Interview & Giveaway with Kendra Elliot

Books-n-Kisses is super exicted to have our pal Kendra Elliot back on the blog to talk about her newest release Vanished. This was a great read. If you have not picked up your copy and you love Romance Suspense you really need to.

So, Kendra can you tell my wonderful followers a little about yourself

I’ve lived in Oregon for 96% of my life. (Yes, I’m nerdy and got out a calculator to get the right percentage) I have three teenage daughters that keep my house very busy and spent sixteen years as a dental hygienist before quitting to write full time. My first novel came out almost two years ago. VANISHED will be my fifth novel.

Have you always wanted to be an author?

I didn’t always want to write; I loved to read. From a very early age, I was a voracious reader, and I hated writing in high school and college. One day I set down a book after finishing it for the fourth or fifth time and wondered if I could make a reader feel as awesome this author always made me feel. I decided to give it a shot. My third try was published in 2012 as HIDDEN.

What is your most interesting writing quirk?

I often write with noise reducing headphones while listening to white noise from outer space. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcJ-o_fh1B4 (Again, nerd alert!) My husband works from home, and even though we work on different levels of the house, I can still hear his constant phone conferences. The headphones make all the difference.

Can you please tell us about your newest release Vanished?

This is the blurb from the book: When an eleven-year-old is abducted on her way to school, the FBI doesn’t waste a moment, sending agents to scour the area and embedding Special Agent Ava McLane with the distraught family. In the eye of the storm is local detective Mason Callahan, whose life is crumbling to pieces—he’s related to the victim, and his longtime confidential informant has just been murdered.

Both he and Agent McLane hole up in the victim’s family home. Every second counts in a kidnapping case, and the stakes keep rising the longer the girl is missing. As Ava and Mason struggle to hold the family together in their darkest hour, the two investigators find themselves drawn to each other.

Is Vanished is part of your ongoing Bone Secret series?

Officially VANISHED is not a Bone Secret book, even though regular readers will recognize my main character, Detective Mason Callahan, from the other Bone Secret Books. The Bone Secret books are more forensics oriented; VANISHED focuses on the FBI and police officers and their lives. Right now I plan to write 3 or 4 books with Mason Callahan and his love interest, Ava McLane. The second Callahan/McLane book is finished and should be released in January 2015. We’re still searching for a series title name for them. As I’m writing this, we haven’t finalized the name decision. But there will be more Bone Secrets books! After writing two FBI books, I’m ready to dive back into forensics.

How about we give the readers a little snippet from Vanished. Please open Vanished to a random page and give us a sentence or two.

In VANISHED, my detective’s personal and professional life is spinning out of control. This is part of a scene where his boss is telling him not to come in to work because they’ve discovered some evidence that doesn’t shine favorably on Mason.

Schefte cleared his throat. “We’d already pulled your hard drive.”

“What?” Mason’s vision tunneled.

“We’re checking your calendar, too.”

“You don’t take my whole computer to look at a calendar. What the hell is going on there?”

Schefte was quiet.

“Do I need a lawyer?” Mason asked. His brain spun like he was drunk. What was happening?

“It wouldn’t hurt to talk to your union rep,” Schefte answered. “I don’t know about a lawyer. I don’t think that will be necessary.”

A sharp pain shot through Mason’s temple.

“Denny, I don’t have time for this! I’m trying to help my family stay sane while their daughter is missing! My son is about to cave in on himself he’s so stressed.” And so am I.

“I know you’ve got a lot going on. This was a good time to take some time off. Come down and get your prints done again. Then we’ll talk.” Schefte sounded distant. All his usual good buddy-ness gone from his voice.

Do they think he killed Josie? Impossible.

Something was screwed up somewhere. Evidence lines were getting crossed.

“Fine,” answered Mason in the same even tone. “I’ll have my rep with me.” He ended the call and slipped the phone in his pocket, feeling as though his support system was being chiseled away. First his family struggled with the worst imaginable horror. Now his job was in jeopardy? He felt like he was being ripped in half. As slowly as possible.

