Thursday, May 31, 2018

New Release & Giveaway: THE GIRL WHO KNEW DA VINCI by Belle Ami (Out of Time #1)

The Girl Who Knew Da Vinci Tour Graphic
THE GIRL WHO KNEW DA VINCI
Belle Ami

Series: Out of Time Series Book 1
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Thriller
Publisher: Tema N Merback
Publication Date: May 31, 2018
What she knows could kill her.
In the spirit of The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown and Shadows of the Stone Benders by K. Patrick Donoghue, The Girl Who Knew Da Vinci by Belle Ami unravels an unforgettable mystery.
Three destinies, one remarkable painting.
Will her visions lead her to the truth?
Art historian Angela Renatus is haunted by dreams of Leonardo da Vinci and a mysterious painting of Giuliano Medici and his mistress Fioretta Gorini. A painting that, as far as the world knows, doesn't exist. Compelled by her visions, Angela is determined to find out the truth.
When Angela is contacted by art detective, Alex Caine, she's shocked to learn that he too is seeking the same painting. Alex's client, a wealthy German financier, is determined to clear the name of his late uncle, Gerard Jaeger, an art historian, who went missing in Florence, during World War II. In letters written before his disappearance, the historian describes his love affair with a beautiful young Italian woman named Sophia Caro, and the discovery of an extraordinary painting by the great master himself-a painting depicting Giuliano and Fioretta.
Alex and Angela journey to Florence in search of the priceless treasure. Is it a lost da Vinci, potentially worth hundreds of millions of dollars, or a wild goose-chase that will only lead to a dead end? But someone else is searching for the illusive painting-Alberto Scordato is a powerful man in the art world and a sociopath who will stop at nothing to get what he wants, even murder. Scordato knows something about Angela that even she doesn't know, something that could threaten both Angela and Alex's lives, forcing them into the crosshairs of fate.

Purchase Links

Book Tour Schedule

Upcoming Book Tour from June 5 - 25, 2018.
Join us and visit each tour stop daily! Discover features, excerpts, reviews, interviews, fun facts and more. To check the latest tour schedule, visit the The Girl Who Knew Da Vinci Book Page at Book Unleashed.

About Belle Ami

Belle Ami writes intriguing romantic/suspense/thrillers with a teaspoon of sex. A self-confessed news junky she loves to create cutting-edge stories about politics, espionage, and redemptive love.
She is a Kathryn McBride scholar of Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania. Writing, cooking, spinning, hiking, boxing, and skiing are her passions.
She is the author of The Only One series, The One (#1), and The One & More (#2). Her third in the series titled One More Time is Not Enough, was published July 13th, 2016. She was honored to be included in the RWA LARA Christmas Anthology Holiday Ever After featuring her short story The Christmas Encounter. Her next series entitled The Tip of the Spear begins with Escape, published January 10, 2017. The sequel to Escape, entitled Vengeance was published September 12, 2017.
The Girl Who Knew da Vinci is her latest release. It's an intriguing romance/paranormal/thriller. She is currently working on book three of The Tip of the Spear Series, titled Ransom.
She lives in Southern California with her husband, two children, a horse named Cindy Crawford, and her brilliant Chihuahua, Giorgio Armani.

Giveaway!

WIN $25 GIFT CARD AND MORE
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Prizes up for grabs:
$25 Amazon Gift Card
Three (3) The Girl Who Knew Da Vinci (Paperback - US/Canada Only)
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Contest runs from May 31 - June 25, 2018.

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Wednesday, May 30, 2018

Cover Reveal: RIDE ME by Rebecca Brooke (Jaded Ivory Series)


Ride Me
Series: Jaded Ivory
Author: Rebecca Brooke
Genre: M/M Romance
Release Date: June 28, 2018
Cover Design: Sommer Stein at Perfect Pear



Regret. I’m a man living with regret. It eats at me night and day. 

Eight years ago, I ran from Reagan instead of facing the music. I was sure he would shut me out if he knew the truth, so I beat him to the punch. I left and never looked back.

