Taking over the world, one book at a time
8.26.13
Spotlight & Exceprt of Joan Swan’s Rush
Kimberly review The Next Big Thing by Kristan Higgans
8.27.13
Kimberly reviews The Hero by Robyn Carr
8.28.13
Entangled Teen Launch Party
Kimberly review Slow Summer Burn by Elisabeth Barrett
8.29.13
Kelly reviews Burn by Maya Banks
8.30.13
Personal Assets by Kelsey Browning Blog Tour
Kelly review First Temptation by Joan Swan
8.31.13
SINsational Saturday Series
SHE TAKES THE PLUNGE.
Teal Williams is content with her career as a ship’s master mechanic—until Zane Cutter, the “Casanova of the Caribbean,” makes her an offer she can’t refuse: to climb on board with him for a real-life treasure hunt. Teal must help him dredge up a shipwrecked vessel containing an abundance of gold, silver, and emeralds—and she’ll claim part of the prize.
HE’S BLOWN OFF COURSE.
Zane needs a mechanic—not a lover—and Teal, who can also dive, is perfect for the job. So it suits him just fine that Teal is completely immune to his charms…or so he tells himself. But with a deadly enemy in their midst—one who’s silently edging closer—Zane and Teal sink into troubled waters. Trapped in the middle of a perilous sea, they have no one to turn to but each other as they face down a danger that runs unfathomably deep—and a passion that runs even deeper
Princess Bria Visconti demands the return of the money her brother rashly invested in Cutter Salvage. Treasure hunter Nick Cutter is too reckless, too arrogant—and far too handsome—for his own good. But he can’t charm his way out of this one. Bria plans to make Nick pay up even if she has to board his boat, don a wet suit, and dive for the treasure herself…
Nick sees Bria as a beautiful but spoiled princess who’s never done a day’s work in her pampered life. But once they set sail for the dive site, and the legendary fortune in gold the wreck carries, Nick begins to see Bria in a new light. This princess may be out of her depth, but she’s ready to take on the hidden danger and excitement a treasure hunt stirs to the surface. Together they must fight unexpected enemies—and reveal their darkest secrets—before they’re pulled into a rip current of danger.
Cherry Adair plunges into a world of high-sea adventure and romance, where a long-lost treasure is a deadly lure—and love is the most dangerous current of all…
SWEPT AWAY
Searching for a sunken ship off the coast of Peru, treasure hunter Logan Cutter manages to pull a very different kind of prize from the sea — beautiful mystery woman Daniela Rosada. Dani claims she has no memory of how she ended up lost at sea. But with millions of dollars in treasure at stake, Logan suspects she’s not telling him the truth…and he’s right.
IN TOO DEEP
Dani has good cause to hide the facts from Logan. If he knew her real reason for being onboard his ship, he’d throw her back overboard in a heartbeat. But the closer they get, the deeper she falls for him – and the more he lowers his own powerful defenses. Little do they both know that by falling in love, they’ve set a course for disaster.
As per Ms Adair’s website (March 26th 2013)….Publication expected spring 2014! http://cherryadair.com/upcoming
I have been raving about The Collector to anyone who will listen and I recently got the opportunity to interview the fantastic author, Victoria Scott. I finished The Liberator in about a day and I have to say I will always be a fan of the bad boys. 🙂
1. Tell me a little bit about your new release The Liberator.
THE LIBERATOR focuses on Dante’s journey as someone who now works for the good guys, and how hard that is for someone who believes they’re bone-deep bad. It also introduces a new character that will force Dante to confront his past.
2. Was it difficult writing about Dante and Charlie or did their characters come easy for you?
Dante was much easier to write than Charlie, oddly enough. Sometimes I’d lose Dante’s voice, but then I’d think of a guy I once knew and it would snap back.
3. Are you planning to write more in the series or just have these two books?
There will be one final book after THE LIBERATOR.
4. Which actors do you see playing your characters and has there been any talk from Hollywood about making this into a movie or series?
Oh, definitely Zac Efron for Dante and Emma Watson as Charlie. No talk from Hollywood yet, but my agent is busy shopping it to studios.
5. What are you working on next?
Right now I’m working on my newest series, FIRE & FLOOD, coming out from Scholastic next February. It’s kind of Hunger Games (brutal competition) meets the Golden Compass (animal companions) set in today’s world.
6. What advice would you give aspiring writers?
I’d say to ask yourself four questions before you begin any book: 1) Am I passionate about the story? 2) Would the general public find it appealing? 3) Is it truly original? 4) Is there a ton of opportunity for conflict? I hadn’t asked myself these questions before beginning the Dante Walker series, but I did for Fire & Flood, and what a world of difference it made.
About the Author:
I’m a teen fiction writer with a die-hard affection for dark and humorous books. My work is represented by Sara Crowe of Harvey Klinger literary agency. I have a master’s degree in marketing, and currently live in Dallas with my husband, Ryan.
My first series started with THE COLLECTOR, and was published by Entangled Teen in April 2013. The second book in the trilogy, THE LIBERATOR, will release August 2013. My next series kicks off with FIRE & FLOOD and is being published by Scholastic, February 2014.
