Blog Tour & Giveaway: Asking For It by Lilah Pace

“This is who I am. This is what I want. Now I need a man dangerous enough to give it to me.”

Graduate student Vivienne Charles is afraid of her own desires—ashamed to admit that she fantasizes about being taken by force, by a man who will claim her completely and without mercy. When the magnetic, mysterious Jonah Marks learns her secret, he makes an offer that stuns her: they will remain near-strangers to each other, and meet in secret so that he can fulfill her fantasy.

Their arrangement is twisted. The sex is incredible. And—despite their attempts to stay apart—soon their emotions are bound together as tightly as the rope around Vivienne’s wrists. But the secrets in their pasts threaten to turn their affair even darker…

Amazon/B&N

***Reader Advisory: Asking for It deals explicitly with fantasies of non-consensual sex. Readers sensitive to portrayals of non-consensual sex should be advised.

About the Author:

Lilah Pace is a pseudonym for a New York Times bestselling YA author. This is her first adult novel.

Jennifer’s Review of Asking For It

Review (4 Stars): First of all, this book deals with a very sensitive subject matter and some readers may have a difficult time with this. I wasn’t sure if this book would be something that I would be interested in but that all changed when I started reading Vivienne and Jonah’s story together. Vivienne is a rape survivor and has had a difficult time with her previous relationships because of this traumatic experience. She also has fantasies of non-consensual sex and even though she tells herself this is wrong and messed up, she still has these fantasies. Then she meets Jonah, a dark and sexy stranger, who makes her an offer that she can’t refuse and he agrees to be a willing participant in these fantasies.

One of the things that I liked about this book was the relationship between Vivienne and Jonah. They were virtually strangers but everything they did was discussed in long detail before anything happened. He wanted to make sure that everything that happened between them was fantasy and never crossed the line to the real thing. The thing that I noticed about Jonah was very careful in everything that he did and always seemed to know when something was wrong in Vivienne’s life even when her closest friends didn’t see beyond the mask she presented to everyone. I felt that he used this fantasy life to get close to her because he wanted to know the real Vivienne.

Vivienne knew that these thoughts and feelings were wrong but she couldn’t stop herself from having them. I felt that Vivienne wanted to take back control of that situation with these fantasies because she didn’t have the control of that traumatic experience then. No one believed her when she told them about her rape and because of that, she felt that she couldn’t really trust anyone, including her own family. My heart broke for Vivienne when she was labeled a liar and that she was actually blamed for what had really happened. Still makes my blood boil when I think about it. The one person that she could trust with her secrets was Jonah but when the truth does comes out it changes everything.

Ms. Pace handled this very dark subject matter with grace and respect for what Vivienne experienced in her life. I saw Asking For It as a psychological and emotional journey of a beautiful character that was still broken because of her experience. She was able to find someone that she could trust to share her experience with and finally have someone believe in her. After the ending of Asking For It, I’m curious to see where Vivienne and Jonah’s relationship goes from here in Begging For It and how the truth will affect the life that Vivienne wanted to build with Jonah.

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May 29, 2015May 28, 2015

Blog Tour & Giveaway: When Darkness Ends by Alexandra Ivy

The Guardians of Eternity are facing a final battle to save their world—but battles of the heart may be the most difficult to fight…

Cyn, the vampire clan chief of Ireland, is an unabashed hedonist whose beauty is surpassed only by his insatiable appetite for pleasure. It’s no wonder he’s furious when he’s transported from the magical land of the pureblooded feys to his desolate private lair—only to have his very existence thrown into a chaos that even he cannot charm his way out of…

Most women may be all but powerless against Cyn, but Fallon, a sharp-witted fairy princess, is less than beguiled by the silver-tongued vampire. She’s a serious soul with no time for the sort of games he plays—especially when they learn that someone is trying to close the veil that separates the dimensions. But seduction may prove the most powerful force of all, as attraction ignites between the unlikely pair even as worlds are colliding around them…

