Friday, October 17, 2014

BLOG TOUR: That's a Promise (re-release) by Victoria Klahr

Join us while Victoria Klahr goes on tour with The Heart of a Reader and her novel That's a Promise. The book is a re-release, published October 10 with Booktrope Publishing, and is the first book in the Promises, Promises series.
 that's a promise cover 
About the Book 
 Pain isn’t new to me. I’ve been to hell only to find it never really leaves when you get back. It haunts me through nightmares, unrequited love, lies, broken hearts, and now death. A monster almost took my life. My best friend carries half my soul a world away. My boyfriend broke my heart but refuses to let me go. And my father is dead. I don’t believe in fate and I don’t believe in happily-ever-afters, but for some reason, I still hope. Live, even with a tainted spirit. Long for my other half to come back to me. Risk another broken heart, just to feel loved again. And refuse to let another horror break me. In the face of my most recent tragedy, I have to decide whether forgiveness is something I can give. But even if that’s an option, can I be forgiven?

Enjoy this excerpt from That's a Promise:

Chapter 5

September 2009

When we got outside, Blake grabbed me and led me towards the wall where he caged me with a hand on either side of my head. He was breathing heavily, and for a moment neither of us said anything. Our breaths combined as if they weren’t coming from either of us— as if we were one breathing being. He moved his hand to my face, traced down my cheek, and cupped my jaw.

“That was so stupid and reckless,” he said, anger and awe mixing in his tone.

He moved his fingers to softly trace my lips, and rested his other hand at the small of my back. His fingers grazed over the skin between my shirt and shorts, raising goose bumps all along my skin. It felt like I had been shocked and then reawakened with raw passion. With a gentle tug, he pulled my hips right into his.

“It was also the sexiest fucking thing I have ever seen.”

He crushed his lips against mine, and I moaned at the ferocity of the moment. I moved my arms to wrap around his neck and pressed my chest to his so we were as close together as we could be. My bottom lip was trapped between his. The light touch of his tongue hinted at more.

He grabbed the back of my head and put his other hand on the wall so he could grind his hips even harder against mine. I could feel how much he wanted me, and desire flooded me. With every lick of his tongue against mine, I could picture that same pressure against other parts of my body.

I moved my hands to rub his arms and his muscles tightened underneath my touch. Please, touch me more. My heart thudded and I arched my back, desperate. Blake moved the hand that had been in my long hair down my neck, and touched the cleavage that was spilling from the top of my shirt. He ran his hand down my ribs and then went under my blue top, to touch my bare skin. His hand, splayed against my stomach, made the heat that was building inside of me turn into a wildfire. I let out a loud moan, but I was too distracted by his lips to be embarrassed.

He pushed me harder against the wall and started trailing kisses and licks down the side of my neck. When the bricks scraped against the skin of my back, I was brought back to reality by the agonizing torment that would follow me around like a grim reaper looking for death.

With a hand around my throat, stopping my screams, he pushed my dress up to my neck.
“You make a noise, and I won’t let you get out of this alive. No one is coming for you, sweetheart,” he growled. He shoved me back against the brick wall. My bare skin scraped against the brick and blood trickled down my raw skin.

I gasped and pulled away from Blake. His brows knit in confusion, but once he got a look at my panic-stricken face, he backed away from me.

“We… I… no more.” I couldn’t catch my breath and fought to calm the intense emotions that consumed me. I was rocking back and forth when I felt Blake slide down next to me. I don’t know how he knew, but he didn’t touch me and I was grateful. His presence was enough. There were no tears. There hadn’t been any tears since that night.

After a few minutes I calmed down enough to sit back against the wall. Blake rested with his knees pulled up, arms bent, and face in his hands. He looked up at me, and the anguish almost broke my heart.

“I’m s-,” he began.

“I’m so sor-” I said at the same time. “Blake, there’s a lot you still don’t know about me. I’m sorry I freaked out.” I looked back over at him and he sat up straighter and creased his brows together.

“Don’t ever say you’re sorry for wanting to stop or for needing a freak out moment. I will never force you to do something you don’t want to.”


I nodded, and felt a little better hearing his words. I wasn’t ready to delve into the reasons behind my change in mood. It was enough to know that he understood, and wasn’t going to press me for anything more than I was willing to give him. 


Giveaway
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Review
That's a Promise was re-written with plenty of new material added. I have to admit, while I still loved the story, it was a bit more difficult for me to read this time because I not only knew how this one ended, but because I've also already read the next in the series and so it wasn't as intense for me. New readers will love it! But knowing the story already, it didn't grab me like it did the first time.
 

