Lori L. Clark's Blog, page 8

Book Review: Triumph

Triumph (Bellator Saga #6)by Cecilia London (Goodreads Author) 4.94  ·   Rating Details ·  36 Ratings  ·  36 Reviews“All of your ideals, your hopes and dreams…they cease to matter if you abandon them in your darkest hour. We have to see this through to the end.”

Jack McIntyre and Caroline Gerard have never shied away from a challenge. As dual commanders of the American rebel forces, they now face the greatest adversity of their lives. Every decision has permanent consequences. Relationships are tested and restored. Hard truths come to light. When the reality of their situation finally hits them, there is one thing they know for certain.

No sacrifice is too great for love.
TeriLyn's thoughts: Triumph (Bellator Saga, #6) 
by Cecilia London (Goodreads Author) 
TeriLyn's review Feb 06, 2017
it was amazingbookshelves: 2016-favorites, alpha-heroes, arc, contemporary-favorites, ultimate-favorites, re-reads
Read in January, 2017
**Triumph generously provided in exchange for honest review.**

5+ "Be fearless, my love." Stars

The long awaited, epic conclusion to Jack and Caroline's saga. Cecilia London once again regales us with the beauty and brilliance of her story telling. Triumph gave me everything I needed for these characters and this story. A truly must read series.

When you think of epic in regards to stories The Bellator Saga should most definitely come to mind in this category. As Triumph is the sixth and final installment of the Saga I won't reveal any plot. For those of you who have been reading the series you know what's coming.

Caroline and Jack's story has been ever-evolving to this crucial point. London takes important social constructs from today's times and shows us what can happen in our world and why we need someone fighting for us. And while Jack McIntyre is a perfect hero for me Caroline Gerard should be celebrated and revered. She's a woman for whom stands strong in the face of any challenge. She's someone you'll want to emulate. In my reading world I'm privileged to read about strong women it's one of my things. The stronger the woman the greater respect I have for the novel as a whole. Caroline is one of the strongest I've ever read.

Cecilia London's writing is brilliant as always. She gives equal parts light and dark in her story telling. The good and bad juxtaposed against each other naturally. It's been a pleasure to read this series. It's been heart breaking and terrifying. Gratification and redemption has never felt as sweet as feeling it through Caroline Gerard in Triumph. She's a queen, a bad ass, and one hell of a strong woman.
















































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Cover Reveal: Lyrical Lights

Lyrical Lights
Maria La Serra
Publication date: Spring 2017
Genres: New Adult, Romance

When Mable Harper gets a chance to become a fashion model, she leaves her old life behind and moves to New York City. However, she quickly learns the backlash of the high-pressure and competitive career that maybe she wasn’t cut out for this business. After being dropped by her agent and relentlessly unlucky in love, Mable spends the lasts few days tying up loose ends before returning home and that’s all she intended to do until her life collides with Simon Rowe. The moment she meets him, she knew it could only be bittersweet.
Simon Rowe is a fashion photographer who marches to the beat of his own drum. Never had any wish for success, only wanted to keep doing what he loves without getting tangled in the hype. Simon suffered enough loss in the past that there was no room for anything else other than his career, that is until one fateful hot summer night he meets the golden Aphrodite. He quickly comes to her rescue and realizes she would be impossible to resist but only when he gives Mable a chance, and lands her on a fashion shoot of a high-profile glossy magazine, sets the wheels in motion. Now he’s at risk of losing her for good if he doesn’t come clean about his past but that would mean confronting his deep regret. He knows he had broken his number one rule, and that’s never get involved with the people you work with.
In a world that’s staged can their love thrive under the lights?

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Author Bio:
Maria La Serra, a fashion designer, turned writer, lives in Montreal with her husband and two children. She will try everything at least once, except for skiing, hiking or camping-okay anything relating to activities done in the great outdoors. The Proverbial Mr. Universe is her first novel.
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Blitz: The Arrangement 23

The Arrangement 23
H.M. Ward
(The Ferro Family)
Publication date: March 28th 2017
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance

THE ARRANGEMENT 23 BOOK DESCRIPTION:
THE SERIES WITH OVER 12 MILLION COPIES SOLD

THE ARRANGEMENT 23 – THE FINAL VOLUME in the New York Times Bestselling Arrangement Series
Hatred and insanity mingle together in this disgusting specimen of a human being that stands before me. I don’t know how I’ve wronged him or why I deserve this fate. My parents were slaughtered, my friends killed, and Sean Ferro was ripped from my side by this monster. The promise of picket fences and a little voice with tiny hands keeps me eerily sane. The ghosts of a future that will never happen whisper in my ear. They latch me to the present in a way that chills me to the core.
Every attempt to save me has failed. I’m left staring my demons in the face, alone. The man glaring back at me is made of nightmares and malice. For all I’ve lost and all I’ve suffered, for every person who came into my life only get ripped away, and most of all for me–I won’t walk away. Not this time. I’ve passed the point of no return. There is no tomorrow. Come sunrise, only one of us will survive.
Genre: New Adult Romance, approx 125 pgs ea

~The Arrangement Vol 1-23 are on sale now.

