L. Duarte's Blog, page 3

Drowning in Fire by Arielle Caldwell‏ @ArielleCaldwell #spotlight @mybookopolis

  “Drowning in Fire” by Arielle Caldwell Once again, Marya with Strong Image Editing, has done an amazing job with a cover! She had done each one for The Nerita Torlan Trilogy by Arielle. “Drowning in Fire” is book two in the series. The Nerita Torlan Trilogy, Book Two Synopses: Nerita is tortured and put through more pain than she ever imagined could happen. Ahlic has captured her and locked her in a room where there’s no chance of escape on her own. He forces her to watch the murder of a friend. She strikes a deal to try and save lives but Ahlic is not the bargaining type. After escaping, Ahlic forces her to endure a traumatic loss and haunts her in her dreams. More powers emerge from her, shocking everyone and leaving them slightly afraid. While on her own, a witch shows her the future and tells her grave news. A battle rages in her heart; unsure of how to handle the revelation. She seeks Ahlic...but not to destroy him. Feelings she can’t control drive her to insanity and lust. Will Nerita give in and fall for what she’s been trying so hard to destroy? About Arielle: Arielle Caldwell began writing in grade school but never pursued a career in it until early 2012. She started writing poetry in middle school and progressed to books a few years later. She is a proud Cajun from Louisiana but was raised in Pensacola, Florida. Shortly after graduating high school, she joined the US Navy where she met her husband and became the mother of two wonderfully crazy little boys. After separating from the military, she decided to go to college in Texas. A year later, she moved back to Pensacola when offered a job at the naval base as a civilian contractor. She is currently juggling college, work, family, writing, managing her website, Arc Indie Reviews, and being a columnist for APSS, the new Small Publishers of America newsletter. She loves going to the river with her family and friends or to the water park for a few hours. Her Kindle is overflowing with books, she loves rock music the most, and she loves to sing and dance with her children around the house. Her first series, The Nerita Torlan Trilogy, has two books currently released. “Burning in Water” is her debut book, also being book one in the series with “Drowning in Fire” book two, released as well. Book three is “The Awakening” and in the works. “After-Ending” is her dystopian novel that has a planned release of beginning to mid 2014. She resides in Pensacola with her husband, two kids, and their Great Dane, Scooby. Contact Arielle: Facebook: AFCaldwellsBooks Email: Arielle Caldwell Twitter: @ArielleCaldwell Publisher: Nevermore Press
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Jazzy by Quanie Miller @LadyReaderStuff #spotlight #newrelease @QuanieMiller

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Jazzy secretly wants to get back together with her ex boyfriend, Curtis, so when he calls and reveals that he’s got something important to tell her, she’s got no idea that he’s about to propose—to her first cousin and bitter rival, Mercedes.  The annual family dinner is coming up, and fearing that she will spend the evening seething while Mercedes flaunts her four-carat engagement ring in her face, Jazzy asks Reggie, an Adonis she met at the mall, to accompany her. As fate would have it, not only did Reggie and Mercedes used to date; that backstabbing, leopard print wearing cow is still carrying a torch for him! Revenge. It has never been so sweet.  But falling for Reggie? Holy crap! That wasn’t part of the plan! She has enough on her plate as it is with a mother who spies on the neighbors and a sister and best friend with men problems that could land them on Jerry Springer. So when Curtis comes sniffing around again—this time, with an accusation that sends her blood pressure shooting through the roof—the one good nerve that Jazzy’s got left has just about run its course. 

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Quanie Miller grew up in New Iberia, Louisiana. She fell in love with reading at an early age and spent most of her time at the Iberia Parish Library discovering new authors like R.L. Stine and Christopher Pike (she was often found walking back home from the library with a stack of books that went up to her chin). She holds degrees from Louisiana State University and San Jose State University. She has been the recipient of the James Phelan Literary Award, the Louis King Thore Scholarship, the BEA Student Scriptwriting Award, and the Vicki Hudson Emerging Writing Prize. She loves writing humorous stories about strong willed, sassy women who can’t keep themselves out of trouble. She lives in Charleston, South Carolina with her husband and is currently, as always, working on another novel. To find out more about Quanie and her works in progress visit quanietalkswriting.com.

