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Spotlight & Tour Wide Giveaway with Lea Griffith

*****

BULLET TO THE HEART

Series:  No Mercy, Book 1

Bullet_to-the-Heart-Lea_Griffith-500x800 (1)

Publication Date:   10/3/2013

Publisher:  Taliesin Publishing

She was born to love then taught to kill. She has become everything but is no one.

Known only as Bullet she was long ago forced to shed the name her parents gave her. Changed, molded and trained to kill with sharp-shooting efficiency she is one of The Collective’s most valuable assets. In a cadre of killers, Bullet is death waiting but her time for vengeance has come.

He was loved and then he lost. He has become a hunter in search of revenge.

Everything was taken from Rand the day a bullet ended the lives of his beloved wife and daughter. He has searched for their killer seven long years and may have her in his hands. Rand has suffered but now the time has come to make The Collective pay or die trying.

Joy and sorrow are two sides of the same coin. Retribution draws them together but before all is said and done they will learn love can either break you or make you stronger.

 

 

 

Lea Griffith PicA little about Lea: 

Lea Griffith began sneaking to read her mother’s romance novels at a young age. She cut her teeth on the greats: McNaught, Woodiwiss, and Garwood. A firm believer that love makes the world go round, she still consumes every romance book she can put her hands on, but now she writes her own.

Lea lives with her husband and three teenage daughters in rural Georgia. Two dogs, a cat, and a Betta fish named Coddy George complete a family always in motion. When not working at the EDJ, she’s usually at her keyboard, using every spare second to write. Science fiction, paranormal and contemporary romance, oh my! Nothing is off-limits when it comes to her writing.

Website | Facebook Profile | Facebook page | Twitter | Goodreads

 

Bullet Banner LRG

TOUR GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

Lea is giving away the following prizes at the end of her tour:

GRAND PRIZE: $25 Amazon gift card

RUNNERS-UP: Three (3) runners-up will each receive an eBook of BULLET TO THE HEART.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Lea Griffith’s BULLET TO THE HEART Tour Schedule – 9/27 – 10/12

9/27 – Notebook of Books (Spotlight & Review)

http://www.bookishlover.blogspot.com

9/28 – Book Monster Reviews (review & Guest Post)

http://www.bookmonsterreviews.com/

9/30 – Coffee and Characters (spotlight)

http://www.daniellecromero.blogspot.com/

10/01/2013 – Where the Night Kind Roam (spotlight)

http://paranormalromancenovel.com/

10/01 – Tome Tender Book Blog (spotlight)

http://tometender.blogspot.com

10/02 – Kristina’s Books & More (spotlight)

http://kristinasbooksandmore.blogspot.com/

10/02 – Books-N-Kisses

http://www.books-n-kisses.com/

10/03 – Just Romantic Suspense (Book of the Day post)

http://www.justromanticsuspense.com/p/book-of-day.html

10/03 – Mad Hatter Reads (guest post)

http://madhatterreads.blogspot.com/

10/04 – Vampires, Werewolves & Fairies, Oh My! (spotlight & review)

http://vampireswerewolvesfairiesohmy.blogspot.com/

10/05 – Mythical Books (spotlight & review)

http://mythicalbooks.blogspot.ro/

10/05 – Literary Nook (spotlight)

http://literarynook.com

10/06 – Inner Goddess (spotlight & review)

Http://www.InnerGoddessforum.com

10/07 – Books, Books & More Books (interview)

http://booksbooksmorebooks.blogspot.com/

10/08 – Romance Junkies (interview)

http://www.romancejunkies.com/rjblog/

10/09 – Romancing the Book (interview)

http://romancing-the-book.com/

10/09 – Victoria’s Gossip (spotlight)

http://victoriasgossip.com/blog/

10/10 – Book Pages and Dripping Ink (spotlight & review)

bookpagesanddrippingink.blogspot.com

10/11 – Sun Mountain Reviews (spotlight)

http://sunmountainreviews.wordpress.com

10/12 – Dalene’s Book Reviews (interview)

http://www.dalenesbookreviews.blogspot.com/

10/12 – Coffee Talk (interview)

http://coffeetalkwriters.com/blog/

10/12 – Tiffy-Fit’s Reading Corner (spotlight)

http://tiffyfit.blogspot.com/

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Winter Romance Wednesday! Kelly reviews The Christmas He Loved Her by Juliana Stone

The Christmas He Loved HerTITLE: Christmas He Loved Her
SERIES #: Bad Boys of Crystal Lake #2
CHARACTERS: Jake Edwards & Raine Edwards
AUTHOR: Juliana Stone
PUBLICATION DATE: October 1, 2013
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
All he wants this Christmas is her.

