Sorcha O'Dowd's Blog, page 50
February 24, 2014
Cover Reveal ~ ‘Tattoo’ by Cambria Hebert.
Tattoo by Cambria Hebert
(Take It Off #7)
Publication date: March 10th 2014
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult
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SYNOPSIS
***This is a new adult contemporary novel and contains sexual content and graphic language. It is not intended for young adult readers.***
A tattoo gets them in trouble… He will get them out.
After years of cultivating an undercover identity, Brody West is finally off the case and free to live a life of his own. All that time spent in the company of criminals and killers left him a little jaded… and with an identity crisis. He isn’t sure who he is anymore, or who he wants to be.
To give him time to think, he takes a few days off to go fishing. On his way out of town, he makes a routine stop at the bank and finds himself flirting with the girl behind the counter.
But his flirtation is cut short when criminals burst into the bank and shoot her right before his eyes.
In attempt to administer first aid, Brody reveals a tattoo on his upper arm. A mark that will drag him and the girl into the kind of situation he was trying to get away from. But he can’t walk away because he’s the only thing capable of keeping Taylor alive and bringing down the guys who shot her—guys who are seriously dangerous.
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Cambria Hebert
Cambria Hebert is the author of the young adult paranormal Heven and Hell series, the new adult Death Escorts series, and the new adult Take it Off series. She loves a caramel latte, hates math and is afraid of chickens (yes, chickens). She went to college for a bachelor’s degree, couldn’t pick a major, and ended up with a degree in cosmetology. So rest assured her characters will always have good hair. She currently lives in North Carolina with her husband and children (both human and furry) where she is plotting her next book. You can find out more about Cambria and her work by visiting http://www.cambriahebert.com
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~ Facebook ~ Goodreads ~ Pinterest ~ Twitter ~ Website ~
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Cover Reveal organised by Xpresso Book Tours.
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February 22, 2014
Book Blitz ~ ‘RecruitZ’ by Karice Bolton.
RecruitZ by Karice Bolton
(Afterworld #1)
Publication date: December 27th 2013
Genres: New Adult, Post-Apocalyptic
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SYNOPSIS
Scientists are the new rock stars. The infection has been contained for nearly three months, and the world is celebrating. But humans are still dying. Rebekah Taylor has seen it firsthand. Her husband was killed right in front of her by the very creatures that humans were told they no longer had to fear.
Rebekah is determined to find out who is responsible for the death of her husband and the obvious cover-up. Fueled with revenge, she begins to find answers that lead to one frightening conclusion. The apocalypse might be over, but the battles are just beginning.
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During this Book Blitz event, ‘Recruitz’ will be having a flash sale!
Grab your copy now for only $.99!
~ Amazon UK ~ Amazon US ~ B&N ~ Kobo ~
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I sat in the passenger seat horrified, but I didn’t dare drag my gaze away. The world had been told zombies no longer threatened human existence. Yet I was staring at an onslaught of them taking slow, deliberate steps toward our vehicle. We had barely pulled into our driveway when the horde descended out of nowhere.
I managed to slide my fingers along the door to the electric lock. I didn’t know why I thought that would save us. The undead had never let a lock deter them before. I looked around our house and it looked untouched. These creatures were only in our yard, coming for us at a most vulnerable time.
Gavin attempted to take the car out of auto-drive, pressing the buttons frantically and commanding it with voice controls. The car only responded with words. We didn’t control it. The car controlled us.
“Pedestrians within minimum safe distance,” the car said, acknowledging Gavin’s attempts to drive us out of danger.
No shit! We want to run the pedestrians over.
Tiny beads of sweat began forming at my hairline as I watched Gavin repeatedly engage and disengage various controls. Nothing would let us override the car’s safety features.
Gavin’s foot pressed on the accelerator trying to override the computer system, but the car still refused to budge. His foot slid off the pedal, and he quickly replaced it.
Damn these self-driving cars!
The engine red-lined with each attempt from Gavin’s override, but the brain of the car overruled Gavin’s actions with every rev of the motor. Gavin kept shaking his head as his finger slid up and down the dashboard. He glanced at me, his green eyes connecting with mine. I didn’t want to believe what I saw behind them so I turned to look out the window.
I gripped the console as I watched the twitches and spasms of the zombies’ movements closing in on us. They were everywhere…the grass, the sidewalk, the driveway. There was no mistaking the rotting, grey flesh that exposed the muscle and bone of the undead. They were something I’d run from countless times, but this time we had nowhere to run. The undead had us trapped. They would rip us to shreds in an instant.
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Today we have Karice Bolton talking about ‘RecruitZ’
Thank you so much for having me! I’m so excited to share a bit about my latest series, The Afterworld! RecruitZ was a blast to write, and I’m loving Alibiz just as much!!
Do you watch Zombie movies?