Amazon/B&N

Fallon gasped when Siljar disappeared as swiftly as she’d appeared.
One second she was patting Cyn’s arm and the next . . . poof.
No smoke. No mirrors. No abracadabra.
Just there and then gone.
Damn.
What was wrong with her?
She should have insisted that the powerful demon return her to her homeland. Even with Sariel’s interference she could have kept watch on the Commission. It wasn’t as if she’d ever let her father or fiancé interfere in her fascination with scrying before.
It was easy to tell herself that it was the shock of waking up in a strange cave with a dangerous vampire, swiftly followed by the appearance of an Oracle demanding her help in spying on the Commission, that had rattled her brain. How could any poor female think clearly under such circumstances?
But a part of her knew that she’d allowed herself to be steamrolled by the tiny Oracle quite simply because she didn’t want to go home.
She’d spent centuries trapped in the glorious palace her father had created. She’d been petted and pampered and . . .Trapped.
And worse, she’d known deep in her heart that she would never escape.
Not so long as her father considered the pure-blooded Chatri above the lesser fey.
So was it really surprising that she would be reluctant to give up this unexpected miracle even if it meant enduring the company of an obnoxious vampire?
It wasn’t like she had to actually work next to him.
He was a clan chief. His lair should be large enough for them never to cross paths, right?
As if to prove her point, Cyn was abruptly heading toward the far end of the cave, his face grim although he held the scroll with obvious care.
Far more care than he was willing to give her. Jackass. With a swift step, Fallon had moved to place herself directly in his path.
“Where are you going?”
He came to a grudging halt, his gaze narrowed. “To have a shower.”
“What about me?”
He shrugged. “Aren’t you supposed to be spying on the Oracles or something?”
Her fists clenched. She’d never hit anyone before, but now seemed a good time to start.
“Now look here, you big lug—”
“You have an obsessive fascination with my size.” He ran a slow, deliberate gaze down her tense body before leaning forward to whisper directly in her ear, “In case you’re interested, I’m large everywhere.”
The brush of his lips against her skin sent darts of white-hot excitement sizzling through her.
How was that possible?
She’d lived with the most beautiful men in the world. Her own fiancé, Magnus, was breathtaking. But never, ever had one of them made her so acutely aware of being a woman. As if Cyn had some magical ability to arouse her darkest, most intimate desires.
Jerking back, she sent him a glare. “Well, your head is certainly bloated.”
His gaze lingered on her mouth. “If you’re trying to charm me, it’s not working.”
She wouldn’t lick her lips. She wouldn’t.
Her tongue peeked out, swiping her lower lip with a provocative movement. Instantly Cyn’s eyes darkened with a scorching heat.
Fallon stiffened. What was wrong with her?
“I’m not trying to charm you,” she stubbornly denied.
“Fine.”
Abruptly he’d stepped around her, clearly intending to leave her abandoned in the caves.
“Wait.”
He sent an impatient glance over his shoulder. “Now what?”
“We’re obviously stuck with one another for now,” she said, pointing out the obvious.
“Do you have a point?”
Heathen. Barbarian. Hulking, gorgeous, pain in the ass.
She counted to ten.
“You could at least try to be civil.”
He folded his arms over his chest. “And what does ‘civil’ entail?”
“I obviously can’t stay in these caves.” She waved a dismissive hand toward the damp floor, shivering at the distinct chill in the air. “I’m assuming you have private rooms I could use. And I’ll need food. Oh . . .” She glanced down to the plain, too-short robe. “And clothes. Silk.”
Something dangerous lurked in the jade eyes. “Anything else, princess?”
“Nectar.” She used her most grating princess voice. She was a guest here, dammit, not a prisoner. It was time that Cyn fulfilled his duties as a host. “Preferably from my homeland.”
A stark, dangerous silence followed her daring command. The sort of silence that came before the strike of lightning.
Or a nuclear explosion.
Instead there was a flurry of movement as Cyn reached out to grasp her by the waist and with one smooth movement had her tossed over his shoulder.
Fallon gasped in shock. No man touched the royal princess. Not unless he wanted to be burned to a crisp by Sariel. And certainly they didn’t haul her around like she was a sack of potatoes.
“What are you doing?” she finally managed to choke out.
Leaving the cave, Cyn headed up a narrow set of stairs carved into the stone.
“Let’s get one thing straight, princess. This is my lair,” he growled.
She slammed her fist against his back only to wince in pain. Crap, the man felt as if he’d been chiseled from granite.
“I wouldn’t be so quick to boast about this shabby—”
Her furious insult came to an outraged halt as his large hand landed on her butt, giving the tender flesh a deliberate squeeze. Fallon’s breath tangled in her throat. She was livid. Of course she was. But more than that she was . . . oh dear God, was she aroused? Was the intimate touch of his hand turning her on?
Or maybe being in this world was screwing with her hormones. Yes. That was a much better answer.
Belatedly aware they were moving through a long hallway lined with heavy tapestries, she gave his back another punch.
“Put me down, you barbarian.”
“Berserker,” he snapped.
“Is that supposed to be better?” she ground out, wiggling in an effort to dislodge his hand that was causing tiny sparks of pleasure to race through her body. “I told you to put me down.”
Her wiggles were futile, but thankfully they’d reached a closed door and he was forced to release her butt to shove it open.
“My lair, my rules.”
They entered what appeared to be a large room with a woven carpet in shades of silver and violet.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means that I’m not your damned servant.” He crossed the floor, abruptly dropping her on a massive four-poster bed with a feather mattress. “So long as you’re beneath my roof you’ll treat me with respect.”
“Respect is earned, not commanded.”
“Actually I just did.” He planted his fists on his hips, using his powers to ignite the logs that were neatly stacked in the stone fireplace. “And you’d better pay attention.”
“Or?”
“Or I’ll return you to the caves and you can rot down there for all I care.”
Fallon glared into the forcefully handsome face, catching a glimpse of snowy white fangs. Sensibly she knew she should be afraid of him.
He was a lethal predator who had her completely at his mercy.
But she wasn’t afraid.
She was angry and frustrated and terrifyingly aware of the hard, male body barely concealed beneath the thin robe.
“I really dislike you,” she muttered, trying to tug the robe down her legs.
“The feeling is mutual.”
“I . . .” Fallon forgot what she was going to say as she belatedly noticed her surroundings. “Oh.”
Cyn was instantly wary. “Now what?”
She forgot her urge to slap his arrogant face as she slowly scanned the pale ash furniture that filled the room.
Beyond the canopied bed, there was a chest set beneath a large stained-glass window that was composed in shades of indigo and saffron and crimson with threads of gold. The arched masterpiece not only provided beauty, but filtered out any potential sunlight. Near the fireplace was a rocking chair that matched the large armoire near the door. And nearer the bed was a delicate washstand.
There was a definite medieval vibe, but it was the exquisite craftsmanship that captured Fallon’s attention.
With a soft sigh she shoved herself to her knees, reaching to skim her fingers over the delicate pattern that had been carved into the wooden posts of the bed.
Row after row of tiny flowers and woodland creatures flowed from the top of the post to the bottom, each one charmingly different in design. And the carvings were echoed on every piece of furniture, giving the room an ethereal beauty that tugged at her heart.
“It’s beautiful,” she breathed, feeling as if she were surrounded by a woodland glade despite the fact that the sun would never be allowed to stray beyond the window. “Really, really beautiful.”
Cyn made a strangled sound, as if pushed to the very edge.
“Bloody hell, you could drive a saint to drink,” he roared.
Ignoring the completely unfair accusation, she continued to stroke her fingers over the glossy wood.
“Where did you find the furnishings?”
“I made them.”
She sent him a startled glance. “You?”
“Why do you sound so surprised?”
Fallon frowned at the hint of defensiveness in his tone. Was he embarrassed to reveal his artistic talent?
“This is fey in design.”
“Oh.” He shrugged. “I was taken in by fairies while I was a foundling. Mika trained me to carve.”
Fallon couldn’t deny a stab of curiosity.
She’d watched this world enough to know it was extremely unusual for any demon to foster another species, let alone a fairy taking in a savage vampire.
It would be like a human adopting a full-grown lion.
But she wasn’t about to probe. Not when Cyn was already treating her as if she were some unwelcomed intruder who’d invaded his lair.
Like black mold.
“He must have been a master craftsman,” she instead murmured.
“Careful, princess. That was perilously close to a compliment,” he mocked.
Okay. That was it.
Turning her head, she stabbed him with a furious glare.
“Do you always have to be an ass?”
He abruptly grimaced, then without warning, he reached out to cup her cheek with his hand.
“No,” he said, his thumb brushing her lower lip.
Fallon stilled, sensing the electric tension that sizzled between them.
“Cyn?”
His lips twisted at the sudden uncertainty in her voice.
“We’re stuck together. At least for now,” he said, his gaze lowering to her mouth. Almost as if he was imagining how it would taste beneath his own. “We need a truce.”
Fallon shivered, the image of him tumbling her back onto the mattress and covering her with his hard body searing through her mind.
It was raw and primal and scary as hell.
You’re playing with fire, a voice whispered in the back of her mind. And you’re the one who’s going to get burned.
She covertly inched back on the mattress. He carried with him a force field that threatened to suck her in.
“It should be simple enough.” She managed to sound almost indifferent. Good for her.
His gaze remained locked on her lips. “Do you think so?”
“This is obviously a large lair. There’s truly no need to spend any time in each other’s company.”
Something that looked like . . . hurt . . . flared through his eyes before he abruptly dropped his hand and stepped back.
“Right,” he muttered, turning to head toward the door. “A perfect solution.”
“Wait.” Feeling ridiculously guilty, Fallon scrambled off the bed, her feet barely touching the floor as the door was being slammed shut.
With a shake of her head, she flopped back on the mattress, wondering why men had to be so . . . so impossible.

About the Author:

ALEXANDRA IVY graduated from Truman University with a degree in theatre before deciding she preferred to bring her characters to life on paper rather than stage. She currently lives in Missouri with her extraordinarily patient husband and teenage sons. To stay updated on Alexandra’s Guardian series or to chat with other readers, please visit her website at www.alexandraivy.com

Website/Twitter/Facebook

Jennifer’s Review of When Darkness Ends

Review (4 Stars): This is the 12th book in the Guardians of Eternity series and I enjoyed the sharp-witted banter between Cyn and Fallon. They seemed perfect together even when they were fighting and working together to solve the mystery that involved the powerful Oracles. The chemistry between them was off the charts and I loved learning the back story of this sexy vampire. I’m sad to see this series come to an end but I can’t wait to see what Ms. Ivy has planned in the future.
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May 26, 2015May 24, 2015

Spotlight feature of Darynda Jones Eighth Grave After Dark + a giveaway

EIGHTH GRAVE AFTER DARK

Sometimes I wonder if the purpose of my life
is to serve as a cautionary tale to others.
–T-shirt

Charley Davidson has enough going on without having to worry about twelve hellhounds hot on her trail. She is, after all, incredibly pregnant and feeling like she could pop at any moment. But, just her luck, twelve deadly beasts from hell have chosen this time to escape onto our plane, and they’ve made Charley their target. And so she takes refuge at the only place she thinks they can’t get to her: the grounds of an abandoned convent. Of course, if hellhounds aren’t enough, Charley also has a new case to hold her attention: the decades-old murder of a newly-vowed nun she keeps seeing in the shadows of the convent.

Add to that the still unsolved murder of her father, the strange behavior of her husband, and Charley’s tendency to attract the, shall we say, undead, and she has her hands full…but also tied. While the angry hellhounds can’t traverse the consecrated soil, they can lurk just beyond its borders like evil sentries, so Charley has been forbidden from leaving the sacred grounds. Luckily, she has her loyal team with her, and they’re a scrappy bunch who won’t let a few thirsty hellhounds deter them.

While the team scours the prophesies, searching for clues on the Twelve, for a way to kill them or at least send them back to hell, Charley just wants answers and is powerless to get them. But the mass of friends they’ve accrued helps. They convince her even more that everyone in her recent life has somehow been drawn to her, as though they were a part of a bigger picture all along. Their presence is comforting. But the good feelings don’t last for long because Charley is about to get the surprise of her crazy, mixed-up, supernatural life….

Read an excerpt HERE

Order here: Amazon | B&N | iTunes

CHARLEY DAVIDSON SERIES

Check out Charley’s whole series HERE

Introduction to the series:

First Grave on the Right is the smashing, award-winning debut novel that introduces Charley Davidson: part-time private investigator and full-time Grim Reaper..

Charley sees dead people. That’s right, she sees dead people. And it’s her job to convince them to “go into the light.” But when these very dead people have died under less than ideal circumstances (i.e., murder), sometimes they want Charley to bring the bad guys to justice. Complicating matters are the intensely hot dreams she’s been having about an Entity who has been following her all her life…and it turns out he might not be dead after all. In fact, he might be something else entirely.

About the Author

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author DARYNDA JONES won a RITA Award for best first novel for First Grave On The Right. As a born storyteller, she grew up spinning tales of dashing damsels and heroes in distress for any unfortunate soul who happened by, annoying man and beast alike. Jones lives in the Land of Enchantment, also known as Albuquerque, New Mexico, with her husband and two beautiful sons, the Mighty, Mighty Jones Boys.

