Blog Tour!

SURRENDER TO LOVE is finishing up it's month long stretch of virtual blog tours with Literati Author Services bringing it home! I can't tell you how much I adore the lovely ladies that run it. They are awesome at what they do!

The tour runs from today, Dec. 10th through Dec. 16th. There are several stops each day to check out with plenty of reviews and promos, so make sure you stop by each one. Also, there is a giveaway going on, so make sure you take the time to enter.

Here is the full list of stops for you to hop along to:

December 10

• Rumpled Sheets Blog ~ Review
• Black Words-White Pages ~ Promo
• I Feel the Need, the Need to Read ~ Promo
• MrsLeif’s Two Fangs About It ~ Promo
• Reading Between the Wines ~ Promo
• The Whispering Pages Book Blog  ~ Promo
• I am a book addict…and proud of it ~ Review
• Made For You Book Reviews ~ Review
• My Secret Romance Book Reviews ~ Review
• Whirlwindbooks ~ Review
• Kaidans Seduction ~ Review
• Up all night read all day ~ Review

December 11

• Book Addict Mumma ~ Promo
• Babu’s Bookshelf ~ Review
• Cruising Susan Book Reviews ~ Review
• Novel Seduction ~ Review
• The Two Brains of Book Reviewers ~ Review

December 12

• Deal Sharing Aunt ~ Promo
• We Love Kink ~ Review
• Books to Get Lost In ~ Review
• Emily-Jane’s Book Corner ~ Review

December 13

• My Daily Romance ~ Review
• For the Love of Books ~ Review

December 14

• Book Babes Unite ~ Review
• Books to Get Lost In ~ Review
• Book Suburbia ~ Promo
• mustreadbooksordie ~ Promo
• Tattooed Book Review ~ Promo
• Niccis book blog ~ Review
• purpinkrosesbookcorner ~ Review
• Scandalous Book Blog ~ Review

December 15

• Crystal’s Many Reviewers ~ Review
• Literati Book Reviews ~ Review
• Valley of the Book Doll ~ Review
• Mia’s Point Of View ~ Review

December 16

• Sarah’s Bookshelf ~ Review
• Rustys Reading ~ Promo
• Toot’s Book Reviews ~ Promo
• Best Sellers & Best Stellars of Romance ~ Review
• Book Fanatic ~ Review
• Ramblings of a Book Lunatic  ~ Review
• Jess’s Book Blog ~ Review

Title: Surrender To Love (Night Call #3)
Author: J.C. Valentine
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: November 12, 2013

After finding herself out of luck and out of love, Patricia Jacobs has written off the male species. No one but her father has ever given her the love and devotion she knows she deserves, and she’s sick and tired of it. Until she collides, literally, with a man whose devastating smile and seductive charm that should be considered illegal, destroys her plans. He’s everything she’s ever dreamed of in a man: handsome, intelligent, successful, they share a love of cars and best of all; he looks at her like she’s his light in the dark. What more could a girl ask for?

Jonathon Bradshaw, destroyed by a past that has haunted his every waking moment for the last five years, isn’t looking for a serious relationship, until he meets Patricia. Sweet, saucy and as hot as the summer is long, Jon can’t deny the draw he has toward her. For the first time, he has hope. Determined to shake the ghosts of his past, Jon focuses on forging a future with Patti, but he’s always been a master at standing in his own way.

When Jon’s past refuses to be forgotten, will Patti be able to live with the truth about the man who’s stolen her heart?

Add to Goodreads

Review of The Ghost in My Bedroom by Heather Jones

Lucy Warner has managed to fall in love with her roommate – who has been dead for about 25 years. Since he’s been haunting her bedroom from the time when she was a baby, they have grown to be very good friends; a secret that no one else knows about, not even her best friend Ling. But Lucy wonders if it is possible to be more than just friends, as she realizes Ryan is the perfect guy for her.

It is the summer after high school graduation. Lucy finds herself newly single, and slightly bitter after a bad breakup. When Ling sets her up on a date with Jon, she plays along to try and forget about her ghost and get on in life with a real living guy. But when she finds out Jon can see ghosts too, keeping her secret gets a little complicated.

I don't see the point in rehashing the plot, so I'll just get to the heart of my review.

I picked this book up because I liked the title and the description seemed like something I would really be interested in since I am a big fan of YA paranormal romances. However, once I began reading, I experienced mixed emotions. I'll begin with the good stuff...

The Good Stuff-
Lucy is an average girl who just so happens to share her bedroom with a ghost. A good-looking, moody, teenage ghost who's been dead somewhere around 20 years if I recall correctly. While Lucy herself isn't entirely likeable, I did like her prospective boyfriend, Jon. He was shy and screamed of innocence, but when you scratched the surface, he was just your average hormonal teenage boy. A diamond in the ruff, if you will. The descriptions of Lucy's experience were also good. It painted a clear picture of what she was feeling when she encountered Ryan, so no problems there. Lucy's knack for sewing was also an interesting detail, and I often wondered if the author had some personal experience in a lot of what Lucy did in her day to day activities, because the knowledge involved was very thorough. Overall, it was an imaginative story with a lot of promise.

The Not So Good Stuff-
From the opening chapter I was faced with extreme run-on sentences, frequent grammatical errors, and unrealistic dialogue. Frankly, I was pretty close to calling it quits by the end of chapter one. I didn't want to give up, though, because the premise really captured me and I wanted to give it the old college try before I cast it aside. The story picked up a bit and, like I said before, the descriptions were well-done. I can't say the convos improved much, nor did I connect with any of Lucy's friends, but I did feel a little bad for the way she constantly ditched Ryan. They were BFFs since she was a baby, and yet she left him alone constantly. I call that rude and inconsiderate. Even if he is dead.

I also took issue with Ryan's sudden mood changes. At one point, Lucy made him upset with something incredibly minor, and he flipped out unnecessarily and called her a b**ch. I don't mind books with language, but it was so inconsistent with what I had read up to that point that it was a shock. This moment also marked a gradual increase in strong language.

Jon was a nice addition, but as we try to get to know him along with Lucy, the author sprinkled a few disturbing and, imo misplaced, encounters with Lucy's ex-boyfriend. I think this was a simple means to add drama and work an ending, but to me, it actually took away from the story. Her ex is detestable and is constantly showing up when she is all alone. His increasing display of violent tendencies and her constant disregard for her safety made me want to scream. Without giving anything away, I could see how this was going to end a mile away.

