Sorcha O'Dowd's Blog, page 34

Sale Alert ~ ‘A Broken Fairytale’ Series 99c Sale!

A Broken Fairytale Series by S.P. Cervantes

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Dust to Dust by S.P. Cervantes

(A Broken Fairytale #1)

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SYNOPSIS

A SUSPENSEFUL SECOND-CHANCE ROMANCE!

If faced with your worst fear, what would you do? Would you run or would you fight?

Camryn Hamilton is a fighter.

A thirty-something mother of two, Camryn appears to have it all: a husband, plenty of money, and children she adores. When she returns home to spend Christmas with her family, her perfect world she has created begins to crumble, thrusting her face to face with the only man who truly knows her.

Holden Patrick will fight harder.

A powerful, handsome attorney, Holden left town after his adoptive parents’ death. In his time away he almost managed to forget the girl who ran away with his heart. At least until a turn of fate brought him back to Mantoloking, and back to Camryn.

But are they willing to fight for each other?

Faced with a tragic past that they both wanted to forget, they struggle to protect their hearts from being broken again. Will their love be enough to get them through another tragedy, or will they close themselves off and run away again?

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Wished Away by S.P. Cervantes

(A Broken Fairytale #2)

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SYNOPSIS

Imagine that you were married to the love of your life and had a happy family. Now imagine everything was destroyed in an instant, making you question who you are and how you can possibly go on once the one person you truly love is gone.

It is a rare thing to find your soul mate, but Jess found true love in Dave when they were only teenagers. They’ve built a happy life together in a small shore town, becoming pillars of the community and making everyone around them envious of the perfect life they have built together. Their love is something that seems like it can only exist in a fairy tale. But what happens when the fairy tale is broken?

Jess has always been the life of the party, and Dave was always there to reel her in and keep her safe. But one night, while on duty as the town Sheriff, the unimaginable happens, altering the directions of their lives forever.

Jess is now forced to dig deep in her soul and find herself again. When love tries to chip away at her frozen over heart, she struggles to fight the guilt of moving on while keeping the memory of her perfect love alive.

This is a story about finding love, having it all taken away, and discovering that moving on doesn’t mean forgetting the past.

***This is the second book of the A Broken Fairy Tale series, but can also be read as a stand alone

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S.P. Cervantes

S.P Cervantes lives in Orange County, California with her husband and three children, where she is a teacher. She enjoys spending time with her family, writing, reading, and running, but is always thinking of an idea for her next novel.

S.P. Cervantes is the author of the highly rated New Adult Romantic Fantasy series Secrets of Shadow Hill. “Always and Forever” and “The Prophecy” are the first two book in the series that are available now. The third book in the series, “War of Wizards” will be released May 27, 2014.

S.P. Cervantes also has a contemporary romance series, A Broken Fairy Tale, in with the first book of the series, “Dust to Dust (A Broken Fairy Tale)” released March 4, 2014.

The second book of the series, “Wished Away” will be released August, 2014.

 

 

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Jane Lark Extravaganza Tour Stop ~ ‘The Scandalous Love of a Duke’ by Jane Lark

The Scandalous Love of a Duke by Jane Lark

Marlow Intrigues #3

Genres: Adult, Romance, Historical.

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The Scandalous Love of a Duke

Welcome to the Jane Lark Summer Extravaganza Tour! Today’s stop is dedicated to the latest of Jane’s historical ‘Marlow Intrigues’ Series ‘The Scandalous Love of a Duke’. Be prepared for some steamy Duke’s and some fiesty heroines. This is a book not to be missed!

SYNOPSIS

 

‘Isolated by life and choice, John Harding, the Duke of Pembroke, sees an angel in a pale mauve dress across a room and is drawn closer as lust grips firm and hard in his stomach.

The wheat-blonde hair escaping her dull dove-grey bonnet and caressing her neck lures his eyes to a spot he’d like to kiss.

She speaks with animation her hands moving. Then as if she senses his gaze the stranger turns and looks at him.

A rush of pain and longing spilled from Katherine’s heart into her limbs. It was so long since she’d seen John but her reaction was the same as it had been more than half-a-dozen years before. She loved him, secretly, without hope, but a chasm of years and status stood between them.’

