BOOK REVIEW for "Good Nights (Love Again, #2)" by Heather Grace Stewart

***(3) out of 5 stars!

SYNOPSIS:

Can a technological glitch bring you more than headaches? What if it brings you lasting love? When an app messes with her travel plans, Hannah discovers a whole new world full of laughter and romance.

TV writer Hannah Storm's marriage is over, she's just turned 30, and she's lost her job. Overwhelmed with how her life has turned out, and suffering from writer's block, she decides to throw caution to the wind and books a month in a rental home on an island off the coast of France, using a new app, Good Nights. But it's pouring rain, and someone's in her rental home. Hannah doesn't quite get the Tripp she planned on... this one has brawn, brains, and a hot British accent.

Join Hannah and Tripp on their island adventures with this witty, touching, romantic comedy page-turner. It’s the perfect beach and holiday book; ideal for lounging by the pool in summer and curling up by the fire on cold winter nights.

REVIEW:

This is indeed a witty, touching, romantic read.  Not exactly a page-turner though.  In fact, there were often times that were so slow and boring that I wanted to just put down the book.  Also a lot of the pretense of the storyline was just ridiculous (such as the search for the extinct bird, as well as the elaborate plans so suddenly developed to showcase it).  Not to mention what a jerk Tripp is at the start of the book.  But watching him and Hannah interact proved quite entertaining, especially as they both morph and change into better versions of themselves, thanks to the other's influence.  It was a joy to watch them fall in love, and actually develop an adult relationship.  Some of the secondary characters, while playing a much smaller role, are absolutely delightful themselves though, especially Béatrice, Hank, and of course, Jughead and Coffee.  It is a good choice for anyone looking for a humorous, light, romantic read. 

I received a free eBook copy of this title from the author, 

and have willingly provided an honest review.

Good Nights is currently just 99¢ on Amazon Kindle USA & UK — but only for a couple more hours!  It will then increase to $1.99 for a couple of days.  Before returning to it’s regular price of $3.99 by this weekend.

The author's next release is the audiobook version of Good Nights, 

featuring two award-winning narrators, coming out October 30th, 

from Tantor Media Publishing.

BOOK BLITZ for "Scandalous (Alpha Bodyguard, #1)" by Sybil Bartel

Scandalous
(Alpha Bodyguard, #1)
by Sybil Bartel
Publication date: September 10th, 2018
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Bodyguard. 

Babysitter. 

Chauffeur. 

Not what the hell I thought I’d be doing with my life. 

Especially not for a spoiled Hollywood actress on location in Miami Beach. But triple pay and carrying a gun had its advantages. I’d shove away paparazzi and screaming fans for a lot less. The Marines trained me to be Force Recon — intimidation and crowd control was child’s play compared to four tours. This assignment should’ve been easy money. 

But the doe-eyed starlet with the perfect ass dragged me down her rabbit hole. Living for the spotlight, she leaked the perfect scandal. I warned her making headlines wasn’t in my job description, but she kept smiling for the cameras. 

Now she was going to find out just how scandalous a bodyguard could be. 

*SCANDALOUS is a sexy standalone book in the new Alpha Bodyguard Series!
SCANDALOUS – Tank’s story
MERCILESS – Collins’s story
RECKLESS – Tyler’s story
RUTHLESS – Sawyer’s story

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Excerpt:

“Do you like me?”
A bite halfway to my mouth, I froze for a fraction of a second. Then I chewed slowly and kept my eyes off her, because it was all part of the game. “You don’t strike me as the insecure type.” I took another bite, not knowing if I should be disappointed in her lack of confidence, or watching her for whatever game she was trying to play me with.
“This isn’t about insecurity,” she countered.
Bullshit. She was wondering why I’d said what I’d said. Horny as fuck, bored with talking, I dropped my fork and grasped her nape. Then I put my eyes on her.
She drank me up like she was starving.
Deliberately, I picked her fork up, stabbed some food and brought it to her lips. Lowering my voice, I tested her. “Open your mouth.”
For two heartbeats she stared at me.
Anticipation surged, wondering if she’d comply, but ultimately hoping she wouldn’t. I bent women. I made them cave to my commands, then I gave them the mind-blowing orgasms they wanted. But it was never a challenge. It hadn’t been for years. In fact, I couldn’t remember the last time a woman had been a challenge.
That alone should’ve been a warning. But add in the fact that I wanted this young-as-fuck, spoiled, hot mess of a woman to be my own personal fuck toy, and I should’ve been calling Luna to tell him to pull my ass off this assignment.
The only smart move was to disengage.
But I didn’t fucking do it.
I increased the pressure on the back of her neck, I touched the food to her lips, and I actually put fucking effort into my command. Stroking her neck, taking the threat out of my tone, I dropped my disinterested expression and let her see how goddamn much I wanted her. “Eat the food, Audrina.”

