Today is release day for Pep Talks, the fourth book in Ali Dean’s young adult/new adult contemporary cross-over series, Pepper Jones. See below for information on the book, buy links, and my review.
Pep Talks (Pepper Jones #4) by Ali Dean
Synopsis (This is the fourth book in the Pepper Jones series, which should be read in order. The first three books in the series may be purchased as a box set for a discounted price, under the title “The Pepper Jones Collection.”)
Pepper’s freshman year at college is a harder transition than she anticipated. Uncertain of her coach’s expectations or her place amongst her new teammates, she struggles to redefine her running goals and identity on the cross country team.
Pepper’s steady relationship with Jace should be a source of comfort as she navigates the college social environment, but an unexpected event throws everything between them off track.
Also, hear from Jace’s point of view for the first time EVER. Growing up is hard, and when you’re Pepper Jones, running may be the only way to help you get through it.
*This book contains mature content.*
——————————————————–
My Review I feel like the story I fell in love with is back. The third book didn’t grip me the way the first two did, but this fourth installment as riveting as I’ve come to expect from Pepper Jones and Ali Dean. Our little Pepper is all grown up and a freshman at CU, where Jace is the star quarterback in his sophomore year. Pepper learns that running among the elite in high school, with back-to-back national championships, didn’t prepare her for the grueling world of college cross country. As Pepper navigates college with Jace by her side, while not easy, life is manageable. When an unexpected event turns Jace’s world upside down, Pepper struggles with how to support him without losing herself.
This time around we get to hear from Jace, and he sounds exactly as I expected him to. The conflict and tension are at an all-time high, reminding me what it is about these stories I love so much. I read it in less than a day, something I haven’t done with a book in a long time.
Plot
There’s a lot going on plotwise. Pepper is learning the ins and outs of college life, running competitive cross country on a whole new level, one that doesn’t have her head and shoulders above everyone else, her relationship with Jace is tested in a way it never has before, and she must learn how to really be her own person for the first time.
Characters
This is probably the most character development we’ve seen so far. Both main characters go through tremendous changes, and in the end, they will discover things about themselves and each other that challenges everything they know. I love Pepper’s arc the most. It’s heartbreaking and inspiring. She grows so much and I just love seeing the independent streak she develops. I adore Pepper Jones, she’s one of my favorite young adult (now new adult) contemporary characters, and seeing her blossom is really rewarding.
World Building Pepper’s world is very different as she moves out of Gran’s apartment and into a dorm on campus. Ali Dean does an excellent job of showing how this dramatic change influences Pepper’s world. The lighthearted ease of high school is gone and Pepper is thrust into a world of parties and independence where not everyone makes the best choices. This is college life at it’s core!
Ending The ending is gut-wrenching and yet beautifully done. I know some people won’t be happy with it, but to me it was necessary. I won’t give anything away, but the more time that’s passed, the more I realize how perfect the ending is and how excited I am to read the next book in the series. Although rumor has it, I’ll need to wait until early 2016 to get my hands on it.
Top Five Things I love about Pep Talks: 1. Pepper’s new friends. Pepper’s roommates and teammates make for some fun and interesting new characters.
2. Jace. Getting inside his messy beautiful head was like extra thick frosting on my favorite birthday cake.
3. The running. I love how we get to see how the world of college running compares to high school. I thought this was one of the more fascinating aspects of the book.
4. Pepper’s growth. Watching her mature is rewarding. Yes she still makes mistakes, but she’s owning them like the fierce young woman she’s becoming.
5. Wes. He doesn’t have quite the presence he did in earlier books, but I love that he comes home from his Ivy League school for a visit and in the end, Wes is always just Wes.
Bottom Line Pep Talks is a return to the world of Pepper Jones that I love — lots of angst, running, and oh yeah, Jace Wilder.
Disclaimer
I was provided a copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.
——————————————————–
About the Book Title: Pep Talks Series: Pepper Jones #4 Author: Ali Dean Release Date: July 30, 2015 Pages: 176 Genre: Young Adult/New Adult Contemporary Romance Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars Links:Goodreads | Amazon
——————————————————–
About the Author Ali Dean lives in Colorado with her husband, twin babies, and golden retriever. In addition to reading and writing, she loves the outdoors- everything from marathon training and biking to snowboarding and skiing.
Today’s theme for 1 Line Wednesday, sponsored by RWA’s Kiss of Death Chapter is Names. Now there’s an open-ended theme for you. Here is a line from Cyrus point of view, when he first meets Jack and Lisa.
A pretty blonde stands beside a douche-bag-looking dude. “Jack,” he says, tipping his chin, proving my assessment.
You can see previous week’s themes and lines here.
Once again, after trying and failing to obtain passes to Comic-Con, my daughter and I boarded the trolley and headed down to the Gaslamp Quarter in San Diego to immerse ourselves in the craziness that is Comic-Con culture. This year we decided to attack the event differently. In previous years, we started west and worked our way east, ending up at Petco Park, where there is non-badge-holder seating available for panels, late in the day. Instead, we left earlier, arriving downtown around 9:00 and started at the eastern edge of festivities and worked west. We didn’t get far, because there is just too much to do outside the Convention Center.
Hello Kitty Food Truck Outside Comic-Con in San Diego
Our first stop was under the bridge where food trucks and various interactive activities filled the parking lot. One food truck of note was the Hello Kitty Cafe, where you could purchase such goodies as Hello Kitty Bow Water for $3, or an assortment of doughnuts, petite cakes, or macaroons. They had the longest wait by far of any of the food trucks. Even the promise of a free pink totebag with any $25 purchase wasn’t enough to get me to stand in line for 45 minutes. We did, however, get in line for free swag from the local radio station — a poster and a sticker.
Alien Eyeware
Next we stopped by the Alienware tent to check out the goods and pick up a free pare of Alien Eyeware sunglasses, which I could only wear for about a block before I tripped over the curb. They’re not particularly functional, but they look super cool!
We were also able to catch part of the Titansgrave panel with Wil Wheaton and cast.
Tom DeLonge
But the highlight of my time there was being able to see Tom DeLonge, lead singer from Blink-182, who was there to promote his Poet Anderson franchise. I had a total fangirl moment.
We found lots of dressed-up people who were all too eager to pose.
At Comic-Con, Even the Buildings Dress Up
Even buildings join in the craziness, getting in costume.
Sharknado 3
And Sharknado 3 is really happening.
Zombies are Everywhere at Comic-Con
Once again zombies where everywhere. Everything from a boy scout camp offering to help us with our survival skills during the zombie apocalypse, to a walk through the set of the upcoming Fear the Walking Dead. Unfortunately, waiting in line and traipsing through the set meant we missed two panels. One with Daniel Radcliffe and the other Pride, Prejudice, and Zombies with the best Doctor ever, Matt Smith.
So next year, with or without coveted passes, we’re determined to spend at least two days enjoying the world that is Comic-Con outside the Convention Center. .
Yay, the Titan boys are back! This time around it’s all about Parker. There is something so wickedly hot about a smart guy. Be sure to read all the way to the bottom for information on the book, buy links, and details on Cristin’s giveaway.
Black Dawn (Titan Series #6) by Cristin Harber
Synopsis What happens when nothing is as it seems?
