Friday, August 16, 2013

Blog Tour and Giveaway: Beg (Songs of Submission) by C.D. Reiss

~ Synopsis ~
 
This novella is the first in a series
 
My name is Monica. I’m a singer born and raised in Los Angeles.
 
I’ve stopped dating. When I cut a record, or win a Grammy, maybe then I’ll be with someone, but every man in my past has done everything he could to make me submit myself to him, and it’s gotten in the way of my career. I won’t do it again.
 
But there’s Jonathan. He owns the high-rise hotel where I work, and he is gorgeous and charming. I refuse to fall in love with him, even though when he asks me to submit to him, I want nothing more.
 
 
****GRAPHIC LANGUAGE, SEX, AND ADULT SITUATIONS****


~ Our Review ~
4 Star Review by Annie

 

All Monica every wanted to do was become a singer. She was just living life waiting tables until her big break finally happened. She was determined not only for herself, but for her band mates. Some of their lives depended on it. Monica is so dedicated to making it happen she lives her life distraction free, and that mean NO MEN!

So when Monica screwed up and spilt her drink all over Jonathan, the owner of the hotel where she was working, she expected to be fired. What she didn’t expect was to get all those gushy sexual feelings in her stomach. To make matters worse she was sure he felt them too!

This book will leave you begging for more. Then ending is a major cliffhanger, but do not panic the next book in the series is already out. This was a fast read that will have you clinging onto your kindle for dear life. It is jammed packed with a ton of sexy scenes, as well as a whole lot of angst. I give this book 4 stars.
 

 
 
 
~ About The Author ~
 
CD Reiss lives smack in the middle of Los Angeles with her children and husband. She likes to make pretty pictures and write dirty scenes. She eats dark chocolate and chili, together, sometimes with bacon, and doesn't care what you think about that.
 
There are a million more things she could tell you about herself besides that, but they're all too boring to mention in company.

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
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Thursday, August 15, 2013

Cover Reveal & Release Day Blitz: Crashed by Danielle A. Elwood

~ Synopsis ~
 Emily Taylor is a twenty-six year old event planner who has made a career out of dating; with the majority of it ending up as a complete nightmare. She is driven, motivated, and rising to the top in her career…but not in her love life. However, a random car accident will change her life forever.
Avery Martin is a country boy stuck in the city working his dream job of being a fire fighter. Over the years he has given up a lot, including dating, to focus on his career. Responding to a car accident one day he becomes overly involved with the woman he is rescuing.

Will these two find love, or will amnesia, and a crazy ex cost them the future they might have had?
 
 
 
 
~ About The Author ~
 
Danielle A. Elwood is a blogger by trade who started writing her first romance novel Take Me Out as a hobby in 2012. She is a avid romance novel lover herself,  which inspired her to take the leap into writing her own. She was born and raised in Connecticut and is relocating to Florida in April of 2013 with her family.
 
Danielle is a mother of three – Camden (5), Benjamin (4), and Addison(2) and has written for various popular parenting publications such as Disney owned Babble.com, as well as the Online Woman’s Magazine The Broad Side where she is also the managing editor, and her own website Danielle Elwood Dot Com, which is a parenting based Mom blog. 

Some of her inspirations include: Abbi Glines, Melody Anne, Laura Kaye, Cherrie Lynn, and Colleen Hoover.

 

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Cover Reveal and Giveaway: Man of My Dreams by Faith Andrews

 
Title: Man of My Dreams
Author: Faith Andrews
Expected Release: September 19, 2013
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Cover Designer: Regina Wamba of Mae I Design


~ Synopsis ~

Mia Murphy may be married to the man of her dreams. But the man in her dreams is the one that got away—her high school crush.

Mia’s stuck in a rut, just like every other stay-at-home mom, and the only thing saving her from her monotonous routine is her perfect husband, Declan. He’s gorgeous, he adores her, and the man stole her heart with his sexy singing voice. Mia feels like the luckiest girl in the world, until she discovers that Mr. Perfect is not Mr. Faithful. Mia is devastated. Everything she once believed about Declan and their marriage is now covered in a big cloud of doubt and regret. On impulse, she kicks the cheating bastard out, pushing them into a separation that could mean the end of the picture-perfect couple.