~SERIES CONCLUSION~
THE FERRO FAMILY
The Arrangement (Sean & Avery)

Damaged (Peter & Sidney)

Stripped (Jon & Cassie)

The Proposition (Bryan & Hallie)

Easy (Joscyln Ferro)

Broken Promises (Trystan & Mari)

The Wedding Contract (Nick & Sky)

Secrets & Lies (Kerry)

Goodreads / Amazon / Kobo / iBooks—THE FERRO MOVIE PROJECT:We came close to having The Arrangement come to life on multiple occasions. Then, the same thing happened: they read up to book 5 and decided there’s no way to do it. It’s too dark. There are several scenes like that in this series, scenes that were almost edited out, scenes that the fans voted on keeping in the book.So we had two options: Keep Sean dark and keep those scenes the way they are — and never see Sean on the screen — or lighten him up and pander to executives that have never been a part of the story?
Then, a lot of people suggested a third option by asking: Why don’t we make this movie ourselves?
It’s a good question. The series was published independently, so why not make the movie independently as well? The truth is we took a run at this a few years ago. Everything was going great until my son was abruptly hospitalized for months. It wasn’t possible to continue then, but it is now. With a team of experienced film professionals by my side, I could get hit by a car during production and it wouldn’t stop things this time.
So there are two questions:

Do you want to see Sean Ferro in the flesh?

Should we keep Sean Ferro as dark as he is the books?
What do you want? Because this project is all about you. You’re the reader, the fan who made this series what it is today. This series sold nearly 13 million copies worldwide because you love it, because you shared it, and because you couldn’t stop talking about it.
Offering a way for you to participate is huge, and crowdfunding allows for tons of involvement. The nature of it is communal, and it’s an easy way for you to be involved. No sane person would ever do a Kickstarter for fun, because it’s a massive amount of work–but for something like this? It’s worth it. The Arrangement books have been fan-driven from the start, so it makes sense that the film has lots of fan involvement, too. You are part of the DNA of this series.
Before you go totally nuts and squee all over the place, I want you to calm yourself down and then head over and read the crowdfunding page. Maybe you already heard about it or you haven’t had a chance to look yet. Either way, I’d love to hear what you think. The campaign is live and we have the funding for the script and the producer, but there’s still more to do. Any insight you have on reaching those goals is appreciated!
Your comments and feedback are more than welcome! Seriously! I might be sitting here obsessively watching the screen. Maybe. Probably. Okay, I am! This is nerve wracking. Come over and talk to me. Tell me this isn’t for nothing.
I look forward to hearing from you!
www.FerroMovie.com


—READER NOTE ON FAN-DRIVEN SERIESThe Arrangement Series is different. How? The story is organic—and growing swiftly. Originally intended to be four serial novels, fans of the series demanded more Sean & Avery, spurring an entirely new concept: a fan-driven series. When fans ask for more, I write more.I am astonished and humbled by the response this series has received. As the series grows, I am constantly fascinated by the requests and insights from readers. This series has sold almost 13 MILLION copies! The average length of each book is 125 pages in paperback and can be read in a few hours or less.
This series intertwines with my other works, but is designed to be read independently, as a quick read between other titles. This beloved series is scheduled to conclude with The Arrangement 23 on March 28th, 2017.
You can join in the discussion via my Facebook page:

www.facebook.com/AuthorHMWard.
For a complete listing of Ferro books, look here:

www.HMWard.com/books
Thank you and happy reading!
~Holly

Author Bio:
H.M. Ward continues to reign as a NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author who is swiftly approaching 13 million copies sold, placing her among the literary titans. Ward has been featured in articles in the NEW YORK TIMES, FORBES, and USA TODAY to name a few.
You can interact with this bestselling author at: www.facebook.com/AuthorHMWard. Text HMWARD to 24587 and get a text reminder on release & sale days.
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Book Review: The Someday Girl

The Someday Girl (The Girl Duet #2)by Julie Johnson (Goodreads Author) 4.84  ·   Rating Details ·  19 Ratings  ·  17 ReviewsTHE GIRL DUET: PART TWO

The movie has wrapped, but the drama is just getting started… 

Katharine Firestone finally has everything she’s ever wanted — new house, new car, new status as a Hollywood A-lister. And yet, she’s never felt more isolated. As the movie premiere creeps closer, Kat spends her days playing an infatuated co-star for the press tour cameras, and her nights wondering what the hell she’s going to do to fix the mess she’s made out of her personal life.

