Sunday, September 29, 2013

Good Blog Tour Stop!

Honk! Honk!
Welcome to the Good Blog Tour Stop!!
 
See below for Giveaway!
Good (Too Good, #1)
 
Blurb:
 
Good is part 1 in the 2 part Too Good Series!!
 
Cadence Miller is a good girl. She just happens to make one terrible mistake her junior year in high school which costs her ten months in juvenile detention. Now a senior, she’s lost everything: her best friend, the trust of her parents, driving privileges, Internet access. It’s a lonely existence.

But there is one bright spot: Mark Connelly, her very cute, very off-limits 28-year-old calculus teacher. She falls hard for him—a ridiculous schoolgirl crush headed nowhere. She can’t help it. He’s the only good thing at Crestview High. She doesn’t expect him to reciprocate her feelings. How inappropriate, right? But he does. And he shows her.

And that’s when her life goes from bad to good.
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My Review!
 
5 Freaking get me some Pepto stars! Goodness gracious this book messed me up. My stomach stayed in knots the whole time. I kept thinking this is so wrong but why does it feel so right. Arghh! I am pulling my hair out.
 
I fell in love with Cadence. I fell in love with her innocence and wit and just everything about her. Sometimes throughout the book I forgot she was only 17/18. Her maturity is amazing, but I know that this is mainly due to having up to grow up too fast following "the incident".
 
Ahh, Mark. I love Mark. Mark is ah-mazing. The problem is, he's Cadence's teacher. So, isn't it crossing the line for him to have any type of relationship with a student? Yes. It definitely is.
 
Summer somehow makes you look past it. You look past it to see the beauty in the relationship. You see the healing that Mark does for Cadence. You see their love shining through.
 
This book is amazeballs! I am seriously on pins and needles waiting for book 2, the final installment!!!
 
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Author Bio!
S. Walden.JPG
 
S. Walden used to teach English before making the best decision of her life by becoming a full-time
writer. She lives in Georgia with her very supportive husband who prefers physics textbooks over fiction and has a difficult time understanding why her characters must have personality flaws. She is wary of  small children, so she has a Westie instead. Her dreams include raising chickens and owning and  operating a beachside inn on the Gulf Coast (chickens included). When she's not writing, she's thinking about it.
 
She loves her fans and loves to hear from them. Email her at swaldenauthor@hotmail.com and visit her website at www.swaldenauthor.com to get up-to-date information on her current projects.
 
 
twitter username @swaldenauthor
 
 
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Giveaway!!
 
Summer is giving out a bunch of FUN stuff for the tour (all pertaining to the book).
 
Giveaways are:
 
• GRANDPRIZE includes: Signed paperback of Good, DJ Shadow’s Endtroducing… CD. the notes
that Mark and Candace wrote to one another, Amazon Gift Card and an iTunes Gift Card (since
music is a heavy theme in the novel)
 
• 2 winners will receive signed paperbacks of Good
 
GOOD Blog Tour Giveaway Code:
 
 
 
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Find Mark Connelly Book Cover Contest
 
From the author:
 
Fans, I need your help! I cannot find a picture of the perfect Mark Connelly to go on my cover of BETTER.
 
I've given up and am handing the matter over to you. Here' the deal: find me a picture of Mark and you may win a signed copy of both GOOD and BETTER. Oh yeah, and you'll be acknowledged on the
copyright page of BETTER, too!
 
The Rules:
 
1. ONE submission per person. Email me THE LINK to your perfect pic at swaldenauthor@hotmail.com 
 
2. The pic must be a stock photo with a model release (pics on sites like dreamstime.com and gotta know where to purchase it)
 
Contest will run from 9/30 – 10/21. Make sure you get your submissions in before 12 A. M. on 10/21.
 
He's out there. I know it. Now someone find him for me!
 
Note: I reserve the right to cancel this contest at any time if I stumble across the perfect pic. I don't think
that's gonna happen, though.

Forever Innocent

Forever Innocent
by: Deanna Roy
Forever Innocent
 
Blurb:
"Our baby died on prom night, and nothing was ever the same again."

Corabelle doesn’t feel like any of the other college girls. On what should have been one of the happiest nights of her life, she and her boyfriend Gavin watched a nurse disconnect the ventilator from their seven-day-old baby. During the funeral two days later, Gavin walked out and never returned.

Since then, her life has been a spiral of disasters. The only thing that has helped is her ability to black out whenever the pain gets too hard to bear, a habit that has become an addiction.

When Gavin shows up in her astronomy class four years later, he is hell-bent on getting her back, insisting she forgive him. Corabelle knows she can’t resist the touch that fills the empty ache that has haunted her since he left. But if he learns what she has done, if he follows the trail back through her past, her secrets will destroy their love completely. And once again, she’ll lose the only person who always believed she was innocent.

New Adult Contemporary Romance
 
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5 Big ol' Stars!!
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My Review:
 
Man, oh man. This book really touched a spot deep down inside. There were times when I had to stop reading just to take a little breather. I just cannot imagine the pain Corabelle went through. Ripped me in two!

I loved, loved , loved that we got both Corabelle and Gavin's POV. I needed to get inside Gavin's head and see where he was and what he was thinking. Even though they were just teenagers in love, you could tell it was deep and meaningful. Losing Finn took it's toll on both of them and it just wrenched my heart right along with them.

My favorite part in this whole book was Gavin seeing Corabelle's body and the stretch marks for the first time after she had given birth.....
“They’re beautiful.” He began kissing each pale line, hip to stomach and back down again. “It’s proof that Finn was once here.”
OMG...blubbering mess! LOVE Gavin!

This book is great! I cannot wait to read more of their story. Please, Deanna, give us more! I soooo need it!

*Copy provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.


Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Reckless Longing

Reckless Longing (Reckless #1)
by: Gina Robinson
Reckless Longing (Reckless, #1)
 
Blurb:
Ellie Martin hates her beautiful, man-crazy mother. Her mother’s wild and wanton behavior has left Ellie with a deep longing. To escape. To belong. To know who her real dad is. To really be loved. Her mother finally crosses a line that sends Ellie running, escaping to college with one, focused goal–to find and confront her bio dad, who doesn’t even know she exists. Then she meets Logan. Hot, charming, and troubled. He turns her world upside down and puts all her plans in jeopardy.

Logan Walker is hiding a shameful and painful secret. One that nearly cost him everything. When he meets the beautiful and mysterious Ellie at a Week of Welcome event, something inside him awakens and he finds himself drawn to her.

But the attraction they both feel for each other is as delicate as the web of secrets they each hide behind. And as the truths are revealed, their reckless longing may not survive the fallout.
 
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4 Ready for Book 2 Stars!!
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My Review:

So, one thing I can say about this book is that it is different. What I really loved about this book is that it kept me guessing throughout the entire book. I kept thinking, this is it. He's going to figure out why she looks familiar. Or this is it, she's gonna tell him. Really, the whole book I kept thinking that. And then, we get to the end and the results are in and .......... You ARE or ARE NOT the father? Dang it. The book ends. All that working up to it and then you left me hanging. Ugh. Oh well, other than the cliffie, I really liked the book. I am a total sucker for any book that is based on college love. Maybe it's my inability to grow up? Peter Pan-college age syndrome? Who knows?

A friend of mine wrote this and I totally agree. We need Logan's POV. We need to know what is going on his his mind and what he is doing when he is away. It would totally help up connect with Logan a little better. For whatever reason, that is where I am struggling.

I loved the idea of this book and I cannot wait to get the next book. There are so many unanswered questions that my head is spinning. Please, Gina. Put us out of our misery and get that next book out!!

*Copy provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review!


A Terrible Love

A Terrible Love (#1)
by: Marata Eros
A Terrible Love (A Terrible Love, #1)
 
Blurb:
Jess Mackey is living a meticulously fabricated lie of necessity. She's left the secret tragedy of her past behind along with who she was and is forging ahead with a clean slate. But Jess soon discovers that passion can't be left behind—neither her own, nor that of the one man who sees who she really is…and whose unexpected presence may breach the peaceful life Jess has painstakingly created for herself.

Devin Castile didn’t expect to meet a young woman who may be the missing puzzle piece to his existence…and who is also the victim of a heinous crime. Devin convinces himself that he can remain emotionally distant even while indulging his physical desire for her. But when Jess’s lies begin to crumble in the face of their undeniable attraction and the truth is revealed, one of them might pay with their life.
 
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4.5 Solid I need more Stars!!
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My Review:
Oh goodness, gracious, me alive! I really, really liked this book. This book had angst, drama, hot guy you can't stay away from no matter how hard you try, and a freaking murderer on the loose. Holy hell! This book really kept me on my toes.

Jess is hiding. Like, really seriously hiding. And she needs to be. What she witnessed as a child is enough to turn anyone insane, but Jess holds it together pretty well. One thing she is missing out on, though is dancing. She's a born dancer, through and through. However, when she dances, she stands out in the crowd and in doing so, it puts her at risk of being "found". And believe me, we don't want that to happen. Enter Carlie, the cute little friend that helps Jess find dance. Also, enter Cas. Yummaliscious! He's dark, broody, and oh so hot. Poor Jess doesn't stand a chance.

I totally wasn't expecting to love this one like I did. I am definitely a new fan of this author and can't wait to read anything else she puts out there. I recommend this one to my GR friends!

*Copy kindly provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
 


Midnight Lies

Midnight Lies (Wildefire #2)
Midnight Lies (Wildefire, #2)
 
Blurb:
The Wilde sisters of Midnight return in this thrilling novel of romantic suspense, perfect for fans of Maya Banks, Allison Brennan, and Lori Foster.

IT’S ALWAYS HOTTER AT MIDNIGHT.

The winds of fate have blown cruelly on a family that once had it all: money, power, prestige. The lives of three beautiful daughters were forever changed when, on a sultry night in Midnight, Alabama, a murder-suicide shattered the Wilde family. The girls grew up to live separate lives but now have returned home, each to face a danger no one can see coming.

Former homecoming queen Samantha surprised everyone by going into law enforcement, but beneath her tough façade lies a wary heart. The tragedy that struck her family is an ever-present reminder that nothing is ever as it seems. When the man she loves, Quinn Braddock, a doctor and Iraq war veteran, is accused of murder, Samantha assumes the worst. Brokenhearted, her confidence shattered, she returns to Midnight. Though exonerated, Quinn still feels the sting of Samantha’s doubt, but he can’t forget his feelings for her and follows her. Soon after his arrival, a shocking murder terrifies the town, and once again, Quinn is under suspicion. This time, Samantha will not turn her back on the man she loves—even if it means walking into a killer’s trap.
 
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4 - 4.5 Smoking Hot Stars!!
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My Review:
 
I did not read book 1 in the Wildefire series, but that didn't stop me from enjoying this fantastic book. In fact, I liked it so much, first chance I get, I am going to go back and read book 1. I have to be honest. From the moment I started reading Midnight Lies, I was hooked. The book starts off strong and leaves you gasping for more.

Samantha is one of the sexy Wilde sisters and a cop. She has a smexy sexy times relationship going on with doctor Quinn. All is going good until his ex turns up dead and Quinn becomes the numero uno person of interest. Samantha gets the hell out of dodge and goes back to Midnight and to her sisters, where they are busy opening up their own PI firm. That's where the best part of the story begins. Quinn comes to Midnight and works hard to get Samantha back.

I really liked all the drama and mysteriousness that unfolded. I would have never thought murder solving in a romance novel would appeal to me, but it did...and in a big way. Kudos to the author for being able to do that. I fell completely in love with Quinn and I was so frustrated at Samantha for not understanding and believing in him.

Those Wilde sisters are a hoot and I cannot wait to read more. I am hooked on this series.

