Friday, May 29, 2015

ASSUMPTIONS by Melanie Codina







SYNOPSIS:

What happens when a girl set on playing by the rules …

Leeann Bradley is a college graduate who has achieved many of her personal goals, all because she follows the rules she’s set for herself. It’s simple. You work hard, enjoy life, surround yourself with friends and family, avoid jumping to conclusions … and oh yeah, don’t date jocks. These rules have worked well and have taken her down the path she wants in life. So what’s a girl to do when temptation, in the form of a sexy college soccer player, is placed right in the middle of that path? Deciding when to break the rules has never been easier for Leeann. But when assumptions are made, and more than just the rules are broken … will she be able to find her way down that path again? And what happens when it’s no longer the path she’s meant to take?

Finds a guy worth breaking them for …

Until now, Jonathan Baxter had one primary focus in his life, soccer. All decisions made, have been based on how it could affect his ability to play soccer. His grades, his choice of college, any type of extracurricular activities, were all carefully assessed. All of it has made playing college soccer possible. But when an injury sidelines him for the foreseeable future, and jeopardizes his dreams, he has to work even harder than before. Rehabilitating his injury becomes his primary objective. Until he meets Leeann, a physical therapy assistant whose touch has the ability to make him lose focus. She has him thinking there could be more in his life—in his future—than just soccer. So what’s Jonathan to do when Leeann assumes he’s just like every other jock out there? He has to prove her assumptions wrong.



PURCHASE LINKS:





REVIEW:


Have you ever had a book on your kindle that has been there for a while and when you finally have a chance to read it, you want to smack yourself on the forehead and go...... "Why the hell did I wait so long to read this book?" That is exactly what I did the other day after finishing Assumptions. 

I am a HUGE fan of Melanie Codina's work. I fell in love with the characters she created in The Real Love Series. Assumptions is a spin-off of this series, where we get Gillian's son, Jonathan's story.  You can read Assumptions and follow the storyline without feeling like you're missing anything.  Melanie did a great job filling you in details that you needed to understand Jonathan's family dynamics.  Why he is the way he is. Why his relationship with his father is strained. Melanie blends the story perfectly.


Now, lets discuss ASSUMPTIONS....

From the beginning of the book, I was hooked. I wanted to know Jonathan and Leeann (a/k/a Lee) more. Jonathan is a junior in college when he sustains an injury to his knee, an injury that could end sideline him for good. When Jonathan heard the infamous POP, he knew immediately what it meant. It's the sound that no athlete ever wants to hear.

From the stands, Leeann watched as Jonathan hit the ground in pain. Her being a physical therapy assistant, she knew the rehabilitation that a knee injury could cause. Never did she imagine that the hot soccer player would end up being one of her patients. 

Jonathan finds Lee intriguing. He wants to get to know her more. But one thing is stopping that from happening. Lee has rules. Rules that she always follows. Rules that she never breaks... she never dates jocks. 

While Lee is rehabilitating Jonathan's knee, things begin to develop between the two of them. She may not have planned to have feelings for the sexy soccer player, but Jonathan had other plans in mind. Jonathan knew she was different from the other girls he had been with. He could joke with her. He enjoyed spending time with her. Little by little, Jonathan knocked down the wall that Lee had built, until Lee assumes the worst. 

We all know that ASSUMPTIONS can get the best of us.  We all have assumed things. Sometimes the assumptions are spot on....  Sometimes they are completely wrong.  When assumptions are made, people can be hurt. Relationships can be destroyed.  Will their relationship be strong enough to get past it?  Can forgiveness be given for assuming the worst? I guess you will have to read it to see.....

Lets talk about Jonathan.  Boy oh boy, did I fall HARD. Jonathan was so swoon worthy, he deserved an Oscar for his performance. He always knew the right things to say at the right time. You could tell that he meant every word that he said, that he wasn't a bullshitter.  You could feel the love he had for Lee. You could see him falling in love with her. I was routing for him the entire time. Jonathan was simply amazing in this book. If only every 21/22 year old acted like he did, there would be a lot of happy 21/22 year old women.

Lee had concerns that every woman would have. Is he a player? Is he the stereotypical athlete? Am I just a conquest? Does he mean what he says? The bantering between the two of them is hilarious. The two of them hit it off immediately. At times I felt as if I was waiting for the floor to fall out from underneath of them. Things were going smooth. I knew something was going to happen and I held my breath as I read. 

