Tuesday 12 August 2014

Blog Tour/Excerpt/Review/Giveaway: For Fallon (Chicago Syndicate #1) by Soraya Naomi


Blurb 

We all have a façade, a concealed mask we wear to portray ourselves to the world. 

Fallon’s mask is real, what you see is what you get. Growing up with two loving parents in Chicago, graduating in Chicago, and now working a job she loves, she enjoys her life. 

Her untarnished world is shaken when Luca crosses her path. 

Luca’s mask is tightly controlled. Distrust, rivalry, and violence rule his life.

When confronted with insecurities, when the one you love wears his mask perfectly, when your life unravels and you don’t know why, do you keep trusting the person you love? 

Everyone has a façade. Everyone has an ulterior motive.

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

Buy Links:






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

Excerpt 

His gaze is piercing through me. He tilts his head and arcs one brow in silent question, Need any help?
I almost imperceptibly nod my head.
Mystery man speaks to his company, who’s leaning with his back against the bar. The other guy whips his head around to look at me and is obviously not agreeing with his friend’s intention to intervene. He disregards his friend’s comment and comes over to Nick and me. He walks right up to us to place a secure arm around my waist, tucking me gently into his side and turning slightly, so I’m engulfed in his one arm embrace. His breath strokes over my temple while he speaks. “I’m taking her for a dance.” His deep, throaty voice which exudes sensuality fits him perfectly in his tailored suit. The guy glowers at Nick, daring Nick to defy him. His intimidating stance has Nick backing off instantly, and he leads us both away with his arm firmly holding my middle.
I don’t even look back at Nick. My eyes are glued to this man. My mouth quirks up in a smile as he shows me an enthralling sidelong grin.

When I’m about to ask his name, he halts. “You’re welcome,” he whispers the words against my ear. And again, he strolls away.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 My Review
3.5- 4 Deceptive Stars!

For Fallon is book 1 in the Chicago Syndicate series and Soraya Naomi's debut novel. After reading and loving Soraya's reviews I was surprised and excited when she announced that she would be releasing a book.I loved the way she wrote her reviews and was anxious to read what she would write.I love mafia romances and have read a lot and I'm always looking for something new and I really enjoy great twists in the story and a book that makes me wasn't to keep reading and never stop. If you enjoy love stories that arent all lovey dovey, which have a mix of deception, lies, murder, twists and much more this is a book for you.

“Love must not suffocate, but breathe on its own.”


Fallon lives with her best friend and works for a charity as a copyeditor.Oh and the best part..She loves to read and tea! Helloo my fav things book and tea!! Anyways back to the story..Fallon and Luca meet at a club.Fallon can't take her eyes off of him and it seems like it's the same for Luca.Or is it?

After their first meeting they seem to keep bumping into each other and so begins the start of their steady relationship.Its a slow buildup and you get to know the characters and how the relationship develops.It was a little slow for me and took me a while to read it.The second half of the book picks up and I found it a lot better and I kept turning pages and couldn't stop reading until I hit the end. Thanks Soraya! That cliffhanger though :O I did not expect that ending and now I want more!

I love dual POVs when they are done right and this was so done right! I liked that we had both the POVs as it helped explain alot of things. Second half or parts of the second half Fallon annoyed me. I know that in that situation you aren't thinking rationally and you do stupid stuff and that she didn't know what was going on in Luca's head so she couldn't know what I knew but omg she should have known. This is not making sense or maybe it is?

I'm looking forward to the next book in the series and any other books Soraya writes ;)

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

Social Links:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


About the Author: Soraya Naomi

Soraya Naomi resides in Europe with her entrepreneur fiancé. She attended university in The Netherlands.

Although she reads many genres, she favors intense, dark, seductive, and provocative novels where the male character loves fiercely without remorse or boundaries. 

She has a passionate obsession for the written word and indulges in chocolate pastries much too often. 

There are books full of great writing that don't have very good stories. Read sometimes for the story... don't be like the book-snobs who won't do that. 
Read sometimes for the words--the language. Don't be like the play-it-safers who won't do that. But when you find a book that has both a good story and good words, treasure that book.
 
