Cover Reveal & Giveaway : Catch Me by Claire Contreras

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Title: Catch Me

Author: Claire Contreras

Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance

Release Date: *Date Coming Soon*

Synopsis :

In the past, I’ve always been given everything I’ve wanted, but nothing that I truly needed. I’ve experienced a lot of things in my twenty-five years, everything except the one thing I want. It’s the one thing that can’t be bought. It can’t even be taken, it has to be given. And nobody has ever given it to me, not really anyway.

Not until him.

Music is the center of both our lives, but as he found his place in it, I lost my way. He soared, while I spiraled down a destructive path.
I lost myself in more ways than I can count.

The ironic thing is that I didn’t realize how lost I was until he found me.

And now that he has, I have to wonder if he’ll stay around long enough to catch me.

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Teaser :

He never takes his eyes off of me as he crosses the street. He walks around a group of people, purposely stepping to my side. There’s no time for formal hellos in the middle of the street, and I’m glad for that because I don’t want to introduce him to my brother and do the whole shebang in a crowded street. My smile is fixed on my face as he approaches, also smiling at me, his eyes crinkling in mischief. When he brushes past me, he takes my hand and squeezes it slightly. It’s just a squeeze. Just. But it’s enough to get my heart pumping, my blood tingling, and my eyes widening as if I’ve been caught doing something wrong, which I know is ridiculous, but that’s how his touch makes me feel.

maroon-divider1176189_493037244117752_1447131626_nmaroon-dividerAbout the Author :

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Claire Contreras graduated with her BA in Psychology from Florida International University. She lives in Miami, Florida with her husband, two little boys, and three dogs.

Her favorite past times are: daydreaming, writing, and reading.

She has been described as a random, sarcastic, crazy girl with no filter.

Life is short, and it’s more bitter than sweet, so she tries to smile as often as her face allows. She enjoys stories with happy endings, because life is full of way too many unhappy ones or ones that will scare the daylights out of her and have her looking over her shoulder at every turn. Like I said, she’s very random.

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Cover Reveal : Into the Storm by Melanie Moreland

Into the Storm-front

Title: Into the Storm

AuthorMelanie Moreland

Genres: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: Late 2013

Synopsis:

 

She is a woman on the run. Pain, loneliness and terror are what she is leaving. Where she is headed doesn’t matter as long as it’s away from the hell her life has become.

Joshua Bennett is trapped in a prison of his own making by the memories of his past. Traumatized and isolated, he is a reclusive writer, living a quiet, lonely life, his only companion his dog, Bear. It is what he knows, what he has accepted to be his life.

One dark night, one huge storm, and one ice patch brings them together. He finds himself with an unexpected houseguest with no memory. She wakes up a stranger to herself and the man watching her. Even more mysterious is the lack of any sort of identification with her or in her car. She is an enigma to both of them.

Trapped by the storm and isolated from the outside world, they slowly open up, learning to trust and love, until the world once again shows up, threatening the fragile peace of their newly discovered world, and tearing them apart.

There are many twists and turns as they struggle to find each other, overcoming both the mental and physical elements that keep them apart.

A story about overcoming our fears, finding love and learning to live again.

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 About the Author:

MelanieMelanie Moreland lives a happy and content life in a quiet area of Ontario with her husband and fur children. Nothing means more to her than her friends and family, and she cherishes every moment spent with them.

Known as the quiet one with the big laugh, Melanie works at a local university and for its football team.  Her (box) office job, while demanding, is rewarding as she cheers on her team to victory.

While seriously addicted to coffee, and somewhat challenged with all things computer-related and technical, she relishes baking, cooking, and trying new recipes for people to sample. She loves to throw dinner parties and socialize, and also enjoys travelling, here and abroad, but finds coming home is always the best part of any trip.

Melanie delights in a good romance story with some bumps along the way, but is a true believer in happily ever after.  When her head isn’t buried in a book, it is bent over a keyboard, furiously typing away as her characters dictate their creative storylines, to let her share them with her readers.

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Into the Storm - paperback

Book Blitz : Scarred Love (Sulfur Heights #1) by M.S. Brannon

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Title: Scarred Love

Series: Sulfur Heights (Book One)

Author: M.S. Brannon

Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance

Release Date: June 6, 2013

Synopsis:

“I am certain, without any doubt, she was meant to be in my life. We belong to each other. I spent too much of my time consumed with what everyone else thinks of my feelings for Darcie, but the truth is, it was always supposed to be this way.” ~Reggie Evans

Darcie Claiborne spent several years of her young life living with a monster, always fearing what he would do next. Clasping onto her last ounce of hope, Darcie releases a scream. It’s her final attempt to live; to survive the villain of her reality. Sweeping her up in his arms, Darcie’s knight in shining armor rescues her from the hell she’s been living; from the stepfather she’s feared for all those years.

Reggie Evans has been forced to grow up before he’s ready when his mother dies of an overdose, leaving him responsible to raise his younger brothers. One fateful night, Reggie jogs by an old, run down house and discovers a young girl clinging to life as she screams for help.

Three years later, Darcie is healing and always protected by the man who saved her, but now she’s fighting with something she isn’t prepared to face. The growing love for the man who saved her life three years ago, the same man who’s nine years older. All the while, Reggie fights to protect Darcie from the demons of her past and new ones of her present.

**Mature Content Warning** 17+ for language and sexual content**

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Excerpt:

Darcie

It’s about one in the morning when we pull into the driveway and park next to Reggie’s Camaro. I am wasted. Unable to walk, shitfaced, wasted. I can’t form a single thought and my lips are numb. All the guys are pissed at me. Apparently, I was running my mouth to Vanessa during the entire race and ended up chucking my empty tequila bottle at her head. I can’t remember if it hit her or who won the race for that matter.

Jeremy runs around to the passenger seat and hoists me out of the car. I climb onto his back and he carries me up the back steps into the kitchen. I’m attempting to sing “Creep by Radiohead, but butchering the song with every syllable when Jeremy sits me down on the counter. Jake avoids me as he makes his way down to the basement. Screw it! I could care less right now. I achieved my goal; I’m drunk as hell and it’s amazing!

I swing my feet back and forth while singing the lyrics to “Creep.” “I wish I was special. So fuckin’ special…”—a little louder now—“…but I’m a creep!” Jeremy’s hand comes across my mouth, quieting me. I jerk my head back smacking it on the cupboard and shout, “Hey! I’m singing, Jer!”

Jeremy hands me a glass of water and a couple of Advil. I swallow the pills and let out a loud burp. He rolls his eyes, trying to hide the smile across his face.

“Do you want me to help you to bed, Darcie?” he asks.

“Ahh, Jer. That’s so sweet. Where’s Presley? She can help me. It might be weird seeing your sis in her underwear.” I laugh obnoxiously at my strange comment. God, I’m wasted.

Jeremy blushes. “She’s with Drake and I’m not going in there. If you need help, then I’ll help you.”

To Jeremy’s relief, Reggie walks around the corner, glaring at both of us. He looks sexy as hell, wearing only a pair of black basketball shorts that are slung low on his hips. I’m practically drooling as I look at the slight trail of blonde hair below his belly button and the defined V of his abdomen. His hair is loose and tousled from sleep. Oh shit. There go my hormones again. I want to rip his clothes off and suck on his…lips? I let out a small giggle followed by a hiccup from my dirty thoughts.

Jeremy’s angry as he looks over at me. “She’s fucking wasted, Reg. She drank a pint of tequila and started running her mouth to that girl she beat up at school. Everyone else bailed on me. I’m trying to get her to bed.”

