Nicole Andrews Moore's Blog, page 143

Review: Blood Bonds: The Caravan Book 1 of the Spirit Twin Saga by Rosanne Licata

Blurb:




Raj, a spirited and rebellious young woman, runs away from what she considers an oppressive home life. On the streets of 10th century Antioch, she catches a glimpse of Bjornolf, a mysterious Northman with secrets of his own. Determined to get to the bottom of this inexplicable affinity she has for him, she disguises herself as a boy and stows away on the caravan he is guiding to Denmark. As magic and riddles come to light one by one along the way, Raj must decide if the dangers to both Bjornolf and herself are worth the risks involved in revealing her true nature to him.




Elle's Review:

















Blood
Bonds: The Caravan is a seamless marriage between adventure and romance. The
story follows Raj and Bjornolf as they travel with a group towards Denmark.
Looking to start fresh, Raj joins the caravan, moonlighting as an adolescent
boy after Bjornolf mistakes her for one. Like Raj, Bjornolf is haunted by his
past for reasons so personal only one other person knows.




The
road to Denmark is absolutely picturesque. Rosanne Licata writes such vivid
descriptions of her characters and settings, it’s hard not to be instantly
immersed in the adventure. Preceding the story is a map of the route taken and a
glossary of terms for the reader to reference throughout the story. The
inclusion of these two items made me somewhat nervous to begin the story. I was
concerned I would have trouble following the storyline because I wasn’t
familiar with the words outlined in the glossary. My concern was no more than a
distant afterthought when I suddenly found myself halfway through the book. I found
the novel to be so well polished, I didn’t need to refer back to either article
for clarification. This book was an easy yet captivating read; I didn’t want to
put it down.




To
break up the constant travelling, the author weaves a budding friendship
between Raj and Bjornolf in to the plot. The lighthearted and sometimes comedic
moments between the pair provide further character development and insight in to
their muddy pasts. As the story progresses, these moments begin to take on
romantic undertones. Raj and Bjornolf’s romance is blended with the adventure
so perfectly; no one part overpowers the other. They are truly two equal parts
coming together as a whole.




Overall,
I was pleasantly surprised by this story. The author did a flawless job of
incorporating different elements in to a powerful storyline. Despite being the
first book in a series, I feel as if this book could double as a stand-alone
novel. The end was satisfying enough to not need
a second part in Raj and Bjornolf’s story. However, their story was so
compelling, it makes the reader want
the journey to continue.












Author Links:




Facebook * Amazon * Goodreads

Cover Reveal: Undescribable by Shantel Tessier

Releasing Summer 2013




Blurb:



Broken hearted and alone in a new city, Samantha begins to build a new life for herself while working as a bartender. Focusing on her new friends and rebuilding her broken life, Samantha is content. 



Until she meets him – attorney by day and a cocky, foul mouth playboy by night. All girls want Slade Long, but not one has ever been able to keep his attention for long. Having a different woman in his bed every night is how he prefers it-no emotion, no connection. 



Until he meets her - an angel with the sweetest voice he has ever heard and the most enticing green eyes. Samantha makes him second guess his actions and has him wanting something he didn’t know existed. How can a man who has never been in love, be so sure? Can real love happen this fast? 



Burned by her past, Samantha struggles to keep up with the overwhelming passion she feels for Slade. She knows that he will be nothing but trouble to her already fragile heart, but how long can she continue to deny the love that she feels for him? 

Will Samantha let Slade prove his love is real, or will she push him away? 



She thought she knew love…… He thought he never wanted love….. Together they will show each other what they can’t live without.



Teaser:

She was gorgeous and fucking sexy as sin in that tight
white mini dress and sky high fuck-me heels. I instantly have an image of that
that dress on my floor and her tan legs wrapped around my hips, shaking uncontrollably
as she screams my name. The bitch look she was giving me said fucking was the
last thing she wanted to do with me and I couldn’t help but smirk. She didn’t
have a clue that she was my angel.As she walked past me to the dance floor without saying a
word, I smiled to myself. She was going to make me work for it. Challenge
accepted.  Slade
 Undescribable

Author Links




Facebook * Twitter * Goodreads




Author Bio:

Shantel is a Texas born girl who now lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma with her high school sweetheart, and their three year old little princess. She considers herself extremely lucky to be a stay at home wife and mother. When she's not reading or writing, she spends her time with family and friends.

