Heather Gunter's Blog, page 62

Cover Reveal: Four Seconds to Lose by K.A. Tucker

Today we are lucky enough to be able to share with you the cover of the very much anticipated Four Seconds to Lose by K.A. Tucker.
Four Seconds to Lose  is a New Adult Contemporary Romance novel and is book 3 in the Ten Tiny Breaths series.  It is due for release 4 November 2013 ... mark your calendars!!
So we won't keep you in suspense any longer ... here's the cover


Owning a strip club isn’t the fantasy most guys expect it to be. With long hours, a staff with enough issues to keep a psych ward in business, and the police regularly on his case, twenty-nine year old Cain is starting to second guess his unspoken mission to save the women he employs. And then blond, brown-eyed Charlie Rourke walks through his door, and things get really complicated. Cain abides by a strict “no sleeping with the staff” rule. But being around Charlie challenges Cain’s self-control…and it’s been a long time since any woman has done that.

Twenty-two-year old Charlie Rourke needs a lot of money, really fast, in order to vanish before it’s too late. Taking her clothes off for men makes her stomach curl but Charlie tells herself that at least she’s putting her acting and dancing skills to good use. And though her fellow dancers seem eager to nab their sexy, sophisticated, and genuinely caring boss, she’s not interested. After all, Charlie Rourke doesn’t really exist—and the girl pretending to be her doesn’t need to complicate her life with romance.

Unfortunately, Charlie soon discovers that developing feelings for Cain is inevitable, that those feelings may not be unrequited—but losing him when he finds out what she’s involved with will be more painful than any other sentence awaiting her.



Born in small-town Ontario, Kathleen published her first book at the age of six with the help of her elementary school librarian and a box of crayons. She is a voracious reader and the farthest thing from a genre-snob, loving everything from High Fantasy to Chick Lit. Kathleen currently resides in a quaint small town outside of Toronto with her husband, two beautiful girls, and an exhausting brood of four-legged creatures.


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Other books in the series The first book in the series, Ten Tiny Breaths, releases in paperback on September 24, 2013! 

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Blog Tour: Three of Diamonds by W. Ferraro

Today we get to share with you Three of Diamonds by W. Ferraro.  It is book three in the Hamden series and gives us gorgeous Lola and super sexy Wes.









Lola Nash’s life edges on safe and controlled, containing few people; her brother, Boyd, a handful of friends and the facility for special needs children where she volunteers, called Aaron’s Place. However, a chance meeting shatters her control when she learns someone else’s closely held secret. The kind of secret causing her explicit and sexy dreams, all centering around Wes Thompson; known as Adonis in the ultra-exclusive world of the sex club, Olympus. 


Wes is intrigued by the voluptuous beauty who won’t give him the time of day. Like the God he emulates, he has never been the type to give in when he wants something or someone; Lola is exactly what he wants. Is Lola the one that can bring a God to his knees or will Wes conquer her, and then walk away as planned? Is the chance at love worth the cost of giving up everything you hold important? When the cards are down, will Wes and Lola call or fold?










Three of Diamonds is the third instalment in the Men of Hamden series and tells the story of Wes Thompson and Lola Nash.  I was very much looking forward to reading Three of Diamonds having been introduced to the characters in the previous books in the series.
Consistent with the other books in the series Three of Diamonds is focussed on a relationship between two characters - this time it is the connection between Wes and Lola, but this book steps up the stakes in the bedroom arena with some very ‘fifty shades’ style action.  If you’re shy and not up for reading some very erotic, dare I say kinky, sex scenes you may want to think twice about picking this one up.  I should clarify and say there is no violence and all parties involved are willing, adult participants ;)
I enjoyed Three of Diamonds but I felt it was missing something.  I wanted to understand more about Wes, his background and what led him to the lifestyle choices he made.  I would have liked a little bit more development of the relationship with Lola outside of the bedroom.  To me the sexual relationship dominated and as a consequence I missed what I would describe as the real connection between Wes and Lola.  I couldn’t help but compare/contrast to Three of Spades where I felt like I got to know Dylan and Natalie as well as they got to know each other and as a consequence felt more invested in their story.
Ferraro does create some absolutely fabulous characters.  Wes will appeal to many – that balance of dominant yet considerate male willing to give everything to those he loves.  Lola is a very strong and independent woman and I liked that she maintained those characteristics throughout the story.  She made active choices and while there was a level of ‘submission’ I didn’t think she acted out of character.  Her love for her brother Boyd and her intense desire to protect him and give him everything she could was beautiful.
You get to see the characters from their earlier books again, even if it is only a glimpse, but it was nice to reconnect with them and see how their relationships had progressed. 
Overall this was a good read.  There were some minor editing quirks that I found a little distracting but I enjoyed the story and was happy with the ending.
3 out of 5 stars




I live in New England with my young family. I'm a stay at home mom to two very active children. For all of you who are familiar with the stress of this job, I decided to complete an item on my bucket list and write a book. When I'm not writing, you will find me cooking, reading, shopping or being silly with the kids.

