Tamsyn Bester's Blog, page 24

*A Brat Rant...Saved by Kelly Elliott...*

Hi Brats :)

April is going to be an intense month over at TheSecretBookBrat HQ :) Between all the amazing book releases, cover reveals & blog tours, I am running around like a headless chicken :) But I'm not complaining - I love what I do :)

I wanted to drop by & give my review of Kelly Elliott's latest release, Saved! :)



WOW!! WOW!! WOW!! I went to bed at 2am & I would gladly do it again just to feel everything I felt when I read this :)

Like most readers, I fell hopelessly in love with Ellie, Gunner, Jeff & Ari after I read Wanted! Of course, my unhealthy obsession with all things Country didn't help! When Wanted ended, I joined the long list of people eagerly awaiting the next installment - Jeff & Ari's story :) Because there was so muvh happening in this book, I've split it into 3 parts :)

Jeff & Ari

As much as I loved Ellie & Gunners story, I was completely obsessed with Ari & Jeff's. After the short-lived excitement of their engagement (FINALLY, the dickwad proposed!!), Jeff & Ari have to navigate their relationship after a mother of a bombshell... I spent a great deal of the first half of the book pissed with Jeff *giggles* because even *I* knew that Rebecca was doing nothing more than playing a game... My heart broke for Ari every time Jeff rushed off to Rebecca but I admire her strength - she chose to stay with Jeff, she loved him that much. After I got over being pissed with Jeff, I realised that he was just trying to be a better father than he & Ellie had. He made a sh*t load of stupid decisions & it cost both him & Ari... They pushed through their loss & eventually got the happy ending they deserved... *swooon*

Gunner & Ellie

Although Gunner & Ellie played more supportive roles to Jeff & Ari in Saved, they also had challenges of their own. Gunner's parents return & he starts repairing the damaged relationship he has with his estranged father. At the same time, Gunner & Ellie start planning for a family, desparate to have a baby. Their marriage is strong & Gunner's love for Ellie never wavers. Their story is a real fairytale, with far less drama than Jeff & Ari's but no less endearing. They prove their loyalty & play an important part in hekping Jeff & Ari overcome their obstacles. In the end, they get the happy ending they too deserve.

Heather & Josh

Heather & Josh's story develops quite a bit through out Saved, setting the foundation for the 3rd & final installment - Faithful. They are part of the drama the ensues but also learn to deal with their new & strange feelings for each other. Heather is afraid & hesitant to let Josh in, fearful that he will leave her - her parents sudden death a year earlier has left her broken & fragile. Their friendship takes a turn for the worst & after months of back & forth, they finally make some much needed progress. Their story continues in Faithful, due out Summer 2013 :)

Kelly Elliott has such an easy going style of writing. The characters are so well developed & are absolutely hilarious! :) I fell in love with this story & can't wait for Josh & Heather to get the happy ending they deserve! I hope Kelly has a whopper of an Epilogue planned to conclude all 3 books :)

This is a Must Read :)

More soon my Brats :)

Tam

xxx

*This Love Of Mine by Amanda Bennett*

Hi Brats :)

As always, TheSecretBookBrat HQ is humming with activity & April is going to be an *INSANE* month.... :)

I'm popping by to deliver the synopsis for Amanda Bennett's latest novel, This Love Of Mine, scheduled to be published on the 18th of April :) I am beyond stoked about this because after reading Beautifully Broken, Breaking Beautiful, and of course Misguided Heart, I've anxiously been awaiting Amanda's next book - and by anxiously awaiting I mean stalking her on a daily basis to find out how far along she is :)

So here ya go... **SQUEEEEE**

This Love Of Mine by Amanda Bennett

I needed an escape. An escape from my momma, a woman who cared more about herself than her own daughter. A woman who couldn't stand the sight of me since my father left. A boyfriend who was nothing but trouble. Trouble that I couldn't say no to.
Unfortunately, leaving them both would prove to be either the best decision I could ever make, or the biggest mistake of my life.
My plan was to escape to the one place I always felt safe. A place here life is simple and quiet, and a place where I could finish my senior year of high school unscathed. Abernathy, Texas was my second home, and my grandparents were the parents I aways wanted. There was no one around this one horse town to complicate my life any further, or at least that's what I thought. That was, until I met Madison Raine.
He held the power to turn my peaceful escape upside down and inside out with just one look. He was beautiful, in every sense of the word and with that beauty, came trouble. There were a million reasons why I should stay away from him, but none of them seemed to matter when I caught sight of those emerald green eyes. It was becoming clear that staying away from Madison would be harder than I had anticipated.
A past like mine never fully disappears, until you find yourself faced with the irreparable truth that sometimes you have to take matters into your own hands, consequences be damned.
Kayla James (KJ) was everything I never knew I wanted. This was the last summer I would be on the farm before I headed off to college, and meeting her was the last thing I expected. I didn't know what had brought her here, and I honestly didn't care. I had my own things to deal with and a relationship wasn't one of them. Little did I know that this girl, would wind up being exactly what I needed in every way possible.
Life hasn't always been easy, and telling my grandparents that I was going to college in another state was going to be the death of me, but it was something I needed to do. I needed a life outside of Texas, one where no one knew who I was or what I had lost. Between baseball and my band, I thought I had it made.
All it took was one look into those baby blues and I was a goner. I ended up needing her like I needed air to breathe, and everything inside of me wanted to be with her regardless of the outcome. How do you choose between love and life, and convince the one person who trusts no one, to take a chance on you?

(This is book #1 of three in The Raine Series. It contains mature language and situations)

Teaser #1

Kayla

I guess it's true what they say, country boys are grown better than city boys. All I could think about was what he looked like leanin' back against that old truck with his grandad. I wasn't quite sure of his age, but he had the body of a twenty something, gym rat. His arms had been crossed over his chest, and every single muscle was bustin' at the seams of his plain black t-shirt. Along with his bulging muscles came the full sleeve tattoos peaking out beneath his short sleeves and traveling the rest of the way down to his wrists.

**SQUEEEEE** Can't wait!! :) Keep your eyes open for news about the Cover Reveal!! :)

More Soon My Brats :)

Tam

xxx

*In Honour of Walking Disaster*

Hi Brats :)

In anticipation of the Walking Disasters release, I tracked down the teasers I could find and put them in chronological order for you! (I think...) :) I can't wait to get into Travis Maddox's head... :)