In the small town of Crystal Lake, Christmas is a time for sledding, hot chocolate, and cozying up to the fire with those you love. For Jake Edwards, it’s also time to come home and face his past. He thought there would never be anything harder than losing his brother. Turns out there is: falling in love with his brother’s widow, Raine.

Ever since they were little, Jesse was the Edwards brother who was always there for her, and Jake was the one who knew just how to push her buttons. Raine can’t imagine a life without them, which is why it was doubly decimating when Jake left town after his brother’s sudden death. Now he’s back and she doesn’t know whether to be mad or thrilled. Maybe both. Maybe it will be the perfect chance for both of them to finally find happiness again.

REVIEW:
Jake & Raine have both been mourning the loss of Jesse but in very different ways.

Jake is mourning his twin. But he has to live with the guilt that he could not save his brother, the guilt that he has been in love with Raine since they were all kids, the guilt that he has not been there for his family for the last year and half.

Raine had to deal with not only the loss of her husband but her best friend too. Jake told her he would be there for her, but he wasn’t. Jake was not there for Raine when she needed him the most.

These two have a heartbreaking story. The whole story was very emotional but very good. Jake and Raine really should have been together from the start, but that is want second chances are for. Right?

I really love this series and I love the cast of characters that Juliana has created. I can’t wait for the next book in this series.

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

4 Hearts
4 Hearts

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Kelly’s review of Command Performance by Sarah Jane Stone

CommandTITLE: Command Performance
CHARACTERS: Hunter Cross & Maggie Barlow
AUTHOR: Sarah Jane Stone
PUBLICATION DATE:
ORDER LINKS: Amazon| B&N 

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Subject: Chief Warrant Officer Hunter Cross;
Mission: Keep Margaret Barlow distracted;using any means necessary!
Ranger Hunter Cross is the army poster child—excitement, danger and no strings in sight. And he’s been in town exactly three hours before a curvy blonde named Maggie flashes him a look that says “You belong in my bed.” It’s a night of wicked satisfaction. And it’s a night they can never repeat….
All Professor Maggie Barlow wanted was an orgasm—or three— from the dead-sexy Ranger. Having him as her official army liaison while she works on her new book? That wasn’t in the plan. Especially when she learns that Hunter has orders to “control” her. Little does the army know that when it comes to their deliciously naughty nighttime activities, Hunter is at Maggie’s complete command….
Uniformly Hot! The Few. The Proud. The Sexy as Hell

REVIEW:
3.75 Stars Maggie is on the rebound from finding her fiance cheating on her. So what is a girl to do. Go pick the hottest guy she can find, sounds like a good plan to her. It is just for one night. One night to live a fantasy, to feel, to live, to let go of control and to be who she would really like to be.
Hunter is in town because of his job. He really wants to get the job done and move on. He has obligations that he needs to attend too. But when he spots Maggie he is drawn to her like a moth to a flame. One night. That is all either of them want. That is until morning comes and Maggie walks out of his hotel room leaving Hunter wanting another night with her.
This was a good story. It started off with a bang, then slowed down just a bit, then picked up again. I was overall happy with this book. I don’t know what happened to the formatting as I put it on my kindle but the font wigged out on me. If you are looking for a good book I would suggest picking up a copy of Command Performance.

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

3hearts-68-77

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Entangled Teen October Release Party

Today we’re celebrating the release of Entangled Teen’s October books! Read all about them and enter to win the giveaway below!

Allure by Lea Nolan

Worst. Summer. Ever.

Emma Guthrie races to learn the hoodoo magic needed to break The Beaumont Curse before her marked boyfriend Cooper’s sixteenth birthday. But deep in the South Carolina Lowcountry, dark, mysterious forces encroach, conspiring to separate Emma and Cooper forever. When Cooper starts to change, turning cold and indifferent, Emma discovers that both his heart and body are marked for possession by competing but equally powerful adversaries.

