Excerpt: Cornerstone by Kelly Walker

cor

coornCornerstone
(Souls of STones, #1)
By: Kelly Walker
Publisher: Self-Published
Published: Nov. 30, 2013
Genre: YA Fantasy Romance

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Epic Fantasy combines with Young Adult romance in this stunning new adventure set in a richly developed medieval world.

When Emariya Warren learns enemy forces have captured her father, she’ll do anything to save him. Anything. Even marry a mysterious prince she knows nothing about in order to rally the strength to arrange a rescue. During her journey to Torian’s foreign castle, Emariya comes face to face with her mother’s killers–and a deadly secret.

Not only does Emariya possess a powerful but unexpected magical gift passed down through each of her families, the prince she’s promised to marry possesses a third, and an ominous prophecy has warned the three gifts must never be combined.

If she breaks her promise to marry Torian, she won’t be able to save her father and if she keeps it, she may bring a curse upon everything she holds dear. Determining which choice is best won’t be easy, but when she meets the gorgeous prince who may desire more than just her heart, she realizes she will have to fight just to have a choice at all.

Her heart wants him desperately. Her head begs her to run. If she doesn’t want to share her mother’s fate, she’ll have to find a way to untangle the truth from the lies in time to save herself.

Discover the heartbreaking betrayals, fascinating magic and fated love of Cornerstone.

Excerpt
The man who had found Garith in the woods spoke again. “Imagine someone with all three Gifts. The ability to hear the future. The knowledge of the past, as well as the guidance of the spirits. And the ability to harness the earth to your will. Someone with the power of all three Stones would be unstoppable.”

The man across from them spoke quietly, and solemnly.

“Souls of the Stones, their sights we bear,

Sounds of the Stones, their secrets we share,

Will of the soil blood will flow,

Should three Stones one ever know.

What once were one split thrice,

Over whispers and sights,

Soil prevails, behold its might,

Blood and Stones as one brings darkest night.”

Their leader spoke up again. “For years, we have worked to ensure that just such a union doesn’t occur. If Lady Warren weds Prince Torian, all of the Three Corners will be at risk. Son, do you understand why we can’t let that happen? That prophecy has been passed down for generations. Like our fathers before us, we have been dedicated to ensuring that it isn’t fulfilled. Our mission is to see to it that the Bloodlines stay separate, and that never again is there a union like there was between Valencia and Oren. It’s just too dangerous.”

“Emariya couldn’t have known,” Garith said sadly.

“Maybe not. But Prince Torian surely knows. It may be that he is intentionally trying to bind the lines, to harness the power to unite Eltar and Sheas to Thalmas by force. With the three Gifts at his disposal, he could do exactly that,” Russell insisted.

“If Emariya knew, she would never marry him. No matter what, she would never want to jeopardize the safety of everyone in Eltar.”

“Then we’ll tell her. It sounds like she is being used unknowingly. If she is truly innocent in this, once we tell her, she will return home. Will you come with us?”

Garith nodded. On his own he’d never find her, and now more than ever he was desperate to get to her. These men seemed to know the woods well. His best bet was to stick with them, and hopefully along the way he would learn more about the Stones. It would be fine, he told himself.

They would find Riya, tell her of the lore of the Cornerstones, and she would choose not to marry the prince after all.

 

authorkelly

Kelly Walker is a YA and NA author of several romantic titles, including the Souls of the Stones series. She has an unhealthy appreciation for chocolate, and a soft spot for rescued animals. Her best lessons on writing came from a lifetime of reading. She loves the fantastical, and the magical, and believes a captivating romance can be the most realistic magic of all. Kelly, her husband and her two children share their Virginia home with three dogs who walk her, and two cats who permit her to occasionally share their couch.

Website | Twitter | Facebook

 

 

 

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Review: Significance by Shelly Crane

11731861Significance
(Significance, #1)
Shelly Crane
Publisher: Self-Published
Published: June 12, 2011
Genre: YA Paranormal Romance
Rating:
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Maggie is a seventeen year old girl who’s had a bad year. She was smart and on track, but then her mom left, her dad is depressed, she’s graduating – barely – and her boyfriend of almost three years dumped her for a college football scholarship. Lately she thinks life is all about hanging on by a thread and is gripping tight with everything she has.

Then she saves the life of Caleb and instantly knows there’s something about him that’s intriguing. But things change when they touch, sparks ignite. Literally.

