Heather Gunter's Blog, page 70

Cover Reveal: Vixen in Vegas by Emma Nichols

Wow - what a gorgeous cover for Vixen in Vegas by Emma Nichols

Scheduled for Release: 13 August, 2013

It was supposed to be a week of simply being, of living in the moment, and enjoying every minute while it lasted. Of course, that kind of intoxication can have lingering effects. For Sin, she found herself wanting to break all the rules, to extend her time with the stranger who stole her heart. Vegas was just the right kind of place to take such a gamble. Meeting up with BE at the gondolas was a risk. Love went against everything they had promised, but the best things in life can’t be planned.
Soon Alysin will be tested.

After guarding her heart for so long, she finally let a man in and discovered that the worst things in life happened when she least expected them. When she walked in on BE with another woman and overheard their heated conversation, she suddenly remembered there was a reason she made these rules.

Will broken rules lead to broken hearts or will she realize that though love was a gamble, she was all in?



























What made her decide to be an erotica author?
Simple.
How else was she going to parlay her two favorite past times into a career?

Emma is single and loving it. Like her first character, Alysin, Sin for short, she doesn't believe in settling or in settling down. She loves to indulge in her passions whenever the mood strikes and enjoys keeping all of life's cliche moments spicy.

Known for her sense of humor, Emma surrounds herself with friends whose antics often become the source of book fodder. Her ideal situation would be to explore the Caribbean while writing. She pursues that dream daily.


Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads




Enter to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour Stop: A Brand New Ending by S.A. Rolls




Title: A Brand New Ending Author: S.A. Rolls
Genre: Contemporary Romance/New AdultTour Organised by: Literati Literature Lovers


Phoenix Harper never imagined her life would come to this: A life not worth living anymore. After a failed suicide attempt, Phoenix is sent to be observed at a local psychiatric hospital. There she meets Braeden Harris, a hospital aide with his own haunting past. Not long after their first encounter, they feel an unexplainable pull towards one another. Will fate bring them together, or will outside forces tear them apart?







S.A. Rolls is a native of the Bay Area, where she attended culinary school and obtained a degree in baking and pastry. When she is not baking, she spends her time reading and writing. Stephanie reads anything – from biographies of her favorite president to the most popular YA series. Inspired by her surroundings, she has written her first novel, based in San Francisco, her favorite city. She currently lives with her boyfriend and their five-year-old pug.


Facebook | Twitter | Website




Amazon | Barnes & Noble



5 e-book copies of A Brand New Ending (Open international)

1 GRAND PRIZE of a signed paperback copy, bookmark, box of animal crackers and a mini book charm (US only)
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Check out other stops on the tour by clicking the tour button below

Cover Reveal: Jordyn and the Caverns of Gloom by Tiffany King

We are thrilled to be able to share with you the cover for Tiffany King's Young Adult Daemon Hunter Series Book 2! 
Jordyn and the Caverns of Gloom


Scheduled for Release:  15 August, 2013

Lies. 

My so-called family lied. My friends lied. 
The only guy I ever liked lied. 
My mentor, the one I was supposed to trust lied. 
My entire existence is built on lies and yet now they want my help. Scratch that, now they need my help. I'll play the good soldier, but I am no longer the person I was before. This time it will be on my terms. I will trust no one. 
I am a weapon. I am Jordyn.


USA Today Best Selling author, Tiffany King is the author of the Young Adult titles:The Saving Angels Series, Wishing for Someday Soon, Forever Changed,Unlikely Allies, Miss Me Not, and Jordyn: A Daemon Hunter Novel book one. She also has a New Adult title called No Attachments. 
Writer by day and book fanatic the rest of the time, she is now pursuing her life-long dream of weaving tales for others to enjoy. She has a loving husband and two wonderful kids. (Five, if you count her three spoiled cats). Her addictions include: Her iphone and ipad, chocolate, Diet Coke, chocolate, Harry Potter, chocolate, and her favorite TV shows. Want to know what they are? Just ask.

Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Blog | Goodreads 


"Books provide the ultimate getaway for me. A good story is a vehicle that takes you to another place, another time, or another world. I love reading the words and letting my imagination do the rest. I appreciate and respect every author who has the courage to put your work out there for the world to see."

In the Spotlight: The Fallen (Dark Genesis #1) by Sean M. Bazaar

Today we are featuring The Fallen , book 1 in the Dark Genesis series by Sean M. Bazaar.





Armageddon, the last battle. Yet victory is not as assured as us mere mortals have been told. However Hell is a dark reflection of Heaven, if Heaven falls can Hell be far behind?


What does that mean for the souls caught in the middle of heavenly plans and diabolical plots?  All of this is explored as the mighty armies made of the Host of Hosts and Diabolical begin their final confrontation in Book One of The Fallen Series: Dark Genesis. 

Although I don't usually read this type of story or the fantasy genre I absolutely loved it.  I give it a five star review. 