I parked on the street and realized that my palms were sweaty, so I wiped them on the seat and took three deep breaths. When I got out of the car, I tried to remain calm, but by the time, I reached the door, the butterflies in my stomach had turned into bats. I knocked. A few seconds later Curtis answered, and I stood there, shocked. He looked so damn good I had to stop myself from taking a flying leap and wrapping both my legs around his waist. He had a beard (he was always clean-shaven when we were together) and was actually dressed….well….nicely! He was wearing a white button down shirt with khakis instead of those blue jogging pants with the yellow paint stains and the white muscle shirt with the holes in it. And for once, he smelled like he hadn't bought his cologne from some guy in a beanie on a street corner. He even had the nerve to look like he’d been hitting the weight room, which shocked me because the whole time we were together, the only exercise this man got was running from bill collectors. Before I knew it, I felt a tingle in the part of my body that’s off limits to everyone except my gynecologist. Then, I got pissed. How dare he open the door looking like a chocolate wet dream? I, the dragon slayer, did not get slayed. I did the slaying. I regained my composure.“How are you, Curtis? “Fine, Jazzy. You look good.”I wanted to say, “Chile, this girdle is cuttin’ off my circulation like you wouldn't believe.” But instead, I smiled and said, “Thank you. So do you.” We walked inside the beautiful foyer and, as always, the winding staircase took my breath away. I followed Curtis into the living room and immediately noticed that it had been remodeled. The carpet had been replaced with hardwood floors, the walls painted a deep red, thick curtains were draped over heavy rods, an oil painting hung over the mantel piece, and a glass coffee table stood between two full-length leather sofas. I was so busy marveling at the decorating that it took me a while before I noticed the atmosphere in the room: cake, balloons, and all the children doing cartwheels. For a second, I thought I heard some of the kids singing, “Ding dong the wicked witch is dead.” The adults seemed happy (but maybe the cocktails had something to do with that), and no one, except for me, was wearing black. It didn’t seem like a re-pass  It seemed more like a celebration. I said, “They seem to be taking it well.” He shrugged. “I think they’re grieving on the inside. Do you want something to drink?”“Do you have lemonade?” “Yes.”I didn’t want any alcohol. When I got even just a little bit tipsy, for whatever reason, I became a rock star in my head. The last time, at karaoke night at some dive bar, I really got down with my bad self. I ended up on stage singing “Shoop” by Salt-n-Pepa. The next day, to my horror, it ended up on YouTube. For weeks, people walked by me singing that damn song and laughing and pointing at me. It even ended up on the six o’clock news in the segment: “Local woman gets down with her bad self”. I was humiliated (they still play it sometimes in a segment called “Dopey clips you might have missed”). Curtis brought me a glass of lemonade and said, “Let’s go somewhere we can talk.”We went to the sitting room where a huge picture of Grandma Laney and her shotgun looked down at us. Curtis cleared his throat. “As I told you on the phone, there’s something very important I need to talk to you about.”“Okay.” He looked me right in the eyes. “I’ve done a lot of growing since we broke up. I finally know what I want to do with my life, and I’m on my way to financial stability for the very first time. I’ve changed, Jazzy.”“Okay….”“And, well, there’s something I need to ask you.” At this moment, his mother, Ms. Kay, stuck her head in the room. She was a triathlete and had a body like Angela Basset when she’d done What’s Love Got to Do With It. I knew that even in her fifties, I’d be eating her dust in a footrace. She smiled when she saw me and I hopped up to give her a hug. “Ms. Kay! How are you?” “I’m fine. Thanks for coming.” She nodded to Curtis. “Can I see you for a second?” They left the room and I walked around looking at all the pictures of Grandma Laney. She was frowning in every single one. Even in her wedding picture where she wore a long, black dress and scowled with a cigar in one hand. I shuddered, thinking what that honeymoon night must have been like for the poor groom. I sat back down and noticed that underneath a lamp sat a light blue box that looked like it might be carrying a set of earrings. Curious, I opened it and was shocked to discover a diamond engagement ring. I sniffed it. Holy shit, a real diamond! It must have been at least four carats! I sat the box back then stood nonchalantly as I heard Curtis saying something to a relative as he walked back towards the room. When he got back inside he said, “Sorry about that.”“That’s okay. Curtis, what’s this about?” I gasped because it hit me: something to ask me, him looking good enough to eat, and the ring. Sweet Jesus, this man was about to propose! I hopped on a chair and threw my hands in the air. “Wait!” He looked confused. “What?”  “You have to ask me something very important right?”“Right.”