Wednesday, January 30, 2013

PROMO: In The Band by Jean Haus


New Adult
Date Published: 10/19/2012

When family problems push Riley Middleton into giving up a percussion scholarship in
another state and attending college from home, her friends push her to try out for a local
rock band. Of course, Riley makes the band. She rules at the drums.

Riley soon finds out rock bands have a different dynamic than marching bands, especially
when each of her male band mates has a major ego and is a major player. Two of them
relentlessly flirt with her. The other—a dark, sexy rock god she can’t help being attracted
to— is a total jerk and pushes her to quit. She becomes determined to ignore his rudeness
and his hotness. Even if she was interested in jerks, a hook up would probably get her
booted out of the ego-ridden band, and playing keeps her sane. Behind the drums, the
world and her family’s troubles evaporate.

If she wants to stay in the band, Riley just has to ignore the growing sparks between her
and her band enemy. But as she gets to know the man behind the stage persona, ignoring
him proves to be more difficult than flowing through a time sig shift.

*New Adult/Mature YA for language and sexual situations.

Jean Haus



Author Bio:
Jean Haus lives in Michigan with her wonderful husband and son who, other than cooking,
have taken over homemaking duties since she started writing more. When Jean isn’t writing,
she’s usually reading. Anything from young adult to historical fiction as long as there is a bit a
romance, she’ll load it on her Kindle. She loves to cook, and someday she will create the world’s
best potsticker.

Buy Links

PROMO: The Exception to the Rule by Beth Rinyu



The Exception To The Rule

The Exception to the Rule
ISBN 0615739229 (ISBN13: 9780615739229)
Contemporary Romance
Date to be Published: 12/19/2012

Synopsis:

When Katrina “Kat” Vallia, an idealistic if somewhat naive 20-something American pediatrician travels halfway across the globe to volunteer in a poor African village, she looks at it as a means of closure. Following a bitter breakup with her unfaithful boyfriend, she decides to throw herself into her work without any distractions from a man. That’s until she encounters Dr. Julian Kiron, a handsome, career driven pediatric oncologist. Even though she tries to fight it, Kat finds herself falling deeply for him; until she painfully realizes that they both want totally different things from life. Not willing to compromise for the other, they sadly say goodbye, cutting all ties. Five years later, Kat’s happy world is turned upside down when she is given devastating news. She must now confront her past and the secret she’s harbored for years. But will saving the one she loves most also rekindle the love she let slip away?


EXCERPT:


We talked for some time and I could tell he was getting tired, his skin looked paler than usual and the light color of his eyes just enhanced the dark circles that were beginning to form underneath.
“Are you tired?” I asked.
“A little,” he finally admitted.
“But I thought you didn’t get tired,” I teased as I got up to grab the blanket from the other couch, turning off the overhead light. I looked out the window to see a light snow falling. I sat back down on the couch covering us both with the blanket as we watched TV with just the glow of the fireplace and Christmas tree lights. He had his arms wrapped tightly around me as I rested my head on his chest. 
“Thank you,” I whispered.
“For what?” he asked.
“For being here.”
 I smiled when he pulled me closer and gently kissed my head. It didn’t take long before I heard his breathing begin to change and as I looked up I saw he was sound asleep. I put my head back down on his chest, kissing it softly. Just knowing he was here beside me, listening to his heartbeat and feeling him breathe, put my mind at such ease that it wasn’t long before I was fast asleep too.


Beth Rinyu

Author Bio
Ever since I can remember, I have always enjoyed Creative Writing. There was always something about being able to travel to a different place or become a different person with just the stroke of a pen - or in today's world a touch of the keyboard. I have been writing poetry for years and finally got the inspiration to write my very first novel about a year and a half ago. Once I started the idea's kept flowing, my fingers kept typing - and here it is! It's a beautiful love story that focuses on so many different relationships: the love of a man and a woman, a parent and a child, friendships and those that are not bound to us by blood but by love. So, I'm hoping all of you get as much enjoyment reading this as I did writing it! Oh and here's a little bit about bit me - my life is not as interesting as the story or the characters in it, but then again whose life is? I was born and have lived in New Jersey my whole life. I'm a mom of twin teenage boys, a teenage step-son, a crazy Border Collie and a cat with an identity crisis! I guess you can say writing is my form of Calgon! I am married to a wonderful guy - but we'll keep that between us, I don't want him getting a big head! Thanks for taking the time to learn about my book and me! If you decide to read it (and I hope you do! ) please be sure to go on and review it for me - yes, even if you don't like it!