Sneek Peek at Fading by E.K. Blair!!!

Here at Stores & Swag! we are excited to give you a sneek peek at the highly anticipated release of Fading by E.K. Blair! 







[image error]




Add to your TBR on Goodreads!

   http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17304237-fading




Like E.K. Blair's Facebook Page!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/122908944573582/permalink/128666530664490/#!/EKBlairAuthor

Wet and Wild Blog Hop Giveaway

There's something about summer that makes everyone want to get wet...and wild!





And that's why Sugar Daddy by Nicole Andrews Moore is the perfect book for a Wet and Wild Blog Hop.

Blurb:





Hannah Matthews, an over educated under employed mother of twin girls, takes the girls on the annual Labor Day weekend family vacation while her husband stays behind. By the time she has returned, he has cleaned out their bank accounts, their apartment, and moved in with a surgically enhanced stripper. Try as she might, Hannah is forced to resort to desperate measures: finding a Sugar Daddy.

​

Gavin Meyers, affluent businessman, discovered too late that his bohemian wife wasn't in love with him when he caught her in their bed with a lover...his sister. After a heated meeting with the lawyers trying to arrange the divorce agreement, his lawyer suggests he get a hobby and work out all his anger. He can't think of a single thing he wants to do more than find some woman to punish for his suffering. And it just so happens, he stumbles across a personal ad that will serve his purpose. What kind of woman advertises for a Sugar Daddy?





Where does the water come in?  You'll see.  Read it.  Enter to win it.














a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cover Reveal: Trust by L Chapman

Synopsis -Trust



Lovely Megan Madden has lost her faith in men. But this has not kept her from the joy of her best friend's up coming wedding. While in London shopping for the big event, Megan's life takes a surprising turn when a quick drink brings changes to her life she never saw coming. Join in the roller coaster of emotions Megan must endure as she attempts to regain her TRUST.

Who knew a quiet drink could change your life?




Cover by Indie Pixel Studio http://indiepixelstudio.com









BIO


United Kingdom. She has spent most of her life helping others as a health care assistant, and was, at one time, a DJ for a special needs club. Blending her love of helping others and her love of children, L dreams to one day own and operate a childcare nursery that will help mainstream special needs children with others.

In the rare times that L. is not working to help others or maniacally writing, she enjoys making a mess of things while creating beautifully detailed greeting cards. She spends time relaxing with family, friends, and good books. L. loves to travel and has been to many places in the United Kingdom; her favourite places all involve the ocean. She hopes to one day share a kiss with her happily-ever-after in the romantic shadow of the Eiffel Tower. Should she ever get over her fear of flying, those kisses may be shared in the shadows of the Egyptian Pyramids.

Ever the fussy eater, L. has never once tasted peanut butter, and she despises coffee. If you should feel the need to bribe her, it is suggested that you bring chocolate, as that is one of her know weaknesses.

New Release: Save Me (Life After the Outbreak)

Blurb:




Andi was doing just fine on her own. Sure the world had been hit with an outbreak that turned anyone infected into flesh eating zombies. Not to mention that everyone she ever loved was now dead. She was alive though, taking care of herself. She had little desire to indulge in building relationships with anyone. People just couldn't be trusted. Whether they screwed you over intentionally, or just managed to get themselves killed, no one stuck around for very long. She didn't need anyone else either. That was until Will showed up to save her. 


Will, with his sparkling green eyes, lips you just wanted to taste, and insanely adorable crooked smile, wasn't letting Andi get rid of him so easily. Yet still, Andi did everything she could to push her feelings, and Will, away. The more time they spent together though, the more difficult that became. In a world where another day was not something you could count on, wasting even a single moment, could mean missing out on your only chance for happiness.













