Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Giveaway & Review ~*~ Trust: A New Beginning by Cristiane Serruya


GenreContemporary erotic romance
Title: Trust: A New Beginning

Series: TRUST #1

Author: Cristiane Serruya

Publisher: self-published
Format: Ebook, Paperback, Hardcover
Length: 393 pages

Buy Links ~*~ Amazon | B&N |


Book Description ~*~ 


They are beautiful. They are rich. They are strong willed and successful. They have everything, but love. And each one of them has a dark secret looming in their past.

Sophia is a 25 year old Brazilian widow. Intelligent and ravishing, she flees from her own country after a tragic incident. Hiding from everyone and everything, she remains alone, torn between the love for a dead man, the torment of living without part of her memory and the fear of moving on. 

Ethan is one of the most important tycoons in the steel industry. As the memory of an awful evening in his adolescence haunts him night and day, he keeps looking for an elusive woman whom he could love - and who would love him - as he never has in all his 35 years... Until he finds Sophia. 

Alistair is a 34 year old powerful banker, searching for one–night stands with women who will warm his bed. And that he can punish physically to abate his anger for his late wife's black deeds and his own guilt for being such a debauched man for so many years. Any woman will do, and he has many to choose from, as they all fall instantly for his manly, devilish charming ways.
In Europe, in the months after October 2009, their paths will cross and clash. 

This is the first book of the trilogy TRUST, this is an adult contemporary romance lavishly set in a billionaire's Europe, deriving its strength from realistic and dramatic character interactions in their hunt for trust and love. 
Contains strong language and graphic sex scenes.


Review ~*~

  Trust: A New Beginning is a long novel which is a nice change of pace from the shorter ones I seem to read lately.  Although I will admit that the writing style and material took a little while to get into, once I got into the story it was difficult to put down.  There is a lot of everything going on with the characters in this story and it was nice to really get to know them and their plights. 

There are three main characters with a nice side cast of characters who are woven in wonderfully. Our main character is the heroine, Sophia.  Sophia is a widow who is highly intelligent and successful.  Yet at the same time she is woefully naive and innocent.  Sophia has a past that she wishes to remain hidden ~ some of it even from herself.  She has a lot of emotional baggage to deal with. Ethan is a man not to be trifled with, he is very jealous and arrogant.  He comes off as cocky and sometimes sweet but is very controlling and manipulative. Alistair is surprisingly a lot like Ethan, as both men are powerful and controlling.  But Alistair tends to steal your heart a little more than Ethan.  Both men have a lot of emotional baggage as well and they relationships between these three characters is tricky and intense.  

I will honestly say, that while it took me a little while to get into the storyline, I was hooked by about 30% in and really didn't want it to end. It does end on a cliffhanger but don't despair because the second book in the series has already been released, Betrayed is available at Amazon for sure and probably other major retailers as well ~ and I have already read and loved it as well. Cristiane Serruya's writing style and story are unique and that made reading A New Beginning even more interesting because her characters are not really like any other that I have read before.  She is fantastic at giving you vivid details to make you feel like you are right there with all of her characters.  I highly recommend picking up  Trust: A New Beginning  and giving this new author a shot at becoming one of your new favorites. 



Illustrious Illusions received a copy of  Trust: A New Beginning for free for an honest review

GIVEAWAY INFO ~*~ 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

 TOUR SCHEDULE LINK ~*~ http://www.fmbpromotions.com/2013/03/book-tour-sign-up-new-beginning-trust-1.html


April 9thWe Love Kink
April 10th- 4 the LUV of SANITY 
April 25thLusty Penguin Reviews
April 26thDeal Sharing Aunt
April 29thSnifferWalk Books
April 29thFor the Love of Bookends
April 30thHarlie's Books
April 30thIllustrious Illusions
April 30thSweet n' Sassi
April 30thFull Moon Bites



About the Author ~*~

I live in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with my husband and two daughters. I'm a lawyer, who specializes in cases of sexual abuse and violence against children and women. I also have a Masters in Business Law and a BA in Fine Arts. 
I've always loved to read, write and listen to music. I lived and studied in England, France, Italy and Switzerland. Traveling is one of my passions - as is keeping fit and healthy. 
After twenty-two years of practicing law, I decided to give writing a go. And - amazingly - it was just the piece that was missing in my life.

Website | Facebook | Twitter: @CrisSerruya | Amazon Author Page | Goodreads |




Monday, April 29, 2013

Book Trailer ~*~ Trust: A New Beginning by Cristiane Serruya

Look for our Review Tomorrow!!!




Title: Trust: A New Beginning
Series: TRUST #1
Author: Cristiane Serruya
Genre: Contemporary Erotic Romance
Publisher: self-published
Format: Ebook, Paperback, Hardcover
Length: 393 pages

Buy Links ~*~   Amazon | B&N |

Book Description ~*~

They are beautiful. They are rich. They are strong willed and successful. They have everything, but love. And each one of them has a dark secret looming in their past.

Sophia is a 25 year old Brazilian widow. Intelligent and ravishing, she flees from her own country after a tragic incident. Hiding from everyone and everything, she remains alone, torn between the love for a dead man, the torment of living without part of her memory and the fear of moving on. 

