Danger & Lies in THE HIDDEN LIBRARY–Review and Giveaway

THL Tour BannerHi there! Today I’m sharing in the blog tour for THE HIDDEN LIBRARY. This is the second book in the The Collectors series and it’s an action/lovin’-packed adventure of the literary kind.

HLyons_THL_eBook02_450x675About the book:

Sometimes, the rabbit hole is deeper than expected . . .

Alice Reeve and Finn Van Brunt have tumbled into a life of secrets. Some secrets they share, such as their employment by the clandestine organization known as The Collectors’ Society. Other secrets they carry within them, fighting to keep buried the things that could change everything they think they know.

On the hunt for an elusive villain who is hell-bent on destroying legacies, Alice, Finn, and the rest of the Society are desperate to unravel the mysteries surrounding them. But the farther they spiral down this rabbit hole, the deeper they fall into secrets that will test their loyalties and pit them against enemies both new and old.

Secrets, they come to find, can reveal the deadliest of truths.

A few words from Heather:

I had the chance to ask Heather a few questions about creating THE HIDDEN LIBRARY….

You are a huge audiophile. What sort of music did you listen to while working on THE HIDDEN LIBRARY?

I listened to a lot of Bleachers, Nico Stai, and Taylor Swift (mainly off her new album). I love music!

The COLLECTORS’ Series is based on updated fairy tales. How are fairy tales relevant for today’s YA/adult readers?

I think a lot of readers nowadays only know fairy tales from movies and/or tv. Their ideas of the stories are more Disney-esque than anything, because even adapted versions of the stories in children’s books nowadays are watered down to match these changes. The source materials are not like that, though. They’re pretty dark and often have messages in them. What I like about fairy tales is that there’s always a sliver of hope in them. The stories have stuck with societies for generations because of that.

Authors always say that books are semi-autobiographical…. In that sense, which is the character in The Hidden Library with whom you most identify?

I think there will always be parts of an author hidden away in their characters. A silly example, is how Alice loves to wear dresses. I wear mostly dresses—and yet, it also fit her character because of the Timeline she came from, too. That said, I identify with both Alice and Finn simply because they’ve been in my head while writing . . . but their experiences and mine are quite different!

Hidden Library Teaser1

My Review:

I truly didn’t know what I was getting into reading this book, but, what I found, was a lush world of literary romance in today’s world.

See, in this world, the characters are from books, and they work to save books. Alice, from Wonderland? She is all grown up and a warrior Queen, willing to take on a maniacal murderer. Huck Finn? Victor von Frankenstein? They got adopted by Brom and Katrina van Brunt (from the Legend of Sleepy Hollow) and raised in today’s NYC. Finn and Victor are top operatives in the Collectors’ Society. Finn and Alice are, in fact, a couple (expect some nice bam-chicka-wow-wow!).

Their current mission is to hunt down a rogue editor, believed to be Sweeney Todd, who has been collecting legacies–bits of ephemera that contain the ‘soul’ of a book–and destroying them. This, in turn, destroys the Timelines of every character in the book. It is akin to literary genocide, and was responsible for Katrina van Brunt’s untimely death.

Along the hunt, Finn and Alice have to enter Finn’s Timeline, the world of Huck Finn, to pay respects to The Widow who is dying–and deal justice to Tom Sawyer, who caused Jim to die. It’s a HUGE kerfuffle.

Don’t think Wonderland is sitting on the sidelines. The Queen of Hearts has a diabolical plot to kill Alice, despite her absence into the “real world”. Alice had to leave in order to save her subjects, which meant abandoning her first love, the White King. Now, Finn has to seek his assistance in saving the queen of his world.

And, what the heck is happening with Peter Pan?  The man who seems to be pulling all the strings is clearly a double-talker. And his house is an homage to the written word…or is it? His hidden library seems to be the key, if only Finn and Alice could find the door.

Here’s the thing: I loved this book’s pace and story. I found it thrilling and creative. Finn and Alice have to search their souls over, and over. And over. There’s this part of writing that says authors have to torture their characters to give them depth–well these characters are practically water-boarded. The result? They leap off the page.

With the climax coming so close to the end, I was terrified we would be left with a horrifying cliffhanger. As it stands the cliffhanger is not-quite-barbaric to the reader, but…it’s certainly uncomfortable. Looking forward to the next book!

Interested? You can find THE HIDDEN LIBRARY on Goodreads, Amazon (US or UK), B&N, Kobo, and iBooks.

****GIVEAWAY****

Click the Rafflecopter link below for your chance to win signed paperbacks and a $10 GC!
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Good luck and keep reading my friends!

Heather LyonsAbout the author:
Heather Lyons writes epic, heartfelt love stories and has always had a thing for words. In addition to writing, she’s also been an archaeologist and a teacher. She and her husband and children live in sunny Southern California and are currently working their way through every cupcakery she can find.

Catch Heather on her website, Goodreads, twitter and Facebook.

Inkslinger

Sometimes Love Leaves You SHAKEN–Review and Giveaway

Shaken BT BannerHi there! Today I’m sharing a review for a contemporary New Adult romance form Alyne Roberts. SHAKEN is a story about two people realizing love was waiting beside them the entire time…

ShakenCover5x8About the book:
“After an earthquake wreaks havoc, the earth is left disturbed and altered. Whatever remains in ruin is left shaken and in need of rebuilding.”

