Friday, January 16, 2015

BLOG TOUR: #Hater by Cambria Hebert (The Hashtag Series #2)


Title: #Hater
Series: The Hashtag Series #2
Author: Cambria Hebert
Genre: NA Contemp/College Romance
Release Date: January 12, 2015

It started with unspoken animosity. The bitter bite of jealousy. And now its full blown hate.

It was during my first football game that I first felt the first chill of hate. I looked it right in the eyes and felt its sticky tentacles reach out for me. I’d never experienced something so cold and empty before.

The effect of that look lingered, like an unspoken promise, long after it was gone. 

Becoming a couple – becoming the other half of a campus celebrity wasn’t easy. I let down walls guarding my heart and he looked past my glasses and accident prone tendencies. Romeo and I are an unlikely match, a #nerd and a jock. But we made it. 

And we’re happy. 

Zach doesn’t want us to be happy. He wants Romeo to pay for getting him kicked out of Omega and for the night he spent in jail. He’s going to use anything and everything he can to get his revenge. Including me. 

As the weather on campus grows cold and the days become dark, revenge becomes the center of someone’s life and the happiness Romeo and I worked so hard for is threatened. 

I can’t help but worry that our love is going to be overshadowed by hate.





Chapter 1 Read with Cambria




Copyright by Cambria Hebert 

The distance between us was getting wider.

She thought I would just drive her back to campus, that I would just let her walk away mad. 

Hell to the no.

I still remembered the night she got out of the Hellcat and walked away from me. The night I had to tell her getting close to her had only been a bet. The hurt in her eyes still cut me to the core. 

I didn’t want a repeat of that night. Not ever again. 

Zach had been the cause of that night, and he was pretty much the cause of the space between us now.

He was a hater. Plain and simple. 

I couldn’t. I wouldn’t let the hate he spewed so willingly overshadow everything I had with Rimmel. I agreed with my dad.

She was a keeper.

Her hand was stiff as I pulled her along toward my place, but she still allowed me to lead her. When we got close to the pool, she moved closer to my side, and I angled my body in front of her to block the sight. 

Once inside, we didn’t speak. She took off her heels and coat, and I went to turn on the fire in the bedroom. When I came back, she was crouched down in the living room, petting Murphy, who was zigzagging around her feet. 

“You took pictures of me when I was sleeping.” Her voice was calm and quiet, but it filled the room.

“Yeah, I did.” I wasn’t going to apologize for that. Deep down, I must have known things might come to this. I was a lawyer’s son after all. I knew things needed to be documented. 

“You could have just asked.” She straightened up from Murphy and looked at me. “Instead, you took advantage of me and never said a word.” 

“I didn’t take advantage of you. I was just doing what I thought was best.” 

“Well, you don’t get to decide what’s best for me!” Her voice rose, and Murphy paused in purring to look up at her. 

“I don’t get a say?” I shot back, trying to hold on to my temper.

She took a deep breath. “Of course you do. But you didn’t say anything. You just did. Just like at dinner. You just announced I was getting a restraining order. There was no conversation.” 

I opened my mouth, but she kept talking. 

“How am I supposed to trust you when you do things like this without me knowing?” 

“You don’t trust me anymore?” I said the words with quiet calm. Surely this wasn’t enough to ruin the trust between us.

She blew out a breath and paced across the room. “I didn’t say that.” She spun away from me and looked at the wall. “I’m just upset.” 

I strode across the room. It was darker where she was. The lights were off in here, and from this position in the room, the crackling fire in the bedroom didn’t cast much light. 

My feet stopped when I was directly behind her. Usually, I would touch her without thought. But right then I paused.

Fuck. That.

I wrapped my hands around her wrists, then loosened my grip to slide my palms up her arms to rest at her shoulders. I felt her exhale, and I wrapped one of my arms across her chest and pulled her back against my front. 

“I could tell you I’m sorry,” I whispered in her ear. “I could whisper how much I love you and that I won’t ever do something like this again.” 

The back of her head hit my chest as I spoke. The silky strands of her perfectly straight hair tickled my lips as I talked, and the scent of her shampoo enticed me closer.

“But I’m not going to apologize.” 

She stiffened, but I strengthened my hold, unwilling to let her pull away. I kept my voice whisper soft and my lips right beside her ear. 

“I’d do it again, in a friggin’ heartbeat if that’s what I thought you needed.”




