December 28, 2014

Review: Four Days



Title: Four Days,  Seven Series book #4
Author: Dannika Dark
Published: 12-14-14, Amazon Digital Services
Genre: Paranormal, Romance

4 Hearts




Blurb:

Ivy believes every life must have balance, and during the past year, she’s found harmony living with the Weston pack. When an evil spirit from her past threatens her wolf, it sets off a chain reaction of events that alters the course of her destiny.

Lorenzo Church is a powerful, wealthy Packmaster who rules his pack through intimidation and order. He has vowed to never love a woman because love can destroy an empire. But chaos is fast approaching in the form of a Shifter named Ivy—a Native American, like him, who has invaded his dreams since the moment they met. She is spirited, wise, and unattainable.

In an unexpected turn of events, Ivy must choose whether or not to let go of the one person she has always loved. Lorenzo discovers the root of her courage but will never win her as his mate unless he learns to listen to his heart.



Available for purchase at 

      


Review:


This is the 4th book in the Seven series.  Each book following the Weston Pack in a world where paranormal beings live alongside humans and try to make as few waves as possible.  This book follows Ivy and Lorenzo.  I admit, Lorenzo was not a big favorite of mine in the previous books.  He was kind of an ass most of the time.  He has completely redeemed himself in this book!  Ivy had him sorted out real quick. after her injury, Lorenzo agreed to keep her for 4 days to help heal her.  During that time, Ivy discovered the man hidden beneath the rough exterior.

I'd always known that the way a man treats a woman when no one is watching showed his true colors, but i\I'd never given it a thought beyond that.  There is something pure and honest in the way a man treats a woman when he thinks she isn't aware.  It shows the kind of man he truly is.

Lorenzo Church was a man with a tough stony exterior.  Ivy was able to flip that coin over and see his compassionate side as well.   Having said that, this book is not about conquests and sexual encounters.  It is about finding out who we really are and what we are meant to do with our skills, our lives, our family.  It's about connecting with someone on deeper spiritual level and trusting that person to support you no matter what.  

I really like Ivy in this book.  Her insight and strength despite her history, made her a very interesting character.  Lorenzo is along for the ride, but it is Ivy who makes the book worth reading.  Her spiritual nature, loyalty, and vulnerability make her a worthy match to Lorenzo.

You could read this book as a stand alone, but there are continuing story lines from the first 3 books that would be spoilers if you read the books out of order.  I recommend starting with Seven Years and going forward.  If you haven't read this author before, you will enjoy the pace and humor peppered throughout her writing.    



About the Author


This is the segment where you learn a little more about who I am, so here's what I can tell you:  I drink copious amounts of vitamin water placed precariously close to my laptop while writing. These are two healthy habits I have no intention of breaking. I'm a transplant living in the south, but I was born in the 70's to a military dad who moved us around the world.

When I'm not writing (which is all the time), I'm hunting down Indie music, watching movies, reading, eating Tex-Mex, discovering new ways to humiliate myself bowling, and burning up my laptop battery on the Internet. I have a relaxed, easy-going personality and don't like drama. I live with a cat who thinks she is a dog, or a goat (she eats plastic, so I'm not sure which).

Throughout my life, I've had insomnia. Counting sheep never worked and eventually I would imagine those sheep were the sole source of food after an apocalyptic battle where only thousands survived. I made up stories in a futile attempt to bore myself to sleep. The problem was, I got so wrapped up in my "head stories" that I would continue them through the following nights, changing it up each time to make it more exciting. Eventually, I started writing my ideas down - creating short stories, and then I discovered my love for poetry.

It's almost embarrassing how many spiral notebooks and stacks of paper I have of poetry and lyrics.

Another passion: digital art. I design all my book covers, marketing, and series art. I'm a very visual person and pursued photography as an avid hobby for many years.

I am not a YA author (I feel like I have to state this only because I've had a few people ask), but I think it's wonderful there are so many books available to teens in Urban Fantasy and Paranormal.

I am finally doing what I have always wanted to do: giving my characters a pulse through writing full time. I focus on adult urban fantasy romance, but I don't like labels and I enjoy blending genres to break out of the confines of predictability.

But it's what I love to do.

