FOREVER BY DESIGN by ELIZABETH JAMES

Summary:

They met by chance, and fell in love. But is it meant to be forever?
Callie and Justin are living their fairytale. They are so close to having the family they’ve always wanted when suddenly Callie finds herself fighting the insecurities that she’s been feeling all of her life. This time, the results could be deadly. Can Justin help heal her pain or will the stress drive them apart? Jay and Jane are trying to plan their future as they face the challenge of Tyler’s fight for the child he’s never known. Jolene becomes the pawn in a dangerous game until a tragic twist of fate forces Jane to finally confront the man she once loved. 

Their fates are set, their lives intertwined and their happiness in jeopardy. Can they all finally find their happily ever after?

Review:

Forever by Design is the final installment in the Design Series, and Elizabeth does a fantastic job of bringing the series to a close.  I’ve been following these characters since the beginning, so it was bittersweet to see it come to an end, but like the saying goes, “All good things must come to an end.”  I was able to watch the four; Callie, Justin, Jane, and Jay come together, and watch them grow, as individuals, as couples, and as families.  Elizabeth definitely takes you for a rollercoaster ride of emotions with this book; everything is completely unpredictable and throws you off guard.

Why can’t Tyler just leave them alone and move on with his life?  Why can’t he see that they are truly happy without him? Tyler pulls a custody stunt to try and get Jane back, but his plan back fires.  Instead of getting her back, Jane truly sees the man Tyler has become.  He isn’t the man who she fell in love with all those years ago; the same man who she gave up her family for.  This Tyler cares only about himself and getting back what he cannot have.  This stunt of his only gives Jane the strength to fight him on it because this time she realizes she is not alone; she has her family supporting her completely.

Jane has come a long way in life and had to overcome a lot of situations.  She has no relationship with her family because they cut her off when she walked away to start a life with Tyler.  Then Tyler left her when she ended up pregnant; she was left to raise Jolene alone.  She is grateful to have Callie in her life to help her get through the past several years.

Falling in love with Jay is like a dream come true for Jane.  Jay has accepted Jolene as his own daughter.  He has been nothing but supportive throughout this whole entire Tyler situation; you can’t even tell if the situation bothers him or not.  With everything going on, Jane and Jay have not even picked a wedding date.

Tyler gets into a major car accident, sending Jane right next to his side worrying about him.  Here you think this will put a big strain on Jane and Jay’s relationship, but it doesn’t.  Jay never leaves her side. Jay is right next to Jane, lending her a supporting shoulder when she needs it. As Tyler finally comes through and gets stronger, Jane makes him realize that she will never be with him again, she is in love with Jay and nothing with change that. When he finally sees what is in front of him and that they are truly happy together, he finally once and for all grows up, and gives it all up.

After all their waiting, Callie and Justin have a very handsome Ryder. But shortly after the baby is born, the old insecurities Callie has about herself comes back at her. She starts to doubt herself and the way she looks. Will the way she looks now after she has the baby change the way Justin feels about her?  She starts to withdraw herself from Justin a little, focuses all her attention to the baby, and doesn't listen to the doctor’s orders and starts working on getting her old body/self-back. This of course puts a strain on their marriage.
 

Will Justin be able to convince Callie that he loves her unconditionally? Will Callie begin to see that these old securities are just seeds that were planted in her head and they are not true?  Will Callie love herself for who she is and not because of what others think?

Finally being able to put Tyler behind them, Jane and Jay are able to focus on their lives before them. Jane gets a phone call from her parents whom she hasn't spoken to in years asking to reconcile.  Slowly wanting to reconnect with her parents, she feels as if the pieces of her life are slowly coming together.  Wanting to not wait any longer, they set a date for their wedding within the next month.  Since Jane planned Callie’s wedding, it was pretty easy for her to plan this one.

As the days to the wedding come closer, Jane can’t seem to get any happier. However, she reaches a tiny hiccup that causes some of her past insecurities to come flooding out. Callie tries her very best to reassure her that Jay is very much different and will never treat her that way and Jane knows deep in her heart that he will never do that to her but she can’t help but question the, “what if?” all because she was burned in the past.

