R.E. Hargrave's Blog, page 396

COVER REVEAL: Body, Ink and Soul by Jude Ouvrard

Book: Body, Ink, and SoulAuthor: Jude OuvrardGenre: Contemporary Romance / New AdultCover Designer: K23 Design.
Body, Ink, and Soul Blurb:
Phoenix Silverstone more commonly known as Nix, is a twenty-one year old that has finally discovered her freedom. After living under the strict rules and protection of her mother, Nix moved out with her two best friends in a quaint little Seattle apartment.  For the first time Nix is finally able to spread her wings and breathe. Together, they get a job working at a bar and for the first time everything is perfect.
Freedom, friendships, a great job and fantastic man on the verge of becoming hers. Tristan is the suave, intelligent, not to mention gorgeous law student that Nix has her eyes and heart set on. For the first time, she has her life together; that is, until her path crosses with Levi. The charming, tattooed and downright sexy bad boy that Nix knows she needs to avoid.
But when one of her friends moves out she is shocked to find that her new roommate is none other than Levi. Flirting. Desire. Undeniable temptations. Nix can’t deny the chemistry surging between them but she can’t forget her mother’s extreme hate towards bad boys.
Will Nix have the strength to listen to her heart? Or will her mother’s rules cost her everything?

Excerpt:
''Can I get you anything?'' I asked him, while taking all the empty plastic glasses off the counter.
''A smile. Give me that and you’ll get the biggest tip tonight.'' The slow seductive tone rolling off his shapely lips told me he wasn’t just fooling around. His green eyes were staring at me like I was dessert. This guy was hot and he knew it. The way his tousled light brown hair went every which way, hanging down onto his forehead, told me right away he didn’t care about his looks. He didn’t have to.
He wanted a smile? I shook my head. ''You don’t want a drink? Just water, maybe?''
''No, just a smile. You're the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen and it's just a smile I want.'' He brushed his hand through his hair, making it even more distressed.
I knew I was blushing and biting my lips in embarrassment. His eyes refused to stray from mine, pinning me in place. I smiled, but not because he asked.  No, this was solely because this very random man had pulled one out of me on his own. I saw the humor in his eyes. He slid fifty bucks out of his pocket and onto the counter. ''Thank you, Princess. You just made my night.''
He got up and walked away. I could see the hint of tattoos peeking out of his neckline and rolled up sleeves, but I was too astonished to call after him or say anything. He was wearing simple black converse, washed out jeans and a black long sleeve henley. There was something about him - mysterious and inscrutable. If he wanted  to get my attention, well - he got it.
Who the hell was that? I kept asking myself as he walked away. I knew he was the guy Tyler had been excited to see, but I had never seen him around here before. I knew I would have remembered that piece of man candy.
He didn't give me his name and I didn't give him mine. Not that he had to ask - I had a name tag with my name on it. It was the strangest thing that ever happened to me.  My eyes remained trained on him until he opened the door of the club and left. I found myself still watching the door, even after it was closed, like I wanted to chase after him – which was insane. I shook my head, willing myself to move on.
I began wiping the counter, pausing to watch Val entertain her groupies at the station next to me. As I turned to grab more lemons, my eyes were drawn again to the door. Tristan walked in with few of his friends. I had never seen Tristan here before and even after our dinner date tonight, I still didn’t expect it. I couldn’t tell if I was excited by the surprise visit or nervous about it. I felt like he was parading a bunch of his buddies around my bedroom, looking through all my dirty laundry. This was my home away from home and I wasn’t sure if I was ready to let him in—yet. Not to mention I was still shaken up from Mr. Mysterious.




About the Author:

Jude was born and raised in a small village named Lacolle. She now lives in Montreal, Canada. She is the proud mother of a beautiful five year old son, Isaac and has spent the last twelve years with her boyfriend, Cedric.French is her native language, but she prefers to write in her second language, English. She has a passion for books, both reading and writing them.
Also by Jude:
Under the SunWonderland
To learn more about Jude Ouvrard, here are her links:
Website/blog I Facebook I Twitter Accounts: @JudeOuvrard @AuthorJude_O
Jude's Street Team

