Sorcha O'Dowd's Blog, page 16
May 20, 2015
Book Review ~ ‘The Jade Lioness’ by Christina Courtenay.
The Jade Lioness by Christina Courtenay.
(Kumashiro Saga #3)
Genres: Historical Romance
Release Date: May 15th 2015.
SYNOPSIS
Can an impossible love become possible?
Nagasaki, 1648
Temperance Marston longs to escape war-torn England and explore the exotic empire of Japan. When offered the chance to accompany her cousin and Captain Noordholt on a trading expedition to Nagasaki, she jumps at the opportunity. However, she soon finds the country’s strict laws for foreigners curtail her freedom.
On a dangerous and foolhardy venture she meets Kazuo, a ronin. Kazuo is fascinated by her blonde hair and blue eyes, but he has a mission to complete and he cannot be distracted. Long ago, his father was accused of a crime he didn’t commit – stealing a valuable jade lioness ornament from the Shogun – and Kazuo must restore his family’s honour.
But when Temperance is kidnapped and sold as a concubine, he has to make a decision – can he save her and keep the promise he made to his father?
Book Review ~ ‘The Jade Lioness’ by Christina Courtenay ~ 5 Stars!
When I realised that ‘The Jade Lioness’ was another book in the ‘Kumashiro Saga’ I squealed with anticipation. This series by Christina Courtenay is what made me discover my love for Japan!
Temperance was a character that I really connected to in ‘The Gilded Fan’ so I was excited to see the rest of her story. It was enlightening to her change from a young girl who was held back by her family’s strong religious beliefs, to becoming a woman who craves adventure and is romantic to the bone. Her relationship with Midori and Nikko was such a joy to read, as they were such special characters to me in the previous book.
I loved the pace of this story, and how she meets Kazuo early on in the novel, but it takes a while for them to find each other again after she is kidnapped. In every step of her journey, Christina Courtenay describes the scenery, objects, and way of life of 1600s Japan, which makes you feel as though you are living the story, and not just reading it. From Temi’s experiences in the brothel to her adventures across land with Kazuo, you can just feel yourself there with her.
Along with some brilliantly crafted secondary characters, and the storyline of the mystery of the Jade Lioness, Christina Courtenay has delivered a fantastic addition to the ‘Kumashiro Saga’ which is definitely not to be missed.
GORGEOUS! 5 Stars!
*Review copy was kindly provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
~ Facebook ~ Goodreads ~ Twitter ~ Website ~
Book Blitz ~ ‘A Question of Counsel’ by Archer Kay Leah.
A Question of Counsel by Archer Kay Leah
Publication date: May 27th 2015
Genres: Adult, Fantasy
SYNOPSIS
Life hasn’t been easy for Aeley since she arrested her brother, and her role as a political leader leaves her feeling isolated and lonely. Days before her brother’s trial, she meets Lira, a quiet and modest scribe who makes Aeley want more than just a professional relationship.
When she attends the trial and leaves with a marriage contract, Aeley doesn’t know what to do. She must choose one of two brothers, marrying into a family she doesn’t know. Then she discovers that Lira is part of the same family–a sister to Aeley’s suitors and the family’s disgrace. And not at all opposed to an intimate relationship.
Except random acts of violence against her people test Aeley’s ability as a leader, and a web of lies and deceit threaten not only her chance at happiness, but her life…
The dreams. By the Four, the dreams. Please don’t make me babble about them. We can’t get into it.
Waiting for the carriage, Aeley watched Lira fan her hair around her shoulders and tug on her shawl. Though it was a cool autumn morning, not all of Aeley’s shivers were due to the breeze. The meeting with Vant inspired her dreams to twist around her desires. Instead of focusing on Allon and her anger, the images revolved around Lira and an intimacy that Aeley could not ignore. She refused to mention the dreams to anyone, including Mayr. He would taunt her without mercy if he knew of her attraction to Lira. It was bad enough she’d woken in a sweat more than once. For certain, she could say nothing to Lira. Anything else would make the ride awkward.
“There it is,” Mayr said.
Aeley turned when he raised his arm, his tattoos and scars hidden by his long sleeve and leather brace. Drawn by two grey horses, the small, closed carriage slowed before them. Mayr opened the door and gestured for them to enter. Lira obeyed without hesitation, climbing the small steps and sliding across the black cushions.
“After you.” Mayr’s hand slid across Aeley’s back and gave her a gentle push towards the steps.
“No, after you. No need to be formal. It’s a meeting, not a ball,” Aeley argued, digging her boot into the dirt.
“That’s fine, but I’m still not getting in.”
“What?”
“I’m sitting up front with the driver.”
“Why? It’s not like she’s going to bite—”
Mayr rolled his eyes. “I know that.” Turning into her, he lowered his voice. “I’m giving you the chance to bite her.”
Aeley caught herself before she fell back. “What?” What was the proper response? Slap him? Stare like a mortified idiot?
With a sigh, Mayr leaned closer and murmured his words. “I’ve been watching you. Something’s going on. Should’ve seen your face when she walked in on breakfast. Stared at her like any guy would. Nervous, fidgety. Not at all like you.”
“That’s not—I’m not—she’s just—” Aeley bit her tongue and twisted her heel. How could he call her bluff when she did not understand it herself? Her face warmed, the rest of her body feeling hot under her light cloak. If he noticed, had Lira noticed, too? Oh, by the Blessed Four… this could be a long ride if she did.
“If you like her, you like her. Either way, I’m not getting in for the same reason I wouldn’t let you bring the gaffa nectar. This is a perfect chance, so don’t be stupid.” Mayr stepped back. “Now get in.”
