Lori L. Clark's Blog, page 74

Book Review: Reft

Reft
by Libby Austin

For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. ~
Newton’s Third Law of Motion

Brandon “Brand” Carmichael’s life was the stuff dreams were made of…too bad it was an illusion. As a guitarist for Inert Motion, Brand traveled the world, performing with his brothers in all but blood. He never stopped moving all the while his mind played in a never ending loop. Now outside influences have changed the band’s course, leaving Brand’s life void of the balance he craved. Once again, his dream had become a recurring nightmare. Brand coped the only way he knew how; retreat into solitude.

Magdalena “Layna” Delacroix had achieved the long sought goal of her Ph.D. in Psychology, but success came at a high cost: over one hundred thousand dollars in debt. After being presented with the opportunity to fulfill her desire to help someone in the aftermath of tragedy, along with earning enough money to clear her debt and start a psychology practice of her own, Layna had to balance the means against the outcome. Could she be the force to stop the downward spiral of someone who refused to seek help?

Neither Brand nor Layna expected the reaction they had to one another. It was the opposite of everything they sought.

Could Layna live a lie while pushing Brand to live in the truth?

Would Brand forgive her for committing one unforgivable sin?

Or was he branded by destiny to be...

Reft
TeriLyn's thoughts: **Reft generously provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.**

After noticing this book cover on Netgalley and reading the blurb I was quite intrigued. I'm glad I requested the title and have read. It wasn't a favorite for me but I enjoyed the time I spent reading Reft.

The plot of this story is very unique, told solely from the point of view of the hero, Brandon Carmichael. I loved this aspect, being inside Brandon's head was a total experience. He's a damaged soul hiding his pain and his true self from the world. Solitude amongst chaos he prefers rather than chaos in his personal life. The detailed writing of his thoughts lent itself as a more cryptic plot device giving clues throughout about what might have happened to Brand but never revealing the whole truth to the reader. This proved intriguing and kept me glued to the pages.

The heroine of Reft, Layna, proves to be seemingly predictable to the plot. I had her figured out almost straight away but I enjoyed her just as well. Her ways of handling Brand and his quirks, her love of good banter, or just how she treats silent moments proved to be really great moments in the book. And there were a lot of really great moments between the two to make this enjoyable. Brand's band mates were great additions as secondary characters as well lending some humor to the book and also a nice glimpse in the stability and love Brand has in his life.

Everything added up to a story I'm glad I read one which held my attention and intrigued me. I thought the conflict came rather quick and the result of that conflict resolved the story. I thought there were some clues left throughout that didn't quite add up in the end, maybe that was purposeful I'm not sure. And the ending underwhelmed me a bit. I was hoping for a bit ... more, from Layna especially. But overall I enjoyed and think anyone interested in a unique, contemporary romance would get an enjoyable read from Reft.

Book Review: Sweet Hope

Sweet Hope (Sweet Home #4)
by Tillie Cole

From the USA Today Bestselling Sweet Home Series, comes Sweet Hope.

My name is Ally Prince and I've always been unlucky in love. I don’t know why, I just always… have.

When all of my best friends were falling for their soul mates in College, I was left behind. I was Ally, the pretty cousin of superstar quarterback, Romeo Prince. I was Ally, the best friend to the most amazing group of girls I've ever known—a title I loved, but one I became tired of 'just' being. And I was Ally, the one on which they could all rely.

But to me, I was Ally, the girl with the heart no one had claimed... And I was, Ally, the girl, who underneath it all, was heart-breakingly lonely.

I LOVE love; the thought of it, the nervous excitement of falling for Mr. Right, the desire of someone becoming my entire world... of me becoming theirs. I’ve always wanted passion, heart-stopping, epic, life-changing romance... I’ve always wanted the fairytale… I’ve always wanted it all.

It just never seemed like I would get it.

For the past few years I've thrown myself into my career as a museum curator. I’m the best of the best, the person every museum wants to hire, so when an opportunity came up to move to Seattle, I jumped at the chance. My cousin and my best friend lived in Seattle and I needed a change.

