Saturday, August 31, 2013

Spotlight | Jasmine's New Love

Title: Jasmine’s New Love
Author: Denali
Genre: Erotic novella
Publisher: Sunshine Press


Blurb:
The monotony of her life has Jasmine questioning her every move. It’s not that she doesn’t love her husband and her kids, she does. It’s just that she aches for something more. Her every day routine has grown a tad boring, and she yearns for some excitement. There must be something out there that will make her life worthwhile.
The arrival of an unexpected postcard soon piques her interest. The thought of letting loose, and having fun draws her in. Her husband won’t be around, and she’ll be able to explore something new. What could go wrong, right?
Thrown into a world where inhibitions fly out the door, and things can happen within the blink of an eye, Jasmine’s life soon takes a different turn. Her new endeavor is the perfect excuse to let her hair down, and enjoy what she’s been offered. When anything is possible, the opportunity must be taken. She now has a chance to explore another side of herself, one she never knew existed.

Friday, August 30, 2013

Tour Stop | The Jewel of Nirel by Ann Snizek


Book Title: The Jewel of Nirel
Author: Ann Snizek
Release Date: July 27, 2013
Genre: YA Fantasy, Sci-Fi
Length: Over 86,000 Words
Presented by: As You Wish Tours
Tour Schedule: The Jewel of Nirel

BLURB

For the people of Tunuftol, and other countries on the planet Nyssa, names found them starting at twelve months old… at the earliest. Along with the names came certain skills or powers. Depending on what you did with your powers determined what type of person you were, and sometimes affected future names. Therefore, names had great importance in Tunuftol, and Krissa had more than a few… nine to be exact. Her full name was Krissa Lysandra Rue Alverna Harley Mya Magryta Freya Wittek, which is quite a mouthful.

The dangers haven't ended for our friends yet. The weather is starting to warm and the war started last fall is under way. Journey with Krissa and the crew as they struggle to keep their world safe and find their place in it.


EXCERPT 

There wasn't much talking to start the ride off. The apprehension of what they would find subdued everyone for several miles. Then the silence became too much, and the chatting began. 

Sealey started it off. "What a bunch of Gloomy Gus-es," he said trying to stir conversation with outdated terms. Krissa and Micah ripped open with laughter. A memory of when they first moved to Grandma Athey's farm on the other side of the gate and next door to Pin and Khevin, almost a year ago, flashed in both of their heads. 

"What did I say?" Sealey asked. 

"I was just picturing you in matching teddy bear raingear," Krissa blurted out between convulsions. Micah's head nodded in agreement, even though he couldn't get the words out himself. 

The entire group stared quietly at the two as they laughed. Gradually they each smiled and even chuckled. Then Krissa projected an image of her old caseworker from before Grandma Athey adopted her and Micah. That was plenty for everyone to burst out with laughter of their own. In a burst of amused inspiration, Krissa visually transferred the raingear onto an image of Sealey, and everyone laughed harder. 

Lonnie was wiping his eyes from the tears because he laughed so hard. Alcina and Ruuna hugged their sides, and Micah had trouble staying in the saddle for a moment. It seemed to be just what everyone needed. 

The riding went much nicer after that. Everyone joined in conversation and enjoyed themselves. The sun even warmed the air enough for Krissa to push her cloak back behind her shoulders. It was a beautiful ride with hints of green sprouting from the trees and along the ground. Birds were chirping and Krissa wondered if she would see her pair of Philo birds again. She looked over at Khevin and smiled.

AUTHOR BIO 
I grew up in Vermont mostly and now live in Virginia with my family (those still at home). My husband and I have a blended family of seven kids. My childhood was spent moving around a lot. (non-military) About five years ago, we started home-schooling our youngest children. Now there are only two remaining in home-school. I have tried to nurture the love of books in our children and now our grandchildren -- always nurturing their imaginations. Recently, I have become active in our community with literacy, starting a local (and online) creative writing club and volunteer tutoring at the Adult Learning Center.

