R.E. Hargrave's Blog, page 220

BOOK BLITZ: Ruins of Fate by Jamie A. Waters #GIVEAWAY

Ruins of Fate
Jamie A. Waters
(The Omni Towers, Prequel)
Publication date: April 4th 2019
Genres: Adult, Dystopian, Fantasy, Post-Apocalyptic

One wrong decision, and the future will crumble…Skye Levanthe traded everything she owned in order to secure a place for herself and her son, Veridian, in a scavenging camp.But all contracts have an expiration date.Desperate to obtain the resources they need to survive, Skye agreed to navigate the dangerous ruins of fallen cities to search for tradeable materials. When a strange storm forced Skye and her scavenging partner into forbidden territory controlled by The Omni Towers, a ruin collapsed, nearly taking their lives and destroying countless others.Only one other person survived the ruin collapse: a mysterious young girl named Kayla.Faced with the decision to save her son or abandon her new foster daughter to a terrible fate, Skye agreed to the only possible course of action—to go into exile and take on the Omni traders in their own den.No one ever said survival would be easy.And every choice has consequences.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo / Google Play—EXCERPT:Another gust of wind kicked up, throwing her off balance. The antenna whipped out of her hand and she fell backward, tumbling off the edge of the lookout and onto the roof. A scream ripped out of her throat. Skye scrambled, grabbing at anything to stop her rapid descent as she slid down the roof and toward the ground.Her fingers brushed against an exposed metal beam, and she bit back a curse as the jagged edge cut through her gloves and into the meat of her hands. Grabbing it, she struggled against the pain to hold on. The roof underneath her boots gave way and fell inward. She gripped the beam tightly, trying desperately to pull herself back up.“Skye!” Leo shouted over her headset.Reaching out with her other hand, Skye tried to find purchase on the roof. Her feet flailed, but there was nothing beneath her. Between her angle and the slope of the roof, it was impossible to pull herself back up.“I can’t hold on, Leo,” she managed, trying to suppress the panic rising inside her. She couldn’t die. Not like this.

Author Bio:
Jamie A. Waters is an award-winning writer of science-fiction and fantasy romance. Her first novel was a winner of the Readers' Favorite Award in Science-Fiction/Fantasy Romance and the CIPA EVVY Award in Science-Fiction. Jamie currently resides in Florida with two neurotic dogs who enjoy stealing socks. When she's not pursuing her passion of writing, she's usually trying to learn new and interesting random things (like how to pick locks or use the self-cleaning feature of the oven without setting off the fire alarm). In her downtime, she enjoys reading on her Kindle, playing computer games, painting, or acting as a referee between the dragons and fairies currently at war inside her closet.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Bookbub / Amazon / YouTube

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BOOK BLITZ: Nobody's Baby But Mine by Gloria Silk #GIVEAWAY

Nobody’s Baby But Mine
Gloria Silk
Publication date: April 28th 2018
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

From USA Today Bestselling Author, Gloria Silk this is a gripping, romantic and sensuous novel of marriage, fidelity, fertility and the power of love.“Gripping, romantic, sensuous and astute.” “New women’s fiction that touches all of our emotions, fulfills our yearnings, and opens up new possibilities.”Can Rachel and James find their way back into each other’s hearts after tasting temptation and facing devastating news? How strong is love in the face of reality? The seven year marriage between Rachel and her adoring patient saint of a husband has grown from great to blessed. But after years of failing to get pregnant all Rachel craves is a baby.Her marriage to James is perfect…until she bumps into her sexy ex-lover, Brandon. Her desperate thought of wondering if he can get her pregnant makes Rachel realize that something has to change. After having more fertility tests she meets a beautiful pregnant career woman. It seems destined, and as they bond the young woman offers Rachel a gift that will change all their lives.But has Rachel pushed her suddenly aloof husband away? Is it really his pressure at work or is he keeping something from her? Can they ever become a happy family, or is it too little too late? And where does Brandon come into all this when she discovers her husband’s biggest betrayal?

