Looking for MEN AND MARTINIS? Got them! Review and Giveaway

Hi there and welcome to my stop on the MEN AND MARTINIS blog tour sponsored by YA Bound Blog Tours. For other stops on the tour click here. Today’s book is a sassy New Adult romance by Delancey Stewart.

Summary from Goodreads:
Candace Kanie wins at every game she plays. From the boardroom to the bar, she’s confident, clever, perhaps just a tad overbearing. It’s not easy for a girl like Candace to admit that love may be the one game she can’t win…at least not until she’s willing to change her strategy. In Men and Martinis, Candace Kanie will learn that sometimes to be at the top of your game, you have to hit rock bottom.

Men and Martinis is the first release in Delancey Stewart’s series “Girlfriends of Gotham” – a voyeuristic voyage through the lives of a group of twenty-something girls who dance, date, and drink their way through Manhattan during the days of the dot com boom. During an era when the up-and-comers in New York were partying like Studio 54 had never died, this group of friends discovers that the city is theirs for the taking; and they find their often-hilarious way through the forces that work to redefine the way they know themselves and each other.

My review:
This New Adult adventure follows the lives of two young gals tackling New York’s business landscape in their own way. Natalie is befuddled. She only knows she needs to get away from the watchful eyes of her family in San Diego. So she drives herself across the country and shares an apartment with a complete stranger. She lucks into a fantastic marketing job that she has no knowledge or skill to actually do, yet she gives it her all.

At a business party she crosses paths with the brash, take-no-prisoners, chic Candace “Don’t call me Candy” Kanie and they hit it off. Candace is a investment manager–and she will accept nothing less than her exact ideal job, mate, or life.

This dual-viewpoint tale is endearing. We see the internal vulnerabilities of two competent women both swimming for the surface in shark-infested seas. Despite all effort, Candace can’t seem to land the man she wants–nor seal the crucial investment her firm needs to get it’s financial footing. Lacking experience, Natalie is mired in too much work she cannot possibly handle–and a relationship that is going nowhere. Her attraction to a co-worker causes too much friction, and a new executive hired to train her is not helping matters.

Ultimately, we get a great look at the world of fledgling adults attempting to make a “success” of themselves. I really enjoyed the pacing and felt the characters were well-drawn and admirable. For those who clamor about too sexy New Adult, they have nothing to flinch at here. All the smexytimes takes place behind closed doors.

Interested? You can find MEN AND MARTINIS at Goodreads, Amazon, or Barnes & Noble.

About the Author
I’m not big on labels, but there are a few that fit me (not necessarily in this order. Or maybe in this order):
– wine drinker (and wine geek)
– mother of small boys
– military spouse
– writer
– chocolate eater

I’ve written the Wine Country Romance Series, which ties my love of wine to my love of falling in love… and the Girlfriends of Gotham series, which begins publishing with Swoon Romance in December 2013.

I also love short stories, and my themed collection (all set in the same NYC brownstone across the span of a century) published in 2012. You can catch ups with Delancey on her blog, Goodreads, Facebook and twitter.

***GIVEAWAY***
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Could Love FIX YOU? Review and Giveaway

Hi there, and welcome to my stop on the FIX YOU blog tour sponsored by AToMR Book Tours. For other stops on the tour click here. Today’s book is an adult contemporary romance from Beck Anderson.

Book Description:
When Kelly Reynolds’s husband died, he left her—the awkward, cautious one—to raise their two young boys. She’s pieced herself back together, barely. Now she takes refuge in her routine: running her kids around and running the trails near her Idaho home.

Two years after her husband’s death, a chance encounter on a run brings Andrew into her life. But Andrew is Andy Pettigrew, the Andy Pettigrew, famous actor. Kelly hates risk, and a love affair with Andrew is certainly tempting fate. She doesn’t fit into his Hollywood world. She doesn’t own a pair of Louboutins, and she couldn’t walk five paces in them if she did. Andrew oozes cool. She reeks of dork.

But despite this, they click. It may be inexplicable, but it works. However, it’s also becoming clear that Andrew struggles with the pressures of his fame. Kelly’s hold on a so-called normal life is already tenuous, and as much as she might want to indulge the fantasy, she doesn’t know how either of them is supposed to cope with stalkerazzi and tweet-happy fans with camera phones. She and Andrew both have secrets that seem impossible to keep.

Beck Anderson’s witty, engaging writing yields an emotional tale of love, loss, and all the little things that make up a life. In the end, what is it that really holds us together? Kelly must decide if love can fix two people who might be broken beyond repair.

My Review:

Sometimes we live life; sometimes we just survive it–and Kelly Reynolds is surviving her life. Losing her husband was a nightmare she can’t escape–and her dreams are often tortured by her guilt for moving on–or not moving on enough. See, Kelly was always cautious. Her life has been played by the rules and she figures she lost the game already. Kelly can only pull herself out of bed to take care of her two boys, Hunter and Beau. But even they know she’s dead inside.