I struggle with Fibromyalgia and PTSD. So, have to be careful not to overdo things... I don't always listen to my own advice. I have a dry, sarcastic and corny sense of humor and always try to look at things optimistically. (again not always successful) However, I feel that if I don't give up -- for long -- then things will work out for the best eventually.


AUTHOR LINKS 

BOOK LINKS 
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Thursday, August 29, 2013

Review | Tears of Tess by Pepper Winters





Tears of Tess
by 
Pepper Winters

*I received an advanced copy of this novel from the author for an honest review.*






A New Adult Dark Contemporary Romance, not suitable for people sensitive to grief, slavery, and nonconsensual sex. A story about finding love in the strangest of places, a will of iron that grows from necessity, and forgiveness that may not be enough.

Synopsis:

“My life was complete. Happy, content, everything neat and perfect.
Then it all changed.
I was sold.”

Tess Snow has everything she ever wanted: one more semester before a career in property development, a loving boyfriend, and a future dazzling bright with possibility. 

For their two year anniversary, Brax surprises Tess with a romantic trip to Mexico. Sandy beaches, delicious cocktails, and soul-connecting sex set the mood for a wonderful holiday. With a full heart, and looking forward to a passion filled week, Tess is on top of the world.

But lusty paradise is shattered.

Kidnapped. Drugged. Stolen. Tess is forced into a world full of darkness and terror. 

Captive and alone with no savior, no lover, no faith, no future, Tess evolves from terrified girl to fierce fighter. But no matter her strength, it can’t save her from the horror of being sold.

Can Brax find Tess before she’s broken and ruined, or will Tess’s new owner change her life forever?

My thoughts:

First of all I have just one question for Pepper Winters. Are you sure this is your DEBUT novel? LOL I mean I know it is but GAH!! I just doesn't seem like a debut novel. Pepper Winters writes with style and grace. 

The story is EPIC! It is incredibly different than anything else you will ever read. The relationships between the characters could never be recreated by anyone other than Pepper Winters. She is a mastermind of all things twisted but erotic. Some of the scenes in the first few chapters of the book brought tears to my eyes and I was crying for Tess. Other scenes literally scared the crap out of me. It really got me thinking "OMG What if"...

Tess is absolutely the strongest character I have read in a long time. Even after being kidnapped, beaten, drugged, and raped she still doesn't allow them to break her. She holds her head high and she fights to the very end. 

Q is confused and thinks he's a horrible person for having the urges he has. He doesn't want to become his father but he's afraid that's exactly what is happening. 

Personally I absolutely fell for Q. I love him!  He's the so fucked up that it's sinful to want him but he's also irresistible. He's absolutely mind blowing. He's thrilling one moment then the next moment he's utterly resentful. He is the definition of debauchery. 

Christian Grey has nothing on Q Mercer! 

All in all, I absolutely loved the Fifty Shades of Gray novels and the Crossfire novels but compared to Tears of Tess they are simply amateur level. If you loved those novels then you should absolutely read this one. It will blow your mind in ways you never thought possible. I was really fighting for words in this review because this book is so beyond amazing it's really hard to put into words how great it really is. 


Cover Reveal | Tour Stop | Melissa Pearl

Mrs. Potter’s Book Publicity Services Presents:
A Double Cover Reveal for author Melissa Pearl!

BEFORE
(Betwixt Novella #0.5)



Description:

Dale Finnigan is a teenage rebel; he lives for parties, girls and joy riding in stolen cars. In spite of his uptight parents' constant warnings and lectures, he continues to run wild. His crazy lifestyle is the only way he can live and feel free…until his reckless behavior takes him down a path where there is no going back.

In this prequel to BETWIXT, find out who Dale Finnigan was before he became known as “scar-face”—the unassuming hero everyone underestimates.

Add BEFORE to your Goodreads TBR List


BEYOND
(Betwixt Novella #1.5)




Description:

Have you ever been so in love with someone, but not had the courage to tell them?
Nicole Tepper is that girl. She loves her boyfriend Dale, but fearing rejection, keeps her feelings buried deep. She can’t even let on how heartbroken she is when Dale begins applying for colleges thousands of miles away from her; never even whispering a word about how much she wishes he would stay close.