Will Jane be able to tell Jay the truth? Will Jay run and leave her when Jane reveals the truth to her?  Will Jane be able to put her insecurities to rest once and for all, knowing she is deserving of Jay’s love?

I not only loved this book, but I loved this series.  Elizabeth outdoes herself each and every time.  I loved how the men were so supportive of the women, especially Jay in dealing with the whole Tyler situation and completely taking on the whole daddy role with Jolene.  It takes a real loving man to do that for someone; that kind of man is rare to find.  And I also loved the fact that knowing that Jane had no one around to help her, Callie took her in and was there for her and became the family that she needed; they've been inseparable ever since.  Great job Elizabeth!  I look forward to more books from you!

This review was prepared by Jennelyn!

ONE CLICK 

"FOREVER BY DESIGN" 

BY ELIZABETH JAMES

                                                                      

Safe Word by Teresa Mummert is Releasing Early!

Safe Word by Teresa Mummert

ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY!!!!

Synopsis:

A chance meeting with a stranger can turn your entire world upside down. When Colton ‘Colt’ Bishop enters a bar in New York City, he has a plan. His job is to find an easy target and take her back to his place for a few days. He is working his way up the crime ladder doing a job he never wanted. Lily Hilton has it all, but is hiding from a troublesome past. When she enters a bar downtown, and runs into her old high school crush, her entire world is turned upside down. She is determined to make him notice her, but that plan may work better than she expects. Colton does not hesitate to take Lily home and use her as his new pawn, but their past begins to catch up with them as their secrets unravel and he must decide what is more important to him, protecting Lily or himself.

Until I Break by M. Leighton - Review

Until I Break

By M. Leighton

Synopsis:
  Laura Drake is an author. She writes bestselling paranormal romances that continue to top the charts. She is sharp. She is confident. She is in control.
And she doesn't exist.

  Samantha Jensen is the woman behind the wig, the woman most of the world doesn't know exists. She is shy. She is insecure. She is nothing like her main character or her alter ego. She s scarred - deeply scarred - by a past she can't let go of and a present she can't make peace with.
Samantha's dreams are consumed by one man, the broken hero from her books. Mason Strait is both her wildest fantasy and her most terrifying nightmare.

  When Samantha meets Alec Brand, a corporate consultant, it is as though Mason has come to life. Alec is handsome to a fault, as elegant as he is arrogant, and more intense than any man has a right to be.
  
  Samantha is soon sucked into a world that mirrors the fiction she writes. Just like her main character, Daire Kirby, Samantha finds herself unable to resist the forbidden lure of Alec. And just like Daire, she also finds that she is faced with taking a chance on a man who could either set her free or destroy her. 
  
  The scale tilts toward destruction when Samantha finds out that Alec is as much a work of fiction as Mason. And he has scars of his own, scars that could ruin them both.

Review: Possible Spoilers 
  Until I break is the story of two deeply scarred people & the way they cope with their past. Sometimes when people have issues the way they deal with those issues may not be the most socially acceptable. As long as everyone is of age & willing I don’t see where anyone should pass judgment, whether in real life or in a book.

  We meet Samantha as her alter ego Laura, a paranormal romance writer. She also pictures herself as the heroine, Daire, in her books. On the outside Laura is everything that the painfully shy Samantha is not. Samantha has decided to see a therapist to try to deal with her issue. Since she doesn't want anyone to know Samantha & Laura are the same person she chooses the unorthodox online therapy method, which she attends as Laura.

  Alec is a man with a past, a past that was put behind him & sealed off for the sake of propriety. He has moved on, but remains haunted. The methods he uses to curb, for a while at least, his urges leave him hungering for more & disgusted with himself. Alec’s actions in the past caused someone to pay the ultimate price. As a way to understand why he is the way he is Alec becomes a psychologist. Part of his penance is trying to help others. The question is can you really help someone else when you are just as fucked up?

  The stories of the characters & their alternate identities are woven into the story. I didn't find it hard to follow who was narrating or what was happening. The story moved in a believable way. There were times that the characters where apart. M does a nice job of letting the reader know what was going on without dragging it out over 5 chapters.

  The book does contain BDSM. There weren't that many BDSM scenes. The ones that are there aren't overly long or detailed to the extreme. Other than the final BDSM scene, they aren't nearly as bad as a good portion of the BDSM books on the market. The final scene involves breath control. Some might see that as too much, but I didn't find it to be brutal or abusive.

