Reviews

Books I’ve read and reviewed

He Doesn’t Have a HEART OF STONE After All–A Review

Saving the world? That’s woman’s work!

Heart of Stone (Gargoyles, #1)I nabbed HEART OF STONE off of NetGalley just so I could see if Christine Warren could write Urban Fantasy as hot as Karen Marie Moning.

Mmm mmm mmm. Good stuff.

About the Book:

Ella Harrow is trying to carve out a normal life for herself. Well, as normal as an art geek with psychic abilities can hope for. As museum docent and gift-shop manager, Ella is able to keep her distance from people—and her powers in check—while surrounding herself with the artifacts she loves. But how on earth is she supposed to act normal when a thousand-year-old statue on the museum’s terrace suddenly comes to life?

Not your ordinary gargoyle, Kees has been asleep for eons, waiting for a portent of evil to wake him from his slumber. Kees isn’t a vision; he’s a bat-winged guardian created to protect the world from the seven demons of the Dark. Somehow, Ella triggered his reawakening. Maybe the demons have been unleashed? Maybe his heart is finally ready to be chiseled open? The fate of the world isn’t carved in stone…yet.

My Review:

This was a super fun read. Ella is spunky. She’s got a terrible amount of power that she strains to contain–particularly after the last time it escaped. Becoming an instant orphan will teach a gal control. One night she’s attacked on the terrace of the art museums where she works and the statue beside her erupts into life.  It’s enough to make a gal swoon. She did.

Kees isn’t just a delicious art-come-to-life–he’s a Guardian, and he knows the world is in big trouble when an untried, untamed magical girl can rouse him from his mystical slumber. Together they learn that the Keepers of Light are being systematically hunted down by the minions of Darkness. WIthout the Guardians Earth has no hope to prevent demonic subjugation. Kees fights against his emotional reactions–claiming to be nothing more than the stone he is–but Ella insists there’s more to him than he will accept.

Let’s just say this: End of times doesn’t normal equal romance, but the heat simmered from their first contact–long before they recognized the danger they were in. And, I am NOT a gal who’s going to get miffed about some serious friction. Bam-chicka-bow-wow.

Kees? D-Lish. Makes me want to hit the Art Institute just to see if I can find me some Guardian…

In any case, Ella and Kees do get it right and track down the last Keeper they can find. Unfortunately he’s torched soon thereafter by the Big Baddies. And they continue the hunt for both Keepers and Guardian statues–the remaining six which seem to be scattered to the four winds. All while dodging the Dark Ones. Ella’s standoff in her childhood home leaves her with far better magical skills, and a few less enemies.

It seems, instead of the usual rituals to awaken these magnificent defenders of humanity, a single woman of power can entreat the creature within to break his stony bonds–much like Ella did for Kees–if she is his true mate. And one of Ella’s art friends may have found another Guardian. As this is the beginning of a new Gargoyles series, I expect there to be six similar books where a smart sassy gal brings her personal stony savior to life all to save the world.

In total I liked the magical elements. I felt that Ella wasn’t clueless, but needed training to use the powers she always knew she had. And Kees did train her. Hard. With his teaching, and some books gleaned from essential support characters, Ella built herself from a danger into a weapon for good–and in far less time than Mac Lane. Also, did I mention the sex? Kinda like voting in Chicago it happens early and often… Nice.

Interested? You can find HEART OF STONE at your local bookstore, Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble and iBooks.

If you pick this one up, make sure to come back and tell me your thoughts.

In the meantime, keep reading my friends! 🙂

Now Available–WAITING ON MY REASON–Review and Giveaway

Release Event

WAITING ON MY REASON  BY DEVON ASHLEY

Waiting on my Reason Front Cover (1)

Release Date: January 21, 2014  New Adult Romantic Suspense

Barnes & Noble       Amazon       Goodreads       Kobo

Synopsis:

Things always happen for a reason. I just wish I knew the why behind mine.

Five years ago, graduation wasn’t what it was supposed to be. Publicly humiliated, Melanie was more than happy to kiss off her high school sweetheart. But in doing so, she lost more than just her boyfriend, she lost the only other guy she truly cared for – his best friend, Shane.

Shane loathed the idea of returning to his small hometown. He just wanted to get in, help his best friend manage a legal matter, and get the hell back out again. But he wasn’t expecting to run into the one girl who got away, who always held a piece of his heart despite the animosity that lingered. Melanie could’ve been the one, but after everything that happened, trust was a serious issue.

Melanie just wanted to do right by her son. Shane just wanted to do right by his best friend. And just when they think they can find the strength to forgive the sins of the past, more secrets and lies bubble to the surface, threatening to push them even farther apart.

My Review:

I received a review copy of this book from the author. And I devoured it.

Shane Matthews has returned to his small town in Texas to secure the inheritance for his childhood best friend, Brad Montgomery. Brad’s had a bad run ever since Melanie busted his heart senior year. Booze and drugs have left Brad in a bad way–emotionally and financially. What Shane can’t understand is why Brad’s grandma didn’t leave him his fortune…and who did get it!

Back on his home turf, Shane encounters Melanie–the girl who got away, and destroyed his friend. She’s as good looking as ever, and clearly the interest is mutual, but Shane can’t get past his fury over Melanie’s role in Brad’s downward spiral. He insults her–terribly.