But when Mia receives an invitation to her high school reunion, she finds herself abandoning the present for the oh-so-alluring pull of the past. Although her heart still belongs to her husband, inescapable thoughts of her crush, Noah, resurface. And ten years later, Noah isn’t afraid to make his move. When the build-up of fantasies and ‘what ifs' comes to a head, sparks fly and it’s Mia’s turn to question if her marriage is everything she wants out of life. Searching for answers, Mia dives head first into dating Noah, falling further away from her husband and closer to her old flame.

But Declan’s not giving up so easily. Mia is his one and only and he’s not about to let another man win her heart.
 
~ Teaser ~
 
It’s not ‘til I get home, walk into my empty house, that the reality starts to sink in. My husband had an affair. An affair. Saying it over and over in my head doesn’t weaken its meaning. What a dumb word to describe—this. What he did. Affair seems too formal, too politically correct, to encompass what it really means. It’s bullshit! That’s what it is. Pure, heart wrenching, holy-shit-this-is-not-happening-to-me bullshit!
 
How will I tell my parents? My friends? The girls. This will devastate them. Am I going to be divorced at twenty-eight years old? How did I miss the warning signs? What did I do to deserve this?
 
I collapse on the couch, already tired from the unremitting tears and the questions popping up like microwave popcorn in my head. I cry so hard my body shakes, trembling and convulsing. I run to the bathroom because the sobs have lodged themselves in my throat, causing me to gag and heave. I fall down to my knees in front of the toilet and spew my guts up. I’ve had stomach flus, drunken wild nights, and morning sickness, but vomit has never left my body this violently before.
 
I rest my head on the toilet, giving in to the self-inflicted mental and physical beating I’ve just taken and I hear the sound of the front door slam shut, followed by frantic footsteps.
 
“Mia, baby? Mia? Where are you?”
 
If I had the energy to get up and lock the door I would. I would lock myself in here until the hurt and disbelief vanish, but there’s no telling if and when that will ever happen.
 
A few seconds later, Declan is at my side, rubbing my back. “Are you okay?”
 
Yes, Declan, I’m perfect. Just fucking peachy. “Get the hell out. Leave me alone.” If only it were that simple. I actually don’t want him to leave me alone. I never wanted him to leave me alone, and ironically, now that he’s done the unthinkable, that’s what I’m going to be – all alone.
 
Declan’s crying now. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him cry. It’s unsettling, even if I want to see him hurt as badly as I’m hurting. “Mia, I’m sorry. I don’t know what else to say, but I want to talk to you about it. I need to make you understand.”
  
“Understand what, Dec? You lied to me. You cheated on me. You…ruined our marriage and our family…for one night with some…whore. I can’t believe these words are coming out of my mouth. Why Declan? I need…to understand…why?” The sobs distort my speech. I can’t even get the words out without insufferable sniffling.
 
 “There is no explanation, Mia. But you’re not letting me talk. It’s not what you think. I didn’t…”
 “You know what, spare me all the details and just get the hell out.”
 
“Mia…”
 
 “GET OUT!” I scream so loud my throat feels raw. “Get out, get out, get out!” I can’t say it enough. I need him to leave. I can’t hear one more word out of his mouth. The mouth that was mine, that has now been all over someone else’s body. The thought disgusts me so much I start to wretch again, spilling out more, emptying my body to match the same empty feeling in my heart.
 
By the time I’m finally done, Declan is nowhere to be found.
 

~ About The Author ~
 

Faith Andrews lives in New York where she is happily married to her high school sweetheart. They have two beautiful daughters and a furry Yorkie son, Rocco. If she isn’t listening to Mumford and Sons or busy being a Dance Mom, her nose is in a book or her laptop. She’s a sucker for a happily ever after and believes her characters are out there living one somewhere . . .
 