I LOVE zombie movies! I’ve watched far more zombie movies than I’ve read zombie books. I probably shouldn’t mention that though! Oops!! Some of my favorite zombie flicks are Shaun of the Dead, Zombieland, and World War Z.
You generally write contemporary and paranormal romance. Is there any romance in The Afterworld Series?
I do generally write stories that are heavy on romance, but with the Afterworld Series the story doesn’t allow for it right away. It wouldn’t be natural. However, a glimmer of something does surface in RecruitZ and it will continue to flourish through the series. But it will definitely not be the main part of the story.
What is your favorite scene in RecruitZ?
I have so many! I loved the Zombie Pit scene and all the scenes where Rebekah kicks butt, which is often.
Thanks again for allowing me to stop by!
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Enter below for the chance to win!
Prizes;
-$10 Amazon Gift Card + a zombie kit (incl. an I heart Zombies tee and some other zombie things).
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Karice Bolton
Karice Bolton lives in the Pacific Northwest and is a writer of Young Adult and New Adult books. She loves to read anything and everything. She also enjoys baking, skiing, and spending time with her wonderful husband and two English bulldogs.
Books currently available:
*Beyond Love Series: Beyond Control (Book 1) Beyond Doubt (Book 2) Beyond Reason (Book 3) – Feb. 28th
*Afterworld Series: RecruitZ (Book 1)
*The Witch Avenue Series: Lonely Souls (Book 1), Altered Souls (Book 2), Released Souls (Book 3) Shattered Souls (Book 4)
*The Watchers Trilogy: Awakening (Book 1), Legions (Book 2), Cataclysm (Book 3), Taken Novella (Watchers Prequel)
*The Camp
Karice would love if you stopped by her blog or FB page to find out the latest news on giveaways and upcoming releases, or you can just send her an email. She loves hearing from her readers and responds as soon as she can.
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~ Facebook ~ Goodreads ~ Twitter ~ Website ~
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Book blitz organised by Xpresso Book Tours.
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February 21, 2014
Book Blitz ~ ‘Lost In Us’ by Layla Hagen.
Lost in Us by Layla Hagen
Publication date: February 17th 2014
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance
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SYNOPSIS
Serena has learned to live with her past, locking her secrets and nightmares deep inside her. But when her boyfriend of six years abruptly leaves her, she’s catapulted back into pain, nursing a broken heart. When indulging in mountains of chocolate doesn’t work, Serena decides the best way to deal with her shattered heart is to indulge in something else. A rebound . . .
The night she swaps her usual Sprite for tequila, she meets James. The encounter is breathtaking.
Electrifying.
And best not repeated.
James is a successful entrepreneur in Silicon Valley. A man who has amassed a fortune by taking risks. A man who has shunned commitment completely, and still does. He’s the exact opposite of Serena. But sometimes opposites attract. Sometimes they give in to burning passion. Sometimes opposites are perfect for each other.
James is everything her damaged soul could want. His kisses are intoxicating, his touch out of this world. He makes her forget. He grants her peace from her pain. But as they grow closer, Serena discovers she isn’t the only one with a past. James carries the scars of a past much darker than hers. One that has left him damaged, hurt, and wary of love. A past that gives him the power to shatter her.
Now James and Serena must find a way to mend one another. Or risk losing each other forever.
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Random facts about me and Lost in Us:
James was initially called Liam. . .because I had a crush on Liam Hemsworth. I got over it in the meantime (am now crushing on his brother Chris)
I love chocolate as much as Serena does. Unfortunately I can’t get away with eating as much of it as she does.
I wrote a *certain* steamy scene on a piece of paper—on the back of which I then printed an official letter. Which I sent. Oh, the joy of being a writer
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Enter below for the chance to win a $100 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
(Open Internationally)
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Layla Hagen
My name is Layla Hagen and I am a New Adult Contemporary Romance author.
I fell in love with books when I was nine years old, and my love affair with stories continues even now, many years later.
I write romantic stories and can’t wait to share them with the world.
And I drink coffee. Lots of it, in case the photo didn’t make it obvious enough
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~ Facebook ~ Goodreads ~ Twitter ~ Website ~
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Book Blitz organised by Xpresso Book Tours.
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February 20, 2014
Book Review ~ ‘Where Life Takes You’ by Claudia Y. Burgoa.
Where Life Takes You by Claudia Y. Burgoa
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SYNOPSIS
BECCA TRENT LIVED HER CHILDHOOD NEXT TO A CRUEL WOMAN—her mom—who lived to torment and neglect her. During her high school years, her mother married; bringing home not only a new husband, but a step sister her same age. The latter took over her Mom’s role—making Becca’s life miserable. Including stealing Ian—Becca’s best friend and boyfriend—Lisa treated her worse than her mother had for the previous fifteen years. A couple years later, thing ended up in tragedy.
