Month: July 2014

BOOK REVIEW: UGLY LOVE by COLLEEN HOOVER @ColleenHoover






Ugly Love

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Rating: ★★★★★
When Tate Collins meets airline pilot Miles Archer, she knows it isn’t love at first sight. They wouldn’t even go so far as to consider themselves friends. The only thing Tate and Miles have in common is an undeniable mutual attraction. Once their desires are out in the open, they realize they have the perfect set-up. He doesn’t want love, she doesn’t have time for love, so that just leaves the sex. Their arrangement could be surprisingly seamless, as long as Tate can stick to the only two rules Miles has for her.
Never ask about the past.
Don’t expect a future.
They think they can handle it, but realize almost immediately they can’t handle it at all.
Hearts get infiltrated.
Promises get broken.
Rules get shattered.
Love gets ugly.
I was helluva excited about Ugly Love but I was a bit scared to actually read it because I loved Colleen’s previous works especially Maybe Someday. I kept thinking that while there is a good chance I’d really enjoy UL, I’m never going to feel the same way about it that I did with MS. It would be like the replacement goldfish that your parents try to convince you to take care of is just as great as the one you had to flush down the toilet. It’s not its fault but it’s just not the same as the first you really loved.
The verdict? Colleen Hoover has nailed it A.G.A.I.N.! 
I typically don’t make bold statements like this but I’m going to because I feel so strongly after reading UL. CoHo has been a go-to author for me since the day she wrote Slammed. Whenever there’s a new release, I beat down the doors to get it. If I were in my teen days, I’d probably be wearing shirts proclaiming the awesomeness that is Colleen Hoover and would probably be making posters hanging in my wall just like the one’s I did for my favorite boy bands back in the 90′s (true story).
Colleen Hoover is an auto-buy author for me for wonderfully written contemporary novels with swoon-worthy and unforgettable characters. She infuses so many unpredictable elements into her books and the little details are so wonderful. Ugly Love of course is no exception. From an awesome and very peculiar reference to Tate and Miles relationship down to the delicate choice of words. I just found myself smiling at the smallest details and it added so much to my overall enjoyment of the story. CoHo writes the perfect contemporary novel for me. It isn’t so distorted of a reality that it becomes too unbelievable but it has just enough drama that keeps you reading. Because, let’s be honest here, if novels were TOO realistic, we’d be bored and feel like we were reading about our own stories. She writes things I felt as a teen and still feel now at 33 <<–(secret).
All of her characters really felt alive and real to me. Its not very usual that I adore the heroine. Most of the times I want to slap them with their own book. But here in UL, I’d say I loved Tate more than I loved Miles. She’s different. She can be funny but when you get to know her a little deeper, you would know there is more to Tate than just those funny lines and sexy body. Even if she proclaims she doesn’t have time to have a serious relationship, she knew from the start how she really felt for Miles and that is more than just their arrangement for sex. I can honestly say that I felt like I was reading the character of Tate as a big sister. I was protective of her, I wanted to hug her during both crappy and awesome moments. 
And Miles? I know you want to know if the boy is as wonderful and remarkable and swoon-worthy as Will and Ridge. Oh YES ladies! Eat your heart out. Be prepared to be so thrilled about the book boyfriend that CoHo has handed to you on a silver platter. There are seriously not enough “nice guys” in Contemp lit. But Miles could lead the army against all those douchenozzles that seem to be in the “in” thing now. I want to see more guys that are super nice, but not pushovers, and actually have a personality. Miles is one. He’s polite, responsible, very committed to his work and honestly the type of guy I love and I truly felt as though he complemented Tate so well. He’s nice but not perfect. He’s got some unusual habits and interests and some stupid boy moments. He likes, oh scratch that! He needs Tate but not in a romantic way; not in the way she likes him. But he was very vocal about his needs and very upfront about it. No attachments. No Love. Just plain SEX. And the only way they could continue with this arrangement is if Tate follows 2 of his rules. 

“Never ask about the past.
Don’t expect a future.”

It may look absurd, one-way and very UGLY. But Miles has his reasons. Something about his past that made him so apprehensive to start feeling it again. But love, no matter how ugly it could become, has its own instinct, finding the way to the heart. It has its own way to reach its own destiny. And once the destination is found, it follows its own path to blossom.
I don’t want to give away anything about this book, but I honestly loved the whole story, the romance, the tension that was present in different threads of the story, and the ending! Oh my goodness! I felt myself charmed by Tate and swept up in Mile’s life. He certainly went through a lot in the story and I really believed in his progress and the path that CoHo leads him on. Ugly Love was not overwrought with emotion and drama but perfectly captures the complicated nature of love and relationships. It also shows the joys that come with the pain and awkward moments. It shows the ugly side of love.
I know of some who had problems with things in the book. I may not know the technical details in plot diagram or anything like that but I knew that I was held captive by the story. I knew that crazy sensation of shaking yourself out of the pages of the book that you were so trapped in and finding yourself back in reality. I knew the feeling of wishing there could be more pages to appear because you just weren’t ready to be done with the last few ones because you devoured the book at an alarming pace. This is how I felt with Ugly Love. And I think these is all that matters. CoHo’s writing is undoubtedly beautiful and lush and worthy of being savored. But how could I? I needed to know what happened…badly!
Colleen Hoover is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Slammed, Point of Retreat, This Girl, Hopeless, Losing Hope, Maybe Someday, Finding Cinderella, and Ugly Love. She lives in Texas with her husband and their three boys. Please visit ColleenHoover.com.

