Monday 31 October 2016

Book Blitz Tru Blue by Melissa Foster + Giveaway


Tru Blue
Melissa Foster
Publication date: November 9th 2016
Genres: Adult, Romance
TRU BLUE is a sexy, dark stand-alone novel written in the same loving, raw, and emotional voice romance readers have come to love, and the deeply emotional literary prose women’s fiction readers have come to expect, from New York Times & USA Today bestselling, award-winning author Melissa Foster.
“With her wonderful characters and resonating emotions, Melissa Foster is a must-read author!” New York Times Bestseller Julie Kenner
“Melissa Foster is synonymous with sexy, swoony, heartfelt romance!” New York Times Bestseller Lauren Blakely
He wore the skin of a killer, and bore the heart of a lover…
There’s nothing Truman Gritt won’t do to protect his family–Including spending years in jail for a crime he didn’t commit. When he’s finally released, the life he knew is turned upside down by his mother’s overdose, and Truman steps in to raise the children she’s left behind. Truman’s hard, he’s secretive, and he’s trying to save a brother who’s even more broken than he is. He’s never needed help in his life, and when beautiful Gemma Wright tries to step in, he’s less than accepting. But Gemma has a way of slithering into people’s lives and eventually she pierces through his ironclad heart. When Truman’s dark past collides with his future, his loyalties will be tested, and he’ll be faced with his toughest decision yet.
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“You can always rely on Melissa Foster to deliver a story that’s fresh, emotional and entertaining. Make sure you have all night, because once you start you won’t want to stop reading. Every book’s a winner!” NYT Bestselling Author Brenda Novak
EXCERPT:
TRUMAN GRITT LOCKED the door to Whiskey Automotive and stepped into the stormy September night. Sheets of rain blurred his vision, instantly drenching his jeans and T-shirt. A slow smile crept across his face as he tipped his chin up, soaking in the shower of freedom. He made his way around the dark building and climbed the wooden stairs to the deck outside his apartment. He could have used the interior door, but after being behind bars for six long years, Truman took advantage of the small pleasures he’d missed out on, like determining his own schedule, deciding when to eat and drink, and standing in the f**king rain if he wanted to. He leaned on the rough wooden railing, ignoring the splinters of wood piercing his tattooed forearms, squinted against the wetness, and scanned the cars in the junkyard they used for parts—and he used to rid himself of frustrations. He rested his leather boot on the metal box where he kept his painting supplies. Truman didn’t have much—his old extended-cab truck, which his friend Bear Whiskey had held on to for him while he was in prison, this apartment, and a solid job, both of which were compliments of the Whiskey family. The only family he had anymore.
Emotions he didn’t want to deal with burned in his gut, causing his chest to constrict. He turned to go inside, hoping to outrun thoughts of his own f**ked-up family, whom he’d tried—and failed—to save. His cell phone rang with his brother’s ringtone, “A Beautiful Lie” by 30 Seconds to Mars.
“F**k,” he muttered, debating letting the call go to voicemail, but six months of silence from his brother was a long time. Rain pelleted his back as he pressed his palm to the door to steady himself. The ringing stopped, and he blew out a breath he hadn’t realized he’d trapped inside. The phone rang again, and he froze.
He’d just freed himself from the dredges of hell that he’d been thrown into in an effort to save his brother. He didn’t need to get wrapped up in whatever mess the drug-addicted fool had gotten himself into. The call went to voicemail, and Truman eyed the metal box containing his painting supplies. Breathing like he’d been in a fight, he wished he could paint the frustration out of his head. When the phone rang for the third time in as many minutes, the third time since he was released from prison six months ago, he reluctantly answered.
“Quincy.” He hated the way his brother’s name came out sounding like the enemy. Quincy had been just a kid when Truman went to prison. Heavy breathing filled the airwaves. The hairs on Truman’s forearms and neck stood on end. He knew fear when he heard it. He could practically taste it as he ground his teeth together.
“I need you,” his brother’s tortured voice implored.
Need me? Truman had hunted down his brother after he was released from prison, and when he’d finally found him, Quincy was so high on crack he was nearly incoherent—but it didn’t take much for f**k off to come through loud and clear. What Quincy needed was rehab, but Truman knew from his tone that wasn’t the point of the call.
Before he could respond, his brother croaked out, “It’s Mom. She’s really bad.”
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Author Bio:
Melissa Foster is a New York Times & USA Today bestselling and award-winning author. She writes sexy and heartwarming contemporary romance, new adult romance (M/F, M/M, F/F), romantic suspense, thrillers, and historical fiction with emotionally compelling characters that stay with you long after you turn the last page. Melissa's emotional journeys are lovingly erotic and always family oriented. Her books have been recommended by USA Today's book blog, Hagerstown Magazine, The Patriot, and several other print venues. She is the founder of the World Literary Café. When she's not writing, Melissa helps authors navigate the publishing industry through her author training programs on Fostering Success.
Melissa has painted and donated several murals to The Hospital for Sick Children in Washington, DC. Her interests include her family, reading, writing, painting, friends, helping others see the positive side of life, and visiting Cape Cod.
Melissa is available to chat with book clubs and welcomes comments and emails from her readers. Visit Melissa on Facebook or her personal website.
Never miss a brand new release, special promotions or inside gossip again by simply signing up to receive your newsletter from Melissa.

