Heather Gunter's Blog, page 78

Blog Tour Stop & Giveaway: Distractions by J. L. Brooks

“We are all pawns in some one else’s game.”

No one knows this better than Violet Phillips. When her beloved mentor goes missing, she suspects murder, which sends her spiraling out of control and away from the stable life she has built for herself. Soon, her past will begin seeping out with a vengeance.

“I will teach you how this game is played.”
Self-destruction threatens to consume Violet when a handsome neighbor that has been watching her from afar intervenes on her behalf. Shepard Leone may be six years younger, but it does not stop him from seducing her ears as well as her heart.

“Fascinating how much life can change in twenty-four hours.”
When Violet is forced to go down a dark road into a past where she must confront the demons that nearly destroyed her, will she be unable to deviate? Struggling with the loss of her missing friend, Shepard will find a way in and reawaken desires that she thought were forever lost. But Violet never forgets that if you are not careful, distractions will be your undoing.

Tami's Review:
5 out of 5 stars "Stay alert, Violet.  Distractions will be your undoing." Distractions was not what I expected.  It was so much more, far exceeding my expectations to the point that I have found myself mulling over parts of the book, re-reading chapters as I write this review and thinking about the characters and events since finishing it.  My challenge now is writing this review without spoilers (which hopefully I have achieved) because for me, a significant chunk of the enjoyment was unravelling the story and I don't want to take that away from anyone else.In the Prologue we meet 14 year old Violet Phillips:  a complex mix of intelligence and emotion.  Drawn to the gypsy culture that would descend upon her home every summer, and under the guidance of her older sister Vivienne, Violet learnt to belly dance and would lose herself in the fantasy world she could create as she danced.  After her sister left, Violet struggled to balance her reality and turned to drug use as a means of escape.  In amongst the drug stupors, she manages to find some solace in studying literature, amongst other things, and somehow escapes the complete destruction and desolation experienced by most hard drug users.  Distractions then moves forward eight years to a time when Violet is 26 years old and has established herself as lead Research Assistant in the lab of Dr David Robertson, a renowned geneticist working on developing what is hopoed to be a revolution in genetic therapy.  Violet holds "Doc" in very high regard.  He is her "mentor, father figure and knight in shining armor" so what happens one night between the two, followed by the inexplicable (and apparently sinister) disappearance of Dr Robertson impacts Violet significantly.From here we travel a series of journeys with Violet as she seeks to understand herself, her past and the impact this has for her future.  Violet must balance many 'distractions' on her journey, which is filled with mystery, intrigue, deception, romance and ultimately a discovery of just how strong one woman can be.It would be remiss of me not to mention Shephard in this review.  Shephard is Violet's neighbour and source of support following the events with Dr Robertson.  The two have a chemistry that is heart warming, not to mention the intimacy of their connection and I'm not just referring to the sex scenes!  Despite Violet's reservations, primarily due to their age difference but also due to the timing of them coming together, she cannot deny her feelings for Shephard or just how right their relationship feels:

"If someone has the ability to make you glow in the darkness, they must be remarkable.  That does not mean there is something wrong with you.  It means there is something right.  Only you would believe the worst."

Violet is a wonderful character.  She is an ecclectic mix of her life: teenage gypsy, drug user, erotic dancer, academic, researcher, sister, friend.  She is complex and carries a hurt from her past (and Connor Lewis) that is in part responsible for both her achievements and her introversion.  Violet's life is not what it seems and Distractions follows her path to discovering just what it should be.  It is more than a love story, so much more.  Violet must manoeuvre herself, as if in a giant chess game, in order to remain whole.  Each move is made in the absence of the full picture and she must determine who she can trust along the way as she evaluates and makes each move:

" ... no one would listen, they can't see the truth.  They are so wrapped up in trying to figure out what their opponent's next move is, they can't conceive that maybe there is someone who can see the big picture.  He can see every piece on the board and every game that is played.  It's not just about him shouting down; they have to let him know they can hear him, and trust him.  But submission is a very hard thing for most people.  They need to feel like they are in control, even if it is an illusion.
...
It could be so much easier, Violet, if they would just stop for a second and listen."