Chapter 2 Teaser
“What are you doing?” Shepley said. He stood in the middle of the room, a pair of sneakers in one hand, a dirty pair of underwear in the other.
“Uh, cleaning?” I said, shoving shot glasses into the dishwasher.
“I see that. But...why?”
I smiled, my back turned to Shepley. He was going to kick my ass. “I’m expecting company.”
“So?”
“The pigeon.”
“Huh?”
“Abby, Shep. I invited Abby.”
“Dude, no. No! Don’t fuck this up for me, man. Please don’t.”
I turned, crossing my arms across my chest. “I tried, Shep. I did. But, I don’t know.” I shrugged. “There’s something about her. I couldn’t help myself.”
Shepley’s jaw worked under his skin, and then he stomped into his room, slamming the door behind him.
I finished loading the dishwasher, and then circled the couch to make sure I hadn’t missed any visible empty condom wrappers. That was never fun to explain.
The fact that I had bagged nearly every beautiful co-ed at Eastern was no secret, but I didn’t see a reason to remind them when they came to my apartment. It was all about presentation.
Pigeon, though. It would take far more than a good presentation to bag her on my couch. At this point I was taking it one step at a time. If I focused on the end result, I could easily fuck it up. She noticed things. She was farther from naive than I was; light years away. This operation was nothing less than precarious.
I was in my bedroom sorting dirty laundry when I heard the front door open. Shepley usually listened for America’s car to pull in so he could greet her at the door.
Pussy.
Murmuring, and then the closing of Shepley’s door was my signal. I walked into the front room, and there she sat: Glasses, her hair piled on top of her head, and what might have been pajamas. I wouldn’t have been surprised if they’d been molding in the bottom of her laundry hamper.
It was so hard not to bust into laughter. Never once had a female come to my apartment dressed like that. My front door had seen jean skirts, dresses, even a see-through tube dress over a string bikini. A handful of times, spackled-on makeup and glitter lotion. Never pajamas.
Her appearance immediately answered why she’d so easily agreed to come over. She was going to try to nauseate me into leaving her alone. If she didn’t look absolutely sexy like that, it might have worked, but her skin was impeccable, and the lack of makeup and the frames of her glasses just made her eye color stand out even more.
“It’s about time you showed up,” I said, falling onto my couch.
At first she seemed proud of her idea, but as we talked and I remained impervious, it was clear that she knew her plan had failed. The less she smiled, the more I had to stop myself from grinning ear to ear. She was so much fun. I just couldn’t get over it.
Shepley and America joined us again. Abby was flustered, and I was damn near lightheaded. She went from doubting the fact that I could write a simple paper to questioning my penchant for fighting. I kind of liked talking to her about normal stuff, preferable to the awkward task of asking her to leave once I bagged her. She didn’t understand me, and kind of wanted to, even though I seemed to piss her off.
“What are you...the Karate Kid? Where did you learn to fight?”
Shepley and America seemed to be embarrassed for Abby. I don’t know why; I sure as hell didn’t mind. Just because I didn’t talk about my childhood much didn’t mean I was ashamed.
“I had a dad with a drinking problem and a bad temper, and four older brothers that carried the asshole gene.”
“Oh,” she said simply. Her cheeks turned red, and at that moment, I felt a twinge in my chest. I wasn’t sure what it was, but it bugged me. I immediately tried to make her feel better. “Don’t be embarrassed, Pidge. Dad quit drinking. The brothers grew up.”
“I’m not embarrassed.” Her body language was opposite her words. I struggled to think of something to change the subject, and then mentioning her sexy, frumpy look came to mind. Her embarrassment was immediately replaced by irritation, something I was far more comfortable with.
America suggested watching TV, but the last thing I wanted to do was to be in a room with Abby, unable to talk to her. I stood. “You hungry, Pidge?”
“I already ate.”
America’s eyebrows pulled in. “No, you haven’t. Oh...er...that’s right. I forgot. You grabbed a...pizza? Before we left.”
Abby was embarrassed again, but anger quickly covered it.
I opened the door, trying to keep my voice casual. I’d never been so eager to get a girl alone—especially to not have sex with her. “C’mon. You’ve gotta be hungry.”
Her shoulders relaxed a bit. “Where are you going?”
“Wherever you want. We can hit a pizza place.” I inwardly cringed. That might have been too eager.
She looked down at her sweat pants. “I’m not really dressed.”
I grinned. She had no idea how beautiful she was. That made her even more appealing. “You look fine. Let’s go, I’m starvin’.”
Once she was on the back of my Harley, I could finally think straight again. My thoughts were usually more relaxed on the bike. Abby’s legs had my hips in a vice grip, but that was oddly relaxing, too. Almost a relief.
The weird urge I felt around her was disorienting. I didn’t like it, but then again, it reminded me that she was around, so it was as comforting as it was unsettling. I decided to get my shit together. Abby might be a pigeon, but she was just a fucking girl. No need to get my boxer briefs in a bunch.
Besides, there was something under the good girl facade. She hated me on sight because she’d been burned by someone like me before. No way was she a slut, though. Not even a reformed slut. I could spot them a mile away. My game face slowly melted away. I’d finally found a girl that was interesting enough to get to know, and a version of me had already hurt her.
I barely knew the girl, and the thought of some jackhole hurting Pidge infuriated me. Abby associating me with someone that would hurt her was even worse. I gunned the throttle as I pulled into the Pizza Shack. That ride wasn’t long enough to sort out the clusterfuck in my head.
I wasn’t even thinking about my speed, so when Abby jumped off my bike and started to yell, I couldn’t help but laugh.
“I went the speed limit.”
“Yeah, if we were on the Autobahn!” She ripped the wild bun down and then brushed her long hair with her fingers.
I couldn’t stop staring while she re-wrapped the long, caramel strands, and then tied them back again. I imagined that was how she looked first thing in the morning, and then had to refer to the first ten minutes of Saving Private Ryan to keep my dick from getting hard. Blood. Screaming. Visible intestines. Grenades. Gunfire. More blood.
I held the door open. “I wouldn’t let anything happen to you, Pigeon.”
She angrily stomped past me and into the restaurant, ignoring my gesture. It was a damn shame; she was the first girl that I had ever wanted to open the door for. I’d been looking forward to that moment, and she didn’t even notice.   Chapter 8 teaser Shepley walked out of his bedroom pulling a T-shirt over his head. His eyebrows pushed together. “Did they just leave?” “Yeah,” I said absently, rinsing my cereal bowl and dumping Abby’s leftover oatmeal in the sink. She’d barely touched it. “Well, what the hell? Mare didn’t even say goodbye.” “You knew she was going to class. Quit being a cry baby.” Shepley pointed to his chest. “I’m the cry baby? Do you remember last night?” “Shut up.” “That’s what I thought.” He sat on the couch and slipped on his sneakers. “Did you ask Abby about her birthday?” “She didn’t say much, except that she’s not into birthdays.” “So what are we doing?” “Throwing her a party.” Shepley nodded, waiting for me to explain. “I thought we’d surprise her. Invite some of our friends over and have America take her out for a while.” Shepley put on his white ball cap, pulling it low over his brows so I couldn’t see his eyes. “She can manage that. Anything else?” “How do you feel about a puppy?” Shepley laughed once. “It’s not my birthday, bro.” I walked around the breakfast bar and leaned my hip against the stool. “I know, but she lives in the dorms. She can’t have a puppy.” “Keep it here? Seriously? What are we going to do with a dog?” “I found a Cairn Terrier online. It’s perfect.” “A what?” “Pidge is from Kansas. It’s the same kind of dog Dorothy had in the Wizard of Oz.” Shepley’s face was blank. “The Wizard of Oz.” “What? I liked the scarecrow when I was a little kid, shut the fuck up.” “It’s going to crap every where, Travis. It’ll bark and whine and … I don’t know.” “So does America … minus the crapping.” Shepley wasn’t amused. “I’ll take it out and clean up after it. I’ll keep it in my room. You won’t even know it’s here.” “You can’t keep it from barking.” “Think about it. You gotta admit it’ll win her over.” Shepley smiled. “Is that what this is all about? You’re trying to win over Abby?” My brows pulled together. “Quit it.” His smile widened. “You can get the damn dog…” I grinned with victory. “…if you admit you have feelings for Abby.” I frowned in defeat. “C’mon, man!” “Admit it,” Shepley said, crossing his arms. What a tool. He was actually going to make me say it. I looked to the floor, and everywhere else except Shepley’s smug ass smile. I fought it for a while, but the puppy was fucking brilliant. Abby would flip out (in a good way for once), and I could keep it at the apartment. She’d want to be there every day. “I like her,” I said through my teeth. Shepley held his hand to his ear. “What? I couldn’t quite hear you.” “You’re an asshole! Did you hear that?” Shepley crossed his arms. “Say it.” “I like her, okay?” “Not good enough.” “I have feelings for her. I care about her. A lot. I can’t stand it when she’s not around. Happy?” “For now,” he said, grabbing his backpack off the floor.   Somewhere in the book...LOL   Shepley jogged around the front of the Charger, and then slid into the driver’s seat. “I’m still taking the official position that this is a bad idea.”
“Noted.”
“Then where?”
“Steiner’s.”
“The jewelry store?”
“Yep.”
“Why, Travis?” Shepley said, his voice more stern than before.
“You’ll see.”
He shook his head. “Are you trying to run her off?”
“It’s going to happen, Shep. I just want to have it. For when the time is right.”
“No time any time soon is right. I am so in love with America that it drives me crazy sometimes, but we’re not old enough for that shit, yet, Travis. And … what if she says no?”
My teeth clenched at the thought. “I won’t ask her until I know she’s ready.”
Shepley’s mouth pulled to the side. “Just when I think you can’t get any more insane, you do something else to remind me that you are far beyond bat shit crazy.”
“Wait until you see the rock I’m getting.”
Shepley craned his neck slowly in my direction. “You’ve already been over there shopping, haven’t you?”
I smiled.

