Heather Gunter's Blog, page 71

July 9, 2013

A Love Like This (Remembrance Trilogy Book 3) by Kahlen Aymes



A Love Like This  is book three in the Remembrance Trilogy by Kahlen Aymes.  


Release Date:  June 24, 2013Cover Design by Samantha Paxton of  Telemachus PressCover photos copyrighted Istock Photo & ThinkStock.

Settled in New York City, Ryan and Julia Matthews seek to enjoy their idyllic newlywed life together. Julia’s high-profile job at Vogue and Ryan’s promising career in medicine will surely set them up for everything they could ever want. Their only obstacle seems to be finding enough time to spend together.
When a scuffle at Ryan’s hospital puts his life in danger, a colleague steps in to save him but is critically injured in the process. In a heroic and unwavering effort, Ryan manages to save her life, but her injuries irrevocably change her future forever.What happens next will push Ryan beyond human endurance, when he is forced to decide how much he will pay for his new friendship and Julia, what she is willing to sacrifice in order to spare herself the unspeakable pain of watching someone else try to replace her in Ryan’s heart.Join Ryan and Julia in the heart-wrenching conclusion to the unforgettable story of an incredible love, worth every single sacrifice…For there is nothing more sacred than… A Love Like This…


Once again, it was after midnight when I arrived home and as usual, I was beat. My back ached. After Jane and I returned from our dinner break, we had an automobile accident and five victims, three of them critical, one a three-year-old boy. He made it, but his mother did not. I’d worked on her tirelessly for twenty-five minutes when she flat-lined, but it was useless. She wasn’t wearing a seat belt, and her frontal lobe was mashed into the windshield at fifty miles per hour.
Julia stirred when I moved around the dark bedroom. “Ryan, are you here?” Her voice was soft and laced with sleep.
“Yes, baby,” I answered, reaching out to rub her back gently through the blanket. We kept it cool in the bedroom; cooler than the rest of the apartment. Julia liked the thick comforter and snuggling close to me, but I was always warm, “Don’t wake up. I’ll come to bed soon.” My fingers played in the dark strands of her hair.
She was on her stomach and turned her face toward me on her pillow. “How was your night?”“Busy. Not great. Had a car accident victim that didn’t make it.”
“Oh… I’m sorry, honey.” Julia’s eyes glittered in the dark and her hair was all messy. She reached for me and I took her hand in mine, bringing it to my lips. She was so soft and alluring, and dead tired or not, my dick stiffened and started to throb. I was sitting on the bed now and hoped Julia didn’t notice. It had been my plan to finish the note and then sleep, but my body had other ideas.“I need to take a shower, babe.”
“No, you don’t.” Julia moved up onto her knees and sat on her heels. One hand held the comforter to her breasts, but her shoulders were bare. I wanted to reach out and yank it from her, exposing the beauty I knew lay beneath. I leaned in to kiss the one closest to me. Her hand wound in my hair and began to gently scratch my scalp. It felt amazing and I let my forehead drop into the curve of her neck. “I can give you a massage.”
“Mmm…” I moaned. “That sounds like heaven, but if you touch me, I’ll wanna make love.”


Books 1 and 2 in the Remembrance Trilogy The Future of Our Past (Book 1)
Julia Abbot and Ryan Matthews have been inseparable best friends since the moment they met. Each of them fight an internal battle unwilling to risk their incredible friendship but unable to quell their deep longing for the other. On the verge of his departure to medical school and to her new job on the opposite coast, Ryan and Julia are forced to face the undeniable truth of their deeper feelings.




Don't Forget to Remember Me (Book 2)
Ryan Matthews has everything he ever wanted. Close to graduation from Harvard Medical School and on the verge of marrying his gorgeous and accomplished girlfriend, Julia Abbott, his dreams are about to come true.
Julia is on the fast track as a fashion editor for a big New York magazine. Ryan plans to join her there to complete his residency at a major trauma center and all of their sacrifice is finally at it's end.
When tragedy strikes, their relationship is hurled into turmoil that leaves Ryan devastated as sorrow drives him to keep his distance, while Julia reaches out to find him again.
The second book of The Remembrance Trilogy follows Ryan and Julia's quest to rebuild their stunning past; an incredibly beautiful and heart-breaking romance, full of passion, intensity and truly immeasurable love. You'll be left spellbound, breathless and aching for more...





The following songs were not available on Spotify to include in this Playlist (numbers indicate song position on the playlist):  5. Running Away - Midnight Hour; 20. Umbrella - Mandy Moore; 35. Together Forever - Hannah Pestle; 48. Never Let Go - Bryan Adams; 53. Thinking About You - Puddle of Mudd; 57. My Safest Place to Hide - Backstreet Boys; 63. It's Not Goodbye - Paula Pausini




Kahlen is an award-winning author of sizzling hot, deeply moving contemporary romance. Her stories are filled with intense love, passion, angst and emotion that breathes life into her characters and leaves her readers captivated.   Her books have gone all the way to #2 on Amazon’s Top 100 in the Paid Store and she spent many weeks on Smashwords bestseller lists.
She lives near Omaha, Nebraska with her daughter, Olivia and their three dogs.  Kahlen has a BSBA in Marketing, Business Administration and MIS.  Creative by nature, she enjoys the arts, music and theater.... But the love of her life is writing!  She enjoys meeting and talking with her readers on a regular basis!
Represented by Elizabeth Winick-Rubinstein of McIntosh & Otis Literary Agency, the first two books in her series; The Remembrance Trilogy are available now, and the final installment, A Love Like This, publishes June 24, 2013!