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Book Blitz: Gravity by A. B. Bloom + Giveaway

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Gravity

by A.B. Bloom Publication Date: October 31, 2016 Genres: Young Adult, Paranormal, Romance gravitysmall
Read for FREE in KindleUnlimited: Amazon
They are calling it the End of Days. The world is plunging into darkness, the days growing shorter and the nights longer. Meteor showers are falling to the earth and there are some who would take advantage of the growing darkness. For sixteen year old Bronte Bell, her problems are closer to home. Since her birthday she’s become weaker, her bones breaking, her hair falling out and plagued with constant migraines. No one can explain why. Until a mysterious new boy arrives and tells her that everything is not as it seems. She is not what she seems. Drawn into a war that divides the sky, Bronte is torn between her desire to save the world and her growing connection with Nick. But she will have to let go of reality as she knows it, if she is to accept her role in destiny before the Hunter, who has been tracking her since birth, finds and destroys any chance she has of making the choice which is her birthright to make. Her destiny will change everything . . . goodreads-badge-add-38px

About A. B. Bloom

Anna Bloom is a contemporary romance writer who writes about life as it happens. Combining a busy schedule of looking after two small children whilst working in a local school and completing The Uni Files series. Anna’s main aim in life is to create the perfect book which makes a reader laugh and cry at the same time, hopefully causing a convulsive (impossible to ignore) donkey noise. It’s a work in progress! Anna also spends a lot of time imagining kissing hot guys – all in the name of her art.

Book Blitz: When A Laird Finds A Lass by Lecia Cornwall + Giveaway

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When a Laird Finds a Lass

by Lecia Cornwall Highland Fairy Tales Publication Date: November 1, 2016 Genres: Historical, Romance
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She is his greatest enemy and his only salvation… Malcolm MacDonald, a lawyer in Edinburgh, unexpectedly inherits his father’s title of Laird of Dunbronach, forcing him to return to a place he hasn’t seen since he was a small child. To gain the trust of a wary clan, Malcolm must act upon their insistence that he cast aside his English betrothed and marry a Highlander. However, they have one condition—no lasses of the barbaric clan MacLeod. When he finds an unconscious woman in the sea, he brings her back to his clan but not before doing the one thing that could save her life—hiding her all too telling MacLeod plaid. When she wakes with no memory of who she is, Malcolm vows to keep the little he knows about her identity a secret. As new dangers threaten his clan, the mysterious lass teaches Malcolm some very important lessons about how to be a Highlander and a laird. But secrets never stay secret for long, and when she finds her plaid, her memory returns and she flees. Malcolm is forced to make a difficult choice to win her back, facing his darkest fears and his worst enemy for a chance at true love.
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About Lecia Cornwall

Lecia Cornwall lives and writes in Calgary, Canada in the beautiful foothills of the Canadian Rockies, with five cats, two teenagers, a crazy chocolate lab, and one very patient husband. She’s hard at work on her next book. Come visit Lecia at www.leciacornwall.com, or drop her a line at leciacornwall@shaw.ca.

Sunday 30 October 2016

Cover Reveal: Buried Secrets by J.C. Valentine + Giveaway

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Buried Secrets

by J.C. Valentine Publication Date: November 29, 2016 Genres: Adult, New Adult, Mystery, Thriller, YA, Suspense
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SPECIAL 99c #PREORDER PRICE!

Synopsis: How do you live with yourself when you don’t even know who you are?
On a chill October night, a girl goes missing setting the small town of Oakridge on edge. James has spent the last five years running from a past that still haunts him to this day. Now he finds himself thrust back into a life he thought he left behind. Finding out his new home may be haunted and reconnecting with an old friend while being thrust into a murder mystery, James finds himself trying to figure out which end is up while questioning his own sanity. **AUTHOR’S NOTE** Buried Secrets is a New Adult, mystery thriller with very little romance but heavy on the suspense.
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EXCERPT - PROLOGUE