The ending was also something of a letdown. While not entirely bad, it ended up being a switching of roles. A choice had to be made, and the author did just that. I can't say how I would have liked it to go, but either way, I just wasn't feeling it.

All in all, I give Ms. Jones a thumbs up for creating a story. I know what hard work it can be and how difficult it is to get from A to B. This wasn't a bad story. Not by a long shot. I think a lot of people will really enjoy it, and I did like some of it (I finished it, didn't I?). I feel that the biggest issue with this book is not so much the storyline, but the editing(run-ons, drug instead of dragged, than instead of then and vice vera, and redundancy). If the book was cleaned up, it would make it run smoother and I allow the reader to focus more on the characters and less on the story's problems.


I'm giving this 3.5 stars and I'll say it's worth the read.

Review and Giveaway of CRUSH by Nicole Williams

Football glory. A giant diamond. A wandering eye.

Jude and Lucy are happily engaged . . . but that doesn't mean life's a bed of roses.

Once again, Jude and Lucy are torn apart by football training and a summer job that creates new tensions. This time Jude's the one with trust issues. Will Lucy's life-changing news bring them back together or end their relationship for good? Can love triumph forever?


The ending to a story that had me hook, line and sinker from the very beginning. I think this warrants a moment of silence to mourn the loss of Jude Ryder.....

Okay! So, now that I am fairly certain that Ms. Williams is completely finished turning my life upside down, I have to say, I really enjoyed this book. For those of you who haven't had a chance to read the Crash series, OMG! What the H-E-double hockey sticks are you waiting for?! Anyway, it's no secret that Jude and Lucy have had their fair share of problems along the way. They've practically run the full gamut as far as ulcer-inducing life-changing/affirming issues go, and all in a record amount of time for their youthful 21 years of life. 

A walk down memory lane, shall we? 

I recall that beautiful day when I *cough* I mean Lucy, met Jude on a sandy beach and and struck up an unlikely romance to last the ages. From there I experienced the ups and downs of a life of Jude, where dates were likely to be followed by police chases and saying thank you to the soda guy was likely to result in his face being punched in. Ah, yes, Jude Jude Jude, you stormy, fly-off the handle in love man you. 

We then saw these two love birds off to college, where Jude spent his time honing his worshipful body on the field while Lucy spun on her toes on the dance floor. I was right at her side, my claws out and hissing like a feral animal when she came to blows with the girl that sought to steal him away, and I was dying inside all those too-numerous-to-count times when they hit a crossroads and went their separate ways.  

This time around, well....not much has changed. Jude is still an incredibly attentive, affectionate, lovable, sexy, I'd-slay-dragons-for-you kind of guy, and Lucy is still the same infuriating girl who can't seem to decide which way is up in life. 

Jude has just been signed to play for the Chargers, but that means moving away, and Lucy is determined to finish her degree and dance, but that means staying put in NY. Of course there is bound to be drama! Now that Jude is filthy rich, he wants to give Lucy the world he never dreamed he could offer, but she doesn't want any of it. No jewels, no expensive houses, no flashy cars. She. Just. Wants. Jude. Gotta respect a girl who knows what she wants. But the problem with Lucy is that the only thing she knows for certain that she wants IS Jude. Everything else, well, I find myself wanting to tear my hair out right along with the man. I'm never sure whether to love her or hate her. One thing is for sure, she puts him through the wringer with all her uncertainty. 

All Jude wants is for Lucy to marry him, to which I shout a very enthusiastic YES! I DO! I DO! But alas, he only has eyes for Lucy. Her answer? Soon. >:() Come again? How does a woman who is head over heels in love with a man, who knows she has that same love in return, say soon? 

There was some mild rifting along the way involving another guy, that really wasn't much if you ask me, not if you pair it with all the other drama we've been subjected to in the past. This was a freaking cake walk! The only roadblocks I could see where those set up by Lucy herself. Fabricated by her nutty little mind and blown out of proportion. 

Without giving anything way, I was glued to my seat until the very end, and what a lovely, heartwarming moment it was. It was fitting and the only way I would have been satisfied at all, because, as a hopeless romantic, it's exactly what I was rooting for. If I had to be honest, I don't think Lucy has it in her to be exactly normal in the thinking/reasoning/self-less giving dept. as Jude is, but I think Jude has enough love and unending devotion to make up for her shortcomings. 

All in all, I laughed, I cried (in anger-no tears were shed in the reading of this novel), I grinned, I frowned, and I shook my head in disbelief. Finally, I sighed with that feel good emotion of having accomplished a great feat. It's over. It was beautiful. It was worth it. And I'm giving it 5 stars because JUDE GETS 5 STARS! And, even thought I know my husband will read this, I am joining all you fan girls out there when I say: 

I LOVE YOU, JUDE! 

 
                                                           Time for the giveaway!

I am giving away 1 ebook of Crush to 1 lucky winner. Entry is simple, just choose one (or all) options to gain entries. Giveaway is INTERNATIONAL as the prize will be delivered via email. Good luck!






 

Review of Seduced by Him by Elle Spencer

Contemporary Erotic Romance
Short Story

Kindle Edition, 28 pages

Published February 2013

ASIN B00BIUFNN0

Ansiley has it bad for her boss. He’s the man she’s thought of night after night as she’s handled her own sexual needs. When a rival of his sets his sights on her, Ansiley finds herself in the arms of her boss—who wants to not only protect her, but know every inch of her. She’s done wanting him from afar and takes his offer of more, but can she handle all he’s ready to give and all he wants? Will his seduction be enough to make her his?

Warning: Short story contains graphic sex told with frank language, an alpha male billionaire who takes what he wants and a woman all too willing to be seduced by him.


***3.5 stars!***

Ansiley has worked as Jeremy's assistant for almost a year and has been fantasizing about him for nearly as long. But as her boss, she knows her erotic thoughts have to remain just that, thoughts. Until one day, Jeremy catches her by surprise and asks her out to dinner and everything changes.

This is a short story, and I am okay with that. Seduced by You starts off strong with well-developed characters and a solid storyline. It doesn't take much convincing to see that Jeremy is an alpha male or that the attraction between these two will be explosive.

