Heather Gunter's Blog, page 66

Release Day Promotion: Smash Into You by Shelly Crane

It's release day - Smash Into You by Shelly Crane is here, now!!!




Jude has spent the whole twenty one years of his life running. From what, he wasn't quite sure. His mother tried to keep him safe; a low profile, a constant move on the horizon, a week's pay always stashed away. She tried to instill in him that he was special somehow, though would never elaborate. He never felt different. He was so completely normal and vanilla that he wondered if it had all been in her head. But then she was murdered and all he saw was a running silhouette of a man as his mother said three final words to him. Three words that changed his whole being. 

Never stop running…

Now he's semi-settled into a big town. The college is huge and easy to blend into. It's been three months since he had to move because 'Biloxi', as he calls the man who killed his mother, found him once more.

Then Marley, an eighteen year old girl who is as infuriating as she is blissfully ignorant of her gorgeousness, smashes into his car with hers. Then smashes into his life as he realizes that whatever it is he has that Biloxi wants, she has it, too. And now, they're after them both.





I showed up to work with exactly thirty-seven seconds to spare. I blamed gorgeous-crash-into-me-girl. I swore my truck was acting funny and I had no cash to fix it.
                I nodded to Pepe, the owner, and winked at Mesha, the wife of the owner. She giggled behind her hand, and so our day began just like every other day. Pepe owned a feed store and the guy had muscles the size of tangerines. So, that was my job description. In fact, on occasion, he even called me that instead of-
                "Hey, we need muscle up here!"
                I shook my head. "Yep!"
                I trotted up front to help the dude in duds load thirteen bags of chicken feed. It wasn't a glamorous job by any means, and the pay was caca, but it kept me fit and busy. That was what I needed. If I had to up and leave, I wouldn't be leaving the guy in a jam because guys like me were a dime a dozen.
                The day wore on and at punch-out time, I felt a familiar hand reach across my back. Slither was more like it. "Hey, Jude."
                "Mesha," I mumbled back without turning and rolled my annoyed eyes. Were all women the same? They never wanted me for anything but a good time and then see ya later. Which was great for my life, but dang did it get old. Especially since the tune never changed.
                "Pepe's playing cards tonight." The insinuation hissed from her lips in what I'm sure she thought was a sexy whisper. It made my skin crawl.
                "That's great for him." I grabbed my metal lunchbox and turned the other way, the long way around the back, but it was worth it to evade her.
                "That's it?" she practically yelled. "I thought you'd jump on it?"
                I stopped. Dang. She just caught me on a wrong day. I turned. "Why? Because of what you've got between your legs? Honey, there's a hundred girls on speed dial. Sorry. I'm a busy guy."
                And wait for it..."You're such an ass, Jude! I was just testing you anyway!"
                I waved above my head and kept going. Women. Typical.
                I threw my lunchbox through the open truck window and prayed the truck would start as I climbed in. She sputtered, but held out, I'll give her that. I tapped and rubbed the dash. "Come on, girl. Come on."
                She cranked and I drove straight to the auto parts place. I popped the hood and waved away the heated smoke. I sighed and closed my eyes. Mother...this was going to cost a paycheck to fix, which I didn't have to spare. I went inside and priced a radiator. I almost punched the man in his teeth when he told me the price. "Are they made with titanium now and I'm just out of the loop?"
                "Economy's bad for everyone, son."
                I held the counter with both hands and hung my head. "Well...dang."
                "Look, uh, I might need a little help here tomorrow. If you come help me for the day, I'll take half off the radiator, all right?"
                I looked up, unable to stop the incredulous look. People didn't do good deeds for nothing. It just wasn't the world we lived in any longer. But I looked up into the older man's eyes and saw that he was serious. There was a story there. A son, maybe, a nephew, he was trying to make up for. I didn't want to know. I didn't want to get attached.
                "You serious?"
                "Dead," he countered.
                I spoke slowly, "OK. I can be here at around two when I get off from my job. That all right?"
                "Yep. I need some help stocking the shelves, so that's perfect. I'll work you a full eight hours," he warned.
                "It's worth it." I swallowed and hesitated. "Thank you."
                "Sure thing, son."

                I nodded and turned to head back to my busted truck, not real sure what to think. But for now, I'd take it. 

Shelly is a NEW YORK TIMES & USA TODAY bestselling YA author from a small town in Georgia and loves everything about the south. She is wife to a fantastical husband and stay at home mom to two boisterous and mischievous boys who keep her on her toes. She loves paperbacks, coffee, and candy corn, and to spend time with her family and friends, go out to eat at new restaurants and site see in the new areas they travel to, listen to music and also LOVES to read.
Her own books happen by accident and she revels in the writing and imagination process. She doesn't go anywhere without her notepad for fear of an idea creeping up and not being able to write it down immediately, even in the middle of the night, where her best ideas are born.


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Cover Reveal: Skipping Stones by J.B McGee

They say there are five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.

Not everyone will grieve in this order, nor will everyone go through every stage. It’s during the stage of denial when Alex Hart meets Andrew Foster. He takes her one-step closer to acceptance: the stage when new, meaningful relationships are formed. The stage when the realization occurs that this is now the new state of normal.

Just when Alex thinks she is on her way to healing, she enters the bargaining phase. That’s the phase where you wonder what you could have done differently. You wonder “what if?” Specifically, what if the ones you loved hadn’t left you?

