Saturday, September 28, 2013

Who We Are-- Shanora Williams writing as S.Q. Williams


It's finally time to reveal my thoughts on this awesome book..........


I have been dying to review this one, but had to wait til my own personal blog tour date to do so, as I did not want to spoil the surprise!! I LOVED and quite literally, INHALED, this one in less than 24 hours!! That is how excited I was for its release....... After meeting Gage and Ellie in Who He Is, I was dying to get the rest of their story, and I have to say that it was ABSOLUTELY worth the wait! If it was ever possible for me to fall even more in love with these guys, it happened. I lived and breathed their happiness, as well as their heartache (and believe me, there was a bunch of it), with them all the way through to the end- and I love that they got the ending that they did!! Even more so, I love that we got to see more of the rest of our beloved rockers- Roy, Deed and most of all good ole Montana, in this book too. And I cannot even begin to fathom my excitement about Roy getting his book next- because in Who We Are, we FINALLY get his story too. We get the reason for his initial anger and apprehension towards Ellie as well as why he always seemed physically pained to be within ten feet of her. And boy, it is a doozie!! My heart broke for what that poor guy endured with his past love- and I so want him to get his HEA, maybe even more than Gage and Ellie- and that is saying a lot. We get our loveable Montana here too, up to his same old tricks and shenanigans, as well as Deed just being Deed, now happily moving on from his past- all the while continuing to build his unbreakable friendship with Ellie.
What I really wasn't expecting, but glad that we got it, was a blast from Ellie's past- and it is brutal and painful for her as well as the rest of the bunch when they finally get a glimpse into what she has overcome in her life. But we get to see that the terrible upbringing that she escaped, made her into the awesome chick she is now, the fighter that she didn't even realize that she was. It is quite simply beautiful. Actually, the only thing that I didn't find beautiful in the book was that catty bitch Penelope- yeah, unfortunately, we have to have more of her- actually quite a bit of her on the way to Gage and Ellie's HEA. And I hated her as much here as I did in Who He Is, as she is no less conniving and manipulative than in the first book. What a BITCH!! I just wanted to backhand her and then punch her in the throat!! And to me, when an author can evoke that kind of emotion from her words, that is one kickass book- and this one definitely was!! I recommend it so highly that it isn't funny, and I am dying to get the next in the series (even though I know it is far from being ready, lol)- it doesn't make me want it any less ;)      5 ROCK stars ;)
Excerpt:

As soon as I arrived at my temporary apartment, I dropped my keys on the counter, blared some Laura Welsh on the stereo, and then trudged for the shower. The water was soothing. I didn’t want to step out of the steam, especially as I was bombarded with memories.
Gage and me on the FireNine tour bus. Gage kissing me, licking me, soiling me with his fervent kisses. I quivered, running a finger across my lips, remembering the kiss we shared when he stayed the night at Ben’s a few days ago. The passion I felt, the power. It was so much, yet I couldn’t get enough. My lips were still tingling from it… from how much I missed it. How much I missed him.
Soon, the water chilled against my skin and I shut it off, ran a towel over my damp hair, and grabbed an extra towel to wrap around my wet skin. I brushed my teeth, cleared my face with handful of cool water, and then headed for my bedroom.
Laura Welsh sang about hollow drums and it was like she spoke to me—like she reminded me of how much I actually missed Gage. How hollow and empty I felt without him while I was in school and even now. In school it was worse. Every little thing reminded me of him. Every couple that walked by hand in hand reminded me of him. All the girls who were smiling up at their boyfriends lovingly, clinging to their sides, holding them like they never wanted to let go… it all reminded me of him. I couldn’t stand it… but I missed it. I rolled my eyes, trying to rid my mind of him, but it was nearly impossible.
Even as I changed into a pair of running shorts and a tank top and dropped the towel from my hair, I still thought about him. Even as I poured myself a bowl of cereal and ate it to the heartfelt music, I still thought about him. Even as I lounged flat on my back on the sofa, my hand on my forehead, staring at the dots on the ceiling, I still thought about him.
About his eyes, his full, pink lips that always sent a bolt of electricity coursing through me whenever connected with mine. His hard, rippled body, the perfect sleeve of ink on his forearms, broad chest, ribs, and even his back.
The ceiling seemed to spin above me as the music filled me, and then I felt the rims of my eyes pricking, begging for the pooling tears to be shed. I couldn’t believe it. I missed everything about him. I fucking missed him. Entirely too much.
There was a knock on the door and I perked up, back stiff, staring ahead. They knocked again and I swiped at my tears, confused. Who could be at my door this late? I cautiously made my way to the entrance, my heart pounding, my steps soft, making sure I didn’t cross any weak spots to make the floor creak.
I took a peek out of the peephole and made out a tousled mess of silky, dark-brown hair and broad shoulders. His head was ducked down, hiding his face, but I knew exactly who it was and I stifled a gasp.
My mind then went into gear. Should I let him in? Should I shoo him away? Should I blast him and beg him to just leave me alone?
In the end, I knew I couldn’t do any of those, no matter how upset I may have been with him. I did love him, after all.
I cracked open the door and he jerked away from the doorframe, taking a quick step back, his hazel eyes meeting mine. “Gage?”
“Eliza,” he whispered. His eyes were tired, restless. His lips were strained, as if he wanted to say something else, but then they relaxed and he ran a hand through his hair.
“Why are you here?” I asked, opening the door wider. He pressed the palm of his hand on the door and stepped past me, his heavy cologne filling my lungs. It mixed with the light, airy scent of water, as if he’d purposely walked in the drizzle. I could imagine him pacing back and forth in front of the apartment building, debating on whether he should come up or not. “Better yet,” I said, “how did you know where this apartment was?” I locked the door before looking at him.
“Frank told me,” he sighed out. “Look… I can’t do this,” he said, running another rigid hand through his hair. A few pieces fell onto his forehead, proving he would need a haircut in maybe three days tops. His eyes saddened and filled with guilt and I narrowed mine, tilting my head.
“Do what?” I asked, stepping up.
“This… I can’t be angry anymore. I can’t act like I don’t fucking care. I want—” His sentence broke and his gaze lowered to the floor. Good thing the music was playing, filling the silence, because I wasn’t sure of what to say, but I knew what he was getting at. “I wasn’t supposed to come here. I wasn’t supposed to see you. I was supposed to fight myself from getting close to you again—for your sake—but… I can’t. I can’t fight it. It’s so fucking hard to stay away from you, Eliza.”