I really loved Distractions.  It requires a level of concentration to make some of the connections but it is worth the investment.  The conclusion was nothing like I thought it would be and everything I hoped.  About the Author:JL Brooks lives with her active family along the Ohio River at the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. A former columnist turned novelist, she spends most of her time engaged in women’s health issues and education. Believing everyone has a story to tell, chances are she will encourage you to tell yours. Connect with JL BrooksBlog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Email

Purchase Distractions:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo Books


Giveaway (US Only):
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cover Re-Reveal: The Upside of Letting Go by Nacole Stayton

[image error]


[image error] Title: The Upside of Letting GoAuthor:  Nacole StaytonGenre: New Adult RomancePublish Date:  April 20, 2013Event organized by: Literati Literature Lovers


Haley Martin is no stranger to loss. One tragic event takes her entire family, leaving lingering nightmares to torment her at every turn. She decides the only way to let go of those nightmares is to literally move away from all that is familiar. Boarding a Greyhound bus, she leaves behind her past filled with heartbreak and misery, in hopes of starting a new life.
By accident she meets Kyler King, a beautiful young man with a tragic past as well. He has no interest in settling down with anyone. With a reputation as being emotionally unattainable, he uses this façade to hide the burdens he bears every day.As Kyler and Haley’s physical attraction becomes deeper, the secrets they have kept hidden threaten to surface. An unannounced visitor causes their pasts to collide with their present. Will their secrets prove to be too big of an obstacle, hindering their happily ever after, or will letting go be the key that locks their bond forever?



Amazon | Barnes & Noble


[image error] Nacole Stayton was born and raised Christian “Nacole” Stayton. She is twenty-three years young and currently resides in the Bluegrass state, Kentucky. She spends her days working at the local hospital and nights writing vigorously on her current novel. She has a passion for helping others and wears her University of Kentucky gear proudly. While her husband loves all things outdoors Nacole enjoys the finer things in life like getting pedicures while reading on her Kindle Fire. Her hair color changes with the seasons and she has a weakness for tattoos and iced coffee.


Facebook | Blog | Twitter



a Rafflecopter giveaway




[image error]
[image error]

Blog Tour Stop - Review and Giveaway: Full of Grace by Misty Provencher

  


BOOK BLURB:  
Running about 7 bananas strong on shots from Hale and Oscar Maree’s wedding bar, what happened between Landon Grace and Sher Traifere was supposed to be a one time thing.  A quickie on a romantic night.  Sher wanted a fast evening of fireworks to remember on the dull horizon of her life; Landon wanted to get his mind off his psycho ex by feeling Sher’s curves.  By the end of the evening, a secret of Sher’s complicates Landon’s attempt to escape the girl’s chainsaw giggle. 
Some one-night-stands just can’t be finished in one night. 
Even more complicating, this one rises back up with a hard shot of morning sickness and an entire repertoire of questions.  The most important being:  how much pull does a guy really have in a woman’s choice to pursue or terminate a pregnancy?
And in this case, how clever can he be about stealing her pants?
TAMI'S REVIEW Full of Grace is the companion book to Hale Maree by Misty Provencher.  It tells the story of Landon Grace and Sher Traifere.  I hadn't read Hale Maree, where these two first meet, but in all honesty it didn't detract from my enjoyment or understanding of the story. Full of Grace is told from Landon's perspective and deals with the issue of an unplanned pregnancy.  Landon and Sher have what both initially consider as a one night stand, but then Landon's perspective is changed when he learns more about Sher's 'history' and Sher discovers she is pregnant. I loved the premise of this story - an unplanned pregnancy and the rights of both parents to be involved in the decision to terminate.  I could feel the turmoil both characters were dealing with: Landon, a brother to five sisters and raised by a single mum, determined to be there for his child and Sher and willing to do whatever it takes to convince her to keep the baby.  On the other hand, Sher, also raised by a single mum with multiple siblings from different fathers, is desperate not to be her mother all over again, devastated that she hasn't yet had the opportunity to live her life and terrified of the long term consequences of being a teenage mum.
 As I said, I hadn't read Hale Maree, so I didn't have any background to the relationship between Landon and Sher, but there was clearly chemistry between the two of them.  Yes, their initial encounter was somewhat alcohol fuelled, but the way Landon talks/thinks about Sher conveys so much more than a meaningless one night stand.
 The two must come to grips with the pregnancy and it's consequences for their future.  They must also determine what they have together, when really they know next to nothing about each other:

"I realize that I'm every bit as stupid as she's thinking I am, even if not for the same reasons.  I have no idea what Sher's last name is.  I don't know a damn thing about her, except that she's got skin like the underbelly of a baby rabbit and she's carrying my baby - for the moment.  We came together for maybe ten minutes total and it began this whole weird elbow pipe of our lives as strangers.  What a mess."

Landon was just gorgeous, his determination to have Sher hear his side of things had me chuckling regularly and his slowly dawning realisation that there was more to his feelings than just the thought of the baby in Sher's belly was a delight to read.  They have moments where you think "this is it, they'll be OK now":

"For one second, the world freezes.  There is only Sher staring into my eyes.  Me, staring back.  Our connection is beyond physical, it's even more than the link of a baby growing in her belly.  It's my soul and hers, grazing fingertips over one another."

And then something would happen that would set them back almost to where they started.  Despite that, Landon was persistent, consistent and so loveable I really don't know how Sher could resist him:

"She's the wild card and how she plays her hand will still determine my entire life, whether I like it or not.  I should hate her, but instead, I've tracked her down and now I just want to sit here, pretending none of it happened, and watch her sleep."

Landon and Sher's story is beautifully written.  There are complexities to the story that have them questioning what the pregnancy means for both their individual and collective futures.  Underlying the fear and uncertainty there is a slowly developing connection with each other that promises them great things:

"This one moment, in my bed beside her, is whole.  Warm and safe and invicible, it feels like a beginning  And if I were able to lay beside her like this every day of my life, I think the end would feel as complete." 

I loved this book.  I sat up late to finish reading it because I just had to know the outcome.  It is not long and while some reviews have commented it wasn't long enough, I was very satisfied with where it finished.  I will also be adding Misty Provenchers other books to my TBR list.
 GIVEAWAYS
US:   a Rafflecopter giveaway  INTERNATIONAL:  a Rafflecopter giveaway

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Once a high school drop out and runaway, Misty Provencher became a college grad, and is now a full-time novelist with a close knit family. She doesn't do labels well. While she can ride a motorcycle, knows how to Karate chop, and has learned enough French, Spanish, and Sign Language to get herself slapped, Misty's life is the ruse she uses to connect with people. She is totally enchanted with them and spends her days trying to translate the soul bouquet of her muses into words.
Misty Provencher lives in Michigan. Knock on her internet blog door at: Misty Provencher's Books, http://mistypro.blogspot.com/ or find her on Facebook and Twitter as Misty Provencher.
Stalker Links:
BLOG:   http://mistypro.blogspot.com/FACEBOOK:  https://www.facebook.com/misty.provencher3?ref=tn_tnmnTWITTER:  https://twitter.com/mistyprovencher
PINTEREST:  http://pinterest.com/mistyprovencher/
GOODREADS:  http://www.goodreads.com/author/list/5322962.Misty_Provencher
AMAZON:  http://www.amazon.com/Misty-Provencher/e/B0066321KW/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1
BARNES & NOBLE:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/Misty-Provencher?store=allproducts&keyword=Misty+Provencher

