Saturday, May 11, 2013

Review: The Rocker That Holds Me by Terri Anne Browning

4 Star Review by Annie

Synopsis
 
Touring with four rockers is the thing of dreams…

At least that is what people tell me. To me those four rockers are my family. They have watched over me from the time I was five years old. Protecting me from my mother and her drunken, drug addict rages. When they made it big they still watched over me. And when my monster of a mother died they took over as my guardians.

In the six years since that happened I have watched over the four men that
mean everything to me. I take care of them just as they once took care of me. I handle all the dirty work behind the scenes of a rockers life. It isn’t always pretty. At times it came be damn near disgusting, especially when I have to get rid of their one night stands. Ugh!

Taking care of them doesn’t bother me though. I mean it’s not like I’m in love with one of them. That would be crazy. Falling for a rocker is NOT smart.

Okay, so I’m not smart. I love my guys, and one of them kind of holds my heart in his big old rocker hand. But I’m dealing. I’ve been able to keep it my little secret for years now.
I’m not, however, dealing with this bug that I seem to have caught. It scares the hell out of me. I hate doctors, but I’m suddenly more worried about finding out what is wrong with me than what the doctor might do to me.

When I get my test results back my life will never be the same again…


Our Review


The Rocker That Holds Me is an amazing fast read. This book will take you on a whirlwind of emotions. 

To say Emmie had a rough childhood is an understatement. Emmie’s mother was always drunk, high on drugs and physically abusive. No matter how messed up life gets Emmie always had an escape, and it came in the form of four teenage boys who are in a rock band.


“We are not leaving. Emmie is ours. We’re staying with her.”

Fast-forward years later and Emmie is now an adult and the guys are now famous rock stars. The roles have reversed and now Emmie is taking care of them. The band is the only true family Emmie has and she loves them like they are her brothers. That is all of them except one, because he owns a different part of her heart and she can’t stop thinking about him.

“Yes, I am in love. There is this Ember in my heart that has hold of me and won’t let got”

This book was too short. I want more. I crave more. The band is smoking hot, and Emmie tugs on your heartstrings. This book is a must read.

Books Available
 


Friday, May 10, 2013

Blog Tour and Giveaway: Don't Hate the Player...Hate the Game by Katie Ashley

Synopsis

 For Noah Sullivan being the best friend to a douchebag and player like Jake Nelson has never been easy. It's been a rocky road since kindergarten when Jake duct taped Noah to his chair before recess. With just six weeks to high school graduation, Jake accidentally blows his drunken ass up on his grandfather's tractor, and Noah finds himself immersed not only in a whirlwind of grief, but on a quest to find a mystery girl from Jake's past. 

 While cleaning out Jake's room, Noah and Jake's dad make a startling discovery. Instead of the obligatory porn collection or pot stash, they find a ring, but not just any ring. Its half a carat of commitment in a platinum setting-proving even man whores have taste. After Jake's mom pleads with Noah to find the girl who meant so much to Jake, Noah begins a modern day Grail quest to track the girl down.

 Since Jake was a notorious player with a legendary collection of trophy panties, Noah finds himself in over his head. There are the usual suspects like Avery, the Ice Princess Jake dated for appearances, or Presley, the school mattress Jake dated for convenience. But the trail begins to point to the most unlikely of suspects: Maddie, the Valedictorian and choir girl who was trying to help the unmotivated jock graduate--the girl who also has surprisingly caught Noah's eye and meddled with his heart.
Hanging out with Maddie shows Noah a different side of Jake--one that was deeply human and surprisingly douche-free.  And the more he tries to solve the mystery of the ring and of Jake, the more Noah starts to discover about himself and of love.

Our Review
3.5 Star Review by Annie
  
Don’t Hate the Player is a sweet sad love story that will have you tearing up in the first chapter, and all through the rest of the book. Katie Ashley will have you riding on an emotional roller-coaster from start to finish.

Noah and Jake have been best friends and partners in crime for over 12 years. When times got tough they were there supporting each other and have always had each other’s back no matter what.  So when Jake is tragically killed in a freak accident Noah is left trying to pick up the pieces.
   
“If I leave here tomorrow, would you still remember me” Free Bird, Lynyrd Skynyrd
Jake was always the manwhoring player, but sometimes things aren’t always what they seem. Noah learns that Jake has been living a double life. When Noah finds an engagement ring in Jake’s room it takes him and everyone else by surprise. How can a guy who has never been in a serious relationship think about marriage?  Noah is on a mission to find the girl who has stolen Jake’s heart.

