Monday, June 29, 2015

Priest by Sierra Simone ~ Release Day Blitz and Giveaway

Priest cover


Synopsis:


There are many rules a priest can't break. A priest cannot marry. A priest cannot abandon his flock. A priest cannot forsake his God. I've always been good at following rules. Until she came. My name is Tyler Anselm Bell. I'm twenty-nine years old. Six months ago, I broke my vow of celibacy on the altar of my own church, and God help me, I would do it again. I am a priest and this is my confession. ***Priest is a standalone, full-length novel with an HEA. For mature audiences only.***


Priest Teaser    








Purchase Links: Amazon ~ http://amzn.to/1dspTD4 iBooks ~ http://apple.co/1J0WXxn B&N ~ http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/priest-sierra-simone/1122129279 Kobo ~ https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/priest-17 Add to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25507389-priest









 About the Author


Sierra Simone is a former librarian who spent too much time reading romance novels at the information desk. She lives with her husband and family in Kansas City.




Social Media Links: Instagram: https://instagram.com/thesierrasimone Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheSierraSimone Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sierra-Simone/497450453680395?fref=ts Facebook fan page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/953848401332729/ Goodreads author page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7369992.Sierra_Simone?from_search=true&search_version=service Goodreads fan group: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/166241-sierra-simone-books


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A Lush Reunion by Selena Laurence ~Release Day Blitz and Giveaway





A Lush Reunion
(Lush No. 4)
by Selena Laurence
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Releases June 29, 2015




Synopsis

Ten years ago Lush bassist Colin Douglas met the love of his life. Then she broke his heart. Now, in a small Texas town, in the midst of the breakup of his band, Colin has found Marsha, and he has no idea what to do with her.

Marsha O’Neill hasn’t had it easy. Since losing Colin nothing's gone right for this east Texas waitress—except for Sean, her six-year-old son. She’s worked hard to give Sean what he needs—the best of her. Then a hot bass player walks into her bar and she knows the world isn’t done screwing with her yet.

What happens when life gives you a second chance? Can you learn to trust again, live again, love again? Colin and Marsha are about to find out that second chances don’t come easy.


Excerpt

She looks down, fiddling with her bracelet, taking a deep breath. "It's hard I guess. Imagining you with other people. All these years you've sort of been stuck in my imagination as my boyfriend. I never saw you with other people, didn't have to go through that, so when you showed up here it was like being tossed back ten years. I don't know who you were after you weren't mine anymore."

"Yea, that's a good way of describing it. Like all those years never passed. The feelings are all still there. I guess we never dealt with them, did we?"

She shakes her head. "Have you forgiven me?"

"Excuse me?" I ask, thinking I heard her wrong.

"Have you forgiven me? Or do you think you ever will? I've wondered all these years if you ever forgave me. And if you did, could we be friends or something. And now you're here, and we're talking like civilized adults, and I just wonder if that means you've forgiven me?"



Discover The Lush Series


A Lush Triangle (Lush No. .5)

** FREE **


A Lush Betrayal (Lush No. 1) 

** FREE **
iTunes   |   Goodreads

Loving a Lush (Lush No. 2) 

Lowdown and Lush (Lush No. 3)
B&N   |   iTunes


A Lush Engagement 
(Free Short Story) 



The Origin of Lush

Ideas for stories come to writers in all sorts of different ways. And for me it’s been different each time I’ve written a book. I started the Hiding From Love series after I dreamed the first book. It went through some different iterations after that initial dream, but the core of the story remained the same.

The Lush series, appropriately, originated in a song. Long Black Veil was a song originally written by The Band in 1968, then made famous by Johnny Cash. It was covered by Dave Matthews Band a few decades later, and that was the version I first heard.

Long Black Veil tells the story of a man who is accused of killing his best friend in an old west town. The accusation is sketchy and the justice is swift, ending with the man’s execution. But the song tells us that he had an alibi he didn’t use. His alibi was his best friend’s wife…who he’d been having an affair with.

So, we have a story where the wife and her husband’s best friend are in bed together while her husband is out on a street getting shot. When her lover goes to trial, the woman doesn’t step forward, and even though he was cheating with his best friend’s wife, the main character has some integrity left, and he won’t reveal the widow’s infidelity.

The chorus of the song is this:

She walks these hills in a long black veil
She visits my grave where the night winds wail
Nobody knows, no, and nobody sees
Nobody knows but me.

(Those of you who have read the first book in the Lush series, A Lush Betrayal, should recognize significant elements of the story by now).

Long Black Veil is a short little song, just three verses and the chorus, but as any well-written words can do, it raises powerful emotions and issues. Those emotions and issues were what sparked the idea of the Lush series, and they carry on throughout all four books.

