Tamsyn Bester's Blog, page 17

*Blog Tour: This Heart of Mine by Amanda Bennett*

HI Brats :)

Today the blog tour for the 3rd and final book in Amanda Bennett's Raine Series, This Heart of Mine, kicks off and stops by TheSecretBookBrat HQ :)

I am Amanda Bennett's #1 fan and fell in love with this series <3



 
Synopsis
*This is the third and final book in The Raine Series. WARNING contains mature content and language*

Kayla seems to have it all. She has a wonderful man who would go to the ends of the earth for her and a family that seems to support her regardless of the consequences.
But is it enough to help her face her demons and to truly find happiness within her heart?

Madison never thought he would be faced with so many life altering decisions at such a young age. he wants to do right by Kayla and his family, but when old wounds reopen he finds himself questioning every choice he has ever made.

Life isn't all it seems for these two and they're coming to the realization that there will always be someone wanting to come along and destroy it all.

Will following her heart prove to be the right decision, or will it be the one thing that could make the only man she's ever loved, say good-bye for good?
 
My Review
I’m going to make this as *spoiler free* as possible – This Heart of Mine starts off right where This Trust of Mine ended.
Madison is grieving the loss of his grandfather, who he believes made him the man he is today. If he is world isn’t already flipped upside down, it’s about to become worse when Kayla finally shares her news (And I’m sure most of you can see by the cover what that news is so technically it’s not a spoiler).
Of course nothing is ever simple for Kayla and Madison, and while they prepare for some big changes in their lives, there are unforeseen threats that make an appearance. Madison has been keeping a pretty big secret from Kayla and when her life, and the life of their unborn child, is threatened, Madison will go to any length to protect them, even if it means giving up his own life.
This is a tough review to write, simply because there is so much that happens in this story, and it is almost impossible to leave this review free of spoilers. There are some intense moments throughout the book that will have you holding your breathe in anticipation of might happen next, and other moments when where you’ll have the urge to throw your Kindle against the wall and yell “Why Amanda, why? Why did you have to let that happen? How could you?”…
What I can honestly say is that this book was NOTHING like I expected – the twists and turns had me saying “Oh s***! I did NOT see that coming!” Every story has to end though, and as sad as I am to say goodbye to Madison and Kayla, they got the perfect ending – after all the hell Amanda put these two lovable characters through, they got their Happy Ever After! ((<- that so does not count as a spoiler because OBVIOUSLY this book has a happy ending!!)
**4.5 Stars**
  Excerpt A stray tear rolled down my cheek and landed on my shirt as the weight of his words settled into my chest. He was right, about everything. I have always questioned myself because of my mother. I had always felt less than a person and never felt worthy of anybody's love, let alone a poor helpless child. What if I turn out to be exactly like my mother? I now had a better understanding as to how Madison has felt his whole life. I quietly turned on my heel, making my way back outside and onto the porch. I looked out over the expansive land wondering how this all was supposed to work out for us. We couldn't live at our grandparents for the rest of our lives. We needed a plan. One that would work for both of us.
Add This Heart of Mine on Goodreads Playlist I Won't Let Go- Rascal FlattsLego House- Ed SheeranGive It All We Got Tonight- George StraitCrash My Party- Luke BryanEvery Light In The House- Trace AdkinsBest Of You- Foo FightersOverjoyed- Matchbox TwentyHey Pretty Girl- Kip MooreWagon Wheel- Darius RuckerIt Is What It Is- LifehouseEverything- LifehouseBleeding Out- Imagine DragonsCome Back Song- Darius RuckerThe Cowboy In Me- Tim McGrawMy Kind Of Crazy- Brantley GilbertWasting All These Tears- Cassadee PopeA Thousand Years- Christina PerriThe Forgotten- Green DayDanny's Song- Jim Messina & Kenny LogginsI Know Places- Lykke LiLet Me Love It Out Of You- Tim McGrawLover's Eyes- Mumford and SonsI Need Your Love- Calvin Harris & Ellie GouldingEvery Storm (Runs Out of Rain)- Gary AllenHave A Little Faith In Me- Joe CockerIt Matters To Me- Faith HillOne More Day- Diamond RioLove A Little Stronger- Diamond RioThe Flame- Cheap TrickBy Your Side- SadeAlmost Doesn't Count- Mark WillsSad- Maroon 5The Man Who Can't Be Moved- The ScriptTry- P!NkGlitter In The Air- P!nkStay- RhiannaJust The Way You Are- Bruno MarsIt Will Rain- Bruno MarsRadioactive- Imagine DragonsTil My Last Day- Justin MooreDon't Let Our Love Start Slipping Away- Vince GillCarrying Your Love With Me- George StraitMarry Me- Train     Character Fun Facts: Kayla: - She only own 2 pairs of shoes besides her boots - She likes UFC - Her favorite football team is the San Francisco 49ers - Loves starburst jelly beans - allergic to chocolate   Cami: - Loves to talk - Is very OCD - She has no filter: TMI to the max - Terrified of birds -  Will randomly start doing cheers from high school   Madison - Can play the guitar and drums as well as sing - Rarely wears underwear - Hates to workout - Hates cake - Doesn't like to wear shorts   Glenn - Afraid of spiders - Gets stage fright before every show - Favorite beer is corona - Addicted to coffee - He doesn't like any of his food to touch on the plate   Fun Facts About The Author Amanda Bennett: - Used to want to be a stand up comic - I have a major foot phobia - Deathly afraid of spiders - Obsessed with reality tv - I never chew gum - Addicted to anything Guess brand - favorite color is black and pink - absolutely love jewelry but only wear my wedding ring - Can pick up a softball with my toes - Can write with my toes - Favorite drink is coffee and grape soda (crush brand only) - Am lactose intolerant but I eat lots of dairy with the help of lactaid  
  
