Wednesday, November 27, 2013

PROMO: Marriage Fix by Sandra Edwards


By Sandra Edwards

Lecie de Laurent is dying to cut the apron strings and strike out on her own. With the house and the money she's inherited from Edouard Renault, she finally has her chance without financial repercussions from Papa. California is an intoxicating place for the sheltered, high society girl from France, and she's not ready to leave when her father insists she return home. Lecie's father, Maurice de Laurent is a powerful man who will stop at nothing to get what he wants--just ask her brothers, Julian and Andre. When Maurice threatens to have Lecie deported (thinking she'll come home), Lecie retaliates in true de Laurent fashion. Nick Matthews desperately needs cash, after his fiancée leaves him deeply in debt the day before their wedding. On the verge of losing his popular restaurant, Nick decides to seek out an investor to help pay off the debt. The answer to both their problems just might be wrapped up in The Marriage Fix.

Buy on Amazon | B&N | iTunes

About the author:

NEW YORK TIMES & USA TODAY Bestselling Author Sandra Edwards writes award-winning romance in a variety of subgenres such as paranormal (mostly time travel and reincarnation), contemporary, and suspense. She lives in the U.S. (west coast) with her husband, two kids, four dogs and one very temperamental feline. Sandra's books often push the envelope and step outside the boundaries of conventional romance. For more info on Sandra's books, visit her website at sandrawrites.com.

Follow Sandra:

https://www.facebook.com/SandraEdwards.Author https://twitter.com/Sandra_Edwards
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Tuesday, November 26, 2013

REVIEW: America's Darlings by Gail Bridges


by Gail Bridges

Genre: Erotica
This book contains explicit content not intended for people under 18 years of age. Leah Collins is a sexual gymnast, a brilliant athlete poised to compete in the Mexico City Olympic Games of 2112. She takes pride in her advanced skills in the sexual arts, but performing Courtesan’s Treat and Raging Volcano in front of thousands of cheering fans is no easy task, especially when sexual malfunctions threaten. At her side, a pillar of strength and compassion, is her best friend, Benson White. He is the one who scrapes her from the ground when her self-destructive tendencies surface. Benson is a talented sexual gymnast in his own right, the other half of America’s Darlings. They hope for a gold medal. What neither of them expects is to fall in love.

Buy on Amazon | Ellora's Cave


Rating: 4 stars

REVIEW: I'd like to thank Promotional Book Tours and the author for allowing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
It's been awhile since I've read any erotica. I was pleasantly surprised to read a book that was not only extremely hot and sensual, but it had an actual plot to it. It was tastefully written, as tasteful as erotica can be. I cared about the main characters, Leah and Benson, and hated when Leah got into a smidgen of trouble. The only bad part of the story was that I didn't feel any real chemistry between Leah and Benson, so when their story develops, I couldn't connect with that.
If you look at the book from just the sexual side of it, it has everything that good erotica has. Multiple partners, different scenes, different chemistries. If you take the sex out of it, you still have a half-way decent story about two Olympic athletes and their team, struggling to reach the gold in their sport.

Meet the author:

I have three grown children. I live in Seattle, Washington with my husband and our five cats. In the past I have worked in a variety of different artistic media. I have a BFA in painting from the University of Washington, and for over fifteen years I made award-winning Fine Art Jewelry (silver and handmade ceramics) and sold my work at local and regional Fine Art and Craft shows. My business, Vivid Arts, flourished - but always, I felt driven to write. Two years ago, no longer able to deny the writing muse, I took an open-ended sabbatical from my art shows. Since then, I've written two novels and a number of published and unpublished short stories.

Follow Gail:

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Monday, November 25, 2013

REVIEW: Stern Desire by Leah Shay


by Leah Shay

Her love can heal him; his love can set her free. The moment Kyra walked into billionaire Jared Stern’s hospital room and introduced herself as his nurse he knew that this paragon of loveliness was what he needed to mend his damaged soul. Jared knew he had to have her. They shared an instant mutual attraction. Drawn together by some irresistible force they stirred emotions in each other that neither had felt in years. But, Jared’s dark inescapable secrets plagued him, and they were a constant reminder why he was not right for her. Kyra’s trust in men had been severely destroyed and for years she felt nothing but mistrust and anger towards them. Jared’s mysterious nature reminded Kyra why she had built a fortress around her heart protecting herself from men like him. Reluctantly, Kyra gave way to Jared’s relentless pursuits. Will she jeopardized her career knowing that anything other than a nurse-patient relationship could be risky and lead to her losing her job or even her license? Will Jared’s secrets smother their hot steamy love affair, or will he do the unthinkable to trap Kyra into the relationship? One thing about secrets they rarely stay in the dark.

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RATING: 3 stars


REVIEW: I'd like to thank Promotional Book Tours and the author for allowing me a chance to read the book in exchange for an honest review.
The book itself was a relatively easy read. The story line went quickly, I kind of liked the characters. Jared was a controlling bratty billionaire. Kyra went against all of her ingrained truths about being a nurse when she fell in love with him, which makes me think she has absolutely no self-control. Jared loves this because he can mold her like putty. It sounds bad, but the author wrote it thoroughly enough for me to come up with those conclusions. As deep and altering as their love may have been for either of them in the book, I didn't feel it. That's where the writing fell flat. 
This was a very sexual book. Lots of sex scenes, some of them pretty hot, but it all went ice-cold whenever I read the words "v-jay" or "magic stick". Sorry, those terms do nothing for me. Maybe they do something for other people, but not this girl.
I wish I could have liked this book more.