― Stephen King 


OFFICIAL WEBSITE: www.sorayanaomi.com
E-MAIL: soraya.naomi@gmail.com 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Giveaway

Author Spotlight/Giveaway: Katie Kacvinsky



Random Questions Answered by Katie :)

1. What was you fav book from your childhood?
My all time favorite book when I was growing up was The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner. 

2. Who inspires you?
People that take risks and expose themselves inspire me. These are usually artists, filmmakers, musicians and writers. When I need an inspiration fix, I turn to music, movies and books, or I browse through art magazines.

3. If you could bring to life any one character who would it be and why?
Probably Owen Meany, a character in John Irving’s book, A Prayer For Owen Meany.  I was obsessed with him for a long time. I would also love to bring Dylan to life (my character from First Comes Love). She’s very inspiring.

4. If you could be a man for the day what would you do? (Crazy silly answers are welcome ;)
Well, let’s be honest, if I was a man for a day I would probably want to have sex and see what it’s like from a male perspective. Then, I don’t know, I guess I’d go to Taco Bell and test out exactly how much food a guy can put down. 

5.Fav colour?
Gray.

6. Celebrity crush?
This changes daily. It’s usually a comedian. Although, since the football season is approaching, I’ll probably soon be crushing over Aaron Rogers and Tom Brady.

7.What are you currently reading?
Oh, man. **Nerd Alert, Nerd Alert** I’m currently reading,  The Sky is Not the Limit: Adventures of an Urban Astrophysicist by Neil Degrasse Tyson.

8.One thing most people don't know about you?
I pretty much only wear flip flops. Even in the winter.

9. Are any characters in your books similar to you as a person? personality, traits so on?
I think ALL of my main characters are similar to me. I have many thoughts similar to Justin (like how plugged in our culture is becoming), I’m rebellious like Maddie, I’m quirky like Dylan, and I’m sarcastic and a bit introverted like Gray.

10. Fav book of all time?
The World According to Garp, by John Irving.

11. Fav tv show and movie?
I need a new TV show to obsess over! I honestly don’t watch much TV, but I did love How I Met Your Mother. My favorite movie is probably When Harry Met Sally.






Awaken (Awaken #1)


Maddie lives in a world where everything is done on the computer. Whether it’s to go to school or on a date, people don’t venture out of their home. There’s really no need. For the most part, Maddie’s okay with the solitary, digital life—until she meets Justin. Justin likes being with people. He enjoys the physical closeness of face-to-face interactions. People aren’t meant to be alone, he tells her. 

Suddenly, Maddie feels something awakening inside her—a feeling that maybe there is a different, better way to live. But with society and her parents telling her otherwise, Maddie is going to have to learn to stand up for herself if she wants to change the path her life is taking. 

In this not-so-brave new world, two young people struggle to carve out their own space.



Middle Ground (Awaken #2) For four weeks Maddie has been living in Los Angeles, trying to be good. But no matter how hard she tries, something inside her won't be sated. She can't live a life of half-truths and false pretenses. So one night, she says how she really feels.

That's all it takes. One night. One bad decision, and Maddie is thrown into a detention center where she's forced to undergo secretive treatment meant to squash her rebellious streak. The powers that be call it rehabilitation. Maddie calls it torture.

Alone, Maddie will not survive. But if she can find something to hold on to - an image of Justin, their love - maybe she can fight. And if she's really lucky, maybe she'll even win





Still Point (Awaken #3)

In the final installment to the trilogy begun with "Awaken, " Maddie returns home to make her final stand against Digital School, and uncovers deeply guarded secrets about her family an new truths about herself.

