Saturday 28 December 2013

Deadly Obsession by Kristine Cayne

Deadly Obsession (Deadly Vices #1)Deadly Obsession by Kristine Cayne
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I'm a sucker for books about celebrities, covert love affairs, and creepy deadly stalkers. It's probably not healthy, but hey, what can I say? I purchased this book over a year ago after first reading Deadly Addictions (Deadly Vices #2), and I have no idea why I put off reading it for so long. Just so you know, these books can be read as stand-alone stories. As mentioned, I read #2 in the series without having read #1 and had no problem jumping into the stories, the characters, etc. However, I'm glad I finally have some of the back story on the characters who are in both books.

So about Deadly Obsession…Lauren is a single mom who is still trying to get over the loss of her husband years before. She is struggling to find her place in the world and start her career. She is strong and passionate, and she cares deeply for her friends and family. Nic is your seemingly typical playboy celebrity type. He likes to have fun and doesn't take life too seriously. Or at least that's what he lets people believe. Inside he is fighting to keep his life together and to put on the perfect face for the crowd. Both characters were realistic with real problems and emotions.

Overall I love Kristine Cayne's writing. She has a way with words, and her stories are sexy, fun, engaging. I am definitely looking forward to more from this series.


View all my reviews

Thursday 19 December 2013

Lost Seraphine (Seraphine Trilogy #2) by KaSonndra Leigh


 
Lost Seraphine (Seraphine Trilogy #2)  
by KaSonndra Leigh
 

Genre:  Fantasy/Paranormal/Angels
Published: 
November 24, 2013 by TriGate Press



Book Description:

Caleb Wood now knows the Dark Seraphine's true identity.

Life should be a little more sane now, right? Wrong! It’s kind of hard to ignore the walkers, fallen souls taken by the Angel of Chaos. Oh yeah, only Caleb can see them.

After saving his girlfriend from the wrath of a sea witch, Caleb finds himself faced with a new problem…understanding the strange tattoos showing up on his body. He must also deal with his Lost Seraphine, the girl who left her family behind to save the boy she loves. The same girl who just happens to be the daughter of a mythological god.

Gia gave up one of her powers to be with Caleb. She knew that she was connected to the Dark Seraphine in some way. You see, there’s a prophecy, something she always believed to be a fairy tale linking her with the girl who also wants Caleb. Haunted by visions of her dead brother, Gia realizes she has made a terrible mistake. The ability she gave up is the one thing she will need to keep her boyfriend safe.

Will Caleb be able to accept the things he will learn about his real father while trying to save the girl he loves from herself?






About the Author:

Author of the Lost Immortals Saga and the Path Seekers Series. I’m also a mother, blogger, reader, gardener, home renovator, and a slayer of undead Egyptian mummies in Tomb Raider. I believe in karma, coffee, and seriously wish that the producers of Xena would bring my favorite show ever back.

Strange things about me: Everything. I am weird, odd, unusual, and generally tend to make people think I swooped down from another planet. I don’t know. Maybe I did. Who knows? I’m also a member of the #zombiesurvivalcrew on twitter. So if you need protection from the upcoming apocalypse, don’t hesitate to call on us.

I was born in the race-car city of Charlotte, NC, and now live in the City of Alchemy and Medicine, NC, when I’m not hanging out in Bardonia (Lost Immortals). Most of my characters are based on people that I’ve met throughout my travels and adventures. People tend to stop and start conversations with me as if I’ve known them my entire life. Does this freak me out? Not really. My mom says that one day I’ll get kidnapped by one of them. I told her that if it weren’t for these lovely people then I wouldn’t be able to create the stories that I do.

I have many favorite authors but there are some who truly rock my socks: Octavia Butler, Anne Rice, Kami Garcia, J.K. Rowling, Dean Koontz (on his good-book days), Stephen King (same as DK) Ann Radcliffe, Mary Shelley, Elizabeth Kostova, and so many more…

Some other common tidbits…hmm. I’ve watched the movie Under the Tuscan Sun almost 200 times. Seriously, the way I see it is if I keep watching it enough, then suddenly the house that Diane Lane lives in will magically appear in my backyard. I know. I’ve got a huge imagination!

Favorite TV Show: Xena Warrior Princess
Favorite Movie: The Matrix
Favorite Music: Sarah Brightman
Favorite Book: The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova
Favorite Food: Italiano
People I Most Admire: Nezetta Tomlinson Wall - R.I.P.
6 word memoir: Dreamer, mother, lover, sister, friend, omniscient...