*Copy kindly provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
 

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Louder than Love

Louder than Love
by: Jessica Topper
 
Louder Than Love
 
Blurb:
 
In this powerful debut novel, a young librarian grieves the loss of her husband...and discovers a love that defies classification.

It's been over three years since a train accident made a widow of Katrina Lewis, sending her and her young daughter Abbey back to the suburban town of her youth...the only place that still makes sense. Lauder Lake is the perfect place to hide and heal.

Recluse rocker Adrian "Digger" Graves survived the implosion of his music career, but his muse has long lain dormant. Until Kat hires him to play at her library—not on the basis of his hard rock credentials but rather, because of the obscure kids' TV jingle he wrote years ago. In a case of mistaken identity, Adrian stumbles into the lives of Kat and her comically lovable daughter.

Using tattoos as a timeline, Adrian unfurls his life for Kat. But as the courtship intensifies, it's unclear whose past looms larger: the widow's or the rocker's. Will their demons ever rest, or will they break these soul mates apart?
 
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4 Solid Stars!!
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My Review:
 
Okay, wow. First of all, I totally misread the blurb because this book wasn't anything like I expected it to be. You know that moment when you go to take a big sip of your drink thinking it's Coke, but get a mouthful of sweet tea, and you are just like wtf? Well, that's how I felt. I like sweet tea...like, a lot, so no harm, no foul. I just was expecting Coke.
 
So, for whatever reason, I expected a rock book. You know, typical rock book. All manwhore rock guy with groupies everywhere and poor, helpless heroine trying to steer clear, but making stupid decisions anyway. That is soooo not what this book is. Honestly, this book was a breath of fresh air. It was emotional. It was deep. It was charming. It was mature! It took me a little while to get into it, but once I did I was hooked. I loved Katrina and Abbey. Both were beautiful and some moments took my breath away. There is just something about a book based on a widow and her child that sucks me in and grabs ahold of my heart. It took a little while for me to like Adrian, but I fell in love with him. His flaws, his reclusiveness, his booze, the whole kitten caboodle. His tenderness with Abbey, oh man. To die for.
 
This book was refreshing and different and for that, I say hats off to you Jessica. It was beautifully written and just so....real and tender. You made me a believer in second chances, that's for sure!
 
*Copy kindly provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.


Unravel Teaser

Unravel
Coming Soon 2013
Synopsis:

Four months ago, I was happy. I was simply Naomi Carradine.

Two months ago, I was admitted into a psych ward.

Yesterday, Lachlan Halstead visited me. Kissed me. And told me that I’m starting to lose my mind.

Hours later, Alexander Cole haunted my thoughts, reminding me I’m not crazy and that he needs my help.

A few minutes ago, I drifted further from reality, trying to unravel the past.

And now… everyone thinks I’m insane. But, I know he’s real, and I know he needs me.

Do you believe me?

TEASER!!
 
Read the first chapter below:
ONE
Present

Darkness seems to find you, even if you’re not looking for it.

When it does, it pulls you under until your whole life hazy and unclear. Everything that was once your security—your family, friends, and goals—becomes a false illusion.

My life has been shrouded by the truth. Instantly, I stopped existing and quickly became sucked into a black abyss with no way out.

Who really knows how long I’ve been here? My little room with its white walls and carpeted floors. Maybe a few days, or maybe a few months? I’ve discovered that time stops here and the world exists around your meds. I take my medication religiously because I want silence from the memories that torture my mind.

My fingers tap against the windowpane over and over, creating its own tune. I watch the fly, a few inches in front of me, frantically moving across the window, trying to find a way out into the sunlight.

“I’ve already tried, dummy,” I say dully. “They have these windows dead bolted.”

The fly stops moving, like it can hear me, before it practically flings itself at the window. Sooner or later, it’s going to find a way out. I feel jealousy surge through my body. I want to slam my palm against this insect, killing any chances of it escaping.

This is what my life has been stripped down to. I’m jealous of a fucking fly.

Months ago, I would have laughed at the idea of me being here, stuck in a psychiatric hospital.

Involuntary commitment was how they admitted me. The choice was never mine. They think I’m a risk to myself and the people around me. I think they’re not listening to me. If they would, they would see the truth. They would know I’m not lying.

Loudly, someone knocks on my door.

One, two, three…

Three is the magic number for my nurse. It’s like those few seconds will give her time to brace herself for whatever will be on the other side of the door.

Mary peeks her head into the room before she opens the door wider. She stands in the doorway and looks me up and down. “Naomi, you have a visitor.”

I take in her short brown hair and her colorful scrubs. That’ll probably be the only color I see all day.

I feel hopeless. Nearly every second of the day. But the nurse’s words make me sit up straighter. My heart instantly starts to race. Only two people consistently visit me: my mom and Lachlan.

Calmly, I stand up. Before I walk over to Mary, I look back at the window. The fly’s gone.

“Lucky,” I mumble under my breath.

Mary gives me a look as I walk past her. We walk down the sterile hallway, toward the rec room. She doesn’t offer conversation. In fact, she looks as miserable as me.

“Don’t look so depressed, Mary,” I say with a smirk. She looks at me with her signature solemn face. I continue speaking with the same dark smile on my face. “You have access to all the good drugs. You could be as high as a kite.”

Kind of like me at night.

Typical. She doesn’t respond, just guides me forward with a firm shove. A doctor and nurse walk by, murmuring quietly to each other. They don’t acknowledge me but they say hi to Mary.

That’s the thing with this staff. They treat the patients like animals at a zoo. We’re a species that make no sense to them. They use the nurturing tactic at the beginning. Their questions are asked with calm, kind voices. And when that doesn’t work, they switch to shoving pills down your throat.

I don’t fight them. But I know of people that do. I hear them screaming at night. The nurses run down the hallway and a few seconds later those screams will turn into moans before they stop all together. It used to scare me. Those screams used to send a chill down my spine. They would echo in my ears hours after they were gone.

Now I’m used to it.

We walk into the open rec room. It’s bright in here. The blinds are open, letting in the light. Tables are spread throughout the room. A few people are sitting down. No one spares me a glance. No one really cares.