COVER REVEAL: The Righteous & The Wicked by April Emerson

Coming APRIL 10th: a contemporary erotic romance from April Emerson 
Synopsis: Small moments can seem insignificant until they change the course of a life forever. The sound of a bulldozer. A chance meeting at a gas station. A gust of wind through a chime. Benign events become something more when viewed through the lens of fate.
Emma Santori is a prisoner of tragic memories. Locked in a spiral of depression, she leads a desolate and empty life, trapped in her decrepit home. Rooted in routine, she’s numb and vacant. As a lonely Catholic school teacher, her only joy comes from her young students. One Saturday morning, her isolation is infiltrated by a mysterious architect building a home beside hers.That man is Eric Wilder and he’s keeping a secret—a secret that’s destroying his life. Filled with guilt and self-loathing, he’s forced to move often. He chooses the small northeastern town of Pine Lake as his latest refuge, and hopes to make a successful attempt at starting his life over. As always, he’s unable to make that happen.
That all changes when he meets Emma.
She finds herself drawn to Eric when she accidentally bumps into him, but Eric’s unfazed by their first meeting. When a gust of wind brings these two people together once again, Emma discovers Eric’s secret. She’s forced to battle between her Catholic faith and her desire for this stranger.
Their attraction is intense and they soon discover they’re each lonely and longing for what the other has to offer. As their friendship blossoms, Emma realizes her passion and lust for Eric are the remedy to her depression. Eric discovers his feelings for Emma are the only antidote to his secret burden.
They begin an erotic journey, which leads these beautifully broken people to discover that love can be both righteous and wicked.
Excerpt:
Although she holds herself to a rigid moral code, a part of her wants to indulge. Emma sits as the thumping music rattles her body and the vibration sinks into her skin. She picks up her martini as Abby and Danni shout at each other and laugh. The topics of conversation are just as expected and Emma has nothing to say. She sips the liquid. It’s chilled, yet it feels as if it singes her insides. Her eyes wander around the club. They stop when she sees a man dressed in black resting his elbow on the bar.
His back is to her but she’s drawn to him. She can only see his profile as she watches him watching the crowd. He does a shot and then another. A feeling of recognition slides through her as he begins to move, his eyes focused on something or someone. He maneuvers through the crowd, approaching the dance floor like a shark surveying its prey. A raven-haired girl in a gold top is dancing with her friend. The man moves toward the girl and his face is clear now. Emma has seen him before. She remembers the face, and the eyes—Stormy Eyes. It’s the man she saw at the gas station. She sips, she watches him, and she burns.
COVER REVEAL


Cover by Jada D'Lee Designs
The Righteous and The Wicked will be available on 4/10/14 from TWCS Publishing
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#SurrealSnippets

My new year's resolution . . . to bring #SurrealSnippets to all of my readers so that you can come along with me on the journey of getting the final trilogy book written. I'll be posting teasers (visual and text), sharing reviews, holding #DivineTrilogy giveaways, and any other fun things I can come up with. Be sure to follow the blog and/or sign up for email notifications of blog updates so you don't miss out!




Catherine’s small feet were enclosed in black, patent leather stilettos. When she reached the landing and spun for him, he could see the chain-work that ran up the back of the heel. He allowed his eyes to follow the curve of her strong calf and continue up her body. Held up by spaghetti straps, there wasn't much to the dress; lightweight lengths of chain had been welded together to weave the garment which hung to her mid-thigh. Approximate two-inch spaces between each length left nothing to the imagination. Her tattoo was on full display, as were her emerald J’s and smooth cunt. As she twirled, the light from the overhead chandelier refracted off her black diamond.
“You look amazing, jewel. Please kneel.”
Without a word, Catherine took her place at his feet, her arms locking behind her back in perfect position. Jayden took the collar from his pocket and leaned forward. “Your servitude is surreal, Catherine,” he murmured while buckling her leather play collar around her neck. “You may speak.”
“To serve you is always divine, Master.”
He smiled. “I expect that you will be on your best behavior tonight, slut. You will speak only when given permission, and I don’t want you making eye contact with anyone but me unless otherwise directed. Do you understand?”
Jayden moved around her with slow, sure steps, waiting for her reply. It didn't come. “Cailin maith, you may answer.”
“Aye, Master. This girl knows her place for tonight and looks forward to making her Master proud.” Her voice was breathy, and the Dom reveled in the knowledge that he had done that to her.
“That you do, my jewel. Rise, and show me the rest of your costume.”
Catherine’s breath caught at his words, but she did as requested. Standing before turning around, his submissive bent at the waist and grabbed her ankles with a muffled groan. Jayden’s face broke out in a mischievous grin when he eyed the steel sunburst, whose rays grew from the end of what he knew to be a rather large plug. The rays extended from the center, like hands, so that the custom accessory cupped her firm cheeks.
“Beautiful. Let us be on our way. I’ll be driving tonight because Micah requested the evening off. You have no objections to the Wraith, do you?” Jayden asked while snapping her leash into place on the collar and helping her into a dress coat.
The question was rhetorical; Jayden didn't expect an answer because it wasn't her decision to make. It was his.

