Showing posts with label Excerpt. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Excerpt. Show all posts

Monday, December 14, 2015

Excerpt: Wicked Reunion by Michelle A. Valentine

Valentine-WickedReunion-19879-CV-FL-V4


About WICKED REUNION:
College sweethearts London Uphill and Jared Kraft were inseparable. He was a rising baseball star with a promising future, and she seemed destined to become “Mrs. Kraft.” Then a tragic night and a series of devastating mistakes caused Jared to walk away from his life, leaving London without any explanation and tearing the couple apart. Five years later, Jared has reinvented himself by putting down the bat and picking up a guitar to play for the red-hot band Wicked White. In all that time, London hasn’t gotten over her forever love—or the pain—despite seeking solace in the arms of the one man no one dreamed she’d run to. When Wicked White’s lead singer goes MIA, Jared finds the time—and courage—to return to his hometown and face the mess he made. He’s shocked at how London’s life has changed, yet he’s determined to prove their love is worth fighting for. Is this breakup too big for any hope of a reunion tour? Or can London open her heart to Jared once again?

Add WICKED REUNION to Goodreads here!
Buy WICKED REUNION now: Amazon | Barnes and Noble
Missed meeting Ace in WICKED WHITE? Grab it now! Amazon | Barnes and Noble

EXCERPT
He cups my face. “London . . .”
“Jared.” I can only whisper his name in return before he pulls me in for a kiss.
He doesn’t move too fast. He holds my face in his hands as he presses his mouth to mine. There’s no urgency in his actions. It’s almost as if he’s taking the time to savor every second of this.
He wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me in tighter. “I’ve missed you so much. Can you ever forgive me for leaving you—for that night in the parking lot? For everything? You should hate me, I know that, but I swear to God if you’ll let me, I’ll make it up to you.”

For years I’ve dreamed of him saying this, begging for my forgiveness and promising that he would make it up to me.

GIVEAWAY
Want to win a $20 Amazon giftcard? Enter the rafflecopter below! a Rafflecopter giveaway    

ABOUT MICHELLE A. VALENTINE
Michelle A. Valentine is a Central Ohio nurse turned New York Times & USA Today bestselling author of erotic and New Adult romance. Her love of hard-rock music, tattoos, and sexy musicians inspired her erotic BLACK FALCON series. Website | Newsletter | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Instagram Be a little naughty - join Valentine's Vixens on Facebook for sneak peeks at Michelle's upcoming works, as well as fun and chatting with her and other readers!

Friday, April 25, 2014

Blog Tour: Good Girls Don't Date Rock Stars by Codi Gary

Tour Banne Good Girls Don't Date Rock Stars photo GoodGirlsDontDateRockStarsJPEG_zps84577e46.jpg

GoodGirlsDontDateRockStars

Title: Good Girls Don’t Date Rock Stars 
Author: Codi Gary 
Genre: Contemporary Adult Romance 
Publish Date: April 22, 2014 
Publisher: Avon Impulse an Imprint of HarperCollins 
Event organized by: Literati Author Services, Inc.  

~ Book Synopsis ~
Gemma Carlson didn’t plan on waking up married.
She also didn’t count on running into her old flame—and her son’s father-turned-country-rock star—Travis Bowers, followed by a night of drunken dares. Apparently one of those involved a ring on her finger and a vow…neither of which she intends to keep. Now with a hangover from hell, this good-girl-gone-bad knows there’s just one thing to do: run. Travis has been all over the world, but Gemma has never been far from his thoughts. So when he had the chance to catch up over a few drinks, he didn’t hesitate. Of course he didn’t expect it would lead to marriage, or a runaway bride! Travis finally has a second chance and doesn’t plan on losing Gemma again—or the son he didn’t know he had. He proposes—albeit belatedly—a date. Or rather, a few. If they can make this marriage work by starting over, he stays. If not… Gemma’s not interested; she’s got a son to protect and a heart to heal. But having Travis around could make both a little easier. Still, good girls don’t date rock stars…right?