But, when Dale is rejected from Colombia University in NYC, due to a police report that follows him wherever he goes, Nicole soon discovers that love can drive her to do things she never thought possible.

There's more than one way to say, I love you and Nicole Tepper is about to prove to Dale that she loves him beyond all common sense.

Add BEYOND to your Goodreads TBR List



Cover Designs By: Eden Crane Design

AUTHOR BIO:

“I used to be a full time teacher (11-13 year olds) then I became a full time mother. During that time I also found my passion for writing. Over the last ten years I have been studying the craft and putting myself out there.

My first trilogy came out in November, 2011. It has been a wild ride swimming in this indie river and I have loved so much of it. I have learned so many amazing things and met so many great people. It has totally solidified the fact I want to be a writer for as long as I possibly can!

I now have five books published and am working on a new YA Fantasy trilogy for 2013. I am having so much fun with it and can't wait to share it with everybody.

I am from New Zealand, but am currently living in China with my husband and two sons. It has been a culture shock, but it's pretty cool living in such a different country.” ~Melissa Pearl

AUTHOR SOCIAL LINKS:





Blast | Tour Stop | After Alex Died by Dakota Madison

Synopsis 
"Don't be someone who defines her life by someone else's death."

Dee Dee DeMarco's brother, Alex, was funny, free-spirited and creative. He was also gay. Tormented by bullies, Alex killed himself on his 15th birthday. 

Two years later, and now in college, Dee Dee believes getting a summer job working with a college-prep program for disadvantaged high school students is a stroke of luck, until she discovers that the guy assigned to co-lead her group is Cameron Connelly, a star basketball player and one of the bullies who tormented her brother to death. How can Dee Dee possibly spend the entire summer working so closely with one of the boys she blames for her brother's death?


About the Author:
Dakota Madison has been writing since she learned to read and fell in love with books. When she's not at her computer creating spicy new romances, Dakota is traveling to exotic locales or spending time with her husband and their bloodhounds.

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Blitz | Tour Stop | Life, Love & Lemons by Magan Vernon



Life, Love, & Lemons by Magan Vernon
Publication date: August 20th 2013
Genre: YA Contemporary

Synopsis:
When life hands you lemons, sometimes you have to say screw the lemons and bail.

Seventeen-year-old Bentley Evans had it all. Then her Dad got laid off.

Now she has to move across town to a small apartment and leave her life of luxury for public school and a job at the local burger place. Just when her world seems like it's crumbling she finds solace in the unlikely punk boy next door, Kai Stone. But as their relationship blossoms, a jealous ex-girlfriend and a secret to tell that threatens to bring disaster back into Bentley’s life.






AUTHOR BIO
Magan Vernon is a Young Adult and New Adult writer who lives with her family in the insurance capital of the world. She is in a very serious, fake relationship with Adam Lambert and constantly asks her husband to wear guyliner. He still refuses. She also believes her husband is secretly an alien, disguised as a southern gentleman.

Author Links:









Read an Excerpt:
From Monday to Friday it was like everything had changed. Instead of walking through the halls alone with my head down, Kai was always by my side. This, of course, led to some very interesting stares and nicknames from people. I think my favorites were Bonnie and Hyde or Sid and Nancy Drew. Anything people could think of to come up with a couple name for the punk kid and the preppy girl. There were others, but the East High kids could get pretty raunchy when they came up with some of these nicknames.
“Do you still want to go watch Grant and Brody’s band play on Saturday?”
It was that lull after I had fourth period gym class and before lunch. I was leaning against my locker, and Kai pressed his palm against the other locker and faced me.
I still wasn’t sure what to think of Grant and Brody. They were nice and all, but I always felt like they were gawking at me like I was some sort of a zoo exhibit.
“I don’t know, maybe.”
The truth was that I already asked my parents about the concert. Mom just rolled her eyes and couldn’t believe that her daughter wanted to go to some crummy warehouse to sweat with a bunch of teenagers, but Dad was a little more interested. Just by asking about the concert hosted a whole slew of questions about the bands and who I was going with. I especially got nervous when he started asking questions about Kai.
“What do you mean maybe?” He asked as he ran his tongue over his lip ring. We still hadn’t kissed. I was pretty adamant about the whole not kissing until he was my boyfriend thing. But I couldn’t deny how much I thought about his lip ring.
“I mean, maybe I’m busy or something." I twirled a strand of hair around my fingertip.
“What? Are you going out with one of your other boyfriends or something that night?" He leaned in closer. A couple of jocks walked by and yelled some disgusting comment, but I pretended like I didn’t hear them.
“I don’t have any boyfriends at all, so I really wouldn’t be going out with any of them, now would I?" I batted my eyelashes.
“Why don’t you be my girlfriend then?” He traced his free hand down my arm, full-on putting on the charm.
“Maybe," I answered very quickly, almost too quickly, since he blinked really hard.
“What do you mean, maybe?” He tilted his head to the side and he reached down to grab my hand.
“Ew, get a room." A very tall girl with fiery red hair and cat’s eye glasses yelled and then walked over to us.
“Teegan, if you think that hand holding is bad, then you really need to get out more,” Kai quipped, quickly looking from me to Teegan.
“Oh, I saw plenty of that with you and Brynne. Remember I’m her band mate,” Teegan snarled and walked closer. “But when it’s with little Miss Sandra Dee, it’s kind of disgusting.” She giggled and headed over to a group of girls a few lockers away. Once I caught sight of the group I immediately saw Brynne’s big green eyes glaring in my direction.
“Do you really want to have to keep dealing with that every day? The weird vampire girls and jocks talking about us? Because that’s what you’re going to get,” I said, looking up at him. My cheeks were still hot after Teegan’s comment and I hoped I didn’t look too embarrassed.
He laced our fingers together. “I wouldn’t be still standing here if I didn’t want to be with you." He looked from our hands and back down to me. “Now what do you say, will you be my girlfriend?”
“Maybe." I smiled again.
He started to roll his eyes when I got up on my tippy toes placing my hands on the back of his neck. I slowly pulled him closer as our lips met for the first time. I couldn’t believe how warm and rough his lips were in contrast to the cold and smoothness of his lip ring. Nor could I believe all the people that were cheering as he pulled me closer to fully envelope himself in the kiss. I didn’t want it to end and swear I literally almost melted in his arms when I felt his tongue on my bottom lip.
A large hand thrusted between us, knocking our bodies apart. I got off of my tippy toes and quickly let go of Kai as I turned to see my gym teacher, Mr. Brown, with his large and quite furry hand placed firmly in the middle of me and Kai. He faced Kai with his spit-stained mustache.
“Handshake, Mr. Stone." He took Kai’s hand from mind and shook it senseless. “Handshake!”

Cover Reveal | Betraying Innocence by Airicka Phoenix


Book Name: Betraying Innocence
Author: Airicka Phoenix
Publisher: Fire & Ash Publishing
Release Date: Oct 31, 2013 
Genre: Young Adult, Horror Romance
Warnings: Language. 
Formats: eBook & Paperback

SYNOPSIS

Roseanna - Ana - French was happy with her life. Sure she had to move to a strange new town and live in a creepy new house that had inexplicable cold spots, but she could live with that. What she couldn’t deal with was the relentless tapping inside the walls at night, the sinister shadows in the halls or the spirit crawling its way beneath her skin.

Author Bio 
Airicka Phoenix is the best-selling author of The Touch Saga, Games of Fire, Octavian's Undoing & The Lost Girl Series with short stories in Whispered Beginnings: A Clever Fiction Anthology and Midnight Surrender Anthology. She also writes adult paranormal & contemporary romance under her alter ego, Morgana Phoenix.

For more about Airicka, also on how to win giveaways, read author interviews and reviews, visit her on her Website.