Fall crept in like a burglar while the town slept. It brought with it a chill that felt refreshing after one of the hottest summers on Oakridge record. A slight, sticky fog hung in the air and evidence of Halloween was on nearly every doorstep in the form of carved jack-o-lanterns. Skeletons hung on doors, and festive orange lights draped roofs. Leaves coated the ground, wet and matted to the sidewalks and streets. James breathed in the cool air that stung his nose just a bit. He loved when school let out at the end of the day. He never could wait to get out of the confines of the small, overcrowded classrooms. Even now he couldn’t fully escape it. Classmates of his walked and ran the same mile stretch he was, laughing and talking about anything and everything. Right now, he knew the junior high girl and her friend from his science class walking a few feet behind him were debating the hotness of Tommy Henderson, the varsity basketball player for Oakridge High. Everyone knew him, and everyone loved him. He was going to take the team to the championships. Probably would graduate and take some college to their championship, too. Something the whole town could be proud of. They met a few years ago when James was playing in the woods. AJ found him digging for worms—he’d been on a mission, wanting to teach himself how to fish, to live off the land like the people from ancient times—and he’d offered to help. AJ had run off, leaving James to sit and wonder where he had come from—he hadn’t heard him approach in the first place. He returned cupping a handful of water in his palms. He’d dumped the liquid in the hole James had dug, and moments later, worms began squirming to the surface. They became fast friends. James kept their friendship a secret. He wasn’t sure why exactly, except that AJ was his only friend, and he wanted to keep him all for himself. If he told someone, they might want to meet him, then the magic might go away. So they spent all that summer collecting worms and pretending to be hunters in the deep woods behind Oakridge Park. When summer break was over and school was back in session, James was disappointed to find that AJ wasn’t in any of his classes. In fact, he wasn’t in any classes in the school. No one heard of him. He finally broke and told his mom and dad about him one evening over dinner, because he was worried about AJ and needed to share him with someone, so he could feel close to him again. Like if he kept him a secret, and didn’t see him, then he wouldn’t be real anymore. It was an odd way to look at it, he knew, but he hadn’t ever had a friend quite like AJ. He was fun and daring and super inventive, and he liked James, flaws and all. So when he told his parents about AJ, they were happy for him. His mom said he probably just missed him in the halls. The schools weren’t huge, but they were big enough to lose someone in. His dad said that AJ probably just went to a different school. Maybe in the next town over, since no one knew him here. That settled it for a bit, and the next time James saw AJ, which was at the park just after sunset one evening when James was on his way home from skipping rocks in the small stream in the woods, he asked him about it. AJ had told him that both theories were wrong. He lived a few miles west through the woods and his mom homeschooled him. He said his dad did some sort of factory work in the next town, which was just enough to pay the bills and put food on the table, according to him. It was only then that James realized AJ didn’t wear the best of clothes, and he wasn’t as kempt as James was. But that didn’t make any difference to him. In fact, he felt closer to AJ than ever before. Finally, he had found someone who would never judge him. Someone who could truly understand him. So when Mercy Worthington fell into step with him, James’s heart beat a rapid tempo and his stomach turned to knots. “Hi,” she said in a very delicate, but cheerful voice. James stared at the ground and muttered a hello, but he couldn’t get up the nerve to really look at her. “I’m Mercy. You’re James, right? James Clearwater. I think my dad works with yours at old man Jenson’s. He does the proofs, doesn’t he?” James nodded. His dad worked at Jenson Design Studio where he developed photographs in one of the two darkrooms. His dad had big dreams of one day owning his own studio and becoming a famous photographer. Mercy’s dad was a set designer. James knew everything there was to know about Mercy and her family, and not just because the whole town knew who her family was, but because he paid attention and took notes. James was in love with Mercy Worthington, and had been since the third grade when she’d taken a job behind the lunch counter for a day and handed him a carton of 2% with that big, white smile of hers trained squarely on him. She was a senior at the high school, which made her five years older than James, who was thirteen now and in the seventh grade. Today, like every day, she was radiant. Her dull blond hair waved gently behind her as the breeze caught it and when he found the nerve to look up at her, he found her green eyes smiling on him. He was going to marry her one day. “I thought so,” she said, grinning. She took in their surroundings. “Do you take this route every day?” He nodded. “I’ve never seen you, and I walk this way every day. How come I’ve never seen you?” He shrugged. “I dunno.” He felt awkward and short on words. He stuffed his hands in his pockets. “You don’t talk much, do you?” He glanced at her and caught her teasing smile. He smiled back, feeling a little of the tension leave his shoulders. Why was she being so nice to him? A part of him felt like this must be a trick, but when he looked around, he only saw other kids from school walking silently or in small groups or pairs, chatting quietly. Could she really be interested in him? The only kids besides AJ that talked to him were the ones who poked fun of his clothes or his haircut, his slight lisp or the way he tripped over his own feet. She probably just felt sorry for him. He had heard of that before, girls who felt sorry for the underdog and took pity on them. Normally, he would get mad at being a charity case, but right now he couldn’t care less. Someone other than his family knew he existed. Mercy Worthington knew he existed. Suddenly, he didn’t feel like a shadow slinking around in the world unnoticed anymore. “So how long have you lived in Oakridge, James?” Mercy asked, as they crossed the street. “My whole life,” he replied. She nodded. “Do you have any friends? I never see you with anyone.” He shrugged. “Some.” He didn’t want to look like too much of a loser. “What about a girlfriend, do you have one of those?” He felt himself blush. “No.” “I know what your dad does for a living. So what does your mom do?” “She likes to garden, but no one pays her for it,” he said. His dad was old-fashioned and believed that the wife should be home with the kids while the husband went out and provided for the family. “That’s cool,” she said. “My mom is a painter. Sometimes she sells her art to the museum or to some person with lots of money. She’s pretty successful. I was thinking of painting when I get out of college. What about you? Do you know what you want to do after college?” Honestly, James wasn’t sure he even wanted to go to college. His dad never pushed the notion, insisting that he wouldn’t amount to much more than a gas-station attendant anyway. He wanted to be an astronaut when he was little, like most boys that age did, then he switched to a fireman after a class field trip to the fire station in fifth grade. Now, he just wasn’t sure what he wanted. “I’m not sure,” he said honestly. “Maybe I’ll just travel across the world for a while and live off the land until I figure it out.” That had been a dream of his and AJ’s, to hitch rides all over the country with nothing but a backpack and a few dollars in their wallet. Her face lit up with excitement. “That is so cool that you said that. I always dreamed of seeing the world, but my dad said that education comes first. I will have all the time in the world to do what I want after I get my ducks in a row.” James wasn’t sure he believed that, but he kept his mouth shut. Heavy footsteps approached from behind and moments later a big, strong arm wrapped around Mercy’s shoulder. Tommy Henderson had arrived. “Hey, babe.” Tightening his grip on her neck, he pulled her in for a sloppy kiss. “Hey,” she said when she came up for air. “Tommy, this is James. His dad works with my dad. He’s going to travel across the world one day.” She said this with a grin that made James’ stomach flutter a little. Tommy sized James up, and James knew he was trying to figure out where he knew him from. James knew him from the many times he “accidentally” knocked his books from his hands, and “inadvertently” tore up his homework. James was afraid if he recognized him, he might have to endure another embarrassing moment involving colorful adjectives and descriptive threats, and he just didn’t want to be made a fool of in front of a girl like Mercy Worthington. He hung his head, allowing a few scraggly scraps of hair to shield his eyes. “Travel the world, huh? Like a hobo or something?” He laughed, his deep, belly rolling chortle that made all the girls weak in the knees. James thought it made him look and sound stupid. “What are you hanging out with this joker for? He’s like two feet tall. I could smash him with my pinkie.” James felt his finger press down on the crown of his head in demonstration. “Hey,” Tommy said, putting himself between James and Mercy. “You trying to steal my girlfriend?” “Stop picking on him, Tommy,” Mercy snapped. Tommy sneered at James, then his features smoothed, and he turned on a smile for Mercy. “Whatever you say, babe. Just making sure the boy understands there’s no competition. You’re my girl, aren’t you, babe?” Mercy rolled her eyes. “Of course, Tommy.” They had come to a fork in the road where James’ house was to the left and Mercy’s to the right. “I’ll see you around, James,” Mercy told him, smiling apologetically. “Yeah, see ya,” Tommy said, then ruffled James’ hair like he was some little kid. James watched after them as they turned and walked off. After a few feet, Tommy turned to face James. “And, James.” James raised a questioning brow. “Stay away from my girl.” Mercy punched Tommy in the side playfully, and he laughed, tugging her closer as they resumed walking. James felt his body begin to shake. He was angry. At that moment, he wanted to beat Tommy Henderson until his arms were too weak to continue. For the first time in his miserable existence, James thought he felt angry enough to kill. As the sun set, the day turned bitter cold, and the rain had moved in. It was sheeting down now, and Mercy’s shoes were soaking wet as her feet beat through every puddle. She was running, the rain pouring down her face in rivers, filling her eyes and blinding her to her path. Someone was chasing her. She’d decided to walk home after an evening at her boyfriend, Tommy’s, house, and almost as soon as she rounded the first street corner, she felt someone following her. The shadowy figure kept pace for a couple of blocks, then steadily picked up pace, until Mercy broke out running…and so did they. She was crossing the park playground now, and she could just make out the hill ahead. Her house was just over that hill, and if she could make it, she could get help. As her feet slipped, trying to find purchase on the soft, mud covered ground, Mercy could feel her muscles begin to cramp and burn with exhaustion. Against her will, she was slowing. When her feet hit the loose bark covering the playground, Mercy did slip. She caught herself with her hands and scrambled to her feet, pushing herself harder until she finally reached the bottom of the hill. There she used her hands, her fingers digging into the grass, and pulled herself up until she could look over and beyond to her house. The lights inside were a warm beacon, and she felt a sudden urgency come over her. As she came to her feet, Mercy heard a muffled thud, and glanced over her shoulder. It was a mistake that she wouldn’t live to regret. The shadow stood before her, and to her surprise, she recognized the dark figure. “What do you want from me!” A visual sweep revealed something big and heavy looking in their hand, and with quick precision, the shadow raised its arm high in the air and brought it down hard. A slow trickle of blood broke through her hairline and ran down her forehead, then her face and dripped off her chin. A second blow caused it to grow thicker and run faster and Mercy fell to her knees, then finally her face, where her eyes focused and glazed over and her breaths faded away to nothing. And still the shadow hit her, until all the fury, all the anger subsided. Her last vision was that of the warm yellow glow coming from the living room window where her mother and father, sister and brother sat watching the evening news and waiting for her to come walking in the door any moment. Stooping down, the figure wrapped its cold, wet fingers around Mercy’s ankles and pulled, slipping frequently under the girl’s slight weight as it dragged her lifeless body into the copse of oak trees beyond the playground. Come morning, when the sun broke through the clouds, children would run and play, never knowing the horrors of what happened just a short distance away.
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ABOUT J.C. VALENTINE