Ethan is one of the most important tycoons in the steel industry. As the memory of an awful evening in his adolescence haunts him night and day, he keeps looking for an elusive woman whom he could love - and who would love him - as he never has in all his 35 years... Until he finds Sophia. 

Alistair is a 34 year old powerful banker, searching for one–night stands with women who will warm his bed. And that he can punish physically to abate his anger for his late wife's black deeds and his own guilt for being such a debauched man for so many years. Any woman will do, and he has many to choose from, as they all fall instantly for his manly, devilish charming ways.

In Europe, in the months after October 2009, their paths will cross and clash.
This is the first book of the trilogy TRUST, this is an adult contemporary romance lavishly set in a billionaire's Europe, deriving its strength from realistic and dramatic character interactions in their hunt for trust and love.

Contains strong language and graphic sex scenes.


BOOK TRAILER INFO ~*~
Book Trailer LINK: http://youtu.be/LXE_wiHdlP0




GIVEAWAY INFO ~*~ The giveaway is tour-wide.
  • 2 eBook copies of Trust: A New Beginning (TRUST #1) by Cristiane Serruya 
  • Ends 05/05/2013

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Tour Schedule:
April 29th 

April 30th

Saturday, April 27, 2013

Review ~*~ Behind the Scenes by Liz Borino & Michelle Stevens



Blurb ~*~
New beginnings are exciting, but we can rarely outrun our pasts. Steve Michaels and Zack Greene pack up their newly extended family and move to New York City with their nanny, Drew, and his two kids. Having recently been hired to write for a BDSM show, Steve and Zack use their loving Dom/sub relationship for some experience with the lifestyle, but they need a consultant to fill in the blanks. Alex a local Dom/club owner, can do just that. Everything is going smoothly until Rich, a ex-producer from Ben’s Life and the man who tried to ruin Zack, tries to get a job on the same show. And that’s only the beginning of it.

Zack and Steve offered Drew an opportunity of a lifetime working for them. When Alex shows up for the first meeting with Zack and Steve, Drew realizes he didn’t leave his past behind after all. This becomes more true when his ex comes back wanting to see the kids.

Can Drew trust Alex to help him get over his past? Can Steve manage to keep Zack safe from the man who has haunted him for so long? Find out what happens Behind the Scenes!



5 Star Review ~*~

    The first thing I have to say is Behind the Scenes knocked my socks off! Male ~ Male is a newer genre for me and I have to admit that I am loving what these authors are creating. Liz Borino and Michelle Stevens do not disappoint with Behind the Scenes.  I was intrigued by the blurb and within the first few pages I was hooked on these phenomenal characters.
    Behind the Scenes is the start of a new series but bring in the main characters, Zack & Steve, from Liz Borino's other series, Mine (link to books below). While I haven't read this first series ~ and it is NOT necessary to thoroughly enjoy Behind the Scenes~, it is definitely on my TBR list so I can get the full back story. Even with what I am sure are spoilers in this one I am excited to read the others.
    Behind the Scenes spends a lot of time with Zack and Steve and their progressing relationship as they move across the country to start a new TV show production and get away from some bad memories.  Joining them is Drew who is bringing his two children as he takes the position of 'nanny' to Steve's sister Sunni so that Zack and Steve can focus on their new television series. When consultant for the show, Alex, shows up on the scene things are ready for new twist.
    Alex and Drew start to explore a new relationship in their off time which is rare.  But these two connect on such a level that it is seamless and beautiful to be a part of their relationship.  Alex is a very calming influence on Drew as they start to explore new dynamics of their relationship.  While Drew is used to being everything to everyone Alex is the one person who can help him let go just a little.
    I could right so many things about Behind the Scenes because I just loved it that much.  The mix of a steady relationship and a new relationship of basically equally main characters is amazing.  There are so many dynamics to explore that I am astonished at the ability these two authors have to pull so much together in such a tight way and make the reader cry, gasp in shock and anger, and still need a glass of cold water to cool off ~ btw I think I did all of this by the half way point! I won't say anymore other than stop reading and go buy this book NOW! :)


Author Bios ~*~

Michelle Stevens spends most of her downtime in front of the screen writing the many stories that float around in her head. She has written fiction most of her life, but got serious about it recently when she stepped out of her box and let others read her work. Getting feedback has opened up a new door for her and she's taken off running. When she's not writing, she moonlights as an assistant manager of a convenience store, also, her only contact with the outside world.
    Michelle lives in a house where the animals outnumber the humans, as it should be. While her world is never quiet, her life is. She lives vicariously through the lives and stories of her brain trolls. One day she hopes to live an adventurous life of her own, and do some travelling.

Liz Borino lives behind her computer in an irrelevant town in Pennsylvania, about an hour away from the irrelevant town where she grew up. She may have big dreams, and the confidence to pull most of them off, but Liz writes about being the two things she will never be: Male and Gay. And that’s okay. She will, however, fight those struggling for civil rights.
     When Liz isn’t writing stories about hot men loving each other, or editing for other people, she’s pursuing her Master’s Degree in English. On her very occasional ‘off-day,’ Liz enjoys exploring cities, particularly NYC, and eating cupcakes from Magnolia’s Bakery.



