A.K. Morgen's Blog, page 11
January 12, 2016
New Release: Love or Money by Elizabeth Roderick (@lidsRodney) #romance #eroticthriller
Title: Love Or Money
Author: Elizabeth Roderick
Genre: Erotic Thriller
Release Date: January 12, 2016
![add-to-goodreads-button[4]](https://authormindycarter.files.wordpress.com/2016/01/add-to-goodreads-button4.png)
Synopsis
There’s a price to pay for living the fast life…
Gabriella Hernandez—known to her friends as Riel—almost wishes she could stay in prison. At least there she has steady meals, and a girlfriend who loves her. Even a cold cell is better than what’s waiting for her on the outside. The only people she looks forward to seeing in her normal life are her sister, Lizette, and her green-eyed best friend and former drug-running partner, Evan.
Drugs, danger, and a hot spark of romance…
Upon release, Riel has no choice but to go back to work for her brother-in-law, Isaias. This time, instead of running drugs, he forces her to work in his strip club where she gets a lousy ten percent of her tips. The daily dose of threats and coercion chains her to this place. And, if she makes a run for it, she’d be abandoning everyone she loves. With Isaias’ spies and henchmen everywhere, there’s nowhere to run.
A crooked cop, a setup, and hope for a real life…
Evan is able to smuggle her out of the city, but it isn’t long before Riel’s fears come true. After a bloody shootout with Isais’ men lands Evan at death’s door, it’s up to her to get them out of this deadly game, and into the quiet life they’ve always wanted. With the help of a crooked cop and the FBI, she concocts a plan. If it succeeds, Isaias goes to prison for life, and she and Evan get immunity from prosecution. If she fails, she may die—along with Evan, her sister, and countless others.
With eyes all over and the FBI involved, will Riel pull off the sting operation? Or will they all go down in a blaze of drugs and gunfire?
Purchase your copy today
Excerpt
He gave her a searching look, then brushed his lips against hers. “I know it’s not easy for you, being back.”She raised her eyebrows. “You do?”“I know how hard it was for you, working for Isaias. You never wanted to, he made you. You never said anything, but I could see it.” His jaw tightened. “I’d beat the fuck out of that guy if he and Maria wouldn’t have me killed for it.”“Definitely not worth it,” Riel said, feeling a jolt of fear. But it also felt good for him to say that. Did he really want to stand up for her?A slow grin spread across his face, and he ran his fingers lightly along the curve of her waist.“I do have a way for you to get away from him, though.”They gazed at each other. Her heart sped up. “What do you mean?”“I recently got an offer from a guy I know named Mishmash.”Her speeding heart stumbled, and she chewed the inside of her cheek. She had been hoping his plan wouldn’t involve more drug running, but she should have known. “I know him. The guy down in San Diego.” “The very same. He says we can go work for him. A little more risk, maybe, because we’d have to cross the border, but it pays a lot better, and Isaias would never find us if we were down there. We could get new identities and everything so you don’t have that rap following you, and to hell with that probation crap.”She took a deep breath and let it out. It would be nice to be with Evan. It would be really nice. But the thought of running drugs again made her feel dead inside. “I don’t know, Evan.” She looked up at him. “Do you really want to do this stuff for the rest of your life?”He stroked her hair, gently working the tangles out with his fingers. “No. Not really. But…we could save up our money and retire somewhere where they’d never find us.” He kissed her, his hands sliding up to play with her breasts. She kissed him back, twining her legs with his, feeling a spark of hope. Did he really want to run off with her and get a house together? Or did he just need a partner in crime?About The Author
ELIZABETH RODERICK grew up as a barefoot ruffian on a fruit orchard near Yakima, in the eastern part of Washington State. After weathering the grunge revolution and devolution in Olympia, Washington, Portland, Oregon and Seattle, she recently moved to the (very, very) small town of Shandon, California: a small cluster of houses amidst the vineyards of the Central Coast.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in Spanish from The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington, and worked for many years as a paralegal and translator. She is a musician and songwriter, and has played in many bands. She’s rocked pretty much every instrument, including some she doesn’t even know the real names for, but mostly guitar, bass and keyboards. She has two albums of her own, which you can listen to at pimentointhehole.com. She writes fiction novels for young adults and adults, as well as short stories, and keeps an active blog at pimentointhehole.com/blog.
Website | Blog |Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads
Giveaway
January 11, 2016
Cover Reveal: Chameleon Soul by @MiaHoddell #romance
⇉ ⇉ ⇉ COVER REVEAL ⇇ ⇇ ⇇CHAMELEON SOUL by Mia Hoddell is the first book in the Chequered Flag series and is set to release on February 2nd from Limitless Publishing. The gorgeous cover to this New Adult Contemporary Romance (with elements of Sports and Suspense!) was designed by TOJ Publishing Services.
⇉ ⇉ SYNOPSIS ⇇ ⇇After one fateful night, Raine Wilkins’ life has never been the same…
Two years into a relationship with Formula 1 driver Teo Coates, Raine walks out of his life without offering an explanation. To shield him from horrifying events that are best kept secret, Raine breaks her own heart and the heart of the man she loves. And left with no choice, Teo is forced to abandon Raine to finish his race season.
However, Teo always wins, and losing Raine’s heart has only made him more determined to reclaim it…
Now, a year later, he’s back, and she’s his only goal. But Raine is no longer the same girl he left behind; she’s broken by the past and struggling to cope with each day. Unbearable memories have her nights plagued with fear, while her days are spent deliberately hiding away to avoid triggering full-blown panic attacks. Therefore, when Teo returns as England’s favourite driver, and demands answers, all of Raine’s careful planning is destroyed.
She is thrown into the one place she never wants to be—the spotlight.
Her newfound fame as Teo’s public girlfriend raises old dangers, and exposes her to a group who will stop at nothing to tear them apart. If Raine and Teo are to be together, they must confront their past. However, only Raine knows the truth behind what happened during that sinister night, and revealing her secrets may cause Teo to leave for good.
⇉ ADD TO GOODREADS ⇇
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28454366-chameleon-soul
⇉ ABOUT THE AUTHOR: MIA HODDELL ⇇
#1 Amazon bestselling author Mia Hoddell lives in the UK with her family and two cats. She spends most of her time writing or reading, loves anything romantic, and has an overactive imagination that keeps her up until the early hours of the morning.
Mia has written over ten titles including her Seasons of Change series, the Chequered Flag series, the Elemental Killers series, and her standalone novels False Finder and Not Enough.
Her favourite genres are contemporary romance or romantic suspense, and with an ever growing list of ideas she is trying to keep up with the speed at which her imagination generates them. She also designs book covers on her website M Designs.
Limitless Publishing: http://bit.ly/1LmthNoBlog: http://miahoddell.blogspot.comTwitter: http://twitter.com/miahoddellFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mia-Hoddell-Author/421368247889610?ref=hlGoodreads: http://goodreads.com/miahoddellGoogle+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/113175199547008833705Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Mia-Hoddell/e/B0093M18QQ/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/GFF_1
⇉ ⇉ SYNOPSIS ⇇ ⇇After one fateful night, Raine Wilkins’ life has never been the same…
Two years into a relationship with Formula 1 driver Teo Coates, Raine walks out of his life without offering an explanation. To shield him from horrifying events that are best kept secret, Raine breaks her own heart and the heart of the man she loves. And left with no choice, Teo is forced to abandon Raine to finish his race season.
However, Teo always wins, and losing Raine’s heart has only made him more determined to reclaim it…
Now, a year later, he’s back, and she’s his only goal. But Raine is no longer the same girl he left behind; she’s broken by the past and struggling to cope with each day. Unbearable memories have her nights plagued with fear, while her days are spent deliberately hiding away to avoid triggering full-blown panic attacks. Therefore, when Teo returns as England’s favourite driver, and demands answers, all of Raine’s careful planning is destroyed.
She is thrown into the one place she never wants to be—the spotlight.
Her newfound fame as Teo’s public girlfriend raises old dangers, and exposes her to a group who will stop at nothing to tear them apart. If Raine and Teo are to be together, they must confront their past. However, only Raine knows the truth behind what happened during that sinister night, and revealing her secrets may cause Teo to leave for good.
