Blog Tour + Review + Excerpt: OUT OF FOCUS by L.B. Simmons

L.B. Simmons has done it again! Out of Focus is another emotionally charged story of hope and healing. Check out more about this book and read Tina’s Thoughts and an excerpt from the story! This is one you will not want to miss.

Out of Focus
L.B. Simmons
Genre: New Adult
Publication Date: February 19, 2016

* Upper New Adult Spinoff Standalone to the USA Today Bestselling Novel, Under the Influence*

“Shhhh, Cassandra, it’s our little secret.”

Secrets are stubborn things when they refuse to remain hidden. They tear through your soul, clawing and lashing until the pain becomes so unbearable, you’re left no choice but to silently scream your agony. No one hears you, of course. You smile on the outside and drift through life as though your mind is at peace, but all the while, you remain your own tortured prisoner. Sealed inside the darkened, soundproof room of your conscience, deafening cries echo as you plead for someone to unlock the door and release you from your nightmares. And eventually, when no one comes, you find ways to cope. To dull the suffering the only way you know how.

But what happens when you’ve become so numb, when everything around you has become so blurred, that you begin to lose focus on the saving grace standing directly in front of you? When you’ve anesthetized yourself to the point of losing consciousness, forced to watch as his once solid image fades away, lost to your reach in the haze as it smothers you?

What do you do then?

You fight. You heal. Then you bring him back.

Well, my name is Cassie Cooper, and it’s time.

No more secrets.

This is my story.

***WARNING – The subject matter of this novel centers around the psychological effects due to sexual abuse experienced during childhood. For this reason, as well as sexual situations, language, and adult themes, suggested reading age is 17+.***

You can pre-order your copy from the retailers listed below! Out Of Focus is set to be released February 19, 2016!

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Every single book I have read by Simmons has brought out some kind of pure emotion. Her stories deal with harsh realities and brings hope into those situations. Her characters are flawed yet beautiful. Her situations and circumstances are heartbreaking  yet a chance for change to break forth. Out of Focus is no different. This book caught me off guard. When I read Under the Influence, you get to know Cassie as Spencer’s best friend, the girl who is a little crazy and a lot of fun. In this book, you learn the truth behind the façade and it is hard to swallow.

I feel like this book is categorized in three very specific themes, each theme enhancing the story into something profound. First, and primary in my mind, is the theme of Cassie as a character and her personal journey through hell and back again. This girl discovered the worst of humanity at such a young age. She has lived with a secret for years and learned to cope with it as best she could. You cannot help but admire her for her resilience, but she is breaking from the inside out, unable to hide it any longer. This story is about her healing. It cannot be done by anyone but Cassie herself. She learns to embrace the pain and forgive. She must take the first step to healing on her own. This theme is hard to read. Her self-destruction is understandable and all I wanted to do was hug this woman and protect her brokenness. Simmons does a great job of blending the horrors with hope and showing a story that is as equally painful as it is beautiful.

The second theme that I loved in this book is friendship. Spencer and Cassie have been together for so many years. We see their first moments in flashbacks and how they grew up together. Spencer has always been a foundation for Cassie to stand on. There is a tension between them. Spencer senses the heartache but will never push Cassie, trusting that her friend will open up when she is ready. They have an incredible connection. The best friend is not always highlighted in this way and it is refreshing to read. They are two peas in a pod, both having endured terrible things. Spencer is a safe place for Cassie, a place of peace even when she did not know it. As the reader, I was frustrated that Cassie kept her secrets, wishing she would share with Spencer. I was also frustrated that Spencer never pushed harder. But the way these two have grown up together and been there for each other, they supported and loved in the best way they knew how. These two fought against their own demons and the world, never straying too far from one another.

The last theme is the romance that blooms between Cassie and Grady. It is the love and affirmation from Grady that is a type of catalyst for Cassie to heal. I love that their relationship grows in such a way that you know they can withstand the horrors of reality. There is an attraction instantly, but there is not an insta-love, something I appreciated. Simmons paces the romance between Cassie and Grady well, giving them time to connect and learn about one another, all the while allowing Grady to support Cassie in her fight. This story is not about the romance; the romance just strengthens what is happening in Cassie’s life.

Out of Focus goes on the shelf as yet another emotionally charged tale of hardship, forgiveness, and healing. Simmons has a knack for telling stories of broken characters and giving them the hope needed to overcome. This book is about healing and friendship. It is about second chances, hope, and the many different faces of true love. It is a book that will break your heart and put all the pieces back together again.

Only twenty-three years old, and I’m so goddamn tired.

I used to be so much stronger. I somehow kept the voices at bay, the memories locked away safely, contained within the confines of my mind. But with each passing day, I feel the glow of my once-luminous strength fading. Darkness encases me now, bowing the walls of protection I put into place years ago. My past is an ever-present nightmare, repeatedly tapping, slowly fracturing the window of my sanity.

I have no doubt that it’s only a matter of time before the glass finally breaks. Blackness will eventually seep through its cracks and deliver me from the safety of my façade into a reality that will destroy me.

My reality.

I’ve done my part. I’ve kept the secrets thrust upon me with dedicated believability. My portrayal of who I am has become a blurred, hazy version of the once very distinct Cassie Cooper.

I read an ungodly amount of trashy romance novels.

I’m the overtly sexual and foul-mouthed friend who will say anything to get a laugh.

And I have exactly zero fucks to give to what anyone else thinks about my actions.

But the reality, the actuality, is this:

I read obsessively to escape my own world. To live the dreams of others when, for so long, the reoccurrence of my nightmares has been my reality. I read to fall in love and find a happily ever after, even if it is purely imagined. With each story I read, I’m able to live and love vicariously through the characters in my books. It’s the only plausible way for me to survive.

I threw away my virginity at the age of thirteen just to prove something. And when I found that proof, that vindication I was looking for, I sought it every chance I could. Sex is about control for me. Nothing more. The act will never be about making love, like it is for the heroines in my books. I will never be granted the beauty of that gift.

I use humor as a form of avoidance. I draw upon laughter to block the pain. And I smile to mask the agony of the eight-year-old soul who weeps within me.

And the fucks . . . well, that’s not entirely accurate either.

I have given two to be exact: One to my best friend of seventeen years. She knows nothing of my past, and although she so willingly disclosed the horrors of hers, mine remains hidden for no other reason than to avoid the pity she would undoubtedly cast my way if I were to ever tell her. I don’t want her pity. I would sooner die than have her look at me in any other way than with pride.

The other died with the person to whom it was given. Anthony “Rat” Marchione. He was my one allowance of naïveté. The one person I actually wanted to touch me, to hold me, to love me. He was going to rescue me from my brokenness as though I were a character in one of my books. Young and senseless, I thought he was to be my eventual happily ever after, but tragically, he was murdered five years ago.

Black coldness waits in vain to leech the void where his once beautiful existence filled the pieces of my irrevocably shattered heart. Where he temporarily healed the hurt of the innocent child and quieted the voices that tormented her.

He’s gone now. I’ve accepted that. And in turn, I have relinquished all dreams associated with finding the light at the end of this miserable tunnel.

I will keep trudging through this life . . . this sentence handed to me for someone else’s crime, my payment shackled by secrets and weighted with lies. I will continue to do so with the same fraudulent smile on my lips and play the part of the strong heroine so convincingly, that even I believe it.

It’s only a matter of time before my fictional strength wears out—when I’m no longer hidden safely inside my protective blur—and I have to face the very real and lucid image of my past.