 Amanda was born in Monroe, Washington but grew up in Arizona. She currently resides in Utah (soon to be Texas ;) with her husband, 2 boys and 2 dogs. I am who I am because of the people I have met and the things I have been through. I'm an author, a mother and a wife. When I'm not busy writing or reading, I like to hang with friends and family and watch some tv. I love that I get to do what I love:-) Goodreads Facebook Website 
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Thank you for stopping by Brats :) Make sure you read this series! :)

Love you all madly <3

Tam

Cover Reveal: Precious Consequences by Tamsyn Bester

HI Brats :)

It's a pretty exciting morning here (yes, it's 12am right now!) because it's time for the reveal of my 2nd standalone novel, Precious Consequences! I am itching to introduce you to Cameron (a super hot bad boy swimmer covered in tattoos) and Hayley (a petit brunette with a spitfire personality and gorgeous little body...)

This story is going to be very different from my debut, Beneath Your Beautiful (coming July 17th) and I can already tell that its going to completely consume me - I CAN'T WAIT <3

So....Here goes nothing....







  Cover Photographed & Designed By: Toski Covey at Toski Covey Photography   Sommer Stein at Perfect Pear Creative   
Synopsis
All it took was one night to change the rest of my life.
One night that created irrevocable consequences.
But some consequences aren’t all bad.
They can be amazing…beautiful… Precious.
I willingly accepted those consequences and wrote a new plan for my life. But that plan didn’t include Cameron Argent  –  the sexy-as-sin tattooed  playboy who got under my skin the moment I laid eyes on him. I was headed down a dark and dangerous road where he was concerned and in the end, our relationship was inevitable. Despite our dark secrets, our feelings for each other burned brighter than a thousand stars and left us both naked, vulnerable.
But when my past came rolling back into my life like a Summer storm, I wasn’t sure if his love for me was enough.
Was he prepared to deal with the consequences of a past I couldn’t regret or would he walk away with my beating heart in his hands?
  
  Add Precious Consequences on Goodreads
About Tamsyn:Tamsyn is a 22 year old blogger turned author from South Africa who has an insatiable hunger for New Adult Contemporary Romance novels, coffee and chocolate. When she’s not getting caught up in yet another steamy romance with a new book boyfriend, she can be found spending endless hours working away on her laptop in pursuit of her Marketing degree and a career in book Publishing. Tamsyn is a Brat when it comes to books and believes that every story, no matter how challenging, should have a Happy Ever After. Tamsyn is currently hard at work on her debut novel Beneath Your Beautiful, set to be available July 2013

Facebook Goodreads Twitter Website Thank you for stopping by Brats :) I sure hope you'll add both Beneath Your Beautiful and Precious Consequences to your TBR lists :)  Much love & appreciation Tamsyn

*Blog Tour: Just Breathe by Rachel Brookes*

Hi Brats :)

Things have been crazy busy here, which has resulted in a rather quite blog :) But today, the blog tour for Rachel Brookes' debut novel, Just Breathe makes a stop at TheSecretBookBrat HQ :)

This is book received the first ever 5 star review on TheSecretBookBrat Blog, which is why I highly recommend that all you Brats read it! :)