Author Bio:

Sybil Bartel grew up in Northern California with her head in a book and her feet in the sand. She dreamt of becoming a painter but the heady scent of libraries with their shelves full of books drew her into the world of storytelling. She loves the New Adult genre, but any story about a love so desperately wrong and impossibly beautiful makes her swoon. 

Sybil now resides in Southern Florida and while she doesn’t get to read as much as she likes, she still buries her toes in the sand. If she isn’t writing or fighting to contain the banana plantation in her backyard, you can find her spending time with her handsomely tattooed husband, her brilliantly practical son and a mischievous miniature boxer… 

But Seriously? 

Here are ten things you probably really want to know about Sybil. 

She grew up a faculty brat. She can swear like a sailor. She loves men in uniform. She hates being told what to do. She can do your taxes (but don’t ask). The Bird Market in Hong Kong freaks her out. Her favorite word is desperate…or dirty, or both—she can’t decide. She has a thing for muscle cars. But never reply on her for driving directions, ever. And she has a new book boyfriend every week—don’t tell her husband. 

To find out more about Sybil Bartel, be sure to follow her on Twitter (she loves to hear about your favorite book boyfriend!), visit her website, like her on Facebook or join her Facebook group Book Boyfriend Heroes for exclusive excerpts and giveaways. 

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COVER REVEAL for "Demons Lie" by Sherry D. Ficklin

Demons Lie 
(A Girls Guide to Witchcraft 
and Demon Hunting, #1)
by Sherry D. Ficklin
Publication date: October 30th, 2018
Genres: Paranormal, Young Adult

Rule #1 Demons Lie 

Orphaned by an unspeakable evil, Aria Dupree is the last of her line. A powerful witch tasked with guarding the boundaries between our world and the world of demons who prey on humankind, Aria has gone rogue. Now she’s out to find and destroy every single gateway into our world and kill every demon that she can find – including the one who murdered her mother. 

But, as it turns out, hunting is the easy part; it’s graduating high school that might kill her. Red Prairie Texas isn’t just another stop on her demon hunting world tour and an unlikely alliance might be exactly what she needs to keep from becoming a slave to the very darkness she’s been fighting against.
Because the devil is coming down to Texas – and only Aria can keep all hell from breaking loose.

Add to Goodreads / Pre-order

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***Also, the author will be releasing a short prequel serial for free on her website beginning Sept. 17th and leading up to the release. You can check it out at http://sherryficklin.com.***!

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Author Bio:

Sherry is the author of over a dozen novels for teens and young adults including the best selling Stolen Empire series. She can often be found browsing her local bookstore with a large white hot chocolate in one hand and a towering stack of books in the other. That is, unless she's on deadline at which time she, like the Loch Ness monster, is only seen in blurry photographs. 

Sherry also writes contemporary romance under the pen name SJ Noble. You can find her at her official website, www.sherryficklin.com, or stalk her on her Facebook page www.facebook.com/sherry.ficklin. 

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BLOG TOUR & AUTHOR INTERVIEW with Ashley Bostock for "Nothing But Trouble"

Nothing But Trouble 
by Ashley Bostock
Publication date: August 28th, 2018
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Billionaire CEO Michael Vilander needed just one date. Creating a fake profile on his own matchmaking website may not have been his brightest move. But then Sophia Baldwin’s arresting face pops up on his CHAT NOW feature. Not only is she gorgeous, but after spending half the night exchanging messages with her, he finds her to be naive, innocent and way too sexy. 

Twenty-four-year-old Sophia Baldwin is barely able to make ends meet. Caring for her sick grandmother prevents her from having a normal life — aspirations of attending college full-time to become a nurse are on the back burner — but then she meets the charming and dazzling Clint on an online dating site. When he asks her to the Denver Arts Foundation’s Annual Valentine’s Day Gala, she’s confident things are looking up. 

Once Sophia learns that her hot date is none other than website mogul Michael Vilander, she’s definitely not mentioning her night job. What’s a lie by omission anyway? After all, it’s only one date… Until Michael’s ex flaunts her fancy engagement ring in Michael’s face and something compels Sophia to announce her and Michael’s engagement. AKA, fake engagement. They agree on one month to pretend they’re in love before all bets are off. 

Pretending to be in love with a sweet and sexy billionaire, but not actually falling in love, ahem, how hard could it be?

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~AUTHOR INTERVIEW with Ashley Bostock~

1)    What gave you the inspiration for the storyline?