Author Links:




Facebook * Website * Amazon



Author Bio:



L J lives on the Jersey Shore with her husband, four kids, two cats, and an inherited dog from hell (a.k.a. the sewer gremlin). Though writing has always been her first passion, she got a degree in psychological counseling and worked in the mental health field for awhile, which she finds very helpful in dealing with her crazy family. She is a lover of all different types of music and books, switching between genres so wildly it sometimes makes people wonder if she has multiple personalities. She is most likely to be found writing romance stories of all kinds (contemporary, erotic, new adult, young adult, fantasy, etc.) and has just finished writing her first book, Save Me. When she's not writing, she prefers to spend her time reading, taking photos, or spending time with her family.

Spotlight: Emi Lost & Found Series by Lori L. Otto

Amazon Buy Link







Blurb:




This is a special, one-volume collection of the Emi Lost & Found series books: Lost and Found, Time Stands Still and Never Look Back. 


This collection also contains two bonus short stories, based on the series.



EMI LOST & FOUND series

LOST AND FOUND (book one) - When artist Nate Wilson falls in love, he falls hard. The problem is, he’s only been in love once, and the girl of his affections is his best friend, Emi Hennigan. In high school, the two bonded over painful breakups, and swore off a relationship to save their friendship. Thirteen years later, Nate has had more than his share of emotionally-unfulfilling, sexual relationships with beautiful women to distract himself from his true romantic feelings. 



When a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity takes Nate away from his friend and his comfortable lifestyle, he is forced to reflect on the distinct void that Emi’s absence leaves in his life. To Nate’s surprise, Emi has a similar experience; but as the friends embark upon their journey toward happiness together, destiny reveals other plans for Emi.



TIME STANDS STILL (book two) - Depression threatens all the relationships in Emi Hennigan’s life after a near death experience leaves her injured and feeling alone in a world she barely recognizes. On a night that is supposed to signify a new beginning in her life, she loses everything she loves.



It’s on that very same night, though, that Emi has a chance meeting with a man from her past who has the power to bring her more happiness than she’s ever known. Jack Holland is on a mission to rescue Emi from the pain that’s been consuming her, but his patience is tested as Emi holds on to the memory of the only man she’s ever truly loved.



Julie's Review of the Emi Lost & Found Series:






This is 3 part book in a series.  It can be read individually at separate times, or at one time as the entire series.  I read the entire series consecutively.  I really enjoyed reading them because in each book, the story is told by a different point of view.




The first, Emi, Lost and Found, is told by Nate, after many years, from the prequel.  Nate and Emi are the closest of friends.  They are now out of college and enjoying their lives.  They struggle with their feelings for each other, feeling them deepen as their friendship stays strong.  You can feel the struggles each of them have for one another, but yet either refusing to speak up first.  This is a great story telling of their unique friendship and how they are supporting each other through their separate relationships with others.  Finally, their attraction becomes stronger and they can’t deny their feelings any longer.




The second, Time Stands Still, is told by Emi.  She has struggled with loss and heartache.  I find myself feeling her struggles and wanting to help guide her through.  She has withstood a lot in life and continues to deal with the circumstances she is dealt with.  She is strong, but yet weak, and her will to survive is amazing.  She has felt the loss of not only the past, but, also her future.  Her brother, Chris, and her sister, Jen, are the constantsupport, that helps her heal.  She starts to realize her feelings she thought she had are different from what she now has.  As she is coping, she finds herself leaning more and more on friends and family.  Chris’ friend, Jack, becomes the life raft that she needs to survive.




The final, Never Look Back, is told by Jack, Chris’ friend.  He knew the moment he saw Emi, and since their first kiss in college, that she was his one true soulmate.  He saw her through her friendship with Nate, relationships of past lovers, and her heartache.  He gave her the support she needed to become whole again, and their feelings deepened.  I cried their tears, and laughed their laughter.  It was overwhelming to see the bond they shared.  Jack knew that Emi was “the one” and would do anything he could do to have her, even though he would have to sacrifice himself in the process.  Their story is one of hope and strength.  




As Emi says, Jack “grounds her” and “balances her”.  She says, “You are my constant.  You’re my stability.  You’re my life and my future.  You have loved me like no one else-no one- ever has.”