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—EXCERPT:March
The March rain pelting the kitchen windows made Rachel think of tears. And there were indeed tears in her eyes as she told JT that their best friends’ marriage was over. The inseparable love birds, Tina and Andy, were the last couple they thought would lose in the marriage roulette. Rachel had also thought that their two young children were another unbreakable bond.Her husband frowned as he looked up from his poached salmon and asparagus laden plate. “I didn’t even know they were having problems.” Her temples throbbed. She had been too self-absorbed with her own life and yearning for a baby that she hadn’t noticed any signs or cracks in Tina’s marriage.Some friend you are, Rachel.“He was having an affair with a friend of theirs since Justin was born. Tina didn’t suspect a thing…It’s so sad how everything can change so suddenly. Why would a man jeopardize his whole family life like that?” How fragile life and relationships seemed.Nervous for all marriages she thanked God for her own strong bond with JT. Despite their issues of unexplained infertility, their marriage was blessed even after seven-and-a-half years.“I’m sorry to hear this. I’m shocked…but maybe he wasn’t getting what he needed from her—”“What? Tina’s been a great wife and very patient with him all these years.” She felt her anger rise thinking of Tina’s meddling mother-in-law—so much like her own—and Andy’s fledgling music production business, which had ostensibly kept him away from home for days at a time. “It’s disgusting what he’s done.”“I agree, but no one knows what really goes on behind closed doors.” He sighed, “But there’s never any excuse to screw up a marriage.”Rachel shook her head. “No, and especially with Emily and Justin….” How would Tina manage with her five-year-old daughter and almost three-year-old son on her own? He shook his head. “He’s a fool. I’m disappointed for them all.” He glanced at her, his fork half way to his lips, “Don’t worry, Rachel, I know how much you care for her. All you can do is be there for them.” He then put a salmon morsel in his mouth.“Communication is the most important thing in any marriage, right?” She felt JT’s eyes bore into hers as he watched her across the narrow mahogany kitchen table. Putting down his cutlery he reached for her hand nearest to him. She adored that sparkle in his gunmetal-grey eyes and that slow smile. “We’re not like the rest, to do anything stupid and ruin everything.” With a quirked brow his thumb massaged the top of her hand. Her heart skittered at JT’s deep knowing expression the way it had when they met at a mutual friend’s wedding in London nine-and-a-half years ago. He seemed to always know how to brighten her moods, make her smile, feel safe and whole. He kept her grounded, focussing on what mattered most; them: them, together.Rachel would concentrate on her part-time job with Gareth Robinson-Brown’s real estate agency and not drive herself crazy about why she was still not pregnant after five years of trying. She remembered JT’s wise words after their last specialist appointment a couple of months ago to stay patient and positive and not let anyone stress her out. That was why she had given up running her own team in a Central London agency three years ago. Neither did she get too involved in her younger sister’s private life. Emotionally supporting the twenty-five year-old Abby without getting sucked into the turmoil of her sister’s love life was proving wise and healthier for both sisters. She pushed aside the uneasiness she had felt seven months ago when she had met Rick, the new boyfriend. Abby had seemed happy with a bright ‘I’m in love’ smile at her trendy restaurant in Islington, but the phone calls had petered out over the last couple of months. Rachel resolved to call and see how she was doing.In the meantime, she would be truly present for Tina. She took in a breath and slowly exhaled and felt a smile play on her lips. “I know you’d never dare stray, because I’d just have to kill you.” She threw him an arch look.JT grinned. “I’d never want to be with another woman but you, and you know it. And it can work both ways. I’d strangle any guy who even looks at you in that way.” His eyes darkened, his passionate lips thinning into a resolute line on that handsome rugged face, making her smile broaden. “Like your old boyfriend we bumped into… where was that? The French restaurant soon after we met.”“Brandon.” Her pulse raced for a few seconds and then settled. “It was our second date.”“Ah, so you still remember the name of that pretty-boy, no-good gigolo.” The twinkling glint in his eyes was warm and inviting. “You’ll have to make up for that, wench.”“I truly love you, JT. How did I get so lucky?” He smiled again. “You’re going in the right direction.” He let go of her hand for the moment it took to push his chair back and come and stand beside her. Holding both her hands he raised her left one to his lips. His touch was always simultaneously calming and arousing. He leaned towards her. “Am I reading those sexy brown eyes right? There’s more than one choice for dessert to make up for…” She licked the corner of her lower lip while he stared at her mouth as if it was a luscious strawberry, his favourite fruit. Especially when served with melted semi-sweet dark chocolate.“Devil’s food cake and chocolate dipped strawberries.” His lips slowly gravitated towards her mouth. Even after all these years together, Sundays were their full day and night for each other and no one else. Their routine became a variation of sharing a long shower or an indulgent hot soak in the tub before dinner.Before long they lay in each other’s arms against the soft cushions on the large Persian rug. The large fire in the regal fireplace shed heat and golden light over their naked skin and the plush cream throw. The intermittent crackling of the flames accompanied Nora Jones in the background. The light banter between them changed as JT gently placed Rachel’s empty wine glass on the sofa table beside the plate with the single remaining chocolate-dipped strawberry. He leaned closer. “I’ll make you forget everything and everyone tonight.” JT murmured low, nuzzling his lips against her ear and migrating to her other sensitive erogenous zones. Almost purring, she lay back welcoming his explorations. Her arms encompassed his broad shoulders. She closed her eyes and counted her lucky stars. Everything would work out, even filling the nursery with their gorgeous, healthy baby. Pushing the thought out by letting the languid feelings of their intimacy flood her mind, she gave herself over completely to the bliss.“I’ll always adore you.” He groaned, inhaling into her throat. Her pulse and heart beats quickened as he explored her skin and his lips hovered so close to hers. “Don’t ever doubt it.”“I know. I—I love you, too.” Shivers of anticipation made her voice shake. Then they were kissing, hungry and sated at the same time. As always, his touch and sure kisses covering her tingling skin melted her insides. Lightly, her shaking fingertips traced a butterfly-light line from his neck to his shoulders. His hard biceps stiffened at her caress. She loved his strong physique. Running impatient fingers through his thick silky hair she directed his head lower and kissed him deeper. She was home, warm and stimulated, marvelling how neither tired of making love with each other despite their pressures. His work and her constant hopes for a baby.Almost of their own volition, her hands roved down his straining back muscles, as her legs tightened around his taut buttocks and hips to meld even closer into each other. Everything outside their circle vanished. Well, almost everything.