Two things happen when you’re here: you’re either petrified, or you’ve given up and stopped feeling altogether.

If it weren’t for Lachlan, I would stop feeling.

The corners of my mouth lift at the sight of him. He’s sitting at a table next to the windows, his face turned toward the window. His tanned hand reaches up and loosens his dark blue silk tie. His dark blonde hair is still cut short with a few strands brushing his forehead. His thick brows are slanted low, as his dark brown eyes scan the outdoors.

If I blink, he’s just a boy. With glasses and a small frame. My best friend. When I open my eyes that image disappears, and in front of me is a man. Glasses are gone; his body has filled out. I gave him a piece of my heart as a kid, and now, at twenty, I’ve given him my entire soul.

Either way, he’s always been an extension of me. But you can’t be that close to someone and expect your pain not to spread. I know that my sadness is his sadness.

Swallowing, I look in the same direction and notice he’s staring at a naked tree closest to the window. The same tree I always look at. I’ve watched the branches become stripped of leaves and bow to the cold wind. But for the last week, I’ve watched the frozen water drop on one of the lower branches. It hangs there, looking ready to fall at any second.

The weak branch sways in the air, but the water drop never falls, and I think that if it can hang on, then I can hang on to the small bit of sanity I have left.

Walking quietly to the table, I pull out the chair across from Lachlan. His head snaps toward me. His eyes soften as he looks at me. He still treats me like a person, someone with a soul. He never looks at me as something that needs to be fixed.

“How are you?” Lachlan asks quietly.

Placing my feet on the edge of the seat, I rest my chin on my knees, refusing to look away from his dark brown eyes. It’s only been two days since he last visited me. But the time between those visits seems to stretch further and further apart. “I’m the same as two days ago.”

“Your mom said you’re on new medicine?”

Am I? That’s news to me. At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter what I take as long as it makes me forget.

“I think so,” I tell him.

Lachlan stares at me levelly. His brown eyes are sharp. They miss nothing. “You’re talking…some. That has to help.”

It should help, but it makes everything worse. I look out the window, away from his gaze.

An exhausted sigh escapes him. Lachlan drags his hands through his hair before he rubs his eyes. “I miss you, Naomi.”

“I miss you too,” I whisper.

“You know you don’t belong here, right?”

I nod. “I know.”

“Then you need to try and get better.” His eyes drift over the people in the room. “It fucking kills me to leave you here,” he admits gruffly.

Swallowing past the lump in my throat, I nod and extend my hand, placing it on top of Lach’s. His eyes become hooded as he looks at my small, pale hand placed over his own. He turns his hand over and his fingers caress my wrist, making my skin burn. With his palm face up, he swallows my hand within his own. “You love me?” he asks quietly.

I look Lachlan in the eyes as I answer. “I do,” my voice cracks.

Lachlan nods his head. There should be hope in my words, but he just looks deflated. “If you love me, then you need to get better.”

It’s so easy to tell someone else what they should do. What Lachlan doesn’t know is that I’m trying so hard to get better. He doesn’t know that I spend every night recanting every memory that I have. Just to prove that none of it was a dream.

“I’m trying,” I insist.

Lachlan’s grip tightens on my hand. “No, you’re not,” he responds firmly.

“I can’t ignore everything that’s happened!” Lachlan’s lips go into a firm line. He looks out the window as he talks. “When it takes over your life like this, maybe it’s best to let it all go and move on.”

“You-“

“You need to move forward,” Lachlan interrupts. “Everything you think you think you saw…maybe it never happened.”

“That’s low,” I whisper darkly. “I expect everyone else to say that, but not you.”

He drags his free hand over his face and looks down at our intertwined hands. “This is destroying you,” he murmurs. “The Naomi I know would have never just given up so quickly. She would have fought to stay in the present.”

Lachlan’s right. I clutch my hair tightly and pull until my scalp tingles. “He needs my help, Lach,” I moan.

The two of us know who ‘he’ is. Lachlan ignores him. I can’t.

Alexander Cole is as much in my life as Lachlan but for completely different reasons. Rubbing the bridge of his nose, Lachlan looks down at the table. “Where does it stop Naomi? You’re at rock bottom,” he grits out. “I want you to get better.”

“I will,” I insist. “I just need more time and”

Suddenly, Lachlan leans forward with an intense look on his face. “You know why you’re here?” he demands. I stay silent and he continues, his voice louder, demanding to be heard. “You tried to kill yourself.”

I flinch because truth or not, I can’t go up against Lachlan’s words. He’s going to come out as the sane one. His words will make sense before mine ever will.

Leaning closer, I say my words quickly. “I didn’t try to kill myself,” I say darkly. “You know I wouldn’t do that.”

Lachlan places his elbows on the table and mimics my actions. “I used to believe that. But things have changed. Stop living in your mind, Naomi. Be present,” he pauses and lowers his voice to an aching whisper, “with me.”

My heart thunders in my ears and I know Lachlan can feel the pounding of my pulse. Slowly, I shake my head back and forth. That’s the closest I can come to an answer.

It’s not good enough for Lachlan. I know he wants me to promise that I’ll never mention Alexander. That I’ll give in and admit that everyone might be right.

His free hand wraps around the back of my neck and yanks me close. That one small action makes me feel like myself again.

There’s a two second pause where he looks me in the eye. A pause that makes my stomach twist and my blood roar through my veins. He wants to say more, but nothing comes out of his mouth. With a curse he kisses me hard on the mouth.

Instantly, it wakes me up. And that’s what a good kiss should do. It should make you come alive. It speaks to you the minute your lips connect. You don’t think. You react. For Lachlan and I, it’s always been this way. All I can hear from this kiss is, ‘Remember me. I’m real.’

I respond back the only way I know how, the way Lachlan showed me. His hands hold my face in place. The pressure of his lips decreases when I move my mouth against his. He makes a noise and grips my face tighter. It triggers who I used to be. The memories start to play out and I squeeze my eyes tight.