About the author:

Leah Shay grew up on a small beautiful carefree island in the Caribbean. With the warm blue Caribbean Sea as her backyard she loved to walk the white sandy beach and got loss in the stories unfolding in her head. She had always been an avid reader and spent all her free time nose-deep in a book, or telling stories to enthused listeners. She loves reading, dancing, traveling, and music. As a child she would read anything she could get her hands on. Her local library was her favorite place, and looked forward to every weekend her mom would take her there. Her dream was to become a teacher, but fate led her down another fulfilling career path. She is currently a part-time registered nurse with a whole lot of stories to tell. To relieve her cluttered mind of the many stories floating around in her head she finally decided to put them down on paper, hence the first book in the Stern Desire series was born. Currently she lives in Miami, Florida with her husband and two children. She just can’t be away from year round summer and beautiful beaches.

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Saturday, November 23, 2013

REVIEW: Ethereal Influence: The Inquisition by Lana Bradstream

Title: Ethereal Influence: The Inquisition
Author: Lana Bradstream
Series: Ethereal Influence #2

Publisher: Self-published
Published Date: June 16th, 2013
  • ASIN: B00DFQLQJU
  • Buy It Link: Amazon
Rating: 3 1/2 stars

Synopsis: The Inquisition is a time of turmoil and fear. It is a time of horror and atrocities, when the faith of people waiver. Inquisitor Nikolaus is experiencing a lack of faith as he orders torture and death for scores of people - some of whom he believes were innocent. Lorenz, an angel of God, is sent to restore his faith and bring him back to God. But, the fallen angel Jakob is intent on capturing Nikolaus' soul with the aid of Ayla, a real witch who has surrendered her own soul.

Review: I'd like to thank the author for allowing me a chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book is all about choices. Ayla starts out in this horrible situation, but how does she respond to it? She responds with hate and anger and a thirst for revenge. Ultimately, that turns her down a dark path that ends in an expected way. Was her soul ever in question? Could she have ever been good? In the beginning, absolutely. But by the time of her choice, there was no question. She was a lost soul. Could she have been redeemed? Possibly, but again, her choices led her down the path of evil.
Nikolaus starts out in a relatively good situation, his needs are taken care of, he's good at what he does, but he realizes that what he does as an Inquisitor is evil. Instead of just going along with it, he's in a moral dilemma of what he should do. Most of the book deals with this moral dilemma, encapsulated in the two characters of the dark angel and the light angel. Will he choose good, or will he choose evil?
I didn't really like the idea the author set forth that all witches were evil, sacrificing, Lucifer-loving people, because they are not, and they weren't. Perhaps a few, yes, but far fewer than are portrayed in many writings.

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

REVIEW: Knight of Wands by SM Blooding


by SM Blooding

Book 2 of the Devices of War Trilogy

Genre: New Adult Fantasy Steampunk Adventure Publisher: Blooding Books Book Description: (Can be read as stand-alone) Return to a world of mind blowing visuals, heart stopping action, and ships that sail the skies. Nix, Queen of Wands, has exactly what she wants—Synn El’Asim, the greatest Mark the world has ever seen. Even though she bound his soul to hers, he is not easily controlled. If she wants him, she must do the one thing that pains her most. Let him go, and give him what he desires. Peace. Armed with a treaty bearing Nix’s seal, Synn sets off to bridge the gap between the world’s two reigning tyrants—the Hands of Tarot and the Great Families. He struggles to trust Nix as he fights for control of his soul. He’s going to need every ounce of restraint when dealing with his mother, leader of the Great Families. She will not give up her power without a fight. Nix will honor her treaty only if Synn agrees to become her knight. His mother refuses to sign the peace agreement if he falls into the queen’s control. Frustrated, Synn does the one thing neither woman saw coming. He invites all the tribes, currently voiceless in the war between these two ruling tyrants, to partake in the treaty negotiations. All they have to do is prove their worth in his Peace Games. As Synn’s influence and subsequent power grows, a new fight begins. Who will control Synn’s League of Cities? Can he protect more people as a leader of the Great Families, or as the Knight of Wands?

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 RATING: 3 1/2 stars

REVIEW: I'd like to thank the author and Promotional Book Tours for a chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
When I signed up for this review, I was a little leery, as it is the second book in a series, and I never do well with jumping into the middle of a series.However, the author promised that it could easily be a stand-alone. It sounded like an awesome book, so I jumped on the chance to read it.
I got burned again. If you can get past all the back story that you're missing that's hinted at or not having the world and culture explained to you, then, yes, its a wonderful stand-alone book. For the first 50 pages, I was utterly and completely lost. Why does this psycho queen have this person? What the heck is a Knight and why is it so important? What are the Tarot, or the Hands? And who is this guy, in charge of an entire people or something?
Once we got past that however, the book got better. It got significantly better. It was almost completely understandable. There was a lot of the culture I didn't understand, though I think I picked up on a bunch of it along the way.
So if you're going to read this book, go for it. Its wonderfully written, and a great world. However, do both of us a favor and read the first book first.