Learn more at DaryndaJones.com

Follow Darynda on Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest

Friend Darynda on Goodreads

#EighthGrave

Giveaway Time!!!!

NO REST FOR THE DEAD prize pack

One (1) winner receives:

a branded coffee mug,

plus the complete Charley Davidson series!

Giveaway open to US addresses only.

Prizing and samples provided by St. Martin’s Press.

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May 25, 2015May 24, 2015

Blog Tour & Giveaway: Against The Tide by Kat Martin

Liv Chandler is running for her life, and the cops haven’t been able to do a thing to help. But there’s one man who makes her feel safe, no matter what…rugged charter boat captain Rafe Brodie.

To Rafe, Liv is a beautiful mystery, one he can’t ignore. He means to unearth her secrets, and in the process, if luck is on his side, maybe the spark between them will ignite.

But Liv’s past is more dangerous than Rafe could guess, and when his first mate turns up dead, she fears that she’s next. That there’s something else coming she can’t see. That even Rafe and the remote village of Valdez, Alaska can’t protect her forever…

Amazon/B&N

It took the death of someone she cared about for Olivia to let down her guard enough to follow Rafe Brodie out of the house. For six months she’d been avoiding him.

Now Scott Ferris was dead and she couldn’t get Cassie’s haunted features out of her head.

Cassie wanted Scotty’s killer caught. So did Liv. Wanted it bad enough to risk helping Rafe Brodie make certain it happened.

Why she believed he could handle the job, she wasn’t sure. Maybe it was the hard glint in his eyes when he’d promised Cassie that whoever had done it wasn’t going to get away with it.

Maybe it was just that everything about Rafe Brodie said he was an extremely capable man.

“I don’t think the police have talked to Ben yet,” she said as he drove his SUV toward the Seaside Motel. “Lois told me Cassie got completely hysterical when Chief Rosen told her Scott was dead. Her mother drove over and gave her a Valium. The chief promised to come back later, after she was a little more in control, but he hasn’t been back yet.”

“I’d like to know what the medical examiner found out,” Rafe said. “She should be able to give us the official cause of death, maybe come up with a more exact idea of the murder weapon.”

“She?”

“Dr. Karen Ward. Works at the clinic. Town this size isn’t big enough for a full-time forensic examiner.”

“That isn’t exactly good news. Someone who only works part-time could miss something important.”

“She’s a good doctor, but you’re right. It’s not exactly like having some hot-shot CSI on the case like you see on TV.”

“Speaking of forensics, maybe Scotty left something on the boat. Have you been back aboard yet?”

“No. It’s part of the crime scene. As soon as it’s cleared, I’m supposed to take a look, see if anything’s missing.”

Olivia leaned back as he turned the SUV at the corner and drove up in front of the Seaside Motel.

“In the meantime, we’ll see what Ben has to say.” Pulling into the parking lot of the two-story clapboard structure, he turned off the engine and Olivia climbed out of the vehicle. The motel was inexpensive but clean, with two dozen sparsely furnished rooms, six upstairs, six down.

Rafe held open the motel office door, and Liv preceded him inside and walked up to the counter. When Rafe leaned over and rang the service bell, his big, hard body brushed hers, and her breath caught. Just standing next to him was making her heart beat a little too fast.

Olivia couldn’t remember a man affecting her the way Rafe did. She’d noticed him the first time he’d walked into the café and every time since. She’d told herself it was just that he was such a handsome man and she hadn’t had sex in years. It was just that he was tall and good-looking, with a lean-muscled body that filled out his long-sleeved thermals in exactly the right places. Any normal, red-blooded female would be attracted to a man as sexy as Rafe.

Whatever the reason, she needed to keep her guard up.

Then again, Rafe Brodie was the most eligible bachelor in town. Half the women in Valdez were in love with him. Since he had never shown any real interest in her, maybe she was worrying for nothing.

She latched on to the thought as Ben walked out of the back and spotted them on the opposite side of the counter. He was a short man, a little rotund, with a receding hairline and a cheerful disposition. She could tell by the grim set of his features that Ben had heard about Scotty.

“I guess you know,” Rafe said, coming to the same conclusion.

“It’s all over town. Goddamn the bastards. I can’t believe he’s dead.”

“Did you see him last night? Did he show up for the poker game?”

“He was here. Scotty rarely misses.”

“Have you talked to the police?”

“Not yet. I’m surprised no one’s come round asking questions.”

“Rosen wasn’t able to question Cassie. She was too upset. The chief doesn’t know Scottie was here last night before he was killed. You know why he went back to the boat instead of going home?”

Ben shook his head. “No idea. We were all feeling real good with the tourist season kicking in and business picking up. We decided to raise the limit a little, and Scotty started winning. The kid was on a roll, cleaned us all out. When he got up to leave, Marty ragged him about staying, thought he should give the guys a chance to win back some of their money. But Scott wanted to get home. Said something about buying Cassie a real nice wedding gift with his winnings.”

Ben shook his head. “Damn shame is what it is. Goddamn shame, nice boy like that.”

Olivia looked up at Rafe. Scott had left with more money in his pocket than he usually carried. Maybe that was the reason he’d been mugged. But how would anyone except the other players have known?

Rafe asked the question she was thinking. “Besides you and Scott, who else was in the game?”

“Like I said, Marty Grossman was a player. Sam King and Chip Reed were the other two guys.”

“Reed used to date Cassie,” Rafe said. “They were pretty hot and heavy at one time. Then she met Scotty and Chip was out the door. How did Reed and Scotty get along? Any animosity?”

Ben shrugged his rounded shoulders. “Chip used to goad Scotty once in a while. Joked about him being henpecked. Told him to grow a pair and keep Cassie in line. Stuff like that. But you know Scott. Rolled off him like water off a duck’s back. Scotty liked everyone and everyone liked him.”

“Not everyone,” Olivia said darkly, drawing Rafe’s sharp gaze back to her.

When she said nothing more, he returned his attention to Ben. “Soon as the police find out Scott was here last night, they’ll want to talk to you and the other players.”

Ben nodded. “I’ll call and let them know. If there’s anything I can do to help catch that murdering bastard, believe me I will.” He let out a weary sigh. “Thing like this . . . makes me wish Alaska had the death penalty.”

A muscle tightened in Rafe’s jaw. “I know what you mean.”

“What time did Scotty leave?” Liv asked.

“Guess it was a little after midnight.”

“Coroner puts time of death between eleven and two,” Rafe said. “If Scotty left around midnight, he must have been killed sometime not long after. What time did the rest of the players leave?”

“Game broke up maybe ten, fifteen minutes after Scotty took off. Hell, he had all our money.”

“Are you sure he didn’t say anything about going back to the boat?” Liv asked. “Mention some errand he needed to run or something?”

“Not that I recall.”

Rafe flicked a glance in her direction. “Anything else?” he asked her.

Liv shook her head.

“Thanks, Ben,” Rafe said. “If you think of anything that might help, you know where to find me.”

“You got it.”

Olivia turned and started for the door, and Rafe fell in behind her.

“Rafe?” Ben called after him. Rafe stopped and turned. “You won’t let this drop, will you? You’ll keep after them till they find the guy who did it.”

Rafe’s jaw turned iron hard. “I won’t stop until the sonofabitch is arrested—or he’s dead.”

About the Author:

Kat Martin is the New York Times bestselling author of more than sixty books across multiple genres. Sixteen million copies are in print and she has been published in twenty-one foreign countries, including Japan, France, Argentina, Greece, China, and Spain. Her books have been nominated for the prestigious RITA award and won both the Lifetime Achievement and Reviewer’s Choice Awards from RT Book Reviews.

A resident of Missoula, Montana, Kat is a graduate of the University of California at Santa Barbara, where she majored in Anthropology and also studied History. She and her author husband, L.J. Martin, spend their winters in Ventura, California. She is currently writing her next Romantic Suspense. Visit Kat at www.katmartin.com

Website/Twitter/Facebook

Jennifer’s Review of Against The Tide

Review (4 Stars): Against The Tide is a great mystery that will keep you on the edge of your seat. It is sexy, entertaining and will grab you from the very first page. Rafe and Olivia were an interesting couple because they both had been attracted to each other for some time but were afraid to act on those feelings until they both got thrown into a murder mystery. The heat between these two characters could definitely heat up those cold Alaskan nights and Olivia needed Rafe in her life to help her with dealing with her own dangerous secret.