The story was amazingly written, the writer created amazing  characters and has a terrific imagination. I could not put this book down  once I started reading it. The idea of the book is very unique in itself but the way the writer created the scenes I could visualize what he was describing.
The Fallen is very graphic in the fighting scenes but it was necessary to capture the full impact.  The chapters where Alisha Grace (the human) describes what is going on around her gave me goosebumps (what she described going on would give anyone goosebumps!). The story then is being described through the eyes of the angels and demons.  I obviously rooted for the angels but love the conflict and decisions made by the all-father.  Although the angels didn't always agree with his decisions, they made an oath to the all-father.  I think that part is important in the story; the conflict and their oaths.  I loved the description of the demons, each being very unique and grotesque (loved it!) and each was described in such a way I could visualize exactly what they looked like. 

The characters are so well described I fell in love with them all (angels of course) but if I had to pick a favorite or favorites I would pick Krillion, Rai and Alisha (of course).  I just want their happily ever afters and of course I can’t forget Kane . I cannot wait to read the next in this series. I absolutely love this story and I highly recommend whether you like the fantasy genre or not , it's a great story. 
5 out of 5 stars

Sean M. Bazaar is a staff sergeant currently in the U.S. Army. He originally came up with the idea for The Fallen series and characters during his first deployment to Iraqin 2003, as a way for his men to have some fresh reading during their down time. He currently resides in Ft. Knox with his wife, two daughters and their Yorkie. 

Goodreads 



Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA  Barnes & Noble | Kobo

Cover Reveal: Unspoken by Jen Frederick

We are thrilled to be part of the cover reveal for  Unspoken  by Jen Frederick.  And rather than keep you in suspense ... here it is!


Scheduled for release on September 16th the excerpt below will definitely have you adding it to your TBR, and maybe even marking the calender for release day.


Whore. Slut. Typhoid Mary. 
I've been called all these at Central College. One drunken night, one act of irresponsible behavior, and my reputation was ruined. Guys labeled me as easy and girls shied away. To cope, I stayed away from Central social life and away from Central men, so why is it that my new biology lab partner is so irresistible to me?
He's everything I shouldn't want. A former Marine involved in illegal fighting with a quick trigger temper and an easy smile for all the women. His fists aren't the danger to me, though, it's his charm. He's sliding his way into my heart and I'm afraid that he's going to be the one to break me.
Impulsive. Unthinking. Hot tempered.
I allow instinct to rule my behavior. If it feels good, do it, has been my motto because if I spend too much time thinking, I'll begin to remember exactly where I came from. At Central College, I've got fighting and I've got women and I thought I was satisfied until I met her. 
She's everything I didn't realize I wanted and the more time I spend with her, the more I want her. But she's been hurt too much in the past and I don't want to be the one to break her. I know I should walk away, but I just can't.


Once inside my bedroom, his lips were on mine before I could open my mouth. Every kiss before had been a gentle stroke of lip against lip compared to this. This kiss conveyed bone deep want. Bo's mouth ravaged mine, biting and sucking on my lips, his tongue seeking out every crevice and surface like he wanted to absorb me. I forgot about our talk as the blood pooled in my lower body. Bo's hands were up under my shirt, the fabric preventing him from reaching his desired destination. He brought one arm down and lifted my legs up around his hips, urging me to wrap them around him. I did so and he lifted me higher, keeping one hand under my butt and the other pushing my shirt up to expose my bra. I whimpered with need.
He shushed me and bent his head to lick between my breasts, pulling down one lace cup with his teeth to suckle hard on my nipple. My legs were splayed open but I wasn't getting any relief from his chest. I pressed harder and wiggled against him. Bo's hand left my breast and went to the juncture of my legs. Through the denim and the lace of my panties, I could feel his hand, but this only made me want a closer, stronger touch. I canted my hips toward him. Bo undid my snap but could not get the zipper down with my legs spread open and his one hand under my butt.
He lowered me to the bed and pushed my jeans down just far enough that he could insert his hand between the denim and my flesh. His mouth never stopped working mine. I became just a mass of awareness. I could only feel his lips, his hands on my body. There was only one thought in my mind. How to get closer to him. He rubbed me in circles, his hand wet by my arousal. 
"I love that you’re so wet for me." 
I shivered, the pulse of my blood drumming so loudly in my ears I could barely hear him. He pressed the heel of his palm hard against my pelvis bone and his two fingers pushed slowly inside. I was dying, one infinitesimal centimeter at a time. 
"So hot. Tight. Can't fucking wait to be inside you." Bo's words were more grunts than complete thoughts. I understood. I had no ability to form complete sentences either. My sole focus was on the slick between my legs caused by the movement of his fingers thrusting in and out and the abrasion of his palm, rough and calloused, against my clit. “I want to stay inside you for hours. Live here.” 
All my nerve endings reached for something and then, like an explosion, sensation rushed down to my center and exploded outward. I was grateful to be lying down because my legs felt like noodles and I could only see sparkles of light from my eyes. 
Bo kept his hand firmly against me, drawing out as many shudders and shocks from my body that he could and when I finally came down off my high, he withdrew his hand. He wiped his fingers on his sweatshirt that he’d discarded up entering the room and gave me soft, soothing kisses. 
As I felt his insistent erection against my stomach, I knew I wanted to give him the same pleasure, have him under my thumb just as he’d overpowered me with emotion and need. Bo leaned forward and lifted the heavy fall of my hair aside as I slid off the bed to kneel in front of him. "You don't need to do this."
I pressed my hand against him. "I want to."




