⇉ ADD TO GOODREADS ⇇
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28454366-chameleon-soul
⇉ ABOUT THE AUTHOR: MIA HODDELL ⇇
#1 Amazon bestselling author Mia Hoddell lives in the UK with her family and two cats. She spends most of her time writing or reading, loves anything romantic, and has an overactive imagination that keeps her up until the early hours of the morning.Mia has written over ten titles including her Seasons of Change series, the Chequered Flag series, the Elemental Killers series, and her standalone novels False Finder and Not Enough.
Her favourite genres are contemporary romance or romantic suspense, and with an ever growing list of ideas she is trying to keep up with the speed at which her imagination generates them. She also designs book covers on her website M Designs.
Limitless Publishing: http://bit.ly/1LmthNoBlog: http://miahoddell.blogspot.comTwitter: http://twitter.com/miahoddellFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mia-Hoddell-Author/421368247889610?ref=hlGoodreads: http://goodreads.com/miahoddellGoogle+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/113175199547008833705Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Mia-Hoddell/e/B0093M18QQ/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/GFF_1
January 8, 2016
Cover Reveal: Rewriting Destiny by @Shelly_Morgan34 #romance #mc
::: COVER REVEAL :::REWRITING DESTINY by Shelly MorganForsaken Sinners MC Series, Book #1Coming FEBRUARY 16th from Limitless Publishing!
::: SYNOPSIS :::When life gives you lemons, it’s time for shots of tequila.
That’s my new saying in life, and trust me, life has handed me lots of lemons.
My name is Danielle DeChenne, and for eighteen years I took every punch “destiny” threw at me. Now I’m no longer a naive girl. Traumatic abuse will do that to you. I was forced to grow up too fast, and the one person I depended on—that gorgeous Marine, Zane—turned his back on me. So now I say screw the lemonade and just give me a bottle of Jack Daniel’s, because I don’t believe in destiny anymore.
There is no pre-destined path set out for each of us. That crap doesn’t exist.
Sometimes bad things happen…it’s just how the world works. It sucks, but you have to pick yourself up and get on with your life. Even if it’s an impossible task.
I’m done sitting around and waiting for my life to change or something good to fall in my lap. It took me awhile to understand, but once I stopped being the doormat for destiny, it was time for me to take control. Now I decide where I go in life and what will happen. It won’t always be pretty, it will sometimes hurt like hell, but I will make sure I live my life to the fullest…
Then the gorgeous Marine from my past returned with a vengeance—except this time, I was ready for him.
It's time to rewrite destiny.
: : : COVER DESIGNER : : :TOJ PUBLISHING SERVICEShttps://www.facebook.com/TOJPublishingServices
: : : SHELLY MORGAN : : : I grew up in a small town in Iowa. I have 2 older sisters and amazing parents. Growing up, I was always a daddy’s girl, hanging out with him in the garage, fishing, and building stuff. I loved to play softball and swimming, but reading, telling stories, and writing were my passion, even at a young age. I took a break from writing for a while, but you could always find me with a book in my hand.
I have three children – two boys and a girl. They are my whole world. Even when I’m having the worst day ever, they brighten up my day and make me smile.
A few years ago, there was this story that would always play out in my head and no matter how many times I went through it, from beginning to end, it would never fade. So I decided to put it on paper. I didn’t plan on publishing it, but when it was almost done, a friend asked to read it. She said it was a story that needed to be shared. And that’s what started my writing career.
I love all genres of books, and even though I started with writing MC Romance, I have a whole book of ideas, so you can expect more from me than just MC, though romance is in my blood.
Even though I currently work two jobs, my ultimate dream is to become a full time author. I want to be able to spend my days filling pages with stories. I want to be the reason people find a reason to smile or laugh from lines on a page. Reading a book allows me to live in someone else’s shoes, even if only for a few minutes. It’s a way to leave my life and troubles behind and I want to be help others do that as well.
LIMITLESS PUBLISHING: http://www.limitlesspublishing.net/authors/shelly-morgan/FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/Author-Shelly-Morgan-809266812448318/TWITTER: https://twitter.com/Shelly_Morgan34GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/10914599.Shelly_Morgan
::: SYNOPSIS :::When life gives you lemons, it’s time for shots of tequila.
That’s my new saying in life, and trust me, life has handed me lots of lemons.
My name is Danielle DeChenne, and for eighteen years I took every punch “destiny” threw at me. Now I’m no longer a naive girl. Traumatic abuse will do that to you. I was forced to grow up too fast, and the one person I depended on—that gorgeous Marine, Zane—turned his back on me. So now I say screw the lemonade and just give me a bottle of Jack Daniel’s, because I don’t believe in destiny anymore.
There is no pre-destined path set out for each of us. That crap doesn’t exist.
Sometimes bad things happen…it’s just how the world works. It sucks, but you have to pick yourself up and get on with your life. Even if it’s an impossible task.
I’m done sitting around and waiting for my life to change or something good to fall in my lap. It took me awhile to understand, but once I stopped being the doormat for destiny, it was time for me to take control. Now I decide where I go in life and what will happen. It won’t always be pretty, it will sometimes hurt like hell, but I will make sure I live my life to the fullest…
Then the gorgeous Marine from my past returned with a vengeance—except this time, I was ready for him.
It's time to rewrite destiny.
: : : COVER DESIGNER : : :TOJ PUBLISHING SERVICEShttps://www.facebook.com/TOJPublishingServices
: : : SHELLY MORGAN : : : I grew up in a small town in Iowa. I have 2 older sisters and amazing parents. Growing up, I was always a daddy’s girl, hanging out with him in the garage, fishing, and building stuff. I loved to play softball and swimming, but reading, telling stories, and writing were my passion, even at a young age. I took a break from writing for a while, but you could always find me with a book in my hand.
I have three children – two boys and a girl. They are my whole world. Even when I’m having the worst day ever, they brighten up my day and make me smile.
A few years ago, there was this story that would always play out in my head and no matter how many times I went through it, from beginning to end, it would never fade. So I decided to put it on paper. I didn’t plan on publishing it, but when it was almost done, a friend asked to read it. She said it was a story that needed to be shared. And that’s what started my writing career.
I love all genres of books, and even though I started with writing MC Romance, I have a whole book of ideas, so you can expect more from me than just MC, though romance is in my blood.
Even though I currently work two jobs, my ultimate dream is to become a full time author. I want to be able to spend my days filling pages with stories. I want to be the reason people find a reason to smile or laugh from lines on a page. Reading a book allows me to live in someone else’s shoes, even if only for a few minutes. It’s a way to leave my life and troubles behind and I want to be help others do that as well.
LIMITLESS PUBLISHING: http://www.limitlesspublishing.net/authors/shelly-morgan/FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/Author-Shelly-Morgan-809266812448318/TWITTER: https://twitter.com/Shelly_Morgan34GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/10914599.Shelly_Morgan
January 7, 2016
Cover Reveal: Echoes of the Past by @_iris_b #romance
Title: ECHOES OF THE PASTAuthor: Iris Blobel
Series: Fermosa Bar Book #1
Publisher: Limitless Publishing
Release Date: February 16, 2016
Emily Bradshaw waited over twenty years to see Connor again…
When her childhood friend, Connor Walsh, returns home to see his ailing father, Emily is elated to be reunited with the handsome man who moved to London so many years ago. But excitement fades to disappointment when he doesn’t remember her—or their first kiss. With her crush on Connor still in full swing, she’s determined to enjoy the short time he’s in Fermosa Bay, even though she knows her heart will break when he returns to his life in London.
When Connor receives news that his biological father is terminally ill, he returns to Fermosa Bay, Australia.
With memories of his childhood tucked fondly in the back of his mind, returning to the small, coastal town leaves him to wonder how life would have been if his mother had never taken him away. Would he have been married and had children? Perhaps with Emily Bradshaw…
Secrets from long ago begin to unfold…
As Connor and his father grow closer, Connor learns his parents have a broken love story of their own. Will the echoes of the past lure him into staying, maybe for good? Or will he relive his parents’ tragic story and flee to London?