Saturday, January 26, 2013

Book Review: Edge of Dawn by Lara Adrian

In this pulse-pounding and thrillingly sensual novel, New York Timesbestselling author Lara Adrian returns to the mesmerizing world of the Midnight Breed, following new characters into a dark future where an uneasy peace can unravel into war—and a great betrayal can mask an all-consuming love.
 
Twenty years after the terror of First Dawn—when mankind learned that vampires lived secretly among them—the threat of violence reigns as the two species struggle to coexist. The only group preserving the fragile harmony is the Order, an elite cadre of Breed warriors dedicated to protecting humans and vampires alike. And in this precarious world of torn loyalties and shattered trust, Mira, a fiery squad captain, finds that every fight bears an intensely personal cost. 
 
Raised among the Order, Mira has always believed in the warrior’s code of swift—and even lethal—justice. But the one thing she desires more than the Order’s hard-won acceptance is Kellan Archer, a sexy but troubled Breed fighter. In love with him since childhood, Mira once broke through his tough exterior during an unexpected night of rapture, but the next day he mysteriously disappeared, never to return.
 
Kellan didn’t think he would ever see Mira again—or have to confront the truth of why he left. After abandoning the Order years ago, he now leads a band of human rebels intent on carrying out their own vigilante rule of law. Yet a high-profile kidnapping assignment brings him face-to-face with the past he sought to avoid, and the striking woman he has tried desperately to forget. And as tensions mount and the risk of bloodshed grows, Kellan and Mira must take sides—between the competing missions that dominate their lives, and the electrifying passion that claims their hearts.

Lara Adrian is the New York Times bestselling author of the Midnight Breed series, including Kiss of Midnight, Kiss of Crimson, Midnight Awakening, Midnight Rising, Veil of Midnight, and Ashes of Midnight


My Review:

I have read all of the stories in this series and I was pleasantly surprised to find out this one was about Mira, who we first met as a little girl who's gift was abused by those around her. 

This story finds her as a very broken woman ever since the loss of the man she loved since she was a child. Kellan was her first everything. She is a Breedmate who has worked hard to make it as a Team Leader for the Order. Her hatred for the Rebels runs deep and she often lets her emotions control her actions. Even after Eight years, she refuses to let go of her love for Kellan. 

After a rash decision leaves her demoted to babysitting a genius she finds herself kidnapped by Rebels. Imagine her shock at finding out the leader of the Rebels who have captured her is none other than the man she has believed to be dead for eight years. 

The amount of betrayal and mistakes these two have to overcome is heartbreaking, but the way their relationship builds back up is beautiful.

This story is a great addition to the series and it even introduces a new enemy for the Breed which sets up a new battle that is imminent. 

Love this series. Paranormal Romance at its best! 

Date To Be Published: February 26, 2013
Copy Provided by Random House Publishing via NetGalley

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Blog Tour: Watcher by Audra Middleton


Fantasy/Romance
Date Published: 1/7/2013

War threatens to destroy the world of Anthelion unless the holy
man, Goran, can  solve his prophecy riddle. For every clue he finds, another obstacle surfaces.  

An orphan girl, Watcher, becomes his responsibility. As if parenthood itself   isn't daunting enough, she keeps a bear for a pet and transforms into her forest   surroundings to avoid socialization. Hope momentarily emerges when Goran finds  
Benaiah, the Chosen Son of the prophecy. Only he soon discovers Benaiah is a  social pariah on the verge of embracing darkness.  

When Benaiah and Watcher unexpectedly meet, the two outsiders find in each other a sense of  
belonging they've never known. Now their emerging love promises to bring about the same war Goran is struggling to prevent.


My Rating:

My Review:
A phenomenal edition to the Fantasy Genre. With characters who are multi-dimensional and engaging. The relationship between Watcher and Benaiah grew so much from childhood over the course of this book, but seeing their interactions as children were just as great as their adult ones. This Fantasy novel puts Benaiah through some heartbreaking situations, but his perseverance makes him that much more amazing. 

But it's not just the main characters that will captivate you. Audra Middleton has done an amazing job with all of her characters and it adds to the story. 

With Action and Drama are amazing as the plot unfolds. This is the start to an amazing series and I can't wait to see what happens next.

I think that this is such an amazing addition to the Genre and loved every moment of it. A Must Read!

BUY LINKS


Audra's love of writing began in the third grade, when she was chosen to go to a young
author’s conference based on a story, The Dragon Cookie, which she wrote about a giant
cookie that comes to life. She continued writing, and was sometimes asked to write
stories for friends as birthday gifts.

