Friday, December 28, 2018

BOOK BLITZ for the "Countdown to Love" Anthology

Countdown to Love 
Publication date: Dec, 28th 2018
Genres: Adult, Romance
Ring in your New Year with ten heart-clenching, sexy stories across multiple genres, that will keep you wanting more.

100% of proceeds of this anthology will be donated to Alex’s Lemonade Stand to help fight childhood cancer!



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Thursday, December 27, 2018

BOOK REVIEW for "Going Down Easy (Boys of the Big Easy, #1)" by Erin Nicholas

*****(5) out of 5 Stars!


SUMMARY:

Hot fling or real thing? There are no Big Easy answers in New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Erin Nicholas’s sultry series.

As far as flings go, single dad Gabe Trahan is pretty sure that Addison Sloan is his best bet. Once a month, Addison comes to New Orleans and then…It. Is. On. Until Addison returns to New York, it’s just hot, happily-no-strings-attached sex. And beignets. And jazz. But lately for Gabe, it isn’t nearly enough.

Sure, maybe Addison’s gotten a bit hooked on Gabe. After all, who can resist a guy who’s so sexy, so charming, and so… available? But maybe he’s too available for her right now. Addison’s just moved to New Orleans, and relationships are definitely off the table. Besides, guys always bail when they learn her secret: she’s a single mom.

Only Gabe’s not running. Worse, he’s thrilled. But Addison never signed up for ever-after romance, and Gabe won’t settle for anything less. Now it’s a battle of wills — and when it comes to the woman he’s falling for, Gabe isn’t above playing a little dirty.

REVIEW:

It was so fun watching Gabe and Addison get to know each other more! Cooper and Stella were delightful, of course! And all of the other secondary characters were fun as well. 

This couple are obviously SO right for each other! They are just adoreable together, and they complement each other wonderfully as single parents. Not to mention that the chemistry between them is hot!

I did not enjoy how much Addison tried to fight their being together, but am just glad that she eventually came to her senses. 

There were a few inconsistencies in the storyline that bothered me, but nothing too monumental. 

I am definitely looking forward to reading the next installment in this series!

~

*****(5) out of 5 Stars!



SUMMARY:

A sexy, New Orleans bartender with a panty-melting grin and a panty-dropping drawl.
A little jazz.
A few beignets.
And ONE hot weekend...

Yep, just one.

Supposedly.

This is a novella and is a prequel to book one of the series, Going Down Easy. Lots of steamy fun set in New Orleans! If you don't like hot, dirty-talking bartenders, open door sexy times (okay, and on-a-balcony sexy times), or beignets and jazz, this is not the book for you. If you do like all of those things... you definitely need to be meet Gabe Trahan!

REVIEW:

This book was perfect for what it is: a prequel novella to the new Boys of the Big Easy  series.  Gabe is so sweet and sexy, and totally head-over-heels for Addison from the get-go.  And I love that she returns!  It is great to see how much fun they have together at the beginning of their relationship, before things get heavy and real.

The prequel novella Easy Going 
is currently FREE on all major eBook platforms!

~

****(4) out of 5 Stars!



SUMMARY:

What happened before Addison walked into Gabe's bar in New Orleans?

Boys of the Big Easy short story.


REVIEW:

This short story helped make a lot of things in Easy Going much more clear! A fun little bit of a story that really sets the stage for the next installment.

This prequel of the prequel short story Easy Going 
is available FREE for subscribers of the author's email newsletter!

Wednesday, December 26, 2018

BOOK BLITZ for "The Dating Alternative" by Jennifer Woodhull

The Dating Alternative 
by Jennifer Woodhull
Publication date: Dec 26th, 2018
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
She’s so over dating. He wants to be her alternative. 
Max has crushed on Brie for as long as he’s known her but the timing was never right. When he finds out they’re finally single at the same time, he’s poised to move from friend zone to serious dating… until he finds out she’s only looking for something physical. He offers his services in hopes she’ll come around. 
Just when things are starting to go his way, a shocking turn of events snatches her from his grasp. Now he has to resurrect the life he thought he’d left behind to help the woman he’s falling in love with before it’s too late. 
A sweet, funny, sexy romance, The Dating Alternative launches everywhere December 26th.
EXCERPT:
SABRINA
As I lay on the bed, wearing my ex-fiancĂ©’s t-shirt and remembering the night he left me six months ago, I realize that tears are slipping silently down my cheeks.
I’ve done reasonably well, too. The first week, I was catatonic. The first month, I was practically a zombie. In those days, even showering on my day off had been a challenge. Within a couple of months, though, I was doing better. By the ninety-day mark, I could be mistaken for someone who hadn’t been virtually left at the altar.
Now, lying on the bed six months after Grant had thrown away our life together, I was almost indiscernible from a normal girl. Looking at me most days, you would never know that my life had been ripped apart by an exotic Olympian named Isabel and my former fiancé, Grant.
I sit up, realizing how far I’d come since that night. I put the back of my hand up to one cheek, then the other. No more. That asshole doesn’t get another single tear from me. Control-G-Delete.


