Thursday, September 28, 2017

#BookBlast & #GiveAway - If The Creek Don't Rise



You may remember my review last month of IF THE CREEK DON'T RISE by Leah Weiss.  I gave it 5 wine glasses!  Such a great Book Club Pick!

I just wanted to let you know about this themed giveaway for If the Creek Don’t Rise.  There’s still over a month left so there’s plenty of time to enter to win a Draper James tote bag along with some delicious Southern delicacies!










Check out some of these goodies!  Here’s the link to enter: http://books.sourcebooks.com/if-the-creek-dont-rise/

Wednesday, September 27, 2017

#BookBlitz & #Giveaway - Malachi and I by J.J. McAvoy


Malachi and I
J.J. McAvoy
Publication date: September 27th 2017
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
A Contemporary Mystical Romance
What if I told you the greatest love stories ever told—Cleopatra and Mark Antony, Salim and Anarkali, Romeo and Juliet and so many more—are far greater tragedies than anyone has ever realized?
What if I told you that you haven’t been reading a new story… just a new chapter in one epic saga?
If I told you…all of those lovers…were actually the same two souls seeking their happily ever after over and over again, would you believe me?
Would you believe them?
Born again,
Love again,
Part again,
Was their curse.
In this modern era, will they find eternal love or will they be doomed to repeat the cycle forever?
EXCERPT:
MALACHI
Apples.
I hate apples.
I hate them for no other reason than the symbolism they invoked. Throughout literature, apples have taken on the symbol of sin, the forbidden fruit, the start of chaos, the undoing of man. The most famous stories are that of Adam and Eve, a single apple caused them paradise and peace.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs—an apple laced with poison that caused Snow White to fall into a coma until a random man awakened her with a kiss. A happy ending, unless you knew that Snow White was Margarete von Waldeck, a sixteenth-century German countess who was banished to Brussels by her step-mother. The poison came from the King of Spain, the father of her prince, and yes, with a damn apple. But she didn’t fall sleep, she died.
Then in Greek Mythology, at the wedding of Peleus and Thetis, Eris, the Greek goddess of strife and discord, who understandably was not invited to the wedding but lacked the rational capacity to figure out why, decided to throw a golden apple onto the table at the feast to the most fairest one of all. One apple, dozens of vain goddesses, and just like that a wedding was destroyed and a war began.
If I could take every bloody apple and shoot them to the moon, I would. Maybe if I’d thought about earlier then I wouldn’t have been in my current situation—I wouldn’t have been covered in smoke, sweat, and blood. I wouldn’t have tried to save the old woman from her burning car. Burning because a chain reaction of events that began with the younger woman who was crossing the crosswalk in front of my car, and the impatient fool who ran out of the store. As he barreled into her and knocked her over her bag fell and sent a slew of apples rolling into the street. Apples her daughter then broke free of her grasp to chase after which caused the oncoming pick-up truck to swerve left and straight into the old woman’s car as she was pulling out of her parking space at Spencer’s Grocery Store.
The sight and sound of the accident startled the teen driver who was pulling up behind me, causing him to step on the accelerator instead of the brakes. As his car slammed into mine, my head snapped forward and smashed into the steering wheel as my seatbelt dug its way into my shoulder.
“Dude are you okay?!” The teen moron, screamed as he rushed from his car to mine.
“Help!”
“Oh my god!”
“It’s on fire!”
Even though my vision was blurred I saw the car—a silver BMW—and the bloodied woman who lay unconscious inside of it, and without thinking I pulled off my seatbelt and ran towards the car. I felt nothing as I yanked on the door repeatedly while the smoke rose into my face. Even when she was in my arms and I was dragging her from the car I felt nothing. Nothing, until I looked around screaming for help, only to see, the now bruised and chipped and deformed but no longer rolling…a bunch of fucking apples.


Author Bio:
J.J. McAvoy was born in Montreal, Canada and is currently studying Humanities at Carleton University. She is the oldest of three and has loved writing for years. She is inspired by everything from Shakespearean tragedies to Pop Culture. Her novel "Ruthless People", out July 17th, hopes to push boundaries and take her readers on a ride through the dark side. Please feel free to stay in touch via Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and youtube, where she video blogs.

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Monday, September 25, 2017

#BookReview - Promise Not to Tell by Jayne Ann Krentz

Title: Promise Not To Tell
Author: Jayne Ann Krentz
Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Suspense and Romance
Publisher: Penguin Group LLC (USA)
Release Date: January 2, 2018


About the Book:

A broken promise reveals a terrifying legacy in this electrifying novel from the New York Times bestselling author of When All the Girls Have Gone.

A painter of fiery, nightmarish visions throws herself into the sea—but she’ll leave some of her secrets behind...

Seattle gallery owner Virginia Troy has spent years battling the demons that stem from her childhood time in a cult and the night a fire burned through the compound, killing her mother. And now one of her artists has taken her own life, but not before sending Virginia a last picture: a painting that makes Virginia doubt everything about the so-called suicide—and her own past.