Purchase Links

Excerpted from GOOD GIRLS DON’T DATE ROCK STARS by Codi Gary

  How many glasses of champagne did I have last night? Gemma Carlson groaned, gritting her teeth against the stabbing pain that seemed to be spreading through her brain. She didn’t want to open her eyes, afraid of what she would find. Right now she was only sure of two things. One, her head hurt like a son of a bitch and two, she was very, very naked. Prying open her right eye, she tried to focus on her surroundings, but instead of seeing intricate, golden wallpaper, she found the walls were now light colored. A couch sat in the corner of the room, though her room had had a tiny office chair and desk. The landscape on the wall was new, too. She opened both eyes, blinking rapidly at the dryness, and realized she had no idea where she was. Which meant she obviously wasn’t in her hotel room. A light snore behind her caught her attention and she stiffened, turning her head slowly to look at her bedmate. She sucked in a breath at the sight of dark curls and a broad back, the only things visible above the heavy comforter. What have I done? Sitting up, she swallowed down the rolling nausea and fought the splitting headache, catching her face in her hands. And then she felt it. Something cool and metal on her finger. Something that definitely shouldn’t be there. Pulling her hands back, she stared at the large three-stone diamond ring on her left index finger and froze.  

My Thoughts:I first wanted to read this book because after I read the description it kind of reminded me of the Stage Dive series. This was definitely a lot different than I thought it was going to be.

Gemma and Travis were best friends turned lovers in high school. When Travis got a huge record deal and went on tour, Gemma found out she was pregnant. Gemma decided not to tell Travis due to an unfortunate incident. Ten years later, she bumps into him at a convention in Las Vegas. Travis will not let Gemma get away a second time. Little did he know that Gemma is keeping a huge secret from him.

First of all, I want to say that I loved Travis. He was really sweet, caring, will stop at nothing to get what he wants and I loved Gemma’s description of him. I must say I wasn’t a big fan of Gemma. I mean I understand she might have been scared about telling Travis she was pregnant but 10 years is way too long to not tell someone something so huge. I thought her reasons for keeping Charlie from Travis were selfish and I didn’t buy into it.

What I loved about the story were the secondary characters like Gracie and Charlie. I am looking forward to Gracie’s book. Charlie is just like his father, smart, sweet kid anyone would love. I loved where the story took place and how the whole town wants to know everyone else’s business. I am curious to find out who the gossip columnist is and how they get their info.

Overall, I found the book to be enjoyable. I wish the book was more in depth so that I can get lost in the characters. This book was more of a summer read to me. Anyone who wants a light read with good smut will enjoy this.

My Rating:
3.5 stars out of 5

About the Author
Codi GaryAn obsessive bookworm, Codi Gary likes to write sexy small-town contemporary romances with humor, grand gestures, and blush-worthy moments. When she's not writing, she can be found reading her favorite authors, squealing over her must-watch shows, and playing with her children. She lives in Idaho with her family
Authors Social Media