When I listened to Long Black Veil what I thought of was, “is there a way to take this and give it a happy ending?” See, I hate sad endings (hence the whole romance writing gig), and this one crushed my heart. So I set out to take the idea—two friends—as close as brothers, one woman, a horrible mistake, and the ideas of guilt, consequence, repentance, and forgiveness. From that was born the story of Joss, Walsh, Tammy, and the band that loves them all.

My newest release, A LUSH REUNION, gives the whole group the happy endings that Long Black Veil couldn’t. I hope you like reading it as much as I loved writing it!

**To listen to Long Black Veil the Johnny Cash version click here.

The Dave Matthews version click here.

Series Playlist

The Lush series is about a rock band, the story originated from a song, and music has been a very important part of writing the books too. Here is a playlist of some of the most important songs (according to me!) for each of the books in the series. Take a listen and tell me if you see story or character elements from Lush when you hear these songs:

A Lush Betrayal:

Long Black Veil
Fortunate Son
My City of Ruins
Selena Laurence is the Barnes and Noble Bestselling author of what she likes to call Edgy Contemporary Romance. Her books have been Amazon Top 10 bestsellers in multiple categories including Multicultural Romance, Hispanic Fiction, Urban Fiction, Military Romance, and Romantic Suspense. Her New Adult romance, Hidden, won the 2014 Reader's Crown Award for Contemporary Romance of the year.

Selena lives in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains and spends a hell of a lot of time at soccer games, on her laptop, and reading. She requires a Mocha Latte every day to function, keeps a goldendoodle at her feet most of the time, and has more kids than she or Mr. Laurence know what to do with.

Connect with Selena



Giveaway



Thursday, June 25, 2015

Red Carpet Kiss by Melissa Brown ~ Blog Tour and Giveaway



RED CARPET KISS
by Melissa Brown
Add to Goodreads
Release Date:June 30th
Buy from Amazon 


After penning a series of bestselling novels, Eleanor Riley vowed to leave her past—and the man who broke her heart—far behind. As the creator of one of television’s most beloved dramas, Elle couldn’t have written a better comeback for herself. But her success doesn’t leave much room in her life for romance…until Luke Kingston enters the scene.

Luke, a stunningly handsome star, is set to play the latest love interest in Elle’s show…but he’s got his eye on Elle, and she can’t deny their sizzling chemistry. Then Elle has a chance encounter with Troy Saladino—the man who had been the love of her life—and suddenly a million old feelings are rushing back.

With two gorgeous men pursuing her, Elle can’t decide who holds the key to her heart: her new love or her old flame. Will her choice bring her happiness—or more heartbreak?



“I wish I could read your mind right now.”

Troy leaned in across the table, his eyes boring into hers. “I don’t think you’re ready for that.”

Elle felt bold, as if she had nothing to lose. Her breath was quickening as her eyes remained fixed on Troy’s. “Try me.”

Troy lowered his voice to a whisper. “Right now, I’m thinking about how good your lips would taste. I’m thinking about how much I want to pay the check, walk out of here, and press you up against the bricks of the building.” He paused for a minute. “Should I go on?”

Elle had a sudden awareness of her own heartbeat; her fingers tingled with the need to touch and be touched by the gorgeous man on the other side of the table. Those eyes, those soulful brown eyes, focused on hers as if she were the most beautiful creature on the planet.

“Yes,” she whispered.

He glanced around briefly before continuing. “I’m thinking about pressing you against that brick wall, and unbuttoning your blouse. I’d take my time, savoring the look and feel of you as I opened each one.”

Elle swallowed hard, her palms began to sweat, and her nerve endings stirred beneath her skin. Their hands were still enmeshed on the table, and she realized

Troy was now stroking her palm with his fingertips. That simple touch left her craving him, as much of him as she could possibly obtain. She wanted to make the table vanish, to push it all aside, eliminating all distance between her and the man who was making her heart pound out of control.

“What else?” She parted her legs slightly, feeling completely enveloped in her need for Troy.

“I’ll pay the check and then I’ll tell you. How does that sound?”

“Good.”

Troy released her hand and rose from the table. He walked to the other side of the restaurant, where their waiter happened to be standing. He pulled him aside, opened his wallet, and handed him a bundle of cash. Then, with a cocky grin, he joined Elle, who managed to stand despite her wobbly and weakened knees.
When he took her hand and led her outside, Troy did exactly what he had described inside. The brick felt harsh against her back, but it didn’t matter. All she wanted was to touch and explore every inch of Troy’s body. His lips crashed against hers. One hand cupped her ass as the other toyed with the collar of her blouse.

