Thursday, January 31, 2013

BOOK BLITZ and GIVEAWAY: On the Plus Side by Tabatha Vargo




Big girls need love, too, but at what cost?
Lilly is loaded, not only with money, but with weight. Both things she could do without. But even with her undesired millionaire status, she doesn’t hold on to false hopes of finding true love. So when a sexy stranger comes into her life dripping with seduction, she finds it hard to resist. The bigger they are the harder they fall and Lilly falls straight through the floor in love with Mr. Sexy. Too bad he’s there for all the wrong reasons.
The chance of losing it all will make you do some crazy things and Devin’s willing to do whatever it takes to keep his life together. All seems lost when out of nowhere he’s approached by a Millionaire Momma with an offer he can’t refuse. But even a womanizer like Devin has a heart and when the short, chunky girl with the carefree attitude breaks through his icy façade, he finds that losing everything takes on a whole new meaning.







Tabatha has been writing since she could pick up a pencil. Her first publication was a little poem in her elementary school paper, from that point on she was hooked. When she was a teenager, she traded in her girly magazines for personalized writing notebooks.
At nineteen, she met her own personal prince charming and writing took a back burner for a while. She is now married to that prince and the mother of a beautiful Six year old princess/rock star. Once her daughter was born, writing came back into her life, and she finished her very first novel in May of 2009.
She is pursuing a Bachelors in English and hopes to one day teach while continuing to write.
As a stay-at-home mom and full-time student, Tabatha enjoys the freedom of spending a good bit of her days doing what she loves the most…writing.




a Rafflecopter giveaway

RELEASE DAY LAUNCH: Lucifer by Annabell Cadiz


Lucifer
(Sons of Old Trilogy, Book 1)
Author: Annabell Cadiz
Genre: New Adult, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, Supernatural
Published: January 31, 2013