Like Virginia, private investigator Cabot Sutter was one of the children in the cult who survived that fire...and only he can help her now. As they struggle to unravel the clues in the painting, it becomes clear that someone thinks Virginia knows more than she does and that she must be stopped. Thrown into an inferno of desire and deception, Virginia and Cabot draw ever closer to the mystery of their shared memories—and the shocking fate of the one man who still wields the power to destroy everything they hold dear.
Buy Links: Amazon 

My Review:

Jayne Ann Krentz pulled me into this book from the very first page and I could not put it down until I was finished.  I had not realized that this was the second book in the Cutler, Sutten & Solinski series when I started reading it, but quite frankly, it can be read as a stand-alone.  I was so enthralled with the characters, however, that I purchased the first book in this series from Audible and listened to it that same day!  Now I can't wait for the next book in this series!  

"Promise Not to Tell" starts off with Hannah Brewster splashing accelerant around the inside of her small cabin and setting it on fire in order to destroy a painting on the wall.  She is frightened out of her mind and ends up going over the cliff nearby.  Was is murder or suicide?  And how is Quinton Zane involved?  This book goes much more into the background of Quinton Zane and his cult and how these children and their mothers ended up in the predicament that ensued.

Virginia Troy is one of the nine children rescued by Anson Solinski many years ago when Quinton Zane set the barn on fire that he had  locked the children in, hoping to kill them as well as their parents who had been locked in a separate building.  The parents could not be rescued, but at least Anson had been able to rescue the children.  Three of those children ended up as foster children to Anson since they had nowhere else to go.  He raised them as his son''s.  Virginia knew that Anson was involved with a private investigative agency and hoped that she could get his help to find out what happened to Hannah.  

This storyline kept me on the edge of my seat with new twists being thrown in at every turn.  Very exciting stuff!  And the characters, in Jayne Ann Krentz style, were multi-dimensional and realistic.  The romance was exciting too!  Loved it!.

Disclosure:  A complimentary ARC was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.  All thoughts, opinions and ratings are my own.

My Rating:

About the Author:
The author of over 50 New York Times bestsellers, JAYNE ANN KRENTZ writes romantic-suspense in three different worlds: Contemporary (as Jayne Ann Krentz), historical (as Amanda Quick) and futuristic (as Jayne Castle). There are over 35 million copies of her books in print.

Sunday, September 24, 2017

#BookReview - When All The Girls Have Gone by Jayne Ann Krentz

Title: When All The Girls Have Gone (Cutler, Sutter & Salinas - Book #1)
Author: Jayne Ann Krentz
Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Suspense and Romance
Publisher: Penguin Group LLC (USA)
Release Date: November 29, 2016


About the Book:

Jayne Ann Krentz, the New York Times bestselling author of Secret Sisters, delivers a thrilling novel of the deceptions we hide behind, the passions we surrender to, and the lengths we’ll go to for the truth...

When Charlotte Sawyer is unable to contact her stepsister, Jocelyn, to tell her that one of her closest friends was found dead, she discovers that Jocelyn has vanished.  

Beautiful, brilliant—and reckless—Jocelyn has gone off the grid before, but never like this. In a desperate effort to find her, Charlotte joins forces with Max Cutler, a struggling PI who recently moved to Seattle after his previous career as a criminal profiler went down in flames—literally. Burned out, divorced and almost broke, Max needs the job.   

After surviving a near-fatal attack, Charlotte and Max turn to Jocelyn’s closest friends, women in a Seattle-based online investment club, for answers. But what they find is chilling...

When her uneasy alliance with Max turns into a full-blown affair, Charlotte has no choice but to trust him with her life. For the shadows of Jocelyn’s past are threatening to consume her—and anyone else who gets in their way...
Buy Links: Amazon 

My Review:

I was recently given the opportunity to read the second book in this Cutler, Sutter & Solinas series by Jayne Ann Krentz, "Promise Not to Tell", to be released in January 2018.  It was an Advance Review Copy (ARC).  At the time, I didn't realize it was Book #2 and actually it can be read as a stand-alone.  I'll be posting my review of that book later.  The reason I'm mentioning this is because I loved that book so much that I absolutely HAD to go back and read Book #1.  This one.  Actually, I purchased the Audible version of the book, which I must say is FABULOUS!

Jayne Ann Krentz has the ability to make her characters come to life, with multi-dimensional personalities that make them seem so real.  Max and Charlotte had strengths and weaknesses and together they dealt with each situation thrown before them.  Once I started listening to this book, I could not stop.

Max is a private investigator hired to look into the death of a young woman.  Was it murder or suicide?  And how is this death attached to Charlotte's missing stepsister?  When Max and Charlotte team up to discover all the twists and turns in this mystery, more than a few answers turn up... and the heat between the two turns up a notch too!

This may not have been my favorite of Jayne Ann Krentz's novels, but I still thoroughly enjoyed it and would highly recommend it.

My Rating:

About the Author:


The author of over 50 New York Times bestsellers, JAYNE ANN KRENTZ writes romantic-suspense in three different worlds: Contemporary (as Jayne Ann Krentz), historical (as Amanda Quick) and futuristic (as Jayne Castle). There are over 35 million copies of her books in print.