 

Review ~*~ Temping is Hell by Cathy Yardley



Blurb ~*~

WORST. JOB. EVER.

Kate O'Hara can't wait until this temp assignment is over. The woman who hired her is a psychotic pageant queen, her coworkers are convicts-turned-clerks, and it's so boringly corporate it makes her skin crawl. Even her sexy-as-sin boss, famed billionaire Thomas Kestrel, isn't enticement enough to keep her there. Once she makes enough to pay off her bills, she's out. Or so she thinks...

WHAT THE HELL?

Next thing she knows, she's accidentally signed over her soul. Literally. And she's discovered Thomas's real mission: to kill thirteen bad guys in one year, in order to get his—now his and Kate’s—souls back.

 IT'S NOT JUST A JOB. IT'S A MISADVENTURE.

From learning to boost the morale of some paper-pushing demons to navigating her way through blood-red tape, Kate has to work closely with her super-hot supervisor and get her flaky act together, before somebody clocks her out—permanently! 


Available ~*~ eBook
Pages ~*~ 254
Review ~*~ 4 Stars

4 Star Review ~*~

Temping is Hell comes awfully close to a true story for someone who has done quite a bit of temp work. I think that's what interested me in the story in the first place.  This story will make you laugh as you discover the amazing cast of characters.  As the first book in the Necessary Evil series, it is a great kick off.  I am looking forward to what else is going to happen to this group and there are a lot of possibilities.

Kate has held over fifteen jobs in eight years!  Now, this hippie do-gooder is stuck working in corporate America for a company called Fiendish of all things!  Nothing good can come of this. As she meets her co-workers, things get stranger and stranger. The owner of the company is hot, her boss is a crazy bitch, her co-workers are just unusual and the expectations for this job are out of this world.

Kate is one of my favorite characters in a long time.  She has no filter when he comes to saying what she's thinking and you will laugh, wishing you could say what she does at work. While her crazy bitch of a boss is horrible to work for, I loved her as a character!  She puts just the right twists in everything ~ even if she isn't the smartest tool in the shed.  The owner of the company, Thomas, while hot has a few issues that need to be dealt with and he isn't sure how to deal with them so he is character that kind of grows on you in a good way.  And then there is Slim, another favorite character that I will let you read about on your own ;)  There are a lot of supporting characters who, I am sure, will have more play in future books and I can't wait.

Temping is Hell is cute, funny, and all around surprising.  It's nice to read something fresh that will make a reader laugh (a lot) and still give us some twists, turns, and great characters.  While there is a little romance and a happy for now ending, there is an awful lot yet to come so don't expect any complete closure from Temping is Hell.

Now, I don't always share a quote/snippet because I just read too many books to remember all of my favorites.  But, this one stands out and I wanted to share :)  During a press conference at work, Kate has to speak to reporters - here is her response to a typical, invasive, reporter question...

“So what you’re really asking is,” she said slowly, “am I banging my boss because I appear to have no other marketable skills, and he’s got a history of hooking up with his secretaries?”

There was a communal gasp, and Thomas felt his heart stop as his hand reflexively went up to cover his face.

Oh, Jesus Christ on a cracker.
Yup. It could definitely get worse.



As always, pick up Temping is Hell or try one of Cathy Yardley's other books below...

Friday, April 26, 2013

Cover Reveal & Giveaway ~*~ Claimed, Club Sin, Book 1 by Stacey Kennedy


CLAIMED
Club Sin, Book One
Stacey Kennedy


Publisher: Loveswept
(Random House Publishing Group)
ISBN: 9780345548306
Release date: August 5, 2013

Add on Goodreads 

Pre-Order NOW!! ~*~

Amazon  |  B&N  


Blurb ~*~
           
A novel of erotic discovery and forbidden desire that goes beyond Fifty Shades of Grey.

Presley Flynn is ripe to experience her secret fantasies . . . and Dmitri Pratt wants nothing more than to fulfill them. Once inside the elite Club Sin in Las Vegas, Presley is nervous but excited—and determined to surrender to her every desire. Dmitri is her Master, and his touch is like fire. With each careful, calculated caress, he unleashes her wildest inhibitions, giving her unimagined pleasure.

Presley is different than the other submissives Dmitri has mastered. The BDSM lifestyle is new to her, and so are the games they play at Club Sin. From the start, Presley stirs emotions in Dmitri far beyond the raw purity between a dom and the perfect sub. For the ecstasy they share goes beyond the dungeon, igniting a passion that claims the very depths of the heart.

Claimed is an erotic romance intended for mature audiences.

About the Author ~*~


Stacey Kennedy is an urban fantasy lover at heart, but she also enjoys losing herself in dark and sensual worlds. She lives in southwestern Ontario with her husband, who gave her a happily-ever-after. Together, they have two small children who can always make her smile, and who will never be allowed to read Mommy’s books. If she’s not plugging away at a new story, you’ll find her camping, curling up with the latest flick, or obsessing over Sons of Anarchy and Game of Thrones.





a Rafflecopter giveaway