  Synopsis For Savannah Rae, living life without her parents was unimaginable. But being blamed for her first love’s suicide? That destroyed every part of who she was. Gone were the days of innocence, happiness, and dreams. Now her days simply meant attempting to survive. In her mind, her only means for that was replacing her grief with men, booze and the fast life. And for five years, it worked. When an opportunity to leave the nightmares of her past in Australia opens up, she takes it. Los Angeles beckons - with hopes of late nights, new beginnings, and the promise of a string of endless men to distract her, she can’t wait to dive in. One thing she didn’t count on was meeting her match. In the eyes of outsiders, Tate Connors has it all; the ultimate LA bachelor who is content with his lifestyle of wild nights, women and one night stands. He's Mr. Unpredictable with looks that could destroy any woman with one glance. The craziness of Los Angeles throws them into the chaotic path of each other. Savannah becomes the perfect game, and Tate becomes the ultimate prey. Lines are crossed, emotions are smashed, and the idea of who they truly are begins to be tangled. However, one thing will become clear. They are more alike than either one could ever have imagined.   My Review I absolutely LOVED this book <3 For the first time ever, I understood the term “Book Hangover” because I was pretty sure that’s how this book left me – hung over. Savannah is a feisty Australian with a sassy mouth who moves to Los Angeles after a job opportunity opens up at Beautify Magazine. She takes the opportunity with the hope that it will be her chance to start over and leave the old Savannah behind – the girl who used alcohol and sex to numb the pain of losing her parents. Tate Connors is considered the ultimate bachelor – he owns a bar, Red Velvet, which is pretty successful and has a slew of women falling at his feet who would happily allow him to ‘use and abuse’ them any which he wants. That is until he meets his sisters’ new best friend from Australia. Savannah and Tate share a brief moment in an elevator that leaves them both craving more. The intensity of their connection is enough to drive anyone wild. They see each other as a game, until Savannah decides that she doesn’t want to be the girl she left behind in Australia. She tries her best to avoid Tate, knowing that he can’t possibly be good for her, but it becomes extremely difficult staying away from him considering not only does she live in the same building, but her new best friend and co-worker, Tanzi, is his twin. When Savannah and Tate FINALLY give in to their feelings for each other, they realise that it will be more than just a silly fling – it involves real feelings, with real drama, and having the courage to let their own insecurities go for the sake of their relationship.   Ok, first of all, Savannah is one of those characters that you can’t help but instantly connect with. She has been through so much, and hasn’t always dealt with situations correctly, but she is strong, and confident and also vulnerable. Her friendship with Tanzi develops very quickly and proves to be pivotal in her transformation into the person she wants to be. Savannah is loving and compassionate with a propensity to love fiercely. As for Tate Conners… He is gorgeous and successful, with the ability to charm the panties off a mannequin if given the chance. His relationship with Savannah becomes so much more than he was prepared for but he finds himself wanting to give her everything.  However, due to some unforeseen (yet totally amazing, and exciting) circumstances, his fear of becoming like the person he hates the most threatens to tear him away from Savannah – but she refuses to give up on him or the future that could possibly be theirs. This book had it all…. Love, drama, action (yes someone gets punched and there’s a cat fight), friendship, forgiveness and HOLY HELL THE SEX!! OH GOOD LORD THE SEX!! It was also about letting go of the old and embracing the new, and believing that each and every person deserves happiness, regardless of what the road behind them looks like. Rachel did a fantastic job writing this book, and I can’t wait for Savannah and Tate’s story to continue J ((Yes, there is a cliffy, BUT IT IS THE BEST CLIFFY EVERRRRRR<3)) THIS WAS A TOTAL 5 STAR READ!!   Excerpt  “How are my working girls today?” He smirked at his words and continued to clean the glass he was holding while looking directly at me. I rolled my eyes at him as I pulled out the stool and sat at the bar. “We corporate girls are just fine, thank you; you make us sound like a couple of whores.” I didn’t break eye contact, I wouldn’t. The way he had the sleeves of his shirt rolled up and the top two buttons of his shirt open made him look like a beautiful appetizer. Why couldn’t I focus on how much of an arse he was and allow it to completely banish any sexual attraction I had to him. The way he licked his lips nearly tipped me over the edge, but as soon as he spoke I was quickly pulling myself up over the edge. “You can be whatever you like, Savannah. Corporate girl…whore. I wouldn’t have any complaints.” Tanzi glared at her twin and began tapping her foot impatiently. “Shut the hell up, Tate. Serve us a damn cocktail.” He smirked, that deliciously sexy smirk that caused my breath to catch in the back of my throat. Shit. “Sex on the Beach, Quick Fuck, Between the Sheets, Climax, Slippery Nipple? What will I be serving you tonight, Savannah?” “Do you have one called Not in Your Fucking Life?” He raised an eyebrow and glared as fire swarmed within his baby blue eyes. Tanzi scoffed beside me, giving me that extra bit of confidence to go head-to-head with her brother. “What about a Stuck Up Bitch Who Screws Any Man Who Walks? I hear they are popular with the local bands,” he spat back at me. I glared at him, wanting nothing more than to smack the perfect smirk off his face. “How about an Arsehole Who Fucks Anything That Has a Pulse, Even If They Are Barely Legal and Spreading Their Legs All Over Town?” He leaned over the bar, his face barely an inch from mine, but I still wouldn’t break. I couldn’t break. I could feel his breath on my face and his eyes were latched to mine. “Oh Savannah Savannah Savannah, you could quite possibly be—” “Long Island Iced Teas,” Tanzi interrupted before he could finish. I was anxious yet excited to hear what he was going to say. For someone that I had only just met, he infuriated me like no one else had ever done, but I couldn’t deny his pull and that was what was freaking me out. Tanzi grabbed my hand and tugged me away from the bar, I looked at Tate over my shoulder and he fired a wink in my direction. I couldn’t help but smile at him.  *Buy Just Breathe on Amazon US* *Buy just Breathe on Amazon UK*  About Rachel
 


Rachel Brookes is from a coastal town on the east coast of Australia where beaches, kangaroos and surfers roam free. She writes angst ridden love stories with a pinch of craziness, a dash of drama, a cup of romance, a spoonful of sexiness and the main ingredient hot guys. Rachel sometimes forgets to eat, sometimes forgets to sleep and sometimes can’t remember the last time she cleaned her apartment but that’s because she is in a long term relationship with her laptop and they are constantly writing together.  When she does step away from her laptop she can be found taking too many photos, making scrumptious cocktails, laughing at Adam Sandler movies and spending her time with her amazing family and friends. With her first novel, Just Breathe, due to be released in July 2013, her dream of releasing a book will become reality. With another three books already taking up her mind, she cannot wait to start this crazy ride.   Twitter    Facebook    Goodreads    Blog  Make sure you add this your TBR lists Brats, its so worth it :)  Love you all Madly Tam