Author Bio:
Ever since Gloria Silk was little her passion was creating and sharing her romantic stories with others. She always loved reading contemporary and historical novels that grasped her imagination. Gloria now writes intense, sensuous love stories.In addition to writing romance and women’s fiction, she enjoys writing intercultural romances and about family bonds. What can be more important in life than love and family?Born in Russia, Gloria Silk has visited and lived in amazing, exotic places in the world. Loving Europe (especially the English, Italian and French countryside) and the Mediterranean, her other favorite country is Hawaii. She has yet to visit India and Australia, her dream destinations in the name of research, of course!Being a writer gives her the privilege to explore, travel, and meet wonderful, new and exciting—and sometimes eccentric—people. Her background in English literature, writing, and psychology helps her create unique characters for her stories. Especially the charismatic heroes and feisty heroines who find themselves in sticky situations with each other, their families, and their cultures. There is nothing more satisfying than knowing readers love her warm heroines and the gorgeous enigmatic heroes, like she falls in love with them.When she is not painting in various media or watching romantic movies, or cooking up a storm for her family and friends, she hangs out with her writing friends and other creatives.Although she was brought up in England, she now lives – and writes – in the Toronto, Canada, with her own love of her life, soul-mate husband, her gorgeous and fun daughter and her smart, blonde Cockapoo, Princess Bella.Please email Gloria Silk with any questions or comments at: contact@GloriaSilk.comWebsite / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

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BOOK REVEAL: Bliss by Maggie Marr

Bliss: A Wedding Enemies to Lovers Alpha Bad-Boy Billionaire Romance
Maggie Marr
Publication date: April 16th 2019
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Done with men. Done. I refuse to think about my ex who I caught boning my assistant. No, next weekend is my best-friend Becca’s wedding and this weekend I’m in charge of her bachelorette party and it’s going to be F.U.N. no matter how upset I am…but here’s the kicker, maybe I’m not as upset as I *should* be. I mean, sure no one likes to walk in on THAT, but really, a part of me feels relieved, because that guy, definitely wasn’t the RIGHT guy. But who is? Hmmm…could it be that sexy Aussie who is one of the groomsmen? I mean that accent…so maybe he isn’t my Mr. Forever but my Mr. Right Now? I can be spontaneous and flirty and fun no matter what my ex used to say about me being a rule-following stick-in-the-mud. No this weekend I’m going to break all the rules and have fun!

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Author Bio:
Maggie Marr is the USA Today Best Selling author of hot contemporary romance. She spends her days working in entertainment and her nights writing. Maggie loves all things pop culture and when she isn't writing, she's reading or binge-watching Netflix. Never miss a new release, sale, bonus content, or extras by signing up for Maggie's newsletter here: maggiemarr.netWebsite / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Bookbub / Newsletter

BOOK BLITZ: A New World ~ Conviction by M.D. Neu #GIVEAWAY

A New World – Conviction
M.D. Neu
Publication date: March 11th 2019
Genres: LGBTQ+, Science Fiction

A little blue world, the third planet from the sun. It’s home to 7 billion people with all manner of faiths, beliefs and customs, divided by bigotry and misunderstanding, who will soon be told they are not alone in the universe. Anyone watching from the outside would pass by this fractured and tumultuous world, unless they had no other choice.Todd Landon is one of these people, living and working in a section of the world called the United States of America. His life is similar to those around him: home, family, work, friends and a husband.After the attack on San Jose, Todd is appointed to Special Envoy for Terran Affairs by the nentraee, a position many world leaders question. Undeterred Todd wants to build bridges between both people. However, this new position brings with it a new set of problems that not only he, but his new allies Mi’ko and Mirtoff must overcome. Will the humans and nentraee learn to work together despite mistrust and threats of more attacks by a new global terrorist group, or will the terrorists win? Will this bring an end to an already shaky alliance between nentraee and humans?

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo / Google Play—Are you a book blogger?
Join the blog tour here!—EXCERPT:In this excerpt Todd is getting ready to meet the full nentraee Speaker’s House for the first time. It is a tense moment between Todd and Vi-Narm and a moment where Todd learns that not all the nentraee may think as highly of him as Mi’ko, the vice-speaker, and Mirtoff, the speaker general do. I hope you enjoy:Todd finished reviewing the details on the ceremony before leaving his quarters.Ceremony. Bullshit! It’s not a ceremony but an interview in front of the full Speaker’s House. Why didn’t Vi-Narm tell me? She made it out to be no big deal.
He rushed down the hall, his cloak, the Kap’erin, billowed out behind him. Several Nentraee stopped and bowed as he passed. He turned the corner and checked his datapad for directions. His palms were damp. His heart pounded, and not from rushing.Vi-Narm waited for him outside large ornate doors decorated with carvings of gold and silver. The surrounding light bounced off the metals, creating shimmering circles of light on the floor.
“Todd.” Vi-Narm offered a stiff bow, her cloak shifting about her shoulders.Damn it.He should have been more diligent, not assuming that all the reports she gave him were the only ones.We’ll learn to work together. If I survive this.“Hello, Vi-Narm,” Todd said as he searched for a hint of a friendly greeting, but her face was stern and her lips a straight line.“We will go in the council chamber where the Speaker’s House will be in session.” She eyed him coolly. “Once they address us, you will present yourself and answer their questions to the best of your ability. The interview process is simple, so you should have no trouble. But, do not be fooled. This will also decide if they will accept you.”“Wait. Accept me?” Todd tried to process while catching his breath. “What happens if they don’t approve of me? Mi’ko didn’t say anything about that.”What happens if I can’t understand their broken English and answer the question wrong? God, I hope it’s in English.“Then he must believe you will be fine and not want to worry you.” The slightest suggestion of a smile reached her lips.Sweat broke out on his forehead. Vi-Narm had sent him file after file last night for review. “There was so much information to review, and some of it made no sense until I researched it further, taking more time.” He frowned. “It didn’t help that you’ve been sending me a ton of information. I haven’t been able to sort through it all.”“It’s not my job to help you sort through what I send.” Vi-Narm’s voice was calm. Cold. “I send the document that are required for all your different tasks. It is your responsibility to organize them and go through them and be prepared.”Todd shook his head and stared at the floor. He inhaled deeply and met her eyes. “I would’ve appreciated you pointing out the information that was important for today’s events. I could’ve focused on it.”“Perhaps you should organize your time better, or is that a failing of your character?”“But I—”“It was in the report I send to you this morning,” she interrupted. “You did read it? Did you not?”“Today? This morning? As in, while I was still in bed, or while I was getting ready for this interview?”Or when I was on the toilet?Trying not to sound as pissed as he felt, he checked his pocket watch. Since getting it, he kept it with him as a good-luck piece. Now, more than ever, he needed the luck.“Vi-Narm, how could you send it this morning? I didn’t have a chance—you made it sound like this was only my welcome ceremony. That was my impression from… I didn’t have a chance to…”She hates me. That’s why she’s doing this. She hates me and is determined for me to fail.He saw a hint of a smile, and he was sure there was a brief twinkle in her eyes.God, she’s a total bitch. With luck, she’ll trip and fall on her way into the chamber. That might loosen the stick up her ass.He took a breath and held back the frown that was stalking his face. “I’ll do my best.”She watched the chamber doors open. “Let us hope Mi’ko’s faith in you is well placed.”The soft ticking of his watch reminded him why he was here.I can do this.