Website * Amazon * Twitter * Goodreads




~ * ~ * ~ * ~


 Check out all the stops on the Lost Seraphine blog tour hosted by Making Connections!

Monday 9 December 2013

Meant for Me by Faith Sullivan + Giveaway

Title: Meant for Me
Author: Faith Sullivan
Expected release date: December 10, 2013
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: New Adult
Ebook available at: Kindle | Nook | Smashwords  





Book Description:

Eric thought he had forever...before.

Divided between reliving the past and embracing his new life with Ivy, Eric fears that love will once again be ripped from his grasp. Having faith in the future is hard. So many things can go wrong.

Ivy is convinced that what they have is meant to be...but no one can escape the wheel of fate.

Her love for Eric and the life they're creating make every sacrifice seem worthwhile. Until she's forced to reveal the truth surrounding her delicate condition. Even if it shatters his hope.

Can they hold onto their newfound happiness or are events already in motion to keep them apart?


Excerpt:

My boyfriend is so freakin’ hot.

I press my nose against the glass, peering out as he stops to take a break from cutting the grass around the garden center. It’s sweltering outside and he’s worked up quite a sweat pushing the lawn mower up and down the property. As a result of his labor, his white t-shirt is clinging to his chest in all the right places. I sigh happily, taking him in.

He has no clue that I’m watching as he picks up a water bottle and pours it over his head, forming a trail that trickles down the length of his body. I clutch the windowsill as I feel that all too familiar twinge between my legs. Being pregnant, my hormones are on fire and it doesn’t take much to get me going. So it’s no wonder a moan escapes my lips when he doesn’t stop there. Instead, he casually begins to strip in front of me.

My cheeks burn as he lifts his arms over his head, removing his shirt, elongating every inch of his defined abs. My eyes follow his v-shaped pelvic muscle as it dips suggestively below his belt buckle. My breathing becomes heavy as he stretches, causing his jeans to ride even lower on his hips. My pulse skyrockets as he proceeds to wring the water out of his shirt, flexing his glistening biceps against the rays of the setting sun.

I squirm against the window, forcing my knees together. My movement catches his attention and he glances up, meeting my gaze. A sexy grin slowly spreads across his face when he realizes the effect he’s having on me. My mouth is open. I’m literally panting for him. He shakes his head and chuckles softly. My heart clenches at how adorable he looks.

He’s not the kind of guy who flaunts his body, but for me it seems like he enjoys being on display. He runs his hands through his damp hair, tousling it before grabbing another bottle of water. He winks at me, tilting back his head and taking a long swig. He closes his eyes, his lips wrapped around the bottle, teasing me. He smiles when he’s done, beckoning me with his finger.

I don’t hesitate for a moment. I gladly leave the confines of his air-conditioned office and rush outside. He’s waiting, his eyes smoldering. He stands with his hands on his hips, watching as I approach. It’s unseasonably mild for October, and I step out of my clogs as I draw nearer to him. His gaze never leaves my face. It only intensifies, causing me to blush even more.

I get close enough to feel the warmth of his breath on my cheek, but I don’t speak. Instead, I run my hands across the wide breadth of his shoulders and down his heaving chest. My touch must be driving him wild because I can feel his heart thudding beneath my fingertips. His skin is so smooth and firm. He’s a man’s man who’d never dream of waxing his upper body, and a trail of soft, fine hair guides me to his belly button and beyond.

“How can I expect to get anything done around here with you touching me like that?” Eric asks, his voice all husky as I find the zipper of his jeans.

“Well, you shouldn’t be tempting me by getting naked in front of the window,” I whisper seductively as he grabs my wrist, preventing me from lowering his zipper and undressing him any further.

With my free hand, I start to remove my dress when he growls, “I don’t want anyone seeing what’s mine.” He scans the horizon for any approaching vehicles, but there are none to be found. “No one’s ever going to hear what you sound like when you come. Only me.”


Books in this series:
(linked to Goodreads)



About the Author:

Faith Sullivan is an author of New Adult contemporary romances including the HEARTBEAT trilogy, the TAKE ME NOW series and the 9/11 novel, UNEXPECTED.

Where to find Faith Sullivan:

 

Tweet these pics (and tag @_FaithSullivan_) to gain extra entries!

















