REVIEW – THE FIRE BETWEEN HIGH & LO (Elements, #2) by Brittainy C. Cherry

March 25, 2016March 26, 2016Leave a comment

SYNOPSIS:

There once was a boy, and I loved him.

Logan Francis Silverstone was the complete opposite of me. I danced while he stood still. He was quiet, and I was always running my mouth. He struggled to find a smile while I refused to frown.

The night I saw the darkness that truly lived inside of him, I couldn’t look away.

We were broken together, yet somehow whole. We were wrong together, but always right. We were the stars that burned across the night sky, searching for a wish, praying for better tomorrows.

Until the day I lost him. I threw us away with one hasty decision—a decision that changed us forever.

There once was a boy, and I loved him.

And for a few breaths, a few whispers, a few moments, I think he loved me, too.

***

Book #2 in the Romance Elements Series.

Complete standalone.

*****Patty’s Review*****

*****4.5 STARS*****
{ARC Generously Provided by Author}

We were closer than I ever knew any people to ever be. He was a part of me in every way possible, our lives twining together as if were one flame burning together.

Brittainy Cherry has another HIT on her hands with this one. I knew when the buzz first started going on about this book that I just had to read it. This author has the gift of being able to create such beautiful and memorable characters who suffer from enormous heartbreak but are able to overcome huge obstacles while also capturing the reader’s heart. Her secondary characters are also such complex individuals that always add so much more depth to the storyline. Once I picked this one up, it was literally hard to put down. The writing is exquisite. I couldn’t stop highlighting so many passages because I found so much beauty within the pages of this book. This story also contained two of my favorite tropes – friends to lovers, and second chance romance. So how could you go wrong with a formula like that??!!!

Alyssa Walters, aka HIGH, and Logan Silverstone, aka LO, met and became the best of friends when they were around fifteen years old. They came from polar opposite worlds. Alyssa’s mother was a successful attorney and they lived in a large house in a gated community. Logan lived in a tiny one-bedroom apartment on the wrong side of town, with his mother who was a drug addict and part-time prostitute. What they both had in common was that they each had negligent and abusive parents, but wished with all their heart that they could just be loved by them. Eventually, Logan and Alyssa will find it hard to deny their feelings for each other and once they give in, the two become inseparable.

Unfortunately, a misunderstanding causes a rift between them and ultimately results in tragedy. The two are forced to spend some time apart when Lo checks himself into Rehab. What was only supposed to be a six-month stint, ends up turning into a five-year separation. During his time away, “High” sends “Lo” daily texts and voicemails that always go unanswered. My heart broke over and over for Alyssa. She loved Logan with all of her heart and tried so hard to let him know that she would always be there for him. I wanted to kick Logan for avoiding her because even though I kind of understood why he kept his distance, I still felt he was being pigheaded.

Family issues force Logan to return back home and since Logan’s older brother is living with and engaged to Alyssa’s older sister, there is no way they can avoid each other. When they come face to face once again, no matter how hard they try, they will be unable to fight their feelings for each other.

But can Alyssa get over the fact that Logan left her when she needed him most of all? And can Logan get over his hang-ups and will he finally realize that he is the only man that was meant to own Alyssa’s heart? Or will another tragedy send Logan back into another downward spiral that he will not be able to recover from?

This is one of those books where once you start it, you will find it hard to put it down for even a second, so I advise that you start this book when you have enough time to devote to it. I have a feeling that those who had issues with the first book in this series, will end up really loving this one. Even though this is book two in the ELEMENTS series, it can be read as a standalone.

*****Dee’s Review*****

4.5 Radiant Stars*****

(ARC kindly provided by author in exchange for an honest review)

BRAVO!!!!!! Standing ovation!!!!! Brittainy C. Cherry has done it again, delivering another remarkable story that made my heart burst and my skin tingly with so many feelings. TOP READ OF THE YEAR!!

Two best friends, with nothing in common but pain. Their friendship, the most treasured thing they both have, but sadness and pain will come and shatter their lives.

Years and messages will go by unanswered until tragedy will be the only thing to bring these two broken souls together again. Can they forgive each other and be friends, or perhaps lovers, again?

Read this gorgeous story and find out how The Fire Between High and Lo can consume your days and nights. This will be the most beautiful and memorable love story, you’ll read this year.

Amazing!!!!!!!

*****Mel’s Review*****

4 Stars!
(ARC provided by author)
(BR with Dee)

-“Some things-the best things-are always worth fighting for.”

Logan Silverstone & Alyssa Walters meet as teenagers living in True Falls, Wisconsin. They are complete opposites in so many ways, but still become the best of friends. They both have hopes & dreams, but while Alyssa is living a comfortable life, Logan was dealt a tragic life, where he constantly feels as if he’s drowning. Things are bad for him, & never seem to get better. The one thing they do share is they both longed to be loved by their parents & matter to them. As the friends grow closer, things turn more romantic & intimate between them. Suddenly Alyssa becomes everything good in Logan’s life.

-She is my world.

-She didn’t notice how she sparked my heart each time she stood near me.

-All my thoughts were her

Logan’s life continues to spiral out of control, & it causes him & Alyssa to separate. They are apart for a while, but eventually find their way back to one another. No matter how much time passes, their hearts are always connected, & they remain each others home. As usual Brittainy Cherry’s writing is stunningly beautiful!

