Saturday, June 29, 2013

Blog Tour/Review/Giveaway - In A Heartbeat by Hilary Storm

 

 

 

Author BIO

 

Hilary Storm lives with her high school sweetheart and three children in Enid, Oklahoma. She drives her husband crazy talking about book characters everyday like they are real people. She graduated from Southwestern Oklahoma State University with an MBA in Accounting and has a full time job as an accountant. Her passions include being a mom, writing, reading, photography, music, mocha coffee, and spending time with friends and family. She is the author of the 'Rebel Walking' Series. Book One: 'In a Heartbeat' is due to release in June

 

 

In a Heartbeat (Rebel Walking #1)

 

Eaven Bennett is a college student with a passion for photography. She has high hopes of completing college and starting a new life as she moves away from her hometown with her best friend, Ivy Adams. Her last boyfriend ruined any chance of her trusting ever again.

Talon Walker is the dark and intriguing drummer for the up and coming band ‘Rebel Walking’. A tragedy in his past has left him empty with no desire for a relationship. That is until he meets Eaven.

One minute your heart is filled with love, the next your entire life comes crashing down. Everything can change in a heartbeat. Can Eaven and Talon overcome the obstacles in their way and find love?

 

Review by Mary Beth Witkop

4 Stars

It's refreshing to find a rock'n'roll story that steps out of the box and tells a different kind of story. Oh it still has sexy bad a*@ rockers but it went deeper than that.

 

Eaven "like heaven but without the H" is a self conscious girl with a heart of gold whose ex cheated on her and made her feel about as big as a spec of dusk with his condescending comments.

 

Talon is the sexy drummer from "Walking Rebel" who has been through a heartbreaking experience with his ex. During his first encounter with Eaven is instantly drawn to her. These two both have troubled pasts with relationships and need to open their hearts and trust each other to find the love that is waiting for them both.

 

There were a few things that made me give this story 4 stars instead of 5. At the beginning of the story Eaven and Talon share a passionate kiss in the hallway at Smitty's. It was hot and sexy and well yeah, but further into the story they talk about wanting their first kiss to mean something more. I chalked this up to their first kiss once they got together but I did flip back to the beginning to make sure I had the right info. The other thing I found was that a few times the story didn't seem cohesive. It felt like the details were just being put into steps instead of a part of the story.

 

Besides those snags I found I was completely emersed and invested in this story. What I really liked about this story was that Eaven and Logan are different from most characters in this genre. Eaven knows she needs to step out of her comfort zone and experience life and she tries her best to do it on her own, it doesn't take Talon to do it for her. Talon is not portrayed as a womanizing rock star with different girls in his bed everyday. That's Talon's identical twin brother Taron's job; yes there are two of them, plus two others in the band so expect 3 other books in this series, which I am excited to read. I can't wait to find out more about the rest of the band and hopefully get to see an ending to Talon and Eaven's story since I am a sucker for the story after the story, like their wedding ;)

Goodreads-http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18042401-in-a-heartbeat

Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hilary-Storm-Author/492152230844841?fref=ts

Website - http://www.hilarystormwrites.com/#

 

 

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Thursday, June 27, 2013

Blog Tour/Review/Giveaway - The Last Husband by J.S. Cooper

The Last Husband by JS Cooper

Blog Tour

June 27th-July 7th, 2013

 

The Last Husband (Forever Love #2) by JS Cooper

Description

Lucky wanted a guy to be her last boyfriend but she never counted on love not being enough.

Lucky Morgan fantasized about the hot guy from her diner for months. And when he offered her a dream job, she jumped at the chance to get to know him better.

Zane Beaumont was skeptical about love and guarded his heart. Even though he was falling for Lucky, he was still scared to fully let go. So he makes a decision that may ruin their once chance at happiness.

Both of their lives are turned upside down by some unexpected news and Lucky has to decide, once and for all, if Zane is the guy she wants to spend her forever with.

 

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17858603-the-last-husband

Author Bio:

J. S. Cooper was born in London, England and moved to Florida her last year of high school. After completing law school at the University of Iowa (from the sunshine to cold) she moved to Los Angeles to work for a Literacy non profit as an Americorp Vista. She then moved to New York to study the History of Education at Columbia University and took a job at a workers rights non profit upon graduation.

She enjoys long walks on the beach (or short), hot musicians, dogs, reading (duh) and lots of drama filled TV Shows.

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1013599.J_S_Cooper

http://jscooperauthor.com/

https://www.facebook.com/J.S.Cooperauthor

https://twitter.com/JSCooperauthor

Excerpt

“Can I tell you something, Zane?” She pulled away from me with a sheepish grin and I ran my fingers along her collarbone, tracing the delicate lines carefully.