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Published on July 09, 2013 21:00

July 8, 2013

Blog Tour - Review: Off the Record by Sawyer Bennett





Welcome to our stop on the Off the Record blog tour!  If that cover isn't enough to just make you sigh then you seriously need to read this one.  Linc Caldwell is to die for and Off the Record is absolutely gorgeous (kind of like the honey on the cover!!)


Title: Off the RecordAuthor: Sawyer BennettRelease date: June 11, 2013Publisher: Big Dog BooksAge Group: New AdultGenre: Contemporay RomanceTour organized by: AToMR Tours

The sparks of dislike burn hot, but the sparks of mutual attraction burn even hotter.
Ever Montgomery suffered the ultimate betrayal by the one man who she should have been able to count on for anything. It has left her hurt, jaded and incapable of forming relationships, but it also means that she can spot a liar a mile away. These traits are earning her a reputation as a reporter with a keen nose for a good story and a complete understanding of the extreme power of the written word.
Lincoln Caldwell, is the hot goalie for the New York Rangers. At twenty-four and a rising star, he works hard and he plays even harder. He’s gorgeous and carefree—the ultimate charmer. Ladies fall at his feet and the single life has never been lived the way Linc Caldwell does it.
When Ever publishes an article about Linc containing information that she received off the record, she finds herself on the receiving end of the athelete’s fury. Rather than basking in the glory of exposing Linc as a shameless user of women, she finds herself at his mercy when he demands and receives retribution. Required by her editor to trail Linc for six weeks, Ever is forced to look at the real Linc Caldwell.
And she just might find that she has misjudged him.


Off the Record by Sawyer Bennett is a beautiful love story.  There is no love triangle, there is no 'drama' to be uncovered that drastically impacts the characters, there is just human nature, life experience and the consequence these have for how we relate to others.  Having read a number of books lately with a slightly dark or bleak nature to the story line it was an absolute delight to get lost in a sweet story about two people discovering each other and taking the risk that is falling in love.Ever Montgomery is reporter looking to launch her career.  She's also a woman with some trust issues when it comes to men, and not without good reason.  When she interviews Linc Caldwell, goalie for the New York Rangers there is an unmistakeable spark between the two and for all intents and purposes the interview goes really well.  But a series of events shortly after the interview hit some buttons for Ever and raise her ire, which has serious consequences for the story she writes about Linc.  Ever commits the ultimate journalistic sin ... she doesn't check her facts and she publishes an 'off the record' comment.  Linc's reaction is swift and to avoid a law suit, Ever must spend six weeks shadowing Linc so that she can write a new story about him.  His purpose is to prove to Ever her initial assessment was incorrect ... her captivating blue eyes and quick wit have nothing to do with him wanting to spend time with her ... much!The storyline is not complex, you are not constantly questioning motives or wondering at the impact certain events will have later.  It is straightforward, but don't interpret that as boring.  The interactions between Ever and Linc are delightful to read.  Linc goes about his life as a professional athlete and it does not take Ever long to realise she has judged him way to quickly.  There are a number of peripheral characters in the story, Linc and Ever's family members primarily along with a couple of friends, but the focus is very much on the two and their six weeks together.  There are some steamy love scenes and Bennett also highlights the very important issue of volunteerism and the contribution these amazing people make following disastrous events like tornadoes.I really enjoyed Off the Record .  It was a quick read that left me feeling warm and positive at the end.  If you're looking for something light to fill an afternoon of reading I would encourage you to pick up Off the Record .  It is book three in the “Off Series”, but I had not read any of the other books in the series and that did not effect my enjoyment/understanding of the story - it is a stand alone read.  There is a fourth book in the series scheduled for release in August (Off Course) and I'll be adding that, along with the other books in the series, to my TBR. 4 out of 5 stars
Sawyer Bennett is the pen name for a snarky southern woman and reformed trial lawyer who decided to finally start putting on paper all of the stories that were floating in her head. She is married to a mobster (well, a market researcher) and they have two big, furry dogs who hog the bed. Sawyer would like to report she doesn't have many weakness but can be bribed with a nominal amount of milk chocolate.
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Published on July 08, 2013 21:00

Cover Reveal: Three of Diamonds by W. Ferraro

We are super excited to be bringing you the cover of book three in the Men of Hamden series, Three of Diamonds by W. Ferraro.  So with no further ado, here it is!!



Lola Nash’s life edges on safe and controlled, containing few people; her brother, Boyd, a handful of friends and the facility for special needs children where she volunteers, called Aaron’s Place. However, a chance meeting shatters her control when she learns someone else’s closely held secret. The kind of secret causing her explicit and sexy dreams, all centering around Wes Thompson; known as Adonis in the ultra-exclusive world of the sex club, Olympus. Wes is intrigued by the voluptuous beauty who won’t give him the time of day. Like the God he emulates, he has never been the type to give in when he wants something or someone; Lola is exactly what he wants. Is Lola the one that can bring a God to his knees or will Wes conquer her, and then walk away as planned? Is the chance at love worth the cost of giving up everything you hold important? When the cards are down, will Wes and Lola call or fold?




