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: LUX (Nocte Trilogy #3) by Courtney Cole

It is finally time to see what happens in the end and it is something that will blow your mind! Check out more about the third and final installment in the Nocte Trilogy, LUX!  The conclusion to the series is available today. Prepare yourself.

LUX
Nocte Trilogy #3
Courtney Cole
Genre: NA Psychological Thriller
Release Date: October 28, 2015

My name is Calla Price and I’m broken.
My pieces are all around me, floating on the wind, even as I desperately try to grasp them.
Who is dead? Alive? Insane?
What is the truth?
I don’t know.
I do know this: The darkness is strangling me. With every breath, I choke on another lie.
My mind has protected me, but that shield will soon be lowered.
All will be revealed.
Every answer to every question.
It’s all been leading to this.
Don’t be afraid.
Be terrified.

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

Amazon | iBooks | Nook | Kobo

I read the first two books and novella in this series very quickly in preparation for LUX. It was all done within 2 and a half days. I was left reeling. This series is full of twists and turns that you will leave you with more questions than answers. Please note that you can NOT read this book as a standalone. It is is already confusing enough with the lead up to the finale but there are so many parts that build the whole that you cannot see what is going on without all the pieces. This review will be vague but to understand what is happening you need to read the book yourself.

LUX is a complicated web of lies, truth, death, and dreams. This book takes you on a cycle of death and life, one that is confusing but addicting. I could not stop reading until I knew what was happening. The ups and downs chain you to the story, causing you to question what you know and attempt to understand what you don’t. There is a deadly family secret that has been passed down for generations from the first of man. It was interesting to see how Courtney Cole tied this story into ancient stories. There are self-fulfilling prophecies and expectations put on every character we read. Some know what is coming while others flounder in insanity. When you finally think you have figured out what is going on, there is a tangent to chase and a new layer to unfold. When the end happens, you don’t know what is reality and what is insanity.

I feel like there will be strong opinions of this book. You will either love it or hate it. It is so fresh in my mind right now that I am still trying to muddle through the pieces I learned and understand the reality of the situation. Every dream that becomes a reality shifts the focus one way or another. Calla is the central focus but each character is equally as important in their own right. Finn and Dare stand by her in each scenario and her choices never falter. There is major sense of deja vu in this story, one that caught me off guard and made me wonder if I was reading the right book. But in those moments pay close attention. There are nuggets that will expand what is happening and shifts that are occurring.

I feel like my head is a bit of a jumbled mess at the end of this series. My mind has been running in circles to understand what is happening. I even went so far as to try and talk it out with someone and I looked like a lunatic. This series will taunt you and leave bread crumbs that lead to confusion and doubt. As the reader, you must choose with Calla what is reality or insanity. In the end, you will decide their fate.

 NOCTE (Nocte #1) Amazon | iBooks | Nook | Kobo | Audible (Add on Goodreads)

My name is Calla Price. I’m eighteen years old, and I’m one half of a whole. My other half—my twin brother, my Finn—is crazy. I love him. More than life, more than anything. And even though I’m terrified he’ll suck me down with him, no one can save him but me. I’m doing all I can to stay afloat in a sea of insanity, but I’m drowning more and more each day. So I reach out for a lifeline. Dare DuBray. He’s my savior and my anti-Christ. His arms are where I feel safe, where I’m afraid, where I belong, where I’m lost. He will heal me, break me, love me and hate me. He has the power to destroy me. Maybe that’s ok. Because I can’t seem to save Finn and love Dare without everyone getting hurt. Why? Because of a secret. A secret I’m so busy trying to figure out, that I never see it coming. You won’t either.

