Forever (Hachette Book Group), GCP/Forever, Giveaway, Guest Author, Showcase

Guest Author JODI ELLEN MALPAS showcase & giveaway

CMash July 30, 2013 1 Comment

WELCOME JODI ELLEN MALPAS

JODI ELLEN MALPAS

Jodi Ellen Malpas was born and raised in the Midlands town of Northampton, UK, where she lives with her family. Working for the family construction business fulltime and with the prospect of taking it over once her father retired, she tried to ignore the lingering idea of writing a novel until it became impossible. She finally found the time and courage to release her creative streak and in October 2012 self-published This Man as an e-book. She took a chance on a story with some intense characters, notably Mr. Jesse Ward, the Lord of the Manor, and sparked incredible reactions from women all over the world. Two months later, Jodi made the decision to give up her day job to concentrate on her new and very unexpected career in writing.
Connect with Jodi at these sites:

ABOUT THE BOOK

THE STUNNING CONCLUSION TO THE THIS MAN TRILOGY IS A #1 NEW YORK TIMESBESTSELLER! The Manor, the very place where their passionate love affair began, fills with guests on what should be the happiest day of Ava and Jesse’s lives. She has accepted that she’ll never tame the fierceness in Jesse-and she doesn’t want to. Their love is profound, their connection powerful, but just when she thinks that she’s finally gotten beneath his guarded exterior, more questions arise, leading Ava to believe that Jesse Ward may not be the man she thinks he is. He knows too well how to take her to a place beyond ecstasy . . . but will he also drive her to the brink of despair? It’s time for this man to confess.

Read an excerpt

I’m relishing in the calmness and quiet as I swim length after length, no one joining me, no one venturing in to use the Jacuzzis, and no one coming to relax on a sun lounger. But then I hear movement, and I stop mid-length to see who has arrived. My eyes flick to the entrance of the changing area, and then Jesse emerges, wearing a loose pair of black swimming shorts. I sigh in appreciation, and he blasts me with his smile, before diving straight in, his body stretching out, making minimal noise or splash as he slips below the surface. I float in the middle of the pool and watch the shadow of his tall body approaching me under water until he’s right in front of me, but he remains submerged.

Then I feel his palm wrap around my ankle, and I squeal as I’m yanked under the water, just catching a lungful of air before I disappear, my eyes naturally clenching shut. His lips meet mine, his arms surrounding me, and he rolls us around under the water, our skin slipping all over each other, our tongues dancing wildly.

This is nice, but I’m rubbish at holding my breath, and he must be gasping for air, having been down here a lot longer than me. I pinch him to indicate my depleting breath, and my lungs scream a thank you when we surface, my legs clenching around his waist and my arms around his shoulders. I try to grab a hold of my bearings and attempt to open my eyes, and when I do, I’m greeted by a dirty great big grin. I know he can’t touch the bottom himself, so he must me treading water frantically with my dead weight clinging to him. You would never know it, though. He looks like he’s just floating effortlessly in front of me.

I push his wet hair from his face and match his grin. ‘You closed the pool, didn’t you?’

‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’ He shifts me around to his back and starts swimming to the side. ‘It’s never busy at this time of day.’

‘I don’t believe you.’ I rest my chin on his shoulder. ‘You couldn’t stand the thought of me in a bikini and others seeing it. Admit I’m right.’ I’ve got my Lord worked out.

He reaches the edge of the pool and pulls me from his back, pushing me up against the side. ‘I love the thought of you in a bikini.’

‘But for your eyes only?’

‘I’ve told you before, Ava. I don’t share you with anyone or anything, not even their eyes,’ He slides his hands down my sides and onto my thighs. ‘Just for my touch,’ he whispers. It makes me immediately clench my thighs as he leans in and kisses me gently before scanning my face. ‘Just for my eyes.’ His finger slips into the side of my bikini bottoms, and I hold my breath as he strokes me softly. ‘Just for my pleasure, baby. I know you understand me, don’t you?’

‘I do,’ I shift in front of him and drape my arms over his shoulders.

‘Good. Kiss me.’

I dive right in and show my appreciation with a long, hot, passionate kiss that draws a low moan from each of us. His hands shift to my waist, his big palms circling me completely as he holds me tight, and we kiss for the longest time – there in the middle of the pool, just me and him, drowning in each other, consuming each other, loving each other.

BOOK DETAILS:

Genre: Fiction, Romance
Print Length: 501 pages
Publisher: Forever
Publication date: July 2, 2013
ASIN: B00C102T2Y

PURCHASE LINKS:

THANKS TO JESSICA and MARISSA AT FOREVER/GCP,
I HAVE TWO (2) EBOOK COPIES, VIA NETGALLEY, TO GIVE AWAY.
EBOOK-OPEN TO ALL

FILL OUT RAFFLECOPTER ENTRY FORM BELOW

GIVEAWAY ENDS AUGUST 13th AT 6PM EST

WINNER WILL BE CHOSEN BY RAFFLECOPTER AND NOTIFIED
VIA EMAIL AND WILL HAVE 48 HOURS TO RESPOND
OR ANOTHER NAME WILL BE CHOSEN

a Rafflecopter giveaway

YOUR JAVA SCRIPT MAY NEED TO BE UPDATED
IF YOU AR EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTY
USING THE RAFFLECOPTER ENTRY FORM

DISCLAIMER

No items that I receive are ever sold…they are kept by me, or given to family and/or friends.

ADDENDUM

I do not have any affiliation with Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble. I am an IndieBound affiliate. I am providing link(s) solely for visitors that may be interested in purchasing this Book/EBook.