“You want me to tie you up?” I grinned and tried not to picture her tied up in the bed, begging me to take her.

“No thanks, Robert Grey.” She laughed.

“If my name was Christian, you’d say yes.”

“I think you’re obsessed with that book.”

“I do own the Kama Sutra.” Our eyes locked together and I continued running my hands along the side of her body. “We could learn some new moves and make our own book.”

“Fifty Shades of Zane?”

“The wonderful and mysterious sex life of Lucky.”

“Tying up Beaumont.”

“Morgan’s sex tips for the inexperienced.”

“How to….” She laughed. “You got me, I can’t think of anything else.”

“We can start on any of the books as soon as you want.” I brought her towards me again so she could feel my hardness against her leg. “And,” I continued, “if you want, we can get some handcuffs so you can do kinky things to me.”

“You wish.” She laughed and rolled her eyes. “Actually, I wanted to tell you that I hate your duvet cover.”

 

Review

This book follows on from the end of The Last Boyfriend.

Lucky is still very happy with Zane but, after the whirlwind which is their romance, she is still doubting him in many ways.

Zane kept a lot from Lucky with regards to Braydon Eagle. She discovered at the end of The Last Boyfriend that Zane held Braydon responsible for his brothers death, and that he was a drug dealer. For Zane to keep something so important from her was a shock to Lucky. But she forgave him.

In this book we discover that Zane has actually been keeping a lot more from her. Not only that but he lies about keeping in contact with Angelique. The more Lucky discovers about Zane the more she begins to distrust him.

In this book Lucky comes over as being very paranoid. Yes a lot of the time she has a valid reason to doubt Zane, but some of it is down to her being slightly delusional in my opinion. Both of them, however, seem very well matched as Zane also starts to doubt Lucky at times. There are a lot of arguments between them in this story, but they always manage to work it out in the end.

There is a reason Zane has been keeping secrets, and that becomes apparent the further into the story you read. But there is also a huge secret which has been kept from Zane, and it isn't one which Lucky is even remotely aware of. When the author throws that one into the mix it shocked me as I honestly didn't see it coming.

There is the promise of a third story coming soon, continuing Lucky and Zane's life but also throwing in another character, who you will find out about if you read this.

 

 

Grand Prize Giveaway – iPad Mini, the Last Husband Swag Bag, 3 signed paperbacks of the Last Husband

 

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Extra Giveaway - To be in with the chance to win an ecopy of The Last Husband please leave a comment below and a winner will be chosen at random on July 6th.

 

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

••*´¨`*•.☆ Alternate Connection Cover Reveal ☆.•*´¨`*••




ALTERNATE CONNECTION is the third novel in the COUNTERMEASURE SERIES.

The next installment of the COUNTERMEASURE SERIES has a tentative release date set for November 5th, 2013. The story continues where TO RUSSIA WITH LOVE left off and pursues a parallel between Trevor and Cassandra Bauer’s quest and a daring attack on US nationals.

Blurb -
CIA operative Nathan Nelson has built his life on secrets. Secrets about events that have shaped him into the man he has become. Events that taught him to keep his shields up. He has kept them buried in the past and nobody—not even Cassandra Bauer, the woman he claimed to love—knows of them. Now, those secrets have come barreling down on him at the worst of times.Foreign Service Specialist Rachael Moore's personal crusade puts her in the crosshairs of very dangerous people. She would risk everything to achieve her goal even if it means exposing her battered heart and deeply concealed dreams to a man who doesn’t know the meaning of love.
Unbeknownst to both, their reconnection may not only bridge the chasm between the two of them, but shed light on a puzzling mystery. Their perilous journey becomes a race for their lives, leading them into a conspiracy rooted deeper than the tangled emotions between them. 
Will their collaboration shatter the tenuous link woven in the past or forge a bond they never expected could exist in the future?