Always Remember by Sheila Seabrook

Always Remember (A Rocky Mountain Romance, #1)Always Remember by Sheila Seabrook
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Always Remember is the story of Jessie and Nate. Jessie left home 17 years ago to follow her dreams. She made a life for herself and stayed away, knowing she could never have what she really wanted – to change the past and erase her mistakes. Nate is afraid of losing Jessie again – along with the rest of his heart and everything else that is good in his life.

I loved all of the characters in this story. They showed a lot of emotion and were fun to read about. I loved Nate and Jessie's playfulness when they were together. You could feel the strain of their relationship coming through the pages, but they were so good for each other. Both had made mistakes and were living with the guilt of their choices, which constantly threatened to drag them down and apart. The overall theme of the story seemed to be love and redemption. Each of the major characters had to learn how to face their mistakes and take responsibility for them. They had to learn to stand up for themselves and what they wanted/needed, better late than never.

The author's writing was clean and simple, but so descriptive she was able to bring the story to life. From the background scenery to the smells and sounds described, each page drew me in and made everything just a bit more real.

My only complaint is that I would have liked to have more resolution with the ending. But wanting more is a good thing, right? I felt the ending really did not bring closure to the story like I would have wanted and I was left with too many unanswered questions. First is what happened to Jessie's mother? While she did not play a huge role in the story that we read, she had played a huge role in Jessie and Nate's lives before we met them, and her influence was everywhere. Second is what happened with Sara and Hale? I kind of felt left hanging with that relationship. Overall, though, it was a great story and a lot of fun to read.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.


View all my reviews

Friday 6 December 2013

Fix by Force by Jason Warne + Giveaway

Fix by Force  
by Jason Warne

Paperback, 188 pages
Published March 28th 2012 by Westbow Press
Young Adult Fiction 



Book Description:

Spencer doesn't have a choice.

He can't choose to be different than what he is-the son of the town's worst enemy, the weakling who can't stand up for himself, the loser without friends.

He can't change the way things are.

Or maybe he can.

Immediate confidence.

Rapid change.

Instant hope.

These are the things Spencer believes he needs to fix his life, and that is what the steroids promise-a quick fix. But promises can be broken and shortcuts are often treacherous, and Spencer must decide if those risks are worth the perceived rewards-if "artificial" hope is strong enough for him to be fixed, by force.



Or buy your copy now on Amazon or B&N!  




If I was could sum up this book in one word, it would be WOW (capitalized for effect). This is an incredibly powerful story chock full of emotion and drama.

Spencer is a high school senior who feels insignificant and powerless. He comes from a dysfunctional family, including a verbally and occasionally physically abusive mother, and he is being bullied at school with no one to turn to for help. Spencer feels he is alone in the world with his pain, and his greatest fear is of turning into his much-hated father. Spencer realizes he needs to take action to turn his life around, but he is looking for a quick fix with immediate results, no matter the consequences.

Spencer's character was nothing short of amazing. The way the author was able to portray Spencer's feelings of self-loathing, fear, and loneliness on the pages of this book made the story absolutely heart wrenching to read. We were able to get inside his head and were able to see his rationalizations for his actions, and even though he knew the consequences of the steroids and could see them being played out with a negative impact on his health and his friendships, he still thought what he was doing was okay because it would help him get noticed, be liked by other people, and ultimately be somebody.

I loved that we were able to get to know Spencer pre-steroids and then were able to journey with him over the timeframe of the story, watching the consequences of his decisions play out and how those consequences, plus other external forces (family and friends), change his outlook on life as he eventually realizes that he may not be as alone in the world as he thought.

The best kind of book is one that leaves you thinking about it long after you've read the last word. Fix by Force is that kind of book. Ultimately, I am going to recommend this book to everyone I know, as it is the kind of story that every parent and teen should read.

See my review on Goodreads!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Check out our author interview with Jason Warne from June 2012! 
Find out his inspiration behind the story as well as the story behind the amazing cover!




About the Author:

With his debut novel, Fix by Force, Jason Warne hopes to entertain and inspire readers. Drawn from personal experiences, including personal struggles with steroid abuse, this fast-faced story about self-image, relationships, choices, and sources of hope, aims to speak most loudly to readers who are seeking authentic and relatable characters. Warne lives in Kalamazoo, MI.


www.fixbyforce.com

jmwarne@gmail.com