Articles

Sep 11 2013

Don’t Make Me Beautiful Blog Tour & Review

Author: Bibliowhore • Discussion: 6 Comments

Synopsis

A ROMANTIC SUSPENSE NOVEL.

No one knew a woman lived there or that she even existed. A monster, living in darkness…

At twenty-six, Nicole doesn’t even look human anymore. The beast made sure of that. So she hides. A monster consigned to a life of fear and solitude. This is all she deserves, she is quite sure of that.
And then one day out of the blue, the autographed baseball caught by Brian Jensen at the latest Marlins game enters her prison and manages to turn her world completely upside down.
Temptation comes in the form of pity at first, and then perhaps something more.
Does she dare to believe the things she’s told, that this is not the life she was meant to live? That being a monster is not her forever-fate? And will she be willing to risk everything, to reach out and accept the helping hands around her? She knows only too well that hands can hurt. Finding out whether they can also heal is a risky proposition, especially when the beast is still out there. Looking for her.

**This story was inspired by true events. If you liked the movie “Sleeping With the Enemy”, then you might like this story too. CONTENT WARNING: Violence, foul language, and adult situations. Intended for mature readers 17+**

Don’t Make Me Beautiful Book Review

This book is scary. I don’t mean that in a bad way. It’s scary because it is such a real and normal part of what occurs in society, so frequently, that people turn a blind eye to just how awful some people have it. Domestic abuse/abuse is a very serious and very real problem for men, women and children in our society. This book sheds light on a brutal but harsh reality for some. This book took a toll on me emotionally since I have worked closely with people who have had similar experiences. Reading this book brought a lot of memories to the surface. Some harsh realities and even a sense of pride in those who fight back, rebuild and reclaim their lives. For some that never comes but for those who get there it is a monumental achievement. I was an advocate for survivors such as Nicole so I was able to read this book free of judgment, something that doesn’t come easy for most. Experiences like Nicole were more extreme than most but there are so many that deal with abuse like this. It’s not as simple as it looks to leave and it is usually something that someone has experienced over the course of many years which allows them to continue on as though this were life. Abuse of this magnitude is not easy to endure. Oftentimes people are too quick to judge without knowing the entire story so when I read this book. I sincerely read it. I looked past the preconceived notions and threw out the judgment and read the story of a woman who was badly broken but tried to survive.

For many people, it’s hard to understand the reasons why someone would remain in an abusive environment/household. The problem is, most times these survivors are doing exactly that – trying to survive. In many ways Nicole was a survivor, she had a lot of bad things happen to her at a young age. She was nineteen when she met John and he promised her the world. He tore her down and programmed her to think in a manner that suited him. He kept her prisoner and made her believe herself so ugly and worthless that no one would care if she lived or died. The mentality of the abuser is always one of control. John wanted control and he only wanted to possess Nicole as an object, he never wanted to love her or be loved. People like John are incapable of such emotions. It’s about power and control, not love.

I really fell in love with this book. The author states it was inspired by a true story and the fact is, this happens all too often and not enough people are voicing these problems. She took something that I see as controversial and heart wrenching and found the beauty in the beast. I loved that she was able to paint a vivid and scary world yet fill it with beauty and love. It is inspiring.

So, what can I say about the book….a whole hell of a lot as I’ve made clear (see above ^ lol)

Nicole (aka Briana – you’ll need to read to learn why…hehe…I know I’m evil) has been brutalized beaten and turned into a monster. She’s permanently disfigured from years of being battered by her boyfriend John. When a baseball goes through her window and a little boy named Liam comes to reclaim it, Nicole has no idea her life is about to change. Brian, Liam’s father is a stand up man. He has integrity and teaches his son the same. When his son’s baseball crashes through the neighbor’s window, Liam is marched over to apologize while Brian, his father offers to pay. John, Nicole’s boyfriend pretends that it’s no big deal but inside he’s fuming. When the two leave, John beats Nicole senseless that night…Brian feels something is off with John and returns to John’s home in hopes of speaking with the elusive “wife.” He gets more than he bargained for and Nicole gets the break of her life…but can someone like Brian ever love someone as deformed as Nicole? Can he look past the outer appearance and see what’s inside?

The best part of this book for me is the valuable lessons it teaches the reader. Beauty truly is skin deep and someone who loves you…truly loves you will be able to look past any outward flaws and see into your heart…completely. Brian is a solid human being. He is a living, breathing example of how all humans should strive to be. He is a man of integrity and while Nicole can’t believe the reality of her situation since he entered her life, this is what and whom she truly deserves. Brian vows to do all he can to protect her and help her get her life back from the vile creature that stole it. The only problem is, will she let him?

