Lori L. Clark's Blog, page 44

Cover Reveal: The Play

Their love led to a lie.

Their truth led to the end.

Scottish enigma Brigs McGregor is crawling out from the ashes. After losing his wife and son in a car accident - and, subsequently, his job - he's finally moving forward with his life, securing a prestigious teaching position at the University of London and starting a new chapter in the city. Slowly, but surely, he's pushing past the guilt and putting his tragic past behind him.

Until he sees her.

Natasha Trudeau once loved a man so much she thought she'd die without him. But their love was wrong, doomed from the start, and when their world crashed around them, Natasha was nearly buried in the rubble. It took years of moving on to forget him, and now that she's in London, she's ready to start over again.

Until she sees him.

Because some loves are too dangerous to ever rekindle.

And some loves are too powerful to ignore.

Can you ever have a second chance at a love that ruined you?

The Lie is a second-chance romance with a dark, forbidden twist.



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With her USA Today Bestselling The Artists Trilogy published by Grand Central Publishing, numerous foreign publication deals, and self-publishing success with her Experiment in Terror series, Vancouver-born Karina Halle is a true example of the term "Hybrid Author." Though her books showcase her love of all things dark, sexy and edgy, she's a closet romantic at heart and strives to give her characters a HEA...whenever possible.Karina holds a screenwriting degree from Vancouver Film School and a Bachelor of Journalism from TRU. Her travel writing, music reviews/interviews and photography have appeared in publications such as Consequence of Sound, Mxdwn and GoNomad Travel Guides. She currently lives on an island on the coast of British Columbia where she’s preparing for the zombie apocalypse with her fiancé and rescue pup.

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Book Review: The Last Round

The Last Round
by E.L. Montes

In the ring, I’m trained, powerful, and in control.
And that’s exactly how I built my legacy.
For years I’ve trained to fight, but no championship title in the world has prepared me for the most important fight of my life.
Out of the ring, I’m untamed and reckless.
Which is why my wife of nine years has filed for divorce.
I’m done with living up to the bad boy image my middleweight titles come with. Boxing is my life, but the money and the fame mean nothing to me without her by my side.
This fight is for the woman that I love.
And I can’t lose.
I won’t lose.
TeriLyn's thoughts: **The Last Round generously provided in exchange for an honest review.**

Starting off it's imperative to point out I loved the premise of the story as it tells what happens once a 12 year relationship begins crumbling. Julian and Natalia Rios started off as frenemies became lovers then husband and wife. Julian, a boxing champion, and Natalia, an aspiring actress have a rich history between them making their love sweet. I loved this and was excited at the prospect of seeing how that love maintained over the years and what's caused it to seemingly fall apart.

The Last Round quite frankly fell really short for me. The book itself was short only taking me about two hours to read. There was so much potential to really dig into the heart of both Julian and Natalia's issues and I felt the story moved so quickly I never really the "epicness" of their love and I wanted to so badly. When their marriage fails and the characters are left picking up the pieces working to find their ways back to each other, there was just no meat to the story. The events didn't feel organic to me but just rushed - this is the best to describe it. Also, the author uses this book to plug or her other works in a way I didn't feel was natural either.

The bright spots for me were the periods of Julian's vulnerability. He has flashbacks of he and Natalia's coupling that were very sweet because we see him looking back with the regret and vulnerability of losing her in the present. His actions near the end of the book were lovely and the epilogue was very sweet.

This book was very low drama and a very quick read. Digging into the meat of the story from author would have left me with a more epic feeling as the writing and characters were on point. The Last Round is a stand alone story told from the first person points of view of both Julian and Natalia.

Release Blitz: FU Cancer

Title: F U CancerAuthor: Hilaria AlexanderRelease Date: Dec 29, 2015Find on Goodreads

Synopsis:
Lucy has always been a good girl. The most hardcore thing she's done in her life was falling for a divorced man ten years her senior. 
But he was the love of her life and she married him. When her Peter Pan of a husband decided to divorce her, she thought it was her chance to start anew. That was until she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Besides looking like Britney circa 2007, she is taking it well, real well. You might see her walk around the hospital during chemo sessions with bright colored wigs and outrageous t-shirts that seem to shock the most conservative employees. One of them reads F U CANCER.