Scarlett Brooks doesn’t need love. The only men she can trust in her life are her twin brother and his two best friends, Logan and Caleb. Every other guy has only let her down, and she promises herself to never to experience heartbreak again.

Logan King can’t stand back and watch his best friend’s twin sister continue to spiral out of control. With random hookups, drunken nights, and reckless decisions, she is on the path to self-destruction. He sets out to slow her down and prove that she isn’t happy with her one-night stands.

The two come dangerously close to crossing lines. Is Scarlett capable of trusting and opening up to love again? Will it ruin their friendship if Logan is the one to teach her how?

This is part of a series but can be read as a standalone. Characters are introduced in Jolted and Impacted.

My Review:
Scarlett has survived a horrifying break-up…on the verge of marriage her fiancé was arrested for money laundering. Not trusting herself with another real relationship, she seeks thrills from any man who’ll bed her. Her dear friend, Logan, who is best friends with Scarlett’s twin brother Ryder, is tired of her self-destructive behavior.

Logan is the man Scarlett calls when she’s too drunk to drive home from her hook-ups, but he’s going to fix his girl’s broken spirit–even if it kills their friendship. He gets Scarlett to agree to an abstinence game, so she’ll stop prowling. Then, he works out several tasks for her to complete, all designed to bolster her confidence and open her up to the possibility of love.

Shaken Teaser Standing ByThing is, once Scarlett’s heart is open, it’s impossible for Logan not to fall directly into it. Of course, there’s a strange girl lurking on the fringes and Logan’s past seems to catch up at just the wrong time. Likewise, Scarlett has some intense family issues to survive, and Logan’s game is getting too deep.

This a dual viewpoint contemporary romance about two people who have been wounded in life and love finding the courage to love with abandon. It’s a quick read, with a satisfying HEA.

Interested? You can find SHAKEN on Goodreads, Amazon, iBooks, B&N, Kobo, Google Play, Smashwords.

****GIVEAWAY****

Click the Rafflecopter link below for your chance to win a set of signed paperbacks!
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Thanks for popping in, and keep reading my friends!

About the Author:
Alyne lives in Ohio with her husband, dog and cat. Working full time in an office all day, she spends her nights reading, writing or watching an entire TV series in a night. She refuses to grow up, loves Disney movies and anything with owls. She couldn’t live without her coffee or her furry “children”.

Alyne is the author of “Light to the Darkness” and the “Conflicted Encounters” Series.

To stay up to date on what Alyne is working on, teasers and more: Sign up for the newsletter.

She loves to connect with readers so feel free to stalk her!

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pintrest | Goodreads | Amazon

Inkslinger

Her Life is TEQUILA & TEA BAGS–Review and Giveaway

Facebook Cover PhotoHi all! Today I’m sharing in the blitz for a quirky contemporary New Adult romance. Laura Barnard’s TEQUILA & TEA BAGS is a hoot sure to be enjoyed by lovers of Bridget Jones… This is ADULT read.

Tequila and Tea BagsAbout the Book:

Sent to live with her cousin Elsie in the Yorkshire countryside, Rose has only one thing on her mind; joining her friends as a club rep in Mexico.

When she hears about a council incentive offering the promise of free flights to the person who clocks the most volunteering hours at the local care home, she’s got her plan set.
But she doesn’t plan on bonding with the old ladies, going after the village bad boy and trying to persuade Elsie not to become a Nun.

Soon she’s questioning who her real friends are and whether her old life is one she wants to return to.

Can the village win her over and will she win the chance to leave it behind? Will she even want to?

Teaser-2

My Review:

Well! I do love me a funny romance, and Bridget Jones is a go-to for my feel good times, so I was destined to enjoy this!

23 y/o Rose is given a serious wake-up call when her parents cut off all her allowance and force her to move from the London suburbs to a hamlet in the Yorkshire countryside. She’s now sharing a flat with her cousin Elsie–who is trianing to become a nun.

This party girl is bereft, until she learns that volunteering in the local retirement home will garner the chance at a holiday. Her BFF is currently in Mexico, and Rose is desperate to join her. Naturally, the center’s director–the infuriating, yet good-looking Will–is an impediment.

Rose finds trouble without even trying–by basically lying about her skills. Barmaid? Sure! (Cue the beer flood) Horse-minding? No problem! (OMG–even Bridget never caused this kind of havoc!)

Along the way, Rose becomes the shag-buddy of Will’s younger (disreputable) brother James. through the month of Rose’s visit, she and Will get to know each other very well. Much like BJ, Rose is involved in a love triangle she never intended, but I think we can all guess this girl has a whole lot of hilarious self-discovery in her future. And, a good-looking, compassionate man at her side!

The book moves quickly and is peppered with interesting side characters. I loved how Rose and one of the retirees, Betty, bonded. They had a far better relationship than even Rose and her parents. It’s fun to see a character grow when loved and respected, instead of pitied and reviled.

Interested?  You can find Tequila & Tea Bags on Goodreads and Amazon (US and UK).

****GIVEAWAY****

Like my FB page and that of Laura Barnard, then come back and tell me you did in the comments. One lucky commenter will get a book! Yay! Thanks, Laura!