Reggie rolls his eyes and shakes his head in disgust. “I’ll put her to bed.”

Relief passes over Jeremy’s face. He smiles then sprints out of the kitchen and flies down the stairs, heading for the basement. Man, I didn’t think I was that much of a pain in the ass.

Reggie walks over to me and puts his hands on either side of my thighs. My breath hitches at our closeness and flashes of last night play in my mind.

I press my forehead to his and whisper, “Always my knight in shining armor.”

“Always.” His lips stay close and I’m hoping he will crash them into mine, but he doesn’t.

“I’ve had a bad day.”

He lets out a small sigh and says, “Yeah… I know.”

Reggie slides his hands behind my butt pushing my core against his waist. Butterflies are swarming in my stomach as I wrap my legs and arms around him. I plant my face in the crook of his neck and that familiar smell of salvation engulfs me. It’s divine, a combination of soap and Reggie. Lifting me off the counter, he walks down the hall toward my bedroom. I look into his eyes where I find fierce, ocean blue pools, drowning me in desire. My body is warming with pleasure as I feel his hard muscles constrict with every movement.

Reggie kneels on the bed hovering over me. I let go of my grip and push myself to the top, lying on my pillow. He lifts one of my legs and pulls off my leather boot. It drops to the floor and he repeats with the other. He’s sitting up on his knees between my legs and my body is rushing with excitement. His hands slowly slide down the zipper of my jacket. I can’t believe this is going to happen. I don’t want anything more than to give him the innocent part of me. Now, I wish I was a little more sober.

“Sit up.,” Reggie demands, never taking his eyes off mine.

I comply. His hands skim over my shoulders, moving my jacket down and the heat from his touch is sending me over the edge. Reggie tosses my jacket to the floor and then he leans down and puts a faint kiss to the cigar burn on my left shoulder. My breath hitches from his gesture and I wish he could take all of it away. Using a gentle touch, his hands guide me to lie down. I’m panting with want. All the familiar feelings of our storage room make-out floods my body. Moving off the bed, Reggie pulls the comforter over my body then leans down and places a gentle kiss on my forehead.

“Goodnight, Darcie.”

Wait. What? He’s leaving me?

The door clicks shut. Embarrassed and rejected, I roll over onto my side and cry for the second time in twenty-four hours.

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About the Author:

MSM.S. Brannon was born and raised in the Midwest. She still resides there today with her wonderful husband and son. When she is not writing or reading, M.S. Brannon spends time with her family, watching movies, and discovering new music. She writes romance because she believes love and heartache is the rawest emotion one can experience.

Facebook                                  Website

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Falling Stars Celebration & Giveaway by Charles Sheehan-Miles

Falling Stars - Charles Sheehan-Miles

Title: Falling Stars

Series: Thompson Sisters (Book One.Five)

Author: Charles Sheehan-Miles

GenreNew Adult Romance

Release Date: October 25, 2013

Synopsis :

Crank Wilson and Julia Thompson love each other madly. But after Crank’s huge mistake during the summer, on the road with Crank’s rock band Morbid Obesity, they aren’t getting along. 

Sean Wilson and Carrie Thompson are the seventeen year old younger siblings of Julia and Crank. Carrie is on her way to New York to start college at Columbia University and Sean is on his way home to Boston. For the next five days, they’re stuck in a car. Along the way, they’ll contend with screaming matches, giant spiders and a 240-pound pissed off Marine.

And the whole way, Crank will be faced with one question. After he screwed up so badly, is there any way he can win Julia back?

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My Review :

I am just going to begin with saying that Charles Sheehan-Miles is one of my favorite authors, and his Thompson Sister series is one I will read again and again. He writes with such fluidity and strength, every word you read having a purpose. I find myself trying to find clues along the way then resolve to just enjoying the ride. The depth of emotion he pulls from each and every one of his characters is what makes his stories so magnificent. You will finish one of his books feeling as if your soul has been altered irrevocably. Even having never experienced anything near what each of these characters have, I find myself connected with them on a pure human level. Their triumphs are my triumphs. Their devastation is my devastation. When they fall in love, my heart bursts from my chest right alongside them. Charles doesn’t just tell you a story, you truly live it!

I’d managed to avoid voicing the one thing I truly didn’t want to say, the thing that would ruin our trip and break my heart. Which was, I didn’t think I could stay with Crank any more, and that this trip was going to be our goodbye.

Right from the beginning we are simultaneously filled with a impending sense of doom all the while holding out hope. Surely the couple that we fell hopelessly in love with in A Song for Julia isn’t headed down the path to a resolute conclusion. Say it ain’t so?!  Not Julia, a character the likes of which is still so broken yet on the road to recovery and finally out from under her parent’s watchful and scrutinous eyes. Certainly not Crank, a man who went through his own disappointments and was mad at the world. We left this couple with answers, a clear and promising future, completely immersed in each other, so completely in love. What could have possibly happened to cause them to voice such doubts?

“It’s just that…I see what you and Julia have, and I’m watching  you throw it all away, and it just makes me feel like you’re a pack of idiots. She worships you, Crank. Do you know how rare that is? I’ll be lucky if I ever find anyone I love half as much.”

In Falling Stars, we pick up near the end of the summer after A Song for Julia. Having toured for a few months with Morbid Obesity, Julia, Crank and Sean pick up Carrie and make their way to the east coast. Tension is thick on the journey, neither Crank nor Julia knowing where it will lead them, and neither will voice their concerns, hurt, and uncertainty. Sean and Carrie provide the much needed comic relief on this mismatched road trip of epic proportions. Shenanigans ensue, one involving  a huge eight or more legged creature and the police, and the outcome is……well, you will just have to read to find out.

“Carrie, you know, some day you’ll find a guy who will be your soul mate. Someone you would do anything for. Someone who makes you feel whole”

She gently shook her head in frustration. “When I do, I guarantee you I’ll stand by him. I’ll be his strength, and he’ll be mine. I won’t let some stupid jealous bullshit get in the way of who I love. It’s a damn shame to see you and Julia doing that.”

Besides the continuation of Julia and Crank’s growing relationship, I was continually amazed and devastated at the foreshadowing in this book. If you have read The Last Hour, you will get what I am talking about. I loved the relationship between Crank and Carrie. It was abundantly clear that he has a soft spot when it comes to her well-being and that he would always be her protector, when she would let him. I loved the no-nonsense dialogue that Carrie delivered to him, seeing through all his crap.

Once again we got to witness one of the sweetest relationships I have ever read; Julie and Sean. They truly are best friends, and it permeates so well in this book! There is a pure honesty in Sean’s words. You can merely be in his presence and know that he only speaks the truth. Carrie and Sean are so invested in the relationship of Julia and Crank, and it is clear from the start that they will do anything to help them find their way back to each other.

Falling stars might be bullshit. And I knew just wishing wasn’t going to be enough. If I wanted her, I had to go to her.

It is true when they say that sometimes the best things come in small packages. This novella is only 70 pages, but you will leave MORE than satisfied!  Drawn in from word one, I couldn’t wait to continue on the journey with them all, and devoured every last word. A resounding 5 stars from me! I cannot wait for more Thompson Sisters!!

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Buy Falling Stars on Amazon

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Charles Sheehan-Miles has been a soldier, computer programmer, short-order cook and non-profit executive, and is the author of several fiction and non-fiction books, including the indie bestsellers Just Remember to Breathe and Republic: A Novel of America’s Future.