One broken girl.
Two heart-stopping men.
One impossible decision. 

Torn between the heartbreaker she tried to avoid and the man she never saw coming, Kat will be forced to answer the ultimate question: Do we get a say when it comes to choosing our soulmate?

Love. Lust. Passion. Paparazzi. The road to fame and fortune is never easy. And, in the City of Angels, the only place they guarantee a happily-ever-after is in the movies… 

THE SOMEDAY GIRL is a tangled contemporary love story about a girl learning to love — her friends, her career, her soulmate, and, most of all, herself. It is the second installment of THE GIRL DUET, concluding the angsty, addictive storyline that began in THE MONDAY GIRL. Each installment is approximately 95,000 words. Recommended for readers ages 17+ due to strong language, sexual situations, drug use, and other mature elements.
The Someday Girl 
by Julie Johnson (Goodreads Author) 

TeriLyn's review
Jan 31, 2017
it was amazingbookshelves: arc, contemporary-favorites, 2017-favorites
Read from January 30 to 31, 2017

**The Someday Girl generously provided in exchange for an honest review.**

5 "Choose sunshine, baby." Stars

There was something very pleasantly unexpected about the conclusion of Julie Johnson's Girl Duet in The Someday Girl. The story to me revolves around choices. And the author talks a lot about that within this story. The choices we make to be happy with ourselves our direct reflections of the choices we make live a fulfilling life with someone else. Johnson highlighted a new way to look at life and love. A simplistic and less fleeting feeling about the loves of our lives and we can make each count in life and love if we choose to do so.

The Someday Girl revolutionizes Kat Firestone, our heroine. This is truly her duet, her self-reinvention, her coming of age. From young, hardened girl with a chip on her shoulder we watch Kat flourish and flounder to discover who she is, what she wants, and how she goes about getting it. We watch her slowly fill in the chip with confidence and assurance. She's a work-in-progress kind of girl whose faults and vulnerabilities relate to young women everywhere. These traits humanize her to readers and make us feel deeply to her as we can empathize with the same emotions we've felt in ourselves. Kat is a woman who makes mistakes I believe any one of us would make if thrust into the the same circumstances as she. Her learning and growth from those raise her up and make her whole. The choices Kat makes to get her where she needs to go ties into the entire tone of the story. And when she starts making choices based on her own happiness rather than that of anyone else we see her shine.

Grayson Dunn and Wyatt Hastings are mere backdrops for Kat's evolution. I had a clear "winner" of her heart I wanted to see and I got it (YAY!) but to me, what she finds out about herself through the two of them was more important. However, the story does keep in line with the romantic and angsty tones of The Monday Girl. And I found it quite pleasurable that both heroes make mistakes and snap judgements. They are two people of totally opposite direction, self confidence, and lifestyle yet the same in the ways they do or have effected Kat emotionally. They are flawed in their seeming perfection and I like that in a hero. Where a heroine feels small and as if their on a pedestal she can't reach, to see her come to value that the pedestal is of her own making is quite refreshing. It's an interesting dichotomy and how Johnson chose to play that scenario out worked great. You end up feeling greatly about both of them.

The secondary characters - yeah - I can't even go there. But there's a sub plot working beneath the main threads of the story that will captivate you and devastate you. Great secondary characters, some of my favorites of Johnson's. And as always her writing is magnetic and jumps right off the pages of this book. It's laced with humor and charm, raw emotions, and realistically simplistic tones toward theme and plot. While the setting is Hollywood and all of the craziness that surrounds it Johnson managed to keep her characters level and steady even when they're at their absolute worst. She took everyday feelings and sensationalized them against the backdrop of stars and celebrities. Julie Johnson went nitty gritty with this duet and she did it beautifully. The Someday Girl provides a great conclusion to this duet of books and I encourage romance lovers to read it.












































































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Cover Reveal: Leviathan's Rise

Today is the cover reveal for Leviathan’s Rise by B. Brumley! Check it out and grab your copy before the March 1st release!!
Title: Leviathan’s RisieAuthor Name: B. BrumleyGenre: Paranormal romanceRelease Day: March 1st About Leviathan’s Rise: Lev is a whale shifter with a memory problem.