-He was everything good in my life.

-He was the person I went to each and every time anything hurt or whenever I felt afraid. Like home. Logan was home to me.

-It was crazy how it happened. How one boy could still, after all these years, control every beat of my heart.

-You’re my heart. You’re my soul. I want you. All of you.

LIVE – THE FIRE BETWEEN HIGH & LO (Elements, #2) by Brittainy C. Cherry

March 25, 2016March 25, 2016Leave a comment

Title: The Fire Between High & Lo

Series: Romance Elements #2

Author: Brittainy C. Cherry

Genre: Romance

Release Date: March 25, 2016

Blurb

There once was a boy, and I loved him.Logan Francis Silverstone and I were complete opposites. I danced, and he stood still. He was quiet, while I ran my mouth. He struggled to find a smile, and I refused to frown.

The night I saw the darkness that truly lived inside of him, I couldn’t look away.

We were broken together, yet somehow whole. We were wrong together, but always right. We were the stars that burned across the night sky, searching for a wish, praying for better tomorrows.

Until the day I lost him. He threw us away with one hasty decision–a decision that changed us forever.

There once was a boy, and I loved him.

And for a few breaths, a few whispers, a few moments, I think he loved me, too.

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Author Bio

Brittainy Cherry has been in love with words since the day she took her first breath. She graduated from Carroll University with a Bachelors Degree in Theatre Arts and a minor in Creative Writing. She loves to take part in writing screenplays, acting, and dancing–poorly of course. Coffee, chai tea, and wine are three things that she thinks every person should partake in! Brittainy lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin with her family. When she’s not running a million errands and crafting stories, she’s probably playing with her adorable pets.

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WRAPPED UP IN READING’s REVIEWS of “The Fire Between High & Lo”

BLOG TOUR – FINLEY by Ella Frank

March 25, 2016March 25, 2016Leave a comment

Title: Finley

Author: Ella Frank

Genre: M/M Contemporary Romance

Publication Date: March 22, 2016

Blurb

It’s time to come home, Finn.

It’s been seven years since Daniel Finley left his hometown in Florida for the hustle and bustle of Chicago’s city life.

Since then, he’s worked hard for his position at the prestigious law firm Leighton & Associates, even when it’s caused distance and isolation from his family and friends. But that’s all about to change.

On his thirtieth birthday, he receives the one thing he never dared hope for. Something that was promised to him years earlier—a note. One simple sentence from the man he’s never been able to forget.

Six words will forever change the course of their lives.

Brantley Hayes has it all. Or so he thinks. When he first made the decision to take a job down in Florida, his family thought he was crazy. But, after years of living in the quiet beach town, he finally feels a sense of community. He’s surrounded himself with friends who are like family, has a job he loves, and owns a spectacular beachfront property that is his sanctuary.

Yet he still feels unfulfilled, as if a piece of the puzzle is missing, and he knows exactly which piece it is. On an impulse, he follows through with a promise he made years earlier. A promise to call home the one he sent away.

Nothing is as simple as it seems.

After years of separation, the former lovers are reunited, but Brantley wasn’t expecting to encounter the high walls now guarding Daniel’s heart.

Daniel may not be the same person he was when he left, but he knows that the first step to healing is the note in his hand.

Finley by Ella Frank

Excerpt

BRANTLEY KEPT A discreet eye on the final student to leave for the morning as Mr. Finley strode down the stairs to the front of the classroom. They were three weeks into the semester and he was ashamed to admit that, with every day that passed, his fascination with the young man grew.

At first, he’d tried to convince himself that it was purely academic. The kid was smart. He’d aced all the weekly quizzes, and Brantley was more than aware of the way he watched him lecture with keen, intelligent eyes that never strayed from him.

Oh, he was fascinated, all right, but he made sure to tell himself at the end of every class that it had nothing to do with the mischievous grin Daniel would flash at his friends or the easygoing laugh that would bubble up out of him at any given moment. But he knew he was lying. Daniel was quite possibly the happiest person he’d ever met, and his joy of life lit up the room and everyone in it. Including him.

When Daniel stopped in front of him and dropped his paper on the desk, Brantley acknowledged him with a glance before returning his gaze back to the notes he was going over.

“Any big plans this weekend, Professor?”

The question had been so unexpected that he didn’t think to catch himself before he replied, “Nothing too big. Just going out with some friends. You?”

Daniel smiled at him as he shoved his arms through the loops of his backpack, and Brantley couldn’t help but look at his shirt as it stretched across his broad chest.

“I’m going to hit the beach. Such great waves right now.”

“Ahh, you like to surf. That explains it.”

When the side of Daniel’s mouth crooked up, the effect was charming as hell. The kid was a knockout.

“Explains what?”

Annoyed that he’d made such a stupid slipup, he looked back at the papers in front of him, hoping Daniel would get the message and leave. No such luck.

“Explains what?” he asked again.

Brantley sighed and rested his arms on the desk as he studied Daniel’s inviting face. “It explains your hair.”

“My—oh,” he said, touching the ends of it. “Do you like it?”

Stunned by the direct question, he sat back in his chair and fought the smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “Do I like your hair?”

“Yeah.”

