Heather Gunter's Blog, page 72

In the Spotlight: Dazed by Nikki Palomino

When artiste extraordinaire and grunge rocker, Eric Peterson, returns home after living on the Portland streets, he finds most things unchanged, except for one thing. His best friend, Kevin, has moved on to another relationship, causing negativity and pain to resurface in Eric's short, angry, inspired life. Desperate, Eric will stop at nothing to secure a blast of smack, and fellow art student, Brian, tries to help, seeing that Eric's pain might extinguish his artistic brilliance. When Eric finds DAZED, he gives up the drugs cold turkey and climbs brutally through the nightmarish world of addiction. Eric's journey leads to self-discovery, love and passion, and a triumphant survival in a world that hates junkies and fags. 
CONTENT ADVISORY: There are mentions of a close MF relationship as well as several MM encounters with varying partners.



5 out of 5 stars


I don't know how to describe my feelings throughout this amazing story other than awe of the writing and story itself. This story was amazingly unique describing the life of Eric Peterson a talented artist, an amazing guitarist, writer and junkie with two inches. Eric left home (was kicked out) and lived on the streets of Portland for a year (the writer describes his feelings and actions as though you were there with him) what he dealt with and lost. Then he's back home and dealing with daily life; school, a loveless mother and a father that's not around but the worst for Eric is his relationship with his best friend Kevin. Eric turns to drugs for relief as he always did, he can't figure out his life so he refers to David Bowie's advice. I could not put this book down once I started it (up till 3am) The author draws you into Eric's life, I felt a part of it, I felt sad and hurt for him, I wanted to hug him, hold him, love him. The story continues with Eric meeting Brian a fellow art student, starting a grunge band (Dazed) having gigs, being on the top of the world but feeling at the bottom and his journey of self discovery and recovery. I absolutely loved this story, it was amazingly written and is totally unique. I can't wait for book 2.


As a runaway, from the streets of NYC to the Strip of L.A., Nikki spent her youth as a grunge punk rock musician, racking up the confusion, frustration and passion and leading her to write DAZED (The Story of a Grunge Rocker), the first in a series of novels about the drug and music culture of the '90s. She learned life, drugs, and alternative music touring in a van packed with the rest of the band, equipment, and groupies, playing infamous clubs like CBGB's.
In 2003, Nikki was named Writer's Digest's Best Genre Short Story Writer. She's written stories for print rags, including Nightmares and Blonde on Blonde and has written erotica for Foggy Windows as well as covering rock and country music for various rags, including Los Angeles Country Examiner, Buddy Magazine and Blast. She has studied under feature writers at both the Houston Chronicle and the Houston Post.
Nikki was co-writer and co-producer of Palomino Productions' 2004 film noir, Baby, and the award-winning dark comedy from 2007, The Rug, later a TV pilot entitled, Our Way of Life, originally for Fox. She is currently working on the second in the DAZED series and an upcoming series of novels entitled The Underground Diaries.


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Release Promotion: Finding My Way by Megan Keith

 Congratulations to Megan Keith on the release of her debut novel Finding My Way Available now, this is definitely one to pick up!



BOOK TITLE:   Finding My Way
AUTHOR:   Megan Keith
GENRE:   New Adult Contemporary RomanceRELEASE DATE:   25 June, 2013


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




** Song 20: Diamonds - Ben Howard (not available on Spotify)** Song 21: Only Love - Ben Howard (not available on Spotify)


























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



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Sneak Peak: This Time Around by Ellie Grace

This Time Around by Ellie Grace is due for release July 15, 2013.  Here's a little sneak peak to hold you over until then!


Title: This Time Around Author: Ellie Grace Genre: Contemporary Romance Age Group: New AdultExpected release date: July 15, 2013 
Event organised by: AToMR Tours



Nora Montgomery left home and heartbreak behind in South Carolina when she moved to New York City after her high school graduation. Now, four years later, she returns home and is forced to confront the past she left behind and the reckless boy who broke her heart. It’s not long before the pieces of her past begin to blur with the present and she realizes that the feelings she had for her first love never really went away. As old dreams resurface and new truths come to light, she begins to question the future she’s always planned on.
Jake Harris has spent four years regretting the night he let her get away. When she finally reappears in his life, he is determined to win her back and prove how much he’s changed. She might never forgive him for that night, but if he tells her the truth about what really happened it will shatter the world she thought she knew. If he doesn’t, he might not get a second chance. He’s already lost her once and he won’t lose her again.
They come from two different worlds that are threatening to tear them apart…can they make it this time around?



