Jeresy University, this secret when discovered has ruined friendships and romantic relationships and she fears that it will happen again with her ‘basement’ family and especially her budding relationship with Ben.

I really enjoyed getting to know the characters from Sheridan Hall, even the ones outside of the basement, hello Second Floor Dave, I am looking forward to seeing you again. *giggles* Having not read the first book I didn’t feel like I connected much to Chase and Juliet but Ben, Megan, Maggie, and Rocco I just want to be their friend.  I want to go back to college and live in unisex dorms.  Go back to that time when you are thrown together in a tense situation with strangers and a find life long friendships.  I will say that while I liked Megan she also wasn't my favorite character.  I think her constant pushing away of Ben eventually begins to wear on the reader.  I understand her fears and her desire to have something (I won't go into that and tell the secret) that she has subconsciously craved her entire life, but I will say I can't blame Ben at all when he finally says he's had enough.  She forgets that she is not the only one with problems and concerns, I just wish that it hadn't taken her so long to figure that out, it makes her harder to connect to than the other characters.  I also wish we had had a bit more closure when it came to certain events.  When parts of Megan's past come back they feel as though they get resolved a bit to easily considering the years and years of heartache that past caused.  When the Carly tries to essentially become Megan to date Ben, the circumstances surrounding that, I wish it had been taken where it needed to go.  This girl is presumably studying to be a psychologist and blatantly ignores every ethical code she will be held to as a psychologist and no one really does anything?  I think that will sit in my head for a while so I can seethe properly over it.

I loved the chemistry between Ben and Megan, even when I wanted to smack Megan over the head I never wanted them to not become a couple.  They are a 95% match after all.  Their moments of passion were totally steamy, their fights relatable and understandable, their snarkiness hilarious, their love for their family and friends sweet.  They are all in all simply a great couple.  I think in the case of Ben at least I could have had another book or two revolving around them.  Ben needs more help than he gets in this book, but I have faith that as we saw quite a bit of Chase and Juliet in She Runs Away we will see more of Ben and his progression in future books.  

She Runs away is a feel good romance with a lot of heart and soul.  The emotions in this book run high, there is so much going on for this group of men and women.  They are making the choices now that will shape who they become after college and where they will go.  They are struggling with heartache, loss, love, family, and friendship.  They are discovering who they are and are building the foundation that will hold them up as adults outside of college and carry them into their future.  

If you are looking for a sweet, emotionally charged read to curl up with as the weather gets cooler look no further.  Jessica Calla has done an excellent job bringing her characters to life and giving us a place to escape to that is firmly rooted in reality.  These women and men of Sheridan Hall are who we are or who we have been.  Their lives may be a bit more explosive than ours but they are characters you can connect with, feel for, and understand.  Keep in mind, as I mentioned in the beginning of my review, that I suggest reading She Laughs in Pink prior to She Runs Away.  You can read them out of order but I promise you will be able to immerse yourself into this world more easily if you start at the beginning.  Fans of Rachel Van Dyken's Wingman Series, Cora Carmack's Rusk University Series, or Abbi Glines Rosemary Beach series will enjoy Sheridan Hall!  


~HAPPY READING ~ 

Jessica Calla is a contemporary romance and women's fiction author who moonlights during the day as an attorney. If she's not writing, lawyering, or parenting, you'll most likely find her at the movies, scrolling through her Twitter feed, or gulping down various forms of caffeine (sometimes all three at once).
Jessica is a member of Romance Writers of America, involved in the Contemporary, Young Adult, and New Jersey Chapters, and is a member of the Women’s Fiction Writers Association. She recently became the oldest marketing intern ever at BookFish Books. A Jersey girl through and through, she resides in the central part of the state with her husband, two sons, and dog.






Friday, November 18, 2016

Love Amplified by Ann Marie Frohoff - Review






Author: Ann Marie Frohoff
Publication Date:  23 October, 2016
Publisher: AMF Publishing
Series:  Heavy Influence, book 3
Genre:  Contemporary Romance
Age Recommendation: 16 and up
Rating: 4 Stars



Book Description:

Jake Masters is on the rise, sober and inspired. His solo music career has taken off and he's packed away his ugly skeletons - so he thought. When a tropical rendezvous with the love of his life turns into an life-altering reunion, they must decide what's more important - their happily ever after or doing the right thing.

 Can it be both?


My Review:

I will admit that I went into this book with a lot of trepidation and I honestly told a friend that I wasn't sure I could trust that Ann Marie Frohoff would give me a happy ending and not break my heart.  This series has been emotionally brutal and I could see her giggling in her pjs with a glass of wine or cup of coffee near by as she wrote out an ending that would leave her readers in tears and despair.  I don't know what that says about her or me haha, but I can tell you that she didn't rip my heart to shreds and then do an Irish jig on top of it's remains.  Can I say that everything is perfect in Jake and Aly's world?  No and after their past would you expect that, would you even want it?  Ann Marie has been brutally honest in this couples relationship.  A relationship that began with children falling in love, that battled stardom, anxiety, addiction, heart break, too many mistakes to count...a relationship that you will find with this book has grown into a mature love but is...yet to settle.  A love that has been battered but has come out stronger for it.  A love that proves that some loves run so deep that they can never be forgotten or let go of.