My heart broke for the two of them. I didn't want to see them deal with the situation that was transpiring. I caught myself yelling at Jonathan. Why are you doing this? Why are you being stubborn? Then I would yell at Lee. "Why are you being stubborn? Why didn't you just ask him? 

When I got to the last page, I was pissed. I wanted more. I didn't want to see their story come to and end. Immediately I send a PM to Melanie, telling her I wanted more. I wanted to see what the future held for the two of them. I wanted more of Jonathan's best friend, Robby and I wanted more of Lee's best friend, Mari. We all know how we love the funny best friends. Mari is a pistol and will have you laughing out loud. The things that came out of that girls mouth were hilarious. I want Mari as a best friend. 

ASSUMPTIONS is a great book. A book that will leave you wanting more. A book that will have you smiling knowing that their story could very well happen to anyone.  I will now wait patiently for the release of more in this series.  KUDOS to Melanie for nailing this story....

This review was prepared by Heather.





EXCERPT:

“So, Leeann. I was thinking of asking you out on a date, but figured I should make sure there wasn’t a Mr. Leeann in the picture,” I stated matter-of-factly, taking another bite of my salad. Rather than respond right away, she gave me an amused look. I really liked that I amused her. It did great things for my ego.

“A Mr. Leeann?” she inquired.

I nodded, liking my choice of words. “Yeah. You know, a member of the opposite sex who you’ve attached yourself to. Maybe even have Cobb salads with. Although I’m sure there would be other things you do with a Mr. Leeann, but we don’t need to bring those up. I prefer to just think of you eating Cobb salads with him.”

She tried to conceal a snort by covering her mouth with a napkin, but I caught it. It was cute as hell. That unruly dick of mine began to make himself known again. I was actually surprised it had taken that long for him to realize she was within a five-foot radius. Maybe the temporary jolt of pain I got almost falling allowed for the delayed response. Fortunately, I’d taken Leeann’s advice from the other day and worn shorts that were a little more concealing.

When she removed the napkin, she smiled broadly. “Well, there really isn’t anyone else I eat Cobb salads with. Except you, of course. But—”

I interrupted her, “Perfect! That makes me your Mr. Leeann. I can totally be that for you. Except I could definitely see us doing more than eating Cobb salads together.”

Now she was giggling, and I couldn’t help but watch her as that simple sound exploded in my ears. It swirled around me, making me want more. When she slowed down the giggling, she asked, “So you can see me doing more with you, huh?”

My hands were clasped together, and I rested my elbows on the table, leaning forward a little. I lowered my voice and said, “Oh yeah.” The husky tone caught her attention, and she leaned forward in response. So I continued, “I could definitely see us doing more than eating Cobb salads. We could always try the Caesar, or even a Greek salad together. How do you feel about pizza?”

Leeann burst out laughing, and I couldn’t control every part of my body that responded without delay. There I was, joking with this sexy woman, dick at full attention, and all I could do was stare … and plan.

I needed to make a plan that involved making her laugh like that for me … every damn day.



AUTHOR BIO:

Melanie is an amazing mother of four, an awesome and tolerant wife to one, and nurse to many. If you don't believe her, just ask anyone in her family, they know what to say. She is also a devoted chauffeur, the keeper of missing socks, a genius according to a seven year old, the coolest soccer uniform coordinator according to a thirteen year old, and the best damn mac-n-cheese-with-cut-up-hot-dog maker in the whole world. Well that last title isn't really official, but it's still pretty cool to be called it.

When not being ordered around by any of the kids, you can find her with her nose in a book or on the sideline of a soccer game cheering on one team or another. But that's mostly because she has a thing for the coach. When not doing all of the above, you can find her obsessed with a group of fictional characters all vying for a spot on the page of whatever she's working on. It's a fun and crazy life to lead, but she wouldn't have it any other way.


AUTHOR MEDIA SITES:

@MelanieCodina
www.MelanieCodina.com  (under construction at the moment)






COVER REVEAL ~ MADE TO LOVE YOU (The Love Series, Book 5) by Megan Smith

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Blurb

Jaylinn McCormick had finally found the man who makes her life

complete. After putting the most terrifying night of her life behind her, she’s moving on. Suddenly, unexpected life altering

events have Jaylinn spiraling in an unknown direction. Will she be able to survive?

Cooper Cahill finally found a balance in his life. He’s got the girl he always loved, business is thriving, and his baseball career is grand slamming down a new path. One phone call threatens to destroy his perfect life.