But until that time comes, I’ll do all I can do.

All I have ever done.

I will pretend.

L.B. Simmons is a graduate of Texas A&M University and holds a degree in Biomedical Science.  She has been a practicing Chemist for the last 11 years.  She lives with her husband and three daughters in Texas and writes every chance she gets.

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Pre-Order Blitz & Teasers: LIQUID & ASH by E.M. Abel

I am excited for Liquid & Ash, the upcoming contemporary release from E.M. Abel! I cannot wait to read this one. You can pre-order your copy today for only 99 cents! Check out more about this book and feast your eyes on some gorgeous teasers from the book! This book is set to hit stands on March 1, 2016.

Liquid & Ash

E.M. Abel

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: March 1, 2016

Love was my weakness.
In the light of the truth, no one can hide.

Derek had ignited a spark inside of my heart, a hope for a love I never expected to find. However, our connection lacked the substance it needed to burn. Weakened with resentment, our relationship crumbled under deception, slowly dissolving into ash.

I had sacrificed myself for him and paid the price.

By the time Brandon entered into my life, the longing in my heart had turned cold. But fate was not done with me. His crystal blue eyes and fluid touch revived a wish that had been frozen in time. He gave me hope once again.

Hope is a dangerous thing, especially when you dare to dream.

WARNING: This book contains adult content and drug use.

You can pre-order your copy of Liquid & Ash today for only 99 cents from the retailers listed below!

Amazon US | Amazon UK

E.M. Abel was born and raised a Marine Corps brat. She spent a large portion of her life moving and living in her mother’s home country, Japan. As a result, she gained independence and a unique perspective on the world. The youngest of three girls, E.M. Abel spent a lot of time alone in her room writing or sketching in her journals and dreaming up stories. Growing up, she wrote poems, short stories and articles for her high school newspaper. She also fell in love with art and discovered her deep need for self-expression.

Now, a Navy wife with two small children of her own, she still loves being creative and most of all translating her stories into novels. E.M. Abel, nowreferred to as E or Em by her friends and readers, can often be found
with her headphones on jamming out to punk rock, in a chair getting tattooed or cooking dinner for her kids and attending gymnastics practice. No matter what she’s doing in her life, she’s always sure to do it her way.

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New Release + Review + Excerpt: RED CARD by Carrie Aarons

Red Card

Carrie Aarons

Genre: New Adult Sports Romance

Publication Date: February 14, 2016

She spent five years planning a future that will never exist. He spent five years trying to erase a past he can’t forget. London is Leah Watson’s fresh start. When she secures the perfect internship during her study abroad semester, with an infamous celebrity public relations firm, she is determined to forge her own path – one that is nothing like her life back in Oklahoma. That plan is tested when British football’s bad boy, Killian Ramsey, decides that she’s the one he wants and he’s playing for keeps.

Will she put her future on hold – again – for the type of man she swore she’d stay away from?

Killian is one bloody good football player. After a tragedy shattered his entire world, the cocky and arrogant face he puts on for the media is a complete lie. When he meets Leah, his heart starts to beat for the first time in years. But when the feelings get too real, his perfectly constructed facade starts to slip.

Will he risk it all to be with her – taking whatever penalties are thrown his way – or will he play it safe

You can purchase your copy of Red Card today at the retailers listed below!

Amazon US | Amazon UK

Red Card is a story of bad boy British soccer player meets country girl from small town America. I loved the idea and concept. I am from Norman, Oklahoma, the same as Leah, our young heroine, so having a common thread with a main character like that always makes the reader more involved with what is happening. I LOVE soccer, the beautiful game, and having all these factors work together in one book was something I could not wait to read. The book is well written and solid, even if some things fell a little flat for me personally. This is my first book from Carrie Aarons and her storytelling is great. She introduces characters that are true to their personality and creates a story that is fun to read. I would have loved for Leah to be a bit of a stronger female character, but I understand the transformation she needs to go through in this book. She was a woman who patterned her life to fit into a certain mold and when that mold no longer fit, she needed to break free and redefine who she is at the deepest level. I admired the way she grew into a more confident woman on the end, someone who learned to embrace the hardships of the world and grow stronger as a result.

I am a sucker for a good soccer bad boy. I love the game so much and the athleticism that comes with it. I love the energy and the culture that this game creates, especially in Europe. So when we see all of this come alive in London, watching the reluctant love story of Killian and Lucy unfold, it adds something more to what I read. The relationship between these two is full of lust and passion. Note that this book seems almost too steamy for New Adult, at least how I define it. When they break through that physical barrier that simmers between them, these two cannot seem to keep their hands off each other. The central theme of the media and misconceptions that come with celebrity is both frustrating and eye opening. You know that you cannot always trust what the media portrays but seeing that actuality behind some stories in this book was a harsh reality for these main characters to reckon with. It added yet another level of drama and angst that played with their relationship and emotions.

Red Card is a story of lust and passion that has the potential to bring about pain or purpose. Two unlikely characters find each other and learn to hold onto what is most important in life. It is a story of romance, passion, and heartache. There are ups and downs, but in the end, learning to let go brings about hope and love.  

Trying to dash off to find the British Prince of Moodiness proves difficult in the six-inch stilettos the stylist had strapped onto my feet. I didn’t wear clothing like this. I was the Oklahoma girl­next­door, cute and pretty in my sundresses and boots. I didn’t do skintight, short or heeled. I could hear the snickers of the PR handlers around me as I stumbled like a baby calf off of the carpet in search of my responsibility.Turning down the block and moving away from the mayhem, I spotted a tall figure in the shadows. I’d read enough about Jack the Ripper before coming over here to be spooked, but then I saw the shine of a metal flask being raised to the lips, and I could only take one guess as to who that was.

I marched up, as best as I could in the shoes. “You need to come back and walk the red carpet.”

Killian’s sky­blue eyes twinkled with sly amusement and barely restrained anger. “Oh, and you’re going to make me, huh America’s Sweetheart?”

The smell of what I’m sure was overly­expensive whiskey blew across my face as he exhaled. He pretended to give an air of nonchalance, but I could read his body language better than he thought I could. He was so coiled and tense, he gave a cobra ready to strike a run for its money. Rage and sorrow poured off of him in waves, blanketing the dark side street in misery so abundant that I could feel it down to my bones. And something else. I don’t know why it struck me, perhaps because the emotion was running through my veins as well. But this man…he was lonely.

“You’re cheeky, I like that.” He raised the flask in a salute to me and tilted his head back as the amber liquid disappeared into that appealing mouth. Damn it. This bad boy with a bad attitude was not going to ruin my career or my time here. I was done letting people decide the future for me, sweeping me along in the current just because I let them.

I knocked the flask straight out of his hand, sending little droplets of whiskey landing on both of us.

“Listen you jackass! I don’t know who you are. In fact, I don’t care if you’re the Prime Minister of this country! This job, I really need it. I’m taking this shot and succeeding at it if it means I have to put my blood, sweat and tears into it. And some London bad boy parading his pissed off attitude around for the world to see is not going to stop me! So button your jacket, plaster a smile on, and get on that carpet!”

My breathing was ragged, all of the energy I’d saved up to get through the event suddenly spent. Jetlag, homesickness and heartbreak were taking over, and I could feel the pull of all three from the inside out.

The leer on Killian’s face only proved that my tirade was all for nothing.