This is amazing story and thoroughly deals with a lot of life’s daily issues.  I found myself laughing, and I found myself crying.  It  makes you angry, and frustrated, and also gives you hope, and lots of laughter.    It was hard for me to put down because I wanted more.   I think this a great read and I would highly recommend it for anyone wanting a truly touching story.











Author Links




Facebook * Website * Amazon




Author Bio:




After an exhilarating, collaborative writing project, Lori L. Otto had an idea for an original novel. The characters and their rich stories would keep her awake at night, and even with barely any sleep, she felt more alert and alive than she had in years. Her days off were spent in cafés, sandwich shops and bookstores, feverishly trying to get all of the details out of her head and onto paper.

Spotlight: Jessica Cage

Author Links







Facebook * Amazon Author Page * Goodreads * Blog


Author Bio:























Born and raised in Chicago, IL, writing has always been a
passion of mine. I dabble in artistic creations of all sorts but at the end of
the day, it’s the pen that my hand itches to hold. I had never considered
following my dream to be a writer because I was told "There is no money in
writing." So I chose the path most often traveled. Now working at my day
job in a law office, I look at my two year old son and ask myself, how will I
be able to inspire him to follow his dreams, reach for the stars, if I never
had the guts to do it myself. So here I am, age 25, unleashing the plethora of
characters and their crazy adventurous worlds into the realm of readers. Hoping
to inspire not only my son but myself. Inviting the world to tag along on my
journey to become the writer I have always wanted to be.




Author Interview:






What made you want to be a writer?




Reading, I would steal water paper I could, no matter if it
was junk mail on my mother’s dresser. If it had something I could read, I was
all about it. I can remember reading a book by Omar Tyree, called Flyy Girl, this book had traveled
through my friends about 5 times and we all still could not wait to read it
again. I remember thinking, I would love to create something that no matter how
many times someone read it, when they put it down, they were just itching to
pick it back up. That is my goal.

                                                                                            

How did you come up with the idea for this book?




Like most of my stories, it simply came to me. There really
is no rhyme or reason. I will be sitting on my bed and boom, a complete cast of
characters pop into my brain. With the Hybrid’s Tale series, I woke up one
morning with the image of a beast trapped inside a ball of Earth. Later that
day, Kendra came knocking, and she wouldn’t stop until I wrote her story down.




Who is your favorite character?  Why?




Marc would have to be my favorite in this story. He is more
of a supportive role, but he has his own struggle. He was born a beast of
sorts, something against nature, but he insists on holding on to his humanity,
as much as he enjoys being a Vampire, he longs for the experience of being
mortal.




Were there any aspects of this book that were difficult for
you to write?  Why?




Not in the first one, but down the road, there are a few
scenes that I had to push myself to write out. There are characters that you
just do not want to be harmed in any way, but if the story takes you there, my
motto is to follow the characters, do not for them to follow me.




Do you have any tips for aspiring writers?




If it is what you want, if at the end of the day your brain
is racked with storylines, plots, characters, and all the intricate details
that go alone with it, and you still fall asleep with a smile on your face,
this is what you are meant to do. It isn’t for everyone, but when you are
passionate about something, well you owe it to yourself to see it through.




What are some of your future projects?




I will of course be finishing Hybrid’s Tale, as well as a
few other short story series. I am currently revising a novel trilogy entitled
The High Arc which will be rereleased sometime this year. Along the way I will
be putting out a ton of short stories (the one I must admit I am the most
excited about it entitled Last Stop) as well as other projects that step
outside of the written word. Hey, I have finally decided to unleash my creative
side and I am doing it full force. Watch out for me, I have a lot planned for
2013!












Blurb:

"Growing up as a werewolf in a household full of
vampires is confusing enough, especially when every question you ask about
where you came from is avoided like the plague."

Finally tired of her questions going unanswered, Kendra sets
off on a quest to discover who she really is. Will she be able to handle the
answers she finds? Will she even survive the journey?