Review: Let Love In by Melissa Collins

   Synopsis What would happen if you lost everything? If the people who were supposed to love you unconditionally were no longer there for you, how would your world change? Madeleine Becker lost everything when her parents died when she was ten years old. Ripped from her home and everything that she has ever loved, she is forced to start all over again. The only way for her to move on is to build walls around her heart and keep everyone at a safe distance. Her logic: she can't get hurt if she doesn't fall in love. That theory is blown to pieces when she meets Reid Connely during her freshman year at college. He is gorgeous and darkly mysterious. He understands Maddy's pain all too well, but sharing his pain would mean breaking down the walls he put up around his own heart. Conflicted between loving Maddy and hiding his dark past, Reid starts to reevaluate his world. Maddy's inner strength, snarky personality and breath taking beauty help Reid to make peace with his past. Together they find out what happens when they let love in. My Review: Maddy was 10 when her parents died, and for the most part, she believed they took her happiness with them. When she moves away to attend college, she makes the conscious decision to do things differently… “…I made a few promises to myself. They’re very simple promises, but ones that I hope will wipe the slate clean.
1. Choose Happy
2. Appreciate Beauty
3. Let Love In” Her world is thrown slightly off kilter once again when she meets bad boy Reid Connely and finds herself drawn to him, not by his shockingly gorgeous body or God-like face, but by the pain she sees swimming in his eyes. Reid gets under her skin but what she doesn’t realise is that she has gotten under his as well. Their magnetic pull towards each other turns into so much more than they could've anticipated. What ensues is a constant, yet brief, game of avoidance between the two, despite their inability to stop thinking about each other. When Reid finally gets Maddy to let him in, he is finally able to do the same, and believes that Maddy is the only one who can help him lay his own demons to rest. Maddy has to learn to let go of her insecurities regarding Reids’ past, while Reid has to learn to forgive himself for consequences brought on by a situation out of his control.I would’ve loved to see more bickering between Maddy and Reid before they finally gave in to each other, and I would’ve liked Reid to keep some of his ‘Bad Boy’ streak rather than becoming a hopeless romantic, but Maddy and Reids’ story is impossible not to like. Their sexual chemistry is off the charts, making for some thigh-clenching sex scenes. This is the perfect summer read with well-developed and likeable characters. Melissa Collins has done a super job with her debut novel and I look forward to reading Let Love Stay (Book #2 in the Love Series) where we’ll get the chance to see Maddy and Reids story continue. ((P.S: After the ending of Let Love In, NOT reading let Love Stay isn’t an option….))  **4 Stars***Recommended*         

*Blog Tour: By Referral Only by Lyla Payne*

        Hi Brats :) Today the blog tour for Lyla Payne's new NA Contemporary Romance novel, By Referral Only, makes a stop at TheSecretBookBrat HQ :)  This was another book that I fell in love with and found myself adding Cole Stuart to my growing list of illustrious affairs with Book Boyfriends :) I have a weakness for accents and Scottish royalty combined with a man that rocks a kilt doesn't hurt :)      
Synopsis
After being unceremoniously dumped freshman year because of her family’s “new money” status, Ruby Cotton has taken care not to put her heart on the line. No matter how enticing Emilie and Quinn make it look, relationships are scary and hard—while a string of flings is easy and fun. That’s what Ruby wants. Easy and fun. The only problem is, when it comes to satisfaction in the sack, most of the boys at Whitman are nothing but pretty window dressing and false advertising.

Ruby takes it upon herself to make campus life more fulfilling, creating a referral database that allows female students to rate their sexual experiences, thereby informing girls of what they’re getting into before agreeing to a date.

When her acting partner, Liam Greene, finally shows some interest, Ruby figures she won’t need to utilize the helpful gossip. He’s handsome, fun, and most importantly, not a guy she’d ever fall for hard enough to let him break her heart.

Not only that, but dating Liam gives Ruby the perfect excuse to say no to Cole Stuart.

As a star swimmer and heir to honest-to-God Scottish royalty, Cole sits at the top of Whitman’s A-list—but he’s also the lowest rated referral on Ruby’s website. The ratings make rejecting his repeated requests for a date a no-brainer, but her real reason for avoiding Cole runs deeper than a string of unsatisfied exes.

He’s gorgeous, he oozes sweetness and charm, and the electricity between them could power half of Whitman, but Ruby knows it will only last until his family or friends convince him she’s not good enough.

Before she knows it she’s falling anyway, waiting for the other shoe to drop but clinging to a tentative hope that Cole might be as different as he seems. When the secret behind his low ratings comes to light, that hope is torn apart, and Ruby wonders if she was right to give him her heart…and whether she has the strength to let him keep it.

My Review
We first met Ruby Cotton as Emilie’s best friend in Broken At Love, but until now, we didn’t know her story.
The initial foundation of the story is based on the clever and witty title, By Referral Only, when Ruby decides to start an online referral system for the guys at Whitman University. Girls register on the site and not only rate the guys they have sexual encounters with, but they can also choose to refer them or not – this saves fellow female students from wasting energy on guys that are simply not worth the trouble.
Of course, this is a double edged sward – Ruby may be helping the girls at Whitman but she also risks ruining the reputations of the guys, not all of which are deserving of that.
Like Cole Stuart.
Cole receives numerous low ratings and no referrals, and when he suddenly asks Ruby on a date, she declines. But what she soon discovers is that there is a lot more to Cole than what his ridiculously low ratings tell her. He may be Scottish Royalty, but Cole is sweet, kind and generous, with a gorgeous body to complete the package. His family is funny, and his siblings take a liking to Ruby, as does Cole, regardless of her New Money status and lack of social standing.
“I helped you when your car wouldn’t start because again you were the most beautiful lass in distress I’ve ever seen and maybe it’s in my blood to play the white knight but I didn’t like you suffering”
So what exactly holds Ruby back?
Ruby’s insecurities stem from the emphasis placed on Whitman University’s ‘Old Money vs New Money’. Because her ex-boyfriends’ family looked down on her familys’ new fortune (and by new they mean wealth that us younger than Ruby) she spends her time in meaningless, unfulfilling sexual relationships. However, she soon realises that she does in fact want more – she wants to find to find the proverbial Unicorn, much like Emilie has found Quinn.
“The jealousy that stabbed my heart didn’t have anything to do with my begrudging Emilie this amazing outcome – she deserved every bit of her happiness. It had everything to do with my wanting something amazing of my own and knowing it wasn’t there.”
Ruby and Cole’s relationship is captivating, and the sexual tension between the two is electrifying. Lyla Payne definitely upped the ‘hanky panky’ in By Referral Only, which made it slightly less innocent than Broken At Love.
Once again, Lyla Payne was able to draw you into the world of Whitman University and submerge you in the drama that comes along with gender feuds of a sexual nature. She also created some great supporting characters that were well developed, but somehow, I think Ruby and Cole’s story is going to be really hard to top. **4.5 Stars**
*Highly Recommended**       Cole       Ruby        Lyla Payne Bio:  I’ve long had a love of stories. A few years ago decided to put them down on the page, and even though I have a degree in film and television, novels were the creative outlet where I found a home. I’ve published Young Adult under a different name, but when I got the idea for Broken at Love (my first New Adult title), I couldn’t wait to try something new – and I’m hooked.  In my spare time I watch a ton of tennis (no surprise, there), play a ton of tennis, and dedicate a good portion of brain power to dreaming up the next fictitious bad boy we’d all love to meet in real life.
Links:  Goodreads  By Referral Only on Goodreads  Tumblr  Website   Facebook Twitter: @lyla_payne