 VERUM (Nocte #2) Amazon | iBooks | Nook | Kobo | Audible (Add on Goodreads)

The truth shall set you free.
My name is Calla Price and I’m drowning.
My new world is a dark, dark ocean and I’m being pulled under by secrets.
Can I trust anyone? I don’t know anymore.
The lies are spirals. They twist and turn, binding me with their thorns and serpentine tongues. And just when I think I have it figured out, everything is pulled out from under me.
I’m entangled in the darkness.
But the truth will set me free.
It’s just ahead of me, so close I can touch it. But even though it shines and glimmers, it has glistening fangs and I know it will shred me.
Are you scared?
I am.

 INITIUM (Nocte #2.5) Amazon | iBooks | Nook | Kobo (Add on Goodreads)

I never knew what the consequences would be.
I say that like it’s a defense, an excuse.
It’s not. It’s simply the truth.
I never knew what he would become to me.
Through everything, he’s become everything.
My rock, my air, my love.
My everything.
And then….
Things changed.
Because it was wrong.
Because sometimes, our sons must pay for the sins of their fathers.
Or their mothers.
I’m afraid that I’m lost,
that I’m damned.
After you read this, you’ll probably agree.
Really, it doesn’t matter.
All that matters is that I save him.
Because he shouldn’t pay for my sin.
Judge me if you like.
But keep reading.
This is our beginning.
This is where the darkness truly starts.

Courtney Cole is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling novelist who would rather write than eat chocolate. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business, but no amount of working in the corporate world could quell her urge to write.

Courtney was born and raised in Kansas, home of incredibly friendly people and the most horrendous weather on the planet. Because summer days were so hot, she grew up reading stacks of books… and when she didn’t like the ending, she wrote her own.

Courtney has relocated to Florida where she writes beneath palm trees. To learn more about her, please visit her website.  To sign up for her newsletter and receive exclusive sneak peeks and super-fan perks, click here.

Blog Tour, Excerpt, Review, and Giveaway: My Salvation by Michelle Dare

My Salvation
Michelle Dare
Genre: Romance
Release Date: October 19, 2014

Caliana Crawford is smart, sexy and unemployed. After quitting her mediocre job, she finds herself in need of a break. She goes to the one place that holds her most precious memories, her cabin by the lake. Life hasn’t always been easy for Cali. She lost someone close to her, was betrayed by her lover, and now she only wants to escape reality. What she doesn’t plan on is her sexy neighbor, who has an agenda of his own.

Owen Matthews goes through the motions every day, but knows his life is missing one essential part – Cali. He has never forgotten about the summers he spent by the lake with the gorgeous brunette. When he sees she is back to stay, Owen knows he can’t let her slip through his fingers again. Others think he has it all with owning a multimillion dollar company, but what they don’t know is that he would give it all up to have her in his arms and his bed.

The road to happiness isn’t always easy. His brother returns to his life and brings with him an old flame who threatens to rip Cali and Owen apart. Will they find their salvation with one another or let the events of their past influence their future?

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

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

My Salvation is a tale of two people getting a second chance to finally pursue the spark that exists between them. Cali and Owen had always flirted as teenagers yet never made a real move to be more. The night before Cali went to college, they shared a kiss that seared the memory into their souls forever. When chance brings them together 10 years later, both Owen and Cali know that this is a chance that they cannot give up. Yet sometimes, life and fate are working against you. When people from Owen’s past come back and threats are made to Cali, they must choose what they will fight together.

This book is the debut novel for author Michelle Dare. It starts off with Cali declaring her independence from her job and deciding to take some time to figure out what she wants from life. She takes off to her inherited lake house for some time to regroup and decide what she wants. It is here that her old crush saunters back into her life. When Cali and Owen meet again, it is a whirlwind of romance and lust. At first I had a hard time getting past the insta-love of their relationship. They literally fell into bed together so quickly. However, that is the genre and when I took a moment to reflect that they had been harboring feelings for one another for so long (over 10 years), it soothed that issue for me. Once I got past that, I really started to enjoy the story.