Book Trailer:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmz2aoXOssg


Ellie

Gage

 Montana

 Roy

Deed





And just a little something, something about that lady we all love, the author genius herself:


Shanora Williams was born and raised in Matthews, North Carolina. She's the author of the New Adult series, OBTAINED and the Best Selling New Adult novel, Hard to Resist. Her upcoming mature New-Adult/Adult novel, Who He Is, will be released in July of 2013.
When she's not writing, she's happily reading or watching cartoons like the big kid she is. She has a wonderful family that you will hear her brag and talk about all of the time. Whenever she just wants to get away from the words for a while, she'll spend some time with her loved ones, eat gummy bears, or drown in Coca-Cola and anything else caffeinated.






GIVEAWAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Enter to win one of two incredible prizes from Who We Are!!
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/e87f1e54



Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Covet-- Tracy Garvis-Graves

Okay, so I really don't know how I feel about this one..... While I did enjoy the book I suppose, it was hard for me to get past the theme of it, which was a wife in some form at least, stepping out on her husband. Claire and Chris have been married for several years, and are parents, but are currently in a state of constant unhappiness and upheaval in their marriage. Chris is just coming off of several months of forced unemployment, which has caused severe depression on his part, and this has taken an extreme toll on their marriage. At this point, it seems as though they are just two ships passing in the night instead of spouses in love. They merely exist in the same home, much like platonic roomates. When Chris finally finds a new job, it requires constant travel on his part, which causes an even more more undue strain on their already tenuous relationship. While Claire insists that their marriage cannot handle that type of burden, she cannot ignore the fact that he must return to work, as they are beginning to finally suffer due to the loss of his income.
One day while coming home, she is pulled over for a routine traffic stop and meets Daniel, an incredibly handsome police officer who she is immediately attracted to, even though she feels guilty for being so. Soon, a budding friendship begins between the two, and they begin spending time together outside of a professional capacity. Professional capacity being that she is a graphic designer, and the police department hires her to do some updating to their logo and such. While she recognizes the fact that it isn't excatly right that she is spending time alone with a man other than her husband, she rationalizes it by telling herself that they are only friends. However, both she and Daniel are developing very strong romantic feelings for each other as the time passes, and before she knows it, she finds herself loving him as he does her....... The lines blur much too quickly before either of them can put a stop to it. Daniel simply wants what isn't his, and Claire wants what she isn't going to allow herself to have, as she fears walking away from her marriage.
I don't want to give away details of who ends up with whom, or if there is an HEA or not, because that is open to interpretation to all. Some may see the ending an happy, while others may not. I really am undecided on it to be perfectly honest. While the writing itself was great, I just didn't connect to this one- maybe because of the story line or the theme, I just don't know.
3.5 stars

The Things I Do For You-- M. Malone

So, what do you do when you find yourself suddenly dumped by your fiance, which you never really loved to begin with, yet are desparate to have a baby?? Well, if you are Raina, you turn to your twin sister's fiance's brother, Nick- who just happens to be in love with you, and has been since the two of you had a one night stand several months prior...... Confused yet? Yeah, thought so. But stay with me, because this one really isn't all that bad. See Raina, a former model who has been diagnosed with endometriosis, is on a ticking time clock to have a baby- she longs to be a mother, more than she has ever wanted for anything. And, she thought that was going to happen when she married Steven, however, when he suddenly decides to reconcile with his ex-wife, her plans crumble right before her eyes. So, in steps Nick, who is the brother of her twin sister's soon to be husband, and the object of one lust filled rendevous from some nights back. Little does she know, Nick has fallen head over heels for her, and is willing to do whatever it takes to make her his- even offer her the one thing that she has always wanted- a baby. So, he does just that- offers to be the father of her child, only in order to do so- she must marry him first. Reluctantly, she agrees to do so, as she knows that he will be an excellent father, and she is so willing to do whatever it takes to have a child. Only, she can't help that she has feelings for Nick as well, and she worries that she is going to get her heart broken down the road. So, she decides to keep things completely professional on her end, regardless of how many times Nick declares his love for her, and does everything to show her how he feels. He immediately falls into the role of doting husband, and soon, even more of a doting soon to be father. Add to the mix that his family welcomes her with open arms, and she knows that her resolve is gone. She finally admits that she is just as in love with Nick as he is with her, and they are about to become parents to a beautiful baby.
Now, no love story is complete without some bumps in the road, and believe me when I say that Nick and Raina suffer their fair share, unfortuantely. But, this only serves to make them stronger, as well as strengthen their bond and their love. They finally do get their HEA, after some undue suffering on both their parts, and I could not have been happier.
While I would love to see more in the future as I felt that the story was unfinished, it was still very nice indeed.
4 stars