••*´¨`*•.☆• -----------------•☆.•*´¨`*••

Excerpt from Chapter 5 -
Nathan shook his head and pulled out the first folder containing the personal file of Gerald Blair, U.S. Envoy to the Middle East. The report was thorough and contained a detailed account of both his professional and personal life. He raised his eyes to Hanson. “Do you want to split’em?”
“Nope. I’m done with them. They are all yours.”
“When—?”
“While I waited for the fax. I’m a fast read, Nelson. Keep that in mind.” Hanson’s lips quirked in a cocky grin as he leaned his seat back and closed his eyes. His disheveled appearance and the hickeys decorating his neck a clear indication he needed some shut-eye. “Let me know when you’re done so we can discuss the details.”
Nathan sank in his own seat, his mind teeming with questions. Questions he didn’t think he would have answers to any time soon. He had a long analysis ahead of him considering he was also looking for pieces of a puzzle unknown to Hanson. Unlike Hanson’s, Nathan’s focus also encompassed the files belonging to the two agents and two drivers who’d been killed in the attack.
With that in mind, he returned his attention to the folder and began studying the first of the people they were supposed to know inside and out before they set off for ground zero.
As he read through the pages, he looked for inconsistencies, hidden information, or activities that could have made Blair a target. Anything that could have put them all in the crosshairs of whoever had taken them.
The situation was more complex than the usual hostage kidnapping. While religious extremists were quick to claim responsibility, those who’d abducted the six remaining members of the diplomatic convoy two days earlier hadn’t made any demands through the media. They’d simply dropped off the radar as if they’d never been.
There had to be a reason for that divergence from the usual and that reason could very well be tied to Nathan’s prime directive. The answer could be in any of their past or present and, if he was to be successful, he had to find it.
He beat his way through Gerald Blair’s file and took notes as he moved through. Blair had been in extensive contact with Palestinians and Israelis—unavoidable contact since it was an integral part of his job to mediate peace in the region—and that in itself could have placed a target on his back.
Nathan set Blair’s file aside and moved on to the next in the bundle. As he flipped it open, his whole body stiffened in his seat. A buzzing noise flooded his ears, and his sight dimmed. His field of vision narrowed to the picture on the page and the name listed—Moore, Rachael. Status: Widow. Rae.
His blood iced in his veins. For a moment, he felt detached from reality expecting someone to pop up in the seat in front of him pointing a camera and screaming, “Gotcha!” He fixed his eyes on the file again. Phillip Moore’s wife. Was that why Hanson had made that comment about setting personal involvements aside? Nathan stared at her familiar image for a moment before diving in. Some of the information in it was known to him. Some was brand new. He read the declassified report on Phillip’s death with a heavy heart and the thumping in his chest rose to such a loud racket he thought it would wake Hanson from his beauty sleep.
The more he read about Rachael, the more his frown deepened. Why was she working at the embassy in Israel? How had she come to be assigned as a personal assistant to Blair?
Phillip had been crazy about her, and Nathan understood why as soon as he’d met her. At the time they met, she’d been working on a business associate degree with some difficulty due to the sudden transfer to the US. Neither had mentioned she dabbed in international politics back then. Had she made a career change after Phillip’s death? Guilt punched him in the gut and he held his breath, squeezing his eyes shut to keep self-flagellation at bay.
He’d gone through that cycle many times before. He wasn’t about to slide down that road again. If that was how he could redeem himself, he was going to take it.

••*´¨`*•.☆• -----------------•☆.•*´¨`*••



About the authors -
Writing had touched Chris Almeida’s and Cecilia Aubrey’s lives in different ways through the years but had never taken flight. It was in 2010, when Chris and Cecilia met and began role-playing online as a hobby, that writing placed itself front and center in their lives.
Chris and Cecilia have since chosen to release all their titles independently. They have several short stories and two novels published under their own label, Éire Publishing, and are vocal supporters of independent publishing done right. They are currently working on the third novel in their series. Through all the chaos and laughter, they still hold true to their roots, bringing their favorite role-play characters and stories to life.

Follow Chris and Cecilia on Facebook - 

Visit their website - 
Countermeasure Series Site: http://countermeasureseries.com/

Follow Chris and Cecilia on Twitter - 
https://twitter.com/CAlmeidaCAubrey
https://twitter.com/CAlmeidaAuthor
https://twitter.com/CAubreyAuthor

Fan them on Goodreads -
Chris Almeida: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5105544.Chris_Almeida
Cecilia Aubrey: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5105545.Cecilia_Aubrey

••*´¨`*•.☆• -----------------•☆.•*´¨`*••


I just wanted to add that I have now read;
And I have absolutely LOVED them all so far!

My review for Countermeasure is here.

                         ••*´¨`*•.☆• -----------------•☆.•*´¨`*••

You can enter the two Rafflecopter giveaways below. You can enter the draw for one of 10 Countermeasure Series Swag Packs containing nine bookmarks and a bracelet (I <3 ALPHA GEEKS) and also enter the giveaway for a chance to win a digital ARC signed copy of ALTERNATE CONNECTION once it becomes available.
Thank you for joining us!







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Monday, June 24, 2013

Book Release Blitz - Imaginations by Tara Brown

 

Title: Imaginations

Author: Tara Brown

Genre: YA Dystopian

Format: Ebook (paperback to follow soon)

Release Date: June 24, 2013

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* Blurb *


What price would you pay to be free of conflict and remorse?

An arm? A leg? All of your memories?

What if you had no choice?

What if it was something that was taken for the good of the world?


Fortunately for Gwyn that question has never had to be answered.