Lexi Dare is on a one-woman mission to stay alive. Both at home and at work. Because how did she end up with a ring on her finger and an abuser in bed as she readies to hit the high point in her career? Everything should be perfect. Amazing job. Handsome fiancé. It’s all a disaster.
Parker Black is the brains behind Titan Group, an elite security firm. In his world, everything is ordered and controlled, except what he feels for his buddy’s girl. Something in her eye screams for help, but he has no idea what.
When Lexi disappears, Parker realizes what he should have known. The lines blur between friendships and work, and they must find each other to survive a terror attack that only Lexi can stop.
Black Dawn can be read as a standalone and does not have a cliffhanger.
——————————————————–
My Review The Titan Series is my guilty pleasure. Imagine your favorite thriller with a steamy romance as a co-plot? That’s what you get with the Titan Series, and Black Dawn is no exception. Lexi is an elite hacker, involved in an abusive relationship. She’s created a unique software program and selling it to the highest bidder. Parker Black is Titan, with a head for analysis and an eye for Lexi. When things in Lexi’s private life take a dangerous turn, Parker steps in, and gets caught up in the middle of a potentially international incident, with Lexi’s software at the center.
Plot
There are two solid plots — the romance between Parker and Lexi, and the mystery and intrigue surrounding Monarch, Lexi’s software. Both are exceptionally well done. Cristin Harber builds suspense and heat, weaving them together, like no other single author I can think of.
Characters
Parker’s my second-favorite Titan, Cash still holds that top spot. Parker’s tough, smart, and his inability to explain his feelings makes him endearing. Lexi is about as complex as they come. She was all over the place and at times I felt she was so out of character, but that double-sided, lost-and-found Lexi was such a part of her identity, part of her growth and development as the story unfolded. Some of the Titan cast made cameos but not nearly enough for me. A few new characters that were introduced were interesting, especially Shadow, and even Matt, as much as I loathed him.
World Building The world building is Titan at it’s best –black ops, high-tech goodies, armored vehicles, and total badassery.
Ending Harber has a way of building up the suspense, taking us to a pinnacle of danger and action, and Black Dawn is exactly what I was hoping it would be.
Top Five Things I loved about Black Dawn: 1. Bacon Byte. Come on, a little wrinkly snoring pudge of a pug named Bacon is about as cute as it gets.
2. Parker. He’s hot, tough, smart, really the trifecta of male perfection.
3. Hacking. Never has computer hacking been so sexy.
4. Office sex. ‘Nuf said.
5. Shadow. Lexi’s colleague is the father figure every girl should have.
Bottom Line Thelatest in the Titan Series delivers danger, adventure, and steamy romance as only Cristin Harber can.
Disclaimer I was provided with a copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.
——————————————————–
About the Book Title: Black Dawn Series: Titan Series #6 Author: Cristin Harber Publisher: Mill Creek Press Release Date: June 14, 2015 Pages: 279 Genre: Romantic Suspense Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars Links:Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo
——————————————————–
Author Cristin Harber
About the Author Cristin Harber is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling romance author. She writes sexy, steamy romantic suspense and military romance.
Readers voted her onto Amazon’s Top Picks for Debut Romance Authors in 2013, and her debut Titan series was both a #1 romantic suspense and #1 military romance bestseller.
She lives outside Washington, DC with her family and English Bulldog.
Today’s theme for 1 Line Wednesday, sponsored by RWA’s Kiss of Death Chapter is Page 2, 22 or 222. Here is a line from Cyrus point of view from page 22 of The Uprising, book 3 of The Union series.
I bite into my first burger. Damn, I might have found something in the Union better than hot showers. Shit this is good.
You can see previous week’s themes and lines here.
Synopsis Originally published as the Run to You serial parts 4-6— Fourth Shadow, Fifth Touch, and Sixth Sense.
Deception So Dark is the complete second novel in the Run to You series, a riveting thriller about a family on the run from a deadly past, and a first love that will transcend secrets, lies and danger…
With no more secrets to keep them apart, Tessa and Tristan embark upon a desperate search to find her missing brother and sister. But not even Tristan can keep Tessa safe from the hostile classmates at her new school…or from the nightmare that haunts her even while she’s awake. As Tessa’s nightmare becomes all too real, her hope of getting her family back together feels ever more out of reach. When a psychic warns her that leaving town may mean her death, Tessa still cannot stay when she uncovers a potential lead to her brother and sister. Not even if she must go alone and risk losing it all: Tristan, her family, and even her life.
Run to You is Tessa and Tristan’s story—two full-length books about psychic gifts, secret lives and dangerous loves. Danger. Deception. Betrayal. It must be true love.
——————————————————–
My Review Book 2 picks up right where Book 1 ends with Tessa now staying with Tristan and his family. Jillian and Logan are on the run, believing Tessa and their parents are dead. Only Tessa knows the awful truth about their family. With Tristan’s help, Tessa searches for Jillian and Logan, only to be met with one setback after another. The author throws in a lot of twists, introduces some fascinating new characters, and takes the level of adventure up another notch.
Plot
Romance takes a backseat to the adventure and danger this time around. Now that Tristan and Tessa know each other’s secrets, they’re together. They have some ups and downs, but the story is about finding Jillian and Logan more than about whether Tessa and Tristan will end up together. The plot is interesting and anything but predictable, and aside from a few pacing issues, moves pretty well.
Characters
Tessa has a lot on her plate and I think she deals with it the way I expect a teenage girl to. She’s only known life on the run and settling down doesn’t come naturally to her, even though its what she’s craved her whole life. She struggles to come to terms with her parents’ crimes, and the constant taunting by the families of their victims isn’t helping. I got a better sense of Tristan this time around and he’s a good guy, although at times he’s almost too good to be true.
World Building The world of psionic powers is further explored, particularly when it comes to Tessa’s gifts and, again, the author weaves it into the story seamlessly.
Writing I didn’t think the fluidity was quite as strong as with the first one, but Clara Kensie is a master at creating tension and throwing in twists that in hind view, were perfectly foreshadowed. There’s a lot more symbolism in this story and I love the author’s use of it.
Ending I enjoyed the ending. I thought it wrapped up well but leaves the door open for maybe a spin-off from another character’s point of view.
Top Five Things I enjoyed about Deception So Dark: 1. Tessa’s loyalty to her brother and sister knows no bounds and it’s one of her strongest character traits.
2. Aaron. The sweet nerd of a boy with a computer-like brain who helps Tessa is someone I’d like to see more of.
3. Surprising plot twists. There were more than a few and they were all deliciously unanticipated.
4. Tristan. I wasn’t sure about him after reading Book 1. And although there were times he seemed too good to be true, his love for Tessa was never in doubt and he’d clearly do anything for her.
5. Dennis and Deirdre. They love Tessa as their own and they provide the paternal stability that Tessa needs.
Bottom Line Deception So Dark is a solid follow-up to the first book with lots of action and suspense.