Danni

You can stalk, I mean find Dannika here: 

             




December 22, 2014

Review: Forever With Me

Forever With Me

Title: Forever With Me, book 8 With Me in Seattle series
Author: Kristen Proby
Published: 12-2-14, Ampers and Publishing
Genre: Contemporary


4 Hearts

Blurb


From the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the With Me in Seattle Series comes the end of a saga…

Dominic Salvatore seemingly has everything a man could want. He’s found a new relationship with his father and the entire Montgomery family. His vineyard, Cuppa di Vita, is a success. There’s only one thing that eludes him: a certain driven, intelligent, and sexy as hell blonde named Alecia.

Alecia works tirelessly building her event planning business. It’s the most important part of her life. Despite the beautiful, lavish weddings she organizes, Alecia is convinced that the idea of true love is a myth. While Dominic is a sexy, intriguing man, welcoming the handsome Italian into her bed, and her life, is a risk she’s not so sure she’s willing to take.

However Dominic isn’t used to taking no for an answer, and it’s not long before these two are burning up the sheets and discovering a connection that neither can deny. But will it be strong enough to last forever?

“I’m going to eventually make you understand how amazing you are, tesoro.” – Dominic Salvatore

Amazon ** Barnes and Noble ** iBooks ** Audible ** Kobo


Review


This is the last book in the With Me in Seattle series by Kristen Proby.  This series is a re-read series for me.  I LOVE all those Montgomerys!  If you have not read the rest of the series, you do not want to start with this book.  This was a beautiful ending to the series.  Dom's story needed to be told as he was a late addition to the family.  Alicia has been in almost every book as the family's party planner.  She finally succumbs to the attraction building between them.  Dom's  sweet talk to Alicia in Italian is swoon worthy.  It was wonderful to see the rest of the Montgomery clan as they prepare for Will and Meg's wedding.  It would not be a Kristen Proby book without lots of laughter, tears of joy and pain and hot smexy times.  This book brings it all!  It is worth the read, although not my favorite of the series (Will still holds that candle!)

My absolute favorite part of the book is the epilogue.  The message is clear, with love and family you can succeed in life, no matter where it takes you.  Steven Montgomery summarizes it best:

She gave me all of those beautiful people downstairs.  

She gave me a life.  The best life a man could ever hope for.

As we are in the winter of our lives, I realize how rich we are.  The money is nothing; it's our children, our grandchildren, our friends who fulfill us. 

And most of all each other. 

Thank you, Kristen, for taking us on the journey of the Montgomery family.  Start with COME AWAY WITH ME and begin your Montgomery trip.  Enjoy the ride!



FWM Teaser 1



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FWM Available Now



About the Author

Author photo


New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Kristen Proby is the author of the bestselling With Me In Seattle series. She has a passion for a good love story and strong characters who love humor and have a strong sense of loyalty and family. Her men are the alpha type; fiercely protective and a bit bossy, and her ladies are fun, strong, and not afraid to stand up for themselves.

Kristen spends her days with her muse in the Pacific Northwest. She enjoys coffee, chocolate and sunshine. And naps.



Website ** Twitter @handbagjunkie ** Facebook ** Author Goodreads ** FOREVER WITH ME Goodreads






December 18, 2014

Cover Reveal: Second Chance at Paris






Blurb


One week in Paris. One chance with her childhood crush. And one lie that could ruin it all.

Before she was Dr. Celeste London, Astrophysicist, she was Mary Celeste Haverford: dork, loser, the geek formerly known as Hairy Mary. But she’d left all that behind—and left Ion Blackwell behind, nothing but an unrequited crush and the memory of a high school field trip, a night in Paris, and the words Celeste had never had the courage to say. She’d never expected to see him again…until a surprise encounter on a Parisian riverboat tour brings him back into her life, and gives her the opportunity to start over as someone new. Someone Ion doesn’t recognize, transformed from a social outcast into a polished, professional woman that Ion doesn’t realize is the girl he’s been longing for since childhood, the ideal he’s dreamed of his entire life.

Suddenly this vivacious (if charmingly awkward) “new” woman is teaching him that real love is better than any dream—but Celeste is hiding more than her identity. Hiding something that makes it hard to trust her increasingly erratic behavior, and her frequent secretive phone calls. When the truth comes out, the deception could shatter them both…unless they can give each other a second chance, and take a risk on love.