The author manages to add a creep factor into this story, which was excellent at first, but at one point turned me off from all the steam she had created. I found myself shaking my head, but at the same time, I was pleased with how Jeremy handled it--for, like, a second. And then he dropped the ball. The ending would have been perfectly fine with a promise for more, as well, but for me, the epilogue ruined it. Yes, everyone loves an HEA, but this one just felt forced. Too much too fast. I like natural progressions, and since there is a follow up to this story, I think the author could have progressed this relationship a bit more before taking this direction.

All in all, a good read with a lot of heat. I recommend this to anyone who like a quick, hot connection without a lot of fluff. 

Review~ Find You in the Dark by A. Meredith Walters

Maggie Young had the market on normal. Normal friends, normal parents, normal grades...normal life.

Until him.

Clayton Reed was running from his past and an army of personal demons that threatened to take him down. He never thought he had a chance at happiness.

Until her.

Maggie thought their love could overcome anything. Clay thought she was all he needed to fix his messy life.

That together, they could face the world.

But the darkness is always waiting.

Sometimes the greatest obstacle to true love is within yourself.

I wanted to give this five stars because it really was an intense book that wrenched my emotions, but it needs a little cleaning up (grammar, punctuation, missing words or letters of words, etc.), which pulled it down a bit for me.

Overall, this was probably one of the better reads I have checked out so far this year. It's gripping, poignant, and...well, beautiful. I loved the journey I took with Maggie and Clay. I was invested in their turmoil and really rooted for their success when it seemed that they had everything pushing against them. The author didn't try to sell a happily ever after, which I really appreciate, even though it broke my damn heart. But, she gave me hope, which is all I can ask.

This was a very honest portrayal of what it is like to go through the ups and downs of mental illness. Many times, I put myself in Maggie's shoes and I just can't say that I would have been able to do much different than she did. Love is a tricky thing and Miss Walters shows us all that sometimes, it just isn't enough.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed The Secret of Ella and Micha. If you remember the ending, should have an idea of the direction this story took and the feelings you were left with. In some ways, I think Find You in the Dark surpassed that, which, to me, is a good thing.

Review~Typist #1, Working for the Billionaire Novelist by Mimi Strong

Published: November 24, 2012
ASIN:  B00AD722WY
Length: 47 pages



Blurb:
Tori, a recent college graduate, is battling unemployment with odd jobs. Nothing's quite as odd as hiking up to a secluded cabin to work for a mysterious writer. Tori accepts the typist contract through a temp agency, and has no idea who the client is.

The man who opens the door is Smith Wittingham, a self-made billionaire who started in biotech and is now trying his hand at bestselling novels.

He's divorced, eccentric, and dead sexy.

Erotic Romance Series - contains EXPLICIT SEX, including some ROUGH SEX AND ROLEPLAYING. This is not a sweet romance. M/F, 18+.


Review: 
 
Overall, I liked this short story. It has a really good premise, which is what drew me in. The writing is pretty compelling, too. I took a liking to Tori right from the start and couldn't help laughing at her behavior when she encountered the "killer moose". I don't know anyone who would willingly head off into the wilderness, cut off from civilization as far as she knows, just for a healthy paycheck, however. But this is fantasy, and I am always willing to chuck reality for a bit so this didn't really bother me.

What did bother me was the all-consuming attraction she had to this author she finds herself working for. Smith is an ass, plain and simple, and yet she is willing to make an utter fool of herself for him. Granted, if you can look past his appalling behavior you might be able to lose yourself in their steamy encounters, but some of it made me grimace. I'm still undecided if I will read on. The writing is good, as I said, but this is a series of short stories, and I'm not much for bits and pieces when following the same couple, especially when one of them rubs me wrong--I want the whole thing! I am curious to see if Smith will redeem himself in the end, and that might be the deciding factor. Only time will tell.

 

Review of The Rock Star's Daughter by Caitlyn Duffy

Published: July 5, 2011
ASIN: B005BYPLPE
Length: 319 pages

Taylor's father is a famous rock star, and she has no clue who he is. Sure, she has seen him all over magazine covers and just about everyone she knows and has met loves his music, but as his daughter, she can count how many times they have met on one hand. All Taylor has is her mother, who suffers from addiction and isn't going to win any mother of the year awards anytime soon. Making the best of a bad situation, Taylor attends private school and focuses on her music, only coming home for the summer to reconnect with the life she really doesn't mind leaving behind. Then one day, all of that changes when her mom dies.

Suddenly, Taylor finds herself in the custody of the father she has never known with a mother who seems to resent her and a little sister who commands all the attention. With nowhere to go and no one to turn to, Taylor shrinks in on herself as she joins her new family on a summer-long tour across the country. Forced to deal with her father's fame and being tossed into the spotlight, Taylor hardly has time to grieve let alone get used to her new life. Along the way, she meets Jake, whose mother is a groupie, and learns love and heartache for the first time.

I liked this story. It wasn't great and it wasn't bad. It just was. Using the roller coaster example, the drama here was slow moving with small twists and turns and shallow peeks. It was pretty steady from start to finish.

I had high hopes when she met Jake. I was prepared for this whirlwind love affair that would inevitably crash and burn by tour end, but like the rest of the story, it never really went anywhere. I found it a little unbelievable that Taylor had fallen in love with the boy when they only had sporadic and sparse encounters over the weeks. As a teenager, I will say her love was probably more along the lines of infatuation and a love of the IDEA of him, which is pretty normal, but still. Where was the gut wrenching impact of first love?

I also found myself questioning Taylor's life goals often. She goes into this claiming how her love in life is playing the violin. By summer's end she is looking forward to a very difficult performance, but if she knocks it out of the park, she could get into very prestigious colleges. Naturally, her mother's death puts a wrench in her plans, but she practically forgot about music altogether. Plus, I didn't really see her crying herself to sleep each night and suffering from bouts of severe depression along the way, so I don't but that she wasn't able to focus on her studies like she should have been had it been that important to her. To me, it seemed like a side story that was forgotten about and severely underdeveloped.