Laura BarnardAbout the Author:

My name is Laura Barnard and I am an author from Hertfordshire, UK. My first chick-lit novel, The Debt & the Doormat was an Amazon number 1 best-seller and won Best Laugh Out Loud Book of 2013. It is available via Amazon, Smashwords, iBooks. Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository and many more.

In my spare time I enjoy drinking my body weight in tea, indulging in cupcakes the size of my face, drooling over hunks like Jamie Dornan, Ryan Gosling and Leo Dicaprio…oh and my husband of course! I like wearing yoga clothes and reading fitness magazines while I sit on the sofa and eat chocolate. I’m a real fan of the power nap and of course, READING!

I write not to get rich or famous, but because I LOVE writing. Even if one person tells me they enjoyed my book it makes the midnight typing worth it!

Catch up with Laura on her website, Goodreads, Facebook, and twitter.

Thanks for popping in, and keep reading my friends!

Happy Book Birthday to LOSING AT LOVE! with Giveaway

L@L RDL BannerHi there! Today I’m sharing in the festivities for Jenifer Iacopelli’s new release: LOSING AT LOVE. This is a sequel to the (smash!) hit GAME. SET. MATCH. and definitely set to be a winner.  (My lame tennis puns will now cease…)

book2-publicity-frontAbout the book:

Grass courts, tennis whites and the fiercest competition in the world. Wimbledon. After two crazy weeks in Paris, the girls of the Outer Banks Tennis Academy are headed to London with just one thing on their minds: winning.

Indiana Gaffney is fresh off a surprise win at the French Open junior tournament. Sponsors are clamoring for her attention, but what she wants more than anything—aside from a wild card to Wimbledon—is to be with Jack Harrison, but international fame and a secret relationship rarely mix well.

When Penny Harrison dreamed of playing at Wimbledon she never imagined agonizing pain shooting through her ankle with every step. With just a month until the tournament and the whole world expecting her to win, she’s determined to play, with or without the support of her coach or the love of her life, Alex Russell.

For the first time ever, no one expects anything from Jasmine Randazzo. After a crushing first-round defeat in the French Open juniors, the tennis world has given up on her, but worse than that, so have her parents, her best friend Teddy and maybe even her coach. With everyone writing her off, can she find it within herself to go after her dreams?

How about a little taste?

La Metropolian Hotel

Paris, France

Indiana Gaffney gasped, her eyes flying open and locking on the glistening object across the hotel room. It reflected the muted television behind her, the French Open final, the red of the court, blurry in the polished silver. A large, round plate, innocuous to the untrained eye, with the sizeable laser carved logo of Roland Garros at the center, was braced against the mirror hanging on the hotel room wall. The mirror reflected the match clearly, the broad steps and fierce rallies of two men battling it out for the French Open Men’s title. But those men were mere afterthoughts as her eye caught a set of shoulders stretching the material of his t-shirt thin, not a mere image from the television, but broad and warm and real. Strong hands slid down her back, fingers twining into the ends of her long blonde hair, tugging on it gently, drawing her gaze away from the mirror and back to the green eyes of the man in her bed.

He kissed her soundly, sending shivers down her spine and making her hips rock against his and her legs tighten around his waist. “It’s not gonna disappear if you take your eyes off it,” Jack Harrison muttered into the skin of her neck, nipping at it lightly with his teeth.

“Feels like it will,” she whispered back, tilting her head to give him better access. Most of her mind was focused on what he was doing with his hands and mouth, but that plate, the one that declared in no uncertain terms that she was the new French Open junior champion, would not be ignored. Not even for the guy who made her heart pound like no one else ever had before, the guy who, up until a few days ago, could barely look at her without his shoulders slumping with guilt. Their age gap hadn’t shrunk in the days full of soft kisses and nights far more intense — though perhaps not as intense as she’d like — but he wasn’t fighting their attraction anymore. She hadn’t chased him, not really, but he’d known she wanted him, almost from the moment they first met. Then he’d found out how old she was and he started treating her like a flashing red SEVENTEEN was stamped across her forehead, every year between them creating an accompanying foot of distance. In the end, the attraction had been too much, even for someone as painfully good as Jack Harrison.

“Hey, Champ, you in there?” Jack’s voice brought her back, his lips spelling out the words against her shoulder.

“Champ?” Indy hummed and smiled. “I like the sound of that.” In fact, she liked the sound of it so much she planned on winning again the next chance she got, on the grass courts at Wimbledon.

“I bet you do. Get used to it, baby,” Jack said, his whole face lighting up as he shifted his weight forward, tilting her back onto the bed. A shriek bubbled up through her throat and the giggles followed as he leaned over her, bracing himself on his elbows and then smothering her laughter with the press of his mouth. As his tongue slid against hers, she turned herself over to it, letting herself revel in the dreams of future victories and the celebrations that would follow.

Interested? You can find Losing at Love on Amazon, BN, iTunes, Kobo and Goodreads.

book1-publicity-frontAnd the previous book in this series, Game. Set. Match. is also available on Amazon, BN, iTunes, Kobo and Goodreads.

****GIVEAWAY****

Click the Rafflecopter link below for your chance to win a $50 GC, Signed copies of Game. Set. Match. and Losing at Love or SWAG!
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Thanks for popping in and keep reading my friends!