 


Cambria Hebert is a bestselling novelist of more than twenty books. She went to college for a bachelor’s degree, couldn’t pick a major, and ended up with a degree in cosmetology. So rest assured her characters will always have good hair. 

Besides writing, Cambria loves a caramel latte, staying up late, sleeping in, and watching movies. She considers math human torture and has an irrational fear of chickens (yes, chickens). You can often find her running on the treadmill (she’d rather be eating a donut), painting her toenails (because she bites her fingernails), or walking her chorkie (the real boss of the house). 

Cambria has written within the young adult and new adult genres, penning many paranormal and contemporary titles. Her favorite genre to read and write is romantic suspense. A few of her most recognized titles are: Text, Torch, Tryst, Masquerade, and Recalled.

Cambria Hebert owns and operates Cambria Hebert Books, LLC. 



My Review
I love, Love, LOVE this series. These characters are people I want to know. I feel their love and their pain. I just want to hang out with them. I really want to be Rimmel's BFF.  I not only love the relationship between Rimmel and Romeo, but also between Rimmel and Braeden.  This is one AWESOME series.  A great follow-up to #Nerd and I cannot wait for #Player, and then #Selfie!

Five Hashtags!  #####














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Saturday, January 10, 2015

Roc n' Read: COVER REVEAL: Last to Know by Micalea Smeltzer

Roc n' Read: COVER REVEAL: Last to Know by Micalea Smeltzer: Title: Last to Know Author: Micalea Smeltzer Release Date: February 9 th , 2015 Cover Design By: Mae I Design and Photography ...

COVER REVEAL: Last to Know by Micalea Smeltzer

Title: Last to Know
Author: Micalea Smeltzer
Release Date: February 9th, 2015
Cover Design By: Mae I Design and Photography



He was just a boy.
And I was just a girl.
But if that’s all there was to the story it wouldn’t be very interesting, would it?

Up and coming band Willow Creek is back in their hometown for the summer. For the drummer, Maddox Wade, this summer was meant for writing music and playing gigs.
Falling in love was not part of the plan.
One look at Emma Burke and those plans cease to matter.
Emma is quiet and guarded. She’s still hurt from her father walking out two years ago. She doesn’t want to trust Maddox, but with his dark hair, smoldering good looks, and infectious smile he’s impossible to resist.
Together Maddox and Emma embark on an unforgettable summer of adventures and first love.
Everything is perfect…or so Emma thinks.
There are things she doesn’t know, and when she finds out the truth it might shatter everything she’s built with Maddox.
No one said love was easy, and for Maddox and Emma it just might be impossible.




Excerpt

Only I would get arrested on my first date. And not even for something cool like smoking pot or indecent exposure. Nope, we got arrested for fleeing the scene—which somehow turned into resisting arrest—and were being charged a fine for trespassing.
“This is unbelievable.” I grasped the metal bars of the holding cell in my hands.
“Hey, at least it will be a nice story to tell your grandchildren one day,” Maddox reasoned.
I turned around to glare at him where he sat on the thin metal bench. “You think this is real funny, don’t you?” I shivered, because my clothes were still wet.
“I think it’s hysterical,” he grinned. “I mean, who knew swimming in a pond could get you arrested?”
“Apparently when there are signs telling you not to swim,” I glared at him. He wasn’t taking this seriously at all.
“Admit you were having fun,” he challenged. “Sometimes a little fun is worth the consequences.”
“And sometimes a little fun leads to getting arrested!” I shrieked. “And other times it leads to babies!”
He laughed, leaning his head against the cinderblock wall. “Boy, that escalated quickly. From arrests to babies—does this mean the next time we want to have some fun we try for the baby part?” He grinned crookedly, waggling his brows.
My mouth fell open. “You are unbelievable!”
“And you’re adorable when you’re angry,” he smirked.
“Oh, if you think this is angry then you haven’t seen anything yet.” I put my hands on my hips and leaned forward, leveling him with a glare.
“I see your boobs, does that count?”


Author Bio

Micalea Smeltzer is a bestselling Young and New Adult author from Winchester, Virginia. She’s always working on her next book, and when she has spare time she loves to read and spend time with her family.