Goodreads 




                         

Giveaway

Cover Reveal: One Night With Him and One Night With Her By Lauren Blakely

Lauren Blakely is well known for writing sexy, heartfelt and humorous contemporary romance as well as deeply emotional new adult stories -- one commonality in all her books is the scorching hot sexy times. And these new books are absolutely no different! Jack Sullivan and Michelle Milo's story will be told in 2 books – the free prequel novella ONE NIGHT WITH HER and the novel NIGHTS WITH HIM. I’m thrilled that you are taking part in the reveal for them! The free prequel novella, ONE NIGHT WITH HER, will release first on October 21st. Then, NIGHTS WITH HIM will release on November 11th. Lauren worked with her regular cover designer, Sarah Hansen at Okay Creations, for these covers and we are so delighted to share them with you and your readers.

Message from Lauren:
The Seductive Nights erotic romance series continues with a new
installment starring a new couple later this fall! While the first
four books in the series followed Julia and Clay, the next two will be
about Michelle and Jack, and can be read without having read the
earlier books. (Though, why wouldn't you want to read about Clay and
Julia?!)

I can't wait to introduce readers to Jack Sullivan. He's sexy, broody,
witty, smart, and a little bit damaged and he's also my favorite kind
of hero - the kind who wears a suit! Jack Sullivan is a sex toy mogul
and is the CEO of a high-end line of pleasure products - he'll bring
all that experience to the bedroom as he sweeps Michelle Milo off her
feet - expect many steamy encounters between these two! Michelle needs
some good loving after all - readers know her already as Clay's friend
from Night After Night who loved him unrequitedly from afar. Now it's
finally her turn in the romance arena, and Jack will make sure she
gets it good!!

To give readers a chance to get to know this newest dirty-talking
alpha hero of mine, I will be releasing a free prequel novella called
ONE NIGHT WITH HER on October 21 about the night they meet and the mind-blowing encounter they have in a New York City hotel. The novel itself will release on Nov. 11. NIGHTS WITH HIM is available to
preorder on iBooks, with an Amazon preorder to go up about three weeks
before the novel's release.




ABOUT NIGHTS WITH HIM:
A sensual, sexy, standalone romance novel in the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Seductive Nights Series by Lauren Blakely...

Jack Sullivan is a Sex Toy Mogul.


An extremely eligible bachelor in New York, he’s the full package, right down to his full package. Hell, this man could be the model for one of the toys his company, Joy Delivered, peddles. Instead, he’s the powerful and successful CEO and he’s got commitment issues a mile-long after the tragic way his relationship with his fiancée ended.

He’s looking for a way to erase the pain and that arrives in the form of Michelle Milo. From her pencil skirts to her high heels, she’s his perfect fantasy, especially since she has no idea who he is the night they meet at a hotel bar. He doesn’t have a clue either that she’s the brilliant psychologist his sister has arranged for him to see to help him get over his past. She’s simply the stunning woman he takes to bed that night and delivers many Os of joy too.

His touch helps her forget that other man.

When he shows up at her office door the next day, there’s no way in hell she’s going to treat him after they’ve slept together. Jack isn’t willing to let go of the first woman he’s felt anything for in years so he proposes a deal – share her nights with him for thirty days. At the end of one month of exquisite pleasure, they walk away, having helped each other move on from their haunted pasts.

But soon, all those nights threaten to turn into days as the lines between lust and matters of the heart start to blur. Can two people so terribly afraid of love truly fall head over heels?

**NIGHTS WITH HIM is a standalone full-length novel in the bestselling SEDUCTIVE NIGHTS series following the love affair of a new couple.**


iBooks Preorder: http://bit.ly/WGs1zM


About Lauren Blakely:
Lauren Blakely writes sexy contemporary romance novels with heat, heart, and humor, and her books have appeared on the New York Times, USA Today, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and iBooks bestseller lists. Like the heroine in FAR TOO TEMPTING, she thinks life should be filled with family, laughter, and the kind of love that love songs promise. Lauren lives in California with her husband, children, and dogs. Her novels include Caught Up In UsPretending He’s MinePlaying With Her Heart, and Trophy Husband. She also writes for young adults under the name Daisy Whitney.