Unedited and subject to change. All rights reserved

Wes came off the couch and cut the distance between them with three strides. Using the counter behind her, effectively cage her in. Leaning into her so his chest touched hers. He looked deep into her eyes and said with complete sincerity, “You are an amazing woman. Not only do you have a body made for sexual fantasy but you also have the compassion of a saint.” Wes let his head fall, so he could leave a trail of kisses starting at the corner of her mouth, following her jaw line, down her neck creating a sensual and erogenous path she felt all the way to her center. Between nips and tastes, he continued, “I never once had ill thoughts of you or where you live. Hell, if you had to sleep on the floor, I am sure you would do it. Just proves even more how much heart you truly have. But, tell me, when was the last time someone did anything for you, Lola? When was the last time you did not have to think about anything? Let me do that for you. Let me be the one whose mission is to give you absolute pleasure and release. I want to be the one that gives into your needs above all. What you felt today is only the beginning of the kind pleasure I want to give you. I want to bring you to a completely different plain of ecstasy. I want to know when you come for me, it will be like no other orgasm you have ever had with any other man.” Wes Thompson, Three of Diamonds by W. Ferraro



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



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Published on July 08, 2013 12:00

Cover Reveal: Present Perfect by Alison G. Bailey


It is our absolute pleasure to be participating in the Cover Reveal for debut author Alison G. Bailey's Present Perfect .  If the summary doesn't peak your interest then the excerpt will. 


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


Journal Entry:

This invisible force occupies every sphere of my brain and permeates throughout my entire body. There has never been a time in my life that it didn’t hold me hostage. By the time I was able to fuse coherent thoughts together it was too late and I didn’t know where the exit was to escape. If I could see it, touch it, reason with it, maybe I would have a chance to survive it. Instead I only feel it and hear it. It’s message is a constant in my life. Where did it come from? Why did it pick me? I had love and encouragement, but somehow it still found me. It seeped into my life so slowly I never saw it before it consumed me.

And that my friends is fucked up thinking.

-----o0o-----
Amanda Kelly spent her entire life trying to control every aspect of it, while striving for perfection. Her obsession with being perfect, along with her feelings of worthlessness, consumed her. The one thing she thought was perfect in her life was the bond she shared with her best friend, Noah.

Everything was going according to her life plan until she woke up one day and realized she had fallen in love with him. The one thing she couldn’t control was the affect he had on her. Noah had the power to give her one hundred lifetimes of happiness, which also gave him the power to completely devastate her. He was the one thing in her life that was perfect, but she couldn't allow herself to have him.

Her life begins to unravel. Events take over and force her to let go of her dreams and desires. She needs to realize that a person cannot control the events in their life, only their reaction to them...but will it be too late for her to save her relationship with her best friend? Present Perfect is a story of how past events have present consequences and how perfect your present could be if you stopped fighting and just allowed it to happen.







Tweet and Noah at age 15

We were all sitting around the table eating by the time Noah joined us. He sat in the only empty seat left, next to me. Dad and Mr. Stewart talked about work while mom and Mrs. Stewart shared the neighborhood gossip. I was trying to recover from the intense moment in my room earlier. I would have been able to if Noah wasn’t sitting right next to me. That was bad enough, but he kept finding subtle ways of touching me. He was trying to unnerve me. The sneaky bastard. Our parents were oblivious to it all. Noah put his arm around the back of my chair and reached across me for some bread, which brought his face so close to mine his lips were almost touching my cheek. We kept our voices low.

“I know what you’re doing.” I said.

“I do too. I really like garlic bread.”

“I could have passed it to you if you had asked.”

“Yeah, I know, but my way I get to look down your dress.” My eyes shot immediately to his. ”Oh by the way, your choice in bra tonight…Excellent. Do your panties match?” He winked and smirked at me before turning his attention back to his plate.

“Noah, congratulations.” My dad said. Just then I felt a hand on my knee and fingers creeping under the hem of my dress. My breath hitched and my eyes darted over to Noah. I’d be completely pissed at him right now if his hand on my naked knee didn’t feel so incredible.

“Thank you, sir.”

“Pretty rare that a sophomore gets asked to join the varsity team. We’re proud of you.” My dad always thought of Noah like a son.

“His mom and I are extremely proud of him. He’s a chip off the old block.” Mr. Stewart added. The dads laughed as if the comment was hilarious. Noah smiled at his dad while his hand began to move up my thigh. I slapped it away causing myself to jump slightly.

“Amanda, are you ok?” Mom asked.

‘Yeah. I’m fine.” Noah was trying to contain a laugh. ”I was swatting a fly away.”

My mom looked at me, slightly annoyed, while maintaining her cheery voice. “We don’t have flies in this house.”

“My bad.” I said. Noah’s hand landed back on my knee, squeezing slightly, causing me to gasp audibly. All four parental heads turned to look at me. “Um… mom would you please pass me the…um…” Noah was relentless. He kept squeezing and stroking my knee. It was almost impossible for me to think. “The stuff in the bottle, that you…um…pour on…um…lettuce?”

“You mean salad dressing?” My mom said, sarcasm flowing from her words like a torrential rain. I nodded. “You already have some on your salad.”

“I need more. Please give me more.” She looked at me like I didn’t belong to her and passed me the dressing.

“How’s Emily?” Mrs. Stewart asked while I doused my salad with more dressing.