Monday, April 7, 2014

How to Say Goodbye Release Day Launch


How to Say Goodbye Synopsis:
Amy has a secret: no one’s ever held her hand. She doesn’t even know how to hug. Everyone thinks she’s smart, but straight As are way easier than making friends. Then she meets Dane, a golden-haired surfer whose easy charm and hot touch teach her what she longs to know.
Dane lives for the salty breeze and a sweet wave, because that’s all he has. He’s been on the streets since he was fourteen. A drifter. Homeless. Then he meets Amy. Smart and accomplished, she’s everything he’s not. He wants to be the sort of man who deserves her.
Except that means facing down his past—and that past might very well swallow them both.
Amber Lin Bio:
Amber Lin writes edgy romance with damaged hearts, redemptive love, and a steamy ever after. Her debut novel, Giving It Up, received The Romance Review’s Top Pick, Night Owl Top Pick, and 5 Blue Ribbons from Romance Junkies. RT Book Reviews gave it 4.5 stars, calling it “truly extraordinary.” Since then, she has gone on to write erotic, contemporary, and historical romances. She has been published by Loose Id, Carina Press, and Entangled.
Excerpt:
He smiled with the barest hint of irony. “Guess you have better things to do than build a sand castle.”
She hated how his words echoed her thoughts, how they put him down. Didn’t he know how much she would give to be like him? Relaxed. Confident. God, she didn’t want to be afraid anymore.
“I’ve got time.”
He pointed behind the castle. “There’s an enchanted forest right there.”
She knelt down. “Here?”
“No, over. A few inches to the left. Don’t you see it?”
He was…teasing her. It took her a second to understand just because it had never happened before. Not that she could remember.
She looked down to hide her smile. “I think I’ve got it now.”
He grinned. “Then get building, Cornell.”
Her first attempt was more like a molehill with a pointed top. By her second she’d learned to pack the sand more tightly, earning a brief nod from him. After that she worked steadily, forming the little conical pine trees in varying sizes. A vision sketched in her mind, of lush trees and woodland creatures, of fancy and imagination.
Kneeling in her oh-so-practical shoes was impossible, so she took them off. Her skirt hiked up her thighs as she scooted around the forest. Sand squeezed between the mesh of her stockings.
She hoped it would never come out.
When he finished carving arched windows, he stood back and dusted the sand from his palms. She trailed a finger down the last tree—this was how he’d feel, gritty and soft—before standing up to join him.
He was tall. His height shouldn’t have been a surprise; she was often the shortest one in the room. But she’d been equal to him on the ground, both of them dirty and eager in the sand. Now he was the tall, handsome stranger, and she the shy girl who hardly spoke.
She’d aced fluid mechanics, for God’s sake, so why should this matter? It didn’t, it didn’t. But her heart double-timed when she asked, “What do you think of the forest?”
With mock solemnity he studied the trees. They lined up neatly in rows like a Christmas tree farm she’d passed once in rural New York.
“It’s pretty,” he said, repeating her words. Then he smiled, almost shy. “Very pretty. Do you want to grab some dinner?”
Her breath caught. Had he just asked her out? It had sounded like that. Exactly like that. Her heart beat a rapid pace.
Daylight traced tiny lines radiating from his eyes, from the corners of his mouth. A smattering of blond hair covered the tanned skin of his chest, highlighting lean muscles beneath. Even the tips of his eyelashes were bleached, every part of him touched by the sun. A golden boy, a rippling-surface stereotype, while hidden depths lurked beneath. What would it take to dive under? In that moment she wanted to find out. Right then she wanted to drown.
But she’d had a lifetime of treading water, of survival. Only one answer made sense.
“I’m sorry.” Her voice sounded hoarse with disuse, as if she hadn’t spoken in years instead of seconds. “I’m not going to be here long. In Florida.”
She kicked herself. He hadn’t asked her to marry him, for God’s sake. He’d only wanted a date, and she should be able to do that. If she were more normal, she could have.
Fleeting emotions flickered across his face. Disappointment first, followed by others she couldn’t understand. But resignation—that one she recognized like an old friend.
“All right. Take care then.” His voice rang with finality. They would part now. She wouldn’t see him again, because she didn’t know how to be close to another human being. No textbook had ever taught her. No monthly phone call had told her how to feel.
Her face heated.             
“You too,” she murmured. “I’ll see you around.”
But even that presumed too much. A slight shake of his head said no, she wouldn’t. His lips curved in a cold shadow of his former smile.
“Bye, Cornell.” He crossed the beach, heading for the water.
He walked right past the frothy edge and dived underneath, leaving only ripples in his wake. His head came up once for air, and again, and again, growing smaller, farther away.

She waited for hours. Or seconds, really. She stood with sand caked to her hands and her knees, feeling abraded and raw. Every other time in her life, she’d pretended not to want this. Friends and laughter. Easy camaraderie. Touch. Standing on the cooling sand, her stomach grumbling with hunger, she could no longer pretend.



Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Excerpt: I See London by Chanel Cleeton

February 3, 2014
Harlequin HQN (Digital First)
New Adult Contemporary Romance

I See London is fun, sexy, and kept me completely absorbed. – Katie McGarry, author of Crash Into You

BOOK SUMMARY:
Maggie Carpenter is ready for a change— and to leave her ordinary life in South Carolina behind. But when she accepts a scholarship to the International School in London, a university attended by the privileged offspring of diplomats and world leaders, Maggie might get more than she bargained for.

When Maggie meets Hugh, a twentysomething British guy, she finds herself living the life she always wanted. Suddenly she’s riding around the city in a Ferrari, wearing borrowed designer clothes and going to the hottest clubs. The only problem? Another guy, the one she can’t seem to keep her hands off of.

Half French, half Lebanese, and ridiculously wealthy, Samir Khouri has made it clear he doesn’t do relationships. He’s the opposite of everything Maggie thought she wanted…and he’s everything she can’t resist. Torn between her dream guy and the boy haunting her dreams, Maggie has to fight for her own happy ending. In a city like London, you never know where you stand, and everything can change in the blink of an eye.
This is a New Adult romance recommended for readers 17 and up.


Author Information
Originally a Florida girl, at seventeen Chanel moved to London to attend an international university.  In the four years that followed, she received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees, learned how to dance, travelled through Europe, and made lifelong friendships.  Chanel fell in love with London and planned to stay there forever.  But fate intervened on a Caribbean cruise, when an American fighter pilot with smooth dance moves, swept her off her feet. 
Now, a happily ever after later, Chanel is living her next adventure in South Korea.  An avid reader and hopeless romantic, she is happiest curled up with a book.  She has a weakness for handbags, puppy cuddles, and her fighter pilot husband.  Harlequin (HQN) will release Chanel’s New Adult debut, I SEE LONDON, on February 3, 2014, followed by a sequel, LONDON FALLING, later in the year. 