Have you ever wondered what could be hiding in the shadows?
Well, for eighteen-year-old Zahara Faraday, she doesn’t have to wonder. You see she comes from a lineage of Light Witches, those who have chosen to help protect and serve between the supernatural world and the human world. The only problem is Zahara, like her father Solomon, is as human as a human being can be whereas her mother, Mia, and her Aunt Catalina, were born as Light Witches. As a family they hunt down rogue supernaturals—creatures who harm humans or who have committed an act against their kingdom.
Zahara’s hunting skills are usually kept dormant since her parents would prefer she live life as a normal human girl without knowledge of the supernatural world. She plans on doing just that—except when she finds a couple being attacked by fairies, she has no choice but to step in. Before she can return to pretending to be blissfully ignorant, Zahara encounters a problem she isn’t the least equip to handle: Bryan Hamilton, the good looking new co-worker she has to help train. In a heartbeat, her best friend, Becca King, has set her up on a double date with herself and her new crush, Rekesh Saint-Louis, who happens to be the most powerful leader of the biggest Imago Coven in South Florida –supernatural creatures with the ability to control water . . . and suck out human souls.
Zahara has no time to focus on how she’s going to explain her double date with her best friend and the enemy they have a tentative truce with to her parents because soon one of the members of Mia and Catalina’s coven is found murdered with a strange tattoo of a snake with wings carved into his arm.
Zahara is then thrown into a whirlwind battle with an angel determined to have revenge against God, an Imago coven she doesn’t think they should trust, and slew of dream-eating fairies and powerful Nephilims, hybrid children of angels and humans, more than happy to rip her to shreds. 
Normal just got a deadlier definition. 
The fairy moved slowly, his eyes roaming the park for movement. He sniffed the air as the breeze wafted through the bushes then turned his attention sharply back to the bushes. Zahara jumped back to her feet to steer him away from Becca and took off running. The fairy ran after her, moving so fast Becca thought he could merge with the wind. She let out a long breath and stumbled out of the bushes, knowing her best friend couldn’t fight him alone.
Zahara just ran, trying to find a place to hide and catch her breath, but seeing none. She staggered forward as the wind pushed her from behind and was suddenly gripped by the neck by a hand composed of pure muscle. The fairy threw her onto the ground and raked his nails across Zahara’s face. Zahara managed to cover her face with her arms, and cried out as she felt the skin ripping open.
“Hey! Get the hell away from my best friend, you demon, tree-hugging bastard!” Becca yelled and rammed herself into him. She fell to the ground with the fairy and drove the dagger into his side as hard as she could. She flipped herself up off the fairy and jumped back to her feet, standing hunched forward with her muscles locked as the fairy stood.
He removed the dagger from his side and threw it onto the ground, eyeing Becca with a hard glare. Zahara aimed another arrow at him, but the fairy swung his arm out, throwing Zahara into the air with the strength of his power. He pounced on Becca, who managed to dodge him and stay on her feet. She eyed the dagger quickly, trying to measure how far she would have to jump to retrieve it. The fairy moved toward her and Becca leapt, except she couldn’t move. Her arms and legs were as rigid as an iron board. She couldn’t even blink.
The fairy curled his lips into a wicked smile and grabbed her hair, yanking her head back forcibly and bringing his lips to hers. Becca tried to close her eyes. If she closed her eyes than he wouldn’t be able to steal her memories or her dreams, but she couldn’t make her eyes listen. Her brain was sending out a loud warning signal, but nothing was happening. The fairy opened his mouth slightly and inhaled deeply. Becca saw the memory before it left her. It was the one where she had gone to the Father-Daughter Dance at church with her dad the year before. She could feel the memory fading, her dad’s smile and warm arms around her disappearing into darkness, as the memory was sucked out through her lips, a thick layer of blue, corporeal energy, before being transferred into the fairy’s mouth. Becca could feel tears streaming down the side of her face.
Zahara got onto her knees, and wavered back and forth as she tried to shake the pain out of her head. She grabbed another arrow from the canister strapped across her shoulders and aimed for the fairy. She blinked a few times, since her vision was still out of focus, shifting between seeing Becca and seeing a blurry version of her. She shut her eyes tightly and opened them again, staring intently at the fairy, and shot off the arrow. The arrow bounced off some kind of shield the fairy had put into place.
Zahara growled underneath her breath and took off running toward Becca and the fairy. She could see the blue stream of energy escaping Becca’s lips and felt her heart pounding in her veins as she roared and launched herself at the shield. The fairy paid no heed to Zahara’s attempt to save her best friend. Zahara pounded her fist against the invisible shield. She stepped back, breathing hard, and stabbed one of the arrows into the shield as hard as she could. The shield cracked and burst open as the tip of the arrow set itself on fire.
The fairy hissed at Zahara and threw Becca onto the ground. Zahara tried to aim the arrow at the fairy, but was once again thrown back by his power. Zahara lifted her head and grabbed the bow. She tried to get to her knees—every muscle in her body protesting—so she could aim another arrow, but the fairy threw her back again. Zahara cursed under her breath as her bow flew out of her hand and she was smacked into the back of a bench.
Zahara looked up toward the fairy, feeling behind her back for another arrow, but finding none. She cursed under her breath again. She had forgotten to restock them after training. The fairy was moving with slow steps, his eyes blazing in triumph as he neared her. He was enjoying having finally worn out his prey and Zahara scowled at him.
Suddenly, the fairy turned his head sharply to the right and another figure emerged. Zahara’s shoulders slumped back. She could not handle fighting off two of them; she wasn’t even sure how to defend herself against one of them without any kind of weapon. But Zahara realized the fairy wasn’t moving anymore. He was crouched forward and his hands were in fists. Zahara looked at the new figure and cringed. It was Rekesh. His skin revealed his true nature as he slid off the glamour and the moonlight caressed his bare neck and face, turning his skin silver.
Rekesh was an Imago, a creature born of a mermaid and the fallen angel Kutiel. He could move ten times faster than any human and had the strength to rip a human apart with his bare hands. During the day, he looked like an ordinary person but at night, in the moments Rekesh dropped the glamour of magic, his skin would turn silver because of the power of the moon. The moon controlled the ocean and since his ancestry connected to the water, when nightfall came, his strength increased, and so would his power to control the element of water, if he had not been exiled from the Celeste Kingdom. Rekesh, like any Imago exiled, was stripped of his elemental power, but that did not make any less dangerous.
                “You have one chance to make this easy for yourself,” the Imago spoke out. He had his hands placed behind his back, eyeing the fairy with patience as if he were training a puppy.
                Zahara used the back of the bench to help her rise slowly to her feet, keeping her eyes on the fairy and Rekesh.
                “This does not concern you, Moonlighter,” the fairy spat. 
                “Attacking humans is against the law, Pixie,” Rekesh said. He had not moved. His demeanor was as relaxed as when he had first stepped into the battle.
                The fairy curled his lip at the last word. “You are no longer part of the Royal Court. I do not answer to you.”
                Zahara inched toward her bow, which was stuck in a bush twenty feet from where she stood.
                “You are in my domain. Any supernatural creature caught attacking humans will be captured and returned to the Kingdom from which you were exiled for sentencing. Now, I can see you will not make this easy for yourself, so I suggest enough of the idle pleasantries,” Rekesh said, before he launched himself toward the fairy so fast Zahara barely had time to take a breath.
                Zahara took off running as Rekesh and the fairy fought, moving with the wind. She could hear the thundering of fists and the cracking of broken bones, but could not see them. She didn’t care. She ran to Becca, determined to get them out of there before either one of the supernatural creatures had time to recover. 