Against The Tide is the third book in The Brodies of Alaska series and even though I didn’t read the other two, I was quickly able to follow along with these characters and this storyline. Ms. Martin has created a well-written romantic suspense tale that will keep readers entertained and have them wanting to spend more time in the quaint town of Valdez, Alaska. Now, I need to read the rest of the series to see what other gorgeous men are living up in the cold terrain of Alaska.
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May 22, 2015

Blog Tour & Giveaway: Rush by Gina Gordon

In this edgy, sizzling romance for fans of Monica Murphy and Abbi Glines, a bad boy shows a straitlaced law student how to slow down and savor the good things.

Everly Parker is about to graduate from law school, always busy, and can’t stop rushing through life. Her late grandmother left her a bucket list of meaningful, can’t-miss experiences, but she hasn’t completed a single one. Then searing-hot Max Levin bursts into her world. As a casting director for a porn production company, Max is loaded, cocky, and all wrong for Everly. Still, she’s tempted enough to cross the first item off her list: Go out with someone you’d never give the time of day.

Inheriting a porn empire isn’t every guy’s dream (well, actually, it probably is), but Max isn’t complaining. It’s just that until he meets Everly, he has no idea what he’s been missing. As the pressure mounts to take over the family business, Max can’t help wondering what would happen if he chose Everly instead. So far, his life has been a wild ride, but only Everly promises the greatest rush of all: love.

Amazon/B&N

“Some of us find it easier to live than others.” I made sure to use air quotes to get my point across. “You probably get everything you want, don’t you?” I picked up the pen that sat on the table next to my laptop and tapped it against the fake wood. “Expensive cars. Expensive drinks. Women.”

Offense burned in his gaze. I saw it there for a split second before a smirk curved at the side of his lips and he leaned back, settling his torso against the bench. “You think I’m just an asshole in a suit.”

In the first two minutes of our introduction, maybe. Now I wasn’t so sure, but I didn’t need to tell him that. I smiled and shrugged. “At least it’s an expensive suit.”

I expected him to laugh at my joke, but he didn’t. Instead he reached across the table. “What’s this?” He pulled the bucket list from between the pages of my textbook. “The color matches your eyes.”

“Give that back.” I swiped my hand at his, but he pulled the sheet of paper away too
quickly. Panic seized my brain and body.

“What is this?”

I breathed heavily. Being a lawyer was a search for the truth, for justice—I found it hard to lie. Under any circumstance. And I wasn’t going to start now. “It’s a bucket list.”

“A bucket list?” His eyes worked from side to side as he read the items. “Are you dying?” he asked.

“No!” The response was little louder than I’d anticipated, but it was an awful question.

His face scrunched up in confusion. “Then what are you doing with a bucket list?”

I swiped again and this time I connected. I grabbed the paper out of his grip. “It’s none of your business.”

There were a lot of personal things on that list. Things I didn’t want a total stranger
knowing I hadn’t done, like have a really good laugh.

“Have you completed any of the items?”

“If you haven’t noticed . . .” I pointed to the table with all my studying accessories. “I’m a little busy.”

Just then a smile spread across his face.

God, he needed to stop doing that.

“What if I offered to help you cross off one of those items tomorrow?”

I cocked my head. This should be good.

“Go out with me tomorrow night.” He lifted his hand and traced a check mark in the air as he said, “Item number one . . . check.”

“What?” My eyes scanned the list. Although I had it memorized, I needed to double
check.

Go out with someone you wouldn’t give the time of day.

“You’re . . . crazy.”

No he wasn’t. He was exactly right.

Loosen up, girlie. You only been given one life. Live it.

I tensed at the sound of Gram’s voice in my head.

Just then my favorite server came by to collect my empty cup. I was barely
acknowledged. She couldn’t tear her gaze away from my guest. I felt jealousy tighten in my stomach, a feeling I was not used to. Maybe she wasn’t my favorite waitress anymore. More important than the loss of my best barista, was his statement. Had I judged him wrong?

He didn’t acknowledge the server. Instead, his eyes stayed perfectly fixed on me. I swallowed hard. I wasn’t blind to his presence either—the masculine lines of his face, his totally kissable lips. Heat bloomed inside my body, in places I hadn’t properly acknowledged in a very long time. Was I wrong for wanting to feel the softness of his lips against mine, against my skin, against every inch of my body?

The sexual attraction to him was nothing I’d ever felt before—beginning as a slow ache between my thighs upon first sight and now an outright burn.

Down, girl.

I fisted my hands on my lap, under the table and out of sight. I couldn’t let him see just what kind of effect he had on me.

He reached over and grabbed the list again. “Go out with someone you wouldn’t give the time of day.” He grinned. “I believe that’s me.”

He seemed way to happy to be not my type. But I couldn’t go out with him. Could I?

He leaned across the table and my nipples hardened at his infiltration of my personal space. “I bet you do everything you’re supposed to.” He cocked his head to the left. “Don’t you?”

As a matter of fact, I did. But damn him for thinking he knew me.

He dipped his head as if making a point to shield his forthcoming words from others. I swallowed hard.

“You may not think I’m nice. You may not think I’m sexy. But as for completing your life . . .” His piercing gaze met mine and I knew that with only a little more coaxing, I could be another one of his anonymous panty donors. “How do you know if you don’t give it a try?”

I scoffed. “I’ve never tried bull testicles, but I know they can’t be good.”

The grin never left his face as he pulled away. “Then it’s settled.” He slapped his palm on the table. “I’ll pick you up tomorrow night at ten. I’ll get your address from Jade.” He pointed behind him. “It was nice meeting you, Everly Parker.”

He extracted himself from the booth.

“I can’t . . . wait . . .” I reached out as if to grab him, but my hand fisted around air. Like a ghost, he had waltzed in and out of my life, somehow managing to shake my focus.

I’ve had my head down and nose in a book for the last three years and nothing has distracted me—except Max Levin. The blinders I’ve had in place to keep out the rest of the world had somehow been knocked off and I had no idea what to do with myself.

I sucked in a large breath. I admired his retreating form, especially that tight backside, which I wanted to feel against my palms. The farther away he got, the harder my body ached to touch him.

I looked up to the ceiling. I wasn’t one for believing in the supernatural, or even fate. I believed you made your own fate.

But I couldn’t shake the feeling that Max Levin had been sent to help me with my bucket list problem.

About the Author:

When her dream of becoming a mafia princess didn’t pan out, Gina Gordon went after her second dream: becoming a writer. And she hasn’t looked back. A self-proclaimed happily-ever-after junkie and cupcake connoisseur, Gordon loves spinning contemporary tales of knee-bending first kisses, unconditional love, and super-hot sex. She lives in Milton, Ontario, with her husband and their lovable dog.

Website/Twitter/Facebook

Jennifer’s Review of Rush

Review (4 Stars): Everly and Max were definitely two opposite personalities that fit well together. She had big dreams and big opportunities ahead of her and falling in love with Max wasn’t what she planned for her life at all. Max had everything a guy could want at his fingertips except love and Everly brought that to him if he would just take a chance. They were a great couple together with enough heat and sexual chemistry to light up the night, and their happy ever after was waiting for them if they just could reach out and grab it. Rush was a great romance about two people that found love when they least expected it and I’m looking forward to reading more from Ms. Gordon.

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May 21, 2015May 20, 2015

Blog Tour & Giveaway: Midnight Ride by Cat Johnson

One bucking bronco…

Oklahoma ranch hand Tyler Jenkins is too young, too sexy, and too damn wild to be tied down by any single woman—for more than a few steamy hours…

One hard-working widow…

Widowed rancher Janie Smithwick is too busy paying off her debts to play rodeo with a reckless young cowboy like Tyler—no matter how hot he gets her…

One midnight ride they’ll never forget…

As a rule, Janie should be dating a man her own age, like her handsome neighbor Rohn—not the twenty-four-year old ranch hand he employs. But once Tyler gets Janie alone—held tight in his arms, pressed against his hard muscled body, burning with desire—the widow realizes that some rules, like broncos, are meant to be broken…

Amazon/B&N

The sun was riding low over the horizon when Janie followed Tyler outside to his truck. “Thank you very much for all your help, but you really didn’t have to wash my dishes.”

“Sure I did.” Tyler grinned, the charm oozing from his every pore.

Janie couldn’t help but smile in response, even as she disagreed. “No, you didn’t.”

He leaned back against the open tailgate and crossed his arms. “I did if I want you to invite me again.”

“Oh, that was your plan, was it?” She laughed as she turned and leaned next to him, hands braced on the metal of his bed.

“Yup.” He shot her a sideways glance. “Did it work?”

“Yeah. I think it did.”