  Samantha’s & Alec’s story really is one of healing. It isn't about the BDSM theme or the alternate identities. It is about two lost souls finding themselves with each other. I would recommend the book if it is released again. If not, ask a friend to borrow theirs. 

  I must say I really did not understand what was so upsetting about the book. If you don't like the subject matter, don't read it. The story was not pretty in some places, but it added to the emotion of the story.

Reviewed by Liz

BLOG TOUR: GOING UNDER by S. WALDEN (REVIEW & EXCERPT)

 SYNOPSIS:

Brooke Wright has only two goals her senior year at Charity Run High School: stay out of trouble and learn to forgive herself for the past. Forgiveness proves elusive, and trouble finds her anyway when she discovers a secret club at school connected to the death of her best friend. She learns that swim team members participate in a “Fantasy Slut League,” scoring points for their sexual acts with unsuspecting girls.

Brooke, wracked with guilt over her friend’s death, decides to infiltrate the league by becoming one of the “unsuspecting girls,” and exact revenge on the boys who stole away her best friend. An unexpected romance complicates her plans, and her dogged pursuit of justice turns her reckless as she underestimates just how far the boys will go to keep their sex club a secret.

(This is a New Adult fiction book with mature themes. It contains graphic sex and language and an explicit description of sexual violence. Please take the content warning seriously.)

REVIEW: 

Going Under covers so many topics in this storyline.  This is the first book that I have read by S. Walden and I was quite impressed. I found the book to be well written and very detailed.

The subject matters of Going Under are VERY disturbing.  You will read about suicide, rape, depression and illegal drug use.  I commend S. Walden for sharing this story with us and shining the light on these subjects as we are surrounded by them in our real lives.

The main character Brooke, broke the golden rule with her girl friend.  The #1 rule that us girls live by.  Brooke is living with guilt for what she did to her best friend, Beth.  After the tragic events of losing Beth, Brooke is determined to seek justice for her friend.  Brooke somehow feels responsible because she never spoke up and kept Beth's secret.  Brooke was the only one that knew Beth's secret, a secret that could explain Beth's death.  Should Brooke have told Beth's parents what happened to her?  If Brooke would have spoken up, would that have saved Beth?  These are questions that Brooks ponders everyday… These are questions that haunt Brooke everyday…

Brooke is carrying so much guilt and regret for her actions.  I actually felt sorry for Brooke.  I don’t condone what she did to Beth, but I do believe that people make mistakes in life. Brooke never got the opportunity to apologize to Beth, because Beth would not speak to her.  Brooke begins to suffer from nightmares and she is seeing Beth in her dreams.  It's as if Beth is leading Brooke on a mission for justice.  Brooke sets out to find the culprit that destroyed and broke her best friend, and she uncovers a "sex club" amongst the swim team at her school that targets girls at her school.  Brooke sets a plan in motion to expose this "sex club" and have these sexual predators pay for what they have done.  Brooke hopes that by exposing this "sex club" it will help rid her of the guilt that she carries.  She has her mind set that she is taking these boys down, even if she has to sacrifice herself as bait.  I DID NOT agree with what she was doing.  I did not agree with how Brooke wanted to bring this sex club down.  I think there were so many other options that she could have choose.

While Brooke is trying to infiltrate this "sex club" she meets a guy in her class by the name of Ryan.  Ryan is a loner, he keeps to himself and doesn't interact with any of the other students.  Brooke finds out that Ryan is her neighbor and only lives a few houses down from her father.  The connection between Brooke and Ryan is immediate.  The chemistry is explosive.  Brooke faces a problem, she can not let her feelings be known for him in school, while she is trying to expose the members of the "sex club".  

      "Everything about this guy was inconvenient, from his incredibly   

       sexy face and hair and eyes and body, to the fact that he went to 
       my school, to the fact that he lived in my neighborhood." ~ Brooke

Ryan is a total sweetheart, yet mysterious at the same time.  There was something about Ryan that drew Brooke to him.  It was great to see the two of them act on their feelings for each other.  They were exactly what each other needed in their lives.  Would they balance each other out?  Could Brooke stick to her plans of exposing the "sex club", while maintaining a relationship with Ryan?  Could she trust Ryan with this information?