Desperate to save him, Emma and her twin brother, Jack, risk their lives to uncover the source of the black magic that has allured Cooper and holds him in its grip. Faced with the horror of a soul-eating boohag, Emma and Jack must fight to resist its fiendish power to free Cooper long enough to join their strengths and face it together, before it destroys them all.

Amazon | B&N | Indiebound

Made of Stars by Kelley York

When eighteen-year-old Hunter Jackson and his half sister, Ashlin, return to their dad’s for the first winter in years, they expect everything to be just like the warmer months they’d spent there as kids. And it is—at first. But Chance, the charismatic and adventurous boy who made their summers epic, is harboring deep secrets. Secrets that are quickly spiraling into something else entirely.

The reason they’ve never met Chance’s parents or seen his home is becoming clearer. And what the siblings used to think of as Chance’s quirks—the outrageous stories, his clinginess, his dangerous impulsiveness—are now warning signs that something is seriously off.

Then someone turns up with a bullet to the head, and all eyes shift to Chance’s family. Hunter and Ashlin know Chance is innocent…they just have to prove it. But how can they protect the boy they both love when they can’t trust a word Chance says?

Amazon | B&N | Indiebound | Kobo

 

Evanescent by Andria Buchanan

Trapped in the deadly land of Nerissette, Allie has all but given up on any return to the mortal realm. Unless she can find the two elusive artifacts that have the power to get her and her friends back home.

But she’s got even bigger problems as the newly crowned queen of Nerissette: she must unite her people in the midst of a civil war and capture the Fate Maker—the evil puppet master responsible for the conflict—before he can find another army willing to return him to power.

On top of it all, Allie is just a normal teenager. Her feelings are growing for the guy she’s certain is her true love, and balancing her personal life while being the queen isn’t as easy as it sounds. Allie must learn the true meaning of bravery, love, and kinship, regardless of the world—and danger—around her.

Amazon | B&N | Indiebound | Kobo


Sidelined by Kendra Highley

After being pushed to excel her entire life, high school basketball star Genna Pierce is finally where she wants to be. University scouts are taking notice, her team is on its way to the state tourney, and Jake Butler, the hot boy she’s daydreamed about since ninth grade, is showing some definite interest. When he asks her out and their relationship takes off, Genna believes things can’t get better.

Then, it’s over.

A freak accident ends her career before it’s even begun. Her parents are fighting more than ever, her friends don’t understand what she’s going through, and she’s not sure who she is without basketball. And while he tries to be there for her, Genna doesn’t understand how Jake could ever want the broken version of the girl he fell for.

Her life in a tailspin, Genna turns to the only solace that eases her pain: Vicodin.

Amazon | B&N | Kobo
To celebrate the launch of these books, Entangled Teen is giving away three ebooks. Check out the Rafflecopter for more information!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Cover Reveal of Lisa Kessler’s Hunter’s Moon

Hunters's moon

Amazon| B&N

Sasha’s future was stolen from her the moment she was bitten. Now she’s on the run from the Nero Organization that transformed her from a human detective into a shape shifting jaguar assassin.

When a rogue bounty hunter threatens her younger sister, she’ll be forced to fight, and with nowhere else to turn, Sasha will need to trust the one man who has every reason to want her dead.

Aren is a werewolf with a secret. While protecting his twin brother and Alpha of the Pack, he found his one mate for life. Sadly she’s also the jaguar assassin who tried to kill them both. Now Aren is struggling between his animal nature to love and protect her, and his loyalty to the Pack.

 


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Interview & Tour Wide Giveaway with Michelle Grave

Michelle Graves PicBooks-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome first time guest Michelle Graves to the blog today to talk about her book “See How She Runs”
Book one in the Chronicles of Izzy.

Michelle, can you please share with us a little about yourself:

MG:  I am married to my very best friend who also happens to be an Army Infantryman.  I have a wonderful daughter we call Squish that lights up each and every day of my existence.  Hmm, talking about myself is harder than I thought.  What else is exciting about me?  I love to craft, bake, read, and I am a total Whovian.

Have you always wanted to be an author?

MG:  Honestly, no.  I did not even know I could write a book until I sat down and started this past year!  I have always written poetry and loved doing research papers, it just never dawned on me to try writing a book until my characters became insistent.

Are you a plotter or a punster or combo of both? And you explain the difference?