Walking away from a real chance at true love…
COVER DESIGNER: Redbird Designs
https://www.facebook.com/redbirdesigns
MEET THE AUTHOR: Iris Blobel was born and raised in Germany and only immigrated to Australia in the late 1990s. Having had the travel bug most of her life, Iris spent quite some time living in Scotland, London as well as Canada where she her husband. Her love for putting her stories onto paper has only emerged recently, but now her laptop is a constant companion.
Iris resides west of Melbourne with her husband and her two beautiful daughters.
Next to her job at a private school, she also presents a German Program at the local Community Radio.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IrisBlobel
Twitter: https://twitter.com/_iris_b
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4067254.Iris_Blobel
January 5, 2016
Flame (The Ragnarok Prophesies) #teasertuesday #fantasy
Happy Tuesday, loves!
I've been madly trying to work on edits for Stricken and finish a final read-through of Flame over the last few days. With that being the case, I thought I'd give you another small teaser from Flame. It's spoiler-free. Well, unless you didn't already know that Dace is kind of a ninja and Ronan likes to irritate Ari.
Flame will be going to CQ tonight or early tomorrow. I'm nervous. And excited. And nervous. For those wondering, submitting a new novel never becomes any less stressful. You just kind of learn to bite the bullet and hope for the best. So... there's that to look forward to if you're a writer. :)
Enjoy!
"We're fine," Dace murmured, disappearing into shadows like a freaking Ninja.
I snorted loudly.
"We're fine," he said again, cool confidence in his tone.
"Unlike you," I muttered, rolling my eyes at him, "I'm not a Ninja." He could slip from shadow to shadow silently. He'd been half-wolf long enough to know how to avoid notice and fly under the radar. Me, on the other hand? Not so much. I bumped into things and stumbled and otherwise drew attention to myself. Clearly, I wasn't destined for a life of crime. I couldn't even break into a murderer's house without waking the entire damn neighborhood.
Relax, love.
I took a deep breath, trying to slow my racing heart as a wave of calm swept through me, coming from Dace. It didn't help, especially not when headlights swept through the dark, narrowly missing our hiding place as a neighbor down the road returned home. Squeezing my eyes closed, I waited for the cry to go up, alerting the neighborhood that hijinks were afoot.
"They're already in the house, love," Dace said, chuckling under his breath.
I popped one eye open, confirming that the garage door was already shuddering to a close behind the little Fiat. We were safe. For the moment.
"I'm never doing this again," I swore.
"You probably said that last time," Ronan whispered from behind me.
I jumped, barely clamping my hand over my mouth to cover the sound of my scream.
Dace glared daggers at Ronan, who merely chuckled.
"Not funny," I hissed below my breath, trying to kick him in the shin.
Maybe we should rebrand #TeamApocalypse as #TeamHijinks, yes?
xoxo,
Ayden
I've been madly trying to work on edits for Stricken and finish a final read-through of Flame over the last few days. With that being the case, I thought I'd give you another small teaser from Flame. It's spoiler-free. Well, unless you didn't already know that Dace is kind of a ninja and Ronan likes to irritate Ari.
Flame will be going to CQ tonight or early tomorrow. I'm nervous. And excited. And nervous. For those wondering, submitting a new novel never becomes any less stressful. You just kind of learn to bite the bullet and hope for the best. So... there's that to look forward to if you're a writer. :)
Enjoy!
"We're fine," Dace murmured, disappearing into shadows like a freaking Ninja.I snorted loudly.
"We're fine," he said again, cool confidence in his tone.
"Unlike you," I muttered, rolling my eyes at him, "I'm not a Ninja." He could slip from shadow to shadow silently. He'd been half-wolf long enough to know how to avoid notice and fly under the radar. Me, on the other hand? Not so much. I bumped into things and stumbled and otherwise drew attention to myself. Clearly, I wasn't destined for a life of crime. I couldn't even break into a murderer's house without waking the entire damn neighborhood.
Relax, love.
I took a deep breath, trying to slow my racing heart as a wave of calm swept through me, coming from Dace. It didn't help, especially not when headlights swept through the dark, narrowly missing our hiding place as a neighbor down the road returned home. Squeezing my eyes closed, I waited for the cry to go up, alerting the neighborhood that hijinks were afoot.
"They're already in the house, love," Dace said, chuckling under his breath.
I popped one eye open, confirming that the garage door was already shuddering to a close behind the little Fiat. We were safe. For the moment.
"I'm never doing this again," I swore.
"You probably said that last time," Ronan whispered from behind me.
I jumped, barely clamping my hand over my mouth to cover the sound of my scream.
Dace glared daggers at Ronan, who merely chuckled.
"Not funny," I hissed below my breath, trying to kick him in the shin.
Maybe we should rebrand #TeamApocalypse as #TeamHijinks, yes?
xoxo,
Ayden
December 29, 2015
My Top Ten #Romance Reads of 2015
Early this year, I set out to read 100 new romance books before the end of 2015. While I didn't quite make it to 100, I did get awfully close. I finished 91 of the 100, and reread several of them more than once. I gained some new favorites, both books and authors, so I thought I'd share those romance novels that made it to the top of my list.
Before you dive in, just a quick note: Not all of these were published in 2015. They're just the ones I read in 2015.
10. FALLING INTO YOU by Jasinda Wilder
I wasn't always in love with Colton Calloway; I was in love with his younger brother, Kyle, first. Kyle was my first one true love, my first in every way.
Then, one stormy August night, he died, and the person I was died with him.
Colton didn't teach me how to live. He didn't heal the pain. He didn't make it okay. He taught me how to hurt, how to not be okay, and, eventually, how to let go
My Thoughts:
This book killed me. I fell in love with it early on and cried like a baby for hours while reading it. I highly recommend it to anyone who can handle angst. It's worth the tears you'll shed!
Add it to your Goodreads TBR list here.
9. SAFE WITH ME by Kristin Proby
Keeping others safe is what Caleb Montgomery does. He’s never had a problem taking on an assignment, whether it was during his dangerous SEAL days or his most recent job of training war mercenaries. But being assigned to keep Brynna Vincent and her adorable daughters, Maddie and Josie, safe from an unknown threat has thrown Caleb off his axis. Hot for the tall brunette since she came back to town more than a year ago, being close to her day in and day out is cracking Caleb’s resolve to keep his hands off her gorgeous body and his head in the mission.
Brynna is sick and tired of being afraid. All she wants is a normal, quiet life for her and her precious girls. Just as she’s settling into her new home in Seattle and feeling safe again, Caleb shows up on her doorstep insisting the danger is as high as ever. But whether she needs to be sheltered from the threat in her past, or from the intense emotions she feels for the sexy, protective man sleeping in her home, remains to be seen. What will happen if Brynna and her girls fall in love with a man so broken he may not be able to protect them from the danger that threatens, much less himself?”
SAFE WITH ME is the fifth book in the With Me In Seattle series, and continues to follow this tight-knit, loving family through life’s trials and tribulations with humor, passion and everlasting love.
My Thoughts:
Two words: Caleb Montgomery. Seriously, when I read the series, I was dying to get to his book, and it did not disappoint. I love him and Bryn together. I love how he takes care of her, and the things he says to her, and the way he thinks he's not good enough for her. This book made me cry, too. The best ones usually do! Highly recommended. Can be read as a standalone, though if you read the entire series, you get even more Caleb. Just sayin'.
Add it to your Goodreads TBR list here.
8. UNTIL NICO by Aurora Rose Reynolds
Sophie Grates has never had it easy, but she’s finding her way through life one step and one day at a time. That is, Until Nico comes in and flips her world upside-down. He forces her to see you cannot live life from the outside looking in, and sometimes you have to step out onto the ledge so you can really enjoy the view.
Nico Mayson knew the moment he saw Sophie Grates that she was the one. His whole life, he has been judged by what’s on the outside, so finding a beautiful woman who sees the real him only makes his feelings that much stronger.
Nico knows the kind of man he is, and the things he is capable of, and he will do everything in his power to help Sophie fight her demons so they can have their happily ever after. Everything in life worth having is worth fighting for.