Cover Reveal: Damaged 2 by H.M. Ward

Title: DAMAGED 2 (Damaged, #2)Author: H.M. WardExpected release date: June 24, 2013Genre: RomanceAge Group: New AdultCover reveal organized by: AToMR Tours

Click here to pre-order on Amazon
The steamy sequel to the New York Times bestselling New Adult novel
DAMAGED by H.M. Ward. Home isn't supposed to be dangerous, but for Sidney it is. Returning home means that she has to face her past. It's not just the man who hurt Sidney that makes it horrible, but the family that didn't believe her. They were dead to her, but now that her mom is really dying things seem different. It's a chance to set things right. What Sidney doesn't realize is that she's dragging Peter into a collision course with his past. Peter must deal with the demons haunting him if he wants to move forward with Sidney. He's willing to give up everything for her, even wade deeper into his past life to help her move forward. But, Peter isn't sure if he can get over what happened to him in New York.  

About the AuthorNEW YORK TIMES, WALL STREET JOURNAL, DIGITAL BOOK WORLD, & USA TODAY Bestselling author H.M. Ward is a native New Yorker living in Texas. She loves purple, glitter, and Disney World. Her bestsellers include THE ARRANGEMENT series, SCANDALOUS, and DEMON KISSED.

Don't want to miss a H.M. Ward release date: Text AWESOMEBOOKS to 22828 and get an email reminder on release dates. Facebook | Twitter
[image error]

Cover Reveal: Loving Liberty by Belinda Boring

Loving Liberty "What would she risk for freedom?"Belinda BoringNew Adult Contemporary RomanceAnticipated release – July 2013
Excerpt:“Ready?” he asked, aware I was checking him out and enjoying it the attention. His hand beckoned me to approach, and I let out a soft sigh. He stepped away from the table, waiting for me to stand in front of him, my back to his front. “I’m going to have you break, okay?” He moved in closer, and I prayed my legs wouldn't give. I could feel every inch of him pressed against me.“Okay,” I stammered. Oliver chuckled low in my ear and I tried not to shiver. Bending me forward with his body, he showed me how to position the pool stick, his arm alongside mine. We fit perfectly.“Still with me, Liberty?” he asked. I didn't want to move. We were so connected, the position so intimate, I was sure I was ready to combust on the spot. Andrew had tried holding me this close and it had made my skin crawl. It was the complete opposite with Oliver. This made me feel wanton. Reckless.“Uh huh.” It was the only way I could respond.“It’s just you need to keep breathing, sweetheart.” His use of that endearment made my insides melt. “Be brave.”
To learn more about Loving Liberty or Belinda Boring, follow her on -

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Belinda-Boring-Author/200626723318915?ref=hl Twitter: @thebookishsnobOfficial Website: www.belindaboring.com Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Belinda-Boring/e/B005C1IRFC/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1368511761&sr=8-2-ent

Cover Reveal: Relinquishing Liberty by Maureen Mayer

  Scheduled for release August 26th (subject to change) 
Synopsis:
On the outside, Liberty Davis appeared to have it all…a loving family, a tight knit circle of friends, and a bright future ahead of her. Everything was perfect. That is until her brother tragically took his own life, turning her whole world upside down.
Left to pick up the pieces of her broken family, Liberty is faced with focusing all of her attention on helping her parents cope with the loss of their son, while putting her own life on the back burner. But what no one seems to realize is that she is just as broken inside.
Now, four years later, twenty year old Liberty is taking back the reins of her life. She leaves behind everything she’s ever known, hoping to make a fresh start…one where she isn’t faced with the constant reminder that her brother is nothing more than faded memory. What she didn’t expect to find along the way was Shayne.
Tall, dark and tattooed, Shayne Thompson has developed quite a reputation for being a player. Despite everyone’s negative perception, Liberty still finds herself drawn to him. When she learns that Shayne knows all too well what it feels like to lose someone you love, she finds that they have a lot more in common than just a physical attraction.
When Liberty discovers a secret from Shayne’s past that threatens to tear them apart, she begins to question everything she’s ever felt for him. Will Liberty choose to follow her heart or will she give up the one person who finally made her feel whole again?