A prideful smile appeared across my mom’s face. “She’s wonderful. She’s loving college.
“That’s fantastic.” Mrs. Stewart said.


“In fact, she’s joined the debate team. She’s an extremely articulate young woman.” Mom shot me a look. If she had any idea what was taking place under her dinner table she might cut me some slack. I was so out of sorts I dropped my fork just before loading it up with salad.

“I’ll get it, Tweet.” I took a drink of water to try and calm down as Noah scooted his chair back and bent down to grab the fork.

“Oh, we’ve drained bottle one.” Dad announced. All of a sudden I felt a pair of lips on the outer side of my thigh right above my knee. I almost did a full blown spit-take at the exact same time my dad asked. “Are we game for another?” Noah sat back up and I had four sets of eyes staring at me.

“I’ll go get you another bottle of wine. I’m done eating, anyway.” I quickly rose from the table and made my way to the kitchen to put my plate in the sink. Without stopping I headed to the garage where we had an extra refrigerator that my parents used for their wine collection. Standing in front of the open fridge I realized I didn’t know if they wanted red or white. I took a bottle of each to be on the safe side. I closed the fridge and turned around coming face-to-face with a grinning Noah. I took a step back. Noah placed his hands against the fridge on either side of my shoulders, caging me in.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing in there with all the touching and the kissing? You kissed my thigh under the table. The family dinner table, for gods’ sakes.”

“You’re mighty tasty.” He waggled his eyebrows and moved in closer. Holy crap on a cracker, he’s got me all tingly.

“Leave me alone for the rest of the night.” I tried to sound mad, but even I could hear the smile in my voice.

“Ok. I will.” He dropped his arms and stepped back giving me room to get by.

“Thank you.” As I passed him going back toward the door I felt the hem of my dress rise up behind me. I quickly stepped to the side out of his reach. “Dammit, Noah! Stop it! I can’t defend myself with these bottles in my hands.”

He held his hands up in surrender. “I thought you had a speck of something on your dress. I was just trying to help is all?” I narrowed my eyes at him before heading back into the house.




Alison was born and raised in Charleston, SC. As a child she would create (write) additional scenes to TV shows and movies that she watched. She attended Winthrop University and graduated with a major in Theater. While at school she began writing one act plays which she later produced. Throughout the years she continued writing and producing several one act plays, but then life got in the way and she hung up her pen for a while. At the end of 2012 a very talented author friend convinced Alison to go back to writing and see what happens. So I did and fell back in love with it. Present Perfect will be Alison's first self-published book. A few personal facts, Alison loves anything sweet, especially frosting, and is addicted to Diet Pepsi. Alison's philosophy: Don't let your obstacles define you. At times life can get pretty overwhelming, but with a great support system and a lot of humor you can get through them. If you have humor in your life your spirit stays strong and you can tackle anything.



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Published on July 08, 2013 06:00

July 5, 2013

Blog Blitz Tour: Three of Hearts and Three of Spades by W. Ferraro

Today we get to share with you the sexy men from books one and two of the Men from Hamden Series by the fabulous W. Ferraro:
Three of Hearts and Three of Spades

The books have had a facelift and now have gorgeous new covers


Three of Hearts Mae Turney is searching for the type of life and happiness she has never known but has only dreamed about. She's fortunate enough to find a great opportunity to live in an exterior apartment of a beautiful lake house in a small town in Vermont. When she realizes the apartment and scenery are not the only gorgeous appeal but the home owner, Seth Finn, is as well, she puts it all on the line for the chance at love.  When she becomes comfortable and confident in her own skin and sexuality, Mae realizes that this place and this man is exactly what she came looking for. Knowing Seth and his three children are as special as they come, Mae bets the house, and prays she and her gamble are enough. 




Three of Hearts is the first of three books by Wendy Ferraro about the men of Hamden.  In Three of Hearts we meet Seth Finn, handsome widower, successful construction company owner and father of three.  Seth lost his wife Maggie five years earlier, shortly after the birth of their third child, Megan and since that time has not been able to face the prospect of another relationship.  Caring for his children and ensuring the success of his business has been his primary focus, until he meets Mae.Mae Turney is an oncology nurse who relocates from Boston to the town of Hamden.  She moves into the apartment that adjoins the home of Seth and quickly befriends his three children Conner, Aidan and Megan as well as his housekeeper Lynne and sister Robyn.Mae is not your 'typical' female lead - Ferraro has created a character that is intelligent, independent and also refreshingly curvaceous, rather than the svelte,  catwalk model figure that usually features in romance novels - this was a nice change, although almost a little overdone with repeated references to Mae's curves and 'womanly' features.For me the relationship between Seth and Mae moved a little too quickly, particularly given there were children to consider. They had only spoken a few times, and Seth was a little rude on at least one of those occasions, before they were all of a sudden in the middle of an intense, physical relationship.   The connection between the two characters was real enough, I just thought the pace at which they moved was a little unrealistic.  There are some great supporting characters in this story - bad boy, Dylan Cross: Seth's business partner and life long friend;  Robyn Finn: Seth's sister and the one responsible for bringing Mae into his life, Wes Thompson: another business associate and good friend of Seth; and Lynne O'Shanahan : Seth's fiery irish house keeper - all add some interest and help to keep Seth honest with himself and Mae - much to his annoyance!As with any good romance novel there's an event that puts Seth and Mae's relationship to the test.  Without wanting to disclose the detail I was really disappointed with Seth, his behaviour in the heat of the moment was appalling - I think we were supposed to consider it part of his 'fiery' Irish blood, but for me it was extreme and difficult to recover from.  I was also a little disappointed with the resolution to the issue - it seemed like some important things were glossed over and it just felt like the conclusion came about too quickly and easily.Having said that, I enjoyed Three of Hearts, it was a quick read with enough substance to keep me engrossed in the story.  Ferraro creates some strong characters and writes some steamy love scenes.  Three of Spades is the second book in the series and I'm moving on to that next to learn more about Dylan Cross. 3 out of 5 stars