Melanie’s been considered the town tramp since senior year. Instead of escaping to Tulane for college, she’s stuck out her life, working hard and harder to support herself, and her son. Brad’s son. Not that people believe her story of an assault while on a college visit. Brad hadn’t. Then again, Brad was a lush in high school, and Shane should have known that–if he was such a good friend. Melanie knows exactly what happened to Brad’s “inheritance” but she’s not willing to spill the beans to Shane–or Brad. Why should she have to? Brad’s been gone for years, and hasn’t looked back once. Not for Melanie, their son, or his grandmother. Now broke, he certainly doesn’t deserve anything.

What we have here is a small-town, small-minds melodrama. It’s real, and engaging and reads like 2/3 of Maury Povich episodes. Lots of accusations and false leads. Even more hurt feelings and complete misunderstandings.

The whole time I wanted shake Shane and tell him to take good hard look at Brad. See him for the miserable conniving wretch he was. The DBag didn’t deserve gas money, let alone a dime of inheritance IMHO. When Shane does finally get the straight story, he’s introduced a whole lot more problems for himself, and Melanie. But he’s a stand-up guy and one with whom Melanie is overjoyed to reconnect. It seemed as though their love story was always waiting on the fringe, just out of reach in high school because of their own decency and friendship with Brad. In any case, the lovin’ is quiet, but considerate. It’s a satisfying read, for sure.

Interested? You can find WAITING ON MY REASON at Barnes & Noble,  Amazon,  Goodreads, and Kobo

About the Author
I’m a mom, wife, a lover and a fighter, coffee addict, wicked knitster, Microbiologist, baker of fine yummy treats, and someone who will fight you to death for that last bag of M&Ms during the zombie-apocalypse. Seriously, my addiction is that important to me. Oh, and I say seriously way too much. Seriously.

You can find out more about Devon Ashley on GoodReads, Facebook, or her Blog.

***GIVEAWAY***

Click on the Rafflecopter link below for your chance to win one of

(3) Signed print copies of Waiting On My Reason – US Only
or (1) $15 USD toward the Book Depository – International (countries the Book Depository delivers)
a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

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Love is…WISH FOR YOU–Review and Giveaway!

Wish-For-You-Tour-Banner

Hi there and welcome to my stop on the WISH FOR YOU blog tour sponsored by AToMR Book Tours. Forother stops on the tour click here. Today’s book is a New Adult romance by best-selling author Marquita Valentine.

Wish for You front coverBook Summary:
There’s only one place in the world Lacey Evans feels normal- the roller derby track. When she laces up her skates and fastens her helmet, she’s powerful and in charge. She knows exactly what to do and what to say. The rules are clear and penalties are enforced for those who don’t follow them. But in the read world, she’s far from powerful and in charge. She never knows exactly what to do and say. For years, she counted on one person to be exactly who he said he was–her best friend, Wyatt Tanaka. Only she changed the rules on him, without any warning, and now she’s the one being punished.

Marine veteran, Wyatt Tanaka, came home to a heroes welcome. But he’s hiding a secret, one that could potential destroy his life. He’s doing the best he can, trying to cope with the guilt and the pain of the girl he loves pushing him away by doing all the things he’d sworn not too. Women, bars, drugs and drinking are what consume him. With Lacey’s new rules, he has nothing to hold on to. Nothing to keep in from feeling dead.

Then one night, he goes too far, gets in too deep, and when the truth comes out… will Lacey keep pushing him away or help save him?

My Review:
Well. This book took me through a few really squicky turns. I have a bit of insight into PTSD–family members who suffer(ed). And I also have known quite a few vets who wallow in intoxication, trying to bury their pain. Perhaps that’s why I had such a visceral reaction–because I know how real this experience is for countless men and women who’ve returned from the front lines.

At the time we join the story wounded veteran Wyatt is in full wallow. He feels responsible for the death of his battle buddy and has returned home where everyone wants him to be ‘normal’. He couldn’t find normal with a GPS and a set of MRE’s, yet he tries to pretend. He hungers for Lacey though they’ve only ever shared a few kisses. He’s sure he’s not good enough for her–and she confirms that by pushing him away. Booze and pot have helped mellow him out, but, without Lacey, he’s hitting the hard stuff–coke and prostitutes–looking for any release from his pain. Sure, he keeps his weekly appointments with his counselor; therapy only works if you’re honest. And he can’t be honest. Not about the drugs, not about the women, and not about the death of his buddy.

Lacey’s tortured by Wyatt’s downward slide. She loves him with every breath in her lungs, but she’s not the girl Wyatt deserves–in her opinion. Oh, and his mother’s opinion, too. See, Lacey’s not-alright. She has all-consuming panic attacks when her schedule deviates. And her schedule is about to get tossed into the recycling bin–now that her family is headed to Turkey as missionaries. Except for Lacey. She’s too old to go as a dependent and now she needs a place to live. Good thing Wyatt has a spare bedroom.

Wyatt’s almost a split personality. He can’t bear being just friends with Lacey. His counselor advises that he take whatever connection she’ll offer–and they each try to set the other up with dates. Total disaster, that. Fury drives Wyatt far past his usual binges and he nearly OD’s. Lacey is called in to support Wyatt, allowing his mother the chance to explain how sorry she was for ever questioning Lacey as a mate for Wyatt.