I needed a new beginning.

I wasn't expecting to meet anyone in the Emerald City. I wasn't expecting to work closely with the reclusive new sculptor my all-important gallery design was centered around. And I certainly wasn't expecting to fall for him... heart-stopping, epic, life-changing love...
My real life fairytale come true.

But, like in every fairytale, there’s a villain, a dark and tortured soul... I just didn't know that the villain and the hero in my story would end up being one and the same.
TeriLyn's thoughts: Tillie Cole writes New Adult magic. Her stories absorb me from start to finish. I've been in love with this series from the very beginning and very much looked forward to reading Ally's story. When it went live yesterday afternoon, I immediately one-clicked and settled in to devour the story of Aliyana and her Elpidio. And devour Sweet Hope I did.

There's so much in this story I want to talk about but can't because I don't want to spoil. The thing I want to spoil, I don't know if other people knew and I was living under a rock but I was surprised and LOVED every minute of it. If you haven't read the whole Sweet Home series, I wouldn't advise you reading Sweet Hope until you've done so.

Tillie Cole writes exquisitely. Her plots flow from start to finish never leaving you hanging, always turning, always giving. She easily draws you into the worlds of these characters leaving you there until you reach the end and don't even realize four hours has gone. Ms. Cole's characters are ones who are hurting in some way - one character is always hurting. The main characters always dynamic, always real.

Sweet Hope is a book of redemption, of forgiveness, of understanding. It's about family, owning your family, understanding them even when it's hard. This book is most definitely about hope in times when you feel you have none. It's about loving something because of who they are innately, even with their flaws. It's about seeing the good we all possess.

Ally Prince believes in Elpidio. She believes in his work, in his tainted, beautiful soul. She revels in his darkness, basks in it, while he revels in her light. This is a strong heroine - a forgiving and compassion woman, a loving friend. Ally Prince is a superstar in this book. Elpidio is a dark horse. He's tortured and damaged. He's wants love in the worst way to feel accepted to understand what it means to love and be loved. The sacrifices he's made to provide for those he loves most have gone unnoticed until he meets Ally.

There could have been no other fitting end to this series than with this story. I loved every minute of reading it and I'm sad it's come to an end but so utterly satisfied in how this exceptional author got us to this point. I'll read anything Tille Cole writes and the Sweet Home series will remain as one of my favorite New Adult series ever. I can't re-read it and I can't wait for what Tillie Cole writes next!

Book Review: Naughty King

Naughty King (A Sexy Manhattan Fairytale #1)
by Michelle A. Valentine

The King Always Gets His Way.
Women, business, pleasure: When I want it, I get it.
I’m never denied.
Including her.
I will break her.
I will show her who the king of this city really is.
The Feisty Princess of Manhattan will learn I am not a man that can be tempted.
No matter how fucking bad I want her in my bed.


TeriLyn's thoughts: **Naughty King generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.**

I love reading shorter serial stories. I love a cliff hanger as it comes with the exciting anticipation of waiting for the next book. Naughty King hadn't crossed my book radar until very recently so I hadn't read anything about it or even the blurb. Since I've read Michelle Valentine's Black Falcon rocker series (I also had the pleasure of meeting this author in Pittsburgh at a signing and she was so gracious to her fans which is awesome!) and really enjoyed that series I wanted to sink my teeth into this. And now, there is no doubt I'm so happy to have been introduced to Alexander King.

Naughty King proved to be one those books that hooks you from the start thanks to hero's anti-hero personality and the heroine's take no prisoners attitude. They're pitted against each other in a control war each trying to maintain the business positions they're protecting. Good business sometimes comes with mixing it in pleasure. Alexander is super hot, downright dirty, and a total turn on. In a verbal attack he's a formidable opponent flaring the challenge in Margo, not giving up until he proves why he's the King. Margo never backs down, I love that about this heroine. Even in passion she can't resist she's confident and bold.

The story is simple. It's a jerk boss meeting his match in a woman he finds beneath him and his valuable time. He's fighting to retain a legacy she's fighting to protect. Which one will come out on top?