For the last one hundred sixty years, he has been unable to piece together what happened to his wife and son. Memory repression shouldn’t happen to whale shifters, but the case just won’t crack. When a mysterious woman knocks on his door and unloads a bombshell, Lev discovers that his son may still be alive… and it’s up to Lev to save him.

Woe’s on-going obsession with hunting her husband’s murderer has left her mentally and emotionally exhausted. But when Lev asks for her help, Woe can’t tell him no, and she agrees to take a temporary reprieve from her vendetta.

Together, they catch the first paranormal train out of the Big Apple and find themselves inside a hidden realm fraught with dangers beyond anything either of them has faced.



With lives hanging in the balance, Woe must learn how to let go of her painful past, even as Lev swears to drain the seven seas to recapture his.

*** A clean read free of graphic language and explicit sex. ***
Preorder Your Copy Today!Amazon | iBooks | Nook | Kobo
About the Author:

Bokerah Brumley is a speculative fiction writer making stuff up on a trampoline in West Texas. When she's not playing with the quirky characters in her head, she's addicted to Twitter pitch events, writing contests, and social media, in general. She lives on ten permaculture acres with five home-educated children and one husband. In her imaginary spare time, she also serves as the blue-haired President of the Cisco Writers Club.

She was awarded First Place in the FenCon Short Story Contest, Third Place in the Southern Writers Magazine Short Story Contest, and Fifth Place in the Children's/Young Adult category for the 85th Annual Writer's Digest Writing Competition. More recently, she was selected as a 2016 Pitch Slam! finalist.


Connect Online: FB: https://www.facebook.com/bokerah/Twit... https://twitter.com/bokerahInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/bokerah/Blog: https://superbokerah.com/Website: http://www.bokerah.com/
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Cover Reveal: The Daughters of Maine

The Daughters of Maine
Tish Thawer
(Witches of BlackBrook #2)
Publication date: March 7th 2017
Genres: New Adult, Paranormal, Romance

“With vivid scenes and likable characters, Thawer’s series is a definite winner! Come for the adventure – and stay for the awesome witchery.” ~ #1 New York Times Bestselling Author, PC CAST
Through space and time, sisters entwined. Lost then found, souls remain bound.
After being reunited in the present day, three sister witches are forced to separate once more in an effort to save their newly formed coven and themselves.
Foes from their past now threaten their future, and a trip that spans centuries is their only hope of survival. Chasing their enemy back through time seems like the right choice, but will walking in the footsteps of their previous lives provide the answers they seek?
Only time will tell.
A Witches of BlackBrook novel.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / iBooks / SmashwordsSequel to:

Author Bio:
Award Winning Author, Tish Thawer, writes paranormal romances for all ages. From her first paranormal cartoon, Isis, to the Twilight phenomenon, myth, magic, and superpowers have always held a special place in her heart.
Tish is known for her detailed world-building and magic-laced stories. Her work has been compared to Nora Roberts, Sam Cheever, and Charlaine Harris. She has received a RONE Award nomination (Reward of Novel Excellence), as well as nominations for Best Cover, Reader’s Choice, and Author of the Year (Fantasy, Dystopian, Mystery).
Tish has worked as a computer consultant, photographer, and graphic designer, and is a columnist for Gliterary Girl media and has bylines in RT Magazine and Literary Lunes Magazine. She resides in Arizona with her husband and three wonderful children and is represented by Gandolfo, Helin, and Fountain Literary Management.
You can find Tish on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/AuthorTishThawer
A common FAQ: "How do you pronounce her last name?"
Answer: Think "Bower" or "Thow-er". It's Persian!
Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

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Book Review: Mists of the Serengeti

Leylah Attar’s MISTS OF THE SERENGETI is here!
Check out this standalone contemporary romance/women’s fiction, and don't forget to enter the giveaway!

Once in Africa, I kissed a king..."And just like that, in an old red barn at the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro, I discovered the elusive magic I had only ever glimpsed between the pages of great love stories. It fluttered around me like a newborn butterfly and settled in a corner of my heart. I held my breath, afraid to exhale for fear it would slip out, never to be found again."When a bomb explodes in a mall in East Africa, its aftershocks send two strangers on a collision course that neither one sees coming.Jack Warden, a divorced coffee farmer in Tanzania, loses his only daughter. An ocean away, in the English countryside, Rodel Emerson loses her only sibling.Two ordinary people, bound by a tragic afternoon, set out to achieve the extraordinary, as they make three stops to rescue three children across the vast plains of the Serengeti—children who are worth more dead than alive.But even if they beat the odds, another challenge looms at the end of the line. Can they survive yet another loss—this time of a love that's bound to slip through their fingers, like the mists that dissipate in the light of the sun?"Sometimes you come across a rainbow story—one that spans your heart. You might not be able to grasp it or hold on to it, but you can never be sorry for the color and magic it brought."A blend of romance and women’s fiction, Mists of The Serengeti is inspired by true events and contains emotional triggers, including the death of a child. Not recommended for sensitive readers. Standalone, contemporary fiction.♥ Buy the Book ♥Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Kobo

Lori's thoughts: This will be one of my favorite 2017 reads. Leylah Attar's words are lyrical. She weaves a magic spell that pulls you in and won't let you go.