“And this could affect both of our lives forever?” “Yes.”Dragon slayer my ass. I was getting married! “Hold that thought.” I hopped off the chair and ran to the bathroom because I wanted to make sure my breath wasn't funky and that I looked as stunning as I did when I had left the house. Who’d have thunk it? Me, getting married! How unexpected! I knew that we shared a bond and that there was something still lingering between us, but I had no idea he was thinking about making me his wife! I was proud of myself. All of that tough love I gave him, telling him he needed to get his finances together, refusing to loan him money, drafting a one year plan so that he could get caught up on his student loans; and now, he was financially stable and wanted to thank the woman who had made it all possible. I got teary eyed thinking about how I almost gave up on him. I checked myself one more time, and when I realized that I wasn't going to get any more stunning, I headed back to the sitting room. I walked over to Curtis and said like a sweet little angel, “Please. Go on.”He took a deep breath. “I just wanted to be the first to tell you that I’m happier than I’ve ever been in my entire life.”   Enough with the small talk, buddy. Gimme the ring already.“And well…” He wiped his forehead. “This is harder than I thought!” I grabbed his hand. “You can tell me anything.” Now stop your yappin’ and give me the damn ring!Suddenly, I heard the clicking of heels on the wooden floor. Curtis looked up at the same time that I did, and there she was. Decked head to toe in a leopard print dress and donning a hat that you would expect someone to wear to the Kentucky Derby. She was cradling her black Chihuahua, Kee-Kee, and dabbing her eyes with a Kleenex. She sobbed. “Oh, Curtis!” It was my cousin, Mercedes (or, as I sometimes liked to call her behind her back, Broke Ass Pinto). When she finally noticed me she turned up her nose. “Oh. It’s you.”“Yes. It’s me. And hello to you too, Daihatsu.”  She sat Kee-Kee down and frowned at me. “Now is not the time for your antics, Jasmine. A woman has died and I will not stoop to your level of commonness. Have you learned nothing since you crawled barefoot out of the bayou and slithered here on your pudgy little belly?”I scoffed. “There is nothing pudgy about my belly. And don’t act like we’re not from the same place just because you have some job doing…oh, never mind. I forgot; your ass ain’t got no job.” She took one of those handheld fans out of her purse (with her picture on it) and fanned herself. “I just so happen to be on sabbatical.”“From what? Finding sugar daddies?” “Just because a man wants to wine and dine me does not mean he’s a sugar daddy. Can I help it that they just so happen to want to take me to five star restaurants while your dating life consists of sitting across from some gold-toothed fool while scarfing down biscuits at Jack in The Box? Don’t hate the player, honey.” “First of all, I have never dated a man with a gold tooth. Except for that one time in high school. And second of all, I happen to love Jack in The Box—especially their biscuits. And third, shouldn't you be somewhere, sleeping upside down in a cave or something?” Kee-Kee became antsy, so Mercedes stooped down and picked her up. Mercedes rubbed noses with her. “Don’t worry. The lady is just being mean to mommy because she’s fat.” Before I could reach over Curtis’ head and grab her by that goofy looking hat (or trip her while she was walking so that she would go sprawling headfirst into a plant), Curtis said to her, “I didn’t expect you until eight.”“Should I leave?” She looked at me with more disdain than normal, and then it hit me; what the hell what she doing there? While Curtis and I dated she wouldn't even acknowledge him as my boyfriend. She called him that poor guy Jazzy put roots on. I said, “What are you even doing here anyway?”“I’m here for Curtis, you moron.”“I mean why. Since when are you two friends?” “Who I’m friends with is none of your business.”Curtis turned to me. “Jazzy, I hadn’t planned on doing this in front of you. But I want to let you know that our relationship is one of the main reasons I had to take a good look in the mirror and say, ‘Curtis, it’s time to grow up.’ And because of you, I was able to find the love of my life, and I just want to say thank you.” He grabbed the blue box and turned to Mercedes. He got on one knee and grabbed her by the hand. “You are the most wonderful woman I’ve ever met and it would make me the happiest man alive if you were my wife. Mercedes, will you marry me?” She tossed poor Kee-Kee (who yelped) onto the sofa and put a hand on her chest. Then, she covered her mouth and shot one hand in the air and screamed, “Yes! Yes! Eat your heart out, Jazzy!” He put the ring on her finger as tears rushed from her eyes. She waved the ring in my face, then ran out of the room holding her hand in the air and screaming, “Suck it, Peacock!”           Slowly, before my blood pressure spiked any further, I said to Curtis, “Is this why you asked me over here?”          “I didn’t plan for it to happen like this; I just wanted to tell you in person before you heard it from anyone else.”           “When did you start seeing Mercedes?”          “Right before we broke up.” He shook his head. “I mean right after.” He said something else, but in my mind, he sounded like Charlie Brown’s teacher. “Jazzy, um, you know, whaa-whaa-whaa-whaa-whaa.” I felt my head nodding even though I wasn’t comprehending a thing he was saying. I think I blacked out because one moment, I’m in the sitting room with my hands wrapped around Curtis’ neck as Mercedes and Ms. Kay tried to pry my fingers loose, and the next moment, Curtis was running down the street, and I was chasing behind him with a heavy, cast iron skillet in my hand. 