Blog Tour Review and Giveaway: Wife Number Seven by Melissa Brown @LissaLou77



Title WIFE NUMBER SEVEN
Author: MELISSA BROWN
Released: July 21st
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Rating: ★★★★★ +++

Lipstick. Bright, red lipstick. Nothing but lipstick. Even though it’s against our faith to wear a color that screams of sexual promiscuity and deviant behavior, I’m not allowed to protest. But, I want to. So badly.
You see, there’s more to me than the braid that spills down my back. More to me than the layers of heavy fabric that maintain my modesty. And so much more than the oppressive wedding band that adorns my finger–the same band that each of my sister wives wear. So much more. To protest would be sinful. I must keep sweet, that is my duty.
So I’ll wear the lipstick. I’ll do as I’m told. And I’ll do my best to silence the resistance within me, to push him from my mind. If only my heart would do the same.

“I always knew I would share my husband…My existence is a lonely one. Lehi relieves that loneliness for the twenty-four hours when I pretend I’m the only one he lays with. And I do pretend. Every waking hour.”

Born into the polygamist life, Brinley is screaming to be heard. Surrounded by many but drowning in loneliness she is slowly learning that more love means less Brinley. 

“The voices in my head started as disjointed whispers, so unconnected that they didn’t make any sense. But, those whispers were coming together, becoming more cohesive, clearer and louder in my head than ever before. From a whisper to a scream… I was waiting for the scream.”

Everything happens for a reason and in a life that prides its self in God’s words, Brinley is looking for her place in this world. Performance, Brinley’s daily performance is done through masked eyes until that mask is pulled away. Porter. The boy who stole more than a backpack has transformed her less than perfect world into one of more. More life, more love, more acceptance and more independence. 
Porter sparked an already gas socked fire in Brinley. The key element on her path to self-discovery, Porter presented her with a world of possibilities. Teaching her that life on the opposite side of the wall, while not perfect, is worth the fight. 

“And you’re not damned. If anybody’s damned to fucking hell, it’s the one everyone calls the Prophet. He’s a sick fuck who plays with your lives for his own twisted purposes. He controls every single one of your lives. It’s disgusting.”

Porter finds the home he has been lacking, while she finds the woman who was locked away. The compound becoming a jail with less perks and now Brinley is shedding her forced identity and learning about the uniqueness she had all along. 

“I told you, you’re my heaven. If I burn when I die, that’s fine. I’m a selfish man and I want my heaven now.”

Melissa has proven that no matter the topic or genre you are promised no less than a well-crafted story with emotion, strong main characters and a cast of ancillary characters that scream, loudly, for their own story. Melissa has done her homework on this one. Diving deep into the polygamist lifestyle, she has presented an honest look into life in the compound. Wife Number Seven is a story of hope. The hope that one day you can find your own personal happiness. I am reminded of one of my favorite, non Melissa Brown quotes…

“You’ve always had the power my dear, you just had to learn it for yourself.” -Glinda The Good Witch of the North

Brinley, like Dorothy went on a journey in search of more and learned that the power to change is within. Along the way you will be guided by loved ones but in the end the power is your own. Porter guided her with smarts, courage, and a heart of gold. Their story is not a one easy but a life worth living never is.

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. She speaks fluent movie quotes from the 1980s and ’90s.Her romance titles include Bouquet Toss, Champagne Toast, Picturing Perfect and Unwanted Stars. She is currently developing a Young Adult series called Sorority of Three.

BOOK REVIEW: MAYBE MABY BY WILLOW ASTER




TITLE: MAYBE MABY
AUTHOR: WILLOW ASTER
RELEASED: JULY 13TH
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Rating: ★★★★★

Mabel Armstrong is on the verge of giving up. But just when things feel bleakest, there seems to be a shift in the universe. People come out of the woodwork. Her ex won’t leave her alone. An old friend finally tries to become more. Even the cute guy at the coffee shop starts paying extra attention.
Maybe Maby is a heartbreaking, and at times, hilarious story about coping with loss, finding love in New York, and learning to recognize hope in the middle of it all.

Pushed to her limit, Maby learns that the only way to rebuild is to breakdown. Dealing with the loss of her mother and her mental state, Maby fights daily for stability. 

“I shake my fist at the universe, careful to not anger God in the process. I’m pretty sure he knows I’m crazy, so it’s probably okay.”