“Good.” He nodded. They both sat and stared toward the brilliant colors lighting the sky while the silence stretched between them, until Tyler broke it. “Do you ever hear from your dad?”

The question surprised her. “Not really. No.”

“Did he come to your husband’s funeral?”

“No. He called, but he was busy with work and couldn’t get away.”

The wound hadn’t quite healed over. She still felt the emotional scars when she talked about her mother’s death or her father’s emotional abandonment.

This conversation brought a little closer to the surface the dull ache she usually kept buried. She didn’t resent Tyler for asking, even if she was shocked he was interested. Most guys his age would be out with their friends, yet here he was, sitting on a tailgate at sunset talking to her about things much too serious for such a pretty evening. He was probably meeting his friends later and had to kill time until then. That scenario made sense.

She wondered where he went with his friends, and how the girls there reacted to the likes of Tyler and Colton walking into a bar. Given how good they both looked, they were probably swarmed the minute they got in the door.

“I’m sorry that all happened to you.” He covered her hand with his and squeezed before letting go.

The touch hadn’t lasted long, but long enough for her to know he meant what he said. That he was sincere in his empathy.

Janie should probably be getting used to Tyler doing the unexpected. She wasn’t. Surprised yet again by this guy, she said, “Thanks.”

The silence descended once more until he turned where he leaned and angled his body toward her. “So why are you only cooking for one?”

At the question, she turned her head to look at him. “Excuse me?”

“You said you don’t like cooking for only yourself. Aren’t you dating?”

That elicited a laugh she couldn’t control. “No.”

Dating. Who would she date? And where the hell would she meet him? Though thanks to Rene, she’d have to sit through church with a stranger her friend seemed intent on setting her up with. Maybe that was why she wasn’t dating. Interfering friends.

“Why not?” he asked.

Her mouth dropped open at his bold question. She expected this kind of prying from Rene, but not Tyler. Still, she felt compelled to answer. “It really hasn’t been that long since Tom . . .”

After a beat, Tyler asked, “How long has it been? I thought it was about a year.”

“Yeah, about.”

“So you’re not ready?” His eyes pinned her. He obviously wasn’t letting this go.

“I don’t know. I haven’t really thought about it. There’s been so much else to think about.”

“Like the hay harvest.”

“Yeah, that, and the broken fence.” And the lessons. And the bills. And the animals. She sighed. “Just everything.”

“So if someone were to, say, take care of that harvest for you, and that fence was fixed so you had time to think about yourself, do you think you would be ready?”

“To date?”

“Yup.” His intense blue eyes never leaving her face, Tyler dipped his head in a nod.

“I don’t know.” She shrugged. “I guess. Why are you so interested?”

“Because I’d like to ask you out, but only if you’re ready for that.”

Ask her out? She knew he could flirt with the best of them, and suspected he was a ladies’ man, but that Tyler might want to go out with her was so far off her radar, she nearly fell off the truck’s tailgate.

“So, what do you say?”

She didn’t know what to say. Even if she were ready to start dating, which she wasn’t, Janie had a feeling she’d never be prepared to be with a guy like Tyler. Too young. Too wild. Too tempting. “How old are you, Tyler?”

“I’ll be twenty-five next month.”

“So you’re twenty-four.” At least he was a couple of years older than she’d first assumed when she thought he was twenty. Still, he was too young. Or maybe she was just too old.

“Yeah. Technically, I’m twenty-four, for now. Why?” He shrugged. “Does it matter?”

She laughed. “Yes.”

“Why?” His brow creased beneath the brim of his hat. He really didn’t understand.

“Because I’m twelve years older than you.”

“I know, and next month you’ll only be eleven years older than me. You said you were thirty-six the night we met. So?”

She’d forgotten she’d mentioned her age that night. Maybe Rene was right. Maybe Tyler did have a Mrs. Robinson, older-woman sex fantasy. If so, she didn’t think she was the one to fulfill it. “What do you mean, so? That’s more than a decade.”

“And?”

“And that’s a big difference.”

He blew out an exaggerated breath from between his lips. “No, it isn’t. Janie, it doesn’t matter to me. Why does it matter to you?”

“I don’t know. It just does.” She didn’t want to tell him that being with him made her feel old. That her worst fear would be sitting in a restaurant with him and having the waitress assume she was his mother.

Tyler pushed off the tailgate and took a step so he was standing directly in front of her, so close that she was in the shadow of his hat.

“No. You’re not getting away with that answer. Tell me. What’s really wrong?” His voice had dropped low as he questioned her. It sounded husky, and even more sensual than usual.

With him standing so near, she could see the day’s worth of stubble darkening his cheeks and chin. She might want to think of him as a kid—it would make it a hell of a lot easier to not succumb to him—but Tyler was a grown man. And a hell of a man he was. She couldn’t deny that as she was eye level with the bulging muscles of his chest that stretched the cotton of his T-shirt.

Janie swallowed and tried to regain her focus. “You should be dating girls your own age.”

That was one truth about her avoidance she would tell him. Twentysomething guys should date twentysomething girls.

“I have. I’ve gone out with plenty of them, but not a one of them was anything like you.” His blue gaze pinned her even as she averted her eyes to avoid the intensity she saw in them.

Janie wasn’t used to being the object of a man’s attention anymore. At least, not like this. “So I’d be a novelty?”

“A novelty, no. But you are one of a kind, Janie Smithwick. Don’t you ever forget it.” He raised his hand to capture her chin between his thumb and forefinger before he lowered his head, close enough she could hear him breathing.

The brush of his lips against hers was so brief, so gentle, it was almost as if she’d imagined it. He pulled back, but his gaze grabbed and held hers.

“When you’re ready to take a chance on me, you let me know.” He released his hold on her and turned to walk toward the driver’s door.

She was still speechless, but managed to have the good sense to get off his tailgate before he drove away.

With one hand braced on the top of the door, he glanced back at her. “I’ll be back to hay that field as soon as I can.”

Janie nodded and he climbed inside, slamming the door after him. She realized she’d yet to speak.

What could she have said? Her lips were as numb as the rest of her from the shock of Tyler’s kiss. She watched him pull to the end of the driveway and stop before turning. He waved one arm out the window as he drove away, and only when he was out of sight did she remember to breathe again.

About the Author:

A New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Cat Johnson writes contemporary romance in genres including military and western. Known for her unique marketing and research techniques, she has sponsored pro bull riders, owns a collection of camouflage and western footwear for book signings, and a fair number of her consultants wear combat or cowboy boots for a living. For more visit CatJohnson.net

Website/Twitter/Facebook

Jennifer’s Review of Midnight Ride

Review (4 Stars): Janie lost her husband to illness and was left to care for his ranch all by herself and was worried about how she was going to make ends meet. A chance encounter with Tyler, a local ranch hand, changed everything for her when he agreed to do odd jobs around the ranch and help her get the ranch up and running again. Tyler couldn’t believe that Janie lived down the road from where he worked and he found himself wanting to spend more time helping this beautiful young woman. Together, they found that love can find you when you least expect it and can change your world forever.

I instantly connected with Janie from the very beginning of Midnight Ride. She lost her husband a year before and was determined to keep her ranch running even if she had to sell almost everything to do it. She wasn’t expecting to meet a man like Tyler, who reminded her that she was still a desirable woman and caused her heart to race whenever she was around him. When we first met Tyler, he was a player that was looking to score as many women as he could and wasn’t quite ready to settle down until he met Janie. She was everything that he was looking for and he found himself wanting to spend as much time with her as possible even if it meant just helping her fix things around the property. The heat between the two of them was electric and you could just feel the chemistry between them as you turned the pages. I love cowboys and Midnight Ride is at the top of my favorite cowboy romances. Ms. Johnson is a new author for me but I am looking forward to read more from this talented author.

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May 19, 2015May 19, 2015

Book Spotlight & Giveaway: Dry Bones by Craig Johnson

Walt and Undersheriff Victoria Morretti don’t know what to make of it when they find Danny Lone Elk, a Cheyenne rancher, dead and floating in a turtle pond—until they learn that “Jen”, a T. rex skeleton named for the paleontologist who discovered her, has been unearthed on his land. Walt soon finds himself in the middle of an ownership dispute between the deceased man’s family, a local natural history museum, and the Cheyenne tribe, as well as a political charade involving Wyoming’s ambitious acting Deputy U.S. Attorney.

With the case growing more complex by the day, Walt is blindsided by a shocking tragedy that leaves his daughter heartbroken. Meanwhile, residents of Absaroka County are determined to “save Jen” from those who would claim her for the federal government and remove the dinosaur from her Wyoming home. It’s up to Sheriff Longmire to get the bottom of Danny Lone Elk’s death, determine where rightful ownership lies, and, hopefully, win the dinosaur for Wyoming. Toxic Cheyenne artifacts, illegal prescription drugs, missing film footage and missing persons all come into play as Walt and Vic try their best to “save Jen.”