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Skipping Stones by J.B. McGee @j_b_mcgee #review #guest #blogger

“But God gives us the people we need in our lives for the amount of time he sees fit.” He puts his arm around my shoulder and walks me back to the car. “We’ll never understand God’s timing.”
They say there are five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.Not everyone will grieve in this order, nor will everyone go through every stage. It’s during the stage of denial when Alex Hart meets Andrew Foster. He takes her one-step closer to acceptance: the stage when new, meaningful relationships are formed. The stage when the realization occurs that this is now the new state of normal.Just when Alex thinks she is on her way to healing, she enters the bargaining phase. That’s the phase where you wonder what you could have done differently. You wonder “what if?” Specifically, what if the ones you loved hadn’t left you?Leaving…this is what makes heading off to war so difficult and frightening for Alex. She knows all too well what it’s like to be the one on the losing end of life, which is why she’s made it her personal mission in life to save as many lives as possible. The extreme high she gets from treating trauma victims turns into Alex’s own form of therapy, or so she thinks.
When faced with her world being turned upside down, Alex may just find that her true therapy is in the one who has always saved her
“I know you probably feel like there’s no color left in this world. Like there’s no light, instead all darkness. But there’s sunshine. There are colorful flowers all around us.”
WHY? It is such a great story. I would say it is a story of not one but two fighters. Alex Hart and Andrew Foster. I was so touched by the words the author used to describe the,. I have a million quotes but I think that is a lot so I narrowed it down to about 15. My fave was: "It’s like God knew I needed him."
It is a story of the worst hurt and pain a person can endure. Alex is amazingly strong. The relationship she has with her Grandparents is worthy a a box of Kleenex.  The journey of love and healing is one that you must read.
How Alex meets Andrew and his reveal, will leave you breathless. When his truth came out I was stunned. It was THAT good.  Like my heart is a soaking wet rag being squeezed dry. This hurts so, so bad.
Go and take the journey and see how Alex shapes her life, love and family. I loved this book and I know you will too. There is such a great message in it, one that I feel is missing in a lot of books.
J.B. McGee was born and raised in Aiken, South Carolina. After graduating from South Aiken High School, she toured Europe as a member of the 1999 International Bands of America Tour, playing the clarinet. While attending Converse College, an all girls school in Spartanburg, South Carolina, she visited Charleston often. It quickly became one of her favorite vacation spots. She met her husband, Chad, during Christmas break her freshman year, and they married in 2001. They moved back to her hometown. In 2005, the couple welcomed their first son, Noah. J.B. finished her Bachelor of Arts degree in Early Childhood Education at the University of South Carolina-Aiken in 2006. During her time studying children's literature, a professor had encouraged her to become a writer.In 2007, she welcomed their second child, Jonah, and she became a stay at home mom/entrepreneur. In 2009, they found out their two children and J.B. have Mitochondrial Disease. In 2011, a diagnosis also was given to Chad. Please take a moment and learn more about Mitochondrial Disease. Awareness is key to this disease that has no cure or treatments.J.B. McGee and her family now reside in Buford, Georgia, to be closer to their children's medical team. After a passion for reading had been re-ignited, J.B. decided to finally give writing a shot.  She is an Amazon Top 100 bestselling author of her debut series, the 'This' Series.Mending, Book Two of the This Series is now available.Conspiring, a 'This' Series Novella. Now AvailableForgiven, the third book of the 'This' Series. Coming May 19, 2013.Falling, a 'This' Series Novella coming Summer 2013.Blinded, the fourth book of the 'This' Series. Coming Fall 2013.The Deeper Series co-authored with J.L. Mac.  Coming 2013Breathe and Count to Three:  A Children's Book Coming 2014Nitro vs. Niko:  For Kids by Kids Coming Soon Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6544571.J_B_McGeewebsite http://www.jbmcgee.comtwitter username @j_b_mcgee
You have 17 highlighted passagesGuilt, maybe? Guilt that if I hadn’t asked to go to the bathroom, then they wouldn’t have felt. Guilt that I wasn’t with them.  location 337 
Like my heart is a soaking wet rag being squeezed dry. This hurts so, so bad.location 547“Well I love you, too. Where did that come from?” I put my hand over my chest. “My heart.”location 754
“I know you probably feel like there’s no color left in this world. Like there’s no light, instead all darkness. But there’s sunshine. There are colorful flowers all around us.”location 998
He’s genuine, caring, and compassionate. It’s like God knew I needed him.
today, but being with her is so much easier. When I’m away from her, she’s all I can think about. If I’m going to be completely whipped, I might as well be whipped with her, rather than away from her.  Mrs. Hart’s face lights up as much as one’s face can shine given what she’s been through. She looks to Mr. Hart. “I think that’s a fine idea.”location 1141“But God gives us the people we need in our lives for the amount of time he sees fit.” He puts his arm around my shoulder and walks me back to the car. “We’ll never understand God’s timing.”location 1466after my parents passed away that God doesn’t give us more than we can handle. I’m still alive, so there must be some truth to that, but sometimes I wonder if he thinks I’m super woman or something.location 1754I’m well versed in grief, and even though my mind knows from a text book that the anger and bargaining is a normal stage of grieving, it’s still hard for me to accept that he’s gone, that my time with him is over. I feel robbed. location 1771remember the times I begged God to bring him back. I swore that if he’d just send him to me again, I’d give him my heart forever. Who am I kidding? I gave him my heart in a month and never got it back. He took it when he left.location 2147Even fifteen years later, I love you. There have been other women, but none that are you.location 2196
“What if we just made each other more in our minds. The whole grass is greener thing.” Stone shakes his head. “Nah.location 2403"Someone wise once told me that when I found a girl who made me want to love her for always and in all ways, I’d found the one.  location 2708
“You’ve always been...so easy to love. I think that’s because you give so freely and easily.”location 2844

