Embrace by S.E. Hall ~ Blog Tour and Giveaway

Synopsis:


Evan Allen is a handsome, athletic, southern gentleman who now attends Georgia Southern University for no good reason.

After what he expected to be the romantic gesture of the century, Evan is looking at no friends, a year of ineligibility on the football team, and no girl.

He's starting over alone and doesn't know quite how to proceed. Certain members of The Crew refuse to let him face things by himself, taking him under their wing, and it doesn't take the ladies long to notice him, either.

Sometimes life doesn't go as you had planned. Sometimes it goes better.

Embrace it.

Embrace, the second book in the Evolve Series by S.E. Hall, follows the characters from her debut New Adult romance, Emerge

Review

 

4 Stars


LOVE LOVE LOVEEEEEEEED Embrace!!


At the end of Emerge we found out that Evan had transferred schools to be with the love of his life, Laney, only to find out she's moved on with Dane. What we didn't know was whether Evan would fight for Laney, move on, or take a whole new path completely. Embrace follows Evan as he tries to figure out what to do now. He's at a new school, no friends, no football, and no girl.
Without giving away too much, let's just say life takes an unexpected turn and he finds exactly what he needs in the most unexpected place.


I have been dying for this book to come out. I fell in love with Evan in the first Evolve book and have been waiting to find out what happens!! He is the epitome of a sweetheart: great manners, a gentleman, romantic, etc, etc, etc.

This series has definitely been an unexpected surprise to me. All of the members of The Crew leave me wanting to read more and more. I am DYING for Sawyer's book next and can't wait to continue reading about everyone!!
*Reviewed by Lauren

Buy Link

http://www.amazon.com/Embrace-Evolve-Series-2-ebook/dp/B00FGFY86G/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1380248858&sr=8-2&keywords=embrace+s.e.hall


About S.E Hall


S.E.Hall resides in Arkansas with her husband of 17 years and 3 beautiful daughters. When not in the stands watching her ladies play softball, she enjoys reading YA and NA romance.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/S.E.HallAuthorEmerge

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7087549.S_E_Hall

Twitter: https://twitter.com/emergeauthor



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The Dumont Diaries by Alessandra Torre ~ Blog Tour and Giveaway

 

 

Synopsis:

  Candace Tapers’ life finally takes an upward swing when Nathan Dumont, shipping heir and notorious playboy, sweeps her away to a lifestyle of wealth and privilege. But that life comes with strings, and she is soon pulled in directions she never expected, discovering secrets and ulterior motives in the man who shares her bed.   *The Dumont Diaries was originally released, and is still available as a four-part miniseries. This book combines the four pieces of the miniseries into one, full-length novel.



Review

5 STEAMY STARS!!!

"Lust is a dangerous thing.  It can make you believe things that are not real.  It can seduce your mind and lead it blindfolded to the cliff that will be its demise."

Love, Love, Love this series.  I LOVE Alessandra Torre!  There was nothing in the HOT STEAMY SEXY Series that was left unturned, unsaid and least of all undone!!!!  And, I was absolutely lucky to consume the whole series in one day!!!!

Gosh.....Where do you start with such a riveting series.......I guess we will start with Candace (her name first part of series and then turns to Jennifer).  Her life was really far from picture perfect - struggling after her mother's death and her father's ailing health she is pretty much consumed keeping her head above water.  After graduating from college, she desperately tries to find work related to her college degree but nothing.  Bills are piling up and with no real job, she turns to a profession that provides fast money.........a Stripper.  Despising every part of her life and wanting so much more she hangs on the edge by barely making enough money to survive.  She is a strong woman who works hard and at the same time trying not to lose herself in her own self pity.  Of course, she wants one time a man to walk into her life and sweep her off her feet but she lives with the notion that no man wants a relationship with her kind........Until Nathan.  Oh mighty goodness!!!!  You can feel every inch of this man through the authors words.......HOT.HOT.HOT!!!!  

"As it turned out, handing over control of your life can be quite stressful, no matter how much of an improvement it is making."

Nathan is a mysterious man who commands control in every situation.  He storms into Candace's (Jennifer) life offering an unbelievable opportunity that is so far from a fairytale romance that she so desperately wants.....Nathan knows what he wants and needs from her.  He has plans and they have nothing to do with a fairytale romance.  

"He is a sickness.  A virus that I cannot combat.  Despite his incredible talent at being an asshole, I want his touch, and his approval.  I want a cure but fear I would hesitate to take the medications."