Author Bio:
Jennifer Woodhull is based in the Southern United States, spending time in her second home of England, and traveling as often as she can. Her love of travel permeates her work, and her characters often find themselves exploring new and foreign surroundings. 
A keen observer of human behavior, Jennifer often draws inspiration from something as simple as a fleeting connection, or the glimpse of a unique trait or characteristic. Her favorite place to write is on airplanes. 
"The drone of the engine, the scores of people, all traveling to something or from something, and being disconnected from digital distractions are a combination that provide the perfect place to write," she says. "If you see a woman in seat 9F who is balancing her Macbook on her lap because it's time to close your tray table, please have patience. I'm just trying to finish one more sentence." 
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Monday, December 24, 2018

BOOK REVIEW for "Theonite: Planet Adyn (Theonite, #1)" by M.L. Wang

***(3) out of 5 Stars!

SUMMARY:


The only thing scarier than finding out you have Earth-shaking superpowers... is finding out you aren't the only one.


Nobody looks twice at Joan Messi when she walks down the hall at school... and she does everything she can to keep it that way. You can’t afford friends or attention when you’re keeping a secret as big as hers. Unbeknownst to her teachers and classmates, Joan’s over-sized sweatshirt and antisocial behavior conceal power that defies the laws of reality.


FEAR has kept it hidden.


PASSION has kept it alive.


DISASTER will set it loose.


Joan is at her happiest when she uses her powers—stirring air currents, creating fire, and levitating metal objects—but she learned at a young age that no one in her small-minded suburban neighborhood was prepared to accept her abilities. Since that painful revelation, she has hidden her powers, isolating herself from others, even keeping her own parents at a distance.

However, all that changes when a boy named Daniel Thundyil transfers to her school and she begins to suspect that he is concealing powers of his own. Burning with curiosity and desperate to end her loneliness, Joan makes it her mission to get to the bottom of this boy's secrets. What she uncovers is hard to believe, even for someone as strange as she is: Daniel and his father are crime-fighters from a parallel dimension of super-powered beings, and they have come to her town in search of nameless criminal so powerful his presence threatens all life on Earth.

In these inter-dimensional travelers, Joan finds a hope she never thought possible: that she could belong somewhere. But storm clouds are gathering over the rooftops of suburbia, and Joan realizes that the closer she gets to her newfound friends, the closer she gets to a danger too terrible to contemplate. Now, the most powerful girl on Earth faces a choice: will she retreat back to the safety of her life in hiding or brave the storm for a chance at truth and friendship?


REVIEW:

I believe this is the debut novel for the author, M.L. Wang, and as such it is a superb endeavor.  The story starts out a bit slow, but soon picks up momentum and continues fairly nonstop throughout the remainder of the book.  Not a lot actually happens in this volume, but there is a ton of world-building.  Basically, one assumes, things are being set-up for the real action to occur in subsequent tomes.  

Some of the things that I disliked about this book are those that occur in many other stories also, most notable of which is endangering children.  The premise is usually that the good guys don't want to put the children in danger by associating with them.  When in fact, the kids are already in danger, and are basically just being abandoned.  After the playground scene in particular, when Joan is made to walk home by herself, I found extremely disconcerting.  Not only is the regular world potentially dangerous for a girl her age alone at night, but there are obviously more powerful malevolent forces at work.  

Then there is the total inconsistency of Daniel being absent from school for two months near the end of the book, but him and Joan having to attend a part day of school so that no one suspects they are planning to leave for good.  That I found completely annoying.  

And the cliff-hanger ending did not endear the story to me at all.

Overall, however, the storyline here is very compelling, the characters are interesting, the world-building is solid, and the writing is quite good.  There are a lot of questions raised though, and not a lot of answers.  Again, you get the impression that there is a lot of stuff to come.  I plan to read the remainder of the series once it is available, and hope that much more will be revealed and explained in subsequent volumes.

I received a free copy of this title from the author, and have willingly provided an honest review.

..................

BOOKS IN THE THEONITE SERIES:

Theonite Book I: Planet Adyn
Theonite Book II: Orbit
Theonite Book III: (Title TBA)
The Sword of Kaigen (A Theonite War Story) (Coming Feb 2019)
..................

The Theonite Series is a YA fantasy/science fiction blend perfect for anyone who loves superheroes, afrofuturism, magical powers, mysterious worlds, and heart-pumping suspense. Fans of Tomi Adeyemi, Leigh Bardugo, and Rick Riordan will adore this heartfelt journey through a girl's exploration of her supernatural powers and her encounter with an alternate reality.


Sunday, December 23, 2018

BOOK REVIEW for "Make Me Stay (Hope, #5)" by Jaci Burton

****(3) out of 5 Stars!


SUMMARY:

Having left his hometown of Hope years ago, only one thing could persuade architect Reid McCormack to come home for a lengthy stay — the challenge of renovating a historic building. But once the job is finished, he’ll be headed back to Boston, no matter how much he’s drawn to beautiful florist Samantha Reasor.  

Samantha watches over her elderly grandmother and pours a piece of herself into every floral creation she designs. Her crush on Reid has been blooming for a while now, but she’s reluctant to act on it. A temporary fling isn’t what she’s looking for, even if Reid is smoking hot and super sexy. She wants a real, permanent, forever kind of love. 

Two people with different goals couldn’t possibly work, and yet as their attraction grows into something deeper, maybe falling in love is the one thing Samantha and Reid can build a future on.

REVIEW:

This Book #5 in the Hope series finally gets around to the last McCormack brother, Reid.  We haven't seen much of him up to this point, because lives in Boston.  But now he's come to town for a few months to help restore an abandoned historic building that his brothers are renovating so that they can lease it out for retail and office space.  