“You've been my beacon of light in my storm of grief, and I don't know if I could live without you.”

Maddie is the typical preacher’s daughter and Jake’s tutor, but she has seen another side to Jake that no one has. So when Noah needs someone to lean on, who better to turn to after all Maddie is sweet, caring and really hot.  Noah really sees something special in Maddie, but is torn between going after something he wants and respecting his dead friend.

“Life is hard, but it's even harder when you don't wanna face it.”

Through Noah we relearn some of life’s important lessons, and are reminded of how resilient we can be when pushed to our limits. Katie Ashley does a great job at showing us that sometimes unexpected things happen that you have absolutely no control over, but you just keep going on and take one day at a time.


This book is definitely geared more towards they YA audience. This book started off slow, but it started to pick up momentum half way through! 
  

 About The Author



Katie Ashley is the New York Times, USA Today, and Amazon Best-Selling author of The Proposition. She lives outside of Atlanta, Georgia with her two very spoiled dogs and one outnumbered cat. She has a slight obsession with Pinterest, The Golden Girls, Harry Potter, Shakespeare, Supernatural, Designing Women, and Scooby-Doo.

She spent 11 1/2 years educating the Youth of America aka teaching MS and HS English until she left to write full time in December 2012.


She also writes Young Adult fiction under the name Krista Ashe.
Website Facebook Goodreads ♥  Twitter
 

Thursday, May 9, 2013

Cover Reveal and Giveaway: Fixed On You by Laurelin Paige

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Title: Fixed on You (Fixed, #1)
Author: Laurelin Paige
Genre: Contemporary
Age Group: Adult
Expected release date: July 31, 2013
Cover reveal organized by: AToMR Tours


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Stalking and restraining orders are a thing of Alayna Pierce’s past. With her MBA newly in hand, she has her future figured out – move up at the nightclub she works at and marry the manager, David. He’s perfect for her because, although he’s attractive, he doesn’t get her all turned inside out and upside down like some other men have. It’s a safe plan, one that assures she’ll remain in control of her obsessive love disorder.

But what Alayna didn’t figure on is Hudson Pierce, the new owner of the nightclub. He’s smart, rich, and gorgeous – the kind of guy Alayna knows to stay away from if she wants to keep her past tendencies in check. Except, Hudson’s fixed his sights on her. He wants her in his bed and makes no secret of his plans to seduce her. Avoiding him becomes impossible after he offers a business proposition Alayna can’t turn down and she’s drawn further into his universe, unable to resist his gravitational pull.

Soon Alayna’s charmed by Hudson in every way possible and the control over her old behaviors slip. When she learns Hudson has a dark history of his own, she realizes too late that she’s fallen for the worst man she could possibly get involved with. Or maybe their less than ideal pasts give them an opportunity to heal each other and finally find the love their lives have been missing.



About the Author

Laurelin Paige is a sucker for a good romance and gets giddy anytime there’s kissing, much to the embarrassment of her three daughters. Her husband doesn’t seem to complain, however. When she isn’t reading or writing sexy stories, she’s probably singing, watching Mad Men or the Walking Dead, or dreaming of Adam Levine. She is represented by the wonderful Bob Diforio of D4EO Literary Agency.

 
a Rafflecopter giveaway





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Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Blog Tour and Giveaway: Love in All the Wrong Places by Audrey Harte

 

 

 Synopsis


Annie Chang is in her mid 20s and has lived in Los Angeles all her life. After a series of failed relationships, she's beginning to feel like she will never meet Mr. Right. But seeing one of her longtime BFFs find love on the internet, she decides to give online dating a try.

After finally finding an amazing guy who sweeps her off her feet, will he prove to be everything she could have wished for and more or is he too good to be true?





 
 
Our Review
 
Annie has had terrible luck in the love department, from the high school boyfriend who dumped her when he left for college to the non-working actor boyfriend who cheated on her. All the horrible past experience's had Annie wondering if she would ever find the right person. So Annie decided to follow the advice of her friend and give online dating a chance.

She made several profiles on craiglist, and waited for the responses to start pouring in. After combing through all the creepers and weirdos, Annie thinks she may have finally found Mr. Right. Does Annie end up finding true love? Or does she continue to be unlucky in love?