Annabell Cadiz was born in the sweltering heat of South Florida. She was raised surrounded by Puerto Rican chefs and band of siblings that weren’t all related to her. A self-proclaimed nerd and book-a-holic (her room does hold much evidence to prove her claims are justifiable), she created TeamNerd Reviews to showcase her EXTREME love for novels where, along with her best friend, Bridget Strahin, she hosts book reviews, interviews, giveaways, Indie Shoutouts and much more. She also blog tour services for authors. She also had the pleasure of being published in three separate issue of Suspense Magazine. She also adores Cinnamon Teddy Grahams, has an addiction to Minute Maid Orange juice, and is a proud Jesus Freak. Lucifer is the first book in the Sons of Old Trilogy.




Wednesday, January 30, 2013

BLOG TOUR: On the Plus Side by Tabatha Vargo


We're super excited to be part of Tabatha Vargo's On The Plus Side blog tour. What a refreshing, FUN, and sexy story. And we're excited to share it with you.
For our stop we tried to corner Lily's love interest Devin Michaels. Much to our chagrin, he's a hard guy to pin down. But never fear, we don't give up easily. We still managed to get a little sumpin out of him.
Since Devin is in such high demand these days, we weren't able to throw him in to our usual hotseat, but we did get him to take a couple of seconds out of his very busy social calendar to answer a few questions for us.
Here goes....

Slow dance or Bump and grind?  Slow dance

Long drive or Drifting? (it's a racing style, for you city girls) Long drive

Jacuzzi or Shower? Shower

Wine and roses or ______? Caramel and candles

Weekend at the beach or Cabin in the woods? Weekend at the beach

Hot and heavy or Slow and sweet? hot and heavy

Beautiful face or Beautiful soul? Beautiful soul

Strawberries and chocolate or Oysters on the half shell? strawberries and chocolate

Bikini or Boxer briefs OR ______? None thanks

Sun-goddess or Fair maiden? Fair maiden

Lights ON or OFF? ON

Roaring waves or Roaring fire? Waves

 
Love or money?? Love

 
Batman or Superman? Batman

Rock, rap or country? Rock

Early bird or night owl? Night owl

Boobs or butt?? I have two hands so both.

Night in or night out? In

Lilly's hair... Up or down? Down

Sexy lingerie or comfy pajamas? Comfy pajamas

 
You on top or her on top? Her on top. It's a beautiful thing to watch.


Of course this left us wanting to know more about Devin, so did a little background check on the Hottie McHotterson ourselves. Here's what we uncovered...


Name: Devin Michaels
Age: 22
Birthday: July 28th
Hair: brown
Eyes: green
Height: 6'3
Any tattoos: Yes--7 total
Family: Yes
Favorite color: Green
Favorite food(s): I love all foods, but if I had to pick one it would be Italian
Favorite drink: Mountain Dew
Favorite car: 1963 Camaro SS
Favorite sport: Football
Favorite band/musician: Chevelle, Cage the Elephant, Smashing Pumpkins
Something most people don’t know about Devin: He hates coconut and has a secret love for Debbie Cakes. He has a thing for redheads and loves to play pool 


What a catch, huh? We sure think so.
Oh, and there's some stuff about the book and Tabatha too. Now excuse us, we've got to go wipe off some drool...
Kathryn: *while walking away murmurs to Shelley...*can you believe it...Squeee..he loves my favorite band!! Be still my beating heart...Chevelle is the greatest!!
Shelley: *snorts* I know, right!  I absolutely love Cage the Elephant. Guy has great taste in music...
Big girls need love, too, but at what cost? Lilly is loaded, not only with money, but with weight. Both things she could do without. But even with her undesired millionaire status, she doesn’t hold on to false hopes of finding true love. So when a sexy stranger comes into her life dripping with seduction, she finds it hard to resist. The bigger they are the harder they fall and Lilly falls straight through the floor in love with Mr. Sexy. Too bad he’s there for all the wrong reasons. 
The chance of losing it all will make you do some crazy things and Devin’s willing to do whatever it takes to keep his life together. All seems lost when out of nowhere he’s approached by a Millionaire Momma with an offer he can’t refuse. But even a womanizer like Devin has a heart and when the short, chunky girl with the carefree attitude breaks through his icy façade, he finds that losing everything takes on a whole new meaning. 

 Tabatha has been writing since she could pick up a pencil. Her first publication was a little poem in her elementary school paper, from that point on she was hooked. When she was a teenager, she traded in her girly magazines for personalized writing notebooks.
At nineteen, she met her own personal prince charming and writing took a back burner for a while. She is now married to that prince and the mother of a beautiful Six year old princess/rock star. Once her daughter was born, writing came back into her life, and she finished her very first novel in May of 2009.
She is pursuing a Bachelors in English and hopes to one day teach while continuing to write.
As a stay-at-home mom and full-time student, Tabatha enjoys the freedom of spending a good bit of her days doing what she loves the most…writing.