Disclaimer I was provided with a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
——————————————————–
About the Book Title: Deception So Dark Series: Run to You #2 Author: Clara Kensie Publisher: Harlequin Teen Release Date: May 1, 2015 Pages: 252 Genre: Young Adult Paranormal Romance Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars Links:Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks
——————————————————–
Author Clara Kensie
About the Author …don’t forget to breathe…
Clara Kensie grew up near Chicago, reading every book she could find and using her diary to write stories about a girl with psychic powers who solved mysteries. She purposely did not hide her diary, hoping someone would read it and assume she was writing about herself. Since then, she’s swapped her diary for a computer and admits her characters are fictional, but otherwise she hasn’t changed one bit.
Today Clara is the author of dark fiction for young adults. Her debut series is the romantic thriller RUN TO YOU: Deception So Deadly and Deception So Dark.
Her favorite foods are guacamole and cookie dough. But not together. That would be gross.
This is my last review of the Adventures Abroad series. For now. I hope there are more coming because I need to find what happens next with Sarah and Joelle! You can see my previous reviews of the series, here: What Happens in London, What Happens in Paris, and What Happens in Berlin. Today is the last day to enter Jen’s giveaway, so be sure to read all the way to the bottom to get the details.
What Happens in Abroad (Adventures Abroad #4) by Jen McConnel
Synopsis After a summer of fun, Camie, Joelle, and Sarah are ready to reunite in Italy for one last adventure, but heartbreak waits in the shadows of the cobblestone streets. Can Florence cast its spell and turn lost love into a final fling?
Catch up with the girls in this final installment of the New Adult series about love, escape, and true friendship.
——————————————————–
My Review The girls reunite in Florence, Italy, and I thought to wrap up their stories, but really, this is only the end of Camie’s story with Joelle’s and Sarah’s still to come (yay!). Camie and Sarah are nursing broken hearts and Joelle is trying to figure out who she is against the rich backdrop of this beautiful and historic Italian town.
Camie and Sarah both claim they’re ready to put their past romances behind them and move on, but it turns out for both of them, that’s easier said than done.
Plot
Told through Camie’s point of view, we get glimpses into Joelle and Sarah, but mostly this is about Camie figuring out what she wants. After leaving Hunter behind in Paris, her ex reaches out to her via email, throwing her into a tailspin. The plotting is familiar, sticking to the formula the author used for the first three books, but that doesn’t mean it’s predictable.
Characters
Camie almost feels more lost now than ever, and her struggles come across as genuine for someone who doesn’t know what to do with her future or with her love life. Sarah and Joelle take a giant backseat here, so I didn’t get much of a sense of their development. The new characters who are introduced are done so superficially, as they aren’t key to the plot.
World Building Florence might just have moved to the top of the cities I need to visit in my lifetime. Well, I could probably do without the humidity, so maybe I’ll go in the spring. Jen McConnel again combines sights, sounds, textures, and smells to create a three-dimensional setting.
Ending I thought this was a great ending to Camie’s story and I can’t wait to read what happens with Sarah and Joelle.
Top Five Things I enjoyed about What Happens Abroad: 1. Florence. The city just comes across as sultry and beautiful.
2. Camie. She’s a hot mess before pulling herself together.
3. Pop-up nightclubs with themed rooms. Enough said!
4. Eating jarred pasta sauce in Italy. This totally cracked me up.
5. Romance. Without giving anything away, this was my favorite part of the book.
Bottom Line What Happens Abroad nicely wraps up this series for Camie, leaving plenty of room for Sarah’s and Joelle’s stories to continue.
Disclaimer I was provided with a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
——————————————————–
About the Book Title: What Happens in Abroad Series: Adventures Abroad #4 Author: Jen McConnel Publisher: Bloomsbury Spark Release Date: June 15, 2015 Pages: 88 Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance Rating: 3.5 out of 5 Stars Links:Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo | Bloomsbury Spark
——————————————————–
Author Jen McConnel
About the Author A Michigander by birth, Jen McConnel now makes her home in the beautiful state of North Carolina. She writes NA, including the recently released Adventures Abroad series (Bloomsbury Spark), the award winning YA novel Beautiful Curse, and various other works.
When she isn’t writing, she can be found on her yoga mat or wandering off on another adventure.
Once upon a time, she was a middle school teacher, a librarian, and a bookseller, but those are stories for another time.
Welcome to the next stop on the blog tour for Adventures Abroad, a new adult contemporary romance series by Jen McConnel from BloomsburySpark. Yesterday I reviewed What Happens in London on Tuesday, What Happens in Paris yesterday, and today I’m reviewing What Happens in Berlin. Be sure to see below for information on the books, buy links, and details on Jen’s giveaway.
What Happens in Berlin (Adventures Abroad #3) by Jen McConnel
Synopsis Interrupting a summer of fun, Joelle takes a detour to Berlin for her older brother’s wedding.
Spending time with her family is enough to make anyone go a little crazy.
She’s ready to lose it…until she meets Vi, a girl ready to turn her world upside down.
Follow her journey in the third installment of the New Adult series, Adventures Abroad!
——————————————————–
My Review Joelle leaves her friends behind and heads to Berlin for her brother’s sudden wedding to Petra. While there, she battles with her mother, meets charming Johan, but falls for free-spirited Vi, who I just adored. I do love that she has some serious self-discovery going on, but I think she still has a ways to go.
This was my least-favorite book in the series, and I wasn’t sure why at first. But now that I’ve had a few days to mull it over, I think it’s because I don’t much care for Joelle. She was fine as a supporting character in the first two books, but now in this one, I don’t know. She did grow on me though, and I liked her so much better after she hooked up with Vi. I hated the way she judged Petra immediately, assuming she’d trapped Charlie into marriage.
Plot
The plot was as good as the other two books in the series, and there was some fun and different stuff going on and I’m not just talking about the girl-meets-girl romance. The wedding is the center of this story more so than the locale, although Berlin definitely plays into the plot. The family drama with her mom is also a nice twist to shake up the plot a bit.
Characters
Although I don’t necessary like Joelle, I can’t deny she’s an interesting character. She has depth, and let’s face it, we don’t like everyone we meet in real life either. The other characters, Charlie, Petra, Johan, her mom, and Vi felt more developed to me than some of the supporting characters in the other two books and I think that’s because Joelle studies people. She takes it all in and reflects back on what she observes in her narrative.
World Building Being three-quarters German, going to Germany is definitely on my bucketlist along with heading to Ireland for the other one-quarter. I loved reading about Berlin and the descriptions presented on the pages match up with what I’ve heard from my family members who’ve traveled there.
Ending I liked the ending of this installment quite a lot. Like I said, I saw some growth in Joelle and I’m interested to see where her story goes.
Top Five Things I enjoyed about What Happens in Berlin: 1. Charlie. Yeah, he’s a bit of a jellyfish when it comes to his parents, but he’s a good brother, even if he does smoke (yuck).
2. Petra. She’s terminally adorable and I think Joelle will benefit from having a sister-in-law like her.
3. Johan. Okay, so maybe he wasn’t my favorite character, and he definitely has issues, but I loved his name. Because up until two generations ago, there were Johann Tragesers going back for more than a dozen generations and I always said if I had a son, I’d name him Johann. Which is crazy considering my kids’ last name are all Hernandez. Still, I have a soft spot for the name.
4. Vi. Love her. Purple streaks and all!
5. Spin the Bottle. I haven’t played that game since I was a tween, and I love that it factored into the story.
Bottom Line While not my favorite in the series, What Happens in Berlin is a good story, a fast read, with interesting characters.