Numbers. They are never wrong. One plus one will always equal two. For a damaged person the control in numbers equals power. Maby pulls herself into a world of controlled chaos but what she is lacking is a sense to belong. To love again when it was pulled from her, leaving her blindsided. 

“Sometimes the loneliness is so thick, it threatens to choke me.”

Old love clouds her loneliness, menacing an already unbalanced life. Work and the daily pressure to just survive allow Maby little to no time to live. It is only when she looks with clearer eyes that she finds Coen, everything she needs but is afraid to take. 

“I have enough fear for the both of us.”

In passing Coen has been part of Maby’s life for close to two years, offering a smile and a kind word. Now Maby has to believe that she is enough, worth the fight. 

“I can see why you’re so special,” I tell him. “You’ve been adored your whole life, but also challenged to do something with yourself…no time for being spoiled, except with love.”

Please do yourself a favor and read this book. Maybe Maby is a reading experience that you don’t want to miss. Seeing so much of me in a main character was hunting and a little scary. Willow allowed me to relate to Maby’s issues, transporting me into the story. I felt as if I was interacting with them. The raw pain of love, loss, confusion and fear brought Maby to life. Maby was inspiring. Struggling to find herself in spite of her issues and working through them even when they threated to overcome her. Life is about learning from our mistakes, taking that knowledge and applying it as we move forward. Maby’s journey isn’t easy but Willow made it feel effortless.

Willow Aster is the author of True Love Story, In the Fields, and Maybe Maby. She lives with her husband and two kids on a tropical beach in paradise. Well, at least part of that is true … the rest is Story Lala Land, where Willow spends most of her time.

Series Spotlight: The Gilded Flower by Vivian Winslow




Gilded Lily (Gilded Flower #1)
Released: May 18th, 2014

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After catching her fiancé Jack in bed with her sister the day before her wedding, New York socialite Lily Baron escapes to Rio, her honeymoon destination—alone. There, Marcelo, the dark and sexy hotel masseur, releases a heated passion Lily had never experienced with Jack. When Lily meets handsome and powerful Brazillionaire Gustavo de Lima, she can hardly resist him. There’s just one problem. He’s married. In this uber-sensual city, will Lily’s reluctance to be with a married man, in light of her own fiancé’s betrayal, give way to her burning desire for Gustavo?




Calla Lily (Gilded Flower #2)

Released: June 21st, 2014
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Having experienced a profound personal and sexual awakening during her solo honeymoon to Brazil, New York socialite Lily Baron rushes back to New York upon hearing the news that her father has fallen ill. Now, Lily must take the helm of the Baron Media empire and fend off a high-stakes hostile takeover attempt. With the fate of the company hanging in the balance, will Lily be able to resist the advances of the luring, unwanted suitor in the boardroom as well as the bedroom? Things get steamy in this highly anticipated sequel to Gilded Lily.



Released: July 20th, 2014
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Weary from battling a hostile takeover attempt of her family’s company, Lily seeks a distraction in Todd, an erstwhile bartender with a large trust fund and magical tongue. Meanwhile, a connection seems to be developing between Lily and Alejandro, a wealthy and gorgeous Cuban-American, whose brother, Rodrigo, is dating Lily’s twin sister, Dahlia. When Alejandro unexpectedly rebuffs Lily one night, she is deeply dismayed. But, after seeing Alejandro’s picture with a gorgeous Latina model in the gossip pages, Lily thinks it wasn’t just a misunderstanding. When the sisters and brothers reunite in Aspen for a ski weekend, will Lily’s heart remain frozen or will the fire between her and Alejandro rekindle and melt away the ice?
Gilded Lily
The Gilded Flower Series
Chapter 1
“I walked in on them, mom. You think I don’t know what my own fiancé looks like?” The thought of her fiancé and sister’s naked bodies intertwined was seared on Lily’s mind. It was almost like looking in a mirror— watching her twin sister, Dahlia, betray her with the man she loved. The man she was ready to pledge her life to.
“Well, you know how your sister is, it could’ve been anyone,” her mom replies.
“But it wasn’t just anyone. It was Jack, and on the night before we’re supposed to get married!”
“Darling,” her mother says, patting her head like a two-year old child who just dropped her lollipop. “You can still get married. It’s not too late. Men are all the same— it’s time you learn that.”
Lily looks up from her pillow at her mother and around her room, still the same since she went away to boarding school eleven years ago. Pink and purple with a large, canopy bed, a bed “fit for a princess,” her mother had always said. And for all intents and purposes she was a princess, living a privileged life in New York City— the best schools, the right friends, and the (former) perfect fiancé. 
“What are you saying, mother? That it’s ok for Jack to screw anyone he wants?”
“Oh, honey. Men have needs. It’s pure biology. Doesn’t mean he wouldn’t make a good husband and father.”
“Are you saying Dad cheated on you?” Lily sits up, wiping away her tears.
Her mother turns away for a moment and picks up a family photo on the nightstand. “It’s the unspoken rule here on the Upper East Side, Lily. With the house in the Hamptons and the chalet in Aspen comes infidelity. I thought you’d had some clue. But it’s my fault. I’ve kept you sheltered because I hoped for a different life for you than mine.”
“But why didn’t you tell me sooner? I never imagined Jack would cheat on me.” Lily falls back onto the bed.
Her mother faces her and raises an eyebrow. “Jack is no different from his father. His family has a lot of money and influence in this city. Even more than we do. Our two families would make an incredible alliance.”
“So that’s all this was to you, some sick power game?”
“Marriage is business, Lily, not love. And in New York, power isn’t just about how much money you have, but the friends you can count in your corner. You want love, go have your own affairs. After what he’s done, Jack can’t expect fidelity. Just try to be more discreet than he was.”
“But it was love. I’ve loved him since the first day I laid eyes on him,” Lily says, remembering how he offered to share his umbrella with her when they walked out of Intermediate French one afternoon.
Her mother caresses her hair. “I know honey. That was your first mistake.”
Author Profile: Having spent most of the last two decades abroad, Vivian Winslow currently resides in New York City with her husband and two grade school-aged children. Her stories are heavily influenced by her ex-pat experiences. The Gilded Flower Series is her first foray into erotic romance.