I jumped at the chance to get an ARC and am so blessed to have received one. I LOVED this book. I lost myself in the pages. I melted into the story. The characters, the culture, the scenery, the story. There is NOTHING about this book that I didn't adore.

Jack Jack Jack Jack <3

My heart stopped a couple of times during the way, but all's well that ends well.

Thank you Leylah for the beautiful story of life, death, and love.











Leylah Attar's Release Day Giveaway

Leylah Attar writes stories about love - shaken, stirred, and served with a twist.Sometimes she disappears into the black hole of the internet, but can usually be enticed out with chocolate. Leylah is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of contemporary romance/women’s fiction.Author Website | Facebook | Instagram |Twitter| Goodreads | Pinterest
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Cover Reveal: The Truth About Lennon

Today we have the gorgeous cover reveal for The Truth About Lennon by K.L. Grayson! Check out this gorgeous cover and be sure to preorder your copy today!
Title: The Truth About LennonAuthor: K.L. GraysonRelease Date: February 21stGenre: Contemporary Romance
About The Truth About Lennon: Lennon Barrick-St. James is making headlines as New York City's hottest new socialite. Only she isn't new at all. One well-intentioned night gone wrong has landed the daughter of the vice presidential candidate Christopher St. James on the front pages of every newspaper and magazine in the country.

Forced by her father to stay out of the limelight, Lennon flees to the quiet town of Haven, Texas, where she vows to lie low and avoid men. Well, except for the sexy biker she just ran off the road--she definitely won't be avoiding him.

Noah Cunningham

Already has a girl in his life, and he sure as hell doesn't need another. Especially the beautiful and sinfully sweet angel that just descended upon the quiet little town he calls home.

The only problem is that the more time he spends with Lennon, the more he wants to be with her. And that's just not going to work for Noah. He's already been burned once and he's not so sure he's ready to go down that road again.

Noah has spent the last five years putting his life back together after secrets and lies ripped it apart. So what will happen when he learns the Truth about Lennon.
Preorder Today:Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/2jr7GsQ Kobo: http://bit.ly/2kG64fQiTunes: http://apple.co/2jJq1T3Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2kffwdf



Exclusive Excerpt:

“Can I help you?”

“Yes, I’m looking for Noah Cunningham. He was brought in by ambulance a little while ago.”

The woman looks me over and she smiles, but it isn’t as friendly as it should be. “Are you family?”

“Um…” I shake my head. “No.” Her smile fades, and I quickly improvise because I know that look. If I’m not family, she won’t let me back there to see him. “Not yet, at least,” I say, mustering up as much conviction as I can. “I’m his fiancée.”

Oh shit. I can’t believe I just said that.

Too late now.

That makes her frown. “Noah doesn’t have a fiancée.”

“How do you know?”

Narrowing her eyes, the woman stands behind her desk. “I grew up with Noah. Our brothers are friends. I think I’d know if he was dating, let alone engaged,” she says—a bit too defensively, if you ask me.

Does this woman have a thing for Noah? A hint of jealousy sparks in my veins, surprising me.

“I assure you he does,” I say with just as much bite, because as it turns out, I have a thing for him too.

The bitch crosses her arms over her chest. “Where’s your ring?”

“I didn’t put it on this morning. What are you, the engagement police?” Not the cleverest thing to say, I know, but it’s the best I could come up with.

Lips pressed firmly together, the woman glares. If looks could kill I’d be dead, buried, and forgotten about. I glance at the woman’s name tag before meeting her death stare head on.

“Now I get it,” I say, snapping my fingers as though I should’ve recognized her sooner. “You’re Penny.”

Penny’s scowl turns into more of a frown.

“Noah told me all about you.”

As expected, this perks her up. “He did?” She quickly realizes her mistake. “I mean, of course he did.”

“There you are, Lennon!”

I turn to see Mikey, the guy from the ambulance, walking toward us. If the look on his face is any indication, he caught some—if not all—of my little white lie.

Leaning against the desk, he smiles warmly at the woman. “How are ya, Penny?”

It’s amazing how her demeanor changes in the presence of a man. “Hey, Mikey. I’m good. Just been workin’ a lot, ya know?”