Disclaimer I was provided with a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
——————————————————–
About the Book Title: What Happens in Berlin Series: Adventures Abroad #3 Author: Jen McConnel Publisher: Bloomsbury Spark Release Date: June 15, 2015 Pages: 100 Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance Rating: 3.5 out of 5 Stars Links:Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo | Bloomsbury Spark
——————————————————–
Author Jen McConnel
About the Author A Michigander by birth, Jen McConnel now makes her home in the beautiful state of North Carolina. She writes NA, including the recently released Adventures Abroad series (Bloomsbury Spark), the award winning YA novel Beautiful Curse, and various other works.
When she isn’t writing, she can be found on her yoga mat or wandering off on another adventure.
Once upon a time, she was a middle school teacher, a librarian, and a bookseller, but those are stories for another time.
Welcome to the next stop on the blog tour for Adventures Abroad, a new adult contemporary romance series by Jen McConnel from BloomsburySpark. Yesterday I reviewed What Happens in London, and today I’m reviewing What Happens in Paris. Be sure to see below for information on the books, buy links, and details on Jen’s giveaway.
What Happens in Paris (Adventures Abroad #2) by Jen McConnel
Synopsis Camie can’t figure out what she wants, from college or life…until she meets Hunter.
But will the magic of a romantic night in Paris last till the morning?
Fall in love with the second novella in the New Adult series, Adventures Abroad!
——————————————————–
My Review I’ll start off by saying this was my favorite book in the series. I was sort of hoping to read more about Sarah and Carson, so I was initially disappointed, but not for long. I adore Camie. She’s funny, adventurous, and yeah, maybe a little confused about her life, but who isn’t at that age? An art major on a full-scholarship, Camie is a crossroads after a bad breakup causes her grades to slip enough that her scholarship is on the line. At the prodding of her college roommate, she takes out student loans, hoping to bring her grades up and reinstate her scholarship, requesting a little extra to fund a summer trip abroad. She meets Joelle and Sarah in the hostel and the three hit it off, almost as much as she hits it off with a cocky American named Hunter.
Plot
Camie’s story resonated with me more and I just liked her. The chemistry between Camie and Hunter is palpable from the moment they meet in the airport, and she handles his cocky attitude perfectly. This second part of the series follows Camie from college to Paris and just as in What Happens in London, Camie has a mini character arc, and a conclusion that completes her story arc, but lets you know her bigger story isn’t over yet.
Characters
It was great to see Sarah and Joelle again, even if for only brief moments, but I was so immersed in Camie’s story, I didn’t care. Even though Hunter is too cocky for his own good, Camie puts in his place and he’s actually quite appealing. I love that he doesn’t give up, that he keeps trying even though she’s not making it easy for him.
World Building Sadly I’ve never been to Paris, but now I feel in a way as if I have. The sights and sounds I’ve seen on TV came alive between the pages and am determined to get there someday, now more than ever.
Writing Once again, the story is told in first person with solid descriptive details.
Ending At first, I didn’t like the ending. But after I thought about it, I realized it was the perfect ending because Camie behaves exactly the way she should given her personality, her background, and the circumstances.
Top Five Things I enjoyed about What Happens in Paris: 1. Camie. I just adore her. She’s one of my favorite new adult heroines.
2. Hunter. Yes, he’s arrogant, but in a way that allows him to still be lovable.
3. Paris. It sounds exactly the way I imagine the City of Love to be.
4. Sarah and Joelle. Glad to see these two are still bumming around together.
5. Messy romance. It makes for a damn good story.
Bottom Line My favorite of the series, What Happens in Paris brings together two interesting people in a beautiful locale and breaks their hearts in perfect fashion.
Disclaimer
I was provided with a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
——————————————————–
About the Book Title: What Happens in Paris Series: Adventures Abroad #2 Author: Jen McConnel Publisher: Bloomsbury Spark Release Date: June 15, 2015 Pages: 103 Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars Links:Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo | Bloomsbury Spark
——————————————————–
Author Jen McConnel
About the Author A Michigander by birth, Jen McConnel now makes her home in the beautiful state of North Carolina. She writes NA, including the recently released Adventures Abroad series (Bloomsbury Spark), the award winning YA novel Beautiful Curse, and various other works.
When she isn’t writing, she can be found on her yoga mat or wandering off on another adventure.
Once upon a time, she was a middle school teacher, a librarian, and a bookseller, but those are stories for another time.
Today’s theme for 1 Line Wednesday, sponsored by RWA’s Kiss of Death Chapter is to choose any line from any page. Here is a line from Chapter 2 of The Uprising, book 3 of The Union series. It’s from Cyrus’s point of view. I’ll let you guess who he’s talking about.
“Fine, I don’t like the guy. Never have. Why the hell does he need to be here?”
You can see previous week’s themes and lines here.
Today, I’m delighted to share author Jennifer Probst’s playlist for Searching for Always, the fourth book in her Undercover Scoundrel Series. There are some amazing songs on this list! Be sure to see below for information on the book, buy links, and details on her giveaway as well as a fundraiser for pet rescue shelters.
Searching for Always (Searching For #4) by Jennifer Probst
About the Book Title: Searching for Always Series: Searching For #4 Author: Jennifer Probst Publisher: Gallery Books Release Date: June 30, 2015 Genre: Contemporary Romance Links:Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo
Synopsis New York Timesand USA TODAY bestselling author Jennifer Probst sparks a blissful mind-body connection as her “sexy, satisfying” (Kirkus Reviews) new series continues!
She’s an expert in helping others de-stress, but Arilyn Meadows is running on fumes. Along with her job counseling singles seeking soul mates at the Kinnections agency in Verily, New York, she’s a yoga teacher, animal shelter volunteer, anger management therapist, and helping hand to her beloved grandfather.
No time to find Mr. Right—but after discovering her yogi boyfriend in a compromising asana, Arilyn would rather dog-sit for her honeymooning friend Kate than risk her heart on another downward dog.
And when police officer Stone Petty—radiating masculinity and bad-boy attitude—is sent to her for mandatory lessons in cooling off when the job gets too hot, Arilyn vows to ignore his seductive glances and sexy grin.
But there’s no halting their sizzling flirtation—a red-hot, high-speed chase that’s breaking all the limits.
——————————————————–
SEARCHING FOR ALWAYS Playlist
Theme Song: You Make Me Sick by PINK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
1. Sky full of Stars – Coldplay
2. Stay with Me – Sam Smith
3. Secrets – One Republic
4. Feel Again – One Republic
5. Use Somebody – Kings of Leon
6. Fade Into You – Nashville CD
7. Clarity- Zedd (feat Foxes)
8. Overjoyed – Matchbox 20
9. Mockingbird – Rob Thomas
10. Maps – Maroon 5
11. Halo – Beyonce
12. After All – Cher/Peter Cetera
13. Silver Springs – Fleetwood Mac
14. I Have Nothing – Whitney Houston
15. Troublemaker – Olly Murs ft. Flo Rida
——————————————————–
——————————————————–
Author Jennifer Probst
About the Author Jennifer Probst wrote her first book at twelve years old. She bound it in a folder, read it to her classmates, and hasn’t stopped writing since. She took a short hiatus to get married, get pregnant, buy a house, get pregnant again, pursue a master’s in English Literature, and rescue two shelter dogs. Now she is writing again.