~ Amazon UK ~ Amazon US ~ B&N ~ Kobo ~ Smashwords ~
Archer Kay Leah
Archer Kay Leah was raised in Ontario, Canada, growing up in a port town at a time when it was starting to become more diverse, both visibly and vocally. Combined with the variety of interests found in Archer’s family and the never-ending need to be creative, it has been this diversity that has inspired Archer’s love of toying with characters and their relationships, exploring new experiences and crazy situations.
Archer started writing stories at age six and became “that kid” with their nose in the books and a pen in their hand, pursuing the challenges of writing novels at age thirteen and conquering the dread of poetry at fifteen. Archer most enjoys writing speculative fiction and is engaged in a very particular love affair with fantasy, especially when it is dark and emotionally charged.
When not reading and writing for work or play, Archer is a geek who has too many hobbies, keeping busy with other creative endeavors, a music addiction, and whatever else comes along, especially if it is in technological form. Archer lives in London, Ontario with a same-sex partner and their cat.
~ Facebook ~ Goodreads ~ Twitter ~ Website ~
Book Blitz ~ ‘In The Beginning There Was Us’ by Ingrid Jonach.
In The Beginning There Was Us
Author: Ingrid Jonach
Date of Publication: April 28, 2015
SYNOPSIS
What would you do if you were God? If you had the power to not only give life, but take it away in the blink of an eye? These are the questions that haunt fifteen-year-old Abbey Baxter after she resurrects a boy, long lost to the ages.
The achingly beautiful and eternally melancholy Cole not only serves as a welcome distraction from her long-time crush, Elwin, but also eases the heartache that persists since the sudden passing of her younger brother, Junior, four years earlier.
As the intrigue of her relationship with Cole deepens, so too does the mystery that surrounds a growing phenomenon sweeping through her small West Virginian town, transforming the lives of its residents. Around her, two bedroom cottages are transforming into mansions without explanation and residents are waking up to bank balances that have tripled overnight, all under the watchful gaze of the sinister American Laboratory for Particle Physics, located on the outskirts of town.
As Abbey searches for answers in a bid to solve the mystery in partnership with Elwin, she’s forced into a realization that that some things are better left buried, including her newfound love, Cole.
This cautionary tale of heartache and obsession explores the endless possibilities of the universe and its devastating impact on two young lovers from different worlds.
In The Beginning There Was Us
by Ingrid Jonach
Chapter One
I WAKE TO the sound of sirens and a bedroom lit up, as if by fireworks on the Fourth of July.
I blink owlishly at the ceiling for a moment or two, before I throw back the covers and crawl across my bed to peer through my window at the blue and red flashing lights of a police car and a fire engine. They’re followed moments later by an ambulance and two more police cars.
The five vehicles careen around the corner, like clown cars off to throw confetti on a fake fire, and I realize that they’re headed in the direction of the Lab.
The American Laboratory for Particle Physics—as it’s officially called—is located on the outskirts of our small town and employs at least a third of the population, including my dad.
The Lab has also put our town on the map as the least visited town in the country, unless you count the protesters that camp on the outskirts of Albert Falls. No one else wants to be within a hundred mile radius of the largest particle accelerator in the United States.
I watch through my window as the surrounding houses light up one by one, like fireflies at dusk. It’s more like dawn though. I glance over at the digital clock that sits on my chest of drawers. Yep. 3.46am.
I open the sash and a warm breeze ruffles my curtains as I strain to hear the now distant sirens, which intermingle with the sound of screen doors slamming and neighbors yelling at barking dogs.
I’m suddenly blinded by the bedroom light above my head.
“Pack your bags, Abbey.”
“What?” I ask, turning and rubbing one of my eyes with the heel of my hand.
“Now,” my dad says. I hear his shoes clomp down the hallway and it registers that he’s already dressed.
I remember to place my right foot on the floorboards before my left as I climb out of bed. I may as well go back to bed and pull the covers over my head if I start the day on the wrong foot—so to speak.
It’s just one of many symptoms of my Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, which my best friend Mali Kendrick had helpfully diagnosed via Google three years ago.
I have a couple of other rituals—including one for walking through doorways and another for putting on seatbelts.
There are others that I make up on the spot. For example, deciding that if I close my eyes for two minutes and thirty seconds I’ll pass an exam, or if I hold my breath through a television commercial my mom won’t need her medication anymore.
I rummage through my wardrobe for my overnight bag and start filling it, not knowing how many pairs of underwear to pack, or whether I need to take my swimsuit.
I shake my head as I stuff it back into my drawer. This isn’t a holiday. It’s an evacuation, I remind myself and the hairs on the back of my neck prickle at the realization.
We’ve been through the drill a thousand times at school. We’re supposed to pack clothes and toiletries only and then await further instruction from the authorities.
Like everyone else in town, we already have a container of food and water stored in the trunk of our station wagon. No one’s supposed to take valuables like jewelry, or non-essential items like photographs and pets. A few kids had cried when we were told about the policy on pets, but they’re not permitted at the shelter in Charleston. Yep. Charleston. They may as well evacuate us to the Lab.
My ears pick up the sound of a public announcement and I rush to my window again.
“—in your homes,” a recorded voice is saying through a megaphone mounted to the top of a black sedan emblazoned with the acronym A.L.P.P. “I repeat: stay in your homes. Albert Falls is currently in lockdown by order of the United States Government. You are ordered to stay in your homes. I repeat—”
“Hurry up, Abbey.”
I turn to see my dad standing in the doorway again. “I think we’re supposed to stay indoors,” I tell him, gesturing to the window.
“You have two minutes,” he says dismissively and I can only assume that the lockdown doesn’t apply to employees of the Lab.
“We have to get Mali and Elwin,” I say, as I realize that my best friend and her brother aren’t in that category.
My dad grimaces and shakes his head. “Sorry.”
My forehead creases. “What’s going on, Dad?”
He hesitates and I wonder whether I need to remind him that I’m not a kid anymore, even though I do occasionally sleep with a nightlight.
