Lori L. Clark's Blog, page 146
April 13, 2014
Cover Reveal:Drifting Into Darkness
I’m a firm believer that everything happens for a reason, that there was a path we were all supposed to be on and the choices we made led us to those paths.My path led me to work on the Johnson farm in Texas, where I met Landon, the owner’s son. He worked there during the day and raced cars for fun at night. He was a bad boy with a reputation that exceeded my own. The guy all the girls wanted to change, the one that hooked up with random girls because he didn’t do relationships.He was exactly the kind of guy I wanted to stay away from, but there was something about him. It wasn’t just his looks, although they didn’t go unnoticed. There were layers I wanted to peel back and reveal. I wanted to know the real Landon Johnson.All the choices I made led me to him and he would change my life forever.
He lifted a hand to my cheek. “Close your eyes for me.” I frowned for a moment before I complied. His other hand grazed my cheek and I could feel the goose bumps rise on my arms. “Picture me in your head,” he said softly. I pictured him standing there in front of me. “Do you have it?” I nodded. “Now picture a few years down the road. Can you see me?” I nodded and smiled. I knew where he was going with this. “Can you see yourself with me?” I nodded again as I felt his lips press against my forehead and work their way down. “In your mind, do I look freaked out?” I bit my lip and shook my head. He didn’t look freaked out at all. The future Landon looked content and happy. In my mind, he was taking me for a horseback ride on Charlie, out to this very pond. I opened my eyes and raised my hands to his face. The feeling that I’d felt before was in the pit of my stomach; the feeling that this was meant to be. And somehow, even though I’d only known him for over a month, I knew deep down it was true. “You don’t look freaked out at all.”His lips curved into a smirk before they were smashed against mine. Our tongues were tangled in a soft passionate kiss, while his hands slid down my arms, past my waist. He gripped my ass as he brought me closer to his body, causing me to gasp into his mouth. I could feel how hard he was as he pulled me as close as I could possibly get. My mind whirled with hunger to feel him and it drove me to rock my hips against him.He made me feel so much in my heart and mind that I needed to be close to him this way. I needed to feel that connection we both shared in a more intimate way.I pulled back from him, breathing heavily, and grinned at what I was about to say. “I’m ready.”He grinned with me and captured my lips with his as he made his way out of the pond. I wrapped my arms around his neck and tightened my legs around his waist to ensure I wouldn’t fall.Slowly, he lowered me down to the blanket, breaking the kiss. The way he was looking at me caused chills to flow through my body. It was hard for me to think that I met him a little over a month ago, yet there I was, falling for him. It was so much to take in, but I wanted to cherish this moment forever.
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J.M. La Rocca was born in Chicago, IL. At an early age, her family relocated to lower Alabama where she began her love for writing. She currently resides in Pensacola, FL with her husband and twin sons. As a stay at home mom, La Rocca was able to pursue her love for writing. It was always an unrealized dream to write her own book. With the encouragement of her mother, La Rocca began to set to paper her ideas for her first book.
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Amazon Top 10 New Adult Books: April 13, 2014
Amazon Top 10 New Adult Books: April 6, 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.
1. Unbelonging by Sabrina Stark
4.2 out of 5 stars
2. Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover
4.9 out of 5 stars
3. Out of the Shallows (Into the Deep) by Samantha Young
4.1 out of 5 stars
4. After The Ex Games (The Sequel to The Ex Games and The Private Club) by J. S. Cooper, Helen Cooper
4.8 out of 5 stars
5. When I Break by Kendall Ryan
4.5 out of 5 stars
6. Knockout (Wayward Fighters) by J.C. Valentine, Rogena Mitchell-Jones
4.4 out of 5 stars
7. The Private Club by J. S. Cooper, Helen Cooper
4.2 out of 5 stars
8. Price of a Kiss (Forbidden Men) by Linda Kage
4.5 out of 5 stars
9. Off the Record (The Record Series) by K.A. Linde
4.5 out of 5 stars
10. The Private Club 3 by J. S. Cooper, Helen Cooper
4.4 out of 5 stars
Book Review: Getting By
Getting By (A Knight's Tale #1) by Claudia Y. Burgoa: When Emma Anderson arrived at San Francisco International Airport, she regretted accepting the distinction of being the maid of honor to Gaby’s—her childhood friend—wedding. It had been years since the last time she set foot in Menlo Park, where her parents had been killed. The rug where she had been shoving her feelings since that day looked bumpier than a camel’s hump. Who could blame her; if she hadn’t been selfish they’d still be around. Ever since that fateful day, Emma has been perfecting the knack of Getting By.