“God, I’ve missed you,” she murmured between kisses as Troy unbuttoned the first button of her blouse. “I’ve missed this.”

“Shhh,” Troy whispered, popping the next button, exposing the lace of her bra. His fingertips danced over the exposed fabric, tickling her sensitive skin, creating a delectable shiver down her spine. His lips pressed again to hers, and immediately Elle opened her mouth, inviting him in. He deepened the kiss, stroking her tongue with his own in determined yet gentle strokes. Arousal built within her as her hands roamed his back, his neck, his hair.

“Should we go somewhere . . . somewhere more private?” Elle asked, suddenly aware they were in public when she heard the voices of people walking past the restaurant. “Your place, maybe?”

“No,” Troy answered.

“No?”

“I think we should say good-night.”

“You can’t be serious.” Elle’s vision became clouded, and her throat ran dry.

“I think we should take things slow.”

“You call this slow?” She could feel her pulse pounding in her ears. She planted her feet in a wide stance, crossing her arms in front of her chest. “What’s going on, Troy? Are you still pissed off? Is this all a game to you?”

Troy ran his fingers through his hair. “No, of course not. You know me better than that.”

“Maybe not.” Her fingers fumbled to button her blouse. She felt ridiculous, foolish, like Troy was playing with her emotions. Turning her on only to walk away from her. She’d felt that
ten years ago; she didn’t want to feel 



Review

Red Carpet Kiss was a “cute” read. I really wanted to feel just a little more angst from the characters. Melissa’s writing is always good though and the story was relatable because Elle, even though her fame seemed so down to earth and her insecurities made her “real”. 4 stars.

The story revolves around Elle and the show she has created based on her past relationship, a relationship that fell apart and influenced her present relationships which are non-existent…until she meets Luke. Find out what happens when Elle’s blast from the past shows back up in her life….can Elle work out her issues and find her true love?

I enjoyed Red Carpet Kiss. I loved the glimpses of the past we got, and just wish we could get a little more of the future. I do hope that Whitney gets her story; I’m excited to read more on her and Nolan!


*Reviewed by Brandi


Melissa Brown was born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago. She attended the University of Illinois and is the mother of two fantastic kids. She's an avid reader who enjoys making handmade gifts for her family and friends, as well as baking and painting. Melissa has an unhealthy obsession with pop culture. She speaks fluent movie quotes from the 1980s (John Hughes = genius), reads celebrity gossip magazines and never misses an episode of Scandal. She enjoys writing contemporary romance, romantic suspense and young adult novels.

All of Melissa's books are currently available exclusively through Amazon.com and are part of the Kindle Unlimited Program.

CAM GIRL by Leah Raeder ~ Cover Reveal


BOOK DESCRIPTION:   
 


Vada Bergen is broke, the black sheep of her family, and moving a thousand miles away from home for grad school, but she’s got the two things she loves most: her art, and her best friend and soulmate, Ellis Carraway. Elle and Vada have a friendship so consuming it’s hard to tell where one girl ends and the other begins. It’s intense. It’s a little codependent. And nothing can tear them apart.

Until an accident on an icy winter road changes everything.

Vada is left deeply scarred, both emotionally and physically. Her once-promising art career is cut short. And Ellis pulls away, unwilling to talk about that night. Everything Vada loved is gone.

She’s got nothing left to lose.

So when she meets a smooth-talking lothario who offers to set her up as a cam girl, she can’t say no. All Vada has to do is spend a couple hours each night taking off her clothes on webcam, and the “tips” come pouring in.

It’s all just kinky fun till a client gets serious. “Blue” is mysterious, alluring, and more interested in Vada’s life than her body. Online, they open up to each other intimately. Blue helps her heal. And he pays well, but he wants her all to himself. No more cam shows. She agrees, because she’s starting to fall for him. And when he asks to meet, she says yes. Because she’s dying to know the real man behind the keyboard.

Even if one of his conditions is to bring Ellis. The girl who wants nothing to do with her anymore.

Now Vada must confront the past she’s been running from. A past full of devastating secrets—those of others, and those she’s been keeping from herself…

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Leah Raeder is a writer and unabashed nerd. Aside from reading her brains out, she enjoys graphic design, video games, fine whiskey, and the art of self-deprecation. She lives with her very own manic pixie dream boy in Chicago. Visit her at LeahRaeder.com.


PRE-ORDER:
IndieBound
Kobo

UK LINKS:
Amazon
Waterstones
WHSmith
Apple
Barnes & Noble
Kobo

AUS LINKS:
Bookworld
Booktopia
Apple
Amazon

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Beat by Vi Keeland ~ Blog Tour and Giveaway



Meet Flynn and Lucky in this rock star romance!
AVAILABLE NOW!