Buy Links:
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Excerpt:
I should have suspected something. Instead, when the doorbell rang, I opened the door without the slightest idea of what was waiting for me.
Beverly showed up on my doorstep along with the man I had tried to keep away all week.
“Shit,” I said. “What now?”
Brandon smiled, but looked sheepish, which made me worry. He was holding a bouquet of roses, and handed it to me without saying a word. I took it and thanked him, and when I locked eyes with his, I felt a million different feelings unleash inside of me.
He was giving me that hooded, cautious look. His eyes looked a deeper blue than usual. My eyes fell on his mouth and I realized how much I had missed his touch.
I wanted to jump into his arms, but there was still doubt in my heart and it was weighing the happy-go-lucky part of me down.
“Okay, so…as you might have guessed by now, you and I aren’t going anywhere,” Beverly spoke. “But you and Brandon are going on a little adventure–”
“What?” I turned to her snapping out of my Brandon-induced daydream.
“Yes! And you have to leave, like…right now. So, chop-chop!”
I looked at Brandon quizzically. “What do you have to say? Cat got your tongue?” I joked.
“I want you to come with me. I don’t want to have to persuade you. I’m also afraid I’m going to spill the beans and ruin the whole thing,” he said.
“You seem pretty good at keeping things to yourself,” I sneered.
“Alright! Easy, woman! Come on, time to go!” She came behind me and started pushing me towards Brandon’s car.
“Okay, okay!” I took my purse, locked the house and unwillingly walked to the car, all with the flowers in my arms. “Crap! I forgot about the flowers. I turned to Beverly. “You have the keys to my house, right? Would you mind putting them in a vase?”
“I’ll do it,” she replied.
“Thanks.”
“But first, there’s something else I have to do.” She exchanged a look with Brandon and I stared confused at the two of them.
She got a strip of black fabric out of her purse. What the hell was that?
“Turn around,” she commanded.
“What?”
“Turn around. I have to put this blindfold on you.”
“Seriously?” I gasped. How could these two people be those I used to think I trusted? “Am I not coming willingly?” I asked Brandon.
“This is her idea,” he replied, tilting his head in Beverly’s direction.
Of course. I should have known. Miss lover of kinky steamy romance novels.
“Well, it’s not necessary,” I argued.
“It totally is,” Beverly rebuffed. “It’s going to ruin the whole surprise. Wear the motherfucking blindfold or so help me God, Lucy.”
“Okay, okay.” Jeez. Who knew she could be such a Bossypants? “You’re making me reconsider our friendship, you know,” I told her.
“Lies,” she said, tying the knot behind my head. “All done!” she exclaimed and then pinched my butt.
“Ouch!”
“Awww, stop it, you sissy. Give me these.” She took the flowers from my arms. Brandon took my hand and just the feeling of his warm fingers around mine, made my heart jump a little. I exhaled.
“I promise you, this is going to be good,” he whispered in my ear. God, his voice sounded even sexier than I remembered.
He helped me in the car and put the seatbelt around me. His lips brushed against mine just for a second, and I gasped.
“I have to admit, I do like this blindfold,” he teased.
“Of course you do.”
“I almost forgot,” Beverly said. She took my hand and placed some lightweight object in my hand. It was shaped like a square and it was made of paper.
“What is it?”
“A CD mix. A little ‘sorry for blindfolding you, friend, have a great time on your mystery road trip’ playlist.”
“Road trip?” I asked.
“Oops, I said too much. Anyway, I’m sure you’re going to hate me a little less after you listen to it.”
“If you say so.”
“Have a fabulous night and don’t forget to tell your best friend she’s the best when you end up having a great time.”
“We’ll see about that,” I joked and smiled, but I wondered if she knew I was joking. I couldn’t see her and wasn’t sure if she was smiling.
“Bye, Lucy. I wuv you!”
“Wuv you too!”
She closed the door, and a moment later I heard Brandon’s door open and he sat in the passenger seat. He closed his door and started the car.
“Where are we going?” I asked him.
“You’ll see.”
“Well, at the moment, I can’t see anything.” He laughed. It was a warm, rich sound that eased up the nervousness and made me smile.
“I missed your smile,” he said. “I can’t believe you had the strength to stay away from me a whole week.”
“Eight days,” I corrected him.
“Were you going to keep giving me the cold shoulder if I hadn’t showed up at your door?”
“I don’t know.” I heard him exhale a deep breath and wondered if that hurt his feelings. It was easier to be indifferent to him when he wasn’t around. Now, in the small space of the car, my head swam in his scent, his words made my heartbeat speed up, and a warm and fuzzy feeling spread into my chest. The knots in my stomach dissolved and the words almost come rushing out of my mouth.
“I missed you too.”
“Good,” he said.