The abuse/violence in this book is awful but it is equally beautiful in it’s romance. Brian, Nicole, Liam, Agnes and even Helen were all lovable characters. Each plays a key role in Nicole’s healing process. I highly recommend this book – especially for women. I think it is important for everyone to understand how bad it can get and how easily someone (man/woman/child) can fall prey. I give this book 5 resounding stars for it’s power and honesty. It had me hooked from start to finish!

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

About the Author

New York Times Best-Selling author Elle Casey is an American girl living in southern France with her husband, three children, and several furry creatures. She writes in a variety of genre including YA Fantasy, YA Action/Adventure, New Adult Romance, and Adult Contemporary Romance. She’s a little on the wild side, usually busy making people laugh, and always in the mood for adventure. There’s not much in this world that she loves more than reader interaction, so feel free to drop her a line.

Giveaway

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Sep 01 2013

September Book of the Month

Author: Bibliowhore • Discussion: No Comments

September BOTM – Defending Jacob by William Landay

Synopsis

Andy Barber has been an assistant district attorney in his suburban Massachusetts county for more than twenty years. He is respected in his community, tenacious in the courtroom, and happy at home with his wife, Laurie, and son, Jacob. But when a shocking crime shatters their New England town, Andy is blindsided by what happens next: His fourteen-year-old son is charged with the murder of a fellow student.

Every parental instinct Andy has rallies to protect his boy. Jacob insists that he is innocent, and Andy believes him. Andy must. He’s his father. But as damning facts and shocking revelations surface, as a marriage threatens to crumble and the trial intensifies, as the crisis reveals how little a father knows about his son, Andy will face a trial of his own—between loyalty and justice, between truth and allegation, between a past he’s tried to bury and a future he cannot conceive.

Award-winning author William Landay has written the consummate novel of an embattled family in crisis—a suspenseful, character-driven mystery that is also a spellbinding tale of guilt, betrayal, and the terrifying speed at which our lives can spin out of control

Aug 28 2013

Recklessly Release Event & Giveaway

Author: Bibliowhore • Discussion: 2 Comments

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

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.

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.”

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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Aug 28 2013

COVER REVEAL: The Darkest Joy by Marata Eros

Author: Bibliowhore • Discussion: 1 Comment

Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Expected release: February 18, 2014

Synopsis

A sexy and poignant new adult novel from New York Times bestseller Marata Eros, about two lost souls who find each other in the wake of tragedy, only to learn that love may not be enough to heal the wounds of a dark and tortured past…

Twenty year-old Brooke Starr has escaped the aftermath of a brutal tragedy by abandoning her music studies and moving north to take a summer position as a part-time deck hand on a deep-sea fishing boat. When her survivor’s guilt becomes unbearable, Brooke realizes there’s only one thing she can do to finally erase the pain.

Deep sea fisherman, Chance Taylor, has just wrapped his guitar set at the local saloon when he sees the silhouette of a young woman in repose, the full moon highlighting her shadow as she plummets from a pier too high for diving… into water too cold to survive. Without thinking, he plunges in after her, saving Brooke from drowning.

As Chance works to save her from her own emotional fragility, Brooke finally begins to learn how to save herself. But when their chemistry begins to consume them, Brooke withdraws. She’s determined to be the master of her own destiny… until the past catches up with her in a cataclysmic plan so dark, so final… it threatens their love and their very lives.

About the Author

Marata Eros is the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of dark, romantic new adult novels, including A Terrible Love and its companion novel A Brutal Tenderness. A passionate writer who loves interacting with her readers, Marata lives in South Dakota with her husband.

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Aug 27 2013

Teach Me Love Cover Reveal

Author: Bibliowhore • Discussion: No Comments

Synopsis:

Jacob Greene, sexy multimillionaire CEO of Greene Publishing is a broken man desperate to find reason in his life. Losing Katherine, the love of his life, makes a once gentle and kindhearted man into someone dark and miserable.

Abigail Anderson, single mother, second grade teacher, is tired of living her life alone. But the only man she’s ever loved betrayed her and left her in the dark.

Now, three years later, their paths cross. A rocky beginning soon turns into something more. Real. The feeling is mutual and their feelings grow. But secrets always have a way of coming out.

Will Jacob and Abigail be able to learn how to to love again or will they suffer alone for the rest of their lives?

*Note: This will be a stand alone.

Anticipated Publication: September 2013.

Author Bio

My name is Saoching Moose, writing as S.Moose. My debut novel, Reaching Out For You, published on June 8, 2013. This novel is the first of the Never Letting Go Series. I am a self-published author and I love every moment. I have met some amazing people and am very excited about what’s to come.