Amazon/B&N

About the Author:

Craig Johnson is the New York Times bestselling author of the Walt Longmire mystery series. Johnson’s series is the basis for Longmire, the hit TV original drama that has been picked up by Netflix for its fourth season. He is the recipient of the Wyoming Historical Award for fiction, the Western Writers of America Spur Award for fiction, the Mountains and Plains Booksellers Award for fiction, the Rocky Award from Left Coast Crime, the Nouvel Observateur Prix du Roman Noir, and the Prix 813. His novella, Spirit of Steamboat, was selected by the Wyoming Library Association as the One-Book-Wyoming, the inaugural state read. Find Craig’s events at www.craigallenjohnson.com (Tour of Duty tab). He lives in Ucross, Wyoming, population twenty-five (still).

Website/Twitter/Facebook

Jennifer’s Review of Dry Bones

Review (4.5 Stars): Craig Johnson is one of the many authors that made me fall in love with mysteries. In his 13th installment of his entertaining Longmire series, Walt discovers the body of local rancher, Danny Lone Elk floating in a turtle pond and finds that Danny was involved in a ownership tug of war because T-Rex remains were discovered on his property. Whoever gets the property rights for these remains are bound to make a financial killing and will make national headlines because of this amazing discovery. Now it is up to Walt and Vic to sort through the clues to help solve Danny’s murder and hopefully keep these remains in Wyoming where they belong.

I love the Longmire series and I always feel as though I’m spending time with old friends every time I read a new mystery. Dry Bones was a complex, entertaining and thought-provoking mystery that will delight long time fans. I enjoyed reading the history of these remains and what it meant to have these remains stay in the community. Such a fascinating mystery that readers are sure to devour and keep coming back for more. If you are new to series, I would recommend starting with the first book, The Cold Dish, so you can know the history of these characters and it will make everything a lot easier to understand about Absaroka County.

Giveaway

I’m excited to give away Mr. Johnson’s new paperback, Any Other Name. This giveaway is for US Residents only. To be entered in the drawing by May 28th, please leave me a comment below:

May 11, 2015May 10, 2015

Blog Tour & Giveaway: The Book Stops Here by Kate Carlisle

Brooklyn Wainwright is thrilled to be appearing on the San Francisco edition of the hit TV show This Old Attic as a rare-book expert and appraiser. Her first subject is a very valuable first-edition copy of the classic children’s story The Secret Garden, which is owned by a flower vendor named Vera.

Once she hears what her book is worth, Vera is eager to have Brooklyn recondition it for resale. But after the episode airs, a furious man viciously accosts Brooklyn, claiming that Vera found the first edition at his garage sale, and he wants it back—or else. Brooklyn is relieved that she’s put The Secret Garden in a safe place, but Randolph Rayburn, the handsome host of This Old Attic, is terrified by the man’s threats. He confides in Brooklyn that he fears he is being stalked. He doesn’t know who might have targeted him, or why.

In the days that follow, several violent incidents occur on the set, and Brooklyn is almost killed, leaving both her and her security expert boyfriend, Derek, shaken. Is someone after Brooklyn and the book? Or has Randolph’s stalker become more desperate? And then Brooklyn visits Vera’s flower shop…and discovers her dead. Is the murderer one of the two obvious suspects, or is something more sinister—even bizarre—going on? Brooklyn had better find the clever killer soon or more than her chance at prime time may be canceled…permanently.

Amazon/B&N

About the Author:

Golden Heart and Daphne du Maurier Award winning author Kate Carlisle spent over twenty years working in television production as an Associate Director for game and variety shows, including The Midnight Special, Solid Gold and The Gong Show. She traveled the world as a Dating Game chaperone and performed strange acts of silliness on The Gong Show. She also studied acting and singing, toiled in vineyards, collected books, joined a commune, sold fried chicken, modeled spring fashions and worked for a cruise ship line, but it was the year she spent in law school that finally drove her to begin writing fiction. It seemed the safest way to kill off her professors. Those professors are breathing easier now that Kate spends most of her time writing near the beach in Southern California where she lives with her perfect husband.

A lifelong love of old books and an appreciation of the art of bookbinding led Kate to create the Bibliophile Mysteries, featuring rare book expert Brooklyn Wainwright, whose bookbinding and restoration skills invariably uncover old secrets, treachery and murder. Kate is a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, International Thriller Writers and Romance Writers of America. She loves to drink good wine and watch other people cook.

Website/Twitter/Facebook

Jennifer’s Review of The Book Stops Here

Review (5 Stars): Brooklyn finally has one of her dreams come true by being chosen to be the book appraiser for the TV show This Old Attic and one of her first books to appraise just happens to be The Secret Garden. This particular edition is worth a pretty penny and before you know it, Brooklyn is in the middle of danger when the previous owner wants the book back after the episode airs on television and the current owner is found dead in her flower shop. Brooklyn now must find a killer before someone decides to cancel her new television career for good.

The Book Stops Here is an entertaining thrill ride for mystery lovers with complex characters, snappy dialogue and a whodunnit that will keep you on the edge of your seat. I loved seeing Brooklyn in her element discussing books on television and I just thought this mystery was fascinating from beginning to end. This series is absolutely delightful and I’m looking forward to seeing what is up next for Brooklyn.

Giveaway

I’m excited to give away a copy of The Book Stops Here. This giveaway is for US Residents only. To be entered in the drawing by May 18th, please leave me a comment below:

May 9, 2015May 9, 2015

Blog Tour & Giveaway: Upside Down by Lia Riley

If you never get lost, you’ll never be found…
Twenty-one-year-old Natalia Stolfi is saying good-bye to the past-and turning her life upside down with a trip to the land down under. For the next six months, she’ll act like a carefree exchange student, not a girl sinking under the weight of painful memories. Everything is going according to plan until she meets a brooding surfer with hypnotic green eyes and the troubling ability to see straight through her act.Bran Lockhart is having the worst year on record. After the girl of his dreams turned into a nightmare, he moved back home to Melbourne to piece his life together. Yet no amount of disappointment could blind him to the pretty California girl who gets past all his defenses. He’s never wanted anyone the way he wants Talia. But when Bran gets a stark reminder of why he stopped believing in love, he and Talia must decide if what they have is once in a lifetime . . . or if they were meant to live a world apart.

Amazon/B&N

*EXCERPT*

“A few meters more, you’re almost there.”
It’s like we’re at the end of some old-school adventure tale, one where the heroes are stoic even as the blizzard rages, avalanches fall, and death hovers like a benevolent ghost.
Well, Bran is the hero.
I’m like one of the minor sidekicks who goes down during some important turning point. My death might even inspire the hero on his journey or teach him a valuable lesson. But at this point in the flick, the minor sidekick should be well and truly dead. Not white-knuckling a column of dolerite rock, thighs gripping the stone like it’s the world’s best lover.
“That’s it, Talia,” Bran’s voice is encouraging. “You’re holding tight, that’s great. Now, I’m going to need you to release your left hand and reach up a few inches to grab the next hold.”
I grit my teeth. The way he talks, you’d think I’m scaling Everest. Or at least Kilimanjaro. Instead—
“’Scuse, us, we’ll be by in a tic. That’s the way, Andy, right around the lady.”
I’m the lady. Andy is a kid who doesn’t look a day over seven who scrambles past me in a flurry of Spider-Man shoes and gap-toothed smiles. His parents bring up the rear, smiling up at their wild monkey child with obvious pride.
And they aren’t the first group to pass me.
Five Swedish women, a couple, and a guy who looked to be in his mid-seventies have also shot past me during the course of the last quarter hour.
The top is so close I can taste it. Bran is being nothing but encouraging, but below me is a twenty-foot drop. Not enough to kill me, unless I fall with some sort of suicidal intent, but enough to make me feel incredibly uneasy about the boulder field.
Bran eases toward me. “Talia, take my hand.”
“Can’t let go.”
“Talia.”
“No.” This is it; this is the reason. Bran isn’t going to admit it here, while I’m bordering on a panic attack on a trail being conquered by elementary school children and senior citizens, but there’s no doubt this is A REASON to lose interest in me. I’m giving him a big capital-lettered reason, but I can’t stop. I physically can’t let go.
“Talia. Take a deep breath.”
“Breath taken.”
“Another.”
“Okay.”
“Give me your hand, no bullshit. I want your fingers in mine. You’ll be safe. I’m going to keep you safe. I need you to trust me.”
Somehow I do it. I give him my fingers. He assists me up. We’re doing this together. My head clears the boulder and I can see the steel marker that identifies the summit ahead. Holy shit, he’s right. I’m going to reach the top.
A few more steps, easy now, and we’re there. The kid in the Spider-Man shoes munches a Vegemite sandwich. I want to scoop him up in a smooshy squeeze. Except his parents would likely object, so I switch gears to give Bran a long and passionate kiss.
“I knew you’d get here,” he says.
“I didn’t.”
He turns me to see the view, his hands tight around my waist. “Your place is here, Captain, in the sun,” he whispers in my ear. “Don’t ever forget that.”