*This isn't a review... Picture Perfect by Alessandra Thomas*

Hi Brats... :)

*Please Note: This is not a normal review or rant, although it was a beautifully written story and I would recommend this to every woman out there!*

I have no idea how the hell I'm going to get through this without crying like a girl *SNIFFLE*...

I've just finished Picture Perfect by Alessandra Thomas and it may not be filled with death or tragedy but boy oh boy it comes with its own kind of sorrow and heartbreak and *BEAUTY*... It will have you balling your eyes out but make you feel good all the same!

   Synopsis:  Fashion design major Cat Mitchell has a closet full of gorgeous clothes - and not a single thing fits. After two years of runway modeling for easy cash, an accident shattered her lower leg bone and her self-esteem in just one swift fall. Ten months of no exercise, prescription steroids, comfort eating and yoga pants meant returning to campus as a size twelve instead of her former size two.


When her gorgeous long-time friend with benefits sees her for the first time after her accident and snubs her in front of all her friends, Cat’s self-image hits rock bottom. Her sorority sisters all insist that she looks gorgeous, but all Cat sees is the roll of her stomach when she sits down, or the dimpling at the back of her thighs that wasn't there last year. Cat’s therapist prescribes something radical to stop the downward spiral - nude modeling for a nearby college's human form drawing classes.


When Cat faces her fears and bares it all for the class, she realizes that she's posing naked in front the most gorgeous, buffest guy she's ever seen in her life. He asks her out after the class, and after one steamy night together, Cat's absolutely smitten.
Nate’s pretty close to perfect – he takes Cat rock climbing when he discovers that it makes her feel strong and becomes a great chef after he learns that the perfect pesto sauce makes her swoon. Cat starts to feel like her old self again - confident and beautiful - as long as Nate's around. Even when he discourages her from entering the Real Woman Project, a design competition for plus-sized apparel, she reasons that he's just trying to prevent old body image wounds from splitting wide open again.


But when Cat goes home with Nate for Thanksgiving, she discovers something shocking from his recent past that proves that he hasn’t always been so encouraging of women of all shapes and sizes. Cat has no idea what to think, but she does know one thing - this might destroy their relationship before it's even had a chance to get off the ground.


Before Cat can figure out whether the real Nate is the sensitive, adoring guy she fell in love with, or an undercover asshole, she'll have to finally feel comfortable in her own skin - even if it means leaving him forever.

** ** ** ** When most books make you ugly cry, its usually because your favourite character dies or because you find out about a characters tragic past. But this book had me sobbing for a completely different reason... I was 10 years old the first time I was put on a diet. Of course at 10, when someone tells you you're fat, you believe them. You just don't realise that THEIR belief about YOUR body eventually becomes your own belief too. That was the start of an 10 year obsession with my weight - I was on a new diet every month and only after the age of 14 did it become *my* choice to do it. I was the fat kid in high school and I was 15 the first time I played with an eating disorder. Boys wouldn't look at me and girls, well you know girls, they made fun. My confidence was the size of a jelly bean and as a result of that and all the teasing, I quickly became depressed. It was a struggle.I hated my body, so much so that I tortured it with my eating disorder on and off until I was 19.  After a breast reduction at 19 and losing 24kg's in weight, I started a year long journey to learn how to love myself - in my own body. I have the most incredible mom who never stopped telling me how beautiful I am, but it took a while for her voice to be louder than the voice in my head. I'm almost 22 now and learn to love my body a little more each day! The main character in this story, Cat, weighed the same as I once did and I read this book *IN* her frame of mind the entire time. When she met Nate I cried, because he praised every fat roll and every bump on her body - he made her feel beautiful. When she found out that he used to be one of the people who judged people for what they look like I cried, because I know how much it sucks to be rejected for not having a certain 'type' of body - it is however a double edged sword (Which you will see when you read this book).  But I flat out *UGLY CRIED* when she came to the most important realisation of all...  "I was so depressed, it was starting to get hard to function. I saw a therapist, and she told me to get back into modeling - nude modeling. That's how I met Nate. But then... he hurt me. And I cried." I laughed, trying to hold back tears at that moment. " But then I got my act together, and realized that with or without him, or any guy, or any modeling gig in my life, I was just fine. I was still me, still lovable and worthy and attractive. No matter what I looked like." Cat said something else that is also rather profound, it made me realise it's not about whether or not *OTHER* people think you're worthy. Its about whether or not *YOU* think you're worthy ... "I didn't find any models for this project. Every model is me. Because this journey is mine, and I am a real woman." We are all different and we may not all have drop dead gorgeous figures (according to the status quo) but we have the bodies that are just right for US... Every woman, whether tall or short, skinny or pudgy, is BEAUTIFUL. GORGEOUS. STUNNING. The world will tell you who you are, until you tell it... <3  Thank you Alessandra, for writing this <3 (Please tell me where you're hiding Nate? I want one!! )  Tam xxx

*Stealing Harper by Molly McAdams*

Hi Brats :)

I'm sure many of you have read Taking Chances by Molly McAdams and if you're anything like me you kept a box of tissues right next to you! It was one of the most emotional books I've ever read and I doubt I have to tell you why... So when I heard Molly was releasing a second book, Stealing Harper, I started getting *REALLYREALLYREALLYREALLY* nervous... Because Stealing Harper is Chase's story...

The sad truth is, if I had known how things played out towards the end of Taking Chances I probably would've chosen not to read it - not because its a bad book (It's BRILLIANT!!) but because I am a hopeless romantic and I have a terrible inclination to fall in love with fictional characters just as easily as I would a real man...