My Thoughts:
I love Nico Mayson. He's bossy and has a filthy mouth, and loves Sophie like crazy. He's one of the sweetest badasses I've ever read. If you can overlook the frequent grammatical errors, this book is worth the read. How can you not love a guy who takes care of his girls no matter what?
Add it to your TBR list here.
7. THE MAD TATTER by J.M. Darhower
Reece Hatfield has just one rule when it comes to falling in love: don't fucking do it. There's no room in his life for another person. He can barely keep a handle on things as it is. A shadow of the man he used to be, Reece spends his days tattooing, the artist inside of him longing for the chance to do something different. Avery Moore is all dance, all the time. Ballet is all she's ever known, and she's damn good at it. Her body is her art, a living canvas that captivates Reece the first time he lays his eyes on her. He yearns to leave his mark on her body... in more ways than one. The tattooed degenerate with a shady past. The beautiful ballerina with a bright future. They live in different worlds, yet somehow, they fit. But just because they fit doesn't mean they belong together. Cracks sometimes form. Two pieces don't always make a whole. The course of love never did run smoothly. Things get messy. And Reece doesn't do messy. Not anymore.
My Thoughts:
I have a think for tattoos and for ballet, so this story just did it for me. I love Reece. I love how he is with his daughter. I love how he is with Avery. He's exactly what she needs in her life and vice versa. The scenes with his daughter made me smile much. This one isn't too heavy, but it still made me tear up.
Add it to your TBR list on Goodreads here.
6. WHEN I FALL by J. Daniels
For the past nine years, I’ve kept my heart as far away from my dick as possible.
Those two can’t be anywhere near each other. They don’t play nice, and one of them undoubtedly winds up getting hurt.
Not my dick. My dick is good.
The women I take home know exactly what they’re getting from me—sex. Nothing more. At least, that’s what’s supposed to happen. The sweet brunette from Kentucky I set my sights on tonight shouldn’t have been any different. I had her right where I wanted her. Where I needed her. But when my past comes walking into McGill’s pub, the woman in my arms decides to take things to a whole new level, putting me into a situation I never saw coming.
My heart is about to get fucked. My dick can sit this one out.
My Thoughts:
I don't know what it is about this book, but I really loved it. Reed has the filthiest mouth, but he's so charming. He rambles like no one else, and I kind of adore that. I love how completely his life changes when he meets Beth, and how freaking dirty he is. I just love him in general. And I adore Beth. She gives as good as she gets. If you can handle a dirty talker, this one is for you.
Add it to your TBR list here.
5. THE BEAUTY SERIES by Skye Warren
The Beauty Series contains the complete collection of sexy novellas in this new adult romance between a professor and his student.
Erin cleans Mr. Morris's house twice a week to pay for college. When she interrupts him in a private moment and hears him moaning her name, she refuses to hide her feelings for him any longer. Blake Morris is scarred both inside and out. When he receives an offer to return to teach at his alma mater, he knows this is his chance to reenter the world--and to be worthy of the woman he loves.
Except the class he's teaching is the last one she needs for graduation, so they can finally be together. Secrets and shadows lay in wait along the path, and it will be up to Erin and Blake to forge their own happy ending.
My Thoughts:
I'm not sure where I stumbled across the first book in this series, but I ended up snatching every one of them up in a heartbeat and devouring the entire series in a couple of hours. This story is beautiful. Blake breaks my heart and makes me smile at the same time. He's been through hell and doesn't think he deserves someone as pure and beautiful as Erin. It's such a great take on the Beauty and the Beast story. Just read it. You're welcome.
Add it to your TBR list here.
4. PUCKED by Helena Hunting
With a famous NHL player for a step-brother, Violet Hall is well acquainted with the playboy reputation many hockey stars come with. She’s smart enough to steer clear of those hot, well-built boys with unparalleled stamina. That is until she meets the legendary team captain—Alex Waters.
Violet isn’t interested in his pretty, beat-up face, or his rock-hard six-pack abs. But when Alex inadvertently obliterates Violet’s previous misapprehension regarding the inferior intellect of hockey players, he becomes more than just a hot body with a face to match.
In what can only be considered a complete lapse in judgment, Violet finds out just how good Alex is with the hockey stick in his pants. But what starts out as a one-night stand, quickly turns into something more. Post-night of orgasmic magic, Alex starts to call, and text, and e-mail and send extravagant—and quirky—gifts, making him difficult to ignore, and even more difficult not to like.
The problem is, the media portrays Alex as a total player, and Violet doesn’t want to be part of the game.
My Thoughts:
If you know me, you know how I feel about hockey. You also know I'm completely inappropriate and say things a good fifteen seconds before I think about them. This book is exactly like that, and it's hilarious. I love how inappropriate Violet is. The wild shit that comes out of her mouth kept me laughing. My coworkers are forever grateful for this book introducing us to the term 1970s dick-fro. The phrase has served us well.
Add it to your TBR list here.
3. OVER THE FENCE by Melanie Moreland
Two neighbors—strangers—with one thing in common—they share a fence.
But is that the only thing they share?
Nathan Fraser lives a solitary life, never letting anyone get too close. It’s safer that way.
Kourtney Whyte hides from the world and behind her work, too afraid to really live her life to the fullest. Rejection is what she knows best.
But one night, the sound of her soft voice and the tantalizing aroma of her evening meal, prove too enticing for Nathan to ignore.
So begins their unconventional relationship—talking, learning, texting, and gradually opening up to one another, all over the fence.
That is, until the day Nathan braves the high fence to protect Kourtney from her past, and changes everything forever.
Can they move forward together, without the buffer of the fence?
Or will their pasts prove to be too much of a barrier?
My thoughts:
I was fortunate enough to get to pre-read this for Melanie, and I fell in love with it. Nathan is such a sweetheart, and Kourtney is amazing. She's been through so much and is terrified of what Nathan will think of her, not knowing that he feels exactly the same way. I think we can all relate to that fear of exposing ourselves to someone else. These two just make me so happy. It's a lovely story. Read it!
Add it to your TBR list here.
2. DON'T LET ME GO by Sarah
a story about best friends and a black-lit back room.
Alright, Violet, and all or nothing.
Meeting dark eyes and carrying them for life.
Unmade stars and stripes, and a place deeper than memory.
What it means to be narrowed in, and how a maniac cuts himself loose.
Shoving control, a little denim noose, finding the strength courage takes,
and breaking -
but in the right place.
Pride, and a cry that cuts clean through.
Six Sheets, and all the ways a heart fights and burns and beats.
Fading red marks, feeling the world come apart,
a little past the point of no return,
everything innocent,
and a life sentence.
Walking something sticky off your shoe,
giving until your hands are empty,
and Go.
Just go.
Falling,
and the beautiful, blinding way it makes your only reason to,
glow.
My Thoughts:
This book was nothing like I expected, and I adored it from page one. It's beautifully written, unique, and so unlike any other story I've read this year. I've read it two or three times now, and I always discover something else to love about it. I'm not going to say anything else because of spoilers, but read this if you're up for something new that doesn't necessarily play out like you expect.
Add it to your TBR list on Goodreads here.
1. GOOD GIRL GONE by Tammy Falkner
She's perfect.
He's not.
She's the lead singer in a popular rock band.
He's a tattoo artist.
She's all perfect creases and fancy clothes.
He's covered in prison ink.
She's wealthy.
He doesn't have a pot to piss in.
She's good.
He's bad.
The question is -- Will she ever be good enough for him?
My Thoughts:
First, I have to say I love this entire series so much, especially this book. Josh is in a wheelchair and just out of prison. Star is the famous lead singer of the Zeroes. The two have a whole lot more in common than they think. I LOVE how the author doesn't gloss over life in a wheelchair or try to romanticize it. She's straightforward and lets Josh speak for himself on the matter. He struggles. He overcomes. He gets down. He falls in love. He's perfect for Star, and so freaking sweet. I loved him before I even started this book. It is absolutely worth the read.
Add it to your TBR list here. Did any of these titles (or authors) make it to your Top Ten this year? If not, what did make the cut? Share the love!