Mikey nods, and Penny glances at me somewhat timidly. “This woman is trying to tell me she’s engaged to Noah.”

“Wait…” Mikey waves a finger between me and Penny. “You mean you didn’t know about Lennon? Brad didn’t tell you?”

Penny shakes her head and opens her mouth to respond, but Mikey cuts her off with a fake disappointed sigh.

“I guess I’m not really surprised,” he says. “He hasn’t been around much lately, what with his new job and all. How’s that going for him, anyway?”

“Good,” she says, looking back toward me, clearly wanting to redirect the conversation.

“Good.” Mikey nods. “That’s good. Well,” he says, clapping a hand on the desk, “I’ll take Lennon down to Noah’s room before I go, if it’s all right with you.”

Plopping down in her seat, Penny huffs. “Fine.”

With a hand pressed to my back, Mikey guides me down the hall.

“Thank you,” I whisper when I’m certain we’re out of earshot.

“Are you kidding me? Noah should be thanking you. He’s been turning down Penny since the third grade, and now maybe she’ll get off of his back for good.”

“Well, then…” I puff out my chest. “I’m glad I was able to help. But I’ll be honest; I thought for sure I lied to the wrong person. I was really worried there for a second.”

“This is a small town, Lennon. The kind where everybody knows everybody, everybody thinks they know everything, and you can’t piss without it ending up in the paper or on Facebook. It’ll do you good to remember that.”

“Does that mean—”

“Yup.” He nods before I even finish. “Penny has probably already posted about it, tweeted it, Snapchatted it, and found a way to put it up on Instagram.”

“Great.” I stare at the hospital door. “Now Noah’s really going to hate me, and we don’t even know each other.”

“Nah. Noah’s pretty laid back.”

I look up at him, cocking a brow.

“Okay, he’s uptight, but he’ll see the humor in it,” he says, opening the door before quietly adding, “I think.”

A man in a long, white coat is standing in the room, waving his hands as he talks to Noah, who is stretched out on the bed, his jeans and T-shirt now replaced by a green hospital gown. Noah’s eyes widen when he notices me walking into the room behind Mikey.

“What is she doing here?” he says, cutting off the doctor.

“She’s your fiancée; where else would she be?”

We all turn toward the snide voice. Penny. Go figure, she must’ve followed us. She flits around the room. Doing what? No clue. Probably just being nosy.

“Fiancée?” Noah looks from Penny to Mikey and narrows his eyes when they land on me.

I’m going to go straight to hell.

“It’s okay,” I soothe, sitting on the bed next to him. Smiling down, I brush his hair off of his forehead. It’s soft, and I let my fingers linger longer than necessary as I imagine what it would be like to belong to this man—to be able to touch him whenever I wanted, run my fingers through his shaggy hair, kiss him. The thoughts in my mind have no business being there, but I can’t help but wish for every single one.

Feeling the weight of silence, I clear my throat. “I told her.” I glance at Penny, who is frowning. “And she’s not going to say anything, are you, Penny? Because we haven’t officially announced it yet.”

Her eyes widen, guilt splattered across her face. “Uh...”

“I’m so lost,” Noah mumbles, running a hand over his ruggedly handsome face. “Maybe I did hit my head, doc.”

“I’m sorry, I missed your name.” The young doctor sticks out his hand, which I quickly accept.

“Lennon.”

He smiles. “It’s nice to meet you, Lennon. My name is Dr. Ward, and I took care of your fiancé when he came in. In fact,” he says, looking at Noah, “I was just telling him what will need to be done once he gets home.”

“Yes.” I turn toward the doctor, giving him my full attention like any dutiful fiancée would. “Please, fill me in.”

“You don’t have to fill her in,” Noah says, trying to nudge me off the bed. “She’s not—”

“Shush.” Pressing a finger against his mouth, I frown. So does Noah. “He absolutely will fill me in. Who else is going to take care of you?”

He swats my hand away. “I don’t need anyone to take care of me.”

“That’s not entirely true,” Dr. Ward interjects.

“Fine.” Noah rolls his eyes. “I’ll have my mother come help me.”

“She’s on vacation,” Mikey offers, holding his hands up in surrender when Noah shoots him a nasty glare.

“Noah, this is good. You’ll need some assistance for a few days, someone to help you get around the house so you can stay off your ankle,” Dr. Ward says.

“I’m good, doc, really.”

He nudges me again, but I just wrap his hand in mine and kiss his knuckles adoringly. Noah furrows his brow and presses his lips together. His gaze on me is so powerful, I swear the man can hold a conversation with just his eyes.