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Book Review ~ ‘The Scandalous Love of a Duke’ by Jane Lark ~ 5 Stars!

The chance to see the wonderful John Harding all grown up was something I was not going to miss. As we saw in ‘The Illicit Love of a Courtesan’ his childhood had been rooted in emotional and physical upheaval, with him being taken from his mother to grow up with his Grandfather, and when he is rescued, and given the chance of a new life with his mother and her new husband, he was uprooted again. I always thought there would be more to John’s state of mind than the shy, but polite young boy we saw in the first book in the ‘Marlow Intrigues’ series, and it just shows how well Jane Lark knows each of her characters that she was able to create John’s story where he is now a young man and to see the effect that his uprooted childhood had on him.

As with all of Jane Lark’s books, I felt so emotionally connected to the characters in this novel. John was a character that could quite easily have been very unlikable, but instead came across as a deep, yet emotionally scarred young man, who you couldn’t help but root for. The relationship he had with Katherine was one that really struck with me, because we got to see two very similar people in terms of their troubled childhoods, become two very different products. Where Katherine remained hopeful, and still loving, John had become closed off, which made the development of their relationship really exciting to read, especially when they begin to switch, and Katherine becomes doubtful of John when he finally begins to open up and express his true feelings. It really was a fantastic dynamic between the two that ranged from electric tension to sweetly romantic.

I loved the pace of this story, especially when circumstance forces them to go along with societies rules. John’s constant failure in his eyes was great as we were able to see him make a change in his personality due to his worry of losing those he loved. Where we often see this happen in a natural development, it was really refreshing to see John make a conscious decision regarding his actions, and to see him sometimes fail in his effort to become a better man.

There was something slightly darker about this book, which gave me shivers. I’m not sure quite what it was, only that John’s seduction of Katherine, seemed so deliciously forbidden that I was on tenterhooks throughout the scenes they had together. For some reason it seemed that there was so much more at risk than with the previous couples, should they have been caught, that I just couldn’t put my Kindle down until I knew how the story finished.

This was a stunning addition to the ‘Marlow Intrigues’ series. I laughed and cried along with the characters, and became so deeply connected to them, I could feel their pain as my own. The little snippets we see of Ellen and Edward in this novel was also a joy to read, as we see that time has not lessened the strength of their love and devotion to each other. Katherine and John became another favourite couple along with the other couples featured in this series.

As if this could be anything but 5 Stars!

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Like what you’ve read so far? Check out Jane’s books over on Amazon

The Illicit Love of a Courtesan | The Passionate Love of a Rake | The Scandalous Love of a Duke |

Capturing the Earl’s Love | The Lost Love of a Soldier

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Jane Lark

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Book Review ~ ‘The Life You Left’ by Carmel Harrington.

The Life You Left by Carmel Harrington

Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Publisher: HarperCollins

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SYNOPSIS

Sarah, I’m not coming home tonight.

If you love me, you will give me the space I need…

Tell the children I love them.

Paul

It started out like any other day for Sarah Lawler; getting the kids ready for school, making the pack lunches and juggling baby Ella’s feeds.

There was no way of knowing that her husband, Paul, would leave for work that morning and simply not come home.

Now the questions are piling up quicker than the unpaid bills and, unable to answer her children’s questions about where their Daddy is, Sarah is getting desperate.

But it turns out she isn’t quite as alone as she thought she was. When her beloved childhood friend, Edward, comes back into her life, Sarah thinks she’s finally been thrown a life line.

There’s just one problem with Edward: no one else can see him.

Edward is an angel. And he has a message for Sarah that will change her life and the lives of others forever. For it is only in the most difficult of times that Sarah can discover how strong

she truly is.

Set in a small coastal village on the beautiful Irish coast, The Life You Left is a story of redemption and the strength of love.

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Book Review ~ ‘The Life You Left’ by Carmel Harrington ~ 5 Stars!