Forever (Hachette Book Group), GCP/Forever, Giveaway, Guest Author, Showcase

Forever Presents: UNDONE by SHANNON RICHARD showcase & giveaway ENDED

CMash July 5, 2013 5 Comments

WELCOME SHANNON RICHARD

SHANNON RICHARD

Shannon Richard grew up in the Panhandle of Florida as the baby sister of two overly protective, but loving brothers. She was raised by a somewhat eccentric mother who showed her how to get lost in a book, and a father who passed on his love for coffee and really loud music. She graduated from FloridaStateUniversity with a Bachelor’s in English Literature, and lives in Tallahassee. She’s still waiting for her Southern, scruffy, Mr. Darcy and in the meantime writes love stories to indulge her overactive imagination.
Connect with Shannon at these sites:

DID YOU KNOW?

The song “We Run” by Sugarland was the inspiration for the title, Undone
Bethelda Grimshaw was inspired by the character Rita Skeeter from Harry Potter.
According to Shannon, Coffee is the most important meal of the day. Wine is the second.

GUEST POST

Discovering the Hero and Heroine

Brendan King:

Characters reveal themselves slowly to me. I figure out one thing, and then it leads me to another realization. The first thing that I knew about Brendan was that he would be the type of guy to help out a stranded girl on the side of the road, whether it was his job or not. I also knew that he was the type of guy that would flirt with said girl while he helped her out, and do it with a cocky, but charming smile plastered across his face.

I’d always known that Brendan was going to help Paige with her car problems, but I hadn’t known that he was going to be a mechanic. Then I had this image of him wearing those grease stained blue pants and shirt, and that equally dirty baseball cap. It just fit, and was sexy as all get out, so I just went with it. I also knew that Brendan was going to have experienced his own hardships in life. It’s what helps him relate to Paige, and it’s what leads him to want to help her.

He also has a bit of a temper, but that has more to do with his protective side. He’s always had to watch out for his baby sister and he doesn’t take it very well when anyone messes with someone he cares about. He starts to get protective of Paige pretty early on. His feelings for her grow fast and it isn’t something that he expects, but it is something that he embraces. He doesn’t run from her. No, he chases her and it’s lucky for him that he catches her (or that she lets herself get caught).

Paige Morrison:

The first thing that Paige revealed to me was that she was this down on her luck girl in a place that she was not familiar with. The second was that she was an artist. I liked that she had this funky creative side to her. It helped me figure out her clothing style too, which is another thing that ostracizes her in this town.

I knew that she was going to be a little spicy tempered and have a fairly smart mouth on her. And while some people are put off by it, Brendan is turned on by it. He likes that she isn’t this meek little thing. She stands out, and for Brendan this is a good thing. He greatly appreciates that she’s different and at the end of the day it’s one of the things that draws him to her. She’s this breath of fresh air for him, and he’s saving her from drowning. But Paige is stronger than she knows. She just has to find her strength. And as she makes a place for herself in this town that she didn’t fit in before, she discovers who she is.

ABOUT THE BOOK

In UNDONE there are things Paige Morrison will never understand about Mirabelle, Florida:
Why wearing red shoes makes a girl a harlot
Why a shop would ever sell something called “buck urine”
Why everywhere she goes, she runs into sexy-and infuriating-Brendan King.

But after losing her job, her apartment, and her boyfriend, Paige has no choice but to leave Philadelphia and move in with her retired parents. For an artsy outsider like Paige, finding her place in the tightly knit town isn’t easy-until she meets Brendan, the hot mechanic who’s interested in much more than Paige’s car. In no time at all, Brendan helps Paige find a new job, new friends, and a happiness she wasn’t sure she’d ever feel again. With Brendan by her side, Paige finally feels like she can call Mirabelle home. But when a new bombshell drops, will the couple survive, or will their love come undone?

BOOK DETAILS:

Genre: Contemporary
Published by: Forever Yours
Publication date: July 2
Number of pages: 368
ISBN: 9781455544684

PURCHASE LINKS:

THANKS TO JULIE AT FOREVER/GCP,
I HAVE ONE (1) EBOOK COPY TO GIVE AWAY VIA NETGALLEY
OPEN TO U.S. RESIDENTS

FILL OUT RAFFLECOPTER ENTRY FORM BELOW

GIVEAWAY ENDS JULY 19th AT 6PM EST

WINNER WILL BE CHOSEN BY RAFFLECOPTER AND NOTIFIED
VIA EMAIL AND WILL HAVE 48 HOURS TO RESPOND
OR ANOTHER NAME WILL BE CHOSEN

a Rafflecopter giveaway

YOUR JAVA SCRIPT MAY NEED TO BE UPDATED
IF YOU AR EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTY
USING THE RAFFLECOPTER ENTRY FORM

DISCLAIMER

I received a copy of this book, at no charge to me, in exchange for my honest review. No items that I receive are ever sold…they are kept by me, or given to family and/or friends.

ADDENDUM

I do not have any affiliation with Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble. I am an IndieBound affiliate. I am providing link(s) solely for visitors that may be interested in purchasing this Book/EBook.

Forever (Hachette Book Group), GCP/Forever, Giveaway, Guest Author, Showcase

Guest author KARINA HALLE showcase & giveaway ENDED

CMash June 27, 2013 Leave a Comment

WELCOME KARINA HALLE

KARINA HALE

The daughter of a Norwegian Viking and a Finnish Moomin, Karina Halle grew up in Vancouver, Canada with trolls and eternal darkness on the brain. This soon turned into a love of all things that go bump in the night and a rather sadistic appreciation for freaking people out.

Karina holds a screenwriting degree from Vancouver Film School and a Bachelor of Journalism from TRU. Her travel writing, music reviews/interviews and photography have appeared in publications such as Consequence of Sound, Mxdwn and GoNomad Travel Guides. She currently splits her time between her apartment in downtown Vancouver and her sailboat, where a book and a bottle of wine are always at hand. She is hard at work on her next novel.