“There was an accident at the Lab,” he finally confirms.
My stomach flip-flops. It looks like the protestors will soon be saying I-told-you-so—if anyone actually lives to tell the tale.
The Lab’s been experimenting with the God Particle, despite a ban by the United Nations.
I know about the God Particle and its role in the European Apocalypse from Middle School. It’s part of the school curriculum, just like the three World Wars. It had wiped out Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and half of Italy, France, Germany and Austria—and now maybe Albert Falls.
I grab my cell from my side table. “I’ll just call Mali and—”
“No,” my dad says sternly, confiscating my cell.
My chin wobbles as I think about the news articles I’ve studied from the European Apocalypse: Two hundred million dead!; Half of Europe wiped-out!; and Worse than World War III!
“But—” I start and then burst into tears.
My dad holds out his arms, like a ground controller guiding a taxiing airplane. “Come here, Abbey,” he says, his tone softening as he draws me into his chest.
He strokes my hair and suddenly I’m eight years old again instead of fifteen, curled up on the couch next to him as we watch back-to-back episodes of Star Trek. “This isn’t like the European Apocalypse,” he reassures me. “Your friends will be OK.”
I sniffle into his shirt. “Promise?”
“I swear on the Principia,” he says solemnly and I have to smile at his equivalent of the Bible. He squeezes my shoulders. “OK?”
“OK,” I confirm. I grab a tissue from the box beside my bed and wipe my nose.
“Honey?” My dad tilts his head towards my half-filled bag.
They may not be clothes or toiletries, but I shove my sketchbook and pencils into my bag anyway, before I zip it up and follow my dad into the hallway.
I deliberately turn sideways as I cross the threshold. It’s my ritual for walking through doorways, even though Mali says it makes me look like a crab.
My mom’s waiting in the station wagon. Her expression’s blank as I climb into the back seat and I know it’s thanks to a mixture of anti-depressants and sleeping pills.
I click my seatbelt into the clasp five times to ward off a car accident, but there’s no traffic at all as we drive down the street. Maybe we’re supposed to be in lockdown after all, I think, suddenly worried we’ll be arrested.
My dad had come close to being arrested two years ago for running a stop sign in Main Street. The police officer had told him he was lucky to be given a fine and traffic school, but my dad had complained that everyone else got off with a warning.
He knows he’s not everyone else though. My dad’s been in four minor accidents and one major accident that I can recall and has received countless traffic infringements—one for parking too close to a curb and another for not using a blinker. He says it’s just his luck.
I turn as I hear another siren, straining against my seatbelt to look through the rear window as—sure enough—we’re pulled over by a police car. The flashing lights fill the interior as my dad waits for the officer to approach his window.
I sit as still as a statue as the officer shines a flashlight into the station wagon, blinding each of us in turn. I catch a glimpse of red curly hair tied into a low ponytail and a strong jaw, but I don’t recognize the woman and guess that she’s been called in from Charleston.
“You were asked to stay in your homes,” she says sternly. “You’re currently committing a federal offense.”
I’m convinced she’s going to haul my dad out of his seat and put him in handcuffs, before she arrests my mom and I as well.
My dad lowers the hand that’s shielding his eyes from the beam of the flashlight. “My name’s Richard Baxter,” he says slowly, as if he’s announcing that he’s the President of the United States.
The officer hesitates. “I need to see your license and registration, Mr Baxter.”
My dad hands over the documents and the officer looks over them carefully. She tells us to wait in the station wagon while she contacts the station—the crackle of her radio cutting through the night.
I twiddle my thumbs as we wait, deciding that if I stop we’ll all end up in jail. The joints start to ache after a couple of minutes, but it’s worth it when we’re finally given the OK and escorted through Albert Falls.
I peer through my window as we pass a pick-up truck that’s been pulled over by another police officer. I recognize the driver as Bill Upton. He works at Albert Falls Coke & Co., which is the main employer in town.
I watch as he climbs out of his truck and points a finger at the officer. Uh-oh. The officer grabs his arm and twists it behind his back, pushing him face first against the hood as he puts him in handcuffs.
Mrs Upton’s shouting at the officer through the passenger window as their young son cries in the backseat. I think his name’s Jeremy.
“Dad…” I start, but I’m suddenly sidetracked by what looks like soldiers marching down the street. “Is that the National Guard?” I ask incredulously.
My dad slows down and I realize we’ve reached the checkpoint.
The Lab had established the checkpoint a couple of years ago after they erected a ten-foot hurricane fence around the town to keep out the protesters—at least, to keep out the protestors not already living in Albert Falls.
There’d been a petition from residents, who’d complained it was like living in a prison and thousands had marched through the streets waving placards, but the council had sided with the Lab.
I see that the usual security guards at the checkpoint have been replaced by soldiers with assault rifles and a tank tonight. Yep. A tank—painted in camouflage, as if we’re in the jungles of Borneo instead of West Virginia.
A car in front of us is being turned around, but we’re waved through after a conversation between the police officer and a soldier wearing a bulletproof vest.
My dad gives them a wave as we pass though the boomgate and within a couple of minutes, we’re on the interstate headed for Charleston.
At least, I think we’re headed for Charleston. I can scarcely believe it when I find out we’re actually going to New York.
Thirty minutes into our road trip, I realize that I’m trembling like an aspen leaf.
I lower the window and breath in the summer air, scented by the wildflowers and pine trees that cover the steep mountains of West Virginia. When I continue to shiver, despite the warmth, I realize I’m not cold. I’m in shock.
I pull my cell from my overnight bag and dial my best friend with shaking fingers. It goes to voicemail. I dial three more times with no luck.
My stomach starts to somersault and I decide to dial one last time. Then there’ll be five missed calls on her cell instead of four—and five’s my lucky number.