What the fuck are you up to?

I squint at him, letting him know I’ve got the wheel right now. Play along or I’ll run you off the road again.

Noah blows out a long, frustrated breath, and I know I’ve won him over.

“Anyway.” The doctor clears his throat. “Noah sprained his ankle during the accident. Nothing is broken, but he did a number on it. He also has a laceration on his leg that we cleaned up. It didn’t need stitches, but I’d like for him to keep an eye on it, because we don’t want it to get infected. I’ll have Penny print out the instructions and give them to you.”

I nod, and when Dr. Ward isn’t looking, Penny rolls her eyes.

“I would like it if you could stay off your foot for a couple of days,” he says to Noah. “Your ankle needs rest and ice.”

“Rest and Ice. Got it.” I turn to Noah. “I’ll just plan on staying with you for the next couple of days.”

“He’s your fiancée,” Penny exclaims. “Don’t you live with him?”

“No.” I might not be southern, but I do my best to tack on some southern belle charm. I press a hand to my chest, feigning disbelief. “Daddy would not approve of that. No shackin’ up until we’re married. Right, sweetie?”

“Shackin’ up?” Noah says.

“Whatever.” Penny walks out, followed by the doctor, and Mikey claps his hands together.

“Well, folks, I’ve gotta get going.” He walks toward me and squeezes my shoulder. “Lennon, I’ll swing by Noah’s tonight and make sure you two don’t need anything.”

“Wait. What?” Noah pulls his hand from mine and scowls up at Mikey. “She’s not really coming home with me.”

“Yes, she is.” Mikey looks to me for confirmation, and I nod. “How else would you get home? You don’t have your bike, and your parents are out of town.”

“You,” Noah says. “You can take me home.”

“Sorry, man. Can’t. Gotta finish my shift. Plus, there’s no way in hell I’m taking care of your ass.”

“But you’re a fucking paramedic.”

Mikey shrugs. “So? I do that shit all day long. I don’t want to do it when I’m off. Plus, Lennon here has already volunteered to take care of your gimp ass.”

“This is a fucking joke.” Noah clenches his hands against the sheet. “She caused all of this,” he says, waving toward his ankle. “If it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t even be here.”

“And that’s exactly why I want you to let me help,” I plead. “I feel horrible. I promise I’ll take really good care of you, and I won’t get in your way at all. And I won’t really move in for the next few days; I’ll just come by and make sure you don’t need anything, maybe cook dinner for you.”

This isn’t exactly how I’d planned to spend my first few days in Heaven, but I like the idea of taking care of someone. Particularly this someone.

“You don’t even know me,” he argues.

I stick my hand out to shake his, and all he does is scowl. Mikey shoves an elbow into his arm and finally, reluctantly, Noah shakes my hand.

Mikey smiles. “Noah, meet Lennon, your fiancée.”

“Fuck.” Noah groans, dropping his head back on the pillow, and Mikey shoots me a wink.




About K.L. Grayson: K.L. Grayson resides in a small town outside of St. Louis, MO. She is entertained daily by her extraordinary husband, who will forever inspire every good quality she writes in a man. Her entire life rests in the palms of six dirty little hands, and when the day is over and those pint-sized cherubs have been washed and tucked into bed, you can find her typing away furiously on her computer. She has a love for alpha-males, brownies, reading, tattoos, sunglasses, and happy endings…and not particularly in that order.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/KL-Grayson/1403900879892076?ref=hl

Twitter: https://twitter.com/authorklgrayson

IG: @booksbyklgrayson



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Release Blitz: Every Night Without You

Title: Every Night Without You (Caine & Addison, Bk 2 of 2)Series: Unfinished LoveAuthor: Violet DukePublication Date: January 17, 2017

Blurb Seven years.

Seven damn years of wondering whether the woman was still alive...whether she'd spent the last two thousand five hundred fifty-five days wondering if he was still alive.

Wondering whether that night was as burned into her memory as it was his.

Seven years having his heart tethered to Addison―and now she's back. With even more reasons to run than she'd had then.

Only this time, Caine isn't letting the gorgeous little flight risk out of his sight.

Regardless of how noble her reasons may be.

“Violet Duke is my go-to read when I just want to immerse myself in a captivating romance.” – NYT bestselling author J.S. Cooper

EVERY NIGHT WITHOUT YOU (Bk 2 of 2) takes place seven years after BEFORE THAT NIGHT (Bk 1 of 2), and is the conclusion of Caine & Addison's story of love, sacrifice, and the lengths one will run―and chase―when their past threatens their future.






ExcerptCopyright (c) 2017 Violet Duke“Stop reading my mind,” she whispered.