 


 
  
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Blitz and Giveaway: Unscrupulous (The Manhattanites #2) by Avery Aster

~ Synopsis ~

At thirty-three, Warner Truman is one of the richest men on the planet, a spa mogul who buys and sells resorts at will. He holds powerful executives’ careers in his well-groomed hands. Nothing is beyond Warner’s reach…until he meets her.

Stunning, tantalizing and perverse, Taddy captivates Warner’s carnal desire like no woman he’s ever met. A self-made millionaire, Taddy is tougher than steel, more brilliant than diamonds and, at twenty-seven, she’s never depended on a man for anything…until she meets him.

The more Taddy plays with Warner’s affections, driving him to erotic heights, the more she is confronted by a dark past. Before she can love him, Taddy must meet her worst fears head-on or risk losing it all, including herself.

 
 


~ Celebrity Dream Cast for Unscrupulous ~
Joe Manganiello is…Warner Truman: (33) a billionaire widower who owns Truman Enterprises. He’s tired of gold-digging hanger-on types.
Olivia Wilde is…Tabitha “Taddy Brill” Adelaide Brillford: (27) an obsessive masturbator who is Lex, Vive and Blake’s lifelong friend. She’s a self-made millionaire and owns Brill, Inc.
 
Scarlett Johansson …Alexandra “Lex” Easton: (27) fashion designer to the stars and founder of Easton Essentials. She’s the late rock-n-roll legend Eddie Easton’s daughter.
 
Chris Hemswort is…Blake Morgan III: (27) a gay, gorgeous top who is estranged from his husband. He co-founded Brill, Inc. and is the brains behind many of Taddy’s accounts.
Lindsay Lohan is…Viveca “Vive” Farnworth: (28) a party girl who met Lex, Taddy and Blake in boarding school. Vive is the editor-in-chief of Debauchery Magazine and liquor heiress.
 
Taylor Swift is…Kelly “Kiki” Ivy Kailyn Izatt: (21) a virgin Mormon assistant to Taddy Brill. She moved to New York from Provo, Utah, with dreams of making it in the big city.
 
Cam Gigandet is…Sheldon Truman: (32) Warner’s younger brother. A retired male fashion model, he travels the world jumping from one circuit party to the next.

~ About The Series ~
 
The Manhattanites is an extended modern erotic romance series of full length juicy melodramas multilayered on love, friendship, scandal, and drama to the hilt. Fans who watch TV shows like Girls (HBO), Mistresses (ABC/BBC Drama), and The Bold & the Beautiful (CBS) love The Manhattanites series. Avery's characters are over the top. They have raunchy sex, speak their minds and always get what they want. Each novel may be read as a stand alone, features an HEA for every couple and has no cliffhangers.



~ About The Author ~
 
Avery Aster pens erotic romance for Ellora's Cave. As a resident of New York's Upper East Side and a graduate from New York University, Avery gives readers an inside look at the city's glitzy nightlife, socialite sexcapades and tall tales of the über-rich and ultra-famous. "I write about what I see in my metropolis that never sleeps--Manhattanites on the quest for a passionate thrill," Avery says. "By and large, my characters are drop-dead gorgeous, ripped straight from the headlines and on the hunt for their next conquest.”
UNDRESSED #1 (Lex & Massimo) launched The Manhattanites series, exploring people's forbidden desires of lust and longing. UNSCRUPULOUS #2 (Taddy & Warner) is the highly anticipated prequel releasing August 14, 2013. Also, stay tuned for the sequel with UNSAID #3 (Blake & Miguel) coming winter 2013.
 Like Avery Aster on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AveryAster
Follow Avery Aster on Twitter: https://twitter.com/averyaster
Fan Avery Aster on Goodreads: http://goodreads.com/averyaster
 
Join Avery Asters Newsletter: http://averyaster.com/
 
 
 

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Blog Tour and Giveaway: Stripped by Jasinda Wilder


~Synopsis ~
 
So how did I get myself into this situation, you ask? Simple: desperation. When you're faced with being homeless and hungry or taking off your clothes for money, the choice is easier than you'd imagine. That doesn't make it easy, though. Oh no. I hate it, in fact. There's nothing I'd like more than to quit and never go into another bar again, never hear the techno beat pulsing in my ears again, never feel the lecherous gazes of horny men again.