And then he moved. It was a blur of motion and speed before my back was against a brick wall. He’d pinned me, like a wolf circling in on their prey. Nervous tremors washed over my flesh, and I could hear the roaring in my ears. I was half­ afraid he would actually rip my throat out for speaking to him that way. The other half of me was too incredibly aroused to care.

“I am bad. But I’m not a boy, I’m a man. Have you ever been with a man, little lamb?” He chuckled darkly, leaning his entire form into me and pinning my hips with his hands. “No, I don’t think you have.”

 

 

They say those who can’t do, teach. Well, Carrie has no hand-eye coordination, and her idea of romance is a Netflix marathon complete with Thai food. So, she writes sports romance novels instead.

Beginning her writing career as a journalist, Carrie wrote about real-life crime and scandal before turning to the fantasy world of fiction. She lives with her husband in an apartment they are constantly outgrowing.

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New Release + Excerpt + Giveaway: LIVE WITHOUT REGRET ( Touch of Fate #3) by KL Grayson

It’s release day for Live Without Regret by K.L. Grayson! Grab your copy of this sexy contemporary romance and check out the exclusive excerpt we’re sharing, and be sure to enter the giveaway! This is a story you will not want to  miss! 

Live Without Regret
Touch of Fate #3
KL Grayson
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publication Date: February 12, 2016

L.O.V.E.

How can those four letters cause so much pain? Everyone talks about how great love is, with all the flowers and the butterflies, but that wasn’t my experience at all. Love wasn’t something I wanted or even needed.

Nope.

Been there.

Done that.

I have the sweat, tears and blood-soaked T-shirt to prove it.

The jagged edges of a damaged heart tell the story of my past, but just because I’ve sworn off love doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy men. Because I do. Few things feel better than being tangled up with a hard body. Grabby hands, moans of pleasure, and sighs of happiness are all part of a well-balanced diet, as long as no strings are attached.

Wild, crazy sex—yes.

Love—hell no.

But then Connor Jackson came into my life.

He’s the complete opposite of my ex. From his shaggy hair, scruffy beard, sexy tattoos, all the way down to his Chucks T’s.

I want Connor.

The only problem—Connor wants forever.

But forever doesn’t exist. It can be taken away in the blink of an eye, and this is one heartbreak I know I wouldn’t be able to survive.

You can purchase your copy today on Amazon!