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  Thanks for stopping by Brats :)  Love you all madly! Tam   

*Review: Lifeless by J.M La Rocca*

HI Brats :)

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of author J.M LaRocca's debut novel, Lifeless, in exchange for an honest review :)





After graduating from the University of South Alabama, Scarlett Moore discovers her boyfriend of five months is actually married with a child on the way. Feeling used and heartbroken, she decides it’s time to take her best friend Jules’ advice to move to Atlanta and live with her. There, Jules helps her get a job at Entertainment Atlanta, where she works as an entertainment insurance agent. It’s not Scarlett’s dream job, but it’s better than not having a job at all, and who wouldn’t mind working with famous people, right?

Then she gets assigned to EA’s newest client, Kade Evans, rock star turned actor. Not only is he a drug addict, he’s also known for never dating the same girl twice. He’s tall, dark, and handsome, has an amazing voice, and good acting skills, but he’s also arrogant and intense.

At their first meeting, the chemistry between them is undeniable.

The love that comes later is unexpected.

But Kade’s life is full of secrets. His past has now intruded on his present and when Scarlett finds out what his secrets are, the real deception begins.


My Review:

**WARNING: This book has a cliff-hanger**

Scarlett Moore had a hard life growing up - her father left when she was young and her mother turned to drugs and alcohol. Because of her childhood, she grew up thinking she was worthless.

After having her heart broken, she decides to move to Atlanta with her best friend Jules, where she gets a job as an Entertainment Insurance Agent. It's not her dream job but when the chance to start over comes up, she grabs it.

Part of her job means meeting an array of famous clients, and while she's become accustomed to dealing with them, she was completely unprepared for Kade Evans. She had no idea that a one time encounter would lead to more than she thought possible.

Kade Evans is a hotter-than-hell rock star with an arrogant attitude and demanding presence. The first time he lays eyes on Scarlett, he's drawn in by her gorgeous body and decides to stop at nothing to get her.

Their relationship starts off somewhat innocently, even thought the chemistry between them is explosive, but they eventually give into their cravings for each other and share a night of lust, passion and explosive sex that leaves Scarlett feeling vulnerable. Her feelings for Kade run deeper than she would've liked and soon finds herself falling in love with him.

When she suspects him of using drugs, things soon spiral out of control as she learns that Kade has deep, dark secrets of his own and isn't who he claims to be. Their feelings for each other are tested when Kade is given an ultimatum and Scarlett finds herself unable to deal with his choice.

What I liked about Scarlett is her spirit and willingness to keep going even when things get tough. She is very relatable as a character and it is impossible not to feel endeared to her in some way. Her life story isn't uncommon, but she makes the choice to rise above her past and be better. With the help of her best friend Jules, she picks up the pieces of a past she can't change and discovers her own inner strength and capacity to love without fear or restraint.

Kade on the other hand is a troubled and broody rock star with a past of his own that still has him imprisoned. He hides his feelings well, and manages to keep his secrets hidden, until Scarlett breaks his walls down. She gets too close to him and soon her life is in danger, unless he can gather the courage to let go of the only woman he has ever loved. He is forced to decide between keeping Scarlett or walking away to protect her.

J.M LaRocca did a great job for her debut novel and I am looking forward to seeing Scarlett and Kade's story continue :)

Lifeless will be published on the 9th of July - Add Lifeless on Goodreads

   About J.M LaRocca

 I've had a passion for reading and writing for as long as I can remember. It has always been an escape for one reason or another. Now, I'm taking that passion and turning it into a book. My debut book Lifeless will be released late summer 2013. I can't wait for you to read this story that has been brewing in my head for over a year. :)  Goodreads   Facebook  Thank you for stopping by my Brats :) Love you all madly!  Tam

*Blog Tour: Subject To Change by Alessandra Thomas*

 Hi Brats :)After experiencing some rather frustrating technical difficulties, TheSecretBookBrat Blog is finally accessible again :) Today the blog tour for Alessandra Thomas' Subject To Change makes a stop here at TheSecretBookBrat HQ :)   
 
Synopsis:
Joey made her dad a deathbed promise that she would become a doctor, and dedicate herself to fighting the very cancer that took his life. There’s just one problem -three years into her pre-med classes, she's struggling to stay on top of the curve, let alone prove she's dazzling enough to earn a spot in an Ivy League medical school. In a Hail Mary move, she throws a basic Business 101 class into her semester schedule, banking on a perfect score to boost her GPA.