Screen Shot 2014-08-07 at 3.09.39 PM copyAbout the Author:
Jennifer Iacopelli was born in New York and has no plans to leave…ever. Growing up, she read everything she could get her hands on, but her favorite authors were Laura Ingalls Wilder, L.M. Montgomery and Frances Hodgson Burnett all of whom wrote about kick-ass girls before it was cool for girls to be kick-ass. She got a Bachelor’s degree in Adolescence Education and English Literature quickly followed up by a Master’s in Library Science, which lets her frolic all day with her books and computers, leaving plenty of time in the evenings to write and yell at the Yankees, Giants and her favorite tennis players through the TV.

Catch up with Jennifer online on her newsletter, twitter, Facebook, website, Goodreads, Instagram, and Amazon Author Page.

Inkslinger

Happy Book Birthday to CONFESSIONS OF A REFORMED TOM CAT–Review and Giveaway

COARTC FB RD banner
Hi there! Today I’m sharing the release day launch for Daisy Prescott’s Confessions of a Reformed Tom Cat!! This steamy contemporary romance is a fun ride through a confirmed bachelor’s eyes—and showcases how his head gets turned by exact right woman. I really enjoyed another of Daisy’s romances, READY TO FALL, and had to grab this one up, too. Don’t forget to enter the giveaway below!

CoaTTC Amazon (1)
About the book:
I, Thomas Clifford Donnely, am a manwhore.

I’ve been told I’m irresistible to women. Like catnip for a different type of pussy-cat. I guess you could call me a Tom Cat.

This is the story about how I lost my wingman, broke all my own rules, and found myself falling in love.

Tom Donnely isn’t the marrying kind, or the dating kind. Even after losing his #1 wingman to love, he doesn’t see the point in relationships. When his sister’s best friend returns to Whidbey Island and propositions Donnely for a one-night stand, he breaks one of his biggest rules—no fooling around with his sisters’ friends. It’s just sex, nothing more. That’s what Tom does and does well.

What happens when “just sex” isn’t enough?

Hailey King is more than a match for Tom’s flirtations. She’s known him most of her life and has heard the rumors about his “skills” for years. When her perfectly planned future falls apart, will the last man she should ever fall for turn out to be more than a one-night stand?

My Review:
Tom Donnely is a self-affirmed bachelor and ladies’ man. He doesn’t do dating or relationships. He’s always ready with a killer smile, witty banter and a Magnum condom. He’s perturbed with his best friend, John, who has found a woman–THE woman–and now Tom has no wingman.

Tom has more than enough money to suit his needs, which are simple. He has a kind and loving family who figures he’ll never settle down, but life changes quickly. His younger sister’s BFF, Hailey, has returned to Whidbey Island, and she’s a far cry from the scarecrow he teased decades ago. Hailey is a strong woman, able to carry her own against the brutes who work in Tom’s family’s shipyard–which Tom respects. He also considers Hailey off-limits due to her friendship with his sis, and the fact that she’s engaged. Until she’s not.

TC teaser protectiveIt’s Hailey who makes the first move, and while Tom doesn’t think it’s the right one, who is he to argue with a single attractive woman? They engage is a friends-with-benefits experience, but it’s clear that both Tom and Hailey are feeling more than friendly. Tom loses a dear relative and Hailey is his comfort, but misunderstandings arise, not the least of which is Hailey’s ex who’s causing upset throughout their tight island community.

tom cat teaser 1.6I really enjoyed Tom. He’s a suave, honest, “manwhore” who revels in his oat-sowing. He’s also respectful and tender to the women he satisfies. Hailey’s only complaint is being Tom’s “friend,” when she really wants so much more. And, surprisingly, Tom does too. It doesn’t take Tom that long, in fact, to recognize how very lonely he is, and how much he desires the more settled life of John; as long as Hailey is the woman with whom he gets to share his life.

Expect drunken hook-ups, hot sex, and a (temporarily) sad, sad Tom Cat, with an HEA all lovers of ‘bad boys’ and beards will enjoy.

Interested? You can find Confessions of a Reformed Tom Cat on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble and iBooks.

Also, on sale is READY TO FALL–the story of John, Tom’s BFF, falling for the girl next-door. It’s a delicious mix of love found, lost and found again–featuring a sexy lumberjack! Check out my review…
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****GIVEAWAY!!!****

Click the Rafflecopter link below for your chance to win copies of Tom Cat, and more goodies!
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Good luck, and keep reading my friends!

Daisy Prescott bw
About the Author:
Before writing bestselling contemporary adult romances, I dreamed of being an author while doing a lot of other things. Antiques dealer, baker, blue ribbon pie-maker, fangirl, freelance writer, gardener, pet mom and wife are a few of the other titles I’ve acquired over the years.

Born and raised in San Diego, I currently live in a real life Stars Hollow in the Boston suburbs with my husband, our dog Hubbell, and an imaginary house goat.

Twitter | Facebook | Author Goodreads | Pinterest | Instagram | Google+

He Found Himself IN DARKEST PERU–Review and Giveaway!

peru-640 copy
Hi there! Today I’m sharing in the blog tour for Louise LyonsIN DARKEST PERU, a contemporary M/M romance novella where one jilted young man must get lost in the wilds of the Peruvian jungle in order to find himself.