(c) 2014 R.E. Hargrave 



5 star review of To Serve is Divine from Book Reads and Reviews

Too Great Not To Share!

You know you're a writer when . . . 

For a good laugh, because they're all legitimate points, check out this great blog post:

Kristen Lamb's Blog

Branded (Sinners #1) by Abi Ketner & Missy Kalicicki BOOK TOUR

YA Bound Book Tours is organizing a Book Blitz for: Branded: A Sinner Series by Abi Ketner & Missy Kalicicki. This tour will run from January 6th to January 10th. 




Branded  (Sinners #1)
by Abi Ketner and  Missy Kalicicki
Release Date: 06/28/13252 pages

Summary from Goodreads: 

Fifty years ago the Commander came into power and murdered all who opposed him. In his warped mind, the seven deadly sins were the downfall of society. He created the Hole where sinners are branded according to their sins and might survive a few years. At best.
Now LUST wraps around my neck like blue fingers strangling me. I’ve been accused of a crime I didn’t commit and now the Hole is my new home.


Darkness. Death. Violence. Pain.

Now every day is a fight for survival. But I won’t die. I won’t let them win.
The Hole can’t keep me. The Hole can’t break me. I am more than my brand. I’m a fighter. My name is Lexi Hamilton, and this is my story.

Add to your Want To Read shelf on Goodreads


Buy Links:
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About the Authors:
Abi and Missy met in the summer of 1999 at college orientation and have been best friends ever since. After college, they added jobs, husbands and kids to their lives, but they still found time for their friendship. Instead of hanging out on weekends, they went to dinner once a month and reviewed books. What started out as an enjoyable hobby has now become an incredible adventure.
Author Links:

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Marking Her by Elena M. Reyes BLOG TOUR

We're celebrating the latest release of Elena M. Reyes: Marking Her. This is book 1 in The Marked Series



Synopsis:
Talan wants to mark Maya—with more than his ink. The owner of a prominent tattoo shop, he’s used to being hit on by easy women. Though “easy” is not a word associated with Maya when she comes in to support her friend. Flirtation ensues, but what will it take to break the painted man.







Title: Marking Her (Marked #1)Author: Elena M. ReyesGenre: Erotica/ Contemporary RomanceRelease Date: December 17th 2013

Amazon BUY IT NOW link
ADD IT NOW on Goodreads


GUEST POST by Reyes:
A Day in my life
Usually my day starts off around six a.m. and like most mothers it revolves around getting everyone ready for their day. My son, much like his mother, is a heavy sleeper and hates being woken up. I wake him up . . . he fights and wraps himself in his comforter like a burrito. I pull the comforter off; he falls to the floor in the process, and gets up glaring at me.Mommy wins.Once he’s eaten, has gotten dressed, and is off … it’s time for errands and the occasional lunch with the hubs, when he can manage to play hooky with me in the afternoon. Usually by eleven a.m. I am home and sitting in front of my laptop and deciding what to work on. Most of my emailing, taking notes, and sometimes writing, is done on my phone. Having full MS Word access on it rocks for moments when inspiration hits and I’m not home.I write in spurts, so if the mood strikes, I usually get together with an author friend of mine through Facebook pm and chat as we go. We share, critique, and push the other to be better. These ‘writer’s chats’ as we call them, usually take an hour or two, and you’d be amazed at just how much you can get done when the house is quiet and no one is screaming “Mom!”After that I do what every mother does when you have a few minutes to spare does… I nap!It keeps me sane and less cranky.From there on its cooking, cleaning, homework, and hearing someone yell, “Mom” or “Babe” all night long until they pass out.






 Author Bio: 
Elena M. Reyes was born and raised in Miami Florida. She is the epitome of a Floridian and if she could live in her beloved flip-flops, she would.As a small child, she was always intrigued with all forms of art—whether it was dancing to island rhythms, or painting with any medium she could get her hands on. Her first taste of writing came to her during her fifth grade year when her class was prompted to participate in the D. A. R. E. Program and write an essay on what they’d learned.Her passion for reading over the years has amassed her with hours of pleasure. It wasn’t until she stumbled upon fanfiction that her thirst to write overtook her world. She now resides in Central Florida with her husband and son, spending all her down time letting her creativity flow and letting her characters grow.