I wish you all happy reading and hope you fall in love with the men of Hamden.



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Three of Hearts                                                    Three of Spades
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Blog Tour: Temporary Bliss by BJ Harvey

Today we get to share with you Temporary Bliss by the incredibly talented B.J. Harvey. This is one gorgeous romance people, with a temperature rating of HOT!  

Title: TEMPORARY BLISS (Bliss # 1, New Erotic Romance Series)Author: BJ HarveyPublished: August 29th
Tour Hosted by: The Book Avenue


Makenna Lewis cringes at any mention of the word commitment. She doesn’t want or need a relationship, but she does like sex (who doesn't). 

That explains Noah, Sean, and Zander, her three 'friends with benefits'. 

They know the score, they know they're not the only one, and each of them provide her with a different physical need that she craves and enjoys. 

Until a late night encounter with the delicious Daniel Winters turns her preconceived notion of no-commitment completely on its head. 

Soon she finds herself feeling things she vowed never to feel again, and when Daniel pushes for more than she’s willing to give, she falters. 

What do you do when something that you’ve known to be so wrong in the past feels so damn right?

If you’re Mac, you run and hide. 

But is Daniel the type of man who takes no for an answer? 




“What did Zander give you? If Sean gave you dominance, and Noah was to pass the time, what about Zander. What need did he fulfill?”
“Why are you asking me this, Daniel? I thought we were past all this?”
“We are. We were.  I just need to know.”
“Why?”
“So I can prove to you that I can be everything you need and more. So that you can realize how much I want you in every way possible. So that you can stop freaking out and walking on egg shells around me because you’re scared I’m going to leave.”
“Daniel, I…” I see him tighten his grip on the steering wheel, and I realize that this is not the time for questions. This is the time for answers; to give Daniel the answers. To help him understand why I do what I do, or rather, why I did what I did in the past.
“Daniel, I thought we’d talked about this? Do we need to talk about it all over again?”
“I don’t know,” he answers stoically.
Now that’s got my back up. “Fine, you want to know, I’ll tell you!”
“No…. NO. I don’t want to know, but it’s always there, Mac. Just how you didn’t like Nikki touching me tonight, I can’t stand the thought of another man, or men, touching you, being inside you. Fuck, it’s driving me insane.”




Having been seriously burned in a relationship Makenna Lewis (Mac) has made a vow never to let a man have control over her life.  Her life is going in all the right directions with her three ... yes ladies, count them ... three very different friends with benefits.  They all meet different needs and they’re all very okay with no commitment. 
Mac couldn’t be more settled (and satisfied!), that is until she meets the game changer, Daniel Winter ... Delicious Daniel ... “the smoking hot volcano of fine”... “Superman” (god I just loved all the ways Mac referred to Daniel!).  Daniel turns Mac’s world upside down.  She is terrified of all the things that she feels where Daniel is concerned and doesn’t really know what to do about it. 
I just loved Mac.  I know she is going to annoy the crap out of some people, but I saw a woman who was simply scared of getting hurt, so she settled for physical connections that were satisfying.  And her capacity to be up front and clear about what she wanted was kind of unique - she had almost a male perspective when it came to sex and I was actually a little in awe of that.  Mac was the sort of girl I’d love as a best friend - down to earth, feisty, vulnerable - the kind of girl who’ll tell it like it is and yet still look out for you no matter what.
Daniel is to die for ... sexy, funny, perceptive ... perfect for Mac.  He read her incredibly well and managed their interactions just beautifully.  I laughed out loud more than once at their exchanges.  I also loved that he wasn’t all sappy and flowery and prepared to be walked all over. 
Kate, Mac’s best friend is the kind of best friend everyone should have.  I loved her and I love that we will get to read her story in True Bliss.
B.J. Harvey has a fabulous writing style.  It is easy to read and Temporary Bliss didn’t take me long to finish.  I was completely engrossed in the story and in love with the characters and was super satisfied with the ending.  If you enjoy a romance, with a bit of steam (ok, a lot of steam!), no cheating and some absolutely adorable characters who are very realistic then you should pick up Temporary Bliss .
5 out of 5 stars


I’m 31 years old and live in New Zealand, the most beautiful country in the world. 
I love reading, and started writing my first novel, Lost in Distraction in December 2012. Before that I’d written business and website articles professionally but never fiction. I love the indie community, authors, bloggers and readers alike and have met so many awesome people that I now call dear friends.