Can you share with us your current work(s) in progress?

I’ve finished the follow-up to VANISHED which is currently titled BRIDGED and it will be out in January 2015. I also just finished a series of four small town romantic suspense novellas, The Rogue River Series, written with my author buddy Melinda Leigh that will be out next fall. I wrote two of the novellas books from the point-of-view of a woman who’s returned after five years as an LAPD officer to be a cop in her tiny home town of Solitude, Oregon. Melinda wrote two from my character’s sister’s point-of-view, a social worker who is reevaluating her marriage to her detective husband. Each novella is a complete suspense story, but there is also an over arcing mystery.

Next project? Thinking about this…it will most likely be a Bone Secret book. Any suggestions of who you’d like to read about from my previous books? I get a lot of requests for Chris’s story from BURIED.

Speaking of BURIED, it has been nominated for the International Thriller Award for Best Paperback Original. I was stunned and actually cried when I got the news. This competition is HUGE and I never dreamed I’d final. I’m still stunned at the names on this list: http://thrillerwriters.org/programs/thriller-awards/ My publisher is flying me to NYC in July for the conference and award ceremony. BURIED is also up for a Daphne award for Romantic Suspense at the Romance Writers of America national conference in July.

What is the best piece of advice you would give to someone that wants to get into writing?

Write, write, write, and read. Keep reading. Study the works of the authors you love and try to see what makes them stand out. Read how-to books, take online classes, join professional organizations, and listen to advice from other authors but don’t follow all of it. What works for some writers is not right for you, and there is a LOT of misleading information out there. Get to know other writers, don’t be pushy, pay your dues, and attend conferences. This isn’t a get-rich-quick business. Some people have, but 99% have not. Don’t get into the business for the money; do it because you love the writing.

What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?

I’ve had Allison Brennan’s NOTORIOUS on my TBR pile since it came out. When I’m writing, I don’t read much. I’m about to take a much needed break between writing books and that one is on top!

Learn more about Kendra and her books here: Website | Facebook | Twitter: @KendraElliot | Goodreads

*****

Vanished

PUBLICATION DATE: June 17, 2014
Amazon| B&N

When eleven-year-old Henley Fairbanks is abducted on her way to school, the FBI doesn’t waste a moment, sending agents to scour the area and embedding Special Agent Ava McLane with the distraught family. In the eye of the storm is local detective Mason Callahan, who also happens to be related to Henley. To make matters worse for Mason, the kidnapping comes on the heels of the murder of his longtime confidential informant, and he’s been sidelined from the investigation. Now both he and Agent McLane are holed up in the Fairbanks’ home, along with Callahan’s ex-wife, Robin. Every second counts in a kidnapping case, and the stakes keep rising the longer Henley stays missing. As Ava and Mason struggle to hold the Fairbanks family together in their darkest hour, the two investigators find themselves more and more drawn to each other.

*****

GIVEAWAY TIME:

Kendra has given me permission to giveaway Kindle or print copy of reader’s choice of any of her books.
Please fill out the Rafflecopter form below to be entered.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

June 16, 2014June 7, 2014

Kimberly review A Vampire’s Promise by Carla Susan Smith

TITLE: A Vampire’s Promise
SERIES #: Part 1
CHARACTERS: Rowan & Gabriel
AUTHOR: Carla Susan Smith
PUBLICATION DATE: 06/05/14
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Trust Your Instincts
Rowan Harper is nothing but a smart-mouthed bookstore clerk with a crappy love life on the night she walks into Rosie’s Bar. Most of the drama in her life is borrowed from her best friend’s adventures. But when she meets Gabriel–tall and movie star gorgeous–everything changes. Never mind that she turns down the drink he offers, or that he brims with secrets she can’t begin to guess at. He ignites a desire in her she never suspected–and shows a fascination with her she can’t explain.
He has no family, no job, no bank account;he knows where she lives and her favorite flower. An aura of mystery cloaks him, even as Rowan grasps for facts, even as she fears an answer that could destroy her happiness. Gabriel can guide her through a wonderland of new sensations. But only if Rowan trusts him enough to follow. . .