By the end, I felt like everything had fallen a little flat. Granted, I did like how the author wrapped up some of the details, making them come full circle. The love I was looking for, and I think everyone was secretly hoping for, was hinted at, but that's about it. I really think a little more could have been said to make the ending a little happier and a lot more satisfying, but all in all it was okay. I would recommend this read for a lazy day as something to pass the time, but don't expect any teen angst or anything beyond a G rating.

Review of The Ex Who Wouldn't Die by Sally Berneathy

Author: Sally Berneathy
Date Published: April 17, 2012  
ASIN: B007V7UPUU

When Amanda's lying, cheating, scam-artist husband, Charley, saves her life in a near-fatal motorcycle accident, she can almost forgive him for dragging his feet on their divorce. Then she discovers he'd been dead for several hours at the time she thought he rescued her. And not just dead…murdered.

On the good side, at least they are no longer married.

But she's the primary suspect in Charley's murder and, as if that isn't bad enough, Charley's ghost shows up in her apartment. He was rejected, kicked back, not allowed to go into the light. The situation was bad enough when he was alive and trying to charm his way back into her life, but now he claims to be unable to go more than a few yards away from her. She can't even be certain he isn't peeking when she undresses for bed.

Even death did not them part.

As Amanda puts her life in danger in an effort to bring Charley's murderer to justice and send him into the light or the dark or anywhere away from her, she learns her knowledge of Charley's misdeeds is only the tip of a toxic iceberg. Charley blackmailed his murderer, blackmailed Amanda's father, lied about his family being dead when he is actually related to half the town of Silver Creek, Texas, and, with his treachery, has stirred up secrets that will change Amanda's life.


Where to begin....

The title is the first thing about this book that grabbed my attention. Who wouldn't love that?! And of course, the premise seemed promising. Still, I sat on it awhile. Boy am I ever slapping myself for that momentary lapse in judgement!

Amanda was charming. She knew what she wanted and she wasn't about to settle for anything less. And she wanted Charlie, her lying, cheating, no good scam artist of a husband dead. But then he died and while she was over the moon about that, she wasn't too crazy about the fact that she was being blamed for his murder or that the murderer had set his sights on her. Not to mention one pesky little detail: even in death, she couldn't rid herself of Charlie. 

"If he weren't already dead, she'd kill him. Rip his lying tongue out of his filthy mouth, cut off his arms and legs with a chainsaw, then shove his body into a wood chipper set on slow."

I found this to be a lighthearted, quirky little story that appeals to my more unconventional sense of humor. Shouldn't Amanda be upset that her husband has just died? Shouldn't she be mourning his loss, his memory, something? Heck no! That jerk put her through the mill and she's just wondering why the heck til death do us part is being clearly ignored by the big man upstairs! 

"Somehow, he's managed to cheat death. Not surprising. He'd cheated everybody else." 

I really enjoyed the "mystery" woven in, too. it wasn't overly complicated, just mysterious enough for me to form my own conclusions, but never providing enough evidence for me to be sure until closer to the end. Turns out I had it figured out about 50% through, but that didn't detract from the story--it was fun getting there. I will say that this story could benefit from a little more editing (partial sentences that should have been deleted, misplaced commas, etc.) but the story was solid enough for them not to bother me too much and they weren't enough for me to factor them into my rating. It's hard enough writing a story, and the work this author put in shows. I wouldn't dream of giving it anything less than a solid 5 stars. I will be keeping my eye out for #2 in the series! 

Feed your Kindle Purchase The Ex Who Wouldn't Die here. 

Review of Stitch by Samantha Durante

As you all know, I love to support authors, especially indie authors, which is why I am so excited to be a host on Stitch Blog Tour. We're kicking off this week with a review of Samantha Durante's Stitch, followed by an interview with the author herself on Wednesday and a super awesome giveaway Friday, so be sure to stick around! 

Author: Samantha Durante
Date Published: July 30, 2012
ASIN: B008RC3NAM


Her heart races, her muscles coil, and every impulse in Alessa's body screams at her to run... but yet she's powerless to move.

Still struggling to find her footing after the sudden death of her parents, the last thing college freshman Alessa has the strength to deal with is the inexplicable visceral pull drawing her to a handsome ghostly presence. In between grappling with exams and sorority soirees - and disturbing recurring dreams of being captive in a futuristic prison hell - Alessa is determined to unravel the mystery of the apparition who leaves her breathless. But the terrifying secret she uncovers will find her groping desperately through her nightmares for answers.

Because what Alessa hasn't figured out yet is that she's not really a student, the object of her obsession is no ghost, and her sneaking suspicions that something sinister is lurking behind the walls of her university's idyllic campus are only just scratching the surface...

The opening installment in a twist-laden trilogy, Stitch spans the genres of paranormal romance and dystopian sci-fi to explore the challenges of a society in transition, where morality, vision, and pragmatism collide leaving the average citizen to suffer the results.

*Samantha was kind enough to provide me with a copy of Stitch in exchange for my fair and honest review, so here it is. Enjoy!  

I hardly ever read a synopsis, and when I do, I promptly forget it and just know that I wanted to read it and so I do. With Stitch all I knew was that it had a ghost story involved, and that was enough to hook me. Initially, when I started reading, I was captured by the vivid descriptions and laid back style of writing. That element remained constant throughout the book, but I still struggled a bit with keeping truly involved in the storyline. It was just that the plot had a tendency to drag a bit, but it delivered just enough sightings of the "ghost" to keep me intrigued. Then, at about 1/3 of the way through, everything just clicked. The only way I can describe it would be a train starting up. From a dead stop, it almost seems to take forever to get going, but then it starts to build up momentum and before you know it, you're speeding down the tracks. The thing of it is, if you have patience, you'll appreciate the beginning so much more. It's like a slow build up to something bigger and grander than you ever expected.

The author has clearly spent a lot of time doing extensive research into the paranormal and physics, because I certainly felt like I learned something reading this story. And while it was an original plot, I can also see where she might have drawn some of her influence. Stitch has a mash-up of Hunger Games meets Quantum Leap meets Somewhere in Time meets....something else (give me a minute to think of it...). Oh well, I think you know where I am going with this. The point is, it has a little of everything that we may have seen in other books, movies, tv shows, but it holds its own in an entirely unique way. Stitch has so much going on, I dare anyone to be bored or turned off by it. It gives you a bit of everything: paranormal, romance, suspense, conspiracy, and stuffs it all into a neat little package and wraps it in dystopian paper. Sounds pretty, right? It is.