She lives in a world free of sorrow, regret, misery, and guilt.

A world based on the promise that everyday is a new one.

A world where only the Memory Makers know what happened yesterday.

But the world is not as simple as they made it sound.

She discovers the Club of the Unknown, where dark deeds are committed and supposed to be forgotten in the morning.

There she discovers the promise of a new day was false.

Finishing behavioral school and blazing her own path in the world, leads her to the realization that not everyone paid the same price for freedom.

She can’t stop herself from seeing the truths hidden in the corners of her mind.

Or the green eyes of the boy leading her down the dark hallway.

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Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/Imaginations-ebook/dp/B00DD75FKM/ref=la_B007RS9V30_1_16?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1371856458&sr=1-16

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*Author Bio*

 

I am not going to talk in the third person. It feels weird.

I am a Canadian author of Paranormal Romance, Post Apocalyptic and Fantasy novels.

Mostly because I think I have Writers ADD, I like to call it WADD.

It might be a real thing.I write New Adult, my books have sexual content (Heck yes) and Swearing.

You have been warned. Now enjoy!

I have a beagle named Buster, a husband who I force to read everything I write and two girls who want so badly to be a character in my books. And not in that order.

I am mid thirties so be prepared for the chick lit novel this year.

I am calling it my Ode to my Midlife Crisis. I have been writing since I was old enough to lie. So for some time. Welcome to my world.

Please enjoy the ride.


Stalker Links:

Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/TaraBrownAuthor

Blog- http://tarabrown22.blogspot.ca/

Twitter- https://twitter.com/TaraBrown22

Cover Reveal - Unbreakable by Rebecca Shea

Title: Unbreakable

Author: Rebecca Shea

Expected Release Date: July 30, 2013

Genre: New Adult/College/Coming of Age

Cover Created by: Sarah Hansen Okay Creations

Cover reveal organized by: Shh Moms Reading

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17208961-unbreakable

 



Synopsis


Jessica Harper is the epitome of perfection. She’s a good daughter, makes excellent grades, and always strays on the safe side of life. The last thing she thought would ever happen was falling in love with her best friend’s brother. But sometimes fate just has a way of bringing two people together.

Wide receiver for the University of Arizona, Gabe Garcia, seems to have it all. When his feelings for Jessica come to surface, Gabe will give up everything to be with her.

But what happens when a tragedy abruptly changes the course of your life? For Jessica and Gabe, everything they thought they knew about each other will be questioned. Sometimes, there are scars in life that are cut too deep to completely heal.

Will their love prove to be unbreakable, or will it shatter and prove fate is just another lie?

*This book contains mature subject matter and is not intended for those under 17 years of age.*


Trailer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsSxVAKmSVM


Teaser

I stand there, nervously tugging at the hem of my top when he stands and walks toward me. Pressing his body flush against mine, grabbing my hips he whispers, Miss me already?” He’s so close I have to tilt my head to look up at him. Timidly, I slide my hands up his bare chest and around the back of his neck. With piercing eyes he stands staring down at me intently. My breathing is shallow, and nerves swarm in my belly as I gently pull him down to me.

Looking up at him, I close my eyes as he presses his lips to mine. Slowly he moves his lips back and forth across mine. His tongue finds the smallest opening and urges my lips apart, and his kiss becomes more intimate. I gasp as he alternates between light, gentle and intense, deep kisses. My legs shake slightly as my body is overcome by the intensity of this moment. We are both breathing erratically when he drags his lips away from mine.

“I should go,” I say in a hush.

Pressing one last kiss to my lips he whispers, “I don’t want you to.” I reach behind me grasping the doorknob, “I know, but I need too.” I slip out of Gabe’s room and cross the hallway back to mine.


About the Author

 

 

 

 

 

Rebecca Shea lives in Phoenix, Arizona with her family and her first “kid” her beagle, Miles. From
the time Rebecca could read she has had a passion for reading and books. Rebecca spends her days
working full-time in the financial industry as a marketing manager. Born and raised in Minnesota,
Rebecca moved to Arizona in 1999 to escape the bitter winters. When not working or writing, she can
be found on the sidelines of her boys football games, or watching her daughter at ballet class. Rebecca
is fueled by insane amounts of coffee, margarita’s, Laffy Taffy (except the banana ones), and happily ever after’s.