MG:  I am a total Pantser.  I have a vague idea of what the main story arc will be when I sit down to write, but the main story just comes out as I write it.  The plot twists, the character surprises, they all come to me as my fingers fly across the keys.  I am just as surprised as the readers when I get to those points.  I have always said it feels a bit like being possessed by my characters.  I feel like Izzy uses me as a mouthpiece.

What is your most interesting writing quirk?

MG:  I send my book as I write it to my beta readers.  Completely unedited.  Oh, and I can’t go back and read what I have written until I am completely done with the story.

See How She Runs coverCan you please tell us about your latest book(s)?

MG:  See How She Runs is about Izzy Boone.  She is a seemingly normal girl living in Chicago until one fateful delivery turns her entire life upside down.  She is forced to face the truth, that she is a Seer on the run from the Corporation which means to use her abilities to gain profits.  She finds out her best friend is not at all who he seemed.  Ultimately, it is a story about Izzy becoming who she is meant to be and all of the trials and tribulations she must face on the road to get there.

How did you come with the idea for this story?

MG:  It just came to me one day.  I knew I wanted it to be about Izzy and Kennan and their relationship.  My husband helped me come up with the bad guy bits.  I tend to have a hard time thinking like a villain.

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

MG:  See How She Fights, the second book in The Chronicles of Izzy series, is currently being edited.  It comes out on my thirtieth birthday, December 12!  I can honestly say that I LOVE this book.  It went in a much darker direction than the first book, and the characters that show up in this one are quite intriguing.

Who is the one author that you would love to meet someday and why?

MG:  Molly Harper.  I have a total author crush on her.  She is brilliantly witty.

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

MG:  Surround yourself with honest and supportive people.  You will need both to make it through the emotional turmoil writing can bring.

Can you share with us something off your bucket list.

MG:  I want to visit all fifty states in the United States.  I love to travel, and I think it would be an amazing feat to accomplish.

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

MG:  Penny Reid’s latest, R.L. Naquin’s new Monster Haven book, oh and Rae Carson’s new book coming out this fall.

What is one book everyone should read before they die?

MG:  Jane Eyre and Pride and Prejudice.  I couldn’t decide between the two.

What is your favorite time of year & why?

MG:  From Halloween to Christmas.  I absolutely love the food, the weather, the sense of family, and the decorations.  I may suffer from post-Christmas depression when it is all over with.

Who is your Celebrity crush?  And what would you do if you ever meet them?

MG:  Any man that has ever played The Doctor on Doctor Who.  I would immediately ask them where the TARDIS was and why we weren’t on an adventure yet!?!

Is there anything else you would like to add?

MG:  Read my book.  Only kidding, mostly just read.  I think that reading allows us to escape into other worlds and live many lives in one lifetime.

*****

SEE HOW SHE RUNS

Chronicles of Izzy, Book 1

See How She Runs cover

Amazon | B&N

One delivery changed her whole life.
Izzy was a normal girl living in Chicago as a bike messenger before that fateful day. She delivered one package and set into action a chain of events she never could have expected.

Now she is running for her life from the Corporation, her best friend is not at all who he seemed, and to top it all off she keeps having visions.

Will she survive to navigate the waters as a Seer? Will her feelings for Kennan be her very downfall? Find out in See How She Runs.

Michelle Graves PicA little about Michelle: 

Michelle Graves is a self-proclaimed nomad, moving every two to three years with her husband the Army man, her beautiful daughter, and a fat tailless cat named Torri. When she is not writing away trying to purge her mind of yapping characters she can be found entertaining her daughter, attempting to craft (whilst trying not to injure herself with the glue gun), baking yummy treats, or reading. She admits to having a restless spirit and forces her family to go out on adventures whenever possible. They lovingly play along.