Of course, Reid falls in love with the building, especially a corner office on the top floor.  And also with the local florist, Samantha.  He also really enjoys the opportunity to reconnect with his two brothers, Logan and Luke, and get to know their new wives.  (Not to mention the fact that he'll soon be an uncle twice over.)  In fact, it's apparent to just about everyone except Reid that he needs to return to Hope and settle there.  But he doesn't seem to get the memo.  

Consequently, after having a real good relationship for quite some time, Reid and Sam break-up.  Unbeknownst to her, he finally decided to move back to Hope; something he never bothers to share with her.  Consequently, she tries to be brave and all, not making a fuss and letting him go; which he erroneously interprets as her not caring for him.  Anyway, long story short: he finally ends up telling her how he feels, and amazingly she (still) feels the same way, and they live happily ever after.  

In other words, this book follows nearly the exact same pattern as all of the others in the series.  Still, despite being very predictable, the writing is excellent, the characters are lovely, and the story is (otherwise) entertaining.  

Friday, December 21, 2018

BOOK BLITZ for "More Than a Rebound" by Lory Wendy

More Than a Rebound 
by Lory Wendy
Publication date: November 26th, 2018
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

“The Rebound Effect” states that in order to get over your ex, you have to get under someone else. At least, that’s what Miles Bedford’s best friend keeps telling him. 
So when he’s suddenly thrust back into the single life, Miles has one thing in mind.
The plan is simple, and his intentions are clear. He’s not looking for love. 
But sometimes all it takes is one person, and one weekend, to change everything.



Excerpt:

“We can pick this up later,” I said.
We were quiet as we got on I-95, but it wasn’t like earlier in the day when the silence made me want to jump out of my skin. When we passed the exit that would lead us to her loft, Noelle shoulders relaxed, and her lips curled up in a soft smile. I took that to mean she knew I was going to my house, but to be sure, I asked, “We’re going to my place. Is that cool?”
“Definitely.”
And we were quiet again because I realized what I’d said. We were going to my house.
The silence and my thoughts about what bringing Noelle home symbolized lasted our whole ride, only ending when we got inside my place and I offered her something to drink.
I leaned against the counter and rested my head against the cabinet above. My heart slammed in my chest. This was momentous. The importance of having Noelle in my house—in my kitchen—drinking from glasses I bought after my ex left me and took all her things, along with some of my confidence with her.
I felt good—happy despite my nerves. In one night Noelle threw me and my plans off kilter. The guys were right; she had me by the balls. My only desire was to get out of my head and enjoy every minute of our limited time together.

I opened my eyes and found her watching me over the top of the glass. A small smile played on her juicy lips, and she had that look that let me know she knew what she did to me. 

Author Bio:
Lory Wendy is a daydreaming contemporary romance writer. 
When she isn’t writing, or reading, you can find her binge-watching True Crime television with "Snapped" being the most watched. 
Born in New York, raised in Florida, and matured in Massachusetts, she's never sure how to answer the question, "Where are you from?" 
At the moment, though, Lory has recently returned to New York where she's drawing on the city lights, and packed to the brim trains, to inspire her writing. 

Thursday, December 20, 2018

BLOG TOUR for "Nora’s Promise" by Sedona Hutton

Nora’s Promise 
by Sedona Hutton
Publication date: October 5th, 2018
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
She trusts animals more than men. He runs through women like tires. Will an orphaned child force them to change gears? 
With her sister’s death, Nora’s life changed in an instant. Forced to raise her orphaned nephew, the animal rescuer doesn’t expect to be dumped and fired by her kid-hating boyfriend/boss. After her own close call and a message from beyond, Nora introduces the little boy to his handsome, fast-living absentee father. 
Davey Johnson is a hot-shot NASCAR driver who never wanted to be slowed down by fatherhood. But when he finds out he has a nine-year-old son, he vows to be a better father than his old man. When his first efforts fail in a big way, he enlists Nora’s parenting help. But what starts as a chore transforms into something way hotter than a final lap. 
When Davey’s sponsors clash with Nora’s vegan ways, he’s forced to choose between his passion for racing and his love of Nora. Will they be able to blend their lives or will their romance run right off the track? 
Nora’s Promise is a contemporary romance with a new age twist. If you like fast cars, caring heroines, and sizzling chemistry, then you’ll love Sedona Hutton’s contemporary love story.

Excerpt:

Five minutes later, Davey arrived. He quickly spotted her, but spent the next little while signing napkins, papers, and a ballcap as he made his way toward her. With each interruption, Nora’s jaw clenched. By the time he slid into the seat across from her, she was simmering with irritation.
“Glad you could finally make it,” she said, her voice heavy with sarcasm.
He raised a single brow and nodded at her mug. “Haven’t had enough caffeine this morning?”
When Davey turned to look for the waitress, she shot over faster than Nora could blink.
Nora rolled her eyes while Davey laid on the charm. She had to admit he was good-looking. That is if you liked the sun-kissed blond, blue-eyed, tall, lean look. And apparently, the waitress did. As Davey signed her order pad, she hung on his every word. She told him that he’d had a great season and that she had cried after he’d wrecked in some race.
Cried? Seriously? It was a race, not a matter of life and death. Finally, she took Davey’s order for a cup of coffee. When she started to walk away, Davey touched her arm and the woman turned back. Her eyes sparkled and her face flushed as she glanced back and forth between Davey’s hand on her arm and his face. “Amber, could you also bring Nora—” he nodded in her direction “—another tea?” His lips ticked up into an obnoxious grin. “She seems to be a little short on caffeine this morning.”