Brittany
I push the door open and a small bell signals my entry. At best, InkSlingers is a complete dive, not near as sleek-looking as some of the newer tattoo parlors. But this place has one thing—one person, really—that sets them above all the rest.
Connor Jackson.
Not only is he one of the most highly recommended tattoo artists in the city, but two years ago he won top prize on the reality show Inked. If I recall, the grand prize was two hundred thousand dollars to be used toward the establishment of his own parlor. So why in the hell he works in this dinky building off the corner of Hampton and Third, I have no idea. And to be honest, I don’t really care.
“Hello?” I look around. The place is eerily quiet, not a soul in sight. Glancing down at my watch, I check the time. Sure enough, it’s fifteen minutes earlier than my scheduled appointment. That’s me…Miss Punctuality.
I spend the next five minutes pacing across the waiting room of the shop without seeing a single person, all the while wondering who in the hell leaves their shop unattended?
Just when I’m about ready to say screw it and walk out, the front door opens and once again the bell dings. I spin around on my heel, prepared to chew someone’s ass for making me wait, and then nearly trip over my own feet when I see the behemoth of a man standing in front of me.
Without permission, my eyes rake him over from head to toe. His dirty blond hair is shaggy and clearly hasn’t been trimmed for months. He could probably pull it into one of those man-bun things that seem to be all the rage, but instead it hangs loose with the stray strands tucked behind his ears.
My eyes travel south, taking in his plain black tee that stretches tight across his broad chest and even tighter around his biceps. A colorful sleeve of tattoos decorates his right arm, and as far as I can tell the left is completely bare. He’s sexy, in a rugged sort of way. He’s also the complete opposite of the guys I’m normally attracted to, yet I find myself enraptured.
The stranger clears his throat, and my eyes snap up to find piercing blue eyes staring back at me. When he cocks an eyebrow, I realize I’ve been caught checking him out. My first instinct is to avert my eyes and murmur an apology, but then I realize that’s what the old Brittany would do. And I dropped her off by the curb a long time ago.
“What?” I say, shrugging unapologetically.
“Were you checking me out?” The sound of his gravelly voice does things to me that a voice should never be able to do to another human being. I squeeze my thighs together to suppress the tingling it caused.
“Well, that depends.”
“On what?”
“Do you want me to check you out?” I ask.
He nods and moves past me, his shoulder grazing mine. “Bold. I like it. What can I do for you?”
Furrowing my brow, I tilt my head. I totally had him pegged for my next conquest—a.k.a. one-night stand—but I have a strange feeling he just brushed me off. I shake my head, trying to remember the question. Oh yeah. Connor. “I have a ten o’clock appointment with Connor. He’s late.”
The stranger looks down at his watch and then back at me. “He’s not late. It’s only nine fifty-five.”
I roll my eyes. “Okay, fine.” I walk over and plop down in a waiting room chair, then cross my legs, knee over knee. “Will you call him and see how much longer he’s going to be?”
“You in a hurry?” the guy asks.
Not really. No. “Maybe.”
He nods and sets his to-go coffee cup and brown paper bag on the front desk, then sits down and pulls out his phone. “He won’t be long.”
“Let’s hope,” I mumble, grabbing a Tattoo Weekly magazine off the table in front of me.
“Would you like a doughnut?” I glance up to see the man holding up a chocolate-covered doughnut. It looks delicious, and I’m two seconds away from accepting his offer when I remember my closet full of clothes that are becoming too tight. That one doughnut will easily take me hours at the gym to burn off.
“No, thank you.”
He shrugs. “Suit yourself.”
Smiling tightly, I look back at the magazine and spend the next several minutes absently thumbing through it. I skim a few articles then toss the magazine on the table and grab another, my frustration growing with each passing second.
“Are you ready?”
I glance up to find the sexy stranger standing in front of me. Putting the magazine back on the table, I look around. “Is Connor here?”
The man smiles, his full lips parting to reveal perfectly white teeth. There’s a smudge of chocolate near the corner of his mouth, and I briefly wonder what he would do if I stepped forward and licked it off.
“I’m Connor,” he says. His words catch me off guard and all thoughts of chocolate drift from my mind. My eyes roam his face, only this time I take a closer look.
“You’re Connor?” I ask incredulously.
“Wow,” he says, chuckling. “Don’t look so surprised. I take it I’m not what you expected.” His voice is clipped, and I instantly berate myself for the way that came out.
“No.” I shake my head vehemently. “I didn’t mean it in a bad way. You’re an incredibly attractive man. It’s just that you look different from when you were on the show. You didn’t have the facial hair—or the long hair, for that matter—both of which I find unbelievably sexy.” Connor’s eyes widen and I realize what I said. “I can’t believe I just said that. Damn it,” I mumble, averting my eyes. This is what happens when I get nervous, and for some strange reason, Connor makes me nervous. Sighing, I decide to give up. “I’m sorry if I offended you.”
My eyes are trained on the floor as I contemplate leaving to avoid further embarrassment. I’m still undecided when a pair of Chuck T’s enters my line of sight. I smile because those are my favorite shoes. “So you like the beard?” he says suggestively, causing me to look up. His blue eyes are swirling with a mixture of amusement and lust.
“I like the beard.”
Connor grins as though he just found out he won a prize. Without saying a word, he steps away and I follow behind. Leading me into a small room in the back of the shop, he says, “Did you find something in the magazine that you want?”
“I actually have a picture of what I want.”
“Let’s see it.”
I walk toward him and hold out my phone. Connor takes the phone, examines the picture then looks up.
“Where do you want it?”
“Here.” Lifting my right arm, I tug my shirt up and point to the location along my rib cage, just under my breast.
“I like that,” he says, handing me my phone. “But what if we angled it just a bit like this…” Connor puts a finger at the top of my ribs and a tiny zap of electricity jolts through my body. He looks up, his eyes searching mine before he drags the tip of his index finger along my skin. His touch leaves a trail of goose bumps. My pulse quickens, and it takes everything I have not to beg him to keep touching me when he pulls away.
“What do you think?” he asks. His pupils are dilated, his breathing a bit faster, and I get the feeling he was as affected by that as I was.
“I”—my voice cracks and I flush with embarrassment—“I like it. Plus, you’re the expert so I’ll leave it completely up to you.”
Connor swallows hard and my eyes follow the movement. “Good choice.” He turns away. “All right, have a seat here,” he says, gesturing toward the reclined chair, and I sit down. “Turn this way.” He angles my body to the left. “Is that comfortable?”
“Yep.”
“Good,” he mumbles, tugging my shirt up to expose my right side again.
The soft cotton slips down and he pushes it back up, only this time his hand brushes against my bra, grazing the outside of my breast. Another jolt passes through me, only this time it’s stronger. His eyes snap to mine, and I know—I know—that he felt that. As I bite down on my bottom lip, his sinful eyes flash with heat, and I watch him take a ragged breath before turning away.
“So…is, uh, is this your first tattoo?” he stammers, bringing his eyes back to mine.
“Nope. I have another one.”
“Good, so you know what to expect.” I nod, and then he smiles brightly before getting his equipment ready. “Okay,” he says. He rubs my skin with something cool and I presume he’s prepping it. “Let’s do this.”
The faint whir of the machine signals this is happening, and I squeeze my eyes shut as he gently pulls my skin taut. Okay, time to go to my happy place, which just so happens to feature none other than my sexy-as-hell tattoo artist.
My mind drifts into eroticland—as I like to call it—as I picture Connor sliding his hand up my bare thigh. He hooks a finger under the side of my panties, and with his wicked eyes on me he slips a finger in—
“I like the quote,” he says, pulling me from my fantasy.
“Do you know what it means?” I ask, opening my eyes and then quickly looking away. I’m a doctor, so you’d think the sight of blood wouldn’t bother me. And it doesn’t, as long as it isn’t my blood.
“I’ve put it on a few other people. Looked it up one time. It’s deep.”
“Yeah”—I take a big breath, holding it in for a few beats before letting it out—“well…” My words trail off because I don’t really know what else to say, and I sure as hell don’t want to talk about why this particular tattoo means so much to me.
Connor goes quiet, but I can feel his eyes burning a hole through my head. When I glance up, his eyes catch mine for a brief second before he looks back down. It was just enough time to tell me that he had my number.
“So it’s personal, huh?”
“What?” I scoff. “A girl can’t get a tattoo just to get a tattoo?”
“Of course she can, but you’re different. This is personal.” He cocks his head to the side, his hair falling in front of his face. I have to fist my hands together to keep from brushing it away so that I can see his face more clearly.
“Okay, fine, you’re right. It’s personal.”
“I’m always right,” he says, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. “It would be prudent of you to remember that.” I tilt my head to the side just as the machine turns off and Connor looks up. He has one hand settled at the base of my waist, the other holding the tattoo gun off to the side. His eyes are smoldering, pinning me in my seat.
My tongue darts out, running a slow path along my lower lip, and I watch as his eyes follow along. Oh yeah, this is happening. Not one to beat around the bush, I decide to go for it. It’s obvious we’re attracted to each other, so there’s no reason for this not to happen.
“What are you doing when you get off work?”
Connor’s eyebrows push into his hairline. “Are you asking me out on a date?” he asks.
My heart clenches inside my chest and I take a deep breath, because as much as I’d like to say yes, that just isn’t who I am anymore. “Nope,” I state impassively. “I gave up dating.”
“You don’t date?” he asks incredulously.
“I fuck.”
Lips parted, he nods slowly several times as though he’s processing what I just said—and deciding what he’s going to do about it.
“Well, that’s too bad, because I gave up fucking.”
His cheeks flush, probably because he realized what he just admitted to, and I can’t help but laugh. “So you don’t have sex?”
Connor rolls his eyes, and even though I’m not a fan of the gesture, he makes it look sexy. My guess is that he makes most things look sexy. “Of course I have sex, I just stopped fucking. I gave up the meaningless one-night stands.” He shrugs. “I want more.”
“Ahhh.” I nod. “Well, good luck with that.” Connor doesn’t say another word. He puts the tattoo gun down and then holds up a mirror so I can check out my new ink. “It’s perfect,” I state, my eyes roaming over the beautiful script.
“I’m glad you like it.” Connor puts the mirror down and slathers some Vaseline on my tattoo. He follows it up with a bandage, all the while rattling off the aftercare instructions.
“Are we done?” I ask, secretly hoping he’ll tell me no. At least then I’d have a reason to stay.
“We’re done.” I push up from the chair. Connor nods his head toward the front desk and I follow him up there to pay. We seem to have fallen into a comfortable silence, and his presence alone is calming in a way I can’t explain. I wish like hell that he would’ve taken me up on my offer, because I have no doubt that it would’ve been fucking fantastic.
Without a word, Connor swipes my card, then I sign the receipt and shove my wallet back in my purse. When I look up, Connor is watching me intently. “Thank you,” I murmur.
His blue eyes are two swirling pools of liquid heat, and what I wouldn’t give to dive in and beg him to change his rules for just one night. “Don’t thank me,” he says, shaking his head. “It was my pleasure.”
We stand there for several more seconds, the air crackling around us as I search for something to say. “I’m Brittany, by the way,” I say, somewhat awkwardly.
Connor grins. “I know.” I furrow my brow and he points to the desk. “You made an appointment.”
“Right.” My phone beeps in my purse, and I decide that’s my cue to leave. “Well, I better go.”
“When will I see you again?” he hollers as I walk toward the door.
Spinning around, I give him my best come-hither look. “When I decide to get another tattoo.”
“Or?” he asks, a grin splitting his ruggedly handsome face.
“When you decide to fuck.”
His jaw nearly hits the floor.
Brittany, one. Connor, zero.
I think I’m going to like playing this game.

To celebrate the release of Live Without Regret, KL is hosting an awesome giveaway! Enter this Rafflecopter giveaway for your chance to win a $20 Giftcard to one of the following: Amazon, Cabela’s, or Sephora (Winner’s choice). Simply follow the instructions listed and you will be entered for your chance to win! Don’t miss out! Good luck.

 

K.L. Grayson resides in a small town outside of St. Louis, MO. She is entertained daily by her extraordinary husband, who will forever inspire every good quality she writes in a man. Her entire life rests in the palms of six dirty little hands, and when the day is over and those pint-sized cherubs have been washed and tucked into bed, you can find her typing away furiously on her computer. She has a love for alpha-males, brownies, reading, tattoos, sunglasses, and happy endings…and not particularly in that order.

