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Wednesday, September 30, 2015

The Rock Star's E-mail Order Bride by Damelza Carlton- Review Blitz

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Review Blitz

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Book Title: The Rock Star's Email Order Bride 
Author: Demelza Carlton 
Genre: New Adult Rock Star Romance 
Release Date: September 15, 2015 
Hosted by: Book Enthusiast Promotions

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  Book Blurb

In the final year of her business degree, Phuong has her future all mapped out. Finish studying, then go home and save her family's business. Until her father dies and it all falls apart. Broke and jobless, she stumbles on a solution: find herself an Australian husband. Fast.

She's not looking for love – Phuong doesn't believe in fairy tales. Her marriage will be a business deal, pure and simple. But when she meets her husband-to-be and discovers he's a reclusive rock star living at Romance Island Resort, maybe it's time to believe a girl can live happily ever after.



excerpt

Idly, she clicked on one of the unread messages from some other man whose profile was a sculpted, headless torso, like something cropped from the cover of a romance novel.

Mr Six-Pack's message was short:

"I'm looking for a woman who knows all fairy tales are lies, but who still hopes one might come true."

Reflexively, Phuong clicked on his profile. Mr Six-Pack was a gym junkie, he admitted, who went by the name of Lucky Jason. He worked on a remote island, but it was lonely and he wanted to share his living accommodation with someone who could brighten the darkness at night. Or so he said. She laughed softly before clapping a hand over her mouth at the thought that she might wake Norman. His snores continued, like he was sawing down a tree with his nose in his sleep, so she breathed a sigh of relief and returned to ogling Jason's abs. Desire flooded her for the first time in months.

She hit the reply button on his message. "Which fairy tale did you have in mind, and which character are you? The big bad wolf, the woodcutter or Prince Charming?" Before she could think better of it, she sent the message.

The response came back almost instantly: "What would you like me to be? I can cut down everyone keeping you from me, carry you off to my castle like Prince Charming, then turn into the big bad wolf and eat you all up until you scream for joy."

"That only happens in books," she whispered to herself, then typed the words and fired off the message.

Lucky Jason had an answer for that, too: "One day, some romance author will write books about us and a million lonely women will crave the sort of sex you only have to ask for."

Arrogant much? "No one's that good. What if I'm after Prince Charming, a man who loves me, listens to me and wants to take care of me, and I'm not interested in sex?"

"Prince Charming is a prick who'll smother you and turn jealous if you look at anyone else. He'll lock you in a tower and never let you out. And he wouldn't know what to do with his own cock, let alone your body. Prince where-do-I-put-my-prick. That's not me, babe."

"No? You don't get jealous? What do you do when your girl looks at another man?"

"Grin and wink at the guy while my arm's around her. He'll never be me and never have what I do, but that's cool. Not everyone's as awesome as me. Let me show you, babe."

She gasped at his audacity, the sheer arrogance of the man…but even the typed words made her more aroused than any other man had. Aroused at a man who used a stock photo for a profile picture. "Show me what you really look like first."

"What do you mean? The site's rules say no face, cock or arse pictures, so I stuck my six-pack on there. You don't like muscles, babe?"

"They don't look real. Show me what you really look like." She slowly exhaled, knowing she'd effectively ended the conversation. Lucky Jason's six-pack was as fictional as his sexual prowess. Big bad wolf eating her, indeed.

She left the laptop and headed to the kitchen to dry the dishes. Lucky Jason wasn't so lucky tonight, but then neither was she.

Phuong returned to the laptop when she'd put away the last beer glass. To her surprise, a blurry picture of a man's muscled tummy beside the edge of a keyboard sat on the screen. "Satisfied?" said the message above it.

"No," she replied. "You could've pulled that photo off the internet, too. Give me proof of life. Take a picture with today's newspaper."

"We don't get newspapers out here. I live on a deserted island. Tell me your real name and I'll write it across my abs for you."

If he mangled her name or called her Fiona like Norman, she'd delete every damn message and never speak to him again. "It's Phuong."

Seconds ticked by without a response. Phuong glanced at the clock on the oven. If she didn't go to bed soon, she wouldn't get enough sleep.

She glanced back and was greeted by another blurry picture, but this one had the letters P-H-U wavering across his skin. She held her breath as another picture appeared, this time bearing a wonky O, a back-to-front N and a tailed G that ended by guiding her eye to the treasure trail vanishing into the waistband of his shorts. Then a final shot with all six letters.