Michelle Valentine spins it in a highly entertaining, addicting read from start to finish. Her writing draws you into the story easily riding along with the characters. It was a bit predictable in some spots and some of their inner thoughts about each other repetitive but never enough to dissuade me from not needing to know more their story. Alexander and Margot go head to head in Naughty King needing to learn how to navigate their singular goals against the multifaceted passion all the way to the holy shit moment at the end. I can't wait to see the next part of their story in Feisty Princess.

Book Review: The Risk

The Risk (Xtreme Heroes #1)
by Skye Jordan

Former Olympian turned physical therapist to the elite Julia Bailey knows all about pushing the limits. But when a sexual harassment suit costs her a dream job—not to mention her reputation—she takes on the biggest risk of her life. Rehabilitating the X Games’ most notorious bad boy might be just what she needs to secure the funds for her own treatment center. Problem is, the only kind of recovery her new client is interested in is under-the-covers freestyle—gear optional.

Daredevil snowboarder Noah Hunt is a rock star—on and off the slopes. A recent accident might have him down, but he’s far from out. He doesn’t care what the sexy therapist with the sweet curves says. He’s got sponsors to impress and trophies to collect, and taking things slow and steady just ain’t his style. A little dirty talk and a sizzling night later, Julia learns just how fast and hard he likes to play. Too bad for him, his heart goes all in, and one wrong move could cost him more than just his career.


TeriLyn's thoughts: **The Risk generously provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**

Skye Jordan captivated my reading heart with her entire Renegade series as I devoured each one. When I saw The Risk there was no question I'd be reading this story. Her storytelling power always hold my attention while her plots move fluidly and keep me wanting more. Noah Hunt and Julia Baliey were the focus of this doctor/patient contemporary story about overcoming the judgments of the past while beating the odds.

I didn't love this book liked I loved others of it's kind of of Jordan's. But I did enjoy it. Skye Jordan writes hot sex, I've read here and I've read it before. But for me the passion was missing along with the overwhelming sexual tension. For most this book the main characters are only friends. There seemed to be too long a stall period for me with them taking the next step. Again, it wasn't anything I didn't enjoy per se, I just didn't love it as I wanted more of a connection.

Noah and Julia find themselves enamored with each other against their own dissuasion when a mutual friend puts them together for Julia to rehab Noah's snowboaring injury. The setting is magical, their banter infectious, and friendship fun.

The Risk is worth the read for a fast, fun book. I look forward to reading more from this series as a few of the secondary characters caught my attention, especially Noah's friend Finn.

Book Review: Saving Toby

Saving Toby (Toby & Claudia #1)
by Suzanne McKenna

Loving someone through their hard fall from grace takes a lot of grit.

Hired on as a caretaker to the ailing Mrs. Faye, Claudia Chiatmetti is drawn into the lives of the widow and her son — a world where sadness lingers and old wounds run deep. Empathetic to the family's plight, Claudia is powerless against the emerging feelings she has for the unruly Toby Faye. Up close, Toby’s blue-grey eyes expose a need she cannot ignore. His dark past will test her fortitude and expose her to danger. Does Claudia have the grit to love Toby through it?

Saving Toby is a powerful and moving debut novel set on the south shore of Long Island. It is the first book of a two-part story that follows the emotional and inspirational tale of a young couple's journey to find themselves.
*Contains strong language and explicit scenes.
Lori's thoughts: **Received complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.**

This was different from the cookie-cutter type good girl meets bad boy romance, which I am sick of, frankly. Claudia is a good girl, yes. But she is a strong woman and knows what she wants in spite of what everyone else wants for her. She thinks for herself and does what she thinks is the right thing to do. Toby is a bad boy, yes. But he's got his own issues and they don't magically go away over night. He's aware of the problems and he does something so few bad boys do in fiction ... he seeks professional help so that he can get his life on the right track. This was refreshing for me. He doesn't promise to be a better person and then transform into one with the help of Claudia. He does it for her and because he knows inside that it is the right thing for him to do.