Fall of Sky City Book 1 : Amazon – Kindle| Amazon – Paperback| Goodreads

 
Praise for Fall of Sky City
Fall of Sky CityWow! What did I just read?? The story was deliciously complex, full of fear, wonder, magic, gadgets, gizmos, one heck of a psycho Queen and wonderful friends. Every character brought something to the story, each with a unique personality that came to life through the book, each with their own fears to overcome. Victoria Limbert I love the world Blooding has created. She managed to create it in a way that it combines specs of all my favorite movies, books, etc. It’s a mixture of young adult fantasy, steam punk, dystopia, sci-fi, paranormal and even some tiny bit of romance. Fall of Sky City is a diverse book that is intense, a little bit violent, and a whole lot of awesome! I look forward to reading the next book of the series! Unputdownable Books SM Blooding is a new author to me, but this is definitely not the last book I’ll read by her. Synn El’Asim is a powerful character–the reader sees him grow from a young man who has not yet come into his power to a strong man who is courageous enough to fight for what he believes in–his family and his people. The world building Ms. Blooding does is nothing short of remarkable. A world composed of flying ships, ice worlds, danger, and intrigue. My World of Dreams This book is action-packed and intense. You feel like you’re part of the drama. This story is intense. The action is perfectly paced. I had trouble putting the book down. I really felt for Synn from the very beginning. He goes through so much. As soon as he gets his mark, he is plunged into one situation after another. Queen Nix, who is horrifying by the way, pushes Synn to new levels, in more and more diabolical ways. With the help of friends and family, Synn becomes a strong leader. Waiting on Sunday to Drown I’m amazed of the world Blooding has created and built. It has Sky, Land, and Water Cities. These cities each has its own technologies, language, and a whole different way of life. These worlds remind me a lot of Avatar the Last Airbender and Star Wars, which I both loved wholeheartedly. Bahrain Newspaper Article Review!

Meet the Author:

SM “Frankie” Blooding lives in Colorado with her pet rock, Rockie, and Jack the Bird. Jack has refused to let her to take up the piano again, but is warming to the guitar. It might help that Frankie has learned more than two strings. She’s added a few more Arabic words to her vocabulary, but don’t invite her into conversation yet—unless, of course, you’re willing to have a very . . . slow . . . conversation. She’s dated vampires, werewolves, sorcerers, weapons smugglers and US Government assassins. Yes. She has stories.

Find out more about her at:

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Tuesday, November 19, 2013

REVIEW: Lumen Fidei by Pope Francis

Title: Lumen Fidei (Light of the Faith)
Author: Pope Francis
Series: one of a long list of papal encyclicals, hopefully one of many more from this Pope
Published Date: July 22, 2013
Publisher: Pauline Books and Media
ISBN1490925597
Buy It LinkAmazon
Rating: 3 1/2 stars

SynopsisPope Francis’s first encyclical illuminates the urgent need in today’s secularized culture to reclaim faith as the guiding light to understanding human existence. Faith is considered in light of idolatry, reason, science, knowledge, truth, love, and theology.

Review: I'd like to thank the publisher and Net Galley for allowing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I've been strictly anti-Catholic for over half of my life, but I am purely pro-Pope Francis. I'm not going into the reasons why I have been anti-Catholic, but I have mine. After speaking to my rector at the Episcopalian church I attend, I decided that it was time for me to set aside my unreasonable anger towards the Catholic Church. In a fashion true to my own form, I met it head on, and tried to surgically dissect the why's and how's and what's of my anger. And when I finally decided that I had debrided enough of my old festering wound, I decided to test out my newly healed wound by reading a Papal Encyclical.
The introduction is written by someone very staunchly Catholic, and it tested my limits, but I had faith (many of the times that Pope Francis would mention this word in his encyclical) that I could get through it with flying colors. Before this, I would read an encyclical just to have the pleasure of ripping it apart. Now, I tried my best to read it with an open heart. 
There are some parts of it that are absolutely amazing. They fill me with such hope for the future of the Catholic Church. There are parts in it that are true gems...rough gems, surely, but they are there. There aren't just hunks of glass, but with some polishing, you can really see the diamond. 
One that I absolutely hold dear is: "Faith does not merely gaze at Jesus, but sees things as Jesus himself sees them, with his own eyes: it is a participation in his way of seeing."

Monday, November 18, 2013

REVIEW: Fighting to Forgive by JB Salsbury


Fighting to Forgive

by JB Salsbury

What do you do when everything you avoid, turns out to be exactly what you need? Easy and predictable, just the way he likes it, Blake Daniels flies through life the way he burns through women: on his terms, no regrets. With his fighting career in full swing, he's on the threshold of title contention. But when his training is compromised by injury, the stakes grow impossibly higher. The rage that fuels his punches also chips away at his focus, and he risks losing everything he cares about. He won’t let that happen. Not again. Layla’s through with men. After a marriage that never should’ve happened, she hopes to reclaim the pieces of the woman she lost years ago. Emotional abuse has left her insecure and terrified. A master at faking what she’s not feeling, she masks her self-doubt in false confidence. She’ll never let another man hurt her. Not again. Chased by shadows of the past, Blake and Layla know what they don’t want, but their hearts have a different plan. As a web of lies and betrayal threatens to destroy them, they’re forced to make a choice. Is love enough to heal even the deepest wounds?

Rating: 4 stars

REVIEW: I'd like to thank the author and Promotional Book Tours for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I loved reading this book.I loved the characters of Layla and Blake. Layla is this single mom trying to get out of a horrible situation while trying to remain optimistic for her teenage daughter. At the same time, her daughter is going through all the angst of being a teenager, while trying to adapt to this new life without her father, who was horribly abusive to her mother. Blake is this tough as nails fighter who likes the girls, he's a player, but its so fun to watch how he evolves when Layla and her daughter come into his life.
Some of the situations shown in the book are definitely not meant for a younger audience, however, use your discretion. Perhaps a more mature teenager could read this and learn from it.
The way the author writes is so realistic, and I love the interaction between the characters, all of them, from the bad characters to the good ones and every one in between.

Purchase:

Fighting For Flight (Book 1) on Amazon

Fighting to Forgive on Amazon

Author Bio:

Bestselling author JB Salsbury lives in Phoenix, Arizona with her husband and two kids. She spends the majority of her day as a domestic engineer. But while she works through her daily chores, a world of battling alphas, budding romance, and impossible obstacles claws away at her subconscious, begging to be released to the page. Her love of good storytelling led her to earn a degree in Media Communications. With her journalistic background, writing has always been at the forefront, and her love of romance prompted her to sink her free time into novel writing. Fighting for Flight is her first novel in the MMA romance series.