Jennifer’s Review of The Liberator
TITLE: The Liberator
SERIES #: Dante Walker #2
CHARACTERS: Dante Walker, Charlie Cooper
AUTHOR: Victoria Scott
PUBLICATION DATE: 08/27/13
BOOK SYNOPSIS: Dante has a shiny new cuff wrapped around his ankle, and he doesn’t like that mess one bit. His new accessory comes straight from Big Guy himself and marks the former demon as a liberator. Despite his gritty past and bad boy ways, Dante Walker has been granted a second chance.
When Dante is given his first mission as a liberator to save the soul of seventeen-year-old Aspen, he knows he’s got this. But Aspen reminds him of the rebellious life he used to live and is making it difficult to resist sinful temptations. Though Dante is committed to living clean for his girlfriend Charlie, this dude’s been a playboy for far too long…and old demons die hard.
With Charlie becoming the girl she was never able to be pre-makeover and Aspen showing him how delicious it feels to embrace his inner beast, Dante will have to go somewhere he never thought he’d return to in order to accomplish the impossible: save the girl he’s been assigned to, and keep the girl he loves.
REVIEW PROVIDED BY: Jennifer NUMBER OF STARS: Five Stars
REVIEW: I absolutely loved The Collector and I was thrilled to learn that I didn’t have to wait a year before The Liberator was released. In this book, Dante is now working for the good guys and has a new assignment to liberate a young girl’s soul while trying to protect Charlie from the clutches of the evil collectors. He quickly finds that his new assignment is more difficult than he imagined because Aspen reminds him so much of himself and he becomes tempted to fall back into his old bad habits. On top of this, Dante learns that being a liberator holds its share of secrets and one of these secrets may put Charlie directly into harm’s way.
I love Dante because he is such a bad boy that has a heart of gold, especially when it comes to the adorable Charlie Cooper. He made a deal to save Charlie’s life in The Collector and he is now coming to terms with those actions. I was happy to see Dante start to grow emotionally because of his past decisions but it isn’t an easy road that he has to follow. His new assignment challenges him to go back to his old ways and he doesn’t want to disappoint Charlie or ruin his new gig. I liked seeing that internal moral struggle with Dante because it showed that everything wasn’t going to be easy for him even though he had changed and his love for Charlie helped him to do the right thing.
Charlie is still the sweet, lovable girl that wants to change the world and you can see why Dante has fallen head over heels for her. My other favorite character is Aspen, the kick-ass, no-holds barred assignment that puts Dante’s world into a little bit of tailspin. She doesn’t care about anything and just seems to live for the moment until she meets Dante. Together, they are able to learn how to put their past mistakes behind them and I just liked their interaction with one another.
Victoria has created another wonderful installment in this series that is filled with non-stop action and great character-building that will keep you guessing. I loved The Liberator and I am looking forward to reading more about Dante and Charlie in the next book.
by Kelsey Browning
“A hot man, a headstrong woman, and sizzling chemistry set against a homey Texas backdrop–Browning’s contemporary debut has all the assets that count!”
—Ruthie Knox, USA Today bestselling author of Flirting with Disaster
“Sinfully hot, sassy, and laugh-out-loud hilarious—everything a southern romance should be!”
–Macy Beckett, author of the Sultry Springs series
Sex therapist Allie Shelby has the professional credentials, but she could use a bit more practical experience. Finding the right man to bring out her inner bad girl is tough in a population-challenged Texas town. So when sinfully sexy Cameron Wright rolls back into Shelbyville, Allie wastes no time inviting him to join her in some hands-on research.
But while her personal life heats up, Allie’s business is about to crash and burn. And she has to convince Cameron that she’s one princess who’s not looking for a prince to ride to her rescue.
EXCEPT
Allie led Cameron to BB’s passenger door. The car’s rich red paint was flaking, and her rear end was still smushed like a pug’s face.
He said, “If you so much as ding this car again, I will personally take it out of your sweet little ass.”
Her body part in question tingled at the thought.
Allie tugged open a door weighing as much as a calf and nudged Cameron into the front seat. She slammed the door before he changed his mind and climbed out. She was way too invested now. She hotfooted it around the hood in her needle-heeled –pink slides and opened her door.
“I thought you were going to apologize,” Cameron said.
“I already told you I was sorry.”
“Not to me, to her.”
Seriously? But Allie returned to the front of the car and said, “BB, I’m terribly sorry I hit you, but Cameron’s going to make you all better. Okay?”
Lord, like she expected the car to answer her. Regardless, she leaned down and pressed her lips to the hood.
“Did you kiss her and make it better?” Finally, Cameron was smiling.
“Mmm.” Allie slid behind the wheel, the leather smooth against her thighs. Oh, she and Cameron were going to feel fantastic together, naked and entwined on that luscious upholstery. Her back caressed by the body-warmed fabric and her front scorched by Cameron’s hotter-than-July skin. She was going to kiss him and make it all better.
He must have caught the essence of her thoughts as she stretched over his lap to secure his seat belt, because he said in a low voice, “I plan to star in whatever hot little fantasy you just had running through your busy little brain.”
She didn’t bother to ask how he’d known.