Charles’ Website                  Charles’ Amazon Page

Connect with Charles on Facebook

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Exclusive Preview – Rachel’s Peril by Charles Sheehan-Miles

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Title: Rachel’s Peril

Series: Unnamed Thompson Sisters Trilogy (Book One)

Author: Charles Sheehan-Miles

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Release Date: December 21, 2013

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The following is an unedited preview of Charles Sheehan-Miles’ upcoming novel Rachel’s Peril, the first novel in the Rachel’s Peril Trilogy. For more information about the book and more chapters, please check out the Rachel’s Peril page!

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Synopsis:

Andrea Thompson is smart, assertive and beautiful. She’s also desperately lonely. Raised in Europe by her grandmother, she struggles knowing neither of her parents wanted her, and she has no idea why.

When Andrea receives an urgent call from her older sister Carrie, she agrees to fly to the United States to help. Carrie’s newborn daughter Rachel needs a bone marrow transplant.

What Andrea doesn’t know is that her return to the United States will launch a chain of events that will uncover secrets hidden for decades. Secrets which will rock the Thompson family and ignite a political firestorm.

Secrets that some will kill to protect.

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Rachel’s Peril on Goodreads

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Chapter Excerpt:

Chapter 2. Amber Alert

Part 4. Andrea

Andrea felt her stomach lurch as the car swerved left, right, left again. Hairy Chest was yelling now, cursing in Arabic at the following cars. She stayed hunched down as tightly as possible, ignoring the rushing wind and the sound of the tires screeching, focused only on survival. Terror threatened to paralyze her as she thought of never being able to see Javier again, the through of losing her sisters, of not being there for them.

Then it happened. Hairy Chest’s body jerked, then spasmed. Blood splattered on the windshield in a splotchy pattern, then then he fell awkwardly against the driver of the car, who swerved again, shoving him away.  Then his face, already turning dark with blood, lips swollen, fell between the seats, almost touching Andrea.  She let out a scream as blood poured from his mouth.

The scream was cut short a second later when the driver fired a shot, unaimed, a wild shot, right through the seat. At her.

She jerked up behind the seat, powered by adrenaline and fear, grabbing his gun hand from behind and covering his eyes with the other.  He screamed and she did too as he lost control of the car and then he pulled the trigger once, twice, three more times. The bullets flew randomly, all of them missing her.  The sickening screech of tires grew lower in pitch, the car moving sideways now, threatening to roll. As the car reached a stop she realized her mistake.  The police were behind them, but there was nothing to prevent the son of a bitch from shooting her right now.

In desperation, she leaned forward, over his shoulder, and sank her teeth into his cheek.  She felt her teeth break the skin, salty, copper tasting blood spurting into her mouth as he jerked and howled in pain, and then it happened.  His hand released the pistol.

Instantly, she grabbed it, diving into the back seat.

And then the driver was gone, running, the front door of the car swinging open.

She sagged into the seat, spitting out her kidnapper’s blood, and dropped the gun. Her eyes went to Hairy Chest. His bloodshot, dead eyes stared up at the roof of the car. Did he wonder what had happened? Did he wonder how two armed men managed to lose control of their prisoner, a sixteen year old girl?

Well, fuck him.

She flinched at the sound of gunshots outside.  A lot of shots, followed by silence.

A few seconds later, a police officer appeared in the window, shouting, “Step out of the car now!”

She exhaled slowly, exhaustion sinking fast into her bones. Then she called out, “I can’t open the back door!”

She didn’t say that there was no way in hell she was crawling over the body of Hairy Chest to get to the front door. They could figure that out on their own.

Seconds later, the door opened, and she staggered out of the vehicle.

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About the Author:

996844_10151728419491303_1681401517_nCharles Sheehan-Miles has been a soldier, computer programmer, short-order cook and non-profit executive, and is the author of several fiction and non-fiction books, including the indie bestsellers Just Remember to Breathe and Republic: A Novel of America’s Future.

Charles’ Website                  Charles’ Amazon Page

Connect with Charles on Facebook

Chat with Charles on Twitter

   Follow Charles on Goodreads

Join FB Group Remember to Breathe to Discuss the Books

 

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Other Thompson Sisters Books:

While Rachel’s Peril is the first book in a new trilogy, I would highly recommend reading these books beforehand to familiarize yourself with the characters. Not to mention, these are phenomenal books!

Book One – A Song for Julia

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Everyone should have something to rebel against.

Crank Wilson left his South Boston home at sixteen to start a punk band and burn out his rage at the world. Six years later, he’s still at odds with his father, a Boston cop, and doesn’t ever speak to his mother. The only relationship that really matters is with his younger brother, but watching out for Sean can be a full-time job. The one thing Crank wants in life is to be left the hell alone to write his music and drive his band to success.

Julia Thompson left a secret behind in Beijing that exploded into scandal in Washington, DC, threatening her father’s career and dominating her family’s life. Now, in her senior year at Harvard, she’s haunted by a voice from her past and refuses to ever lose control of her emotions again, especially when it comes to a guy.

When Julia and Crank meet at an anti-war protest in Washington in the fall of 2002, the connection between them is so powerful it threatens to tear everything apart.

Buy on Amazon            Buy on B&N

Buy on Smashwords

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Book One.Five – Falling Stars

Falling Stars - Charles Sheehan-Miles

Crank Wilson and Julia Thompson love each other madly. But after Crank’s huge mistake during the summer, on the road with Crank’s rock band Morbid Obesity, they aren’t getting along. 

Sean Wilson and Carrie Thompson are the seventeen year old younger siblings of Julia and Crank. Carrie is on her way to New York to start college at Columbia University and Sean is on his way home to Boston. For the next five days, they’re stuck in a car. Along the way, they’ll contend with screaming matches, giant spiders and a 240-pound pissed off Marine.

And the whole way, Crank will be faced with one question. After he screwed up so badly, is there any way he can win Julia back?

Buy on Amazon                 Buy on B&N

Buy on Smashwords

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Book Two – Just Remember To Breathe

15827731Alex Thompson’s life is following the script. A pre-law student at Columbia University, she’s focused on her grades, her life and her future. The last thing she needs is to reconnect with the boy who broke her heart.

Dylan Paris comes home from Afghanistan severely injured and knows that the one thing he cannot do is drag Alex into the mess he’s made of his life.

When Dylan and Alex are assigned to the same work study program and are forced to work side by side, they have to make new ground rules to keep from killing each other.

Only problem is, they keep breaking the rules.

The first rule is to never, ever talk about how they fell in love.

Buy on Amazon                Buy on B&N

Buy on Smashwords

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Book Three – The Last Hour

17156406Twenty-seven year old Carrie Thompson-Sherman has the life she always wanted: her PhD, a prestigious fellowship, and an amazing husband.

Her life begins to unravel as a jealous colleague puts her fellowship in jeopardy and a haunting secret Ray Sherman carried home from Afghanistan comes to light.

Hounded by a federal investigation and the ensuing media feeding frenzy, Carrie and Ray desperately lean on each other, until a disastrous accident puts both Ray and her sister’s lives at risk.

In the last hour, Carrie and Ray will each find themselves faced with a choice.

A choice that will change everything.

Buy on Amazon                 Buy on B&N

Buy on Smashwords

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Check Out These Other Exclusive Previews:

Prologue: Rachel Needs Help

Chapter One: Hairy Chest

1-1. Andrea

1-2. George-Phillip

1-3. Andrea

Chapter Two: Amber Alert

2-1. Sarah

2-2. Andrea

2-3. Sarah

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Hot New Releases – October 20 – 27

The Grace in Darkness - Melissa AndreaMelissa Andrea – The Grace in Darkness (Darkness Trinity #2)

Every part of me yearns for Ryland and there hasn’t been a day that’s gone by that I don’t question if I made the right decision. Adjusting is something I should be used to by now but how can I do that when life has other plans?