I honestly didn't know if I would like this book going in--It's my first dystopian, after all--but I had high hopes for it. What I can tell you now is that it won't be my last. In fact, the next dystopian I pick up will probably be Stitch's sequel because I want to see what happens to these characters. I'm invested in their world now! I encourage anyone who hasn't tried dystopian before to give it a shot, starting with Stitch. It has the right balance of everything you probably already read to ease you into the genre, which is exactly what I need when trying something new. I don't think you could possibly be disappointed.

Can't wait to check it out? You can download the first five (5) chapters here!

Stitch sports a 4.5/5 star overall rating and is available on Amazon.

Review of Wide Awake-Academy of the Fallen Series by Daniele Lanzarotta

Author: Daniele Lanzarotta

Date Published: May 25, 2011

Publisher: Rocket Science Productions

ASIN: B0052TMTE4

 

 

Kayla is a 16-year-old girl who was adopted when she was little. She lives a normal life, with great friends, loving adoptive parents, and well... a not-so-great boyfriend. But the reason why she was given up for adoption was far from any usual reason. She was meant to be kept away from the Academy and anything else related to the supernatural beings that could hurt her.

Unfortunately for Kayla, it was only a matter of time before she encountered the creatures from the Otherworld, and there is just no running away from the beings that she can now see.

In trying to protect Kayla by keeping her away from the Academy, she may have just been put in even more danger.

This is one of those stories that I had a lot of hopes for, and it just didn't deliver to my expectations. The story started off good, and the characters were well-developed. I hated her boyfriend from the second he pulled her aside at the museum, and I loved Kayla what she jumped to cut him off at the pass. The girl has guts. Only, when she starts being followed by "ghosts," not so much.

The whole story started off with this creepy vibe, and the fact that Kayla is haunted really made me want to stick with it. Add to that the outcast hero, Hunter, who holds a considerable amount of mystery himself, and the story moved along in the same direction any teenage romance would, which is good. However, for all we do learn about what is really going on, we are left in the dark on so much more. What is the secret surrounding Hunter, exactly? That is the biggest question for me, and I feel like I was running around in circles, close but never able to figure it out. And there were other things I took issue with.

One problem for me was the considerable amount of typos and grammatical errors. No book is perfect, and I have made this clear in any review I have ever written where I run into this problem. Only if they are plentiful does it ever really bother me. Fact is, I was surprised that the author had an editor or was even traditionally published. The language the characters used was not how people really talk. There was a huge lack of contractions, which would have made it so much easier to read instead of jerky as it was. Punctuation was also a major problem, which affected readability. Finally, the so called cliffhanger was weak. Instead of, say, revealing Hunter's secret, we were left with *SPOILER ALERT* a confession that he "might" be in love with Kayla. Somehow, that is just not enough make me desperate to find out what happens next, which is disappointing, because I really wanted to love this story. I don't know if I will be reading the next in the series yet, but if I do, it will be somewhere down the line. I'm in no hurry. This is a good YA book for a rainy day.

Wide Awake has a 4.8/5 star overall rating and is available on Amazon. 

Review of Lawful Escort by Tina Folsom

Lawful Escort is a sexy contemporary romance

When Daniel has to travel to San Francisco and needs an escort for a social event, the beautiful Sabrina shows up on his doorstep. Little does he know that she's not an escort. Their encounter quickly turns steamy until lies threaten to destroy their passionate affair.

This book opened like another book I have read before (Fifty Shades, anyone?)where the best friend/roommate falls ill and suckers her wholesome friend into substituting for her, only this time it isn't an interview she'll be going for.

I instantly liked Daniel. Who wouldn't? The man was completely betrayed by his girlfriend and lawyer from the opening chapter. Not that it ruined his week or anything. Daniel is clearly a workaholic and wasn't all that emotionally attached anyway, making you wonder, was it just that he was emotionally unavailable in general, or was it just that the right woman hadn't come along yet to sweep him off his feet? (Yes, I think men should be swept off their feet too sometimes!)

I also took an instant liking to Sabrina. She was, as I said, wholesome, yet vibrant and successful and well, the perfect fit for Daniel if you ask me. So when these two finally met, I was rooting for their success. Of course, Daniel doesn't know she isn't an escort and since she is a stand-in for her friend, Holly, he doesn't actually know her name either. All this confusion makes for a messy romance that is as passionate as it is nerve wracking. You never know how either one is going to react when the faced with the truth!

The affair turns to love in about two days. Yes, two days! Only, unlike in a lot of stories I read, it was totally and completely believable. I found myself stopping to count them out just to be sure. The two were so connected that I actually felt like they had been together for weeks. Color me surprised! The author did a fantastic job weaving two characters and their lives together in such a short amount of time that it's almost mind-blowing. Definitely a book that sucks you in and a worthwhile read!

Lawful Escort boasts a 4.3/5 star overall rating and is available on Amazon FREE! Can't pass up a deal like that, can you?

Review of Down to You by M. Leighton

Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance- Please be advised that this book is NOT YA friendly, not even in a New Adult category!

The scorching tale of one girl, two brothers and a love triangle…that’s not.

Olivia Townsend is nothing special. She’s just a girl working her way through college so she can return home to help her father run his business. She’s determined not to be the second woman in his life to abandon him, even if it means putting her own life on hold. To Olivia, it’s clear what she must do. Plain and simple. Black and white.

But clear becomes complicated when she meets Cash and Nash Davenport. They’re brothers. Twins.
Cash is everything she’s always wanted in a guy. He’s a dangerous, sexy bad boy who wants her in his bed at any cost. He turns her insides to mush and, with just one kiss, makes her forget why he’s no good for her.

Nash is everything she’s ever needed in a guy. He’s successful, responsible and intensely passionate. But he’s taken. Very taken, by none other than Marissa, Liv’s rich, beautiful cousin. That doesn’t stop Olivia from melting every time he looks at her, though. With just one touch, he makes her forget why they can never be together.

Black and white turns to shades of gray when Olivia discovers the boys are hiding something, something that should make her run as far and as fast as she can. But it’s too late to run. Olivia’s already involved. And in love. With both of them.

Both brothers make her heart tremble. Both brothers set her body on fire.

She wants them both.