The side characters are also well-written and true to life. I didn't give Saving Toby five stars simply because there were a few things that Claudia said or did, or ways she reacted that seemed a bit "off" to me. But, by no means, did that mean I didn't fully enjoy reading the book -- because I did, and think you should read it too!

Amazon Kindle Hot New Releases in Women's New Adult & College Fiction April 19, 2015

Amazon Kindle Hot New Releases in Women's New Adult & College Fiction April 19, 2015

1. His Proposed Deal by Sandi Lynn
4.5 out of 5 stars

2. His Ransom (A Dark Billionaire Romance Part 4) by Aubrey Dark
4.6 out of 5 stars

3. His Ransom (A Dark Billionaire Romance Part 5) by Aubrey Dark
4.8 out of 5 stars

4. His Ransom (A Dark Billionaire Romance Part 6) by Aubrey Dark
4.9 out of 5 stars

5. A Baby for My Military Stepbrother 1 by Cassandra Zara
4.8 out of 5 stars

6. Stepbrother Fallen by Aya Fukunishi
4.5 out of 5 stars

7. Stepbrother Alpha's Baby by Lauren Landish
4.4 out of 5 stars

8. A Baby for My Military Stepbrother 3 by Cassandra Zara
5.0 out of 5 stars

9. A Baby for My Military Stepbrother 2 by Cassandra Zara
4.6 out of 5 stars

10. Stepbrother: Impossible Love (Stepbrother Romance) by Victoria Villeneuve
4.1 out of 5 stars

Sale & Giveaway: Something More

Title: Something More
Author: Jenna Tyler
Release Date: April 13, 2014
Find on Goodreads


Rebecca Michaels has finally grown tired of her monotonous life and is ready to make a drastic change. Now that her daughter, Charlie, is away at college, there has never been a more perfect time to make it happen.



Packing up and leaving behind all she's ever known, she eagerly ventures out in search of what the world, outside of this dull town, has in store for her.



When she first encounters Andrew Chambers, a mysteriously sexy and seemingly wealthy stranger, she doesn't think she will ever stand a chance with someone like him. Little does she know just how wrong she is or how fierce an attraction the two of them would immediately share. Although, lavish attention and on-demand orgasms are not something she's going to complain about, the speed and intensity with which Andrew pursues her is almost more than she can handle.



Rebecca Michaels wanted an adventure, but the one that awaits her isn't necessarily what she had in mind.

Amazon




When I turn around, Drew has a weird look on his face. “What?” I say. He steps closer to me and places one hand on the small of my back, the other he places on my face. His thumb is in front of my ear and the rest of his fingers are around the nape of my neck. Oh, my god. This is it. He's going to kiss me. My body starts to tremble. He leans in and I close my eyes.

Suddenly, I feel his scruffy cheek against mine and he whispers into my ear, “I'm going to kiss you, Rebecca.” That was unexpected and it startled me. Do I say anything? No one has ever told me they were going to kiss me or asked permission to do so. They've just done it. I decide to nod, ever so slightly. I don't think I'm breathing at this point.

My body feels like it's being tortured with pleasure that hasn't even happened yet. I may just orgasm from this kiss. Oh, dear god. I can feel his warm breath slowly moving from my ear down my jaw. Can he draw this out any longer? He's driving me crazy.

My insides are all twisted up and ready to combust. My core is ready to take him in. Right here. Right now. I realize my panties are wet as his lips finally make the long, breathy trip to mine. His kiss starts gentle and quickly becomes more urgent. My lips part and his tongue finds mine. His hand at the small of my back pulls me in close and tight. I absolutely melt into him. My arms wrap around him and my hands work their way up to his shoulders. I draw him in so tight it's as if we have become one.

What have I been missing out on all my life? No kiss has ever been like this before…so passionate and needy. Our tongues are dancing together and our bodies are inseparable. He slows the kiss and it becomes sweet and gentle again. He withdraws his tongue from mine and kisses the corner of my mouth. I kiss him back and take a little nibble out of his bottom lip when I pull away. Not letting go of him, I look up into his beautiful blue eyes. They are staring back at me and I see a twinkle in them. 