My inspiration came from attending business events with my husband. One event that stands out was in Washington D.C. and typically, the men and women attending these events are CEO’s. Seeing all the men in their suits was so inspiring! What woman wouldn’t love to bring one of these well put together men to their knees? So my inspiration began with men in suits, business men, CEO’s and eventually combining my desire to write about billionaires all into this series. It’s evolved a lot since I first got the idea from the event in D.C., but the underlying theme is still there.

Also, when I first started writing this series, I wanted the men to fall for someone that was not the norm. A woman that wasn’t all perfect with the best of everything. I wanted them to be unexpected. So there is a little bit of that in Nothing But Trouble.

2)    Are there any hidden themes in the book that you hope readers will discover?

No. I can’t think of anything beyond the obvious.

3)    Are any of the characters based on real people you know?

The grandmothers are based off of a few grandmothers I know.

4)    Who has influenced you most as a writer?

Probably other writers. I especially like Avon authors so I’d have to say those women—Jill Shalvis, Sophie Jordan, Lori Wilde—just to name a few, influence me the most.

5)    If you could have any three literary characters over to your place for game night, who would you invite, what would you play, what would you serve, and why?

We’d play poker because when you play card games, it gives the players an opportunity to visit and get to know each other. I’d want to get to know all these people.

I’d serve Mexican food-smothered burritos probably cause I can make good green chili.

Scarlett O’Hara – I just feel she’s kick ass long before her time and would be a fun person to be around and be friends with. She probably says the damnedest things.  

Christian Grey—Well, because he’s gorgeous and intriguing and I’d want to see him in a fun atmosphere.

Ponyboy Curtis – I’ve always loved The Outsiders – book, movie, plays. I feel like we’d be good friends.  

6)    Do you feel that you can ever have too many books?

Umm, no. Never.

Author Bio:

Ashley Bostock is a Colorado Native and currently lives in Nebraska, with daydreams of moving back home. All her books feature sexy-as-hell heroes and strong heroines. She loves reading any chance she gets - Jill Shalvis, M. O'Keefe, Rachel Gibson, Karen Robards and Jennifer Probst are some of her favorites! 

Ashley loves traveling - in a wanderlust's eyes, she's hardly touched the world but to those that rarely travel, she's been everywhere. Thailand, Cambodia, Japan, Turks & Caicos, Russia, China, Tahiti, Vietnam and Scotland, just to name a few. 

Ashley is addicted to Instagram - if you want to follow her there: www.instagram.com/ashleybostock. 

If you want to stay in the know about new releases and receive EXCLUSIVE content, sign up for Ashley's newsletter at this address: https://www.subscribepage.com/ashleybostock. 

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BLOG TOUR & BOOK REVIEW for "In Too Deep (Blue Spruce Lodge, #3)" by Dani Collins

In Too Deep 
(Blue Spruce Lodge, #3)
by Dani Collins
Publication date: August 7th, 2018
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

The family he didn’t know he needed… 

At her wit’s end with her twelve-year-old niece, Wren Snow takes the manager’s job at Blue Spruce Lodge so Sky can get to know her father, Trigg Johanssen — a tycoon snowboarder with a playboy reputation. 

Gold-medalist Trigg Johanssen is furious she kept Sky a secret, but quits competition to focus on his newly discovered daughter only to have his chemistry with Wren complicate their attempts to co-parent. 

When outside forces threaten the ski resort he’s rebuilding, a marriage of convenience seems like the answer. It would give his daughter the life she deserves, but is it too much for a heartbroken woman still nursing past hurts?

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~BOOK REVIEW for "In Too Deep"~

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

This was a totally darling insta-love with a marriage of convenience tale!  It was a bit of a stretch to believe that things turn out so well, more by convenience than design.  But I've known enough true cases of weird meet-cutes and falling in love tales, not to mention bizarrely interconnected families, to know that anything is possible.

Wren, although she seems like a shy and nervous little birdie on the outside, is really quite the formidable person on the inside.  As Rolf says late in the book, "[she] is too smart to let [anyone] take advantage of her."  Trigg, while considered nothing but a playboy, has never really tried to have a romantic relationship, so he doesn't know any more than we do if he can succeed.  But we want him to!  And given that he claims his feelings for Wren are different than for any woman he has ever know, we are hopeful that he can.  Sky is basically your typical 12-year-old brat.  She brought back horrible memories of my daughter's tween years, and even some of my own.  But underneath the hoodie and sunglasses, the meanness and snark, is a frightened girl who wants to do good, but isn't quite sure how to handle all of the things that life suddenly throws at her.  