Becca buried that part of her life in the deep corners of her psyche, caught between sanity and nightmares. Between therapy, work and her constantly looming past she can’t seem to find room to breathe. The memories of her late step-sister, Lisa, are her closest company.
Her best friend, Dan gives her that family love she always lacked. Everything was close to perfect, until everything and everyone from her past came back. Now she’s trying to figure out how to survive and keep that bond which seems now to be held together by a thread.
Note: This is the first part of a two book noveL.
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Book Review ~ ‘Where Life Takes You’ by Claudia Y. Burgoa ~ 4.5 Stars!
It’s taken me a while to put together my thoughts about this really incredible story. It’s a real emotional rollercoaster which I know many readers will not be able to stop thinking about long after they turn the last page. I love these psychological reads, and am awestruck by how well Claudia Burgoa delivered such a poignant, heartbreaking and truly captivating read.
I loved the characters that we were introduced to, and how each and every one had a huge impact on the person that Becca had become, the person she desperately wanted to leave in the past, and the person she wanted to become in the future. The diary scenes in which we read of Becca’s past and the emotional trauma she suffered through the hands of her step-sister, which has shaped the person she became later in life, made my hairs stand up on end. The blunt writing style in which Becca writes to her step-sister Lisa, not afraid to admit that the pain and anguish she had inflicted on her had made her half the person she could have been. It was psychologically captivating and I applaud the author for her intense writing style which made these parts of the chapters so memorable and praying on my mind as a reader many days after I finished the book.
Dan’s character was a real winner, and his devotion to Becca and his need to give her everything she could wish for broke my heart. Whilst Becca loved and appreciated Dan, I knew that she wouldn’t be able to give her whole heart to him fully until she learned to love herself after the trauma of her past. I felt devastated for her when we hear the full story of what happened to her at the hands of her step-sister, and how even those she loved the most betrayed her when it came down to a choice between her and Lisa. The way this left psychological scars on Becca was portrayed to perfection, and I felt angry at certain characters from Becca’s past, namely ex-boyfriend Ian who left her for Lisa, for making her feel guilt for things that were not her fault.
The ending was bittersweet, and whilst I normally cry when I don’t get my happy ending, with this book I knew that this ending was the best for all the characters. I knew that Becca could only give her heart to Dan when she let her heart be whole, and not cracked and stained from her traumatic past, and I felt content in the knowledge that Dan would not move on to another relationship easily, despite Becca encouraging him to do so. I felt sure that Dan would wait for Becca to find herself and they could finally get their happy ending (I hear that there will be a second book in this series, so I’d like to see if I’m right).
I erred between giving this book 4 and 5 stars, so I’ve decided upon 4.5. The only reason for this is because there were a few inconsistencies in the earlier parts of the book which had me a little confused, such as Becca saying that her step-brother hated her despite them having made up when they saw each other over the holidays. But even with a few minor things like that, I absolutely adored this book and can’t wait to see how Becca and Dan’s story continues in the next book.
4.5 Stars!
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Claudia Y. Burgoa
~ Facebook ~ Goodreads ~ Twitter ~ Website ~
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Review copy kindly provided through Xpresso Book Tours Review Opportunity.
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February 19, 2014
Blog Tour ~ ‘This Much is True’ by Katherine Owen.
This Much Is True by Katherine Owen
Publication date: August 11th 2013
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance
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SYNOPSIS
Fate brings them together
Fame & lies keep them apart
One truth remains…She’s become the Paly High girl with the most tragic story…
At 17, Tally Landon just wants to graduate and leave for New York to pursue ballet. Her best friend Marla convinces her to attend one last party—a college party—where she can be among strangers and evade the whisperings about her heartbreaking loss of her twin that follows her everywhere she goes. She meets Lincoln Presley, Stanford’s famous baseball wonder and has a little fun at his expense—when she lies about her age and who she really is—intent on being someone else for the night and escaping her tragic story.His only focus is baseball, but he can’t forget the girl he saved on Valentine’s Day…
At 22, Lincoln Presley’s star is on the rise—about to finish at Stanford and expected to be taken early in Major League Baseball’s upcoming draft—his cousin’s party serves as a welcome distraction. But then, he sees the girl from Valentine’s Day that he saved from that horrific car accident and can’t quite hide his disappointment when she appears to look right through him and not remember him at all. He vows to learn her name at least before he leaves. What’s the harm in getting to know this girl? What’s the worst that can happen?
They share this incredible connection, but fate soon tests these star-crossed lovers in all kinds of ways…
And yet, despite the lies being told to protect the other, and the trappings of fame that continually separate them, and in lieu of the deception by those they’ve come to trust the most; one truth remains.
This much is true.
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~ Amazon UK ~ Amazon US ~ B&N ~ Kobo ~ Apple iBookstore/iTunes ~
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Book Review ~ ‘This Much is True’ by Katherine Owen ~ 5 Stars!