That is, until she’s paired for a final project with Hawk, the bartending, motorbike-riding, gorgeously bedheaded loser who falls asleep in class and communicates in one-word sentences.

Hawk does whatever he wants, whenever he wants, which sets Joey on edge – in every possible way. As they get to know each other, her urge to scream at him is curbed only by her fantasies of tearing his clothes off. Soon those fantasies become reality, and Joey realizes Hawk makes her feel more fully herself than any of the rich boys her mother and sorority sisters approve of.

But the promise to her father hangs over her head, and the harder Joey tries to succeed in her chosen career, the faster everything falls into a hopeless tailspin of bad grades, broken promises and guilt. It doesn't help to have Hawk sitting like a devil on her shoulder, insisting she should be free to live however she wants to live - like he does.

The only thing Joey knows is that her neatly organized life is crushing her - and Hawk's bad attitude might be the only thing that can save her.
 
My Review:
Once again, Alessandra has created a story that is able to resonate with the reader in so many ways.
Josephine Daly, aka “Joey”, dreams of becoming an Oncologist. It was the last promise she made to her father before he died of Cancer and ever since then, she has made it her life’s goal to keep her promise. Unfortunately, it’s not as easy as it seems, and Joey soon finds herself questioning her ability to follow through on her promise.
When she’s paired up with William Hawkins, aka Hawk, in a Business class she takes in an attempt to bring her grades up, she finds herself frustrated with his devil-may-care attitude. What she doesn’t know is that Hawk has struggles of his own.
After the death of his father, 23 year old Hawk is left in charge of the pub/bar that his father owned. His mother also died and he’s left to take care of himself and his teenage sister, Olivia.
The unlikeliest of circumstances bring Joey and Hawk together when she learns that his sister survived Leukaemia as a child and he’s had to take care of them both since his parents are both dead.
Joey soon starts questioning her decision to be a doctor when hawk makes her realise it’s not what her heart wants. She has difficulty coping with the guilt over not doing what she promised her father, when in reality, following her heart is what he really wanted for her. She wanted the chance to change the lives of those suffering from and living with Cancer and until Hawk opens her eyes, she thinks becoming a renowned Oncologist like her father is the only way to do that.
Hawk and Joey have to learn to trust each other while accepting that although their circumstances are different, they can still be what the other needs.
This story is about learning to trust and following your heart, even when circumstances appear to be against you.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it to lovers of NA Contemporary Romance.
        Amazon   Barnes & Noble    


Subject to Change – Excerpt #2
 
I was two feet from the main sidewalk when I smacked face-first into someone — a six-foot-tall, solid figure of lean muscle — pulling a dolly behind him. I rubbed my shoulder and stammered an apology, but he was tending to what the collision had knocked off the dolly. Ten huge, heavy-duty aluminum foil pans stacked inside large cardboard boxes had fallen onto the sidewalk behind him. Thank goodness they were quickly and easily tipped back upright, and there were no traumatic spills of whatever food was inside.
“I’m so sorry,” I said. “Let me help you,”
“No, it’s okay.” A casual gruff laugh came from the guy, who’d already picked up two of three of the boxes and situated them back on the dolly. I felt like I’d heard that voice before, but it could really have been anyone with the howling of this wind.
–That is, until I got close enough to see the skin between the guy’s gray knit hat and the collar of his jacket when he bent down. There were three tendrils of black ink on the back of his neck just like I’d seen on —
“Hawk!” I blurted out before I could stop myself.
He stood up, turning his head slowly and peering at me.
“I’m sorry — do I…”
I yanked my scarf down to uncover the lower half of my face. “Joey.”
He narrowed his eyes and peered at me harder. It was only then that I remembered exactly how awkward our introduction had been. I sighed and pointed to myself. “Josephine? From business class?”
Realization flooded his face. Those same icy blue eyes that had shocked me when I first saw him widened slightly with recognition — and completely took my breath away. His mouth dropped open, but before he could say anything, I blurted out, “What are you doing here?”
He pushed out a half-laugh. “Uh…food. For the House.”
My brow wrinkled in confusion.
“I work at a little place in the City. We bring whatever lunch bar food we can’t sell for an early dinner for these folks.” He gave a slight smile, and his eyes  sparkled.
Damn. This guy was totally gorgeous. “Wow. That’s…”
“Yeah, and I’ve gotta get it in there before this food turns into chunks of ice. Tomorrow?”
“Uh…what?”
“I’ll see you tomorrow. For our project?”
When he said “project,” it was like a switch had flipped, like the magical, cold-repelling bubble containing his muscles and breathtaking eyes had burst.
“Right. Tomorrow. Library. Great.” A rude — albeit hot — guy and a group project for a class I didn’t want to be taking. Pretty much the opposite of ‘“great.”‘ “Uh…do you need help with that?” It was freezing, but I’d been raised to always go out of my way to help people.
Hawk snorted and gave me a once-over again. “You’re smaller than the dolly.” Then he brushed past me without another word, nearly knocking me off my feet. Smelling like cologne and warmth.
Not cigarette smoke.
My heart jumped, but I tamped it back down. What the heck was wrong with me? I yanked my scarf back up over my face, but my cheeks burned and I stared at my feet again.
Before I knew it, I was standing at the front door to the sorority house, key in hand. I’d completely forgotten to take the bus.  