I found it a little odd that a book billed as a romance was actually from the multi-point of view of the male lead, female lead and supporting female (child) character.  And while I generally do not like stories with a dual, let alone multi, point of view, it just worked for this tale.  Given that they were truly working to create a family, and not just a couple, it was nice to see Sky's perspective on things, that was often vastly different than that of the adults.  

Many of the peripheral characters were just as endearing, or at least interesting.  I quite enjoyed Marvin, Nate and Murphy, all of whom were delightfully charming, each in their own way.  Almost all of the characters were exceedingly witty, which always makes things fun.

There were a few items that I wasn't crazy about, mainly how Wren and Trigg both seemed to go from a place of mild interest and physical attraction in the other, to proclaiming their love for one another, before they really even seemed to grasp their feelings themselves.  And I do think would and should have been more reluctance on Wren's part to enter into a relationship with someone considered such a player.  But otherwise, most of the boxes for a fun, romantic read were definitely ticked.

I had forgotten that this book is part of a series, and is in fact #3 in the set.  It reads wonderfully as a standalone book.  But I am now interested in reading the previous volumes to learn more on the backstories of the characters highlighted in them.  

Author Bio:

USA Today Bestselling author, winner of 2013 Reviewer’s Choice Award from Romantic Times Book Reviews
Before making my first sale to Harlequin Mills & Boon in 2012, I spent two decades writing and submitting to every publisher with a transom while holding down a day job and raising a family with my high school sweet heart. Since then, I’ve gone to contract on over thirty books.
While Harlequin Presents remains my first love, I also write romantic comedy, medieval fantasy romance, erotic romance, and small town contemporary romance for Tule Publishing’s Montana Born. In fact, I write just about anything, so long as it’s romance. P.S. I’m also Canadian. 

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BOOK BLITZ for "The Warrior Princess (Alinthia, #3)" by Siobhan Davis

The Warrior Princess 
(Alinthia, #3)
by Siobhan Davis
Publication date: August 28th, 2018
Genres: Paranormal, Romance,
Young Adult

She’ll tear the galaxy apart to save them… 

Captured by a special, secret government agency, Alinthia is now facing another new reality — one where she’s separated from the four guys who have come to mean so much to her. But she has faith in Dane, Coop, Maddox, and Beck, and she refuses to give up hope. 

Until she discovers General Arantu and his despicable daughter, have imprisoned her protectors and time is running out to save them. 

Desperate to escape the government’s clutches and rescue her loved ones, Alinthia finds unlikely allies in the strangest of places. With their help, she finally understands what is required to assume full control of her powers and fulfil her legacy. 

However, the more she uncovers about herself and her abilities, the more she understands how fragile the line is between good and evil, darkness and light, right and wrong. 

Will she make the ultimate sacrifice in the name of love, or are there some lines that can’t ever be crossed? 

The third book in the enchanting Alinthia series is intended for readers aged seventeen and older. This is upper YA/NA crossover reverse harem paranormal romance which gets steamier as the series develops. This is not a standalone read. Full-length novel.

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Previous books in the series:

Excerpt:

Cooper

I come to, groaning as several of my senses are assaulted at once. A putrid, decaying smell tickles my nostrils, and I’d probably puke if I was human and capable of vomiting. Moans, cries, and screams filter into the room from somewhere outside. Shivers tiptoe up my spine as a blast of cold air sweeps over me, and my arms ache like a bitch. A dull pounding in my head and pain burning at the back of my eyes make seeing difficult, but I push through my discomfort, forcing myself back to consciousness.
Slowly, my vision clears, and my surroundings come into focus.
“Mad Dog and Beck are still unconscious,” Dane says into my mind.
“Where are we, and how the fuck did we get here?” The last thing I remember is being ambushed by Alandra and a bunch of goons outside Kylie’s house. I put up the mother of all fights, but I was outnumbered, and they had the element of surprise. It’s embarrassing how easily they overpowered me after that.
My head spins around, my eyes scanning the small cell. The walls are exposed stone, and the floors are coarse black slate. It’s dirty, cold, and unforgiving under my butt. There is little natural light in the room, the only glimmer of brightness trickling in through a small, open window above my head.
Beck, Maddox, and Dane are all stripped to their boxers, arms elevated, and wrists bound together, chained to the stone wall. I look down at myself, confirming I’m in the same predicament. “Where’s Alinthia?” The connection that bonds my brothers and I to our girl thrashes anxiously about, trying and failing to locate our missing piece. “Where is she, Dane?”
“It’s not good, Coop, and it’s all my fault.”

