Tuesday, March 31, 2015

BLOG TOUR and REVIEW - Night Shift Anthology

 
Night Shift is now available 6 NEW novellas -- Never Before Released 100% of the proceeds will be donated to charity
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Authors: Toni Aleo, Kindle Alexander, Sawyer Bennett, Chelle Bliss, Eden Butler, and Brenda Rothert

SYNOPSIS

Summer in the Big Easy is hot. Inside Tulane Medical Center the temperature is on the rise. A doctor nursing a broken heart. A wounded warrior with no interest in love. A single father finding the girl who got away. A combat nurse trying to adjust to civilian life. Two lost souls looking for love. A former detective looking for answers and an FBI agent who finds more than he bargains for.
 
Desire. Lust. Excess. New Orleans will never be the same. Six never before released stories that will leave you breathless. Dirty things happen in the dark.


DUAL REVIEW


[Anita/Patti]

We're doing something a little different for this tour. Because we were both fans of a couple of the authors, we each wanted to review the set and we're including our reviews of each story as a she said/she said, with an overall review at the end. Each of us will be posting separately to Goodreads and Amazon.



Sawyer Bennett's Off Duty


Anita
Amazon rating: 5/5
In Patti's Imagination rating: 10/10


As a starting story for the anthology, it was pretty good. More then that even. I've read a lot of Sawyer Bennett's books and I have to say she does have a way to make you read all through the end without stopping. As she said love is love. And I felt it in this story definitely.


Patti
Amazon rating: 5/5
In Patti's Imagination rating: 10/10

This was my first book by Sawyer Bennet and I'm pleased to say that I loved it. I'll definitely read more from her. The #loveislove theme in this story was wonderful. While the characters were clearly dealing with racism in their past, I found it inspiring that they managed to find love in spite of that. I won't spoil the story, but I was pleased with the way it ended. The best part, for me, was that, though I knew this was an interracial romance, it didn't feel like that between the characters. Bravo, Sawyer. Quite uplifting.


Chelle Bliss' Rebound


Anita
Amazon rating: 5/5
In Patti's Imagination rating: 10/10

Sam, oh Sam. Or should I call him Flash. Damn, reading about him in Izzy's story made me feel sorry for him but seeing his story now....It was amazing. I knew he was a good guy deep down and that all he did was out of love. He just loved the wrong girl. I love seeing his RIGHT girl come along. And I have to say that is one smart man.


Patti
Amazon rating: 4/5
In Patti's Imagination rating: 8.5/10


I probably would have rated this story at 5 if it wasn't for the prologue. It was jarring to start with a very explicit sex scene (in spite of the fact that it was hot). Though I thoroughly enjoyed the characters during the rest of the book, and I wanted to see them become a couple, I'd rather have observed the prologue material at the end instead of the beginning. I think it cheapened the budding relationship between them by placing it at the forefront. But that hasn't deterred me from wanting to read the rest of this series or more from Chelle, and I really did like the story overall.


Toni Aleo's Wanting To Forget


Anita
Amazon rating: 3/5
In Patti's Imagination rating: 7/10


Hmm. How do I describe the feelings going through me reading this little insight into Toni Aleo's next book. Well, I was filled with emotions and although I believe Toni meant for us to feel it, I kinda wanted to smash my phone against the wall. Why? Because I don't get a man trying to sleep his way out of feeling love for someone. I don't get that a man can feel regret but still continue to sleep with anything that smiles his way. Now, I'm not a prude. I know there are a lot of guys in the world that have no problem whatsoever with doing something like this, but for me it's simple. I believe that if a man is truly in love with a woman he would never do something like this. The reason I didn't totally hate this story was because of the writing. Toni does have a way to make you see things as they are happening. I just really felt it would go a different way than it did.


Patti
Amazon rating: 4/5
In Patti's Imagination rating: 7.5/10


I'm rounding up to 4 on Amazon/Goodreads because this was my first book of Toni's and it didn't deter me from reading more of her books, especially hockey stories – I love hockey stories, so that helped bump the rating. However, it was more of a 3.6 than a 3.95 and here's why. First, I actually felt bad for the lead, Jordie, with his injury. To a certain degree, I really liked him and thought that he could be a great guy if he wasn't being such a douche in the name of self-loathing. But, since this wasn't really a complete short story so much as a segment of a larger one, I'm hoping that, by the time his story is resolved, he'll turn himself around, or else I'd really hate him. He has the potential to be a great guy and make amends. Unlike Anita, I don't have as many issues with his behavior in this story to a point. The party stuff was stupid, but I thought he'd learned and if the story had ended at the hospital, I could have probably given it a 5-star. But then the hospital and post-hospital stuff happened...and yeah. I had a hard time liking him after that. I've known some sleazy hockey players, but he took the cake there for me. I might read his story at some point to find out if the ending changes my mind about him, but I won't rush to do it.