 

These two individuals take us on a roller coaster ride that has so many dips and turns that leave you hanging on the edge.  Candace(Jennifer) will not let this controlling irrational man continue to humiliate and use her.  She has too much pride in herself to continue with this facade with a man who continuously shows no remorse for his actions.  But in the end, neither Candace or Nathan are sure how they got to where they are......but they know that things will never be the same. 

Again, this is a MUST READ!  AWESOME work Alessandra Torre!  Keep up the good work!

 

*Reviewed by Kim

Meet the Author:

Alessandra Torre is a new author who focuses on contemporary erotica. Her first book, Blindfolded Innocence, was published in July 2012, and was an Erotica #1 Bestseller for two weeks. Alessandra has since published an erotic thriller (The Girl in 6E) and an erotic miniseries (The Dumont Diaries). The sequel to Blindfolded, Masked Innocence, will be released in early 2014. Alessandra lives in a Florida beach town and is married, with one young child. She enjoys reading, spending time with her family, and playing with her dogs. Her favorite authors include Lisa Gardner, Gillian Flynn, and Jennifer Crusie.

 

 

 

Author Links

 

FACEBOOK | TWITTER| GOODREADS | WEBSITE | PINTEREST

 

 

 

 

Buy the Book

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLES

 

 

 

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Follow the Tour

 

 

September 30

True Story Book Blog | Deal Sharing Aunt | Booze, Bookz and Bad Boyz | Snarky Mom Reads...

October 1

{Books She Reads} | Mean Girls Luv Books | Three Girls and a Book Obsession | Crash the Party

October 2

Mustreadbooksordie | Madison Says | Cafebiblioart | First Class Books | Stephanie's Book Reports

October 3

Room With Books | Crystal's Many Reviews | Island Lovelies | Scandalous Book Blog

October 4

Mommy's a Book Whore | Sugar and Spice Book Reviews | Life with Lesley | Mia's Point of View | Sam's Book Basket

 

 

Promise Me Light by Paige Weaver ~ Blog Tour and Giveaway

 Book Info: Title: Promise Me Light
Author: Paige Weaver
Series: Promise Me #2
Available: September 24, 2013
Cover Design: Sarah Hansen of Okay Creations

Synopsis:

The epic conclusion of New York Times bestselling book “Promise Me Darkness”
“I’m darkness, Maddie. Stay away from men like me. You’ll only get hurt.”
At one time my life was simple. Easy. But that was before the war. Now I was no longer an average college student. I was a survivor. A woman living in a ravaged world. My future was not bright and my life was far from perfect. The war had taken so much from me… but it wasn’t finished yet. It wanted more.
It wanted my heart. My soul. The one person I couldn’t live without.
It wanted Ryder Delaney. My best friend. The bad boy. The one person who could fight like no other and love me like no one else. I watched him walk away one hot summer day and I prayed he would return. I needed him like I needed air to breathe and water to drink. Without him I was lost. A light without her darkness.
Until he returns, I’ll wait for him. And I believe he will return because love is powerful…
And so is the light calling him home.



 Review

4 Stars


Oh man, it felt like I was waiting forever on this sequel!!

Promise Me Light picks up right where Promise Me Darkness ended. Maddie, Ryder, their friends, and family are still struggling to survive during the war. Ryder has gone to try and save Maddie's best friend, Eva, and still hasn't returned. Days, weeks, months pass by and still no sign of return.

Maddie is struggling to keep on living without Ryder. She pushes forward knowing she's carrying his baby, feeling he's still alive, hoping he'll return.

This book (and series) are so emotional, scary, mind blowing, and flippin' awesome. The love that Maddie and Ryder feel for each other is unfathomable. You can feel the depth of their emotions for each other, feel their pain, their love, their insecurities, and all that in between. Ryder is amazingly protective and would do absolutely anything to protect her and make her happy-including risk his life. Maddie has always been the good in his life. Caring for him on his bad days, rescuing him on his drunk days, and forgiving him on his stupid days.

The book itself definitely makes you think "what if this really happens to us?". A war in the United States, hiding and fighting for survival, no power, food, electricity. It really opens to your eyes to what's happening overseas and what could possibly happen.

I loved the raw emotion you could feel off every character in this book. The desperation each of them felt. The strength that each of them possessed to keep moving forward. It was awe inspiring and completely heart felt.