Links:




Thursday 7 August 2014

Cover Reveal: Falling For Fate (Second Chance #2) By Caisey Quinn

Falling for Fate
(Second Chance #2)
Adult Contemporary Romance
Cover Designed by Regina Wamba | Mae I Design
Scheduled Release Date: September 23, 2014

GoodReads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22088848-falling-for-fate


The second book in the Second Chance series by Caisey Quinn has a cover! 

While the series is made up of standalone novels featuring different couples, it does center around a location: The Second Chance Ranch, a drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility owned by Trace Corbin and Gretchen Gibson from the Kylie Ryans series. Here's what Caisey had to say about the series! 

Caisey: I really love writing this series because with each new novel I get a new story to build around the ranch. The overlap between characters in each book is a lot of fun for me, even though readers don't always catch them. It's almost like a hidden treasure. For instance, Fate's mom appears briefly in Van's story (Last Second Chance), but as the books are released approximately 3-4 months apart, not everyone remembers those details. It's such a treat for me knowing that they're in there! 

Readers have asked if they will see Trace and Kylie in this series and they will! Trace will pop in from time to time and then towards the end of the series they'll both attend a celebratory dinner at the Ranch.

While Last Second Chance was pretty hot, with tortured soul musician Van Ransom, Falling for Fate is a bit on the sweeter side. Though y'all know me, there will still be plenty of steam! Dean and Fate have a chance encounter and then meet again unexpectedly. While they're both young professionals, having very different relationship backgrounds and experiences leaves them a bit out of their league when it comes to one another. 

I am so in love with this cover because my characters meet on the beach and I asked the designer (Regina Wamba of Mae I Design) to give it an ocean water feel. She did such a wonderful job! I hope y'all like it as much as I do!

MORE ABOUT FALLING FOR FATE

Fate Buchanan just wants to escape the constraints of her old life. After checking her mother into rehab and catching her fiancé with her Maid of Honor the night before their wedding, she ran. Angry and hurt, she’s aching to do something reckless

Dean Maxwell is having one last summer of freedom before taking over his family’s multi-billion dollar medical conglomerate. When he sees a beautiful woman running down the beach alone after dark he knows it’s not safe. So he does something impulsive

When their paths cross unexpectedly after a night of unbridled passion, neither of them can forget the memory of the affair they shared. What began as one night is about to become a whole lot more

*Note: While part of the Second Chance series, this novel stands alone. 

FOR MORE ABOUT THIS RELEASE OR THE AUTHOR


Caisey loves chatting with readers online so drop her a note at any of the above!


Tuesday 5 August 2014

Review: Restoring Hope By C.P.Smith


Synopsis
Life throws you curve balls, but no parent should ever bury a child. Determined not to make the same mistakes with his son as he made with his daughter, Nic Beuve is single-minded until Hope walks into his life.
Hope Delaney, a woman with a past that almost broke her, tries to keep people at bay for their own protection. Fortunately for her, no one listens when she says she wants to be alone. 
Burning desire, a deep need to protect, and a woman who looks like an angel breaks down Nic's defenses until he can’t ignore them. He wants Hope and what Nic wants…
Hope thinks she can walk away at any time she just wasn't counting on a man like Nic to get in the way, or a nosy but loving Cajun Boss. All's fair in love and war and what Maman Rose wants is Nic and Hope together.

Will their relationship survive an ex-wife with an agenda or will her past come between them... or kill them?

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

My Review
4 Brilliant, Moving Stars!

This is the first book I have read by C.P.Smith and it definitely won't be my last.When I got offered to review this book I really didn't know what to expect, I didn't even read the synopsis and dove right in.I ended up reading late into the night and after forcing myself to put it down and I woke up in the morning and finished it off.

Hope and Nic are to people who have been broken, their past tortures them and no matter what they do they can't run from it.Two lost souls drifting around without any peace or bliss. Nic has lost his daughter and is making sure that he does everything right for his son.Hope is running from her past, she can't get too close to people as she will have to move on soon enough to make sure her past doesn't catch up with her.

“Learn quickly, sugar…I will love you, fight with you, die for you, but I will also put your sweet ass over my knee if you run from me.”