Cade’s wedding in Menlo Park—a city close to San Francisco—might be the perfect place for Jake Knight to shake the memories of his ex, Emma Anderson for good. Single, available women galore for an entire week was the perfect medication, one he intended to take three times a day for an entire week to return to his player days. It was a plan the former spy thought flawless until he came face to face with the maid of honor. Jake’s perfect retreat turns into a flight, fight or hide week of celebrations.
TeriLyn's thoughts: **Getting By generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.**
Getting By provides us with two broken people who find solace in each other yet cannot get past the broken parts inside them to make it work. While I didn't feel a strong connection to the characters, I definitely felt their connection was real to each other. Scarred deeply by the major curve balls life threw them, Emma Anderson and Jacob Knight work through their issues independently yet provide a comfort for each other that is undeniable. Emma and Jake's characters reminds us of the depth in which great loss causes to our hearts. Their plagued by guilt and unsavory memories. The secondary cast of characters here really makes the story come alive. The Knight family carries torches for each other, always. The bonds they all share and the openness in which they live endears every single one of them to the reader. Family is important to these people and can help conquer demons. It's a theme laced through Jake and Emma's story constantly reminding them and the reader the power of love in all forms. The story is not shy of drama, angst, and bit of mystery. The plot moves fluidly through their tale and kept me intrigued. Jake and Emma both provide POV's in the story. At times, I found the writing a bit confusing, I found myself having to go back and re-read passages to grasp what was going on. Subject changes and inside jokes that the reader wasn't privy too made it strange at times. I'm more than interested in reading the stories of the other Knight brothers, Mitch and Liam and look forward to spending more time with these characters.
Book Review: The Other Sister
The Other Sister (Sister #1) by Leanne Davis: General Travis Bains has two daughters, one who is good, and one who is bad. Everyone knows Lindsey is the good one, and Jessie is the bad one.
Jessie Bains is the other sister, the bad sister, which she has proven more often than not, until the day she gets kidnapped and brutally raped. Will Hendricks, one of her father's soldiers, rescues her and brings her home, but fears she may be nearly destroyed by what is done to her. The most important thing, however, is that no one can know, per the general's orders.
Jessie's life was always far from normal as the daughter of one of the most revered generals in the world. No one sees what the general does to Jessie, except Will. When Will discovers the danger Jessie is living in at her father's hand, he once again rescues her. Will has survived the horrors of war, but is now engaged in a battle that has become far more personal and far more deadly. Will alone realizes what the general has done and will do to destroy his "other" daughter.
Lori's thoughts: I'm always up for a good sibling vs. bad sibling and this one caught my attention a few weeks ago. I really enjoyed the story and for the most part I liked the characters. The only reason I didn't give this a 5 heart read is because, to me, Will seemed too mechanical. The only time I was able to tell he had any emotions at all was when the author told us. I liked him, I just couldn't warm up to him like I wish I could have.
That being said, this is a wonderful story about healing and growing, and turning out okay in life, despite the odds that have been stacked against you the whole way. Yes, Jessie was the "bad" daughter, but I liked her so much more than I did her older "good" sister.
I'm looking forward to continuing the series.
April 12, 2014
Book Review: Scare Crow
Scare Crow (Crow's Row #2) by Julie Hockley: Nineteen-year-old Emily Sheppard is losing her sanity.
Ever since her mob king boyfriend, Cameron Hillard, abandoned her for her own good, Emmy has been attempting to move on with her charmed college student life as if nothing happened.
Now rejected from the underworld and left grieving over Cameron’s alleged death, Emmy realizes she belongs nowhere.
Worse yet, she is now keeping a dangerous secret.
After just a short time with Emily, Cameron has lost control over his world.
As he miserably attempts to return to what is left of his life and unravel the mess he has made of the underworld, Emily’s hate turns to desperation. She needs to kill the kingpins responsible for Cameron’s death before they come looking for her.
As Cameron secretly observes Emily, he has no idea of the danger he has placed her in—or that it may already be too late for him to save her.