Tuesday, September 19, 2017

#BookReview - Sugar Pine Trail by RaeAnne Thayne

Title: Sugar Pine Trail
Author: RaeAnne Thayne
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Women's Fiction
Publisher: Harlequin Books
Release Date: September 26, 2017


About the Book:
An unlikely attraction brings comfort, joy and unforgettable romance this holiday season!

Librarian Julia Winston is ready to ditch the quiet existence she's been living. She's made a list of new things to experience, but falling for Jamie Caine, her sexy military pilot neighbor, isn't one of them. Julia's looking to conquer life, not become the heartbreaker's latest conquest. But when two young brothers wind up in Julia's care for the holidays, she'll take any help she can get—even Jamie's. 

Happy to step in, Jamie reveals a side of himself that's much harder to resist. Not only is he fantastic with kids, he provides the strength Julia needs to tackle her list. She knows their temporary family can't last beyond the holidays, but the closer she gets to Jamie, the more she wonders if things could be this merry and bright forever…
Buy Links: Amazon 

My Review:

This story involves an unlikely match.  First there is Julia Winston, a librarian who fills her evenings alone in a large historic Victorian house with her deceased mother's cats.  She has friends, but her life over the past ten years have been focused on caring for her elderly parents, both of whom are now gone.  Then there is Jamie Caine, the sexy and handsome lead pilot for Caine Tech Company jet fleet.  Rich, handsome and the focus of every woman's fantasy.  Jamie ends up renting the upstairs rooms in Julia's home temporarily while waiting for construction of his new home to be completed, and... yes, you can pretty much predict what ends up happening but the adventure getting there is quite eventful.  It also includes two adorable little boys that Julia finds living on their own when their mother disappears.  No more spoilers!

This book had me smiling at the sweet budding romance and it had me grabbing the box of tissues near the end.  I think I had tears streaming down my face non-stop through the last two chapters.

Sugar Pine Trail is the perfect book to get the reader ready for the holidays.  I loved it!

My Rating:

About the Author:
I'm not one of those people who knew from birth she was destined to become a writer. I always loved to read and throughout my childhood I could usually be found with a book in my hands. To the disgust of my friends, I even enjoyed creative writing assignments that made them all groan. But I had other dreams besides writing. I wanted to be an actress or a teacher or a lawyer.

Life took a different turn for me, though, when my mother made me take a journalism elective in high school (thanks, Mom!). I knew the first day that this was where I belonged.

After I graduated from college in journalism, I took a job at the local daily newspaper and I reveled in the challenge and the diversity of it. One day I could be interviewing the latest country music star, the next day I was writing about local motorcycle gangs or interviewing an award-winning scientist.

Through it all -- through the natural progression of my career from reporter to editor -- I wrote stories in my head. Not just any stories, either, but romances, the kind of books I have devoured since junior high school, with tales about real people going through the trials and tribulations of life until they find deep and lasting love.

I had no idea how to put these people on paper, but knew I had to try -- their stories were too compelling for me to ignore. I sold my first book in 1995 and now, more than 30 books later, I've come to love everything about writing, from the click of the computer keys under my fingers to the "that's-it!" feeling I get when a story is flowing.

I write full-time now (well, as full-time as I can manage juggling my kids!) amid the raw beauty of the northern Utah mountains.

Even though I might not have dreamed of being a writer when I was younger, now I simply can't imagine my life any other way.

I love to hear from readers. You can reach me at my email address, raeannethayne@gmail.com