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/rebeccasheaauthor?fref=ts

Twitter https://twitter.com/beccasheaauthor

Goodreadshttps://www.goodreads.com/goodreadscombeccashea

 

Saturday, June 22, 2013

Blog Tour/Review - New Beginnings by Melissa Crowe



Excerpt

We drove in silence for an hour into the desert before Bari stopped the car at the side of small square shaped building. From the outside it appeared to be abandoned and run down. The mud brick was in ill repair and cracks were strewn through the walls. Pieces of brick were missing or chipped away, and there were no offerings to the goddess at the foot of the steps as one would expect. Even the carvings were worn with age and neglect. The sand and rock terrain crunched underfoot as I neared the broken steps of the temple. Hot night air blew over me and made my mouth feel gritty and dry. Bari stood beside me on the threshold as I tried in vain to calm my raging nerves. I was really about to do this, my hands began to tremble with anticipation. So many outcomes could eventuate from this one encounter and my life one way or the other would be changed forever.

“Are you ready?” My guide asked me giving me an encouraging nod.

Tentatively I moved forward into the shrine, ready to accept my fate. The hot wind died away the moment I set foot inside the temple, which was no larger than the shell of a modest house. The cool shelter of the shrine was welcome and the air much easier to breathe. A sense of calm came over me. Bari stepped ahead of me and knelt on the ground in front of the two stone thrones in the centre of the room. He bowed his head and touched it to the floor as he muttered some words in a language I did not recognise, then stood and made his way back toward the door we had entered. He nodded to me in a way that assured me.

My eyes adjusted to the change in light and I looked around the room. The only furnishings consisted of two thrones made from stone that were flanked by statues of the goddess herself and her consort Ptah. The smell of sandalwood wafted from the braziers at the entrance from which I had passed. The walls of the room were lit with torches in bronze holdings and they flickered with the breeze that whispered through the doorway. The ancient hieroglyphics depicted the rise and fall of the goddess, the seasons, battles of time long past.

My eyes befell a woman who stood just behind the throne slightly out of view. Her long dark hair and heavily made up eyes gave her away against the pale interior of the room. Slowly she stepped forward and her hips swayed seductively from side to side as she swaggered toward me. She was looking me up and down, absorbing me. An Egyptian cobra was draped around her neck, its head craned toward me with the long forked tongue flickering in my direction. The woman seemed familiar to me, yet I knew we had never met. She wore a long gold silk dress that clung to her womanly curves, her presence demanded the attention of the room and my eyes were fixed on her as she seductively made her way towards me. Her skin was pale like all blood drinkers, but still a warm caramel with hazel eyes staring out from long dark lashes. Her fringe was cut sharply across her brow line, she was breath takingly beautiful and from the way she seemed to carry herself she knew it too. Her arms were adorned with gold bangles, one of which was around her upper arm and in the shape of an asp with rubies for eyes. The snake around her neck hissed and my hand clasped to my mouth in realisation of the woman before me. “Cleopatra!” I exclaimed.

Triumphantly she smiled and lowered the snake from her shoulders and placed it on the floor where it slithered toward me, making slow deliberate sideways motions and then circling around my feet. Hissing seemed to erupt from all sides of the shrine, the sound was almost deafening but I did not show the discomfort it was causing. Before my eyes I watched as the snake arched itself upward, its hood flared and a violent hiss escaped its slit of a mouth. It rocked methodically from side to side and my vision swayed with it. The snake began to swell and take form. Its long slender body appeared to almost become upright and bulged as womanly curves filled out the creature. Arms and legs became prominent and the hood fell over the shoulders into hair as the face filled out with humanlike features. This metamorphosis continued until before me stood a woman; The Creator, Sekhmet. The power of speech seemed to evade me, I could not form a comprehensive word or thought. Power emanated from the ancient vampire before me. Her broad shoulders and muscular arms contrasted with her flowing red feminine gown. Her hair was worn in long braids; golden threads had been worked into it. The face that looked back at me was feline; this was the only word I could possibly use to describe her. She stepped back toward the throne, not speaking, her crimson gown billowing behind her. She placed herself in her seat, looking much like a model posing for a painter. I bowed my head to the goddess. A heavily beaded gold menit necklace hung around her neck. When the goddess made herself known to me I had forgotten about the other woman in the room. She joined Sekhmet, standing next to her throne and placed her hand on the goddess’ shoulder. Both women stared at me and I felt them both moving around inside my head. I tried to close my thoughts but Sekhmet raised her hand “That would be both useless and foolish. I know every thought that has ever entered your mind, opened or closed. That trick is powerless on me. I am the Creator of this divine race. You have no secrets with me.”

“So you know why I’m here?” I said.

“Of course” Her face and voice did not change its expression while she spoke. This made me feel ill at ease.

“And?” I prompted.

Cleopatra let out a stifled laugh at my boldness. Sekhmet’s face did not change, nothing was given away “Do you truly believe you can come into my inner sanctum and I will simply hand over what you think you desire?” she bellowed, the sound echoed all around the room “You know not what you ask from me young one. You have much too long to live before you can make such demands to me.”

