Lori L. Clark's Blog, page 114
August 24, 2014
Book Blitz: Beast, Part 2
This is an erotic fairy tale inspired by Beauty and the Beast.
Yes or no? What will she do? Can Annabelle redeem Beast with her heart intact, or will her time at La Rosa Prison ruin her? Find out who Beast really is in the dark, erotic retelling of Beauty & The Beast.
Purchase on Amazon
Excerpt
“You look nervous,” he says. His hand, still in my hair, turns to my cheek. It’s warm. Smells good. “Come and sit down.”
He takes my hand and leads me to a window seat. A built-in bench, pressed up against a wall of glass. He wraps his hands around my waist and lifts me up. Sits me down up there. My eyes scan the patchy, dirt-strewn yard outside. The way the rain smashes off the ground and into something else. The sky is white. Stark white.
“Just a minute,” he says.
My mind screams as he steps away. He reaches onto some shelves along the wall and grabs an armful of navy blue blankets. Painters’ blankets, I realize as he holds them out for me. He sits them on the bench beside me. Smooths one out. Lifts me up and sits me on it. Then he tucks another one behind me.
“Thank you,” I murmur. Despite the blankets’ tattered appearance, they seem soft enough. There’s no paint on them, and they don’t smell like it. Another one unfolded by his big hands, tucked around me.
“You got wet. Warm up a moment.”
I sit there because my brain is broken and my heart feels puffed up like a balloon.
He climbs up behind me and gently nudges me forward. He leans his torso up against mine, spreads his legs around my butt and thighs. Strong hands begin to knead my shoulders.
“Don’t be nervous here, Angel. I’ll take care of you. Always.”About Ella JamesElla James is a Colorado author who writes teen and adult romance. She is happily married to a man who knows how to wield a red pen, and together they are raising a feisty two-year-old who will probably grow up believing everyone’s parents go to war over the placement of a comma.Ella’s books have been listed on numerous Amazon bestseller lists, including the Movers & Shakers list and the Amazon Top 100; two were listed among Amazon’s Top 100 Young Adult Ebooks of 2012.To find out more about Ella’s projects and get dates on upcoming releases, find her on Facebook at facebook.com/ellajamesauthorpage and follow her blog, www.ellajamesbooks.com. Questions or comments? Tweet her at author_ellaj or e-mail her at ella_f_james@ymail.com.Website Facebook Twitter Amazon Author Page
Book Blitz: I'm Still Here
It started out as an ordinary day for Esther Comely-Cox, if you consider simultaneously totaling your car, smashing a Ho Ho in your face and meeting a handsome doctor ordinary. Estranged from her family over her sister's mental illness and death, Esther can't help but feel alone. And when Esther hears the voice of her twin sister who committed suicide seven years ago, she begins to question her own sanity, leading her to wonder if anything is what it seems. Searching for answers, Esther must confront her past while looking towards a new future—one in which she is finally accepted. Through humor and heartbreak, Esther learns that blood does not mean family, that absence does not make the heart grow fonder and that silence can speak volumes. Put I'm Still Here on your TBR list! Buy on Amazon / B&N / Kobo / Smashwords / iBooks
About the author:
Telling stories of resilient women, Kathryn Biel hails from upstate New York and is a spouse and mother of two wonderful and energetic kids. In between being Chief Home Officer and Director of Child Development of the Biel household, she works as a school-based physical therapist. She attended Boston University and received her doctorate in Physical Therapy from The Sage Colleges. After years of writing countless letters of medical necessity for wheelchairs, finding increasingly creative ways to encourage the government and insurance companies to fund her clients' needs, and writing entertaining annual Christmas letters, she decided to take a shot at writing the kind of novel that she likes to read. Her musings and rants can be found on her personal blog, Biel Blather (kathrynbiel.blogspot.com). She is the author of Good Intentions (2013) and Hold Her Down (2014). Please feel free to follow on Twitter (@KRBiel) or on Facebook (Kathryn R. Biel: Author)
Follow Kathryn:Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads
Follow the Book Tour
Enter to win a $30 Amazon Gift Card. Fill out the form to enter. a Rafflecopter giveaway
Blog Tour: Sweet Fall
From the USA Today Best Selling Sweet Home Series, comes Sweet Fall; a tale of heartache, beating the odds and finding strength in the most unlikeliest of places.
