Heather Gunter's Blog, page 67

Release Day Blitz: Bring Me Home (Shattered Hearts #3) by Cassia Leo

Today is release day for the final instalment in Cassia Leo's Shattered Hearts series,
Bring Me Home. And this release blitz is giving you a sneak peak into the first few chapters of the book - so be sure to check out each stop on today's blitz!



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



Chapter ThreeChris
I lean back on the edge of the worktable and smile hugely. “I might be able to do the album and the tour without leaving Claire. I talked to Gene and he said he’s going to try to get the production team to fly out to Raleigh next week.”
My mom’s jaw drops. “I think that’s the best news I’ve ever heard.”
“Good. As soon as I hear back from Gene, I’m going to surprise Claire with the news.” I heave a deep sigh as I think of all the things that can go right and wrong when I deliver this news to her. “I miss her so much.”
“You said it, when she’s ready she’ll come back.”
I nod my head, though I’m not entirely sure if that’s true. “I know. Well, I just wanted to give you the good news and to ask you a favor. Can you call Rachel and convince her to tell Claire she doesn’t have to be in the wedding? She’s not answering my calls.”
My mom shakes her head as she grabs a large, steel bowl from a shelf. “Chris, sweetheart, you have to let Claire make her own decisions. If she wants to be in the wedding, let her be in the wedding.”
“But she doesn’t want to be in the wedding. I heard it in her voice.”
“She doesn’t want to let Rachel down. I saw it in her face. Let her do something nice for somebody else. It’s good for her.”

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&NPIECES OF YOU - BOOK TWO    Amazon US | Amazon UK | iTunes | B&N


2 SETS of signed paperbacks of Relentless, Pieces of You and Bring Me Home1 $25 Gift Card (winners choice of Amazon, B&N or iTunes)

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Head to New Adult Addiction for the next stop (7:00pm) 

Check out the full Release Day Blitz schedule at Shh Mom's Reading

Release Day Launch: If You Leave by Courtney Cole

You know you've just been hanging out for this day ... well the wait is over ... it's Release Day for If You Leave by Courtney Cole!! 




26-year old Gabriel Vincent is a badass hero. Or he used to be, anyway. As an ex-Army Ranger, Gabe never thought he needed anyone. But after one horrible night in Afghanistan scars him in a way that he can't get past, he needs someone who can help him heal...even if he doesn't realize it.

25-year old Madison Hill doesn't need anybody...or so she thinks. She grew up watching her parents' messed-up abusive relationship and she knows there's no way in hell that she's ever letting that happen to her.
They don't know it in the beginning, but Gabriel and Madison will soon develop a weakness: Each other.

But Gabriel's got a secret, a hidden monster that he's afraid Maddy could never overcome... And Maddy's got issues that she's afraid Gabe will never understand. They quickly realize that they need each other to be whole, but at the same time they know that they've got demons to fight.

And the problem with demons is that they never die quietly.

Courtney Cole is a novelist who would eat mythology for breakfast if she could. She has a degree in Business, but has since discovered that corporate America is not nearly as fun to live in as fictional worlds. She loves chocolate and roller coasters and hates waiting and rude people.

Courtney lives in quiet suburbia, close to Lake Michigan, with her real-life Prince Charming, her ornery kids (there is a small chance that they get their orneriness from their mother) and a small domestic zoo.




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Check out the Blog Tour Schedule by clicking on the book cover below

Blog Tour: Finding My Way by Megan Keith

 Welcome to our stop on the Finding My Way blog tour.  This is the debut novel of Australian Author Megan Keith, so Tami was particularly looking forward to reading and promoting this one.  It is a gorgeous story about how finding love is never straight forward, and finding our way can be tougher than we thought.

Title: Finding My WayAuthor: Megan KeithGenre: New Adult Contemporary RomanceRelease Date: June 26, 2013Cover Designed by: Cover to Cover DesignsTour Organized by: As the Pages Turn

When twenty-three-year-old Emma discovers that her ex is moving on with his life, she decides to harden up and get on with living her own. Who knew that just opening up to the possibility of a new relationship would be all that it took? Things start looking up when her hot new co-worker Seth notices her. He had been the subject of her fantasies, but she never thought she stood a chance. Then there’s Nick, the sexy and self-assured guy she met at the train station that she cannot get out of her head. When even more prospects begin to show it seems that life is finally looking up. Top it off with a new career opportunity and Emma finally believes she can find her way to a whole new life.