Contact Links:  

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

 

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

Michelle is giving away the following prizes at the end of her tour:

GRAND PRIZE:    $25 Amazon Giftcard

RUNNERS-UP:  THREE (3) runners-up will each receive an eBook of SEE HOW SHE RUNS

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*****

Michelle Grave’s SEE HOW SHE RUNS Blog Tour

Schedule 9/16 – 9/30

SEE HOW SHE RUNS Tour Button

9/16- Book Monster Reviews (guest post)

http://www.bookmonsterreviews.com/

9/16- I Smell Sheep (spotlight/review)

http://www.ismellsheep.com/

9/17- Babbling About Books (spotlight)

http://kbgbabbles.blogspot.com/

9/17- Regina May Ross (spotlight)

http://www.reginamayross.blogspot.com

9/18- Just Paranormal Romance (guest post)

http://www.justparanormalromance.com/

9/18- Paranormal Romance Fans Or Life (interview)

http://paranormalromancefanforlife.blogspot.com/

9/18- Bookin’ It Reviews (spotlight)

http://www.bookinitreviews.com/

9/19- Who’s Reviews (spotlight/review)

http://whosreviews.wordpress.com/

9/19- Froggarita’s Bookcase (interview/review)

http://www.froggaritasbookcase.com/

9/20- Over the Edge (interview & review)

http://overtheedgebookreviews.blogspot.com/

9/20- Coffee Talk (guest post)

http://coffeetalkwriters.com/blog/

9/21- Crazy Four Books (spotlight/review)

http://crazyfourbooks.blogspot.com/

9/21- Mad Hatter Reads (interview)

http://madhatterreads.blogspot.com/

9/22- Literal Addiction (guest post)

http://www.literaladdiction.com/

9/22- Dalene’s Book Reviews (spotlight) review after tour

http://www.dalenesbookreviews.blogspot.com/

9/23- Tome Tender (spotlight/review)

http://tometender.blogspot.com/

9/23- Sassy Book Lovers (spotlight)

http://sassybooklovers.blogspot.com/

9/24- Victoria’s Gossip (spotlight)

http://victoriasgossip.com/blog/

9/24- Wicked Readings by Tawania (spotlight/review)

http://www.wickedreadingsbytawania.blogspot.com/

9/25- CS Maxwell’s Where’s My muse (spotlight)

http://www.csmaxwell.blogspot.com/

9/25- Romance with Flavor (guest post)

http://romancewithflavor.com/

9/26- Miscellaneous Thoughts of A Bookaholic (spotlight/review)

http://miscellaneousthoughtsofabookaholic.blogspot.com/

9/26- Toot’s Book Reviews (spotlight)

http://tootsbookreviews.blogspot.com/

9/27- Book Lovin’ Mamas (guest post)

http://booklovinmamas.com/

9/27- Bibliophile Mystery (spotlight/review)

http://bibliophilemystery.blogspot.com/

9/28- The Reading Cafe (interview/review) morning post

http://www.thereadingcafe.com/

9/28- Cocktails and Books (spotlight/review)

http://www.cocktailsandbooks.com/

9/29- Romance Junkies (interview)

http://www.romancejunkies.com/rjblog/

9/29- Inner Goddess (spotlight/review)

http://www.innergoddessforum.com/

9/29- Tiffy-Fit’s Reading Corner (spotlight)

http://tiffyfit.blogspot.com/

9/30- Books-n-Kisses (interview/review)

http://www.books-n-kisses.com/

9/30- United by Books (spotlight/review)

http://unitedbybooks.blogspot.com/

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Spotlight tour of Resolution by Teri Riggs

 

 

Resolutions200x300

 Amazon  Decadent Publishing  Barnes & Noble

DEA agent Eve Taylor has had her fill of alpha males. When Resolutions’ operative and former lover, Dillon “Mac” McKenna, threatened her hard-earned independence, she ran. On a mission to gather evidence against a Colombian drug-lord, Eve discovers the drug-lord is helping terrorists plan an attack on American soil. Before she can escape with the vital information, she’s captured and comes face to face with her mortality…

As a teen, Mac watched his family fall apart after his mother died doing dangerous U.N. work. The possibility of losing Eve to a mission ignited an overwhelming need to protect her. When he forced her to choose him or her job, she walked away. Two years later, it seems all his nightmares have come true and he’s tasked with rescuing her from a Colombian prison. Mac has never stopped loving Eve, but does he dare risk his heart when he’s so terrified of losing…

On the run, Mac and Eve must learn to trust each other again in order to stay alive.

 

Excerpt:

 

Beefy hands wrenched Eve awake from a fevered sleep, pulled her from the cell, and shoved her into a musty-smelling hallway. I’m being moved? A guard pushed her with one hand, keeping a tight grip on an AK-47 rifle with his other.

