Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Blog Tour: Forty Years in a Day by Mona Rodriguez and Dianne Vigorito


Historical Fiction
Date Published: 2/19/2013

Confession is good for the soul even after the soul has been claimed...
The story begins in Italy, 1900. After years of torment and neglect, Victoria and her four small children immigrate to Hell's Kitchen, New York, to escape her alcoholic, abusive husband. On the day they leave, he tragically dies, but she does not learn of his death for several years—a secret that puts many lives on hold.
Quickly, they realize America's streets are not paved with gold, and the limits of human faith and stamina are tested time and time again. Poverty, illness, death, kidnapping, and the reign of organized crime are just some of the crosses they bear.
Victoria's eldest son, Vincenzo, is the sole surviving member of the family and shares a gut-wrenching account of their lives with his daughter during a visit to Ellis Island on his ninetieth birthday. He explains how the lives of he and his siblings have been secretly intertwined with an infamous Irish mob boss and ends his unsettling disclosure with a monumental request that leaves Clare speechless.​
Forty Years in a Day is layered with the struggles and successes of each family member and defines the character of an era. Follow the Montanaro family through several decades, and stand in the shoes of a past generation.


   


Mona Rodriguez and Dianne Vigorito are cousins. Throughout their lives, they had heard many stories from family members that were fascinating, sometimes even unbelievable, and decided to piece together the puzzle of tales. Through research and interviews, their goal was to create a fictional story that follows a family through several decades, providing the reader an opportunity to stand in the shoes of a past generation and walk in search of their hopes and dreams. What they realize in the process is that human emotions have been the same throughout generations - the difference is how people are molded and maneuvered by the times and their situations. Mona and Dianne live with their husbands in New Jersey and they each have two grown sons. This is their first novel together.


Website: http://www.fortyyearsinaday.com
Twitter: @monarodriguez22
Trailer: http://youtu.be/AfJ5p4qCzmM



My Review:
Wow, these authors really did an amazing job of bringing 1900's to life through one family and several generations. 

This is the kind of story that makes you think of the elderly who talk about their past and what they have gone through in life. I personally don't have anything to compare it to, but it really did make me feel like I was a part of the story and their trials and tribulations.



There are many twists and family problems throughout. It will definitely keep your interest until the very end. Very well done. 



Saturday, June 15, 2013

Blog Tour: Love Plus One




It had been a year ago that 19-year-old Lindsey Dennison's life had taken an abrupt turn. While away at Cornell for her freshman year at college, her parents' marriage had imploded. Lindsey learned the harsh truth about her father, and his involvement in criminal activity that was the focus of a major federal bust. Her father had slipped out of the country with his lover and cohort in crime, Susanne, shortly before the FBI arrest warrants could be served. He was now a fugitive from justice, deserting his only child. Lindsey was left trying to pick up the pieces of the life she now realized had been a house of secrets and lies for all of those years.

After her mother's marriage to Eric Slater, one of the special agents of the FBI involved in the federal investigation that occurred in their hometown of Indianapolis, Lindsey decides to start fresh at a new college close to where her mother, step-father and baby brother Bryce are now living outside of Washington, D.C.

Life is different now for Lindsey, but it is about to change even more. Her step-father's partner and best friend in the bureau, Trace "Taz" Matthews, is about to rock her world in more ways than one. Taz is nearly ten years older than Lindsey, but her initial interest in him is physical only. Lindsey has a problem that she is certain Taz can fix . . . but will he?

Despite their best efforts, Lindsey and Taz are tossed together by fate on more than one occasion, and this G-Man does not appreciate the distraction. There are complications for Sammie and Slate along the way as well. A risky pregnancy for Sammie requires the family to pull together and Lindsey's life suddenly becomes increasingly complicated.

There is a budding romance on the horizon for Lindsey with a wealthy, Ivy-League type guy she meets at school by the name of Kyzer Stanfield. Kyzer's interest in Lindsey does not sit well for Taz. When Lindsey must leave school to return home to help her mother, Taz is relieved that she will be distanced from the pursuit of Kyzer. . . but not for long.

Things are never quite as they seem. Lindsey will learn a brutal lesson about trust, compassion and strength. Taz will learn lessons about love, intimacy and honor, and that sometimes doing the right thing has consequences.