Shine, Not Burn-- Elle Casey

Holy crap!!! Never realized that I would love me a cowboy until I met Mack!! Jesus, this man..... there are almost no words. If I could trade places with Andie, I so would. This man is so yummy......
Andie, a young attorney, gets roped into going to Vegas for a girls weekend with her two best friends, much to her dismay as she is dead set determined to focus on her career, and not have a social life at all. Poor boring girl. Luckily, her friends, which are hilarious by the way, do not take no for an answer and force her along. So, after a few rounds of gambling at the casino, she meets Mack- a damn fine cowboy, who just happens to be in Vegas as well for his brother's bachelor party. He, like Andie, didn't think he needed to come either as he thought that work on the family ranch was more important than his own social life. Poor boring guy.
Enter the sexual chemistry, which is immediate and intense- so much so, that they decide to do what Andie has never thought of doing before, and go to her room to have a one night stand. Sounds all fine and good right? Yeah sure, except that somewhere during the sex- they connect, and I don't just mean bodily- I mean down on a deep personal level. And suddenly the thought of leaving the other scares the shit out of both of them, as they both felt what was there between them. So, they decide that they are just gonna keep this thing going for a bit longer and see what happens. And what happens, is that they decide to go out on the town, and drink-- alot. They drink so much, that they end up at an all night wedding chapel- yeah you can guess the rest.
The thing that sucks is that the next morning, Andie doesn't remember a thing, and Mack had left her hotel room long enough to go and find his crowd to tell them what was going on. So, thinking that nothing is amiss, Andie and her posse check out and head home- leaving Mack pissed as all hell when he returns to find her gone and not a way to track her down.
Fast forward a ways into the future, and Andie is now engaged to some yuppie attorney in the firm where she works, and he is a total ass, but he fits the life plan that she has set for herself, so she goes with it. When she applies for their marriage license, she receives a call from the clerk's office that there must be some kind of mistake on her part, as she is already married-- to Mack. Suddenly, bits and pieces of that fateful night come rushing back, however, not enough that she knows the full story. Chalking all of this up to a terrible life lesson, she sets out for Mack's home state to track him down, in order to obtain a divorce- and to fill in the blanks about what really happened. She expects that Mack remembers as little as she does about it, and that he will be as glad as she is to get the divorce taken care of. Little does she know, not only does he remember everything about the night, but he is dead set and determined that she is his wife and a divorce is NOT going to happen!! Talk about some fireworks going off when he makes this little declaration!!
Now, without giving anything away, let's just say that Mack takes great time and pleasure in using as many naughty ways as possible to convince Andie to give their marriage and him a shot. Talk about determination, lol. This boy was not going down without one hell of a fight!! And I love that it worked, giving them the HEA that they needed and both really wanted, even though I don't think they realized it.
This is such an awesome book-- I adored it completely, and laughed my ass off so many times throughout it that it made the whole thing even better!! I could not recommend this one any higher than I already do!!
5 HUGE stars!!!!!

Skin Deep-- J.M. Stone

Can I just keep this beautiful tattooed man?? I mean, really?? I totally fell in love with him- Luke, oh Luke. Such a sweetheart, yet such a beast at the same time. Emma, our main gal--- such as lucky girl!!
I love how Luke loves her, almost right off the bat- he knows that she is special and that he is willing to do whatever it takes to keep her in his life. See, he is a tattoo artist, at the parlor that he owns, and he meets Emma when she comes in with her best friend to get some ink. Immediately, the sparks fly with these two, but sadly- Emma for some crazy reason, thinks that she isn't good enough for him. She thinks that there is no way that this beautiful sex on a stick man could want a curvy girl like her, but boy is she wrong. He wastes no time at all being sure that she understands that not only does he want her, but that she is going to be his. I love his determination to show her how sexy and beautiful she is- and how much her curves turn him on (because let's face it, real women have CURVES)!!!!
This one has plenty of heat and sizzle as well, because let's just say this- Luke likes to play, and this boy can get wild and crazy, but it only adds to how much more Emma wants him. Which in turn, makes it even hotter as he turns it up even more.... le sigh..... If only we could all have a Luke, lol.
I have to say that even though I hate that some very terrible things happen to Emma in the book (she is a legal secretary, and develops a stalker, which is a former client of the attorney), I think it did add a nice twist to the book. Just a little something extra thrown in- not too much that would make this a suspense novel, but just enough. And the resulting actions of Luke, make you fall even harder in love with him, if that is even possible. So glad to see the HEA for these two, as they desperately deserve it after all that they go through. But, I love that there is another book on the way, as I REALLY would love to see some of the other characters get their stories told as well!! Loved this one wholeheartedly!!
5 stars!!