IndarkestPeru-WAYWARDINKPUBLISHING-smallpreviewAbout the book:
Shy and geeky Rhys White, has recently been ditched by his boyfriend of five years. On top of that he’s been made redundant from his job as a computer programmer.

Tired of being boring and unadventurous, he throws caution to the winds and buys a plane ticket to Peru.
Rhys’ adventure in Peru starts out well, but then disaster strikes. All of his belongings are stolen. Everything is gone—passport, wallet, phone, clothing, the lot.

Stranded in Cuzco, not too far from the famous Machu Picchu, Rhys tries to find someone to help him. He’s about to give up, when a sexy Brazilian named Rafael, comes to his rescue…

My Review:
Rhys is a newly-single computer programmer who has just been let go by his employer. Rhys has always felt that his ex, Jonathan, was a good guy who loved him, but it turns out Jon was a cheater and a user, and Rhys is a bit shattered over it. His self-confidence is pretty low. He’s super down on his luck, but decides to make lemonade of all his lemons by booking a trip to Peru to explore a bit while waiting for a new job to surface.

Arriving in Peru is exciting. Rhys is finally starting to gain some confidence in his ability to navigate around when his bus to Cuzco is held up and the bandits take his bag containing all his cash and his passport. He’s several days travel from the British Consulate and has nothing to his name. Rhys is In Deepest Despair…

A young man, Rafael, hears of Rhys’ plight and offers to be his guide throughout Cuzco, and to take him to Lima–all in exchange for deferred payment. Rafael is in Peru to make money as a guide, but he isn’t certified–he needs some good recommendations before that can happen.

Thing is, Rafael is GORGEOUS. So lean and well-built, friendly and kind. Rhys is In Deepest Lust. Good thing it’s an attraction returned…

Rhys hadn’t missed the searching looks Rafael had been giving him ever since, whenever they weren’t hiking in single file. He remembered how Rafael had grabbed his hand to assist him on steep parts of the track, and how afterward he had held on a little longer than necessary, as if he enjoyed the contact and wanted an excuse for it to continue. Could this gorgeous, sexy, Latin man actually like Rhys?
“You like girls… or boys?” Rafael whispered.
“Boys,” Rhys answered breathlessly. Oh God, he does like me.
“You have a boyfriend?”
“No. I did have a boyfriend. He broke up with me a few weeks ago.”

The novella is well-paced and has delightful British humor, which always charms me. I was so happy for Rhys’ fortune to change and for him to find the love for himself that he’d lacked. (I did enjoy the steamy bits, too!) Rafael is a good soul, and the kind of guide I’d hope would rescue me if I was stranded In Darkest Peru…. 😉

Interested? You can find IN DARKEST PERU on Goodreads, Amazon (US, UK and AU), Wayward Ink Publishing, AllRomance, and Barnes & Noble.

****GIVEAWAY****

Click the Rafflecopter link below for your chance to win
$20 Wayward Ink Publishing Gift Card
$5 Amazon Gift Card
1 x eBook copy of In Darkest Peru
1 x eBook copy of Conflicted or Second Bite of the Cherry (winner’s choice)
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Good luck and keep reading my friends!

About the author
Louise Lyons comes from a family of writers. Her mother has a number of poems published in poetry anthologies, her aunt wrote poems for the Church, and her grandmother sparked her inspiration with tales of fantasy. Louise first ventured into writing short stories at the grand old age of eight, mostly about little girls and ponies. She branched into romance in her teens, and MM romance a few years later, but none of her work saw the light of day until she discovered Fan Fiction in her late twenties.

Posting stories based on some of her favorite movies, provoked a surprisingly positive response from readers. This gave Louise the confidence to submit some of her work to publishers, and made her take her writing “hobby” more seriously.

Louise lives in the UK, about an hour north of London, with a mad Doberman, and a collection of tropical fish and tarantulas. She works in the insurance industry by day, and spends every spare minute writing. She is a keen horse-rider, and loves to run long distance. Some of her best writing inspiration comes to her, when her feet are pounding the open road. She often races into the house afterward, and grabs pen and paper to make notes.

Louise has always been a bit of a tomboy, and one of her other great loves is cars and motorcycles. Her car and bike are her pride and joy, and she loves to exhibit the car at shows, and take off for long days out on the bike, with no one for company but herself.

Catch up with Louise online on her website, Twitter and Facebook.

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A Socialite Becomes THE ACCIDENTAL NEW YORKER–Review and Giveaway


Hi there! Today I’m sharing a review for Stephanie Wahlstrom’s THE ACCIDENTAL NEW YORKER. This New Adult romance is a charming sequel to THE ACCIDENTAL SOCIALITE, following this intrepid Paige Crawford across the pond to NYC, and still not quite home…

About the Book:
Paige Crawford, former accidental socialite, has managed to shed her Z-list celebrity status and pull her life into a semblance of normalcy. But more importantly, she’s close to proving to her family and herself that she can make it on her own. That is, until she’s fired from her job and left with no choice but to leave London behind for good.

She hops on a plane headed home to Canada, only to decide to give herself one more chance to make it before hers becomes a life of “I told you so’s.” So instead of walking onto her connecting flight, she leaves JFK Airport and steps into the wilds of New York City, where she soon learns her misadventures have only just begun.