REVIEW:
2.5 Hearts I had a hard time with this story. First the writing is off. Not sure exactly how but it is written in first person which is odd for this kind of book but the conversations are not the way anyone would really talk and there is so much commentary that the story is over done.

Also there is no connection between Gabriel and Rowan. Gabriel seems set in old times even though he is so many years old wouldn’t he have kept current? And Rowan is clueless in almost everything she does. She seems like a push over to me and I really didn’t connect with her at all. And while obvious to the reader, I mean heck it is in the name of the book, Rowan doesn’t know Gabriel is a vampire until the last few paragraphs.

The story is continuing in the next part but not sure that I can enough about either character to want to read it.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

June 14, 2014May 28, 2014

Dakota Cassidy’s Plum Orchard Series

*****

Talk This Way

Plum Orchard 0.5

In her sexy new series, bestselling author Dakota Cassidy introduces the Call Girls, a spirited group of friends ready to take on lust, love and everything in between…. Find out where it all began in this delicious novella!

If life is like a box of chocolates, Cat Butler has tasted them all—and decided on none. It’s no wonder she can’t keep a job, even though her mother’s health depends on it. Just when she finds herself up a creek without a paddle—again—a benevolent friend throws her a lifeline. In the form of a job at, of all places, a phone sex hotline. Not exactly what she had in mind, but if it pays the bills for her mom’s expensive nursing home, what’s the harm?

Successful entrepreneur Flynn McGrady knows a thing or two about responsibility. So when his mother has a stroke, he knows the right thing to do is relocate to Atlanta to be near her while she recovers. He’s got a plan for everything—except for feisty Cat, who finally gets his mama to talk again. Talk dirty, that is, and he’s not pleased. Cat is gorgeous and sassy to boot…too bad she’s not the type to settle down.

Cat and Flynn may have bigger fish to fry, but the sparks between them are hotter than hell. And when they finally give in to temptation, the results are explosive. Can a girl who follows her heart and a guy who follows his head find their way to forever?

*****

Talk Dirty to Me

Plum Orchard #1

Plum Orchard, Georgia, is about to get even juicier…

Notorious mean girl Dixie Davis is back in town and it’s payback time. Literally. Dixie is flat broke and her best—make that only—friend, Landon, is throwing her a lifeline from the Great Beyond. Dixie stands to inherit his business…if she meets a few conditions:

She’s got to live in Landon’s mansion.

With her gorgeous ex-fiancé, Caine Donovan.

Who could also inherit the business.

Which is a phone sex empire.

Wait, what?

Landon’s will lays it out: whoever gets the most new clients becomes the owner of Call Girls. Dixie has always been in it to win it, especially when it comes to Caine, who’s made it clear he’s not going down easy. (Oh, mercy.) Can Dixie really talk dirty and prove that she’s cleaned up her act? Game on

*****

Something to Talk About

Plum Orchard #2

Sexy is as sexy does. And in Plum Orchard, sugar, it does!

Emmeline Amos is sick of her ex saying she’s boring and prissy. After all, she works for a phone-sex company! (As general manager, but still.) On a rare girls’ night out, fueled by blender drinks and bravado, Em accepts a shocking dare—to handle a call herself. But it’s tipsy Em who gets an earful from an irate single father on the other end of the line. Awkward.

But not as awkward as discovering that same mad dad is Call Girls’ gorgeous new programmer. Jax Hawthorne is still upset that his daughter called the “girlfriend store” on his behalf, but he can’t deny he’d choose a hot-librarian type like Em if he were looking for love. Which he’s not.

Em wants to do more than just talk the talk. So she makes a bawdy bargain with Jax. They’ve both been burned before—this time, they’ll keep it strictly physical. Except as soon as they settle on no strings attached, things start to get tangled.

*****

Talking After Midnight

Plum Orchard #3

Shields up, sugar—things in Plum Orchard are about to get real.