Cali is such a lovely strong female character. She is witty, kind, and searching for her anchor in life. She has been floating since the death of her best friend/Aunt Rhae. She is independent yet never stubborn in what she wants and what she feels is the right course of action. Cali is loyal and unwavering. When she loves, it is completely and unconditionally. Owen is the sexy boy next store turned millionaire business owner. He still has such a down to earth quality mixed with a man who can do anything he wants at a moments whim. He is able to woo Cali in such an extravagant way, yet you never feel that he is an overbearing alpha or too domineering. He is sweet, kind, and sexy.

Cali and Owen are a fantastic couple. They truly compliment each other and fit perfectly. Their passion is very well displayed. There was a lot of sex in this book, more so than I expected or really care for in books, but the point is made very clear: these two are so in love and in lust that they cannot keep their hands off each other. It is a honeymoon phase that will not end anytime soon and a spark that will not go out! About a quarter of the way through the story, a different plot twist emerges that I was not expecting, yet for me, it made the book so much better! Someone begins to threaten Cali and there is not a substantial clue as to who and what is happening. This plot development adds more depth to this story and helps to fuse our two leading characters together even more.

The secondary characters are some incredible supporting ones. Steven and Adeline were so wonderful! I loved how different characters were introduced into the story. I enjoyed watching the reconciliation between Owen and his brother Ethan. Each character was well woven into the storyline and added the perfect amount of character development and supporting plot twists. The friendships within this story are real and the kindness is so genuine. Seeing those relationships and friendships play out in this book was a real treat.

Overall, this story was a fun read. It was very heavy on the romance and had a great unseen plot twist that added emotional depth and intrigue to the story! Cali and Owen are a great couple. This was a good debut novel from Michelle Dare and I am interested to see what else she has in store!

When Cali reached the main living room she saw him out on the deck.  He was setting out breakfast for the two of them.  She stood in the doorway watching him.

He didn’t seem to notice her standing there.  Her mind drifted, wondering why Owen wanted her, what he saw.  No job, not even looking for a new one, but what she did have was a huge heart and the man in front of her was taking more and more of it.

Owen was placing food on plates.  He was wearing a dark olive green t-shirt and khaki shorts.  The way the shirt clung to his muscular arms with each movement made her hot all over.  Roving over his body, her eyes moved to take in the shape of his firm ass and his strong legs.  This man could knock someone out with one punch, she thought.

She stepped onto the deck, her sandals making a soft clap on the wood.  Owen looked up and a warm smile lit his face.  Not knowing where they were going she chose a soft pink tank top and white, cotton shorts.  She loved the way he looked at her, taking her in.  The look made her feel sexy and wanted.

When she reached him, he brought his hand up to brush one of her curls from her face.  “You are gorgeous and you’re mine.”

Cali nodded.  “All yours.”  He took his thumb and brushed the soft pad over her lower lip.

“Let’s eat before I take you down to the pool and have my way with you.”

“Hmmm,” she said, acting like she was deep in thought.  “Maybe we can take a dip later.  Might be fun.”

“I’ll hold you to it.  Now sit and eat.  We have a reservation to keep.”

“Where are we going?” she asked.

“Haven’t you learned yet?  I like to surprise you.”

Mumbling she said, “I hate surprises.”  But he heard and laughed.

They ate breakfast while watching the waves gently lap the shore.  A light breeze was blowing causing the palm trees to rustle.  Cali could see a couple of sailboats out on the water.  She was mentally etching the moment into her memory, not wanting to forget a single minute of the trip.

Owen kept her on her toes and she was starting to like it.  He was always moving.  She usually preferred more of a schedule, a routine.  To know what every day held.

Before, all of the surprises and spontaneity would have driven her crazy, but she was learning to relax and go wherever Owen wanted.  The way he took care of her, always thinking of her needs, she felt like she was in a dream, waiting to wake up.

You feeling lucky today? Then make sure to enter this Rafflecopter giveaway for your chance to win. In celebration of this blog tour, Michelle Dare and Southern Belle are giving away a $10 Amazon giftcard. Just click on the link above and enter for your chance to win! Good luck!