About the Author:

After studying at the University of Montana-Missoula, Lia Riley scoured the world armed only with a backpack, overconfidence and a terrible sense of direction. When not torturing heroes (because c’mon, who doesn’t love a good tortured hero?), Lia herds unruly chickens, camps, beach combs, daydreams about as-of-yet unwritten books, wades through a mile-high TBR pile and schemes yet another trip. She and her family live mostly in Northern California.

Website/Twitter/Facebook

Jennifer’s Review of Upside Down

Review (4 Stars): This book touched me emotionally because when I was about Talia’s age I lost someone very close to me and I understood the pain and the desire to appear normal to everyone around me. Talia has OCD and these daily rituals help her cope with her changing world and meeting Bran pushed her to go outside her comfort zone to experience something absolutely amazing.

Bran was able to accept her at a time when she felt that no one could understand what she was experiencing and he fell in love with the real Talia. He was sweet, charming and dangerously sexy and he definitely could break your heart but in Talia’s case, he wanted to cherish it forever. She was the one for him and her flaws just made him love her all the more.

Upside Down is a touching romance about two lost souls who find love when they least expect it. Talia and Bran were perfect for each other because they were lost when they were on their own but together they finally found a place to call home.

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May 8, 2015

Blog Tour & Giveaway: Fillet Of Murder by Linda Reilly

Guest Post

by Linda Reilly

It’s all about comfort . . .

What does the expression “comfort food” mean to you? Is it the enticing whiff of a tray of chocolate chip cookies emerging from a warm oven? The aroma of homemade chicken soup simmering in the pot? Or could it be the heady scent of deep-fried goodies fresh from the fryer?

When I was a kid, I was probably one of the pickiest eaters on the planet. (There are those who will tell you I haven’t changed, but don’t listen to them . . . they’re just trouble-makers J) The hit parade of foods I liked consisted of toast with butter, grilled cheese or peanut butter sandwiches,macaroni and cheese, and spaghetti with plain tomato sauce. Oh . . . and chocolate. How I loved my chocolate!I suspect many of my childhood favorites are among yours, too.

So how did I go from turning up my nose at nearly everything to writing a cozy series about an eatery that specializes in delectable, deep-fried fare? It starts, I think, with one basic concept—any food that’s been swirled through batter and fried in sizzling hot oil can’t possibly be anything but scrumptious!

When the Deep Fried series begins, the eatery featured in Fillet of Murder is pretty much a fish and chips shop. Swish a slab of haddock around in batter, plunge it into the deep fry, add some crispy, hand-cut “chips” and a side of tangy coleslaw, and you have yourself oneheckuva delicious meal. But in Fillet of Murder,a happy accident occurs. A common side treat offered in most eateries finds its way into the batter, gets fried up nice and golden, and then gets eaten by an unsuspecting character. His first reaction is horror . . . until he pauses to savor the taste.

With that, the eatery’s menu begins to morph from primarily fish and chips into one that offers avariety of deep-fried side dishes. But it also means that my main character, Talia Marby, has to scramble to dream up some new deep-fried recipes! Guess who has to help her? Yup. Me.

Thinking about all the new recipes sent my brain (and Talia’s!) into overload. But then it occurred to me—I was making it all too complicated. The reality is that you can deep-fry almost anything. I was flipping through TV channels recently, and landed on a show in which entire sticks of butter werebeing dipped in a batter and deep-fried. At first the sheer decadence of it astounded me, but then it struck me . . . gee, I wouldn’t mind trying that. (but not the entire stick . . .)

After a lot of brainstorming, Talia and I came up with some fun, deep-fried side dishes. Deep-fried meatballs drizzled with marinara became one of the first concoctions, along with deep-fried pickle rounds. There are so many more recipes to explore. Gradually we’ve been plumping up the menu, but the possibilities are endless.

So tell me, what are some of your favorite comfort foods?

About the Author:

Raised in a sleepy town in the Berkshires, Linda Reilly has spent the bulk of her career in the field of real estate closings and title examination. It wasn’t until 1995 that her first short mystery, Out of Luck, was accepted for publication by Woman’s World Magazine. Since then she’s had over forty short stories published, including a sprinkling of romances. In 2013 Five Star Publishing released her first full-length mystery, Some Enchanted Murder. Her first mystery in the Deep Fried series, a cozy featuring fry cook Talia Marby, will be released by Berkley Prime Crime in 2015.

Linda lives in New Hampshire with her husband, who affectionately calls her “Nose-in-a-book.”

Website/Facebook

Sometimes in this life, you have to fish or cut bait. After walking away from a miserable job and an even worse boyfriend, Talia Marby has no regrets. She’s returned to her hometown and is happy to help her dear friend Bea Lambert by working at Lambert’s Fish & Chips, a cornerstone of a charming shopping plaza designed to resemble an old English village.

But not all the shop owners are charming. Phil Turnbull has been pestering Bea to sign a petition against a new store opening up, and his constant badgering is enough to make her want to boil him in oil. When Talia and Bea stumble upon Turnbull murdered in his shop, the police suspect Bea. Now it’s up to Talia to fish around for clues and hook the real killer before her friend has to trade serving food for serving time . . .

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Jennifer’s Review of Fillet of Murder

Review (4.5 Stars): Loved Fillet of Murder! Talia is a charming and spunky heroine that is just adorable and I love the original idea of having a fish restaurant as the backdrop for this intelligent mystery. Talia must help find the true killer before her beloved friend, Bea, is charged for a murder that she didn’t commit. Fillet of Murder is an fabulous mystery that will delight readers and the yummy recipes will have everyone craving some deep-fried goodness from Lambert’s Fish & Chips. Can’t wait to read the next installment of this entertaining series.

Giveaway

I’m excited to give away a copy of Fillet of Murder. This giveaway is for US Residents only. To be entered in the drawing by May18th, please leave answer Linda’s question above:

May 7, 2015May 6, 2015

Blog Tour & Giveaway: The Best I Never Had by Loni Flowers

New job, new town, new people— new life.

That’s what Olivia Langston needed. At twenty eight, she was given a rare opportunity at an internship in the rolling valleys of Crystal Falls in California wine country, far away from her small town roots in North Carolina. It was an unexpected journey she desperately needed after her ex-husband crushed her.

At DeVine Winery, she expected a fresh start in a new environment to help let go of her past. Instead, she found Daniel Black and a hell of a lot of sexual tension she wasn’t prepared for. He was gorgeous, modestly wealthy, irresistible, and just happened to be part owner of DeVine, one of the largest vineyards in the country.

If only she knew that before she kissed him her first night in town.

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When Evelyn disappeared into another room, I pierced Daniel with a hard glare. He’d gotten his wish, to some degree, after all. Dinner had been his idea, and if he couldn’t get me alone for it, then having me at his mother’s house was the next best thing.
“Are you always used to getting your way?”
“Sometimes.”
“Well, this was the last time from me.” I stood up abruptly, the chair legs screeching on the hardwood floor, and hurried to the door. I made it out and halfway down the walkway before Daniel latched onto my wrist and pulled me to a stop.
“Don’t leave like this. Not while you’re angry.”
I snatched my hand from his grasp and spun around. “I’ve told you on several occasions that I won’t get involved with my boss.”
“I’m not your boss, my mother is.”
“That is exactly why it makes you off limits.”
“I’m a thirty-five-year-old grown man. I’m capable of making my own decisions.”
“Then you’ve been around long enough to know when a woman tells you she’s not interested, then she’s not interested.” I took a few steps backwards and found myself between him the water fountain. Taking a step forward, he prevented my retreat and scanned my face with seriousness I hadn’t seen before.
“You can say you’re not interested all you want, but the way those gorgeous eyes follow my movements in the office speak something entirely different.”
“Really? And what exactly do you think my eyes are saying?” I countered. I was out of my league with the snarky comeback. Trying to pretend he didn’t affect me was pointless. But if I could manage to stay strong, he’d give up. Eventually.
“You can’t stop thinking about that night. No matter how hard you try, you can’t ignore what happen and how it made you feel.”
“Well, you need to get your eyes checked then. How it made me feel makes no difference. I have five and half months left in this internship before I move on. Getting caught up in you, or anyone else, isn’t going to do me any favors. I’m over what happened already. It’s about time you get over it too.”
“Is there something wrong with enjoying yourself while you’re here?”
I stared—shocked that he’d consider something so casual. I had no doubt he’d be good in bed, but I wasn’t that type of woman. I didn’t sleep around for the pure enjoyment of it. Sex meant more to me than that. It was special, a one-of-a-kind connection you didn’t find with someone random. It was what I thought I had with my ex-husband.
“No. There’s nothing wrong with being causal if that’s the type of person you are. But I’m not one of those people. And getting into a relationship, of any kind, is so far down on my to-do list, it’s practically nonexistent.” I blew out a heavy breath, relieved to get all of that off my chest, but my breaths were still heavy. My hormones didn’t get the memo my brain sent. He was too close. Smelled delicious. And sexy as hell. “Move so I can go home. Please,” I added.
“Okay, but can you do one thing for me before you go?”
“What?” I put my hand on my hip, annoyed.
“Kiss me again.”