I was born and raised in South/Central Florida. Currently residing in Texas, I love spending time with my fur-baby, Roxy… and sometimes my kids (when they behave). I enjoyed writing poems as a teenager, but it was short-lived. I didn’t become an avid reader until… Twilight and became obsessed. My passion for reading led to stories and characters nagging at me. Then a friend suggested I write it out and I have.

I write when I get the chance (new job) and have a couple projects in the works and can't wait for you to see what's next!

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Blog Tour: Black Number Four

Title: Black Number Four
Author: Kandi Steiner
Release Date: April 4, 2015
Find on Goodreads


Known as one of the youngest and most ambitious poker players in the country, Skyler Thorne has a reputation to uphold in Vegas this year. Her sole focus for spring semester is to perfect her game and get tournament ready – and have some fun with her sorority sisters, of course. Meeting a care-free pledge with incredible arms adds a whole new element of fun to her semester, but when a shocking discovery about his past surfaces, Skyler finds herself stuck in a game she wasn’t prepared to play.



Kip Jackson is on a mission from his father. His plan was to get in, have a little fun, and then get out – on to bigger and better things. A feisty girl with bright blue eyes wasn’t on his list of things to do, but she quickly moves her way up to the very top. When he realizes completing his dad’s mission means crushing her in the process, he must decide if his dreams are worth the risk – or if he even has the same dreams, at all.



Two secrets. Two hearts. Two hands being played in one twisted game of deceit.



When the cards are on the table, will anyone be left standing?



The perfect poker face can only hide them for so long.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes




We get to my apartment around noon and I throw together a couple of turkey sandwiches for us. By the time we finish eating, we’re both exhausted – both from paddleboarding and from not sleeping last night.

“Why don’t we take a shower and watch a movie?” I suggest as Skyler yawns.

“I don’t have any clothes here besides the ones I have on now and they’re all sandy.”

“You can borrow a pair of boxers and a shirt of mine.”

Skyler chews her lip, unsure. “I don’t know, I’m pretty tired.”

“So am I,” I say, standing and pulling her up with me. “So maybe we watch a movie and maybe we take a nap. Don’t leave yet. I barely see you during the week and I know there’s not many weekends where you don’t have sorority stuff going on.”

“I actually have a sisterhood event tonight.”

“See?” I pull her wrist and lead her toward my bedroom, which really is just my bed separated by hanging curtains on a rack. I rummage through my clothes until I find a clean shirt and pair of boxers, tossing them to her and pointing to the bathroom. “Towels are above the toilet in the cabinet, shampoo and shit’s in there.”

She still seems unsure, so I pull her into me and move the fallen strands of hair from her face. “Come on. Just for a few hours. You’ll feel better once you shower and I know you’re tired. You’re not going to get any sleep if you go home to your sorority house.”

At that she sighs and nods. “You’re probably right about that.”

I smile and nudge her toward the bathroom again.

“Fine,” she says. “But just for a little while. And no trying to ambush me in the shower, either.”

I hold up my hands in surrender. “I promise. You can shower in peace.”

“Mmm hmm,” she says, suspicious, but she walks to the bathroom and closes the door behind her.

I smile and start straightening my bed, turning on the TV to find something for us to watch. I’m flipping through the channels when I hear the shower turn on and the smile leaves my face. Suddenly, I’m completely aware of Skyler’s naked body in the other room.

Shaking my head, I focus on finding something to watch, willing my own body to behave. After a few minutes, I realize I’ve flipped through the channels three times now without stopping or even recognizing what I was seeing on the screen. I bite my lip hard, cross my arms, and pace.

Don’t do it. Don’t make this more complicated than it is. She trusts you, she’s opening up to you – that’s what you need from her. Poker. Poker. Poker.

That’s all.

I pace more. Back and forth. Back and forth. Before I know what I’m doing, my knuckles are knocking softly on the bathroom door. I have no idea what I’m going to say or what the fuck I’m doing, but I can’t stop my hands. The door opens slightly on the third knock, as if it wasn’t completely closed, and through the slit, I see Skyler.