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New Release + Review + Excerpt + Giveaway: TO THE STARS (Thatch #2) by Molly McAdams

I am excited to bring you the Release Week Blitz for Molly McAdams’ To The Stars! To The Stars is a contemporary romance novel published  by HarperCollins’ William Morrow Impulse imprint and is the second novel in Molly’s Thatch Series. This is one you will not want to miss. Check out more about the book, read Tina’s Thoughts and an excerpt from the story, and make sure to enter the awesome giveaway below!

To The Stars
Thatch #2
Molly McAdams
Publication Date: February 9, 2016
Genre: Contemporary Romance

In the second standalone book in New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Molly McAdams’ Thatch series, Knox Alexander must convince his long-time love Harlow Evans that they’re meant to be together.

He promised to wait for her.
She told him he was wasting his time.
Not waiting for him ended up being the biggest mistake of her life.

When they were younger, Knox Alexander swore to Harlow Evans that he would wait for her to turn eighteen so they could be together. But that was two and a half years away, and Harlow couldn’t ask him to give up all the fun and thrills of going away to college for her. As the years passed, Knox remained a constant in her life but when her eighteenth birthday came around, Harlow’s heart belonged to someone else.

Every day for the last four years, Harlow has been haunted by that fateful choice. And though he may appear unaffected by what happened in their past, Knox has always tried to fill the void Harlow left. But when he comes stumbling back into her life and refuses to leave, will Harlow finally let him into her heart…?

You can purchase your copy today at the retailers listed below!

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Kobo | GooglePlay

I have officially read my first Molly McAdams book. I know who she is. I have met her at signings and bought her books before but never have I actually read one. Why? Because I hear she has a little habit of destroying your heart in the process of reading one of her stories. But I prepared myself mentally and decided that I was going to dive in and bring some tissues with me. What I found was a tragic and emotional story (Molly’s MO) and a beautifully written tale of second chances wrapped in the ugliness of humanity and hope.

To The Stars focuses on the present and past of two characters, Harlow and Knox. The past is a beautiful story of first love and hope for something to withstand the test of time. The present is a place of darkness, despair, and hurt. This book is brutal in it’s honesty on so many different things. There is beauty and pain all rolled into a story that will touch your heart. There are so many things I liked and appreciated. I enjoyed watching Harlow grow up. She is an old soul but still has so much to learn. She falls in love but doubts her path. When she makes her choice on the day you waited to see come, it alters the course of her entire life. Knox has a maturity and understanding in the past that is rare in one so young. That maturity ages him in the present and shows a bitterness and anger.

When you read this book, your only response is to feel. This story is dripping with feeling. There is the giddiness of first love and the reality of heartbreak. There is terror and pain. There is frustration and pigheadedness. There are moments of hope and moments of truth. You feel the full gambit of human emotions in this story and it connects you to what is happening. I was invested in what progressed. There was one thing in particular that just drove me mad (a complete personal pet peeve in books). It was one of those things that I hoped would not happen but it did. As much as I hate that moment in the story, I appreciated how Molly handled it in the aftermath. In spite of that one thing, the book was wonderful. She was able to win me back and give me a story to hold onto.

This book is not easy. If you have read Molly’s books, you know what you are getting into. There is a violence that I was not expecting and themes that hurt your heart. But the beauty of this book is that there is hope. Never stop fighting. Grab onto the second chance and never let go. It is a story in which choices are made and battles are raged. There is an expectation for victory even in the moments of seeming defeat.  My favorite line in the book just about sums the story up for me…

“You’re the bravest person I’ve ever met, and, in a way, the strongest. But even the bravest warriors needed armies with them.”

“I’m not a warrior,” I said softly.

“You sure about that?”

“Relationship,” Knox huffed. “Low, I’ve told you, you could hardly call it that. Besides, I told her about you before whatever she and I were ever started,” he said. “It’s not my fault she thought I was joking.”

“Well, it’s kind of weird, don’t you think? Telling her, ‘hey, sure I’ll be your date for this group thing, but there’s this girl I’m waiting for, and she’s my priority’, seems like a way to say you don’t want to get too attached at the beginning.”

“But I told her,” he reasoned.

“You’re horrible.”

“Not horrible. I’m just in love with you, and I have a year and a half left until I can have you.”

I gripped at my warming chest and tried to ignore it as I sighed. “I’m going to stop answering your calls whenever you get a new girlfriend.”

“There won’t be a new one, and I know you wouldn’t.”

My eyebrows rose even though he couldn’t see me. “And how do you know that?”

“Because you love me too. Through all this bullshit, you love me, and you need these calls as bad as I do.”

“I do love you, Knox,” I whispered into the phone. It wasn’t the first time I’d told him, and I knew it wouldn’t be the last. “I love you to the moon and back.” My eyes fell to my dresser where my monthly bouquet of red poppies sat. These had come just a few days ago. The card, as always, had read: I’m still waiting for you.

“To the moon?” A deep, husky laugh filled the other end of the phone. “The moon isn’t that far, Harlow.”

“Isn’t it?”

“No. Not far enough.” There were a few beats of silence before he confessed, “I want to love you to the stars.”

My mouth parted and a soft huff slipped past my lips. I closed my eyes and let his words replay in my mind and move through my body as I agreed, “Then to the stars.”

To celebrate the release of To The Stars, Molly is hosting an awesome giveaway. Enter this Rafflecopter giveaway for your chance to win a signed copy of Letting Go and To The Stars and a $50 Amazon or Barnes & Noble gift card (1 winner)! Simply follow the instructions listed on the giveaway and you will be entered for your chance to win. Don’t miss out. Good luck!And don’t miss the first book in the Thatch Series, Letting Go.

LETTING GO (Thatch Series #1)

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Grey and Ben fell in love at thirteen and believed they’d be together forever. But three days before their wedding, the twenty-year-old groom-to-be suddenly died from an unknown heart condition, destroying his would-be-bride’s world. If it hadn’t been for their best friend, Jagger, Grey never would have made it through those last two years to graduation. He’s the only one who understands her pain, the only one who knows what it’s like to force yourself to keep moving when your dreams are shattered. Jagger swears he’ll always be there for her, but no one has ever been able to hold on to him. He’s not the kind of guy to settle down.

It’s true that no one has ever been able to keep Jagger—because he’s only ever belonged to Grey. While everyone else worries over Grey’s fragility, he’s the only one who sees her strength. Yet as much as he wants Grey, he knows her heart will always be with Ben. Still they can’t deny the heat that is growing between them—a passion that soon becomes too hot to handle. But admitting their feelings for each other means they’ve got to face the past. Is being together what Ben would have wanted . . . or a betrayal of his memory that will eventually destroy them both?

Molly grew up in California but now lives in the oh-so-amazing state of Texas with her husband, daughter, and fur babies. When she’s not diving into the world of her characters, some of her hobbies include hiking, snowboarding, traveling, and long walks on the beach … which roughly translates to being a homebody with her hubby and dishing out movie quotes. She has a weakness for crude-humored movies and fried pickles, and loves curling up in a fluffy comforter during a thunderstorm … or under one in a bathtub if there are tornados. That way she can pretend they aren’t really happening.

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New Release + Review + Excerpt: ROUGH & TUMBLE by Kristen Hope Mazzola

Rough & Tumble

Kristen Hope Mazzola

Release Date: February 4, 2016

#WhoIsBoBriggs

That’s all I saw all over social media a few years after he dumped me for a super model and was the first round draft pick for the North Carolina Hogs.