And while she juggles writing a popular blog, locating a missing male model, and a sexy new boss who reminds her a little too much of home, Paige is about to learn that “making it” has nothing to do with where you end up, but everything to do with how you get there.


Excerpt:

Just as I was stuffing a large nacho in my mouth, Kelly decided it would be a good time to engage me in conversation.

“So, what’s your plan? Tyler said something about trying to work for a Canadian magazine?”

I nodded and swallowed the chip that I definitely hadn’t chewed enough. I was pretty sure my larynx was bleeding. “Hopefully. {cough} I had some responses today, people asking for work samples and stuff. Fingers crossed.” I smiled and had a sip of margarita, which stung the gash in my throat.

“Cassie is a journalist, maybe she can help you?” offered Kelly.

Cassie looked embarrassed. “I’m a reporter for The Telegraph Online, it’s not print, but I can see if there is anything.”

“That would be amazing.”
People who said New Yorkers were mean obviously hadn’t been to the same New York as I had. But, then I remembered that I needed a dollar tomorrow to make sure Stabby McStabberson outside my apartment didn’t cut me tomorrow.

My Review:
Paige Crawford is all about serendipity. She is impetuous and spontaneous and always looking at life in a “glass half full” sort of way. She stumbled into a journalist job, quite literally, while staying in London, and now that she’s let go, she has to return to Canada. But, en route to Edmonton, she gets a happy curve ball.

Paige meets the attractive Tyler Shaw on her trans-Atlantic flight. Tyler happens to be rather wealthy, and he is enchanted by Paige’s self-deprecating stories of her time in London. She also wins bonus points for not approaching him like a gold digger, and Tyler invites Paige to look him up up if she stays in NYC. It’s a sign, Paige is certain.

She decides to extend her two-hour layover…indefinitely. This savvy traveler lands a room in an apartment in Spanish Harlem and sets down some immediate roots by way of an air mattress and a blog detailing her 182 days as an “Accidental Immigrant”. Paige and Tyler connect and have some laughs, pretty much the same life as her previous London one–hitting odd clubs and enjoying inebriated shenanigans.

Thing is, as the days dwindle and Paige’s prospects for a visa dry up one by one, she has some tough choices to make regarding her future. Can she convince a man to marry her? Could she PAY a man to marry her? Is living in NYC, ultimately, the life she wants? It’s a fun romp with some deep soul-searching and a bit of heartbreak. Don’t expect any steamy scenes, but Paige is a fun MC and her life is just outrageous enough to be entertaining.

Interested? You can find THE ACCIDENTAL NEW YORKER on Goodreads, Amazon (US, and UK).


You can also check out the first book in this series. I found THE ACCIDENTAL SOCIALITE to be pretty charming—especially as I love all things Brit. Click here for my review.

And click the links below for more info and purchase.
Goodreads, Amazon (US, and UK) and iBOOKS.

****GIVEAWAY****

Click the Rafflecopter link below for your chance to win

one of 5 ebooks sets of THE ACCITDENTAL SOCIALITE & THE ACCIDENTAL NEW YORKER!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck and keep reading my friends!


About the Author:
Growing up in Edmonton, Canada, a significant amount of Stephanie’s time was spent making up and acting out stories. She was studying to be an actress when she realized there weren’t any parts for women being written. So, Stephanie wrote herself a short screenplay just to be in it and quickly realized that writing was her true passion. She graduated from the University of Alberta with an English and Sociology degree and she also has a Bachelor of Motion Picture Arts from Red Deer College. She moved to New York on a whim after University and has written a variety of TV shows including an environmentally-friendly lifestyle series and a tween magazine style show about celebrities. Stephanie moved to London in 2008 and aside from being obsessed with Eggs Benedict, shoes, Fruit Roll Ups and traveling, she also works in Children’s Television.

You can catch up with Stephanie online on her website, Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

For Them It Was TOUCH & GO–Review and Giveaway


Hit there! Today I’m celebrating in the release of TOUCH & Go, a sexy contemporary romance from USA Today Bestselling author, Mira Lyn Kelly. This book is a heart-tugging friends-to-lovers tale that had me tied up in knots!

About the Book:
USA Today bestselling author Mira Lyn Kelly cranks up the heat for two lifelong friends whose most secret longings come true in every delectable way.

Vivacious and successful, Ava Meyers is living her dream life, except for one thing: Ever since childhood, she’s been in love with her best friend…and she’s never admitted it. Back then, Sam Farrow was a damaged young man with a tough past. Now he’s supremely confident, super-sexy, and totally untouchable—until the night when Sam pretends to be Ava’s boyfriend to save her from some unwanted attention. In a moment of weakness, Ava finds out that a long friendship is no match for blistering sexual chemistry.

After years of denying his own feelings, Sam finds that one amazing night with Ava isn’t enough to chase away all the pent-up fantasies. So he proposes they spend a few weeks driving each other wild, exhausting their every desire, and then return to their perfect platonic relationship like nothing ever happened. But Sam’s plan has one fatal flaw: the part where they give each other up. Because the more they let go of their inhibitions, the more they’re tempted to never go back.


My Review:
This friends-to-lovers tale is the second in a series, but can be read as a standalone.