For more information on the series or just to say hello, visit JB on her Website, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads.

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BOOK TOUR: Searching For Normal by Alison Neuman


by Alison Neuman

Searching for Normal is a book about following in the great tradition of creative nonfiction. Detailing her personal experience from the onset of a rare and painful illness at the age of three, Alison Neuman recounts her personal journey coming to terms with an ever-shifting conception of 'normality'. The disease having shaped her life in ways most could never imagine, a carefree childhood quickly morphed into a blur of ongoing hospitalizations, increasingly reduced mobility, and overwhelming fatigue and pain. But amidst her constant battles with her health, Alison emerged as a champion. Searching for Normal will leave readers awed by Alison's perseverance and strength of character. Her story serves as a pertinent reminder that 'normal', is in the eye of the beholder.

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Meet the author:

Alison Neuman lives in Alberta, Canada, where she works as a freelance writer. Nearing the end of her studies at Grant MacEwan College, she was inspired to complete the first draft of Ice Rose: A Young Adult Spy Novel. The YA novel integrates her love for gadgetry with the broad imaginative license afforded by the secret agent genre, and features a female protagonist in a wheelchair. It was published in 2010 by Fireside Publications. Alison’s work has appeared in MacEwan Today, Westword, and the Edmonton Journal as well as on three tracks of the CD release, Outside The Window, and as a credit on the script for Cheryl Kaye Tardif's screenplay adaptation of Whale Song. She was also an "Edmonton Stories' top-ten finalist, a winner in the "Expressions of Hunger" in the Emotional Poetry Category (2009), and a nominee for the Northlands Award for Emerging Artist (2012), Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Emerging Artist Award, and Avenue’s "Top 40 Under 40." Alison was also honoured in 2011 for her human rights work in advocating for the rights of the disabled. One of her greatest achievements is an integrative camp she started for children from all walks of life—both with and without disabilities. Camp Mission Access uses a secret agent theme and activities as children of all abilities complete mission activities. Since 2010, she has been a member of iDANCE Edmonton, performing regularly. A musical version of Searching for Normal, will debut at the Edmonton International Fringe Festival in August 2013. Alison is currently working towards her Master of Arts at Athabasca University and, when time permits, completing her next YA novel.

Follow Alison:

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Sunday, November 17, 2013

REVIEW: Blessed Child by Ted Dekker and Bill Bright

Title: Blessed Child
Author: Ted Dekker and Bill Bright
Series: The Caleb Books #1
Published Date: First published Sept 3, 2001
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
ISBN: 9781401688783
Buy It Link: Amazon
Rating: 4 stars

Synopsis: "Whoever said that a straightened hand was more dramatic than a healed heart anyway?"
A young orphaned boy was abandoned in the midst of an invasion and raised in an Ethiopian monastery. He has never seen outside its walls--at least, not the way most people see. Now he must flee those walls or die.
But the world beyond is hardly ready for a boy like Caleb.
When relief worker Jason Marker agrees to take Caleb from the monastery, he unwittingly opens humanity's doors to an incredible journey filled with political intrigue and peril. Jason and Leiah--the French-Canadian nurse who escapes the monastery with him--quickly realize Caleb's supernatural power to heal. But so do the boy's enemies, who will stop at nothing to destroy him. Jason and Leiah fight for Caleb's survival while the world erupts in debate over the source of his power.
In the end nothing can prepare them for what they discover.
Review: I would like to thank Book Sneeze for allowing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
From the very beginning, this story pulls you in. From the invasion in Ethiopia, to seeing how this little sheltered boy takes in the world and society is brilliantly written. But, then, this little ten year old boy is supposed to be this miracle worker. Surely, anyone can understand the disbelief and anger that Jason holds in his heart during most of the book. Growing up in the Deep South, yeah, I've been exposed to the miracle workers and the talking in tongues, and yes, I'll admit, I roll my eyes at them.
But what if? What if the healing and miracles and stuff, what if they were really so close to us as the authors are showing in this book? There's a part in the book where Caleb is talking about the miracles he's performed, and how its so small. They are really just small things.
This book really made me think. And hope. And for that, just that, it deserves at least 4 stars.

Saturday, November 16, 2013

BOOK BLAST and GIVEAWAY: Songs of Three Islands by Millicent Monks

songs_cov3d
Songs of Three Islands A Story of Mental Illness in an Iconic American Family 

By Millicent Monks 
Published by Prospecta Press 
Paperback: 264 pages 
October 8, 2013; 
$18.95 US; 
9781935212447 

 Description Songs of Three Islands is a stunning memoir about the wealthy Carnegie family's struggle with mental illness, combined with a beautifully evoked meditation on motherhood. In describing five generations of mental instability in the female line of her family Millicent Monks attempts to bring mental illness out of the shadows and comfort those who are suffering from thoughts and feelings they don't always understand. In her own words "People, they say, are divided into two kinds: those who have known inescapable sorrow and those who have not. Because sorrow cannot be changed, one's lifestyle and feelings must be changed to accommodate it." This heartfelt account highlights the struggle and frustration felt as you watch those you love being destroyed by mental illness. It's easy to presume that having riches beyond your wildest dreams automatically means you have it all, but being blighted by mental illness is something many families, rich and poor alike, struggle to come to terms with. This memoir will not only leave the reader feeling positive and enlightened, but filled with enormous admiration for and gratitude towards Millicent Monks for sharing this unique story about her legendary family. This frank account highlights her own personal struggle and determination to survive against many odds. 