Let me first say that On The Plus Side took me, wrapped me around its little pinky finger, and had me whooped with the awesomeness that flowed off of these pages.  Tabatha Vargo created pure brilliance when she put together this superb and mind blowing tale.  I kid you not, it has been over a week since I have finished this book and I am still reeling from how much I LOVED this book.
Ok, ok...time for me to move on in my thoughts.  I will definitely let you know closer to the end just how much this book truly ROCKED...*throws hands in air* Yes, I am moving on...
*Sighs* So, where do I begin. I guess let me say that I really connected with this book.  Being the chubby girl that I am, I always struggled with self-esteem issues and whatnot...so, hearing her story told brought out feelings that helped me identify with her on many levels.  She has such a heart of gold,  causing you to instantly feel protective of her.  But, don't let the soft side of Lilly fool you.  Through all of her battles, we happen upon a strong, beautiful, confident woman.  And so starts the journey that is called On The Plus Side.
Lilly, who has resigned to be alone the rest of her life, longing for love, gets the shock of her life when the hot and sexy Devin Michaels struts in to the jewelry store that she is working at.  AND...hold the presses...he begins flirting with her...Of course Lilly is a bit taken back with someone as the likes of Devin flirting, but hey, might as well enjoy the fun...
It's not until she takes her break and has lunch at her everyday spot that things really take the turn on this story...Yep, that's right...Devin pops up and WHAM---They now have plans for a date on Friday.
So, what is so intriguing about this tale you may ask?? Not everything is as it seems.  This begins the many conflicts and interesting twists that ultimately pull at your heart strings, moments that leave you panting from the heat caused by Lilly and Devin together, and momentous occasions of joy where watching these two people grow throughout this book warms your heart.
I am not going to lie...I fell hard for Devin Michaels.  Just because he has this tough exterior and gorgeous looks, doesn't mean that his heart is cold as ice.  Following him through every scene, hearing his inner thoughts, causes you to swoon and melt...completely loosing yourself to him...You can definitely understand how Lilly felt and how fighting an attraction like that is just plum crazy....
But, since I have truly rambled on and on...I want to sum up by saying that this is not a book you want to pass by.  Wonderfully written with well developed characters while all the while keeping you in suspense wondering...Will they get their HEA?
All I can answer to that is....READ THIS FABULOUS BOOK!!!!
HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!

2013 DAC (Debut Author Challenge)


So as you may have heard, Kathryn and I signed up for the 2013 Debut Author Challenge hosted by Tara of Hobbitsies.
With so many promising titles to choose from, I have to say my first pick was a doozy. As in, it was just what I was looking for.
Here's my review of Prophecy by Ellen Oh. I hope you enjoy it...

The greatest warrior in all of the Seven Kingdoms... is a girl with yellow eyes.

Kira’s the only female in the king’s army, and the prince’s bodyguard. She’s a demon slayer and an outcast, hated by nearly everyone in her home city of Hansong. And, she’s their only hope...
Murdered kings and discovered traitors point to a demon invasion, sending Kira on the run with the young prince. He may be the savior predicted in the Dragon King Prophecy, but the missing treasure of myth may be the true key. With only the guidance of the cryptic prophecy, Kira must battle demon soldiers, evil shaman, and the Demon Lord himself to find what was once lost and raise a prince into a king.
Intrigue and mystery, ancient lore and action-packed fantasy come together in this heart-stopping first book in a trilogy.




I have one word for this book- abso-freaking-lutely-fantastic!
Ellen Oh can count herself among the true raconteurs. She is an amazing storyteller.
A-MAZ-ING.

The world she's created in Prophecy has everything you could hope for in a fantasy.
A vast, mysterious and harsh landscape. [You have to check out the beautiful map at the beginning of the book.] A powerful and deadly enemy. An intriguing and endearing cast of characters.
AND a kick butt heroine who's much more than a warrior in her uncle, the king's army.

This story grabbed me and pulled me in head first. Held me hostage, made me a disciple, and carried me to places I never knew existed.
It was... outstanding. How is it possible that this is a debut novel? Ellen is a master.

Weaving history, a prophecy and a culture I'd not before explored, she transported me to a world I couldn't get enough of. I was enthralled. Completely mesmerized.
Kira is one of the most captivating heroines I've come across in a long, long time. Despite the prejudice of her people and her own self doubts, she is force of nature.
Known by all as the Demon Slayer with her exotic gold eyes, she is shunned, and yet called upon to do what others cannot.
Her gifts and talents make her one of a kind. Her heart and dedication make her fierce.

This is one heroine I can really and truly get behind. I LOVE everything about her.
From her strength as a warrior and protector to her unconditional love for her family and country. She is outstanding in every way.

But Kira is just one piece of this complicated puzzle. I also fell for her brother Kwan, another warrior in the Hansong army. Even though he knows his sister can handle herself better than most men, he is her confidant and greatest protector.
Her cousin Taejo, the young prince is so adorable and incredibly brave. He immediately stole my heart.
When they come across Jaewon, a handsome and mysterious boardsman, I fell in love once again. The amazing cast of characters doesn't end there. From her father, General Kang, the Hansong army's Captain Pak, to the enigmatic monks like Brother Woojin- these characters catapult us into another world where we're introduced to endless action and adventure, and some of the most touching, tragic AND magical moments, making Prophecy a remarkably exciting and memorable story for the ages.
Ellen Oh. Remember her name. Like Kira, she's made her mark and she's taking a stand.  