 

Her shoulder throbbed in perfect cadence with the pains shooting through her broken wrist, and she had one badass headache from being punched in the face a few too many times. Using her good hand, she walked fingers across one cheek, then the other. The right side was totally numb. Her eye had swollen shut, and she couldn’t see a damn thing out of it. She ran her tongue across her teeth and tasted the tart, copper flavor of blood. Three teeth loose. Well, at least they’re still in place.

 

In spite of the relentless pain, she stayed determined to survive whatever Mendoza dished out. She wasn’t a quitter. No, sir. Duncan Falls, Iowa didn’t grow quitters. Eve ignored the constant ache in her ribs, courtesy of a guard’s overzealous kick, and took in a deep breath. She willed herself to stay alert, to keep pushing. Escape. Third times the charm.

 

Eve slapped the guard’s dirty hand. “Hey, Pedro, stop being so damned pushy. Where we going anyway? We got a hot date I’ve forgotten about?”

 

He looked puzzled then shoved her again.

 

“Don’t understand English, do you, Diego? Bet you understand this.” Eve drove her elbow into the guard’s face. Thick rubbery cartilage gave, and she whooped triumphantly.

 

Blood squirted from his nose and he screamed.

 

Eve stepped back. “Yep, I’m pretty sure you understand that.”

 

Unable to grab the guard’s assault rifle, she clutched her injured shoulder, and took off in a slow jog, no longer able to push any harder.

 

Her escape was short lived.

 

 

 

 

 

Visit Teri Riggs at www.teri-riggs.com

Resolutions - Teri Riggs - Banner

 

 

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Kimberly reviews Against The Ropes by Sarah Castille

Against The RopesTITLE: Against The Ropes
CHARACTERS: Makayla & Max
AUTHOR: Sarah Castille
PUBLICATION DATE: 09/03/13
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
He scared me. He thrilled me. And after one touch, all I could think about was getting more…

Makayla never thought she’d set foot in an underground mixed-martial arts club. But if anyone needs a medic on hand, it’s these guys. Trouble is, at her first sight of the club’s owner she’s the one feeling breathless.

All sleek muscle and restrained power, the man they call Torment plays to win at any cost. Whether it’s in the ring or in the bedroom, he knows exactly when to use a soft touch and when to launch a full-on assault. He always knows just how far he can push. And he’s about to tempt Makayla in ways she never imagined.

REVIEW:
I wasn’t sure when I first started this book how it was going to be. The writing seemed a little off even though I honestly can not say why it was off it just was. But as I read more of the story I realized how much I was enjoying it.

Max is one in the many of the controlling millionaires in the romance genre today but something is a bit different about him. While rich and controlling he is also a down to Earth kind of guy. He has his own demons but he enjoys the way he deals with them. Makayla is funny, sweet and just a average girl with debts and demons of her own. The connection between them is immediate.

I really enjoyed this story. I liked the humor and the sincerity of this story. Looking forward to another story from Castille.

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

4 Hearts
4 Hearts

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Cold Blooded Blog Tour and Giveaway

Cold-Blooded-blog-tour-badg

I love the Jessica McClain series and I have the talented Amanda Carlson here to discuss her third book in the series, Cold Blooded.

1. Tell me about your new release Cold Blooded.

It’s full of non-stop action and adventure. If you’re waiting to see what happens to Jess & Rourke you won’t be disappointed! It picks up right were HOT BLOODED left off.

2. Where did you come up with the idea for Jessica and her family?

The first scene of the book played out like a movie clip in my head.  It all went from there.  Once she was done shifting, I knew she had a family who loved her.  Those family ties were really important to me.  Jessica is not a dark twisted heroine, she’s well rooted and it helps her navigate the major changes in her life.

3. What kind of research did you have to do for this series?

I do minimal research, except for the mythological beings in the book.  I love bringing true myth and history in when I can.  Eudoxia was actually the name of Ivan the Terrible’s daughter in history.  Selene is the real name of the Lunar Goddess in myth.  Lots of my beasties are from myth as well.  Try googling some of them!

4. Do you have any influence over choosing the covers of your books?  The cover model for Jessica is perfect.

I gave them physical descriptions, but I didn’t have any say.  They did a great job with the covers.  I feel very lucky.

5. What are you working on now?

I’m working on more books in the series, as well as some “sekrit” projects! Stay tuned.  The best place for updates and info on the “up and coming” from me is my author facebook page.