Cue the intervention. A quick trip to Indio has Kelly moving. Or, at least running. She’s taking her daily jog when realization strikes: today is the second anniversary of her husband’s death. Overcome, she nearly collapses in tears and is assisted by a tall stranger. He dashes off so quickly he leaves behind his jacket. Kelly’s attempt to return it opens the next chapter of her life.

The stranger is movie star Andrew Pettigrew, another lonely soul surviving life. Meeting Kelly–a grounded, caring mother–is somewhat of an epiphany for him. He meets her the next day and they chat. Then they go for a run and chat some more. Kelly keeps all of this so down low it’s practically down under–a trait Andrew seems to like. He takes her number in the event he ever stops in Boise.

What do you know. A couple months later he does stop. Pops in unexpectedly. Kelly and her sons put him up for the weekend. A weekend filled with discovery. And a bit of guilt. But mostly there is something Kelly hasn’t felt in good long time: hope.

Their strange romance is kept super-down-under-low in order to foster the image of a fake romance between Andrew and his newest co-star, a Hollywood device that seems to increase ticket sales. It’s nerve-wracking for both Andrew and Kelly bringing along some unexpected baggage–Andrew’s alcoholism.

Though Kelly and Andrew share a strong love, Kelly knows she’s broken, and can’t imagine how she can help Andrew through his disease. She’d kicked her husband out years ago for alcoholism and they’d reconciled shortly before he died. This new facet with Andrew is deja vu of the Worst Kind. But maybe together they can find a way…

This book hit me hard. Maybe it’s because I’ve recently lost my father and an uncle, but a story about moving on after losing a loved one is always going to touch its readers. The romance is so super-down-low we only get Fade To Black scenes–no super steamy interludes, but that’s okay here, I think. Keeping the focus on working through grief and learning to trust in another love is amenable to a quiet love affair. At times I wanted to shake Kelly and give her a Cher-Snap-Out-Of-It smack, but she manages to right the ship and find the best course in time.

Interested? You can find FIX YOU at Goodreads, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble.

About this author:
Beck Anderson believes in the power of perfectly imperfect women and in the healing power of love. Her new novel, Fix You, grew out of those beliefs and the time to write afforded by the worst Thanksgiving blizzard she’s ever witnessed in West Yellowstone.

For Beck, the path to published novelist has taken lots of twists and turns, including a degree in anthropology, a stint as a ticket seller at a ski resort, a much-loved career as a high school English teacher, and a long tenure as a member of the best writing group ever, hands down.

Beck balances (clumsily at best) writing novels and screenplays, working full-time as an educator, mothering two pre-teen males, loving one post-40 husband, and making time to walk the foothills of Boise, Idaho, with Stefano DiMera Delfino Anderson, the suavest Chihuahua north of the border. You can find Beck on her website, Facebook and twitter.

****GIVEAWAY****
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Make an EXCEPTION–Blog Tour and Giveaway!

Hi there and welcome to my stop on the EXCEPTION blog tour organized by AToMR Book Tours. For other stops on the tour click here. Today’s Adult Contemporary romance is a new work by Patty Maximini.

Book Description:

When all hope for moving on from a life filled with pain was gone, Emily Watson closed herself off to the world, packed her bags, and moved across the country in search of a new life. What she found was a career she adored and friends whom she loved. It wasn’t a full and complete life, but it was definitely better than what she knew before.

When all hope for being loved and accepted for who he was instead of what he had was gone, Taylor Carter decided that trusting people outside of his family wasn’t really smart and would only lead to disappointment. With his world turned upside down, his life became about his work, and every new relationship was meaningless and superficial. He was safe, and definitely content, but never truly happy.

When all hope for staying awake during a long day was gone, Emily and Taylor found themselves at the same coffee cart. Little did they know then that the worst coffee they’d ever drank would forever change their lives.

When hopeless people are blinded by an endless pain. When contentment and safety feels like the best option, and love seems impossible, they may just find an EXCEPTION.

My Review:
I can appreciate the emotional baggage these two characters bring to the table. Emily has PTSD following years of physical and emotional abuse. She’s reluctant to let people close, but knows she needs to find support where she can. In her case, it’s platonic friendships with her gay neighbor Zack and his best friend, a marriage-averse engaged gal named Jody. Together they are a great trio. All that Emily requires, but somehow a chance encounter brings Taylor into her sphere–and the gravity is too much to bear.

Taylor’s been burned by a gold digger–and doesn’t want to let anyone close as a result. But Emily’s kind nature and unassuming charm captivate him. His need to protect her from all harm surpasses his own resolution to keep women away. It’s easier as Emily only desires his friendship.

Through months of closeness and connection, it’s clear that a romance is brewing. Zack and Jody are overjoyed to see the love grow, but hesitate to point it out–afraid Emily will pull away from the one man who seems to fill all her empty spaces. More fits than starts keeps the relationship from progression…though the bond between Emily and Taylor tightens deliciously.