Author Bio:
M.D. Neu is a LGBTQA Fiction Writer with a love for writing and travel. Living in the heart of Silicon Valley (San Jose, California) and growing up around technology, he's always been fascinated with what could be. Specifically drawn to Science Fiction and Paranormal television and novels, M.D. Neu was inspired by the great Gene Roddenberry, George Lucas, Stephen King, Alice Walker, Alfred Hitchcock, Harvey Fierstein, Anne Rice, and Kim Stanley Robinson. An odd combination, but one that has influenced his writing.Growing up in an accepting family as a gay man he always wondered why there were never stories reflecting who he was. Constantly surrounded by characters that only reflected heterosexual society, M.D. Neu decided he wanted to change that. So, he took to writing, wanting to tell good stories that reflected our diverse world.When M.D. Neu isn't writing, he works for a non-profit and travels with his biggest supporter and his harshest critic, Eric his husband of eighteen plus years.Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

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BOOK BLITZ: Relatively Sane by Whitney Dineen #GIVEAWAY

Relatively Sane
Whitney Dineen
(Relativity Series, #2)
Publication date: April 1st 2019
Genres: Adult, Comedy, Contemporary

“The Masterson clan is back and funnier than ever in this delightful tale. Dineen’s comedic timing is pure gold!” -Jennifer Peel, Bestselling Author of My Not So Wicked StepbrotherCatriona Masterton’s family is not normal.Her father has a passion for taxidermized animals that he dresses in the family plaid. Her mother has a penchant for hoarding kitchen gadgets and other oddities that leave her sanity in question. Her grandmother, Nan, has never met a swearword she doesn’t like.Despite all this, party-planner Cat leaves the hustle and bustle of New York City to move back to her tiny hometown outside of Chicago. She even buys her parents’ farm with plans to turn the barn into a stylish wedding venue.Enter House to Home Television’s Renovation Brothers. Cat gets accepted as one of the show’s projects, bringing two gorgeous brothers to her doorstep. Unbeknownst to Cat, the TV hosts are behind a secret her newfound boyfriend will go to great lengths to keep hidden.With all the upheaval—her parents’ chaotic move, her grandmother joyfully causing trouble wherever she goes, a film crew documenting her home being torn apart, and her boyfriend’s odd behavior—Cat’s starting to wonder if signing up for a reality TV show was a big mistake.Will the renovation be a success? Or will secrecy and jealousy make Cat regret the day she packed her bags and left New York?Find out in this hysterical tale packed with small-town charm, family drama, and true love.

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—EXCERPT:
As a kid, I had an ongoing fantasy. I’m waiting for the school bus to pick me up in front of my family farm, when a shiny black Lincoln Town Car pulls up next to me. A very attractive woman in the back seat rolls down her window and bursts into tears. She gasps, “Buffy, is that you?” (Note: I might have been enthralled with the television show, Buffy the Vampire Slayer at the time. I was definitely a fan of the name.) The woman and her equally handsome husband leap out of the car and throw their arms around me, engulfing me in a cloud of Chanel Number 5 and Versace Man.Between sobs of joy, she calls to her husband, “Charles, it’s our baby. It’s really her!”
They tighten their embrace and I become the filling in a Pendleton wool sandwich. This wonderful, loving, perfectly ordinary couple, decked out in city clothes, explains how there was a mix-up at the hospital where I was born. Their baby and another were returned to the wrong bassinets after feeding time. They only discovered the truth when the person they thought was their daughter ran off and joined the circus as it passed through their town.The woman says, “We knew then and there a mistake had been made. A child of ours would never dream of such nonsense.”In retrospect, I realize I hadn’t thought this through very well. I should have wondered what kind of parents wouldn’t go after the child they’d raised and save her from a life of carnie living. At the time, I was too involved in my fantasy and the comforting explanation of why I was growing up in a near-insane asylum—a.k.a. Masterton Hall, a.k.a. an old farm house in Central Illinois. It was much easier to convince myself that I didn’t belong to the people who laid claim to me. I was Buffy Summers and my real family wasn’t embarrassing in the least.This fantasy got me through some tough times. Like when my grandmother Nan called my little league coach a fukakta screwball who needed his eyes examined, I consoled myself that we didn’t share the same blood. As such, the shame I was feeling wasn’t really my own.When my dad showed up to all my school functions wearing a kilt and boasting about the joys of being Scottish, I was comforted that the wrong girl was being called Catriona Masterton. When my mother bought six sauerkraut crocks because they were on sale, even though she hated sauerkraut, I said to myself, “Cat, these aren’t your people. Don’t lose hope. Your real parents will find you and take you away from all this.” When my brother Travis started to walk around the house in my mom’s high heels, I reminded myself that Buffy was an only child.It wasn’t until high school that I finally accepted the Summers were no more than wishful thinking on my part, and that I belonged to the Masterton clan, hook, line, and sinker. Part of my acceptance was because I’d fallen head over heels in love with my childhood playmate, Sam Hawking.Sam and I frolicked in the mud, learned to play cards, and studied for science tests together before discovering more adult games in the hayloft of my family barn. He gave my life meaning. He was enough reason to give up my dream of belonging to a normal family. If I wanted a life with him, I needed to stay right where I was. Goodbye, Summers Family! Hello, kooky Mastertons.Sam made me feel things I’d never felt before. My body blossomed under his touch, my heart filled to the point of bursting, and my dreams shot out of the stratosphere. There was nothing he and I couldn’t do, be, or achieve as long as we were together. While my family was as odd as they came, around Sam I felt relatively sane. I’d even given us a celebrity couple name, SamCat.Tragically, as often happens with first loves, we ultimately went our separate ways. The end of high school was the end of us. I was crushed, as it wasn’t my idea to break up, but college eventually softened the pain and my life moved on. My subsequent move to New York City propelled me into adulthood, which is where I met Ethan.For two years, Ethan and I were a good couple. We were grown-ups together. We paid a mortgage, put money away for retirement, and we planned a wedding. Ethan was as different from Sam as I could find in a man. He’s what I thought I wanted, what I thought I needed. I was wrong.