Last Chance Summer-- Hope Ramsay

So, while this one was a a short little novel, I actually did enjoy it. I really is a novella, strictly classified as romance, there is no erotica or any heat or steam in it at all. Not to say that anything is wrong with that- just if that's what you are looking for here, then, you are looking in the wrong place.
Amanda, a young widow and mother, is out for the town summer watermelon festival one day, when she comes across Grant- a radio announcer who is MC'ing the event. Of course, he is also quite gorgeous and single himself, and looking to find that special someone. Enter into the mix, the town busybody, who religiously makes love connections that always seem to be matches made in heaven. While interviewing her, Grant casually asks for her prediction for his own love life- to which she instructs him to visit the lost and found area after his broadcast, and he will meet his lady love. As Amanda hears this, she vows to be certain that she is as far from that place as she can be! Little does she know, fate has other plans in store for her. Between her elderly grandmother wandering off, and her young son then taking off to try and locate her, as well as his deceased father (as he is sure that since he is only lost and not dead, that lost and found is where he will find him)-- Amanda unknowingly finds herself in the last place that she expected to be, which is exactly where she is supposed to be. And there, she finally finds exactly what she has been missing in her life- Grant.
This really is such a sweet story, but definitely unfinished as far as I am concerned. There was a big opening for a future full length novel, as well as further story and character development, which I for one would like to see.
4 stars

Monday, September 9, 2013

Stay With Me-- Elyssa Patrick

Okay, so this one knocked me over with a feather- I so was not expecting it to be the way it was!! I loved it so much!! I thought that it was going to be a very YA/ Teen romance kinda thing, but it was so much more........
Hailey, a former teen starlet from Hollywood, decides that she is finally ready to escape her mother's overbearing shadow, and finally start to live her life the way that she wants to- and do the things that truly make her happy. So, to do this, she decides to leave the glitz and glamour of Hollywood behind and enroll in college in a small Vermont town, finally chasing her own dreams, and trying to find herself in the process. As part of the whole college experience, she decides to take in a typical house party one night, where she meets Caleb- the guy that instantly sets her skin on fire with just a touch. And even though she has decided that relationships are exactly what she needs to avoid, she cannot help but be drawn to him, no matter how hard she tries to resist the pull. And he is just as quickly drawn to her- and it has nothing to do with her former celebrity status. The awesome thing about Caleb is that he doesn't even seem to care about her life in the spotlight, only that she is here with him now, and that she is willing to explore whatever it is that they have between them. Love that about him, the fact that he just treats her like a normal person, not that she is widely known throughout the world- so sweet! And just what she wanted and needed from him as well. Now, his little sisters- they are quite another story, but freaking hilarious, and I loved them in the book. They definitely made the comic relief so much better, in addition to Caleb's roommates and best friends. I love that we got a glimpse into so many of the other characters and that we got a bit of a back story on some of them as well, as I can see so many books to come that can be about each of the different couples! I really want to see Nick and Daphne's story play out!! That one is just dying to be told!!
This one has a bit of everything, but it also has quite a bit of heat and sizzle too- which, I think is key for any good romance story!! It isn't too risqué or anything, but it definitely isn't bubblegum by any means- just perfect for the content of the book- highly recommended and even more highly anticipating the upcoming works in the series!!
5 stars!!!!

COVER REVEAL!!!!! Who We Are-- S.Q. Williams

So freaking excited about this book!!!! I have been so patiently waiting the arrival of Who We Are, every since I sank my teeth into the first in the series, Who He Is (The Fire Nine Trilogy). And now, we have a cover- check this one out lovelies!!!!!


Now, isn't that a beauty?? Love seeing Gage and Ellie (Eliza) in all their naked glory, as this can only mean good things in this book, right??? Gosh, I sure do hope so!!


Synopsis:

“I thought I had gone through something much worse. I thought the abuse and pain from my mom and step-dad was bad, but this? This heartache? This pain? This depression? This gut-wrenching, heartbreaking moment? This knotted up feeling in my gut, the tightness in my throat, the ache in my chest? It was slowly but surely killing me.”

Eight months.

That’s how long it’s been since Eliza last saw Gage and they both feel as if they don’t deserve one another’s forgiveness. He screwed up. She walked away without looking back. They’ll try and make up all the time they’ve lost with one another, that is until they’re facing the choices of either going their separate ways, or hanging on and fighting for dear life.

The fights will be endless. They heartache will be real. The demons will return, and they won’t back down without a fight.

There are some who will do anything to keep true love apart, and those same people will dig deep into their demonic ways until Eliza and Gage are literally no more.

Can Eliza and Gage overcome it all? Will they be able to face the true demons that are seeking to destroy them? Or will they just forget about everything they’ve worked so hard for and go their separate ways?

Sometimes you have to go through struggles in order to reach an ultimate point of peace… but will their struggle be worth it?
 
 
 
 

Makes me want to dive in so bad I can't stand it- but alas, I gotta wait just a wee bit longer!! Release date for this one is September 24, 2013 (and it cannot get here soon enough)!!!!!

So, since I know we are all dying for a little taste, here ya go ;)

Excerpt:


As I chewed on the end of my pen, I looked up and Gage was standing with his back and the sole of his shoe pinned against the wall. “You okay?” I asked with slight humor. His silence was really getting to me now. It wasn’t normal. No matter how busy I may have seemed, Gage was the type to bother me just a little bit before leaving me alone.

“Yeah.” He smiled. “I’m all right. Just watching.” He pushed off the wall and made his way across the room to sit in the chair opposite me. “You really like this stuff, huh?” he asked, picking up one of the photos.

“I do.”

“You’ve been staring at it all night. You aren’t going to start drawing or painting or anything?”

I shook my head. “Not yet. I want the outcome to be perfect. I don’t wanna rush it.” I looked at him again, sinking my teeth into my bottom lip. “Actually, I know what’ll help.”

Gage’s eyes broadened. “Yeah? What?”

Standing, I pushed from the table and picked up my camera. “I’ll take pictures of you… for my project. We were told to find pictures online and turn them into something else, but I think it’d be best to start fresh.”

“So you’re gonna cheat?” he asked, laughing a little.

I giggled. “No, silly. This is not cheating. It’s being creative. Now, come on!” I said, grabbing his wrist and dragging him to the living room. Gage stepped in front of me and smiled.

