Recklessly Release Event & Giveaway

Celebrating the release of Recklessly by A. J. Sand, the author is offering great prizes and an excerpt from the book!

Couple Embracing, Mid-section, Underwater View

Wes Elliott just met his match…and she might actually burn his entire world down.

Surfing and sex. This is Wes Elliott’s life. And it’s just the way he likes it. `

After seeing his parents stay in a loveless marriage his entire life, and burying away a heartbreak from his past, he knows where romance is best left: crappy chick movies. He’d rather lust and eventually leave, and that’s exactly what the plan was when he met Lana Langston.

Except…turns out she’s only in it for the thrills, too. She’s always only in it for the thrills: life in the literal fast lane on her motorcycle, and the hot nights in forbidden places without the awkward talks in the mornings after. She’s Wes Elliott in way tighter jeans.

So, this should be perfect, right?

But the more time Wes spends with her, the more he wants the nights to turn into mornings. And maybe even longer. Suddenly, it isn’t so perfect for him anymore.

And the things he thought were buried are digging themselves up.

Now Wes is in a lot of trouble.

He’s falling in love with the one girl who might be a bigger risk than even a guy who gets barreled by the most dangerous waves in the world is willing to take on.
Can Wes and Lana figure out a way to make it work? Or is he headed for something far more reckless?

Due to the sexual content, language and violence, this work is not recommended for readers under 18.

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Excerpt

He pointed to the image of a topless Jessica Rabbit with a mermaid tail matching her signature red dress etched on his hand; the top half of her body, bare breasts and all, was displayed just below his fingers.

Lana was clutching his hand in both of hers now, staring down at the intricacies of the tattoo design—the coiffed red hair and exaggerated curvatures of her body—and tracing a soft outline with her thumbs. She drew her fingertips across the top of his hand with such slow, gentle strokes that the touch triggered the heightening of his arousal. Okay, he was wrong; maybe her touching him was a bad idea. Now, it felt too sensual for what he was thinking. Wes flicked his eyes over to her chest and down her legs again. Lana, too, had the kind of body that should’ve been immortalized in ink.

“What is the fascination with her?” Lana asked with an eye roll. “No one would actually look like that in real life, you know.”

Wes shrugged and grinned. “It’s the idea of her I like. Any chick who is that hot—not-even-on-the-scale hot, like you—and who marries a guy who’s a soft three, is really endearing.”

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Event Giveaway 

The author is offering an event giveaway. Enter for a chance to win!
• One (1) $20 Gift Card from Amazon or Barnes and Noble + (1) eCopy of Recklessly gifted from Amazon or Barnes and Noble – International
• Three (3) eCopies of Recklessly gifted from Amazon or Barnes and Noble – International
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About the Author

A.J. Sand grew up an only child whose parents bought her many, many books to keep her busy, so it was only natural that she would start writing her own stories. She is the author of “Documentary,” “Remake” and “Recklessly.” She lives just outside of Washington, D.C.

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Guardian (The Guardian Trilogy #1) Review

Guardian Final Cover

Synopsis

True love never dies.
Emma Donohue begs to differ.

When a late night accident claims the love of her life, Emma secludes herself in memories of James. In his sandy brown hair and clear blue eyes. In their innocent first kiss and declarations of love. In their plans for a life together after college. But happy dreams can’t rid her of the guilt she carries. She can’t erase her actions the night he died. She can’t erase her reaction at his funeral. And she can’t erase the hollow void that fills her chest and consumes her heart.

The first time Emma hears James’ voice, she’s astounded. It sounds as if he’s standing right beside her, and she fears her shattered heart is trying to drive her mad. But, as she continues to hear the voice, she finds comfort in it. With the help of her best friend Shel and handsome newcomer Dane, she tries to move forward and start living again.

Until the voice in her head turns out to be more. So much more.

You know what they say.
True love never dies.

This book contains moderate language/mild innuendo.
Guardian is the first story in The Guardian Trilogy.

*The second novel, Allegiant, is complete and due to be published in the fall of 2013.*

Review

Where do I begin? This story really got to me. The loss, the love, the struggles.
This was a beautifully penned beginning to what I can only imagine will be an outstanding trilogy.

Sara Mack creates a vivid world filled with love, loss and the void one feels in their struggle to move forward. Emma Donohue has experienced a world of pain. Her world is shattered when she loses the only man she’s ever loved, James.
He is her rock, her life, her love…until he’s gone. But is their love greater than even death?

James loves Emma — “until the end of forever.” After he tragically dies, Emma relives many of their memories. Oftentimes, she hears James’ voice but somehow it comforts her. She wishes for more of those moments and when they come, she clings to them with every fiber of her being. She wants more than anything to be with him again…

Enter Dane, handsome, rich and available….oh right, and not so dead. Emma and Dane grow close and their friendship reaches a crossroads when Dane risks his heart in hopes that Emma is ready to take a leap with him. Even after all she’s been through, he sticks by her and patiently waits hoping she’ll let him in as more than a friend.
Although James is dead, Emma battles with her feelings and the guilt eats away at her. 

My issue with this book… plain and simple… 

IT ENDED!