Scare Crow is a tale of revenge, terror, and love as Emmy and Cameron embark on separate journeys to face enemies, correct past mistakes, and..............
find their way to their destinies.
Lori's thoughts: I had Crow's Row sitting on my Kindle forever waiting to be read. In spite of all of the wonderful reviews, I held off reading the first book because the second book wasn't out yet and there was no firm release date. I didn't want to fall hopelessly in love with book one, and then have to wait for book two. As soon as I heard that Scare Crow had a release date, I dove into Crow's Row and couldn't put it down. As soon as I finished book 1, I was lucky enough to receive a copy of Scare Crow for review. YAY!
In my eyes, Julie Hockley is brilliant and I would a grocery list if she wrote it. I loved Scare Crow. It was beautifully executed and answered a lot of questions from book 1. Cameron is my favorite bad boy. But he's a different sort of bad boy from the typical ones written in contemporary NA romance these days. Both of these books are refreshing and different and very well written. Scare Crow kept me on pins and needles wondering when (and if) Emmy and Cameron would get back together. Not to mention how!
I'm not sure there will be a third book -- I'd read it if there was, but it's not necessary to complete the tale. It would just give me more Emmy and Cameron. Bravo, Julie Hockley.
April 11, 2014
Book Review: Killing Sarai
Killing Sarai (In the Company of Killers #1) by J.A. Redmerski: Sarai was only fourteen when her mother uprooted her to live in Mexico with a notorious drug lord. Over time she forgot what it was like to live a normal life, but she never let go of her hope to escape the compound where she has been held for the past nine years.
Victor is a cold-blooded assassin who, like Sarai, has known only death and violence since he was a young boy. When Victor arrives at the compound to collect details and payment for a hit, Sarai sees him as her only opportunity for escape. But things don’t go as planned and instead of finding transport back to Tucson, she finds herself free from one dangerous man and caught in the clutches of another.
While on the run, Victor strays from his primal nature as he succumbs to his conscience and resolves to help Sarai. As they grow closer, he finds himself willing to risk everything to keep her alive; even his relationship with his devoted brother and liaison, Niklas, who now like everyone else wants Sarai dead.
As Victor and Sarai slowly build a trust, the differences between them seem to lessen, and an unlikely attraction intensifies. But Victor’s brutal skills and experience may not be enough in the end to save her, as the power she unknowingly holds over him may ultimately be what gets her killed.
This is their story.
Lori's thoughts: Lately, I've been trying to get away from all of the cookie-cutter bad boy/good girl contemporary romance stories -- in search of something different. As a result, I've been able to find some extremely well-written books with edgy, yet, different story lines. I like bad boys, but Victor takes bad boy to whole new level. He is a killer for hire. I admire Sarai because she is tough and gutsy in spite of, or perhaps because of everything she has been through. She learns soon, she has nothing to lose and doesn't care what happens to her because wherever she winds up will be better than what she has endured in her young life. The chemistry between Victor and Sarai is palpable, though for most of the book, he is not your typical, swoon-worthy hero. But in Sarai's eyes, he is her hero, and that's all that matters. I look forward to reading the next books in this series.
April 10, 2014
Release Blitz & Giveaway: That Man
Title: That Man (That Man #1) Author: NelleL’AmourGenre: Erotic RomanceRelease Date: April 11, 2014
SynopsisThere’s a new beautiful player in town…
Blake Burns, the sexy head of SIN-TV, who goes through women like some go through water. Until he meets Jennifer McCoy, his outspoken new assistant and development executive.
Newly engaged Jennifer has no idea that her devastatingly gorgeous new boss is the man she kissed, blindfolded, in a game of Truth or Dare. That kiss, that man, that beautiful stranger she cannot forget.
Blake hasn’t been able to stop thinking about that kiss either…and he’ll do anything to win Jennifer —even if it means being a beautiful bastard and breaking all the rules.
THAT MAN is a three-part romantic comedy serial with an element of suspense. THAT MAN 2 is available NOW, and the steamy and suspenseful conclusion, THAT MAN 3 will be available in early May.