Copyright © Siobhan Davis 2018

Author Bio:

USA Today bestselling author Siobhan Davis writes emotionally intense young adult and new adult romantic fiction with swoon-worthy romance, complex characters, and tons of unexpected plot twists and turns that will have you flipping the pages beyond bedtime! She is the author of the international bestselling Kennedy Boys, Saven, and True Calling series. 

Siobhan’s family will tell you she’s a little bit obsessive when it comes to reading and writing, and they aren’t wrong. She can rarely be found without her trusty Kindle, a paperback book, or her laptop somewhere close at hand. 

Prior to becoming a full-time writer, Siobhan forged a successful corporate career in human resource management. 

She resides in the Garden County of Ireland with her husband and two sons. 

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BOOK BLITZ for "Jaclyn and the Beanstalk" by Mary Ting

Jaclyn and the Beanstalk 
by Mary Ting
Published by: Vesuvian Books
Publication date: September 4th, 2018
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult

What fate awaits a girl who hears monsters at night… 

Sixteen-year-old Jaclyn looks up to her father. An honest man who once fought for the king, he now teaches Jaclyn how to use her wits — and her sword. 

But he has a secret. And his secret may have a connection to the one thing Jaclyn is hiding from him. 

Upon hearing “monsters” are terrorizing the small villages around Black Mountain, Jaclyn’s father and his friends head out to hunt them … but they don’t return. 

Armed only with her sword and three magic beans — a gift from a mysterious old woman — Jaclyn sets out for Black Mountain to save her father. 

On her climb, one bean drops and grows into a beanstalk, catching her when she falls. 

She isn’t the only one that takes the ride. Jack, her childhood friend and secret crush, is following her. 

Together, Jaclyn and Jack must battle to save not only their fathers, but the townspeople the beasts plan to lay waste to before it’s too late.

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Only $1.99 for a limited time!

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Excerpt:

Mother crinkled her nose. “Don’t fret. You’re of marriageable age now. We must think of finding you a husband or your time will pass. I’m only thinking of your future, Jaclyn. I want to see you settled soon. Your father and I are not getting younger.”
“Getting married and bearing children is not for me. There’s much work to be done.”
I slipped my arms around her waist and pressed my head to her back. I inhaled deeply as warmth enveloped me and her love replaced the fright from my nightmares.
Safe. I am safe. No monsters.
“Our life is good here. Why would I want to fix what is not broken?”
“’Tis what we do. People will talk.”
“Let them.”
I scowled, anger boiling through my veins. I tended to not raise my voice, so I softened my tone out of respect.
“I will not be handed to a suitor I do not love.”
Mother patted my arm. “My child, you have much to learn. Love comes later. I did not love your father at first.”
“I will not follow other people’s ways.” Pouting, I shuffled my feet on the dirt.
She released a deep sigh. “Oh, Jaclyn. Your time will come. Everyone has a destiny. Everyone has a story to tell. Some more than others. We shall see what lies ahead for you. Fate will lead you to the path you are meant to take.”
I wished I had eyes for the future. I wanted to know a demon would not seize my soul, and I wanted to see a path without the nighttime cries. They must be monsters. I’d never heard a human throat make such tortured sounds.
What fate awaits a girl who hears monsters at night?
Illness swept through my stomach. A shudder racked me, beginning in my gut, forewarning me.

Author Bio:

International Bestselling Author Mary Ting/M. Clarke resides in Southern California with her husband and two children. She enjoys oil painting and making jewelry. Writing her first novel, Crossroads Saga, happened by chance. It was a way to grieve the death of her beloved grandmother, and inspired by a dream she once had as a young girl. When she started reading new adult novels, she fell in love with the genre. It was the reason she had to write one-Something Great. Why the pen name, M Clarke? She tours with Magic Johnson Foundation to promote literacy and her children's chapter book-No Bullies Allowed. 

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BLOG TOUR & AUTHOR INTERVIEW with T.H. Hernanez for "Superhero High"

Superhero High 
by T.H. Hernandez
Published by: Soul Mate Publishing
Publication date: July 5th, 2018
Genres: Adventure, Science Fiction, Young Adult

Sixteen-year-old Annarenee Stevens is the sole member of her family without a super power. The only time she feels powerful is in the pool. With her sights set on swimming for U.C. Berkeley, she’s ready to win it all at the State championship and secure her future. 

When the government unexpectedly ends the secret Genetically Enhanced Asset (GEA) program, Annarenee is uprooted from Dayton, the only home she’s ever known, and relocated to San Diego with all of the other GEA families. Queen of her public school, Annarenee is just another zero at Superhero High, a school without any sports teams. 