Leaving…this is what makes heading off to war so difficult and frightening for Alex. She knows all too well what it’s like to be the one on the losing end of life, which is why she’s made it her personal mission in life to save as many lives as possible. The extreme high she gets from treating trauma victims turns into Alex’s own form of therapy, or so she thinks.

When faced with her world being turned upside down, Alex may just find that her true therapy is in the one who has always saved her.








AMAZON BEST SELLING AUTHORJ.B. McGEE
J.B. McGee was born and raised in Aiken, South Carolina. After graduating from South Aiken High School, she toured Europe as a member of the 1999 International Bands of America Tour, playing the clarinet. While attending Converse College, an all-girls school in Spartanburg, South Carolina, she visited Charleston often. It quickly became one of her favorite vacation spots. She met her husband, Chad, during Christmas break her freshman year, and they married in 2001 and she moved back to her home town.

In 2005, the couple welcomed their first son, Noah. J.B. finished her Bachelor of Arts degree in Early Childhood Education at the University of South Carolina-Aiken in 2006. During her time studying children's literature, a professor had encouraged her to become a writer.

In 2007, she welcomed their second child, Jonah, and she became a stay at home mom/entrepreneur. In 2009, the found out their two children and J.B. have Mitochondrial Disease. In 2011, a diagnosis also was given to Chad. Please take a moment and learn more about Mitochondrial Disease. Awareness is key to this disease that has no cure or treatments.

J.B. McGee and her family now reside in Buford, Georgia, to be closer to their children's medical team. After a passion for reading had been re-ignited, J.B. decided to finally give writing a shot. Broken (This Series), is her first book and first series.


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Blog Tour: I Breathe You by Lori J. Clark

Release Date: August 2, 2013

When a tragic accident leaves Rhane Evans -- lead vocalist for the rock band Fate's Crazy -- permanently unable to speak above a whisper and kills the love of her life, she moves across the state to pick up the pieces. Shattered, Rhane struggles to understand what happened the night of the accident, an accident everyone blames her for, even though she wasn't driving the car.

Enter Ian Callahan. He's the one person who may have a more tumultuous past than Rhane. Though they try hard to deny the sizzling attraction between them, it proves nearly impossible. When Ian's troubled past threatens to tear them apart, they begin to believe happiness isn't in their cards.



Rhane Evans is one angry chick!  But hey, she's a musician and her passionate and fiery persona plays a big part in the success of Fate's Crazy, the band she is in with the love of her life Dalton Morgan.  Just as the band is about to sky rocket to stardom a tragic accident takes Dalton's life and Rhane's voice.  Rhane moves across the state to try and pick up the pieces of her shattered life and come to terms with the loss of Dalton.  Her memory of the night is limited and her anger seems to lay even closer to the surface as she deals with being alone and not being able to sing any more.

I really liked Rhane as a character.  There was enough detail about her background to understand why she was an angry young woman.  Her passionate relationship with Dalton was punctuated by their intense fights and their equally intense make up sex.  Her frustration, anger and grief following the accident seemed to intensify the less desirable aspects of her personality.  Rhane knows she's not a delight to be around:

"In fact, most days, I've been a bitch with a capital C."

Fortunately for Rhane she has a strong connection to her uncle Thomas (T for short).  He gets her in ways others don't and is there for her following the accident.  I loved 'T' - dry sense of humor and enough conviction to do the right thing for Rhane, even when he knew she wouldn't like it.  Gwen, the person T hires to help look after Rhane was also a favorite - her army sergeant style mixed with just a touch of softness saw her establish a solid and effective relationship with Rhane where others may not have done so.

As Rhane is recovering she meets Ian Callahan and there is an undeniable connection between the two.  Ian is coming to terms with his own past and the two struggle to determine precisely what it is they feel for each other and whether they can, in fact, establish a relationship.  Rhane's fiery personality mean that there are some intense exchanges between the two.

While I really enjoyed I Breathe You it didn't demand my attention like other books have.  I read it in a relatively short timeframe but was happy to put it down periodically to do other things - rather than being so lost in the story that everything else didn't seem to matter.  The story was solid and I wanted to know how it was going to end, but I didn't really feel an overwhelming connection with the characters.  The ending also left me wanting just a little more.  While there is no cliffhanger, there is the potential for a follow up story which could provide some greater depth to the outcome.

3.5 out of 5 starts







Ten things about me: 
I'm an only child. I love dogs! I was born in Iowa City, Iowa and lived in Iowa until January 2007. I worked as a professional psychic reader for 2 years. I'm a Pisces Sun, Leo Moon with Aquarius rising. I've written 6 books and am in the process of brainstorming a 7th. I don't look or act my age! I ran my first 1/2 marathon at age 50. I love 80's hair band music. I'm a claims payment analyst for one of Fortune 500 Magazine's "Top 100 places in America to work.
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Release Event: Off Course by Sawyer Bennett

Title: Off CourseAuthor: Sawyer BennettPublisher: Big Dog BooksRelease date: August 4, 2013Genre: ContemporaryAge Group: New Adult Event organized by: AToMR Tours

Renner Caldwell has her life perfectly mapped out. She has the ideal relationship, the perfect job and all is right in her world. When a shameful turn of events happens, she boards the first plane bound for Ireland to lick her wounds and get her head back on straight. 

Cillian O’Braidagh is the sexy, front man to the Irish rock band, Over The Edge. His rising fame and sultry voice make him every woman’s fantasy come true. Not to mention his single-minded determination. To put it simply: what Cillian wants, Cillian always gets. And he wants Renner, because there’s just something about the flame-haired beauty he has to possess.