Reading ‘This Much Is True’ was such a heartfelt and stunning experience. From the beautiful writing style that blew me away from the first page, to the fantastic character and story development that kept me hooked throughout, this really was a very special book, but beware, you are in for a hard, long, tear-jerking, rage-filled, heartbreaking journey. But I would not have missed it for the world!
I connected immediately to the characters whose story I would be following. Katherine Owen very cleverly crafted this novel so that we witness the pain of the past alongside our heroine Tally Landon. I never felt any anger or annoyance towards Tally throughout the years that the novel covered. She loses her twin sister in a car accident, an accident of which Tally escapes with her life, but broken from the loss of her other half. I knew that it would be a hard, long road for Tally to become her own person. I loved how Tally escaped her pain by pretending to be her sister. It really made me think of the psychological trauma that Tally suffered, and how pretending to be Holly helped keep her alive, as well as helped Tally feel more confident and more perfect by acting like the sister she thought was always the better one.
Our introduction to Linc was superb. I loved the instant connection they shared, the way that they opened up to each other, even whilst keeping an emotional distance. The relationship that they built, and the way it continued on through every day of their life, even when they were parted, with other people, and fighting their own battles, as they thought of each other, and felt bereft at having lost something so wonderful before it could ever really start.
There is some real emotional issues that are raised in this novel, and I don’t want to spoil any of them for potential readers because they really held a huge wow factor. There were so many times that I cried and felt my heart ripping in two. There was times that I really debated putting the book down, knowing that as I suffer from depression, this extraordinary but emotional journey may just be too much for me to cope with. I was constantly tempted to check goodreads reviews to see whether Tally and Linc would get their happily ever after (This is from the girl that lined up for the last Harry Potter book at midnight with her fingers in her ears to avoid any of the buyers in front of her telling her the ending!).
But I persevered, and boy was it worth it! Even in the darkest parts of the books, when Tally and Linc’s lives became so far removed from each other, the powerful writing style just kept me reading, determined to get through this journey and see the outcome of these characters.
There were characters I loved, characters I empathised, characters I admired, and there were those that I loathed. I was always firmly on Tally’s team throughout the novel even when her decisions broke my heart. I felt angry at those who took advantage of Tally’s pain, and used guilt-trips to get to her. Rob in particular was a character that I disliked from the get go. Being Holly’s boyfriend before she died, I felt ashamed of him when he began a relationship with Tally, a girl identical to his dead girlfriend. Whilst Tally grieved for her sister, I understood her desire to be with Rob, as though her being with him would keep Holly alive, and would give Holly the chance at a future with Rob through Tally. It was Rob’s insistence that it had ‘always been Tally’ that upset and infuriated me, insinuating that Holly was an unimportant part of his past. I felt so desperate for Tally to escape from his grasp, and wished more than anything that Tally could be with Linc, if only to see how much she was worth, and that Rob’s desire to keep her to himself, made her less able to be the amazing person she had the potential to be.
This story was a rocky one, with highs and lows, moments of pure bliss, and then utter heartbreak, but throughout it all I kept hold of the hope I had that Tally would be reunited with Linc and that as a family they could overcome anything. This book really is a gem, and it is one that has wowed me in so many ways. There are some beautiful storylines entwined within Tally and Linc’s journey to find themselves, and each other, and I haven’t even hinted at one of the monumental storylines that will break your heart and take your breath away. I wouldn’t want to spoil that amazing story for anyone.
If you are looking for a book with raw emotion, loss, love and the power of hope, then this is the book for you! A 5 star read!
WARNING: Have a box of tissues handy…
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Enter below for the chance to win one of 3 Paperback copies of ‘This Much is True’
Giveaway open internationally, but book can be signed if the winner is in the US.
Good Luck!
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Katherine Owen
Dark. Edgy. Contemporary. Romantic. Were we describing me? Or my fiction? Sorry. I drink too much…coffee, not enough water. I swear too much for God and my mother, and I slip these into my fiction. Sorry. I’m impatient, a perfectionist, a wordsmith, a dreamer, which ends up being good and bad. I’m a workaholic; ask my fam-dam-ily. I’ve written four novels in as many years: SEEING JULIA, NOT TO US, & WHEN I SEE YOU, as well as my latest release THIS MUCH IS TRUE. If you love angsty, unpredictable love stories, I’m yours.
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~ Facebook ~ Goodreads ~ Twitter ~ Website ~
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Tour organised by Xpresso Book Tours.
Click the banner above to follow the ‘This Much is True’ blog tour.
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February 18, 2014
Blog Tour ~ ‘The Rain Trilogy’ by Karen-Anne Stewart!