A little about Kelsey:
Kelsey Browning writes sass kickin’ love stories full of hot heroes, saucy heroines and spicy romance. Originally from a Texas town smaller than the ones she writes about, Kelsey has also lived in the Middle East and Los Angeles, proving she’s either adventurous or downright nuts. These days, she hangs out in northeast Georgia with Tech Guy, Smarty Boy, Bad Dog and Pharaoh, a Canine Companions for Independence puppy. She’s currently at work on the next book in her Texas Nights series and The Granny Series. Give her a shout at Kelsey@KelseyBrowning.com or drop by www.KelseyBrowning.com. For info on her upcoming releases, subscribe to her Sass Kickin’ News.
Sign up for Kelsey’s email newsletter here—>>
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Welcome to Books-n-Kisses Elise, can you please share with us a little about yourself
I’m a harried, single mother, living in Southern California with my two sons, and I also write funny, sexy books with a side of murder.
Connect with Elise: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads
Have you always wanted to be an author?
Yes, except when I wanted to be an ice skating, ballet-dancing, veterinarian.
Are you a plotter or a punster or combo of both? And you explain the difference?
I write a general outline. I always know the ending (although MATCHPOINT’s ending surprised the hell out of me and will probably surprise the hell out of YOU.)—who did it and why. Then, I plough ahead. There’s a lot of organic magic that happens while writing a book.
What is your most interesting writing quirk?
I wrote MATCHPOINT entirely while lying in bed and watching TV. That’s pretty quirky.
Can you please tell us about your latest book(s)?
MATCHPOINT is the second book in the Matchmaker series. In it, Gladie Burger is still a matchmaker in training. While matching someone, she becomes the murder suspect in the death of the local dentist. Meanwhile, two hotties are after her, but there isn’t a lot of time for love when she’s being chased by a maniacal killer.
How did you come with the idea for this story?
I have no idea. Probably while I was deep conditioning my hair. Showers are really good for creativity. So are carbs.
Can you share with us your current work(s) in progress?
The first book in a young adult trilogy, which will make you cry (in a good way)
Who is the one author that you would love to meet someday and why?
I met Diana Gabaldon and almost swallowed my tongue. I would love to meet Nora Roberts because I always mention her, as in “what would Nora Roberts do?” She’s amazing, if only for her work ethic, alone.
What is the best piece of advice you would give to someone that wants to get into writing?
Write. Finish. Just do it. And then do it, again. And don’t listen to anyone.
Can you share with us something off your bucket list.
A luxury bungalow on the water in Bora Bora where I do absolutely nothing. (I bet Nora Roberts would do something more energetic than that, though)
What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?
I have To Read Piles. Piles and piles. I buy books like other people buy peanuts. I love bookstores, the smell of books, the excitement before I crack open the first page.
What is one book everyone should read before they die?
Oh, that’s a really good and really hard question. Books—stories—are so subjective. Like music and visual art, they hit everyone differently. For me, East of Eden and The Hotel New Hampshire changed my life. The Bible ain’t bad, either.
What is your favorite time of year & why?
Summer. I don’t believe in cold and rain. Although, I’m sweating in misery while I type this. So, maybe I should change my answer?
Who is your Celebrity crush? And what would you do if you ever meet them?
The Rock. If I met him, I would insist that we get married, and I wouldn’t take NO for an answer.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Read my book! I promise you’ll have a good time. Also, Thank you so much for interviewing me! This was a lot of fun.
Book One of the Matchmaker Series
Amazon | B&N | Indie Bound | BAM | iTunes
Three months has been Gladie Burger’s limit when it comes to staying in one place: She’s always been a temp agency kind of girl, ever ready to move on. That’s why Gladie is more than a little skeptical when her eccentric Grandma Zelda recruits her to the family business in the quaint small town of Cannes, California. Gladie is also highly unqualified: Her beloved grandmother’s business is matchmaking, and Gladie has a terrible track record with romance. Still, despite evidence to the contrary, Zelda is convinced that her granddaughter has “the gift.” But when the going gets tough, Gladie wonders if this gift has a return policy.
When Zelda’s neighbor drops dead in his kitchen, Gladie is swept into his bizarre family’s drama. Despite warnings from the (distractingly gorgeous) chief of police to steer clear of his investigation, Gladie is out to prove that her neighbor’s death was murder. It’s not too long before she’s in way over her head—with the hunky police chief, a dysfunctional family full of possible killers, and yet another mysterious and handsome man, whose attentions she’s unable to ignore. Gladie is clearly being pursued—either by true love or by a murderer. Who will catch her first?
Book Two of the Matchmaker Series
Amazon | B&N | Indie Bound | BAM | iTunes
Lovably troublesome Gladie Burger runs into sizzling danger and a fiery love triangle in the second installment of Elise Sax’s hilarious and sexy Matchmaker romance series.
Since joining the family matchmaking business run by her eccentric Grandma Zelda, Gladie is always looking for love. But when an unbearable toothache knocks her out of commission and into the dentist’s chair, she prays only for relief. No such luck. Emerging from an anesthetic haze, Gladie awakes to find that not only is her tooth still throbbing, but her dentist is dead—and the lead suspect in the murder, office receptionist Belinda, just so happens to be Gladie’s first real client. Now it’s up to Gladie to find Belinda a manand keep her from being locked up behind bars.
