Friday, July 22, 2016

Book Blitz: Closer by Emerald O’Brien

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Closer

by Emerald O’Brien Publication Date: July 22, 2016 Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Suspense
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Chloe Forrester has planned her life out perfectly. Newly engaged to her adoring boyfriend, Harrison Scott, she finally feels as if the pieces of her life are coming together. But when Paxton Potter, a man with a grudge against her fiance, accuses him of betrayal, Chloe’s trust in Harrison starts to waver. After a young woman’s body is found, a dangerous and unlikely connection is formed between Chloe and Paxton. With each dark secret uncovered, Chloe has a choice- turn a blind eye or dig deeper. But in order to understand something or someone, you have to look closer. Each decision she makes has a consequence, as new truths are revealed about her enemies and the people she loves. With Chloe’s future dangling by a thread, she must be ready to sever ties to the life she thought she knew in order to survive.
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About Emerald O’Brien

EAuthorBW Emerald O’Brien is a Canadian writer who grew up just east of Toronto, Ontario. Through both elementary school and high school, she enjoyed classes that involved English and the Arts. Emerald thrived when given the ability to express her creativity, writing both short stories and scripts for plays. Her passion for writing remained as Emerald studied Television Broadcasting and Communications Media, graduating from the program at Mohawk College in Hamilton, Ontario. She published her first novel,Darkness Follows, in 2014 . Emerald still loves to take writing courses and workshops when possible. To date, she has published five novels and one boxed set.
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Thursday, July 21, 2016

Blog Tour: Encender by J. Kowallis


Encender
J. Kowallis
(The Enertia Trials #2)
Publication date: February 29th 2016
Genres: Dystopian, New Adult
They say you feel cold when you die.
The people I’ve killed would beg to differ.
For twenty-something Ransley, the adopted daughter of famed street fighter Estevan Benitez, fighting is all she knows. One hidden detail separates her from the endless string of her pathetic opponents: she can craft and influence heat and fire.
When she’s pitted against the strongest fighters at the infamous Argolla, Ransley faces something she never expected:
A man like her.
Roydon can duplicate himself. When the two collide in the ring, a chain of deals turns Roydon over to Public Four and he’s taken away to undergo the disturbing process of the Nexis. What it is, or what it does, no one outside of The Public knows.
Driven by guilt and a desire to release the only person she’s ever met who’s like her, Ransley isn’t about to leave him for dead—not when he might hold the answers to her missing past. Now she must trust a pair of strangers: a former military man out to collapse the system, and a woman whose premonitions could tear them all apart.

My Review:
This is the second book in the series. The second book in series can go either way even though many times it falls flat. Encender was able to avoid that by focusing the book on two other characters. Nate and Reggie are still part of the story but the main focus is Ransley and Royden. A little trick other author use. Put the characters in the same type of setting, have the previous main characters as background character in the new one, and voila and second in series with a new story to tell.

Once again I liked the story and characters. I loved that the action continued in this book as well. In this story, we find that there are other Publics and how they differ from each other. The characters still read like they are younger than they are supposed to be but they are developed a bit more. In fact, most aspects of the story were worked on for the better.

If you read the first one, then for sure go ahead and read this one. If you are a fan of dystopian then this would probably be a good read for you. I don't think that you would be too lost if you read the book out of order.



Afterimage
J. Kowallis
(The Enertia Trials #1)
Publication date: May 7th 2015
Genres: Dystopian, New Adult
Reggie’s dreams . . .
aren’t dreams.
Visions of the future flood her mind like shards of broken puzzles. Caged in her cell, every morning begins the same. She’s drugged, tortured, and images are torn from her memory by Public One.
Until the morning everything changes. The vision is different. The future’s never been about her, and now she knows they’re coming for her:
Nomads.
How will she convince them to keep her alive when Nate, their leader, doesn’t like or even trust her? To him, she’s a science experiment. A machine.
When Public One will do anything to keep her, Reggie must make a decision: remain a slave to her past, or risk her future to venture into a world more terrifying than she’s ever known.
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My Review: 
This is the first book in the series. Y'all know by now that I love dystopian novel so this one caught my eye. In what used to be the U.S. there are two ways of life, living within Public One or living as Normads. Normads lives are dangerous as they are always on the move trying to keep from getting caught by Public One. Public One has a new way of tracking and her name is Reggie. Reggie is able to see things and Public One is unable to read/see those thoughts.

