Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Release Day Launch and Giveaway: All Broke Down by Cora Carmack

If you loved Cora Carmack's first Rusk University novel, All Lined Up, check out the next in the series!

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Yowza! We are extremely excited to bring you the Release Day Launch for Cora Carmack's ALL BROKE DOWN!! ALL BROKE DOWN is a New Adult Contemporary Romance novel being published by HarperCollins, and it is the 2nd book in The Rusk University Series.

All Broke Down

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 About ALL BROKE DOWN:

In this second book in New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Cora Carmack’s New Adult, Texas-set Rusk University series, which began with ALL LINED UP, a young woman discovers that you can’t only fight for what you believe in . . . sometimes you have to fight for what you love.

Dylan fights for lost causes. Probably because she used to be one.

Environmental issues, civil rights, corrupt corporations, and politicians—you name it, she’s probably been involved in a protest. When her latest cause lands her in jail overnight, she meets Silas Moore. He’s in for a different kind of fighting. And though he’s arrogant and infuriating, she can’t help being fascinated with him. Yet another lost cause.

Football and trouble are the only things that have ever come naturally to Silas. And it’s trouble that lands him in a cell next to do-gooder Dylan. He’s met girls like her before—fixers, he calls them, desperate to heal the damage and make him into their ideal boyfriend. But he doesn’t think he’s broken, and he definitely doesn’t need a girlfriend trying to change him. Until, that is, his anger issues and rash decisions threaten the only thing he really cares about, his spot on the Rusk University football team. Dylan might just be the perfect girl to help.

Because Silas Moore needs some fixing after all.

ABD Teaser 1


All Broke Down Excerpt:

I think I get it then. That decision I saw in her eyes back in the kitchen. That’s what this, what I’m about for her, too. I’m just another part of whatever rebellion she started earlier today. About doing what she wants, not what’s expected of her.

“We’re not talking about me, though,” she says. “So you went to meet your friend, and then what happened?”

She keeps her eyes down as she picks up the gauze and begins winding it snugly around the knuckles of one hand, and then the other.

“He said the wrong thing.”

“Which was?”

“Dylan.” Now it’s her that’s pushing too hard. I didn’t want to talk about things with my friends, and I won’t talk about them with her, either, no matter how gorgeous she is.

“I’ll guess. You were mad about what he did, and he wasn’t sorry.”

“This isn’t middle school, Pickle. He didn’t hurt my feelings. He said some sh*t he had no business saying, and it pissed me off. The end.”

“But you don’t think some of that anger stems from what you feel is a betrayal of your friendship?”

She finishes taping down the last of the gauze, but doesn’t let go of my hand.

“I think you’re analyzing me again. Making things more complicated than they are.”

“And I think you’re just a guy who doesn’t like to admit he has feelings.” She drags out the word, teasing me with some goofy smile on her face. I turn my hand over so I can clutch her wrist. I curl my other bandaged hand around her waist and pull her closer.

“I feel plenty of things.”

The teasing stops. She swallows.

“I wasn’t talking about that kind of feeling.”

With her standing and me sitting, I’m eye level with her chest. I see the sharp rise and fall as she sucks in a breath. I want her in my lap again, straddling me this time.

“Doesn’t mean we can’t talk about that kind of feeling. Or experiment with it.”

“Is that Stella girl an ex?”

I cough, surprised. My throat twists uncomfortably, and it takes me a couple of solid breaths to get a hold on myself.

“Ah, no. Stella and I have never dated.”

“Have you—”

“Do you ever run out of questions?”

“Not ever.” She turns playful again, and I’m done doing this the careful way. If she wants a rebellion, I’ll be the one to give it to her. I want her against me, and I’m tired of waiting.

I pull her forward, insinuating my knees between hers, and her body naturally follows, settling across my thighs. Her lips part, but she catches herself before she gasps this time. I keep her steady with my hands at her waist and say, “I’ll make you a deal. A question for a kiss.”

Tentatively, she lays her palms against my shoulders. They rest there, her grip light and casual. She ponders my offer for a moment, and it drives me mad that she can do that while our hips are inches away from alignment.

“Okay then. Are you—”

I cut her off. “Not so fast, Dylan Brenner. I’ve already answered one question. We’ve got to settle up first.”

I wrap her braid around my hand like I’ve been waiting to do all night, and I use it to pull her head back just enough that I can crush my mouth against hers.


And don’t forget to grab your copy of ALL LINED UP Today!

All Lined Up

Amazon ** Barnes and Noble ** iTunes



About Cora Carmack:
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Cora Carmack is a twenty-something writer who likes to write about twenty-something characters. She's done a multitude of things in her life-- boring jobs (like working retail), Fun jobs (like working in a theatre), stressful jobs (like teaching), and dream jobs (like writing). She enjoys placing her characters in the most awkward situations possible, and then trying to help them get a boyfriend out of it. Awkward people need love, too. Her first book, LOSING IT, was a New York Times and USA Today bestseller.