Three of Spades Dylan Cross is the type of man that enjoys everything female, and enjoy it he does, but always on his terms. However, his terms are pushed to their limit when Natalie Parker proposes an offer; teach her and her delectable little body, all about sex and desire. There is one catch. He has to play the part of Natalie’s madly in love boyfriend for her dying mother. Dylan signs on, and finds that separating the two is harder than he thought. Natalie’s days of shyness and lack of confidence come to a quick close as she learns what her body craves and demands in the bedroom. Soon, Dylan becomes the student as Natalie teaches him things he didn’t even know he wanted. Will Hamden’s notorious playboy, bachelor be able to keep calling the shots, or will he find that, he, himself, is just another player at the card game of life, as we all are? 




Three of Spades is the second book by Wendy Ferraro about the men of Hamden, with a particular focus on Dylan Cross.Clearly established as the 'bad boy' in Three of Hearts, Dylan is renowned for his love em and leave em attitude. With a history of a steady string of short term, primarily physical relationships, the last thing Dylan anticipates is falling for Natalie.Natalie Parker, a kindergarten teacher spends much of her time caring for her dying mother, Gloria. Gloria decides she needs to be "cruel to be kind" to ensure Natalie does not spend the rest of her life alone after her mother dies. As a consequence, Natalie seizes on a strategy from one of the many books she has read and decides to pay a man to pose as her boyfriend for her mother. Given her lack of relationship experience, Natalie decides she'll use the opportunity to learn about the physical side to a relationship as well.With her strategy set and time slipping away, Natalie propositions Dylan for the role. Dylan negotiates what he considers to be an appropriate fee, establishes some terms and conditions of his own and sets out to 'educate' Natalie as best he can. While a little predictable, the developing relationship between Dylan and Natalie is a delight to read. Dylan takes his role of 'boyfriend' very seriously, with a particular focus on his role as teacher in the bedroom. Some of the love scenes between the two are incredibly steamy and Natalie blossoms under his tutelage. As the time of their 'arrangement' draws to an end, it is apparent to both of them that there is more to their relationship than either of them intended. The question is, will Dylan and Natalie admit to themselves and each other, precisely how they feel?There are other elements to the story that add to the intrigue and uncertainty of the outcome. We meet Natalie's brothers, Reggie and Sam, both of whom treat her badly and are trying to manipulate the care of their mother for their own benefit. We see glimpses of characters we met in the Three of Hearts and it's nice to see how their relationships are developing. There is even a disgruntled employee of Dylan's in the mix, that could have added a greater level of angst to the story if that part of the plot was a little better developed.I really enjoyed Three of Spades, more so than Three of Hearts. There is something satisfying about a 'bad boy' coming unstuck in the game of love - although Dylan Cross is not as bad as he'd like people to think.
Ferraro includes an excerpt from Three of Diamonds at the end of the book, which, along with some of the scenes involving Wes Thompson and Lola, the new bartender at Cal's, within the book has peaked my curiosity for the next instalment in the stories about the men of Hamden.
3.5 out of 5 stars















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

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Three of Hearts | Three of Spades
Book three in the series 'Three of Diamonds' is coming soon


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Published on July 05, 2013 21:00

Blog Tour Stop: A Fire That Burns by Kirsty-Anne Still









“Six years on and you’re still as in love with me as you were when you left. You never stopped loving me, you never could. You didn’t leave because you didn’t love me.”
After running from the truth for six years of her life, Austin Pearson decides it’s time to come home to life in Point Arena. What she finds is broken relationships and broken hearts and the same love that consumed her years ago. When confronted with the love of her life, Austin has to decide between giving in, giving up or hiding all over again.
Will Tyler Armstrong be enough to crack the secrets that drove the woman he loved away when they were nineteen or are they destined to love other people? What happens when he finds himself living everyday with Austin and realising that feelings he thought had diminished flame up and take a hold of his life? What happens when fires burn brighter than ever and the secrets of the past come tumbling out?
Is love enough to get them through what life has in store for them?


I’ve lived actually quite a boring life- LOL – I’m only twenty-two and did all the things a normal person my age has done. I’ve grown up in a family with two brothers and my mum and always feel like I have to match up to them with my successes in life! After finishing at school, I went to University to become a teacher. That never happened! In my second year I realised I didn’t want to be a teacher, but still wanted to work closely with children. In my final year, I finally wanted to take my writing further, but I had to be realistic and so have worked as a nanny as well as kept a steady job in a shop for nearly three years. Took me until I was like 19 to find out I could actually write, took my until last year to realise I had a talent actually worth pursuing and all because I stumbled across fanfiction! Apparently that website is a godsend!