They imprint with each other and she sees their future life together flash before her eyes. She learns that not only is she his soul mate, and can feel his heartbeat in her chest, but there is a whole other world of people with gifts and abilities that she never knew existed. She herself is experiencing supernatural changes unlike anything she’s ever felt before and she needs the touch of his skin to survive.

Now, not only has her dad come out of his depression to be a father again, and a pain as well, but Caleb’s enemies know he’s imprinted and are after Maggie to stop them both from gaining their abilities and take her from him.

Can Caleb save her or will they be forced to live without each other after just finding one another?

1thoughtsThis book reminded me a lot of Twilight. You had the boy sneaking in her bedroom window, the main character’s parents are divorced and she’s living with her father, the girl meeting the boys family and everyone instantly loving her, people of his kind attacking her to get to him, her friend becoming possessive and challenging her boyfriend at every turn, her needing to prepare herself to leave her father to make a life with the boy because humans can’t know about their kind, therefore she must disappear… oh and there is even a Bella and Alice in this one. All the Twilight flags were flying even before the author felt the need to add that one of the characters love Twilight. For me… this kind of took away from the book. There were so many similarities to the Twilight saga that I kind of didn’t feel like I was reading a new book but rather fan-fiction.

What I did like about this book was that the author thought outside the box about this imprinting thing. I mean, whatever Caleb is (I never did fully grasp it), they don’t imprint on humans. Actually they haven’t been imprinting in years and there is a huge rule about dating and procreating outside of imprinting. Imagine how messy things could get if after 20 years of marriage and two kids, your husband shakes the hand of your new neighbor who just moved in and #BAM# he’s all of a sudden obsessed with them. Yeah, that’s kind of how the imprinting work. So the whole no dating rule made sense. I even liked that when you imprint you come into a certain power. That power then helps keep your clan (family) safe from other clans.

Like I said there were things I liked about the book and disliked. I also felt that the book was quite winded in some parts and found myself skimming through certain areas. I think the book could use a good polishing but the base story was good. However, I don’t think I will be continuing on with this series.

 

1favequote“You don’t love people for what they can give you. You don’t love them because of what they do for you or how good you make them look.”

kRISTIN

Review: Torn From You by Nashoda Rose

18068029Torn From You
(Tear Asunder, #1)
By: Nashoda Rose
Publisher: Self-Published
Published: Dec. 7, 2013
Genre: Erotic Romance
Rating:
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Love is like an avalanche. It hits hard, fast and without mercy.

At least it did for me when Sculpt, the lead singer of the rock band Tear Asunder knocked me off my feet. Literally, because he’s also a fighter, illegally of course, and he taught me how to fight. He also taught me how to love and I fell hard for him. I mean the guy could do sweet, when he wasn’t doing bossy, and I like sweet.

Then it all shattered.

Kidnapped.
Starved.
Beaten.
I was alone and fighting to survive.
When I heard Sculpt’s voice, I thought he was there to save me.

I was wrong.

 

1thoughtsYou really need to read Without You before starting the series. It will help you understand the relationship between Emily and Sculpt prior to her abduction.  It also puts the reader in a state of confusion as to why Sculpt is part of the human sex slave business. It definitely sets the stage for the series.

This book was pretty much set into two part. The first 50% are of Emily’s time in captivity and all the horrible things that happen to her. The second half of the story is set 2 years in the future and focuses on how damaged she is from the whole ordeal. It doesn’t help when Sculpt comes back into the picture because everything comes rushing back.

I found myself really interested in the first half of the story and sort of lost interested during the second half. Maybe it had to do with Emily’s character. She was a little wishy-washy to me. She’s be strong and stubborn one moment and then the next she’d be panting over Sculpt. I also couldn’t stand the multiple times Sculpt would tell Emily to stop “lego building” in her head. The chick did a lot of internal thinking so there for he commentated on her “lego building” just about twice every chapter.  He told her to stop lego building just about as much as he “chin lifted” (nod) to someone. The guy was chin lifting all over the place.

Aside from the few issues I had, the story was interesting. I think a lot of the second half could have been cut out to keep the pace going. I’m not really sure if I’d read another book from this series. I just didn’t really connect with the characters like I’d hope to.