She’s standing there shocked, her mouth open slightly as the water continues to drip down her body, running in rivers down over her breasts and meeting between her thighs. I swallow hard, unsure of my decision. I have nothing to ask, no reason to be staring at her through this door – but Skyler doesn’t cover herself, she doesn’t scream, she doesn’t tell me to get out.

I open the door a little further, still wondering what the hell I’m doing. I consider asking if she needs anything else, if she found a towel, something – but we both know I didn’t come in here to give her a towel.

“I suck at keeping promises,” I admit, just above a whisper, and I wish I could tell her I’m not just talking about the promise to not interrupt her shower.


“And I suck at pretending like I don’t want you.”





Latch
Hannah Trigwell & Nick Howard
Chapter 1: Ante Up
Scene: “Latching onto the transfer already?”

Hell Yeah
Midnight Red
Chapter 1: Ante Up
Scene:  “What do you say we make this party a little more interesting?”

Blank Space
Tyler Ward
Chapter 2: Lady Luck
Scene: “Passion can be a dangerous thing.”

Take U There
Jack U ft. Kiesza
Chapter 3: Ace
Scene: Ralph’s is packed when we arrive, which isn’t out of the ordinary for a Friday night.

Slow to Learn
Manchester Orchestra
Chapter 4: Deuces
Scene: I’ve been too damn distracted by how sexy she is when she’s schooling these tools.

Sledgehammer
Fifth Harmony
Chapter 5: Hot Table
Scene: There’s also the fact that I like being around him. I like it way more than I care to admit and that’s not good.

Heartbreaker
Jayme Dee
Chapter 5: Hot Table
Scene: He smiles and licks his lips, his eyes smoldering, which causes practically the entire chapter room to swoon.

Blame
Calvin Harris
Chapter 6: Nicely Played
Scene: But then I remember that I will hurt her, whether I want to or not. It will happen. It’s inevitable.

Shower
Becky G
Chapter 7: Two Can Play That Game
Scene: “How is it that you infuriate me yet turn me on at the same time?”

What Makes You Beautiful
Boyce Avenue
Chapter 8: Power Moves
Scene: “Hold me so I won’t float away?”

Try
Colbie Caillat
Chapter 9: Poker Face
Scene: “We’re just trying to help,” Ashlei says.

Life of the Party
Shawn Mendes
Chapter 10: Weakness
Scene: “I don’t care about what people think, Skyler. I know you do, but I don’t.

Break Free
Ariana Grande
Chapter 11: Angle Shooter
Scene: There isn’t another option in this game, no matter how badly I wish there was.

Lay Me Down (acoustic)
Sam Smith
Chapter 12: Blank
Scene: How was I supposed to know the kind of drug I was getting into?

Bumper Cars
Alex & Sierra
Chapter 13: Bluffing
Scene: I hate this. I hate this so, so much.

Here We Go Again
Mat Kearney
Chapter 14: Tilt
Scene: “You’re coming home with me tonight.”

Hideaway
Kiesza
Chapter 15: No Limit
Scene: I have no idea what I’m doing.

Same Sea
Lights
Chapter 16: Black Number Four
Scene: “I never thought studying could be so sexy,”

#GetItRight
Miley Cyrus
Chapter 16: Black Number Four
Scene: “You’re killing me, Sky,”

She Looks So Perfect
5 Seconds of Summer
Chapter 16: Black Number Four
Scene: “IT’S SPRING BREAK, BITCHES!”

Give Me Something
Alex & Siera
Chapter 16: Black Number Four
Scene: “Yeah, good luck with that game.

Surrender
Cash Cash
Chapter 17: Bad Beat
Scene: And the rest of the world can just deal with it.

Strip
Jessie J
Chapter 17: Bad Beat
Scene: “And what would make it perfect-perfect

Blame It On Me
Mapei
Chapter 17: Bad Beat
Scene: I can’t lose him.