I thought I loved Bo, way back when, but it was all too cliché. He was the star quarterback and I was the head cheerleader. High school sweethearts turned college romance that crumbled when our careers twisted into different paths, or so we thought.

Oh and did I mention, I am about to start photographing his team?!

FML…This is going to be interesting to say the least.

You can purchase your copy today at the retailers listed below!

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks

When they say this story is a short story, they are not kidding. It has every element you expect to find in a book played out in fast forward and then suddenly it is done. Despite the fact it felt a bit rushed, Kristen took everything you expect in a New Adult story and fused it together in a whirlwind, keeping you engaged and curious. Rough & Tumble is a second chance romance for Bo and Peyton. Life’s circumstances and misunderstandings tore them apart and when a second chance comes along, Bo will do whatever it takes to get her back. Their chance meeting sparks something new for these two but allows them to pick up where they left off in the past, diving right into the relationship and passion they always had before. I bet this story would be really great expanded into a full length novel, allowing the story to grow and connect. Yet as it is written now, you have a feeling of “wham, bam, thank you ma’am” that is a very short story. It is quick, precise, and all encompassing. Despite the rushed parts, it is a well written story that touches on many themes and emotions, which gives the reader a little bit of something to hold onto. If you are looking for a quick read, check this story out!

I was startled awake. I had been falling fast in my dream and right before I hit the bottom, my eyes flew open. I quickly started to look around the foreign room. I couldn’t remember anything past seeing Brit and Roxy’s empty seats next to me at the club the night before.

I was in someone’s bed in a room I had never been in in my life. I was dressed in a large black shirt and my underwear and that was it.

How’d I get that fucked up last night?

I rolled out of bed. Hoping to figure out where the heck I was, I peered out the window. I knew that I was downtown somewhere, but for the life of me I couldn’t place the streets and landmarks in my view.

I spun on my heels as I heard the door to the strange room open. My heart was pounding and I was holding my breath as I waited to see who was coming in.

What the hell?

Of course, Bo Briggs slowly started to make his way over to me. I was paralyzed. He was engaged. What in god’s name was I doing in his room?

“How are you feeling?” He handed me a bottle of water and a couple Advil. His light blond hair was shorter than it had been, and he looked downright military with his defined muscles, sleeves of tattoos, and crooked grin that always brought me to my knees.

“Fine.” I took the tiny pills and water from my hunky ex and chugged them down fast. In all reality, my head felt like it had been run over by a Mack truck. “What happened last night? Did we…?” I sunk onto the bed. Except for a few times in passing, it was the first time I had seen Bo in a few years. All the old buried feelings flooded me. I had known for a long time that I wasn’t over my ex, but I didn’t want him to ever know that.

“You were drugged last night at the club.”

My face felt hot, my palms turned clammy, and my head felt like it was about to explode. “What the fuck?” My voice crackled.

You want to know more about me? Well, let’s see…

I am just an average twenty-something following my dreams.  I have a full time “day job” and by night I am an author.  I guess you could say that writing is like my super power (I always wanted one of those).  I am the lover of wine, sushi, football and the ocean; that is when I am not wrapped up in the literary world.

A portion of all my profits are donated to The Marcie Mazzola Foundation. 

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Blog Tour + Review + Excerpt + Giveaway: HE WILL BE MY RUIN by KA Tucker

HE WILL BE MY RUIN is a K.A. Tucker’s first suspense novel, published by Atria books, an Imprint of Simon & Schuster, and is set to be released February 2, 2016. This book was jammed full of suspense, drama, and intrigue. Everyone is a suspect and I could not wait to see what happened in the end. Check out more about this awesome book, read Tina’s Thoughts and an excerpt from the book, and enter a fabulous giveaway!

HE WILL BE MY RUIN
K. A. Tucker
Genre: Adult Suspense
Release Date: February 2, 2016

The USA TODAY bestselling author of the Ten Tiny Breaths and Burying Water series makes her suspense debut with this sexy, heartpounding story of a young woman determined to find justice after her best friend’s death, a story pulsing with the “intense, hot, emotional” (Colleen Hoover) writing that exhilarates her legions of fans.

A woman who almost had it all . . .

On the surface, Celine Gonzalez had everything a twenty-eight-year-old woman could want: a one-bedroom apartment on Manhattan’s Lower East Side, a job that (mostly) paid the bills, and an acceptance letter to the prestigious Hollingsworth Institute of Art, where she would finally live out her dream of becoming an antiques appraiser for a major auction house. All she had worked so hard to achieve was finally within her reach. So why would she kill herself?

A man who was supposed to be her salvation . . .

Maggie Sparkes arrives in New York City to pack up what’s left of her best friend’s belongings after a suicide that has left everyone stunned. The police have deemed the evidence conclusive: Celine got into bed, downed a lethal cocktail of pills and vodka, and never woke up. But when Maggie discovers a scandalous photograph in a lock box hidden in Celine’s apartment, she begins asking questions. Questions about the man Celine fell in love with. The man she never told anyone about, not even Maggie. The man Celine believed would change her life.

Until he became her ruin.

On the hunt for evidence that will force the police to reopen the case, Maggie uncovers more than she bargained for about Celine’s private life—and inadvertently puts herself on the radar of a killer. A killer who will stop at nothing to keep his crimes undiscovered.

You can pre-order your copy today at the retailers listed below! HE WILL BE MY RUIN is LIVE on February 2, 2016!

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo | IndieBound | Book Depository | Audible

Suspense novels are quickly become some of my favorite books to read. Add in that this one is written by an author I have grown to adore, you have a winning combination. HE WILL BE MY RUIN is a fantastic suspense novel that keeps you guessing till the end. When I started reading this book we read in the prologue, which is the near end experience of the story, something that has the reader completely engaged from the life and death opening scene. It caused me to dive even deeper into this book from the very beginning. Everyone is a suspect and you are constantly attempting to see who is who they say they are and who is lying. There are false truths and fake smiles, all of which lead the heroine of this book on a crazy path.

This book primarily is told through Maggie’s POV. Seeing the situation unfold through her perspective allows the reader to analyze what we see and attempt to understand what exactly happened. As with all of Tucker’s heroines, I loved Maggie. First off, I could not help but admire her (and have a bit of hero worship) at what she did with her life. She is a woman who has found her calling and is making a huge impact on the world. The more I learned about her organization and passion, the more I liked her. She is a hardworking woman who carries those closest to her deeply. Celine’s death is a harsh reality for her to swallow and her search for truth is all consuming. This woman is smart and intuitive. Watching her work through the details and learn what really happened is brilliant to watch unfold. Seeing her put the pieces of this terrible situation and her best friend’s reality together carries a lot of weight and emotion. The few chapters in Celine’s POV add depth and gravity to what Maggie discovers. All of this weaves into a story that keeps you engaged and curious till the very end.

Tucker has broken into the world of suspense with brilliance and ease. Her grasp on writing in depth and meaningful stories creates a foundation for a full-fledged suspense novel to be brought to life. Her writing and descriptions allow the reader’s imagination to take root and explore the world that is created. When the imagination is engaged with what is happening, the book comes alive in ways that enhance the story unfolding. HE WILL BE MY RUIN is a story that leaves you assuming one thing and discovering so much more as it all unfolds. I hope that Tucker has many more suspense novels in the near future. You can be assured that they are something I will definitely be keeping an eye out for.