Audrey Harte did a great job at balancing comedy and romance in her debut novel. This book had me laughing out loud, screaming at my kindle and falling in love with all the characters. 

I loved how Audrey Harte explored the positive and negatives of online dating. Annie was very relatable because we all have either tried online dating or have known someone who has, and have heard the horror stories that go along with it. This book has just enough spice to get your blood flowing and just enough adventure to keep you intrigued until the very end.

This book ends with a cliffhanger, and I am eagerly waiting to find out what happens to Annie. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a fun, fast read.



Interview
 
What inspired you to become an Author?
 
I’ve always been a creative person, but I kind of went on hiatus for several years after moving from Nebraska to California and joining the “real world” (i.e. getting a full-time job). I used to write dozens of poems and songs and kept them in notebooks and even published some online, but my few attempts to write a book never went anywhere. I think a big part of that was that I had just built it up to be this big thing where I thought I could never get published or that I wasn’t good enough. Once I discovered about self-publishing from my BFF, Kimberly Knight, it was huge motivation for me to finally write a book – knowing that I could get it out there and people WOULD read it, rather than it just sitting on my hard drive “collecting dust”.
 
Are you surprised by the overall reaction from the fans?
 
Hmm, I don’t know if I’d say surprised so much as relieved! Of course, I thought I had written a fun little story and hoped that people would respond well to it. So, I was very relieved that people seem to be enjoying it.
 

We loved your playlist; does music play an important part when it comes to writing for you? If so, what one song inspired you the most?
 
I’m so glad you like the playlist! And most definitely, music is an important part of writing to me. As I mentioned before, I’ve always been a creative person. I used to want to pursue a singing career; I even auditioned for American Idol twice, but that didn’t go anywhere, lol. But my love of music endures and it has been such a huge part of the writing process for me. I concentrate best when I’m zoned out in my living room, tucked away in my little corner on my laptop with my headphones on, listening to all my favorite tunes. The song that inspired me most while I was writing this book is on the soundtrack. It’s called I Remember by Kaskade and Deadmau5 and it’s mentioned in the book as well, when Annie and Gabe are dancing at the club. There’s just something about the night life, especially out here in the City of Angels; anything can happen and it can seem like you’re living in your own movie. I can’t tell you how many interesting experiences I’ve had in the 15 years I’ve lived here – where I would wake up the next morning and be like, “Did that just really happen?” And I Remember reminds me of what kind of interesting adventures can happen at night in L.A. :)
 
 
How are you and the main character, Annie, similar? How are you different?
 
I (like Annie) have used Craigslist for online dating and just meeting platonic friends, as well as other things like finding a job, buying and selling furniture, finding roommates, etc. I even met my fiancĂ© of 10 years on Craigslist, but no, he’s not in the book! Some of the experiences I’ve had were pretty crazy, and I would think to myself, “Someday, I need to write a book about some of this stuff”…so I finally did. Though what is truth vs fiction, I’ll never tell! ;-) And Annie’s interests are the same as mine.

As far as being different, Annie is a little older than I was when I first started getting on Craigslist. Also, she is half Chinese (I’m half Japanese) and half Caucasian, she was born and raised in L.A. and I’m a transplant. And she’s got a body to die for – the one I WISH I had, lol.
 
 
Like Annie, I fell for Gabe’s character despite his downfall; are we going to find out what happened to him?
 
You’d have to be immune to not fall for Gabe! He is actually a mixture of a few different guys I met or talked to online. One experience I’ve had that I wanted to use in a book was the trip to Phoenix…that really happened. Only, the guy was from Arizona (not from here) and he flew me out there for a weekend. Not every detail about the trip is true, but the location, the passing her by because he got distracted by her legs, the outdoor bathtub, that all happened. And what Gabe tells Annie when he gets back from Phoenix? THAT happened, too. Devastating. Gabe may make a reappearance in book 2, but if he does, it’ll probably be pretty minor. 
 

If you had to write your own personal ad for your online dating profile, what would it say?
 
Ha, well, you read the ads Annie wrote in the book. Those are pretty much the types of ads I used to write. I tried to be unique and funny and specific to try to weed out the weirdos or the guys who just copy/paste a response to every single posting.
 

Annie did not like guys responding to her post using pickup lines, what is the worst pick up line you have ever heard?
 