Every memory has Lachlan. And in each one, I’m smiling. I’m happy.

For a small moment, I feel at peace. Lachlan’s tongue slips in between my lips. A shudder goes through me as I open my mouth wider. My fingers move up his arms, toward his neck and before we can go further, someone clears their throat next to us.

Lachlan pulls away first, but his brown eyes stay rooted on my face. His lips are swollen from our kiss and I’m sure mine are the same. I lick my lips, trying to get a piece of that kiss back. Mary clears her throat louder this time. Reluctantly, I look up at her scowling face, feeling Lachlan’s eyes on me the whole time.

With her arms crossed, she glares at Lachlan. “Mr. Halstead, I think it’s time for you to leave,” she says firmly.

Slowly, he removes his hand from the back of my neck. My skin instantly feels cold. Limply, my arms fall to the table as I watch Lachlan stand up. He looks at Mary, saying nothing, but making his request obvious. She walks away, but it’ll only be for a few minutes.

Bending down, his brown eyes are only inches away from me. “I can’t keep doing this,” he whispers in a pained voice.

“I need you to visit me. It’s the only thing keeping me going,” I admit hoarsely. Lachlan frowns down at the table. My fingers reach out and I grip the collar of his shirt, forcing him to look directly at me. At this point, I’m desperate. I know I’m losing him. “Do you think I’m lying?” I ask.

A tense silence wraps around us. He looks at me through his eyelashes, his expression grim. One by one his fingers wrap around my wrists. Firmly, he pulls my fingers off his shirt. “I think you need help,” he says slowly.

Imagine having one good thing. Something that kept you sane when everything around you is completely messed up. Imagine having that something good ripped out of your life with only five simple words.

I think you need help.

I rub my eyes with my palms, moving my head back and forth in denial because if Lachlan stops coming I’m afraid of what will happen. My sanity is being held by a threadbare string. I’ll break before that frozen water drop ever does.

Feeling his hand on my shoulder makes me shake. He squeezes once. I keep my hands from reaching out and keeping him next to me.

His hand drifts away, and he’s gone.

I watch him for only a few seconds before my world starts to tilt. His retreating figure becomes hazy and the rec room shrinks into a bedroom. The lights morph into a dim glow. And the walls change colors. I squeeze my eyes shut and rub the back of my palms against my eyelids. There’s no reason to open my eyes. I know what I saw seconds before will be the new setting of the room.

This is how it always starts out.

My pounding heart starts to slow and the vision in my head starts to clear instantly.

Suddenly, I’m facing a mirror, staring at my reflection. I don’t look the same. I look refreshed, happy, and even beautiful. My blonde hair is styled in finger waves, one side pulled up with a golden barrette. My cheeks have color and my eyes have life in them. I’m back to being Naomi.

My body is covered with a gold dress that skims the floor. The silk material clings to my curves.

Turning to the side, I see my entire back is exposed. Quickly, my attention goes from the dress, to the male sitting in the corner of the room. My lips curve up and my blood instantly goes hot, as I watch this beautiful man through the mirror. He rests his ankle against his opposite knee. His expression is casual and the dimple on his right cheek makes him seem boyish. But his full lips curve up into a masculine smile that is anything but boyish.

He stands to his full height and I watch as he slides his black blazer over his wide shoulders, covering up his white shirt and black suspenders. His black bow tie is undone and hang around his neck like a black ribbon.

His light brown hair is longer than it should be, stopping around his jaw. It’s unruly and looks like someone’s hands have been through it. But he doesn’t care. That’s the thing with Alexander. He brushes past every single rule and goes his own route.

Adjusting the collar of his jacket, he walks up behind me. His entire body surrounds me, easily swallowing me up. The top of my head reaches his strong jawline. My hands are laced in front of me, but it’s only to hide my shaking.

This is my only way of seeing Alexander Cole. I take this moment like a lifeline and I hold on for as long as I can.

It never lasts long. But each time I see him, I become convinced that it will be different, that he won’t disappear on me.

I take in his strong jaw that travels up to sharp cheekbones. His skin is free of stubble and tan from the sun. It makes his hazel eyes even brighter. He steps closer and his fingertips brush against the bare skin of my back. I shiver.

“Beautiful,” he murmurs in his slow Southern drawl.

I smile at Alexander and he lifts a brow in return and gives me a lazy smile.

Pulling my hair to the side, he wraps both of his hands around my arms, encouraging me to lean against him. I go willingly and when my back feels his strong body, I practically sigh. He stares at me through the mirror and slowly leans down to kiss me on the shoulder. His teeth graze my skin. I make a noise and tilt my head further to the side.

He asks the same question Lachlan asked moments ago. “Do you love me, Naomi?” he asks gruffly.

My body still reacts at the way he says my name. I can barely swallow, so I give him a blunt nod as he moves in closer and breathes me in.

I do love him. In the most twisted, impossible way. Alexander smirks at me in the mirror, like he knows what I’m thinking. His hand moves from my neck and drifts lower. I watch as his large, tanned hand stops where my heart beats. His palm lays flat against my skin and his fingers spread.

His eyes go half-mast as he watches my reaction in the mirror. The tip of his nose brushes against my cheek. My hands go into fists, and I watch in fascination as he kisses the curve of my cheekbone.

“If you love me then don’t give up,” he says deeply.

“I promise I won’t,” I say out loud.

I know what’s next. And I’m desperate for this time to be different. So I lean even further into him and smell his scent. For me, someone that’s stuck in this place with its sterile walls and musty scent, it’s refreshing. It might be better than anything.

The scent wraps around me before it disappears. Just like that, he’s already fading. I whimper and lean into him forcefully.

He’s gone and I’m falling.

My shoulder blades hit the back of my chair. I jump in pain and shock. Rapidly, my heart pounds in my ribcage, and I take deep, shallow breaths, trying to calm my heart.

“Naomi, are you okay?”