“Does it matter?” Jesus, fuck. Stop it. Stop flirting with him.

But it was too late. Daniel put his hands on the desk and leaned forward, Brantley toed the ground, shoving his chair back.

“It could…”

“No. No, it couldn’t,” he said as he got to his feet, shaking his head.

Daniel straightened and tucked his thumbs into the straps of his backpack, no doubt to taunt him. His eyes were too knowing for someone his age, and when they held his longer than was acceptable, Brantley’s heart skipped a couple of beats.

“Was there something else, Mr. Finley?”

“You said you were going out with friends this weekend…”

Shit, did I? “Yes, that’s right.”

As Daniel ran his thumb down the left strap of his bag, he admonished himself for noticing every little move he made. He needed to get a fucking hold of himself.

“Are any of them more than a friend?”

If he hadn’t been watching Daniel quite so closely, he wouldn’t have believed the words that had just come out of his mouth. But he had been. So he did.

“I don’t believe that’s any of your business. You better hurry or you’ll miss your next class.”

Satisfied that he’d firmly dismissed Daniel, he sat down and made a show of focusing on the books lining his desk and didn’t dare look and see if he had left this time or not. He wasn’t sure what he’d do if he was still standing there.

He reached up to adjust his tie, which suddenly felt a little too tight around his neck, and with each passing second that he was consciously not checking to see if he was alone, he swore that it was getting tighter.

“Professor Hayes?”

His head snapped up at his name, and when Daniel had his attention, he continued.

“Are you gay?”

Brantley’s eyes widened, and he wondered how his mouth hadn’t fallen open at the blunt question. Instead, he went with, “Excuse me?”

“I asked if you were—”

“I heard what you said. But I don’t see how that is any business of yours, either. You should think before you speak, Mr. Finley. I’m your teacher, and it’s time for you to leave. This conversation is over.” He flipped open one of the books on his desk and shook his head. He couldn’t believe the audacity of the kid—or the fact that he was so damn forthright. As he sat there, grinding his teeth in an effort not to look at his student—who was still standing in front of his desk—a bead of sweat ran down his collar and he cursed the fact that his nerves were getting the better of him.

“I only asked because, well, I am too. And I thought it would be nice to have someone to talk to.”

Well, hell. He couldn’t fault him for that. The only problem was…talking wasn’t what sprang to mind when he was around Daniel Finley.

He clasped his hands on the desk and stared into the anxious face peering down at him. Daniel was worrying his lower lip with his teeth, and he suddenly looked very much the young man he was.

“Are you?” he asked again, and there was no way he could deny that hesitant curiosity.

“Yes, Daniel. I am.”

As his words drifted between them, Daniel’s mouth slipped into a smile. “Oh.”

Brantley laughed at that. He wasn’t sure what Daniel was thinking right then. He’d thought for sure with the way he’d been looking at him earlier that, if he’d admitted this, he would be fending off—or at least putting up a good show of fending off—an unwanted pass. But, instead, Daniel appeared thoughtful.

“Does that bother you?”

Daniel adamantly shook his head. “No.”

“Are you sure?” he pressed, and the look that entered Daniel’s eyes then was so hot that he thought he may overheat.

“Yes. I’m very sure.”

Oh, fuck. Okay. Where the hell did the nervous guy disappear to? One minute, Daniel was endearingly awkward, and the next, he was looking at him like he wanted to strip him out of his clothes and—“Stop right there,” he said, and he wasn’t sure if he was telling himself that or the contradiction eyeing him with newfound knowledge. “Whatever you’re thinking, stop thinking it.”

“Why?”

Yep, he was fucked. That wasn’t a word he generally used, but in this case, he was well and truly fucked. He should’ve just stuck to the run–along–now speech.

“Because I’m your teacher.”

“This isn’t high school. I’m an adult.”

He sighed. “That may be true. But I’m your professor and this conversation is inappropriate.”

“How? I just asked if you were gay and you said yes. I don’t see what the problem is.”

When Daniel aimed a mischievous grin at him, Brantley knew he was very aware of what the problem was.

“Out,” he said, pointing to the door. “Time to leave, Mr. Finley.”

This time, he made sure to watch Daniel so he knew he was actually leaving. He walked to the door, but at the last minute, he turned around to look back at him. Not willing to back down and show weakness, Brantley kept his eyes on his student as Daniel ran his tongue along his lower lip.

“You should call me Finn. Everyone else does.”

Christ. The kid was going to drive him to an early grave, but damn if he didn’t laugh at his audacity.

“Out,” he said again, and this time Daniel pushed out the door and disappeared into the hall.

About the Author

Ella Frank is the author of the #1 Bestselling Temptation series, including Try, Take, and Trust and is the co-author of the fan-favorite erotic serial, A Desperate Man. Her Exquisite series has been praised as “scorching hot!” and “enticingly sexy!”

A life-long fan of the romance genre, Ella writes contemporary and erotic fiction and lives with her husband in Portland, OR. You can reach her on the web at www.ellafrank.com and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ella.frank.author

Some of her favorite authors include Tiffany Reisz, Kresley Cole, Riley Hart, J.R. Ward, Erika Wilde, Gena Showalter, and Carly Philips.