When darkness consumes you, only true light can free you

Remembering how I existed before Araya came into my life and turned everything upside down has been the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. I can’t stand to be round anyone and the feeling is mutual. But I’m ready to take back what’s mine. I’m ready to be whole again. But every decision has a choice and every choice has a consequence.

To find the grace in darkness, you must
Dare to be BRAVE
Dare to be STRONG

Dare to be ALIVE

Amazon                    Barnes & Noble

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Theirs To Keep - Maya Banks

Maya Banks – Theirs to Keep (Tangled Hearts Trilogy #1)

When Cade Winslow and Merrick Sullivan find Elle hiding in the cabinet of a gun store, they know they can’t just walk away from the fragile woman with no memory of who she is or who tried to kill her. Merrick is training for the title shot in the heavyweight division as a mixed martial artist and can’t afford distractions, but neither can he turn his back on the woman who tugs at his heartstrings.

Elle feels safe with her two protectors, and the longer she spends with them, the more she realizes that she has no desire to remember her past. Not when it could compromise her future with Cade and Merrick.

Cade has his own set of concerns when it comes to Elle, and it quickly becomes clear to the two men that for the first time in their friendship, a woman is coming between them. But what if they just kept her there? Between them. Where she belongs.

Amazon                    Barnes & Noble

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Off Chance - Sawyer BennettSawyer Bennett – Off Chance (Off #5)

He is seeking absolution.

Flynn Caldwell has a hero complex and it’s one of the reasons he joined the New York City Fire Department. He has spent his entire professional career trying to atone for that one person he failed to save. Because, if he can do that, then perhaps he can be worthy of love again.

She is seeking escape.

Rowan Page’s life is nothing short of a disaster. Always immersed in trouble, she has only herself to depend on. She’s determined to pull herself out of this mess and make something of her life, despite the hard years she has lived on the streets of New York.

Together, they have the chance to become complete.

Flynn and Rowan’s worlds exist miles apart, but when a chance meeting brings them together, neither of them can deny the instant pull that connects them to each other. What starts as a tiny spark eventually flares into a fire so hot, it refuses to be extinguished.

For it to work, both of them will need to jump feet first into the flames to see where it takes them, despite the risk of being burned.

Amazon                    Barnes & Noble

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Far Too Tempting - Lauren BlakelyLauren Blakely – Far Too Tempting

Jane Black has written the breakup album of the century, earning her a Grammy, a huge legion of new fans, and the pressure to repeat her success. Sure, the heartbreak from her husband’s unconventional abandonment might have been her inspiration, but it hasn’t done her any favors in the dating department. So when Matthew Harrigan, the toughest music journalist out there, asks for an interview, Jane agrees—as long as her personal life is completely off-limits.

British, gorgeous, and way too tempting, Matthew’s the first guy Jane’s been attracted to since her husband. As she spends more time with him and their relationship heats up, though, so does her writer’s block. How can the queen of the break up pen the perfect follow-up when she’s seriously in love?

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Pageflex Persona [document: PRS0000039_00009]Melanie Codina – Love Resisted (Real Love #2)

For Allie Baxter, love was never something she had to worry about. She was loved by her friends, her family, her husband … until the day it was ripped away. Losing love was the deepest pain Allie had ever endured, and it was an agony she vowed to avoid feeling ever again. Crippled with guilt over her loss, for five years Allie served her self-appointed exile from the daily comforts offered by friends and family, only to return and attempt to fit herself back into their open arms—even if she knew she didn’t deserve it. Mike Lawson was not something Allie expected; the love of a man was not something Allie was prepared to want. The spark of desire that had long ago died inside her suddenly returned, bringing the memories of her pain with it. She swore she would never allow herself to love again … but how long could love be resisted?

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Wide Spaces - Shelly CraneShelly Crane – Wide Spaces (Wide Awake #2)

A novella for Emma and Mason’s first Christmas together after Wide Awake.

Emma knows better than most that life can change from one second to the next. Mason knows that guilt can make you change so much, that you don’t even recognize yourself in the mirror. When they found each other, they knew that life had given them a second chance.
But can one night, one second, one misunderstanding change everything?

A life together that saved them will become a life they think is lost forever.

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Room For You - Beth EhemannBeth Ehemann – Room For You (Cranberry Inn #1)

Four years ago, my dreams were shattered in an instant.

I tried to pick up the pieces and glue them back together the best I knew how, but something was always missing.

A father for my two girls.

But then, Brody Murphy landed on my doorstep, literally. He was a carefree, playful hockey player who barged into my life and messed with my head. He left me more confused than I had ever been.

What if the one thing I thought I needed was the only thing holding me back?

Amazon

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Making Faces - Amy HarmonAmy Harmon – Making Faces

Ambrose Young was beautiful. He was tall and muscular, with hair that touched his shoulders and eyes that burned right through you. The kind of beautiful that graced the covers of romance novels, and Fern Taylor would know. She’d been reading them since she was thirteen. But maybe because he was so beautiful he was never someone Fern thought she could have…until he wasn’t beautiful anymore.


Making Faces is the story of a small town where five young men go off to war, and only one comes back. It is the story of loss. Collective loss, individual loss, loss of beauty, loss of life, loss of identity. It is the tale of one girl’s love for a broken boy, and a wounded warrior’s love for an unremarkable girl. This is a story of friendship that overcomes heartache, heroism that defies the common definitions, and a modern tale of Beauty and the Beast, where we discover that there is a little beauty and a little beast in all of us.

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Still Human - Kerry HeavensKerry Heavens – Still Human (Just Human #2)

Danny and Liv are back…

Danny loves Liv. He knows he loves her more than she loves him because she ran without a word when she saw their future mapped out before her. He knows he will never love anyone like he loved her and this time he doesn’t think he can move on.

Liv loves Danny. She knows she loves him more than he loves her because he broke her heart in the worst possible way, right when things were falling into place. She knows she will never love anyone like she loves him and this time she doesn’t think she can move on.

They needed a second chance because they just weren’t ready for their first, but when events changed everything between them, they discovered they were just human after all. Now Liv and Danny have to find a way to survive being hurt by each other.

They doubted, they underestimated and they did believe the worst, but only because they were too young the first time and too vulnerable the second time. But now they have changed and if they are not the same, surely things can only turn out differently?

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Wild Child - M LeightonM. Leighton – Wild Child (The Wild Ones #1.5)

Jenna Theopolis has always known what she wanted. Getting out of her small hometown of Greenfield was number one on her list of priorities. Until she met Rusty Catron.
Rusty’s fun-loving personality was the perfect match for Jenna’s inner wild child. But what started off as a summer fling quickly turns into something more. At least it does for Jenna.

Rusty has lived with the ghost of his father’s abandonment since he was a child, but now he’s beginning to feel the crippling effects of his scars. He wants to trust in Jenna, but deep down he doesn’t believe someone so wild and free can ever be tamed.

But tragedy strikes, pushing Jenna out of Greenfield and leaving Rusty with a choice to make—face his inner demons or lose the love of his life. Forever.

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Trust in Me - J LynnJ. Lynn – Trust In Me (Wait for You #1.5)

It’s Wait for You as you’ve never seen it. Trust in Me lets you in on Cam’s side of the #1 New York Times Bestselling story.