Marybell Lyman is notorious for two things:

Her look. The wicked hairstyle, multiple piercings and practiced sneer that say: “Stay back—I bite.”

Her voice. The syrupy lilt that’s her bread and butter at Call Girls, the prim little town’s flourishing phone-sex company.

Hunky handyman Taggart Hawthorn is mesmerized by the contradiction: such sweet tones inside such a spiky shell! He wants to know more about mysterious Marybell, to hear more of her sexy talk—all for himself.

But Tag’s attentions, delicious as they are, have Marybell panicked. She’s been hiding a long time. She’s finally got a home, a job and friends she adores. She won’t have it all snatched away by another stupid mistake—like falling in love. So when Marybell’s past comes calling, she and the Call Girls will prove no one handles scandals like a Southern girl!

June 13, 2014June 7, 2014

Kelly reviews Lay Me Down by Erin Kellison

TITLE: Lay Me Down
SERIES #: Reveler #2
CHARACTERS: Steve Coll & Maisie Lane
AUTHOR: Erin Kellison
PUBLICATION DATE: May 12, 2014
ORDER LINKS: Amazon| B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Able to navigate sleep’s vast dreamwaters, wild child Maisie Lane makes easy money as a courier delivering packages from one dream to another. So what if her employers are on the shadier side of the law? Her sister thinks she’s living for the pleasure of the moment. Pleasure is involved—why shouldn’t it be?—but every step Maisie takes is part of a careful plan. That is, until she crosses into a dream so evil, she has no choice but to run.

Special Agent Steve Coll is tasked to recruit Maisie for Chimera, the organization that polices shared dreams. At first he’s taken with her funny and carefree spirit, then brought to his knees by her tough and passionate soul. Touching her is forbidden ecstasy, but Steve can’t resist breaking the rules with Maisie. A darkness is gathering, evil preparing to strike, and only Maisie stands between it and innocent lives. No matter what happens, Steve won’t let her stand alone—he’ll die before he leaves her side

REVIEW:
Lay Me Down was the 2nd novella in Erin Kellison’s new Reveler series was pretty good. I think that I enjoyed this one a little better than the first novella. I am still struggling a little with the world. There seems to be a lot going on in such a short period of time and everything was a little rushed.
But again I believe I will give book 3 a try and see if it is working for me.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley & Fire Flower Publishing, LLC in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

June 11, 2014June 9, 2014

Kelly reviews Fighting Fate by Carrie Ann Ryan

TITLE: Fighting Fate
SERIES #: Redwood Pack#7
CHARACTERS: Logan Anderson & Cailin Jamenson
AUTHOR: Carrie Ann Ryan
PUBLICATION DATE: June 10, 2014
ORDER LINKS: Amazon │ Barnes & Noble │ ARe │ Kobo │ iTunes

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
With her blue-black hair and striking green eyes, Cailin Jamenson is the epitome of beauty and the exemplar of strength. She has fought the enforced boundaries of being the lone Jamenson daughter and Redwood Pack princess, but it is the potential future with the dark wolf in her path that threatens everything she thought she desired.
Logan Anderson’s own darkness provided the reasoning for his abandonment of his former Pack, the Talons. Now, newly accepted into the Redwood Pack, this jade-eyed wolf and all she represents could be his own undoing.
In this final installment of the Redwood Pack, unimaginable tragedy strikes, and the two wolves who have fought the longest for their independence now face the uncertainty of fate and the epic battle that could end the war… and their lives.

REVIEW:
We finally get the Princess of the Redwood Pack’s story. Cailin has been a long time favorite of mine. Maybe because she is standoffish, maybe because she is tough, or maybe it is because what Fate has in store for her might just save them all. Only problem is that Cailin is stubborn, tough, and standoffish that she just might lose out on what is most important.

This was really good way to end the Redwood Pack series, although it looks like there might be a novella here an there still to come. If you have not read any of the Redwood Pack books you need to start from the beginning. There is to much history in each book and to much interconnected events that reading Fighting Fate first would be a huge mistake.