“No.”

The softly growled word was the only warning she got before his arms snaked around her waist and pulled her to him. “There hasn’t been a single night since you left that I haven’t thought about the way you felt in my arms the first time I’d slept longer than a few hours in years.”

She gasped.

His eyes flared. “That right there—that’s why I’m never going to stop reading your thoughts, baby. No matter how well Alec taught you to hide, knowing that even now, after all this time, you still can’t hide all your feelings from me completely? That’s the one thing that’ll help me sleep tonight. It still won’t be for longer than an hour or two, but at least in that short time, I’ll have something to hold onto again.”

Tidal waves of emotion slammed into her, one after another, crashing through every last barrier she’d built around herself, stripping away every protective layer she’d hid behind for the last seven years. Until all that was left was her.

A low, harsh sound broke free from Caine.

Feelings and thoughts, fears and hopes—she bared it all to him.

For so long, she’d kept everything from everyone, herself included. Now, disarmed and defenseless, anyone with eyes could plainly see the one unmistakably distinguishable part of her that she’d had to work the hardest to hide.

Her heart. Which was still irrevocably tethered to the man standing before her.

“Go inside, Addison. Right now. While I’m still able to let you.”

Every cell in her body rebelled against the command.

“Please, honey. Don’t do that. Don’t flash that look at me. That stubborn rebel-in-stilettos sass will have you under me in your bed in two seconds flat.”

He groaned at whatever her eyes were telling him next.

To be fair, he started it with that panty-melting threat.

“Baby, you’re killing me.”

Right back at you.

He pushed open the door the rest of the way for her, one hand holding the top of the frame as if physically stopping himself from doing anything else.

For a while, the internal battles they each faced with themselves kept them both cemented where they stood.

But eventually, the growing torment and tension racking his entire frame made her back up a single step and clear the doorway.

“Lock the deadbolt.”

These overprotective demands just shouldn’t be this sexy.

She shut the door and laid her palm against it.

Knowing he was still out there, she confessed quietly to the wooden barricade between them, “That memory stayed with me, too. Even now, the only way I’m able to eventually fall asleep is to imagine your arms around me. Holding me. Keeping me safe.”

Loving me.

It was a full minute before she finally heard his heavy tactical boots walk away.



EVERY NIGHT WITHOUT YOU (Book 2)
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→ iBooks
→ Kobo BEFORE THAT NIGHT (Book 1)
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→ iBooks
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→ Google


About the Author New York Times & USA Today bestselling author Violet Duke is a former professor of English Education who is ecstatic to now be on the other side of the page writing wickedly fun contemporary romance novels. When she's not arguing with her story characters or feeding her book-a-day reading addiction, she enjoys tackling reno projects with her power tools while trying pretty much anything without reading the directions first and cooking 'special edition' dishes that laugh in the face of recipes. Violet lives in Hawai'i with her two cute kids and similarly adorable husband.Find the latest on her books and weekly giveaways at www.facebook.com/VioletDukeBooks

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Book Review: The Tattered Gloves

The Tattered Glovesby J.L. Berg (Goodreads Author) 4.24  ·   Rating Details ·  98 Ratings  ·  65 ReviewsHead down.
Don’t look up.
Never make eye contact.

Those were the words I lived by growing up, the words that protected me in an unsafe home. But words are only letters and eventually even they couldn’t keep his hands off me.

Hoping to leave behind the shattered life of my past, I find myself in a boring, small town, with an aunt I’ve never met and at a school I loathe.

But soon I learn, not everything in this world is as black and white as I’ve determined. Sometimes those we are so quick to judge often need a second, third or even fourth time to make a first impression.

And often, there are friendships and even love waiting just around the corner, if we are brave enough to take the first step.

Am I brave?

Or will I hide behind these tattered gloves of mine forever?
The Tattered Gloves 
by J.L. Berg (Goodreads Author) 
Lori Clark's review Jan 26, 2017  ·  edit
liked itbookshelves: 2017, arc, ya
Read from January 17 to 24, 2017

ARC received in exchange for an honest review.
The premise of this book caught my attention immediately. I found it to be well-written and it flowed well. I had a hard time connecting with the heroine, I liked Sam, but didn't feel them together as a couple. In the real world in a real high school setting, especially a small town, I find it extremely hard to believe that she moved into town, started classes, and made a new friend immediately. Small towns are not typically that welcoming, especially to ones who are obviously a bit on the unusual or odd side.

I enjoyed reading the story, but felt like what happened was glossed over and found myself skimming toward the end of the book. Still an okay read.
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2j066CWGoodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32851841-the-tattered-glovesBarnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/2jAJCEw
























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