As if that weren’t enough distraction, two gorgeous men are vying for Gladie’s attention: Spencer, the playboy chief of police, and Holden, Gladie’s secretive, gorgeously muscled neighbor. Still, Gladie’s not complaining about having a helping hand or two when the case leads her to a dangerously bizarre cult. She may have met her match—and if she’s not careful, it could be her last.
Check out the MATCHPOINT trailer: http://youtu.be/HIO1MTit7Ww
Elise is giving away the following prizes at the end of her tour:
GRAND PRIZE: $50.00 Amazon gift card
2nd Prize: $10.00 Amazon gift card
3rd Prize: $10.00 Amazon gift card
Welcome to the Entangled Teen August 27 release party! Today, we’re celebrating the release of The Liberator by Victoria Scott, Relic by Renee Collins, Everlast by Andria Buchanan, Ward Against Darkness by Melanie Card, and Origin by Jennifer L. Armentrout.
by Victoria Scott
B&N | Amazon | Indiebound | Goodreads
Bad boy, meet bad girl.
Dante has a shiny new cuff wrapped around his ankle, and he doesn’t like that mess one bit. His new accessory comes straight from Big Guy himself and marks the former demon as a liberator. Despite his gritty past and bad boy ways, Dante Walker has been granted a second chance.
When Dante is given his first mission as a liberator to save the soul of seventeen-year-old Aspen, he knows he’s got this. But Aspen reminds him of the rebellious life he used to live and is making it difficult to resist sinful temptations. Though Dante is committed to living clean for his girlfriend Charlie, this dude’s been a playboy for far too long…and old demons die hard.
With Charlie becoming the girl she was never able to be pre-makeover and Aspen showing him how delicious it feels to embrace his inner beast, Dante will have to go somewhere he never thought he’d return to in order to accomplish the impossible: save the girl he’s been assigned to, and keep the girl he loves.
Victoria Scott: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads
by Renee Collins
B&N | Amazon | Indiebound | Goodreads
After a raging fire consumes her town and kills her parents, Maggie Davis is on her own to protect her younger sister and survive best she can in the Colorado town of Burning Mesa. In Maggie’s world, the bones of long-extinct magical creatures such as dragons and sirens are mined and traded for their residual magical elements, and harnessing these relics’ powers allows the user to wield fire, turn invisible, or heal even the worst of injuries.
Working in a local saloon, Maggie befriends the spirited showgirl Adelaide and falls for the roguish cowboy Landon. But when she proves to have a particular skill at harnessing the relics’ powers, Maggie is whisked away to the glamorous hacienda of Álvar Castilla, the wealthy young relic baron who runs Burning Mesa. Though his intentions aren’t always clear, Álvar trains Maggie in the world of relic magic. But when the mysterious fires reappear in their neighboring towns, Maggie must discover who is channeling relic magic for evil before it’s too late.
Relic is a thrilling adventure set in a wholly unique world, and a spell-binding story of love, trust, and the power of good.
Renee Collins: Website | Twitter | Goodreads
by Andria Buchanan
B&N | Amazon | Indiebound | Goodreads
Allie Munroe has only ever wanted to belong, maybe even be well liked. But even though she’s nice and smart and has a couple of friends, she’s still pretty much the invisible girl at school. So when the chance to work with her friends and some of the popular kids on an English project comes up, Allie jumps at the chance to be noticed.
And her plan would have worked out just fine…if they hadn’t been sucked into a magical realm through a dusty old book of fairy tales in the middle of the library.
Now, Allie and her classmates are stuck in Nerissette, a world where karma rules and your social status is determined by what you deserve. Which makes a misfit like Allie the Crown Princess, and her archrival the scullery maid. And the only way out is for Allie to rally and lead the people of Nerissette against the evil forces that threaten their very existence.
Andria Buchanan: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads
by Melanie Card
B&N | Amazon | Indiebound | Goodreads
The last thing Ward de’Ath wants is more trouble. On the run from both the law and the criminal underworld, Ward and Celia flee Brawenal City only to stumble into the mansion of a powerful evil necromancer. And when Ward discovers the man possesses a dangerous grimoire, his duty leaves him no choice. He can’t allow the necromancer to keep the grimoire. But the mansion is filled with monsters–human and undead–and Ward has no way of telling who’s friend or foe. The only person he can trust is Celia who dominates more of his thoughts and feelings everyday. But there are still laws in the way of anything but friendship. She’s still dead and he’s still alive . . . for now.
Melanie Card: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads
by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Amazon | B&N | Indiebound | Goodreads
Daemon will do anything to get Katy back.
After the successful but disastrous raid on Mount Weather, he’s facing the impossible. Katy is gone. Taken. Everything becomes about finding her. Taking out anyone who stands in his way? Done. Burning down the whole world to save her? Gladly. Exposing his alien race to the world? With pleasure.
All Katy can do is survive.
Surrounded by enemies, the only way she can come out of this is to adapt. After all, there are sides of Daedalus that don’t seem entirely crazy, but the group’s goals are frightening and the truths they speak even more disturbing. Who are the real bad guys? Daedalus? Mankind? Or the Luxen?
Together, they can face anything.