{AUTHOR CONTACT LINKS}
Website I Blog I Facebook I Goodreads I  Twitter


{Schedule}
1/8
http://wicked-book-addict.blogspot.com -Review & Excerpt http://jessbookblog.blogspot.com -Review & Excerpt http://bookfri-ends.com -Review http://www.booksunhinged.com -Review & Excerpt http://www.houseofmalfunction.com -Excerpt 1/9 bookboyfriendreview.blogspot.com -Review & Excerpt http://www.sweetspotbookblog.com/ -Review http://www.rehargrave.com/ -Guestpost http://bcdromance.blogspot.com -Excerpt http://darkestcravings.blogspot.com -Interview1/10 www.lisabilbrey.blogspot.com -Guestpost forevermeromance.blogspot.com.au -Review & Excerpt http://paperbookprincess.com/ -Review1/11 http://dirtyhoesbkblog.blogspot.com -Review 

I Thee Wed by Savannah Leigh BLOG TOUR/GIVEAWAY

Blurb:
Drew and Lily sitting in a tree (or a church garden)K-I-S-S-I-N-G (and then some)First comes sexThen comes marriageThen, well, we’re just not sure what comes next.
Lily Kramer accepted Drew Hamilton’s marriage proposal but it wasn’t a traditional proposal. He wants her to marry him so his mother, who has dementia, will know that he got married. Lily, an over-thirty wedding planner, doesn’t see any other offers of marriage in her future so she accepts. Now she has to plan a wedding that looks and feels like a real wedding, but isn’t.  Drew doesn’t want a relationship, but he wants it to look like he and Lily are married, including living together, so that everyone believes.

Will they be able to pull it off? Will Drew’s mother succumb to the dementia before the wedding? Will Lily be able to shield her heart and still have the wedding of her dreams? 




Buy Links:
Amazon Kindle I Smashwords
Excerpt:
“Well, I’m here now. What do you want to do?” I raise one eyebrow, hoping he’s thinking the same thing I am. “I thought we’d have a glass of wine on the back patio and talk. Then we can have dinner and see where the night goes from there. How does that sound?”I try to hide my disappointment at his plan. I was hoping to have him as an appetizer and go from there. I can’t believe my sex drive is revved up after only being with this man twice. “Sure, sounds like a plan to me. What kind of wine do you have?” I’m not a wine expert, but I know what I like. “I’ve got a Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay or a Pinot. Is there one you prefer?”“I’ll start with the Chardonnay, please.” It’s my favorite, but I’m not going to tell him just yet.Drew pours the wine, takes my hand, and leads me out to the patio where he first proposed this idea of marriage. I hadn’t taken the opportunity to admire the view the last time I was here. If this is going to be my home, I think I should take a look around. There’s the patio, which is covered over about six feet by a deck above. The large grill and a patio table are on one side. Beyond the patio is a beautiful in-ground pool with an infinity edge. I love swimming pools. On both sides of the pool are large grassy areas that seem to go on forever. I could get used to this. I shake my head trying to clear my head. I shouldn’t be thinking like this when our relationship is fake.Drew pulls a chair out from the table for me before sitting down. Such a gentleman. I smile at that thought, and when I look up he’s staring.“What?” I can’t help but grin.“Nothing, just that you have a beautiful smile.”Okay, my panties are wet again. How is it he keeps doing this to me?“Um, thanks?”Drew smiles again and I can feel my cheeks heat up. I’ve got to stop blushing in front of him.“So, Lily, is there anything in particular you’d like to do on your days off?”Oh, there are plenty of things I want to do, but I’m not sure I can say them out loud right now.“Well, I haven’t really thought about it. I have until Monday, so I’m sure we’ll think of something.”“Monday? I thought you had a wedding this weekend.”“Nope. The bride postponed due to a family emergency. I don’t have anything going on until Monday, so . . .”“Wow, that’s great. I’m sure we’ll find a way to fill the time.”That statement holds promise. I smile at Drew and try to convey my dirty thoughts with my eyes.



**This is the follow up novel to With This Ring.** 'With This Ring' on Amazon

About the Author: Savannah Leigh is a small-town girl with big city dreams. She has always had a love of romance novels and never thought she would actually be able to publish one of her own. Savannah is inspired by photos of shirtless men on the internet, hot actors in steamy scenes, and her own fantasies. A lover of wine and Bailey’s Irish Cream, Savannah enjoys spending time with friends and reading steamy novels.


Connect with Savannah: Facebook I Twitter I Goodreads I Amazon

Giveaway:
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Cash Giveaway from J.C. Clarke!