I live in Webster, NY with my husband. I enjoy being with my family and friends. I graduated from St. John Fisher College with my Bachelor of Arts degree in 2011. I love writing and it’s always been a dream of mine to publish my work. I’m an avid reader and love reading books with a happy ending-I’m a sucker for romance. I want to inspire others with my words the way I have been inspired through countless works of literature. I think that everyone has a purpose in life, it just takes time to find it.

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Aug 26 2013

Melanie Harlow’s Speak Low (Speak Easy #2) Cover Reveal & Giveaway

Author: Bibliowhore • Discussion: No Comments

Publication date: November 4th, 2013

Synopsis:

We always want what we can’t have.

Tiny O’Mara is tired of living in a world where men make all the rules. After bootlegging enough whiskey to free her father from the DiFiore crime family, twenty-year old Tiny is determined to gain her independence.

But it’s going to cost her.

Her alliance with sultry Enzo DiFiore is based more on their explosive chemistry than loyalty or trust. But she’s promised him some information that will help him take revenge on The River Gang, and when he offers her a job, an apartment, and the prospect of nights spent together where anything goes, she can’t refuse—which only puts her further in his debt.

She needs gorgeous childhood pal Joey Lupo to help her again—when they’re not at each other’s throats, they make a good team, and her attraction for him is becoming impossible to deny. But after she rejects his offer to leave town together, he’s tempted to let her fend for herself.

As Enzo’s need for possession and power escalate and her feelings for Joey deepen, Tiny realizes her mistakes. She just hopes she gets the chance to fix them before it’s too late.

AUTHOR BIO

Melanie Harlow likes her martinis dry, her lipstick red, and her history with the naughty bits left in. SPEAK EASY was inspired by her cocktail-culture obsession, her affection for good gin, and the view from the end of her street. She lifts her glass to NA readers and writers from her home near Detroit, MI.

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Giveaway

The author is hosting a giveaway for a $25 Amazon gift card. Enter below.
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*Speak Easy (Book 1) will be 99 pennies for the entire week

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Aug 24 2013

Meet the NAturals

Author: Bibliowhore • Discussion: No Comments

Meet the NAturals!

The authors of the NAturals are hosting an event with giveaways AND have written a juicy story just for you! To kick things off we have the beginning of the story below. The remaining story will unfold over the next several days on the NAturals site. Don’t forget to check back to their site each day for a new installment and other surprises!

Giveaway

Enter Here

Who are the NAturals?

Lucy Stark, Melanie Harlowe, Sophia Bleu, Tamara Mataya, Laurelin Paige, and Sierra Simone!

The Boy Next Door

by the NAturals

When your Friday afternoon plans involve being crammed in a half-squat between hanging shirts and pants while stark-freaking-naked, it’s time to reevaluate your life. And I was going to do just that as soon as Derek rescued me from the closet. It had occurred to me before that dating a guy who still lived at home was going to be a problem, but it was hard to be choosy when nearly every guy my age had already taken off to college. I was on the delayed-start plan myself, trying to save up enough money by working temporary and part-time jobs to go away next year. That’s how I’d met Derek and wound up naked in his closet. I had a knack for situations like this.

“Make sure you water the rhododendrons every afternoon or they’ll die, and do it today, please.” His mother had been listing all the chores she needed done when she left on her Alaskan cruise in the morning. So far she’d been here for what felt to be an hour. I didn’t actually have a watch. Hello, naked. But I had a cramp in my thigh that was getting worse by the minute, and it felt like I’d achieved a level sixty in discomfort.

“And no overnight visitors,” she finished.

“Of course, Mom,” Derek said.

“Especially not that Natalie girl. I don’t think she’s a good influence.”

To continue the story and for even more chances to win great prizes, visit us at our blog:

The NAturals

Aug 21 2013

Pulling Me Under Cover Reveal

Author: Bibliowhore • Discussion: No Comments

Series: Pulling Me Under #1

Publication date: October 2013

Paul was Katie’s rock for thirteen years, but then she watched him die.

By day, she is left with her daughter Ella’s questions about where Daddy went, and at night she’s consumed with nightmares of the moment he died. It isn’t long before Katie’s mother hints that her volatile lifestyle and developing drinking habits are no way to raise a little girl.

Through it all, her and Paul’s best friend, Liam is there. Grieving the death of both husband and friend, the time they spend together seems more intimate these days, and Katie soon stumbles into taboo territory: Liam might be in love with her.

Torn between Liam’s feelings and losing Ella, one night Katie runs.

Air. Space. Thinking time. That’s what she thinks she’s getting when she stumbles upon that party. In the morning, in a strange bed, she can’t remember the night before.