But the most dangerous foe has been there all along, and when the truths are exposed and the lies come crumbling down, which side will Daemon and Katy be standing on?
And will they even be together?
Jennifer L. Armentrout: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads
To celebrate the new releases, Entangled is giving away a paperback copy of each book. Enter using the Rafflecopter below!
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Did I miss your favorite?
Send me an email at kelly(at)books-n-kisses.com and let me know of any upcoming releases you want featured on Tuesday’s Release Day Madness.
Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome JL Vallance to the blog for the 1st time
JL, can you please share with us a little about yourself
I was born and raised in northeast Ohio. I’ve lived here my entire life, except for the three years I gave San Antonio, Texas a go while my husband was in the USAF. I love fairy tales and anything supernatural in nature. I’ve always been plagued with an overactive imagination, and would always create fantastic stories at night to combat insomnia. A little over a year ago, I decided to start putting those stories down on paper. I still have insomnia, but my stories keep getting bigger and bigger.
Have you always wanted to be an author?
I can honestly say that writing is a newer dream of mine. I’ve always had a very vivid imagination, and I’ve also always been overly dramatic. One day I decided that I should take all of these stories that I entertained myself with at night during bouts of insomnia, and put them into something useful. In turn, I found that I really enjoyed writing. It was a therapeutic outlet.
What is your most interesting writing quirk?
That is an interesting question…I’m not sure that I have one! I like to sit down with some coffee and good music and just type away. I don’t write in any specific order, just what feels right at the time.
Can you please tell us about your latest book(s)?
In Destruction of the Soul, Vivienne Drake continues on her quest for answers to her heritage. She continues trying to figure out fact from fiction, who is friend and who is foe. She figures out a little more about who she is and who she wants to be–not just as a Guardian but as a living, breathing creature in the world. There’s continued action, suspense, romance, pain, despair. It’s an intense and insane rollercoaster.
How did you come with the idea for this story?
Deep Into the Soul began as a simple love story, and it quickly changed and grew to the paranormal beast that it is now. It was a simple case of the story evolving on its own. I had been sitting at my desk, writing, and Vivienne had one of her nightmares…and the story just took off from there. Aedan entered into her world and everything changed.
Can you share with us your current work(s) in progress?
I’m currently working on a novella for the Guild Series. The novella is kind of Aedan’s story. It’s his story of his love, his lost love…it will give readers a little bit of an idea of how he came to be where he is when we meet him in Deep Into the Soul–cold, heartless, ruthless. I love it because it shows a different side to him. I do love my bad guys, especially ones with many complex layers.
I’m also working on a contemporary romance. It’s a diverse love story about a boy and a girl and a love that has many, many challenges. That one is in the early stages still, but I hope that readers will love those characters just as much as they love The Guild Series crew.
Who is the one author that you would love to meet someday and why?
I think I’d have to go with Stephen King. He seems so neat and genuine, and like he would have a wealth of knowledge and advice. I’ve read some interviews that he’s given, and he seems like he’d be great to sit and have a talk with.
What is the best piece of advice you would give to someone that wants to get into writing?
Write what you feel and what you love. And whatever you do, trust what the story tells you…because sometimes, it just writes itself.
Can you share with us something off your bucket list.
I can tell you it won’t be anything involving me getting on a doggone airplane. I hate even the idea of flying. (Yep, that’s where Vivienne gets it from.) I would really love to travel to England and Scotland. I have heard there are cruise lines that go that-a way… Maybe?
What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?
I’m currently reading Sins and Needles by Karina Halle.
I cannot wait for the next Mageri Series book, by Dannika Dark, to come out later this year. I have really enjoyed this series and am looking forward to the next book while I’m also bummed that it will be the final one.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I thank each and every one of my readers for reading, reviewing, sharing, and following! Thank you so much for having me!
Released Date: August 20th
“There is more at stake in Aedan’s war than any of you realize.”
Vivienne Drake is lost.
She’d let every one of her walls down, finally allowing others into her guarded circle, and all it brought her was pain and devastation. Now, out of fear and desperation, she’s turning to the one being she believes will be truthful with her; the only being that’s dared to give her anything resembling an honest answer–Linux, The Cruciatum.
The Daemonium is dangerous and mysterious, and offering Vivienne things that she’s been begging for. He offers her a chance at discovering what lies just beyond her reach. Though his motives remain far from clear, there is something within him that Vivienne is drawn to. And she wants nothing more than to believe in him, to believe in the things he tells her.
Together, they uncover details of Aedan’s plans, and discover what he intends to use his daughter for. Vivienne learns that she carries within her a destructive darkness, that if she allows, will consume her, and destroy the goodness she contains.
Fighting an endless battle against lies and deception, Vivienne must find the strength within herself to remain on a virtuous path. She’ll be forced to overcome pain and obstacles in order to discover the truth of just how deep the deceit runs within The Guild.
Can she remain above the darkness for the sake of Humanity and herself, or will she allow it to devour her light and destroy her soul?
Author’s Bio & Picture:
J. L. Vallance is a wife, mom, and nurse by day, while posing as a writer by night. Plagued with an overactive imagination, a lover of all things supernatural in nature, she has an extraordinary flair for the dramatic that adds flavor to life. There’s little in her world that Otis Redding and buttercream icing can’t fix. And of course, coffee always helps too. True story.