It was the honesty in which the synopsis of this book was written that really drew me in, and I just knew that this book could really be something special. I’ve been reading a lot of young adult and new adult books recently, and was looking for an adult novel which I could read, to bring me back into the adult romance genre. I expected it to be an adjustment for me to read a book that wasn’t heavily romantic, but Carmel Harrington didn’t for one second have me thinking that I had nothing to relate to in the story, as she melded together so many different elements of real, and fantasy life, so flawlessly, that I just didn’t want the book to end.

Sarah was quite frankly, one of the most relatable and fantastic heroines in a contemporary novel that I have ever read. Her strength just awed me from the first page, when we see the devastating shock she has when her husband leaves her and their children with only an email, no money, or assurances that he will return. She was a pillar of strength for her three children, and always put them first, refusing to sink under the pain of her husband’s abandonment and doing her best for her children, despite her heartbreak. Sarah is been put firmly on my list of all time favourite heroines, and my god, does she deserve such a title.

What really set this story aside from others in its genre was the absolutely stunning writing style, and the beautiful way that Carmel Harrington depicted Sarah’s relationship with her twin brother James. She managed to pull off an amazing feat by having Sarah’s hero be her brother rather than a love interest, and I adored all the scenes they had together, as well as the scenes where we see James put his sister before the romantic conquests in his life. It was truly a beautiful, beautiful relationship, which I hope gets the credit it deserves.

The added fantasy/paranormal elements of the return of Sarah’s childhood friend, her guardian angel Edward, added another extraordinary layer to the story which added suspense to the crime storyline, and a really fascinating insight into the paranormal world, something that is becoming more and more popular as a belief in the modern world. This alongside the crime storyline had me sitting on the edge of my seat in suspense and I just couldn’t stop reading until I knew what had happened.

I loved the different layers of this story, and how there were a number of different characters who took centre stage at different times. Sarah’s storyline where she tries to accept the breakdown of her marriage and how her husband Paul had previously cheated on her with his new partner, was something that really had me in limbo when it came to Paul’s future, and whether I felt he deserved to find happiness and have the chance to be a father to his children after the way he left them behind with little apology. Carmel Harrington pulled this off beautifully, and really shows the true extent of her talent as an author.

5 stars and a definite recommended read.

*Review Copy was provided by the publisher through NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review*

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Carmel Harrington

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Book Review ~ ‘Upside Down’ by Lia Riley.

Upside Down by Lia Riley

Off the Map #1

Genres: New Adult, Contemporary, Romance

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SYNOPSIS

If You Never Get Lost, You’ll Never Be Found

Twenty-one-year-old Natalia Stolfi is saying good-bye to the past-and turning her life upside down with a trip to the land down under. For the next six months, she’ll act like a carefree exchange student, not a girl sinking under the weight of painful memories. Everything is going according to plan until she meets a brooding surfer with hypnotic green eyes and the troubling ability to see straight through her act.

Bran Lockhart is having the worst year on record. After the girl of his dreams turned into a nightmare, he moved back home to Melbourne to piece his life together. Yet no amount of disappointment could blind him to the pretty California girl who gets past all his defenses. He’s never wanted anyone the way he wants Talia. But when Bran gets a stark reminder of why he stopped believing in love, he and Talia must decide if what they have is once in a lifetime . . . or if they were meant to live a world apart.

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Book Review ~ ‘Upside Down’ by Lia Riley ~ 4 Stars!

‘Upside Down’ was the perfect blend of new adult contemporary romance, humour and real life which had me unable to put it down. However, it was the added psychological elements, brought about by heroine Natalia’s OCD tendencies, that really made this book stand out in its genre.

When we first meet Natalia, I could feel straight away that there was more to this girl than what we were first presented to. I admired her strength when it came to choosing to leave behind her life in America to visit Australia, especially when she knew that it would be hard on her family. It sounds strange, but for me I liked that she did the right thing by her, and didn’t allow herself to be held back by a guilty conscience of leaving her father. The added heartbreak of her having lost her older sister Pippa two years previously, just made Natalia’s escape to another country seem all that more important, and I really admired her for putting her fears behind her and doing what she wanted to do.