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Published on July 05, 2013 06:00

July 3, 2013

Blog Hop: Testing Fate by Belinda Boring








Testing Fate is book 3 in the Mystic Wolves series by Belinda Boring.


Nothing burns as bright as the flames of the refiner’s fire.

Moments after hearing the Council sentence her enemy to life imprisonment for attempted murder and illegal use of magic, Darcy is whisked away by the Fates—accused of tampering with destiny. The cherished dream she shared with Mason has been called into question, placing doubt about whether they are actually true mates. To resolve it, a price must be paid—the Heart or Death—a grueling series of tests designed to reveal a person’s worth.

The stakes are high and Darcy finds herself facing the unknown in conditions that leave her more vulnerable than she’s ever been. Separated from Mason and her Pack, with Devlin as her only companion, she is pushed to her very limits. She must succeed—or lose everything.

Will she crumble under the pressure or emerge stronger for testing fate?




5 fantastic stars


I'm a huge massive fan of this series and each one gets better and better. The Mystic Wolves series is one of my all time favorite paranormal series.

Testing Fate has reduced me to tears, laughter and more tears. We left off with Forget Me Not that completely and utterly left me in a up roar by the end where Mason, Darcy and Devlin are transported to another place.

Testing Fate immediately starts off exactly where it left off. Darcy, Mason as well as my very favorite vampire Devlin having to go on a 'mission' of sorts to test their actual bonding as mates. They are put through the wringer with each test. Here's the beauty of this roller coaster ride, it almost reads like a poem if this makes any sense at all. The story is woven so absolutely perfectly and you can't help but feel that you're apart of their journey. It's emotional, heartfelt and Bels kills me at the end.

I already loved Mason, but Testing Fate made me love him all the more.

There's a reason that Belinda Boring is known as the Queen of Swoon, there's no shortage of it in Testing Fate. There should be no question as to if you should read it. It's a pick up and devour story that will leave you gasping, crying and flailing your arms by the end, or pounding the pavement to her front door. Just know that whatever is in store for our very favorite couple it's sure to be good!



A homesick Aussie living amongst the cactus and mountains of Arizona, Belinda Boring is a self proclaimed addict of romance and all things swoon worthy. When she's not devouring her latest read, you can find her celebrating her passion for book on her blog The Bookish Snob.

With all that excitement, it wasn't long before she began writing, pouring her imagination and creativity into the stories she dreams. Whether urban fantasy, paranormal romance or romance in general, Belinda strives to share great plots with heart and characters that you can't help but connect with. Of course, she wouldn't be Belinda without adding heroes she hopes will curl your toes.

Surrounded by a supportive cast of family, friends and the man she gives her heart and soul to, Belinda is living the good life. Happy reading!


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The Mystic Wolves – Book #1What would you do if a simple errand takes a deadly twist, turning you from cautious prey to dangerous predator?
Someone is trying to send a deadly message to Mason, arranging the deaths of those he loves and it puts the entire pack and Alpha on high alert. Darcy understands the primal instincts driving her beloved Mason's commands. With the help of those he sets as protectors, she learns about herself and the things she'll need to help support her Alpha and pack. When events turn dire however, one truth offers her strength - once given, oaths are unbreakable ... even if it means risking it all.
Buy Links: FREEAmazon Barnes & NobleSmashwords 



Forget Me Not – Book #2
Only a fool would think they could steal from a werewolf …

Anticipating a quiet night alone with the man she loves, Darcy’s world is sent into a spin with the arrival of someone from the past—Mason’s. She is further shocked by the intruder’s claim she may not even be the true mate of the Mystic Wolves Alpha. Accusations start to fly, leading to her new enemy being granted asylum, and this is just the beginning of trouble.

Relying on the reassurances of Mason and the support of her friends and Pack, Darcy soon falls under attack. Suspicions are raised, and with no other choice, she must flee with Devlin to safety where hopefully they can untangle the lies hidden behind the use of magic. Time is quickly ticking away, leading to a showdown where everything is on the line.

They need to uncover the truth before it’s too late, or once again, Darcy will need to fight to hold onto her dreams.
Buy Links: $2.99     Amazon | Barnes & Noble 





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Published on July 03, 2013 21:00

July 2, 2013

Release Promotion: No Second Chances by R.J. Greer

No Seconds Chances is the debut release from R.J. Greer.  Book one in the three book 'Carpe Diem' series, it tells the story of Aaden Macgregor, who takes up a new job and attracts unexpected attention from one of the company VP's.  The question is, can Aaden meet the expectations VP Destiny Walters has of him?





Another job interview that starts out just like all others, turns into a lustful struggle and control of a wild relationship between a techy UCLA graduate and the horribly damaged yet ravishingly beautiful VP of WCC.

Aaden Macgregor graduated from UCLA with the hopes and dreams of something greater. Destiny Walters is the control freak of a VP that is every man's dirty desire. Destiny's scent broke Aaden's interview fears and drove him to lay eyes upon a queen utterly out of his fantasies. Aaden decides to seize the day and overcome his social challenges by making a once in a lifetime confession that sparks an adventure unlike any other.

But why would a VP of a international company be interested in a guy full of self doubt? Will this adventure end with each of their wicked desires satisfied or will it turn into the most passionate relationship either has ever experienced?









The inspiration for Destiny Walters was the super sexy Katrina Law.