About the Author:
Maureen Mayer was born, raised and currently resides in Buffalo, NY with her loving and supportive family and boyfriend of 8+ years. She’s always had a love for the outdoors, and when the city isn’t buried under snow, she can be found hiking, fishing, camping or lying on the beach. She’s a sucker for off-color humor, but holds a sweet spot for sick and twisted horror films.
Thanks to authors like J. K. Rawling, Stephanie Meyer and E. L. James, Maureen has rediscovered her love for reading. When she’s not writing, you can find her curled up in bed with her kindle, diving into a steamy romance novel. She is currently working on her first new adult novel and hopes to self-publish it late this summer.

Connect with Maureen:Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/AuthorMaureenMayerGoodreads:  http://www.goodreads.com/AuthorMaureenMayer
Twitter: @AuthorMoMayer
Cover Design - Robin Harper at Wicked by Design.https://www.facebook.com/WickedByDesignRobinHarper?fref=ts

Blog Tour & Giveaway: Down 'N' Derby by Lila Felix

Summary:Maddox is running.
By accident, he discovered long ago that he was adopted as a baby and his need to find his biological father has consumed him ever since. Now, on a road trip, determined to find his father and his sanity, and armed with locations and his cousin, Nixon, to help him, maybe he can find the answers he’s been searching for. With nothing but a suitcase and a wad of cash to get him there, lead after lead takes him further from home.

But he’ll find much more than he intended.

He finds Storey, a pint sized pin-up model who has learned painful lessons about guys. Her wounds run deep, but so do his. She knows what she wants, but will she recognize it when it’s right in front of her?

Maddox can’t touch anyone without feeling like his skin is crawling, but just maybe his instinct to protect this amazing girl will supersede his own hang-ups.
If he can brush her skin and start to feel alive inside...everything will change.




My Review ...I'm a huge fan of Lila Felix and this series.  I spent several days taking my time and reading Down N' Derby, much to the detriment of the Author herself.  I didn't want to go too fast and wanted to savor every minute of it.  To say that I lovedit would be an understatement.  Every book in the Love & Skate series gets better and better.  First I want to start off by saying how much I love the names of each of her characters.  They all have the coolest names!

Maddox learned when he was younger that he is not a "true" Black.  His mom and dad are not his actual parents.  His mother died during childbirth and asked her twin sister, Sylvia, if she would take care of Maddox for her.  This is how Maddox became a member of the Black family.  Maddox struggles for years with the thought that he is the reason his mother died and the anger of knowing that his father left them before he was even born.  Because of all this, he has an issue with being touched and gets tingly, but not in a good way.

Maddox decides a road trip is in order to find his father and brings his cousin Nixon along for the ride.  We also get to see some of Nixon and the personal issues that he deals with.  Maddox and Nixon leave in the middle of the night, only telling Reed what they're doing.  Reed and Falcon are scheduled to be married and Maddox knows he won't be there for it.  Maddox leaving causes a few issues for Reed and Falcon who decide to post pone their wedding until Maddox is back.  Secrets are kept and it puts a strain on their relationship.  Okay, so now you get the preface, but not the meat.  I don't give spoilers ...

Along this journey we meet Storey, a beautiful pin up model that's had an extremely horrific past relationship.  She's feisty, but has her share of demons.  She catches the eye of Maddox.  Or I should say they catch the eye of each other.  We are taken for a ride with Maddox and Nixon in search of his father with a couple of stops along the way.