 Excerpt

With a smile, Celeste leaned on the rail. She’d been a silly girl, heart on her sleeve, but she kind of missed that. Falling in love was never the same—never as light, as sweet, as guileless, the emotion not as raw or real when it became about work schedules and who paid for dinner and whether it was too soon to have sex. Mundane things took the romance out of it, when at sixteen it had been about wishing for that one perfect, breathless, magical kiss with that special someone who didn’t even know she was alive.
Now she just had a half-dozen ex-special someones who said she was an amazing friend, but a lousy girlfriend.
Her eyes stung. She should be standing here with…someone. People did that; they fell in love and took romantic trips to Paris, and cuddled on dreamy moonlit boat tours. But even then she’d have been worrying over her presentation for tomorrow, wondering if Ophelia gave their father his meds, pondering wind speed for Kelvin-Helmholtz instability in Jupiter’s Red Spot, picking out constellations…and never quite here with the imaginary boyfriend.
She really wasn’t cut out for relationships.
She lifted her gaze to the sky and picked out Venus. It hurt, when she smiled. “Guess I wasted a wish,” she whispered. “Do I get a do-over?”
The soft scuff of a sole against the deck warned when someone approached. She straightened, rubbed her eyes, and pulled her hoodie tighter around herself. Last thing she wanted was to ruin some happy couple’s romantic Parisian night when they stumbled on a single woman on the verge of a nostalgic crying jag. They’d probably think she was pulling a Rose, about to fling herself dramatically over the rail of the mini-Titanic.
The footsteps stopped at her side, barely a foot away. She caught a sense of height, masculine body heat, a quietly commanding presence. A low voice rolled over her, husky baritone like whiskey and silk.
Belle nuit, n’est-ce pas?” he asked, softly accented inflections agonizingly familiar. Celeste looked up, her heart tumbling to the very bottom of her chest and constricting painfully tight.
Fathomless blue eyes looked over the water, set in an elegantly sculpted face: ten years older, more weathered, tanned complexion darkened by the shadow of stubble—but so distinctive she’d know him anywhere. She clutched the railing with fingers almost numb to the cool metal, blood draining to leave them rubbery. She knew him. She knew him, but there was no way it could be him. It was impossible. It was incredible. It was absolutely unbelievable, and she had to be hallucinating.
It was Ion Blackwell.



Release date:  January 18, 2015







About the Author



Cole McCade is a New Orleans-born Southern boy without the Southern accent, currently residing somewhere in the metropolitan wilds of the American Midwest. He spends his days as a suit-and-tie corporate consultant, and his nights writing romance novels in between fending off Tybalt, his geriatric cat. And while he spends more time than is healthy hiding in his writing cave instead of hanging around social media, you can generally find him in these usual haunts:


Twitter: @ColeMcCade
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cole.mccade

Website & Blog: http://www.colemccade.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8432536.Cole_McCade
Tumblr: http://colemccade.tumblr.com/
You can also get early access to cover reveals, blurbs, contests, and other exclusives by joining the McCade’s Marauders street team at:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/mccadesmarauders/












December 16, 2014

Four Days Release Day Blitz






Four Days
(Seven Series, Book #4)

By Dannika Dark

Blurb:
Ivy believes every life must have balance, and during the past year, she’s found harmony living with the Weston pack. When an evil spirit from her past threatens her wolf, it sets off a chain reaction of events that alters the course of her destiny.

Lorenzo Church is a powerful, wealthy Packmaster who rules his pack through intimidation and order. He has vowed to never love a woman because love can destroy an empire. But chaos is fast approaching in the form of a Shifter named Ivy—a Native American, like him, who has invaded his dreams since the moment they met. She is spirited, wise, and unattainable.

In an unexpected turn of events, Ivy must choose whether or not to let go of the one person she has always loved. Lorenzo discovers the root of her courage but will never win her as his mate unless he learns to listen to his heart.



Available for purchase at 

      







Excerpt

Lorenzo
reached out and stroked my cheek. “When we first met, you were but a flowering
vine swinging from the tree I found you in, trying to cling to anyone who would
hold you.”
  
I brushed
his hand away and drew back. “You are no better than my father, comparing me to
a poisonous vine. I am not the desperate woman you make me out to be, and I
have no need to cling to anyone but those who love me. I will not hold on to a
great oak, because as magnificent as it may be, it will never hold me back. My
family holds me with their kind words and love, and that is all a Shifter can
ask for. What is it you want, Lorenzo? To question the integrity of my
Packmaster? We’re better off within the city. There are places to take refuge,
those who might help us, and…”

Through my
powerful speech, Lorenzo cracked a smile. It was slight at first, but it became
wide and he flashed his teeth at me.