If their relationship was just about sex and rock n’ roll, it would be easy for them to get lost in their desires. Only their relationship is anything but a hook-up. Will lies, deceit and hidden tragedy get in the way, making the path to true love uncertain? Or will the girl whose been knocked Off Course, find her footing with the man who is teaching her it’s okay to lose control?



I glance at my watch for like the tenth time in the last five minutes and impatiently tap my foot. Where are they? They should have been here over half an hour ago.

"Dude... stop looking at your watch. They'll be here."
I shoot a fuck-off look to Sean, and he just grins back at me. We got to O'Shea's a bit early to get a good table. We managed to snag a tall one that is designed to stand around and it's pretty close to the stage. Cady, Renner, and Teagan said they would meet us here, and glancing at my watch again, I note they are now thirty-seven minutes late.
I'm thankful that my "disguise" is working tonight. I have a baseball cap covering my hair and I shaved before I came out, which makes me look about five years younger. Adding on my glasses, I don't think I'm too recognizable and only a few people have come up to talk to me or ask for an autograph.
Sean is another matter. No disguise can hide that he is Sean Lundie, drummer for OTE. I can only assume no one comes up to him because he looks scary as shit.
"Holy. Fuck," Sean says with awe.
I look at him briefly, and see his gaze is on the door. I turn around, and holy fuck is right. Teagan just walked in and she's wearing a black leather bustier with mounds of boobs spilling over the top, black satin pants that I'm pretty sure were painted on her, and heels that have to be at least five inches tall. She has her hair pulled back severely in a bun and her lips are painted bright red. Every man in the pub turns to watch her walk our way.
My eyes flick over her briefly and I see Cady right behind her. She looks pretty in a blood red dress that's probably hugging her a little too tight for my approval, but then, Cady's like a little sister and I don't like to think about her flaunting her stuff. My eyes search, and they land on Renner, bringing up the rear.

HOLY! FUCK! She looks gorgeous, and I know I won't spare another glance at Teagan in her dominatrix outfit for the rest of the night.

Her hair is flowing down her back with locks of it resting over her shoulders. It's so shiny, that it glimmers in the dim lighting. She's wearing a black miniskirt that doesn't ride too high but is hugging her ass like a second skin. She has on a silver halter-top that is cut low and looks like it's tied around her neck with dental floss. Her feet are encased in silver sandals that are sporting a heel as high as Teagan's.

I seriously don't think I've seen anyone as hot as she looks right now. Visions of me hiking that skirt up to see what lies underneath flood my brain. I'm betting black lace, and I know it would look amazing against that creamy skin.

Teagan reaches us first and blows me a kiss. Then she squeals when she sees Sean and rushes right by me to give him a hug. I often wondered if those two had ever hooked up in the past, but I never asked. None of my business really.

Bending over, I give Cady a quick hug, looking over her shoulder at Renner. She holds my glance, even as I slowly slide my eyes down her body and back up again. By the time I make it back to her face, her cheeks are flushed.

I release Cady and step toward Renner, intent on giving her what would look like a friendly hug to the rest of the group. She's surprised when I wrap my arms around her, in a brotherly fashion, because I know Cady's probably watching. I may not be able to cop much of a feel right now, but I use the opportunity to lean in close to her ear. "God help me, Ren. You look like a goddess."



AUTHOR’S TAKE ON CILLIAN O’BRADAIGH
By Sawyer Bennett

Cillian O’Bradaigh is a native Dubliner and front man for the Irish rock
band, Over The Edge. They’ve found huge success in the European Union, topping the Irish charts and gaining some popularity in the States. Cillian is what us Americans call Black Irish...noted for his dark hair and eyes. He’s tall, tattooed and pierced. Oh, and he’s totally an Alpha male.

Terrible things have happened to Cillian in his past, causing him an almost painful need to be in control of all situations. Couple that with his Alpha tendencies, and you have a sexy rocker who, if he wants you, is more likely to throw you over his shoulder and walk out the door without a word.

Despite all of that, Cillian has a soft nature when it comes to women. He doesn’t like to see them in pain and he’ll go to great lengths to help those he cares about.

If his sexy Irish brogue and rock-star vibe doesn’t do you in, just wait until you see what he can do in the bedroom...and the back storeroom of a pub...and the kitchen...

AUTHOR’S TAKE ON RENNER CALDWELL
By Sawyer Bennett
Renner Caldwell is an American beauty hiding out in Dublin due to something that has shamed her terribly. She keeps her red-head down and her green eyes cast to the floor, trying to stay out of notice. But unfortunately, she’s caught the eye of rocker bad boy, Cillian O’Bradaigh and nothing she does will put him off.

Renner is an interesting character because she has the classic dream of marrying a stable man and having a house in the ‘burbs. She has an ideal, and Cillian O’Bradaigh doesn’t measure up in her mind. Yet she can’t fight the insane attraction she has to him.

What I love about Renner, is that she’s so buttoned up and afraid to lose control, she may miss something wonderful right standing right before her eyes. It’s only when she finally gives up just a teeny measure of that guarded control, that she starts to truly feel alive. And you guessed it...Cillian is the one that makes her let loose. After that, her life changes completely and she starts to understand that we may not always know what it is we exactly crave.