When Nic and Hope meet, sparks fly and they are drawn to each other. Nic sees Hope as his angel, so pure and warm. He wants her, to make her his, to protect her from the demons she is fighting.Hope sees the same struggle, sorrow in Nic's eyes as she has seen in her own when she looks in the mirror.But Nic needs to be focused on his son and Hope can't let herself get close to him. So how does this all work?

Well you see there is this little magician called Maman Rose who waves her wand..well she doesn't, she just does her best to throw them together.

“God gave me three gifts in this life; one he took too soon, one that makes me proud each day and one I never saw coming until she stumbled into my life and woke me up. I won’t take them for granted another day, and I’ll fight like hell to keep them safe,”

The main characters in this book are older than the age I usually stick to.Hope is 38yrs old and Nic is 42yrs old and well that I wasn't too comfortable with this at the start.Is it just me that likes the main characters to be close to my age range or a little older but not too much older? I guess at times I can make an exception if the hero is older (out of my comfort zone old) than the heroine but she has to be at the age range I am comfortable with.I don't mean like he is 90 and she is 21 but more like she is 25 and he is 38? Something like that I can just about handle.There are always the odd few that are older and I've been fine with as long as the age thing doesn't keep popping back up throughout the book.*sigh* I'm rambling. Let's get back to the point.

“Nic Beauve, plain and simple, is the sexiest man she’d ever encountered, and she needed to be in his presence like she needed at hole in the head.”

Even though at the start the age bothered me I got over it by imagining the characters younger ;)
I usually avoid books with characters who have kids in a previous marriage I prefer the character to have no kids at the start or babies I can deal with babies lol I don't even know why but that's the way I prefer books.Not saying that's always the case I have read book with main characters with kids and enjoyed the book just like this one!

I enjoyed the character development and how the characters began to open up.Loved the banter and romance.This book was about how experiences changes a person but its all about what you do with these experiences.Loss can make or break a person it just depends on how you handle it.This book showed how you should never give up hoping, hoping for something better.If you lose hope you lose a big part of you.And sometimes that little bit of hope can change your life.

“He forced her to stay, made her believe that she could have a life, something beautiful, to dream again. And for that, she would do her best to help him heal, give him the love he needed to move forward while she watched over their shoulders.”


*ARC provided for an honest review*
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Buy Links




Release Blitz: All Of Me By Tamsyn Bester & Bailey Townsley



SYNOPSIS
For the past two years, 21 year old Lacy Forbes has been hiding. From her family, from the media, and from the man that destroyed her heart. Now that she’s returned home to Chicago, her only desire is to move on and forget about everything that sent her running.

Jason Tate has only loved one woman and it’s not his wife. It’s the girl he fell in love with two years ago, and then walked away from, leaving her to deal with the consequences of their affair on her own. He never expected to see her again. When he hears about her return, he’s determined to right his wrongs, and get her to forgive him. 

Lacy believes she no longer feels anything for Jason. Until he kisses her. Until he claims her.

A battle between love and lust ensues, and Lacy will learn the truth – but can she forgive Jason for lying to her again, or will he end up ruining what’s left of her?


BUY NOW FOR ONLY $.99








ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Bailey Townsley
Bailey is a 23 year old newbie author who loves all things kinky. She fell in love with the idea of writing her own dirty books after reading Fifty Shades of Grey, and after some convincing decided to give it a try. When she’s not reading, or writing, she can be found shopping up a storm in the nearest book shop, spending time with family and playing with her lovable pooches. Bailey is currently hard at work on her Debut Novella, All of Me, a co-write between her and New Adult Contemporary Romance author, Tamsyn Bester. 

Tamsyn Bester
Tamsyn is a 22 year old blogger turned author from who has an insatiable hunger for New Adult Contemporary Romance novels, coffee and chocolate. When she's not getting caught up in yet another steamy romance with a new book boyfriend, she can be found spending endless hours working away on her laptop. Tamsyn is a Brat when it comes to books and believes that every story, no matter how challenging, should have a Happy Ever After. Tamsyn is currently hard at work on her second novel, Precious Consequences, expected publication Nov '13