The end of the book shifted a little abruptly for me from survival mode to 3 years later. I wish I had a little more of the in between, but I also realize that the book was more about the characters then the war itself. Overall I highly recommend this series. While they aren't your my typical smut or light-hearted romances, they were definitely two books I won't forget anytime soon!!


*Reviewed by Lauren

About the Author:

 

Paige Weaver lives in Texas with her husband and two children. Her love for books became a love for writing at a young age. She wrote her first book as a teenager and continued writing throughout the years. Encouraged by her husband, she finally decided to self-publish. Her debut novel, Promise Me Darkness, was released in April 2013 and quickly became a New York Times and USA Today bestseller. Her second book, Promise Me Light, will be released in September 2013. She is currently working on other novels to be released in 2014.

 

Author Links:

• website http://www.authorpaigeweaver.blogspot.com/
• twitter https://twitter.com/AuthorPWeaver
• facebook https://www.facebook.com/AuthorPaigeWeaver
• goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7034900.Paige_Weaver

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Who We Are by Shanora Williams ~ Blog Tour and Giveaway

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?

Review

Who We Are (Fire Nine #2) - Shanora Williams

4.5 Stars


I could not wait to get my hands on this book! I’ve been left on my knees like Gage at the end of Who He Is. I fell in love with Gage Grendel, the lead singer & lyricist for FireNine. His heart was broken when Eliza White left him. It wasn’t an easy decision for her to make either. She was just as torn, but she had set a goal to finish at the University of VA and get her art degree. I admired her for sticking with the goals she had set for herself even if it was at the expense of having a broken heart.

Now eight months have passed since she broke off her relationship with Gage. They have had no contact and she has avoided going home to visit because she knows that Gage & the rest of the band hang out at her Dad’s house. He’s the band’s manager. But now the time has come for her to start her internship at Arts Global and she can’t avoid going home now.


“Gage----I’m sorry. I----” ~ Eliza


“Eliza,” he said raggedly, shaking his head. “Don’t. I understand we all have dreams. We all have that one thing we want in life, but can I not be a part of that? Can I not be a part of you accomplishing those dreams? I’m not asking you to drop out of school or drop everything for me. If anything, I want you to finish, but I want you to do it with me.” ~ Gage


This is full of wants, desires, dreams, frustration, heartache & loss. Longing to be with the one that you know completes you. Eliza knows she hurt Gage and let their love go, but she continues on with her internship. In the mix of this, Penelope Binds, the daughter of the head honcho for FireNine, still has her claws in Gage. She will hold anything over his head to have him. Gage is stuck in the middle and I didn’t care for his weakness in his decisions regarding Penelope.


This story had it's ups and downs and I really enjoyed the turmoil, reconnections and the outcome at the end. The sub characters definitely added to the story’s enjoyment. I recommend checking this book out, but read Who He Is first.


Review by Jessie L.

Meet Shanora:

Facebook / Twitter / Website / Goodreads

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.

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Torn by Kim Karr ~ Review

Synopsis:

Rock star River Wilde brought Dahlia London back from the brink of hopelessness with his unwavering love and devotion. But their entangled history is about to test the strength of their relationship…

Dahlia was certain she had found true love and met her "Once in a Lifetime’ when she reconnected with River. But Dahlia’s world comes crashing down when someone from her past resurfaces, and all of River’s carefully hidden secrets are exposed.

River wants to show Dahlia that life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass—it’s about dancing in the rain. But how many times can one broken heart be mended? Will River and Dahlia be able to stay together or will they be torn apart?

Review

*First a word of advice, it had been awhile for me since I read Connected. When I started Torn I was a little confused at the events taking place and had to go back and re-read the last several chapters of Connected before I started Torn to refresh my memory. You may want to do this.

Not at all what I was expecting! My mind was set that this book was going to all revolve around one big obstacle and don't get me wrong, in a way it did but Kim took this in a direction I never expected.....so much angst, emotion, gut-wrenching torment and I loved every second of it! 4 stars.

"You were wrong, River, we are in pieces."

When the past and present collide, Dahlia and River are left with their relationship in tatters.  It's not really that they question their love for one another, there are just too many misunderstandings that the other takes the wrong way. They are both stressed to the max and overreacting and judging every little thing and it causes such a strain on their relationship.  Will the strength of the love they feel for one another hold them together? Or will the past and insecurities manage to tear them apart?

"I love you, Dahlia, I love everything about you. You’re perfect, really…. And I will love you more, forever.”