Author Links:
                                      Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Excerpt:
Fleur strolled into the party, a group of guys in tow. Samir walked next to her, the perfect counterpart to her beauty. She made her way through the crowd like Moses parting the proverbial Red Sea, all eyes on her. Well, except for mine.
Tonight he wore dark jeans, an expensive-looking black jacket and a gray collared shirt. I hadn’t thought it possible for him to look even better than the day on the steps.
I was wrong.
He exchanged handshakes with a few guys before heading over to the table next to Michael’s. He moved confidently, as if he owned the room. Suddenly Samir’s head turned, his gaze meeting mine. My heart began to pound.
His stare pierced me.
Was he imagining me naked right now?
I reddened instantly.
Samir’s eyes widened, his lips twitching. The look he gave me was long and languid, surprise flickering in his deep brown eyes. Surprise, followed by clear male appreciation. With each second that passed it felt as though he was stripping away my clothes, layer by layer, baring my body before him. I felt the full weight of his stare, each glance leaving a trail of heat in its wake. It was as if his hands were running over my skin—molding, shaping my curves, caressing my skin.
No one had ever looked at me like that before.
Fleur tugged on Samir’s arm. He ignored her. She tugged again—saying something to him now—and he turned his attention away from me.
“They’ll probably go out later if you want to come.”
I forced my gaze back to Mya. She shot me a curious look.
“That whole group is pretty big on the club scene,” she explained. “They’re going to this club called Babel tonight. It’s in Mayfair and it’s amazing.”
I struggled to calm the nerves exploding inside me. “Mayfair?”
“It’s one of the nicest neighborhoods in London.” She grinned. “In that dress you’ll fit right in.”

I SEE LONDON February 3, 2014
I SEE LONDON Copyright © Chanel Cleeton
Permission to reproduce text granted by Harlequin Books S.A.


Friday, September 20, 2013

Blog Tour- Review, Excerpt & Giveaway: Freeing by E. K. Blair


Freeing by E.K. Blair
Release Date: September 13, 2013
Coming of Age
New Adult

Synopsis:
FREEING: a companion novel to the USA Today bestseller, Fading.

Knowing who you are and accepting who you are come at different prices.

Jase Kinrick grew up in your typical, all-American household. But after the death of his sister, his parents shut down, forcing him to deal with everything life throws his way alone. Terrified of the person he’s discovering himself to be, Jase has his way with every willing girl to try and rid himself of what he fears he is—gay.

Escaping California and moving to Seattle to attend the University of Washington, Jase frees himself to the reality that he likes men. Never staying with any guy long enough to get to know them, he doesn’t realize that he’s still hiding from who he is until he meets Mark. Scared of having real feelings for another guy stirs up the questions and fears he’s fought hard to bury.

To strip away the barriers to the heart of what is real, and to be okay with what lies underneath, will be Jase’s moment of truth. But he’ll need Mark to lead him there.


**THIS IS A FULL-LENGTH COMPANION NOVEL TO FADING**
The author can be reached by:

My Thoughts:
This is my first m/m romance I have read and I must say it was great. In Fading, we meet Jase, Candace’s best friend; they are more than friends, they are family. Their own families have disowned them so they only had each other for the longest time. Freeing is in Jase’s POV and overlaps the events in Fading. We see Jase going through his own struggle and journey on accepting himself for who he is.

Jase grew up in California and moved to Seattle because he wanted to escape his home life. He knew he was gay in high school even though he slept with a lot of girls; he couldn’t admit it to himself and thought something was wrong with him. After his sister’s death, his parents shut down, so he didn’t have anyone he could talk to. In Seattle, Jase is still at war with himself because he admits to himself that he is gay but afraid of what people might think. It is only when he meets Candace that he can tell someone who he truly is. Even then, he is still not completely comfortable with it. He has hookups with men but never a real relationship. It is not until he meets Mark that everything changes for him.

I love how E.K. Blair writes about taboo subjects but make it bearable and not so taboo for the reader. With Fading, I was bawling my eyes in the aftermath of Candace getting raped and in Freeing, reading Jase prospective on things I think I cried even harder. The emotion the author puts behind every word is magnificent and a real talent. Not many writers can do that. I was awed when I first read Fading and I am still in awe because Ms. Blair makes you care about things or situations where you might not have cared before. While reading I put myself in Jase’s shoes, through finding out about the rape of his friend/family member, I would be angry as well if that happened to one of my close friends. I think it is a very hard situation, being supportive for your friend/family member and also knowing who did it and not being able to do anything about it.