“I do know what I ask for. This ‘divine gift’ was not given to me but rather thrust upon me unwillingly. And I have had to suffer with it for the last sixty six years.”

“Yet if you did not suffer with it, you would not have met the reason for your visit to me.”

“Nicola is not the only reason I want this. It is something I have wanted since I was made this way.”

Sekhmet considered me for a moment before she continued. “You despise being immortal yet you have not lived it to its full potential or sought revenge on your Maker. Not even tried to locate her. There were always other options to be rid of this existence if you hated it so. You have burdened yourself with such unnecessary guilt since the beginning, when you could have easily switched it off. I’m sure even Ivan taught you that.”

“He did teach me how to control my emotions, but if I switched it off then I would like what I have become and lose sight of what I truly want.”

“Why not embrace it Vaughan!” she raged at me, her claw like hands grasping at the stone alter where she sat. Muscles rippled from her long delicate fingers into her forearms. “You have the passion within you to be a great leader and do so much good, but you let emotions get in the way.”

“I don’t want to be a leader.”

“No, you want a happily ever after. They are the things of modern day fairy tales, they do not exist, for mortals and immortals. You do not know what you ask of me.” Flaming torches on the walls rose in anger, shooting orange flames to the ceiling and I cringed back, shielding my eyes from the painful light. This seemed to have no effect on the two women before me. Cleopatra stepped forward slowly. Circling around me, her long slender hands ran along my back and a shiver rolled down my spine at her touch. She leaned in closer to me and whispered “Stay. Let me teach you.”

My eyes were locked on The Creator and I shook my head “No!”

Cleopatra leaned in closer this time, her warm breath tickling my ear. Her cool hands were now on my shoulders massaging gently. “You remind me of my lover, Marcus Antonius. He was strong willed too, before he was taken away from me unwillingly. Just as you were taken away from your lover Ivy unwillingly.”

I spun to face Cleopatra, waves of rage shook through me and it took every ounce of strength not to lose control. This was a name I had not heard or tried not to think about for over sixty years. Her face lit up with excitement, she knew she had hit a nerve.

“Let me help you get your revenge for Ivy, just like I got mine for Marcus Antonius.”

“Don’t speak that name,” I managed to grit through my teeth.

Cleopatra stepped back and looked at me innocently “What name? Ivy! Your fiancé, I see her face in your memory even now. She was very pretty, blonde, perfect, everyone was so happy when you asked for her hand. But then came the disappointment, she was the first human life you took once you became one of us. You continue to torture yourself to this day when you could have sought revenge for her death.”

“I don’t want revenge.”

“Why not?” Cleopatra stepped closer toward me our bodies almost touching. Power radiated from her in currents.

“Enough!” The Creator was now behind me, I was trapped between the two most powerful vampires in creation. “You come to me with this request Vaughan, and yet you shun what we are. You believe we are evil creatures. Never in your existence have you accepted your fate and embraced it, lived to your full potential. It would be wise of you to take a leaf from your friend Marcus’ book.”

I turned to face her and thoughts of Marcus flashed before my eyes. His relaxed nature, accepting what he was with little regard for anyone but himself and of course now Gerri.

“If you were human you will grow old. You will die. You will have no control over your emotions. You will be vulnerable,” Sekhmet explained.

“I am aware of all this. You cannot deter me. I know what I want.”

Sekhmet’s face darkened “You come here with this blasphemes request and expect me to grant it? You offer me nothing in return. Be gone from my sight at once before I dispose of you.”

Bari was now at my side, guiding me to the door and into the waiting car. A tingling sensation came over me and my body moved robotically, it was no longer in control of itself. I let Bari lead me away, the power of speech and thought gone. My body was left a shell and put up no resistance. Once in the safety of the car everything returned and the emotions of what had just happened flooded into me. I had failed. A thousand thoughts surged into my mind at once, then the sound of a thousand voices all yelling filled my ears and I clasped my hands to the sides of my head trying to hold them out. They grew in force and my brain felt on the verge of exploding, everything turned white and fire burned my skull and I heard the vicious laugh of the goddess. My body writhed in agony on the back seat of the car before everything went blank and fell silent.

 

About The Author

I am from the Illawarra region of New South Wales, Australia. I started writing in 2009 and have not looked back. I now have a multitude of stories in various stages of completion. My love for paranormal started from a young age and I like to find interesting new creatures to create stories about.

After receiving too many knock backs to count from agents and publishers, I was ready to give up writing. That was until a friend gave me Switched by Amanda Hocking and said to me "If she can self publish, then why can't you?" So here I am, diving head first into self publishing and not regretting my decision at all. I am not looking to be the next Amanda Hocking, I just want to share my stories with people who will appreciate them.