The dramatic curveball at the end only solidifies the connection between Taylor and Emily. That each of them would sacrifice life for the other’s safety is the true measure of their bond.

The romance builds slowly, and at times the pacing of the novel seemed too slow. I am always a little impatient for the HEA, so a slow-burning romance is murder on me. (It’s the prefect book for my sis, who loves to get into a character’s head and stay there forever…) Also, I tend to struggle with novels where the point of view shifts from character to character rapidly–head-hopping, as it is called, which is how this story is told. Nonetheless, it’s a heartwarming story of two brokenhearted souls finding the one person they needed, but were too afraid to hope they’d find. Smexy factor: Warm and satisfied, not slippery and graphic.

Interested? You can find EXCEPTION at Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iTunes and Kobo.

What Patty Says for Herself:

I’m Patty, and words have always been a passion of mine. I’ve always loved to read them, write them and learn them in other languages. Last year, I’ve decided to take that passion and turn it into a book, the result was Exception, my very first novel.

Whenever I’m not sitting behind my computer, I’m either enjoying the company of my dear hubby, Alex, and our four four-legged babies or reading. I’m a firm believer in long hand written letters, love of any kind and good stories.You can find me on my blog, Facebook or twitter.

****GIVEAWAY****
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Good luck and, as always, keep reading my friends!

SUBMERGED–Book Blitz and Giveaway

Submerged (Outbreak #1)

by Nicole Sobon

Release Date: 02/14/13

Summary from Goodreads:

After a mysterious virus makes its way into the United States, the government demands that states seal themselves off from one another and do their best to protect their surviving residents. When the state of Florida is bordered off from the surrounding states, Taylen Fincher, a seventeen-year-old girl with a yearning for her former life finds herself wondering how much of what they’ve been told is true.

When Troum took control of the state, he told the residents that the other states had fallen to the virus and that he wouldn’t allow the same thing to happen to them. But Taylen doesn’t believe it. She insists that there is still life outside of the state, and she is going to do whatever it takes to prove it… but her actions will cost her more than she ever expected.

Troum kidnaps Taylen’s sister, Penelope, in hopes of coaxing her into behaving–-into being a submissive resident, much like the others. But Taylen isn’t one to give in that easily.

Eager to rescue her sister, Taylen will set out on an adventure that’ll force her to open her heart to the unexpected and to uncover secrets that will change everything.

SUBMERGED is the first book in a YA dystopian duology.

How about a little taste?
“Milo, can I ask you something?” I asked, lifting my hand to my lip.
“Not here.” He looked back at Penelope and signaled for me to follow him outside. “Come on.”
I followed Milo out of the Hovercopter, nearly running into him when he stopped suddenly at the end of the walkway. “If you’re wondering if I knew, I didn’t,” he paused, lowering himself onto the ground, “My parents were faithful followers, unwilling to believe things could only get worse after the Outbreak. Though I can’t say much, after all, I was just as naive as they were.”
You weren’t the only one, I thought.
“I had a twin sister,” he said after a moment of silence.
“What happened to her?”
“She died.” He lowered his head as if not sure he wanted to discuss it, but he continued, “Our parents insisted that we join the guard on our seventeenth birthday. She did her best to follow Troum, but over time, she began to grow tired of fighting for a system that clearly didn’t care for its people. She’d spent most of her time serving the Widowed Sector, where she met a boy her age.”
“They fell in love,” I said, knowing exactly where this story was headed.
“I don’t think that it was love. I’d say it was longing more than anything,” he corrected. “She knew what would happen if she began a relationship with a resident, especially one from the Widowed Sector, but she didn’t care.”
“What was her name?” I took a seat next to Milo, resting my head in my hand.
“Miranda,” he said, smiling. “She was a lot like you, you know.”
“I’m not entirely sure that is a good thing.”
“It is.” Milo reached for my hand.
Wow! This one sounds great!

Available from: (only $.99!)

About the Author

Nicole Sobon is the
author of the Emile Reed Chronicles, Capture, No Place Like Home, and various
short stories.

***Author
Links***

***GIVEAWAY***

2 signed copies of Submerged in paperback
plus swag (Program 13 and Deprogrammed bookmarks) (INT)

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SIA is Unforgettable–Review and Giveaway!

Hi there and welcome to my stop on the SIA Blog Tour sponsored by YA Bound Book Tours. For other stops on the tour click here. Today’s book on review is a YA romance by debut author Josh Greyson and it’s a good one!

Summary from Goodreads:
When seventeen-year-old Sia wakes up on a park bench, she has no idea who or where she is. Yet after a week of being homeless, she’s reunited with her family. At school, she’s powerful and popular. At home, she’s wealthy beyond her dreams. But she quickly realizes her perfect life is a lie. Her family is falling apart and her friends are snobby, cruel and plastic. Worse yet, she discovers she was the cruelest one. Mortified by her past, she embarks on a journey of redemption and falls for Kyle, the “geek” she once tormented. Yet all the time she wonders if, when her memories return, she’ll become the bully she was before…and if she’ll lose Kyle.