I felt for Reggie. They used her as a science experiment but worse they treated her as one. She has spent every day of her time in Public One in pain under brutal treatment. Nate is a Normad who is constantly in  a funk because he remembers what things used to be like. When a stranger comes and tell them about Public One and there way the have of finding people, Nate calls foul but ultimately leads up a team to help save the stranger's family and find if there is any truth to this so called human seer.

This was an interesting story. There is plenty of action. The characters were okay. Reggie in particular won me over. Nate was a little annoying but then again, he was written to be that way. You can get wrapped up in this book which is a good thing but there are some things that will make you do a double take. I'm not going to say what those things are because if you decide to read this maybe if you get wrapped up in the story maybe you won't even notice what I noticed, and wouldn't that be great. I say if you like dystopian novels give this one a shot.
Rating: 3 stars

 

Author Bio:
J. Kowallis, the only girl of four children, grew up in northern Utah with a head full of wild stories (most often unreal). At the age of 9, she wrote her first poem, a dedication to E.B. White’s Charlotte’s Web. It was so intriguing, her third grade teacher requested to keep the original. Between living in various fictional worlds, and spending time on her studies, she managed to graduate from Weber State University’s creative writing program. She now lives in Utah with her Mini Schnauzer, Etta, and spends most of her time still bouncing between this world and the fantastical while enjoying delectable über-dark chocolate and lavender baths. She enjoys dreaming about, flying to, and writing about distant lands (real or unreal).

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Monday, July 18, 2016

Book Blitz: A Bodyguard of Lies by Donna Del Oro



Romantic Suspense
Date Published: 06/08/2016

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FBI analyst Jake Bernstein is recruited to go undercover and investigate an American grandmother wanted for war crimes during WWII but currently on a tour of England and Ireland with her granddaughter. Jake joins them and runs into complications when his growing attraction to the woman's granddaughter challenges his obligation to remain emotionally detached. As the investigation intensifies, a neo-Nazi group tries to prevent him from learning the truth and Jake struggles to stay alive long enough to either prove the woman's guilt or exonerate her.

Despite Meg Larsen's mounting passion for the stranger who has joined their tour, she suspects he's not who he claims to be. When she realizes her grandmother, the woman who raised her, is the target of the man's investigation, her first instinct is to protect her. Eventually, however, Meg must face the possibility of her grandmother's lifetime of lies while forced to trust a man who has become both their nemesis and bodyguard.




NY Times bestselling author Brenda Novak says of A BODYGUARD OF LIES, Book One in the Jake Bernstein Mystery Thriller series, "The past and the present collide in this intriguing romantic thriller that captures the angst and pain a lifetime of lies can cause...combines politics, romance and history. This story positively captivates!"


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Book Blitz: Say You Want Me by Tara West