Author Info:
Hilaria Alexander was born and raised in the south of Italy, where her family still lives. She attended college at the Istituto Universitario Orientale in Naples, Italy, and lived one year in Tokyo, Japan, as part of an exchange student program. She now lives in Oklahoma City with her husband and kids. When she isn't at work, she is reading, catching up on her favorite TV shows and coming up with new stories. She loves traveling and is a self-proclaimed concert addict.
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Book Review: First Touch

First Touch (First and Last #1)
by Laurelin Paige

When Emily Wayborn goes home to visit her mom while on hiatus from her hit TV show, she receives a voicemail from her former best friend, Amber. Though the two were once notorious party girls, they haven't spoken in years. Although the message might sound benign to anyone else, Amber uses a safe word that Emily recognizes, a word they always used to get out of sticky situations during their wild days. And what's more chilling than the voicemail: it turns out that Amber has gone missing.

Determined to track down her friend, Emily follows a chain of clues that lead her to the enigmatic billionaire Reeve Sallis, a hotelier known for his shady dealings and play boy reputation. Now, in order to find Amber, Emily must seduce Reeve to learn his secrets and discover the whereabouts of her friend. But as she finds herself more entangled with him, she finds she's drawn to Reeve for more than just his connection to Amber, despite her growing fear that he may be the enemy. When she's forced to choose where her loyalty lies, how will she decide between saving Amber and saving her heart?
TeriLyn's thoughts: **First Touch generously provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.**

PHENOMENAL. This one word perfectly captures the beauty of this exquisitely written, chilling, erotic, thrilling, and brilliant story. Reeve Sallis and Emily Wayborne shine together. Laurelin Paige completely outdid herself with gorgeous writing and a plot so intricately twisted creating a mysterious web of trust and deceit, cat and mouse. I was consumed from the first word until the very last. Yes, indeed, PHENOMENAL.

In the interest of preserving the exciting thriller that is the plot of First Touch I'm not going into explicit detail but rather highlighting some of my favorite things about this book. Firstly, the book opens with a chilling prologue. It grabs hold of your attention providing a "WTF" type moment and thus beginning the love affair you'll no doubt engage in with this story. Secondly, as the reader from the first chapter forward in the 1st person POV of the heroine you're thrust into the thick of Emily's plotting and planning. There's no dramatic planning stages, no build up - it instantly begins with this complicated web of Emily's present day. Third, juxtaposed with the present we find ourselves immersed in Emily's elicit past. The brilliance of including the past, for me, were the clues were learned about her life in relation to what she's up to present day as well learning the intricacies and depth of her love affair with her missing best friend.

Fourth, REEVE freaking SALLIS. Yep. I want a Reeve of my own. Mysterious, intriguing, passionate, arrogant, tortured, dominant - REEVE SALLIS. Trust me, his name deserves all caps. From the moment their eyes meet, which in and of itself was one my favorite moments of the book and they didn't even speak or touch, undeniable chemistry prevails. Paige's writing is so unbelievably brilliant I'm telling you I had a visceral reaction to these two, like literally felt sparks flying. From there this story takes off always providing just the perfect amount of detail to leave you breathless and hooked but never giving too much of anything away. I could read about these two for days even though I don't have slightest clue as to where they're headed. So many factors provided endless discussion of theories.

Explicit, debauched sex is a major part of this book. It's hot as all hell and done in such a classy, beautifully written way. Reeve's dominant satiates Emily's submissive nature. Based in depravity, the erotic fantasies of these two will melt your Kindle. If this kind of relationship isn't your thing, I suggest you not read. If you're intrigued by it but not certain, try this book with that understanding keeping in mind while those traits are a major part of who these characters are First Touch isn't a book about the primal sex between two people. The depth of where that sexual tension takes these two leads us to the root of their emotions in such an organic way. Pivotal developments in their characters lead you to moments of clarity about them, Paiges builds your trust while never letting on if you're correct or not. The plot so cleverly constructed leads us through a world of power, danger, and intensity. You won't know who's the cat and who's the mouse. You won't know who to trust. You won't know which way is up or where to turn because of Paige's brilliant, delectable story telling.

First Touch is EPIC! Trust me, if you like the erotic depravity of human sexual nature coupled with thrilling intrigue, strong characters, the alluring darkness and danger of life all blended beautifully together to create an expertly crafted plot - this is the book for you. For the anxiety-ridden readers stressing about rumblings of a cliffhanger, PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF READING, DO NOT skip this book just because it's not a standalone. Paige knows exactly where to leave you - needy and breathless wanting MORE but in such a maniacally brilliant way. Bravo, Laurelin Paige. A favorite of the entire 2015 reading year for me. You absolutely rocked it. Yep, PHENOMENAL.