I had
begun to turn away when Lorenzo captured my wrist and tugged me against him.
His arm slid around my lower back in a claiming gesture. He cupped the nape of
my neck with his other hand, and before I could protest, Lorenzo rubbed noses
with me.

In the
middle of a crowded club.

“Such a
spirited wolf you have,” he growled.

 “What do you want of me?”

He drew in
a breath, as if taking in my scent. “Don’t you want to be my friend?”

“A man
like you doesn’t make friends—he makes enemies.”

Lorenzo
kissed me hard, his tongue slipping so deep that my legs quivered. Then he drew
back and rubbed noses again. “I can do friendship. Sunday night. Checkers. My
place.” He pressed his lips to my ear and seduced me with whispers. “I can’t
get you out of my head. These men leer at you in a way that makes me want to
lose control. You need protection.”

“My pack
protects me,” I said, forgetting the crowd around us as we held each other
close.

“Will they
protect you with their bodies as I will with mine?”

I tried to
create distance between us. “Actions speak louder than words, and nothing but
honey drips from your mouth.”



He
chuckled darkly. “Your sharp tongue and wise words make my wolf sing.”





The Seven Series




About the Author


This is the segment where you learn a little more about who I am, so here's what I can tell you:  I drink copious amounts of vitamin water placed precariously close to my laptop while writing. These are two healthy habits I have no intention of breaking. I'm a transplant living in the south, but I was born in the 70's to a military dad who moved us around the world.

When I'm not writing (which is all the time), I'm hunting down Indie music, watching movies, reading, eating Tex-Mex, discovering new ways to humiliate myself bowling, and burning up my laptop battery on the Internet. I have a relaxed, easy-going personality and don't like drama. I live with a cat who thinks she is a dog, or a goat (she eats plastic, so I'm not sure which).

Throughout my life, I've had insomnia. Counting sheep never worked and eventually I would imagine those sheep were the sole source of food after an apocalyptic battle where only thousands survived. I made up stories in a futile attempt to bore myself to sleep. The problem was, I got so wrapped up in my "head stories" that I would continue them through the following nights, changing it up each time to make it more exciting. Eventually, I started writing my ideas down - creating short stories, and then I discovered my love for poetry.

It's almost embarrassing how many spiral notebooks and stacks of paper I have of poetry and lyrics.

Another passion: digital art. I design all my book covers, marketing, and series art. I'm a very visual person and pursued photography as an avid hobby for many years.

I am not a YA author (I feel like I have to state this only because I've had a few people ask), but I think it's wonderful there are so many books available to teens in Urban Fantasy and Paranormal.

I am finally doing what I have always wanted to do: giving my characters a pulse through writing full time. I focus on adult urban fantasy romance, but I don't like labels and I enjoy blending genres to break out of the confines of predictability.

But it's what I love to do.

Danni

You can stalk, I mean find Dannika here: 

             




Presented by 


December 15, 2014

Charlotte Chronicles Blog Tour

Meet Charlotte and Nathan!
ONLY $0.99
JEN FREDERICK BANNER.jpg
NOW AVAILABLE!
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1AbzqEg


the charlotte chronicles cover.jpg


Blurb
Charlotte and Nathan were supposed to be forever. They grew up together. Their families were intertwined. Charlotte was Nathan's first love. Nathan was Charlotte's first everything.
Until they weren't.
How do you hold on to the person you know in your heart you are supposed to be with when everything and everyone in the universe is telling you it's over?
How many times does a heart break?
When is enough…..enough?
How long is forever?
charlotte chornicles 2.jpg



EXCERPT


But when I close my eyes, I can see him—and me. I can see me pressed up against the mirror in the bathroom, my hands making starfish prints as I brace myself against his thrusts. I can hear his harsh breathing, his commands to come, come now, Charlotte. There was that passage of time that felt endless when he was between my legs, licking me softly and leisurely as if there wasn’t anything in this world that gave him more pleasure than helping me find my own. I touch myself, but it’s useless. My body wants one thing: Nathan Jackson.