“What do I do?” he asked, that smile still tugging at the corners of his lips.

“Just strike a pose… anything. Make it sexy… serious… cute. Whatever. You know what to do. You do this all the time.” I held my camera in front of my eye and angled it at him.

Laughing, Gage did a few poses. Some naughty. Some nice. And some just downright sexy. Each time the camera flashed, he’d switch it up, and each one was perfect. It was going to be hard choosing just three for my project. One picture I knew I was going to use. He sank his teeth into his bottom lip and licked it. His hazel eyes were narrowed right at the camera, his stance firm yet casual.  After I snapped my last shot, I lowered my camera and grinned at him.

“You’re a pro at this, huh?”

Shrugging, he walked toward me. I told him to stop and held the camera in the air to take a photo of us together. Grabbing the camera out of my hands, Gage kissed my cheek and then took a step back. “My turn. Pose for me—and make it sexy! No bullshit.” He laughed out loud, those adorable chinks forming around his eyes as usual.

I swallowed a little as my nerves got the best of me, but as Gage stepped in front of me and placed a kiss on my forehead and then my cheek, I looked up at him and comfort snuck up on me. “Just have fun. It’s what I do. I used to hate it, but now… it’s pretty cool.”

“Right.” I blew out a breath and took the spot in front of the window where Gage stood. He placed the camera in front of his eyes, his lips hinting at a smile. I knew he was staring at me. My poses at first were silly and evidently corny, but as the flash of the camera happened more and more, I decided to get sexier for him. I’d bite my lip, smile at him beneath my eyelashes. Each flash from the camera took longer and longer until finally Gage pulled the camera away and looked directly at me. His eyes were hungry, his face hard. He was serious now, and I was confused, turned on, and a little excited by it.

In an instant, he marched for me, picking me up in his arms and crushing my lips with his. My chest pressed on his and my breath caught the more our tongues collided. He panted hard, almost greedy with his actions.

He pulled away a few inches and brought his hand up to brush his calloused thumb across my moist bottom lip. His other hand was still glued to my waist, pulling me closer. This wasn’t how the night was supposed to turn out at all, but I refused to fight it.


Freaking swoon!!!! Damn all mighty- these two just cannot stop!! If you haven't already picked up Who He Is, please do so now- it is great!! I haven't gotten my review for it up yet- but will have it up this weekend- but believe me- it is 5 stars all the way babies!!
And again, because I always want you to know and love your authors even more, here is some info about the glorious Shanora Williams (writing these books as S.Q. Williams), and some of her contact info, as well as the Goodreads link for Who We Are!! Oh, and did I forget that my girl is also a downhome North Carolina gal too??? Just all the more reason to love this chick to pieces!!!!

 

Goodreads, Who We Are:  http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18231624-who-we-are

Thursday, September 5, 2013

Sneak Peek!!!!! Untangle Me-- Chelle Bliss

Very excited about this one!!!! 
I was lucky enough to read the prologue for this awesome book- and lemme tell ya, you guys are going to LOVE it!! I cannot wait to get my hands on the full thing- and I know that the author has been working her pretty little ass off to make sure that it is just perfect for us all! But never fear lovelies, because we get our hands on this one on October 1!!!



Synopsis: 
Kayden is a bad boy that never played by the rules. Sophia has always been the quintessential good girl, living a life filled with disappointment. Everything changes when their lives become intertwined through a chance encounter online.

Hundreds of miles separate them, but the connection that draws them together is too much to be denied. As the layers of their lives peel back, Kayden keeps the dangerous parts of his past hidden to protect the woman who is becoming more important to him than he should allow. What starts as a pursuit of carnal pleasure turns into a complicated love story. His past is a tangled web filled with addiction, an obsessed ex-girlfriend, and problems with the law.

One mistake he thought he had left behind may end up ruining it all.



Now, I know that after seeing that- you are dying to read this as much as I am!! So, that being the case- be sure to click these links so that you don't miss out on this incredible goodness!!

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18171014-untangle-me
Current Giveaway on Goodreads for a signed paperback copy

AND!!!!!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorchellebliss1

Now, I don't feel as though I need to say anything more-- get to cracking lovelies and mark your calendars!!

Monday, September 2, 2013

Dear Rockstar-- Emme Rollins

Okay, so at first, I thought I was going to be second guessing my choice on this one- I was afraid it was one of those fangirl type books, you know, all young girl lusting after the rock star (my mind was having Justin Beiber-y nightmares)!!!! So glad it was NOT anything like that!! Yeah, our girl Sara is jonesing for an "old enough to be her dad" rocker, but it isn't all teenage dream and junk- the girl really does feel a deep sense of love for him. As crazy as it seems, she actually thinks that one day, they are going to meet and he is going to fall for her and they will have their HEA..... Like I said, yeah it sounds crazy. But, there is a reason that Sara has this fantasy- her life in reality- it is holy freaking awful. I mean, dark and abusive (in every way you can imagine), and she has no escape. Because, even though she is old enough to leave- she is terrified to leave her mother behind, for fear of what will become of her at the hands of her stepfather, who is a monster. This man, god- I wanted to vomit when I read the shit he did to Sara. A bullet to his brain is not even a harsh enough punishment for the things that this monster has done. There are just no words for that kind of evil.
So, into her life comes Dale- the younger, yet almost spitting image of her rocker crush, all wrapped up into a student at the same academy she attends. Oh, and better yet- he is a rocker too!! Soon enough, she lets down her guard and decides to take a chance on Dale- since he has already decided that she belongs to him, and will stop at nothing to see how much he loves her. I hated the fact that Sara's fantasy crush kept getting in the way of her real feelings and love for Dale- it's like she was blinded by the fantasy, when the reality was SO much better!! But I adore the fact that Dale was a constant in being sure that she knew he wasn't going anywhere, and that he would wait for her- but that he would not be second to a dream that he knew would never happen for her. As harsh as that seemed- it was exactly what she needed- she had to lose what was most important to her in order to see that it was all that really mattered.
There is a HUGE crazy twist to the story as well- which I kind of figured out early on, so I wasn't exactly surprised about it- but nevertheless, it was kind of insane. I love the fact that there was not a cliffy- god knows I HATE those!! And loved the HEA too!! So sweet!! This one is a definite must read!!!!
5 stars!!!!