I’m a huge music lover as well. I REALLY love music. If there isn't music playing, something is wrong. And it’s a wide range of music too, I might surprise you with my eclectic tastes.

I'm also a wife, mother of two gorgeous girls and currently working for myself as well as studying full time to become an accountant of all things. I also have a Bachelor of Communications.

My author inspirations are: Michelle Leighton, Barbara Elsborg and Kristen Ashley. 




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Blog Tour: For Everly by Raine Thomas

Welcome to our stop on the For Everly blog tour.


Title: For EverlyAuthor: Raine ThomasRelease date: May 27, 2013Publisher: Iambe Books, LLCAge Group: New Adult (17+)Genre: Contemporary RomanceTour organized by: AToMR Tours


Determined to overcome a dark and tragic past, college student Everly Wallace is only months away from earning her degree in physical therapy. She’s consumed with school, caring for her ailing grandfather, and figuring out how to pay the next bill. The last thing she wants is a relationship, but it just might be the one thing she needs.

Major League pitcher Cole Parker hasn’t fought for anything in his life. He went from a privileged upbringing to a multimillion dollar All-Star career. But when his pitching shoulder starts to give him trouble at only twenty-four years old, he faces the possibility of his injury becoming public knowledge and costing him everything.

In a desperate bid to save his career, Cole decides to hire someone to treat his injury, someone who will keep things off the record and out of the media. He finds the perfect solution in Everly. As mysterious as she is beautiful, she provides an enticing distraction from his pain. Soon, physical therapy is the last thing on his mind.

When an act of betrayal brings the truths they both fear to light, Cole will have to fight for the first time in his life…not just for his career, but for Everly’s love.














Awesome 4 star review

Who doesn't love a book that has hot baseball players in it? This book has everything in it: love, a good plot, a mystery and some characters that you can't stand. Okay, so I want to give a quick shout out to Raine Thomas who did an excellent job of making Everly completely and utterly lovable. I absolutely loved her. She has an innocence about her that is a breath of fresh air, but still was confident. She's compassionate, honest, caring, trustworthy, hardworking and the list goes on and on. Now one might think that she's over the top but alas, she isn't. She works hard every day to provide for her PeePaw. It was a sweet interaction between the two. Everly is asked to help Cole rehabilitate his shoulder discreetly. In doing so it will allow her to earn extra income to help take care of her grandfather. 

Sparks ignite between these two and Cole begins to realize that there's more to Everly than meets the eye and that she's hiding some secrets. She's different than any other girl and she sees things differently.

Everly has never had anyone that didn't leave her other than her PeePaw so when Cole decides to stick around it's shocking to her. The mystery itself had me guessing until the very end.


For Everly was a fantastic book that will leave a smile on your face until the very end.






[image error]Raine Thomas is the award-winning author of a series of YA Fantasy/Romance novels about the Estilorian plane, including the Daughters of Saraqael Trilogy and the Firstborn Trilogy, and a New Adult Contemporary Romance, For Everly. She is a proud member of Romance Writers of America and is a contributing blogger to The Writer's Voice. When she isn’t planning weddings, writing, or glued to social networking sites, she can usually be found on one of Florida’s beautiful beaches with her husband and daughter or crossing the border to visit with her Canadian friends and relatives.


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To see other stops on the tour for reviews, guest posts, and excerpts
click here or the tour button below.

Official Release Blitz: Out of Line by Jen McLaughlin

Available now this is one you will want to pick up!  And to entice you Out of Line is on sale for just 99c for a very limited time.



Desperate to break free…

I've spent my entire life under my father’s thumb, but now I'm finally free to make my own choices. When my roommate dragged me to my first college party, I met Finn Coram and my life turned inside out. He knows how to break the rules and is everything I never knew I wanted. A Marine by day and surfer by night, he pushes me away even as our attraction brings us closer. Now I am finally free to do whatever I want. I know what I want. I choose Finn.

Trying to play by the rules...

I always follow orders. My job, my life, depends on it. I thought this job would be easy, all the rules were made crystal clear, but when I met Carrie Wallington, everything got muddy. She's a rule I know I shouldn't break, but damn if I don’t inch closer to the breaking point each time I see her. I’m ready to step out of line. And even worse? I’m living a lie. They say the truth will set you free, but in my case…

The truth will cost me everything.