I will warn you that if you can make it through chapter 2 you may be golden. There is a few Oh My GOD moments that left me speechless.

Looking forward to what Carrie Ann has in store for the Talon Pack.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book from Fated Desires Publishing in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

June 11, 2014June 11, 2014

Kelly reviews Animal Attraction by Paige Tyler

TITLE: Animal Attraction
SERIES #: Alaskan Werewolf #1
CHARACTERS: Hunter McCall & Eliza Bradley
AUTHOR: Paige Tyler
PUBLICATION DATE: Re-release
ORDER LINKS: Amazon| B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Frustrated when none of the real newspapers will hire her as a reporter, Eliza Bradley takes the only job she can get – at a paranormal magazine. Her first assignment takes her to Fairbanks, Alaska to investigate the possibility that a werewolf has killed two local hikers.
Eliza forgets about the story, however, when she meets Hunter McCall, a local college professor and an expert on wolves. The man is an absolute hunk, and she finds herself spending more time in his bed than worrying about werewolves. That is, until she finds out that Hunter isn’t just an animal in the sack, he’s an animal out of it, too – of the werewolf variety! Talk about a complicated relationship!

But Eliza can’t dwell on Hunter’s little shapeshifting issues. There’s another werewolf out there with a taste for human blood, and she and Hunter are the only ones who can stop him.

REVIEW:
3.5 Hearts Animal Attraction the re-release of Paige Tyler’s first book in her Alaskan Werewolf series.

Being unemployed sucks. That is how Eliza ends up finding herself in the middle of Alaska trying to track down a killer werewolf. Of course Eliza doesn’t believe in such things which makes working for a Paranormal newspaper a little hard. But once she is on the trail Eliza realized that there is much more to this story then just the paranormal. So with the help of the hunky professor and wolf expert Hunter McCall, Eliza is going to solve this case even if it kills her.

I enjoyed this book. I really like how Eliza’s mind worked and her openness to the paranormal world. And Hunter was just great. I really enjoyed the first interaction with Hunter and Eliza. Who knew ketchup could lead to true love. What to know what I am talking about? You need to pick up a copy of Animal Attraction and find out for yourself.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book from Paige Tyler in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

June 10, 2014June 9, 2014

Spotlight feature of The Given by Vicki Pettersson + giveaway

THE GIVEN is the final novel in New York Times bestselling author Vicki Pettersson’s acclaimed Celestial Blues series. Readers have been eagerly awaiting this dramatic conclusion, and THE GIVEN (Harper Voyager Trade Paperback Original; May, 2014; 9780062066206; $14.99), delivers on Pettersson’s renowned creative hallmarks: innovative world building and darkly sexy supernatural intrigue.

THE GIVEN resumes the thrilling saga of fallen angel/private eye Griffin Shaw, and the spirited, rockabilly reporter Kit Craig as they battle long odds in Sin City. Incredibly imaginative, THE GIVEN spotlights Vegas’s Rat Pack glory days, its flinty present-day turmoil, and the immortal realm of the Everlast, where Centurions (mortals turned angels) and Pure angels co-exist on the celestial plane. What results is a perfect mix of classic noir mystery, urban fantasy, and paranormal romance—and just the right amount of crime scene grit and drama to intrigue readers until the very last page.

After learning that his wife survived the attack that killed him fifty years earlier, angel/PI Griffin Shaw is determined to find Evie—no matter the cost. But his obsession has come at a price. Grif has been forced to give up his strong, burgeoning love for reporter Katherine “Kit” Craig – the woman who made life worth living again – while dedicating himself to finding a woman he may no longer know.