I think that Mark is exactly what Jase needed to start accepting himself for who he is. I really liked Mark. I think it was awesome how he stepped in and helped take care of Candace. It shows the kind of person he is.

I think many people would be surprised by how the author writes this m/m romance. She will have you caring about the characters no matter your opinion on the subject. For me, this is 2 for 2 for E.K. Blair’s books; I am excited about what she writes in the future. I will gladly read it!


My Rating: 
5 out of 5 stars

Excerpt:
Everything tunnels: my hearing, my vision. My heart thuds. Hard. I drop my head in my hands, and the tears just spill out. Allie continues to talk, but I’ve already heard all my soul can handle at this point. This girl is my fuckin’ heart, and I’m terrified to see what’s left of it.

I turn to look at the nurse when she hands me a tissue, but I don’t reach out to take it. I just look at her with no words.

“I’m so sorry. You can utilize this room for as long as you need, but it’s not going to be good for her to see you so upset. You need to be strong for her right now.”

I nod my head. She’s right. I’ve got to pull my shit together. I finally take the tissue from her hand. I could sit here and cry for the rest of my life if I allowed myself, but I need to see her. So that’s what I tell the nurse. “I need to see her.”



Friday, August 16, 2013

Blog Tour: Unteachable by Leah Raeder

Title: Unteachable
Author: Leah Raeder
Release date: August 1st 2013
Publisher: Velvet Pony Press
Purchase: Amazon

BLURB:
I met him at a carnival, of all corny places. The summer I turned eighteen, in that chaos of neon lights and cheap thrills, I met a man so sweet, so beautiful, he seemed to come from another world. We had one night: intense, scary, real. Then I ran, like I always do. Because I didn’t want to be abandoned again.


But I couldn’t run far enough.

I knew him as Evan that night. When I walked into his classroom, he became Mr. Wilke.
My teacher.

I don’t know if what we’re doing is wrong. The law says one thing; my heart says screw the law. I can’t let him lose his job. And I can’t lose him.

In the movies, this would have a happy ending. I grow up. I love, I lose, I learn. And I move on. But this is life, and there’s no script. You make it up as you go along.

And you don’t pray for a happy ending. You pray for it to never end.


About the Author:
Writes pretentiously lyrical YA and adult fiction of various genres. Loves zombies, velociraptors, and other world-ending things. Copies her bio from Twitter because she's lazy.


My Thoughts:
Unteachable is a truly captivating story about a tale so unique, I couldn’t get enough of it.

I love how the author wrote this story. There is something so honest about how the heroine felt that I related to her in so many ways. I love how there were so many layers to Maise and the more you read the more you pull back and see the real Maise. Evan was sweet and in my mind, very hot. Together, Maise and Evan had this incredibly strong connection to each other. It left you wondering if the connection was real or is the connection there because of the forbidden aspect to the relationship. At the same time, there is something so addictive in her writing that makes you want to stay up late and see what happens. I really liked how the author chose to write this novel almost like a movie; Maise telling us what happened, how it started, the stolen moments that happened. I have never read anything a story like it. I have read some student/teacher relationships in novels but never to this extent where the heroine knew he was a teacher almost in the beginning.

To tell you the truth I was rooting for the relationship even with the age difference. When you removed all of the titles, they were perfect for each other. Sometimes age is just a number and not a defining fact in a relationship. For love, you have to take chances and they definitely did.

In my opinion, what made the book? I did not see the big twist coming at all. Sometimes in other books, I know something is going to happen but I was shocked to find some interesting info about Evan, it through me for a loop. I’m happy Maise and Evan got their HEA. It shows you that you can find love in any place even when you shouldn’t because it is not right. I found I was left hanging a little bit at the end of the story, I would have liked for it to have an epilogue. I would have liked to have seen where things went or even a year or two from now.

My Rating:
4 out of 5 stars

Excerpt:
We both started. It must have broken the trance, because then his arms were around me and I was on my knees, kissing him, pressing his back to the window. I tasted glassy rain and my own wet hair tangling across my face. He didn’t stop me to fix the shot. He wanted me as I was, raw, unedited. His hand ran up the back of my bare leg, his fingers stroking the inside of my thigh. I gasped against his mouth. Lost a sandal. Rubbed my face against his jaw, hard, feeling the grit. Mark me, I thought. Give me something to take away with me. Something I can touch when I’m alone, remembering this. 

When we stopped to breathe he took my face between his hands. “You don’t know what you do to me. I can’t look at you in that classroom.” 

“You look at me all the time.”