She makes her home in Upstate New York with the whole crew. Her sons keep her active, stressed, joyous, and sad her house will never be truly clean.
She is the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of sexy and erotic contemporary romance. She was thrilled her book, The Marriage Bargain, was ranked #6 on Amazon’s Best Books for 2012. She loves hearing from readers. Visit her website for updates on new releases and her street team at www.jenniferprobst.com.
Giveaway
Help pet rescue shelters by posting a picture of your rescued pet, or sharing your favorite shelter, and using the hashtag #SEARCHINGFORRESCUES. 4 shelters will get a $50 prize (winners choice) and 1 a grand prize winner will also get a prize pack from Jennifer Probst. a Rafflecopter giveaway .
Welcome to the next stop on the blog tour for Adventures Abroad, a new adult contemporary romance series by Jen McConnel from BloomsburySpark. Over the next four days, I’ll review each of the books in the series and provide an overview of the series as well. Today, I’m reviewing book 1, What Happens in London. Be sure to see below for information on the books, buy links, and details on Jen’s giveaway.
What Happens in London (Adventures Abroad #1) by Jen McConnel
Synopsis Sarah landed in London, just hoping to leave her home behind and escape her family. But she didn’t plan on falling headfirst into Carson’s arms.
Get ready for a summer of self-discovery and romance in the first of the New Adult novella series, Adventures Abroad!
Praise for What Happens in London: “Travel through London with Sarah, you’ll squee, laugh and swoon at her adventures, I know I did!”- Lisa Burstein, author of Sneaking Candy
——————————————————–
My Review What Happens in London starts off a little like The Nanny Diaries before taking an unexpected turn. Sarah is in London working as a nanny for a sort-of-single mom of two. She bullies Sarah into working on her day off, only to fire her for teaching expletives to her daughter. Armed with a generous severance package and a ticket back to the States, Sarah decides to see a little of London before going home with her tail between her legs.
She soon meets Carson, a charming bookstore clerk with a wicked accent and eyes for Sarah. Sarah was raised by an emotionally abusive father and a spineless mother, and her self esteem needs work, but Carson is just what the doctor ordered. Sarah’s inability to believe anyone could be interested in her for herself makes it difficult for her to trust Carson.
Plot
For just the first book in a tetralogy, What Happens in London has a beginning, a middle, and an end, plus a character arc and a complete story arc. Author Jen McConnel has done what so few authors have, broken a story into smaller parts while still telling a complete story within a story.
Characters
The characters are limited. This is Sarah’s story and she’s well-developed. I have less of a sense of Carson, but so does Sarah, so that’s not a problem. In fact, I believe it was deliberate on the part of the author. I love Sarah. She’s hopeful, but jaded, adventurous, yet guarded. She’s so conflicted about everything, including herself, and yet she’s consistent in her seesawing inconsistencies.
World Building I haven’t been to London in a long time, but I loved seeing the city again through Sarah’s eyes. I traveled for business, staying in an American hotel, being provided with a Radio Taxis London charge card, so it was a blast to see the other side of London, the one with youth hostels and the “tube”.
Writing The story is told in first person, drawing me into the story. The descriptive details, incorporating smells and sounds as well as sights, brought the scenes to life in very vivid fashion.
Ending I liked the ending, but I can see where some people wouldn’t. I felt like the author remained true to her character, and wrapped up Sarah’s story in a completely believable way while leaving the door wide open for more.
Top Five Things I enjoyed about What Happens in London: 1. Sarah’s relationship with the kids she cares for. Even when they puke on her, she clearly loves them.
2. Carson. He’s sweet, and I love that he can see the Sarah beyond her insecurities.
3. London. One of my favorite cities in the world is beautifully portrayed.
4. Hostels. I have to admit, the only hostel I’ve seen is one in Ocean Beach near where I used to live, but they sound like an awesome way to travel.
5. Amsterdam. Known best for it’s red light district, I love that the story doesn’t set foot there, and instead shows the rest of this amazing city.
Bottom Line What Happens in London is a quick read that packs a lot of emotional power into its less than 100 pages.
Disclaimer
I was provided with a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
——————————————————–
About the Book Title: What Happens in London Series: Adventures Abroad #1 Author: Jen McConnel Publisher: Bloomsbury Spark Release Date: June 15, 2015 Pages: 99 Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars Links:Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo | Bloomsbury Spark
——————————————————–
Author Jen McConnel
About the Author A Michigander by birth, Jen McConnel now makes her home in the beautiful state of North Carolina. She writes NA, including the recently released Adventures Abroad series (Bloomsbury Spark), the award winning YA novel Beautiful Curse, and various other works.
When she isn’t writing, she can be found on her yoga mat or wandering off on another adventure.
Once upon a time, she was a middle school teacher, a librarian, and a bookseller, but those are stories for another time.
Today is release day for Dare, the first book in T.A. Foster’s new adult paranormal romance series, Nox. See below for information on the book, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway. Sometimes the choices we make are the ones we least expect…
Dare (The Nox Series #1) by T.A. Foster
About Box Set Title: Dare Series: The Nox #1 Author: T.A. Foster Genre: New Adult Paranormal Romance Release Date: July 9, 2015 Links:Goodreads | Amazon | GooglePlay | Smashwords
Synopsis Choices should come easily to a queen.
Especially the queen of panther shifters. But Dare, leader of the Nox, faces the most difficult decisions of her life as she struggles to keep her freedom and keep the Nox safe.
Destined to marry when she turns twenty-two and give up the magic that is her birthright, Dare fights back, determined to change the course of history. Only along the way she falls for a human who forces her to face the reality that there are some things she can’t resist.
Zac Morgan has crossed the globe hoping to find comfort after a tragic loss has left him empty. He hopes Sullen’s Grove will give him peace and just a little taste of home. Even though he’s worked hard to keep his heart protected, he can’t stop the attraction he feels for the mysterious green-eyed college girl Dare.
When Zac is thrust into the middle of a dangerous shifter war, Dare may be the only one who can save him. Sometimes the choices we make are the ones we least expect.
——————————————————–
Excerpt I can see the blood trickle faster now that the point of the knife is pressed deep against his skin. His eyes are closed. He doesn’t see me. None of them does.
They are too focused on the fire and the sacrifice they are about to make in the shadows of its flame.
I crouch, the limb supporting me as I edge closer. I am outnumbered. If I pounce now, the Tribe will surround me in seconds. But, if I wait much longer, they will kill him.
There in the center I see everything familiar to me. I know them and somehow the wildness and violence I’m witnessing has stripped away the memories of who I thought they were.
I’m forced to feel my raw emotions spilling around me, consuming my choices, my inaction. How has this happened?
My ears twitch at the low growling sounds that start in the center of the circle, then make their way around until they’re so loud it’s deafening.
My head throbs from the sounds of their celebration. I don’t have time to regret the choices that led us here. Later. Regrets are for later.
The steel blade sinks against his skin, and my eyes narrow.
Now. I need to move now or he will be lost to me forever.
The forest will hear my roar and so will the Tribe. I leap from the branch, landing in the center, scattering the fire and the knife. They growl, their sharp teeth bared at me.