Then, one day, I meet a man. He's in my club, front and center. He watches me do my routine, and his gaze is full of hunger. Not the kind of desire I'm used to though. It's something different. Something hotter, deeper, and more possessive. I know who he is; of course I do. Everyone knows who Dawson Kellor is. He's People Magazine's Sexiest Man alive. He's the hottest actor in Hollywood. He's the man hand-picked for the role of Rhett Butler in the long-awaited remake of Gone With the Wind.

He's the kind of man who can have any woman in the entire world with a mere crook of his finger. So what's he doing looking at me like he has to have me? And how do I resist him when he looks at me with those intoxicating, changeable, quicksilver eyes?

I'm a virgin, and he's an American icon of male sexuality. I'm a stripper, and he's a man used to getting anything and everything he wants. And he wants me. I know I should say no, I know he's the worst kind of player…but what my mind knows, my body and my heart may not.

And then things get complicated.
 
Release date August 16, 2013
 

  ~ Annie's Review ~
4 Star Review
 
This book will strip you of your mind, soul and heart. Oh and not to mention your clothing. Stripped is an amazing tale of a girl who is trying to find herself and where she belongs. Jasinda Wilder did not, I repeat did not, let me down!
All Grey ever wanted to do was live her life and do the things that made her happy, which were dancing and making movies. The only problem is  her father, a Baptist pastor, stood in her way. He told her God didn’t approve of anything she did and she was doing the devils work. Her mom was always the beacon of hope. Helping her talk sense into her dad, but that all changed when her mom became sick and passed away.

Grey knew she couldn’t live with her dad so she left home to go to college in LA, the devils playground. Everything was going great, until she learned her scholarship was almost out of funds. Never having to work a day in her life, Grey had no experience except dancing. So, after months of searching and time running out, Grey took a job at the only place that would hire her. A sleazy rundown hole in the wall strip club. Against her will she had no other chose, but to take it.
 
Every night when she stripped she lost a little bit more of her dignity and her lunch. Nothing was going right. Everything was crumbling around her. That all changed when one night she entered the VIP room, and she saw him! Dawson Kellor, People’s sexiest man. There was a connection something she had never felt before. None of that mattered, because she knew she would never see him again. Boy was she wrong! The very next day Grey was shocked when she showed up for her internship at a production company, and saw him sitting there. To make matters worse she was assigned to be his assistant. He knew her dark secret. He also knew how to make her feel sexually alive. Can she overcome the obstacles in life and finally have all her dreams come true? Or does Dawson Kellor stand in her way?
This book had me literally jumping up and down on my bed squealing like a little girl.  I could not help, but fall in love with the main characters. What's not to love? On one hand we had a sexy Hollywood heartthrob with a rock hard body and the personality to go with it. On the other we had the small town virginal girl who happened to also be a stripper who could dance like nobody’s business. I have never met a virginal stripper, have you?

This book had me locked in at page one, and all the way until about 76%! What happened at 76%? The book slowed down and started to jump all over the place. It was confusing. I was confused. I wanted more. It went from one scene to the next with years or months passing between them. I wanted it to stay with the story as it was, because of that I give it a 4 Star Review!

~ Heather's Review ~
4 Star Review


This book was really good.  You'll never believe that it is a standalone!! I love a good standalone and they are far and few between these days.  I love being able to curl up and read the whole story in one book without having to wait months on end for the rest of the story.  

"And now I'll never return from this place, for I know the taste of temptation.  I've sinned; I've fallen."