We all have secrets.
Secrets well buried.
Until we find the one soul who makes the burden of such secrets just that little bit easier to bear.
Lexington "Lexi" Hart is a senior at the University of Alabama. Surrounded by her best friends, her loving family and having fulfilled her life-long dream of making the Crimson Tide cheer squad, everything is going exactly as she always dreamed it would. But beneath her happy exterior, demons lurk, threatening to jeopardize everything Lexi has worked to achieve.
When events in her life become too much to cope with, Lexi finds herself spiraling down into the realm of her biggest fear. Lexi falls hard, victim once again to the only thing that can destroy her and, on the way, finds herself falling straight into the dangerous tattooed arms of a guy from the wrong side of the tracks.
Austin Carillo, starting Wide Receiver for the Alabama Crimson Tide, must get picked in this year's NFL draft. He needs it. His brothers need it. Most importantly, his mother desperately needs it. Brought up in a world where the poor are forgotten, the sick are left to fend for themselves and no hero miraculously appears to pull you out of hell, Austin had no other choice but to make a living on the wrong side of the law—until football offered Austin the break to get his life back on track.
But when a family tragedy drags him back into the clutches of the gang he believed he had left far behind, Austin finds himself falling. Falling back into criminal ways and falling deep into a suffocating darkness. Until a troubled yet kindred spirit stumbles across his path, where Austin quickly finds he is falling for a young woman—a young woman who might just have the power to save him from his worst enemy: himself.
Can two troubled souls find a lasting peace together? Or will they finally succumb to the demons threatening to destroy them?
New Adult/Contemporary Romance novel—contains adult content, sexual situations and mature topics. Suited for ages 17 and up.
*CAN BE READ AS A STAND-ALONE NOVEL*
TeriLyn's thoughts: Easily one of the best New Adult Romances I've read all year. Tillie Cole continues to bewitch me with her stories.
**Sweet Fall generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.**
5+++ Painted & Tattooed Stars
Tillie Cole possesses a unique ability to expose characters at the deepest depths of their damaged hearts beguiling the reader to form a connection without, for most the story, telling us where the damage roots itself inside them. Her stories so character driven we’re consumed in a bubble while reading the beautifully narrated script from both the hero and heroine. Her subtle method of providing just enough details to create the world of Austin and Lexi but never straying from the depth of their specific plot works so well. Ms. Cole proved her style of storytelling captivates with Sweet Home and Sweet Rome alike. Sweet Fall catapults off the first two books the series. Already adept to her style and in love with the beautiful way she progresses relationship help make Sweet Fall one of the most honest, uplifting portrayals of new adult romance I've read.
Many readers may think “relatively good girl meets enigmatic boy from the wrong side of tracks: been there done that.” Let me tell say you haven’t done it Tillie Cole style. Austin Carillo most definitely lives up to the bad boy status. He’s rough around the edges. Living a life so acutely different from his childhood, a life bestowed upon him for the talent and goodness residing inside him. His loyalty to his family, dark charms and protective nature place him in high regards. There’s qualities so alluring his page presence makes you want to wrap your arms around him while you’re already safely nestled with the comfort of being wrapped in his arms. I’m not going into anything that may spoil the plot of their story but moments between Austin and his mother are some of the most tender I've read connecting you further to his character. Austin’s broken though, a fragmented mess of man on the precipice of greatness. It’s within reach.
To continue in a typical Tillie Cole fashion one in which nothing gets held back, the heroine in this story makes you realize how fragile we are as human beings; the ability inside us to break at any given moment, to dissolve into virtual nothingness because of perceptions and contrived thoughts. Lexi Hart is a heroine I will NEVER forget. I think Ms. Cole created the most perfect character in her. Every action and consequent reaction felt so true to her character, to her life, to what she was trying to accomplish and couldn't. She’s hiding from the world to cover up truths about herself she can’t fully admit. She’s charismatic, kind, and caring with so much love to give. Without going into any details Lexi’s story will make you feel, will make you connect to her as a person with the obvious knowledge Ms. Cole created her with such sensitivity and delicacy to make the reader aware of the seriousness of her situation. It worked because the connection is strong because of the delicacy, because you can tell it's extremely close to the authors heart, something she knows this character needs a leap faith and a whole lot of strength to conquer.