End of Darkness by Jamie Rush


Feel the Rush of the Offspring!  
(Paranormal Romantic Suspense/Romantic Urban Fantasy/Supernatural Romance)
A group of twenty-somethings live ordinary lives but possess extraordinary psychic abilities. They are the Offspring of parents involved in a mysterious experiment gone awry. Sexy...dangerous...outcasts... They are being hunted by the government and others like them. Together they must find the truth and fight an enemy out to destroy them.
END OF DARKNESS: The dark energy that infects Magnus McLeod's soul draws him to an Arizona town in crisis—and a woman with a dangerous ability of her own. Erica Evrard isn't afraid of much, but suddenly she has much to fear. Like Magnus, whose noble heart brings her to life even as his Darkness could kill her. And the group of supernatural humans whose evil plans threaten the lives of an entire town.



I'm so glad you've come to visit. So you want to know a little more about me? I am the daughter of an exiled king, living a life of both luxury and danger. While ensconced in our palace in our adopted land of Romania, we must be ever-vigilant of the dark forces that expunged us from the beautiful and sacred land that was once called Eden.You can tell I write fiction, right? I wish I could say that I was an airline pilot or a former spy or something exciting, but my life has been pretty ordinary. My mom likes to assure people that I had a nice, happy, stable childhood in her defense of the fact that I kill people for a living. On paper, of course. Since I was a kid, I devoured books on unexplained mysteries and psychic phenomena. I knew I would be published, marry a fabulous guy, and win a Toyota Supra. Missing the romance, drama, and action of my favorite television shows, X-Files, Roswell, and Highlander, I created my own mix in the Offspring series (HarperCollins). A PERFECT DARKNESS (RT Book Reviews Reviewer's Choice Award Winner) kicked off my paranormal romantic suspense series.
The Offspring series is about a group of twenty-something who live ordinary lives but possess extraordinary psychic abilities. They are the Offspring of parents involved in a mysterious experiment gone awry. Sexy...dangerous...outcasts... They are being hunted by the government and others like them. Together they must find the truth and fight an enemy out to destroy them. Though the books are part of a series, I've tried to make them as stand-alone as possible. In particular, BURNING DARKNESS, BEYOND THE DARKNESS, and DARKNESS BECOMES HER jump off from the main arc of the first three books. I also have two spin-off novellas, DARKNESS WITHIN and TURN TO DARKNESS. And final book of the series, END OF DARKNESS, will be out January 2013 in ebook format.
I also have an alter ego. Jaime Rush is a pseudonym for Tina Wainscott, my real name. As Tina, I wrote 18 books for St. Martin's Press and Harlequin, some of which have won Romance Writers of America's Golden Heart award, the Maggie, and RT Book Reviews Reviewer's Choice Awards. I am in the process of bringing out many of these books as e-books under Tina Wainscott!




“Her father is from the other dimension. And she was even more special. She held Darkness. So did the man who turned to beast. In the parallel dimension, they aren’t allowed to express their emotions, so they repress them. All those emotions accumulated into this mass of energy called Darkness. Jessie's father and uncle tapped into it and drew it into their bodies. They could channel it to change into an animal of sorts. As you saw.”
“I saw, all right. But why are you still looking at me like I've lost a limb?”
Lachlan's jaw tensed. “The price of Jessie's healing was that she had to infuse Darkness into you. I told her to do it. I made the choice.”
Something inside Magnus went numb as Lachlan's words sank in. “So that…beast is in me?” That had to be the heaviness he felt.
“You can choose what form it takes by focusing on a particular animal. Jessie's dad will work with you. You have to learn to control Darkness, or it’ll take you over.”
“Bloody great.”
Magnus pulled himself to the side of the bed and tested his weight. His legs were shaky. Lachlan moved closer, hands out to steady him. Magnus used the headboard to stand. “Where is Jessie?” At Lachlan’s ever-darkening expression, his chest tightened. “I need to see her.” That need raged through him, making him want to start tearing furniture apart until someone brought her to him.
Lachlan drove his fingers back through hair much shorter and neater than Magnus had ever seen it. “You can't. Darkness has other side effects. It can make you volatile when you experience high emotions. And it makes you possessive and madly jealous to the point of being deadly to anyone you see as a rival to the woman you feel is yours.”
“I don’t feel she’s mine.” They hadn't even kissed, but he did feel…oddly possessive, aye. “It's just that I've spent days of unconsciousness caught in a loop of those last several minutes with her.”
Lachlan shifted from one foot to the other. “She's at Sanctuary.” Their family compound in the woods.
Magnus knew that nervous shift. He’d seen it whenever Lachlan was about to admit he’d broken something, like the time he'd put a ding on Magnus’s sword when they were lads. “Out with it, Locky. What aren't you telling me?”