Jen McLaughlin writes steamy New Adult books for the young and young at heart. Her first release, Out of Line, is due out September 2013. She also writes Contemporary Romance under the pen name Diane Alberts. She is a multi-published, bestselling author and is represented by Louise Fury from the L. Perkins Agency. Since receiving her first contract offer under the pen name Diane Alberts, she has yet to stop writing.

Though she lives in the mountains, she really wishes she was surrounded by a hot, sunny beach with crystal clear water. She lives in Northeast Pennsylvania with her four kids, a husband, a schnauzer mutt, a cat, and a Senegal parrot. In the rare moments when she’s not writing, she can usually be found hunched over one knitting project or another. Her goal is too write so many well-crafted romance books that even a non-romance reader will know her name.



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If you purchase the e-book this week, it comes signed!!




To celebrate Out of Line zooming up the sales charts Jen is offering a one-of-a-kind prize for a lucky reader! 
Anyone who helps spread the word about Out of Line (through tweets, facebook messages, leaving a review, etc.) gets entered to win 30 pages of the manuscript, which include editing marks and special never-before-seen notes from Jen! You will have all the deets on what Jen changed, deleted scenes, and special extras.

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Blog Tour: Breaking Through the Wall by Ashley Piscitelli

Jason Smith hated the whole idea of relationships and commitment. He got what he needed from girls but that’s where it ended. At least that was how it was supposed to be. After a traumatic event he gets involved with the one girl who could force him to change his ways. Will he be able to commit to her though? Or will he drive her away before he ever has the chance to have her?

Madison and Carter finally found happiness but their lives have just been turned upside down, by someone who refuses to go away. Can their relationship survive the tragedy and pain that he has caused? What if justice doesn’t always win, and the bad guys get away?

What do you do when your whole world is turned upside down? When everything comes crumbling down around you, will you have the will to fight and break down the wall?






She was washing her hair, so her eyes were closed and all I could do was stare at her. When she opened them, though, she let out a scream. ”What the fuck are you doing in here?!”

I couldn’t even form any words. I just walked up closer to her, and noticed that she was breathing hard. I wrapped my hand around her neck and crushed my mouth to hers. I ran my tongue along her bottom lip, begging her to open her mouth for me, then I slid my other hand down to grab her ass. She let out a moan and it gave me the space I needed.

I plunged my tongue into her, kissing her like I needed her to live. She put her hands onto my chest and circled her fingers around my nipples. Next thing I knew, she grabbed both of them and twisted, hard. “What the fuck, Nic?!”

“Do you really think that you can come in here and just expect to have your way with me after that shit in there?” This girl was absolutely fucking nuts, and I loved it. I walked closer to her again and backed her against the tile wall. “You need to just –“

I clamped my hand over her mouth so I could get a word in. “Will you just let me talk for a fucking minute?” I was so close to her I could feel her heart racing. She nodded her head yes and I removed my hand.

I put both of my hands on the sides of her face and rested my forehead against hers. She placed both of her hands on my hips and we just stared at each other, with the shower pouring over both of us.

“I get why you’re pissed, trust me I do. You need to know, though, that the girl I was with didn’t matter. I didn’t even remember her name by the end of the date and nothing happened between us. I went out with her to get you out of my head. You’re always there, Nic. No matter what or who I do, you are always there. I know I’m not good for you, but, truthfully, I really don’t know how much longer I can stay away. You make me so fucking crazy, but the truth is, that I can’t get enough of it. I –“

This time it was her who attacked my mouth.


My name is Ashley Piscitelli. I live in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with my husband, two kids, and two dogs. On top of starting a writing career, I am a full-time student and a full-time mom. I love spending time with my kids, although I have to hide away with the computer from them when I am writing! I love being active and being outdoors.

I have always been passionate about writing. I wrote this book in about three months. I love reading romance books! I feel like being able to lose yourself in a book is one of the more exciting aspects. The books I love to read and write will be ones that make you feel for the characters. You should have an opinion on every character in a book whether you love them, hate them, or think they are up to something.

I have always thought that the most important critic is your reader, so I would love to hear from you. If you read the book and loved it or hated it, tell me. As long as it is in a constructive way, I will always answer and interact with you. I want my fans to be open & talk to me what they want for the characters in the story, and what they would like to see happen.

I hope you all enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it!


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Playing With Fire (Guarded Hearts #1) is on sale for the duration of the blog tour! 
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Madison Stevens has had a shitty life, her mother died at the age four and her father has always blamed her for it. She went through the foster system and is now attending college. Her boyfriend Chris is not willing to share Madison with anyone, not even her friends.

Her first day at college she meets Carter James, who makes her want everything she never thought she could have. She knows that she should ignore her feelings for Carter, but it's not as easy as it sounds.