So the broken boy from the wrong side of the tracks and the broken girl who’s picking up the pieces of her life find solace in one another. Two characters fundamentally damaged fighting demons both internal and external. They need to save each other. They need to save themselves. This book digs a little deeper into the darkness of human nature more so than the books one and two in the series. The characters will stay with you for days after finishing. The beautifully scripted prose of Tillie Cole making the story flow naturally. Sweet Fall breaks a little out of the new adult mold and gives a phenomenally powerful love story. I absolutely loved it.
Favorite Quotes:
"It was that moment people talk about. That moment where you look at the same set of eyes you've gazed upon thousands of times before, only this time see something more within their depths."
"Austin Carillo was a poor trailer park boy with a heart of pure gold."
ABOUT TILLIE COLE
Tillie Cole is a Northern girl through and through. She originates from a place called Teesside on that little but awesomely sunny (okay I exaggerate) Isle called Great Britain. She was brought up surrounded by her English rose mother -- a farmer's daughter, her crazy Scottish father, a savagely sarcastic sister and a multitude of rescue animals and horses.
Goodreads
Blog
GIVEAWAYTillie is giving away a Kindle Fire HDX and this is open internationally
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Title: Sweet Fall (Sweet Home #3)
Author: Tillie Cole
Genre: New Adult Contemporary
Publication Date: 26th August 2014
Blog Tour Organised By: Kelly @ Have Book Will Read (Blog logo is attached in the email. You definitely don’t have to use it but feel free to if you would like to.)
ABOUT SWEET FALL
Goodreads
Amazon pre-order links:
Amazon UK
Amazon US
Book Review: The Right Song
The Right Song by Shane Morgan: Pain never truly goes away, until you find something deeper and meaningful that cures the heart and fills it with love.
That is what Aurora desperately wants to believe. That somehow her music can save her, or even touch the unreachable heart of the guy she has liked for years.
Rora yearns for his attention and wants to experience this so-called love that could possibly end her long suffering and inspire her to chase after her dreams.
In deeply understanding the feelings of others and herself, will Aurora give up on ever finding true happiness, or will an intriguing soul teach her about the greatest song ever written?
Jennifer's thoughts: I have to admit I rarely ever read a YA Romance novel. I took my chances with this one and am so glad I did. I truly loved this story.
Aurora is a senior in high school and has been through enough heartache to last a lifetime. But fortunately, she has her music and that is where she finds her comfort. She writes music and plays in a band--She has friends and a crush on a boy that hopefully will one day soon be her boyfriend. Everything is as it should be until she is thrown a curve ball. She soon realizes that the person she truly needs is somebody she least expected.
The Right Song is a sweet coming of age novel that made me smile a lot more than any novel has in a long time.
Shane Morgan--Great job!
Book Review: Shameless
Shameless by Nina Lemay: Girls like me don’t get happy endings.
I know what I am. At worst a cliché, at best a cautionary tale. I put an international border between me and my past, only to wind up working in a low-end titty bar. Even my excuse is as lame as it gets: I’m paying for college, getting my art degree from Montreal’s most prestigious school. Although some days it becomes confusing: am I just a student who moonlights as a stripper, or a stripper who masquerades as a student?
But the inevitable happens and my two lives collide. And now there’s one other person who knows both the quiet, antisocial Hannah and the sensual, shameless Alicia. One person who keeps my secret.
He’s beautiful, he’s sophisticated. He comes from the other side of life, the one where I’m not wanted or accepted. But he calls me la petite Américaine, and his hot, hot hands on my skin promise me things I long ago gave up on.
The problem? He teaches my Classic Photography class.
This is a standalone novel, no series, no cliffhanger.
TeriLyn's thoughts: **Shameless generously provided by the author in exchange for honest review.**
I’d like to start off by saying I think the cover for Shameless is amazing. It caught my interest immediately and after reading the blurb I jumped at the chance to read the forbidden love story between Hannah and Emmanuel. This New Adult Contemporary romance is well written with an interesting, forbidden-love plot full of angst, vulnerability, and emotion.