Promo Tour: TOTALED by Stacey Grice (Excerpt, Playlist & Giveaway)

Title: Totaled (Totaled #1)

Author: Stacey Grice
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Bree Murphy is stuck. Forced to grow up too fast after the tragic death of her mother, she has little time for any sort of life for herself. Now in her early twenties, she is coming to the realization that she deserves to put herself first.

Drew Dougherty is also stuck, in a state of merely existing. Memories and secrets of the day he lost both of his parents haunt him, forcing him to cope the only way he knows how…by fighting.

When these two worlds collide, hidden truths are revealed and relationships are put to the ultimate test. At a crossroad in their lives, they must decide if taking a risk is worth everything.

Or will their love be…

Totaled.

Totaled is a full length, new adult contemporary romance novel. Due to mature content, profane language, and sexual situations, this book is recommended for ages 18 and up.




My heart raced, my palms grew sweaty, my skin felt flushed, and my breathing sped up. I let my tongue graze over my lips to wet them, and apparently that was invitation enough. His eyes immediately dropped to my mouth. Drew started to slowly lean in towards me, closing the distance between us, never releasing my face from his hold. Everything moved in slow motion and I knew this was the moment of our first kiss.
Suddenly, out of nowhere, the sky opened up and it started raining. Not raining, pouring! Everyone around us (of whom I’d been unaware for the last hour) scattered like ants and we stood to run for cover with the rest of the crowd. People were frantic and crazy, squealing and sprinting for cover, bumping into us left and right. Drew grabbed my hand and pulled me with him, jogging away from the chaos in the rain. We were running in the street along the inter-coastal, in the direction of the gym a few blocks away. Already drenched, we laughed at each other, stepping in puddles and pulling each other back and forth to dodge others in our path. It felt like we were children, being playful and having fun with it, because what else could you do
at that point? 
When the rain picked up, we were still a good four blocks from the gym. Drew suddenly stopped jogging in front of me and turned around to face me, a look of intensity and determination in his expression. I almost couldn’t stop in time and nearly crashed into his chest. He grabbed my face with both of his strong, masculine hands and looked at me like I was a giant piece of chocolate cake and he was starving. For two seconds he stared at me. Four seconds. Six seconds. All the while standing in the middle of the street in the pouring rain. And then his lips crashed into mine. His lips were firm at first but immediately softened. He licked my lower lip, tasting me, enticing me to open for him and I couldn’t dream of doing anything in that moment but exactly whatever he wanted me to do. I opened my lips slowly to invite him in and our tongues touched each other, playfully at first and then with purpose. They danced together in perfect synchronized harmony like a beautiful Viennese waltz. The waltz turned into an angry paso doble, full of passion and angst. He kissed me with urgency, like he couldn’t get enough, but not with haste. He was savoring me, cherishing me. My hair stuck to my face, slick with wetness from the rain, my dress clinging to my body, soaked all the way to my underwear, but I didn’t want to move. Our hands were all over the place, grabbing each other anywhere, everywhere. He held my face with one hand and reached around to the small of my back to pull me in closer to him. The substantial, hard bulge between us confirmed how much I was affecting him. I felt my core twitch and throb with a need that I’d never felt before. My romance novels were finally right about something—this aching and throbbing stuff was legit. I didn’t want to stop feeling it. I didn’t ever want to stop. 
Our mouths separated and I tried to take a deep breath, but he moved his mouth down to my throat and neck, kissing and licking, lapping up the raindrops from my skin, and I couldn’t possibly catch my breath with him doing that. I suddenly realized where we were still outside, still in the wide open, still in the rain. He must’ve felt me stiffen, because he brought his eyes up to mine and smiled.
“Let’s get you out of the rain,” he said, and we started jogging towards the gym again.