USA Today Best-Selling author, Sawyer Bennett, is a snarky southern woman and reformed trial lawyer who decided to finally start putting on paper all of the stories that were floating in her head. She is married to a mobster (well, a market researcher) and they have two big, furry dogs who hog the bed. Sawyer would like to report she doesn't have many weaknesses but can be bribed with a nominal amount of milk chocolate.






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(3) e-book combo pack of Off Sides, Off Limits, and Off the Record (mobi or epub). – International. 

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Blog Tour: Bring Me Home (Shattered Hearts #3) by Cassia Leo

Welcome to our stop on the Bring Me Home blog tour.  

The breath-taking conclusion to the New York Times and USA Today bestselling series was released August 6, 2013.




Claire Nixon is a college student with a past full of secrets and heartbreak. She was saved once by her first love, and rock star, Chris Knight. But when she encouraged Chris to leave town to pursue his dreams, both Claire and Chris didn’t realize it would be the biggest mistake of their lives.

After a devastating year apart and thousands of miles of distance between them, Claire met sexy surfer Adam Parker. With his awful jokes and profound patience, he helped Claire pick up the shattered pieces of her broken heart for the second time.

But now Chris has returned and he is willing and determined to make Claire’s dreams come true—the same way she did for him when she let him go.

With Adam’s former girlfriend in the picture, Claire finds herself torn between the new, passionate love she shares with Adam and the love and family she shares with Chris






I thought this story was sweet, loving and sometimes sad like book 2. 

The characters are on the brink of being happy and finding their loves that we're lost. I thought this story was very sweet, almost like a homecoming. 
Every one of the characters are making decisions and have decisions made for them that will effect the rest of their lives. Chris, Claire, Lindsey and Adam....I couldn't help but hope all of them would get their happily ever after. 
As I did in book two I rooted for Adam and Claire but realized sometimes a relationship isn't what it seems. 
I enjoyed this story and the ending was what it should be. My only complaint is a lot of dialog and a lot of unnecessary back and forth with each character. Over all sweet story.


USA Today bestselling author Cassia Leo loves her coffee, chocolate, and margaritas with salt. When she's not writing, she spends way too much time watching old reruns of Friends and Sex and the City. When she's not watching reruns, she's usually enjoying the California sunshine or reading--sometimes both.





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purchase links for all three books in the series are provided below

BRING ME HOME: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA| iTunes | B&N | Kobo

RELENTLESS - BOOK ONE (99 cents)  Amazon US | Amazon UK | iTunes | B&N
PIECES OF YOU - BOOK TWO    Amazon US | Amazon UK | iTunes | B&N 




Prizes are provided by the Author



· 1st PRIZE: Kindle Fire HD + $25 Amazon Gift Card· 2nd PRIZE: 10 signed paperbacks of Bring Me Home· 3rd PRIZE: 3 Bring Me Home Key Chains

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Blog Tour: Love Square by Jessica Ingro

Today we're lucky enough to have a stop on the blog tour
for Love Square by Jessica Ingro.



Title: Love SquareAuthor: Jessica IngroRelease Date: July 18, 2013Genre: Contemporary / Erotic Romance

A love triangle gone bad...

He was the one guy I couldn't get enough of. One look from him would make me melt. He was the one I always wanted to love me, but always seemed so far away. Now he stands before me and he's turning my world upside down. 

At one time I would have done anything to be close to him. But will that anything include betraying the man I pledged myself to and that loves me faithfully?

Samantha Monroe had it all. Or at least everyone thought she did. A career on the rise, a gorgeous husband, great friends and a beautiful home. So why does she feel so alone and empty? When she reconnects with an old flame, lines are tested and compromises made in a quest for happiness.

Jacob Matthews always wondered what happened to Sam Monroe. When fate brings them together after all these years, he can't help but wonder if it’s meant to be. But when he meets his perfect woman, there is no doubt in his mind she's his soul mate.

Will the search for happiness cost them everything or will their love square show them what really matters?

The picnic is in full swing when we get there. Everyone is in good spirits as we mingle, saying hello to familiar faces. Aiden is attentive throughout most of the day. He always seems to have a hand either on the small of my back or holding mine. It’s almost as if he’s afraid to let me get too far away from him. Numerous times throughout the day, he’s kissed me when we made eye contact. I can’t help but be confused by this turn of events.
Part of me is angry with him. Why couldn’t he have shown me this much affection over the last year? Things might not have gotten so out of control if he had. Not that I can totally blame my indiscretions on him, but it was certainly the driving force behind my affair.
Another part of me wants to soak up all this attention and keep it locked away forever. I’ve been craving his touch and I’ve missed our connection. The feelings I have for him still run deep.
And yet another part of me feels guilty for enjoying the way we’re acting today. If Jacob knew how Aiden was making me feel, he’d lose it. I can just imagine the anger in his eyes, the hard set of his jaw, his hands fisted at his sides. Most of all, I can picture all too clearly the hurt and disappointment on his face.
Shaking those thoughts off, I head towards the building that houses the bathrooms. As I walk by a shed, I yelp when someone grabs my arm and pulls me to the side of the building. A strong arm wraps around my waist pulling me against a solid chest. I’m about to scream bloody murder when I realize its Aiden.
Before I can ask him what he’s up to, his mouth crashes down on mine. Our tongues tangle, our hands explore, and our bodies strain to get closer to each other. I’m so lost in the moment, it completely escapes my attention that we could be caught at any point in time.
Aiden breaks the kiss, his voice husky as he says, “Sam, I want to lift this skirt and sink deep into your body and stay there for days.”
“What’s stopping you?” I ask with a shaky voice. I would drop my panties right now if he asked me to.