This is a must read series! Connected was phenomenal and Torn managed to wrap the things up nicely and give me just the closure I need on  Dahlia and River's epic love story.


Buy Links

Good by S. Walden ~ Blog Tour and Giveaway

Blurb:


Cadence Miller is a good girl. She just happens to make one terrible mistake her junior year in high school which costs her ten months in juvenile detention. Now a senior, she’s lost everything: her best friend, the trust of her parents, driving privileges, Internet access. It’s a lonely existence.

But there is one bright spot: Mark Connelly, her very cute, very off-limits 28-year-old calculus teacher. She falls hard for him—a ridiculous schoolgirl crush headed nowhere. She can’t help it. He’s the only good thing at Crestview High. She doesn’t expect him to reciprocate her feelings. How inappropriate, right? But he does. And he shows her.

And that’s when her life goes from bad to good.

(New Adult romance)



Review

I'm so torn on how to write this review, I'm such a big fan of forbidden love stories and I enjoyed this book BUT there were a few parts that literally made me cringe, but obviously not enough to stop me from reading the book. I must say that I do not approve of the age difference in this relationship. Am I getting old? I like to think not...I'm only 35 but I have a 16 year-old daughter and that part just kept creeping into my brain as I was reading. I don't know....maybe that's the whole point of the book, maybe that's what drawls you to it...the temptation....you know it's wrong, but yet I just couldn't stop reading. S. Warden's pushes the boundaries in this forbidden romance and her writing was spot on and had me clinging to every last word until I finished. 4 stars.

Candace's life has been hell. She made a wrong decision one night, ended up with the wrong crowd and has spent almost the last year of her life in trouble and in Juvie playing for her mistakes.  While in Juvie and fulfilling her work duties, picking up trash along side the road, she runs into a hot guy changing a flat tire who is nice to her even when she is humiliated by one of the officers. When she is released from Juvie her religious parents keep a very tight rein on her, she has no freedom at all. She heads back to school and of course, she is the outcast being bullied by students who used to be her friends. To make matters worse, that very hot guy changing his tire walks into her first period class and happens to be her Calculus teacher, Mark Connelly. Mark sees how sad Candace is and he just wants to make her happy, and Candace is happy when she's with Mark. The more time they spend together, they can't deny their attraction and pretty soon they give in to their attraction even with the threat of getting in trouble. What happens when boundaries are crossed between student and teacher?


"You're the saddest thing I've ever seen, Cadence. The loneliest thing I've ever seen. And any chance I get to see you smile, I'm gonna take it."


Do I think this series is for everyone? No. Will I be reading the next book in the series? Definitely! I need to know what happens to these flawed characters and if their love will survive it all.


*Review by Brandi



Buy Links
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Good-Too-1-ebook/dp/B00ESG4TLS/ref=pd_sim_kstore_1


B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/good-summer-walden/1116800558?ean=2940148624264


Createspace: https://www.createspace.com/4358263


Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/351241

Bio


S. Walden used to teach English before making the best decision of her life by becoming a full-time writer. She lives in Georgia with her very supportive husband who prefers physics textbooks over fiction and has a difficult time understanding why her characters must have personality flaws. She is wary of small children, so she has a Westie instead. Her dreams include raising chickens and owning and operating a beachside inn on the Gulf Coast (chickens included). When she's not writing, she's thinking about it.


She loves her fans and loves to hear from them. Email her at swaldenauthor@hotmail.com and visit her website at www.swaldenauthor.com to get up-to-date information on her current projects.


Author Links

Website www.swaldenauthor.com


twitter username @swaldenauthor


Facebook page www.facebook.com/swaldenauthor


Goodreads Page


Goodreads Book Link 






Additional Contest ~ Find Mark Connelly Book Cover Contest

Fans, I need your help! I cannot find a picture of the perfect Mark Connelly to go on my cover of BETTER. I've given up and am handing the matter over to you. Here' the deal: find me a picture of Mark and you may win a signed copy of both GOOD and BETTER. Oh yeah, and you'll be acknowledged on the copyright page of BETTER, too!

The Rules:

1. ONE submission per person. Email me THE LINK to your perfect pic at swaldenauthor@hotmail.com (I gotta know where to purchase it)
2. The pic must be a stock photo with a model release (pics on sites like dreamstime.com and shutterstock.com have model releases. They actually say it.).

Contest will run from 9/30 – 10/21. Make sure you get your submissions in before 12 A. M. on 10/21.
He's out there. I know it. Now someone find him for me!
Note: I reserve the right to cancel this contest at any time if I stumble across the perfect pic. I don't think that's gonna happen, though.