Ava has been in love with Sam since childhood, since she discovered him lonely and thin, hiding near her backyard and she and her brother Ford brought him home. Sam became a regular fixture in Ava’s life, long before she knew of his absent mother and abusive father, and his eventual (pseudo) adoption by her parents.

Sam has been Ava’s protector since childhood, and his best friend, too. He’s never had any serious relationships with women, well, excepting the close comfort of his extreme friendship with Ava. They hang out a lot, and even when he chases a random hook-up, it’s Ava’s cozy couch on which he reclines, watching movies in her apartment directly above his own.

Sam accompanies Ava to a work function as her “boyfriend” in order to keep an unwanted suitor at bay, but everything short-circuits when their charade goes too far. A kiss, then a grope, then a mad dash back to her place for the one thing they’d denied for two decades–physicality.

Ava knows she loves Sam, and she’s too weak to resist the opportunity to have one night with him. Trouble is, one night isn’t enough–for either of them. Sam wants more of the intimacy he’d never felt with his random hook-ups, and Ava struggles with her desire for Sam, and more than the physical release he can give her. Plus, each of them know they need to keep this FWB-thing secret from their close cadre of friends…

Still, they connect again and again, and it’s Ava who finally calls it quits. She’s too overwhelmed loving completely a man who doesn’t quite love her THAT way. She makes the decision to put serious space between them, hoping that distance = separation, but she’s miserable, and Sam’s a mess. Expect unannounced reunions, unwelcome career moves, angry sex, epic declarations, heartbreak, puppies, and an HEA that wet my eyes and spilled a few tears. For real.

The sexytimes are delicious, and Ava and Sam felt so real in their world. I liked their friends and family, and can see this is a series I’d continue reading. The book is self-contained, no cliffhangers just a story I breezed through so quickly I was surprised, and a little deflated, when the end came…I wanted more time with these new imaginary friends! Looks like there will be another book in the series, though I expect it will be the story of another couple. Still, I’m sure Ava and Sam will have cameos. Yay!

Interested? You can find TOUCH & GO on Goodreads, Amazon (US, & UK) B&N, KOBO, and iBOOKS.

TRUTH OR DARE is the first book in this series following the budding romance between Tyler and Ava’s BFF, Maggie.

No doubt it’s a heart/panty melter, like its sequel. While I haven’t read it, I’m sure to add it to my TBR.

Interested? You can find TRUTH OR DARE on Goodreads, Amazon (US, and UK) B&N, KOBO, and iBOOKS.

****GIVEAWAY****

Click the Rafflecopter link below for your chance to win
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck and keep reading my friends!


About the Author:
USA Today Bestselling Author Mira Lyn Kelly grew up in the Chicago area and earned her degree in Fine Arts from Loyola University. She met the love of her life while studying abroad in Rome, Italy, only to discover he’d been living right around the corner from her back home. Having spent her twenties working and playing in the Windy City, she’s now settled with her husband in rural Minnesota, where their four beautiful children provide an excess of action and entertainment. When she isn’t reading, writing, or running to keep up with the kids, she loves watching movies, blabbing with the girls, and cooking with her husband and friends.

Catch up with Mira Lyn online on Facebook, Twitter,
Goodreads, and her website.

Valentine’s Sales Spectacular and Kindle Fire HD Giveaway!

 

Hi there! Today I’m sharing an awesome sale on romantic reads for less than a buck! Plus, scroll down to the very end to enter the AWESOME giveaway for one of 2 Kindle Fire HD’s or one of 5 $10 Amazon gift cards. (You think people never win this stuff, but I won an iPad mini just last month!)

 

Valentine’s Weekend Sale Spectacular
18 books on sale for only 99c each

 

 

Love’s Second Chance by L.P. Dover
 
AMAZON US / UK
 
Never Let Me Go Box Set by Jessica Gibson
 
AMAZON US / UK

 

On the Dotted Line by Kim Carmichael
 
AMAZON US / UK
 
Twisted Lies by Sedona Venez
AMAZON US / UK

 

Wanderlust by Lacey Weatherford
& Belinda Boring
 
AMAZON US / UK

 

The Book Affair Volume One
 
AMAZON US / UK

 

Temporary Bliss by B.J. Harvey
 
AMAZON US / UK
 
Sands Through the Hourglass by T.M. Schaefer
 
AMAZON US / UK

 

Chasing Jenna by Micki Fredricks
 
AMAZON US / UK
 
No Brainer by A.J. Lape
 
AMAZON US / UK

 

The Mystic Wolves Box Set Volume One
by Belinda Boring
 
AMAZON US / UK
 
Talented by Sophie Davis
 
AMAZON US / UK

 

Free to Try by C.W. Nightly
 
AMAZON US / UK
 
Whispers by H.K. Savage
AMAZON US / UK

 

Hanna, Hanna, One-and-Two by Myndi Shafer
 
AMAZON US / UK
 
The Battle for Arcanon Major by Alexandra May
 
AMAZON US / UK

 

Fragile Facade by Sophie Davis
 
AMAZON US / UK
 
Unforgettable by Sophie Davis
 
AMAZON US / UK

 

 

****GIVEAWAY****

Click the Rafflecopter link below for your chance to win
one of TWO Kindle Fire HD’s or one of FIVE $10 GC to Amazon

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck, Happy Valentine’s, and keep reading my friends!