I have had the good fortune of reading a number of outstanding debut books recently and Finding My Way  by Megan Keith is no exception.  In this well written story we spend time with Emma (Em), Seth and Nick as the three of them, independently and together, seek to "find their way" in life.
Emma is in the final stages of recovery from the end of a long term relationship.  A series of events force her to realise that it is time to move on from Josh and after 11 months she opens her mind to the prospect of a future full of possibilities.  It is amazing how mindset can impact so much about a person - once Emma makes the active decision to begin living her life again, there is a noticeable change in the way she carries herself and interacts with others.  As a consequence she catches the eye of two very different men:
Seth, the gorgeous, sensitive IT guy at work, who Emma has had a bit of crush on is captivated by her smile one morning.  From there he begins to notice Emma and the two tentatively start to explore a relationship with each other.
Nick, the sexy, outspoken player from the kiosk at the train station.  He's been watching Emma as she moves through the train station each morning for some time and notices something different about her the morning after her decision to move on.  The two strike up a 'friendship' - which is filled with sexual tension.
All three characters are grappling with life, love and what they want from both.  Emma is unsettled at work and not really clear about what her career path will be.  She's also confused about the things she is feeling for Seth and Nick - two very different men and confused about what they want from her.  Nick is a serious player: he doesn't do relationships. Until he meets Em and he realises she's too good for a 'hook up'.  He has dreams of being a successful DJ,  travelling the world and is battling with his father's disappointment, watching his friends settle down and the feelings he is developing for Em, despite them both agreeing to be 'friends'.  While slightly more settled, Seth is dealing with his own insecurities.  Frustrated with his house mates, lonely, and while satisfied at work for the moment he wants to do more with his qualification and find someone to settle down with.
Finding My Way is told from three points of view: Emma, Seth and Nick.  I really liked how we got to see scenes from the different perspectives.  So many times I wished the characters would just tell each other what they were thinking.  A whole lot of their frustrations could have been resolved if they had just communicated clearly with each other!  But having said that, I couldn't help but chuckle at how realistic their interactions were.  So often people make assumptions about what others want, without checking their perception, and more often than not they get it wrong.
Sometimes taking a risk requires more courage than you thought you had.  Even with the encouragement of her best friend Kat, Emma doesn't quite manage to take a leap when she could.  Despite her caution, Emma does manage to stay true to herself and she does make tough decisions.  Her experiences with Seth and Nick are both wonderful and heartbreaking - and it's not till the very end that you learn how things will play out for the three of them.  I really enjoyed Finding My Way .  There is another book to follow that I will be watching for.

4 out of 5 stars  



Megan Keith is a married, mother of three, living in a small country town in New South Wales, Australia. She has a constant thirst for a good story, whether it is in books, music, movies, on TV, or just plain old-fashioned gossip. She has always had a creative side and loves to let her imagination run wild. On a few occasions over the years, Megan has put those imaginings into a written story, but never dreamed of publishing. She has always loved to read, but it wasn’t until she got given a Kindle that it became a full-blown addiction. Her introduction to the world of Indie Authors re-ignited her passion for writing and she has spent the past ten months working on what was supposed to be one book, but has now turned into three. Finding My Way is the first of the trilogy, and is also her debut self-published novel.




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Blog Tour: Sanctuary of Mine by Shelly Pratt

From the bestselling author of RUINED comes SANCTUARY OF MINE

Title: Sanctuary of MineAuthor: S.PrattGenre: New AdultGraphic Design: Cover It Designs


When you see someone who looks like they need saving, you save them right?
Mackenzie Deeks is struggling. Outwardly she plays the tough guy and acts like being a young adult with an eating disorder is no big deal. Inside, she's crumbling.

Ever since her parents’ divorce, the only way she has been able to feel in control of her life is by purging the despair that has its grips on her and won't let go.

Tyler Redding knows when someone needs help - he's seen it before. This time, though, he's not going to take no for an answer. From the moment he first sets his sights on Mackenzie, he's unable to think of anyone else. But how can he focus on a football career when all he wants to do is date the most unassuming person he's ever met?

As their lives become intricately entwined, it becomes more than wishful thinking when Mackenzie and Tyler find each other again as adults. With successful careers, a beachside lifestyle and each other’s love to contend with, life should be pretty damn good. But just when they think they’ve found their wonderful kind of normal, their perfect world comes crashing down.

It’s going to take a lot to keep Mackenzie from succumbing to old habits, but Tyler thinks he might just be the one to save her for good.
WARNING: Advised for audiences 17+years.*Includes a sample of Ruined



                                                                      Not available on Spotify: Your Love by Brandon Heath


5 Fantastic stars

Thank you Shelly for touching on a subject that many don't. In the society that we live in this disease runs rampant. It's a breath of fresh air to read a book based on subject that seems to get swept under the rug. 

My heart broke for Mackenzie but she was real and raw and vulnerable. Tyler was something. This I mean in the very best of ways. Tyler is amazing and sweet and perfect! He sees the signs (having lost a love one to this horrific disease) and sees something in Mackenzie that wrenches his heart and makes him want to take care of her. I love that he didn't force a change down her throat but cared about her and wanted her regardless, despite the disease.

It was warm, gut wrenching and downright wonderful!

Thank you Shelly, for writing such a beautiful story that will hopefully make others think. 




S. Pratt is a multi-genre author who lives on the east coast of Australia in northern New South Wales with her husband and two children.