Warning: Explicit Sex, contains rape scene

Author Links





Quotes
“I’m sick of having you under my skin,” he stated simply. “So, I intend to have you underneath me, on top of me, sitting on my face, but by God I am not having you under my fucking skin anymore. Period.”

“So, you’re just going to leave without saying good-bye? Damn girl, did you leave my money on the dresser?”

“I’m not here to give you a ride home. I’m here to take you to my place. Your sleepover plans have changed. You’re sleeping me with tonight.”

“I love you, Trace.”
“I love you, Lindsey. Haven’t you been listening?”

Taz and Lindsey




Friday, June 14, 2013

PROMO Blitz: To Bewitch a Highlander



To Bewitch a Highlander - PROMO Blitz
By Lily Baldwin
Historical Romance
Date Published: 4/10/2013


She will protect her identity with her very life if necessary. Who will protect her from herself?

Shoney's lightning speed with a bow captures Ronan by surprise, and their chance meeting ends with him lying unconscious at the bottom of a ravine.

When he awakens, he cannot rid his mind of her startling beauty, her valor, or the secret fear he glimpsed in her steel eyes.
He vows to find her, but as the mysteries of her identity unfold, his courage and heart are tested as never before.

Audio Book Sample




EXCERPT

Shoney gripped a large rock with one hand to keep from rising to the surface and was hurriedly scooping handfuls of Dulse with the other, putting the slimy clusters into the sack hanging about her neck. Dulse was her favorite seaweed. Its translucent pink color was hard to spot, but it grew in bushels at the bottom of her pool. If infused in a bath, it soothed sore limbs, and its oil cleansed the skin, clearing away unsightly dry patches. Satisfied she had gathered enough, she released the stone and swooshed her arms, swirling in a circle. Her hair fanned out, covering her face and wrapping around her waist.

The sting from the icy water subsided so that she could truly enjoy the feel of being submersed. The bottom of the deep pool gleamed with smooth white rocks, which seemed to light the murky water. She was enclosed inside rocks directly below her home where she knew none of the clansfolk would ever dare to venture, allowing her to leave behind the Witch’s cloak and every other stitch of clothing for that matter. Nothing delighted her more than to feel the rush of cold water over her bare limbs. Nothing made her feel more alive, but she was running out of breath and knew she had to surface.

Her feet touched down on the bottom, and she bent her knees, pushing against the white stones to hasten her swim to the surface, but she did not surge through the water as expected. Large hands grabbed her from above, blocking her momentum. She seized with panic as she flailed against her captor’s grip. The water churned, bubbling from her efforts, but she was powerless against the strong arms that wrapped around her from behind and pulled her against the unyielding hardness of a man’s chest. Every corded ridge of muscle pressing against her naked back shifted as he pushed off the bottom, propelling them both toward the surface.

They emerged from the depths, and he pulled them to the edge of the pool. Shoney sucked air into her lungs. Too long had she been submersed and now felt dizzy. Despite her reeling head, she lunged to escape the hands still grasping her shoulders, but his hold only tightened. Then, for the first time, she tilted her head back to look upon her captor.

“You”, she exclaimed. “What are you doing here?”

“What am I doing here?” he said. “This is my island. What are you doing here?”

“Taking a bath”, she gritted.

She could not believe the giant, the one called Ronan, was in her pool. How dare he invade her rightful territory. Fury consumed her but also terror. Not only was she unarmed, but he was even larger than she first realized.

“I am finished now”, she said. “So release your grip, and I will be on my way.”

“A bath she says.”

He turned her around in his arms so she faced him. Then he wrenched the sack from around her neck and threw it into the water. Shoney watched as it sunk beneath the surface. “I have been searching the whole island for you for a fortnight only to find you nigh drowning, leaving me no choice but to dive in to save you.”

“Save me? Is that what you thought? That I was drowning.” She could not help laughing, but stopped when his hand slid down the curve of back.