My Review:
This YA adventure is fast-paced and captivating. Sia comes to awareness in a park wearing nothing but a hot-pink bra top and running shorts and her gym shoes. She has an iPod, no ID, no money, and no idea who (or where) she is. For the next eight days her life is all about survival. After being propositioned by many and nearly kidnapped by a pimp, Sia is cared for by Carol, a homeless woman who helps as best she can.

Through her friendship with Carol, Sia learns the skills she needs to survive on the streets. They sleep under bridges and make the rounds of soup kitchens, aiming to find day work to make a little cash. One morning, a boy from her high school sees Sia in line at the soup kitchen and accuses her of pranking everyone. Scared, Sia flees the shelter and is hit by a car. When she wakes in the hospital, the doctors recognize Sia’s condition–dissociative fugue–a rare type of temporary amnesia that has wiped out all of Sia’s memories.

Her parents come to claim her and she’s unsettled and mystified, but she’s apparently very wealthy. Resuming her old life, Sia learns she was the high school mean girl: beautiful and nasty wrapped in a designer label. The new Sia can’t reconcile the way she now feels with the person she used to be. Her friends and boyfriend are stunned by her new sensitivity, and really don’t want to accept this tidal wave of social change, so Sia helps them out. By moving on. She tries to strike up new friendships, with mixed success, and is certain that there’s something about Kyle that she really likes. He’s the boy from the shelter. The one who smells like his parents’ bakery. The one who volunteers his time helping the homeless and recent earthquake victims.

For the new Sia, this world where a thin veneer of “perfection” overlays her father’s dismal financial state and her mother’s alcoholism, is something she can strive to overcome. A world she can make better. This is Sia’s “Do Over” and she makes the most of it. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and read it in one sitting. It’s YA, but will appeal to upper MG grade readers and adults who love a good YA redemption tale.

Interested? You can find SIA at Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Kobo.

What others think about SIA…
“A compelling read full of intrigue, romance, and lots of surprises. I couldn’t wait to see what happened next!” – Jennifer Read Hawthorne, #1 New York Times bestselling author

“There have been very few books that made me think they made to someday become a movie (i.e. Warm Bodies, The Host). And I guess Sia can join the club, because this book, I say, is perfect for it. I felt like I was reading a script for a movie, the plot is fantastic and the characters are great, there’s a little of humor as well as tragic situations.” -Bookish Randomness—I agree! The book read like a screenplay–V

“Well I finished this book amazingly fast. This whole book will leave you amused, intrigued, in awe, and most importantly in love with the whole story line until the very last word. I’ll have to go with 5 stars for this book.” – Lovely Reads

“Beautifully written…this one will have you reflecting on your current and past actions. Although a fiction, Sia inspires.” –A Starry-eyed Heart Review

About the Author
Josh Grayson was born in Mexico, raised in Massachusetts, and now lives in Martinsville, Virginia. It was his move to the South that stirred his imagination and gave him the courage to start writing. During his free time, Josh enjoys reading, jogging, swimming, and watching YouTube videos.

Josh currently works as a medical driver, shuttling people all over Virginia and North Carolina. He has also worked as a machinist, film sales rep, administrative assistant, and telemarketer (he apologizes if he called you). You can catch up with Josh on his website, Goodreads, Facebook, and twitter.

Sia is his debut YA novel.

***GIVEAWAY***

Click the Rafflecopter link below for your chance to win:

5 print copies of SIA (US only)

5 ebooks copies of SIA (INT)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Best of luck and, as always, keep reading my friends!

Check out REAP–Book Blitz and Giveaway!

Reap (YA Paranormal Romance Novella)

by Christina Channelle

Now Available!

Summary from Goodreads:

Foreign, or rather unfamiliar, would be the word I would use to describe how I felt.Faintly, I could hear the glimmer of voices surrounding me in this dark haze, caressing my ears like skin against silk. I felt like I was in a cocoon of sorts, protectively enveloped, quietly drifting in some far-off place. I wanted to stay that way forever.But we all know that what you want never really seems to happen in the real world.
Something’s not right in Mia’s head.

The first thing is that her name isn’t Mia. In fact, she has no clue what her name is—who she is. All that she knows is that she’s not like the ones who found her: Dante with his kind blue eyes, Amy with her child-like demeanor, James with his questioning gaze.

And Briggs.

The one she cannot decipher no matter how hard she tries.

As Mia tries to fit in with these people, a strange occurrence is amidst outside. And as she finally remembers who she is …

Well, let’s just say that things get a little more complicated.