Shameless provided an enjoyable read for me. The writing proved to be a great asset though when I was thinking about the characters, neither of which wowed me. I didn’t feel connected to either of them and was waiting for a big moment where I really feel something towards either. However the delicacy in which they’re relationship was developed felt honest and real.
Hannah, forgetting all the stereotypes about strippers, is a naïve woman looking to pay her way through school in order to forge a new life. I respected the strength in her decisions, her ability to be confident enough in herself even when she wasn’t innately feeling it. At times her naivety got to be too much and I found myself skimming but more often than not I was okay with the character. Just not blow away or overly connected. Emmanuel’s character juxtaposed with her proved to be more worldly and experienced. His demeanor was sweet and tender with her allowing the relationship to progress in a very honest way. He wasn’t the solver of Hannah’s issues, which I liked because I found strength in her independence in her need to change herself for herself – Emmanuel was just the catalyst toward the end goal.
It’s a sweet love story that I definitely enjoyed. All the elements of a forbidden but grand love were there. I just never really felt into the characters enough to be fully invested. I seek a connection with main characters or at least their story. But if you like new adult and especially if you like the idea of a forbidden romance, try Shameless. The writing will draw you in and leave you satisfied you read it. I didn't not like it, I just didn't love it.
Book Review: In the Desert
In the Desert (Finding your Bliss #3) by Deirdre Riordan Hall: Twenty-year-old fiery film student Brighton Holmes knows exactly what she wants: an epic adventure on the open road in her late father’s 1969 Chevelle, alone. Her quest is to visit all fifty states and find a place to call home.
When a family friend asks for a favor, UK rocker in recovery, Alex Stihl, joins her on the road trip, stirring up trouble; the last thing she needs. It doesn’t help that he has a mob of fans and a crazy ex-girlfriend tailing his every move.
Brighton and Alex clash as they cruise out of New York, she grows resigned in the rolling hills of Amish country, and he crashes hard in a hotel on the edge of the Smoky Mountains. While Brighton seeks a place to wash her mind of the past, Alex dodges reminders of heartbreak.
They both try to escape everything they have in common: heartache, loss, and confusion about what’s next. But the magic of New Orleans unites Brighton and Alex as they fight desperately for the other until the desert leads them to discover exactly what they’re resisting and missing.
When they reach the Oregon coast, Brighton uncovers her musical talent, bringing them closer together and helping her reconcile losing her father. But the trip comes to an end when they arrive in Los Angeles. Real life intervenes, splitting them apart; she moves into her new off-campus apartment and he has to return to his band.
After the semester begins, Brighton tries to shake her mind loose from Alex, but the memory of his sexy voice, rainy day eyes, and the miles they shared lingers like a song stuck in her head. Six months later, when his band returns to Los Angeles for a concert, the compass of her heart finally leads her home.
In the Desert, book three in the Follow your Bliss Series, can be read chronologically, or as a stand-alone story filled with adventure, anarchy, music, letting go, and love.
Toni's thoughts: This is a solid 3.5 hearts for me. When I first read the blurb for this book it intrigued me and the book was really good. I enjoyed seeing the growth of the two main characters and dealing with a different kind of loss in each one. I enjoyed getting to experience different cities through their eyes as they took the road trip and the things that went on. One of things that keeps me from giving it 4 or more hearts is at some points your getting a full description of emotions and surroundings and when you start to get lost in your imagination and get pulled into their world the writing just skips to something else and it never finishes the train of thought that you were in. The other one is with all the growth of the characters you keep reading about Bri who it seemed from page to page was bouncing back in forth in her decision to be with Alex and it just kept stretching on over and over which took away from the book for me. I understand having to struggle through decisions but it was a bit too much. Other than those two things this book has the potential to be a 5 heart book. It did keep me interested and wanting to discover more about the two. I think there was just so much that went into this that maybe the book should have been split into two so things weren't glossed over or some things that weren't so important or repetitious could have been taken out.
TeriLyn's thoughts: **In the Desert generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.**
In the Desert follows the contemporary, new adult journey between two characters searching for self-discovery. Through the course of a cross-country road trip the reader travels through the heroine’s, Brighton, thoughts as she’s tries to figure out a purpose to her life. Her trip companion, Alex - who initially joins against Brighton’s wishes, also seeks solace in the downward spiral of his life.