Nora hopped into the back and started handing me the heavy boxes so I could bring it all into the house. When it was all unloaded she stood on the tailgate and held out her hand so I could help her to the ground. Instead of grabbing her hand, I wrapped my arms around her thighs to lift her, letting her body slide down mine until her feet touched the ground. I kept my hands on her hips and looked her right in the eye so she would know exactly what was coming.

“Jake – don’t,” she stammered, but didn’t pull away.

“I have to,” I told her, as I leaned forward and gently placed my lips on hers. I held them there for just a moment before pulling back to look at her, and my heart felt like it was beating out of my chest.

“I – I can’t do this, Jake.”

“Then don’t kiss me back.”

I leaned in to kiss her again and tightened my arms around her. Cautiously I moved my lips against hers and brought my hand up to touch her face. I heard her moan softly against my lips and it was all the encouragement I needed. I pressed up against her and when I felt her lips part for me, I let my tongue find hers and tilted her head as I deepened the kiss. As my lips began moving more intensely, she wrapped her arms around my neck and crushed her body against mine.

The need I felt for her turned me completely inside out. I hadn’t planned on kissing her today, but when I looked up at her standing on the tailgate, illuminated from the light of the setting sun, I knew I couldn’t wait. I had to know what it was that I was feeling, and if it was something real or if it was just remnants of the past clouding the present. Still, I wasn’t expecting this. Instead of curbing my appetite for her, it only intensified it. I’d never needed anything as much as I needed Nora.

When I finally pulled away, I brushed my thumb against her cheek and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “God, I missed you, Nora.”

“This doesn’t change anything,” she said breathlessly, “I still have to go back to New York.”“We’ll see,” I said simply.


Ellie Grace is an avid reader, chocolate lover and caffeine addict. When a story popped into her head that she couldn’t seem to shake, she decided to pursue her childhood dream of becoming a writer. When she’s not writing, she’s usually curled up with a book by one of her many, many favorite authors.

Blog Tour Stop: Fading by E. K. Blair

Welcome to our stop on the Fading by E.K. Blair blog tour.  This is not a book for the faint hearted.  It is gritty, raw and deals with the issue of sexual assault head on.  E.K. Blair has done a wonderful job of shining a spot light on this issue and yet maintaining a level of sensitivity and offering support for victims of sexual assault.




 Can a guilty conscience keep wounds from healing?


Fine arts major, Candace Parker, grew up with a mother who thinks image is everything, and her daughter’s perfection will never be good enough. About to graduate college and pursue her dreams of becoming a professional ballerina, Candace decides it’s time to let go and have a little fun. But fun is short-lived when a brutal attack leaves her completely shattered.

The memories that consume and torment Candace are starting to destroy her when she meets Ryan Campbell, a successful bar owner. He feels instantly connected and tries to show her that hope is worth fighting for. But is Ryan harboring his own demons? As walls slowly begin to chip away, the secrets that are held within start to become painful burdens.

At what point do secrets become lies?





          As I drive, reality slowly starts creeping back in, and the weight in my chest returns. The thunder continues to rumble, and I feel like the weather fits my mood perfectly. The clouds open, and the rain begins to crash down on my windshield. I turn my wipers on high, but I struggle to see the road ahead. I pull into one of the empty parking lots on campus to wait until the rain lightens up. While sitting in the car, I listen to the rain beating violently against the steel.

            For some reason, I get the urge to get out of my car. I open the door and step out into the rain. Closing the door, I lean against the car, and within seconds, I’m drenched. The beating of the raindrops against my delicate skin feels good, almost painful in a way—but good. I lean my head back and feel the pellets as they strike my face. I enjoy the biting sensation. With my eyes closed, I just stand there, wishing I could live here, in this vacant lot, alone, focusing on nothing more than the stinging pleasure of the storm as it batters me. Knowing that this will soon end, that the sun is lingering behind the clouds and I will be faced with the hell that is my life, my body slides down the side of my car, and I sit in a puddle of water on the dirty ground and cry.