Or at least I tried not to.

To this day, Reagan is always in the back of my mind, trying to make me remember the fun we had. I always wonder what he would have thought if I’d told him everything. 

The regret echoes in my head.

Now he’s standing in front of me, looking for answers I doubt he’s ready for.

Can Reagan accept me for who I really am?










Rebecca Brooke grew up in the shore towns of South Jersey. Writing has always been a love for her, as well as reading. She loves to hit the beach, but always with her kindle on hand. She is married to the most wonderful man, who puts up with all of her craziness. Together they have two beautiful children who keep her on her toes. Rebecca is the author of contemporary, new adult, and paranormal romance.





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Cover Reveal-PreOrder & Excerpt: FOREVER IN INK by Jude Ouvrard (Ink Series #4)


FOREVER IN INK
Ink Series Book 4

by Jude Ouvrard

Tuesday, May 29, 2018

New Release-Review & Excerpt: BREAK THROUGH by CF White (The District Line #2)



Blurb

Should falling in love really get in the way of your lifelong dreams? 

Sebastian Saunders is 3000 miles away from home. Working for his father’s expanded business in New York, he's left behind the music career he craved, the friends he relied upon and possibly the love of his life. In a city that never sleeps, how can the nights cure a broken heart? 

Jay Ruttman is in London, throwing himself harder into football and his quest to make it on the professional playing field. Locking himself back in the closet, how can he ever open the door, and his heart, again?

A chance encounter in New York where Jay and Seb rekindle their lost romance sets them both on a path to self-discovery and coming to terms with their past, their present and their future. 

This is the second part of the District Line serial, where half-time oranges are swapped for the Big Apple.


Excerpt

Jay inhaled a sharp breath, calming his nerves. Scraping a hand through his hair, he tried to get a hold on his over beating heart and the mush swirling in the pit of his stomach. He’d just bailed. On the team. Having landed, then ushered into the hotel, he’d then snuck out. Career suicide. But he had to. After listening to that iPod on repeat for eight hours straight, and going through all the old phone messages he hadn’t ever returned, he knew he couldn’t let this opportunity pass him by. Perhaps it was then a good thing when his phone had been ripped from his trembling hands by Bruno and shoved in the Skipper’s hotel room safe with cackling heckles from the rest of the lads. It meant he couldn’t call ahead, and gave him the perfect excuse to leave them to their team camaraderie and slink off out the back. But it also meant that he now had to do this in person. 

He peered up at the glass-fronted sky scraper that he’d managed to track down its whereabouts using the hotel’s free internet service, and licked his dry lips. Now he was here, he wasn’t sure he could go through with it. Maybe he should just turn on his heel, leap back in the cab that had brought him here and return to his team and training.

The yellow taxi skidded off from the roadside, joining the bustling Friday afternoon traffic in New York’s financial district. That felt like a shove to his back. So with a deep breath he pushed open the revolving doors and into the reception area. Scanning the residing business, he located the one he needed and bounded over to the turnstiles, managing to creep in behind some girl using a lanyard. Confidence. Like he belonged here. That should work, if he didn’t open his mouth to scratch the ceiling with his Cockney accent. 

“Which floor?” the suited girl asked with a broad smile as she stepped into the arriving elevator.

Sh*t. Jay followed after, then simply pressed the correct button. East End cheek could also work in these situations. He hoped. The elevator dinged and Jay stepped out and into a bustling office, separated by reception desk where a red-haired girl sat filing her nails. 

“Good afternoon, sir.” She slipped the emery board into her drawer and smiled all white teeth. “Welcome to Saunders & Son. How may I help you today?”

“Here to see Seb―Mr. Saunders.” His attempt at masking his accent failed through the trembling delivery. 

“Do you have an appointment?” 

“No, I just―”

“I’m terribly sorry, sir. Without an appointment, I can’t disturb him unless you are on his list.” 

“What list is that?”