Shelly's breakout novel, Ruined and companion novella, Ruining Angel are contemporary romance fiction books available on kindle and print from the Amazon store.
Sanctuary of Mine is her latest work in the New Adult Romance genre. 
Beloved Soul by Shelly Pratt is available through Amazon and is published through Eternal Press. Please note that Beloved Soul's cover artwork, editing and publication is all done through Eternal Press.
All other novels are written and published by S. Pratt. Editing acknowledgements go to those who are listed on each individual book title.
You can find all the latest information about Shelly and her other books (in different genres) by visiting:Facebook | Twitter | Web


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Book Blitz: Love Notes by Heather Gunter

Welcome to the Book Blitz for our very own Heather Gunter's Love Notes!! Now is the perfect time to pick up this sweet story - not only is it on sale, but Heartstrings, book two in the Love Notes series has also just been released.
So why not read Charlie and Maverick's story now and then you can follow up with
Tori and Will's story.


 Title:  Love NotesAuthor:  Heather GunterReleased:  April 30, 2013Age Group: Young Adult (YA)Genre: Contemporary Romance

How do you cope when the people you care for hurt you the most? When the way you feel on the outside, smothers you on the inside. And when you are left to face your demons alone, will you learn that only you have the power to overcome them?
Charlie has never had it easy. Between the constant moving and the incessant fat comments and jokes from her father, her self-worth is nonexistent. Her reflection in the mirror shows her nothing but a plain Jane. Music is the only thing that keeps her sanity in check.
Charlie catches the eye of the town star quarterback, Maverick. With her curves, her brunette hair, and the voice of an angel, Maverick has never met anyone like her. Everything that is different about Charlie just makes Maverick like her more. Unfortunately, Charlie doesn’t see it herself.Proving it to her may deem harder than he thinks, especially when tragedy strikes and tears them apart.
Now standing on her own two feet she may finally learn exactly who she is, what’s she’s capable of and how very un plain Jane she really is.






Love Notes is a beautiful YA debut from Into the Night Reviews very own Heather Gunter. 
I was very fortunate to have the opportunity to read an ARC prior to release for this review.  In Love Notes Gunter very successfully tackles the challenging subject of self esteem and the impact others have on how we see ourselves.
Charlie has spent her whole life hearing about her short falls.  Her weight, her looks, her everything – in the eyes of her father, she just doesn’t measure up.  Due to her dad's job, Charlie and her family move every few years.  For Charlie, frequently being the 'new girl' at school is hard work, particularly with her lack of confidence, so she tends to try and fly under the radar.  With all the moving around Charlie hasn’t had the opportunity to develop lasting friendships and reap the benefits that come with them, nor does she realise that her experiences at home at not 'normal'.  With next to no self esteem, and counting down the days of her senior year in high school at yet another new school, the last thing Charlie expects is to catch the eye of the football team captain.
Maverick is not your typical ‘jock’.  Unlike many he’s not into meaningless flings with the girls that throw themselves at him.  He’s focussed on his football, maintaining his grades and moving on to college with his football scholarship.  On the first day of school he literally runs into Charlie, knocking her flat on her backside.  And immediately his interest is piqued.
Love Notes takes us on a development journey of friendships, relationships, self esteem and much more.  Charlie has to come to grips with the fact that her self perception is challenged by others and is perhaps not what it should be. Maverick has to consider his love of football, his dream to play in college and its place in his future.  And both of them have to work out if they can be there for each other as they do this.
Told from both Charlie and Maverick's points of view we get to see both characters perceptions and understand their perspectives.  I am a big fan of this style as it gives great insight into the experiences of both characters and for me, allows the reader to develop a stronger connection with them both, as opposed to only one.  The relationship between the two evolves beautifully as Maverick slowly nurtures some confidence into Charlie’s battered self esteem.  But just as things are starting to look up, tragedy strikes and threatens not only the relationship but Charlie’s already limited sense of self worth.
Gunter has created some absolutely delightful characters in Love Notes – Maverick is everything a girl could hope for in a boyfriend.  Tori, Charlie’s new found BFF is to die for.  Her wit and sass are perfect and she manages to cajole Charlie out of her shell very effectively, all the while harbouring a secret of her own.  Will, Maverick’s best friend is also fabulous – calling Maverick on his crap when he least expects it - precisely what you want from someone who’s known you all your life.
In Charlie I think Gunter has accurately created a girl who has had a life time of put downs – she has a good balance of insecurity and yet hope.  The impact of such consistent criticism from one of the two people you look to for unconditional love cannot be underestimated and I think the strength of character Charlie shows is worthy of great admiration.  I loved how the changes in Charlie were progressive, this made her character so realistic and believable.  I was particularly impressed with Charlie towards the end of the book – there were a couple of scenes that required great courage and she stepped up really well.
Love Notes is a touching YA story about developing a sense of self worth that I just loved.  Despite a lifetime of negative messages, and with the help of her new found friends, Charlie shows that nothing is insurmountable.  A beautiful first effort from Gunter.  It's a relatively quick read, perfect to settle down with on an afternoon when you don't want to think too hard about what you're reading, but rather relax and just get lost in a sweet love story.  Gunter finishes the book with a teaser for Heart Strings, book two in the series which tells Tori’s story and I am definitely looking forward to it. And for those of you that don't like cliffhangers, don’t be concerned ;)
4.5 out 5 stars





Heather is a devoted mother of three gorgeous boys.  She balances spending as much time with them as possible with writing, updating her Into the Night Reviews book blog and her day job.  Her love of animals sees her home in Canton, GA bursting with numerous dogs and ferrets.
Heather campaigns passionately for anti-bullying initiatives and has a strong conviction to reduce peoples suffering at the hands of bullies.
A talented singer, who once dreamed of pursuing a career in that field, she has put that goal aside in exchange for her writing.  A self proclaimed geek, whatever spare time she has is spent curled on the couch reading and listening to music.