Author Bio Millicent Monks was born into the legendary Carnegie family, in which serious mental illness has affected four generations of women. Mental illness has played a prominent and overwhelming part in her life. Her search for answers led her to Jungian analysis, meditation and sutras, which have helped her to find a delicate peace amid the devastating mental illness in her family. She shares her story in the hopes that it will help other families. "If I can do something worthwhile to help people with children who are mentally ill," says Monks, "I would think that was something worth accomplishing in my life." 

Reviews " . . . a brilliant, hauntingly beautiful, melancholy memoir that is must reading for all who have been brushed by the wing of mental illness." -- William S. Cohen, Former US Secretary of Defense and author of Love in Black and White "Courageous and beautiful." -- Ralph Nader "Enthralling . . . is a testament to the importance of family love and of the saving power of a strong marriage." -- Charles Handy, author of The Empty Raincoat "Songs of Three Islands is a multi-layered weave of family memoir, myth and Jungian premonition that reads at times like a gothic novel." -- The Guardian ". . . lyrical memoir, which tells the physical journey of a family from one island to the next. It also explores, for the first time publicly, the thread of mental illness woven through the seemingly glittering tapestry." -- The New York Times

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BOOK BLAST: Love by Deception by Debra Elizabeth

Love by Deception

Book 2, Age of Innocence
Blurb:
Content with her life as a lady's maid, Isabel Knott learns the father she never knew has left her a fortune. The news comes with one restriction--she can never reveal his name. Isabel falls in love with Colby Tisbury, but with her nonexistent pedigree his father, Lord Tisbury, will never accept her as his daughter-in-law. Colby Tisbury must marry, and soon. If he doesn't find a bride before the end of the Season, his father will supply one. Then Colby meets sassy Isabel Knott, and everything changes--but can he go against his father's wishes and marry a girl utterly lacking in family and connections? Isabel is forced to make an impossible choice - reveal her secret identity and bring shame to her true father or lose Colby forever.

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Debra L Martin

Friday, November 15, 2013

BOOK BLAST: Sweet Magic Song by Olivia Hardin

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Sweet Magic Song - Large Belle Bittner was sold to the highest bidder when she was just a child, sought for the magic lying dormant in her blood. She grew up as the adopted daughter of a wealthy vampire couple, and serving the child-trafficking Org seemed her only option in life. But Belle has other plans, and she won’t let anyone get in the way of her escape, even if it means betraying those who try to help her. Desperate to stay free of an evil vampire who means to possess her no matter what, Belle decides she can use the protection of the flirtatious faery named Roon. The two of them flee to the faery realm where Rooney believes he can better protect her. What he doesn’t know is that taking the bea utiful siren through the golden door will set off a cataclysm of events that will threaten the fabric of both the human and the faery worlds. Separating myth from fact to decipher the truth about her powers could mean the destruction of the new life Belle’s trying so hard to build.

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iTunes and Kobo coming soon.

About the Olivia:

azaleapicWhen Olivia Hardin began having movie-like dreams in her teens, she had no choice but to begin putting them to paper. Before long, the writing bug had her and she knew she wanted to be a published author. Several rejections plus a little bit of life later, and she was temporarily “cured” of the urge to write. That is until she met a group of talented and fabulous writers who gave her the direction and encouragement she needed to get lost in the words again. Olivia’s attended three different universities over the years and toyed with majors in Computer Technology, English, History and Geology. Then one day she heard the term road scholar and she knew that was what she wanted to be. Now she “studies” anything and everything just for the joy of learning. She's also an insatiable crafter who only completes about 1 out of 5 projects, a jogger who hates to run, and she’s sometimes accused of being artistic. A native Texas girl, Olivia lives in the beautiful Lone Star state with her husband, Danny and their puppy, Bonnie.

Connect with Olivia and Get information about releases, contests, news and more here:

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Thursday, November 14, 2013

REVIEW: the Grinding by Matt Dinniman

Title: The Grinding
Author: Matt Dinniman
Series: None
Published Date: September 16th, 2013
Publisher: Necro Publishers
Genre: Horror
ISBN: 9781939065339
Buy it link: The Grinding
Rating: 4 stars

Synopsis: Six months ago, the world watched in horror as we lost an American city. 
The Grinder. That's what the survivors of Tucson called the monster. Just one touch, and they became a part of it. It used their bodies as limbs and as weapons. In just a matter of hours, it became huge, a towering monstrosity made entirely out of tens of thousands of people and animals. 
This isn’t behind-the-scenes bullshit from the point of view of the military. This isn’t yet another conspiracy theory about what really happened to Air Force One that night, or about the decision to nuke Tucson. 
This is a rare, eyewitness account from someone who was there, in the midst of the destruction. But most importantly, this is the terrifying truth.

Review: I'd like to thank Promotional Book Tours and the author for giving me a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
This was one scary as heck book, and I usually shy away from horror. The point of view that it was written from made it even more realistic, coming from a first hand experience, and written so well. It was extremely descriptive, and the author brought the one thing into it that I absolutely abhor to see in horror stories...babies, toddlers....no one was exempt from the Grinder. That made it even more realistic for me. 
As much as I wanted to put it down, I couldn't. The story just made me coming back for more till I found out every little detail.
I'm not quite sure I bought into the end, and the reason for it all, but overall this was a great horror book to read.

BLAST and GIVEAWAY: America's Darlings by Gail Bridges

by Gail Bridges

Genre: Erotica
This book contains explicit content not intended for people under 18 years of age. Leah Collins is a sexual gymnast, a brilliant athlete poised to compete in the Mexico City Olympic Games of 2112. She takes pride in her advanced skills in the sexual arts, but performing Courtesan’s Treat and Raging Volcano in front of thousands of cheering fans is no easy task, especially when sexual malfunctions threaten. At her side, a pillar of strength and compassion, is her best friend, Benson White. He is the one who scrapes her from the ground when her self-destructive tendencies surface. Benson is a talented sexual gymnast in his own right, the other half of America’s Darlings. They hope for a gold medal. What neither of them expects is to fall in love.