Can Cooper help Jaylinn dodge this curve ball life has pitched in her direction? Will the love

they’ve found in each other be enough? Or will Jaylinn walk away from it all?






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About the author:

USA TODAY bestselling author Megan Smith is a New Jersey native who creates the memorable characters her fans have grown to adore. Smith is a wife and mother, who makes time for her family, professional life and the creation of the characters. Fans of The Love Series - Trying Not To Love You, Easy To Love You, Hard To Love You, Let Me Love You, A Christmas To Love You - are captivated by relationships, special bonds and family ties pervasive in Smith's emotional, energized and engaging work.

Twitter @AuthorMSmith 
Email: authormegansmith@gmail.com 
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/Y4MXb




 



Thursday, May 28, 2015

Teaser for The Consequence of Revenge by Rachel Van Dyken

#SAVEMAX








After losing his best friend to another guy, the notoriously too-confident Max Emory suddenly feels lost. He may have devastatingly good looks, an abundance of charm, and a claim to one of the biggest hotel empires around, but he has no ambition anymore. So when his fed-up friends decide they’ve had enough of his moping, they sign him up to be the next bachelor on the reality series Love Island. And between his pride and his forged signature on an ironclad contract, Max just can’t say no.


Now he’s stranded in paradise with twenty-four women, one terrifying goat, and Becca, the breathtaking barista who already turned him down back home. The closer Max gets to Becca, the more determined he becomes to win her over. As she gets to know him better, things start heating up. But is Becca really after Max’s heart—or is she after the cash prize she could claim once the cameras stop rolling?








Rachel Van Dyken is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author of regency and contemporary romances. When she's not writing you can find her drinking coffee at Starbucks and plotting her next book while watching The Bachelor.
She keeps her home in Idaho with her Husband, adorable son, and two snoring boxers! She loves to hear from readers!
Want to be kept up to date on new releases? Text MAFIA to 66866!
You can connect with her on Facebook www.facebook.com/rachelvandyken  or join her fan group Rachel's New Rockin Readers. Her website is www.rachelvandykenauthor.com 


RUINED (A Decadence After Dark Epilogue) by M. Never








Ruined: A Decadence After Dark Epilogue
(Decadence After Dark #3) by M. Never

  
Kayne Roberts. 
Kayne Rivers. 
Kayne Stevens.

No matter his name, one fact remains the same. He's the man who enslaved me, ensnared me, claimed me and ruined me...For all other men that is. 


My life.

My love 
My happiness. 
All belong to him. 
I belong to no one but him. 

He owns me. 

And I own him.



REVIEW:


What do you do when the man that kidnapped you has claimed you as their own?  What do you do when he has ruined you? No other man will be able to own your heart. What do you do when your body craves this man?



Kayne has a way to grab your heart and keep it as his own. He will own you, claim you, and once you are his, he has the power to ruin you. Ellie knows the power that Kayne has over her. But....  What power does Ellie hold? Kayne may think he is in control, but every man has a weak spot... an Achilles heal.  Ellie is Kayne's. What his kitten wants, his kitten gets. 


When Kayne and Ellie think they have it all, do they really? What will happen if Ellie craves a little more? Will Kayne's kitten be allowed to play?


Make sure to add RUIN to your TBR list.....  




 ** MY FULL REVIEW WILL BE POSTED ON RELEASE DAY **









BLOG TOUR - PROMO POST for Love Always Finds Its Way (Love Knows No Bounds, Book 2) by Lorraine Britt






Love Always Finds Its Way (Book Two in the Love Knows No Bounds series)



SYNOPSIS:

Ryan Foster had lived his life completely focused, dedicated to two things…his studies and football, but from the moment he arrived at Harvard his life had changed forever. Through his roommate Aaron he had met both Aaron’s cousin Delaney and her best friend Jaylee, and in that moment Ryan knew two things…Laney was truly his kindred spirit and Jaylee was the love of his life. But could he be both things to both women? And would the love he’d found with Jaylee survive the scrutiny of his jaded twin sister Felicity? Or would the secrets of their childhood in Oklahoma cost him everything that mattered most?





PURCHASE LINKS















Well, that for sure gave all those girls watching a big eyeful of what was important to me.  It showed them, in no uncertain terms, that I was off limits.  And, to my favor, it showed all my teammates, just what a gorgeous girlfriend I had.  I was proud of Jaylee and I wanted her to know just how proud of her I really was.  From the beaming smile on her face, I could tell she understood and appreciated the gesture. 