Of course Harper & Brandon get their happy ending in Taking Chances but what *BROKE*, *SHATTERED* and completely *DEVASTATED* me was what she lost along the way... My heart broke for the one person who didn't get a happy ending... So yes, I fell in love with Chase.


Molly is an incredible story teller, with a gift of getting her readers so emotionally involved and attached that by the end you're a big heap of tears surrounded by soggy tissues. And I'm sure that Stealing Harper is no different - which is why I'm super stoked about the *Cover Reveal* :)


Synopsis Chase Grayson has never been interested in having a relationship that lasted longer than it took for him and the girl to get dressed again. But then he stumbled into a gray-eyed girl whose innocence poured off her, and everything changed. From the minute Harper opened her mouth to let him know just how much he disgusted her, he was hooked. But a princess deserves a prince charming that can make her dreams come true. Not a guy that can turn her life into a nightmare. All good intentions go out the window when she starts to fall for the guy he’s come to view as a brother. He’d wanted to protect her by keeping her away, but he can’t stand to see her with anyone else and he’ll do anything to make her his. But when it comes down to Harper choosing between the two, will Chase have the strength to step back from the girl that has become his whole world if it means she’s happy? Lines will be crossed. Friendships will be put to the test. And hearts will be shattered.
   


Stealing Harper will be available on June 4th! Be sure to pick up your copy - and remember your dang tissues!! ;)

Ya'll behave now ;)

Tam

xxx

*Teaser Overload*

Hi Brats :) 

Yes yes, I've been quiet but it's not my fault - something about a C-Com cable break of the coast of Africa has left us without internet for almost 4 days!! I've been so frustrated being unable to make posts on my blog but fortunatley it looks like its fixed for the most part :)

I decided to share some of my favourite new teasers with you from a few of the books that I know a lot of people are anxious to read :)

Norma Jean by Amanda Heath (April 26th 2013)

*Unedited and 18+ warning for language...and other stuff :p*

Norma blows the smoke out and I take in the familiar menthol scent. It was something I missed about her. I used to run into smokers and inhale hoping to drag up old memories of her. Here's hoping I never have to do that again. "I thought you said you quit?" I ask her with a grin on my face.

Her cute little nose wrinkles and she glares at me, "I did. Then you show up. I can't decide whether to kill you or f**k you." she takes a drag looking away from me. "So I picked this back up to keep myself from doing either."A chuckle forms and I bite my lip to keep it in. "You've already f**ked me twice, smalls. Kind of think you're wasting your breath...and your lungs." That earns me an eye roll. "You seduced me, big foot." she replays mockingly. I step close to her, until I'm in her personal space. "Payback for all the times you seduced me." I bite her ear lobe, which always seems to make her crazy. And horny.

 She gasps before her hands come up to clutch my shoulders. "Quit." Her fingers loosen. "You know that makes me insane."
 My lips trail down her neck before I raise my head to catch her eyes. "Good. You should always be insane for me." Right before I kiss her full lips I say, "I'm always f**king insane for you. You walk into the room and I look for things to bend you over."  Wrong Kind of Love by Amanda Heath (July 2013) *Unedited and 18+ warning*She is laid out before me completely nude. Which is the only way I like to see her. She isn't hiding behind her walls this way. It's like I strip away that wall with every piece of clothing I peel off. I've never seen such an amazing body and all I want to do is copy it onto canvas and stare at it everyday. "Are you gonna stare all day?" she chuckles holding her head up on the palm of her hand. I blink a few times having forgotten what I asked to do. "No Angel." I pick up my paint tray and settle next to her on the floor. Before I begin she traces the tattoos I have inked over most of my torso. I will my dick to stay soft but he has other ideas as her soft hands glide over my flesh. I'm so hot inside and out and I feel sweat bead on my forehead. "If you keep doing that, I'll never get started." She chuckles again and lays flat on her back. Her generous breasts bounce and sway with her motion and a groan passes my closed lips. She smirks up at me with all that blond hair laid out around her like a halo. "Vixen." I mutter dipping the brush in a blue and sweeping it across her stomach. Her body shivers and her hands clinch. Nice to know i affect her as well. As I paint my mind zones in on what I'm doing and forgets everything else. Graces breathing becomes more and more labored the longer I work. You wouldn't think this would be a turn on but it is. For her. Her thighs close and squeeze together about every five seconds. Which of course turns me on. After awhile I can't stand it anymore and my free hand snakes down to caress her most private part. She's wet for me. And now I'll have her moaning.  Twisted Perfection by Abbi Glines (April 22nd 2013) “I’ve been working in Dallas as a waitress at a bar. That’s normally the kind of jobs I get. They’re easy and the tips are good so I don’t have to stay in one place too long.” I nodded. That’s right. She was traveling the world. She wasn’t putting down roots in Rosemary. She didn’t want a relationship. She wanted an adventure. “You want a server job here? It’s an easier crowd than a bar and I just lost a server right before you walked in.” I wasn’t putting her far away from me like a smart man would. Instead, I was putting her right here under my damn nose. I was an idiot. “Thank you. That would be perfect. Do you need me to start right away since you just lost a server? I’m a quick learner,” she assured me. No, I needed her to go back to Tripp’s condo and let me calm the f*ck down. A knock on the door interrupted me before I could respond and Jimmy stuck his head in. “It’s getting out of control,” his eyes found Della and he flashed her a smile. “Well, aren’t you all kinds of sexy. Please tell me you’re here for a job.” Della smiled at him brightly and nodded. “Perfect. Can I have her?” Jimmy asked opening the door wider. I wanted to tell him no, that I wasn’t done with her yet. I was still considering pulling her over my desk and pushing that skirt up to see what she had on underneath. “Sure. Go ahead and take her. She has experience so it shouldn’t be hard to get her going.” Della stood up and smiled back at me one more time. “Thank you for this,” then she went to Jimmy who closed the door behind them. I laid my head back against the leather seat and let out a defeated sigh. I needed to remember that Della would be leaving soon. She wasn’t one to stick around. I couldn’t lose everything I’d worked for because I wanted to be buried in her—  Stealing Harper by Molly McAdams (June 4th 2013) TEASER #5