After losing someone in her life Brighton feels as though she can’t find her footing. Unsure of where she wants to spread her wings, her trip was originally meant to be solo. Alex throws a wrench in her plans and the two of them set out to find themselves only to discover each other.
The setting, plot, and conflict for In the Desert all worked for me. I liked the histories of the characters both shared and separate. The futures they thought they wanted but never expected. The truths they learn about themselves through each other. The issues they work through fit the time in their lives.
Why I didn’t rate it higher is because the heroine too often was very self-absorbed. There were some exchanges when I felt her efforts reflected selfishness and self-pity. Her thoughts many times were rushed and there several points in the story that I wish developed more. An abruptness to transitions between scenes through me off track while reading at times.
Overall, In the Desert was an enjoyable read. Although it’s the third book in this series, I read as a stand-alone and didn’t feel as though I missed anything central to the main characters. However, it did intrigue me to learn the story of a couple who were secondary characters here. In the Desert is for new adult lovers willing to take a road trip.
Book Review: Chat
Chat by Theresa Rite: Contemporary Erotica, Stand-Alone Novel
When Sandy Quinn met Jason Brewer on the first day of second grade, a life-long friendship was born.
Twenty-six years later, Jason is finally ready to move on from his divorce. His ex-wife leaves behind her Kindle, and he stumbles upon Bestselling Author Carissa Steel’s latest release. After learning that she lives less than an hour from his apartment- and is single- he contacts her on Facebook. As he struggles to flirt over chat, he enlists the help of his best friend.
Sandy has spent three years waiting for her boyfriend, Jack, to finally pop the question. At the same time Jason asks for her help, her world slowly begins to crumble around her. Through her pain, she continues to support her best friend, playing Cyrano to his newest conquest.
As Sandy begins to chat with Jason online, she creates a safe place to explore what neither of the friends thought would ever exist between them. As lines blur and are eventually crossed, they begin to wonder if amazing sex is worth risking a lifetime of friendship.
Twenty-six years… twenty-six letters.
Could they have always only needed each other?
Lori's thoughts: This wasn't a bad book, it was well written, I just had a hard time liking Sandy. She seemed wishy-washy to me. Jason was so sweet and he did everything right. I felt at times like Sandy was leading him on. Come here - go away. I want to but we shouldn't, and oh my God what have we done?! I loved their friendship, I love that they were always there for one another. But there were times I wanted to slap Sandy and tell her to make up her mind...and don't go after him because he's interested in someone else. Ugh.
Other than that, very well written story. Steamy love scenes and I loved the premise.
Book Review: Loving Mr. Daniels
Loving Mr. Daniels by Brittainy C. Cherry: It was easy to call us forbidden and harder to call us soulmates. Yet I believed we were both. Forbidden soulmates.
When I arrived to Edgewood, Wisconsin I didn’t plan to find him. I didn't plan to stumble into Joe's bar and have Daniel's music stir up my emotions. I had no clue that his voice would make my hurts forget their own sorrow. I had no idea that my happiness would remember its own bliss.
When I started senior year at my new school, I wasn’t prepared to call him Mr. Daniels, but sometimes life happens at the wrong time for all the right reasons.
Our love story wasn’t only about the physical connection.
It was about family. It was about loss. It was about being alive. It was silly. It was painful. It was mourning. It was laughter.
It was ours.
And for those reasons alone, I would never apologize for loving Mr. Daniels.
-Ashlyn Jennings
Lori's thoughts: I really liked this book! The writing was superb and the student teacher romance was tastefully written, mostly. There was one thing about the book that kept me from giving it 5 hearts, and that was just a matter of preference. I understand why it was done, I just wish she would have done it differently. But it wasn't my story to tell or my book to write, so I won't tell her how to write it. I loved Daniel Daniels, and Ashlyn Jennings was an amazing girl. I don't know what more I can tell you about this book, other than read it for yourself and enjoy the emotional roller coaster.
Amazon Top 10 New Adult Books: August 24, 2014
Amazon Top 10 New Adult Books: August 17, 2014. These are the top 10 bestselling New Adult books as listed on Amazon.com at the time of posting! (Single titles only - No box sets. Also: No pre-orders! Sorry.)