Amazon US http://amzn.to/1MWanfu
Amazon UK http://amzn.to/1fczMX5


Watch the trailer for Beat ➜ http://bit.ly/1yZD0Am
beat cover.jpg
Blurb
Dimpled smile of a boy
Hard body of a man
Sings like an angel
Fucks like the devil
I was stuck between a rock(star) and a hard place.
At fifteen, his poster hung on my bedroom wall. At twenty-five his body hovered over mine. Every girl’s fantasy became my reality. I was dating a rockstar. Yet I was slowly falling for another man. The problem was—the two men—they shared a tour bus.
Flynn Beckham was the opening act.
Dylan Ryder was the headliner.
What happens when the opening act begins to shine so bright, it seems to dim everything else in its wake?
I’ll tell you what happens. Things get ugly.
beat teaser new.jpg
Excerpt #1


Getting through Flynn singing is incredibly hard. The way his throat moves, the way his mouth caresses each syllable of the low, raspy sound that falls from his lips. I should be watching his posture, his breathing, the way his larynx forces out the words—but instead I’m focused on the beauty of his mouth and how the sound of his voice glides over my body, making it feel both warm and tingly at the same time. I’m lost when the song finishes, yet I haven’t really observed him yet.
“So. Give it to me straight. What am I doing wrong?”
Ummm…absolutely nothing from what I can see. Everything was perfect. Don’t change a thing. Shit. “Could you do it again? Maybe a different song, one you haven’t sung in a while. So the sounds are less familiar to your body. Sometimes that can give me a different view.” At least I make it sound like a real thing when the words come out.
He sings again, and this time I force myself to observe. “Hmm…your posture is great. Most people have a tendency to favor one side of their neck, which makes them tilt a bit when they speak, and it becomes magnified when they sing, which puts strain on the muscles around the vocal cords. Your alignment is perfect.”
“Thank you, it goes with the rest of my perfectness,” he says with a teasing arrogance that, from the little I know about him, I know isn’t real.
“You didn’t let me finish.”
“You can’t now tell me I’m not perfect. I was already basking in the glow.”
“Actually, it was perfect…but almost a little too perfect. Which makes me think you don’t usually stand this way when you sing.”
“It isn’t the way I normally sing. On stage, I usually have a guitar over my shoulder. Even if I’m not playing it, it’s there.”
“Well, I need to see you holding your instrument to assess you fully, then.”
Flynn’s eyebrows quirk up and the dirty grin on his face is unmistakable.
“The guitar. I’d need to see you holding the guitar.
“That’s a shame.” He shrugs, the playful smile still on his face. “But okay. It’s your call. Whatever instrument you want to see me hold is fine with me.”
“How big of you.”
“So now we’re talking about the other instrument again?”
I roll my eyes, although this conversation is having more of an effect on me than I let on.

Review
I couldn’t wait to get my hands on BEAT! The cover of the book and the blurb are perfection! I really did enjoy BEAT, I am such a sucker for a good love triangle.  My only complaint is I wish I would have felt more angst, while it was there, I think the opportunity was there to really crank the factor up and it just lacked a little for me.  4 stars. 

Lucky is truly the luckiest girl ever! I couldn’t even imagine having the copportunity to date your childhood fantasy…the heartthrob who hung on your bedroom wall as a teenager.  But then she meets Flynn, and he makes her question her life with Dylan. Vi did a good job writing Flynn as the perfect book boyfriend, Lucky’s decision was an easy one for me to see!

“A man I’ve wanted since I was fifteen. I’m living every girl’s fantasy. Only, I’m not a girl anymore.”

I would definitely give Throb and Beat a try!  I enjoyed both books….quick, fun, sexy reads!

*Reviewed by Brandi


beat... Teaser.jpg

Additional Books by Vi Keeland
Throb
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1zk882K


Worth the Fight (MMA Fighter Series, Book One)
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1alpVES
Smashwords - http://bit.ly/1is0zNX


Worth The Chance (MMA Fighter Series, Book Two)


Worth Forgiving (MMA Fighter Series, Book Three)


Belong to You (A Cole Novel, Book One)


Made For You (A Cole Novel, Book Two)


First Thing I See (Stand Alone)


Left Behind (Stand Alone)
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1wvew5K


About the Author:
vi keeland bio.png
Vi Keeland is a native New Yorker with three children that occupy most of her free time, which she complains about often, but wouldn't change for the world. She is a bookworm and has been known to read her kindle at stop lights, while styling her hair, cleaning, walking, during sporting events, and frequently while pretending to work. She is a boring attorney by day, and an exciting smut author by night!





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