Working It by Kendall Ryan @KendallRyan1 #cover #reveal

GoodReads Link:  http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17840487-working-it?from_search=trueOut November 11th Steamilicious book trailer: (1 minute long) http://vimeo.com/75420400 Straight-laced and well-mannered southerner Emmy Clarke is out of her depth in New York City’s fashion world, but when she lands a job as an assistant at a modeling agency it seems like the perfect mix of business and pleasure. Working under the notoriously tyrannical Fiona Stone is a nightmare, but there’s one distinct perk: ogling the ridiculously hot male models who parade through the office—particularly rising star Ben Shaw.
Ben is everything Emmy’s not: exquisitely gorgeous, highly paid, and well-traveled. He’s also got more issues than Vogue. Emmy looks after Ben on photo shoots, but she refuses to become another one of his lusting groupies. Ben finds Emmy’s refreshingly real attitude to be surprisingly attractive.
Against a backdrop of the most fashionable cities in the world, casual flirting turns into an illicit affair, but when Ben’s twisted past is revealed, and the bitter Fiona catches wind of their relationship, their careers and hearts are threatened.

 *My opinion on all things coconut scented was forever changed by this author! I love me some coconut oil, lotion, moisturizer and suntan lotion. Readers will know why.  Kendall Ryan is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the contemporary romance novels HARD TO LOVE, RESISTING HER, UNRAVEL ME and MAKE ME YOURS.She's a sassy, yet polite Midwestern gal with a deep love of books, and a slight addiction to lipgloss! She has a bachelor's degree in marketing, a few too many book boyfriends and two very naughty puppies. ​Twitter    Web    Facebook    Pinterest   Instagram   GoodReads

FIRE IN THE DARKNESS (Darkness Series #2) by Stacey Marie Brown @mybookopolis @S_MarieBrown

Synopsis for FIRE IN THE DARKNESS (Darkness Series #2)It's been four weeks since Ember Brycin witnessed what her powers are capable of. The Electrical Current Storm has turned Seattle, Washington into a natural disaster zone. The death toll is in the thousands with countless others homeless and hungry. And Ember is the one who caused it. Something she will have to live with every day. Those people who were unable to escape either turned quickly into gangs or live in shelters. Ember, on the other hand, can’t do either. With a price on her head and a Dark Dweller on her ass, she is constantly on the move. Both Light and Dark are hunting her for their own purpose to use her as a weapon or a pawn in the war between the Unseelie King of the Dark and the Seelie Queen of the Light. Em needs help but doesn’t know who to trust: Lars, the mystery man Torin told her to find? Torin, the Seelie Queen’s personal knight, who has sworn to keep Em safe? Or Eli, who wants to turn her over to the Unseelie King, but whom she has an undeniable, intense connection with? No matter what she chooses she will probably lose—her life or everything and everyone she lovesAdd Fire in the Darkness to your Goodreads shelf.Fire in the Darkness can be pruchased at Amazon.com BIOStacey Marie Brown works by day as an Interior/Set Designer and by night a writer of paranormal fantasy, adventure, and literary fiction. When she’s not writing, she’s out hiking, spending time with friends, traveling, listening to music, or designing.  Author Contact Links:My site ~ FaceBook Author Page ~ FaceBook Book Page ~ Goodreads ~ Amazon ~ Twitter ~Pinterest ~ Google+a Rafflecopter giveaway  

I am Yours by Faith Sullivan @_FaithSullivan_ #newrelease

Title: I Am Yours (Heartbeat, #3)
Author: Faith Sullivan
Expected release date: October 8, 2013
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: New Adult
Ebook available at: Kindle | Nook | Smashwords ($2.99) 





Book Description:

Book 3 in the HEARTBEAT series

Adam is at a crossroads.

He has Katie on his mind and Jada in his bed.

Now with the ultimate choice before him, he must decide between fantasy and reality.

Katie's his dream girl, but Jada's his best friend, his partner. As a paramedic, he's supposed to save lives, not wreck them. Yet his failure to commit leaves a trail of heartache in his wake.

Things come to a head at his brother's wedding when a surprise announcement leaves Adam scrambling to pick up the pieces. Sure, women find his shaggy blond hair and aquamarine eyes irresistible. But to him, sex is nothing more than a means of escape ... until it turns into a psychological trap.