I am a mother, wife, Registered Nurse, avid reader, and most recently pursuing taking my own writing to the next level. I appreciate honesty but not cruelty, a wicked sense of humor, and a good cup of coffee, blond with enough creamer to coat my tongue yellow. 
Being an astute people watcher and having an extremely judgmental mind gives me constant inspiration for my stories. But my characters, like many authors, are conceived from actual people in my life. A hodgepodge of personality traits, real world instances, and conversations that I have directly taken part in are the foundation for my fictional world.

Series Spotlight: BLISS SERIES BY BJ HARVEY

#1 Temporary Bliss

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*Disclaimer – There is absolutely no cheating in this book. However, this book does contain descriptive and super hot sex scenes that will make you blush and leave you hot and bothered. Make sure you have you husband, partner, boyfriend or significant other nearby when reading, or else batteries. Lots and lots of batteries*
Makenna Lewis cringes at any mention of the word commitment. She doesn’t want or need a relationship, but she does like sex (who doesn’t). 
That explains Noah, Sean, and Zander, her three ‘friends with benefits’. 
They know the score, they know they’re not the only one, and each of them provide her with a different physical need that she craves and enjoys. 
Until a late night encounter with the delicious Daniel Winters turns her preconceived notion of no-commitment completely on its head. 
Soon she finds herself feeling things she vowed never to feel again, and when Daniel pushes for more than she’s willing to give, she falters. 
What do you do when something that you’ve known to be so wrong in the past feels so damn right?
If you’re Mac, you run and hide. 
But is Daniel the type of man who takes no for an answer?
#2 True Bliss
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She watched her best friend find her superhero. 
Now she wants her turn.
Despite a run of bad dates with Mr. Wrong, Mr. Boring, Mr. Bad Breath, Mr. Grabby Hands, and even Mr. Say I Love You After One Date To Get Into Your Pants, Kate McGuinness is more determined than ever to find the one.
Having tried everything else, she turns to the internet in a last ditch attempt to find her elusive prince. 
But Kate doesn’t want an everyday, run of the mill love. 
She wants the kind of love that makes your heart skip a beat. The kind of love that makes you dance in the rain and bottle up the sunset. The once in a lifetime kind of love that authors write about, musicians sing about, and lovers dream about.
Could a certain police officer in training, who has come to her rescue in the past, be the one to swoop in and save her heart? 
What if the love Kate desperately seeks has been in front of her the whole time?
She just needs to open her eyes to see it…
*Disclaimer: This book contains a hot as hell stripper with a penchant for public sex and exhibitionism who may or may not succeed in bringing out the inner firecracker in all of us. Oh, and don’t forget the batteries.*
#3 Blissful Surrender
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This is a story of Sean Miller, a dom that will have your panties diving for cover with an eyebrow quirk. That will have even the strongest woman dropping to their knees in submission with a piercing stare, and Samantha Richards, a female cop who’s tough, seemingly impenetrable shell is strong enough to resist everyone except the one man it was build up to protect her against. 
**Disclaimer – If you thought the first two Bliss books were hot, you ain’t seen nothing yet. Creative use of handcuffs, batons, a club scene you have to read to believe, and a tough as nails dominant who is blindsided when the one woman strong enough to disarm him threatens his resolve not to let his past dictate his future.**

COMING IN AUGUST
#3.5 Permanent Bliss
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Makenna Lewis never thought she would be the one walking down the aisle to marry her superhero. But then again, she hadn’t expected Daniel Winters to crash into her life and tilt her world off its axis two years earlier. As they celebrate their last days of singledom, they find themselves battling over the guest list, managing the in-laws, and dealing with last minute disasters that threaten to disrupt their special day. 
In true Bliss fashion, we’ll see freak-outs, awkward situations, hilarity, drama, and cringe-worthy moments as Mac and Daniel prepare for one of the most important days of their lives. Join the Bliss gang as they watch two of their own walk down the aisle and conclude their happily ever after. 
This companion novella follows on from the end of True Bliss and will lead into Finding Bliss – Noah ‘Walking Dildo’ Taylor’s story.
***Disclaimer – Hot sex, drunken texts, horny phone calls, and a wedding anticipated by all but one. And, of course, a few freak outs along the way (but NOT the kind you’re used to) because that’s how Mac rolls ***

All books in the series will be 99c each July 17-18

Author of the Lost and Bliss romance series. 
Indie Author hailing from the most beautiful country in the world, New Zealand. 
Avid reader, television watcher, and facebooker. Having been writing off and on for a long time but started writing fiction in 2012. I love music too, like REALLY love music, if there isn’t music playing, something is wrong. And it’s a wide range of music too, I might surprise you. 
I’m a wife to one husband, mother of two gorgeous girls, self-employed doing communications and business consulting as well as studying accounting full time. 
Addicted to energy drinks, chocolate, cronuts, Vampire Diaries and pickles with mustard.