Connect with Ella Frank

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WRAPPED UP IN READING’s REVIEWS of “Finley”

REVIEW – FINLEY (Sunset Cove, #1) by Ella Frank

March 25, 2016March 25, 2016Leave a comment

SYNOPSIS:

***A spin-off from the Temptation Series***

It’s time to come home, Finn.
It’s been seven years since Daniel Finley left his hometown in Florida for the hustle and bustle of Chicago’s city life.
Since then, he’s worked hard for his position at the prestigious law firm Leighton & Associates, even when it’s caused distance and isolation from his family and friends. But that’s all about to change.
On his thirtieth birthday, he receives the one thing he never dared hope for. Something that was promised to him years earlier—a note. One simple sentence from the man he’s never been able to forget.
Six words will forever change the course of their lives.
Brantley Hayes has it all. Or so he thinks. When he first made the decision to take a job down in Florida, his family thought he was crazy. But, after years of living in the quiet beach town, he finally feels a sense of community. He’s surrounded himself with friends who are like family, has a job he loves, and owns a spectacular beachfront property that is his sanctuary.
Yet he still feels unfulfilled, as if a piece of the puzzle is missing, and he knows exactly which piece it is. On an impulse, he follows through with a promise he made years earlier. A promise to call home the one he sent away.
Nothing is as simple as it seems.
After years of separation, the former lovers are reunited, but Brantley wasn’t expecting to encounter the high walls now guarding Daniel’s heart.
Daniel may not be the same person he was when he left, but he knows that the first step to healing is the note in his hand.

*****Dee’s Review*****

.5 My Finn Stars*****

(ARC kindly provided by author, in exchange for an honest review)

I have one word to describe this book, HOT!!!

Intense and very passionate also come to mind when I think about Finley.I’ve always been a fan of Ella Frank but her M/M books are quickly becoming a favorite for me, actually in this whole genre. She can do m/m and do it so well, I’ve never thought I’d crave these stories in such a desperate way. I’m in love!!!!!

Daniel Finley left his home in Florida with a broken heart but with a lot of determination to graduate as a lawyer and become the best one he could be. Seven years of non-stop work has landed him a spot in one of the best law firms in Chicago. Daniel aka Finn has been unstoppable working towards his ultimate goal, to make partner. But seven years of hard work mean nothing when he gets a note that says, it’s time to come home.

Professor Brantley Hayes has a very successful career and a gorgeous home by the beach, in a great town full of wonderful friends, but he knows deep inside him that something is missing, or rather someone…

Daniel was the student and Brantley was the professor. Ten years his senior Brantley tried to keep his distance from his gorgeous and bright college student but Finn was very determined and these two embark in a very hot romance. Even though both men were smart and independent adults, Brantley knew that Finn had a bright future ahead of him, and he was the one that had to make the very painful decision of letting him go, so Finn could fulfill his future, even if that meant breaking his heart.

Now seven years later, the pain and attraction are very much still alive between these two ex-lovers, but what happens now when they meet again? Do they discover that they have both moved on, or will they be able to re-start their love?

Ella Frank is a brilliant writer. She has the ability to create romantic stories that tease you to no end with the most seductive words you’ll ever read. She has mastered the M/M genre and this book especially is now one of my ultimate favorite of hers. If you are curious about trying an M/M book, I think this book could be the perfect starter read, you might even get addicted. ; )

*****Mel’s Review*****

4.5 It’s Always Been You Stars!
(ARC provided by author)

Brantley Hayes is a professor at UCF & lives in Sunset Cove, Florida. He falls hard for his student Daniel Finley who pursues him relentlessly. Daniel is this young, stunningly beautiful blonde surfer who knows what he wants & what he wants is his sexy professor. Daniel is very direct, confident & playful. Eventually, Brantley can’t resist Finn and they develop a relationship. Finn is very intelligent & has a bright future ahead of him. Brantley doesn’t want to hold him back, & thinks he knows what’s best for him. He pushes Finn away & it greatly impacts both their lives. Finn moves to Chicago for law school & is gone for seven years working hard & becoming a successful attorney. His life is now in the big city. Upon his 30th birthday, he receives a note from the man he’s never forgotten or forgiven.

-Brantley Hayes was in a class all of his own when it came to men. And fuck, Daniel thought, he was still the pinnacle of perfection in his eyes.

-He was just so fucking beautiful.

-Brantley was still every single thing he wanted in a man wrapped up in one perfect package.

Finn takes a vacation & buys a plane ticket back home. He wants to know what Brantley Hayes wants from him after all these years. He heads back to Florida but decides when he sees Brantley things will now be on his terms. He’s no longer the 22 yr. old Brantley remembers. Finn is now a man, a gorgeous somewhat arrogant, self-assured man, who holds a lot of resentment for his former professor. His walls around his heart are built up, & Brantley will have to work hard to earn his trust back. All those years ago Brantley truly thought he was doing the right thing when he sent Finn away. He decides it’s now or never. Go for it with Finn, or let him go for good. He has a lot of regrets when it comes to Finn, but he is willing to do whatever it takes to get him back. They reunite & it’s explosive as they get reacquainted. This book was just delicious!!! My fav m/m I’ve ever read! As this couple’s hearts slowly heal & find their way back to one another it’s absolutely beautiful! Just LOVED this one!!! 😀

-It’d been so long since he’d felt such comfort in another’s arms. In truth, he hadn’t felt it since this man’s.