Cameron Hamilton is used to getting what he wants, especially when it comes to women. But when Avery Morgansten comes crashing into his life – literally – he finally meets the one person who can resist his soulful baby blues. But Cam’s not ready to give up. He can’t get the feisty and intriguing girl out of his head.

Avery has secrets, secrets that keep her from admitting the feelings Cam knows she has for him. Will persistence (and some delicious homemade cookies) help him break down her barriers and gain her trust? Or will he be shut out of Avery’s life, losing his first real shot at the kind of love that lasts forever?

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Let Me In - Michelle LynnMichelle Lynn – Let Me In (The Invisibles #2)

**This is a STANDALONE! You do not need to read book 1 in order to enjoy LET ME IN ***

Grant is damaged, selfish, and undeserving of love…or so he thinks.

Jessa is happy, in love, and has overcome her past…or so she thinks.

Grant and Jessa can’t stop thinking about one another since being introduced at a party a month ago. And despite their differences, they can’t seem to stay away from each other either. However, both are hiding secrets of less-than-perfect pasts, fearing what will happen when those mistakes come to light. As they grow closer, they each battle their own insecurities, and neither believes that they are worthy of the kind of love that they both still want. So if it’s true that opposites attract, what happens when the similarities begin to surface?

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Katie Mac - Searching for TomorrowKatie Mac – Searching For Tomorrow (Tomorrow #1)

Some people are blessed to find that one certain person who completes them.

Wrynn’s yesterdays were what others only dream of having. She and Tripp were the best of friends before they even thought about love. They had the fairy tale life where ‘like’ turns into ‘love’, and ‘love’ becomes ‘happily ever after’.

What happens when life conspires against you, and snatches your soul mate from your arms?

…only her forever love ended much too soon.

Broken beyond her own ability to repair, Wrynn boxes up her grief and attempts to raise her three girls the best she can on her own. As time slowly passes, Wrynn relives her life with Tripp while struggling most days to get out of bed. She is reminded of him at every turn.

How do you set your grief and anguish aside? How do you pick up the shattered pieces, put those pieces back together again, and try to move on?

Wrynn tries to find the joy in life every single day through her daughters, family, and friends. Her twin brother Liam has dedicated himself to helping Wrynn put her life back together after losing his own love. On the other hand, her mother-in-law lives to torment her at every turn. Wrynn can’t even find a chance to breathe, much less a desire to somehow search for her tomorrow.

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Ninety Eight - Shannon MayerShannon Mayer – Ninety Eight

Speed Limits
Lottery Tickets
Elevator Buttons

Numbers are everywhere—they play such a vital role in our everyday lives. But what would happen if we measured love with equations just as we do our morning cup of coffee? My nana had many recipes in her cupboards, but it was her calculations for love that she insisted I live my life by; and I’ve followed her rules all these years.

One Animal
One Moment
One Critical Impact

That’s all it took for the numbers to start flying in a jumbled mess through my brain as I stared into the violet eyes that would forever make me question my choices. In a split second, the possibilities and reality of true love are revealed and I’m questioning all I’ve ever known.

A Tree
White Fences
Stolen Moments

I can’t ignore the storm brewing around—and within—me. Everything I am is confronted by these new numbers, and all they represent. My past, present and future will all be determined by the gambles I make right here, right now. Again, it’s all about the numbers.

And what I’m learning is, one plus one doesn’t always equal two and sometimes three times isn’t always the charm.

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Beautiful Oblivion - Addison MooreAddison Moore – Beautiful Oblivion

Some people just don’t belong together, or at least that’s what the world would have them believe.

It was supposed to be just for the summer…

Reese Westfield comes from a world of old money, country clubs, cotillions, and expensive cars. She’s tired of dating Warren McCarthy just to make her father happy. Reese has long since had her eye on someone else, and this summer she’s determined to make it happen.

Growing up in Lake Loveless there has always been a strict monetary divide—there was the rest of the Lake and then there were the Waterman’s. Ace Waterman has worked for everything he has, and he doesn’t have a lot. He breaks his back doing grunt work while putting himself through college. He’s used to life passing him by.

Reese has loved Ace from afar for as long as she can remember. The summer of her freshman year she comes home with plans to land Ace in her bed at least for a few short weeks, and, if she’s lucky, forever.

Ace has loved Reese for as long as he can remember, but their friendship has never graduated beyond platonic, so when Reese comes home from her first year away and proposes the two of them have a summer fling, Ace is quick to comply. The rules: no strings, no expectations, just something hotter than the sun to set the sheets on fire.

But when their worlds collide, and neither of them is willing to admit to having true feelings, it becomes clear to Ace he’s nothing more than a dirty little secret—that the summer fling was just something meaningless to pass the time.

Reese wonders if she can ever stop trying to please her father, and it’s only through her mother’s letters that she finds the answers she truly seeks, but will they be the ones she wants to hear?

As summer draws to a close, Ace and Reese are still very much enraptured even though the time has come to douse the flame and move on—but neither one of them is prepared to leave this BEAUTIFUL OBLIVION.

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Running Back - Allison ParrAllison Parr – Running Back (New York Leopards #2)

Natalie Sullivan is on the verge of a breakthrough most archaeology grad students only dream of: discovering a lost city. Her research points to a farm in Ireland, but to excavate she needs permission from the new owner: the Michael O’Connor, popular NFL running back.

On TV Mike seems so charming and good-natured that Natalie figures getting his cooperation will be a breeze. So she’s not prepared to deal with the arrogant—and adamantly opposed—man she meets in person. Or the way one look from him sends shivers down her spine…

Determined to kick-start her career, Natalie travels across the Atlantic and finds herself sharing an inn with Mike, who has come to Ireland in search of his roots. She tells herself her interest is strictly professional, but the more she gets to know him, the harder it is to deny her personal attraction to the sexy sports star. And when Mike confides why he refuses to allow the dig, Natalie must decide if she can follow her heart without losing sight of her dreams.

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Wasted Heart - Nicole ReedNicole Reed – Wasted Heart (Ruining #3)

“Who are you?”

The image in the mirror staring back at me feigns disinterest.

Rock star? Recovering addict? Murderer?

How can you explain to someone what it’s like not to care? Not about yourself or the person standing next to you. I’ve lost that, the ability to feel and show affection. I do, however, have a heart. Sometimes, when I chase the dragon, it thunders through my head like a drum, reminding me it still beats. It’s still there.

Hollow.​ Empty.​ Wasted.

My agent says I have one more shot. A single, solitary chance to stay in the music biz, but there is one massive problem. HER.

***This is a stand-alone book. It is a spin-off from the Ruining Series; however, you do not have to read the series to read Rhye’s story.

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Falling Stars - Charles Sheehan-MilesCharles Sheehan-Miles – Falling Stars (Thompson Sisters #1.5)

Crank Wilson and Julia Thompson love each other madly. But after Crank’s huge mistake during the summer, on the road with Crank’s rock band Morbid Obesity, they aren’t getting along.

Sean Wilson and Carrie Thompson are the seventeen year old younger siblings of Julia and Crank. Carrie is on her way to New York to start college at Columbia University and Sean is on his way home to Boston. For the next five days, they’re stuck in a car. Along the way, they’ll contend with screaming matches, giant spiders and a 240-pound pissed off Marine.

And the whole way, Crank will be faced with one question. After he screwed up so badly, is there any way he can win Julia back?