As Carter and Madison begin to fall in love, they face many obstacles. Their biggest one is Chris who is not going to let her go easily.



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Blog Tour Kick Off: Feeling This by Casey Blue

Today we kick off the blog tour for Feeling This by Casey Blue! 
We are super excited to be hosting this tour and we have a fabulous line up of blogs stepping out to showcase Feeling This .  

If you haven't picked up a copy of Feeling This yet, now is the time to do it.  For the duration of the blog tour it is on sale for 99c.





Title: Feeling ThisAuthor: Casey BlueGenre: New Adult (Romance)Publication Date:  September 4, 2013Cover Design:  B DesignEvent Organized by:  Into the Night Reviews

Whoever said life is hard didn’t know the half of it!
Completely devastated when his life is ripped out from underneath him, Jordan Rhodes decides to take a break. A break from everything he’s always known; the country club life-style, his life-long friends and his overbearing parents. He just wants to be free to get lost and not feel the pain he has endured.
Kimber Maguire has been dealt the tough card her entire life. An ailing mom, a sister who refuses to face reality and a yearning for the one that got away, she finds putting one foot in front of the other as her only saving grace. What she really wants is to be free of feeling the pressure that is her life to get lost.
But when Jordan finds Kimber while losing himself, they both discover, sometimes you just need to feel to be found.








[image error]Casey Blue is a hopeless romantic always striving for the perfect love in which to write about. Her ideal swoony boy constantly changes. She is the Hyde to Jekyll and Hyde; whatever her other half does, she’s a little naughtier! J She is addicted to caffeine and loves Jelly Bellies. She loves imperfect characters because in the end we are all imperfect. She has been writing her whole life but ‘Feeling This’ is her first New Adult masterpiece. She is happily married with kids and lives in the sunny state of Florida.




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Casey is offering an incredible tour wide giveaway!  
Ebook of Two Roads by L.M. AugustineEbook of Tied Up in Heartstrings by Felicia LynnPaperback of Tied Up in Heartstrings by Felicia LynnEbook of Love Notes by Heather GunterEbook of Heartstrings by Heather GunterPaperback of Heartstrings by Heather GunterEbook of Fatalism by LK CollinsEbook of So Much It Hurts by Melanie DawnEbook of Sweet Contradiction by Peggy MartinezEbook of I Have Her Liberation and SWAG by EL LeaEbook of Fading by E.K. BlairEbook of Every Rose by Lynetta HalatEbook of Everything I Never Had by Lynetta HalatEbook of Feeling This by Casey BluePaperback of Feeling This by Casey Bluea Rafflecopter giveaway






Tour Schedule
9 SeptemberLives and Breathes Book BlogBook-Marks the SpotKats ReadSwooning Over BooksRead-Love-Blog
10 SeptemberGive Me BooksSwoon Worthy BooksUp all night read all dayDebbie The Book Vixen
11 SeptemberStories and SwagNevaeh's New Adult Book BlogSimply Sensational Book FanaticsCrystal's Many ReviewsThe Reading Cow
12 SeptemberBestSellers & BestStellarsThe Book Obsessed MommaBook FreakSarah’s BookshelfRavenz Reviews
13 SeptemberBook Addict MummaHooked on BooksBound By Books Book ReviewThe Book WranglersKiss And Tell Reviews
14 SeptemberThe Book BlogComfort Bookslovlivlife reviewsIn the Best WorldsBitten by Love ReviewsMiles Apart Books
15 SeptemberUp All Night ReviewsMorning After a Good BookTana Rae ReadsMary Elizabeth's Crazy Book ObsessionLeBookSquirrelAfter Dark Online

In the Spotlight: How he Really Feels by Lisa Suzanne

Today we're spotlighting How He Really Feels by Lisa Suzanne.  This is Lisa's debut novel and she has done a wonderful job.  This is a gorgeous romance intended for a mature audience.  There is a happy ending and a swoon worthy male lead.  Read on for an excerpt, the book trailer and Tami's review.





Julianne Becker is desperately in love with her boss, Nick Matthews. She has daydreamed about him since the day she first met him a year earlier, but she is firmly stuck in the friend-zone until New Year’s Eve, when the game completely changes and she finds out how Nick really feels about her. They embark on a sexy affair that’s everything Julianne ever dreamed of... except she can’t tell anyone about it. What will happen if anyone finds out about their secret relationship? And how will her lifelong best friend, Travis Miller, react when Julianne begins a relationship with someone who isn’t him? 

How He Really Feels is a novel that explores relationships and love between coworkers and friends. It contains some adult situations and is intended for mature readers.