Jen Frederick lives with her husband, child, and one rambunctious dog. She's been reading stories all her life but never imagined writing one of her own. Jen loves to hear from readers so drop her a line at jensfrederick@gmail.com.


Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads




Undeclared is ON SALE for $0.99 for a limited time!! 
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks 



5 SIGNED print book sets which includes dog tags for Bo and Noah (open internationally)

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Event organised by The Rock Stars of Romance

Book Blast: Scorched Treachery by Rebecca Ethington

Scorched Treachery is book three in The Imdalind Series
by Rebecca Ethington and is available now!

While Joclyn is trapped in the tormenting hell of Cail’s mind, the battle around her only continues to grow and spread. 

Edmund has infiltrated the underground hallways of Prague, guiding the massacre that would end the lives of the last of the great magical race. In her attempts to stop him, Wynifred has been captured and her magic restrained. Chained up in the ancient dungeons of Prague, her fate is left in the hands of her father, who has tried to kill her before.

With Ryland’s screams and Sain’s fragmented sights as her only company, Wyn must rely on something that has been hidden deep inside of her for centuries to help them break free.

Ilyan’s whole life has been building up to one purpose. Protect the Silnỳ. He knows what he must do, and he has no doubt in his ability to do so.

But when his father’s magic removes Joclyn’s mind from her body, he is left protecting the shell of the one person he loves. Desperate to find a way to break her free of her prison, he makes a choice. And that one choice changes everything.

Now, Ilyan finds himself bound to Joclyn in a way that he never knew to be possible. They say that blood is thicker than water, but Black Water burns, and Ilyan’s heart may not be strong enough to keep the water pumping through his veins and give the girl he loves back into his brother’s care.

Even if he can, it may not be safe to do so. 



The Imdalind Series Reading order: (1) Kiss of Fire
(2) Eyes of Ember
(3) Scorched Treachery



Joclyn Despain has a scar. In fact, it is almost like a brand on her skin. She doesn’t know why it appeared on her neck, but she doesn’t want anyone to see it, including her best friend Ryland, who knows everything else about her. The scar is the reason she hides herself behind baggy clothes, and won’t let the idea of kissing Ryland enter her mind, no matter how much she wants to.
The scar is the reason she is being hunted.
If only she knew that she was.
If only she had known that the cursed stone her estranged father sent for her 16th birthday would trigger a change in her. Now, she is being stalked by a tall blonde man, and is miraculously throwing her high school bully ten feet in the air.
Joclyn attempts to find some answers and the courage to follow her heart. When Ryland finds her scar; but he knows what it means, and who will kill her because of it.






Joclyn is in hiding, hunted by the man she still desperately loves. Ryland is gone, his mind erased; no memory of Joclyn remains, but Joclyn’s heart desperately begs her to hold out hope. Meanwhile the black-eyed monster that possesses him attempts to kill her over and over again.

If it wasn’t for Ilyan, Joclyn would be dead by now. 

Ilyan, the man who once stalked her, is now Joclyn’s protector, the only person she has left. He protects Joclyn from the men who seek to end her life, and all the while, she is haunted by dreams where Ryland begs her to break the bond between them. 

Ilyan is there. Always there.

Ilyan trains and prepares her, teaching her everything she needs to know in the hope that one day she can avenge Ryland, if not protect herself from him.
And then, there is her father.

The man who has never been there is suddenly responsible for everything. And who he is has made Joclyn into something she never wanted to be:

The Silnỳ.


Rebecca Ethington is a story teller and author from Salt Lake City, Utah. She has been telling stories since she was small. First, with writing crude scripts, and then in stage with years of theatrical performances. Rebecca’s first stint into the world of literary writing, The Imdalind Series, was released in October 2012 and since its release each book has been found in several top 100 lists on Amazon. Rebecca is a mother to two, and wife to her best friend of 14 years. Her days are spent writing, running, and enjoying life with her crazy family.


Website | Facebook | TwitterGoodreads | Amazon Author | Barnes & Noble Author


Scorched Treachery: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo
Kiss of Fire: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo
Eyes of Ember: Amazon | Barnes & Noble 

Blog Tour and Giveaway: Stormy Surrender by Nicole Andrews Moore

Stormy Surrender is the latest book from the fabulous Nicole Andrews Moore.  Book one in the New Hope Series was released in April and is already averaging over 4.5 stars on Amazon!