Axel-- Harper Sloan

Oh, Axel, holy fucking hell Axel...........
I just want to jump into my Kindle for this man!! He is so damn yummy, and totally swoon worthy- regardless of the fact that he is almost seven feet tall, lol. I fell so in lust with him, I wanted to push Izzy out of the way or something if she didn't get her head out of her ass!! That man is awesome!!
Poor Izzy though, damn this girl has had it rough- finding her soul mate as a teen, only to lose him when he shipped off to the Marines, even though he promised to come back to her- and she promised to wait for him. She still lost him- all because of things outside of their control. And then to lose again so soon after he left, and to lose who she lost (I don't want to give it away for those who haven't read it yet), god- my heart broke for her. No one should have to suffer that kind of loss, and then to have to feel as though it was their fault- total gut wrenching heartbreak. And then to find someone that she thinks will love and care for her, only to turn out to be the purest form of evil- damn, talk about kicking someone when they are down. This chick didn't deserve the life that she was dealt- it was just too damn much for anyone, much less someone like her. Someone who had only ever loved deeply and purely all those in her life. I hated what was done to her. But, I was so glad that she had her best friend, Dee- and that she met her second best friend, Greg after she suffered the worst of her beatings. Greg- geez, this man!! Talk about a knight is shining armor!! And he wasn't even in love with this chick- he just took her in- like his little sister, and he does everything to protect her- even laying his life on the line for her later on- I LOVE HIM!!!
So, imagine my surprise, when after all of the heartache that Izzy has endured, that true love that she thought she lost, Axel- is suddenly back- and he isn't going anywhere. He is so determined that he is not going to lose her again- he has loved her every minute of everyday since they met- and he is never going to let her go. Theirs is a deep love, one that has withstood so many things- things, that would break normal people. But not these two. And the emotion that he shows when he discovers all that they have lost- damn, can I love him anymore than I already did?? Their story is so beautiful!!!
I adore the fact that Greg's book, Cage, is up next because I am dying to see that man get his HEA too, after seeing his love for Dee and Izzy, I know he has so much to give to some lucky lady!! And apparently Dee and Beck are up next-- Yay!!! Can't wait!! This series is definitely going to be one of my faves!!!!
5 swoontastic stars!!!!!!!!

The Prelude-- KaSonndra Leigh

Okay, after I got into this one a bit, I was afraid that maybe I made a mistake and that it really wasn't something that I was going to be into. I, apparently, was wrong....... It really was pretty good. Maybe not something that I would read more than once, but all the same- glad that I read it. This one is about Erin and Alek. She, being an up and coming fashion designer in Italy and he, being the hot young Maestro of a ballet currently in production there as well. They meet as Alek hires Erin's design house to be the costume designers for the dancers of the ballet, which of course grants them the opportunity to work very closely and spend an exorbitant amount of time together. All leading to the steamy romance that we just know is going to happen based on all of the sexual tension that these two are throwing at each other!!
Now, seeing as how Alek has ties to the Russian mafia- you know their is going to be some suspense thrown into this romance as well. Drama makes it appearance too, as well- Alek's mama is just a plain ole bitch and I just want to punch her in the throat for the way that she treats Erin. But I LOVE that Alek puts her in her place and makes Erin feel cherished and like the most special girl in the world- I just swoon for him!! Throw in Erin's boss Rafe, and his love for Alek's sister, as well as the loyalty and love of Alek's best friend- this is just one awesome, albeit dysfunctional family!! The ending is going wish that your hubby took romance lessons from Alek too, lol. This one is pretty great and I gotta say- go pick it up lovelies!!
4 stars

Mine To Take-- Cynthia Eden

So, what does a gal do when she is faced with a psycho stalker?? Well, go find her first and only true love, even though she is still totally and utterly in love with him, and beg for his help of course!! And what happens when said true love is still hopelessly and utterly in love with her as well?? Well, you get an awesome book that's what! And this one is pretty good, I do have to say. It is more of a romance/suspense than just a romance.
See, we have Skye, a former prima ballerina who finds herself the target of some incredibly unwanted attention, which has escalated over the last few months. And to make matters worse- the cops aren't exactly helpful in their capacity, either that they don't have enough to go on or that they just don't believe her. So, without anywhere else to turn, she tracks down Trace- the boy she has loved since she was fifteen, and still loves with all her heart. Just so happens that Trace is the owner of a highly successful and sought after security firm, the best in the business and Skye's last chance to track down and put an end to the misery that her life has become. Luckily for her, Trace's sense of protection never dulled when it came to Skye, so he jumps at the chance to help her- all the while, being determined to work his way back into her life and heart (even though he never left), and stay there. So, they set off to find out who might be her stalker, following any crumb that they can- all leading them back to the one person that Skye would never suspect, but Trace always did. Which is probably why Trace is so kickass at his job, lol!!
This one has a lot of OMG moments, and lots of times I found myself gasping and thinking "Oh no!!!" as there are plenty of twists to it, but it is an all around great book and I do recommend it to you guys!!
4 stars