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Running in Place - L.B. SimmonsL.B. Simmons – Running in Place (Mending Hearts #2)

Tatum O’Connell:
Some call me a party girl. People see me as happy, full of life, with absolutely no cares in the world. They see what I want them to see. But no one knows me – really knows me. Not even Noah Reese. Mr. Perfect is always watching me, most likely judging every single imperfect thing I do. But, if Noah wants to keep an eye on me, that’s just fine. I definitely don’t mind. I just hope he doesn’t have any plans to save me from my new-found life of self-destruction because in order to save me, he will have to see me…
And I’m never going to let that happen.

Noah Reese:
Perfect. That’s me. That’s the only acceptable way to be, according to my father. Perfect grades. Perfect manners. Perfect athlete. Perfect SAT scores. Perfect college. And recently, I was accepted into the perfect med school. My future has already been mapped out for me and there’s nothing that can change that. Not even Tatum O’Connell. That girl is out of control, yet for some reason, I can’t seem to keep my distance from her. I watch her closely, hoping that one day she’ll let me in, but watching her lead her life down the dangerous path she’s on right now isn’t easy…
I have a feeling I’m about to find myself swept away by the hurricane that is Tatum O’Connell.

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The Temptation of Lila and Ethan - Jessica SorensenJessica Sorensen – The Temptation of Lila and Ethan (The Secret #3)

On the surface, Lila Summers is flawless: good looks, expensive clothes, and a big, beautiful smile. But a dark past and even darker secrets are threatening to bubble over her perfect façade. She’ll do anything to keep the emptiness inside hidden-which leads her into situations that always end badly. Whenever she hits bottom, there’s only one person who’s there to pull her out: Ethan Gregory.

Ethan set the rules a long time ago: he and Lila are just friends. He doesn’t do relationships. Although his tattooed, bad boy exterior is a far cry from Lila’s pretty princess image, Ethan can’t deny they have a deeper connection than he’s used to. If he’s not careful, he could be in serious danger of becoming attached-and he’s learned the hard way that attachment only leads to heartbreak.

When Lila falls farther than she ever has before, can Ethan continue to help as a friend? Or is he also getting close to falling . . . for her?

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Jake Undone - Penelope WardPenelope Ward – Jake Undone

Nina Kennedy was alive…but not living…until she met him.

Planes, trains, heights…you name it, Nina was afraid of it and led a sheltered life ruled by irrational fears and phobias. When she moves to Brooklyn for nursing school, that life is turned upside down, as she develops an intense but unwanted attraction to her gorgeous roommate, who’s pierced, tattooed and just happens to be the smartest person she’s ever met.

Behind Jake Green’s rough exterior and devilish smile, lies a heart of gold. He makes it his mission to change Nina’s outlook on life. When he agrees to tutor her, they forge a bet and the stakes are high as Jake forces Nina to face her demons. He just wasn’t expecting to fall hard for her in the process.

What Nina doesn’t realize, is that Jake has been living his own private hell. Once he drops a bombshell, will their love survive it?

Told in two parts from both Nina and Jake’s points of view, Jake Undone is a standalone story and a companion to the novel, Gemini.

Amazon

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Review : The Temptation of Lila and Ethan (The Secret #3) by Jessica Sorensen

The Temptation of Lila and Ethan

Title: The Temptation of Lila and Ethan

Series: The Secret (Book Three)

AuthorJessica Sorensen

GenreNew Adult Romance

Release Date: October 22. 2013

Synopsis:

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Ella and Micha series comes a gripping story of passion, pain, and the courage to love . . .

THE TEMPTATION OF LILA AND ETHAN

On the surface, Lila Summers is flawless: good looks, expensive clothes, and a big, beautiful smile. But a dark past and even darker secrets are threatening to bubble over her perfect façade. She’ll do anything to keep the emptiness inside hidden-which leads her into situations that always end badly. Whenever she hits bottom, there’s only one person who’s there to pull her out: Ethan Gregory.

Ethan set the rules a long time ago: he and Lila are just friends. He doesn’t do relationships. Although his tattooed, bad boy exterior is a far cry from Lila’s pretty princess image, Ethan can’t deny they have a deeper connection than he’s used to. If he’s not careful, he could be in serious danger of becoming attached-and he’s learned the hard way that attachment only leads to heartbreak.

When Lila falls farther than she ever has before, can Ethan continue to help as a friend? Or is he also getting close to falling . . . for her?

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My Review:

The pills keep away the memories and feelings of what happened last night, along with many other nights in my past. And not remembering them is important. Pain equals unwanted emotions, meltdowns, embarrassment.

There is no easing into Lila and Ethan’s story; you are thrust directly in the deep end, gasping for air as you struggle to breathe right along with them. I have a list of characters I’ve read over the years who tug at your heart, so broken down by life, every being of your soul aching for them. Lila is almost at the top, only surpassed by one. I will admit that from the beginning I didn’t know where this was going…..

It’s amazing how one moment in life can be beautiful, and then you return home-to reality-and remember that beauty isn’t everything and that the ugly painful part will always exist in the form of  unpaid bills, bad choices, and tiny white pills.

This is the story of Lila and Ethan, the best friends of Ella and Micha from the previous two books. You don’t really NEED to read those first, though you should because they are THAT good! Jessica Sorensen has a way of writing that literally grabs you from the first sentence of the first page. She grabs you by the heartstrings and you cannot breathe until the last page is over. God forbid there be a sequel and you are left with a cliffhanger. Talk about major book hangover!!

I think I may have just fallen in love with him. No one has ever said something so nice to me or put that kind of confidence in my character. In fact, I’ve been told the opposite for as long as I can remember.

Honestly, I have never hated someone’s parents in a book as much as I hate Lila’s. To even call them her parents is doing a major disservice to the word, for they are anything but! These are vile, disgusting people who should have never had kids to begin with, They care only about themselves and keeping up with appearances, though in reality their lives are as far from perfect as you can get. They constantly cut Lila down until she is threadbare, and even when she is lying on the ground they metaphorically kick her some more.  Lila has absolutely NO self confidence and uses sex in an attempt to feel something, anything.

Because what I’m feeling right now, this terrifying, cliff falling, heart dropping, thoughts racing, plunging into unknown was far from anything I ever felt for London.

Enter Ethan. Ethan has his own broken past, for different reasons than Lila. He carries around a lot of guilt and burden on his shoulders and cannot escape his past. He despises large crowds, preferring the solitude and quiet to people. Despite all this, he is the only person Lila can turn to. The attraction between these two, despite how much they try to ignore it, jumps off the page. Like moths to a flame, try as they might, they can only fight their desire for so long. Needless to say when they finally give in, it is pure magic.

Perfect doesn’t exist. Realness does. Realness is when I need. And Ethan is as real as anyone I’ve ever met.

I have never rooted for a couple quite like I did for them. The road isn’t easy. Many bridges need to be crossed. There were definitely many struggles and life affirming changes to be made. A lot of self reflection and hard truths. This was by far a 5 star read for me. I cannot wait to see what Jessica comes out with next!

Fiercely. Forcefully. With heat, desire, and hunger suffocating both of us as we drown in each other’s feelings. Our bodies align and press together as I kiss her with all the pent-up energy I’ve been collecting since the first day we met. I’ve lost all control over my actions. Rules don’t exist. The past and the future dissolve and only this moment exists.