Before she could type a response, he added a line of text: "How do you pronounce it?"

"Rhymes with thong, only with an F." Wonders never ceased. A second point to Lucky Jason – one for actually having a six-pack, and one for caring about getting her name right.

"I want to see you wearing one so I can take it off with my teeth."

That made him an American, Phuong guessed, sighing. Lucky Jason was too good to be true. He couldn't give her Aussie citizenship.

"Just don't bite my feet. I'm looking for an Australian man who knows thongs come in pairs and who'll wear them with me as we go for a walk on the beach. Is there one of those on your deserted island?"

Teasers

Resist

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Unbelievable


Meet the Author

Demelza Carlton has always loved the ocean, but on her first snorkelling trip she found she was afraid of fish.

She has since swum with sea lions, sharks and sea cucumbers and stood on spray-drenched cliffs over a seething sea as a seven-metre cyclonic swell surged in, shattering a shipwreck below.

Sensationalist spin? No - Demelza tends to take a camera with her so she can capture and share the moment later; shipwrecks, sharks and all.

Demelza now lives in Perth, Western Australia, the shark attack capital of the world.

The Ocean's Gift series was her first foray into fiction, followed by the Nightmares trilogy. She swears the Mel Goes to Hell series ambushed her on a crowded train and wouldn't leave her alone.

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Tuesday, September 29, 2015

The Queen B* Strikes Back by Crista McHugh- Review!


The Queen B* Strikes Back by Crista McHugh

Date of Publication: September 29, 2015

Blurb



Alexis Wyndham isn't quite sure what to think about her "friendship" with star quarterback, Brett Pederson. Sure, he has more brains than the entire football team combined. Not to mention that fact he's a great kisser. When he asks her to help him with his college admission essay, she isn't sure if he's doing it to spend more time with her or if he's just using her for her intelligence. But after her nemesis, Summer Hoyt, makes it clear she's not finished chasing after Brett, the war is on, and the head cheerleader will find out that hell hath no fury like a Queen B*.

My Review: 

The Queen B* Strikes Back (The Queen B*, #2)The Queen B* Strikes Back by Crista McHugh
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book picks up where we are left at the end of Confessions of a Queen B*. Alexis is working hard not to be vulnerable as it becomes clear that her feelings for Brett aren't going anywhere anytime soon. Brett respects her wishes to be friends, but soon they both realize that their attraction to one another is only getting stronger and the friends thing is going to be tough.

Alexis continues to worry about not only getting hurt herself, but also making things tough for Brett. she also continues to wonder if she can fully trust him. She is still finding it difficult to trust anyone who would associate with the person who betrayed her trust years back.

Alexis is prickly on the outside, but I think she is an easy character to relate to and enjoy. I definitely wanted her to find some happiness for herself and not have to keep up the tough exterior act all the time since it was taking a lot out of her. Brett continues to show that he is a good person, but there are moments that are a little confusing. I wanted him to be the person I was pretty sure he was.

There is no denying the chemistry between Alexis and Brett. Throughout the story I was really hoping that they would get their acts together and find the happiness in each other that they both deserve. I will definitely read more by this author in the future.

*An ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review


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About Crista McHugh



Crista McHugh is an award-winning author of fantasy and romance who writes heroines who are smart, sexy and anything but ordinary. She currently lives in the Audi-filled suburbs of Seattle with her husband and two children, maintaining her alter ego of mild-mannered physician by day while she continues to pursue writing on nights and weekends.
She is an active member of the Romance Writers of America (including the Greater Seattle Chapter and the Seattle Eastside Chapters), and Romance Divas.
Just for laughs, here are some of the jobs she's had in the past to pay the bills: barista, bartender, sommelier, stagehand, actress, morgue attendant, and autopsy assistant.
And she's also a recovering LARPer. (She blames it on her crazy college days)