JC Valentine
J.C. Valentine is the USA Today and International bestselling author of the Night Calls and Wayward Fighters Series and the Forbidden Series. Her vivid imagination and love of words and romance had her penning her own romance stories from an early age, which, despite being poorly edited and written longhand, she forced friends and family members to read. No, she isn’t sorry. J.C. earned her own happily ever after when she married her high school sweetheart. Living in the Northwest, they have three amazing children and far too many pets and spend much of their free time together enjoying movies or the outdoors. Among the many hats she wears, J.C. is an entrepreneur. Having graduated with honors, she holds a Bachelor’s in English and when she isn’t writing, you can find her editing for fellow authors. Sign up for J.C.’s newsletter and never miss a thing! http://bit.ly/1KxXWWB

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Saturday 29 October 2016

Author Interview: Natalie Rios

One of the great things I have loved since I set up the blog is discovering new authors to read and that is definitely true for today’s guest author Natalie Rios. Her debut novel How to Catch an Heiress was published this month. It is the first book in the Heiress Series and all books in the series can be read as a standalone.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and your writing journey?
Writing is a bit of an outlet for me. I’m an engineer during my day job and work can get, well…kind of stressful and overwhelming at times. In order to prevent myself from burning out, I started taking 15-minute writing breaks where I could transport myself to another world and give my brain a time out. Before I knew it, the manuscript for How to Catch an Heiress was finished.

What did you enjoy most about writing this book? 
I enjoyed putting a twist on a couple of old tropes (Vegas wedding and billionaire matched with a not-so-rich person). There aren’t too many billionaire stories out there where it’s the woman who has the money and it was fun trying something new.