Jessica grew up in Central New York. She spends her days as a Security Analyst at an IT consulting company. She spends her free time reading books and developing ideas for her own stories. Writing is her secret passion that she’s been fostering since elementary school, when she wrote her first book about a puppy. Writing has always been one of her secret dreams and she can't wait to share her stories with the world.
She currently lives in New York with her husband and three dogs.


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Cover Reveal: Freeing by E.K. Blair

Today we get to share with you the cover for Freeing by the incredibly talented E.K. Blair.   Freeing is the next book in the Fading Series.  Fading (book 1) was just amazing - you can check out Tami's review here  - it is one of her favorite's for the year.
But today is all about Freeing - and *flourish of right arm* with no further delay - we give you the cover!!

BOOK GENRES:
Coming of Age
New Adult

RELEASE DATE:
Sept 13, 2013

**FREEING: a companion novel to the USA Today bestseller, Fading** you do need to read Fading before you read Freeing to fully understand Jase's story
Knowing who you are and accepting who you are come at different prices. 

Jase Kinrick grew up in your typical, all-American household. But after the death of his sister, his parents shut down, forcing him to deal with everything life throws his way alone. Terrified of the person he’s discovering himself to be, Jase has his way with every willing girl to try and rid himself of what he fears he is—gay. 

Escaping California and moving to Seattle to attend the University of Washington, Jase frees himself to the reality that he likes men. Never staying with any guy long enough to get to know them, he doesn’t realize that he’s still hiding from who he is until he meets Mark. Scared of having real feelings for another guy stirs up the questions and fears he’s fought hard to bury.

To strip away the barriers to the heart of what is real, and to be okay with what lies underneath, will be Jase’s moment of truth. But he’ll need Mark to lead him there.





FREEING by E.K. Blair book trailer from Novel Idea Inc. on Vimeo.

Blog Tour: Mandatory Release by Jess Riley

Welcome to our stop on the Mandatory Release Blog Tour. 
Described as "Lad lit meets chick lit in this dark comedy about broken people who work in a dangerous place, finding hope where they least expect it" Mandatory Release sounds like one you won't want to miss!  The excerpt we've got is sure to peak your interest too.


Title: Mandatory ReleaseAuthor: Jess RileyRelease date: July 16, 2013Age Group: AdultGenre: Dude Lit / Edgy Women’s FictionTour organized by: AToMR Tours

With appeal for fans of Jonathan Tropper, Tom Perrotta, and Laurie Notaro, this snarky mashup of Girls and Oz is so painfully honest you might think you’re reading a memoir—except the author isn’t a smart-ass guy in a wheelchair who works in a prison.

Recently paralyzed in a car accident, thirty-year-old Graham Finch spends his days trying to rehabilitate a caseload of unruly inmates and his nights on one bad date after another, attempting to rehabilitate his heart—

—until his high school crush Drew Daniels walks through the prison gates one hot summer morning. On the run from a painful past that’s nearly crushed her faith in love, Drew is a new teacher at Lakeside Correctional. Graham, smitten all over again, tries to redirect his unrequited feelings. But when your heart keeps looking back, it's not easy to turn it forward.

Amidst escalating violence at work, Drew is forced to confront her secrets, find a way to forgive old sins, and learn how to listen to her heart and her head when it comes to men. Graham must also learn to make peace with his own past. Together they realize that if you’re going to save yourself, sometimes the best way to do it is by saving someone else first. If only finding their way to one another was easier than working with convicted felons.

Loaded with twisted humor and pathos, Mandatory Release is a darkly comic, unexpectedly sexy love story about broken people putting themselves back together. People who learn that no matter what you lock up—a person, a secret, or your heart—sooner or later, everything must be released.




Unfortunately, we never became more than lab mates, our breezy friendship limited to playful hallway smacks, bad jokes about Bunsen burners, the occasional beer bong at a party.

Well, aside from one night at the beginning of our junior year, when Drew came over after a fight with her boyfriend. We watched Good Will Hunting in my basement, sharing a bottle of peach schnapps that we hid behind a throw pillow every time my mom came down the creaky stairs. Ostensibly, to do about seventy loads of laundry. Drew was curled up on the other side of the old orange sofa, but an hour into the movie, she leaned back against one of the armrests and casually lifted her feet onto my lap. Her calves, really, and she had a skirt on. Bare legs. I immediately began to panic. Didn’t know what to do with my hands. It was the kind of comfortable, affectionate thing girls might do with any of their friends, but I felt a big question mark on the end. She may as well have punched me in the balls, because I sat there for the next hour with the most painful hard-on I’d ever had in my life, compounded by the fact that my jeans were too tight and there was no way I was giving away my state with even a subtle adjustment. I have no idea how the movie ended, because a 3-D porno had begun to play in my head, of me pushing her skirt up and doing hot, filthy things to her that would have been scrambled on cable. But I just sat there frozen like an idiot, my dick an iron rod in my pants, wondering if I should try to kiss her, paranoid that my breath smelled like Cool Ranch Doritos, wanting her to stay forever but also wanting her to just leave so I could breathe again. The next weekend she took a road trip with Brooke to visit her boyfriend in college. When she returned, she was wearing a new pair of diamond earrings. She never came back to my house, which was just as well, because I had no idea how to handle a girl like Drew when I was sixteen.