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Blog Tour - Review & Excerpt: Unbreakable by Rebecca Shea

Welcome to our stop on the blog tour for Unbreakable by Rebecca Shea.  It is hard to believe that this is the debut novel from Rebecca - it is beautifully written and evokes such intense emotion.  Be sure to grab this one!





Jessica Harper is the epitome of perfection. She’s a good daughter, makes excellent grades, and always strays on the safe side of life. The last thing she thought would ever happen was falling in love with her best friend’s brother. But sometimes fate just has a way of bringing two people together.

Wide receiver for the University of Arizona, Gabe Garcia, seems to have it all. When his feelings for Jessica come to surface, Gabe will give up everything to be with her.

But what happens when a tragedy abruptly changes the course of your life? For Jessica and Gabe, everything they thought they knew about each other will be questioned. Sometimes, there are scars in life that are cut too deep to completely heal.

Will their love prove to be unbreakable, or will it shatter and prove fate is just another lie?
*This book contains mature subject matter and is not intended for those under 17 years of age.*



         “I’m sorry. I just can’t look at your mouth any longer without tasting it,” he mumbles against my lips. Relaxing into his embrace, I let him kiss me, relishing the feel of his lips on mine. He devours my mouth like it might be the last time he                                                                 ever kisses me. For all I know, it might be.




Unbreakable is a phenomenal debut from Rebecca Shea. Heartbreakingly beautiful, I dare you not to absolutely fall in love with Gabe, Landon and Jessica.

I would caution even those of you that 'never' cry when reading books to choose your reading location very carefully. This is not a book to read on the bus, or in any other sort of public place for that matter (unless of course ugly crying in front of complete strangers is something that you're comfortable with). It will rip your heart in two and leave you wondering whether anyone will survive the trauma of what happens to these three amazing characters (including you!).
There is such integrity, sincerity and selflessness from all three. It was so wonderful to read a love story that didn't include deception, betrayal or infidelity. Despite that, be prepared for some devastatingly painful scenes as the story unfolds and our characters grapple with their love, their insecurities and their selfless wish for those they love to have what they think they deserve.

Gabe and Landon are two outstanding men. I didn't want to like Landon to start with, but by the end of Unbreakable you can't help but be completely in love with him. The tattooed bad boy, is such a wonderful contrast to Gabe. Gabe is also just amazing. So completely in love with Jessica, so focused on giving her everything - here's a snippet of what to expect from him:

"... it's the kind of love that won't let me breathe if you're not with me. It's the kind of love that makes me not want to live if I can't be with you"

Some of the chapters from Gabe's point of view were some of the hardest, most emotional words I've ever read.

Unbreakable will take you on on a wildly emotional rollercoaster. Rest assured, you will get your heart back, in one piece, although it will have suffered along the way and it will take you some time to recover. Unbreakable - is definitely one of my favorites for the year and I cannot wait to read more from Rebecca Shea.
5 out of 5 stars


Rebecca Shea lives in Phoenix, Arizona with her family and her first “kid” her beagle, Miles. From the time Rebecca could read she has had a passion for reading and books. Rebecca spends her days working full-time in the financial industry as a marketing manager. Born and raised in Minnesota, Rebecca moved to Arizona in 1999 to escape the bitter winters. When not working or writing, she can be found on the sidelines of her boys football games, or watching her daughter at ballet class. Rebecca is fueled by insane amounts of coffee, margarita’s, Laffy Taffy (except the banana ones), and happily ever after’s.




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5 ebooks10 signed paperbacks$25 gift card (Amazon or B&N)GRANDPRIZE is a Kindle Paperwhite

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Tour hosted by Shh Mom's ReadingCheck out the rest of the tour here

Cover Reveal: Save Me From Me by Erika Ashby

We're thrilled to be part of the cover reveal for Erika Ashby's latest book
- Save Me From Me -

So rather than keep you in suspense any longer ... here it is!





Title: Save Me From MeAuthor: Erika AshbyRelease Date: October 2013

Dani refuses to lose another parent due to her absence from their life. After pulling herself back together following the death of her father, she moves back to her childhood town to live with her mom. She’s instantly pulled back into the lifestyle she worked so hard to get away from ten years ago. She accepts that this is the life she has always been destined to live. Getting a job at the store down the road and hooking up with an ex fling seem to be the logical way to go…that is until Holden Reynolds shows up in town.

Now that Holden is finally back home from the Navy he plans on following in his father’s footsteps. Still trying to move on from the one woman who had his heart, he busies himself in work and returning to the country boy lifestyle he’s always loved. The best way to get over someone is to be under someone, right? That’s his mindset as he travels town to town with his job perfectly content with being a rambling man…that is until he meets Danielle Brooks.