 

1favequote“Maybe love couldn’t be forgotten. But maybe, just maybe it could be smothered by hate.” -Emily

kRISTIN

Lucky Shamrock Giveaway Hop Sign-Ups

Shamrockgive


It’s time to break out the green and do a little jig because St. Patrick’s Day is on it’s way! I’ve decided to host my very first giveaway hop in celebration of my favorite holiday.

Rules:
Each participant will host their own giveaway.
The giveaway must contain something festive for the holiday. It can be anything from the MC’s being Irish, Ireland setting or simply a green cover. If you can’t find a book or want to let your readers decide, you can always give away a gift card.
Only one entry for your giveaway and it must be a freebie (no strings attached). That’s right, no mandatory following. With people only able to enter once, it will literally be those with a little luck on their side who win.
When linking up, please list whether your giveaway is int, US, US/CAN, etc.

The hop will run from March 10 – 17th.

Review: The Professional: Part III by Kresley Cole

18223625The Professional
Part III
By: Kresley Cole
Publisher: Pocket Star
Published: Jan. 20, 2014
Genre: Erotica
Rating:
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Are you ready to play?
Yet all is not as it seems. To remove Natalie from an enemy’s reach, Sevastyan spirits her into hiding. From an opulent palace in Russia to the decadent playgrounds of the mega-wealthy in Paris, the two lovers will discover that even their darkest – and most forbidden – fantasies can come true…

 

1thoughtsWe start out right where Part 2 left off at… in a BDSM club. Yup, we start off right in the action. However, this isn’t really a lust filled part of the story. Sure it starts out as such but it becomes deeper the more you read.

Natalie isn’t happy that Sevastyan isn’t opening himself up to her. He expect her to marry him but every day she finds that he’s distancing himself from her. He shuts down the second he gets home from “meetings” and she’s had enough. Either he opens up to her or she leaves him. And boy does he have one doosey of a story to tell. I liked that even though there isn’t that suspense from the first book or the sex filled scenes of the second, this one dove deep into the psyche of Sevastyan. We learn of his past, how he ended up on the streets and understand why that’s changed him into the man he is.

This was a great end to an amazing story. I do feel that breaking it into separate parts kept me from truly diving into it because of the breaks between parts. It was like pausing a great movie mid scene and then going back a month later and pressing play. I was no longer fully in the moment. Which is why the part I enjoyed the most was the first one. However, I plan on going back and starting the story over and reading it from start to finish. I have a feeling that after doing so I will walk away with a deeper love for the story and the characters within.

 

1favequote“What would happen if you found out that most of my life had been everything unheroic? What if you discovered that I’m hated – and that I hate myself for every time I lost?” -Sevastyan

 

Previous reviews from The Professional
Part I
Part II

kRISTIN

Excerpt: Wind Chime Cafe by Sophie Moss

WCCWind Chime Cafe
(Wind Chime, #1)
By: Sophie Moss
Publisher: Sea Rose Publishing
Published: Feb. 7, 2014
Genre: Contemp. Romance

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When single mother, Annie Malone, purchases a quirky Main Street café on Heron Island, she thinks she’s finally turned her dream of opening her own restaurant into a reality. Hearing rumors that a developer is about to build a five-star resort on the sleepy Chesapeake Bay island, she plans to transform the café into a premier upscale bistro. But Navy SEAL, Will Dozier, has no intention of selling his grandparents’ property to a developer. Back on Heron Island for the first time in ten years and secretly struggling with PTSD, Will decides that a fling with the new girl is the perfect way to help him “get his head straight.” The last thing Will expects is to fall in love…with his hometown and with Annie. But Will’s life and career are in San Diego with the SEALs. Can Annie’s love and the healing magic of the island be enough to convince him to stay?

 

 

Excerpt
Will drove into town. He felt like a live wire, ragged and fraying around the edges, ready to snap. He hadn’t slept. Again.

He was running on adrenaline now—every sense heightened, every thought twisted and fragmented.

It wouldn’t be the first time. He recognized the feeling. He’d experienced it on enough overseas ops. It had fueled him through Hell Week ten years ago when he’d first joined the SEALs. One of the reasons the instructors pushed them so hard in BUD/S was to see if they could carry out a mission in an exhausted haze.

He knew how to function in this state.

It was all mental.

He just had to get control of his mind.

Marshes and soybean fields gave way to the playing fields of the Heron Island
Elementary School. Faded orange soccer nets flanked the flat stretch of grass, and he
slowed when he spotted a woman with long red hair sitting alone on the bleachers.