A Million Dirty Secrets-- C.L. Parker

I gotta say, I was kind of surprised by this one. It seemed kind of far fetched in a way to begin with- a chick auctioning herself off at a secret underground "gentlemen's club" to the highest bidder?? But, hey- you just never know. Anyway, I was also surprised to find that I enjoyed the book as well. Lanie, a young girl who is still a virgin, has decided to enter the auction in order to raise money for her mother to have a life saving transplant, which would not be possible without these particular funds. Enter Noah- a mega rich young bachelor, who comes to the auction looking for someone to fulfill his desires, without getting close to his heart, as he has been severely burned in the past. Once, Noah claims his victory, he sets about claiming Lanie- who is quite enthusiastic, if highly inexperienced. She immediately decides to hate him, even though- the entire time, she is falling for him- quicker than she thought possible. At the same time, Noah has gone head over heels for Lanie, and it scares the living shit out of him. He knows that she is nothing like his ex, but he still can't forget the hurt from his past. So, we follow the story of them falling deeper in love with each other and just know that they are going to eventually get their HEA, when WHAM- big ole cliffy!! Lanie's best friend (and the one who arranged her to be in the auction in the first place), shows up to whisk her back to reality as her mother has taken a turn and needs her.
I hated that there was a cliffy in this one, because I desperately wanted to see the end- but I suppose I can wait for the follow-up, but since this one just came out on August 27- I may have quite a wait :(
5 stars!!

Forever, Interrupted-- Taylor Jenkins Reid

Let me start by saying- grab some tissues!! This one is a heart breaker. But it is so touching at the same time. This is the story of Ben and Elsie, who meet one day by chance at a local pizza parlor while they are both picking up take out orders, and it is pretty much love at first sight for both. They quickly begin to date and start their lives together, all the while falling even more in love every day. It is such a sweet story, but oh so tragic. They get married, and after only nine days- Ben is tragically killed in a freak accident, leaving behind Elsie and a mother whom he never got to introduce her to. The story centers on Elsie and her mother in law getting to know each other, and become a part of each other's lives, while at the same time- both learning how to grieve the loss of Ben and try to move forward with their lives. We also get flashbacks in time, in order to get the full story of the history of how Ben and Elsie fell in love and shared their short time together, which also helps to show why Ben never got around to introducing Elsie to his mother. This is such a touching and beautiful story, and even though we lose the main male in the beginning, it is still very much a romance, as their love story still has its chance to play out for the readers. I recommend this one, as I thoroughly enjoyed it.
4 stars

Cover Reveal!!!!!! A Christmas to Remember-- Jill Shalvis, Kristen Ashley, Hope Ramsay, Molly Cannon, and Marilyn Pappano

Coming December 3, 2013!!!!!!!!!


That's right lovelies, some of our favorite authors have teamed up to bring us some holiday goodness!!! Each one of these lovelies ladies has contributed a short story for this fantastic novel that promises to bring good tidings to us all!! I for one, cannot wait to get my hands on this one!!

Preorder links:


Barnes and Noble - http://bit.ly/1cnGbYC


If you would like to add to your Goodreads, you may do so by following this link:
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17899995-a-christmas-to-remember


Author Bios!!! Because, who doesn't wanna know a little something about our gals, huh??


Jill Shalvis

 

New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis lives in a small town in the Sierras with her family and far too many assorted quirky animals. Any resemblance to the quirky animals in her books is, um, mostly coincidental. Look for Jill’s bestselling, award-winning books wherever romances are sold and visit her website at www.jillshalvis.com for a completely booklist and daily blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountains adventures.

 





 

Kristen Ashley

 

I was born a middle class white child in Gary, Indiana, USA. One of the last of a dying breed. I nearly killed my mother and myself making it into the world, seeing as I had the umbilical cord wrapped around my neck (already attempting to accessorise and I hadn’t taken my first breath!). Mom says they took me away, put her back in her room, she looked out the window, and Gary was on fire (Dr. King had been assassinated four days before). She remembered thinking it was the end of the world. Quite the dramatic beginning.

Nothing’s changed.

All I’ve ever wanted to do was write (well, and be the Queen of the World, but you gotta start small) and I’ve published thirty-one books and counting (shoo!), of which, seven in theRock Chick Series have been published, three titles in my Colorado Mountain Series, four titles in my 'Burg Series, four in my Dream Man Series and three in myFantasyland Series. Not to mention, I've introduced readers to a genie, a ghost hunting duo and a SuperWitch. Considering I'm self-published and can write whatever I dang well please, I do. My writing is all over the place. I’ve written about Rock Chicks and Hot Bunch Boys (action, adventure, romance), ghosts, reincarnated lovers, genies, vampires and werewolves (my paranormal/ghost series), serial killers and stalkers... and parallel universes. You can learn about my titles that have been released or that are soon to be released in the Titles section of the website.

Even though I jump genres, there is always a theme to my books… humor (hopefully), engaging characters (again, hopefully) and romance (definitely).

My loves are movies, music, food and fashion and I partake of all of them as often as I can (the middle two more than the others, the former, which takes time I don’t often have and the latter, which takes money I rarely have). In fact, I love food so much, I like to share my good fortune so I put my recipes on offer for you on this page (see top menu and don't miss them, they're awesome!).