*Dani*

If first impressions are really everything, then my first encounter with Holden will forever be engrained into my mind. Like seriously. I will never be able to get the look of his face as that slut bag was going down on him out of my mind. The way his head dropped back against the outside wall of the bar and the moan that slowly eased its way out of his throat was the hottest damn thing ever. The thought of wishing I was the one causing it quickly passed my mind. It would have stayed a bit longer if he would have never lifted his head making eye contact with me. He wasn’t fazed at all by me checking out the show. No, instead he just griped the chicks head harder pushing her faster and deeper onto what I’m sure is a very nice cock. It’s sad and maybe a little sick that this is making me horny. Maybe it’s the fact that I’m in a desperate need to get laid. It’s been forever. So long that I can’t even remember.

*Holden*

I push back the head of the girl whose name apparently is Loralee. It’s not like I would have given two-shits and even asked. I could care less to be honest. I just got into town today and was just looking for a release and she was more than willing to comply. But now, ever since that hot little thing openly watched me getting my dick sucked and enjoyed the show, this chick is just feeling like a dog licking up slop.

“Enough.” I say trying to adjust my now deflating dick back into my boxers.

She huffs, “Wait, why? Is it because of what Dani said?” Dani, I let the sound of her name play in my mind. “Because what she said isn’t true. I’m gonna beat her fuckin’ ass.”

I lift my hand to shut her up, “Listen here sweetheart. This has nothing to do with her. It has to do with me not getting anything out of your mouth. I lost interest…my dick lost interest. I could lie and say that I have a case of whiskey dick, but we both know that isn’t true. Maybe you just suck at sucking tonight. It’s okay.” I pat her shoulder, “We all have our off nights.”


Being born an "Army Brat", Erika Ashby has been residing in Oklahoma the last 10 years finally putting an end to the nomad tendencies she had grown accustomed to. She's a happily married woman who has 5 kids between her and her husband. She has an insane passion for music and embraces her Inner Groupie any chance she has. It wasn't until the age of 29 that she realized she also had a hidden passion for reading; before then she claimed to have hated it. Six months after unlocking that deep desire she never knew she held, she turned the key to another chapter of her life which has become the desire to write. And the rest is still history in the making.



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for the Timing is Everything Series
Moving Forward          No Going Back

Blog Tour: Beautiful Broken Rules by Kimberly Lauren

Welcome to our stop on the Beautiful Broken Rules blog tour!  Don't miss the excerpt from this fabulous book.



What happens when you create rules to keep others out?

One thing Emerson Moore has come to terms with is that she is the school slut. She knows her way around a frat house and how to get what she wants. She doesn’t make any excuses for her actions and she doesn’t pretend to be anything different. She is who she is and with that she knows how to have a good time. She’s made rules to keep relationships at bay and avoid the demons of her past.

When her best friend, Cole has his two friends from back home move in with him she begins to think she has met her match with Jaxon Riley. Jax is the perfect mixture of tattooed muscle and a sweet-talking mouth. With “hand” written notes, a voice that exudes sex and knowing just how to get under her skin, Jaxon learns how to break all the rules. But will he just end up breaking her heart anyway?



The next morning, before I even opened my eyes, all I could smell was Jaxon. I didn’t want to open my eyes because I was too afraid it would disappear. I could stay in this dream forever. I rubbed my face across my pillow and could unquestionably smell him and his cologne. This was like the best dream and worst nightmare, all wrapped up into one. I reached over and knew that I wasn’t in bed with him since the space next to me was empty, but I also realized that I was no longer in bed with Quinn or Cole. With my eyes still sealed, I skimmed my hand across the comforter and felt the pleats that I remembered were on his grey and white bed. For my final test, I searched for the left corner of the sheet and felt the telltale rip that my earring had once caused.
My eyes finally shot open and my sightless exploration was confirmed. I was in Jaxon’s bed, but he wasn’t here with me. How did I get here? Did I get up and get into his bed in the middle of the night? If so, I needed to get out of here before he came home. Nothing would be more embarrassing than being the ex-girlfriend that not only couldn’t let you go, but also crawled in your bed in the middle of the night.
I stretched my arms out in front of me and noticed familiar handwriting on my palm. I brought it closer to my face to read, since my eyes hadn’t yet adjusted to the morning light. My rule still stands. My bed. Not Cole’s or Jace’s.
Was this seriously happening? Did he go in Cole’s room last night and take me out of his bed just so he could come lay me in his bed all alone. Why the hell does he care where I sleep anymore? “My rule still stands.” Who did he think he was? He doesn’t have any right to make rules for me. He had better not still be in this apartment because if he was, I might rip his head off. What right does he have to take me away from my friends? I might just take a nap in Jace’s bed later today, just to piss him off.
To my chagrin, I was only in Cole’s shirt and my panties, which meant that he carried me with barely any clothes on. I know it shouldn’t bother me because he’d known every single inch of my body at one time, but I think that I deserved to be awake if he was going to touch me again. I looked around the room and didn’t see my clothes anywhere, so they must have still been in Cole’s room. He could have at least brought my clothes with me when he kidnapped me. 