I leave a voicemail this time, asking if she’s OK and letting her know that we’re on our way to New York.
When I ask, my dad tells me that what’s happening in Albert Falls is “classified under the National Security Act.”
The 1947 Act had been updated after the European Apocalypse. It’s the reason my dad’s never participated in Take your Kids to Work Day or been able to talk to my class for Show and Tell. It basically overrules anything and everything—including the Constitution.
I give up asking for details about the accident at the Lab somewhere between the Wyoming Valley and the Endless Mountains.
It’s close to noon by the time we reach New York.
I turn on the television as soon as we get to the hotel and flick through the channels until I see footage of Albert Falls—or at least, of the hurricane fence surrounding Albert Falls.
I lower the volume in case my dad hears from the neighboring room.
It looks like the Secretary of Homeland Security had held a press conference in Washington DC a couple of hours ago on what he called “the situation in West Virginia.”
I watch as he explains on the pre-recorded footage that there’s been an accident involving the particle accelerator in Albert Falls and that the Government’s initiated the National Response Framework, which means the situation’s being managed on the ground by the Lab with assistance from the National Guard.
He’s not able to say what the situation is though, because it’s “classified under the National Security Act.” Ugh.
The Secretary then introduces the CEO of the Lab, Edward Rooney. I watch him adjust his black tie as he steps up to the podium and recall that the last time I’d seen him he had ketchup down the front of his polo shirt from a hot dog.
It’s been a few years since my parents have hosted a cook out though and I notice his sideburns have turned silver in the meantime. He’s wearing a crumpled dress shirt that makes his skin look sallow and his eyes are bloodshot with dark circles underneath—most likely the result of his early morning wake-up call, courtesy of the Lab.
Rooney tells the media that the situation’s been contained to Albert Falls. “The town’s currently in lockdown,” he says, “which means no one will go in or out until we establish that there’s no risk to the rest of America.”
I wonder whether they’ll be told that the lockdown doesn’t apply to employees of the Lab.
“Are we talking about another European Apocalypse?” a reporter calls out.
“Technically, it would be an American Apocalypse,” Rooney says and then coughs when he realizes that his joke’s fallen flat. “That’s classified under the National Security Act,” he says formally.
He repeats the same response to the next three questions, but I breathe a sigh of relief when he at least confirms that there have been no fatalities in Albert Falls.
The press conference finally fizzles out after another five questions succumb to the National Security Act.
I remain glued to the television over the next twenty-four hours. The news coverage focuses mainly on the heavy-handed tactics utilized by the National Guard, which have included tear gas and rubber bullets.
CNN keeps showing cell footage of a riot at the checkpoint, which ends when the soldiers roll out the tank. I spot a couple of familiar faces in the grainy footage, but thankfully not my best friend or Elwin.
There’s no criticism of the lockdown itself by the media though. Not even CNN wants to risk another European Apocalypse.
“They jammed all of the phone towers,” Mali explains when I finally get through to her three days later. “The internet’s been down and they closed the checkpoint out of Albert Falls. They also banned gatherings of more than three people because they thought we were going to riot again. Talk about boring with a capital B.”
“But are you OK?” I ask anxiously.
“Fine,” she says. “Just be thankful you’re in New York.”
“I guess Albert Falls is like a ghost town without the employees of the Lab.”
“Huh?”
I repeat myself.
“Everyone’s in lockdown, Abbey,” Mali says slowly, as if I’ve been asleep for the past four days. “Your family’s the only one they let out of Albert Falls.”
“What?” It’s my turn to sound surprised. “Why?”
I imagine her shrugging on the other end of the call. “Apparently your dad’s a big shot at the Lab.”
“Really?” I ask, remembering him announcing his name to the police officer, as if it meant something. “Then why would they let him come to New York? You’d think they’d need him at the Lab.”
“They probably want him to survive the Albert Falls Apocalypse,” Mali says dryly.
~ Amazon ~ Smashwords ~
Ingrid Jonach
Ingrid Jonach writes books for kids and teens.
Her young adult sci fi romance novels When the World was Flat (and we were in love) and In The Beginning There Was Us are available now.
She is also the author of the picture book A Lot of Things and the chapter books The Frank Frankie and Frankie goes to France published by Pan Macmillan Australia.
Ingrid has worked as a journalist and public relations consultant, and has a Bachelor of Arts in Professional Writing with Honors in Communications.
She lives down under – in Canberra, Australia – with her husband Craig and their pug dog Mooshi.
~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Website ~ YouTube ~
May 8, 2015
Release Blitz ~ ‘Last Kiss’ by Jen Frederick and Jessica Clare.
Last Kiss by Jen Frederick and Jessica Clare.
(Hitman #3)
Genres: New Adult, Romance, Contemporary
Publisher: Berkley, a division of Penguin
SYNOPSIS
Meet Naomi & Vasily in the newest addition to the Hitman Series
**The first book in the series, Last Hit, has been optioned for a movie by Flame Ventures.**
Naomi: When I was kidnapped I thought only of survival. I don���t thrive well in chaos. That���s why I gave my captors exactly what they wanted: my skill with computers. Making millions for a crime lord who kept me imprisoned in his basement compound kept my family safe. When he was taken out, I thought my ticket to freedom had arrived. Wrong. I traded one keeper for another. This time I���m in the hands of a scarred, dark, demanding Russian who happens to be the head of the Bratva, a Russian crime organization. He wants my brain and my body. I���d be lying if I said I wasn���t intrigued, but I can���t be a prisoner forever…no matter how good he makes me feel.
Vasily: At a young age, I was taught that a man without power is a puppet for all. I���ve clawed���and killed���my way to the top so that it is my heel on their necks. But to unify the fractured organization into an undefeatable machine, I need a technological genius to help me steal one particular artifact. That she is breathtaking, determined, and vulnerable is making her more dangerous than all of my enemies combined. But only I can keep her safe from the world that she now inhabits. Soon, I must choose between Naomi and Bratva law. But with every day that passes, this becomes a more impossible choice.