Say You Want Me
Tara West
Publication date: July 18th 2016
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance
I want Cesar Cruz. God, how I want him. And he’s made it no secret he desires me. I can’t handle another heartbreak, one more haunting memory that threatens my sanity. What I need is to feel wanted by a man who will love me unconditionally and forever, a man who will be patient and loving, not apathetic and abusive.
What will happen if I give in to temptation and spend one night in his arms? Will he want more? Will I? Whether I say yes or no, I fear I’ll suffer regret, but as my need for him grows stronger, I may not have a choice. I only pray he will be gentle with me and my heart.
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EXCERPT:
I couldn’t help gaping at the tall, tanned, and dripping wet hunk of man flesh before me. Cesar’s broad shoulders filled the doorway as he looked at me, wearing nothing but a smile and a skimpy towel draped low around his waist.
“Can I help you, bella?”
Ugh. Why did he have to call me that? I thought it was Spanish for pretty girl, or maybe it was a term of endearment. He hadn’t called me his bella since last week, when I told him to stop. No surprise he refused to listen. Cesar was persistent.
I averted my gaze, trying hard not to stare at the glistening water on his taut stomach or the tattoo on his shoulder. “You really should put some clothes on.”
“Sorry.” He ran a hand through his thick, dripping hair. “I was in the hot tub.”
My jaw dropped. “You have a hot tub?” It was only last weekend I’d had to sneak into his backyard to retrieve my wayward dog. I didn’t remember seeing anything other than a few lawn chairs, a punching bag, and a grill.
“I had it installed two days ago.” His wicked grin stretched nearly ear-to-ear. “I’m disappointed you haven’t been peeking over my fence.”
I scowled. “Why would I want to peek over your fence?”
“Same reason I want to peek over yours.” He laughed, a deep throaty chuckle that sent a jolt of lust straight to my lady parts. My poor vibrator would be working overtime tonight.
I tried to deepen my scowl, but it might have come out as a smile instead.
Get a grip, Savannah. Do not let this man have control over you.
Truthfully, I had intentionally spied over Cesar’s fence a few times when he hit his punching bag. He was usually shirtless, with his back to me. His skin was drenched in sweat, and his backside was ripped with tanned muscles. Now all those muscles were in my face, tempting me like a tall glass of iced tea on a hot summer day. One taste, I kept telling myself, was all I needed to quench my thirst.
Liar.
Ever since I’d been old enough to take an interest in the opposite sex, I’d denied myself their forbidden fruit, all because I didn’t want to give my father an excuse to call me a whore. That asshole had my mind so twisted, I’d been terrified of even looking at boys. I’d missed my senior prom, not only because I couldn’t afford a gown, but because I knew my dad would accuse me of having sex with my date. I’d refused to give him the satisfaction of comparing me to my dead mother.
But Bud Boudreau was dead now, too. I’d cut him out of my life five years ago. Why was I still terrified of men? How had I managed to let that sick fuck wield so much control over my life when he was no longer a part of it?
Gah! My brain hurt too much from thinking about him. What I needed was a tall drink and a soak in the tub. Cesar’s hot tub came to mind, but no, I had to clear my mind, not muddle it even more.
“Look.” My shoulders caved inward with the weight of my depression, “I’m tired. Can I just get my dog?”
“Sure.” He threw open the door and stepped back.
I crossed under his broad arm, warily eyeing him as I stepped over the threshold.
“You look like you need to relax. Maybe a glass of wine and a soak in my tub?”
I stumbled, tripping over my own two feet.
He grabbed me, clutching my waist with a strong hand, preventing me from falling face-first onto his floor. I clung to his shoulder while righting myself.
“Easy there,” he said with a wink.
I turned into his embrace, gaping up at him as if I’d been struck mute. Was he a mind reader? How did he know I needed a drink and a soak? I looked at him through narrowed eyes as I pulled out of his embrace. “You don’t give up, do you?”
He shrugged, stepping back as he unwrapped the towel from around his waist. “I want to show you something.”
Dear God, was he going to show me his penis? I should have shielded my eyes, but I couldn’t move. Only after the towel had fallen, revealing a pair of black swimming trunks, did I breathe a sigh of relief, or maybe it was disappointment.
“W-What?” I asked, my voice sounding surprisingly small.
He slung the towel over his shoulder and wordlessly grabbed my hand, pulling me toward the sliding door leading to his backyard. “Just look,” he whispered.
My mind was too preoccupied with the feel of his warm hand cradling mine, and the way his breath tickled the exposed skin of my neck, to process what I was looking at. My gaze skimmed over the big square tub with steam rising from the top that sat on the patio. My eyes widened when I saw Nacho chasing Macy. She barked and wagged her tail, ducking under a lawn chair before tearing up the grass, zooming around the yard as if she had a rocket wedged up her furry butt. Nacho caught her, and she turned on him, chasing him across the patio. It was the funniest sight, especially since Macy weighed only ten pounds and Nacho, a yellow Lab, was easily ten times her size.
No wonder my dog was always sneaking over here. It was clear they were the best of friends. I felt bad for stealing her away from Nacho every night. She was happier when she was with him.
My throat constricted as I looked at Cesar through cloudy eyes. “They are really having fun, aren’t they?”
He softly smiled, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear. “Animals need companionship, just like people. It’s no fun being alone.”
I repressed the urge to shudder at his touch. I involuntarily swayed toward him, drawn toward his masculine heat like a moth toward flame. “No, it isn’t.”