            Why didn’t I fight more?






5 out of 5 stars


I'm going to do something I never do and that is start this review at the end of the book:


"Every 2 minutes, someone in the U.S. is sexually assaulted. Approximately 2/3 of assaults are committed by someone known to the victim. And only 46% of assults are reported to the police."
These statistics are incredibly alarming and it is heart breaking to think of the trauma and ongoing pain suffered by so many, often in silence.

Fading tells us Candace's story. A talented college student pursuing a career as a professional ballerina. Focused on her study and dance, Candace has a very small group of friends and doesn't tend to go out a lot - quite at odds with the 'usual' college life. Battling with the expectations of her parents, Candace studies hard to maintain a 4.0 grade point average. Her mother particularly, is focused on appearances and does not consider studying ballet or a career as a professional dancer a path worthy of her daughter and does not hide this view from Candace. Frustrated, lonely and feeling like perhaps she needs to relax and live a little, Candace agrees to go out with someone who has her mother's stamp of approval. Despite her reservations and the lack of any real spark, Candace persists, with consequences more dire than she ever would have imagined.

Fading is intense. It is heartbreaking, it is graphic, it does not shy away from the impact of a brutal sexual assault. Candace had her whole world ripped apart and Fading tells of her experience and her journey forward. She struggles daily, and is dependent on her best friend Jase. Candace loses a lot as she deals with her experience. Embarassed, guilty, traumatised she works hard to be 'normal' and move forward, but every day is incredibly hard.

"I'm fading." I feel the heat of my tears as they linger down my cheeks. "He took all my light, and I've been fading ever since."

With the support of Jase and his partner Matt, Candace exists. It is through her friends that she meets Ryan and as their friendship develops she begins to wonder whether she may be able to have a life after her attack.

"I've only ever truly let one person in - Jase. Guys have always made me feel awkward. I don't know how to respond to affection, and I wind up feeling embarassed and shy. For the first time, I don't want to feel that way."

Despite the bleakness of the subject matter I loved Fading. Candace was an incredible character - strong in so many ways and yet so incredibly vulnerable. Not having had a warm and loving family experience, and being an only child, meant that she was slow to connect with people generally, but with Jase she had a friendship that filled the void of her family. Jase is a wonderful friend, dealing with his families inability to accept his homosexuality and working on re-establishing a relationship with Matt. He selflessly supports Candace and helps her as she recovers from the attack.

The intensity of her trauma was palpable and this transferred to tension in my body as I read. I would periodically 'come to' as I was reading and realise that I had been gripping my kindle so hard my fingers were stiff and I had been sitting with muscles clenched in reflection of what Candace was experiencing.

Ryan is intrigued by Candace from the first time he meets her. He senses her vulnerability and is satisfied with what she offers him. He is gentle, supportive and carrying secrets of his own. He is persistent and patient and a perfect remedy for Candace if she can move beyond past events.

"I understand you and Jase, but I know how I feel about you". He takes a moment before softly saying, " I want you to need me more than him.

Feeling the need to defend myself, I say, "He's all I've ever had."

Taking my hand in his, he places it against his chest when he tells me, "You have me now too." 

Fading will affect you. It is not a light and romantic read. It is a realistic story of one woman's horrific experience. I'm going to conclude this review at the same place I started, the end of the book:


You just read about Candace who suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Flashbacks, Sleep Terror Disorder, and Nightmares. These are only a few of the effects one can experience after being sexually assaulted. There is help.

US
National Sexual Assualt Hotline: 1800 656 HOPE (1800 656 4673) National Sexual Assault Online Hotline -ohl.rainn.org/online/   
visit www.rainn.org to find more information and resources

Australia
National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service: 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)     visit http://www.1800respect.org.au/




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




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 8 prizes consisting of signed copies of  Fading, a Declaration Bracelet (winners will choose 1 of 3) and $5 iTunes card - US/Canada Only
20 ebook copies of Fading - International

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Release Day Blitz and Giveaway: Wrong Kind of Love by Amanda Heath

                                                  


                                                                                                                     


Genre: Contemporary New Adult
The first time I ever saw Caden Harper I’m pretty sure I fell in love.  All that golden hair and pale blue eyes. He was mysterious and covered in paint. I found it endearing and wanted nothing more than to find out all his secrets. I gave that man things I would never give anyone else. He blew it though. Which I shouldn’t be surprised considering he is a womanizer.