Author Links:
Website/Blog: http://www.jlvallance.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jlvallance
FB Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/jlvallanceguild
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6548856.J_L_Vallance
by Joan Swan
Amazon | B&N | Books-a-Million| Book Depository | eCampus | Overstock
Genre: Romantic Suspense (with paranormal elements)
Heat Level: 3.5/5
Elements/Tags: romance, suspense, paranormal abilities, conspiracy, remote viewing, rescue, firefighters, escape, amnesia, reunion, lobbyist, Washington DC
Publisher: Kensington
Publishing Date: 8/27/13
Series: Phoenix Rising, 3
Format: Print and Ebook
Words: 110k
Jessica Fury, Washington lobbyist, has money, connections, and her own firm. But five years ago she had something better: happiness. Her firefighter husband, Quaid, was handsome, courageous, and crazy about her. Then one day he walked into a chemical inferno—and never walked out. Jessica has been through hell to get back on her feet. And then a rumor surfaces that could bring a miracle or shatter her world – again.
Q has been a prisoner forever. He’s honed his mind and body into weapons. He’s developed abilities no one else understands. But he’s still at the mercy of a cabal of ruthless men, who blank his memory, test him like a lab rat, and tell him lies. Although his past has been erased and his future looks grim, instinct tells him he has a woman to live for. What his mind can’t remember, his body can’t forget…
The heat is on.
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16057050-rush
The room fell silent again. Q felt Jessica’s stare on his face. Fought to open his eyes, but only got a flutter of lashes.
He pushed his mouth and tongue around. “Jess . . .” Came out in a rasp. He cracked his lids as she pushed up on her knees.
“Right here.” She reached for something beside him. Slid one hand behind his head and lifted, bringing a straw to his lips. “Take a sip. It’s orange juice, your favorite. We need to get some sugar into your blood.”
Q sucked at the straw. The tangy, sugary liquid hit his tongue and lit off an immediate unquenchable thirst. As if he’d been fueled with instant energy, Q opened his eyes.
“Hey, there.” Her voice was so soft, so sweet, it made his chest ache. “Are you really awake? Or is this just another temporary visit?”
The straw dried up and a slurping sound came from the glass. She set the empty drink on the ground, laid his head back carefully on a pillow and remained leaning over him, her hands caressing his face.
“Feel like heaven,” he managed, finding it easier to talk with a moist throat, though his voice didn’t sound any smoother. “So beautiful.”
A slow smile turned her lips. Her eyes grew wet.
He managed to get one of his hands up and over hers. The orange juice seemed to be hitting his bloodstream. “Missed you so much. Don’t leave.”
“Never.” Her whisper sounded rough as she shook her head. Tears dropped from her eyes and hit his cheeks. “I’ll never leave you again.”
Relief and excitement surged like a tidal wave and rocked him. No words could ever bring him this much joy. She lowered her head and kissed him. Just a touch of her lips, but Q needed more. He strained toward her, waiting for her lips to come back, but they didn’t.
Need gave him the strength to slide the hand covering hers around the back of her head. Gravity did the rest. When her mouth met his, he took as much as he could, unsure of how long he’d have her. She gave with generous lips that caressed and sucked his in ways that made his mind twist and his body want. The sounds she made, emotional, heart-wrenching sounds, shivered through his mouth and ignited need throughout his body.
She tasted sweet, so sweet. Or maybe that was just the orange juice he’d been drinking. But she was fresh, warm, succulent. She was a drug. But nothing like the drugs those bastards used on him. She didn’t suppress him, she lifted him. She was ecstasy. He was completely high. His entire body buzzed with excitement. Bright white light pulsed in his chest.
He felt alive.
Finally felt alive.
He rolled toward her and tried to wrap his free arm at her waist, but it was his bad arm and he didn’t have the strength. He managed to fist the fabric and drag her with him as he rolled back. She moved easily, sliding on top of him and aligning their bodies. And, oh, she was so much more than he’d dreamed. Soft and strong. Lush and lean. Alive and pliant and warm. She was heaven. Absolute heaven.
His hunger intensified to starvation and he tasted her with a stroke of his tongue. She immediately responded, and the sensation of tongue against tongue diverted blood from Q’s brain straight to his cock. The pressure was so intense he lifted his hips and rubbed against Jessica for relief.
She groaned, long and deep, before lifting her head and breaking their kiss. Tears shimmered in her eyes. They were so big. Such a soft, warm brown. Her rich, tawny hair spilled around her face, silky against his bare shoulders.
She gazed down at him, her lips turning in a tentative smile. “Am I hurting you?”
“Only if you stop.” His voice sounded so hideously rough compared to hers. “I can’t tell you . . . how long I’ve dreamt of this.”
He raked his hand through her hair gently, absorbing the feel of it between his fingers. She closed her eyes, those long lashes, which were the same gorgeous color as her hair, curved gently against her cheeks. A soft spray of freckles lay beneath, barely visible.
His chest had grown so incredibly tight, ribs squeezing his lungs until every intake of breath burned. Emotion welled inside until it overwhelmed him. Thoughts swirled in his mind without consent. Words pushed at his lips.