“Thank you, beautiful,” I breathed in relief.  “I promise I will help you understand.  I’m not trying to hurt you. I promise you that. Anything I do is only because I love you.”

“I know,” she said in a small voice.  “I know you do.”







She stopped me and stepped closer, resting her hand on my broad chest for a moment before sliding it up to my shoulder.  She turned and just smiled at all the whispering girls who walked by us on their way out of practice, confident in her place at my side.  That alone set my heart racing.  Finally she turned to me, her dark eyes meeting mine, her red lips pursed together in thought.  I waited, longing to see what was taking her so much thought and time to put out there.  Finally she bit her lip and stepped a little closer.

“Thank you,” she said softly, her hand sliding up to cup my cheek, softly brushing over the scruff of my beard.


“For what, beautiful?” I asked, cocking my head to the side in confusion.


AUTHOR BIO:

Lorraine Britt is a fourth generation Native Texan who is also immensely proud of her Louisiana heritage and solid Southern roots.  As an enthusiastic lover of the written word, inspiration struck Lorraine and she began to bubble over with her own ideas.  Grasping hold of her lifelong dreams, it wasn’t long before she was putting pen to paper and letting her fingers fly over a keyboard to bring her own characters to life.  When she isn’t busy scribbling notes for her next idea you might find her whipping up delicious creations in the kitchen or putting miles on her car on road trip adventures.  Lorraine is equally passionate about music, movies and sports.  You’ll no doubt find these familiar themes woven throughout her books.  Lorraine and her family currently make their home in northeast Texas. 


AUTHOR MEDIA LINKS:








Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Sweet Ache (Driven #6) by K. Bromberg




Sweet Ache (Driven #6)


The New York Times bestselling author of Slow Burn turns up the heat when a sexy bet turns into so much more…

Hawkin Play, the bad boy rock star with a good guy heart, has lived a lifetime of cleaning up after his twin brother’s mistakes. Hunter’s most recent screw-up could land Hawke in jail and risk the band’s future. Hawke agrees to guest lecture at a local college to stay in the judge’s good graces—and a bet with his bandmate to seduce his sexy teaching assistant is icing on the cake.

Quinlan Westin is harder to bed than Hawke imagined. She knows his type and is determined to avoid the rocker at all costs—even if their attraction runs deeper than simple lust.

Just as Hawke might finally be winning over the girl, his brother has other plans. When Hunter realizes his twin finally has a weakness, he’ll stop at nothing to take advantage…
 





3.5 stars

Sweet Ache is a standalone apart of the Driven Series. You meet Quinlan (Colton’s Sister) in the earlier books.

Quin has not had much luck in the love department. Her past two relationships have ended with her finding out the guy was cheating on her. So she made a pack to just enjoy casual sex with no emotions and refuses to be anyone’s doormat. Romance in not on her horizon. When her mentor puts her face to face with Hawke all of that may change.

Hawke is the lead singer of Bent. When he was a child he was witness to a traumatic event that changed his life. Promises were made and he has done his very best to keep them, no matter what the consequences are. He was once told that love = weakness.  At what price will Hawke pay to protect his family?

When the two come face to face there is instant chemistry although he has a funny way of showing it. The sexual tension between them is off the charts and when they finally come together it is explosive! They definitely have no problem “fine tuning” things together!
It’s great to get a glimpse at Colton and Rylee in this book. Also, I LOVE that Kellan Kyle & Griffin make a cameo!!

This book is not my favorite in the series. The book is told in dual POV. That is great because you need to get in Hawke’s head to understand his past. It seems that Quin was always saying she was not a doormat but I feel that is exactly how Hawke would treat her and she would willingly take him back. There was also too much internal dialog and I found myself skimming through sections.

This review was prepared by guest reviewer, Chrissy Rhem. An ARC was provided for an honest review.




Scattered Colors by Jessica Prince




BLURB:

The use of the phrase life is hard has become so diluted, so overstated through the years that when someone hears it the words go in one ear and out the other. The impact is no longer there. The meaning, the importance of that phrase no longer holds any water with those it's spoken to.

Freya Linden's life became hard at the age of seventeen, the summer before her senior year of high school. The bright colors of her life faded into black and white, a colorless shell full of loneliness.

Until she met him.

Parker Owens breathed life back into her world. With him she began to heal. But happiness isn't a guarantee. Sometimes opening yourself up only leads to more heartbreak. The person she thought to be her saving grace shattered her completely.