Author Bio:  Alessandra Thomas is a New Adult writer who swears she was in her twenties yesterday. Since she's not, she spends her time looking back on her college years fondly, and writing sexy stories about guys and girls falling in love and really living life for the first time. When she's not writing, you can find her with a spoonful of ice cream in one hand and the newest New Adult release in the other.
Website  Author Goodreads  SUBJECT TO CHANGE Goodreads  Twitter  Facebook





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Thanks for stopping by Brats :)

Love ya all madly!

Tam

xxx

*Release Day Blitz: Wrong Kind of Love by Amanda Heath*

                                                                                                                     
Hi Brats :):)

Wrong Kind of Love by Amanda Heath is FINALLY here! I'm a huge fan of Amanda's work and read this book in one sitting... I have 2 words for you my Brats... CADEN HARPER... This book is filled with drama, angst and a bit of freaky deaky ;) All in all, I.LOVED.IT <3






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.

  


Where can I buy the book? AMAZON

You can also check it out here on GOODREADS.



TEASER:

*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 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 didnt know thats 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 dont 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 dont care
who sees, I dont care who knows. Its 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
About the author  Facebook / Blog / Twitter / Goodreads
 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 is available now!



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Add this to your TBR lists my Brats, you won't be disappointed :)

Tam

*Release Week Blitz: Fallen Crest Family by Tijan*

       Samantha and Mason are together. Everyone knows it. Not everyone is dealing with it. While Mason’s ready to give them the middle finger, there’s one not going away. Her mother. Threats are issued. Ultimatums are given. Even blackmail is used, but only Samantha can put a stop to Analise. However, when a trauma from her past is triggered, she may not have the courage or strength to do what’s needed. If she doesn’t, Mason’s future could be destroyed


** Michelle's Review ** 

I read Fallen Crest High quite a few months ago and LOVED it! Since then I have anxiously been awaiting the release of the next instalment in the Fallen Crest series, Fallen Crest Family. Now that I have finally gotten to read it, I can definitely say it was WELL worth wait!! In Fallen Crest High we met Samantha (aka Sam), a 17 year old girl who has just moved into the house of her mother’s new, very wealthy boyfriend. In this house she meets the sons of said boyfriend...Mason and Logan Kade. Mason and Logan are the popular bad boys of Fallen Crest Public...the rival school to Sam’s school, Fallen Crest Academy. Sam quickly forges a very close friendship/bond with Mason and Logan as well as a romantic relationship with Mason. Fallen Crest Family picks up right where Fallen Crest High leaves off. In FCF we learn a lot more about Sam’s strained relationship with her mother and we finally get the details of a horrific childhood event that Sam has been hiding which causes her panic attacks. We also get to see Sam and Mason’s relationship build and become more intense as her mother tries to keep them apart and break them up. Sam…I really like Sam and felt for her throughout the story. She had a very intense childhood due to her mentally unstable mother and just can’t seem to break free of this woman’s hold on her. The book starts with Sam having lost every friend she has.Her mother has kicked Mason and Logan out of the house and is trying to keep them all apart. I found myself at times very frustrated with her and wishing she would grow some backbone and stick up for herself. She tends to let her mother and others walk all over her. Thankfully she does finally find her strength in the end!
Mason…what can I say about Mason except...I LOVE HIM...LIKE... LOVE HIM, LOVE HIM!!!
Mason is the ultimate HOT, overprotective, loyal, alpha male bad boy and I could NOT get enough of him! He had me on constant swoon alert! His devotion and passion for Sam was SO intense! These two were setting my Kindle on fire with the chemistry and steam they had going on! I also loved Mason’s relationship with his brother and how protective he was of him as well. He is extremely loyal to all of those that he loves and it only makes him that much more
appealing! Other characters include Logan, Mason’s brother who is also fiercely protective of Sam and Heather (Jax) who befriends Sam when all of her other friends have deserted her. The two quickly connect and form a strong friendship. This story is intense, passionate, heartbreaking and an amazing love story. The relationship between Mason and Sam has you fanning yourself and rooting for them as so many outside forces try to tear them apart. Mason definitely earns a spot on my top 5 book boyfriend list...a coveted spot that not many get to claim :) I can’t wait for their story to continue in Fallen Crest Public. This book was a 5 star read for me and I HIGHLY recommend it!!!     Thanks for checkin' in :)  Love ya all madly! Michelle 

        

*Blog Tour: Ambrosia by Erin Noelle*

  Hi Brats, Michelle here :)  I'm so excited to be doing my first ever Blog Tour as part of TheSecretBookBrat team, and even more so because it's a blog tour for Erin Noelle's much anticipated second novel, Ambrosia! We all met and fell in love with these characters in Erin's first novel, Metamorphosis, and now their story continues...      Synopsis:  After coming to terms with the tragedy that rocked her world, Scarlett MacGregor has returned to try to pick up the pieces of the broken relationships that she left behind.
Ash and Mason were left devastated and heartbroken following Scarlett’s sudden, unannounced departure. They are both ready and willing to forgive her and welcome her back into their lives with open arms. However, a lot can happen in 8 months…
Scarlett must learn to overcome the obstacles thrown in her path to prevent the past from repeating itself.
Can she learn to fly with her own wings and discover the secret to eternal love?
**Recommended for readers 17+ due to sexual content and harsh language.**