Can I just say, that I laughed so hard I was shaking my bed.  The moments between Nixon and Maddox were hysterical.  I made a point of texting Lila immediately.  HYSTERICAL!  The banter is one of the best aspects of Lila's writing.  Take all of the funny moments away for a moment and they don't compare to the way you feel and care about each and every character.  The story had my heart tugged on more than one occasion.  I love these characters.  Each and every one.  As the story goes along we really get a sense of Maddox's anguish and the demons he's carried for nine long years.  We are introduced to another character along the way, that had me begging Lila for another book, just for him.

True to Lila's writing, she puts everything into each and every story, that's full of heart and soul.  She has a way of making you feel you're right there watching and wanting to wrap your arms around each of the characters shoulders, telling them everything will be okay.  I was affected by the story line and the absolute realness as well as the guilt, that we sometimes feel.  There is always meaning to every book and something to take from it.  This, I truly appreciate.  I'm a passionate reader and it struct several different chords with me.  It has everything from forgiveness, acceptance to showing the stregnth of relationships.  She also did something fascinated with the very end, that I will not reveal.  You need to read it to see.  Let's just say that Lila took a chance and did something absolutely different and amazing.  I felt like I was there and I cried.

With each book written we get to see every character and watch their growth.  And that makes them all the more real.  I'm so thankful that past characters don't get lost along the way with each story.  This is truly a series about family and love.

I'm so proud of Lila as an Author, and so very proud to call her my friend.  I hope she knows that this is her calling.  This is what she's meant to do.  She's not afraid to take chances and do something different.  The best part is, she makes you feel.

Enter the Giveaway a Rafflecopter giveaway
About the Author ...Lila Felix lives in the swamps of Louisiana with her husband and three boisterous children. She loves coffee, anything cinnamon and loves to cook. She is a big roller derby fan. When she's not writing, she's watching 80's movies, reading, and collecting duct tape.Lila Felix Links...
 Goodreads - http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6519682.Lila_FelixFacebook Fanpage - https://www.facebook.com/AuthorLilaFelix?fref=tsTwitter - https://twitter.com/AuthorLilaFelix

Blog - http://authorlilafelix.blogspot.com/
Love and Skate Series Links...Love and Skate - Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Love-Skate-Lila-Felix/dp/1481083538/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1365429579&sr=8-1&keywords=love+and+skateLove and Skate - B&N http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/love-and-skate-lila-felix/1113747491How It Rolls - Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Rolls-Love-Skate-Series-ebook/dp/B00BEIBF2Y/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1365429676&sr=1-1&keywords=how+it+rollsHow it Rolls - B&N http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/how-it-rolls-liila-felix/1114576467?ean=2940016225654Down n’ Derby - Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Down-Derby-Love-Skate-ebook/dp/B00CBMLQ26 

Cover Reveal and Giveaway - Keep Me Safe by Elaine Breson

Expected release date: July/August 2013
Synopsis:Sadie is thriving in her new life and taking every moment to enjoy her new freedom. After a failed marriage that changed everything she knew to be true, she gets the courage to start over on her own. Sadie’s world quickly changes from her new normal when one night she gets pulled over by the most gorgeous police officer she’s ever met.
Feeling optimistic about opening up again, she hopes that begins with Officer Stevens. He’s protective, sweet and seemingly trustworthy. She wonders if her past will ever allow her to get close to someone again. Her friends keep telling her how much she finally deserves to be happy. Will their chance meeting give her an opportunity to find out how fulfilling true love really should be? She wants to put her past to rest and move on, but will she finally allow herself to trust him when she feels like her life might be in danger?