His mind is telling him one thing, while his heart is beating another. He's not sure what he wants when it comes to a serious relationship. Sorting out his feelings, he finally comes to a startling realization. He is capable of love.

But what if it's too late?


Excerpt:

His shaggy hair is falling in his eyes as water drips from the ends. The buttons of his shirt are undone and droplets cling to his bare chest. His lips are parted and his blue eyes radiate a mixture of elation and desire. He knows that he’s trespassing where he doesn’t belong, but he doesn’t feel the need to ask anyone’s permission to enter my bedroom either.

I tilt my head and gaze up at him, my hair tumbling over my shoulder. He advances toward me, looking somewhat guilty, bordering on apologetic. He realizes he shouldn’t be here, but he is. And I don’t want him to leave. I like the danger of having him so close.

He blinks and raindrops fall from his eyelashes before running down his face. And that’s all it takes for the sheer happiness of the moment to light up my face. I rush toward him as he greets my smile with one of his own. Its sincerity warms my heart as he looks at me like he’s just completed the longest journey of his life, filled with relief at finally reaching his destination. He’s come home. He’s where he’s supposed to be. And if I’m being honest with myself, I feel like I’ve been waiting for him all along.

The force pulling me to him is too strong to ignore. I don’t fight it. I give into it. I let it take me over. I stride up to him, reaching up on my toes, my fingers dancing across his neck as I take his lips with mine. Pressing myself into him, the front of my white t-shirt is soaked instantly. But instead of experiencing any kind of chill, I feel like I’m burning up.

The kiss is gentle this time, lasting only a few seconds before he draws me into a hug, laying his sopping head against my shoulder while wrapping his arms around my waist, drawing me as close as he possibly can to his body. He winces when I squeeze him back tightly, causing him to loosen his grip on me and step away. I reach up one hand at a time to examine his face as he tries to look down, refusing to meet my gaze. Finally, he gives me a mournful smile as I persist. Silencing my worries, he runs a hand lightly across my face before bringing me in for another kiss. He’s so careful with me, so tender. He breaks away to smile at me again, a look of wonderment in his eyes, before resuming our kiss.

Slowly releasing my lips, I allow my hands to roam down his chest as I start to tug on his shirt. He complies with my request, but he seems to be in pain as I help remove the sleeves from his arms. I glance up at him in concern, and he whispers, “My ribs. They were broken not too long ago. I don’t think they ever fully healed.”

He hangs his wet shirt on the bedpost as I run my hand gently over his chiseled abs. He bends his head to the side, closing his eyes. He doesn’t open them as I glide my fingers over the scar on his forehead, where undoubtedly he had stitches at one time. My heart contracts as I ponder what happened to him. He submits to my touch, moving his head along the path of my fingertips, yielding to my efforts to examine him. He doesn’t resist, but I can sense he doesn’t want me to linger on his injuries either.

His hair appears darker now that it’s wet, and I can’t help twisting my fingers through the strands at the back of his neck as he rests his forehead against mine. He’s so close to me. All I can see are his eyes. He leans back, pushing my hair away from my face. The way he is looking at me is like he’s taking in every part of me. It’s hard for him to keep his lips off mine as he brushes a featherweight kiss across them. It feels so intense. I have to look down for a minute.

When I’m ready to meet his eyes again, his hands travel up my sides, encouraging me to lift my arms. I do so, and within seconds, his fingers are at the hem of my shirt, pulling it up and over my head in one swift movement. I help him free my long hair from inside the collar, reaching behind me to hold it up, trying not to think about my bare breasts being visible. He drinks in every inch of me, and that smile is back on his face as his hands caress my back. This time, it’s Adam who lifts my hair away, entwining it through his fingers while resting his chin on my shoulder, allowing his free hand to roam the full expanse of my back from shoulder to hip. I slide my arms around his lean, muscular body as he buries his face against my neck. When he stands upright again, he nuzzles my ear as I extend a trail of kisses along his jaw. He sighs in contentment as his stubble bristles against my lips.

Books in this trilogy: (linked to Goodreads)


About the Author:
Faith Sullivan is an author of New Adult contemporary romances including the HEARTBEAT trilogy, the TAKE ME NOW series and the 9/11 novel, UNEXPECTED.
Where to find Faith Sullivan:

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway
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Goodreads Book Giveaway Heartbeat by Faith Sullivan Giveaway ends November 15, 2013.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads. Enter to win

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Goodreads Book Giveaway Come What May by Faith Sullivan Giveaway ends November 15, 2013.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads. Enter to win

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Goodreads Book Giveaway I Am Yours by Faith Sullivan Giveaway ends November 15, 2013.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads. Enter to win

Crash and Burn by Chelsea CamaronMy rating: 5 of 5 stars ...