Michelle Dare is a Jersey girl living over the border in Pennsylvania.  She started out as a reader, then became a book blogger.  She loves the book community and thought to try her hand at writing.  Her first book, My Salvation, is a contemporary romance.

She is a married mom with two wonderful children and a German Shepherd, who she considers her third child.   She is a lover of books, music and movies.  Her favorite band is Maroon 5 and has too many favorite movies to list.  Paranormal romance is her favorite genre to read.

For more about Michelle, check out her social media sites.

Facebook | Twitter | Website |Goodreads

Blog Tour, Review, and Giveaway: When We Met by AL Jackson, Molly McAdams, Tiffany King, and Christina Lee

I just love a good collaborative effort and this one takes the cake! What’s better than a book written by your favorite author? A book that combines the talents of four of them! When We Met is a collaboration by the wonderful AL Jackson, the lovely Molly McAdams, the stunning Tiffany King, and the glorious Christina Lee! Enough said! Just one click this book! Keep reading below for more about the book, teasers, an incredible giveaway, and Tina’s Thoughts!

Today’s premiere New Adult authors combine their talents to tell four original stories from inside one house. 

When four girls decide to live off campus together as juniors at a college in Michigan, they expect it to be their best year yet. Little do they know, it’s a year that will change the rest of their lives.

BEHIND HER EYES by A.L. Jackson 
Unable to live down her ex-boyfriend’s deception, Misha is determined to avoid betrayal. When, the new guy next door, Darryn starts to get under her skin, her defenses start to crumble. But trusting Darryn seems impossible, especially if he’s not sure he can trust himself.

SAVING ME by Molly McAdams 
On the outside, Indy is always ready for a party—but inside she’s breaking. Kier makes a weekly routine of saving the girl next door from herself on Saturday nights… but when will she be ready to remember him on Sunday morning?

FOULING OUT by Tiffany King 
Working at a sports bar, Courtney has become a pro at sidestepping propositions from arrogant jocks—which makes her a more elusive catch for campus basketball star Dalton than he expected. But when he falls for the saucy waitress, Dalton will have to rethink his game plan to prove he’s not the jerk Courtney expects.

BENEATH YOUR LAYERS by Christina Lee 
In order to ace her fashion internship, Chloe must team up with local college dropout and set builder, Blake—much to her chagrin. But after some “hands-on” experience, Chloe will have to ask herself if Blake factors into her carefully laid plans…

You can add this book to your Goodreads lists below.

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

Amazon    Barnes & Noble    iBooks    Kobo

Prepare yourself! This book is great! My only wish is that I could have each story transformed into it’s own book! In When We Met, each short story features a different girl from the Harrison House. They moved in together during their college career and they fit perfectly. They are four very different college girls attending the University of Michigan, where they study, work hard, and party. I loved this idea. I have read one other mini series with this same concept but this book was different. It spans an entire college year. The story starts off with Misha and Darryn, then moves onto Indy and Keir, followed by Courtney and Dalton, and finally ending with Chloe and Blake. Each girl has a distinctly different personality.

In the first story we meet Misha. Misha is a quiet and shy girl, one who has been violated in a horrible way over her sophomore year. She grudgingly comes back to school and tries to keep her head down. But her new neighbor, Darryn has other plans. He intends to find out more about her and see if the girl from the rumors are true. When they start to explore a relationship, lies are told and feelings are hurt, yet they prevail. It was a story of healing and freedom from shame and fear. Their chemistry was crazy and I loved how AL Jackson was able to address some serious college issues within a short story!