Before you dive in, just a quick note: Not all of these were published in 2015. They're just the ones I read in 2015.
10. FALLING INTO YOU by Jasinda Wilder
I wasn't always in love with Colton Calloway; I was in love with his younger brother, Kyle, first. Kyle was my first one true love, my first in every way.
Then, one stormy August night, he died, and the person I was died with him.
Colton didn't teach me how to live. He didn't heal the pain. He didn't make it okay. He taught me how to hurt, how to not be okay, and, eventually, how to let go
My Thoughts:
This book killed me. I fell in love with it early on and cried like a baby for hours while reading it. I highly recommend it to anyone who can handle angst. It's worth the tears you'll shed!
Add it to your Goodreads TBR list here.
9. SAFE WITH ME by Kristin Proby
Keeping others safe is what Caleb Montgomery does. He’s never had a problem taking on an assignment, whether it was during his dangerous SEAL days or his most recent job of training war mercenaries. But being assigned to keep Brynna Vincent and her adorable daughters, Maddie and Josie, safe from an unknown threat has thrown Caleb off his axis. Hot for the tall brunette since she came back to town more than a year ago, being close to her day in and day out is cracking Caleb’s resolve to keep his hands off her gorgeous body and his head in the mission.
Brynna is sick and tired of being afraid. All she wants is a normal, quiet life for her and her precious girls. Just as she’s settling into her new home in Seattle and feeling safe again, Caleb shows up on her doorstep insisting the danger is as high as ever. But whether she needs to be sheltered from the threat in her past, or from the intense emotions she feels for the sexy, protective man sleeping in her home, remains to be seen. What will happen if Brynna and her girls fall in love with a man so broken he may not be able to protect them from the danger that threatens, much less himself?”
SAFE WITH ME is the fifth book in the With Me In Seattle series, and continues to follow this tight-knit, loving family through life’s trials and tribulations with humor, passion and everlasting love.
My Thoughts:
Two words: Caleb Montgomery. Seriously, when I read the series, I was dying to get to his book, and it did not disappoint. I love him and Bryn together. I love how he takes care of her, and the things he says to her, and the way he thinks he's not good enough for her. This book made me cry, too. The best ones usually do! Highly recommended. Can be read as a standalone, though if you read the entire series, you get even more Caleb. Just sayin'.
Add it to your Goodreads TBR list here.
8. UNTIL NICO by Aurora Rose Reynolds
Sophie Grates has never had it easy, but she’s finding her way through life one step and one day at a time. That is, Until Nico comes in and flips her world upside-down. He forces her to see you cannot live life from the outside looking in, and sometimes you have to step out onto the ledge so you can really enjoy the view.
Nico Mayson knew the moment he saw Sophie Grates that she was the one. His whole life, he has been judged by what’s on the outside, so finding a beautiful woman who sees the real him only makes his feelings that much stronger.
Nico knows the kind of man he is, and the things he is capable of, and he will do everything in his power to help Sophie fight her demons so they can have their happily ever after. Everything in life worth having is worth fighting for.
My Thoughts:
I love Nico Mayson. He's bossy and has a filthy mouth, and loves Sophie like crazy. He's one of the sweetest badasses I've ever read. If you can overlook the frequent grammatical errors, this book is worth the read. How can you not love a guy who takes care of his girls no matter what?
Add it to your TBR list here.
7. THE MAD TATTER by J.M. Darhower
Reece Hatfield has just one rule when it comes to falling in love: don't fucking do it. There's no room in his life for another person. He can barely keep a handle on things as it is. A shadow of the man he used to be, Reece spends his days tattooing, the artist inside of him longing for the chance to do something different. Avery Moore is all dance, all the time. Ballet is all she's ever known, and she's damn good at it. Her body is her art, a living canvas that captivates Reece the first time he lays his eyes on her. He yearns to leave his mark on her body... in more ways than one. The tattooed degenerate with a shady past. The beautiful ballerina with a bright future. They live in different worlds, yet somehow, they fit. But just because they fit doesn't mean they belong together. Cracks sometimes form. Two pieces don't always make a whole. The course of love never did run smoothly. Things get messy. And Reece doesn't do messy. Not anymore.
My Thoughts:
I have a think for tattoos and for ballet, so this story just did it for me. I love Reece. I love how he is with his daughter. I love how he is with Avery. He's exactly what she needs in her life and vice versa. The scenes with his daughter made me smile much. This one isn't too heavy, but it still made me tear up.
Add it to your TBR list on Goodreads here.
6. WHEN I FALL by J. Daniels
For the past nine years, I’ve kept my heart as far away from my dick as possible.
Those two can’t be anywhere near each other. They don’t play nice, and one of them undoubtedly winds up getting hurt.
Not my dick. My dick is good.
The women I take home know exactly what they’re getting from me—sex. Nothing more. At least, that’s what’s supposed to happen. The sweet brunette from Kentucky I set my sights on tonight shouldn’t have been any different. I had her right where I wanted her. Where I needed her. But when my past comes walking into McGill’s pub, the woman in my arms decides to take things to a whole new level, putting me into a situation I never saw coming.
My heart is about to get fucked. My dick can sit this one out.
My Thoughts:
I don't know what it is about this book, but I really loved it. Reed has the filthiest mouth, but he's so charming. He rambles like no one else, and I kind of adore that. I love how completely his life changes when he meets Beth, and how freaking dirty he is. I just love him in general. And I adore Beth. She gives as good as she gets. If you can handle a dirty talker, this one is for you.
Add it to your TBR list here.
5. THE BEAUTY SERIES by Skye Warren
The Beauty Series contains the complete collection of sexy novellas in this new adult romance between a professor and his student.
Erin cleans Mr. Morris's house twice a week to pay for college. When she interrupts him in a private moment and hears him moaning her name, she refuses to hide her feelings for him any longer. Blake Morris is scarred both inside and out. When he receives an offer to return to teach at his alma mater, he knows this is his chance to reenter the world--and to be worthy of the woman he loves.
Except the class he's teaching is the last one she needs for graduation, so they can finally be together. Secrets and shadows lay in wait along the path, and it will be up to Erin and Blake to forge their own happy ending.
My Thoughts:
I'm not sure where I stumbled across the first book in this series, but I ended up snatching every one of them up in a heartbeat and devouring the entire series in a couple of hours. This story is beautiful. Blake breaks my heart and makes me smile at the same time. He's been through hell and doesn't think he deserves someone as pure and beautiful as Erin. It's such a great take on the Beauty and the Beast story. Just read it. You're welcome.
Add it to your TBR list here.
4. PUCKED by Helena Hunting
With a famous NHL player for a step-brother, Violet Hall is well acquainted with the playboy reputation many hockey stars come with. She’s smart enough to steer clear of those hot, well-built boys with unparalleled stamina. That is until she meets the legendary team captain—Alex Waters.
Violet isn’t interested in his pretty, beat-up face, or his rock-hard six-pack abs. But when Alex inadvertently obliterates Violet’s previous misapprehension regarding the inferior intellect of hockey players, he becomes more than just a hot body with a face to match.
In what can only be considered a complete lapse in judgment, Violet finds out just how good Alex is with the hockey stick in his pants. But what starts out as a one-night stand, quickly turns into something more. Post-night of orgasmic magic, Alex starts to call, and text, and e-mail and send extravagant—and quirky—gifts, making him difficult to ignore, and even more difficult not to like.
The problem is, the media portrays Alex as a total player, and Violet doesn’t want to be part of the game.
My Thoughts:
If you know me, you know how I feel about hockey. You also know I'm completely inappropriate and say things a good fifteen seconds before I think about them. This book is exactly like that, and it's hilarious. I love how inappropriate Violet is. The wild shit that comes out of her mouth kept me laughing. My coworkers are forever grateful for this book introducing us to the term 1970s dick-fro. The phrase has served us well.
Add it to your TBR list here.
3. OVER THE FENCE by Melanie Moreland
Two neighbors—strangers—with one thing in common—they share a fence.
But is that the only thing they share?
Nathan Fraser lives a solitary life, never letting anyone get too close. It’s safer that way.