Ten Steps on HOW TO UNBREAKUP–Review and Giveaway

how to unbreakup tour banner

Hi there! Today I’m sharing in the blog tour for Rebekah Purdy’s HOW TO UNBREAKUP. This contemporary YA Romance is a fun, innocent romantic tale of one girl trying to fix a relationship, without all the Hollywood hijinks. Okay, okay there are a few hijinks.

How to UnbreakupAbout the Book:
First rule of breakups: There’s no going back.
For three years, seventeen-year-old Grace Evers has regretted breaking up with Sage Castle.

That day, she lost her boyfriend and best friend. And let’s be honest, it’s impossible to just be friends with the one person who gets you, faults and all, and loved you anyway. It’s impossible not to think about how it felt to be held by him, or the way he looked right before he was about to kiss you with the most perfectly yummy kiss goodnight.

And now that things are over between them, they’ve become strangers to one another. Sage won’t even look at Grace, let alone talk to her!

Breakup life sucks and Grace is utterly miserable, doing whatever she can to ease the pain of losing Sage. She’s spent the better part of high school pretending to be something she’s not and hanging out with people who probably wouldn’t notice if she wasn’t there. Crappy dates, backstabbing friends, and Sage’s cold shoulder have taken their toll.

So when her parents propose going away to their house on Lake Michigan for the summer, Grace is thrilled. No more massively bad dates with horrible kissers or lunch with frienemies. Just three months of swimming,
hiking, and relaxing before senior year starts.

But when Grace learns Sage and his family will be joining them, she readies herself for a totally awkward family vacation of disastrous proportions. How can it be anything but awful if Sage won’t even acknowledge she exists?

This is it, Grace’s last chance to get Sage back and unbreakup.

My Review:
Probably need to check for cavities now; this is a super sweet, innocent YA romance.

Grace and Sage were childhood friends, the best of friends, and each other’s first romance/kiss. They grew up together in wholesome Michigan, with parents who are BFFs and plan joint trips. In eighth grade Sage asked Grace to be his girlfriend, and she agreed, but it got a bit much for her to handle. Her friends complained that she was always with him, and she felt like she didn’t have an identity of her own. Plus, she didn’t really feel ready, anymore, to be in a relationship. And, I felt this was ALL AWESOME. I love when young girls are cool being alone. Grace wanted to maintain their strong friendship, but Sage never talked to her after that, and started skipping their joint family get-togethers.

Three years goes by and neither Grace nor Sage has ever dated anyone. Grace knows she’s still hung up on Sage, but he still holds a grudge. It’s the summer following junior year, and the big surprise vacation is again to link the two families for a summer long rental beach house in the UP (Upper Peninsula). Grace is anxious, seeing Sage again at close quarters, but Sage is hostile. Hell hath no fury like a scorned Sage, it seems.

Sage’s sister, Allie, can clearly see how Grace cares for Sage, however–and Allie knows how depressed Sage was after their break-up, so Allie decides to help Grace win him back. They devise a list of ten tasks that Grace should attempt to unfreeze Sage’s heart, and *hopefully* win him back. Of course this plan is destined to crash and burn…hijinks ensue.

In the meantime, while Grace works up the courage to check off Item 10 on her list (apologize for hurting Sage all those years ago, and confess her deep love), he finds a local girl who is very much interested in him. Lila is a pretty pin-up of a girl who shares none of Sage’s interests, but does captivate his attention. Her elder brother, Logan, is equally attractive, and interested in Grace. Allie insists that this may be helpful (Item 6: Make Sage jealous) but Grace isn’t the mercenary sort. She doesn’t discourage Logan, but she keeps everything friendly, even confiding her true feelings for Sage to a very understanding Logan.

Thing is, as the days and weeks pass, Grace realizes that Sage is happier now, and that he seems to get on well with Lila. Grace completes her task list, leaving it all up to Sage.

Well, this is YA romance, so we get an HEA, but we take the angsty-way around to it.

The story is well-told, with only a few slapstick elements, and a whole lotta good-natured ribbing and family bonding. The tension between Sage and Grace is always high, and this non-courtship is fun to experience. Sage and Grace have a lot of shared history, and rediscovering together it is touching. I like how level-headed Grace is, she doesn’t get catty, or plan sabotage missions against Lila; she simply tries to reconnect with her oldest friend, and hopes that he might see her for the girl who loves him now, not the one who broke his heart before.

Interested? You can find HOW TO UNBREAKUP on Goodreads, and Amazon.

****GIVEAWAY****

Click the Rafflecopter link link below for your chance to win
a fun Star Wars-themed prize pack or ebooks!
a Rafflecopter giveaway.

Good luck, and keep reading my friends!

Rebekah L. PurdyAbout the Author
Rebekah Purdy grew up in Michigan, where she spent many late nights armed with a good book and a flashlight. When not hiding at her computer and getting lost in her stories, she enjoys reading, singing, soccer, swimming, football, camping, playing video games and hanging out with her kids. She loves the unexplainable like Bigfoot, the Dogman, and the Loch Ness Monster (lots of good story material)! She admits to still having all the books she bought throughout her
childhood and teen years, and she may or may not have an obsession with anything chocolate…
You can find Rebekah online on her website, Facebook, twitter and Goodreads.
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