Yet when Kit is attacked for a second time, it’s clear that there are forces in both the mortal and heavenly realm determined to protect secrets long buried in the past. In order to survive his second go-round on the Surface, Grif must convince Kit to reunite with him professionally and help uncover decades of deceit from dangerous enemies both old and new. Yet a prophecy also looms, threatening to upend Grif’s every sacrifice, testing his limits as an angel, his dedication to Evie … and his love for Kit. Gritty scenes and heartfelt emotion propel the dramatic finale to the Celestial Blues trilogy, finally giving readers the answer to the one deadly question that they’ve been dying to know: Who killed Griffin Shaw?

About the Author:

Vicki Pettersson is the New York Times bestselling author of the Signs of the Zodiac novels, a six-book urban fantasy series set in her hometown of Las Vegas. Though she’ll always consider that glittering dustbowl home, she now divides her time between Vegas and Dallas, where she’s learning to like good Tex-Mex (easy) and the Dallas Cowboys (easier than you’d think). THE GIVEN is the third novel in her supernatural noir trilogy, Celestial Blues.

*****

THE GIVEN

Celestial Blues: Book Three

by Vicki Pettersson

Amazon| B&N

Publication Date: 5/27/14; Price: $14.99

New York Times bestselling author Vicki Pettersson continues her breakout new supernatural noir mystery series as a fallen angel and a reporter team up to stop a drug cartel

After learning his wife survived the attack that killed him fifty years earlier, angel/PI Griffin Shaw is determined to find Evelyn Shaw, no matter the cost. Yet his obsession comes at a price. Grif has had to give up his burgeoning love for reporter Katherine “Kit” Craig, the woman who made life worth living again, and dedicate himself to finding one he no longer knows.

Yet when Grif is attacked again, it becomes clear that there are forces in both the mortal and heavenly realm who’d rather see him dead than unearth the well-buried secrets of his past. If he’s to survive his second go-round on the Surface, Grif will have to convince Kit to reunite with him professionally, and help uncover decades of police corruption, risking both their lives… and testing the limits to what one angel is really willing to give for love.

Make sure to check out Kelly’s review of The Given HERE

*****

Harper Collins is giving away three copies of THE TAKEN,

the start to the Celestial Blues trilogy

a Rafflecopter giveaway

June 9, 2014June 9, 2014

Natasha reviews Knight Of Love by Catherine LaRoche

TITLE: Knight of Love
CHARACTERS: Lenora & Wolfram
AUTHOR: Catherine LaRoche
PUBLICATION DATE: 6/9/14
ORDER LINKS: Amazon| B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
In this saucy romance, an English lady turns the damsel-in-distress tale on its head as she escapes her malicious fiancé and fights for both her life and that of the lustful rebel that has become her protector.

Lady Lenora Trevelyan, a naïve yet stubborn young lady born to the highest noble houses of England and Germany, finds herself betrothed to the brutal Prince Kurt von Rotenburg-Gruselstadt cruelly. But after she is cruelly bruised and flogged by her fiancé, she decides to take the reins of her fate. In the midst of a German revolution, Lenora escapes Kurt’s iron fist and embarks home to England. She quickly finds herself in the hands of a rebel group and their robust, gentle, and handsome leader, Wolfram von Wolfsbach und Ravensworth, the English Earl of Ravensworth.

Lenora struggles to deny the passion she feels towards the frustratingly chivalrous Earl but her desire for him continues to bloom. Wolfram hungers nothing other than to fight for democracy and civil rights in uniting Germany and to protect what he assumes is his damsel in distress. Through nights of immeasurable pleasure, Lenora and Wolfram learn that their passion is no match for the revolutionary chaos that ensues. And when Lenora discovers that her protector’s life is threatened, she must risk everything to save her Knight of Love.

REVIEW:
3.5 Hearts Wow, so many things going through my mind about this book. I still can’t decide on my feelings, so I’ll just concede to them all. I fell in love with Lenora very early on in the book when in she said, “…don’t let me fall. I don’t want them to see me fall.” I knew instantly that this was an incredibly strong character who would never be swayed by anyone else save herself. I wish I’d known how true that really was! Lenora did not pull any punches, especially when it came to Wolfram! That naïve, sweet, hopeful man. He did not understand what he was getting into when she walked into his life. I will say, a pretty traumatic event happened to cement these two together and I found it VERY difficult to get past that throughout the book. I was convinced I would not be able to look past this to let myself enjoy the book. However, Wolfram and Lenora turned things around for each other and I was pleased with the outcome of this book. I’d definitely read more by this author!