I’ve spent my life fighting for humans, but tonight I will fight until I’m dead.
——————————————————–
Author T.A. Foster
About the Author T.A. Foster grew up catching rays and waves along the North Carolina Outer Banks and now resides in the state with her husband, three children and canine kiddo.
She has an undergraduate degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a graduate degree in Educational Psychology from Texas A&M University. When she’s not chasing her two-legged and four-legged children or trying to escape for date night, you can find her reading, writing, or planning her next beach trip.
Today’s theme for 1 Line Wednesday, sponsored by RWA’s Kiss of Death Chapter is Page 1, 11 or 111. Here is a line from page 1 of The Uprising, book 3 of The Union series.
His refusal to even talk to me about it is like a knife in my gut to go along with the gunshot wound in my shoulder.
You can see previous week’s themes and lines here.
Deception so Deadly (Run to You #1) by Clara Kensie
Synopsis Originally published as the Run to You serial parts 1-3: First Sight, Second Glance, and Third Charm.
Deception So Deadly is the complete first novel in the two-book Run to You series, a riveting romantic thriller about a family on the run from a deadly past and a first love that will transcend secrets, lies and danger…
Sarah Spencer has a secret: her real name is Tessa Carson, and to stay alive, she can tell no one the truth about her psychically gifted family and the danger they are running from.
As the new girl in the latest of countless schools, she also runs from her attraction to Tristan Walker—after all, she can’t even tell him her real name. But Tristan won’t be put off by a few secrets. Not even dangerous ones that might rip Tessa from his arms before they even kiss…
Run to You is Tessa and Tristan’s story—two full-length books about psychic gifts, secret lives and dangerous loves. Danger. Deception. Betrayal. It must be true love.
——————————————————–
My Review The story starts off with a bang as Sarah, aka Tessa, gets a text while sitting in class that it’s time to run. Again. Something her family has been doing for the past eight years. Her family isn’t normal. They have secrets. Secrets that the government wants.
Tessa doesn’t make friends, because what’s the point? But when they settle into Twelve Lakes, she’s pursued by Tristan, a boy with beautiful blue eyes and broad shoulders. She initially pushes back, but she’s a girl and he’s a boy and…hormones. While Tessa keeps her true identity from Tristan, she can’t help falling for the sweet boy who makes her feel things she never has before.
The push and pull of their relationship is raw and real and kept me turning the page. As Tristan and Tessa fall for each other, Tessa is constantly looking over her shoulder, never able to relax and be normal, because at any moment she’ll be on the run again, leaving Tristan behind forever.
Plot
The plot is a dual-pronged. It’s the story of Tristan and Tessa, but it’s also the story of Tessa’s family and their survival. They must stay one step ahead of their pursuers, never knowing when they’ll be found, because it is only a matter of when, not if. Both plots are very well done and kept me on the edge of my seat. They’re woven together seamlessly, each driving the other in complex fashion.
Characters
Tessa is complex, deep, and wounded — everything you want your teen protagonist to be. And while I liked the other characters, I didn’t get the same level of depth from them. Even Tristan didn’t come across as fully-developed as I would have liked. That may have been deliberate on the author’s part, though. We see the world and the other characters through Tessa’s eyes, and she’s got a lot going on, what she chooses to observe and not observe are part of her character. Tessa’s well-developed enough, I don’t know that the lack of depth of the other characters is really a problem, but I did notice it.
World Building The world of psychic gifts is a central part of the book, and while there isn’t anything really new here, it’s detailed and flows effortlessly through the story.
Writing Clara Kensie does a great job of building tension, making Deception So Deadly read much like a thriller, but without the gore, violence, and language often found in adult thrillers. A number of twists wind their way through the plot like vines. Some I saw coming, some not so much, and the pacing was damn near perfect.
Ending Considering this is the first of a two-book series, I thought the author did a great job of wrapping up the main story lines, leaving me satisfied, but still wanting to read the second book.
Top Five Things I enjoyed about Deception So Deadly: 1. The psychic abilities. Let’s face it, no matter what you call them, super powers rock!
2. Tessa. All four-foot-ten of her. She’s feisty, determined, and loyal. In her case, size really doesn’t matter.
3. The twists and turns. I won’t mention any of them because even one could spoil things, but I love the plotting in this book.
4. Tristan. I was hot and cold on Tristan throughout the book and I think that’s part of his appeal. Just like Tessa, the author was able to pull me in before making me doubt him and his motives, then pull me in again, only to question everything I thought I knew about him all over again.
5. Jillian and Logan. As Tessa’s older sister and younger brother, they look out for Tessa, but they each bring something different to the dynamic. Jillian pushes Tessa to have fun, to fall in love, because even love lost is better than not at all. Logan is two years younger, but he acts more like an older brother at times, protecting Tiny Little Tessa at all cost.
Bottom Line Deception So Deadly is a fun, fast-paced young adult paranormal romantic adventure that is as much about the danger as it is about the romance.
Disclaimer I was provided with a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
——————————————————–
About the Book Title: Deception So Deadly Series: Run to You #1 Author: Clara Kensie Publisher: Harlequin Teen Release Date: May 1, 2015 Pages: 264 Genre: Young Adult Paranormal Romance Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars Links:Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks
——————————————————–
Author Clara Kensie
About the Author …don’t forget to breathe…
Clara Kensie grew up near Chicago, reading every book she could find and using her diary to write stories about a girl with psychic powers who solved mysteries. She purposely did not hide her diary, hoping someone would read it and assume she was writing about herself. Since then, she’s swapped her diary for a computer and admits her characters are fictional, but otherwise she hasn’t changed one bit.
Today Clara is the author of dark fiction for young adults. Her debut series is the romantic thriller RUN TO YOU: Deception So Deadly and Deception So Dark.
Her favorite foods are guacamole and cookie dough. But not together. That would be gross.
The Ruins, Book 2 in The Union Series, is now available in paperback. See below for information on the book and buy links. And if you buy the paperback through Amazon, you get the eBook for your Kindle for free!
The Ruins (The Union Series #2) by T.H. Hernandez
About the Book
Title: The Ruins Series: The Union Series #2 Author: T.H. Hernandez Release Date: June 16, 2015 Genre: Young Adult Adventure Links: Goodreads | Amazon
Synopsis Heartbroken, grief-stricken, and wracked with guilt, seventeen-year-old Evan Taylor returned to the Union, leaving behind the boy she loved.
Now, she and her friends must find a way to do the impossible – warn the citizens of the Union about an impending rebel attack without alerting the government and risking retaliation against her friends in the Ruins.
When every move Evan makes is thwarted, it soon becomes clear she’s being watched.
Faced with a daily fight to stay one step ahead of her pursuers, she returns to the Ruins. But life in the Ruins has its own dangers, and soon she’s fighting a different battle – to stay alive long enough to discover the truth.
THE RUINS is the second book in THE UNION series, a young adult romantic adventure set in the near future..
——————————————————–
The Union (The Union Series #1) by T.H.Hernandez
About Book 1
Title: The Union Series: The Union Series #1 Author: T.H. Hernandez Release Date: November 18, 2014 Genre: Young Adult Adventure Links: Goodreads | Amazon
Synopsis After global warming and a second civil war devastated the former United States, two different societies rose from the ashes – the Union, a towering high-tech utopia, hugging the perimeter of the continent, and the devastated, untamed midsection known as the Ruins.