Her story isn't a pretty one. The bumps in the road were monumental and infinite. But it's her story. And the one thing that holds true is this: despite the hardships, she made it through to the other side.


REVIEW:

Right from the beginning this book will entertain you - it will bring you to tears. As you read this book about Freya and Parker and you may think life sucks for them.
Freya and Parker are desperately trying to keep the pieces together after tragedy and loss and grieving for that loss. Two young people raising their parents (so to speak) their parents can’t get over the loss.
These two people have no color in their young lives its simply black and white, until, well they fall in love. Until… well I am not going to tell you.
Two years later and Parker’s Mother lands a bombshell and Parker realizes that his relationship with Freya is salvageable. He knew it would be hard to apologize to Freya, but he has to try.
There are parts of this book that will make you cry and parts that will make you laugh!! “wakey, wakey. Hands off snakey”! this is said while Freya is having the hangover from hell!! I am with Freya here, I am pretty sure that isn’t how it goes!! insert laughter here by Piper. Not forgetting the "breath from a homeless man’s fart"!! "Armageddon has begun". (want to know what this is about? then read this book)
Jessica Prince is an author that will make laugh and make you cry. Read this book and let the Color come back to you, the color comes back to your world.
I have read other books from Jessica Prince and love her style of writing. If you love romance, tragedy and hilarious scenes, you will love this book.
This book ROCKS!!

This review was prepared by guest reviewer, Janet Fisher. An ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review.


Tuesday, May 26, 2015

Release Week Blitz ~ 21 Stolen Kisses by Lauren Blakely






ABOUT 21 STOLEN KISSES:

When I first met him I resisted.
Like any forbidden love, I told myself he was a crush, and it would pass.
That was a lie. It never faded.

And I never expected he would fall for me just as hard. 


There were so many reasons that should have kept us apart, least of all, the decade that separated us.
Growing up in New York City, I learned early on that love is a double-edged sword.
Love broke up my parents, love took away my friends, and love -- the big, intense, never-been-like-this-before love -- landed me in therapy.
Now I'm heading to college, and it's time to give love a clean slate again. But, can I really start over when he's still in my life?
Because the one man I've always wanted, is also the only guy I absolutely can't have…
And he wants me just as fiercely.

Can I settle for anything less than the love of my life?





Excerpt:

He inhales sharply. The look in his eyes says we’re crossing into the danger zone again. It’s the only place I want to be with him. Because when we’re there, nothing between us feels dangerous. 

Everything feels right.

“I turn eighteen in a few more weeks,” I say, like my birthday is an open invitation for us to slam back into each other.

He nods. “I know.”

A breeze blow by and rustles his hair. A lock falls out of place. Instinct takes over. I raise my hand to reach for his hair.

But he’s faster. He grasps my wrist, and the second he does, the moment expands. It stretches and unfolds into the thing I will replay tonight and the next day. I stare at his hand clasped around my wrist, flashing back to all the times he held my hand, touched my wrist, and ran his fingers along my arm. I shiver as the memories collide, the past slamming into the present.

I look up from our hands to his eyes. Blazing, full of heat. Full of all that restraint from him that I know so well.




Information:

Lauren Blakely is well known for writing sexy, heartfelt and humorous contemporary romance as well as deeply emotional new adult stories. 21 STOLEN KISSES is a beautifully written forbidden romance that will have you holding your breath and turning the pages as fast as you can! I’m thrilled that you are taking part in the Release celebrations for 21 STOLEN KISSES, which will release on May 26th.



Buy Links:


About Lauren Blakely:

Lauren Blakely writes sexy contemporary romance novels with heat, heart, and humor, and she has had seven books on the New York Times Bestseller list and eleven on the USA Today Bestseller list. Like the heroine in her novel, FAR TOO TEMPTING, she thinks life should be filled with family, laughter, and the kind of love that love songs promise. Lauren lives in California with her husband, children, and dogs. She loves hearing from readers! Her bestselling series include Caught Up in Love, Seductive Nights, No Regrets and Fighting Fire. She recently released Forbidden Nights, a standalone novel in her New York Times Bestselling Seductive Nights series that became an instant New York Times Bestseller. This summer she'll release Consumed by You, her next title in her NYT Bestselling Fighting Fire series about sexy firemen and the women they love, and Sweet Sinful Nights, the first book in her new series Sinful Nights. She also writes for young adults under the name Daisy Whitney. To receive an email when Lauren releases a new book, text BLAKELY + your email address to 678-249-3375(please use the actual + sign).

Links:



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