Sometimes the life you planned isn’t the one you get to live. Sometimes the pain of the past overshadows the future. And sometimes to start over you have to go back to where it all began. That’s how it was for Joe Masters. That’s how he ended up back in New Hope. And that’s why he was in his thirties and had nothing to show for his life. He needed a complete overhaul, just like his father’s old house. Instead of a fast track, he had slowed down and was on a ten year plan. These days that was more his speed. And as much as he tried to fight the inevitable, he was learning to accept and surrender.

Martha had weathered her fair share of storms in Vermont, was accustomed to the cold, both the chill in the air and the cold shoulder in her marriage, but after the miscarriage she felt like she would never get warm again. So she did the research from the laptop while sitting in front of the fireplace. She knew what she needed when she Googled ‘hope,’ she just never imagined that it would bring her to New Hope, South Carolina. She never imagined that her husband would trick her into leaving and never follow. She never imagined that a southern storm with all its force and fury could be so destructive. But after the storm, the land is washed clean. It’s perfect for a fresh start, a clean slate, and a new love.

Nicole lives in Charlotte, North Carolina with her husband, a teenage son and daughter, and Kenna. Every day is new and sparkly...which is why she chronicles them on her blog, Suddenly *Not So* Single Journey. It is a way for her to spread her brand of hope, happiness, and love.
Previously, Nicole has been published by McClatchy News in their syndicated papers. In 2010, she joined the Yahoo! Mother Board, became a Shine Parenting Guru, and has become an award winning dating and relationships expert for Shine.After a few bad sailing experiences, the Moores decided they were safer on land. Their boating adventures will be limited to cruise ships. And those cruises are centered around their travel goal of visiting ever Margaritaville. Two down, eleven to go!


 Facebook | Goodreads | Amazon Author Page




Amazon | Barnes & Noble



Open Internationally a Rafflecopter giveaway


Tour organised by

Blog Tour: Branded by Abi Ketner and Missy Kalicicki

Welcome to our stop on the Branded Book Tour!

Title: Branded (Sinners #1) by Abi Ketner & Missy KalickiGenre: YA Dystopian Romance



Twenty years ago the Commander came into power and murdered all who opposed him. In his warped mind, the seven deadliest sins were the downfall of our society. He created the Hole where sinners are branded according to their sins and might survive a few years. At best.
Now LUST wraps around my neck like blue fingers strangling me.   I’ve been accused of a crime I didn’t commit and now the Hole is my new home.
Darkness. Death. Violence. Pain.
Now, every day is a fight for survival. But I won’t die. I won’t let them win.
The Hole can’t keep me. The Hole can’t break me.
I am more than my brand. I’m a fighter.
My name is Lexi Hamilton, and this is my story.