Were any characters inspired by anyone in real life? 
Yes and no. Anthony’s kind of mashup of a lot of the male engineering majors I went to school with. Robbie (Liz’s brother who you briefly meet in How to Catch an Heiress) is based on a couple of patients I met way back when I worked at a psych hospital. And yes, I worked in a psych hospital once upon a time. Let’s just say I’ve had a lot of interesting jobs in my lifetime :)

What is a typical writing day like?
I write during my work breaks and on weekends so this can vary widely. Some days, everything comes easy and I can crank out 2-3k words. Other days, it’s like pulling teeth just to get 500.

What essentials do you need to have close to hand when you are in writing mode? 
A spiral notebook and a pen. Of course I type all of my writing, but there are some things that are easier for me to keep track of in a good old fashioned notebook. I keep a page for each character and usually, it’s the little details I need to keep in there. For example, when I first started writing, I kept messing up how many ex-wives Liz’s father has. With the notebook, I just had to flip to his page to double check before I continued writing.

What authors have influenced you as a writer?
So many! Nora Roberts sparked my interest in contemporary romance way back when. I still read her books to this day. Melanie Harlow, Penny Reid, and LH Cosway are a few current indie authors that have influenced me.

When planning a new novel which comes first, the plot or the characters?
Plot first, but they’re kind of intertwined. I try to think up of what sorts of characters would go with this plot, but I have changed the plot to suit the characters and vice versa.

If you get a plot block during the initial writing phase, how do you work your way through it? 
I jump into another story. I’m kind of a mood writer. Some days, I really want to write about these characters. But other days, I’m feeling a different set of characters. As a result, I have about 10 unfinished manuscripts, most of which are 50% or more of the way done. We’ll see how many of these actually make it to publishing.

What are your current projects?
I’m about 90% done with Charlotte’s story, The Scene Queen, which will be the second book in the Heiress series. I’m also working on my first new adult romance, Playboy. Neither have release dates for now, though fingers crossed I can still finish up Charlotte’s story in 2016.

Is there anything else you would like to add that I haven’t included?
If you want to see the covers for The Scene Queen and Playboy, make sure you sign up for my mailing list! All subscribers will also receive the first 4 chapters of The Scene Queen FREE just for signing up. Newsletter subscribers get access to deleted scenes, exclusive content, giveaways, as well as first dibs on ARC copies ;)



How can readers discover more about you and your work?

Many thanks to Natalie for taking the time to do the interview!

Friday 28 October 2016

Book Blitz: Perfect Sense by Amanda Cowen + Giveaway


Perfect Sense
Amanda Cowen
(Perfect Series #1)
Publication date: March 22nd 2016
Genres: New Adult, Romance, Sports
He’s gorgeous.
He’s reckless.
And he’s every woman’s dirty fantasy in the state of California.., except one… Quinn Ashby.
Recent graduate of Penn and top of her class, Quinn is whip smart, ambitious and interning as the new marketing coordinator for the Bexley Bruisers American Hockey League team. The last thing she needs is to waste her time on guys…especially one as lethal to her focus as Cash Brooks.
But once the bad boy hockey star tempts her into his world, threatening her professional future, she’s forced to decide whether to let him into her heart…or to leave him behind forever.
EXCERPT:
Walking up the twisting staircase, we head into Coach Bartley’s home full of men accompanied by beautiful women drinking and talking over loud music. Theo’s hand finds the small of my back as he weaves us under the dim lighting through the foyer and into the kitchen.
“You look great tonight, Quinn.” His words are soft and warm as he brushes past me, leading the way. “That purple dress you have on really makes your eyes pop.”
“Thanks,” I reply.
I glance at my reflection in the floor to ceiling windows and admire my strappy nude heels and purple bustier dress. I love the way the padded bust and structured silhouette flatters my body in all the right places.
My entire body stiffens, when his familiar warmth surrounds me, his hands finding my hips. “Nice dress.”
Theo turns around with a scowl on his face and stares Cash up and down. He holds out his hand and they embrace in a firm shake. “Great game tonight, Brooks. Can I get you something? Like a drink?”
“Soda water and lime,” Cash says, his finger creeping along the back of my thigh and up to the hem of my dress. “Would you like anything, Quinn?” The calm possession in his voice alarms the hell out of me. I can barely let out a breath, never mind speak with his hand cupped around my ass.
Theo locks eyes with me and waits for my response, oblivious to Cash’s wandering hands.
“Sure,” I say, letting out the breath I’ve been holding.
“Tell him what you want,” Cash whispers against my ear.
My body trembles from the warmth of his breath. “A water, please.”
Theo nods. “Quinn, come with me to get the drinks?” But his tone is all off. It’s not really a question, it more like he’s insisting.
“No, she’ll stay here, with me.” Cash is insisting too.
“Quinn?” Theo repeats.
“I’m fine, Theo. I’ll wait here.”
Theo looks at me one last time, lets out a deep breath, and then heads over to the makeshift bar set up in the great room.
When he is out of sight, I whip around. “Are you crazy? This place is crawling with my colleagues.”
“You like it and you know it,” Cash says, tucking a stray strand of hair behind my ear.
I whack his hand away. “You’re unbelievable.”
A flicker of intensity flashes in his eyes, nostrils flaring. Moving closer, his scent—honey and cinnamon—washes over me. “Don’t pretend you didn’t feel something in that locker room, Mittens.”
“Yeah, I felt my dignity being ripped right out of me. And I don’t understand why you even care? I can already see that you’re onto the next,” I nod over at a group of girls staring us down from the corner.
“Would that bother you?” He glances at the blonde girl he bench-pressed earlier today. “If I fucked her tonight instead of you?”
We stand there, eyeing each other up as I try not to let my real feelings for this arrogant son-of-a–bitch seep in.
My chest twists tightly, painfully. “Alright, Brooks, I see what you’re trying to do here. But here’s the thing, I don’t give a shit what you do. Women throw themselves at you constantly and you gladly fuck them. Good for you. I bet you’ve already nailed a whole bunch since the locker room, so what’s another?”
He shakes his head and loosens his tie. “Nope. Not one.”
“Aw, how sweet. I must have made quite the impression”