-This man is everything I want.

LIVE – GINGER’s HEART by Katy Regnery

March 22, 2016March 22, 2016Leave a comment

Ginger’s Heart by Katy Regnery

Date of Publication: March 22, 2016

Blurb

“I finished Ginger’s Heart last night, and I am completely and utterly in love.” –Mia Sheridan, NY Times bestselling author

Once upon a time there were two cousins:
one golden like the sun,
one dark like midnight,
one a protector,
one a predator,
one a Woodsman
and
one a Wolf…
both owning equal,
but different,
parts of a little girl’s heart.

In this modern retelling of “Little Red Riding Hood,” the woodsman and the wolf are cousins, and Little Red is the girl with whom they both fall in love.

Beautiful Ginger McHuid, daughter of Kentucky’s premiere horse breeder, grows up on her family farm, best friends with Cain Wolfram, the son of her father’s Stallion Manager, and Cain’s cousin, Josiah Woodman, son of a local banker. Throughout their happy childhood, the three are inseparable friends, but as they mature into adults, complicated feelings threaten to destroy their long history of friendship and love.

Ginger’s Heart

*****

This is a standalone novel inspired by Little Red Riding Hood. New Adult Contemporary Romance: Due to profanity and very strong sexual content, this book is not intended for readers under the age of 18.

(The next standalone a modern fairytale novel, Don’t Speak, inspired by The Little Mermaid, will be released in 2017.)

Available From

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About Katy Regnery

Katy Regnery, award-winning and Amazon bestselling author, started her writing career by enrolling in a short story class in January 2012. One year later, she signed her first contract for a winter romance entitled By Proxy.

Now a hybrid author who publishes both independently and traditionally, Katy claims authorship of the six-book Heart of Montana series, the six-book English Brothers series, and a Kindle Worlds novella entitled “Four Weddings and a Fiasco: The Wedding Date,” in addition to the standalone novels, Playing for Love at Deep Haven and Amazon bestseller, The Vixen and the Vet.

The Vixen and the Vet is included in the charity anthology Hometown Heroes: Hotter Ever After, and Katy’s novella “Frosted” appeared in the Jan ’15 anthology, Snowy Days Steamy Nights. Additionally, Katy’s short story, “The Long Way Home” appeared in the first RWA anthology (Feb ’15), Premiere.

Katy lives in the relative wilds of northern Fairfield County, Connecticut, where her writing room looks out at the woods, and her husband, two young children, and two dogs create just enough cheerful chaos to remind her that the very best love stories begin at home.

Find Katy Regnery Online

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Teaser

Excerpt from Chapter 12 of Ginger’s Heart, a modern fairytale, by Katy Regnery. All rights reserved. Used with permission.

An hour later they stopped by the Glenn River, eight miles downriver from Ginger’s house and two from the distillery where Cain had partied last night.

“We should water them,” he said, reining in Thunder and dismounting with the ease of a lifelong horseman.

She reined in Heath, who nickered in protest, and grinned down at Cain who reached up for her. His hands lingered for an extra moment on her hips as she slid down the front of his body. Leaning her head back, she stared up at him, daring him to pull her closer, to kiss her, to admit that this whole “friends” thing was bullshit on fire. But, he clenched his jaw, cleared his throat and dropped his hands.

“Thanks,” she murmured, her voice husky in her ears as he stared down at her, his eyes flinty and dark.

Taking Heath’s reins with a grunt, he turned away from her, leading the horses to the river’s edge and leaving her to follow behind. She leaned down to pick up a flat stone and skipped it across the slow moving water.

“Not bad,” said Cain.

“You were always the best.”

“Nah,” he said. “Woodman was better.”

“Nope,” she countered, picking up another stone. “Woodman was good, but you were better. Remember that Fourth of July that you skipped eleven times? Eleven times. It was a record.”

Satisfied that the horses were calm and drinking their fill, Cain leaned down and grabbed a rock of his own, skipping it over the dark water.

One-two-three-four-five-six-seven…

“Wow!” she said, clapping lightly. “You’ve still got the touch!”

He turned to her, grinning. “You always get excited about the littlest things. What’s it like gettin’ a kick out of everythin’, Gin?”

“What’s it like gettin’ a kick out of nothin’, Cain?” she asked, her voice full of sass.

“I’m gettin’ a kick out of you right now, princess.”

A charge zapped between them as the words left his mouth, and her breath hitched and held for just a moment, but she looked down and picked up another rock. She was enjoying today too much to go back to Awkwardland.

She skipped her rock, which sunk after three measly hops.

“Remember when you saved my Cabbage Patch doll from certain doom in this river?” she asked him.

He screwed up his face as her. “Wasn’t me. Must have been Woodman.”

“It was you!” she insisted. “Not Woodman!”

“Savin’ a dolly? Please. That has Woodman written all over it. I couldn’t have cared less if it drowned.”

“But I cared,” she said softly. “Which is why you saved it.”

“Fine. Have it your way,” he said, sitting down on a large rock near the water’s edge.

She sighed, squatting down to wash her hands in the clear water before looking back at him. “Why do you do that?”

“Do what?”

“Let Woodman take credit for all the good things?”

He shrugged, looking away from her, out at the water. “I don’t.”