Connect with Karina at these sites:

FUN FACTS

Karina was an background actor on such film and TV shows as Fringe, Psych, Once Upon a Time, and Twlight: Breaking Dawn

She has traveled the world solo and used to write a travel blog. As a result, her passport has been lost numerous times.

Karina met her fiance when she was casting a book trailer for the third book of her Experiment in Terror series. He answered the Craiglist ad for the character of Dex and it was love at first.

Karina was on Inside Edition because of David Copperfield (he made her grab his booty).

Karina won a Jessica Simpson look-alike contest where I got to meet her and go on stage with her!

The main character in Sins & Needles is named Ellie, who is named after Karina’s old dog, who was named after the character Ellie Satler in Jurassic Park, one of her favorite books and movies.

In SINS & NEEDLES Ellie Watt is used to starting over.

The daughter of a grifting team, Ellie spent her childhood being used as a pawn in her parents’ latest scam. Now she’s much older, wiser and ready to give her con artist life a rest. But returning to the dry desert town of Palm Valley, California means one more temptation than she bargained for – Camden McQueen. Once known as the high school weirdo, Camden is bigger and badder than the boy he used to be and a talented tattoo artist with his own thriving business. Ellie’s counting on Camden still being in love with her but what she’s not counting on is how easily unrequited love can turn into obsession over time. When Camden discovers Ellie’s plan to con him, he makes her a deal she doesn’t dare refuse, but her freedom comes with a price and it’s one that takes both Ellie and Camden down a dangerous road.
Publisher: Forever Yours Digital Original
ISBN-13: 9781455552184
$2.99; June 4, 2013

ON EVERY STREET: When young con artist Ellie Watt decides to call herself Eden White and go after the drug lord who ruined her as a child, she never expects to fall for one of his henchmen. But Javier Bernal is no ordinary man. Subtly dangerous and overwhelmingly seductive, Eden finds herself passionately in love with Javier, the very person she’s set-up to betray.

With her body and heart in a heated battle against her deep need for revenge, no one will walk away from this con a winner.
Publisher: Forever Yours Digital Original
Novella
ISBN-13: 9781455552207
$0.99; June 4, 2013

READ AN EXCERPT

His nose nudged the side of mine and maybe because I’d been thinking about it ever since Safeway, or maybe because I was buying some time, I leaned in and kissed him. This wasn’t the tender kiss from earlier. I had no wine bottles held above my head. This kiss was soft for a moment, then hurried. His lips sucked gently on mine, his tongue ravishing my mouth like he couldn’t stop himself. I was suddenly insatiable, each kiss reaching down into my core, making me want all of him, every part. A million thoughts flew through my head and then there was nothing at all. There wasn’t even Camden and Ellie. There was just this hot, primal, crucial need for each other.

Before I could stop him, or at least pretend to stop him, he was pushing me back until I was falling onto the grass. I reluctantly slid my knees out to the side, my legs coming into full view. My scars visible in the dark. He didn’t notice, didn’t care. He kept kissing me passionately, so hot, so sweet, as one of his hands disappeared into the back of my hair, cupping my head. He laid me on the ground, the hard grass tickling the sides of my ears, and that was the last time he was gentle.

He straddled me and pulled my tank top over my head and tossed it aside. Then he leaned back and ripped off his own shirt. As if I wasn’t breathing hard enough already, squirming beneath his form, he looked better than I could have imagined. Here was the new Camden McQueen, shirtless, a tower of defined muscle and gorgeous, darkly dangerous tattoos.

There was a phoenix rising from the ashes along the swoop of muscle of his hipbones, a tiger/dragon hybrid flying up the side of his stomach, scripture peeking out of the top of his boxers. I’d seen only glimpses of them before, and now they glowed before me, lit by the hundreds of warm lights in his garden. He was like a living, breathing painting on an all-male canvas.

I couldn’t gawk at him for long. He quickly took off his shorts, and I decided to help him out by removing my bra. I was glad I took the extra effort to wear my matching yellow and lace number. By the time I was finished unhooking it and throwing it across the grass, our clothes were scattered everywhere and his extremely erect penis was on full display.

I could only smile in response, stunned at the beauty of it, turned on as fuck at the idea of him thrusting it in me. And a tiny bit scared, to be honest, because it had been some time since I was with a man and it had been, well never, since I was with a man built like him. Although I had never been a fan of blow jobs except when it had come to Javier, my first instinct was to lay my lips around his tip and suck him slowly.

But that would have to wait. He leaned forward on me, elbows on each side of my shoulders, his body so wonderfully heavy on mine. His teeth went for my neck, nibbling softly from ear to shoulder while he slipped one of his hands slowly down my side and over my flat stomach until he was teasing the area underneath my thong. Then his fingers brushed against my pubic hair and stopped just as it was getting good. I squirmed, the pressure in my clit building to uncomfortable heights, wanting his hand to go down further. I felt him smile against my lips, as if he were deliberately torturing me, then finally he gave in and gave me what I wanted. I was slick as oil and it didn’t take long at all before his fingers circled my clit enough times and I came.

I cried out, the orgasm catching me by surprise. If I were a man, I would have hung my head in shame. That took one minute, if that. But I didn’t fucking care. I let the waves rock through me, my hand clutched in his hair, until I came to a soft landing.

I cleared my throat and spoke into his kiss. “Sorry, it’s been a while.”

“You should expect to hear the same thing from me in about five minutes,” he murmured.

“Five minutes, huh?”

“I’ll make it the best five minutes of your life.”

I bit his lip, hard, then released him and looked into those intense blues.

“Clock’s ticking.”

He grinned, dimples and all, then grabbed me by the sides of my arms and flipped me over on my stomach. I tried to turn over but he just pushed my shoulder down into the grass. I felt him go for my underwear, trying to roll it off my ample ass. Then I heard him give up.