Who cared that I didn’t have anyone to kiss at midnight? The important thing was that this was the end of an old year and the start of a brand new one, and I had several goals in mind for this new year. The most important, of course, being Nick. I would find a way to push past this professional business friendship relationship we had formed. I would find a way to kiss him, hold him, make love to him in this new year.
It was my resolution, and I was determined to make it happen.
Everyone raised their glasses in the air and counted along, “Ten! Nine! Eight! Seven! Six! Five! Four! Three! Two! One! HAPPY NEW YEAR!” I glanced over at Lucy, whose lips were locked to Jake’s, and then Travis, who was kissing Brooke. I smiled, happy for my friends despite my lack of a man to kiss at midnight, when I felt a tap on my shoulder.

I turned around, and my heart stopped as my eyes met Nick’s. Utter shock hit me as I realized that he was actually here. And he looked fucking sexy in a black suit with a gray shirt under it, open at the collar. He had just a shadow of a beard, making him look rugged and manly, and his hair was mussed perfectly in every direction. I was so dazed that he was standing in front of me that I was rendered momentarily speechless.

The room suddenly got very quiet around me, and all I could do was stare at him. His eyes never left mine as he brought both of his hands up to cup my cheeks and I was certain at that moment that he was going to kiss me. My heart slammed into my ribs and then my eyes closed automatically as his lips brushed mine just once. Every nerve ending in my body was alight with electricity at our connection. He clutched me close against his chest in a quick embrace. “Happy New Year,” he murmured, his breath tickling close against my ear, sending shivers down my spine. And then, as if it had all been a dream, he was gone.

I stood rooted to the spot, unsure of whether that had really happened or if I had just imagined it, if I had dreamed it because I wanted it so badly or if all of the champagne had finally caught up with me and I was hallucinating.

It was like the room had been on mute for a moment, and suddenly someone had turned the volume back up to full blast.

“Happy New Year!” Travis shouted to me, pulling me into a hug and kissing my cheek. I blinked a few times, trying to focus on what was happening around me, still unsure of what had just happened.

I shook my head to clear it, echoing, “Happy New Year,” to Travis.

Lucy hugged me next, and then Jake and Holly. We all clinked glasses as a group, and I realized that everyone had been so wrapped up in their own New Year’s kisses that no one had witnessed mine. Whether or not it was in my mind or it had really happened, it was my very own New Year’s secret. And that secret, special moment that the two of us had shared had been perfect, even if it had only been in my mind.



Lisa Suzanne has done a fantastic job with her debut novel, How He Really Feels.  Her writing style is engaging, entertaining and I loved the way the story line developed and progressed.  Julianne is a very likeable and realistic character.  Infatuated with her sexy boss she crushes on him for almost a year without ever disclosing how she feels.  Her internal dialogue and actions were just typical of a woman interested in someone but not sure how, or whether, to act on her feelings.  The added complexity of a 'forbidden' workplace relationship added to the intensity of the affair between Nick and Julianne as they had to keep their feelings secret from those they worked with.
Nick is your perfect male character.  Handsome, sexy, intelligent, loving ... he is open with Julianne and the two communicate in a really honest and refreshing way.  The friendship they developed before embarking on a relationship had a lot to do with how they interacted with each other and for me, this added substance and credibility to their relationship.  There were a lot of sex scenes between Nick and Julianne, they spent the majority of their time together having sex but there was enough 'substance' in their other interactions that this didn't seem over the top.  In fact, I thought it was a very accurate representation of a 'new' relationship, particularly given the year of lead time before the two got together.
Julianne's best friend, Travis, is an interesting character.  I'm really not sure how I felt about him and I'm really not sure whether I liked the contribution he made to the story.  In part his role was to add a 'complication' to the relationship between Julianne and Nick, but for me it was a little bit contrived and I didn't necessarily buy what transpired between Julianne and Travis, particularly given their history.
Overall the pace of the story was good.  I was engaged and keen to see what was going to happen with Julianne and Nick.  Towards the end of the story there was a lot happening and a few times it did feel like the author was trying to wrap too much drama into the story.  I think one or two of the events could have been left out and the story would still have had enough substance to engage the reader fully and lead to a satisfying conclusion.
I was absolutely rooting for Julianne and Nick - the progression of their friendship to a relationship was romantic and well paced.  They were faced with a number of challenges and I thought their individual and collective reactions were realistic and believable.  The conclusion was gorgeous and while this is book one in a trilogy, there isn't a cliff hanger - you get a happy ending worthy of the journey of the characters.
Book Two - What He Really Feels is due for release in early October 2013 - and it tells Travis' story.  Given my ambivalence towards him in How He Really Feels I'm hoping reading things from his perspective will redeem him a little.  And despite how I felt about Travis, I will pick up What He Really Feels as I loved Lisa Suzanne's writing style, character development and story construction. 
4 out 5 stars  

Lisa Suzanne is a high school English teacher who lives at home in Arizona with her amazing husband and adorable yellow lab.