**Readers Note** This is a PERFECT book for a BR, my reading BF Irene and I had many chats throughout. We have more theories than I could even name with absolutely no clue what's truth and what 's not. It's great fun to discuss. I highly recommend reading with your best BR buddy!

Giveaway & Release Blitz: Tutu's & Cowboy Boots

Title: Tutu’s & Cowboy Boots
Author: Casey Peeler
Release Date: Dec 28, 2015
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Cadence Lewis has been dancing since she could walk. Living in New York with her parents she has the chance to go to the best dance school in the country, but when her father does the unthinkable she’s forced to leave her dreams behind and move to a small southern town with her mom.  Cadence is having a hard time adjusting to her new life when she meets Jade Carpenter.  Jade starts to show Cadence that small-town life isn’t so bad, but when Cadence has a chance to go back to New York she is on the next flight and will do anything to get her old life back.



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“What did you say? A stroke?” I ask with concern and confusion.
“Not literally. If you haven’t noticed it’s hot and sticky here, makes you feel like you’re a stick of butter melting. I can promise that you don’t want to be out here in the heat of the day, but if you don’t get to moving, you will be.”
“I’m not doing any of it Gran. This is not what I signed up to do.”
“Sugar, the moment you disrespected me was the moment I knew it was time to teach you a lesson or two about life. So pick up those boots and march your ass right in there.” Holy shit! Gran cursed!
“What? Shit ain’t a bad word. Look out there. There’s plenty of it,” she says pointing to the pasture. As I turn back to Gran I notice my cellphone lodged in a pile of crap.
“Gran, my phone! It landed in a pile of crap.”
“Well, brush it off.”
“Oh, no, I’m not touching that and now I need a new phone. How am I going to talk to Lauren and my other friends without a phone?”
“I have one in the house. Now quit your whining and get started on those stalls.”
Reluctantly, I follow Gran into the barn. Hearing a crazy sound, I have no idea what I’m about to do, but I pray it doesn’t have anything to do with a cow’s tatas.





Casey Peeler grew up in North Carolina and still lives there with her husband and daughter.
Growing up Casey wasn't an avid reader or writer, but after reading Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neal Hurston during her senior year of high school, and multiple Nicholas Sparks' novels, she found a hidden love and appreciation for reading.  That love ignited the passion for writing several years later, and her writing style combines real life scenarios with morals and values teenagers need in their daily lives.
When Casey isn't writing, you can find her near a body of water listening to country music with a cold beverage and a great book.

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Casey Peeler - Tutu's & Cowboy Boots

Seasons Greetings

Giveaway & Release Blitz: Falling For Hudson

Title: Falling for Hudson (Marlowe #2)
Author: Alexandria Bishop
Release Date: Dec 22, 2015
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Orphaned and alone, Chloe Weston is forced to leave everything she knows and start over with nothing more than a shattered heart.  But it isn't long until the Hartley boys–both of them–begin to mend the broken pieces.  Kind, loving, and reliable Hudson Hartley would move mountains to see her smile.  On the contrary, fun, sexy, bad boy, Jax Hartley, only wants to help her forget about her pain. Filling the void in Chloe's life, the brothers vie for her attention--and heart.  But only one can have her...


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Chloe
I’m sitting in my theater class right now, which is one giant joke. I get it. Ashtyn’s mom registered me for classes and she knows the old me. The old me would have been buzzing with energy as soon as I stepped foot in this amazing theater that’s way too good to belong to a high school. The teacher drones on and on about auditions, volunteer opportunities, internships, blah, blah, blah. The acoustics make it sound like he’s standing right next to me rather than one hundred feet away on the stage. Basically perfect.
A packet is passed onto my desk: “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” I pick it up and run my fingers along the title and wait for the adrenaline rush and butterflies to flutter through me. My favorite Shakespeare play is within my reach. I could stand up on that stage and pretend to be Helena. Steal the show and have everyone fall in love with me. But as I look at that stage, all I feel is the darkness closing in. I feel like I’m standing in front of an audience as they judge me and not a single supporter among them. There’s a hole where Mom should be, and rather than let the panic start up, I toss the script to the side.
It’s one of my favorite Shakespeare plays. I always preferred the comedies to the tragedies, and when you throw in a little love, you have something there. With the proximity to the Shakespeare Festival, I get the idea that the theater program is pretty competitive here. I wish I cared enough to see how good I am.
“Mr. Hemmer, are you requiring everyone to audition for the play again this year?” I try to ignore the annoying sound coming from Brooke’s mouth, but my ears perk up nonetheless.
He clears his throat and rolls his eyes. No one else is looking at him, so I’m the only one who caught it, but at least I know I’m not the only one that can’t stand her. She’s so fake it’s disgusting. “No, Brooke, that turned out to be a disaster last time. No one will be required to audition, but everyone here will be required to help out in some way, whether that is working on the sets or any of the other backstage jobs. I do hope you all consider auditioning for a part though.”
She can’t even hide the ridiculous smile that is plastered all over her face. In the most saccharine voice, she says, “That’s good. I’m sure there are some people in here that just aren’t meant for being on stage.” I turn to look at her, and she’s staring straight at me. I hold her gaze and refuse to back down from her. I match my sickeningly sweet smile to hers, although mine’s a little more serial killer than cheerleader. It works though. Her mouth opens in horror and she turns back around.