GiveawayThe Author is running an amazing giveaway - check it out and enter via the following link:
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/9436c23/

About the Author: Elaine Breson is a Florida native who recently packed up and moved her family to Utah. She is a stay at home mom to two younger children and runs a crafting business from her home. When she’s not cleaning up after her kiddos or using her creative mind for a customer, you can find her satisfying her need for her favorite TV series or listening to music. Though finding time to write often seems like a lost cause, she uses every free minute to work on her debut novel, Keep Me Safe.
Connect with Elaine:Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Elaine-Breson/310500795737994?fref=ts
Goodreads:  http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6877766.Elaine_Breson

Cover Designer and website:  Robin Harper from Wicked by Design

Blog Stop & Giveaway: Lost and Found by Nicole Williams

SynopsisThere's complicated.  And there's Rowan Sterling. After numbing pain for the past five years with boys, alcohol, and all-around apathy, she finds herself on a Greyhound bus to nowhere Montana the summer after she graduates high school. Her mom agreed to front the bill to Rowen’s dream art school only if Rowen proves she can work hard and stay out of trouble at Willow Springs Ranch. Cooking breakfast at the crack of dawn for a couple dozen ranch hands and mucking out horse stalls are the last things in the world Rowen wants to spend her summer doing.
Until Jesse Walker saunters into her life wearing a pair of painted-on jeans, a cowboy hat, and a grin that makes something in her chest she’d thought was frozen go boom-boom. Jesse’s like no one else, and certainly nothing like her. He’s the bright and shiny to her dark and jaded.
Rowen knows there’s no happily-ever-after for the golden boy and the rebel girl—happily-right-now is a stretch—so she tries to forget and ignore the boy who makes her feel things she’s not sure she’s ready to feel. But the more she pushes him away, the closer he seems to get. The more she convinces herself she doesn’t care, the harder she falls.
When her dark secrets refuse to stay locked behind the walls she’s kept up for years, Rowen realizes it’s not just everyone else she needs to be honest with. It’s herself.
Review4.5 out of 5 starsI am a huge fan of Nicole Williams, and while I haven't read all of her books (yet) I absolutely fell in love with her Eden series and the Patrick Chronicles so I was very excited to read Lost & Found.  Williams knows how to write the perfect male character - that amazing blend of sensitivity, strength and not to mention gorgeousness that makes you just sigh as you're reading - and she's done it again with Jesse in Lost & Found.
But I should start with Rowen, after all, Lost & Found is really her story.  At eighteen Rowen has spent the last five years of her life hiding, rebelling and basically doing whatever she can to separate herself from the hurt that comes with relationships - of any kind.  An incredibly dysfunctional relationship with her mother drives much of her behaviour.  Rowen has a penchant for black, right down to her lipstick and contact lenses and is quite accustomed to the stares and 'freak' comments leveled in her direction.  Rowen's mother decides that Rowen must spend a summer on an old friend's ranch to 'prove herself' before she will commit to funding Rowen's dream of attending art school.  So after a long and exhausting bus trip, Rowen finds herself at Willow Springs with the Walker family:  Rose, Neil, Lily, Hyacinth, Clementine and of course Jesse.
I loved Rowen, despite her fractured life she had a strength of character that was wonderful.  I particularly liked her willingness to question everything she had ever known when presented with the balance and love that the Walker family embodied.  She rose to the challenges they unwittingly presented her and with each step began the long journey of finding the real Rowen Sterling.
Rose was perfect as the mother figure Rowen had never had.  Her stark contrast to Rowen’s mother had me questioning how it was possible for them to have been lifelong friends, and yet, it made sense at the same time.  Rose loved Rowen from the start, something that Rowen struggled with, and she regularly guided Rowen as she moved forward: 

"Listen, I don't know what you've done, or what your mom thinks you've done, to deserve spending your whole summer where I'd guess is the last place you'd want to spend your summer.  And you know what? "  She didn't wait for me to reply.  "I don't care.  Every morning we get a chance to be different.  A chance to change.  A chance to be better.  Your past is your past.  Leave it there.  Get on with the future part, honey."

Jesse was a significant part of Rowen’s journey and his compassion, his thoughtfulness and his persistence made it impossible not to fall in love with him, despite Rowen regularly telling herself that girls like her didn’t deserve guys like Jesse. 
There were so many things to like about Lost & Found that really, you just need to read it for yourself.  Don’t be fooled into thinking it’s the same formula you’ve read before.  Yes it’s troubled girl meets gorgeous boy, falls in love … but it’s also so much more than that.  Rowen’s journey is beautiful and Jesse’s balance and honesty help her find her way like no other had been able to. 