Author Bio:
Amanda Cowen can be found eating cupcakes, singing off-key, or watching a good RomCom when she isn’t trapped on her computer writing stories and delighting her imagination. She has been writing since the ripe age of twelve about ponies and princesses in brightly colored duo-tangs with metallic pens. Thankfully, she now has a Mac with a keyboard where she can write about love, sex and relationships. She is an “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” fanatic, a hater of roller-coasters and a country music junkie. She lives in Thunder Bay, ON where the summers are short and the winters are long.
Her next Contemporary Romance/New Adult Fiction novel TAINTED (The Wyatt Series #1) will be available in Summer 2014.
Amanda would love to hear from her readers. Contact her via her website, www. amandacowen.com, become a fan on Facebook, follow her on Goodreads, or visit her blog.

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Cover Reveal: Perfect Love by Amanda Cowen


Perfect Love
Amanda Cowen
(Perfect Series #2)
Publication date: Winter 2016
Genres: New Adult, Romance, Sports
The story that started with PERFECT SENSE continues…
Cash Brooks held a secret from Quinn that destroyed any chance they had at a happy ending.
Everything she believed their relationship to be was a lie.
Quinn left heartbroken for Harvard, unable to stop loving him even though she knew his past ruined any chance they had at a future.
Now, she’s in Boston completing her MBA and learning to move on without the only man she ever loved. Starting over isn’t easy… especially when an unlikely circumstance pulls her into Cash’s world once again. The truth will come out, hearts will be broken, and Cash will have to battle the mistakes from his past and fight for a second chance to be with the woman he loves.
Their love isn’t perfect, but will it be enough for Quinn to learn to trust him again? Or will the burden and mistakes from his past keep them apart forever?
Sequel to:
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Author Bio:
Amanda Cowen can be found eating cupcakes, singing off-key, or watching a good RomCom when she isn’t trapped on her computer writing stories and delighting her imagination. She has been writing since the ripe age of twelve about ponies and princesses in brightly colored duo-tangs with metallic pens. Thankfully, she now has a Mac with a keyboard where she can write about love, sex and relationships. She is an “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” fanatic, a hater of roller-coasters and a country music junkie. She lives in Thunder Bay, ON where the summers are short and the winters are long.
Her next Contemporary Romance/New Adult Fiction novel TAINTED (The Wyatt Series #1) will be available in Summer 2014.
Amanda would love to hear from her readers. Contact her via her website, www. amandacowen.com, become a fan on Facebook, follow her on Goodreads, or visit her blog.

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Cover Reveal: Gangster Moll by Bethany-Kris and Erin Ashley + Giveaway

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Gangster Moll

by Bethany-Kris & Erin Ashley Tanner Gun Moll #2 Publication Date: November 14, 2016 Genres: Adult, Mafia Romance, Interracial Romance, Erotic Romance
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Synopsis: As a newly Made Capo in the Pivetti Crime Family, all eyes are on James “Mac” Maccari, and not for a particularly good reason. The way to his new position in the family was paved with blood, and that left some all too suspicious of where—or who—he might be going after next. Mac isn’t interested in playing to the politics of other Made men or Cosa Nostra. His only goal is to keep his promise and be waiting for his gun moll when she’s finally released from prison.
Until all hell breaks loose … again. Fresh off her six month sentence, Melina Morgan is all too ready to get back to life, and Mac. The mafia life has been one learning curve after another, but with Mac at her side, there’s nothing that they can throw at her that she can’t handle. Even with a ring on her finger, and a new last name to go with it, Melina won’t be domesticated. But with a man like Mac, he wasn’t exactly looking for that kind of a woman, anyway. Sometimes, wedding bells bring bloodstains … When directed attacks start to happen, taking the lives of some of the highest Made men in the Pivetti family, distrust and unrest begins to breed throughout the ranks. Someone is making a move on the boss’s seat, and it seems far too easy to put the blame at Mac’s feet when every single attack is somehow connected to him. All over again, Mac and Melina find they’re fighting an uphill battle to keep each other safe and survive. But this time, they might not be fighting alone …
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EXCERPT