Wasn’t that the woman he’d met last night?

What was she doing at the elementary school?

Unless…

Shit. Did she have a kid?

That would explain why she hadn’t wanted him to come in last night, why she’d kept looking back toward the stairs leading up to the apartment. He tapped his fingers over the steering wheel. Kids complicated things. He didn’t do complicated.

But he wanted to see her.

He’d thought of little else while he’d lain awake last night, staring at the ceiling.

Turning the wheel at the last minute, he steered the SUV into the parking lot. He pulled into a parking spot facing the playing fields and cut the engine. Screw it. He had six weeks to figure out how to un-complicate things.

He climbed out of the driver’s seat and walked across the grass to where she sat. When she lifted her gaze, he expected her to say something sarcastic about the chicken tenders she’d given him last night. He wasn’t prepared for the pale face and haunted eyes that stared back at him.

Whoa.

There was nothing uncomplicated about that. “Is everything all right?”

“I’m fine.”

Her hands were wrapped around the bench on either side of her, curled into a death grip. “You don’t look fine.”

“Thanks.”

“No,” Will said, backpedaling. “I mean, you look like you could use someone to talk

“Actually, I’d really like to be alone right now.”

Will paused a few yards away from her. He hadn’t risen to the rank of Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy without recognizing that most of the time, when one of his men said they wanted to be alone, what they really needed was someone to talk to. He wouldn’t let one of his men off that easily, and he sure as hell wasn’t leaving Annie alone in the middle of a panic attack. Not until she told him what was wrong.

“Look,” she said after several moments of silence when he made no move to leave. “I just dropped my daughter off for her first day at a new school, and I’m worried about her. I want to stay close by in case she needs me.”

“How old is your daughter?”

“She’s eight.”

Eight? Will’s gaze combed over Annie’s face. She didn’t look old enough to have an eight-year-old daughter. He’d pinned her as twenty-six, twenty-seven at the most. She must have been pretty young when she’d gotten pregnant.

He took a moment to study her. She was wearing a stretchy black top and dark jeans again. She wore her hair long and loose, spilling in red waves over her shoulders. The wind whipped a touch of color back into her cheeks, but her eyes still held a hint of fear.

What was she afraid of?

“You’re not wearing a ring,” Will said, “so I’m guessing the father’s not part of the picture.”

“No.” Annie brushed her hair out of her eyes. “He’s not part of the picture.”

Will wondered if he’d ever been part of the picture. Or if he could have something to do with what she was afraid of. “If your daughter’s eight, shouldn’t you be used to leaving her at school by now?”

“It’s a new school. She doesn’t know anyone here.”

Still, he thought. She seemed pretty shaken up for someone who was just dropping her kid off at school. “What grade is your daughter in?”

“Second.”

“Who’s her teacher?”

“Becca Haddaway.”

Becca? No kidding? “I didn’t know Becca was a teacher.”

“I thought you said you grew up here?”

“I did.” Will rocked back on his heels. “I haven’t been back in a while.”

Annie glanced back up at him, shading her eyes from the sun. “How long is a while?”

“Listen,” Will said, changing the subject, “you look like you could use something to eat, and I bet your daughter doesn’t want you hanging around when she comes out for recess. Let me take you to breakfast.”

Annie shook her head. “I need to stay here.”

“For how long?”

“Until I’m ready.”

“You can’t say no to a fried egg sandwich from The Tackle Box. I’ll even throw in a bottle of orange juice.” He smiled down at her, trying to put her at ease. “We can call it a date.”

“I told you last night. I’m not dating you.”

“Why not?” Will feigned a hurt expression. “Don’t I look dateable?”

“Yes,” she said. “You look perfectly dateable. For someone else.”

“But not you?”

“No. Not me.”

“Why not?”

Annie’s gaze drifted to the brightly colored playground and row of swings near the school. “Because I don’t date.”

Will walked to the bleachers, lowering himself to the bench beside her. “Ever?”

“That’s right.”

“That seems closed-minded.”

“It’s not closed-minded. It’s just easier.”

Will’s eyes widened in mock horror. “What’s easy about not dating?”

“Well, for starters,” she answered, “not having to explain to my daughter where I’m going and who I’m going with.”

“Your daughter’s busy with school right now, so you don’t have to explain anything.”

“But I’d have to tell her later. We don’t keep secrets from each other.”

Will studied her for several moments. “You tell your daughter everything?”