Kindle Alexander's Closet Confessions


Anita
Amazon rating: 5/5
In Patti's Imagination rating: 10/10


Now this is a story of love, truly beautiful. No matter the rase or sexual orientation. I love a good love story and no matter what this was realy a great one. I rarely read gay romance but I have to say it does hold an appeal, that's for sure. And she did a good job on keeping things from the beginning. I was asking myself all the time what was happening. I loved it. Really a good story and I love to read good romances. I don't think I can say with words how much I really did like this story. All I can say is LOVE IS LOVE.


Patti
Amazon rating: 5/5
In Patti's Imagination rating: 10/10


I haven't read a lot of M/M stories at this point, but I'm sure that will change. I've also never read any of Kindle's stories before now, but this definitely interested me in her work. Another romance with the #loveislove theme, I think the only thing that confused me here was that I would have liked to learn the truth a little earlier. I understand why she composed it as she did – the element of surprise completely changed the way you perceived the couple once you knew and it also fed into the crux of the narrative. However, while it cheapened the love story just a little to be deceived about the sexual encounter, that wasn't enough in this case to decrease the rating. I think that's because I had a chance to know each of the characters just a little before I saw them having sex (and that would have been true if this was an M/F story, too). A lovely tale and I'm excited to read more M/M as well as to read more of Kindle's books.


Brenda Rothert's Healing Touch


Anita
Amazon rating: 5/5
In Patti's Imagination rating: 10/10


Now, I've read one book from Brenda and I really loved it. But I didn't have a chance to read the others, until now. I know now why I loved the first book I read from her so much. She can make you love anyone with her words. And her characters are always someone we wish we could know in real life. I know that this story really made me sigh with happiness and just pure woman's content.


Patti
Amazon rating: 5/5
In Patti's Imagination rating: 10/10


Brenda's story was my primary reason for wanting to read this anthology. She's a favorite of mine, and even when I don't love the characters the whole way through (Brady comes to mind), I always find myself rooting for the lovers in her books. These two were no exception. In fact, given Carson and Joss as characters, I desperately wanted them to have a happy ending - they deserved it. I'm hoping that Brenda will give them more story later, or at least use this as a launch point for another series. Loved those two and as always, Brenda built a fantastic narrative. Proof she can do it in a shorter story, too.


Eden Butler's Swimming In Shadows


Anita
Amazon rating: 5/5
In Patti's Imagination rating: 10/10


What sould I say about this story? Well, first....I'm pissed that it's a damn cliffy. Whew! I thought he would swop his lady of off her feet and happily ever after here we come, but NO! It had to be a damn cliffhanger. And the women I thought he would be with turns out to actually not be the ONE for him.Awesome. Okay. I get it. You want us on edge with waiting to see what happens. I'm there, waiting!!!


Well, I can say it has been an interesting story so far. The sex, the fighting, even the drinking and hospital. Too bad it was really a cliffy. But okay, I'll check it out later.


Patti
Amazon rating: 5/5
In Patti's Imagination rating: 10/10


I like the premise of this story and I was definitely interested in reading more about our detective and his quest to learn about his mother's death. I'm not opposed to a cliffhanger or even reading a prequel, though I prefer knowing to expect that I'll need to continue a story (thanks for telling me in advance, Anita!) I suppose that's the case with any series, but not every series is written continuously and involves cliffhangers. In this case, I did love the setup for Nick and Evangeline. I'll look forward to their story, because I'm really hoping it's not done. This was my first Eden Butler book, and she's piqued my curiosity. I'm generally less of a romantic suspense reader, but when I like an author's style and character development, I can read almost anything they write. I'd say Eden falls into that category.


Overall
Amazon rating: 5/5
In Patti's Imagination rating: 10/10


The average for the anthology as a whole is clearly top of the charts. I think it's clear that both of us gained new authors to follow and while we were disappointed in Jordie from Toni Aleo's entry, there's hope for him yet. If I read the follow-up with him and Kacey first, I suspect I'll be able to convince Anita to give it a try. Thanks for letting us read this anthology, and I hope you find our reviews to be honest. It was a fun experiment to do a dual review.