Jake and Aly are back, time has passed, they have both grown and discovered who they are...who they want to be on their own as opposed to as together.  They have realized that they aren't Just Jake and Aly as a unit but Jake, Aly, and Jake and Aly if that makes sense.  Aly has spent her past few years engaged to her long time friend and finishing her college education.  Jake has spent his drying out from his addictions and coming to terms with who he had become and the trail of pain he left behind him while he was in the grips of those addictions.

I don't want to go into too much detail because there is a twist to this story...you can't possibly believe  we would get a straight up HEA could you?  This is also not a full length novel, it is more a novella so it would be hard to give too much with out giving too much away because it all happens fairly quickly.  I will say that is the one thing that keeps me from going for that 5 star rating.  I wished the book had been a bit longer, that there had been more *gasp*, dare I say it, drama between Jake and Aly.  I love that they are back, but they simply just fell back together...after everything I wanted there to be more emotion between the two.  Aly deserved to be more angry, Jake more contrite.  We've spent years with this couple in some pretty serious and explosive situations so the calmness that occurs in this book throws me a bit for a loop. I know that they have both matured greatly in their time apart and that has a lot to do with how they handle one another now but at the same time when a couple has gone through everything this couple has the lack of explosive emotions is...unexpected.  That said, it looks like we have more to come from this couple so we may get that yet and I will say I am glad that we aren't letting them go after this.  We need more time to watch these two grow, (goodness, please don't let them end up not together in the end.  I know Ann Marie isn't done with us yet and I am still scared, haha) we need to see Jake truly redeem himself, we need to see Aly open her heart fully (or close it off completely, *gasp*), we need to know about Grace and Kai (whaaaaaa?!), find out how all the relationships finally settle. I think Ann Marie has at least one more book in her after this one and I am on the edge of my seat waiting for it.  I feel like her final book in this series should end with an Oprah style 'Closure for you, and you get closure, and you, and you....and here's your closure...YOU ALL GET CLOSURE!'  I just need her to make sure she doesn't break my heart when she does it, m'kay.

If you are a fan of contemporary romances, second chances (third and fourth in Jake and Aly's case), highly emotional reads, drama, stories of heartbreak and redemption, this is your series.  I will not lie to you, this has not been an easy journey, Ann Marie will break your heart over and over again but I think we will all find that it will have been worth it in the end.  This is not a standalone, you must read the series from the beginning or you will be completely lost.  Love Amplified is a quick read, a little over novella length but packed full to the edges.  You won't need your tissues for this one, but we aren't done yet so don't put your Kleenex boxes and bottles of wine away just yet and as always...

~HAPPY READING ~ 




Ann Marie ("Annie") Frohoff grew up in sunny Southern California. As a teen and young adult she spent her time frequenting and living in nearly every beachside city up and down the coast. She settled in Hollywood at 19 working in film and TV. Soon her itch to keep moving took over again, taking her to Hawaii for a time and then back to LA.

She’s now settled in the South Bay area of Los Angeles. Her wanderlust and propensity to live life out loud has brought her many life experiences. Always the storyteller, it would be of no surprise to those who grew up with her, that she made the transition into a book and screenplay writer. You could say that she woke up one day and had an epiphany, deciding to go to school for screenwriting. It’s with that inner fire she set out to write her first screenplay. Soon after, such work made it into the hands of an agency creative executive who challenged her to write a novel to support the complex cast of characters she’d created. Thus, after only a couple of years and many hours on the road immersing herself in her subject matter; her edgy modern day "Walk The Line" meets John Hughes Classics, Heavy Influence series was on its way!

The first installment in her Heavy Influence Series, FIRST KISS(#1) released in 2013, FEVER PITCH(#1.5) 2013, BROKEN NOTES (#2) in Dec. 2014, and HIGHER OCTAVE (#2.5) in Feb. 2015. ~

The series is a story of young, reckless love between a rising rock star and his younger muse, spanning 10 years of their tumultuous and passionate relationship. An original soundtrack has been written and recorded for this series, of which the lyrics appear in the pages of the books. (Alternative Rock Genre).

Annie has now also delved into the supernatural fantasy world with her writing partners Shaun Barger and songwriter/musician Matthew Reich. Taking inspiration directly from song lyrics and building an entire realm of vastly complex characters and plot lines; weaving history, fantasy and heavy doses of romance together. You will be kept turning the pages of “The Zodiac Wars" and “Precious Metal: The Prince and the Gypsy” book series. Both series of books are currently in development.