I love you.
The realization floated close as he held her face in one cupped hand. Fear encircled the warmth and excitement. How could he love her? How could he feel so overwhelmingly attached to her? And if Gorin found out how he felt . . .
Gorin.
Years of self-preservation and logic battled with the new and powerful emotions. His mind drifted to the man in the desert with the weapons and the hostages. Q still didn’t know what that had been. A test? And this, was this a test?
Or now that he’d escaped, was this a trap?
The word vibrated in his head. Internally, a thin, cold veneer slipped into place, pushing his emotions into the background, bringing instinct and intellect to the foreground. The orange juice? Had it been drugged? Was this some new experiment? Something they’d been prepping him for? Something they’d implanted in his subconscious for years in case they ever needed to pull it out and use it as a weapon against him?
“What’s wrong?” Her voice brought his eyes up to hers. They were worried. No . . . frightened. They were definitely frightened. “Quaid, honey? Are you o—”
Muscle memory took over. Q had no idea where he found the strength or the coordination, but he flipped her and closed his hand over her throat.
“Stop,” she rasped, clawing at his fingers. “Quaid, please. Stop. You’re hurting—”
“Why are you calling me Quaid?” And why did holding her down like this make him want to put a gun to his own head? “Who are you? Who do you work for?”
“Quaid!” She turned her head and dragged in air, squirming beneath him. “I can’t breathe!”
“What the fuck is going on?”
The deep voice sounded in the doorway. Q’s body reacted again, thought only a hum in the background. He jerked Jessica off the floor and pulled her in front of him with an arm around her neck. The man at the door was big. With an authoritative presence. But he wasn’t holding any weapons.
“Teague, take it easy.” A woman appeared beside him. Mixed race, part Asian with long black hair, light eyes, very pregnant. Unless that was fake, too.
More people rushed through the door. He didn’t know anyone. Didn’t know where he was. Didn’t know what the hell was going on. His body hardened. His mind sharpened. Fear pumped in his veins, preparing him for action.
A little about Joan Swan writes sexy romantic suspense for Kensington (Phoenix Rising Series) and independently (Covert Affairs Series). She also works as a sonographer at a top medical facility in San Francisco and lives in magnificent wine country on the central coast of California with her husband and two daughters.
Website: http://joanswan.com/
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Twitter giveaways: http://www.twitter.com/JoanSwan
Tour Wide Giveaway found on Joan Swan’s FB Page:
(3) Designer purses filled with lots of goodies.
Per Stop Giveaway:
Please follow the Rafflecopter widget to enter to win at each stop. Then visit Joan Swan’s FB page to enter to win one of three designer purses filled with a variety of goodies! (Full Terms & Conditions located on the widgets.)
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http://events.litconnect.com/rush-by-joan-swan/ OR, at http://joanswan.com/
I’m so excited to be a part of The Exemeus blog tour and introduce this new fantasy series. I hope everyone will check this series out and I have these wonderful authors here today for an interview.
1. Tell me about your new release.
Firstly, thank you so much for having us on your wonderful blog. We greatly appreciate it. Our latest release is entitled The Exemeus and its about a boy who’s mere heritage makes him a threat to the government. In order to save his life and the life of his family he has to enlist the aid of the world’s most powerful warrior. There’s only one small problem-she’s dead.
3. Did you have any actors in mind when you were writing your characters? The only person in our mind was Virginia should be played by Selena Gomez. She’s probably too old now, but she was who we envisioned. Each of the cast of characters have unique abilities that make it hard for us to pick one person who can embody each person’s varying description.
About the Authors:
TITLE: The Exemeus
CHARACTERS: Dephon, Hyalee and Singleton
AUTHOR: Folami and Abeni Morris
PUBLICATION DATE: 12/27/12
BOOK SYNOPSIS: Her short life was devoted to love and to hate. Love of the man who stole her heart, hate for the man who stole the world. Murdered by the government she swore to destroy, she’s been given another chance to make it right. But to save the planet, she needs the help of the most powerful mystic the world has ever seen–unfortunately he hasn’t been born yet.
In a world where fear is the only currency, Dephon has committed the ultimate crime: inspiring hope.
His only goal is to make it safely through ninth grade, but on a post-apocalyptic Earth run by the Treptonian government, it isn’t that simple. Heir to a legendary power, Dephon Johnson is the only threat to the government’s rule. And on Trepton, all threats must be eliminated. When hundreds of assassins are dispatched to neutralize him, Dephon is forced to fight back. His only chance of survival is to enlist the aid of the greatest warrior the world has ever known. The only problem is, she’s been dead for 13 years.
REVIEW PROVIDED BY: Jennifer NUMBER OF STARS: Four Stars
REVIEW: I was pleasantly surprised with this book because it had an interesting premise and I am usually not a big fan of dystopian fantasy. Dephon Johnson was a lonely kid who feels that there is nothing special about him. He doesn’t have many friends and has been bullied mercilessly by the football team at his school. Then, he comes home to a father who doesn’t seem to care and hasn’t taken an active interest in anything that Dephon seems to do. On top of all that, he has been plagued by dreams of a beautiful woman with blue hair that is fighting to save the world with magic. He soon finds out that this mystery woman is actually his mother who died in battle and it is now up to Dephon to pick up where she left off.