Audra went to college thinking she would go into journalism, but opted to go into
publishing instead, and even took an internship at Yale University Press. Audra married
right after college and was unable to find a publishing job where they were living in
Seattle. Audra took an office job. After helping put her husband through law school,
Audra went back to school and got her teaching degree. Audra enjoyed teaching, but
once her oldest was born, she chose to stay home. At the encouragement of friends Audra
started writing again, the result being her first novel, Watcher, releasing January 2013.

Audra and her husband with their three boys, now live in a small town in eastern
Washington. They have a black Lab named Benji who eats shoes, gophers and packages
left on her front porch (thanks Fed-Ex). When Audra is not chauffeuring and refereeing
her children, she writes, dabbles in on-line shopping and plays Texas Hold ‘Em with her
friends.


Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Book Review: Code Red by Amy Noelle

New Adult/ Contemporary Romance

After getting hurt in college by a gorgeous man, Nicole Magette vowed never to risk losing her heart again. Now she lives a structured and satisfying life. Her work is easy, her friends are her family, and the only consistent men in her life are her two cats, Winchester and Huntington Peabody the Third. She doesn't date, and she hooks up only with losers—men she has absolutely no risk of falling for. But if she finds herself in danger, she has her old fail-safe in place—the Code Red.

In college, she and her four best friends came up with the system as a way to keep away the good-looking bastards that might worm their way past their carefully constructed walls. Seven years later, three of her friends have succumbed to their last Code Reds and are happily married. Now it’s just Nicole and her closest friend, Jen, who are still on their own, and Nic is just fine with that.

That is, until Joshua Daniels is transferred to Nicole’s office from New York and assigned to work with her on a special project. He's everything she's avoided and everything she claims she doesn't want, so why can’t she get him out of her mind? He's persistent, dangerously handsome, and sexy as sin. In other words, he’s her worst nightmare. She turns to her friends to help her resist Josh’s considerable charms and the inescapable draw she feels every time she gets near him. Can the Code Red save her this time, or will Josh send her perfectly balanced life into chaos?

My Rating:

My Review:
First of all, I think that the "Code Red" idea was very imaginative and the author did a great job of showing how past betrayals can influence us and our decisions for a long time.

The romance develops at a nice pace even though the attraction is there from the get-go. 

The characters are well developed and engaging. 

My only complaint would be that the story was a little predictable and didn't have a big enough climax. I do, however think the genre was executed well. 

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Blog Tour: Unholy Testament by Carole Gill




 Gothic Romance/ Paranormal
published by Tudor Rose Press
Date Published: November 4, 2012

The day Eco first laid eyes on Rose Baines was the day she discovered (The House on
Blackstone Moor) her family’s savage butchery at the hands of her mad, incestuous father.

“I saw you leave the house that day, Rose, that terrible day you discovered your family
butchered. I saw you…”

Eco realizing he has fallen in love with her pens a confession documenting all of his sins
committed in the course of his immortal existence. The one request is that Rose reads his
confession.

Rose, having become his captive, is forced to read this unholy testament of his.

From Ancient Egyptian vampire cults to Roman vampire brothels to The Dark Ages, The
Crusades, The Black Death of 1348 to his meeting with child murderer and Satanist, Gilles de
Rais, concluding with his wicked affair with the Blood Countess herself, Erzebat Bathory.

Eco is, if nothing else, frankly and brutally honest. The pages are filled with debauchery and
vice and murder--yet, there is also love or what Eco swears is love.

The story is continued in Unholy Testament – Full Circle, to be released in early 2013.


Link to Buy 


My Review:

An eerily beautiful continuation of the House on Blackstone Moore. These characters are so wonderfully written that they draw the reader in from the very beginning. Carole Gill has managed to weave a haunting tale with aspects of Horror/Romance but also quite a bit of history as well. This series is full of suspense and I can't wait for the next one! 


Photobucket
I wrote my first story at age 8. It was sci-fi but as both my parents were sci-fi fanatics it wasn’t a surprise.

I continued to write however life got in the way as it often does, and it wasn’t until 2000 that I turned back to writing. I joined a local writer’s workshop and was greatly encouraged to keep up with my writing and to send things out.


Shortly afterwards, I was selected by Northwest Playwrights of England for further

development but found I preferred fiction writing.

Widely published in horror and sci-fi anthologies, The House on Blackstone Moor is my first novel. It is a tale of vampirism, madness, obsession and devil worship.