It sounded just like a rip.

“That was my only matching pair to the bra!” I cried out, voice mercifully muffled by the grass.

“I’ll tattoo you some new ones,” he answered roughly. I felt his fingers slide down the crack of my rear, and before I could protest or freak out he slipped his hand underneath my pelvis and pulled me up until my ass was in the air.

I could hear him let out a long breath and could feel his eyes burning a hole through my skin. I was starting to feel uncomfortable, afraid that he’d seen the scars on my leg and was becoming turned off, but all my fears were banished when he brought his palm down across my ass. It stung to high heaven.

Holy shit, did Camden just spank me?

There was another hard slap on my other cheek and before I could start worrying whether I was getting caught up in some wannabe BDSM relationship, I felt his hot, wet lips kiss both of the slap marks. I closed my eyes to the pleasure and let out a groan when his fingers slipped inside me. It didn’t matter if I just came, I was more than ready to go again.

I felt his presence move off of me and heard the rustle of something plastic. Seconds later there was the telltale sound of a condom wrapper tearing. You can almost hear the concentration when a man is trying to put one of those on.

With one hand holding me at the small of my waist, he entered himself slowly. With him taking me from behind, I couldn’t see what he was doing, I could only feel. And I could feel everything. Pain, mostly. At first. Pain that slowly melted into a wet warmth that seemed to saturate every part of me from my stomach to my nipples. I felt uninhibited, and considering I lived my life by my own rules, I felt strangely free. With each thrust, Camden drove himself deeper. He rocked me against the ground in a rhythm that felt as intuitive as it was pleasurable. He filled me up, the thickness building inside while my own pressure built on the outside. He tightened his grip around my waist, making me feel irresistibly petite and vulnerable and pounded me harder, faster.

His breathing became heavier, more laborious, and the occasional moan came out of him that made my urge to come triple. He went faster, harder and just when it sounded like he might lose it, I felt his fingers at my clit, working me into a frenzy with him. We came at the same time, groaning loudly, panting quietly, trying to control the volume. But, hell, if a neighbor were to stick their head out their window and see a tattooed god ramming a chick in the neighbor’s backyard all lit by romantic lights, they’d probably watch. I’d watch too.

When the shockwaves slowed their roll through me and my mind and body were coming back to earth, sorting through the delicious high of endorphins, I collapsed on my elbows, too blissed out to move. The grass could eat me alive and I wouldn’t care.

Camden lay beside me, his head propped up by his hand, facing me. Still totally nude, breathing hard but with a smile that matched mine. Satisfied.

THANKS TO JULIE AT FOREVER/GCP,
I HAVE ONE (1) SET, BOTH BOOKS, TO GIVE AWAY.
OPEN TO U.S. RESIDENTS
THIS IS AN EBOOK GIVEAWAY
MUST BE REGISTERED AT NETGALLEY

FILL OUT RAFFLECOPTER ENTRY FORM BELOW

GIVEAWAY ENDS JULY 11th AT 6PM EST

WINNER WILL BE CHOSEN BY RAFFLECOPTER AND NOTIFIED
VIA EMAIL AND WILL HAVE 48 HOURS TO RESPOND
OR ANOTHER NAME WILL BE CHOSEN

a Rafflecopter giveaway

YOUR JAVA SCRIPT MAY NEED TO BE UPDATED
IF YOU AR EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTY
USING THE RAFFLECOPTER ENTRY FORM

DISCLAIMER

No items that I receive are ever sold…they are kept by me, or given to family and/or friends.

ADDENDUM

I do not have any affiliation with Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble. I am an IndieBound affiliate. I am providing link(s) solely for visitors that may be interested in purchasing this Book/EBook.

Forever (Hachette Book Group), GCP/Forever, Giveaway, Guest Author, Showcase

Guest Author ROCHELLE ALERS showcase & giveaway ENDED

CMash May 30, 2013 2 Comments

I am soooo excited!! I just love it when authors come back and visit. And you know what that means…..a new book! So without further ado, and I ask for your help, to give Ms. Rochelle Alers a warm welcome back!

ROCHELLE ALERS

Rochelle Alers has been hailed by readers and booksellers alike as one of today’s most prolific and popular African American authors of romance and women’s fiction.

With more than fifty titles and nearly two million copies of her novels in print, Ms. Alers is a regular on the Waldenbooks, Borders and Essence bestseller lists, regularly chosen by Black Expressions Book Club, and has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the Gold Pen Award, the Emma Award, Vivian Stephens Award for Excellence in Romance Writing, the Romantic Times Career Achievement Award and the Zora Neale Hurston Literary Award.

She is a member of the Iota Theta Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., and her interests include gourmet cooking and traveling. She has traveled to Europe, and countries in North, South and Central America. Her future travel plans include visits to Hong Kong and New Zealand. Ms. Alers is also in accomplished in knitting, crocheting and needlepoint. She is currently taking instruction in the art of hand quilting.

Oliver, a toy Yorkshire terrier has become the newest addition to her family. When she’s not barking at passing school buses, the tiny dog can be found sleeping on her lap while she spends hours in front of the computer.

A full-time writer, Ms. Alers lives in a charming hamlet on Long Island.

Connect with Ms. Alers at these sites:

Q&A with Rochelle Alers

Thank you so very much for inviting me back.

Do you draw from personal experiences and/or current events?

I draw from both. I enjoy traveling, so many of the places I’ve visited will eventually end up in a novel. Current events will occasionally come into play if I need a plot that complements a character’s occupation. The storyline for Hidden Agenda came from a “60 Minutes” segment where a woman hired a mercenary to rescue her son who’d been abducted by her foreign-born husband. I decided to write Pleasure Seekers after reading an article in New York magazine about an upscale escort service. All-news television channels are akin to the reference section of the library for plotlines.