“Yes.”

“Everything?”

“Yes.”

Will leaned in and brushed his lips over hers. Before she could react, before she could do anything, he eased back and winked. “Let me know what she has to say about that.”

 

authorsophie

Sophie Moss is an award-winning author of contemporary and fantasy romance. She currently lives in San Diego, California, where she’s working on her next novel. When she’s not writing, she’s walking the beach, testing out a new dessert recipe, or fiddling in her garden. Sophie loves to hear from readers.

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Review: TAUT by JA Huss

FORD

18807831Taut: The Ford Book
(Rook & Ronin Spinoff)
By: JA Huss
Publisher: Science Future Press
Published: Jan. 18, 2014
Genre: New Adult Erotic Romance
Rating:
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Ford Aston is known for many things. Being an emotionless, messed up bastard, a freakishly smart social outcast, and a cold, domineering master who keeps “pets” instead of girlfriends.

And after Rook broke his heart, he plans to keep it that way.

Ashleigh is known for nothing, and that’s exactly what she’s got going for her. She’s broke, stranded in the mountains with a three month old baby, and Ford Aston is screwing with her head.

Big. Time.

And she plans to mess with his right back.

It’s a coy game at first, filled with flirting, and innuendo–but Ford soon realizes something is not quite right with Ashleigh. In fact, something is seriously, seriously wrong and the closer they get to their final destination, the closer Ford gets to the truth.

One night of devastation, self-loathing, and emptiness turns into the best thing that ever happened to Ford Aston. But one day of in-your-face reality threatens Ashleigh’s whole existence.

 

1thoughtsThis is not a spinoff that you should read without reading Rook & Ronin first. Granted, Ashleigh is a new character but Ford is not. He plays a huge role in the last book of the trilogy and his character is very complex. It’s found out in the trilogy that he has Asperger Syndrome but he still ends up developing feelings for the main character and well, I’ll just let you read the story. Trust me on this, you have to read the original trilogy before you can dive into this. I don’t care what anyone tells you. Otherwise it will be a half-ass read. And no one likes half-ass reads.

Ford has been a fascinating character since he came on the scene in the Rook & Ronin series. I was really sad when the series ended because I really wanted to know what happens to Ford. So, suffice to say that I’m extremely happy with this novel. I didn’t read the little novella that came before this (I personally don’t think it was necessary) and honestly had no idea that it existed until after I finished Taut. That was kinda just a teaser for anyone wanting more Ford. This one however is his story, his HEA, and I LOVED it.

“I trust you. But I like soft kisses. So in between the rough stuff you like, be careful with me. Give me something soft, because I really need it.”

Ashleigh was a very interesting character as well and I feel like she compliments Ford nicely. She’s a little messed up in the head as well and has her own issues. But two things are certain, she likes to be naughty when it comes to Ford and she adores her infant daughter. I never thought babies in a story could work but I could not imagine this story without Kate. Heck, without Kate, this story would probably be a 4 star review. That’s how important to the story she is.

“She smiles at me and I melt a little and pick her up. She flings her little fists around in agreement. I take her back over to the couch and sit down. She’s got her head on my shoulder, just kicking it, so I flip through channels until I get to the news.”

The second we meet Ashleigh and get a glimpse at her key chain I knew right then and there what the outcome of her story would be. I may not have known the twist and turns that Huss would take us through to get there but being in that lifestyle myself, I knew it the moment I saw it. That’s not to say that I didn’t react when the time came though because I honestly balled my eyes out. Yes, even the expected pulled an intense reaction out of me.

I swear, I could go on and on about this book. I loved everything about it but I was a bit confused by the semi-rushed ending. I didn’t understand Mr. Li’s change of heart so suddenly. I felt like maybe I was missing a page or two. However, that wasn’t enough to detract a star. I was already head over heals in love with Ford and his “team”.

 

1favequote“Ashleigh wants a Jedi and all I’m capable of giving her is the Sith.” -Ford

 

Previous reviews from Rook and Ronin
Tragic
Manic
Panic

 

author

6446815

JA Huss is a SF and new adult romance junkie, has a love-hate relationship with the bad boys, and likes to write new adult books about people with real problems. She lives with her family on a small acreage farm in Colorado and has two donkeys named Paris and Nicole. Before writing fiction, she authored almost two hundred science workbooks and always has at least three works in progress. Her first new adult romance is called TRAGIC.