Still they have issues to work through. Wyatt needs more counseling, and Lacey’s diagnosis doesn’t help matters. There is a point of compromise, however, and a comfortable solution. It’s not the typical HEA–because we know there will be more bumps down the road–but there is confidence that their future will be good.

For me, I had a lot of trouble with Wyatt. He’s stubborn, abrupt and erratic with little consideration for himself, or Lacey. I wished like hell that he’d let go of his (irrational) guilt and just be the kind of guy Lacey needed. As for Lacey, I was a bit stunned how quickly she let Wyatt flop into her bed. She’s a devout Christian girl, and yes, she loves Wyatt–has for years–but it was lightspeed macking action. Their inability to communicate honestly really gave me (and them) fits. I’m not a huge fan of complications based on dishonesty–not saying that everyone must be candid all the time–I just want more of a romantic hurdle than simply “I can’t tell you the real problem.” Even in his biggest crisis, Lacey had to hear the real truth by eavesdropping before Wyatt would confess. By the end they were actually being truthful, and gained a bit more of my respect. And, Wyatt getting clean helped even more. I think readers who enjoy a good redemption tale will find their wishes fulfilled with this story.

Interested? You can find WISH FOR YOU at Goodreads, Amazon and Barnes and Noble

marquita valentine author pictureAbout the Author

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author, Marquita Valentine, writes sexy heroes that make you swoon and sassy heroines that make you laugh. She’s the author of the bestselling contemporary romance series, Holland Springs, and the new adult romance series, Boys of the South.

Marquita met her husband (aka Hot Builder) at Sonic when they were in high school. She suggests this location to all of her single friends in search of a good man—and if that doesn’t work, they can console themselves with cheesy tatertots. She lives in North Carolina in a very, very small town with Hot Builder and their two children. You can stalk find at her website, Facebook or Twitter.

To celebrate WISH FOR YOU’s release, you can enter one of two giveaways!!

***Giveaway 1***
Continental US residents, click this Rafflecopter link for your chance to win
(1) Engraved set of dog tags from Things Remembered – Continental US Only
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***GIVEAWAY 2***

EVERYONE can click on THIS Rafflecopter link for your chance to win

(1) $100 USD Gift Card to Amazon or Barnes and Noble – International

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

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LIAR, LIAR HEARTS ON FIRE–Review and Giveaway

zane_blog_tour_ad

Hi there and welcome to my stop on the LIAR LIAR, HEARTS ON FIRE blog tour, sponsored by AToMR Book Tours. For other stops on the tour, click here. Today’s book is a “zany” contemporary romance from Jennifer Zane. It’s a hoot!

liar_liar_hearts_on_fire_72dpi_200x300 (1)Book Summary:

Violet Miller is a teacher savoring her summer break until she’s been called in as emergency reinforcements—of the dating kind. She volunteers to help an old flame by pretending to be his girlfriend. In Alaska. At a family reunion. Since the guy is a handsome, lumberjack-sized doctor she’s never quite forgotten, faking a relationship won’t be hard work.

Mike Ostranski is a desperate man on vacation. His mother wants grandchildren and sees a crazy Alaskan woman as a candidate for daughter-in-law. Mike needs Violet by his side to deflect the lady’s advances.

A week in Alaska as boyfriend and girlfriend should be easy for them. They grew up together, even had a brief fling. What could go wrong?

Everything.

My Review:

This contemporary romance has it all: crazy stalker women, scheming mothers, polyamorous Frenchmen, erotica authors, desperate bachelors, twins, antiquities thieves, Civil War era-actors, and unrequited loves. For all of the plot complications herein:  I blame it all on the sex.

See, Vi’s life would be easier if she and that strapping ginger Mike Ostranski never lost their virginity to each other on graduation night. He ruined her. Just ruined her–they had been good friends until that (highly anticipated) fateful night. But hooking up and then leaving for summer camp, then college, then medical school really left Violet with abandonment issues. Now Mike’s returned to Bozeman, Montana–and is good friends with Violet’s twin sister Veronica–but never seeks out any contact with the gal he left behind.

Until Violet is filling in for Veronica working at Bozeman, Montana’s only adult store, Goldie’s. Mike’s call is a plea for help. Aided by his mother, a stalker-neighbor has been trying to seduce him while he vacations up in Alaska. He wanted Veronica to come to his rescue and claim she was his girlfriend, but, you know, Violet will do.

Outraged, Violet refuses, but Mike’s a charmer. And, Goldie is pressing on her to get some action–or at least some closure, for goodness sake. Soon Vi’s on the red-eye to Anchorage. She’s the newest guest at the Ostranski family reunion. As, Mike’s fiance. Yeah, he had to up the game to keep his stalker at bay. Mike’s uncle, recently retired from the military, is hosting ten guests for a week before hitting the trail as a Confederate soldier in those Civil War re-enactment tours. Oh my! He’s got some quirky lines!

Meanwhile, Violet’s accosted in the shower by stalker-gal, and she handles herself well. She and Mike drift into the comfortable friendship they had in high school, spending hours fishing for salmon and making up for lost time. In fact, Mike’s romantic hand is forced, not only by his stalker, and interfering mother, but by his French cousins who would like nothing better than to make Violet the filling in their man-sandwich. Oh, and who can forget Cherry Bottoms? Yeah, that’s Vi’s alter ego–a presumably bestselling author of erotica–something she has gone to great lengths to keep hidden.