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Watch for What He Really Feels - book two in the He Feels Trilogy - scheduled for release early October 2013
He told her How He Really Feels and had his heart broken. Now Travis Miller is trying to move on from the greatest heartbreak of his life by getting out of town. But two nights before his big move to California, Travis meets a mystery woman who grabs hold of his broken heart and gives him hope that he can piece it back together. Will Travis ever figure out What He Really Feels, or will he be stuck on his first love forever? Will he find his happily ever after? 

What He Really Feels contains some adult situations and is intended for mature readers.

Release Promotion: Sugar Coated by Shannen Crane Camp

Just released - Sugar Coated is the latest from Shannen Crane Camp.


An unhealthy addiction to sugar cubes, a deep-seated fear of water, and universal luxury—these are the simple things that make up 18-year-old Brynn's Utopian existence. Why, then, is her perfect life also plagued with unanswered questions?

Like every other resident of the planet Halcyon, Brynn's home provides everything she needs, money is unheard of, and life is perfect. But unlike the rest of Seaside's residents, Brynn has questions. Why can't people leave the city? Why does the ocean fill everyone with terror? Who are the Workers? Not only is Brynn curious where others are compliant, but she suffers from chronic nightmares of an angelic woman torturing her for information she doesn’t possess. But these are more than just figments of her imagination; they're memories of things that never happened.

When Brynn meets Jonah, a brilliant, library-dwelling boy who shares her questions and her curiosity, they formulate a plan to find answers. Somewhere, the perfect veneer of Halcyon's instant gratification hides a city that only Brynn knows about—a city she and Jonah are determined to find. But will finding the city give them answers, or simply uncover the horrific truth behind the perfection?





Blinding white lights flashed into life, revealing a room less cavernous and imposing than she had expected. Instead, the room with the white walls, ceilings, and floor was quite small; small enough for her to run from one end to the other without ever breaking a sweat. It took a moment for her eyes to adjust and once they did, she still couldn’t be sure of what she was seeing. There seemed to be a complete lack of color in this small room, as if it had been drained right before her arrival and was shining more brightly because of its recent purge.

Brynn blinked her eyes a few more times, trying to clear the spots that sprang into existence when the less-than-subtle lights had ignited. Now that she had a proper hold on her surroundings, she could see the impossibility of the room. There were no windows. There were no doors. There was no way in or out. So how had she gotten there?

“We apologize for any inconvenience your death may cause you at this time,” said a smooth, soothing female voice over what Brynn could only describe as a loudspeaker. If the woman’s voice hadn’t been so calm and collected, it may have taken her less time to understand exactly what she was saying before the sickly sweet smell of sugar hit her nose; like cookies right out of the oven.

This wasn’t just a room. It was a death chamber.

“We appreciate your cooperation and would like to take this opportunity to remind you that the best thing to do in this situation is enjoy this smell, generated for your pleasure,” the voice told her, never losing that deep, rich timbre.

Brynn thought that if she hadn’t been in an obviously dire situation, she would have loved nothing more than to listen to the beautiful voice and smell the sweet sugar all day long. But as it turned out, there wasn’t much time left in her day right at that moment.

Listening to the woman’s instructions against her better judgment, Brynn took one deep breath, enjoying the smell of the unnaturally rich sugar before her cheek made contact with the hard white floor with a sickening thud.






Shannen Crane Camp was born and raised in Southern California, where she developed a love of reading, writing, and anything having to do with film. After high school, she moved to Utah to attend Brigham Young University, where she received a degree in Media Arts and found herself a husband in fellow California native Josh Camp. The two now live in either California or Utah... they still can't decide.


Shannen loves to hear from readers, so feel free to contact her at Shannencbooks@hotmail.com or visit her website for more information.


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Blog Tour: Angel of Mine by Jessica Louise

Welcome to our stop on the Angel of Mine blog tour.  There's the play list, an excerpt and some cast pics for you to enjoy.


If you had the ability to heal with just one touch, the capability to absorb other’s pain by making it your own, would you do it?

The gratifying feeling she gets from helping others intoxicates Ally; the glowing warmth within constantly simmers, incessant on bursting free. Ally was born to do this, but how much more damage can her body take?