      "When I was with him, all of the hurt and guilt vanished. I thought 
       he had the ability to put my brokenness back together." ~ Brooke

Brooke begins to find victims of this club but no body will speak up or confirm her suspicions.  Throughout the book, Brooke's nightmares are becoming worse.  As a reader, I was watching her life spiral out of control.  It was gut wrenching.

There is a specific part in this story that is very descriptive.  While reading it, I actually felt sick to my stomach and had tears streaming down my face.  It felt so real.  I was shocked that the author wrote what she did, but after I finished the book and digested it, I understood why she did it.  It made the story so much more emotional, and so raw at the same time. 

There are so many twists and turns in this book.  S. Walden did an amazing job with this book.  Going Under is definitely a tear jerker and emotionally draining.  It took me a few days to gather my thoughts to write this review.  I didn't know what to write or what to say without giving any spoilers. 

If you are looking for a great book, Going Under should be added to your list, just be forewarned, expect the unexpected…

I received an ARC for an honest review.

This review was prepared by Heather.

  

EXCERPT:

I had no business getting all dolled up for Ryan. I was supposed to be focused on Cal, but somehow he became just some guy in the background, out of focus and unimportant in my life. I thought I heard Beth screaming from a far off place, asking me what the hell I was doing, but I ignored her. She couldn’t control my life. I’d get to Cal when I got to him. She had to understand that.

I studied myself in the full-length mirror. I’d never looked prettier for work. I thought I looked like a Barbie doll, my hair pulled up high on my head in a ponytail, locks curled and tumbling in flirty waves from the elastic band. I pumped up the eye factor with heavy mascara. I wanted to go for an Edie Sedgwick look—all ‘60s glam. I even ironed my uniform, a typical diner waitress outfit. Blue shirtdress that hit just above my knees. I slipped on my Keds and grabbed my apron.

I planned to knock his socks off.

. . . I approached him after counting to twenty. I didn’t want to seem too eager.

“Hi,” I said. I felt bright and bubbly and on top of the world.

“Hello.”

I placed my hand on my hip and popped it out. “Come here often?” I couldn’t resist.

“Once. The waitress was cute, but she’s got nothing on you,” Ryan said.

Damn right she doesn’t. I went Edie Sedgwick for you, buddy.

“God, you look gorgeous,” he said.

Oh, those heart flutters. I wanted to feel those heart flutters forever.

“I’m in an ugly uniform,” I said, looking down at my outfit. I smoothed my apron on my stomach.

“Not ugly at all. Sexy more like.”

I blushed, and this time he saw. I couldn’t conceal it under the glare of the restaurant lights.

“Hungry?” I asked, and pulled out my order pad.

“What would you recommend?”

“Honestly? I’ve only eaten the turkey sandwich. It was all right,” I confessed.

“Don’t you get to eat for free?” Ryan asked.

“Are you kidding? A little bit of a discount, sure, but nothing for free,” I said. “And anyway, I’m so tired after work, I don’t want to stick around and eat. I want to go home.”

“I can understand that,” he said. He looked over the menu. “Well, I guess I’ll try this steak sandwich.”

“A man who eats manly meat,” I said. “I like it.”

“Manly meat, huh?” he asked, chuckling.

“Sure. Didn’t you know steak was the manliest of meats?”

“Making a note of it,” Ryan said.

I nodded. “And to drink?”

“A Cherry Coke,” he said.

“Now that’s a little girly, but I’ll let it slide.”

“Well, I really ordered it for you,” Ryan said. “See, I thought you could bring it over here along with two straws. You could sit across from me, and we could drink it together.”

  

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 PURCHASE "GOING UNDER" by S. WALDEN

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 I *heart* Ryan Giveaway 

 

1. signed paperback copy of Going Under

2. $20 Game Stop gift card

3. Lana Del Rey’s single “Video Games”

4. Playstation 4 decals

5. Skateboard stickers

6. “Gamers Embrace” T-shirt

7. Ryan’s love letter to Brooke

  

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COVER REVEAL: FAITHFUL by KELLY ELLIOTT

SYNOPSIS:

No matter how faithful love can be…it takes only one moment to change it all.