Shoney was suddenly very aware of her state of undress. Her curves were concealed from his eyes by the water, but what he could not see surely he could feel as his arms pressed her close. She gasped as she felt the contours of his muscles shift against her skin. The heat of his body provided warmth against the frigid water, and his arms seemed to touch more than just her waist. They reached beyond her physical form, satisfying a craving for contact, which solitude had entrenched deep within her heart. He was powerful and intoxicating, and her response to him was shocking. She never imagined a man would feel so good, so strong, but she knew it had to be wrong. Shouldn’t she be outraged? She had to escape his hold. Her hands pressed against his wide chest as she thrust away from him, but he wouldn’t budge.

“Let me go, this is indecent”, she snapped.

“No more indecent than leaving me to die, lass. I was only trying to save you.”

“The only saving I need is from you”, she hissed through gritted teeth. “Release me. You have no claim over me or my body as I am neither your wife nor your whore.” She renewed her struggles and shrieked, “Let go of me.”

His grip loosened slightly, and she felt the warmth of his breath as his head dipped close to hers. His hand swept the length of her torso and then gently caressed her cheek.

“I know I need to let go of you,” he whispered. “I know that I am disgracing you as well as myself, but I cannot bring myself to do so.”

She met his smoldering gaze. His lips were but a whisper away from hers. Try as she might, she could not take a deep breath. Her quick, shallow breathing was unnerving. And then as he pressed her body into his, her breathing was forgotten completely as was the cold water that encircled them, the crash of the waves, and the call of the birds. All she was aware of was his eyes, the closeness of his mouth, and the racing of her heart. He slowly lowered his lips, taking possession of the soft skin just below her ear. She closed her eyes, feeling a strange heat at the place where his lips had been. His hot kisses trailed down the length of her neck. The heat spread like languid fire throughout her body.

She had never felt the strength of a man’s hands on her skin. Nor had she ever known the tenderness of a kiss. Her breathing quickened. Her body felt like it was swelling, preparing to burst, and she liked it. She pressed herself closer and felt the crushing strength of his muscles as her fingers explored his form. Her hands swept down his powerful arms, sliding over muscled ridges. And then they traveled down past his lean waist to stroke the length of his hard thigh, but instead of smooth, wet skin, her fingers touched something cold and sharp.

Her eyes snapped open, and her senses returned with a strength that would have knocked her over had it not been for the water and the support of his caressing hands.

Mother of all, what spell was this?

He was even more dangerous than she first imagined, for he could control her thoughts and her body. She had to break away from his embrace. Her hand returned to his thigh, only this time she had no intention of stroking his skin. She seized his dirk from its sheath and with a practiced hand she thrust the pointed end of the blade beneath his chin. She smiled ruefully at the small droplet of blood that appeared beneath the dagger’s point.

“You keep your blade sharp. I thank you for this kindness.”


Lily Baldwin

Writing historical romance has been Lily's lifelong dream. She lives a quiet life in New England, surrounded by family.

Author Links

Link to Buy


Cover Reveal: Loving Me, Trusting You by C.M. Stunich

New Adult/Erotica/Motorcycle Gang

The Triple M Series #2
Release Day: June 25th, 2013


Blurb: TBA -  But let's just say that you get to know Gaine a lot more intimately...

Amazon Link for Book One: http://smarturl.org/slxfl
(Book one is on  SALE for 99 CENTS until June 25th!)



Giveaway Link with a $100 Gift Card!: http://bit.ly/U1fFOE

Want to join the Triple M Motorcycle Club and get to know the hot, bad boy bikers before book two comes out?  The first book is only 99 cents right now, and we've got less than two weeks to go before the journey continues.


LOSING ME, FINDING YOU EXCERPT:

"Take 'em off.  This is your next lesson.  If you don't wear a skirt, be prepared to take off your pants.  Come on, sugar, let's get to it.  We've gotta hurry before somebody drives by and sees us."
"You're serious" I ask him, getting chills and a gut wrenching belly ache.  Oh God, yes.  I can't believe I waited twenty-one years for this feeling.  It's incredible.
"As a heart attack," Austin says, taking a drag on his cigarette and tossing it to the ground, so he can smash it under his boot.  I nibble my lip for a moment and then start to unbutton my jeans.  Austin's eyes follow the motion and narrow when I pause with the zipper halfway down.
"Take off your shirt," I command him.  I want to see what's under there.  Three times we've had sex and not once have I gotten to see his chest and belly.  He grins at me and obliges, tearing the black fabric off and tossing it down alongside his vest.
Austin is Well, God, Austin is ripped.  He's tight and muscular and I can see every muscle in his belly as clear as day.  His skin stretches hot and slick over the firmness of his chest and stomach, dipping into his pants with a sprinkle of sandy hair.  Above his pecs, he's got another skull tattoo surrounded by roses and on either side, a gun pointing inwards.  Sweat glides across the colorful piece of art and gets caught between his muscles, sliding down and soaking into the waistband of his jeans.
I practically tear my boots and pants off in my frenzy to touch him.  I can't wait.
"Panties," he commands me, and I pause.  Being pants-less in the middle of the road is one thing, but being pantie-less is quite another altogether.
"Austin "   He grins at me and reaches down, unzipping his own pants.  My gaze follows his hands involuntarily, mesmerizing me.
"Better hurry before somebody comes along and we get interrupted."

AUTHOR LINKS
Official Webpage: http://cmstunich.com
Facebook Friend Page: https://www.facebook.com/cmstunich



Monday, June 10, 2013

Blog Tour: Good Vibrations by S.L. Scott



Release date: June 10, 2013
New Adult / Contemporary Romance



I grab her exploring finger just as it reaches my happy trail—a trail that if I let her wander down further will lead us to do things we can’t take back. Things like three-word phrases being confessed that would end me if I was rejected. Things like selfishly wanting to own her body and doing things to her that would make my fantasies blush. And things like making her promises too soon that won’t do either of us any good. She makes me want a future that’s not possible, and one I don’t deserve.Listening to my ego got me into this situation. 
Will listening to my heart get me out? 



My Review:
This is the first in a series and I really look forward to the continuation.

I really liked the connection between Evan and Mallory from their first "meeting" at the airport. I'm a sucker for the reformed bad boy type books. Evan is obviously a player and Mallory even has seen him in action, but cant help her attraction to him. 

Noah to me seemed kind of thrown in there. I didn't believe that aspect of the book as much and it seemed un-needed. 

This book does not lack in chemistry and sexual interaction between the main characters. Evan and Mallory's relationship is very physical and it heats up the pages.

I think this is a perfect New Adult summer read! 

S.L. Scott has a degree in Journalism and is the author of the novels—Naturally, Charlie, and A Prior Engagement as well as several novellas, including Sleeping with Mr. Sexy and Morning Glory--all currently available on Amazon. Pursuing her passion for telling stories, she spends her days escaping into her characters, letting them lead her on their adventures. She is a Contributor to Huffington Post and writes for her own blog along with several other popular sites.Travelling, music festivals, and surfing are a few of the hobbies she loves, but she doesn't get to enjoy on a regular basis. She has an obsession with movies, a varied taste in books, and collects Fitz & Floyd teapots. With a memory full of useless trivia facts, and a Keurig addiction, she loves a fun night in with her family as much as a loud night out with her friends.Scott lives in the lively city of Austin with her husband, two young sons, and two Papillons, enjoying life in the beautiful hill country of Texas.She welcomes your notes at sl@slscottauthor.com.


Twitter: @slscottauthor




Huffington Post Contributor Page: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sl-scott/



GIVEAWAY




Sunday, June 9, 2013

Blog Tour: Colour Wielders by Dawna Raver


New Adult/Paranormal Romance/ Urban Fantasy Romance
Date Published: 4/19/2013

Behind the Faerying Mysts, hidden from Mortal eyes, is a land where gods and creatures of myth and legend dwell. And in the Mortal Realm, their Princess is hidden away.
Quinn Sinclair lives an ordinary life with her less-than-loving mother in Conifer, Colorado, clueless of her true nature. On the night of her birthday, a staggering betrayal sends her life spinning out-of-control. As she struggles to pick up the pieces, a vision of a man with haunting tourmaline-blue eyes begs her for help, and she is transported into a Magykal battle-forever changing her life.
Arik Morgaine-Demigod bad boy and outcast of the Magykal Realm-tried to avoid contact with Princess Quinn for eighteen years, not wanting to make good on an old threat. But the fates have other plans. Arik can no longer deny his growing desire for Quinn, or the need to protect her from those wanting to control her burgeoning powers. Can the two of them come together and save the Magykal Realm from being destroyed by the Darkest of Magyks?