And they want her.

How will she ever choose between them?

Yes, How will she ever choose?!

Wow, okay. The first book I read from this author was The Wild Ones and it was so good, I snatched this one up right after. Lord, even better! Is that even possible? Apparently so. Let me just say, this book is hilarious. I think I spent the first half grinning like a freaking loon, and once, I laughed outright. I couldn't help it. There is no shortage of painfully awkward yet wildly humorous moments.

The characters:

Cash is, like...words fail me he is so hot. And his brother, Nash....yeah, just wow. How is a girl to choose? Unfortunately, that's just what Olivia has to do. Gorgeous bad boy or his equally gorgeous brother who is seemingly the total package. There's just one catch, he's taken. Or is he?

This story has a wicked twist that I honestly didn't see coming until about 70% through. I think it has something to do with the blinding wall of male testosterone and raging female hormones that clouded my judgment until it was too late to turn back. Hey, at least I am being honest here. I don't envy Olivia's situation. Okay, I do. I totally do. I know I probably come off as some gushing teenager, so I will leave you with this: I have no complaints. None. The story is well-developed, the characters are delightful, delicious, and dangerous for your mental health (but in a good way!), and you really can't afford NOT to read it. I don't even know why you are still reading this. Go get the book! 

Down to You is available for purchase on Amazon!

Review of Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

No one knows what happened the night Echo Emerson went from popular girl with jock boyfriend to gossiped-about outsider with "freaky" scars on her arms. Even Echo can't remember the whole truth of that horrible night. All she knows is that she wants everything to go back to normal.But when Noah Hutchins, the smoking-hot, girl-using loner in the black leather jacket, explodes into her life with his tough attitude and surprising understanding, Echo's world shifts in ways she could never have imagined. They should have nothing in common. And with the secrets they both keep, being together is pretty much impossible.

Yet the crazy attraction between them refuses to go away. And Echo has to ask herself just how far they can push the limits and what she'll risk for the one guy who might teach her how to love again.

***

 Echo's lack of memory is a pretty good indicator of exactly how traumatic her attack was. The author never made any secret of who did it and from the bits of history we are provided with, you can pretty much form an accurate picture of why it happened. I was appalled at the high school dramatics surrounding Echo, the fact that the people who were supposed to care so much about her--her friends and her boyfriend--were all talk, with the exception of one. Basically, when the going got tough, they hit the road and left her to deal with her issues alone. Her ex boyfriend played some game where he wanted her back, but he didn't. When Echo played the game right, it was worth his while to be with her again, but when he saw her scars, he couldn't handle it.

Noah Hutchins has his own drama to deal with since his parents died in a terrible fire and left him and his brothers to fend for themselves in foster care. Separated by the state, Noah has experienced nothing but abuse and poverty, and so he can't wait to turn eighteen so he can rescue his brothers, but he has a long way to go himself. Seeing the same school counselor as Echo, he finds himself dropped into her lap as she is hired to tutor him. Their connection pretty much fails right off the bat, but when Noah realizes their friendship can benefit them both if they work together, they form a loose connection.

I was pleased to see how these two came together. It was slow and methodical, neither one wanting to become too involved with the other and yet it crept up on them anyway. Both holding onto their secrets, Noah doesn't really think past the moment when it comes to Echo, he just focused on his brothers and one day becoming a family again, while Echo is struggling to keep herself from falling apart mentally as she is subjected to counseling sessions that threaten to break her last shred of sanity. If anyone was pushing the limits here, it was definitely Echo. Noah was the glue that held her together. The story was perfect for a teen romance. It was the definition of how far people will go to protect those they love, and how blind a person can be when that love it reflected back at them.

I really enjoyed this story, and the high praise reviews pretty much say it all.

 Pushing the Limits is rated 4.6/5 and is available on Amazon.

Review of Clash by Nicole Williams

In the second installment of the Jude and Lucy love story we find the two lovebirds firmly set in their respective colleges, fully in love and trying their darnedest to make it all work. Until Jude gets a "Spirit Sister" from hell and everything takes a nose dive.

Let me just say, I LOVED Crash and I had no idea when or if there would be a follow up, so when I decided to do a search and see if Miss Williams had anything for me to read, I nearly fell over myself with glee! I may have even squeed a little. Okay, I did. Clash was everything I could have imagined it to be and then some. It was filled with angst (so much angst!) and love and despair and devotion and Jude (OMG, Jude!). I felt like a teenager again reading this. The writing is perfect for drawing the reader in and getting them good and lost, so warn your family, it's a fend for yourself kind of night 'cause once you pick this baby up you're not going to want to put it down!

Okay, enough gushing.

So Lucy is convinced that she and Jude are going to make it, in spite of his tendency to go into raging fits at the drop of a hat (seriously, if he ever dropped his hat, he'd probably flip). But she's got this! She knows Jude and she knows how to bring him down and balance him out. Or does she?

Enter the evil, maniacal, cheerleader from hell, Adriana, a.k.a. Jude's Spirit Sister. Adriana is everything a man could ever want in a girl. She'll wash his clothes, clean his personal space, do just about anything he wants (and I mean ANYTHING), and she's hot to boot. Plus, she isn't opposed to swiping another girl's man out from under her. And she's got her sights firmly set on Jude and she's making it known. Now, Lucy isn't so sure she can trust her boyfriend who lives four hours away and is in constant contact with her new arch nemesis. Plagued with insecurity and it threatens to ruin everything. Can she trust Jude? Can she trust that their love is enough to pull them through anything? Or will she lose him, because, let's face it, love isn't always enough and with their history it's pretty much doomed. Right?

I'll just say this: The beginning was entertaining, fun, and sexy. The middle was nerve wracking, tension building, make-you-wanna-pound-a-fictional-character-in-the-face mess of hatred and anger, and the ending was chock full of happiness and daydreams of more happiness. Williams doesn't paint a pretty picture in the roses and sunshine kind of way. Instead, she takes an honest approach that, although life can be gritty and difficult to find your way through, with love in your heart and the right person at your side, you'll get through almost anything. I love it, and I love her writing, and I love this book! What more can I say?

Oh, yeah, go buy this thing!

Clash is available on Amazon 

And if you haven't read the first book, you can pick it up here.