It ended and my jaw dropped.
Seriously Sara Mack is evil! She builds up this fabulous story only to leave you in utter suspense!
Yeah Sara, I said it! LOL 

I was left wondering what in the hell will I do until Allegiant releases????!!!!

I fell in love with James, Dane and Emma. Emma will have quite a few decisions to make and I suspect this is just the beginning! I can’t even decide which guy I love more and that worries me because this trilogy could go either way and I don’t know that I could ever hate either of the paths! I am seriously stuck trying to figure out which team to root for! Hopefully Allegiant reveals some of my suspicions.

HIGHLY recommend this book for any New Adult/Paranormal Romance fan. It is an absolutely beautiful story and will have you hooked.

*This book was provided to me for free in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and comments are my own.*

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Buy Guardian for Kindle  |  Nook  |  Smashwords

 

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Meet Emma
Name:  Emma Lynn Donohue 
Birthday:  August 30, 1990 
Parents:  Dale and Marlene 
Siblings: one older brother, Mike 
College:  Western Michigan University 
Major:  Business Management 
Hobbies:  Reading, homework, avoiding depression 
Favorite teams/sports:  Are you kidding me?  None.  Well, it used to be the FSU Bulldogs hockey team. 
Favorite personality trait:  Ha!  Right now I’m not too happy with myself after what happened with Dane. 
Least favorite personality trait:  Feeling guilty 24/7 

 
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Meet James
Name:  James Henderson Davis 
Birthday:  June 11, 1990 
Parents:  Eric and Carol 
Siblings:  None 
College:  Ferris State University (one year), Western Michigan University 
Major:  Business Management 
Hobbies:  Up until a few months ago it was club hockey 
Favorite teams/sports:  Hockey and football.  Teams would be the Wings, the FSU Bulldogs, and mainly college ball. 
Favorite personality trait:  I’m pretty protective. 
Least favorite personality trait:  Is being dead a personality trait?
 
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Meet Dane
Name:  Dane Ryan Walker 
Born:  October 6, 1987 
Parents:  Charles and Lily (stepmom) Walker 
Siblings:  None 
College:  Wayne State University 
Major:  Fine Arts, Graphic Design 
Hobbies:  Trying to convince a certain girl that she’s in love with me.  Oh, and creating art that doesn’t involve a computer.  I also make the occasional trip to the golf course (if Matt twists my arm) and the gym. 
Favorite teams/sports:  Detroit Lions (yeah, I know), and the Tigers.  I ran cross country in high school. 
Favorite personality trait:  I’m passionate. 
Least favorite personality trait:  Sometimes I have a one-track mind and it’s hard to concentrate on anything else.
 

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About the author 
Sara Mack is a Michigan native who grew up with her nose in books. She is a wife and a hockey mom on top of being trapped in a windowless office forty hours a week. Her spare time is spent one-clicking on Amazon and devouring books on her Kindle, cleaning up after her kids and two elderly cats, attempting to keep her flower garden alive, and, of course, writing. She has an unnatural affinity for dark chocolate, iced tea, and bacon. Guardian is her debut novel. 
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All-American Girl by Justine Dell

All American Girl cover

Synopsis
At the age of thirty, with two failed marriages and a tanking writing career, Samantha Moore deals with the world with the only tool she had left: anger. And she’s tired of it. When her grandmother’s near-death sends her rushing back home to Vermont, she hopes for the chance to overcome the rage ruling her life.
Once she’s home, Lance Cummings becomes a constant source of indigestion. Lance is a single father who learned first-hand the devastating effects of a damaging relationship. He sees through Samantha’s nasty temper—straight to her cry for help. He wants to help her, but he also wants to know why Samantha ran from him—and their future—twelve years before.
Taking care of her Grams, dealing with an alcoholic brother, and getting Lance to remove his annoyingly attractive nose from her business is draining on Samantha. And she’s only got three weeks to finish her stagnated novel or her publisher will drop her. No pressure. To top it off, pretending to hate the man she actually loves makes each day in Vermont harder than the last. Especially when Lance turns up the heat.

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Purchase All-American Girl  

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About the Author
Justine lives in the Midwest, happily catering to her family, which consists of a horse-obsessed teenage daughter, four dogs, and a husband who is to good to be true. She’s never moved from her hometown, but hopes to grow old in a much warmer climate. During the day she works a normal job with college students who try their best to keep her young. They’ve done a good job thus far. At night, said teenage daughter and her horse require mounds of love and attention. The weekends belong solely to her and her writing. That’s when she morphs into a sticky bug, unable to leave the confines of her computer chair.
She started writing three years ago after seeing a movie that set off a chain reaction she couldn’t have stopped if she’d wanted. It’s not a hobby for her; it’s an obsession. One she loves and one she loves to share. Her debut novel, RECAPTURED DREAMS, and her second book, ALL-AMERICAN GIRL, are available now on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and wherever books are sold.

Website  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Goodreads

GIVEAWAY

The author is hosting a Book Birthday Giveaway on her website.
She’s giving away a Kindle Fire preloaded with Omnific books, Amazon Gift Card, and Swag Pack. 