Tenerife Sea
Ed Sheeran
Chapter 18: Rush
Scene: When we’re alone, that same electricity buzzes to life. The air feels tight, hot, charged.

All About You
Hilary Duff
Chapter 19: Game Changer
Scene: It’s crazy that a simple text can make my stomach flip like this, but it’s exactly what I needed.

Breathe Again
Sarah Bareilles
Chapter 19: Game Changer
Scene: I want him to fix it. To fix me.

It’s Not Over
Secondhand Serenade
Chapter 20: Downswing
Scene: “You don’t want to kiss me.” “Yes I do.”

Growing Up
Alex G
Chapter 21: Tell
Scene: As if I’m a glutton for punishment, I pull his oversized black t-shirt from my bag and slip it over my head, taking everything else off.

Pretending
Glee Cast
Chapter 22: Freezeout
Scene: For a moment she just stares at me, and I just stare at her. We don’t wave or nod or even really acknowledge that we’re both looking. We just look.

The Sun is Rising
Britt Nicole
Chapter 23: Game Over
Scene: And somewhere in those ocean blue eyes of his, I find what I’ve been searching for.

Stay With Me
Janxx
Chapter 23: Game Over
Scene: Love doesn’t care about the games we play.

Real Love
Clean Bandit & Jess Glynne
Chapter 24: Break Even
Scene: “I’m done leaving my life to chance. Black number four can suck it.”

Don’t Go Home Without Me
Lights
Epilogue: Heart
Scene: “I could get used to kisses like this.”





Kandi Steiner is a Creative Writing and Advertising/Public Relations graduate from the University of Central Florida living in Tampa with her husband. Kandi works full time as a social media specialist, but also works part time as a Zumba fitness instructor and blackjack dealer.



Kandi started writing back in the 4th grade after reading the first Harry Potter installment. In 6th grade, she wrote and edited her own newspaper and distributed to her classmates. Eventually, the principal caught on and the newspaper was quickly halted, though Kandi tried fighting for her “freedom of press.” She took particular interest in writing romance after college, as she has always been a die hard hopeless romantic (like most girls brought up on Disney movies).



When Kandi isn’t working or writing, you can find her reading books of all kinds, talking with her extremely vocal cat, and spending time with her friends and family. She enjoys beach days, movie marathons, live music, craft beer and sweet wine – not necessarily in that order.

Facebook | Twitter | Website | Goodreads

RDL: Interim

~A lot can change in the space between devising a plan and carrying it out. That space is called the Interim.~

High school seniors Jeremy Stahl and Regan Walters aren’t friends. Not even close. He’s a picked-on, picked-apart loser outcast. She’s a cool kid running with the popular crowd. It’s unlikely they’d ever speak to one another. Too bad he’s madly in love with her. But what does it matter, anyway? He’s got no time for love. Only revenge.
Meticulously detailed in the pages of his battered red notebook is his master plan: April 14, 9:30 A.M., two guns, eighty rounds of ammo, backup knives, eleven victims. He’s finally ready to answer every single taunt, jeer, and flying fist—unwarranted abuse that’s spanned six years of his lonely life. He’s justified. He’s ready. But he never readied himself for her.
Regan finds his journal. She reads it, and when he discovers her intrusion, he has to switch tactics. She’s a liability now.
Better fix that.


(WARNING: This is a New Adult standalone that contains graphic language and violence, including gun violence. If school shootings are an especially sensitive subject for you, then I urge you to refrain from reading this book.)

Excerpt:


His heart plummeted when their eyes met that morning. And then the anger bubbled up in his chest almost immediately. The things she must know! He knew she read it. A girl would have read it. Fucking girls. It was written all over her guilty face, her deer-in-headlights eyes. Her body language. He saw the imperceptible tightening of his words against her chest—her biceps flexing as she secured his notebook to her body. Like she owned it. Like she owned him.
The hell you do, he thought.