Author Bio:
Whitney loves to laugh, play with her kids, bake, and eat french fries -- not always in that order.Whitney is a multi-award-winning author of romcoms, non-fiction humor, and middle reader fiction. Basically, she writes whatever the voices in her head tell her to. She lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with her husband, Jimmy, where they raise children, chickens, and organic vegetables.Gold Medal winner at the International Readers' Favorite Awards, 2017.Silver medal winner at the International Readers' Favorite Awards, 2015, 2016.Finalist RONE Awards, 2016.Finalist at the IRFA 2016, 2017.Finalist at the Book Excellence Awards, 2017Finalist Top Shelf Indie Book Awards, 2017Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

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BOOK BLITZ: Blame it on Romeo by Sophia Knightly #GIVEAWAY

Blame it on Romeo
Sophia Knightly
(Beach Read, #2)
Publication date: April 10th 2017
Genres: Adult, Comedy, Romance

Hi, I’m Francesca Lake, WBCG TV’s medical reporter. Privately, I am on a mission to marry a doctor. After my recent mortifying episode in the ER, it’s clear I suck at self-diagnosis. It all started when I thought I was having a heart attack. I made a cringe-worthy entrance at the hospital, but in my defense, I thought I was DYING. You can ask Harrison Taylor, my dog’s vet. He was the one who carried me into the ER.I used to love my job reporting the social scene, but I’ve been recently drafted as the station’s medical reporter . God only knows what diseases I will have to report on. This is not a good thing for a closet hypochondriac! There’s only one upside–medical reporting means meeting lots of doctors. Surely, there will be a few eligible bachelors in the mix…I’m trying to ignore my wild attraction to Harrison, but his forest green eyes, rugged physique and warm smile make my insides melt…not to mention other parts. My adorable dog, Romeo, is in love with Harrison, and he’s convinced Harrison is for me. But I’m looking for a “human” doctor. Harrison is an animal doctor. Do I look like an animal? Well, only on a bad hair day, but that’s beside the point.Marrying a doctor calls for a methodical approach, and I intend to date as many as I can to meet “the one.” I have to ignore Romeo’s blatant attempts to matchmake me with Harrison. But ignoring my pounding heart when I’m around swoony Harrison is another matter entirely…
BEACH BOOK SERIES: Each book is a standaloneGRILL ME, BABY, Book 1BLAME IT ON ROMEO, Book 2 (previously titled Paging Dr. Hot)