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About the Author:

1006219_488842014532086_732530513_nJessica Sorensen is the author of The New York Times and USA Today Bestsellers, The Secret of Ella and Micha, The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden, and Breaking Nova, which are New Adult Contemporary novels.  She also writes Paranormal series, including the Fallen Star Series, Shattered Promises, Darkness Falls, and the Death Collectors. She loves writing and reading and is an avid watcher of TV series The Vampire Diaries and Modern Family.  An immense music lover,  Jessica immerses herself in her music as she writes.  She has a broad taste in music, and a list of favorite songs that goes on for miles!  A few of her current favorite bands are Chevelle, Rise Against, Alkaline Trio, Brand New, Death Cab for Cutie, Flight 409, and Nirvana.  Some of Jessica’s favorite “watch it over, and over again” movies include Anywhere but Here, Juno, Pride and Prejudice, The Hangover, and Bad Teacher.

Follow Jessica on Facebook

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Jessica’s Website

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Other Books in The Secret Series:

Book One On Sale Now!

15717876Ella used to be a rule-breaker with fiery attitude who wore her heart on her sleeve. But she left everything behind when she went to college and transformed into someone that follows the rules, keeps everything together, and hides all her problems. But now it’s summer break and she has nowhere else to go but home. 

Ella fears everything she worked so hard to bury might resurface, especially with Micha living right next door. If Micha tries to tempt the old her back, she knows that it will be hard to resist.

Micha is sexy, smart, confident, and can get under Ella’s skin like no one else can. He knows everything about her, including her darkest secrets. And he’s determined to bring his best friend, and the girl he loves back, no matter what it takes. 

Buy The Secret of Ella and Micha from Amazon

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Book Two On Sale Now!

16055475Ella and Micha have survived tragedy and heartbreak. When they’re together, anything seems possible. But now they are thousands of miles apart, and managing their long distance relationship will put their love to the test.

Ella is back at school, trying hard not worry so much about her future. But with her father in and out of rehab, she’s having a hard time making it through the days. All she wants is Micha by her side, but she refuses to let her problems get in the way of his dreams.

Micha spends his days touring the country with his band, but deep down he knows something is missing. Being away from Ella is harder than he thought it would be. He wants her closer to him-needs her with him. But he won’t ask her to leave college, just to be with him.

The few moments they do spend together are intense and passionate, but it only makes it more difficult when they have to part. They know they want to be together, but is wanting something enough to get them to their forever?

Buy The Forever of Ella and Micha from Amazon

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Book Three-Five Release Date – December 3, 2013

18164292From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Temptation of Lila and Ethan comes a story of change, hope, and unbreakable vows.

The day Ella has waited for is just around the corner. It’s the day she’ll marry Micha, the love of her life, the light that guided her out of the darkness. It looks like it will be the perfect Christmas-until an unexpected package arrives with a harsh reminder of Ella’s past. Suddenly Ella doesn’t feel as confident about her future. Can she really have a “happily-ever-after” if she’s never even seen one?

Micha will stand by Ella no matter what she’s going through-though he worries that she might leave him standing at the altar again. When he’s offered a once-in-a-lifetime chance to tour with his favorite bands for three months, Micha knows he can’t leave Ella behind. But can he ask her to uproot her life to join him on the road?

Now Ella and Micha must find a way to balance their fears, their dreams, and their love . . . if they ever want to hear wedding bells.

Pre-order The Ever After of Ella and Micha from Amazon

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Review & Giveaway : Searching for Tomorrow by Katie Mac

Katie Mac - Searching for Tomorrow

Title: Searching for Tomorrow

Series: Tomorrows, Book One

Author: Kathryn McNeill Crane (Katie Mac)

GenreContemporary Romance

Release Date: October 20. 2013

Synopsis:

Some people are blessed to find that one certain person who completes them.

Wrynn’s yesterdays were what others only dream of having. She and Tripp were the best of friends before they even thought about love. They had the fairy tale life where ‘like’ turns into ‘love’, and ‘love’ becomes ‘happily ever after’.

What happens when life conspires against you, and snatches your soul mate from your arms?

…only her forever love ended much too soon.

Broken beyond her own ability to repair, Wrynn boxes up her grief and attempts to raise her three girls the best she can on her own. As time slowly passes, Wrynn relives her life with Tripp while struggling most days to get out of bed. She is reminded of him at every turn.

How do you set your grief and anguish aside? How do you pick up the shattered pieces, put those pieces back together again, and try to move on?

Wrynn tries to find the joy in life every single day through her daughters, family, and friends. Her twin brother Liam has dedicated himself to helping Wrynn put her life back together after losing his own love. On the other hand, her mother-in-law lives to torment her at every turn. Wrynn can’t even find a chance to breathe, much less a desire to somehow search for her tomorrow.

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Excerpt:

“Wrynn.” His whisper broke the silence. That one anguished word brought me to my feet and forward, into his arms. I had no doubt this was where I should be–sheltered, enveloped, protected. Loved.

I felt the flex of his muscles when his arms squeezed me tighter. My face burrowed into his chest as I tried to get closer to the heat pouring from his body. His mouth dipped to my ear as he whispered his love for me, and his promise of forever. He apologized for leaving me when he knew I needed him and told me that he would always be there for me.

I turned my head and sought reassurance that he spoke the truth. His lips met mine. Time stopped, and a fire that I had never before felt burned through me. This was no soft, gentle kiss. This was a kiss filled with hunger and desperation. The need flowed between us as I opened my lips beneath his. Our tongues danced together and as Tripp drew my body closer to his, a deep longing-filled moan drew up from the depths of my being. The world around us disappeared as I cleaved urgently to the man who had claimed my very soul.

This was the kiss that I had always longed for. The kiss that marked me as his. The kiss that spoke to me.

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My Review:

A few months ago, in one of my many perusings through Goodreads, I stumbled upon this book. I will full admit that I am a judge a book by its cover kind of gal. If the cover doesn’t attract me, I won’t go any further to read the synopsis, much less the book. Needless to say, this cover immediately grabbed my attention. Having lived in North Carolina my entire life, a quality I have in common with the author, I recognized the beautiful backdrop of the mountains. I’ve seen that view, felt and experienced it, and could sense in my soul that this book would be something magnificent. Something soul shattering, life affirming, and heart wrenchingly beautiful. I had high expectations.

Not only was I NOT disappointed, but it far exceeded every preconceived notion I may have formed.

A fleeting thought in my scattered mind reminds me that this weakness is only temporary. I live each day just trying to cope, wanting to heal. I know this feeling of despair won’t last forever.

What I am about to reveal is NOT a spoiler. You find this information out in the first few pages. It will shape the rest of the book and would be impossible to go any further without discussing it. Searching for Tomorrow is about a widowed  wife of a soldier, a single mother, a sister, and a friend. Barely functioning for the past three years, Wrynn isn’t living; she is merely surviving. This is a romance novel in its finest form, but not in the conventional way you may be used to.

Wrynn and Tripp have been together, be it friends or eventually husband and wife, since they were young kids. We alternate POV’s not between different characters, but different time frames. One part of the story is pre-Tripp’s death and the other is post-Tripp’s death. They are told simultaneously, and if you live books and characters as I do, be prepared for an emotional rollercoaster. When both parts collide, one story ends and another begins. Butterflies, rage, shock, love, devastation, disgust, sympathy, hope. I experienced all of these and more; many at the same time!

“You’ll see babe. This isn’t the beginning of the end. It’s just the beginning. I plan to shed tears with you, but only for the good things.”