“YOU GOT EVERYTHING ready for today?” Brad asked as he jumped up onto the counter and brought Sarah between his legs.“Pretty sure.” I took the last bite of my apple and threw the core into the trash. “Called the dealership, called the B&B…everything should be good to go.”“Harper’s gonna love today, Chase,” Sarah said with a wide smile on her face. “So sweet of you to do all this for her. But she’s going to think you’re gonna propose with how the day is set up!”I grinned. “I already know when I’m going to propose, and it’s not today.”“When?!” Her eyes brightened and she bounced up on her toes a few times.“You’ll see.” I shrugged and caught the bottle of water she threw at me. “I’m not telling anyone, it’s a surprise.”“Whatever. So you’re going to find out if it’s a boy or a girl today?”“Guess so. She’s due October fourth, so she’s sixteen weeks today and her doctor said we should be able to…but I already know –” I broke off and the massive grin I’d been sporting fell as Brandon walked into the kitchen. “It’s not like I don’t know what’s going on,” he said without looking at anyone as he grabbed a bottle of Gatorade and two bottles of water. “You don’t have to stop talking because of me.”Brad’s eyes bounced back and forth between the two of us and Sarah was covering her mouth while she slowly shook her head, her eyes full of pity as she watched Brandon. After he’d grabbed a couple of protein bars and put everything in his bag he finally looked back at us, his gaze resting on me. “Or maybe you do.” Without another word he left the kitchen and Brad hung his head.I pushed away from the counter and followed after him. “Brother –”“I thought we’d already decided we weren’t that either.”Grabbing his shoulder I stopped him before he could reach the door. “Look, I’m sorry! I’m sorry I did this to you.”He turned to look at me, his brow raised high. “You’re sorry. So, what…we go back to being cool again?”“I don’t know, man. But we can’t do this.”“And why can’t we? You couldn’t stand to let me have one normal day with her. Have I done anything to you since she and I broke up?” He paused but I didn’t respond. “No. I haven’t. You dealt with it by being an ass, so let me deal with this my way. And my way doesn’t include acting like you didn’t steal my girl from me.”“I didn’t steal Harper!”He opened the door and took a step outside, his shaking hand gripping the outer knob. When he looked back at me his eyes were flat and lifeless. “You stole my whole world.”  Beauty From Surrender by Georgia Cates (May 30th 2013)   Beauty from Surrender Teaser #1: (Unedited and subject to change.) Jack Henry's POV: I’m bombarded by the smell of cigarettes and stagnant beer when I walk into the bar. The smoke in the air is thick –and so is the crowd of people around me– making it difficult to push my way through the throng of party seekers. The Martin I’m carrying adds to my difficult navigation as I bump shoulders through the horde so I have to apologize with each step I take. Country music is blaring through the speakers. It isn’t live but my eyes still dart toward the stage and I wonder if I’ve come on a night when Laurelyn won’t be performing. My heart plummets to the sticky beer-permeated floor beneath my feet when I consider the possibility. I spent the day thinking about being with her tonight and I think I’ll lose it if I’m this close without seeing her. Beauty from Surrender Teaser #2 (Unedited and subject to change.) Jack Henry's POV: The guy is looking at Laurelyn, watching her eyes as he sings and that’s when it strikes me – the motherfucker isn’t singing for the crowd. He’s singing to my girl. Son of a bitch! Don’t look at him, Laurelyn. Don’t fall for that shit – his seductive grin, his smooth voice, his deep dimples. I know those moves and it’s all bullshit so he can fuck you. What if I’m too late and she’s already with him? It’s a real possibility. She wouldn’t have a reason not to be. She has no idea how much I love her or the lengths I’ve gone to find her. I’m certain she thinks I’ve moved on to number fourteen. Why wouldn’t she? And then I think of the woman I almost made number fourteen. She gladly went up to a hotel room with me – a complete stranger– only minutes after meeting me. She was going to let me fuck her because the man she loved didn’t return her affections. She wanted him out of her head that bad – if only for as long as it took to get off. That’s who I could be to Laurelyn – the man she needs out of her head so badly she’d fuck someone to get it accomplished. This is bad. Very bad.  Beauty from Surrender Teaser #4 Jack Henry's POV: (Unedited and subject to change.) My kiss is aggressive because it’s been far too long since I’ve felt Laurelyn. I don’t know how to be anything but vigorous when it comes to her. She retreats to catch her breath and I glide my mouth down her neck toward her shoulder. “I love these little patches of freckles. I’ve missed seeing them.” She giggles softly and I move my mouth down her chest. Her laughter stops and I hear a sharp intake of air as I take one of her breasts into my mouth. I hear her groan, “Ohh,” as I pull on her nipple with the suction of my mouth until it’s hard and elongated. I use my teeth to scrape it gently because I know how sensitive her nipples are and how easily she’s turned on when I do that. I'm not playing favorites so I move to the other one and give it the same treatment before I migrate lower. She's stretched out on the bed and I can't resist looking at her stomach. I rub my hand over her abdomen below her piercing and the memory of her half-taken birth control pack forces it way through to the front of my thoughts. I can’t stop myself from wondering –or maybe even hoping– there’s a part of me growing inside her. I lower my mouth to her belly to place kisses against it and I feel Laurelyn’s hand glide through my hair. I peer up at her and she has lifted her head to look at me. “What’s with the special interest there?” I’m not bringing it up now; it’s not the right time. I don’t want anything to stand in the way of me being inside her. “Nothing,” I whisper as I move lower but skip the place I know she wants my mouth most. I want to make this last for as long as possible. ** ** ** **It's time for me to catch up with some reviews :)More Soon My Brats ;) Tam xxx



   

*Cover Reveal : Hard To Hold On by Shanora Williams*

Hi Brats :):)

I've taken a little break from my reading cave to give you a little something special from my girl Shanora Williams!! :)

If you're anything like me, you would've been totally addicted to Hard To Resist and left wanting after it ended.... Well, thats what I'm here to tell you :) The sequel, Hard To Hold On, will be released on the 20th of May :) **SQUEEEE**

In the mean time, Shanora has given us a little something along with the gorgeous cover..... ;)

Hard To Hold On by Shanora Williams

   
Synopsis:   For the past four months, Natalie Carmichael and Nolan Young have been complete. Everything still feels right in their passion-filled world. It still feels natural - that is until Nolan's mother passes away.

Things begin to turn for the worst for Nolan and his brother Mills. After losing their father from previous years before, it's a tragedy on top of a tragedy. Along with the loss, Natalie and Nolan will face obstacles that they aren't so sure they can handle.
From the New York Times and USA Today Best Selling novel, Hard to Resist, Natalie and Nolan will realize that there is something in their relationship that will have them either wanting to run away or trying to stick through it.
Will Natalie and Nolan stick together? Can they hold on to what they've worked so hard to keep going?
Love was found. Their only hope is that it never gets lost
  Excerpt:  Nolan’s hands work their way down to my jeans and he unbuttons them. My back arches, allowing him to continue. He slides my jeans off before crushing my lips with his. I shut my eyes, ready to enjoy the feeling. I’ve wanted this for so long.
His finger sneaks beneath my panties and slowly slides into me. I moan and he groans as he rubs the flesh between. I pull his head down to kiss him again—to keep the intimacy going. His tongue plays and coaxes mine. I hear his belt buckle jingle and he adjusts himself to get his pants down but our lips never part. He presses himself against me and my stomach tightens. I grip his T-shirt but he pulls back to tug it over his head.
He glares down at me, as if I’m the only person on this entire planet that he wants. He’s all that I want. I know that he feels the same way. Leaning down, Nolan’s lips press against my neck and then kiss their way down to my breasts. He tugs my shirt over my head, pulls my bra down, and then licks my nipples. Heat sparks and I feel myself building up. My eyes squeeze shut from the erotic feeling. His mouth is like magic as it licks and sucks. He begins to move southward, and my legs tighten around him but he presses his palms against the inside of my thighs to keep me still and available to him.
I look down and watch as he bites on his bottom lip while pulling my panties down. Quickly, his hot tongue slides between my slick folds and I gasp through my teeth as he swirls it around my sweet area. I can really feel myself building up now. I want nothing but him inside of me—nothing but his hard body against mine. I want to mold and fill the room up with our steam and sweat. My moans and pants pick up and then he pulls back. “Not yet,” he says against my lips.


Release date: May 20th 2013

This is one book I can't wait to rant about!! ;)

Tam

xxx

Hi Brats :)I decided to take a break from my little world...