“You just did. Twice.”

He sighed, giving her a long-suffering look. “If somethin’ good happened, chances were, it was Woodman’s doin’.”

“How do you figure?”

“He’s the better man, Gin,” said Cain, his eyes severe, his words deliberate.

She stood up slowly, turning her body completely to face him. “Do you really believe that?”

He looked away. “It’s the truth.”

“Cain. Cain, look at me.” Her words didn’t feel like enough so she beseeched him with her eyes too. “You’re just as good a man as he is.”

“Ha!” scoffed Cain, standing up and moving away from her. “Not in this life, princess.”

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LIVE – COLLARED by Nicole Williams

March 22, 2016March 22, 2016Leave a comment

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AP - Synopsis.jpg

When a seventeen-year-old girl vanishes,

A community is shaken.

Parents turn desperate.

Friends hold vigils.

And the boy who loves her searches.

When a year goes by,

The community is recovering.

Parents feel hopeless.

Friends feel helpless.

And the boy who loves her continues his search.

When ten years go by,

The community has forgotten.

Parents cling to the past.

Friends move toward the future.

And the boy who loves her . . .

Brings her home.

Jade Childs spent ten years in captivity, but now that she’s back, the real battle for survival begins. The media shadows her. Flashbacks haunt her. Her old life evades her. Her so-called new life rejects her. She spent too many years in the dark to recognize the light. She spent too long repressing her feelings to remember how to express them. She spent a decade abandoning hope and cannot dare letting it back into her life. Jade’s not just defined by what happened to her—she’s collared to it.

When the twenty-seven-year-old woman is found,

A community wants to know the story,

Parents want to forget the story,

Friends want to be a part of the story,

And the man who still loves her faces the greatest challenge yet: letting her go.

AP- Excerpt.jpg

He exhales like there’s some war being fought inside him. I don’t think he’ll answer. He has a right to keep his secrets—god knows I should be able to empathize with that.

His hand dangling over the steering wheel curls into a fist. “The woman I wanted to spend my life with was gone. I wasn’t in the mood to find a backup.”

My chest does that thing again—contracting like someone just hit me in the ribs with a hammer. When Torrin glances at me, it looks like someone’s swinging a dozen hammers at him too.

I can’t keep looking at him watching me like that. I know we’re feeling the same thing—the ache of what could have been. The pain of accepting it never can be again.

I find myself focusing on the dashboard. I don’t notice it right away, but when I do, I touch the bright coral smear running down the front of it. “You never cleaned it.” I trace my finger down the dried nail polish, reliving the moment like it was happening right now.

“I could never bring myself to.” Torrin’s eyes land on the stain from the bottle I accidently spilled when I was painting my toenails on a drive to the beach. “I couldn’t bring myself to just . . . erase it.”

I don’t know a tear’s slipped out until it falls onto my arm that’s still reaching out, touching the stain. It’s only one tear, no more are coming, but Torrin doesn’t miss it.

He sighs and clenches the steering wheel a little harder. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what to say. How to act around you. I don’t think I’m doing anything right.” His knuckles are white when we exit the freeway. “This is all very surreal. What happened. You being back. I’m totally lost.”

I don’t know why he’s apologizing. The only time I’ve felt like life hasn’t siphoned every last drop of emotion out of me is when I’ve been with him.

“You’re treating me exactly like you used to.” My fingers fall away from the dash. The good memories have turned to painful ones, a spilled bottle of nail polish included. “I’d rather have you act like nothing happened and I’m the same person you remember than have you second-guess everything you say and do.”

His knuckles loosen around the steering wheel. He rolls his fingers, popping them.

“Just do what comes naturally to you.” I turn in my seat to face him. “I’ll do what comes naturally to me, and maybe things will get easier.”

We’re stopped at the light leading to the zoo, and he looks at me. His forehead is folded into creases. “What comes naturally to me?” He doesn’t pause long enough for me to reply. “I’m not sure that would be helpful to either of us.”

It’s not my chest that hurts when he says that—it’s my stomach. It’s not really pain though—it’s something else. I haven’t felt it in a long time, and I know I shouldn’t feel it right now.

I can’t let that look in his eyes keep doing this to my stomach. I can’t let the way his chest is rising and falling harder now affect mine.

The light changes, thankfully, and his eyes move from me to the road. The air inside the cab takes a while to clear though despite the cracked windows.

“That’s when I started to fall in love with you—after my dad died and you acted the exact same around me. You treated me the same as you had every day before. Still rubbing it in my face when you scored higher on a test. Still knocking on my door and seeing if I wanted to shoot hoops. When everyone was understanding of me wanting to lock myself in my bedroom, you got me to play basketball.” He smiles at the windshield like he’s watching the twelve-year-old versions of us playing a game of Around the World. “You brought me back . . . when everyone else just kind of left me behind.”

I find my eyes drifting back to the nail polish stain. “And when did you finish falling in love with me? When I finally let you win a game of one-on-one? Or was it the night we . . . you know?” Thinking about that night makes me blush. Talking about it makes me shift.

Torrin glances at me for a moment. “I’ll never finish falling in love with you.”