The characters were really well developed throughout this novel, and just looking at the person that Natalia became at the end of the story, in comparison to the troubled girl at the start, we can see that realistic development of a young person that happens when they travel alone for the first time.

Now Bran was the perfect hero, with the perfect mix of snarky bad-boy, but passionate, thoughtful lover. The spark between him and Natalia was just brilliant to read and I loved seeing the progression of their relationship, especially as their trust in each other grew, and they began to share dark secrets from their past with each other, without the fear of judgment.

To see Bran as fearful was a brilliant change from other books in this genre. It’s all too often that we see the girl become scared of her feelings, and start to doubt herself, but I loved seeing Bran distancing himself and being fearful of love again. The added drama of his relationship with his ex-fiancé and the self-doubt this causes Natalia, made for some really emotional and heartbreaking scenes, which had me really hoping that their love would overcome all obstacles, even when their future seemed bleak.

I loved the family elements that were woven throughout the novel, and I laughed and raged in equal measure in the chapters where we see Natalia’s hilariously misguided mother, who at first was great comic relief, turn into a spiteful, cruel and condescending woman, who blames Natalia for Pippa’s death, something that beats Natalia back into the downtrodden and broken girl she was before she met Bran.

This was a fantastic novel, which really made me feel every emotion of the characters. The only thing that keeps me from giving it 5 Stars is the way that OCD was depicted. It’s clear that Natalia doesn’t have a very serious form of OCD, however, I felt that the true impact of her OCD tendencies in small everyday situations wasn’t emphasised as much as it could have been. It’s the little things like her wanting to run back to her dorm room and check that her hair straighteners or oven was turned off, that I would have loved to have seen, and how this more serious side of OCD may have affected her relationship with Bran. Nevertheless, I enjoyed every minute of this novel and there was a real feel-good factor throughout that made this the perfect book to escape into for a few hours.

4 Stars!

*Review copy was provided by the author through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

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Lia Riley

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Challenge Carol! ~ Upcoming Release of ‘Three Little Birds’.

Challenge Carol!

Humorous author, Carol E. Wyer has just taken launching a new book to a new level. To coincide with the forthcoming release of her seventh book, Carol will be taking on some unusual challenges including belly dancing, a ‘Bush Tucker’ trial, zorbing and zip lining while playing a kazoo and indoor skydiving.

Carol says, “After completing the book I suddenly had an urge to have a go at some of the challenges that the characters face. So, I thought, why not? The inner child in me went crazy with delight and encouraged me to commit to a few mad challenges before I remembered how old I really am. It’s too late to back out now so, we’ll have to see how they work out.”

The first challenge is in London at GoApe where she will attempt to zipline while playing a kazoo and try not to land on her publisher who is accompanying her. You can see the results at her blog or YouTube.

Her latest release, Three Little Birds due out August 15th is a tale of friendship, self-discovery, romance and topped with lashings of the by now familiar humour we have come to expect from this author.

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Three Little Birds by Carol E. Wyer.

SYNOPSIS

If your friend challenged you, would you dare?

Charlie Blundell cannot get over the tragic death of her only daughter. She drifts between her job at the Art cafe and her hospital radio show, the only things which give her life purpose.

Her best friend, the madcap Mercedes, cajoles Charlie into writing a ‘carpe diem’ list, but then swaps Charlie’s list with her own. Now, each must complete the other’s challenges, and the outcomes will astound both of them. The challenges begin as a series of relatively harmless, fun activities. Soon, though, the stakes increase when Charlie has to complete her challenges to save the hospital radio station.

As the tasks become more demanding, a handsome stranger takes an interest in her, but he is not what he seems. One challenge causes a secret buried deep within her to surface, which may prove to be her undoing.

Three Little Birds is a story of love, friendship and discovery, laced with hilarity and topped by a wickedly funny parrot called Bert.

Three Little Birds is published by Safkhet Publishing and released August 15th

Purchase links on Safkhet website and Amazon UK

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Carol E. Wyer

Carol E Wyer is an ex-teacher and linguist who lives in rural Staffordshire. Having written a series of educational yet amusing books for children, she turned her attention to the adult market in 2010 when her son flew from the nest.