Do you start with the conclusion and plot in reverse or start from the beginning and see where the storyline brings you?

I have to start from the beginning. I know the ending, but it is the middle that has to be fleshed out.

Your routine when writing? Any idiosyncrasies?

I write from Monday to Friday 8-4 with mid-morning and afternoon breaks. But on the other hand, if I’m really in the zone I’ll write until midnight. Weekends are set aside for family time and socializing.

I always write to music. I pop in my MP3, lose myself in the music and the words flow like melodic harmonies.

Is writing your full time job? If not, may I ask what you do by day?

Fortunately for me I’ve been writing full time since 2002. It can have drawbacks, only because if I decide to slack-off I feel I can always make up the time. Not!

Who are some of your favorite authors?

Bernice McFadden, Debbie Macomber, Nicholas Sparks, Walter Mosley, James Patterson, John Grisham, Jane Austen and Alex Haley.

What are you reading now?

Wait for You by Jennifer L. Armentrout writing as J. Lynn

Are you working on your next novel? Can you tell us a little about it?

I’m currently finishing up Magnolia Drive – Book #4 in the Cavanaugh Island series. Readers will return to the small town of Sanctuary Cove to find out more about Francine Tanner. Her ability to foretell the future is a well-kept secret on an island where gossip travels faster than the speed of light. However, her visions don’t warn of the newcomer to the island who knows who she is even though she’s unfamiliar with him. Their lives become entwined with his request that she reopen a door to a celebrated past she has no wish to relive. Francine represents all that is Gullah and she will teach Keaton Grace about the centuries-old culture that continues to thrive on the Sea Islands and also how to love again. Readers will reunite characters from previous titles and meet new ones that will leave them shaking their heads whether in shock or in laughter.

Fun questions:

Your novel will be a movie. Who would you cast?

Sanctuary Cove: Angela Basset and Roger Guenveur Smith

Angels Landing: Jada Pinkett Smith and Michael Jai White

Haven Creek: Sanaa Lathan and Michael Ealy

Would you rather read or watch TV/movie? – Read

Favorite food? – Any steak from Ruth Chris

Favorite beverage? – Green Tea

I appreciate and always enjoy spending time with CMash Reads. Thank you again for the invite.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Home is where the heart is.

Architect Morgan Dane has always lived according to a plan, crossing off her achievements one by one. But when she’s offered her dream job-the restoration of historic Angels Landing Plantation on beautiful Cavanaugh Island-Morgan’s life takes an unexpected turn. Carpenter Nathaniel Shaw once took lost. Needing the healing comforts of home, he returns to Haven Creek to join the family business.

Nothing in the small town has changed-except for Morgan Dane. The wallflower he knew in high school has grown into a beautiful woman . . . and stirs feelings Nate isn’t sure he’s ready for.

Together Nate and Morgan find a happiness neither could have predicted. But when secrets from the past come to light, their budding relationship is threatened.

Will they play it safe, or risk their hearts to build a life together?

BOOK DETAILS:

Mass Market Paperback: 448 pages
Publisher: Forever (May 28, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1455501395
ISBN-13: 978-1455501397

PURCHASE LINKS:

THANKS TO TANISHA AT GCP/FOREVER,
I HAVE TWO (2) COPIES TO GIVE AWAY.
OPEN TO U.S. and CANADA RESIDENTS

FILL OUT RAFFLECOPTER ENTRY FORM BELOW

GIVEAWAY ENDS JUNE 13th AT 6PM EST

WINNER WILL BE CHOSEN BY RAFFLECOPTER AND NOTIFIED
VIA EMAIL AND WILL HAVE 48 HOURS TO RESPOND
OR ANOTHER NAME WILL BE CHOSEN

a Rafflecopter giveaway

YOUR JAVA SCRIPT MAY NEED TO BE UPDATED
IF YOU AR EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTY
USING THE RAFFLECOPTER ENTRY FORM

DISCLAIMER

I received a copy of this book, at no charge to me, in exchange for my honest review. No items that I receive are ever sold…they are kept by me, or given to family and/or friends.

ADDENDUM

I do not have any affiliation with Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble. I am an IndieBound affiliate. I am providing link(s) solely for visitors that may be interested in purchasing this Book/EBook.

Forever (Hachette Book Group), GCP/Forever, Giveaway, Guest Author, Showcase

Guest Author JILL SHALVIS showcase & giveaway ENDED

CMash May 28, 2013 3 Comments

Hi everyone! Did you have a fun filled Memorial Day weekend? Now that the summer has officially started, I have the perfect book to add to your summer reading. Jill Shalvis is stopping by today to tell us about her newest book. So please help me in welcoming Ms. Jill Shalvis!!

JILL SHALVIS

New York Times and USA Today bestseller Jill Shalvis is the award winning author of over four dozen romance novels, including her sexy contemporary and award winning Lucky Harbor series (FOREVER AND A DAY was one of Amazon’s Top Romances for 2012). She won a Rita for SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE and is a 3-time National Readers Choice winner as well. Make sure to click on the blog button above for her daily blog where she recounts her Misplaced City Girl adventures.

Connect with Jill at these sites:

ABOUT THE BOOK

Ali Winters is accused of being a thief and is about to be kicked out of her home. Her only shot at keeping a roof over her head and clearing her name is to beg for help from a police detective who’s as sexy as he is stern. As Luke Hanover helps Ali put her world back together, his own life finally seems to fall into place. Is this the start of a sizzling fling—or are Luke and Ali on the brink of something big in a little town called Lucky Harbor?