Find Crista McHugh Online

Teaser

Chapter One
There's a special place in hell reserved for those who wake me up before noon on a Saturday.
And Brett Pederson was on that list.
I'd forgotten that he was on my preferred contact list, so his call came through the Do Not Disturb feature on my phone. Two weeks of a school project with him and now he was ruining my first day without Junior, the mechanical mutant baby that had been the bane of my existence.
The phone wouldn't stop ringing, so I was forced to pick it up. "Give me one reason not to make you the topic of my next blog post."
"Aw, Lexi, you wouldn't do that."
"Don't call me that, and yes, I would."
After all, I was Alexis Wyndham, the Queen Bitch of Eastline High School. My blog, The Eastline Spy, was notorious for taking members of the in-crowd down a peg, and as the hottest guy in school, Brett would be an easy target.
Too bad he'd somehow earned a soft spot in my heart. It was not something my cruel, hard image as the Queen B* would allow, and even though I'd convinced him we were better off as friends, I'd started second-guessing my decision the moment he walked away.
"I was calling to make sure you were ready to go to the senior class carwash. I'll swing by your house in ten minutes to pick you up."
Before I could protest, he hung up.
I glanced at my alarm clock.
8:32 a.m.
Crap!
A) Where does Brett get off thinking that I want to have anything to do with the idiots I refer to as "classmates"?
B) Why in hell would he think I'd want to go to this event, let alone with him?
But the butterflies in my stomach overruled my brain. As much as I loathed the idea of getting wet all in the name of raising money for a stupid class gift, the idea of Brett picking me up was enough to make me crawl out of bed.
Besides, if I arrived with him, it would piss off my nemesis, Summer Hoyt, to no end. She wanted him, but he wasn't interested. In fact, he seemed more interested in me. At least, if I believed yesterday's conversation behind the scoreboard.
Brett wanted to be more than friends, but I wasn't ready to go there.
At least, not yet.
I'd spent three years building a rep as the hardest bitch in school, and if the star quarterback started dating the Queen B*, then both of our positions in the high school social hierarchy would suffer.
But if we weren't at Eastline…
My thoughts wandered to a few days ago, when we'd hidden in a janitor's closet to keep Principal Lee from catching us in the girls' locker room together. Brett had taken the opportunity to kiss me, and before I knew what was happening, I'd lost my shirt. At least now I understood how my best friend, Morgan, could lose her head over so many guys and end up naked in bed with them. Teenage hormones were powerful things, especially when you factor in a great kisser like Brett.
I rummaged through my drawers until I found the perfect T-shirt. The mid-September day promised to be warm and sunny, but the hickey on my shoulder prevented me from wearing a tank top, so I paired it with a pair of shorts and threw my frizzy hair up in a ponytail.
The doorbell was ringing as I ran down the stairs. I opened the door and pulled Brett in before someone could see him. "You must have some kind of death wish."
"Just want to make sure you show that Eastline pride," he said with a charming grin. "After all, I am SGA president."
Brett was so perfect, I had to force myself to stay angry at him. He was more than a hot bod, although I'd seen enough of the muscles under the shirt to want to run my hands over them. He was more than a handsome face, although there were times I could lose myself while staring into his warm brown eyes. He was more than the star of the football team, although I admit I was beginning to have new appreciation for the sport since watching him play.
He was an annoyingly all-around good guy with a sharp mind and a personality that seemed to put everyone at ease, including me. He was the only person who could get past my prickly outer shell and make me swoon.
Of course, I'd never let him know that.
He handed me a rolled up T-shirt. "I brought you one of my Eastline shirts."
"Why?" I unfurled it and made a show of wrinkling my nose as though I were disgusted. It was a standard Eastline football shirt with a number on the back—one I'd seen dozens of players on the team wear around town. But then I caught a whiff of his scent, and my pulse cranked up a notch. Dear God, the shirt smelled like him. I resisted the urge to cuddle with it, especially since the source of the scent was standing right in front of me.
"So when you're sitting in the stands next to Richard, you'll at least show some school spirit." He winked before he closed the gap between us. "I thought you weren't going to come to the game last night.
"Richard needed a ride," I lied. In truth, I'd been the one to offer him a ride. I'd become a Brett addict over the last two weeks, and I couldn't decline a chance to watch him play. Thankfully, Richard—my other best friend next to Morgan—was a huge football fan.
"I could've sworn I saw you cheer when I threw that touchdown pass."
"I think you may have suffered a concussion when that lineman buried you into the turf."
He chuckled, but continued to inch closer until his lips were a mere breath from mine. "Brushing up on your football slang?"
"Only because I have to listen to Richard." My mouth was dry. My voice was shaking, and I wasn't even sure I could form a coherent sentence, but I refused to give in to him. If he knew how attracted to him I really was, he might use my dark secret against me.
After all, that was what my former best friend, Summer, did to me in junior high.
A hint of a challenge danced in his eyes, making the golden flecks in them appear brighter than before.
My head swam, and my knees wobbled. Even though my mind was screaming Danger! I couldn't look away. If he kissed me again, would I fold



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Divine Vices by Melissa Parkin- Review!