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

June 7, 2014May 9, 2014

Vicki Pettersson’s Celestial Blues Trilogy

The Taken

Celestial Blues #1

Griffin Shaw used to be a PI, but that was back when gumshoes hoofed the streets . . . and he was still alive. Fifty years later, he’s an angel, but that doesn’t make him a saint. One small mistake has altered fate, and now he’s been dumped back onto the mortal mudflat to collect another soul—Katherine “Kit” Craig, a journalist whose latest investigation is about to get her clipped.

Bucking heavenly orders, Grif refuses to let the sable-haired siren come to harm. Besides, protecting her offers a chance to solve the mystery of his own unsolved murder—and dole out some overdue payback for the death of his beloved wife, Evie.

Joining forces, Kit and Grif’s search for answers leads beyond the blinding lights of the Strip into the dark heart of an evil conspiracy. But a ruthless killer determined to destroy them isn’t Grif’s biggest threat. His growing attraction to Kit could cost them both their lives, along with the answer to the haunting question of his long afterlife.

*****

The Lost

Celestial Blues #2

Griffin Shaw and his wife were both murdered fifty years ago. Now a minor angel, Grif’s been granted permission to solve the mystery of his own death… if he helps the Pure angels guide those souls who might otherwise be Lost.

Souls like Jeap Yang, a drug addict in his final moments of life. Grif knows that death is coming, but he cannot intervene. However, Grif’s mortal lover, reporter Katherine “Kit” Craig, isn’t constrained by angelic protocol. If she can stop a death, she will.

But as Kit is about to find out, there are things more traumatic and evil than murder. A strange new drug is literally eating tweakers’ flesh from their bones, and Kit’s crusade to get it off the streets is set to propel her and Grif into a battle with a vicious drug cartel. They’ll have to scramble to stay alive, stay together, and choose their own fate… before it’s chosen for them.

*****

The Given

Celestial Blues #3

New York Times bestselling author Vicki Pettersson continues her breakout new supernatural noir mystery series as a fallen angel and a reporter team up to stop a drug cartel

*****

June 6, 2014May 29, 2014

Spotlight feature of Kimberly Kincaid’s Gimme Some Sugar + a tour wide giveaway

Let’s meet Kimberly:

Kimberly Kincaid writes contemporary romance novels that split the difference between sexy and sweet, taking the traditional idea of boy-meets-girl and infusing it with a sassy magic all her own. She believes in fiery yet flawed characters destined for a crash-course in falling in love– usually the hard way– and injects her trademark humor as well as poignant touches into her writing to create her stories.

Kimberly’s writing journey has led down some bumpy roads (that first manuscript is under the bed, where it is very likely to stay), but there has been some fresh pavement too (her second manuscript earned her very first contest final, and landed the fantastic Maureen Walters at the Curtis Brown Literary Agency). One thing is certain — the wild ride of being a writer is a lot richer in both its ups and downs because of friends and readers along the path.

When Kimberly’s not sitting cross-legged in an ancient desk chair known as “The Pleather Bomber”, she can be found practicing obscene amounts of yoga, whipping up anything from enchiladas to eclairs in her kitchen, or curled up with her nose in a book. She resides in northern Virginia with her wildly patient husband and their three daughters.

Places to find Kimberly Kincaid: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

*****
Gimme Some Sugar

Amazon|Kindle| B&N | Kobo | iTunes

Desperate to escape the spotlight of her failed marriage to a fellow celebrity-chef, Carly di Matisse left New York City for a tiny town in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The restaurant she’s running these days may not be chic, but in Pine Mountain she can pretend to be the tough cookie everybody knows and loves. Until she finds herself spending too much time with a way-too-hot contractor whose rugged good looks melt her like butter…

Jackson Carter wasn’t looking for love. But he’s not the kind of man to walk away from a worksite—or from a fiery beauty whose passionate nature provides some irresistible on-the-job benefits…

It’s the perfect temporary arrangement for two ravenous commitment-phobes, except that Jackson and Carly keep coming back for seconds… and thirds… and fourths…

Make sure to check out Kimberly’s review HERE and Kelly’s review HERE.