I'm a wanderer, an adventurer, a traveler.

I want to see it all. I haven't been everywhere but it's on my list.

"She travels the world & home is always in her heart."

Lately if I'm not traveling or chasing a toddler, I'm writing. Which is weird because I hated writing in college. Oh wait, that's because that was boring. Who really wants to sit there and cite all your sources into APA format? Not this girl. Writing for yourself is enjoyable and cathartic. Please try it. Then tell me about because I love indie authors.

When I was 19, I packed up and followed my high school sweetheart from Texas to California. We had a blast living it up in San Diego. Four years later we made a crazy decision and packed up again and moved to Germany. What? Yep, you read that right. Guess what? Best decision ever! We OWNED Europe. For three years we saw as much as we possibly could. We lived an hour outside of France, a couple from Switzerland and Italy. Most amazing time of my life. Please go out there and see the world, you won't regret it. After Europe we moved back to California, and for now we're just debating our next adventure.

I earned a degree in Child Development. And now I write novels. Makes perfect sense! I write because I walk around all day with these stories in my head. It's nice to be able to get them out of my head in an organized fashion. I hope that someone out there enjoys them, because I have enjoyed so many others.


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SURPRISE!! Heartstrings by Heather Gunter has released early!

Heartstrings is OUT NOW!!Heather has pulled out all the stops and Heartstrings is available on Amazon NOW!!No more waiting for Tori and Will's story - go grab a copy, quick!





Everyone thinks of me as this happy and upbeat person. What they don't know is that I carry a deep, dark secret. Something horrible happened to me a year ago, and I have kept it quiet all this time. I was fine for a while, but somehow it’s chosen this time to come back, and it's eating at me--like a cancer.

I need to tell someone about it, I just don't know how. I'm pushing everyone I love away, including my mom and my best friend Charlie.

Then there is Will. Handsome, sweet Will. We went out on a date a while back, but then the incident happened leaving me crushed and him confused.

How do you tell someone you care about all of your secrets, and will they still want you when the truth comes out?


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Heather is a devoted mother of three gorgeous boys.  She balances spending as much time with them as possible with writing, updating her Into the Night Reviews book blog and her day job.  Her love of animals sees her home in Canton, GA bursting with numerous dogs and ferrets.
Heather campaigns passionately for anti-bullying initiatives and has a strong conviction to reduce peoples suffering at the hands of bullies.
A talented singer, who once dreamed of pursuing a career in that field, she has put that goal aside in exchange for her writing.  A self proclaimed geek, whatever spare time she has is spent curled on the couch reading and listening to music.

In the Spotlight: The Things We Can't Change Part One - The Prologue by Kassandra Kush

Today we are shining a spotlight on The Things We Can't Change Part One: The Prologue by Kassandra Kush.

This is a fantastic book, albeit just the start of a story.  And yes, there is a cliffhanger - but don't let that stop you from picking this one up.  Make sure you read to the bottom of the post because we've been lucky enough to get a teaser for Part Two as well!!


Ezekiel Quain has learned over the years that love and family are nothing to be depended on. After standing strong next to his mom through her cancer, she ran off, leaving Zeke, his dad and little sister to struggle with the leftover medical bills, and a bad taste in Zeke’s mouth about counting on anybody. His relationship with his father is strained, and the only person he cares for is his little sister, Cindy. With looks, attitude, and words, Zeke keeps everyone at arm’s length.

Evangeline Parker has it all: money, beauty, brains, and the perfect boyfriend, Tony. What everyone doesn’t see is that she’s trapped, and has been for two years. She lives every day in fear, hiding the fact that Tony isn’t the perfect man everyone thinks that he is. She walks a tightrope, trying to reconcile the Tony of the past with the Tony of the present, and to never, ever upset him. Terrified of anyone finding out the truth, she doesn’t get too close to anyone and has been struggling through the past two years alone.

When Zeke stumbles upon Tony and Evie one night and learns of her secret, their worlds begin to collide in a way neither of them expected. Before he can stop himself, Zeke finds himself stepping uninvited into Evie’s life, and urges her to tell someone. Evie refuses, terrified of the repercussions from Tony. Not even sure why he cares, Zeke can only watch from a distance, until disaster strikes and Evie’s secret comes to light, and they are both forced to take action.