"We don't deserve anything, Rowen.  We don't deserve punishment, we don't deserve happiness, life owes us nothing.  Realize that."  His voice wasn't gentle anymore; it was as strong as I'd ever heard it.  "So we have to take what we want because life sure as shit isn't going to freely hand it over."  He kissed the skin just above my collar bone.  "And I want you."

Williams has a wonderful way with words, she creates imagery that is vivid and clear and leaves you feeling like it’s you that is walking through the field of tall grass in the middle of nowhere.  Her characters are complex and yet incredibly real, often reflecting parts of your own life and experience.  Pick up Lost and Found, you won’t be disappointed.
Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/Lost-and-Found-ebook/dp/B00CODYP5C/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1368145490&sr=8-1&keywords=lost+and+found+nicole+williams# Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1014078996?ean=2940016466682 Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17336849-lost-and-found

GiveawayEnter the Tour Giveaway for your chance to win:
Print copy of Lost and Found - Open InternationallyLeather cuff bracelet with metal inscription "Love is organized chaos" - Open Internationally$50 Amazon Gift Card – Open to countries that can use Amazon a Rafflecopter giveaway About the Author
I'm a wife, a mom, a writer. I started writing because I loved it and I'm still writing because I love it. I write young adult because I still believe in true love, kindred spirits, and happy endings. Here's to staying young at heart *raises champagne glass* . . . care to join me?

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/nwilliamsbooks
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/nwilliamsbooks
Blog: http://nicoleawilliams.blogspot.com/



Tour schedule link: http://wp.me/p20ttU-1vc
Tour Organizer: AToMR (http://atomrbookblogtours.com/)






 

Cover Reveal: Chase (Resisting Love) by Chantal Fernando and Dawn Martens

Chase (Resisting Love) by Chantal Fernando and Dawn Martens
Moving in with a guy you only met once? Stupid.
But for student Layla Crawford, this was reality.
Chase Jackson is a renowned playboy and self professed commitment phobe, that is until he meets Layla. Blinded by his intensity to have her, Chase will stop at nothing to make her his.  With a jealous ex and old conquests repeatedly making appearances, Chase's skeletons come out of the closet one by one, each one pushing Layla further and further away.  Layla is determined to keep her distance. Chase now has to convince the only woman he has ever wanted that he is worth the gamble.
Teaser (this is unedited and subject to change)  “What’s your name beautiful?” I inwardly sighed. His voice was mesmerizing. Deep and sensual.
“Umm, I’m Layla.”
“ Layla, I’m Chase.” He spoke my name reverently, almost like he was tasting it on his tongue.
“Nice to meet you Chase.” I smiled coyly.
“Trust me, the pleasure it all mine. Countless women in this club, but fuck, for some reason I can’t keep my eyes off you.” His lip tugged down in a small frown as he said it, like he wasn’t sure why.
“I’m sure you say that to all the women.” I attempt to flirt.
“Perhaps I do, but this time I really mean it,” he replies huskily.
“Well, what are you going to do about it?” Holy hell did I really just say that?
A smile now tugged at the corner of his mouth.
“Well I was thinking about tasting those luscious red lips of yours.” His eyes search mine, gouging my reaction. Apparently finding what he was looking for, he continues.
“And I’m a man who usually get’s what he wants.” His grin was wicked.
“Then by all means...” I whisper seductively.
He runs his finger from my temple, brushes my hair back then grasps the back of my neck.
“I’m going to kiss you now Layla.” He whispers in my ear.

Goodreads link         http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17829764-chase
Facebook link           https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Chantal-Fernando-and-Author-Dawn-Martens/610138822348690?ref=hl