After Amber pulled herself together and made her way toward the kitchen, Nora pinned a look on Davey. “It must be exhausting to be you.”

Author Bio:
Author Sedona Hutton finds inspiration in the beautiful Smoky Mountains of Tennessee, where she lives with her husband and curly-coated retriever. In addition to writing, she’s a Reiki Master and a certified Chopra Center Meditation instructor. She enjoys reading, yoga, gardening, playing with her dog, and riding motorcycles. Sedona’s novel, Cloud Whispers, was selected as a Finalist in the 2018 Readers’ Favorite Contest and an Official Selection in the 2018 Summer eBook Awards for New Apple Literary. Her “Peace, Love, & Joy” blog can be found on her website. Visit her at www.SedonaHutton.com, Facebook @SedonaHuttonAuthor, and Twitter @SedonaHutton. 
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Wednesday, December 19, 2018

BOOK BLITZ for "Fool’s Folly (Fate’s Fools, #2)" by Ophelia Bell

Fool’s Folly
(Fate’s Fools, #2)
by Ophelia Bell
Publication date: Dec 18th, 2018
Genres: Adult, Paranormal, Romance
Don’t f*ck with Fate. 
Deva Rainsong has found her dragon soul, but she still feels incomplete. As a chimera, bred in a lab from the blood of all four higher races and human blood combined, it will take no less than a fragment of a soul from all five races to complete hers. 
Yet even as she starts to believe that she can finally be complete and all her powers awakened, her hopes are dashed when the second soul gift she receives comes with unexpected side effects. And to top it off Fate itself has redoubled efforts to seek out and destroy all the members of the bloodline. 
Fate doesn’t like loose ends, and Deva’s very existence is upsetting the balance. Will she be able to strike a compromise or be forced to run to escape Fate’s wrath?
Excerpt:

He propped himself up on his elbow and grazed his fingertips over the upraised golden glow of the matching mark he’d given me the night before. “Mated,” he said, his lips curling into a smile. “Marked. Soul bound. Or if you like human terms, wedded.” His teasing fingers strayed lower and I arched up, eager for his touch as he traced light circles around my nipple. “You are mine, Deva,” he said, dipping his head and replacing his fingers with his tongue. He continued to speak, his lips grazing over my hard nipple. “But more importantly, I am yours. I will always be yours no matter how many dreams you have of the others or how many join us in the flesh. I’m not that easy to get rid of.”
Author Bio:
Ophelia Bell loves a good bad-boy and especially strong women in her stories. Women who aren't apologetic about enjoying sex and bad boys who don't mind being with a woman who's in charge, at least on the surface, because pretty much anything goes in the bedroom. 
Ophelia grew up on a rural farm in North Carolina and now lives in Los Angeles with her own tattooed bad-boy husband and four attention-whoring cats. 
If you'd like to receive regular updates on Ophelia's publications, freebies, and discounts, please subscribe to her mailing list: http://opheliabell.com/subscribe/. 
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Monday, December 17, 2018

BOOK BLITZ for "Under Your Spell" by Cynthia Rayne

Under Your Spell
by Cynthia Rayne
Publication date: Dec 17th, 2018
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Chloe

After my grand-mère was murdered, I returned to Bayou Noir to find the killer, because the police won’t do their freaking jobs. And I have just one suspect, Xavier Richelieu. But I forgot just how crazy the folks in my old hometown can be. A voodoo priestess, a supposed vampire, and a grumpy gator are on the loose. I don’t believe in crazy supernatural stuff, but I am worried about seeing my old crush again, Saint. And I should be. Somehow, he’s even more drop dead gorgeous than I remember. 
Saint

I’m a member of the Demons MC, Cajun Chapter and I’ve got better things to do than follow Chloe around who seems bound and determined to get herself killed. But someone needs to watch her back and I don’t see anyone else lining up to do the job. Once upon a time, she was a chubby kid with a school girl crush. Now, she’s a mouthwatering woman, who wants nothing to do with me. One way or the other, I’m gonna help her avenge her grand-mère and sweet talk her into my bed. Maybe not in that order.

Excerpt:

“So, is Chloe rentin’ this place out to you?” Saint asked.
“Chloe?” The sound of my own name startled me so much, I dropped the keys.
Saint bent and picked them up, before handing them to me. I glanced up, meeting those startling, swallow-me-whole blue eyes. Somehow, I couldn’t look away.
Saint cleared his throat. “What was I sayin’? Right. Chloe’s the girl who owns this place. Her grandmother passed a few weeks ago. She must’ve rented it out to you.”
“Oh, uh, um, yes.” The lie clogged my throat, and I had to force the words out.
“What’s wrong?” He studied my face.
“Nothing. I’m fine.”
And then his eyes widened. “Wait a minute. No.”
“What?”
“Holy shit.” Saint stabbed an accusatory finger at me. “You’re her.”
“Who?” I played dumb, desperately clinging to the plan.
“No fuckin’ way.” He backed off. “You’re Chloe!”
“Yes, but—”
“But you’re…Little Bit.” He trailed off. Saint had given me the nickname when I was a kid because I’d been short. Not to mention, round. “No, I can’t do this. It ain’t right.” Saint shook his head as if trying to clear the cobwebs away. “Sorry. I have to go.”
Saint raced back down the path. He straddled his motorcycle and then took off, leaving a cloud of dirt and smoke in his wake.
And I was left on the front porch, watching him leave.
Well, that didn’t go according to plan.