 “And do horrible things to you in my head.” 

My blood was wildfire. I felt my swollen mouth, my sharp teeth digging into my lip, my dreamy half-shut eyes, and knew what I looked like to him. “Do them to me,” I said.
“Take me somewhere.” 

He gave a long, long sigh. His lips were bright red from my attentions. “I want to. You have no idea how much I want to.” Two fingers on my chin, pinching gently. “This is moving very fast. We should think it through. Think about how to be less conspicuous.”

 My face lit up with dark glee. “I can be discreet. I can be Harriet the fucking Spy.”




Thursday, July 25, 2013

Blog Tour-Blurb, Excerpt & Giveaway: The Corollaria by Courtney Lyn Batten

The Corollaria

Release date: February 2nd 2013
PurchaseAmazon

Synopsis via Goodreads:
Emily has always felt like there was more to her parents' mysterious death, more to her being sent to live with the Lyall’s when she was fifteen. And definitely more to her inexplicable infatuation with Luke, the Lyall’s youngest son.

Luke can’t help but be drawn to Emily. She has these perfect blue eyes, unlike any he’s ever seen. And he feels a fierce need to protect her. Suddenly, one night, changes everything. He feels conflicted about his feelings and his destiny, as he and Emily are suddenly plunged into a strange new world. 

Fast paced and action packed, a romance between Emily and Luke begins to take shape just as they are thrust into an ancient war, caught in the crossfire of bloodlust, revenge and love.


About the Author
Courtney grew up in Texas where she still lives with her husband, their two kids, and two dogs. She was studying to become a teacher and has graduated in May 2013.
Courtney loves to read and write love stories. She has an obsession with books, and owns far far too many.

Blurb: 
The excerpt I picked below is kinda steamy and gives you a glimpse of how much Luke's wolf wants Emily and their need to be together. I hope you enjoy :)

Excerpt:

Emily’s breathing was ragged. Her body trembled with longing and anticipation. Her left arm draped over his shoulder, her right hand gently and tentatively caressed up the hard muscles of his chest, and then over his scruffy neck, and into his hair, her fingers gliding easily through the shaggy brown strands.

Luke’s eyes never left hers. He was waiting. Waiting for her or waiting for himself to fight against this, he wasn’t sure. Emily wiggled herself forward, her soft breasts brushed against him, and he had to bite back a groan.

“Kiss me,” she implored impatiently. Her breathy whisper was so husky and sexy Luke could no longer resist. He crushed his lips to hers, desperate and hungry. Emily’s lips were unbelievably soft. When she parted them, he slid his tongue inside the warmth of her mouth, and moaned at the taste of her tongue against his, sweet and delicate.

Luke’s hand on her hip slid over the curve, his thumb brushed the bare skin there and she shivered. A new and intense heat surged through her, collecting between her thighs. His hand gripped her firmly, pulling her body hard against his. Emily swung her leg over his hip as his hand continued to caress her, moving in slow circles over her back.

His lips left hers, kissing along her jaw and down the smooth slope of her neck. Luke’s nose brushed along her skin, inhaling the deep rich heady scent of her. He buried his face in her neck and groaned.

“You’re killing me, honey,” he murmured into her skin. His muscles were twitching and quivering, barely restrained passion burned in his veins. He had a fleeting thought to pull back, but then she whimpered and dug her nails into his shoulder. Whatever semblance of control he had vanished.

Luke kissed his way across her collarbone, and then back up to her jaw. His scruffy chin scratched her smooth skin, as he reclaimed her lips once again. Their mouths melded together with a fevered intensity. Emily was swept away. Luke hands under her thin cotton shirt skimmed along her ribcage, roving over her soft satiny skin.

All Emily could think about was how good his hands felt against her bare skin, his tongue as it probed and explored her mouth.

Luke was completely lost. Overcome by the intensity of his emotions and the way her body was reacting to his touch. He kissed her until she was breathless, panting, her eyes heavy and a deep dark midnight blue with desire. He slowly slid his hand the rest of the way up her torso, feeling her softness beneath his hands.

Emily gasped. Luke stilled. His breath was ragged. He suddenly worried he shouldn’t be doing this. Was he taking advantage of her? Shit.

“Luke?” Emily asked softly. He rested his head on her shoulder for a moment, trying to convince himself that he had to do the right thing. He had to stop. This was too much too fast.

“I’m sorry, Em. I think—” Luke cleared his throat, part of him kicking himself, part of him so full of desire for her he could barely breathe. He took another deep breath and forced the words through his throat, “— we should, um, we should slow down.”

“Oh,” she responded. “ Okay.”