Evie: Suddenly I want to run, fast and hard, as far away from this place as I can. I want to go up and shake Zeke Quain for provoking Tony, even though he had no idea of the consequences. I see my dad across the room and want to run to him, beg him to take me home and keep me safe. But I know I can’t. Just like yesterday, I’ll stick around and take it. I’ll numb myself to the pain, escape reality and retreat into my head, and wake up bruised and battered.            Just like yesterday, and just like last week. Tears sting and burn at my eyes as I remember last week, that horrible moment when Tony did something I’d never thought he was capable of. Suddenly I’m back in that moment, my arms high above my head, iron hands capturing my wrists, big body sitting over me, holding me down. Empty house, where no one can hear me screaming. The trickles of blood on me afterward.Fuck. I can still feel them, the wet drips trickling down my thighs, the feeling of it all being absorbed into my body, the fear and shame and hurt and violation sinking right into me, poisoning me. I haven’t felt clean since. I don’t think I ever will again. I’ve felt wooden and hallow ever since, even more so than I ever have after one of Tony’s episodes, and only the pain when he has hurt me since then assures me that I’m still alive.Sometimes I think that I need it to reassure me that I’m still a living, breathing creature. I need the stinging pain in my ribs right now, to let me know that blood, even if its poisoned, is still pumping and pounding and flowing through my body, that I’m still sending out brain waves and my lungs are still taking in air and then releasing it. That I’m not a marionette, with Tony pulling all my strings, putting on a stunning façade in front of my family and even my best friend. Maybe that’s why I don’t fight it. Because without the sharp pain, the fear that chokes me, I’m not sure I’m really alive.            Or maybe I’m just as scared as a mouse trapped between a cat’s paws. Or maybe I’m still in love with who Tony is during his saner moments, who he was, who I know he’s possibly capable of being. Or maybe I don’t try and save myself because I don’t even know if I’m alive enough, worth enough, to be saved.            I don’t know anymore.            All I know is that I want to run, fast and hard, away from this place at this moment. The pain in my ribs is enough to ground me, to keep me sane, and I know that I don’t want more of it at Tony’s hands. I want to run far, far away. To a beach, where I can curl my toes in the sand and let the surf pound my body, not Tony’s fists. Where I can feel the warm sunshine on my skin, and let it be the thing to tell me I’m alive. Where I can wash with salt water, and maybe, finally, get this dirty feeling off my skin. Scrub myself with sand, shed the poisoned layers, and emerge a new person, untouched by such ugliness.
Zeke: I slowly re-shade a section of my drawing, and finally ask in a low voice, “Are you, like, okay? You weren’t at school today and…” I trail off because I’m not sure what else to say. And I was worried about you? I was, but I don’t want to admit it, even to myself. I don’t worry about other people, aside from Cindy.            Evie finally turns to look at me again, and this time, her eyes are full of a deep, aching pain that nearly takes my breath away. They’re covered by a sheen of tears, and I see her lip quiver for just a moment before she takes a breath and seems to regain control. I see her fists clench, her nails dig into her palms, and finally she speaks. “Can we please, please just not talk about me? At all?”            “Sure,” I say quickly, because I’m unnerved and a little scared. I’m not sure if I want to know what happened, if it put that look in her eyes. It occurs to me that this girl has problems and issues deeper and longer than mine, and that I should definitely stay away and not get involved. Luckily, that’s what I’m best at.            “Whatever you want,” I say, trying to put a little bite in my words. “Just… sit or whatever. It’s a free studio.”            “Thanks,” she whispers, and for a while she just sits there as I continue to work. Finally, she looks over and examines my drawing, and I resist the urge to put an arm over my work like a five year old. “I didn’t know you drew,” she comments.            “I don’t.” I look up to find she’s staring at me again, her eyes wide and innocent. I have to fight against the urge to spill my guts. Those eyes of hers should come with a warning label or something. No wonder Tony is so obsessed with her. Scrabbling for some distance between the two of us again, I point at her head with my pencil. “Your hair is fucked up, by the way.”






I picked up The The Things We Can't Change Part One in the full knowledge that it is the first instalment of a larger story. I'd actually read the first chapter on a post on the author's website and was so intrigued I simply HAD to read the rest of the book. I can honestly say I WAS NOT disappointed. Despite being short and finishing with a massive cliff hanger I absolutely loved The Things We Can't Change Part One. 

Kassandra Kush has tackled the very difficult subject of an abusive relationship in a way that is both confronting and informative. To everyone around her, Evie Parker is 'perfect' - beautiful, popular, wealthy and her boyfriend is the equally beautiful, popular and wealthy Tony Stulls. They are THE couple in high school. As is often the case though, appearances are not everything and there is a bleak, dark side to their relationship. Tony is unbalanced, psychologically controlling and violent. Evie is terrified: terrified of what he will do to her, of what he will do to himself and of people finding out what she is experiencing. The simple answer is that she should leave, or she should tell someone, which seems so obvious. But the flashes of the Tony she fell in love with: sweet and loving, combined with the threats he makes to harm himself make that option an impossible choice for Evie.

Zeke Quain is the quintessential bad boy. But really he's not - his attitude and style are carefully designed to help him keep distance between himself and everyone around him so that he doesn't get hurt again. With a background that couldn't be more opposite to Evie's, Zeke has to work at the Country Club that Evie and Tony are members ofto help support his family. His younger sister, Cindy, is his kryptonite. He will do anything for her and in fact does everything he can to ensure she can pursue her dream of dancing. Cindy is the one person that Zeke can't say no to. Zeke and Evie go to school together, but they mix in totally different crowds. Both know of each other, but their interactions are generally filled with derision and disdain.