 Victoria Klahr 
About the Author 
Victoria Klahr (pronounced “Claire”) lives in Elizabeth City, North Carolina with her husband and daughter, Stephen and Alexis. She loves her chug (Pug/Chihuahua), Bandit, and daughter to pieces. She is a huge and proud book nerd who looks at her bookshelf in admiration daily. When she’s not daydreaming about book boyfriends and fantasizing about being a badass heroine like Rose Hathaway, she’s busy doing schoolwork for her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and writing the stories that speak to her in her head. She loves peanut butter with Oreos, good friends, amazing gossip, driving in the middle of merge lanes, comedies, crude humor, pretending like she can dance, pretending like she can kick major ass, and a really, really good laugh. 
Social Media Links:  

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

WINNING BIDDERS for the JDRF Auction

Auction Item #1 - Sarah Anne  ($16 - Finding Olivia by Micalea Smeltzer)

Auction Item #2 - Kristi Collins ($15 - Breaking Kate by D. Kelly)

Auction Item #3 - Andrekia Branch ($12 - Fate's Love by L.A. Cotton)

Auction Item #4 - Carolyn Johnson  ($7 - Marie's World by Kristal McKerrington)

Auction Item #5 - Alicia Carmical  ($5 - First Love by Kristal McKerrington)

Auction Item #6 - Alicia Carmical  ($11 - Mated to the Alpha by Kathryn Jacob)

Auction Item #7 - Alicia Carmical  ($5 - Divinity & the Python by Bonnie Randall)

Auction Item #8 - Kassidy Carter  ($20 - The Braddock Siblings series by Jessica Wilde)

Auction Item #9 - Ginelle Blanch  ($8 - Every One of Me by Jessica Wilde)

Auction Item #10 - Jess  ($5 - Our Time by Jessica Wilde)

Auction Item #11 - Crystal Hernandez ($16) and Sarah Anne ($17) - The Ink Series by Bella Roccaforte)

Auction Item #12 - Sarah Anne ($6) and Alicia Carmical ($7) - Paranormal Transmissions 1:1 by Bella Roccaforte

Auction Item #13 - Jen B.  ($12 - Tatted Love by Kathryn Jacob)

Auction Item #14 - Barbara Cassidy  ($20 - Kory by Regina Bartley)


If you are the winning bidder, please make your donation via the following link: http://www2.jdrf.org/goto/SupportRaquel

Once you have made your donation, please email me at rocnread@yahoo.com with "Auction Item #__" in the subject line and please be sure to include your mailing address.  I will be providing your address to the author and they will be mailing your books to you directly.

Note:  Neither myself, the blog, nor the author are responsible for any issues that the post office may have.  We will make every effort to get the books to you in a timely fashion.


The grand total raised from these pledged donations is:  $182.00.  Thank you all.

Alicia Carmical, you were the winning bidder on 4 separate books, for a total of $28.  Please note that each author will be mailing the books individually so you will not receive all 4 in one mailing.

Sarah Anne, you were the winning bidder on 2 books, for a total of $33.  Please note that each author will be mailing their signed books separately so you'll receive 2 separate mailings.

If you have ANY questions, please message me.

As stated in the original auction posts, all winning bid donations need to be made by midnight (eastern time) on Friday, so please get them in asap.  And again, any questions, please let me know ASAP!!

Thank you again to all who bid and to all who donated!  I appreciate it greatly!

OH...and...we still have 2 more items that I'm going to auction.  I think I'm going to do both of those on the Facebook page.  One is the 3rd copy of Paranormal Transmissions which we had listed originally.  We only had 2 bidders the first time around, so those 2 each get a copy, but we still have a 3rd copy to give away.

And the other item...that hasn't been announced yet, so keep an eye on the Facebook page!



Monday, October 6, 2014

Auction Item #14 - Signed copy of KORY from Regina Bartley. (Includes signature of cover model Lance Jones!!!)

Kory Rosen has always known that he was different. That he wasn't the straight laced, responsible business man, like his brother Klay. He was the REBEL. The tattoo artist with a bad reputation. The man that would search for trouble if it didn't find him first. He'd never experienced a broken heart before. He'd always been the one breaking girl's hearts. Until now... 

Kory has to learn to cope, and stop being the constant play-boy that spends his nights in a drunken stuper, and stop replacing one woman with random one-night stands. It's unhealthy, and it's not working. Real love is what he needs, or a good ass kicking. Either way he has to stop, or he'll lose it all; his business, his friends, and the one girl that just may be able to mend his broken heart.