BOOK DETAILS:

Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (May 28, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1455521124
ISBN-13: 978-1455521128

PURCHASE LINKS:

Read an excerpt

Ali appeared. She’d showered and changed faster than any woman Luke had ever known. She was in sweats and makeup-free, wet hair piled up on top of her head, with wavy tendrils framing her face. She headed straight to the kitchen and headed back with a carton of ice cream from[1] Lance’s shop.Luke felt a small smile play around his mouth as she ate right out of the container with a wooden spoon. Ali Winters might be down, but she wasn’t out for the count.
She scooped another big bite, and her expression finally relaxed. Until she saw the mess of the house. That wiped the smile right off her face. “Oh no. Oh Luke, I’m so sorry.”“Don’t worry about it,” he said. “It’s seen worse.”“This is true.” Jack rose off the couch. “Way worse. We were what you might call wayward teenagers.”Jack had the same height as Luke, but more bulk to his muscle tone. Of the two of them, Jack also possessed the charm, which had gotten him out of more trouble than Luke had ever managed to get into. Jack flashed all one thousand watts of that charm at Ali now.“Jack Harper. I’ve seen you around, but we’ve never been introduced,” he said, holding out his hand to Ali, smiling his “reassuring” smile. It was number three in his arsenal, behind his “you can’t resist me” and “I want you” smiles. “I’m the best friend, by the way. The better-looking, far more fascinating one, I should add.”“Ali Winters,” she said, looking a little dazzled, which made Luke roll his eyes. “Nice to meet you.” She glanced at the mess again, but Luke stepped in her way.

“I’ve heard a lot about you,” Jack said.

“I’m sorry,” she said, glancing at Luke. “I can’t say the same.”

“Not surprised,” Jack said. “Luke’s not exactly a big talker.”

“No,” Ali said faintly, a slight blush coming to her cheeks. “He’s not.”

There was nothing in Ali’s tone to suggest that they’d spent some time in Luke’s truck kissing like their lives had depended on it, but Jack knew him better than anyone else on the planet. Proving it, his gaze shifted from Ali to Luke. “Also, he can never find his keys and he snores,” Jack said.

“Thanks, man,” Luke said.

Jack smiled at Ali. “Hope you’re hungry; I brought Chinese. Ben, my cousin and the third musketeer, would’ve brought a loaded pizza. He’s on government assignment right now, and I’m just superstitious enough that I won’t eat a pizza until he’s home. You need anything else?”

Clearly surprised to be asked, Ali blinked. “No, thank you.” Her voice sounded funny and gave Luke a very bad feeling.
Jack didn’t miss it either. Jack didn’t miss much. “All right, I’ll get plates,” he said very gently, waiting until he was behind her and out of her peripheral vision to send Luke a steely look.

One thing the two of them had always shared was a hatred of seeing anyone mistreated or taken advantage of. Jack loved Luke, but the message was clear—don’t hurt her more than she’s already been hurt.

When Jack vanished into the kitchen, Ali moved to the couch, head averted. There might even have been a muffled sniffle.

Oh, Christ. Luke had faced down countless gangbangers, armed felons, and drugged-up perps. He’d faced the worst humanity had to offer, but he’d never gotten the hang of dealing with a woman’s tears. Sucking it up, he sat next to her.

She stiffened.

Ignoring that, he reached for her ice cream, thinking to set it down for her, but she surprised him with an elbow to the gut.

“What the hell?”

She hugged the ice cream to her chest. “I told you not to be nice to me right now!”

“I’m not nice. I’m never nice. And Jesus, remind me to never try to separate you from your ice cream again.”

Jack reappeared, paper plates and napkins in hand as he took in the scene. “Bad time?”

“Yes,” Luke said.

“No,” Ali said, and glared at Luke.

Jack nodded in approval. “Keeping him in line. That’s good. He needs that.”

Luke shot Jack a look, which Jack ignored as he plopped down on the couch right between them. The big oaf actually bounced Ali nearly to the floor and half sat on Luke as he settled in. He took the ice cream from Ali—and didn’t get elbowed, Luke couldn’t help but notice—and then handed out plates. They divided up the food, with Jack taking the last eggroll.

“Hey,” Luke said.

“It’d go straight to your ass,” Jack said, and popped the eggroll into his mouth. “No one wants to see that.”

THANKS TO JESSICA AT GCP/FOREVER,
I HAVE ONE (1) COPY TO GIVE AWAY.
OPEN TO U.S. RESIDENTS

FILL OUT RAFFLECOPTER ENTRY FORM BELOW

GIVEAWAY ENDS JUNE11th AT 6PM EST

WINNER WILL BE CHOSEN BY RAFFLECOPTER AND NOTIFIED
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DISCLAIMER

I received a copy of this book, at no charge to me, in exchange for my honest review. No items that I receive are ever sold…they are kept by me, or given to family and/or friends.

ADDENDUM

I do not have any affiliation with Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble. I am an IndieBound affiliate. I am providing link(s) solely for visitors that may be interested in purchasing this Book/EBook.

Forever (Hachette Book Group), GCP/Forever, Giveaway, Guest Author, Showcase

Guest Author COURTNEY COLE showcase and giveaway ENDED

CMash April 15, 2013 8 Comments

Our friend Marissa, from Grand Central Publishing/Forever, has another treat for us today. She is stopping by to introduce us to another amazing bestselling author, Ms. Courtney Cole. Welcome to CMash Reads.

COURTNEY COLE

Courtney Cole is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who lives near Lake Michigan with her family. She’s always working on her next project…or staring dreamily out her office window.

Connect with Courtney at these sites:

ABOUT THE BOOK

Twenty-four-year-old Pax Tate is an asshole. Seriously. He’s a tattooed, rock-hard bad boy with a tough attitude to match. His mother died when Pax was seven, leaving a hole in his heart filled with an intense guilt that he doesn’t understand. What he does know is that he and his dad were left alone, and they have never been close. Now, he uses drugs and women to cope with the black void in his soul. He pretends that the emptiness isn’t there and this has always worked . . . until he meets Mila.