Hi Brats :)

I decided to take a break from my little world and give you Chapter 1 of Second Chance Boyfriend :) **SQUEEEEE** Thank you Monica ;)


Chapter One

Sometimes you have to stand alone, just to make sure you still can. – Unknown

Fable

Two months. I haven’t seen or heard from him in two freaking months. I mean, who does that to a person? Who spends the most intense week of their life with another human being and shares their most intimate thoughts, their craziest, darkest secrets, has sex with a person—and we’re talking amazing, earth-shattering sex—leaves them a note that says I love you and then bails? I’ll tell you who.

Drew I’m going to kick him in the balls next time I see him Callahan.

I’ve moved on. Well, I tell myself that. But time doesn’t stop just because my heart does, so I take care of my responsibilities. I’ve stretched the three thousand dollars I earned for my one week of pretending to be the jerk wad’s girlfriend pretty well. I still have some money left in my savings account. I bought my brother Owen some cool Christmas gifts. I got my mom something for Christmas too.

She didn’t buy either of us anything. Not one thing. Owen made me a shallow bowl he created in his ceramics class at school. He was so proud to give it to me. A little embarrassed too, especially when I gushed over it. The kid wrapped it in bright Christmas paper and everything. I was blown away that he took the time to actually create something for me. I keep that bowl on my dresser and leave my earrings in it.

At least someone gives a crap about me, you know?

He didn’t give Mom anything. Which—shallow witch that I am—pleased me to no end.
January is supposedly a time of healing. New year, new goals, resolutions, whatever you want to call them, where a person should be hopeful with all that unchartered territory spread out before them. I tried my best to be positive when the New Year came, but I cried. That clock struck twelve and I was all by myself, tears running down my face as I watched the ball drop on TV. Pitiful, lonely girl sobbing into her sweatshirt, missing the boy she loves.

Most of the month is gone and that’s fine. But the realization hit me last night. Instead of dreading every single day that comes my way, I need to savor it. I need to figure out what I’m going to do with my life and then actually do it. I’d leave if I could, but I can’t ditch Owen. Without me, I have no idea what would happen to him and I can’t risk it.
So I stay. I vow to make the best of this life I have. I’m tired of living in misery.

I’m tired of feeling sorry for myself. I’m tired of wanting to shake my mom and make her see that she has children she should give two shits about. Oh, and that she also needs to find a job. Sleeping all day and partying all night with Larry the Loser isn’t the way to deal.

And I’m tired of mourning the loss of a beautiful, fucked-up man who haunts my thoughts everywhere I go.

Yeah, I’m most sick of that.

Pushing all mopey thoughts out of my head, I go to the booth where a customer’s waiting for me to take his order. He came in a few minutes ago, a blur of a tall man who moved quickly, dressed too nicely for a Thursday midafternoon jaunt to La Salles. The bar is hopping at night, full of college kids drinking themselves into oblivion. But during the day? Mostly bum losers who have nowhere else to go and the occasional person coming in for lunch. The burgers are decent so they’re a draw.

“What can I get you?” I ask once I stop in front of the table, my head bent as I dig out my order pad.

“Your attention maybe?”

His question—spoken in a velvety deep voice—makes me glance up from my notepad.
Into the bluest eyes I’ve ever seen. Bluer than Drew’s, if that’s possible.

“Um, sorry.” I offer him a tentative smile. He instantly makes me nervous. He is waaaay too good-looking. Like beyond gorgeous, with dark blond hair that falls over his forehead, and classic bone structure. Strong jaw, sharp cheekbones, straight nose—he could’ve walked right off a billboard. “Are you ready to order?”

He smiles, revealing even white teeth, and I clamp my lips shut to prevent them from falling open. I didn’t know men could be this attractive. I mean, Drew is gorgeous, I can admit that even though I’m furious at him. But this guy...he puts all other men to shame. His face is too damn perfect.

“I’ll take a Pale Ale.” He flicks his chin at the tattered menu lying on the table in front of him. “Anything from the appetizer menu you can recommend?”

He must be joking. Beyond the burgers, I wouldn’t recommend any food La Salle’s serves to this ideal male specimen. Heaven forbid it might taint him. “What are you in the mood for?” I ask, my voice weak.

Lifting a brow, he picks up the menu and glances it over, his gaze meeting mine. “Nachos?”

I shake my head. “The beef is rarely cooked all the way.” More like it comes out with a pink tinge. So gross.

“Potato skins?” He winces.

I wince back. “So nineties, don’t you think?”

“How about the buffalo wings?”

“If you want to set your mouth on permanent fire. Listen.” I glance around, making
sure no one—as in my boss—is nearby. “If you want something to eat, I suggest the café down the street. They have great sandwiches.”

He laughs and shakes his head. The rich, vibrant sound washes over me, warming my skin, followed quickly by a huge dose of wariness. I don’t react like this to guys. The only other one who could earn this sort of reaction out of me is Drew. And he’s not around...so why am I still so hung up on him?

Maybe because you’re still in love with him, like some sort of idiot?

I shove the nagging little voice that pops up at the most inopportune times into the back of my brain.

“I like your honesty,” the man says, his cool blue gaze raking over me. “I’ll just take the beer, then.”

“Smart decision.” I nod. “I’ll be right back.”

I head toward the back and slip behind the bar, grabbing a bottle of Pale Ale, glancing up to catch the guy staring at me. And he doesn’t look away either, which makes me feel uncomfortable. He’s not watching me like a pervert, just very...observant.

It’s unnerving.

A trickle of anger flickers through me. Do I wear an invisible sign around my neck? One that says Hey, I’m Easy? Because I’m not. Yeah, I made a few mistakes, looking for attention in the wrong places, but it’s not like I dress with my tits or ass hanging out. I don’t put any sort of purposeful swing to my hips nor do I thrust my chest out like I see plenty of girls do.

So why does every guy I encounter seem to blatantly check me out like I’m a piece of meat?

Deciding I’ve had enough of his crap, I stride toward his table and set the beer in front of him with a loud clunk. I’m about to walk away without saying a word—screw the tip—when he asks, “So what’s your name?”

I glance over my shoulder. “What’s it matter to you?” Oh, I’m such a bitch. I could really piss this guy off and get myself fired. I don’t know what’s wrong with me.

Yet again, I’m as bad as my mom. She sabotaged her job with her drinking and awful attitude. At least I only have the bad attitude.

If I could kick my own ass, I would be doing so right now.

He smiles and shrugs, like my smart-ass remark doesn’t faze him. “I’m curious.”

Turning fully, I face him, studying him as much as he studies me. His long fingers
are wrapped around the neck of the beer bottle, his other arm resting on the scarred and scratched table. His entire manner is relaxed, easy, and my defenses slowly lower.

“It’s Fable,” I admit, bracing for the reaction. I’ve heard endless jokes and rude remarks about my name since I can remember.

But he doesn’t give me a hard time. His expression remains neutral. “Nice to meet you, Fable. I’m Colin.”

I nod, not knowing what else to say. He both puts me at ease and shakes me up, which leaves me confused. And he definitely doesn’t fit in at this bar. He’s dressed too nice, has an air of authority about him that borders on entitlement, as if he’s above it all, and he probably is. He reeks of class and money.