It’s a fast-paced rollicking tale of soul mates who got separated too early in their lives. Mike’s never been serious about anyone since Vi, and the flip-side is true for Vi. Still, it’s not all easy. While they fit physically, and chemically, Mike’s devotion to his career above all things isn’t fair to Violet–especially when Mike’s career path seems to take a turn for New York. And Vi isn’t willing to move.

[Side note: Having a history in teaching medical school, and still working in close contact with physicians, well, some of this tale doesn’t hold realistic water, but few readers probably understand the career paths of podiatrists and for them this will not be troubling. For me, it was.] 

In the end we get an HEA–and a coming out for Cherry. Violet’s heart does get smashed in the middle and she’s almost killed by a lunatic antiquities thief, but Mike kinda gets his act together just in time.

Speaking of time, usually I complain about pace being too slow. Not the case here. Sometimes I actually wished for a teeny bit more info. The way some characters were introduced and glossed over left me hanging–as if they were part of another book and I should simply know their backstory–but I didn’t which left me floundering at times. In all, it’s a fun read with some delicious smexytimes. Ever since OUTLANDER I’m a sucker for a strapping ginger, so I adored Mike. Particularly when he got his head on straight. People who like contemporary romance, and quirky plots with interfering family casts, will be hooked by this book.

Interested? You can find LIAR LIAR HEARTS ON FIRE at Goodreads and Amazon.

About the Author

Jennifer Zane has lived all over the country–from Georgia to Maryland, New York to Colorado, including an exciting five years in Montana. Her time in Big Sky country was the basis for this book. When she’s not writing, she savors the insanity of raising two boys, is figuring out how many meals she can make with a pressure cooker, and teaches a pretty mean karate class. She currently lives with her family in Colorado. You can find Jennifer on her blog, Facebook or Twitter.

***GIVEAWAY***

Click the Rafflecopter link below for your chance to win

one of five eBooks of Liar, Liar Hearts on Fire
a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

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Sweet and Sassy! LOVE AND CUPCAKES–A Review

Love-and-Cupcakes-Tour-Banner

Hi there! And welcome to my stop on the LOVE AND CUPCAKES blog tour sponsored by AToMR Book Tours. For other stops on the tour click here. Today’s book is a contemporary romance with some light paranormal elements (aka magical realism) by debut novelist Susan Bishop Crispell.

http://atomrbookblogtours.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/coverfinalsm-loveandcupcakes.jpgBook Summary:

For Jaclyn “Jack” Pace, sensing what sweets people crave is as easy as breathing. But it’s not enough to keep her cupcake bakery in the black.

So, when her estranged sister Harper comes back to town with an affinity for making art out of icing—and a past full of secrets—she reluctantly gives Harper a job and a place to crash.

As their sisterly relationship begins to thaw, the one with her business partner Graham starts to heat up. Given the legend that says Hollingsworth men will recognize their soul mates at first touch, Jack’s always been resigned to the fact that she’s not his.

But when she starts sensing desires that are decidedly not dessert-related, it’ll take all of her magic to set things right with customers and make her own desires come true.

My Review:

This paranormal-ish romance is a charmer. Jack’s always had the ability to sense desire from the people around her–and this is a handy skill when working in a cupcakery. It’s cute how she smells her customer’s jonesing for a peanut butter or a red velvet cupcakes, but it’s not easy on poor Jack. If those desires are too great she gets overwhelmed with headaches.

Her partner–master baker Graham Hollingsworth–is a bit of alright. He’s been BFF to Jack’s older brother Hutton forever. And, he’s got a secret power, too. One he’s not so thrilled with. All the Hollingsworth men can know their soulmate the instant they meet. This caused considerable difficulty when his dad found his soulmate twelve years into his first marriage, and abandoned him and his mother. Graham will never do that to a woman. He’s been in love with Jack since high school, but never acted on it–mostly out of fear that he would hurt Jack, but also because Hutton threatened him. In fact, they’d come to blows over it. No way Hutton wanted to see Jack hurt if Graham later found his soulmate…

Still, Graham can’t stay away. He’s totally smitten with Jack, and her resolve to not get heartbroken over Graham, along with the crushing knowledge that she’s not his soulmate, adds to the dilemma. Then, as the bakery flounders, Jack’s younger sister–the talented, beautiful, artistic Harper–slides back into town. Only her Holly-GoLightly attitude is dimmed. Harper’s secret is a Double Whopper with Cheese, folks. And it puts the whole family on edge. While Jack and Graham work to fix Harper’s mess, the ties that bind seem to loosen. Suddenly Hutton’s opinion over Jack and Graham’s pseudo-relationship isn’t so strongly considered and the chemistry between them is…delicious.

Folks, it’s a romance. Small conflicts aside, the meat of the story is the risk both Jack and Graham must take with their hearts. Knowing Jack’s super desire-sensing power, Graham has thwarted it for years it by desiring something innocuous in her presence. And when he can’t take not having Jack in his life anymore and finally confronts his father over the whole super-soulmate-finding power, Graham realizes that his perfect match had been waiting for him all along.