In the second story we meet Indy, Misha’s best friend. Indy comes home early from break after a major falling-out with her parents. She longs to be in the arms of her loving boyfriend. When she goes to his room, she finds him having sex with another woman, thus ending their relationship. To cope with her life, Indy turns to drinking and partying, always loosing control and escaping for one night. She is a mess. She always parties at the neighbor’s house and at the end of every party, Keir, her smoking hot neighbor, takes her home and puts her to bed, locking the door behind to keep her safe. She never seems to remember him the next day, but as they begin to interact, something blooms. Secrets are shared and connections are made! If I had to pick a favorite, this one was it! I loved Keir and Indy. Both were so sad and broken from their past but together they created a safe place! Their connection was deep because of their heartache and I loved watching them fall for each other.

In the third story, we meet Courtney. Courtney is a spunky little pixie of a girl. She works at a sports bar like crazy, always trying to make ends meet, the model employee. One night she is brought face to face with her past, the infamous star basketball player from Michigan’s team, her childhood friend Dalton. To say things are tense would be kind. She is hurt from his abandonment as a young girl and he is confused to what happened. As they learn to forgive, we see a couple that was meant to take this next step. This story was a precious one about second chances. They  made me laugh out loud and sigh with the sweet gestures and connection.

In the final story we meet Chloe. Chloe is the beautiful girl who is always put together in her heels and pencil skirts. She longs to be able to stand on her own two feet and establish herself as her own person, free from her mother’s shadow and legacy. When given the opportunity to host a show and store, she takes this challenge seriously, even if she has to work with her boss nephew, Blake. There is tension between them that basically stems from misconceptions and judgments. Yet as they begin to work and play a silly game of Truth or Dare, they learn that they are not so different, just wrapped in different packages, dealing with similar hurt and issues. Their chemistry explodes and they know their working relationship has a time frame. But they throw caution to the wind and explore what is happening, leaving the reader smiling in the process. I love a good story about the depth of people and who they are, not who others think they are. It is a story of being allowed to be free to who you truly are and finding someone who appreciates who you are at the deepest level.

All in all, these short stories create a fabulous book that gives us a small glimpse into this house of college girls. It was sweet, sexy, and lovely! The writing styles spice things up and create a fabulous experience for the reader. I loved how the different personalities of the four girls meshed together. Their stories were so different but so perfect together. I love this idea of writing and I hope to see more of it one day! It is a nice sampling of what makes each of these authors fantastic and you will not want to miss it! Make sure to grab your copy today!

It’s GIVEAWAY TIME! To celebrate the release and Blog Tour for When We Met, the four authors have decided to give away a signed paperback copy from their collection! This giveaway includes a signed copy of Come To Me Quietly by AL Jackson, Letting Go by Molly McAdams, No Attachments by Tiffany King, and Before Your Break by Christina Lee! That is a wonderful prize pack that you do not want to miss out on! Enter this RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY for your chance to win!

A.L. Jackson is the New York Times bestselling author of Take This Regret and Lost to You, as well as other contemporary romance titles, including Come to Me Quietly, Come to Me Softly, Pulled, When We Collide, and If Forever Comes.

She first found a love for writing during her days as a young mother and college student.  She filled the journals she carried with short stories and poems used as an emotional outlet for the difficulties and joys she found in day-to-day life.

Years later, she shared a short story she’d been working on with her two closest friends and, with their encouragement, this story became her first full length novel. A.L. now spends her days writing in Southern Arizona where she lives with her husband and three children. Her favorite pastime is spending time with the ones she loves.

To stay up to date with important news on A.L. Jackson, including new releases, sales, and exclusive specials and excerpts, text “jackson” to 96000 to subscribe! To find out more of what she is up to, check out her social media links listed below!

Newsletter   Website    Facebook    Twitter    Pinterest 

USA Today Bestselling author Tiffany King is a lifelong reading fanatic who is now living her dream as a writer, weaving Young Adult and New Adult romance tales for others to enjoy. She has a loving husband and two wonderful kids. (Five, if you count her three spoiled cats). Her addictions include: Her iPhone and iPad, chocolate, Diet Coke, chocolate, Harry Potter, chocolate, zombies and her favorite TV shows. Want to know what they are? Just ask. You can email at authortiffany@yahoo.com.