Set in 19th Century Yorkshire, its locales include Victorian madhouses as well as barren, wind-swept Yorkshire moors. The story is a marriage of horror and gothic romance. I think it can best be described as being gothic paranormal romantic horror.


I suppose you could say I want to put the Goth back into Gothic.


Living in the area the novel is set in, was very beneficial. Also, as a great admirer of the Brontes and frequent visitor to the Bronte Parsonage in Haworth, I found myself nearly obsessed with recreating the gothic romantic narrative.


Having been employed in a hospital which had been historically a workhouse and asylum in Victorian times, I was able to add great realism to the depiction of the asylums as described in my novel.


The next in the series, Unholy Testament – Full Circle is the continuation of Eco’s confession. It will be released in 2013.


Book 4 in the series follows that.




GIVEAWAY

Friday, January 18, 2013

Blog Tour: City of Earthly Desire by Fancis Berger




Historical Fiction / General Fiction
Date Published: 9/26/12

After the communists destroy his dream of becoming a recognized painter, Reinhardt Drixler escapes Hungary and moves to America to further his artistic ambitions and provide a better future for his young family.
Twenty-five years later, his son Béla falls in love with Suzy Kiss, an alluring striptease dancer whose interest inBéla can be summarized in two words: green card.
When Suzy is mysteriously deported, a devastated Béla must make a decision – should he stay in New York and continue with the noble artistic ambitions his father instilled in him, or should he follow his heart to Hungary and explore the enticing and risqué opportunities blossoming in Budapest after the collapse of communism? 

My Rating:

My Review:
So I'm not going to lie, I don't typically stray out of my comfort zone with books very often and this book has just proven what a shame that is. 

I found the characters in this story to be very well developed and easy to become enamored with. They draw the reader in and make you that much more invested in the story.Great Historical content as well.

I myself found this a great read as something that was a change of pace. I can only imagine how much those who read this genre on a regular basis would feel.



Buy Links



Francis Berger was born in New York City in 1971. Recently, he completed a six year stretch as a high school teacher in the Bronx and Queens in New York City. He has published some short stories, most notably in The Toronto Star. The City of Earthly Desire is his first novel. He currently lives near Toronto, Canada with his wife and young son.

Thursday, January 17, 2013

PROMO: Beautiful Beings/Heaven and Hell by Kailin Gow


YA  Paranormal Romance
Date Published: 7/25/11





 
Reading Addiction Blog Tours





An ethereal exclusive boarding school with unearthly beautiful students...

Lux, a rebel girl, who has been seeing demons and angels since she was two...

Asher, the bad boy on a motorcycle who sketches angels...

Brax Kingsley who instantly captures Lux's eyes when she moves into the neighborhood...

And the Hatchett twins whose parents were murdered, leaving them a ridiculous fortune...

All brought together...all part of the puzzle behind the Beautiful Beings.



Kailin Gow has appeared on top national syndicated talk shows such as ABC Radio, Barbara Dooley show, Chat with Women on KKNW Seattle, Broadminded on Sirius Radio XM, and more as a leading authority on YA and women's issues including self-esteem, body image, dating and sexual relationships, abuse, and bullying. Kailin has been a published author for over 10 years with over 100 titles published under her name and under pen names.

She is the founder of the community social site, The Saving You Saving Me Project,http://www.savingyousavingme.com which helps teens, young adults, and women deal with social issues like sexual abuse, self-esteem, body image, bullying, cutting, relationships, and more in a positive community environment. The Saving You Saving Me Project is an extention of her YA-mature fiction Saving You Saving Me.
Kailin Gow began writing books for tween girls to help them with self-confidence and self-esteem. Her book, Gifted Girls Activities Guide to 365 Days of the Week, became a reference book used in girls organizations across the U.S. As her tween fans grew to become teens and young adults, Kailin began writing engaging and entertaining young adult book series for them. The results are book series like the Frost Series, PULSE Series, Wicked Woods Series, Stoker Sisters, Phantom Diaries, The Fire Wars, FADE, DESIRE, and more.