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Excerpt

Samantha lurched up, oblivious to the spikes of pain through her head. She watched in horror as he strode out of her bathroom in nothing but well-fitting blue jeans. He rubbed a towel over his head and the morning sun made the traces of water on his chest glisten. Samantha peeled back the blanket she was clinging to. She was wearing nothing but a thin cotton nightgown. Oh my God. What on earth had she done? He stopped next to the bed, his irreverent eyes showing a hint of amusement at her gaping.  “Morning, sunshine. Can you please answer your phone?” He tossed the Blackberry next. She couldn’t pick it up even if she wanted; her body was rigid and her stomach churned. Oh, hell—she really didn’t want to vomit. She doubted she could make it the bathroom. Closing her eyes, she collected every thought from the night before, and came up with nothing that involved Lance. “What are you doing here?” The bed dipped as he sat. She flinched and pulled the covers tightly around her body.  “What do you think?” Humiliation stole her words. Running from him and hiding in the closet wasn’t an option, either.  “Please tell me I didn’t do something I’ll regret.”  His brows furrowed. “So spending the night with me is something you’d automatically regret?”    She had regretted it before, she’d regret it again. “Yes.”

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Beside Your Heart Blog Tour

Cover

Synopsis

Was he The One who got away?

Late one night, Nicki Johnson plays with emotional fire and Googles her high school love, only to find his name splashed across the British gossip columns. Back in his native England, Adam Kincaid is successful and dating a woman from an aristocratic family like his own. With a career in politics, Nicki’s no slouch, but she knows Adam is living a world away from her life.

Yet there was a time he was no farther than the next locker. Nicki will never forget their year together in high school–the year of her sister’s death, the year her mother checked out. Adam helped Nicki through suffocating grief, and she led him through coming of age. But when is a high school crush something more? 

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My Review

This is a heartwarming story. I really, really, enjoyed it. The story tugs at your heart. The prologue begins in present day but much of the content beyond that is what leads up to present day events. 

Nicki Johnson, the protagonist, at seventeen has experienced loss beyond anything someone should experience at such a young age. Her sister is taken from her after a terrible accident. Her mother is grieving and has failed to be present mentally or physically. She copes by keeping busy but this keeps her out of the house and Nicki is uncertain how to deal with her own grief but she knows as numb as she feels she doesn’t want to live that way. Her mother isn’t a horrible person but she grieves in a way that leaves Nicki a bit neglected. It’s easy to see how difficult the loss of her sister has affected this family as a whole. Enter Adam, the hot British guy at school. He is everything Nicki knows she should stay away from, but for some reason he’s the only thing on her mind. He does all he can to get to know her better but she keeps her distance fearing she will end up hurt. Although they know of each other, their interactions were limited in the past, but this year their lockers are right next to one another. This year, she will get to know Adam better and like it or not, this will be the year she risks her heart. Her world unravels as she allows herself a chance at happiness…but can it last? 

Adam Kincaid steps into Nicki’s life in High School but thoughts of him have remained with her into her adult life. She opens up and bares everything to him. She allows him into her thoughts and into her heart. She discusses the loss of her sister, the way her family dealt with the loss and what she remembers. Although she’s been silently suffering, she lets her guard down with Adam who seems to be the only person that asks how she’s holding up. She feels a level of comfort with him that she doesn’t find with anyone else. Slowly, he becomes her rock. Flawed as she feels, he accepts all of her. He sees her scars, both emotional and physical yet he listens intently and accepts every beautiful part of her. He shares his dreams with her and she never criticizes, she simply encourages him to do what he loves. The few months they spend together in High School stick with them for a lifetime. But can these two find their way back to each other?

Present day

Nicki’s career has led her search for Adam. After googling him, she finds out he is currently dating a woman who is from an illustrious family. Knowing that his family is from the same circle she can’t help but feel inferior. She still thinks of him often and longs to see him but she won’t admit it. Two of her friends venture to Europe and while in England, they meet up with Adam who is as curious about Nicki and her life as she is about him. I won’t give much more away but this is a must read for second chance romance fans!

Yay or Nay?

This is a beautiful book. It captures the essence of not only a first love, but true love. One that outlasts even distance and time. It was an emotional ride for me, the story touched on some pretty heavy loss for someone so young. It made me feel for this girl who felt as though she had no one to turn to. Although she grieves with her family, they all handled the loss differently. They all had to grieve alone in their own way. Adam helps her through a tough time in her life but he makes a lasting impression and forever changes her.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good love story. Depending on how emotional of a reader you are, you may need tissues for this one! I don’t cry very often in general so I don’t get very emotional with many books, BUT this one had me a bit teary eyed at one point or another. This is a book about first loves, second chances, healing and enduring love. I love, love, loved it. I am eagerly awaiting the release of Book 2! 

*This book was an ARC provided to me for free in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and comments are my own.*

Purchase Beside Your Heart for Kindle  |  Paperback 

There was something about the look in his eyes and the feeling of our bodies being connected that was too much. Everything about being with him felt impossibly special, but was it? In a way, I didn’t care if the actual sex was as good for him as it had been with Kate or Meredith; he appeared to enjoy himself just fine. But did it feel the same way for him?