Crash and Burn by Chelsea Camaron
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

“Life goes on even when we don’t want it to.”
I absolutely LOVED this book. It is the journey of Dina surviving the loss of her parents, and living through the horrors of domestic violence. This book is raw and beautiful. Dina’s story took me to a dark place that lurks inside the soul, but I ignore because it hurts to go there. It is a masterful depiction of an abusive relationship.
“Hell. Hell is the place you are supposed to fear. Live your life in the right way so you don’t burn in hell. What happens when your hell is lived daily on Earth?
I am in hell. I’m worthless, I’m broken, and I don’t even know the woman staring back at me in the mirror.”
Camaron’s writing is clear and smooth as she skillfully walks the reader through traumatic scenes. She shows the process of breaking someone, one subtle word at a time, until it builds up and cuts deep into the soul. When Michael hit Dina, I could hear her bones cracking. When Michael spoke cruel words, I could see the scars forming in her soul.
Wow, this book had me at the edge of my seat. It had me feeling angry, and paralyzed. It had me crying, laughing, and pondering on how easily we can fall into the unseen pits of life. This story will stay with me for a long time.
A MUST read!!!
Five Burning Stars!


View all my reviews

Cowboy Town (Down Under Cowboys #1) by Kasey Millstead @kaseymillstead

Ever since her parents passed away in a tragic car accident, Eden Cross has been living a quiet, stable and predictable life in inner Sydney – the total opposite of her carefree, relaxed, happy-go-lucky past. Her parents passing and the fact she’s an only child meant Eden was left with her best friend, Jules and Matt, her boyfriend of three years as her only family. That was until she discovered something about Matt that would turn her life upside down. Eden leaves Sydney in a hurry and begins an adventure that takes her across four Australian states before she lands in Pine Creek, Northern Territory. Jackson Henley has lived in Pine Creek his entire life. He runs a massive cattle and cropping station with his twin brother, Jeremy, which they inherited when their parents retired. He’s had a bad experience with relationships courtesy of The Bitch - Dannika, so lately he’s preferred to play the field. That is, until he comes face to face with the stunning brunette beauty who’s behind the bar at the Cow and Calf. The problem is, she won’t tell him her name, she won’t give him the time of day, and she won’t give him a chance to prove himself. 
What’s it going to take for Eden to give Jackson a chance? Does he have the patience to even bother fighting for her? How will he handle the competition?

In the end, will Jackson have what it takes to convince Eden to start living again, instead of just existing? 

The author:

I'm a married mum of 4. I live in the Great Southern Land aka Down Under aka Australia. I like reading and writing (obviously), drinking with my girls, baking, scrapbooking and dancing (again with my girls)

LIKE me on Facebook - facebook.com/authorkaseymillstead

FOLLOW me on Twitter @kaseymillstead

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#Sale Restore My Heart by Chelsea Camaron Book 1 of the Daddy’s Girls series @chelseacamaron #99cents

Blurb
Bad Boy, Ryder Davenport comes into Dina Fowlers life in the middle of her own personal hell. Still coming to terms with the death of her parents, she pushes everyone away. When she trusts the wrong man, putting her in a bad relationship she felt she couldn’t escape, Ryder comes along. Enjoying his play boy ways, fast cars, motorcycles and a new woman in his bed nightly, Ryder had no thoughts of settling down. That is, until he sees the damage a man can do when he meets a very broken Dina. He changes in hopes of one day being enough for her.       But, can she ever feel safe with a man again? Ryder has restored hundreds of classic cars can he restore Dina’s heart?About the AuthorChelsea Camaron was born and raised in Coastal North Carolina. She currently resides in Southern Louisiana with her husband and two children but her heart is always Carolina day dreaming. Chelsea always wanted to be a writer, but like most of us, let fear of the unknown grab a hold of her dream; she realized that if she was going to tell her daughter to go for her dreams, that it was time to follow her own advice. Chelsea grew up turning wrenches alongside her father, and from that grew her love for old muscle cars and Harley Davidson motorcycles, which just so happened to inspired her ‘Daddy’s Girls’ series. Her love for reading has sparked a new love for writing and she currently has a few more projects in the works. When she is not spending her days writing you can find her playing with her kids, attending car shows, going on motorcycle rides on the back of her husband’s Harley, snuggling down with her new favorite book or watching any movie that Vin Diesel might happen to be in. She hates being serious and is still a big kid at heart. She is a small town country girl enjoying life and, Chelsea hopes that her readers remember not to take life too seriously and to embrace your inner five year old, because five year olds know how to enjoy the simple things in life and how to always have fun.
Connections
Email  chelseacamaron@gmail.com Twitter @chelseacamaronFacebook Website Goodreads Amazon


              

Restore My Heart by Chelsea Camaron Book 1 of the Daddy’s Girls series @chelseacamaron #excerpts