“His VIP list. But even then, I probably shouldn’t―”

“Ruttman, Jay Ruttman.” A small smile curved Jay’s lips as Natalie rolled her finger down the names scrawled in pen on a torn piece of lined A4 paper. That handwriting, carefree and messy with circles over the i’s instead of dots, made Jay’s spine tingle.

“I’m very sorry, sir.” Natalie furrowed her brow. “But you’re not on the list. I’m going to have to ask you to make an appointment.” She swivelled in her chair and clicked a few buttons on her mouse. “How about next Thursday at two p.m.? He has a vacancy then.”

Jay’s heart thumped, his shoulders deflating. He’d been so close. He could almost taste the scent of Seb’s distinctive aftershave lingering in the air. And that gave him renewed vigour to keep trying. 

“How about I go knock on his door?”

“I can’t let you do that, sir. It really is more than my job’s worth.”

Jay glanced over Natalie’s head. “What if I guarantee you that he won’t mind?” He wasn’t sure he could guarantee that, what with having ignored Seb’s attempts at keeping in touch. Maybe this was Seb’s way of proving that Jay now meant nothing to him. That their time together was now a distant, forgotten, memory. Then the lyrics from the last song that he had listened to on the flight over rang in his ears. I’ll never forget the time…

“You’re not on the list, sir. This is my guarantee.” She waved the piece of paper in the air. “He’d fire me on the spot. He did it to Geena last month. And I need this job. It’s really good money.”

Jay scanned the office again, brain ticking over. He’d come this far. Regardless of his nerves, he had to try. He had to see for himself. Just one look will tell me if I’m wrong. He tugged out an envelope from his inside jacket pocket and waggled it. “How much is a week’s wages for ya, then?”

“What? Why?”

Jay opened the envelope, showing the wodge of American dollars wrapped up in a travel currency wallet. “There’s about five grand in there. How about I go knock and if you do get fired, you can keep it.” Being confident might make her think he’d be right, even if he wasn’t so sure himself.

Natalie gaped. Slowly, she reached over the desk, slid the envelope from Jay’s hand and flicked through the paper bills with a low whistle. “Okay.”

Nodding, Jay pushed open the hip-height barrier. With soft steps, he walked through the main office, focusing on the closed wooden oak door ahead displaying the name Mr. Sebastian Saunders, Partner, engraved on a brass plaque.

Natalie trotted after him as quickly as her tight pencil skirt would allow. Clutching the wallet of cash to her chest, she swallowed as Jay rapped his knuckles on the office door.

“F*ck off!” The reply barked through the wood.

Natalie raised her eyebrows and bit her manicured thumbnail. Jay cleared his throat, pressing down the brass handle and as he opened the door, Seb whipped his head up from the computer with a firm scowl across his lips.

“I know I ain’t on that special list of yours.” Jay’s heart beat a little faster as Seb’s gaze finally met his. “But I sorta hoped that was an oversight on your part.”

Seb blinked. “Jay?

Jay smiled. That look. He then angled his head back to Natalie peering in through the doorway. “I’ve given your receptionist five grand to be able to come in here and she not get the can. Don’t make me lose that cash. It’s all I got ‘til I get home.”

Seb’s mouth fell open. His fingers hovered over the keyboard, as if he were frozen to the spot. Eventually, he cleared his throat. “Natalie?”

“Yes, sir? I’m sorry, sir—”

“Close the door behind Mr. Ruttman, please, and divert all calls to the sh*tbag. I’m no longer available for the rest of the night.”

Jay’s smile grew, his cheeks hurting.

“Yes, sir. No problem, sir, and by sh*tbag I assume you mean Mr. Coles?”

“That’s right, Natalie. Thank you. Oh, and Natalie?”

“Yes, sir?”

“Mr. Ruttman would like his money back.”

“Oh right, yes, sir.” Natalie handed the envelope back to Jay and closed the door behind her swift exit.