How about a tease?
I opened my eyes but had to squeeze them shut against the harsh lights. My lids felt swollen, heavy with fatigue. My eyes burned, tears leaking from their corners.
It was the most uncomfortable of feelings.
I must have been dreaming.
“Hello?”
Although the word seemed alien to me, almost as if I had never heard it before, I instantly understood its meaning. The voice that had spoken was warm, making me feel as if I were suddenly sitting in front of a fireplace, wrapped in a heavy blanket, flames crackling. The heat of the word practically licked my skin.
Again, I tried opening my eyes, this time a bit more cautiously. Blinking, I slowly adjusted to the artificial lights, now able to see.
I found myself staring back into a pair of bright blue eyes, a look of wariness in their depths. For a brief moment I couldn’t look away as I stared up at him. Then he cleared his throat and glanced away, as if uncomfortable with my gaze. With the spell of his eyes broken, it was then that I noticed I was lying on the ground—no, on hardwood floor.
And with not one, but three interested faces peering down at me.
I sat up, then winced at the abruptness of my movement, bringing my hand to the back of my head.
Pain, my mind whispered.
“Careful now.”
I directed my eyes toward the person who had spoken such kind words. It was the first person I had noticed, the one with the blue eyes and the warm voice. His voice was deep and calming, and as I sat there I tried to think of the emotion I should be experiencing. Inhaling softly, I closed my eyes, ignored the painful throb in my head, and waited for the proper term to flutter into my mind.
Gratitude.
“Where did you come from?”
Satisfied I had found the correct word, I opened my eyes again to the voice speaking to me. It was a pleasant voice, reassuring to say the least, and immediately captured my attention.
At that moment, I didn’t notice the black hair atop his head, a striking contrast against his blue eyes that looked like I was staring into an ocean. I didn’t notice that the corners of his eyes crinkled up when he smiled kindly at me, complementing the single dimple in his right cheek. By just looking at him, anyone could tell that he was someone who knew how to laugh. But I didn’t notice any of that.
All those things I would notice later.

Available from: (only $.99!)

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photo 111AD205-AA04-4F9E-A0F4-C1264C4E9F30-1855-000001A1E8CEB6D7_zps9b730b94.jpg

About the Author

A dreamer, Christina Channelle holds two degrees in health sciences but has always had a passion for writing. You will find her reading other young adult novels, or typing up a new story on her computer. When not writing, Christina spends her free time at the movies, listening to music, or eating sushi. She’s a reality TV junkie and has a close relationship with many characters on TV that have been a topic of many heated discussions among friends. She resides in Ontario, Canada.

Her newest project is the YA Paranormal Romance, REAP, was released October 11, 2013.

Author Links:

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*GIVEAWAY*

3 – Ebooks of Reap with bookmark (INT)

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Saving THE CHEESECAKE QUEEN–Review and Giveaway!

Hi there and welcome to my stop on THE CHEESECAKE QUEEN blog tour, sponsored by YA Bound Book Tours. For other stops on the tour click here. This contemporary romance is newly released from Miranda Koerner.

Sugar Rule 1: Christmas is the perfect time for cheesecake.

Sugar Rule 2: Men are as useful as burnt cookies.

Book Summary:
After losing her reporting job to layoffs at the local paper, Caeleah Turner’s pity party at the airport is interrupted by a woman claiming to know the location of the world’s best cheesecake. Intrigued, Caeleah trades plane tickets with the woman and finds herself in Chestnut, Colorado, a tiny town hiding a woman known as the Cheesecake Queen. The Cheesecake Queen not only bakes the best cheesecakes in the country, but her cheesecake is known to cure everything from infertility to baldness—one woman even loses 100 pounds on it! There is a thick batter of secrets behind The Cheesecake Queen and her two sisters, who operate all the bakeries in town.

But as the mayor’s efforts to shut down the Sugar sisters before Christmas gear up, Caeleah finds herself wanting to sample his own treats.

There’s a bigger secret than love to Cinnamon’s cheesecakes. And Caeleah is determined to find out what it is.

My review:
This romp with the mystical Sugar family is a hoot! Caeleah is an unemployed food writer on her way back to Chicago following a failed interview when a strange woman convinces her to switch planes in the hunt for America’s best cheesecake.

In tiny Chestnut, Colorado, the Sugar sisters, Cinnamon, Nutmeg and Ginger, have been baking up prize desserts under the tutelage of Sugar Mama for years. Unfortunately, Mayor Nathan Watson (a Mayor Bloomberg parody, no doubt) is preparing to shut down their bakeries as a health menace. All that sugar and white flour and fat will surely cause diabetes or heart disease in the population if left unregulated, right?

In the quest for her story Caeleah learns the unsavory secrets between Ginger Sugar and Mayor Watson. They once had a blazing passion, but it soured after the High School prom. Caeleah, a lover all culinary delights, attempts to sway the mayor into being reasonable–a few sweets can’t possibly be that bad, right? Nonetheless, the mayor pursues his health initiative and Caeleah with equal vigor–even shutting down Cinnamon’s cheesecake bakery on Christmas Eve.