Blog Tour Review & Giveaway: Beautiful Oblivion by Jamie Mcguire @@AtriaBooks @JamieMcGuire



TITLE: BEAUTIFUL OBLIVION
AUTHOR: JAMIE MCGUIRE
RELEASE DATE: JULY 1ST, 2014
Rating: ★★★★★

The Beautiful Disaster and Walking Disaster phenomenon continues in the first heart-pounding new adult romance in The Maddox Brothers series.

Fiercely independent Camille “Cami” Camlin gladly moved on from her childhood before it was over. She has held down a job since before she could drive, and moved into her own apartment after her freshman year of college. Now tending bar at The Red Door, Cami doesn’t have time for much else besides work and classes, until a trip to see her boyfriend is cancelled, leaving her with a first weekend off in almost a year.
Trenton Maddox was the king of Eastern State University, dating co-eds before he even graduated high school. His friends wanted to be him, and women wanted to tame him, but after a tragic accident turned his world upside down, Trenton leaves campus to come to grips with the crushing guilt. 
Eighteen months later, Trenton is living at home with his widower father, and works full-time at a local tattoo parlor to help with the bills. Just when he thinks his life is returning to normal, he notices Cami sitting alone at a table at The Red. 
As the baby sister of four rowdy brothers, Cami believes she’ll have no problem keeping her new friendship with Trenton Maddox strictly platonic. But when a Maddox boy falls in love, he loves forever—even if she is the only reason their already broken family could fall apart.
In the first installment of the Maddox Brothers books, readers can experience the rush of reading Beautiful Disaster for the first time, all over again.
Maddox lover for life! I will take them anyway I can. So far we have the fighter and now the tattooed

dream boat! Ok, dream boat sounds like something my mother would say but it’s totally legit. Jamie has pulled together a story that rivals Beautiful Disaster. OMG did I just say that?? Yep! Upon finish, I messaged a friend that also read Beautiful Oblivion and let’s just say that there may be some kind of underground tattoo/MMA fighter training camp that we A) run and B) hope to one day supply the world with a Mini Maddox Army. Perfect world right! Nothing beats a ball busting alpha male. 

Both Trenton and Cami lead a life of Beautiful Oblivion. Coasting through life, existing not living, accepting the norm. The persistent Trenton causes Cami to reexamine her present situation. In his one man journey Trenton is forced to deal with his own issues. 

“I was just thinking now was as good a time as any to acknowledge that you’re perfect and it wouldn’t suck if you fell madly in love with me anytime soon.” 

Cami can only fight for so long. As her walls come crumbling down some obstacles may prove to be too much. Will she find the happy ending every girl dreams of? 

“I’ve had a lifetime of wrong. You’re the only thing that’s right.”

Here is what you need to know…if you loved Beautiful Disaster you will love Beautiful Oblivion. As with Beautiful Disaster, this story has a little something for everyone. Love, angst, struggle, misunderstanding, and at the core beauty. Timed side by side with Travis and Abby’s story, Cami and Trenton offer a different view on already know events while spinning a new story that will keep you guessing till the end. Jamie has created solid characters, a touching story, and proof that when it comes to Maddox one is never enough. Grab a snack and snuggle up for this one because for the next five or so hours you will be booked.

Jamie McGuire is the New York Times bestselling author of Red Hill, Walking Disaster, Beautiful Disaster,and The Providence trilogy. She and her husband, Jeff, live with their children just outside Enid, Oklahoma, with three dogs, six horses, and a cat named Rooster. Please visit JamieMcGuire.com
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PROMO BLITZ: RYKER BY JOANNE SCHWEHM

Title: RYKER
Author: Joanne Schwehm
Release Date: July 8, 2014
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DUE TO SEXUAL CONTENT AND LANGUAGE 18+ RECOMMENDED.

Sex, drums, and denial; three things that Ryker Jeffries excels at.

Ryker buries himself in music and insignificant women, all part of his plan to keep the woman who owns his heart free from his tainted past and his darkest secret. But pretending not to want her has never been easy.
Loyalty, honesty, and desire for Ryker; three things that Faith Bishop excels at.
Excited about her future, Faith looks forward to finally living life on her terms. Intelligent and realistic, she knows the women who steal Ryker’s attention are all of the things she will never be. But wanting him has never been a choice.
Will he be able to resist her, or will he finally cave to his desires? Will she be able to handle his past, or will it shatter her?