That is, until Zeke discovers Evie's secret. Despite his vow to not care, he takes it upon himself to talk to her about what is happening with Tony and to encourage her to speak up. The dynamic between Zeke and Evie is just fantastic. There is no 'insta-love', in fact, they often can't speak to each other without one of them walking away furious at the assumptions being made. There is an underlying attraction, not to mention Zeke's obsession with Evie's hair, but it seems to me to be more about them recognising things in each other that they share. For Evie, there's a sense of safety when she is with Zeke.

The Things We Can't Change Part One is very well written. The characters have depth and I was completely engaged from start to finish. Even the 'support cast' is so perfectly developed that I fell in love with Evie's dad, the self made success story, felt indifference towards her stepmother and felt that I really got to know each of Evie and Zeke's friends enough that they were meaningful characters in this story. The cliff hanger is massive - for a brief moment I wondered whether the version of the e-book I had wasn't complete and I actually said "Nooooooo" out loud when I realised it was, in fact, the end of Part One.

I cannot wait for Part Two. Apart from wanting to know what happened next from the final moments in the story, I want to see what happens with Evie and Zeke. It is absolutely not a given that they will be together. There are so many obstacles to this it almost seems impossible: and yet I'd really, really love to see a relationship between the two unfold.

Don't let the prospect of a cliff hanger put you off - you will seriously miss out on a wonderful story if you do.

5 out of 5 stars

And as a really special treat, we get a teaser for Part Two!! Evie:
            “Leave Zeke Quain alone,” I grit out through clenched teeth. “He’s been through enough.”            Nervous titters pass through the girls, while Hunter’s eyebrows rise. I wish I had stayed silent, but the words are already out and I can’t take them back.            “A little territorial, aren’t we?” Hunter asks, his voice low as he takes a step toward me.            I’m already pressed up against the wall, but I still try and back up ever further, my heart rate speeding up as I can feel the warmth emanating from Hunter, smell his deodorant, see the ironed creases in his dress shirt. Close, much too close.            “Back off,” I push out, and my breath comes out in pants, quiet and terrified.            “What’s the matter, Evie?” someone, Chantal, I think, jeers from the crowd. I can’t tell because all I’m focused on is how close Hunter is to me, and how every hair on my body is standing straight up, and my brain is telling me to run run run. “For someone who cheated on her boyfriend with someone from the slums, you’re sure acting like a prude.”    “Excuse me. Excuse me.”            The crowd parts, and then scatters – or at least the females do – at the sight of Zeke trying to cut a path through them. The boys break up a little more slowly, trying to give Zeke tough looks that say they know just who he is and what he’s done, trying to show they aren’t afraid of him. The fact that they walk away as quickly as the girls did shows the contradiction there.             Zeke has a damp towel in hand, and he gestures toward Hunter and me with it as he gets close. “Do you mind? If I don’t get the liquid up right away, it leaves marks on the floors.”            All three of us look down at the dark, cherry wood floors. Several drops of condensation from my glass, along with a slightly larger puddle of champagne about the size of fifty cent piece are all the liquid I can see. It’s a minimal spill, infinitesimal, really, but Hunter can’t seem to think of anything to say, as it is Zeke’s job to keep the club maintained. He’s forced to step away from me so Zeke can wipe up the drops, and with one final look in my direction, Hunter leaves.    I want to thank him, for saving me yet again, but I know from the look in his hard eyes that the thanks won’t be welcome. He probably doesn’t know why he did it any more than I do. I wish we could bridge whatever this gap is, comfort each other because I know we have both lost so much, but I know it’s impossible. I may feel safe around Zeke, but I have secrets that I will take with me to the grave, and no one will ever be able to get them out of me. Not even Zeke.
Zeke:              I shrug. It’s because it all helps, all this distraction. If I’m smoking or drinking or painting or hooking up with girls, I’m not thinking about Cindy, about love or connections or worry or especially not Evie and Tony. Or my anger, or doing anything about the anger that I feel.            “You don’t understand,” I finally say shortly, because they’re both staring at me like they want a real answer.             Dominic hesitates, but then he finally gives me a nod and we walk together to our next class. “You know he’s just worried about you,” he comments, and I give him a hard look. He holds his hands up innocently. “Look, I’m even less into all this emotional shit and stuff than you are, okay? God knows my own parents aren’t all there. I’m just saying, fall all you want. But don’t fall so far that you can’t get back up. Know what I’m saying?”            I nod, even though I already know the truth of the matter.I know I’ll never want to get back up.


My name is Kassandra, I’ve received grief all my life (and every time they ask my name at Starbucks) that I spell my name with a K instead of a C. I come from a HUGE family of seven kids, and all our names start with a K – which left me no other option for spelling. I’m twenty-two years old, and I was home schooled until the ninth grade, where I went to public school and received MAJOR culture shock, but survived intact.
I was always ‘the quiet girl who was reading’ and this definitely led to my love of writing, which I’ve been doing since I was ten. My first book was a young kid’s adventure where a girl fell through a trapdoor in Scotland to a magical land. Since then, I’ve both improved my story lines and my writing, though I’m sorry to say not my handwriting. After attempting several times to get my books published traditionally, I decided to launch on Kindle and self-publish, and I can definitely say this was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

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