Buy on Amazon | Ellora's Cave

Meet the author:

I have three grown children. I live in Seattle, Washington with my husband and our five cats. In the past I have worked in a variety of different artistic media. I have a BFA in painting from the University of Washington, and for over fifteen years I made award-winning Fine Art Jewelry (silver and handmade ceramics) and sold my work at local and regional Fine Art and Craft shows. My business, Vivid Arts, flourished - but always, I felt driven to write. Two years ago, no longer able to deny the writing muse, I took an open-ended sabbatical from my art shows. Since then, I've written two novels and a number of published and unpublished short stories.

Follow Gail:

Facebook | Twitter | Blog | Website | Literary Addicts | Goodreads


Leah's Favorite way to spend an evening:
Knit a Cozy Scarf
(Prize includes):
Pattern with complete instructions to knit a scarf, in your choice of stitching design
Knitting needles
2 skeins of yarn
Tea
Chocolate
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Wednesday, November 13, 2013

REVIEW: Light Bulb Baking: A History of the Easy Bake Oven by Todd Coopee


Title: Light Bulb Baking: A History of the Easy Bake Oven
Series: None
Author: Todd Coopee
Published Date: September 30, 2013
Publisher: Sonderho Press
ISBN: 9780991748402
Buy It Link Amazon
Rating: 5 stars

Synopsis: This first definitive retrospective of the Easy Bake® Oven celebrates its journey from children's toy to pop culture icon and inductee to The National Toy Hall of Fame. The book explores the innovation, history, economics, commerce, advertising, and marketing behind the toy’s 50 year history. This book is a must read for vintage toy collectors, nostalgia buffs, foodies, and anyone who has ever peered through the oven's watch it bake window, eagerly anticipating the moment they will be able to serve and enjoy their very own culinary concoction.

Review: I'd like to thank the author and Promotional Book Tours for allowing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 
As a child, many of us have had an Easy Bake Oven at one time or another. I even think I had one, and that's probably the closest I've  ever gotten to the kitchen without burning something, or setting the smoke detector off. 
While reading this book, I had no idea the Easy Bake Oven has been around as long as my favorite television show, fifty years is a massively long time for any toy. Honestly, fifty years is long for anything in this instant gratification world we all live in now.
I absolutely loved reading the concept behind the Easy Bake Oven, and how it has evolved through the years, taking into account customer safety, colors that were vogue at the time, and finally 2013 will be expanding into a more gender-equal color scheme as well as terminology. It was one of the best peeks into history and the evolution of a toy that I have seen.


Tuesday, November 12, 2013

COVER REVEAL: Give Me Hope by Zoey Derrick

Welcome to the Cover Reveal of Give Me Hope 
by Zoey Derrick

An Angel is he...

From the first moment he saw her, MIKAH BLAKE was seized by an inexplicable need to protect Vivienne Callahan, a fragile but fiery young woman who’s awakened a slumbering power within him. With his encouragement, Vivienne has begun to turn her life around, and things seem to be heading in the direction of a slow but certain happily-ever-after. But that happy ending is side tracked by a rising evil that is determined to destroy her. 

When her dark past comes back to claim her, Mikah is caught in a whirlwind of events that lead him down a path he was born into but never understood. Until now. 

Can Mikah save Vivienne?  Will his love be enough? Will he be able to control his angelic powers and use them to protect his new found love?
Buy It Now  Amazon   Barnes and Noble   

It is from Glendale, Arizona that Zoey Derrick, writes stories as hot as the desert sun itself. It is this passion that drips off of her work, bringing excitement to anyone who enjoys a good and sensual love story.
 
 

Not only does she aim to take her readers on an erotic dance that lasts the night, it allows her to empty her mind of stories we all wish were true.
Her stories are hopeful yet true to life, skillfully avoiding melodrama and the unrealistic, bringing her gripping Erotica only closer to the heart of those that dare dipping into it. 
 
 

The intimacy of her fantasies that she shares with her readers is thrilling and encouraging, climactic yet full of suspense. She is a loving mistress, up for anything, of which any reader is doomed to return to again and again.


ONLINE LINKS:
Website WWW.ZOEYDERRICK.COM
Facebook WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/ZOEY.DERRICK
Facebook WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/ZOEY.DERRICK.1
Twitter WWW.TWITTER.COM/ZOEYDERRICK
Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7060851.Zoey_Derrick
Amazon Page http://www.amazon.com/Zoey-Derrick/e/B00CNZYGZU/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

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Monday, November 11, 2013

BOOK BLITZ: A Secret Worth Keeping by Lakisha Johnson

A Secret Worth Keeping by Lakisha Johnson

 
Book Description

 October 2, 2013
  • Print Length: 210 pages
  • Publisher: Delphine Publications
  • Tour Organized by: Everything Marie


Shelby is a career woman turned housewife who enjoys the friendships that have been built with her 5 best friends; Camille, Lynesha, Raylin, Kerri and Chloe. They are all career women with different businesses or careers, husbands and even children but something is missing, something they can’t find at home, in a store or even in a book. So, they search for this missing piece in the beds, arms, cars, offices and even in storage rooms of other men who don’t mind paying for what Dem Dam Divas can offer. They enjoy the thrill of sneaking, creeping and even vacationing on someone else’s dime but what happens when it all becomes too much? From being found guilty with no evidence, secretly wanting someone who doesn’t want you, loving only to not be loved back, caught up in a dream that you’re about to be awaken from; will it be worth it in the end? Will their secret lives be revealed and will it become too much to handle? Will they regret their actions or stand by them? Will they finally question whether this secret is really worth keeping?