Kourtney Whyte hides from the world and behind her work, too afraid to really live her life to the fullest. Rejection is what she knows best.
But one night, the sound of her soft voice and the tantalizing aroma of her evening meal, prove too enticing for Nathan to ignore.
So begins their unconventional relationship—talking, learning, texting, and gradually opening up to one another, all over the fence.
That is, until the day Nathan braves the high fence to protect Kourtney from her past, and changes everything forever.
Can they move forward together, without the buffer of the fence?
Or will their pasts prove to be too much of a barrier?
My thoughts:
I was fortunate enough to get to pre-read this for Melanie, and I fell in love with it. Nathan is such a sweetheart, and Kourtney is amazing. She's been through so much and is terrified of what Nathan will think of her, not knowing that he feels exactly the same way. I think we can all relate to that fear of exposing ourselves to someone else. These two just make me so happy. It's a lovely story. Read it!
Add it to your TBR list here.
2. DON'T LET ME GO by Sarah
a story about best friends and a black-lit back room.
Alright, Violet, and all or nothing.
Meeting dark eyes and carrying them for life.
Unmade stars and stripes, and a place deeper than memory.
What it means to be narrowed in, and how a maniac cuts himself loose.
Shoving control, a little denim noose, finding the strength courage takes,
and breaking -
but in the right place.
Pride, and a cry that cuts clean through.
Six Sheets, and all the ways a heart fights and burns and beats.
Fading red marks, feeling the world come apart,
a little past the point of no return,
everything innocent,
and a life sentence.
Walking something sticky off your shoe,
giving until your hands are empty,
and Go.
Just go.
Falling,
and the beautiful, blinding way it makes your only reason to,
glow.
My Thoughts:
This book was nothing like I expected, and I adored it from page one. It's beautifully written, unique, and so unlike any other story I've read this year. I've read it two or three times now, and I always discover something else to love about it. I'm not going to say anything else because of spoilers, but read this if you're up for something new that doesn't necessarily play out like you expect.
Add it to your TBR list on Goodreads here.
1. GOOD GIRL GONE by Tammy Falkner
She's perfect.
He's not.
She's the lead singer in a popular rock band.
He's a tattoo artist.
She's all perfect creases and fancy clothes.
He's covered in prison ink.
She's wealthy.
He doesn't have a pot to piss in.
She's good.
He's bad.
The question is -- Will she ever be good enough for him?
My Thoughts:
First, I have to say I love this entire series so much, especially this book. Josh is in a wheelchair and just out of prison. Star is the famous lead singer of the Zeroes. The two have a whole lot more in common than they think. I LOVE how the author doesn't gloss over life in a wheelchair or try to romanticize it. She's straightforward and lets Josh speak for himself on the matter. He struggles. He overcomes. He gets down. He falls in love. He's perfect for Star, and so freaking sweet. I loved him before I even started this book. It is absolutely worth the read.
Add it to your TBR list here. Did any of these titles (or authors) make it to your Top Ten this year? If not, what did make the cut? Share the love!
December 19, 2015
My Year in Review #authors #2015
You may have noticed that things have been a little quiet around here lately. Don't worry; I haven't abandoned you! It's been a very busy, very stressful few weeks in the Morgen household...much like the rest of the year!
Real life tends to throw up obstacles when you least expect them, and mine has certainly done that several times this year.
Both hubby and I have been dealing with medical issues the last few months. We're not really sure if mine are related to the brain lesions or if it's related to neck issues. A car accident in October didn't help matters any, either. We're trying to sort out what's happening in hopes of getting the migraines under control again. They're nasty little bastards, and have a way of wreaking havoc on day-to-day life. I've been in physical therapy since before the accident in October, and cannot wait until the day I'm all done!
A couple of years ago, SS was critically ill with acute pulmonary blastomycosis--a rare fungal infection of the lungs not common in this area. After being initially (mis)diagnosed with lung cancer, his condition worsened quickly, leading to him spending a few weeks in intensive care while they sorted out exactly what was happening. They ended up having to take part of his lung. His kidneys and liver began to fail. We almost lost him. He's my other half, and nearly losing him was one of the most terrifying things I've ever been through. In 2014, he was officially "cleared" of the infection. It was a long, hard road, and we monitor him closely. Recently, he's been having some issues, and has been referred to a cardiologist after an abnormal lung X-Ray. We're hopeful what they're seeing is old damage, but until we know for sure, it's a little frightening. Repeat infections are rare, but they do happen, so that's always sitting in the back of our minds, and in the minds of his healthcare team.
He and I both work for the Sheriff's Dept. in our county. He's one of the IT guys, and I work in dispatch. It's trying work at times, as you can imagine. We recently lost a coworker, which has been hard on everyone. As a dispatcher, you're trained to protect your guys. You can't protect them from grief when they lose a brother, though. And that sucks. Our work family is making it through it one day at a time, however. That's one of the great things about the work we do. No one goes through anything alone. Law enforcement is very much a family.
I've recently had to face the realization that working full time and writing full time might not be possible for much longer, though. I simply don't have enough hours left in the days anymore. Since there's zero chance of me giving up writing, I've been weighing whether I'm ready to step away from the workforce to become a stay-at-home author. It's a tough decision to make because I love what I do, and I love so many of my coworkers. And I've always been one to juggle multiple jobs. But I promised SS I would make a decision by March, so I guess we'll see.
I have finally, FINALLY finished FLAME! Right now, I'm giving it one more pass to tidy up some things before I send it on to the prereaders for their expert opinions and commentary. From there, it will go to the Curiosity Quills team. If they like it, I'm hopeful for a 2016 release date. Fingers crossed! I'm really pleased with how the novel turned out. I've struggled hard with it for three years now, and have thrown away more drafts than I care to admit. I fell in love with this draft while writing it, and I hope you guys like the finished product when you do get it!
I'll also begin editing Stricken in the coming days for an early 2016 release. And then there's the upcoming holidays and all the good times associated with them! I managed to finish shopping--yay! Every year, I say I'm going to start shopping early, and then time gets away from me. Before I know it, it's mid-December and I've barely even started checking things off my to-buy list. Maybe next year will be my year. One can always hope, right?!
The besties were able to visit twice this year, which I loved! We got our first tattoos together in February, and then drank far too much and otherwise had a great time in September. Every woman needs girlfriends to laugh with, cry with, and drink copious amounts of wine with. I'm fortunate to have some of the best! We don't always agree, but they are my soul sisters.
We lost two beloved members of our family this year--our 13 year old terrier Boo (Mama), and our 5 year old gangsta kitty, Ali. Cancer took both of them well before we were ready to let them go. The other minions are still adjusting to life without them around. Boo and Ali very much ran the household, so it's been a challenge for the others to figure out how to function without a cranky little dog and a gangster cat here to boss them (and us!) into submission.It's been hardest on Razi. Boo got pregnant about 8 years ago and gave birth to one puppy--Razi. We just had to keep her. She's never been without her mom before, so she's had a rough time of it.
To help her adjust, we adopted the world's most ridiculous, cutest Chihuahua from a coworker. Baby Girl (BG for short or Tiny) is a hot mess, and we absolutely adore her. She's very much "my" dog, and loses her mind when anyone touches me without permission...including SS. We're still working on teaching her not to bite him when he tries to touch me when I'm sleeping. She gets a little cranky about my beauty sleep! And she is all about sleeping herself. She wants to be on my lap, under a blanket, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. I don't think she knows she's a dog. It's pretty amusing. Razi doesn't much care for her most of the time, but they sleep together when I'm at work, so I guess she thinks BG is at least tolerable.
My beautiful niece, Abby, was diagnosed with Autism and mild mental retardation not long ago. Abby is a very smart little girl--she just doesn't like to talk to anyone other than her mom, her brothers, and her speech therapist. As a result, her verbal and social skills were very low. Despite scoring high on intelligence portions of the test, those scores pulled her IQ down to mild mental retardation levels. There's some debate over whether she actually has autism or selective mutism, so she may have to go for more testing. In the meantime, we're treating her exactly as we always have. She is an amazing little girl with a big heart and a little bit of that diva attitude most of the women in my family have. No matter what life throws at her, I am certain she will meet it on her feet. :)
At the end of the day... I have to say the year has definitely been worth the chaos. I published four novels, knocked 90 books off my to-read list (and my Goodreads 2015 Challenge), finished FLAME, signed the War Scrolls series, and adopted the world's cutest Chihuahua. I've learned so much this year, and am continually excited by the new ideas and new perspectives others lend me.