AP - about the author.jpg

Nicole Williams is the New York Times and USATODAY bestselling author of contemporary and young adult romance, including the Crash and Lost & Found series. Her books have been published by HarperTeen and Simon & Schuster in both domestic and foreign markets, while she continues to self-publish additional titles. She is working on a new YA series with Crown Books (a division of Random House) as well. She loves romance, from the sweet to the steamy, and writes stories about characters in search of their happily even after. She grew up surrounded by books and plans on writing until the day she dies, even if it’s just for her own personal enjoyment. She still buys paperbacks because she’s all nostalgic like that, but her kindle never goes neglected for too long. When not writing, she spends her time with her husband and daughter, and whatever time’s left over she’s forced to fit too many hobbies into too little time.

Nicole is represented by Jane Dystel, of Dystel and Goderich Literary Agency.

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TEASER – IN YOUR DREAMS by Ginger Scott

March 22, 2016March 22, 2016Leave a comment

BLURB:

Casey Coffield has a growing list of personal flaws he keeps locked away in his head:
He’s never on time.
His list of IOUs to his best friend is endless.
Money is always short.
Goals are never in reach.

Oh, and he’s decided to add college drop-out to that list, too. He doesn’t really think that last one’s such a bad thing, but his family insists it is, so it stays on the list.

On paper, he’s a zero. But in person, when he’s mixing tracks for a sea of bodies at the hottest clubs and parties, he’s downright irresistible. Just-right stubble on his chin, body of a boxer and a smirk that stimulates all the right nerves—women have never been a problem. They flock to his swagger and fall for his charm…fast.

All except for this one.

Purple hair, gray eyes, a raspy voice and sass, Murphy Sullivan is a little bit country and a little bit rock-n-roll. And her and Casey? They have history. He can’t remember it, but she wrote a song about him—and it’s not exactly a love song. But it is good. Damn good. And uncovering her inspiration just might be the key to solving a few of his shortcomings—not to mention open doors to his own big break in the music industry.

But sometimes dreams get messy when they collide. Sometimes life changes patterns. A past paints the wrong picture and futures get cloudy. The only question that remains is who will you choose when the dust settles—you? Or the girl of your dreams?

** This book is a Falling Series spin-off. It can be read as a standalone. **

IN YOUR DREAMS

NA Contemporary Romance

Scheduled to release: March 29, 2016

Goodreads

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1oU5jSS
Google: http://bit.ly/1LrCxmc
iBooks: http://apple.co/1XWnqTI
Kobo: http://bit.ly/1SdMIwi
Nook: http://bit.ly/1ps8JMy

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ginger Scott is an Amazon-bestselling author of eight young and new adult

romances, including Waiting on the Sidelines, Going Long, Blindness, How

We Deal With Gravity, This Is Falling, You and Everything After, Wild

Reckless and The Girl I Was Before.

A sucker for a good romance, Ginger’s other passion is sports, and she

often blends the two in her stories. (She’s also a sucker for a hot

quarterback, catcher, pitcher, point guard…the list goes on.) Ginger has

been writing and editing for newspapers, magazines and blogs for more than

15 years. She has told the stories of Olympians, politicians, actors,

scientists, cowboys, criminals and towns. For more on her and her work,

visit her website at http://www.littlemisswrite.com.

When she’s not writing, the odds are high that she’s somewhere near a

baseball diamond, either watching her son field pop flies like Bryce

Harper or cheering on her favorite baseball team, the Arizona

Diamondbacks. Ginger lives in Arizona and is married to her college

sweetheart whom she met at ASU (fork ’em, Devils).

Social Media Links:

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/GingerScottAuthor

Twitter: @TheGingerScott

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/thegingerscott/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/GingerScottAuthor

Google: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+GingerScottAuthor/posts

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/GingerScott

Website: http://www.littlemisswrite.com

REVIEW – COLLARED by Nicole Williams

March 21, 2016March 21, 2016Leave a comment

SYNOPSIS:

When a seventeen-year-old girl vanishes,
A community is shaken.
Parents turn desperate.
Friends hold vigils.
And the boy who loves her searches.

When a year goes by,
The community is recovering.
Parents feel hopeless.
Friends feel helpless.
And the boy who loves her continues his search.

When ten years go by,
The community has forgotten.
Parents cling to the past.
Friends move toward the future.
And the boy who loves her . . .
Brings her home.

When the twenty-seven-year-old woman is found,
A community wants to know the story,
Parents want to forget the story,
Friends want to be a part of the story,
And the man who still loves her faces the greatest challenge yet: letting her go.

*****Patty’s Review*****

*****FOUR STARS*****
{ARC Generously Provided by Author}

I let myself get carried away by that moment. I let myself feel the only joy I’ve felt in ten years. I let myself feel it…then I take an imaginary pin and pop it. That life died the night I died to the world. That life is gone

Jade Childs is just an ordinary seventeen-year-old girl. She has a loving family, good friends, and is in love with the boy next door. On a night when she is floating on cloud nine because her boyfriend has promised her a forever with him, her world gets totally flipped on its axis. She goes from living a teenager’s dream to being thrown into everyone’s worst nightmare. Jade is abducted just several feet away from her front door. She will not return home until TEN YEARS later!!!