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—EXCERPT:“HEEELP! I’m having a heart attack!” I shout.My eyes frantically squint against the bright morning sunlight as I scour the near-empty parking lot in search of anyone who can help me. I’m about to scream again when I see my hunky neighbor, Dr. Harrison Taylor, jogging a short distance away.“Harrison!” I wave my arms to get his attention. “Over here!”He jogs over and is at my side in a heartbeat. “Frankie, you okay?” Harrison’s forest-green eyes give me a thorough once-over, one that would normally make my knees wobble, but not today. I am too busy panicking as my heart hammers against my chest in what feels like a heart attack.“I can’t breathe! Can you drive me to the ER?” I squeak in a voice that sounds like I’ve inhaled helium. Electric shocks race from my shoulder down to my fingertips making me clutch my arm. Gape-mouthed, I stare at my upper left arm as it turns pink and puffy.Harrison propels me into the passenger side of my Jetta, grabs the car keys out of my hand and tears out of the parking lot. With one hand on the steering wheel, he maneuvers the crowded streets of Miami while his other big hand pats my knee.“Breathe slowly and try to calm your heart rate,” he says in the soothing veterinarian voice he uses to treat sick animals. Except I’m not a sick dog or horse, I am Francesca Lake, WBCG’s “Roving Social Diva” reporter and I was on my way to do an on-air interview with Justin Bieber, for God’s sake!“What happened?” Harrison asks, casting a concerned look my way.I point to my arm. “A tharp thting,” I try to explain, but my tongue feels thicker by the second and now I’m lisping.“Did you say a sting?” He slants an odd look at me. “Never mind. Don’t talk.”It’s getting harder and harder to breathe and my throat feels tight. I need air in my lungs or I’m not going to make it!I grab Harrison’s arm. “Harrithon, pleath. Gimme mouth-to-mouth,” I beg.Harrison’s foot hits the accelerator and within minutes, we arrive at Doctor’s Hospital where he picks me up and runs into the emergency room as if his pants are on fire.“Help, I’m haffing a heart attack!” I shriek, flailing my arms at the attendant.“Patient is in anaphylactic shock,” Harrison says in a steady voice.A young, harried doctor runs up and gives me a quick examination. When I hear him bark out an order for an Epi, I start to panic. Did he order an epidureal? Are they going to operate? I turn to Harrison with beseeching eyes. Before I can say anything, a no-nonsense, matronly nurse materializes before me. I squirm as Harrison holds me securely against his rock-solid chest.“Hold still. It’s gonna be okay,” Harrison says.The nurse lifts the skirt of my coral dress and plunges a needle in my upper thigh.“Yeouch. That hurths.” I shudder as the liquid burns inside my flesh.Harrison gently sets me down on the gurney brought in by a young male attendant. “You’ll feel better soon. Relax and let the epinephrine do its work.”Relax? I wish it were that easy. I hate to admit it, but I am a chicken. I wasn’t always a chicken—my motto most of my thirty years was “fear is not an option” and I rarely worried about anything. But after my mom’s recent near-fatal heart attack, I’ve been worrying—a lot—about health issues and a few other things. Every time I remember that Mom might have died if Dad hadn’t been there to call 911, my heart clenches. After hearing what she went through, I pray she’ll never, ever, have another one.“Why aren’t they giving me an EKG or a heart monitor?” I ask. Oh good, at least I’m not lisping anymore. The shot must have kicked in. I stare into Harrison’s eyes. “I know you don’t think I had a heart attack, but what if it was? Five percent of heart attacks occur in people under forty.”“So?” Harrison regards me with a bemused expression.I let out an exasperated breath. “I could be one of that five percent.”“You didn’t have a heart attack, Frankie.” He rakes a hand through his thick chestnut hair, leaving it appealingly tousled. “You had an anaphylactic reaction caused by an insect bite.”“Anaphylactic reaction? That sounds ominous. Are you sure?” He could be mistaken. Harrison isn’t a medical doctor—he’s a veterinarian.Harrison fixes me with a firm look. “Yes, I’m sure.”* * *Harrison helps me off the gurney and the feel of his large hand wrapped around mine makes me glance at him. Did he feel the spark between us? I’m tingly all over. God, he’s easy on the eyes with a tall, hard-muscled body that’s sizzling hot and a rugged face with the sexy cleft in the chin. I force my gaze away from his striking green eyes that are watching me with a bemused expression.Even though Chloe has been trying to matchmake us since I moved down from New York to Miami, I’ve kindly told her I’m not interested. Why? I ask myself as I take in his male beauty, and then I mentally slap myself. Snap out of it! Harrison is a reckless daredevil who loves doing crazy ass stunts. With a boyfriend—or husband—like that, I’d spend too much time worrying about his safety. The last thing I need is more anxiety.Harrison takes my elbow and leads me down the hall. The feel of his calloused fingertips is pleasantly distracting until we pass a scene that makes me stop and stare. A good-looking young doctor in scrubs checks a female patient’s IV and then leans over and kisses her. Pale-faced, the petite patient looks frightened until the doctor’s lips touch hers and she visibly relaxes. I am riveted and can’t stop staring at them.“Come on, Frankie,” Harrison urges. “I thought you were anxious to leave.”I watch the couple from over my shoulder as Harrison tugs me along. The doctor gives the woman another tender kiss and then steps into the hall. I hear him say to another physician, “Take good care of my wife. She gets nervous in hospitals.”
Light bulb flash. Why didn’t I consider this before, I wonder as a life-altering epiphany slaps me upside the head. I need to marry a doctor ASAP.Until now, I loved my job reporting on South Florida’s fine arts and social scene. I kept busy, too busy to even think about being single at thirty. Okay, I did think about it sometimes, but it wasn’t always on my mind. I had other important things to do, like help my mom get her heart disease under control. With all the changes that occurred last year, I wasn’t exactly good company in a relationship. I found that out when my ex-boyfriend, Todd, dumped me because I was being too moody, which translated to my lack of desire because I was worried about Mom. Good thing I found out he wasn’t the “I’ll love you through thick and thin” type of boyfriend.
After witnessing that scene between the good-looking young doc and his wife/patient, all I can think of is I want to marry a doctor like him who can assuage my medical fears. Marry a doctor. I love the sound of that—it equals no more worrying, which equals getting back to my once carefree self. Most doctors are in their profession to heal and that makes them natural nurturers. I could use some of that nurturing—it sure would be great to feel normal again.Harrison’s hand settles on the base of my spine as he gives me a gentle nudge. “Let’s go, hon.”His bold touch sends my thoughts skittering in a different direction. A warm glow suffuses me, and I can’t budge. Did he just call me “hon”? In Harrison’s deep voice, it sounds delicious.I touch his forearm and gaze into his forest-green eyes. “Uh…Harrison. Thanks for saving my life.”“You’re welcome.” Harrison gives me a smile so hot it could melt the whole North Pole. I tell myself that he might have a killer grin, but we don’t have anything in common that I know of, except for a love of animals. He craves extreme sports and I can barely hit a ball with a tennis racket. He gets an adrenaline fix from playing with assassin sharks and I have to watch out for bees.It’s a real shame he won’t do, I think, looking away from those amazing green eyes. After today’s scare, I’m turning my efforts toward my new goal.