Author Links

Monday, August 26, 2013

Spotlight | Tour Stop | Girls Love Travis Walker by Anne Pfeffer





GIRLS LOVE TRAVIS WALKER
By: Anne Pfeffer

About the Book:

To nineteen-year-old high school dropout Travis Walker, women are like snowflakes–each one different, but beautiful in her own way.

He can charm any girl he meets, and yet down deep he fears he’ll always be a loser like his jailbird father. As the landlady threatens to evict him and his sick mother, Travis takes a job he hates and spends his evenings picking up girls at a nearby night spot.

When he enlists in a teen program at the local fire station, he finds out he’s amazing at it. Then he meets the smoking hot Kat Summers, enlists Kat’s friend Zoey to help him woo her, and falls in love for the first time ever.

But he keeps the details of his life secret. His girl will never love him back if she knows the truth about him….


Awards:  
WINNER -- Third Place for Fiction    2013 Indie Reader Discovery Awards
FINALIST-- New Fiction     2013 National Indie Excellence Awards


Reviews:

“ ….the title of this book had me expecting something very like a teen romance. While there is romance aplenty in this wonderful novel, Girls Love Travis Walker is far more than that….
“Little did I know that what I was about to read would have such a huge impact on me…. This book hit me right in the heart.”
“I really loved Travis…. I cried and was scared with him.”
“This book will make you fall in love for so many reasons…”

Purchase:

Author Bio:
Anne Pfeffer lives in Los Angeles, California. She likes to write, walk her dog, play poker, and work as a library volunteer at a local school. Her book Any Other Night has been named a Finalist in both the 2012 Indie Reader Discovery Awards and the 2013 National Indie Excellence Awards.
Author Links:
Twitter @AnnePfeffer1

Excerpt from Girls Love Travis Walker:
Only fifteen minutes since I’d entered the halls of Perdido High School and already the beady eye of authority was upon me. I hadn’t even done anything wrong.
Yet.
“Travis!” Ms. Valenzuela called out to me from the door of the guidance office. Although she was getting old, maybe into her early forties, she hadn’t let herself go. She had great legs, which were hidden today by her lime green pants.
“Yo.” I loped over and unleashed a grin that combined sincere remorse for my failings with my irresistible charm.
She pursed her lips. “Don’t start with me, Travis.”  
I led the way to her office and took my usual chair while she sat at the desk across from me. “New picture,” I said, nodding to the updated photo of her two daughters. “Kelsi and … Julianne, right?”
She struggled to keep back a smile. “Yes, Travis. Those are their names.”
“Fifth and seventh grade, right?”
“Yes, Travis.” Now she was smiling for sure.
Maybe it was my blue-green eyes, or maybe my granite abs, but I could always get women to smile at me.
Ms. Valenzuela opened my folder. “Six more absences since your last visit to my office. Plus numerous missed homework assignments. You’re this close to suspension.” She held up her thumb and index finger a millimeter apart.
“I have to work, Ms. Val,” I said. “Gotta get ahead, you know.” I had a promising position as a bus boy at Jake’s Burgers.
“How many hours are you working these days?”
“As many as I can get, whenever I can get ‘em.”
“You can’t cut back?” She knew she couldn’t push me that hard. My family’s sudden move to Los Angeles in November of my junior year, coupled with my erratic attendance at Perdido High, had screwed up my graduation credits. With all my former classmates in college, I was starting my senior year, again, at age nineteen.
“I can’t get weekend shifts at Jake’s,” I told Ms.Val.
She didn’t like me working there, but she should just be glad I wasn’t following in the path of my father, who knocked over a convenience mart a year ago and ended up in prison for armed robbery. Mom had gone to visit him, but I refused. He could rot there for all I cared.
“You’ve got one school year left to graduate. I want to see you get that high school diploma, Travis. Or a GED at least.” Between her fingers, she rolled a pen. It was the cheap kind the school district bought that wrote for about five minutes before it crapped out on you.
“Yeah, well, we’re about to get evicted,” I said, “so that’s kind of rearranged my priorities.”