All her books are inspired by personal experiences. Saving You Saving Me was inspired by her experience as a peer counselor for young women during college and from her psychology major college roommate's experience being in a relationship similar to the one portrayed by Sam and Collins in the book. Loving Summer was inspired by Kailin's experience growing up with a family consisting of a mother, two sons, and a daughter who went through a similar experience of tragedy in the book. Aunt Sookie is based on herself and some actor friends she knows. The Frost Series, Circus of Curiosities Series, and FADE Series came about through vivid dreams. Never Say Never was inspired by Kailin's experience as a radio host and working with and interviewing bands, as well as having college friends who were in bands. Kailin also played the drums and keyboard for a band she once started. A classically-trained musician, she was once led her school orchestra, playing first chair violin. Her experience in the music world and her love of Phantom of the Opera, inspired the Phantom Diaries. PULSE was inspired when Kailin was in the hospital suffering from heavy blood loss post surgery and needed several bags of blood to survive (like a vampire). Beautiful Beings was inspired by her college encounter with a young demon exorcist. A pastor once told her she had the gift of sight and that she was destined to become a prolific author, many times over.

She began taking her writing seriously when her daughter was diagnosed as being on the spectrum and her mother was fighting three types of cancer. Four years later, her daughter was no longer on the spectrum, and her mother became cancer free. Kailin believes in hope and miracles, after having been through several struggles and experiences herself. This is why she writes.
When not busy inhaling chocolate and drinking coffee by the gallon, Kailin makes time for writing fantasy books, blogging as an expert blogger for Fast Company, volunteering as an Emergency Responder and volunteering for battered women's shelters. For fun, she plays the electric violin, and puts together a music playlist for her radio and web shows.
Her Frost Series consisting of the Bitter Frost Series, The Wolf Fey Series, and the Fairy Rose Chronicles along with her other book series are being developed into worldwide MMORPG Games by SEE GLOBAL ENTERTAINMENT, which is the world's leading game developer known for developing the top blockbuster films into games.


Contact Links
To sign up for news on new releases, contests, events, and more, join theEDGEbooks.com.
Twitter - @kailingow



LINKS TO BUY


Sunday, January 13, 2013

Blog Tour: Jesse's Soul by Amy Gregory


Contemporary Romance
 ( Book 2 in Racing to Love Series)
Date Published: 1/03/2013


Jesse Frost lived the life most men would have killed for. Fast bikes, fame, money and

looks—from the outside looking in he had all, but the combination nearly broke him. He hadn’t thought

much about any of those things throughout his career, he was just an easy-going guy from a speck of a

town in Texas that had always worked hard for everything he had gotten in life. He’d been the shy guy

in school, so when the prom queen found him years later, he thought he had finally made it, winning her

affection was the crown jewel. Her mirage however, left him empty and certain there was no one that

wanted him just for the man inside.

Emery Kincaid has a last name that is revered in their world. A woman in a man’s world and

succeeding, Irish through and through, she has the temper and sass to boot and a reputation that

precedes her. She has remained strong because she’s had no other choice. The pain she masks runs

deep and hiding it is the only way she can survive.

Thrown together because of circumstance and forced to be in each other’s space day in and

day out, sparks start to fly—from chemistry and the brakes she tries desperately to throw on. Without

a doubt in his mind, Jesse thinks he’s found her, but the girl that stole his heart has a stubborn streak a

country mile wide.

In reality, what Jesse doesn’t know could break his heart. Hiding her true feelings for him is the

only way for Emery to protect him and in turn—herself because her secret, her pain is just too big. She

barely made it out the first time, if she let Jesse in, only to have him walk away…well, that’s a risk her

heart can’t take.



My Rating: 

My Review:
I really enjoyed book #1 in this series but this one has got to be my favorite so far. I think I went into it thinking it would be because who doesn't love a HOT cowboy and Jesse pulled me in from book #1 when he was just a supporting character. So THANK YOU Amy Gregory for giving him his own book! 

I personally LOVE the name of the Heroine because I just happened to have named my daughter that. She is 4 now. ; ) 

The connection between the two characters is there from the get-go. It was really great to watch Jesse's reaction to Emery and their relationship evolve. This story is without a doubt an emotional one and one I'm sure many women can relate to. 

I am LOVING this series! 




Amy Gregory leads an incredibly active lifestyle in Kansas City with her husband and their three fantastic kids who keep them running in three very different directions.  When she’s not rushing her oldest daughter to tumbling, her youngest daughter to music lessons, or sitting track-side watching her son practice motocross, she’s taking the few minutes in between to scribble the next pages in her Racing to Love series. 
When asked, “When do you have time to write?” Amy Gregory giggles.  “In bits and pieces,” she says.  
Amy is known for her snarky, off the cuff sense of humor, which you’ll find shining through in the characters she’s created.  Her debut novel, Racing to Love, Carter’s Treasure, is set for release June 7, 2012.
I’ve spent my whole life trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up, and now I’ve finally found it. – Amy Gregory 

Publisher Author Page

Blog
Twitter - @AmyGregory548