Caeleah is pretty sure she can end the small-town bitterness by reversing the effects of a botched love spell Ginger cooked up on prom night seventeen years ago–a disastrous recipe that turned Nathan against the Sugar sisters and all that they bake. The secret lay in the closely-guarded Black Book. Caeleah puts her job and new friendships on the line to discover the secret behind the Sugar family and their cursed love affairs. Of course, getting the mayor to stand down his calorie crusade will be difficult…and yummy!

For an adult romance it’s a surprisingly innocent tale with plenty of misdirection and lots and lots of cheesecake. Make sure to brush your teeth after reading or you’ll end up with a toothache.

Interested? You can find THE CHEESECAKE QUEEN at Goodreads, Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

About the Author
Miranda Koerner is a writer living in San Antonio, Texas, with her husband and two Chihuahuas. A former children’s magazine editor and reporter for Prime Time Newspapers and the Express-News, Miranda has written for The Current, Taste, Chicken Soup for the Soul and many other publications. Her YA novel The Butterfly Dress was published by Girl E books and is available through Amazon.com and Smashwords. She is anticipating her next novel, Blue Mermaid, with Turquoise Morning Press in April 2013.

You can find more about Miranda on Facebook and twitter.

***GIVEAWAY***

3 ebook copies of The Cheesecake Queen (INT)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Can one boy KEEP ME STILL?–Tour Review and Giveaway!

Hi there and Welcome to my stop on the KEEP ME STILL blog tour sponsored by InkSlinger Promotions. Today I’m reviewing a YA Romance from best-selling author Caisey Quinn, whose GIRL WITH GUITAR I absolutely loved…

BOOK SUMMARY:
Layla Flaherty had the perfect life, or close to it. Until a stranger gunned her parents down right in front of her, leaving her with seizure inducing PTSD. After years of trying to pass as normal and failing miserably, she resigns herself to being invisible. But new to town Landen O’Brien sees her, and he likes what he sees. Much to Layla’s surprise, he doesn’t freak out when she has a seizure in front of him. He does the exact opposite, calming her until the tremors subside. But Landen has secrets of his own. Secrets that both bind them together and tear them apart.

Scarred by loss, Layla leaves her hometown of Hope Springs, Georgia, hoping to put her painful past behind her and start over in college in California. When she runs into Landen at freshmen orientation, she has a choice to make. Reinforce those steel walls she’s built up around herself or give the only boy who can keep her still a second chance.

Landen’s more than ready to tear down those walls but this time when they come crashing down, they might bury her.

My Review:
This YA/New Adult Romance is an emotional rollercoaster. Layla is used to being the invisible girl–until Landen comes along. His unabashed affection brings her out of her isolation and causes her to hope that love is possible. That perhaps everybody doesn’t leave.

Until he does. His mother is separating from his abusive father and he’s moving to Colorado. Heartbroken, Layla can’t move on, but a new diagnosis helps her see that she can give up on life, or actually live it.

She moves to LA to go to USC only to reunite with Landon. Can she trust him again, is one huge question. But, more importantly, should she give in to her desire knowing that her medical issues will guarantee her time with him is finite?

It’s a difficult decision, for sure. Especially when Layla learns that she doesn’t have any secrets. Landon’s the one keeping everything from her.

I enjoyed this one. I’ve been a Quinn fan since GIRL WITH GUITAR and was not disappointed here. The emotions run high, but not to the melodramatic. Given the additional novellas–LET YOU LEAVE and KEEP US CLOSE that come along for the ride, the story is well-rounded and touching. Watching these broken souls find peace is a satisfying journey. I think the book(s) are fine for any upper YA reader. The smexytimes aren’t terribly graphic and make sense within the book’s plot lines.

Interested? You can find KEEP ME STILL at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Kobo.

About the fan-tab author:
Caisey Quinn lives in Birmingham, Alabama with her husband, daughter, and other assorted animals. She is the bestselling author of the Kylie Ryans series as well as several New Adult Romance novels featuring country girls finding love in unexpected places. You can find her online at her website, Goodreads, Facebook and twitter.

***GIVEAWAY****
Want a chance to win a $50 Gift Card (1), a KEEP ME STILL Kindle Case (1), and a swag pack (1). Plus signed copies of WISH I MAY by Lexi Ryan (1) , BREAK IT UP by E.M. Tippetts (1), and a winner’s choice title from Elizabeth Lee (1)? Click the link below to enter!

5 winners get one or more of these prizes! US only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Don’t forget to let me know if you pick up KEEP ME STILL and if you liked it!

And, as always, keep reading my friends!

CLAN–Book Blitz and Giveaway!

Clan
by Realm Lovejoy
Release Date: 11/12/13
Summary from Goodreads:
Clans are Unity.
No variation. No deviation.
On Clades, to be a Clan is to be an exact copy.
A perfect society cloning themselves to survive, even as the zombielike Frags threaten to overrun them on an unforgiving planet.
Clan 1672 (privately known as Twain) was never supposed to survive the Incubation Tank.
But he did. Illegally.
He is different from the other Clans.
A secret that could destroy him.