Tuesday, January 29, 2013

More than Meets the Ink by Elle Aycart

for Adult 18+ Readers

Wickedly sexy James Bowen is a bad boy of the highest order -- tattoos and attitude included -- which unfortunately ranks way up on Tate's not-a-chance-in-hell list, right there along with skydiving naked over Teheran and juggling Ebola vials just for kicks. But what the heck, she's on holiday, the guy is absolutely irresistible, and she needs to unplug from her life. With her dad and brother gone, Tate is left to deal with the family restaurant, which is fast going down the drain. Her employees are acting out, her boyfriend has bailed out, and her very own private stalker is emailing her to death with lovely threats of doom, fire, and dismemberment. So yeah, maybe a little holiday fling is in order. Strictly sex though, and no follow-up whatsoever once.
She hadn't counted on her take-charge holiday fling having an opinion of his own and stubbornly sticking around, before and after the sex, making himself at home in her life. There is definitely more to James than meets her prejudiced eye, and even if she's not ready to look deeper, James isn't prepared to permit her not to.


After a colorful array of jobs all over Europe ranging from translator to chocolatier to travel agent to sushi chef to flight dispatcher, Elle Aycart is certain of one thing and one thing only: aside from writing romances, she has abso-frigging-lutely no clue what she wants to do when she grows up. Not that it stops her from trying all sorts of crazy stuff. While she is probably now thinking of a new profession, her head never stops churning new plots for her romances. She lives currently in Barcelona, Spain, with her husband and two daughters, although who knows, in no time she could be living at the Arctic Circle in Finland, breeding reindeer.




WOW!!! Thank you Elle Aycart for writing this hot, steamy, passionate tale...
I had no idea what I was getting in to when I began reading More Than Meets the Ink... But right off, you are thrown in to the dynamics of how this story is going to go...
Tate is crawling on her belly with her mom next to her in her mom's neighbor's yard... Yeah, this whole scene captures you only to make you laugh to know it is because her mom is accusing the neighbor of kidnapping her cat..does that not just make for immediate attention grabbing?
Well, lo and behold, I am captivated and then BAM... In walks sex on a stick James...
Instant attraction?? Oh hell yes...
And here we go... Right out of the gates... Week long vacation fling? Why not?  Tate knows that James is just the "typical bad boy" with his tattoos showing.., so, obviously no emotions attached and why not just relax and enjoy herself?  I would have to agree with hottie James in front of me offering...
So, with much effort, they finally get some alone time.. Yeah, their planned sex moments didn't always happen when your parents are in a retirement community.. LOL!!!
But, this book isn't just about a fling.. It carries so much more with it...
With both Tate and James being from Boston, they find that the attraction they felt in the beginning lingered.  It wasn't something either could ignore and this brings us to the steamy passionate tale More than Meets the Ink is.
Tate and James are fantastic characters that I loved getting to know. I mean, both carrying baggage that hinders relationships to prosper, yet ultimately accepting what they have for each other is momentous.
There is heartache, moments of elation, snarky humor, and did I mention HOT sex??? With a swoon worthy man??? Ok Just want to make sure you are with me...
This book is one of those books that you don't want to put down.. You open up those pages and find yourself immersed in well developed characters, growing throughout their journey, pulling you all the way through...
I highly recommend reading this arousing, sultry, romantic story.. It is not one you want to miss!!




Wow! Thank you, Elle Aycart!  This story is scorching hot. It sizzles from the get-go.  Tate never imagined her "sex only" Summer fling could possibly be anymore. She told herself and James, she wanted nothing more, and frankly, she's not ready for it. But ready or not, here James comes. From the moment they meet there is sexual tension.
But they are both cut off emotionally- or so they think. What they discover (each in their own time), is that their attraction is more than skin deep. Sure they're sexually charged, they simply can't get enough of each other in bed, but you quickly see that each has touched the other in a way they never expected.
What's that they always say? Love finds you when your not looking for it? Well, it slaps these two in the face. Hard.
It's potent. Exciting. And extremely hot to witness.
While there is a lot of sex in the story- lots, ok, it's almost non-stop (hey, I'm not complaining)- it's not the whole story. Tate and James are two people struggling to move on from their pasts, from their mistakes, and the things that were out of their control.
Tate struggles the most and because of that she's not willing to really let James in and see what's right in front of her. It's heartbreaking and frustrating, and at times you want to just shake some sense into her, but everyone heals in their own way, and Tate has to face her fears before she can embrace what James has to offer.
I really enjoyed getting to know these two. The dynamic between them is palpable. They bring out the best in one another, challenge each other, and despite denying or being afraid of what may be happening between them, they support each other.
James is the stronger of the two, but Tate is a force to be reckoned with, and you can't help but like the girl. She's hardworking, loyal and has a heart of gold. James? Well, James is damned near perfect.
I fell hard for this hardcore sex on legs. He's pretty close to every girl's dream. Obviously HOT, smart, charming, family oriented, successful- definitely MORE THAN MEETS THE INK.
This is a story you want to end your day with. Grab a blanket and settle into. Filled with fun, romance, and drama. With extreme highs and lows -and a heart stopping twist you won't see coming.
If you're looking for a book that lets you fantasize and lose yourself in, this is it. Elle Aycart did an amazing job reeling me in, tugging my heartstrings, and delivering the goods. Bravo.
I'm excited to jump in to Heavy Issues, and get to know Cole, the next Bowen brother. Somehow I think these boys can all give Christian Grey a run for his money.