So I moved on, well kind of. Jaden Harper wasn’t what I expected. I found myself drawn to him all most as much as his brother. Maybe it’s the fact they are twins or maybe it was the fact I wanted to live on the wrong side for once in my life.

Now I’ve found myself dug deep in this game. Theres no end in sight and I wonder when all the lies I have told will come back to haunt me. 

Neither man should know the things I’ve gone through. Neither should trust me. I’m not who I say I am. My past is full of things I won’t ever share.

But where will that lead me when Caden wants nothing more than to consume me? He won’t wake up to see he has the wrong kind of love.

My Name is Grace BreadField and this is my story.






*18 + warning for mature content. Unedited

"I don't know why I let Teagan talk me into coming to this club/bar/whatever. I hate crowds and being surrounded by a lot of sweaty people. I fight my way through them looking for her and Declan on the dance floor. Until this song came on.

You ever had that happened to you? One second you're minding your own business and a song comes on and changes your life. It says whatever you're thinking and feeling even if you didn't know that's what you were feeling. 

My hips start to sway to the beat of the music. My hands go straight up in the air. My head rocking, my hair going everywhere.

"Cause you are the piece of me, I wish I didn’t need
Chasing relentlessly, still fight and I don’t know why..." comes Clarity by Zedd over this places speaker system.

I feel him with me. His body pressed to me, his arms around my hips. His lips whispering things in my ear, naughty dirty things. Things only Caden would say to me.

"If our love is tragedy, why are you my remedy?
If our love’s insanity, why are you my clarity?..." Who ever wrote this song gets it. They get what I'm going through.

I'm lost in this sea of people, none of them I know. I still feel the ghost of Caden with me. Its how I know what I'm doing. What pain I'm causing him. What pain I'm causing myself.

I feel like I need him every time I'm no where near him. I wish I didn't. I'm fighting him every time I see him. I don't know why. Our entire relationship was doomed from the beginning yet it fixes me. We are insanity, the way we are together. We shouldn't work but we do. And I see the clearest when hes around.

I feel tears falling down my face as I continue to dance. I sing the lyrics at the top of my lungs. I don't care who hears or sees. I need this right now.

And just like that I feel him. I stop moving and look up. My face is damp and pulled tight. I don't care who sees, I don't care who knows. It's like I finally opened my eyes. I've wasted hours, days, months, years...

I run through the crowd to him. My Caden. I'm about a foot from touching distance, reaching for his hand when Jaden steps in front of me."-Grace, Wrong Kind of Love




Amanda lives in southern Arkansas with her husband and young child. 
She enjoys reading, writing, and drinking tons of Dr. Pepper. 
You can find her sitting on the couch with either her head in a book or typing on her laptop.
Amanda is the author of This Beautiful Thing, Fire In Her Eyes, Angel Cuffs, and Norma Jean. Wrong Kind of Love will be released this June.




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Blog Tour Stop: Bad Things by R.K. Lilley

Welcome to our stop on the Bad Things Blog Tour! 



Danika hasn’t had an easy life. Being insanely attracted to bad boys has never helped make it easier.

One look at Tristan, and every brain cell she possessed went up in smoke. This man was trouble with a capital T. It was a given.

She knew better. Bad boys were bad. Especially for her. Considering her history, it was crazy to think otherwise. So why did crazy have to feel so damn fine?

For as long as she could remember, Danika had been focused on the future with single-minded purpose. Tristan came along and taught her everything there was to know about letting go, and living in the present. She fell, hard and deep. Of course, that only made her impact with the ground that much more devastating.