With the end of the program, her hero older brother now needs a college education, too, meaning the only way Annarenee is getting into Berkeley is on a scholarship. Her dream is slipping through her fingers, no matter how tightly she clings to it. To make matters worse, super hot superhero, Ren Gonzalez, is paying too much attention to her. The kind of attention that has Ren’s ex-girlfriend intent on making Annarenee’s life even more miserable. 

But when heroes begin disappearing, zeros and heroes will be forced to team up in order to solve the mystery. If they don’t kill each other first.

Goodreads / Amazon

~AUTHOR INTERVIEW with T.H. Hernandez~

1) What gave you the inspiration for the storyline?

Years ago, when my kids were properly sized for children, we were watching a movie on Disney called Sky High about the teenage offspring of the world’s superheroes. They were either designated as heroes or sidekicks based on ability. It was cute and a bit goofy, but I liked the idea of mixing hormones and superpowers. There is oh so much that can go wrong! I took that concept and reworked it with heroes and their non-powered siblings, known as zeros. That is where the similarities end, though. There are no tights, no masks, and no supervillains, only kids in a now defunct government program trying to figure out what their lives will look like if not as government assets.

2) Are there any hidden themes in the book that you hope readers will discover?

Yes. There are strong themes of bullying and self-worth that has nothing to do with abilities you were born with or without. That people should not be judged for things they had no choice in, like who they are born to, or what their natural abilities are, but it’s what you do with those abilities or privilege that determines the content of your character.

3) Are any of the characters based on real people you know?

Very much so. All three of my children named a character after themselves and helped me sculpt the characters from physical traits, to superpowers, to personality. But at the end of the day, much of their doppelganger’s personality is based on the child they are named for to one degree or another.

4) Who has influenced you most as a writer?

An Australian author named John Marsden. He wrote a series called TOMMORROW WHEN THE WAR BEGAN and when I finished devouring all ten books in that series, I knew I wanted to write a dystopian story with a strong but flawed female character. One of the things I loved most about his books is that unlike other dystopian novels I’ve read, his characters are fundamentally changed by the events in their lives. They don’t “get over it” and “move on.” Everything they do and are, changes them in ways they will never recover from.

The second is Stephen King. I don’t write horror and likely never will, but the man is such a consummate story teller. His book, ON WRITING, remains one of the best books I’ve ever read on the craft of writing.

5) If you could have any three literary characters over to your place for game night, who would you invite, what would you play, what would you serve, and why?

Oh, what a fun question!! Wow, this could be a blast. Let’s see, I think Owen Meany from A PRAYER FOR OWEN MEANY by John Irving, because to this day, he remains one of the most fascinating characters of any book I’ve read. Second is Emma from EMMA by Jane Austen, because I love her spunkiness and think she’d be a blast for the game I have in mind. And third is Jon Snow from A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE by George R.R. Martin because, hello, he’s Jon Snow!

There’s really only one game I want to play with these people, Cards Against Humanity, because I think you learn so much about people not only by the cards they play, but the ones they choose as the winner. As far as food goes, I’d probably serve a variety of cheeses and meats along with crackers, fine wine, and craft beers. This party is really all about the game and not the food, so I’m not spending too much time thinking about that.

6) Do you feel that you can ever have too many books?

“Too many” and “books” don’t even belong in the same sentence.

Author Bio:

T.H. Hernandez is the author of young adult books. The Union, a futuristic dystopian adventure, was a finalist in the 2015 San Diego book awards in the Young Adult Fiction category. 

She loves pumpkin spice lattes, Game of Thrones, Comic-Con, Star Wars, Doctor Who marathons, Bad Lip Reading videos, and all things young adult, especially the three young adults who share her home. 

When not visiting the imaginary worlds inside her head, T.H. Hernandez lives in usually sunny San Diego, California with her husband and three children, a couple of cats, and a dog who thinks he’s a cat, affectionately referred to as “the puppycat.” 

You can find her online at http://thhernandez.com.

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BLOG TOUR & BOOK REVIEW for "Hot Pursuit (To Catch a Thief, #1)" by Kay Marie

Hot Pursuit 
(To Catch a Thief, #1)
by Kay Marie
Publication date: August 27th, 2018
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

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How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days meets White Collar in this sassy and sweet romantic comedy, new from bestselling author Kaitlyn Davis, writing as Kay Marie.

All Jolene Carter has ever wanted is a bakery of her own. There’s only one problem. Her father, Robert Carter, is a world-renowned art thief and she’s, well, sort of his protégé. But he’s promised her this next job in New York will be their last, and she won’t let anyone get in the way of her dreams… especially not the distractingly delicious FBI agent hot on her tail.