Tuesday, September 12, 2017

#BookBlitz & #Giveaway - Ryder by Ali Parker & Weston Parker


Ryder
Ali Parker & Weston Parker
Publication date: September 12th 2017
Genres: Adult, Romance
A life of darkness only pays while the sun stays hidden.
The shadows of the past follow me no matter where I turn. Mistakes I thought were long dead and gone seem to nip at my heels and tear at my soul.
I’m not a good man. Not worthy of redemption.
As President of the Lost Breed MC, I fight, f*ck and take what’s mine. But everything changed in the blink of an eye, and now I got a kid, my brother’s kid. The teenage bastard is just like me. And he’s gone missing.
My only hope is that the pretty cop down at the station is willing to help a criminal like me out. My focus should be on the kid, but I can’t stop thinking about owning her, marking her, making her mine. She thinks she’s going to be able to resist me forever. She’s wrong.
I’m driven mad with the desire to gain her affection, to be the one that wakes her up in the dead of night to take advantage of her softness and remind her who’s King.
But what cost would the reaper require to give me such bliss? And am I willing to pay it?
You bet your ass I am.
#Alpha #Biker #MC #HOT
Come Join us for Ryder Release Party! We have a fabulous lineup and so much fun planned, you don’t want to miss it! Don’t forget to invite your friends!
EXCERPT:
“You’re almost late.” Axel glanced up from his bent over position beside a new car we were working on.
“Almost isn’t late.” I walked past him toward the office. “Move before you fuck the project up. Your part is done. It’s my turn to do the touch ups and such.”
“You’re right.”
“On both accounts.” I ran my fingers through my hair and winked at Ellie, one of the girls that worked in the shop. She was a better grease monkey than most of the boys. If Axel weren’t hiding a hard-on for the pretty thing, I’d have already laid her out and made her scream my name a few times.
“What shit are you already starting this morning, Moretti?” She glanced up from the pile of paperwork Axel had scattered across his desk.
“Just making sure everyone knows their place.” I reached for the schedule and ran my finger down the long list of jobs we had to get through. “Who’s coming in today for pick up.”
“Nancy Morgan is due in around nine this morning for her Cadi.” She gave me a quirky smile.
“What?” I stood up straight and lifted my eyebrow. “Got something to say?”
“Yeah, but maybe I should moan it, so you’d understand it better.” She laughed and turned her back to me. “You know Axel would be pissed if he knew you were fucking the customers.”
“Would he?” I dropped the schedule back on the desk and walked to the door. “Let Miss Morgan know that she needs to see me to get her keys.” I grabbed her keys off the rack by the door and walked out. She was a rich bitch with a horrible laugh, but she could suck a dick like nobody’s business. I was more than happy to give her a little bit of practice.
“Fuck.” Axel walked around a Mustang we had jacked up four feet into the air.
“What’s up?” I slipped the keys in my pocket and gave my closest friend my attention.
“Ellie keeps leaving her tools all over the fucking place. I almost busted my ass thanks to her wrench being on the ground. The damn thing is covered in motor oil.”
“She’s trying to kill you.” I nodded. “It’s the way women tell you they’re interested nowadays. Used to be a little light flirting, maybe a room key, or a subtle foot in your lap to play with your dick, but things have progressed.”
“Fuck you too.” He rolled his eyes and walked around me. “She’s not interested, and even if she were… you’re not.”
“Okay.” I followed him, wanting to push a little harder just for the fun of it. “Then if you’re not into her, then move outta the way. She’s beautiful. I’d love to spread her taut little thighs and-”
The quickness of his attack threw me off guard. He popped me in the throat two times in quick succession and the pain of it stole my breath. “Shut the fuck up about her, Johnny. Now.”
I lifted my hands as I gasped for air. “Got it. Damn it, man.”
“Sorry.” He ran his fingers through his hair and let out a long sigh. “I can’t stop thinking about her. I tried to take a girl out last night and I barely got the rubber on before I called out Ellie’s name.”
I rubbed at my throat and tried hard not to return pop him in the mouth for hitting me. I’d deserved that shit, but I was the upper dog in the fight, and would easily win should it come to something like that.
“Stop fucking around and tell her.” I popped him in the gut. “And don’t hit me again. I’ll fuck you up.”
“You wanna go, old man?”
“Old man?” I reached for him as someone cleared their throat behind us.
“I heard you had my keys, Johnny.” Her voice was sweet like sugar.
“That I do.” I winked at Axel and spun on my heel. “Damn, Miss Morgan. And I thought your car looked good all dressed up and pimped out.”
She smiled and bit at her lip as she eye-fucked me. Oh yeah. She was going on her knees.


Author Bio:
Ali Parker
Ali Parker is a full-time contemporary and new adult romance writer with more than a hundred and twenty books behind her. She loves coffee, watching a great movie and hanging out with her hubs. By hanging out, she means making out. Hanging out is for those little creepy elves at Christmas. No tight green stockings for her.
She’s an entrepreneur at heart and loves coming up with more ideas than any one person should be allowed to access. She lives in Texas with her hubs and three kiddos and looks forward to traveling the world in a few years. Writing under eleven pen names keeps her busy and allows her to explore all genres and types of writing.
Ali Parker’s Links
Website / Facebook / Facebook Group / Twitter / Instagram / Pinterest / Amazon
--
Weston Parker
I'm a former firefighter/EMS guy who's picked up the proverbial pen and started writing bad boy romance stories. I co-write with my sister, Ali Parker, as we travel the United States for the next two years.
You're going to find Billionaires, Bad Boys, Mafia and loads of sexiness. Something for everyone, hopefully. I'd love to connect with you. Check out the links below and come find me.
Join Weston's Insiders
Like Bad Boys with strong language and a naughty imagination they're not afraid to act out anytime, anywhere, all the time? You've found your peeps. http://eepurl.com/cpGam5
Weston Parker’s Links
Website / Facebook / Facebook Group / Twitter / Instagram

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Monday, September 11, 2017

#BookBlitz & #Giveaway - After the Fall by Katy Ames

After the Fall
Katy Ames
(Seven Winds, #2)
Publication date: September 11th 2017
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

If there was one man in the world Grace Fitzgerald never wanted to see again, it was Mark Donovan.

Sinfully handsome, famously flirtatious, unerringly cocky. Paragon of men. Archetype of entitled a**holes. As a guest at her luxury hotel, Mark was impossible.

As the new owner of her hotel, he’s become a nightmare. The kind that wakes Grace in the middle of the night wishing she could forget how right his lips felt against her own, how tempting his fingers were against her skin.

But for all of the challenges that Mark and Grace face working together, nothing can prepare them for the undeniable attraction that flares every time they battle for control. Or the secrets that linger in the luxury of the Seven Winds Villa.