Jess Riley’s experiences teaching in a medium-security prison inspired the novel Mandatory Release. Her debut novel (Driving Sideways, now in its fourth printing) was published by Random House in 2008. She lives in Oshkosh, Wisconsin with her husband and nutty Cairn Terrier in a 130-year-old money pit farmhouse. When she’s not writing novels, she’s a Grant Writer for school districts nationwide.

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Cover Reveal: Wicked Things by Angeline Kace

If you've read Descended by Blood and The Enemy Within, you know that Angeline Kace writes good stories. Her next novel, Wicked Things , is due for release in September - but today we get to share the cover with you! 



Carmyn Rafferty witnessed the aftermath of her mother's affair. She learned at a young age not to trust anyone. Especially not your spouse. So she's planned. She's planned every detail of her life: who her husband will be, what their careers will be, what their lives will be like. All to avoid the pain of infidelity.
Dallas Brown lives a life all his own. He doesn't do relationships, he doesn't care what anyone thinks of him, and he doesn't live up to anyone's expectations but his own.

When Carmyn's fiancé cheats on her, it sends her into a whirlwind of one-night stands with the most infamous player on campus. She can't seem to stay away from this tough guy and his dangerous motorcycle. Everything about him is the complete opposite of who she'd planned to fall in love with: tattoos, dark stubble along his jawline, and hair that brushes his shoulders.

As Dallas and Carmyn begin to fall deeper and deeper into each other, they learn that love can truly be a wicked, wicked thing.



DALLAS

 
I shoot some darts with the guys, losing some, but winning mostly.

Carmyn looks over at me a few times, always looking away when our eyes meet. She’s watched us play most of this last game, so I grab the darts out of the board and walk over to her. “Play me.”

She tries to hold back her smile. “I don’t have any cash on me.”

“Then if I win, you kiss me.”

She looks me up and down. “What the hell.” She shrugs. “And if I win…” She studies me as if she's not sure what's worth my price. “You have to teach me how to drive your motorcycle.” 

The crowd roars with a loud, “Ooooohhhh!” and she’s grinning like a god damn magician. That’s a good one. She’s gotta know I don’t let anyone drive my bike but me. Everyone knows it. It’s my baby. But I’m confident I’ll win. She’s dancing tonight like she’s reached a perfect buzz level—drunk enough to let loose, but not too drunk to fall ass over face. And on the point-oh-five percent chance that I do lose, it’ll get her on my bike, spreading her legs to straddle the leather and steel. No matter how much I’ve stuck to my self-imposed rule of “no chicks on the bike,” that alone might be worth the small risk.

But shit. To let her drive it. I just don’t know. That’s a lot. “You know I don’t let anyone drive it, right? Hell, I don’t even let the ladies on for a ride.”

She grins, again challenge accepted. “Well, you know I don’t go around betting to let just anyone kiss me, right? And I doubt this is anything less than a once in a life time opportunity.”

It only has a single seat, so I won’t be able to be on there with her to help her drive it. I specifically asked for the single 1939 Harley Davidson seat during the build. Every detail of this bike was thought through.

Vick’s glaring at me from the sidelines. She’s tried on numerous occasions to talk me into taking her for a ride. Even going so far as to offer sexual favors, or incentives as she calls them. Which of course I could never accept. She’s gonna be pissed.

“Do it. Do it!” the guys start chanting.

I’ve never seen her play when the brothers get a game going. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her watch much of our games before, either. And that pussy of an ex-boyfriend of hers has never had the balls to throw any money down. Shit. I gotta do it. I present the darts to her. “Do you wanna start, or shall I?”

The crowd whoops, and Ava runs up and hugs her. “I’m so proud of you,” she yell-whispers into Carmyn’s ear. Carmyn pats Ava’s arm and then steps forward, wrapping her fingers around the darts in my palm.

I curl my hand, catching the beveled darts between our fingers. “Do you know how to play?”

“Outer ring is double, inner ring is triple. First to zero wins.” She yanks the darts out of my hand when I’m too stunned to do anything but let them go.

Shit. Is she trying to hustle me?

She walks back to the line we’ve taped on the scratched hardwood. It’s sexy as hell seeing her walk over there like she owns it. That doesn’t mean she’ll win, though. My shot is straight and accurate. Even if she does know how to play, I doubt she’s better than me.

She shoots pretty well. I’m surprised why she never plays more; she could win a shitload of money from these drunk clowns. 

Still, I should win this round. Carmyn has one hundred nine points left, and I’m down to fifty-four. I could hit a triple eighteen, but I can’t win on the first dart because I’ll appear too eager. And I can’t win on the third and final dart of this round because I’ll look like a chump. I survey the board and do some quick math, figuring out where I have to hit to get the numbers I want from each dart. I shoot the first dart and hit a single four.

The guys cheer.

“Only the inner bulls eye is left,” Nate says. He’s keeping score.

“He’s got this,” Randall calls.

I do. I look over at Carmyn and she’s holding back a smile, shaking her head. “Nope. You’re not gonna hit it.”

I’ve been avoiding that the whole game. She doesn’t think I can hit it. I wet my lips. That kiss is mine. I throw the second dart and it sinks into the center of the board.

I raise my fists into the air and hop on my toes while the crowd cheers.

Carmyn’s jutting out her jaw and shaking her head.

I move the couple of steps over to her, taking my time. “I’ve come to collect what’s mine,” I warn her.

“Right here?” She glances around at all the bystanders.