Twitter: @msmeltzer9793
Instagram: micaleasmeltzer
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/micaleasmeltzer/

Friday, January 9, 2015

RELEASE BLITZ: Fight for Dawn by Komali da Silva

Release Blitz

Fight for Dawn by Komali da Silva
Publisher: Crushing Hearts & Black Butterfly Publishing

The eagerly awaited sequel to
Angels Dawn

She should've known better than to hope her life could be normal after losing her best friend Nate. It’s hard enough to deal with the loss but now she “sees” him everywhere. Add that to meeting Gabe, the new guy who sends her heart racing and Dawn is certainly spinning. It’s almost enough to make her forget the demons that lurk in the shadows.

Unfortunately the many distractions aren’t enough to purge Angelo from her broken heart. Her hopes of ever being with him again have been dashed. He’s moving farther away and there is nothing she can do to stop it.

Soon the demons Dawn wanted to forget about will remind her of their presence and she’ll have to abandon everything else. Not only is her life in danger, but the lives of everyone around her as well.

Buy it now at Amazon





Author Links:
Twitter: @KomiDasilva



ANGELS DAWN (Book 1):  Amazon
My review of Angels Dawn:

I could tell that I was getting close to the end and that it was probably going to end in a cliffhanger, but I wasn't expecting that last chapter. It wasn't an OMG! cliffhanger in the sense that it didn't leave the reader in the middle of some major turmoil, but it was almost a quiet cliffhanger, but there was still one bit of information that made me scream WHAT!?! It's a YA, high school age romance with a paranormal twist. It reminds me of a few others I've read in the same genre, and which I've also enjoyed. For a debut novel, this was pretty good and I'm most definitely looking forward to continuing the story.

  

BLOG TOUR: Letting Go of Us by J.M. Witt

    Letting Go of Us Blog Tour





  LGOU Cover




Book Blurb

Cassidy, While grieving for my mother I lost sight of you, my love, my life, and what we had created. You said the one word I never wanted to hear from your lips and it nearly broke me. I know now that it was your plea for me to hear you. I heard you and I planned on fixing it, even if it took the rest of my life. We never bargained for what came next. You became a stranger to me, my own wife. Wife. The word was suddenly foreign to me. Thrust into a situation we didn’t expect, you proved to me over and over again what love was. I pray you’ll let me return the favor. My cage is empty and waiting for you, my Blackbird. I’ll spend eternity proving that I’m never letting go of us. Always, only, forever… James 

  Review 
When J.M. first offered me the chance to read this series, I figured "why not".  She sent me the first 2 books.  I instantly fell in love with these characters and this story.  I was hooked.  So as soon as I finished book 1.5, I bought book 2.  Then book 2.5 came out and I devoured that one too.  And I could not sign up fast enough for the ARC of Book 3.  I needed to know what would happen for Cassidy and James.  

J.M. Witt has written some amazing characters.  Not just Cassidy and James, but Cal and Jane too.  And of course, Paul, Smith, Delaney...even Melissa.  You will want to wrap yourself up in this story, just like I did.  I am so glad I had the chance to read this series and to fall in love with them all.  We have romance, suspense, intrigue, passion, and even some naughtiness that is very, very nice.  

This series is too hot for stars, so it's going 5 Alarms!

Oh...and did you think it was over after this one?  Not a chance.  These characters have too many stories to tell, too much heat to be contained in just these 5 books.  So keep an eye out to see who else feels the need to tell their story.  I'm pretty sure you won't be disappointed.  I know I won't be.

don't let me forget      
goodbye fuck 
Get the Book 
Kobo 
  

Other Books by J.M. 
LG Cover  
  HA Cover
LGOY Cover
FA Cover

Meet J.M. 
  JM Witt 
  I’m a stay-at-home mom with four young children and one extremely supportive husband. We’ve been married for ten years and reside in Metro Detroit, Michigan. I've dreamed of writing romance novels since I was little. After having baby #4, who may or may not have been fathered by Christian Grey, I decided it was time to pursue my dreams. When I'm not volunteering at the schools of my children, running to various appointments, enjoying time with my friends and my book club, dating my husband, or avoiding cleaning my house, I'm writing! I love music and believe that books and music can't exist without the other. My goal is for you to read more than a good book, but for you to have an experience!

Follow J.M. 