6. Do you envision any actors playing your characters while you are writing?

No, in fact I’m super bad at that game when anyone asks!  Each character is really a conglomeration of looks, characteristics and voice all melded into one.  Honestly, I like it better that way.  Each reader should be able to substitute their favorites in for any of the characters.

7. Any advice for aspiring writers?

Keep going! This business is all about hard work and persistence.  You have to finish the book first.  After that you keep editing and querying.  Then, while you’re querying, start something new.  Don’t put all your eggs into one basket and keep writing.  Always keep writing.

Thanks for having me on the blog! Super excited for COLD BLOODED to release next week.

About the Author:

amanda-carlsonI’m a Minnesota girl, born and bred. I started writing stories about teenage girls and their social missteps when I was in high school. I still have the handwritten spiral notebooks to prove it.

I started writing in earnest after my second child was born. After purchasing our first computer, I thought to myself, what better way to spend my time than e-mailing unsuspecting family members super cute stories about my exceptionally darling children? Isn’t that what computers were made for anyway?

The writer in me stretched and gave a defiant shove. I was hooked.

I jumped into writing classes, joined local writing chapters, organized author book signings, joined critique groups and participated in conferences. I had a blast writing a column in a local food & wine publication, and eventually tied together all my parenting stories into one full compilation.

My first fiction attempt was a contemporary romance, but I couldn’t seem to find the story. After my kids starting bringing home YA urban fantasy, I suddenly knew where my passion for fiction writing had been hiding. It was inside the action packed pages of an Urban Fantasy novel. Reading each new series was so much fun, I quickly realized this genre brought something to the storyline I hadn’t really seen before. It brought a hefty shot of adrenaline combined with a side of female kickass, all combined with that element of “other” I found so intriguing.

After reading YA, I picked up every adult UF I could get my hands on and I’ve been fully immersed in this genre ever since. On occasion I still pick up a “regular” book. But for the most part I find them lacking in superpowers and the excitement of the unexpected.

I started FULL BLOODED because kickass heroines rock and I love shifters of all kinds. There aren’t enough warm-blooded girls to go around, in my opinion. I fell into Jessica’s story and had such a great time writing it. I couldn’t imagine writing anything other than urban fantasy now.

When you’re creating a story in this fantastic genre, it can contain almost any elements you can dream up. Creatively, for me, there’s nothing better.

Now I think it’s about time to share it with all of you.

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Jennifer’s Review of Cold Blooded

Cold-Blooded-FINAL-cover-e1379990987503TITLE:  Cold Blooded

SERIES #: Jessica McClain #3

CHARACTERS: Jessica, Rourke, Tyler

AUTHOR:  Amanda Carlson

PUBLICATION DATE:  10/8/13

ORDER LINKS:  Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS: Jessica McClain is on the run…again.  Finally reunited with Rourke, Jessica arrives home to find that her best friend has been kidnapped, her father has vanished, and the supernatural Sects–witches, demons, and sorcerers–don’t even have the courtesy to wait until she is unpacked to attack.

Now, mastering her powers as the sole female werewolf might not be enough to save them.  Thrown together in a shaky truce with the Vampire Queen, Jessica must show all the different Sects what the true meaning of “the enemy of my enemy” is or her father will die.

REVIEW PROVIDED BY: Jennifer            NUMBER OF STARS: Five Stars

REVIEW: This book is the third in the Jessica McClain series and each book keeps getting better and better.  Cold Blooded picks up right after the events of Hot Blooded and Jessica finds herself on the run from demons and sorcerers while looking for her missing best friend, Marcy.  Jessica and Rourke are now finally together and looking forward to spending some quality time with one another.  But all that has to be put on hold when Jessica is summoned to the Vampire Queen’s home in New Orleans to serve a debt that they owe her and along the way bring an all-out war among paranormal beings to her doorstep.  Jessica has to then side with the Vampire Queen to protect the people that she cares about before it is too late.

I have to say that this is one of my favorite series and I look forward to reading every book when it comes out.  Jessica is such a great kick-ass heroine who is still coming to terms with her new supernatural powers and has finally been reunited with her mate, Rourke.  There is non-stop action from the very first page and the story is so well-written that you feel like you’re watching a movie instead of reading a book.  I absolutely love this series and all of its characters and I can’t wait to see what Amanda Carlson comes up with next.

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