After Heather Lambert’s parents died in a tragic car accident her senior year of high school, she refuses to let anyone into her heart for fear of being hurt again. Focusing only on school to follow her dreams of becoming an elementary school teacher, the last thing Heather intends to do is fall in love with Josh Hayes.

Josh knows the moment he lays eyes on Heather that she is the one he’s been waiting for. During months of obstacles and denied feelings, he is rejected by her time and time again.

When he finally wins her love, Josh and Heather start planning their future together…until Heather receives one bit of news she never wanted to hear again.

There has been a car accident.

Josh wakes up with no memory of Heather, and his ex-girlfriend, Victoria, is his nurse. Heather must decide if she’ll risk being hurt again and fight for the one man she loves with all her heart.

Will Josh remember Heather when she needs him the most? Or will Victoria take advantage of this opportunity, pushing Heather away from Josh for good?



 FAITHFUL is Book 3 in the Wanted Series...

CHECK OUT THE BOOK JACKET

Getting to Know Aleatha Romig

Introducing Aleatha Romig

By Sharon, Friend & Beta Reader

I was first introduced to Aleatha Romig through her alter ego, a sweet, friendly, compassionate dental hygienist who has a way with adults and kids alike. Patients of all ages love her, so when she innocently mentioned a book I should read, I had no reason to suspect I had just been thrown onto an emotional roller coaster ride written by the antithesis of the woman who so gently and sweetly coaxed my son from his fear of anyone associated with oral hygiene.

Aleatha Romig is a driven woman, an incredible and talented author who one moment has her readers running to hide under the covers, weeping in despair and gnashing their teeth in anxiety, and the next moment throwing back the sheets, warm all over and panting, following heated pages of passion. And although she is not opposed to twisting the knife that she has stabbed in the reader’s heart, she is also passionately in love with her readers and very devoted to them. She spends countless hours reading blogs, commenting on face book posts, and interacting via email in order to stay connected with those who follow her writings. In addition, Aleatha is a great encourager to others, taking many new self-publishing authors under her wing and mentoring them.

Aleatha rarely sleeps and can be found at the computer in the wee hours of the night or morning. When writing her books, Aleatha has said that she lets her characters control the ride, often taking her and the reader on ups and downs that weren’t part of the original design. It’s not uncommon that the characters themselves demand a rewrite, and when that happens, Aleatha follows their lead, dumping thousands of words without hesitation.

It’s difficult to reconcile the compassionate dental hygienist, the sadistic author, and the encouraging mentor into one individual, the paradoxical Aleatha Romig, who in a very short period of time has created a fierce and loyal following who eagerly await her third book, Convicted.

By Sharon, Friend & Beta Reader

Aleatha joined me for a chat one afternoon while my children were napping. She was very relaxed, despite not having any wine, & easy to chat with about herself & her books. I tried to get her to spill some secrets, but she was too smart for that. She did give some great insight into her books & characters. 

Warning: Due to computer issues there are a few places where the sound does not match the image.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBH4CoXt9ww

Aleatha's Upcoming Appearances

San Fransico Indie Authors Event

June 15, 2013

Book Bash - Orlando FL

June 29, 2013

RWA Nationals - Atlanta, GA

"Readers for Life Literacy Autographing Event

July 17, 2013

Naughty Mafia Rocks Las Vegas

August 16 -20, 2013

Toronto Author Signing Event - Toronto Canada

October 5, 2013

Lovely Ladies & Naughty Book Events

Monroeville, PA

October 19, 2013

TBA - Richmond, VA

December 2013

Chicago Author Event

May 2, 2014

COVER REVEAL: RECOVERY by L.B.SIMMONS

SYNOPSIS:

I have the perfect life.

I’ve finally found my happy ending. 

I fought through the loss of one husband, lucky enough to be given a second chance at a lifetime of happiness.  Settling into our new lives, however, may not be as easy as it seems. 

What really happens after the fairytale ending?  What happens after the prince rescues the princess?  After he sweeps her off her feet and carries her off into the sunset? Do they truly live happily ever after?

Well…

This is our story. 

EXPECTED RELEASE DATE: JUNE 13TH 

Check out the Book Jacket