Website ** Twitter ** Facebook ** Author Goodreads ** ALL BROKE DOWN Goodreads


GIVEAWAY!


ABD Teaser 3

Monday, October 27, 2014

Release Day Launch: Protecting His Witch by Zoe Forward

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Today we're having a release day launch for Protecting His Witch by Zoe Forward!! I am so excited about this fantastic paranormal romance. Today we've got an exclusive excerpt, a giveaway, and all the awesome details about the book!! Make sure you read down and enter Zoe's giveaway!!

Exclusive Excerpt:

“Don’t play games with me, Kat. Do whatever you need to do to reverse it.” He leaned in and gripped her arms.

“What are you talking about?” How could he be so calm after that? So seemingly in control and focused on her reversing something? She could barely wrap her mind around coherent thought. A curse? She recalled her parting words to him all those years ago. He must’ve believed it to be real. She hadn’t intended such.
 Beyond that...wow. That meant he hadn’t been satisfied by any woman since her. Her heart squeezed. She owned a piece of this extraordinary man that no other could claim. That didn’t mean she trusted him farther than she could spit. Even if she’d meant to cast a curse, she had no clue how to reverse it. Based on the stubborn set of his lips, he would push this until he got what he wanted.

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About Protecting His Witch:

A paranormal category romance from Entangled's Covet imprint... The last thing he wanted was to fall for a witch... Veterinarian Kat Ramsey hasn't a clue that she's a witch. Sure, she can read minds, and there's the whole "dimension-hopping" issue that she can't quite control, but Kat is determined to keep things normal. That is, until she accidentally hops into the Otherworld, and runs smack into Matthew Ryan―the seriously hot one-night stand from years ago who shoved her out of his dorm. Naked. And there's the tiny matter of the curse she gave him. May you never find satisfaction with another woman. Billionaire and former druid Matthew Ryan hasn't forgotten the curse, or the witch who gave it to him. Kat's unexpected return means the curse will finally be broken. Unfortunately, his libido has other ideas―like how to get her back into his bed one last time. But far more worrying is his suspicion that Kat is the seventh Pleiades witch. Because while he's turned his back on his druidic ways, he's still bound to protect the woman who made his life hell...

Zoe Forward Bio:

Zoe Forward is a hopeless romantic who can't decide between paranormal and urban fantasy romance. So she writes both. In addition to being a mom to one rambunctious kindergartener and wife to a conservation ecologist who plans to save all the big cats on the planet, she’s a small animal veterinarian caring for all the small furries, although there is the occasional hermit crab.

When she’s not typing at her laptop, she’s tying on a karate belt for her son or cleaning up the newest pet mess from the menagerie that occupies her house. She’s madly in love with her globe trotting husband of ten years and happiest when he returns to their home base in North Carolina.






Enter Zoe's giveaway:

Blogs Taking Part in the Release Day Launch
undercover book reviews
Can't Talk, I'm Reading
Between The Lines
My fictional escape
Addicted Readers
Taking Time for Mommy
RhiReading
Books Make Me Happy
Best Book Boyfriends
Vera is Reading
Making it Happen
One Last Page Book Blog
Coffee Books & Art
Kelsey's Corner Time
Melissa's Eclectic Bookshelf
Books That Hook
I Heart YA Books
River Book Reviews
Book Liaison
Book Nook Nuts
Aria Kane
Books to Get Lost In
101 Ways to Make Love to a Spoon

Friday, October 24, 2014

Series Tour and Book Reviews: Love In The City by Steph Nuss


Book One - Wanted By You 


Carter was captivated by Ellyson Evans the moment he laid eyes on her, but she was the one girl who didn't beg for his attention.

He wanted her.

Ellyson vowed to never fall in love, because love can destroy you, but then she met Carter Jennings.

She wanted him.

Unwilling to risk their comfortable friendship, neither confessed their desires.  Losing touch after college, a chance meeting reconnects them.

They want each other.

But love in the city is never quite that easy.


MY REVIEW

If you're looking for a sweet second-chance romance that's not heavy on conflict and has a good, strong cast of characters...you've found it.  From seeing how Carter and Elly's relationship starts out in college to their unexpected reunion many years later, you'll get a story that will make you smile while you hope that things work out the second time around.

Not that they couldn't have worked out the first time-if only one of them had been brave enough to voice their true feelings.

Most of the story goes along without any real strain until a possible issue arises that could become a major factor between our leads-and winds up showing both of their true, deep feelings.

There were some points that the story dragged a little for me-mostly due to the lack of any major discord, but all in all it was pretty well written and made for a good read.  A solid 3.5-star read, recommend for 18+.