5 fantastic stars
It's been a week since I finished this book and I'm still thinking about it. Holy crap Tristan!
From the very first introduction of Tristan and the banter that went back and forth between him and Danika I was sold and a Tristan fan for life. He's not perfect, but have you ever met a man that is? They do not exist and imperfections in a man make the 'man' in the story, at least for me, all the more real.
Danika is a real girl. I liked her sassy attitude and the fact she was trying so very hard not to repeat past mistakes. She was desperate to have a family of her own and the family she lives with provided the stability that she so desperately craved.
The chemistry between these two is off the charts hot!
I loved all of the character's we get to meet and get to know along the way. I laughed at the banter, got angry at some things and I cried my eyes out. I was taken on an emotional roller coaster with Tristan and Danika and one I didn't want to get off of. I'm excited for their next journey and all that R.K. Lilley has in store for us!!





R.K. Lilley lives in Colorado with her husband and their two beautiful sons. She's had a lot of interesting jobs, from being a first class flight attendant, to being a stablehand, but swears she never knew what hard work was until she had children. She's been addicted to both reading and writing fiction since she can remember. She loves to travel, read, hike, paint, game, watch anime, and make the most of every single day. She is the author of the erotic romance novels In Flight, Mile High, Grounded, and the novella, Lana.
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Blog Tour Stop: Irreparably Broken by K.J. Bell

Irreparably Broken by K.J. Bell is a beautiful book about love.  It's about finding out things that you don't want to know and understanding that sometimes the very things that may break you are also the things that give you strength greater than you ever thought possible.








Sometimes outward appearances do not always represent reality…

That’s what twenty-year old Tori discovers when she moves in with her best friend Liv for the summer. Liv’s older brother Brady is everything Tori knows is wrong for her, yet he invokes feelings deep in her soul that she’s never felt with anyone else. When the two eventually succumb to their irrefutable feelings, Tori realizes Brady’s not the same confident guy she’s secretly loved for years. Tori desperately wants Brady to confide in her, but he refuses to talk about the secrets that have drastically changed his life.

Turning to the one person that always makes her laugh, she begins spending time with Liv and Brady’s younger brother Tug. While the two spend more and more time together, Tori wonders if her feelings for Tug run deeper than the “just buddies” status they’ve always shared. As she begins to explore her feelings, the conflict between brothers she’d hoped to avoid erupts. She knows she has to choose.

When Brady finally reveals his secrets, Tori makes her decision; one that may leave them all Irreparably Broken.






Eyes dark, he looks right at me. It’s unnerving, but I refuse to look away. “Tori, I don’t want you to see him again.” His voice is rigid and sends shards of anger through me.
I bite back hurtful words. I like our newfound friendship, but he’s pushing it. “Brady, I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear you say that.”
“He’s dangerous!” 
“Funny.” I half laugh. “That’s what he says about you.”
His chair squeaks when he slides it out from under the table and stands up. He comes over to stand close beside me. I can already sense the heightened charge in the air with his nearness. “What did he tell you?” His tone is bitter.
“Nothing specific. You want to tell me what’s going on between the two of you?”
He pushes off the counter and pinches the bridge of his nose again. “I can’t.”
“Why not?” I ask, urging him to explain.
“I just can’t,” he answers, and his body is suddenly close to me, caging me in. His hands are on each side of me, gripping the counter, and I have no choice but to look into the depths of his green eyes. His hard warm body brushes against my breast and I let out a small whimper. “He’s wrong for you, and I don’t want him touching you,” he says brutally, his words hitting my gut like a brick.