‘The Rain Trilogy’ by Karen-Anne Stewart
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance
Review for ‘Saving Rain’ by Karen-Anne Stewart
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***Disclaimer: Due to sensitive issues of abuse, human trafficking, and adult scenes, The Rain Trilogy is intended for readers 18+
Saving Rain (The Rain Trilogy #1)
SYNOPSIS
Raina has tried to forget her past, forget the pain, but when she finds herself staring straight into the fury blazing in her ex-boyfriend’s eyes, her dark past comes rushing back. Furious with herself for actually having chosen someone like her father, she uses that anger to her advantage and fights for her life…and for her future that she prays will involve the man she can’t seem to get out of her head. Kas is a natural leader, a fierce fighter, the type of man you send in when you need to get the job done. He is a courageous hero who is used to risking his own life to save others, but can he save the one who has captured his heart from her horrific past and the men who are hell-bent on destroying her? As Kas and Raina try to navigate through the twists and turns of a deviously intelligent human trafficking group, they find solace in each other’s arms. Can they infiltrate the trafficker’s tight ring, saving the innocent lives from imminent danger before it’s too late?
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Healing Rain (The Rain Trilogy #2)
SYNOPSIS
Shattered when Raina runs after his marriage proposal, Kas is hell-bent to find her and bring her home, where she belongs. He will bend every law necessary to do so, willing to do anything to protect Raina from her demons and the men who haunt her, going as far as placing his career and life on the line to save hers. Raina will give up everything she has worked so hard to achieve, even flee the country to keep Kas from the wrath and powerful reach of her abusive father.
In the midst of the FBI team closing in on the Ghost, another ghost from Raina’s past taunts her, promising that she will be his. Meanwhile, a different trafficking ring is gaining strength in New Jersey. Michael solicits Raina’s help, needing her smooth, sultry voice to win the audition for the new singer in the ring leader’s swanky night club. Raina knows her life is in jeopardy with the dangers of being undercover, but she is blindsided when she discovers that it’s her heart that is threatened with a mortal blow.
Raina tries to heal from the nightmares of her dark past as the grisly bodies of innocent victims surface when the team gets closer to discovering the identity of the man responsible for the infuriatingly clever and powerful slavery ring. When Raina finally comes face to face with the Ghost, he quickly engulfs her in a twisted game of cat and mouse, delivering a veiled threat as he slips through her fingers. As the ghosts of her past and present ensnare her in their deadly web, Raina realizes the danger has just begun.
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After the Rain (The Rain Trilogy #3)
SYNOPSIS
Finally able to put her harrowing past to rest, Raina looks forward to her future with Kas, but the Ghost has other plans. As the FBI team gets closer to taking down the largest human trafficking ring in the modern world, the Ghost begins a wicked game, making Raina the pawn and the target. Never before encountering a worthy adversary, he’s fascinated by Raina and is enjoying the refreshing challenge of her intellect.
The danger ignites to a blazing new level, and Kas struggles between the need to finally exorcise the Ghost and his need to protect his wife. Tension mounts as an internal battle wages, tormenting Kas as he watches Raina put her all into taking down the man responsible for horrific sex slavery and gruesome deaths. When a new player takes control, Jefferson orders the end of the Ghost’s game with Raina, which results in one final, devastating act, leaving Kas desperate and willing to do whatever it takes to save her…by whatever means necessary.
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~ Amazon UK ~ Amazon US ~ B&N ~
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Book Review ~ ‘Saving Rain’ by Karen-Anne Stewart
(The Rain Trilogy #1)
Little I say in this review will live up to how much I adored and, still now, cherish this book. There was something about it that made it so memorable in comparison to many books that tackle similar issues, and this one is just up there at the top with it’s gorgeous characters, realistic character and story development and beautiful prose which swept me away.
Kas and Raina are characters that felt very real to me from the first page. I adored how Karen-Anne Stewart introduced us to these characters after they had already been aquainted, and whose troubles had already started and been a source of worry to the other. At first I thought I had started reading the second book instead of the first, feeling as though I was missing something, but within a few pages I understood the authors intent and absolutely loved entering the book right at the centre of the action. I loved guessing at who the characters were and what they meant to each other, and as little tidbits were given to us whilst we see Kas waiting in the hospital for news on Raina, I felt the added drama and suspense creep into the story because of this clever way of starting the story.
The back-story of this book was very much focused on abuse in many different settings, and the struggles that victims have to face to overcome their demons and put their trust in someone else. Raina was a fantastic heroine for this story. She was strong yet vulnerable and it made the burning romance between her and Kas have an almost ill-fated kind of foreshadowing, but one that intrigued and pulled you in, rather than making you feel scared for them. The author did a fantastic job at making their happy ending seem only just out of reach, but making us feel so sure of Kas’ character that we know without a doubt that he would fight to the very end to call Raina his own, and to protect her from her horrific past. I can’t even express how much I loved their relationship, how sweet it was, how loving and how much they both cherished their time together. Whenever I think of Kas and Raina now I always smile as the beauty and utter devotion they showed to each other, even before their relationship became romantic, just blew me away. Although I admit I often swoon at the bad-boys with a heart of gold, Kas was up there on his own level as such a perfect gentleman and being so genuine and supportive without being too much of an alpha-male unless it came to Raina’s safety.