Tucking the envelope into his inside jacket pocket, Jay’s stomach fluttered unbearably as Seb’s impenetrable brown doe-eyed stare landed on him.

“Now, Rutters, you best tell me how the f*ck you are here.” Seb stood, his chair rolling away on its wheels. “As I am hoping to f*ck this isn’t some dream. Because if it is, I don’t want to wake up.”

Jay smiled, his chest rising. “I made pro. West Ham. We’re playing the New York Red Bulls tomorra for a pre-season friendly.” He shrugged. “Thought I’d check you out while in the area. Rude not to. I’m actually skiving training to be here, which’ll probably land me back on the bench.”

“F*ck,” Seb breathed out, shaking his head as he smiled. “That f*cking accent.”

“Fancy hearin’ some more? If you ain’t busy?” He tucked his hands into his jeans pockets. “Might even say Babs for ya.”

Seb laughed, then switched his computer off at the mains. “Well, in that case.” He scooted around the desk and loosened the knot on his silk tie. “I better make this little rebellious stint of yours worth the while.”

Jay reached out, delicately brushing his fingers over Seb’s to prevent him ripping the tie off altogether. “Leave it.” He roamed his gaze up and down Seb’s suited attire. “Quite like it.”

Seb cocked his head. “Whatever you want, Champ.”


Carra's Review

Okay, first things first—if you haven’t read Kick Off, the first book in this series, you’ll want to make sure you read it first before starting Break Through.  This second book continues the relationship started between Seb and Jay in book one where things are left off on a cliffhanger at the end of that story, picking up not too long after the end of the first one.  I was a bit perturbed by the way things left off at the end of book one, none too happy with either Seb’s father or Seb’s ex, so I was ready to dig in to Break Through as soon as I could.

When things start out, Seb and Jay are still living their separate lives, each following the paths they originally expected to be on.  After as intense of a relationship as they shared in the first book, I was hoping for a lot more this second time around; I found that in spades, and honestly I loved this story more than the first one.  

It’s a case of getting what you want back when you shouldn’t have ever let it go, then not wanting to give it up again no matter the cost and being brave enough to stick to your choice even when things might go sideways on you.  I was proud of Seb and his words and actions, as well as Jay when it came to Seb’s ex.  The advancement of their relationship here was satisfying to watch, even as there was still enough doubt and tension introduced on both sides to keep me wondering if they would truly be able to make a go of it.

While Seb’s father didn’t factor as much into this story (though he still did some), Seb’s ex Stephen did—and if I wanted to slap him silly in book one, here in book two I was pretty much ready to strangle him…which made Jay’s handling of him all the more gratifying.  With Jay still needing to come out to his parents and eventually his team, that’s just one more aspect that was addressed in a manner that had me riveted to the pages.  

Break Through was written well, and ends on a happy note—though since there’s another book to come in the series, I’m not going to get too complacent with this ending.  This story was a 4.5-star read for me, and is one that I’d definitely recommend to M/M romance fans.  Just remember you need to read book one first!  Seb and Jay are scorching hot again, so between that and the adult language this story is meant for readers 18+.



About the Author

Brought up in a relatively small town in Hertfordshire, C F White managed to do what most other residents try to do and fail—leave.

Studying at a West London university, she realised there was a whole city out there waiting to be discovered, so, much like Dick Whittington before her, she never made it back home and still endlessly search for the streets paved with gold, slowly coming to the realisation they’re mostly paved with chewing gum. And the odd bit of graffiti. And those little circles of yellow spray paint where the council point out the pot holes to someone who is supposedly meant to fix them instead of staring at them vacantly whilst holding a polystyrene cup of watered-down coffee.

Eventually moving West to East along that vast District Line, C F White settled for pie and mash, cockles and winkles and a bit of Knees Up Mother Brown to live in the East End of London; securing a job and creating a life, a home and a family.

After her second son was born with a rare disability, her life changed and brought pen and paper after she’d written stories as a child but never had the confidence to show them to the world. Now, having embarked on this writing journey, C F White can’t stop. So strap in, it’s going to be a bumpy ride.  