Mac Maccari wasn’t a three-piece suit kind of man. He much preferred the comfort of dark-wash jeans, a T-shirt, and combat boots to wear while handling his daily business. It was a comfort thing, and a heat thing. Glaring up at the bright sun in the sky as he crossed the street as quickly as he could, Mac swore he was melting under his suit. It was an unusually warm Summer for New York. It was almost always muggy during the season, but this year, Mother Nature decided to kick that shit up a notch. Mac was less than impressed. It probably didn’t help that the majority of his day was spent running to and from different locations as he handled his crew and what the men were doing at any given time. But … it was what it was. And he was damn good at his job. Mac supposed that if he wasn’t good at being a Capo, he’d already be dead. At least, for the time being, he had that going for him. The heat wave, however, could go to hell. Tugging his jacket off, Mac slipped into the business at the very end of the block, tossing the coat over his arm as a cool blast of air from the air conditioner smacked him straight in the face. He soaked in the cold air as he glanced around the place, taking in the woman behind the counter, talking animatedly on the phone and snapping a large wad of gum in her mouth at the same time. She didn’t even look like she noticed him standing there, for fuck’s sake. Mac didn’t mind. He wasn’t here to see her, anyway. Pulling his phone out of his pocket, Mac searched for the message he’d been left earlier in the day. Infinite Insurance, ask for Ronnie, it read. A few other details had been included, but Mac figured those weren’t important until he found Ronnie. Mac had come to find out, over his last few months as a newly appointed Capo for the Pivetti crime family that Luca Pivetti had little to no patience for people who owed him something. It didn’t matter what it was—money, action, or a word. If a person owed him, he expected them to pay accordingly. Maybe even a little more simply because he was kind enough to do business with them. As the boss, it was Luca’s due. Mac didn’t question why his boss hadn’t simply sent an enforcer over to the place to handle his shit—that wasn’t his place. He just did what the boss wanted done. Bypassing the receptionist without so much as a ‘hello’, Mac strolled to the back of the insurance bankers business, finding a hallway with several offices. All had glass windows for walls, letting him see the men and women inside, sitting behind desks with either a phone to their ear, or clients inside the offices. Thankfully, plaques were attached to each door, names boldly inscribed on each one. Mac found the Ronnie he was looking for mid-way down the hallway. The heavier-set gentleman was alone inside his office, from what Mac could see through the window, and didn’t seem to be tied up with a phone call as he was busy sorting papers. That was going to suck when he had to clean up the mess later. Mac couldn’t find much remorse for what he was about to do. Business was business after all. Cosa Nostra business was even tougher. It simply couldn’t wait. Mac didn’t bother to knock on the office door, but rather, turned the knob and walked right in, depositing his jacket on one of the two chairs meant for clients. The insurance banker—Ronnie—glanced up, startled, at Mac’s sudden appearance. If Mac had to guess by the wrinkled dress shirt, the messy hair, and the tired gaze, Ronnie had some shit on his mind. He was about to get more. “You can’t just barge in here,” the man started to say. “Clients make appointments.” Mac reached over and twisted the blinds closed on the window—no one could see in now. He locked the door, ensuring no one would walk in during the … meeting. Turning back to face the man he’d been sent to see, Mac offered a wide-eyed Ronnie a smile. Cold as it was, Mac figured the guy would take this better if he was a little loosened up before the actual warning came about. Ronnie started to stand from his desk, confusion writing heavily over his features. “Who in the hell are you?” “I’m not important,” Mac said, rolling up the cuffs of his dress shirt. Blood was a bitch to get out. Maybe he’d avoid the few splatters that might occur, if it were possible. But probably not. “But Luca,” Mac continued, shrugging like it didn’t make a difference. “Now the boss and his money is a whole other story.” For the first time since Mac entered Ronnie’s office, he saw the first trickle of genuine fear light up the man’s eyes. “I-I have his—” “They all say that,” Mac interrupted, knowing what the man was going to say. Bullshit excuses. Another stall tactic. “Fact is,” Mac said, keeping an eye on Ronnie in case he grabbed for something to attack with, “… you’re two weeks late, according to the boss. And he was nice enough to fund your little project because apparently, you go way back. Now you’re ducking and dodging Luca like it’s what you do for a living.” Mac chuckled, waving around at the office. “Clearly, you work in another business, and you’re not very good at the ducking and dodging game,” Mac finished with another smooth, cold smile. “Let me call Luca,” the man said quickly. “Please, we’re friends. He’ll understand, I’m sure.” Mac sighed. Luca didn’t care who a person was—friend, family, or enemy. If someone owed him something, they owed him. “Just let me make this easy,” Mac said. “You’ve only got to bleed, after all. Nobody says you’re going to fucking die from it. Now, if you make it hard on me, that’s going to be a problem, and it’ll probably hurt a lot more. Do us both a favor here, and let me get this over with.” Ronnie opened his mouth to say something, his gaze darting to the windows, the door, and then to Mac. Mac knew that look. It was the look of a man trying to find his way out. Well, he had news for the guy. “Make a single sound, and I will cut your tongue out,” Mac said quietly. “There is no where to run, and very few people left in the building. So unless you want your associates to know how you’ve been doing underground business with a mafia boss, I suggest you let me do what I came here to do.” Simple, right? Mac knew it would be—it always was.
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DON'T MISS WHERE IT ALL STARTED! GRAB YOUR COPY OF GUN MOLL, #FREE WITH #KINDLEUNLIIMITED!