Someone touches my shoulder. I flinch and look up, finding Mary staring down at me. How long has she been standing there?

Her face is etched with concern as she waits for me to answer. I swallow loudly and shake my head. Painfully, my fingers dig into my thighs while my body shakes with pent-up frustration.

“It’s time for your medicine.”

I stand up and give Mary a blunt nod before I follow her back to my room.

My body is running on adrenaline from everything I just felt, and a sweat breaks out across my forehead because those memories were mine.

I know I’m not making Alexander up. I know I’m not imagining anything. And what scares the hell out of me is that all those facts change nothing.

The only fact that really matters is that everyone thinks I’m crazy. And now, the one person that has consistently been there for me is losing hope.

Tonight, I would rather take the drugs than think about what is stacked against me.

Tomorrow, I’ll accept that in order to unravel my story, I’ll have to be destroyed in the process. Just like that frozen water drop outside, it’s inevitable that I break.

Going, going…gone.
Add it to your TBR pile on Goodreads:


Sunday, September 15, 2013

Always on My Mind

Always on My Mind (Lucky Harbor #8)
by: Jill Shalvis
Always On My Mind (Lucky Harbor, #8)
 
Blurb:
 
THERE'S NOTHING LIKE THE REAL THING

After dropping out of pastry school and messing up her big break on a reality cooking show, Leah Sullivan needs to accomplish something in her life. But when she returns home to Lucky Harbor, she finds herself distracted by her best friend, Jack Harper. In an effort to cheer up Jack's ailing mother, Dee, Leah tells a little fib - that she and Jack are more than just friends. Soon pretending to be hot-and-heavy with this hunky firefighter feels too real to handle . .

No-strings attachments suit Jack just fine - perfect for keeping the risk of heartbreak away. But as Jack and Leah break every one of their "just friends" rules, he longs to turn their pretend relationship into something permanent. Do best friends know too much about each other to risk falling in love? Or will Jack and Leah discover something new about each other in a little town called Lucky Harbor?
 
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4 to 4.5 Lucky Harbor Stars!!
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My Review:
Book to be released on Sept. 24th!! Preorder yours today!
http://www.amazon.com/Always-Mind-Lucky-Harbor-Novel/dp/1455521108/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1379261055&sr=8-1&keywords=jill+shalvis

I absolutely adored this book. It's nice when you read a book and you fall in love with all the characters and feel their emotions. I loved Leah from the start. I had read others in this series and couldn't wait to get her and Jack's story. I was not disappointed! I loved watching them realize they were "it" for each other. I loved Elsie and Dee and their own little side stories going on. I was floored when we found out about a certain fireman and his criminal tendencies. Wow, didn't see that coming! Great read. Loved every minute. Can not wait for Aubrey and Ben's book now!!

Reading a Jill Shalvis book is like enjoying a warm cup of cocoa on a cold winter's day while sitting in front of the fireplace. It warm and comforting and there is nothing you'd rather be doing. Corny, huh :)

*Copy kindley provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.


Friday, September 13, 2013


 
Summer Walden, author of the controversial and phenomenal novel, Good, is having a 3000 likes giveaway!!

 
 
Click Below to Sign up!
 
 
Excerpt from Better can be found right here:
 

Love's Second Chance

Love's Second Chance
by: L.P. Dover
 
Love's Second Chance (Second Chances, #1)
 
Blurb:
 
Korinne Anders had it all. She had the perfect job, the perfect house, and the perfect husband. When tragedy strikes, her world takes a devastating turn. Six months after losing her husband to a car accident, Korinne vows it to herself never to love again. If she doesn’t allow another man in her heart, then there’s no reason for her to feel the pain of loss. This plan seems to work, but is put to the test when Korinne’s best friend can’t stand to see her suffering any longer.

Korinne’s long-time friend, Jenna Perry, has an idea and it involves helping her friend find the spark of life in her soul no matter what it takes. Korinne didn’t know that Jenna’s plan meant bringing back a past love, a second chance with the man that Korinne had to leave in college, but always kept a place for in her heart.

When Galen Matthews learns of Korinne’s loss and that she’s finally moved back home, he wants nothing more than to be there for her. The love he felt for Korinne years ago has never left him, and now he’s given a second chance to not only mend her heart of her loss, but to also continue the love they shared in the past. Will his love and determination make her strong enough to give fate a second chance, or will her fear of losing another love make her run away?

What will Korinne do when she’s faced with a love so powerful that no matter what she does there’s nowhere to run from it?
 
**************************************
4 Second Chance at Love and Life Stars!
*********************
 
My Review:

This book was beautiful. Right off the bat, I fell in love with Korinne. This is the story of her finding herself and true love after the death of her husband, the love of her life. Early on, we realize that her first husband was amazing. He was loving, kind, brilliant, and just a great husband. I am so happy that he was portrayed that way and we find out he has no skeletons in his closet.

Korinne is devastated. She's lost and sad and doesn't want anything to do with love again. Little does she know, her sneaky little friend, Jenna, is matchmaking behind her back. She manages to bring Korinne back to her past love. Enter Galen. Galen is beautiful. I fell head over arse for Galen. He is patient and still in love with Korinne. For him, she is the one that got away. So, can he convince her to give love another try?

Guess you need to buy the book to find out because I am not giving anything else away. I teared up, I laughed, I held my breath, I screamed NO NO NO. This book had me all over the place.

*Copy kindly provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.


Take Me

Take Me (Take a Chance #4)
by: Diane Alberts
 
Take Me (Take a Chance #4)
 
Blurb:
Married in the morning…

Professional heartbreaker Mike Worth thrived on the chase—and dancer Morgan Collins represented the ultimate prize. But there was no way he was going to throw away his single-man status…not even for an elusive redhead with sparkling eyes and mile-long legs. So how did he let one drunken Vegas night end with I do instead of hell no?

Morgan’s life revolved around her career and she had no intention of letting a man interfere—even if Mike made her question all her rules about love. At his urging, she reluctantly agreed to give their spur-of–moment marriage a chance. But once their trial-honeymoon ended, would she choose to follow the dance and leave her unforgettable husband behind?
 