R.J. Greer has left it to the reader to decide who they'd cast in the role of Aaden Macgregor.  You can send your suggestions to R.J via the Facebook link below!


I am 35, live in the sunny OC California. I am happily married with 5 children and work a day job. I have always had a hobby of writing, ever since high school but could never find my niche. I have started several stories over the years to never finish them. This is my first attempt into the erotic romance genre and my first published work. I hope the readers enjoy reading it as much as I have writing it.




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Published on July 02, 2013 21:00

July 1, 2013

Blog Tour: Nearly Broken by Devon Ashley



Welcome to our spot on the Nearly Broken blog tour.  Devon Ashley has done a wonderful job with Megan's story.  It deals with an issue that is incredibly, well "disturbing" to quote the cautionary note that accompanies the book, but sadly one that is a reality in our world.  

We hope you enjoy our post as much as we enjoyed reading this fabulous novel.


 Title: Nearly BrokenAuthor: Devon AshleyRelease date: June 4, 2013Genre: Romantic SuspenseAge Group: New AdultEvent organized by: AToMR Tours


We’d both gone missing at one point, but Claire had one thing I didn’t. Someone to notice. So why was I the one still here and she the one still gone?



Nineteen year old Megan Smith has spent the past year working in a small town diner in the middle of nowhere. Life is quiet, simple, safe. Then comes the news that her look-a-like has gone missing.

Claire.

Still damaged both physically and mentally, Megan's not looking to be noticed. Wherever she goes from here, it's a road she needs to take alone. But when Nickolas Ellis takes the job as the new nightshift cook, it scares her how easily her defenses crumble down, down, down for him. But there are secrets she can't bear to share with just anyone, unspeakable acts that continue to haunt, and when the similarities of Claire’s abduction couples with the fear of an unwanted visitor in town, the urge to run before it all happens again intensifies, threatening the only happiness Megan's ever found.

New Adult Romantic Suspense / Realistic Fiction Recommended for 17+ for mature and disturbing situations, language and sexual content.





No, no…just no. I kept repeating the mantra in my head: I will not kiss Nick.  I will not kiss Nick.


      Though I really wanted to. Really, really wanted to know the feel of his lips and have his hands press against my back again, eliminating all space between us. My mind then upgraded that simple kiss to a few make-believe scenarios that were so graphic my body was in constant movement, slowly squirming in a wavelike motion. When a longing moan escaped with my breath, my eyes bolted wide.

      “Shit!” I threw the covers off and rolled out of bed. Hightailing it to the shower, I offered a quick good morning to Nick on the sofa, noting the wicked smile he gave in return. Oh, God. Please tell me that moan wasn’t loud enough for him to hear!
      The hot water worked wonders on my tight muscles, and by the time I dressed and came back out, I was so relaxed I no longer opposed the flirtatious smiles Nick continued to throw my way. But when he turned his back, my eyes began to narrow. This was the first morning since becoming roommates that he decided not to bother with a shirt, strutting around in nothing but a pair of loose-fitted cotton pants, luring my gaze to the sexy sculpture of his upper body.
      I cursed the butterflies flittering inside and my damn eyes, which couldn’t seem to stop looking.
      God, I hated him. Well, not really, but I hated how efficient he was in making me want him. Ever since he activated those butterflies last night, I just couldn’t shut the damn things off. They were still flitting around, making me antsy and driving me crazy for not kissing him. And despite my best efforts to convince myself to not get involved, I felt my resolve dissipating. I wanted to rewind time so bad, and this time ignore the distractions and stay put in his arms for that kiss.
      I entered the kitchen, where he was already leaning over the counter drinking his coffee and reading the paper. Seriously, what time did he wake up every morning to get all that before I even woke up? I hung my head backwards, just realizing he absolutely was half-naked for my benefit, because he would’ve had to put on a shirt to go out. Sucking my lower lip in and out of my mouth, I focused in on the black tribal sleeve tattoo that began halfway up his upper left arm and curled over the edge of his shoulder. I couldn’t see it at the moment, but I knew it covered part of his chest too. “Is that your only tattoo?” I asked. I knew it wasn’t. I had already seen something resembling jagged edges peeking out over the edge of his pants. I’d only asked because a sense of playfulness was overtaking me. And my eyes desired a special treat.
      “No. I also have a sunburst, but I doubt you’d want to see it.”
      Taking the bait, I inquired, “Oh, yeah? Why’s that?”
      He twisted his torso towards me and took the longest sip of coffee ever. Fighting the extension of his already curving lips, he replied smoothly, “Because it’s some place you’re too shy to look.”