Emily couldn’t help but feel rejected. It pricked her skin and twisted in her gut. Luke felt it too. He quickly pulled her against him, an instinctual desperation to comfort her roared inside him. Emily hid her face in his neck, breathing in the familiar smell. Her breathing slowed as he rubbed slow circles on her back and pressed his nose against her ear.

Luke hugged her to him tightly. Mine. He was startled by the thought. Mine. This moment, this feeling felt real and pure. And it had nothing to do with the wolf or destiny or some ancient magic.



Monday, July 8, 2013

Book Blitz: Lost by M. Lathan


Lost by M. Lathan 
Series: Hidden, #2 
Publication date: June 20th 2013 
Genre: YA Paranormal

Book Description:
Three months ago, Christine Grant found herself, her love, and impossible friends, while losing the memories of the biggest piece of her past.

Now, her powers are spinning out of control and must be tamed by the woman who saved the world, the same woman Christine is predicted to kill in less than a month.

Wanting to punish catty girls was just the beginning. It’s only a matter of time before she discovers that the world is not as safe from her as she hoped it was.



About the Author:

M. Lathan lives in San Antonio with her husband and mini-schnauzer. She enjoys writing and has a B.S. in Psych and a Masters in Counseling. Her passion is a blend of her two interests – creating new worlds and stocking them with crazy people. She enjoys reading anything with interesting characters and writing in front of a window while asking rhetorical questions … like her idol Carrie Bradshaw.

Excerpt:
Prologue

Fear stole my breath as I plummeted into frigid water. I flailed my arms and legs, uselessly trying to swim against the current. The haunting voice of a child sang “The Star-Spangled Banner” as I sank deeper.
I fought my way to the surface only to be taken again. The little girl droned, “And the rockets’ red glare,” as water rushed into my lungs.
I wasn’t alone. A blurry figure struggled near me, both of us sinking, drowning in red tinted water. Blood. It swirled with the suffocating blue, an inescapable villain dragging us deeper and deeper.
We were two helpless bodies adrift in a world with no air or hope, no chance of survival. The white lights glowing beneath us looked welcoming and safe. The figure gave in. Its lifeless body sank towards the lights as the little girl sang, “And the home of the brave.”

Chapter One

I woke up, pouring sweat, in Nathan’s bed.
With his eyes closed and mouth open, he rolled away and yanked the blanket off of me, attending to my needs in his sleep. I shrugged off the creepy dream of me drowning. Over the last three months, I’d dreamed plenty of things that hadn’t happened. Nate had held me underwater in the pool earlier. I was sure that moment had just followed me to sleep. The odds of it being a vision were low.
It had been almost two months since I stopped letting myself have them or use any of my powers. They were getting worse as I used them openly for little things. I would try to move something, and it wouldn’t just lift. It would slam into the wall before I felt it moving. I didn’t know mental powers could grow, develop even more than they already were. They were getting faster, stronger, and wilder, so I was back to suppressing them like I had at St. Catalina. Life was simpler that way, normal. Or as normal as living with three magical beings that should be extinct could get.
I closed my eyes to force myself back to sleep, and an angry snore rattled Nate’s throat. I reached on his nightstand for my phone. He wouldn’t be able to deny this one. Another series of snores ripped through the silent pool house just as I pressed record. I laughed, and he opened his eyes.
“Smile, baby,” I said. He groaned and reached for the phone.
“What are you doing?”
“Oh, nothing. Just collecting evidence.”
He wrestled my new phone from my hands and held it out of my reach. “How do I stop the video?”
“Like I’d tell you.”
He grunted and threw the phone to the foot of his bed. “That thing is too expensive to be so complicated,” he said.
“It’s not complicated. It’s probably just made for humans and you’re-”
He grabbed me and wedged his fingers under my arms before I could tease him about the side of him that barks. “I’m what? What am I, Chris?” I squealed, flopping around in his arms like a dying fish.
“Handsome!” I offered, to end the tickle attack.
“Liar.”
“Smart. Kind. Loving. Sexy!” He relaxed his fingers and slid them from my armpits to my back. “Which one did it?” I asked.
“Sexy,” he whispered and kissed me. And that was really all it ever took to kick things off between us. Steamy kisses, roaming hands.
That was how we’d spent most of our time during our three-month-old relationship – in my bed, in his bed, in the common areas when we had the house to ourselves. I kept waiting for this to get old, his lips on mine, but every kiss felt like the first, and like I’d die if it were the last.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Book Blitz: Come Back To Me by Coleen Patrick



 Title: Come Back to Me
Author: Coleen Patrick
Publication Date: March, 2013
Genre: YA Contemporary

Synopsis:

Whitney Denison can’t wait to start over.