As the 3rd of January is J.C. Clarke's birthday and it’s a new year, she thought she’d do a new thing for her new book! Instead of the generic Amazon gift card, how about something different? Why be limited to Amazon when you can spend the money elsewhere? 
Pay off some of those holiday bills . . .Enjoy lunch and a movie . . .Treat yourself to a final gift!
The options are endless, which is why she is giving away £50-00 via Paypal, to spend on whatever you want, wherever you want. All you have to do is buy a copy (either Kindle or paperback) of  The Northern Gate on the 3rd, 4th or 5th of January 2014 and forward your proof of purchase to  jcclarkeauthor@gmail.com for your chance to win.
Winner will be chosen via random.org and announced on Monday, January 6th. GOOD LUCK and thank you for your support! 
BUY it HERE  

REVIEW: The Truth Seekers by Elizabeth M. Lawrence

The Truth Seekers by Elizabeth M. Lawrence
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

As a self-proclaimed bibliophile, I’ve always enjoyed a variety of books. In my lifetime, I’ve read, and enjoyed mind you, many of the greats: Shakespeare, Poe, D. H. Lawrence, Austen, and Hawthorne, to name a few. Dickens was always a little tedious for me, to be honest. Of course, I’ve enjoyed the more modern writers such as King, Stephen Donaldson, Diana Gabaldon, and Anne Rice, as well. The point I’m trying to make is that I have an appreciation for the written word, and when I sat down with Elizabeth Lawrence’s The Truth Seekers, it didn’t take long to realize another great was in my hands.

How often does a reviewer find themselves having to Google information before penning their review? This is the level that Lawrence took me to with her novel. The whole time I was reading about Geoffrey Hawes and Miss Miranda Claridge, there was something that was eluding me. Victorian romances I’d read in the past were always enjoyable, but there was something . . . more . . . about The Truth Seekers. Something that resonated within and told me how unique this modern day offering of a style gone by was. Then it hit me with the power of this passage:

For one long moment, he was paralyzed by his complete astonishment. Then, in a sudden surge of activity, he was on his feet and running. He burst out onto the street, his lungs heaving in great, greedy gusts of air as he dashed past tourists and street vendors, heedless of the cries of irritation that followed his mad, careening flight. His relentless pace was that of a desperate man whose last opportunity for salvation was about to slip through his fingers as he raced up the steps of Miranda’s lodging house and beat upon the door. He was at first unable to make himself understood by the answering servant, and the delay caused by this miscommunication was agony to him. At last he ascertained Miranda’s whereabouts and charged up the stairs to her rooms without any thought for the propriety of his behavior. He flung her door open, not bothering to knock, and it crashed open with a thunderous reverberation. ~The Truth Seekers

While the hero’s point of view is common enough in modern day romances, it was not the norm for that period in history. I googled it; because I started second guessing myself! What a bold and brilliant move by Lawrence.

From the first page the reader is sucked into Geoffrey’s head; we get to experience all the turmoil of his forward thinking beliefs (always the way with eccentric novelists) and how they almost become his downfall. Through his eyes, Miranda Claridge is seen much like a morning glory: so fragile, yet so full of life and glorious as she opens to the possibilities each new day brings, then withering and closing under the extreme heat of the afternoon, i.e. Society.

I could continue to elucidate how wonderful this novel is. Allow me, instead, to suggest that if you have even the slightest fondness for a well-told romance that will leave you guessing until the end if the ‘guy gets the girl,’ then don’t wait. The Truth Seekers is a modern day masterpiece which will win you over faster than a suitor come calling, and one that I will proudly display next to my cherished copies of Wuthering Heights, Jane Eyre, and The Stand.

Bravo, Ms. Lawrence. Bravo.

BUY IT NOW on Amazon

Autographed Paperback #GIVEAWAY

 "Ms. Hargraves characterization and use of the written word takes you to another world where everything you've never imagined happens. And while you might be like OH MY GOD and you don't even know if it's in a good way or bad, you're hot and bothered..I don't care if you're technically enjoying the story or not, you just can't help it." 5 star review on Amazon 




Want a CHANCE TO WIN a SIGNED paperback copy of either To Serve is Divine or  A Divine Life ???

Simply leave a review for either one (or both) on Amazon and/or Goodreads , then visit my Facebook Page and comment on the pinned post with the URL link(s) to your review. Each link will count as one entry.

On January 15, 2014, I'll use random.org to choose TWO lucky winners.