~ RYKER ~
“For the record, you didn’t tell me anything I haven’t heard before. I’ve been told my whole life that I’m not good enough. It is what it is, and I am who I am.” I opened the door. 
“Did you ever think that I need her more than she needs me, and that scares the shit out of me? Has the thought crossed your mind that I don’t have anyone, and loving someone isn’t an option for me? Have you thought about me at all?”
Family and friends are the most important things to Joanne. She enjoys meeting new people, traveling, reading, relaxing on a beach and shopping. She has an addiction to Coffee and Diet Coke; you may want to stand clear if she hasn’t had her daily intake!
Writing has been something that has been private and not shared until the day she decided to publish Unexpected Chance. Waking up one morning to the voices of Alex Logan and Aubrey Ryan changed everything!!
She is an avid sports fan especially when it comes to the New York Yankees. She also enjoys playing and watching golf.
She firmly believes when that unexpected chance comes, take it. Don’t let it pass you by. You never know what you could be missing.

Book Blast: Very Wicked Things by Ilsa Madden-Mills

Very Wicked Things (A stand alone Briarcrest Academy novel) 
is on sale for a limited time for .99 cents!!



Ballerina Dovey Beckham is a scholarship student at Briarcrest Academy, determined to prove she’s more than just a girl with the wrong pedigree. She does whatever it takes to succeed in her endgame, even if it means surrendering her body but never her heart. 
Until the day she meets him, and he rips apart all her well-laid plans. Suddenly, the girl everyone thought unbreakable might just shatter.
Cuba “Hollywood” Hudson is rich, spoiled, and a star football player. With his fast cars and superficial girlfriends, he lives the high-life, hiding his secrets from the world.
Until the day he meets her, and she offers him something he’s never tasted…love.
But once in a lifetime kind of love doesn’t come easy…especially when dirty money, past sins, and old flames threaten the very fabric of their lives.
Welcome to Briarcrest Academy, where sometimes, only the wicked survive.
WARNING: This new adult romance is dark and edgy with mature content. Over 18 please. 
THIS IS NOT YOUNG ADULT.
I got out of the shower and dressed hurriedly, anxious to get back to Cuba.
The door opened, and like he did it every single day, he stepped inside the steamy bathroom. 
“Think I need a shower, too,” he said, his fingers easing off his football practice shirt. 
What? Now?
Trying to play it cool and failing miserably, I moved my eyes off his naked chest and checked out his track pants and the obvious bulge he sported. 
Oh. Did his lower body match the rest of him? Was it all sinewy muscle and big? 
Just, yeah. That thought got stuck in my head and went round and round.
“You staying?” he asked, a grin working his face. Pleased at my open admiration, probably.
“No,” I said, but made no move to go. ‘Cause I had no shame when it came to catching a glimpse of his muscular body.
“Good,” he said, his smile broadening.
He pivoted to turn on the shower, and my eyes betrayed me again, admiring the muscles in his back, checking out how they twitched and rippled when he moved. Football and rowing had been good to him. My fingers itched to know how they’d feel underneath my hands. Which was stupid because we had nothing in common. Not a rich Highland Park boy and a poor girl from Ratcliffe. 
And most importantly, he was a player, not to be trusted.
He hooked his thumbs into his pants, paused a moment—maybe waiting to see if I’d run from the room?—but when I didn’t budge, he slid them and his underwear off. My mouth opened. Cuba Hudson, the most popular guy at Briarcrest was standing right in front of me, naked and beautiful. And like the cocky bastard he was, he posed for me, his big-ass biceps and chiseled abs making me vibrate all over. Need for him slammed into me.
Did I say he was hot? 
Well, I was wrong. 
He was off-the-charts, no-holds-barred, freaking going make-me-lose-my-mind-right-there delicious. The ultimate man-candy, the kind I knew to stay away from, yet here I was, ogling him.
“Still leaving?” he asked huskily.
“Any minute,” I said in a weak voice, backing up to the wall and propping myself up. “Just chillin’. Shower wore me out. I might need to hold this wall up for a sec.”
“I want you to stay,” he said, eyes at half-mast, glowing with heat.
“Why?” I said, aching to touch him. But that was crazy. I was a virgin, and I didn’t know jack about touching a guy’s you-know-what. 
“Look at me, Dovey.”
I tore my eyes from his manhood, blushing.
His eyes burned. “There’s a sense of urgency in my head. Like our time is limited.”
I nodded. Yeah, same here.
“And, I’ll be honest, I don’t want to rush you, but I’m dying to sink into you. I want to set you on fire with need for me.” He ghosted his hands over the steel rod between his legs. Once, twice, and—holy shizzle, he didn’t stop. 
My chest rose faster and faster, and I tried to chill-out, but I couldn’t.
He lowered his voice. “Kiss me again, Dovey.”
Oh. “That’s a terrible idea, Cuba. Cause you’re naked, and I’m turned on because you’re naked. And you’re touching yourself. And you’re naked.” I sucked in a sharp breath. “Not a good combo. Odds are we’ll end up in that shower together or back in your bed doing the double-backed monster.”
“Then join me in the shower. I’ll be good. For you.” He arched his back, his hands still doing that back and forth that was driving me insane.
Liar, liar, pants on fire, I thought. No way he would he be good. 
Because he was the Heartbreaker of Briarcrest Academy.
And one wicked boy.
Although each book in the series is a standalone, here is the series reading order:
Very Bad Things:
Very Wicked Beginnings: FREE 
Very Wicked Things: ON SALE
Author praise for Very Wicked Things:
“Cuba is hot, delicious, and intoxicating…the perfect book boyfriend. Be prepared for a heartbreaking and addictive read.” ~Tijan, New York Times Bestselling Author 
“Angst, dark secrets, and off the charts sexiness abound in this twisty installment of the Briarcrest Academy Series. First love never sounded so hot and good. Ilsa never disappoints!” ~Shanora Williams, New York Times Bestselling Author 
“Ilsa Madden-Mills slayed my heart in the best kind of way. Cuba’s pain was like my very own. Absolutely gut-wrenching.” ~Crystal Spears, International Bestselling Author 
“Ilsa does it again with Very Wicked Things. You’ll be holding on to your seat through a few wicked twists so buckle up and enjoy the ride. ~ Megan Smith, USA Today Bestselling Author 