For more about Tiffany, check out her social media sites!

Twitter  Facebook   Pinterest   Blog   Goodreads

Molly grew up in California but now lives in the oh-so-amazing state of Texas with her husband and furry four-legged daughters. 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.

Come be my friend!

Want to know more about Molly and what she is up to? Check out her social media sites for more about her and her fabulous books!

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Mother, wife, reader, dreamer. Christina lives in the Midwest with her husband and son–her two favorite guys.

She’s addicted to lip gloss and salted caramel everything. She believes in true love and kissing, so writing romance novels has become a dream job.

Author of the Between Breaths series from Penguin. ALL OF YOU, BEFORE YOU BREAK and WHISPER TO ME available now, PROMISE ME THIS on October 7th, 2014.

Also Adult contemporary romance TWO OF HEARTS coming from Peguin/NAL on May 5th 2015.

Want to know more about Christina and what she is up to? Check out her social media sites listed below!

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Release Day, Excerpts, and Review: TEMPER FOR YOU by Genna Rulon

Are you ready for an incredible story that you never saw coming? Genna Rulon is a fabulous hidden gem in the world of published authors today! Her latest book TEMPER FOR YOU has just been released and I am so excited to help celebrate this wonderful story! If you have never heard of Genna, then today is the day! Check out some excerpts and Tina’s Thoughts. This book was so great and a fantastic addition to the wonderful For You Series.

“Life is messy. Love is messier.” -Catch and Release

Meg Adeio has led a life of isolation—not by choice, by necessity—until one act of heroism forces her out of seclusion. Despite a past shrouded in mystery, Meg is “adopted” by an eclectic group of friends that become the family she never had. Life was good for the first time in…ever.

Or it was until Westly Black reappeared on her doorstep. She knew he was the last man any woman should give her time to—only good for one thing—yet a temptation no woman could deny. Wes might make her life messy, but Meg’s eyes were wide open and she had it under control. At least she thought she did.

When past and present collide, loyalties are tested, forcing Meg to sacrifice her future to protect those she loves.

Temper For You is a gripping story of regret, deception, and redemption – filled with raw emotion, sarcastic wit, intrigue, and love’s propensity to forgive.

Though Temper For You is a part of the For You Series, it can be read as a stand alone. This story is appropriate for readers 18+

Wes POV

“Look…Sam is ever-so-slightly insane.  It may be a new form of Tourette’s, but I’m waiting to hear back from the Psych department for confirmation.  Despite her best intentions, she has an astounding propensity to embarrass me.  You are just one in a series of cringe-worthy moments so don’t think you’re anything special, and whatever you do, don’t read too much into anything she said.  Nothing is going to happen between us.”

She was so certain, I almost believed her—almost.

I grabbed the edges of her stool and spun until we were face-to-face, the change of position creating the illusion of privacy and removing the deliberate need for her to speak to me over her shoulder.  I expected a protest but was pleasantly surprised when the only reaction I received was a raised brow.

“That’s better.  Now, was Sam telling the truth?  Are you interested in a no strings…friendship?  Because I can promise I am a very accommodating friend.  And you won’t find anyone less capable of strings than me,” I finished with a salacious smile full of carnal promise.

She leaned into me, her body already buying what I was selling.  It was a moment of weakness I needed to capitalize on.

Splitting the distance between us, I locked my eyes onto hers, my mouth mere inches from her pouty lips.  It was my last chance and I damn well knew it.  Time for the most persuasive closing argument of my life.