So I've literally just finished reading Irreparably Broken and wanted to get straight to my review.  I usually sit on a book for a least a couple of hours before I try and write how I felt about it, but I enjoyed Irreparably Broken so much that I don't feel the need to distill my feelings, just to write about how much I loved it!  
K.J. Bell has created a suite of amazing characters in this book but what I loved, loved, loved about Irreparably Broken was that it concludes in a way that was satisfying - the book is a stand alone read and they seem to be relatively rare occurrences these days.  There is definitely scope for books centered around other characters in this book, but Tori and Brady's story had a start, middle and ending that I thoroughly enjoyed reading.
On the face of it, some could dismiss Irreparably Broken as having a 'predictable' plot - but I encourage you not to make that assumption based on the synopsis.  Yes there is the whole crushing on the best friends older 'bad boy' brother and heart broken by the ex boyfriend (not to mention the confusion at how 'comfortable' Tori is with her crushes younger brother) - but there are twists and turns and surprises in this story that you're unlikely to predict. 
Tori has had her heart broken by Jake, her first love - it's not just the fact that he cheated on her that hurts, it's the way Brady, her best friends older brother, had a hand in making sure she knew about Jake's cheating that has caused Tori to swear off guys and relationships generally.  Her family has relocated due to her dad's work and rather than go to “Minn-e-fuckin-sota" with them, she moves in with her "BFFAA" (best friend forever and always) Liv and her family.  Having been friends forever, Liv's family is like Tori's own.  In fact, she's always harboured some envy at just how perfect Liv's parents are and at the family environment Liv has.  Tori has also harboured a crush on Brady, Liv's older brother, for many years and unbeknownst to her, he will be home for the summer!
What Tori also doesn't know is that she is the reason for Brady’s decision to spend summer at home as he's decided to be up front about how he feels about her.  Having reached that decision, his execution is not as perfect as you'd hope and there are times when you could cut the emotional tension between the two with a knife.  Sadly, nothing is straight forward for them – Tori is struggling with wanting to guard her heart from another hurt; Brady has history and doesn't think he is worthy of ... well, much actually:

Christ, look, I'm toxic, like fucking poison, nothing instant though - I'm something slow and painful, and you don't need that in your life.

As Brady battles with his past and the demons he carries around he inevitably hurts Tori, which is the last thing he wants to do.  Through all of this Tori has the unending support of Tug, Brady and Liv's younger brother.  Tug is just adorable - only 9 months younger than Tori and Liv - he is always asking Tori out and she is always responding with "I'd rather ..." comments - some of which are both revolting and downright hilarious.  Tug is a great friend to Tori, but it's also clear that there is something unexplored about the relationship between the two and how that evolves throughout the story is just beautiful.  Liv is the sort of best friend everyone should have.  In one scene she deals with Tori's ex so beautifully I laughed out loud at her tenacity and ferocious protectiveness of her friend.  She's gorgeous, outspoken, loyal and hell bent on getting Tori laid!
There are elements to this story that were completely unexpected.  The tragedy that strikes has consequences for everyone that will change the course of their lives forever.  K.J. Bell has done a fabulous job, she's created a couple of swoon worthy characters in Brady and Tug (and Harrison probably warrants a mention too).  In amongst everything there are some steamy sex scenes, humour and an engrossing story line.  I read Irreparably Broken in one sitting as I just couldn't wait to find out how it was going to end.  I'd love to see a follow up book about Tug or Liv as the next installment from K.J. Bell, but the great thing is I haven’t been left hanging, wondering what the future holds for anyone in the story, least of all Tori and Brady.
4 out of 5 stars



K J Bell grew up in California and has spent the last eight years living in Massachusetts with her husband and three children.

After years of working in the corporate world, she took on her most rewarding job as a full time mom.

People often ask, what made her decide to write? And the answer is…she didn’t. Writing found her. She was inspired to write when her daughter innocently waved at people in an empty cemetery, but didn’t know where to begin. After years of debating, she finally put fingers to keys bringing her first novel, a paranormal romance titled The Locket, to life.
Irreparably Broken is her first new adult novel.

Writing is a passion she simply can’t live without and looks forward to publishing many books in the near future; including the second book to The Locket Story, Shadowed, and another new adult novel, Cut too Deep.


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Cover Reveal: Unbreakable by Rebecca Shea

Today we get to share with you the cover for Unbreakable by Rebecca Shea.  Read on for a teaser and check out the Book Trailer.