Pre-Order-Excerpt & Giveaway: INCLINED TO SCANDAL by Zoë Mullins


INCLINED TO SCANDAL
by Zoë Mullins

Monday, May 28, 2018

Review & Giveaway: WHISPER by Garrett Leigh (Skins #2)




Cover Design: Black Jazz Design
Length: 260 pages

Skins Series

Dream (Book #1) - Universal Buy Link


Blurb

Standalone second book in the Skins series.

Lonely physiotherapist Harry Foster has the world at his feet. A full client list, a six figure Instagram following, and a publishing deal for a book he doesn't have time to write until his agent offers him a break-a retreat to the wild south west coast.

Cornish horseman Joe Carter is lonely too. Rescuing horses and managing Whisper Farm takes up most of his days, and by night he plays chicken with the farm's perilous bank accounts.

At his sister's unwelcome suggestion, he rents his only bedroom to a bloke from the city, and when Harry arrives, he's everything Joe isn't-calm, patient, and gorgeous enough to be exactly the kind of distraction Joe doesn't need.

Harry doesn't have time for distractions either-even shirtless farmers riding bareback past his bedroom window-but his moody host proves impossible to ignore.

On paper, they have nothing in common, but Joe is beautiful...glorious, and when an accident puts his life in Harry's healing hands, the whisper of true love is inevitable. If the trouble that put the farm on its knees in the first place doesn't get in the way.


Carra's Review

Though Whisper is the second book in the Skins series, it can be read as a standalone.  I’ve read several of this author’s books, most of which I’ve loved.  Here with Whisper, I thought it was a good read though it didn’t wow me like the other’s I’ve read by this author.  There’s a good story, and interesting characters, it just moved slower than I was expecting which left me a little at loose ends while reading.

I found Joe to be a bit rough, but he does have an infinite heart when it comes to animals (one of my weaknesses in a guy).  He’s deeply invested in his family farm, and finds a way to make things work even as they’re teetering on the edge of losing it.  Harry actually fits in quite well when he arrives; or at least he does if you don’t pay attention to his eating habits compared to everyone else there.  He’s good with Joe’s sister, helping her with her anxiety, and easily falls into helping with things on the farm when needed.

As far as the chemistry between Joe and Harry—I honestly didn’t feel the emotional connection until after they’d made initial physical contact.  After that, it felt slow going which for me means my mind starts to wander while reading.  There was some drama injected into the story related to someone Joe’s father had dealt with, and it pops up a couple of times but never is fully resolved by the end of the story.

There’s a really great epilogue, one that made me very happy for Joe and Harry and where they eventually end up.  I only wish there was a bit more between the end of the story and the beginning of the epilogue to bridge the gap some.  The mentions and appearances of several of the secondary and supporting characters did have me wanting to read their books (for those that I haven’t already).


Whisper was a 3.5-star read for me; if you’re a fan of this author you’ll definitely like this one though for me I liked Dream, the first book in this series better.  This story is meant for readers 18+ for adult language and situations as well as sexual content.


About the Author

Garrett Leigh is an award-winning British writer and book designer, currently working for Dreamspinner Press, Loose Id, Riptide Publishing, and Fox Love Press.

Garrett's debut novel, Slide, won Best Bisexual Debut at the 2014 Rainbow Book Awards, and her polyamorous novel, Misfits was a finalist in the 2016 LAMBDA awards.

When not writing, Garrett can generally be found procrastinating on Twitter, cooking up a storm, or sitting on her behind doing as little as possible, all the while shouting at her menagerie of children and animals and attempting to tame her unruly and wonderful FOX.

Garrett is also an award winning cover artist, taking the silver medal at the Benjamin Franklin Book Awards in 2016. She designs for various publishing houses and independent authors at blackjazzdesign.com, and co-owns the specialist stock site moonstockphotography.com with photographer Dan Burgess.





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