      My Review: Where do I start with this one.... Ok, first of all I need everyone to understand my love for Mason. I am a DIE HARD Mason lover! I am talking hardcore, NEVER been on the fence, unwavering, call me Mrs. Templeton and I want to have his sweet little tattooed babies Mason LOVER!! I dare to say I am Mason’s BIGGEST supporter and there are many people who will back me up on this. With that said, I am going to try and write this review as unbiased as I can. Now that we have that out of the way, let’s get back to Ambrosia. For those of you that aren’t aware, it is the follow up book to Erin’s debut novel, Metamorphosis and is the 2nd book in The Book Boyfriend Series. You must read Meta first in order to be able to follow the crazy that is Ambrosia! If you haven’t read Meta, stop now and buy it... *spoiler alert* if you keep reading. Ambrosia picks up right where Metamorphosis left off. Of course I am still clapping and jumping up and down because she chose my man, Mason. Mind you there is that nagging little gnat buzzing in my ear. You know...the one named Ash. As happy as I am, I know this little love triangle is FAR from over! Ambrosia, much like Meta, is a whirlwind of emotions. Scarlett is still not over the death of her best friend, Evie, and is trying to do what she thinks is best for her. She also still has a ton of unresolved feelings for Ash but thinks Mason is the best choice for her. She knows she can’t love him with her whole heart and Mason knows this as well. “I didn’t deserve someone as wonderful as my Mase. He knew that I couldn’t give him my entire heart, but he took me anyway.” There is no denying the passion between Mason and Scar in Meta and it is even more hot and heavy in this book! There may be a motorcycle scene that will curl your toes! The two of them have a very intense relationship and it only gets more intense as the book progresses. In the beginning her resolve to be with Mason is strong as she still harbors hatred at Ash for what he did after Evie’s death. However, she can’t deny that Ash is a part of her and still affects her deeply. “The connection between us could never be severed...not by any thing or any one. No matter what he did...what he said...who he was with...none of it really mattered I would always love him. And for that, I hated myself even more than I hated him.” I will admit, Erin made me like Ash a lot more in this book than she did in Meta. (Please don’t tell my Mase!) He does prove he has changed and steps up to the plate when needed. Ash continues to believe he is the Eros to Scar’s Psyche and does everything he can to prove it. While I still stay on the Mason side of the fence, I can totally understand why many can’t seem to pick a side. Ash has many redeemable qualities...yes, I just said that! We also see Scar forge a deep friendship in Ambrosia with Evie’s former boyfriend and Mason’s friend, Max. The two bond over their shared love for Evie and the sadness they feel after her death. This relationship plays a big part in the book and where the story goes. We will continue to see Max play a bigger role as the series goes on. Throughout Ambrosia there are many bumps, turns and things that will make you sit up and say “WTF?!? Did that just happen?” Erin keeps you on your toes until the very end as to who Scarlett will chose. The story does not end how you might expect in some ways in and in some ways it does. How is that for vague? There is no happy ending in this book as it is inevitable that someone’s heart is broken. Is it Ash’s? Is it Mason’s? Is it Scar’s??? I think some people may not be happy with the outcome of the book but keep in mind the story of these characters is not over and there are still two more books to come. For me Ambrosia is a MUST read and I give it 4.5 stars!  

  


    Buy Ambrosia on Amazon

Excerpt:  
MASON
On cue, I spotted the lights headed in our direction. “Look,” I instructed her, pointing at the lights off in the distance. “Do you see them?” I felt her nod her head against my back as she peaked over my shoulder to spot them.
“Actually, here, you sit in front of me so that you can see better,” I said as I climbed off to allow her to scoot up. I took my spot behind her and looped my arms around her waist. I kissed the top of her head and inhaled her sweet scent. Her eyes were locked on the lights, wondering what was going to happen, but I felt her pressing her body against mine trying to snuggle up. I groaned aloud when she wiggled her ass against my growing cock, and she giggled. The little vixen knew exactly what she was doing.
We continued to track the lights in the sky as they grew closer. As the plane made it’s final descent for landing, I squeezed my arms around her tightly and leaned down to whisper in her ear. “I love you, Scarlett. Nothing will ever change that."
   
CHARACTER FACTS SCARLETT*Plays both piano & guitar*Born & raised in San Antonio, currently attending Rice University in Houston, major- undecided*Unconsciously incorporates the color pink in every outfit*Chocolate-aholic*Collects flip-flops in every color  MASON*He and his brother Marcus grew up with their grandparents in Houston*Loves to cook*Favorite shoes: Chucks*Piercings: lip, nipples, ears*Dips French fries in sweet chili sauce  
ASH*Would illustrate children’s books if he wasn’t studying astrophysics*owns over 10 pairs of the same khaki cargo shorts… same brand & all*scratch golfer when he was in high school*sister nicknamed him “Assy” when he was a kid*Straight A student K-undergrad
     About the Author    
Erin Noelle is a Texas native, where she lives with her husband and two daughters. First a bookkeeper, and now an author, she often jokes that she’s a woman of numbers by day and letters by night. Erin is an avid reader of all romance novels and a huge sports fan. Most nights you can find her cuddled up in bed with her husband, her Kindle in hand and a game of some sorts on tv. You can follow her on Facebook @ www.facebook.com/erin.noelle.98.

Author Fun Facts
 *Favorite food: bacon*Originally went to college to be a nurse, ended up with a degree in British History; now works as a bookkeeper and an author*Drives a Mini Cooper named VanderBlue*Makes a rough draft& final copy of grocery list, which must be in the order it comes in the store*Doesn’t eat anything that ends in –erry*Loves to fold towels*Listens to and sings Christmas carols year round.   

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Thanks for stopping by ya'll :)

Much love!

Michelle

xxx