But he’s not acting like an ass and he should, I’ve been so rude to him. He brings the beer bottle to his lips, taking a drink, and I watch unabashedly. He’s handsome. He’s arrogant. And he’s trouble.

I don’t want anything to do with him.

“So, Fable,” he says once he’s downed half his beer. “Can I ask you a question?”

Shuffling my feet, I glance around the bar. No one’s paying us any attention. I could probably stand here and talk to Colin the mysterious customer for fifteen minutes and no one would protest. “Sure.”

“Why is a woman like you working in a shit bar like this?”

“Why is a guy like you ordering a beer in a shit bar like this?” I retort, momentarily insulted. But then I realize...he’s complimenting me. And he referred to me as a woman. No one ever does that. I don’t do that.

He tips his beer at me, as if offering a toast. “Touché. Would you be surprised if I said I came in here looking for you?”

Surprised? More like creeped out. “I don’t even know you. How could you be looking for me?”

“I should rephrase that. I came here hoping I would find someone I could steal away.” At my raised eyebrows, he laughs. “I own a new restaurant in town. The District. Have you heard of it?”

I had. Some new fancy place that caters to the rich college kids, the ones with an endless supply of money they can use to eat, drink and party. So not my scene. “Yeah.”

“Have you been there?”

I slowly shake my head. “No.”

Leaning back against the seat, he studies me, his lids heavy as he does a slow perusal
of...me. Now he’s totally checking me out and I can feel my cheeks burn with embarrassment. The guy is sort of a jackass.

I’ve always had a slight thing for jackasses.

“Come with me to the restaurant tonight. I’ll show you around.” His mouth curves into not quite a smile and I’m tempted.

But I’ve also sworn off men so I know this is a bad idea. “Thanks, but I’m not interested.”

“I’m not trying to ask you out on a date, Fable,” he says, his voice low, his eyes glowing. I take a step back, glancing around. I need to get away from this guy. Fast. But then his words stop me in my tracks. “I’m trying to offer you a job.”

Drew

“Let’s talk about Fable.”

I tense up but nod. I try my best to appear neutral, like our new topic of discussion doesn’t bother me. “What do you want to know?”

My shrink watches me, her careful gaze steady. “It still bothers you to hear her name.”
“It doesn’t,” I lie. I try my best to appear nonchalant, but my insides are churning. I both dread and savor hearing Fable’s name. I want to see her. I need to see her.

I can’t make myself go to her. And she’s clearly given up on me. I deserve her giving up. I gave up on her first, didn’t I?

More like you gave up on yourself.

“You don’t have to lie to me, Drew. It’s okay if it’s still difficult.” Dr. Sheila Harris pauses, tapping her index finger against her chin. “Have you considered trying to see her?”

I shake my head. I consider it every day, every minute of my life, but my considerations are useless. “She hates me.”

“You don’t know that.”

“I know I’d hate me for what I did if I were her. I shut down and shut her out, like I always do. She begged me again and again not to do it. That she’d be there for me no matter what.” Yet I left her. With only a stupid note that took me way too long to write, filled with a secret message that my smart, beautiful girl figured out right away.
But she’s not my girl. I can’t lay claim to her. I ignored her. And now...

I’ve lost her.

“So why did you shut her out? You’ve never told me, you know.”

My psychologist loves to ask the tough questions, but that’s her job. I still hate
answering them. “It’s the only way I know how to cope,” I admit. The truth slaps me in the face on a daily basis. I always run.

It’s so much easier.

I sought Dr. Harris out myself. No one else pushed me to do it. After we came back from Carmel, after I ditched Fable and left her that bullshit note, I withdrew into myself worse than ever. I fucked up my game play. I fucked up my grades. Winter break came and I ran away. I literally ran away to some crazy cabin in the middle of the woods I rented from some nice old couple in Lake Tahoe.

My plan? Hibernate like a bear. Turn off my phone, hole up by myself and figure my shit out. I didn’t anticipate how hard it would be, though, being alone with my thoughts. My memories, both the good and the bad, haunted me. I thought of the bombshell my stepmom Adele dropped on me. I thought about my dad and how much the truth—if it really is the truth—would affect him. I thought about my little sister Vanessa and how she died. How she might not be my little sister after all...

More than anything, I thought of Fable. How mad she’d been when I showed up on her doorstep, but she let me in anyway. The way I touched her, how she touched me, the way she always seemed to break down my barriers and see the real me. I let her in. I wanted to let her in.

And then I left her. With a note that was rendered pointless because she tried her damnedest to rescue me and I wouldn’t let her. She sent me exactly two texts. The second one surprised me because I knew she was stubborn and I figured she’d give up after I didn’t answer the first one.

How could I answer it, though? She said all the right things. And I would’ve said all the wrong things. So it’s better to say nothing at all.

She also left me one voice mail. I still have it. Sometimes, when I’m feeling really fucked up, I play it. Listen to her soft, tearful voice, those unbelievable words she says to me. By the time the message is finished, my heart literally hurts.

It’s torture listening to it yet I can’t make myself delete that message either. Just knowing it’s there, that for one last minute she actually cared, is better than deleting those words and her voice, and pretending she doesn’t exist.

“I’m hoping to help you with that. Your coping mechanisms,” Dr. Harris says, drawing me out of my thoughts. “I know how much she means to you. Fable. And I’m hoping that eventually, you’ll go to her and tell her you’re sorry.”

“What if I’m not sorry?” I toss the words out, but they’re meaningless. I’m so sorry I can’t begin to explain how much of a screwup I am.

“Then that’s another issue we’ll have to deal with,” she says gently.

It goes on like this for another fifteen minutes and then I finally make my escape, walking out into the cold, clear winter afternoon. The sun is warm on my skin despite the temperature and I start down the sidewalk, heading for where I parked my truck. Harris’s office is downtown, in a nondescript building, and I hope like hell I don’t see anyone I know. The college campus is only a few blocks away and students hang out at the little stores, cafés and coffee shops that line the street.

Not like I have many friends, but hell. Everyone likes to think they know me. No one really does. With the exception of one person.

“Hey, Callahan, wait up!”

Pausing, I glance over my shoulder to see one of my teammates running toward me, a big grin on his goofy face. Jace Hendrix is a pain in the ass but generally a good guy. He’s never done me wrong, not that any of them ever really have. “Hey.” I offer him a wave and shove my hands into my jacket pockets, waiting until he stops just in front of me.

“Long time, no see,” Jace says. “You sort of disappeared after that last failure of a game.”

I wince. That last failure of a game had been all my fault. “I was feeling sort of fucked up over that,” I confess.

Hell, I can’t believe I just admitted to my failures, but Jace doesn’t seem bothered. “Yeah, you and everyone else, man. Listen, what are you doing this weekend?”

The way Jace brushes off my statement—hell, the way he agrees with it—blows me away. “What’s going on?”

“It’s Logan’s birthday. We’re doing it up right at the new restaurant that just opened a few blocks over. Have you heard of it?” Jace looks excited, he’s literally bouncing on his feet and I wonder what the hell is up.

“Vaguely.” I shrug. Like I care. The last thing I want is to be social.

But then Dr. Harris’s words ring through my head. How she wants me to reach out. And act like a real person.