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Amazon (#FREE with #KindleUnlimited): http://amzn.to/1U0eoRl
Synopsis: James “Mac” Maccari’s career in the mafia is at a standstill. As the best solider in his Capo’s crew, all he wants is to be noticed enough to get Made in the Pivetti Crime Family. But instead, his Capo’s interests seem more focused on keeping his solider hidden from the boss, and every other Made man he can. Seemingly stuck right where he is with no chance of going up, Mac doesn’t know what will finally get him the attention he needs to earn his button. Until she shows up and all eyes are on them … Melina Morgan survives—that’s just what she does. She’s never been able to depend on anyone but herself to keep her safe and get things done. When a chance encounter puts her in a bad situation with the cops and the mafia, Melina has no choice but to put her faith in the hands of a man that not only infuriates her with his cocky arrogance, but catches her interest, too. Playing pretend in a fake relationship with Mac doesn’t seem all that terrible, until pretend turns real and bullets start to fly. A man is nothing without his woman … When the attention on Mac and Melina turns from bad to worse, and someone in the Pivetti Crime Family decides the couple needs to go, they know they’re fighting an uphill battle alone. But making it to the end alive means Mac could get what he’s always wanted, and Melina might find what she didn’t even know she needed. Together, they’ll make waves the mafia has no choice but to notice …
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ABOUT BETHANY-KRIS

Bethany-Kris
Bethany-Kris is a Canadian author, lover of much, and mother to three young sons, one cat, and two dogs. A small town in Eastern Canada where she was born and raised is where she has always called home. With her boys under her feet, snuggling cat, barking dogs, and a hubby calling over his shoulder, she is nearly always writing something … when she can find the time. To keep up-to-date with new releases from Bethany-Kris, sign up to her New Release Newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/bf9lzD

ABOUT ERIN ASHLEY TANNER

Erin Ashley Tanner
Erin Ashley Tanner is the creator of stories featuring fierce females and the men who love them. Erin is the author of Goddess of Legend, the first in her Demi-God Daughters paranormal romance series. The follow up, Goddess by Chance was released in November 2014. Dirty Little Secrets, a light organized crime romance was released in June 2015. Her next release, an Organized Crime Romance, Devious Little Lies is scheduled for release in June 2016.

ENTER THE GIVEAWAY

Thursday 27 October 2016

Book Tour: Beautiful Secret by Dana Faletti + Giveaway


New Release........
Set in the lush hills of the French Ardennes and the scorched mountains of Southern Italy, Beautiful Secret is a tale of family secrets, forbidden love, and unexpected blessings.

Maria’s story unfolds in 1940’s Italy, where family ties and tradition are of utmost importance. When Maria is seduced by her cousin's fiancĂ©, she becomes pregnant, and the scandal destroys her family. Whisked away from her poor rural village of Tronca to a severe Catholic convent several mountain towns away, she gives birth to a son. Maria is under tremendous pressure to give her baby up for adoption. Against the odds, she manages to keep her child and then must find a way to get him back to the home and family that is his birth right.

Years later, after being forced to marry and emigrate to America, Maria is at the end of her life. As she lies on her deathbed in a Pittsburgh hospital, Maria shares her story with her beloved granddaughter, Tatiana.

Awash in her own marital troubles, Tatiana agrees to Maria’s dying wish – to travel to Europe and retrieve a package from an aunt she’s never met. When Tate journeys to the land of her ancestors, she fully expects to meet her long lost family and to lay eyes on the places that cultivated a spirit like her Nana Maria’s. What she doesn’t anticipate is falling into a forbidden love affair with a sexy French man who happens to be her distant cousin by marriage. Throughout her journey, Tate not only discovers a shocking secret that Nana Maria waited a lifetime to disclose, but she also finds that the trick to life doesn’t lie in the best laid plans but in how you react to the things you never expected.

Available to buy from....

"Delicious, rich, spicy, delectable and satisfying! I'm not just talking about the cuisine in this book, but the luscious, addictive writing of Faletti who weaves together a multi-generational story that will both break your heart and make it pound loudly!" 
- Author Lori M Jones 

"This story within a story parallels two women’s lives, two generations apart, taking the reader on a tumultuous and heart stopping journey that you won’t soon forget. Faletti’s use of language is just as lush and striking as the romance that awaits Tatiana on the shores of this other world." 
- Author Carolyn Menke 

"A 5-star read for anyone who can't get enough of stories of forbidden love or romances set in foreign destinations. Excellent, sexy, spicy read with a plot twist at the end that will leave you swooning!"  
- Author Cara Reinard


My Review:

4 Stars


We all carry a secret, whether now or will in the future, that we hold inside and cannot bare to let it out until we move on from this world. The incredible journey for two generations of women. The main perspective is of Tate, a thirty-something lost soul searching for her purpose after finally admitting to her failed marriage. The story is paralleled in the other perspective of her grandmother as she came of age in the 1940 Italy. Tate is sent on a quest by her dying grandmother to find her sister in law and best friend in France who has something for Tate. It takes you from Pittsburgh to the French and Italian countryside while telling the story of a woman in the midst of crisis and the story of her deceased grandmother that is able to put everything in perspective.


About the author

Dana has been writing for what seems like forever. Her young adult trilogy, The Whisper Series, is a paranormal romance that’s rife with angels, demons and forbidden romance, as well as a message of love and acceptance that has touched readers nationwide. Her newest novel, Beauiful Secret is a women’s fiction romance set in the scorched hills of Southern Italy, where Dana has spent much time traveling and visiting relatives. Dana has a love affair with all things Italian and is proud to be part of the loud, crazy, and wonderful Italian family that inspired her new book.

Dana writes poetry as a survival skill and loves to connect with other writers both online and in person. When she’s not writing, Dana can be found reading on her Kindle, cooking something delicious, or daydreaming about her upcoming travel destinations. She lives in in a suburb of Pittsburgh with her husband, three young daughters, and a snarky Shichon called Dolce.


Find the author on the following sites....

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I received this book to review through Beck Valley Books Book Tours, all the opinions above are 100% my own.

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