Website | Facebook | Twitter

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Review: Staking His Claim by Tessa Bailey

20517588Staking His Claim
(Line of Duty, #5)
By: Tessa Bailey
Publisher: Brazen
Published: Feb. 3, 2014
Genre: Contemp. Erotic Romance
Rating:

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He wants her. All of her.

NYPD sniper Matt Donovan is in Hell. Instead of driving his best friend’s little sister home from college, he’s stuck with her roommate—a fresh-faced ray-of-sunshine with a body that makes grown men weep. There’s no way he’ll allow himself to taint the little vixen, no matter how hard she tries to tempt him, so he resigns himself to the longest—and hardest—drive of his life.

Matt’s obvious attraction suits grad student Lucy Mason just fine. She had no idea her brother’s best friend was so deliciously hot. Knowing he’d never have his wicked way with his buddy’s sister, she lies about her identity and seduces him. But Matt’s no fumbling college boy. His desires run deep—and dark—and he wants to teach Lucy what wicked really means.

Matt’s demanding appetites only make Lucy want more. But when her cover’s blown, he’s furious—even as his hunger for her becomes insatiable. Matt can’t trust anyone, least of all himself. And he knows all too well that darkness always destroys the light…

 

1thoughtsThe story starts out with Lucy finding out her roommate is ditching her for the summer. However, Lucy is going to make the best of it. Especially when her brother’s “stuffy” friend walks into the coffee shop. He’s nothing like she expected and she quickly finds herself introducing herself as her roommate and saying how Lucy ditched them to go to some beach house with a guy. You’d think that the book would be about Lucy keeping the ruse while home with her brother around but the secret is out the second they get in town. What happens next is where the story really kicks off.

Let me just take a moment to start this review by saying that I LOVE LOVE LOVE the fact that Lucy is from Syracuse University. Not only that just she wears SU gear in the book. Yup, that right there got me all excited, you know because I was born and raised in Syracuse.

Anyways, this was a great addition to the Line of Duty series. You have everything that makes this girl happy, an aggressive male who isn’t afraid to talk dirty, a strong heroin who isn’t too timid stick it to the man, a relationship that is believable, humor laced throughout and drama that isn’t too over dramatized (for lack of a better word). I mean the whole climatic part wasn’t anything eye-roll worthy. I honestly could see it happening in real life. Tessa knows how to write an amazing story that leaves you rooting for the characters.

A bonus to this amazing story is that the MC’s from the previous two books make an appearance. One of which is her brother, but the other is also a cop as well. So if you’ve read the previous books, it was nice to kind of touch base with them again. However, if you haven’t read them, don’t fear because it’s not required. This novel would read great as a stand alone.

I know I’ve said it about 4x now but I am a huge fan of this series. Tessa has easily become one of those authors who I don’t hesitate to click the “buy now” button with. I can’t see which officer she pulls into the story next.

 

1favequote“Matt stood very still, trying his best to find humor in the situation, because she was so clearly lying. Porn definitely got her motor running. But at the end of the day, he was a man. When a gorgeous girl in jean shorts is waving her ass at you, an ass that has been haunting you all day, against a backdrop of moaning and slapping flesh, any attempt at maintaining control is compromised.”

kRISTIN

Review: Temporarily Yours by Diane Alberts

20440672Temporarily Yours
By: Diane Alberts
Publisher: Brazen
Published: Feb. 3, 2014
Genre: Contemp. Romance
Rating:
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This soldier’s the perfect hoax…if she doesn’t fall for him first.

Stats whiz Kayla Moriarity knows her way around numbers and algorithms. Men, on the other hand, are unsolvable equations. Now Kayla’s en route to her sister’s wedding—alone and without the fictional boyfriend she invented for her family. Fortunately, her plane comes complete with complimentary cocktails and a ridiculously hot ex-marine in the seat beside her. And that’s all it takes for Kayla’s inhibitions to go sailing out the airlock…

Cooper Shillings has soft spot for people in trouble, but he certainly wasn’t expecting to land in it himself—and definitely not while getting naughty mid-air with a sexy southern belle. When he hears Kayla’s predicament, however, he offers his services as a stand-in boyfriend. After all, he’s heading overseas soon…and how could he refuse a little no-strings wickedness?