Author Bio:
New York Times & USA Today bestselling author, Sophia Knightly cooks up hot romance and delicious humor in her sexy contemporary romances that pair hot, alpha heroes with strong, smart women and throw them on an exciting emotional journey. Traditionally published by St. Martin's Press, Kensington, and Samhain Publishing, her popular Tropical Heat Series and Heartthrob Series have consistently been on multiple best selling lists. Sophia loves writing books that end with a sigh and a smile. In addition to traveling, foodie adventures, and the arts in all forms, one of her favorite pastimes is simply watching people--especially those in love!Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

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BOOK REVEAL: Caught in the Storm by Rachael Brownell

Caught in the Storm
Rachael Brownell
Publication date: April 9th 2019
Genres: Adult, Romance, Suspense

Love can be blinding and by the time the truth shines through, it’s too late to escape.
Fame.Fortune.Success.
Is that too much to ask?All I need is to catch a break. To snag the attention of someone important. Someone who can help make my career everything I want it to be.Joseph was that man. Until the night the lights went out and I left with someone else. Someone who stole my breath and made me want for things I’d never considered before.I should have known better than to trust a stranger. Especially one of his stature and class. Money means power and power means control.
Over my heart.My career.My entire life.
My dreams died the moment I agreed to his terms and a new chapter in my life began. I was blinded by my love for him and thought nothing would ever change the way I felt.Then I uncovered the truth about him. About the kind of man he really was and the secrets he paid good money to keep hidden from everyone.Now I’m trapped, with no way out.

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Author Bio:
An award-winning romance author, Rachael is a midwest girl (yes, they say she has an accent but no, she doesn't hear it) who loves to create amazing stories that tug at your heart strings. Keep your tissues handy.When she's not writing, you can find her on the golf course in the summer or cuddled up with a cup of coffee and her Kindle in the winter. To keep up with what Rachael is doing at the moment, follow her on social media (IG is her fav) or sign up for her newsletter. bit.ly/2KDE5dGWebsite / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

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BOOK REVEAL: Hunt of the Gods by Amy Braun

Hunt of the Gods
Amy Braun
(Areios Brothers #2)
Publication date: June 4th 2019
Genres: Adult, Urban Fantasy

Two months have passed since Derek Areios—war-scion and heir of Ares—and the band of rogue scions he’s aligned with recovered both the Thunderbolt of Zeus and the Heart of the Devourer and returned them to the Gods. During the battle, Derek discovered he could control not only the element of fire, as all war-scions can, but also the dark element “aether,” making him the only scion alive to wield two types of elemental magic.Commanded by Zeus to retrieve the Trinity Weapons and the Shards of Cronus, Derek and the rogue scions are thwarted in their goal by a gang of water-scions with a grudge against one of the rogues—Thea, heir of Poseidon. Both groups travel to an uninhabited island to recover one of the Shards––the Eye that belonged to Cronus, King of the Titans. But what they encounter will lead them down a path of brutal betrayals, hard truths, painful memories, and desperate actions.With angry and impatient gods breathing down his neck, a curse that allows Ares to control him, a prophecy he’s desperate to avoid, a magic spear corrupting his thoughts, and two forms of elemental magic, Derek has a lot of baggage—and a lot of power. Will the price of using that power to satisfy the Gods be too much for him to pay?Mythological monsters, explosive magic, and devastating truths take center stage in the second novel of the action-packed AREIOS BROTHERS series from Amy Braun.

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Author Bio:
Amy is a Canadian urban fantasy and horror author. Her work revolves around monsters, magic, mythology, and mayhem. She started writing in her early teens, and never stopped. She loves building unique worlds filled with fun characters and intense action. When she isn’t writing, she’s reading, watching movies, taking photos, gaming, struggling with chocoholism and ice cream addiction, and diving headfirst into danger in Dungeons & Dragons campaigns. Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

BOOK REVEAL: Mr. Fantasy by Cambria Hebert #GIVEAWAY

Mr. Fantasy
Cambria Hebert
Publication date: April 2nd 2019
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Better than your reality…
A Caribbean island.A rich CEO.A woman thrown overboard.A delicious one-night stand.Want to know what happens next?

Find all the answers and more between the pages of this sizzling standalone romance—Mr. Fantasy.
Mr. Fantasy is a standalone contemporary romance novel and contains an HEA.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo—EXCERPT:“This is all just a little… unbelievable.”“Most fantasies are.”Realization dawned over her face. “I’m dreaming,” she whispered. “I must have blacked out in the ocean, and I’m still dreaming.”Aaron rapped on the door and entered, carrying a large tray with a plate and bowl in the center. Nora’s eyes widened, and she lifted the covers as if she could hide behind them. Aaron pretended not to notice but set the tray over her lap and then left the room without a word.“Eat,” I commanded.“This is some dream,” she mused, looking over the food.Stalking close, I leaned over the tray, making her sink back into the pillows once more. Taking her chin in my hand, I lifted it so I could stare into her good-girl face.“This might be a fantasy, but it’s no dream. Before this night is over, you’ll learn to tell the difference.”Before she could reply, I lowered my head, fusing my lips to hers. I felt her shock, but I didn’t pull away. Instead, I moved, caressing my lips over hers and drinking in the faint taste of salt still on her skin.A few seconds ticked by, and I felt her relent. I knew without looking that her eyes drifted closed because the mouth beneath mine began to move.Desire so swift cut into me like a deadly sword. Aggressively, I went at her mouth, trying to quench the thirst, trying to satiate the need she so desperately made me feel.One kiss wasn’t going to do that, so I yanked back and put some distance between us.Nora stared at me with giant eyes and pink, swollen lips. Slowly, she fingered her mouth, and the urge to kiss her again was swift.Holding back, I cleared my throat. “Eat,” I demanded again, pointing to the food. “You’re gonna need all the energy you can get.”