Seventeen-year-old Evan Taylor has an easy, privileged life in the Union. What she doesn’t have is any idea what to do with the rest of her life. She only knows she wants to do something meaningful, to make a difference in the lives of others.
When she’s kidnapped and taken into the Ruins as a pawn in a dispute involving her boyfriend, Bryce, her ideal world is turned upside down.
What she learns while in the Ruins shakes her faith in everything she’s ever known, from Bryce, to her family, and even the Union itself.
Now Evan must choose whether to stay with Cyrus, the sexy, resourceful survivor who believes she’s in the Ruins for a reason, or return to the only life she’s ever known.
But when she stumbles upon a dangerous plot that threatens both worlds, her decision could tear her apart.
Welcome to the book blitz for Laura Maisano’s Schism, the first book in her young adult urban fantasy series, Illirin. See below for information on the book, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
Schism (Illirin #1) by Laura Maisano
About the Book Title: Schism Author: Laura Maisano Series: Illirin #1 Genre: Young Adult Urban Fantasy Publisher: MuseItUp Publishing Release Date: April 28, 2015 Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | MuseItUp | Audible
Synopsis Art therapy hasn’t done squat for Gabe Jones. A thousand sketches of his fiancée can’t bring his memory, or her, back to him. Nothing on Earth can. His past lies in another dimension, a world just out of sight.
Another student on campus, Lea Huckley, unknowingly shares Gabe’s obsession with the fourth dimension. The monsters from the other side attacked her parents and fled, getting her folks locked up in the loony bin.
Proving this other world exists is the only way to free them. Lea and Gabe strike a deal to help each other, and together they manage to open a door to the world of Gabe’s true origin. She’d use him for proof—if she didn’t already care too much.
While Gabe tries to reconcile his feelings for Lea and his rediscovered memories of his fiancée, a much more sinister plot unravels. He uncovers his history just in time to become the unwilling lynchpin in a conspiracy to start a war. His memory holds the secret to the final riddle the would-be conqueror needs to get the upper hand. Gabe must protect the riddle at all costs, even if that means leaving Earth, and Lea, behind forever.
——————————————————–
——————————————————–
Excerpt Lea packed light. Other than her phone’s GPS and a flashlight, she kept a small notepad, her lucky pencil, and the thermometer in her cargo pocket. She didn’t need to find data, now she needed proof.
She led the way down the alley where skyscrapers blocked the glowing moon and the lamps from the highway. Yellowed fixtures above each back entrance threw faint cones of light onto the cement, like holes in Swiss cheese.
Lea checked the coordinates on her phone while she walked, and the little red arrow crept closer to the flag icon she placed to mark the interaction point.
Gabe spent his time surveying the area for anything that might be a danger. He kept fidgeting behind her and turning around every few seconds, a twitchy meerkat on patrol.
“We’re only between buildings. It’s not the end of the world.” Lea checked her phone again to make sure they were headed in the right direction.
He glanced over his shoulder. “I still don’t like it. It’s night, people do get mugged, you know.”
“The statistics of that are so low. We’re really not in any danger, considering the population and how many times that sorta thing happens.”
He shifted uneasily behind her. “Whatever, we’re raising the chances by being out here at night.”
Lea rolled her eyes. “I’m not missing this opportunity.”
“I know that. Neither am I.”
“Good.”
They came to a cross section behind two major offices where the loading docks and dumpsters sat for both of them. A stream of water trickled down the concave cement into the large sewer grate. Old garbage left a fume hanging around, and the humidity only made it worse.
Lea double- and triple-checked her coordinates, cross-checking with her notes. “This is it. Within I’d say, a fifteen foot diameter, low to the ground.” She shoved the phone in her cargo pocket. “Perfect.”
“How long?”
“Roughly ten minutes.”
Ten minutes may as well have been six hours. She paced back and forth, her sneakers scuffing the gritty pavement.
Gabe continued to keep a watchful eye out for muggers or vagrants. What a dork.
She snickered quietly. For someone who didn’t know his own experiences, he sure seemed paranoid. She watched him standing straight, darting his eyes to the entrance and even up to the windows above them. Watch out bad guys, Gabe’s on to you. She smiled and turned to see what looked like heat waves rising from the cold cement. Crap. The interaction had already started.
“Gabe…” She waved him over next to the loading dock.
This interaction provided no shining lights or obvious movement. Not much stood out visually, except maybe the air glistening like summer heat waves if she squinted hard enough, but her digital thermometer found the coldest point.
“Here,” she whispered, not wanting anyone or anything on the other side to hear. She stretched her arms forward, and Gabe did likewise.
“On the count of three.” She waited for him to nod. “One…two…three.”
They both reached through the interaction point and grabbed at the thicker air. Nothing. They tried again, pulling, grasping, and making any sort of motion to trigger a rip. Finally, Gabe leaned in and pulled out at just the right angle, because the light tore across like a jagged line. Lea grabbed the edge of it and tugged, opening the tear wider until they both fell through.
——————————————————–
——————————————————–
Author Laura Maisano
About the Author Laura has an MA in Technical writing and is a Senior Editor at Anaiah Press for their YA/NA Christian Fiction. Her debut novel is a YA urban fantasy called SCHISM. The sequel, UNITY, releases spring 2016.
Her gamer husband and amazing daughter give support and inspiration every day. Their cats, Talyn and Moya, provide entertainment through living room battles and phantom-dust-mote hunting. Somehow, they all manage to survive living in Texas where it is hotter than any human being should have to endure.
Author Kristin Mayer is revealing the cover to Bane, a stand-alone novel from her contemporary romance series, Trust, releasing on August 14, 2015. See below for information on the book, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
Bane by Kristin Mayer
About the Book Title: Bane Author: Kristin Mayer Series: Trust Genre: Contemporary Romance Release Date: August 14, 2015 Links: Goodreads
Synopsis
A fire burns.
It consumes.
It’s uncontrollable.
It’s irrational.
Rage can become just like a fire, clearing all in its path, killing anything that gets in its way. That’s what happens to a man when the woman he desires is put in harm’s way.
He doesn’t care what happens to him. He protects what is his. He doesn’t apologize for what he has to do. He strikes without hesitation.
He is Bane … and he will protect her.
——————————————————–
Excerpt I was done. Finished. Out.
For the past seven years, I belonged to a division of the government that wasn’t on the books. I operated alone. There was a mission: I either failed or succeeded. If I failed, that meant I was dead.
After all the shit I’d seen, done, caused—I survived. It was a fucking miracle.
I was the best at what I did, but there were times I saw my life flash before my eyes. But when you’re the government’s covert assassin, what else was there to expect. If I was captured, I didn’t exist. If I died, I didn’t exist. If I succeeded, I was assigned my next mission.
The plane wheels screeched as I touched down in Alaska. Finally, I was where I wanted to be.
At times, I wasn’t sure I knew who I was anymore. My identity was erased from the system long ago. For the last three months, I’d been working on getting released from the program. It was a slow process with how deep I was in with Black Division.