Review

Reviewer - Fiona Wilson

4 stars

Nicola and Vaughn are living happily, at least as happy as you can be when one of you is a vampire and the other is a human. These 2 are made for each other, but Nicola doesn't want to become a vampire, and Vaughn doesn't want to make her one either.

Vaughn decided the only way to make their situation work is if he becomes human again. He has a friend research for him and he discovers that only the Creator can grant him his wish. He decides he has to travel to find the Creator, knowing that he is risking his life in doing so. But he knows that a normal life with Nicola is worth it, to both of them.

He does indeed find the Creator, and that is when we delve into the world of fantasy, myths and legend even more. If you, like I, enjoy the stories of Cleopatra, Zeus and the other gods then you will find this story quite an eye opener. The author has mixed in the right amounts of myth, love and vampires to make the story one I would definitely recommend.

And the twist at the end? After everything he does in order to have his wish granted the Creator throws in a little extra condition before she will give Vaughn what he wants. Can he fulfil this condition or is he doomed to live forever and watch Nicola grow old as he remains the same?

This is a series of 4 books so I guarantee that Nicola and Vaughn have a long way to go before they get their happy ever after, if they do get it at all! I can't wait to see where the author takes these characters next.

 

Blog Tour/Review/Giveaway - Carry Your Heart by Audrey Bell

 

Description:

Champion skier Pippa Baker lost everything in the avalanche: her boyfriend, his best friend, and her will to win. After a year of grief, she returns to competition.

She finds more than buried memories and steep slopes in Utah. She finds Hunter Dawson, a heartbreaking daredevil with the gold medals to prove it. And she finds that his reputation doesn’t stop her from falling hard, and that her heart might not be as broken as she once believed.

But, Hunter has scars and memories too—scars that make him believe falling in love might hurt too much, scars that make him run.

Pippa knows how much love hurts when it’s gone. Will she stop herself before she’s in too deep? Or will she let herself fall?

This is a new adult, contemporary romance novel.

 

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17881053-carry-your-heart

 

Purchase Links:

http://www.amazon.com/Carry-Your-Heart-ebook/dp/B00CMYSI7O

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/carry-your-heart-audrey-bell/1115340438?ean=2940016645063

 

About the Author:

Audrey Bell lives in New York City, where she indulges her SoulCycle addiction and expresses her passionate hatred of the 6 Train. You can find her reading in Central Park, overcaffeinating at Starbucks, or trying to kidnap her neighbors’ Maltese puppy. She loves hearing from readers

 

Author Links:

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7075823.Audrey_Bell

http://audreybellbooks.blogspot.com

https://twitter.com/audreybbell

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Audrey-Bell/370082886443954

 

Review By Fiona Wilson

4 Stars

Pippa Baker is a champion skier, alongside her boyfriend Danny and best friend Ryan. During one of their ski trips an avalanche takes the lives of both Danny and Ryan, leaving Pippa with a badly fravtured leg and prompting her to leave skiing and forget her life before the avalanche.

A year passes and her coach asks her, no begs her, to return for one tournament only. He is desperate to get her back into skiing again, and will stop at nothing to achieve his goal.

Against her better judgement Pippa agrees to return. She has always dreamed of competing in the Olympics, and wants to see if she still has the skills to make it happen.

On her flight she meets Hunter Dawson, another competitor but in snowboarding rather than skiing. They seem to get on, but she thinks nothing of it as soon as she embarks the plane.

Slowly Pippa begins to rebuild her confidence slowly, and manages to win a medal in her race. This prompts her to agree to continue her training, and try to attain her goal of an Olympic medal.

During this training she starts developing feelings for Hunter, but he has issues also. His past leaves a lot to be desired, but he assures Pippa he has changed. Can she believe him and let him in, or will her belief that by having a relationship with Hunter she is cheating on her dead boyfriend Danny make her set him aside and go on alone?

As you read the story you will be rooting for Pippa to achieve her dreams, for her to set aside her demons and move on with her life since the accident. The author throws in a few curve balls during the story, including one near the end, but you will need to read it to find out if Pippa can put her past aside to reach her goal, and if she can allow her heart to open enough to let Hunter in.

The author writes the story in such a way you totally get why Pippa acts the way she does. As a reader you will feel for her when she struggles with her feelings, and when she discovers something Danny which she didn't know. A well written story, emotional at times, which will draw the reader in very quickly.

 

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Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Blog Tour/Review/Giveaway - Seductive Shadows by Marni Mann

 

“Victoria”

June 18 – June 24

Excerpt

The guard left, leaving Victoria and I alone. Her ass was just as sexy as the Recruiter’s, but her stance was even more self-assured. She was obviously the one in charge around here. I could feel the power radiate off her body; I wanted it.