“Party’s going to be there. Got a private room and everything. I haven’t been there yet, but I hear all the waitresses are gorgeous, the drinks are delicious and loaded with alcohol and Logan’s parents arranged for a private room. Rumor has it strippers might’ve been hired out for this momentous event. Logan’s turning twenty-one, so we want to get him all sorts of fucked up.” Jace waggles his eyebrows.

“Sounds great,” I lie. It sounds like torture. But I need to go. At the very least, make a quick appearance and then jam. I can report back to my shrink what I did. She can give me a gold star for making an effort.

“You’ll go?” Jace looks shocked and I know why. I rarely do anything with the guys and especially the last few months, since I’ve been like a ghost.

“I’ll be there.” I nod, unsure how I’m going to work up the energy to make an appearance, but I’ve got to do this.

“Yeah? Awesome! I can’t wait to tell the guys. We’ve missed you. Haven’t seen you for a while and we all know how those last few games were tough on you. They were tough on all of us.” Jace’s expression is solemn and for a minute I wonder if he’s playing my ass.

But then I realize he’s sincere. Funny how I took full responsibility for those losses when I bet every single one of these guys on my team probably did the same thing.

“Tell the guys I can’t wait to see them.” The words fall easily from my lips because they’re the truth. I need to stop wallowing in my own misery. I need to stop worrying about my past, worrying about my dad and my bitch of a stepmom and the little girl who died because I was too busy fighting with her mom and telling her to keep her goddamn hands to herself.

That’s the one regret I have, that I never fully explained to Fable what happened that day. I know she assumes I was off screwing around with Adele. I would think the same. But that was the day I told her never again. Whatever she was going to try, I wasn’t interested. It was over. That was the day I became liberated.

And also the day I became a prisoner to my own guilt.

Forever.

“See ya around, Drew.” Jace waves and turns, whistling as he walks away from me. I
remain rooted to the spot, watching him leave until he’s a speck of nothing in the distance, wishing like crazy I could be that carefree. That my biggest concerns were my grades, what girl I could get my hands on next, and how excited I was for the big party coming up in a few days.

Maybe, just maybe I could lose myself in the mundane for a bit. Pretend that nothing else matters but friends and school and parties. Doc says I can’t move forward until I face the past.

But what the fuck does she know?


Is anyone else dying to get their hands on this?? Lord knows I am!! Have I mentioned TheSecretBookBrat will be participating in the Launch of SCB in April??? Oooops, let that one slip ;)

Tam
xxx

*Cover Reveal : Forgiving Lies by Molly McAdams*

Hi Brats :)

I am suuuuper stoked to be apart of the cover reveal for one of Molly's new novels, Forgiving Lies, which is due to be released on the 29th of October :) Ready...Set...Go!! **SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE** :):)

So here ya go....




Logan Kash Ryan has spent the last three and a half years working undercover in Tampa Bay, Florida. When a case sends him and his partner to Austin, Texas to follow the trail of a serial killer, their sole focus needs to be on finding the guy before he can find another victim. The last thing Kash needs is the distraction of his beautiful new neighbor, but there’s something about her guarded nature and feisty attitude that makes it impossible to stay away from her.

Rachel Masters has shielded herself from getting hurt again. But when her new neighbor almost takes her car door off with his motorcycle, everything changes. He’s arrogant, gorgeous, tattooed and pierced. Everything she knows she should stay away from. Despite the warnings her initial impression has raised, she quickly falls for him and the way he works at breaking down all her walls. But he’s hiding something, and after everything that has happened in Rachel’s life lately, a guy is the last thing she needs.

From the moment Rachel and Kash meet, they stress the friendship-only rule and continue to push their feelings for each other aside. But as their friendship advances, lines start blurring, and soon their reasons for keeping the other at a distance are forgotten.

Will Kash be able to maintain focus on the investigation while keeping Rachel safe from his real life – or will it all fall apart right in front of him, and will she run when she finds out everything he has been hiding?





Now I know ya'll will support Molly & buy her book when it comes out :) More Soon My Brats ;)Tam xxx      

*Let's Talk About Sex Baby...*

Hi Brats :):)

It has been an insane week at TheSecretBookBrat HQ - between reading, studying & writing I've had time for little of anything else! Not that anything else matters right? :)

I recently picked up Relentless by Cassia Leo & have to admit that its one of the *BEST* stories I have ever read, and with a collection of over 300 eBooks that says a lot!! Being the first novel by Cassia that I've read, I had no expectations & yet I found that any expectations I could've had would have been surpassed. This is the part where I **SQUEEEE** until I'm blue in the face :):):)

Claire is a 20 year old college drop out with a secret that could have some intense consequences if anyone found out. She pretty much runs away in an attempt to avoid her mistakes... Until she meets Adam Parker, the new guy who has moved into the apartment above hers... One thing leads to another & they make a bet - if Adam can get Claire to reveal all her dirty laundry, she will have to go back to school... Sounds easy right? WRONG! Claire was so unprepared for Adam & the way he makes her feel, but when the cat is let out of the bag, she fears that Adam will want nothing to do with her...

I fell head over heals with this story because not only is it incredibly well written, but it's also *REAL*... Sure, we want to believe in Fairytales, that bad things don't happen to good people, but that is a ridiculous notion if ever I've heard one. Claire has a brutal past, a life she had no control over & yet, she just keeps going. Adam teaches her the art of letting go & shows her the freedom it can bring, all the while letting go of his own demons... It may not be the Fairytale we've all grown up with, like Cinderella or Sleeping Beauty, but it's real... This is one book you HAVE to add to your To Read list.... Along with Surrender Your Love by J.C Reed, which is another fantastic novel that I totally gobbled up within hours :) While I loved the story, it had me thinking about the fuss being made over the New Adult Genre & its 'Sexual Content'... But before I get to that....

Brooke Stewart is a realtor in New York who does what she can to avoid relationships. So what happens? *BOOM KAPOW WHOOSH BANG SPLAT* Enter her new sexy, aggressive, arrogant boss Jett Mayfield... They spend the first two weeks of her new job in Italy, trying to acquire a big ass Villa while living under the same roof with the most intense sexual tension...EVER... But not everything is as it seems & as Brooke opens up about her tragic past, she soon realises that there is something far more sinister at play... Jett is keeping his own secrets & they have more to do with Brooke than she could ever imagine... As luck would have it, Jessica aka J.C Reed has decided to make us wait... For a sequel.... BUT WHY JESS???

I have to admit that the *freaky deaky* scenes in this book will most likely have you running a cold shower, and that brings me to my next point... WHAT IS ALL THE FUSS ABOUT?

(Let's Talk About Sex by Salt & Pepa)

Let's talk about sex, baby
Let's talk about you and me
Let's talk about all the good things
And the bad things that may be
Let's talk about sex
Let's talk about sex
Let's talk about sex
Let's talk about sex
 Maybe if we say it enough people will stop fussin' & get over it. After the phenomenon that STILL IS Fifty Shades of Grey, more & more Authors are adding some *HOT, STEAMY, FREAKY DEAKY* to their novels, including the New Adult genre... It may not be completely appropriate for younger audiences but at some point they will be exposed to it - whether its in a book, on television, in movies or even in our music. Personally, I think its an element that defines a *New Adult* - because the characters are a represenation of what WE as young adults go through & the choices we make...

Moral of the story? Stop Fussin'... :):)

More Soon My Brats ;)

Tam

xxx