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Monday, January 5, 2015

RELEASE DAY BLITZ: Souls ReAligned by Tricia Daniels

SoulsReAlignedBanner   SoulsRealignedCover  
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Synopsis
18+ This book contains explicit sexual content.
The story continues... January 5, 2015 A once broken woman, striving to find her former self. Olivia James leaves a heartbroken Ethan O’Connell watching as she fades into the distance. Frightened by her attraction to his controlling nature, and the lethal Irish charm that no one man should possess, she walks away. Slowly overcoming her past and regaining her confidence, she begins to take back her life. Unwilling to give up, Ethan’s persistent nature forces her to examine her feelings and face her fear. Struggling with the balance of power in their relationship, can she give in to the intense magnetism between them and let herself be loved? A man in love, determined to heal her heart. Returning to his Irish homeland, Ethan faces major obstacles in his life: his still impassioned temper, his father's censure, a vindictive ex-girlfriend and a troubled past full of secrets. When his future meets his past, secrets don't stay secrets for long. Resolved in his need to shield Olivia from her past, he’ll do anything to protect her from her abusive ex. Still craving her submission, his greatest concern is protecting her from his own desires. An infinite universal force Eccentric psychic, Eva Storm senses the energy around them. Fate can change and destiny is not always an easy path; sometimes the journey is full of twists and turns. Trust is a very fragile gift. Despite their reluctance to believe, she watches over these disconnected souls, willing the universe to steer them together. Love is the only true magic, for only true love transcends all time.
Teaser
SoulsRealignedTease2


SoulsRealignedTease

Buy Links
IntractableSoulsSale


IntractableSoulsCover
Synopsis
Rated 18+ for explicit sexual content. A brilliant IT consultant with a tragic past… Broken by a man she trusted and loved, Olivia James is only a shadow of the confident, independent woman she once was. Building up walls to protect her fragile heart, she’s determined to keep everyone at a distance. Until she meets Ethan O'Connell, a man who makes her burn with a powerful desire. Inexplicably drawn to him, she desperately tries to resist him, determined not to let him get too close.
Meets a successful Irishman with a wicked temper… Ethan O’Connell is a successful businessman, with a seriously sexy Irish accent and a lethal kind of flare and charm. His authoritative command rules every aspect of his life, except when it comes to Olivia James. In order to have her, he has to learn to restrain his Irish temper and his desire for control. With stubborn perseverance, he tries to tear down the walls she's built. Even though, he knows that the secret he harbors could make Olivia walk away forever. Will the universe be denied love? They can’t deny the connection between them; shared dreams, memories that can't be explained, and emotions that feel familiar. From the moment he laid eyes on Olivia, Ethan knew she was meant to be his. Pulled toward each other by an overpowering universal energy, they were destined to find each other; soul mates bound together by past lives. Can love help heal their hearts and bring back what’s meant to be or will freewill change fates plan?
Buy Links
About Author
Tricia Daniels lives in a small town in Southern Ontario, Canada, where she raised three kids as a single parent. Creativity and imagination is something there is never a short supply of in her home. Between her quick wit and wicked sense of humor she found that she has a passion for writing steamy romance novels. Her goal is simple, tell her story, warm a few hearts, shed a few tears, share a silent chuckle, and occasionally, make people blush. That's the official version. But the simple truth is... I'm not an author. My friends laugh when I say that. I have never aspired to write the next great love story or take the literary world by storm. I'm just a normal woman, struggling to pay the bills and trying to raise my kids in a home where they feel empowered, supported and loved. Love inspires me to write. The same way you all feel when you connect with a fictional character and you feel their emotions, their angst... when you're body gets all warm and squeezy at the good parts. An author experiences those things too when they're writing. I love when the characters take over the story and plot twists develop that I hadn't planned. I love the journey to the HEA even though sometimes that road has a lot of bends in it. I love how two imperfect characters can love each other perfectly. My reward, my inspiration is experiencing through them, a love so deep that I feel it in my own heart.
Author Links
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Friday, January 2, 2015

Happy New Year

The new year has started and for anyone on Goodreads, that means you probably know about the annual Reading Challenge.  Did you set a reading goal for 2015?  Did you have one for 2014?  Did you reach it?

I didn't reach my 2014 goal.  I think it was 105 books and I fell short by 10.  There were a few reasons I didn't make it, but I'm fine with that.  I set my 2015 goal at 101.

I see people who read 250, 300, 350 books each year and I wonder how do they do it?  I honestly have no desire to.  I just don't believe that I would enjoy reading that many books that fast.  I don't think I'd be able to even remember what I read.  I also have a full-time job and so many other things in my life that I enjoy doing or I need to do so I can't possibly spend all of my waking hours reading.  Maybe others can, but I can't and I won't.

I'm currently reading Dream Reunion by J.J. DiBenedetto.  This is the 6th book in the series.