Pulling Me Under is raw in its brutality of love and pain, with slow-building suspense to a heart-stopping conclusion.

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Teasers

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About the Author

Rebecca Berto is an Amazon bestselling author. She is also a freelance editor. She writes stories that are full of heart. She gets a thrill when her readers are emotional reading her stories, and gets even more of a kick when they tell her so. She’s strangely imaginative, spends too much time on her computer, and is certifiably crazy when she works on her fiction. Rebecca Berto lives in Melbourne, Australia with her boyfriend and their doggy.

You can find Rebecca at:

Her website/blog, Novel Girl | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Goodreads

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Aug 21 2013

All-American Girl by Justine Dell

Author: Bibliowhore • Discussion: No Comments

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.

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.

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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.

Enter Here

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.”

All-American Girl Trailer

Aug 20 2013

Beside Your Heart Blog Tour

Author: Bibliowhore • Discussion: No Comments

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?

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.”

author pic

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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Aug 15 2013

Unteachable Blog Tour, Review & Giveaway

Author: Bibliowhore • Discussion: 3 Comments

Synopsis

This novel contains graphic sexual content and strong language. It is intended for mature readers.

I met him at a carnival, of all corny places. The summer I turned eighteen, in that chaos of neon lights and cheap thrills, I met a man so sweet, so beautiful, he seemed to come from another world. We had one night: intense, scary, real. Then I ran, like I always do. Because I didn’t want to be abandoned again.

But I couldn’t run far enough.

I knew him as Evan that night. When I walked into his classroom, he became Mr. Wilke.

My teacher.

I don’t know if what we’re doing is wrong. The law says one thing; my heart says screw the law. I can’t let him lose his job. And I can’t lose him.

In the movies, this would have a happy ending. I grow up. I love, I lose, I learn. And I move on. But this is life, and there’s no script. You make it up as you go along.

And you don’t pray for a happy ending. You pray for it to never end.

My Thoughts

This story will suck you in from the very first page and grip you by your throat until the very end! I could not put it down. I fell hard and easily in love with these characters. Maise O’Malley, the protagonist, is a girl who is living a pretty fucked up existence. Her mom is a drug addict and a dealer, her dad is nonexistent and she wants, no she needs to find an out. She has a plan, one that will get her far away but she never imagines her world will be turned upside down.

Maise has played grown up for so long it’s become second nature. Everything about her screams adult. Her thoughts, her feelings even her choice in men. At eighteen, Maise thinks she has it all figured out, she’s experienced more in her short life than most adults have endured in a lifetime. It isn’t until a chance encounter with a mysterious man that her world forever changes.

Evan Wilke enters Maise’s world in a burst of color. The attraction is instant but there is something about this stranger, a longing she never imagined she was capable of feeling. Evan has his secrets, his demons and his past but he is drawn to her from the minute they meet. He wants to unlock the mystery that is Maise, but she knows it may be too good to be true, too good to last. Evan consumes her thoughts, she never in her wildest dreams imagines she’d be walking straight into his classroom on her first day of senior year.

There are moments where the main characters are seriously playing with fire. I was on the edge of my seat screaming at them. There is such rawness to this book. A yearning that no matter the distance or boundaries can’t be ignored. This book has it all — drama, passion, love and everything in between. You spend the entire book questioning everything you’ve ever believed was wrong but rooting that these two broken people find a way to be together because somewhere along the lines they help each other begin to live! I am still having withdrawal! This book takes you on a thrill ride you never want to end. There are moments where you will question your own views of love, happiness and what lengths you will go to be happy, to be with the one you love? How can two broken people help repair a lifetime of pain?

Leah Raeder writes beautifully. She transports you into a world where you see vivid colors. Not black, not white, not even the shades of grey in between, but a colorful lively world filled with beautiful imagery. I wanted to live in this world; she made even the most painful moments beautiful. What an incredible read! I cannot express to you how much I adore this book. I was terrified reading it. The closer I got to the ending, the more unsure I felt that this would be a HEA. I won’t speak on which direction this book takes, I will only say that this is a book that EVERY New Adult fan and EVERY Contemporary Romance fan MUST read! I give it way beyond 5 stars this book is provocative, enticing, and enlightening. Leah I eagerly await the release of your next book! You’ve made a lifelong fan…

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

About the Author

Writes pretentiously lyrical YA and adult fiction of various genres. Loves zombies, velociraptors, and other world-ending things. Copies her bio from Twitter because she’s lazy.

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Giveaway

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Aug 14 2013

Geoducks Are For Lovers Blog Tour & Giveaway

Author: Bibliowhore • Discussion: No Comments

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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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.

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