There are basically four things allowing Wrynn to exist and trudge on; her three daughters, and her twin brother Liam. Wrynn’s daughters are the only bright spots in her otherwise dimly lit days. She is living in a haze, swallowed up and consumed by her overwhelming grief. Katie Mac writes with a fluidity that forces you to encompass these emotions right along with Wrynn. This isn’t just a story about Wrynn, it is a story about you. Searching for Tomorrow will make you take a long hard look in the mirror and question everything. Am I doing enough good in this world? What if I lost my spouse? How would I go on each day living? What would I do if my kids had to grow up without a father? Could I be doing more? Do I tell close friends and family how much I appreciate them and love them enough?

I looked into the eyes of my future, and knew that tomorrow would only get better from here.

Searching for Tomorrow contains some HEAVY material. Parts won’t be easy to read, especially knowing from the beginning what will happen eventually. I came to the realization when it was all over that even knowing the final outcome doesn’t lessen the journey. If anything, knowing ahead of time what was coming only heightened every experience for me. I zoned in more to little details, treasured each heartwarming moment, for which this book was chock FULL of! The hard truths of this story, however, are very real for many, many families. Having never been through anything remotely close to what these characters go through makes no difference in understanding the depths and range of emotions that they feel.  I was able to sympathize and rejoice along with them on a purely human level. When Wrynn cried, I cried. When she felt joy, I felt it too. And when all hope was lost, I felt despair the likes of which I’ve never experienced before.

As they wrapped tightly around me, one distinct thought passed through my mind. Home. No matter where we were, or where life took us, when I was in his arms, I was home.

The love that Tripp and Wrynn share is so pure. If I had to think of one word to describe it, that would be it. From decisions they make before they are married, to having the girls, to be separated during deployments. Their proposal? Oh, just you wait. Katie describes every detail of that day so well you can literally smell every flower, feel every drop of mist from the falls, and taste each kiss. There is realism in her imagery that comes from someone who has had these experiences, or in the least been to these locations. She allows you to visit the beautiful mountains of North Carolina without ever having to leave your house.  These two LIVE for each other, heart and soul. It is hard to tell where one begins and one ends. This is glaringly evident in every scene they are in, whether it be together or apart.

There is one other important man in Wrynn’s life that I haven’t mentioned yet; her twin brother Liam. While Tripp is the main man in her life in one part of the story, Liam is the man in the other. The relationship between these two will make your heart melt! The protectiveness, the fight, the undying love, the friendship, these two have it all. When Wrynn falls, Liam is there to catch her. He brings a sense of normality to her otherwise chaotic and lifeless existence. There is a delicious side story going on with Liam. While we only see bits and pieces of it, have no fear. There will be a second book for him soon.

When you kiss them goodnight, my lips will touch yours. When you hold them close, my arms will embrace you. The wind in your hair will be my fingers running through it. The warmth of the sun will be my love shining down.

Searching for Tomorrow is a story that everyone should read. No, not should read, NEEDS to read! It would be impossible to pigeonhole this novel into one genre for it spans across many, combining truths known to many. Katie has woven a tale that will touch so many hearts, young and old alike, no matter their road in life. It brings validity to the belief that there is hope to find your everlasting love; no matter how old you are, no matter what life throws at you. Things may happen in your life that at the time bear no rhyme or reason, but hold out hope, because even in your darkest moments, it is still possible to find your happily ever after. I don’t cry too often while reading books, but this one brought me to tears multiple times, both happy and sad. Adjectives haven’t yet been invented that can adequately describe how I feel about it! To give this book 5 stars would be doing it a disservice, for it deserves so much more. I am going to give it 10 stars. My first ever ‘so nice I rated it twice’ book. A truly phenomenal read by debut author Katie Mac, I lovingly anticipate her future releases. Well done ma’am, well done.

It’s hard to search for tomorrow when you are still living for yesterday. Sometimes you have to accept that today is all that is guaranteed.

 

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About the Author:

Katie Mac

If you are reading this, I think you should know that “About me” sounds so very pretentious to me. I guess that is what I am supposed to write about, so here it goes!

Kathryn is a simple country girl who likes to spend time with her hubba, hunka hubby, her three kids and her friends. She loves to cook and really loves to eat! During the spring and summer, you will more than likely find her outside puttering around in her garden. When the veggies start coming in, she will probably be sweating over a hot canner in the kitchen, canning all the goodies she is blessed with. Kathryn likes to hike and go camping, and as a Girl Scout leader, she gets to do this pretty often! On cold winter nights, you will probably find her wrapped in a warm blanket, lost in a good book, while sitting in her rocking chair on the front porch!

Kathryn was born and raised in North Carolina, and while she loves to travel, she can’t imagine ever leaving the mountains that she has come to call home. Not a day goes by that Kathryn doesn’t thank God for abundantly blessing her. He has been so good to her, and she is very grateful. She holds Jeremiah 29:11 very close to her heart and believes it with every fiber of her being. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Kathryn loves flip flops, chocolate, sweet tea and dirt between her toes. As far back as she can remember, she’s had a book in her hand. Reading has carried her to places she will never go. It has introduced her to people that she will never meet. When life is great and when it is rough, she’s always been able to find a book to carry her through. She finally decided to write down some of the stories in her head (yes, be scared) and heart after dawdling around and wasting years dreaming. She hopes you enjoy reading those stories as much as she loves writing them!

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The Edge of Always Excerpt & Giveaway : J.A. Redmerski

The Edge of Always

Title: The Edge of Always

Series: The Edge of Never, Book Two

Author: J.A. Redmerski

Genre: New Adult Romance

Release Date: November 5, 2013

Synopsis:

He was taking the long road. She was taking the road to nowhere. It just so happened that they led to the same place…

When everything falls apart, love remains . . .

THE EDGE OF ALWAYS

Camryn Bennett has never been happier. Five months after meeting on a Greyhound bus, she and her soul mate Andrew Parrish are engaged—and a wedding isn’t the only special event in their future. Nervous but excited, Camryn can’t wait to begin the rest of her life with Andrew – a man she knows in her heart will love her always. They have so much to look forward to—until tragedy blindsides them.

Andrew doesn’t understand how this could happen to them. He’s trying to move on, and thought Camryn was doing the same. But when Andrew discovers Camryn is secretly harboring a mountain of pain and attempting to numb it in damaging ways, there is nothing he won’t do to bring her back to life. Determined to prove that their love can survive anything, Andrew decides to take Camryn on a new journey filled with hope and passion. If only he can convince her to come along for the ride…

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Exclusive Excerpt from the Author:

“Get up, birthday girl,” Andrew announces from somewhere near the foot of the bed. I hear him slap the tabletop by the window with the palm of his hand repeatedly.

I roll over onto my side, putting my back toward the bright sun and then burrow underneath the sheets. A gust of cold air hits me when Andrew snatches the sheets off me.

“Oh come on!” I moan, drawing my knees toward my chest and pulling the pillow over my head. “I should be able to sleep in on my birthday.”

Suddenly my body is being dragged off the bed and my arms come up wildly, trying to hold on to the edge of the mattress. Andrew’s hand is wrapped firmly around my ankle. I kick and flail, trying to get away, but he drags me across the bed so fast and without much effort that I just give up. My butt hits the floor and the sheets tumble down and around me.

“You are such an ass!” I laugh.

“But you love me. Now get up.”

With my hair all tangled around my head, I look up at him and pout. He smiles at me and reaches out his hand. I take it, and he pulls me into a stand.

“Happy birthday, babe,” he says and pecks me on the lips.

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About the Author:

JARedmerskiBorn November 25, 1975, J.A. (Jessica Ann) Redmerski is a New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author. She lives in North Little Rock, Arkansas with her three children and a Maltese. She is a lover of television and books that push boundaries and is a huge fan of AMC’s The Walking Dead.

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