New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Ilsa Madden-Mills writes about strong heroines and sexy alpha males that sometimes you just want to slap. She spends her days with two small kids, a neurotic cat, and her Viking husband. She collects magnets and rarely cooks except to bake her own pretzels. When she’s not typing away at a story, you can find her drinking too much Diet Coke, jamming out to Pink, or checking on her carefully maintained chocolate stash. She loves to hear from fans and fellow authors. 

SERIES SPOTLIGHT: THE LOVE SERIES BY MEGAN SMITH

TRYING NOT TO LOVE YOU (Book #1)
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MacKenzie Cahill has dealt with overbearing and overprotective brothers her entire life, making it near impossible to enjoy her teenage years. Having a boyfriend was practically impossible until she met a guy that wasn’t afraid to stand up to them – Dominic. He was sweet, thoughtful, and everything MacKenzie ever wanted in a man.
But when they go away to college at Old Dominion University, MacKenzie sees a whole new side of Dominic and begins to wonder if he really is different from every other guy.
Her world is turned upside down after a party, and her brothers’ best friend Hunter is the one there to offer her a shoulder to cry on. The chemistry between them is electric, and feelings for each other that have been hidden for years are finally voiced.
Is Hunter willing to be disloyal to his best friends in order to be with the one girl he’s always secretly wanted?
EASY TO LOVE YOU (Book #2)
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Hunter finally has MacKenzie Cahill, the girl of his dreams. A horrible accident finds those dreams threatened. As their lives change, secrets begin to surface. These revelations could prove to be either the downfall of Hunter and MacKenzie or the catalyst that strengthens their bond.
Hunter has painful choices to make. Will he realize what he has before it’s gone? He knows what he must do to save his future, but will he be leaving everyone else in his past?
Will the bond between the two families be strong enough to keep them together?
HARD TO LOVE YOU (Book #3)
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What do you do when the one you’ve always wanted becomes too Hard to Love? 
Hailey Taylor’s heart has always belonged to Mason Cahill, but one secret has changed everything.
Things on the baseball field come easy for Mason Cahill. Why can’t the rest of his life be simple? Mason’s finally admitted he wants the one girl he can be himself around, but one secret destroyed that.
Their love isn’t sweet and simple. It’s hot, loud, and messy. But now, when he’s finally all in, she’s folded. Sparks fly. Tempers flare. Hearts shatter. One thing is certain… everything has changed.
Who will be too Hard to Love?
LET ME LOVE YOU (Book #4)
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To be released on July 21st
Jaylinn McCormick is determined to forget that one terrifying night which left her feeling broken and tainted. There is one person who can make her whole again… but he is hell bent on keeping her at arm’s length. She has loved him her entire life but can she wait for him to step up to the plate?
Cooper Cahill has loved Jaylinn for years. He wants nothing more than to put all her pieces back together but he deems himself unworthy. Choosing between his baseball career and Jaylinn has him feeling lost. Does he have what it takes to put Jaylinn’s heart back together again?
When their paths cross will they intersect or blindly pass each other by?
Will their lives take them in different directions?
USA TODAY bestselling author Megan Smith is a New Jersey native managing purchasing for an award-winning business IT and software development firm – and by night creating the memorable characters her fans have grown to adore. Smith’s The Love Series introduces readers to MacKenzie Cahill – a hopeful young woman who experiences adversity, challenges and the bittersweet triumph of true, authentic love.
Smith is a wife and mother, who makes time for her family, professional life and the creation of the Cahill’s world. Fans of The Love Series – Trying Not To Love You, Easy To Love You, Hard To Love You – are captivated by relationships, special bonds and family ties pervasive in Smith’s emotional, energized and engaging work. Smith is also the author of the 2014 releases, Let Me Love You – continuations of The Love Series, Finding Us (Finding Series) and a few top secret projects.