Grey has lived a very very sheltered life. Growing up as a pastor's daughter has caused her to miss out on a lot.  Her father thought everything she wanted to do was evil.   Her mother was the only person who understood what she wanted and loved in life.  Without her mom she wouldn't have had some pleasures that she had.  So when Grey leaves to go to USC for film school her dad is livid.  He thinks she is going to be a sinner and turn evil.  She ends up running out of money for school and room and board.  She tries finding job after job so she can stay in school.  The only job she could get was at a gentleman's club.  She hated stripping, but knew she needed to finish school.  Then one night everything changed when she walked into the VIP room to see Dawson there.  He made her feel wanted and not just an object.  Can he help her come out of her shell and live?

 "A kiss is just a kiss, but his hand on my bottom, holding me and owning me like that...it's more."

 Dawson was walking around life feeling nothing.  He was trying to make a comeback in the movie industry after several bad media scandals.  The movie crew and he went to the gentleman's club Grey worked at to party hard before the filming of Gone With the Wind.  He knew instantly that Gracie(Grey) wasn't meant to work there.  He saw potential in her.  Needless to say he was a bit shocked the next day when she walked in as an intern for his producer.  She was his new assistant for the filming of his movie.  He tried several times to get her to open up to him, but she liked to run.  Can he get her to open up to him?  Will he give her everything she needs to feel cherished and loved? 

"Be mine. Be with me."

 "What am I, that he feels so strongly about me? What do I offer?"

OMG I love Jasinda Wilder and her writing style.  She knows how to draw you in and make you not want to put the book down.  She had me biting my nails in spots wondering what was going to happen.  I felt like the story was a little slow to take off and then it picked up and you didn't want to put down after that. Well done Jasinda!!

~ Natalie's Review ~
4 Star Review

Grey is a small town country girl from Macon, Georgia. Her dad is a strict Baptist pastor and mama is a stay at home wife. Grey has a love of dancing that only her mom supports, but after a lot of begging and pleading she finally gets her fathers support.
Once her mama got sick and ultimately passed away Grey’s  life drastically changed. Grey received a scholarship to film school, but the funds didn’t last long. She was running out of money fast and had to hurry up and find a job or be homeless. After days of searching everywhere for a job with no luck Grey sees a now hiring sign at Exotic Nights Gentlemen’s Club. She couldn’t do that, could she? A pastor’s daughter?

She found a hostess job, but with two weeks left to pay her tuition she needed something that paid more and quickly.  It takes her a few days before she decides to go ahead and check into the job opening at Exotic Nights. After meeting with the sleazy club owner, Timothy Van Dutton, she was told to come up with a stage name and come in the next day to practice with one of the dancers. She hates her job so bad that she pukes every time she gets off stage.
After a few weeks Grey aka Gracie is now one of the top paying dancers at the club. One night Tim tells her that the club has been rented for the night by a celebrity. After getting ready she walks through the club to check out the crowd. She’s then asked to go to one of the VIP rooms and that visit will change her life forever.

I really liked this book from start to finish. I always enjoy reading Jasinda’s books. SUPER HOT SEX and the characters are very likeable. I give this book a solid 4 stars only because there were a few spots where it jumped around or was a little sketchy. Overall the sex made up for it. LOL

~ About The Author ~

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jasinda Wilder is a Michigan native with a penchant for titillating tales about sexy men and strong women. When she’s not writing, she’s probably shopping, baking, or reading.

​Some of her favorite authors include Nora Roberts, JR Ward, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Liliana Hart and Bella Andre.

She loves to travel and some of her favorite vacations spots are Las Vegas, New York City and Toledo, Ohio.

You can often find Jasinda drinking sweet red wine with frozen berries and eating a cupcake.

Jasinda is represented by Kristin Nelson of the Nelson Literary Agency.

 


 
 
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Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Release Day Launch and Giveaway: Keeping Her by Cora Carmack

~ Synopsis ~
 
Garrick Taylor and Bliss Edwards managed to find their happily-ever-after despite a rather . . . ahem . . . complicated start. By comparison, meeting the parents should be an absolute breeze, right?
 