Author Bio:
I write books about dragons, witches, and handsome heroes while eating chocolate, lots and lots of chocolate. I’m willing to share my dragons, witches and heroes. Keep your hands off my chocolate. My young adult and new adult romances have been Kindle, Nook, and iBooks bestsellers. A former high school English teacher, I am now a full-time writer. I enjoy spending time with my family, interacting with my fans, and fishing the Texas coast.

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Blog Tour: One Week to Score by Kate Meader

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One Week to Score

by Kate Meader Tall, Dark, Texan #3 Publication Date: July 11, 2016 Genres: Adult, Entangled Brazen, Contemporary, Romance
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Purchase: Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | B&N | iBooks | Kobo

Synopsis: He’s the man she loves to hate . . .
Olivia Kane’s wedding day has just imploded spectacularly. Shots lined up at the bar? Bring it. Hot stranger on the hook? Come on down. What this party does not need is six feet and change of home-grown Texas cockiness in the form of her brother’s best friend, the man who broke her heart seven years ago. She’s the woman he has to have . . . Flynn Cross won’t stand by while Liv finds sensual solace in the arms of a stranger, not when his own hard-for-her body is more than up for the task. For one week, he’ll make her honeymoon-for-one a sizzling party for two. Breaking the rules, one steamy night at a time . . . But the taboo they’re breaking is only the beginning . . . and Flynn’s part in Liv’s wedding debacle could bring about their end. My Review: 
The book starts off with email going back and forth between Olivia and Flynn. Then next thing we know is not getting married because the groom was caught making whoopie with Flynn's date. Flynn, who was invited to the wedding. In fact, the relationship between the two has obviously changed and not even Olivia is sure why. whew.
This is a pretty sexy story. The tug of the emotions of the past mixed with the pull of a heat inducing sexual attraction. If you are a fan of romance then you may want to put this one your list. I will say that I wasn't a fan of the "Texas" talk in the emails and had the whole book been like that I wouldn't have made it through.  goodreads-badge-add-38px

DON'T MISS THE OTHER BOOKS IN THE SIZZLING TALL, DARK, AND TEXAN SERIES

 My Review:
The book starts off with email going back and forth between Olivia and Flynn. Then next thing we know is not getting married because the groom was caught making whoopie with Flynn's date. Flynn, who was invited to the wedding. In fact, the relationship between the two has obviously changed and not even Olivia is sure why. whew.

 If you are a fan of romance then you may want to put this one your list. I will say that I wasn't a fan of the "Texas" talk in the emails and had the whole book been like that I wouldn't have made it through. This is a pretty sexy story. The tug of the emotions of the past mixed with the pull of a heat inducing sexual attraction.


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EVEN THE SCORE (Tall, Dark, and Texan, #1)

Even the Score Book #1
Synopsis: He’ll make her an offer she can’t refuse…
Actress Tess McKenzie is performing in the Tenth Circle of Showbiz Hell—dinner theater. All she really wants is to start a theater of her own. Then Tess receives an offer she can’t refuse. She’ll get her funding…if she pretends to be the fiancée to her nemesis, Texan property tycoon Hunter Dade. If she’s going to pull this off, she’ll need all the luck she can get. Break a leg, indeed. On the verge of a big business deal, Hunter needs to hire a fiancée. He hasn’t quite forgiven Tess for ruining his wedding, but when their chemistry goes from combative to straight-up lust, the “no sex” clause in their mutually beneficial arrangement is tested. Which is a serious problem, because if Tess isn’t careful, she’ll go from breaking a leg to breaking her heart…
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TAKING THE SCORE (Tall, Dark, and Texan, #2)

Taking the Score Book #2
Synopsis: His office temptation is now his full-blown fantasy…
Paying down her sister’s debts has left Emma Strickland with little more than the thrift store suit on her back. And as if the suckfest couldn’t get worse, she’s forced to moonlight as a waitress to support herself and her cat. At a strip club. Her uptight, sexy-as-hell boss Brody Kane can never find out. Texas property tycoon Brody Kane hired Emma for her spreadsheet skills, but her prim and proper demeanor sealed the deal. There’s no room in his life for a sexy distraction … and yet, he can’t stop lusting after the delicious Ms. Strickland. And then he takes an important client to a Chicago strip club and gets the worst lap dance in adult entertainment history. From Emma. Now that he knows his office good girl has a naughty streak, Brody makes it his mission to uncover her secrets, one steamy, illicit, over-the-desk encounter at a time. But Emma is hiding more than her side job, and her final secret could end up destroying them both.
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ABOUT KATE MEADER