Those suits knew I wouldn’t share anything I’d done. Hell, half the time I wanted to forget. After three months of debriefing, the government let me out. Of course, there was an underlying threat.
If we so much as suspect you’ve betrayed this country, consider yourself dead, Mr. Bradley.
Yeah, nothing else was new. I wasn’t an idiot. I knew I’d be monitored for years to come, but they wouldn’t find anything.
——————————————————–
Author Kristin Mayer
About the Author Kristin Mayer is a wife, a proud mother, and a full-time Analyst and Import Manager. Since an early age, she has always enjoyed reading and writing. While visiting her father one weekend, he suggested that she should take up writing again. With family and a career, she didn’t give it a lot of thought, until a story entered her mind and wouldn’t leave. It just kept forming and developing over a couple of months.
At the beginning of 2013, she decided to sit down and write it all down, but she kept it to herself. One sentence developed into two, and before she knew it, she had the makings of a novel.
Kristin tries to live life to the fullest during every moment. She loves to travel and meet new people. She holds a degree in International Business and uses it daily in her job. Kristin now adds “author” on her list of jobs, and feels very blessed and thankful.
Author Aj Elmore is unveiling the cover to Cadillac Payback a romantic suspense releasing July 30. See below for information on the book, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
Cadillac Payback by Aj Elmore
About the Book
Title: Cadillac Payback Author: Aj Elmore Release Date: July 30, 2015 Genre: Romantic Suspense Links: Goodreads
Synopsis An old Cadillac and a gun are all she has left of her brother. Three men stand ready to follow her into the darkest pits of hell to avenge him. The Cadillac leads them down a swamp road lined with ghosts, consequence and the tangled web of business and pleasure, into the underbelly of New Orleans crime as she fights for vengeance for her brother.
Joshua was just a rookie, a kid caught up in a drug ring. It’s fun and dangerous, all easy, until it kills his best friend and drags what’s left of his companions into a war. All he knows is he would walk into hell with her, and she might ask before it’s over…
Isaiah thought he’d seen everything—but watching Charlie die tore the world apart. The regime is changing, and with the new leader come more questions than answers. He was Charlie’s right hand, but what will he be to her?
Frederick came up on the streets, learned fast and hard and dirty. His past has always been a sticking point for the group, but one person has never questioned him, and he’ll do anything for her…
Maria never wanted to take over Charlie’s operation. But with her brother dead, and vengeance the only thing she has left, she makes her first decision: drag Charlie’s killers down.
It might just be her last.
——————————————————–
——————————————————–
Excerpt I listen to the thumping of the unmanaged highway and feel sweat slide down the small of my back. The polished leather seat is starting to get uncomfortable. Surely this surface has never itched so much against my skin, or made me feel like I was melting against its heat.
There’s no sense to be talked to this girl. I can offer no condolences when the event that brought us here is bleeding my insides, too. Her brother was my best friend, my mentor. There’s only one thing I can think to say to her, only one truth I never have spoken.
“Maria, I love you.”
Her foot moves like light as she slams it onto the break, throwing me against the giant dashboard before I can realize what she’s doing. She whips the boat onto the side of the road like she’s driving a Roadster and skids it to a complete stop, sending dust flying, and soliciting angry honks from trailing traffic. I have fleeting doubts that she even hears them.
“You what?” she asks hoarsely.
I take a deep breath and peel myself off the dash.
“I love you,” I say again.
I’m staring at the bugs crowding in on the headlights, like I would if I were studying the mysterious screen of a confessional. I don’t want to see her face, with eyes that have glazed over like glass. The silence again blossoms, then spreads between us. The noise of the road seems so suddenly distant.
Moments pass. They fall like years. Only sudden, tiny sniffing sounds can pull my eyes toward her, the only sound that can unfailingly break my resolve. She’s sitting so very still with her hands abandoned on the wheel, hands that are so capable, yet useless now. She’s still staring forward, her eyes wide and momentarily empty. The glass has shattered. Tears have returned to her perfect cheeks. I am so useless in this situation that it hurts deep in my gut.
“No. Joshua. You don’t,” she says to me. Her voice is low, wavering. Her arms might be shaking a little. The steering wheel holds her steady.
I’ve never seen her this distraught. I sit back against the sticky car seat, and look toward the green at the edge of the headlights’ reach, as if the night’s obscurity can save me. I belatedly pull on my seatbelt, and I tell her, “I do. I just wanted you to know. In case we die.”
She punches the gas as fast as she cut it off moments ago. I feel my muscles spread a little over the seat’s surface. My brain experiences the back of my skull. My stomach lurches as she swings the Caddy onto the black top, flinging roadside pebbles like water. We are out of sight before the dust can settle.
She says nothing else.
——————————————————–
——————————————————–
author Aj Elmore
About the Author Aj is a beach migrant, and part-time muse. She enjoys the exploration of genres vast, and the search for untold worlds.
A writer-for-fun since childhood, she has also been known to be a super hero, a gun slinger, and occasionally, a waitress.
She lives on an island, has a bachelor’s degree in journalism and some tattoos.
“…men and women can’t be friends because the sex part always gets in the way.” Harry Burns.
That’s the premise behind the movie, When Harry Met Sally that plays out with hilarious side-effects. Harry later goes on to clarify that it would work if both of them were in relationships with other people, but otherwise platonic friendships between men and women are not possible.
I call BS. There are some great platonic friendships in fiction. Harry and Hermione (even though JK Rowling now admits she should have had them end up together), Meredith Grey and Alex Karev from Grey’s Anatomy, Watson and Holmes from Elementary. Okay, so maybe there aren’t a lot of examples, but that’s too bad. There should be.
Movies and books are filled with examples of straight/gay opposite-sex platonic friendships, but that’s not what I’m talking about because in those cases, any sexual attraction will never be reciprocated. What’s so great about a platonic friendship with a member of the opposite sex is a perspective you’ll never get from your girlfriends (or guy friends if you’re a guy). And let’s face it, your boyfriend/husband/girlfriend/wife will never give it to you straight if s/he thinks your affection is on the line.
With The Union series, I created several close platonic friendships for my protagonist, Evan Taylor. These include Lisa and Colin from the Union and Sonia out in the Ruins. Evan is slow to trust, so I knew her circle of close friends would be small. In The Ruins, Evan’s friendship with Colin evolves and the two become closer, needing each other in order to survive.
It might seem implausible for two teens with raging hormones to keep their friendship purely platonic, but I believe it’s not only possible, but logical. And I think it’s an underserved demographic in young adult fiction. There are a lot of friends-to-lovers stories out there, but that’s not what Evan and Colin are about. Their love for each other isn’t muddied with sexual attraction and all the pitfalls that can introduce.
I met my best male friend thirty years ago this summer. Our friendship developed over years of spending time together in the same group of friends. We saw each other through dozens of new relationships and breakups, marriages, children, and even a couple of divorces. He was there for me when I needed a place to crash after one of those breakups, and I was his best man at one of those weddings.
We were often single at the same time, and I won’t say we were never tempted to see where things might go, but we never acted on it because the friendship was always more important. And although we’re both more settled now with our respective families and don’t see each other as much as we used to, when we do get together, it’s as if no time has passed. Because that’s how it is with best friends, male or female. .