Sweet, beautiful Mila Hill is the fresh air that Pax has never known in his life. He doesn’t know how to not hurt her¿but he quickly realizes that he’d better figure it out because he needs her to breathe. When the memories of his mother’s death resurface to haunt Pax, Mila is there to save him from his overwhelming guilt. Mila restores his broken heart, even as she evokes his powerful, sexual desires. Now for Pax to keep Mila, he needs to work on his issuesand stop being an asshole. But is that enough to make her stay?

BOOK DETAILS:

ISBN: 9781455578283
Published by: None
Genre: FICTION
Published on: April 30, 2013

PURCHASE LINKS:

THANKS TO MARISSA AT FOREVER/GCP,
I HAVE FIVE (5) EBOOKS TO GIVE AWAY

OPEN TO ALL

FILL OUT RAFFLECOPTER ENTRY FORM BELOW

GIVEAWAY ENDS APRIL 29th AT 6PM EST

WINNER WILL BE CHOSEN BY RAFFLECOPTER AND NOTIFIED
VIA EMAIL AND WILL HAVE 48 HOURS TO RESPOND
OR ANOTHER NAME WILL BE CHOSEN

a Rafflecopter giveaway

YOUR JAVA SCRIPT MAY NEED TO BE UPDATED
IF YOU AR EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTY
USING THE RAFFLECOPTER ENTRY FORM

DISCLAIMER

I received a copy of this book, at no charge to me, in exchange for my honest review. No items that I receive are ever sold…they are kept by me, or given to family and/or friends.

ADDENDUM

I do not have any affiliation with Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble. I am an IndieBound affiliate. I am providing link(s) solely for visitors that may be interested in purchasing this Book/EBook.

GCP/Forever, Giveaway, Guest Author, Showcase

Guest Author Jessica Sorensen and giveaway ENDED

CMash March 26, 2013 20 Comments

You are in for a treat!!! Tanisha, from Forever/Grand Central Publishing, is stopping by today with bestselling author, Jessica Sorensen. I ask, for your help, in giving them a warm welcome to CMash Reads.

JESSICA SORENSEN

The New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Jessica Sorensen, lives with her husband and three kids in the snowy mountains of Wyoming. When she’s not writing, she spends her time reading and hanging out with her family.
Connect with Jessica at her website, on FB and Twitter.

ABOUT THE BOOK

A rule-breaker with a fiery attitude, Ella always wore her heart on her sleeve. Then she left everything behind to go to college, where she transformed into someone who follows the rules, keeps everything together, and hides all her problems. Now it’s summer break and she has nowhere else to go but home. But once there, Ella fears that everything she’s worked so hard to bury might resurface—especially with Micha living right next door.

Smart, sexy, and confident, Micha can get under Ella’s skin like no one else. He knows everything about her, including her darkest secrets. If he tries to tempt the old Ella to return, he will be impossible to resist. But what Ella doesn’t realize is that when she left, she took a piece of Micha’s heart with her. Now he’s determined to win back the girl he lost, no matter what it takes.

Purchase links: Amazon B&N

THANKS TO TANISHA AT GCP/FOREVER, I
HAVE THREE (3) COPIES TO GIVE AWAY.
OPEN TO U.S. AND CANADA RESIDENTS

FILL OUT RAFFLECOPTER ENTRY FORM BELOW

GIVEAWAY ENDS APRIL 9th AT 6PM EST

WINNER WILL BE CHOSEN BY RAFFLECOPTER AND NOTIFIED
VIA EMAIL AND WILL HAVE 48 HOURS TO RESPOND
OR ANOTHER NAME WILL BE CHOSEN

a Rafflecopter giveaway

YOUR JAVA SCRIPT MAY NEED TO BE UPDATED
IF YOU AR EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTY
USING THE RAFFLECOPTER ENTRY FORM

DISCLAIMER
I received a copy of this book, at no charge to me,
in exchange for my honest review.
No items that I receive
are ever sold…they are kept by me,
or given to family and/or friends.
ADDENDUM
I do not have any affiliation with Amazon.com or
Barnes & Noble. I am an IndieBound affiliate.
I am providing link(s) solely for visitors
that may be interested in purchasing this Book/EBook.

GCP/Forever, Guest Author, Showcase

Guest Authors Margaret Mallory and Sue-Ellen Welfonder

CMash February 16, 2013 13 Comments

Are you ready for this? I know you are going to love it!! Today we have, not one, but two (2) guest authors stopping by. So get comfy, while Julie from Grand Central Publishing/Forever, introduces us to Ms. Margaret Mallory and Ms. Sue-Ellen Welfonder. Welcome ladies!!!

MARGARET MALLORY SUE-ELLEN WELFONDER

Margaret Mallory abandoned a career as a lawyer to become a romance novelist. Why this surprised everyone, she doesn’t know. Who wouldn’t rather have thrilling adventures with handsome Highlanders than write briefs and memos? Margaret lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with her husband, a goofy dog, and a crabby cat.

Sue-Ellen Welfonder is a Scotophile whose burning wish to make frequent trips to the land of her dreams led her to a twenty-year career with the airlines. Now a full-time writer, she’s quick to admit that she much prefers wielding a pen to pushing tea and coffee. She never watches television, loves haggis, and writes at a 450-year-old desk that once stood in a Bavarian castle.

Q & A with Margaret Mallory

1. Do you draw from personal experiences and/or past/current events?
I get a lot of inspiration from my historical research. Lucky for me, Scottish history is bursting with fascinating characters, murder, and mayhem. J

For this series, I was able to take a research trip to Scotland that was incredibly inspiring. Everywhere I went, I seemed to find new places I wanted to bring into the books. The faery glen on the Isle of Skye, which is the site of a couple of important scenes in THE CHIEFTAIN, is in the book because of that trip. If you are interested, I’ve put together a photo album for each of THE RETURN OF THE HIGHLANDERS books & posted them on the videos page of my website, www.MargaretMallory.com.