Author Bio:
Cambria Hebert is an award winning, bestselling novelist of more than twenty books. She went to college for a bachelor’s degree, couldn’t pick a major, and ended up with a degree in cosmetology. So rest assured her characters will always have good hair. Besides writing, Cambria loves a caramel latte, staying up late, sleeping in, and watching movies. She considers math human torture and has an irrational fear of chickens (yes, chickens). You can often find her running on the treadmill (she’d rather be eating a donut), painting her toenails (because she bites her fingernails), or walking her chorkie (the real boss of the house). Cambria has written within the young adult and new adult genres, penning many paranormal and contemporary titles. Her favorite genre to read and write is romantic suspense. A few of her most recognized titles are: The Hashtag Series, Text, Torch, and Tattoo.Cambria Hebert owns and operates Cambria Hebert Books, LLC.Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest

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BOOK BLITZ: Heat by Nicolina Martin #GIVEAWAY

Heat
Nicolina Martin
(Russo Saga, #1)
Publication date: March 29th 2019
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Anything can happen during the hot nights in the Dominican Republic.SydneyI just wanted a tan and to sip drinks with little umbrellas in them. I didn’t know that vacation would mean sex with a hot stranger, being drugged, and nearly killed. My instincts tell me there’s more to the smooth facade of Nathan Russo, but my heart won’t listen. He’s my opposite, hot where I’m cool, experienced while I’ve never really lived. What starts out as a sexy fling can’t be more. Can it?NathanI’m a dangerous man with a mission to complete and people to kill. Sydney Lewis might literally cost me my life. As the stakes increase, I have to decide whether to follow my head or my heart. My life is too dangerous, I’m too much of a monster. She’s a good girl. She can’t be a part of this. I have to be cruel. I have to cut her out.But she’s the only one who can save me.Heat will take you on a journey to paradise, through Hell, and back.Publisher’s Note: This dark romance is intended for adult readers only and may contain triggers for some readers. It contains elements of danger, adventure, steamy scenes, adult language and a guaranteed HEA. If any of these offend you, please do not purchase.

Goodreads / Amazon—EXCERPT:Fingers thread through my hair.I don’t move, my heart speeds up. In an instant, I remember where I am. What I have done. I slept on his lap, knowing it was an open invitation to something I still can’t articulate. I fight to control my breathing and try not to stir, because I don’t want him to know I’m awake. I want to see where he takes this.I realize I’m holding my breath and force myself to breathe again. I try to inhale calmly, but it catches in my throat. His arm, draped around my waist, tightens. He knows I’m awake, knows I’m not objecting, and he’s not stopping.His hand slides under the blanket. It’s hot on my skin through my thin blouse. He traces a path along my arm down to my hand that lies in front of my chest, then he moves and places his palm below my breasts, letting it rest there. A finger slides across my nipple. It stiffens instantly. It screams for his attention, and that light brush is far from satisfying. I forget to breathe, and then I just give up on it altogether. I want more. This feels so kinky. So forbidden.I have to force myself to stay still.His hand hovers over my nipple, then he pinches it gently and I gasp, spikes of want surging through me. This pretending-to-sleep routine is going to be hard to keep up. When I don’t object, he grows bolder and cups my breast and squeezes. Carefully at first, and then with more force. He suddenly stills and I hear the soft steps of someone approaching.“Is there anything you need, sir? Coffee? A pillow for yourself?”“Thank you. I’m good,” he answers cheerfully.“She seems to be having a good sleep.”“Oh yes. Anyone would envy her.” His voice reverberates through his chest.Oh yes indeed!His hand starts exploring again. It moves down along my belly and I tense up like a piano wire. Is he going where I think he’s going? But then I feel his warm palm on my naked skin as he pushes his hand under my blouse and moves upward again. He pushes up my bra, freeing my breasts, pinching first one nipple and then the other before he firmly squeezes my breasts, paying good attention to them both. I squirm and am barely able to stifle the moan that wants to escape my throat. His other hand rests on my head, toying with my hair, then taking more of a forceful hold of it as his breathing changes, gets more labored. I like it. I like that I affect him as much as he affects me.When his hand abandons my breasts, I miss its presence immediately. I wonder if he’s done exploring, but he changes direction, caressing along my stomach and then down the front of my hip. Oh—Oh my God! Sliding his hand down my skirt, he pulls it up until his fingers rest scorching hot on my thigh. Agonizingly slow, he feels his way up my thigh until his hand rests on my panties. Panties that are drenched with moisture.When a finger starts circling my clit through the fabric, I can’t help the moan that escapes me.

Author Bio:
Nicolina Martin is a Swedish born author who escapes the long, dark winter nights by writing hot contemporary romance/suspense.She's a mother of three teenage girls, a medical doctor, a quirky loner, and a social human being. She has traveled the globe, has had more lovers than she can count, has loved and hated, succeeded and failed, has gone through marriage and divorce. She has seen darkness and despair, as well as light and happiness.All these experiences, she pours into her tales, taking her readers for a wild ride while twisting their minds. She loves showing that stories can be different even if the trope is the same.Nicolina believes that life is too short for regrets and in looking forward, no matter what. She wants to enjoy every moment, and cherish life.To find out more about Nicolina Martin, visit her official website.Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

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