Raina’s past was heartbreaking and to see the struggle she faced to put that past behind her really hit home the message of parental abuse. It reminds us that not everything is as it seems, and even the most seemingly loving of parents may hide a dark secret. The ending of this book just made the situation seem more real and showed the harsh reality of how abusers isolate their victims so that they have nowhere and no one to run to.
The sex trade storyline was one that had me so angry, which just highlights how brilliantly Karen-Anne Stewart wrote this story. It was heartbreakingly realistic and gave me a real resolve to one day work with victims of sex-trafficking, which is something I wanted to do when I was at university. I always love the nitty gritty psychological issues that are hinted at throughout these kind of stories and the author entwined these so well within the story, pacing the development of Raina’s trust in telling her secrets to Kas just perfectly. I liked that there were some backward steps in her recovery process, and how not everything worked out the second after she began to open up. She had relapses and fell back into old patterns due to her fear, something that we see in the last chapter of this book. It was so well done that I felt Raina’s pain as a real person, rather than her just being a character. I was so glad that her recovery will take a more realistic route, with improvements and lapses, just as any recovery road takes.
This was an absolute stunner of a book. I adored every second of it, and was left with a warm feeling inside as I added the next two books in the series to my wish list (hurry up pay-day!). The characters will have to fight to get their happy ending, but I have no doubt that it will be a beautiful and heart-felt fight nonetheless.
5 Stars!
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Karen-Anne Stewart
Karen-Anne Stewart has always adored reading and has now fallen in love with writing. Her written works are The Rain Trilogy: Saving Rain, Healing Rain, and After the Rain. Her debut novel, Saving Rain: The First Novel in The Rain Trilogy, was a nominee for the Book Junkie’s Choice Awards and is a nominee for the 2013 RONE Awards.When Karen-Anne isn’t writing, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, hiking, and visiting new places. She fuels her addiction of creating new stories by her only other addiction, caffeine, and listening to a myriad of musical genres. Tucked away near the Blue Ridge Mountains, Karen-Anne lives with her husband, daughter, two dogs, and their cat. She plans on writing new adult romance as long as her fingers maintain dexterity.
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~ Facebook ~ Goodreads ~ Twitter ~ Website ~
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Tour hosted by Xpresso Book Tours.
Click the banner above to follow ‘The Rain Trilogy’ Blog Tour.
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February 17, 2014
Release Day Blast ~ ‘A Love Stolen’ by Ella Jade.
A Love Stolen by Ella Jade
Release Day – Feb 17
Genres: Erotic, Contemporary, Romance
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SYNOPSIS
Can time forgive the mistakes of the past?
After a six year absence, Lila Crofton has returned to her hometown of Steeple to bury her father. Hopefully she can avoid Trevor Matheson, her ex-boyfriend, long enough to take care of her business and get back to the city. With everything she’s dealing with the last thing she needs is to run into the man who betrayed her and broke her heart.
Recently divorced Sheriff Trevor Matheson is picking up the pieces of his life. When his high school sweetheart, Lila, returns to Steeple, Trevor sees it as a sign. He’s getting over a failed marriage and she’s grieving the loss of her dad. They need one another. The timing couldn’t be more perfect. But can they move past the events that tore them apart six years ago?
Is there a second chance in their future, or is their stolen love gone forever?
Content Warning: contains graphic sex and strong language
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Ella Jade
Ella Jade has been writing for as long as she can remember. As a child, she often had a notebook and pen with her, and now as an adult, the laptop is never far. The plots and dialogue have always played out in her head, but she never knew what to do with them. That all changed when she discovered the eBook industry. She started penning novels at a rapid pace and now she can’t be stopped.
Ella resides in New Jersey with her husband and two young boys. When she’s not chasing after her kids, she’s busy writing, attending PTO meetings, kickboxing, and scrapbooking. She hopes you’ll get lost in her words.
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Ella loves connecting with readers. You can find her here…
~ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Website ~
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Release day blast organised by ‘We Love Kink’.
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February 16, 2014
Cover Reveal ~ ‘Fighting For Love’ by L.P. Dover.
Fighting for Love by L.P. Dover
(Second Chances #4)
Publication date: March 9th 2014
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance
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SYNOPSIS
Fighting for someone’s heart is more challenging than fighting for a title.
For a time, many years ago, love had grown, love was made, and in the end … love was lost. The decision to leave had been the worst mistake Shelby Dawson could have ever made. However, at the time—ten years ago—she felt her secret needed to stay hidden, even if it broke her heart and the heart of the man she loved. Back then, he was all hers and she was all his, but now things have changed and he isn’t the same guy she knew.