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4 - 4.5 I love me some Mike stars!!
***************************
 
My Review:
 
Wow. Diane Alberts does it again. I swear I will read anything she writes. She can rewrite the constitution and I will be standing in line begging for an ARC!
 
This series is quickly becoming one of my favorite series. After reading Play Me and falling in love with Kiersten and Garrett, I knew this author was on to something. I was so very intrigued by Kiersten's bound to never settle down brother, Mike. I seem to always have a thing for the guy who thinks he can't be tamed.
 
Well, ladies! This is Mike's story. It it hot and juicy and funny as hell! I have got me a ginormous girl crush on a one Miss Morgan Collins. She is a spitfire. She knows what she wants in life and won't settle for any less. Her dreams are of becoming a dancer and she will let nothing, not even the love of her life get in the way. I have to say I fully admire her. I love her banter with Mike and how she puts up with nothing from him. She grabbed ahold of that commitment-phobe man and gave him a run for his money. But, it all changes when they can't remember what happened last night. You know what they say about Vegas? Well, it happened there and it stayed there because the book is set there. I love it!
 
I cannot wait for more from this author. She is brilliant! This series is great!! SInce each book focuses on a different couple, these can be standalone. I suggest starting from book 1 though, just so you are more connected to the supporting cast. You know what I mean ;).
 
*Copy kindly provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Sunday, September 8, 2013

Buried Secrets

Buried Secrets
by: Emme Rollins
Buried Secrets
Blurb:
Should some secrets remain buried?

Dusty has always been a hothead, far more impulsive than her twin, Nick, the calm, cool and collected one of the pair. But Nick is dead, found murdered in their local cemetery, and Dusty simply can’t rest until she finds out who–or what–has killed her brother.

Sure the local authorities aren’t being straight with her–or anyone else–about what’s been going on in their little upper Michigan town, Dusty delays going off to college for a semester, defying her father and stepmother and taking a job in the local bar to start doing some digging.

Her focus soon fixes on Shane, her brother’s best friend and the town bad boy. The tension and rivalry between Dusty and Shane has always been palpable and sparks fly as the two collide. Dusty finds herself sinking in deeper with Shane and the mystery of what happened to her brother–and a lengthening list of victims–grows even stranger.

When everything comes to a head, Dusty focuses on one thing: What happened the night her brother was killed in the cemetery? She’s sure Shane is keeping a secret and she’s determined to find out what it is, one way or another.
 
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
3.5 Chew my fingernails Stars!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++
My review:
 
I give this one 3.5 stars. The first half of the book was 3 stars and the second half was 4. I hate to say it, but I never connected to any of the characters. Wait, I take it back. I connected to Nick, who unfortunately was dead when the book started. You have to read it to understand my logic there. I connected to Sam, who, well wow, don't want to spoil anything there.

I liked Dusty and I totally get her wanting to avenge her brother. Shane, hmm, not sure how I feel about him. I honestly spent the majority of the book confused. I couldn't figure out what was going on and honestly, I found myself skipping pages at a time to get to the dialogue where I could try to make some sense.

To say I was shocked the closer the book got to the end was an understatement. The closer to the end the book got, the better it got. It all started coming to a peak and things started moving fast, and I didn't skip a single word. I was gnawing on my finger nails and cringing. Hell, I think I had one eye closed and the other one squinting trying to read when they were in the mausoleum. Finding out Nick's secret, well that put everything in alignment. Why he didn't want her hanging out with them? Check. Why he didn't want her with Shane? check. Who he was with? check.

Then, the ending. Well hell. I didn't see that coming. Ugh, I am officially creeped out. What was that?

Good read overall. Reminded me of Jeepers Creepers or some of those other creepy movies I have a love/hate relationship with.

Eat Play Lust

Eat Play Lust
by: Tawna Fenske
Eat Play Lust
Blurb:
Cami Pressman is a yoga instructor with a lifelong secret love of junk food. Not even an irresistible man can replace the mouthwatering wickedness of her favorite foods.

Until, that is, Paul Hammond signs up for her class. He’s a gourmet chef looking to score some fitness tips, and a date with Cami. Suddenly Cami’s lust for junk food isn’t the only thing making her tingle.

When this sinful chef and hot yoga teacher eat, play, and lust together, they just might bring their obsession to a new level
 
 
*********************************************************
3.5 I am so hungry now Stars!!
***************************************************
My Review:
 
This one was cute, sexy, and laugh out loud funny. I think my stomach grumbled just about the entire time I was reading this book. I want some tater tots and gourmet junk food so bad I can't hardly stand it.
 
I read it in one setting and I think I had a perma smile the entire time! I was in stitches over Cami trying to keep Paul from finding out about the tater tots!
 
*copy provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Maverick

Maverick
by: Anna Cruise
Maverick
 
Blurb:
 
Kellen Handler is in deep.

Ever since he can remember, he’s wanted to be a professional surfer. And he made it, rising to the top of the ranks, traveling the world and riding every break he’s ever dreamed of. His good looks and reputation for living on the edge—both in and out of the water—have made him an international superstar. But when his best friend dies in a tragic accident, Kellen wipes out big time, spiraling so badly that everything he’s worked for starts to disintegrate.

Tour officials scramble to do damage control and demand he work with a public relations company to clean up his bad boy image. It doesn't help that the person assigned to him, Gina Bellori, has her own demons associated with the surfing world.

Against her better judgement Gina accepts the job and concentrates on repairing Kellen's tattered reputation, despite his protests and despite the pain it causes her. With her past colliding with her present—and Kellen in the thick of it—she begins to realize that some secrets can't stay hidden.

And suddenly, Kellen Handler is no longer worried about losing his career.

He's more worried about losing his heart.
 