“They’re all invested now too. They’re not about to look away now.” I drop my voice. “Better make it good.”

She swallows, hesitating.

“I believe this is yours.” I hand her the last dart in my hand. “And this is my mine.” I cup her face in my hands before she can think anything else, and I kiss her.

Her lips pucker, but I’ve worked for this, so she better give me more than that. I open my mouth slightly and she mirrors me. My tongue strokes her upper lip gently. Hers reaches out and caresses mine. When she pulls her tongue back to stroke again, I open my mouth to a full kiss. Our tongues run along the other’s, tasting, taking in the firm but giving sensation as they meld together and then pull apart.

The room is loud around us, but I tune everyone out. I’ve kissed a lot of women before, but Carmyn’s is more than that. From her breaths mingling with mine, to the delicate way she tilts her head. I knew the bet would be worth it.
Angeline is a Scorpio living in the Rocky Mountains with her husband and dogs. She loves all things paranormal, believes ghosts are real, werewolves aren't, and vampires? Definitely real! At least in the Vampire Born world they are. She is currently at work on her first New Adult Romance, Wicked Thing, which releases September 2013.



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Blog Tour - Exclusive Excerpt!! Present Perfect by Alison G Bailey

It's our stop on the Present Perfect blog tour today and we can't wait to share this gorgeous book with you!  And, we're lucky enough to have an exclusive excerpt, read on and enjoy!

Present Perfect by Alison G. BaileyRelease Date: August 6th, 2013New Adult Contemporary RomanceAmazing Book Cover by artist Robin Harper of Wicked by Design