Nearly Broken  deals with subject matter that I’ve only encountered a couple of times previously and Devon Ashley handles it in a way that doesn’t shy away from the brutal reality of human trafficking.  It is explicit in its detail of the degradation of young women by those involved in this practice, so if that is not something you want to read about then you should heed the advice that accompanies the book:
New Adult Romantic Suspense / Dark Realistic Fiction Recommended for 17+ for mature and disturbing situations, language and sexual content
and choose an alternative read.
I really don’t want to disclose the story line in this review, which is quite a challenge, but I'm going to give it a go.
Megan is a fabulous character.  She is resilient yet fragile, courageous yet terrified and deals with the situations she faces in what I considered to be a very realistic manner.  Past events drive her behavior and she grapples with a constant, yet unknown, threat.  It is not until certain puzzle pieces come together that she truly understands the consequences of her past for her future.
Nick is to die for.  He is smart, caring, a talented chef and will stop at nothing to be with the woman he loves.
Nearly Broken is beautifully written.  The story flows effortlessly and you are caught up in Megan’s world very quickly.  Her emotions are clear and vivid and her experiences are haunting.  I found myself immersed in her world and praying that the outcome would be what she deserved.
There is a beautiful love story woven throughout Nearly Broken , despite the bleaker elements of the subject matter.  It is one filled with hope and a promise of happiness that was heart warming.  Nearly Broken  also carries with it intrigue/suspense as we wonder about the ‘villain’ and what impact he will have for other characters.  The core subject matter is quite bleak, although I think Ashley has handled it well. 
I really enjoyed Nearly Broken .  It is not a story for the faint hearted with some fairly graphic detail about the human trafficking/sex trade and yet intertwined with this dark element there is a beautiful love story that is a delight to read.  I think it is both the stark contrast between and blending of these two elements that makes Nearly Broken  such a wonderful read.
4 out of 5 stars



I’m a mom, wife, a lover and a fighter, coffee addict, wicked knitster, Microbiologist, baker of fine yummy treats, and someone who will fight you to death for that last twinkie bag of M&Ms during the zombie-apocalypse. Seriously, my addiction is that important to me. Oh yeah, and writing is cool too!






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Published on July 01, 2013 21:00

June 30, 2013

Blog Tour Stop: Inheritance by S.K. Whiteside








  “Talk about hell on earth…”


Sekhmet’s life was pretty good; you know for a goddess. Her job was simple – kill those that sought to go against the creator. It was a job she was good at but unfortunately got a little too carried away with when she almost single handedly wiped out mankind. For her penance she has spent the last thousand years serving as one of the Guardians; a group of immortals that protect mankind and led by the Goddess Isis – who kind of had her own anger issues.
The Azura, a league of immortal bad asses, are literally trying to bring hell on earth and with it, Set – the banished God and ruler of the Makhaut. For the first time in history and with the help of the Makhaut, they may actually pull it off. Even the Guardians are at a loss.
In the Hail Mary of all attempts to save the world Isis, now going by Isira, sends Sekhmet to New Orleans, to find and protect the “Key” but when it is determined that a traitor lies among the Guardians, Sekhmet, now going by the name of Syn, is forced to seek help in the most unlikely of places…her least favorite person and fellow Guardian…Malachi.

  
“Do you have any memory of what just happened at all?”

He paused for a moment and ran the past few minutes through his mind.

“Nope.” He said rubbing his head, “The last thing I remember was this extremely hot girl at the bar, then everything else is a blur.”

“Yeah, you were probably compelled.”

“I was what?” he asked. 

Oh. Right…mortal, she thought.

“Compelled. As in, influenced by spell or charm…ring a bell?” She asked. She didn’t mean to sound so sarcastic, it just came out that way. She was still a bit confused and was trying to put the pieces of the puzzle together in her head and didn’t really feel like explaining the little she did know.

“You mean that stuff vampires do in movies?” he asked. He was looking at her and she could tell from his expression he thought she was a nutcase. She paused and thought about that for a minute…
“Well, I guess - yeah except, in this case it was a succubus. Theoretically it’s the same thing in that Succubae and Vamps both feed off mortal life sources but each have different origins and differ in feeding methods…which is funny because – well at least I think it’s funny because…” she paused when she looked back into his face. He looked amused, confused, and scared all at the same time. She may not read human emotions well sometimes but she had been around long enough to know when someone wanted to fit her for a new white jacket complete with accessory buckles.

He quietly nodded his head. What she saw read the “this chick is nuts so back away slowly” look start to play across his face but he didn’t move. Not moving was a good sign. It meant he didn’t think she was dangerous. On the flip side her not looking dangerous was probably equally as insulting.

 “Well it’s been nice meeting you.”

Ok, maybe not.

“Stop.” He took another step away, “Seriously. You cannot be out here alone, they will come back for you.” she urged.

“Who will come back for me?” He asked, “The Vampires and Succubae?”

“Worse, the Azura. Now that they know who you are they won’t stop until they have you.”

“Who I am? Who do they think I am?”

“Yeah, you see that’s the problem, I don’t exactly know - but I intend to find out.” she said, “And you are coming with me.”

“I am not going anywhere with you.” He laughed half hysterical half amused.

They had to get out of there. She didn’t have time to argue in the middle of the French Quarter.

“I’m sorry,” she said.

“For what?” he asked. He had stopped laughing long enough to be confused.

“For this…” 

He never saw it coming. She was too fast for him. Before he could blink she was in front of him. She placed her hand on his forehead wielding her power against him and before he could even blink for a second time, he collapsed and was out.
“It’s for your own good.” Syn picked him up and tossed him over her shoulder to carry him.



Writer and lover of all things dark and mysterious. Most of her stories have a background in Egyptian Mythology with a modern day adaptation and unique twist.
S.K. Whiteside is a Mythic Fiction writer of Contemporary Urban & Historical Fantasy. As a full time Mental Health Therapist, she started writing in Academia but decided writing about things on the "other side of the veil" was a lot more interesting. Living in the Paranormal capital of the world makes it fairly easy for her to come up with characters, many of which are based on of real personas in her life that she can't help but carry over into her writing.

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Published on June 30, 2013 21:00