Title: UnbreakableAuthor: Rebecca SheaExpected Release Date:  July 30, 2013Genre:  New Adult/College/Coming of Age   Cover Created by: Sarah Hansen Okay CreationsCover reveal organized by: Shh Moms ReadingGoodreads:  



Jessica Harper is the epitome of perfection. She’s a good daughter, makes excellent grades, and always strays on the safe side of life. The last thing she thought would ever happen was falling in love with her best friend’s brother. But sometimes fate just has a way of bringing two people together.Wide receiver for the University of Arizona, Gabe Garcia, seems to have it all. When his feelings for Jessica come to surface, Gabe will give up everything to be with her.But what happens when a tragedy abruptly changes the course of your life? For Jessica and Gabe, everything they thought they knew about each other will be questioned. Sometimes, there are scars in life that are cut too deep to completely heal.Will their love prove to be unbreakable, or will it shatter and prove fate is just another lie?*This book contains mature subject matter and is not intended for those under 17 years of age.*





http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsSxVAKmSVM



I stand there, nervously tugging at the hem of my top when he stands and walks toward me. Pressing his body flush against mine, grabbing my hips he whispers, “Miss me already?” He’s so close I have to tilt my head to look up at him. Timidly, I slide my hands up his bare chest and around the back of his neck. With piercing eyes he stands staring down at me intently. My breathing is shallow, and nerves swarm in my belly as I gently pull him down to me.
Looking up at him, I close my eyes as he presses his lips to mine. Slowly he moves his lips back and forth across mine. His tongue finds the smallest opening and urges my lips apart, and his kiss becomes more intimate. I gasp as he alternates between light, gentle and intense, deep kisses. My legs shake slightly as my body is overcome by the intensity of this moment. We are both breathing erratically when he drags his lips away from mine.“I should go,” I say in a hush.Pressing one last kiss to my lips he whispers, “I don’t want you to.” I reach behind me grasping the doorknob, “I know, but I need too.” I slip out of Gabe’s room and cross the hallway back to mine.


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




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Blog Tour Stop - Beside Your Heart by Mary Whitney

Remember when you were in high school and you fell in love for the first time?  Well Beside Your Heart by Mary Whitney is going to bring back all those memories for you.  This wonderfully written story reminisces about what was, what might have been and what could be and is an absolute delight to read.



Title: Beside Your HeartAuthor: Mary WhitneyGenre: New Adult RomancePublish Date: June 17, 2013Event organized by: Literati Literature Lovers



Late one night Nicki Johnson plays with emotional fire and Googles her high school love, only to find his name splashed across the British gossip columns. Back in his native England, Adam Kincaid is successful and dating a woman from an aristocratic family like his own. With a career in politics, Nicki’s no slouch, but she knows Adam is living a world away from her life. Yet there was a time he was no farther than the next locker. Nicki will never forget their year together in high school—the year of her sister’s death, the year her mother checked out. Adam helped Nicki through suffocating grief, and she led him through a coming of age. Was it just high school, or was it something more?









Beside Your Heart is a beautifully written tale of love, loss and the transition from teenager to adult.  Nicki Johnson is deputy press secretary for the newly elected president.  Smart, succesful - she has everything any woman could ask for, except the love of her life.  In a moment of melancholy she Googles Adam Kinkaid and finds pictures of him splashed across British tabloids with a stunning British Aristocrat on his arm.  As Nicki reminisces, the story returns to their unforgettable senior year of high school together and we learn of the incredible connection the two shared and a love that no matter how strong, couldn't withstand the vast distance between Cambridge and Texas ... or could it?Mary Whitney has done an amazing job with this story.  She dealt with the issues of grief and loss within a family, first love, first time, and high school friendships in such a realistic way.  It absolutely took me back to life as a teenager and those intense feelings of love, lust, family drama and heartbreak.  Nicki and Adam meet at school.  Adam is in the US for one year as his father has taken up a teaching post at a University.  Charming, gorgeous, the impeccable English gentleman, Adam has no shortage of female admirers at school.  Nicki on the other hand is doing whatever she can to blend in as she struggles to deal with the tragic loss of her younger sister in a serious car accident.  Nicki and her mother survived the accident, but both are traumatised and devastated by Lauren's death.  Nicki is scarred, both physically and mentally and struggles to talk about Lauren and all things connected to her.  Adam manages to find a way behind the walls she has built up.  He is patient, considerate and what blossoms between the two is simply beautiful.  Sadly for the two of them, it is very difficult for them to simply enjoy their time together as there is essentially a huge countdown clock hanging over their heads until Adam must return to England with his family.  Nicki is a very mature young woman and having suffered such pain at the loss of her sister she tries to guard her heart from further pain.  The depth of feeling between Nicki and Adam is something more than the usual high school sweethearts and it is heartbreaking to read as they deal with a series of events leading up to Adams return home.  
While I loved Beside Your Heart I was very frustrated with how it ended. I would have loved another chapter or perhaps a few more pages in the Epilogue as for me, it felt like a rather abrupt finish to a story that had unfolded slowly, beautifully and in a realistic and detailed way.  Here's hoping there will be another book to follow in the not too distant future.
4 out 5 stars