���I told you I don���t like to be touched. Do you have a hearing deficit?��� She frowns. ���Because at first I was concerned that perhaps it is your English, but you seem to speak it quite well. Maybe it is your hearing then? You are young to have hearing problems. Is it hereditary? The most common birth defect is diminished hearing. Genetics are responsible for at least sixty percent of hearing deficits in infants so it���s most likely your hearing loss is due to your parents. Were one or more of your parents hearing challenged?���
I look at her blankly.
���Deaf. That���s what I mean by hearing challenged. Challenged is the word you���re supposed to use instead of other things. Like instead of mute, voice challenged. Or instead of handicapped, it���s physically challenged. I learned that in college. I���m socially challenged, but maybe it doesn���t translate into Russian. You���re Russian, right?���
���Yes. What does it matter?���
���It doesn���t. There was a Russian student in my art history course. Your accent was similar. I remember him telling me he was from a certain region���southern maybe? I didn���t much like the course. My advisor forced me to take it, saying that I needed some liberal arts to make my education well rounded, but learning about painting and politics did not assist me in creating better code. I like to write code. Code makes sense. Art does not.���
~ Amazon UK ~ Amazon US ~ B&N ~ GooglePlay ~ iBooks ~ Kobo ~
Hitman Series Reading Order
Last Hit (bk 1)
~ Amazon UK ~ Amazon US ~ B&N ~ iBooks ~ Kobo ~
Last Breath (bk 2)
~ Amazon UK ~ Amazon US ~ B&N ~ iBooks ~ Kobo ~
��
Last Hit: Reloaded (bk 2.5)
~ Amazon UK ~ Amazon US ~ B&N ~ GooglePlay ~��iBooks ~ Kobo ~
��
Last Kiss (bk 3)
~ Amazon UK ~ Amazon US ~ B&N ~ iBooks ~ Kobo ~
��
Last Hope (bk 4) ��Pre-order
~ Amazon UK ~ Amazon US ~ B&N ~ iBooks ~ Kobo ~
Prizes:
Signed set of Hitman Books
Apple Watch Sport
Jen Frederick
Jen Frederick lives with her husband, child, and one rambunctious dog. ��She’s been reading stories all her life but never imagined writing one of her own. Jen loves to hear from readers so drop her a line at jensfrederick@gmail.com.
~ Facebook ~ Goodreads ~ Twitter ~ Website ~
Jessica Claire
This is a pen name for Jill Myles.
Jill Myles has been an incurable romantic since childhood. She reads all the ‘naughty parts’ of books first, looks for a dirty joke in just about everything, and thinks to this day that the Little House on the Prairie books should have been steamier.
After devouring hundreds of paperback romances, mythology books, and archaeological tomes, she decided to write a few books of her own – stories with a wild adventure, sharp banter, and lots of super-sexy situations. She prefers her heroes alpha and half-dressed, her heroines witty, and she loves nothing more than watching them overcome adversity to fall into bed together.
~ Facebook ~ Goodreads ~ Twitter ~ Website ~
��
May 7, 2015
Sale Alert ~ ‘My Time in the Affair’ by Stylo Fantome.
“A risky, thought-provoking &
incendiary must read …
pure, gripping brilliance from start to finish.”
The Rock Stars of Romance
���When you���re looking at your best friend, a person who is part of the fabric of your being, and you can literally see their heart start to break��� it takes a lot of strength to smash that heart all the way.���
SYNOPSIS
~Mischa~
I made a conscious decision to cheat on my husband.
Now, before you judge me, hear my story. Hear how much I’m like you, how similar my thoughts are to your own. Yes, I’m a horrible person. Yes, I’ve done horrible things. Yes, I don’t deserve forgiveness. Yes, bad things happened because of my actions.
But I’m willing to bet I’ve done things that maybe, just maybe, you have thought of doing.
Maybe, just maybe, you’re not as innocent as you’d like to think.
Or maybe I’m not so guilty …
Full Length Standalone Novel, 85,000+ words
GET YOUR $0.99 COPY��HERE:
*Limited Time Only (Price changes May 8)*
~ Amazon UK ~ Amazon US ~ B&N ~ Kobo ~
“I wanted to be baptized in his skin, purified in his love. I was a sinner, or worse. I wanted him to make me whole.”
May 2, 2015
Book Review + Top Recommendation ~ ‘Deep Blue Eternity’ by Natasha Boyd.
Deep Blue Eternity by Natasha Boyd
Genres: New Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Release Date: March 26th 2015.
SYNOPSIS
From the author of the award-winning��Eversea��and��Forever, Jack. Fans of the intensely emotional romance of Nicholas Sparks, Jamie McGuire, Abbi Glines and Monica Murphy will lose their hearts to Natasha Boyd’s powerful, epic love story,��Deep Blue Eternity.
Livvy is on the run. And she’s escaped to the one place nobody will ever find her. But the isolated cottage isn’t empty. Her refuge is home to a troubled stranger, Tom, there for reasons of his own.
In the intimacy of the abandoned cottage, and the remote wilderness of the island, the electrifying connection between them is impossible to ignore. Both running from their histories and shielding dark secrets, their pasts catch up with them and collide in an unimaginable way.
Deep emotions and powerful chemistry face a painful battle with the tangle of lies, and scars of the past. If the truth emerges, hearts will be shattered. Can love conquer?
Passionate. Devastating. Explosive. Natasha Boyd will take your breath away with her unforgettable love stories. Don’t miss��Eversea��and��Forever, Jack.
Book Review ~ ‘Deep Blue Eternity’ by Natasha Boyd ~ 5+ Stars!