It’s the perfect plan. And all Kayla has to do is ensure her family falls for the ultimate bluff, without falling for it—and Cooper—in the process…

 

1thoughtsKayla has been lying to her family about having a boyfriend to keep them off her back. The know nothing about this made up man because she wants it to be a surprise when they meet him. Well, imagine her surprise when she meets a man on a plane who’s willing to play the role of her boyfriend. Only, the lines start to blur and the relationship becomes more real than the two of them ever planned.

We’ve all watched those movies with this type of theme. So it comes as no surprise that the two end up falling in love only to have drama in the last 20 minutes where one bails but in the end love prevails. This story is no different from those. However, McLauglin makes it a bit more steamier than those movies. Heck, the two get quite cozy and very personal on the plane ride, in the airport parking lot and then later at her hotel room. So, pulling off the whole, “Oh yeah, I’m totally hitting that.” vibe wasn’t hard for these two. They didn’t need to fake their chemistry because they already had it.

I did have some issues with this book though. The fact that they just meet each other and she allows him to put his hands in her nether region, while on a plane. Maybe I’m just an old stickler but for me that was just taboo. I could see maybe kissing someone at a club or something but on a plane ride? Let alone letting some stranger get his digits in my vajayjay, that’s just not happening. Although I could see taking up the opportunity to have a real life fake boyfriend and then possibly progressing after a while but right off the bat like that? Eh, not so much.

“We met in an airport, and before the plane landed, I already knew the little sounds you make when you come. Ever since, it’s been a whirlwind of craziness.”

Once I got past the initial hand shake – for lack of a better term – I was on board with the story. There were no pesky ex’s trying to reclaim Kayla’s heart. Although, Cooper’s military past makes him feel unworthy of Kayla. However, in the end all it takes is a grand gesture to get the girl of your dreams. It was a good romantic read with a bit of steam mixed in but it was just “eh” for me. It didn’t really give me anything new that I hadn’t already seen/read before. I wish the author had thrown in a twist to set it apart from all the others.

 

1favequote“You know, I saw so many childhood friends marry the first guy who came along just to have that ‘special day’. But every day is my special day. I’m happy on my own.” -Kayla

kRISTIN

Release Day Giveaway: Alienated by Melissa Landers

MelissaMelissa Landers is a former teacher who left the classroom to pursue other worlds. A proud sci-fi geek, she isn’t afraid to wear her Princess Leia costume in public—just ask her husband and three kids. She lives outside Cincinnati in the small town of Loveland, “Sweetheart of Ohio.”
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Hey, fiction lovers. I’m author Melissa Landers, and I’m thrilled to announce that my debut YA  sci-fi romance, ALIENATED, is finally available from Disney-Hyperion! Cue the dancers and  toss the confetti, because it’s been a long wait!

In a nutshell, ALIENATED is the story of valedictorian Cara Sweeney, who gets more than  she bargained for when she agrees to host the nation’s first intergalactic exchange student, the  gorgeous but emotionally-stilted Aelyx (pronounced A-licks) from planet L’eihr. The tone is  light and humorous, but I explore some deeper themes as well.

What do reviewers have to say?

13574417“The storyline is out of this world and character development paired with authentic voice is  superb. Filled with intrigue and suspense, this book will appeal to both sci-fi and contemporary  YA fiction fans.” –VOYA

“Interstellar relations heat up in this start to a new romantic science fiction series. Landers  [explores] larger social, ecological, and ethical issues in this tense, fast-paced read.” –Booklist

“The perfect blend of sizzling romance, action, and suspense.” –#1 New York Times bestselling  author Jennifer L. Armentrout

“Smart, funny, and epic. I am now awaiting contact from planet L’eihr.” Julie Cross, bestselling  author of Tempest.

“Intergalactic exchange students? Yes, please! I fell in love with this story and couldn’t put it  down.” Jodi Meadows, author of Incarnate.

If you like hot, swoony science fiction as much as I do, I hope you’ll give ALIENATED a try.

It’s now available in stores and online.

Goodreads | Amazon | B&NBook Depo | Indie Bound

 

1giveaway

To celebrate my book birthday, I’m offering one lucky winner a Nook Simple Touch. I’ll even throw in a $25 gift card to Barnes & Noble so you can fill your new e-reader with whatever you want!

Now for the fine print: This giveaway is open to US residents only. (Sorry, international friends, but you need a US billing address to buy digital content on the Nook.) Due to sweepstakes laws, entrants must be 18 years or older to participate.

Best of luck, and happy reading!

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