I’m on fire and the ache of want is so acute it’s like a knife in my chest. I’ve had multiple surgeries, chemo treatments, radiation but that’s nothing compared to what I feel now.

Time and distance had dulled my pain and that my desire and love for Nathan had actually started to ease only to be stoked into high, hot flames by his reappearance in my life.

He is the poison and the antidote.
charlotte chronicles 1.jpg


ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jen Frederick lives with her husband, child, and one rambunctious dog.  She's been reading stories all her life but never imagined writing one of her own. Jen loves to hear from readers so drop her a line at jensfrederick@gmail.com.

GIVEAWAY
Tiffany’s Knot Pendant Necklace


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THANK YOU!

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December 13, 2014

Ripped






Title: Ripped,  Real series- book 5
Author: Katy Evans
Published: 12-9-14, Gallery Books
Genre: NA

       5 ++ Hearts




Blurb

A ripped rock star with attitude. An ex-girlfriend with a reckless plan.

Pandora assumed getting her heartbroken by her bad boy ex could only happen once--until Mackenna Jones comes back to town for the biggest concert of his career. They say girls are getting pregnant just thinking about the Crack Bikini tour and it's destined to be a huge hit.

Oh, it'll be a hit alright--when Pandora comes out swinging. She and her friend Melanie are determined to humiliate him onstage. But when they're caught by security and her ex is summoned, Mackenna decides not to press charges if she'll join him on tour and follow certain conditions--rules designed to give him the upper hand and keep her in close contact with him once again. Soon, the passion they once shared is reignited, and no matter how much Pandora wants to hate him, her hard exterior starts to crack. 
 And worse: Mackenna knows it, too. But he hasn't uncovered all her secrets...



Review

If you are familiar with this series, you know it all started with REAL and Remington Tate.  Remington in all his alpha MMA hotness.  Licking, dominating, music loving, broken- Remy. He has been on the top of book boyfriend lists since 2013; won many awards that were well deserved.  I adore Remy, but I am telling you---Mckenna Jones is going to take all those titles away from our Remy!  Mckenna is a rockstar god and he knows it! Dark hair and steely grey/blue wolf eyes. His ego fills the room and he is used to getting whatever he wants.  He has matured since he left Pandora as a teen and grown in confidence.  


“Don’t, Kenna,” I say when he uses his thumb to open my lips. He stands dangerously close—his height, his breadth, his size, his do-me-now-woman sex appeal intimidating the hell out of me.
He grins wickedly and strokes a hand over my hip.
“Why not?”
 “Because it’s not going to happen,” I say breathlessly.

“Yeah, it will.” His smirk says, It definitely will.


I was not a fan of Pandora in the previous books.  She seemed too gloomy and didn't have a charming personality.   Totally changed my opinion in this book! It's refreshing to see a heroine who is broken and troubled for once, not the hero.  Pandora feels she needs to heal from her past time with Mckenna in order to move on with her life.  Things do not go as planned and she ends up spending some extended time with him and his band.  They both think they need to work each other out of their systems.  However, we all know that doesn't always work.  Both of these characters are mouthy and mean at times.  They tolerate it from each other even though sometimes the words hurt. There are also some laugh out loud scenes between the two.  The emotional journey through the book tore at me--I wanted to fix everything and get rid of the tension. The last 3 chapters and the epilogue made that trip so worth the wait.  I was not expecting to love this book as much as I did.  So glad I read it!  My only wish list for this story is that the villain (no spoilers <3 ) and Pandora didn't seem to settle themselves. I am wondering if there is more to the story? I have some thoughts!

 This is book 5 of the series but you would not have to read the others to enjoy this book.  (Seriously, you should read them so you can meet Remy!)  Purchase links below: 

Series Reading Order

Real (bk 1)

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1zT7J31

Mine (bk 2)

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1zmq1cT

Remy (bk 3)

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1ynVnBv

Rogue (bk 4)

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1wvpqI6

Ripped (bk 5) 12/9


About the Author

Hey! I’m Katy Evans and I love family, books, life, and love. I’m married with two children and three dogs and spend my time baking, walking, writing, reading, and taking care of my family. Thank you for spending your time with me and picking up my story. I hope you had an amazing time with it, like I did. If you’d like to know more about books in progress, look me up on the Internet, I’d love to hear from you!

Email: authorkatyevans@gmail.com