Excerpt #2  Chapter 5 Dina It’s another night with very little sleep, with too many hot dreams about a certain man. I decide to head to the gym early.  I arrive around 5am and immediately hit the tread climber. I put my earphones in and my iPod on loud.  Time to get lost in a good workout.The gym is jam packed this morning, which normally feeds my insecurities, but not today. I am just consumed in my workout. An hour later, I am feeling motivated and sweaty.My phone starts ringing, and I see its Maggie calling.  She needs a ride to work this morning.  That’s my cue; my workout is over. I step off the tread climber wiping my face with my towel. I turn around and directly hit a very hard, sweaty chest.As I look before me, I see the waistband of black baggy basketball gym shorts, hanging low on his hips; showing a bit of that trail of dark hair that leads to pleasures of all kinds. I see this set of rock hard abs, which should be illegal to be on display.  Before I have time to take in all the tattoos along his ribs, arms, pecks, and shoulders, I hear the all too familiar voice of Ryder."Well, good morning Sunshine!  Tsk! Tsk!  Even at the gym you are gorgeous and brighten my day." He starts to walk away, but instinctively I reach out and grab his completely toned arm. This man spends some serious time at the gym perfecting his body. "Ryder, I just want to say thank you for checking on me Sunday night. I hope I didn't ruin your evening with the red head, by boring you with my drunken ramblings."He laughs, "No need to thank me, and nothing about you ever bores me. I enjoy your company, even the drunken ramblings. And, Valerie, the red head, is just a friend who needed a ride home."We both stand there silently for what seems like forever, when I finally stammer, "Well I appreciated the company.  So, to say thank you, how about dinner?"Before I can stutter my way back out of the invitation, he leans over, kisses my forehead and says, "Great I will pick you up at 7pm tonight, wear jeans and boots."And with that he walks off, leaving me breathless; while my inner diva is doing her happy dance.I shower and change, ready to start my Friday. I arrive at the office, only to realize I totally forgot to pick up Mags.She gets in the car laughing at me, "Ok Dina, what gives? You are never this distracted."Grinning from ear to ear I give her the play by play of my morning.She squeals in delight as she adds, "In that case, can I borrow your car for the Delany dinner party tonight since you won't be attending with me?" Oh my!  I totally forgot about work, "Do you need me there? I wasn't thinking, I can cancel my plans with Ryder."
She nudges me as she protests, “Hell no!  Girl, you will go tonight.  I have work all covered, I just need a car.  Brayden needs mine.”I don't question why, even though I was curious as to why Brayden isn't driving his 1970 Dodge Charger. The day passes quickly and before I know it, Mags is pushing me out the office door and dropping me at home.I dress in jeans, a charcoal gray V-neck shirt, and my favorite, no heel black knee high boots.  Just as I’m putting on a pair of plain diamond studded earrings, a gift from my father, I hear the distinct rumble of a Harley Davidson motorcycle approaching.I smile at recognizing the engine sound. A few moments later, my doorbell rings, I open it to face Ryder in a pair of jeans, a snug navy blue t-shirt, and black boots.He smiles a half smile, kisses my forehead as he says, "You look amazing."All I manage to stutter is, "You have a Harley Davidson Night Train?  Wow."He looks at the bike, then replies, "If you don't want to ride, we can take your car. Mags said you used to drive a sportster.  So I, ummm, thought.....well anyway we can take your car." Without thinking, I grab him off my porch and into my living room, where I leave him as I dart through the kitchen, and into my garage. I come back to him, helmet in hand, and smiling my biggest smile.He's standing there as I braid my hair, "Ryder, I haven't been on a bike since the last time I drove mine on a poker run with my dad and his friends. I would love to ride with you.  Let’s go!" He grabs my helmet and helps me lock up.




About the AuthorChelsea Camaron was born and raised in Coastal North Carolina. She currently resides in Southern Louisiana with her husband and two children but her heart is always Carolina day dreaming. Chelsea always wanted to be a writer, but like most of us, let fear of the unknown grab a hold of her dream; she realized that if she was going to tell her daughter to go for her dreams, that it was time to follow her own advice. Chelsea grew up turning wrenches alongside her father, and from that grew her love for old muscle cars and Harley Davidson motorcycles, which just so happened to inspired her ‘Daddy’s Girls’ series. Her love for reading has sparked a new love for writing and she currently has a few more projects in the works. When she is not spending her days writing you can find her playing with her kids, attending car shows, going on motorcycle rides on the back of her husband’s Harley, snuggling down with her new favorite book or watching any movie that Vin Diesel might happen to be in. She hates being serious and is still a big kid at heart. She is a small town country girl enjoying life and, Chelsea hopes that her readers remember not to take life too seriously and to embrace your inner five year old, because five year olds know how to enjoy the simple things in life and how to always have fun.
ConnectionsEmail chelseacamaron@gmail.comTwitter @chelseacamaronFacebook Website Goodreads Amazon