Pinterest Board for Wanted By You: http://www.pinterest.com/StephNuss13/wanted-by-you/



Book Two -   Fantasized By You



Celebrity fashion designer, Harper Jennings is only months away from turning thirty, and her dream of living a happily ever after has yet to come true.

She's given up on her fantasy.

Personal trainer and gym owner, Maverick Jones isn't thrilled about having a designer mentoring in his new clinic, but after meeting the brunette beauty face-to-face, he dreams of having his way with her.

He's ready to turn his fantasy into reality.

But when their fantasies collide, love in the city becomes more complicated than they ever imagined.


MY REVIEW

I found this second installment of the Love In The City series to be much better than the first, flowing more smoothly and keeping my attention more focused.  I loved learning more about Maverick, as I really liked his character in the first book.  And Harper really comes across as a down-to-earth, strong woman who we learn has overcome a huge problem.

I LOVE Harper's attitude towards her models, and her acceptance and encouragement for all women's bodies since it sends a positive message in an industry not known for this type of sentiment.

Maverick.  He is one of those sigh-worthy, swoon-inducing alpha males that you can just go ahead and add to your book boyfriend list right now whether you've read the book yet or not--because once you've read it, putting him on that list is a no-brainer.

A great story with moderate tension until you get toward the last portion when an incident with a character from Harper and her friend Max's past causes an emotional turn, Fantasized By You will keep you engaged and rooting for Harper and Maverick-a couple who it's easy to see are meant to be :-)

An engaging 4-star read, I'd definitely recommend for the 18+ contemporary romance lovers out there.


Pinterest Board for Fantasized By You: http://www.pinterest.com/StephNuss13/fantasized-by-you/

The Cast of the Love in the City series: http://stephnuss.com/loveinthecity/love-in-the-city-the-cast/

Book Three - Pleasured By You 
Expected Release Date: January 20th, 2015

The Love in the City series continues with Bayler and Fletcher's story.




Wanted By You (Love in the City, #1) (Currently Free)

Fantasized By You (Love in the City, #2)

Steph Nuss was born and raised in rural Kansas, where she currently resides with her black Labrador son named Gunner. She grew up with a passion for reading and writing. When she’s not immersed into the land of fiction, she enjoys listening to music that came before her time, watching movies and reruns of her favorite shows, and hanging out with her family and friends. She also has a bachelor’s degree in psychology that she’ll never use…unless she’s profiling her characters of course.

CONNECT WITH STEPH: 




I'm really looking forward to Bayler and Fletcher's story coming next!  How about you?

Thursday, October 23, 2014

Book Release and Giveaway: Blocked by Jennifer Lane


BLOCKED

By
Jennifer Lane


New Adult Contemporary/Sports Romance
 
Released
October 21, 2014

College freshman
Lucia Ramirez has a secret crush on Dane Monroe. He’s a tall drink of water — blond, brash, and one hell of a volleyball player. Hijole. Lucia hopes her volleyball scholarship to his school will make him notice her.

Too bad what’s noticeable is Dane’s obvious hatred for Lucia. Her family’s politics contradict everything he stands for. And politics are front and center in both their families. Dane’s mother is about to face Lucia’s father in the race for US President.

When Secret Service throws them together, Dane can’t deny his frustrating attraction to Lucia’s athletic curves and sweet faith in the world. Amid the intense pressure of college athletics and presidential politics, can opposites not just attract, but overcome overwhelming odds to be together? Or do their differences block their match from the start?

Excerpt 

Now that we were alone in the hallway, my eyes swept up Lucia’s firm body, and I decided to play with her a bit. “Did you hear what one of those reporters said?”

She studied me with nervous eyes, then shook her head. 

“They asked if we slept in the same bedroom.”

Her lips parted as she drew a breath, and her face turned a delicious shade of pink. I watched one hand smooth down her thigh, then dart up to the back of her neck. The other hand fidgeted at her side. It looked like she had to force a swallow.

Sweet Jesus. Her embarrassment totally turned me on. 

“So, um...what did you tell them?” she finally asked.

A sense of pressure below my belt pulled me toward her. Her eyes widened as I approached, but she seemed more excited than frightened.

Her breezy, floral scent mingled with the liquid courage in my veins, and before I knew it I was running my fingers into her thick, damp hair. What the hell am I doing? God, it felt good, and she tilted her ear toward me like she enjoyed it too. There was a cute little dimple on her right cheek that winked at me. I found myself leaning closer to her face, and considering her impressive height, I didn’t have far to go. Her shiny eyes turned back to me, and she gazed up with such yearning, such depth.

My heart thundered. Stop seducing me, Devil Spawn!