Her best-selling novels have won several awards for humour and much attention from the media. Since then, she has appeared on over thirty BBC radio stations, several international radio stations, NBC television and BBC Breakfast television discussing age-related subjects such as ‘Irritable Male Syndrome’. Her writing style has been described frequently by the media as ‘witty’ or ‘humorous’ and has even been compared to the acerbic wit of Jeremy Clarkson and the humour of Robin Williams.

Carol has written articles for and featured in several national women’s magazines including Take A Break, Choice, Woman’s Weekly and Woman’s Own who also wrote about her journey to becoming a best-selling author.

Last year, she took a crash course in stand-up comedy and has performed her comedy talk Smile While You Still Have Teeth to sell-out audiences in Lichfield, The Black Country and will be on main stage the Isle of Wight Literary Festival in October along with big name celebrities, Alan Titchmarsh, Katie Price, Sheila Hancock and novelist Katie Fford

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Cover Reveal ~ ‘Inevitable Detour’ by S.R. Grey.

Inevitable Detour by S.R. Grey

(Inevitability #1)

Publication date: September 7th 2014

Genres: New Adult, Romance, Suspense

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SYNOPSIS

The day my life took an inevitable detour things got a little crazy. 



My name is Essalin Brant, but everyone calls me Essa. I attend a small college in a tiny town, and in my twenty-two years of life I’ve never even traveled outside the state of Pennsylvania. You could say my life is pretty boring. I live by the rules. I’m a good girl and nothing exciting ever happens.

But that’s all about to change.

Enter Farren Shaw. Not only is he older and intimidating, but he’s more sure of himself than any 29-year-old man has a right to be. Did I mention that he’s drop-dead gorgeous? Well, he is. He also happens to be my best friend Haven’s brother. And I would be content with just fantasizing about Farren from afar, but when Haven suddenly goes missing, her gorgeous brother is the only one who believes me when I say she was abducted, even though all signs seem to suggest Haven left town willingly.

I know better, though. As does Farren. So when he asks me to accompany him to search for his sister, I accept.

That’s when the real adventure begins.

Our quest to find Haven takes us across the country. And throughout the time we spend together, I find myself falling for Farren . . . falling hard. He’s everything I’ve ever wanted. But is he really someone I should fear?

Because aside from making me feel things I’ve never felt before, Farren is hiding something. Something big. What could this stunning man be keeping from me? And why? Is Haven’s disappearance somehow connected to his mysterious job?

All I know is that things are about to get real.

Welcome to the Inevitable Detour that has become my life.

 

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S.R. Grey

S.R. Grey is an Amazon and Barnes & Noble Top 100 bestselling author. Harbour Falls, Willow Point, and Wickingham Way are novels in her completed Harbour Falls Mystery trilogy. She is also the author of New Adult novels I Stand Before You (Judge Me Not #1) and Never Doubt Me (Judge Me Not #2). Ms. Grey’s novels have appeared on Amazon and Barnes & Noble bestseller lists in multiple categories.

New novels slated for publication in 2014 are Inevitable Detour, a New Adult novel with a Romantic Suspense edge, as well as Just Let Me Love You (Judge Me Not #3).

Ms. Grey resides in western Pennsylvania. She has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree, as well as an MBA. Her background may be in business, but her true passion lies in writing. When not writing, Ms. Grey can be found reading, traveling, running, or cheering for her hometown sports teams.

 

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Cover Reveal organised by Xpresso Book Tours.

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Book Review ~ ‘How We Deal With Gravity’ by Ginger Scott.

 

How We Deal With Gravity by Ginger Scott

Genres: New Adult, Romance, Contemporary

Release Date: 6th July 2014.

 

 

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SYNOPSIS

When her son Max was diagnosed with autism, Avery Abbot’s life changed forever. Her husband left, and her own dreams became a distant fantasy—always second to fighting never-ending battles to make sure Max was given opportunity, love and respect. Finding someone to fight along her side wasn’t even on her list, and she’d come to terms with the fact that she could never be her own priority again.