http://video214.com/play/PlssJogkXB4H85hKKomnOA/s/dark



Chapter One
I’m buried six feet under, and no one hears my screams.
The rope chafes as I loop it around my neck. I pull down on it, making sure the knot is secure. It seems sturdy enough.
My legs shake. My heart beats heavy in my throat. Sweat pours down my back.
Death and I glare at each other through my tears.
I take one last look at the crystal chandelier, the foyer outlined with mirrors, and the flawless decorations. No photographs adorn the walls. No happy memories here.
I’m ready to go. On the count of three.
I inhale, preparing myself for the finality of it all. Dropping my hands, a glimmer catches my eye. It’s my ring, the last precious gift my father gave me. I twist it around to read the inscription. Picturing his face forces me to reconsider my choice. He’d be heartbroken if he could see me now.
A door slams in the hallway, almost causing me to lose my balance. My thoughts already muddled, I stand, waiting with the rope around my neck. Voices I don’t recognize creep through the walls.
Curiosity overshadows my current thoughts. It’s late at night, and this is a secure building in High Society. No one disturbs the peace here—ever. I tug on the noose and pull it back over my head.
Peering through the eyehole in our doorway, I see a large group of armed guards banging on my neighbors’ door. A heated conversation ensues, and my neighbors point toward my family’s home.
It hits me. I’ve been accused and they’re here to arrest me.
My father would want me to run, and in that split second, I decide to listen to his voice within me. Flinging myself forward in fear, I scramble up the marble staircase and into my brother’s old bedroom. The door is partially covered, but it exists. Pushing his dresser aside, my fingers claw at the opening. Breathing hard, I lodge myself against it. Nothing. I step back and kick it with all my strength. The wood splinters open, and my foot gets caught. I wrench it backward, scraping my calf, but adrenaline pushes me forward. The voices at the front door shout my name.
On hands and knees, I squeeze through the jagged opening. My brother left through this passage, and now it’s my escape too. Cobwebs entangle my face, hands, and hair. At the end, I feel for the knob, twisting it clockwise. It swings open, creaking from disuse. I sprint into the hallway and smash through the large fire escape doors at the end. A burst of cool air strikes me in the face as I jump down the ladder.
Reaching the fifth floor, I knock on a friend’s window. The lights flicker on, and I see the curtains move, but no one answers. I bang on the window harder.
“Let me in! Please!” I say, but the lights darken. They know I’ve been accused and refuse to help me. Fear and adrenaline rush through my veins as I keep running, knocking on more windows along the way. No one has mercy. They all know what happens to sinners.
Another flight of stairs passes in a blur when I hear the guards’ heavy footfalls from above. I can’t hide, but I don’t want to go without trying.
Help me, Daddy. I need your strength now.
My previous desolation evolves into a will to survive. I have to keep running, but I tremble and gasp for air. I steel my nerves and force my body to keep moving. In a matter of minutes, my legs cramp and my chest burns. I plunge to the ground, scraping my knee and elbow. A moan escapes from my chest.
Gotta keep going.
“Stop!” Their voices bounce off the buildings. “Lexi Hamilton, surrender yourself,” they command. They’re gaining on me.
I resist the urge to glance back, running into what I assume is an alley. I’m far from our high-rise in High Society as I plunge into a poorer section of the city where the streets all look the same and the darkness prevents me from recognizing anything. I’m lost.
My first instinct is to leap into a dumpster, but I retain enough sense to stay still. I crouch and peek around it, watching them dash by. The abhorrent smell soon leaves me vomiting until nothing remains in my stomach. Desperation overtakes me, as I know my retching was anything but silent. My last few seconds tick away before they find me. Everyone knows about their special means of tracking sinners.
I push myself to my feet and look left, right, and left again. Their batons click against their black, leather belts, and their boots stomp the cement on both sides of me. I shrink into myself. Their heavy steps mock my fear, growing closer and closer until I know I’m trapped.
Never did I imagine they’d come for me. Never did I imagine all those nights I heard them dragging someone else away that I’d join them.
“You’re a sinner,” they say. “Time to leave our society.”
I stand defiant. I refuse to bend or break before them even as I shiver with fear.
“There’s no reason to make this difficult. The more you cooperate, the smoother this will be for everyone,” a guard says.
I cringe into the blackness along the wall. I’m innocent, but they won’t believe me or care.
The next instant, my face slams into the pavement as one guard plants a knee in my back and another handcuffs me. A warm liquid trails into my mouth. Blood. Their fingers grip my arms like steel traps as they peel me off the cement. The tops of my shoes scrape along the ground as I’m dragged behind them until they discard me into the back of a black vehicle. The doors slam in unison with one guard stationed on each side of me, my shoulders digging into their arms. The handcuffs dig into my wrists, so I clasp them together hard behind me and press my back into the seat, unwilling to admit how much it hurts. My dignity is all I have left.
Swallowing hard, I stare ahead to avoid their eyes.
Did they need so many guards to capture me?
I’m not carrying any weapons, nor do I own any. I don’t even know self-defense. High Society frowns on activities like that.
The driver jerks the vehicle around and I try to keep my bearings, but it’s dark and the scenery changes too fast. Hours pass and the air grows warmer, more humid, the farther we drive. The landscape mutates from city to rolling hills. They don’t bother blindfolding me because they escort all the sinners to the same place—the Hole. Twenty-foot cement walls encase the chaos within. There’s no way out and no way in unless they transport you. They say the Hole is a prison with no rules. We learned about it last year in twelfth grade.
To the outside, I’m filth now. I’ll never be allowed to return to the life I knew. No one ever does.
“All sinners go through a transformation,” one of the guards says to me. His smirk infuriates me. “I’m sure you’ve heard all kinds of stories.” I don’t respond. I don’t want to think about the things I’ve been told.
“You won’t last too long, though. Young girls like you get eaten alive.” He pulls a strand of my hair up to his face.
Get your hands off me, you pig. I want to lash out, but resist. The punishment for disobeying authority is severe, and I’m not positioned to defy him.
They’re the Guards of the Commander. They’re chosen from a young age and trained in combat. They keep the order of society by using violent methods of intimidation. No one befriends a guard. Relationships with them are forbidden inside the Hole.
Few have seen the commander. His identity stays under lock and key. His own paranoia and desire to stay pure drove him to live this way. He controls our depraved society and believes sinners make the human race unforgivable. His power is a crushing fist, rendering all beneath him helpless. So much so, even family members turn on each other when an accusation surfaces. Just an accusation. No trial, no evidence, nothing but an accusation.
I lose myself in thoughts of my father.
“Never show fear, Lexi,” my father said to me before he was taken. “They’ll use it against you.” His compassionate eyes filled with warning as he commanded me to be strong. That was many years ago, but I remember it clearly. My father. My rock. The one person in my life who provided unconditional love.
The vehicle stops, and I’m jerked back to reality. “Get out,” the guard orders while pulling me to my feet. The doors slide open and the two guards lift me up and out into the night. A windowless cement building looms in front of us, looking barren in the darkness.
The coolness of the air sends a shiver up my spine. This is really happening. I’ve been labeled a sinner. My lip starts to quiver, but I bite it before anyone sees. They shove me in line and I realize I’m not alone. Women and men stand with faces frozen white in fear. A guard grabs my finger, pricks it, and dabs my blood on a tiny microchip.
I follow the man in front of me into the next room where we’re lined up facing the wall. Glancing right, I see one of the men crying.
“Spread your legs,” one of the guards says.
They remove my outer layers and their hands roam up and down my body.
What do they think I could possibly be hiding?I press my head into the wall, trying to block out what they’re doing to me.
“MOVE!” a guard commands. So I shuffle across the room, trying to cover up.
One.Two.Three.Four.Five of us sit in the holding room. One by one, they pull people into the next room, forcing the rest of us to wonder what torture we’ll endure. An agonizing amount of time passes. I lean my head back and try to imagine a place far away. The door opens.
“Lexi Hamilton.”
A guard escorts me out of the room, and I don’t have time to look back. As soon as the door closes, they pick me up and place me on a table. It’s cold and my skin sticks to it slightly, like wet fingers on an ice cube. Then, they exit in procession, and I lie on the table with a doctor standing over me. His hands are busy as he speaks.
“Don’t move. This will only take a few minutes. It’s time for you to be branded.”
A wet cloth that smells like rubbing alcohol is used to clean my skin. Then he places a metal collar around my neck.
Click. Click. Click.
The collar locks into place, and I struggle to breathe. The doctor loosens it some as I focus on the painted black words above me.
The Seven Deadly Sins:Lust ¾ BlueGluttony ¾ OrangeGreed ¾ YellowSloth ¾ Light BlueWrath ¾ RedEnvy ¾ GreenPride ¾ Purple
“Memorize it. Might keep you alive longer if you know who to stay away from.” He opens my mouth, placing a bit inside. “Bite this.”
Within seconds, the collar heats from hot to scorching. The smell of flesh sizzling makes my head spin. I bite down so hard a tooth cracks.
“GRRRRRRRRR,” escapes from deep within my chest. Just when I’m about to pass out, the temperature drops, and the doctor loosens the collar.
He removes it and sits me up. Excruciating pain rips through me and I’m on the verge of a mental and physical breakdown. Focus. Don’t pass out.
Stainless steel counters and boring white walls press in on me. A guard laughs at me from an observation room above and yells, “Blue. It’s a great color for a pretty young thing like yourself.” His eyes dance with suggestion. The others meander around like it’s business as usual.
I finally find my voice and turn to the doctor.
“Are you going to give me clothes?” A burning pain spreads like fire from my neck to my jaw, making me wince.
He points to a set of folded grey scrubs on a chair. I cover myself as much as I can and scurry sideways. Grabbing my new clothes, I pull the shirt over my head and try to avoid the raw meat around my throat. I quickly knot the cord of my pants around my waist and slide my feet into the hospital-issue slippers as the doctor observes. He hands me a bag labeled with my name.
“Nothing is allowed through the door but what we’ve given you,” he says.
I hide my right hand behind me, hoping no one notices. A guard scans my body and opens his hand.
“Give it to me,” he says. “Don’t make me rip off your finger.” He crouches down and I turn to stone. I don’t know what to do, so I beg.
“My father gave this to me. Please, let me keep it.” I smash my eyes shut and think of the moment my father handed the golden ring to me.
“It was my mother’s ring,” he’d said. “She’s the strongest woman I ever knew.” With tears in his eyes, he reached for my hand. “Lexi, you’re exactly like her. She’d want you to wear this. No matter how this world changes, you can survive.” I turned the gold band over in my palm and read the engraving.
You can overcome anything… short of death .
“You’re going to take the one thing that matters the most to me?” I say, glaring into the guard’s emotionless eyes. “Isn’t it enough taking my life, dignity, and respect?”
A hard blow falls upon my back. As I fall, my hands shoot out to stop me from smashing into the wall in front of me. The guard bends down and grabs my chin with his meaty fist.
“Look at me,” he commands. I look up and he smiles with arrogance.
“What the hell?” He staggers a step backward. “What’s wrong with you? What’s wrong with your eyes?”
“Nothing,” I respond, confused.
“What color are they?”
“Turquoise.” I glower at him.
“Interesting,” he says, regaining his composure. “Now those’ll get you in trouble.”
Reality slaps me across the face. I have my father’s eyes. They can’t take them from me. I twist the ring off my finger and drop it in his hand.
“Take the damn ring,” I say. I walk to the door. He swipes a card and the massive door slides open to the outside.
“You have to wear your hair back at all times, so everyone knows what you are.” He hands me a tie, so I pull my frizzy hair away from my face and secure it into a ponytail. My neck burns and itches as my hand traces the scabs that have already begun to form. Squinting ahead into the darkness, I almost run into a guard standing on the sidewalk.
“Watch where you’re going,” he says, shoving me backward. His stiff figure stands tall and I cringe at the sharpness of his voice.
“Cole, this is your new assignment, Lexi Hamilton. See to it she feels welcome in her new home.” The guard departs with a salute.
“Let’s move,” Cole says.
I take two steps and collapse, my knees giving out. The unforgiving pavement reopens the scrapes from earlier and I struggle to stand. A powerful arm snatches me up, and I see his face for the first time.