Umm….wow! 5+ stars!
What can I say about Livvy and Tom’s story, other than that I love, love, LOVED it?! I’ve always heard great things about Natasha Boyd’s writing, but for some reason I’d never gotten around to reading ‘Eversea’. Let’s just say that after reading ‘Deep Blue Eternity’ I will read absolutely anything Natasha Boyd writes, because damn she can tell a heartfelt and emotional story.
Livvy was a character that I loved straight away. Natasha Boyd completely nailed her inner monologue, and the way she reacted to Tom, by being snarky, insulting and rude to him, in order to keep herself safe from being hurt. Her reactions were perfect and it was such a pleasure to see how much she developed over the course of the story from being a girl who believes she is nothing more than her sister’s replacement, to becoming a woman in her own right, and it was so wonderful to see her transform.
With Tom, I fell in love straight away. What a perfect book boyfriend. I’m being purposely vague so as not to spoil the story for anyone, but when you see what he’s been going through since Livvy’s sister Abby died, and the guilt he holds onto, you just feel for him so much. I loved his relationship with Abby, and how it developed slowly, making it all that more meaningful. By the end of the story, you finally understand everything about him and all the decisions he’d made in his life, and are ready for him and Livvy to move on and find happiness. It was beautifully written.
This story deals with strong themes such as sexual abuse, and Natasha Boyd does so with great tenderness and respect. Tom’s desperation to show Livvy that none of the abuse of her past is her fault, is something that resonates throughout the book, and it is done so to perfection.
I can say no more than that you must pick this book up today. It is sheer perfection.
5+ stars!
*Review copy kindly provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
~ Facebook ~ Goodreads ~ Twitter ~ Website ~
May 1, 2015
Book Review ~ ‘The Consequence of Loving Colton’ by Rachel Van Dyken.
The Consequence of Loving Colton by Rachel Van Dyken.
(Consequence #1)
Genres: New Adult, Contemporary, Romance,
Release Date: April 21st 2015.
SYNOPSIS
My name is Milo Caro and I have a confession to make.
I���ve been in love with Colton Mathews since I was five. He should have known that sharing a cookie with a sugar obsessed little monster would do the trick���it sealed his fate. So really, the fact that he���s sporting a black eye, a limp, almost got ran over by a car, and was nearly responsible for another person���s death? Right. HIs fault. Not mine.
I made a pact with myself���this weekend would be different. I���d come home for my brothers wedding, smile, and Colton would naturally melt into my arms, we���d get married have five kids, live in a house by the river, and get a dog named scratch (clearly I���ve thought this through).
What really happened? I punched my brother in the face, Colton kissed me and apologized, I lied about having a boyfriend, oh and everyone wants to meet the mystery man.
They say laughter always comes before insanity���ha, ha. All I wanted was my brother���s best friend���instead I���m sitting in prison.
Let this be a lesson to you all���life rarely happens the way you want it to.
Damn cookie.
Book Review ~ ‘The Consequence of Loving Colton’ by Rachel Van Dyken ~ 4 Stars!
If you are looking for a book that will have you doubled over with laughter, and then within the space of a paragraph, doubled over with laughter again for a completely different reason, then this is definitely one for you. The perfect feel-good romp with a sexy hero, hilarious secondary characters, and a mind boggling heroine who you just can’t help but root for.
Milo’s infatuation with Colton is one that has lasted for as long as she can remember. Alongside her brother, Colton is the one that has always been there, for every embarrassing incident, every pretend game, and every kiss. But, after feeling rejected one too many times by Colton, for being merely his best friend’s little sister, she tries to move on going to uni and meeting her best friend Max. When she returns home for her brother’s wedding, shenanigans ensue, and between Milo’s clumsiness, Max’s flair for amateur dramatics and a whole lot of misunderstandings, it becomes a test to see who will live to see the dawning of a new week.
Colton was such a great hero. Hopelessly in love with Milo, his every attempt at showing it seems to result in him apologising, which being the hopeless guy he is, doesn’t realise is not the best thing to say to a girl after you kiss them. With the help of Max, and his best friend, he makes it his mission to win Milo over.
There were some great characters, and a really fun family atmosphere throughout this story that made it so much fun to read. However, my one issue with parts of the story is the way that Max and his brother discuss being taken advantage of by women. When reading it, I knew that it was not in any way the author’s intention to make rape or sexual assault any less of a serious issue than it is, but that in an attempt to add humour the seriousness of male rape/assault��wasn’t as sensitively dealt with as I would have liked.
Nevertheless, this was a great read and my stomach muscles definitely got a work out with all the laughing I was doing.
4 stars.
*ARC kindly provided by the author through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*��
~ Facebook ~ Goodreads ~ Twitter ~ Website ~
April 28, 2015
Release Day Blast ~ ‘Endless Nights’ by Karen Erickson.
Endless Nights by Karen Erickson
(Vegas Nights Series #2)
Genre: Erotic Romance
SYNOPSIS
The sex is crazy good. Is it crazier to want something more?
Vegas Nights, Book 2
Andrea and her two best friends have shed their nurses scrubs for a long-awaited weekend in Las Vegas, and nothing���flight delays, lost luggage, or the slightly weird guy with the sketchy invite to an exclusive bash���is going to stop their fun.
Within minutes of arriving at the opulent party, she���s deep in conversation with gorgeous, funny Luke Nelson, wide receiver for the Seattle Seahawks. For some crazy reason, he can���t seem to keep his eyes���or hands���off her.
Luke isn���t looking for a hookup, he just wants to relax���until he gets one look at the classy brunette in the barely-there dress. One minute they���re talking, the next they���re all over each other in a dark corner. It���s like he���s an addict and she���s the fix he���s been searching for all his life.