But a familiar face walking into her life in the form of 25-year-old Mason Street had Avery’s heart waging a war within. Mason was a failure. When he left his hometown five years ago, he was never coming back—it was only a matter of time before his records hit the billboard charts. Women, booze and rock-n-roll—that was it for him. But it seemed fate had a different plan in mind, and with a dropped record contract, little money and nowhere to go, Mason turned to the only family that ever made him feel home—the Abbots.

Avery loved Mason silently for years—until he broke her heart…completely. But time and life have a funny way of changing people, and sometimes second chances are there for a reason. Could this one save them both?

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 Book Review ~ ‘How We Deal With Gravity’ by Ginger Scott ~ 5 Stars!

As a psychology graduate, it’s always my dream come true when I discover a book that entwines psychological elements into everyday life, and having worked with and studied children with autism, I knew that ‘How We Deal with Gravity’ was going to be an emotional read.

I admit, it takes a lot to make me happy when there is a book where psychological disorders are one of the main themes, but Ginger Scott blew all my expectations out of the water and delivered a heartbreaking yet honest and beautiful story with some wonderful characters that made me unable to give this book anything other than five stars.

The prologue was written to perfection, and I felt every emotion that Avery was expressing as we are given a peek into the struggles she faces in her everyday life. This prologue in itself had me putting my kindle down for a moment and just staring at it in complete awe, thinking wow. The pure honesty with which it was written just blew my mind, and I knew I was in for a very special read.

The psychological elements were all used in the correct way, which made the graduate in me very happy, but it was also the very individual characteristics which Ginger Scott gave Avery’s son Max that made me really connect to this story. It can sometimes be so easy to fall into the trap of just lumbering a character with all the symptoms that their diagnosis can have, but instead the author created a realistic character who exhibited a lot of the symptoms of autism, enough to show that this was a true diagnosis, without making him a shell. He was a brilliantly developed character, and had his own interests, strengths and vices, and that made him so much more real to me, and a character that I loved from the start.

Avery is the kind of mother that every person wishes they could be. She’s devoted, strong and sacrifices a lot of her own needs and desires in order to protect and cater to all of her son’s needs. I loved the relationship that she had with Mason, and how the history between them made it hard for her to truly give her whole heart to him, and how she tried to create a distance between them in order to keep Max’s life as stable as possible. I loved their scenes together, and especially the scenes with the whole family, where we could see how this new balance brought out a new side to Max, which was beautiful to see.

This was an emotional, heartfelt read, that really punches the feel-good factor. It wasn’t an easy ride, but with the help of music, love, friends and family, there grew a wonderful story of hope, trust and overcoming the hardest obstacles of all, the worries of the heart.

5 stars, and a definite recommended read.

*Review copy was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

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Ginger Scott

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Book Blitz ~ ‘Handpicked’ by Dani Oden.

 

Handpicked by Dani Oden

Publication date: August 2014

Genres: Contemporary, New Adult

 

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SYNOPSIS

College freshman Jill Holloway takes one look at the stuck-up girls going through sorority rush and nearly returns her borrowed dress and heels. Against her best judgment, she ends up falling for the prestige and parties, and snagging a bid from a top house. After moving in, she quickly grows skeptical of her too-perfect sorority sisters. She tries to ask questions, though no one will take time from their busy social calendar to give her any real answers.

Jill wastes no time digging for everything she’s not supposed to find, and soon comes face-to-face with a big and bloody secret hidden in her sorority’s basement. She knows she’s in over her head, but taking off so soon would raise the perfectly-plucked eyebrows of her suspicious new sisters. She’s stuck until she can make a smooth exit.

But the closer she gets to leaving, the more it becomes clear that it won’t be as simple as she hoped. A tempting fraternity guy, a best friend who needs her, and new details about what has really been happening in the basement have her questioning what her next move should be, and whether or not it’ll be worth the risks.

HANDPICKED is a New Adult coming of age, with elements of suspense and romance.

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Under a moonlit, starless sky, I joined the crowd of passing girls who’d just been released from preference parties at neighboring sororities. Recruitment counselors lined the sidewalks, forbidding us from talking and herding us toward the biggest lecture hall on campus to fill out our preference cards. If I wasn’t in the middle of it, I would have thought that hundreds of dressed up young women walking silently in rows might seem a little creepy, but who was I to judge? I was one of them. One of us.