Excerpt 1

Ray
“Good morning, Ray; Mr. Johnson is waiting to see you in his office.”
Thanks Ashley, I said. I knocked on the door that was already slightly open. “Hey, you wanted to see me?” He motioned for me to come in while he finished up a call. Once he hung up, he looked at me with the slight hint of an attitude and said, “Yea, since I didn’t hear from you this weekend!”
“Oh, do I detect an attitude?  Seeing that I am not your wife, I don’t have to check in.”
He said, “You may not be my wife but I pay you like you are!”
“Yea, you pay because it’s worth every dollar and I do the things your wife doesn’t. Now, if you don’t want anything I have some work to do.” 
He grabbed me by the arm before I could move and pushed me up against his desk. He pushed the intercom, “Yes, Mr. Johnson;” said Ashley.
“Ray and I will be busy for the next 30 minutes, no interruptions!” he barked.
“Yes sir,” she said.

He pushed up my pencil skirt and ran his fingers between my legs, surprised that I had no panties on as he hurriedly tried to undo his pants.
“Slow down baby, she ain’t going nowhere.”
“I know but dam, she’s so hot and wet!” he said. 

“Yea I know but remember we are at work and I don’t need you screaming like a girl!”
He laughed and said, “Then put something in my mouth to shut me up.” I, of course obliged.
I pulled my skirt the rest of the way up, pushed myself back on his desk and spread my legs wide enough for his head to nestle right in between them. I wanted him to get all the glory of my freshly shaved candy box and his tongue hit the bull’s eye on the first try and I was in Heaven. He parted my lips and sucked like he was trying to find how many licks until he got to the tootsie roll center!

“Oh my God!” is all I could say as I grabbed this man by the head.  As I begin to have an orgasm out of this world, he stood and I took every inch of his long, thick cock as I wrapped my legs around his back.  I put my hands on his ass and I pushed until I made sure I had it all. 
“Dam girl!” he said as I laid back a little further to make sure he was feeling every bit of me. Oh, don’t get me wrong; I love this sex but I won’t let him see it. I grabbed his arms and rocked with him until we both came together. 
“Baby, you will make a man sign over his company for that shit!”
“Yea, I know. Consider that a thank you for our trip this weekend,” I said as I walked out passed Ashley smiling before he even had a chance to respond. 

Excerpt 2

This has been a long day!  After hanging out with the girls, I knew better than to schedule this shipment today but I have some sexy new plus size outfits that are sexy yet sophisticated enough to show off the right curves at the right time. Now, its 7PM and I’m sitting here daydreaming about this new lingerie even though I need to get to home.
“Excuse me, ma’am,” this voice says!
Shit, you scared me and who are you calling ma’am?”  I asked.
Good God, I thought to myself as I turned around to see a man that made by mouth fall open.

“I apologize, I didn’t mean to scare you but the door was open and I’ve been trying to get your attention,” he said.  “I forgot one of your boxes on my truck this morning.”
“Oh, that’s fine you can sit it over there and thank you for bringing it back,” I stated.

“No problem. I didn’t want you to be angry with me so I decided to not wait until Monday. My name is Xavier, by the way.”
“Xavier, nice name and it fits you well,” I threw in.
“Thanks, I got it from my dad,” he said.
 “Baby, if your dad is as fine as you; he can deliver me anything at any time.”
He laughed and said, “Why does it have to be my dad?”
I replied, “Because you might not be able to handle all this woman.”

He turned to walk away and I thought I had scared him off but when he locked the door and began walking towards me, licking his lips saying, “I might not but I’d sure love to give it a try,” my panties got wet.  Hell, even my nipples got hard.
I began licking my lips and making direct eye contact with him. I was standing there looking good in my black skirt, thigh high boots and low cut shirt and I couldn’t wait until he took it all off.

“Are you sure you can handle this?  I don’t want you to have to quit your job because you’ll be scared to come back,” I said.  He walked over and put his tongue in my mouth which was answer enough for me. He picked me up and believe me when I say; he wasn’t scared to handle this big girl!  Baby, he picked me up so high; I thought I was going to fall but he said “Just relax and enjoy it.”

He placed my back against the wall and wrapped my legs around his head while he was standing. “Shit, Shit, Oh Shit” ….this man licked my lady like it had been months since he’d eaten. Whew, I felt things that I had never felt before. I was so wet that I could not contain myself.  All, I could do was scream out as he licked me clean. He then put me down gently as I pushed him away from me.  My legs felt like jelly but I couldn’t let him see me sweat.  I ordered him to take off my skirt, leaving me with my black see through bra, panties and thigh high boots.
“Come here,” I ordered and he said “Yes ma’am” with a smile on his face. I could see the print of his cock through his work pants and my eyes were screaming OMG, I’m going to enjoy this. 


Purchase Links:

Amazon US:(ebook): A Secret Worth Keeping
​Amazon UKA Secret Worth Keeping
Amazon US:(paperback)A Secret Worth Keeping (Delphine Publications Presents)
iBooks: A Secret Worth Keeping - Lakisha Johnson
Barnes & Noble: (ebook): A Secret Worth Keeping
​Barnes & Noble: (paperback): A Secret Worth Keeping





About the Author:

 
LaKisha Johnson is a girl after God’s own heart; doing what she believes to be her purpose..writing.  In addition to being a self-publised author, she’s also a wife of 15 years, mother of 2 and native of Memphis, TN. She comes from a huge family and has always been the go to girl whenever someone needed a poem written or read, an acknowledgement that would convey just what they were thinking or even an occassion written for that special day. She’s an all-around talented lady that makes everything she touch turn to gold. She has 2 degrees from Southwest TN Community College both in Information Technology and has worked in the corporate field for over 15 years. She is also a dedicated blogger, delivering a devotional blog 5 days per week entitled ”Kisha’s Daily Devotionals.”