One night of hot sex isn���t nearly enough. But after a weekend spent never more than a few inches apart, the time is quickly approaching when they���ll have to make a long-distance relationship work���or break it off.
���Andrea.���
She whirled around…and there he was. Tall. Broad. Casually dressed in a navy blue T-shirt and jeans, a smile on his face, his dark eyes sparkling. Oh, he looked amazing. She could hardly believe he was standing there in front of her.
���Hi.��� She hiked her purse strap over her shoulder, clinging to it like a lifeline. What should she do? What should she say? Did she have permission to throw herself at him like a lovesick girlfriend or was she supposed to act cool and composed?
���Come here.��� He grabbed hold of her arm and pulled her into him, giving her a lingering kiss. Then another one. His lips were warm and damp and when he pulled away, releasing her slowly, he looked about as dazed as she felt. ���We need to get the fuck out of here, and quick. You have luggage to pick up?���
She shook her head, stepping aside to display her suitcase. ���This is all I brought.��� Why did they need to leave so quickly? She didn���t understand.
His smile grew and he rubbed his hand along the back of his neck. ���Then let���s go.���
Luke took her suitcase for her despite her protests, grabbing her hand with his free one as he escorted her out of the airport. He kept his head slightly bent, as if he didn���t want people to recognize him, and she followed his lead, glancing around as discreetly as possible to see if anyone recognized him.
If they did, they gave him his privacy, and she was thankful for it. He seemed extra determined to leave unnoticed, practically dragging her outside toward a giant parking structure. They took an elevator up five floors, the interior of it freezing cold, and he slung his arm around her shoulder and held her close, his mouth at her forehead as he whispered to her.
���I missed you.���
She rested her hand on his stomach, noting the way the muscles tensed up at her light touch. ���I missed you too,��� she admitted. Damn it. She���d promised herself she wouldn���t make any sort of confession like that and there she went, not even five minutes into the visit.
���You hungry?���
���No.���
���Thirsty?��� He pulled away from her when the elevator came to a stop, his hand falling to her lower back as he escorted her out into the garage.
���Um, no.��� What was up with the weird questions?
���Good. We���ll go straight to my place then.��� The look he shot her was full of heat, his gaze running over her quickly, and she shivered as if he���d actually touched her. ���You are a sight for sore eyes, I hope you know.���
That saying had never made much sense to her, but that didn���t matter at the moment because he���d missed her. Looked at her as if he wanted to gobble her up, which she was a big fan of because the man had a very talented mouth. And hands.
Hands that could catch footballs, sure, but they were also magic hands that had her trembling and falling apart rather quickly…
���Here���s my truck.��� He stopped at a gleaming brand-new blue Toyota pickup and unlocked the doors with a keyless remote, going to the passenger side to open the door for her. She hopped into the truck with his assistance, turning to look at him and say thank you, but he cut her off with his lips, kissing her so fiercely she had no choice but to lean back against the seat.
She grabbed hold of the back of his neck, her mouth opening to his, letting his tongue slide inside. A groan escaped her and she tunneled her fingers into his soft hair, gasping when his big warm hand maneuvered beneath her shirt and settled on her stomach.
���We keep this up, I���ll be fucking you in the parking garage���I don���t give a damn who sees us,��� he said when he finally tore his lips from hers.
Exhaling a shuddery breath, she released her hold on him. That sounded perfect, which was totally crazy. She couldn���t allow him to do any such thing to her in a public parking garage. ���Take me to your place,��� she murmured, making him smile.
���Will do, baby.��� He shut the door and rounded the back of the truck, opening his door so he could slip her suitcase on the bench seat behind them before he hopped into the driver���s seat. ���I can���t believe you���re here.���
She smiled. ���I can���t believe it either.���
���I���m glad, though.��� His deep voice washed over her, making her shiver, and she watched as he settled his big hand on her knee and gave it a squeeze. ���Fucking ecstatic, if you want me to be honest.���
Andrea laughed, loving his honesty. Probably way too much. ���Me too.���
Amazon��|��BN��|��Kobo��|��iTunes
WICKED WEEKEND (Vegas Nights Series #.5) by Karen Erickson
Erotic Romance
Goodreads
Amazon��|��BN��|��Kobo��|��iTunes
SYNOPSIS
What happens in Vegas���could be a fantasy come true.
Vegas Nights, Book 0.5
Between nursing school and starting their careers, Reagan, Andrea, and Natalie have had no time for dating. After saving up for a special vacation, they���re on their way to Vegas for a long-awaited weekend of fun, sun, gambling and partying.
When their luggage goes missing, an impromptu shopping trip leads them to James, who makes them an unusual offer���to be part of the female scenery at his boss���s upcoming party. Not just any scenery, but women who are pretty in a real way, not the nipped, tucked and dyed Hollywood version.
Accept a ���private party��� invitation from a complete stranger? These ladies weren���t born yesterday. Yet before ���no thanks��� crosses their lips, Reagan discovers who James���s boss really is: Declan Carter, an actor she���s crushed on for, well, forever. Now she���s determined to be the eye candy who catches Declan���s eye. No matter what it takes���
RECKLESS NIGHTS (Vegas Nights Series #1) by Karen Erickson
Erotic Romance
Goodreads
Amazon��|��BN��|��Kobo��|��iTunes
SYNOPSIS
Sometimes dream crushes do come true.
Vegas Nights, Book 1
Reagan can���t believe her luck���and not in a good way. One minute she���s hanging out with her friends at an exclusive party in Las Vegas. The next, she���s attracted the attention of a famous actor. Not just any actor. Declan Carter, the man on which she used to���okay, might still���have a fangirl crush. Whose blue eyes leave her embarrassingly tongue tied.
All Declan wants is to meet a nice, normal woman who won���t use him as a stepping stone to fame. Something about Reagan tells him she could be that rare woman, and he follows his instinct to invite her back to his suite���where they proceed to have wild monkey sex. All. Night. Long.