Top 10 Paid:
1. Ugly Love: A Novel by Colleen Hoover
4.8 out of 5 stars
2. Mister Black: A Billionaire SEAL Story, Part 1 (In the Shadows) by P.T. Michelle
4.6 out of 5 stars
3. Finn (Blue-Collar Billionaires #2) by M. Malone
4.7 out of 5 stars
4. Death Layer (The Depraved Club) by Celia Loren, Colleen Masters
3.7 out of 5 stars
5. Lie Next To Me (A Millionaire's Love) by Sandi Lynn
4.2 out of 5 stars
6. This Sky by Autumn Doughton
4.9 out of 5 stars
7. Beautiful Oblivion: A Novel (The Maddox Brothers Series) by Jamie McGuire
4.4 out of 5 stars
8. Take Three, Please (A Menage, Sexy and Short Romance Book 1) by Anwen Stiles
3.7 out of 5 stars
9. Beautiful Disaster: A Novel by Jamie McGuire
4.3 out of 5 stars
10. Dark Exposure by Amy Isan
4.5 out of 5 stars
Top 10 Free: (Free at the time of posting)
1. Undeclared (The Woodlands Book 1) by Jen Frederick
4.1 out of 5 stars
2. Just a Fling (Billionaires on the Beach Book 1) by Olivia Noble
3.7 out of 5 stars
3. Strangers on a Train (Seduced by the Park Avenue Billionaire: Part 1) by Nelle L'Amour
4.0 out of 5 stars
4. WORTHY by Lexie Ray
4.0 out of 5 stars
5. Playing With Her Heart (Caught Up in Love Book 4) by Lauren Blakely
4.6 out of 5 stars
6. One More Day: The Alexanders, Book 1 (Jackson + Ridley) by M. Malone
4.4 out of 5 stars
7. Sisters in Love (Love in Bloom: Snow Sisters, Book One) by Melissa Foster
4.1 out of 5 stars
8. The Arrangement 1 by Abby Weeks
3.7 out of 5 stars
9. One Broke Girl (Edgewood Falls Book 1) by Rhonda Helms
4.1 out of 5 stars
10. Deceived - Part 1 New York by Eve Carter
3.5 out of 5 stars
August 21, 2014
Blog Tour & Giveaway: Hopeful
Hopeful Synopsis:
Guys like Joel Wentworth weren't supposed to fall in love with girls like me. He could have had his pick of the girls on campus, but somehow the laws of nature were defied and we fell crazy in love.
For a short time, I thought it would be for infinity.
On July 10, 2006, immediately after graduation, Joel left for New York. And, despite him wanting me to go with him, I'd refused, unwilling to disappoint my parents and risk the judgment of my friends. I hadn’t seen him again. Never even spoke to him.
I've spent the last eight years working hard to put my career front and center in my life, dodging any personal complications. I have a strict no-dating policy. I've managed to piece together a reality that works for me.
Until now.
Now, Joel's coming back to London.
And I need to get over him before he gets over here.
Hopeful is a stand alone novel.
***Not suitable for younger readers due to sexual content and language.***
Louise Bay Bio:
I write sexy, romantic, contemporary novels - the kind I like to read!
Ruined by romantic mini-series of the seventies and eighties, I love all things romantic. There's not enough of it in real life so I'll settle for books and films.
I love the rain, the West Wing, London, days when you don't have to wear make-up, being alone, being with friends, elephants and champagne.
Nicole's thoughts: What a great read! There is so much to like about this story. Everyone knew "that guy" in high school or college, you know the one.....Mr. Perfect. That is Joel. Hot, sweet, and everyone's choice. Of course the guy has a rep for being a ladies man, but do you really care? Nope. There is so much more to him that when you get to the truth, it is so much better than you could even hope for.
I think we have all felt like Ava at one time or another. Not good enough. Whether it is a boy or a job, it is easy to connect to a person who is struggling to fit. Trying so hard to be worthy. Missing out on what you want most because you don't think your worth it is probably the worst feeling in the world.
This is a bittersweet story that really tells a great tale about two people finding themselves in the hopes of finding each other.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Buy Links:
Amazon
US
UK
Canada
Australia
Nook
UK
Barnes and Noble
KOBO
Links:
Blog
Author Goodreads
Hopeful Goodreads