At the end of the block, below a streetlight, was a line of guys in dress pants and collared shirts. A couple of them were all disheveled and wrinkly, clearly out of their element in the nice clothes, though for the most part they were a hot bunch. I tried not to stare but one in particular, with grayish pants, a light blue shirt and a face that rivaled the boyband posters that hung in my old locker, was particularly difficult to look away from.

When the wave of girls I was with passed, they handed each of us a rose with a crookedly cut tag tied on with ribbon. My cheeks burned as the one in blue held his back as a few girls went by and then handed it directly to me, smiling.

I wanted to stop and say something, but the sea of girls behind me pushed me along, forcing me to keep walking. I settled for a smile, the best one I could muster through shaky lips and soggy eyes. Once I was down the block, I peeked at the tag hoping to see his name, but all it said was, Congratulations on completing rush, from the gentlemen of Nu Mu Chi. We hope to see you at our parties this year.

I made a mental note to go to every single one of them.

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‘On Writing’ with Dani Oden.

 

Where did your interest in writing come from?

My interest in writing goes wayyyy back. I have memories of dictating stories to my mom and then illustrating the pages she wrote with stick figures. I was around four or five at the time. When I got older, my dad had a home office so I’d go in at the end of his work day and use his typewriter to type up my stories. It was only a matter of time before it turned into something bigger!

 

How did you come up with the setting and plot for HANDPICKED?

HANDPICKED takes place in a university Greek system, with the majority of the action in a sorority house. I was a member of a sorority when I was in college and for me it was a fantastic experience. But, like everyone else, I’ve heard all the buzz about what people think happens behind their closed doors, so I wanted to explore the rumors, and both confirm and contradict some of the stereotypes.

Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?

Oh my gosh! This book was a great exercise in editing. The first draft was over 90,000 words, while the final version is just shy of 65,000.

Do you have any strange writing habits?

Building playlists for the project I’m working on! For HANDPICKED, I listened to a lot of Paramore, Alexz Johnson, Hey Monday and Marianas Trench. I try to find music that evokes the same moods I’m trying to create.

What was the toughest part about this process?

I had a few challenges with plotting HANDPICKED, but it was nothing compared to figuring out what I wanted to do after I finished it. I probably spent just as many hours writing it as I did researching independent publishing, traditional publishing, small presses, agents, etc. Ultimately, I’m happy with the decision I made to independently publish.

Do you have any advice for other writers?

Unplug your modem J

 

Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

THANK YOU for reading! And, please don’t be strangers – I can’t wait to hear from you!

 

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Dani Oden

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Book Blitz organised by Xpresso Book Tours.

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Sale Alert ~ ‘Flat Out Celeste’ by Jessica Park

Flat-Out Celeste by Jessica Park

Flat-Out Love #2

Genres: Romance, New Adult, Contemporary

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SYNOPSIS

Whether you were charmed by Celeste in Flat-Out Love or are meeting her for the first time, this book is a joyous celebration of differences, about battling private wars that rage in our heads and in our hearts, and—very much so— this is a story about first love..

For high-school senior Celeste Watkins, every day is a brutal test of bravery. And Celeste is scared. Alienated because she’s too smart, her speech too affected, her social skills too far outside the norm, she seems to have no choice but to retreat into isolation.

But college could set her free, right? If she can make it through this grueling senior year, then maybe. If she can just find that one person to throw her a lifeline, then maybe, just maybe.

Justin Milano, a college sophomore with his own set of quirks, could be that person to pull her from a world of solitude. To rescue her—that is, if she’ll let him.

Together, they may work. Together, they may save each other. And together they may also save another couple—two people Celeste knows are absolutely, positively flat-out in love.

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~ Amazon UK ~ Amazon US ~ B&N ~

Limited time $1.99 sale!