Monday, January 28, 2013

MOST WANTED: January 28, 2013


The Madman's Daughter
by Megan Shepherd

In the darkest places, even love is deadly.
Sixteen-year-old Juliet Moreau has built a life for herself in London—working as a maid, attending church on Sundays, and trying not to think about the scandal that ruined her life. After all, no one ever proved the rumors about her father's gruesome experiments. But when she learns he is alive and continuing his work on a remote tropical island, she is determined to find out if the accusations are true.
Accompanied by her father's handsome young assistant, Montgomery, and an enigmatic castaway, Edward—both of whom she is deeply drawn to—Juliet travels to the island, only to discover the depths of her father's madness: He has experimented on animals so that they resemble, speak, and behave as humans. And worse, one of the creatures has turned violent and is killing the island's inhabitants. Torn between horror and scientific curiosity, Juliet knows she must end her father's dangerous experiments and escape her jungle prison before it's too late. Yet as the island falls into chaos, she discovers the extent of her father's genius—and madness—in her own blood.
Inspired by H. G. Wells's classic The Island of Dr. Moreau, The Madman's Daughter is a dark and breathless Gothic thriller about the secrets we'll do anything to know and the truths we'll go to any lengths to protect.



Shadows in the Silence
(Angelfire series)
by Courtney M. Allison

Your strength in heart and hand will fall. . . .
Ellie knows that the darkest moments are still to come, and she has everything to fight for:
She must fight for Will.
The demonic have resorted to their cruelest weapons to put Will in mortal danger, and Ellie makes an unlikely alliance to save him and to stop Lilith and Sammael, who seek to drown the world in blood and tear a hole into Heaven.
She must fight for humanity.
As the armies of Hell rise and gather for the looming End of Days, Ellie and her band of allies travel to the world’s darkest and most ancient regions in her quest to come into her full glory as the archangel Gabriel.
And Ellie must save herself.
Her humanity withers beneath the weight of her cold archangel power, but Ellie must hold tight to who she is and who she loves as she prepares for the ultimate battle for Heaven and Earth.
In this final installment in the Angelfire trilogy, Courtney Allison Moulton brings her dark world of epic battles and blistering romance to a blazing bright conclusion.



Stolen Nights
(Vampire Queen series)
by Rebecca Maizel

Lenah Beaudonte should be dead. But having sacrificed herself to save another, she finds herself awakening with strange powers that are neither vampire nor human—and a new enemy on her trail. In her vampire life, Lenah had thought that being human was all she ever wanted; but the human heart suffers pain, heartbreak and loss.

With her new powers growing and the dark force of the Nex after her soul, Lenah faces a choice: between the mortal love of gorgeous Justin, whose passion fed her human soul, and taking a different path to become the mistress of her own destiny, wherever that may lead...





Shadowhunters and Downworlders
A Mortal Instrument Reader
by Cassandra Clare

Cassandra Clare’s Mortal Instruments series, epic urban fantasy set in a richly imagined world of shadowhunters, vampires, werewolves, fairies, and more, has captured the imaginations and loyalty of hundreds of thousands of YA readers. Originally a trilogy (City of Bones, City of Ashes, City of Glass), the series has extended to six titles, plus a prequel trilogy, the Infernal Devices, and a planned sequel series, the Dark Artifices. A feature film is planned for 2013.Shadowhunters and Downworlders, edited by Clare (who provides an introduction to the book and to each piece), is a collection of YA authors writing about the series and its world.
Authors Who Contributed:
Holly Black / Kendare Blake / Gwenda Bond / Sarah Rees Brennan / Rachel Caine / Sarah Cross / Kami Garcia / Michelle Hodkin / Kelly Link / Kate Milford / Diana Peterfreund / Sara Ryan / Scott Tracey / Robin Wasserman



Undone
by Cat Clarke

Jem Halliday is in love with her gay best friend. Not exactly ideal, but she's learning to live with it.

Then the unspeakable happens. Kai is outed online ... and he kills himself.

Jem knows nothing she can say or do will bring him back. But she wants to know who was responsible. And she wants to take them down.