But from the moment the pair lands in London, new snags just keep cropping up: a disapproving mother-in-law-to-be, more than one (mostly) minor mishap, and the realization that perhaps they aren't quite as ready for their future as they thought.
 
As it turns out, the only thing harder than finding love is keeping it.
 
Amazon ~ B&N


~ About Cora ~
 
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, is a New York Times and USA Today bestseller.
 
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Monday, August 12, 2013

Review and Giveaway: Back To Life by Danielle Allen

~ Synopsis ~
 
Sahara Lee has spent the last ten years living with the guilt of a tragic accident and its aftermath. That night irrevocably changed the outgoing, fun-loving college freshman into an introverted, workaholic with no social life. Sahara isolates herself from everyone and everything that reminds her of home in an effort to forget what happened. Using art as a substitute for love, Sahara throws herself into music and art as a way to feel something other than the guilt that haunts her. She accepts her lonely existence as penance for the role she played in the accident. That is, until she meets Tyree Barker, the good looking entrepreneur with baggage of his own.

Blindsided by a legal loophole, Sahara is suddenly forced to confront the past she’s been running from. Juggling the guilty feelings of her past and the unexpected feelings of her present, Sahara’s future becomes complicated as she heads down a path of forgiveness, love, and heartbreak…and not in that particular order.

Back to Life reminds you that living and existing are two completely different ways to go through life. Grief will break you but guilt, guilt will destroy you. And once that happens, what can bring you back to life?
 

 
~ Our Review ~
5 Star Review by Natalie
 
Sahara is trying to get her life back together. Sahara Lee and Emily Mills are best friends. Their parents have been friends since college. So they grew up together and were like sisters. Sahara and Emily even went off to college together.

Emily was in college to be a teacher and Sahara was a pre-med student. After Sahara finished one of the hardest tests of the semester she needed to unwind and have fun. Emily on the other hand was ready to rest without the fun.

Sahara finally convinced Emily to go to the Spring Social that everyone was going to. Knowing Emanuel, Emily's brother, would be their DD if needed they had fun and let loose. She always looked forward to seeing Emanuel because they flirted with each other all the time. Everything was going good, until an accident changes their lives forever.

Ten years later, and Sahara is still hating herself and taking blame for what happened that night after the Spring Social. That one night at 19 years old reshaped everything she thought of herself and everything around her. Sahara moved away from all of her family and friends. She was freeing everyone from seeing her and being reminded of what she had done.

Sahara never made any connections with anyone she came in contact with. For her it was easier that way so she never had to talk about her past. Will she ever make a future for herself? Will she find love?

I absolutely LOVED this book. It reminded me of Taking Chances. This book made me feel every emotion I have. I would be laughing one moment and crying the next. Danielle did a great job writing this book and putting all the characters together. There is so much more to this book than my mini synopsis that is amazing. For a new author I can only imagine the absolute genius she will bring to paper once again. For me I think she will be up there with Molly Adams and Colleen Hoover. This book is definitely on my top five of fave books for sure!! If I could I'd give this book ten stars but I guess we'll have to settle for five ;)
 ~ Casting ~





 
~ About The Author ~
 
I am a married teacher and planner. I am on the cusp of thirty and I love my perfectly imperfect life. I am incredibly happy because of the people in my life. My awesome friends and family and my amazing husband make my life sweet.

I love to have fun and enjoy the life I’ve been blessed with. I love shopping and football with equal fervor. I love any and all types of creative, artistic expression—written, sung, painted, sculpted, recited, danced. I love music. I love how it can set a mood—any kind of mood at any time. I love movies and TV as much as I love books. I try to balance my ridiculous amount of TV watching with reading new books every couple of weeks. So please suggest lots of good books for me to read!

XOXO

 
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Press Release: Ruin by Rachel Van Dyken

Bestselling author Rachel Van Dyken has taken the book world by storm with back to back chart toppers The Bet and Elite.
Recently Ms. Van Dyken announced that her beloved uncle Jobob was in his final stage of cancer, which has left his family in debt from medical expenses.