Review of Touch If You Dare by Stephanie Rowe

 

 

After 150 years, Jarvis has finally managed to escape the Den where he and his friends have suffered unspeakable horrors. His time there has left him emotionally scarred and untrusting of all women. The keeper of Hate, Jarvis is on borrowed time. As Hate consumes him, he must find locate his brother, the keeper of Love before he explodes, unleashing his gift on an unsuspecting world.

Reina works for the one and only Death. After losing every member of her family except one sister who is due to suffer the same fate at any moment. Her only hope of saving her sister is to get a promotion and to do that, she has an assignment to kill. The only problem is that Reina is a lover not a killer, but she will do what must be done if it means saving the person she loves. She just needs a little help from a certain woman hating warrior.

There was so much going on in this story, from Napoleon, Death's grandfather seeking to find his wife who has been kidnapped, to Death who is seeking to pull off the ultimate money making scheme in the history of reaping. Reina's mission to save her sister, Jarvis's mission to find his brother and save the world, his brother's journey to find a new purpose in life. We met the king of orgasms, and the ultimate assassin who has lost his own passion for the kill. Each was interesting in their own right, but I think they were deserving of their own story. Instead, they detracted from the main story line and Jarvis and Reina's journey to save the people they loved while finding their love for each other.

A perfect example of this would be Death. He is a huge womanizer and egotist, but he is also the most likeable, interesting and complex character. More than anything, I would have liked to learn more about him and what makes him tick. I hope there will be a book in the future that focuses on him. Overall, characters like this overshadowed the main characters, in my opinion.

When I first started reading this series, I loved the humor, and this one offered more of the same. However, as I said before, there was a lot going on. I had to juggle a lot of information, names, and places and sometimes it was difficult to keep everything straight. I love that the men each have their own unique coping mechanism, and for Jarvis that was hair. That alone lends a lightness to the story and at times created intimacy.

The execution was decent, the plot was solid and enjoyable. I really liked the struggle each character went through to reach their destiny. What I hated was the ridiculous amount of errors. This is a traditionally published novel? I would have thought indie considering the enormous amount of missing, added, and misspelled words that riddled each and every page from beginning to end. It was shocking really. With the way it stands, I would be surprised if this even went through the editing process at all. For me, it was distracting, sometimes even confusing and it interfered with the reading process significantly.

Aside from all that, this really is a decent book and a worthwhile read. The author clearly put a lot of thought into it and I can appreciate that. For all the problems, I will still pick up the next book in the series and recommend it to those who like a good paranormal romance with likeable, if not loveable characters and intricate plot lines. The humor alone makes me want to come back for more. 

Want to read it? Pick up Touch If You Dare here.

Review of A Family Affair by Mary Campisi

Published: February 15, 2011
Publisher: Mary Campisi
ASIN: B004OL2OKK

Christine Blasksworth's father died on a stretch of icy road he had traveled hundreds of times, leaving her family at a loss. Upon the reading of his will, she finds that there may be more to his trips than originally thought. Deciding to do a little investigating of her own, Christine finds herself in Magdalena, New York, face-to-face with his dirty little secret: another woman and an illegitimate child. Naturally, she is furious, with the woman, the child, her father. Then, as she starts to learn more about this family and the small town they live in, she starts to wonder: who was the real family, hers, or theirs?

This one really caught me off guard. I loved the premise, which is what brought me to read it, and when I opened it, I can't say that I was sucked right in, but I wanted to see where it was going and how it would all play out. Plus, the writing was solid, the characters well-developed and each with a distinct personality that I found intriguing.

Once I got into it, I discovered a story that was heartfelt. The author has a way of telling something seemingly so simple, but infusing each moment with passion, tenderness, and a caring so deep that it had me a little choked up at times. I could see it, feel it, and that is what really makes a story shine at the end of the day. I wanted to hate the father, but in the end, could only see it from a perspective of, if not right, then not totally wrong either. I could sense the struggle of all parties involved to live the life they had, surrounded by lies and treachery, but bound by love, devotion, and duty. The ending wasn't neat and tidy, cleaning up all the loose ends, and I felt that it was more true to life that way. Not everything could be wrapped up and smoothed overnight. It would take work, but for the moment, with the way it did end, it left me with the feeling that things were falling into place and that, no matter what Christine had to face tomorrow, she had found her slice of happiness that her father had been struggling to obtain, without all the messy strings and unanswered questions.

A Family Affair can be purchase, for FREE, on Amazon Kindle here.

Review of Crash by Nicole Williams

Published: July 18, 2012
Publisher: Nicole Williams
ASIN:B008N0LUE4


Lucy lived her life surrounded by a loving family, wealth and promise, until the day her brother was murdered. From that day on, her happy world began to unravel. Her father lost his job, his mind slipping from reality, her mother turned to work and directed her anger at every person who crossed her path, and Lucy searched for creatures she could fix, making the last five years something of a pitiful nightmare. The only thing Lucy has left is her dancing and the dream of being accepted into the prestigious Julliard.

Then she meets Jude Ryder. Tall, athletic with a killer smile and endless charm, Lucy recognizes right away that he is everything she should be avoiding. He's a heart breaker, a smooth talker and has a rap sheet longer than her arm, but she finds that, although her gut is telling her to steer clear, her heart is jogging to keep up.

Wow, but this book was a real page turner. It kept me up way past my bedtime and when it was clear that sleep was imperative, I took the needed break, then was right back at it this morning. I simply couldn't out it down. Simple writing, but highly engaging and compelling. Miss Williams has created fantastic characters with strong personalities and a lot of depth. Jude was that dark and tortured boy with an equally dark and tortured past. His default was anger, to the point of self-destruction that was cringe worthy at times and a little frightening, forcing me to ask, what would I do in Lucy's situation? Even when I thought, enough is enough, this boy is too damaged to pursue without risking personal harm, I still couldn't walk away any more than Lucy could. He's exactly the type of character that gives you just enough of his softer side to know there is one and that he is redeemable if he would just let someone in, and that, along with a host of other reasons, makes him swoon worthy in my book. I have only read a few books with characters that moved me like Jude did, and if I had to compare one that he gave a good run for his money, it would be Patch from Hush, Hush.