Buy link:



Discovery
(Hybrid’s Tale)

New Release & Giveaway: Finally Found by Nicole Andrews Moore

Buy Links





Amazon * Combo on Amazon * B&N * Smashwords








Blurb:





***This is the sequel to Hiding Out





Where one story ends, often another begins. For some reason, Adam Davenport can’t see past the ending. The hit and run has forced him to slow down and stop running from the pain of losing his parents. He has tried to hide behind meaningless, superficial relationships and even more shallow friendships, but the time has come to face his loneliness. Now he is finally ready to start being a family with his brother Sam. However, Sam and Haley, who was once Sam’s personal assistant, are too busy basking in their newfound love. Though breaking the rules for the first time ever has changed Sam’s life for the better, Adam has always broken the rules, strayed from responsibility, and done as little as he could get away with.


One of the main reasons that he refused to believe that Cammie was more than friend material was because she was impervious to his charms. She was so driven and determined to make her new catering company a success that she couldn’t see past her own dreams. Suddenly, Adam found himself behaving in ways he never imagined. He was working to impress a woman, but more than that, he was working to help make her dreams come true. He soon realizes that there are times in life when giving is more important than taking and when helping someone else is more important than what that person can do to reciprocate. He also learns there are times that the biggest risk is to stop hiding from emotions and to start allowing love to finally be found.






Excerpt:







Thirty was supposed to be this banner year.  Now it was looking like a huge wake up call.  He had discovered earlier in the day he had no meaningful relationships, as evidenced by the fact that this was his party and other than Sam, Haley, and now the bartender, no one had even spoken to him.  They were enjoying the free food, the free booze, the nice music.  The loft had never looked better…except maybe for that time with the one girl who came home with him from.  Well, crap.  One more name he had forgotten.  There was something about this bartender. 




“So, do we know each other?  Have we ever been properly introduced?”  He was really starting to feel badly about his life.  On the bright side, at least he had over half his life to be better.  This woman was better.




“No,” she said, biting on the inside of her cheek.  “We’ve never really met.”  She was laughing at him.  He could tell.  That’s what the cheek biting was about.




“Are you sure?  There is something very familiar about you.  We never…?”  He decided to use his tried and true method of recognition.  He squinted at her.  Then he looked at her with one eye open. 




She crossed her arms over her chest.  “What are you doing?” 




“I don’t believe you.  You have just a hint of bitter that usually only comes from a one night stand with me…in my experience.”  He gave her a challenging look.




“Don’t you mean your vast experience?  Seriously.  What’s the tally?”  She wiped the counter, walked a few feet away, passed out a couple of sodas and then returned to him.




“I don’t think the tally matters,” he said straightening.  “I think that you have made your point.”  He wanted to stay and talk to her, but he was already feeling low enough.  He decided instead to walk away.  Walk away now before he had anything else to regret.  In some ways, he was sorry he had never noticed her before.  He’d show her.  He wouldn’t hook up with anyone tonight.  And if he did, it would only be with her.












Author Links




Facebook * Twitter * Goodreads * Author Site




About the Author:




Nicki has lived in Charlotte, North Carolina with her children for the past eleven years and her husband for the past two and a half. Her journey has barely begun and she's loving every minute of it. Every day of her life seems to bring new adventures, some bigger, better, shinier and prettier than others. She's still getting used to that new life smell she's experiencing, a combination of hope, love, and happiness. (The perfect scents to build a new life on...)



For fun, she spends time with those she cares about, cooks, reads, writes, and especially lives to travel. The current travel goal: visit every Margaritaville. Two down! (Eleven to go?)



In addition to writing on Suddenly Single Journey, Nicki blogs at Project Underblog. Her writing can also be found on Shine, where she is a Shine Parenting Guru and an award winning Yahoo! Contributor on YourWisdom as the relationship and dating expert. And she has been published by McClatchy News in their syndicated papers.







Finally Found Fan Giveaway










Enter to win this charm bracelet and some other fantastic prizes.




This giveaway is going on for two weeks so that you have a chance to complete all the entries.  Read and review for ten entries!













a Rafflecopter giveaway

Spotlight: Author Sarah M. Cradit

he
House of Crimson and Clover Series:


The series is set to the backdrop of New Orleans, and goes into the
lives of the august and mysterious Sullivan and Deschanel families.
Each family has their share of past, and each of their histories marred
with secrets. The Deschanels are the most powerful family in New Orleans,
but they did not come by this wealth by coincidence. The Sullivans,
that venerable family of upstanding Irish lawyers, have their own ghosts.