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About The Author
NelleL'Amour is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who lives in Los Angeles with her Prince Charming-ish husband, twin teenage princesses, and a bevy of royal pain-in-the-butt pets. A former executive in the entertainment and toy industries with a prestigious Humanitus Award to her credit, she gave up playing with Barbies a long time ago but still enjoys playing with toys with her husband. While she writes in her PJs, she loves to get dressed up and pretend she's Hollywood royalty.Her books include the highly rated Seduced by the Park Avenue Billionaire Boxed Set, Undying Love, Gloria’s Secret, Gloria’s Revenge and the That Man trilogy. Gloria’s Forever, a novella, will be published in Spring 2014.
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Excerpt“Kiss him, kiss him!” I heard my friends chanting in the distance.Oh, God. What was I going to do? I couldn’t let them down or I’d never live it down. I’d come this far. Without over thinking, I blindly ran my hands over my victim’s face. His skin was soft with a fine layer of silky stubble, and his features were distinct and defined—a straight, manly nose; a strong, slightly clefted chin; and above it, a set of lush, velvety lips. I lingered on his lips, tracing them with my fingertips, building up the courage to touch down on them with my own.
“I hope you don’t mind, but I’m playing a game of Truth or Dare, and I have to kiss you.” God, how ridiculous I must sound and look with my blindfold.
I took my victim’s silence as a sign he was willing to play along. Okay, here goes. Clutching his angular jaw between my hands, I bent down to kiss him. But before I could latch my lips onto his, he rose and, in one swift move, crashed his lips onto mine.
Oh. My. God. A heat wave shot through me. It was one of those kisses like in a movie. Fierce, delicious, passionate. Opened mouth and oh so consuming. And he tasted divine—the sweet taste of champagne lacing his breath. He bit my upper lip, forcing me to part them, and plunged his warm, velvety tongue inside my mouth. His tongue instantly found mine and they entwined, dancing like they’d been together forever. He tugged hard on my ponytail, yanking back my head, and coiled it around his hand, tearing at my roots. The delicious pain mixed with the delicious pleasure of his kiss, sending a rush of erotic sensations through me. Every nerve ending was a sparking fuse. My breathing grew shallow. Already lightheaded, I was now borderline delirious. I’d never been kissed by a man like this before. I didn’t want him to stop. What was wrong with me? I’d just gotten engaged.
In the background, I could vaguely hear my friends cheering and whistling. “Go, girl!” For sure, head cheerleader Chaz.
My inner voice told me to stop, but no matter how much I willed it, I couldn’t get my lips to part from his. In fact, I deepened the kiss, pulling him closer to me by the collar of his shirt. The material felt expensive, like the gazillion thread Egyptian cotton kind. Everything about this man tasted and felt divine. He squeezed my ponytail tighter. I moaned into his mouth and he moaned back. God, the throaty sound of him was sexy!
And then suddenly, as fast as he had plunged his tongue into my mouth, he withdrew it. In tandem, he let go of my hair. I gasped, desperate for more.
“Wait!” I cried out, my hands grappling for him. Instead of finding him, I found myself knocking over a chilled glass. My heightened sense of smell told me it was his champagne.
“I’m sorry,” I croaked, struggling to tear off the tight, blinding tie. “I’ll buy you another.” Finally, I undid the tie. I blinked once. He was gone, and I was painfully all alone. Where did he go? My eyes frantically searched the pulsating crowd, darting left and right, but he was nowhere to be found. Even if he was facing me somewhere, staring into my eyes, I wouldn’t know it because I didn’t know what he looked like.
My friends were now all standing and applauding me. I’d lived up to the dare. Kissed a strange man on the lips. Oh, those lips!
Dazed, I staggered back to the group and dared not tell them how much I’d enjoyed it. And wanted more.
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Release Blitz & Giveaway: Vital Sign
I used to have a great life. My little world was bright. I had no complaints. My perfectly simple life made the fall from grace that much more devastating. I plummeted from the heavenly little bubble that I shared with Jake. I fell fast and hard straight into the fiery pits of hell. The knowledge of how things used to be is a bittersweet torture that refuses me even one moment of respite. I live in a painful reverie that I can’t escape.I had it good once.
That’s gone now.
All of it disappeared like vapor into the ether. I’m a lost woman, wandering through grief and struggling to come to terms with my new title: widow. My family says I need understanding and closure. I say a cigarette and a bottle of wine is a much better option for instant gratification.
I’m the awkward, depressed one standing in the corner making everyone around me miserably uncomfortable. I’m the one with vacant eyes that society strives to help but can’t. I’m the one who hands out tight smiles and derisive snorts. I’m the widow adrift in this world with no direction. No meaning. No hope. No vital sign.