Letter to the Reader:
Dear Reader,
Not many authors will discourage you from reading their work. After all, the goal of our stories is to grow our readership, not diminish it. I’m well aware of that, but when I first became inspired with Jeremy’s story, I knew I would have to go about promoting it in an entirely different way—something far removed from my past marketing campaigns. I knew I would have to hide the book, stamp disclaimers all over it, plant seeds of doubt in your minds, decline requests for advanced reviews—in essence, all the things an author SHOULD NOT do when marketing her book. That’s why it took me so long to write the damn thing—over a year of worrying, second-guessing, flip-flopping, arguing. Jeremy sat waiting patiently, and I stared back at him wondering just how much he would destroy my career.
Then I remembered that his story is exactly the type of controversial social issue I enjoy tackling. I knew I had to write it because I could. I could be sensitive to the subject matter without being PC. I could leave my political and moral opinions out of it. I could make it a human story, not a gun story. I could do all these things if I worked very hard—if I was diligent and faithful to my characters and their experiences. Once I realized these things, I stopped fretting and just started writing, careful to keep all the details private and sacred. That’s how writing should be: private and sacred.
Now Jeremy’s story is no longer private, but I hope you will find it sacred. I hope you will throw off your preconceptions and bury your social and political views, your moral judgments. It’s too easy to go into a story like this already angry, especially if you or someone you love has experienced gun violence. I urge you to think long and hard before starting Interim if you are especially sensitive to the topic of school shootings. There are extremely violent, descriptive scenes, and I do not wish for my book to be a trigger for you.
I am well aware of the social debate a book like this may provoke. I did not write it for debate. I did not write it to make a statement about guns, gun control, gun access, Constitutional rights, etc. I am not interested in comparing my story to the horrific school shootings that have taken place in the United States. I have no motive other than to tell a story about an abused boy who felt he deserved justice. What you take away from the novel is entirely up to you.
Love,Summer



S. Walden used to teach English before making the best decision of her life by becoming a full-time writer. She lives in Georgia with her very supportive husband who prefers physics textbooks over fiction and has a difficult time understanding why her characters must have personality flaws. She is wary of small children, so she has a Westie instead. She is the USA Today bestselling author of Going Under. When she's not writing, she's thinking about it.
She loves her fans and loves to hear from them. Email her at swaldenauthor@hotmail.com and follow her twitter feed at @swaldenauthor.
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Cover Reveal: #Selfie

BOOK & AUTHOR INFO:

Title: #Selfie
Series: Hashtag Series #4
This is not a standalone
Release date: May 18, 2015
Genre: New adult college romance
Author: Cambria Hebert
Format: Ebook and Paperback

Synopsis:

It’s all about the #Selfie.

She was the one girl I never wanted.

Until I had her.

One night.

One mistake.

Something we both wanted to forget.

I got rid of the proof. The one piece of evidence that could remind us both.

At least, I thought I did.

When it shows up on the school Buzzfeed, rumors fly. Friendships are tested and the feels get real.

I don’t do relationships. I don’t open my heart.

Especially for a girl everyone knows I hate.

What happens during spring break, stays in spring break.

Until it follows you home.

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AUTHOR BIO:Cambria Hebert is a bestselling novelist of more than twenty books. She went to college for a bachelor’s degree, couldn’t pick a major, and ended up with a degree in cosmetology. So rest assured her characters will always have good hair.

Besides writing, Cambria loves a caramel latte, staying up late, sleeping in, and watching movies. She considers math human torture and has an irrational fear of chickens (yes, chickens). You can often find her running on the treadmill (she’d rather be eating a donut), painting her toenails (because she bites her fingernails), or walking her chorkie (the real boss of the house).

Cambria has written within the young adult and new adult genres, penning many paranormal and contemporary titles. Her favorite genre to read and write is romantic suspense. A few of her most recognized titles are: Text, Torch, Tryst, Masquerade, and Recalled.

Cambria Hebert owns and operates Cambria Hebert Books, LLC.

Author links:Website: http://www.cambriahebert.com.
Facebook: http://smarturl.co/CambriaHebertFanpage
Twitter: https://twitter.com/cambriahebert
GoodReads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5298677.Cambria_Hebert