With no way of escaping each other or their pasts, can they possibly survive life on the island after they fall?

A steamy, standalone romance from Katy Ames, author of After the Island.

Goodreads / Amazon

99¢ for RELEASE WEEK only!

EXCERPT:

“Mr. Donovan. This is Grace Fitzgerald from the Seven Winds Resort,” she shouted through the door, digging out her master key. “Is everything alright, sir?” The only answer was a loud thud. “Sir, I understand you’re having an issue.” Though not one that warranted so much noise, she thought. Steeling herself, Grace continued, “Mr. Donovan, I’m coming in.”

Grace swiped her key and pushed open the door, stepping into the luxuriously understated living room of the Seven Winds Villa. Looking around, Grace confirmed that nothing was glaringly wrong, at least not on the main floor.

Taking a second glance, Grace registered that the villa’s sole occupant had left a wide array of debris scattered across most of the available surfaces. More cups and a few plates of discarded food were stacked on the coffee table bracketed by the living room sofas. A laptop was open, its screen black, abandoned on the corner of a side table. As she made her way over to close its lid, Grace’s foot connected with something on the floor. Whatever it was rolled away, only coming to a halt when it encountered a throw pillow left carelessly near one window.

Grace scowled as she retrieved the bottle from the floor. Glenrothes 1970. The five- thousand-dollar bottle of Scotch was completely empty. Perhaps you should make sure he isn’t in the pool. Face down. On that morbid thought, she raced to the terrace beyond the French doors and checked the infinity pool on the patio below. Empty. Thank God.

At the same time, a loud crack split the air beneath her.

“Shit, shit, shit.” Grace dropped the forgotten bottle and ran down to the lower level. Whatever she’d expected to find on the ground floor of the resort’s most expensive villa, this wasn’t it.

There, sprawled on the ground, eyes closed, lips skewed in an off-kilter smile, wearing nothing more than a wrinkled pair of shorts, was Mark Donovan, co-founder and CEO of D&A International. Sinfully handsome, wildly successful, obscenely wealthy, unerringly cocky, undeniably brilliant, famously flirtatious. And, Grace was horrified to realize, unconscious and sporting a wicked cut above one eyebrow.

“Oh, no, no.” Grace rushed towards him and crouched over Mr. Donovan’s motionless form, her hands fluttering just above his face. Get a grip, Grace. Check to see if he’s breathing, check to make sure nothing is blocking his airways. She focused with a deep breath and shifted her brain to autopilot.

Grace’s pulse calmed substantially when she saw Mr. Donovan’s chest rise in a steady, heavy breath. Definitely not dead. Thank the good Lord. Grace tipped her head back in relief. Skimming her fingers across his forehead, she gingerly checked the cut to make sure nothing was lodged in it. The blood had stopped, a dark red trickle disappearing into the ashy-brown eyebrow that arched defiantly even then. Running an assessing glance across his head and body, Grace confirmed that other than the bruise blossoming beneath the cut, Mark appeared to be perfectly fine. Though unconscious.

An incoherent mumble broke free of his lips, followed by a muffled snore. Grace amended that last part. Not unconscious. Asleep.

Slumping back, Grace rearranged herself so she could sit more comfortably on the floor, her eyes fixed on her unwitting patient. Mark was stretched out and motionless, giving Grace an unparalleled view of his starkly beautiful face and meticulously sculpted body. His eyes were closed and Grace’s gaze wandered across the sharp ridges of his cheekbones and refined slope of his nose, both of which drew her attention down toward his wide, generous mouth, his lips parted, soft puffs of air brushing the strong, supple lines on every exhale.

Determined to ignore her sudden impulse to taste those lips, Grace shifted her eyes away. But she only got as far as the tanned skin of his neck, Mark’s pulse kicking with a regular rhythm at the base, just above the wide stretch of his collarbone. Refusing to stare, Grace attempted to focus on something innocuous. Like her cuticles, or the weave the carpet. Or the inviting water of the pool outside. But a particularly deep inhale dragged her back, this time her attention landing on the long planes of his broad chest, light wisps of blond hair dusting the hard curves that came to an abrupt halt against the repetitive ridges of his abdomen.

Grace, you need to stop staring. Seriously. Stop staring!

But Grace’s eyes had a mind of their own. She could hardly blame them. As Mark breathed, the play of the muscles across his stomach and sides was hypotonic, the slopes and dips elegantly formed, exquisitely defined. Grace’s mouth formed an ‘O’ as she tracked his torso to where it tapered into sharp angles before stretching beneath the waistband of his shorts. Of its own volition, Grace’s tongue slipped across her lower lip as she caught the hint of dark ink dancing across the shadow of one hipbone.

God help her, he was beautiful. Every delicious detail all the more enticing at that precise moment because his eyes weren’t flashing in disdain. And his voice wasn’t dripping with irritation. Mark Donovan, silent and still, was perfect.

Awake and entitled? Not so much.

“Typically, I expect a woman to buy me one drink, at least, before she gets to enjoy such an up-close and personal view.”

Grace squeaked in surprise and tried to scramble back, but Mark anchored one of her wrists in a warm, inflexible grasp.