I hope your year has been as full as ours, minus the sadder parts, of course! :) And I hope each and every one of you is having an amazing holiday season.
xoxo,
Ayden My Year in Pictures
Real life tends to throw up obstacles when you least expect them, and mine has certainly done that several times this year.
Both hubby and I have been dealing with medical issues the last few months. We're not really sure if mine are related to the brain lesions or if it's related to neck issues. A car accident in October didn't help matters any, either. We're trying to sort out what's happening in hopes of getting the migraines under control again. They're nasty little bastards, and have a way of wreaking havoc on day-to-day life. I've been in physical therapy since before the accident in October, and cannot wait until the day I'm all done!
A couple of years ago, SS was critically ill with acute pulmonary blastomycosis--a rare fungal infection of the lungs not common in this area. After being initially (mis)diagnosed with lung cancer, his condition worsened quickly, leading to him spending a few weeks in intensive care while they sorted out exactly what was happening. They ended up having to take part of his lung. His kidneys and liver began to fail. We almost lost him. He's my other half, and nearly losing him was one of the most terrifying things I've ever been through. In 2014, he was officially "cleared" of the infection. It was a long, hard road, and we monitor him closely. Recently, he's been having some issues, and has been referred to a cardiologist after an abnormal lung X-Ray. We're hopeful what they're seeing is old damage, but until we know for sure, it's a little frightening. Repeat infections are rare, but they do happen, so that's always sitting in the back of our minds, and in the minds of his healthcare team.
He and I both work for the Sheriff's Dept. in our county. He's one of the IT guys, and I work in dispatch. It's trying work at times, as you can imagine. We recently lost a coworker, which has been hard on everyone. As a dispatcher, you're trained to protect your guys. You can't protect them from grief when they lose a brother, though. And that sucks. Our work family is making it through it one day at a time, however. That's one of the great things about the work we do. No one goes through anything alone. Law enforcement is very much a family.
I've recently had to face the realization that working full time and writing full time might not be possible for much longer, though. I simply don't have enough hours left in the days anymore. Since there's zero chance of me giving up writing, I've been weighing whether I'm ready to step away from the workforce to become a stay-at-home author. It's a tough decision to make because I love what I do, and I love so many of my coworkers. And I've always been one to juggle multiple jobs. But I promised SS I would make a decision by March, so I guess we'll see.
I have finally, FINALLY finished FLAME! Right now, I'm giving it one more pass to tidy up some things before I send it on to the prereaders for their expert opinions and commentary. From there, it will go to the Curiosity Quills team. If they like it, I'm hopeful for a 2016 release date. Fingers crossed! I'm really pleased with how the novel turned out. I've struggled hard with it for three years now, and have thrown away more drafts than I care to admit. I fell in love with this draft while writing it, and I hope you guys like the finished product when you do get it!
I'll also begin editing Stricken in the coming days for an early 2016 release. And then there's the upcoming holidays and all the good times associated with them! I managed to finish shopping--yay! Every year, I say I'm going to start shopping early, and then time gets away from me. Before I know it, it's mid-December and I've barely even started checking things off my to-buy list. Maybe next year will be my year. One can always hope, right?!
The besties were able to visit twice this year, which I loved! We got our first tattoos together in February, and then drank far too much and otherwise had a great time in September. Every woman needs girlfriends to laugh with, cry with, and drink copious amounts of wine with. I'm fortunate to have some of the best! We don't always agree, but they are my soul sisters.
We lost two beloved members of our family this year--our 13 year old terrier Boo (Mama), and our 5 year old gangsta kitty, Ali. Cancer took both of them well before we were ready to let them go. The other minions are still adjusting to life without them around. Boo and Ali very much ran the household, so it's been a challenge for the others to figure out how to function without a cranky little dog and a gangster cat here to boss them (and us!) into submission.It's been hardest on Razi. Boo got pregnant about 8 years ago and gave birth to one puppy--Razi. We just had to keep her. She's never been without her mom before, so she's had a rough time of it.
To help her adjust, we adopted the world's most ridiculous, cutest Chihuahua from a coworker. Baby Girl (BG for short or Tiny) is a hot mess, and we absolutely adore her. She's very much "my" dog, and loses her mind when anyone touches me without permission...including SS. We're still working on teaching her not to bite him when he tries to touch me when I'm sleeping. She gets a little cranky about my beauty sleep! And she is all about sleeping herself. She wants to be on my lap, under a blanket, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. I don't think she knows she's a dog. It's pretty amusing. Razi doesn't much care for her most of the time, but they sleep together when I'm at work, so I guess she thinks BG is at least tolerable.
My beautiful niece, Abby, was diagnosed with Autism and mild mental retardation not long ago. Abby is a very smart little girl--she just doesn't like to talk to anyone other than her mom, her brothers, and her speech therapist. As a result, her verbal and social skills were very low. Despite scoring high on intelligence portions of the test, those scores pulled her IQ down to mild mental retardation levels. There's some debate over whether she actually has autism or selective mutism, so she may have to go for more testing. In the meantime, we're treating her exactly as we always have. She is an amazing little girl with a big heart and a little bit of that diva attitude most of the women in my family have. No matter what life throws at her, I am certain she will meet it on her feet. :)
At the end of the day... I have to say the year has definitely been worth the chaos. I published four novels, knocked 90 books off my to-read list (and my Goodreads 2015 Challenge), finished FLAME, signed the War Scrolls series, and adopted the world's cutest Chihuahua. I've learned so much this year, and am continually excited by the new ideas and new perspectives others lend me.
I hope your year has been as full as ours, minus the sadder parts, of course! :) And I hope each and every one of you is having an amazing holiday season.
xoxo,
Ayden My Year in Pictures
December 9, 2015
Book Blitz: The Cadence Duology by @KatieTeller1 #romance #newadult #giveaway
Deceptive Cadence (Cadence #1)by Katie Hamstead
Release Date: June 2015
REUTS Publications
Summary from Goodreads:
Cadence Anderson has the perfect definition of happily ever after . . .
Until she doesn't. A freak earthquake shatters her life as surely as her home, taking away everything she holds dear. She wakes in a hospital to find that her beloved husband and infant daughter have been killed, crushed by the earthquake's wrath. Disoriented, injured, and alone, Cadence refuses to accept the loss. So when a man claiming to be her guardian angel appears and offers her a chance to go back in time to save her family, she doesn't need to give it a second thought. She accepts.
Thrust back eleven years, she now faces the ordeal of high school all over again. But this time, she's armed with all the knowledge of her adult life and the determination to do everything better, from preventing the loss of her best friend to avoiding her original, drama-inducing boyfriends. She's focused solely on Austin, her future husband, and is content to bide her time until she meets him again.
But then James Gordon crosses her path. Cadence wants to remain single, but James has his sights set. He is determined to win her over, and he's very hard to resist. As Cadence starts to develop unwanted feelings for him, she realizes he threatens to disrupt everything, changing the future and distracting her from her original goal. Now, Cadence must choose: deny the unpredictable and exciting path James offers her, or stay true to the life she had and is trying desperately to resurrect. Second chances are more complicated than they seem.
Deceptive Cadence combines the soaring emotion of a heartfelt romance with the innovative storytelling of magical realism, crafting a uniquely moving, intricate tale about love and loss that asks: what would you do if given the chance to right all your wrongs?
Buy Links:AmazonâBarnes & Noble
Diverging Cadence (Cadence #2)by Katie HamsteadRelease Date: August 25th 2015REUTS PublicationsSummary from Goodreads:
When Cadence Anderson woke to find her husband and infant daughter had been killed, she thought her life was over. Instead, she was offered a second chance and sent back in time to do it all again.