“There aren’t many things I’m truly exceptional at.  I’ll never be husband material.  I’m a shit friend most of the time.  I believe the ends usually justify the means.  My moral fiber is questionable, at best.  I will never be the person you call when you’re in a bind or need a shoulder to lean on.  I don’t express my feelings, mostly because I don’t have any that aren’t shallow.  I don’t like animals as a general rule, and children—no, just no,” I paused, asking myself what the hell I was saying as the same question echoed in her eyes.  Too late now—in for a penny, in for a pound.  “The only steadfast rule I have is I do not sleep with someone else’s woman—ever.  Other than that one display of principles, I have few redeeming qualities.  There are two areas I excel, the law and sex—and when I say I excel, I mean I’m a fucking god.  You will forget your own name because all you’ll be able to do is scream mine…over and over again.  You want no-strings, mind-blowing sex?  There is no one better qualified.”

Her eyes were wide as saucers and her mouth slightly open, which I took as an invitation.  Without warning, I closed the gap between us, brushing my lips against her silky pink ones.  I took advantage of her shock and slid my tongue inside, tasting and teasing.  It was a kiss meant to entice, not conquer—that would come later.  I gently nipped her plump lower lip with my teeth and was rewarded with a sharp inhale of desire.  She was so close to surrender I could taste it—sweet and hot, with a hint of vanilla and cranberry.

Her resistance collapsed, marked by the alluring breasts suddenly pressed against my chest—victory.  I grasped her hips, pulling until she was pressed firmly against me, undoubtedly able to feel the steely effect of her kiss.  As I subtly rocked my hips against her core, warm fingers twined through my hair, tugging me closer, causing a groan of pained pleasure to escape from my mouth into hers.

Unwilling to continue my exploration with a bar full of witnesses, I attempted to pull away—an attempt met with unintelligible protests.  I couldn’t risk giving her an opportunity for second thoughts, so I did what any sane man would do.  I slid my hands down to cup her lush ass, lifting until her legs wrapped around my waist, and without breaking the kiss, I carried her out of the bar.  Perhaps I was more of a gentleman than I’d given myself credit for.

       

Meg POV

“What would you call a beautiful, intelligent woman who has proven herself to be compassionate and giving, who is surrounded by people who see this in her and love her, who has—by all accounts—fought tooth-and-nail for every achievement in her life, and who has survived some unknown ordeal that she won’t discuss in order to protect those she loves, but despite all evidence believes herself to be ‘a carrier of evil that infects all the innocents she comes in contact with,’” she finished. “I’d say that remarkable young woman has an affected sense of self, likely stemming from childhood and/or specific traumatic events. I would also say her self-perception is so warped that she does, in fact, have her head up her ass.”

“You don’t understand. There’s so much you don’t know about me. If you knew, you wouldn’t be so quick to defend me against myself,” I said sadly.

“Then tell me, Meg. Tell me and we’ll find out who’s right. I’ll even bet you twenty bucks when all is said and done that you’ll be the one agreeing with me.”

“I can’t, Thia. I don’t know if I can do what you’re asking. I’ve spent my entire adult life lying and hiding in order to survive. I’m not sure I can face my shame.”

“You face your shame every day, regardless of whether the emotion is merited. You face your past with each evasion and half-truth you force yourself to tell to protect your secrets. You think you’re hiding from your past, but you’re not—you’re hiding from the present by wrapping yourself in the past. It’s time to confront your past and live in the present, otherwise you have no future.”

I don’t even know where to begin with this book. I was floored by this story. Genna has a way of taking incredible characters and building a tale that will change your perspective. The entire For You series has been one fabulous story after another and I expected nothing less than an amazing book! She delivered and exceeded my expectations. TEMPER FOR YOU is an evoking tale of one tortured souls transformation into a free woman and the path that took her there. It is a sweet love story, filled with moments of tender love and flashes of raw sexiness.  There is drama and angst but nothing that would turn the reader off. Instead the deep emotions draw you in and create a tie between your heart and the heart of the book.