He happens to be the well-known MMA Heavyweight champion and famous bad boy, Matt ‘The Destroyer’ Reynolds, who once before struggled to help his family pay the bills. Now, he has money flowing with each undefeated win and an insurmountable number of women filling his bed. Everything is perfect for the illustrious fighter, until one day it all changes. In walks the girl from his past, the same girl who promised to stick by him but left and never looked back.
Their second chance to make things right will not come easy, for when one mistake is made an unwelcome consequence soon follows. Someone out there wants to rip them apart and they won’t stop until Matt and Shelby pay the ultimate price … their love.
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L.P. Dover.
USA Today Bestselling author, L.P. Dover, is a southern belle residing in North Carolina along with her husband and two beautiful girls. Before she even began her literary journey she worked in Periodontics enjoying the wonderment of dental surgeries.
Not only does she love to write, but she loves to play tennis, go on mountain hikes, white water rafting, and you can’t forget the passion for singing. Her two number one fans expect a concert each and every night before bedtime and those songs usually consist of Christmas carols.
Aside from being a wife and mother, L.P. Dover has written over nine novels including her Forever Fae series, the Second Chances series, and her standalone novel, Love, Lies, and Deception. Her favorite genre to read is romantic suspense and she also loves writing it. However, if she had to choose a setting to live in it would have to be with her faeries in the Land of the Fae.
L.P. Dover is represented by Marisa Corvisiero of Corvisiero Literary Agency.
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Cover Reveal organised by Xpresso Book Tours.
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February 14, 2014
Blog Tour ~ ‘Rumor Has It’ by Elisabeth Grace.
Rumor Has It by Elisabeth Grace
(Limelight #1)
Publication date: December 6, 2013
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance
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SYNOPSIS
All publicity is good publicity, right? Unless you’re recent college grad Ellie Wagner and an embarrassing video of you and your boyfriend goes viral. Every man in your life abandons you, but who knew a one-minute clip of your latest doomed relationship would brand you a slut, prevent you from getting your perfect job, and force you to keep doing the one thing you swore you’d never do again…live with your mother.But staying with mom and her latest boy-toy (is this husband number four or five?) until your life turns around might not be all bad. Especially when you fall – literally – at the feet of a sexy, green-eyed stranger who offers you freedom and a life of luxury on a gold-rimmed platter.
There’s only one little problem – the man of your dreams is none other than Mason Nash, the latest hip-hop star busting up the music charts. Fame and fortune are his calling cards and he’s vying to steal the show on a new reality TV series that will catapult him into mainstream stardom. Hello spotlight.
The man behind the famous persona is perfect for Ellie in every way, but can she overcome the ugly pitfalls that come with Mason’s celebrity status? Or will she be forced to choose between the man she loves and the independent life she longs for? After all, fame and fortune aren’t always what they seem and not all publicity is good publicity…
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~ Amazon UK ~ Amazon US ~ B&N ~
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Book Review ~ ‘Rumor Has It’ by Elisabeth Grace ~ 5 Stars!
I was shocked whilst reading Rumor Has It to discover that this was Elisabeth Grace’s debut, it was just so well put together, so well paced, the characters so well developed that I was sure this was a very experienced writer. The use of simple yet powerful prose made this read an absolutely wonderful one, and I feel so privileged to have received this book as part of the ‘Rumor Has It’ blog tour.
This was a very different style of New Adult, which was so refreshing to read. The plot of rich famous popstar falls for girl next door in itself is one that has been written before, but the way that Elisabeth Grace approached this story was so brilliant with its complexity and uncertainty in pursuing a relationship falling on the side of our girl-next-door heroine, rather than the hero. I loved seeing the strength that Ellie had, and how she knew what she deserved in a relationship. I understood her reluctance to pursue an attachment with sexy-rapper Mason, and I was intrigued from the start about what the viral video of her and an ex-boyfriend was. I had worries about her being used in a sex-tape, dancing around drunkenly, getting into bitch fights, even knowing everything I did about her, and knowing that wasn’t the type of girl she was. It made me angry when potential employers turned her down on the basis of her having been in a viral video, and I thought it was very much pot calling the kettle black as they had decided to watch the viral video in the first place. I was firmly on team Ellie, and my main concern throughout the book was her being seen as the strong, deserving woman that she was. I was so relieved, and pretty annoyed for Ellie when I discovered what exactly the video was, and how unfairly people were treating her because of it.
Mason was a brilliant love interest for Ellie. The differences between the two really made me laugh, especially when Ellie disses some music in the car one time, not knowing that it was in fact his music, or that he is a rapper at all. I loved how Mason brought her out of her shell and was there for her through her bad moments, trying to convince her of her worth, and in turn Ellie stood by him when issues with his family came up, lending her support and faith in his actions as a brother and son.