“You had an accident. I found you on the floor. I was making sure you weren’t injured.”

Confusion, then recollection flashed in the deep indigo of his eyes. Pressing his free hand to the bump on his forehead, he cocked his lips into a crooked grin. “From what I can tell, my injuries are up here. Not”—he nodded in the direction of his crotch—“down there.”

Author Bio:

Katy Ames loves a good story. Whether through blogs, books, or live events, she’s been an avid story teller her entire career.

With a bachelor’s in English Literature, Katy is happiest when curled up on her favorite sofa with a captivating read, whether it’s the Romantic poets or contemporary romance. A good glass of bourbon doesn’t hurt, either.

Katy lives with her husband and son in Washington, D.C. When she’s not writing or reading, she’s very enthusiastic about fancy cheese, late nights & lazy mornings. Only two of which she gets to enjoy on a regular basis.

Katy is a member of both the Romance Writers of America and the Washington Romance Writers.

Sign-up for Katy's newsletter to receive exclusive content & info about new releases: http://eepurl.com/cNWocb

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter


GIVEAWAY!
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Sunday, September 10, 2017

RAMBLINGS & RECIPES - Go Away Irma! It's rude to show up where you aren't invited.

I love living in the Florida Keys.  It is truly a paradise. Life has been good.  

And then there was Irma.

Being long-time residents of South Florida, my husband and I have weathered many storms.  And like so many of our Keys neighbors, we had every intention of riding this one out, just like we rode out all the rest.  

Whether it was the dramatized news reports or my dramatized relatives, somehow my anxiety levels rose and I insisted that we leave and head to higher ground... much higher... like North Carolina higher.  Although hubby didn't really want to go, he loves me and decided to give in to my anxiety.  (Smart man)  

He told me to pack up those items that were most important to me and put them in the car.  I grabbed my Keurig and 3 bottles of wine.  He just stared at me.  Yes, my brain cells had totally flipped out.  Then I realized what he meant and I put the coffee maker and wine back (reluctantly) and grabbed my pre-digital-age photo albums.  And I grabbed my little dog, her favorite blanket and toys, enough dog food to last until the end of time, her favorite pillow-bed, her bejeweled leash and her water dish.  I figured that everything else can be replaced.

We closed all the shutters, tied down the boats, packed our bags, and loaded everything into our least-gas-guzzling vehicle, my Toyota Prius.  Yes, halfway up the state of Florida as we passed mile-long lines to gas stations, I got out and actually kissed my Prius that still held half a tank.  We didn't need to fill up until we were well into Georgia.  

The trip, however, was not as pleasant as previous trips had been.  Traffic was at a standstill.  All the way north through Florida, Georgia and South Carolina!  We creeped along, inch by inch.  By 9:00 that night, after noticing that all of the Rest Areas were filled to capacity, we knew we needed to find a place to sleep.  Thankfully, my awesome daughter (who lives in North Carolina) got on the phone and actually found a hotel room for us that allows pets!  "It's only 18 miles north of you" she said.  Only 18 miles.  It took us an hour and a half on the Interstate to drive that freakin' 18 miles.  Nonetheless, we had a bed for the night... or at least part of the night.  We were back on the road at 3:30 a.m.

 The drive from the Florida Keys to North Carolina normally takes us about 12 hours of driving time.  This trip took 27 hours.  Twenty-seven hours!  But we are here now and we are safe.  And maybe some day my husband will start speaking to me again.




Beef Jerky
(Great item to have on hand during a hurricane!)

Ingredients:

  • 2 pounds beef round steak, cut into thin strips
  • 1/4 cup soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 tablespoons liquid smoke
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 2 teaspoons salt
 
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon meat tenderizer
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon paprika

Directions:

  1. 1. Place beef strips in the bottom of a large bowl. Pour soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, liquid smoke, brown sugar, salt, pepper, meat tenderizer, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika over beef. Mix to assure all the meat is evenly coated. 
  2. 2.  Cover and marinate in the refrigerator for 8 hours or overnight.
  3. 3.  Remove meat from bowl and place between two pieces of plastic wrap; pound to 1/8-inch thickness.
  4. 4.  Arrange the meat strips on the tray of a dehydrator and dry at your dehydrator's highest setting until done to your liking, at least 4 hours. Store in an airtight container or resealable bags.




Saturday, September 9, 2017

#BookReview - Big Sky Blue by Hildie McQueen

Title:  Big Sky Blue (Shades of Blue - Book #1)
Author:  Hildie McQueen
Genre:  Historical Romance, Western
Release Date:  April 1, 2014

About the Book:

A story of two very different people who belong together, proof that sometimes fate can have a sense of humor when it comes to love

Left to raise his infant son alone, a hardened Hank Cole is determined to make the best of it while prospering his ranch, but when a beautiful woman literally lands on his doorstep, he is helpless against the attraction between them.

Elizabeth Dawson is too outspoken for gentle society, but she may be the perfect match for a tough Montana cowboy.


Buy Links: Amazon 

My Review:

A strong, muscular, sexy, shirtless cowboy with piercing eyes?  And he's a good father to his baby boy?  Um... yeah, this book got my attention.