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Jessica Park

Jessica is the author of LEFT DROWNING, the New York Times bestselling FLAT-OUT LOVE (and the companion piece FLAT-OUT MATT), and RELATIVELY FAMOUS. She lives in New Hampshire where she spends an obscene amount time thinking about rocker boys and their guitars, complex caffeinated beverages, and tropical vacations. On the rare occasions that she is able to focus on other things, she writes.

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Book Blitz ~ ‘Stealing Third’ by Marta Brown.

 

Stealing Third by Marta Brown

Publication date: July 2014

Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance

 

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 SYNOPSIS

For Emily, going to camp, the summer before college starts, means leaving her feuding parents alone for the next eight weeks, and coming back to divorce papers is a risk she can’t take.

But no matter how many meddling phone calls, questionable hair decisions, and possibly illegal hookups she plans, her parents still march her off to Camp Champ totally against her will.

No matter. A few broken rules, and Em will be home free. That is, until she learns Tyler Ford, her baseball coach father’s star player and her drunken party hookup, is at camp, too.

For Tyler, summer is the onramp to the biggest decision of his life: med school or major leagues. Mega hot, possibly underage Emily? A complication he does not need.

But as the summer heats up with strikeouts and stolen bases will Tyler and Emily hit a home run and get what they’re after? Or will they both be thrown a curveball…in the game of love?

 

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Emily

Tyler’s question catches me off guard, since getting in trouble on purpose is all I’ve been trying to do since I arrived at camp, but right now, that’s not why I’m here. Unless giving Tyler hell can get me in trouble.

“Well?” Tyler asks. His breath, minty and cool, rushes over my face, reminding me just how close we are. “If you’re not here to see Todd, then what are you doing here?” His jaw is tense and flexes as he stares at me.

I bite my lip, unsure how to answer now that I’m here and we’re standing so close I can feel the soft fabric of his Henley brush against my slightly sunburned skin.

Tired of all the games we’re playing, I drop my eyes to the ground and fidget with the frayed hem of my jean shorts. “I…I came to see you,” I admit, trying to keep an edge of anger in my voice, but it comes out sounding exactly the way I feel. Vulnerable.

“Why?” he whispers, angling his head so our foreheads almost touch, the space between us so small I worry he can hear my heart thudding in my chest.

I swallow hard. Why am I here?

My mind races with the excuses I used to justify stomping over here—but with his body so close, and his eyes so intense—flirting with Jenny right in front of my face, or teasing me on the dock, or his antics on the field when I could have sworn he was about to kiss me, all seem irrelevant.

The truth is—I wanted to see him.

“I came to…uh…wait—” I know why I stomped over here to see him, mad, and jealous, and determined to stop this game we keep playing, but why is he so mad? Because I’m breaking the rules? Or is it because of something else?

Putting a hand on my hip, I pull away so I can see his face, hoping I’ll find an answer there. “Why do you care if I was here to see Todd or not?”

Tyler blinks like the question has thrown him off guard. He steps backwards and rakes his hands through his hair, taking with him the heat from his body, and sending a chill up my arm in its absence. “You should go, Emily.” The intensity in his stare at war with his words.

“Why?” I take a step towards him, wanting to feel his body close to mine again, wishing he’d tell me to stay.

“Emily.” It’s a plea.

I press again. “Tell me? Why would you care if I was here to see Todd?”

Tyler drops his hands to his sides, sucks in a deep breath, and then lets it out in one quick push of air. “Because the idea of him kissing you, or touching you, or even being near you infuriates me,” he says so deep, and quiet, it comes out more like a growl.

My breath catches as I stare into his eyes—and unlike today on the field—this time he doesn’t hesitate.

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~ Amazon UK ~ Amazon US ~ B&N ~

 

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~ YouTube ~

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Marta Brown

 

Marta Brown grew up in the Pacific Northwest and was a teenager when Doc Martens, Pearl Jam and flannel were the norm and Dylan loved Kelly forever. (Beverly Hills 90210 shout out)

She still lives just outside Seattle, now with her husband and cat, and loves the rain.

When she’s not writing about cute boys, first kisses and the magic and wonder of being seventeen, she’s watching The CW. And she sleeps in. Late.

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Book Blitz organised by Xpresso Book Tours.

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