Those sensuous lips opened for me, their sweetness luring me forward. I held my face over hers, breathing in her smell, and her eyes fluttered shut as she surrendered to me. I stared at her soft features for too long, shocking myself with an insane desire to kiss those sweet lips. Before I totally freaked myself out, I shifted an inch to press a kiss onto her warm cheek, right on her dimple. I could feel her tremble beneath my touch.

My hand still tangled in her hair, I pulled back to gaze into her mesmerized eyes. “I told them I never kiss and tell.”

When I let her go, I heard a little squawk of protest. That adorable noise reminded me of the pressure down below — pressure I needed to do something about. I turned and took swift strides down the hall.

“Where are you going?” Her breathy voice was tinged with desperation.

I grinned. She was just too easy to mess with.



GIVEAWAY

Jennifer Lane is giving away a $10 Amazon Gift Card on her Facebook page for the release! You can enter HERE.


About the Author

Get psyched for romance with psychologist/author (psycho author) Jennifer Lane! By day she witnesses growth in her psychotherapy clients, and by night she wrangles misbehaving fictional characters as she writes sports romance and romantic suspense with a psychological twist. She can’t decide which is more fun.

A swimmer and volleyball player in college, Jen wove some of her own experiences into Streamline—a military mystery about swimmers. And readers can dip their toes into Jen’s world of swimming romance by sampling her free New Adult novella Swim Recruit.

College volleyball romance Blocked is Jen’s newest release, launching 10-21-14. Peek inside big-time college sports and even bigger national politics when the offspring of two presidential candidates find out whether opposites really do attract, or their match is blocked from the start.

Stories of redemption interest Jen the most, especially the healing power of love. She is also the author of The Conduct Series, a romantic suspense trilogy that includes With Good Behavior, Bad Behavior, and On Best Behavior. Ultimately, whether writing or reading, Jen loves stories that make her laugh and cry.

In her spare time she enjoys exercising, attending book club, hanging out with her plus-size, “I’m not fat, I’m big-boned” Izzie cat, and visiting her sisters and their families in Chicago and Hilton Head.



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Blog Tour-Review and Giveaway: Alex (A Cold Fury Hockey Novel) by Sawyer Bennett

Welcome to today's blog tour stop for Sawyer Bennett's hot new novel, Alex (A Cold Fury Hockey Novel)!


Cold Fury Hockey Series
New Adult Contemporary
Released October 14, 2014
Published by LoveSwept (Random House)

Synopsis
Hockey star Alexander Crossman has a reputation as a cold-hearted player on and off the rink. Pushed into the sport by an alcoholic father, Alex isn’t afraid to give fans the proverbial middle finger, relishing his role as the MVP they love to hate. Management, however, isn’t so amused. Now Alex has a choice: fix his public image through community service or ride the bench. But Alex refuses to be molded into the Carolina Cold Fury poster boy . . . not even by a tempting redhead with killer curves.
As a social worker, Sutton Price is accustomed to difficult people—like Alex, who’s been assigned to help her create a drug-abuse awareness program for at-risk youth as part of the team’s effort to clean up his image. What she doesn’t expect is the arrogant smirk from his perfect lips to stir her most heated fantasies. But Sutton isn’t one to cross professional boundaries—and besides, Alex doesn’t do relationships . . . or does he? The more she sees behind Alex’s bad-boy façade, the more Sutton craves the man she uncovers.

My Review

I am a big fan of sports romance books (after all, you've got the hot and sexy players-who doesn't like that?), so I was excited to read Sawyer Bennett's new novel, Alex.  Put simply, the book sure did not disappoint!  

The plot and storyline kept me involved and engaged through the entire story, without the superficial junk you normally find in many sports-related romance books.  Here you get a good story with real drama and conflict, along with the relationship building as you watch both Sutton and Alex fall for each other.  And their intense relationship is anything but superficial.

I loved the characters-every single one of them.  Alex is perfect-the quintessential sexy, brooding, hotshot bad boy; Sutton is a fantastically strong and intelligent woman-the kind you wish every lead female in romance stories would emulate.  And seeing her break through the walls that Alex has put up without him realizing it makes for one hell of a great story.  There's also some great secondary characters, my favorite being Garrett (who I'm thrilled to hear is getting his story next!)...gotta love those cocky hockey bad boys!

With an outstanding story that will totally draw you in and put a smile on your face...and some steam in your e-reader...Alex is worth all 5 sexy, bad boy stars of my rating.  A definite 18+ read that is well written and will leave you counting the days until the next book in the series comes out!



About the Author
USA Today Best-Selling author, Sawyer Bennett, is a snarky southern woman and reformed trial lawyer who decided to finally start putting on paper all of the stories that were floating in her head. She is married to a mobster (well, a market researcher) and they have two big, furry dogs who hog the bed. Sawyer would like to report she doesn’t have many weaknesses but can be bribed with a nominal amount of milk chocolate.


Giveaway