I haven’t read a Dystopian tale in quite a while and I found myself very quickly getting drawn into Lexi Hamilton’s world, the Hole, and the anguish, pain and suffering it imposed on all sentenced to live within its walls.
Unfairly accused, judged guilty without trial, branded for the sin of Lust, Lexi finds herself thrown into a world of survival of the fittest.  Assigned to a job at the hospital, under the supervision of Sutton, Lexi must follow orders, ask no questions and do whatever she can to stay alive.
She is not entirely alone – she has been assigned a guard, Cole, who is responsible for keeping her safe.  From the moment Lexi passes through transition Cole is her shadow, leaving her only when he trains and when she works.  There is clear class separation and interaction between guards and sinners is limited, usually only occurring when a guard decides to exercise their authority. 
Cole is repeatedly forced to save Lexi – she is of particular interest to guards and sinners alike and as the two find themselves in life threatening situations at regular intervals they develop a level of comfort with each other.  Cole’s partner, Zeus – a giant and goofy, but savage, Great Dane forms a quick bond with Lexi and provides her with added protection, not to mention comfort and affection – even if it does come with buckets of drool.
Lexi was an amazing character, mentally strong she endured so much – not to mention the brutal physical injuries she sustained on more than one occasion.  Despite the circumstances that brought her to the Hole, Lexi draws some comfort and strength from the love of her father and while he is not with her, he inspires her to stay strong. 
Cole is also a wonderful character.  A guard of integrity, unlike many he takes his responsibility of guarding Lexi very seriously.  Not only does he guard her, but he begins to offer her something that goes beyond his duty.  Of course any relationship between a guard and a sinner is forbidden, punishable by death.
For me, the development of the relationship between Cole and Lexi was a little predictable.  It also developed in a way that didn’t quite make sense to me, progressing quite quickly from one point in the story without interactions of substance between the two that made it believable.  Having said that, their passion for each other was clear and the tension caused by managing the risk of being discovered kept me turning pages.
There were many twists and turns in the story that were not easy to predict.  Characters Lexi thought long gone returned and played significant roles.  Her suffering was immense and she encountered heartbreak after heartbreak – while eating away a part of her, these also added to her strength.
I was worried as I drew to the end that there would be a cliff hanger ending – and I’m really not a fan of those.  As the percentage complete climbed and the loops in the story weren’t being closed off my concern increased, particularly since the book is subtitled Sinners #1.  I was very pleased that there is a conclusion to this story, I wasn’t left hanging and racing to find out the release date for book 2.