Synopsis

The last thing sixteen-year-old Cassie Foster needs is trouble, but that doesn’t stop him from finding her. 

Nine months after the tragic accident that killed her mother and sister, this high school junior just wants a fresh start. Settling down in the quiet town of New Haven, Maine, she’s found peace at last…until the new resident bad boy, Jackson Matthews, comes into the picture. Arrogant, sarcastic, and devastatingly sexy, he’s the very last thing Cassie wants to entertain. Romance was never part of the plan. But when terrifying circumstances drive these two together, she finds herself in over her head and drawn in by his allure. As local girls begin disappearing, Cassie can’t help but wonder if it’s just a coincidence that everything started when this blue-eyed Casanova strolled into town. Will falling into Jackson’s arms mean she’ll be falling victim to a real lady-killer…or worse? 

The answer will open the door to a world she never thought possible.


My Review

Divine Vices (Divine Vices, #1)Divine Vices by Melissa Parkin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Cassie is a junior in high school who lost her mother and sister in a tragic accident nearly a year ago. She and her father now live in a town in New Hampshire and are trying to move forward with their lives. Cassie is a good student and has a couple close friends, but really doesn't give much time to thought to socializing or dating. A new student named Jack transfers to her school, and simultaneously aggravates and attracts her. She knows that getting involved with a hot bad boy can only end with her hurt, so she tries hard to keep him away. That effort becomes more challenging and simultaneously a lot of terrifying and mysterious things start happening in surrounding cities and to Cassie herself.

This book is easy to get hooked into. From the start, Cassie and her friends are characters that are relatable and enjoyable. They are all very different from one another, but the support they provide to each other is clear. Jack is definitely mysterious, but he is also intriguing and interesting. I like how Cassie is honest with him and how they engage one another in arguments that have some substance. It is hard to know who to trust, and what is really going on for a good while. We don't find out much with regard to specifics of characters and events until close to the end if this book, but some information is revealed and some new mysteries and challenges are presented. This is an interesting YA read, and I look forward to continuing with the series.

* An ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review

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Teaser Tuesday!

Teaser Tuesday


EvenBetter-Teaser2

Title: Even Better (A Stripped Novella) 
Author: Skye Warren

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Lily in Bloom by Tammy Andresen- Book Blitz



Book Blitz 

Lily in Bloom ebook

Book Title: Lily in Bloom 
Author: Tammy Andresen 
Genre: Historical Romance 
Release Date: 9/29/2015 
Hosted by: Book Enthusiast Promotions

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Book Blurb

Lily Carter has one chance to save her family from destitution. She must marry.

The real question now is who? Lily longs for one man, but her attempts to attract Eric Sampson are foiled at every turn. Eric can’t see a future when he’s still tangled in his past, and Lily is forced to consider other suitors despite loving Eric.

When one suitor comes forward who could threaten Lily’s well-being, Eric must set his doubts about marriage aside to protect her. But events have been set in motion neither of them can stop. Will his past destroy both their futures?

excerpt

The tips of his fingers slid down her neck and over her collarbone. “You are so beautiful. Try as I might, I can’t seem to stop thinking about you.”

Lily’s entire body tingled as his lips touched the skin of her collarbone. She had never felt anything like this before and it was utterly amazing. Without thinking, her head tilted back as his lips moved up her neck and along her jaw.

Lily could not think a reasonable thought. She could only feel, and she knew she did not want this to end.

Teasers


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Meet the Author

Tammy Andresen lives with her husband and three children just outside of Boston, Massachussetts. She grew up on the Seacoast of Maine, where she spent countless days dreaming up stories in blueberry fields and among the scrub pines that line the coast. Her mother loved to spin a yarn and Tammy filled many hours listening to her mother retell the classics. It was inevitable that at the age of 18, she headed off to Simmons College, where she studied English literature and education. She never left Massachusetts but some of her heart still resides in Maine and her family visits often.

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