Agent Nate Parker has been on the Robert Carter case for years, and if rumors of the aging criminal’s retirement are true, this might be his last chance to nail him. With the legacy of his late father in the back of his mind, the stakes are more personal than anyone realizes. He won’t let anything stand in the way of justice… especially not the red-headed vixen who keeps giving him the slip.

He’s a cop who’d never bend. She’s a con who’ll never break. But all’s fair in love and larceny…

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~BOOK REVIEW for "Hot Pursuit"~

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

This book was a delightful, rather light and funny, but still somehow suspenseful romance tale about two very unlikely candidates for a relationship who somehow just click with one another.  

When first they meet, Nate is such a stickler for the rules and proper procedure and all of that.  He doesn't seem as though he'd even be able to contemplate how to break the rules.  He even keeps his white shirt buttoned all the way up... while on a boat, supposedly fishing... in the Bahamas.  Nate has a traumatic past which we only very slowly begin to learn about as the story progresses, which very much explains his dedication to the job and obsession with apprehending his latest targets.

Jo on the other hand, is a total free spirit, not easily contained or directed by anyone, even herself.  She does a lot of things that seem rather foolhardy, maybe even dangerous for her.  Although many of them do prove to be very calculated acts of subterfuge.  Basically, Jo and her little gang are in a league way above the field where the FBI agents are playing.  Unfortunately, they are also interacting with players from the Russian Mafia that Jo was totally unaware of prior to the events of this book.   

"The target is back on the move. She's crossing the street. Heading east. Turning a corner. I lost visual. I repeat, I lost visual."
Wait...
Heading east?
Turning a corner?
Nate's eyes flew open. 
A gentle knock drummed on his window.
His head fell to the side slowly, reluctantly.
"Morning, Agent Parker, Agent Alvarez," Jo said with a wave, looking at them over the rim of her sunglasses, a grin across her red lips.  "Want a cronut?"

Jo seems to know just how to push all of Nate's buttons to get a rise out of him.  And eventually she works her way underneath his skin enough to pull him a bit out of his oppressive shell.  In just a short time, they develop a genuine friendship, in addition to the intense physical attraction that they have for each other.  They actually have a lot more in common - instances of childhood trauma - than either would have thought.  But at the end of the day, he is still a law enforcement officer and she is still a criminal.  It doesn't seem there is anyway that ever the twain shall meet.  Luckily, after a lot of back and forth, good and bad, hit and miss, they do come to a point where they are able to put aside their differences and focus on each other.

She turned on her camera app.
Then her messaging app.
Sent a text — What do you think?
The image was loading. Damn things took forever.
"Do we recognize the number she's communicating with? Is it Carter? Ryder?" The boss's scratchy voice came through the line — he was talking to the tech team, not directly into his mic. But Nate shifted his attention to the ten-digit number, reading it twice as his brows pushed together.
Wait a minute —
The phone in his pocket buzzed. 
Goddamn that woman.
"It's my phone, sir," Nate grumbled. "Somehow she got my number."

The secondary characters too - Jo's dad, their business colleague, Nate's partner especially - are all interesting characters as well, and provide a bit more background and depth for these players.  Even Jo's online baking gal pals seem like real people with very distinctive personalities, whom I'd definitely like to learn more about.

The biggest drawback to the story for me was less on the romance side and more in the whole mystery and suspense arena.  While the planning and execution of the heist seemed flawless, the back story for all of the deeper goings on here seemed very thin and not especially believable.  The extreme measures of the near ending also didn't strike me as awfully authentic either.  Still, it was a good book, lots of fun banter and interaction, as well as some thought-provoking mystery elements.

(Oh, and I did feel that the name Jo gave her treat invention — coopies — was totally ridiculous.  Just made me think of cowpies!) 

I understand this is the first in a new series, and I am anxious to read the next installment and see where things go, presumably with some or all of these same characters.

I received a free eBook copy of this title from Xpresso Book Tours, 

and have willingly provided an honest review.

~

Author Bio:

Kaitlyn Davis, a bestselling author with over a quarter of a million books sold, writes young adult fantasy novels under the name Kaitlyn Davis and contemporary romance novels under the name Kay Marie. Publishers Weekly has said, “Davis writes with confidence and poise,” while USA Today has recommended her work as “must-read romance.” 

Always blessed with an overactive imagination, Kaitlyn has been writing ever since she picked up her first crayon and is overjoyed to share her work with the world. When she’s not daydreaming, typing stories, or getting lost in fictional worlds, Kaitlyn can be found playing fetch with her puppy, watching a little too much television, or spending time with her family. If you have any questions for her – about her books, about scheduling an event, or just in general – you may contact her at: KaitlynDavisBooks@gmail.com. 