“Look, I’m just…” I stare at my reflection in the mirror, my eyes lined with bags, my skin sallow, my hair matted. I look like someone who sat in bed for twenty-four hours, eating cold pizza from the box I had delivered last night and polishing off a bottle of vodka, all while reading the deepest and darkest thoughts from the last fifteen years of Celine Gonzalez’s life. Discovering things that I could have happily gone the rest of my life without knowing.

Which is exactly what I’ve done.

I can barely keep my eyes open and yet I know that sleep will not grant me a reprieve. “I’m dealing with a few private matters.”

“Well, I can’t guarantee that I’ll be able to fit you in when you decide that you’re ready.”

“You will, because your boss wants my money.” I hang up before I hear her snippy answer and stare at the journal in my hands.

I was torn between starting from the latest diary first and easing myself in with the oldest one, afraid that I wasn’t ready for what might lie within those last pages. That I wasn’t ready to witness just how Celine had lost herself.

And then I picked up a pink book with butterflies on it—the earliest dated journal—and read a thirteen-year-old Celine recount her major crush on my boyfriend at the time: a tall, gangly guy named Jordan who kissed her behind our house one day while I was changing into my bathing suit upstairs. She felt so guilty, she couldn’t sleep for a week. Through tears, I laughed—because I hadn’t even given that guy a moment’s thought in years—and I knew then that starting at the beginning of Celine’s story was the only way to do this.

And so I did, living the past fifteen years through Celine’s eyes, since the days she and Rosa still lived with me. It wasn’t hard to follow along. She dated every single entry. Some days she didn’t have a lot to say. Other days she’d fill an entire page, even writing along the margin. She seemed to follow a simple rule as the years progressed: one page per day, no more.

So many days.

So many confessions.

So many things that made my heart swell.

And so many that made my heart bleed with pain.

To celebrate the upcoming release and review tour of HE WILL BE MY RUIN, Tucker is hosting an awesome giveaway! For your chances to win one of 5 signed copies of HE WILL BE MY RUIN by K.A. Tucker, enter this Rafflecopter giveaway. Simply follow the instructions listed and you will be entered for your chance to win! Don’t miss out on this  awesome giveaway. Good luck!

Born in small-town Ontario, K.A. Tucker published her first book at the age of six with the help of her elementary school librarian and a box of crayons. She currently resides in a quaint town outside of Toronto with her husband, two beautiful girls, and an exhausting brood of four-legged creatures.

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Blog Tour + Review + Giveaway: DOLCE (Love at Center Court #2) by Rachel Blaufeld

Dolce
Love at Center Court #2
Rachel Blaufeld
Genre: New Adult Romance
Release Date: January 21, 2016

“Who just stole my thunder across the Hafton airwaves, you ask? Right now, right this very second, listeners, I have Hafton’s one-and-only, the main man with the ball in hand, Blane Steele is in the studio. Mark my words—he’ll not only steal the ball, but your lady’s heart too. Watch out, gentlemen, the Stealer is in the house!”

— Sonny Be Knocking Boots, Hafton Radio 96.9

Coed antics.

Chaos.

Angst-ridden twists in fate.

Caterina is an intern. Sonny is her shock-jock boss. And Blane is a good-hearted baller…except when he steps on the court. Between on-air dares, an evil feminist professor, a straight-shooter of a coach, and rumors from the league surrounding Steele, these three are destined to screw it all up.

Rather than a love triangle, this is a friends-to-lovers story where the disc jockey acts as the catalyst, and a basketball player finds his life transformed when center court intersects with love.

Dolce, the newest stand alone to the Love at Center Court Series from Rachel Blaufeld, is NOW LIVE! You can grab your copy for only 99 cents for a limited time only at the retailers listed below!

Amazon US | Amazon UK

Dolce took me by surprise. It was a story I was not expecting taking a unique twist that was refreshing and out of left field. There are a lot of things happening between the covers of this book and the shock factor adds a deeper thread of interest. Rachel Blaufeld takes the typical sports college romance and gives it a face lift. She gives the characters overall struggles and life choices meaning, which allows the reader to look at something unexpected in a connected way. I will be vague in my review about what exactly happens. Needles to say, I was not prepared for what I read and spoiling the plot would take away from the experience. It was different than I expected but Rachel made it work in unexpected ways. Maybe this is the author’s normal way of writing, but as someone who has never read her books before, I am very intrigued with her storytelling and plan to explore her other books!

In this story, Cate and Blane seem like total opposites. On many levels they are. But at the core of who they are, we learn that they long to find their place of belonging. Blane finds his home on the basketball court and he longs for his chance to go pro in the end. Cate is a young woman attempting to find out what she believes and who she is at the very core of her being. I felt like a good chunk of this book follows Cate’s journey as she muddles through her choices and the consequences. It was a new adult story at heart in which this young woman learns to accept every part of who she is and fight for what she believes is right. This heroine is quite a fiery package. She embodies her heritage so well and her personalty draws the reader into her plight. I loved this woman’s tenacity and bravery. It took a turn I never saw coming, but as the story progresses it becomes a vital role to the story and the woman’s journey to find herself.

These two main characters experience so much in their own lives and grow throughout the book. Part of that growth happens individually and some together. They weave in and out of each other’s lives, never knowing when it is the right time to officially take a step towards more. The chemistry is there but it is a deep attraction that encourages and distracts. There is an insta-lust that you cannot deny, which fits perfect with the story. It is when the real feelings develop and hard truths come to light that they begin to understand what they have and how to fight for it. The romance between these two main characters is a large chunk of the story but the major character development and unexpected journeys are what made this book an intriguing read for me.

I am still a bit muddled (in a good way) in my overall feelings with this book but it was given me quite the curiosity of Rachel Blaufeld’s writings. She approaches issues with refreshing candor and writes stories that are filled with flaws and believable people. I am excited to dive into more of her stories and see what else she has come up with.

“I’m not doing anything. I’m hanging with a friend.”

Almost instantly, the spark winked out in her eyes. “What?”

Most girls would have bitten their tongue off rather than respond to the friend comment, but not Cate.

She glared at me. “You’re making my head hurt. You’re nice, and we’re friends. Then you wrap your arm around me, hug me tight, chat about porn, and ask me out for a drink, which seems like more than friends. And now we’re back to being friends again.”

“It’s complicated, like you said, with Sonny and the radio station. I’ve never done this before, actually liked someone or been intrigued. Whatever this is.”

“Well, I guess there’s a first time for everything.”

“It’s fucking just my luck, you know,” I said, shaking my head sadly. “I meet someone like you when Sonny throws down the gauntlet, and I can’t mess up because I’ve got Coach breathing down my neck. Everyone’s watching me. It’s been all eyes on deck since last season, when I decided to finish school before I go pro, and do what’s right. I must be jinxed or some shit.”

“Exactly,” Cate said firmly. “I may be all ‘I am woman, hear me roar,’ but I’m not about to trash your career over a silly friendship. You do what you need to do.”

She stood on her tiptoes, grabbed my shoulders, and placed a quick kiss on my cheek. “Take care of yourself, Blane. See you around. Thanks for walking me.”

To celebrate the release and blog tour for Dolce, Rachel  is giving away this coffee mug (perfect for sports romance lovers) filled with swag, along with signed copies of Vérité and Dolce! How great is that? To enter this giveaway, go to the RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY and follow the instructions listed. You will be entered for your chance to win! Don’t miss out. Good luck!