Sheâs made the most of this opportunity, repairing her relationship with the best friend she lost the first time, avoiding the romantic mistakes she made originally, and even bringing her family closer together. But sheâs also done something she wasnât planning onâsheâs fallen in love with someone other than her future husband.
Stepping onto a plane and flying across country to attend university is the hardest decision sheâs had to make. But unless she follows through with it, her future with Austin might never happen. And what becomes of her beautiful baby if she stays with James, the man she was never supposed to love?
The only thing she knows for certain is that she has to see Austin again, and sheâs intent on reliving that part of her previous life exactly like she did the first time. Even if that means she has to lie to James to do it. Because, deep down, she canât quite bring herself to let him go.
Now, past and future are about to collide, and Cadence has to make her final choiceâfollow the uncertain path of a life with James, or the one she came back to save . . . with Austin.
In this emotional conclusion to the story that began in Deceptive Cadence, relationships will be tested, identities revealed, and the past will overshadow the future, putting the finishing touches on an unforgettable tale of courage, sacrifice, and, above all, love.
Buy Links:AmazonâBarnes & Noble
Book Trailer:
About the AuthorBorn and raised in Australia, Katie's early years of day dreaming in the "bush", and having her father tell her wild bedtime stories, inspired her passion for writing.
After graduating High School, she became a foreign exchange student where she met a young man who several years later she married. Now she lives in Arizona with her husband, daughter and their dog.
She has a diploma in travel and tourism which helps inspire her writing.
When her debut novel, Kiya: Hope of the Pharaoh, climbed into bestselling status, she believed she was onto something, and now has a slew of novels now available, and is published through Curiosity Quills Press, Soul Mate Publishing, and REUTS Publishing.
Katie loves to out sing her friends and family, play sports, and be a good wife and mother. She now works as an Acquisitions Editor to help support her family. She loves to write, and takes the few spare moments in her day to work on her novels.
Author Links:
GIVEAWAY:a Rafflecopter giveaway
December 1, 2015
New Release: Say Yes by J.R. Gray (+Review) #romance #erotica #mm
James failed.He tried to be what they wanted.
He tried to deny it.
He tried to be a good Catholic boy…but it’s become too much.
He craves pain, submission.
He’s denied himself far too long, and it’s eating him alive.
Charles thrives off the exchange of power. He knows the world revolves around control. It’s given and taken like currency, in business and in pleasure. He won’t get attached, though, or so he tells himself, until James turns his world upside down. He’s defiant and snarky, but Charles can taste the submission on him.
Charles holds the key to his salvation but James has to Say Yes.
Get Say Yes on Amazon | UK.
My Review
It's been a while since I've picked up a M/M romance, but the blurb for this one leaped out at me, and I'm so glad it did. When James loses his father, his mother cuts him off, forcing him to take a job to make it through college. James meets Charles when Charles comes in to his shop for a tie. The instant attraction between these two is obvious, but James fights it, having been convinced by his mother that being gay is an unforgivable transgression.
His reluctance doesn't stop Charles from pursuing him. The much younger James turns Charles on like no one has in a long time, and he wants him as his own. He slowly wears down James' defenses, leading to an intense physical relationship between the two. But James isn't so sure he's ready for what Charles wants, not if it means coming out to his mother. He has a choice to make, and Charles can only hope he makes the right one.
Say Yes is hot, intense, and a bit different than what I usually read (specifically the BDSM angle). It doesn't necessarily follow the standard romance formula, and that's a good thing. I love Charles and James together, and enjoyed this book quite a lot. My only issues with the book were minor grammar mistakes and how monotonous reading their names over and over became. I'd have loved to learn more about Charles as well... he's still a bit of a mystery come the end of the book. That said, I really enjoyed Say Yes and give it 4.5 stars.
Other Titles by This Author:
Legally Bound - UK - All Romance eBooks - Amazon
Breach of Contract - UK - All Romance eBooks - Amazon
Illicit Activity - Evernight
Damages Incurred - Amazon - All Romance ebooks
About the Author
When not staying up all night writing, J.R Gray can be found basking in the warm glow of the Miami sun, or at the gym where it's half assumed Gray is a permanent resident. A dominant, pilot, and sword fighting enthusiast, Gray finds it hard to be in the passenger seat of any car. Gray frequently interrupts real life, including normal sleep patterns, to jot down nonsense. The bane of Gray's existence are commas, and even though it's been fully acknowledged they are necessary, they continue to baffle and bewilder.
If Gray wasn't writing…well, that's not possible. The build up of untold stories would haunt Gray into an early grave or possibly a mental institution where the tales would end up on the walls in crayon and finger paint.
Website JRGrayBooks.com
Twitter twitter.com/theoriginalgray
Twitter twitter.com/booksbygray
Facebooks page facebook.com/GrayBooks
Tumblr booksbygray.tumblr.com
Mailing list http://eepurl.com/bigxIL
November 28, 2015
FLAME (The Ragnarok Prophesies) Teaser #NaNoWinner2015 #teasers #fantasy #newadult
50,784 words later, I'm happy to say that I not only survived NaNoWriMo, but I won! And I still have two days to spare!For those who know me, you know how hard I've struggled with FLAME over the years. Three years to be exact. I've thrown away draft after draft, hating every word.
Not so this time. 80,000 words later, I'm in love with this part of Dace and Ari's story, and I think you will be too. :)
To celebrate the end of NaNo, I wanted to share another small teaser from the story. You won't see many because of spoilers, but 80,000 words and a successful NaNoWriMo calls for a little peek, yes? And don't forget! For the first time ever, you can discover the first part of Ari and Dace's epic story for FREE. FADE, the bestselling first book in the series, is free for Kindle through 11/30/15!
You can get it on Amazon.
FLAME - TEASERMy feet hit the bottom stair as he strolled out into the foyer, still dressed in his standard all-black attire. He looked exhausted and defeated. Deep bruises surrounded his eyes, so dark they were almost black. The rest of his face was pale, pulled tight by tension and strain. He looked like hell.
"Hey," I murmured, crossing my arms over my chest. I wasn't wearing a bra.
He looked at me as if he were looking through me.
"Ronan?" I reached out and put a hand on his arm. His skin was like ice, freezing cold and hard to the touch where his muscles were locked taut.
"What do you want?" he asked, pulling away when I gasped.
"I–" His harsh tone caught me off guard, forcing me to clear my throat so more than a squeak came out. "I just wanted to check on you."
"I'm fine." He turned on his heel and strode into the living room.
Narrowing my eyes on his back, I followed behind him. Fuki lifted his head from the pile of blankets we'd put down for him and sniffed once before flopping onto his side and closing his eyes again. Ronan paced toward the window, flicking the curtains back to look outside.
I watched him silently, knowing the only thing he saw in that window with the lights on in the room was his reflection and mine. He pretended not to notice me though, and that was fine. I could wait him out.
Crossing to the couch, I snagged the afghan off the back and curled up, facing him. Fuki's soft snores and the harsh rasp of breath from Ronan's lungs were the only sounds in the room. I spread the afghan over my lap, getting comfortable.
"You're even worse than your boyfriend," he muttered.
"I know." I bit back a smile at his irritated tone. "I think it's because our souls are part wolf. We're tenacious."
"And annoying."
I laughed quietly. "Yeah, I guess so."
He lapsed into silence again.
I picked up one of the textbooks from the coffee table and cracked it open. I'd barely started reading when he snatched it from my hands without a word.
"I was reading that." I glared at him.
"You aren't supposed to be reading." He snagged the others from the table before I could reach out and grab a different book. "It's bad for your health."
"So?" Since when did he care about my health?
"So, I'd rather you not collapse at Sköll and Hati's feet and bleed out," he said, calmly stacking the books carefully on the television stand out of my reach. "Do you ever listen to anyone?" He didn't even turn around to talk to me.
"Yes."
He snorted.
I opened my mouth to tell him off and then snapped it close, my eyes narrowing as I realized that pissing me off was exactly what he was trying to do. "I'm not going to fight with you if that's what you're after," I told him instead, pulling the afghan a little tighter around me.