A searing story of love, revenge and betrayal from a bestselling author.

BLOG TOUR: Breaking Point by Kristen Simmons



The second installment in Kristen Simmons's fast-paced, gripping YA dystopian series.
After faking their deaths to escape from prison, Ember Miller and Chase Jennings have only one goal: to lay low until the Federal Bureau of Reformation forgets they ever existed.
Near-celebrities now for the increasingly sensationalized tales of their struggles with the government, Ember and Chase are recognized and taken in by the Resistance—an underground organization working to systematically take down the government. At headquarters, all eyes are on the sniper, an anonymous assassin taking out FBR soldiers one by one. Rumors are flying about the sniper’s true identity, and Ember and Chase welcome the diversion….
Until the government posts its most-wanted list, and their number one suspect is Ember herself.
Orders are shoot to kill, and soldiers are cleared to fire on suspicion alone. Suddenly Ember can’t even step onto the street without fear of being recognized, and “laying low” is a joke. Even members of the Resistance are starting to look at her sideways.
With Chase urging her to run, Ember must decide: Go into hiding…or fight back?

Make sure you read Book 1...

New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C., have been abandoned.
The Bill of Rights has been revoked, and replaced with the Moral Statutes.
There are no more police—instead, there are soldiers. There are no more fines for bad behavior—instead, there are arrests, trials, and maybe worse. People who get arrested usually don't come back.
Seventeen-year-old Ember Miller is old enough to remember that things weren't always this way. Living with her rebellious single mother, it's hard for her to forget that people weren't always arrested for reading the wrong books or staying out after dark. It's hard to forget that life in the United States used to be different.
Ember has perfected the art of keeping a low profile. She knows how to get the things she needs, like food stamps and hand-me-down clothes, and how to pass the random home inspections by the military. Her life is as close to peaceful as circumstances allow.
That is, until her mother is arrested for noncompliance with Article 5 of the Moral Statutes. And one of the arresting officers is none other than Chase Jennings—the only boy Ember has ever loved.




Kristen Simmons has a master’s degree in social work and is an advocate for mental health. She loves Jazzercise, her husband, and her precious greyhound, Rudy. Also chocolate. She currently lives in Tampa, Florida.







    
I need to say thank you first and foremost to Jean BookNerd for hosting this fabulous tour.  I am so glad that I was able to be on it.  I read the synopsis for this book and knew right away that I wanted to read it.  Albeit, I had to read book 1, Article 5, first...but, let me say....SO....WORTH.....IT!!!
To begin, I am going to sum up my feelings on Article 5 quickly and then head in to Breaking Point.
I began Article 5 and knew instantly that this book was going to be phenomenal.  I was hooked immediately...and by the end I was BLOWN AWAY!!
Kristen Simmons created a dystopian world like no other.  You are so emotionally wrapped up in Ember's life that you literally FEEL the pain, stress, paranoia, fear, and of course the few moments of love throughout her journey.  I was shaken to the core in the events that passed in this book and at times, I wanted to rip Chase's head off for not opening up more.  Oh, I bet you are now wondering "who is Chase??"....Ahh, well, he is the tortured hero of our tale and let me say, the connection that he and Ember have will dig deep in to your soul and pull at it so harshly at times that you feel like you may break...*sighs heavily*
But, many times while reading, I also had to sit back and realize that these were teenagers.  Teenagers dealing with adult problems and surviving the best way they knew how *shakes head at the struggles they faced*
As I finished Article 5, I immediately dove right in to Breaking Point.  The stir of emotions in me from book 1 carried over and...WHAM, you are back in the oppressive, depressing new world created by the devastation of war detailed in Article 5.  Following the events that Ember and Chase bring you through to where we are;  I was constantly in knots worrying about the lives of these characters.  Always keeping HOPE for a ray of light to shine down on them.  But, there is so much to overcome.  Chase's mantra always ringing in their ears of "Trust No One" yet slowly watching these solitary refugees band together and begin to form a comradeship.  Breaking down walls and disbeliefs to find that what connects them together truly makes them family.
I have to say, the writing in the book is phenomenal.  Eloquently written drawing you in to each page and losing yourself in the world created by Kristen Simmons.  Grasping on to your soul and settling in, possessing you to the point that your mind is totally consumed by the journey these characters are on. AND, don't let me forget to tell you just how well developed these characters are.  The insurmountable strength that our lead protagonist has is surprising yet fulfilling.  Her driving force carries you through this book and catches you at the end amazed at the growth she has come through.
I truly hope that since I didn't give details (especially since this is book 2 of a series and I DO NOT want to spoil) that you can feel how much I am affected by this book.  In fact, how I feel about both books.
I have read Hunger Games and Divergent (GREAT books by my standards, especially in the dystopian genre).  But, Article 5 and Breaking Point take tops for me in this area.  If anything comes from you reading this review...READ these books and see if my opinion matches yours....
A DEFINITE MUST READ!!!
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