Only allowing him to rest on my chest for a minute, I turned over onto my side. I felt the need to protect myself, but I also wanted to know the truth—at least I thought I might. Timidly, I asked, “Is…is it always this way? When you’re with someone?”

He pulled me back toward him. Looking me straight in the eye, he somberly shook his head. “No. It’s never been like this for me.” Kissing my forehead, he ended the discussion. “I love you, Nicki.”

 

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About the Author 

Even before she graduated from law school, Mary knew she wasn’t cut out to be a real lawyer. Drawn to politics, she’s spent her career as an organizer, lobbyist, and nonprofit executive. Nothing piques her interest more than a good political scandal or romance, and when she stumbled upon writing, she put the two together. A born Midwesterner, naturalized Texan, and transient resident of Washington, D.C., Mary now lives in Northern California with her two daughters and real lawyer husband.

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Ricochet by Krista and Becca Ritchie

As a sex addict, Lily Calloway must do the impossible. Stay celibate for 90 days.

Cravings and fantasies become her new routine, but while Loren Hale recovers from his alcohol addiction, Lily wonders if he’ll realize what a monster she really is. After all, her sexual compulsions begin to rule her life the longer she stays faithful to him.

Progress. That’s what Lily’s striving for. But by trying to become closer to her family—people who aren’t aware of her addiction—she creates larger obstacles. When she spends time with her youngest sister, she learns more about her than she ever imagined and senses an unsettling connection between Daisy and Ryke Meadows.

With Lily and Lo’s dysfunctional relationship teetering and unbalanced, they will need to find a way to reconnect from miles apart. But the inability to “touch” proves to be one of the hardest tests on their road to recovery. Some love brushes the surface. Some love is deeper than skin. Lily and Lo have three months to discover just how deep their love really goes.

——

Includes the first chapter to the sequel Addicted for Now.

Companion to the Sequel: A full-length New Adult Romance that continues where Addicted to You left off. As a companion novel, it bridges the gap between the first and second book. It is highly recommended to be read before Addicted for Now.

Purchase your copy today!
 

“Shhh, and let me finish my diagnosis,” he says.

My cheeks grow hot.

“You’re flushed,” he nods and tries to suppress a growing smile. He puts his hands on my shoulders and leans my head back against the pillow, kneeling and towering over me. “I have to listen to your heart.”

“No,” I retort weakly, not in the mood to play with him. Not when it always has to end with me tense and aroused and needy. He loves to tease me, and I worry about the day where I won’t have the strength to say no.

He ignores me and places his ear to the bareness of my collarbone, the place peeking from my V-neck shirt. I inhale a sharp breath, his face too near. After a long moment, he rises a little and says, “I knew it.”

My eyes narrow. “Knew what?”

His hot gaze traces my lips, and then flits back up to my eyes. “You’re suffering from a clear case of…” His mouth brushes my ear. “…infatuation.”

Giveaway

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Becca Ritchie is a carnivore of pop culture, television, film and of course YA and NA books. While in college, she worked at The CW television network and put her vampiric knowledge to good use, blogging about hit series and swooning over actors’ abs. When she’s not blogging, she writes novels and has teamed up with her twin sister for their New Adult novel ADDICTED TO YOU. Available July of 2013.

Krista Ritchie is the mind behind popular trading website YA Book Exchange and created Nawanda Files, a book blog that also features books into movies news. When not pouring over entertainment news and the newest releases, she spends her time working in the science field. She’s happy to join forces with her sister, harnessing their twin powers to produce the first in a New Adult series.

Website † Twitter: Krista/Becca †  GoodReads 
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The Solitude of Passion Book Blitz

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Solitude

Synopsis

When old love and new love collide an impossibility is born.

When Lee Townsend’s husband leaves on a community outreach to China, the last thing she expects is for him to never come back—for him to have tragically met his demise.

Lee goes on to marry his adversary and settles into life and business with him, merging her vineyard with his and creating a worldwide conglomerate.

Five years later a twist of fate brings the past back to her and forces Lee to make a decision that will change the landscape of her life forever.

Secrets emerge, forcing relationships to be examined—magnifying the surprising true underpinnings of her marriage to both Mitch and Max.

Lee’s heart is unwilling to surrender her love for either Mitch or Max.
She must choose to carry forward with the past or present.

Lee has a choice to make.
Mitch can’t figure out how to win.
Max never loses.
Worlds collide in THE SOLITUDE OF PASSION

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Purchase The Solitude of Passion for Kindle  |  Paperback 

Snippet

Lee reaches up and cradles the back of my neck with her cool fingers. She pulls me down just shy of her lips and hesitates. My lips part in anticipation. I close my eyes never wanting to open them again without tasting her first. Lee brushes over me with a barely there pass of the lips. I’m not one to ignore an invitation, so I press in—sealing my mouth over hers then delving into the holy of holies and swiping my tongue ever so softly until she meets me with her own. I kiss her back, longer, much stronger than she most likely anticipated. Lee strokes her tongue over mine in smooth clean swipes that hold the flavor of strawberries and wine. She dives in deeper, probing me, telling me she loves me with the warmth of her mouth in an exchange that feels like a slow sweet eternity. 