This was definitely what I would categorize as a ”dark” read, but the subject matter never got too intense. We meet Jade during one of the happiest times of her young life and then we see that it only takes just a few seconds to turn someone’s world upside down, immersing them into the deepest pits of despair. However, we don’t spend too much time in Jade’s years of captivity. The story flashes forward to ten years later rather quickly and for the most part, we stay in present day with her while we get little snippets of her life in captivity through a few flashbacks. I will say that what she went through was far from pretty but thankfully she was not raped!! Phew!!! I really don’t enjoy reading rape scenes so I was very thankful for that.

Jade was broken down mentally by her captor. He was so persistent and quite sinister with his methods of mind control. For ten years she was forced to be someone else, so now when she is rescued and returned back to her family, she finds it hard to resume her old life and her true identity. Of course, she suffers from severe anxiety and has difficulty socializing with other people, including her family, but there is one person who is able to keep her calm and who has become her tether, Torrin Costigan.

Torrin is Jade’s old boyfriend. The one she dreamed about so many nights while hanging on by a thin thread. He never stopped giving up hope that she would be found. He did everything he could to help with the police department’s search efforts. But now things are so complicated because of the path he chose to take in adulthood. Whenever they spend time together it becomes clear to the both of them that their feelings for each other still remain pretty strong. It’s hard not to swoon over and fall madly in love with this man.

I really got swept away by this story and had such high hopes that it was going to end a certain way, so when it didn’t it went from a “Five Star” to a “Four Star” read for me. I know that there were very good reasons to end it the way it did, but I just wanted MORE!! I have read other books by Nicole Williams and she has proven yet again, to be a truly gifted story teller!

I highly recommend this one. Don’t let my little complaint scare you away from this one. It was a very well written and highly fascinating story.

REVIEW – ELASTIC HEARTS (Hearts, #3) by Claire Contreras

March 21, 2016March 21, 2016Leave a comment

SYNOPSIS:

Victor Reuben.
Most sought out divorce attorney in LA.

Nicole Alessi.
Soon to be ex-wife of Hollywood’s biggest star, Victor’s latest client and his boss’s daughter.

In such a high profile divorce, they can’t afford any extra drama. Luckily, neither one of them has anything to hide.
Unless you count the mind blowing sex they had…
Once…
Twice…
Three times all those years ago.

As long as they leave the past where it belongs, they’ll be fine. But with her wearing those tight dresses and him giving her those heated glances, keeping their hands to themselves is proving to be more difficult than either one of them realized.

It won’t be long before the paparazzi start to smell smoke, and where there’s smoke…

*****Mel’s Review*****

4.5 Stars!
(ARC provided by author)

Nicole Alessi is a costume designer going through a high-profile divorce. She was married to a huge Hollywood movie star. Her father is a divorce attorney in LA, so she turns to him for help with her divorce. Her father appoints his most sought after attorney, Victor Reuben to represent her. Only the best for Nicole. The problem is Nicole & Victor had a fling five years ago before they knew he worked for her father. Victor wanted to make partner & put his career first. Nicole was just graduating and starting her career as well. Now reunited as attorney & client, they struggle to keep things professional.

-What was it about being near this guy that made me so needy for him?

-It was this man I lusted after. Always. It had been that way. From the moment I met him, I’d known I’d wanted him.

-The way his eyes caressed over me made me feel like I was slowly burning up.

-Seeing her again…it did something to me.

-“I felt something when I looked at you. Something weird. Something…not normal. I don’t know how to explain it other than maybe my soul recognized something in you.”

-“But I felt it every time we were together.”

Victor & Nicole try to keep their intimate memories in the past, but both can’t forget how explosive they were together. They both are so tempted by one another & are having trouble being in such close quarters. They are off limits to each other & it’s killing them both to want someone so bad that you can’t have. Victor could lose his job, & Nicole has the paparazzi following her every move.

-Fuck. This girl did things to me.

-I felt everything.

-“I need this more than I’ve needed anything else in my fucking life.”

-“You make me desperate for you.”

-“I will cater to every one of your needs.”

They both try to wait to act on their feelings, but can’t resist each other. Victor realizes Nicole just may be “the one.” For the first time, he wants something more, something real. I really enjoyed this book. Victor was delicious!!! It was another fabulous book in this series I adore! 😀

COMING SOON – FELONY EVER AFTER (A Domino Anthology) -Release Date – March 22nd

March 18, 2016March 18, 2016Leave a comment

SYNOPSIS:

Verity Michaels is new to New York City, but even she knows riding in a stolen a cab is not a normal way to meet someone. Damn it if that tattoo-covered would-be felon isn’t everywhere now, and lighting everything on fire under her skirt.

His name is Hudson Fenn, and he’s frustratingly impossible to pin down. He works as a bike messenger, but has the manners of a prince—along with a strange tendency toward breaking and entering. As much as Verity knows he’s not her type, and likely to land her in jail, she can’t help but find her truest self when they’re together.

Can she be brave enough to give Hudson a real chance? Will he be bold enough to reveal the man beneath the ink, or will his secrecy doom their connection? Also, WTF is the deal with Verity’s boss? No less than thirteen of your favorite romance writers have teamed up to tell this sexy, wacky, snort-inducing tale. With them you’ll visit the world’s most irritating office, a VIP room of questionable cleanliness, and the fanciest apartment a bike messenger has ever inhabited, but you’ll still never see this ending coming.

Release Date: 03.22.16