This was a quick read of only about 70 pages or so, but it was a sweet novella and perfect for a quick afternoon read.  The mother of Hank's baby boy walked out on him, leaving Hank to raise his son by himself and with him vowing to never allow another woman into his heart for fear of her leaving him and his son again.  Along comes Elizabeth who recently lost her parents in a tragic fire and has traveled west to live with her aunt.  The aunt has been helping Hank with his son and Elizabeth comes along to help as well.  Chemestry between Hank and Elizabeth has them both breathing heavily.  Although they try to resist, the attraction is just too strong.

Big Sky Blue is a sweet romance with lots of tingles but no heavy sex.  Like I said, it was great for an afternoon read.

My Rating:


About the Author:

USA Today bestselling author Hildie McQueen loves action, love and unusual settings. Author of western historical, Highland historical, paranormal and contemporary romance, she writes something every reader can enjoy.

Most days she can be found in her pajamas hiding from delivery men while drinking tea from her David Gandy coffee mug. In the afternoons she browses the Internet for semi-nude men to post on Facebook.

Hildie's favorite past-times are romance conventions, traveling, shopping and reading.

She resides in beautiful small town Georgia with her super-hero husband Kurt and two unruly Chihuahuas Pepito and Lola, her assistant.

Visit her website at www.hildiemcqueen.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HildieMcQueen
Twitter: https://twitter.com/HildieMcQueen
Instagram: @hildiemcqueenwriter



If you would like to meet Hildie McQueen in person, she will be a featured author at  #CMCon18 Coastal Magic Convention in Daytona Beach in February 2018!