I grew up in Brownsburg, Indiana and have lived in Denver, Colorado and the West Country of England and thus I'm blessed to have friends and family around the globe. My family was (is) loopy (to say the least) but loopy is good when you want to write and growing up it was large and multi-generational. We all lived together on a very small farm in a small farm town in the heartland. I grew up with Glenn Miller, The Everly Brothers, REO Speedwagon and Whitesnake (and the wardrobes that matched). Needless to say, growing up in a house full of music, clothes and love was a good way to grow up.

And as I keep growing up, it keeps getting better.

So here I am, thank goodness.





 

Hope Ramsay

 

Hope Ramsay was born in New York and grew up on the North Shore of Long Island, but every summer Momma would pack her off under the care of Aunt Annie to go visiting with relatives in the midlands of South Carolina. Her extended family includes its share of colorful aunts and uncles, as well as cousins by the dozens, who provide the fodder for the characters you’ll find in Last Chance, South Carolina. Hope earned a BA in Political Science from the University of Buffalo, and has had various jobs working as a Congressional aide, a lobbyist, a public relations consultant, and a meeting planner. She’s a two-time finalist in the Golden Heart, and is married to a good ol’ Georgia boy who resembles every single one of her heroes. She has two grown children and a couple of demanding lap cats. She lives in Fairfax, Virginia where you can often find her on the back deck, picking on her thirty-five-year-old Martin guitar.

 





 

Molly Cannon

 

Molly lives a charmed life in Texas with her husband, Mr. Wonderful and her extremely large cat Nelson. When she's not writing, she spends her days reading, taking dance classes with MW, and watching every kind of sporting event imaginable. Molly has three grown children, all married to terrific people and two wonderful grandchildren. Life is good!

 





 

Marilyn Pappano

 

Born in Oklahoma, Marilyn Pappano followed her career-Navy husband across the southern United States for fifteen years, living in California, the Carolinas, Alabama and Georgia -- all locations she's used regularly in her novels. Her first book, WITHIN REACH, was published by Silhouette Books in 1987, and she's gone on to sell about eighty books to Silhouette, Harlequin, Warner, Bantam, Dell and Forever Romance. She's made bestseller lists, won every major award in the romance genre, and seen a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie made from her novel, SEASON FOR MIRACLES.

 

Marilyn writes both contemporary romance and romantic suspense and is best known for her richly-textured characterization. Her current publishers are Harlequin Romantic Suspense and Forever Romance, where she's using her experience as a military spouse and mother in her new Tallgrass books, a series about a group of best friends and military widows who help each other grieve, live and learn to love again.

 





Beats-- Kendall Grey

Well, once again, she has done it- not that I ever had any doubt..... Kendall Grey has again, blown me out of the freaking water with Beats!! I LOVED it so damn much!!!!!!! I cannot say enough about how much I love this series, after I read the first one, Strings, I was hooked- I knew this lady was my kindred spirit of sorts, and that I had to devour everything else that came from that naughty mind of hers. Now, if you have read Strings, which- there really should be no reason that you haven't because it is one of the best fucking things I have ever read, you need to know this- Beats is NOT another Strings. Jinx is NOT Letty. Now, that's not to say that it isn't hot as hell and just as risqué in some ways, but nothing like what we saw in Strings. Not that it is a negative in any way! I love that Jinx is the perfect calm to Letty's storm, and that we get a different side of the wild crazy rock star life and love other than that of Letty and Shades.
Who knew that Jinx was a hint of a wild sex pot wrapped under all that shy and quiet exterior?? Who knew how deep her love for Toombs ran and how far she was willing to go in order to be with him? And more importantly, who knew that Rax was all wrapped up in Jinx as well?? That was crazy! I hated the things that Rax did to Toombs and Jinx, and how he used Jinx's love for Toombs and Toombs' love for him as a weapon to get what he really wanted- Jinx. What a fucking asshole!! At the same time, I can see that he seems to only be doing it because he is so damn lonely- regardless of the hordes of groupie ass that he pulls in- he is lonely and looking for that special love to have all his own. Even though he is too blind to see that Toombs does love him that deeply, he can't get over his selfish ways in order to see it, so yeah, he's a moron as well. Yet, I can't help but hold out the love for him- knowing that Kendall is one day gonna give him his HEA.
Now, onto Jinx and Toombs, because I have waited so long to see those two have their chance, and it was fucking beautiful!! I never imagined that Toombs loved Jinx so deeply and that he was so possessive of her, of his love for her, or that she was just as possessive of him. It rocked me to the core to see how much they were in love- it was so pure and true, regardless of all of the naughty bits and pieces that Rax was a part of. It really was always just Jinx and Toombs. And the fact that Toombs accepted Jinx's brother, Mikey- god, total swoon for that tatted up rock star, not that I wasn't head over heels for him already. Again, so damn beautiful. He was so supportive of her- he never let her give up on herself, always being there to offer himself as her muse and inspiration. He refused to let her believe that she wasn't good enough or that she didn't have what it takes, because he knew that she was phenomenal, he just had to make her see it. I love that about Toombs, among so many other things. I thought that Shades was my man, but I am afraid that Toombs is pushing him over and taking that top spot after reading Beats. Makes me worry about what I will feel for Rax when his book comes out!! Oh no!! Lol.
Bottom line, you gotta get Beats- you won't regret a word of it. Just please keep in mind that it is NOT another Strings, this isn't Letty and Shades- this is Jinx and Toombs. And it is totally fucking awesome, but for a whole different reason. So, stop stalling and get your ass to one-clicking and pick it up lovelies!!
5 phenomenal stars!!!!!!!!!!!!!!