Born in a small southeastern island in Alaska, Alexandria moved to southern Oregon early on in her life. Where she still resides with her young daughter, husband, and fur baby.
She's insanely obsessed with fashion and used to dream of becoming a fashion designer creating new outfits for her Barbie's with her childhood best friend. For now she's loving writing and fulfilling her fashion addiction with shopping.
Along with fashion, Alexandria is a big lover of music. She's always listening to something while writing and creates a playlist to go along with each book she writes. She's always on the hunt for new music and loves getting suggestions from her readers.
Alexandria spends way too much time on social media and would love for you to say hi!

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Alexandria Bishop - Falling for Hudson

Book Review: Followed by Frost

Followed by Frost
by Charlie N. Holmberg

Seventeen-year-old Smitha's wealth, status, and beauty make her the envy of her town—until she rejects a strange man’s marriage proposal and disastrous consequences follow. Smitha becomes cursed, and frost begins to encompass everything she touches. Banished to the hills, hunted by villagers, and chilled to the very core of her soul, she finds companionship with Death, who longs to coax her into his isolated world. But Smitha's desire for life proves stronger than despair, and a new found purpose gives her hope. Will regrets over the past and an unexpected desire for a man she cannot touch be enough to warm Smitha’s heart, or will Death forever still it?
Lori's thoughts: Something about this book caught my attention. I didn't buy it right away, but kept coming back to it. I finally decided to take a chance on it and I'm very glad that I did.

This is my first read by Charlie, and I can promise it's definitely not my last.

I loved the storyline and the writing was superb. I didn't expect a love story, but got one anyway. The romance was a slow building love between two unlikely characters.

Wonderful book!

Release Day Launch: The Scent of Magic

Scent of Magic
by Lori L. Clark

The Duchesne sisters are known for their magically intoxicating perfumes, but when they open up a shop in a small town in the Bible belt, they aren't exactly welcomed with open arms. As soon as the townsfolk begin sampling the fragrances, and miraculous things start happening, for the first time in their lives, the women believe they've found a place they can call home.

When youngest sister Starley develops a crush on the pastor's son she decides to work a little "harmless" magic of her own to win the boy's affection, but it backfires when he has an allergic reaction and winds up in the hospital. The pastor is convinced the women are witches and wants them out of his peaceful little town.

Will magic save them this time or will they have to pull up stakes and move again?

Cover Reveal: Water Under the Bridge

Water Under the Bridge Cover Reveal- Suburbia won’t know what hit them

My whole life I've wanted nothing more than to fit in.Only my whole life I've done anything but.That's probably because I'm anything but average. After all—female serial killers seem to be a minority in today's society.And that's ok—because I've longed for a change for quite some time now.Which brings me back around to fitting in.You know what one has to do to fit in?I do.One has to blend.Which is great news!Because I realized my clock is ticking, so to speak, and now I want a family. Luckily, I've always been good at getting what I want.So I figure what better place to blend than suburbia?All that stuff I did before—it's water under the bridge now. I just hope it's not too late to change my ways. Here's to hoping for suburbia's sake, too.I mean, what are the odds I could be the girl next door?Apparently, they're better than you might think.
Goodreads: bit.ly/WaterUnderTheBridgeGR
Pre-order: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B018GXNQUI
About the Author:

Britney King writes modern love stories for mature audiences. She is the author of five novels which have been featured on various bestseller lists, and is currently at work on number six.

She lives in Austin, Texas with her husband, five children, two dogs, one ridiculous cat, and a partridge in a pear tree.In her spare time, you might find Britney running, reading, or spending time utilizing the wonderful venues that make her city great.

She enjoys hearing from readers and would love it if you would connect with her at www.britneyking.com

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