Twisting Minds One Word At A Time...: relationships

Showing posts with label relationships. Show all posts

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

It's Here! It's Here! It's Finally Here!

Cue the trumpets! That First Kiss is now available for your reading pleasure!!

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DGI5VDE

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/that-first-kiss-jc-valentine/1115527095?ean=2940016736709&itm=1&usri=2940016736709

Kobo: http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/That-First-Kiss/book-wilkZaze2kit-WURvPV9Ag/page1.html?s=zVLOv9EBu0WpNW0JU0bRdg&r=1

I can't tell you how thankful I am that not only do I have the most amazing job, but that I have had the support and backing of so many amazing people. You know who you are (some of you are listed below), and I love you!

That First Kiss has been kicking ass in its early review stages, and I want it to kick even more ass now that it's in your hands. I hope you'll help me do that. And as a way of saying thank you, I am giving away something special: the very first That First Kiss key chain! There are only 2 in existence, and one of them is mine. After this, I break the mold. That makes it exclusive to you!

I am going to make this super simple. One winner will be chosen for this prize and the easiest way I can think to do that is via Rafflecopter. (Due to shipping costs, I'm sorry to say that this is is NOT an international giveaway. Sorry!).

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Now, this is a blog hop blitz to celebrate release day. We have 33 AMAZING authors participating featuring reviews, cover reveals and a giveaway. Please stop by and show them your support and thanks!

Here is a full list of stops for you to visit:

Saturday, June 15, 2013

Sneak Peek Saturday ~Untitled Night Calls 3 (WIP)

I am back with an excerpt of the newest book in the Night Calls series that won't release until sometime later this year. And I'm still keeping the guy a secret. But you can put his face together in your mind's eye with this little snippet :)

I've also added a photo of a hot guy to appease you...Enjoy!

“Shit, are you okay?” The sound of a man’s voice penetrated the fog as Patti lifted her head and touched her fingers to her swollen mouth. They came back red and, seeing the damage, the man’s eyes rounded and he wrenched her door open. He was in her face before she could blink an eye. “Here, let me take a look.”

Dazed, all Patti could manage to do was stare at the beautiful stranger kneeling before her. As he inspected her face, she soaked in every detail of his. His eyes were a gorgeous shade of aqua framed by thick, dark lashes. Short, dark hair made even darker by hair product teased his forehead, which was currently marred by tiny furrows. She could feel the tension radiating off of him and she could see it in the firm set of his smooth, square jaw and the tight line of his very full, very kissable lips.

“Can you hear me?” he was saying. Patti blinked away the fog as best she could and realized he had turned those intense blue eyes on her. “Do you know where you are?”

“In my car,” she answered smartly as the last few moments began to return to her.

His head tipped forward once in agreement. “How many fingers am I holding up?” He flashed two so she said four. His eyes grew wider.

“I’m just fucking with you. Two,” she said as she struggled to adjust in her seat. As it turned out, the driver’s side of a car was only meant for one body at a time. With some annoyance, Patti placed her hands on his very nice, very wide shoulders, and firmly but politely shoved him away from her vehicle.

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Teaser Tuesday ~ Forever Too Far by Abbi Glines

I hope we have a few Abbi Glines fans out there today, because I couldn't resist sharing a bit of Rush and Blaire this morning. The adorable father-to-be is, well, adorable in her final installment of the Forever series, and I must say, I am sad to see it go. Here's a little taste of the sweetness between this young couple. Enjoy!

****

"I can stay awake," she assured me and turned her chest toward mine.

It was tempting but I knew her body needed rest. I pressed a kiss to her nose. "I'm sure you could, sweet Blaire. But right now all I want to do is massage your feet and calves while you relax and fall asleep."

Her eyes got that pleased glow. "Oh, would you? They feel so stiff after the flight."

"Go lay your head on the pillow and I'll get rid of tehse shoes, which by the way, are not exactly good walking footwear for a pregnant woman. You should have worn tennis shoes, not heels."

Blaire yawned again and settled back on the pillow with a sigh. "I know. I just didn't want to arrive at LAX looking frumpy."

She could never look frumpy. "That would be impossible."

Monday, August 27, 2012

Review of Shaken (Mind Reader Series #1) by Susan Hatler

Kylie is just your average girl trying to maintain her perfect GPA, crushing on the one boy she can even talk to without suffering metal distress, and being a good friend. Raised by her father after mother died when she was four, Kylie in under the assumption that this is as bad as her life can get, until she opens the door one morning and can suddenly read minds. Now, Kylie is privy to all kinds of information she wasn't meant to know, which doesn't make life as easy as one might think.

While trying to get a handle on her new ability, Kylie is drawn into a kidnapping mystery that only she can solve. Her father is telling lies, and the detective's cousin, Trip Williams, is hot on the case, digging up information that wasn't meant to be found, and Kylie finds herself right in the middle of it all. Suddenly, the life she thought she knew is turns upside down, and Kylie learns that not everything in life is black and white.

I didn't know what to expect when I picked this book up, but I had a good feeling about it. I ended up really liking it. From the first page I could tell it was solid writing and the tone was just right, making the characters likeable and about as true to life as you are going to get with a paranormal novel. I was never sure how Kylie's ability was going to play out--how much trouble would it get her into, who the kidnappers were, what her father was keeping from her, etc. The plot was really good and well thought out, and it held my attention all the way to the end.

The only thing that kept me from giving it a solid five stars was the predictability and how long it took the character, Kylie, to catch up to where I already was. Once I figured out something fairly obvious and self-explanatory, it took her a page or two more to make the same connections, which just made her appear slow. Other than that, I had no problems with anything. There were even some surprises toward the end that I couldn't have predicted--ever--because the information was never given until that point, and even then, it was played out well, which I really enjoyed.