Author Bio:
Cynthia Rayne is a USA TODAY bestselling author of the Black Star Security, Kinky Security, Lone Star Mobster, and the Four Horsemen MC Series. While Cynthia was born and raised a damn Yankee in Ohio, her parents hail from Dixie, and she grew up on homemade buttermilk biscuits and southern wisdom. In her spare time, she enjoys shopping, reading way too many romance novels, and drinking a truly obscene amount of coffee. 

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Saturday, December 15, 2018

BOOK BLITZ for "The Watchers (The Blood Dagger: Volume 2)" by Misty Hayes

The Watchers 
(The Blood Dagger: Volume 2)
by Misty Hayes
Publication date:
December 15th, 2018
Genres:
Paranormal, Thriller, Young Adult
Eighteen-year-old Corinth Taylor didn’t sign up to become a Watcher — an elite warrior destined to restore balance to the human race — he was chosen. 
Corinth can barely control his own hormones… much less the deadly blade. And to make matters worse, his best friend, Larna, just so happens to be the very thing he’s supposed to eliminate. 
But when vampires and slayer find a common enemy, Corinth knows it’s his innate calling to hunt evil down. And evil has a name: Gabriel Stanton. The enigmatic vampire who escaped their capture, has plans for Corinth, Larna, and Alastair… and it’s a threat they’ll never see coming. 
When the line between good and evil gets crossed, devastating consequences start to happen. As Watcher and vampire worlds collide, Corinth must decide where to place his trust: with his old allies or his killer instincts. An upstart slayer. A clan of vampires. 
What could go wrong? 
It’s only the end of the world. 
The Watchers is the second book in The Blood Dagger series, a high-octane paranormal YA thriller.
If you like witty heroines, unconventional relationships, and friendships that can withstand the grave, then you’ll love Misty Hayes’ high-stakes story.
Sink your teeth into a fun, fierce vampire series today.

Excerpt:

After walking for about an hour, the tunnel deposited us into a larger cavern. Every inch of space was filled with mushrooms. They were glittering blue patches of bioluminescent light. It was strangely hypnotic and exactly how I imagined another planet might look.
Larna dropped her hand from my shoulder. By the soft glow coming off the walls, I could see her admiring the shimmering fungi with her mouth slightly ajar.
Upon closer inspection, I realized that not all of the mushrooms were glowing. There was a section of fungi that darkened a spot on the wall where Al had stopped.
As I joined him, his voice carried around the cavernous space, making him sound haunted and forlorn. “Bluefoot mushrooms.” It was the first time he’d spoken in over an hour. He pulled his backpack off and filled it with the fungi. “I used to cook with these when I lived in France … They taste great in omelets.”
I plucked one off the wall because I had worked up an appetite, and popped it into my mouth and then immediately spit it out. “Gross. That tastes like dirt.”
Taking a quick swig of water from Larna’s pack, I hissed, “You eat that?”
“They taste better cooked,” Al said, his mouth quirking up in amusement. “But they’re great protein. You should eat up while you have the chance.”
“I’d rather eat sludge,” I muttered under my breath.
The further we progressed, the more claustrophobic I started to feel. Being in closed-off spaces and in the pitchdark for hours was taking its toll on me. I deposited a pebble from the bottom of my shoe back to its home, noticing for the first time how many blisters I had accumulated during this trek. I couldn’t see them, but I could definitely feel them. Mental note: Converse do not make great hiking shoes. I had a pair of perfectly fine boots, but they were swimming with the fish at the bottom of the ocean. That morning, before Larna dropped my bag, I had switched them out, hoping the gnarly blisters on my feet might heal if I wore a different pair of shoes.
Everything hurt, but I didn’t want to be the first to whine, so I sucked it up, and we continued on … and on …and on … until it seemed like we’d never see the light of day ever again. I felt something dark and sinister twisting its skeletal little fingers into my gut.
That thought sent me into an even more depressed spiral, and pretty soon that depression turned into an infection. What if Al didn’t really know where he was going? What if he was leading me to my death? He loved Larna—he didn’t care about me. They could see in the dark—all they had to do was leave me behind, and I would be lost down here forever. It wasn’t until I felt Larna’s hand shift on my shoulder that I realized she was still beside me.
Still, resentment started to gnaw away at me.


Author Bio:
Misty has always called Texas home but has a passion for world travel. Before taking up writing, she has had a long career in law enforcement. Besides the self-torture of writing books, she also loves the self-torture of running. When not writing, Misty enjoys reading any books by Jim Butcher, Stephen King, Dean Koontz, Joe Hill (Owen King), and J.K. Rowling. A lot of authors write about pets on their bio's... Misty has a rescue parakeet named Peeta (as in the Hunger Games).

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Wednesday, December 12, 2018

BOOK BLITZ for "Captive Rebel (The Allegiance, #1)" by Erin McDermott

Captive Rebel 
(The Allegiance, #1)
by Erin McDermott
Publication date: July 2nd, 2017
Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult
In a world where Greek Gods rule over the Allegiance, Marylyn O’Conner struggles to survive. 
Marylyn is a rebel, forced to do the rebellion’s bidding until an unforgiving family debt is paid. A pawn in the war against the Allegiance, she is obligated to become a rebel spy, or her family will suffer. 
When word spreads that an Allegiant Prince, Ariston, has escaped rebel captivity vowing to hunt down rebel spies, Marylyn realizes her only hope is to escape Allegiant territory. 
While on the run, Ariston captures Marylyn, preventing her from any chance of returning home. Desperate, she knows she needs to escape her alluring captor or risk the safety of her family. 
But Marylyn can’t keep herself from falling for the mysterious prince as she finds that he can empathize with her troublesome past – a past no ally has understood before.