I liked the little magical elements. I thought Graham was D-lish, and Jack was a strong female lead. I kinda hated Hutton. He felt like such a huge, overbearing dude–and I couldn’t respect the power both Harper and Jack gave him in their love lives, but I cheered when they put him in his place and he apologized wholeheartedly. In terms of the book, I sometimes struggled with the pacing–wishing it would move just a bit faster. In all it’s a good read. Nothing too smexytimes going on; even when our new buddies get their freak on it’s a fade-to-black scenario.

Interested? You can find LOVE AND CUPCAKES at Goodreads, Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

About the Author

Susan Bishop Crispell is not one of those writers who’s been scribbling down stories since she could hold a pencil. She didn’t read constantly growing up (blasphemy!), and she can still be found in public without a book tucked into her purse (again with the blasphemy!).

She is, however, the kind of writer who lives for the imaginative spark that introduces her to a new character or story idea that pushes her to turn everyday life into something magical.

She lives and writes near Wilmington, NC. You can catch up with Susan on her website, Facebook  or Twitter.

If you have the chance to pick up LOVE AND CUPCAKES be sure to come back and let me know what you thought of it.

And, as always, keep reading my friends!

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Living With HARD GLAMOUR–Review and Giveaway

Hard-Glamour-Tour-Banner copy

Hi there and welcome to my stop on the HARD GLAMOUR blog tour sponsored AToMR Book Tours. For other stops on the tour click here. Today’s book is a New Adult Romance by Maggie Marr.

hard glam-cover
A promise to keep….
Honoring her mother’s last wish, Lane Channing vows to follow her dreams. She takes the ‘big risk’ and leaves her small Kansas town behind and heads to LA, the city of dreams. She’s got a stellar job lined up, an old jeep, and 20 bucks to last her to her first paycheck. Her hopes shatter when she arrives to find her job’s been given to someone else.  Now she’s broke and will soon be living on the streets if she doesn’t do something fast. Welcome to cutthroat – Lane is most certainly not in Kansas anymore.

On the cusp of success…
Dillon MacAvoy has one goal–to become a star–whatever it takes. Even if it means honing his bad-boy can’t-be-tamed-and-forever-single image. Besides the image isn’t far from the truth. Dillon cares only about his younger brother and his career. He’s on the brink of superstardom if he can just decide on the next right script. But for that, he needs a script reader he can trust.

In a strange twist of fate…
Lane Channing is Dillon’s last chance. If Lane lasts the summer without becoming MacAvoy’s latest conquest, she’s guaranteed a job in entertainment. No problem, as long as she can ignore the heat that pulses through her every time Dillon is in the room. After all, love and commitment with a sweet, hometown girl would only ruin the Dillon MacAvoy brand.

My Review:
Lane is in a real mess. She’s broke in LA, with no job, and her car has just been towed. The brief encounter with a gay mailboy at the talent agency didn’t seem like a portent–but it should have. That mailboy, Choo, is about to become her personal savior. See, the delightful Choo is the younger brother of a (potential) rising star–Dillon MacAvoy.

Dillon had been recently plucked from obscurity while on UCLA’s campus–tapped for his All-American good looks, he posed for some underwear ads, and a year later he’s making movies. Not quite a household name, he’s got three movies poised for release and his publicist and agent are planning to capitalize on the “Unattainable Bad Boy” image they have cultivated to maximize his marketability. As with everything Hollywood–sex sells. So Dillon’s been having a lot of it. Dillon’s a fresh talent, but he’s a terrible script reader–and all his female readers, well…they don’t last long. If you want to get into a movie, you have to know the script, so chasing away all his readers after one-night stands means Dillon’s in professional trouble.

Choo picks Lane to be Dillon’s new reader–and it’s an offer she can’t refuse. Even if she struggles with attraction to her new boss. Dillon’s finally found a girl he won’t sleep with–because Lane is too pure for his jaded tastes. He knows she’s deep down good, not one of the countless starlets looking for a little fame pop with their action. See, Dillon’s driven to succeed. He needs these movies to go big time so he can bank enough money to support himself and Choo. Their parents have disowned them–well Choo anyway–for his ‘lifestyle’. Choo’s parents had previously subjected him to radical deprogramming therapy to “cure” his homosexuality–and it nearly killed him–something Dillon will never let happen again. So he’s All In on the image-building. The bigger his paydays the better he can protect Choo, after all.

Yet, he’s desperately drawn to Lane, and she to him. For her the security of their home: Dillon, Choo and their housekeeper, is something she hasn’t had for a bit. She has no siblings and her mom just died…so Choo’s friendship is a balm, even if Dillon’s attitude flexes between frostbite and thermonuclear. And, yeah, it does get hot.

But admitting that they want each other isn’t the hardest part. No, the hardest part is Dillon keeping up his Charade of Sexiness when Lane holds his heart. And, the hard truths of the glamour business are enough to send Lane packing back to Kansas…to save herself, and any shred of a career she might want when she graduates next spring.

It’s a satisfying read. Good smexytimes. Excellent tension. A insider’s look at the PR machine that is Hollywood. Some (rather) implausible scenarios that ultimately bring the naive Lane and the aloof Dillon into each other’s embrace, but it’s a romance so we’re all just as desperate to have them reach the HEA as they are… If you like Celebrity Romance (Think: Jasinda Wilder’s STRIPPED, Sasha Summers’  HOLLYWOOD EVER AFTER, or Beck Anderson’s FIX YOU) you will not be disappointed.