Overall I enjoyed reading Branded.  The world created by Kettner and Kalicicki is a brutal one.  And yet within that brutality there is hope, love and a conviction that “ you can overcome anything ... short of death”.
3.5 out of 5 stars


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


Website | Facebook | Twitter




Amazon | Barnes & Noble 

Blog Tour: The Disappearing Girl by Heather Topham Wood

Welcome to our stop on the tour for The Disappearing Girl.  This beautifully written story about a girl struggling to deal with perception is a welcome reminder of how significantly words can impact and how important it is to to ask RUOK?

Title: The Disappearing GirlAuthor: Heather Topham WoodRelease date: May 7, 2013Age Group: New AdultGenre: Contemporary RomanceTour organized by: AToMR Tours


Kayla Marlowe is slowly vanishing…

Last year, Kayla’s world imploded. Her beloved father died, leaving her alone with a narcissistic mother who is quick to criticize her daughter’s appearance. During her winter break from college, Kayla’s dangerous obsession with losing weight begins.

Kayla feels like her world changes for the better overnight. Being skinny seems to be the key to the happiness she has desperately been seeking. Her mother and friends shower her with compliments, telling her how fantastic she looks. Kayla is starving, but no one knows it.

Cameron Bennett explodes into Kayla’s life. He’s sexy and kind—he has every quality she has been looking for in a guy. As Cameron grows closer to Kayla and learns of how far she’s willing to go to stay thin, he becomes desperate to save her.

Kayla’s struggles with anorexia and bulimia reach a breaking point and she is forced to confront her body image issues in order to survive. She wonders if Cameron could be the one to help heal her from the pain of her past.

New Adult Contemporary-Ages 17+ due to language and sexual situations.