2. Do you start with the conclusion and plot in reverse or start from the beginning and see where the story line brings you?
I start with the characters and their conflict. Before I begin writing the book, I do character sheets, and I usually have two or three pivotal scenes in my head. I also try to have at least a sketchy outline of the plot. I have to figure out a lot of things as I go, but I write better when I know the basic direction I’m headed.

Deciding exactly where to start the story is hard—at least it is for me. A good book doesn’t start at the logical beginning, but at a high dramatic point, with one or both main characters on the cusp of change. I never have trouble in the middle, as a lot of writers do, but the first few chapters take me forever to write, in part because I’m still getting to know my characters.

What is your routine when writing? Any idiosyncrasies?
I’m not a fast writer, so I guess my routine is to work a lot! To meet my deadlines, I generally work long hours, six or seven days a week. Writing a historical every six months, is challenging, especially when there are so many other things an author has to do these days besides write books. I do get a break between series, which is good.

Q & A with Sue-Ellen Welfonder

It’s a pleasure to be here. You’ve asked insightful questions, so this is a great way to wind down the blog tour.

CR: Do you draw from personal experiences and/or past/current events?
SEW: Yes. I believe all writing has its roots deep inside the author. Every experience, our likes and dislikes, beliefs and views, flow into the work. Each written word is a piece of the writer’s psyche. My medievals are influenced by special places I’ve visited in Scotland. So are my Allie Mackay titles (Scottish-set contemporary paranormals), which also include many things that have happened to me on trips to Scotland. It all ends up in the books. If you know the writer, you’ll see her in every drop of ink on the page.

Current events might spark an idea in an Allie Mackay title. The past always inspires me and I love Scottish medieval history. The most fleeting reference can tantalize, sending my imagination on a journey that results in a new book proposal. (or a neat plot twist for a work-in-progress).

CR: Do you start with the conclusion and plot in reverse or start from the beginning and see where the story line brings you?
SEW: The beginning and through to the end. I know the whole story before I type the first word. That’s how my ideas come to me. Once I start writing and the characters come alive, they sometimes have ideas of their own. The planned route may take a slight detour. But the destination remains the same. It’s such character-inspired twists that breathe magic into a story.

CR: What is your routine when writing? Any idiosyncrasies?
SEW: I have a daily writing goal of 3,000 words. To achieve that, I write in 1,000 word spurts. Between writing sessions, I break to walk my dog, cycle and exercise, walk the beach, make lunch, do household chores, etc. Because I’m a night owl, much of these activities happen between 9 a.m. and noon. I edit in the afternoon. My best writing happens after midnight, with me going to bed about 3 a.m.

Idiosyncrasies? A big one is ‘going silent’ at deadline. I ignore email, avoid the phone, and head the other way if I spot a chatty neighbor when I’m walking my dog (letting her ‘catch me’ would trap me for an hour of ‘small talk’ when I should be writing). I listen to classical and New Age music (no words). I wear a special rune pendant for good luck. I believe every writer’s office should include a cherished pet. I dislike chapter openings but know the words flow once I have the first line or two, so I sometimes type “XXX…” and move on, going back later to add a ‘good’ opening. I must know the hero and heroine names before I begin their story. I could list more, but won’t. I believe all writers have ‘peculiarities.’

Thank you so much for inviting me today. This was a lovely end to a fabulous tour. (said with a wink and a smile at Margaret, too)

Highland Blessings!
Sue-Ellen Welfonder
www.welfonder.com

ABOUT THE BOOKS

In THE CHIEFTAIN, Connor, chieftain of the MacDonalds of Sleat, holds the fate of his people in his hands. Rival clans are plotting to take over his lands, and duty determines whom he will fight, trust . . . even marry. Beautiful Ilysa dresses plainly, speaks softly, and loves her chieftain from afar. Yet when Connor finally stokes the embers of desire that have so long burned within her, Ilysa feels bliss unlike any she’s ever known.Can she find a way to prove she is the woman he needs by his side?

In SEDUCTION OF A HIGHLAND WARRIOR, Chieftain Alasdair MacDonald has sworn to preserve the peace in the Glen of Many Legends. Though he’s handsome and fearless, his warrior’s heart belongs only to his beloved land-until the fair sister of his oldest enemy shatters his defenses. Lady Marjory Mackintosh will do anything to unite the warring clans, even seduce Alasdair MacDonald. She has loved the rugged Highlander since she first saw him and now, as temptation leads to surrender, Marjory dares to possess him, body and soul.

BOOK DETAILS

THE CHIEFTAIN
PUBLICATION DATE: February 26, 2013
ISBN: 9780446583114
FOR MORE INFORMATION click here

SEDUCTION OF A HIGHLAND WARRIOR
PUBLICATION DATE: January 29, 2013
ISBN: 9780446561792
FOR MORE INFORMATION click here

THANKS TO JULIE, FROM GRAND CENTRAL PUBLISHING,
TWO LUCKY WINNERS WILL RECEIVE BOTH BOOKS
U.S. RESIDENTS ONLY

CLICK HERE FOR THE ENTRY PAGE

DISCLAIMER
I received a copy of this book, at no charge to me,
in exchange for my honest review.
No items that I receive
are ever sold…they are kept by me,
or given to family and/or friends.
ADDENDUM
I do not have any affiliation with Amazon.com or
Barnes & Noble. I am an IndieBound affiliate.
I am providing link(s) solely for visitors
that may be interested in purchasing this Book/EBook.