Ha, well, I’ve never really had guys use pick-up lines on me, although I did meet a street hawker outside of a Justin Timberlake/Christina Aguilera concert MANY years ago who hit on me and I ended up going on a date with him, and he kept going on about my FEET…dude had a real foot fetish. Needless to say, that was the one and only date we went on! I need to get to know a guy a little before finding out about his foot fetish. :P
 
 
Who is your dream cast for Love in All the Wrong Places?
 
Well, the ONE character I had an actual muse for while I was writing was Casey. Channing Tatum is Casey – as I wrote each word about him, I could see Channing in my head, I could hear Channing respond to Annie, lol. That was actually very helpful to me while I was writing the last two chapters. But after I finished the book, I went on a Google spree and searched for people I thought fit the other characters. If you want to check out my Pinterest board, you can see pictures I’ve pinned of my dream cast. 
 
MY DREAM CAST (in order of appearance in the book)
Annie: Jarah Mariano
Mark: Jake Gyllenhaal
Alex: Lucas Arantes
Gabe: Bartolomew Farsano (BTW - I am open to my readers helping me find a better cast for this character – I had a hard time finding a guy who I could picture as Gabe – this was the best I could do so far)
Summer: Amanda Siegfried
Katie: Dannie Riel
Teresa: Emma Stone
Nate: Hunter Parrish
Casey: Channing Tatum
 
In All the Right Things do we learn if Annie finally finds Mr. Right?
 
Yes, you do!
 
Is All the Right Things the last book in the series, or will there be more?
 
Yes, there will only be two books. When I started writing, I wasn’t sure if I was going to make Love in All the Wrong Places be a stand-alone or a series, but I ended up with enough material to do two books, so there ya go! J All the Right Things will not only be about Annie finally getting together with Mr. Right – it’s also about her journey to find herself and figure out what she really wants to do with her life.

Author Links

  Website Facebook Goodreads ♥  Twitter ♥  Blog ♥  Amazon Page

 

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Review: Rock With Me (With Me in Seattle #4) by Kristen Proby

5 Star Review by Heather & Annie

Synopsis
 
Front Man Leo Nash from the world-famous rock band, Nash, is the last person on earth Samantha Williams would trust. She's already learned about loving a celebrity the hard way and isn't signing up for another lesson.

Every time Sam gives Leo attitude, he wants to knock that chip off her fragile little shoulder. What the hell did he ever do to her, anyway? He's not used to women treating him like he's poisonous, and he isn't about to let her run away every time he gets close. He's had enough of people running away to last him a lifetime...when this one runs, he gives chase. But, catching Sam isn't as hard as he thought.

The sexual attraction between them is so thick, Sam can practically hold it in her hand. There's no way she can deny herself the promise of pleasure being with Leo would provide.

But, pleasure always comes with pain and when secrets are revealed and trust is challenged, who will run and who will chase?
 
Our Review

  " I call you sunshine because when you smile, you light me up inside"
 
Holy Cupcakes! Kristen Proby you rocked our panties off again!!!  This book was amazingly delicious and will get you all hot and bothered! I love this family and we are happy that we will get more of them.


"You make me forget how to breathe"

Samantha is tired of living in the shadow of her family. After all she is her own person. So after years of people using her to get to her famous brother Sam decides it’s best to just put up walls and keep people out.  She tries to play the bitch when really she is sweet.  Sam hates fame and the spotlight that comes with it.  So when she falls for Leo, the lead singer of Nash, she has to learn to overcome her worries or end the relationship before it starts. 

 "I know you’re strong and independent and I respect that, but this is who I am, Sam. I take care of what is mine. You're mine."

Leo is the SEXY ass rocker who just needs a break from his busy schedule of constant touring. So he goes home to Seattle and reconnects with his sister, Meg.  What he doesn’t expect to do is fall in love with his sisters friend, Sam.  Is he ready to fully settle down and try being in a relationship?   

"You. Are. So. Amazing. Rock with me, baby"

I love all the women in this series because they kick ass and take names later, and the men are just…..DELICIOUS! This book is no different. Sam doesn’t take crap from anyone and she always speaks her mind. While Leo, will have you shifting in your seat and begging for more.

This book Rocked My World!!!  I would love to lick Leo's stars ;) We give this book 5 stars and a definite read!!!  The With Me in Seattle series is AMAZING!!!  Kristen Proby knows how to draw the audience and keep them there.