What was supposed to be one night of no-regrets sex stretches out into a blissful weekend of two people who can���t get enough of each other. But when the glamour of Sin City wears off, they���re standing on the edge of a once-in-a-lifetime chance to turn a weekend fling into something lasting. Will they take the jump?
~ A Rafflecopter Giveaway��~
��Karen Erickson
USA Today bestselling author Karen Erickson writes what she loves to read – sexy contemporary romance. Published since 2006, she’s a native Californian who lives in the foothills below Yosemite with her husband and three children.
Facebook��|��Twitter��|��Website
April 27, 2015
Release Day Event ~ ‘Sweet’ by Tamara Webber.
Sweet by Tammara Webber
(Contours of the Heart #3)
Genres: Romance, New Adult
Release Date: 27th April 2015.
SYNOPSIS
He���s the love of her life, but he doesn���t know it.
She���s his one moment of sacrifice in a lifetime of survival.
He was damaged and wild, but resilient.
She���s always been obedient. Now she���s restless.
Home for the summer between college and med school, Pearl Torres Frank knows two things: Boyce Wynn is the embodiment of everything she should run from, and everything she wants to run to. Rebellious and loud. Unconcerned with society���s opinion of him. Passionate. Strong. Dangerous.
And one more trait he hides from everyone but her:��Sweet.
��
Boyce watched me, a lit cigarette in one hand and a koozied
beer in the other. We hadn���t spoken since that kiss, other than his usual juvenile
quips during biology���the ones that drove Mel and Mr. Quinn insane and made
Landon smirk and shake his head and had me biting the inside of my cheek to
suppress my smile.
At first, I���d been confused, then disappointed, and then
angry. I���d worked my way to acceptance, like when I���d known I was drowning and
there was nothing I could do. He���d merely gone back to being Boyce Wynn, who
did what he wanted and who he wanted. And I���d gone back to being Pearl
Frank���star student, social royalty, good girl.
0
0
1
143
606
WordsmithPublicity
11
5
744
14.0
Normal
0
false
false
false
EN-US
JA
X-NONE
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:”Table Normal”;
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:””;
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
But I couldn���t forget that kiss. The fixed glint of his eyes
across the fire said that neither could he.
Amazon��|��iBooks��|��B&N��|��Kobo��|Amazon UK
Tammara Webber
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of EASY and BREAKABLE (Contours of the Heart series – NA), as well BETWEEN THE LINES, WHERE YOU ARE, GOOD FOR YOU and HERE WITHOUT YOU (Between the Lines series – YA/NA).
I’m a hopeful romantic who adores novels with happy endings, because there are enough sad endings in real life. Before writing full-time, I was an undergraduate academic advisor, economics tutor, planetarium office manager, radiology call center rep, and the palest person to ever work at a tanning salon. I married my high school sweetheart, and I’m Mom to three adult kids and four very immature cats.
~ Facebook ~ Instagram��~ Twitter ~ Website ~
April 20, 2015
Book Review ~ ‘Blood and Bone’ by Tara Brown.
Blood and Bone by Tara Brown
Genres: Dark, Psychological, Suspense.
Publisher: Montlake Romance.
Release Date: 28th April 2015.
SYNOPSIS
Listen, listen to the wind and stone.
Listen, listen to the sounds of old.
Listen, listen as my hopes are drowned.
Listen, listen to the sounds that bullets make of blood and bones.
Where will you run today?
How will you ever get away?���
This is NOT a romance. This is a ride.
Blood and Bone
The hollow sound of a casing hitting the floor.
The clicking of heels walking in a misty alley.
The ability to tie a cherry stem with her tongue.
A haunting song no one else knows.
That’s all that’s left of Jane’s memories.
What would you do if the life you lived was a lie, and everyone knew but you?
Where do you run when there is no one on your side?
Jane discovers that deep inside her mind there is a map.
What she doesn’t know is that there is also a man who will do anything to get it.
But what he doesn’t know is that Jane hasn’t always been honest about the things she remembers.
There are paces inside of Jane that even she doesn’t like to go.
What would you do if the secret you kept was the only thing keeping you alive?
But keeping it meant someone else had to die.
Book Review ~ ‘Blood and Bone’ by Tara Brown ~ 4 Stars!
Well, wow! This book is just mind-blowing, and in a really good way!
We follow the story of Jane, a young girl who has amnesia after a car accident. She has a loving boyfriend, Derek, and a cat called Binx, and she feels secure, even happy…sometimes. That is until she is mysteriously mistaken for another woman, Samantha Barnes, and so her ordinary life turns upside down.
It is so difficult to put into words just what an explosive story ‘Blood and Bone’ is. At the end of each chapter, you are left desperate for more, desperate to know what the truth is, and which people Jane can trust. I really loved her character, and her inner dialogue was perfect, giving us a really good insight into her troubled mind and just how disconcerting it is for her to find out that everything she thought was real was a lie.
‘Blood and Bone’ is one of those books that I can’t describe the storyline, or even the characters for, because it is something that you have to read and experience yourself. Not knowing who to trust, and which characters to fall for, it was a roller coaster ride and you are left guessing right up the very end.
Tara Brown has delivered a solid psychological thriller, with so many great elements in the mix. There’s romance, danger, action and a strong psychological element, that has you unnerved just reading along with Jane and Sam’s thoughts.
I give ‘Blood and Bone’ a strong 4 stars. I couldn’t quite give it 5 stars because at the end, I was still slightly confused about just how everything fitted together. But this book has had me thinking about it for days after finishing it, which is the best sign of a good read that there is!
4 Stars!
*Review copy was kindly provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
Pre-Order Available
Tara Brown
��~ Goodreads ~ Twitter ~ Website ~