Tour Wide Giveaway

$20 Gift Card (Amazon or Barnes & Noble) + Swag Pack

a Rafflecopter giveaway

June 6, 2014May 25, 2014

Kelly reviews Gimme Some Sugar by Kimberly Kincaid

TITLE: Gimme Some Sugar
SERIES #: Pine Mountain #2
CHARACTERS: Jackson Carter & Carly di Matisse
AUTHOR: Kimberly Kincaid
PUBLICATION DATE: June 3, 2014
ORDER LINKS: Amazon| B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Out of the frying pan. . .and into the fire!

It’s the perfect temporary arrangement for two ravenous commitment-phobes, except that Jackson and Carly keep coming back for seconds… and thirds… and fourths..

REVIEW:
The second book in Kimberly’s Pine Mountain series was just as good as the first book. I love how Jackson & Carly meet. It is pretty darn funny. I really liked Jackson. He seems like such a good guy. Carly on the other hand is a little stand offish about both people and relationships. Both have been hurt by their past relationships and that really scues their outlook on future relationships. And sadly when reality finally hits it might be too late.

I am looking forward to the next book in this series. Gimme Some Sugar can be read as a stand alone, but since it is only book 2 in the series. You should just start with book one and go from there.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley & Kensington Books in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

June 6, 2014May 25, 2014

Kimberly reviews Heated by J. Kenner

TITLE: Heated
SERIES #: Most Wanted #2
CHARACTERS: Sloane & Tyler
AUTHOR: J. Kenner
PUBLICATION DATE: 06/03/14
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
I knew better than to risk my heart.
But fierce passion comes at a high price.

I grew up believing in right and wrong, good and evil, black and white. I knew better than to trust. And then I met Tyler Sharp.

Bold, charming, and dangerously sexy, Tyler always gets what he wants. But his smile can be deceiving, his dealings sordid, his ambitions ruthless. I thought I was the one woman strong enough to resist him, but our need for each other was too urgent to deny.

One look and I was in trouble. One touch and I was hooked. One night and I became his.

And now that I’ve fallen, there’s no going back.

REVIEW:
4.25 Hearts I will be honest and say it took me a little bit to get into this book. I could tell something was up between Sloane and Tyler and I do not mean the heat. So I wasn’t sure at first to let myself relax into their relationship but then about a quarter of the way through the book everything changed. They changed. Tyler who had been a hard character became soft to Sloane and I enjoyed watching that change in him. Sloane was interesting too. I appreciated that she was written to stick to her guns. She didn’t just think “oh I am in love and will change everything I am to be with this guy” and that worked well. Towards the end I was totally on Tyler’s side and I think that says a lot.

J. Kenner has a way of writing that I really enjoy. First while I guess this falls under erotica the main characters of this series are not into BDSM they just have control issues. There is nothing over the top sexual in these books just fun. Second Kenner has a way that makes you somehow fall for these bad boys even though they really are “bad”. I truly look forward to Ignited (the last in the series) and Cole’s story. Something is up with that guy and I can’t wait to see what it is and what woman could possibly turn him around.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

*****

Vanished

*****

GIVEAWAY TIME:

*****

Talk This Way

*****

Talk Dirty to Me

*****

Something to Talk About

*****

Talking After Midnight

*****

THE GIVEN

*****

Harper Collins is giving away three copies of THE TAKEN,

the start to the Celestial Blues trilogy

The Taken

*****

The Lost

*****

The Given

*****

***** Gimme Some Sugar

Tour Wide Giveaway

*****
Gimme Some Sugar