LaKisha wants readers of her books to step outside the box and read with imagination.  She wants them reeled in from the front cover to the last word, enjoying every second in between, asking for more.  She doesn’t proclaim to be the best writer or even author in the world..she just proclaims to be blessed because her motto is ”God’s purpose is bigger than any problem!”
 

Web Links
Facebook  - https://www.facebook.com/ASWKeeping
Twitter - https://twitter.com/_lakishajohnson

Instagram - http://instagram.com/kishajohnson
Author Site - http://authorlakishajohnson.wordpress.com/
Email address authorlakisha@gmail.com

Sunday, November 10, 2013

REVIEW: A Shot in the Dark by Jennifer Burrows



Title: A Shot in the Dark
Series: Book #1 of a yet unnamed series I believe
Author: Jennifer Burrows
Published Date: July 11, 2013
Publisher: Black Rose Writing
ISBN:  9781612962160
Buy It Links: Amazon
Rating: 4 stars

Synopsis: Most of the patients that are brought to the trauma bay in the ER remain nameless, and for the most part, faceless. For Laney Pearson and the rest of the staff, this makes it easier to move past the senseless death and destruction that they see on an almost daily basis. But all of that changes for Laney when she finds herself trying to pump the life back into a young motorcycle rider who arrives by helicopter more dead than alive. Skyler Smith has all the makings of the next great motocross rider, right up until he crashes while trying to perform the trick that will secure his future. From the time his motionless body is lifted off the track, the question becomes not when his next race takes place, but whether he will live to see another day. And now there is mounting evidence that the tragedy was no accident. Laney can never envision this boy's crash and the ensuing investigation will have such an impact on her own life, but in the days that follow, she discovers a life within her she never knew existed. While the police sort through the mounting evidence from the crash, Laney has to sort through her own feelings for the handsome trauma surgeon that she previously never gave a second thought. Is he really as charming as he seems, or is there another reality hiding? beneath the surface? And just how long has he been watching her?

Review:  I'd like to thank ABGReadsBook Tours and the author for giving me a chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Being a part of the medical field, I absolutely love the story line. I love seeing the inside of any trauma, and the teams associated with it. Overall, this was a great story. I liked the characters, I loved Skyler. He was definitely my favorite character in the book. The story line hooked you from the very beginning and really didn't let go until the very end.
However, that being said, there were some details that were a little iffy. I work in the blood bank, in transfusion services, and I have yet to see someone go through 50 units of blood. A human body holds anywhere between 9 and 10 units. Twenty units would have been more believable. I've seen twenty units of blood go into someone. Now if it were a total of 50 units (blood, plasma, cryo and platelets), then, yes, it would have been believable. All I thought of was, "God I hope Skyler's not an O Neg....then the American Red Cross would have been really screwed." The other thing that I found to be a little strange was that the ending wasn't very well explained. The guy's high and suddenly he recognizes her? That was just a little on the weird side. I kept thinking that perhaps he had her confused with someone else.
Another thing was the writing style. It seemed very choppy at times, very mechanical. I wasn't a big fan of that, but the storyline saw it through.
Overall, I really do want to read the next book in the series, and it was better than it was bad.

Saturday, November 9, 2013

BLAST: Wanted: Vampire by Lisa Rayns



Wanted: Vampire - Free Blood
 
Book 1 in the Wanted: Vampire Trilogy
Released: Aug 24, 2012 Genre: Paranormal Romance Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Three years ago, death blew out the candle in Alexis Hall’s life and left her devastated. Nothing could replace what she’d lost, not even the sexy stranger she awoke married to. Still, she finds it hard to ignore the dangerous sparks he triggers within her. She knows Bradley Cox took advantage of her. What she doesn’t know is he holds a secret that will change everything.
 
But Bradley isn’t her only concern. In a moment of desperation to somehow reclaim what she had lost, Alexis made an offer to a vampire––free blood. Her blood.
 
In a story of heartbreak and obsession, a simple ad changed Alexis' life forever and on one fateful night her dreams and her nightmares will collide. Can she trust Bradley? Or is he her worst mistake? Can she retract her offer to the vampire? Or will she fall under his deceptive spell?

Purchase Amazon / B&N

Wanted: Vampire - Bad Blood
 
Book 2 in the Wanted: Vampire Trilogy
Released: Feb 24, 2013
 
Joel’s back.
 
Determined to return her sexy ex to his former vampire self, Tara Callister does what she has to do: She exposes three evil witches in order to enlist her coven’s help. Unfortunately for her, things don’t always work out as planned.
 
Targeted by her enemies, betrayed by her coven, she must figure out how to save herself and those she loves from the evil entwining itself in her life. But when her journey of self discovery leads her down an even darker path, will she stand behind her white witch promise or become one of them? And more importantly, are Joel’s feelings for her strong enough to survive it all?
 

Purchase Amazon / B&N







Book 3 in the Wanted: Vampire Trilogy: Coming in February 2014
 
About the Author
 
Lisa Rayns, author of the paranormal romance, "Wanted: Vampire – Free Blood," lives in a small town in South Dakota. She studied Composition/Literature in college and worked with explosives and as a blackjack dealer before beginning her writing career. An avid reader, she weaves romantic stories rich with action, suspense, and her own personal flavor of the paranormal. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys spending time with her family and Siamese cat. For more information about Lisa and her books, visit her website at www.lisarayns.com.
 
Follow the Author: Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads
 
Prize: Author is giving away a $25 Amazon Giftcard. Fill out the form below to Enter!
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