Interested? You can find HARD GLAMOUR on Goodreads, Amazon or Barnes and Noble.

Maggie Marr
About the Author
Maggie Marr grew up in the Midwest and made the move to Los Angeles to work in the movie business.  She was a motion picture literary agent for ICM before becoming a full time writer.  She’s written for film and TV and ghostwritten for celebrities.  She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and children.

You can find Maggie on her blog, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads or Pinterest.

***GIVEAWAY***
Click on the Rafflecopter link below for your chance to win
one of 10 Print copies of Hard Glamour – US/Canada
or one of 10 eBook copies of Hard Glamour – International

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

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Going Over THE NAKED EDGE–Review and Giveaway

Naked-Edge-Tour-Banner

Hi there! And, welcome to my stop on the blog tour for THE NAKED EDGE sponsored by AToMR Book Tours. For other stops on the tour, click here. Today’s book is a New Adult Romance from Charlie Webb–and man does it have it’s highs, and lows…

NakedEdge_coverNew copyBook Summary:

The first time Skylar and Rowdy give themselves to each other completely–heart, mind, body and soul–is also the night Skylar disappears without a trace. Rowdy promised to love her forever. But forever is a long time when you’re only seventeen.

After years of waiting, Rowdy gives up on Skylar and tries to purge her from his memory with cheap tequila and one night stands.

When Skylar finally returns, Rowdy is no longer the shy, sweet boy she fell in love with. He’s bitter, angry and determined to protect what remains of his shattered heart. She’s determined to reclaim it, but first she has to put it back together.

Set in the eclectic town of Eldorado Springs, Colorado and Eldorado Canyon State Park, a rock climber’s paradise, “Naked Edge” is a new adult contemporary romance about perseverance, second chances and the healing power of love.

My Review:

I love Colorado. One of my uncles moved there decades ago, and since then I’ve visited many times. It’s  lush beautiful place (once you get past the Front Range into the mountainous terrain!) I’ve read a few books settled there for that reason alone. In fact the opening scene reminded me of Simone Elkeles’ Chain Reaction–what with the rock climbing and the injury–but that’s where the similarity ended.

Skylar is hoping for a second chance. At sixteen she was whisked away from the love of her life due to unforeseen, uncontrollable events. Her step-father enrolled into the witness protection program and took Skylar and her mother underground with him. But that was four years ago and much has happened. Mom’s dead, and Sky has no allegiance to her philandering step-daddy. She’s going to fight for her love, Rowdy, and win back the life she lost when she disappeared without a trace.

Rowdy had been head over heels for Sky–throughout their childhood they were smitten. She was his first, and he promised to love her, only her, for all time. Then, she was gone.

His own personal tragedies delayed his search, but he soon discovered that Sky was lost forever. Until the rescue call brought him to the cliff face where Sky and her cousin Boone dangled due to a poorly planned climb.

Now Rowdy’s love-’em-and-leave-’em-to-hide-his-pain activity is brought to light, and he’s unwilling to invest his heart to Sky again. Or, is he…

So, as far as this book went, it’s a super quick read. I had thought we’d face more of a battle between Sky and Rowdy, but they both come to terms with each other eagerly. A big conflict to be resolved, however, is the entry of Rowdy’s step-sister, Anna, into the mix. She’s obsessed with Rowdy, though no one noticed it before Sky returned. Her psychopathic activity leaves Skylar fighting for her life and turns their mutual friends into a cloak-and-dagger society. This seemed a bit extreme, for me, but Rowdy’s one of those loyal sort–doesn’t want to hurt anyone openly–which I can admire. Had I been Sky, however, I’da wrung that dude’s neck!

The story’s got a decent pace and I learned a whole lot of fancy lingo to flash about the next time I encounter a rock climber. There’s something to be said for getting close to the setting, and I could almost taste the cliff as close as we got. If you’re looking for a quick read, one where the MC’s actually loved each other deeply once and reconnect with ease, you’ll like THE NAKED EDGE. It’s not too steamy and has some interesting–or crazy, in the Fatal Attraction-lunatic sense–plot twists.

Interested? You can find The Naked Edge on Goodreads and Amazon. (Currently priced at $.99!)

Charlotte AbelAbout the Author:

Charli Webb is a new to writing New Adult, but she’s not new to writing. Her alter ego–Charlotte Abel–has been active in the YA paranormal bibliosphere for years. Her Channie series “will make you believe in magic.”

You can otherwise find Charli on Goodreads, Facebook, and twitter.

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Every Gal Needs a Little Nora–A Review

After a failed marriage, how do you let your heart love again?

What Nora KnewThat’s the problem facing Molly Hallberg in Linda Yellin‘s new contemporary romance WHAT NORA KNEW.

Molly’s a 39 y/o divorced woman living in New York. She writes the human interest column for an online magazine, EyeSpy. So, she does wacky things like go undercover as a professional bra fitter, or go parachuting, and then writes about the experience. In Molly’s wit and job antics I found an instant kinship to Bridget Jones–always a plus, for me.