Remember, all the proceeds from this go to charity. Check out our Facebook page for a shot at winning a copy of this anthology from us.



ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Toni Aleo is the author of the Assassins Series, Bullies Series, Whiskey Prince, Let it be Me, and the Spring Grove novels. She lives in Clarksville, TN with her husband, and two beautiful children. She enjoys taking pictures, writing, shopping and going to as many hockey games that she can! Click here to visit her website.

Kindle Alexander, best selling and newly award winning author, is an innovative writer and a genre-crosser who writes classic fantasy, romance, suspense, and erotica. It’s always a surprise to see what’s coming next! Happily married with too many children, and dogs, living in the suburbs of Dallas. Click here to visit her website. 

Sawyer Bennett, New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author, is a snarky southern woman and reformed trial lawyer who decided to finally start putting on paper all of the stories that were floating in her head. Her husband works for a Fortune 100 company which lets him fly all over the world while she stays at home with their daughter and three big, furry dogs who hog the bed. Sawyer would like to report she doesn't have many weaknesses but can be bribed with a nominal amount of milk chocolate. Click her to visit her website.

Chelle Bliss, USA Today bestselling author, writes stories about real-life scenarios with fantasy Alpha males. Her works include humor as well as steamy sex. Her work includes her best selling series Men of Inked. Click here to visit her website. 

Eden Butler is an Amazon best-selling editor and writer of Romance, Mystery and SciFi and Fantasy novels and the nine-times great-granddaughter of an honest-to-God English pirate. This could explain her affinity for rule breaking and rum. Her debut novel, a New Adult, Contemporary Romance, "Chasing Serenity" launched October 2013. Since that time Eden has published six books and novellas including the Amazon best seller, "Thin Love". Click here to learn more about her. 

Brenda Rothert is a proud indie author who loves writing stories that make readers laugh, cry and occasionally, yell at their e-readers. Her Contemporary Romances include Unspoken; The Now Series - Now and Then, Now and Again and Now and Forever, and The Fire on Ice Series - Bound, Captive, Edge, Drive and Release. Her latest release is Killian, the first book in her new hockey series, On the Line. For more information about Brenda’s books, visit her website at www.brendarothert.com



100% of the proceeds will be donated to:

  keith 
The Keith Milano Memorial Fund - The Keith Milano Memorial Fund was established to help raise awareness about the devastating deadly disease that is Mental Illness. Keith’s spirit and laughter is kept alive through our efforts to increase awareness about mental illness and to raise money for education and imperative research. Click here to learn more 


pancanwhite 

Pancreatic Action Network - The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network is fully committed to providing the most comprehensive set of programs and services to fight this very difficult disease. Our commitment and passion are driven by our mission: to advance research, support patients and create hope for anyone facing pancreatic cancer. Click here to visit the Keep the Memory Alive page 

  preds 

Nashville Predators Foundation - At the inception of the Nashville Predators' franchise in 1997, we not only made a commitment to develop a successful hockey team and organization, but also believed and committed to fulfilling a recognized responsibility to play an important role in our home community. Click here to learn more  


RELEASE BLITZ - Jason Luke's THE LIGHT HOUSE


Title - The light house
Author - Jason Luke
Genre - New Adult, Contemporary Romance






‘The light house’ - A love story.

Art has always been Blake McGrath’s life. Scarred by tragedy, he’s hiding from the world on a lonely beach, struggling with loss and bitter regrets.

Connie is a disillusioned art dealer with troubled relationship issues of her own. Through her sudden mysterious appearance, Blake once again returns to the craft he has mastered to prove to himself that there is hope, that redemption is possible… and that love can last.











Jason Luke is an Australian man who lives on the far South Coast of New South Wales with his long time girlfriend.
Jason publishes a Blog where he posts free snippets of erotic romance fiction every single day. To find out more about Jason's daily Blog, click link → jasonluke



There is also a Jason Luke Fan page on Facebook which is run by a team of dedicated fans. The page is not connected to Jason. It has currently around 10,000 likes.