Giveaway

one (1) ebook copy of The Solitude of Passion. Open internationally.

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Addison

About the Author

Addison Moore is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who writes contemporary and paranormal romance. Previously she worked as a therapist on a locked psychiatric unit for nearly a decade. She resides on the West Coast with her husband, four wonderful children, and two dogs where she eats too much chocolate and stays up way too late. When she’s not writing, she’s reading.
Website  |  Goodreads  |  Facebook  |  Twitter 
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Geoducks Are For Lovers Blog Tour & Giveaway

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Synopsis 

Food writer Maggie Marrion is just getting back on her feet after a horrible year, or two, or three. With their twentieth reunion approaching, she invites four of her closest friends from college for a weekend at her beach cabin. What she doesn’t expect is her best friends, artist Quinn Dayton and part-time erotica novelist, Selah Elmore, to play matchmaker. The two plot a surprise that will make the weekend, and her life, a lot more interesting.

Gil Morrow, former grunge musician turned history professor, joins them as Selah’s date for the weekend. After coming face to face with the one who got away, he decides he’s waited long enough to get the girl. With the support of old friends, a few wishing rocks, the world’s largest burrowing clam, and a hot lumberjack thrown into the mix, Gil reminds Maggie that forty-something isn’t too old for second chances.

Can we learn to love the life we have and let go of who we expected to be? What happens when the generation from The Breakfast Club and Reality Bites meets The Big Chill? Come spend a weekend with these Generation X-ers as they share laughter, tears, life’s ups and downs, old stories, and new beginnings.

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Purchase Geoducks Are for Lovers for Kindle  |  Paperback

Tour Giveaway:

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About the Author

Daisy Prescott

Before writing full time as a freelance content creator, Daisy worked in the world of art, auctions, antiques, and home decor. She earned her degree in Art History and endured a brief stint as a film theory graduate student. Baker, art educator, antiques dealer, blue ribbon pie baker, fangirl, content wrangler, gardener, wife, and pet mom are a few of the titles she’s acquired over the years.

Daisy and her husband (aka SO) currently live in a real life Stars Hollow in the Boston suburbs with their rescue dog, Hubbell, and an imaginary house goat. Geoducks are for Lovers is her first novel. She is currently at work on her second novel set in Ghana.

Website  |  Twitter  |  Facebook  |  Goodreads  |  Amazon Author Page

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To see other stops on the tour for reviews, guest posts, and excerpt click here or the tour button below.

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Out From Under You Book Blitz

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Synopsis

“Love is an earthquake.  It comes when you least expect it. It rips the ground clear away. Right out from under you.”

The day Lia Smart met Grayson Walker, eight years ago, was the day she fell helplessly in love with him. Coincidentally, it was the same day Grayson fell in love with someone else: Lia’s smarter, sexier, superior-in-every-way older sister, Alex.

Now, nearly a decade later, Alex and Grayson are long over and twenty-two-year-old Lia has finally managed to forget all those lonely nights she spent pining after her sister’s boyfriend. But when Grayson unexpectedly arrives back in town with Alex for Labor Day weekend and the two announce that they’re not only back together but engaged, all the feelings that Lia buried suddenly come bubbling back to the surface.

But Lia is no longer the awkward, gangly tomboy she was at fourteen. Far from it. And Grayson is conflicted by the lustful thoughts he’s now having for her. He knows he could never act on those thoughts, however. Grayson has always prided himself on being one of the “good guys.” But as the weekend wears on, he’s finding this new grown-up version of Lia more and more impossible to resist…

Heartbreaking and sexy with a dash of humor, Sophie Swift crafts a passionate, unforgettable tale about desire, growing up, and the kind of love that shakes us to the core.

Contains adult situations and explicit content. Recommended for ages 17+

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Excerpt

Grayson

My chest hitches when I see her, barely visible in the porch light, lumbering down the walkway to the beach, the blackness of the night swallowing her up with each step.
I eye the door to the hallway.
The door to everything that happens after this moment.
I suddenly feel like my entire life will be decided by which side of it I’m on.
This side—right here where I stand—is the side I’ve always known. The one I have all the answers to. This is the side on which I marry Alex and she bears my children and we buy a town house in Brooklyn together. This is the side I always thought I wanted to be on.
And that side, over there—through that doorway, down those stairs, onto that beach—that is the side I know nothing about. A foreign land. With no certainties and no answers. The side that terrifies me.
My gaze drills into the wooden door. My skin feels hot. My mouth is dry. My fingers twitch.
And then suddenly, there is no more choice.
My body moves without permission from my mind.
In three paces I’m in the hallway. In ten juddered heartbeats I’m down the stairs. In a dizzying montage of choppy, breathless still frames, my bare feet stagger down the walkway, sinking into the cool sand.
Lia stands motionless at the edge of the water, staring out into the darkened horizon, as though she might find answers there. As though the world beyond this shore might make more sense. The full moon casts a faint light on the side of her face, causing her skin to glow.
The sand hides the sound of my heavy footfalls as I stride toward her.
When my hand tightens around her arm, she is startled but doesn’t scream. When I pull her around to face me, she opens her mouth to protest. To continue the tirade she began in the parking lot of the bar. But when my lips crush decisively against hers, claiming her with a consuming, covetous kiss, everything falls silent.
Only the waves dare to breathe. “
Purchase Out from Under You for: 
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Giveaway 