Theo finds himself getting close to the girl that continues to inflict pain on herself. When he discovers her secret, his overwhelming concern drives him to do everything in his power to prevent Ally from getting hurt, no matter how lovely her intentions are.

Theo also has secrets and will take any measure to keep them hidden from the girl he is falling in love with. He knows better than to let her get too close. She can never find out the information he conceals because she cannot help him anyway.

Devastating circumstances. Helpless love. Where there's a will, is there actually a way?






Ally

Like every other day this week, I sit in the shadow of the oak trees, drinking up the site of ‘Mr. Hottie’ kicking around the footy. He is the same guy I lost my sanity over the first day I came to this beautiful park. Even though he is here every day, he doesn’t notice me. Each day I get a little more confident, inching closer towards where the shadows end, and the sunlight begins to bathe the open fields. I haven’t quite made it into the light yet though.

His muscles flex as he runs, and the glistening sweat
on his skin lures me in. My body moves on its own accord, slanting in his direction. I imagine his smell, all manly and salty from the sweat, and daydream of licking the trails of it down his body with my tongue. I breathe in deeply, but I am not near enough, and all I smell is the freshly cut grass of the fields.

I find myself standing up, and as I step out into the light, it jars me out of my trance. It’s too late to turn back and hide as my shadow crosses his line of vision, and I am rooted to the spot. I am so close I could reach out and touch him.

My heart rate spikes as he turns around. It feels like my tongue is thick and swelling, filling my whole mouth. I know I should stop staring and look away, but I can’t. He is gorgeous.
My eyes lock with his. They are a stunning green, and sparkle like wet grass after a rain shower with the sun gleaming off it. He holds my gaze, and it’s as though he is looking right into my soul. His jaw drops in disbelief, and I feel panic bubble up inside me. Does he somehow know my secret? No, it’s impossible. I break the connection and shake the thought away.

~~~~~

Theo

My mouth is hanging open in disbelief. I have just turned around to find the most stunning woman in existence. Is she real? Stepping closer, I can’t help but blurt, "You are the most exquisite angel I have ever seen." I am thoroughly awestruck by her beauty. Chocolate coloured locks flow around her face. Thick dark lashes frame her eyes, and they are so deep and blue that I could get lost in them; when she smiles after the compliment I gave her, they are utterly dazzling. Her lips are full and she is biting on the bottom one, sucking it in to her mouth, and it is driving me just a tad crazy. She looks ethereal. There’s a mysterious electricity crackling in the air between us. My breath stills as I wait for her reply while I continue to take her in.

She flushes a light shade of pink then softly replies, “Thank you. My name is Ally." Her melodic voice floors me. She sounds angelic. A faint vanilla fragrance fills my nose, making me feel a little dizzy. Maybe I over did the whole exercise thing today.

Have I died and gone to heaven without even knowing it happened? Did something just transpire back there on that field? I start to turn around to see if I have left my body behind, when out of nowhere, my brother Alex swiftly throws the football at my head and knocks some sense into me in the process.

What the fuck was that? I just turned into a bloody puddle of mush. I know after what I have been through that I am more emotional than most guys, but come on, that was messed up.

I risk glancing back up at her. Shit, I’m screwed. This chick has some kind of strange hold on me. Just standing there as an idiot proves to be about the only thing I can do.

“Hey. I’m Alex, and this smooth talker here is my brother, Theo.” Alex winks, and then extends his hand out, offering to shake hers. He has a way of putting any situation back at ease.

She looks dubiously at his outstretched hand, decides to ignore it, and shyly answers, “Hi, I’m Ally. I’m sorry to get in the way of your football game. I was just leaving.” She looks past us into the distance and finishes by saying, “Enjoy the rest of your game.” Then she steps around me and hurries off.

I spin around, gaping after her as she walks away. She stops at a young boy crying by the play structure. I didn’t notice him at first because all my attention stayed focused solely on her. Crouching down, she places her hand on his knee and relays what I can only assume are soothing words because his tears dry up. I wonder where the boy’s mother is.

Jogging over to give Ally some assistance, I spot blood dripping from a deep cut on her knee. “Oh my god, your knee is bleeding. Are you okay?”

She seems startled by my presence. The young boy is looking back and forth between the two of us, his mouth wide open. Ally seems to have the same effect on him that she did on me; maybe he thinks she is an angel too.



Jessica Louise is a hopeless romantic and the epitome of a girly girl.

She thinks pink is the new black and that hair crimpers never went out of fashion.

In her spare time she enjoys the simple things in life like the smell of the air before the rain or a swim at the beach on a hot summer’s day.

She is an avid reader and an aspiring writer, who believes whole heartedly in the old English proverb; the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.


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