Even before she graduated from law school, Mary knew she wasn't cut out to be a real lawyer. Drawn to politics, she's spent her career as an organizer, lobbyist, and nonprofit executive. Nothing piques her interest more than a good political scandal or romance, and when she stumbled upon writing, she put the two together. A born Midwesterner, naturalized Texan, and transient resident of Washington, D.C., Mary now lives in Northern California with her two daughters and real lawyer husband.

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Release Event and Giveaway: Killing Sarai by J.A. Redmerski

Today we have the pleasure of participating in the release event for Killing Sarai by J.A. Redemerski.

From the author of the New York Times, USA Today & Wall Street Journal bestselling novel, THE EDGE OF NEVER, comes a story of passion and survival… 
Title: KILLING SARAIAuthor: J.A. RedmerskiRelease date: June 20, 2013Genre: Romantic SuspenseAge Group : General adult 17 +Event organized by: AToMR Tours

Sarai was only fourteen when her mother uprooted her to live in Mexico with a notorious drug lord. Over time she forgot what it was like to live a normal life, but she never let go of her hope to escape the compound where she has been held for the past nine years.
Victor is a cold-blooded assassin who, like Sarai, has known only death and violence since he was a young boy. When Victor arrives at the compound to collect details and payment for a hit, Sarai sees him as her only opportunity for escape. But things don’t go as planned and instead of finding transport back to Tucson, she finds herself free from one dangerous man and caught in the clutches of another.
While on the run, Victor strays from his primal nature as he succumbs to his conscience and resolves to help Sarai. As they grow closer, he finds himself willing to risk everything to keep her alive; even his relationship with his devoted brother and liaison, Niklas, who now like everyone else wants Sarai dead.As Victor and Sarai slowly build a trust, the differences between them seem to lessen, and an unlikely attraction intensifies. But Victor’s brutal skills and experience may not be enough in the end to save her, as the power she unknowingly holds over him may ultimately be what gets her killed.This is their story…


INTERESTING OR NOTEWORTHY FACTS ABOUT KILLING SARAI:Victor Faust speaks seven languages fluently: German, French, Spanish, Swedish, Hungarian, Arabic and English.The book was partially inspired by my anger towards the movie Hitman when Agent 47 and Nika didn’t have a romantic relationship. I was so distraught over that! The woman and romance lover in me decided to take that secret love affair some of us have with deadly men and make it romantic.The other part of my inspiration for writing KILLING SARAI came from the song Father Figure by George Michael.While although Sarai didn’t get to finish school and had limited means of education while at the compound, she is very intelligent both book-wise and street-wise. And she is a fast learner.Sarai has spit in Izel’s food so many times she lost count.Victor and his younger brother, Niklas, are one in the same but entirely different. They are both fiercely loyal to each other and those they love and are both skilled killers, but Niklas is untamed and undisciplined, which creates a constant wedge between the two.Victor has never been in love. Ever. Niklas, on the other hand, although he preaches to Victor about avoiding relationships and how falling in love will only get him killed, secretly loved a woman once. The woman that Niklas once loved was secretly killed by none other than Victor.Sarai pulled one of her own wisdom teeth out with a pair of pliers because she had no way of getting dental care while in Mexico. And even though Javier would’ve made sure she got the care, Sarai refused to tell him for fear of Izel finding out and trying to remove the tooth for her.I molded Victor Faust’s character almost entirely from actor Michael Fassbender!



J.A. Redmerski, New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of THE EDGE OF NEVER lives in North Little Rock, Arkansas with her three children and a Maltese. She is a lover of television and books that push boundaries and is a huge fan of AMC’s The Walking Dead.


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Open internationally - 1 eBook copy of Killing Sarai Kindle and Nook formats only gifted from the Author
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