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The Wager by Rachel Van Dyken ~ Release Day Blitz and Giveaway

THE WAGER
By Rachel Van Dyken
Genre: Contemporary

Summary


Lose a bet, lose your heart...



What is it about a junior-high crush that can send an otherwise intelligent woman into a tailspin? TV reporter Char Lynn wishes she knew. Jake Titus is too rich, too handsome, too arrogant: a trifecta that once lured Char into the best night-and worst morning-after-of her life. Now they've been thrown together in a wedding party. It's awkward, but survivable . . . until Jake stops acting like a jerk, and starts acting like the man she'd always hoped he could be.



If watching your brother marry your best friend is weird, being attracted to your best friend's other best friend is downright bizarre. Unfortunately for Jake, Char hasn't forgotten how he once tossed her aside. Worse still, Jake's already-nutty grandma is even crazier about Char. Cue meet-cute shenanigans and all manner of meddling, and somehow, Jake's falling. For Char. Now all he has to do is make her believe it . . .




Excerpt


“Jake!” Grandma peered around the mannequin and yelled. “Help her out of that dress! We have a wedding emergency! Hurry!”


“Right.” Jake released Char’s hand and shook his head as he took a step away. “Wouldn’t be the first time I’ve helped you out of your clothes, huh, Char?”


And special moment gone.


Ignoring the burning sensation on her face, Char walked into the dressing room and pulled the curtain.


“Don’t you need help?” came Jake’s voice.


“I think I know how to undress myself, Jake.”


“Yes.” His warm chuckle made Char want to smack him. Shivering, she reached for the zipper. “But when I do it, it’s unforgettable. That’s all I’m saying.”


Fine. She’d had enough. Refusing to let him think she was afraid of him touching her, she took his challenge. With a huff Char pulled open the curtain. “Prove it.”


His eyes widened and then a wicked smile curved his lips. “My pleasure.”


The way the man said “pleasure” did really unfortunate things to Char’s body, things that made her re-think her rash decision.


“Where’s the zipper?”


“Aww… can’t find it? That happen to you often, Jake? Can’t find the zipper, where does my equipment go…”


“Oh that, I never have problems with. You should know.”


Her eyes narrowed into slits as she watched him close the curtain and then do a turning motion with his finger.


She turned around and faced the mirror. Jake placed his hands on her shoulders then ran them down both of her arms. She would not shiver, she would not react!


He placed his hands on her hips, then unzipped the dress. Slowly he ran his hands back up the sides of her body, all the way until he hit just below her breasts. Her breath hitched as he winked at her in the mirror, bypassing her breasts and finding the fastener behind her neck.


Char chewed on her lower lip as she watched him delicately undo the fastener and then held the dress to her body so it wouldn’t fall.


“You have beautiful hair.” He ran a few pieces through his fingers and sighed, locking eyes with her in the mirror.


He wasn’t smiling. Was he seriously paying her a compliment? To her face? Or her reflection?


“I, uhh—”


“It’s just a compliment, Char. Not a proposal.”


She blushed profusely. “Thank you.”


The way he looked at her made her feel naked. And now she remembered why things had gone haywire in the first place. She never knew which Jake she was talking to. The one who had been her friend when she was little, or the millionaire playboy who had no soul.


Char doubted he even knew which one he was. She just needed to make sure she remembered, lest she end up with a broken heart again.


“Everyone decent?” Grandma called from the other side of the curtain.


Jake stepped back and winked. “Unfortunately.”


Char felt her face heat.


“Damn,” Grandma called. “You’ve lost your touch, son.”


“Don’t I know it.” He licked his lips and nodded one last time at Char before stepping on the other side of the curtain.




Buy Links:



Amazon: http://amzn.to/1bMQ9Wa



Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/1bMQisp


ibooks: http://bit.ly/1eNaknV

Author Bio:


Rachel Van Dyken is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author of regency and contemporary romances. When she's not writing you can find her drinking coffee at Starbucks and plotting her next book while watching The Bachelor. She keeps her home in Idaho with her Husband and their snoring Boxer, Sir Winston Churchill. She loves to hear from readers! You can follow her writing journey at http://rachelvandykenauthor.com/




Author’s Social Networking links:


Blog: http://rachelvandykenauthor.com


Twitter: @RachVD


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


Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4882127.Rachel_Van_Dyken



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