The Disappearing Girl  deals with the sensitive subject of eating disorders.  It follows Kayla Marlowe down a winding path as she searches for love and acceptance, primarily from her mother, following her father’s death.  Her journey takes her through various stages of an all consuming eating disorder where she eats less, eats nothing, purges and binges until she is so lost she is literally disappearing.
This book is very well written and for me, not having had any direct exposure to an eating disorder, was quite alarming.  I’ve always been conscious of the impact of the spoken word, but it becomes even more evident when you see the direct connection between quips like:

“Who knows? Maybe we’ll be the same size one day?” Her tone hinted it would be cause for celebration.  If I could finally be a size two, she’d love me.

and the eating choices made to reach an all too ridiculous goal weight.
Kayla’s father had passed away unexpectedly a year ago.  Kayla and her sister Lila had always had a rather strained relationship with their mother, never feeling that they lived up to her impeccable standards and their father had been the buffer between them, balancing their mother’s critique.  With him gone, and Kayla’s mother dealing with her grief as best she could, Kayla and Lila were left to fend for themselves as she passed judgement on their appearance.
Kayla’s weight loss efforts start small, but when she receives positive reinforcement from everyone around her about how wonderful she looks she persists with her ‘diet’.

My rationalizations, born out of insecurity, had taken over, and they would guide my every decision going forward.

Kayla’s diet very quickly escalates into limiting her calorie intake, purging any food she eats so that the calories won’t be absorbed, binging followed by more purging.  Her weight loss continues and surprisingly nobody confronts her.
In amongst all of this Kayla meets Cameron.  He manages to get under her skin and there are times when she is with him that she can almost forget about everything that drives her unhealthy behavior ... almost.
Their relationship develops beautifully and it is clear that he is smitten with Kayla from their first encounter.  The depth of his feeling evolves the more time they spend together, but sadly, Kayla’s insecurities and the secrets she is hiding lead her to question everything, particularly whether she is worthy of Cameron.
The thing about anorexia is it’s not something you can hide.  Continued weight loss is visible and finally it gets to the point where Cameron confronts Kayla with his concern for her. 

I’ll be the asshole here if I have to, but I’m taking you to a doctor.  This has gone on long enough.

The fall out for everyone is significant and Kayla must confront the very things that have driven her behaviour to ensure she doesn’t disappear. 
I enjoyed The Disappearing Girl .  The story is engaging, the characters are realistic and relatable – Kayla is a smart young woman and yet she succumbs to this terrible illness, to the pressures and expectations of a ‘perfect’ appearance.  I was devastated by the lengths she would go to and even more alarmed at the online network of support (from fellow sufferers) she was able to establish, complete with ‘thinspirational’ quotes like “your stomach isn’t growling, it’s applauding” or “Nothing tastes as good as thin feels” - which just broke my heart.
This book gave me insight into an issue that I’ve not had experience with before and reinforced for me just how important it is to use your words kindly and not shy away from confronting someone if you are worried about them.  
4 out of 5 stars


Heather Topham Wood’s obsession with novels began in childhood while growing up in a shore town in New Jersey. Writing since her teens, she recently returned to penning novels after a successful career as a freelance writer. She’s the author of the paranormal romance Second Sight series and the standalone The Disappearing Girl.

Heather graduated from the College of New Jersey in 2005 and holds a bachelor's degree in English. Her freelance work has appeared in publications such as USA Today, Livestrong.com, Outlook by the Bay and Step in Style magazine. She resides in Trenton, New Jersey with her husband and two sons. Besides writing, Heather is a pop culture fanatic and has an obsession with supernatural novels and TV shows.

Facebook | Web | Goodreads | Twitter




Amazon | Barnes & Noble





a Rafflecopter giveaway


You can follow the tour to see reviews, guest posts, and excerpts by clicking the AToMR logo below

Sale Promotion: The Mistaken by Nancy S. Thompson

On Sale Now!




All Tyler Karras wants is to enjoy life with his expectant bride. What he gets instead is a graveside seat at her funeral. With the woman who killed her uncharged and still free, all Ty wants now is revenge.
His brother, Nick, has dangerous connections and suggests a sadistic plan: grab the woman responsible and hand her over to Nick’s associates—sex-traffickers in San Francisco’s Russian Mafia. They offer Ty more than he dreamed possible. In exchange for the woman, they’ll finally let Nick leave the business for good—with his debt wiped clean and his heart still beating.
There’s just one problem: Ty kidnaps the wrong woman. Now he must protect Hannah Maguire from the very enemy he's unleashed.
While on the run, Ty and Hannah share their life stories and begin to bond—Hannah out of compassion for Tyler’s crushing loss, and Ty in his overwhelming need for atonement for having derailed Hannah’s life. Alone and desperate, they cling to each other in an intimate moment of human need, but their new bond puts Hannah at even greater risk, for the Russians are holding Nick as leverage to force Ty to complete their deal and hand over the girl.
Caught in a no-win situation, Ty must find a way to save himself, his brother, and Hannah, but with the Russian Mafia, even two out of three makes for very long odds.





Nancy is a California transplant currently living in Seattle, Washington with her husband of 21 years and their giant snow dog, Jack. She has one son, a student at Arizona State University. Besides recently accepting a freelance editor position for her publisher, she also has her own interior design business within the model home merchandising industry. When she's not writing or editing, Nancy keeps herself busy by cooking and baking.



Facebook | Twitter |Website



Amazon | Barnes & Noble



Head over to Nancy's website to enter her giveaway