One (1) ebook copy of Out from Under You. Open Internationally.
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About the Author

Sophie Swift is an east coast girl who recently transplanted to Southern California. She writes about sexy boys by day, and dates them by night. Her sizzling, new adult romance, OUT FROM UNDER YOU, the first in a new contemporary series, will be released in August of 2013. She loves books that quicken her pace, music sung by adolescent boys, and cupcakes with too much frosting. Visit her online at: www.SophieSwift.com

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Author Interview

1)    Where did you get the idea for OUT FROM UNDER YOU?

I think the idea came from two different fascinations of mine: relationships between sisters, and the complexity of infidelity. My sister and I have always had a complicated relationship, something I wanted to explore in this book. But also I’ve always enjoyed books that blur the line between right and wrong when it comes to infidelity. So I set out to write one of those.

2)    Why did you choose to write the book from alternating points of view (Grayson and Lia) and did you find one easier to write than the other?

You know, the book didn’t start out that way. Early on in the first draft, it was just Lia’s narrative. But for some reason, Grayson kept bugging me. Like he was in the back of my mind, poking me with a stick, wanting to be heard. So I sat down, started a new document, and wrote a scene from his point of view, just as an experiment. I ended up loving his voice so much, I simply had to find a way to work it into the story. After the decision was made to alternate points of view, I could almost see him smiling smugly, going, “See, I told you!”

In terms of who was easier, Lia was definitely more straightforward. Because she’s more like me. But Grayson was definitely the most fun. He surprised me so many times. So I think I looked forward to his voice the most.

3)    Which fictional character do you have a secret crush on?

Any character played by Liam Hemsworth. God, that man is sexy. I pictured Grayson whenever I was writing his point of view. As a daily little treat to myself. J

4)    What scene in the book is your favorite?

OH! That would definitely be the schmexy restaurant kitchen scene. That scene was not in my outline. It just kind of popped into my head as I was writing and I had to race to get it down fast enough. I don’t want to give anything away, but let’s just say there are some fairly creative uses for tomatoes that I still need to try out myself. J

5)    If you could have dinner with one of your characters who would it be?

Um, Grayson! No contest! Not only is he smokin’ hot, he’s also a bit of a food connoisseur, so he would pick the best restaurants ever for our date. And since I know everything there is to know about him (because I’ve been inside his head) I would know all the best ways to seduce him. *Rubs hands together mischievously*

6)    What’s up next for you?

I’m super excited about tackling book 2 in the Smart Girls Finish First series. Book 2 will be told from Alex’s point of view, Lia’s older sister. She was a really fun character to write as the antagonist in this book so making her the protagonist in the next book will be an entertaining challenge, I think! The rest of the books in the series will all feature young women in the Smart family. And since Alex and Lia’s father has four brothers, all with daughters, there are lots more stories to tell!

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Mandatory Release Book Tour, Review & Giveaway

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Synopsis

With appeal for fans of Jonathan Tropper, Tom Perrotta, and Laurie Notaro, this snarky mashup of Girls and Oz is so painfully honest you might think you’re reading a memoir—except the author isn’t a smart-ass guy in a wheelchair who works in a prison.

Recently paralyzed in a car accident, thirty-year-old Graham Finch spends his days trying to rehabilitate a caseload of unruly inmates and his nights on one bad date after another, attempting to rehabilitate his heart—until his high school crush Drew Daniels walks through the prison gates one hot summer morning. On the run from a painful past that’s nearly crushed her faith in love, Drew is a new teacher at Lakeside Correctional. Graham, smitten all over again, tries to redirect his unrequited feelings. But when your heart keeps looking back, it’s not easy to turn it forward.

Amidst escalating violence at work, Drew is forced to confront her secrets, find a way to forgive old sins, and learn how to listen to her heart and her head when it comes to men. Graham must also learn to make peace with his own past. Together they realize that if you’re going to save yourself, sometimes the best way to do it is by saving someone else first. If only finding their way to one another was easier than working with convicted felons.

Loaded with twisted humor and pathos, Mandatory Release is a darkly comic, unexpectedly sexy love story about broken people putting themselves back together. People who learn that no matter what you lock up—a person, a secret, or your heart—sooner or later, everything must be released.

OR, in 25 words: Lad lit meets chick lit in this dark comedy about broken people who work in a dangerous place, finding hope where they least expect it.

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My Thoughts

This was the first book I’ve read by Jess Riley and I fell in LOVE with this novel. She has just gained a faithful fan! I don’t know how to adequately describe my feelings after reading this book but I will try my best… 

Graham and Drew were friends in high school. Back then, Graham had it bad for Drew but she was always unavailable. With Drew’s return and her new job in such close proximity to Graham’s his old feelings resurface. Can Drew look past the man in the wheelchair, and remember the man before the injury? The one who makes her laugh, the one she feels utterly and completely comfortable with, the one she can talk to, could he be more than a friend?