About the Author:

Residing in Eastern North Carolina with her husband, 2 girls, and couch-potato dogs, Loni works a full-time professional job during the day and writes in her free time. She never thought it was possible to have a satisfying writing career, but with the love and support of her family, she’s made it part of her life.
Loni searches for the tiniest speck of romance in any story and is a firm believer in the happily-ever-after’s. She thrives off the sexual tension, and gets a kick out of taking her characters on a roller-coaster ride of drama-filled emotions. A romance that can soothe the soul is her number one priority.

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Jennifer’s Review of The Best I Never Had

Review (4 Stars): I loved Olivia and Daniel together as a couple and he was exactly what she needed in her life. She never planned to kiss him in a bar but that chance meeting turned her life around for the better. Daniel was sweet, charming and very sexy so it was no surprise that Olivia fell for him. The Best I Never Had was such a charming romance that had me believing that things happen for a reason and you can find love when you least expect it. I’m hoping that there are more books in this series because I can’t wait to read more about the characters from the Devine Winery.

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May 7, 2015May 6, 2015

Blog Tour & Giveaway: The Harlot Countess by Joanna Shupe

Lady Hawkins’s debut was something she’d rather forget—along with her first marriage. Today, the political cartoonist is a new woman. A thoroughly modern woman. So much so that her clamoring public believes she’s a man…
FACT: Drawing under a male pseudonym, Maggie is known as Lemarc. Her (his!) favorite object of ridicule: Simon Barrett, Earl of Winchester. He’s a rising star in Parliament—and a former confidant and love interest of Maggie’s who believed a rumor that vexes her to this day.

FICTION: Maggie is the Half-Irish Harlot who seduced her best friend’s husband on the eve of their wedding. She is to be feared and loathed as she will lift her skirts for anything in breeches.

Still crushed by Simon’s betrayal, Maggie has no intention of letting the ton crush her as well. In fact, Lemarc’s cartoons have made Simon a laughingstock…but now it appears that Maggie may have been wrong about what happened years ago, and that Simon has been secretly yearning for her since…forever. Could it be that the heart is mightier than the pen and the sword after all?

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The long corridor outside the drawing room resembled a maze, with doors every which way. Picking a direction, Maggie searched for a footman. Perhaps he could draw her a detailed map on how to find the terrace.

From the shadow of an alcove, a figure stepped into her path. “Lady Hawkins.”

Simon. She started, pressed a hand to her chest. “You scared the life out of me. What are you doing out here?”

He folded his arms, the fine wool of his coat pulling taut across his broad shoulders. “I could ask you the same question—only I suspect the answer. Where did you have it planned?”

“Simon, I think you had better return to the dining room—”

“The music room? The conservatory?” he continued, steady steps bringing him closer. “I happen to know there are hundreds of little spots all over this house where one—or perhaps two—could hide for an extended period of time.”

She tried to make sense of his words over the thundering of her heart. Was he insinuating . . . ? Oh, for heaven’s sake. Did he always assume the worst of her? Feet planted, she stopped moving and lifted her chin. “Are you under the impression I’m engaging in some sort of a tryst? In the middle of a dinner party?” It was so absurd, she could hardly speak it.

His smirk confirmed it. “Convenient you and Markham both excused yourselves within moments of one another, wouldn’t you say? Let me give you a piece of advice for next time: It draws less attention if you sneak away once the gentlemen join the—”
She came forward to hiss, “You hypocritical horse’s arse. I stepped out for some air. Alone.”

He had the gall to snort. “Yes, I’m quite sure Markham would offer up a similar story if we were to ask him.”

Anger rushed through her veins, settling in her chest like a heavy mound of potter’s clay. Simon loomed over her, snarling down in self-righteous fury, and she discovered he’d backed her up against a wall. She knew in that moment he would never believe her denials; he’d formed his opinion of her ten years ago and there would be no changing his mind.

Fine, she could play the harlot for him. Maybe then he’d leave her alone—though she truly longed to crack him one across his closely shaven jaw.

She exhaled, forced her limbs to relax, and licked her lips. Predictably, his gaze locked on her mouth, so she rolled her bottom lip between her teeth. His chest continued to rise and fall, the harsh exhales filling the room, and his eyes darkened to sapphires.

Oh yes, revenge could be sweet. Ever so slowly, she dragged one finger down the length of her bare collarbone. “Did you corner me in hopes of taking his place?” she asked, her voice low and intimate.

Simon shifted closer, the pure male, spicy scent of him filling her nose. She liked the way he smelled, orange and sandalwood with a hint of tobacco. The proximity of his frame distracted her as well. His evening clothes held no padding, and the well-tailored fit hugged him quite perfectly. She could see the outline—

“If I chose to take Markham’s place,” he started, placing his hands against the wall, one on either side of her head, to cage her in.

He leaned in and for one terrifying, heart-stopping moment she thought he was going to kiss her, but he shifted just before their lips touched. The tip of his nose slid across her cheek, tiny puffs of breath heating her skin as he nuzzled her. Maggie’s breasts swelled, and her lids fell with the rush of pleasure that rippled the length of her body. “If I chose to take his place, it wouldn’t be here,” he whispered near her ear. “I’d take you to my bed at Barrett House and show you wickedness Markham could not even begin to imagine. But that is not why I cornered you.”

Close. He was much too close. Despite her desire to remain unaffected, her belly fluttered and warmth tingled between her legs.

Why on earth had it only ever been this odious man to elicit such feelings? She swallowed. “Then why?”

He flicked her earbob with his tongue, then nipped the lobe with gentle teeth. She inhaled sharply. “What game are you playing at, Maggie?”

“I—” Her traitorous voice caught, so she cleared her throat. “There is no game, Simon.”

Her control began melting away. She longed to do every improper thing in the world to him—and for him to return them in kind.

Odd since she hadn’t ever enjoyed intimacies with a man. Had hated it, actually. But somehow, this was different.

Why had she started this? Oh yes, she’d thought to teach him a lesson, make a fool of him. Have him panting with lust and then leave him begging—only this was turning into something else entirely.

“I like games,” he continued, his lips brushing over her throat in a seductive caress. “But I also like to win. I wonder, are you prepared to pay the price when you lose?”

She shivered. There wasn’t enough air in the damn room. “I never lose,” she rasped. “And you have more at stake.”

“Do I?” His nose slid along the sensitive line of her jaw, the skin prickling in his wake. “I think I could take you against this wall.

Right now. Right here.” His hips pressed against hers, his erection stiff and unapologetic, and she sucked in a breath. Before she knew it, her hands clutched at his waist to hold him in place.

“But you should know,” he continued, his mouth hovering above her lips, “I only play games when there aren’t quite so many players. I do not care to be one of many.”

About the Author:

Award-winning author JOANNA SHUPE has always loved history, ever since she saw her first Schoolhouse Rock cartoon. While in college, Joanna read every romance she could get her hands on and soon started crafting her own racy historical novels. She now lives in New Jersey with her two spirited daughters and dashing husband.

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Jennifer’s Review of The Harlot Countess

Review (4 Stars): I love the Wicked Deceptions series and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of The Harlot Countess. I loved how Maggie got back at Simon after the way that he treated her and I don’t think I could have ever forgiven him for what he had done. Ms. Shupe has a delightful way of bringing two people together with wit and charm that will keep readers coming back for more. I love her amazing writing style and humor and looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
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