I was contacted by JJ DiBenedetto in 2013 when he asked if I'd be willing to read his series.  He had the first five books in the series available.  I agreed to read and I can honestly say that it was a story unlike anything else I'd read before.  The story is about Sara, who can see other people's dreams.  When she goes to sleep at night, she never knows if she'll have her own dreams (which she never remembers) or if she'll be visiting someone else's dreams (which she can never forget.)  We follow Sara's life from the end of her college years, through med school and on into her adult life with her family.  I think it's an incredible series and I think that if you're looking for something different, this is it.

Here are the links to the rest of the Dream series :
Dream Student
Dream Doctor
Dream Child
Dream Family
Waking Dream
Dream Reunion
Dream Home
Dream Vacation

As you can see, I have some catching up to do.  I love this series because we get to see Sara's life evolve.  We follow her from college, thru med school, marriage and kids.  And there aren't any OMG cliffhangers so you won't feel like you need to read the next book right away.

Hope you're reading something great to start 2015, but if you're looking for something new, I think you should check out the Dream series.


Wednesday, December 31, 2014

2014 Farewell and 2015 Welcome

The ball is dropping and the New Year is just a blink away.  That means it's time for a look back on 2014, right?  Here's my little tribute to the year.

I've probably said it about a dozen, or maybe a hundred, times already, but if you were hiding under a rock and didn't see it all over my Facebook page, my top 3 reads of 2014 were:

#3

#Nerd by Cambria Hebert
#Nerd was a fun read for me.  I never went to college, and I think that is why I love reading college based stories.  I've been a fan of Cambria Hebert's for a while now, but #Nerd is my absolute favorite.  Now this isn't a term that I have ever used before, but I am totally "fangirling" over this story.  I bought the t-shirt and the hoodie to go with it.  I'm a 20-something in a 40+ year old's body.  Deal with it.  ;)  Rimmel is the school nerd.  Romeo is a total player...both on and off the football field.  He is the star and every girl wants him, except Rimmel.  And then she is forced to tutor him and they both learn who the other really is and maybe a little something about themselves too.

Cambria didn't originally plan on making this a series, but in a few weeks, #Hater, the follow-up to #Nerd will be available and I can not wait!
(Note:  the links will take you to the purchase option on Amazon.)


#2
Beauty in the Ashes by Micalea Smeltzer
Beauty in the Ashes is a story like no other.  It will tug at you.  At times you'll find yourself getting angry and tense.  You will wonder what Micalea is doing to these characters.  How can she write this?  I know that it was not easy for her to write, but I beg you to stick with it and see where she takes you.  Your heart will break but in the end, I think it will soar.  You will see that there really can be beauty in the ashes.  Just when you think all is lost, hope will emerge.


#1
Wynn in Doubt by Emily Hemmer


What can I say about Wynn in Doubt  that I haven't said already?  I think my review was the longest I had ever written.  What I felt reading this story can not even be described.  Even writing this now, I find that I have tears in my eyes.  This story touched me in ways you can not even begin to imagine and it is my hope that it touches others the same way.  This is a story about life and taking chances.  It is about going back while moving forward.  In a way, it's about second chances - giving them and taking them.  It's about living!  I loved this book so much and not only is it my favorite of 2014, but it's one of my all time favorites.  I hope you will read it and love it as I did.


I really read so many great books this year that there are just too many to rank after these top 3.  I'll try to aim for a top 5 for 2015, but I'm not promising anything.  These three just really stood out for me.

2014 introduced me to many new authors.  Just to name a few:
Audrey Carlan
J.M. Witt
Regina Bartley
Harper James
C.M. Doporto
D. Kelly (although technically she first contacted me in Dec. 2013, but I didn't read her until 2014)
Ella Jade
L.A. Cotton
T.K. Leigh

I'm sure there were many more, and I am very much looking forward to meeting many new authors in 2015.  I will never stop reading.

I also attended my first (and so far only) signing event (as a fan) when I went to Indie Girl in South Carolina back in February, where I was able to meet a few of my favorites in person...Lacey Weatherford, Belinda Boring, Cambria Hebert, Micalea Smeltzer.  It was a fun weekend and I made some wonderful new friends.  Hopefully I'll be able to attend another event in 2015, but right now, there is nothing booked.

So, I hope you all had a wonderful 2014 and I'm looking forward to sharing so many new books with you in 2015.  I hope you'll stick around.

Happy New Year!!