Meg was one of the sweetest and saddest characters I have read in a while. It was gut wrenching to see the world through her eyes, to understand the pain and isolation she felt through the vast majority of her life. She was a shell of who she was meant to be. Her life and upbringing tarnished something so deep within her soul that there was little hope that anything could change her fate. She was a raw and vulnerable character who emulated so much quiet strength that I was surprised and floored. Her unconditional love for her friends was deep and impacting. The process of watching her allow the unconditional love to be reciprocated was powerful, creating a transformation that was quite spectacular.

Wes was the epitome of douche-bag yet he used it as a way to shield his life and heart from those around him. Easier to profess oneself as an a$$hole than to give the allusion of expectations he would not and believed that he could not fulfill. He allowed so many people to misjudge him. This allowance created a facade that he played into, at times believing that he was exactly what people thought. He was a well written male character that I enjoyed so much!

Meg and Wes first encounter each other PIECES FOR YOU, the second installment of the series. They have an incredible date together and then truth is outed, assumptions are made, and the night ends in disaster. Needless to say, they are not on the best of terms. When Wes moves into the townhouse next to Meg and Sam, they are forced to re-evaluate their hostile relationship. Something more is there. They both want something, not permanent, but something to fulfill the inexplicable longing and spark that exists between them. As they explore that spark, they both begin to feel things that they never intended. Yet the connection can only go so deep with secrets hidden and truth silenced.

There are several themes that I loved and appreciated in this book. First, the theme of family and friendship. I love the deep connections the people have in books. To have it portrayed in such a rich and powerful way is a testament to Genna’s incredible author prowess. We see the main characters from the first two books, Hunter, Everleigh, Sam, and Grffin, all of whom are deeply embedded into Meg’s life. They rescued her from herself and brought her into such a strong and loving community that allowed her to feel safe. For the first time in her life, she understands what love means. The idea that your family is who you choose is so well displayed and you can practically feel the connection and emotion leaping from the page. They feel everything with each other and bear one another’s burdens with no second thought.

Another theme I loved was the theme of healing. Not only did Meg go through a healing transformation to rid her of her demons and set her free, we also see a healing of sorts with Wes. Their relationship developed into something that created a safe environment for truth and restoration. When you learn of their pasts and their tormenting secrets, it is heart breaking to see what they have came from, yet both are so strong, determined to leave it behind. When they find a healthy way to deal with the pain and the memories, it is powerful to watch. It is very introspective. I found myself evaluating areas where I saw similar emotions in my life. This theme was so well written. It was raw, emotional, agonizing, yet so beautiful and pure.

I feel like I could literally go on and on about this book! The entire series is incredible and this one is just as great! If you have not read Genna’s For You series, then stop what you are doing and one click this series. You will not be disappointed!

           
Want to know more about this series?
Check out the links below to see more about all the books so far in this series!

ONLY FOR YOU–> Amazon and Goodreads

PIECES FOR YOU –> Amazon and Goodreads

TEMPER FOR YOU –> Amazon and Goodreads

Genna Rulon is a contemporary romance author with a passion for blending comedy, tragedy, suspense, and hope to create her “book babies.”

During her 15 years in the corporate world, Genna—inspired by her love of reading—fantasized about penning her own stories.  Encouraged by her favorite authors, many of whom are indie writers and self-published, she committed to pursue her aspirations of writing her own novels.

Genna was born in California and raised on Long Island in New York, where she still resides, surrounded by the most amazing family and friends.  She’s married to a wonderful man who patiently tolerates her ramblings about whichever book she is currently working on—even feigning interest relatively convincingly!  Genna is blessed with two little boys who do their best to thwart mommy’s writing time with their hilarious antics and charming extrapolations.

All of Genna’s books are brought to you courtesy of coffee and Disney Junior.

For more of what Genna is up to, check out her social media sites…

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For more breaking news, exclusive excerpts, and special contests, join Genna’s fan page on Facebook, the Rulon Roadies. Genna would love to hear from you. She loves to personally respond to all messages! You can contact her via email at genna@gennarulon.com