Excerpt:

Moist hands wrapped around my lower arm. “Excuse me, you’re that rebel girl aren’t you?” I turned to face a boy with sweeping black hair and piercing gray eyes. Unfortunately for him, he struggled to stand and his breath was repulsive.
“Who else would I be?” I bluntly responded while attempting to rip my arm from his hold. He only squeezed it tighter.
“I say you shouldn’t listen to these people who are talking poorly about you. I don’t think you’re a bad person. Not at all,” he gave me a weak smile and stumbled toward me.
I took a step back, weary of this boy. “Well, they’re probably right,” I said, trying to persuade him to back off. He continued approaching me with a sloppy grin plastered across his face. Clearly, my words did not dissuade him.
He held tighter on my arm as his face came increasingly close to mine. Before I knew what was happening, I reacted.
The moment his lips brushed against mine I pushed him away with my free arm. He went staggering to the floor. His one hand still firmly held onto my arm, dragging me down with him.
My body fell against his and my hair cascaded around his face. Before I could react, he slammed his hands against my chest, tossing my unprepared body onto the wooden floor next to him. My shoulder slammed onto the ground and I moaned in pain.
I reached for my shoulder and gripped it tightly. Before I could make another move large hands wrapped around my waist, pulling me up to a standing position. Bulky arms wrapped around me and I was pulled back into a man’s chest.
“Walk away before I hurt you,” Ariston’s warm breath tickled my ear as he spoke with a protective voice.
The boy in front of me was unrelenting, “She’s scum. Why are you protecting her?”
The pub went silent and all eyes were on the three of us. Ariston’s grip around my waist was unusually comforting, and I had a burning desire to ask him not to let go.
His deep voice echoed through the silent pub. “As your prince, and a man tortured by her kind, she is rightfully mine.”
“Rightfully no one’s,” I aggressively whispered only loud enough for him to hear and no one else.
“After spying on my family, you are mine.”

Author Bio:
Erin McDermott was born and raised in New Jersey. She graduated college with a bachelors degree in History. If she's not in her room writing, you may find somewhere on the Jersey Shore with her family. She has been writing stories since 3rd grade. It was not until after experiencing the fast-paced life New York City had to offer that she decided to finally take the plunge and finish her first book, CAPTIVE REBEL (The Allegiance, Book 1). 
During her years in college she expressed a deep interest in Greek Mythology, which she incorporates into The Allegiance Series. She is incredibly grateful to her family for supporting her throughout the trials and tribulations of the independent publishing process. 
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Monday, December 10, 2018

BOOK BLITZ for "What a Wolf Desires (Lux Catena Series, #1)" by Amy Pennza

What a Wolf Desires 
(Lux Catena Series, #1)
by Amy Pennza
Publication date: Nov 21st, 2018
Genres: Adult, Paranormal, Romance
Lizette Butler has the only thing she ever wanted — freedom from her pack Alpha, Maxime Simard, and the ability to decide her own fate. She and Max have a turbulent history and a powerful — if unwilling — attraction. Unfortunately, mere distance can’t stop the past from crashing back in to disrupt her life. Nor can it stop the rush of desire that overwhelms her the minute she sees him again. Her body may crave his physical seductions, but her heart will never let her love him. 
As leader of the New York territory, Max has everything — wealth, power, and an army of wolves ready to jump at his command. But a mistake he made five years ago may have cost him the only thing worth living for: Lizette. He also knows something Lizette doesn’t — she possesses a rare ability that makes her a target and a prize. 
Max can command Lizette to return to the pack, but he can’t command her trust… or her love. And if he can’t heal the rift between them, he may lose her forever.

Excerpt:

The inside of the Lodge was brighter than Lizette remembered, the foyer spiraling up a dizzying sixty feet. Twin staircases graced either side, each one leading to a catwalk that appeared to float across the impressive space.
The foyer opened onto a massive great room dominated by a huge stone fireplace. She’d spent many an evening lying in front of it, chin propped on her hand, studying the flames.
She longed to sink into one of the big leather couches in front of the fireplace, but she had her instructions. Her orders. She was to report directly to the Alpha as soon as she set foot in the building. Disobeying wouldn’t be a good way to start her visit.
And a visit is exactly what it’s going to be. As she walked the familiar path to Max’s study, his presence was like a beating heart in the huge Lodge. Each pulse dragged her closer to him, even though every nerve screamed for her to run back out the door and never stop.
“Lizette?” a young, feminine voice called behind her.
She stopped and pivoted toward it. “Haley?”
A dark blur shot from the other end of the hallway. Before she could say anything else, Haley threw itself into Lizette’s arms, wrapping her in a tight, perfumed hug with surprising strength.
She patted her friend’s springy, light brown curls. “Have you been working out?”
Haley laughed and pulled back so they were face-to-face. “It’s the wolf,” she said, her white, even teeth bisected by the thin metal wire of her retainer. “I can’t believe how much it’s changed me in such a short time.”
Six weeks earlier, Haley had convinced her guardians to let her spend a weekend with Lizette. Haley turned seventeen that past Christmas with no sign of her wolf emerging. The Turn happened at different ages for everyone, but it usually happened by puberty—and because girls tended to mature faster than boys, females usually Turned earlier. But Haley hadn’t made the change, and her guardians worried she never would. Among werewolves, such wolves were called latents.
Latents had a wolf counterpart, but they couldn’t Turn. They felt the pull of the wolf’s instincts but had no outlet for them. Lizette had heard it described as being a pianist with your hands permanently tied behind your back.
It was a sad, frustrating existence for wolves, cursed to live trapped inside their human bodies, unable to transform into their other selves. The hope of finding a mate was slim, since they lacked the ability to form the lifelong bonds so treasured by the wolves, and many couldn’t bear to be around normal werewolves.
The problem had even spilled over from werewolf society and trickled down into the human world. Every now and then news headlines told of a madman or killer who’d committed some unspeakable crime. In some cases, it was just a random crazy human. But in others it was a latent who’d lost his or her grip on reality, and the local Alpha would dispatch a group of wolves to quietly take care of the problem.
In the morning the human police would find the defendant hanged in his cell. Was it murder? Yes, but it was too risky to allow those wolves to live.
The human word lunatic was a lot closer to the truth than most people realized.
At first Haley’s guardians thought she might simply be a late bloomer. But when puberty came and went and she still hadn’t Turned, they were desperate. So they sent her to Lizette, hoping some time with another female around her own age might relieve some of Haley’s anxieties. What if she never Turned? Latents often lived a sort of half-life. Cut off from the werewolf community, many committed suicide.
To everyone’s delight, Haley Turned for the first time during her stay at Lizette’s place. She and Lizette had danced around the apartment blasting One Direction and Taylor Swift until Lizette got a migraine and the downstairs neighbor pounded on the ceiling to shut them up.
Lizette squeezed Haley’s bicep. “I’m impressed. You have Madonna arms.”
Haley laughed, her pretty face lit up with joy. It made Lizette’s heart happy to see her like this. In a way she felt protective of her, and not just because Lizette was there the first time Haley Turned. Like Lizette, Haley lost her parents as a child. Although Haley was raised in a werewolf community, they’d both been foster kids of a sort. Haley knew what it felt like to be an outsider.
Haley’s expression grew abruptly serious. “Have you seen him yet?”
Lizette swallowed. Of course Haley knew why Lizette was here. There was only one thing—or rather one person—who could have compelled her to return. “Not yet. Soon.”
“Oh.”
They stared at each other. Even at seventeen, Haley understood that being summoned to appear before the Alpha was serious business. Everyone did. In Lizette’s case, however, it held a special significance.
“I should go.”
“You should go.”
They both laughed.
Lizette took a reluctant step toward the foyer. “I’m sure I’ll see you later. We have a ton of things to catch up on.” She dropped her voice to a whisper. “Like boys.” Although goodness knew Lizette had little advice to offer in that area. Aside from one brief—and that was generous—relationship as a teen, her love life was DOA.
“Definitely,” Haley said. “And I want to run together before you go.”
Lizette gave Haley a little wave and tried to ignore the way her stomach lurched as she headed back the way she’d come. She stopped in front of a set of big double doors and wiped her palms on her jeans. She angled her chin down and took in her sweater and mint green Chucks. Was Aiden right? Maybe she should have changed.
This is ridiculous. She was twenty-four years old, not fifteen…so why did she feel like a teenager reporting to the principal’s office?
Or a woman on a first date.
Not going there. She’d see what he wanted and then go home. Simple as that. She took a deep breath and knocked.
“Come,” said a low voice from behind the door.
The sound ripped through her like a thunderclap, and her knees almost gave out. She clenched her fists and pressed her fingernails into her palms—a trick she learned from Dom. The pain steadied her. She pushed the door open…
…and locked gazes with the Alpha. Her Alpha. Maxime Alexandre Simard.
He sat behind his desk, his posture relaxed. A lord in command of his domain.
And in the werewolf world, that’s exactly what he was.
The first time she saw him was in the back of a Los Angeles County courtroom. Her caseworker had called her foster parents the day before, breathless, saying a relative had come forward—a distant cousin of Lizette’s mother. He was flying in from New York and would be there the next day to file the paperwork.
In court he wore a charcoal gray suit and a dark blue tie. His jacket sleeves rode up when he shook her foster father’s hand, exposing his shirt cuffs and the strange metal jewelry he wore there instead of buttons. When she slid past him to climb into the limo, she accidentally brushed his sleeve, and the fabric felt like a cloud against her skin. He’d smelled of pine and soap and something…darker…a rich spice she couldn’t identify.
Lizette knew right away that he wasn’t human. There was something other about him. At fifteen, she’d been old enough to see through a disguise, even a convincing one. As soon as the door closed, she’d blurted, “Are you human?”
“Not entirely.”
Her heart had pounded so hard her chest had hurt. “Will you hurt me?”