TEASER TUESDAY - Jordana mia Lezamy's EXOTIC RACING CRUSADER

Title: Exotic Racing Crusader
Series: Exotic Racers, #1
Author: Jordana mia Lezamy






 

SYNOPSIS


EXOTIC CARS MEET A LOVE STORY 
"NOTHING IN LIFE IS A COINCIDENCE" 

It was the day of a special occasion in my life, when my entire future was rewritten and set on a new course
Or was this always part of destiny that I believed you cannot run from?
My Destiny. Now Ours. Together. Exclusively.
As I watched him at the show I never planned on attending - I was certain of one thing about his velocity:
ONLY GOD is capable of catching him. 
The moment we met, there was no looking back on a past life down a darkened and lonely road any longer.
Before him I had never dated anyone. Before him I lead a normal good-girl life.
With him my plus size curves and unique facial features are loved and adored beyond a passionate and lustful extent 
Beside him I became queen to the messiah of an exotic cars racing universe I defied heaven for
As fate would have it, regrets collected like old friends ready to relive both our darkest moments
It's always darkest before the dawn, but to see the sunrise at the end of the finish line, there are SEVEN words of a pledge barricading the way:
Oath 
Griffin 
Blood 
Hypersonic 
Racers 
Breakneck 
League 
Cauterized words onto his soul that will decide if he is either a villain or a savior
The ultimate sacrifice must be made by him alone
Which will he choose? Which will he let go of? Which means more?
This is our journey
This is where our racing legacy with fast cars begin.


Contemporary, Erotica, New Adult, Romance : Due to strong language and sexual content, this book is not intended for readers under the age of 18.

Saturday, March 28, 2015

RELEASE BLITZ - Leigh Stone's MELODIC MINOR







Title: Melodic Minor
Author: Leigh Stone
Series: Belfast Bound
 Release Date: March 28, 2015


They say the course of true love never runs smooth, and that’s certainly been the experience for Alex and Mel. Fear drove them away from each other, and tragedy almost tore them apart forever.

In a continuation of the love affair between Alex and Melody, we join the pair right where Lex’s Melody left off, and this time we get to hear the tale through their own words in this first person narrative.

What does fortune now hold for the lovers, can they settle down and have the future together that they both deserve, or will old fears be renewed and threaten to pull them apart again?
Only time will tell!  




Lex's Melody, Belfast Bound #1

AMAZON US / UK

Melodic Minor, Belfast Bound Novella #1
AMAZON US / UK






I'm Leigh Stone, I live in Northern Ireland, just outside the capital city of Belfast, in a house I share with my teenage daughter, and our personal zoo (1 cat, 2 kittens, and 2 rabbits!). I'm first and foremost a reader, and a fast reader at that, often devouring books in a single sitting over a period of hours. I have always had aspirations to write and become a published author, but as a teenager I was encouraged to look for a different profession, as being an author "wouldn't pay the bills."
It was that reading that lead a friend of mine to suggest that I had read so many of those books that I could probably write my own! It seemed like a good idea, and I thought that I would give it a try :) a few months later Lex's Melody was well underway, and the rest as they say is history!




Friday, March 27, 2015

COVER REVEAL - Summer on Main Street


Title: Summer on Main Street: Six Sizzling Small Town Romances
Author: Crista McHugh, Liz Kelly, MJ Frederick, Allie Boniface, Rebecca J. Clark, and Cerian Hebert
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: June 23, 2015


TELL ME TRUE, a new novella from NYT Bestselling Author Crista McHugh

Welcome to Jackson Grove, Alabama, where some pre-wedding shenanigans provide the perfect opportunity to unite two victims of unrequited love, Hunter and Chelsea. Some Cupid kills with arrows, some with traps… or perhaps in this case, a skunk.


LEAD-OFF BRIDE, a new novel from USA Today Bestselling Author Rebecca J. Clark (and Book 1 of the new series, Take Me Out to the Wedding)

Demoted to the minor leagues in Twin Rivers, Washington, to rehab a career-threatening injury, Jack McCauley doesn’t have time to focus on anything other than baseball because that’s all he knows, and all he is. So running into an old flame and learning he has a daughter he never knew about has Jack crying foul.


THE PROMISE OF PARADISE by USA Today Bestselling Author Allie Boniface. 

Take one rich girl from Boston who’s fleeing a family scandal, send her straight into the arms of a sexy local mechanic, and watch what happens when the two end up sharing a rental home for one hot summer. Bonus New Companion Novella exclusive to this set: AFTER PARADISE continues this story after its original ending. Find out what happens next to your favorite secondary characters!