Verite, is book one in the Love at Center Court series and ONLY $0.99 for a limited time. Grab your copy today! Amazon US | Amazon UK

That’s me—Tingly Simmons—athlete, foreign-language major, professor lover, obsessed idiot girl. Definitely not a frat rat or sorority slut. I’ve never even played beer pong.

I ditched the vapid, soulless high-society life of Los Angeles for the promise of something more meaningful in rural Ohio. Accepting a track scholarship for college, I tried running my way to happiness, but instead I ended up sleeping with my French professor and falling head over heels for him.

When that relationship fell apart, so did I.

Barely hanging on by a thread and using the most absurd coping skills, I was determined to hide behind my past indiscretions. That was, until I met Tiberius Jones. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d learn the truth about love from a six-foot-five basketball player.

Rachel Blaufeld is a social worker/entrepreneur/blogger turned author. Fearless about sharing her opinion, Rachel captured the ear of stay-at-home and working moms on her blog,BacknGrooveMom, chronicling her adventures in parenting tweens and inventing a product, often at the same time. She has also blogged for The Huffington Post, Modern Mom, and StartupNation.

Turning her focus on her sometimes wild-and-crazy creative side, it only took Rachel two decades to do exactly what she wanted to do—write a fiction novel. Now she spends way too many hours in local coffee shops plotting her ideas. Her tales may all come with a side of angst and naughtiness, but end lusciously.

Rachel lives around the corner from her childhood home in Pennsylvania with her family and two dogs. Her obsessions include running, coffee, icing-filled doughnuts, anti-heroes, and mighty fine epilogues.  Sign up for her  newsletter for the latest news on releases, sales, giveaways and other updates.

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New Release + Excerpt + Giveaway: THE UPRISING (Union #3) by T.H. Hernandez

It’s release day for The Uprising by T. H. Hernandez! This series is fantastic and I cannot wait to see what happens to Evan and the whole gang.  This is the third book in The Union Series, a captivating Young Adult Dystopian series. T.H. Hernandez is sharing an excerpt and giveaway with us to celebrate her release, so check it all out!

The Uprising
Union #3
T.H. Hernandez
Genre: Young Adult Dystopian
Release Date: January 19, 2016

Recovering from a near-fatal gunshot wound, eighteen-year-old Evan Taylor must find a way to stop the Uprising, an underground movement committed to destroying the Union, before her homeland is attacked.

After spending the last four months in the Ruins trying to get back to the only girl he’s ever loved, nineteen-year-old Cyrus needs to get past his jealousy over Evan’s involvement with Bryce or risk losing her again.

Together, Evan and Cyrus join with their friends to devise a plan to save both the Ruins and the Union, but when the pressure’s on, bickering and infighting threaten to undermine their goals. New information revealing a weakness in the Uprising is uncovered, forcing them to act quickly or risk losing everything.

With the help of old friends and new allies they set out to make history, but it might just take a miracle for everyone to make it out alive.

THE UPRISING is the third book in THE UNION series, a young adult romantic adventure set in the near future.

You can purchase your copy of The Uprising today on Amazon!

Hot showers, beds that conform to my body, soft clothes, public transportation — there’s a shitload of stuff to love about the Union, but by far my favorite is the beach. I never tire of watching the ocean, struggling to understand it, the way it seems to go on forever. Standing here, feeling the coarse sand beneath my feet and the cool mist on exposed skin, helps me think.

Like an idiot, I figured nothing else mattered as long as Evan and I were together, but every damn thing matters. It’s not safe to stay here, and it’s not safe to return to the Ruins. Not that she’d even agree to that. Hell, I don’t know what she wants. We barely talk and I know that’s mostly on me. I can’t pretend her sleeping with that douche doesn’t piss me off. I want to punch something every time I see him, which is pretty much every fucking day.

“Figured I’d find you here,” Rainey’s raspy voice comes from behind me.

I grit my teeth and turn to face her. “Hey.”

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”

“Yeah. Never thought I’d see the ocean, now I can’t seem to leave.”

She’s quiet for a few moments, staring out at the crashing waves. I’ve stared at them for plenty of hours myself, now I stare at her. She’s pretty, in a rough sort of way. The scar running from her ear to her jaw only enhances her looks. But she’s not someone you’d ever want to mess with.

“Quit staring at me.”

I turn back to the water. “Sorry.”

“Colin went with her. You know, in case you were wondering.”

“Not really.” I wasn’t, only because I chose not to think about it. But if it’d been Bryce, I’d have needed to pound something.

“Are you going to punish her forever?”

Dragging my gaze away from the surf, I glare at her. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Her eyebrows go up. “Really? You two were this sappy sweet, gag-inducing couple until her ex showed up. Now you’re always in a foul mood, and you barely talk to the girl you supposedly gave up everything to follow.”

“Fine, I don’t like the guy, never have. Why the hell is he here again?”

“We need everyone if we have any hope of doing what you’re planning. We can’t send him packing because he got naked and horizontal with your girl.”

If Rainey wasn’t a girl, I’d have no problem decking her, but she is, so I walk down to the water to get away from her.

Whatever went on between Evan and the douchebag was before she joined the Uprising, but it’s more than that. It’s everything. She had no idea what she was getting herself into and no plan to get out. She nearly got herself killed.

She’s impulsive and reckless, and I don’t know if I can deal with that.

To celebrate the new release of The Uprising, T. H. Hernandez is hosting an awesome giveaway! Enter this Rafflecopter giveaway for your chance to win a $25 Amazon Giftcard. To enter, simply follow the instructions listed and you will be entered for your chance to win. Don’t miss out! Good luck.

Don’t miss out on the first two books in the Union Series!

The Union: Goodreads | Amazon
The Ruins: Goodreads | Amazon

When not visiting the imaginary worlds inside my head, I live in San Diego, California, with one husband, three children, two cats, and one dog. In addition to my day job as a technical writer and editor, I write young adult fiction. I love the intensity of teen emotions and the way they’re still figuring out life. When I’m not writing, you can find me with my nose in a book, hanging out with family and friends, hiking, or knitting. I’m obsessed with Facebook, young adult novels, bad lip reading videos, pumpkin spice lattes, microbrewed beers, and the San Diego Chargers.

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New Release: THE FINAL KO by Jessica Florence

Looking for a strong and sexy read? The Final KO is LIVE and ready to take you there! Check out more about this new release and grab your copy today!

The Final KO
Jessica Florence
Genre: Adult Romance

Release Date: January 14, 2016

 

I fight bitches for a living.

Which makes finding a decent guy hard when you’re a female MMA fighter. None of them have been my equal. I yearn for a man who can push me to reach new heights and challenge me. A man who will treat me like a lady then lift me up by my ass and impale me against the wall.

But when Arson Kade, MMA’s top fighter and notorious manwhore declares he’s that man for me I have my doubts. Any sane woman would.

There seems to be more to Arson than the rumors that surround him, but will it make me fall hard or run for the hills?

I know I’ve got no choice but to hold on for the ride.

It’s the main event and my heart’s on the line.

But will it be the Final KO.

You can purchase your copy today at the retailer listed below!

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Itunes | Nook | KOBO

Jessica Florence, Kaleidoscope of Romance Writer of Surviving Valentine, the of The Heart trilogy, Evergreen, Guiding Lights, and The Final KO. When she’s not writing her next invigorating story. You can find her running her own business, and spending time with her husband and daughter in southwest Florida. Jessica loves to interact with her readers, find her on Facebook, her Blog, and Twitter. You can email her at JessicaFlorenceAuthor@gmail.com.