I am glad this is a series, because I plan to find out what happens between all these characters. I want justice! I want in your face confrontations, and most of all, I want love.

Shaken has a 4.9/5 star rating. You can pick up your copy here.

Sunday, July 29, 2012

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.

Friday, July 13, 2012

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.

Monday, June 18, 2012

Review of Enemies and Playmates by Darcia Helle

Title: Enemies and Playmates
Published: June 8, 2009
ASIN:B002ECEKBW
Genre: Romantic Suspense

Lauren Covington leads the perfect life, with the perfect parents. They live in the perfect house in the perfect neighborhood with great friends. Perfect. Only it's all a perfectly crafted lie to hide what happens behind closed doors.

Alex Convington, Lauren's father, is a brutal man who rules with an iron fist. He has everyone under his control. His family lives in fear of his wrath. Her mother suffers constant physical abuse at his hand, her brother suffers from severe mental abuse that is leading him down a path of self-destruction, and Lauren has lost the ability to trust men.

Then Lauren meets Jesse. He is everything she could ever dream of in the perfect guy: strong, tall, handsome, confident. And it scares the hell out of her. An instant, mutual attraction that quickly turns to love brings them together, but her father threatens to tear them apart.

Jesse, who once worked for Alex Covington, no longer wants to do his bidding. He's called it quits, but Alex doesn't let go of his possessions easily. Alex wants Jesse on his side, and if he can't have him, then Jesse would best serve him buried six feet under. Now, Jesse has to find a way to bring Alex's reign of terror down before he finds himself on the wrong side of a bullet.

This story moved at a steady pace, but felt a bit too long for me. I think it could have been condensed and been all the better for it. The main thing that kept me reading was the desire to see Alex Covington pay for his crimes. He was a deliciously detestable character, and probably the most interesting one, aside from his son.

I found Jesse to be a pretty strong voice, too, but the constant idiocy in which he just seemed to "forget" to watch his back, even though he knew full well Conington's men were out to kill him, had me shaking me head numerous times. Jesse constantly walked into glaringly dangerous situations as if he had no sense of self-preservation, got his butt handed to him and walked into a similar situation before the bruises even had a chance to heal. Similarly, Lauren kept putting herself in her father's path, thinking that, although he had beaten his wife right in from of her, slapped her brother around and berated him into a truly sad outcome, and she knew he had people knocked off before, that she was somehow beyond his wrath. How blind could she possibly be?

I finished this story because it does have that illusive something that keeps you wanting to know what happens next. Granted, it takes awhile to get there, but eventually it does. I found the entire scheme Jesse cooked up to be solid and, sometimes, brilliant, but, as I said, it took far too long to get there. The sheer intricacy of the plot, how many people were involved, the lengths they went to to cover their tracks, was definitely well thought out, which is something I can very much appreciate.

Overall, this was a decent read. I would recommend it for those who like a smidgen of romance heaped with a whole lot of sinister and a sprinkling of melancholy.

Playmates and Enemies is currently available for purchase on Amazon for FREE.

Monday, June 11, 2012

Review of Sin Undone by Larissa Ione

Another winner! If you haven't tried the Demonica series yet, you don't know what you're missing! Here is a rundown of the 6th book in what I consider to be a fantastic series.

Due to some fluke of her breeding, Sin is the first--and only--Seminus demon to be born female. Like her brother, Lore, she has lead a harsh life full of hurt, sorrow, and loneliness. Her mother didn't love her, her grandparents died, and her brother left, convincing Sin that eventually, everyone leaves. Stealing herself against all emotions, she never lets anyone get close enough to hurt her. After falling victim to the demon world and her Seminus blood, Sin eventually finds herself playing the role of assassin. And she's good. Maybe too good.

Part of an anomaly, Sin is capable of infecting her victims with a disease unique to them, but after a hit gone bad, Sin finds out that the infection she spread has gone out of control, and now the entire warg population is in danger of extinction. Now, the Council is out to get her, her assassins want her dead, and the world is about to go to pot.

Con, a half-vampire, half-werewolf, had been put in a precarious situation. After a recent hook-up with Sin, he finds out that she is not only the sister to some of the most powerful Seminus demons he knows, but is also the cause of the deadly plague wiping out his friends and family. When he is charged with bringing her in for judgement, and probable execution, he has a decision to make: bring her in, or keep her safe until a cure can be found.

I'm not going to say this was my favorite of the Demonica series, but I will say it was pretty darn lovely. I enjoyed the steamy connection between Con and Sin, and I even enjoyed the detailed explanations about the virus and the warg communities. I think what I liked the most was the raw, intensely honest emotion that was wrung from these characters. It can be difficult to capture emotion in a character, but the author did exactly that--in spades. Overall, the romance that slowly developed was believable and heartwarming, but certain aspects of the story caught my attention even more. Example: I really liked the side story of Luc and Kar. I wanted so much more of that, to delve deeper into their history, but it was pretty well wrapped up, so I am sure that will never happen. Also I really liked the appearance of the Horsemen. Since I was first introduced to Ione's stories via the Horsemen series, I am well-acquainted with them, and I feel like they added a great twist to the story and direction for the sister series, which is already well underway.

I haven't looked into whether or not there will be more to the Demonica series, but I really, really hope there will be. I love all the characters and their history, and even though I will be fine following on the heels of those delicious horsemen, I want to see more of Sin, Eidolon, Lore, and, especially, Wraith.

I give this book 4 Stars!

Want a copy for yourself? Pick it up here.

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