I’ve been unsure about many things in my life except for one thing, that I have always loved him. Every single minute of every single day that I have been on this earth, my heart has belonged to him. It has never been a question, never a doubt. The love had taken on many different forms over the years, but it had always been a constant.
Everyone has their definition of love. There have been countless songs sung about it. A gazillion books, articles, and poems written about it. There are experts on love who will tell you how to get it, keep it, and get over it.
We’re led to believe love is complicated. It’s not the love that’s complicated. It’s all the crap that we attach to it and put in front of it that makes it difficult. If you’re smart, you’ll realize this before it’s too late and simplify.
~~~~~
Amanda Kelly spent her entire life trying to control every aspect of it, while striving for perfection. Her obsession with being perfect, along with her feelings of worthlessness, consumed her. The one thing she thought was perfect in her life was the bond she shared with her best friend, Noah.
Everything was going according to her life plan until she woke up one day and realized she had fallen in love with him. The one thing she couldn’t control was the affect he had on her. Noah had the power to give her one hundred lifetimes of happiness, which also gave him the power to completely devastate her. He was the one thing in her life that was perfect, but she couldn't allow herself to have him.
Her life begins to unravel. Events take over and force her to let go of her dreams and desires. She needs to realize that a person cannot control the events in their life, only their reaction to them...but will it be too late for her to save her relationship with her best friend? Present Perfect is a story of how past events have present consequences and how perfect your present could be if you stopped fighting and just allowed it to happen.



‘Tickets’
            “What do you think?” Noah asked, while we sat at the picnic table in the neighborhood park.
            This had become ‘our spot’. It was the end of summer vacation. This time next week, we’d officially be high school freshmen. I wanted to enjoy every minute of tonight because once school started, time spent here would be limited. I loved coming to ‘our’ spot at night. Tonight, there was a slight breeze so it wasn’t as hot as it had been. The crickets were singing in the trees all around us and you could hear an occasional ripple of water from the pond when the ducks would paddle by.
            Noah was sitting very close to me. We were both wearing shorts and the feel of our bare thighs touching was something new and exciting. I noticed just before the summer, he had started being more affectionate with me. Noah had always been sweet, but recently he hugged me more, held my hand more, and sat closer to me. I liked it. A lot. My body tingled every time he was this close.
             We were sharing his set of ear buds listening to music. Both of us were huge music fans; alternative, indie, punk, rock, etc. The music of our favorite band, Lifehouse, was pulsating through the ear buds.
            “They’re awesome,” I said, swaying side to side, my eyes closed, letting the music flow through me. “The entire CD is brilliant. The song ‘Everything’is my favorite.”
            “Mine too. It reminds me of you,” he said.
             I quickly glanced at him, not sure if I heard what I thought I heard. I looked down and closed my eyes again. When the song ended, I looked over at Noah and caught him staring at me with a slight smile across his face.
             “What are you smiling at?” I asked.
            “You, I like watching you listen to music. You get so lost in it.”
            Our eyes locked as I sucked in my lower lip, running my teeth over it. I felt a warm blush start to creep across my cheeks. I smiled at him, as I handed back the ear bud.
            “Do you think they’ll go on tour soon?”
            Noah shrugged. “Maybe.”
            “If they come to town we have go to see them. I bet they’re unbelievable in concert.” 
            Suddenly, he hopped off the table and stood in front of me. Reaching into the back pocket of his cargo shorts, he produced two tickets, and held them up in front of me. He tried to contain it, but the grin on his face was getting bigger and more adorable each second.
             “Performing Arts Center, three weeks, you and me, Tweet,” he said excitedly.
            It took a second for me to register what he had just said. This would be the first concert either of us had been to. It was hard to contain my excitement.
            “You’re kidding?!”
            “Nop            I jumped up and flew into his arms, causing him to stumble backwards, and fall to the ground with me landing on top, straddling him. We were out of breath and laughing.
             “Noah Stewart, you are the bestest best friend a girl could have.”
            “I am pretty awesome, aren’t I?” He shot a flirtatious smirk up at me and my insides melted.
            “Yes you are,” I said in a low voice.
            We laid there, so close our noses were almost touching as our eyes locked on one another again. Noah had the most amazing eyes. They were light blue and so bright, it looked as if they were lit from the back.
            I wish I had eyes like that. Mine were a weird color. Mom always said they were teal. What kind of color is teal? I can guarantee the color teal is the least used crayon in the Crayola big box.
            I realized I should have probably gotten off of Noah immediately, but I didn’t. He seemed perfectly fine with me staying put, straddling him. My palms pressed against his chest let me know how toned and solid his body was, under his t-shirt. Playing baseball since we were little kids had been very, very good to him. I could also feel how excited he was. I had never felt anything like that before pressed against me. Surprisingly, I wasn’t scared. It felt right.
            My gaze fell to his mouth. When I saw his tongue dart out slightly and run across his lower lip, a warm sensation took over my body. The butterflies in my stomach were doing cartwheels. Our breathing had gone from shallow and quick, to deep and slow. I wasn’t exactly sure what was going on. Noah was my best friend. I had always been excited when I saw him and wanted to spend all of my time with him, but what I was feeling was more than what I had experienced before.
            Noah’s gaze dropped down to my lips, slowly moved up my face, and back to my eyes. Raising his hand, he tucked some of my hair that had fallen against the side of his face, behind my ear. My cheek and the shell of my ear tingled as the tips of his fingers skimmed across them.
            “You were extremely sure of yourself, getting those tickets without asking me first. What if I didn’t want to go with you?” I said, teasing him. My voice was so quiet, it almost sounded like a whisper.
            “Impossible. I know my girl too well,” he said, smiling up at me.  I loved it when he called me his girl. He cleared his throat and then said, “I guess we better get up.”
             “Oh. Yeah. Sorry about that.”  A rosy blush took over my cheeks.
            I rolled off of Noah’s body and sat up next to him. He didn’t stand immediately. I guess he needed a little time to calm down, so did I.
            When he stood, he held his hands out to me, and helped me off the ground. Once I was on my feet, he pulled me in close against his chest, and said, “That was fun. What would you do for tickets to see Green Day in concert?” He had a smirk on his face.









I don't know if this happens to others, but for some reason I end up going through periods where I read books of a similar nature.  I don't mean the stories are similar, more that they have similarities in intensity, emotion and in conveying meaningful messages.  Just now I've been reading books that have had me reeling across a full gamut of emotions - and Present Perfect had me swinging on a pendulum from one extreme to the other.  Congratulations on your first book Alison G. Bailey - it was ... perfection.
Present Perfect is an absolutely beautiful story about the importance of the present, about living in the here and now, not fearing what might be, but grabbing what is with both hands and reveling in everything it brings, regardless of how short lived it might be.
Amanda 'Tweet' Kelly considers herself less than perfect.  When she compares herself to her sister, Emily, there's a lot left to be desired (in her eyes).  Not as sporty, not as academic, not as pretty - Tweet sees all her limitations and, sadly for her, lets her self assessment heavily influence choices she makes.  Of greatest consequence are the choices she makes about Noah Stewart, her life long best friend.  
I absolutely loved the way Bailey told the story of Tweet and Noah's friendship.  Connected shortly after birth the two were virtually inseparable with one of those unique bonds that most of us don't get to experience.  They shared so many things, all their 'firsts', and had in each other an unquestionable ally, confidant and protector.  There comes a time in their friendship when both of them realize they have fallen in love with each other, not the friendship kind of love, but the all consuming, soul mate kind of love ... only Tweet's lack of self worth drives her to focus on protecting the friendship at all costs, rather than exploring the relationship.
The intensity of emotions I felt while reading Present Perfect was extreme.  I'm not one to cry often when I read, but I did have a bit of a quiet tear here and there as I read.  There were also some laugh out loud moments and sometimes they were wrapped so close together it was hard to believe I had jumped straight from one emotion to the other.   
Dalton was a favorite character for me, with some of the most sage advice from one so young.  I particularly liked:

"He deserves to know how he impacted your life.  He gave you a gift.  You know what it feels like to love someone.  That doesn't come along every day, at least not the real kind.  You need to go thank him for that before you have to say goodbye.  Everyone deserves a thank you and goodbye."

oh, and "Ah young grasshopper ... perfection is an illusion nurtured by insecurities" - his was only a minor role in the story, but his contribution was profound.  I would have loved a lot more Dalton.
There were so many things that happened in this gorgeous story, some wonderfully memorable lines and the ending had me reeling ... twice!  I think Present Perfect is the kind of book that can teach us all something.  I suspect I will return to it again and will find yet another pearl of wisdom.  For now I will sit back and bask in the glow of having finished a fabulous story.
5 out of 5 stars

Alison was born and raised in Charleston, SC. As a child she used her imagination to write additional scenes to TV shows and movies that she watched. She attended Winthrop University and graduating with a BA in Theater. While at Winthrop she began writing one act plays which she later produced. Throughout the years she continued writing and producing several one act plays, but then life got in the way and she hung up her pen for a while. On the advice of a friend, she started writing again. In January 2013, Alison sat down at her computer and began writing her first novel, Present Perfect.

Alison lives in Charleston, South Carolina with her husband, Jef, and their two furry children (dogs).  She’s addicted to Diet Pepsi and anything with sugar.

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