I loved the side of the paparazzi that was shown in this book. It gives a real indication into just how biased the media is, and despite me not being a very big celebrity-follower anyway, it still made me take extra caution to avoid any gossip sites that spring up whilst internet browsing, as it makes clear that any word and picture can be taken out of context and the articles are given from the media’s point of view without an official statement being made by the parties involved.
I loved the drama in this story, and liked how the characters had to fight against what their heads and hearts were telling them. It truly was a beautiful story to read, with some great moments of humor, drama, romance and a brilliant message underlying it all, that celebrities are real people with real feelings and the paparazzi are invading their lives and sharing the contents of it in a skewed manner.
A brilliant story, that is perfect for anyone in need of a book with a heart-warming romance. 5 Stars!
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Enter below for the chance to win!
Prize: 2 signed paperbacks and 5 signed Rumor Has It bookmarks - open INTL
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Elisabeth Grace
I have a soft spot for romance novels with happily ever afters and a HOT spot for alpha males! I currently live outside Toronto, Canada with my hubby, two small children and cat spawned by the devil. Life is busy, but never to busy for a good story and to share my love of reading and writing with others. Things I can tell you that sum me up…I’m a sugar and carb addict, self-professed Gandy Girl, a disaster in the kitchen, a LOVER of all music, I enjoy reality TV and I’m an early riser! When I have a moment to breath you can usually find me typing furiously on the keyboard to get my next story on paper, or curled up reading about someone else’s HEA. The second book in my Limelight series, Picture Perfect, is set to release at the end of March 2014.
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Blog Tour organised by Xpresso Book Tours.
Click the banner above to follow the ‘Rumor Has It’ Blog Tour.
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February 12, 2014
Book Blitz ~ ‘The Star Catcher’ by Stephanie Keyes.
The Star Catcher by Stephanie Keyes
(The Star Child #3)
Publication date: November 10th 2013
Genres: Paranormal Romance, Young Adult
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SYNOPSIS
Magick and destiny intertwine as he fights to save his kingdom and the goddess he loves.
Her kiss…the feel of her skin…the beat of her heart…For seventeen-year-old Kellen St. James, each memory is marred by a single sentence on a lone strip of paper.
Cali has been taken…
Armed with an amulet that channels the ultimate power of Faerie, Kellen searches for his love. However, control of the amulet’s energy comes with a price, and Kellen soon learns that Cali’s captor has plans for the stone. With the threat of the Star Catcher’s evil looming above Kellen and his kingdom, he’ll have to free the Heart of Faerie and break the curse the binds the Children of Danu to the darkness. But before that, he has to find his real father, the king. No pressure, right?
Kellen and Cali will battle bewitched armies and unknown foes as they fight to stay together. Will Kellen embrace his immortal destiny? Or will his world, and the man he is fated to become, be destroyed by The Star Catcher?
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~ Amazon CA ~ Amazon UK ~ Amazon US ~ B&N ~
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“I thought I’d never see you again.” Cali’s voice sounded small.
“There’s so much to tell you, I don’t even know where to begin.”
“I know.”
“Marry me. For real this time.” The words came out in a rush, but I’d never wanted anything more. I didn’t plan on being apart from Cali ever again. “No Faerie attacks, no fleeing the country.” I didn’t know how to sum it up properly. “Just be mine.”
Cali smiled and pushed her warm body even closer against me. “Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.” Her yeses jumbled together as we kissed again. “I will marry you. I will.”
We had so much more to share, but I wouldn’t think past this moment, past today when I had Cali in my arms, finally, with our never-ending life lying ahead of us. I asked her to marry me. Promised it, in fact. I would keep my promise. Somewhere in the middle, I’d have to tell her the rest of what had happened. But today, in this infinitely glorious time, we were finally together again.
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Enter below for the chance to win some great prizes!
Prizes:
-1 Complete E-book Set of the Entire Star Child Series (INT)
-Multiple e-book Copies of The Star Catcher (INT)
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Stephanie Keyes.
Stephanie Keyes has been addicted to Fantasy since she discovered T.H. White as a child and started drumming up incredible journeys in her head. Today, she’s still doing the same thing, except now she gets to share those ideas with readers!
When she’s not writing, Stephanie is also a graphic designer, international speaker, teacher, musician, avid reader, and Mom to two little boys who constantly keep her on her toes. In addition, she’s best friend to her incredible husband of eleven years.
Mrs. Keyes holds an undergraduate degree in Business and Management Information Systems from Robert Morris University and a M.Ed. from Duquesne University. She is a member of the Society For Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), as well as a featured author in the global group of writers, Love a Happy Ending.com.
Keyes is the author of the YA Fantasy series, The Star Child, which currently includes The Star Child (September 2012) and The Fallen Stars (April 2013), both released by Inkspell Publishing. She is currently hard at work on the third book in the trilogy, The Star Catcher.
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Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter
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Book Blitz organised by Xpresso Book Tours.
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