NOTICE:  This item is extra special because it is not only signed by the author, but it is also signed by that hottie on the cover - Lance Jones!  

Regina is a contemporary romance writer from Kentucky. She lives there with her husband, kids, and cat. She can be found behind her computer, a good book, or watching sports. She loves to hear from her fans. You can find out what's coming next if you follow her on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/AuthReginaBartley, read her blog www.reginabartley.com, or follow her on twitter @regina_bartley.




Rules for Bidding  (Please read ALL rules before you bid,)

1.  Opening Bid is $5, with bids increasing by a minimum $1 increment.

2.  Bidding closes at 12:00 Midnight (eastern) on Friday, Oct. 10th.  Any bids posted on Oct. 11 or later will not be counted.

3.  Winning bidder must make donation at http://www2.jdrf.org/goto/SupportRaquel by Noon (eastern time) on Friday, Oct. 17th.  (If the donation is not received by the deadline, I will contact the 2nd place bidder.)   Note:  For online donations, you will need to use a credit card.  If you don't with to us your credit card online, you must contact me about submitting a check.  However, if you live outside the U.S., we can only accept online credit card donations.)

4.  Post your bid in the comments of this post!

5.  Follow the author and do not forget to say THANK YOU to them.  This would not be happening without them.

Regina has agreed to ship this one internationally!  

If you have any questions, please let me know ASAP!

Here is Regina with Lance at a recent signing...where he signed this copy!

Thursday, October 2, 2014

COVER REVEAL: Causing Heartbreak from Regina Bartley

Causing Heartbreak from Regina Bartley



Release Day: November 30, 2014

BLURB :

Sometimes in life we can’t help who we fall in love with, no matter how hard we try. No matter what type of person they make us become. Wren Porter knew that first hand. Her best friend’s brother, Dane Evans’ was the only guy she’d ever had eyes for. He was, “The One.” The one she was supposed to marry someday. To grow old with, but it was hard to love someone that would never love her back.
 
After revealing to Dane that their one-night-stand had resulted in a pregnancy, she knew that the baby would be her only real link to the boy she loved. After tragedy strikes, Wren was left feeling like her heart would be broken forever. But hearts were made to mend, and people were made to love. And when an unexpected person comes into her life, it forces her to feel, something she hasn’t done in a long time. She thought it was too soon, and that she wasn’t ready. What she didn’t know was that love doesn’t come when you expect it or when you’re ready. It came crashing in at the craziest of times, and when you thought you’d never be able to love again. 
 
Would she ever fully recover from the boy that would forever cause her heartbreak? Because the green-eyed boy wanted her whole heart and nothing less?
 
It’s time to stop running, stop hiding, and start learning where the true escape lies. Everyone will face heartbreak, but not everyone will find love.




Other great books from Regina Bartley include:

The Rosen Brothers series:  
Klay (which I'm reading now and loving)
Kory (which I was lucky to read before it was released.)

UnBroken Series:



Wednesday, October 1, 2014

JDRF Item #13 - Autographed copy of Tatted Love by Kathryn Jacob

Lexi Starr is an 18 year old college student with a simple life, excellent grades, and a sweet boyfriend. She always has things planned out ahead of time, until she meets a rude boy named Derek, with too many tattoos and piercings who shatters her plans.





Kathryn Jacob is a recent high school graduate who released Mated to the Alpha, her first novel in early August.  Tatted Love is her second novel and just released on September 29th.  When she's not in her college classes, she's working on her next novel - Meeting Sophia.  I met Kathryn at Indie Girl earlier this year and I'm excited to watch her author career takeoff.  I am also so proud of who she is as a person - donating both of her books to this wonderful cause.  



Rules for Bidding  (Please read ALL rules before you bid,)

1.  Opening Bid is $5, with bids increasing by a minimum $1 increment.

2.  Bidding closes at 12:00 Midnight (eastern) on Friday, Oct. 10th.  Any bids posted on Oct. 11 or later will not be counted.

3.  Winning bidder must make donation at http://www2.jdrf.org/goto/SupportRaquel by Noon (eastern time) on Friday, Oct. 17th.  (If the donation is not received by the deadline, I will contact the 2nd place bidder.)   Note:  For online donations, you will need to use a credit card.  If you don't with to us your credit card online, you must contact me about submitting a check.  However, if you live outside the U.S., we can only accept online credit card donations.)

4.  Post your bid in the comments of this post!

5.  Follow the author and do not forget to say THANK YOU to them.  This would not be happening without them.


If you have any questions, please let me know ASAP!