********************************************
4 I love me some hot surfer stars!!
*******************************
Wow, okay. I think this was my first surfer boy book and I think I might be in lurve. Kellen was hot, hot, hot and broody to boot. Gina had her hands full with this one, but she knew how to give it back. I absolutely loved her. I love how she believed in Kellen and had so much patience, even when Kellen couldn't believe in himself.
 
One of my favorite things about this book is the alternating POV. I love, love, love when an author provides us with both. It allows the reader to really feel and connect with the characters.
 
Great read!!
 
*Copy provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
 

Sunday, September 1, 2013

For Everly

For Everly
By: Raine Thomas
For Everly
 
Blurb:
 
Determined to overcome a dark and tragic past, college student Everly Wallace is only months away from earning her degree in physical therapy. She’s consumed with school, caring for her ailing grandfather, and figuring out how to pay the next bill. The last thing she wants is a relationship, but it just might be the one thing she needs.

Major League pitcher Cole Parker hasn’t fought for anything in his life. He went from a privileged upbringing to a multimillion dollar All-Star career. But when his pitching shoulder starts to give him trouble at only twenty-four years old, he faces the possibility of his injury becoming public knowledge and costing him everything.

In a desperate bid to save his career, Cole decides to hire someone to treat his injury, someone who will keep things off the record and out of the media. He finds the perfect solution in Everly. As mysterious as she is beautiful, she provides an enticing distraction from his pain. Soon, physical therapy is the last thing on his mind.

When an act of betrayal brings the truths they both fear to light, Cole will have to fight for the first time in his life…not just for his career, but for Everly’s love.
ebook, 304 pages
Published May 27th 2013 by Iambe Books, LLC
 
****************************************
4.5 I love me some baseball men STARS!!!
**********************************
 
My Review:
 
4.5 stars!! I honestly loved this book! I fell right in love with Everly from the start. She is sweet, smart, and totally likeable. She is working as a waitress while she works on her Physical Therapy degree. He mentor and friend's brother, THE Cole Parker has an injury and needs some PT. At the suggestion of his brother, though after meeting her it didn't take much convincing, he agrees to let Everly work on him. And let's just say she works on more than his pitching arm. Because of the drafts, no one can find out he is being treated.  Everly keeps the secret only telling her grandfather, who she adores and takes care of. Her real father is a douche nugget and comes in and tries to destroy everything.
 
This book has angst, drama, love, smexy times, fighting, and everything I love and adore in a good book. I don't want to give too much away and spoil the book, but I highly suggest it if you are looking for a great romance novel.
 
Can't wait for more from this author!!
 
+Copy provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.


Say When

Say When
by: Tara West
Say When (Something More #1)
 
Blurb:
He told me to say when, but I can’t. Not with Andrés. It’s so hard to say anything when he’s trailing feather soft kisses down my neck, or when his touch sends hot currents of lust rippling across my skin.

Then there’s the way he smiles and offers soft words of encouragement when I’m creating art, almost like he believes I have talent.

He’s not like any guy I’ve ever met. Not like my ex-fiancée. Not like my father. He’s got me thinking that maybe we can have something more. More than just lust, degradation, and abuse.

And now I’m scared, because that means I’ll have to trust him with more than just my body, but with my heart, too.

**********************************************
3 Just OK Stars!
*************************************
My review:
Okay, I will be honest. I struggled with this book. It took me a looooong time to get into it. I was so annoyed with Christina and her fart breath ex references. I almost did a DNF on this book when she started talking so much smack about her BFF. I had a whole lot of wtf moments with that.

I am glad I stuck with this book though because I really like Andres. He made the book for me. Also, I could not believe what we found out at the end involving the BFF and her son. OMG. That made me want to punch her. Hmm, so I guess all those comments were justified, huh.

It was quick, cute, and interesting after the first half. 3 to 3.5 stars.
 
+Copy provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.




Going Under

Going Under
by: S. Walden
Going Under
 
Blurb:
Brooke Wright has only two goals her senior year at Charity Run High School: stay out of trouble and learn to forgive herself for the past. Forgiveness proves elusive, and trouble finds her anyway when she discovers a secret club at school connected to the death of her best friend. She learns that swim team members participate in a “Fantasy Slut League,” scoring points for their sexual acts with unsuspecting girls.

Brooke, wracked with guilt over her friend’s death, decides to infiltrate the league by becoming one of the “unsuspecting girls,” and exact revenge on the boys who stole away her best friend. An unexpected romance complicates her plans, and her dogged pursuit of justice turns her reckless as she underestimates just how far the boys will go to keep their sex club a secret.

(This is a New Adult fiction book with mature themes. It contains graphic sex and language and a description of sexual violence.)
 
Paperback, 344 pages
Published March 14th 2013 by Penny Press
 
*************************************************
5 This Author knows how to skirt the edge of controversial Stars!
*****************************************************
 
My Review:
Holy Shit. Let me repeat. HOLY SHIT! This book stole my breath away. First of all, this author knows exactly how to write a book that is unique and so non cookie cutter, it isn't even funny.
 
And while we are on that, there isn't much about this book that is funny. Well, except maybe Ryan and Brooke playing video games. Umm, can we say yum.
 
Anyhoo, the topic of this book is one that is deep. There is rape involved. No easy way to say it. Brooke learns of this "Fantasy Slut League" that the swim team is involved in and she is determined to avenge her BFF who commited suicide. She is on a mission to get all the details and find out who is commiting the crimes. She gets a little too close and bad things start happening. Gonna stop there, no spoilers from me.
 
I started out despising Brooke. My first thought was how in the heck am I going to continue to read this book when I hate her for going behing her BFF's back and sleeping with her man. The more I read, the more I tolerated her, but I don't think I ever really loved her. However, even with not liking Brooke that much, she didn't deserve anything that happened to her and I still loved the book. I loved that it was original and I loved that there was so much going on to keep you on your toes. I did love Ryan. He was great. My only wish is that these were college aged kids, instead of high school.
 
I would probably say if you are a victim of a crime against you, such as rape, I wouldn't recommend reading this book. Also, it's not for the faint of heart. Just figured I should warn you.