I really liked The Exemeus because it was a very different dystopian adventure than what I’ve read previously and the story captured my attention so much that I stayed up reading it until the end. I liked Dephon but my favorite character was Hyalee, Dephon’s mom, and we learn about her life through Dephon’s eyes as he reads her story called The Exemeus. Hyalee’s life as a teenager, obtaining her powers and meeting Dephon’s dad, Singleton, play out in this story and I couldn’t help but like her. She was chosen to help defend this planet against evil and she died shortly after Dephon was born but we never really learn what happened to her in this book. This book ends with a cliffhanger and I desperately want to read The Azemeon, which is the next book in the series to learn what really happened to Hyalee.
Giveaway
Doing The Not-Really-Possible
I’m a big fan of creating a scenario that seems impossible for my characters. Of putting them into situations that push all their buttons and force them to work extra hard to make things happen. That’s so much more fun to read, isn’t it?
But, you know, as much as I love putting my characters into challenging situations I’m not as big on hanging out with the impossible scenario in my personal life. I’m not saying I want everything to be easy *g * But life tends to put enough roadblocks in the path, so why would I go out of my way to add more?
So when I was told that my chances of hitting a major bestseller list, such as USA Today, with a Blaze were slim and, well, really slim, I figured that was info worth listening to. Except I felt so strongly that I could do it. Not just because I had one of those major intuitive hits (although I do love those!) but because I had some really solid factors working in my favor.
I had two solid books in A SEAL’s Seduction and A SEAL’s Surrender. Books that I felt really great about and knew were the strongest I’d written. They had very, VERY hot heroes and solid hooks because those heroes are Navy SEALs. And though they were each standalone, they tied together as the heroes were on the same SEAL team and facing the repercussions of the same tragedy. And the books were out back-to-back, in February and March.
I knew the first book, A SEAL’s Seduction, was going to be a part of the Try Harlequin program the month after the release of the second book. Try Harlequin makes a number of books each year available as a free digital download. So the possibility of major exposure was high.
I hired a fabulous marketing group (waving at Market or Die) to help me build awareness of A SEAL’s Seduction before it went free. Thanks to marketing, killer covers or hot SEALs (or all of the above) both books hit Bookscan the first two weeks of their release, and A SEAL’s Seduction got a Top Pick and a Seal of Excellence nomination from RT. 
But despite all of that great stuff, the general feeling was still that my hitting a big list was pie in the sky impossible. One of those ‘why take it on, the challenge is too big’ situations. I could have accepted that. But, well, I didn’t want to 😀 My Amazon numbers kept plummeting, getting A SEAL’s Surrender closer and closer to the top 100 Paid Kindle list as A SEAL’s Seduction climbed down the free list. When it hit #1 on the Free list, I knew I had a shot at some major sales.
But the word on the street was that I still couldn’t hit USA Today. At this point, I was in the stubborn zone, though. I had grabbed onto that challenge and didn’t want to give up. So, in addition to the marketing I was already doing, I tried a couple more angles. I enlisted my street team, I called in favors and begged friends for support. And I had incredible success with Bookbub and Fresh Fiction ads.
At that point, A SEAL’s Surrender broke the Amazon Top 100, got my publishers attention and more importantly, their support.
The results? A SEAL’s Seduction spent over 110 days on the Amazon Top 100 Kindle Free list and A SEAL’s Surrender spent 2 weeks on the USA Today Bestseller List. If I’d listened to ‘people in the know’ I’d never have pushed, never had taken those extra steps (or spent that extra money on ads, or begged extra people *g *).
I’m really not a fan of beating my head stubbornly against a wall trying to make the impossible happen. But when there’s a glimmer of hope? Sometimes the challenge is worth taking on 🙂
What do you think? Are you a fan of big challenges in your books? How about in real life?
A little about Tawny:
USA TODAY Bestselling author of over twenty hot books, Tawny Weber has been writing sassy, sexy romances since her first Harlequin Blaze hit the shelves in 2007. A fan of Johnny Depp, cupcakes and color coordination, she spends a lot of her time shopping for cute shoes, scrapbooking and hanging out on Facebook.
Readers can check out Tawny’s books at her website, www.tawnyweber.com, or join her Red Hot Readers Club for goodies like free reads, complete first chapter excerpts, recipes, insider story info and much more.
You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest.
8.19.13
Spotlight Feature of Joan Swan’s First Temptation
Kelly reviews A Spy to Die For by Kris DeLake
8.20.13
Release Day Blitz: Cynthia Eden’s Glitter & Gunfire
Jennifer reviews All Out Of Love by Lori Wilde
8.21.13
Interview with Jace from Kait Ballenger’s Twilight Hunter
Shift into Passion with Carrie Ann Ryan & Vivian Arend
Jennifer reviews Blurred by Tara Fuller
8.22.13
Video interview & giveaway with Sylvia Day
Interview with Melissa Stevens
Kimberly reviews Just This Once by Trish Jensen
8.23.13
Cari Quinn & Taryn Elliot’s Seduced Tour
Kelly reviews Hunted by Kevin Hearne
8.24.13
SINsational Saturday Series