Books Available
 
 





Monday, May 6, 2013

Blog Tour and Giveaway: The Winemaker's Dinner: Dessert

 Synopsis

Left on bended knee, with nothing but a ring in his hand and a gaping hole in his chest, Ivan Rusilko lost everything when Jaden Thorne said, “I can’t.”

Now, six months later and despite her endless attempts to reach him, finding forgiveness for Jaden’s indiscretion is last on his list of things to do. Dr. Ivan is married to his career now, and his professional success is taking him places he’s never been before. But even the glow of accomplishment can’t heal his devastated heart. Determined to recover, to move forward at any cost, he now finds moments of respite in distractions that leave him emotionally bankrupt. He’s empty, a shadow of his former vibrant, life-loving self. On the outside, he may seem to be the man he always was. But inside, a terrible desire threatens to rip him apart and ruin him forever.

Meanwhile Jaden is haunted by the memory of the moment she saw the light wither and die in Ivan’s eyes. She knows it died at her hand. After months of trying to explain herself, of begging for mercy, she takes herself back to Miami, back into Ivan’s path, for one last chance at redemption. Can she entice him back into her arms? Convince him to give her a second chance? She’s determined to do whatever it takes to find forgiveness—even if all that’s left is forgiving herself.
 

In this final book of The Winemaker’s Feast Trilogy, The Winemaker’s Dinner: Dessert, author Dr. Ivan Rusilko is writing solo, drawing freely on his own life and love experiences to craft a heartbreaking and wildly erotic tale about lost hope, desperation, contrition, and—if it’s possible—the quest for a perfect ending to a real-life love story. True to its title, Dessert serves readers an indulgent, decadent last course, rich with twists, turns, and tantalizing truths.

Love is beautiful, guys like this really do exist, and the power of real romance is something we can all believe in.
 
 
Our Review
4 Stars Review by Heather
 
I am both excited and sad to have read this book. Excited because I get to find out how the series ends and sad because we get no more Jaden and Ivan. This series has been amazing.

"I wanted to know what love could be, and I found that answer in you. You're everything to me."

Jaden has had a rough six months. She has tried and tried to get Ivan to talk with her, but he is avoiding her. She still hasn't forgiven herself for the pain she caused Ivan. She is trying to heal herself and figure out if the spotlight is really where she wants to be. Is she ready to forgive herself? Is being in the spotlight really making her happy?

"Don't plan to love, Ivan. Go do it. Live! Doesn't matter if its what you expected or the way you had it all worked out. You plan too much. You're so careful."
 
Ivan is so broken up about Jaden cheating that he won't talk to her. He doesn't even read her emails. The sad thing is if he would listen to her he would realize that she never actually slept with her co worker. So instead of working things out with Jaden he self medicates with women. Woman after woman until he turns into a person he doesn't know or like. It takes his parents coming down for a visit and the surprise visit of the first woman to break his heart to show Ivan what he was losing. Does he forgive Jaden so that they can have a life together? Or do they remain friends and go their separate ways?

"When you find that one little thing about someone you can't find in anyone else- no matter how small it is-- that thing that completely shuts down whatever else you're doing? She's the one. Find that, and you've found her."
 
This book was good. I was hoping for a little more. I like epilogues so I can get a glimpse at what happens later. I love the weddings and babies:) I wish Ivan the best in getting his HEA for real!!!! Thank you for sharing your love/life stories with us!

Playlist






About The Author


Dr. Ivan Rusilko is the Medical Director and Co-Founder at the new Club Essentia Wellness Retreat at Delano. Dr. Rusilko specializes in creating healthy lifestyles that support longevity and improved overall quality of life through medically supervised and customized diagnostic and treatment programs, with an emphasis placed on personal patient attention and follow-up.
 
His debut novel, The Winemaker’s Dinner: Appetizers, is the first book of a three book series which debuted July 31, 2012. The second installment "Entree" was released on December 18, 2012 and the final book, "Dessert" will be out April 30th. He is excited to offer a male voice in a predominantly female authored genre. Always one with a story to tell, he hopes to continue writing, exploring new genres and projects, as well as field future entertainment opportunities.

He is proud to bring two of his passions, medicine and writing, together in this unique project. He hopes that The Winemakers Feast Trilogy will help spark an enthusiasm and ignite liberation giving women the power and the courage to reclaim their sensual side, focus on their own sexual health and ultimately achieve a better quality of life.

"The best cosmetic procedure is adding a smile" -Dr. Rusilko



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