This book is filled with witty and playful banter, comical inner monologues and general humor. Drew and Graham have some hilarious moments but it never distracts the reader from the intensity of the novel. The book touches on some pretty heavy topics but the focus remains primarily on how these two broken people help each other find their way back to happiness and open their hearts to the possibility of more…

Prison.

A topic not usually associated with a novel of this caliber. (Romance/Contemporary Romance) I felt that the author delivered exceptionally well given the topic. Her accurate descriptions/experiences bring you into a world that makes you question everything you’ve ever thought or experienced. How easily could you end up on the opposite side of the law? To what extent would you feel compassion towards inmates like those described in this book? Were your initial views skewed? What constitutes a criminal? I have my own views on this topic but I found myself pondering some of these questions. When an author can make me think that much while still enjoying a novel, I’d say mission accomplished! 

 There were times when I felt I had time warped to my early existence, with cleverly crafted reminders of the 80s and 90s…like Lisa Frank Trapper Keepers, Punky Brewster and honorable mention of bands/artists that didn’t suck! I highly recommend this book for everyone. It touches upon some heavy issues while bringing you back to earth reminding you of simple things we take for granted. This is an edgy, heartfelt romance. I highly recommend…will be added to my must read list!

Buy Mandatory Release for Kindle  |  Paperback

*This book was an ARC provided to me for free in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and comments are my own.*

Happy Reading!

About the Author

Jess Riley’s experiences teaching in a medium-security prison inspired the novel Mandatory Release. Her debut novel (Driving Sideways, now in its fourth printing) was published by Random House in 2008. She lives in Oshkosh, Wisconsin with her husband and nutty Cairn Terrier in a 130-year-old money pit farmhouse. When she’s not writing novels, she’s a Grant Writer for school districts nationwide.

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Tour Giveaway:

Up for Grabs…

A chance to win one of the following:

(2) Print Copies of Mandatory Release – US/Canada

(5) eBook Copies of Mandatory Release – International

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Bare Assets by M.L. Stephens

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Synopsis

*This book is intended for mature audiences (18+) contains adult language and sexually explicit material 

With nothing but shattered dreams and a busted heart to fuel the way, Angela Fletcher drove out of Arkansas and never looked back.

Six years later, the new and improved version of the girl she used to be steered clear of romance, love and late night promises. The only pillow talk Angela engaged in these days, was making sure the person on the other pillow knew to lose her number as soon as he left the bed. She only had room for one love in her life and that was Bare Assets, the gentleman’s club she poured her heart and soul into.

Dean Murray was the devil in disguise and had left behind enough broken hearted women to populate a small country. Angela would know. She was an expert markswoman who was skillfully self-trained at shooting down the good, the bad and the ugly of all masculine targets. After all, as the owner of the most successful strip club in Dallas, Texas, it was her business to know men.

Just as she begins to fall for Dean’s silky words and passionate ways, her past and present unexpectedly collide and a meticulously planned future turns into unpredictable chaos. Is the smooth talking, denim wearing devil responsible for the chaos? Or have the secrets she left buried in Arkansas, coming back to haunt her?

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Bare Assets is $2.99 for Kindle  |  Nook

Excerpt

Changing the subject before it became too serious, Angie opened the bedroom door and glanced over her shoulder. “I don’t know about you, but I haven’t had a single thing to eat all day. If I don’t get something soon, I’m going to eat the wood off this door.”
Grinning from ear to ear, he had to say it, “I have something to appease your appetite, but I’m afraid the door doesn’t play into my lust filled scenario.”
Laughing, she tightened the rope on her robe and wittily responded, “I would love to take part in your version of a meal, but I’m afraid I need to rely on the basic food groups for now.”
“And why is that?” he asked, joining her at the door.
“Something tells me that once I truly get a taste of you, I may never want to leave this room again.”

Author Bio:

I’m always clicking away at the keyboard, but when I’m not, my family, two dogs, and a very peculiar cat keep me on my toes! There’s never a boring moment at my desk!

Besides my obvious love for coffee and all things caffeinated, I love to travel. The occasional tourist stop is fun, but I’m a back road kind of gal. Take me off the beaten path. I want to meet the ordinary people behind the culture.

My crazy family includes a husband, four kids, two grandbabies, two dogs and a cat. That’s right. Life is totally insane, and so I write.

Speaking of writing, I’ve been spinning stories around the campfire since I can remember. Poetry was second nature and as a teen and young adult, short stories were constantly being penned. I’m an avid reader who loves almost all genres. Let’s face it! A good read is a good read, regardless of whether it takes place in the future, the present, the past or with ghosts.

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Summer Love Book Blitz & Giveaway

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SummerLove

Synopsis:

Carly and her best friend Becca are ready to drop a nuclear bomb on summer. It’s the last one before reality sets in and they’re off on their own. Carly is ready to break the mold and stop being known as a goody-two-shoes. In order to get the ball rolling, she agrees to a double date with Gavin – her good-looking, yet moody, lab partner.