Molly’s romantic misadventures are mainly limited to her philandering ex. She never dated much, and in the five years since her divorce she’s only has couple of boyfriends. Her current beau, chiropractor Dr. Russell Edley, is the epitome of “safe”. She has a pleasant time with him. Very pleasant. And comfortable.

Besides, Molly likes comfortable. Her ex was challenging and fiery. And a cheater. So, why seek out passion? It’s bound to lead to trouble, right?

Except Molly’s big new story is to write a piece about finding one’s soul mate–in the spirit of Nora Ephron. [For those who don’t know Nora Ephron think: When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle, or You’ve Got Mail, because she wrote those screenplays.] So, Molly, relationship washout and romantically-challenged Molly, is supposed to write an upbeat, quirky, fun article about finding one’s soul mate.

She bombs.

Along the way she goes undercover as a speed-dater, and meets best-selling author Cameron Duncan at a Hamptons garden party. Cameron’s recurring character Detective Mike Bing falls in love with a new girl in each book, because none of them survive to a second novel. Being a bit critical of Mike Bing’s skills as a detective, Molly’s a bit shocked to discover her anti-romance comments tweeted out by Cameron. Oh, and the Nora-like romance piece? Cameron writes it, freelance.

In fact, she’s running into Cameron at odd turns. Their repartee smacks of the Meg Ryan-Billy Crystal When Harry Met Sally back-and-forth. It’s fun and bright. Totally unlike her banter with Russell. Watching her friends, her spinster older sister–and even her grandmother!–find the passionate love they’d always sought gives Molly pause.

Had love truly existed all around her but she was too closed off to witness it? And, could she find it, too? More importantly, would she risk her comfort to grasp a real love after surviving a humiliating divorce?

In this, Molly channels Nora. Nora had been jilted. Twice. Betrayed by two husbands and a best friend. But Nora later found love and wrote some of the most timeless romances, filled with hope and risky choices. Cameron pushes all of Molly’s buttons–and she realizes that he’s really quite the decent guy. Maybe a guy worth risking her pride, and her heart, to love. Until he inadvertently scoops her coveted column…

This quiet romance pulls all the right strings. Molly learns to trust herself, and Cameron, and give love a shot. In true Ephron homage we get grand gesture ending that satisfies. I loved it.

I got an advance copy for review via NetGalley, but the book comes out January 21st. You can pre-order WHAT NORA KNEW at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.  Or, wait until next week to get it at your local bookstore.

If you pick it up make sure to come back and let me know if you liked it. And, as always, keep reading my friends!

Tragically WRECKED–Review

Wrecked-Tour-Banner copyHi there, and welcome to my stop on the WRECKED blog tour sponsored by AToMR Book Tours. For other stops on the tour click here. Today’s book is a mature New Adult romance by USA Today Bestselling Author Priscilla West. A review copy of this book was obtained through NetGalley.

Wrecked CoverBook Description:

Two years ago, Lorrie’s mother was murdered. But that wasn’t the end of it. Reeling from the tragedy, Lorrie’s father spiraled into alcohol, depression, and finally suicide.

The two most important people in Lorrie’s life are both gone but she’s still alive.

Trying to recover from the tragedy, Lorrie returns to campus, ready to pick up the pieces of her life. All Lorrie wants is to get back to “normal.”

Then she meets Hunter. The man, the legend, “The Hammer.”

Hunter is a cage fighter who takes on every fight like he’s got nothing to lose. His life is a tangled mess of girls, booze, and fist fights. And while it may seem like he’s got a devil-may-care attitude, he’s fighting a private cage-match with a monster he can’t defeat.

Lorrie knows that Hunter is exactly the type of guy she should stay away from, especially in her fragile state, but Hunter has other ideas.

As Hunter and Lorrie grow closer together, will they be able to overcome their pain and heal each other? Or will they both end up wrecked?

My Review:

I’ve read a lot of New Adult lately, and WRECKED is in the upper tier. I was able to connect to Lorrie’s character–a girl striving to overcome her personal tragedy, even if it means shutting off her emotions for a while.

And that means love, too.

Meeting Hunter was a complete accident, but the connection is strong. Lorrie isn’t able to commit to any kind of relationship, but she does agree to be friends with Hunter. On such a small college campus gossip runs heavy, in this tale. I’m not sure how realistic that is, but Hunter’s a minor celebrity due to his brawling and womanizing and Lorrie’s infamous for her personal tragedy. It’s not hard to believe that some people would notice their friendship. I had a bit of trouble believing that Lorrie would encounter so many conversations on which to eavesdrop, however. That seemed a bit too convenient, IMHO.

While she hesitates to invest her heart, Lorrie also can’t completely ignore the connections that are developing between herself and Hunter. The jealousy is strong with this gal. As is the fear of losing yet another loved one. She does however develop the strength to be vulnerable allowing she and Hunter to experience a satisfaction neither had known before.

Then, Hunter disappears. At the exact moment Lorrie really needs him he’s all Radio Silence. When she does find him it’s in the company of his former girlfriend–and he seemingly values that gal’s feelings more than Lorrie’s. Emotionally adrift and academically floundering Lorrie decides to take care of herself the best she can–by leaving Arrowhart. We get a POV shift that allows Hunter to reveal all the gory details of his AWoL-ishness, and it’s a bit heavy-handed. I’d have liked SOME breadcrumbs in Lorrie’s POV that might have given the reader an inkling of what Hunter had going on. The book ends on a less-than-satisfying resolution and (arguably extreme) cliffhanger.