***
Sadie sets out on a journey to healing without knowing that things will get far worse before they get better. Despite her general indifference to organ donation, she finds herself on a journey to seek out the only people who benefited from her husband’s tragic death.
Resentment runs rampant as she meets the thriving organ recipients. Anger and jealousy spiral, sending the delicate structure of Sadie’s emotions into a tailspin.
Alexander McBride got a second chance—one that he didn’t necessarily want. Alexander is a game changer for Sadie. She hates him for his health but can’t help feeling at home in his presence. He soothes her grief in a way that is intoxicating, addictive even.
The heart that once fell in love with her now resides in Alexander McBride’s chest. It’s a circumstance that forces her to wage an internal war fueled by grief, anger, guilt, love, lust, and loyalty.
Sadie must discover the things that are vital to going on with her life if she has any hope of finding her way through the all-consuming grief that dominates every waking moment.
He looks at me, taking his time as his eyes drag over me from head to toe. “Not so smart today, Sadie.”“What?” My eyes widen a little showing my confusion.
Zander’s eyes glance to my free hand. “No mace.”
I lower my head looking to my empty hand. “I’m not scared of you,” I admit, inwardly wondering exactly what that means to me.
“Are you sure?” Zander’s voice has taken on a sultry, husky tone.
“Yeah,” I breathe.
“Maybe you should be.” An unmistakable look of regret fills Zander’s eyes, making me curious where it has come from. Seeing that look on his handsome face makes me want to make it better. It makes me want to pull him to me, to wrap myself around him and vow on my life to guard him from all the bad that the world has to offer.
USA Today Best Selling Author,J.L. Mac is twenty-seven years old and currently resides in El Paso, Texas, where she enjoys living near her family. She was born and raised in Galveston, Texas. J.L. admittedly has had a long and sordid love affair with the written word and has loved every minute of it. She drinks too many glasses of wine on occasion,and says way too many swear words to be considered “lady-like.” J.L. spends her free time reading, writing, and playing with her children.Blog ☆ Facebook ☆ Twitter ☆ Goodreads
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Re-release Blitz & Giveaway: Crow's Row
For college student Emily Sheppard, the thought of spending a summer alone in New York is much more preferable than spending it in France with her parents.
Just completing her freshman year at Callister University, Emily faces a quiet summer in the city slums, supporting herself by working at the campus library.During one of her jogs through the nearby cemetery while visiting her brother Bill’s grave, Emily witnesses a brutal killing—and then she blacks out. When Emily regains consciousness, she realizes she’s been kidnapped by a young crime boss and his gang.
She is hurled into a secret underworld, wondering why she is still alive and for how long.
Held captive in rural Vermont, she tries to make sense of her situation and what it means. While uncovering secrets about her brother and his untimely death, Emily falls in love with her very rich and very dangerous captor, twenty- six-year-old Cameron. She understands it’s a forbidden love and one that won’t allow her to return to her previous life.
But love may not be enough to save Emily when no one even knows she is missing.
Amazon US - http://goo.gl/xRRK7ZAmazon UK - http://goo.gl/oahnMUAmazon CA - http://goo.gl/03KVnkB & N - http://goo.gl/X5yQdB
"I know you don't believe anything I say, so there's no point in me trying to defend myself to you anymore, even if it kills me to see you so disgusted with me. But there's one thing I do need you to know: I love you Emmy. I've loved you for a very long time." He turned his eyes to me for the briefest of moments, and I felt a crack in my newly erected armour. "To have you here with me ... I guess in some sick way, for a while, I thought that this could work. Hurting you was the last thing I wanted to do, but it looks like I managed to do that anyway." He took another breath. "This place is where I have to be, but it's not a place where you can or should be. There's nothing that I can do to change that. I won't force this life on you."
A former germaphobe and clean-freak turned mother of two, Julie collects enough tears and snot in a month to recreate Slimer Monster from Ghostbusters. Other than playing devoted wife and mama, Julie is the funniest person in the room (according to the 3 year-old and 2 year-old in said room) and can build the most awesome Lego rocket ship you’ve ever set your eyes on (according to her). Oh, and she has a full time career and has also written a bestselling novel. Superhero, or just downright insane?
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