My Review:
There are a lot of moving parts to this one and it definitely takes some getting used to when reading it. The reader could be confused a bit, but that often happens as an author is trying to introduce you to a new world. I think Dawna Raver has done a great job of wading through the information and giving us enough to catch us up without overtaking the whole first book in her series. 

This is considered a New Adult fantasy, which is something I expect to see a lot more of now that the New  Adult Genre has taken off like it has. 

There were parts of the romance that seemed far fetched, but overall I really did like the connection between the two characters. My main issue was with Quinn and her other romantic connections.

I really did enjoy being introduced to this new world and am interested to see where the author takes it.

LINKS TO BUY 



Dawna Raver is an author of paranormal romance and urban fantasy. Colour Wielders, book one of the Heirs of the Magykal Realm series, is her debut novel. When she's not spending time in her fantasy world, Dawna loves football, reading, and pretending she's a top chef in the kitchen. Oh, and fawning over her dogs and husband, sometimes in that order.


GIVEAWAY


Friday, June 7, 2013

Release Day: Vampire Elite by Irina Argo


Vampire Elite
RELEASE DAY Blitz

Paranormal Romance
Date Published: 6/7/13

Join the release party:


THIS BOOK IS ON SALE FOR $.99 TODAY FOR ITS RELEASE!

GET IT @ AMAZON

Vampire Elite is a new vampire series
The first two parts are released in one volume

Vampire Elite
Part 1. Prophecy
Part 2. Keepers of the Key
         
What will he do if saving his people means destroying the woman he loves?

A millennia-long war between two immortal races is about to come to an end. Long ago, the Vampire Elite began capturing the immortals called the Amiti, attracted by their unique blood properties. Now most Amiti live in underground cells, forced to serve as vampires’ bloodstock. The few surviving free Amiti, preparing a final strike, have declared their Queen a traitor. Her execution makes possible the rise of a new Queen, her young daughter Arianna, who will inherit her mother's mystical powers. Working with the Keepers of the Key, Arianna may be able to eliminate the vampires, once and for all, from the face of the earth.

The new Queen is the last hope to save her dying race and she's ready to fight to the last drop of her blood.
 But the King of the Vampires has other plans.
 What neither expects is the passion that erupts between them.

Vampire Elite is an epic story of a bitter conflict between two immortal races, and the effect of that conflict on everyone living in its grip. The characters are driven to love and betrayal, vengeance and sacrifice in a world without easy black-and-white answers.
            Based on an ancient Egyptian legend, packed with action and intrigue, Vampire Elite will pull you into the entrancing world of immortals and open new portals into their hidden universe.

Readers’ Favorite reviewers on Vampire Elite:
You’ve managed to restore my hope in the future of vampire books ...
... a fascinating read and definitely a book for anyone who loves fantasy, romance and of course vampires.
… a spellbinding novel of action, suspense, romance, and conscience ...  character development is superb ... the type of book that will make you read all day until you get to the end! It is deliciously addictive!


For more info please visit
Twitter: @TheVampireElite



Meet VE Character: Arianna, Queen of the Amiti and Keeper of the Mystery of Balance

Arianna becomes the Amiti Queen as an infant, following the execution of her mother. Along with the title, she also inherits all of the Queen’s powers, including the role of Keeper of the Mystery of Balance as well as the Gift of Ra, a power bestowed by the Sun God himself to help her protect herself and her people. Sheltered by her father as a child, Arianna finds herself thrust into a world of danger and intrigue when he is murdered and she must confront the fact that her race’s destiny depends on her. Despite how overwhelming it can be, Arianna ultimately embraces her life’s mission: to free her people from their enslavement by the Vampire Elite by any means necessary. But along the way she encounters an unexpected and seemingly unmanageable challenge—the charismatic and powerful vampire King Tor, who takes her on an emotional and sensual journey that makes her question her very destiny. Will the young Queen have the willpower and inner strength to fulfill her purpose and save her people, even if it means destroying the man she loves?