St. Charles at Dusk, the first book in the series, was published in
2011. You can find it on Amazon here: http://www.amazon.com/Charles-House-Crimson-Clover-ebook/dp/B005RT0ZKE





The second book, The Storm and the Darkness, is coming out in July.
Book three, The Illusions of Eventide, is tentatively scheduled for
early 2014. Books four and five are written, but publishing dates are
TBD.





For anyone unfamiliar with the series, Sarah has a page set up that helps
introduce new readers, and the site also offers series extras, media,
etc. It also gives a synopsis of all currently scoped books in the series
(up to book 5).


http://sarahcradit.wordpress.com/an-introduction-to-the-house-of-crimson-and-clover-series/





The
Storm and the Darkness Teaser



Ana Deschanel has always been introspective, finding it difficult to
share herself with others. She is an only child, and the person closest
to her, her cousin Nicolas, is the only person who understands her decision
to leave New Orleans for a while in attempt to understand- and hopefully
put behind- the darkness that has been slowly creeping over her thoughts
for years. Beyond that, there is a darker reason for her escape…one
she has kept even from Nicolas, because she knows he would never forgive
her…




She finds herself spending
the winter in an old Victorian home belonging to her family on Summer
Isle, a quaint island community off the coast of Maine. The village
is small and tight-knit, and it becomes clear to her early on that she
is an outsider.




Her neighbors, the St. Andrews brothers, have mixed
feelings about her arrival. The younger, spirited Finn, a fisherman,
greets her with warmth and curiosity, and observing her reading on her
porch becomes a welcome part of his daily routine. The older, reclusive
Jonathan is less enthusiastic and is even rude to her when she seeks
out his help in a moment of desperation.


A month into her stay the first big storm of the
season hits. Following a surprising but charming dinner with Finn, Ana
finds herself naively braving the storm in order to return some keys
to Finn. Along the way she stumbles and falls, and purely by luck the
brothers find her. They save her life, but she remains unconscious,
and with a growing storm and lack of resources, the brothers know things
will get worse before they get better.




As the brothers watch over her, and the storm only
worsens, communication is cut off from the island to the outside world.
Things only get worse when their food storage is discovered to be spoiled
and they slowly begin to realize that there are other sinister forces
at work, involving someone they’ve known their whole lives who is
harboring a dark secret. At the same time, Nicolas begins to worry when
he hasn’t heard from Ana, and he enlists the help of his friend Oz
to investigate the situation.




All of these situations begin to escalate as the
storm grows, and finally come together in a dramatic conclusion.




The Storm and the Darkness comes
out July 1!





Top
5 Favorite Books



War and Peace- Leo Tolstoy
Gone with the Wind- Margaret Mitchell
Dark Tower Series- Stephen King
The Mayfair Series- Anne Rice
Mary, Queen of Scotland and the Isles- Margaret
George



Sarah
M. Cradit Bio


Sarah M. Cradit is the author of the Southern Fiction series, The
House of Crimson and Clover. She’s been writing her entire life, and
penned her first novel in junior high. Her younger sister- in a moment
straight out of Little Women, where Amy throws Jo’s novel in the fire-
destroyed it after a silly fight. Sarah started writing again, just
out of high school, where she wrote a 10-book New Adult series (“Provincetown”)
with her good friend Brigitte. Both women had discussed editing and
publishing the series, which also has a spin-off series with several
books.





Although Sarah currently lives in Portland, OR, her career adventures
have taken her all over the country, living in six additional states:
Washington, Arizona, Michigan, Georgia, Tennessee, and Maine. When she
isn’t writing, she enjoys spending time with her husband, reading
(obviously), studying history, and traveling the world.





You can find Sarah in the following places:


Blog: http://sarahcradit.wordpress.com


Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/houseofcrimsonandclover


Twitter: @thewritersarah


Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6914411.Sarah_M_Cradit


Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/sarahcradit/the-house-of-crimson-and-clover/