It’s hard to sit back and do nothing--the waiting game is never easy, so Rachel decided to do something and is looking to her fans for support in more ways than one for her next book.

Due to be released on August 12, 2013, Ruin is dedicated to her uncle, mother in law, and all cancer survivors and families who have lost loved ones to the disease.




Blurb: I'm not your typical girl. I've been running away from the memories that haunt me for so long that depression has become my only comfort. I was content in the darkness...until Wes Michels offered to be my light.

I didn't know that time wasn't my ally -- that every second that ticked past was one step closer to the end of something that was beginning to mean the end of myself. He tried to warn me. He promised me all he was able to offer--each moment as it came--but it would never be enough.

Sometimes when you think it's the end, it's only the beginning. Wes thought he could save me, but in giving me everything, he ruined me. Because after one kiss, one touch, I couldn't--I wouldn't ever be the same.

And from that moment on, his heartbeat became my own.

 


For the first two weeks Ruin will be priced at $2.99. Proceeds from the sale of Ruin will be donated to her uncle and his family to help with the insurmountable medical bills.

How can you help besides buy a copy? Share with friends and family of course!

Mark it as WANT TO READ on Goodreads. Read it? Leave a review! Loved it? Tell everyone you know!

Sunday, August 11, 2013

Blog Tour and Giveaway: Stubborn Love by Wendy Owens


~ Synopsis ~
 
Even a broken heart has trouble resisting a Stubborn Love.

Emmie Hayes loved the beautiful Ashton Stirling deeply; nobody could deny that. She had given him her youth, and all he gave in return was misery and pain. She was ready for a new beginning, but Ashton wasn’t about to let her go so easily, even if it meant destroying both their lives in the process.
 
Three years later Emmie convinces herself she is ready to leave all of that heartbreak in the past and find a little piece of normal for herself. She heads to New York City to pick up where she left off, determined to finish art school. Emmie is determined to focus on school and not let anything distract her, but life has a way of throwing curveballs.
 
Paige, Emmie’s new roommate, brings Colin Bennett into her life. His smoldering eyes and lean muscular body are difficult for any girl to ignore. Only thing is, Emmie isn’t any girl. Her past makes her resistant to his charms. Colin isn’t one to give up easily, and just when he thinks he may have found a way to her stubborn heart, her tragic history may have found a way to tear them apart.
  
~ Our Review ~
4 Star Review by Annie
 
Wow. From page one this book held my attention. This story was about letting go of the past and learning to move on to the future. Stubborn Love started off with heartache, but ended with love!
Emmie has been in love with Ashton for as long as she can remember. She thought he was her one and only love, but things change. A selfish decision he makes one fateful afternoon not only ruins his life, but Emmie’s life too. 
 
Trying to pick up the pieces Emmie decides to start fresh and moves to New York City to finish up her college. In the search of finding a place to live she ends up meeting Paige. Paige not only becomes her roommate, but quickly becomes her friend.  What Emmie didn’t expect is for their landlord to be a walking sex pot. Can Emmie overcome the past or does it finally catch up to her and bring her down with it?
 
Colin has spent his whole life taking care of everyone else and not taking care of himself. He has never had time to invest in a relationship and basically is just going through the motions of life. He was all work and no play, basically owning the whole entire block.  That is until his baby brothers girlfriend brings Emmie, her new roommate over.   He couldn’t seem to escape Emmie, because not only was she hanging around with his brother she was also his new tenant. Emmie was a bit of a challenge. Not only was she hot but she was spunky as well. Is Colin finally ready for a relationship or does he go back into his old ways?
Wendy Owens did an amazing job. The characters in this book were realistic and likable. I felt as if I knew them on a personal level.  This book moved at a fast pace, but did not miss any key points.
 
The only negative is that I wish we could have explored the relationship between the two leads more. I felt like we needed more passion and a little bit more romance. I would give this book 4 stars.
 