The book features a lot of raw talk, and some raw scenes. It’s recommended for readers over age 18. For my own self, I wish the pacing had been a little faster. Lorrie is an emotional mess, true, and at times she felt too self-centered, too worried about what others thought about her. The POV shift was jarring to me. If we were going to get Hunter’s POV–which I would have loved BTW–I would have appreciated it far sooner than the last 40 pages. I’m on a bit of a kick lately reading books that have a decidedly British vibe, although the setting/characters are American heartland. Diction and grammar constructs in WRECKED lead me to the same conclusion. That reduces my enjoyment of the story a bit, though it may not bother other readers as much.

Interested? You can find WRECKED at Goodreads, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble. The sequel, RESCUED, is due out in early 2014.

About the Author

Priscilla West is the author of the popular Surrender series. She likes to write stories with sassy heroines and strong but flawed heroes.  She enjoys: cuddles, men in suits, eskimo kisses, life-sized teddy bears, and eggs over medium.

You can find Priscilla at her website and Facebook.

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Forever BRANDED–Review and Giveaway

Branded-tour banner copyHi there and welcome to my stop on the BRANDED blog tour sponsored by YA Bound Book Tours. For other stops on the tour, click here. Today’s book is a dystopian YA adventure romance from the writing team of Abi Ketner and Missy Kalicicki.

branded coverSummary from Goodreads: 
Fifty years ago the Commander came into power and murdered all who opposed him. In his warped mind, the seven deadly sins were the downfall of society. He created the Hole where sinners are branded according to their sins and might survive a few years. At best.

Now LUST wraps around my neck like blue fingers strangling me. I’ve been accused of a crime I didn’t commit and now the Hole is my new home.

Darkness. Death. Violence. Pain.

Now every day is a fight for survival. But I won’t die. I won’t let them win.

The Hole can’t keep me. The Hole can’t break me.
I am more than my brand. I’m a fighter.
My name is Lexi Hamilton, and this is my story.

My Review:
At first, I was thrown by the Lexi’s willingness to die–the opening scene was of her attempting suicide–but, as I got further into the story, I realized Lexi’s problem wasn’t depression. It was her unwillingness to be controlled any longer. See, ever since her father was murdered and her brother ran away, Lexi’s stepfather has been abusing her–emotionally and physically. Lexi’s mother has been checked out on drugs a long time, but she sobers up enough to catch Step-Daddy in the act of molesting Lexi–and turns her own daughter in to the Morality Guard.

With no trial and her mother’s accusation, Lexi becomes a branded Sinner and is dumped into the Hole. What is peculiar about her situation there? Lexi has a private guard. This, I couldn’t fathom for the life of me–especially as we learned more about Lexi’s real dad–and her brother Keegan. Before he died, Lexi’s dad was a champion against the brutal Commander. He wanted to restore the judicial system, instead of the “you’re accused, you’re punished” Commander’s dictum.

With her guard, Cole, Lexi’s safe in the Hole. Somewhat. Cole spends a lot of time helping Lexi dodge bullets and lecherous suitors–even his own fellow guards. Chaos reigns in the Hole, and a beauty accused of Lust is a shiny sex beacon for the riff-raff. One thing we learn quickly, loving a Sinner will get you executed, so Cole tries to maintain a professional distance from Lexi.

But, it’s so hard. Especially when the physicians find that Lexi isn’t guilty of the crime of premarital sex.

Background forces strive to keep Lexi alive. Dr. Sutton, her employer, and Cole both make choices to cover-up the budding attraction between Lexi and Cole. This romance seems ready to wither on the vine when Cole is assigned to hunt down Lexi’s long-lost brother, Keegan–a rising figure in the revolution against the Commander.

A daring escape actually leads Lexi to Keegan. And the rift between Lexi and Cole widens when Lexi decides she’s going to fight in the revolution. For her, making this decision is the first step to claiming her destiny.

In total, BRANDED dances over many themes. Child molestation, religious zealotry, suicide, rape, fighting a corrupt government, positive self-image, forgiveness, embracing forbidden love, doing the ‘right thing’ regardless of the consequences.  These are all admirable, to be sure, but I had some issues with how they translated in the book. Likewise, at times I felt the story was too centered on the “we can’t love each other or they’ll kill us” device, and would have appreciated a quicker pace. Dialogue, for me, seemed stilted and info-dumpy and at times I was irritated by the inane comments some of the characters made. I wished that Keegan had been more supportive of Lexi, and was gratified that I called the identity  of the Commander after reading the second chapter.

(A copy of this book was provided to me for the purpose of this blog tour/review.)

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

abi and missyAbout the Authors:
Abi and Missy met in the summer of 1999 at college orientation and have been best friends ever since. After college, they added jobs, husbands and kids to their lives, but they still found time for their friendship. Instead of hanging out on weekends, they went to dinner once a month and reviewed books. What started out as an enjoyable hobby has now become an incredible adventure. You can find Abi and Missy at their website, Goodreads, twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, and Pinterest.

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Good luck, and keep reading my friends!

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