Sign up for Kaitlyn’s newsletter to stay up-to-date with all of her new releases, to receive exclusive subscriber bonus content, and more! bit.ly/KaitlynDavisNewsletter. 

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BLOG TOUR & AUTHOR INTERVIEW with Amy Braun for "Storm of the Gods (An Areios Brothers Novel)"

Storm of the Gods 
(An Areios Brothers Novel)
by Amy Braun
Publication date: August 27th, 2018
Genres: Adult, Urban Fantasy

The first in a brand new urban fantasy series where gods roam and mortals fight, STORM OF THE GODS follows two brothers who are caught in a conspiracy revolving around ancient artifacts, and find themselves siding with their supposed enemies rather than the Olympian who demands their loyalty… 

Thirty years ago, the gods of Greek legend returned to the world. Their return restored their powers, which had been spent in a cataclysmic battle with the Titans. With the ancient deities imprisoned in Tartarus, the Olympians now reside in Néo Vasíleio, formerly known as California. 

Twenty-four-year-old Derek Aerios is a war scion, a descendent of Ares, the God of War. He and his brother, eighteen-year-old Liam, capture mythological creatures and rogue scions as part of Ares’s elite military force. As he struggles to cope with his violent powers and the scars of a traumatic childhood, Derek tries to keep the two vows he has made: protect his brother, and never kill a human again. 

But when Ares forces him to hunt and kill four rogue scions under Athena’s control — by threatening Liam’s life — Derek chooses to go after the scions in order to save his brother and keep his promise to himself. 

Yet the closer Derek gets to the scions, the more he realizes that his orders are part of a deeper conspiracy that put him at odds with his mission and his conscience. Athena may not be the enemy, a traitor could be in their midst, and the Titans could be closer to freedom than ever before.

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~AUTHOR INTERVIEW with Amy Braun~

1)   What gave you the inspiration for the storyline?

I’ve always had a deep love and fascination with Greek mythology and history, and one of my favorite genres to read is urban fantasy, so it was inevitable that those two loves would cross paths. The actual story line and world have changed since the idea cropped up, but Dere, Liam, and Selena (the main characters) have been staples since the beginning.

2)   Are there any hidden themes in the book that you hope readers will discover?

Loyalty, trust, and consequence are the largest themes. Throughout the story, Derek and Liam butt heads about Derek’s reckless behavior, and Liam’s seeming resentment towards it, out of fear that such actions will get him killed. There is a lot of drama in Storm of the Gods, and I hope that readers enjoy the tumult as much as I did writing it.

3)   Are any of the characters based on real people you know?

Nope! They’re all complete fictions. Derek, the main character, is very loosely based on Captain America (mostly in physical appearance), but unfortunately I haven’t met any thickly muscled monster slayers. Yet.

4)   Who has influenced you most as a writer?

It’s a tough call, because I have so many favorite authors, but I would have to go with Michael J. Sullivan. His writing style is stunning, his stories are compelling, his worlds are rich with lore, his characters are unforgettable and fun, and at least two of his books have made me cry. More than that, he actually helped me promote one of my books, completely out of the blue, and offered me advice and support that I needed to hear. He’s also proof that you don’t need to be an NYT bestseller to be a massive international success (though how he hasn’t gotten to that list yet completely confounds me!).

5)   If you could have any three literary characters over to your place for game night, who would you invite, what would you play, what would you serve, and why?

Rhysand from A Court of Thorns and Roses, because he’s smoking hot and always out for a good time, Atticus from The Iron Druid Chronicles because he’d have hundreds of stories and would likely bring his adorable wolfhound Oberon along, and Gin Blanco from the Elemental Assassin series because if things went sideways, she’d be able to sort out the bad guys. We’d likely play Tales of the Arabian Nights, one of my favorite board games, because it would be hilarious to watch all these strong, badass characters get their lives turned upside down once they’re cursed or––gods help us all––grief-stricken. I would leave the cooking up to Gin, who would make up some mouth-watering Southern comfort food. Sounds like fun to me!

     6) Do you feel that you can ever have too many books?

There is no such thing as too many books! I read about two hundred a year, and my only concern is how I will fit them all on my bookshelves.

Author Bio:

Amy is a Canadian urban fantasy and horror author. Her work revolves around monsters, magic, mythology, and mayhem. She started writing in her early teens, and never stopped. She loves building unique worlds filled with fun characters and intense action. 

When she isn’t writing, she’s reading, watching movies, taking photos, gaming, struggling with chocoholism and ice cream addiction, and diving headfirst into danger in Dungeons & Dragons campaigns. 

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