 
~ Top 3 Steamiest Moments ~

 
1.   The first meeting:
 
With that, the faceless voice came into view. As he stood, my breath caught in my throat. He stared at me for a moment, not saying a word. I was fine with this because I found myself staring right back.
 
He stood there, just looking at me, one dark, sinister, and oh so sexy eyebrow raised. He was a shirtless Adonis, there in the flesh, and I was helpless, unable to look away. For a moment, my eyes shifted down, drinking in his firm chest, chiseled abs, and the tease of the cut just above where his distressed jeans rested. His muscles were hard, though his body still lean.
 
Quickly, when I realized I was ogling this stranger’s body, I forced my eyes to shift back to his face, but there was no relief there from the exquisiteness. His straight, thick, dark black hair looked like he had just gotten out of bed, absolute perfection. I could even tell from the distance I stood, his eyes were a breathtaking icy gray. His complexion was flawless, accentuating the stubble of his three-day beard.
 
 
2.  The art studio:
 
“I was fine with the way my life was. Now you’re all I can think about.” He sighed, “I think I’m falling in love with you.”
 
I couldn’t tell if the ache in my chest was from joy or from my heart breaking. I swore I wasn’t ever going to fall in love again. It hurt too much. Don’t think about it, I told myself, just kiss him.
 
Pressing up onto my tiptoes again, I met his lips with mine, our tongues quickly finding one another, entwining into a graceful dance.
 
He pressed his erection against my hip, slipping his hands behind my back to unclasp my bra. I tried not to think about what an expert he was with his technique. It would only serve to aggravate me.
 
Our bodies separated for a moment, but keeping our necks arched, we managed to continue kissing as he relieved me of my bra. My D-cup breasts falling into their natural position, he once again pressed against me, lifting a finger to one of my breasts and tracing my exposed nipple.
 
I moaned into his mouth, unable to contain my ecstasy any longer. He slid his other hand to my underwear, grinding his fingers against me through the fabric. I sank my nails into the skin of his back
 
He kissed his way down my throat, taking the hand away from my breasts and slipping it behind my neck, allowing my head to fall back, enjoying the exploration of his lips.
 
 
3.  The bathtub scene:
 
I didn’t need to give it another moment’s thought; I knew I was ready for this pampering. I quickly unbuttoned my pants, using my feet and legs to shimmy them down, flicking them off violently from the final foot they clung to. Colin was now directly in front of me, barely any space between us, and his eyes told me he was pleased with my sudden enthusiasm. Before I could lift my shirt, he had his hands grasped tightly around it, pulling it over my head.
 
“Holy  shit,” he growled, as my black lacy bra and panty set came into complete view. My stomach fluttered, and an ache grew inside me as I saw his response. “You’ll have to wear these for me again.”
 
Grabbing my hips, he spun me around, pulling my backside against his pelvis. Based on the hardness grinding against my hip, I could tell he was more pleased with my outfit than I originally assumed. Slipping his hands beneath my underwear, at my hips, he guided them along my legs, creating a trail of kisses down my back as he went, nibbling softly on my bare ass cheek for a brief second.
 
     Standing back up, he swept my hair over one shoulder and unclasped my bra. I allowed it to fall to the floor, turning to face him. Taking one hand, he led me to the bath, guiding me into the awaiting suds. The warm water swallowed me, finding its way into all of my crevices. Twisting the handles, stopping the flow of water, he stared.
 
 
 
~ About The Author ~

Wendy Owens was raised in the small college town of Oxford, Ohio. After attending Miami University, Wendy went on to a career in the visual arts. After several years of creating and selling her own artwork, she gave her first love, writing, a try.
Since 2011, she has published a young adult paranormal series, The Guardians, which will contain five books total, as well as a novella.
Wendy now happily spends her days writing—her loving dachshund, Piper, curled up at her feet. When she's not writing, she can be found spending time with her tech geek husband and their three amazing kids, exploring the city she loves to call home: Cincinnati, OH.
Stubborn Love is her debut New Adult novel.
Only In Dreams, the second book in this series, is set to be released December 2013.
 

 
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