Lucy, for all the crap she's been through, was remarkably balanced. Although she intended to step lightly with Jude, as any teenager would do, she always ended up stomping and stumbling through all her well intentioned safeguards. She was relatable and likeable and that is an important quality, especially in a first person novel.

I am thrilled to have had the pleasure of reading this and know that the characters will be with me for a while. Overlooking small editing issues, I feel this is a well deserved 5 stars, and I would recommend it anyone who likes a Ya novel (recommended for 18+ due to some strong language) with plenty of romance, heartache, and deception.

Crash is Available on Amazon Kindle here.

Review of J. R. Ward's The Player

Published: May 29,2012
Publisher: HQN Books
ASIN: B007JJSO8U

Ruthless might as well be Gray Bennett's middle name. When the renowned Washington, D.C., insider talks, powerful people listen. But Gray hasn't come home to Saranac Lake to play politics. Or play at all. A tragedy has shaken the unshakable Gray Bennett to his hardened core.

And so has the most unlikely of women.

The mousy redhead who used to run around the Moorehouse B and B—the one he never noticed—is now all fiery hair and lush curves. But sweet Joy Moorehouse is too innocent for a cynic like him. So Gray won't let himself lay a hand on her…until the night he can no longer resist the woman she has become. That's when he discovers a secret that leaves him gasping for breath—and wanting more.

Right out of the starting gate, I liked these characters. Each one has that strong, unique voice I have come to expect in Ward's characters. Gray was powerful, fierce, and commanding, and yet he had that soft under layer that lets you know that he isn't a bad person, but maybe just following down the wrong path. Joy is the type of woman who is caring and thoughtful and gives a lot of herself, probably too much, even at the expense of her own happiness. She has been in love with Gray for years but doesn't really consider herself in his league, not to mention that everyone and their mother seems to be warning her to stay away for her own good.

The story itself was well-written. It had tragedy and sorrow and enough misunderstandings to try a saint's patience. As much as I liked the overall storyline, I was annoyed with Joy and her absolute need to respond to Gray when it seemed to me that, although he had his redeeming qualities, she didn't know that and should have dropped him on his ass, hard...several times. I think what really bothered me about the story, however, isn't all the wishy washy stuff, but the ending.

I have grown somewhat accustomed to the type of endings Ward gives in her BDB and Fallen Angels series that leave me wanting so much more and ready to throw myself over a cliff to get it, that this one left me saying "Huh? Really?" Originality clearly wasn't the name of the game here. Instead, the ending was completely cliched. I can't count how many times this scenario has played out in movies and TV shows where...

*SPOILER ALERT*

...the hero defies death, leaping onto the back of a fast moving train to get to his lady love and plead for her forgiveness, followed up by the spilling of his guts then the down on one knee proposal of which, if she doesn't accept, the lady behind her happily will.

Needless to say, this one fell flat for me. Instead of finishing strong, it took the easy way out. I still love Ward, but I don't know if I will venture into her traditional romance novels again.

Oh, who am I kidding, of course I will! It's J.R. Ward for crying out loud!

 Pick up your copy on Amazon here.

Through the Shadows by Gloria Teague

Published: April 1, 2012
ASIN: B007QFRA4Q
Genre: Paranormal Romance




Tori is a fledgling writer looking for her big break. She has poured her heart and soul into creating her fictional worlds, but has a special place in her heart for her character Avery, a womanizing cad that she can't help but love. Due to her dedication and complete lack of ability to nurture her real life relationships, Tori experiences a painful divorce. But no matter how alone Tori may feel, she is anything but, for the very man who is the source of her ruin is about to become her salvation.

I had high hopes for this story. The description drew me right in, but it was clear from the get-go that it was going to be a tough read. There was just too much wrong to dismiss.

Despite what the description says about Tori's husband being jealous of the character she had created in her book, I didn't get that impression. I'm not even sure it was mentioned, actually. I'm not positive on the time frame, but I am fairly certain it's been about five years since the divorce and all I get from Tori is that she suffers from extensive writer's block, not that she is aching over love lost. But when her ex calls her up out of the blue, which bothered me immensely (why would he call her?), to inform her that he was remarrying and about to become a father, I just found it out of place and a convenient excuse to push her into depression and to further Avery's transition into reality.

Another problem is Avery's existence. It is only (somewhat) explained nearest the end. I gathered that Tori has been working on this novel for ages, and he has been watching her for nearly as long through dreamscapes and such. So just how long has this been going on, and why?

Tori fell pretty flat to me. I actually didn't like her much. I found her to be pretty annoying with her constant self-talk and mental jabbering. I understand that she was alone in her world and all that, but it became more an annoyance than an endearment. Her interaction with her mother were very unrealistic to me, and had she used the term "mommy" I wouldn't have been surprised. Thankfully, she did not. Also, her relationship with her agent was kind of strange and didn't strike me as deeply as it was meant to.

Tori's insistence that her mother and agent not interfere in her love life was also a source of aggravation. The two women were like twenty-somethings running around having drinks and scoping the scene for men, and the minute they decide it's time to set Tori up, she complies without argument. The date she is set up on is actually pretty nice and I got a warm feeling from Roger (the date). He seemed pleasant and charming and genuinely interested in getting to know Tori, but by the second date, he has done a complete 360 and was crude and bordering on being a rapist. It was almost like a snap decision had been made here. As if the author wanted to shake up the storyline to achieve the ending she was going for, rather than take the longer, more logical route and have Roger become a possible love interest that Avery would have to contend with. To me, it just didn't work well.


The only attachment I held to any character was Avery, which was actually quite well-developed and likeable. The writing here was descriptive and the thoughts and feelings Avery conveyed made him come alive in a way that none of the other characters did. Unfortunately, these qualities made Avery's part a bit of a departure from the rest of the story, almost like there were two stories smooshed together. The writing styles were so different, they just didn't mesh.

Overall, this could have been much better. The idea was great, the execution needs some work. I was trudging through the first quarter of the book, and the only thing that really held my attention was Avery's portion. However, the many questions this left me with and some of the unexplained things that I've already mentioned, really hurt my opinion of it. I give this story three stars because I appreciate the effort that went into it, and it isn't an altogether bad story. The problem is that, even though I think I understand what the author was shooting for, I shouldn't have to interpret it. It should be fairly plain and straightforward to avoid guessing games.

 Through the Shadows can be found on Amazon for $2.99 here.