How about a little tease?
The fetuses all faced the same way. The glass curved and magnified them until every trickle of vein was visible.
“Clans, do not tap on the glass, as you may disturb your fetus Brethren.”
Luge continued forward in the dark tunnel toward the large monitor embedded in the wall. It was blue and various data splashed across it—numbers, graphs.
Twain lagged behind the outermost edge of the group until he could barely see Luge. The bubbling blue fluid in the cases around him had a saltwater smell. Though most probably did not notice, Twain knew the scent too well. Whenever he had his nausea episode, he had to soak in a vat of Incubation Fluid—regenerative for cells, his sponsor had said. It was lukewarm and had a musty salt smell, like blood. Just remembering the fluid provoked nausea.
Twain rubbed his head and stared at the ground, blinking rapidly and chewing his lip. His vision dimmed as the bitter taste in his mouth brought him back to reality. Please don’t get sick…
“I think he looked at us,” someone whispered with childlike wonder. 1249’s nose was almost touching the glass capsule. The light put a halo around his slightly rumpled hair. He wasn’t chewing his gum today, but he still had the sugary scent on him.
“His eyes are closed,” Twain said. “They just look open because his eyelids are transparent.”
1249’s eyes caught the blue light when he turned away from the fetus. “In which case, he sees through them…”
“Sure.” Twain looked back to the floor and took a large gulp of air. Nausea crawled through his stomach.
“Are you all right?”
Twain looked up. “What?”
“I asked if you were all right.”
Twain noted that 1249 said “I.” Only Father Krume and the First-Batchers were allowed to say that. Was he trying to act like the leaders of Clan?
“Why would you ask something like that?”
“You look ill.”
Twain tried to rectify his posture as he turned his face away. 1249 is strange.
“You have a bruise on your face,” 1249 continued.
Twain grimaced. “You can see it?”
“How can I not?”
“We thought… nobody noticed.” Twain’s eyes darted over to 1348 who was standing among the cluster of students up ahead.
“You afraid of him?” 1249 whispered.
“Afraid? I…” Twain started, but the word “I” hung in the sticky air.
Slowly, 1249’s mouth curved into a smile.
Twain backed away.
“My name is Buster,” 1249 said.

Kinda like high school, huh? 🙂
In all seriousness, the book sounds great and I can’t wait to read it…

Kirkus Reviews: “In this fast-paced novel, Lovejoy uses economical prose while developing the story’s characters and setting in detail. She also meets the challenge of creating memorable characters in a world of identical people…” (Read
more here!)

Available from:

About the Author
Realm Lovejoy is a writer and an artist. She was raised in Washington State and the alps of Nagano, Japan. Her father is a Japanese ex-monk and her mother an English teacher from Rhode Island. Her art is influenced by both the East and the West.
Realm aspires to tell stories through her writing and art.
She is agented by Jessica Regel. Her upcoming YA sci-fi novel is titled CLAN, is newly released.
Author Links:

***GIVEAWAY***

1 Signed Paperback + CLAN Button + Signed Illustration from Paperback (6×8) (US only)

6 Paperbacks of CLAN (US only)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Blitz
hosted by:

Flooded with emotion FORTY DAYS/FORTY NIGHTS–Reviews and Giveaway!

Hi there! Today I’m blitzing Stephanie Parent’s two-part YA epic historical romance. Why? Because they rock…As you will see below.

Forty Days (Neima’s Ark #1)

by Stephanie Parent

Summary from Goodreads:

The entire village knows Neima’s grandfather is a madman. For years the old man has prophesied that a great flood is coming, a flood disastrous enough to blot out the entire earth. He’s even built an enormous ark that he claims will allow his family to survive the deluge. But no one believes the ravings of a lunatic…
…until the rain starts. And doesn’t stop. Soon sixteen-year-old Neima finds her
entire world transformed, her life and those of the people she loves in peril. Trapped on the ark with her grandfather Noah, the rest of her family, and a noisy, filthy, and hungry assortment of wild animals, will Neima find a way to survive?
With lions, tigers, and bears oh my, elephants and flamingos too, along with rivalries and betrayals, a mysterious stowaway, and perhaps even an unexpected romance, FORTY DAYS is not your grandfather’s Noah’s Ark story.
My Review:
Holy Moly! So to be clear, while the center of this story is Noah and the flood, the heart of the story is Neima–the awkward, ungainly grand-daughter of Noah. She’s sixteen and an independent thinker, even if she doesn’t say what she thinks often.

Still, she’s dutiful, and follows orders even when it means loading the Ark. The Ark that she’s hated her entire life. Because that Ark has poisoned her entire village. It looms over everyone, and the villagers find her whole family tainted by Noah’s perceived madness.