Victoria’s gaze made me self-conscious so I turned away. I took a seat in one of the chairs in front of her desk and looked at the TV screens instead. Once I realized what they showed, I couldn’t drag my eyes away. Almost every monitor revealed a couple who were engaged in some form of sex. There wasn’t any sound, but it didn’t matter; this sex was nothing like what I had witnessed between Lilly and her drunken men. These people weren’t sweating and grunting.

They were beautiful.

Dampness formed between my legs.

“Do you like what you see?” Victoria asked. Her red satin corset was rimmed in lace and beads, and lace boy shorts hugged her body. A matching mask hid all but her eyes. Fishnet stockings crept up her thighs, held by a garter belt. I craved to learn her appeal.

I nodded. “Very much so.” It wasn’t something I could hide.

Her black sparkly lids disappeared as we made eye contact again. “I thought you would.”

Pre-order on Amazon

Goodreads link

GIVEAWAY

For your chance to win a $100 Victoria's Secret eGiftcard click on the link below -

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About Seductive Shadows

Charlie is a passionate, sensually-inspired art student, desperately seeking an escape from the abusive past that haunts her and a tragic accident that emptied her heart. Scarred and unable to love, her yearning for physical pleasure leads her into a tantalizing, dangerous world of power and seduction. The anonymity of the deal offers security; the money brings financial freedom and the madam is the mother figure she longs for.But the thrill of the mansion and its arousing dominance quickly fades when she meets renowned-yet-mysterious Cameron Hardy, whose intense baby blue eyes send a nervous flutter through her core. Cameron is sexy, and not in a subtle way. He stimulates Charlie's art, her intellect andher desires. Just as he begins to break through her emotional boundaries, she discovers a devastating connection between her past and her scandalous work at the mansion, shattering everything she thought to be true.Provocative, intoxicating and erotic, Seductive Shadows is the unforgettable tale of a young woman's self-discovery as she learns to forgive, to love and be loved, and to find redemption amidst a remarkable journey that will captivate your mind and stimulate your soul.This book is for mature audiences. It contains explicit language and sexual content.

About Marni Mann

A New Englander at heart, Marni Mann is now a Floridian inspired by the sandy beaches and hot pink sunsets of Sarasota. She taps mainstream appeal and shakes worldwide taboos, taking her readers on a dark and breathtaking journey. When she's not nose deep in her laptop, she's scouring for chocolate, traveling, reading, or walking her four-legged children. Visit her at www.marnismann.com.

Review

Review by Wennie Conedy

5 out of 5 stars

Has there been a time in your life where you tried to balance light and darkness in your life? For Charlie, her life is dominated by darkness and no light. Seductive Sadness is an erotic work of fiction, with sexually explicit scenes and language and is for mature audiences.

Charlie is a young woman who seeks escape from an abusive past and a traumatic event that empties her soul. She seeks solace from men, and is lured into a dark world of anonymity, seduction and power. She feels that she has found her home, her haven and her security until she learns that her anonymous world clashes with her past and threatens her very existence.

From the first few pages, I was drawn into Charlie’s story. Marni Mann took me on a journey where at times, the darkness felt overwhelming and where sadness and grief manifested itself through sexually deviant scenes. She skillfully lets the reader understand the pain that Charlie feels, by adeptly peeling the layers of the story, strong characters and dialogue. I am thankful that she didn’t spoon feed me with too much information and character motivation but allowed me to go deeper and go through my own journey of discovery and understanding. She let me see why Charlie felt so lost, so alone through the adroit use of flashbacks; flashbacks that not only told me what had happened to make Charlie feel this way, but also allowed me to experience her embarrassment and her need to belong. She longed for love, but looked for it in very wrong and dangerous places.

“Love and attention, from a man or woman, was what I wanted. I was starving; they temporarily fulfilled me. They coddled me. Appreciated me. Needed me emotionally.”

Charlie is damaged, very much so. But she is also strong and very self-aware. She searches for her safe haven where she can belong, and also searches to give and receive forgiveness. And a most unlikely person helps her realize why she needs to forgive.

“You need to forgive yourself. You need to cry. You need to let go … There will come a day when you will understand that forgiveness is about you and no one else.”

There were several scenes towards the end of the story where I found myself crying – crying for Charlie as she faces the ultimate sacrifice – just when she finds the happiness she is looking for, she needs to let it all go. My heart was breaking for her.

Marni Mann created a character that is flawed yet desired; strong yet needs others to lean on; talented yet scared. I felt for her. I wanted her to succeed and I needed to know that the choices and decisions she would make would lead her to a better life.

This is a book that will draw you in, make you cry, make you angry, make you sad but will have you rooting for Charlie. And as you join Charlie in her journey, remember …

“It’s always darkest before the dawn.”