GOOD COP by USA Today Bestselling Author Liz Kelly. 

When two best friends enlist a pony-tailed firecracker to help shake up their good cop/bad cop images, fireworks ignite. One steamy romance, plus a very funny bromance, equals lots of laughs and a helluva love triangle.

THE LOVE I WANT TO BE IN, a new novel in a new series from MJ Fredrick. 

Single mother Brioney Mayburn has learned about responsibility the hard way, working as a maid in the motel in the small beach town of Avalon Island, Texas and looking after her younger brother. Local jack-of-all-trades Blue Maddox has loved Brioney forever, but she won’t look past his surfer-boy persona to see the love he has to offer.

LIGHT THE WAY HOME by Cerian Hebert. 

Torn between the home she loves and the man she’s falling in love with, Hayden must decide which one she will leave behind. 

Hayden Merrick has one thing in mind when she arrives in South Dakota. To meet her grandmother for the first time, then return to the life she loves on the Maine coast. She doesn't expect to discover the truth behind her mother's departure from South Dakota, find the father who abandoned her or a man who could prove to be the love of her life. 

As soon as Ben Winslow meets Hayden, he believes she could be the woman he's always hoped for. First he has to convince her she could love the prairie as much as the ocean.






Crista McHugh is a NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY BESTSELLING author of fantasy and romance with heroines who are smart, sexy, and anything but ordinary. 

She currently lives in the Tesla-filled suburbs of Seattle with her husband and two children, maintaining her alter ego of mild-mannered physician by day while she continues to pursue writing on nights and weekends. 

To be the first to know about her latest releases or to be entered into exclusive contests, please sign up for her newsletter using the contact form on her webpage, www.cristamchugh.com.


Rebecca J. Clark is a USA Today best-selling author of steamy and sweet contemporary romances. She is the author of the Red Stilettos and upcoming Take Me Out to the Wedding series. When she’s not writing, you can find her at her local gym where she works as a personal trainer & teaches cardio classes, Fitball, yoga & Pilates. All this exercise allows her to eat her favorite comfort food—Cheetos—guilt free. Visit her online at her website, Facebook, Twitter, or sign up for her newsletter to receive book release updates, healthy recipes, fitness tips and read her serialized soap opera for subscribers only.


Liz Kelly is the USA Today best-selling author of the Heroes of Henderson series. Growing up every summer in a place where dancing and romancing are literally part of its theme song, she can't help but be a romantic at heart. A graduate of Wake Forest University, where she met her handsome golf-addicted husband, (who is now sporting dark glasses everywhere he goes) Liz is a mother of two sons (also sporting dark glasses) and a miniature Labradoodle named Isabelle. They split their time between The Windy City of Chicago and the Fountain of Youth, a.k.a. Naples, FL where dancing and romancing continues on ad infinitum. Visit her website for an overview of her books, book club menu plans, and lots of delicious cocktail suggestions.




MJ Fredrick knows about chasing dreams. Twelve years after she completed her first novel, she signed her first publishing contract. Now she divides her days between teaching elementary music, and diving into her own writing.

She's a four-time Golden Heart Award finalist and a two-time Epic Award winner. She is the author of the Minnesota-set Welcome to Bluestone series and the Texas-set Lost in a Boom Town series, and loves to write about the interplay between people in a small town. You can find her online at her website, Facebook, Twitter or sign up for her newsletter for new release/sneak peeks!



Allie is a high school English teacher by day and a USA Today best-selling contemporary romance author by night. She is the author of the Hometown Heroes and Cocktail Cruise series and loves the magic and complexity of small-town stories. Visit her online at her website, Facebook page, Twitter account, or sign up for her newsletter to receive occasional updates and sneak peeks at her latest books!



Cerian Hebert, a multi-published author of small town romances like Sweet and Wild, Finally Home, and No Going Back, knew she wanted to write since she was twelve. From mucking stalls for top riding stables in New York to booking cruises in Maine, she’s kept on filing notebooks in pursuit of her dreams of being an author. Whether the stories are set in New England, South Dakota or Texas, Cerian keeps the romances in small towns with realistic characters all in search of romance. Currently she lives in southwestern New Hampshire with her husband, children, dog, cat, and three geckos. Visit her at her webpage or Facebook page to get sneak peeks into upcoming projects.





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