Kate Meader Originally from Ireland, Kate cut her romance reader teeth on Maeve Binchy and Jilly Cooper novels, with some Mills & Boon thrown in for variety. Give her tales about brooding mill owners, oversexed equestrians, and men who can rock an apron or a fire hose, and she is so there. Now based in Chicago, she writes sexy contemporary romance with alpha heroes and strong heroines who can match their men quip for quip. Book Synopsis: Olivia Kane’s wedding day has just imploded spectacularly. What her pity party does not need is six feet and change of home-grown Texas cockiness in the form of her brother’s best friend. But Flynn Cross won’t stand by while Liv finds sensual solace in the arms of a stranger. Not when his own hard-for-her body is more than up for the task…

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Wednesday, July 13, 2016

Blog Tour: The Neverland Wars by Audrey Greathouse



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The Neverland Wars by Audrey Greathouse
Pages: 300
Publisher: Clean Teen Publishing
Source: YA Bound Book Tours
Format: ePub
Rating: ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Magic can do a lot—give you flight, show you mermaids, help you taste the stars, and… solve the budget crisis? That's what the grown-ups will do with it if they ever make it to Neverland to steal its magic and bring their children home.
However, Gwen doesn't know this. She's just a sixteen-year-old girl with a place on the debate team and a powerful crush on Jay, the soon-to-be homecoming king. She doesn't know her little sister could actually run away with Peter Pan, or that she might have to chase after her to bring her home safe. Gwen will find out though—and when she does, she'll discover she's in the middle of a looming war between Neverland and reality.
She'll be out of place as a teenager in Neverland, but she won't be the only one. Peter Pan's constant treks back to the mainland have slowly aged him into adolescence as well. Soon, Gwen will have to decide whether she's going to join impish, playful Peter in his fight for eternal youth… or if she's going to scramble back to reality in time for the homecoming dance.


Purchase
Amazon  -  Barnes and Noble  -  Kobo  -  iBooks

My Review
So Peter Pan is not one of my favorite childhood stories. I never really got into it. Plus I almost always like the villain more and Captain Hook made a pretty good villain right. Tinkerbell doesn't count cause I mean what little girl doesn't like sparkly fairies. Anyway, I like retellings so I decide to give this a try. You know what, I'm glad I did.
This as element of the original story but has changed enough to make it its own story. Peter is older, going between worlds has aged him. Adult and kids are at war with each over Neverland. Gwen is faced with a couple of difficult realizations. One of which deals with Neverland and her place in it.
I found the story an interesting read. I wasn't sure I would as I said I'm not the biggest fan of Peter Pan but this story kept me interest. I like that Gwen kind of drew Neverland to her because of her concern of growing up. After all, isn't that what Peter is all about, he doesn't want to grow up cause if he did, he wouldn't be a Neverland Kid (sorry, I couldn't help it!).

I feel like the overall theme of the book is that as we age and become adults when trap ourselves into doing what we must forgetting to keep that sense of fun and wonder and quite frankly the freedon that we had as kids. Being thoroughly an adult now.  I can say that there are advantages of being an adult but I can also say that there is a certain amount of maybe envy of what you understand you will never have has a kid again.  So perhaps the real takeaway from this book is enjoy is enjoy being a kid because you have your whole life to be an adult!
A fun read. If you are a fan of retellings, I say give this a try. It's not as fast paced as I would've liked but a good read overall.




About the Author
Audrey Greathouse is a Seattle-based author of science-fiction and fantasy. Raised in the suburbs, she became a writer after being introduced to NaNoWriMo during her sophmore year of high school. Since then, she has drafted more than a dozen books, 100 sonnets, and 800 other poems, and a handful of short stories and one-act plays.

After dropping out of her university and beginning training as a circus performer on the aerial silks, she returned to school to study at Southern New Hampshire University College of Online and Continuing Education to earn her B.A. in English Language and Literature, with a minor in Computer Information Technologies.

Audrey Greathouse is a die-hard punk cabaret fan, and pianist of fourteen years. She's usually somewhere along the west coast, and she is always writing.


Author Links
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