Thursday, September 7, 2017

#BookBlitz & #Giveaway - The Dark Mermaid by Christina L. Barr


The Dark Mermaid
Christina L. Barr
Publication date: September 5th 2017
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult
“True love is not a myth. It’s mystic. It’s a force in the universe that draws two people together, resulting in incredible power, for either good or complete chaos.”
On the day Luna proves that she is powerful enough to be her father’s heir, she is banished for saving the life of an enchanting human boy. Her father, the king, gives her two options: kill Ian and regain her honor by the time she comes of age, or be destroyed.
Luna finds shelter in forbidden waters and comes under the protection of her father’s greatest enemy, the Sea Witch. As her ward, Luna becomes a fearsome warrior, but struggles with the fear of turning her powerful magic dark.
With only days remaining before her seventeenth birthday, Luna finds Ian sailing the seas in search of answers. Luna is determined to escape her father’s wrath, and the Sea Witch’s plot of revenge, but dark forces won’t allow her to live a human life without making an impossible sacrifice.
Want to receive a free song inspired by the book that Christina sang herself?
Fill out this form here before Sept 9th!
EXCERPT:
True Love
When I returned to the lair, the Sea Witch was much too distracted gutting her catch of shark to care much about my adventures. She had no idea that I had found Ian and kissed him. I wanted to keep it that way. For all she knew, I spent my day with Napa, and I most certainly didn’t fight my sister to the almost death. I made sure to heal my wounds before she saw me.
I hid the pendent, dagger, and lock of hair in a satchel and hoped the Sea Witch wouldn’t be able to sense the magic. I also had to hope that she wouldn’t sense any special magic in me. It was odd that I wasn’t fatigued from my battle. Instead, I felt energized. My magic was leaking out of my body. I tried to keep my movements limited and to remain completely calm.
Unfortunately, somewhere between the chewing of our dinner, the Sea Witch cocked her brow at me in suspicion. “Did Napa bring you a new gift?”
“Why do you ask?”
“I sense new magic.”
I panicked on the inside, but I would not allow that panic to the surface of my thoughts. Of course, she would have been able to sense the pendent. I reached into my satchel and handed it to her without any fuss, and I hoped she didn’t ask any questions about the other item of interest. “Napa didn’t know any better.”
“Interesting.” It only took a moment for the Sea Witch to analyze what it could do. I don’t know why I was so surprised when she disappeared. “This would be more useful on the surface world.” She tossed it back to me and became visible once more. “Quite interesting.”
“Very.” I grinned hard and continued feasting, but I had the sense that she knew I was hiding many details from her. It’s not that I didn’t trust her. I just wanted to make sure she would take the news well, so I didn’t have to worry about her killing everyone outside of our immediate sphere.
It wasn’t easy. I wanted to tell her about Ian’s infatuation with me. It was flattering after my father threw me away. I wanted to tell my mother how his smile enchanted me, and now, I was under his spell. I tried to get him out of my head, so the Sea Witch wouldn’t find out, but while I brushed my hair and stared into the broken mirror Napa gave me, I began to imagine that I was staring at myself from his point of view, and I knew I was truly as beautiful as he made me feel. The thought of never seeing him again was crushing my heart and suffocating my insides. There had to be a way to see him again beyond tricks, smokes, and mirrors.
“Luna, what’s wrong?”
I saw Ian’s face too clearly in my mind. She must have known that I was thinking about him, but that wasn’t so strange. I could still hide the truth for a little while. “Why would something be wrong?”
She floated in front of me with a furrowed and curious brow. “Because you never sing.”
I hadn’t even noticed. I was singing the same song I sang to Ian when I first said goodbye. If he had his hooks in me that deeply, was there truly any escaping him? “You’ll think I’m being a fool.”
The Sea Witch surprised me and held me by my shoulders from behind. “Out of the two of us, I’m the one that made a blood oath with your father. You could be foolish for a thousand lifetimes and not end up as foolish as I once was.”
Perhaps I was being unfair to her. If she were trying to be a real mother, she deserved a chance. As my elder, she might have sound advice to put my mind at ease. “Napa told me that humans believe in true love. I know it sounds childish, but I think I’m experiencing it. I’ve found true love.”
I was so embarrassed that I kept my eyes focused on the teeth of the comb in my hands. I was responsible for ruining Ian’s childhood, and I delayed his life afterward. I didn’t deserve to feel such a consuming joy, especially if Ian were the root cause.
“I’ve heard of true love.” The Sea Witch nicked my chin up with her finger to force her eyes into mine. “The humans teach it like a fairytale, but true love is not a myth; it’s mystic. It’s a force in the universe that draws two people together, resulting in incredible power, for either good or chaos.”
“Chaos?” I laughed. Frankly, it was difficult to believe that there was an actual explanation to how I felt. Napa referred to love as “irrational logic”. I wasn’t sure if having a legitimate reason was worse or better. “How can what I feel ever lead to destruction?”
“I’m not saying that it will, but true love is a dangerous magic.” The Sea Witch got uncomfortably close to my face. I tried to back away, but she swam around to observe me fully. Nothing about me had changed physically, but I’m sure she wasn’t seeing with her natural eye. “I can sense it on you. Your magic is stronger.”
I thought of how quickly I defeated my sister, but then, I quickly pushed that out of my mind. “How is that possible? Is it just because I have feelings for Ian?”
“No. That would be ridiculous, but it is possible that you’re drawn to each other for a reason.” She, once again, became agonizingly uncomfortable. I didn’t back away or cower from her glaring and curious eyes. I tried to be firm while I blanketed my mind with thoughts of training battles, meditation, and the past few lonely years of my life. I would not think of Ian, and I certainly wouldn’t think of the kisses we shared!
Except, I completely did.
I don’t know if my sudden memory of Ian’s kiss was vivid enough to burrow into her brain, but she certainly seemed more suspicious after I indulged in it. “You must have seen him again!” I covered my face. I would have hidden in my clam, but she was already inside of it with me. She grew impatient and pulled my hands away from my flustered face. “I did. Napa found Ian, and I went to see him. He gave me the dagger I had been searching for, and we spoke.”
“That’s not the only thing you did.”
I straightened out my body and tried to look a little taller and mature than I had been acting a moment ago. “We did share a kiss, yes.”
Instead of lecturing me, she twirled around the cavern, shrieking in delight. I hadn’t seen her genuinely happy or excited over anything, so I was a little terrified. “Did he have magic?”
“He didn’t seem to have knowledge of having magic.” “Perhaps he’s an amplifier,” she suggested with much intrigue. “What do you mean?”
“They are extremely rare, but an amplifier can increase your magic, even without being able to use it.” She swam to me and clasped onto both my hands and smiled. “If you were to mate, you could create new magic for your offspring and leave your own power intact. If that’s true, you should definitely mate him.”
“Uh…” My mouth opened in shock. The desire to feel and be more of an adult was ripped away from me. “I’m not ready for this conversation.”
“Why? Do you love him?” “It’s preposterous that I love him!” “But you do!” She chuckled. “I see it in your eyes. I feel it through your magic. He’s made you more powerful. If Fate is pulling you to love this man, don’t push back. There’s no sense in fighting what will be.”
Was it truly possible that Ian made me feel stronger? Was he the reason why I could use my magic to fight my sister so effortlessly? Even if it were true, what did it matter? I only wanted to control my magic so it wouldn’t accidentally go dark. I had no desire to be the greatest sorcerous in the world.
It was silly to think that I could take human form and live with Ian. I hardly knew him. But, for some reason, the thought of leaving to discover the world with him began to fill my chest and gut with a ticklish light that turned into a glorious rumbling. I clutched onto my chest as I felt it vibrating. My entire body was radiating heat. I tried to convince myself that I was merely embarrassed, but my hands were tingling.
“The thought of escaping with that human is causing your magic to burst from you,” the Sea Witch said. “You can’t deny what you want or may very well need.”


Author Bio:
As the daughter of sci-fi enthusiasts and a pastor, Christina L. Barr has been taught to believe that anything is possible. She's been a serious composer as far back as twelve-years-old, and has had the opportunity to sing her songs around the world.
In 2007, she graduated from Holly High School number nine in her class and attended College for Creative Studies. She started a pop culture website called The Gorgeous Geeks with her two older sisters, and was even featured on Times Magazine.
Her addiction to writing emerged when she was eighteen and started her first novel. To date, she has nine novels published, fourteen completed, and her goal is to finish thirty books by her thirtieth birthday.
She is currently a Creative Director and spends her days making graphics and videos.

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