Gavin doesn’t have summer plans except to work at his two jobs and hang out in his room drawing. He likes to keep to himself, but lets his brother Nate talk him into going on a double date. Carly isn’t like the rest of the girls at school that drive him crazy. She doesn’t ask a lot of questions and seems to know when to give him the space he craves. Gavin always thought that she was beautiful, but he believes that relationships and love are a lost cause.

Will their date prove that summer love is right around the corner or will it be a dead end?

This book is intended for audiences 17+

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Buy Summer Love for Kindle

Get Up Close & Personal with Marysue G. Hobika

What is your latest news?
“Summer Love” was published July 8, 2013. It’s the first book in the series “Senior Year.” A lot of hard work went into it and I am truly excited about its release. I believe it is my best work so far. I have already begun writing book two.

What inspired you to write this book?
I have always wanted to write a series. The summer before senior year seemed like the perfect beginning point. Who doesn’t love summer and the freedom it brings?

How did you come up with the title?
The word summer had to be in the title. I toyed around with a few possibilities and took some polls—“Summer Love” was the clear winner. All of the titles in the series will center around a season. The next book is, “Falling Into You.”

Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?
Yes and No. I chose a four-year-old girl that I know and imagined what she’ll be like when she’s seventeen years old and then plopped her in the middle of a situation. Also I incorporated pieces of my own daughter. She loves to sing and I could easily imagine her joining a band someday or working toward a music degree. In the end, the characters are of my own creation and imagination.

If Hollywood made your book into a movie who would you cast as the leads?
This is one of my favorite questions—to think people would love my book enough to want to turn it into a movie. I would choose Vanessa Hudgens to play Carly. She is beautiful and perfect for the role. My ideal Gavin would be Landon Liboiron. He is super cute and has brilliant blue eyes that look like the water in the Bahamas (just like Gavin’s eyes are described in “Summer Love”.)

Coffee or tea?
Coffee all the way. Once upon a time, I was an exchange student in Spain where I fell in love with all things Spanish, including coffee.  I loved meeting friends “para tomar un café.”

If you could wear your pajamas all day, would you? Why or why not?
Of course, I would. And many times I do, especially when I’m writing.

What’s your favorite dessert?
Ice cream. I would eat it every day if I could. During the summer I love visiting all the different local ice cream stands and sampling all the delicious flavors.

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Two (2) Giveaways Below:

Enter here for your chance to win an ebook copy of Summer Love

Grand Prize Giveaway
25$ Amazon Gift Card (Open Internationally)
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Excerpt
Carly wasn’t the typical sexy girl who walked by in the hall every day at school—she was a special kind of beautiful, the type of beautiful that took your breath away. And at that very moment, I was in desperate need of an oxygen tank. Carly didn’t seem to realize how beautiful she was, which was another turn-on. I am in serious trouble of breaking my own promise.
She cleared her throat, jolting me out of my trance. “Gavin, there’s another reason why I’m glad you showed up tonight.”
“There is?” I wasn’t sure where she was going with this, but I patiently waited for her to continue.
“I’ve wanted to apologize.”
“For what?” I quickly racked by brain, but couldn’t think of anything she’d ever done to warrant an apology.
“For the way I acted on our date the other night. I was rude,” she winced. She looked cute when she thought she’d done something wrong. I ran my finger across the top of her nose.
“Girly, don’t be sorry. I should’ve been supportive.” This was the first time she hadn’t yelled at me for calling her that. Taking it as a positive sign, I rambled on, “I was a total dickhead, and if anything, I owe you another date.” The perfect lead-in. “Carly, will you go on a real date with me? And not a double date, because I don’t want to share you with anyone.” Okay, I did it. I broke down and asked her out when I’m not looking for anything. And anything with Carly would be something. She’s not the type of girl who is known for one-night stands.”
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Saving Cassie Cover Reveal

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Synopsis

Everyone has secrets.  Sometimes secrets can get you killed.

After ten years in the big city, Cassie Holt is moving back to her hometown to take over the bookstore left to her by her beloved Gram, vowing to live her life alone.  To her best friend, Sheriff James Marsten, Cassie seems to be the same girl that left Fairfield Corners to go to college but Cassie has secrets and one of those secrets could get her killed.  When one of her secrets becomes a threat to her life, James turns to his new deputy to help him keep Cassie safe. 

Deputy Logan Miller has been burned by love and is not looking to get involved with anyone anytime soon.  When he is thrown into close quarters with Cassie, the sparks begin to fly and he begins to see through the walls Cassie has built around her heart.  As the threat gets closer, can Logan protect Cassie and protect his heart?

Coming Fall 2013.

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Saving Cassie Paperback Cover

About the Author:
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L.A. Remenicky’s journey to publication started with an intro to NANOWRIMO in 2012 and she never looked back.  She is a payroll professional by day and writes out the stories in her head by night.  She shares her life with her husband and three fur-kids.  Saving Cassie is her first novel, to be published Fall 2013.

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