She thought she had everything under control, that her future would always include her best friend Katie… Until everything changed.

Now her life in Bloom is one big morning after hangover, filled with regret, grief, and tiny pinpricks of reminders that she was once happy. A happy she ruined. A happy she can’t fix.

So, she is counting down the days until she leaves home for Colson University, cramming her summer with busywork she didn’t finish her senior year, and taking on new hobbies that involve glue and glitter, and dodging anyone who reminds her of her old life.

When she runs into the stranger who drove her home on graduation night, after she’d passed out next to a ditch, she feels herself sinking again. The key to surviving the summer in Bloom is unraveling whatever good memories she can from that night.

But in searching for answers, she’ll have to ask for help and that means turning to Evan, the stranger, and Kyle, Katie’s ex-boyfriend. Suddenly, life flips again, and Whitney finds herself on not only the precipice of happy but love, too, causing her to question whether she can trust her feelings, or if she is falling into her old patterns of extremes.

As she uncovers the truth about her memories, Whitney sees that life isn’t all or nothing, and that happy isn’t something to wait for, that instead, happy might just be a choice.

Excerpt:



I went to the rec center.

The front desk pointed me down a checkerboard-tiled hallway. Halfway down, I heard guitar strumming and a mish mosh of clanging tambourines. I transferred the paper bag with the last muffin to my other hand and swiped my damp palm against my shorts. I moved toward the music, my gaze darting from one closed door to the next, until I found the right classroom. There, I peeked into the square window on the door.

Evan.

He stood in the middle of the room, chairs pushed to the edges, orchestrating a dozen or so kids holding tambourines, triangles, and recorders. The sound they made was loud, shy of any sort of regular rhythm, much like my heart suddenly, but they were all smiling, including Evan. He clapped his hands over his head, while the guitar strapped around him swayed. His shirt was blue—another button down, sleeves rolled to his forearm and shirttail hanging over his shorts as they played to their finale. The tallest boy crashed his cymbals together while the kids with tambourines shook them wildly in the air.

The butterflies in my stomach joined the ruckus, and I pressed a palm to my stomach. It was just nerves thinking about our forthcoming conversation. It wasn’t going to be easy to ask him about that night.

A girl in braids, the one holding the triangle, pointed at me and, in the moment, before Evan turned, I felt the muscles in my legs tense, but I stayed still. I wasn’t going to run the other way anymore, not when I wanted answers. Instead, I waved, and Evan raised his hand before heading in my direction.

“All right guys.” He opened the door wide. “I’ll see you Friday.”

One by one, the kids streamed past me, chattering to one another. I focused on the tops of their heads, unsure of how I would start my conversation with Evan.

“Hi.” I said, when the last kid was halfway down the hallway. Then I got tongue-tied. I smiled at him, but my lips trembled, drawn up by sudden nerves.

Evan put out his hand for me to shake. I smiled, scrunching up my nose.

“Hi,” he said. “I’m Evan Foster.”

I laughed. A slow smile spread on his face, and I felt the butterfly orchestra in my gut move into crescendo mode. I held out my own hand. His hand closed over mine. It was warm, strong.

“Whitney Denison,” I said, feeling a little bit silly. That turned out to be good though, because as I took a deep breath, my nerves evened out. “Whitney Elizabeth Morgan Denison.”

Evan raised an eyebrow. “Oh, well in that case, I’m Evan Sebastian Foster.”

“Sebastian?”

“Yes, my mom was really into The Little Mermaid.”

Again I laughed, but then stopped. “What? Wait, you’re serious?”

“Yeah. She named me after Sebastian the crab.”

“And you tell everyone this story?”

“Not really.” He watched me in a way that sent my heart on a faster pace. “So, girl-with-two-middle-names…”

“I don’t think I’m ready for you to be calling me by my Native American name.”

He grinned and glanced down at the floor for a moment. Then, he reached a hand in his jeans, pulling out his car keys. Immediately, I was disappointed. I didn’t want to be done talking with him. I was just getting started.

I remembered the bag in my hand and held it up to him. “Are you hungry?”



About the Author:

Coleen Patrick grew up in New Jersey, Virginia, Michigan, Louisiana, and Indiana. Always being the new kid, she learned that books and friends are precious—and dessert. She never met a dessert she didn’t like (except for flan).

When she’s not writing, reading (or avoiding flan), she enjoys TV, arts and crafts, quoting movies, and trying to take cool photos.

She lives in Virginia with her husband and two kids.