Her two best friends, Debya and Jorin, stand by her side until the unthinkable happens.
Neima’s cousin Kenaan–a highly attractive young man–sure that they will be betrothed actually takes the matter into his own hands. He attempts to coerce Neima into relations, which breaks Debya’s heart and sets Jorin back. See, Jorin’s always loved Neima. And Debya wanted Kenaan for herself.

And then the flood happens. And Neima’s trapped on the Ark with Kenaan, his parents and sister, her parents, grandparents, and another uncle and aunt–and about a million stinking animals. All her friends are washed away. Gone. Destroyed in this One God’s watery wrath.
Neima can’t make sense of this new world. This world where Noah isn’t crazy and Kenaan stalks her in the shadows.

Until she finds the stowaway. One she’s willing to cast her life overboard to save.

FORTY DAYS is heady and amazing and nothing I imagined it would be. It does contain a cliffhanger ending.

Readers looking for a traditional, religiously oriented version of the Noah’s Ark story should be warned that FORTY DAYS may not appeal to them. The novel will, however, appeal to lovers of apocalyptic fiction, historical fiction, and romance, as well as anyone who’s ever dreamed of having a baby elephant as a pet.

Get your FREE copy:

Forty Nights (Neima’s Ark #2)

by Stephanie Parent

Release Date: September 2013

Summary from Goodreads:

Neima, her family, and her grandfather Noah have found themselves trapped aboard an ark as a great flood destroys all life in the world. As their time aboard the ark lengthens, food begins to run out, wild animals grow restless, and family tensions become as much of a threat as the flood outside. In the second and final installment of Neima’s Ark, the stakes are higher, the conflicts are greater, and Neima finds herself facing a choice as impossible as the destruction all around her.

Forty Nights is a continuation of the story begun in Forty Days, and it’s recommended that you read Forty Days first for the best experience. Forty Nights does, however, contain a character guide to refresh readers’ memories. The Neima’s Ark series is a historical, feminist reimagining of the story of Noah’s Ark rather than a religiously oriented one, and the novels are best suited for readers who are comfortable with new interpretations of biblical stories.

My Review:
When I survived my mini-heart attack from the ending of FORTY DAYS I popped open FORTY NIGHTS.

The story picks up at the exact right moment, a moment where Neima raises her voice to be heard. When the horrors of the past are opened to the light of day. The stowaway has been found and his life is forfeit. Noah is certain only family is to survive–and Neima’s uncle vows to toss himself over, too–sure that his lineage is tainted.

It is Nezmar, Noah’s wife, who acts as the voice of reason. And still, the danger isn’t over. A freak fire and an unnecessary slaughter are blamed upon the stowaway…meanwhile the rain pounds down.

For Neima, it is a time of strife and constant vigilance to keep herself safe from Kenaan and the other predators lurking in the Ark’s holds. But time and again Neima demonstrates that strength is not always physical. Her burgeoning love for the young man whose life she had spared reminds her there are bigger things to hope for, a future to look forward to, perhaps. And love is a force in it’s own right.

With an unlikely ally and her mother’s blessing, Neima finds the strength to overcome her past, and build the future she couldn’t have dreamed.

So powerful. I just really loved this ending. But, then again I loved the beginning and the middle, too. It is a fully realized story of hope and faith and love, that while not religious, calls us to find that inner peace and resilience that most people have cast aside. I picked up on Stephanie Parent back in the summer when I downloaded PRECIOUS THINGS and, after FORTY DAYS and FORTY NIGHTS, I know I’ll be looking for more of her work soon.

Available from:

PRAISE FOR THE NEIMA’S ARK SERIES:

“Stephanie Parent takes a story I would have immediately shrugged off and turned it into a story with a surprising amount of reality and despite being religious based is not at all religious. Stephanie somehow created a paradox… When I think of a word to describe this story I think, layers.
The tension is extremely layered. We get internal tension among the characters, tension relating to the animals, and tension from the storming raging outside. It’s not even supernatural elements, it’s all practical points like food and animal needs. The characters are also well defined and fleshed out.”

–Michelle, In Libris Veritas

The romance is slow and imperfect, but it’s realistic and believable. I can honestly say that this love story is one of if not the best one I’ve read so far…a very thrilling read full of some great twists…[the ending] was everything I could have asked for and more, it was a perfect ending to an imperfectly perfect story.

–Zachary Flye, Zach’s YA Reviews

About the Author

Stephanie Parent is a graduate of the Master of Professional Writing program at USC and attended the Baltimore School for the Arts as a piano major. She moved to Los Angeles because of Francesca Lia Block’s WEETZIE BAT books, which might give you some idea of how much books mean to her. She also loves dogs, books about dogs, and sugary coffee drinks both hot and cold.

***Author Links***

*GIVEAWAY*

1- ebook of Forty Nights & $10 Amazon Gift Card
(INT)

2- ebook copies of Forty Nights (INT)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Reviews, Rants and Rambles from a mom and pre-published author

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