“Never. I promise you.”
“Are you…” She thought back to the stash of vampire novels she kept hidden under her bed at her foster parents’ house. “Are you immortal?”
“I’m afraid not.”
Disappointment washed over her…followed by renewed curiosity. “How old are you, then?”
“Twenty-seven.” She must have looked surprised, because he smiled. “You expected me to be older?”
“If you’re not human, then what are you?” He spoke perfect English, but he had an accent…something refined and Old World. It curled around her brain like a lazy cat. She caught herself leaning toward him, hoping he’d speak again.
“Ah.” He looked thoughtful for a minute. “What do you think I am, petite?”
“I…don’t know.”
He tapped on the glass dividing the back seat from the front, and the car rumbled to life and slid into traffic. When he turned back to her, his light blue eyes were different. Sharper. “What if I told you that you and I are the same…”
Sitting behind his desk now, Max looked exactly as he had in the courtroom nine years ago. Knowing what she did today, Lizette knew he’d look more or less the same for the rest of his long life.
His face was aristocratic and refined—his patrician nose set between straight black eyebrows. He wore his thick black hair brushed back from a broad, unlined forehead, and his jaw was shadowed by what looked like several days’ growth of beard. But his light blue eyes were his most arresting feature. Pale as a spring sky, they focused on her as if she was the only creature on earth.
He was the only wolf she knew whose eyes changed very little between forms. To notice any difference, a person had to be standing toe-to-toe with him.
Or kissing him.
Her breath hitched. She realized she was staring and dropped her gaze to the thick patterned carpet. Shit. First she challenged Dom. Now she just challenged Max. With Dom, she’d breached protocol because she was angry. This time she hadn’t even realized she was doing it.
“Sit,” Max said, his voice curt. He remained seated as she approached the leather chairs in front of his desk. That didn’t surprise her. Alphas stood for no one—especially this Alpha.
She perched on the edge of one of the chairs, her gaze on the space near his right shoulder. He sat with his elbows on the desk, studying her. He’d rolled back the long sleeves of his starched white button-down, revealing muscled forearms sprinkled with black hairs. The casual style should have made him look less intimidating, but it did the opposite.
She felt his gaze wander across her body, its heat like a spotlight against her skin. All thoughts of controlling her heart rate fled—the meditation she practiced during the drive scattering like a flock of birds.
As if drawn by a magnet, she locked gazes with him again. The back of her neck tingled as they stared at each other. If he felt anything in the soft skin of his right thumb, he gave no indication.
After a few seconds of uncomfortable silence, he let his wolf creep into his eyes. “You think to challenge me?” he asked softly, sounding merely curious.
She lowered her gaze to his collarbone. “No.”
His chair creaked as he leaned back. “You’ve been too long in the human world. You forget our ways.”
“So I’ve heard,” she muttered. The thing was, it was true when Dom said it. This time, though, she hadn’t forgotten. Normally the wolf’s instinct kicked in and compelled her to drop her gaze whenever a more dominant wolf was around. Max was the most dominant wolf in any room, which meant her instinct should have been firing on all cylinders. But it had deserted her just now.
For a brief moment she’d forgotten to avoid staring directly into his eyes. She was surprised she was able to maintain eye contact as long as she had. Apparently the usual rules didn’t apply to them.
“Well,” he continued, “we shall remedy that now that you’re here.”
She cleared her throat. “Since you brought it up, I’d actually like to know why I’m here.”
He rose and walked to the floor-to-ceiling windows facing the gorge a hundred feet below. The windows took up the entire wall—a feature that repeated across most of the rear of the Lodge, which had been built to take advantage of the area’s natural beauty. The wall behind his desk displayed a large map of the United States and Canada. Instead of showing the usual boundary lines, however, it was sectioned into sixty territories—each marked with a capital no human would have recognized. They sat in the New York Territory which, predictably, included all of New York. Unlike the human version, Max’s domain extended all the way north to Quebec.
She tore her gaze away from the map. She didn’t need another reminder of his power. It was literally in the room with her, almost like an aura shining around him. She’d never felt it so strongly before. All high-ranking wolves oozed power, but most wielded incredible control over it. If they chose, they could also mute their power so it wasn’t so obnoxious.
Was he displaying his on purpose to intimidate her? But no, displays weren’t really Max’s style. He was far too subtle for that.
“How are your headaches?” he asked without turning around.
She closed her eyes. “Fine.”
“I can smell your lie from here.”
It was impossible to reply without telling the truth—or getting caught in another lie—so she clamped her mouth shut. She had a feeling he was going to say whatever he wanted to say anyway.
“You’ve lost weight.”
She gritted her teeth. “In the human world, that’s generally considered a good thing. Women are always trying to lose weight.”
“You’re not a human.” He rolled his neck on his shoulders, the movement drawing her gaze. She’d forgotten how big he was. Even if he wasn’t an Alpha, he’d still command any room he entered, and not just because of his physical size. The fabric of his shirt stretched tight over powerful shoulders and a broad back that tapered to lean hips. Her stare sank lower…until she realized where it was headed and tore her eyes away.
What was she doing?
She must have made a sound, because he turned away from the window. She had his full attention now.
Crap, crap, crap.
She pressed her damp palms against her jeans as his denim-clad legs appeared before her. He stopped in front of his desk, his body inches from hers. A warm hand lifted her chin and kept lifting her, gently pulling her to her feet.
Her heart threatened to leap out of her chest. He tipped her chin up. He’d stuffed his wolf down so deep, he appeared as a normal man—or as normal as Maxime Simard would ever get. In a blink, his demeanor changed. The wolf bled from his eyes, and his gaze dipped to her mouth. They were no longer speaking Alpha-to-subject. This was something entirely different.
She knew this Max. He was more terrifying than the Alpha.
“You want to know why I called you back.” He made it a statement.
She swallowed. “Yes.”
His eyes glittered. “That’s easy. I wanted to speak with my wife.”

Author Bio:
Amy Pennza has been a lawyer, a soldier, and a copywriter. Although she liked the first two well enough, she decided writing romance is the job she loves best. After years in Tornado Alley, she now makes her home in the Great Lakes region with her husband, kids, and two demanding animals. You can visit her at amypennza.com. 
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